[Mortality among workers in metallurgical industry: literature review.] / Mortalidad en trabajadores en la industria metalúrgica: revisión bibliográfica.

BACKGROUND: The analysis of mortality offers an important indicator for assessing the state of workers' occupational health. Workers involved in the extraction, refining, alloying and manufacturing of metals are frequently exposed to occupational risks that can lead to their death. The objective of this work was to synthesize the scientific evidence about factors associated with mortality among workers in the metallurgical industry. METHODS: A bibliographic review was conducted using the PubMed database. Seventeen studies were included, where topics addressed specific problems that influence the mortality of workers in the metallurgical industry sector. Complete texts of the articles were reviewed. RESULTS: Findings show the highest probabilities of death due to malignant neoplasms (48%), diseases of the circulatory system (28%), work accidents (15%), suicide and violence (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the research carried out, there are gaps and limitations in the study of mortality in workers in the metallurgical industry, mainly related to the relationship of the cause of death with occupational risk factors.

OBJETIVO: El análisis de la mortalidad es un indicador que contribuye a evaluar el estado de la salud laboral de los trabajadores. Los trabajadores involucrados en la extracción, refinación, aleación y fabricación de metales están frecuentemente expuestos a riesgos laborales que pueden conducir a su muerte. El objetivo de este trabajo fue sintetizar la evidencia científica sobre mortalidad en trabajadores de la industria del metal. METODOS: Es una revisión bibliográfica de artículos científicos mediante la base de datos PubMed. Se incluyeron 17 estudios, donde los temas tratados abordaban problemas específicos que influyen en la mortalidad de los trabajadores del sector de la industria metalúrgica. Se revisaron los textos completos de los artículos. RESULTADOS: Los hallazgos del estudio mostraron mayores probabilidades de causa de muerte por neoplasias malignas (48%), enfermedades del sistema circulatorio (28%), accidentes laborales (15%), suicidio y violencia (9%). CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de las investigaciones realizadas, existen lagunas y limitaciones en el estudio de la mortalidad en los trabajadores de la industria metalúrgica, relacionadas fundamentalmente con la relación de la causa de muerte y los factores de riesgos laborales.

Computer vision syndrome in presbyopic digital device workers and progressive lens design.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) in presbyopic digital device workers using two ophthalmic progressive lens designs during the working day, and to analyse the association of CVS with sociodemographic, occupational, digital device exposure and refractive factors. METHODS: This time series, quasi-experimental design study included 69 presbyopic digital device workers (age range: 46-69 years; mean ± SD = 54.7 ± 5.0). All used desktop computers at their workplace. Progressive addition lenses (PALs) and occupational lenses were used for three months each. CVS was measured with the CVS-Q© questionnaire before intervention (baseline) and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after wearing the lenses. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the factors that were associated with an improved CVS-Q© score. RESULTS: 37.7% of the subjects were female and 78.3% were ametropes; 65.2% had advanced presbyopia. 56.2% used digital devices at work >6 h day-1 . The prevalence of CVS at baseline, after wearing PALs for three months and after three months of occupational lens wear was 68.1%, 33.3% and 18.8%, respectively. The mean CVS-Q© score was lower with occupational lenses than with PALs (p = 0.001). 40.6% of the digital device workers improved their CVS-Q© score ≥2 points with the occupational lenses. Ametropes were less likely than emmetropes to improve with occupational lenses (OR = 0.27, p = 0.05). 89.8% of the sample workers were satisfied or very satisfied with the occupational lenses and 71% were similarly satisfied with the PALs. 73.9% chose the occupational lenses as their first choice of lens for digital device use, compared with 17.4% for PALs. CONCLUSIONS: Computer vision syndrome is reduced in presbyopic desktop computer workers wearing occupational lenses compared with PALs, especially in emmetropes.

Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome and Its Relationship with Ergonomic and Individual Factors in Presbyopic VDT Workers Using Progressive Addition Lenses.

This cross-sectional study estimated computer vision syndrome (CVS) prevalence and analysed its relationship with video display terminal (VDT) exposure, as well as sociodemographic, refractive, environmental, and ergonomic characteristics in 109 presbyopic VDT workers wearing progressive addition lenses (PALs). Usual spectacles were measured with a lens analyser, and subjective refraction was performed by an optometrist. CVS was measured with the CVS-Q©. VDT exposure was collected. Ergonomic evaluations were conducted in a normal working posture looking at the screen. Air temperature and relative humidity were measured (thermohygrometer), and illumination was measured (luxmeter). Descriptive analysis and differences in CVS prevalence, as a function of the explanatory variables, were performed (chi-square test). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with CVS (OR and 95% CI). The mean age was 54.0 ± 4.8 years, and 43.1% were women. The mean hours of VDT use at work was 6.5 ± 1.3 hours/day. The prevalence of CVS was 74.3%. CVS was significantly associated with women (OR 3.40; 95% CI, 1.12-10.33), non-neutral neck posture (OR 3.27; 95% CI, 1.03-10.41) and altered workplace lighting (OR 3.64; 95% CI, 1.22-10.81). Providing training and information to workers regarding the importance of adequate lighting and ergonomic postures during VDT use is advised to decrease CVS and increase workplace quality of life.