| 1. |
- Adam-Poupart, Ariane, et al.
(författare)
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Climate Change and Occupational Health and Safety in a Temperate Climate : Potential Impacts and Research Priorities in Quebec, Canada
- 2013
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, Japan. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 51:1, s. 68-78
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The potential impacts of climate change (CC) on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) have been studied a little in tropical countries, while they received no attention in northern industrialized countries with a temperate climate. This work aimed to establish an overview of the potential links between CC and OHS in those countries and to determine research priorities for Quebec, Canada. A narrative review of the scientific literature (2005-2010) was presented to a working group of international and national experts and stakeholders during a workshop held in 2010. The working group was invited to identify knowledge gaps, and a modified Delphi method helped prioritize research avenues. This process highlighted five categories of hazards that are likely to impact OHS in northern industrialized countries: heat waves/increased temperatures, air pollutants, UV radiation, extreme weather events, vector-borne/zoonotic diseases. These hazards will affect working activities related to natural resources (i.e. agriculture, fishing and forestry) and may influence the socioeconomic context (built environment and green industries), thus indirectly modifying OHS. From this consensus approach, three categories of research were identified: 1) Knowledge acquisition on hazards, target populations and methods of adaptation; 2) Surveillance of diseases/accidents/occupational hazards; and 3) Development of new occupational adaptation strategies.
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| 2. |
- Akerstedt, T, et al.
(författare)
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Shift work, severe sleepiness and safety
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 1880-8026 .- 0019-8366. ; 49:2, s. 141-142
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 3. |
- Akerstedt, T, et al.
(författare)
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The future of work hours--the European view
- 2005
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Ingår i: Industrial health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 43:1, s. 80-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 4. |
- Anund, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Factors associated with self-reported driver sleepiness and incidents in city bus drivers
- 2016
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 54:4, s. 337-346
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Driver fatigue has received increased attention during recent years and is now considered to be a major contributor to approximately 15-30% of all crashes. However, little is known about fatigue in city bus drivers. It is hypothesized that city bus drivers suffer from sleepiness, which is due to a combination of working conditions, lack of health and reduced sleep quantity and quality.The overall aim with the current study is to investigate if severe driver sleepiness, as indicated by subjective reports of having to fight sleep while driving, is a problem for city based bus drivers in Sweden and if so, to identify the determinants related to working conditions, health and sleep which contribute towards this. The results indicate that driver sleepiness is a problem for city bus drivers, with 19% having to fight to stay awake while driving the bus 2-3 times each week or more and nearly half experiencing this at least 2-4 times per month. In conclusion, severe sleepiness, as indicated by having to fight sleep during driving, was common among the city bus drivers. Severe sleepiness correlated with fatigue related safety risks, such as near crashes.
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| 5. |
- Anund, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Rumble strips in centre of the lane and the effect on sleepy drivers
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 49:5, s. 549-558
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to describe the effects of sleep loss on behavioural and subjective indicators of sleepiness on a road containing a milled rumble strip in the centre of the lane. Particular attention was paid to behavioural and subjective indicators of sleepiness when using the centre lane rumble strip, and to possible erratic driving behaviour when hitting a rumble strip. In total 9 regular shift workers drove during the morning hours after a full night shift and after a full night sleep. The order was balanced. The experiment was conducted in a moving base driving simulator on rural roads with a road width of 6.5 and 9 meters. Out of the 1,636 rumble strip hits that occurred during the study, no indications of erratic driving behaviour associated with the jolt caused by making contact with the centre lane rumble strip could be found. Comparing the alert condition with the sleep deprived condition, both the standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP) and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) increased for sleepy drivers. For the two road widths, the drivers drove closer to the centre line on the 6.5-meter road. The KSS and the SDLP increased with time on task. This simulator study indicates that rumble strips in the centre of the lane may be an alternative to centreline and edgeline rumble strips on narrow roads.
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| 6. |
- Anund, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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The effects of driving situation on sleepiness indicators after sleep loss : A driving simulator study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 47:4, s. 393-401
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Almost all studies of sleepy driving are carried out in driving simulators and with monotonous road conditions (no interaction with other cars). The present study investigated indicators of sleepy driving in a more challenging scenario after a night awake. 17 participants drove a high fidelity moving base driving simulator experiment while sleepiness was monitored physiologically and behaviourally. Short periods of situations of free driving (no other vehicles) alternated with short periods of following another vehicle (car following) with and without the possibility to overtake. The result showed that a night of prior sleep loss increased sleepiness levels at the wheel (eye closure duration and lateral variability) compared to after a night of normal sleep. Blink duration while overtaking was significantly lower compared to the other situations, it was at the same level as after night sleep. Speed when passing a stopped school bus was not significantly affected by sleepiness. However the warning caused a more rapid reduction of speed. In conclusion, a moderately challenging driving contest did not affect sleepiness indicators, but a very challenging one did so (overtaking). This suggests that it is important to monitor the driving situation in field operational tests of sleepy driving.
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| 7. |
- Bean, Christopher, 1990-, et al.
(författare)
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Unique associations of the Job Demand-Control-Support model subscales with leisure-time physical activity and dietary energy intake.
- 2019
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 57:1, s. 99-117
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and dietary energy intake are two important health behaviours, which at too low or high levels respectively, are associated with overweight and obesity. This study explores associations between subscales of the Job Demand-Control-Support (JDCS) model, LTPA and dietary energy intake. A cross-sectional design sampled current employees (N=433) from a South Australian cohort using a computer-assisted telephone interview and a self-completed food frequency questionnaire. In analyses adjusted for sex, age, and sociodemographic variables, higher levels of skill discretion were associated with increased odds for attaining sufficient physical activity (OR=2.45; 95% CI=1.10-5.47). Higher levels of decision authority were associated with reduced odds (OR=0.43; 95% CI=0.20-0.93) for being in the highest tertile of daily energy intake. Higher scores for coworker support were associated with increased odds (OR=2.20; 95% CI=1.15-4.23) for being in the highest tertile of daily energy intake. These findings support the consideration of the individual JDCS subscales, since this practice may reveal novel associations with health behaviour outcomes, thereby presenting new opportunities to improve employee health and wellbeing.
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| 8. |
- Bhiwapurkar, M. K., et al.
(författare)
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Influence of Mono-axis Random Vibration on Reading Activity
- 2010
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 48:5, s. 675-681
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent studies on train passengers' activities found that many passengers were engaged in some form of work, e.g., reading and writing, while traveling by train. A majority of the passengers reported that their activities were disturbed by vibrations or motions during traveling. A laboratory study was therefore set up to study how low-frequency random vibrations influence the difficulty to read. The study involved 18 healthy male subjects of 23 to 32 yr of age group. Random vibrations were applied in the frequency range (1-10 Hz) at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m/s(2) rms amplitude along three directions (longitudinal, lateral and vertical). The effect of vibration on reading activity was investigated by giving a word chain in two different font types (Times New Roman and Anal) and three different sizes (10, 12 and 14 points) of font for each type. Subjects performed reading tasks under two sitting positions (with backrest support and leaning over a table). The judgments of perceived difficulty to read were rated using 7-point discomfort judging scale. The result shows that reading difficulty increases with increasing vibration magnitudes and found to be maximum in longitudinal direction, but with leaning over a table position. In comparison with Times New Roman type and sizes of font, subjects perceived less difficulty with Anal type for all font sizes under all vibration magnitude.
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| 9. |
- Broede, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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The Universal Thermal Climate Index UTCI Compared to Ergonomics Standards for Assessing the Thermal Environment
- 2013
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 1880-8026. ; 51:1, s. 16-24
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The growing need for valid assessment procedures of the outdoor thermal environment in the fields of public weather services, public health systems, urban planning, tourism & recreation and climate impact research raised the idea to develop the Universal Thermal Climate Index UTCI based on the most recent scientific progress both in thermo-physiology and in heat exchange theory. Following extensive validation of accessible models of human thermoregulation, the advanced multi-node 'Fiala' model was selected to form the basis of UTCI. This model was coupled with an adaptive clothing model which considers clothing habits by the general urban population and behavioral changes in clothing insulation related to actual environmental temperature. UTCI was developed conceptually as an equivalent temperature. Thus, for any combination of air temperature, wind, radiation, and humidity, UTCI is defined as the air temperature in the reference condition which would elicit the same dynamic response of the physiological model. This review analyses the sensitivity of UTCI to humidity and radiation in the heat and to wind in the cold and compares the results with observational studies and internationally standardized assessment procedures. The capabilities, restrictions and potential future extensions of UTCI are discussed.
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| 10. |
- Eriksen, Claire Anne, et al.
(författare)
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Sleep, sleepiness and health complaints in police officers : the effects of a flexible shift system.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Ind Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 45:2, s. 279-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sleep, sleepiness and health complaints in police officers: the effects of a flexible shift system.Eriksen CA, Kecklund G.National Institute for Psychosocial Medicine (IPM), Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.The aim of the study was to study the effects of a flexible shift system (based on self-determined work hours) with respect to sleep/wake complaints and subjective health. The comparison group was a rapidly rotating shift system, with frequently occurring quick returns. A secondary aim was to examine the relation between work hour characteristics indicating compressed or difficult rosters (e.g. number of workdays in a row, frequency of quick returns and long work shifts) and subjective sleep and sleepiness, within the flexible shift system group. The sample of the analysis included 533 randomly selected police officers, of which 26% were females. The participants answered a questionnaire. The results showed that the flexible shift system group did not differ with respect to sleep/wake complaints and subjective health. However, the flexible shift group obtained more sleep in connection with the shifts, probably because of longer rest time between shifts. Thus, they worked less quick returns and long work shifts. The association between work hour characteristics and sleep/wake complaints was weak in the flexible shift group. Instead, sleep/wake problems were mainly associated with the attitude to work hours.PMID: 17485872 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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| 11. |
- Gao, Chuansi, et al.
(författare)
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Gait muscle activity during walking on an inclined icy surface
- 2008
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 1880-8026 .- 0019-8366. ; 46:1, s. 15-22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of this study was to explain the contribution of lower extremity muscle activity to gait kinetic and kinematic adaptations for maintaining gait dynamic balance when walking on an inclined icy surface and the biomechanical mechanisms used to counteract slip risk. A two-way factorial experimental design was applied. The two independent variables were the walkway surface (ice and treadmill) and the walkway inclination (0º, 6º, 8º). The dependent variable was the amplitude of the surface EMG of four right lower extremity muscles (tibialis anterior TA, gastrocnemius lateralis GL, rectus femoris RF, and biceps femoris BF). Twelve healthy subjects (7 males and 5 females) participated in the walking trials. A two-way ANOVA analysis showed that on the icy surface in the heel contact phase, EMG amplitudes significantly decreased in TA and RF compared to those for the treadmill surface. In the mid-stance phase, the GL muscle activity significantly decreased on ice compared to treadmill and all four muscle activities increased significantly with the inclination. During the toe off phase, GL and RF activities increased with the inclination. The mechanisms identified may be applied to develop intervention, rehabilitation and training techniques, and to improve performance in human locomotion, such as for winter sports.
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| 12. |
- Greubel, Jana, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of organizational changes on work stress, sleep, recovery and health
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 49:3, s. 353-364
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study objective was to investigate the impact of different kinds of organizational changes, as well as anticipation of such changes, on work-related stress, sleep, recovery and health. It was hypothesized that impaired sleep and recovery increase the adverse health consequences of organizational changes. The data consisted of cross sectional questionnaire data from a random sample of 1,523 employees in the Swedish police force. It could be shown that extensive organizational changes including downsizing or a change in job tasks were associated with a small increase in work stress, disturbed sleep, incomplete recovery and health complaints. However, less extensive organizational changes like relocation did not affect these outcome variables. Anticipation of extensive organizational changes had almost the same effect as actual changes. Furthermore a moderating effect of sleep and work stress on gastrointestinal complaints and depressive symptoms was found. Thus, like former studies already suggested, extensive organizational changes resulted in increased stress levels, poorer health and impaired sleep and recovery. Furthermore, organizational instability due to anticipation of changes was as negative as actual changes. There was also some evidence that disturbed sleep increased these adverse health effects, in particular with respect to anticipation of organizational changes.
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| 13. |
- Gunnarsson, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
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Self rated health and working conditions of small-scale enterprisers in sweden
- 2007
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 45:6, s. 775-780
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study was an investigation of prevalence and associations between self-rated health and working conditions for small-scale enterprisers in a county in Sweden. A postal questionnaire was answered by 340 male and 153 female small-scale enterprisers in different sectors, with a response rate of 66%. For comparative purposes, data from a population study of 1,699 employees in private companies was included in the analyses. Differences were tested by Chi²-test and associations were presented as odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The frequency of health problems in male enterprisers was higher than in employees in the private sector, while the frequency of health problems in female enterprisers was equal to that of the control employees. The main findings highlighted that male enterprisers reported higher rate of health problems and female enterprisers equal rate compared with employees in the private sector. Enterprisers stated musculoskeletal pain (women 59%, men 56%) and mental health problems (women 47%, men 45%) as the most frequent health problems. Poor job satisfaction, reported by 17% of the females and 20% of the male enterprisers, revealed an OR of 10.42 (95% CI 5.78-18.77) for poor general health. For the enterprisers, the most frequent complaints, musculoskeletal pain and mental health problems, were associated with poor job satisfaction and poor physical work environment. An association between poor general health and working as an enterpriser remained after adjusting for working conditions, sex and age.
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| 14. |
- Gunnarsson, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
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Systematic Work Environment Management : Experiences from Implementation in Swedish Small-scale Enterprises
- 2010
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 48:2, s. 185-196
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small-scale enterprises face difficulties in fulfilling the regulations for organising Systematic Work Environment Management. This study compared three groups of small-scale manufacturing enterprises with and without support for implementing the provision. Two implementation methods, supervised and network method, were used. The third group worked according to their own ideas. Twenty-three enterprises participated. The effects of the implementation were evaluated after one year by semi-structured dialogue with the manager and safety representative. Each enterprise was classified on compliance with ten demands concerning the provision. The work environment was estimated by the WEST-method. Impact of the implementation on daily work was also studied. At the follow-up, the enterprises in the supervised method reported slightly more improvements in the fulfilment of the demands in the provision than the enterprises in the network method and the enterprises working on their own did. The effect of the project reached the employees faster in the enterprises with the supervised method. In general, the work environment improved to some extent in all enterprises. Extensive support to small-scale enterprises in terms of advise and networking aimed to fulfil the regulations of Systematic Work Environment Management had limited effect - especially considering the cost of applying these methods.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Holmér, Ingvar
(författare)
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Evaluation of Cold Workplaces: An Overview of Standards for Assessment of Cold Stress
- 2009
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 1880-8026. ; 47:3, s. 228-234
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many persons world wide are exposed to cold environments, either indoors for example in cold stores, or outdoors. Cold is a hazard to health and may affect safety and performance of work. Basis for the creation of safe and optimal working conditions may be obtained by the application of relevant international standards. ISO 11079(1)) presents a method for evaluation of whole body heat balance. On the basis of climate and activity a required clothing insulation (IREQ) for heat balance is determined. For clothing with known insulation value an exposure time limited is calculated. ISO 11079 also includes criteria for assessment of local cooling. Finger temperatures should not be below 24 degrees C during prolonged exposures or 15 degrees C occasionally. Wind chill temperature indicates the risk of bare skin to freeze for combinations of wind and low temperatures. Special protection of airways is recommended at temperatures below -20 degrees C, in particular during heavy work. Additional standards are available describing evaluation strategies, work place observation checklists and checklist for medical screening. Risks associated with contact with cold surfaces can be evaluated with ISO 13732(2)). The strategy and principles for assessment and prevention of cold stress are reviewed in this paper.
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| 17. |
- Holmér, Ingvar
(författare)
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Protective clothing in hot environments
- 2006
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 1880-8026. ; 44:3, s. 404-413
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The high level of protection required by personal protective clothing (PPC) severely impedes heat exchange by sweat evaporation. As a result work associated with wearing PPC, particularly in hot environments, implies considerable physiological strain and may render workers exhausted in a short time. Recent development of algorithms for describing the heat transfer, accounting for pumping and wind effects, comprises improvement of the prediction of thermal stress. Realistic corrections can then be made to the available measures of thermal insulation and evaporative resistance of a given clothing ensemble. Currently this information is incorporated in international standards for assessment of thermal environments. Factors, such as directional radiation and wetting of layers, were studied in a recently completed EU research project. The development of advanced thermal manikins and measurement procedures should provide better measures for predictive models. As with all methods and models, the results need validation in realistic wear trials in order to prove their relevance and accuracy.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Jussila, Kirsi, et al.
(författare)
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Thermal comfort sustained by cold protective clothing in Arctic open-pit mining : a thermal manikin and questionnaire study
- 2017
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 55:6, s. 537-548
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Workers in the Arctic open-pit mines are exposed to harsh weather conditions. Employers are required to provide protective clothing for workers. This can be the outer layer, but sometimes also inner or middle layers are provided. This study aimed to determine how the Arctic open-pit miners protect themselves against cold and the sufficiency, and the selection criteria of the garments. Workers' cold experiences and the clothing in four Arctic open-pit mines in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia were evaluated by a questionnaire (n=1323). Basic thermal insulation (Icl) of the reported clothing was estimated (ISO 9920). The Icl of clothing from the mines were also measured by thermal manikin (standing/walking) in 0.3 and 4.0 m/s wind. The questionnaire showed that the Icl of the selected clothing was on average 1.2 and 1.5 clo in mild (-5 to +5°C) and dry cold (-20 to -10°C) conditions, respectively. The Icl of the clothing measured by thermal manikin was 1.9w2.3 clo. The results show that the Arctic open-pit miners' selected their clothing based on occupational (time outdoors), environmental (temperature, wind, moisture) and individual factors (cold sensitivity, general health). However, the selected clothing was not sufficient to prevent cooling completely at ambient temperatures below -10°C.
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Kjellström, Tord, et al.
(författare)
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Climate change and occupational heat problems
- 2013
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, Japan. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 51:1, s. 1-2
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 22. |
- Kjellström, Tord, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping Occupational Heat Exposure and Effects in South-East Asia : Ongoing Time Trends 1980-2011 and Future Estimates to 2050
- 2013
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, Japan. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 51:1, s. 56-67
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A feature of climate impacts on occupational health and safety are physiological limits to carrying out physical work at high heat exposure. Heat stress reduces a workers work capacity, leading to lower hourly labour productivity and economic output. We used existing weather station data and climate modeling grid cell data to describe heat conditions (calculated as Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, WBGT) in South-East Asia. During the hottest month in this region (March) afternoon WBGT levels are already high enough to cause major loss of hourly work capacity and by 2050 the situation will be extreme for many outdoor jobs.
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| 23. |
- Kuklane, Kalev, et al.
(författare)
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Common clothing area factor estimation equations are inaccurate for highly insulating (Icl>2 clo) and non-western loose-fitting clothing ensembles
- 2021
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 59:2, s. 107-116
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to evaluate the equations for calculating the clothing area factor (fcl) used in the standards based on data sets of clothing ensembles, that are meant to provide thermal comfort over a wide range of climatic conditions from hot summer days to extremely cold winter. Over 10 equations for fcl calculations were selected from the international standards and the literature. At first a theoretical comparison based on a range of insulation values was performed. Then the data sets were used to compare the equations and measurements on real clothing systems. Most of the fcl calculation equations do give reasonably good results for western type and industrial clothing with basic insulation (Icl) up to 1.5 clo. Above the Icl of 2 clo, the error in the calculations based on traditional equations increases considerably and they overestimate fcl. Some new equations were suggested for modern clothing systems. Oppositely, for non-western clothing (for hot climate), the available equations did give good match only for very light clothing sets and commonly underestimated the real fcl. For such sets and and fashion clothes their own equations maybe needed, that count for various design aspects, e.g. fit, draping etc.
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| 24. |
- Kuklane, Kalev, et al.
(författare)
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Local effects of printed logos and reflective stripinfixed to firefighter clothing material packages under low radiation exposure
- 2023
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 61:5, s. 357-367
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Notifications that related 1st degree burns to reflective striping and impermeable clothing elements did reach the investigators, while the mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still unclear. Material tests for thermal and evaporative resistance, and for heat transmission under dry and wet conditions at low radiation levels were done to evaluate the performance of protective clothing with and without printed logos or reflective striping. The results under the specified conditions showed reduction of heat loss capacity under impermeable elements from dry to wet conditions. Reflective surfaces, even when more impermeable, showed still lower heat transmission through the textile package than materials without striping under tested moisture and radiation combinations. It can be expected that the reported 1st degree burns were related to clothing design and tightness/fit rather than to reflective striping. However, due to the fine balance between clothing thermal and evaporative resistance, outer material emissivity, moisture quantity and location in clothing and applied radiation level, a different setup could lead to different results.
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| 25. |
- Kuklane, Kalev
(författare)
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Protection of feet in cold exposure
- 2009
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 1880-8026. ; 47:3, s. 242-253
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The paper summarizes the research on cold protection of feet. There exist several conflicting requirements for the choice of the best suited footwear for cold exposure. These conflicts are related to various environmental factors, protection needs and user comfort issues. In order to reduce such conflicts and simplify the choice of proper footwear the paper suggests dividing the cold into specific ranges that are related to properties and state of water and its possibility to penetrate into, evaporate from or condensate in footwear. The thermo-physiological background and reactions in foot are briefly explained, and main problems and risks related to cold injuries, mechanical injuries and slipping discussed. Footwear thermal insulation is the most important factor for protection against cold. The issues related to measuring the insulation and the practical use of measured values are described, but also the effect of socks, and footwear size. Other means for reducing heat losses, such as PCM and electrical heating are touched. The most important variable that affects footwear thermal insulation and foot comfort is moisture in footwear. In combination with motion they may reduce insulation and thus protection against cold by 45 %. The paper includes recommendations for better foot comfort in cold.
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| 26. |
- Kuklane, Kalev, et al.
(författare)
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Validation of iso 9920 clothing item insulation summation method based on an ambulance personnel clothing system
- 2021
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 59:1, s. 27-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed to validate the summation methods suggested by ISO 9920. Twenty seven items from an ambulance personnel clothing system were selected for testing. The basic insulation of each garment item (Iclu) was calculated based on the thermal manikin tests. More than 100 realistic clothing combinations were compiled and basic insulation (Icl) of these ensembles was calculated according to ISO 9920. These were ranked after the calculated insulation, and 14 sets covering insulation from 0.63 to 3.33 clo were measured on the thermal manikin for acquiring the basic clothing insulation (Icl). Regression analysis was used to compare the summed and measured Icl values. The difference between values varied from −18 to 12%. The highest percentual difference was for the lightest clothing sets, while the absolute differences were similar over the whole insulation range ranging between −0.17 to 0.18 clo with an average difference of 0.02 clo (−0.16%). All basic insulation values stayed very close to the line of identity (R2=0.98). The summation equation gave, in the case of this ambulance clothing system, very close results to the measured values. This encourages evaluating and selecting protective clothing combinations for thermal comfort based on individual item measurements.
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| 27. |
- Lastovkova, Andrea, et al.
(författare)
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Burnout syndrome as an occupational disease in the European Union : an exploratory study.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 56:2, s. 160-165
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The risk of psychological disorders influencing the health of workers increases in accordance with growing requirements on employees across various professions. This study aimed to compare approaches to the burnout syndrome in European countries. A questionnaire focusing on stress-related occupational diseases was distributed to national experts of 28 European Union countries. A total of 23 countries responded. In 9 countries (Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden) burnout syndrome may be acknowledged as an occupational disease. Latvia has burnout syndrome explicitly included on the List of ODs. Compensation for burnout syndrome has been awarded in Denmark, France, Latvia, Portugal and Sweden.Only in 39% of the countries a possibility to acknowledge burnout syndrome as an occupational disease exists, with most of compensated cases only occurring in recent years. New systems to collect data on suspected cases have been developed reflecting the growing recognition of the impact of the psychosocial work environment. In agreement with the EU legislation, all EU countries in the study have an action plan to prevent stress at the workplace.
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| 28. |
- Lemke, Bruno, et al.
(författare)
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Calculating workplace WBGT from meteorological data : a tool for climate change assessment
- 2012
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 50:4, s. 267-278
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The WBGT heat stress index has been well tested under a variety of climatic conditions and quantitative links have been established between WBGT and the work-rest cycles needed to prevent heat stress effects at the workplace. While there are more specific methods based on individual physiological measurements to determine heat strain in an individual worker, the WBGT index is used in international and national standards to specify workplace heat stress risks. In order to assess time trends of occupational heat exposure at population level, weather station records or climate modelling are the most widely available data sources. The prescribed method to measure WBGT requires special equipment which is not used at weather stations. We compared published methods to calculate outdoor and indoor WBGT from standard climate data, such as air temperature, dew point temperature, wind speed and solar radiation. Specific criteria for recommending a method were developed and original measurements were used to evaluate the different methods. We recommend the method of Liljegren et al. (2008) for calculating outdoor WBGT and the method by Bernard etal. (1999) for indoor WBGT when estimating climate change impacts on occupational heat stress at a population level.
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| 29. |
- Lowden, Arne, et al.
(författare)
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Working Time Society consensus statements : Evidence based interventions using light to improve circadian adaptation to working hours
- 2019
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 57:2, s. 213-227
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interventions and strategies to improve health through the management of circadian (re) adaptation have been explored in the field, and in both human and animal laboratory manipulations of shiftwork. As part of an initiative by the Working Time Society (WTS) and International Committee on Occupational Health (ICOH), this review summarises the literature on the management of circadian (re) adaption using bright light treatment. Recommendations to maximise circadian adaptation are summarised for practitioners based on a variety of shiftwork schedules. In slowly rotating night shift schedules bright light appears most suitable when used in connection with the first three night shifts. These interventions are improved when combined with orange glasses (to block blue-green light exposure) for the commute home. Non-shifting strategies involve a lower dosage of light at night and promoting natural daylight exposure during the day (also recommended for day shifts) in acordance with the phase and amplitude response curves to light in humans.
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| 30. |
- Lundgren Kownacki, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of Heat Stress on Working Populations when facing Climate Change
- 2013
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 1880-8026 .- 0019-8366. ; 51:1, s. 3-15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is accepted that the earth’s climate is changing in an accelerating pace, with already documented implications for human health and the environment. This literature review provides an overview of existing research findings about the effects of heat stress on the working population in relation to climate change. In the light of climate change adaptation, the purpose of the literature review was to explore recent and previous research into the impacts of heat stress on humans in an occupational setting. Heat stress in the workplace has been researched extensively in the past however, in the contemporary context of climate change, information is lacking on its extent and implications. The main factors found to exacerbate heat stress in the current and future workplace are the urban ‘heat island effect’, physical work, individual differences, and the developing country context where technological fixes are often not applicable. There is also a lack of information on the effects on vulnerable groups such as elderly people and pregnant women. As increasing temperatures reduce work productivity, world economic productivity could be condensed, affecting developing countries in the tropical climate zone disproportionately. Future research is needed taking an interdisciplinary approach, including social, economic, environmental and technical aspects.
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| 31. |
- Lundgren-Kownacki, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring how a traditional diluted yoghurt drink may mitigate heat strain during medium-intensity intermittent work: a multidisciplinary study of occupational heat strain
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 56:2, s. 106-121
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is common practice in India to consume the dairy drink buttermilk as a way of mitigating occupational heat strain. This paper explores the thermoregulatory and hydration benefits of drinking buttermilk but also the impacts of work in a hot environment on the gut microbiota, renal and cognitive function. Twelve healthy participants were subjected to a 3-h period of medium load physical intermittent work in a climatic chamber (34 degrees C, 60% RH). The subjects were given water, buttermilk (700 ml) or no rehydration at random. Mean body temperatures when no rehydration was given were significantly higher (p <= 0.001). When subjects drank water or buttermilk they had a lower sweat rate than with no rehydration (p <= 0.05) and the perception of feeling hot, uncomfortable, thirsty and physically exerted was significantly reduced (p <= 0.05). A hormonal stress response at the end of the exposure was seen when not drinking (p <= 0.05). No differences in cognitive abilities and gut microbiota were found. The exposure lowered the renal blood flow suggesting an acute impact of short term heat exposure. It was also found that buttermilk has a protective effect on this impact. Our results demonstrated that keeping hydrated by water/buttermilk consumption mitigates heat strain in well-nourished subjects.
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| 32. |
- Minata, Mutsuko, et al.
(författare)
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Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-alpha in Hepatobiliary Injury Induced by Ammonium Perfluorooctanoate in Mouse Liver
- 2010
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 48:1, s. 96-107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR alpha) has been suggested to protect against chemically induced hepatobiliary injuries in rodents. This function could mask the potential toxicities of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that is an emerging environmental contaminant and a weak ligand of PPAR alpha. However its function has not been clarified. In this study, PFOA was found to elicit hepatocyte and bile duct injuries in Ppar alpha-null mice after 4 wk treatment with PFOA ammonium salt (0, 12.5, 25, 50 mu mol/kg/d, gavage). In wild-type mice, PFOA caused major hepatocellular damage dose-dependently and minor cholangiopathy observed only at 25 and 50 mu mol/kg. In treated Ppar alpha-null mice, PFOA produced marked fat accumulation, severe cholangiopathy, hepatocellular damage and apoptotic cells especially in bile ducts. Oxidative stress was also increased 4-fold at 50 mu mol/kg and TNF-alpha mRNA was upregulated more than 3-fold at 25 mu mol/kg in Ppar alpha-null mice. Biliary bile acid/phospholipid ratios were higher in Ppar alpha-null mice than in wild-type mice. Results from these studies suggest that PPAR alpha is protective against PFOA and have a critical role in drug induced hepatobiliary injury.
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| 33. |
- Moreno, Claudia R. C., et al.
(författare)
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Working Time Society consensus statements : Evidence-based effects of shift work on physical and mental health
- 2019
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 57:2, s. 139-157
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Potential effects of shift work on health are probably related to the misalignment between the light-dark cycle and the human activity-rest cycle. Light exposure at night mediates these ef- fects, including social misalignment and leads to an inversion of activity and rest, which, in turn, is linked to changes in behaviours. This article reviews the epidemiological evidence on the association between shift work and health, and possible mechanisms underlying this association. First, evidence from findings of the meta-analyses and systematic reviews published in the last 10 yr is presented. In addition, it reports the larger single-occupation studies and recent large population- based studies of the general workforce. Koch’s postulates were used to evaluate the evidence related to the development of disease as a result of exposure to shift work. Finally, we discussed limitations of the multiple pathways that link shift work with specific disorders and the methodological challenges facing shift work research. We concluded that the clearest indications of shift work being the cause of a disease are given when there is a substantial body of evidence from high quality field studies showing an association and there is good evidence from laboratory studies supporting a causal explanation of the link.
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| 34. |
- Moriguchi, Cristiane Shinohara, et al.
(författare)
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Postures and Movements in the Most Common Tasks of Power Line Workers
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 1880-8026. ; 49:4, s. 482-491
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The repair and maintenance of electrical power lines involves awkward postures, which are known risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of the present study was to quantify postures and movements of upper arm, head, upper back and neck in the main tasks performed by line workers. Posture of twelve right-handed line workers was recorded by inclinometry and presented as percentiles of angular and angular velocity distributions. All tasks involved considerable upper-arm elevation, ranging from 73 degrees to 115 degrees for the 90th percentile. Upper-arm elevation showed significant differences between tasks, but no consistent differences between right and left sides. Regarding velocity, the right arm presented higher levels than the left arm. All tasks required significant extension of head, upper back and neck, ranging from 7 degrees to 67 degrees for head (10th percentile). All tasks, except the one performed with a continuous extension, also involved pronounced flexion, ranging from 33 degrees to 60 degrees for the head (90th percentile). Work which required highly elevated arms also required significant head extension (r(2)=0.56). Awkward postures of upper arms, head, upper back and neck were identified by inclinometry, demonstrating the need for preventative interventions to reduce musculoskeletal disorders among line workers.
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| 35. |
- Oxenstierna, Gabriel, et al.
(författare)
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Conflicts at Work - The Relationship with Workplace Factors, Work Characteristics and Self-rated Health
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 49:4, s. 501-510
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Few studies have considered the work environment in relation to workplace conflicts and those who have been published have included relatively few psychosocial work environment factors. Little research has been published on the consequences of workplace conflicts in terms of employee health. In this study, the statistical relationships between work and workplace characteristics on one hand and conflicts on the other hand are examined. In addition, the relationship between conflicts at work and self-rated health are described. The study population was derived from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) 2006; n=5,141. Among employees at workplaces with more than 20 employees (n=3,341), 1,126 (33.7%) responded that they had been involved in some type of conflict during the two years preceding the survey. Among the work and workplace characteristics studied, the following factors were independently associated with increased likelihood of ongoing conflicts: Conflicting demands, emotional demands, risk of transfer or dismissal, poor promotion prospects, high level of employee influence and good freedom of expression. Factors that decreased the likelihood of ongoing conflicts were: Good resources, good relations with management, good confidence in management, good procedural justice (fairness of decisions) and good social support. After adjustment for socioeconomic conditions the odds ratio for low self-rated health associated with ongoing conflict at work was 2.09 (1.60-2.74). The results provide a good starting point for intervention and prevention work.
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| 36. |
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| 37. |
- Oxenstierna, Gabriel, et al.
(författare)
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Workplace bullying, working environment and health
- 2012
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 50:3, s. 180-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Improved work organisation could be of importance for decreased bullying in workplaces. Participants in the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) responded to questions about work and workplace and whether they had been bullied during the past year in 2006. Those in worksites with at least five employees who did not report that they had been bullied in 2006 and without workplace change between 2006 and 2008 constituted the final sample (n=1,021 men and 1,182 women). Work characteristics and workplace factors in 2006 were used in multiple logistic regression as predictors of bullying in 2008. Separate analyses were performed for work characteristics and workplace factors respectively. Adjustments for demographic factors were made in all analyses. The question used for bullying was: Are you exposed to personal persecution by means of vicious words or actions from your superiors or your workmates? Such persecution any time during the past year was defined as bullying. For both genders organisational change and conflicting demands were identified as risk factors, and good decision authority as a protective factor. Dictatorial leadership, lack of procedural justice and attitude of expendability were male and lack of humanity a female risk factor for bullying.
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| 38. |
- Pettersson, Hans, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Skin temperature responses to hand-arm vibration in cold and thermoneutral ambient temperatures
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 56:6, s. 545-552
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hand-arm vibration (HAV) from hand-held vibrating machines increases the risk of injury in the form of vasoconstriction in the fingers, commonly named as vibration induced white fingers (VWF). Cold temperature may increase that risk. This experimental study examined and compared the effects of the skin temperature of the hands during and after exposure to HAV in thermoneutral and cold conditions. Fourteen subjects were exposed to three conditions: 25°C with HAV, 5°C with HAV or 5°C without HAV. Their skin temperatures were continuously recorded for the thumbs, index fingers, palms, and back of hands. After 20 min of acclimatization, the subjects held, for five min, two handles where the right handle could vibrate at 5 m/s2 and the left was stationary. Finally, they released their grip and stood still for 10 more min. HAV had no additional cooling effect in cold during gripping of the handles. After the subjects released the handles there was only a HAV-induced cooling effect in the left palm with on average 0.5°C colder skin temperature. A single exposure to HAV will not cause an injury such as VWF, but as the present study show: short-term exposure to HAV causes some changes in skin temperature.
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| 39. |
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| 40. |
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| 41. |
- Radun, Igor, et al.
(författare)
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Night work, fatigued driving and traffic law : the case of police officers
- 2011
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 49:3, s. 389-392
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Given the well-known difficulties in defining and detecting fatigue, it is a real challenge to incorporate it into either traffic or criminal law. Finnish traffic law forbids fatigued driving "only" on a general level concerning the driver's fitness to drive. We present several comments from Finnish traffic and local police officers regarding their own experiences of driving while fatigued. The comments were extracted from a larger survey of traffic (N=129) and local (N=100) police officers, and prosecutors (N=96). Although the main topic of the survey was the application of the law that forbids fatigued driving, some police officers raised the issue of their own behavior in this respect. We argue that many shift workers, including police officers, break the law, especially when driving home after a night shift.
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| 42. |
- Radun, Igor, et al.
(författare)
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Suicide by crashing into a heavy vehicle : a focus group study of professional drivers
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 59:1, s. 34-42
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Professional heavy vehicle drivers can experience a traumatic event at work when suicidal drivers deliberately crash into their vehicles or a pedestrian jumps in front of them. This study adopts a qualitative approach, aiming to gain an understanding about the psychological and other consequences that these crashes have for this occupational group. We organized a semi-structured focus group meeting with six drivers who reported experiencing a deliberate crash into their vehicle. The meeting was moderated by two psychologists. The participants reported that avoiding the crash was difficult. These events can have long-lasting effects on drivers’ well-being although individual differences in the response to the event and coping strategies do exist. Participation in our meeting was regarded as a positive experience. This encourages us to believe that organizing similar meetings that allow drivers under the supervision of professionals to share their own experiences with those who experienced similar events, could perhaps be one way of providing support to such drivers who experienced a traumatic event at work.
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| 43. |
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| 44. |
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| 45. |
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| 46. |
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| 47. |
- Sahu, Subhashis, et al.
(författare)
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Heat Exposure, Cardiovascular Stress and Work Productivity in Rice Harvesters in India : Implications for a Climate Change Future
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Industrial Health. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 51:4, s. 424-431
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Excessive workplace heat exposures create well-known risks of heat stroke, and it limits the workers' capacity to sustain physical activity. There is very limited evidence available on how these effects reduce work productivity, while the quantitative relationship between heat and work productivity is an essential basis for climate change impact assessments. We measured hourly heat exposure in rice fields in West Bengal and recorded perceived health problems via interviews of 124 rice harvesters. In a sub-group (n = 48) heart rate was recorded every minute in a standard work situation. Work productivity was recorded as hourly rice bundle collection output. The hourly heat levels (WBGT = Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) were 26-32 degrees C (at air temperatures of 30-38 degrees C), exceeding international standards. Most workers reported exhaustion and pain during work on hot days. Heart rate recovered quickly at low heat, but more slowly at high heat, indicating cardiovascular strain. The hourly number of rice bundles collected was significantly reduced at WBGT>26 degrees C (approximately 5% per C of increased WBGT). We conclude that high heat exposure in agriculture caused heat strain and reduced work productivity. This reduction will be exacerbated by climate change and may undermine the local economy.
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| 48. |
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| 49. |
- Sheffield, Perry E., et al.
(författare)
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Current and Future Heat Stress in Nicaraguan Work Places under a Changing Climate
- 2013
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, Japan. - 0019-8366 .- 1880-8026. ; 51:1, s. 123-127
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While climate change continues to increase ambient temperatures, the resulting heat stress exposure to workers in non-climate controlled settings is not well characterized, particularly in low and middle income countries. This preliminary report describes current heat stress in Nicaraguan work places and estimates occupational heat stress in 2050. From over 400 measurements of heat exposure using wet bulb globe temperature, more than 10% of all measurements exceeded the safety threshold for the combination of light work and rest at the ratio of 25:75. By 2050, that percentage of "over-heated" days is projected to increase to over 15%. These findings support the idea that common working conditions in Nicaragua already represent a threat to the health and safety of the workers and that climate change driven trends could mean either a necessary curbing of economic productivity or an increased threat to worker health and safety.
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| 50. |
- Svensson, Ingrid, et al.
(författare)
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Balance in standing on inclined surfaces with different friction
- 2018
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Ingår i: Industrial Health. - : National Institute of Industrial Health. - 1880-8026 .- 0019-8366. ; 56:4, s. 292-299
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Working and walking environments often involve standing positions on different surfaces with inclination and different friction. In this study, standing balance of thirteen participants during sudden and irregular external perturbation to calf muscles while standing was investigated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the combined effect of surface inclination and friction on standing balance. The main findings when eyes closed revealed that the standing utilised coefficient of friction (μSUCOF) increased when the surface was inclined for both high and low friction materials. The anterior-posterior torque increased more anteriorly when the surface was inclined toes down and when the surface friction was low. The results indicate that the anterior-posterior torque is a sensitive parameter when evaluating standing balance ability and slip risk. On inclined surface, particularly on the surface with lower friction, the potential slip and fall risk is higher due to the increase of standing utilised coefficient of friction and increased forward turning torque.
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