Jelena Djokovic, Srdjan Jankovic, Aleksandar Milovanovic, Petar Bulat
{"title":"Chromosomal Aberrations, Micronuclei, Blood Parameters and Received Doses in Workers Exposed to Ionizing Radiation.","authors":"Jelena Djokovic, Srdjan Jankovic, Aleksandar Milovanovic, Petar Bulat","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i4.14280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i4.14280","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of low doses of ionizing radiation on healthcare workers using dosimeter data and several biomarkers of effects, and to asses the suitability of those tests.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from the last medical examinations, obtained from the medical records of 148 employees were analysed. They were divided into three groups: nuclear medicine, interventional radiology and general radiology. The examination included hematological parameters and cytogenetical tests: unstable chromosomal aberrations (UCA) and micronucleus test (MNT). The received cumulative 5-year dose was calibrated into personal dose equivalents Hp(10).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the UCAs (c2=6.634, p=0.036) with the highest UCA frequency in nuclear medicine. The ANOVA showed a statistically significant difference in the values of erythrocytes (F(2,140)=3.715, p=0.027), monocytes (F(2,127)=3.326, p=0.039) and platelets (F(2,135)=4.209, p=0.017), with higher erythrocytes and lower platelets in interventional radiology and lower monocytes in nuclear medicine, all with small effect size. The dose was significantly different among the groups (c2 =22,191; p<0.001). The nuclear medicine workers received a higher dose compared to interventional radiology (U=458, p<0.001) and general radiology (U=510.5, p<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Nuclear medicine employees are at a higher risk of developing neoplastic and blood-related diseases due to consistent exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. Results suggest that UCA test might be more suitable for detecting radiation-induced damage at low doses than MNT. Compulsory monitoring of the health status at periodic examinations is required to prevent occupational diseases, esp. among the nuclear medicine workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 4","pages":"e2023036"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/82/3d/MDL-114-36.PMC10415844.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9981428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alberto Modenese, B Ralph Chou, Balázs Ádám, Tom Loney, Marilia Silva Paulo, Thomas Tenkate, Fabriziomaria Gobba
{"title":"Occupational Exposure to Solar Radiation and the Eye: A Call to Implement Health Surveillance of Outdoor Workers.","authors":"Alberto Modenese, B Ralph Chou, Balázs Ádám, Tom Loney, Marilia Silva Paulo, Thomas Tenkate, Fabriziomaria Gobba","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i4.14657","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i4.14657","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Globally, hundreds of millions of outdoor workers are exposed to solar radiation (SR) for the majority of their working life. Such occupational exposure is known to induce various adverse health effects to the eyes, mainly related to its ultraviolet (UV) component. The present work is a call-to-action aimed at raising the awareness on the need of health surveillance for the prevention of the chronic ocular diseases in outdoor workers. Photo-chemical chronic damage can induce pterygium at the outer layer of the eye and cataract in the lens. Considering carcinogenic effects, rare squamous-cells tumors of the cornea and/or of the conjunctiva and the ocular melanomas are associated with UV radiation exposure. Solar UV-related eye diseases should be considered as \"occupational diseases\" when there is sufficient exposure in workers, but they are often not recognized, and/or frequently not reported to the national compensation authorities. Therefore, to prevent the burden of these work-related eye pathologies, an adequate risk assessment with identification of appropriate preventive measures, and a provision of periodic health surveillance to the exposed workers, in particular considering those at higher risk of exposure or with individual susceptibility, should be urgently implemented.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 4","pages":"e2023032"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/c0/41/MDL-114-32.PMC10415847.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9981426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"To Work or Not to Work Remotely? Work-to-family Interface Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Chiara Ghislieri, Monica Molino, Valentina Dolce","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i4.14095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i4.14095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This paper provides a brief, evidence-based reflection on the differences between 'old-normal' remote working and mandatory work-from-home during the Covid-19 pandemic. From the perspective of applied psychology in the field of work and organizations, we used self-report instruments to assess variations in work-family conflict and enrichment, frequency of information and communication technologies use, and recovery in two longitudinal studies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The first study involved 148 individuals from the technical-administrative staff of a large Italian University, during an experimentation of remote working (one day per week) in 2019. The second study, conducted during the first lockdown in 2020, involved 144 individuals (occasional sample, heterogeneous by profession). All participants completed a self-report online questionnaire two times six months apart.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Although the two studies are not directly comparable, the results showed two different situations: in the condition of experimental remote working (one day per week), participants reported a decrease in work-family conflict and an improvement in recovery experiences, while in the emergency remote working condition, a deterioration in work-family enrichment was found.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlighted that some differences exist between a planned remote working condition and a mandatory one in an emergency. We briefly discuss these aspects to inform future organizational decisions and actions for the 'new normal'.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 4","pages":"e2023027"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/e8/98/MDL-114-27.PMC10415843.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10357946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Over a Century of Occupational Medicine Research in Italy: La Medicina del Lavoro's Entire Digital Archive is Available Online.","authors":"Antonio Mutti, Giovanna Spatari","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14784","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14784","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 3","pages":"e2023029"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/80/77/MDL-114-29.PMC10281068.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10084377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alfonso Cristaudo, Giovanni Guglielmi, Rudy Foddis, Fabrizio Caldi, Rodolfo Buselli, Cinzia Brilli, Maurizio Coggiola, Gianluca Ceccarelli, Giuseppe Saffioti
{"title":"Diversity & Inclusion: Fitness for Work Through a Personalized Work Plan For Workers With Disabilities and Chronic Diseases According to the Iso 30415/2021.","authors":"Alfonso Cristaudo, Giovanni Guglielmi, Rudy Foddis, Fabrizio Caldi, Rodolfo Buselli, Cinzia Brilli, Maurizio Coggiola, Gianluca Ceccarelli, Giuseppe Saffioti","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14339","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The recent standard ISO 30415-2021 - Human resources management - Diversity and inclusion - was developed internationally within the technical committee ISO/TC 260 \"Human resources management\" (Working group WG 8 \"Diversity and inclusion\") and underlines the need for actions to create a work environment that is inclusive of diversity (e.g. in terms of health, gender, age, ethnicity, culture). Developing an inclusive work environment requires ongoing commitment and input from the entire organization regarding policies, processes, organizational practices, and individual behavior. As far as the role of occupational medicine is concerned, this direction can be supported by the correct management of disabled workers and workers with chronic pathologies that affect their fitness for duty. The \"reasonable accommodation\" is the way by which the European Union first, and the United Nations then intended to support the inclusion of disabled people in the world of work. The Personalized Work Plan includes different approaches (organizational, technical, procedural) meant for modifying the work activity envisaged for the disabled worker or for any worker suffering from chronic diseases or dysfunctions. The adoption of the Personalized Work Plan implies the effort of redesigning the workstation, the work procedures, or even the planning of different micro and macro tasks etc., in order to prioritize the adaptation of the working environment to the worker, safeguarding the value of the worker's productivity according to the principle of reasonable accommodation.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 3","pages":"e2023026"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/e4/11/MDL-114-26.PMC10281075.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10084379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lorenzo Bellini, Nazzareno Fagoni, Aida Andreassi, Giuseppe Maria Sechi, Rodolfo Bonora, Giuseppe Stirparo
{"title":"Effectiveness of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation at the Workplace.","authors":"Lorenzo Bellini, Nazzareno Fagoni, Aida Andreassi, Giuseppe Maria Sechi, Rodolfo Bonora, Giuseppe Stirparo","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i3.13995","DOIUrl":"10.23749/mdl.v114i3.13995","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) is a medical emergency whose chances of survival can be increased by rapid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and early use of Public Access Defibrillators (PAD). Basic Life Support (BLS) training became mandatory in Italy to spread knowledge of resuscitation maneuvers in the workplace. Basic Life Support (BLS) training became mandatory according to the DL 81/2008 law. To improve the level of cardioprotection in the workplace, the national law DL 116/2021 increased the number of places required to be provided with PADs. The study highlights the possibility of a Return to spontaneous circulation in OHCA in the workplace.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to the data to extrapolate associations between ROSC and the dependent variables. The associations' robustness was evaluated through sensitivity analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The chance to receive CPR (OR 2.3; 95% CI:1.8-2.9), PAD (OR 7.2; 95% CI:4.9 - 10.7), and achieve Return to spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (crude OR 2.2; 95% CI:1.7-3.0, adjusted OR 1.6; 95% CI:1.2-2.2) is higher in the workplace compared to all other places.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The workplace could be considered cardioprotective, although further research is necessary to understand the causes of missed CPRs and identify the best places to increase BLS and defibrillation training to help policymakers implement correct programming on the activation of PAD projects.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 3","pages":"e2023010"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/0a/cf/MDL-114-10.PMC10281073.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10065234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nejdiye Güngördü, Seher Kurtul, Mehmet Sarper Erdoğan
{"title":"Evaluation of Sleep Quality, Work Stress and Related Factors in Hospital Office Workers.","authors":"Nejdiye Güngördü, Seher Kurtul, Mehmet Sarper Erdoğan","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Occupational factors, working conditions, age, gender, exercise, acquired habits, and stress affect a person's sleep quality. The aim of this study was to investigate sleep quality, work stress, and related factors among office workers in a hospital.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> This cross-sectional study was conducted with office workers actively working in a hospital. A questionnaire consisting of a sociodemographic data form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Swedish Workload-Control-Support Scale were used to assess the participants. Results: The mean of PSQI score was 4.32±2.40 and 27.2% of the participants had poor sleep quality. In the multivariate backward stepwise logistic regression analysis, it was found that shift workers were 1.73 times (95% CI: 1.02-2.91) more likely to have poor sleep quality, and a one-unit increase in work stress score increased the risk of having poor sleep quality by 2.59 times (95% CI: 1.37-4.87). An increase in age was found to decrease the risk of poor sleep quality in workers (OR =0.95; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> This study suggests that reducing workload and increasing work control as well as enhancing social support will be effective in preventing sleep disturbances. It is important, however, in terms of providing guidance for hospital employees in planning future measures to improve working conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 3","pages":"e2023023"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/b0/58/MDL-114-23.PMC10281069.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10065240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Impact of Lower Extremity Fatigue on Lower Quadrant Dysfunction and Health Profile in Hairdressers.","authors":"Tuba İnce Parpucu, Sabriye Ercan, Zeliha Başkurt, Ferdi Başkurt","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i3.13395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i3.13395","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fatigue is also an important occupational condition for hairdressers.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this study was to determine the lower extremity fatigue and related factors in hairdressers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Lower Extremity Fatigue was assessed with 2 questions containing a 5-point Likert scale. Numerical fatigue rating scale was used to assess general fatigue level, visual analogue scale was used to assess occupational satisfaction, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) was used to assess health profile, and Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) was used to assess lower quadrant pain profile.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the assessment of lower extremity pain, statistically significant difference was found between Fatigue and Non-fatigue groups in waist (p:0.018), right knee (p:0.020), left knee (p:0.019) and right lower leg (p:0.023) parameters. In the lower extremity Weighted Scores, there were significant differences between the fatigue and non-fatigue groups in waist (p:0.0001), right upper leg (p:0.018), left upper leg (p:0.009), right knee (p:0.0001) left knee (p:0.0001), right lower leg (p:0.001) and left lower leg (p:0.002). The difference in the Energy, Pain and Physical Mobility sub-dimensions of the Nottingham Health Profile of the hairdressers in 'Fatigue Group' was at a significant level.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In conclusion, the rate of lower extremity fatigue found in hairdressers in the present study was quite high and lower extremity fatigue was associated with lower extremity pain and health profile.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 3","pages":"e2023019"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/ee/61/MDL-114-19.PMC10281072.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10065241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luigi Vimercati, Domenica Cavone, Luigi De Maria, Antonio Caputi, Floriana Pentimone, Stefania Sponselli, Giuseppe Delvecchio, Elisabetta Chellini, Alessandra Binazzi, Davide Di Marzio, Carolina Mensi, Dario Consonni, Enrica Migliore, Dario Mirabelli, Alessia Angelini, Andrea Martini, Corrado Negro, Flavia D'Agostin, Iolanda Grappasonni, Cristiana Pascucci, Lucia Benfatto, Davide Malacarne, Veronica Casotto, Vera Comiati, Cinzia Storchi, Lucia Mangone, Stefano Murano, Lucia Rossin, Federico Tallarigo, Filomena Vitale, Marina Verardo, Silvia Eccher, Gabriella Madeo, Tommaso Staniscia, Francesco Carrozza, Ilaria Cozzi, Elisa Romeo, Paola Pelullo, Michele Labianca, Massimo Melis, Giuseppe Cascone, Alessandro Marinaccio, Giovanni Maria Ferri, Gabriella Serio
{"title":"Mesothelioma Risk among Construction Workers According to Job Title: Data from the Italian Mesothelioma Register.","authors":"Luigi Vimercati, Domenica Cavone, Luigi De Maria, Antonio Caputi, Floriana Pentimone, Stefania Sponselli, Giuseppe Delvecchio, Elisabetta Chellini, Alessandra Binazzi, Davide Di Marzio, Carolina Mensi, Dario Consonni, Enrica Migliore, Dario Mirabelli, Alessia Angelini, Andrea Martini, Corrado Negro, Flavia D'Agostin, Iolanda Grappasonni, Cristiana Pascucci, Lucia Benfatto, Davide Malacarne, Veronica Casotto, Vera Comiati, Cinzia Storchi, Lucia Mangone, Stefano Murano, Lucia Rossin, Federico Tallarigo, Filomena Vitale, Marina Verardo, Silvia Eccher, Gabriella Madeo, Tommaso Staniscia, Francesco Carrozza, Ilaria Cozzi, Elisa Romeo, Paola Pelullo, Michele Labianca, Massimo Melis, Giuseppe Cascone, Alessandro Marinaccio, Giovanni Maria Ferri, Gabriella Serio","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14538","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14538","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An increased risk of mesothelioma has been reported in various countries for construction workers. The Italian National Mesothelioma Registry, from 1993 to 2018, reported exposure exclusively in the construction sector in 2310 cases. We describe the characteristics of these cases according to job title.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We converted into 18 groups the original jobs (N=338) as reported by ISTAT codes ('ATECO 91'). The exposure level was attributed at certain, probable and possible in accordance with the qualitative classification of exposure as reported in the Registry guidelines. Descriptive analysis by jobs highlights the total number of subjects for each single job and certain exposure, in descending order, insulator, plumbing, carpenter, mechanic, bricklayer, electrician, machine operator, plasterer, building contractor, painter and labourer.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cases grow for plumbing in the incidence periods 1993-2018, while, as expected, it decreases for insulator. Within each period considered the most numerous cases are always among bricklayers and labourers, these data confirm the prevalence of non-specialised \"interchangeable\" jobs in Italian construction sector in the past.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite the 1992 ban, the construction sector still presents an occupational health prevention challenge, circumstances of exposure to asbestos may still occur due to incomplete compliance with prevention and protection measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 3","pages":"e2023025"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/d9/77/MDL-114-25.PMC10281067.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10065235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maxwell Boakye, Selase Kofi Adanu, Christopher Adu-Gyamfi, Richard Kwadzo Asare, Patricia Asantewaa-Tannor, John Coker Ayimah, Worlanyo Kwabena Agbosu
{"title":"A Relative Importance Index Approach to On-Site Building Construction Workers' Perception of Occupational Hazards Assessment.","authors":"Maxwell Boakye, Selase Kofi Adanu, Christopher Adu-Gyamfi, Richard Kwadzo Asare, Patricia Asantewaa-Tannor, John Coker Ayimah, Worlanyo Kwabena Agbosu","doi":"10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v114i3.14240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The construction industry has a percentage of work-related injuries and fatalities. Workers' perception of occupational hazards exposure can be a proactive management tool in knowing the state of construction site safety performance. This study aimed to assess the hazard perception of on-site construction workers in Ghana.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a structured questionnaire, data was collected from 197 construction workers at live building sites in the Ho Municipality. The data were analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed that on-site construction workers perceived ergonomic hazards as the most frequent, followed by physical, phycological, biological, and chemical hazards. The importance level of RII revealed that long working hours and bending or twisting back during task performance were perceived as the most severe hazards. Long working hours had the highest overall RII ranking, followed by bending or twisting back during task performance, manual lifting of objects or loads, scorching temperatures, and lengthy standing for prolonged periods.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Given the adverse health effects of working for long hours, the management of Ghanaian construction industries needs to reinforce the legislation on working hours to safeguard workers' occupational health. Safety professionals can use the study's findings to improve safety performance in the Ghanaian construction industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":49833,"journal":{"name":"Medicina Del Lavoro","volume":"114 3","pages":"e2023024"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/7c/e0/MDL-114-24.PMC10281066.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10065237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}