• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.233-239
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• 2015

Background: The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), which is based on the Demand-Control-Support model, is designed to measure the psychosocial characteristics of the respondent's work, and has been identified to predict health and psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of this instrument and the subsequent adaptation of its scales to the population of Greek health workers. Methods: The Greek version of the JCQ was developed by using forward- and back-translation in accordance with the JCQ policy. The reliability and validity of the measure were investigated in a sample of health workers working in a hospital in Athens, Greece. The internal consistency of the scales was examined based on Cronbach ${\alpha}$ coefficients, and the validity was evaluated subjecting the items of the three main scales of the JCQ (decision latitude, psychological job demands, and social support) to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The reliability of the scales was found to be acceptable for all the scales, except for the skill discretion subscale. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a slightly modified version of the original construct including several items to more than one factor. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the Greek JCQ is reliable and valid for investigating psychosocial job characteristics among Greek health workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.458-465
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the interaction between neck and/or wrist pain and hand grip strength (HGS) and to investigate factors (age, sex, neck disorders, and carpal tunnel syndrome) influencing the HGS of industrial quality proofing workers (N = 145). Methods: Standardized questionnaires [Neck Disability Index (NDI), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire] were used to evaluate existing neck and/or wrist pain. HGS measurements were performed in different wrist positions. Results: Significant differences between participants with and without neck pain were found in different wrist positions, in neutral wrist position right [without neck pain (n = 48) 46.34 (43.39 - 49.30); with neck pain (n = 97) 38.46 (36.20 - 40.72), F_(1,144) = 16.82, p < 0.001, ŋ_p² = 0.11] and left [without neck pain 44.06 (41.19 - 46.94); with neck pain 37.36 (35.13 - 39.58), F_(1,144) = 12.70, p < 0.001, ŋ_p² = 0.08]. A significant difference between participants with and without wrist pain was found for neutral wrist position right [without wrist pain (n = 105) 42.53 (40.37 - 44.70); with wrist pain (n = 40) 37.24 (33.56 - 40.91), F_(1,144) = 6.41, p = 0.01, ŋ_p² = 0.04]. Regression analysis showed significant results especially for steps two (age and weight, NDI) and three (age and weight, NDI, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire) for neutral position right (R² = 0.355, R² = 0.357, respectively). Conclusion: Neck pain has an impact on HGS but should be evaluated in consideration of age and sex.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.340-346
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• 2023

Background: Truck driving is a highly sedentary occupation that places workers at risk for chronic health conditions, such as obesity and high blood pressure. The primary purpose of this study was to objectively describe truck drivers' typical physical activity (PA) patterns. Methods: We used ~7-10-day baseline PA actigraphy data samples from drivers in the Safety & Health Involvement For Truckers (SHIFT) study (n = 394). Driver PA patterns (e.g., average number of ≥10 minute Freedson bouts per week, time in bouts, and common days/times for PA) were summarized with descriptive analyses. We also compared objective accelerometer data to self-reports. Results: Drivers' weekly PA averaged 14.4 minutes (SD = 37.0), and most PA occurred between 5-6 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Drivers overestimated self-reported weekly exercise by over 60 min/week compared to accelerometer data. Conclusion: Our results suggest that objective PA assessment may be warranted over self-report when possible, and timing may be key in future PA intervention work with truck drivers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.144-148
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• 2018

Background: The objective of this study is to find temporal trends in the associations between cardiovascular disease and occupational risk factors in the context of the Canadian population. Methods: Population data were analyzed from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) collected between 2001 and 2014 for trends over time between heart disease and various occupational risk factors: hours worked, physical exertion at work, and occupation type (management/arts/education, business/finance, sales/services, trades/transportations, and primary industry/processing). Results: We found no significant difference in the average number of hours worked/wk between individuals who report having heart disease in all years of data except in 2011 ($F_{1,96}=7.02$, p = 0.009) and 2012 ($F_{1,96}=8.86$, p = 0.004). We also found a significant difference in the degree of physical exertion at work in 2001 ($F_{1,79}=7.45$, p = 0.008). There were statistically significant results of occupation type on self-reported heart disease from 2003 to 2014. Conclusion: Canadian data from the CCHS do not exhibit a trend toward an association between heart disease and the number of hours worked/wk. There is an association between heart disease and physical exertion at work, but the trend is inconsistent. The data indicate a trend toward an association between heart disease and occupation type, but further analysis is required to determine which occupation type may be associated with heart disease.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.95-102
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• 2019

Background: In a cluster-randomized trial, the Safety and Health Involvement For Truck drivers intervention produced statistically significant and medically meaningful weight loss at 6 months (-3.31 kg between-group difference). The current manuscript evaluates the relative impact of intervention components on study outcomes among participants in the intervention condition who reported for a post-intervention health assessment (n = 134) to encourage the adoption of effective tactics and inform future replications, tailoring, and enhancements. Methods: The Safety and Health Involvement For Truck drivers intervention was implemented in a Web-based computer and smartphone-accessible format and included a group weight loss competition and body weight and behavioral self-monitoring with feedback, computer-based training, and motivational interviewing. Indices were calculated to reflect engagement patterns for these components, and generalized linear models quantified predictive relationships between participation in intervention components and outcomes. Results: Participants who completed the full program-defined dose of the intervention had significantly greater weight loss than those who did not. Behavioral self-monitoring, computer-based training, and health coaching were significant predictors of dietary changes, whereas behavioral and body weight self-monitoring was the only significant predictor of changes in physical activity. Behavioral and body weight self-monitoring was the strongest predictor of weight loss. Conclusion: Web-based self-monitoring of body weight and health behaviors was a particularly impactful tactic in our mobile health intervention. Findings advance the science of behavior change in mobile health intervention delivery and inform the development of health programs for dispersed populations.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.235-239
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of present study was to determine the effectiveness of training program based on job stress management in NEDSA and line staff. Methods: The study method of this study was quantitative and quasi-experimental research Methods: From the statistical population (all employees of the NEDSA and line staff in 2020-2021), 30 of these people were selected by judgmental sampling method and considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The participants were first matched based on age and education and were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. First, pre-test was taken from both groups (Job Stress Questionnaire). The experimental group was presented with a job stress management training package and no protocol was presented in the control group. After the sessions, post-test was received from both groups (experimental and control). After two months, a follow-up test was performed. Results: The results were entered into SPSS-24 software and analyzed. The results of repeated measure showed high effectiveness of the job stress management package (researcher-made). The results showed that the job stress management training package showed 67.5% effectiveness and also the training effect of job stress management training was stable for two months (follow-up). Conclusion: Based on these results, Training program based on stress management can be effective in military staff.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.116-124
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of subjective overwork on health and the moderating effect of risk perception in the relationship between subjective overwork and health. The data used in this study are the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS) conducted by Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) in 2014. The items related to actual working hours, subjective overwork, health, and risk perception were used. A total of 18,508 workers who are 1) waged workers, 2) work more than three days a week, 3) work more than 21 hours a week, 4) work longer than preferred work hours or work as longer as they desired were selected. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to identify the effect of actual work hours, subjective overwork, prevalence of risk, lethalness of accident damage on health and to determine the moderating effects of prevalence of risk and lethalness of accident damage. As a result, actual work hours, subjective overwork, prevalence of risk, lethalness of accident damage had an effect on worker's health problems. Second, lethalness of accident damage had a moderating effect in the relationship between subjective overwork and health. These results suggest that organizations should manage worker's environmental factors and other threats that could increase the lethalness of accident damage.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.11-18
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• 2017

The purpose of this review is to name and describe the important factors of musculoskeletal strain originating from pushing and pulling tasks such as cart handling that are commonly found in industrial contexts. A literature database search was performed using the research platform Web of Science. For a study to be included in this review differences in measured or calculated strain had to be investigated with regard to: (1) cart weight/ load; (2) handle position and design; (3) exerted forces; (4) handling task (push and pull); or (5) task experience. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and proved to be of adequate methodological quality by the standards of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. External load or cart weight proved to be the most influential factor of strain. The ideal handle positions ranged from hip to shoulder height and were dependent on the strain factor that was focused on as well as the handling task. Furthermore, task experience and subsequently handling technique were also key to reducing strain. Workplace settings that regularly involve pushing and pulling should be checked for potential improvements with regards to lower weight of the loaded handling device, handle design, and good practice guidelines to further reduce musculoskeletal disease prevalence.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2015

Background: This paper describes the development of a scale for measuring safety climate. Methods: This study was conducted in six manufacturing companies in Iran. The scale developed through conducting a literature review about the safety climate and constructing a question pool. The number of items was reduced to 71 after performing a screening process. Results: The result of content validity analysis showed that 59 items had excellent item content validity index (${\geq}0.78$) and content validity ratio (> 0.38). The exploratory factor analysis resulted in eight safety climate dimensions. The reliability value for the final 45-item scale was 0.96. The result of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the safety climate model is satisfactory. Conclusion: This study produced a valid and reliable scale for measuring safety climate in manufacturing companies.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.72-76
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• 2017

Background: Workplace victimization is considered a major social stressor with significant implications for the wellbeing of employees and organizations. The aim of this study was to examine the influences of employees' personality traits and organizational politics on workplace victimization among Ghanaian employees. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 631 employees selected from diverse occupations through convenience sampling. Data collection tools were standardized questionnaires that measured experiences of negative acts at work (victimization), the Big Five personality traits, and organizational politics. Results: The results from hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that among the personality traits neuroticism and conscientiousness had significant, albeit weak relationships with victimization. Organizational politics had a significant positive relationship with workplace victimization beyond employees' personality. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that compared with personal characteristics such as personality traits, work environment factors such as organizational politics have a stronger influence on the occurrence of workplace victimization.