bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P.2.23 Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in early life and the risk of childhood asthma: a danish nationwide cohort study
Authors: Pape Kathrine , Sejbæk Camilla S , Andersson Niklas W , Hougaard Karin S , Svanes Cecilie , Liu Xiaoqin , Cowell Whitney , Wright Rosalind , Schlünssen Vivi
Published: May 2020

Objective

A link between adverse childhood experience (ACE) in early life and subsequent asthma is suggested, but existing studies are often based on parent-reported data for both exposure and outcome. We aimed to examine the association of ACE in early life (bereavement, parental chronic somatic illness, or psychiatric illness/suicide attempt) with childhood asthma, using registry information of exposures and outcome.

Methods

We used registry data of 466 556 children born in Denmark, 1997–2004. ACE and asthma diagnosis or medication was obtained from the Danish National Patient or Prescription Registry. We used multinomial logistic regression to examine the association between ACE in early life and phenotypes of childhood asthma, which we empirically estimated using group-based trajectory modeling. We adjusted for year of birth, maternal age, smoking, place of living, parity, parental education and atopic status; we imputed missing data using multiple imputations with chained equations.

Results

We identified four asthma trajectories: early onset (before age 3) transient asthma, late onset (3 years or later) asthma, early onset persistent asthma, and never/infrequent asthma. Girls exposed to at least one ACE before the age of 2 years, compared to the non-exposed, had higher odds of being assigned to the early-onset transient asthma group (odds ratio (OR) 1.13 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.04–1.24]), the late-onset asthma group (OR 1.28 [95% CI: 1.11–1.48]) or the early-onset persistent asthma group (OR 1.27 [95% CI: 1.08–1.48]) compared to the never/infrequent asthma group. Similar results were seen for boys, OR 1.16 [95% CI: 1.08–1.25], OR 1.11 [95% CI: 0.98–1.25], and OR 1.34 [95% CI: 1.20–1.51] respectively. The odds remained largely the same in imputed and unadjusted models.

Conclusion

In a Danish nationwide population four asthma trajectories were identified, in agreement with clinical studies. ACE in early life was associated with all asthma phenotypes for both boys and girls.
P.2.31 Association between work and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease review of systematic reviews
Authors: Molen Henk van der , Groene Gerda de , Hulshof Carel , Frings-Dresen Monique
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent disease with reported prevalence up to 12%. Although smoking is one of the main factors in causing COPD, evidence from systematic reviews grows that also occupational exposures contribute. To examine whether work-related risk factors are associated with chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) a review of systematic reviews was performed.

Methods

Medline was searched from 2009 until 20 June 2017 for systematic reviews. Systematic reviews were included when outcome data were described in terms of clinically assessed COPD by means of data on lung function and at least two levels of work-related exposure were mentioned (exposed versus low or non-exposed). One author selected studies and extracted data, two authors assessed study quality with AMSTAR.

Result

Eight systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. In all reviews various exposures to vapour, dusts, gases, and fumes (VGDF) at work are associated with COPD. Most of the included studies are cross-sectional and show a high heterogeneity in population, setting and – mostly self-reported – exposures. Two high-quality reviews including meta-analyses show associations and excess risk of COPD for work-related general exposure to VGDF with a summary odds ratio of 1.4 (95% CI 1.19–1.73) and for work exposure to inorganic dust with a mean difference in predicted FEV1 of −5.7% (95%CI: - 8.62% to – 2.71%).

Discussion

Exposure to VGDF at work is associated with a small but increased risk of COPD. More detailed workplace measurements of specific VGDF are warranted to gain an insight into dose-response relationships.
P.2.35 Heart rate variability and sleep-related breathing disorders in commercial drivers
Authors: Wu Wei-te , Lin Yu-Jen , Liou Saou-Hsing
Published: May 2020

Background

Sleep-related breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), seems to have an important influence on the autonomic nervous function on the heart, and associated with cardiovascular mortality. Therefore, we assessed the relations of sleep apnea-related parameters with 5 min heart rate variability (HRV) in a large cohort of male commercial drivers.

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 245 male bus drivers from one transportation company in Taiwan. Each participant was evaluated by a polysomnography (PSG) test and by blood lipids examination. Severity of OSA was categorized according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). In addition, short-term HRV was tested.

Results

Subjects were categorized into severe OSA group (n=44; 17.9%), moderate and mild OSA group (n=117; 47.8%), and non-OSA group (n=84; 34.3%). AHI had negative correlations with SDNN (β=−0.075, p=0.007) and RMSSD (β=−0.121, p<0.001), adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, drinking, systolic blood pressure, HDL, and fasting blood glucose. RMSSD level was decreased with severe OSA (β=−0.266, p=0.042) even adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions

The findings showed a low level of RMSSD in OSA among commercial drivers, especially in the severe group category. Decreased SDNN and RMSSD levels are associated with AHI level in commercial drivers, suggesting that they are tightly linked with autonomic dysfunction.
P.2.39 Periconceptional exposure to ambient air pollution and congenital hypospadias
Authors: Huang Ching-chun , Guo Yue Leon
Published: May 2020

Background

Evidence regarding whether prenatal exposure to air pollution increases the risk of hypospadias is limited.

Objectives

The aim of the study is to evaluate the association between exposure to ambient air pollution during early pregnancy and occurrence of hypospadias.

Methods

We conducted a 1:10 case-control study using the Taiwanese Birth Registry database. Those male births reported to have hypospadias were defined as cases; while controls were randomly, matched by birth year, selected from those male births without any congenital anomaly. Monthly average of ambient air pollutants, including PM10, PM2.5, NO2, NOx, and O3, from three months pre- to six months post-conception were retrieved from the 76 air quality monitoring stations and interpolated to the level of township using empirical bayesian kriging. Potential covariates to be adjusted included gestational age, birth weight, birth season, maternal age, maternal diabetes and hypertension, maternal smoking, annual household income and population density of the residential township.

Results

During 2007–2014, a total of 265 hypospadias was reported, and 230 (87%) of them were full-term births. Results of multivariate logistic regression models revealed that for per IQR increase of O3 (8.0 p.p.b) exposure during the first months after conception increased the risk of hypospadias (aOR=1.38, 95% CI=1.07–1.78). In subgroup analysis of full-term births, we further found that PM2.5 exposure during the first three months post-conception significantly increased the risk of developing hypospadias (aOR=1.29, 95% CI=1.01–1.65, per IQR=15.4 ug/m3).

Conclusions

The results of the study suggested that early gestational exposure to ambient air pollution increased the risk of hypospadias occurrence.
P.3.05 Maritime fatal accidents and vessel disasters in taiwanese fishing vessels, 2003–2015
Authors: Chen Ping-Hui , Chen Pau-Chung
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Fishery is a hazardous industry with high occupational fatalities, mainly due to vessel disasters, especially among smaller vessels, according to European and North-American studies. However, Asian countries with different industry status and larger portion of global marine capture production are short of adequate investigation.

Methods

In Taiwan, Fisheries Agency provided compensation for maritime fatalities and capsizing vessels, and recorded all enrolled crews and fishing vessels in Fishery Administration Management Information System. Using these two databases, incidence rate and odds ratio (OR) were calculated to depict an overall picture of maritime fatal accidents and associated causal factors.

Results

From 2003 to 2015, there were 562 cases of fatal accidents, whose mechanisms were man overboard (368, 65.5%), followed by capsizing (53, 9.4%). Overall incidence rate was 3.6 per 10 000 man-labour year. The rates were 2.51, 4.12, and 7.28 per 10 000 man-labour year, and odds ratios were 1.0, 1.64 and 2.90, for coastal (<12 Nautical miles, Nm), inshore (12–200 Nm), and deep sea (>200 Nm) fisheries.

There were 632 cases of vessel capsizing, whose mechanisms were fire (162, 25.63%), followed by natural disaster, mechanical problem (85, 13.45%), and collision (71, 11.23%). Overall incidence rate was 152.01 per 10 000 vessels. The rates were 7.15, 21.42, 71.48, and 51.95 per 10 000 vessels, and odds ratios were 1.0, 3.00, 10.05 and 7.29, for small-sized (sampan and fishing raft), small-medium-sized (<20 gross registered tonnages, GRT), medium-large-sized (20–200 GRT) and large-sized (>200 GRT) vessels.

Conclusion

Our findings showed the mixed effect of vessel size and fishery types on maritime fatal accidents, and deep-sea medium-large-sized vessels, as the smallest vessels in deep sea fisheries, had the highest risk. Compared with other developed countries, more than half fishing vessels of deep sea fisheries in Taiwan are less than 100 GRT, and preventive intervention should be focused on these vessels.
O1D.5 Non-detects in OSHA’s IMIS databank: are they short-term or shift-long samples?
Authors: Sarazin Philippe , Luta George , Burstyn Igor , Kincl Laurel , Lavoué Jérôme
Published: May 2020

Objectives

The Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) is the largest multi-industry source of exposure measurements available in North America. However, the lack of information on the censoring value (that depends on duration of sampling) of non-detected (ND) measurements considerably limits the usefulness of this databank. Released in 2010, the Chemical Exposure Health Database (CEHD) contains analytical results and measurement details, including duration of sampling for some of the records in IMIS. We assessed which ND results stored in IMIS are short-term (ST), and which are shift-long (LT) samples, based on information available in CEHD.

Methods

We analyzed exposure measurements for 54 agents from 1984–2009 (n=238,826). First, we calculated kappa coefficients (&_x0138;) for each agent to investigate the agreement between the exposure type of IMIS detected records (already indicated as ST or LT, i.e. selected by OSHA officers) and the exposure type suggested by sampling duration found in CEHD. If &_x0138; exceeded 0.3 for an agent, we employed classification and regression trees (CART) models to predict whether the ND results from IMIS should be classified as ST or LT samples. CART was developed using CEHD and applied to IMIS, relying on predictors common to both databanks: industry, reason for inspection, scope of inspection, region, union status, and year of sampling.

Results

The median proportion of ND results per agent was 37% (interquartile range (IQR)=22%–62%). The median &_x0138; was 0.45 (IQR=0.37–0.64) and 0.03 (IQR=0.01–0.16) for solvents/gases and metals/isocyanates, respectively. Solvents (n=22) and gases (n=7) were selected for CART modeling. Industry was the most important predictor variable in classifying ND results into either ST or LT.

Conclusions

This novel approach can be used to assign a censoring value to ND results, thus allowing more accurate inference about distribution of exposure levels in IMIS.
P.3.10 Causes and consequences of work accidents in estonian agriculture
Authors: Enn Anni , Merisalu Eda
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Work accidents (WA) in agriculture are a problem all over the world. There are over 1,3 billion agricultural workers, that counts more than 50% of all the worlds’ workforce. Even if the most of work tasks become more automated, farmers, family members and farm workers are facing risks at work that are higher than in most other occupations. Many accidents involve the handling of machinery or animals. The costs of WAs are increasing, exhausting national economy as a whole. The aim of this study is to analyse the main causes and consequences of WAs in Estonian agriculture.

Method

The database of accidents in agriculture (2008–2017) has obtained from the Estonian Labour Inspectorate. WAs statistics is based on official reports of employers. Causes and consequences including injury severity, type and body region are described in the present study.

Results

The main cause of WAs in agriculture is disregarding of safety requirements (28,9%), whereas more than half of cases remain unclear. Loss of control over animals or machinery (33,4%), falling and slipping (21,5%) and an attack or an assault by cattle (15,8%) are the main activity-based reasons of WAs. During the last decade the most were minor injuries (72,8%). By the type of injury most often wounds and superficial injuries (40,4%), bone fractures (25,6%) and concussion or internal injuries (16,2%) have been registered. Upper and lower limbs (35,7% and 33,6%) were the most often injured body regions.

Conclusions

Agriculture is a sector with high accident risks, where injury rate shows steady tendency to increase. It is important to pay more attention on improvement of safety culture and prevention of work accidents in agriculture.
P.3.17 Prevalence and distribution of musculoskeletal discomforts and the associations with work-related ergonomic and psychosocial factors in employees of taiwan
Authors: Liu Hsi-chen , Cheng Yawen , Ho Jiune-Jye
Published: May 2020

Background and objectives

Musculoskeletal discomforts (MSDs) attribute greatly to work-related disability, but the social distributions of MSDs in the general working population have seldom been investigated. Moreover, although ergonomic and psychosocial factors at work are known to contribute to musculoskeletal risks, their independent effects on specific sites of MSDs have not been well assessed. This study aimed to examine the social distributions of MSDs and the associations of ergonomic and psychosocial work factors with the risks of MSDs of different bodily sites in general employees of Taiwan.

Methods

Participants were representative employees aged 25–65 years from a nationwide survey of 2016. Self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain information concerning work-related ergonomic and psychosocial factors, employment conditions, and MSDs of different bodily sites over the past 12 months.

Results

A total of 5242 male and 4164 female employees was included. Workers who were older, with lower education levels, being manual skilled or low skilled workers, worked in the construction industry, and being employed in small-sized enterprises had higher risks for MSDs, and the most common bodily site were the neck/shoulders, low back, and wrists/hands. Psychological demands, workplace justice and ergonomic factors were significantly associated with MSDs. Furthermore, results of separate regression models performed for MSDs of different bodily sites showed that higher psychological demands and lower workplace justice were associated with MSDs of the neck/shoulders to a greater extent than other work-related factors, while whole-body-related ergonomic factors and hand-related ergonomic factors were more greatly associated with MSDs of lower back and wrists/hands, respectively.

Conclusions

MSDs were more prevalent in workers with lower socioeconomic positions. Differential contribution of specific types of work-related ergonomic and psychosocial factors to the risks of specific types of MSDs should be taken into consideration in the management of MSDs in the workplace.
P.3.20 Hospitalization outcomes of road traffic injury patients in the largest hospital in the philippines
Authors: Lu Sophia Francesca
Published: May 2020

Background

Road traffic injuries claim are among the leading causes of preventable death, claiming around 7000 lives every year. Accordingly, injuries to the head and neck are the main causes of death and disability.

Objective

This aimed to identify the determinants of prolonged length of stay in the hospital among victims of road traffic injury.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Socio-demographics, accident details (e.g. time of injury, type of victim, other party to the accident, time to admission, intoxication, and helmet use), the Glasgow Coma Score upon admission, head injuries, torso injuries, injuries to the limbs, and length of stay) were abstracted from the patient charts and cleaned accordingly. The predictor model for the determinants of prolonged length of stay in the hospital was built.

Results

There were 427 road traffic injury victims that were admitted during the time period considered. The distribution of the time to admission differed between those who have a short length of stay and long stay differed significantly (p<0.01). Glasgow coma score, type of victim, mortality, age, and sex were found to be important determinants of prolonged hospital stay. Those who have a low Glasgow Coma Score (i.e. more severe cases) were found to be 2.77 (95% CI: 1.13–6.91) times more likely to stay longer in the hospital as compared to those who have high Score. There is strong evidence for this association. Passengers are 78% (95% CI: 0.06–0.84) less likely to stay longer in the Hospital as compared to drivers. There is also strong evidence for this association.

Conclusion

Based on the predictive model from 427 traffic injury patients, determinants of prolonged hospital stay were identified. Consequent policies and programs should address this.
P.3.21 Predictors of health perception among waste pickers in landfill sites in johannesburg municipality, south africa
Authors: Made Felix , Ntlebi Vusi , Kootbodien Tahira , Nonhlanhla Tlotleng , Wilson Kerry , Mpume Ndaba , Spo Kgalamono , Naicker Nisha
Published: May 2020

Background

In South Africa, waste is disposed in landfill sites where waste pickers collect recyclable waste. These informal workers are exposed to various health hazards. However, seeking health care is often determined by the individual’s perception of the status of their health. The objective of this study was to find predictors of health perceptions among waste pickers in Johannesburg Municipality, South Africa.

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted among waste pickers aged 18 years or older, working in major landfill sites in Johannesburg. Information on possible risk factors for health perception were collected. Health perception was defined as very good, good, fair, and poor. Ordinal logistic regression model with landfill sites taken as a cluster variable was done to find factors associated with health perception.

Results

A total of 361 participants were included in this study. More than 70% of them were males. Their median age was 31 years (interquartile range (IQR): 27–39). Ever smoked (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.112–2.665), mental ill health risk (OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 2.849), chronic diseases (OR: 2.34; 95% CI:1.479–3.689), and history of infectious diseases (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.779–3.635) were all statistically significantly associated with increased odds of reporting poor health. Participants who reported an injury were less likely to report poor health (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.307–0.911).

Conclusions

Predictors for reporting poor health among waste pickers were smoking, chronic and infectious diseases, and mental health risk. However, injuries from cuts showed a decreased odd of reporting poor health. Mitigating these risk factors including health promotion as well as improving primary health care may improve perceptions of good health among waste pickers in SA.
P.3.23 Incidence rate and related factors of occupational injuries among veterinarians
Authors: Manorat Napattamon , Supapong Soontorn
Published: May 2020

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to determine the incidence rate and patterns of occupational injuries and to determine the factors which related to occupational injuries among veterinarians in veterinary clinics in Bangkok. The self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 395 veterinarians who had more than one-year experience in each veterinary clinic. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher’s Exact test and Independent t-test.

The results found that Incidence rate of occupational injuries among these veterinarians were 280 events per million man-hours and 56.22 times per 100 full-time veterinarians. The most site of injury was hand. Abrasion and laceration were the most common injuries. Dogs and cats bite were the most causes of injuries. Diagnostic process was the major activity associated with injury. Sixty-nine percent of this sample required physician treatment and fifty-six percent needed work restriction. Thus, the mean of work days lost was 3.45 days. Factors related with occupational injuries were age (p-value<0.001), year of graduation (p-value=0.003), BMI (p-value<0.001), allergic problem (p-value=0.001), sleep less than 7 hours (p-value=0.022), drowsy pills (p-value=0.003), exercise (p-value=0.024), type of practice (p-value<0.001), year in practice (p-value<0.001), working time more than 40 hours per week (p-value=0.035), safety training required (p-value=0.038), careful animal restraint (p-value=0.036), always using safety bin (p-value=0.01), adequate assistants (p-value=0.01), adequate animal restrained equipment (p-value<0.001), and adequate ambient light (p-value=0.018). According to the results from this research, the incidence rate of occupational injury among veterinarians could be reduced by appropriated adjustment of working and resting period, increasing awareness and knowledge transfer experience. Moreover, working area should be properly prepared.
P.3.24 Prevalence of non-fatal injuries in informal waste recyclers in landfill sites in johannesburg, south africa
Authors: Naicker Nisha , Kootbodien Tahira , Ntlebi Vusi , Wilson Kerry , Made Felix , Tlotleng Nonhlanhla , Ndaba Mpume , Kgalamono Spo , Mathee Angela
Published: May 2020

Background

Waste recyclers at landfill sites separate, collect and sell recyclable solid waste. They do not receive Occupational Health and Saftey (OHS) training, personal protective equipment (PPE) or health support. There is limited information of the extent of adverse health outcomes experienced by waste recyclers in South Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and possible risk factors for injuries experienced by waste recyclers.

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted among waste recyclers working in two landfill sites. Interviews were conducted with 361 waste recyclers using a structured questionnaire with information on socio-demographic history, exposures and injuries experienced. Logistic regression with OR was used to determine the significant risk factors for having experienced an injury in the last 6 months.

Results

The average age was 33.7 years, range of 18–81 year. The majority were male (73.4%) and had completed secondary school education (77.8%). The average income earned was $119 per month and 51% lived in informal dwellings. Exposures included rodents (91%), lifting heavy object (87%), dogs (78%), chemicals (66%), needles (43 .%), falling waste (38%) and violence (20%). Although 90% of participants stated they wore some kind of PPE, this was not always suitable for the work conducted. 33% experienced an injury. The commonest injuries were bitten by rats (90%), falls on site (46.7%), muscular pain (29%), dog attacks (21%), violence from other waste pickers (20%) and needle stick injuries (20%). Logistic regression results showed that being male (crude OR 2.94, 95% CI- 1.399–6.195) and age <34 years (crude OR=2.69, 95% CI 4.145–4.988) were significant risk factors for injuries.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of injuries experienced by waste recyclers at landfill sites. OHS awareness and use of appropriate PPE should be provided to waste recyclers in order to prevent occupationally related injuries.
P.3.25 Laparoscopic simulation for veterinary students
Authors: Raimla Riin , Loorits Marin , Merisalu Eda
Published: May 2020

Several laparoscopic simulations have constructed for students to practice skills and precise techniques. Simulations are effective technical tools for teaching professional skills. The aim of the work was to construct a laparoscopic simulation prototype, measure the improvement of manual skills among veterinary medicine students and discomfort in different body parts and assess the need for laparoscopic simulation in education. Simulation had two tasks: coordination and focus- and precision exercise. The number of errors and duration of task time have measured and the results showed that the number of errors and time taken to complete the tasks decreased. In the coordination exercise the total scores improved significantly in the third (p<0,01), fourth and fifth (p<0,001) performances, compared to the first performance. In the focus- and precision exercise the total scores of the second (p<0,05) and the third performances (p<0,01) improved significantly, compared to the first performance. In general, strain in different body regions was slightly increased, but no any differences have observed during the task performance. The simulation considered as an important learning tool to improve the manual skills among veterinary students before the practicing in the animal patients.
P.3.27 Immigration-related stressors and health outcomes among low-wage immigrant hotel workers
Authors: Rosemberg Marie-Anne
Published: May 2020

Background

Immigrants (or foreign born individuals) make up about 17% of US workers and yet over 40% of the low-wage workforce. Immigrant workers are more likely to be employed in service industries, are paid less, and experience higher rate of injuries and illnesses than their native counterparts. They are exposed to a multitude of hazards in their workplace as well as other stressors outside of work. This study explored stressors leading to ill health among a group of low-wage immigrant workers.

Method

We recruited adult immigrants working as hotel housekeepers- a representative group of low-wage service workers. Participants completed survey questionnaires, the SF12 and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHDQ-2). Descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation, frequency, and percentage were calculated. Independent t-test were carried out using SPSS 22.0 software.

Results

22 Mexican immigrants and 8 others participated in the study. Among Mexican immigrants, younger age of migration was significantly correlated with more chronic diseases (r=0.44, p=0.041). Compared to other-foreign-country-born workers, Mexico-born workers were younger when they first came to US (t=2.08, p=0.048) and experienced less discrimination (t=3.73, p=0.001). The two groups did not differ in other stressors including length of stay, demands of immigration, and money sent to others (Ps>0.05). Mexico-born workers had less chronic diseases and better SF-12 physical health than the other immigrant workers (t=2.46, p=0.038; t=2.18, p=0.037). Across both groups, higher demands of immigration were significantly associated with more chronic diseases (r=0.43, p=0.047), poorer SF-12 mental health (r=−0.56, p=0.007), and more severe depressive symptoms (r=0.58, p=0.009). Higher everyday discrimination was significantly associated with poorer mental health (r=−0.47, p=0.023) and more severe depressive symptoms (r=0.66, p=0.001).

Implications

Immigrant-specific factors affect Hotel housekeepers’ health. Studies are needed to identify the protective factors (e.g. social support, enclaves) that can buffer the stressors affecting the health of these immigrant workers.
P.3.33 Knowledge, attitudes, behavior toward needle stick injuries amongst junior doctors in a singaporean hospital – a mixed-methods approach
Authors: Wu Warren Ong Ming , Ming Lim See , Sng Judy , Hwang Jeff
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Needlestick injuries (NSI) are common healthcare-related injuries, and possible repercussions include blood-borne infections. Despite that, a large proportion of NSIs are not reported. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of under-reporting, and to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and behavior towards NSIs amongst junior doctors in a Singaporean tertiary hospital.

Methods

An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires completed by 100 junior doctors (response rate 66.7%). 99 survey responses (1 had missing data) were tabulated. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were performed to analyse socio-demographic characteristics, NSI history, and NSI reporting practices. Qualitative data were collected through 12 in-depth interviews. Participants were purposively recruited and semi-structured topic guides were developed using the Health Belief Model (HBM). Data analysis was done based on a thematic, inductive approach.

Results

51.5% of respondents had history of NSI. Amongst respondents with past NSI, 31.4% did not report. NSI reporters were 1.52 times as likely to be aware of how to report as compared to non-reporters (p=0.033). NSI reporters were 1.63 times as likely to feel that reporting benefits their health as compared to non-reporters (p=0.006). NSI reporters were 83% more likely to report a clean needle injury (p=0.021). For non-reporters, the main reasons for not reporting were low risk of transmission (41.2%) and lack of time to report (35.2%). Themes identified in qualitative study include perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived threat, cues to action, organisational culture and recommendations. Recommendations suggested were to change organisational culture, change reporting process, provide reminders and improve lessons on reporting.

Conclusion

Under-reporting of NSI may have significant implications to patients, healthcare workers themselves and to the system. Solving this will require recognition that under-reporting is a significant public health problem, then subsequently addressing factors, and instituting targeted interventions to improve reporting rate.
O1E.4 Electronic waste recycling in québec, canada: hiring practices and occupational health and safety management
Authors: Gravel Sylvie , Côté Daniel , Gladu Stéphanie , Labrèche France
Published: May 2020

Background and objective

Electronic waste recycling (e-recycling) has received little attention from an occupational health and safety (OHS) perspective. Our objective was to describe hiring and OHS management practices in a sample of formal e-recycling facilities.

Methods

Within a cross-sectional study of exposure of e-recycling workers to various contaminants, we conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews with a sample of 26 workers and 6 managers, employed in four companies. Thematic analyses, followed by a matrix analysis based on the companies’ missions were conducted on the recorded interviews.

Results

Three companies are small enterprises: one receives young offenders/ex-prisoners for up to six months of vocational internships; another is a private company recruiting its workforce through governmental programs integrating people with chronic health problems; the third, a family business, mainly employs workers within neighbouring communities. Lastly, a medium-sized unionized company recruits its employees through staffing agencies, offering permanent jobs to the best candidates after a three-month trial period. Most participants were male, aged between 20–50 years old, and had not completed high school, except for a few recent immigrants with graduate degrees. Regarding occupational hazards in their workplace, 40% of interviewees reported chemicals, 31% mentioned the danger of being struck by lift trucks, and less than 25% identified toxic vapours, inappropriate protective personal equipments (PPEs), cuts, dusts, musculoskeletal or back pain. Some workers expressed concern about the pace of work (and resulting stress), which they identified as an injury risk factor. None of the participants received any mentoring upon entering the job. Agency workers had inferior wages and did not have access to the same OHS preventive practices or PPEs as regular workers.

Conclusions

In our sample, OHS management practices varied according to the employment relationship, although workers are exposed to similar working conditions. Working conditions in the growing e-recycling industry need our attention.
O1E.6 The impact of a program of mandatory awareness training on worker awareness and empowerment to participate in injury prevention
Authors: Smith Peter
Published: May 2020

On July 1 st 2014, the province of Ontario introduced a program of mandatory occupational health and safety (OHS) awareness training. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of this program on worker level self-reported OHS awareness and empowerment to participate in injury prevention activities in Ontario, compared to the province of British Columbia (BC) where no similar program was introduced.

We collected information on OHS awareness and empowerment, as well as participation in OHS training from samples of workers in Ontario and BC on four occasions. The first survey was conducted between May and June 2014 (prior to the introduction of mandatory training); then additional surveys were completed in February/March 2015, September/October 2015, and November/December 2017. For each cross-sectional sample we recruited over 1800 respondents, with a total sample of over 7500 respondents (63% from Ontario) across all time points. Logistic regression models were used to examine a time by province interaction in each outcome, after adjusting for a variety of workplace and worker characteristics.

After the introduction of mandatory awareness training respondents in Ontario were almost twice as likely to participate in training compared to respondents in BC. However, we observed no difference in trends over time (pre-post introduction of mandatory training) in levels of adequate awareness or empowerment between Ontario and BC. Respondents in Ontario had higher levels of adequate OHS awareness than respondents in BC at all time points (both before and after the introduction of mandatory awareness training). No differences were present between Ontario and BC in relation to empowerment.

Taken together, these results suggest that the introduction of mandatory awareness training in Ontario was associated with greater training participation. However, no differences in levels of adequate awareness or empowerment were observed between Ontario respondents compared to BC respondents.
O2B.2 Risk factors for workplace bullying: a systematic review
Authors: Feijó Fernando , Gräf Débora , Fassa Anaclaudia
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Workplace bullying has a high prevalence in organisations and is associated to several health problems. However compiled information on its risk factors remains a gap in the literature. Thus this study aimed to systematically review risk factors for workplace bullying in an epidemiological approach.

Methods

Studies were selected by a systematic search in Medline (PubMed) and BIREME (LILACS, IBECS, BINACIS, BDENF, Index Psicologia, WHOLIS, MedCarib and Coleciona SUS) databases. Inclusion criteria were articles in English, Spanish or Portuguese, providing statistical analyses on risk factors for workplace bullying. Quality was assessed using an adapted version of the Downs and Black checklist. PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines were used for reporting papers.

Results

Fifty-one papers were included in the review. 70.6% were from European countries. Women were reported to be at higher risk of being bullied in most studies. The association of age, marital status and personality traits with bullying varied across studies. Authoritarian and laissez-faire leadership styles were positively associated to bullying. Several occupational risks related to the work organisation and psychosocial factors – such as the stress – were strongly associated to workplace bullying.

Conclusions

Findings from this review highlight the central role of organisational factors on bullying determination, in which the human resource management is a key distal factor. Policies to prevent bullying must address the culture of organisations, facing the permanent challenge of developing safe psychosocial work environments.
O2C.4 Patterns of health care use following work-related injury and illness in australian truck drivers: a latent class analysis
Authors: Xia Ting , Iles Ross , Newnam Sharon , Lubman Dan , Collie Alex
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To identify patterns of health care use in truck drivers with work-related injury or illness and to identify demographic, occupation, injury/condition, claim and geographic factors associated with patterns of care.

Method

13 371 accepted workers compensation claims from truck drivers lodged between 2004 and 2013 in the state of Victoria were included. Episodes of health care were categorised according to practitioner type as General Practitioner (GP), Specialist Physician, Mental Health, Surgery, Return to Work, or Physical Therapy. Latent class analysis was used to identify and characterise the distinct profiles of users with different patterns of health service use. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the associations between latent class and predictors including demographic, claim and injury-related factors.

Results

Four profiles of heath service use were identified: (1) Low Service Users (55% of the sample) were more likely to be younger, have an injury that did not result in time off work and have conditions other than a musculoskeletal injury; (2) High Service Users (10%) tended to be those who were aged between 45 and 64 years, lived in major cities and had musculoskeletal conditions that resulted in time off work; (3) Physical Therapy Users (25%) were more likely to be aged between 45 and 64 years, live in major cities and have non-traumatic injuries that resulted in time off work; and (4) GP/Mental Health Users (10%) were more likely to be over 24 years of age, from the lowest socio-economic band, be employed by smaller organisations and be claiming benefits for a mental health condition.

Conclusions

It is possible to identify distinct patterns of health care use following work-related injury and disease using workers’ compensation claims data. Nature of injury/disease, sociodemographic characteristics and geographic proximity to health services affect patterns of care.
K-05 Intervention studies in occupational health: the missing link
Authors: Tongeren Martie van
Published: May 2020

Interventions are very common in workplaces mainly to improve productivity and efficiencies, but also in order to comply with regulatory requirements (environmental and occupational) and to improve the health of workers. Consequently, exposure to chemical agents, at least in Western Europe and the US, have declined in the last 4–5 decades. However, there is a remarkable paucity of properly conducted intervention studies in occupational health, in particular in relation to chemical and biological agents and their health outcomes. As a result, we don’t have a very good understanding of what interventions actually work to reduce exposure and to improve the health of workers. Very wide estimates of the effectiveness of control measures have been noted from observational studies, probably because only few studies were probably conducted and many studies just compared the exposure between workplaces with and without the intervention. However, there is an important role for properly conducted intervention studies to reduce exposure and improve occupational health, and results of properly designed intervention studies will lead to a better understanding of causality as well as better understanding of effective interventions.
O2D.4 Benzene and toluene exposure and symptoms affecting work ability among the road sweepers in pollution control area, rayong province, thailand
Authors: Lormphongs Srirat
Published: May 2020

Background

Road sweepers exposed to the exhausted smoke and carbon deposit from the vehicles which will stimulate the allergic from various chemicals and affected to their health. The objectives were to evaluate benzene and toluene exposure and symptoms and work ability among the road sweepers in pollution control area, Rayong province, Thailand.

Methods

The methods used Organic Vapor Monitor (3M 3500) for collecting air samples adhered to the road sweepers at the level of breathing, and the collection of urine in 20 cc. plastic bottles.

Results

The mean age of the study group was 44.05 years. 92.0% of the study group worked 8 hours per day; 63% worked, 6 days per week. 57.0% always used respiratory protection; however, most of them used only cotton masks (97.9%). Most of them about work ability had good level (64.0%). Results of the study group (n=100) showed average exposure measures of benzene of 20.63 (SD=±1.363 ppb), and toluene 86.09 (SD=±84.016 ppb). Results of urine samples (n=100), after the work shift, showed average ±SD of toluene to be 0.001±0.002 µg/L. The average comparison of concentration of benzene and toluene was significantly different between the study and comparison groups at level 0.05 (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). However, the relationship between benzene and toluene in the atmosphere and in the urine and work ability of study group were not significant.

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, benzene and toluene in the atmosphere and in the urine and symptoms among road sweepers were detected. Health promotion and protection programs should be emphasized. Respiration protective equipment should also be provided.
O2E.3 Evaluation of the exposure assessment methods used in benzene epidemiology
Authors: Glass Deborah C
Published: May 2020

A variety of exposure assessment methods have been used in epidemiological studies of benzene-exposed workers. The most usual metrics are duration, mean daily exposure intensity (ppm) and ppm-years (intensity multiplied by duration and summed over the exposure period.

Many of the early studies were of cancer and mortality in petroleum industry workers. These studies compared the cancer rates of the workers with those of the general population. Benzene was known to be present at such facilities but benzene exposure estimates were not provided.

In some papers, the cancer risk was compared between exposed and unexposed workers in the same industry or facility. Other papers compared the cancer risk for workers categorised into Low, Medium and High exposure groups, this categorisation may have drawn on measured exposure data. The categorisation may have used a general population or an industry-specific job-exposure matrix (JEM). The latter being likely to be more precise.

The strongest exposure estimates were those where benzene exposure estimates were attributed by experts to individual job titles/areas of work based on measured data, from an appropriate time frame. The exposure attribution was normally done case-blind for case-control studies to avoid bias. Exposure modifiers may have been used to extrapolate data to jobs and eras where measurements were not available. In particular personal benzene exposure data were not usually available before 1980, so extrapolations back in time were needed. In some cases hydrocarbon measurements have been used as a surrogate for benzene measurements. Validation of exposure estimates can add to confidence in the estimates.

In a few studies, biological exposure data was used to attribute exposure estimates to work. Where the data are from the individual concerned rather than attributed on a group basis, the exposure assessment is considered more robust.
O2E.5 Challenges in pesticide exposure assessment for epidemiologic studies
Authors: Freeman Laura Beane
Published: May 2020

Pesticides are used extensively worldwide to control weeds, insects and other pests, some of which have been linked to numerous adverse health outcomes, including cancer. Their ubiquity makes it imperative to conduct high quality epidemiologic studies of these chemicals for hazard identification and risk assessment. There are hundreds of pesticides and pesticide active ingredients registered for use worldwide. However, only a handful have been formally evaluated for carcinogenicity, partially due to the paucity of high quality studies with information on specific active ingredients. Some of the challenges related to assessing exposure to these chemicals are not unique, but there are some particular circumstances that make evaluation of pesticides particularly challenging. Although agricultural practices are changing in many parts of the world, pesticides have traditionally been applied on family farms or small workplaces with few employees. Many studies have relied on the self-report of pesticides; however, depending on the specific work practices, the workers applying the pesticides may not know what chemicals are being applied and may not be able to report the specific active ingredients directly. Other studies have inferred exposure to individual chemicals using a variety of methods, including individual reports of general pesticide application, the crops being grown and combining these data with auxiliary information, such as sales or registration records, application diaries or the use of local experts to assign probability of exposure. In addition to the specific active ingredient, the intensity of exposure is related to other factors, including those associated with application methods and the use of personal protective equipment. Pesticides are often applied in combination with one another, or in mixtures and applicators may apply or be exposed to multiple chemicals through a growing season. Despite these, and other challenges, high quality exposure assessment is critical to studies of these important chemicals.