Disparities in death at work: reflections on occupational injury fatality data
Despite many advances in workplace health and safety globally, worker death at work or from work remains an unfortunately common occurrence, and an enormous public health challenge on a global scale. The most recent global estimates, produced jointly by the WHO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), show that the number of worker fatalities from occupational traumatic injury has not shifted this century. The WHO and ILO estimate a total of 363 283 acute occupational injury fatalities in 2016.1 These are a subset of the total estimated 1.9 million annual worker deaths from occupational exposures.1 The main causes ...
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Collie, A. Tags: Commentary Source Type: research

Legionnaires disease in transportation, construction and other occupations in 39 US jurisdictions, 2014-2016
Conclusion Transportation and construction workers, who are generally not covered by guidance related to building water systems, have increased risk of Legionnaires’ disease compared with other workers. One hypothesised risk factor for truck drivers is the use of non-genuine windshield cleaner in their vehicles. A simple intervention is to use genuine windshield cleaner with bactericidal properties (ie, includes isopropanol/methanol) which can reduce the risk of Legionella growth and transmission. To improve surveillance of Legionnaires’ disease and identification of similar exposures, the authors encourage the...
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Harduar Morano, L., Morawski, B. M., Herzig, C. T. A., Edens, C., Barskey, A. E., Luckhaupt, S. E. Tags: Practice Source Type: research

Outbreak of lead poisoning from a civilian indoor firing range in the UK
This report highlights the need for vigilance of lead poisoning as an occupational hazard in the UK, including at recreational facilities such as indoor firing ranges. It emphasises the importance of regulation of lead exposure in the workplace, particularly given the vague symptoms of lead poisoning, and proposes re-appraisal of UK legislation. This report also highlights potential issues surrounding stock availability of rarely used antidotes for uncommon presentations in the event of an outbreak of poisoning. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Warsi, A., Pucci, M. R., Bradberry, S. M., Khan, A., Elamin, M. E. M. O. Tags: Workplace Source Type: research

Effectiveness of the Coordinated Return to Work model after orthopaedic surgery for lumbar discectomy and hip and knee arthroplasty: a register-based study
Conclusions The CRtW model shortened average RTW periods among working-age people during the recovery period. Further research with larger samples and longer follow-up times is needed to ensure the effectiveness of the model as a part of the Finnish healthcare system. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Lavikainen, P., Heiskanen, J., Jalkanen, K., Lehtimäki, A.-V., Vehkala, S., Kangas, P., Husman, K., Vohlonen, I., Martikainen, J. Tags: Open access Practice Source Type: research

Occupation-specific risk estimates for suicide and non-fatal self-harm from a Swedish cohort of male construction workers followed 1987-2018
Conclusions Specific occupations within the construction sector were associated with excess risk for suicidal behaviour. Future studies should identify underlying risk factors to inform tailored interventions. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Mehlig, K., Toren, K., LaMontagne, A. D., Wahlström, V., Nyberg, J., Waern, M., Aberg, M. Tags: Open access Workplace Source Type: research

COVID-19: incidence and mortality in Sweden comparing all foreign-born to all Swedish-born individuals in different occupations in an unvaccinated cohort of year 2020
Conclusion Foreign born have a higher risk of COVID-19 compared with Swedish-born individuals at any age and occupation before vaccination began in 2021. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Tondel, M., Nordquist, T., Helgesson, M., Svartengren, M. Tags: Open access Workplace Source Type: research

Chronic occupational exposures to irritants and asthma in the CONSTANCES cohort
Conclusions Lifetime occupational exposures to irritants were associated with current asthma and higher asthma symptom score. These exposures should be carefully considered in asthma management. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Sit, G., Orsi, L., Iwatsubo, Y., Dananche, B., Orsi, F., Goldberg, M., Leynaert, B., Nadif, R., Ribet, C., Roche, N., Roquelaure, Y., Varraso, R., Zins, M., Pilorget, C., Le Moual, N., Dumas, O. Tags: Editor's choice Workplace Source Type: research

Notification of hand eczema as an occupational disease among Danish hairdressers: a national survey on patients perception
Conclusions Based on hairdressers’ perception, occupational hand eczema still seems to be an under-reported disease which may lead to underestimation of the problem and impair prevention, diagnosis and treatment. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Kursawe Larsen, C., Havmose, M. S., Johansen, J. D. Tags: Workplace Source Type: research

Ethnic inequalities among NHS staff in England: workplace experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic
Conclusions Structural changes to the way staff from ethnically minoritised groups are supported, and how their complaints are addressed by leaders within the NHS are urgently required. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - March 8, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Rhead, R., Harber-Aschan, L., Onwumere, J., Polling, C., Dorrington, S., Ehsan, A., Stevelink, S. A. M., Khunti, K., Mir, G., Morriss, R., Wessely, S., Woodhead, C., Hatch, S. Tags: Open access, Press releases, COVID-19 Workplace Source Type: research

Health Hazard Evaluations of occupational cancer cluster concerns: the USA, January 2001-December 2020
Conclusions The proportion of HHEs on workplace cancer cluster concerns remained steady over time; most did not meet the definition of a cluster or uncover an occupational cause. Public health practitioners can use this information to provide updated context when addressing workplace cancer cluster concerns and as motivation to refine investigative approaches. More broadly, this review highlights an opportunity to identify best practices on how to apply community cluster investigation methods to the workplace. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 2, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Shi, D. S., Rinsky, J. L., Grimes, G. R., Chiu, S. K. Tags: Editor's choice Practice Source Type: research

Who tests for lead and why? A 10-year analysis of blood lead screening, follow-up and CNS outcomes in a statewide US healthcare system
Conclusions Hospital lead testing covers a small portion of patients but includes a wide range of ages, presentations and provider specialities. Lack of lead decline among many paediatric patients suggests there is room to improve provider guidance around when to test and follow-up. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 2, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Reuben, A., Ward, R., Rothbaum, A. O., Cornelison, V. L., Huffman, S., McTeague, L. M., Schmidt, M. G., Specht, A. J., Kilpatrick, D. G. Tags: Exposure assessment Source Type: research

Identifying employee, workplace and population characteristics associated with COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace: a population-based study
Conclusions This study has used novel national data linkages to identify potential risk factors of workplace COVID-19 outbreaks, including possible protective effects of vaccination and increased physical distance at work. The same methodological approach can be applied to wider occupational and environmental health research. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 2, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Overton, C. E., Abbey, R., Baird, T., Christie, R., Daniel, O., Day, J., Gittins, M., Jones, O., Paton, R., Tang, M., Ward, T., Wilkinson, J., Woodrow-Hill, C., Aldridge, T., Chen, Y. Tags: Open access Exposure assessment Source Type: research

Association of firefighting exposures with lung function using a novel job exposure matrix (JEM)
Discussion Smoke particle exposures were observed to have modest short-term and long-term associations with pulmonary function, particularly in those who, previously, had high levels of WTC exposure. Future work examining the association between P and pulmonary function among non-WTC exposed firefighters will be essential for disentangling the effects of ageing, routine firefighting and WTC exposures. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 2, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Goldfarb, D. G., Prezant, D. J., Zeig-Owens, R., Hall, C. B., Schwartz, T., Liu, Y., Kavouras, I. G. Tags: Workplace Source Type: research

Agricultural exposure and risk of ovarian cancer in the AGRIculture and CANcer (AGRICAN) cohort
Conclusion This study is the first to assess the association between specific agricultural exposures and ovarian cancer comprehensively. Some of the positive associations observed suggest that some pesticide exposure (especially during puberty) could play a role in the development of ovarian cancer. On the other hand, agricultural exposure during early life could have a protective effect, as observed for lung cancer among farmers. Finally, we did not confirm the previous putative effect of exposure to triazine herbicides. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 2, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Renier, M., Hippert, J., Louis-Bastien, W., Tual, S., Meryet-Figuiere, M., Vigneron, N., Marcotullio, E., Baldi, I., Lebailly, P., AGRICAN group, Dabakuyo-Yonli, Bara, Bouvier, Busquet, Coureau, Delanoe, Grosclaude, Vigneron, Herbrecht, Valera, Lapotre-Le Tags: Workplace Source Type: research

Epidemiology of work-related fall injuries resulting in hospitalisation: individual and work risk factors and severity
Conclusion Work-related falls were common and relatively severe. Same-level falls are relatively likely to occur in older women, the fastest-growing workplace demographic, and therefore the incidence is expected to increase. Comorbidities are an important fall risk factor. Employers could consider industry-relevant high and same-level fall prevention strategies for reducing the workplace injury burden. (Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - February 2, 2024 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Wah, W., Berecki-Gisolf, J., Walker-Bone, K. Tags: Press releases Workplace Source Type: research