International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health最新文献

{"title":"Aviation Podiatry - What place does podiatry have in aerospace medicine?","authors":"Margaret Grace","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i3.58373","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i3.58373","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: With there being 12 commercial airlines within the U.K and over 4 billion passengers travelling by aircraft every year, it is of no surprise that thousands of men and women are employed as cabin crew. Physical demands imposed upon cabin crew have long been recognized and known to place this particular population at an increased risk of experiencing a work-related injury. Whilst previous research would also suggest that there is a relationship between footwear and the occurrence of musculoskeletal (MSK) lower limb symptoms, there is a need to consider such a relationship specifically among an aviation cabin crew population.\u0000Methods: Quantitative data was obtained from a sample of 250 junior crew at a leading airline in the Middle East over 12 months. The sample involved both female and male crew of a healthy BMI who were aged between 22-30 years. All participants were asked closed questions with regard to their lower limb health and footwear. Dynamic gait scans utilizing a Podotech scanner were also used to assess the participant's gait and validate other data.\u0000Results: The screening found that 34% of the crew were found to have an MSK podiatric issue with 30% requiring orthoses. Of the 34%, 30% of this group had footwear issues. Common biomechanical issues were identified in the sample group. A holistic approach to care that included the provision of aviation podiatry allowed longer-term treatment outcomes to be achieved. The use of orthotics that were made from EVA and in accordance with recent podiatric research proved beneficial in helping to address underlying biomechanical issues.\u0000Conclusion: The findings presented a more detailed analysis of lower limb biomechanical issues among cabin crew and how such issues could have wider implications for the occupational role of the sample group. Consideration to podiatric issues among aviation staff, as a whole, should not be overlooked. Given the incidence of lower limb issues among the sample group, future rehabilitation and prevention strategies would clearly benefit from the specialist insights of an aviation podiatrist contributing as part of a multi-disciplinary aeromedical team.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":"5 33","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141701110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving the Snakebite Envenoming First Aid Treatment of Farmers in Rural Areas of Indonesia: An Educational Intervention Program","authors":"R. Yunanto, Wantiyah Wantiyah, Baskoro Setioputro, S. Siswoyo, Tantut Susanto","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i3.59436","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i3.59436","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Snakebite Envenoming (SBE) cases are a worldwide health problem. Farmers have a big risk of becoming victims of SBE. SBE management is an issue that needs to be resolved due to a lack of information regarding the appropriate management of SBE. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of educational intervention programs on the knowledge, attitude, practice, and self-efficacy of farmers toward SBE management.\u0000Methods: The design of this study was a non-blinded cluster randomized controlled trial design, applied to 80 farmers in six subdistricts from rural areas of Indonesia. A multistage sampling was used to select participants. Data collection tools included a three-part questionnaire that consisted of demographics, knowledge, self-efficacy, and an observation checklist for SBE first aid practices for farmers. Education and training sessions were carried out for eight weeks for the intervention group by providing eight sessions of education and training activities. The effectiveness of the intervention was analyzed using a dependent t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with p<0.05 was considered significant.\u0000Results: The results of this study showed that there were significant differences in knowledge, attitude, practice, and self-efficacy (p<0.05) of farmers in SBE first aid before and after the program. The intervention group showed better results compared to the control group after the follow-up.\u0000Conclusion: The educational intervention programs using the digital health education method with snakebite first aid applications have proven positive effect in increasing knowledge, attitudes, practices, and self-efficacy of SBE first aid among farmers.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":"450 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141708089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimation of Intrinsic And Extrinsic Hand Muscle Performance in Chronic Smartphone Users","authors":"Janvi Jain, Radha Bhende, Sandeep Shinde","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i3.50212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i3.50212","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: In recent years, smartphone use has significantly expanded, and the majority of daily tasks are now completed on them. Therefore, extended use may result in improper posture, which may result in several musculoskeletal pains. It's crucial to assess the relationship between smartphone addiction and musculoskeletal pain. The length-tension relationship between the intrinsic and extrinsic hand muscles might alter due to the repetitive movement of the hand muscles. The purpose of the study is to determine the length tension relationship of the intrinsic and extrinsic hand muscles in chronic smartphone users.\u0000Methods: The cross-sectional design of this study allowed for the selection of 80 participants based on both inclusion and exclusion criteria. The information that was gathered included demographic information, smartphone usage patterns, hand grip strength, and length-tension relationships. The subjects' pain levels were also measured using the smart phone addiction scale. The male and female scores on the smartphone addiction scale were >31 and >33, respectively.\u0000Results: The findings of this study among 80 chronic smartphone users demonstrated that 50 (62.5%) of them fell in the 25–30 age bracket, whereas 30 (12.5%) were in the 30-35 range. Amongst them, 69 (86.25%) were right-handed, while 11 (13.75%) were left-handed. Upper Limb Tension Test, Visual Analogue Scale, and Smartphone Addiction Scale mean + SD readings were 37.77 + 9.5, 5.66 + 1.47, and 0.76 + 0.42, respectively.\u0000Conclusion: According to the outcomes of this research, we established a link between smartphone use and the length-tension of the hand muscles. We can therefore draw the conclusion that among subjects who used cell phones frequently, there was a change in the length-tension relation of the hand muscles, which resulted in a reduction in hand grip strength.\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":"4 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141848832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Practices of Personal Protective Measures against SARS-Cov-2 among Undergraduate Medical Students in South India","authors":"Nitin Joseph, Eshani Sharma","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.55315","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.55315","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: The use of personal protective measures holds relevance despite mass immunization coverage of COVID-19 vaccination in the population. This is because vaccination only gives protection from severe COVID-19 and does not prevent the risk of infection. Medical students can be vital in training people in infection control practices. The study aimed to assess the practices of undergraduate medical students regarding personal protective measures against COVID-19.\u0000Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among first to final-year students at a private medical college in Mangalore. Data were collected using a Microsoft form.\u0000Results: The mean age of the 302 participants was 21.2±1.6 years. The majority of them were females [179 (59.3%)]. Face mask was worn by 295(97.7%) participants. Non-recommended types of face masks like using cloth masks [108 (36.6%)] and handkerchiefs [7 (2.4%)] were reported by participants. 35 (11.9%) of them wore the face mask incorrectly. Periodicity of replacement of disposable type masks was not done every day by 181(61.4%) participants. 142(48.1%) of them did not dispose of masks whenever they became moist on every occasion. Only 79 (26.8%) always practiced proper disposal of face masks. Hand sanitizer to disinfect hands was always used by 102 (33.8%) participants. Only 42 (13.9%) participants practiced correct practice of hygiene hand wash always. Only 58 (19.2%) participants had a good level of practice. Practice level was significantly poorer among males and first-year students.\u0000Conclusion: Several gaps in preventive practices against COVID-19 were identified, particularly among males and first-year students. These issues need to be addressed among medical students in future training programs.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":" 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140382530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COVID-19 pandemic and perceived stress in Information Technology professionals","authors":"Saira Bano, Nimty Raina Ambardar, Anuradha Rajiv Joshi","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.47140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.47140","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a pandemic was declared by WHO on 11 March 2020. The lockdown had an evident impact on various sectors including the Information Technology sector. Few studies have been conducted to find out the levels of stress in Information Technology professionals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all employees of Information Technology companies were informed to work remotely at their homes without any prior information, training and mental acceptance i.e. ‘work from home’. Information technology professionals have occupational stress &working from home during COVID-19 has added mental stress. The present study was planned to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived stress in Information Technology professionals.\u0000Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional observational study. Volunteers of the Information Technology sector (n=200) of either sex in the age group of 25 to 55 years participated in the study. PSS was administered through Google Forms and scores were analyzed.\u0000Results: The association of various stressors with PSS was done which showed a significantly positive association. The mean PSS score of subjects was 23.53 ± 7.39. Twelve (6%) employees had mild, twenty (60%) had moderate and sixty-eight (34%) had high stress levels. This study explored that IT professionals experienced an additional level of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u0000Conclusion: The present study concluded statistically significant moderate levels of stress in IT professionals of either sex with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":" 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140382535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ergonomic Risk Identification and Postural Analysis in Electrical Transformers Manufacturing Company located in Southern India","authors":"Biradar Vidyadhar, SS Hebbal, SM Qutubuddin, G. Mr.Vidyadhar., Biradar","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.53692","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.53692","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are the major factors resulting in discomfort at work in manufacturing industries to workers and these conditions contribute to the poor health of the workforce, subsequently to lower productivity. Therefore, the design of a workstation based on Ergonomic principles is becoming significant to reduce the effects of MSD. This study aimed to identify and assess the ergonomic risks associated with the work tasks in the company through posture analysis and develop recommendations for reducing those risks.\u0000Methods: About 36 manufacturing workers from five sections were randomly selected for the cross-sectional study. The chosen team members were from Core building, Core winding, Assembly, Tanking and Tank fabrication sections with experience of more than two years. The presence of MSDs was assessed using a Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire.  For postural analysis, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) were utilized. Few selected postures were analysed using CATIAV5 software and improvements reducing the risks of postures were recommended.\u0000Results: All of the 36 workers selected for the study were male with a mean age of 32 years and, average experience of 10 years, and 75% of workers had normal body mass index. The MSD questionnaire indicated discomfort of 86% mostly in the lower back portion of the body. The combined findings of RULA and REBA showed that about 44% of postures were in the high-risk group.\u0000Conclusion: Well-defined ergonomic interventions such as redesigning the workstation are suggested to reduce awkward postures and manual handling risks, leading to improvement in job performance and productivity.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":" 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140384791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Major Hazard Competent Person Profession in Malaysia: A document analysis of trends and demands","authors":"Rasyimawati Mat Rashid, Radin Zaid Radin Umar","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.52503","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.52503","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: The Malaysian Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazard (CIMAH) Regulations introduced in 1996 resulted in the creation ‘Major Hazard Competent Person’ (MHCP) profession. However, after two decades of its establishment, there has been limited study conducted on this specific profession.  The objectives of this study are to analyze 1) the trend of application and passing rates of MHCP registrations; and 2) the trend of Major Hazard Installations (MHI) registrations, and its relationship with the available supply of registered MHCP.\u0000Methods: The study used a document review approach, involving the extraction, examination, and interpretation of data from both published and unpublished documents by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), the regulatory body responsible for overseeing both MHCP and MHI registration status in Malaysia. The study looks into data from 1996 (beginning of 1996 CIMAH Regulation) to 2023, though the available data found and analyzed were from 1998 to 2021.\u0000Results: The study reveals a concerning lack of growth in the number of professionals being certified as MHCP, despite an increase in the number of MHIs over the past two decades. Potential causes of this shortage identified include a demanding certification process, limited availability of MHCP competency courses, and a lack of clear career paths and growth opportunities in the profession.\u0000Conclusion: The inadequate supply of MHCPs could potentially undermine their ability to provide sufficient coverage for MHIs, indirectly jeopardizing the quality of risk management in major hazard facilities. Therefore, there is merit in periodically reviewing the regulations and reforming the MHCP profession in response to changing trends.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":" 32","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140385003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Safety measures in the workplace: a case study of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) vehicle plate manufacturing plant, Ojodu – Lagos, Nigeria","authors":"D. Adje, Chisom Judith Anyalebechi, Felicia E Williams","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.52192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.52192","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Hazards associated with vehicle number plate manufacturing processes in developing countries have not been well elucidated. There is a need to investigate hazards in the vehicle number plate manufacturing plant. The study aimed to identify self-reported hazards in the vehicle plate manufacturing factory, explore their effect on workers’ health and recommend mitigation strategies.\u0000Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of workers in the vehicle plate manufacturing plant was done to identify hazards, protective measures and self-reported effects on workers’ health. Biochemical analysis of blood samples was also done and outliers were noted. ANOVA test was performed to determine differences in mean values of selected biochemical parameters. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.\u0000Results: Exposure to toxic chemicals 38(69%), excessive noise 36 (65%) and heat 28 (51%) were the major hazards in the factory. Major health problems were stress and fatigue 41 (71%), skin disorders 28 (51%), respiratory problems 18 (33%) and hearing loss 16 (29%). More than one quarter, 17 (30 %) of the workers admitted not using personal protective equipment (PPE) regularly. Periodic medical tests were not done for 13 (24%) of the workers. Potassium (3%), Urea (10%),   Creatinine (7%), Aspartate transaminase (18%) and Alanine transaminase (8%) were elevated among the workers but no significant association could be established between elevated levels and work post.\u0000Conclusion: Workers in the plate number manufacturing plant were mostly exposed to toxic chemicals and noise. Elevated electrolyte levels cut across departments.   There is a need for better enforcement of safety rules, and periodic medical examinations should be conducted more consistently.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":"118 27","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140380918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Riding to the Rescue: A Comprehensive Review of Health and Safety Measures in Ambulance Cars","authors":"Amna M Almaazmi, Shamma H Alhammadi, Amna A Al Ali, Najat I Alzaabi, Joelle Makoukji Kiklikian","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.55311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.55311","url":null,"abstract":"Paramedics are registered health professionals in numerous countries. Whilst ambulance services must prioritize their patients, they also require personnel to be healthy to perform at their utmost to provide optimal patient care. Ambulance transport is associated with predictable and likely preventable occupant hazards. Ambulance services provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and shift work is known to be a risk factor for poor health. Working unsociable hours has detrimental consequences on the health and well-being of healthcare workers and can ultimately result in compromised patient care. Ambulance service utilization rates are high, with paramedics working in unpredictable environments, and undertaking complex clinical and manual handling tasks whilst caring for critically unwell patients; thus, there are several reasons postulated for poor health in this professional group. These include injuries, serious infections, high rates of musculoskeletal diseases, stress, and mental health problems. This review article aims to identify the occupational risks in an ambulance service, assess their impact on the health of employees, and explore control measures that can be implemented to reduce the risks and improve the safety of healthcare workers and patients.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":" 74","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140384733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health Effects of Pesticides among Small Scale Farmers in an Urban Municipality of Nepal: A Descriptive Study","authors":"Nishchal Thapa, Anil Paudel, Rajesh Karki, Maheshor Kaphle","doi":"10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.50924","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.50924","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Pesticides cause short-term as well as long-term health effects. Agriculture workers are at high risk of effect. So, this study aimed to identify the health effects of pesticides among small-scale farmers in the municipality of Bhaktapur, Nepal.\u0000Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in all wards of Changunarayan Municipality, Bhaktapur, Nepal. Farmers of selected households who adopted agriculture as their main occupation were included in this study. The sample size for the study was 132. Proportionate stratified sampling was used to determine the farmer from each ward and simple random sampling was used to reach every respondent. Face-to-face interview technique and semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test was applied to measure an association between selected variables.\u0000Results: All of the farmers used pesticides and about two-thirds 74(64.9%) experienced both immediate as well as delayed symptoms due to the use of pesticides. Majority of them showed general symptoms such as eye irritation 87(76.3%), difficulty in breathing 70(61.4%) and fatigue 55(48.2%).  There was an association between the frequency of exposure and health effects due to pesticide use which was found to be statistically significant at a significance level with p-value 0.042.\u0000Conclusion: Health effects such as skin rashes, effects on the eyes, and respiratory system were reported. The most prevalent effects were eye irritation, difficulty in breathing, and itching of the skin. Training on pesticide use and awareness should be conducted by municipalities to reduce the effects.","PeriodicalId":34250,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health","volume":"115 51","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140381277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}