Minor injuries, cognitive failures and accidents at work: incidence and associated features

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of information examining minor injuries and cognitive failures in the workplace. AIMS: This study aims to describe the incidence of, and characteristics associated with, minor injuries, cognitive failures and accidents in the workplace. METHODS: The study was a community based postal questionnaire survey of people selected at random from the Electoral Registers of Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil; 7980 questionnaires were returned. RESULTS: Frequent/very frequent minor injuries were reported by 9.8% of the workers and frequent/very frequent cognitive failures (e.g. problems of memory, attention or action) by 10.5%. Work accidents requiring treatment were reported by 5.6% of the workers. Minor injuries, cognitive failures and accidents were associated with a number of demographic and health factors. In addition, minor injuries, cognitive failures and accidents were found to be related to each other. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of workers experience accidents and minor injuries at work. Minor injuries are not recorded by official sources but could have implications in productivity and worker health. Factors identified in this study, as associated with injuries or accidents, could be addressed by specific workplace policies or by raising individual awareness of the risks.     

Prevalence, management and impact of urinary incontinence in the workplace

BACKGROUND: The few prior studies of urinary symptoms in the workplace have been small investigations of women in specific occupations (e.g. nursing) or industries (e.g. pottery manufacture). In this study, the aims were to describe the prevalence, management and impact of urinary incontinence for a large cross-section of employed women in the USA. METHODS: Five-page questionnaires were mailed to 5130 American households selected from the National Family Opinion survey panel during the spring of 2004. Usable questionnaires were returned by 3364 women in the target age range of 18-60 years. RESULTS: About 37% of the 2326 employed respondents reported urine loss during the last 30 days. The most common strategies for managing incontinence at work included frequent bathroom breaks and wearing pads. The use of urine control methods increased with the severity of urine loss. The effect of incontinence on workplace activities also increased with the severity of urine loss: 88% of employed women with the most severe symptoms reported at least some negative impact on concentration, performance of physical activities, self-confidence or the ability to complete tasks without interruption. CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence is prevalent among employed women. Those who experience severe symptoms report that it has a negative effect on aspects of work. Programs on the prevalence and impact of urinary incontinence would help educate both employers and employees, and may lead to the development of better management techniques in the workplace.     

Stress in the Norwegian police service

BACKGROUND: High levels of stress have been attributed to the conditions of police work, but there is little empirical evidence for this. AIMS: To develop a new instrument to measure job stress in the police; to assess the most severe and frequent police stressors; to compare levels of stress according to the demographic and organizational factors; and to study stress in relation to personality traits, work locus of control and coping strategies. METHODS: A comprehensive nationwide questionnaire survey of 3272 Norwegian police at all hierarchical levels, including the Norwegian Police Stress Survey (NPSS), the Job Stress Survey, the Basic Character Inventory, the Work Locus of Control Scale, and the Coping Strategies Scale. RESULTS: Work injuries were appraised as the most stressful but least frequent stressor and job pressure was reported the least severe but most frequent stressor. Females experienced job stressors less frequently, but appraised them as more severe than men did. Older police officers reported more job pressure severity and fewer work injuries. The police in districts where peer support was planned but not implemented, and who worked in districts with more than 50,000 inhabitants, perceived the lack of support more severely than others. The correlations between stress and personality traits, work locus of control, and coping were moderate. CONCLUSIONS: The NPSS captures police-specific stressors that are not adequately measured by global stress instruments. The study of stress in police work should preferably involve a nationwide use of police-specific stress instruments.     

Injuries to Scottish farmers while tagging and clipping cattle: a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND: Anecdotal reports suggested that farmers were sustaining significant injuries while ear tagging newborn calves or clipping cattle prior to slaughter. AIMS: This national survey was designed for determining the incidence and nature of self-reported injuries to farmers that were sustained while tagging calves and clipping cattle. METHODS: A cross-sectional, anonymous, postal questionnaire survey was sent to all members of the National Farmers Union of Scotland with beef or dairy cattle (n = 4495). RESULTS: In total, 2439 (54%) usable questionnaires were received and 1341 injuries were reported by 591 (24%) respondents. Tagging-related injuries were reported by 297 (12%) respondents. The most commonly described injury was bruising, but lacerations (3%) and fractures (3%) also occurred. Fifty-eight (20%) individuals lost time from work, with a median of 3 days [interquartile range (IQR) = 2-7 days]. Four hundred and eighteen (17%) respondents reported clipping-related injuries. The most common injury was bruising, but lacerations (6%) and fractures (7%) also occurred. Ninety-five (23%) individuals lost time from work, with a median of 4 days (IQR = 2-14 days). Tagging injuries more commonly affected lower limbs and the trunk, while clipping injuries affected the upper limbs. Tagging injuries were associated with working alone, in an open field and with a vehicle nearby, while clipping injuries were associated with working alone, with beef cattle and with younger age. Both types of injury were associated with injuries from livestock in other circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: Tagging calves and clipping cattle prior to slaughter are associated with a significant risk of injury, which may be severe, necessitating treatment and time lost from work. Policy makers, safety advisers and the farming community should reconsider whether these procedures are necessary and whether current guidelines should be modified in order to improve safety.     

Breakfast and snacks: associations with cognitive failures, minor injuries, accidents and stress

One strategy for examining effects of nutrients on cognitive function is to initially investigate foods that contain many different nutrients. If effects are demonstrated with these foods then further studies can address the role of specific nutrients. Breakfast foods (e.g., cereals, dairy products and fruit) provide many important nutrients and consumption of breakfast has been shown to be associated with beneficial effects on cognitive function. Isolating effects of specific constituents of breakfast has proved more difficult and it is still unclear what impact breakfast has on real-life performance. The present study provided initial information on associations between breakfast consumption and cognitive failures and accidents. A second aim was to examine associations between consumption of snacks which are often perceived as being unhealthy (chocolate, crisps and biscuits). A sample of over 800 nurses took part in the study. The results showed that frequency of breakfast consumption (varied breakfasts: 62% cereal) was associated with lower stress, fewer cognitive failures, injuries and accidents at work. In contrast, snacking on crisps, chocolate and biscuits was associated with higher stress, more cognitive failures and more injuries outside of work. Further research requires intervention studies to provide a clearer profile of causality and underlying mechanisms.     

Occupational injuries to fisheries workers in Norway reported to insurance companies from 1991 to 1996

Fisheries work is one of the occupations at highest risk for occupational accidents in many countries. It is necessary to understand the injuries in order to prevent them. This study of occupational injury claims by fisheries workers in Norway made to insurance companies from 1991 to 1996 analysed the workers' age, time of injury, injury type, part of the body involved, injury event and cost. The highest injury incidence rates were among the younger fisheries workers and during the winter months. Bruises and fractures were the most frequent injury types, and fingers and hands were most often affected, whereas falls and accidents related to machines were the most common causes. Safety measures should be taken on board to prevent falls and machine-related injuries, and young fisheries workers should have better on-the-job training.     

Identifying workers at risk of sickness absence by questionnaire

BACKGROUND: Sickness absence is an important economic problem, because of high costs and lost productivity. Determining factors associated with increased risk of sickness absence may lead to the development of preventive measures. AIMS: To determine whether self-report questionnaires can identify those employees at risk of sickness absence METHODS: Prospective study of 238 healthy administrative workers. Participants completed a questionnaire proven to be valid and consistent. The questionnaire consisted of 116 items about health, work and working conditions. Sickness absence was followed-up for a period of 1 year. RESULTS: The questionnaires of 191 workers (80%) were suitable for analysis. The number of reported health complaints was significantly (P < 0.01) associated with sickness absence (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.32-3.61). Concentration problems were correlated with more frequent absences, and both nervous complaints and coping problems with longer duration. Age (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.93-0.99; P = 0.02) and job insecurity (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.47-0.98; P = 0.04) were negatively associated with sickness absence. Psychosocial and physical work factors were not associated with sickness absence. CONCLUSIONS: Questionnaires on health and work can identify employees at future risk of sickness absence. Workers who report multiple health complaints, especially concentration problems, nervous complaints or coping problems, may be at increased risk of sickness absence.     

Screening questionnaires for bakers' asthma--are they worth the effort?

The use of a respiratory screening questionnaire is recommendedannually to screen bakery workers in the UK. We compared questionnairescreening with other methods of detecting workers with asthmaticsymptoms and then assessed the significance of these symptomswith careful investigation and follow-up. Reasons for questionnairefailures were then explored. A questionnaire was issued to 362flour-exposed workers in a large bakery. All positive respondentsto respiratory symptom questions were interviewed by an occupationalnurse. Workers with occupationally related symptoms at thisinterview were referred to the chest clinic. In addition, workerswith negative questionnaires were screened using attendancerecords, sick notes and direct workplace observations. Workerswith frequent absence from work or sick notes with respiratorydiagnoses were interviewed in the same manner as those answeringthe questionnaire positively and then referred to clinic. Atclinic, a diagnosis was made for each worker on the basis ofclinical assessment, spirometry, serial peak expiratory flowrate (PEFR) analysis and radioallergosorbent testing (RAST)testing for specific IgE. Using the clinic diagnoses, the referralroutes were audited to assess the rates of case detection ofasthma and occupational asthma. The respiratory screening questionnaireidentified 68 workers with respiratory symptoms. Of these, 21proceeded to full assessment. A diagnosis of asthma was madein five cases, one of which was bakers' asthma. In addition,11 workers not reporting any symptoms by questionnaire werereferred to clinic and five were diagnosed as having asthma.Screening questionnaires may lead to an underestimate of theprevalence of asthmatic symptoms and as such should not be usedalone in workplace screening.     

Determinants of accident proneness: a case-control study in railway workers

BACKGROUND: Accident proneness or workers who have more frequent occupational injuries is common but the role of occupational and individual factors has rarely been studied. AIM: To assess the relationships of certain occupational and individual characteristics with frequency of occupational injuries. METHOD: This case-control study included 1305 male workers with occupational injuries during 1999-2000 and 1305 controls from a railway company. A standardized questionnaire was completed by the occupational physician in the presence of the subject. The data were analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Having more than one injury was associated with short service in the present job, younger age, sleep disorders, smoking, requesting a job change, physical disability and lack of physical activity. Safety training was negatively related to injury frequency. Short service in the present job was the only significant factor for single injuries. CONCLUSION: This study identified a number of work and individual factors that predicted occupational injury frequency and may be useful in designing preventative measures. Occupational physicians could assist workers to be more aware of the risks and to find remedial measures.     

Job control, job demands, social support at work and health among adolescent workers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate physical and psychological dimensions of adolescent labor (such as job demands, job control, and social support in the work environment), and their relation to reported body pain, work injuries, sleep duration and daily working hours. METHODS: A total of 354 adolescents attending evening classes at a public school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, answered questionnaires regarding their living and working conditions (Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire, 1998), and their health status. Data collection took place in April and May 2001. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine relations among variables. RESULTS: Psychological job demands were related to body pain (OR=3.3), higher risk of work injuries (OR=3.0) and reduced sleep duration in weekdays (Monday to Thursday) (p<0.01). Lower decision authority in the workplace (p=0.03) and higher job security (p=0.02) were related to longer daily working hours. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that besides physical stressors, psychological factors are to be taken into account when studying adolescent working conditions, as they may be associated with negative job conditions and health effects.     

Employers' awareness and compliance with occupational health and safety regulations in Taiwan

An investigation of employers' awareness and compliance withoccupational health and safety (OHS) regulations was conductedin a representative group of employers randomly selected fromthe manufacturing industry in Taiwan. A total of 1,003 employerswere interviewed by trained public health personnel. Ten questionsrelated to perceptions of general OHS and five practices onOHS regulations were measured. The results of this study showthat the employers were better aware of their responsibilityfor posting safety warnings, personal protection and providingsafety and health equipment. They were less aware of their responsibilityin minimizing injuries and accidents in the workplace and innot hiring someone who was found unfit for a certain job frompre-employment physical examination. Less than half of employersknew about regulations of environmental monitoring and evenfewer had heard of Material Safety Data Sheets. Level of educationand size of the plant were highly associated with employers'awareness of OHS and the awareness was the most significantpredictor in the five practices of OHS regulations in this study.Promotion of employers' awareness of OHS in small sized industriesitt particular, is warranted to enhance better compliance, anda focus for these efforts is identified by this investigation.     

Falls and fractures in women at work

BACKGROUND: Older women have been observed to have more serious injury particularly fractures after slips, trips or falls at the workplace. It is unclear whether this excess reflects a greater likelihood of falling or a greater proportion presenting with fractures once the fall has occurred. METHODS: Two studies were carried out: Study A, of 130 women who fell at work and matched referents, and Study B, of 120 women who fell at work and sustained a major fracture and 314 matched referents who fell but for whom no fracture was recorded. In Study A, the workplace of the case and referent was observed, questionnaires completed and objective health measures carried out. Study B relied on information obtained from the subject by postal questionnaire. RESULTS: Women who fell were older than referents matched on workplace and occupation, but age did not continue to be a significant factor after allowing for bodyweight and use of spectacles. Fractures were more common in older women who fell, particularly post-menopausal women with low body mass. The risk of fracture increased steadily with age without an obvious discontinuity around the likely age of menopause. CONCLUSIONS: The observed excess of fractures in older women falling at work appeared to be explained by the greater risk of fracture among those who fell.     

Bullying in Turkish white-collar workers

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of reported workplace bullying among a group of white-collar workers, to evaluate the association between reported bullying and its effect on health and to assess the effects of support at work for bullied workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey among full-time government employees in the health, education and security sectors. Bullying was assessed using a 20-item inventory. The potential effects of reported bullying were assessed using the Job Induced Stress Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale and the Propensity to Leave Scale. RESULTS: The response rate was 79% (944/1,200) and 877 questionnaires were analysed after exclusion of non-complete data. Of respondents, 55% (483) reported experiencing one or more types of bullying in the previous year and 47% (416) had witnessed the bullying of others. The bully was most likely to be a superior. Sixty per cent of victims had tried to take action against bullying, but most were dissatisfied with the outcome. There were significant differences in anxiety, depression, job-induced stress and support at work scores between those reporting bullying and those not reporting bullying at work. Those who reported bullying with low support at work had the poorest scores on the mental health scales. CONCLUSIONS: Bullying is a serious problem in this group of workers and may lead to health consequences. Feeling that the work environment is supportive appears to have a protective effect in terms of the health outcomes.     

Ocular trauma in an iron forging industry in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Occupational accidents occur in industry worldwide, and theKingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is no exception. However, accidentsare not routinely analyzed in this country and therefore theirextent and types remain unknown. The aim of this study was tocalculate the rates of ocular injuries in an iron forging factoryin the Eastern Province of the KSA. It also aimed at identifyingthe main causes of injury and the groups at risk. All ocularand non-ocular injuries that occurred during 1991 were reviewed.Data sources were the company's accident report and the employees'medical files. A total of 193 injuries were reported. Seventy-seven(39.9%) of these affected the eyes. The incident rate for ocularinjuries was 111.8 per 1,000 men exposed. The age group 33–42had the highest prevalence rate (55.8%) and 67.5% of the eyeinjuries involved employees with job experience of 11 monthsor less. Use of pneumatic chisels was among the most hazardousactivities. Projectile foreign bodies were responsible for 76.6%of the incidents. More than a third of the injured were notwearing eye protection. Avoidable factors, such as negligence,were major contributory factors. A training programme concerningsafety has much to commend it, and pneumatic chisels shouldbe replaced by other safer means.     

Absenteeism and mortality of workers exposed to electromagnetic fields in the French Electricity Company

The objective of this study was to describe the health status of electricity workers exposed to electromagnetic fields during their job. Two groups of exposed workers were studied from 1978 to 1993: the live line workers (n = 121) and the substation workers (n = 232.7) of the French Electricity Company (EDF). A control group was randomly selected from all the company non-management male employees; one control for each exposed subject was matched for the first year of employment. Absenteeism indices and mortality rates were computed and compared in the exposed and control groups. The absence rates were 1.98% in the substation workers and 2.5% in the control group (p < 0.001) and 2.7% in the live-line workers and 2.8% in the control group (NS). No effect of the length of exposure was found. However the medical causes of sickness absence were different: exposed employees had less psychiatric and respiratory diseases but more accidents at work than their control group. Relative risks of accidents at work were 1.2 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-1.33[ for substation workers and 3.22 (CI = 1.78-5.88) for live line workers. EDF electromagnetic field exposed workers seemed not to be affected by any specific health problems except for an excess of accidents at work.     

Changes in neuropsychological symptoms and moods among tanker drivers exposed to gasoline during a work week

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in theneuropsychological symptoms and moods among tanker drivers duringa work week and the associations of the changes with exposureto gasoline (including 10% methyl-tert-butyl ether). The targetgroup for the study consisted of 101 road tanker drivers fromthree Finnish oil companies in various parts of Finland. Thecontrol group consisted of 100 milk delivery drivers from twomilk companies from the same localities. Interviews were conductedbefore the work week and at the end of the same work week. Standardizedsymptom questionnaires were used to elicit responses to questionsabout symptoms and moods. In the questionnaires tanker driversscored significantly higher in the fatigue scale at the endof the work week than before the work week. Our findings showthat tanker drivers with long exposure to gasoline during thework week developed significantly higher changes in fatiguescores than drivers with short exposure. During the exposuresituations, 20% of tanker drivers reported acute symptoms (headache,dizziness, nausea, dyspnoea, irritation of saliva excretion)at the end of work week voluntarily. These symptoms have beenconnected, with MTBE (methyl-tert-butyl ether) exposure, amongothers. Exposure to MTBE during the work week can be reasonfor acute symptoms among the tanker drivers in this study.     

Perceived job demands relate to self-reported health complaints

BACKGROUND: Illness and illness behaviour are important problems in the Dutch workforce. Illness has been associated with job demands, with high demands relating to poorer health. It has not been reported whether subjective health complaints relate to job demands. AIMS: To investigate whether perceived (physical and mental) workload and specific job demands are associated with self-reported health complaints. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a random sample of 983 male employees working in manufacturing industry. Job demands and health complaints were investigated using the self-completed Basic Occupational Health Questionnaire. The relationship between demands and health complaints were studied using logistic regression analysis with health complaints as the outcome variable. RESULTS: The questionnaires of 867 workers (88%) were suitable for analysis. The prevalence of health complaints was high. Physical workload was related to musculoskeletal symptoms. Standing work predicted pain in the legs and thoracic as well as low back pain, while sedentary work predicted low back pain. Heavy lifting predicted low back pain and pain in the extremities. Regular bending predicted low back pain and pain in the legs. Repetitive movements predicted pain in the arms and thoracic as well as low back pain. Mental workload was associated with fatigue and chest pain. Working under time pressure and working behind schedule were not related to self-reported health complaints. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived physical job demands matched with self-reported musculoskeletal complaints, whereas perceived mental job demands were unrelated to specific complaints.     

Accidental injuries in agriculture in the UK

The rate of occupational accidents in British agriculture is higher than in most other industries. The most common fatal accidents are those involving vehicles and machinery, falls from a height and electrocution. A substantial proportion of reported non-fatal injuries in agricultural employees is attributable to manual handling, but among self-employed farmers the contribution is much smaller. Few data are available on longer-term determinants of risk, but accidental deaths are most frequent in July, August and September. The main approaches to preventing agricultural accidents are through engineering improvements, and education and training of the workforce. The introduction of roll-over protection structures for tractors has been an important development in recent decades. Other engineering controls include guards for power take off shafts, guard rails to prevent falls, better handling facilities for animals and closed transfer systems for pesticides. Training on safety is available from several sources, but its effectiveness in reducing accidents is uncertain.     

Surveillance on self-report: a trial of health and safety monitoring in occupational settings

A method for monitoring health and safety in the workplace, referred to as 'surveillance on self-report', is presented. This occupational health and safety monitoring method consists of a collection of data on certain aspects of health and safety obtained by dispensing self-administered questionnaires to employees or managers and supervisors in workplaces, and administering regular feedback on the responses. Based on the responses, a continual monitoring and improvement on certain aspects of health and safety were possible in two workplaces in New Zealand. This study has shown a methodology for the surveillance of hazard control and monitoring, injuries and illnesses, and organizational policies in occupational settings.