COVID-19 as an Occupational Disease-Temporal Trends in the Number and Severity of Claims in Germany.

COVID-19 is considered an occupational disease (OD), when infection occurs at the workplace for health workers (HW). Because of the increased infection risk of these workers, they were deemed to be a priority group when the vaccination campaign started in Germany in December 2020. By December 2021, more than 90% of HW had been vaccinated twice.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Workers in Germany-A Retrospective Study on Progression Risk and Use of Preventive Therapy.

Despite the decline in tuberculosis incidence (TB) in Germany, health workers (HW) are at greater risk of becoming infected with . To date, little is known about the risk of progression of latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) and the use of Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT) among HW. Routine data from the German Statutory Institution for Accident Insurance and Prevention for Health and Welfare Services (BGW) were analysed and a retrospective survey was conducted.

[Implementation of occupational health and safety during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in hairdressers' salons].

Background: There is little empirical evidence with respect to the implementation (adherence) of occupational health and safety guidelines in Germany. Recommendations for the prevention of SARS-CoV‑2 infections in hairdressing services were provided by the German Statutory Accident Insurance for the Health and Welfare Services (BGW) in an occupational health and safety (OHS) standard in spring 2020.

Research Question: To what extent are the recommendations adhered to in this service profession as judged by hairdresser's customers after their visits?

Material And Methods: The survey was conducted as a covert participant observational study between the beginning of October and the middle of December 2020 as a non-systematic opportunistic sample in three cities.

Metal exposure of workers during recycling of electronic waste: a cross-sectional study in sheltered workshops in Germany.

Objectives: In Germany, the initial step of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling frequently takes place in sheltered workshops for physically and mentally handicapped workers (Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen (WfbM), in german language). E-waste recycling involves a potential risk of exposure to toxic metals. Therefore, we assessed the occupational exposure of recycling workers to toxic metals to identify potential health risks and insufficient protective measures.

Causes of Needlestick and Sharps Injuries When Using Devices with and without Safety Features.

Safety-engineered devices (SEDs) have been developed to protect healthcare personnel (HCP) from needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs). The aim of this study was to analyze NSIs associated with SEDs and non-SEDs among HCP in hospitals, medical offices and care facilities. Records from online questionnaires on NSIs were used.

Vaccine-Preventable Infections in Childcare Workers.

Background: Adequate immunity to so-called childhood diseases can lower the occupational risk of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases in persons who work in day-care centers for children.

Methods: A systematic literature survey was carried out in PubMed and Embase for the period January 2000 to February 2019. Studies on immune status and vaccination status were included.

The risk of cytomegalovirus infection in daycare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The primary aim of this review was to summarize the evidence on the relationship between being a daycare worker working with children and the possible increased risk of cytomegalovirus infection.

Methods: We searched the Medline and Embase databases using search strings defined according to the population, exposure, comparison, and outcomes (PECO) applicable to our research questions in order to find studies published since 2000. Two independent reviewers evaluated the search hits using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Are Daycare Workers at a Higher Risk of Parvovirus B19 Infection? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In this systematic review, we aimed to summarize the evidence on the association between being a daycare educator working with children and the possible increased risk of parvovirus B19 infection compared to the general population. The Medline and Embase databases were searched using a defined search to find studies published since 2000. Two reviewers evaluated the search hits using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

The effect of effort-reward imbalance on the health of childcare workers in Hamburg: a longitudinal study.

Background: The prevalence of effort-reward imbalance (ERI) among qualified childcare workers in Germany is currently estimated at around 65%. High rates of burnout and musculoskeletal symptoms (MS) have also been reported for this group. Previous longitudinal studies show inconsistent results with regard to the association between ERI and MS.

Use of moulded hearing protectors by child care workers - an interventional pilot study.

Background: Employees of a multi-site institution for children and adolescents started to wear moulded hearing protectors (MHPs) during working hours, as they were suffering from a high level of noise exposure. It was agreed with the institutional physician and the German Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW) that this presented an opportunity to perform a scientific study to investigate potential beneficial effects on risk of burnout and subjective noise exposure at work when child care workers wear MHPs.

Methods: This was an intervention study which compared the initial values with those after a follow-up of 12 months.

Prevalence of CMV infection among staff in a metropolitan children's hospital - occupational health screening findings.

Staff in children's hospitals may run an increased risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) contact infection leading to a congenital CMV fetopathy during pregnancy. The main risk factor is close contact with inapparent carriers of CMV among infants (<3 years). We therefore examined CMV seroprevalence (SP) and possible risk factors for CMV infection among staff at a children's hospital.

Are female daycare workers at greater risk of cytomegalovirus infection? A secondary data analysis of CMV seroprevalence between 2010 and 2013 in Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Close contact with asymptomatic children younger than three years is a risk factor for a primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. In pregnant women, such primary infection increases the risk of CMV-induced feto- or embryopathy. Daycare providers have therefore implemented working restrictions for pregnant daycare workers (DCWs) in accordance with legislation and guidelines for maternity protection.

Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Risk of Burnout in Child Care Workers - A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: German child care workers' job satisfaction is influenced by the consequences of unfavourable underlying conditions. Child care workers tend to suffer from psychosocial stress, as they feel that their work is undervalued. The objective of the present study is to investigate how the psychosocial factors of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model influence musculoskeletal symptoms (MS) and the risk of burnout.