Barbara J. Burgel

Musician health and safety: Preventing playing-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Musicians are exposed to high-risk musculoskeletal activities such as repetition, hours of exposure, and awkward postures when playing instruments. These activities may result in playing-related musculoskeletal disorders. Musicians often work part-time or seasonally or are self-employed. Thus, they may be uninsured or underinsured and may delay seeking care for these painful and potentially disabling conditions. Prevention of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders includes identification of both intrinsic (e.g., musician strength and flexibility) and extrinsic (e.g., musician posture while playing an instrument) factors involved in the interface between musicians and their instruments and the playing environment (e.g., rest breaks or hours of practice). Student occupational health nurse practitioners in this pilot project performed outreach and comprehensive screening and treatment for a small group of musicians diagnosed as having playing-related musculoskeletal disorders. Tendon and nerve gliding exercises were a key component of the treatment plan.

Psychosocial work factors and shoulder pain in hotel room cleaners

BACKGROUND Hotel room cleaners have physically demanding jobs that place them at high risk for shoulder pain. Psychosocial work factors may also play a role in shoulder pain, but their independent role has not been studied in this group. METHODS Seventy-four percent (941 of 1,276) of hotel room cleaners from five Las Vegas hotels completed a 29-page survey assessing health status, working conditions, and psychosocial work factors. For this study, 493 of the 941 (52%) with complete data for 21 variables were included in multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Fifty-six percent reported shoulder pain in the prior four weeks. Room cleaners with effort-reward imbalance (ERI) were three times as likely to report shoulder pain (OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.95-4.59, P = 0.000) even after adjustment for physical workload and other factors. After adjustment for physical workload, job strain and iso-strain were not significantly associated with shoulder pain. CONCLUSIONS ERI is independently associated with shoulder pain in hotel room cleaners even after adjustment for physical workload and other risk factors.

Health and Safety Strategies of Urban Taxi Drivers

This study describes health and safety concerns and self-care strategies of San Francisco taxi drivers. Focus groups and a written cross-sectional survey were done in a convenience sample of taxi drivers working in San Francisco. Sessions were audiotaped, transcribed in English, and independently coded to identify major health and safety themes, using thematic content analysis. Strategies to manage health and safety issues are the focus of this analysis. Five focus groups were held in 2009 with 36 participants. Major health and safety themes included stress, body pain, danger, vulnerable employment status, and concerns related to unhealthy working conditions. Self-care strategies included diffusion/decompression to manage stress, maintaining a positive attitude, maintaining power and control, and practicing proactive self-care. Creative self-care strategies were described by taxi drivers to keep healthy and safe at work. These data will inform future self-care interventions to reduce health and safety risks of taxi driving.

Sociodemographic Characteristics, Health, and Success at Obtaining Work among Latino Urban Day Laborers

Background. The purpose of this study was to examine the health and social circumstances, knowledge of and access to health and social services, and success at getting work among urban day laborers. Methods. We conducted an interview survey of 217 men waiting for work at several sites in San Francisco. Results. Day laborers were generally unsuccessful at obtaining work and had less than optimal housing, but supported a number of family members. Over half reported fair or poor health, associated with longer time as a day laborer, poor English proficiency, and financially supporting three or more other people. Awareness of health and social services available to them was low. Discussion. The stress of seeking work daily, separation from family, inadequate housing and lack of health care puts this population at increased risk for disease conditions associated with poor physical and mental health.

Certified occupational health nursing. Job analysis in the United States.

Specialty nursing certification programs, such as that administered by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (ABOHN), must be firmly based on current practice to maintain validity. To determine this, ABOHN performed its most recent job analysis and role delineation study between 1992 and 1994. A comprehensive survey tool was developed by ABOHN Board members, and administered to all 3,805 certified occupational health nurses in practice at the time of the study. With a final return rate of 42.7%, the results were believed to be representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to practice occupational health nursing in the United States at the proficient level of practice. The results of the study formed the basis for the ABOHN test blueprints and the creation of two credentials for occupational health nurses: the Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) and the Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist (COHN-S).

Disability behavior--delayed recovery in employees with work compensable injuries.

The strong influence of social and psychological rather than medical factors affect delayed recovery in employees with work compensable Injuries. Several authors have noted that social factors are considered much more important than medical tactors to determine disability behavior (Derebery & TUllis, 1983; Weinstein, 1978; Yelln, Meenan, Nevitt, & Epstein, 1980). Attention has shitted from functional limitations due to disease entities to the psychosocial teetors associated with the accident or illness.The same Impairment will produce very different behavior in two different people (Brodsky,1983b; Derebery & Tullis, 1983; Larson & Sprietzer, 1970). Disability behavior is therefore learned, and there are many factors which influence the learning of this disabled role.

Work-related violence experienced by urban taxi drivers

OBJECTIVES This study measured violence (physical assault, robbery, or weapon confrontation) in taxi drivers, and determined socio-demographic/work factors associated with violence. METHODS In 2010, 130 taxi drivers, working in a large city in the Western US, were administered a survey evaluating workplace violence events. RESULTS The study population was male (94%), mean age 45, married (54%), foreign-born (55%), with 24% speaking Arabic at home. Drivers drove at night (51%), for an average of 9.7 years and 41 hr/week. Almost half reported a history of violence during their driving careers: physical assault, weapon confrontation, or robbery. In the prior 12 months, 12% were physically assaulted, 8% robbed, and 6% confronted with a weapon. Night drivers reported more assaults over their lifetime compared to day drivers (mean = 1.64 [sd 4.29] vs. mean = 0.53 [sd 1.05], P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS Taxi drivers experience violence at work. Strategies are needed to prevent violence especially in night drivers.Objectives This study measured violence (physical assault, robbery, or weapon confrontation) in taxi drivers, and determined socio-demographic/work factors associated with violence. Methods In 2010, 130 taxi drivers, working in a large city in the Western US, were administered a survey evaluating workplace violence events. Results The study population was male (94%), mean age 45, married (54%), foreign-born (55%), with 24% speaking Arabic at home. Drivers drove at night (51%), for an average of 9.7 years and 41 hr/week. Almost half reported a history of violence during their driving careers: physical assault, weapon confrontation, or robbery. In the prior 12 months, 12% were physically assaulted, 8% robbed, and 6% confronted with a weapon. Night drivers reported more assaults over their lifetime compared to day drivers (mean = 1.64 [sd 4.29] vs. mean = 0.53 [sd 1.05], P = 0.047). Conclusions Taxi drivers experience violence at work. Strategies are needed to prevent violence especially in night drivers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:1377–1385, 2014.

Occupational health nurses’ achievement of competence and comfort in respiratory protection and preferred learning methods results of a nationwide survey.

Additional findings are presented from a 2012 nationwide survey of 2,072 occupational health nurses regarding how they achieved competence in respiratory protection, their preferred methods of learning, and how they motivated employees to use respiratory protection. On-the-job training, taking a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health spirometry course, or attending professional conferences were the primary ways occupational health nurses gained respiratory protection knowledge. Attending professional conferences was the preferred method of learning, varying by type of industry and years of occupational health nurse experience. Employee motivational strategies were not widely used; the most common strategy was to tailor respiratory protection training to workplace culture. Designing training methods that match learning preferences, within the context of the organizations safety and quality improvement culture, is a key recommendation supported by the literature and these findings. Including respiratory protection content and competencies in all levels of academic nursing education is an additional recommendation. Additional research is needed to link training strategies with consistent and correct use of respiratory protection by employees.

Development of a Respiratory Protection Survey Instrument for Occupational Health Nurses An Educational Project

The Institute of Medicine (2011) report Occupational Health Nurses and Respiratory Protection: Improving Education and Training outlined seven recommendations to improve the competency of occupational health nurses in respiratory protection. An advisory group was convened in December 2011, with stakeholder representation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc., American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc., Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare, American Nurses Association, and Institute of Medicine Standing Committee on Personal Protective Equipment for Workplace Safety and Health. The initial work of the advisory group included developing and administering a survey to assess current occupational health nurse roles and responsibilities relevant to respiratory protection. Development of the survey was led by a masters student and advisor who worked with the advisory group. The process of tool development and preliminary findings are presented in this article.

Snapshot of the AAOHN membership.

The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN) conducted a web-based membership survey of 2,123 members (41% response rate) in May and June 2012. This column presents educational, certification, and selected industry data for registered nurse and advanced practice nurse AAOHN members. Members are highly experienced, with 57% reporting more than 16 years of experience. Sixty-eight percent of AAOHN members are educated at or above the baccalaureate level. An additional 8.4% are currently enrolled in an educational program. Seventy-six percent are nationally certified as occupational health nurses or occupational health nurse specialists (COHN/COHN-S), case managers, safety professionals, ergonomists, or nurse practitioners. The majority (89%) work full-time as employees of their facility (85%), with manufacturing (34%), hospital/health care (26%), and government/military (10%) being the top three industry sectors. Ten percent work for small employers (fewer than 500 employees), whereas 12% work with more than 50,000 employees. Thirteen percent of AAOHN members work globally. Future columns will present additional 2012 AAOHN member survey data.