The influence of demographics and working conditions on self-reported injuries among Latino day laborers

Background: The majority of day laborers in the USA are Latinos. They are engaged in high-risk occupations and suffer high occupational injury rates.Objectives: To describe on-the-job injuries reported by Latino day laborers, explore the extent that demographic and occupational factors predict injuries, and whether summative measures for total job types, job conditions, and personal protective equipment (PPE) predict injuries.Methods: A community survey was conducted with 327 participants at 15 corners in Houston, Texas. Hierarchical and multiple logistic regressions explored predictors of occupational injury odds in the last year.Results: Thirty-four percent of respondents reported an occupational injury in the previous year. Education, exposure to loud noises, cold temperatures, vibrating machinery, use of hard hats, total number of job conditions, and total PPE significantly predicted injury odds.Conclusion: Risk for injury among day laborers is not only the product of a specific hazard, but also the result of their exposure to multiple occupational hazards.     

Risk of injury by job assignment among federal wildland firefighters,United States, 2003–2007

Abstract

Background: Wildland fires cost billions of dollars annually and expose thousands of firefighters to a variety of occupational hazards. Little is known about injury patterns among wildland firefighters.

Methods: We examined non-fatal firefighter injuries among federal wildland firefighters reported to the US Department of the Interior for the years 2003–2007. The risk of disabling injury by job assignment, controlling for demographic and temporal variables, was assessed with logistic regression.

Results: Of the 1301 non-fatal injuries, slips, trips, and falls were the most frequent injury types and sprains/strains were the most common injury. Engine crew workers suffered a third of all injuries. Handcrews and helitak/smokejumper assignments had increased odds of sprains and strains, which were the most common injury overall.

Conclusions: While some injuries are equally prevalent by job assignment, others vary. Identifying hazards leading to these injuries will be essential to develop prevention strategies.     

Prevalence of occupational injury and its contributing factors among rubber tappers in Galle,Sri Lanka

Background: Rubber tapping involves carrying heavy loads, navigating rough terrain, and using sharp tools. However, little is known about occupational injury among this vulnerable working population.

Objective: To assesses the prevalence, severity, and contributing factors associated with occupational injury among Sri Lankan rubber tappers and to identify possible interventions to improve occupational safety.

Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 300 Sri Lankan rubber tappers. The associations between tapper characteristics and injury within the last year were examined using log-binomial regression models. Short response answers were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results: 300 tappers reported 594 injuries in the previous 12 months, and missed 1,080 days of work. The prevalence of one or more injuries was 49%. Factors associated with injury were being female, working an additional job, tapping with a two-handed approach, and depressive symptomology. Qualitative findings suggest three interventions to address injuries: (1) landscaping, (2) personal protective equipment, and (3) provision of eyeglasses.

Conclusions: Work-related injuries are common among Sri Lankan rubber tappers. These results highlight the importance of working with and including informal workers in the creation of Sri Lankan occupational health and safety regulations. We believe that the three interventions identified by respondents could help to reduce the risk of occupational injury among rubber tappers.     

Hospital support services and the impacts of outsourcing on occupational health and safety

Background: Outsourcing labor is linked to negative impacts on occupational health and safety (OHS). In British Columbia, Canada, provincial health care service providers outsource support services such as cleaners and food service workers (CFSWs) to external contractors.

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of outsourcing on the occupational health safety of hospital CFSWs through a mixed methods approach.

Methods: Worker’s compensation data for hospital CFSWs were analyzed by negative binomial and multiple linear regressions supplemented by iterative thematic analysis of telephone interviews of the same job groups.

Results: Non-significant decreases in injury rates and days lost per injury were observed in outsourced CFSWs post outsourcing. Significant decreases (P < 0.05) were observed in average costs per injury for cleaners post outsourcing. Outsourced workers interviewed implied instances of underreporting workplace injuries.

Conclusions: This mixed methods study describes the impact of outsourcing on OHS of healthcare workers in British Columbia. Results will be helpful for policy-makers and workplace regulators to assess program effectiveness for outsourced workers.     

Cost of Compensated Injuries and Occupational Diseases in Agriculture in Finland

Abstract

Although agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries, the costs of agricultural injuries and illnesses are not well known. This study aimed to determine the cost burden from compensated injuries and occupational diseases in Finnish agriculture using workers compensation records.

The incidence rates in 1996 were 7.4/100 for injuries and 0.61/100 for occupational diseases. Men had a higher risk of injury (RR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.81-1.97), but a lower risk of an occupational disease (RR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.60-0.78), compared to women. The total cost burden was €75 (Euros) per person in 1983, increasing to €215 in 1999. The total insurance cost in 1996 was €23.5 million consisting of medical care (16%), per diem (lost time compensation within one year from the incident) (37%), pension (lost time compensation after one year from the incident) (23%), survivors pension (3%), impairment allowance (7%), rehabilitation (6%), and other costs (9%). The total cost was 0.7% of the national gross farm income and 2.2% of the net farm income. The mean cost of 1996 cases was €1340 for injuries and €6636 for occupational diseases. Injuries represented 92% of the claims and 71% of the total costs. Occupational diseases represented 8% of the claims and 29% of the costs. Twenty percent of the most severe claims represented 79.5% of the total insurance costs.

Injuries and occupational diseases result in significant costs in agriculture. Lost time was the largest cost item. Overall, injuries were more costly than occupational diseases. This study indicates that the 20%-80% rule applies to agricultural injury and illness costs, and from the cost standpoint, it is important to focus prevention efforts on the most severe incidents.     

Karl Morgan and Alice Stewart,Survivors on the Nuclear Stage

Abstract

Background:

Health care workers (HCWs) are exposed to occupational related health hazards. Measuring worker perception and the prevalence of these hazards can help facilitate better risk management for HCWs, as these workers are envisaged to be the first point of contact, especially in resource poor settings.

Objective:

To describe the perception of occupational health hazards and self-reported exposure prevalence among HCWs in Southern India.

Methods:

We used cross sectional design with stratified random sampling of HCWs from different levels of health facilities and categories in a randomly selected district in Southern India. Data on perception and exposure prevalence were collected using a structured interview schedule developed by occupational health experts and administered by trained investigators.

Results:

A total of 482 HCWs participated. Thirty nine percent did not recognize work-related health hazards, but reported exposure to at least one hazard upon further probing. Among the 81·5% who reported exposure to biological hazard, 93·9% had direct skin contact with infectious materials. Among HCWs reporting needle stick injury, 70·5% had at least one in the previous three months. Ergonomic hazards included lifting heavy objects (42%) and standing for long hours (37%). Psychological hazards included negative feelings (20·3%) and verbal or physical abuse during work (20·5%).

Conclusion:

More than a third of HCWs failed to recognize work-related health hazards. Despite training in handling infectious materials, HCWs reported direct skin contact with infectious materials and needle stick injuries. Results indicate the need for training oriented toward behavioral change and provision of occupational health services.     

Literature review: dermal monitoring data for pesticide exposure assessment of farm workers

Objective: To conduct a literature review to determine the types of information that existing dermal pesticide monitoring data could provide for future pesticide exposure assessment in occupational epidemiology.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on eight online databases. Two screening phases with predetermined criteria identified the qualifying literature. Standard information and dermal pesticide monitoring data were recorded and summarized from each qualifying study to assess its usefulness for future pesticide exposure assessment.

Results: A total of 31 farm studies qualified for review; task information was used to standardize all farm job(s) evaluated into 5 job groups: operators, applicators, mixer-loaders, field workers, and flaggers. When attempting to compare dermal exposure levels between studies, two types of variation were identified: (1) variation in study focus and reporting and 2) variation in exposure levels. The former variation type prevented exposure level comparisons between studies. Within studies, exposure levels were compared across body parts to identify that which had the highest measured exposure and to determine if results were similar in other studies that evaluated the same farm job. Using studies that measured exposure for multiple farm jobs, within study comparisons of total body exposure were performed to evaluate work factors.

Conclusion: Future dermal pesticide exposure monitoring studies should standardize reporting procedures, as suggested in this review, to allow for more extensive dermal data comparisons. Body parts with highest measured levels of dermal exposure were identified by farm job, along with work factors to be further investigated as potential dermal pesticide exposure determinants for farm workers.     

Occupational safety measures and morbidity among welders in Vellore,Southern India

Background: Welders in the unorganized occupational sector in the economically developing world are exposed to respiratory, skin, eye, ear, and neurological problems exacerbated by non-usage of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Objective: To study the frequency of health problems and the usage of PPE among welders in unorganized welding units in Vellore, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 150 welders to determine the frequency of skin, ear, eye, and respiratory morbidity and the usage of PPE. A group of 150 non-welders were chosen for comparison.

Results: Significant differences in the frequency of skin burns, redness, hyper pigmentation, itching, eye injuries, and sensorineural deafness were observed among the welders and non-welders (P < 0.001). Hypertension was noted in 12.6% of the welders as compared to 0.7% among the non-welders. None of the welders used appropriate PPE. For welders, low educational attainment was associated with an increased risk of eye injury (P < 0.05, OR = 0.29). There was also a significant difference between sensorineural deafness and a welder having less than 10 years of welding work experience (P < 0.001, OR = 18.18) which could probably be accounted for by the healthy worker effect.

Conclusion: Welders in this sample experienced a significant skin, eye, and ear morbidity accentuated by the non-usage of PPE. All worked without formal training and were unaware of the safe working guidelines that exist, but are not implemented for the welders in India.     

Assessment of Musculoskeletal Injuries Associated with Palpation,Infection Control Practices,and Zoonotic Disease Risks among Utah Clinical Veterinarians

Objectives: Practicing veterinarians are exposed to unique occupational hazards and zoonotic diseases. National studies have highlighted an increase risk to injuries and a lack of veterinary awareness for these hazards. In Utah (and likely other states), reports of acquired zoonoses are sporadic, and underlying risk factors poorly understood. To better clarify occupational risk factors, the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Utah veterinarians were examined.

Methods: A total sample of 809 Utah veterinarians were identified from the 2017 licensure listing provided by the Utah Division of Professional Licensing. These individuals were invited to participate in an internet-based survey to self-report musculoskeletal injuries associated with large animal palpation practices. The relationships between some variables and Precaution awareness (PA) score rankings were examined using logistic regression and odds ratios.

Results: Of 809 veterinarians, 223 (28%) responded, with 209 self-identifying as clinical veterinarians. Frequent palpation of large animals (equine or bovine) was performed by 43 (22%) of 197 responding veterinarians. Joint pain or injury was experienced by 29 (67%) of 43 responding veterinarians who frequently palpated large animals (equine or bovine). Animal bites, needle-sticks, and cuts were the most frequently reported injuries within the past year. There were 44 (22%) of 197 respondents who reported having contracted a zoonotic disease. Most of the respondents failed to use appropriate PPE when examining an ill animal or when handling potentially infectious specimens. Clinical veterinarians who have less than 10 years of experience and work in a practice providing clinic-based services were 2.3 and 3.8 times more likely to have low PA rankings, respectively.

Conclusion: Our work underscores the importance for continued clinical veterinarian education on occupational risks associated with musculoskeletal injuries, animal bites, needle-sticks, and cuts. The fact that survey veterinarians reported a high level of zoonotic disease infection illustrates the need for education and training on proper PPE use. Further work is needed to understand why precaution awareness scores were low among this sample of participants in this study. Additional follow-up with veterinarians is recommended to assess availability of large animal handling facilities and safety practices to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.     

Associations between temporary employment and occupational injury: what are the mechanisms?

Objective

To determine whether observed higher risks of occupational injury among temporary workers are due to exposure to hazardous working conditions and/or to lack of job experience level.

Methods

Data systematically recorded for 2000 and 2001 by the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on fatal and non‐fatal traumatic occupational injuries were examined by type of employment and type of accident, while adjusting for gender, age, occupation, and length of employment in the company. In the study period there were 1500 fatal and 1 806 532 non‐fatal traumatic occupational injuries that occurred at the workplace. Incidence rates and rate ratios (RR) were estimated using Poisson regression models.

Results

Temporary workers showed a rate ratio of 2.94 for non‐fatal occupational injuries (95% CI 2.40 to 3.61) and 2.54 for fatal occupational injuries (95% CI 1.88 to 3.42). When these associations were adjusted by gender, age, occupation, and especially length of employment, they loose statistic significance: 1.05 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.12) for non‐fatal and 1.07 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.26) for fatal.

Conclusions

Lower job experience and knowledge of workplace hazards, measured by length of employment, is a possible mechanism to explain the consistent association between temporary workers and occupational injury. The role of working conditions associated with temporary jobs should be assessed more specifically.     

Work accident victims: a comparison between non-standard and standard workers in Belgium

Background: The fast growth of non-standard employment in developed countries highlights the importance of studying the influence of contract type on worker’s safety and health.

Objective: The main purpose of our study is to investigate whether non-standard workers are more injured than standard workers or not. Additionally, other risk factors for occupational accidents are investigated.

Methods: Data from the Belgian surveys on work ability in 2009 and 2011 are used. During their annual occupational health examination, workers were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire. In total, 1886 complete responses are collected and analyzed using logistic regression.

Results: Temporary workers did not have higher injury rates than permanent workers [OR 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.2–1.2]. Low-educated, less-experienced workers and those exposed to dangerous conditions are more frequent victims of occupational accidents.

Conclusion: The present data do not support the hypothesis that non-standard workers have more injuries than standard workers. Our results about occupational accidents derived from a non-representative sample of the Belgian workforce and cannot be generalized due to the heterogeneity in job organization and labor regulations between countries. Further research is needed to extend our findings and to seek other factors that may be associated with work accidents.     

Injury Rate Comparisons for Nonmechanized and Mechanized Logging Operations,Washington State, 2005-2014

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Current industry classification systems in the United States do not differentiate mechanized and nonmechanized logging operations. The objectives of this article are to quantify injury risk differences between mechanized and nonmechanized logging operations in Washington State and to evaluate for potential injury risk tradeoffs, such as decreasing traumatic injuries while increasing nontraumatic injuries that might occur when mechanized logging operations are substituted for nonmechanized logging operations.

Methods: Using Washington State workers’ compensation insurance risk classes to differentiate mechanized and nonmechanized logging operations, injury and illness claims data and employer reported hours were used to compare claim rates and to characterize injuries by type of logging operation.

Results: From 2005 to 2014, the accepted Washington State worker’s compensation claim rate for nonmechanized logging was 46.4 per 100 full-time equivalent employees compared to 6.7 per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) for mechanized logging activities. The rate ratio for comparing nonmechanized to mechanized logging claims rates for all accepted claims was 6.9 (95% Confidence Interval 6.4–7.5). Claim rates for traumatic injury and nontraumatic injuries in nonmechanized logging exceeded comparable rates in mechanized logging activities, although the distribution of types of injury differed by type of logging operation. A greater percentage of accepted claims in nonmechanized logging were traumatic injuries than in mechanized logging (92.2% vs. 85.0%, respectively). In addition, nonmechanized logging had higher total claim and medical costs per FTE and had a higher proportion of claims with lost work time than mechanized logging.

Conclusion: Mechanized logging offers a considerable safety advantage over nonmechanized logging operations. Continued efforts to increase the mechanization of logging operations will result in decreased injury rates.     

Occupational predictors of urinary dialkyl phosphate concentrations in Mexican flower growers

Background: Flower growers have high potential for exposures to pesticides. Occupational factors, such as tasks performed, the production method (organic or conventional), the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and workplace characteristics influence the intensity of pesticide exposure.

Objective: To evaluate occupational characteristics affecting urinary concentration of dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites of organophosphate pesticides among a group of Mexican floricultural workers.

Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 117 workers who also provided a first morning urine sample. According to tasks performed and the production methods, pesticide contact was defined as low, medium, or high. PPE use was categorized as acceptable, fairly acceptable, and unacceptable. Urinary concentration of DAP metabolites were determined using gas–liquid chromatography. Association between occupational characteristics and DAP urinary concentrations was assessed by means of linear regression models.

Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, the workers in the medium and high contact categories had significantly higher DAP concentrations than those in the low contact category (β: 0.3, CI 95%: 0.1–0.5). Greenhouse workers had greater DAP concentrations than outdoors workers (β: 0.3, CI 95%: 0.1–0.5). Compared with non-acceptable use of PPE, acceptable use of PPE was associated with lower DAP concentrations (β: ?0.4, CI 95% ?0.6 to ?0.1).

Conclusion: Improved safety training is needed for correct PPE usage, especially among flower growers who use conventional pest control methods and who work in a greenhouse environment.     

Occupational health hazards among health care personnel working in public health facilities in Bhubaneswar,India

Background

Health care personnel working in public health facilities comprise a major part of the health care workforce in India and are exposed to a variety of workplace hazards.

Aim

To assess the occupational health hazards and associated risk factors among health care personnel working in public health facilities in Bhubaneswar.

Subject and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 172 health care personnel working in 22 urban primary health centers and four community health centers in the Bhubaneswar Block of the Khordha district in the state of Odisha, during the period from January to December 2017. Relevant data were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule.

Results

Overall, 143 (83.1%) of the participants reported experiencing occupational health hazards, with 89 (51.7%) encountering biological hazards and 130 (75.6%) experiencing non-biological hazards. Stress (38.9%), assault (38.4%), needlestick injury (34.3%), and direct contact with contaminated specimens/body fluids (32.6%) were the most frequently experienced occupational hazards. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that female gender, health care personnel other than doctors, working overtime, dissatisfaction with workplace atmosphere, and not using the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) were independent predictors for experiencing a biological hazard. Similarly, female gender, presence of family conflict, and not using the required PPE were found to be independent predictors for experiencing non-biological hazards.

Conclusion

Health care personnel in public health facilities experience multiple hazards in their workplaces. Results indicate the need for designing and implementing strategies to promote the occupational health of this important section of society.

     

System Failure: Work Organization and Injury Outcomes among Latino Forest Workers

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Forestry services is a hazardous industry with high job-related injury, illness, and fatality rates. The Northwest workforce is largely Spanish-speaking, Latino, and immigrant, working in poor conditions with insufficient attention paid to safety and health. Institutional racism fundamentally shapes the structural vulnerability of Latino immigrant workers. Given this context, we sought to understand how workplace organizational factors and safety climate affect job-related injuries in this industry.

Methods: We developed 23 case studies from personal interviews after selecting from an initial participant survey pool of 99 Latino forest workers in southern Oregon who had been injured at work in the previous 2 years. Workers were recruited through snowball sampling and door-to-door canvassing. Questions spanned work conditions, tasks, employer safety practices, injury experience, medical treatment, and workers’ compensation benefits.

Results: Workers reported broken bones, chainsaw lacerations, back pain, heat and pesticide illnesses, and other occupational injuries. One-third of the cases fell into a Systems Functional category in which they reported their injuries to their supervisors and received medical treatment and workers’ compensation benefits. The remaining two-thirds experienced System Failures with difficulties in receiving medical treatment and/or workers’ compensation benefits, employer direction to not report, being fired, or seeking alternative home remedies.

Conclusion: Workers employed by companies with more indicators of safety climate were more likely to obtain adequate treatment for their injuries and fully recover. Workers for whom interpretation at medical exams was provided by someone unaffiliated with their employers also reported better treatment and recovery outcomes.     

Psychological factors influence the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and their effect on quality of life among firefighters in South Korea

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine psychosocial factors related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and their effects on quality of life (QOL) in firefighters.

Methods: Data were collected from 1217 firefighters in a Korean province. We measured psychological symptoms using the scale. In order to observe the influence of the high-risk group on occupational stress, we conduct logistic multiple linear regression. The correlation between psychological factors and QOL was also analyzed and performed a hierarchical regression analysis.

Results: GERD was observed in 32.2% of subjects. Subjects with GERD showed higher depressive symptom, anxiety and occupational stress scores, and lower self-esteem and QOL scores relative to those observed in GERD – negative subject. GERD risk was higher for the following occupational stress subcategories: job demand, lack of reward, interpersonal conflict, and occupational climate. The stepwise regression analysis showed that depressive symptoms, occupational stress, self-esteem, and anxiety were the best predictors of QOL.

Conclusions: The results suggest that psychological and medical approaches should be combined in GERD assessment.     

Occupational health among Chicago day laborers: an exploratory study

The authors report on the results of an exploratory investigation of the occupational safety experience among day laborers at one street-corner hiring site in Chicago. The authors' goals were to pilot street-corner surveillance methods, including those that would facilitate access to the workers, and to obtain information on the day laborers' occupational safety experience, including the types of jobs and tasks performed, the hazardous conditions encountered, and the frequency of occupational injuries. The authors held interviews at one street corner in Chicago; 21 day laborers participated. All were male, and 90% were Latino. Construction jobs were common. Roofing and demolition were 2 of the most hazardous jobs. Of the respondents, 52% had been injured in the previous year. This exploratory study was a successful first step in occupational injury research among street-corner day laborers and suggests that these workers are frequently exposed to hazardous working conditions without safety training or equipment.     

Prevalence and risk factors associated with work-related eye injuries in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Background: Eye injuries are a prevalent workplace injury and cause substantial disability when vision is impaired.

Objective: To examine work-relatedness of demographic, injury, and clinical characteristics of eye injuries in a large clinic in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Methods: We performed a nine-year retrospective study of patients admitted with an eye injury to the Canton Hospital in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzeogvina. Controlling for age and sex, we used logistic regression to examine the influence of work-relatedness on patient and injury characteristics and clinical outcomes.

Results: Of 258 patients, 71 (27.5%) had work-related and 180 (69.8%) had non-work-related eye injuries. Work-related eye injury was associated with age, education, occupation, and injury type. Agricultural workers were eight times more likely to experience work-related eye injury (95%CI = 1.21–152.0) compared to manual workers. Work-relatedness of injury did not predict final visual acuity or length of hospital stay.

Conclusion: Promotion of eye safety is needed countrywide. Occupational eye protection is a priority due to the relatively proportion of eye injuries and the workplace being a relatively controlled environment.     

ON THE RECURRENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS

This paper represents the first study to estimate counts of individual occupational injuries and claims over long spells of working life (up to 13 years) in the USA. It explores data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. I found that 37% of all surveyed workers who had experienced one on‐the‐job accident reported at least one additional injury, but only 56% of all occupational injuries and illnesses resulted in workers' compensation claims. I estimated different count models to assess the effect of different individual worker and job characteristics on individual injury counts and workers' compensation claims counts. Lower educational levels, less tenure, work in dangerous industries and unskilled occupations, and job demands are found to be important determinants of multiple on‐the‐job injuries. The most interesting results, however, refer to the role played by individuals' pre‐injury characteristics: early exposure to dangerous jobs is among the main determinants of higher counts of occupational injuries later in life. Early health limitations are also significant predictors of recurrent workers' compensation claims. These results provide new evidence about the important role played by both the health and the socioeconomic status of young people as determinants of their future occupational injuries. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.