Natalia Fernández Laviada, Antonio Cubero Atienza, Agustín Sánchez-Toledo Ledesma
{"title":"Development and Temporal Stability of the Composite Occupational Recorded Burden Index (CORBI): A Composite Index for Occupational Surveillance Using Administrative Records.","authors":"Natalia Fernández Laviada, Antonio Cubero Atienza, Agustín Sánchez-Toledo Ledesma","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003880","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003880","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Develop CORBI and assess temporal stability using administrative records.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 314,140 occupational injury and disease records from a Spanish mutual insurance society (2022-2025). After exclusions, 239,140 episodes formed 208 occupation-by-recorded-sex cells with at least 100 episodes. CORBI combined four equally weighted dimensions. Development-period parameters were applied to 2025; threshold sensitivity was assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 113 comparable cells, Spearman correlation was 0.677, mean absolute change was 4.26 points, 88.5% remained in the same or an adjacent quartile, and 14 of the top 20 remained. Rankings differed from a trauma-centered comparator. Across thresholds, rank correlations with the primary solution were 0.994-0.998.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CORBI summarizes multidimensional recorded occupational burden and may support preventive review. It does not estimate incidence, exposure, causality, individual risk, or national prevalence; temporal stability does not constitute external validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148922071","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}
Stefani Florez-Acevedo, Peggy A Hannon, Dori E Rosenberg, Jenny Hsin-Chun Tsai, June T Spector
{"title":"Psychosocial Safety Climate and Occupational Health Outcomes Among Lone and Non-Lone Workers in the U.S.","authors":"Stefani Florez-Acevedo, Peggy A Hannon, Dori E Rosenberg, Jenny Hsin-Chun Tsai, June T Spector","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003882","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003882","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Examine associations between psychosocial safety climate (PSC), occupational stress, and injury risk among lone workers (LWs) and non-LWs in the United States.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional analysis of representative General Social Survey data. LWs were identified using a systematic approach. Logistic regression assessed associations between PSC and outcomes, including PSC-by-worker-type interaction terms, adjusting for demographic, health, and employment factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Each 1 SD increase in PSC was associated with 45% reduced odds of stress (OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.48-0.63) and 22% reduced odds of injury (OR=0.78, 95% CI:0.62-0.99). LWs reported lower PSC and poorer stress and injury outcomes; interactions between PSC and lone work were not statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>LWs experience lower PSC and more stress and injury, highlighting the need for organizational-wide improvements in PSC, surveillance, and interventions to reduce occupational risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148922063","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":"Beyond Ergonomics Training: Added Effects of a Supervised, Equipment-Free Workplace Exercise Program on Musculoskeletal Symptoms, Sleep, and Burnout in Artisanal Pastry Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Ömer Şevgin, Amin Daneshfar","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003878","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003878","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine whether adding a supervised exercise program to workplace ergonomics education adds benefit for musculoskeletal, sleep, and burnout outcomes in börek (Turkish pastry) workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this exploratory randomized controlled trial (NCT07447180), 60 male börek masters from 47 Istanbul shops were randomized to ergonomics education alone or education plus a 12-week supervised, equipment-free exercise program. The primary outcome was the number of symptomatic body regions (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Symptomatic regions decreased with added exercise (4.73 to 3.17) but not with education alone (baseline-adjusted difference, -1.41; 95% CI, -1.94 to -0.87). All secondary outcomes (QuickDASH, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Maslach Burnout Inventory) favored added exercise.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Supervised exercise added to ergonomics education produced a moderate incremental reduction in musculoskeletal symptom burden; all outcomes were self-reported by unblinded participants, so objective confirmation is required.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908216","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}
Xuguang Grant Tao, Marcos A Iglesias, Nimisha Kalia, Nina Leung, Judith Green-McKenzie, Robyn Satterfield, Edward J Bernacki
{"title":"Pharmacy Utilization Patterns and Polypharmacy as Predictors of High-Cost Workers' Compensation Claims: An Updated Cohort Study of Occupational Ankle Sprains.","authors":"Xuguang Grant Tao, Marcos A Iglesias, Nimisha Kalia, Nina Leung, Judith Green-McKenzie, Robyn Satterfield, Edward J Bernacki","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003875","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003875","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Evaluate pharmacy utilization patterns as independent predictors of high-cost workers' compensation claims (≥$50,000) for occupational ankle sprains.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Pharmacy Benefit Management data were integrated into a 9-year cohort of 18,991 claims. Logistic regression modeled individual drug-class utilization and multi-class combinations, adjusting for demographics, industry, litigations, physical complications, treatments, and comorbidities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High-cost risk increased significantly with individual utilization of opioids (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.78-2.69) and antiseizure medications (OR: 4.21; 95% CI: 3.28-5.39). While exclusive nonsteroidals use demonstrated no elevated risk (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.76-1.20), polypharmacy involving three or more flagged drug classes was associated with a 7.71-fold increase in cost escalation (CI: 6.08-9.77).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Early multi-class prescription drug tracking provides a dynamic and real-time indicator of case complexity, allowing interventions from relevant parties to prevent severe financial escalation.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908440","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}
Nikhil Rajaram, Sylvie Hudon, Sebastian Straube, D Linn Holness
{"title":"One of the Best Parts - Workplace Walk-Throughs: Findings from a 2025 Canadian Survey of Physicians Practicing in Occupational Medicine.","authors":"Nikhil Rajaram, Sylvie Hudon, Sebastian Straube, D Linn Holness","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003877","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003877","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Workplace walk-throughs (WWs) are a sine qua non for gaining experience on how workplace hazards affect health. This study examines physicians' experiences participating in WWs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study examined responses from a module on WWs in a 2025 online Canadian survey of occupational medicine (OM) physicians. This was collected over a four-week period in winter 2025 and analyzed using SAS v. 9.4.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>85/106 (80%) respondents performed at least one WW during their career, half under age 56 (n=39/82), about half (n=48/85) practicing for more than 25 years and most (80%, n=66/83) not performing WWs regularly in the past year. Common barriers included lack of compensation, access, support staff, time and training.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>20% of respondents reported never participating in WWs, and 55% of those that do participated in ≤20 during their career.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908309","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":"BOOK REVIEW: McLellan RK, Harber P. Guide to the Medical Evaluation for Respirator Use. Manchester MA, OEM Press, 2/d ed., 2026.","authors":"Tee L Guidotti","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003876","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003876","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148893128","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}
Christopher H Stewart-Patterson, Charl Els, Ronald Zipper, Douglas W Martin, Barry Gelinas, Kurt T Hegmann
{"title":"ACOEM Guidelines Independent Medical Examinations and Consultations.","authors":"Christopher H Stewart-Patterson, Charl Els, Ronald Zipper, Douglas W Martin, Barry Gelinas, Kurt T Hegmann","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003874","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003874","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This guideline offers an overview of independent medical examinations and consultations. These typically occur in complex medical cases requiring an independent, non-partisan opinion or a re-assessment of a diagnosis. The legal requirements regarding independent medical examinations vary by jurisdiction, but it is critical that physicians performing these examinations or consultations both be sufficiently experienced in the area of inquiry and abide by strict ethical standards. A comprehensive consultation or independent medical examination report contains specific elements, generated through a deliberate process and based on the highest-quality evidence. The report should be of sufficient rigor, quality, and clarity to adequately demonstrate the information and decision-making process underpinning the performing physician's ultimate conclusions.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148883092","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}
Marit Skogstad, Sarah Alsaedi, Per Anton Sirnes, Asgeir Mamen, Øivind Skare, Elisabeth Goffeng, Lars Ole Goffeng, Dagfinn Matre, Hans Christian Dalsbotten Aass, Erika Zardin Brinchmann
{"title":"Cardiovascular Risk Factors in 101 Night-shift and Day Workers in Industry: A Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Marit Skogstad, Sarah Alsaedi, Per Anton Sirnes, Asgeir Mamen, Øivind Skare, Elisabeth Goffeng, Lars Ole Goffeng, Dagfinn Matre, Hans Christian Dalsbotten Aass, Erika Zardin Brinchmann","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003703","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003703","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This cross-sectional study assesses cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in industrial rotating night-shift and day workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined 27 day workers, 40 night-shift workers with high night load, and 34 night-shift workers with low night loads. We assessed sleep, blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness, maximal oxygen uptake ( ), glycosylated hemoglobin, lipids, focusing on inflammatory markers, and adipokines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High-load night-shift workers had higher inflammation and lower adiponectin level compared with other shift workers and day workers. Night shifts of 8 and 12 hours shortened sleep. The number of night shifts was positively associated with inflammatory markers and negatively associated with adiponectin.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Night-shift work is associated with CVD risk factors. Shift schedules with fewer night shifts and longer recovery periods could mitigate it.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"756-765"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13496034/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147392004","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}
Claire M Moore, Leah H Schinasi, Amy Carroll-Scott
{"title":"Hot Button: A Content Analysis of Public Comments on OSHA's Proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Standard.","authors":"Claire M Moore, Leah H Schinasi, Amy Carroll-Scott","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003721","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003721","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>In this study, we aimed to conduct a content analysis of public comments on the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration's proposed workplace heat safety standard (August 30, 2024, to January 14, 2025).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We included all comments available for download on the US Federal Register webpage, as of February 12, 2025 (N = 17,688). We conducted a word frequency analysis and, in 20 randomly selected comments, used abductive qualitative coding to identify key themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most comments expressed support for the standard. Key themes included protecting vulnerable workers, the idea that the rule is common sense, the argument that the rule is needed due to climate change, the need for context-dependent standards, and concerns around enforcement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>An overwhelming majority of public comments support a federal heat safety standard to protect vulnerable employees against hazardous temperatures in the workplace.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"e629-e633"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147517966","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}
Louis Everest, Paul A Demers, Brendan T Smith, JinHee Kim, Victoria H Arrandale, M Anne Harris, Chaojie Song, Tracy L Kirkham, Jeavana Sritharan
{"title":"Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Among Ontario Healthcare Workers: A Comparison of Test-negative and Cohort Study Designs in a Heterogeneous Reason-for-testing Population.","authors":"Louis Everest, Paul A Demers, Brendan T Smith, JinHee Kim, Victoria H Arrandale, M Anne Harris, Chaojie Song, Tracy L Kirkham, Jeavana Sritharan","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003693","DOIUrl":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003693","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Differential reason-for-testing may bias test-negative estimates. This study aimed to estimate healthcare worker SARS-CoV-2 risk, with adjustment for healthcare-seeking behavior and unmeasured reason-for-testing.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 1.2-million workers in Ontario, Canada, were followed for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction tests from February 2020 to December 2021. Hazard ratios (HRs) were used to estimate SARS-CoV-2 risk in healthcare workers versus non-healthcare workers based on the overall and test-negative subcohort. Unmeasured reason-for-testing was examined through probabilistic bias analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the test-negative subcohort, healthcare and non-healthcare workers had a similar risk of SARS-CoV-2. However, healthcare workers had an increased risk in the symptomatic-adjusted (HR: 1.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.40) and asymptomatic-adjusted (HR: 2.83, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-9.07) models.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Future test-negative studies should account for potential bias from varying symptomatic and asymptomatic testing groups and may consider using probabilistic bias analysis methods when reason-for-testing data is missing.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":"724-731"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13496026/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147318614","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}