Occupational Injuries Research Articles

PROBLEMS OF ANALYZING OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN THE LIGHT AND TEXTILE INDUSTRIES

Problem statement. One of the main functions of the occupational health and safety management system at enterprises is to analyze occupational injuries and diseases that occur to employees as a result of their work duties in the event of an inadequate state of occupational health and safety at the enterprise. The light and textile industry in Ukraine is characterized by uncertain working conditions, as it is mostly based on small enterprises. The lack of analysis of occupational injuries and their causes complicates the process of developing occupational safety and health measures for enterprises operating in the light and textile industry, respectively. The purpose of the article is to identify the reasons for the complication of the process of analyzing occupational injuries and the issues of analyzing the causes of injuries in the light and textile industries. Conclusions. The analysis of occupational injuries in the light and textile industry has revealed an upward trend in the number of accidents in this sector. Given that over the past four years, the State Statistics Service has not separated the light industry into a separate statistical data collection point, this makes it more difficult to analyze injuries in this area. It was also found that during 2020−2024, the State Labor Service registered fatal and group accidents that were not related to work in the light and textile industry, but were classified as such because the production itself is engaged in light industry. At the same time, the type of work performed by the victim is more likely to be classified as construction or cargo rather than tailoring. The analysis identified the main problems that prevent the identification of the exact causes of accidents in the light and textile industry.

The prevalence of occupational injuries and associated risk factors among workers in iron and steel industries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe iron and steel industries are among the most dangerous workplaces in the world compared to other manufacturing industries. Workers are exposed to multiple occupational hazards, which predispose them to high risks of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Currently, the data on the global prevalence and associated risk factors for occupational injuries in the iron and steel industries is fragmented and incomplete. This study was undertaken to address this issue by pooling data relating to the prevalence of occupational injuries and its associated factors among workers in iron and steel industries studies around the world.MethodsThe search was conducted systematically using PubMed, HINARI, EMBASE and Google Scholar for published studies in English that reported on occupational injuries and associated risk factors among workers in iron and steel industries. MetaXL version 5.3 software was used in the meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence of occupational injuries and associated risk factors among workers in the iron and steel industries. The study protocol has been registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42022344258.ResultsOf the 447 articles identified, 15 studies from 9 countries met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence estimate of occupational injury was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.93). The pooled results indicated that the odds of having an occupational injury were 4.06 times higher among workers who did not use personal protective equipment compared to those who used such equipment. Likewise the odds of occupational injuries was increased by 1.65 among night shift workers compared to the counterpart.ConclusionsThe global prevalence of occupational injuries in iron and steel industries was 55%. The results indicate that night work shift and the lack of use of personal protective equipment has a higher impact than other factors in the occurrence of occupational injuries in the iron and steel industries.

Opioid-related mortality after occupational injury in Washington State: accounting for preinjury opioid use

ObjectivesTo estimate the impact of occupational injury and illness on opioid-related mortality while accounting for confounding by preinjury opioid use.MethodsWe employed a retrospective cohort study design using Washington State workers’...

Optimization study of tail-lateral occupant injury and restraint system for an off-road vehicle ramp rollover

The process of rollover accidents involving specialized vehicles is characterized by intense motion and long duration. Although these accidents are infrequent, they often lead to a high fatality rate. In this study, we utilized LS-Dyna software to simulate the rollover of a vehicle on a side ramp. This simulation aimed to verify the reliability of our model establishment by comparing the vehicle’s motion attitude and center-of-mass acceleration with experimental results. Additionally, we sought to investigate the lateral occupant injuries that occur in the tail section of a certain type of specialized vehicle during a rollover. Initially, we obtained the vehicle’s motion trajectory and the dummy’s motion state through simulation. Subsequently, we extracted the injury response of each part of the dummy. We then simplified the entire vehicle model and made improvements to the occupant restraint system, ultimately designing an enhanced system. Finally, we approximated and replaced the entire vehicle model by establishing an approximation model. We combined this with an optimization algorithm to optimize the occupant restraint system. The simulation results demonstrate that the improved occupant restraint system significantly reduces the axial force on the neck of the occupant and the comprehensive evaluation index of injury. Furthermore, the simulation results for each component fall below the injury limit value specified in the FMVSS208 crash occupant protection standard. Therefore, the improved occupant restraint system proposed in this study effectively mitigates lateral occupant injury during rollover accidents.

Occupational Injuries and Its Determinants Among Cement Factory Workers: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract Introduction: Cement manufacturing industry workers face inevitable circumstances and are unintentionally exposed to different injuries at the workplace. The purpose of this study was to establish the pattern of injuries and their related risk factors. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 360 workers from different departments within three cement factories in Chhattisgarh, India. Results: 55% of employees had either abrasion (30%) or dust in their eyes (23%). Workers in open areas (unadjusted odds ratio [UOR] = 3.28 [2.08–5.18]) and those who do not have training in personal protective equipment (UOR = 2.19 [1.42–3.39]) were more likely to get injured. Conclusions: A high number of workers suffered from injuries, as reported by this study; therefore, there is a need for thorough training and safety procedures.

Impact responses and injury analyses of a three-year-old occupant seating in forward and rearward facing CRSs using different computational models

To investigate the reliability and necessity of utilising a human biomechanical model in automotive safety, the frontal collision simulation test was conducted employing the TUST IBMs 3YO model and the Q3 dummy model. The kinematic and biomechanical injury parameters of the occupants were comparatively analysed. The results indicate consistent trends in acceleration changes between the two computational models. Variations in neck structure resulted in a 25% to 28% difference in the peak values of neck injury parameters. Differences in spine structure and materials made the spine angle change trends of the Q3 model more sensitive to the type of child restraint system (CRS). The human biomechanical model allows for the evaluation of occupant injury risk from multiple perspectives. Therefore, employing an advanced computational model of the human body with higher biofidelity provides a more reliable and effective method for investigating injury mechanisms and developing protective countermeasures for child occupants.

Neuro-fuzzy prediction model of occupational injuries in mining.

Objectives. This study investigates the possibility of developing a unique model for predicting work-related injuries in Serbian underground coal mines using neural networks and fuzzy logic theory. Accidents are common due to the unique nature of underground mineral extraction involving people, machinery and limited workplaces. Methods. A universal model for predicting occupational accidents takes into account influential factors such as organizational aspects, personal and collective protective equipment, on-the-job training and leadership factors. The selected networks achieved a prediction accuracy of >90%. Results. The study successfully identifies potential risks and critical worker groups leading to injuries. The sensitivity analysis provides insights for targeted safety measures and improved organizational practices. Conclusion. This data-driven approach makes a valuable contribution to safety in the mining industry. Implementation of the predictive model can reduce injuries and machine damage, and improve worker well-being.

ASSESSMENT OF THE DOMESTIC WORKWEAR MARKET

The research paper examines the development of the market for tailoring work clothes in Ukraine. The European and domestic classification of types of work clothes and the corresponding segmentation of the market are given. Special purpose clothing guarantees protection to employees from the adverse effects of the working environment, reduces the risk of industrial injuries and shows their individuality. Under modern conditions, the market of overalls is developing rapidly, taking into account the growing need for it among enterprises in the construction industry, manufacturing industry, distribution of electricity, gas and water, wholesale and retail trade, tourism, medicine, the service sector and other industries. Therefore, the analysis of the development of the overalls market requires in-depth research and is an important and urgent issue. The article provides an assessment of the current state of the workwear market in terms of changes in the number of enterprises, volumes of merchandise and sales of special purpose products. The domestic market of work clothes and personal protective equipment maintains a stable growth trend. In particular, new business entities dealing with their tailoring and implementation are being opened. They expand the range of special purpose products; improve their quality and aesthetic appearance. The article outlines the trends in the development of the workwear market in Ukraine: cost optimization for the purchase of better quality workwear; the emergence of new technologies in the production of work clothes increase the requirements for the innovative component of the clothing market; orientation of manufacturers of work clothes mainly on consumers of low and medium price segments; growth in the amount of tailoring of uniforms for the Armed Forces, the State Emergency Service, and medical workers based on military needs; increase in the number of competing companies. Based on this, the ways of further improvement of the scope of sales regarding the tailoring of work clothes are planned: to make comfortable multi-functional overalls for active life and work; to revitalize the digitization of the market for the sale of workwear; to involve nanotechnology in the production of overalls (fabrics: a generator, a cooler, which changes color under the influence of water, heat and light, which is not subject to damage when using a knife). As a result of taking these measures, companies producing special purpose clothing will increase their competitiveness both on the domestic and European markets.

Study of the effects of shallow-buried charge parameters on the lower limb injuries of occupant in special vehicle body

In the process of military missions, special vehicles often encounter shallow buried charge threats that will greatly affect the safety of the occupants. To study the integrated effects of shallow buried charge detonation point, height-to-diameter ratio, burial inclination, weight, and other key parameters on the lower limb injuries of occupant, this study was based on the special body of a shallow buried explosive test and numerical calculation methods. The reliability of the numerical model and the load effect mechanism of the shallow burial charge were studied. Based on this, the lower limb injuries response law of occupant was analyzed with respect to each parameter. The results showed that the bottom charge load mainly came from two-stage ejection loading, in which the first stage was a strong load with short-duration local impact loading and the second stage was a weak load with long-duration extended range loading. By comparing the lower limb injury response of occupant under different charge parameters, we found that the weight of charge had the greatest effect on the extent of occupant injury, followed by the height-to-diameter ratio and burial inclination, while the detonation position had a relatively small effect on the injury magnitude. Finally, a comprehensive prediction model of the lower limb injuries of occupant was obtained by using the Latin hypercube sampling method and the least-squares method, and it was verified that the model had a good matching accuracy.

Influencing factors of occupational health of clinical nuclear medical staff

Objective: To analyze the characteristics and its influencing factors of occupational injury among clinical nuclear medicine staff, and to put forward suggestions for formulating relevant radiation protection intervention measures. Methods: In March 2022, a study was conducted involving 12 medical institutions engaged in nuclear medicine in Gansu Province. The occupational health examination data of 1451 clinical nuclear medicine staff were analyzed. The study subjects were divided into two groups based on the median annual effective dose of external exposure in 2022: Group A (annual effective dose ≤0.2 mSv, n=927) and group B (annual effective dose >0.2 mSv, n=524). The effects of annual effective dose, age, seniority, gender and occupational category on occupational health of clinical nuclear medicine staff were analyzed. Classification variables between groups were compared with Pearson χ(2) test. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of the abnormal results. Results: The abnormal rates of white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin (HGB) in female clinical nuclear medical staff were higher than those in males, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). The abnormal rates of WBC and HGB in clinical nuclear medicine staff of different occupational categories were statistically significant (P<0.05). The abnormal rates of RBC and HGB of clinical nuclear medicine staff in annual effective dose group B were higher than those in group A, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression results showed that the abnormal risks of RBC in annual effective dose group B was 2.465 times of that in group A, the abnormal risks of RBC, WBC and HGB in females were 9.354, 2.939 and 6.760 times of those in males, respectively. The abnormal risk of WBC in the radiotherapy group was 2.334 times of that in general radiotherapy group. The abnormal risk of lens in nuclear medicine group was 2.459 times of that in general radiotherapy group. The abnormal risk of ECG and lens in ≥35 years old age group were 1.814 times and 1.969 times of those in <35 years old age group, respectively. The abnormal risk of lens of the ≥10 working years group was 1.899 times of that in the <10 working years group. The risk of lymphocyte micronucleus abnormality in the interventional group was 1.481 times of that in the general radiotherapy group, the risk of lymphocyte micronucleus abnormality in females was 2.215 times of that in males. The risk of lymphocyte micronucleus abnormality and lymphocyte chromosome aberration in ≥35 years old age group were 2.552 and 2.266 times of those in <35 years old age group, respectively. The risk of lymphocyte micronucleus abnormality in the group with≥10 working years was 1.443 times of that in<10 working years group (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Long-term low-dose ionizing radiation has a certain effect on the lens and genetic indexes of clinical nuclear medicine staff.

Investigation of tissue injuries for rear-row children occupants during frontal crash

This study was based on the analysis of kinematic and injury differences between current engineering practice and real human injuries. The results showed that ATDs could not accurately evaluate the injury of child occupants, children’s tissues and organs were more vulnerable to injury. The peak intracranial stress of the child occupant was 193 kPa, which was predisposed to moderate concussion. The peak disc stress of the child occupant was 244.8 MPa, which caused severe soft tissue injury to the cervical region. Meanwhile, the lung and heart of the child occupant were severely injured, with the peak stress on the lungs at 1.46 MPa, exceeding the injury threshold by a factor of 91.25. The peak stress in the heart was 561 kPa, 2.2 times above the injury threshold. The safety and protection of child occupants need to be considered from a holistic perspective, and this study could inform future optimisation of injury evaluation criteria for children during vehicle accident.

Validation of a generic finite element vehicle buck model for near-side crashes

Objective Finite element (FE) reconstructions of motor vehicle crashes using human body models are effective tools for developing a better understanding of occupant kinematics and injuries in real-world lateral crash conditions, but current near-side reconstruction methods are limited by the paucity of full-scale FE vehicle models. The objective of this study was to validate a generic vehicle model equipped with left-side airbags and intrusion capability by simulating a series of near-side crash tests for a range of vehicles and assessing model accuracy using objective evaluation methods. Methods Moving deformable barrier crash tests were reconstructed for five common vehicle classifications (compact passenger, mid-size passenger, sport utility vehicle, pickup truck, and van) using an updated version of a previously developed simplified vehicle model. Unknown vehicle and intrusion properties (pretensioner force, seatback airbag pressure, curtain airbag pressure, door panel stiffness, ratio of dynamic-to-static intrusion, intrusion velocity, and intrusion scaling factor) were estimated by parameterizing them across 224 simulations per crash test using a Latin hypercube design of experiments. Model accuracy was assessed for 13 anthropomorphic test device signals using the Correlation and Analysis (CORA) objective rating method and injury metric comparisons. Results Maximum ratings of 0.69, 0.67, 0.52, 0.52, and 0.62 were achieved for the compact passenger, midsize passenger, sport utility vehicle, pickup truck, and van classifications, respectively. On average, the abdomen displayed the most accurate behavior (0.51 ± 0.12), followed by the thorax (0.50 ± 0.10) and head (0.50 ± 0.07). The pelvis displayed the least accurate behavior (0.46 ± 0.18) of any region. Reconstructions overpraedicted injury metrics in all cases. Conclusions All vehicles achieved “fair” biofidelity ratings and the compact passenger and midsize passenger vehicles achieved “good” biofidelity ratings, validating them for kinematic evaluations with vehicle-to-vehicle nearside crash reconstructions. Regression models were developed for injuries and CORA ratings and can be used to optimize vehicle parameters in future studies.

Big Data Analysis of Facial Fracture Epidemiology in South Korea From 2015 to 2020: Impacts of Aging and Personal Mobility.

The epidemiology of facial fractures is continuously evolving due to various influencing factors, including social, economic, and technological advancements. Thus, an updated analysis of facial bone fractures is necessary. This study aimed to provide an updated epidemiological analysis of facial bone fractures and assess severity using multiple factors. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent facial bone fracture surgery at 3 teaching hospitals in South Korea between January 2015 and December 2020. Data collected included patient demographics (sex and age), trauma mechanism, alcohol intoxication status, and fracture types. Trauma mechanisms were categorized into 7 groups: assault, fall, sports, occupational injury, motor vehicle crash, bicycle, and personal mobility. Severity was assessed using the modified facial injury severity scale. A total of 5953 patients (4437 males and 1516 females) were included, with ages ranging from 1 to 92 years (mean age: 36.37±18.61y). A steady decline in the number of patients was observed from 2015 to 2020. Falls were the most common cause of facial fractures (2300 cases, 39%), and nasal bone fractures were the most frequent type (3683 cases, 46%). The number of elderly patients (> 60y) and injuries caused by personal mobility devices increased steadily. Male sex and alcohol intoxication were associated with higher severity scores. Motor vehicle crashes had the highest severity scores (2.246). While the incidence of facial bone fractures has decreased in recent years, the proportion of elderly patients and injuries caused by personal mobility devices is increasing, posing a significant burden on the health care system.

Dyschromatopsia due to welding arcs: An underestimated occupational injury

Welders are at risk of developing dyschromatopsia, a color vision deficiency, due to occupational exposure, including welding arcs. This visual impairment can impact occupational safety and performance but has received limited attention in research. : This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of defective color vision among welders exposed to welding arcs. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 52 male welders working in various industries. Demographic and occupational data were collected through a questionnaire. Color vision assessment was performed using Ishihara and Farnsworth Munsell test. Welding exposure data were collected through self-reporting and workplace observations. Chi-square test was used for data analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of defective color vision among welders was 15.4%. Age, gender, years of experience, and types of welding performed did not significantly influence the prevalence. Welders in the age group of 31-40 years showed a higher prevalence. Inadequate use of eye protection was identified as a barrier to preventing color vision impairments. Defective color vision is a prevalent occupational injury among welders exposed to welding arcs. The study underscores the importance of preventive measures, including proper eye protection and education programs, to reduce the risk of visual impairments and improve occupational safety. Further research is needed to understand the long-term consequences of welding arc exposure on color vision and its impact on worker performance.

Collapse mechanism and occupant injury analysis under vertical impact of the aircraft fuselage structure

Collapse mechanism and occupant injury analysis under vertical impact of the aircraft fuselage structure

Association between temperature and occupational injuries in Spain: The role of contextual factors in workers’ adaptation

BackgroundExtensive evidence links both cold and hot temperatures to an increased incidence of occupational injuries. Contextual modifiers of the temperature-injury association have been scarcely researched. The present study addresses temporal and spatial variations to identify factors associated with (mal)adaptation to heat and cold among Spanish workers. MethodsWe assessed the association between daily mean temperature and work injuries using quasi-Poisson time-series regression models in 48 Spanish provinces over the period 1988–2019, with comparative analyses with census and economic data for the sub-periods 1989–1993, 1999–2003, 2009–2013 and 2015–2019. We explored the spatial and spatiotemporal modification of the association by demographic and socioeconomic variables via cross-sectional and longitudinal meta-regressions. Findings:We found an increased risk of work-injuries by 4 % [95 % CI: 3 %-6 %] and 12 % [95 % CI: 10 %-13 %], for the 1st and 99th percentiles of temperature, respectively, for period 1988–2019. Heat had a greater overall impact than cold, and the groups more vulnerable to heat were male workers, under 35 years, and working in agriculture, construction and hostelry. Vulnerability to heat was highest in the earliest sub-period, while vulnerability to cold rose during periods of both economic expansion and recession. High educational attainment emerged as a protective factor during the warm months in the cross-sectional meta-regressions. ConclusionsOur findings suggest an adaptation of Spanish workers to high temperatures over time. However, preventive measures are needed for traditionally exposed workers (agriculture and construction), non-traditionally vulnerable sectors (hostelry), and young, male, and less educated workers during warm months. For cold vulnerability, targeted measures should focus on women, the elderly, and tertiary service workers, especially in colder regions. Addressing temperature vulnerability would enhance worker safety, reduce injuries, and yield economic benefits.

Prevalence and Predictors of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Bus Drivers Engaged in Long- Distance Transportation in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background An increasing number of occupational injuries occur due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in both developing and industrialized countries. These disorders have an impact on workers' health as well as society at large, posing medical, occupational, and economic challenges.  Objectives This research assessed work-related musculoskeletal disorders and its risk factors among Bus drivers for private long-distance Transport Companies in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.  Materials and Methods This study employed a cross-sectional study design. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample 338 long-distance bus drivers in the city of Port Harcourt. Participants' demographic data and information regarding work related musculoskeletal disorders were collected using a modified version of the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics determined prevalence and inferential statistics was used to determine associated risk factors of WRMSD. The p-value of the test of statistical significance was set at ≤0.05. The participants were all male.  Result 58.6% of the research sample had WRMSDs, according to the findings. After logistic regression analysis, only marital status (AOR=5.714, 95% CI for AOR=3.046- 10.721; p=0.001), prolonged sitting of ≥8 hours, (AOR=0.350; 95% CI for AOR=0.166-0.741; p=0.006) and previous history of pain in a previous occupation (AOR=5.714, 95% CI for AOR=3.046-10.721; p=0.001), were significantly associated with the prevalence of WRMSD.  Conclusion WRMSDs are prevalent in private long-distance bus drivers and are strongly correlated with marrital status, prolonged sitting times (more than eight hours), and a history of muscle or joint discomfort in a prior job.

Revisiting the Occupational Health Impact of Right-to-Work Laws: A Research Note.

This research note reevaluates the occupational health impact of right-to-work (RTW) legislation, incorporating recent developments in causal inference techniques. In an era marked by an uptick in the adoption of anti-union legislation and increases in workplace fatalities and injuries, it is particularly urgent to examine the extent to which RTW laws affect workers' health. Using a state-year-level dataset spanning 28 years and collected from multiple data sources, we apply an innovative generalized synthetic control method to overcome several limitations of the traditional two-way fixed-effects approach to examine the effect of RTW laws on occupational fatal injuries as well as various other health outcomes. Robustness checks were conducted using a wide range of alternative methods for two-way fixed-effects adjustments. In contrast with findings from previous studies, we found null effects on occupational fatal injuries, as well as on all other health outcomes. Overall, our results indicate that findings from previous studies are based on very thin empirical evidence, with potentially underestimated standard errors and unobserved confounders. Our results highlight the importance of revisiting research questions using updated methodological tools.

Matching Occupational Injury and Illness Data Using Augmented Twin Neural Networks

When record linkage efforts involve complex characteristics there is ample potential for general purpose machine learning (ML) techniques to succeed where traditional probabilistic approaches might fall short. However, there can still be pre-processing (e.g. geocoding) and hand-picked comparators that can further improve linkage outcomes using standard ML models. In this project we present a fusion of these sides we are calling an Augmented Twin Neural Network. This approach leverages the inherent flexibility of Twin Neural Networks in a record linkage context while adding additional layers to allow for hand curated comparators that may be difficult for ML optimizers to implicitly identify without sufficiently large, labeled data sets. The framework is used to match establishments from the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses to establishments in the OSHA Injury Tracking Application data. The difficulties inherent in matching company names and addresses and the existence of multi-establishment firms make this a prime application for testing. Linkage outcome metrics of this augmented algorithm are compared both with results from probabilistic methods (e.g. Fellegi-Sunter) and standard machine learning methods to illustrate the added benefits.

ECHO OEM virtual community of learning for primary care.

Health issues caused and/or exacerbated by work are common in patients seeking primary health care. Yet, primary care providers generally receive little or no training in the assessment and management of occupational injuries and illnesses. To conduct a pilot project to develop, implement and evaluate a programme to teach occupational and environmental medicine to primary healthcare providers. We followed the Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model to connect primary healthcare providers with experts in Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM). We employed an observational pre-post study design to assess changes in self-efficacy, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards OEM. From September 2021 to June 2022, we offered two cycles of 12 sessions each. Participants came from medicine, nursing, psychology, occupational and physical therapy, chiropractic, kinesiology, social work, and pharmacy. Sixty-seven participants completed both pre- and post-ECHO questionnaires. Self-efficacy and knowledge ratings significantly increased after attendance at ECHO compared to the pre-ECHO responses. Attitudes and beliefs were unchanged in most of the items assessed. Participants rated their satisfaction with ECHO between 59% and 97%. Our pilot study demonstrated the challenges in implementing the first ECHO OEM in Canada. Findings show acceptability and satisfaction, improved self-efficacy, and small increases in knowledge, but not overall attitudes and beliefs. There is a need to understand barriers to participation and to target participants with less knowledge and experience in occupational and environmental medicine.