Development of a job-exposure matrix-like exposure assessment method for the US general population based on Occupational Information Network (O*NET) job tasks.

Background: Job-exposure matrices (JEMs) are often used for exposure assessment in occupational exposure and epidemiology studies. However, general population JEMs are difficult to find and access for workers in the United States of America.

Objective: We aimed to use publicly available information to develop a JEM-like exposure assessment method to determine exposure to a wide range of occupational agents in a wide range of occupations for US general population studies.

Gaseous Air Pollutants and Respirable Crystalline Silica Inside and Outside Homes at Brick Kilns in Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Household and ambient air pollution remain public health problems in much of the world. Brick kiln employees in Nepal may be particularly at risk of high air pollution exposures and resulting health effects due to high levels of outdoor air pollution, substandard housing, and indoor biomass cooking. We conducted a cross-sectional study of indoor and outdoor air pollution concentrations at workers' homes at four fixed chimney Bull's trench brick kilns in Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Non-Fatal Occupational Injury Prevalence and Associated Factors in an Integrated Large-Scale Textile Industry in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Occupational injuries disproportionately impact workers of the textile industry in low-income countries. The present study investigates the prevalence of non-occupational injury and its associated factors among workers in an integrated textile industry in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 17-26 May 2021.

Occupational safety and health guidelines in relation to COVID-19 risk, death risk, and case-fatality proportion: An international, ecological study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began in 2019 with several unknown factors. The World Health Organization (WHO) subsequently developed COVID-19 occupational safety and health (OSH) guidelines to reduce occupational COVID-19 transmission. Many countries also developed their own COVID-19 OSH guidelines, but whether these guidelines included WHO's guidelines and whether including WHO's guidelines in countries' COVID-19 OSH guidelines reduced COVID-19 transmission is unknown.

Workplace stress and associated factors among vehicle repair workers in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia.

Introduction: Workplace stress is a public health problem worldwide. Studies focusing on work-related stress among vehicle repair workers are scarce in African countries. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-reported workplace stress and associated factors among vehicle repair workers in Hawassa City, South Ethiopia.

Unintentional Injuries and Sociodemographic Factors among Households in Ethiopia.

Background: Unintentional injuries are a public health problem throughout the world including Africa. Most of the injury studies in Ethiopia are from the healthcare facility or workplace that does not reflect the problem at the community level. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the unintentional injuries and sociodemographic factors among households in Ethiopia.

Risk Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Upper and Lower Back Pain in Male Underground Coal Miners in Punjab, Pakistan.

There is not enough data available on occupational health and safety issues of underground coal miners in Pakistan. This study focuses on spinal disorders in association with personal and occupational factors. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used for a cross-sectional study of 260 workers of 20 mines located in four districts of Punjab, Pakistan.

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Associated Factors among Vehicle Repair Workers in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Vehicle repair work is one of the highest risk professions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Globally, only a few published studies have examined the prevalence and determinants of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among vehicle repair workers. Related studies in Ethiopia are even fewer.

Cross-Sectional Survey of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Workers Practicing Traditional Methods of Underground Coal Mining.

In subcontinental underground mines, coal mining is carried out manually and requires many laborers to practice traditional means of coal excavation. Each task of this occupation disturbs workers' musculoskeletal order. In order to propose and practice possible ergonomic interventions, it is necessary to know what tasks (drilling and blasting, coal cutting, dumping, transporting, timbering and supporting, loading and unloading) cause disorder in either upper limbs, lower limbs, or both.

Air-Quality Assessment of On-Site Brick-Kiln Worker Housing in Bhaktapur, Nepal: Chemical Speciation of Indoor and Outdoor PM Pollution.

Brick workers and their families in Nepal generally live in poorly ventilated on-site housing at the brick kiln, and may be at higher risk for non-occupational exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution and subsequent respiratory diseases due to indoor and outdoor sources. This study characterized non-occupational exposure to PM by comparing overall concentrations and specific chemical components of PM inside and outside of brick workers' on-site housing. For all samples, the geometric mean PM concentration was 184.

Exposure to respirable silica among clay brick workers in Kathmandu valley, Nepal.

Previous studies report high respirable silica exposures among clay brick workers globally; however, there are little data on exposures among workers in fixed chimney Bull's trench kilns, the predominant kiln type in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. We investigated respirable silica exposures among workers (N = 46) in five similar exposure groups (SEGs). Mean exposures were highest for red brick loading/carrying (331 μg/m), followed by green brick stacking (223 μg/m), fireman (102 μg/m), coal crushing/carrying (92 μg/m), and green brick molding (71 μg/m).

Respiratory symptoms and illnesses related to the concentration of airborne particulate matter among brick kiln workers in Kathmandu valley, Nepal.

Background: Bricks have been manufactured in Nepal for hundreds of years and are seen as a component of Nepalese sculpture and architecture. Large quantities of hazardous materials including high concentrations of particulate matter are emitted on a daily basis from brick kilns. Exposure to these hazardous materials can lead to adverse consequences on the environment and human health.

Boarding injuries: the long and the short of it.

As the popularity of longboarding increases, trauma centers are treating an increased number of high severity injuries. Current literature lacks descriptions of the types of injuries experienced by longboarders, a distinct subset of the skateboarding culture. A retrospective review of longboarding and skateboarding injury cases was conducted at a level II trauma center from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2011.

Graduated driver licensing provisions: an analysis of state policies and what works.

Objective: To compare and contrast how specific graduated driver licensing (GDL) components have been implemented in different states and explore how the policies currently in place have affected state-level teen crash and mortality outcomes.

Methods: The study design involved a policy analysis using methodology set forth by Teitelbaum and Wilensky (2007). Eight states were selected, 2 each from 4 different regions in the United States.

Risk factors for work-related injuries among university student employees.

This study identified contributing risk factors in the occurrence of work-related injuries among university students employed at a single university. Four hundred seventy-six student employees completed the survey in March 2010. The majority of respondents were female (66%) and the average age of all respondents was 20.

Identifying work-related motor vehicle crashes in multiple databases.

Objective: To compare and estimate the magnitude of work-related motor vehicle crashes in Utah using 2 probabilistically linked statewide databases.

Methods: Data from 2006 and 2007 motor vehicle crash and hospital databases were joined through probabilistic linkage. Summary statistics and capture-recapture were used to describe occupants injured in work-related motor vehicle crashes and estimate the size of this population.

Effectiveness of a worksite wellness program on health behaviors and personal health.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a worksite wellness program at improving health behavior and personal health.

Methods: Analyses are based on 472 (71% men and 29% women) workers employed in 2009 through 2010.

Results: Participants showed significant improvement in frequency of exercise, consumption of whole grains, vegetables and fruits, restful sleep, and seat belt use.

Epidemiology of motor vehicle crashes in Utah.

Objectives: This study describes the frequency and pattern of vehicle crashes and safety belt use in Utah; the proportion of vehicle crashes involving safety belt use, alcohol, and fatigue; and the influence these factors and others have on emergency room visits or hospital admissions and on the severity of the outcome.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Utah Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic and Safety, from 1999 through 2005. Motor vehicle crash (MVC) data were linked to statewide hospital admission (inpatient) and emergency department (ED) records.

Comparison of factors influencing emergency department visits and hospitalization among drivers in work and nonwork-related motor vehicle crashes in Utah, 1999-2005.

This study identified contributing factors in the occurrence of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) and the severity of crashes according to work-related status in Utah. Analyses were based on probabilistically linked data involving police crash reports and hospital inpatient and emergency department (ED) records for the years 1999-2005. Of 643,647 drivers involved in crashes, 73,437 (11.