[Current situation and future issues of work-related diseases in Japan].

According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, more than 1,000 workers are killed by occupational accidents and diseases every year, in Japan. The number of workers, who took more than 3 days of sick leave with work-related diseases, reaches 7,000-8,000 every year. Prevention of work-related diseases is essential to maintain and promote workers' health and to ensure quality of their working life.

Brief hourly exercise during night work can help maintain workers' performance.

Increased night work is an important issue because of its implications on workers' health, safety and performance. This study examined the effects of brief hourly exercise as a countermeasure against the adverse effects of night work, especially for workers requiring sustained attention while working in a prolonged sitting posture. During simulated night work (22:00-08:00), participants were required to follow an hourly schedule comprising a 30-min task, 15-min test and 15-min break.

How do the timing and length of a night-shift nap affect sleep inertia?

Napping is one strategy that may assist night shiftworkers to cope with sleepiness and fatigue. However, one potential disadvantage of napping is that awakening from naps is disturbed by sleep inertia, which has also been found to impair performance and/or mood, transiently. The authors examined the effects of the timing and length of a night-shift nap on sleep inertia in a laboratory setting.

Interactive model of subsidiary behaviors, work performance and autonomic nerve activity during visual display terminal work.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to investigate the systematic classification of subsidiary behaviors during visual display terminal (VDT) work and discuss the interpretation of these behaviors through an interactive model of subsidiary behaviors, work performance and autonomic nerve activity.

Methods: Twelve university students were instructed to perform continuous 120-min English transcription tasks in a sedentary posture. Data on subsidiary behaviors, work performance (mean keystroke and mean error rates), and autonomic nervous system balance (log-transformed low frequency (LF) / high frequency (HF) ratio) were recorded every 5 min during VDT work.

Characterizing recovery of sleep after four successive night shifts.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the recovery pattern of sleep following simulated, four successive night shifts in ten healthy men (22.9 + or - 3.2 yr).

Effects of a modified ambulance night shift system on fatigue and physiological function among ambulance paramedics.

Objectives: In the present study, we modified a night shift system for an ambulance service so that ambulance paramedics were assured of taking a nap, and examined the effects of this new system on the fatigue and physiological function of ambulance paramedics.

Methods: Ten ambulance paramedics at a fire station in the center of a large city in Japan voluntarily enrolled as subjects in this field study. They worked a 24-h shift system.

Effects of adjustable sit-stand VDT workstations on workers' musculoskeletal discomfort, alertness and performance.

Adjustable sit-stand workstations, which are designed to allow workers to sit and stand autonomously while working, were examined to identify the effects on workers' musculoskeletal discomfort, alertness and performance. Twenty-four healthy subjects participated in the study. The subjects were required to do an English transcription task for 150 min under the following conditions: 1) sitting at standard workstations (Standard), 2) sitting on a chair with the work surface elevated to standing position (High-chair) and 3) a combination of 10-min sitting and 5-min standing with the same setting as that in the high-chair condition (Sit-stand).

[Characteristic patterns of fatigue feelings on four simulated consecutive night shifts by "Jikaku-sho shirabe"].

The aim of the present study was to reveal characteristic patterns of fatigue feelings on consecutive night shifts by a questionnaire for work-related fatigue feelings "Jikaku-sho shirabe". Ten healthy males (Mean +/- SD: 22.9 +/- 3.

Evaluation of the effects of a health education program on the improvement of hypercholesterolemia.

This study examined the effects of a health education program based on the self- reliance and self-action philosophy and the use of group work methodology on hypercholesterolemia during and after the intervention period. Thirty-two people participated in the study. Measurement values were obtained at the commencement of the intervention (Baseline), during the 6-month intervention period, at the end of the 6-month intervention period (Middle Point) and 6 months after Middle Point (End Point).

Ergonomics solution for crossing collisions based on field assessment of visual environment at urban intersections in Japan.

This paper aims to assess quantitatively the actual visual environment of uncontrolled urban downtown intersections in Japan in relation to frequently occurring crossing collisions and to discuss the safety countermeasures for them. In Field Study 1 dealing with direct visibility, our ultra-wide-angle photograph analysis revealed that most of the right/left-ward visible range at 11 intersections were insufficient to check safety, and the quality of direct visibility was closely associated with causing crossing collisions. The countermeasures to reduce a blind area were determined to be a top priority.

Impact of nap length, nap timing and sleep quality on sustaining early morning performance.

The study examined how nap length, nap timing and sleep quality affect early morning performance (6:00 to 8:00). Twelve students participated in a simulated nightshift schedule (22:00 to 8:00) where the length and timing of nocturnal naps were manipulated (0:00-1:00, 0:00-2:00, 4:00-5:00 and 4:00-6:00). A performance test battery was administered consisting of a psychomotor vigilance test, a logical reasoning test, and a visual analogue scale for subjective fatigue and sleepiness.

Impact of ISO/TS 20646-1 "Ergonomic procedures for the improvement of local muscular workloads" on work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published a new Technical Specification (TS), ISO/TS 20646-1 "Ergonomic procedures for the improvement of local muscular workloads (LMWL)--Part 1: Guidelines for reducing local muscular workloads" in 2004. However, little is known about whether the ISO/TS is really effective in taking action to improve the work conditions in real workplaces. This paper discussed the impact of preventive activities planned and carried out according to the ISO/TS in 17 enterprises.

Promotion of a healthy work life at small enterprises in Thailand by participatory methods.

The major problems of small enterprises include unfavourable working conditions and environment that affect safety and health of workers. The WISE (Work Improvement in Small Enterprises) methodology developed by the ILO has been widely applied to improve occupational safety and health in small enterprises in Thailand. The participatory methods building on local good practices and focusing on practicable improvements have proven effective in controlling the occupational hazards in these enterprises at their sources.

Achievement of the POSITIVE (Participation-Oriented Safety Improvement by Trade Union InitiatiVE) activities in the Philippines.

The POSITIVE (Participation-oriented safety improvement by trade union initiative) programme was introduced into the Philippines in 1995. The monitoring of activities was carried out in 2004 among core trainers who had been trained before. The results of the questionnaire survey showed that the core trainers evaluated their activities satisfactory in general, and particularly the training activities were considered excellent.

A case study on evaluations of improvements implemented by WISE projects in the Philippines.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of work improvements in small enterprises (WISE) on workloads and productivity, and managers' satisfaction with those projects. Participating in this study from 1994 to 1996 were 9 small enterprises, 3 metal industries, 1 car parts manufacturing, 1 garment manufacturing, 1 food processing, and a few others. Upon visiting these worksites, we carried out interviews on the implemented WISE improvements and made objective evaluations of their effect on workloads and productivity.

Approaches to occupational health based on participatory methodology in small workplaces.

An intervention based on the methodology developed by the International Labour Office, the Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) was carried out to improve work condition of small-scale enterprises and the informal sector in the Philippines, Thailand and Japan. Through the evaluation of the efficacy of the approaches based on participatory methodology, it is concluded that the method is an efficient measure to improve work condition in small workplaces. It is also pointed out that the activities of supporting experts such as introduction of the methodology and evaluation of the activity are necessary.

The nighttime nap strategies for improving night shift work in workplace.

Nighttime napping is an effective measure to prevent adverse effects due to night shift work. A characteristic of nighttime nap is that it can result in considerably deeper sleep. Several studies have shown that taking nighttime naps suppressed increasing sleepiness, decreasing alertness during the period following awaking from a nap, and prevented disturbance of circadian rhythm ("anchor sleep").

Effects of the length and timing of nighttime naps on task performance and physiological function.

Objective: To examine the effects of the length and timing of nighttime naps on performance and physiological functions, an experimental study was carried out under simulated night shift schedules.

Methods: Six students were recruited for this study that was composed of 5 experiments. Each experiment involved 3 consecutive days with one night shift (22:00-8:00) followed by daytime sleep and night sleep.

[Model for coordination of community health services and health and welfare services offered by health insurance societies].

The purpose of this paper is to provide information for the development of health and welfare services being offered by health insurance societies (HIS). We analyzed examples of coordinated activities by HISs, the organizations under them (affiliated groups), and regional community self-regulating groups (communities), looking for the shape and direction such coordinated activities should take in the future. We chose 6 cases from public information available from August, 2000 to January, 2001 and visited the parties involved to conduct follow up surveys on the nature of their coordinated activities.