Work Injuries Research Articles

Labour Protections for Overseas Chinese Workers: Legal Framework and Judicial Practice

Abstract The launch of China’s Belt and Road Initiative has brought attention to the dispatch of Chinese workers overseas. These vulnerable migrants are often charged high fees in China only to suffer wage abuses and work injuries abroad, where obtaining relief is often impossible. But what laws or regulations within China protect these workers, and how effective are they? This study takes an initial step towards answering those unexplored questions by analysing over 100 Chinese court decisions. While, for much of the China’s history, overseas workers were primarily seconded abroad by Chinese employers, a clear preference has emerged for sending workers through intermediary agencies that can charge fees and execute ‘service’ contracts. Nonetheless, the courts generally provide some relief to aggrieved workers who are dispatched through formal channels. However, a large number of workers go abroad through informal brokers. When disputes arise in these cases, judicial practice becomes very inconsistent. Ironically, workers sometimes fare better because the courts adopt a ‘strict liability’ approach that punishes the unregistered broker, ordering them to pay all compensation or refund all fees. But some judges punish the worker who entrusted an unregistered broker or worked abroad on a tourist visa. And other courts simply treat the matter as a contract or tort dispute. While aggrieved overseas workers who litigate in court face mixed results, this article also discusses why many workers never make it to the courthouse door. The conclusion offers proposals to enhance protections for overseas workers and discusses why it is important that China do so.

A scientometric review and meta-analysis of the health and safety of women in construction: structure and research trends

PurposeThis paper aims to present a meta-analysis and scientometric review to explore the intellectual evolution of research on the health and safety of women in construction, identify trends and research patterns and workplace stressors and hazards encountered by women in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA combination of scientometric analysis and meta-analysis was adopted to systematically review 32 relevant studies from 1984 to 2020, to provide a holistic review of research on women’s health and safety in construction aimed to identify the trend of research development. Techniques such as co-authorship, keyword co-occurring and cluster analysis were adopted.FindingsFive main themes summarized by clustering focusing on Workplace Psychological Health, HIV/AIDS and Construction Work, Occupational Health and Safety Injuries, Gender Inclusivity and Sexism in Construction and Gender-specific Health and Safety Analysis. Findings revealed a slow growth in women’s health and safety research with the USA, South Africa, Australia and Japan leading research development. Additionally, the major stressors or hazards faced by women in construction were found to be biological related hazards.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of the study are limited, resulting from the use of one abstract and citation database.Practical implicationsFindings from the study provide insights to the health and safety challenges of women in construction and identifies of knowledge gaps in the existing literature could provide researchers and industry practitioners with a comprehensive insight into intellectual landscapes, potential research frontiers on technologies for women’s construction health and safety.Originality/valueWhile numerous studies have focused on the health and safety of workers in the construction industry, research on women’s health and safety is lacking. The study adopted a scientometric and meta-analysis approach to explore the intellectual evolution and reflect the research status on the subject.

Study on quality of life and influeming factors of occupational disease patients in hangzhou

Objective: To investigate and analyze the quality of life of occupational patients in Hangzhou and its influencing factors, so as to improve their qol. Methods: From January 2007 to June 2018, patients with diagnosed occupational diseases in Hangzhou City were randomly sampled in October 2019. The patients＇basic condition and quality of life were investigated by self-made questionnaire and SF-36, a total of 303 valid questionnaires were collected and the influencing factors were analyzed by correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Results: The scores of physiological function, physiological function, physical pain, general health status, energy, social function, emotional function and mental health of the patients with occupational diseases in Hangzhou were lower than those of the general population in China, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01) . The main factors affecting the score of quality of life of occupational patients are the types of occupational diseases, the level of disability and the duration of illness, the condition of suffering from other diseases, age, educational level, whether they are entitled to Work Injury Insurance, economic income, medical security and social support, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The quality of life of the patients with occupational diseases in Hangzhou City is poor, and the corresponding measures should be established to improve the qulity of life.

Predictors of subsequent injury at work: findings from a prospective cohort of injured workers in New Zealand

ObjectivesPeople who have experienced a work-related injury can experience further work injuries over time. This study examines predictors of subsequent work-related injuries over 24 months among a cohort of injured...

Regional trauma patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe current pandemic has impacted heavily on health systems, making unprecedented demands on resources, and forcing reconfiguration of services. Trauma and orthopaedic units have cancelled elective surgery, moved to virtual based clinics and have been forced to reconsider the provision of trauma. Our national elective orthopaedic centre has been re-designated as a trauma centre to allow tertiary centres re-direct triaged trauma. Many governments, as part of their COVID-19 management, have significantly restricted activity of the general population. We proposed that trauma patterns would change alongside these changes and maintaining existing standards of treatment would require dedicated planning and structures. MethodsReferrals over a six-week period (March 15th to April 30th) were retrospectively reviewed. Data was collected directly from our referral database and a database populated. Analysis was performed to assess trauma volume, aetiology, and changes in trends. ResultsThere were one hundred and fifty-nine referrals from three individual hospitals within the timeframe. Mean age of patient's referred was 55 (range17–92). Males accounted for 45% of cases. F&A injuries were the most common (32%), followed by H&W (28%), UL (17%), H&F (16%) and K&T (7%). In comparison to the corresponding time-period in 2019, trauma theatre activity reduced by almost one half (45.3%) ConclusionThe majority of trauma referred to our Dublin based centre during COVID-19 related population restrictions appears to be home based and trauma volumes have decreased. Significant reductions are apparent in work and sport related injuries suggestive of compliance with COVID-19 activity guidelines. Maintaining existing standards of treatment requires dedicated planning.

Injury, Illness, and Mental Health Risks in United States Domestic Mariners.

Describe health conditions and injury and illness rates in a population of United States mariners, an understudied workforce vital to economic security. In this survey study, mariner health data was collected and analyzed to provide injury and illness rates (including mental health conditions) and associated risk factors. In this mariner population of highly tenured vessel masters and pilots, hypertension, obesity, sleep disorders, smoking, alcohol consumption, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were common. BMI ≥35 was associated with increased likelihood of work injury (OR 5.7; 95%CI 1.01, 32.59). The mariners were in poor overall health, raising public health and safety concerns in this population of essential transportation workers. Follow-up studies including a wider distribution of domestic mariners (deck hands, engineers) would further characterize occupational risks.

Occupational Injuries of Latinx Child Farmworkers in North Carolina: Associations With Work Safety Culture.

This paper examines the association of occupational injuries with work safety culture among Latinx child farmworkers. Interviews were conducted in 2017 with 202 Latinx farmworkers aged 10 to 17 years. Occupational injuries were common among the child farmworkers: for example, 66.8% reported any work injury and 45.5% reported heat-related illness. Work safety culture was inadequate; for example, most did not receive safety training, one-third reported having worked piece-rate; only a few field sanitation services were available, and perceived work safety climate was low. Work safety culture had a mixed association with occupational injuries, with safety training and a better perceived work safety climate having a direct association with occupational injuries. Policy is needed to reduce child farmworker injuries. Strategies to improve the predictive value of the work safety culture model are required.

The Contribution of Onsite Physiotherapy to an Integrated Model for Managing Work Injuries: A Follow Up Study.

Purpose As part of an integrated system to manage work injuries, some organisations utilise the skills of an onsite physiotherapist. Onsite physiotherapy can provide benefits for the workers and organisation when delivered as part of an early intervention injury prevention program (IPP) at a poultry meat processing plant. However, once established, the sustainability of this service on work injury and compensation outcomes without ongoing physiotherapy contribution is unknown. Methods Through analysis of two large secondary datasets of workplace injuries and compensation claims, outcome measures of injury rates, cost per workers' compensation claim and duration of work absence were compared over a 36-month period where onsite physiotherapy contributed to the IPP and was later removed. Results 3951 injuries and their 781 resultant compensation claims were analysed within a 36-month analysis period. A small but non-significant rise in injury rates and duration of work absence was associated with the removal of onsite physiotherapy. There was also a shift towards more compensations claims with work absence after physiotherapy was removed. However, there was a significant reduction in adjusted mean costs per claim of $847 for all injury types (p < 0.001) and $930 for musculoskeletal disorders (p < 0.001) after the removal of onsite physiotherapy. Conclusions Once an IPP was embedded within an organisation, onsite physiotherapy services were able to be discharged without significantly and negatively impacting demonstrated benefits and injury outcomes. There was also cost savings to the insurer through reduced mean claim costs and to the employer by not funding the onsite physiotherapy service.

Workforce Reintegration After Work-Related Permanent Impairment: A Look at the First Year After Workers' Compensation Claim Closure.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to descriptively quantify experiences of injured workers with permanent impairment during their first year of work reintegration. Methods A representative survey was conducted to characterize health, disability, pain, employment, reinjury, and economic outcomes for 598 workers with permanent impairment who had returned to work during the year after workers' compensation claim closure. Survey responses were summarized by degree of whole body impairment (< 10% vs. ≥ 10%). Results Injured workers who had returned to work reported that permanent impairment made it difficult to get a job (47%) and to keep their job (58%). A year after claim closure, 66% reported moderate to very severe pain; 40% reported pain interference with work. About 13% reported new work injuries; over half thought permanent impairment increased their reinjury risk. Asked to compare current to pre-injury work status, workers with a higher degree of impairment more frequently reported working fewer hours (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.06, 2.42), earning less (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.04, 2.36), and being at higher risk of losing their current job due to their impairment (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.01, 2.71). Conclusions Injured workers with permanent impairment face long-term challenges related to health limitations, chronic pain, work reintegration, and economic impacts. Workers with a higher degree of impairment more frequently reported several economic and job security challenges. Developing workplace and workers' compensation-based interventions that reduce return-to-work interruption and reinjury for workers with permanent impairment should be prioritized as an important public health and societal goal.

Разработка методики проведения внепланового инструктажа по случаю производственного травматизма, учитывающей человеческий фактор

The results of the analysis of the status of conditions and occupational safety at RZD are presented. It is shown that in most of the work injuries, the main culprit continues to be the person himself. Practice shows that the preventive measures on preventing industrial injuries carried out on the railway network in order to prevent such cases does not significantly improve the situation. One of the most effective ways of preventing injuries in the workplace is training in safe work practices, which ensures consolidation of previous and acquisition of new knowledge, improvement of skills and safe work. However, efficient conducting instructions on occupational safety is possible only with a comprehensive influence on human channels of information perception. To increase the effectiveness of conducting briefings, it is required to abandon such a method of communicating information to the employee as mechanical reading of documents. The developed methodology for teaching methods and techniques of safe work execution should be put into practice. The proposed methodology for unscheduled briefing with the influence on the perception channels of information by an employee consists of nine points: creation of conditions, introduction, influence on perception, the need in eye contact, use of instructor experience, use of the experience of the instructed, use of game elements, independent work, interview. It was developed considering the human factor, the basics of psychology, pedagogics and work experience in the railway transport.

A-40 Predictors of Failed Effort Testing at Initial Clinic Visit for Concussion Rehabilitation and Outcomes

Abstract Objective Neuropsychological evaluation of concussion typically includes performance validity testing to assess effort. The aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of effort testing as part of initial screening for concussion rehabilitation, including determining the factors that predict effort testing and evaluate outcomes between “good effort” and “failed effort” groups. Method Records of 76 patients aged 16–66 years old (M = 40.58 years, SD = 14.18) seen for rehabilitation of non-sport concussion from 2018–2019 were reviewed. Patients completed clinical interview, neurocognitive screening (ImPACT), effort testing (Word Memory Test), vestibular/oculomotor screening (VOMS), and the post-concussion symptom scale (PCSS). A logistic regression (LR) was conducted to predict effort, with predictors including mental health history, secondary gain, work injury, days post-injury, and PCSS. A series of one-way ANOVAs evaluated outcomes from concussion rehabilitation between the good and failed effort groups. Results Failed effort occurred in 42% of cases. The LR accurately classified 81.8% of individuals, with mental health history (p = .01) and PCSS (p = .02) as the only significant predictors of effort. There were no differences in recovery time (p = .56) between effort groups, but the failed effort group took longer to return to work (p = .03). Half of individuals who failed effort were seen until discharge, and 69% of them reported no symptoms/mild symptoms at discharge. Conclusions Failure of effort testing was predicted by a history of mental health and high symptom burden. Individuals who fail effort testing at initial visit for concussion rehabilitation take longer to return to functional activity but are capable of achieving recovery with compliance and appropriate rehabilitation.

Tired, strained, and hurt: The indirect effect of negative affect on the relationship between poor quality sleep and work injuries

ABSTRACT We conducted 3 studies to investigate how poor quality sleep relates to work injuries. First, using a sample of employed people living in the United Kingdom (N = 4,238; Study 1), we found that poor quality sleep was related to more frequent workplace injuries via negative affect rather than cognitive failures. Second, we again compared parallel pathways using a sample of USA employees (N = 202; Study 2): poor quality sleep was related to more frequent work injuries via work-related negative affect but not work-related cognitive failures. Third, we used a 2-wave sample of employees from the United Kingdom (N = 71; Study 3) finding that poor quality sleep was related to more frequent work injuries 7 weeks later via negative affect. Comparing high arousal and low arousal negative affect as competing pathways showed that there was a significant indirect effect of the former on the poor quality sleep-work injuries relationship but not the latter. Across 3 studies, we implicated the role of self-control failure stemming from poor quality sleep in predicting more frequent work injuries and suggested initiatives targeting high arousal negative affect as a way of reducing work injuries.

Современные требования к оценке профессиональных рисков на объектах золотодобычи

Russia is currently in the process of modernizing its legislation, primarily in the areas of occupational safety and health, industrial safety and emergency safety, which concerns the management system for occupational and industrial safety on a state level. The aim of the modernization is to make a transition from the previous inefficient system to the modern one. The old system focuses on health compensation, medical and social assistance to the employees suffering work injuries and occupational risks, while the new system is based on a preventive approach that presupposes continuous improvement of the working conditions, industrial safety enhancement, development of a safe working behavior culture, and creation of a risk-management system. The purpose of the article is to analyze the occupational safety and health management innovations encouraging the employers to implement risk assessment and risk management, and to evaluate the occupational risks in gold mining processes. The authors have examined the modern procedures of risk assessment, evaluated the occupational risks for the gold mines of the Bodaibo district, Irkutsk region, analyzed the risks by two methods and identified high-risk professions. Possible reasons for the incompliance of the physical factors of the gold miners’ working environment with the claimed requirements have been analyzed. The investigated professions are classified as high- and middle-risk ones. The detailed study of the drilling-and-blasting site has concluded that the mechanical hazards caused by the rock fragmentation, dust, or noise are unacceptable. Thus, the priority measures on improving the working conditions should focus on eliminating these adverse factors.

When is work a cause of early retirement and are there any effective organizational measures to combat this? A population-based study of perceived work environment and work-related disorders among employees in Sweden

BackgroundThe ageing workforce has an impact on public health. The aim of this study was to evaluate work-related disorders, work tasks and measures associated with the possibility of working beyond 65 years of age or not.MethodThe data comprised two sample surveys based on the Swedish population: the Survey of National Work-Related Health Disorders, and the National Work Environment Survey.ResultsA logistic regression analysis showed that an active systematic work environmental management in the workplace was a statistically significant association with whether individuals could work in their current occupation until 65 years of age (OR 1.7). The final multivariate model stated that whether individuals could work until 65 years was associated with bodily exhaustion after work, frequent feeling of the own work effort being insufficient at the end of the day, experience of the work as restricted and with a lack of freedom, working alone and at risk of unsafe or threatening situations, and generally feeling dissatisfied with the work tasks. Women-dominated workplaces were more highly associated with both male and female employees not being able to work until age 65 (OR 1.6).ConclusionDeficiencies in the working environment seems to be a threat to the public health. An active systematic work environmental management in the workplace increases the possibility to extend the working life. Tools for managers, like the swAge-model, to easily perform active systematic work environmental controls could therefore be a possible way to decrease the risk of work injury as well as increase the possibility for a sustainable extended working life.

Need and Capacity of a Toolkit for Occupational Health Nurses to Promote a New or Enhanced Drug-Free Workplace Program

Background: A drug-free workplace program (DFWP) has been shown to be effective in reducing workers' drug misuse. The purpose of this project was to determine the need and capacity for a new or enhanced DFWP in a large health system. If determined to be needed, the next step would be to develop, implement, and evaluate a toolkit to assist occupational health nurses to promote a new or enhanced DFWP. Methods: A strategic prevention framework was used to assess the need and capacity for a toolkit to prepare occupational health nurses to promote a new or enhanced DFWP. The project was conducted in the occupational health services department at a large health system in the Midwest U.S. occupational health nurses and employee assistance counselors in the hospital system completed a survey assessing the need and capacity for a new or enhanced DFWP. Findings: A gap was identified in the perceived effectiveness of training about DFWP and current DFWP components. The findings reflect the need and capacity for a DFWP toolkit. Optimally, a DFWP toolkit would include evidence-based drug and alcohol screening tools. We found that a toolkit for occupational health nurses to promote a new or enhanced DFWP in the project site was warranted. Conclusion/Application to practice: A DFWP can be an effective method of promoting workplace health and safety. Occupational health nurses can contact state and national representatives to encourage monitoring of drug-related work injuries to provide evidence to influence health policies to support effective DFWPs.

Epidemiology of Maxillofacial Fracture – A Hospital Based Study

Introduction: Maxillofacial trauma is the most common problem seen by maxillofacial surgeons in Nepal. The causes of facial fractures are road traffic accidents (RTA), assaults, falls, gunshot wounds, domestic violence, sports and work injuries. Maxillofacial injury varies from soft tissue injury to facial bone fractures. This study was conducted to assess the burden of maxillofacial trauma in mid-western and far-western regions of Nepal.&#x0D; Material and Method: Patients with maxillofacial fractures admitted in dental ward of NGMCTH, Kohalpur, from April 2017 to April 2019 were included in the study. Patients having soft tissue injury without facial bone fractures and OPD cases were excluded from the study. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, associated soft tissue injury, accompanying injuries to other parts of body and facial bone fractures were recorded. Patient were treated by open reduction internal fixation or lateral compression splint with circum-mandibular wiring or managed conservatively as necessary.&#x0D; Result: A total of 87 patients were included in the study. The age of patient ranged from 2 years to 67 years with a mean of 26.87 years. Most of the injuries occurred between the age group of 20-29 years with male: female ratio 5.2:1. The most frequent cause of facial bone fracture was RTA (51.7%) and the most frequently fractured facial bone was mandible. Contusion 54(49.5%) was the most common associated soft tissue injury. Head injury 20(52.6%) was the most common accompanying injury to other parts of body. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6.29.&#x0D; Conclusion: Male patient in their third decade mostly had mandible fracture due to road traffic accident. Head injury was the most common accompanying injury. Contusion was the most common type of associated soft tissue injury.

О проблеме учета несчастных случаев и о снижении травмоопасности в строительстве

Issues related to the investigation and record of the work injuries in the construction industry of Russia are considered. Data on the work injuries in the construction industry in Russia and the Kaliningrad region for a number of years is presented. To process this data, the modern mathematical and statistical methods are used. It is proved that the problem of work injuries record is not regional, but all-Russian, requiring the adoption of preventive- prophylactic actions at the country level. Based on data of the number of countries (Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Italy, Germany, the European Union) the hyperbolic dependence between the coefficient of the frequency of fatal incidents and the general coefficient of the frequency of incidents is revealed. Since the dependence of mortality on the frequency of general injury rate is of great practical importance, the correlation ratio of mortality to the total frequency of injuries was determined in the article, and the error of the correlation ratio was calculated. It was found that the correlation between the values of the considered indicators is quite high. Thus, the lack of record of the mild cases, non-conducting the preventive work on them are the reasons for the increase in the frequency of fatal incidents. The main areas of reducing risk of injury hazard, need to increase the role of self-regulatory organizations in rendering aid to the small construction enterprises on the issues of ensuring occupational and industrial safety are specified in the article

Domestic and family violence, non-lethal strangulation and social work intervention in the emergency department.

To review domestic and family violence (DFV) and non-lethal strangulation (NLS) presentations to an ED with 24-h social work. Retrospective cohort study of 12 months of DFV presentations comparing demographics, perpetrator relationship, social work review, injuries and NLS incidence and assessment. Women represent 90% of DFV presentations. In 26% of DFV presentations NLS was identified, with 47.5% clinically assessed appropriately. Social work did not review 34% of DFV presentations, 64% due to no referral. Social work referral for DFV is regularly missed despite 24-h access. Assessment of NLS in ED requires improvement and standardised national guidelines.

Agro-industrial accidents linked to length of service, operation site and confidence in employer adherence to safety rules

BackgroundThe agriculture sector consistently ranks among the most hazardous occupational industries globally with high risk of job-related injuries, illnesses, disability, and death. In 2015, the agricultural fatal work injury rate in the United States was 22.8 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers; seven times the all-worker fatal injury rate of 3.4 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. In this study we identified the factors that are associated with workplace accident and injuries at the Goldtree (SL) Limited Company - a private international agro-industrial palm kernel oil company operating in eastern Sierra Leone.MethodsThis is a descriptive research that made use of both qualitative and quantitative research techniques to collect and analyse agro-industrial occupation-related accident and injuries of workers attached to the Goldtree (SL) Limited Company, an international palm kernel oil producing and marketing company in Sierra Leone. We analyzed the responses of 100 workers at the Goldtree (SL) Limited Company that are related to their work safety, adherence to work safety guidelines as well as working habit.ResultsThirty nine (39.0%) of the workers interviewed in this study said they had been involved in some forms of occupational accident; (33.3%) of those involved in some form of occupational-related accidents have been working in the company for 3–5 years, 22.0% have been working at the company for at least 2 years; 7.7% have been working for 6–8 years (X2 = 9.88, p-value = 0.02).ConclusionWorkers who have spent few years in the job, and those workers who have confidence that management is committed to addressing health and safety issues, believed that their working tools were in excellent condition, or agreed that they have the rights and responsibilities for an effective workplace health and safety system have decreased odds of experiencing occupational-related accidents or injury at the study site.

Povećana sigurnost radnika primjenom kolaborativnih robota u proizvodnim procesima Industrije 4.0

SUMMARY: By applying Industry 4.0, modernization of the production processes in industry is achieved. However, the safety of workers must be a priority. Automation of production processes and raising it to a higher level can be achieved by employing collaborative robots working together with workers. The degree of safety measures guarantees that there are no work injuries. In using collaborative robots we exploit all the advantages that they possess over first-generation industrial robots. They work together with workers, workers work in a safe environment, robots take up less space, they are not physically separated from workers, they are easy to manipulate, they are cheaper, and are suitable for small and medium size companies. We have the possibility of introducing different levels of automation in the production process, i.e. we can partially automate the tasks where complete automation is too complex or not economical. The use of collaborative robots will grow in the future, since the goals of the fourth industrial revolution cannot be achieved without collaborative robots, in other words, without the "smart manufacturing process" or "smart factory".