Effect of a worksite wellness programme on the physical work capacity profile of workers in an electricity supply company

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a worksite wellness programme on the physical work capacity profile of workers. Male workers who did not meet the minimum physical ability task requirement based on an assessment of ten essential physical abilities for their job were selected for this study. Twelve workers in the experimental group participated in a 24-month worksite wellness programme and 62 were in the control group. Pre- and post-tests determined if their physical work capacity profile met the minimum physical ability task requirements of their job. There was no practically significant (d = 0.8) difference between the two groups before the start of the programme after controlling for age; gender; motivation to change and initial physical work capacity profile differences. The results showed that workers whose physical work capacity profile did not meet the minimum physical ability task requirement of their job; were practically significantly (.......... = 4.25) more likely to improve their physical work capacity profile through the 24-month worksite wellness programme to a level were they met the minimum physical ability task requirement of the job; than those receiving no intervention. The study found that the cases were poorly reported. The follow up system at the local level between local government officials and the farmers was not efficient for the prevention of agrichemical poisonings. The contributory factors were insufficient information and training; the incorrect use of personal protective equipment; the lack of safety of the agri-chemical store; and the absence of a monitoring system on the majority of farms. This study demonstrated that the notification of agricultural chemical poisoning was applied in a fragmentary manner between the different governmental levels and departments

Metabolic rate and its relationship with ascites in chicken genotypes.

1. Male chickens of 7 genetic lines, consisting of two pure sire and two pure dam populations, a commercial broiler cross and two slow-growing chicken lines (Label Rouge, LR and Mechelse Koekoek, MK) were reared from 1 to 37 d of age. The chickens received a two-phase dietary regime and were subjected to low ambient temperature. 2. The experimental aim was to investigate relationships between susceptibility to ascites and heat production. 3. Body weight gain (BWG), food intake and food conversion ratio (FCR) were determined. Ascites mortality, arterial pressure index (API=right ventricular/total ventricular weight ratio), haematocrit values, proportional lung weight (lung weight/body weight x 100), plasma thyroid hormones (thyroxine, T4 and triiodothyronine, T3) and arterial blood gas pressures (pCO2 and pO2) were determined. The heat production per kg metabolic body weight (H/W0.75) and total heat production (H) were calculated for the period 16 to 33 d using an energy balance study according to the comparative slaughter method. 4. The two breeder sire lines had high BWG and low FCR and high but different incidences of ascites compared with the slow-growing ascites resistant LR and MK lines with notable high FCR. The broiler cross and slower-growing breeder dam lines had a similar and relatively lower incidence of ascites mortality. 5. The fast-growing chickens had low H/W0.75 values compared with slow-growing lines. 6. These fast-growing breeder sires had lower plasma thyroid hormone, reduced proportional lung weights, low arterial pO2 and high arterial pCO2 pressures compared with the slower-growing lines. 7. In conclusion, ascites incidence was associated with lower heat production per metabolic body weight and therefore a lower oxygen requirement per metabolic weight.