• Title/Summary/Keyword: shift workers

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Shift Work and Occupational Stress in Police Officers

  • Ma, Claudia C.;Andrew, Michael E.;Fekedulegn, Desta;Gu, Ja K.;Hartley, Tara A.;Charles, Luenda E.;Violanti, John M.;Burchfiel, Cecil M.
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.25-29
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    • 2015
  • Background: Shift work has been associated with occupational stress in health providers and in those working in some industrial companies. The association is not well established in the law enforcement workforce. Our objective was to examine the association between shift work and police work-related stress. Methods: The number of stressful events that occurred in the previous month and year was obtained using the Spielberger Police Stress Survey among 365 police officers aged 27-66 years. Work hours were derived from daily payroll records. A dominant shift (day, afternoon, or night) was defined for each participant as the shift with the largest percentage of total time a participant worked (starting time from 4:00 AM to 11:59 AM, from 12 PM to 7:59 PM, and from 8:00 PM to 3:59 AM for day, afternoon, and night shift, respectively) in the previous month or year. Analysis of variance and covariance were used to examine the number of total and subscale (administrative/professional pressure, physical/psychological danger, or organizational support) stressful events across the shift. Results: During the previous month and year, officers working the afternoon and night shifts reported more stressful events than day shift officers for total stress, administrative/professional pressure, and physical/psychological danger (p < 0.05). These differences were independent of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and police rank. The frequency of these stressful events did not differ significantly between officers working the afternoon and night shifts. Conclusion: Non-day shift workers may be exposed to more stressful events in this cohort. Interventions to reduce or manage police stress that are tailored by shift may be considered.

Restricted Use of Contingent Workers and the Factors of Shift from Contingent to Standard Workers in Brazil (브라질 비정규노동의 제한적 활용과 정규직화 요인)

  • Jeong, Heung-Jun
    • Korean Journal of Labor Studies
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.213-260
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    • 2013
  • This study pays attention to the restricted use and the possibility of standard position of contingent workers in Brazil. The labor market of Brazil has been developed by formal and informal labor sector, and informal sector includes various precarious workers as well as contingent workers. According to Brazilian Statistics Department, not contingent workers but informal labor focused in this paper have been slowly decreased since year 2000. In this context, this study investigated on the reasons of decreasing contingent employment in Brazil. The results demonstrate that decreased informal employment and instead increased standard workers could not be interpreted by recent the Braizil's economic boom. Along with literature review, the author conducted the case study regarding employment of contingent workers at six large foreign companies in Sao Paulo. The results of this show that the use of contingent employment was prohibited in regular daily works by the labor law and thus firms employed contingent workers in only temporary positions. Further, firms often promise standard positions for contingent workers when temporary employment contract was terminated since there is little or no exist of the differences of wage between standard and contingent worker in terms of 'same work same wage' and 'minimum wage'. In here, labor unions play a key role in employment change from contingent position to standard job. Consequently, decreasing of contingent workers and stepping stone to regular jobs seems to be triggered by both legal regulation on contingent employment and strong unions. This institutional perspective may extend the theoretical view on the use of contingent workers, and the author discuss that Brazil's case could provide practical implications to Korean labor policy.

Resolution Method of Women's EMT Stresses at the Fire Station: Focused on the Gyungbuk Province (소방관서 내에서 여성구급대원의 스트레스 해소방안: 경상북도를 중심으로)

  • Lee, Seong-Chul;Lee, Ranny;Kong, Ha-Sung
    • Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.45-52
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    • 2014
  • The purpose of this study is to make sure what the stress causes of women's EMTs within the firehouse are, and is to suggest ideas (plans) that are possible to resolve this problem. The reasons are because of difficulties such as not only the overwork at one's tasks, the uncomfortable working environment and circumstances, women's pregnancy, but also shift work or the shift system. It's own ideas about the way to resolve these difficulties are as follows: a separate operation of first-aid department, environmental improvement within a fire house (fire station) via remodeling, activation of substitute man power, alterating women's EMT services into daywork system, mutual encouragement and solicitude among co-workers, reinforcement of the number of the working force to be mobilized, and adoption about the rest year system in employment.

Wet-work Exposure: A Main Risk Factor for Occupational Hand Dermatitis

  • Behroozy, Ali;Keegel, Tessa G.
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.5 no.4
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    • pp.175-180
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    • 2014
  • Wet-work can be defined as activities where workers have to immerse their hands in liquids for >2 hours per shift, or wear waterproof (occlusive) gloves for a corresponding amount of time, or wash their hands >20 times per shift. This review considers the recent literature on wet-work exposure, and examines wet-work as a main risk factor for developing irritant contact dermatitis of the hands. The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed description of wet-work exposure among specific occupational groups who extensively deal with water and other liquids in their occupations. Furthermore, it highlights the extent and importance of the subsequent adverse health effects caused by exposure to wet-work.

Factors Related with Job Satisfaction in Workers - Through the Application of NIOSH Job Stress Model - (직장인의 직무만족도 관련요인 분석 - NIOSH의 직무스트레스 모형을 적용하여 -)

  • Kim, Soon-Lae;Lee, Bok-Im;Lee, Jong-Eun;Rhee, Kyung-Yong;Jung, Hye-Sun
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.190-199
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    • 2003
  • This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting job satisfaction in workers by using the Job Stress Model proposed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Data were collected from December 1 to December 30, 1999. The subjects were 2,133 workers employed at 155 work sites, who were examined using NIOSH Job Stress questionnaire translated by the Korea Occupational Safety ${\pounds}|$ Health Academy and Occupational Safety ${\pounds}|$ Health Research Institute. SAS/PC program was used for statistical analysis using descriptive analysis. Pearson's correlation coefficient, ANOVA, and Stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results of this study were as follows. 1. According to general characteristics of the subjects, job satisfaction was high in those with less number of children. 2. By work condition, job satisfaction was higher in those who were working in a permanent job position, were working with regular time basis than with shift basis, were working in regular shift hours than in changing shift hours, were working for a short period, and were working less hours and overtime works per week. 3. In terms of physical work environment, job satisfaction was significantly related to 10 physical environmental factors. In other words, job satisfaction was high in workers who were working in an environment with no noise, bright light, temperature adjusted to an appropriate level during summer and winter, humidity adjusted to an appropriate level. well ventilation, clean air, no exposure to hazardous substance during work hour, overall pleasant work environment and not crowded work space. 4. By work-related factors, job satisfaction was high in those with less ambiguity about future job and role, high job control/autonomy, and less workload. On the other hand, job satisfaction was low in those with little utilization of competencies, and much role conflict at work and workload. 5. As for the relationships between job satisfaction and the non-work related factors, job satisfaction was high in workers who were volunteering at different organizations or active in religious activities for 5-10 hours per week. 6. In the relationships between job satisfaction and buffering factors, significantly positive correlations were found between job satisfaction and factors such as support by direct superior, support by peers, and support by spouse, friend and family. 7. There were nine factors that affected job satisfaction in the workers: age, number of children, work hours per week, noise, temperature at the work site during summer, uncomfortable physical environment, role ambiguity, role conflict, ambiguity in job future, work load, no utilization of competencies and social support from direct supervisor. These nine factors accounted for 26% of the total variance in the multiple regression analysis. In conclusion. the following are proposed based on the results of this study. 1. The most important physical environmental factors affecting job satisfaction in workers were noise, role ambiguity, and work load, suggesting a need to develop strategies or programs to manage these factors at work sites. 2. A support system that could promote job satisfaction is needed by emphasizing the roles of occupational health nurses who may be stationed at work sites and manage the factors that could generate job stress. 3. Job satisfaction is one of the three acute responses to stress proposed in NIOSH job stress model (job satisfaction. physical discomfort and industrial accidents). Therefore, further studies need to be conducted on the other two issues.

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The Relationship Between Night Shift Work and the Risk of Abnormal Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone: A Hospital-Based Nine-Year Follow-up Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan

  • Chen, Hsin-Hao;Chiu, Hsiao-Hui;Yeh, Tzu-Lin;Lin, Chi-Min;Huang, Hsin-Yi;Wu, Shang-Liang
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.390-395
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    • 2021
  • Background: Health-care providers typically undergo shift work and are subjected to increased stress. Night shift work may induce disturbed sleep cycles and circadian rhythm. The objective of this study was to explore if night shift workers (NSWs) show an increased risk of abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 574 employees without thyroid disease and abnormal TSH at baseline who underwent annual check-ups between 2007 and 2016 in a medical center. NSWs were defined as those with working time schedules other than daytime hours. We calculated the incidence rate and estimated the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism compared with non-NSWs using a Cox regression model. Results: A total of 56 incident abnormal TSH cases and 39 subclinical hypothyroidism cases in NSWs were identified during 3000 person-years of follow-up. In models adjusted for age, sex, obesity, and working departments, we found no increased relative risk for incident abnormal TSH (HR: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.33-1.60) or subclinical hypothyroidism (HR: 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.19-1.45) when comparing NSWs to non-NSWs; nor were incidence rates significantly different among exclusively medical employees after excluding administrative staff. Conclusion: In this hospital-based nine-year follow-up retrospective cohort study, NSWs were not associated with increased relative risk of incident abnormal TSH and subclinical hypothyroidism, in contrast to previous cross-sectional studies.

Sampling and Analysis of Parathion in the Air and Urinary p-Nitrophenol for Parathion Manufacturing Workers (작업장 공기 중 파라티온과 작업자 소변 중 p-니트로페놀의 시료채취 및 분석)

  • Han, Don-Hee
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.300-309
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    • 2007
  • Although parathion is an organophosphate pesticide being legally applied for the purpose of agriculture and is being manufactured, parathion in the air and urinary p-nitrophenol, a metabolite of parathion, were not analysed in Korea. Air of the parathion manufacturing workplace was sampled by OVS-2 tubes using NIOSH 5600 and spot urine of workers was sampled at the end of shift. Parathion and urinary p-nitrophenol were analysed by GC/MS (5973 MSD connected with Agilent 6890 GC) and the protocol was included in this study. It was found that this protocol should be so sensitive that determining parathion in the air and urinary p-nitrophenol below level of ACGIH TLV and BEI be adequate. Another finding was that total sampling volume of air of NIOSH 5600 of 240 L should be adjusted to be less than 120 L due to breakthrough.

Main Problems and Suggestions on Occupational Safety and Hygiene in Construction Sites (건설현장의 안전보건 주요 현안과 개선 방안)

  • Shim, Gyubeom
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.22 no.4
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    • pp.329-336
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    • 2012
  • Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze main problems on occupational safety and hygiene in construction sites and to suggest some improvement methods. In order to decrease industrial accidents, I emphasize the approach paradigm shifts according to characteristics of construction workers. Methods: Pointing out the irrationality of current institutions by comparing bad outcomes of occupational safety and hygiene in construction industry and characteristics of construction workers. Results: In order to decrease industrial accidents, we need some approach paradigm shifts; the supply method of industrial safety and health fundamentals on the construction industry level, the accident rate calculation by using the actual construction workforce instead of an estimation, institutionalizing the prevention efforts themselves for industrial accidents, securing enough production costs for the precondition of occupational safety and hygiene in construction sites. Conclusions: I ascertain the need of the approach paradigm shifts for decreasing industrial accidents in the construction industry.

A Study on Industrial Accidents of Workers in Jeonbug Areas (전북지역(全北地域) 산업근로자(産業勤勞者)의 산업재해(産業災害)에 관(關)한 조사연구(調査硏究))

  • Hwang, In-Dam;Park, Young-Soo;Suh, Suk-Kwon
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.89-96
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    • 1981
  • Of 2,740 industries in Jeonbug area which are covered by industrial insurance policy, 462 facilities which the accidents related to industry occured during the year of 1979 were studied. and the results are summarized as follows: 1. The accidents related to industry occured in 462 industries of the total 2,740 industrial facilities in Jeonbug area as of 1979. 2. The incidence rate of accident per 1,000 workers was 34.3 (49.2 in male workers and 12.8 in female workers), the frequency rate of the total industries in jeonbug area was 13.36, and severity rate was 1.3. 3. The frequency rates and severity rates by type of industry in study area were quite different to compare with those of national rates. 4. The incidence rate of construction industry was 223.6 per 1,000 workers, and that of transportation-communication industries were 78.6. 5. The proportion of industrial accidents of $20{\sim}24$ age group was 22.1 per cent of the total accidents, and the proportions decreased according to age increase. 6. The incidence rate in the industry having less than 49 workers was 20.6 per 1,000 workers, that of industry with $50{\sim]99$ workers was 26.7, that of industry with $100{\sim}199$ was 51.9, that of industry with $200{\sim}499$ was 80.2 and that of with more than 500 worker was 40.7. 7. The accidents which occured in the workers with experience of less than one year was 69.4 per cent of the total accidents, otherwise, the longer the workers have worked the less accident they have. 8. The most accidents occured in tile shift between 10 to 12 o'clock, and 16 to 18 hour 9. The primary causes of the industrial accidents were found to be collisions, machinery falling objects and falls. 10. The site of injury by type of industry were quite different, and the major site of injury was finger. 11. The laceration and open injuries of the accidents related to industry were 37.2 per cent of the total cases, and fractures or dislocations were 23.5 per cent, and contusions were 6.5 per cent. 12. Death rate of industrial accident was 5.0 per 10,000 workers, and those of industry were 47.6 in transportation, 42.8 in construction industry, 24.4 in mine industry, and 2.0 in manufacturing industry.

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Ergonomic Interventions to Control Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Automated Light Assembly Manufacturing System (소형 부품 자동화 조립시스템의 근골격계질환 예방을 위한 인간공학적 개선안 연구)

  • Rah, Chong-Kwan;Park, Min-Yong
    • Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.57-63
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    • 2005
  • Ergonomic intervention techniques were adopted to assess and control potential risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) in the automated light assembly manufacturing system. Ten different kinds of assembly workstations implemented with a conveyor system and twelve female workers were observed and evaluated with careful video film analysis. Several close examinations using sets of checklists established by qualified safety and health organizations, such as NIOSH, OSHA, and ANSI, were conducted and every workers and staffs in the site participated in the self-report questionnaires and off-line interviews. Typical risk factors and symptoms of the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders were found and categorized into specific parts of body. To reduce risk factors of WMSDs and improve system productivity new revised workstation standards, physical dimensions, were suggested accordant with anthropometric characteristics of workers and a heuristic decision strategy of rotating shift work schedules according to work contents has proposed to mitigate cumulative physical stress. Finally, ergonomic programs of entire company to prevent WMSDs were structured.