American journal of industrial medicine
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This study explores the effects of occupational (OPA) and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) on mortality relative to cardiorespiratory fitness and pre-existing coronary heart disease (CHD). ⋯ OPA was positively associated with both all-cause and CHD mortality. LTPA was not protective. Among men with CHD, LTPA increased mortality risks.
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Taxi drivers are at high risk for low back pain (LBP). ⋯ Greater understanding of psychosocial work factors may aid in developing interventions to prevent LBP in taxi drivers.
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Safety climate, a group-level measure of workers' perceptions regarding management's safety priorities, has been suggested as a key predictor of safety outcomes. However, its relationship with actual injury rates is inconsistent. We posit that safety climate may instead be a parallel outcome of workplace safety practices, rather than a determinant of workers' safety behaviors or outcomes. ⋯ Safety management practices may be more important than workers' perceptions of safety climate as direct predictors of injury rates.
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While low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer is recommended for high-risk smokers, ages 55-74 years, information about asbestos exposure may not be routinely elicited. Asbestos exposure is associated with declining respiratory function over time; however, the effect of a history of asbestos exposure in LDCT screening cohorts is limited. We report the relationship between asbestos exposure and pulmonary function in a cohort of heavy smokers with a history of occupational asbestos exposure, hypothesizing that these subjects will have additional decreased pulmonary function. We also examined relationships between spirometric measurements and the presence of isolated pleural plaques. ⋯ Occupational asbestos exposure in a cohort of heavy smokers was associated with a significant restrictive decline in pulmonary function, with longer duration of exposure associated with greater decline. The presence of isolated pleural plaques was also associated with reduced lung function.
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Multicenter Study
An urgent need to understand and address the safety and well-being of hospital "sitters".
Hospital sitters provide continuous observation of patients at risk of harming themselves or others. Little is known about sitters' occupational safety and well-being, including experiences with patient/visitor-perpetrated violence (type II). ⋯ The burden of type II violence against hospital sitters is concerning. Policies surrounding sitters' roles and violence prevention training are urgently needed.