Working Conditions Research Articles

Radiation Hazards, Protection, and Cultivating a Radiologically Safe Environment for Nurses

Medical diagnostics has been revolutionized with the discovery of X-rays. The number of radiological procedures performed globally has increased rapidly during past decades and according to UNSCEAR 2021 report, 4.2 billion medical radiological procedures are performed annually. Ionizing radiations if not used appropriately and carefully can lead to health hazards for health professionals involved in the radiation work as well as patients undergoing the radiological procedure. However, the awareness about the ionising radiation and radiation safety is very limited among the healthcare professionals. This educational paper will provide basic insights in radiation protection training, and key topics to cover during education and training for nurses working in various medical radiological procedures of patients. Nurses need to understand radiation protection principles and ways to minimize their exposure of radiation during radiological procedures. They should be able to practically apply radiation protection principles in healthcare settings with enhanced patient and occupational safety without Radiophobia. Applying radiation safety culture in nursing practice improves quality and safety in patient care.

Radiation Hazards, Protection, and Cultivating a Radiologically Safe Environment for Nurses

Medical diagnostics has been revolutionized with the discovery of X-rays. The number of radiological procedures performed globally has increased rapidly during past decades and according to UNSCEAR 2021 report, 4.2 billion medical radiological procedures are performed annually. Ionizing radiations if not used appropriately and carefully can lead to health hazards for health professionals involved in the radiation work as well as patients undergoing the radiological procedure. However, the awareness about the ionising radiation and radiation safety is very limited among the healthcare professionals. This educational paper will provide basic insights in radiation protection training, and key topics to cover during education and training for nurses working in various medical radiological procedures of patients. Nurses need to understand radiation protection principles and ways to minimize their exposure of radiation during radiological procedures. They should be able to practically apply radiation protection principles in healthcare settings with enhanced patient and occupational safety without Radiophobia. Applying radiation safety culture in nursing practice improves quality and safety in patient care.

Running on Empty: Ontario Hospital Workers' Mental Health and Well-Being Deteriorating Under Austerity-Driven System.

The well-being of health care workers (HCWs) and the public in Ontario, Canada is at risk as the province's health care system is strained by neoliberal restructuring and an aging population. Deteriorating working conditions that preceded the COVID-19 pandemic further declined as the added challenges took their toll on the work force, physically and mentally. The pandemic-weary hospital staff, predominantly women, many racialized, are facing unprecedented challenges. They are experiencing stress, anxiety, and burnout from staffing shortages and the resulting increased workloads, long hours, and violence. Comprehensive telephone interviews were conducted with 26 HCWs from less highly paid occupations in a range of hospitals across the province. Thematic analysis reveals a critical need for policies and legislation ensuring increased funding, hospital capacity, and reduced wait times while providing HCWs with fair and equitable wages, increased staffing, mental health supports, greater respect and acknowledgment, and strong protections from violence and other workplace hazards.

Unravelling the ideal roster: A cross-sectional study of nurse shift preferences using multivariate analysis: Unravelling the ideal roster: An analysis of nurse shift preferences.

Our study aims to explore nurses' shift preferences in relation to their personal characteristics and examine how these preferences align with the rosters imposed in Belgian healthcare settings. Additionally, the study seeks to identify patterns in shift preferences across different days of the week and investigate the existence of distinct groups of nurses with similar preferences, further examining the link between these groups and their personal characteristics. Cross-sectional. Questionnaires were distributed to 778 nurses across 11 general hospitals in Belgium, collecting data on demographics, chronotype, shift preferences, and roster alignment. Statistical analyses included logistic regression, principal component analysis, and k-means clustering. Age and chronotype significantly influence nurses' shift preferences. Preferences were consistent across the days within the week. The study revealed two groups of preferences: 'early birds' (preferring morning/day shifts) and 'night owls' (preferring evening/night shifts). Night owls were often neutral or evening-type chronotypes and had a higher alignment between imposed and ideal rosters. This study reinforces the importance of considering individual differences in nurses' shift preferences, linked to age and chronotype, and advocates for the adoption of flexible, personalized rostering systems. Personalized scheduling has the potential to improve workforce management, suggesting that healthcare administrators should consider individual preferences in rostering to mitigate the challenges of nurse understaffing. Tackles the pressing problem of nurse understaffing. Proposes that tailored rosters based on individual preferences could improve work conditions for nurses. Relevant to policymakers aiming to enhance nursing workforce management. STROBE Statement (for cross-sectional studies). None.

Update on occupational dermatitis: reviewing toxic substances from OSHA standards.

Occupational dermatitis (OD) is an inflammatory skin disease stemming from exposure to specific substances within a work setting. As the second most prevalent occupational health concern in 2020, affecting 1.8 per 10,000 workers, OD poses a significant challenge to workforce well-being and imposes a substantial economic burden through lost wages, decreased productivity, and increased healthcare spending. Dermatologists emerge as pivotal figures in recognizing risk factors and delivering essential care to individuals with OD. This review focuses on chemical hazards and toxic substances regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration across general industry, maritime, and construction sectors. It explores the background of each hazard, pathophysiology to dermatitis, and human cases reported between 2017 and 2023 for formaldehyde, chromium, vinyl chloride, and cadmium.

Impact of Indoor Environment and Biological Processes on Bioaerosol Levels in a University Wastewater Treatment Lab

Bioaerosol emitted in university biological laboratories may exert adversely effects on employees and students. The occupational health and safety have been given much importance. This study aimed to monitor the risk of bioaerosol formation inside a biological wastewater treatment laboratory where other biological activities were performed along with wastewater treatment using the biological method. The concentration of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols was studied, and the diversity of the air microbiota was evaluated, using a single-stage impactor. The purpose of the Corelation research was to evaluate the effects of indoor biological activity unique to wastewater labs and building characteristics. Increased number of occupants (corelation efficient- 0.71 and 0.47 respectively) and their experimental activity related to wastewater treatment drastically elevated both mesophiles (2018 MPN·m−3) and psychrophiles (1128 MPN·m−3) concentrations in early winter, which crossed permissible limits, whereas the fungal concentration was found below the upper permissible limits (78 MPN·m−3) in same condition. The fungal bioaerosols were found to get influenced by seasonal change and humidity (highest during autumn- 406 MPN·m−3) and were not really influenced by number of occupants (corelation efficient- 0.33). This result suggests a moderate risk of bacterial bioaerosol to occupants working in wastewater treatment laboratory. These findings may contribute to promotion and implementation of indoor environment safety at educational institute and may help in formation of policy to regulate indoor bioaerosol levels.

Is a Problem-Solving Intervention with Workplace Involvement for Employees on Sickness Absence Due to Common Mental Disorders More Effective, than Care as Usual, in Reducing Sickness Absence Days? Results of a Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial in Primary Health Care.

The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a problem-solving intervention with workplace involvement (PSI-WPI) added to care as usual (CAU) in reducing sickness absence days among employees with common mental disorders compared to CAU alone in Swedish primary health care on a monthly basis over 18-months follow-up. We conducted a cluster-randomised controlled trial including 197 employees blinded to allocation (85 PSI-WPI and 112 CAU). As sickness absence data was skewed and over-dispersed, generalised estimating equations was used to enable a comparison between the intervention and control group for each month of the follow-up period. The median number of sickness absence days over the 18-month follow-up was 78 days, inter-quartile range (IQR) 18-196 for employees receiving PSI-WPI and 64 days, IQR 18-161 for employees receiving CAU. The time x group generalised estimating equations analysis showed no statistically significant difference in sickness absence days per month. The addition of a PSI-WPI to CAU was not more effective in reducing sickness absence days. This may be explained by the primary health care context, lack of specialisation in occupational health and the Swedish social insurance system with specific time limits. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03346395 on January 12th, 2018.

Comparison of psychopathology, purpose in life and moral courage between nursing home and hospital healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected healthcare workers, although the impact may have differed according to different workplace contexts. The aim of this current research was to compare the psychopathology presented by hospital versus nursing home healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse the predictive role of purpose in life and moral courage in the appearance of psychopathology. This was an observational, cross-sectional study carried out on a sample of 108 healthcare workers, 54 each from a hospital or nursing homes, who were recruited during the 5 and 6th waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. Various self-reported scales were used to assess anxiety, depression, acute/post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, burnout, purpose in life, and moral courage. Compared to the hospital healthcare workers, nursing home healthcare workers had higher scores and a higher prevalence of anxiety (74.1% vs. 42%), depression (40.7% vs. 14.8%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (55.6% vs. 25.9). In the overall sample, purpose in life was a protective factor against psychopathology (OR = 0.54) and burnout (OR = 0.48); moral courage was a protective factor against depression (OR = 0.47) and acute stress (OR = 0.45); and exposure of family/friends to SARS-CoV-2 was a risk factor for acute stress (OR = 2.24), post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 1.33), and higher burnout depersonalisation subscale scores (OR = 1.84). In conclusion, the increased presence of psychopathology in nursing home healthcare workers may be influenced by workplace and occupational contexts, personal factors such as exposure of family/friends to SARS-CoV-2, or internal dimensions such as purpose in life and moral courage. This knowledge could be useful for understanding how a future epidemic or pandemic might affect the mental health of healthcare workers in different labour contexts.

Child welfare workers’ understanding of gender, sexual orientation and sexual health in assessments of youths with a problematic substance use

ABSTRACT The use of alcohol or illicit substances by youths may be related to sexual motives and experiences. Accordingly, child welfare workers need to address young people’s sexuality in their investigative work. In this study, we have examined the significance of different social categories, namely gender and sexual orientation, when child welfare workers assess young people with a substance use and their related sexual health. Fifteen child welfare workers were recruited through a strategic sampling to participate in semi-structured interviews, which were analysed using thematic content analysis. The results consist of three sub-themes: Sexually vulnerable girls; Boys as perpetrators; and Unseen LGBTQ+ youth. Together, these sub-themes constitute an overarching theme where the heterosexual matrix appears to be the interpretative framework when investigating a problematic substance use. The suggested implications for practice include education in sexual and reproductive health and rights for child welfare workers aiming to achieve an equitable assessment process for all youth with a problematic substance use.

Determination of heavy metal concentration in African pike (Hepsetus odoe) from Alape River, Southwestern Nigeria

Aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria face significant environmental challenges because of anthropogenic activities, resulting in heavy metal contamination. Fish body weight and length and heavy metal concentrations in African pike (Hepsetus odoe) from Alape River, Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria, were investigated. Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb) concentrations were measured in the gills, intestines, and trunks of the fish over six months (i.e., from May 2022 to October 2022) using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Buck Scientific’s 210VGP). Significant variations in heavy metal concentrations were observed across different months and organs. The order of concentrations for the six months, from highest to lowest, was Fe (2.26 mg/kg) > Ni (0.37 mg/kg) > Cu (0.23 mg/kg) > Mn (0.27 mg/kg) > Pb (0.05 mg/kg) > Cd (0.01 mg/kg). Higher concentrations were generally observed in the gills and intestines in May and June, whereas elevated levels were observed in the gills in September and October. These concentrations were compared with the maximum permissible limits established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization for fish consumption, and all measured heavy metal concentrations were determined to be below the permissible limits. Body weight ranged from 172 to 362 g, and length ranged from 15.7 cm to 23.5 cm. The regression coefficient (b) ranged from − 0.134 to 0.204, indicating a relatively weak length–weight relationship. The condition factor (K) exhibited variations in the overall health and well-being of the fish. Based on these findings, the consumption of African pike from the Alape River is currently considered safe for humans, regardless of fish size, with all of the heavy metal concentrations within the permissible limits. However, continuous monitoring is crucial to ensure the ongoing safety of aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Development of highly adaptable RT-PCR methods for identifying Delta and BA.1 variants in inactivated COVID-19 vaccines.

Background The emergence and rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses a significant threat to human health and public safety. While next-generation sequencing (NGS) is capable of detecting and tracking new COVID-19 variants for disease diagnosis and prevention, its high cost and time-consuming nature limit its widespread use. In this study, our aim was to develop a highly adaptable and accurate RT-PCR method for identifying the Delta or BA.1 variants in inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. We devised three two-plex RT-PCR methods targeting specific mutation sites: S: Δ156-157, S: N211-, L212I, and S: Δ142-144, Y145D. The RT-PCR method targeting the S: Δ156-157 mutation site was able to distinguish the Delta variant from other COVID-19 virus strains, while the RT-PCR methods targeting the S: N211-, L212I or S: Δ142-144, Y145D mutation sites were able to distinguish the BA.1 variant from other COVID-19 virus strains. We separately validated these three two-plex RT-PCR methods, and the results demonstrated good linearity, repeatability, reproducibility, and specificity for each method. Moreover, all three methods can be applied in the production of SARS-CoV-2 variant inactivated vaccines, enabling the identification of Delta or BA.1 variants in virus cultures as well as in inactivated vaccine stocks. This study presents a systematic approach to identify COVID-19 variants using multiple RT-PCR methods. We successfully developed three two-plex RT-PCR methods that can identify Delta and BA.1 variants based on specific mutation sites, and we completed the validation of these three methods.

Seasonal Patterns of Injury Characteristics Among Farmers and Ranchers in the U.S. Central States

ABSTRACT Objective In high-risk agricultural environments, tasks, weather, and work conditions vary throughout the year. Also, injuries peak during certain periods. The primary objective of this study was to examine operator- and farm-level characteristics as risk factors for injuries within each of the four seasons. The secondary objective was to examine seasonal differences in the incident location and primary cause of these injuries. Method We analyzed data from the 2018 and 2020 Farm and Ranch Health and Safety Surveys (FRHSS), conducted in seven U.S. states by the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH), which were collected using a stratified random sampling approach to ensure representativeness. The survey data were merged with operation-level data from the Farm Market iD database. We employed Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) to examine the association of seasonal injuries with individual and operation-level characteristics. The chi-square test of independence was used to assess the association between injury incident location and season, as well as injury cause and season. Pairwise Z-tests of proportions were conducted to evaluate the differences in the proportions of injuries due to specific combinations of injury location and cause across each pair of seasons. Results Surveys conducted in 2018 and 2020 yielded a combined response rate of 15.9%, with 5,428 responses and 7,915 unique operators. Of these, 903 operators reported at least one injury during the past 12 months. Seasonally, most injuries occurred in spring (34.2%), followed by summer (24.7%). Male operators had higher injury odds in the spring (adjusted OR = 1.42) and summer (aOR = 2.41). Those managing both a farm and a ranch reported increased injury risks in winter (aOR = 1.73) and spring (aOR = 1.48). Operators in cow-calf operations faced higher springtime injury risks (aOR = 1.45). High stress and exhaustion were consistent risk factors across all seasons. The highest proportion of injury incidents occurred in the farmyard (43.6%), and livestock were the most common cause of injury (24.9%). Conclusion Results highlight the need for season-specific prevention and intervention strategies, considering farmers’ and ranchers’ risk characteristics, injury locations, and causes. These findings can inform targeted measures for high-risk populations at optimal times and locations.

Fifty years of research on psychosocial working conditions and health: From promise to practice.

This paper presents an overview of 50 years of research on psychosocial working conditions and health with regards to conceptualization, interventions and policy. We reflect on the promise of past and current research on psychosocial working conditions and, in addition, discuss current progress in translating this research into workplace practice and improvements in people's working lives. We conducted a narrative review of meta-reviews and key publications on psychosocial working conditions and health. The review covers a historical overview of theories of the past 50 years, measurement of psychosocial working conditions, health effects, intervention research, and policy development on psychosocial working conditions. Psychosocial working conditions are conceptualized in different ways, with increasing complexity in the understanding developing over time. Exposures related to psychosocial working conditions are associated with a wide range of health outcomes, in particular cardiovascular disease and mental health conditions. In response to growing evidence on associations between psychosocial working conditions and health outcomes, intervention research has expanded rapidly, but for various reasons the evidence base is stronger and more extensive for individual- than organizational-level interventions. This individual/organizational imbalance is reflected in practice, and may partly explain why policy interventions have yet to show reductions in exposures to psychosocial work factors and associated adverse outcomes. Pressing needs for advancing the field include improvements in capturing exposure dynamics, developing objective measures of exposure, methodologic advancements to optimize causal inference in etiologic studies, and alternatives to randomized controlled trials for intervention evaluation.

Development of an amperometric biosensor that can determine the amount of glucose in the blood using the glucose oxidase enzyme: Preparation of polyaniline-polypyrrole-poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) film.

In this study, a new amperometric biosensor was developed for glucose determination. For this purpose, polyaniline-polypyrrole-poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) film was prepared by electropolymerization of aniline and pyrrole with poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) on a platinum plate. The best working conditions of the polyaniline-polypyrrole-poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) film were determined. The glucose oxidase enzyme was immobilized by the entrapment method in polyaniline-polypyrrole-poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) film. Glucose determination was made based on the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide, which is formed as a result of the enzymatic reaction on the surface of the prepared biosensor at +0.40V. The working range for the glucose determination of the biosensor was determined. The effects of pH and temperature on the response of the glucose biosensor were investigated. The reusability and shelf life of the biosensor were determined. The effects of interference in biological environments on the response of the biosensor were investigated. Glucose determination was made in the biological fluid (blood) with the prepared biosensor. This study has a feature that sheds light on biosensor studies to be developed for the detection of substances in the human body, such as glucose, uric acid, and urea. This article will set an example for future scientific research on the development of a sensor for other biological fluids in the human body, such as the sensor developed for blood samples. In addition, this developed sensor provides an innovation that improves the quality of life of patients by allowing them to constantly monitor their glucose levels and intervene when necessary.

"I'll Try and Make Myself as Small as Possible": Women and Gender-Diverse People's Safety Work on Public Transport.

Public transport is a known hotspot for sexual violence and harassment. Through 41 interviews with women and gender-diverse people who have experienced sexual violence and harassment on public transport, we found that women and gender-diverse people engage in extensive "safety work," such as changing their behavior, strategizing, and planning. Safety work takes considerable time and effort, often leaving participants feeling stressed. However, participants advocated for changes to public transport to reduce the work they do to stay safe. We argue that significant changes, including primary prevention of gender-based violence, are needed to reduce their safety work.

Healthcare workers' safety compliance behavior in times of COVID-19: The interaction model.

Strengthening safety compliance behaviour can reduce the organizations' unexpected financial losses and prevent employees from continuous COVID-19. It drives this study to create a research framework involved by organizational, individual and social factors to predict employees' safety compliance behaviour. This study examines how risk perceptions of COVID-19, employee well-being, workplace health and safety training, safety motivation and safety related stigma impact safety compliance behavior in times COVID-19 pandemic. A self-administered questionnaire was disseminated to healthcare workers. In all, 344 acceptable questionnaires were derived for further analysis. The results revealed that the risk perception of COVID-19 and employee well-being has no significant relationship with safety compliance behavior. Similarly, safety related stigma also has no moderating effect on safety motivation and safety compliance behavior. However, workplace health and safety training and safety motivation have significant relationships with safety compliance behavior. This study contributes to the literature by illuminating on the importance of organizational, individual, social factors and how they can interact with safety compliance behaviour. Additionally, knowing the unique function of safety related stigma in building safety compliance behaviour may help guide future efforts and training initiatives to enhance workplace safety.

Unlocking the Impact of Chemicals on the Health and Safety of Pharmaceutical Workers: A Concise Review

The paper presents a concise review of the historical development of the pharmaceutical industry and the problems related to chemical exposure on the health and safety of employees. The industry has greatly improved healthcare worldwide, but it is one of the riskiest due to problems like exposure to dangerous chemicals. Herein, we provide evidence of the health repercussions of pharmaceutical exposure. The paper notes that a diversified approach is required to address these issues. Firstly, there is a need to extensively examine and understand the degree of chemical exposure and its long-term health implications. Tighter laws are necessary to implement higher environmental and safety standards, whereas employee education and training will help to raise awareness of possible hazards. Green chemistry and sustainable methods will curb or mitigate the use of hazardous chemicals and waste generation. Moreover, there is a need to promote sustainable and safer work cultures through safer behaviours, increased public awareness, and community interaction. Pharmaceutical companies must commit to continuous enhancement of their operations, decrease the risks associated with chemical exposure, and put worker and environmental health first. This strategy contributes to a safer and more sustainable pharmaceutical future by being in line with the industry’s commitment to innovation and safety.

The radiation protection behavior of medical workers: A scoping review protocol.

Radiation exposure in medical settings stands as the primary source of artificial radiation, compounded by the yearly rise in healthcare worker numbers. Ensuring radiation protection is crucial for safeguarding their occupational health. Nevertheless, existing studies on radiation protection behavior exhibit considerable heterogeneity due to various factors. This scoping review aims to explore the current status of research on radiation protection behavior and identify research gaps, intending to guide future research directions. The scoping review will follow the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. A systematic search will be conducted across English databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Medline, as well as Chinese databases such as CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and China Biomedical Literature Database. Two independent reviewers will screen the studies based on predefined eligibility criteria and extract the data. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion by a third reviewer. The review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews. A stakeholder consultation will provide an opportunity to validate the findings and address any potential gaps in the article. In this scoping review, all types of studies will be considered. The effectiveness of the methodological quality of the included studies will not be reported, which may lead to some studies of poor quality being included. Only studies published in English or Chinese after 2010 will be considered in this review, potentially leading to the omission of relevant papers.

Simulation on Operating Overvoltage of Dropping Pantograph Based on Pantograph–Catenary Arc and Variable Capacitance Model

When the electric locomotive pantograph is dropping, the interruption of pantograph catenary contact causes electromagnetic oscillation and arcing. The frequent arc burning that occurs due to charge accumulation results in the amplitude of overvoltage increasing gradually, posing a threat to locomotive high-voltage equipment. However, the physical mechanisms and characteristics of overvoltage are still unclear. This paper proposes a simulation model of operating overvoltage due to a dropping pantograph based on the pantograph–catenary arc and variable capacitance. Distributed RLC electromagnetic oscillation is considered, which allows the real-time calculation of arc resistance and capacitance. Under the same working conditions, the error between the simulation and test results is less than 4.0%, which proves the credibility of the model. The variation law of overvoltage under different dropping speeds or catenary phases was investigated, which shows the max amplitude is 298.20 kV and steepness is 2096.80 kV/μs at 0.30 m/s speed. The waveform shows the characteristics of high amplitude and high steepness, similar to very fast transient overvoltage (VFTO). There is a sinusoidal relationship between the catenary phase and overvoltage amplitude. The closer the catenary phase to 90°, the higher the overvoltage amplitude. The research has important guiding significance for the overvoltage formation mechanism of a traction power supply system and the insulation coordination design of high-voltage equipment.

Enhancing Concrete with Ultrafine Fly Ash: Mechanical Strength and Frost Resistance

Fly ash, a byproduct collected from the flue gas of coal combustion, serves as an effective additive in concrete. It offers environmental benefits by converting waste into a valuable resource, thus promoting energy conservation, emission reduction, and waste utilization. Additionally, fly ash enhances the mechanical properties and frost durability of concrete. Commonly used as a partial substitute for cement, it helps conserve resources. However, its use may compromise early strength and durability, which limits its applications. The transformation of raw fly ash into ultrafine fly ash through mechanical grinding increases its fineness and specific surface area, thereby boosting its reactivity and micro-aggregate effects. This process produces denser C-S-H gel and optimizes the concrete microstructure. Research shows that although ultrafine fly ash may slightly reduce early concrete strength, it significantly enhances long-term strength, with a 10% substitution improving early compressive strength by 20.2% and later strength by 13.7%. However, excessive fly ash content can reduce frost resistance, with an optimal substitution level at 25% significantly enhancing this property compared to standard concrete. Blending ultrafine fly ash with other mineral admixtures further boosts mechanical properties and frost durability. Challenges include increased processing costs and early strength deficiencies, along with the necessity to control heavy metal content for environmental and health safety. Future research should aim to optimize fly ash particle distribution and reactivity, develop cost-effective production methods, and blend fly ash with other minerals to improve concrete’s mechanical and frost resistance properties, thus expanding its potential applications.