Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory Research Articles

Minimize Mental Workload and Fatigue of Horizontal Directional Drilling Worker Using Rating Scale Mental Effort and Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory Methods.

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a drilling technique that does not damage the groundsurface; the HDD process involves a stage that requires high concentration and physical skills and isoften carried out in challenging working conditions, causing mental Workload and fatigue in HDDworkers. HDD workers should be given improvements in their work methods to be safe whenworking due to being too tired or losing focus. HDDs must be monitored in real-time, which requiresworkers to get good results without errors so that workers experience workload pressure andmental fatigue. This study aims to measure and minimize mental Workload and fatigue in HDDworkers and determine improvement proposals based on the why-why diagram. Mental workloadmeasurement using the RSME method and fatigue using SOFI and why diagrams are used to findcause and effect in mental Workload and fatigue experienced by HDD workers. Based on the analysisof RSME, the scale value obtained based on six indicators of WL, WD, WP, WME, WA, and WF is 92.05,which is in the category of enormous business carried out, and the KiK indicator or fatigue gets thehighest scale value of 106.52 with the business category given is very large so that HDD workersexperience a mental workload. Mental workload and fatigue correlate. Based on the results of SOFI,the sleepiness dimension received a score of 21.83 with a high level of fatigue category. Therefore,the proposed improvement to the causal results of the Why Diagram is adding the workforce,adjusting work shifts, and monitoring and evaluating HDD workers.

Unraveling the interplay between mental workload, occupational fatigue, physiological responses and cognitive performance in office workers

Recently, cognitive demands in workplaces have surged significantly. This study explored the intricate relationship among mental workload (MWL), occupational fatigue, physiological responses, and cognitive performance in office workers by using collective semi-parametric models. One hundred office workers were selected from twenty offices involved in cognitive performance. MWL was assessed through the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and occupational fatigue was measured using the Persian version of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory. Physiological responses, including respiratory rate, the electrical conductivity of the skin (ECS), Heart Rate (HR), and other heart-related parameters, were recorded from the participants during a work shift. Selective and Divided Attention tests were chosen to evaluate workers' cognitive function based on cognitive task analysis. The mean of MWL and occupational fatigue scores were 66.28 ± 11.76 and 1.62 ± 1.07, respectively. There was a significant moderate correlation between two dimensions, mental demand (0.429) and frustration (0.409), with functional fatigue. Also, Significant and, of course, nonlinear relationships were observed between MWL and HR (R2 = 0.44, P-value < 0.001) and ECS (R2 = 0.45, P-value < 0.001) and reaction time in selected (R2 = 0.34, P-value < 0.001) and divided test (R2 = 0.48, P-value < 0.001). Similarly, nonlinear relationships were observed between physiological responses and cognitive performance with fatigue among participants who had experienced higher levels of occupational fatigue. The MWL and fatigue seem to have a significant and non-linear effect on physiological parameters such as HR and ECS and cognitive parameters such as reaction time. Moreover, MWL can influence the dimension of functional fatigue of workers.

Effects of a work schedule with abated quick returns on insomnia, sleepiness, and work-related fatigue: results from a large-scale cluster randomized controlled trial.

To investigate the effect of a work schedule with abated quick returns (i.e. > 11 hours between two shifts) on insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and work-related fatigue compared to a shift schedule maintaining the usual number of quick returns. A two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial including 66 units was conducted at a university hospital in Norway. Units with healthcare workers on rotating shift schedules were randomly assigned to a shift schedule with abated quick returns (intervention) or to continue with a schedule including quick returns as usual (control) for 6 months. Questionnaires assessed symptoms of insomnia (Bergen Insomnia Scale [BIS]), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]), and work-related fatigue (Revised Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory) at baseline and towards the end of the intervention. Data were analyzed using multilevel linear mixed-effects models, and Cohen's d was used to calculate the effect size between groups. Overall, 1314 healthcare workers (85.2% female) completed the baseline questionnaire (response rate 49.1%), and 552 completed the follow-up questionnaire. The intervention reduced quick returns from an average of 13.2 (SD = 8.7) to 6.7 (SD = 6.0), while the control group's average remained relatively unchanged from 13.2 (SD = 8.7) to 12.0 (SD = 9.3). Results showed a small improvement in symptoms of insomnia (BIS; d = -0.13, p = .022) and daytime sleepiness (ESS; d = -0.14, p = .013) in favor of the intervention. No effects were observed on work-related fatigue. Reducing the number of quick returns in the work schedule resulted in improvements in insomnia and daytime sleepiness. The findings highlight the importance of sufficient daily rest time in the work schedule of healthcare workers. Health Promoting Work Schedules: The Effect of Abolishing Quick Returns (HeWoS); clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04693182; Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT04693182.

Occupational Fatigue and Its Relationship with Musculoskeletal Disorders and Heat Stress among the Workers of Summer Crops in Southeast Iran in 2021.

This research aimed to evaluate work fatigue and its relationship with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and heat stress (WBGT) among greenhouse workers in Jiroft County, southeast Iran. This cross-sectional study was carried out between September 2021 and February 2022 among 150 workers in summer crop greenhouses. Data were collected by a demographic questionnaire, the Swedish occupational fatigue inventory (SOFI-20), and the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ), and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was measured as per ISO 7243. The collected data were analyzed by the χ2 test, logistic regression, and multivariable linear regression in the Stata 17.0 software. The results showed a higher total fatigue score among the studied workers (mean = 100.71 out of 200). Among the fatigue dimensions, the three dimensions of lack of energy, physical discomfort, and physical exertion had the highest scores of 27.28, 26.71, and 25.71, respectively. The highest rate of MSD prevalence was in the back (54.7%), neck (50.7%), and shoulders (49.3%). Based on ISO 7243, the mean WBGT was beyond the allowed level for most tasks for greenhouse workers. There was a statistically significant relationship between occupational fatigue with MSDs and WBGT. Given the relatively high score reported for fatigue and its relationship with MSDs and heat stress, it is recommended to conduct further and more applied studies to investigate the approaches to alleviating heat stress and physical ergonomic risk factors in greenhouses in this occupational group.

Effect of Split Condition and Driving Duration on Fatigue Based on Changes in Brain Wave Signals when Driving a Train Simulator

One of the causes of train accidents is driver fatigue. Train driver fatigue can be caused by sleep factors, known as split sleep. This study aims to assess the impact of split sleep on train driver fatigue. A total of 12 male participants were asked to drive a train simulator for 2.5 hours after facing two sleep conditions, namely split sleep and baseline. The split sleep condition required participants to sleep in two segments at 05.00-10.00 and 12.00-15.00, while the baseline condition was conducted in one segment at 21.00-05.00. Fatigue was measured based on changes in brain wave signals via electroencephalogram (EEG) and Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI). Fatigue measurements with EEG were conducted at the 10-minute start and end of the simulation, while fatigue measurements with SOFI were conducted before and after the simulation. The results of this study showed a higher level of subjective fatigue in split sleep compared to the baseline. However, the EEG signal change data and other dimensions of SOFI dimensions showed no difference between the two sleep states. Another result was an increase in fatigue after simulation in all dimensions of the SOFI. Therefore, split sleep should not be applied by drivers because it can increase subjective fatigue. However, if split sleep needs to be applied, it is necessary to fulfill sleep quantity (7-9 hours) and improve sleep quality. In addition, the company also needs to ensure that the train driver are awake at least 15 minutes.

Scoping Review on Measurement Tool for Work Fatigue

Measurement tools for assessing work fatigue are very diverse and developed according to research needs. The are several measurements that widely used to address or find out the work fatigue in industries. This research is a scoping review of “Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory”, “The Multidimensional Work Fatigue Inventory”, “Fatigue Severity Scale”, “Fatigue Assessment Scale”, “Short Form 36 Vitality Subscale”, and “The Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery Scale (OFER). This was reported under the guidance of PRISMA extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR). This study shows an inconsistency in use of measurement tools, even though researchers argue for practicality. The large number of studies on work fatigue allows confusion of researchers to choose a measurement tool for work fatigue that is suitable for the research population. This research helps other to describe various measurement tools of work fatigue that are often used globally. Further research can determine the measurement tool of fatigue according to needs and some considerations of advantages to be more accurate.

The measurement of fatigue in clinicians within hospital settings: A systematic review of measurement properties.

Medical staff fatigue leads to accidents and mistakes and puts patient safety at risk. A measure of fatigue in the workplace may help to quantify, predict, and manage fatigue. This review aimed to evaluate instruments used to measure fatigue in medical staff within hospitals. A systematic review following the JBI methodology was undertaken. A search for articles was conducted in 2021. Included articles (all validation studies) were assessed for methodological quality using the COSMIN checklist. Measurement property data was evaluated for Quality of Evidence using GRADE methodology. Ten studies representing five instruments were reviewed: Occupational Fatigue Exertion and Recovery scale (now superseded); Occupational Fatigue Exertion and Recovery scale (15-item); Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; Need for Recovery Scale; and the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory. Four instruments show promise for measuring fatigue in hospital medical staff, however, there is limited certainty in the measure property estimates. The Quality of Evidence for measurement properties for all instruments is insufficient. Further validation studies following the COSMIN standards are needed before recommendations for use can be made.

The LazyBox Educational Intervention Trial: Can Longitudinal Practice on a Low-Fidelity Microsurgery Simulator Improve Microsurgical Skills?

Introduction Every surgical trainee must acquire microsurgical skills within a limited timeframe. Therefore, identifying effective educational strategies to help learners attain these skills is crucial. Objective Establish the effectiveness of a low-fidelity microsurgery simulator to improve the execution and one's perception of the difficulty of basic surgical techniques. Methods From 2021 to 2022, 24 medical students were randomized to either (1) a treatment group (n=12) that engaged in longitudinal practice on a low-fidelity microsurgery simulator (the LazyBox) or (2) a control group (n=12) that did not practice. Students performed vessel loop ligation, catheter macroanastomosis, and synthetic vessel microanastomosis prior to and six weeks after intervention. Both objective metrics and subjective metrics (Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) and Surgery Task Load Index (SURG-TLX)) were obtained. Results The treatment and control arms had 1.2 (SD = 2.6) and 2.1 (SD = 2.4) points increase in the vessel loop ligation, respectively (p = 0.39). The treatment and control arms had a 3.4 (SD = 4.1) and 2.9 (SD = 3.6) points increase in the macroanastomosis task, respectively (p = 0.74). In the synthetic vessel microanastomosis task training, the experimental and control arms showed a 5.4 (SD = 8.3) and a 2.9 (SD = 5.6) points increase, respectively (p = 0.30). No differences were found between the groups regarding survey metrics of mental (p = 0.82), temporal (p = 0.23), and physical demands (p = 0.48). Conclusion In our randomized educational intervention, we found no significant difference in objective and subjective metrics of microsurgical task performance between learners who did and did not use the LazyBox simulator.

Mental workload profile and its relationship with presenteeism, absenteeism and job performance among surgeons: The mediating role of occupational fatigue

IntroductionSurgeons are one of the most significant jobs in the health care system that plays an important role in the patients' health promotion and their treatment. In the current study, the effect of mental workload on the work performance of surgeons was tested by considering the mediating effect of fatigue on this relationship. MethodThis study was done analytically on 165 surgeons working in the operating rooms of hospitals in Iran. To determine of mental workload, the SURG-TLX method was used. The job performance was measured using the short version of the job performance questionnaire provided by the World Health Organization (WHO-HPQ), and accordingly relative presenteeism, relative absenteeism and job performance variables were calculated. The Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) questionnaire was used to determine occupational fatigue. A conceptual model was built to determine the direct and indirect relationship between mental workload and job performance, and the mediating effect of occupational fatigue on the relationship between mental workload and job performance was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). ResultsOut of 165 distributed questionnaires, 140 questionnaires were completed and delivered to the researchers (85% response rate). The mean ± standard deviations of mental workload, fatigue, and work performance were 16.57 ± 5.83, 6.32 ± 2.86, and 0.65 ± 0.28, respectively. The results of model fit indexes revealed that all indexes are within the acceptable range. Regarding this model, the direct effect of mental workload on job performance was not significant (β = −0.21; p = 0.072). A significant positive relationship was observed between mental workload and fatigue (β = 0.36; p < 0.001). The direct effect of fatigue on job performance was also the opposite and statistically significant (β = −0.39; p < 0.001). Finally, results indicated that the effect of mental workload on work performance mediated by occupational fatigue. ConclusionSurgeons suffer a high level of mental workload during their work, and this factor can have a negative effect on surgeons' job performance. The effect of mental workload on job performance in surgeons can be detected, directly and indirectly, through the mediating effect of occupational fatigue. Improving the mental and physical conditions of the work environment can reduce occupational fatigue and improve surgeons’ job performance.

Anxiety, Resilience and Occupational Fatigue in Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

Background: The COVID-19 virus epidemic has caused a major physical and psychological burden on nurses in Iran and around the world. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of anxiety and resilience in predicting occupational fatigue in nurses during the COVID ‐ 19 virus epidemic in Iran. Materials &amp; Methods: This cross-sectional online survey was conducted on the nurses of Razi and Porsina public hospitals in Rasht, north of Iran. A total of 160 nurses of were selected using simple random sampling method. Data were collected using the Swedish occupational fatigue inventory (SOFI), the corona disease anxiety scale (CDAS) and the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC). Results: Participation rate was 87.5%. The score level of most nurses in CDAS was low to moderate. The CDAS score was higher in women and those who work in the COVID units than those who work in both the COVID and non-COVID units. The CD-RISC score was higher in married people than singles and in people with permanent employment status than in contract and temporary employment status. SOFI was positively correlated with CDAS and negatively correlated with CD-RISC; But CDAS and CD-RISC were not significantly related (p&lt;0.05). In multivariate linear regression model. Anxiety was the only significant independent predictor of occupational fatigue (B=1.16, P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Despite the COVID-19 epidemic crisis in the fourth wave and high mortality, anxiety level in nurses was low and moderate, which can be attributed to the COVID-19 vaccine. But the anxiety score still played an important role in occupational fatigue. It is suggested that appropriate interventions be developed and implemented to improve nurses' anxiety to stressful epidemic conditions of Covid-19 and thereafter.

PREVALENCE OF DRIVING FATIGUE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG LOGISTIC TRUCK DRIVERS IN MALAYSIA

Fatigue is a very serious problem for transportation workers that contributes to various issues such as reduced alertness, slower reaction time, and deteriorating driving performance leading to road accidents. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of driving fatigue and its associated factors with individual, work-related, physiological changes in heart rate, and reduced alertness among logistics truck drivers in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 168 truck drivers employed in a logistics and transportation company in several locations including Klang Valley, Johor, and Penang. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and work-related information. The Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) and Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) were used to evaluate the fatigue and level of sleepiness of logistic truck drivers. A heart rate monitor and alertness impairment assessed psychological changes using psychomotor vigilance task (PVT). Measurements were assessed before and after work conditions for subjective sleepiness scale, changes in heart rate, and alertness reduction via PVT. The prevalence of occupational fatigue among logistic truck drivers was 42.9%. There was a strong association between occupational fatigue with age (β= -0.329, 95% CI: -0.644 to -0.013), job satisfaction (β= -0.381, 95% CI: -0.502 to -0.260) and the need for recovery after work (β= 0.172, 95% CI: 0.067 to 0.277) respectively. A significant difference was found in sleepiness levels before and after driving conditions (p&lt;0.001, t=-12.96). However, no significant association was found between heart rate and occupational fatigue (p&gt; 0.05). For PVT mean, the results showed that significant differences were found before and after working conditions (p=0.009, t=2.44). The combination of subjective and objective evaluation of fatigue was identified as the variables contributing to driving fatigue. Age, job satisfaction, and the need for recovery were the intrinsic variables that should be put into consideration in order to overcome the driving fatigue of logistic truck drivers.

Indonesian Version of Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI): Validity and Reliability Test of Worker’s Fatigue Assessment Instrument

Background: The Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) is an instrument to assess a person’s fatigue, which is not limited to workers of a company, but can also be used for the general public. SOFI can determine fatigue from physical, cognitive and psychosocial conditions.1 This study aims to translate the instrument so that it can be used in Indonesia, then assess its validity and reliability.Methods: This study was conducted using a 10-step transcultural adaptation method from ISPOR followed by item validity and reliability tests on 224 workers at a geothermal company in Indonesia. Item-total correlation and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed using online version 0.14.3 of JASP statistic program. And for reliability test using SPSS tool.Results: Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) has been adapted into an Indonesian version through the ISPOR transcultural adaptation method. All items in the Indonesian version of SOFI which amounted to 20 items proved the validity and reliability of this questionnaire was very good (α-Cronbach 0.969) and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis test showed: Factor model (224, p &lt; 0,001) = 337.649, CFI = 0,958, NFI = 0,924, RFI = 0,909, IFI = 0,958, TLI = 0,950, dan RMSEA = 0,070, 90% CI: 0,060 – 0,081. Fit indices results had acceptable model fits corresponding to the structure of the original instrument. Item-rest correlation range from 0.321 to 0.847, these results reveal that each item-rest correlation is extremely strong.Conclusion: The Indonesian version of SOFI is proven to have good validity and reliability as an instrument for assessing fatigue/work fatigue for workers in Indonesia.

The effect of shift work on burnout and occupational fatigue among clinical faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shift work of clinical faculty members in the COVID-19 pandemic may cause burnout and occupational fatigue and as a result, may reduce the quality of student education and disrupt the treatment of patients, so this study was conducted to evaluate this case. The statistical population of this cross-sectional research included all clinical faculty members of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in southwestern Iran, who experienced a shift work system (night shift from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and finally, 71 of them participated in it. The sampling method was also available. Two inventories were used to collect data, namely the Maslach Burnout Inventory [MBI-HSS (MP)] and the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI-20). The self-reported burnout of faculty members was high (mean ± SD = 98.18 ± 17.18), which was graded into the range of emotional exhaustion (38.01 ± 10.2), range of personal accomplishment, (33.75 ± 6.75), and the range of depersonalization (26.42 ± 3.5), respectively. Perceived occupational fatigue of faculty members was also high (M ± SD = 82.25 ± 34.79), which included the dimensions of lack of motivation (18.69 ± 8.65), drowsiness (17.43 ± 8.7), lack of energy (16.33 ± 7.67), physical discomfort (15.65 ± 8.62), and physical stress (13.51 ± 6.9), respectively. In terms of demographic characteristics, occupational fatigue was significantly more common among women. The self-reported burnout and occupational fatigue of clinical faculty members due to shift work were reported to be high in this study. Although our knowledge of burnout has advanced in recent years, many gaps in our knowledge still remain. In order for clinical faculty members to properly fulfill their mission to treat patients, educate students, and promote public health, it is necessary to provide all the necessary conditions for their effective activity. Some interventions, such as improving organizational strategies and providing technical solutions, incentives, and occupational facilities, can help reduce or eliminate these problems.

Physical and psychological workloads and their association with occupational fatigue among hospital service personnel

BackgroundPhysical and psychological workloads are a vital issue in the workplace. This study aimed to investigate the association between physical and psychological workloads and occupational fatigue among Iranian hospital service personnel. In Iran, hospital service personnel refers to a group of healthcare workers who undertake a range of duties, such as moving and carrying the hospital waste, transporting patients by wheelchair or gurney to the operating room, x-ray department, other wards, or other locations around the facility, performing cleaning tasks such as changing linens, mopping floors, and sterilizing equipment, and following infection control procedures to reduce the risk of spreading germs within the hospital setting.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 198 Iranian hospital service personnel. The response rate was 86%. The data were gathered using 1) The Persian version of the Job Content Questionnaire (P-JCQ) for assessing physical and psychosocial workloads and 2) The Persian version of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (P-SOFI-20) for assessing fatigue dimensions.ResultsAccording to the P-JCQ, the physical and psychological workload intensities were high in 72.7% and 47% of the participants, respectively. Based on the P-SOFI, the participants’ mean scores of “physical fatigue” (21.73 ± 6.2), “psychological fatigue” (13.61 ± 5.76), and “fatigue due to shift work” (18.17 ± 5.6) were moderate, while the mean score of “general fatigue” was high (27.3 ± 6.98). The findings revealed that various types of fatigue are associated with age, gender, marital status, daily working hours, and psychological workload.ConclusionsPsychological workload was a determinant of occupational fatigue among Iranian hospital service personnel. Hence, an interventional program, including job enrichment, job rotation, and work-rest cycle, is recommended.

Mental Workload, Occupational Fatigue and Musculoskeletal Disorders of Forestry Professionals

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) comprise one of the most important occupational health issues in forestry professions. The purpose of the study was to examine the association among musculoskeletal disorders, antrhopometric and personal data, mental workload and occupational fatigue in forest professionals in northern Iran by means of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI). More than eight out of every ten subjects reported at least one MSD symptom during the past 12 months, with lower back (72.5%), feet and ankles (49%) and neck (41.2%) being the more frequently affected body regions. Similar MSD prevalences were reported for the period of seven days prior to data collection. Both the mental workload (grand mean 73.18±7.54) and occupational fatigue (grand mean 106.20±24.53) achieved high scores. MSD prevalence was found to be correlated with the SOFI score and the NASA-TLX score during the last year and seven days prior to data collection, respectively.Overall, the study results confirm the very demanding nature of the forest professions, which are characterized by high MSD prevalence, increased occupational fatigue and high mental workload. Given the small-scale forestry characteristics in the study area, taking measures such as introducing vocational training and promoting the use of personal protective equipment are some first necessary steps for the local forestry workforce.

Development of a Test Battery for Fatigue Assessment of Agriculture Seating Systems: A Laboratory and Field Study

ABSTRACT The objective of this project was to evaluate a battery of tests that could be used to assess fatigue development in the long-duration, seated operation of farming machinery. A battery of eight tests that had been previously used to assess aspects of human fatigue were assembled and human subject testing procedures (six participants in a laboratory study, eight in a field study) were employed to identify those tests that were sensitive to fatigue development in this context. In the laboratory study, participants maintained a seated posture for a period of 2 hours and experienced a controlled seat motion profile consistent with that of farm machinery working in a moderately rough field, while the field study participants experienced an 8–10 h ground preparation (heavy tillage with chisel plow) workday. The battery of tests considered included physiological assessments, human performance assessments, and subjective assessments. TIME was the independent variable. The non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test was performed to assess the effects of TIME. Subjective assessments (Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory and Body Part Discomfort) had the strongest relationship with TIME, while two physiological assessments (heart rate and heart rate variability) were also shown to be affected by TIME. Subjective assessments were the strongest measures and objective measures heart rate and heart rate variability were effective at showing fatigue of the seated machinery operators. Human performance assessment approaches were not found to be predictors of fatigue of the seated operator.

Assessing the effectiveness of an ergonomics intervention program with a participatory approach: ergonomics settlement in an Iranian steel industry.

PurposeWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common occupational problems affecting the health and productivity of workers worldwide. Ergonomic intervention programs (EIPs) can play an effective role in preventing these disorders in the workplace. Assessing the effectiveness of an EIP is a challenge faced by both industries and researchers. This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of an EIP on human resources productivity (HRP), musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), general health and occupational fatigue in a steel industry.MethodsThis study was conducted in a steel industry in Isfahan, Iran, between 2018 and 2021. To assess the effectiveness of the EIP with a participatory approach, training and redesign of workstations, the criteria of HRP, MSDs, general health and occupational fatigue were investigated before and after the intervention, using HRP Questionnaire, Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ), 28-item General Health Questionnaire (28-GHQ), Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI-20) and Occupational Fatigue/Exhaustion Recovery (OFER-15) Questionnaire, as data collection tools, respectively.ResultsThe implementation of EIP in the studied industry significantly led to an increase in HRP (p < 0.05). The prevalence of MSDs decreased significantly in most regions of the body after the interventions (p < 0.001). In addition, the program significantly improved general health (p < 0.001) and reduced occupational fatigue among employees (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe implementation of EIP was significantly effective in working conditions improvement. Therefore, implementing EIP with participatory approach, workforce training, as well as redesigning of workstations are recommended in industries.

The effects of examiner fatigue on the diagnostic accuracy of dental radiographs.

The aim of the study was to find out whether and to what extent the performance of dentists regarding diagnostic evaluation of dental radiographs is influenced by symptoms of fatigue. Over a period of 40 minutes, 21 dentists evaluated a database of 96 randomly selected, infinitely repeating intraoral dental radiographs for the presence of periapical radiolucencies. Both before and after, participants were asked to assess their subjective fatigue using the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Diagnostic accuracy was analyzed using the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) method. Furthermore, the correlation between diagnostic accuracy and radiographic experience, image viewing time, and level of training was also evaluated. The study showed that despite increasing fatigue, the diagnostic accuracy of the examiners remained consistent with an average AUC value of 0.768 ± 0.091. Within the 40-min reporting period, no statistically significant fluctuations were found. The diagnostic accuracy varied depending on the radiographic experience: with many years of radiographic experience, the diagnostic accuracy increased. At the same time, the older study participants with greater radiographic experience became less tired compared to younger study participants during the examination. Although an increase in fatigue was observed during the 40-min examination, the diagnostic accuracy of the doctors remained constant. Due to the high workload which needs to be handled in a limited time, medical and dental professionals have reached a certain level of exposition to stress that can lead to physical fatigue. However, the increasing fatigue should not negatively influence the work of the doctors. The study shows that the radiodiagnostic accuracy remained the same.

Korean Version of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory among Construction Workers: Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation.

The Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) has been tested in different languages and populations; thus, there is a need for a culturally adapted Korean version. We evaluated the psychometric properties of a Korean version of the SOFI among construction workers. The SOFI was translated into Korean and reviewed through a back-translation process involving standardized scaling procedures. Its reliability and validity were evaluated with a sample of 193 construction workers using internal consistency, item–subscale correlations, test–retest reliability, and content, construct, and concurrent validity. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the total scale and each subscale were satisfactory. Item–subscale correlations and test–retest reliability were both at acceptable levels. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the five-factor model had acceptable model fits corresponding to the structure of the original instrument. However, some modifications were made to improve in the new context from model fit (such as χ2(95) = 113.905 (p = 0.091), CFI = 0.994, and RMSEA = 0.033, as well as the lowest AIC = 383.905). Correlation analysis showed a significant relationship of SOFI with other fatigue measures in terms of total and subscale scores. Occupational fatigue is one of the important risk factors associated with workers’ health and safety at work. The new translated instrument is a reliable and valid tool for assessing fatigue among Korean construction workers. However, this instrument should be tested extensively in other working populations to devise specific interventions concerning fatigue reduction.

Physiological workload evaluation by means of heart rate monitoring during motor-manual clearcutting operations

ABSTRACT Forest workers encounter many health-related problems due to their harsh working conditions. This study focused on the evaluation of the physical workload of tree fellers during clearcut operations in a pine plantation forest in northern Iran by means of heart rate measurements. Anthropometric and personal data of the subjects such as age, body mass index (BMI), work experience, and health problems were also collected. The subjects were also asked to assess their perceived level of fatigue by means of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory. Activity sampling was used to record the physical workload of 13 subjects during a working day of 8 h for each one of them by means of a Polar Electro H10 heart rate sensor. The collected data were used for the calculation of heart rate indices that determine the strain of the subjects. The results showed that the mean level of physical workload was 43.54% of the relative heart rate (HRR) which corresponds to heavy work. The workers assigned most of the effective work time to tree processing (39.78%), back cut (18.6%), and undercut (12.07%). The highest mean heart rates (HRwork) were measured during the work elements of tree processing (117.7 bpm), back cut (115.6 bpm), and undercut (114.8 bpm). The study results also showed that the number of harvested trees and the average tree diameter at breast height exerted a significant impact on HRR and the BMI class on HRwork. Furthermore, age class was negatively correlated to net productivity.