Ako Shimizu, Kiyohide Tomooka, Setsuko Sato, Akihito Shimazu, Takeshi Tanigawa
{"title":"Association between Work Engagement and Obesity among Workers in a Large Japanese Company.","authors":"Ako Shimizu, Kiyohide Tomooka, Setsuko Sato, Akihito Shimazu, Takeshi Tanigawa","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003885","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003885","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To clarify the association between work engagement and obesity among workers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study assessed 20,611 workers in a large Japanese company. We assessed work engagement, obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/ m 2 ), and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/ m 2 ). Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between work engagement and obesity and overweight after adjusting for potential confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for obesity for moderate and highest tertile of work engagement were 0.93 (0.80-1.1) and 0.78 (0.67-0.92), respectively (p for trend < 0.01). The respective ORs (95% CIs) for overweight were 0.96 (0.89-1.04) and 0.91(0.84-0.98) (p for trend = 0.02).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Workers with high work engagement had a lower prevalence of obesity and overweight.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148964150","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}
Michael Kenneth Lemke, Chi Tian, Andrea Ixchel Gonzales Melinger, John F Nally, James J Yang, Bovorn Sirikul, Susana Zavala, Geethika Yalavarthy, Joshua Lattao, Maulik Saraiya, William Brett Perkison
{"title":"The Effectiveness of Cooling Vests in Reducing Physiological Strains of Occupational Heat Stress Among Construction Workers.","authors":"Michael Kenneth Lemke, Chi Tian, Andrea Ixchel Gonzales Melinger, John F Nally, James J Yang, Bovorn Sirikul, Susana Zavala, Geethika Yalavarthy, Joshua Lattao, Maulik Saraiya, William Brett Perkison","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003884","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003884","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine if construction workers have a lower BR and a higher HRV while wearing cooling vests.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective, pragmatic cross-over design took place in June 2023 across a two-day period. Twelve participants were assigned into two equal-sized groups in a counterbalanced design. Each participant served as their own control at baseline. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to test the cooling vest's effect on workers' HRV and BR, and separate Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to evaluate the cooling vests' effectiveness over time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across the whole data collection period, workers wearing cooling vests showed significantly lowered BR, but it did not significantly increase HRV. During the initial period (10-20 minutes), wearing a cooling vest resulted in a significantly lower BR.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cooling vests may constitute one solution to occupational heat-related illnesses.</p>","PeriodicalId":94100,"journal":{"name":"Journal of occupational and environmental medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148946421","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}
Kiran Ganga, Emilio Del Toro, Jeffrey R Wunderlich, Benoit J Gosselin, Jason R Pettus, Karen L Huyck
{"title":"Post-traumatic Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Scalp: A Case Report and Proposal for Updated Diagnostic Criteria for Trauma-related Neoplasia.","authors":"Kiran Ganga, Emilio Del Toro, Jeffrey R Wunderlich, Benoit J Gosselin, Jason R Pettus, Karen L Huyck","doi":"10.1097/JOM.0000000000003879","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003879","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Pleomorphic adenomas classically arise from salivary gland epithelial tissue and may occur after trauma. Criteria for establishing trauma-tumor causation are outdated. This case presents a patient with two separate post-traumatic pleomorphic adenomas and proposes updated criteria for evaluating trauma-related tumor causation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 59-year-old presented with a frontotemporal scalp lesion one year after workplace head trauma. Nine years earlier she underwent parotidectomy of a pleomorphic adenoma following jaw trauma.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The excised scalp lesion was a benign mixed tumor of skin. Histopathologic differences between the scalp and parotid lesions established them as separate primary tumors. The case was evaluated for causation during a workers' compensation claim.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The case demonstrates a rare occurrence of multiple post-traumatic benign mixed tumors. We propose an updated and comprehensive set of criteria for objectively assessing trauma-tumor causation.</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":"148914804","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}
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}
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}