RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Motor vehicle incidents or apparatus crashes are a leading cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States. Nonuse of seat belts has been linked to some of these fatalities. This research seeks to understand the relationship between safety climate and seat belt use among firefighters, as findings will provide insights into factors that may bolster seat belt use and protect firefighters. METHODS: Data were collected from 208 career firefighters working for a city fire department in the southeastern United States. Structural equation modeling was used to test a hypothesized model and to assess the relationships between organizational safety climate, work group safety climate and seat belt use. RESULTS: It was determined that positive perceptions of workgroup safety climate, as a higher order factor, comprised of supervisor support, horizontal cohesion, and vertical cohesion, was positively associated with seat belt use within a sample of firefighters. Organizational level safety climate did not have a significant relationship with seat belt use but did positively influence workgroup safety climate perceptions. CONCLUSIONS: Safety climate has been associated with safety compliance and participation behaviors, but more research was needed to specifically examine the impact of safety climate on seat belt use in firefighters. The findings point to the importance of safety climate as a leading indicator and predictor of seat belt use. Bolstering safety climate through safety programs, commitment to safety, effective communication, supportive supervisors and cohesion should ultimately aid in bolstering seat belt use among firefighters, which is important to curtailing firefighter injuries and fatalities.
RESUMEN
Urban traffic officers in many low- and middle-income countries are exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollutants (TRAP) while working vehicle control on heavily congested streets. The impact of chronic TRAP exposure on the cardiovascular health, including the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), of this outdoor occupational group remains unclear. This cross-sectional study compared the average mean and maximum CIMT measurements of two groups of relatively young, healthy traffic police (32 ± 7 years; 77% male) in Quito, Ecuador, who were without clinical evidence of serious cardiovascular or other disease. Previously published background data on PM10 (a TRAP surrogate) indicated that street levels of the pollutant were several orders of magnitude higher at the street intersections worked by traffic police compared to those working only in an office. Accordingly, officers permanently assigned to daily traffic control duties requiring them to stand 0-3 m from heavily trafficked street intersections were assigned to the high exposure group (n = 61). The control group (n = 54) consisted of officers from the same organization who were permanently assigned to office duties inside an administration building. Mean and maximum CIMT were measured with ultrasound. General linear models were used to compare the CIMT measurements of the high exposure and control groups, adjusting for covariates. The adjusted average mean and maximum CIMT measures of the high exposure group were increased by 11.5% and 10.3%, respectively, compared to the control group (p = 0.0001). These findings suggest that chronic occupational exposure to TRAP is associated with increased CIMT in traffic police. This is important since even small increases in arterial thickening over time may promote earlier progression to clinical disease and increased premature mortality risk.
Asunto(s)
Exposición Profesional , Contaminación por Tráfico Vehicular , Masculino , Humanos , Femenino , Grosor Intima-Media Carotídeo , Policia , Estudios Transversales , Emisiones de Vehículos , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and associated musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) are problematic in stone, sand, and gravel mining. Research is needed to explore relationships between job demands, work-related hazards and MSS. OBJECTIVE: An exploratory study was conducted in Indiana during 2019-2020 to examine associations between job demands, work-related hazards and MSS. METHODS: Through convenience sampling, cross-sectional survey data from 459 workers were collected and analyzed using logistic multiple and binary logistic regression methods. Outcome variables were MSS to the low back, neck/shoulder, and wrist/hand. Predictor variables and MSS measures are based on the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. RESULTS: Increased odds of low back MSS were related to dynamic loads (ORâ=â2.14), pushing/pulling heavy loads (ORâ=â1.56), torso bending or twisting (ORâ=â2.36), bent, stooped, or twisted posture (ORâ=â2.04), uncomfortable postures (ORâ=â2.07), repetition (ORâ=â1.67) and vibrating tools (ORâ=â1.81). Increased odds of neck/shoulder MSS were related to dynamic loads (ORâ=â1.83), static loads (ORâ=â1.24), heavy lifting (ORâ=â1.50), pushing/pulling heavy loads (ORâ=â1.68), bending or twisting of the neck (ORâ=â1.82), twisted neck posture (ORâ=â1.77) and uncomfortable postures (ORâ=â1.81). Increased odds of wrist/hand MSS were related to dynamic loads (ORâ=â2.06), static loads (ORâ=â1.45), bending or twisting of the wrists/hands (ORâ=â10.52), extended reaching (ORâ=â3.05), repetition (ORâ=â5.25), awkward postures (ORâ=â4.47), working above shoulder level (ORâ=â2.47), and vibrating tools (ORâ=â1.78). CONCLUSION: Hazards that increased the likelihood of MSS were identified. These hazards should be abated or controlled to prevent MSDs in stone, sand, and gravel mining. More applied research, including ergonomic assessments to further identify hazards that can be controlled or abated, is warranted.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas , Arena , Humanos , Carga de Trabajo , Estudios Transversales , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/epidemiología , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/etiología , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/prevención & control , PosturaRESUMEN
Background: Research has shown that long work hours and overtime are associated with health impairment, including stress, burnout, and overall health. However, this has not been thoroughly assessed among stone, sand, and gravel mine workers. As such, this study examined whether significant differences in stress, burnout, and overall health existed among workers that worked different hours each week. Methods: ANOVA analyses were completed for the outcome variables (stress, burnout, and health status). Each analysis included three categorical independent variables: age, sex, and work hours. Age and sex were control variables. BMI was added to the health status analysis as an additional control variable. Results: There were significant differences between work hour groups for all three outcomes. Post hoc analyses determined that workers working >60 h/week had more stress, more burnout, and lower health. Differences were not found between age or sex. There were no differences in health status for different BMI groups, but the interaction of BMI and work hours was significant. Conclusions: Working more than 60 h per week was problematic. Mine and safety administrators should enact programs to protect and promote worker health, particularly among those working long hours, especially if more than 60 h per week.
Asunto(s)
Agotamiento Profesional , Mineros , Agotamiento Profesional/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Estado de Salud , Humanos , Arena , Tolerancia al Trabajo ProgramadoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are problematic in many industries, including stone, sand, and gravel mining (SSGM). This research aimed to delineate MSD risk factors and to identify protective safety resources that reduce MSD within these operations. METHODS: A deductive content analysis of recorded transcripts from a focus group, which included professionals working in SSGM organizations, was completed. FINDINGS: Results suggested demographic and personal factors associated with MSD included age, lack of experience, low levels of physical fitness, and attitudes toward risks. Work factors and job demands included excessive lifting, performing additional job duties, production-focused operations, lack of resources, and work related to maintenance and equipment operation. Suggested safety resources included a focus on worker fitness, resource adequacy, pay and benefits, the SLAM (Stop, Look, Analyze, and Manage) process and positive safety culture. CONCLUSION: This qualitative research project utilized mine experts to identify demographic, personal, work, and job demand factors they perceive or know to be associated with MSD. Safety programs suggested by these same experts to reduce MSD were also presented. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: Occupational health and safety practitioners and mine administrators should focus on the identified factors in their work to prevent MSD within SSGM operations. Safety efforts need to include integrated programs that promote health and fitness as well. These efforts should be implemented along with recommended programs such as SLAM and the provision of appropriate safety resources to minimize risks. These efforts should promote the importance of safety and will help with bolstering a positive safety culture.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas , Enfermedades Profesionales , Salud Laboral , Promoción de la Salud , Humanos , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/etiología , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/prevención & control , Enfermedades Profesionales/etiología , Enfermedades Profesionales/prevención & control , Factores de Riesgo , ArenaRESUMEN
Stone, sand and gravel mining (SSGM) constitutes the vast majority of mining operations in the United States. Despite musculoskeletal disorders being one of the most common occupational health problems across several industries, limited research has examined the extent of reported musculoskeletal symptoms or disorders among actively employed SSGM workers. To address this knowledge gap, cross sectional data were collected from 459 SSGM workers in the Midwestern United States to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Sociodemographic and job-related factors were examined to identify possible risk factors in SSGM. Musculoskeletal symptoms of the low back (57%), neck (38%), shoulder (38%) and knee (39%) were highly prevalent among SSGM employees. The results, among other findings, showed that working more than 60 h a week increased the likelihood of musculoskeletal symptoms at the low back (OR: 4.7 95% CI: 1.9-11.5), neck (OR: 5.1, 95% CI: 2.2-11.8) and knee (OR: 4.5, 95% CI: 2.0-10.3). Working as a mechanic/maintenance worker increased the likelihood of low back (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-4.2) and knee (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.6) musculoskeletal symptoms. Intervention measures aimed at improving ergonomic hazard identification for various job tasks as well as administrative controls limiting hours worked may help reduce the burden of musculoskeletal problems in the SSGM industry.
Asunto(s)
Mineros , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas , Enfermedades Profesionales , Adulto , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Medio Oeste de Estados Unidos , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/complicaciones , Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas/etiología , Enfermedades Profesionales/complicaciones , Prevalencia , Factores de Riesgo , Arena , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Employee turnover has been linked to negative business performance outcomes, increased costs, and disruptions to operations. Research to explore predictors of turnover intention is important to the mining industry, including the stone, sand, and gravel mining (SSGM) industry. Safety climate has been linked to job satisfaction and reductions in turnover intention in other fields, but investigation within SSGM has virtually been non-existent, creating a knowledge gap. This research seeks to address this dearth of information. Cross-sectional data from 452 workers in the SSGM industry were analyzed to assess the influence of safety climate on turnover intention through job satisfaction. Mediation analyses showed that job satisfaction significantly mediated the relationship between safety climate and turnover intention. The implications of these novel findings are important for SSGM administrators. It suggests that bolstering safety programs and increasing safety climate perceptions will help increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover intention among workers in the SSGM industry.
Asunto(s)
Satisfacción en el Trabajo , Mineros , Salud Laboral , Reorganización del Personal , Estudios Transversales , Humanos , Intención , Cultura Organizacional , Arena , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Members of the genus Kocuria are commonly found in the environment and they are also commensals of the mammalian skin and oropharynx mucosa. Human infections, although rare, are increasingly being reported recently suggesting that this genus has mostly been overlooked or misidentified. Its transmission route however, is still not known. We report here the isolation and identification of a Kocuria marina isolate from the lung of a wild urban rat (Rattus rattus diardii) caught at a wet market. The isolate was susceptible to most of the commonly used antibiotics. The finding suggests a possibility that rats could be a vector for K. marina.