Assessment of ergonomic exposure, work-related occupational injuries, and prevention: Child work in the brickfield industry in India?

Toxicology and Industrial Health ◽

10.1177/07482337211025366 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 074823372110253

Author(s):

Banibrata Das

Keyword(s):

Child Labor ◽

Occupational Injuries ◽

Injury Rate ◽

Primary Source ◽

Female Child ◽

Physical Workload ◽

Child Work ◽

Work Related ◽

Sprain And Strain ◽

Ergonomic Exposure

Child labor is an infraction of fundamental human rights, and it prevents the children’s physical, psychosocial, and psychological development. In India, children have been working in different unorganized sectors as paid laborers. Children were found performing a fair amount of manual, rigorous tasks in the brickfield industry due to socioeconomic disadvantages. Child brickfield workers suffered from musculoskeletal pain and injuries due to working with a heavy physical workload, which hampers the overall quality of life. A study had been conducted among these child brickfield laborers from India during 2011–2017. The study found laceration (38.7% male and 36.9% female) as the primary injury followed by sprain and strain, scratches, avulsion, and fractures among child brickfield workers. The study shows that child workers are highly prone to injuries, mainly toe (23.9% male and 28.1% female), hands (22.0% male and 23.4% female), wrists, feet, ankles, and fingers. The injury rate among male and female child brickfield laborers was 7.64 and 9.52 per 1000 workers. The primary source of injuries in brickfields was due to falling from height. Several risk factors, including biomechanical, work stress, may play a key role in work-related injuries among child brickfield laborers.

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A depth camera-based full-body reconstruction method for body pose training in occupational safety

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181320641369 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 1541-1545

Author(s):

Li Li ◽

Ken Chen ◽

Karen Chen ◽

Xu Xu*

Keyword(s):

Occupational Injuries ◽

Technological Development ◽

Point Clouds ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Multiple Point ◽

Reconstruction Method ◽

Safety Education ◽

Depth Cameras ◽

Work Related ◽

Full Body

Occupational injuries have high incidence rates across various industries. Safety education is a key component to effectively reduce work-related injuries. Posture training for work safety is widely adopted to increase the awareness of unsafe movements at work and to evaluate workers to minimize work-related musculoskeletal stresses. However, existing one-size-fits-all pamphlet-based posture training is facing challenges in its effectiveness. In recent years, the substantial technological development in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) has made immersive and personalized education possible. For VR/AR-assisted posture training, full-body reconstruction from multiple point clouds is the key step. In this study, we propose a fast and coarse method to reconstruct the full-body pose of safety instructors using multiple low-cost depth cameras. The reconstructed body images from depth cameras are registered through iterative closet point algorithm. The reconstructed full-body pose can be further rendered in VR/AR environments for next-generation safety education.

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The SIMPOC Philippine Survey of Children 2001: A Data Source for Analyzing Occupational Injuries to Children

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/003335490512000611 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 120 (6) ◽

pp. 631-640 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Charita L. Castro ◽

Sarah Gormly ◽

Amy R. Ritualo

Keyword(s):

Child Labor ◽

Occupational Injuries ◽

The Philippines ◽

Work Environments ◽

Injury Rates ◽

Global Issue ◽

Occupational Activities ◽

Data Source ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Children’S Work

Child labor is a global issue that exists in both industrialized and developing countries. With the unanimous adoption of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182 in 1999 calling for the immediate elimination of the worst forms of child labor, ratifying member countries have committed themselves to identifying hazardous work for children in the context of their respective legislative frameworks. Part of tackling the problem of child labor is knowing what types of occupational activities children are engaged in, what types of work environments they are under, and what risks of injuries and illnesses they are exposed to while working. Using the Philippines as a country example, this study introduces a promising data source on children's work and presents a methodology for examining hazardous work to children through the examination of injury rates. Data for this study rely primarily on a nationally representative dataset from the Survey of Children 2001 carried out by the Philippine National Statistics Office, covering the months of October 2001 to September 2002.

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Innovation Level of Sustainable Practices Adopted in Industrial Enterprises

International Journal of Professional Business Review ◽

10.26668/businessreview/2016.v1i1.9 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 60 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Simone Sehnem

Keyword(s):

Health And Safety ◽

Injury Rate ◽

Social Practices ◽

Safety Training ◽

Sustainable Practices ◽

Environmental Practices ◽

Work Related ◽

Industrial Enterprises ◽

Industrial Companies ◽

Waste Separation

This research aimed to identify the level of innovation of sustainable practices by industrial companies. This is a descriptive study that made use of a questionnaire answered by 50 industrial companies. The results show that environmental practices at full level by 68% of businesses are monitoring the risks and opportunities for the organization's activities due to climate change; 56% of companies surveyed are waste separation; followed by the realization of related health and safety training at work in 52% of cases surveyed; and 48% monitoring and recording of injuries, the injury rate, the rate of occupational diseases, lost days, absenteeism and number of work-related fatalities for all workers. Among the practices adopted not stand out incineration (burning mass) (80% of companies surveyed); hiring indigenous and tribal employees (68%); composting (64%) and use of surface water in the process. Therefore, the study contributed to the disclosure cleaner called production innovations and also pipe end technologies. Some social practices that signal a commitment of the organizations with human resources and the humanization and also economical focused on continuous improvement.

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The effects of using an ergonomic aid on the physical workload and body discomfort reported by pre-adolescent farmers in West Bengal, India

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-213593 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Banibrata Das ◽

Somnath Gangopadhyay ◽

Tirthankar Ghosh

Keyword(s):

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

West Bengal ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Body Part ◽

Work Conditions ◽

Physical Workload ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Work Related

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the major health hazards among farmers. Pre-adolescents are mainly associated with agricultural work due to poor socioeconomic conditions. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to implement a new ergonomics aid for the betterment of job procedures and improvement of productivity, health, and safety of the preadolescent farmers. METHODS: 100 male and 100 female preadolescent farmers were randomly selected from the villages of Tarakeswar, West Bengal, India, to evaluate and reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders, physiological stress. Modified Nordic questionnaires, Body Part Discomfort (BPD) scale, and handgrip strength were assessed before and after using the ergonomics aid. RESULTS: The results of the study show that there was a significant change (decrease) in discomfort in the lower back, wrists, shoulder, and hands among preadolescent farmers when using the newly designed ergonomic aid. Handgrip strength increased and physiological stress was decreased among preadolescent farmers in post-intervention than pre-intervention in just after work conditions. Productivity has been increased in farming by decreasing absenteeism from work with the use of ergonomic aid. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that productivity has been increased in farming by decreasing absenteeism from work as well as by using the ergonomic aid the discomfort feeling has been decreased markedly.

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Determinants of Early Retirement in the UAE

Review of Middle East Economics and Finance ◽

10.1515/rmeef-2020-0044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 57-69

Author(s):

Eda Orhun ◽

Wifag Adnan ◽

Mouawiya Alawad

Keyword(s):

Work Environment ◽

Stress Level ◽

Early Retirement ◽

Online Survey ◽

Physical Workload ◽

Survey Study ◽

Survey Method ◽

Pension Benefit ◽

Retirement Decision ◽

Work Related

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to analyze the retirement behavior of UAE nationals by understanding the socio-economic characteristics of early retirees and identifying the main determinants of early retirement. Accordingly, a survey study is created and deployed for current employees and retirees affiliated with Abu Dhabi Retirement and Pension Benefit Fund (ADRPBF). The survey was designed to reach 100 retirees and 200 currently active workers from those registered at the ADRPBF. The survey was conducted by employing the online survey method and face-to-face interviews. The total number of respondents is around 244, with a total response rate of 81.33%. Some factors related to the psychosocial work environment play a significant role in the early retirement decision of Emiratis. These factors are stress level, autonomy level and authority level at work. In addition to these, the level of work environment comfortability and life-work balance seem to also affect the early retirement decision. In general, the results indicate that higher the stress level, lower the level of autonomy and authority; higher the early retirement decision within the Emirati workforce. Last but not least, the likelihood of early retirement increases significantly if employees face a work-related health problem. Initiatives at the government and company level to adjust the working conditions for the capacity of elderly people shall be considered. Healthy living campaigns and sport programs might be launched to reduce work-related health problems and consequently early retirement. Our work is the first comprehensive study exploring the early retirement decision of the UAE nationals. One limitation of our study is the limited number of participants in the survey. Future work that will include a higher number of participants and supplementary questions to cover more job features (physical workload, other psychosocial factors) might be helpful.

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Musculoskeletal Disorders and Asymmetric Playing Postures of the Upper Extremity and Back in Music Teachers: A Pilot Study

Medical Problems of Performing Artists ◽

10.21091/mppa.2009.3025 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 113-118

Author(s):

Cecilia Wahlström Edling ◽

Anncristine Fjellman-Wiklund

Keyword(s):

Upper Extremity ◽

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Music Teachers ◽

Musical Instrument ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Physical Workload ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Work Related ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Playing Time

To play a musical instrument, such as the violin or flute, requires controlled, adequate movements performed by the arm, hand, and fingers in an asymmetric playing posture. The movements are monotonous and often of long duration, involving static and repetitive muscle work of the upper extremity and neck-shoulder muscles. This situation may lead to an increased risk of contracting musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between physical workload, defined as playing posture and playing time per week, and musculoskeletal disorders in music teachers. A questionnaire was distributed, with items based on work-related musculoskeletal disorders and physical working conditions. The study population consisted of music teachers employed at a Swedish municipal music school. Out of 61 music teachers, 47 (77%) agreed to participate, including 28 women and 19 men. The study group was divided into two groups depending on if they had an asymmetric or symmetric upper extremity/back playing position. Of the total participants, 77% reported musculoskeletal disorders during the preceding 12 months. Female teachers reported significantly more symptoms in the neck, shoulders, and upper back than male teachers. Music teachers with an asymmetric playing posture had significantly more musculoskeletal disorders than music teachers with a symmetric playing posture. This study demonstrates that an asymmetric playing position may affect the amount of musculoskeletal disorders in the upper extremity and back.

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Work-Related Exposures and Sickness Absence Trajectories: A Nationally Representative Follow-up Study among Finnish Working-Aged People

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16122099 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 2099 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tea Lallukka ◽

Leena Kaila-Kangas ◽

Minna Mänty ◽

Seppo Koskinen ◽

Eija Haukka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sickness Absence ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Physical Workload ◽

Physical Work ◽

Annual Number ◽

Related Factors ◽

Aged People ◽

Work Related ◽

Nationally Representative

The contribution of physically demanding work to the developmental trajectories of sickness absence (SA) has seldom been examined. We analyzed the associations of 12 physical work exposures, individually and in combination, with SA trajectories among the occupationally active in the Finnish nationally representative Health 2000 survey. We included 3814 participants aged 30–59 years at baseline, when exposure history to work-related factors was reported. The survey and interview responses were linked with the annual number of medically confirmed SA spells through 2002–2008 from national registries. Trajectory analyses identified three SA subgroups: 1 = low (54.6%), 2 = slowly increasing (33.7%), and 3 = high (11.7%). After adjustments, sitting or use of keyboard >1 year was inversely associated with the high SA trajectory (odds ratio, OR, 0.57; 95% 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.43–0.77). The odds of belonging to the trajectory of high SA increased with an increasing number of risk factors, and was highest for those with ≥4 physical workload factors (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.99–3.69). In conclusion, these findings highlight the need to find ways to better maintain the work ability of those in physically loading work, particularly when there occurs exposure to several workload factors.

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P038: Comparison of diagnostic imaging rates between workplace and non-workplace injuries in the emergency department: a ten-year review

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2020.245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (S1) ◽

pp. S78-S78

Author(s):

A. Sampalli ◽

C. LeBlanc ◽

S. Campbell ◽

M. Vohra

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Nova Scotia ◽

Occupational Injuries ◽

Head Injuries ◽

Central Zone ◽

Value Added ◽

Further Education ◽

Workers Compensation ◽

Workplace Injuries ◽

Work Related

Background: In Canada, injuries represent 21% of Emergency Department (ED) visits. Faced with occupational injuries, physicians may feel pressured to provide urgent imaging to facilitate expedited return to work. There is not a body of literature to support this practice. Twenty percent of adult ED injuries involve workers compensation. Aim Statement: Tacit pressures were felt to impact imaging rates for patients with workplace injuries, and our aim was to determine if this hypothesis was accurate. We conducted a quality review to assess imaging rates among injuries suffered at work and outside work. A secondary aim was to reduce the harm resulting from non-value-added testing. Measures & Design: Information was collected from the Emergency Department Information System on patients with acute injuries over the age of 16-years including upper limb, lower limb, neck, back and head injuries. Data included both workplace and non-work-related presentations, Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) levels and age at presentation. Imaging included any of X-ray, CT, MRI, or Ultrasound ordered in EDs across the central zone of Nova Scotia from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2019. A total of 282,860 patient-encounters were included for analysis. Comparison was made between patients presenting under the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB) and those covered by the Department of Health and Wellness (DOHW). Imaging rates for all injuries were also trended over this ten-year period. Evaluation/Results: In patients between 16 and 65-years, the WCB group underwent more imaging (55.3% of visits) than did the DOHW group (43.1% of visits). In the same cohort, there was an overall decrease of over 10% in mean imaging rates for both WBC and DOHW between the first five-year period (2009-2013) and the second five-year study period (2013-2018). Imaging rates for WCB and DOHW converged with each decade beyond 35 years of age. No comparison was possible beyond 85-years, due to the absence of WCB presentations. Discussion/Impact: Patients presenting to the ED with workplace injuries are imaged at a higher rate than those covered by the DOHW. Campaigns promoting value-added care may have impacted imaging rates during the ten-year study period, explaining the decline in ED imaging for all injuries. While this 10% decrease in overall imaging is encouraging, these preliminary data indicate the need for further education on resource stewardship, especially for patients presenting to the ED with workplace injuries.

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