Health status of photovoltaic module production workers in Shanghai / 环境与职业医学

Background Photovoltaic (PV) cells can convert solar energy into electricity and alleviate the dilemma of energy supply shortage. Shanghai's PV module industry is booming, but there are few reports on the health status of the workers and there is an urgent need for health risk assessment. Objective To evaluate the health status of PV module production workers and the association between work and health status, in order to provide a direction for the health management of the workers. Methods Among the PV module production workers who completed prescriptive occupational health examination by a designated medical institution in 2021, 2453 workers with more than one year of working age were selected as the exposure group and 538 newly hired workers as the control group. On the basis of the Technical specifications for occupational health surveillance (GBZ 188−2014), the health examination included physical examination and laboratory examination and information such as sociodemographics, living habits, and disease history. We compared the indicators of pure-tone hearing test, blood routine examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), liver function, and kidney function between the two groups. The blood routine results included erythrocyte-related indicators, leukocyte-related indicators, and platelet-related indicators, and the results of liver function included hepatocyte injury indicators, hepatic secretory function indicators, and hepatic synthesis function indicators. The workers were divided into four groups by quartiles of working age. Trend chi-square test was used to analyze differences in health status between the four working age groups. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between working age and health indicators. Results Among the exposure group workers, 2035 (83.0%) were male and 418 (17.0%) were female. The median (P25, P75) age was 34.0 (30.0, 39.0) years and the median (P25, P75) working age was 6.0 (3.0, 10.0) years. The abnormality rate of blood routine was 61.7%. Among them, the abnormality rates of platelet-related indicators and liver secretory function indicators were 39.8% and 48.1% respectively. The risks of abnormal hepatocyte injury-related indicators, fatty liver, and platelet-related indicator abnormalities among the exposure group were 1.471 (95%CI: 1.060, 2.054), 1.691 (95%CI: 1.208, 2.385), and 7.576 (95%CI: 4.967, 11.994) times higher than those in the control group respectively. The single-factor analysis demonstrated a positively linear trend between working age and hypertension prevalence, electrical audiometry abnormality rate, or liver secretory function indicator abnormality rate. Corrected for gender, age, smoking status, hypertension, etc., the results of logistic analysis showed that quartile working age was positively related to abnormal liver secretion function and abnormal platelet-related indicators respectively (OR=1.047, P=0.005; OR=1.037, P=0.014), and inversely associated with the abnormal rate of renal function (OR=0.953, P=0.044). Conclusion Negative associations between health status and working age are identified in PV module production workers. The target PV module production employees are in younger age, and with the increase of working age, the abnormalities of liver function and platelets may increase. Therefore, the enterprises should extend occupational health work from workplace to workers.

Mortalidad de los enfermos renales crónicos en edad laboral en Cuba / Mortality of chronic kidney patients of working ages in Cuba

Introducción: La enfermedad renal crónica constituye un gran problema de salud en el mundo y en Cuba. Para el año 2040 puede convertirse en la quinta causa más común de años de vida potencialmente perdidos a nivel mundial y es una importante causa de gastos para la salud, la economía y el seguro social de los países. Objetivo: Caracterizar la mortalidad en pacientes renales crónicos en edad laboral en Cuba, en los años 2011-2017, según variables sociodemográficas seleccionadas. Métodos: Investigación transversal descriptiva. El universo estuvo constituido por los 5 716 fallecidos con enfermedad renal crónica. La información fue tomada de las bases de datos de mortalidad de la Dirección Nacional de Estadísticas, del Ministerio de Salud Pública. Se estudiaron las variables: edad, sexo, ocupación y principales causas de muerte. Se calcularon tasas brutas, así como tasas de mortalidad específicas. Resultados: En la edad laboral la mortalidad por enfermedad renal crónica presentó oscilaciones del año 2011 al 2017. La edad media al morir fue 53.7 años, los mayores de 61 años, hombres, presentaron el mayor riesgo (16 por 10 000 habitantes). La tasa en la población económicamente activa desocupada fue de 33 por 10 000 habitantes. El riesgo fue mayor en las ocupaciones elementales (9 por 10 000 habitantes). La enfermedad renal hipertensiva fue la principal causa de muerte (17 por 100 000 habitantes). Conclusiones: Existe ligero incremento de la mortalidad, en hombres el riesgo es mayor, la tasa más alta es en población económicamente activa desocupada y en las ocupaciones elementales. La principal causa de muerte es la enfermedad renal hipertensiva(AU)

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease constitutes a major health problem in Cuba and worldwide. By 2040 it may become the fifth most common cause of years of life potentially lost, worldwide, and a major cause of health expenses, economy and social security. Objective: To describe mortality in chronic kidney patients of working ages in Cuba, from 2011to 2017, according to selected sociodemographic variables. Methods: This is descriptive cross-sectional research. The universe consisted of 5,716 deceased subjects with chronic kidney disease. The information was taken from the mortality databases of the National Directorate of Statistics, from the Ministry of Public Health. The variables were studied age, sex, occupation and main causes of death. Gross and specific mortality rates were calculated. Results: In working age, mortality from chronic kidney disease fluctuated from 2011 to 2017. The mean age at death was 53.7 years, those over 61 years of age, men, had the highest risk (16 per 10,000 inhabitants). The rate in the economically active unemployed population was 33 per 10,000 inhabitants. The risk was higher in basic occupations (9 per 10,000 inhabitants). Hypertensive kidney disease was the leading cause of death (17 per 100,000 population). Conclusions: There is a slight increase in mortality, the risk is higher in men, the highest rate is in the economically active unemployed population and in basic occupations. The leading cause of death is hypertensive kidney disease(AU)

A comparative study of the physiological and psychological effects of forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) on working age people with and without depressive tendencies

BACKGROUND@#In recent years, many of Japanese workers have complained of fatigue and stress, considering them as risk factors for depression. Studies have found that "forest bathing" (Shinrin-yoku) has positive physiological effects, such as blood pressure reduction, improvement of autonomic and immune functions, as well as psychological effects of alleviating depression and improving mental health. In this study, we investigate the physiological and psychological effects of "forest bathing" on people of a working age with and without depressive tendencies.@*METHODS@#We conducted physiological measurements and psychological surveys before and after forest bathing with subjects who participated in day-long sessions of forest bathing, at a forest therapy base located in Hiroshima Prefecture. After excluding severely depressed individuals, the participants were classified into two groups: those with depressive tendencies (5 ≤ K6 ≤ 12) and those without depressive tendencies (K6 < 5) for comparative study. The evaluation indices measured were systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse rate (PR), autonomic functions, and profile of mood states (POMS).@*RESULTS@#Of the 155 participants, 37% had depressive tendencies, without any differences observed between males and females. All participants showed significant decrease in SBP, DBP, and in negative POMS items after a forest bathing session. Before the session, those with depressive tendencies scored significantly higher on the POMS negative items than those without depressive tendencies. After forest bathing, those with depressive tendencies demonstrated significantly greater improvement in many of POMS items than those without depressive tendencies, and many of them no longer differed between those with and without depressive tendencies.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Examining the physiological and psychological effects of a day-long session of forest bathing on a working age group demonstrated significant positive effects on mental health, especially in those with depressive tendencies. Not applicable; this is not a report of intervention trial.

Effect of welding operations on the health status of workers with low working age / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To explore the impact of welding operations on the health status of workers with low working age, and provide a basis for occupational health risk assessment for workers of low working age.@*Methods@#Used the method of cluster sampling to randomly selected workers from an automobile manufacturing plant in Guangzhou as research subjects: 982 workers with welding posts of 1 year ≤working age ≤5 years were welding groups, 707 workers with simple exposure noise of 1 year ≤working age ≤5 years were assembly groups, and 717 workers in pre-job medical examinations were pre-job groups from June 2017 to September 2018. Then conducted occupational health checks on all subjects, investigated and detected the occupational hazards in welding posts and assembly posts.@*Results@#There was no statistical difference between the noise over-standard rate of welding posts' (59.3%, 16/27) and the assembly posts' (47.4%, 9/19) (P>0.05) . The over-standard rate of welding fume, manganese and its inorganic compounds in welding posts was 11.11% (3/27) . The results of occupational health examination showed that the detection rate of disease or abnormal of the welding group was 78.4% (770/982) higher than 70.2% (496/707) in the assembly group and 53.0% (380/717) in the pre-job group (the value of 2 were 14.92 and 122.37, respectively, P<0.05) . The rate of hearing loss of the assembly group and the welding group were 14.7% (104/707) and 19.3% (190/982) , respectively, which was higher than that of the pre-job group (10.5%, 75/717) , and the hearing loss rate gradually increased with the increase of working age (the value of linear-by-linear association were 12.04 and 44.67, respectively, P<0.01) . Compared with the hearing loss rate of each working age of the assembly group, the hearing loss rate of each working age of the welding group was higher, and when the working age was 3 years, the risk of hearing loss in the welding group was 2.70 times that of the assembly group (P<0.01) . The rate of pulmonary dysfunction in the welding group was 19.2% (189/982) higher than that in the pre-job group (12.6%, 90/717) , and it increased with the increase of working age (the value of linear-by-linear association was 15.97, P<0.01) .@*Conclusion@#Welding work seriously damages the health of workers with low working age, increases the hearing loss of workers and the occurrence of pulmonary dysfunction; manganese and its compounds increases noise-induced damage to the hearing system.

Gerenciamento de recursos humanos em enfermagem: estudo da Interface idade – absenteísmo / Management of human resources in nursing: study of the interface age – absenteeism / Gestión de recursos humanos en enfermería: estudio de la interfaz edad-absentismo

Esta pesquisa retrospectiva teve por objetivo investigar a relação entre a variável idade e a ocorrência de ausências não previstas da equipe de enfermagem. Foi conduzida junto a 652 colaboradores lotados em oito unidades de internação de um hospital de ensino no interior do estado de São Paulo. Constituíram-se em fontes de informações as bases de dados do Departamento de Pessoal, Centro de Atendimento ao Trabalhador (CEAT) e Sistema de Gestão Hospitalar, referentes às ausências não previstas, e dados demográficos da equipe de enfermagem,assim como escalas mensais disponibilizadas pela gerência de enfermagem. As ausências predominantes constituíram-se em licenças médicas- 45,5 a 55,3% na faixa etária de 20-40 anos. Os atestados médicos representaram 28.961 (71,1%) dos 40.744 dias não trabalhados. Houve mais frequência de agravos do sistema osteomuscular em todas as faixas etárias - 12,6 a 38,9% e aparelho respiratório - 11,1% - 20-30 anos.Os transtornos mentais apresentaram mais duração média – 23 (187) e 7.354 dias perdidos (72,5%) - 31 a 50 anos. A idade não se constituiuem fator que influencia a ocorrência de ausências não previstas. O mapeamento do absenteísmo e suas causas permitem refletir sobre as condições laborais e a elaboração de políticas e estratégias de gestão de pessoas.

This retrospective study aimed at investigating the relationship between the variable age and the occurrence of unplanned absences in the nursing team. It was conducted with 652 staff members in eight in patient units of a teaching hospital in the country side of Sao Paulo state. Human Resources Department, Worker Supporting Center (WSC) and Hospital Management System databases were the sources of information usedregarding the unexpected absences and demographic data of the Nursing team, as well as the monthly shifts provided by the nursing management.The prevailing absences were: medical leave - 45.5% to 55.3% in the age group of 20-40 years. Medical reports represented 28.961 (71.1%) of the 40.744days out of work. Higher frequency of disorders were observed in the musculoskeletal system in all age groups - 12.6% to 38.9% and respiratory system - 11.1% - 20 - 30 years. Mental disorders had a higher mean duration - 23(187) and 7.354 days out of work (72.5%) - 31 to 50 years. Age wasnot a factor influencing the occurrence of unplanned absences. Mapping absenteeism and its causes allow reflection on the working conditions and the development of policies and strategies for managing the staff.

Este estudio retrospectivo tuvo como objetivo investigar la relación entre la variable edad y la incidencia de ausencias al trabajo no previstas del equipode enfermería. La investigación se realizó con 652 profesionales en ocho unidades de internación de un hospital universitario del estado de São Paulo.Las fuentes de información fueron las bases de datos del Departamento de Personal, del Centro de Atención al Trabajador (CEAT) y del Sistema de Gestión Hospitalaria, relativos a las ausencias no previstas, y los datos demográficos del equipo de Enfermería, así como las planillas de relevos mensuales suministradas por la gestión de enfermería. Las ausencias predominantes fueron las bajas por enfermedad - 45,5% a 55,3% en la franja etaria de 20 a40 años. Los partes médicos representaron 28.961 (71,1%) de los 40.744 días no trabajados. Hubo una incidencia más grande de dolencias del sistema óseo-muscular en todos los grupos de edad y del aparato respiratorio (11,1%) - 20 a 30 años. Los trastornos mentales tuvieron mayor media de duración– 23 (187) y 7.354 días no trabajados (72,5%) - 31 a 50 años. Se observó que la edad no es un factor que incide en las ausencias no previstas. El mapeodel absentismo y sus causas permite reflexionar sobre las condiciones laborales y sobre la elaboración de políticas y estrategias de gestión de personas.

Mortalidad de los cubanos en edad laboral según sexo / Cubans' mortality at working age by sex

Objetivo: describir el perfil de la mortalidad en la población cubana en edad laboral teniendo en cuenta el sexo. Métodos: investigación descriptiva y transversal realizada en el quinquenio 2007-2011. Se analizó la mortalidad en la población cubana en edad laboral contrastando valores por sexo. Se consideraron las variables edad, sexo y ocupación en todas sus categorías y principales causas de muerte de según la codificación de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades en su décima revisión. Resultados: los hombres cubanos en edad laboral presentaron mayor riesgo de morir en comparación con las mujeres, ello es mayor cuando están desocupados. Las mujeres están en desventaja en relación con los hombres en cuanto a la muerte, cuando ocupan cargos administrativos. La joven edad media al morir caracterizó la mortalidad de la mujer económicamente activa, con rejuvenecimiento de la edad en las mujeres desocupadas en relación con los hombres de igual categoría. La estructura causal de muerte en la población en edad laboral fue similar al total de la población cubana, con más importancia para la muerte por tumores malignos y las de naturaleza violenta, sea intencional o accidental. Conclusiones: se observan diferencias en los patrones de mortalidad en la población cubana en edad laboral, en función del sexo y las categorías ocupacionales. Se visualizan reservas de reducción de la mortalidad, cuyo conocimiento para las intervenciones diferenciadas podría ser beneficioso...

Objective: to describe the profile of mortality in the Cuban population at working age for sex. Methods: descriptive and cross-sectional research carried out in the period of 2007 through 2011. Mortality in the Cuban population at working age was analyzed by comparing values for sex, considering the variables age, sex and occupation in all the categories and the main causes of death according to the International Classification of Diseases coding in its 10th revision. Results: Cuban men at working age presented higher risk of dying as compared to that of women, this disadvantage increased when they were unemployed. Women are in a disadvantaged position in relation to men as to death, mainly when they hold administrative positions. The average young age at the time of dying characterized the mortality of the economically active woman, but in unemployed women, death occurred at younger age than that of unemployed men. The causative structure of death in the population at working age was similar to that of the total Cuban population, being death from malignant tumors and intentional or accidental violent acts more significant. Conclusions: differences in the mortality patterns of the Cuban population at working age were observed, based on sex and occupational ranks. There are possibilities to reduce mortality, which the awareness of differentiated interventions could be profitable...