scholarly journals Association of perceived work pace and physical work demands with occupational accidents: a cross-sectional study of ageing male construction workers in Denmark

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pernille Weber Hansen ◽  
Vivi Schlünssen ◽  
Kirsten Fonager ◽  
Jakob Hjort Bønløkke ◽  
Claus D. Hansen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Occupational accidents continue to be a significant public health challenge worldwide. Construction workers in particular are at high risk of occupational accidents, and thus it is of major importance to identify possible predictors of occupational accidents among construction workers. We aimed to investigate the association between self-reported work pace and physical work demands and occupational accidents among ageing male construction workers in Denmark. Methods Data on perceived work pace, physical work demands, and occupational accidents was acquired from questionnaires sent to ageing construction workers in Denmark in 2016 as part of the ALFA project (ALdring og Fysisk Arbejde; Ageing and Physical Work). A sample of 1270 Danish male construction workers above 50 years of age was included in the present study. Multiple logistic regression models were applied, with adjustments for age, smoking, body mass index, musculoskeletal disorders, occupation, work experience, and support at work. Results Of 1270 construction workers, 166 (13.1%) reported an occupational accident within the last 12 months. There was no significant association between perceived work pace and occupational accidents, but physical work demands were associated with higher odds for occupational accidents, with an odds ratio of 2.27 (95% confidence interval 1.26–4.10) for medium physical work demands and 2.62 (95% confidence interval 1.50–4.57) for high physical work demands. Conclusions Ageing male construction workers with high physical work demands had statistically significant higher odds of having an occupational accident. By contrast, perceived work pace was not associated with occupational accidents in this large cross-sectional study.

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Nabe-Nielsen ◽  
Nils Fallentin ◽  
Karl B Christensen ◽  
Jette N Jensen ◽  
Finn Diderichsen

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e040158
Author(s):  
Rúni Bláfoss ◽  
Sebastian Venge Skovlund ◽  
Rubén López‐Bueno ◽  
Joaquin Calatayud ◽  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
...  

ObjectivesPhysically demanding work increases the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders during working life, with low back pain (LBP) as the most prevalent and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder worldwide. However, a lack of knowledge exists about the role of early working years on musculoskeletal health later in life. This study investigated whether an exposure–response association exists between physical demands in early working life and risk of LBP in later working life.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting, participants and outcome measureIn the SeniorWorkingLife study, 5909 wage earners aged ≥50 years with currently sedentary work replied to a questionnaire survey in 2018 about physical work demands during their first working years (exposure) and current LBP (outcome). Associations between physical work demands in the early working years and current LBP were modelled using general linear models controlling for various confounders, combined with model-assisted weights based on national registers.ResultsHard physical work during early working life was associated with more intense LBP later in life among senior workers with currently sedentary jobs. In the fully adjusted model, workers with ‘standing/walking work with lifting/carrying’ and ‘heavy or fast work that is physically strenuous’ during the first years of working life reported higher LBP intensity than those with sedentary work during their first working years (0.2 (95% CI, 0.0 to 0.4) and 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4 to 0.9), respectively).ConclusionWork involving lifting/carrying or work that is physically strenuous in early life is associated with higher intensity of LBP among older workers with currently sedentary employment. These findings suggest that early working life may have an impact on later working years and underscore the necessity for careful introduction and instruction to the working environment for retaining musculoskeletal health and prolonging working life.Trial registration numberNCT03634410.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Pascal Nygaard ◽  
Sebastian Venge Skovlund ◽  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
Lars Louis Andersen

Abstract Background Low-back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent among senior workers and may affect work ability, especially among those with hard physical work. This study determined the joint association of LBP intensity and physical work demands with work limitiations due to pain in senior workers. Methods In the SeniorWorkingLife study (2018), 11,738 senior workers (≥50 years) replied to questions about physical work demands, LBP intensity, and work limitations due to pain. Using logistic regression analyses and controlling for potential confounders, associations between the physical work demands and LBP intensity (interaction) with work limitiations due to pain (outcome) was modeled. Results Higher LBP intensity, as well as higher physical work demands, significantly increased the odds of experiencing work limitiations due to pain, and these two factors interacted with each other (p < 0.0001). In analyses stratified for LBP intensity, higher physical work demands gradually increased the odds of experiencing work limitiations due to pain. Conclusions Senior workers with a combination of physically demanding work and LBP are more affected by their pain during everyday work tasks compared to workers with similar LBP-intensity in sedentary occupations. Accommodation of work demands seems especially relevant for this group of workers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Venge Skovlund ◽  
Rúni Bláfoss ◽  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
Kristina Thomassen ◽  
Lars L. Andersen

Abstract Background Leg pain, especially of the knees and hips, is common among senior workers and may limit the ability to perform physically demanding work. In light of the aging workforce, this study determined the joint association of physical work demands and leg pain intensity for work-limiting pain in senior workers. Methods Currently employed senior workers (≥50 years) participated in the SeniorWorkingLife study in 2018 (n = 12,879). Associations between the combination of physical work demands and leg pain intensity (interaction) with work-limiting pain (outcome) were modeled using binary logistic regression analyses while controlling for potential covariates. Results We found a significant interaction (P < 0.001) between physical work demands and leg pain intensity for work-limiting pain. The combination of higher physical work demands and higher leg pain intensity had the worst outcome in terms of the odds of experiencing work-limiting pain. For example, 70% of those with the combination of high physical work demands and leg pain intensity ≥7 (scale 0–10) experienced that the pain limited them to at least some degree in their work. Conclusions The combination of high physical work demands and high leg pain intensity are associated with limited ability to perform work among senior workers. These findings highlight the importance of prioritizing the physical work environment in physically demanding occupations, particularly among senior workers, for prolonging working life. Thus, adjusting the work demands, e.g. through use of assistive devices, and lowering the pain, e.g. through physical rehabilitation, may be necessary to sustain work ability to a high age in this group of workers. Trial registration This was registered as a cohort study in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03634410) on the 18th of August 2018 (Retrospectively registered).


2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Cristina Oliveira ◽  
Maria Helena Palucci Marziale ◽  
Maria Henriqueta Rocha Siqueira Paiva ◽  
Aline Cristine Souza Lopes

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of health care professionals regarding their use of universal precaution measures at a public emergency service. The study also aimed to assess the rates of occupational accidents involving biological substances among those workers. This study was performed with 238 workers, from June to November 2006, using univariate and multivariate analysis. The chance of not adopting precaution measures was 20.7 (95% CI: 5.68 - 75.14) times greater among drivers compared to physicians. No significant association was found between adopting universal precaution measures. The occupational accident rate was 20.6% (40.8% involving sharp-edged objects). The risk of physicians having an occupational accident was 2.7(95% CI: 1.05 - 7.09) times higher than that of drivers. The fact that a staff member had adequate knowledge about universal precaution measures was insufficient to foster compatible attitudes towards reducing the risk of transmitting infectious agents and causing occupational accidents.


Author(s):  
Joanne Chung ◽  
Bonny Wong ◽  
Vincent Yan ◽  
Louisa Chung ◽  
Henry So ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 471-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aroldo Gavioli ◽  
Thais Aidar de Freitas Mathias ◽  
Robson Marcelo Rossi ◽  
Magda Lúcia Félix de Oliveira

Objective To identify the prevalence of risk related to drug use among workers of a construction company and to evaluate how it relates with sociodemographic variables. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted with 418 workers who were given the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Multinominal logistic regression was used as a measure of association. Results Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and inhalants were the most used drugs. Moderate and high risks were related, respectively, to the use of tobacco (32.5% and 5.7%), alcohol (26.8% and 6.9%), cannabis (2.6% and 2.4%) and cocaine (1.2% and 0.5%). Conclusion Tobacco and alcohol were the main drugs used by workers. The level of risk related to the use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and cocaine were high when compared to that of the general population.


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