Occupational Health
U.S. State Preemption Laws and Working-Age Mortality
The goal of this study was to estimate how state preemption laws that prohibit local authority to raise the minimum wage or mandate paid sick leave have contributed to working-age mortality from suicide, homicide, drug overdose, alcohol poisoning, and transport accidents.Association Between Fatal Occupational Injuries and State Minimum-Wage Laws, 2003–2017
Low wages are associated with an increased risk of occupational injuries. Increasing the minimum wage is one way to increase workers’ wages; however, a previous study found that higher state minimum wage was associated with an increase in nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses. This study aims to examine the association between state minimum-wage laws and fatal occupational injuries.COVID-19 Vaccination: Concerning Trends in Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas
Widespread vaccination is the most promising way to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Unfortunately, U.S. vaccination rates have stagnated. The rates are particularly low among racial/ethnic minority groups1 and rural residents.2 Although much of the discussion about low vaccination centers on person-level factors, the role of healthcare system factors is not well understood. An important system factor is the availability of primary care physicians, who play an integral role in counseling patients regarding the risks and benefits of vaccination.Risk Assessment in Artisanal Fisheries in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review
Artisanal fisheries generally do not have injury prevention plans and safety or quality management systems on board, thus making them prone to more fatal and nonfatal injuries. The objective of the study is to systematically review and synthesize the literature to identify the risks of injuries (fatal and nonfatal) and health problems in artisanal fisheries in developing countries.COVID-19 Vaccination and Intent Among Healthcare Personnel, U.S.
Healthcare personnel are at increased risk for COVID-19 from workplace exposure. National estimates on COVID-19 vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel are limited.Workplace Violence, Workforce Stability, and Well-being in China's Psychiatric Hospitals
Workplace violence against psychiatric professionals is a growing problem, yet nationally representative data in China are lacking. This study examines workplace violence against psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses in China as well as its association with workforce stability and well-being .Examining Health Behaviors of Chronic Disease Caregivers in the U.S.
Many informal caregivers experience a significant caregiving burden, which may interfere with their health behaviors. Caregiver health behaviors may vary by disease context, but this has rarely been studied. This study compares the health behaviors of prevalent groups of chronic illness caregivers (i.e., dementia, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema, diabetes) with those of noncaregivers and examines whether caregiving intensity is associated with these behaviors.Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and U.S. Workers: Prevalence, Trends, and Attributable Cases Associated With Work
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Workplace exposures are important modifiable contributors to the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Among U.S. workers, 19% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases are attributable to workplace exposures. This study examines the trends in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence during 2012–2018 among workers and assesses the population attributable fraction for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with work by smoking status, industry, and occupation.Coronary Calcium Scanning and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Among Firefighters
Sudden cardiac death is the main cause of death among firefighters. The goal of this study is to identify firefighters at risk for cardiovascular disease using coronary artery calcium screening.COVID-19 Has Exposed Underlying Injustices and Continues to Threaten the Health and Safety of Workers in Our Communities
Evelyn, an immigrant Latina worker and mother, works at a processing plant in North Carolina owned by Case Farms & Company that sells a billion pounds of poultry each year to customers such as Boar's Head, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Taco Bell.Return on Investment of Workplace Wellness Programs for Chronic Disease Prevention: A Systematic Review
Individuals with noncommunicable diseases account for a disproportionate share of medical expenditures, absenteeism, and presenteeism. Therefore, employers are increasingly looking to worksite wellness programs as a cost-containment strategy. Previous reviews examining whether worksite wellness programs deliver a positive return on investment have shown mixed results, possibly because the more optimistic findings come from studies with poorer methodologic quality. The purpose of this systematic review is to critically revisit and update this literature to explore that hypothesis.The Impact of Connecticut's Paid Sick Leave Law on the Use of Preventive Services
Paid sick leave laws have received more attention in recent years as a way to improve public health. This study estimates the impact of paid sick leave laws on the use of preventive services using a quasi-experimental design created by the implementation of Connecticut's paid sick leave law in 2012, the first statewide mandate in the U.S.COVID-19 Cases Among Employees of U.S. Federal and State Prisons
Previous research has found COVID-19 cases to be disproportionately prevalent among U.S. prisoners. Similar to prisoners, prison staff experience ventilation and social distancing hazards and may have limited access to testing, paid sick leave, personal protective equipment, and other workplace protections. Yet, systematic case surveillance among prison staff remains unexplored. The objective of this study is to document the trends in COVID-19 cases among U.S. correctional staff relative to those among prisoners and the U.S.Occupations by Proximity and Indoor/Outdoor Work: Relevance to COVID-19 in All Workers and Black/Hispanic Workers
This paper describes the occupations in the U.S. that involve close contact with others and whether the work is outdoors or indoors (risk factors for COVID-19), including the distribution of Black and Hispanic workers over these occupations.Combined Associations of Work and Leisure Time Physical Activity on Incident Diabetes Risk
This study examines the separate and combined relationships between occupational physical activity (characterized by nonaerobic activities such as heavy lifting and prolonged standing) and leisure time physical activity on future diabetes incidence.Frequency, Associated Risk Factors, and Characteristics of COVID-19 Among Healthcare Personnel in a Spanish Health Department
This study examines the frequency, associated factors, and characteristics of healthcare personnel coronavirus disease 2019 cases in a healthcare department that comprises a tertiary hospital and its associated 12 primary healthcare centers.COVID-19 Mask Requirements as a Workers’ Rights Issue: Parallels to Smoking Bans
Considerable public debate has emerged regarding the importance of wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and thus whether they should be required in workplaces. Recognizing the precedents for constraining individual behavior within workplaces, this article draws parallels to smoking bans and argues that mask requirements should be considered fundamental occupational health protections. As with smoking in confined spaces dispersing environmental tobacco smoke, maskless patrons exacerbate the risks for workers through the diffusion of respiratory droplets.Inequity in California's Smokefree Workplace Laws: A Legal Epidemiologic Analysis of Loophole Closures
California's landmark 1994 Smokefree Workplace Act contained numerous exemptions, or loopholes, believed to contribute to inequities in smokefree air protections among low-income communities and communities of color (e.g., permitting smoking in warehouses, hotel common areas). Cities/counties were not prevented from adopting stronger laws. This study coded municipal laws and state law changes (in 2015–2016) for loophole closures and determined their effects in reducing inequities in smokefree workplace protections.Perceived Workplace Health and Safety Climates: Associations With Worker Outcomes and Productivity
This study investigates the associations between perceived workplace health and safety climates and a variety of worker and employer outcomes.Association of Worksite Food Purchases and Employees’ Overall Dietary Quality and Health
Most Americans spend half their waking hours at work and consume food acquired there. The hypothesis was that the healthfulness of worksite food purchases was associated with employees’ overall diet and health.Association of State Laws With Influenza Vaccination of Hospital Personnel
Healthcare personnel influenza vaccination can reduce influenza illness and patient mortality. State laws are one tool promoting healthcare personnel influenza vaccination.Health Insurance Coverage Among U.S. Workers: Differences by Work Arrangements in 2010 and 2015
For most Americans, health insurance is obtained through employers. Health insurance coverage can lead to better health outcomes, yet disparities in coverage exist among workers with different sociodemographic and job characteristics. This study compared uninsured rates among workers with different work arrangements.Workplace Smoke-Free Policies and Cessation Programs Among U.S. Working Adults
Workplace tobacco control interventions reduce smoking and secondhand smoke exposure among U.S. workers. Data on smoke-free workplace policy coverage and cessation programs by industry and occupation are limited. This study assessed smoke-free workplace policies and employer-offered cessation programs among U.S. workers, by industry and occupation.Indicated Prevention Interventions in the Workplace for Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent and cause substantive morbidities and loss of functioning among employees. Depression may be prevented at its early stages. However, there is a paucity of information regarding indicated preventive interventions for depression among employees. The objective of this review is to examine the effectiveness of indicated interventions for the reduction of depressive symptoms in the workplace.Child Influenza Vaccination and Adult Work Loss: Reduced Sick Leave Use Only in Adults With Paid Sick Leave
Children are a population of interest for influenza. They are at increased risk for severe influenza, comprise a substantial portion of influenza morbidity, and significantly contribute to its transmission in the household and subsequent parental work loss. The association between influenza vaccination and work loss prevention, however, has rarely been studied, and the sparse existing literature has very limited generalizability to U.S. adults, thus requiring better characterization.
