Daytime Sleepiness in Men During Early Fatherhood: Implications for Work Safety.

This study measured the daytime sleepiness (DS) and work safety of fathers during the first 12 weeks of their babies' lives (i.e., early fatherhood). A questionnaire was developed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Safety Behaviour at Work Scale, a self-reported sleep history, and a work-related incident history. Of the 221 participants, the vast majority reported they experienced less than 6 hours of interrupted sleep per night during the 12 weeks of the study, and an increasing frequency and severity of DS. The study also revealed an inverse correlation between ESS and Safety Behaviour at Work scores; fathers were 14% more likely to report a near-miss accident at work at 12 weeks. This study posits that antenatal classes and assessment of fathers' sleepiness at work by occupational health practitioners could assist fathers in reducing daytime sleepiness and mitigating the risk of workplace incidents.

The nature and hazards of diathermy plumes: a review.

Perioperative nurses in the OR may experience more extensive and sustained exposure to surgical plumes than other surgical personnel. Compared with laser plumes, less policy attention has been given to mitigating the risks associated with exposure to diathermy plumes. Diathermy can produce ultrafine particles and volatile chemical and biological substances, of which a number are teratogenic or carcinogenic. Evidence suggests diathermy plumes contain more biohazards than laser plumes, although protective smoke evacuation equipment is less likely to be used with diathermy. Although there is no direct evidence of harm to OR personnel, further research is required to conclusively establish actual risks and appropriate standards for safe exposure. Interventional strategies should address staff attitudes toward diathermy plume exposure and protective measures. This structured review of the literature describes the nature and risks associated with exposure to diathermy plumes and clarifies the implications for protective techniques and nursing practices.

Is it time for a more systematic approach to the hazards of surgical smoke?: reconsidering the evidence.

Despite recognition of the potential hazards of surgical smoke in the operating room and the adoption of costly extraction devices, little attention has been given to a systematic review of available evidence to inform risk management strategies. Therefore, a comprehensive search of the surgical smoke literature over a 20-year period (1981 to 2011) was undertaken. This search identified 42 appropriate publications. Although a reasonable body of research on the hazardous nature of surgical smoke was found, little substantive data on exposures among operating room personnel or the most appropriate methods to reduce risks were identified. Further empirical data are needed to conclusively establish actual risks, exposure standards, and protective strategies.

Fatigue and work safety behavior in men during early fatherhood.

This study investigated the relationship between fatigue and work safety behavior of fathers with new babies. A total of 241 fathers completed a questionnaire at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum with items on fatigue and safety behavior at work. Results revealed that fathers worked long hours, reported a moderate-to-high physical intensity of work, and experienced interrupted sleep averaging less than 6 hours. Fathers also reported moderate fatigue at both 6 and 12 weeks postbirth, which was inversely related to safety behavior. Both fatigue and sleep history made a small but statistically significant contribution to safety behavior results at 6 and 12 weeks postbirth. Findings suggest that working fathers with babies experience fatigue during early fatherhood and are unable to recover due to interrupted and poor sleep patterns. Managers should consider the potential for fatigue to compromise work safety and develop risk management strategies that target new fathers.

Work safety during early fatherhood.

Fathers are increasingly expected to engage in infant care. The early postpartum period has been described as a time when work-family conflict, lack of sleep, and fatigue are prominent themes. Research has demonstrated that these themes can have a deleterious effect on work safety. Lack of sleep and fatigue have been linked to workplace accidents, yet few studies have specifically investigated work-family conflict, sleep, and fatigue among men with infants. The need exists to specifically study and measure work-family conflict, sleep deprivation, and fatigue in relation to early fatherhood. Such research could have a direct effect on occupational health nursing practice.

Managers' perceptions of the current and future role of occupational health nurses in Australia.

Occupational health nurses face competition from other professionals in the field of occupational health and safety. This study investigated managers' perceptions of Australian occupational health nurses' roles. Managers were asked to rate the importance of occupational health nurses' activities and the time they believe occupational health nurses do or should dedicate to each activity now and in the future. The questionnaire included 22 activity statements grouped into eight areas of practice that were thought to constitute the occupational health nurse role, based on the Australian College of Occupational Health Nurses standards. Data revealed that emergent roles focused on injury prevention, health promotion, management, and research were of increasing importance, with more time being needed for them in the future. Fulfilling these expectations may place occupational health nurses in competition with other occupational health and safety personnel for particular responsibilities and may require negotiation to gain support for taking on these role activities. Fulfilling these emergent role activities effectively will require appropriate professional development and advanced education.

Direction of hair whorl and handedness.

We recorded the direction of hair whorl rotation in samples of male right- and non-right-handers. The data corroborate those of Klar (2003) in showing equal numbers of clockwise and anti-clockwise whorls in non-right-handers but an excess of clockwise whorls in right-handers. The findings support the view that in some proportion of the population direction of coiling arises as a consequence of random events occurring during early (pre-natal) development of the nervous system, while in the remainder of the population there is a systematic bias towards a clockwise direction of rotation. The association with handedness implies that the latter is in a very large measure biologically rather than culturally determined.

Occupational health nurses' perceptions of their current and future roles.

AIM: This paper is a report of an investigation of Australian occupational health nurses' perceptions of their current and future roles. BACKGROUND: Occupational health nurses are expected to engage in a variety of traditional curative activities as well as emergent role activities focusing on injury prevention, health promotion, wellness, management and research. However, little is known about the importance they place on traditional and emergent activities in both current and future practice. METHOD: The 416 members of the Australian College of Occupational Health Nurses were asked in 2002-03 to complete a questionnaire with items based on the College's areas of practice. The items related to perceived importance and time dedicated to traditional and contemporary role activities. One hundred completed questionnaires were returned, but only 93 were suitable for analysis (response rate 22%). FINDINGS: Currently, Australian occupational health nurses engage in traditional curative and emergent wellness, management and research activities, but traditional activities dominate their work. Participants perceived that in the future activities related to wellness, management and research will be more important to their practice and that they will need to devote more time to them. CONCLUSION: Education programmes will need to address specifically the knowledge and skills required for wellness-based models of practice in occupational health nursing, as well as research and negotiating skills for working with others in the workplace.

Occupational health nursing practice in Australia: what occupational health nurses say they do and what they actually do.

This study investigated current activities of occupational health nurses (OHN) in Australia related to the applicability of and their involvement in emergent role, wellness-based practices and traditional role and illness-based practices. A questionnaire encompassing the eight Areas of Practice as articulated by the Australian College of Occupational Health Nursing (ACOHN) competency standards was used to obtain data from 93 OHNs affiliated with ACOHN. More traditional role Areas of Practice such as treatment services, health assessment and rehabilitation services were seen as more applicable to their practice and a substantial amount of time was spent on them. Managing occupational health and safety (OH&S) service' was the only emergent area that was a substantial part of the OHN's role. Less time was devoted to other emergent and pro-active areas of OHN practice, such as illness and injury prevention, health promotion, health education and research into OH&S. While less time was allocated to emergent Areas of Practice, and they were ranked more lowly they were considered to be applicable to practice. The findings of this study suggest that OHNs in Australia may not be engaging fully in all Areas of Practice that have been articulated by the ACOHN, particularly emergent role activities. Although Australian OHNs perform all the activities articulated in the ACOHN Areas of Practice, their focus is still primarily illness and injury based, and also management. While the profession is supportive of emergent role activities, there is a need to debate possibilities, undertake research into barriers and supports for emergent role activities, more clearly articulate future directions for the OHN role, and develop strategies to support OHNs as they develop their professional role.