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PubMed2003

[Understanding of workplace health promotion by occupational medicine physicians and perception of their roles in the implementation of relevant programs].

BACKGROUND: The author addresses the issue of workplace health promotion (WHP) concept and its understanding by occupational medicine physicians as well as the perception of their roles in the implementation of WHP programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data presented result from a part of a comprehensive survey carried out by the National Center for Workplace Health Promotion in 2002. The study covers a random sample of 325 physicians specialized in occupational or industrial medicine who attended at least 400 patients. RESULTS: The survey reveals that about 50% of respondents neither understand the concept of WHP nor the essential rules governing its organization. They perceive WHP as a novel label applied to the traditional prophylactics and health education. They do not comprehend that it is a new orientation of the system and a setting-based approach to initiatives in this area. Although, near 90% of them believe that the occupational medicine profession should be involved in health promotion, yet when directly asked about personal involvement only every tenth respondent was ready to play a leading role in a WHP program, whereas 63% of physicians wanted to limit the program to healthy life style education among workers and 54% wanted to only expand health checkups. CONCLUSIONS: The observed attitudes towards WHP in the profession and perception of their roles in its programs implementation clearly show an urgent need to provide an ongoing training of physicians in workplace health promotion and to convince them that WHP is a new area of expertise to be developed and a vital determinant of health promotion at workplaces in Poland.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2004

Workplace violence against K-12 teachers: implementation of preventive programs.

Decreasing both workplace and school violence needs to be a priority of individuals, families, communities, and workplaces for the effort to be successful. Key factors associated with school and workplace violence such as parental influences, school staff and police involvement, peer pressure, student influences such as drug and alcohol abuse and a preoccupation with weapons, and the mass media have all been identified as possible factors associated with violence against teachers. In addition, individual student characteristics such as gender, socioeconomic status, and a history of prior violence may play a role. However, none of these factors can be identified or singled out as the reason for violence. Violence against teachers occurs as a result of a combination of these factors. Understanding how these factors interact should be a goal of every community and school. Occupational health nurses have the unique opportunity to partner with communities, school nurses, and the school system to develop effective violence prevention programs. Working in schools is an area of expansion for occupational health nurses. They have the expertise to perform worksite assessments and to identify key areas of weakness throughout the facility. Their expertise in reviewing and analyzing workplace injury data and developing cost effectiveness analysis for proposed interventions is unique. Occupational health nurses also have the skills to network with school officials and other key stakeholders to develop interventions to impact the substantial implications of violence in the schools.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Clean indoor air policies in Wisconsin workplaces.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the nature and extent of workplace environmental tobacco smoke exposures in Wisconsin. METHODS: Descriptive data and confidence intervals from the Current Population Survey tobacco supplements of 1995-1996 and 1998-1999 are presented. RESULTS: The percent of indoor workers working under a smoke-free policy increased slightly, from 62% in 1995-1996 to 65% in 1998-1999. Respondents with a college degree were more likely to work under a smoke-free policy than those with a high school education or less. Among respondents with a work policy in 1998-1999, a complete ban on smoking reduced any workplace exposure in the past 2 weeks (4%) compared to a partial ban (26%) or an unrestricted policy (30%). CONCLUSION: Wisconsin has seen a small increase in workplace policies that ban smoking in the workplace. These policies are more likely to protect workers of higher socioeconomic status and may increase health disparities in tobacco-related diseases in the future.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Sources of fine particulate matter in personal exposures and residential indoor, residential outdoor and workplace microenvironments in the Helsinki phase of the EXPOLIS study.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the source contributions to the mass concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5) in personal exposures and in residential indoor, residential outdoor, and workplace indoor microenvironments of the nonsmoking adult population unexposed to environmental tobacco smoke in Helsinki, Finland. METHODS: The elemental composition of 48-hour personal exposure and residential indoor, residential outdoor, and workplace indoor PM2.5 was analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for 76 participants not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and 102 participating residences with no smoking in Helsinki as a part of the EXPOLIS study. Subsequently, a principal component analysis was used to identify the emission sources of PM2.5-bound elements and black smoke in each microenvironment, and this information was used to identify the corresponding sources in personal exposures. Finally, source reconstruction was done to determine the relative contributions of each source type to the total PM2.5 mass concentrations. RESULTS: Inorganic secondary particles, primary combustion, and soil were the dominant source types for the PM2.5 mass concentration in all the microenvironments and personal exposures. The ratio of the residential indoor-to-outdoor PM2.5 concentration was close to unity, but the corresponding elemental ratios and source contributions varied. Resuspension of soil dust tracked indoors was a much larger contributor to residential and workplace indoor PM2.5 than soil dust to residential outdoor PM2.5. Source contributions to personal PM2.5 exposures were best approximated by data from residential and workplace indoor microenvironments. CONCLUSIONS: Population exposure assessment of PM2.5, based on outdoor fixed-site monitoring, overestimates exposures to outdoor sources like traffic and long-range transport and does not account for the contribution of significant indoor sources.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Spirituality in the Catholic workplace. Does it differ from the now-fashionable versions found in other organizations?

"Spirituality in the workplace" has become something of a fad in corporate America as companies seek to find a balance between their employees' personal beliefs and the bottom line. Does this newfound spirituality-meets-margin differ from the spirituality traditionally observed in faith-based organizations? Often secular organizations, in an attempt to be as non-offensive and inclusive as possible, adopt an all-or-nothing approach to workplace spirituality. This can translate into a celebration of every religious belief system or a "New Age" appeal to universal human values. Spirituality in a Catholic health care workplace differs, however. It is quite specific in that it focuses on the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. It is precisely this healing ministry that nurtures the spirituality found in Catholic health care organizations and differentiates it from its secular counterparts. Although nurturing spirituality in the Catholic health care workplace can be seen as the job of each person involved, from sponsor to caregiver, chaplains serve an integral role. Their unique perspective and training can be crucial to successfully fostering an organizational culture based on the values that Jesus portrayed in the Gospels.

Catholicism↗

PubMed2006

Prevalence of workplace violence against nurses in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and nature of workplace violence against nurses, and how nurses deal with such aggression; and to identify the risk factors related to violence in the hospital environment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire study. SETTING: University teaching hospital, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: All nursing staff in the hospital, except nurses who were unable to read Chinese or who did not have patient contact (eg those worked in administrative positions), were invited to complete a questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data of the respondents, incidence of and risk factors contributing to workplace violence. RESULTS: A total of 420 nurses returned the completed questionnaire (response rate, 25%). Three hundred and twenty (76%; 95% confidence interval, 72-80%) nurses reported abuse of any kind--verbal abuse, 73%; bullying, 45%; physical abuse, 18%; and sexual harassment, 12%. Most (82%) nurses who experienced verbal abuse tended to confide in friends, family members, or colleagues. Some (42%) ignored the incident. Risk factors for workplace violence included: working in male wards and in certain specialties such as the Accident and Emergency Department, Community Nursing Service, and the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department. CONCLUSION: Workplace violence against nurses is a significant problem in Hong Kong. Further large-scale studies should be conducted to more closely examine the problem.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2006

User needs evaluation of workplace accommodations.

This study examined the multi-faceted issues surrounding workplace accommodation for workers with disabilities. A user needs survey of 510 disabled individuals examined the types of technology and accommodations needed to perform work and employment-related activities. Workers with disabilities used a variety of workplace accommodations to overcome difficulties with functional limitations. Some differences existed in the types of accommodations used by older and younger workers who had the same functional limitation. Workers of all ages were not likely to report mental limitations, and those who did were not likely to utilize workplace accommodations, with the exception of some memory strategies. For those with hearing loss, younger workers used sign language more frequently, while pre-retirement and retirement age workers used more hearing aids. Working age adults with vision impairments used electronic documents, Braille, and CCTVs more than pre-retirement or retirement age workers. Regardless of age, workers reporting functional limitations often received no workplace accommodations.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Perceived workplace mistreatment in higher education: characteristics and consequences.

1. Perceived workplace mistreatment has been defined and documented using a grievance records review at a major university. Criteria and a framework are presented for reporting perceived workplace mistreatment and analyzing its characteristics and consequences. 2. Perceived workplace mistreatment has negative consequences for the perpetrators and recipients of mistreatment as well as for the institutions where it occurs. These include anxiety reactions, physical illnesses, lost time from work, lower morale, and reduced productivity. 3. Perceived workplace mistreatment should be acknowledged in university policies as part of efforts to prevent its occurrence. Addressing this phenomenon directly will improve work experiences and better promote the university's norms of collegiality and civility.

Burnout, Professional↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Canadian approaches to the promotion of health in small workplaces.

The promotion of health in small workplaces is particularly challenging. Research was conducted to identify the types of agencies offering prevention and promotion services to small workplaces, and to describe the activities and strategies used to engage this "hard-to-reach" population. This paper reports on a survey of 58 agencies located across Canada. Agencies were mostly of recent origin, many having arisen in response to legislative and other government initiatives, and of two essential types: those that used the workplace as a site for addressing general lifestyle health behaviours, and those addressing the occupational determinants of health. Their location, staffing and program focus reflected their orientation. Factors believed by respondents to influence program effectiveness are summarized. The paper notes the top-down origins of many prevention/promotion efforts, their inherent management bias, and the differing perspectives that underlie the lifestyle and occupational approaches to workplace health. A call for integration of the two approaches is made.

Canada↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Workplace policy on hazards to reproductive health.

At present, workplace policies regarding reproductive hazards are not regulated directly, and inappropriate policies are occasionally corrected by legal actions or union pressures on the employers. Further, information on reproductive hazards is incomplete; however, employees have a legal right to know available information about hazards, including reproductive hazards, that they face in the workplace. Occupational health personnel play a major role in communicating information about reproductive hazards in the workplace and in implementing company policy and complying with legislation. Regulatory and case law likely will continue to evolve as many issues related to safety from reproductive hazards in the workplace have not yet been resolved.

Ethics, Medical↗

PubMed1993

Overview on drug and alcohol testing in the workplace.

A flashpoint in the debate over workplace responses to alcohol and drug use by members of the workforce centres on the chemical testing of current employees and job applicants for alcohol and drug use. Drug testing may be the most contentious issue faced by enterprises struggling to develop fair and effective programmes to deal with the consequences of substance use in the workplace. The present paper examines scientific evidence on the nature and extent of alcohol and drug use by members of the workforce, evidence linking alcohol and drug use to workplace problems, workplace strategies for managing alcohol- and drug-related difficulties, and arguments for and against drug and alcohol testing. To date, the evidence supportive of alcohol and drug testing is inconclusive. Testing programmes may be useful in identifying drug users in the workforce. Their deterrent value is uncertain, however, and they are not efficient tools for linking drug users to assistance programmes. Enterprises that are contemplating establishing testing programmes should consider: (a) whether substance use is a problem in their setting; (b) whether testing will respond to the problem; (c) the costs and benefits of testing; and (d) any ethical and legal questions raised by the programmes.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

PubMed1995

ETS exposure in the workplace. Perceptions and reactions by employees in 114 work sites. Working Well Research Group [corrected].

Employees are often exposed to and bothered by environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the workplace; however, little is known about correlates of workers' perceptions of their exposure. In this study, 20,801 employees in 114 work sites in the United States were surveyed; variables related to perceptions of exposure and being bothered by ETS were entered into regression models. Many of the workplaces had total or partial restrictions on smoking in the workplace; however, over half of the respondents (52.4%) reported they were exposed to ETS at work. Smoking policy, smoking status, age, gender, living with a smoker, and occupation contributed to models for perceived exposure and being bothered by tobacco smoke. Work site smoking restrictions seem to have an impact on employee attitudes concerning exposure to ETS. About 35% of employees were bothered regularly by smokiness at their workplaces, which made their working conditions both uncomfortable and exposed them to an unsafe working environment.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[The influence of job characteristics and workplace subculture on individuals' drinking behavior--an exploratory pilot study].

The purpose of this study was to explore how individuals' drinking behavior was associated with their jobs in terms of the amount consumed and its consequences. The researchers attempted to analyze the characteristics of job and workplace from structural, psychological, and cultural perspectives. The structural dimension referred to years serving in a company, years serving in a department, work position, work characteristics, and shift. The psychological dimension was addressed on perceived stress and work hazards. The cultural dimension of one's job consisted of formal and informal norms regarding one's drinking within the workplace. The result showed the occurrence of drinking-related problems was significantly associated with workplace subculture among the non-aboriginal Chinese males. However, none of the three perspectives as job characteristics was significantly associated with drinking amount. The findings imply that the workplace subculture plays a determinant role in affecting individual's drinking behavior, moreover, it could result in one's problem drinking.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Task Force on Workplace Violence: Part I. The assessment.

Prevention is key in dealing with workplace violence. Assessment, open communication within the workplace, well-designed policies, and adequate staff training form the framework for an effective violence reduction plan. Nurses offer invaluable resources to each other, their patients. and their workplace. Through effective planning and problem-solving, we can collaborate with other disciplines to enhance the future of health care and provide for a safer workplace. Just as we are advocates for safe and quality health care for our patients, we must also be champions for creating a safe work environment for ourselves.

Colorado↗

PubMed2000

Workplace toxic exposures involving adolescents aged 14 to 19 years: one poison center's experience.

BACKGROUND: While many previous reports describe injuries to adolescents in the workplace, few focus on toxic substance exposures among such injuries. Yet low-skill, entry-level jobs pose a particular hazard of toxic exposure owing to the frequent use of cleaning agents, solvents, and/or other chemicals in carrying out assigned tasks. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the types and severity of adolescent occupational toxic exposures. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of calls to a single regional poison control center (PCC). SETTING: Massachusetts PCC poisoning consultations between 1991 and 1996. SUBJECTS: Children aged 19 years or younger reporting toxic exposures occurring in the workplace. RESULTS: Of 7024 occupational toxic exposures recorded by the PCC in the 6 years of study, 269 incidents (3.8%) involved adolescents aged 14 to 19 years (median age, 18 years; 124 aged 14-17 years and 145 aged 18-19 years; 65% were male). The most frequently involved agents were cleaning compounds (27.8%); paints, solvents, and glues (9.0%); caustics (8.7%); hydrocarbons (8.7%); and bleaches (7.3%). Of 88 cases (32.7%) in which a worksite was identified, food services (30.7%), automotive services (14.8%), and general retail stores (12.5%) were the most common locations. One hundred fifty-six patients (58.0%) were triaged to an emergency department; 7 were hospitalized. Forty-three subjects (16.0%), 18 who were between the ages of 14 and 17 years and 25 who were aged 18 or 19 years, were judged to have moderate to severe injuries. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the usefulness of PCC surveillance as a source of information about adolescent toxic exposures occurring in the workplace. The occupational toxic exposures reported here most commonly involved cleaning agents, solvents, paints, caustics, and bleach used in those entry-level jobs most frequently filled by adolescents. We conclude that occupational toxic exposures are an underrecognized adolescent injury, and that PCC experience can be used to fill a gap in the surveillance of such workplace-associated events.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Improvement in the occupational health program in a Finnish construction company by means of systematic workplace investigation of job load and hazard analysis.

The aim of the present study was to improve an occupational health program by means of systematic workplace investigations. The 8-month study was done at three building sites of one construction firm. The method for workplace investigations was a simple job hazard analysis of chemical hazards, physical hazards, physical work load, mental stress, and risk of injury, each factor being rated on a three-point scale. Information was gathered by observations, interviews, and a worker questionnaire. Occupational health and safety personnel and worker representatives dealt with problems cooperatively. Together they assessed occupational loads and hazards, whereafter the occupational health and safety personnel devised an occupational health care program and proposed preventive measures. The workplace investigation method proved to function well. It improved the occupational health care program, produced an overall analysis of occupational hazards, and dramatically increased the number and quality of proposed preventive measures. The new method was evaluated to be clearly superior to previous practices and was implemented at moderate cost. The study showed that attention to issues of environmental and occupational health can effectively prevent health impairment even in difficult setting such as construction work. More research is needed for effective utilization of information accumulated by systematic workplace investigations.

Finland↗

PubMed1992

Disease clusters in occupational medicine: a protocol for their investigation in the workplace.

Disease clusters have been an important source of epidemiologic and medical information in the history of occupational medicine. Many accepted disease-exposure linkages were first observed and investigated as disease clusters in the workplace setting. Recent interest in disease cluster methodology has focused on traditional environmental settings. There has been very little work on a similar methodology for the investigation of disease clusters in the workplace, despite the many advantages of workplace cluster investigations for recognizing new etiologic associations. In this paper, a protocol is proposed and discussed which can be implemented in both acute and chronic disease cluster outbreaks in the workplace, where no obvious previously recognized cause is identified. A standardized approach to occupational disease cluster investigation will lead to increased efficiency, decreased social-political tensions, and a greater yield of scientific information.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2000

Methodological issues in workplace substance abuse prevention research.

Substance abuse among working adults represents billions of dollars in preventable health care costs and industry financial loss. Therefore, it is imperative to develop and test effective substance abuse prevention programs for the workplace. However, applied workplace substance abuse prevention research is fraught with numerous methodological challenges. This article highlights a number of these challenges, which include (1) reaching a broad audience with prevention messages, (2) handling the concerns of the employer, (3) collecting substance use data in the workplace, (4) accessing and using records-based data, and (5) linking survey and records-based data. Using examples from the authors' ongoing research assessing a workplace health promotion and substance abuse prevention program, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the authors address these challenges.

Adult↗