The relationship between occupational burnout and work ability among firefighters: exploring the mediating effects of insomnia, depressive symptoms, loneliness and alcohol misuse.

Purpose: Firefighting is a profession associated with a high risk of elevated levels of occupational stress and burnout. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the mediating effects of insomnia, depressive symptoms, loneliness and alcohol misuse in the relationship between two dimensions of burnout (i.e.

Occupational and non-occupational risk factors for neck and lower back pain among computer workers: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to identify major determinants for neck and lower back pain (LBP) among office workers of different ages. . Computer workers ( = 2000) responded to a questionnaire on demographics, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), lifestyle characteristics, ergonomics of computer work and psychosocial and physical job characteristics.

Assessment of the impact of lifestyle and psychosocial working conditions on older employees' work ability.

The purpose of this article was to assess the impact of selected elements of lifestyle, psychosocial working conditions and general mental health on older employees' ability to work. . Employees ( = 1067) aged 50-65 years ( 54.

Effect of previous lowering of skin temperature on the time of safe exposure to a hot environment: a case study.

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of initial conditions of a microclimate on volunteers' permissible exposure limits to a hot and humid environment. Eighteen experimental studies with the participation of three volunteers were performed under controlled microclimate conditions (two climate chambers). The skin temperature and body core temperature were measured after they had stabilized in the following microclimate conditions: temperature of 17, 21 and 23 °C, relative humidity of 50% and hot microclimate conditions, i.

The influence of air humidity on human heat stress in a hot environment.

This article aims to present the physical adaptation capabilities of a human, seen as a response to extreme hot and dry or hot and humid conditions. Adaptation capabilities are expressed as safe exposure time in two variants: at rest and during physical activity. The study shows the results of calculations of the variability over time of the core temperature and skin temperature as well as heat balance.

The relationship between work, mental health, physical health, and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

To evaluate the relationship between work, mental health, physical health, and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the data of 282 participants were drawn from baseline. The results of structural equation modeling showed that among rheumatoid arthritis patients, those who were engaged in occupational activity had lower levels of fatigue compared to those who did not work and that this relationship was mediated by better mental health, not by physical health.

Mine rescuers' heat load during the expenditure of physical effort in a hot environment, using ventilated underwear and selected breathing apparatus.

Mine rescuers' heat load under the same physical effort load (25% of the maximal oxygen uptake), using three types of breathing apparatus, in newly developed heat-removing underwear and outerwear was assessed for typical work conditions of mine rescuers, under milder and harsher ambient conditions of 32 and 38 °C, respectively, both at relative humidity of 85% and air velocity of 1.0 m/s. Expending physical effort at the same load while using different kinds of breathing apparatus resulted in a similar heat load.

Changes in the peripheral blood flow in legs in response to the cold: own studies using plethysmography.

The thermal environment in the workplace is an important factor which affects workers' health. During 2011 in Poland, 14,781 workers were exposed to a cold working environment, i.e.

The Effect of Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation on Clinical Status of Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients.

Background: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of conventional and cryotherapy-based rehabilitation with respect to its impact on selected clinical parameters in AS patients.

Material And Methods: Fifty working males aged 22-66 years were included in this study. Twenty-five of them underwent cryotherapy-based rehabilitation (cryogenic chamber, local cryotherapy; individual, instrumental, and nonweight-bearing exercises) for 3 weeks.

Complex rehabilitation and the clinical condition of working rheumatoid arthritis patients: does cryotherapy always overtop traditional rehabilitation?

Aim: Rehabilitation slows the progress of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and prevents progression of disability. This study aimed to compare the impact of two rehabilitation programmes on pain, disease activity, locomotor function, global health and work ability forecast in RA patients.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-four employed women aged 24-65 years participated in the study.

Heart rate variability (HRV) during virtual reality immersion.

The goal of the study was assessment of the hour-long training involving handling virtual environment (sVR) and watching a stereoscopic 3D movie on the mechanisms of autonomic heart rate (HR) regulation among the subjects who were not predisposed to motion sickness. In order to exclude predispositions to motion sickness, all the participants (n=19) underwent a Coriolis test. During an exposure to 3D and sVR the ECG signal was continuously recorded using the Holter method.

Occupational exposure to natural UV radiation and premature skin ageing.

The skin is the part of the human body most vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The spectrum of the negative effects of UV radiation on the skin ranges from acute erythema to carcinogenesis. Between these extreme conditions, there are other common skin lesions, e.

Chronic musculoskeletal disorders as risk factors for reduced work ability in younger and ageing workers.

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence and intensity of musculoskeletal pain as a risk factor for reduced work ability.

Methods: In total, 1449 workers participated in the study, 64% were younger workers (<45 years old, M 31.4); 36% were ageing workers (≥45 years old, M 50.

[Subjective sensations indicating simulator sickness and fatigue after exposure to virtual reality].

Background: The study assessed the incidence and intensity of subjective symptoms indicating simulator sickness among the persons with no inclination to motion sickness, immersed in virtual reality (VR) by watching an hour long movie in the stereoscopic (three-dimensional - 3D) and non-stereoscopic (two-dimensional - 2D) versions and after an hour long training using virtual reality, called sVR.

Material And Methods: The sample comprised 20 healthy young men with no inclination to motion sickness. The participants' subjective sensations, indicating symptoms of simulator sickness were assessed using the questionnaire completed by the participants immediately, 20 min and 24 h following the test.

Comparative study of upper limb load assessment and occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders at repetitive task workstations.

This study explored the relationship between subjectively assessed complaints of pain in the arm, forearm and hand, and musculoskeletal load caused by repetitive tasks. Workers (n=942) were divided into 22 subgroups, according to the type of their workstations. They answered questions on perceived musculoskeletal pain of upper limbs.

Evaluation of activities and needs of older workers in the context of maintaining their employment.

Background: The article presents the results of evaluation of activities for older workers (50+). The aim of the study was the examination of older workers' opinions on activities undertaken in their companies related to maintaining older workers' employment.

Material And Methods: Data is derived from the questionnaire survey conducted on 50+ employees (250 women and 250 men).

Psychological factors at work and musculoskeletal disorders: a one year prospective study.

The etiology of musculoskeletal disorders is complex, with physical and psychosocial working conditions playing an important role. This study aimed to determine the relationship between psychosocial work conditions, such as psychological job demands, decision latitude, social support and job insecurity and musculoskeletal complains (MSCs) and (repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) in a 1-year prospective study. The job content questionnaire, the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and provocation tests were used to study 725 employees aged 20-70 years.

Analysis of conditions and organization of work of notebook computer users.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate working conditions with a notebook computer (notebook) as a potential cause of musculoskeletal disorders.

Material And Methods: The study had 2 stages. The first one was a questionnaire survey among 300 notebook users.

[Evaluation of activities targeted at employability of older workers in Polish enterprises].

Background: The article presents the results of evaluation of activities for older workers (50+) undertaken by Polish small, medium and large enterprises.

Material And Methods: Data are derived from the questionnaire survey conducted on a nationwide sample of 200 small (9-49 employees), medium (50-249 employees) and large (> 250 employees) companies.

Results: In the total number of persons employed in the surveyed companies there were 27% of older workers.

[The role of psychosocial work factors in the development of musculoskeletal disorders in workers].

The aim of the study was to determine the role of psychosocial work factors in the development of musculoskeletal disorders in workers. It should be stressed that over a decade these disorders have been the subject of studies because of complaints reported not only by workers performing heavy physical work or working in awkward, forced body posture. It has also been acknowledged that stress at work caused by various psychosocial work factors can significantly influence their development.

[Eye symptoms in office employees working at computer stations].

Background: The aim of the study was to measure the prevalence and intensity of eye symptoms in office workers who use computers on a regular basis, and to find out if the symptoms depend on the duration of computer use and other work-related factors.

Material And Methods: Office workers employed at large social services companies in two cities (Warszawa and Katowice) were invited to fill in a questionnaire (cross-sectional study). The questions included work history and history of last-week eye symptoms and eye-related complains.

[Acquired musculoskeletal dysfunction syndromes in workers in the light of epidemiological studies].

Acquired musculoskeletal dysfunction syndromes (overload syndromes) that cause limitation of the system efficiency belong nowadays to the most serious problems in the medical care of workers. The etiology of overload syndromes is multifactorial, which means that occupational factors constitute only one of many causes fostering the development of those disorders. Occupational factors which increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders include physical factors related to the work environment or the way the work is performed, such as body posture, value of exerted forces, movement repetitiveness, load handling, mechanical vibration or microclimate as well as psychosocial factors, such as quantitative and qualitative overload, lack of control, lack of social support or work insecurity.

Physical capacity of occupationally active population and capability to perform physical work.

The aim of this study was to determine what proportion of occupationally active Poles have working capacity that enables them to tolerate hard and very hard physical work. For this purpose physical capacity of 1188 occupationally active subjects (524 women and 664 men), aged 18-64 years was examined. Their maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was determined indirectly on the basis of their heart rate during an incremental exercise test on a bicycle ergometer.

Job strain, overtime, life style, and cardiovascular risk in managers and physical workers.

The purpose of the study was to determine the relation between overtime, job strain and life style, and cardiovascular risk (CVR) in 97 managers and 98 physical workers. CVR was measured with the Framingham method. Information about job strain, overtime, life style and extra-occupational activities was obtained with a self-administered questionnaire.

The influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in users of portable computers.

Introduction: Portable computers are becoming an increasingly common main work tool; however, they are not properly adapted to the workstation. Musculoskeletal complaints are a very frequent complaint reported by workers who use computers in their work. AIM.