Problemy sotsial'noi gigieny, zdravookhraneniia i istorii meditsinyV V Tonkonog
The article summarizes results of analysis of the normative and institutional architecture of counteracting gender-conditioned violence in maritime industry. It is demonstrated that the Convention of International Labor Organization №190 and the Recommendation №206 shape ecosystemic standard of protection standard that extends to ship as workplace and covers wide range of situations and employment statuses. The mutual attachment with regimen of the International Maritime Organization and systems of security management enhances integration of psycho-social risks into corporate compliance and risk management. At the industry level, the principles of the International Chamber of Shipping (2024) codify zero-tolerance approach, mandatory training, secure communication channels and access to medical and psychological support. The support ecosystem (trade unions, charitable foundations and professional networks) decreases barriers of appealability and increases trust to procedures. The empirical data confirms high prevalence of undesirable behavior on ships with mixed-gender crew and demonstrates efficiency of combination of normative, organizational, technological and educational interventions. The conclusion is made that concordance with international standards, maturity of corporate systems and access to specialized care shift prevention from area of declarations to sustainable business practice, decreasing latency of violations, strengthening reliability of operations and improving staff retention.
Asia-Pacific psychiatry : official journal of the Pacific Rim College of PsychiatristsZhaohui Su, Xue Yang, Chaojun Tong, Mehak Intizar, Junaid Ahmad, Dean McDonnell, Barry L Bentley, Ali Cheshmehzangi, Jing-Bao Nie, Chee H Ng, Yu-Tao Xiang
Current understanding of mental health problems among aviation pilots remains limited. Pilots are exposed to distinctive occupational stressors, and when psychological distress occurs, they may be reluctant to disclose symptoms or seek timely assistance because of concerns about stigma, loss of income, licensing restrictions, or medical disqualification from flying. Pilot mental health is therefore not only an occupational health issue, but also a critical component of aviation safety governance. Although the vast majority of mental health conditions do not lead to flight safety events, in rare circumstances, severe psychological crises that remain unidentified or unsupported may result in catastrophic outcomes, including aircraft-assisted pilot suicide. These tragic events underscore the potential safety implications of pilot mental health and highlight the urgent need for greater attention to this critical issue. This article argues that prevention should be centered on system-level measures, including confidential peer support, carefully governed digital tools, destigmatized safety cultures, and harmonized data infrastructures.
Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic AssociationGeorgia Rogerson, Bibi Rodgers Hunt, Louise Durrant, Hannah E Theobald, Elena Philippou, Wendy L Hall, Rachel Gibson
INTRODUCTION: Engagement of underserved groups, including low-paid, shift workers, men, and ethnic minorities, is a priority for workplace health and wellbeing practitioners. The aims of the study were to explore experiences and perceptions around nutritional health and wellbeing in UK food manufacturing shift work employees and identify priorities to take forward for research, policy and practice. METHODS: Online semi-structured interviews with shift work food manufacturing workers were conducted between May and July 2025. Interview guides were developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework, aiming to explore factors influencing healthy nutrition choices when at work (the target behaviour) and to understand perceptions of worksite nutritional health and wellbeing provision. Data were analysed using a combined deductive framework and inductive thematic analysis approach; emergent themes were mapped to the COM-B model and linked to potential Behaviour Change Techniques. Findings were externally validated with food and beverage industry stakeholders. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with 11 participants, 91% male, with a mean of 14 years of day and night shift work experience. Eight themes were identified including: (1) Having knowledge of healthy dietary choices for working on shift, (2) Physical consequences of dietary choices, (3) Intentions to make healthier dietary choices, (4) Influence of convenience on dietary choices, (5) Ability to access healthy dietary choices, (6) Social influence on dietary choices, (7) Emotional influence on dietary choices, (8) Ability to plan or monitor dietary intake. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to previously reported barriers around healthy food access while working atypical hours, UK food manufacturing staff face role-specific challenges, including inadequate breaks, health and safety regulations and exposure to food production. Workplace policies to improve access to healthy nutrition and protected breaks may be prerequisites for individual-level support for UK food manufacturing staff.
Cardiovascular toxicologyYongbin Luo, Xiayun Dai, Zhenlong Chen, Jinfeng Jiang, Junpin Liu, Xiaolei Fu, Fan Wang, Xiaoliang Li
The impact of metals on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in workers occupationally exposed to welding fume remains unclear. We aimed to assess the associations between welding-related metals and 10-year ASCVD risk, and the mediating role of biological aging. Metals including chromium, manganese, nickel, lead, copper (Cu), and iron were detected and biological aging indices, including Klemera-Doubal method biological age (KDM-BA) and Phenotypic Age (PhenoAge), were calculated among 419 male welders in Wuhan, China. The participants had an average age of 42.77 years, of whom 93 (22.2%) fell into the high 10-year ASCVD risk group. Generalized linear models revealed that Cu was associated with elevated 10-year ASCVD risk [OR (95% CI) = 1.051 (1.017, 1.085), P = 0.003]. This association persisted even after adjustment for other metals. Moreover, we found positive associations between biological aging and 10-year ASCVD risk [KDM.Accel: OR (95%CI) = 1.170 (1.070-1.280); PhenoAge.Accel: OR (95% CI) = 1.122 (1.053-1.194)], as well as between Cu and biological aging [KDM.Accel: β (95% CI) = 1.888 (1.130-2.646); PhenoAge.Accel: β (95% CI) = 4.552 (3.406-5.698)]. Further analysis showed significant mediation roles of KDM.Accel and PhenoAge.Accel in the Cu-ASCVD association, with mediating proportions of 29.8% and 43.8%, respectively. We further constructed a lifestyle index, suggesting that a modifiable healthy lifestyle could decelerate aging and reduce the 10-year ASCVD risk. Our findings indicated that Cu was associated with increased ASCVD risk, and biological aging may mediate the Cu-ASCVD association. Adopting healthy lifestyles appears to mitigate biological aging, which is of great public health importance for preventing ASCVD.
TrialsWendi Sieber, Johannes Voß, Roberto Falz, Max Schuhte, Claudia Wendel, Olaf Ueberschär
BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the leading work-related health issue in Europe. While passive back-support exoskeletons have shown promise in reducing physical strain in laboratory settings, their medium-term effects under real-world working conditions remain largely unexplored. This study will assess the applicability and the medium-term effects of passive back-support exoskeletons on MSDs in the logistics and healthcare sectors. METHODS: ELSA LogiCare is a multicenter, parallel-designed, randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will be randomly assigned (1:1) to use one of two passive back-support exoskeleton models for 3 months, while the control group works unassisted as usual. We aim to recruit a total sample size of 120 participants, resulting in approximately 80 participants in the intervention group and 40 participants in the control group. Primary outcomes focus on feasibility and use of the exoskeleton, including daily wearing time. Effectiveness-related outcomes include musculoskeletal complaints after 3 months, assessed using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include physical and mental workload (NASA-Raw Task Load Index), job satisfaction (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire), cognitive performance (Wiener Testsystem), fatigue (Fatigue Scale), acceptance of exoskeletons (Technology Commitment), user satisfaction (Quest 2.0), user experience and implementation barriers (short interviews), absences due to illness, blood pressure, physical activity (Fitbit/Garmin) and dropouts. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, every 4 weeks during, and immediately after the intervention. The study is open-label, with blinding applied to outcome assessors and data analysts only. Primary analyses will follow the intention-to-treat principle and will be conducted using mixed-effects models with repeated measures to estimate feasibility- and effectiveness-related outcomes over time. DISCUSSION: When effectively integrated into workplace environments, passive back-support exoskeletons have the potential to significantly alleviate physical strain and enhance efforts to reduce the risks associated with MSDs. Our process evaluation can also help to understand how passive back-support exoskeletons can be successfully integrated into the logistics and care sectors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) under the DRKS-ID: DRKS00036072.
International archives of occupational and environmental healthOzan Soykan
PURPOSE: This study aims to provide a quantitative assessment of key occupational health and safety indicators-incident rate (IR), temporary incapacity rate (TIR), and fatality rate (FR)-in the Turkish seafood industry and to compare three main subsectors: fisheries, aquaculture, processing, for the period 2013-2023. METHODS: Data sources were yearbooks of Work Accidents and Occupational Diseases Statistics and Insured and Workplace Statistics published by the Social Security Institution of the Turkish Republic, along with employment data for the processing sector from the OECD database. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was applied to examine relationships among production, employment, occupational injuries, and temporary incapacity days. Differences between fisheries and aquaculture in production per worker were tested using the Mann-Whitney U test, while the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to identify statistically significant differences (p = 0.05) among subsectors. RESULTS: A total of 18,250 occupational injuries, 35 fatalities, and 95,921 temporary incapacity days were reported in the Turkish seafood industry. Most injuries occurred in the processing sector, whereas nearly half of all fatalities were recorded in aquaculture. Incident rates ranged from 87.9 (fisheries, 2017) to 33,924.2 (processing, 2021). Despite employing fewer workers, aquaculture and processing accounted for a higher number of injuries and fatalities than fisheries. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the processing sector represents the highest risk in terms of temporary incapacity and fatality rates. Improving reporting practices and establishing a structured data collection framework are essential for enhancing occupational safety and preventing future injuries in the Turkish seafood industry. In addition, strengthening regulatory frameworks, increasing workplace inspections, and ensuring effective enforcement of safety standards are critical to reducing injury and fatality rates across all subsectors.
INTRODUCTION: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) remain a global challenge despite technological advancements and evolving workplace practices. Ergonomic interventions-including workplace redesign, equipment modification, training and organisational strategies-have been increasingly adopted to address these challenges. However, systematic reviews assessing their effectiveness have yielded heterogeneous and sometimes contradictory findings. This protocol outlines a methodology for an umbrella review of systematic reviews aimed at synthesising high-quality evidence on ergonomic interventions in diverse occupational settings, thereby informing both practice and policy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between January 2000 and 2026 in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Eligible reviews will include workers aged 18 years and older exposed to ergonomic risks and will examine physical, educational, organisational or multicomponent interventions. Primary outcomes will be reductions in WMSDs and pain, while secondary outcomes will include productivity, absenteeism, job satisfaction and workplace safety. The methodological quality of included reviews will be assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2. Findings will be synthesised narratively and summarised in structured tables by intervention type, population, outcome and review quality. Overlap among reviews will be evaluated using the corrected covered area, and where multiple reviews address the same question, their conclusions will be compared based on population, intervention characteristics, outcomes, comparators, follow-up and methodological quality. The certainty of evidence will be assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation or a comparable framework, and any inconsistent findings will be explored and reported transparently. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This umbrella review protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (Approval ID: IR.UMSHA.REC.1404.583). Since this study involves the secondary analysis of previously published data and does not involve direct contact with human participants, individual informed consent is not required. The study will be conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation and transparency will be maintained throughout the process. The findings of this umbrella review will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, presentation at relevant international conferences and shared with policymakers to promote evidence-based ergonomic practices. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251147970.
Home healthcare nowBarbara J Polivka, Carolyn M Sommerich, Steven A Lavender, Sarah E Anderson, Amy R Darragh
Home healthcare workers (HHWs) are frequently exposed to occupational safety hazards when servicing clients in their homes. These hazards may take different forms, many of which could be broadly categorized as "Electric, Fire and Burn," "Environmental," or "Slip, Trip, and Lift" hazards. To address this issue, a home healthcare virtual simulation training system (HH-VSTS) was developed. Although prior studies have assessed the usability, usefulness, and desirability of the system, there was a need to determine if the knowledge gained through this training process generalizes to a real-world setting. Sixteen study participants completed one of the three training modules in the HH-VSTS consistent with the hazard categories listed above. Participants were then asked to walk through a one-bedroom apartment with 15 simulated hazards (5 electric/fire/burn, 5 environmental, and 5 slip/trip/lift) that are addressed in the HH-VSTS. Each participant served as a control for the two hazard categories for which they were not trained. Participants were asked what they would do about the hazards they identified in the simulated apartment during their walk through. Hazard mitigation strategies were categorized as successful, partially successful, or failed. Overall, participants identified 85% of the hazards that were included in the one module in which they trained versus identifying only 46% of the hazards in the two modules in which they were not trained. When they identified hazards on which they were trained, participants were more likely to voice successful mitigation strategies than for hazards upon which they had not been trained. Thus, the data indicate the HH-VSTS training facilitated hazard identification and hazard mitigation strategies in a non-virtual, simulated home setting, suggesting that this training approach should be effective for real home care settings.
Frontiers in public healthTatiana Teixeira, Eduardo Carvalho, Maria Covas, Joana Guedes, Nilza Ramião
INTRODUCTION: The increase in workplace accidents and the growing complexity of work environments have highlighted the need for more sustainable and adaptive occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems. Traditional approaches often fail to fully capture the variability of workers' responses and the multifactorial nature of occupational risks. METHODS: To address these challenges, an alternative methodology for the development of a human-centered risk management tool (HURMAT) is proposed. This methodology integrates the core principles of conventional OHS frameworks with a more in-depth, worker-centered evaluation of functional capacity. It is structured across different levels of a traditional OHS approach, allowing flexible implementation without requiring full deployment if detailed analysis is not needed. The approach incorporates occupational psychophysiology and considers work-related risk factors, enabling the diagnosis and management of fatigue. RESULTS: The HURMAT methodology enables a more comprehensive characterization of tasks by integrating workers' physiological characteristics and assessing physical, cardiovascular, and psychosocial loads. This approach supports a more detailed understanding of risk exposure and worker responses, improving the identification and management of occupational hazards. DISCUSSION: HURMAT contributes to the modernization of OHS practices by promoting safer and more adaptive work environments. It underscores the need for a paradigm shift in how occupational risks are conceptualized and managed, emphasizing personalization, data-driven decision-making, and the recognition of individual differences. These elements represent fundamental pillars for fostering healthier, more inclusive workplaces, particularly in the context of ongoing organizational change.
BMJ openJu-Yeun Lee, Jinjoo Chung, Seung-Sup Kim, Sung-Il Cho
OBJECTIVE: Burns are a global public health concern, and migrant workers face a disproportionately high risk for occupational burns. We traced their trajectory from injury occurrence through treatment to return to work, to identify key public health issues along this pathway. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This qualitative study involved repeated semi-structured interviews with seven migrant workers in South Korea who had experienced occupational burns. Participants had diverse nationalities, occupations and legal statuses. Interpreters were employed when needed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, guided by a general inductive approach to identify recurring patterns and issues systematically. RESULTS: Six themes were identified and organised into three phases: pre-burns, burns-phase and post-burns challenges. Pre-burns challenges included (1) insufficient safety management and the difficulty of asserting occupational safety. Burns-phase challenges encompassed (2) worsened burn severity associated with inadequate first aid and treatment delays. Post-burns challenges involved (3) psychological trauma compounded by systemic gaps in mental health care, (4) premature return to work due to insufficient compensation, (5) inability to return to pre-injury work and limited reemployment due to lasting impairments and a passive job-seeking process, and (6) concerns about legal status. CONCLUSIONS: The interviewed migrant workers with occupational burns face interconnected challenges rooted in systemic failures. This study highlights the need for improved workplace safety, timely medical treatment, mental health support, and adequate compensation, as well as reforms of visa renewal regulations and employer-dependent employment systems. Above all, occupational and public health policies must explicitly recognise and address the distinct vulnerabilities of migrant workers in order to protect this population and promote health equity.
Studies in health technology and informaticsSuwattanapong Sribudda, Kallaya Harnpicharnchai, Noppanun Nankongnab, Wisit Thongkum
Hospitals are complex organizations where personnel are exposed to diverse occupational hazards. While medical staff are often the focus, non-medical support personnel such as maintenance, laundry, and nutrition staff face significant health risks due to their specific work environments. This study aimed to assess occupational health hazards and health risks among medical support personnel in a community hospital in Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand, to propose effective control measures. This study aimed to assess occupational health hazards and health risks among medical support personnel working in a community hospital in Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the Occupational Health Risk Assessment High with the maximum score of 6 in s Form developed by the Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases, Department of Disease Control. The results revealed that laundry and engineering departments had high risks from physical and chemical hazards, while the central supply and sterilization unit (CSSD) showed high biological and chemical risks. The nutrition department faced moderate risks, primarily in ergonomic and psychosocial aspects. Accident, fire and psychosocial hazards were consistently high across all units. The findings highlight the need for comprehensive risk management, including engineering, administrative, and behavioral interventions to enhance occupational health and safety in hospital settings.
JMIR formative researchUlrika Florin, Christina Bodin Danielsson, Katarina Bälter, Susanna Lehtinen-Jacks
BACKGROUND: Office work is increasingly carried out outside conventional office settings, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This highlights the need to understand the complexity of aspects that may influence health across different office work environments. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) identify aspects that office workers perceive as supporting or hindering their health during office work, and (2) formulate novel questions about office work for quantitative studies. METHODS: In February 2021, we conducted a digitally distributed photovoice study in Sweden, in which a convenience sample of 17 office workers from 5 companies took photos and provided written comments on what they perceived as supporting or hindering their health in places where they performed office work. For objective 1, we carried out both qualitative formal analysis and analysis without a theoretical frame, as well as quantified the content of the photos and comments. The identified aspects and their interactions were summarized in a visual framework. For objective 2, findings from the photovoice study were used to adapt selected items from the 2019 Swedish Work Environment Survey, capturing office work performed across multiple settings. RESULTS: Of a total of 63 photos, 70% (44/63) were taken at home, 24% (15/63) in an office, and 6% (4/63) outdoors. The comments on photos taken in conventional office settings largely highlighted health-promoting aspects, while the interpretations of home office photos showed greater variability regarding their impact on health. We identified 9 aspects and categorized them into two groups: (1) environmental perspective, including space, ergonomic, technical, and aesthetic-sensuous aspects and (2) behavioral perspective, including flexibility, focus, breaks-recovery, physical activity, and eating habits. Whether the aspects supported or hindered health depended on the environment where office work was performed and the employees' living conditions. Our visual framework illustrates how these two perspectives interact with each other, bridged by space and flexibility. The study also resulted in a battery of multiple-choice questions about work in offices, at home, in public places, and outdoors that can be used in future research to better capture variation in modern work arrangements. CONCLUSIONS: This study extends the notion that office environments play a central role in supporting employee health by suggesting that this also applies to home offices. The results emphasize the need for tailored health-promoting interventions that account for the diverse environments in which office work is performed and for individual needs. The developed visual framework for analyzing health-promoting work environments for office workers and the battery of survey questions can contribute to future research and the advancement of sustainable, health-promoting office environments.
BACKGROUND: This study investigates university students' occupational health and safety (OHS) knowledge levels and their perceptions of safety culture, with a particular emphasis on evaluating the effectiveness of structured OHS training. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted with 1291 students at Artvin Çoruh University Artvin, Türkiye, using a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, independent samples Student's t-tests, and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Students demonstrated high safety culture perceptions (mean±standard deviation [M±SD] 4.38±0.67 on a 5-point Likert scale) but moderate OHS knowledge levels (M±SD 2.38±0.48 on a 3-point Likert scale). A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between OHS knowledge and safety culture (r = 0.330, p < 0.01). Following the training, knowledge scores increased significantly from pre-training (M±SD 24.15±5.06 pts) to post-training (M±SD 29.22±4.20 pts) with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.07, p < 0.001). Female students reported significantly higher safety culture perceptions than male students (p < 0.001). Engineering students achieved the highest safety culture scores, significantly surpassing several health-related programs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational health and safety training significantly enhances students' knowledge levels, demonstrating a strong intervention effect. Safety culture perceptions are positively associated with knowledge and vary according to gender and academic discipline. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2026;77(3):185-193.
Problemy sotsial'noi gigieny, zdravookhraneniia i istorii meditsinyA A Gorsky, S M Sodikova
The article considers corporate health as an important element of the modern HR management system. The relevance of the topic is due to the shift in the management paradigm from a narrow understanding of occupational safety to a broader approach that includes the physical, mental and social well-being of employees as a resource for the sustainability of the organization. It is shown that the concept of corporate health is formed at the intersection of human resource management, occupational safety, organizational psychology and workplace well-being policy. It is proved that, theoretically, corporate health should be considered not as a set of disparate wellness activities, but as an integrated subsystem of personnel management related to the quality of the work environment, organizational support, employee participation practices, occupational risk prevention and the development of well-being-oriented HR practices. It is concluded that corporate health is both a factor in preserving human capital, a tool for improving organizational stability, and an indicator of the maturity of personnel policy.
Problemy sotsial'noi gigieny, zdravookhraneniia i istorii meditsinyV V Tonkonog
The article explores the current issue of medical support for merchant ship crews working in conditions of prolonged professional isolation, limited access to qualified medical care, and specific risk factors of the maritime environment. The author conducts a systematic analysis of modern digital healthcare technologies, such as wearable biometric devices, telemedicine platforms, mobile medical applications, and cloud-based data storage systems, in terms of their applicability for continuous monitoring of seafarers health during voyages. The paper presents an original methodology for assessing the comprehensive effectiveness of the implementation of digital monitoring systems, based on a multi-criteria weighted matrix, where the components correspond to medical, technical, ergonomic (household), economic, and compliance with standards. A target efficiency threshold of 0.85 has been established, which provides for a 15% reserve for possible technical failures, human factors, and unforeseen circumstances. Based on the analysis, a set of practical recommendations has been formulated for shipping companies and regulatory authorities. The results of the study allow for the optimization of health-saving strategies in the maritime industry, reducing occupational risks, improving the availability of medical care, and minimizing economic losses associated with crew illnesses during voyages. The proposed methodology can be adapted for other industries with similar working conditions.
Frontiers in public healthChristine E Garver-Apgar, Zachary Giano, Ashley M Kayser, Chad D Morris
BACKGROUND: This study examined psychometric properties of a novel measure of occupational health and wellness - the Work and Well-being Inventory (WWI). Unlike other validated measures of employee well-being, the WWI adopts a holistic, eight-dimension model of wellness, delineates personal wellness from employer-supported wellness, and is straightforward to interpret. METHODS: Participants (n = 949) were a convenience sample of employees from four large behavioral health organizations across Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas. As part of a broader wellness initiative, employees at all levels across each organization were invited and encouraged by organizational leadership to complete a web-based, self-report survey, administered via Qualtrics, over a 2-week period in spring of 2022 or summer of 2023. Employee participation rates ranged from 41 to 81%, depending on organization. Analyses focused on evaluating factor structure of the WWI with confirmatory factor analysis using separate developmental and validation groups. We also assessed convergent and discriminant validity by correlating subscales with established measures of related constructs. RESULTS: The final inventory contains 106 items comprising 16 subscales which can be administered independently of each other (eight "personal" wellness dimensions and eight "employer-supported" wellness dimensions). This model demonstrated good fit to the data and internal consistency. Patterns of correlations between subscales and external measures were consistent with theoretical expectations, supporting both convergent and divergent validity of constructs. CONCLUSION: The WWI is a validated measure of employee well-being that adopts an "eight dimension" model of wellness. Factor structure and model fit statistics support flexible administration and parsimonious interpretation of eight subscales directly corresponding to eight dimensions of wellness. The instrument has utility for researchers investigating occupational health promotion and organizations seeking to evaluate initiatives designed to improve employee wellness, retention, and workplace culture.
Frontiers in public healthWenhao Lin, Yu Fang, Haidong Song
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This scoping review systematically mapped current research on fishermen's mental health. Using the more methodologically mature field of seafarer research as a reference, it aimed to identify key limitations and future directions for the fishermen's mental health domain. METHODS: Guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework, a systematic search of Chinese and English databases was conducted. Studies on fishermen and seafarers were included, categorized, and comparatively analyzed. MAIN FINDINGS: Analysis of the 41 included studies (This paper cites 46 articles; 41 of which are obtained by the method of review. The additional 5 references are theoretical or methodological articles cited in the introduction and methods sections to provide background and methodological justification) revealed several insights. First, there is a severe shortage of high-quality empirical research on fishermen. Study designs are dominated by cross-sectional surveys, and reports of issues like burnout and sleep disorders show regional variations. Second, factors influencing fishermen's mental health operate at multiple levels. Occupational environmental factors (e.g., high-intensity labor) represent a core shared challenge for both groups. However, fishermen's mental health is also subject to more direct and acute impacts from policy and economic factors (e.g., fishing bans, income instability). It is further moderated by socio-cultural factors (e.g., norms emphasizing resilience that deter help-seeking). Finally, evidence-based psychological interventions for fishermen are extremely scarce. Existing studies are largely confined to theory or policy recommendations. Explorations in the seafaring domain-regarding mental health education, institutionalized rest, and technology-enabled support-provide clear directions for designing interventions tailored to fishermen's working conditions. CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK: Future research should prioritize large-scale, nationally representative baseline surveys of fishermen's mental health. Building on seafarer research, efforts should focus on constructing an integrated intervention system. This system should encompass livelihood security policies, community support networks, and the application of digital technologies.
Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseasesY Y Zhou, J Wang, W Chen, X Y Fan, Y J Miao
Objective: To analyze the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of abnormal findings in occupational health examinations among radiation workers in Jiangsu Province in 2023, and to provide scientific evidence for optimizing radiation occupational protection strategies. Methods: In January 2025, occupational health examination data of 74009 radiation workers from 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province in 2023 were collected. Testing items included peripheral blood leukocyte count, lymphocyte count, eye lens examination, thyroid ultrasonography, thyroid function (T(3), T(4), TSH), lymphocyte micronucleus, and chromosomal aberration. The chi-square test and Cochran-Armitage trend test were used for univariate analysis. Binary logistic regression (dependent variable: whether each indicator was abnormal; independent variables: sex, length of service, type of examination, occupational category) was performed to identify influencing factors. Results: The abnormal rates, from high to low, were: thyroid ultrasonography 45.34% (8550/18858), thyroid function 7.69% (3295/42855), leukocyte count 7.18% (5313/74009), lymphocyte count 4.78% (3537/74009), chromosomal aberration 0.27% (60/22466), eye lens 0.23% (173/74009), and lymphocyte micronucleus 0.23% (119/51543). Multivariate analysis showed that female sex was an independent risk factor for abnormalities in leukocyte count, eye lens, and thyroid ultrasonography (OR=1.39, 1.61, 1.61; P<0.01). The abnormal rates for eye lens and thyroid ultrasonography increased significantly with longer length of service (χ(2)(trend)=67.17, 25.83; P<0.001). Compared with the diagnostic radiology post, nuclear medicine and interventional radiology posts were associated with increased risk of lymphocyte micronucleus abnormality (OR=5.15, 3.93; P<0.01). Compared with pre-placement personnel, personnel at exit examination had increased risk of abnormalities in eye lens, thyroid ultrasonography, and thyroid function (OR=2.38, 1.22, 1.46; P<0.05) . Conclusion: The health damage among radiation workers in Jiangsu Province shows clear differences by sex, post, and length of service. Protection in high-risk posts such as nuclear medicine and interventional radiology should be strengthened.
Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseasesY Wei, Y J Wang, L Wu, Q Cai, T Zhou, Z B Zhou, G F Jiang
Objective: To investigate the exposure levels of risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among assembly line workers, to explore the association between these risk factors and the prevalence of WMSDs, thereby providing a theoretical basis for developing scientific and effective occupational health intervention measures. Methods: In August 2023, a cluster sampling method was used to select 4992 assembly line workers from an electronic manufacturing enterprise as study subjects. The Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was administered to collect data. A structural equation modeling (SEM) incorporating individual characteristics and occupational exposure was constructed to identify risk factors for WMSDs and to analyze their direct or indirect associations with WMSDs. Results: A total of 2010 assembly line workers had WMSDs, with a prevalence rate of 40.3%. Individual characteristics such as height, age and years of work experience, as well as occupational exposures including neck condition, daily working hours, frequency of work breaks and weekly working days, were all influencing factors for WMSDs among assembly line workers (λ=0.880, 0.694, 0.626, 0.696, 0.645, 0.621, 0.590, P<0.001). The path effect results of the SEM indicated that individual characteristics and occupational exposure had direct effects on WMSDs (γ=-0.422, 0.499, P<0.001), individual characteristics had a direct effect on occupational exposure (γ=0.942, P<0.001). The indirect effect of individual characteristics on WMSDs via occupational exposure was 0.470, with a total effect of 0.048. Conclusion: Individual characteristics of workers have a protective effect against WMSDs in the assembly line population, while occupational exposure increases the risk of their occurrence and plays a mediating role between individual characteristics and WMSDs.
Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseasesY Q Lin, X Y Kuang, Y Q Chen, L X Bai, Y R Li, W F Zeng, Z Wang
Objective: To investigate the incidence characteristics of occupational contraindications among workers exposed to occupational hazard factors in the Guangzhou area and providing reference data for effective occupational health surveillance. Methods: In March 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted to collect health examination data from individuals who underwent occupational health examinations at the Guangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Institute between 2021 and 2023. Statistical analysis was performed on the detection rates of occupational contraindications across different genders, ages, examination categories, and occupational hazard factors/special operations. Intergroup comparisons were conducted using t-tests, or analysis of variance (ANOVA), group comparisons were conducted using chisquare (χ(2)) tests. Results: A total of 205938 occupational health examinations were screened, yielding 2883 detected cases of occupational contraindications (detection rate: 1.40%). Among these, 1971 cases (68.37%) were identified during active employment (χ(2)=208.41, P<0.001) ; males accounted for the majority (2673 cases, 92.72%), with no statistically significant gender difference (χ(2)=0.02, P=0.893). The primary exposure hazard factors or special operations included noise exposure (1443 cases, 47.64%), high-temperature work (567 cases, 18.72%), and occupational motor vehicle driving (356 cases, 11.75%). Significant differences in detection rates were observed across years, age groups, and hazard factors/special operations (χ(2)=6.43, 972.62, 2861.94; all P<0.05) . Conclusion: The detection rate of occupational contraindications among workers exposed to occupational hazard factors in the Guangzhou area is relatively low, predominantly affecting young and middle-aged male workers engaged in on-the-job activities. Targeted health surveillance should be intensified for key populations and core hazard factors to mitigate occupational health risks.