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PubMedDate not supplied

[Frequency of occupational injuries and the health status of workers].

INTRODUCTION: Occupational injuries are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among workers. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of occupational injuries and health status of workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examined group consisted of 3,750 workers with health disorders. The control group included 1,800 healthy workers. Both groups were similar in terms of many factors that could contribute to the occurrence of occupational injuries. The injury rates were calculated in both groups. RESULTS: Workers with psychomotor and sensorimotor disorders, neuroses, obstructive sleep apnea, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hearing, vascular and sight impairments have been frequently injured compared to workers with other diseases. DISCUSSION: Due to the belief that accidents and occupational injuries are preventable, it is an imperative to study those factors which are likely to contribute to occurrence of accidents. The contributing factors could be the physical and mental state of workers. CONCLUSION: Occupational injuries are significantly more common in the examined group than in controls.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2004

Health care services use by workers with work-related contact dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: There is little information in the literature regarding the use of health care services by workers with occupational contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to describe the use of health care services by workers with occupational contact dermatitis. METHODS: One hundred workers with hand dermatitis were enrolled and observed for 6 months after assessment at St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto, ON, Canada). Information was collected at the time of diagnosis and 6 months after the assessment. Questionnaires were administered to collect information about clinical presentation and the use of health services. RESULTS: A diagnosis of occupational contact dermatitis was made for 78 of the workers. By the time of assessment at the Occupational Health Clinic at St. Michael's Hospital, almost all of the workers had seen their family doctor for their skin problem, and 71% had seen a dermatologist. Although family doctors and dermatologists asked the workers to identify their occupation, they rarely asked about workplace exposures, and the physicians provided minimal advice about job change or modification on return to work. During the 6 months following diagnosis, 62% of the workers saw their family physicians in follow-up, but rarely was advice about job change or modification provided at these follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: This descriptive information suggests that there are gaps in health services for patients with work-related skin disease and that there is a need for refinement of the delivery of health services related to occupational disease. A redesign of the occupational health care delivery system to address these issues and an evaluation of new models seem appropriate.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Noise exposure and permanent hearing loss of textile workers in Thailand.

Hearing loss induced by noise exposure in a large scale textile mill (number of workers = 1,611) in Thailand was investigated on the basis of interviews, noise measurements, and audiometric tests. The frequency of subjective symptoms relating to noise exposure was higher in the weavers than among other mill workers and office workers. The average noise levels in the weaving sections and other sections were 101.3 +/- 2.7 dBA and 89.8 +/- 5.3 dBA, respectively. The results of the audiometric tests revealed the significantly higher noise-induced hearing loss among workers in the weaving section compared to other mill workers and office workers (P less than 0.01). Among weavers, hearing levels decreased with the longer years of work. Concerning personal noise protective devices, 38.6% of the weavers never used them. It was concluded that hearing loss status in the workers of the mill was serious. Improvements by means of integrated work organization activities were recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Epidemiological study on hypoglycemia endemic to female nurses and other workers.

Hypoglycemia has been reported to occur frequently among individuals with health-related occupations, especially hospital nurses. In this study, we investigated the risk factors of hypoglycemia. Both female hospital nurses and other female workers participated in this study, which included questionnaires, and daily blood glucose monitoring. Responses from 3,415 workers were included for analysis. 2,489 workers reported that they had never had hypoglycemic episodes (symptom-free group), while 926 workers reported that they had experienced hypoglycemic symptoms more than once. Of these workers, 207 had had episodes within one year of the study and had experienced them more than once a month (symptomatic group). Thirty-one volunteers were recruited from the above two groups-21 from the latter group and 10 from the former group-and daily blood glucose levels were determined: 6 days for nurses to cover three shifts (dayshift, nightshift and midnightshift) and 2 days for other workers. Nine of 21 volunteers from the symptomatic group had biochemical hypoglycemic reading(s) (< 60 mg/dl) during the monitoring; however, none of 10 volunteers from the symptom-free group had such readings. These nine volunteers were found to have lower mean blood glucose levels (p < 0.05) and lower minimum blood glucose levels (p < 0.05) than other volunteers. Simple logistic analyses revealed multiple risk factors in the symptomatic group. By adjusting the confounding effects, these multiple risk factors were reduced into a small number of risk factors: occupation as a nurse, histories of hypotension and glucosuria, eating snacks, eating deserts, and insomnia. The present report clearly demonstrated that there are hypoglycemic-prone individuals among symptomatic female workers, who were shown to have multiple risk factors for hypoglycemic symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A retrospective cohort study of male workers exposed to PVA fibers.

In order to ascertain whether PVA fibers can produce cancer in humans or not, we have conducted a retrospective cohort study of workers exposed to PVA fibers. A total of 447 exposed and 2416 non-exposed male workers who were engaged before 1980 were followed up until the end of 1996. The SMR for all causes was 0.57 (observed 38, 95% CI: 0.41-0.78) for the exposed, and 0.66 (observed 210, 95% CI: 0.58-0.75). As for lung cancer, its SMR was 0.77 (observed 3, 95% CI: 0.15-2.24) for the exposed workers and 0.67 (12 observed, 95% CI: 0.34-1.16) for the non-exposed workers. Lung cancer SMR was 0.86 (observed 2, 95% CI: 0.10-3.11) for the workers with 20 or more years' employment. This study showed no difference in lung cancer risk between the workers exposed to PVA fibers and the non-exposed workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Zinc protoporphyrin IX concentrations between normal adults and the lead-exposed workers measured by HPLC, spectrofluorometer, and hematofluorometer.

To establish the relationship between Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) concentrations and blood lead (PbB) levels and to identify reliable analytical methods of ZPP and Protoporhyrin (PP), blood samples were obtained from 263 office workers without the history of occupational lead exposure and 49 lead-acid battery workers. The mean concentrations of PbB for the normal adults and the battery workers were 9.26 microg/dl and 42.60 microg/dl, respectively. The geometric mean concentrations of ZPP and PP by HPLC were 18.73 microg/dl and 2.27 microg/dl for normal adults and were 46.99 microg/dl and 5.53 microg/dl for the exposed workers, respectively. The geometric mean concentrations of ZPP and PP by a spectrofluorometer (SF) were 30.27 microg/dl and 5.16 microg/dl for normal adults and were 50.91 microg/dl and 6.69 +/- 1.39 microg/dl for the exposed workers. The geometric mean ZPP concentration measured by a hematofluorometer (HF) was 30.88 microg/dl for normal adults. The results showed that ZPP concentrations measured by HF were consistently higher than those by HPLC and SF for normal adults, and lower for the exposed workers. ZPP concentrations were not correlated with PbB levels for normal adults but a statistically significant correlation was found among the exposed workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effect of benzene, toluene, xylene on the semen quality and the function of accessory gonad of exposed workers.

The effects on semen and the function of accessory gonad of workers after short and long term exposure to benzene, toluene, and xylene were examined. The semen and blood of 24 married workers exposed to benzene, toluene, and xylene were collected. Routine sperm characteristic, acrosin activity, and Lactate dehydrogenase C4 (LDH-C4) relative activity were detected. The results showed that benzene, toluene, and xylene were found in the blood and semen of some ex-workers at workplaces where the air concentration of benzene, toluene, and xylene exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC). No such solvents were detected in the blood and semen of workers of the control group. The sperm vitality and sperm motility decreased in the exposed workers. The mean acrosin activity, gamma-GT activity and LDH-C4 relative activity in the exposed workers were lower, and fructose concentration was higher than those in the control. There were negative correlations between sperm vitality, sperm activity, acrosin activity, or LDH-C4 relative activity and working history. These results suggest that the mixture of these solvents could affect the sperm and the function of accessory gonad. This might be one reason of the abnormal pregnancy outcome among the wives of workers exposed to benzene, toluene, and xylene.

Acrosin↗
PubMed2002

Skin problems among fiber-glass reinforced plastics factory workers in Japan.

Two surveys, one in winter the other in summer time, examined the skin problems of the entire manual workers (N=148) from 11 small-to-medium sized fiber-glass reinforced plastics (FRP) factories located in Kyushu, Japan. The workers were exposed to unsaturated polyester resin, including styrene and auxiliary agents such as cobalt naphthenate, hardeners such as methyl ethyl ketone peroxides, glass fiber and dust including shortened glass fiber and plastic particles. Eighty-seven workers (58.8%) reported having skin problems (mainly itching or dermatitis) since they started to work in FRP manufacturing and 25 workers had consulted a physician because of their skin problems; one worker was forced to take sick leave because of his severe dermatitis. History of allergic diseases and shorter occupational period (duration of employment) in a FRP factory were associated with greater probability of having a history of work-related skin symptoms. Workers in factories where dust-generating and lamination sites were located in different buildings were significantly less likely to have a history of skin problems than those in factories where the two sites were located in the same building. Of the 67 workers examined in both seasons closed to double the prevalence of dermatitis was found in summer (23.3%) than winter (13.4%).

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2003

Byssinosis among jute mill workers.

Although byssinosis in jute mill workers remains controversial, studies in a few jute mills in West-Bengal, India, revealed typical byssinotic syndrome associated with acute changes in FEV1 on the first working day after rest. The present study on 148 jute mill workers is reported to confirm the occurrence of byssinosis in jute mill workers. Work related respiratory symptoms; acute and chronic pulmonary function changes among exposed workers were studied on the basis of standard questionnaire and spirometric method along with dust level, particle mass size distributions and gram-negative bacterial endotoxins. The pulmonary function test (PFT) changes were defined as per the recommendation of World Health Organization and of Bouhys et al. Total dust in jute mill air were monitored by high volume sampling, technique (Staplex, USA), Andersen cascade impactor was used for particle size distribution and personal exposure level was determined by personal sampler (Casella, London). Endotoxin in airborne jute dust was analysed by Lymulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) "Gel Clot" technique. Batching is the dustiest process in the mill. Size distribution showed that about 70-80% dust in diameter of < 10 microm, 40-50%, < 5 microm and 10-20%, < 2 microm. Mean endotoxin levels found in hatching, spinning and weaving, and beaming were 2.319 microg/m3, 0.956 microg/ m3, 0.041 microg/m3 respectively and are comparable to the values obtained up to date in Indian cotton mills. Respiratory morbidity study reported typical byssinotic symptoms along with acute post shift FEV1 changes (31.8%) and chronic changes in FEV1 (43.2%) among exposed workers. The group with higher exposure showed significantly lower FVC, FEV1, PEFR and FEF25-75% values. The study confirmed the findings of the earlier studies and clearly indicated that the Indian jute mill workers are also suffering from byssinosis as observed in cotton, flask and hemp workers.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Occupational health education and collaboration for reducing the risk of lead poisoning of workers in a battery manufacturing plant in Thailand.

We provided occupational health education as training to all workers (N=31) and managers, and collaborated with them against reducing the risk of lead poisoning of workers at an assembly section in a battery manufacturing plant in Bangkok, Thailand in 2002. After occupational health education, many workers (80.6-100.0%) noticed and understood the toxicity of lead and the importance of protection against it. Many workers regularly wore long sleeved shirt and trousers, and used the appropriate mask all day long. They changed the attitude toward their work and improved personal hygiene, for example no smoking in the workplace, washing their hands by a detergent before drinking water or having lunch, and taking a bath after the work. They especially took off working clothes at an office outside the workplace and washed them everyday. The average blood lead level of the workers significantly (P=0.002) reduced from 32.7 microg/dl to 22.4 microg/dl, although airborne lead level in the workplace remained unchanged with before conditions. From these results occupational health education and collaboration between workers and managers were effective tools to reduce the risk of lead poisoning of workers in a battery manufacturing plant.

Cooperative Behavior↗
PubMed2006

Lung disorders of workers exposed to rush smear dust in China.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the lung disorders of the workers exposed to rush smear dust. A cross sectional study was carried out on 1,709 current workers (788 male, 921 female) in 80 factories. All subjects were asked by questionnaire, and health examination including chest X-ray was conducted for 661 workers in 35 factories. Lung function test was also examined for 119 non-smoking males among 661 subjects. Dust samplings were collected and total and respirable dust concentrations at 127 spots in 35 factories were measured. The geometric mean dust concentration in the workshops was up to 20.00 mg/m(3), and the geometric mean respirable dust concentration reached 8.22 mg/m(3). The mean quartz concentration of accumulated dust was 29.2%. The prevalence of radiographic small opacities profusion category > or = 1/0, according to the ILO 1980 Classification System, was 2.6% among 661 employees. One worker was found to have pneumoconiotic findings of 2/2 profusion accompanied with large opacity. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis (1/0 or more) correlated with cumulative dust exposure (r=0.192, p<0.0001). The similar relationship was found between the prevalence rate of cough or sputa and worksite dust concentration. In non-smokers, a positive association was found between the prevalence of cough and occupational exposure duration (r=0.080, p=0.004). Approximately 19.3% and 34.5% of employees suffered from respiratory impairment for FVC and FEV1.0, respectively. This is the first report of "rush" pneumoconiosis in China. Rush mat workers were found to be at high risk for pneumoconiosis, a preventable disease. Our results showed a dose-response relationship between rush-mat dust level and the prevalence of pneumoconiosis. Similar relationship between the prevalence of cough and sputum and the work duration was found for non-smoking workers but not for smoking workers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A twelve-year clinical and immunologic evaluation of workers involved in the manufacture of trimellitic anhydride (TMA).

The spectrum of immunologic lung disease occurring in a population of 196 workers involved in the manufacture of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) was assessed from January 1976 through December 1987. Workers were evaluated clinically by history, blood counts and chemistries, chest x-ray, and pulmonary function studies. Immunologic tests included skin testing with trimellityl-human serum albumin (TM-HSA) and assay of total antibody (TA) and of IgE antibody binding of 125I-TM-HSA. Seventeen workers had IgE-mediated asthma/rhinitis with a positive prick test to TM-HSA and IgE antibody of 0.8-57 ng of TM-HSA bound/ml. Seven workers had a late respiratory systemic syndrome with TA from 760-56,000 ng of TM-HSA bound/ml. Four had both syndromes. Three had late onset asthma with TA of 3,700-10,000 and trace levels of IgE to TM-HSA. One had marked arthralgia and myalgia occurring hours after TMA exposure, without respiratory symptoms, with an elevated TA level of 24,000. Of 46 workers reporting no symptoms, 8% had low TA levels, while 16% of 113 with irritant symptoms had low TA levels. There was a reduction in the number of workers exhibiting an immunologic syndrome during 1982-1987-8% (7 of 85) compared to 23% (26 of 111) during 1976-1981--in spite of increased TMA production. This paralleled environmental control and worker education efforts. Cooperative research by an academic Allergy-Immunology program and industry has defined TMA clinical syndromes and provided methods of immunologic monitoring, resulting in a reduction in new cases in spite of increased production of TMA.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ambulatory ECG monitoring in workers exposed to electromagnetic fields.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of the circulatory system in workers occupationally exposed to medium frequency electromagnetic fields. The subjects were 71 workers at four AM broadcast stations [0.738-1.503 MHz] aged 20-68 (mean 46.9 +/- 13.1) years and 22 workers at radio link stations aged 23-67 (mean 48.2 +/- 17.4) years. Workers at AM broadcast stations experienced 2-40 (mean 18.6 +/- 12.1) years' exposure to electromagnetic fields (average daily exposure dose about 115 Vh m-1, maximum exposure levels during shift about 165 V m-1), workers at radio link stations had no history of regular exposure to electromagnetic fields. In all the subjects a general medical examination, resting ECG and 24 h Holter monitoring were performed. The work organization, work period structure, age, lifestyle, nutritional habits and health status in both groups remained fairly similar. The electrocardiographic abnormalities detected in the resting and/ or 24 h ECG were significantly more frequent (p = 0.006) in workers exposed to electromagnetic fields than in non-exposed subjects (75% versus 25%). A clear tendency for a higher number of rhythm disturbances (mostly ExV) was observed in AM broadcast station workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Growth hormone secretion in night workers.

We previously reported that, in night workers, cortisol and TSH rhythms, known to have a high endogenous component, adapted only partially to the nocturnal schedule. The aim of the present study was to investigate the degree of adaptation of the growth hormone (GH) rhythm, considered to be mainly sleep-dependent, but for which a weak circadian drive has also been suggested. Eleven night workers were studied during their usual sleep-wake cycle, and two groups of 11 normally day-active subjects, sleeping once during the night and once after an 8-h sleep delay, were used as control groups. GH secretory rates were calculated by deconvolution of the plasma concentrations analyzed at 10-min intervals. The total amount of GH secreted during the 24 h did not differ between the three groups and the main secretory episode occurred, in most cases, during the first half of the sleep period. In night sleepers and night workers the enhanced amount of GH secreted at that time was followed by a significantly lower amount secreted during the second part of the sleep period (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). For night sleepers, an enhanced GH pulse frequency was found at the beginning of sleep, whereas for night workers and day sleepers the pulses were distributed more randomly throughout the nychthemeron. After an abrupt sleep shift, all the subjects displayed a GH pulse at the usual time of early sleep, but such a pulse was present in only 8 of 11 night workers. Thus the amount of GH secreted between 23:00 h and 03:00 h in day sleepers did not differ significantly from that observed in night sleepers, whereas it differed for night workers. These results confirm the considerable influence of sleep in driving the GH rhythm and the existence of a circadian influence revealed by an acute shift in the sleep period. They also provide evidence of an incomplete adjustment of GH rhythms in night workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Anti-SARS-CoV immunoglobulin G in healthcare workers, Guangzhou, China.

To determine the prevalence of inapparent infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) among healthcare workers, we performed a serosurvey to test for immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) among 1,147 healthcare workers in 3 hospitals that admitted SARS patients in mid-May 2003. Among them were 90 healthcare workers with SARS. As a reference group, 709 healthcare workers who worked in 2 hospitals that never admitted any SARS patients were similarly tested. The seroprevalence rate was 88.9% (80/90) for healthcare workers with SARS and 1.4% (15/1,057) for healthcare workers who were apparently healthy. The seroprevalence in the reference group was 0.4% (3/709). These findings suggest that inapparent infection is uncommon. Low level of immunity among unaffected healthcare workers reinforces the need for adequate personal protection and other infection control measures in hospitals to prevent future epidemics.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Job satisfaction among primary health care workers in three selected local government areas in southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The primary health care system in Nigeria has been impaired by lack of dedicated workers who are willing to work in the rural areas. This study was carried out to examine factors that enhance job satisfaction among health workers in the primary health care system in Nigeria. METHOD: The study is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in May 2002. The respondents were selected from three local government areas in southwest Nigeria by multistage sampling technique. A standardized structured pre-coded close-ended self-administered questionnaire to collect relevant information on their socio-demographic characteristics and extent of job satisfaction of respondents. RESULT: A total of 125 health workers were interviewed in all. The mean score on job satisfaction was 26.15 out of the total possible score of 49. There was no statistically significant relationship in job satisfaction among the various cadres of health workers considered (p = 0.824). A larger proportion (66.4%) of the health workers were involved with the community based preventive services when compared with the health centre based curative care 33.4% (p < 0.05), there is however no significant difference in satisfaction between this two groups of personnel (p = 0.133). Age and marital status were found to be statistically significant in relation to job satisfaction (p = 0.000 and 0.034 respectively). CONCLUSION: The study shows no significant difference in job satisfaction among the various cadres of health workers in southwest Nigeria. However age and marital status were found to be significant factors influencing job satisfaction among the primary health care workers in Nigeria.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Establishing worker identity: a study of people in craft work.

Having a work-related identity is central to being an adult in America. Going to work and engaging in prescribed work behaviors in the workplace is the usual or typical way that adults achieve worker identities. The purpose of this study, developed from an ethnography of people who make crafts at home and sell their work at craft fairs, was to examine how worker identity is constructed when individuals do not have the external markers of a socially identified job and workplace. I used participant observation of craft fairs and other craft venues, and interviews of people who do this work, as major sources of data. Results of the analysis of the data related to worker identity demonstrated that these crafters followed basic steps, or rules, to achieve such a worker identity. These rules, some for work at home and some for other social contexts, encompassed complex behaviors learned through the process of doing the work as well as from other crafters. The conclusions of the study are first, that individual and social identity formation as a worker involves complex processes for which rules and guidelines do exist. Second, these rules are often discovered through the process of doing the work. Third, the meaning of work and the individual and social identities of being a worker are individual, and finally, knowledge of worker identity formation is gained through the study of both those who successfully achieve such an identity and those who do not.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure among Italian oil refinery workers.

OBJECTIVES: The association between asbestos exposure and risk of mesothelioma was studied among workers from two oil refineries located in the northern Italian cities of Genoa and La Spezia, given that previous cohort analyses revealed two clusters of mesotheliomas and that international cohort studies have so far not reported an excess of this neoplasm among oil refinery workers. METHODS: Men (N = 2300) who had been employed between 1914 and 1988 in two oil refineries located in northern Italy were studied. The follow-up covered the mortality of 639 white-collar and 1661 blue-collar from 1950 to 1991. RESULTS: Among the cases, the median duration of employment was 14.5 years, and the median time since first employment was 27.5 years. The job titles of the 10 men with pleural mesothelioma were maintenance worker (seven men), electrician (one man) and unspecified blue-collar worker (two men). Blue-collar workers experienced a significantly increased risk of pleural neoplasms, five deaths in each plant, in respect to both the provincial [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 266] and national (SMR 1663) reference populations. The SMR, based on eight deaths, was 320 for workers with more than 10 years of employment and 20 years since first exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The results uphold the notion that exposure to asbestos in oil refineries causes pleural mesotheliomas. This is the first study to find an excess of pleural mesotheliomas among oil refinery workers exposed to asbestos.

Adult↗