A review of occupational safety and health research for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

INTRODUCTION: To better understand what is known about issues affecting American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) workers, authors conducted a literature review of publications specific to AI/AN and occupational safety and health. METHODS: Search criteria included: (a) American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages in the United States; (b) First Nations and aboriginals in Canada; and (c) occupational safety and health. RESULTS: Results of two identical searches in 2017 and 2019 identified 119 articles and 26 articles respectively, with references to AI/AN people and occupation. Of the 145 total articles, only 11 articles met the search criteria for addressing occupational safety and health research among AI/AN workers. Information from each article was abstracted and categorized according to National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) sector, resulting in: four articles related to agriculture, forestry, and fishing; three related to mining; one related to manufacturing; and one related to services. Two articles reported on AI/AN people and occupational well-being in general. CONCLUSIONS: The review was limited by the small number and age of relevant articles, reflecting the likelihood that findings could be out of date. General themes across the reviewed articles point to the need for increased overall awareness and education regarding injury prevention and risks associated with occupational injuries and fatalities among AI/AN workers. Similarly, increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended for the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries, as well as for workers exposed to metals dust. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The lack of research in most NORA sectors indicates the need for heightened research efforts directed toward AI/AN workers.

On the road again: A cross-sectional survey examining work schedules, commuting time, and driving-related outcomes among U.S. oil and gas extraction workers.

BACKGROUND: Oil and gas extraction (OGE) workers in the United States experience high fatality rates, with motor vehicle crashes the leading cause of death. Land-based OGE workers drive frequently to remote and temporary worksites. Limited information is available on factors that may influence crash risk for this workforce. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 500 land-based OGE workers examined work schedules and hours, commuting, sleep, employer policies, and their relationship to potentially harmful events while driving. RESULTS: Over 60% of participants worked 12 or more hours per day. The mean daily roundtrip commuting time was 1.82 h. Longer daily commutes, nonstandard work schedules, less sleep on workdays, and lack of employer policies were associated with one or more risky driving-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation and evaluation of OGE employer policies and programs to limit long work hours, reduce long daily commutes, promote sufficient sleep, and reduce drowsy driving among U.S. OGE workers are needed.

Implication of organizational health policy on organizational attraction.

This study investigated both smoking and nonsmoking undergraduates' reactions to an organization implementing a policy that either mandated or recommended that employees quit smoking. Undergraduate participants (N = 296) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 (high vs. low severity of a smoke-free policy implementation) x 2 (high vs. low organizational assistance) conditions and indicated their organizational attraction for a hypothetical organization, imagining themselves as job applicants. The findings showed that organizational attraction was affected by the level of organizational assistance but not by the level of severity. These and other findings concerning individuals' perceived severity, perceived organizational support, smoking sensitivity, and employer control are presented in detail, and the implications thereof are discussed.