Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening in Occupational Health Surveillance Exams Is Associated With Decreased CRC Mortality.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is recommended for adults aged 45 to 75. Using data from a national screening program, we examined the impact of CRC screening in a population with occupational exposures.

Methods: Since 1998, the Building Trades National Medical Screening Program (BTMed) has offered CRC screening every 3 years.

Mortality of older construction and craft workers employed at Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear sites: Follow-up through 2021.

Background: To determine if construction and trades workers formerly employed at US Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons sites are at significant risk for occupational diseases, we studied the mortality experience of participants in the Building Trades National Medical Screening Program (BTMed).

Methods: The cohort included 26,922 participants enrolled between 1998 and 2021 and 8367 deaths. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated based on US death rates.

Manufactured doubt and the EPA 2020 chrysotile asbestos risk assessment.

While all forms of asbestos have been determined to be carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as well as other authoritative bodies, the relative carcinogenic potency of chrysotile continues to be argued, largely in the context of toxic tort litigation. Relatively few epidemiologic studies have investigated only a single form of asbestos; however, one study that included an asbestos textile plant located in Marshville, North Carolina that processed chrysotile asbestos was used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2020 to help inform the agency's chrysotile asbestos risk assessment. During the EPA proceedings toxic tort defense consultants submitted comments to the EPA docket and made public presentations asserting that the Marshville plant had processed amphibole asbestos types and should not be used for the chrysotile risk assessment.

Restrictive spirometry pattern among construction trade workers.

Background: Spirometry-based studies of occupational lung disease have mostly focused on obstructive or mixed obstructive/restrictive outcomes. We wanted to determine if restrictive spirometry pattern (RSP) is associated with occupation and increased mortality.

Methods: Study participants included 18,145 workers with demographic and smoking data and repeatable spirometry.

Beryllium disease among construction trade workers at Department of Energy nuclear sites: A follow-up.

Background: Construction workers at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons facilities are screened to identify DOE-related occupational illnesses, including beryllium sensitization (BeS) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD).

Hearing impairment and tinnitus among older construction workers employed at DOE facilities.

Background: Few studies have defined the risk of hearing impairment and tinnitus after retirement. This report measures hearing impairment and tinnitus prevalence among older construction trades workers.

Methods: The study cohort included 21,340 participants in a national medical screening program (www.

COPD risk among older construction workers-Updated analyses 2020.

Background: A 2010 study of construction workers participating in medical screening programs at the Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear facilities demonstrated increased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk. The current study of a larger worker cohort allowed for a more nuanced analysis of COPD risk, including for employment beginning after the mid-1990s.

Methods: Study participants included 17,941 workers with demographic and smoking data and spirometry with a minimum of three recorded expiratory efforts and reproducibility of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV ) of 0.

Lung cancer mortality among construction workers: implications for early detection.

Objectives: This study examined predictors of lung cancer mortality, beyond age and smoking, among construction workers employed at US Department of Energy (DOE) sites to better define eligibility for low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening.

Methods: Predictive models were based on 17 069 workers and 352 lung cancer deaths. Risk factors included age, gender, race/ethnicity, cigarette smoking, years of trade or DOE work, body mass index (BMI), chest X-ray results, spirometry results, respiratory symptoms, beryllium sensitisation and personal history of cancer.

Mortality of older construction and craft workers employed at department of energy nuclear sites: Follow-up through 2016.

Background: To determine if construction and trades workers employed at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear sites facilities are at significant risk for diseases associated with occupational exposures, we compared the mortality experience of participants in the Building Trades National Medical Screening Program (BTMed) to that of the US population.

Early detection of lung cancer in a population at high risk due to occupation and smoking.

Objective: The US National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends two pathways for eligibility for Early Lung Cancer Detection (ELCD) programmes. Option 2 includes individuals with occupational exposures to lung carcinogens, in combination with a lesser requirement on smoking. Our objective was to determine if this algorithm resulted in a similar prevalence of lung cancer as has been found using smoking risk alone, and if so to present an approach for lung cancer screening in high-risk worker populations.

Work-Related Injury and Management Strategies Among Certified Athletic Trainers.

Context:   Health care workers have high rates of musculoskeletal injuries, but many of these injuries go unreported to workers' compensation and national surveillance systems. Little is known regarding the work-related injuries of certified athletic trainers (ATs).

Objective:   To determine the 12-month incidence and prevalence of work-related injuries and describe injury-reporting and -management strategies.

Asbestos standards: Impact of currently uncounted chrysotile asbestos fibers on lifetime lung cancer risk.

Background: Current regulations require that asbestos fibers are collected and examined using a light microscope. This method fails to enumerate fibers that are too short or thin to reliably count using a light microscope under normal conditions.

Methods: A cohort of 3054 workers employed at an asbestos textile plant was followed to ascertain causes of death.

The Relationship Between BMI and Work-Related Musculoskeletal (MSK) Injury Rates is Modified by Job-Associated Level of MSK Injury Risk.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and occupational musculoskeletal (MSK) injury rates, and the statistical interaction between BMI and occupational exposure to MSK hazards (measured by level of MSK injury risk based on job category).

Methods: Using 17 years of data from 38,214 university and health system employees, multivariate Poisson regression modeled the interaction between BMI and MSK injury risk on injury rates.

Results: A significant interaction between BMI and MSK injury risk was observed.

Impact of Secondary Prevention in an Occupational High-Risk Group.

Background: A study of medical outcomes among 6857 elderly construction workers who received an initial and at least one periodic follow-up examination as a result of participating in a medical screening program was undertaken.

Methods: We compared results from the initial examination to follow-up examinations delivered at least 3 years after the initial examination for the following outcomes: body mass index (BMI); total serum cholesterol; nonhigh-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol; hemoglobin A1c, hypertension; current cigarette smoking; and 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores.

Results: Statistically significant improvements (P < 0.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers in the United States from 1992 to 2014.

Objectives: Examine trends and patterns of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among construction workers in the USA, with an emphasis on older workers.

Methods: WMSDs were identified from the 1992-2014 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), and employment was estimated from the Current Population Survey (CPS). Risk of WMSDs was measured by number of WMSDs per 10 000 full-time equivalent workers and stratified by major demographic and employment subgroups.

Association Between Exercise Frequency and Health Care Costs Among Employees at a Large University and Academic Medical Center.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between exercise frequency and health care costs associated with medical and pharmacy claims among a 10-year employee cohort.

Methods: The relationship between self-reported exercise (days/week) and health care costs was analyzed with negative binomial regression, using an integrated database involving 32,044 person-years and linking employee demographics, health risk appraisal information, and health insurance claims.

Results: An association demonstrating exercise frequency lowering health care costs was present in most medical and prescription drug categories and was strongest among employees reporting 2 to 3 and 4 to 5 days/week of exercise.

Lung Cancer Risk Associated with Regulated and Unregulated Chrysotile Asbestos Fibers.

Background: Regulation of asbestos fibers in the workplace is partly determined by which fibers can be visually counted. However, a majority of fibers are too short and thin to count this way and are, consequently, not subject to regulation.

Methods: We estimate lung cancer risk associated with asbestos fibers of varying length and width.

Work-related illness and injury claims among nationally certified athletic trainers reported to Washington and California from 2001 to 2011.

Background: Little is known about the work-related injury and illnesses experienced by certified athletic trainers (AT).

Methods: The incidence and characteristics of injury/illness claims filed in two workers' compensation systems were described from 2001 to 2011. Yearly populations at risk were estimated from National Athletic Trainers' Association membership statistics.

Hospital workers bypass traditional occupational injury reporting systems when reporting patient and visitor perpetrated (type II) violence.

Background: Under-reporting of type II (patient/visitor-on-worker) violence by workers has been attributed to a lack of essential event details needed to inform prevention strategies.

Methods: Mixed methods including surveys and focus groups were used to examine patterns of reporting type II violent events among ∼11,000 workers at six U.S.