Occupational and environmental medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A randomised controlled trial on whether a participatory ergonomics intervention could prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
To examine the efficacy of a participatory ergonomics intervention in preventing musculoskeletal disorders among kitchen workers. Participatory ergonomics is commonly recommended to reduce musculoskeletal disorders, but evidence for its effectiveness is sparse. ⋯ The intervention did not reduce perceived physical work load and no evidence was found for the efficacy of the intervention in preventing musculoskeletal disorders among kitchen workers. It may be that a more comprehensive redesign of work organisation and processes is needed, taking more account of workers' physical and mental resources.
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Work-related cancers are largely preventable. The overall aim of this project is to estimate the current burden of cancer in Great Britain attributable to occupational factors, and identify carcinogenic agents, industries and occupations for targeting risk prevention. ⋯ Estimates for all but leukaemia are greater than those currently used in UK health and safety strategy planning and contrast with small numbers (200-240 annually) from occupational accidents. Sources of uncertainty in the estimates arise principally from approximate data and methodological issues. On balance, the estimates are likely to be a conservative estimate of the true risk. Long latency means that past high exposures will continue to give substantial numbers in the near future. Although levels of many exposures have reduced, recent measurements of others, such as wood dust and respirable quartz, show continuing high levels.
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Ozone exposure, antioxidant genes, and lung function in an elderly cohort: VA normative aging study.
Ozone (O3) exposure is known to cause oxidative stress. This study investigated the acute effects of O(3) on lung function in the elderly, a suspected risk group. It then investigated whether genetic polymorphisms of antioxidant genes (heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) and glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1)) modified these associations. ⋯ Our results suggest that O(3) has an acute effect on lung function in the elderly, and the effects may be modified by the presence of specific polymorphisms in antioxidant genes.
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To establish the reliability and validity of work-related mental ill-health diagnoses. ⋯ The overall agreement between OPs and PSYs on mental ill-health diagnoses suggests that OP diagnoses are valid for epidemiological purposes. However, the within-group reliability of the diagnosis "stress" is low. Given differences in judgements about work-relatedness, further research is needed to investigate this aspect of a diagnosis.
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Multicenter Study
Low back pain in drivers exposed to whole body vibration: analysis of a dose-response pattern.
Analysis of a dose-response pattern between exposure to whole body vibration (WBV) and low back pain (LBP) in a group of drivers. ⋯ The investigation found a dose-response pattern between WBV exposure and driving-related LBP. No indication of a dose-response pattern was found between WBV exposure and 12-month LBP. Although this dose-response pattern is only an indication, these findings imply that WBV exposure might contribute to the onset of driving-related LBP.