Studies on health hazards among cooks providing school lunch service. Report 1. The influence of working conditions in central and school kitchens prevalence of health hazards

Since the School Lunch Law was enacted in 1954, the school lunch program in Japan has seen rapid development, mainly in compulsory schools. Eighty-four percent of all pupils in compulsory schools are fed lunch, and nearly half of the meals are provided by the central kitchen system. There has been much criticism of the central kitchen system concerning the quality of the meals. Recently, it has been demonstrated that many cooks suffer from musculo-skeletal symptoms in their necks, shoulders, arms and lower backs. This paper discusses the relationship between the cooking work load and health hazards by comparing the tasks of cooks in the central kitchen system with those of cooks in individual school kitchens. All the female cooks in one prefecture were queried by a mail survey method. The respondents totalled 1,428 (response rate 68%). Of this number, 186 work in 15 central kitchens (group C) and the other 1,242 work in 401 school kitchens (group S). In addition physical examinations were carried out on cooks who registered serious complaints in the questionnaires and on those who wanted to undergo the examination. The results are as follows: The work load in the central kitchens is greater than that in the school kitchens. Both groups C and S complained of cervicobrachial symptoms and low-back pain as frequently as other workers already reported to be in a high risk of these hazards. Group C suffer from these hazards more frequently and seriously than group S. Group C assigned "carrying heavy objects" as a cause of low-back pain and cervicobrachial symptoms more frequently than group S. This was related to the difference in numbers of meals served by groups C and S. As a result of the physical examination, serious cases of cervicobrachial disorders and/or low-back pain were found more frequently among cooks who had serious complaints than among other examinees. It was concluded that these results demonstrated a positive relationship between the cooking work load and the development of health hazards. Therefore, if we wish to protect cooks from these hazards, it is not advisable to maintain the current central kitchen system.     

Mental health and work environment of a group of public health preventive service users

BACKGROUND: In a previous organizational study we proposed shared technical initiatives in public occupational health and mental health public services dedicated to mental health at work which is now completely neglected. OBJECTIVES: To study the occupational mental health demand in public health services users by improving shared tools among public health services. METHODS: Data collection on socio-demographic characteristics, relationship between mental health and working environment, organizational constraints in a group of mental, occupational and public health service users (no 90). RESULTS: A third of the users, mostly women, described the working environment as negative for mental health. The main reported organizational constraints were poor career possibilities, relationship with the public and workload. Inadequate workload is the leading cause for a negative evaluation of working conditions for mental health. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that mental health at work is a public health problem that has to be better investigated using tools shared between mental and occupational health services.     

Perception and prevalence of work-related health hazards among health care workers in public health facilities in southern India

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.     

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.

     

Psychosocial hazards and seafarer health: priorities for research and practice

This paper discusses the changing nature of work and the emergence and prevalence of psychosocial hazards. It addresses their effect on worker health with particular emphasis on the issue of work-related stress. It then considers how these hazards affect seafarer health in the light of current working conditions in the maritime sector. Finally, specific recommendations are made for future directions for research and practice in relation to these issues.     

Psychosocial aspects of interventions in occupational safety and health

Attention to psychosocial hazards in work environments should become an increasingly important component of occupational safety and health interventions. Research findings have linked a number of measurable psychosocial characteristics with negative psychological and physiological consequences. Some serious physical health hazards have also been found to have psychosocial components. Several economic trends indicate that more jobs will be created with high levels of psychosocial hazards. These economic trends include a decline in wages, a move away from a manufacturing base, increased hours of work, a decline in unionization rates, and poorly implemented technological changes. Intervention strategies developed to reduce psychosocial stressors must address the multiple cause of psychosocial hazards and the multiple symptoms they produce. Additional challenges include assessing psychosocial changes within the sometimes contradictory framework of organizational and social changes. Nevertheless, comprehensive efforts to improve both the health and safety and the overall quality of working life need to incorporate psychosocial variables into their designs. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Occupational hazards and self-reported health problems of butchers in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria

Aim

Butchers are engaged in small-scale enterprises and their work involves contact with live animals, their carcasses, blood and body fluids. The purpose of this study was to assess the occupational hazards and health problems of butchers in Nigeria.

Subjects and methods

A cross-sectional design was used. Questionnaires were administered to butchers in selected markets and abattoirs in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria to collect information on socio demographic and occupational characteristics, perceived occupational hazards and health problems. Their hands were examined for evidence of dermatitis. Chi-squared test was used to test associations between health problems and butchers’ characteristics.

Results

Four hundred and eighty-five butchers participated in the survey, 434 males (90 %) and 52 females (10 %). Perceived occupational hazards reported were knives, 400 (82 %), live cows 111 (23 %) and bones 28 (6 %) all of which cause injury. Other hazards reported were dirty environment, 17 (3 %), wet/slippery floors 7 (1 %) and hot water 6 (1 %). Current health problems were low back pain, muscular and joint pain, eye irritation and knife injuries. Apprentices reported more knife injuries than butchers, 22 and 12 % respectively x ²?=?9.42, p?=?0.04. Hand dermatitis was seen in 11 % of butchers and was more prevalent among females than males, 24 % and 9 % respectively x ²?=?7.63, p?=?0.02.

Conclusion

The main health problems reported by butchers were musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. Occupational health intervention for these workers should address injury prevention, wound care, the use of appropriate protective clothing and correct postures at work.     

Impact of late and prolonged working life on subjective health: the Swedish experience

This paper explores the relationship between the prolongation of working life and subjective health. Drawing on a unique combination of longitudinal data and the results of a postal survey in Sweden, we investigate the health consequences of extending working life beyond the normal retirement age of 65. To do this, we compare the health status of two groups of retired people: one group who left the labour market completely at the age of 65, and a second group who remained in employment after the age of 65. Using a standard linear probability model and controlling for a range of socio-economic variables as well as previous labour market experiences, perceived life expectancy, pre-retirement income and health, our estimations show that those continuing to work after 65 on average display a 6.8% higher probability of reporting better health during retirement than those leaving at the age of 65. However, we find that this positive correlation between the extension of working life and health is only transitory. After 6 years of retirement, the health advantage of working after the normal retirement age disappears. Furthermore, we did not find any evidence that working after the age of 65 is positively correlated with physical fitness, self-reported depressive symptoms or well-being.

     

Workplace health hazards: analysis of hotline calls over a six-year period.

Between 1981-1986 a state-based occupational health telephone hotline received more than 8,000 inquiries on over 3,000 hazardous agents. Major caller groups were employees (37%), employers (20%), health care providers, primarily physicians (19%), government agencies (12%), and labor unions (6%). Employees were the fastest growing caller group. Callers inquired about general health hazards of chemicals (65%), the relation of symptoms to work (22%), and risks to pregnancy (13%).     

Cervicobrachial disorders in school-lunch female cooks

To clarify the relationship between the cervicobrachial disorders in the school-lunch female cooks and number of lunch, 15 elementary school-lunch cooks of O town whose quorum were observed by the standard of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and 19 cooks of M town whose quorum was one more than the standard were examined medically and their work conditions were also investigated. Results were as follows: 1) There were significantly (p less than 0.01) more cooks medically classified as "Normal (A)" in M town than in O town. Conversely, cooks classified as "Need therapy (C)" were more numerous in O town (p less than 0.01) than in M town (p less than 0.05). 2) In clinical findings prevalence rates such as median nerve extension test, cinesalgia in the neck, tenderness (flexor tendon of the lst finger of the hand, trapezius muscle, rhomboid muscle, teres minor muscle, brachioradial muscle) were higher in O town cooks than in M town cooks significantly (p less than 0.05). Complaint rates of the subjective symptoms or activities of daily living such as "pain in the neck," "pain in the arms," "want to lie down at free time" were higher in O town cooks than those in M town cooks significantly (p less than 0.05). 3) Average numbers of lunch and classes per cook were 137 lunch and 3.3 classes for O town cooks, and 114 and 2.9 for M town cooks, respectively. The average number of lunch of two towns were significantly different (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Work hazards and workers’ mental health: an investigation based on the fifth European Working Conditions Survey

Background:Workplace hazards are a significant source of health impairment for workers and of financial losses for firms. EU directives on workers’ health and safety standards significantly contributed to reduce reported occupational injuries, yet the incidence and prevalence of work-related mental illness is still very high.Objectives:We investigated the association between work-related hazards and individuals’ perceived mental health. We reviewed the existing evidence on the channels through which task-related factors, adverse agents and psychosocial factors are expected to affect workers’ health, with specific regard to mental health.Methods:We used data from the fifth wave of the European Working Conditions Survey, covering over 40,000 face-to-face interviews with workers in 34 countries, which includes information on socio-demographic characteristics, firms and jobs attributes, employment status, as well as working conditions and health status. We carried out an empirical analysis with multivariate regression models in order to estimate the relationship between workers’ mental health problems and workplace risk factors.Results:21,020 interviews were used in the multivariate analysis. We found strong correlations between hazards and various indicators of mental health. Among hazardous agents, low temperatures (β=0.0287) and contact with infectious materials (β=0.0394) were positively associated with mental health outcomes. Among task/sequence-related factors, tiring or painful positions (β=0.0713), repetitive hand/arm movements (β=0.0255), working with VDUs (β=0.0301), repetitive tasks <10 min (β=0.0859) and working in evenings (β=0.00754) were positively associated with mental health. Various psychosocial risk factors related to both the content of the job (for example, frequent disruptive interruptions: β=0.219, working in free time: β=0.0759, poor work-life balance: β=0.228) as well as the job context (for example, bad employment prospects: β=0.177, low decisional autonomy: β=0.245, bad social relations: β=0.186, workplace violence: β=0.411) were positively associated with mental health. The main results of the decomposition show that an important contribution to workers’ overall mental distress at work is associated with psychosocial risk factors (up to 60% for depression/anxiety symptoms and sleep disorders), while the contribution of somatic factors is on average lower (up to 20% for overall fatigue).Conclusions:We argue that action is needed to improve workers’ mental well-being, and reduce the economic costs for both the national health system and employers. Regulations and traditional economic measures are unlikely to prove successful in providing adequate standards of primary and secondary preventive measures in the work place without an appropriate and reliable Risk Assessment Procedure.Key words: Work hazards, risk assessment, job content, mental health     

某汽车制造厂主要职业病危害因素及其对工人健康的影响

目的了解广州市某汽车制造企业存在的主要职业病危害因素和工人的健康状况,以便及时发现存在的问题,提出合理化建议。方法对2011年该汽车制造企业的职业病危害因素监测和工人健康检查资料进行分析。结果该企业的主要职业病危害因素是噪声、电焊烟尘、锰及其化合物等,作业场所噪声强度和空气中锰及其化合物浓度合格率分别为59.6%、87.5%,电焊烟尘、其他粉尘合格率分别为87.5%、88.9%,其余均符合国家职业卫生标准。工人慢性咽炎、心电图异常、脂肪肝和慢性鼻炎患病率分别为35.5%、24.2%、11.2%和10.4%。噪声接触工人较非接触工人听力明显下降(χ2=13.409,P0.01),接触粉尘工人慢性鼻炎患病率显著高于非接触工人(χ2=3.905,P=0.048);电焊作业工人尿锰含量明显高于非电焊工人(χ2=47.477,P0.01)。结论噪声是该企业最严重的职业病危害因素,对接触工人造成了听力损伤,听力损伤发生率随接触工龄延长而增加,存在剂量-反应关系,值得重视,同时应加强对粉尘和电焊烟尘接触工人的健康检查。     

Food service in long day care centres--an opportunity for public health intervention

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of long day care centre operations, food service management practices, and nutrition resources use and needs. METHOD: In October 1996, all 330 long day care centres in Western Australia were surveyed by telephone to gather information to help develop strategies for food service improvement. RESULTS: The response rate was 85%. An accreditation committee directed operations in 76% of centres. Most centres employed a cook with limited or no cooking training. Coordinators identified training needs for cooks that are specific to the National Childcare Accreditation Council's Quality Improvement and Accreditation System (QIAS) guidelines: food hygiene; nutritional and food requirements of children; menu planning; and multicultural cooking. CONCLUSIONS: National standards for the quantification of foods to meet children's nutritional requirements in long day care would allow for consistency in educating child care workers, training cooks, and establishing and assessing government regulations and the QIAS guidelines. Nine recommendations for strategies to improve food service in long day care are presented. IMPLICATIONS: There are two main messages for public health practitioners working to improve the quality of food served to children in long day care: the strong influence of the QIAS guidelines, and the need for specific nutrition recommendations.     

Working conditions and the relationship between schooling and health.

This paper's main objective is to investigate an occupational linkage in the empirically observed positive relationship between schooling and health. Combining results from the health economics literature and labor economic studies of occupational choice, a theoretical model is developed which allows schooling to affect health directly and indirectly, through choice of work environment and other market inputs in health production. The model is estimated using data from the 1980 Health Interview Survey, combined with occupational information from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. The empirical results indicate the existence of a small occupation effect in the schooling-health relationship, but this effect is conservatively estimated and biased downward given the presence of unobserved differences in individuals' initial health status. The general findings highlight the importance of investigating the health effects of occupational hazards using longitudinal data and comprehensive measures of hazards which include stress at work.     

Psychosocial job quality,mental health,and subjective wellbeing: a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline wave of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health

Background

Employment status and working conditions are strong determinants of male health, and are therefore an important focus in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (Ten to Men). In this paper, we describe key work variables included in Ten to Men, and present analyses relating psychosocial job quality to mental health and subjective wellbeing at baseline.

Methods

A national sample of males aged 10 to 55 years residing in private dwellings was drawn using a stratified multi-stage cluster random sample design. Data were collected between October 2013 and July 2014 for a cohort of 15,988 males, representing a response fraction of 35 %. This analysis was restricted to 18–55 year old working age participants (n?=?13,456). Work-related measures included employment status, and, for those who were employed, a number of working conditions including an ordinal scale of psychosocial job quality (presence of low job control, high demand and complexity, high job insecurity, and low fairness of pay), and working time-related stressors such as long working hours and night shift work. Associations between psychosocial job quality and two outcome measures, mental ill-health and subjective wellbeing, were assessed using multiple linear regression.

Results

The majority of participants aged 18–55 years were employed at baseline (85.6 %), with 8.4 % unemployed and looking for work, and 6.1 % not in the labour force. Among employed participants, there was a high prevalence of long working hours (49.9 % reported working more than 40 h/week) and night shift work (23.4 %). Psychosocial job quality (exposure to 0/1/2/3+ job stressors) prevalence was 36 %/ 37 %/ 20 %/ and 7 % of the working respondents. There was a dose–response relationship between psychosocial job quality and each of the two outcome measures of mental health and subjective wellbeing after adjusting for potential confounders, with higher magnitude associations between psychosocial job quality and subjective wellbeing.

Conclusions

These results extend the study of psychosocial job quality to demonstrate associations with a global measure of subjective wellbeing. Ten to Men represents a valuable new resource for the longitudinal and life course study of work and health in the Australian male population.

     

Causes of health and safety hazards in Canadian agriculture

Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous occupations in the world, even in industrialized countries. One of the major differences between Canadian agriculture and most other sectors of the economy is that the vast majority of farmers are self-employed. Consequently their particular relations of production are expected to have an impact on the issue of work health and safety. After a review of the nature and extent of work accidents, deaths, illness, and injuries in farmers and farm workers, the article focuses on the causes of such hazards. These causes are analyzed with reference to individual, institutional, and structural factors. The author argues that institutional and structural factors seem to be of paramount importance in explaining the severity of farm health hazards.     

Consumption of alcoholic beverages and subjective health in Spain

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between alcohol and main alcoholic beverage consumption and subjective health in Spain. DESIGN: Logistic regression analysis using a cross sectional survey based on self reported data on alcohol and alcoholic beverage consumption, subjective health and the principal confounding factors (age, sex, civil status, educational level, job status, social support, region of residence, size of town or city, tobacco consumption, physical activity during leisure time and work hours, and chronic disease). SETTING: The 1993 Spanish National Health Survey. PARTICIPANTS: A 19 573 person sample, representative of the non-institutionalised Spanish population aged 16 years and over. MAIN RESULTS: Among Spaniards, 31.4% reported their health as suboptimal (fair, poor or very poor) and 56.9% consumed alcohol regularly, with the majority having a preference for wine. Light (1-2 drinks per day) or moderate consumption (3-4 drinks per day) was the most frequent pattern. After adjusting for confounding factors, a negative dose-response relation was observed between consumption of total alcohol, wine and beer, and prevalence of suboptimal health (linear trend: p<0.001 for total alcohol, p=0.023 for wine, and p=0.030 for beer). In contrast, for consumption of spirits the prevalence of ill health in moderate drinkers was lower than in non-drinkers, with no clear relation at higher consumption. While persons reporting a preference for wine had a lower frequency of suboptimal health than did abstainers, they showed no difference in frequency of subjective ill health with respect to persons with preference for other types of drink or no preference whatsoever. CONCLUSIONS: The higher the consumption of total alcohol, wine and beer, the lower the prevalence of suboptimal health. These results differ from those obtained in several Nordic countries, where a "J shaped" relation has been observed for total alcohol and wine, and suggest that the relation between alcohol consumption and subjective health may be different in Mediterranean countries.     

Analysis of subjective symptoms of upper extremities in dental technicians

Our review of the literature showed no report on the subjective symptoms of the upper extremities in dental technicians. This study was therefore undertaken on 164 dental technicians in Gifu Prefecture to investigate the relationship between the subjective symptoms of the hands, arms and shoulders and work of dental technicians. The following results were obtained. 1) The prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon and numbness of the fingers was 5.5 and 18.5 %, respectively. A significant positive correlation was observed between the prevalence and frequency of numbness and cold sensation in the fingers and the daily usage time (h) of high-speed type machines. In addition, pain in the fingers and around the wrists, and pain and numbness in the arms were significantly related to the daily usage time (h) of low-speed type machines. These results suggest that the usage of high- and low-speed type machines may be a cause of vibration syndrome among dental technicians. 2) A high prevalence of pain in the shoulders (30.8%), neck (30.1%), and back (36.3%) was observed in dental technicians. It is considered that these symptoms are related to the working posture and usage of machines.     

健康促进对职业危害控制效果的研究

目的应用健康促进手段对职业健康危害因素进行干预,为今后有效地开展职业健康促进提供科学依据。方法选择某公司中接触健康有害因素的现场作业人员,对其实施综合性健康促进干预,对比干预前、后目标人群的职业卫生知识、认知情况,作业环境和职工健康状况的改善情况。结果干预后,作业者职业卫生知识知晓率由干预前的51.91%提高到了81.45%,但对岗位职业危害的认知情况仍然不高;作业环境的几种主要指标的达标率均接近90%;除听力损失外,反映健康状况的其他指标的达标率也绝大多数超过了97%。结论综合性的职业健康促进干预措施能够有效地控制作业环境中存在的职业健康危害因素,职业性紧张和岗位危害的防护应成为今后优先考虑的问题。