Work - Volume 68, issue 3

Authors: Marciniak, Rudi A. | Ebersole, Kyle T. | Cornell, David J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Research has suggested that balance ability contributes to musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) rates in firefighters. Though the Y-Balance Test (YBT) can predict injury, it is unclear what physical measures inform YBT performance in firefighters. Thus, there is a lack of knowledge regarding best practice for improving balance in firefighters. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the YBT and fitness measures, including body composition, aerobic capacity, functional total-body power, upper and lower-body strength, and movement efficiency, among firefighters. METHODS: Dynamic balance (YBT), body mass index (BMI), body-fat percentage (BF%), fat free mass (FFM), aerobic capacity (VO2max ), …stair climb (SC), upper (1RMbench ) and lower-body (1RMsquat ) strength, and Fusionetics™ Movement Efficiency Screen (ME) measures were collected among 35 firefighter recruits. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships between YBT and the performance measures. RESULTS: Dynamic balance ability in firefighter recruits is significantly (p  < 0.05) related to BMI, lower-body strength, and movement quality, but not with aerobic capacity, stair climb performance, and upper body strength. CONCLUSIONS: Greater YBT performance in firefighter recruits is associated with lower BMI, greater functional movement, and greater lower-body strength. Future research is warranted to incorporate these elements into balance training programs for firefighter recruits. Show more

Keywords: Y-balance test, tactical athlete, strength, power, movement efficiency

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203401

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 667-677, 2021

Authors: Kim, Kwan Woo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although using forklifts in industrial sites contributes to productivity, many workers have been injured or killed owing to industrial accidents caused by forklifts. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the characteristics of forklift accidents by employment type and work process, thereby identifying the factors contributing to industrial accidents and providing recommendations to prevent accidents. METHODS: Data on 1,061 industrial forklift accidents occurring in 2018 collected from the national injury insurance compensation database were analyzed. In addition to analyzing the accident characteristics, this study performed a risk assessment per forklift work process. RESULTS: Many accidents were …associated with older workers, those employed for < 6 months, and workplaces with ≤49 workers. The risk was the highest for accidents involving caught-in objects in the loading/unloading step and collision accidents in the forward- and backward-driving steps. CONCLUSIONS: Measures are needed to prevent industrial forklift accidents. First, forklift and worker movement routes must be strictly separated or controlled by a work supervisor. It is necessary to secure a time margin for workers to avoid collapsing cargo by using an appropriate tool/jig during loading/unloading. Second, guidance, inspection, and support are needed to promote employers’ safety and health awareness in workplaces with < 50 workers. Lastly, intensive education and training concerning health and safety is required for workers with less than six months of experience. Show more

Keywords: Risk assessment, industrial accident, employment type, work process

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203402

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 679-687, 2021

Authors: Clemente, Miguel | Reig-Botella, Adela | de Lange, Annet | Detaille, Sarah

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Youth, unemployment and poverty confirm a set of situations that are often inseparable. An example of this is the case of young people from the Andean coca areas. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a psychological test that can be used as a predictor of adequate police performance for use in police force recruitment. METHODS: The study comprised a sample of 713 young people, who were selected to join a pre-police training program designed to allow them to subsequently join the Peruvian police force. A new 200-item instrument, called Nemesis, was created. Derogatis’ SCL-90 test was …administered to determine the validity of the new instrument. The suitability of the items for the future questionnaire was determined through factor analysis, which reduced the questionnaire to 14 items. Logistic regression was used to determine whether the items on the scale could predict possible admittance into the police training academy. RESULTS: A statistical regression analysis showed that the global percentage of correct predictions exceeded chance by almost 15%. Based on this analysis, the scale was determined to be valid. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed objective of verifying the psychometric properties of the Nemesis scale was fulfilled, as the scale has adequate reliability and validity. Show more

Keywords: Police recruitment selection, psychological testing, social exclusion, vocational selection, youth, unemployed

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203403

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 689-699, 2021

Authors: Laudanski, Annemarie F. | Acker, Stacey M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: High knee flexion postures are often adopted in occupational settings and may lead to increased risk of knee osteoarthritis. Pattern recognition algorithms using wireless electromyographic (EMG) signals may be capable of detecting and quantifying occupational exposures throughout a working day. OBJECTIVE: To develop a k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN) algorithm for the classification of eight high knee flexion activities frequently observed in childcare. METHODS: EMG signals from eight lower limb muscles were recorded for 30 participants, signals were decomposed into time- and frequency-domain features, and used to develop a kNN classification algorithm. Features were reduced to …a combination of ten time-domain features from 8 muscles using neighborhood component analysis, in order to most effectively identify the postures of interest. RESULTS: The final classifier was capable of accurately identifying 80.1%of high knee flexion postures based on novel data from participants included in the training dataset, yet only achieved 18.4%accuracy when predicting postures based on novel subject data. CONCLUSIONS: EMG based classification of high flexion postures may be possible within occupational settings when the model is first trained on sample data from a given individual. The developed algorithm may provide quantitative measures leading to a greater understanding of occupation specific postural requirements. Show more

Keywords: Electromyography, occupational ergonomics, pattern recognition, feature selection, lower limb

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203404

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 701-709, 2021

Authors: Nassiri, Parvin | Monazzam, Mohammad Reza | Dehghan, Somayeh Farhang | Teimori, Gholamheidar | Zakerian, Seyed Abolfazl | Azam, Kamal | Asghari, Mehdi

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess the interactive effects of industrial noise type, level and frequency characteristics on hand motor skills using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test and the Hand Tool Dexterity Test. METHODS: A total of ten nonsmoking male volunteers with normal hearing and vision were selected for this study. The study followed a full 3×3×2 factorial design. Independent variables were noise type (steady, intermittent and fluctuating), noise level (75, 85 and 95 dBA) and frequency characteristics (“roar” <2000 Hz and “hiss” >2000 Hz). RESULTS: For Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test, the lowest speed is related to steady …hiss noise at 75 dBA and the highest speed is related to fluctuating roar noise at 95 dBA. The speed is being significantly affected by the frequency characteristic (P  = 0.041) and noise type (P  = 0.025). The effect of hiss noise on speed is greater than roar noise (P  = 0.038). There is a significant difference (P  = 0.035) between continuous noise and fluctuating noise. For the Hand Tool Dexterity Test, the lowest speed is related to fluctuating hiss noise at 95 dBA and the highest speed is related to steady roar noise at 95 dBA. The speed is being significantly affected by the frequency characteristic (P  = 0.002), noise type (P  = 0.0001) and noise level (P  = 0.005). The effect of hiss noise on response variable to be greater than roar noise (P  = 0.008). There is a significant difference (P  = 0.0001) between steady noise and the two other types of noise, and also there is a significant difference between 75 dBA and 85 dBA level (P  = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that on hand motor skills, speed response was influenced by three characteristics: the type of noise, frequency characteristics and noise level. Also, the effect of the hiss noise was more than the roar noise. Show more

Keywords: Industrial noise, occupational skills, Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test, Hand Tool Dexterity Test, speed response

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203405

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 711-719, 2021

Authors: Van Eerd, D. | Irvin, E. | Harbin, S. | Mahood, Q. | Tiong, M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can result from occupational exposures and poses a considerable burden to workers, their families, workplaces and to society in general. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to conduct a rapid review of the literature to answer the question: “Which occupations have exposures that may lead to a PTSD diagnosis?” METHODS: A rapid review was conducted in six steps: review question development, literature search, study selection (inclusion/exclusion), study characterization, data extraction, and data synthesis. RESULTS: The search identified 3428 unique references which were reviewed to find 16 relevant studies in 23 articles. …The articles revealed associations between PTSD and rescue workers (police, firefighters, etc.), health care professionals, transit drivers, and bank employees which seem well supported by the literature. Some studies also suggest potential associations with PTSD and construction and extraction, electricians, manufacturing, installation, maintenance and repair, transportation and material moving, and clerical workers. CONCLUSIONS: A rapid review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature of PTSD prevalence or treatment suggests many occupations have exposures that could be associated with PTSD. Occupational traumatic events were most often associated with PTSD diagnosis. More research is needed to better understand the association between occupation and PTSD. Show more

Keywords: Mental health, workers’ compensation, disability prevention

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203406

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 721-731, 2021

Authors: Knani, Mouna | Fournier, Pierre-Sébastien | Biron, Caroline

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Small and medium sized enterprises are yet uncharted territory in terms of presenteeism. In addition, the Demand-Control-Support (DCS) and Siegrist’s Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models are proposed to predict stress-related health problems, but not for sickness behaviors such as presenteeism. Objective: This study aims to examine the relationships between psychosocial risk factors, presenteeism, mental and physical health in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study also examines the moderating effect of company size on these associations. Methods: To test the association between psychosocial risks, presenteeism, and health, only people working in small and …medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of between 2 and 199 employees were included in the sample, giving a total of 2,525 SME employees surveyed. To test the differences in exposure to psychosocial risk and presenteeism, and the moderating impact of size on the relationship between psychosocial risks, presenteeism, and health, we took the original sample (4608) of the EQCOTESST. Results: The results confirm the associations between job demands, social support and effort-reward imbalance, and presenteeism. Also, the associations between presenteeism and health problems in SMEs’ context. Multi-group analyses show that the business’s size does not moderate the strength of the relationships between psychosocial risks, presenteeism and health. Conclusion: The current study highlights that SMEs are somehow protected from certain psychosocial constraints such as high job demands, and low social support, but are more exposed to others such as effort-reward imbalance. Show more

Keywords: Demand-control-support (DCS), effort-reward imbalance (ERI), EQCOTESST, mental and physical health, psychosocial risks, psychological distress, musculoskeletal disorders, perception of overall health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203407

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 733-747, 2021

Authors: Lai, Lawrence W.C. | Chau, K.W. | Davies, Stephen N.G. | Kwan, Locinda M.L.

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Open plan or open space office has become increasingly popular but those who promote the concept seldom refer to health studies or workers’ perceptions of a change in office layout towards an open space arrangement. OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on open plan or open space office layouts in terms of facilities management (FM) with users’ perceptions in mind and to obtain opinions of users of open space offices for a better appreciation of the FM issues. METHODS: A literature search of research papers from 2007 in journals using the keywords “open plan office” and …“open space office” plus “health”, first in the titles then in the text, was carried out. Thirty-two of those papers, accessible by the authors’ institutions, were consulted together with 5 other works in the Harvard Business Review. The review consulted but excluded papers and reports published or sponsored by commercial firms that were in favour of open space layouts. Case studies were conducted by face to face meetings in confidence with workers in the middle managements of twelve Hong Kong organisations known as friends to two of the authors. Problems as seen by staff are reported and discussed. RESULTS: The literature review reveals that apart from writing that promotes the use of an open plan office layout, a host of scientific works point to the problems of perceived dissatisfaction with such a layout, the nature of the dissatisfaction tending to depend on the actual design. Most workers interviewed disliked the new style open plan layouts, which points to the necessity of consulting workers when such changes are contemplated, as well as monitoring the results of the change once it is in place whether against workers’ wishes or with their support. There is a need for a number of facility arrangements in making a change to open plan that ensures that worker needs for proper lighting, privacy, and indoor health will be met. CONCLUSIONS: If the aim of a change to an open plan arrangement is to promote collegial communications in office, the study sheds light on the extent to which such arrangements may not in practice be suitable for achieving the aim. It follows that further, more specifically sociological studies of workers’ job satisfaction and emotional health in open plan office settings would be worth doing. Show more

Keywords: Office layout, facilities, lighting, privacy, indoor health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203408

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 749-758, 2021

Authors: Zare, Mohsen | Norval, Maxime | Bodin, Julie | Roquelaure, Yves

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: This study investigates work-related musculoskeletal disorders risk estimation by frequently as used as ergonomic methods in the field. Objective: To identify the difference in risk estimation by an in-house observational method and a self-reported questionnaire, and to evaluate the complementary aspects of these methods. Methods: A sample of 15 operators who worked on the assembly workstations was selected from a truck manufacturing plant. The risk assessment of these workstations (28 scenarios) was performed by the observational method and the self-reported questionnaire. The agreement between both methods to identify risk situations was measured with the weighted …Kappa coefficient. Results: The observational method and the self-reported questionnaire deployed on the same activity estimated different risk situations. Conclusion: This analysis does not reveal that one tool is more powerful than the other one, but shows the probability of different risk estimation. The complementary effect of each method might be considered for further investigation concerning musculoskeletal risk factors. Show more

Keywords: Risk estimation, musculoskeletal disorders, assessment tool, automotive assembly tasks

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203409

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 759-769, 2021

Authors: Adib-Hajbaghery, Mohsen | Lotfi, Mohammad-Sajjad | Hosseini, Fatemeh Sadat

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Work and family life are the two basic components of the individuals’ life and each one affects the other. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between occupational stress, mental health and marital satisfaction among Iranian nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 randomly selected nurses. The 35 items hospital stress scale, Enrich Marital Satisfaction questionnaire and Scl-25 mental health questionnaire were used. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent sample t -test and analysis of variance and regression analysis were used. Results: Inverse correlations were observed between the scores of …job stress and mental health (r = –0.468, p  = 0.001) and marital satisfaction (r = –0.517, p  = 0.001). More than 0.74% of variation in marital satisfaction is explained by the components of occupational stress. Conclusion: The results revealed that occupational stress plays a decisive role in nurses’ marital satisfaction and mental health. Due to the destructive effects of occupational stress on the people’s mental health, interpersonal relationships and on their efficacy in their job, establishment of some counseling services for nurses to be used by them periodically or by need, can help them to manage their stress level and better management of their family life problems. Moreover, in-service courses or workshops on stress management may help nurses to possess appropriate knowledge and skills on stress management. Show more

Keywords: Occupational stress, mental health, marital satisfaction, nursing

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203410

Citation: Work, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 771-778, 2021