27 Mayıs 2020 Çarşamba

The Interaction of Cognitive Interference, Standing Surface, and Fatigue on Lower Extremity Muscle Activity

An article on "The Interaction of Cognitive Interference, Standing Surface, and Fatigue on Lower Extremity Muscle Activity" by Christopher M. Hill, Hunter De Busk, Jeffrey D. Simpson, Brandon L. Miller, Adam C. Knight, John C. Garner, Chip Wade and Harish Chander.

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2019.06.002

ABSTRACT:

 Background
Performing cognitive tasks and muscular fatigue have been shown to increase muscle activity of the lower extremity during quiet standing. A common intervention to reduce muscular fatigue is to provide a softer shoe-surface interface. However, little is known regarding how muscle activity is affected by softer shoe-surface interfaces during static standing. The purpose of this study was to assess lower extremity muscular activity during erect standing on three different standing surfaces, before and after an acute workload and during cognitive tasks.

Methods

Surface electromyography was collected on ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors, and knee flexors and extensors of fifteen male participants. Dependent electromyography variables of mean, peak, root mean square, and cocontraction index were calculated and analyzed with a 2 × 2 × 3 within-subject repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results

Pre-workload muscle activity did not differ between surfaces and cognitive task conditions. However, greater muscle activity during post-workload balance assessment was found, specifically during the cognitive task. Cognitive task errors did not differ between surface and workload.

Conclusions

The cognitive task after workload increased lower extremity muscular activity compared to quite standing, irrespective of the surface condition, suggesting an increased demand was placed on the postural control system as the result of both fatigue and cognitive task.
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Activity Level and Body Mass Index as Predictors of Physical Workload During Working Career

An article on "Activity Level and Body Mass Index as Predictors of Physical Workload During Working Career" by Satu K. Mänttäri, Juha A.H. Oksa, Jussi Virkkala and Julia A.K. Pietilä.

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2019.09.002

ABSTRACT:

The increasing prevalence of inactivity and obesity, along with aging, has implications on work capacity of labor force. This study reports the relationships between activity level and BMI by age with objectively measured physical workload. Data were examined from a sample of 19 481 Finnish employees using an estimate of minute-to-minute oxygen consumption based on R-R interval recordings. The mean estimated %VO2max during the working day was 12.1 (±3.6) and 15.1 (±4.5)% for men and women, respectively. Based on a linear model, the mean %VO2max increased by 1.5%-unit per 10-year increase in age, by 2.1%-unit per 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI, and decreased by 1.6%-unit if improving physical activity class by two (p < 0.001 for all). Overweight and obesity, together with inactivity, notably increases workload throughout the career, even though at young adulthood, the daily workload is almost the same for each person regardless of the BMI, activity level, or gender. This study highlights the importance of regular physical activity and normal weight in protecting the worker from excessive physical (cardiovascular) workload during the whole working career.
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Relationship of Occupational Category With Risk of Physical and Mental Health Problems

An article on "Relationship of Occupational Category With Risk of Physical and Mental Health Problems" by Jaeouk Ahn, Nam-Soo Kim, Byung-Kook Lee, Jungsun Park and Yangho Kim.

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2019.07.007

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We evaluated the physical and mental health problems of waged workers in Korea who had different classes of occupation.

Methods

We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2017) to examine 22,788 workers who were waged employees and categorized these workers into 5 occupational classes.

Results

“Unskilled manual workers” were more likely to be older, less educated, have lower monthly income, and work fewer hours per week. Among men and relative to “managers and professionals” (reference group), “skilled manual workers” were more likely to have physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, “clerks” were less likely to report suicidal ideation, and “unskilled manual workers” were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Among women and relative to “managers and professionals” (reference group), “service and sales workers” and “unskilled manual workers” were more likely to report physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, depressive feelings, and suicidal ideation. However, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases did not differ among the occupational classes for men and women.

Conclusion

We identified differences between men and women and among those in different occupational classes regarding employment status, physical health, and mental health. “Unskilled manual workers” of both genders were more likely to be older, less educated, have less monthly income, work fewer hours per week, and have suicidal ideation. Female “service and sales workers” were more likely to have osteoarthritis, depressive feelings, and suicidal ideation
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Long Commute Time and Sleep Problems with Gender Difference in Work–Life Balance: A Cross-sectional Study of More than 25,000 Workers

An article on "Long Commute Time and Sleep Problems with Gender Difference in Work–Life Balance: A Cross-sectional Study of More than 25,000 Workers" by Soojin Kim, Yangwook Kim, Sung-Shil Lim, Jae-Hong Ryoo and Jin-Ha Yoon.

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2019.08.001

ABSTRACT:

 Background
There is a lack of statistical analysis investigating the relationship between sleep problems and commute time in Korea. We aimed to analyze the association between representative health symptoms, sleep disturbances, and commute time according to working hours in Korea.

Methods

The 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey data were used for analysis, and unpaid family workers and workers who work fewer than three days in a week were excluded. Commute time, working hours, and sleep hours were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sleep problems were calculated using a multivariate logistic regression model with ≤10 min commute time as the reference group.

Results

Among a total of 28,804 workers (men = 14,945, women = 13,859), 2.6% of men and 3.2% of women experienced sleep problems. In both sexes, long commute time (51–60 minutes and >60 minutes) showed an increased OR [men, 2.03 (CI = 1.32–3.13) and 2.05 (CI = 1.33–3.17); women, 1.58 (CI = 1.05–2.39) and 1.63 (CI = 1.06–2.50), respectively]. In stratification analysis of working hours, long commute time (51–60 and > 60 minutes) showed an increased OR in men working >40 hours/week [2.08 (CI = 1.16–3.71) and 1.92 (CI = 1.08–3.41), respectively]. Furthermore, long commute time (41–50, 51–60, and >60 minutes) showed an increased OR in women working >40 hours/week [2.40 (CI = 1.27–4.55), 2.28 (CI = 1.25–4.16), and 2.19 (CI = 1.17–4.16), respectively]. Moreover, commute time >60 minutes showed an increased OR in women working ≤40 hours/week [1.96 (CI = 1.06–3.62)].

Conclusion

This large cross-sectional study highlights that long commute time is related to sleep problems in both sexes. Shorter commute times and decreased working hours are needed to prevent sleep problems in workers.
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Assessment of Respiratory Problems in Workers Associated with Intensive Poultry Facilities in Pakistan

An article on "Assessment of Respiratory Problems in Workers Associated with Intensive Poultry Facilities in Pakistan" by RoheelaYasmeen, ZulfiqarAli, SeanTyrrel and Zaheer Ahmad Nasir.

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2019.12.011

ABSTRACT:
Background
The poultry industry in Pakistan has flourished since the 1960s; however, there are scarce data regarding the impact of occupational exposure on the pulmonary health of farm workers in terms of years working in the industry. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of poultry environment on the health of occupationally exposed poultry farmers in countries of warm climatic regions, such as Pakistan. This study will also show the effect of exposure to poultry facilities on the health of poultry farmers in the context of low-income countries with a relatively inadequate occupational exposure risk management.

Materials and methods

The lung function capacity of 79 poultry workers was measured using a spirometer. Along with spirometry, a structured questionnaire was also administrated to obtain information about age, height, weight, smokers/nonsmokers, years of working experience, and pulmonary health of farm workers. The workers who were directly involved in the care and handling of birds in these intensive facilities were considered and divided into four groups based on their years of working experience: Group I (3-10 months), Group II (1-5 years), Group III (6-10 years), and Group IV (more than 11 years). The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC ratio were considered to identify lung function abnormalities. Statistical analysis was carried out using independent sample t test, Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression.

Results

Based on the performed spirometry, 68 (86 %) of workers were found normal and healthy, whereas 11 (14 %) had a mild obstruction. Of the 11 workers with mild obstruction, the highest number with respect to the total was in Group IV (more than 11 years of working experience) followed by Group III and Group II. Most of the workers were found healthy, which seems to be because of the healthy survivor effect. For the independent sample t test, a significant difference was noticed between healthy and nonhealthy farmers, whereas Chi-square test showed a significant association with height, drugs, and working experience. Linear regression that was stratified by respiratory symptoms showed for workers with symptoms, regression models for all spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC) have better predictive power or R square value than those of workers without symptoms.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that lung function capacity was directly related to years of working experience. With increasing number of working years, symptoms of various respiratory problems enhanced in the poultry workers. It should be noted that most of the poultry workers were healthy and young, the rationale being that there is a high turnover rate in this profession. The mobility in this job and our finding of 86% of the healthy workers in the present study also proposed healthy worker survivor effect.
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20 Mayıs 2020 Çarşamba

Too much pressure? Retailer power and occupational health and safety in the food processing industry

An article on "Too much pressure? Retailer power and occupational health and safety in the food processing industry" by Caroline Lloyd and Susan James.

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017008098366

 ABSTRACT:
This article examines the impact of supply chain pressures on the UK food processing industry and the implications for occupational health and safety. Based upon case studies in three meat processing plants, the research found that although the number of accidents is declining, little progress has been made in dealing with the widespread ill-health problems associated with largely repetitive and, in some cases, heavy work regimes. Supermarkets play a contradictory role in that they provide incentives to improve health and safety while at the same time their price and delivery demands have a detrimental impact. Despite these intense supply chain pressures, there is some room for `manoeuvrability' in that both employers and workplace trade unions can make a difference to health and safety outcomes.
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Nanotechnology in food science: Functionality, applicability, and safety assessment

An article on "Nanotechnology in food science: Functionality, applicability, and safety assessment" by Xiaojia He and Huey-Min Hwanga.

Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfda.2016.06.001

 ABSTRACT:
This article examines the impact of supply chain pressures on the UK food processing industry and the implications for occupational health and safety. Based upon case studies in three meat processing plants, the research found that although the number of accidents is declining, little progress has been made in dealing with the widespread ill-health problems associated with largely repetitive and, in some cases, heavy work regimes. Supermarkets play a contradictory role in that they provide incentives to improve health and safety while at the same time their price and delivery demands have a detrimental impact. Despite these intense supply chain pressures, there is some room for ‘manoeuvrability’ in that both employers and workplace trade unions can make a difference to health and safety outcomes.


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