Second Shift Research Articles

Navigating Occupational Hazards: Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Slaughterhouse Workers in Brazil

(1) Background: The meatpacking industry in Brazil is vital for economic growth. It poses significant occupational health risks, particularly Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). The present study analyzes the profile of slaughterhouse workers based on the governmental notification database. (2) Methods: The socio-demographic dataset (n = 820) was filled with worker data, and health profiles reported Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) and WMSDs from 2007 to 2019, available online by the Brazilian Health Service. The dataset was analyzed to identify patterns of injuries and contributing factors. Descriptive statistics outlined worker characteristics, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) explored associations between variables. (3) Results: The results revealed that 51.34% of workers were male, with most aged 30–45. Repetitive movements were reported by 89.63% of respondents, while 78.90% worked shifts exceeding six hours. Soft tissue disorders were the most prevalent diagnosis (40.97%). The majority (53.17%) experienced temporary disabilities, and 5.73% had permanent impairments. Key risk factors included inadequate breaks, stressful environments, and limited ergonomic adaptations. This study highlights the critical need for preventative measures, such as ergonomic interventions, adequate rest breaks, and employee education, to mitigate WMSDs. Future research should include ergonomic evaluations and consider broader organizational variables to enhance slaughterhouse occupational health and safety. Addressing these challenges is essential for improving worker welfare and maintaining industry productivity.

Unpacking the meeting load paradox: impacts on engagement and burnout across work arrangements

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how workplace meetings, work arrangements and their interactions relate to employee engagement and burnout.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws from the conservation of resources theory to hypothesize the relationships between the antecedent and outcome variables. To test the hypotheses, this study analyzes a structural equation model based on panel survey data from 1,137 respondents.FindingsThis study finds that meeting load is positively related to burnout, but not to engagement in general. Also, relative to the hybrid work arrangement, engagement is lower in the in-person only arrangement and burnout is higher in the remote-only arrangement. As to the interaction effects, meeting load in the on-site work arrangement situation relates positively to both engagement and burnout.Practical implicationsThe findings provide valuable insight for practitioners in an increasingly complex and competitive environment, as they can be factored into debates around policies for meetings and work arrangements.Originality/valueThe COVID-19 pandemic created a seismic shift in the way people work: it released an avalanche of workplace meetings; it normalized hybrid work arrangements; and it heightened attention on work outcomes. This study lies at the intersection of these three important trends.

Association of occupational noise exposure and shift work with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a cross-sectional study of male workers in the Chinese automobile manufacturing industry

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the relationship between occupational noise, shift work and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in male workers in the automobile manufacturing industry.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThis study was carried...

Disentangling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests on implicit anti-Black bias.

Disentangling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests on implicit anti-Black bias.

Sick of debt: How over-indebtedness is hampering health in rural Cambodia.

Sick of debt: How over-indebtedness is hampering health in rural Cambodia.

Navigating the Post-Pandemic Landscape: The Challenges and Opportunities of Community-Based Networks in Substance Prevention.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced substance prevention work, exacerbating existing challenges and providing new opportunities for community-based substance prevention networks (CSPNs). CSPNs are interorganizational networks that include various providers, such as nonprofits and government agencies, that collaborate to provide substance prevention services and are embedded in local communities. This study analyzes the post-pandemic adaptation of a CSPN in the United States. Through qualitative thematic analysis of interview data with network leaders, this study identifies two primary challenges: resource constraints and engagement obstacles and two primary opportunities: innovation in service delivery and data importance. The findings affirm what is known about the barriers to substance prevention and point to a novel shift in community-based substance prevention work. Particularly, CSPNs are adopting harm-reduction tactics and expanding digital outreach to support clients. As CSPNs continue to emerge, this research provides insight into the evolving landscape of substance prevention work and the critical role of community-based networks. The findings in this study offer practical implications for enhancing CSPN effectiveness and resilience in substance prevention.

P1288 The Association of Long-term Night Shift Work and Related Circulating Proteins with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Cohort and Multi-omics Study

Abstract Background The association between night shift work and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear. We aim to investigate the association between night shift work and the risk of IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn’s disease (CD), while further investigating the roles of genetic susceptibility and circulating proteins. Methods This cohort study included 149,014 UK Biobank participants without IBD at baseline, with 28,772 undergoing proteomic detection. Cox regression assessed associations between night shift work, circulating proteins, and IBD risk, while multinomial logistic regression identified proteins linked to night shift work. Bulk RNA-seq (1,030 blood, 453 intestinal tissue, and 176 Ustekinumab-treated intestinal samples) and single-cell transcriptomics (51 samples, 163,336 cells) were integrated to explore the roles of night shift-related proteins in IBD development and progression. Results During a mean follow-up of 13.66 years, 818 incident IBD (556 UC and 262 CD) cases were documented. Compared to day workers, there was a significant increasing trend in the frequency of current shift work and the risk of incident IBD (Ptrend=0.018). Among individuals with usual or permanent night shifts work, the risk of IBD incidence increased by 56% compared to those with no shift work, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.56 (95% CI: 1.15-2.13), especially for in those with intermediate genetic susceptibility to IBD. Additionally, there was a significant increasing trend in the frequency of current shift work and the risk of incident UC (Ptrend=0.037). High genetic risk individuals with usual or permanent night shifts work were respectively associated with a 3.60-fold increase in the risk of IBD, a 3.13-fold increase in the risk of CD, and a 2.77-fold increase in the risk of UC. Compared with shift workers never working nights, participants with an average frequency of more than 8 nights per month of night shift work exposure possessed higher IBD risk (HR 1.54, 95%Cl: 1.07-2.23). Six circulating proteins (IL18R1, GDNF, SOD1, TNFRSF6B, MMP12, and CCL7) related to night shift work were associated with the risk of incident IBD. Multi-omics evidence indicated that MMP12 increased UC risk through macrophage function and reduces the efficacy of Ustekinumab, while CCL7+ monocytes, possibly in conjunction with ACKR1, may facilitate the initiation of inflammation in CD. Conclusion Night shift work has been associated with an increased risk of IBD, CD, and UC, with MMP12 and CCL7 identified as potential drivers of this association. Further research is needed to assess whether reducing night shift frequency and duration, combined with targeted protein interventions, could mitigate IBD risk and improve prognosis.

PATTERNS OF RUSHED AND UNFINISHED CARE AMONG CARE AIDES IN NURSING HOMES: A LATENT CLASS ANALYSIS

Abstract Rushed care and unfinished care (also called missed care, care rationing) are common in nursing homes. Although the two phenomena are interrelated, most researchers have studied them separately and used a variable-centered approach. We took a person-focused approach and aimed to identify groups of care aides who rushed care and left care tasks unfinished in similar ways. This cross-sectional analysis used survey data from 3546 care aides working in a random sample of 87 urban nursing homes collected from September 2019 to February 2020 in three provinces in western Canada. We presented to care aides a list of physical and social care tasks (e.g., bathing, talking with residents). They answered whether or not they rushed or left a care task unfinished in their previous shift of work. We performed latent class analysis to identify patterns of rushed and unfinished care and verified the identified patterns with a different wave of data. A 4-class model emerged as the best-fit model for our data. Group 1 reported high levels of rushed and unfinished care, and Group 2 was low on both rushed and unfinished care. Group 3 reported high rushed care and Group 4 reported medium rushed care; both groups reported low unfinished physical care and medium unfinished social care. Our findings suggest the complexity of rushed and unfinished care among care aides. System-level support for this workforce is urgently needed to develop targeted interventions for sub-groups of care aides to reduce rushed and unfinished care in nursing homes.

The Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Workplace Violence at a Psychiatric Hospital in The Gambia

Purpose—This study aimed to provide a comprehensive report of workplace violence (WPV) at a psychiatric hospital in Gambia. Design/methodology/approach—A cross-sectional study involving self-administered questionnaires and an in-depth interview was conducted with 54 staff at the hospital and six senior managers of mental health treatment in Gambia. A descriptive statistical approach was applied to determine the prevalence, and a logistic regression approach was used to identify factors associated with violence at the hospital. The data from the in-depth interviews on WPV policies in Gambia were analysed thematically. Results—In the 12 months before the research, 55.6% of the respondents had been exposed to violence; of those, 46.3%, 27.8%, and 5.6% had experienced verbal abuse, physical assault, and sexual harassment, respectively. Inadequate staff, insufficient security measures, and insufficient medications were perceived by respondents as the causes of the violence. However, the level of professionalism, the kind of services provided by staff, and shift of work were strongly connected with violence. As a result of WPV, victims had injuries, posttraumatic stress disorder signs/symptoms, and work dissatisfaction. The interviewees also expressed concern about the lack of WPV polices and the necessity of creating such polices as soon as possible. Value—According to the research, there is an elevated risk of violence among the hospital staff. As a result, the hospital’s structure needs to change, staff members should receive training on how to address aggressive patients, and a constructive WPV policy should be created.

Research Progress about Exploring the Impact of Jet Lag on Circadian Rhythms

Circadian rhythm, one of the fundamental laws of nature, plays an essential role in maintaining life processes. However, it is challenged by a modern situation known as jet lag. Jet lag brings disruption to circadian rhythm, breaking people's normal routine and causing troubles to peoples lives. For the past few years, jet lag have been reported frequently. More researchers have realized the importance and complexity of jet lag. Jet lag can arise from travel crossing time zones as well as from shift works, impacting several aspects of life activity including metabolism, mental health, intestinal health et cetera. Beyond the macroscopical symptoms, microcosmic alterations are as important as the symptoms. Gene expression patterns can be varied by chronic jet lag even rewrote by the chronic jet lag and have long-term effects. Fortunately, several researches have revealed the possibility to lessen the influence of jet lag to fitness. Compared to the last century, people live in modern society have more optional methods to enjoy a much more comfortable life. Melatonin therapy and chronotherapy have been presented by scientists to settle the jet lag, But for the treatment of jet lag, there are still lots of details need to be considered.

디지털 노마드와 워케이션 생태계의 부상에 관한 실증 연구 - 태국 사례를 중심으로

This study explores the emerging lifestyles and work patterns of digital nomads and “workation” (work + vacation) enthusiasts. By analyzing search trends from Google Trends and Naver DataLab, along with related book listings from major online bookstores in South Korea, this study assesses the growing public interest in these phenomena. Field investigations of coworking spaces and surveys with foreign users in Thailand provide insights into the micro-characteristics of digital nomad ecosystems. The findings reveal a surge in public interest in digital nomadism after the COVID-19 pandemic, which signals a paradigm shift in work and life in the post-pandemic era. Case studies in Chiang Mai and Bangkok highlight the crucial role of coworking spaces in fostering digital nomad communities and enhancing work productivity. Surveys uncover heterogeneity among digital nomads, with differences in work styles and lifestyles based on age and gender. However, the sustainability of digital nomadism as an alternative lifestyle requires addressing challenges at individual, social, and institutional levels. The study‘s significance lies in its timely exploration of an emerging topic, multi-level analysis, and evidence-based insights. Although the findings may have limited generalizability mainly due to the small and contextual samples, the study offers valuable contributions to academic discourse and policy discussions. Future studies should examine the long-term impacts of digital nomad lifestyles, conduct cross-national comparisons, and investigate strategies for developing nomad-friendly policies and infrastructure.

Optimalisasi Kapasitas Stasiun Kerja dengan Metode Theory of Constraints (TOC) di PT. XYZ

PT. XYZ is a company that produces rims cars. One of the products produced is rims with ABC type. The production process carried out is make to order repetitive. PT. XYZ has a production capacity problem, causing an unfulfilled order. The production floor has a bottleneck work station at work stations 1 and 2. The accumulation occurs because of the standard time difference and the maximum capacity. This study uses the Theory of Constraints (TOC) method to deal with bottlenecked work stations. Calculating the maximum capacity of each work station results in work station s 1 and 2 having less capacity than the other work station. To solve the bottleneck problem at work stations 1 and 2, there are two alternative solutions, overtime and the addition of a work shift. After analyzing the existing problem, to solve bottlenecks at work station s 1 and 2, add the shift of work from 2 shifts to 3 shifts with an overtime of 1 hour per shift.

Night shift work, poor sleep quality and unhealthy sleep behaviors are positively associated with the risk of epilepsy disease

BackgroundNight shift work and poor sleep quality are gradually becoming more prevalent in modern society. Nevertheless, there have been limited studies assessing the association between night shift work, sleep behaviors, and risk of epilepsy. The aim of our study was to ascertain whether a positive association exists between night shift work, sleep quality, sleep behaviors, and risk of epilepsy.MethodsOur study included a total of over 270,000 individuals with or without epilepsy from the UK Biobank, followed up over a period of 13.5 years. Information on current night shift work and major sleep behaviors was also obtained. We used Cox proportional hazard models to assess the association between night shift work, sleep quality, sleep behaviors, and the risk of epilepsy after adjusting for multiple variables.ResultsNight shift work was positively associated with a higher risk of epilepsy (P for trend = 0.059). There was a gradual increase in epilepsy risk from ‘never/rarely’ to ‘usual/permanent’ night shifts, with ‘usual/permanent’ night shifts work presenting the highest risk [hazard ratio (HR) 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.65). Additionally, there was a significant association between sleep quality and risk of epilepsy (P < 0.001). Among the five major sleep behaviors, sleep duration (< 7 or > 8 h/day), frequent insomnia, and daytime sleepiness were significantly associated with a higher risk of epilepsy (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.11–1.28; HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.30; HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.24–1.72, respectively). Furthermore, sleep duration exhibited a ‘U-shaped’ association with epilepsy risk. Nevertheless, no significant association was found between sleep chronotype and snoring and the risk of incident epilepsy (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.96–1.12; HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.89–1.04).Conclusions‘Usual/permanent’ night shifts and poor sleep quality were positively associated with a greater risk of incident epilepsy. Major sleep behaviors, including unhealthy sleep duration (< 7 or > 8 h/day), frequent insomnia, and daytime sleepiness, also tended to increase the risk of epilepsy.

Opening the Black Box of Police Operations and Crime During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper documents how a large suburban police department in the United States responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and assesses whether their responses had discernible impacts on crime and disorder. We used time series forecasting and regression approaches with more than six years of data to examine whether calls for police service rose or fell significantly during the pandemic’s first year in response to shifts in police activity (including remote responses to calls, reductions in proactive and community policing, and other shifts in patrol and investigative work) and other important events (like government lockdowns and social protests). Call volumes for violent, property, and disorder incidents generally remained within or below normal pre-COVID ranges during the pandemic’s first year, but violence and disorder calls were significantly higher than expected when adjusted for reduced levels of public activity during this time. However, these patterns were not clearly related to reductions in proactive police work or other operational changes by the police during the pandemic. This study provides a more detailed and explicit assessment of policing during the COVID-19 pandemic than has most prior research, and it highlights the need for deeper localized studies of criminal justice policies and operations during COVID-19 to guide practitioners and policymakers in responding to future public health crises.

The Use of Information and Communication Technologies Among Generation X in Serbia: A Comparison Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this paper is to examine the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) among Generation X in the years before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic brought significant changes in digital technology usage and accelerated shifts in work, communication, and societal functioning. Generation X, comprising individuals born between the 1960s and 1980s, grew up during a time when digital technologies and the internet were not as prevalent. Given that they now live and work in a digital era, it is crucial to understand how they adapt to the rapid changes driven by digitalization. For this research, microdata from the study "The Usage of Information and Communication Technology by Individuals/Households in the Republic of Serbia" was analyzed for the years 2019 and 2023. Results show a slight increase in internet and computer use, particularly among younger members of Generation X. Additionally, 2023 saw a noticeable rise in online shopping and the use of communication services that gained popularity during the lockdown. Regarding public administration services, respondents in 2023 primarily accessed services related to the pandemic, such as vaccine information and green certificates. However, a significant number of respondents, 49%, did not use public services in either 2019 or 2023, suggesting potential issues with trust or perceived complexity. The main contribution of this paper is a detailed analysis of this group's behavior before and after the pandemic, focusing on ICT use and responses to changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Online Instructional Supervision in an Advanced Higher Education

The continuity of learning in graduate and post-graduate education was ensured through online instructional supervision during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative aligns with the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4), emphasizing the preservation of quality education amidst unprecedented challenges. The pandemic-induced shift to online learning environments underscored the critical need for robust supervisory practices that promote equitable and inclusive education for all students in the graduate studies. Employing a phenomenological approach, this study explored the experiences of 15 internal stakeholders involved in online instructional delivery at a state-funded university. The thematic analysis yielded five key insights: the lived experiences of internal stakeholders during the pandemic, transformative shifts in work and learning dynamics, perceptions of the internal stakeholders on online supervision, strategies for effective online supervision, and the opportunities and challenges inherent in this modality. Despite inherent limitations, online instructional supervision in advanced higher education during the pandemic proved to be both complex and transformative. The study recommends ongoing investment in human capital and technological infrastructure by educational institutions to secure sustainable educational outcomes for graduate and post-graduate students in the long term.

Screening for mental disorders in health workers

Introduction: mental health is presented as an essential element in work capacity and productivity, and, similarly, psychosocial risks at work can generate detrimental effects on mental health. Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and panic disorders among healthcare professionals at the Regional Hospital of Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Methods: quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional and analytical study, with stratified probabilistic sampling. Sample of 299 health workers. For data collection, the instrument for detecting anxiety, depression and panic disorders, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4+PHQ-TP), was used; and for the analysis the statistical program SPSS version 27.Results: it is shown that 59,5 % of the participants are women, 76,3 % work in the morning shift, and 51.8% are single. With 66.9% the nursing job category predominates, 76,6 % have an academic level greater than a bachelor's degree. A quarter of them work two jobs and suffer from chronic illnesses. 25,8 % have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and/or panic, predominating in the morning shift and in the female gender. Most are assigned to emergency services. The risk of panic predominates at 39,5 % and 53,4 % correspond to nursing staff. Cases of anxiety and depression occur in 47,8 % and 55,7 % respectively in resident doctors. Conclusion: the study shows a high prevalence of mental disorders in health workers in Culiacán, Sinaloa, with significant differences depending on the shift and job category. These findings are consistent with international literature, highlighting the urgent need to implement psychological support programs and improve working conditions.

P-532 VITAMIN D LEVELS IN NIGHT SHIFT WORKERS AND CORRELATION WITH CANCER DISEASES

Abstract Introduction Preliminary studies suggest that night shift work is associated with a desynchronization of metabolism of vitamin D, possibly explaining the increased risk of infection, cardiometabolic disorders, and cancer in shift workers. Methods This study included 49 male rotating shift workers from a car industry in Barcelona, Spain, sampled twice toward the end of a 3-week night shift (22:00-06:00 h) and a 3-week day shift (06:00-14:00 h) rotation. We collected two blood samples per worker, at the start and end of each shift. We measured levels of 25 (OH)D and 1,25 (OH)D using LC-MS/MS and applied linear mixed models to examine within-person associations between shift work and analytes’ concentrations, comparing samples taken at 06:00 h on a day and night shift, adjusting for hours of daylight. Results We observed lower levels of 25 (OH)D in the day shift compared to the night shift. However, levels of 1,25 (OH)D were only detectable in 67% of participants, and lower levels were observed in the night shift compared to the day shift. Conclusion Even though night shifts workers have been reported to have higher risk for endocrinometabolic disorders, they have slightly higher levels of 25 (OH)D. The different patterns of 25 (OH)D and specially 1,25 (OH)D need to be further studied given the inconsistency between 25 (OH)D and 1,25 (OH)D. Few studies have annalized 1,25 (OH)D, the active form of vitamin D, which may be a marker for diseases.

Association between Sleep Duration, Social Jetlag, and the Metabolic Syndrome by Shift Works.

Lifestyle factors, including sleep characteristics, have been implicated in the development of metabolic syndrome, particularly among shift workers. This study aimed to explore the relationship between shift work, sleep duration, social jetlag, and the risk of metabolic syndrome among U.S. workers and the moderating effect of sleep duration and social jetlag on this relationship. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2017-2020 March were analyzed. Poisson regression models were employed to examine associations. Among 4136 U.S. workers, 53.3% had metabolic syndrome, with a higher proportion of shift workers (63.8% vs. 56.7%, p = 0.001) and those sleeping less than 6 h or more than 9 h per week (22.3% vs. 19.1%, p = 0.044) in the affected group. Shift workers were initially found to have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (Coef. = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.16); however, this association was mitigated when accounting for the interaction with social jetlag. Specifically, 1 to <2 h of social jetlag interacted significantly, increasing metabolic risk (Coef. = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.22), whereas 1 to <2 h alone showed a protective effect (Coef. = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.17, -0.06). These findings suggest that optimizing sleep schedules and addressing social jetlag may be crucial in mitigating metabolic syndrome risks among shift workers.

Big data analytics for quality variation over work shifts in manufacturing systems

ABSTRACT In the manufacturing industry, mass production enables manufacturers to produce parts with high precision and lower costs. Multiple shifts operate production processes to maximize efficiency. Several researches have been conducted on the impact of shift work on labor’s health and habits. However, there have been few studies on the influence of shift work on the consistency of product quality. This paper provides a methodology to analyze the impact of different work shifts in a real electronic board manufacturing industry. The study uses big data and analytics to assess product quality from data. Non-parametric kernel density estimation is used to approximate the distribution of good products in each work slot. Then several metrics are used to measure the dissimilarity between the estimated densities. The approach can be leveraged in various problems related to process performance and quality. The obtained results show that there is no significant difference in terms of product quality between work shifts. These prove the consistency of the manufacturing processes and the homogeneity of performance across work shifts in the studied factory. Compared to the literature, the paper presents the first quantitative analysis to compare production process performance and product quality over shift works.