Symptoms and risks for musculoskeletal disorders among male and female footwear industry workers

BackgroundConsidering the growing participation of woman in the labor market and the high prevalence of the musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the footwear industry workers, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare female and male footwear industry workers in relation to their demographics, occupational characteristics, stress levels, MSD symptoms prevalence, physical activity levels, alcohol and tobacco use.MethodsThe study included 175 female and 182 male footwear industry workers. Data was collected using the Perceived Stress Scale – 10, the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and the Fagerstrom test for Nicotine Dependence.ResultsThe female workers were younger, had less time in the company and in the current job. They reported more stress (p = 0.001), had less time for physical activity (p = 0.004), higher prevalence of MSD symptoms in the last 12 months (p = 0.003), and consumed less alcohol (p = 0.006) than the male workers.ConclusionsFemale and male footwear industry workers presented significant differences in their demographics, occupational characteristics, stress levels, MSD prevalence, physical activity levels, alcohol and tobacco use. These differences should be taken into consideration in the implementation of intervention programs for optimum outcomes.Relevance to industryFemale footwear industry workers were more stressed, presented higher prevalence of MSD symptoms, and reported less time for physical activity than male footwear industry workers. The differences between male and female workers should be taken into consideration in the implementation of MSD prevention programs.     

Perceived risk for influenza in veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders.

Objective: Guided by the extended parallel process model (EPPM), the objective was to assess control processes dominant in influenza behavior decisions. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Results: Response rate was 31% (n=968). Regarding influenza risk, 59% were in danger control. Those in fear control were more likely to report influenza infection (p=.000). In the nonvaccinated, those in fear control were more likely to indicate not knowing where to get the vaccine (p=.016) and that it was unavailable (p=.027), and those in danger control believed they did not need it (p=.023). Zero critical values were more likely to indicate that no health provider recommended the shot (p=.002). Conclusions: Most perceived efficacy to be stronger than threat related to influenza; according to the EPPM, they are aware of their risk but recognize their ability to avert it. For those in danger control, messages should focus on increasing perceptions of severity and susceptibility to positively affect behavior change. For those in fear control, messages should focus on efficacy only. With a critical value of zero, no threat is induced, and a high-threat/high-efficacy approach should be taken. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alcoholism at the time of injury among trauma center patients: Vehicular crash victims compared with other patients

A structured in-depth interview employing standardized criteria was used to determine the prevalence of lifetime and current alcohol dependence (alcoholism) in unselected consecutive patients admitted to a regional Level I trauma center. Of 629 patients, 157 (25.0%) were current alcoholics at the time of injury. An additional 87 (13.8%) were diagnosed as lifetime non-current alcoholics. There was no significant difference in the rates of current alcohol dependence among patients injured in vehicular crashes (23.5%), other unintentional trauma victims (29.3%), and those injured as a result of violence (24.6%). Of BAC + (blood alcohol concentration positive) patients, 54.5% were current alcoholics. However, 14.4% of alcohol-negative patients were also diagnosed as alcohol dependent.     

Estimating the costs of occupational injury in the United States

This article estimates workplace injury costs in the U.S. These costs have been studied in less detail than most injury costs. Our methods, which mostly use regularly published data, produce order-of-magnitude estimates. Overall, workplace injuries cost the U.S. an estimated $140 billion annually. This estimate includes $17 billion in medical and emergency services, $60 billion in lost productivity, $5 billion in insurance costs, and $62 billion in lost quality of life. One sixth of the societal costs result from the 3% of workplace injuries in motor vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle costs per injury are almost 6 times the workplace injury average.     

在役生产装置安全评价存在的职业卫生问题

分析了在役生产装置安全评价存在的职业卫生问题,提出了如何做好重点生产装置职业病预防工作的建议。     

Traumatogenic factors affecting the knees of carpet installers

An ergonomics analysis of carpet installation tasks was performed. The purpose was to identify and quality potential sources of biomechanical trauma that may be responsible for the high rates of knee morbidity found by previous researchers among carpet layers. Nine carpet layers were studied either at an apartment building worksite or at a training school. Results from a job analysis indicated that workers spent approximatately 75% of their time in the kneeling position using a tool called a knee-kicker to stretch and install carpet. Awkward body postures were identified from films of workers installing carpets. At the moment of impact the knee is severely flexed, subtended angles were less than 60 degrees. To obtain measures of impact force on the knee, the kicker-tool was instrumented with a load cell. Workers who executed the hardest kicks with the tool produced impact peak forces that averaged 3019 newtons (N), which is equivalent to about four times body weight. Measures from an accelerometer attached to the worker's knee showed values in ecxess of 120 m/s², which are comparable to those found during vigorous running and jumping exercises. The results imply that repetitive impact of the knee joint from the use of the knee-kicker combined with knee flexion, kneeling and squatting may be responsible for the high level of occupational knee-morbidity found among carpet layers.     

Police officer in-vehicle discomfort: Appointments carriage method and vehicle seat features

Musculoskeletal pain is commonly reported by police officers. A potential cause of officer discomfort is a mismatch between vehicle seats and the method used for carrying appointments. Twenty-five police officers rated their discomfort while seated in: (1) a standard police vehicle seat, and (2) a vehicle seat custom-designed for police use. Discomfort was recorded in both seats while wearing police appointments on: (1) a traditional appointments belt, and (2) a load-bearing vest/belt combination (LBV). Sitting in the standard vehicle seat and carrying appointments on a traditional appointments belt were both associated with significantly elevated discomfort. Four vehicle seat features were most implicated as contributing to discomfort: back rest bolster prominence; lumbar region support; seat cushion width; and seat cushion bolster depth. Authorising the carriage of appointments using a LBV is a lower cost solution with potential to reduce officer discomfort. Furthermore, the introduction of custom-designed vehicle seats should be considered.     

Effects of personal,psychosocial and occupational factors on low back pain severity in workers

Low back pain (LBP) remains the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD). While most of the LBP research has focused on occupational risk factors, other underlying causal mechanisms may exist since not all workers performing the same task develop an injury. Previous research has identified three primary risk factor categories for LBP (occupational, personal and psychosocial factors); however, few studies have investigated the impact of cross categorical risk factor interactions on LBP. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational, personal and psychosocial factors, and their interactions, on LBP severity in a population of workers currently suffering from LBP. Sixty LBP patients recruited for the study through local physicians and local announcements, completed questionnaires relating to identified occupational, personal and psychosocial risk factors, and completed an Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Multiple regression models for predicting LBP severity were developed for each risk factor category and for a combined risk factor model (which included factors from all three risk factor categories) that included two-way interactions. Results showed that the final model consisted of both main effects and interaction terms between risk factor categories and had an adjusted R² value of 0.85, a significant improvement over models developed for the individual categories. These findings illustrate the need to consider all three broad categories of risk factors simultaneously in predicting injury status and in developing effective potential intervention efforts.     

与职业资格证书制度融合的人才培养模式在无损检测专业建设中的应用

本文阐述了与职业资格证书制度融合、体现综合职业能力培养的人才培养模式,在无损检测专业建设中的具体应用。     

试论钻井安全生产标准化的创建

中国石化集团江汉石油管理局钻井一公司为进一步加强企业安全生产工作,实现企业安全生产标准化,全面建立和实施以危害因素辨识、风险评估和风险控制为基础,组织完善、职责明确、具有持续改进功能的钻井一公司安全生产标准化体系,在安全标准化创建工作中,领导重视,组织落实,调动全员积极参与;按照标准化系统建设要求,建立健全了各项规章制度,从制度上保障安全标准化工作有效推进;开展了危害识别和风险评估,对辨识出的危险有害因素实施动态管理;开展了作业现场安全标准化创建;强化员工安全意识,积极开展了各类培训教育活动;开展了职业健康监护工作;开展了QHSE体系内审,指导现场标准化建设。