Judith K. Sluiter

The influence of work characteristics on the need for recovery and experienced health: a study on coach drivers

Work characteristics, occupationally-induced fatigue, and health complaints were investigated on the basis of questionnaire data from 363 randomized coach drivers. The hypothesis was tested that, apart from high job demands and low job control, need for recovery is an indicator of occupationally-induced health complaints. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that need for recovery was a major predictor of psychosomatic complaints, sleep complaints, and complaints of emotional exhaustion in coach drivers. The influence of job demands and job control on health problems was moderately confirmed. The results of this study draw attention to the role of the need for recovery, as a sign of occupationally-induced fatigue and predictor of health complaints, in future research on occupational stress.

Effectiveness of measures and implementation strategies in reducing physical work demands due to manual handling at work

OBJECTIVESnThe purpose of this study was to determine whether workplace smoking policy was associated with respiratory health effects among food and beverage servers.nnnMETHODSnData were obtained from a postal survey of hospitality workers. The participation rate for the questionnaire was 73.9% of those contacted. Current smokers were excluded from the analysis. Adjustment for differences between groups in age, gender, ex-smoker versus never smoker status, home exposure environmental tobacco smoke, childhood asthma, mail versus telephone questionnaire, and hours worked per week was done using logistic regression. A subset of 88 nonsmokers underwent laboratory evaluation, including spirometry and hair nicotine analysis.nnnRESULTSnThe prevalence of irritant and respiratory symptoms among 383 nonsmokers was consistently higher among the participants from premises where smoking was permitted without restrictions on the workplace. In comparison with those from facilities where smoking was prohibited, the highest adjusted odds ratios (OR) were for chronic phlegm for those working where smoking was permitted (OR 8.5 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.4-30.0] or where there were partial smoking restrictions (OR 5.7 95% CI 1.7-19.4). Lung function was not reduced apart from the ratio between forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity, which was lower for workers from facilities where smoking was permitted. Hair nicotine levels were lowest for workers from facilities where smoking was prohibited.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe results suggest that occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, determined through smoking policies, can adversely affect the respiratory health of nonsmokers who work in the food and beverage service industry.

Mental and psychosocial health among current and former professional footballers.

BACKGROUNDnIn common with elite athletes from other sport disciplines, severe or recurrent injuries in professional footballers are considered to be major physical and psychosocial stressors, which may predispose to mental health problems during and after their career.nnnAIMSnTo determine the prevalence of mental health problems and psychosocial difficulties in current and former professional footballers, and to explore the association between psychosocial stressors and the health conditions studied.nnnMETHODSnBased on validated scales, a paper and electronic questionnaire was developed for current and former professional footballers and distributed by the World Footballers Union (FIFPro) and players unions in six countries. Prevalence was calculated and cross-sectional analyses were conducted.nnnRESULTSnThe response rate was 29% with 253 responses available for analysis. The prevalence of mental health complaints ranged from 5% (burnout) to 26% (anxiety/depression) in 149 current players and from 16% (burnout) to 39% (anxiety/depression) in 104 former footballers. The prevalence of psychosocial problems ranged from 3% (low self-esteem) to 26% (adverse nutrition behaviour) in current players and from 5% (low self-esteem) to 42% (adverse nutrition behaviour) in former footballers. In both current and former players, mental health problems were significantly associated with low social support (odds ratio [OR] = 1.1) and recent life events (OR = 1.4-1.6). In former players, previous surgery was significantly associated with smoking (OR = 1.9).nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe prevalence of mental health problems and/or psychosocial difficulties in current and former professional footballers was found to be high. The presence of mental health problems was associated with low social support and recent life events.

Medical staff in emergency situations: severity of patient status predicts stress hormone reactivity and recovery

Background: Although repetitive exposure to stressful situations is thought to habituate the physical stress responses, work stress is experienced by medical personnel in emergency and intensive care units; performance should, however, remain stable over time. Aims: To investigate the neuroendocrine reactions (reactivity during and recovery after work) in experienced emergency caregivers during emergency situations. Methods: A within subjects pre-post design was studied in the natural work environment of 20 municipal Dutch emergency caregivers. A stress protocol was developed in which the biomarker cortisol was measured in saliva at baseline, during the emergency period, and during recovery. Four scenarios were tested between subjects in which the severity of the emergency situation and the time of day were taken into account. Results: Greater endocrine reactions were shown during and after the handling of patients in direct life threatening situations during morning hours compared to the handling of patients who were not in direct life threatening situations.

World at work: bricklayers and bricklayers' assistants

Spotlight on the construction industrynnFor ages people have been building shelters and houses using bricks and blocks bound together by mortar. As a result, the trade of bricklayer gradually evolved into what it is today. However, working methods, materials, tools, equipment, and workplaces may vary between workers, construction projects,1 and countries, leading to differences in health and safety risks.nnIn the Netherlands, codes of practice are developed for various professions in the construction industry aimed at reducing health and safety risks. These codes are based on consensus between health and safety experts, employers, and employee organisations. Recently, such a code of practice was developed for bricklayers.2 The facts presented here are based on that document or other sources as research studies, expert opinions, questionnaires, and interviews conducted with employers and employees. The risk assessments are compared with international standards and scientific literature. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the tasks, health and safety risks, and control measures to reduce or eliminate hazards of the job and in the workplaces of bricklayers and their assistants.nnBricklayers are engaged in building and renovating houses, offices, and industrial complexes using bricks, blocks, and mortar. Each day the Dutch bricklayer handles some 800–1100 bricks or an average of 165–220 blocks.3,4 The bricks and blocks are delivered to the construction sites by truck, in packages or in bulk. The bricklayers’ assistant is responsible for the preparation and the transportation of materials and equipment to the actual workplaces. The bricklayer builds the walls by adding mortar and placing the bricks (one handed) or blocks (two handed) in their correct position. In general, one assistant works for two to five bricklayers. Over the years, bricklaying, transporting materials and equipment, and block laying have developed into three specialised …

Preventive actions taken by workers after workers' health surveillance: a controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate construction workers preventive actions and occupational physicians (OPs) recommendations after a job-specific workers health surveillance (WHS) compared with the currently used generic WHS. Methods: After the WHS, the OPs written recommendations were captured. At the 3-month follow-up, the workers were asked about the preventive actions they had undertaken. A generalized linear mixed model was used to compare proportions of workers. Results: At follow-up, the proportion of workers who reported taking preventive actions was significantly higher in the intervention group (80%, 44/55) than in the control group (67%, 80 of 121), (P = 0.04). In the intervention group, the OPs provided a higher proportion of workers with written recommendations (82%, 63 of 77, vs 57%, 69 of 121; P = 0.03). Conclusion: The job-specific WHS aided OPs in providing workers with recommendations and workers in undertaking (job-specific) preventive actions.

The process evaluation of two alternative participatory ergonomics intervention strategies for construction companies

Abstract To gain insight into the process of applying two guidance strategies – face-to-face (F2F) or e-guidance strategy (EC) – of a Participatory Ergonomics (PE) intervention and whether differences between these guidance strategies occur, 12 construction companies were randomly assigned to a strategy. The process evaluation contained reach, dose delivered, dose received, precision, competence, satisfaction and behavioural change of individual workers. Data were assessed by logbooks, and questionnaires and interviews at baseline and/or after six months. Reach was low (1%). Dose delivered (F2F: 63%; EC: 44%), received (F2F: 42%; EC: 16%) were not sufficient. The precision and competence were sufficient for both strategies and satisfaction was strongly affected by dose received. For behavioural change, knowledge (F2F) and culture (EC) changed positively within companies. Neither strategy was delivered as intended. Compliance to the intervention was low, especially for EC. Starting with a face-to-face meeting might lead to higher compliance, especially in the EC group. Practitioner Summary: This study showed that compliance to a face-to-face and an e-guidance strategy is low. To improve the compliance, it is advised to start with a face-to-face meeting to see which parts of the intervention are needed and which guidance strategy can be used for these parts. Trial registration: ISRCTN73075751

Negative experiences and pre-donation blood pressure: the role of attitude and anxiety

Negative experiences (NEs) have been shown to result in an increased stress response, as indicated by blood pressure, at the subsequent donation. This response might be influenced by how the donor rates the donation in terms of importance and pleasantness [affective attitude (AA)/cognitive attitude (CA)] or by anxiety about donating blood. We investigated the effect of AA/CA/anxiety on the impact of NEs on pre‐donation blood pressure (pd‐BP) in the subsequent donation.

Design of a randomized controlled trial on the effect on return to work with coaching plus light therapy and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy for workers with work-related chronic stress

BackgroundWork-related chronic stress is a common problem among workers. The core complaint is that the employee feels exhausted, which has an effect on the well-being and functioning of the employee, and an impact on the employer and society. The employee’s absence is costly due to lost productivity and medical expenses. The usual form of care for work-related chronic stress is coaching, using a cognitive-behavioural approach whose primary aim is to reduce symptoms and improve functioning. Light therapy and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy are used for the treatment of several mental and physical disorders. The objective of this study is to determine whether coaching combined with light therapy plus pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is an effective treatment for reducing absenteeism, fatigue and stress, and improving quality of life compared to coaching alone.Methods/designThe randomized placebo-controlled trial consists of three arms. The population consists of 90 participants with work-related chronic stress complaints. The research groups are: (i) intervention group; (ii) placebo group; and (iii) control group. Participants in the intervention group will be treated with light therapy/pulsed electromagnetic field therapy for 12xa0weeks, twice a week for 40xa0min, and coaching (once a fortnight for 50xa0min). The placebo group receives the same treatment but with the light and pulsed electromagnetic field switched to placebo settings. The control group receives only coaching for 12xa0weeks, a course of six sessions, once a fortnight for 50xa0min. The primary outcome is the level of return to work. Secondary outcomes are fatigue, stress and quality of life. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 and 24xa0weeks after start of treatment.DiscussionThis study will provide information about the effectiveness of coaching and light therapy plus pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on return to work, and secondly on fatigue, stress and quality of life in people with work-related chronic stress.Trial registrationNTR4794, registration date 18-sept-2014

Evaluating Individual Physical Work Ability: Examples from the Construction Industry

Background: Actively searching for musculoskeletal complaints and reduced physical work ability is a key element in a job-specific workers health surveillance programme for construction workers. The aims of this multiple-case study were 1) to explore the added value of physical performance tests in such a programme among bricklayers and su- pervisors and 2) to assess if and how these tests facilitate the recommendation of job-specific preventive actions in addi- tion to information gathered by questionnaires. Methods: Musculoskeletal complaints and reduced physical work ability were evaluated by means of a questionnaire and physical performance tests. These tests were designed in such a way that they closely resembled activities in the real working situation. Job-specific activities were performed and individual working posture and working technique were ob- served by an ergonomist. Results: The present multiple case study consists of a qualitative analysis of the information gathered during a job-specific workers health surveillance. We included four participants: two bricklayers and two construction supervisors. We found that the information gathered during the tests supplemented the information from the questionnaire. Furthermore, the tests seemed of added value in the assessment of musculoskeletal complaints and reduced physical work ability and in observ- ing working posture and working technique. Conclusions: Standardised physical performance tests, based on a simulation of relevant job activities, are of added value in evaluating and gathering knowledge about construction workers individual physical work ability. These tests provide the opportunity to observe restrictions in task performance, working posture and technique and to recommend job-specific preventive interventions when necessary.