Investigation on social security of pneumoconiosis patients in Chongqing / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To investigate the living conditions, insurance coverage, and assistance of pneumoconiosis patients diagnosed in Chongqing from May 2006 to May 2018.@*Methods@#A cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2018, and 40 890 pneumoconiosis patients from occupational diseases report management agency were obtained. 34 625 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were investigated, and descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the data.@*Results@#There were 34 625 cases of pneumoconiosis patients alive in Chongqing, and 22730 (65.6%) had participated in work-related injury insurance, 6 308 (18.2%) had participated in basic medical insurance for urban employees which were still effective. 27 056 (78.1%) had participated in cooperative insurance for urban and rural residents which were still effective. 4 393 (12.7%) received assistance for the residents in need in urban and rural areas. 5827 (16.8%) benefited the policy of "Xiangyu Railway". There were 7 961 cases (2.4%) whose work-related injury insurance had expired did not get one-off compensation, and did not receive any assistance.@*Conclusion@#Most of the patients with pneumoconiosis in Chongqing obtained protection in terms of work-related injury insurance, medical insurance, civil assistance and poverty alleviation to a certain extent, but the strength of the guarantee is not enough. Patients with pneumoconiosis might suffer from poverty caused by illness. It is recommended to improve the system of work-related injury insurance benefits, establish special funds for pneumoconiosis patients, strengthen health education and health promotion for pneumoconiosis patients, and strengthen the management of pneumoconiosis patients.

An overview of compensated work-related injuries among Korean firefighters from 2010 to 2015

BACKGROUND: Although one in two firefighters in South Korea have experienced work-related injuries, there are few studies which show the overview description on work-related injuries and its analysis regarding such causes. Therefore, we aimed to show the overview of compensated work-related injuries in order to serve fundamental data for establishing prevention policies on work-related injuries for Korean firefighters. METHODS: We requested the all claimed work-related injury data of Korean firefighters from 2010 to 2015 to the Korean National Fire Agency (NFA). The data from NFA including 2457 claimed cases was analyzed and we confirmed, 2154 approved work-related injuries for the kinds of job activities, cause of accident and type of injuries. Among 2154 approved cases, we analyzed more variables for the sex, age, and job duration of 1344 compensated cases through served text file on summary of accident. RESULTS: The Government Employees Pension Service (GEPS) recognized 2154 (87.7%) approved work-related injuries among 2457 claimed cases. The incidence of work-related injuries per 1000 firefighters was 9.8 persons. By region, the incidence of work-related injuries per 1000 firefighters ranged from a maximum of 14.5 to a minimum of 4.0. The most common job activity caused the accident was fire suppression (18.0%), followed by Emergency medical services (EMS) (17.5%) and training (10.7%). The most common cause of these accident was movement imbalance (30.3%), followed by falls (18.9%) and traffic accident (13.4%). In these work-related injuries, sprains and bruises were the most common type of injury (27.2%), and the most commonly injured body site was the upper and lower back (25.3%). Data from identified 1344 firefighters showed that 1264 (94.0%) were male and 80 (6.0%) were female. Age group was the highest in the 40s with 623 cases (46.4%), and job duration was the highest with 650 cases in 5–10 years (48.4%). CONCLUSION: In this study, we could obtain the preliminary data necessary to establish preventive measures, including the cause of accident and region with high accident rates. However, the number of applications for compensated injuries was very small compared to the frequency of injuries found in previous studies. The lack of appropriate treatment suggested that many firefighter injuries can become chronic. In this study, we suggest that it is necessary to introduce an injury monitoring system and improve the accessibility of compensated injuries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CR318031. Registered 20 June 2018.

Workplace Accidents and Work-related Illnesses of Household Waste Collectors

BACKGROUND: Household waste collectors (HWCs) are exposed to hazardous conditions. This study investigates the patterns of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs. METHODS: This study uses cases of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs that occurred between 2010 and 2011. We analyzed 325 cases of injuries and 36 cases of illnesses according to the workers' age, length of employment, size of workplace, injured part of body, day and month of injury, type of accident, agency of accident, and collection process. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the effect of workers' length of employment, injured part of body, type of accident, agency of accident, and collection process. Results show that most injuries occur in workers in their 50s and older. This study also shows that 51.4% of injuries occur at businesses with 49 employees or fewer. Injuries to waste collectors happen most often when workers are electrocuted after slipping on the ground. The second most prevalent form of injury is falling, which usually happens when workers hang from the rear of the truck during transportation or otherwise slip and fall from the truck. Work-related illnesses amongst waste collectors are mostly musculoskeletal conditions due to damaging postures. CONCLUSION: These findings will be instructive in devising policies and guidelines for preventing workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs.

Prevalence and determinants of work related injuries among small and medium scale industry workers in Bahir Dar Town, north west Ethiopia

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and determinants of work-related injuries among small and medium scale industrial workers in Bahir Dar town, northwest Ethiopia. METHOD: Cross sectional comparative study design was used. Purposive sampling method was used to choose the specific Kebele 14 of the study area, for its relatively high number of industries. The study units were stratified into small and medium scale industries. All workers who were available at the time of interview were included in the study. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using SPSS for windows 16.0. RESULT: A total of 328 and 655 workers from small and medium-scale industries respectively participated in the study. Seven hundred sixty nine (78.2%) were males. Three hundred thirty six workers (34.2%) reported that they had experienced work-related injuries. Sex, monthly salary, age, work experience and use of personal protective equipment were found to be different in the small and medium industries (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of work related injuries. Sociodemographic, socioeconomic, personal work behavior and the working environment have contributed for the injuries. Work-related injuries are assumed to be preventable with the provision of occupational health programs in workplaces. Thus it is recommended that the owners of industries need to focus on training and installing safer work environment and Further studies with large-scale coverage and prospective study designs are warranted.

The Relationship between Waist Circumference and Work-related Injury in Reference to the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between waist circumference and work-related injury in reference to the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS: By analyzing data from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2007 to 2009, we estimated the rate of injury experience according to socioeconomic status, including occupational property, of 8,261 subjects. We performed logistic regression analysis with work-related injury experience rate as dependent variable and waist circumference as an independent variable, Odds ratios (OR) were calculated, which reflect the likelihood of work-related injury experience rate, and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) while controlling for relevant covariates with stratifying by sex, age, nature of injury, site of injury and occupational group. RESULTS: Among 797 persons who had injury experience over the past 1 year, 293 persons (36.8%) had work-related injury experience. After adjusting the confounding variables, the work-related injury was related to abnormal waist circumference (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.02 ~ 1.78). In subgroups, ORs were higher in men (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.02 ~ 1.98), professional, manager, and administrator (OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.10 ~ 5.28). Higher rate of injuries were noted in back and waist (OR = 2.92; 95% CI: 1.49 ~ 5.73), and transport accident had increased risk (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.13 ~ 2.28). CONCLUSIONS: Work-related injury rate differed depending on the waist circumference. The abdominal obesity was associated with higher risk of work-related injury. This study would be useful in selecting appropriate priorities for work-related injury management in Korea.

Effect of Wrist-ankle Acupuncture on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after Work-related Injury / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To study the clinical efficacy of wrist-ankle acupuncture on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after work-related injury. Methods 62 patients were divided into observation group (n=30) and control group (n=32). The observation group accepted wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with Paroxetine, and the control group accepted Paroxetine only. They were assessed with Clinical Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) before, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment. Results The scores of CAPS, HAMD and HAMA reduced in both groups (P<0.01) after treatment, and the reduction rate was greater in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Wrist-ankle acupuncture may further relieve PTSD after work-related injury

The Relationship between Shift Work and Work-related Injuries among Korean Workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between shift work and work-related injuries in a representative sample of Korean workers. METHODS: We used data from the Korean Working Condition Survey of 2006. The participants were 7,075 Korean workers 15 to 64 years of age. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the relationship between shift work and work-related injury using the SAS version 9.2 program. RESULTS: Shift work was significantly related to work-related injuries compared to non-shift workers(OR 2.40, 95% CI=1.65~3.48). When personal and occupational risk factors were accounted for, shift work had a statistically meaningful relationship with work-related injuries compared to non-shift work(OR 1.79, 95% CI=1.20~2.66). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, shift workers appear to have a higher risk of work-related injuries compared to non-shift workers. Work-related injuries in shift workers could be attributed to circadian rhythm disorder and sleep problems. Suitable arrangements that ensure flexible working times are needed for shift workers. Further study will be needed to identify and mitigate work-related injuries among shift workers.

Patient Satisfaction in Workers' Compensation Medical Care / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the patient satisfaction and its influencing factors after medical care for workrelated injuries. METHODS: A self-reported questionnaire was mailed to 921 workers who had experienced workers' compensation medical care. The data from 335 respondents (response rate was 36.4%) were merged and analysed with the data from the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation (KLWC) which contain other general information of the respondents. RESULTS: Dissatisfaction with their medical care was reported by 17.3% of the respondents. Overall patient satisfaction (OPS) was highly correlated with the medical treatment process such as hospital facility, medical therapy, surgical therapy, doctor's explanation and physical therapy. However, OPS was negatively influenced by three factors: 1) unsatisfactory hospital care during waiting period before the approval of workers' compensation, 2) forced end of the hospital care by the workers' compensation, and 3) end of the hospital care with no further improvement. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the satisfaction of patients with work-related injuries, both the practice of medical treatment and also the administrative process of workers' compensation must be reformed. These reforms are needed to improve the quality of workers' compensation medical care and prevent abnormal illness behavior such as inappropriate treatment seeking.

Predictors of Return to Work and Job Retention after Work-Related Injury or Illness / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This research was conducted to investigate workers'return to work rate after work-related injury or illness and to determine which factors could predict return to work and job retention. METHODS: From the documents held by the six local branches of the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation(KLWP), 2,464 cases of work-related injury or illness which had telephone numbers were identified from September to December, 2003. Data about the employment status was gained from 921 occupationally injured workers through telephone questionnaire and was merged with the electronic data obtained from KLWP with included information of the workers whose worker's compensation period was ended from 2002 to 2004. Finally the data for 516 workers was analysed by logistic regression using SAS 9.0. RESULTS: The return to work rate was 50.3% and the job retention rate was 28.3%. Decreased return to work rate was associated with old age, shorter employment duration, longer treatment duration, higher disability grade, lower average wage and manual worker. Decreased job retention rate was associated with a smaller number of employees, shorter employment duration and work in the construction industry. CONCLUSIONS: This research highlighted the numerous occupationally injured workers who couldn't return to work and the multiple factors that were associated with the return to work or job retention. Based on this and related research, rehabilitation programs which consider the issues of return to work and job retention have to be implemented.

Effect of work modeling training on returning to work for injured workers / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo observe the effect of work simulated training for workers suffered from work-related injuries.Methods65 injured workers joined a 2.8-month (on average) training program by applying the BTE PRIMUS work simulated training system, with six-month follow up period after discharge.ResultsDuring the six-month follow up after discharge, 29(44.62%) workers returned to the same company with the same job,24(36.92%) workers returned to the same company but changed job,6 (9.22%)works changed company and changed job ,6(9.22%)works didn't return to work.ConclusionWork simulated training program can improve injured workers'working ability and help them return to work.