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At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Still dying from second-hand smoke at work: a brief review of the evidence for smoke-free workplaces in New Zealand.

AIM: To briefly review the evidence on the hazard from, and control of, second-hand smoke (SHS) in New Zealand workplace settings. METHODS: Medline searches and searches of New Zealand health databases for unpublished reports. RESULTS: The New Zealand evidence suggests that over 30% of workers continue to be exposed to SHS in workplace settings. The best available estimate is that SHS exposure in these settings causes around 100 avoidable deaths per year from lung cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke collectively. National survey data and studies in hospitality industry settings (measuring nicotine in hair and cotinine in saliva), strongly indicate that smoke-free workplaces result in reduced exposure to SHS. The data indicate that there is widespread concern regarding SHS and clear support for smoke-free workplaces. CONCLUSIONS: Available New Zealand data are fully consistent with the extensive international data indicating that smoke-free policies in workplaces can improve health protection for workers. New legislation is likely to enhance the control of SHS in New Zealand, but additional actions such as a mass media campaign on SHS are also desirable.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Workplace violence and corporate policy for health care settings.

Incidents of workplace violence have been of significant concern to health care employers and the public at large. Many employers now find themselves confronted with sentinel events in the workplace, such as assault; property damage; racially, ethnically, or religiously motivated violence; sexual assault; employee suicide; or homicide. Regardless of a health care agency's size or mission, when employees are unexpectedly confronted with workplace violence, they are typically overwhelmed with shock and multiple questions surrounding how the event could have occurred in the safety of the workplace. It is difficult to imagine returning to work only minutes after hearing such news and, yet, in this modern era of corporate health care, this is what usually happens. Awareness of the dynamics and issues related to workplace violence can guide policy development and related interventions to promote safety, stability, and provide a platform for adapting to the devastation of such a disturbing event.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1991

[Hearing damage caused by workplace noise among patients given audiometry tests in general practice].

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to identify the prevalence of hearing damage caused by workplace noise among patients presenting hearing loss and among those given audiometry tests at primary health care centres in the Management Area no. 5 Costa del Ponent. DESIGN: The study is descriptive and synchronic. LOCATION: The study was carried out at primary health care level, at the audiometry test services in the Management Area no. 5 Costa del Ponent. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: 2,366 audiometry tests were carried out over a period of three months. A study was performed of 1,152 patients presenting the conditions necessary for inclusion in the study: age over 16 years and presenting a hearing loss greater than 30 dB over any frequencies. All the participants were given a questionnaire investigating the risk factors involved in their hearing difficulty, in particular those relating to the workplace. FIGURES AND PRINCIPAL RESULTS: 269 (23.4%) of those in the study present hearing curves compatible with hearing loss due to noise. 501 participants declared themselves to be subject to work' place noise, and of those 247 (49.3%) present hearing curves compatible with hearing loss due to noise. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggests that the health system should pay attention to workplace pathology and points out the need to develop action programmes which may permit an adequate response to the problem: specific systems should be established for detection of and information about workplace diseases, together with sufficient support at different levels of attendance to make such systems effective; training programmes should be set up for health workers in the area of workplace health for health workers.

Audiometry↗

PubMed1978

[Passive smoking at the workplace--injurious to health? (author's transl)].

The question as to whether passive smoking at the workplace is injurious to health is dealt with. With the aid of the bibliographic standard literature on industrial, social and preventive medicine, all experimental investigations of this subject and published since 1970 were considered. The important results and findings are presented in tabulated surveys broken down by the substances contained in smoke. The present results of investigation are discussed with respect to a practical workplace model whose air-hygienic conditions are determined by legal prescriptions for workplaces. The measured concentrations of the particulate mass and of the most important individual constituents of smoke, carbon monoxide, nicotine and aldehyde make it highly unlikely that passive smoking at the workplace causes injury to health if the prevailing regulations governing the workplace are complied with. Particular attention has to be given to the occupational problems existing in night bars, restaurants and discothecs.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Workplace accidents in health-related personnel in the province of León].

BACKGROUND: To get an initial knowledge about the morbidity by workplace accidents in health related personal (hospital and primary attention) in Leon province. METHODS: Retrospective study relative to workplace accidents with time off work result, in health related personal, in Leon province, for 1990. RESULTS: We have observed a rate of workplace accidents in health related personal (31, 4/1000) smaller than general workers in Leon province (63, 3/1000), Castilla y Leon community (44, 7/1000) and Spain (59, 8/1000). The rate in female population (37, 4/1000) was higher than the rate in men (21,7/1000). By jobs, the attendant an maintenance personal, had more accidents (rate of 118/1000). The most frequent mechanism was "fall" (38.2%). The most frequent lesion was "swerve" (38.2%). About the part of the body, the most injured were superior members (30.9%) and inferior members (30%), 93.7% of workplace accidents were qualified as slight accidents. CONCLUSIONS: The health related personal have a lower rate of accidents than general workers. The risk of workplace accident is directly related with job and place of work. The slight pathological result is most frequent.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed1994

[Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation workplace smoking control--a questionnaire survey of male NTT workers in the Tokyo area].

A survey of NTT workers regarding smoking control in their workplaces was conducted utilizing a questionnaire administered at the time of routine employee medical examinations. The questionnaire was self-administered and anonymous. Subjects were 1918 men, almost all who were involved in office work in the Tokyo area. Responses were obtained from 1872 (20's and 30's year of age 13.2%, 40's 68.1%, 50's 18.8%) after excluding 106 for incomplete responses. The results were as follows; 1. Of the subjects, 43.4% reported that smoking control was already in effect in their workplace. As for the method of smoking control, smoking restricted to specified places was the most common (31.1%). 2. Of smokers, only 9.8% approved of smoking control in their workplaces, 9.8% were opposed, and 80.1% of smokers reluctantly complied to smoking control in their workplaces. 3. About 60% of subjects, without distinguishing smoking habit, supported smoking restricted to specified areas as the method of smoking control. 4. Over 95% of smokers replied that they can successfully refrain from smoking in prohibited places. 5. For locations where they smoke, smokers listed employee lounge (91.5%), lavatory (83.7%), personal room (75.5%), at own desk (75.3%), reception room (72.7%) and conference room (64.3%). More than half of non-smokers replied that they disapprove of smoking in these places. These results suggest that smoking restricted to only specified places is most appropriate as the method of smoking control in the workplace. However differences exist between smokers and non-smokers as to appropriate designation of smoking areas and non-smoking areas.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Longitudinal study of negative workplace events among employed rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls.

OBJECTIVE: Most studies of employment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have focused on job loss. Less is known about workplace events in patients who continued to work. The goal of this longitudinal study was to compare the incidence of negative workplace events between employed patients with RA and healthy controls. METHODS: Participants completed the work domains of the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview Life Events Scale and the Inventory of Small Life Events Scale measuring major and minor workplace events. Events were compared between groups according to psychosocial, clinical, and job characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients with RA and 122 healthy controls were enrolled with similar demographic and occupational characteristics. There were no differences in percentages of patients and controls who had at least 1 major (35% versus 31%) or 1 minor (48% versus 55%) negative event. For patients with RA, negative events were associated with having more pain, more fatigue, more social stress, and less job autonomy (P < or = 0.05). For controls, in addition to social stress, negative events were associated with job characteristics, functional status, and social support (P < or = 0.05). CONCLUSION: A comparable number of patients with RA and controls had negative workplace events. In addition to the well-known contributions of job autonomy and pain, social stress and fatigue also were found to be important variables related to negative events in patients with RA. These potentially modifiable variables have not been fully evaluated with respect to long-term employment in these patients.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed2005

Nurses, smoking, and the workplace.

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes and experiences of nurses regarding smoking and smoking cessation in the workplace. Eight focus groups were conducted with current or former smokers (n = 60). A questionnaire provided information about smoking history. Content analysis revealed six themes: taking breaks, stress and smoking, social support from colleagues, hiding smoking from patients and their families, impact of workplace smoking restrictions, and challenges to smoking cessation in the workplace. Nurses who smoke were perceived as taking more breaks and spending less time with patients than those who do not smoke. These findings document the impact of smoking among nurses in the workplace. Strategies are needed to support smoking cessation efforts of nurses as an important occupational health issue.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Smoking regulations at the workplace and smoking behavior: a study from southern Germany.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between smoking regulations at the workplace and smoking habits was assessed among public-sector employees in southern Germany. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 931 employees who were working under three different, long-existing types of smoking regulations: (a) no restrictions at all, (b) a requirement that employees make their own agreement, and (c) a general prohibition of smoking. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence was lower among employees at workplaces with smoking restrictions (24.8 and 29.2% for workplaces with the agreement policy and the general smoking ban, respectively) than among other employees (31.4%), but these differences were not statistically significant. Large and highly statistically significant (P < 0.001) differences were found, however, in the average numbers of cigarettes smoked per day by active smokers. The mean number ranged from 20.5 in smokers without worksite restrictions to 14.1 and 13.2 in smokers working under the agreement policy and the general smoking ban, respectively. These differences persisted after multivariable control for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Despite inherent limitations of the cross-sectional study design, our results suggest that regulation of smoking at the workplace may help active smokers substantially reduce their daily cigarette consumption. Such regulations might therefore be very effective public health measures.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Need to smoke in the context of workplace smoking bans.

BACKGROUND: Workplace smoking bans are now widespread in a number of countries and are generally well accepted by smokers. Little is known about smokers who do not cope well with smoking bans. METHOD: A survey of 669 smokers was conducted 2 years after the introduction of a workplace smoking ban. Variables associated with four different levels of need to smoke were examined. RESULTS: Nine percent reported experiencing a strong need to smoke at work, 26% a mild need, 45% occasional need, and 19% reported no need. Stronger need was related to (P < 0.01): an index of addiction (higher daily smoking rates and fewer minutes to first cigarette of the day), violating smoking bans, going outside to smoke more, reducing consumption less since the bans, being less approving of the ban, and seeing it as inconvenient, seeing smoking as having less disadvantages (cons) and more advantages (pros), being less ready to quit, lower in confidence of quitting, and having less intention to quit. All of the above effects persisted after controlling for addiction, and the index of addiction only had independent relationships with going outside to smoke, reducing consumption less since the bans, higher pros of smoking and lower self-efficacy (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There is a small subgroup of smokers who have not adapted well to workplace smoking bans, as well as the much larger subset who report less difficulty. While nicotine addiction plays a role in perceived need to smoke, a number of potentially changeable cognitive characteristics were independently related to need. Workplace smoking policies and programs could take such characteristics into account in addressing the problems these smokers face.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Evaluation of a workplace brief intervention for excessive alcohol consumption: the workscreen project.

BACKGROUND: The workplace provides a useful setting for early identification and intervention with individuals who have unhealthy lifestyles. The objective was to evaluate the effects of a workplace-based lifestyle intervention (Workscreen) to reduce excessive drinking. METHOD: There were eight Australia Post networks randomly allocated to experimental and control conditions, comprising 67 worksites and 1206 employees. The experimental condition involved a broad spectrum lifestyle campaign, incorporating support from management, employee awareness of health, and brief interventions for high-risk behaviors, including excessive alcohol use. Focus groups identified relevant cultural factors. Changes in workplace culture and employee behavior were assessed 10 months after baseline. Males and females were analyzed separately. RESULTS: Over half of APOST employees participated at each screening point. In the experimental condition 61% of employees overall and 58% of those identified as excessive drinkers in Phase 1 responded to the lifestyle campaign by attending health assessments. Analyses focusing on the organization as a whole did not reveal significant reductions in excessive alcohol consumption among men or women. However, a significant reduction in number of drinks was observed in the experimental condition among women for whom completion of baseline and follow-up could be confirmed (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that a workplace-based lifestyle campaign can assist self-selected employees in reducing their alcohol consumption. There was a moderately high level of participation among those identified as drinking excessively, which supports our approach of embedding a low-intensity alcohol program within the context of a broader health promotion campaign.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Workplace managed care: collaboration for substance abuse prevention.

This article describes the history, purpose, and overall methodology of the Workplace Managed Care (WMC) study sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). This study was initiated to discern best practices for workplaces and managed care organizations integrating their substance abuse prevention and early intervention programs, strategies, and activities for employees and their families. CSAP funded nine WMC grants to study their retrospective and prospective data. Results of the WMC study suggested the addition of substance abuse prevention material to existing workplace health promotion offerings that resulted in improved substance abuse attitudes without jeopardizing existing health promotion programs. Stress management programming was successful at improving substance abuse attitudes indirectly. This study provides a platform for multidisciplinary research in workplace and managed care settings.

Health Promotion↗

PubMed2006

Economic activities and occupations at high risk for workplace bullying: results from a large-scale cross-sectional survey in the general working population in France.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of workplace bullying in the general working population in France, and explore this prevalence across economic activities and occupations. METHODS: The studied population consisted of a sample of 3,132 men and 4,562 women of the general working population in the southeast of France. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire included the 45-item inventory of workplace bullying elaborated by Leymann, frequency and duration of bullying, and self-report of being exposed to bullying. Cases of bullying were defined using both Leymann's definition (exposure to at least one form of bullying within the previous 12 months, weekly or more, and for at least 6 months) and self-report of bullying. RESULTS: The 12 month prevalence of workplace bullying was 9% for men and 11% for women. The point prevalence was 7.5% on the day of the survey for men and women, and varied from 3 to 18% according to economic activities and occupations among men. High-risk groups for bullying included activities of services for men, and various categories of associate professionals, and of low levels of white and blue collar workers for men, and government associate professionals for women. CONCLUSIONS: This first study on workplace bullying in France showed that around 10% of the population studied, and more women than men, had been exposed to bullying within the last 12 months. This study also found that some economic activities and occupations would be at elevated risk for bullying, pointing out the need to better understand and prevent bullying in these high-risk groups.

Data Collection↗

PubMed1998

Variation in the ratio of respirable particulates over inhalable particulates by type of dust workplace.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to clarify the quantitative relationship between respirable particulates and inhalable particulates in various dust workplaces. METHODS: Both respirable particulate and inhalable particulate concentrations were measured in 1644 dust workplaces by means of elutriation, and the ratio of respirable particulate mass over that of inhalable particulate (R/I ratio) was calculated for each workplace. RESULTS: Statistical analyses showed that the R/I ratio varied substantially, depending on the type of dust work. The ratio was highest in welding workplaces (mean +/- SD: 53 +/- 19%) and lowest in foundries (23 +/- 16%); the former value suggests that respirable particulate exposure may be underestimated in substantial parts of welding work when only the occupational exposure limit for inhalable particulates is taken for compliance testing. CONCLUSIONS: Simple compliance with the limit for inhalable particulates is not sufficient, and the limit for respirable particulates should also be simultaneously cleared.

Dust↗

PubMed2005

Workplace organizational policies and practices in Ontario educational facilities.

BACKGROUND: Workplace organizational policies and practices (OPPs) play a pivotal role in managing injury and disability. This study identifies the workplace OPPs in Ontario's education sector. METHODS: OPPs were examined using a cross-sectional survey with 157 participants. The relationship among the type of school, workplace OPPs and injury and disability outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: Mean subscale scores (potential range 1-5) varied from 3.1 (SD, 1.0) to 4.2 (SD, 0.6) for all schools. Private schools scored lowest on measures of disability prevention, disability management, and corporate culture. Ergonomic practices and return to work initiatives were achieved less frequently than other OPPs for all schools. Higher scores on safety diligence were associated with lower injury and disability incidence (proportion of variance explained ranged from 10 to 23%). Higher scores on people-oriented culture were associated with lower disability incidence and duration (proportion of variance explained ranged from 7 to 20%). CONCLUSIONS: Public schools engage more often in workplace OPPs than private schools. Improved achievements on safety diligence and people-oriented culture practices predict reduced injury and disability outcomes.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed1993

A software for the description of workplaces.

Three softwares have been designed, the first for job histories, the second for job-exposure matrices, and this, the third and latest, for workplace descriptions. The first two softwares were presented in earlier articles while the current article presents the software for workplace descriptions. Workplace description has been based on the idea that a job is best described by listing its constituent tasks so as to determine associated risks better. The three softwares, the job history software (JHS), the job-exposure software (JES) and the workplace description software (WDS) are interfaced and constitute an integrated professional risk surveillance (PRS) system.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2007

Corporate financial decision-makers' perceptions of workplace safety.

This study, through a random national survey, explored how senior financial executives or managers (those who determined high-level budget, resource allocation, and corporate priorities) of medium-to-large companies perceive important workplace safety issues. The three top-rated safety priorities in resource allocation reported by the participants (overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily reaction) were consistent with the top three perceived causes of workers' compensation losses. The greatest single safety concerns reported were overexertion, repetitive motion, highway accidents, falling on the same level and bodily reaction. A majority of participants believed that the indirect costs associated with workplace injury were higher than the direct costs. Our participants believed that money spent improving workplace safety would have significant returns. The perceived top benefits of an effective workplace safety program were increased productivity, reduced cost, retention, and increased satisfaction among employees. The perceived most important safety modification was safety training. The top reasons senior financial executives gave for believing their safety programs were better than those at other companies were that their companies paid more attention to and emphasized safety, they had better classes and training focused on safety, and they had teams/individuals focused specifically on safety.

Accident Prevention↗

PubMed2004

Social climate and workplace drinking among women in a male-dominated occupation.

OBJECTIVE: This study applies Gilligan's relational theory to an exploration of the influence of the social climate at work on workplace drinking in a male-dominated occupation. METHODS: Data used in this analysis were originally collected from a random sample of employees at a heavy machinery assembly plant (N = 984, women = 121). Because reciprocal relationships between workplace drinking and social climate were hypothesized, the parameters were estimated using simultaneous equation modeling. RESULTS: Women who reported a negative social climate at work also had a greater propensity to drink at work. There was no similar relationships between social climate and workplace drinking for men. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace drinking prevention programs in male-dominated occupations may need to address the social climate at work, particularly for women.

Adult↗