• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2021

Background: Employment standards (ES) include having a regular payday, regular breaks, the right to paid sick or vacation time, and paid wages. Inadequate ES contribute to the labour market vulnerability of workers; however, they are not typically considered to be risk factors for workplace injury. In a sample of Canadian workers, we examine the risk of injury associated with inadequate ES, independent of, and combined with inadequate workplace protections from workplace hazards. Methods: Data from 2,803 adults working 15 hours or more/week in workplaces with at least five employees were analysed. We explored associations between exposure to workplace hazards with inadequate protections [termed occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability] and inadequate ES on workplace injury (physical or mental injury; injury requiring time off). Additive interaction models were used to examine the independent and combined effects of these exposures. Results: Occupational health and safety vulnerability and inadequate ES were independently associated with increased injury outcomes. Adjusted models showed an additive relationship for all injury outcomes between OHS vulnerability and inadequate ES. Statistically significant superadditive relationships were observed for physical injury risk with policy and procedure vulnerability plus inadequate ES [synergy index (S) 1.50, 95% CI: 1.13-2.00] and for overall OHS vulnerability plus inadequate ES (S 1.53, 95% CI: 1.16-2.02), suggesting a combined effect greater than independent effects. Conclusion: Occupational health and safety vulnerability and inadequate ES are independently associated with workplace injury. For certain injury outcomes, the combined effect of OHS vulnerability and inadequate ES is greater than the independent effects of each individual exposure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.132-136
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• 2014

Recently supporting policy of government for agricultural is changing from individual to workplace. For this reason, the number of industrial injury is increasing due to increase workplace in the agriculture. However, because the studies on the characteristics and causes of injury have not been performed, the effective measure for the prevention of industrial injury is difficult to establish. The aim of this study is to analyze the industrial injury characteristic and prepare the effective counterplan to prevent industrial injury of the workplace in the agriculture. This study analyzed 2,970 cases of industrial injury during the last five years (2008-2012) in the agriculture sector. The data was offered by Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The results of analysis the industrial injury characteristic of the workplace in the agriculture, number of industrial injury for source of industrial injury was 12.3% in the outdoor floor and injury type was 23.1% in the fall. This study analyzed industrial injury characteristic which size and type of workplace, injury type and source of industrial injury through the case of industrial injury in agriculture. The result of this study will be helpful to identify the industrial injury characteristic in the agriculture and prepares the effective industrial injury prevention method.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Time-loss injuries are still a major occurrence in Canada, injuring thousands of Canadian workers each year. With obesity rates on the rise across the country, as well as around the world, it is important that the possible effects of obesity in the workplace be fully understood, especially those effects linked to lost-time injuries. The aim of this paper was to evaluate predictors of workplace lost-time injuries and how they may be related to obesity or high body mass index by examining factors associated with lost-time injuries in the health care sector, a well-studied industry with the highest number of reported time loss injuries in Canada. A literature review focusing on lost-time injuries in Registered Nurses (RNs) was conducted using the keywords and terms: lost time injury, workers' compensation, occupational injury, workplace injury, injury, injuries, work, workplace, occupational, nurse, registered nurse, RN, health care, predictors, risk factors, risk, risks, cause, causes, obese, obesity, and body mass index. Data on predictors or factors associated with lost-time injuries in RNs were gathered and organized using Loisel's Work Disability Prevention Management Model and extrapolated upon using existing literature surrounding obesity in the Canadian workplace.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.129-138
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• 2014

As S. Korea is becoming an "aged society", workers in the country would be exposed to higher risk of workplace injuries due to their reducing work abilities as they are getting old. To identify the relationship between the work ability and the incident rate of workplace injuries, the work ability index (WAI) scores were surveyed from 409 workers occupied in different manufacturing industries reside on north GyoengBuk area. The workplace injury statistics in the year of 2010 for the corresponding industries were analyzed and summarized with the WAI scores by age groups, years of service, and sizes of business. The results showed the WAI scores of the workers occupied in the higher risk of workplace injury was lower than that of the workers of the lower risk. It means the lower the WAI score, the higher the chance of being injured during the task. It is concluded that appropriate correlation exists between the WAI scores of workers and the incident rate of workplace injury. It is recommended to administrate individual work abilities of aged workers in order to keep low rate of workplace injuries in upcoming aged and highly aged society.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2010

This paper provided a brief summary of the current strategic goals, activities, and impacts of the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) occupational injury research program. Three primary drivers (injury database, stakeholder input, and staff capacity) were used to define NIOSH research focuses to maximize relevance and impact of the NIOSH injury-prevention-research program. Injury data, strategic goals, program activities, and research impacts were presented with a focus on prevention of four leading causes of workplace injury and death in the US: motor vehicle incidents, falls, workplace violence, and machine and industrial vehicle incidents. This paper showcased selected priority goals, activities, and impacts of the NIOSH injury prevention program. The NIOSH contribution to the overall decrease in fatalities and injuries is reinforced by decreases in specific goal areas. There were also many intermediate outcomes that are on a direct path to preventing injuries, such as new safety regulations and standards, safer technology and products, and improved worker safety training. The outcomes serve as an excellent foundation to stimulate further research and worldwide partnership to address global workplace injury problems.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.138-142
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• 2016

Background: Household waste collectors (HWCs) are exposed to hazardous conditions. This study investigates the patterns of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs. Methods: This study uses cases of workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs that occurred between 2010 and 2011. We analyzed 325 cases of injuries and 36 cases of illnesses according to the workers' age, length of employment, size of workplace, injured part of body, day and month of injury, type of accident, agency of accident, and collection process. Results: There were significant differences in the effect of workers' length of employment, injured part of body, type of accident, agency of accident, and collection process. Results show that most injuries occur in workers in their 50s and older. This study also shows that 51.4% of injuries occur at businesses with 49 employees or fewer. Injuries to waste collectors happen most often when workers are electrocuted after slipping on the ground. The second most prevalent form of injury is falling, which usually happens when workers hang from the rear of the truck during transportation or otherwise slip and fall from the truck. Work-related illnesses amongst waste collectors are mostly musculoskeletal conditions due to damaging postures. Conclusion: These findings will be instructive in devising policies and guidelines for preventing workplace injuries and work-related illnesses of HWCs.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.131-137
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• 2015

Last five years, Occupational injury rate is declining but still a standstill as 2%, if the rate of deaths all people from 2% to 1% in 2013, but decreased as, occupational safety and health in terms industrial accidents yet has a very weak structure in very small Manufacturing workplace. The purpose of this study was to survey a 1:1 directly person interviews with a structured questionnaire intended for 150 a very small manufacturing workplace. In the results, working with non-regular(informal) workers is one in 10 persons 11.7% and female workers is about three people on 10 persons with 31.0%, and that 75% of non-regular workers who are mainly engaged in the production line appeared. And the work-related injury and accident experience was 4.0% and the occupational injury rate was 1.24%, especially occupational injury rate of older workers was 3.65%, a female workers 1.72%. Workplace risk assessment carried out in response that it was very low as 9.3% of the total. In the technology and funding programs that are supported by the government, was highest with 62.7% of the clean support program awareness, awareness of the rest of the programs is about 10-14% lower. And the satisfaction of supporting a clean support program were the highest 81.3%.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.212-220
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was to investigate the prevalence & types of workplace violence toward nurses in hospitals, and to understand nurse's coping response, cause of violence and prevention strategy. Methods: The data were collected from 254 nurses working in 9 hospitals in Jeju Province by the self-report from June to August 2010. Results: The respondents experienced unpleasant or insulting words (89.8%), verbal threat (38.2%), physical threat (67.7%), physical injury (32.7%), severe physical injury (2.8%), and sexual harassment (26.4%) during the last one year. The frequent offenders were patients, patients' family and physicians in order. The causes of violence which nurses perceived were personality of offenders (76.4%), lack of assessment of aggressive patients or care givers (42.1%), and lack of explanation to patients or caregivers (33.5%). They reported that coping strategies for workplace violence were 'established reporting system (63.4%)', 'building a cooperative circumstances within team members (58.3%)', and 'formulation of hospital policies for violence prevention and coping (54.3%)'. Conclusion: These findings showed nurses are at considerable risk for workplace violence, and they experience various types of violence from patients, caregivers, and physicians. We suggest that hospitals formulate appropriate policies, guidelines and programs to prevent and cope with workplace violence in hospitals.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing severity of occupational fall injury. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 105 patients sustaining occupational fall injury between July 2010 and January 2013. The study instruments were developed by the National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities and National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects (30 items), workplace characteristics (12 items) and disaster characteristic (13 items). Results: Demographic factors, except age, did not affect the severity of injury. Injured patients aged 50-59 years tended to have more severe injuries than those aged 39 years. Type of transport vehicles, conditions, and the circumstances of the fall influenced injury severity. Patients transported by 119 ambulance suffered more severe fall injuries than those who were not. Electrical workers did not receive safety education wihin a year. Critical height in severe injuries was > 6 meters. Conclusion: Occupational fall injuries were influenced by patient age, types of transport vehicles, fall height, size of workplace, and safety education experience.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2019

Background: Workers exposed to hazards without adequate protections are at greater risk of injury and illness. Supervisor activities have also been associated with injury risk. We examined the interplay between supervisor safety support and occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability on workplace injury and illness. Methods: A survey was administered to 2,390 workers employed for more than 15 hrs/week in workplaces with at least five employees who had a direct supervisor. We examined the combined effects of hazard exposure with inadequate protection (OHS vulnerability) and supervisor support on workplace injury and illness, using additive interactions in log-binomial regression models. Results: OHS vulnerability and lack of supervisor support independently increased the likelihood of physical injuries at work. Crude and adjusted models showed that the risk of physical injury was at least 3.5 times higher among those experiencing both OHS vulnerability and a lack of supervisor support than individuals without OHS vulnerability and with a supportive direct supervisor. Workers who experienced vulnerability were at less risk if they had a supervisor who was supportive. Conclusion: In workplaces where workers experience one or more types of OHS vulnerability, having a supportive supervisor may play an important role in reducing the risk of injury and protecting workers.