Work environment adversity and non-communicable Disease risk among drivers working for application-based-cab-aggregators in an Indian metropolis : Assessment of work environment adversity and its association with ncd risk factors among application based cab aggregators in Bengaluru, India: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Bengaluru, a metropolis in Southern India, is one of the largest markets for cab aggregator companies. Drivers working for these companies play a vital role in urban transportation but unlike other drivers, their work pattern is stressful, which could increase their proneness to NCD risk factors. Understanding associations between work environment adversity and NCD risk factors among these drivers will help to plan specific health promotion and NCD prevention programs including provision of basic occupational health services. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to test for an association between work environment adversity and selected Non-communicable Disease (NCD) risk factors among Application Cab Aggregator drivers in Bengaluru city and to estimate the prevalence of selected NCD risk factors among the ABCA drivers. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Bengaluru city among 340 eligible and consenting ABCA drivers with at least one-year experience. Drivers were recruited through a multi-stage sampling procedure and time-period sampling, from transportation and leisure zones in the city. Data was collected through interviews using specifically developed semi-structured tools to assess work environment adversity and NCD risk factors. Prevalence of NCD risk factors is presented per 100 drivers with 95% confidence intervals. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted to quantify the strength of the association between work environment adversity categories and NCD risk factors. Ethical clearance was obtained from the NIMHANS Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Nearly 97% of the 340 drivers reported having one or more NCD risk factors. Working more than 5 days a week, more than 7 + hours a day, staying away from family, and working night shifts were closely associated with higher risk for NCD risk factors among ABCA drivers. Drivers with work environment adversity scores between 5 and 10 were associated with higher odds of Physical Inactivity (OR = 3.1), Unhealthy diets (OR = 1.62), and Tobacco Use (OR = 3.06). CONCLUSION: The study highlights the association between work environment adversity and NCD risk factors and indicates a dire need for NCD prevention programs, basic occupational health services, and social security provisions for ABCA cab drivers.

What occupational risk factors significantly affect miners' health: Findings from meta-analysis and association rule mining.

INTRODUCTION: The workplace's health hazard remains a significant concern to workers in the mining industry, where miners are continually exposed to various kinds of exposure sources. METHOD: First, the determinants of miners' health were systematically extracted from 259 publications, comprising chemical, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial stressors, vulnerability factors, and common health outcomes. Then, 16 meta-analyses were performed to ascertain the epidemiological evidence for associations between four stressors and three health outcomes. The seven top contributing factors affecting miners' health were identified through 166 available prospective studies. Finally, based on the classic and domestic measurement scales, a cross-sectional survey of 559 Chinese miners was conducted to determine the core psychosocial predictors. In addition to the traditional mechanisms, complex interactive networks among the antecedents and consequences and the reversed effects of consequences were also obtained, where 379 strong association rules were yielded via the Apriori algorithm. RESULTS: The results showed that occupational dust, NO2, heavy metals, heat, vibration, awkward posture, and job stress are significant risk factors associated with individuals' health conditions. Psychological capital, coping style, job demand, social support, organizational support, justice, and culture are core psychosocial predictors of miners. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a case for identifying the most significant occupational risk factors related to individuals' health, which could be extended and applied to other industries, as working populations around the world are suffering from various chemical, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial stressors. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Identifying the significant occupational risk factors affecting workers' health conditions is essential for comprehensive occupational health risk assessment and management. Therefore, this study could be important for health management in mines and other industries.

From unstructured accident reports to a hybrid decision support system for occupational risk management: The consensus converging approach.

INTRODUCTION: Workplace accidents in the petroleum industry can cause catastrophic damage to people, property, and the environment. Earlier studies in this domain indicate that the majority of the accident report information is available in unstructured text format. Conventional techniques for the analysis of accident data are time-consuming and heavily dependent on experts' subject knowledge, experience, and judgment. There is a need to develop a machine learning-based decision support system to analyze the vast amounts of unstructured text data that are frequently overlooked due to a lack of appropriate methodology. METHOD: To address this gap in the literature, we propose a hybrid methodology that uses improved text-mining techniques combined with an un-bias group decision-making framework to combine the output of objective weights (based on text mining) and subjective weights (based on expert opinion) of risk factors to prioritize them. Based on the contextual word embedding models and term frequencies, we extracted five important clusters of risk factors comprising more than 32 risk sub-factors. A heterogeneous group of experts and employees in the petroleum industry were contacted to obtain their opinions on the extracted risk factors, and the best-worst method was used to convert their opinions to weights. CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The applicability of our proposed framework was tested on the data compiled from the accident data released by the petroleum industries in India. Our framework can be extended to accident data from any industry, to reduce analysis time and improve the accuracy in classifying and prioritizing risk factors.

Need for recovery after work and associated risk factors in working menopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: To explore relationships between 'need for recovery' (NFR), a strong predictor of burnout, and menopause symptoms and to identify work-related factors that are associated with a high NFR in Belgian menopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: 760 menopausal women took part in a cross-sectional questionnaire study. NFR, presence of menopause symptoms, job type, age category, work activity, physical workload, psychosocial and physical work environment, balance of work and private life and the opportunity to discuss menopause at work were assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios for the presence of a high NFR. RESULTS: Of menopausal women currently experiencing menopause symptoms, 53.3 % reported problems while performing their work. The overall prevalence of a high NFR in menopausal women was 41.2 %. Women who experienced problems at work had the highest prevalence of a high NFR (61.1 %), and constituted a separate risk group for having a high NFR (OR 3.31 vs. never symptoms; 95%CI 1.72-6.38). The following factors were significantly associated with a high NFR: poor balance of work and private life (OR 7.89; 95%CI 4.32-14.39), physical workload (OR 1.17; 95%CI 1.08-1.28), discomfort from cognitive demands (OR 1.17; 95%CI 1.09-1.26), organizational justice (OR 0.86; 95%CI; 0.78-0.94), and social support from colleagues (OR 0.87; 95%CI 0.79-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining a good balance of work and private life, reducing physical workload, addressing discomfort from cognitive work demands and assuring a fair work distribution are measures that require a culture where open and easy discussion about menopause is possible.

[Health and well-being of healthcare workers: employment and working conditions beyond the pandemic]. / Salud y bienestar del personal sanitario: condiciones de empleo y de trabajo más allá de la pandemia. Informe SESPAS 2024.

Healthcare workers are people who work in health activities, whether or not they have direct contact with citizens. Currently, around 1.3 million people (70% women) work in healthcare activities in Spain. This represents around 10% of the active population, having increased by 33% since 2008, especially the number of women, which has doubled. Healthcare organizations, especially hospitals, are extremely complex workplaces, with precarious working and employment conditions, especially in more hierarchical occupations, exposing healthcare workers to numerous occupational hazards, mainly from ergonomic and psychosocial conditions. These causes frequent musculoskeletal and mental disorders, highlighting burnout, which is estimated at 40% in some services such as intensive care units. This high morbidity is reflected in a high frequency of absences due to illness, around 9% after the pandemic. The pandemic, and its consequences in the last three years, has put extreme pressure on the health system and has clearly shown its deficiencies in relation to working and employment conditions. The hundreds of occupational health professionals, technicians and healthcare workers, who are part of the structures of health organizations, constitute very valuable resources to increase the resilience of the NHS. We recommend the strengthening in resources and institutionally of the occupational health services of health centers and the creation of an Observatory of working, employment and health conditions in the National Health Service, as an instrument for monitoring changes and proposing solutions.

Targeted Tick-Borne Disease Recognition: Assessing Risk for Improved Public Health.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a rapidly growing threat to public health. The incidence of TBDs is on the rise, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors beyond demographic considerations. This brief report combines a preliminary review of the literature with geographical case mapping to identify the various factors influencing TBD risk. The report highlights the vulnerability of outdoor workers, the importance of outdoor activities, and the role of education in adopting preventive behaviors. Pet ownership and interactions with animals are also associated with an increased risk. The state of Illinois is used as a case study for this report, revealing regional variations in TBD incidence, and linking them to agricultural practices, forested areas, and park accessibility. These findings inform recommendations for targeted prevention strategies, emphasizing the need for detailed geographical data to enhance public health efforts in curbing TBD incidence and risk.

The Epidemiology of Needlestick and Sharp Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in a Secondary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction Needlestick and sharp injuries (NSI) continue to pose a significant risk for healthcare workers (HCWs) at their workplace. The incidence rate of NSI in hospitals depends on multiple risk factors. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of NSI among HCWs and the risk factors influencing NSI rates and to provide further direction for NSI prevention in secondary care hospitals. Methods This study included all the NSI cases reported by HCWs in King Abdul Aziz Hospital, Makkah from 2005 to 2017. All the cases were recorded in the Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet™) database (International Healthcare Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA). The study was executed by using data loaded in the EPINet™ Program, the hospital electronic recording system Medica Plus, and analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program (SPSS Inc. Released 2007. SPSS for Windows, Version 15.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc.). Results During the period of study, 524 NSI cases were reported. The mean incidence rate per 100 occupied beds with 95% CI was 25.43 (22.05-28.81) and a statistically insignificant decline in NSI incidence rate was observed from 2005 to 2017. The maximal annual incidence rate (35.63 per 100 occupied beds) was registered in 2010 and the minimal value (14.84 per 100 occupied beds) in 2013. Injuries were mainly reported in patient rooms/wards (30.2%) and most frequently by nurses (56.1%). The mean of incident reporting within 24 hours was 74.0, 95% CI (67.19-80.73). This rate showed a statistically significant (p=0.01) increasing trend of 5.0% per annum. The mean of identified source patients - 83.5, 95% CI (79.13- 87.23) - possessed an annual 2.1% rise during 2005-2017 which was statistically insignificant (p=0.7). Cases occurred after the use/before disposal of items in 45.0% of cases and during the use of items in 44.7%. Hollow-bore needles caused injuries in 46.5% of incidents. Blood sample taking - 23.2% and IV or arterial line insertion/removal/manipulation (19.1%) - presented exposure-prone procedures posing the highest risk. Conclusions The results of this study revealed a high rate of NSI in the hospital. NSI rate in hospitals was impacted by a group of related risk factors, particularly, the location of risk (patient room/ward, intensive care unit (ICU), and emergency room (ER) depending on job intensity, the kind and frequency of exposure-prone procedures (blood sample taking, IV or arterial line insertion/removal/manipulation) and handling of hollow-bore and solid needle connected to the main healthcare professional group at risk (nurses). Future direction in NSI prevention requires a complex approach of continuous staff education along with the usage of devices with safety features.

Surgical smoke: a matter of hygiene, toxicology, and occupational health.

The use of devices for tissue dissection and hemostasis during surgery is almost unavoidable. Electrically powered devices such as electrocautery, ultrasonic and laser units produce surgical smoke containing more than a thousand different products of combustion. These include large amounts of carcinogenic, mutagenic and potentially teratogenic noxae. The smoke contains particles that range widely in size, even as small as 0.007 µm. Most of the particles (90%) in electrocautery smoke are ≤6.27 µm in size, but surgical masks cannot filter particles smaller than 5 µm. In this situation, 95% of the smoke particles which pass through the mask reach deep into the respiratory tract and frequently cause various symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, eye and respiratory tract irritation, weakness, and abdominal pain in the acute period. The smoke can transport bacteria and viruses that are mostly between 0.02 µm and 3 µm in size and there is a risk of contamination. Among these viruses, SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, HIV, HPV, HBV must be considered. The smoke may also carry malignant cells. The long-term effects of the surgical smoke are always ignored, because causality can hardly be clarified in individual cases. The quantity of the smoke changes with the technique of the surgeon, the room ventilation system, the characteristics of the power device used, the energy level at which it is set, and the characteristics of the tissue processed. The surgical team is highly exposed to the smoke, with the surgeon experiencing the highest exposure. However, the severity of exposure differs according to certain factors, e.g., ventilation by laminar or turbulent mixed airflow or smoke evacuation system. In any case, the surgical smoke must be removed from the operation area. The most effective method is to collect the smoke from the source through an aspiration system and to evacuate it outside. Awareness and legal regulations in terms of hygiene, toxicology, as well as occupational health and safety should increase.

Sinonasal Adenocarcinoma: Clinicopathological Characterization and Prognostic Factors.

Sinonasal (SN) malignancies are rare. Within SN adenocarcinomas, the most frequent are intestinal-type adenocarcinomas (ITACs). ITAC has been associated with wood and leather dust occupational exposure and TP53 mutations. Not much information is available regarding its characterization and treatment. The aim of this study is to characterize the clinicopathologic and prognostic factors of patients with sinonasal adenocarcinomas (SNACs) treated in our tertiary-level hospital. A retrospective, consecutive study including SNAC patients diagnosed between 2004-2023 was conducted. Clinicopathological data was collected, and p53 status was assessed in the tumor specimens. The association between p53 status and clinicopathological variables, as well as their impact on survival, was evaluated. In total, 35 were included, most of them having ITAC (91.4%) with papillary subtype (37.5%); the majority were subjected to occupational risk exposure (82.9%). Overexpression of p53 was identified in 48.6% of the tumors. Papillary and colonic subtypes were associated with higher median progression-free survival (mPFS) than mucinous and solid subtypes (mPFS 37 months, 95% CI, 20.0-54.0, vs. 9 months, 95% CI, 7.15-10.85, p=0.01); the former was also associated with higher median overall survival (mOS) (mOS 64 months, 95% CI, 37.18-90.81 vs. 14 months, 95% CI, 0-41.58, p=0.02). Histologic grade 1-2 and macroscopic complete resection were associated with higher PFS (PFS of five months of 90.9% vs. 33.3%, p=0.01; mPFS of 37 months, 95% CI, 4.93-69.07 vs. 10 months, 95% CI, 6.43-13.57, p=0.04, respectively). Disease recurrence with distant metastases was associated with lower OS (11 months, 95% CI, 6.1-15.9 vs. 53 months, 95% CI, 22.70-83.30, p=0.04). This study reinforces the importance of protective occupational measures. Future studies will be important to validate the best treatment strategy in the advanced stages of this disease and also to identify new prognostic and/or therapeutic target biomarkers in SNAC.

Glutaraldehyde-Induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis: A Case Report and Safety Standards.

Glutaraldehyde (GA), a potent disinfectant and sterilizing agent extensively used in healthcare settings, has garnered attention for its association with contact dermatitis. This occupational skin condition, often induced by repeated exposure to GA, poses significant challenges to the well-being of healthcare professionals and patients alike. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and preventive measures against GA-induced contact dermatitis is essential for promoting a safe and healthy working environment in healthcare facilities. A 28-year-old female presented with a severe burning sensation and dark brown patches in the lower chin region, one day following root canal treatment. Based on the characteristic appearance of patches and the typical burning sensation associated with an allergic reaction, a diagnosis of acute contact dermatitis was made. Patch testing by an expert dermatologist confirmed that the patient was allergic to GA. GA, a popular commercial germicidal product, is widely used as a cold sterilizing agent for operative dental instruments. The patient developed a reaction as the endodontic files used during the root canal procedure were cold sterilized with 2% GA. The lesion experienced significant improvement and ultimately healed following the administration of corticosteroids and antihistamines. This report concerns a case of GA-induced contact dermatitis. As GA is being used more widely, particularly in dental clinics, this case was of interest and is reported in the safety interest of patients and clinicians.

Cattle transporters' attitudes, indigenous knowledge, and current practices towards animal welfare, occupational well-being, and operational challenges: A survey of five regions in Ghana.

Ghana is a significant cattle producer in Africa with an estimated cattle population of 3 million in 2020 [1]. The role of transporters in linking farms to markets and slaughterhouses is crucial in the livestock value chain. However, cattle transportation subjects the animals to high levels of stress, compromising their welfare, and transporters face challenges such as long working hours and harsh conditions. The objective of this study was to explore current practices, indigenous knowledge, and operational risks pertaining to animal welfare among transporters. The study was conducted in five regions connected by the N16, N10, and N6 Highway, the primary route for cattle transportation from the Ghana-Burkina Faso border to the coastal capital of Accra. A total of 78 transporters participated in the study. Out of the 78 participants in this study, the majority of transporters were young adults (56.5%) with secondary school education (45.9%) and 0-5 years of experience (37.2%). The average distance and time for transporting cattle was 528 km and 18 h, respectively. The transporters highlighted significant challenges encountered during cattle transport, including feed and water shortage, particularly prominent during the dry season (32.1%), as well as the occurrence of diseases and mortality, particularly high during the rainy season (41%). Furthermore, vehicular breakdowns were a common issue reported by transporters, with a substantial majority (88.5%) experiencing breakdowns during their last 10 trips. The results showed that most transporters (84.7%) had limited knowledge of animal welfare and had not received any formal education on livestock transportation. Instead, they gained experience as assistants on other trucks before becoming drivers. The findings of this study highlight the need for improved welfare standards for cattle during transportation and formal training programs for transporters in animal welfare and livestock transportation.

Consequences and coping strategies of nurses and registered nurses perceiving to work in an environment characterized by workplace bullying.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the well-being and coping strategies of nurses working in an organizational setting perceived as characterized by workplace bullying. The innovative aspect of this study is that we considered only those who perceive to work in an organizational environment characterized by workplace bullying, and not those who see themselves as victims and those who perceive they work in an organizational environment not characterized by workplace bullying. Method: A questionnaire with the NAQ-R, PGWBI, Val.Mob. and Brief COPE scales was administered to nurses. To better understand this phenomenon, a comparison was made between 331 nurses and 166 workers in other professions who also work in an organizational environment perceived to be characterized by workplace bullying. Results: In both groups (nurses and workers), the results were approximately the same in terms of personal bullying and workplace bullying episodes and the number of physical and emotive symptoms. The PGWBI score was lower for nurses than for workers in other fields. Among the individual symptoms, nurses and registered nurses were more likely to report gastritis, insomnia and heartburn than workers in other contexts. Workers in other contexts were more likely than nurses to report symptoms of anxiety, fear, feelings of insecurity, inferiority and guilt. In terms of coping strategies, nurses were more likely than other workers to report distraction, substance use, emotional support, disengagement, venting, positive reframing, humor, and religion. Workers in other professional context were more likely than nurses to report active coping, denial, instrumental support, planning, acceptance, and self-blame. Conclusion: Results suggest that the consequences of working in a perceived organizational environment characterized by workplace bullying are similar for both groups of workers, with nonstatistical differences in perceived workplace bullying episodes and sum of physical and emotive symptoms. Implication: Overall, findings suggest that workplace bullying prevention is a fundamental element in training workers in all types of workplaces and should be an integral part of curriculum activities.

COVID-19 in City Council Civil Servants, 1 March 2020-31 January 2023: Risk of Infection, Reinfection, Vaccine Effectiveness and the Impact of Heterologous Triple Vaccination.

Background: The risk of COVID-19 increases in any occupation entailing intense social interactions. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 among civil servants of Trieste city council (northeastern Italy) over the entire pandemic. Methods: The crude incidence rate of COVID-19 was estimated from 1 March 2020 to 31 January 2023 by explanatory factors, expressing the estimate as COVID-19 events x 10,000 person-days (P-d) at risk. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model was fitted to examine the risk of primary COVID-19 infection and reinfections, reporting adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: The cohort of Trieste city council was mainly composed of administrative clerks (48.5%), nursery teachers (33%), technicians (9.9%) and local police officers (8.5%). Between 1 March 2020 and 31 January 2023, 1444 (62.4%) employees tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at least once and 18.1% (=262/1444) at least twice. By the end of this study, 55% (N = 1272) of employees had received at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, whereas 19.7% (N = 457) remained unvaccinated. At multiple Cox regression analysis, the adjusted risk of primary COVID-19 events during the entire study period increased in employees aged 40-49 years (aHR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.01; 2.71), females (aHR = 1.28; 95%CI: 1.12; 1.45), local police officers (aHR = 1.82; 95%CI: 1.50; 2.22) and nursery teachers (aHR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.13; 1.43). However, whilst the risk of primary infections in police officers increased already during the Alpha transmission period (aHR = 6.82; 95%CI: 4.48; 10.40), progressively reducing across subsequent variants, for nursery teachers, it increased during the Delta wave (aHR = 2.42; 1.70; 3.44), reducing with Omicron (aHR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.07; 1.40). Compared to unvaccinated colleagues, during the entire study period the risk of primary infections was significantly lower in employees immunized with three (aHR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.36; 0.47) or four (aHR = 0.30; 95%CI: 0.23; 0.40) doses of COVID-19 vaccine, for a vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 58% and 70%, respectively. The protective effect of vaccination against primary infections was confirmed in the sub-group analysis by main pandemic waves, for a VE of 75% for one dose against 99% for two doses during the Alpha transmission period, slightly reducing to 59% and 70% in Delta time, respectively. During the Omicron wave, the risk of primary SARS-CoV-2 infections diminished significantly with three (aHR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.36; 0.49) or four vaccine doses (aHR = 0.09; 95%CI: 0.05; 0.16), for a VE of 58% and 91%, respectively. Moreover, the risk of primary SARS-CoV-2 reinfections during the entire study period reduced with one (aHR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.27; 0.82), two (aHR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.30; 0.58), three (aHR = 0.32; 95%CI: 0.24; 0.44) or four vaccine doses (aHR = 0.14; 95%CI: 0.05; 0.46), for a VE of 53%, 58%, 68% and 86% against reinfections, respectively. No significant difference in VE was associated with heterologous versus homologous triple vaccination, both against primary infections or reinfections. Conclusions: Primary SARS-CoV-2 infections were more likely among nursery teachers and local police officers. The risk of both primary infections and reinfections reduced with higher number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of the pandemic wave. Since city council civil servants were swab tested on demand or for contact tracing, the estimation of COVID-19 risk and VE largely missed aymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. On the one hand, the present study confirmed the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections; on the other hand, it highlighted not only the importance of continuous booster doses to keep up the humoral immunity over time but also the importance of updated vaccine formulations to prevent and control the spread of a highly mutable virus. Moreover, the protective effect of the first two doses against reinfections confirmed the efficacy of hybrid immunity during Omicron time.

Neurofilament light chain and glial fibrillary acid protein levels are elevated in post-mild COVID-19 or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cases.

Given the huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears of paramount importance to assess the cognitive effects on the population returning to work after COVID-19 resolution. Serum levels of neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) represent promising biomarkers of neuro-axonal damage and astrocytic activation. In this cohort study, we explored the association between sNfL and sGFAP concentrations and cognitive performance in a group of 147 adult workers with a previous asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection or mild COVID-19, one week and, in 49 of them, ten months after SARS-Cov2 negativization and compared them to a group of 82 age and BMI-matched healthy controls (HCs). sNfL and sGFAP concentrations were assessed using SimoaTM assay Neurology 2-Plex B Kit. COVID-19 patients were interviewed one-on-one by trained physicians and had to complete a list of questionnaires, including the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ). At the first assessment (T0), sNfL and sGFAP levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in HCs (p < 0.001 for both). The eleven COVID-19 patients with cognitive impairment had significantly higher levels of sNfL and sGFAP than the others (p = 0.005 for both). At the subsequent follow-up (T1), sNfL and sGFAP levels showed a significant decrease (median sNfL 18.3 pg/mL; median sGFAP 77.2 pg/mL), although they were still higher than HCs (median sNfL 7.2 pg/mL, median sGFAP 63.5 pg/mL). Our results suggest an ongoing damage involving neurons and astrocytes after SARS-Cov2 negativization, which reduce after ten months even if still evident compared to HCs.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Acute Articular Cartilage Tears in Military and Other Occupational Settings: A Systematic Review.

Damage to the articular cartilage resulting in an acute tear can lead to functional changes within the joint and increase the risk of osteoarthritis developing. There is limited understanding of the association between occupational risk factors and sustaining an acute articular cartilage tear in the military and other physically demanding occupations. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate original research reporting on occupational risk factors associated with sustaining acute articular cartilage tears. METHODS: A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis-Protocols was conducted and registered with the Open Science Framework. Key academic databases were searched using terms from the following concepts: risk or cause, paid occupations, and acute articular cartilage tears. RESULTS: Of an initial 941 studies, 2 studies met the eligibility criteria, both reporting data from military contexts; only one evaluated acute articular cartilage tears in both males and females. One paper focused on articular cartilage injury within the knee and the other within the ankle joint with incidence rates being 0.2 and 0.3 per 1000 person-years, respectively. People in more physically active occupations and individuals with an above-normal body mass index were reported as being at higher risk of sustaining an acute articular cartilage tear. CONCLUSION: Physically demanding occupations, such as the military, may increase the risk for acute tears of the articular cartilage. However, the findings of this review indicate there is a paucity of research to underpin understanding of the injury mechanisms and occupational risk factors for acute articular cartilage tears.

Occupational risk perception of construction workers: a cross sectional study.

Introduction: Construction workers are often exposed to significant injury risk. The aim of our study is to assess their occupational hazards and injury risk perception. Methods: We administered 256 questionnaires to construction workers. The survey was aimed at collecting information regarding occupational risk and hazard exposure perception, risk control and behavioral self-assessment. We analyzed the data obtained in order to highlight any associations between injury risk perception and anamnestic, occupational, behavioral or perceptual factors. Results: Participants were prevalently males (92.37%) aged 21-60 years (94%). They showed a job seniority level of 21.3 (11.51) on average and, ranging from a 1 to 10 score, a danger awareness of 6.8 (2.9), a lack of prevention measures 6.0 (3.3), an improper behavior of 7.3 (2.7), an unpredictable fate of 6.0 (2.9). These factors resulted significantly associated with the injury risk perception. Multivariable analysis highlighted that the injury risk perception was associated with the lack of prevention measure and unpredictable fate. On the other hand, we found a negative association with the workers' improper behaviors. Conclusion: Workers' perception showed fairly uniform average values even when occupational risk was demonstrated. Our analysis suggests a positive correlation between injury risk perception and the idea that injuries are due both to fate and to chance; it also shows a negative correlation between injury risk perception and the idea that injuries are due to improper behavior. A lack of fully comparable studies confirms the need for further studies on the injury risk perception of construction workers.

Exposure to UV Radiation in Lifeguards on Barcelona's Beaches: An Underestimated Occupational Risk. / [Artículo traducido] Exposición a radiación ultravioleta en socorristas de las playas de Barcelona: un riesgo laboral infravalorado.

BACKGROUND: The development of skin cancer is closely related to high exposure to UV radiation. Lifeguards are at an increased risk of excessive sun exposure. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to measure the exposure of Barcelona's beach lifeguards to UV radiation. METHODS: Measurements in the work chair were taken every 30min on a typical working day from 10:45 am to 19:15 pm. These measurements were carried out on four different days. These data were used to calculate the erythematous doses received during working hours, as well as those potentially received throughout the summer season. Vitamin D production was also estimated for the four days that the radiation received was measured, and the amount generated was calculated for the entire summer season. RESULTS: Exposure to UV radiation among Barcelona lifeguards far exceeds safety limits. In some locations, the exposure to UVB radiation is more than 16 times the minimum erythematous dose for phototype II skin. LIMITATIONS: This study assessed the radiation received during only four days. However, is a much higher number than most of the published papers. CONCLUSION: Although the health risks of excessive exposure to UV radiation are known, Barcelona's beach lifeguards are insufficiently protected.

Impact of social desirability bias on the CoPsoQ-ISTAS 21 psychosocial risk assessment questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Self-reported test is one of the main psychosocial risk assessment tools. However, this test it is susceptible to certain sources of error, including social desirability. Since psychosocial risks are emerging, there are not many studies on their assessment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work is to analyze the impact of social desirability on the short version of the CopSoq-ISTAS 21 assessment tool. METHOD: A total of 563 workers (45.10% women and 54.90% men) participated in this study. The short version of the CoPsoQ-Istas21 questionnaire with four Likert scale questions as markers, which correspond to the Eysenck Personality Lie Scale Questionnaire Revised (EPQ-r), were used. The sample was divided into two halves, and both a confirmatory analysis and an exploratory analysis were carried out to find out the factorial structure of the scale and, with it, apply the bias filtering method. RESULTS: The results indicate that 10% of the scale is biased due to social desirability, and that there are significant differences between the group with bias clean scores and the group with scores without bias control. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of social desirability on the scale are verified, so it is concluded that in a psychosocial risk assessment is not enough to apply a self-report test and interpret its results, being necessary to minimize the sources of error.

Interactions between work-related factors, perceived fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders among handicraft artisans: structural equation model analysis.

The cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between work-related factors, perceived work fatigue (PWF) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among handicraft artisans. 364 artisans participated in a questionnaire survey, and a structural equation model (SEM) was developed to explore the direct and indirect relationships between these factors using partial least squares analysis. The SEM explained 98.2% of the variance in MSDs and revealed that exposure to biomechanical factors had a direct impact on PWF and MSDs, with PWF mediating the effect of biomechanical factors on MSDs. Additionally, job demand was found to be positively associated with MSDs, while job control and social support reduced the risk of MSDs. The findings underscore the importance of strategic initiatives to mitigate the risk of developing MSDs among artisans. The study also highlights the potential of SEM as a novel framework for understanding the complex pathogenesis of MSDs in occupational health research.Practitioner summary: The study sought to comprehensively examine the intricate relationships among work-related factors, PWF, and MSDs. To achieve this, an SEM approach was employed to capture both direct and indirect relationships between these factors, employing partial least squares analysis. Findings revealed SEM as an innovative framework for understanding the intricate development of MSDs.

Environmental and Occupational Factors Associated with Leptospirosis: A Systematic Review.

Background: Leptospirosis is a neglected emerging zoonotic disease with a profound public health impact worldwide with higher burden of disease in resource-poor countries. The environmental and occupational exposures contribute to human and animal transmission, but the interaction was less explored. A deeper understanding of the critical environmental and occupational drivers in different contexts will provide useful information for disease control and prevention measures. Objective: This review aimed to summarize the potential environmental and occupational risk factors associated with leptospirosis infection. Methods: Four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCOhost) were searched for articles published from 2012 to 2021. Eligible articles were assessed using a checklist for assessing the quality of the studies. The quality of the articles was assessed based on the laboratory diagnosis approach and statistical analysis method. Results: A total of 32 studies were included in this systematic review. Water-related risk factors such as natural water as the primary water source (AOR 1.8-18.28), water-related recreational activities (AOR 2.36-10.45), flood exposure (AOR 1.54-6.04), contact with mud (AOR 1.57-4.58) and stagnant water (AOR 2.79-6.42) were associated with increased risk of leptospirosis. Infrastructural deficiencies such as un-plastered house walls and thatched houses presented a higher risk (AOR 2.71-5.17). Living in low-lying areas (AOR 1.58-3.74), on clay loam soil (OR 2.72), agricultural land (OR 2.09), and near rubber tree plantations (AOR 11.65) is associated with higher risk of leptospirosis. Contact with rats (AOR 1.4-3.5), livestock (AOR 1.3-10.4), and pigs (AOR 1.54-7.9) is associated with an increased risk of leptospirosis. Outdoor workers (AOR 1.95-3.95) and slaughterhouse workers (AOR 5.1-7.5) have higher risk of leptospirosis. Conclusion: The environmental and occupational components related to water, infrastructure, landscape, agriculture, and exposed animals play an essential role in leptospirosis transmission. The magnitude of those risk factors differs with geographical region, climate factor, urbanization and population growth, and the country's socioeconomic status.