Work - Volume 72, issue 2

Authors: Kumar Banga, Harish | Kumar, Raj | Kalra, Parveen

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Nowadays, real-time motion tracking devices are widely used for ergonomic assessment of several manual quotidian activities. The real-time tracking of human activities makes it easier to observe the exposure of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in the human body. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the suitability of a real-time motion tracking device (Kinect v1 interfaced with a commercial ergonomic assessment software, JACK) for real-time ergonomic evaluation of the strenuous operation of the manual lawn mower. METHOD: The lawn mower operators perform various strenuous activities while operating the manual lawn mower for long intervals of time, …which causes WMSDs in the entire body of the operators. These working operators’ activities have been captured using Kinect v1 interfaced with JACK, to address the ergonomic issues responsible for the whole-body WMSDs. The forces acting on the lower back, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment score and static strength have been predicted using JACK. RESULTS: This study proves the exposure of the operators towards the whole-body WMSDs while operating the manual lawn mower. CONCLUSION: The findings provide a quick and straightforward approach for performing the real-time ergonomic evaluation of any operation, which can help the industrial staff estimate the risk of level WMSDs. Show more

Keywords: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, rapid upper limb assessment, lower back analysis, static strength prediction

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210713

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 497-510, 2022

Authors: Senna, Pedro | Reis, Augusto da Cunha | Leão Santos, Igor | Dias, Ana Claudia

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Public hospital managers in Rio de Janeiro must deal with severe budget costs, which is the only source of income of public hospitals. In this sense, systematic supply chain risk management can contribute to identifying such risks, assessing their severity, and developing mitigating plans, or even revealing the lack of such plans. Private hospital networks must also map their risks since they are facing a diminishing of demand given that unemployment in Brazil, which is growing in the past years, generates an impossibility of affording private healthcare. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how …supply chain risk management is being applied in healthcare supply chains from Rio de Janeiro – Brazil. This study considers supply chains located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. To accomplish this objective, we provide answers to two Research Questions: RQ1 - Is SCRM known as a concept among Rio de Janeiro healthcare supply chains? RQ2 - How are risk identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation being implemented by companies from the healthcare supply chains in Rio de Janeiro – Brazil? METHOD: Our research design is based on four steps: i) Research design; ii) Case selection: iii) Data collection (11 cases selected); iv) Data analysis. RESULTS: The interviews revealed that SCRM is an entirely unknown concept among healthcare supply chains from Rio de Janeiro – Brazil. Managers have empirical knowledge of the risks, and they can identify the most hazardous risks and can come up with solutions to mitigate them, nevertheless, in many situations they do not have the authority or the manpower to implement the solutions, at most, managers implement local risk mitigation initiatives that do not consider the supply chains broader context. CONCLUSION: The healthcare organizations studied by this paper do not apply SCRM. They only apply local isolated solutions not considering a supply chain scope. This can become hazardous since isolated risk mitigation initiatives are often innocuous and have the potential to generate other risks. Show more

Keywords: Supply chain risk resilience, qualitative study, qualitative data

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205216

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 511-527, 2022

Authors: Björklund Carlstedt, Anita | Jacobsson, Gustav | Bjursell, Cecilia | Nystedt, Paul | Sternäng, Ola

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The ageing population has initiated a debate about a prolonged working life. There is an interest in finding the pre-retirement predictors of bridge employment and retirement decisions, but the understanding of the experiences of bridge employees is still limited. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to describe the characteristics of the pensioners working for a staffing agency, their motivational aspects, work patterns and types of services they provided. METHODS: This article analyses the results from a Swedish staffing agency’s yearly co-worker questionnaire from December 2017. The response rate was 44% (N  = 1741). The design is descriptive, with …correlation analyses and construction of typical cases. RESULTS: Most study participants were aged 65–74 years. Sixty-five percent were men, 66% were cohabitating/married, dominating education level was secondary school or higher education (79%). Important incentives for working were the social context and to gain extra income. A majority of the respondents also stated that their work increased their overall well-being. Seventy-eight percent worked 25 hours per month or less, 37% wanted to work more, 3% wanted to work less. Private services dominated with 61%; most common were gardening (43%), trades (33%) and cleaning (31%). CONCLUSIONS: More men than women chose this form of work. While single women need to work out of economic necessity, men, to a larger extent, work for the social context and well-being. The highest work frequency in 2017 (14%) in the population was found for those who retired in 2015, i.e. two years after their retirement year. A majority indicated that the work they were doing was different from earlier in their working life. Show more

Keywords: Bridge employment, older employees, temporary work agency

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205255

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 529-537, 2022

Authors: Ramadan, Mohamed Z. | Al-Tayyar, Sultan N. | Alhaag, Mohammed H. | Soliman, Ahmed T. | Abdelgawad, Abdelaty E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Unsuitable schoolbags may stress the spine and promote poor body posture, particularly for school students. Global recommendations have suggested that schoolbag weight must not exceed 10% of a healthy student’s body mass, which would need continuous monitoring and enforcement. OBJECTIVES: The present study presents a comparison between an ergonomically designed schoolbag, which helps reduce the potential effects of carrying a load, and a commercial one. METHODS: A total of 30 healthy male students were recruited for this experiment. Independent variables determined were schoolbag type (ergonomically designed and commercial schoolbags) and three load levels based on …body mass percentage (i.e., 10%, 15%, and 20% of body mass). Heart rate variability (HRV) and body discomfort rating were then measured. RESULTS: Our results showed that the developed schoolbag promoted enhanced subjective measures and HRV response at 15% and 20% of body mass. Participants who wore the developed schoolbags experienced significantly lesser neck, shoulder, upper and lower trunk discomfort than those who wore the traditional ones. Changing the load percentage from 10% to 15% caused an increase in heart rate among participants carrying a commercial schoolbag but a decrease in heart rate among those carrying the developed schoolbag. CONCLUSIONS: The findings presented herein suggest introducing strategies for reducing the potential impact of load carrying through the combined effect of new educational inventions and policy changes. Show more

Keywords: Backpack, carried load, children, ergonomics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205152

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 539-552, 2022

Authors: van Markus-Doornbosch, Frederike | Meesters, Jorit J. | Volker, Gerard | Ijzereef, Wil A. | van den Hout, Wilbert B. | Vliet Vlieland, Thea P. | de Kloet, Arend J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Persons with disabilities are at risk for unemployment with negative long-term consequences. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the process and outcomes of a novel vocational rehabilitation (VR) program based on the concept of mentorship. METHODS: Observational, retrospective study including unemployed young adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) taking part in a VR program including assessment, training, individual counselling and mentor support from volunteering professionals. Adherence to the program and work status were registered and at follow-up all patients were invited to complete a general questionnaire and EuroQol 5D. RESULTS: 49 patients started …the program, with 41 completing the follow-up. Median age was 31 years and 19 were male. Median duration of the program was 8 months. At follow-up, 9 patients had acquired paid employment, 7 with the support of a mentor; 6 of whom were bothered by health problems at work. Nine patients left the program prematurely, with insufficient financial support for continuation being the primary reason for withdrawal (n  = 6). CONCLUSIONS: A VR program including a mentor may be a promising program for patients who are unemployed at onset of ABI. Lack of financial support to complete the program and concurrent health problems were found to hamper the process and outcomes of the program, respectively. Show more

Keywords: VR program, rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, young adults, coaching, quality of life, vocational rehabilitation, counselling, school to work transition

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210038

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 553-563, 2022

Authors: Golubović, Tamara | Brkić, Vesna Spasojević | Perišić, Martina

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Change in current approach to develop methodologies for process risk assessment, where it is commenced from the process industry and exclusively hazardous materials are dealt with, into the approach where it will be commenced from pressure equipment within any context and both technical and organizational aspects are considered, can lead to the orientation of a more comprehensive approach to risk assessment, and thereby to better results in this area. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study implies the creation of a universal measurement instrument that will measure and quantify organizational factors impact on the risk of pressure equipment …exploitation. METHODS: The research instrument was drawn from previous research and tested by the multivariate statistical methods using the sample size of 253. RESULTS: The confirmatory factor analysis conducted shows that the most influencing organizational factor is ‘subcontractors for works from other enterprises’ with maximum value of 104, whereas the factors ‘maintenance/inspection’, ‘safety and health at work’ and ‘human error’ are by 10% to 20% less influencing. There then follow ‘training and competence of employees for crisis situations’, communication’, ‘potentially hazardous materials and equipment’ and ‘organizational change management’ and the factor ‘conducting investigation after accidents’ with the lowest value of 29. Pareto analysis indicates that the factors ‘communication’, ‘subcontractors for works from other enterprises’, ’organizational changes management’, ’potentially hazardous materials and equipment’, and ‘training and competence of employees for crisis situations’ participate with 80%, and they should be given special attention in practice. CONCLUSION: The instrument offered can ensure proactive information on the influence of organizational factors as risk predictors of pressure equipment operation, before given influences lead to accidents with severe consequences. Show more

Keywords: Safety, questionnaire, construct, dimension, risk

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210373

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 565-576, 2022

Authors: Sousa-Uva, Mafalda | Fonseca, António Manuel | Nunes, Baltazar | Sousa-Uva, António | Rodrigues, Ana Paula | Matias-Dias, Carlos

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Despite the actual demographic trends and the global burden of cardiovascular diseases, there is little knowledge concerning the effects of retirement on this health outcome. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to quantify the associations between retirement, and retirement age, with cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) in the Portuguese population. METHODS: We used data from the first Portuguese wave of the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Logistic regression was applied to quantify the associations. The major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and several features of retirement were considered as possible confounders or effect modifiers. …Analysis was restricted to retirees in retirement process (retired for 5 years or less) and not retired because of illness. RESULTS: An opposite direction of the association between retirement and heart disease was observed according to hypertension status, although not significant. Early retirement increased the odds of having a stroke, merely in individuals without heart disease (OR = 8.87; 95% CI 1.63–48.26). On the contrary, in individuals with heart disease, decreased the odds of having a stroke (OR = 0.08; 95% CI 0.01–0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that retirement and retirement age may be beneficial or harmful, respectively, in the presence or absence of major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. We suggest that work-related stress affecting differently workers with and without these risk factors may eventually explain these findings. Show more

Keywords: Heart diseases, stroke, retirement, epidemiology, work

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205224

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 577-586, 2022

Authors: Švajger, Andreja | Šuc, Lea | Vidmar, Gaj

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: People with vision impairment are a growing group of clients for occupational therapists, particularly those working in vocational rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To examine the occupational priorities and performance issues of blind and partially sighted people entering vocational rehabilitation in Slovenia. Possible differences between priorities and issues among diagnostic groups and in relation to the rehabilitation outcome were explored. METHODS: Records of 42 clients referred to vocational rehabilitation at the University Rehabilitation Institute in Ljubljana between 2007 and 2019 were reviewed. Information on self-perceived occupational priorities and issues was obtained from the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). …RESULTS: Household and other unpaid work was identified the most frequently (20%) as a priority, followed by job-seeking (19%) and community mobility (15%). Job-seeking was the top performance issue (43%), followed by community mobility (21%) and household management (19%). On the 1–10 scale, the average occupational performance and satisfaction scores were 6.7 and 6.5, respectively; no statistically significant differences in relation to the diagnosis or the rehabilitation outcome were observed. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the client-identified occupational priorities and issues beside job-seeking that need to be considered in planning occupational therapy and supporting the persons with visual impairments entering the labor market. Show more

Keywords: Vision impairment, occupational therapy, Canadian occupational performance measure

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210039

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 587-594, 2022

Authors: Sadeghniiat-Haghighi, Khosro | Abbaslou, Farzaneh | Akbar Sharifian, Seyed | Izadi, Nazanin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Shift work may be associated with insulin resistance. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the potential association between shift work and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index in professional drivers. METHOD: A total of four hundred fifty-three professional drivers were invited to participate in the study within a periodic medical examination in the occupational setting. One hundred seventy-seven daytime workers were compared with 175 night shifts and 101 early morning shift drivers. Demographic, occupational, and medical examination including blood pressure, anthropometric data was assessed. Measurement of serum insulin, fasting blood glucose and …lipid profile were done for all drivers. RESULTS: Compared with day workers, night shift and early morning shift drivers displayed higher levels of HOMA-IR. Metabolic syndrome was found to be significantly increased in night workers. In linear regression analysis, insulin resistance was correlated with shift work independently of demographic and occupational characteristics. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that shift work could be a risk factor in developing the risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Suggestively, health strategies such as structured lifestyle counseling in occupational health settings are warranted to improve and modify cardiometabolic risk factors. Show more

Keywords: Insulin resistance, professional driver, shift work, HOMA-IR

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210056

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 595-600, 2022

Authors: Petersson, Eva-Lisa | Hange, Dominique | Udo, Camilla | Björkelund, Cecilia | Svenningsson, Irene

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Collaborative care with a care manager in primary care improves care. OBJECTIVE: To study whether care manager support leads to improved work ability, decreased job strain and reduced time of sick leave among primary care patients with depression. METHODS: A clinical effectiveness study of care managers for depression patients seeking care in primary care was conducted in a RCT 2014 –2016. Patients in the intervention group were assigned a care manager. In the 12-month follow-up, patients with employment (n  = 269; intervention n  = 142, control n  = 127) were studied concerning work ability, job strain and sick …leave. RESULTS: An association was shown between reduction of depressive symptoms and improved work ability for the entire group. At 12-month follow-up a statistically significant difference of reduction of depressive symptoms was seen between the groups (MADRS-S: intervention 10.8 vs control 13.1, p  = 0.05) as well as increased quality of life (EQ-5D: intervention 0.77 vs control 0.70, p  = 0.04). In the intervention group, a concordance was found between the patient’s prediction of return to work and the actual return to work (91%for intervention and 68 %for control group, p  = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to usual care, the care manager does not seem to further improve perception of work ability, job strain or perception of social support per se among the patients despite a long-term effect on depression symptoms. The lack of a long-term effect regarding these aspects may be due to the fact that care manager support was only provided during the first three months. Show more

Keywords: Primary health care, job strain, work ability index, return to work, depression

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205272

Citation: Work, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 601-609, 2022