Leonidas G Ioannou, Lydia Tsoutsoubi, Konstantinos Mantzios, Georgios Gkikas, Gerasimos Agaliotis, Yiannis Koutedakis, David García-León, George Havenith, Jack Liang, Costas Arkolakis, Jason Glaser, Glen P Kenny, Igor B Mekjavic, Lars Nybo, Andreas D Flouris
{"title":"The Impact of Workplace Heat and Cold on Work Time Loss.","authors":"Leonidas G Ioannou, Lydia Tsoutsoubi, Konstantinos Mantzios, Georgios Gkikas, Gerasimos Agaliotis, Yiannis Koutedakis, David García-León, George Havenith, Jack Liang, Costas Arkolakis, Jason Glaser, Glen P Kenny, Igor B Mekjavic, Lars Nybo, Andreas D Flouris","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003332","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003332","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>We investigated the impact of workplace heat and cold on work time loss.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Field experiments in different industrial sectors were conducted in multiple countries across all seasons between 2016 and 2024. Hundreds of workers were video recorded, and their full shifts (n = 603) were analyzed on a second-by-second basis (n = 16,065,501 seconds). Environmental data were recorded using portable weather stations. The Workplace Environmental Labor Loss (WELL) functions were developed to describe work time loss due to workplace temperature.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The WELL functions revealed a U-shaped relationship whereby the least work time loss is observed at 18°C (64°F) and increases for every degree above or below this optimal temperature.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The WELL functions quantify the impact of workplace temperature on work time loss, extending to temperatures previously believed to be unaffected.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"393-399"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105968/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143451236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julianne Payne, Kelli DePriest, Carmen Daniel, Austin Booth, Scarlett Ruppert, Randi McArthur, Jeremy Bray, Shawn Kneipp, Laura Linnan
{"title":"Measures and Measurement Tools for Studying Total Worker Health.","authors":"Julianne Payne, Kelli DePriest, Carmen Daniel, Austin Booth, Scarlett Ruppert, Randi McArthur, Jeremy Bray, Shawn Kneipp, Laura Linnan","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003348","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003348","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the study was to identify survey, interview, and observational measures and measurement tools to assess constructs associated with Total Worker Health (TWH).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a scoping review to identify articles that presented or evaluated measures and tools associated with worker health, safety, and well-being. We supplemented this review with a scan of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's TWH website and those of the Centers of Excellence for TWH. We extracted information about the measures and tools, including descriptive attributes, substantive focus, and evidence of psychometric evaluation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 102 measures and tools. Substantively, many addressed the conditions of work and worker safety, health, and well-being outcomes. Ten measures and tools did not have an available psychometric evaluation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This work advances the science of TWH by identifying available measures and tools that researchers and practitioners can use when designing, implementing, and evaluating future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"404-413"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598656","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}
Hyoungseob Yoo, Yu Min Lee, Hyun A Cho, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim, Mo-Yeol Kang
{"title":"Physical Demands at Work Associated With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Among Women: A Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Hyoungseob Yoo, Yu Min Lee, Hyun A Cho, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim, Mo-Yeol Kang","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003361","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003361","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between physical demands at work and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among women and their effects on quality of life (QOL) and productivity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An online survey was conducted to collect data on the demographic characteristics, physical demands at work, and LUTS of Korean women. Occupational physical activity, sitting time, musculoskeletal risk tasks, and heavy lifting were assessed as physical demands at work. Multiple logistic regression and generalized linear model was applied to analyze the association of these factors with LUTS and LUTS-related outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High level of occupational physical activity was significantly associated with LUTS, which reduced the workers' QOL and labor productivity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physical demands at work were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of LUTS, leading to reduced QOL and labor productivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e400-e405"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598658","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}
Alya Khan, Manijeh Berenji, Marianne Cloeren, Rose Goldman, Stefan Wheat, Oladele Ogunseitan, Samantha Ayoub, Peter Rabinowitz, Bhargavi Chekuri, Gina Solomon
{"title":"The Imperative to Incorporate Climate Change Competencies into Occupational and Environmental Medicine Training to Safeguard Worker Health.","authors":"Alya Khan, Manijeh Berenji, Marianne Cloeren, Rose Goldman, Stefan Wheat, Oladele Ogunseitan, Samantha Ayoub, Peter Rabinowitz, Bhargavi Chekuri, Gina Solomon","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003354","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003354","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aims of the study were to identify relevant gaps and suggest modifications to occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) graduate medical education to increase knowledge about potential climate change impacts, teach practical skills, and promote relevant actions to protect workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine competencies were aligned to the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education physician competencies. Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) OEM milestones were re-examined using a milestone curricular guide based on the peer-reviewed Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education competencies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Climate change-related OEM knowledge and skills are proposed for each OEM core competency domain. Nine residency milestones mapped to the ten American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine core competencies are highlighted by incorporating a climate-related activity along with a call to action.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>OEM training already provides more climate-relevant content than other specialties. Nonetheless, OEM residents need more climate change education to help employers, workers, and their communities to anticipate, mitigate, and adapt to climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"414-424"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598666","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}
Xia Zheng, Heidi Preis, Clare Whitney, Elizabeth Bojsza, Susmita Pati
{"title":"Burnout and Professional Fulfillment: Associations With Interprofessional Communication Skills and Climate Among Clinical Health Professionals.","authors":"Xia Zheng, Heidi Preis, Clare Whitney, Elizabeth Bojsza, Susmita Pati","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003355","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003355","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Effective communication in interprofessional settings is a key modifiable factor in addressing burnout among health care professionals. Previous research has paid less attention to the multilevel nature of interprofessional communication. This paper proposes a model explaining how individual-level factors (communication skills and uncertainty tolerance) and group-level factors (teamwork and response to errors) are linked to burnout via professional fulfillment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Survey data were gathered from clinical health professionals in a tertiary teaching hospital in the United States. Multivariate linear regression and structural equation models were used to test our hypotheses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Individual-level communication skills and uncertainty tolerance and group-level teamwork and response to error were positively associated with professional fulfillment, which in turn tempered burnout among clinical professionals.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Enhancing individual communication skills and organizational communication climate are likely to mitigate burnout and enhance fulfillment among clinical professionals.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"425-430"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598593","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}
Matthew J McAllister, Caitlin Dodge, Peter T Tanksley, M Hunter Martaindale, Steven E Martin, Drew E Gonzalez
{"title":"Markers of Fitness, Stress, and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Among Law Enforcement Officers.","authors":"Matthew J McAllister, Caitlin Dodge, Peter T Tanksley, M Hunter Martaindale, Steven E Martin, Drew E Gonzalez","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003357","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003357","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Law enforcement officers (LEOs) face numerous stressors that exacerbate cardiometabolic disease (CMD) risk. The current study examined novel and classic risk factors among a cohort of LEOs to better understand relationships between biomarkers of stress, oxidative stress, inflammation, and CMD risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Associations between measures of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, body composition, and cardiometabolic health with novel/classic CMD risk factors were assessed among 66 male LEOs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Muscular fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness were significantly associated with reduced insulin resistance. Moreover, higher fat mass and body fat percentages were significantly associated with increased markers of inflammation and insulin resistance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Maintaining high cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness levels and improving body composition profiles can ameliorate cardiometabolic health.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"437-444"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598655","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}
Rafael Cordero, Haley Ponce, David Ring, Melissa Tonn, Sina Ramtin
{"title":"A Debiasing Checklist Has the Potential to Improve Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Outcomes in Claims of Work Injury.","authors":"Rafael Cordero, Haley Ponce, David Ring, Melissa Tonn, Sina Ramtin","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003368","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003368","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the study was to identify the most frequent deviations and factors associated with the number of deviations from a work injury debiasing checklist among claims referred for peer review.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively reviewed 141 work injury claims sent to a musculoskeletal specialist for additional scrutiny and counted deviations from a checklist developed to catch common pitfalls in evaluation and treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nearly all claims had a deviation (99%) including mislabeling of noninjury pathophysiology as an injury (92%), overlooking mental health (91%), and work restrictions in the absence of risk or incapacity (91%). There were no associations between the number of deviations from the checklist and any patient or clinician factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A debiasing checklist has potential to help clinicians avoid common pitfalls in the care of claims of work injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e419-e423"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598588","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":"Quantifying the Trunk and Humeral Postural Demands of Uranium Mine Site Workers Using Wearable Sensors.","authors":"Denise Balogh, Angelica E Lang","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003359","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003359","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this study was to quantify and describe humeral and trunk ergonomic exposures across various occupations on a mine site.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirteen mine site workers from eleven different occupations were outfitted with wearable sensors to measure trunk and humeral kinematics during one to four natural on-site work tasks. Trunk flexion/extension and humeral elevation 10th, 50th, 90th and 99th percentiles, range, percent time in neutral and extreme posture, rate of movement repetition, mean angular velocity, and percent time working at slow and fast speed were calculated for each work task.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Various degrees of ergonomic exposure were measured in the different occupations and work tasks; however, the housekeeping work was consistently the highest exposure task across many of the outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Future work should examine strategies for reducing the physical demand in work tasks identified as high exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e392-e399"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598660","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":"Effects of Social Networking Service-Based Exercise Therapy on Reducing Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Improving Productivity in Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Shirou Mikayama, Ryo Tomonaga, Ying Jiang, Hiroshi Yamato","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003351","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003351","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of exercise therapy using social networking services (SNSs) to reduce nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) among healthcare and transportation workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 40 participants, 20 in the control group and 20 in the intervention group, were enrolled in the study. The intervention group received exercise therapy after answering questions regarding NLBP and classifying it into seven categories. The intervention group was asked to perform therapeutic 15-minute exercises suitable for each type of NLBP, as demonstrated by a physical therapist, the first author of this article, through YouTube, three times a week for 8 weeks.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed that the SNS-based exercise therapy was significantly effective in reducing NLBP ( P < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Exercise therapy utilizing SNS effectively improved NLBP among healthcare and transportation workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e365-e371"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143461276","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}
Zhaochong Yu, Lorenna Altman, Qichen Fang, Ryan Bellacov, Rosie Davis, Kermit Davis, Ashley Kubley, Myoung Ok Kim, Mark Schulz, Vesselin Shanov, William Jetter, W Jon Williams, M Minhaj, Md Zahid Hasan, Marepalli Rao, Amit Bhattacharya
{"title":"Assessing the Impact of Advanced Cooling Technology in Firefighting Gear During Live Burn Scenario.","authors":"Zhaochong Yu, Lorenna Altman, Qichen Fang, Ryan Bellacov, Rosie Davis, Kermit Davis, Ashley Kubley, Myoung Ok Kim, Mark Schulz, Vesselin Shanov, William Jetter, W Jon Williams, M Minhaj, Md Zahid Hasan, Marepalli Rao, Amit Bhattacharya","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003360","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003360","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>A firefighter wears a standard safety coat, its model unchanged for many years, when tackling a fire. We designed a new cooling system coat with carbon nanotube-based fabric and pouches inside the coat for coolants and fans. The coats, one standard and the other still evolving, are compared on several metrics including core body temperature and thermal comfort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An experimental protocol was designed involving a live burn facility under the paradigm of noninferiority study with firefighters trying both coats. The metrics are measured at several phases of the protocol. Multivariate t test is used to compare the performance of the coats.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The new coat is not inferior to the standard coat.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The new coat in its final form, which is yet to be tested fully, is a plausible replacement for the standard coat.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"431-436"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598589","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}