Work - Volume 77, issue 3

Authors: Al Iman, Budiman | Tjahjono, Heru Kurnianto | Qamari, Ika Nurul

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Because of the continually changing nature of work, workplace spirituality (WPS) has drawn more attention in recent years from studies, organizations, and both public and private sectors. Organizations strive to enhance employee well-being and general job satisfaction while developing a feeling of community inside the workplace through fostering WPS. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to assess the literature on WPS in an attempt to provide a broader perspective on the impact of spirituality in the workplace to strengthen and comprehend how an individual or collective spirituality is integrated and manifested in the workplace. METHODS: The literature …was reviewed between 1994–2022 (including articles published online in 2023) and the deductive method was used. RESULTS: As a new and significant contribution to knowledge in this study, maintaining a work environment of otherworldliness can help to advance work commitment (sympathy, mindfulness, significant work). Human resources practices should consider including care contemplation as an individual development program that results in increased empathy for others to support care and sympathy in the workplace. WPS centers around the humanistic idea of representatives in the work environment regarding how they experience a feeling of association, which means satisfaction and arrangement with the working environment. There are three ways to look at WPS: individual, authoritative, and intuitive. CONCLUSION: This study has a significant contribution to knowledge enhancement and development. Such an approach to the development of a spirituality program within an organization can make a positive contribution to the improvement of business achievement and competitive gain. This model has some implications for organizational management where an internal spirituality program is desired. Future and additional research on model assessment under the same topic is strongly recommended. Show more

Keywords: Workplace environment, working conditions, human resources, organizational behavior, empathy, self-compassion, mindfulness, spiritualities

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230028

Citation: Work, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 963-973, 2024

Authors: Li, Changhao | Li, Xinyu | Zhang, Zengli

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The involvement of Perchloroethylene (PCE) in the development of autoimmune diseases has been reported. However, few studies investigated immunotoxicity in PCE-exposed workers. OBJECTIVE: To study changes in the oxidative stress and cytokine profile of young female dry-cleaning workers exposed to PCE. METHODS: Thirty-eight exposed workers and 38 unexposed controls were recruited. All the participants were young nonsmoker females. Individual interviews were conducted by a physician. Blood samples were collected and hematological tests were performed by an automated Coulter Counter. Plasma PCE levels were determined using gas chromatography/flame ionization detection. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Catalase …(CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured using the colorimetric method. The levels of plasma cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured by commercially kits. RESULTS: The levels of plasma PCE averaged 561±96 ng/ml in the exposed group compared with 1.3±0.5 ng/ml in the controls. The hematological tests failed to find abnormalities in the exposed workers. Exposed workers presented significantly increased plasma levels of MDA, SOD and CAT. There were no significant differences between the two groups for level of plasma TAC. Significantly increased plasma IL-1β and TNF-α and decreased IL-2 and IL-8 levels were seen in the exposed workers. There were no significant differences between the two groups for IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-γ. CONCLUSION: PCE exposure resulted in changed cytokine profile in dry-cleaning workers, suggesting the potential immunotoxicity of PCE at low exposure levels. Show more

Keywords: Perchloroethylene, occupational, immunotoxicity, health check, low dose, oxidative stress

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230080

Citation: Work, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 975-979, 2024

Authors: Kutsuna, Ichiro | Hoshino, Aiko | Morisugi, Ami | Mori, Yukari | Shirato, Aki | Takeda, Mirai | isaji, Hikari | Suwa, Mami

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Return-to-work (RTW) programs are provided as rehabilitation for people who have taken sick leave from work because of mental health problems. However, methods to present this information to workplaces objectively remain limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to conduct an exploratory investigation of the relationship between duration of sick leave and time variation of words used in RTW programs for depression from textual data collected from electronic medical records as a new evaluation indicator. METHODS: The study subjects were those who had taken sick leave because of major depressive or adjustment disorder and had participated in …an RTW program. The study data comprised demographic characteristics and texts. Textual data were collected from electronic medical records and classified based on the SOAP note. Thereafter, the textual data were quantified into category scores based on a standard text analysis dictionary. A generalized linear mixed model was used for the statistical analysis, with the score for each category (emotional, social, cognitive, perceptual, biological, motivational, relativity, and informal) as the dependent variable and the duration of sick leave, time, and interaction between the duration of sick leave and time as the independent variables. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: In total, 42 participants were included in the analysis. The results revealed a significant interaction between the social (p  = 0.001) and emotional (p  = 0.002) categories. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a relationship between word changes in electronic medical records and the duration of sick leave. Show more

Keywords: Electronic medical records, employee, mental health, rehabilitation, text mining

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230083

Citation: Work, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 981-991, 2024

Authors: Sener, Perihan | Onal, Ozkan | Akpinar, Seyma Eskil | Altinbas, Kursat

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mobbing in the workplace is a critical problem affecting healthcare workers’ psychological health and performance. However, there is a lack of data on the relationship between mobbing and depression and a lack of regulations to create a decent working environment. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the frequency of exposure to mobbing and the depression levels that may be related to mobbing among the employees of the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Clinic. METHODS: In this multi-center cross-sectional study, employees were evaluated with Leymann’s Inventory of Psychological Terror scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. …RESULTS: Of the participants, 86.2% stated that they were exposed to mobbing. The presence of mobbing was also associated with the presence of psychological and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The frequency of mobbing was relatively high among Anesthesiology and Reanimation clinic employees. Mobbing exposure was found to be associated with a high level of depression. Institutional and legal precautions should be taken, and awareness of mobbing should be increased to eliminate mobbing and its consequences on healthcare workers. Show more

Keywords: Workplace incivility, bullying/mobbing, depression, anxiety, healthcare workers, common mental disorders, occupational stresses, behavioral symptoms

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230098

Citation: Work, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 993-1004, 2024

Authors: Mirza, Muhammad Zeeshan | Memon, Mumtaz Ali | Javaid, Muhammad Umair | Arshad, Rameen

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Contemporary literature raises serious questions about the inclusion of negatively worded items in the safety climate scale. Despite these reservations, limited efforts have been made to address this shortcoming. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to adapt and empirically validate the ten-items group-level safety climate scale with the purpose of replacing negatively worded items with positively worded ones after a thorough validation process. The present study is one of the first to propose an empirically validated group-level safety climate scale that uses positive items to measure the safety climate construct. METHODS: Study 1 …was conducted using a sample of 135 participants. Study 2 used a time-lagged approach to validate the scale, with a sample of 173 production workers from six oil and gas organizations in Malaysia. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method was used to test the hypothesized relationships. RESULTS: In Study 1, the results of the exploratory factor analysis showed good reliability for the revised scale. In Study 2, the results of the PLS-SEM analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between safety climate and safety behaviors, thereby validating the revised and translated scale of safety climate. CONCLUSION: The revised safety climate scale will not only improve data quality, but it will also increase response rates. Additionally, the revised scale will assist managers in understanding the true perceptions of safety climate in their organization, regardless of the cultural context in which the scale is used. Show more

Keywords: Safety, behavior rating scale, group behavior, occupational safety, oil and gas industry, safety management

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230150

Citation: Work, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 1005-1016, 2024

Authors: Asghari, Mehdi | Gorji, Rahim | Moradzadeh, Rahmatollah | Kohansal, Behieh | Abbasinia, Marzieh | Goudarzi, Forough

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related diseases with various risk factors and considerable negative impacts on both physical and mental well-being of affected workers. Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) has a complex interaction with personal, environmental and occupational factors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a risk model for ONIHL in workers by identifying risk factors and their interactions. METHODS: The subjects were 605 males in an industrial factory in Arak, Iran. The study took place between 2022 and 2023. The sociodemographic and occupational characteristics were collected by a health technician …using questionnaires and medical records. Hearing status was assessed using audiometry by a qualified audiologist. Hearing loss was analyzed by univariate logistic analysis including age, smoking, medical history, type of occupation, and some workplace hazards. The risk model was generated by logistic regression. RESULTS: Hearing loss in the participants was 44.13% (n  = 267). In univariate logistic analysis, age (OR: 2.93,95% CI: 1.848–4.656), smoking (OR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.224–2.655), work experience (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.016–1.107), previous exposure to noise (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.112–2.312) or vibration (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.150–2.475) and type of occupation (OR: 2.126, 95% CI: 1.055–4.285) were associated with an increased risk of ONIHL (P  < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was found that vibration exposure, work experience, previous noise exposure, type of occupation as well as age and smoking significantly affected the likelihood of developing ONIHL. This risk model could help management to prevent ONIHL and enhance application-oriented research on the condition. Show more

Keywords: Hearing disorder, risk factors, noise, work, vibration, smoking

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230181

Citation: Work, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 1017-1022, 2024

Authors: da Silva, Claudiele C.M. | Beretta, Victor S. | Gil, Fernanda S. | Delfino, Leandro D. | Leite, Enrique G.F. | Ferrari, Gerson | Tebar, William R. | Christofaro, Diego G.D.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: People with long work hours, as evidenced by teachers, were more likely to present health problems that impact their quality of life (QoL). The reduced physical activity (PA) level or higher sedentary behavior in public school teachers was related to obesity. Although PA seems to improve the QoL in other professions, assessing whether the PA level could influence the relationship between workload and QoL in public school teachers is necessary. OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether the high workload was related to worse QoL in teachers considered less active and more active. METHODS: Two …hundred forty-three teachers from public schools participated in this study. The domains of QoL and PA levels were assessed by SF-36 and Baecke questionnaires, respectively. Workload perception was assessed by a Likert scale. Binary logistic regression analyzed the association between high workload and QoL domains in teachers considering the PA level in a model adjusted by confounding factors (i.e., sex, age, and socioeconomic condition). RESULTS: Heavy workload was associated with less chances of having better physical limitation domain of both less and more physically active teachers. Less active teachers with heavy workloads were 53%, 61%, and 56% less likely to have better vitality, social functioning, and mental health, respectively. No such associations were observed in the more physically active teachers. CONCLUSION: Less active teachers with a heavy workload demonstrate lower QoL. Although the PA practice eliminated this relationship, both active and less active teachers with a heavy workload demonstrated lower QoL in physical limitation domain. Show more

Keywords: Teaching, physical activity, exercise, quality of life, mental health, adults, workload

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230187

Citation: Work, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 1023-1029, 2024

Authors: Chidambaram, Vigneswaran | Gopalsamy, Madhan Mohan | Kanchan, Brajesh Kumar | Mouleeswaran, Senthilkumar

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Small-scale industries (SSI) are the global economy’s backbone since most industrial workers are connected. Most of these workers are contractual and temporary without appropriate training. Also, the SSI does not have a standard workplace with an appropriate layout and infrastructure, as they manage with minimum resources. Therefore, the work hazards, i.e., musculoskeletal disorders and fatigue, often go unnoticed as holistic postural risk methodology is still scarce for identifying the awkward postures in SSI. OBJECTIVE: The present study proposes a novel holistic methodology to track and mitigate awkward postural risks in human-physical activities in SSI. To determine the …effectiveness of the proposed methodology, a case study is presented in the South Indian Pump industry, wherein a critical workstation with a complex ergonomic work environment is employed. METHODS: An ergonomic evaluation was conducted empirically and numerically in the workplaces using Digital Human Models. In numerical evaluation, three virtual workspaces have been created to redesign the identified crucial workstation, focusing on ergonomics and workflow. RESULTS: The results obtained from the case study are encouraging for to use of the novel methodology in SSI. The case study reports that the proposed design significantly reduced the REBA score and WISHA lifting index by 6 and 1.20, respectively, without significant investment. CONCLUSION: The proposed methodology could encourage research to identify awkward posture in SSI. Show more

Keywords: Manufacturing industry, posture, muscle fatigue, evidence-based facility design, evaluation methodology, computer simulation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230210

Citation: Work, vol. 77, no. 3, pp. 1031-1045, 2024