Unknown and Unacknowledged Dangers to Every Medical Student: A Rare Case of Nitric Acid Burns

This case report delves into the often overlooked and unacknowledged hazards faced by medical students, exemplified by a rare incident of nitric acid burns. A 19-year-old male medical student with no notable medical, surgical, or familial history suffered a spillage of 69% nitric acid on the anterior aspect of the right thigh while engaged in laboratory work. Swift action, including immediate wound irrigation, application of silver sulfadiazine, and subsequent hospitalization, proved crucial in mitigating the burn's severity. Though vitally stable, the patient exhibited a distinctive color change in the wound during observation. Admitted to the general surgery ward, outpatient follow-ups revealed successful wound healing within four weeks, emphasizing the importance of prompt intervention and meticulous care in addressing chemical burn injuries among medical students. This report sheds light on the often-underestimated dangers inherent in pursuing medical education.

Awareness and Reporting of Sharps Injuries: A Study Involving Dental Students, Trainees, and Assistants in a Dental Teaching Hospital in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Sharps injury constitutes one of the major occupational hazards in dental practice with practitioners under training being the most exposed group. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness about sharps injury, its prevalence, and reporting rates among dental students, trainees, and assistants.

METHODS

The study was conducted at the Dental Teaching Hospital, Umm Al Qura University, Saudi Arabia, through an online self-designed questionnaire which comprised 21 items. Data was collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed.  Results: Among 182 responding participants, the mean awareness score was satisfactory in 117 participants (64.3%) and average in 64 (35.2%). Exposure to sharps injury in the last 24 months was reported by 31.3% (n=20) with needle stick injury being the most frequent cause and only 59.6% (n=34) reported the injury. Interns and sixth-year students were the most injured participants. There was a significant difference in knowledge between exposed and non-exposed participants regarding the safe technique of recapping needles (p=0.037). After the injury, 77.2% (n=44) of participants washed their hands with soap and water.

CONCLUSIONS

A considerable percentage of study participants have average to satisfactory awareness about the risk of sharps injury with a high under-reporting rate. So, comprehensive preclinical education and training must be provided to our hospital's students, trainees, and assistants to increase awareness about potentially risky behavior. More orientation about reporting and its role in prevention is highly recommended to ensure safe practice and improve the quality of dental care.

Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Among Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Background

Healthcare workers are still at risk from needlesticks and sharps injuries, which can expose them to blood-borne diseases like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. We aimed to investigate the proportion of needlesticks and sharps injuries among healthcare workers in a tertiary care hospital in Somalia and also evaluate associated risk factors.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study was conducted at the Mogadishu Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital. The data was retrieved from the hospital record of the infection prevention and control department over a six-year period between 2017 and 2022.

Results

There were a total of 233 needlestick and sharps injury incidents. The highest number of needlestick and sharps injury cases were reported among nurses (52.4%), followed by cleaners (22.3%), physicians (18.5%), and technicians (6.9%) during the six-year period. Operation theaters were the most frequent place (21.9%) where injuries happened, followed by inpatient care (17.6%) and emergency rooms (16.7%). The most commonly reported instrument that resulted in injuries was a hypodermic needle (81.1%). About 24.9% of the needles or sharps devices that caused needlestick and sharps injury cases were contaminated with hepatitis B. There was a significant difference between gender and place of injury for needlestick and sharps injuries (P=0.001).

Conclusion

Healthcare professionals around the world continue to face major health risks from needle stick and sharps injuries. The present study found that 8.6%of healthcare workers sustained a needle stick and sharps injuries incident in the past year. According to our findings, healthcare institutions need to regularly teach healthcare professionals, especially nurses and cleaners about the significance of needle stick and sharps injuries.

Prevalence of Occupational Injuries of the Oral and Maxillofacial Region and Their Covariates Among Building Construction Workers in Chennai

Background and aim With many risky environmental conditions, civil construction sites are prone to physical injuries, especially those pertaining to the oral and maxillofacial regions. The current study was an effort to assess the magnitude and pattern of such oral and maxillofacial injuries and the factors associated with them. Methodology This descriptive study was carried out on 524 construction workers, of whom 254 met the inclusion criteria related to work site injuries. An interviewer-administered proforma with basic demographic details is used in conjunction with an intraoral examination to classify the dental injury. Descriptive statistics were done to evaluate the frequency of injury occurrence, while inferential statistics, including the chi-square test and regression analysis, were done to evaluate the association between injury and the variable under concern. Result The study includes a total of 254 participants, with ages ranging from 20 to above 50 years, of whom 230 (91%) were males and 24 (9.4%) were females. The majority, 200 (78.7%), were unskilled laborers, and 195 (76.7%) were migrant workers with language barriers. It was found that 95 (76.7%) had a history of dental injury alone, while 59 (23.2%) had a history of oral maxillofacial injury. Among the reasons for injury, the increased odds ratios (OD) were noted in the collapse of the surrounding area as 0.050 (0.029-0.075), rainy season 1.001 (0.891-1.281), unskilled labor 1.020 (0.910-1.30), and migrants 1.010 (0.901-1.200). The OD for males is 2.052 (1.941-2.101). Conclusion The current study confirms that the magnitude of workplace-related injuries is significant, and the majority of them stem from basic language barriers among migrant workers and a lack of knowledge to adhere to safety protocols and instructions given.

The intolerance of controversy in psychoanalytic organizations

In an age when our survival as a profession is less threatened but our growth increasingly depends upon our ability to apply our theories and techniques away from the couch, it has become important to understand how our organizational life relies on competing roles and different demands. That can be confusing for those of us who understand conflict primarily in the dyadic relationships of traditional psychoanalysis. Roles and collaboration, essential to work in organizations, require a greater acceptance of differences. Moreover, it requires a better understanding that our motives often stem from the tasks assigned in organizations and those tasks require collaboration rather than confrontation. A better understanding of these tensions and conflicts, endemic to organizational life, will enhance our ability to apply our insights outside our consultation rooms. And it offers, as well, the opportunity to work more effectively together on our professional organizations and associations, avoiding the bitter controversies that continue to bedevil our organizational life.

A Preliminary Study Exploring the Relationship between Occupational Health Hazards and Gut Microbiota among Firefighters

Firefighters are exposed to occupational hazards and have a higher prevalence of health issues. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the immune, endocrine, and neural systems, and disruptions in its composition can impact health outcomes. This pilot study aimed to investigate the potential association between occupational factors, changes in gut microbiota, and the development of adverse health outcomes in firefighters. To test this hypothesis, we recruited 15 firefighters and age/sex-matched controls to investigate the relationship between occupational environment and gut microbiota. Firefighters exhibit lower intestinal bacterial alpha diversity and a higher presence of pathogenic bacteria than the control. Moreover, unique gut bacterial taxa were observed in firefighters with high post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores, which could contribute to immune dysregulation and higher susceptibility to pathogen colonization. These preliminary findings suggest that occupational factors, including exposure to traumatic stressors and chemicals, may influence firefighters' health by modulating their gut microbiota. The observed changes in gut microbiota composition and the potential link to occupational hazards highlight the need for further research in larger sample-size studies. Understanding the role of gut microbiota in firefighter health may have implications for preventive measures and interventions to mitigate occupational health risks and improve overall well-being.

A Narrative Review of the Carcinogenic Effect of Night Shift and the Potential Protective Role of Melatonin

Since the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) announcement in 2007 indicating the possibility of night-shift work carrying carcinogenesis risk, multiple studies on a global level have been conducted to investigate the correlation between night-shift work and cancer development. Circadian rhythm disruption and decreased melatonin production have been postulated as potential contributing factors. There is also growing evidence that night-shift workers tend to adopt unhealthier lifestyles which contribute to poorer health and increase the risk of developing diseases such as cancer. No experimental study has been specifically dedicated to testing specific methods that could decrease cancer risk in night-shift workers. While there are a few studies that investigate melatonin's concurrent use with chemotherapy in cancer patients, there is yet to be seen for studies that investigate melatonin specifically as a cancer prevention method. This narrative review aims to examine current evidence of healthcare night-shift work's risk in cancer incidence, potential pathogenesis, and its significance in clinical practice.

Occupational models from 42 million unstructured job postings

Structuring jobs into occupations is the first step for analysis tasks in many fields of research, including economics and public health, as well as for practical applications like matching job seekers to available jobs. We present a data resource, derived with natural language processing techniques from over 42 million unstructured job postings in the National Labor Exchange, that empirically models the associations between occupation codes (estimated initially by the Standardized Occupation Coding for Computer-assisted Epidemiological Research method), skill keywords, job titles, and full-text job descriptions in the United States during the years 2019 and 2021. We model the probability that a job title is associated with an occupation code and that a job description is associated with skill keywords and occupation codes. Our models are openly available in the sockit python package, which can assign occupation codes to job titles, parse skills from and assign occupation codes to job postings and resumes, and estimate occupational similarity among job postings, resumes, and occupation codes.

Pediculosis capitis and scabies in nurses from Eastern Poland - occupational risk and environmental determinants

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Nurses are a group of healthcare professionals particularly vulnerable to infestations by Pediculus humanus capitis and Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis contracted from patients under their medical care.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The cross-sectional study included 322 professionally active nurses within public healthcare units in eastern Poland. The research tool was a questionnaire collecting anonymized data on the occurrence of pediculosis capitis and scabies in nurses, and their patients, concerning the environmental determinants in the period 2001-2013. The study was retrospective and participation of nurses was voluntary.

RESULTS

The obtained results indicated that 24.8% and 9.9% of the 322 respondents were infested by head lice and scabies mites, respectively. During their professional work, most nurses contracted head lice once (76.2%) while others (23.8%) were infested twice or more. The respondents did not declare repeated occupational scabies. The risk of contracting pediculosis capitis and scabies was not related to the length of service, but increased with the rise in the number of patients provided with nursing care. In the head lice-infested patients, the majority were aged 6-10 years (31.3%), while in the case of scabietic patients, children aged 0-5 years prevailed (26.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

In medical care facilities, regular hygienic checks of both patients and medical staff, covering the condition of the skin and scalp, should be mandatory. The spread of pediculosis capitis and scabies among nurses can be reduced by the implementation not only of protective procedures mitigating occupational risk, but also the improvement of working conditions in medical facilities.

Beyond Scrubs: Understanding the Root Causes of Violence Against Doctors

Workplace violence (WPV) against doctors is a growing epidemic in India, with at least two-thirds of doctors facing some form of abuse during their careers. Verbal abuse is common, but doctors are also subjected to brutal attacks that endanger their lives. This review lists abusive incidents reported by the media since 2021. Despite increased respect for healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors in India are under significant stress due to inadequate medical infrastructure, mismanagement of young doctors, increasing mistrust between doctors and patients, a shortage of doctors, and overworked healthcare workers, leading to delays in attention and treatment. Additional factors contributing to the situation include the lack of proper insurance coverage, weak primary healthcare with overburdened tertiary care, the lack of an effective grievance redressal system, and the poor state of medical education. To combat this epidemic, collaborative efforts are needed between doctors, hospitals, the government, and society. Improving communication skills and treating patients with empathy are essential for healthcare workers. Meanwhile, hospitals should implement an efficient security system, a transparent billing system, and an active complaint system to prevent incidents. Unbiased reporting and adequate documentation are required to further investigate this occupational health hazard. The government should focus on building better medical facilities and passing a strict law against violence against doctors to ensure the safety of medical professionals. This review presents some solutions, along with the current legal coverage provided to healthcare professionals regarding WPV.

Technostress at work during the COVID-19 lockdown phase (2020-2021): a systematic review of the literature

Technostress is a psychosocial phenomenon associated with the use of technologies to the detriment of health, the same one that during the pandemic was accelerated in the work considering home confinement. This work aims to systematize the main research on the impact of technostress at work during the severe confinement stage of the pandemic, between the years 2020 and 2021, with the purpose of identify and evaluate its main determining factors. A systematic review of the literature was carried out during COVID-19, using the words "technostress work COVID-19." The works found focus mainly on analyzing the creators and inhibitors of technostress in workers, as well as the main consequences of the materialization of this technological risk associated with work performance during the stage of confinement by COVID-19. Techno invasion and techno overload were identified as the main techno stressors, with the main type of technostress appreciated in the literature being techno fatigue. Technostress is identified as a problem that had direct and relevant effects during the season of severe confinement and remote work at home due to COVID-19; highlighting techno fatigue as the most frequent type of stress, and techno stressors such as techno invasion and overload as the ones that presented the highest incidence.

Examining injury trends in parcel delivery drivers in the United States: Challenges and opportunities

INTRODUCTION

Growth of e-commerce has caused a vast increase in parcel delivery, which raises concern for safety of drivers and other road users as more deliveries take place.

METHODS

This project analyzes injury/illness and fatality trends among workers with delivery-related NAICS codes using three major sources of occupational hazard data in the United States: the Survey of Occupational Illnesses and Injuries, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, and the Industrial Tracking Application. Descriptive statistics were employed to illustrate trends over time as well as to highlight opportunities for improved data collection and dissemination.

RESULTS

The number of injuries to drivers has risen sharply over the past decade. Some of this increase appears due to growth of this industry, but increasing overall rates suggest the industry is becoming more hazardous. While nonfatal injuries were typically caused by continuous workplace exposures (e.g., repetitive strain, contact with object/equipment), fatalities were almost exclusively caused by transportation incidents. Additionally, crucial aspects of these trends are difficult or impossible to analyze given the current data landscape.

CONCLUSIONS

Observed trends reinforce earlier calls for additional scrutiny of working conditions that threaten drivers. Injuries caused by transportation incidents are likely more severe than others and highlight the danger the transportation system poses to drivers and others. Current data collection and dissemination processes offer room to improve in terms of understanding how to prevent future injuries.

Design and testing of a personalized noise monitoring system

Agricultural workers are more prone to noise-induced hearing loss than are many other workers. Hearing protection device use among agricultural workers is low, but training can increase hearing protection device use. This work proposes a system designed to automatically inform agricultural workers when they were exposed to noises that exceed the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure level. The smartphone-based system worn on the arm uses a noise dosimeter to measure noise exposures throughout the day to within ±2 A-weighted decibels of a Class 2 sound level meter. The device collects location and audio data, which are transferred to a server and presented to the worker on a locally hosted website. The website details noise exposure and helps the worker identify where exposure occurred and what specific tasks exceed NIOSH's recommended exposure limit, putting them at higher risk of noise-induced hearing loss. With this understanding, the worker is expected to adopt behavior changes and better hearing protection use at critical places and times. This pilot study evaluates the accuracy of the noise dosimeter and GPS relative to gold-standard instruments. The system was tested on a farm with outputs compared with gold-standard instruments. A-weighted, 1-sec averaged sound pressure levels and position data were collected while users were performing a variety of tasks indoors and outdoors. The smartphone's external noise dosimeter read within ±2 A-weighted decibels of the Class 2 reference dosimeter 59% of the time. The positioning devices had an average error of sub-4 m. While not perfectly matching gold-standard instruments, the device is capable of identifying and collecting information relative to loud noise events that promote noise-induced hearing loss.

Occupational health and safety hazards among solid waste handlers at a selected municipality South Africa

Background

Solid waste management is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world because of its potential harm from the waste to the environment and the public. Therefore, the protection of human health and the environment is a challenge that all countries are facing.

Aim

The study explored occupational health and safety hazards among waste handlers at a selected municipality in Limpopo Province.

Setting

The study was conducted in one municipality in the Vhembe District.

Methods

The study used a qualitative, explorative and contextual design to explore occupational health and safety hazards among participants. Participants were sampled using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews that lasted between 40 min and 45 min. The sampled size comprised 18 participants and was determined by data saturation. Tesch's open coding was used to analyse data, where the main theme, categories and sub-categories emerged.

Results

The findings revealed the main theme, namely municipal waste handlers experience occupational health and safety hazards. Four categories emerged from the main theme, namely physical, psychosocial, biological and chemical hazards. The categories were further divided into sub-categories such as exposure to extreme weather conditions and musculoskeletal injuries.

Conclusion

Solid waste handlers experienced preventable physical and chemical occupational health and safety hazards that are inherent to their job. It is recommended that workers be provided with adequate suitable protective equipment to reduce the level of occupational health hazards.

Contribution

The findings in this study will help in closing the gaps by the municipality for failing to prioritise working conditions for municipality waste handlers.

Knowledge and awareness of chronic bronchitis and its oral manifestation among dental students and practitioners

Chronic bronchitis (CB) is an inflammatory disease and is characterized by bronchial tube irritation. The bronchial tube irritation can result in the accumulation of mucus. CB is a part of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, causing blockage of airflow and thereby problems in breathing. Cigarette smoking is of utmost importance in causing CB. Besides pollution of air and the working environment can also play a key role. The study aimed to assess and create the awareness about CB among dental students and practitioners. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among dental students utilizing an online review entry called "Google forms." A total of 100 people were assessed using a structured questionnaire comprising 15 questions. The analysis of the result was done using the SPSS software of version 23. It has been shown that 78% of them are aware of CB. 75% of them responded that passive smokers were mostly affected by CB. Within the study limits, it was found that males who participated had increased awareness when compared to the females. The survey results showed that most of the participants were aware about CB but not its clinical features, oral manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.

Epidemiological characteristics of occupational chemical poisonings in Zhejiang, China from 2006 to 2020: A descriptive analysis

Objective

As the second most common occupational disease in China, occupational poisoning is one of the major public health problems that seriously affect workers' health. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and occupational characteristics of acute and chronic occupational poisoning cases in Zhejiang Province, so as to provide a scientific basis for proposing intervention measures and preventive strategies of occupational poisoning.

Methods

The data on occupational poisoning cases in Zhejiang Province from 2006 to 2020 was derived from the National Occupational Disease Network Direct Report System. A descriptive statistical analysis was employed on this data utilizing R software.

Results

From 2006 to 2020, 1,008 occupational poisoning cases were reported in Zhejiang Province, with a downward trend since 2007. Of these cases, 81.94% were chronic poisoning and 18.06% were acute poisoning. Ningbo reported the most occupational poisoning cases among the 11 cities in Zhejiang Province, accounting for 20.34% of the total cases. Besides, the occupational poisoning cases in Wenzhou, Jiaxing, and Shaoxing also accounted for 18.15%, 18.06%, and 17.76% of the total number of cases, respectively. Occupational poisoning in male were 693 cases and in female 315 cases. Most of the occupational poisoning cases studied involved people aged between 40 and 49 years (38.19%). The length of work in chronic occupational poisoning cases was significantly higher than that of acute occupational poisoning cases (P < 0.05). Benzene and lead and its compounds (excluding tetraethyl lead) were the major toxicants causing occupational poisoning. More than 60% of occupational poisoning cases were reported in private enterprises. Meanwhile, over 90% of the cases were distributed in medium enterprises and small enterprises. The type of industry with the most occupational poisoning cases was the manufacturing industry.

Conclusion

Although the cases of occupational poisoning in Zhejiang Province have declined, more comprehensive and effective prevention and control measures are still needed. More attention ought to be paid to the management of key points according to the epidemiological and occupational characteristics of occupational poisoning cases.

Risk of Radiation Exposure to Emergency Department Personnel From Portable Radiographs

BACKGROUND

There are concerns that emergency health care workers are exposed to ionizing radiation as the result of frequent portable radiographs obtained in the emergency department (ED) during active patient care.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to investigate whether ED staff are exposed to significant radiation due to scatter from portable radiography at a busy trauma center and whether exposure was related to factors such as location or distance.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study performed during 3 consecutive months in the ED at a large, academic trauma center. Volunteer attendings, nurses, and resident physicians were asked to wear dosimeter badges during their shifts throughout the study period. Twelve stationary dosimeters were placed in selected locations in the ED, particularly in the resuscitation rooms, where most of the portable radiographs were obtained.

RESULTS

During the 3-month study period, 1464 portable radiographs were obtained in the resuscitation rooms in the ED, mostly chest and pelvic radiographs. Analysis from stationary dosimeters placed in the ED showed a median of 0.18 mSv (95% CI 0.16-0.22 mSv) for the main resuscitation room and 0 mSv for other critical care patient rooms. Analysis of dosimeters worn by staff showed no measurable radiation exposure (0.00 mSv).

CONCLUSIONS

The level of radiation exposure to ED staff found in this study was well below the recommended allowable occupational exposure of 50 mSv/y. Radiation exposure is not a significant occupational hazard in a busy ED level I trauma center. Existing precautions should adequately protect staff from occupational exposure, and use of further protective gear, or the need for individual monitoring using dosimeters, appears unwarranted.

Fore-Warned Is Fore-Armed: Effect of Musculoskeletal Disorders on Sickness Absenteeism

Background Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common occupational diseases. MSDs cause an economic burden as they lead to disability, absenteeism, and reduced productivity. Although many risk factors have been associated with the incidence of MSDs, little is known about the predictive factors for the length of MSD-related absenteeism. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MSDs among garment factory workers, determine the predictive factors for length of sickness absence, and evaluate the association of these factors with time. Methodology This prospective, observational, community-based study was conducted among garment factory workers. A total of 430 participants were included in the study by multistage sampling to assess the prevalence and factors causing MSDs, followed by a one-year follow-up to analyze the MSD-associated predictors for sickness absence. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to test significance, and Cox regression was used to determine the predictive factors for sickness absence. Results The mean age of the participants was 29.36 years. The 12-month prevalence showed that the most affected region was the lower back (70%), followed by the upper back (40%), with some workers experiencing both. There was a significant relation between MSDs and higher age, low work experience, being overweight, and long work hours (p < 0.05). According to the multivariate analysis, the perceived pain (hazards ratio (HR) = 1.14), perceived physical workload (HR = 1.14), and visiting a specialist 12 months prior to the current absence (HR = 1.68) were significantly associated with a longer sickness absence. Conclusions The lower and upper back were most commonly affected. The predictors for absence revealed that physical work overload and pain perception had a predominant role in the duration of absence. Hence, an ergonomically acceptable workplace with considerate rest periods will help enhance productivity.

Awareness of occupational health hazards and occupational stress among dental care professionals: Evidence from the GCC region

A hazardous work environment creates critical concerns, and resultantly, workers may suffer from job-related stress. So, this study aimed at identifying the nature of hazards prevailing in dental hospitals and their role in increasing job-related stress. The study also assumes that awareness of the existence of health hazards and their possible risk will originate the stress. To conduct the study, close-ended questionnaires were administered to 300 workers having more than 1 year of experience in Oral and Dental Health Services provided by the Kingdom of Bahrain. In total, 222 responses with an acceptable level of accuracy were included for statistical treatment. Results confirmed the prevalence of ergonomic, biological, physical, and, to some extent, chemical hazards in the workplace. Results revealed that stress befalls the employees as they know their exposure to these hazards. Ergonomic hazards have the highest prevalence, chemical hazards are the least prevalent, while biological and physical hazards fall in between. This study enriches the related bank of literature by tapping the hazards specifically in the dental hospitals' environment with the degree of intensity of their prevalence within the context at hand. The study of the impact of these workplace health hazards on occupational stress with mediating effect of awareness is also an addition to the existing literature. The findings may help hospital administrators to take correct measures to manage job-related stress that is counterproductive and take remedial steps to mitigate these hazards.

Occupational Hazards to the Joint Replacement Surgeon: How Can Technology Help Prevent Injury?

Occupational hazards pose varying threats to the joint replacement surgeon. Musculoskeletal pain due to the repetitive nature of performing joint arthroplasty is felt daily by most surgeons. The purpose of this paper is to offer a basic introduction and demonstrate the many ways technology utilized during total joint arthroplasty can help mitigate common occupational hazards for the arthroplasty surgeon. This paper guides readers through the evolution and drivers behind technology in joint arthroplasty, describes several technologies currently available, and discusses how certain aspects of this technology may work to improve surgeon and patient outcomes. We review how advanced technologies in arthroplasty may reduce physical and mental demand, improve reproducibility, and decrease complications. The decision to utilize advanced technology in joint arthroplasty is ultimately made on an individual level after careful consideration of available literature.

Risk perception of automotive fuel poisoning among gas station attendants

Introduction

Everyday, gas station attendants ate exposed to numerous toxic substances found in fuels. Benzene stands out among these toxic chemical agents; depending on its concentration, it can cause mucosal irritation or even pulmonary edema. A considerable number of gas station attendants is aware of the risks associated with benzene poisoning, but they are not aware of the risks associated with other automotive pollutants.

Objectives

To evaluate and understand the risk perception of automotive fuel poisoning among gas station attendants in the Sorocaba region, state of São Paulo.

Methods

Sixty gas station attendants were evaluated in the Sorocaba region. Data were collected between October 2019 and September 2020 using a semi-structured, individual, closed-ended questionnaire whose questions identified the participants' perception and aimed to analyze: the general profile of the studied population; practices for handling fuels and knowledge on their toxic effects, use and instructions of personal protective equipment, symptoms possibly associated with fuel exposure, the participants' perception of poisoning risks, and their participation in occupational medicine programs.

Results

The obtained results demonstrated that most gas station attendants wore at least basic personal protective equipment, and some of them reported symptoms linked with benzene exposure. Still, a considerable number of employers does not provide adequate training to gas station attendants, which is possibly associated with inadequate use of personal protective equipment.

Conclusions

Our data showed indications of non-compliance by gas station attendants as to the use of personal protective equipment at the workplace, and by employers as to the provision of adequate training.

Assessment of ergonomics to study the correlation between physical and psychological factors with prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in practicing dentists

Introduction

Musculoskeletal disorders are very commonly seen in dentists. These disorders can hinder their clinical practice and at times results in severe complications leading to an early retirement.

Aim

The aim of this study is to find a correlation between physical and psychological factors with the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in practicing dentists. This study is a culmination of two fields of medicine, physiotherapy and dentistry, thus proving to be of significant value in terms of interdisciplinary approach to healthcare.

Materials and Methods

The sample size consisted of 50 dentists. It was an observational cross-sectional study with a questionnaire divided into three sections. Inclusion and exclusion criteria includes Section 1 - Demographic data and basic questions related to the aim of the study. Section 2 - Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire. Section 3 - General Health Questionnaire-12 for assessment of psychological stress.

Results

Wrong posture, existing physical illness, lack of exercise and increases levels of psychological stress increase the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders.This study could be used to implement better treatment options to dentists suffering from musculoskeletal disorders considering both physical and mental factors.

Conclusion

It is very important to increase the awareness of ergonomics and the influence of psychological stress in practicing dentists so that they can avoid these disorders and provide a high-quality treatment to their patients without any hindrance in their professional careers due to these disorders.

Older Female Farmers and Modeling of Occupational Hazards, Wellbeing, and Sleep-Related Problems on Musculoskeletal Pains

Musculoskeletal pains seem to be the most prevalent among occupational diseases in older female farmers. This study analyzes the relationships between exposure to ergonomic or environmental hazards, sleep-related problems, wellbeing, and musculoskeletal pains in older female farmers. In this study, older farmer means a farmer aged ≥60, and 2005 older female farmers were selected. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to investigate the relationships. In the results of SEM, musculoskeletal pains were more affected by the level of wellbeing (standardized path coefficient = −0.149) than the level of sleep-related problems (standardized path coefficient = 0.131) or the exposure level of ergonomic hazards (standardized path coefficient = 0.086). Among the ergonomic risk factors felt by elderly female farmers, the influence level of “awkward posture” (0.735), “repetitive motion” (0.718), or “standing posture” (0.693) was greater than that of “manual material handling” (0.661). “Vibration” (0.786) and “noise” (0.683) were influential variables of environmental hazards. In addition, “upper limb pain” (0.796) and “lower limb pain” (0.751) variables were more influential variables of musculoskeletal pains than the “backache” (0.472) variable. This study shows that strategies to improve wellbeing or sleep problems are important to alleviate or prevent musculoskeletal pains among older female farmers.

Occupational Injuries and Associated Factors Among Municipal Solid Waste Collectors in Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Municipal solid waste collection is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world since it exposes the workers involved to occupational hazards and predisposes them to certain occupation-related morbidities. Occupational injuries among municipal solid waste collectors have not been adequately addressed or reported in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational injuries and associated factors among municipal solid waste collectors in Harar Town, Ethiopia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia from May 25, 2021 to June 25, 2021. Three hundred eighty-nine (389) municipal solid waste collectors were selected using a simple random sampling method. A self-administered structured questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to collect the data. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the association between independent variables and the outcome variable. A P-value of <.05 was considered as a cut-off point for statistical significance.

RESULTS

The current study found that about 60.4% of municipal solid waste collectors were exposed to occupational injuries. Furthermore, the study found a statistically significant association between the prevalence of occupational injuries and having a primary education [AOR = 0.10, 95% CI (0.03-0.38)], a secondary education [AOR = 0.04, 95% CI (0.03-0.45)], work experience [AOR = 5.975, (95% CI (2.01-17.75)], the use of personal protective equipment [AOR = 0.09, (95% CI: 0.02-0.46)], and training [AOR = 0.10, 95% CI (0.03-0.30)].

CONCLUSIONS

The current study found that more than three-fifth of municipal solid waste collectors were exposed to occupational injury. Furthermore, the current study found that there was an statistical relationship between the prevalence of occupational injuries and having a primary education, a secondary education, work experience, the use of personal protective equipment, and training. Before and after hiring solid waste collectors, employers should provide personal protective equipment and tailored training on safety measures.

Occupational Hazards of Surgical Smoke and Achieving a Smoke Free Operating Room Environment: Asia-Pacific Consensus Statement on Practice Recommendations

Background

Surgical smoke generated through energy devices may present detrimental effects on individuals present in the operating room (OR). Despite the concerns possibly associated with surgical smoke, there may be no mandatory policies that suggest protective measures and limited firm standards are committed yet to address the same.

Aim

The aim of this paper is to present recommendations for surgeons and OR personnel by taking a consensus approach based on available literature and its interpretation by a multi-national panel of experts.

Methods

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) group was established with the aims of reviewing literature evidence, discussing key issues regarding surgical smoke and its hazards, and offering a summary of statements in achieving a smoke-free OR environment. Eleven expert surgeons from the international APAC region were gathered with the purpose of coming to a consensus on engineering, best work-practices, and administrative controls in minimizing surgical smoke exposure. A two-phase consensus method was used to obtain opinions from the expert panel of specialists. Statements with an agreement of more than 80% were accepted.

Findings

For twenty-one statements, the panel achieved consensus on 17 statements; another 5 were dropped due to lack of consensus. The consensus was obtained on statements that address the need for the implementation of administrative policies, training and awareness, standard procedure for the continued use of engineering controls, stringent work practice controls and preventive controls.

Conclusion

The statements presented may guide surgeons and OR personnel in the practical management of surgical smoke safety, mitigating the risks associated with it. The consensus statement also provides a series of recommendations that can be used with other stakeholders, such as policymakers, hospital administrators and professional societies, to highlight and motivate the implementation of meaningful policies.

Cognitive Functioning and Nail Salon Occupational Exposure among Vietnamese Immigrant Women in Northern California

Introduction: Vietnamese nail salon technicians are continuously exposed to neurotoxins linked to cognitive impairments and Alzheimer’s disease. This study examined the association of occupational exposure with cognitive function and depressive symptoms among Vietnamese nail salon technicians. Methods: The sample included 155 current or former Vietnamese female nail technicians and 145 control group participants. Measures included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: Average cognitive functioning was significantly higher for the control compared to the nail technician group (mean difference = 1.2, p < 0.05). No differences were observed for depression. Multivariate findings revealed that exposure was negatively associated with cognitive functioning (β = −0.29, 95% CI: −0.53, −0.05, p < 0.05). Discussion: Nail salon work and the extent of occupational exposure were associated with lower cognitive functioning among Vietnamese nail technicians. Longitudinal research can further examine the risk for cognitive decline and dementia for this vulnerable population.

Occupational Sharp Injury and Splash Exposure among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Hospital

Background Occupational hazards like sharp injury and splash exposure (SISE) are frequently encountered in health-care settings. The adoption of standard precautions by healthcare workers (HCWs) has led to significant reduction in the incidence of such injuries, still SISE continues to pose a serious threat to certain groups of HCWs.

Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study which examined the available records of all patients from January 2015 to August 2019 who self-reported to our emergency department with history of sharp injury and/or splash exposure. Details of the patients, mechanism of injury, the circumstances leading to the injury, status of the source (hepatitis B surface antigen, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis C virus antibody status), and the postexposure prophylaxis given were recorded and analyzed. Data were represented in frequency and percentages.

Results During the defined period, a total of 834 HCWs reported with SISE, out of which 44.6% were doctors. Majority of the patients have SISE while performing medical procedures on patients (49.5%), while 19.2% were exposed during segregation of waste. The frequency of needle stick injury during cannulation, sampling, and recapping of needle were higher in emergency department than in wards. More than 80% of HCWs received hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin postexposure.

Conclusion There is need for periodical briefings on practices of sharp handling as well as re-emphasizing the use of personal protective equipment while performing procedures.

Knowledge of Occupational Hazards and their Perceived Effects among Operating Theatre Workers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Health workers' attempt to provide quality care, makes them vulnerable to occupational hazards. Hence, the current study was done to assess the knowledge of occupational hazards and their perceived effects among operating theatre workers in the University of Benin teaching hospital, Nigeria.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among the health workers from March to December 2018. The data were collected through a self-structured questionnaire and analyzed by mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square test.

RESULTS

It was found that there was high knowledge about the preventive measures and perceived effects of occupational hazards.

CONCLUSION

The current study found that the high level of knowledge demonstrated by the participants was at variance with practice. Hence, the health policymakers need to put up measures promoting safety practices, such as the provision of safety equipment, routine training for staff, adequate reinforcement, capacity and capability drilling, and health revenue cycle consultancy services should be institutionalized and made mandatory for all hospitals.

[New criteria for professional selection and professional suitability by hearing to work in conditions of exposure to industrial hazards]

New regulations of professional selection and professional suitability for the state of auditory function for persons entering for the first time and already working under the influence of harmful and (or) hazardous production factors are discussed.

Drudgery assessment and ergonomic evaluation of pedal operated Ragi (Eleusine Coracana) thresher

BACKGROUND

Ragi (Eleusine Coracana) is a major food crop for the tribal population of India.

OBJECTIVE

This study emphasizes the need to consider ergonomics aspects in the design and development of a pedal operated ragi thresher (PORT) for tribal people, and assesses the drudgery as well as ergonomic evaluation of a developed thresher against the conventional practice.

METHODS

Thirty subjects (male = 15 and female = 15) from the tribal region were evaluated ergonomically. The physiological responses of the subjects were studied and their performance was compared.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the working heart rate, oxygen consumption rate and overall discomfort rating were significantly higher in case of traditional threshing as compared to those in case of PORT. Postural analysis identified the traditional method as the most fatigue one as the person has to lift the hand above shoulder level repeatedly and has to sit in a squatting posture for long period.

CONCLUSION

The drudgery and occupational hazards to public health involved in the traditional method of threshing was reduced by using the PORT. Furthermore, the traditional method involved continuous stressed actions across the entire body, whereas the PORT involved only the lower limbs.

Modeling journalists' coping strategies to occupational hazards in their coverage of protests against police brutality (ENDSARS protests) in Nigeria

Although journalism practice exposes media workers to different levels of occupational hazards, research on the coping strategies is limited. This study made an effort to extend literature in this direction by providing a model that explains the coping strategies of Nigerian journalists who covered the 2020 ENDSARS protests in Nigeria. The researchers surveyed a total of 470 journalists who were sampled through a respondents-driven chain referral sampling technique. It was found that journalists who covered the protests faced occupational hazards such as physical attacks, disgrace, threats, trauma, anxiety as well as fear. The coping strategies were found to include: seeking social support, selective appearance, self-censorship as well as self-motivation. It was further found that perceived behavioural control significantly moderates the implementation of coping strategies. The researchers explored the implications of these results on theory, practice and scholarship.

Medicolegal death investigator workplace safety hazards: A scoping review of the literature

In the United States, medicolegal death investigation practices and policies pertaining to sudden unexpected deaths are mandated by state government. Practices vary across states, which contributes to inconsistency in job prerequisites and training. In preparation for a study focused on occupational safety and health of medicolegal death investigators in their on-scene and follow-up activities, a scoping review was conducted to document known occupational safety risks and health-related conditions associated with death investigation. Searches used Boolean and subject heading operators both broad and narrow in scope, and search terms included scene responder, hazard, investigator, forensic pathology, injury, and safety. Twenty-five articles met inclusion criteria, which included seventeen survey-mixed method designs, two systematic reviews, five quasi-experimental designs, and one case study. Twelve articles addressed mental health and eleven focused on risks associated with infectious disease. One article addressed the risk of chemical exposure from cyanide among autopsy personnel (including forensic pathologists) and nine included a wide range of employees within the setting of medical examiner or coroner offices. One article, addressing burnout, included employees in a forensic science laboratory setting as well as medicolegal death investigators and two articles included forensic pathologists and medicolegal death investigators. Only one article addressed medicolegal death investigators specifically. Articles addressing occupational and environmental hazards of medicolegal death investigators associated with musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, radiological, nuclear, electrical, or explosive threats were not identified. There is little published about safety risks inherent in conducting death investigations. Research is needed to adequately inform health promotion and injury prevention strategies.

Profile of occupational accidents in a hospital in Manaus, state of Amazonas

INTRODUCTION

Occupational accidents are caused by predisposing factors, which can be handled by preventive actions.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze factors related to work accidents involving professionals in a referral hospital for infectious diseases in the state of Amazonas, Brazil.

METHODS

This is an observational, cross-sectional, quantitative study. Data were collected between January 2018 and June 2020 from reports and notification sheets of the Specialized Service in Occupational Health and Safety and Epidemiological Surveillance Group. As for ethical aspects, we followed Resolution No. 466 (2012), which regulates studies with human beings. The study was submitted to and approved by the Research Ethics Committee under protocol No. 3.657.218.

RESULTS

Nursing professionals (64.52%), women (77.41%), professionals aged between 42 and 52 years (35.49%), who worked in the public sector (87.10%), and were married (58.06%) were the most affected by accidents. Accidents were mainly work-related (96.77%), represented biological hazards (61.29%), and happened with sharps (51.52%) due to cutaneous injury (48.39%); hands (48.39%) were the main affected site, due to unsafe work conditions (45.16%) during patient care (41.94%). The most frequently used preventive measure was the toolbox talk (41.94%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides an outline of occurrences, from accidents to the subsequent procedures, and despite being comparable with other studies, provides relevant information for prevention and presents data from a region with few reports of this kind.

Occupational Exposure and Multiple Myeloma Risk: An Updated Review of Meta-Analyses

The precise etiology of multiple myeloma remains elusive, but both genetic and environmental factors have been suggested to contribute to disease risk. Several occupational categories and toxic agents have been implicated as potentially causative, yet findings from the literature are inconsistent. The aim of this review was to summarize and critically comment on the accumulated epidemiological evidence, across published meta-analyses, about the association between occupational exposure and risk of multiple myeloma. Overall, results from eleven meta-epidemiological studies underscore a significantly increased risk for firefighters, hairdressers, and employees exposed to engine exhaust, whereas farming and methylene chloride exposure have been non-significantly correlated with the disease. Further epidemiological studies are of utmost importance whilst emphasis should be placed on occupational hazard surveillance, as such studies will obtain a more accurate picture of disease occurrence in working populations, and will enable both the implementation of preventive actions and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

Occupational hazard in Malaysian traffic police: special focus on air pollutants

This paper provides a specific deliberation on occupational hazards confronted daily by Malaysian Traffic Police. Traffic police is a high-risk occupation that involves a wide range of tasks and, indirectly, faced with an equally wide variety of hazards at work namely, physical, biological, psychosocial, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Thereupon, occupational injuries, diseases, and even death are common in the field. The objective of this paper is to collate and explain the major hazards of working as Malaysian traffic police especially in Point Duty Unit, their health effects, and control measures. There are many ways in which these hazards can be minimised by ensuring that sufficient safety measures are taken such as a wireless outdoor individual exposure indicator system for the traffic police. By having this system, air monitoring among traffic police may potentially be easier and accurate. Other methods of mitigating these unfortunate events are incorporated and addressed in this paper according to the duty and needs of traffic police.

Prevention of Occupational Hazards Among Sanitary Workers: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey in Bulehora, West Guji Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION

The production of waste is due to the result of commercial activities, consumption, and utilization of products or materials. It is further believed that mainly solid waste includes non-harmful waste which may be from households, mainly kitchens, and even from organizations and institutions, shops and various types of markets, and manufacturing industries. Solid waste handling, management, and accurate and appropriate disposal is a hot topic relating to public and environmental health concerns.

METHODS

A cross-sectional quantitative study design was incorporated to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice and associated factors regarding prevention of occupational risks and health hazards among sanitary workers in Bulehora University, a government organization in West Guji Zone, Ethiopia. One hundred and ninety-one solid waste handlers found to be working in this institution were included in the study.

RESULTS

The response rate of samples in the present study was found to be 94.4%, of which the majority were females, which accounted for 79.7%. The median age of the study samples was 29 years. It was found that 64% of study samples stated good knowledge of the prevention of occupational health risks. About 76.4% of solid waste collectors had a good attitude and only 8.9% showed good practice regarding prevention of occupational health hazards. Job dissatisfaction was found to be a statistically significant factor along with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in implementing good practice work patterns among sanitation workers, even though they had been provided with basic personal protective equipment.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that there is a need for development of plans on implementation of basic occupational health services while enforcing the provision of personal protective equipment and supervising solid waste collectors.

Occupational hazards, sleep quality and musculoskeletal problems of pregnant workers

The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between musculoskeletal problems and sleep quality and exposure to occupational hazards in working pregnant women. The study included a total of 142 pregnant women working in various industries. The risk of experiencing musculoskeletal system problems was found to increase with impaired sleep quality (OR interval min =1.132 max =1.303). As the amount of work-related physical damage increased, musculoskeletal complaints increased (OR interval min = 1.228 max = 1.527). Environmental hazards and psychosocial hazards seemed to increase the risk of having musculoskeletal problems (OR interval min = 1.209 max = 1.465, and OR interval min = 1.326 max = 1.547, respectively). Physical, psychosocial and workplace environmental hazards seemed to increase the risk of musculoskeletal complaints in pregnancy. It was also seen that as sleep quality decreased, so musculoskeletal complaints increased.Impact StatementWhat is already known about this subject? Occupational hazards and poor sleep quality can be associated with adverse health outcomes. Pregnant women working in different industries in Turkey may also face work-related hazards. They may also experience pregnancy-related sleep problems. In this context, there is a need to identify occupational hazards and problems related to sleep and to provide protective strategies.What do the results of this study add? The most frequent physical hazard was determined to be a simultaneous bending and rolling movement, the most frequent work environment hazard was noise exposure and the most frequent psychosocial hazard was the lack of a reward system. Physical, work environment and psychosocial hazards were observed to increase the risk of musculoskeletal problems. Moreover, the risk of having musculoskeletal problems increased as sleep quality deteriorated.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Training should be planned for working women, including the idea of conception and work-related hazards and protective strategies. It may be possible to provide arrangements related to the workplace by including employers in this training.

Night Work and Breast Cancer Risk in Nurses: Multifactorial Risk Analysis

Night work has been highlighted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a likely carcinogenic factor for humans, associated with breast cancer and professions that require continuity of work. Knowing the impact that short and long-term night work has on the nurses' collective seems a priority, therefore, this study aims to analyse the relationship between night work and the development of breast cancer risk factors in nurses. For this, a cross-sectional study through an online questionnaire on breast cancer risk variables and working life was designed. The study was conducted in Spain and the sample consisted of 966 nurses, of whom 502 were healthy participants and 56 were breast cancer patients. These two groups were compared in the analyses. A descriptive analysis was performed, and the relationship was tested using χ2 independence test and OR calculation. The CHAID (Chi Square Automatic Interaction Detection) data mining method allowed for the creation of a segmentation tree for the main risk variables. The most significant risk variables related to working life have been the number of years worked, nights worked throughout life, and years working more than 3 nights per month. Exceeding 16 years of work has been significant for women and men. When the time worked is less than 16 years, the number of cases increases if there is a family history of cancer and if there have been more than 500 nights of work. High-intensity night work seems more harmful at an early age. The accumulation of years and nights worked increase the risk of breast cancer when factors such as sleep disturbance, physical stress, or family responsibilities come together.

Exposure to Occupational Hazards among Health Care Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Health care workers are exposed to numerous workplace hazards. The implementation of safety measures in high-income countries has largely mitigated these risks. However, in many low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), resources to institute safety measures are lacking, increasing the risk of occupational exposures to these hazards. The aim of this scoping review is to map and synthesize the available research on occupational hazards among health care workers in LMICs, identify research gaps and inform policy. Searches for relevant articles were conducted in five electronic databases using a broad range of search terms. The inclusion criteria were: quantitative observational or experimental studies which examined exposure to one or more occupational hazards among health care workers in a LMCI; and the article was published in English in a peer-reviewed journal. A total of 99 studies met the inclusion criteria, and data were extracted from these studies. Large proportions of health care workers in LMICs were exposed to biological hazards (bloodborne pathogens, tuberculosis), psychosocial hazards (workplace violence, burnout, job dissatisfaction), ergonomic hazards (musculoskeletal complaints), and chemical hazards (exposure to latex and antineoplastic drugs). The implementation of risk reduction strategies was suboptimal. The majority of the literature was on biological hazards (48%), and research on other hazards was limited in comparison. Occupational safety needs to become a priority public health issue to protect health care workers in LMICs. More research is needed to understand the magnitude of the problem in these countries.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Study of Health Risks Among E-waste Recyclers in Delhi

BACKGROUND

India is the fifth biggest producer of e-waste in the world, discarding 1.7 million tons in 2014. E-waste gets recycled mainly in the informal sector which means activities are largely unaccounted for. Hazardous chemicals and metals are released during recycling processes (lead (Pb) being the most common). Compared to other developing countries, there are few studies from India on the awareness of recyclers of health risks related to e-waste recycling.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health-related risks and behaviors among e-waste workers/recyclers belonging to the informal sector in Delhi and to determine the concentration of Pb levels in hair samples from a subset of workers from selected recycling sites.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in three e-waste informal recycling sites of Delhi: Seelampur, Mustafabad and Mandoli using an interviewer administered questionnaire among 220 e-waste workers. Percentages were presented for each KAP indicator. Analyses were computed using the statistical software STATA 14.2.

RESULTS

It was observed that 24% of participants had knowledge of the meaning of e-waste and 36% knew the chemicals that could be released from e-waste handling. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by only 12% of the workers. Twenty-six percent (26%) perceived occupational injuries (cuts or burns) as mild and 20% perceived coughing immediately after work as mild. Explorative analysis showed a link between worker education level and the type of work practices employed. The median level of Pb concentration among hair samples was 8 mg/kg with inter-quartile range between 5.8 to 12.4 mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge and practices among e-waste workers regarding the health hazards associated with e-waste recycling were poor with little knowledge of or attention to health risks. A comprehensive remediation package covering sensitization and awareness-building strategies of the health risks associated with informal e-waste recycling should be an urgent priority.

PARTICIPANT CONSENT

Obtained.

ETHICS APPROVAL

Ethics approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC), Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi.

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Prevalence and Predictors of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Undergraduate Students at a Dental School in Saudi Arabia

Objective

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries to the musculoskeletal (MSK) system that occur due to repetitive or singular trauma and negatively affect one’s daily life. Dentistry is a field that exposes professionals to the highest rate of work-related MSDs. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of MSK pain among a sample of dental students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 377 dental students and interns at the dental school of King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We distributed a validated questionnaire, the Nordic Back Pain Questionnaire, which included additional questions, to all dental students participating in clinical practice and to dental interns. Categorical variables were described by presenting frequencies and percentages, and continuous variables by displaying means and standard deviations. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors for developing MSK pain over the last 12 months.

Results

Overall, 91.2% of the participants experienced MSK pain or discomfort in one or more body parts over the last 12 months. The highest prevalence was for neck pain (69.2%), followed by shoulder pain (67.1%) and lower back pain (65%). Females were more likely than males to experience MSK pain (odds ratio [OR] = 2.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–6.7), and those who exercised regularly were less likely to experience MSK pain than were those who did not (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.1–0.6).

Conclusion

This study showed a concerningly high prevalence of MSD symptoms among dental students, especially in the neck, shoulders, and lower back. Educational and occupational health programs in preclinical years could be effective for reducing MSK pain.

Allergic and Respiratory Symptoms in Employees of Indoor Cannabis Grow Facilities

BACKGROUND

While little is known about the occupational hazards associated with Cannabis cultivation, both historical research in the hemp industry and preliminary data from modern grow houses, suggest that Cannabis workers may be at increased risk of respiratory and allergic diseases.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to investigate the association between workplace exposures and health symptoms in an indoor Cannabis grow facility in Washington State, USA.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study with all consenting employees in an indoor Cannabis grow facility in Seattle, WA using a questionnaire. The questionnaire gathered data on respiratory, ocular, nasal, and dermal symptoms. A subset of employees with work-related symptoms underwent repeated cross-shift and cross-week measurement of spirometry, fractional exhaled nitrogen oxide (FeNO), and skin prick testing for Cannabis sensitization. Exposure to Cannabis dust was classified based on self-described tasks, expert opinion, and exposure monitoring of particulate matter. Multivariable logistic regression was undertaken to examine associations between exposure to Cannabis dust (classified as low, medium, and high) and health symptoms. Linear mixed effects models examined the relationship between cross-shift and cross-week changes in spirometry and FeNO.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven percent (97%) of the employees (n = 31) surveyed were recreational cannabis users, with 81% (n = 25) smoking cannabis multiple times per day. Twenty-two (71%) employees reported one or more work-related symptoms: 65% respiratory, 39% ocular, 32% nasal, and 26% dermal symptoms. There was a trend toward increased likelihood of work-related symptoms with increasing exposure to Cannabis dust, although none of these results were statistically significant. Of the 10 employees with work-aggravated symptoms, 5 had borderline-high or high FeNO, 7 had abnormal spirometry, and 5 had evidence of Cannabis sensitization on skin prick testing. FeNO increased by 3.78 ppb (95% confidence interval 0.68-6.88 ppb) across the work-week and there was a trend toward cross-week and cross-shift reduced airflow.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high prevalence of work-related allergic- and particularly respiratory symptoms in the employees of one indoor Cannabis grow facility in Washington State. A high proportion of employees with work-aggravated symptoms had findings consistent with probable work-related asthma based on high FeNO, airflow obstruction on spirometry, and Cannabis sensitization on skin prick testing. However, due to the high incidence of recreational cannabis use among these workers, the relative influence of occupational versus recreational exposure to Cannabis dust on the respiratory health and sensitization status of these workers could not be resolved in this study.

Work stress-related problems in physicians in the time of COVID-19

OBJECTIVES

Healthcare workers in the emergency department are exposed to a wide range of physical and psycho-social risks or hazards in the workplace. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of exposure to, the occurrence and perceived risks of, and the worry about, occupational hazards among emergency and hospital physicians in the time of COVID.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Based on the review of occupational hazards in emergency physicians, a questionnaire already used and validated in another study, conducted in 2016, was constructed. The questionnaire consisted of both socio-demographic questions and questions regarding the exposure to, the occurrence and perceived risks of, and the worry about, the following occupational hazards: infectious diseases, COVID-19, physical hazards, violence at work, and stressful situations at work that can cause burnout. A total of 497 questionnaires were distributed to Belgian emergency and hospital physicians in April 20-May 26, 2020.

RESULTS

Overall, 319 responses (out of 497 questionnaires) were collected, of which 196 were eligible for statistical analysis. Of the respondents, 32% stated to be confronted with violence and 54% to suffer from health problems related to their work. The exposure to, and the occurrence and perceived risks of, occupational hazards and, more specifically, the exposure to COVID-19 (88%) and its occurrence (10%), and also the worry about these hazards, appear to be high in physicians working in the emergency department. The worry about each of these outcomes is predicted by the supposed exposure, occurrence, and perceived risks.

CONCLUSIONS

The exposure to, and the occurrence and perceived risks of, physical hazards, violence and burnout are generally high in physicians in the time of COVID-19. Emergency and hospital physicians in Belgium worry the most about the impact of violence, burnout and COVID-19. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(3):373-83.

Assessing the awareness on occupational safety and health hazards among nursing staff of a teaching hospital

Introduction:

Occupational safety and health hazards in healthcare facilities play a significant role in the lives of care providers and also contribute toward quality patient care. Healthcare workforce gets exposed to physical, chemical, biological, and psychological hazards while discharging their duties, thus demanding for proper knowledge and awareness to address the same.

Objectives:

As nursing staff implement the care process directed by the physicians, the current study conducted at a teaching hospital aimed at assessing their awareness on occupational safety and health hazards.

Methodology:

A prospective study was conducted on a pilot basis for a period of 3 months in various nursing areas of the hospital. The questionnaire aimed at assessing the awareness of nursing staff on occupational safety and health hazards (5-point scale) was administered on nursing staff (150/170]. Total scores and percentage of responses were computed and the degree of correlation was observed as 0.4 between the participants age, educational qualifications, and total scores.

Results:

Participant response rate was 88% (150/170). Awareness on occupational safety and health hazards were shown as 43.4%- accidental falls at workplace, 42.7%- complete awareness on latex allergies, 52.7% on dermatitis and respiratory problems, 42% complete aware on accidental fires, 39.4%- burns, 36.7%- electric shocks, 59.4%- complete awareness on biological infections, 54%- respiratory disorders, 48.7%- skin allergies, awareness on usage of PPE to prevent: 67.4%-respiratory problems, 44%- accidental falls; 77.4%- importance of handwashing, 78% - significance of Hepatitis B vaccination, 71.4% - usage of first aid kits in minor accidents, 60%- reporting incidents, and 58%- documentation system for incident reporting. Sum total of scores revealed that 73.3% of the participants were found to be completely aware about all the components of occupational health and safety mentioned in the questionnaire. 22.6%- aware, 3.3%- moderately aware, and < 1% were slightly aware of the same.

Conclusions:

The study had highlighted the areas that require knowledge enhancement on occupational safety and health hazards which helps in adopting the best practices at workplace.

Silicosis

Occupational exposures to dust with elevated levels of respirable crystalline silica in artificial stone increase workers' risk for silicosis.

Risk factors and prevalence of work-related injuries and accidents among veterinarians in India

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Veterinary medicine is a high-risk occupation and imparts a risk of physical injuries due to the unpredictable nature of the animals and workplace conditions. This study aimed to identify the associated risk factors and prevalence of work-related injuries, and automobile accidents among veterinarians in India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out among veterinarians (n=565). The responses were recorded using a self-administered questionnaire on work-related injuries, automobile accidents, and physical hazards.

RESULTS

Work-related injuries due to animals in the past 2 years were reported by more than half of veterinarians (prevalence=54.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]=50.58-58.79), while two-thirds experienced workplace injuries due to animals during any time of their career. The risk for injury was 1.1 times higher (odds ratio=1.1, 95% CI=0.611, 1.981) for veterinarians with a long job duration (>10 years). Large animal practicing veterinarians faced a higher (2.03 times) risk of injury. Workplace absenteeism due to animal-related injury (up to 15 or more days) was reported by 25.9% (95% CI=22.44-29.68) of respondents, including hospitalizations for 7.8% of veterinarians. More than half of veterinarians suffered from automobile injuries (prevalence=60.9%, 95% CI=6.8-64.8) due to work-related travel in the past 2 years, resulting in workplace absenteeism for 56.2% (95% CI=51.46-60.97) of subjects. The prevalence of needlestick injury among veterinarians was very high and reported as 80.9% (95% CI=77.49-83.99). Recapping of needles significantly increased the risk of needlestick injury by 1.67 times.

CONCLUSION

Veterinarians are at risk of work-related injuries, including automobile accidents. Kicking by animals and needlestick injuries were the most frequent physical hazards. Recapping of needles and responding to emergency calls at night were significant risk factors for needlestick injury and automobile accidents, respectively.

Occupational Health of Agricultural Women Workers in India

Background:

Women in Agriculture form a significant portion of the productive work force in Indian economy. Occupational Health is a vital component of nation's infrastructure and it focuses on the physical, mental and social well being of workers. In India, Occupational Heath among agricultural women is a public health issue which needs immediate attention.

Objectives:

To study the association between health and agriculture, the occupational hazards and health problems faced by agricultural women workers and the related policy provisions in India.

Methods:

An extensive literature review and data search were done using online search engines, peer reviewed articles and the reports of various departments of Government of India.

Results:

The result reveals that Occupational health hazards have a direct impact on the physical and mental health of women workers.

Conclusion:

Implementation of social security and welfare measures by the Government for the agricultural women could enhance the health of women workers.

Air disinfection procedures in the dental office during the COVID-19 pandemic

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) generated a huge pressure on health care systems worldwide and exposed their lack of preparation for a major health crisis. In the times of a respiratory disease pandemic, members of the dental profession, due to having a direct contact with the patients' oral cavity, body fluids and airborne pathogens, are exposed to a great occupational hazard of becoming infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The authors carried out a systematic literature search using the main online databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, UpToDate, Embase, and Web of Science) with the following keywords: "COVID-19," "2019-nCoV," "coronavirus," "SARS-CoV-2," "dental COVID-19," "dentistry COVID-19," "occupational hazards dentistry," "ventilation," "air disinfection," "airborne transmission," "hydrogen peroxide disinfection," "UV disinfection," "ozone disinfection," "plasma disinfection," and "TiO₂ disinfection." They included publications focused on COVID-19 features, occupational hazards for dental staff during COVID-19 pandemic, and methods of air disinfection. They found that due to the work environment conditions, if appropriate measures of infection control are not being implemented, dental offices and dental staff can become a dangerous source of COVID-19 transmission. That is why the work safety protocols in dentistry have to be revised and additional methods of decontamination implemented. The authors specifically advise on the utilization of wildly accepted methods like ultraviolet germicidal irradiation with additional disinfection systems, which have not been introduced in dentistry yet, like vaporized hydrogen peroxide, non-thermal plasma and air filters with photocatalytic disinfection properties. Due to its toxicity, ozone is not the first-choice method for air decontamination of enclosed clinical settings. Med Pr. 2021;72(1):39-48.