Shigeyuki Kajiki

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of participatory ergonomic low back pain training on workplace improvement

This study aimed to determine the effects of participatory workplace improvement (PWI)‐based provision of ergonomic training and ergonomic action checklists (ACLs) to on‐site managers on workplace improvement activities for low back pain (LBP).

Surveys on the competencies of specialist occupational physicians and effective methods for acquisition of competencies in Japan

Surveys on the competencies of specialist occupational physicians and effective methods for acquisition of competencies in Japan: Koji Mori, et al. Occupational Health Training Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

486 Total burden of presenteeism, absenteeism and medical/pharmaceutical cost by health risks

Introduction Presenteesim, as well as medical/pharmaceutical costs, have attracted attention in the occupational health field in Japan. Presenteeism and health risks are known to be associated. However, the relationship between health risks and total burden of presenteeism, absenteeism, and medical/pharmaceutical cost have only received scarce attention. We aimed to investigate this relationship by examining the data of Japanese workers. Methods We conducted this study using the data of >40 year-old workers obtained from four pharmaceutical companies and health insurance associations. The workers were classified into three categories (low-risk, middle-risk, and high-risk) according to probabilities of developing cardiovascular disease, as calculated by risk factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol intake, and Body Mass Index) obtained from a previous study. Health data from self-administered questionnaires completed by the workers in 2014 were collected to evaluate presenteeism, and from compensation claims from the health insurance associations to calculate medical/drug costs. To measure presenteeism, we used the QQ method. We received medical (in-/out-patient) and drug (out-patient) data of all study samples from April 2014 to March 2015. Results The total sample in the final analysis numbered 7808 (low-risk: 2755, middle-risk: 2672, and high-risk: 2381). The total cost for the high-risk group was the highest of all three groups (€4,138/year/person), followed by the middle-risk group (€4,068/year/person), then the low-risk group (€3,620/year/person). Presenteeism was the largest cost in all groups, with the cost being the highest for the middle-risk group among all three groups. Discussion Many interventions have been conducted for high-risk workers in Japan, but ones for low- and middle-risk workers remain insufficient. Our findings suggest that greater awareness is needed about the intervention needs of low- and middle-risk workers, especially with regard to presenteeism. To increase this awareness, we plan to proceed with further study and make a detailed proposal.

The System and Human Resources for Occupational Health in Thailand — For Japanese Enterprises to Manage Proper Occupational Health Activities at Overseas Workplaces

We collected information necessary for conducting occupational health activities in Thailand with regard to occupational safety and health management systems (OSHMS). Based on an information collection check sheet developed in our previous research, we conducted a literature research and visited four local business bases, one ISO certification body and two higher educational institutions. The legal framework concerning occupational health in Thailand consists of the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Act of 2011 and 13 ordinances from the Ministry of Labor under that act. The original OSHMS standards for Thailand have been published, and the number of companies, especially large ones, introducing systems conforming to these standards has increased in recent years. For occupational health specialists, there are training programs for specialized occupational health physicians, professional safety officers and occupational nurses. Professional safety officers also play a central role in occupational health in the workplace. In Thailand, it is necessary to ensure compliance with related acts and regulations, and to conduct voluntary activities that satisfy workplace conditions as based on the OSHMS standards. Additionally, to improve occupational health performance, it is essential to use high-quality external services and/or occupational health professionals. Headquarters of Japanese companies have considered taking countermeasures such as recommending active use of professional safety officers, as well as issuing global standards.

Developing a checklist for collecting information from overseas hospitals

OBJECTIVE Expatriate workers and their families may encounter difficulties and uncertainties when visiting local hospitals. These problems include differences in the medical system, higher healthcare costs, and language problems. Occupational health staff in companies need to know about the healthcare system, including emergency transportation arrangements, to reduce anxiety in workers and families attending hospitals. This study was designed to create a checklist to allow occupational health staff to collect information from overseas hospitals efficiently and effectively. METHODS We used documentary searches and the knowledge and experience of researchers to identify the support requirements of expatriate workers and drafted a checklist for information collection from overseas hospitals. The validity of the checklist was assessed in two stages. First, we interviewed health specialists caring for expatriate workers and their families and then tested the draft in international hospitals. We revised the draft based on our findings and again tested the new version in different overseas hospitals, enabling us to create a final version of the checklist. RESULTS Our checklist contains 12 major categories: reception, administration, inpatient wards, available tests, outpatient clinics, emergency services, pediatrics, gynecology, dentistry, general health check-ups, vaccination services, and precautions against infection. These categories cover a total of 51 subcategories, each of which is further divided into a total of 131 smaller categories. DISCUSSIONS Occupational health staff can use this checklist to gather information in order to provide comprehensive and effective support for expatriate workers attending hospitals. We recommend that the staff gather all possible information from hospital websites before visiting and use the visiting time to gather information available only on site. In order to gather as much information as accurately as possible, the staff are recommended to visit the facilities related to the checklist categories, that is, Japanese language reception, outpatient services, inpatient wards, emergency services, pediatrics, gynecology, general health check-up centers, and cardiac catheterization labs, and obtain information directly from doctors, nurses, and specialists working at the hospitals.

Development of a check sheet for collecting information necessary for occupational safety and health activities and building relevant systems in overseas business places.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to develop an information gathering check sheet to efficiently collect information necessary for Japanese companies to build global occupational safety and health management systems in overseas business places. METHODS The study group consisted of 2 researchers with occupational physician careers in a foreign-affiliated company in Japan and 3 supervising occupational physicians who were engaged in occupational safety and health activities in overseas business places. After investigating information and sources of information necessary for implementing occupational safety and health activities and building relevant systems, we conducted information acquisition using an information gathering check sheet in the field, by visiting 10 regions in 5 countries (first phase). The accuracy of the information acquired and the appropriateness of the information sources were then verified in study group meetings to improve the information gathering check sheet. Next, the improved information gathering check sheet was used in another setting (3 regions in 1 country) to confirm its efficacy (second phase), and the information gathering check sheet was thereby completed. RESULTS The information gathering check sheet was composed of 9 major items (basic information on the local business place, safety and health overview, safety and health systems, safety and health staff, planning/implementation/evaluation/improvement, safety and health activities, laws and administrative organs, local medical care systems and public health, and medical support for resident personnel) and 61 medium items. We relied on the following eight information sources: the internet, company (local business place and head office in Japan), embassy/consulate, ISO certification body, university or other educational institutions, and medical institutions (aimed at Japanese people or at local workers). CONCLUSIONS Through multiple study group meetings and a two-phased field survey (13 regions in 6 countries), an information gathering check sheet was completed. We confirmed the possibility that this check sheet would enable the user to obtain necessary information when expanding safety and health activities in a country or region that is new to the user. It is necessary in the future to evaluate safety and health systems and activities using this information gathering check sheet in a local business place in any country in which a Japanese business will be established, and to verify the efficacy of the check sheet by conducting model programs to test specific approaches.