Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “worker”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,225 records · Page 68Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Plicatic acid-specific IgE and nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness in western red-cedar workers.

In a cross-sectional survey of 652 workers in a western red-cedar sawmill, we obtained data on symptoms, pulmonary function, immediate skin reactivity to common allergens, nonspecific bronchial responsiveness, total IgE level, and sensitization to plicatic acid conjugated with human serum albumin as measured by RAST. Dust exposure was estimated by personal and area sampling for total dust during a work shift and cumulative exposure by duration of employment. Seven percent of the workers had an elevated RAST, and 20% had nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Elevation in RAST was associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Almost half (46%) of the workers with RAST elevation had bronchial hyperresponsiveness compared to 18% in workers with no RAST elevation. The association was unaffected by total IgE level or by limiting the analysis to workers without respiratory symptoms and was most apparent in younger workers. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was associated with increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms as well as with lower levels of pulmonary function. The likelihood of bronchial hyperresponsiveness increased with increasing age but was unrelated to the dust-exposure concentration. RAST elevation was unrelated to employment duration or dust exposure and was not associated with an increased prevalence of symptoms or lower levels of pulmonary function independent of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We conclude that plicatic acid-specific IgE and nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness are associated in western red-cedar workers and that this association may reflect a causal connection.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The relationship of child protection worker attitudes to attrition from the field.

Child protection workers in 33 states and the District of Columbia participated in a survey conducted by the C. Henry Kempe National Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect to determine the attitudes and attributes of workers who terminate their careers in child protection. A year after the survey, telephone follow-up was done to identify respondents to the survey who had left the child protection field. Attributes and attitudes were then linked directly to whether workers had terminated or continued child protective service. Just 8.0% (15 of 187) of the workers had left the field. There were few differences between workers that departed and those whose services were retained. Both were generally dissatisfied with their profession at the time of the survey. The shrinking social service labor market and worker investment in the field are discussed as factors impeding turnover among child protection workers.

Attitude↗
PubMed1994

Change of occupation and retirement among Swedish farmers and farm workers in relation to those in other occupations. A study of "elimination" from farming during the period 1970-1988.

A number of studies carried out in different countries have shown that farmers have a low morbidity and mortality in comparison to those in other occupations. However, this has been questioned on the basis that some type of selective process may be operating, in that persons having health problems will avoid farming, or are forced to leave farming for other occupations. To determine the occurrence of a so-called 'healthy worker effect', this postal survey of 'elimination' from farming and farming-associated occupations has been carried out. A total of 1283 male farmers and 334 male farm workers born in 1935 and active in Sweden in 1970 were taken as the study group. As controls, a similar number of occupationally active men of the same age and living in the same municipalities were randomly chosen. The results showed that farmers changed occupation or retired early less often than those in other occupations did, whereas more farm workers changed occupation and retired than did other workers of the same age. Among the different reasons given for work change/retirement, low income/poor earning capacity was more common among the farmers and farm workers than among the controls. Illness was less common among farmers but tended to be more common among farm workers as cause of work change. Few farmers changed their occupation because they were offered other work, in comparison to those in other occupations. Allergic disease more often led to an occupation change among farmers, while they less often gave cardiac disease and locomotor problems as a reason for change of occupation, this was probably also true for the farm workers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The clinical course of musculoskeletal pain in empirically derived groupings of injured workers.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the clinical course of musculoskeletal, soft tissue, work-related injury. An analysis of empirically derived sub-groupings of workers based on prognostically important pain and disability variables assessed on enrollment into the study is described. Multidimensional time-dependent profiles are used to characterize stages in the development of pain, impairment, disability and handicap. The clinical course over the 18 months of study of the three subgroups is examined. The conceptual model, used to examine the workers' changing responses over time, is based on the World Health Organization Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (1980). Methodologically, the study employed a prospective longitudinal design. A randomly selected cohort of workers who had not returned to work by 3 months post-injury were identified from the files of the Workers' Compensation Board of Ontario. The workers were interviewed and examined on enrollment into the study at 3 months and subsequently at 9 months, 15 months and 21 months after injury. The outcomes were return to work or continued work disability. The results are based on those 104 workers who attended all four assessment periods. K means clustering was used to identify homogenous subgroups of workers. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to characterize the stages of development of pain, impairment, disability and handicap. Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare pairs of means at each assessment period. Cluster groupings, based on three prognostically important clinical variables, number of pain sites, pain behavior and functional disability, obtained at the initial assessment were valid predictors of the number of days to return to work and total number of days on work disability. Prognostic stratification can enhance confidence in predictive decisions of clinical practice and improve clinical trials of therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Knowledge and views on drug abuse of primary health care workers in Nigeria.

Primary health care (PHC) in Nigeria (as in many developing countries) relies heavily on paramedical personnel. Using a self-report structured questionnaire design, 207 PHC workers were assessed on their knowledge and views about drug and alcohol abuse. PHC workers with previous exposure to some form of drug abuse training were significantly more likely to be aware of the correct usage for the term 'drug abuse', although the whole range of drugs of abuse/dependence was much less well appreciated. Drugs reported by the PHC workers to be commonly abused in the study area were in keeping with previous findings on drug abuse in the country. However, 75.4% of the PHC workers perceived drug abuse as a low grade problem, in contrast to recent reports, of the increasing magnitude of drug abuse problems in the country. About one fifth of PHC workers were of the opinion that drug abusers should be punished. Only 35 (16.9%) of those who indicated the need for treatment mentioned that this could be carried out by PHC personnel. Many of the PHC workers showed limited knowledge of factors associated with drug abuse and on the scope of preventive strategies against drug abuse. Suggestions are made on the short and long term training needs of the PHC workers in order to ensure the successful incorporation of drug abuse treatment and prevention programmes into the PHC programme in Nigeria.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Serum succinyltrialanine p-nitroanilide-hydrolytic activity in workers occupationally exposed to lead.

The relationship between blood lead concentration and serum succinyltrialanine p-nitroanilide-hydrolytic (STN) activity was investigated in 74 workers occupationally exposed to lead and in 28 non-exposed workers. Exposure to lead was observed during transfer-printing processes in which paints or paint powders containing 20-50% lead were used. The mean lead concentration was 0.49 mg/m3 (0.12-1.43 mg/m3) in the working environment and 1.42 mg/m3 (0.21-4.34 mg/m3) in workers involved in printing processes. Serum STN activity became lower with increasing concentrations of blood lead (PbB) in non-exposed workers (controls). In lead-exposed workers, the activity decreased with increasing concentrations of PbB of 2.0 mumol/l and more, but increased when less than 1.9 mumol/l. Among lead-exposed workers with high PbB concentrations and/or with hepatic dysfunction, the STN/PbB ratio was distributed above the regression line obtained from the controls. The present investigation suggests that serum STN activity decreases in those highly exposed to lead. Enzymes such as elastase, which hydrolyzes succinyltrialanine p-nitroanilide and additionally is not inhibited by lead, may possibly be induced among lead workers when liver function is impaired.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Occupational exposure to noise, and hearing function among electro production workers.

OBJECTIVE: The present study has the aim to investigate the prevalence and the determinants of hearing loss among electro production workers. METHODS: Ninety-three electro production workers and 51 office workers underwent audiometric test. Information regarding, socio-demographics, present and past medical history of hearing problems, use of ototoxic drugs, hobbies, and smoking habit was obtained using a self administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The levels of noise at workplace have also been measured. Electro production workers were exposed to high levels of noise. Statistical analysis has shown that 44% of electro production workers had sensorineural hearing loss located mainly at 4000 Hz. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that occupational exposure to noise appears to be the strongest predictor (odds ratio, OR: 7.51) of NIHL followed by aging (OR: 5.34), and last by smoking (OR: 2.47). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that electro production workers are occupationally exposed to high levels of noise, and present high rates of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The observed hearing loss was located mainly at 4000 Hz. These findings underline the need for interventions to reduce the risk for the development of NIHL among electro production workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Disabled workers with motor impairments: data from an occupational health service].

INTRODUCTION: Mediclen is an occupational health service in charge of following-up 36,736 workers (divided among 1770 companies) in 3 cities of an area near Paris. The employment rate of disabled people among the French population is not well known (rough estimate 4.4%), and few studies have reported on the situation of workers with a motor impairment. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The recent computerization of medical records allowed us to identify 195 workers considered disabled by the French administration (i.e. 0.55% of the 36,736 workers followed up in 2002). Among these, 26 had a motor impairment. RESULTS: Twenty-one neurological disabilities were central and 5 were peripheral or neuromuscular. The workers were 44-years-old. Only two workers had a severe handicap. Companies had to adapt workstations for half of the workers, with the advice of neurologists (7 of 10 advice given) and once a physical medicine doctor. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION: The integration of people with motor impairments into the world of work is rare and difficult. This practical experience showed the difficulties people with motor impairment face. Close collaboration of physical medicine services with occupational health services is necessary to improve the integration of this population into the world of work.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The effect of fluid consumption on the forest workers' performance strategy.

The heart rate development and time consumption of four Zimbabwean forest workers engaged in manual harvesting were studied to assess their performance strategy and whether this strategy was affected by differences in fluid consumption. Each worker was studied during 8 consecutive working days and produced 2.4 m3 pulpwood/day. They consumed either 0.17 l or 0.6 l of water each 1/2 hour with one fluid scheme assigned to each day according to a randomised block (person) design with four replicates (days). All workers were found to harvest large trees at the start of the working day and small trees at the end. All workers took longer to complete their task when on the low fluid scheme, however, the effect on the heart rate development varied for the individual workers as the strategies adopted to accommodate the stress inflicted by the low fluid scheme, varied for the individual workers. It is recommended that sufficient fluid supply during work be accompanied by training of the workers to convey the need and benefits of sufficient fluid consumption.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Use of concurrent and retrospective verbal protocols to investigate workers' thoughts during a manual-handling task.

A manual handling task (an order picking task in a distribution warehouse) was investigated using concurrent verbal protocols and retrospective verbal protocols (applied at three different times after completion of the task). The study aimed to collect workers' thoughts during the task and to determine what workers are comfortable with reporting. Video recordings of the task were used as a means of investigating the accuracy of the information which was reported. The concurrent and retrospective verbal protocol methods were compared and it was found that concurrent reports could be used to collect a range of task related thoughts, although they only contained a proportion of the workers' thoughts during the task. Additional information could be obtained from retrospective reports, although these appeared to be vulnerable to bias and re-ordering of reported information. The retrospective reports produced whilst watching a video recording of the task were particularly vulnerable to bias from retrospective reasoning or the rationalisation of thoughts. Only one specific reference to posture or handling technique was made by any of the workers in their reports. There were also few references to load characteristics. Workers frequently reported aspects of the task that were easier to verbalise, such as the counting or labelling of items. It is not known whether the workers were only aware of these limited details of their tasks or whether they were only able to report limited details of the tasks because of factors affecting verbal reporting. This was an exploratory study which has collected valuable information from a small sample of experienced workers in relation to a common task from industry, but further study is needed to investigate the effects of factors such as load weight, load position and task duration on awareness and reporting of thoughts.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The influence of the scout upon the decision-making process of recruited workers in three Acromyrmex species (Formicidae: Attini).

We examined how the information communicated by a scout worker influences the plant species transported by recruited workers in Acromyrmex balzani, Acromyrmex rugosus, and Acromyrmex crassispinus, three species of leaf-cutting ant that have different substrate and habitat preferences. We verified that certain plant species were more likely to be transported than others and that recruitment occurs. We found that recruited workers were more likely to transport non-preferred plant species when they were recruited to these by scout workers. The results suggest that the scout worker can communicate information about plant identity to recruited workers, but that recruited workers integrate the information communicated with their own experience during the decision-making process.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Mortality patterns among industrial workers exposed to chloroprene and other substances. II. Mortality in relation to exposure.

As part of an historical cohort study to investigate the mortality experience of industrial workers exposed to chloroprene (CD) and other substances, including vinyl chloride monomer (VC), we analyzed mortality from all cancers combined, respiratory system (RSC) and liver cancer in relation to CD and VC exposures. Subjects were 12,430 workers ever employed at one of two U.S. sites (Louisville, KY (n=5507) and Pontchartrain, LA (n=1357)) or two European sites (Maydown, Northern Ireland (n=4849) and Grenoble, France (n=717)). Historical exposures for individual workers were estimated quantitatively for CD and VC. For sites L, M, P and G, respectively, average intensity of CD exposures (median value of exposed workers in ppm) were 5.23, 0.16, 0.028 and 0.149 and median cumulative exposures (ppm years) were 18.35, 0.084, 0.133 and 1.01. For sites L and M, respectively, average intensity of VC exposures (median value of exposed workers in ppm) was 1.54 and 0.03 and median cumulative exposures (ppm years) were 1.54 and 0.094. We performed relative risk (RR) regression modeling to investigate the dependence of the internal cohort rates for all cancers combined, RSC and liver cancer on combinations of the categorical CD or VC exposure measures with adjustment for potential confounding factors. We categorized exposure measures into approximate quartiles based on the distribution of deaths from all cancers combined. We also considered 5- and 15-year lagged exposure measures and adjusted some RR models for worker pay type (white/blue collar) as a rough surrogate for lifetime smoking history. All modeling was site-specific to account for exposure heterogeneity. We also computed exposure category-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) to assess absolute mortality rates. With the exception of a one statistically significant association with duration of exposure to CD and all cancers combined in plant M, we observed no evidence of a positive association with all cancers, RSC or liver cancer and exposure to CD and/or VC using both the unlagged and lagged exposure measures: duration, average intensity or cumulative exposure to CD or VC; time since first CD or VC exposure; and duration of CD exposure or time since first CD exposure in presence or absence of VC exposure. We observed elevated and statistically significantly elevated RRs for some analysis subgroups, but these were due to inordinately low death rates in the baseline categories. With the possible exception of all cancer mortality in plant G, our additional adjustment of RRs for pay type revealed no evidence of positive confounding by smoking. We conclude that exposures to CD or VC at the levels encountered in the four study sites do not elevate mortality risks from all cancers, RSC or liver cancer. This conclusion is corroborated by our analysis of general mortality patterns among the CD cohort reported in our companion paper [G. Marsh, A. Youk, J. Buchanich, M. Cunningham, N. Esmen, T. Hall, M. Phillips, Mortality patterns among industrial workers exposed to chloroprene and other substances. I. General mortality patterns, Chem.-Biol. Interact., submitted for publication].

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed2004

Do Mexico City pharmacy workers screen women for health risks when they sell oral contraceptive pills over-the-counter?

CONTEXT: In Mexico, oral contraceptives (OCs) are available to women over-the-counter in pharmacies. While past research has suggested that nonmedical providers, such as pharmacy workers, are capable of screening women for contraindications to OCs, little is known about their practices. METHODS: After selecting a 10% random sample of all pharmacies in Mexico City (n = 108), we surveyed the first available pharmacy worker to learn more about pharmacy workers' screening practices when selling OCs over-the-counter to women. RESULTS: While nearly all of the pharmacy workers surveyed had sold OCs without a prescription, only 31% reported asking women any questions before selling pills. Among those who asked questions, the most commonly asked questions were about other medications a woman was taking, about blood pressure and about alcohol intake. Pharmacy workers did not ask these questions consistently to all clients. CONCLUSION: Training pharmacy workers might be one strategy to improve screening of women for pill contraindications. However, pharmacy workers may lack the time and motivation to carry out such screening. An alternative strategy might be to better inform women to self-screen for pill contraindications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of chest radiography and high-resolution computed tomography findings in early and low-grade coal worker's pneumoconiosis.

INTRODUCTION: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more sensitive than chest X-ray (CXR) in the depiction of parenchymal abnormalities. We aimed to present and compare CXR and HRCT findings in coal workers with and without early and low-grade coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 71 coal workers were enrolled in this study. All workers were male. The CXR and HRCT of those workers were obtained and graded by two trained readers. HRCT's were graded according to Hosoda and Shida's Japanese classification. After grading, 67 workers with CXR profusion 0/0-2/2 were included in the study. Four patients with major opacity were excluded. Profusion 0/1 to 1/1 cases were accepted as early and profusion 1/2 and 2/2 cases as low-grade pneumoconiosis. RESULTS: Discordance between CXR and HRCT was high. Discordance rate was found higher in the early pneumoconiosis cases with negative CXR than low-grade pneumoconiosis (60, 36 and 8%, respectively). When coal miners with normal CXR were evaluated by HRCT, six out of 10 cases were diagnosed as positive. In low-grade pneumoconiosis group, the number of patients with positive CXR but negative HRCT were low in comparison to patients with CXR negative and early pneumoconiosis findings. Most of the CXR category 0 patients (10/16) were diagnosed as category 1 by HRCT. Eleven cases diagnosed as CXR category 1 were diagnosed as category 0 (7/11) and category 2 (4/11) by HRCT. In CXR category 2 (eight cases), there were four cases diagnosed as category 1 by HRCT. CONCLUSIONS: Discordance between CXR and HRCT was high, especially for CXR negative and early pneumoconiosis cases. The role of CXR in screening coal workers to detect early pneumoconiosis findings should be questioned. We suggest using HRCT as a standard screening method instead of CXR to distinguish between normal and early pneumoconiosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

CYP4AB1, CYP4AB2, and Gp-9 gene overexpression associated with workers of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren.

Two cytochrome P450 genes, CYP4AB1 and CYP4AB2, and the Gp-9 gene were identified as being specifically overexpressed in workers of the red imported fire ant using PCR-selected subtractive hybridization and cDNA array techniques. Full-length CYP4AB1 and CYP4AB2 were cloned and sequenced. The cDNA sequences of CYP4AB1 and CYP4AB2 have open reading frames of 1389 and 1533 nucleotides encoding proteins of 463 and 511 amino acid residues, respectively. Northern blot analysis was performed to compare expression levels of CYP4AB1, CYP4AB2, and Gp-9 for different developmental stages and castes of fire ants. We demonstrate that the expression of these three genes is developmentally and caste specifically regulated in red imported fire ants. Levels of CYP4AB1 mRNA were undetectable in 3rd+4th instars, worker pupae, and alate (mixed sex) pupae; readily detectable in male and female alates; increased (approximately 3-fold) in the queens; and rose to a maximum (13-fold) in workers. Similarly, the expression of CYP4AB2 mRNA was undetectable in 3rd+4th instars, worker pupae, and alate pupae; low in male and female alates and queens; and increased (approximately 7-fold) in workers. Levels of Gp-9 mRNA were readily detectable in male alates; increased (approximately 3-fold) in female alates; and reached a maximum (approximately 12-fold) in workers. Their caste-specific overexpression suggests the functional importance of CYP4AB1, CYP4AB2, and Gp-9 in workers of the red imported fire ant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Healthcare reform involving the introduction of user fees and drug revolving funds: influence on health workers' behavior in southeast Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the perceptions of health workers towards the drug revolving fund (DRF) scheme and the perceptions of the community members about health workers since the introduction of the DRF. METHODS: The study was conducted in four purposively selected local government areas (LGAs) in southeast Nigeria where the Bamako initiative DRF was operational. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with randomly selected health workers and exit interviews with patients who attended the health centers. RESULTS: There were differences between the ways the DRF affected health workers in the different LGAs. In general, the motivation of the health workers to deliver health services improved significantly largely because they had basic drugs to work with and they benefited from the drug gains accruing through the operations of the DRF. However, as time went on, some got de-motivated and their attentions became more focused on revenue generation and profit making through sale of own drugs at the expense of health of the people as no incentives were paid and salaries were delayed. Curative services were provided more than promotive and preventive services and drugs are prescribed irrationally. Patients showed wide spread dissatisfaction with fees charged, waiting time before being seen, and treatment instructions given to them. CONCLUSION: Governments need to focus not only on the provision of drugs and revenue generation but also on providing strong support for in-service training, monitoring and supervisory activities to improve health workers' attitude to work. The governments also need to explore incentives such as working condition and monetary incentives to motivate health workers to improve their performance so as to serve the consumers better.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The role and accountability of senior health care support workers in intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Nurses have always looked to support their activities through the presence of unregistered co-workers. In the later part of the 20th century this workforce has evolved from a predominance of students to increasing use of variously prepared second level nurses, nursing assistants and Health Care Support Workers. METHOD: The study evaluated the development of 'advanced' support workers for intensive care settings, examining the views of the multi-disciplinary team, the support workers, and making observations of the work undertaken. Ethical approval was gained via a multi-centre committee. Individual interviews, focus groups and fieldwork provided rich qualitative data. It is this, and the views of support workers themselves on which we focus in this report. RESULTS: Senior support workers have a potentially important, but as yet insufficiently clear role to play. Key tasks such as taking arterial blood gas symbolise their rite of passage into the role. Expectations vary by locality and by person and there is great concern over accountability for work done. Delegation of work depends as much on experience as training and individuals are reluctant to delegate to staff they have not personally assessed and come to know as 'competent'. CONCLUSION: These workers should have clear and adequately remunerated career pathways open to them, in particular into nursing and allied health disciplines, and should probably be licensed to practice.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2005

Dynamics of cuticular chemical profiles of Polistes dominulus workers in orphaned nests (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

We analysed changes in cuticular hydrocarbon signatures of workers in orphaned colonies of the paper wasp Polistes dominulus. In natural conditions, workers and foundresses possess characteristic cuticular signatures, and foundresses are further distinguishable, both behaviourally and chemically, on the basis of their rank in a reproductive dominance hierarchy. In our study, several workers were found to develop their ovaries and produce cuticular signatures resembling those of dominant foundresses, while remaining workers possessed undeveloped ovaries and had cuticular blends characteristic of subordinate foundresses. Workers that did not develop their ovaries had changed epicuticular signatures, demonstrating that the mixture of hydrocarbons of worker individuals is strongly dependent on social role and environment. Our results suggest that the composition of epicuticular lipids is not determined at the pre-imaginal stage, and that physiological pathways leading to cuticular chemical changes are similar in foundresses and workers of P. dominulus.

Animals↗