RESUMO
Background: To date, little is known about the effects of factors linked to work-related fatigue on vibration-exposed workers. Thus, the purpose of this study was (1) to assess the effects of vibration exposure time per week and work-related fatigue on workers and (2) to identify factors associated with work-related fatigue caused by long-term exposure to occupational vibration. Methods: This study used data collected from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey. A total of 34,820 non-vibration-exposed and 10,776 vibration-exposed employees were selected from the data. The χ2 and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the effect of vibration exposure time per week and the effects of factors of work-related fatigue on workers. Results: The prevalence of work-related fatigue in vibration-exposed workers (30.5%) was higher than that of non-exposed workers (15.9%). The prevalence of work-related fatigue was higher for female and workers with depression, anxiety, and shift work, and those with authority to control their work pace had statistically significantly higher odds than those who did not. The employees who had the authority to control their order of work (odds ratio [OR]: 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81-0.95) and method of work (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.82-0.98) had statistically significantly lower odds than those who did not. The OR of work-related fatigue symptoms was highest among employees whose vibration exposure time per week were 30.0%-40.0% (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.96-2.83). Lower OR was observed as vibration exposure time per week decreased. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest an association between occupational vibration and work-related fatigue and longer vibration exposure time per week, causing an increased prevalence of work-related fatigue symptoms. Measures to protect workers exposed to occupational vibration from work-related fatigue must be taken.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Adolescent smoking and drinking are influenced by parental supervision. This study aimed to investigate the gap in adolescent smoking and drinking experience rates and age at initiation according to maternal working hours. METHODS: Data from 1,580 adolescents aged 12-18 years and 1,172 working mothers of double-parent or single-mother households were selected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI & VII data. Figures on adolescents' smoking and drinking rates and their ages at imitation were used. Maternal working hours were divided into < 40 hours, 40-52 hours, and > 52 hours to analyze whether smoking and drinking experience rates and age at initiation differ according to maternal working hours and by the child's sex. Maternal age, education level, household income, occupation, shift work, current smoking status, monthly drinking frequency and child's obesity, stress recognition and depressive mood were adjusted for in the statistical analyses. RESULTS: The odds for adolescents' smoking behavior were significantly higher with increasing maternal working hours in boys but not in girls. The odds for adolescents' drinking behavior were not significantly higher in both boys and girls. Regardless of the child's sex, there were no significant differences in the age of smoking and drinking initiation according to maternal working hours. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents of mothers who work long hours are at a higher risk of being exposed to smoking. Thus, our society needs to share the burden of raising children, which is concentrated on women, and employers and governments should support policies that can help prevent long working hours.
