Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the occupational fatigue exhaustion/recovery (OFER) scale among industrial shift workers.

Reliable and valid instruments are essential for understanding fatigue in occupational settings. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion/Recovery (OFER). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 260 workers ( = 46.

Biological risk assessment: A challenge for occupational safety and health practitioners during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 global pandemic brought several challenges to occupational safety and health practice. One of these is the need to (re)assess the occupational risks, particularly, biological risks.

Objective: The purpose of this work is to promote guidance to occupational safety and health practitioners when conducting a biological risk assessment in this context.

Portuguese version of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) among assembly workers: Cultural adaptation, reliability and validity.

Objectives: Reliable and valid instruments are essential for understanding fatigue in occupational settings. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI).

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 218 workers from an automotive industry involved in assembly tasks for fabrication of mechanical cables.

Assessment and characterization of sound pressure levels in Portuguese neonatal intensive care units.

In the NICU, systematic exposure to sound-pressure above the recommended level can affect both neonates and staff. This study aimed to evaluate the sound pressure levels in three Portuguese NICUs and the noise perceptions of staff. The measurements were performed with a sound-level meter, considering the location of the main sources of noise and the layout of the units.

Analytical and subjective interpretation of thermal comfort in hospitals: A case study in two sterilization services.

Hospital facilities are normally very complex, which combined with patient requirements promote conditions for potential development of uncomfortable working conditions. Thermal discomfort is one such example. This study aimed to determine levels of thermal comfort, sensations, and preferences, from a field investigation conducted in two sterilization services (SS) of two hospitals from Porto and Aveiro, Portugal.

Is There Sufficient Training of Health Care Staff on Noise Reduction in Neonatal Intensive Care Units? a Pilot Study From Neonoise Project.

Evidence indicates that exposure to high levels of noise adversely affects human health, and these effects are dependent upon various factors. In hospitals, there are many sources of noise, and high levels exert an impact on patients and staff, increasing both recovery time and stress, respectively. The goal of this pilot study was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of a training program (TP) on noise reduction in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by comparing the noise levels before and after the implementation of the program.

Comparison of different methods for work accidents investigation in hospitals: A Portuguese case study.

Background: The hospital environment has many occupational health risks that predispose healthcare workers to various kinds of work accidents.

Objective: This study aims to compare different methods for work accidents investigation and to verify their suitability in hospital environment.

Methods: For this purpose, we selected three types of accidents that were related with needle stick, worker fall and inadequate effort/movement during the mobilization of patients.

Chemical exposure and occupational symptoms among Portuguese hairdressers.

Hairdressing is predominantly a female activity, in which several chemicals are handled, some of which are known to be allergenic and potentially carcinogenic. Several epidemiological studies showed an association between occupational exposure to chemicals in hairdressing salons and skin and respiratory-tract conditions. The aim of this study were to characterize the occupational exposure to total volatile organic compounds (VOC) and ammonia (NH₃) in 50 Portuguese hairdressers' salons and to analyze the prevalence of respiratory and skin symptoms in 134 hairdressing professionals.