Occupational Health
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.Nativity and Occupational Determinants of Physical Activity Participation Among Latinos
Latinos in the U.S. bear a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular risk factors, including physical inactivity. Previous research among Latinos has focused on leisure-time physical activity, limiting understanding of the different ways in which populations, particularly working-class groups, achieve recommended levels of physical activity. This study examined associations of race/ethnicity; nativity; and leisure-time, transportation, and occupation-related physical activity among Latino and non-Latino white adults.Nonfatal Injuries to Firefighters Treated in U.S. Emergency Departments, 2003–2014
Several studies of nonfatal firefighter injuries have been conducted but are limited by the inclusion criteria used and coverage. The aim of this study was to enhance current knowledge by providing national estimates of nonfatal injuries to firefighters treated in U.S. emergency departments.Nonfatal Injuries to Law Enforcement Officers: A Rise in Assaults
Limited studies exist that describe nonfatal work-related injuries to law enforcement officers. The aim of this study is to provide national estimates and trends of nonfatal injuries to law enforcement officers from 2003 through 2014.Commuting and Sleep: Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sueño Ancillary Study
Commute time is associated with reduced sleep time, but previous studies have relied on self-reported sleep assessment. The present study investigated the relationships between commute time for employment and objective sleep patterns among non-shift working U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults.Tdap Vaccination Among Healthcare Personnel—21 States, 2013
Outbreaks of pertussis can occur in healthcare settings. Vaccinating healthcare personnel may be helpful in protecting healthcare personnel from pertussis and potentially limiting spread to others in healthcare settings.Access to Employee Wellness Programs and Use of Preventive Care Services Among U.S. Adults
There is little research at the national level on access to employee wellness programs and the use of preventive care services. This study examined the use of seven preventive care services among U.S working adults with access to employee wellness programs.Pneumococcal Vaccination Among Adults With Work-related Asthma
Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for all adults with asthma and a Healthy People 2020 goal aims to achieve 60% coverage among high-risk adults, including those with asthma. Adults with work-related asthma have more severe asthma symptoms than those with non−work-related asthma and are particularly vulnerable to pneumococcal pneumonia.Association of Paid Sick Leave Laws With Foodborne Illness Rates
Previous studies suggest an association between paid sick leave (PSL) and better population health, including fewer infectious and nosocomial gastrointestinal disease outbreaks. Yet few studies examine whether laws requiring employers to offer PSL demonstrate a similar association. This mixed-methods study examined whether laws requiring employers to provide PSL are associated with decreased foodborne illness rates, particularly laws that are more supportive of employees taking leave.Case-Finding for Persistent Airway Obstruction in Farmers: A Questionnaire With Optimal Diagnosis Criteria
Appropriate identification of subjects who are candidates for spirometry through case-finding questionnaires may help solve the problem of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease misdiagnosis. The performance of case-finding questionnaires depends at least partially on the characteristics of the population used for their development. The use of an accurate threshold for the forced expiratory volume in 1 second / forced vital capacity ratio to define persistent airway obstruction is also vital in ascertaining chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Tdap Vaccination Among Healthcare Personnel, Internet Panel Survey, 2012–2014
Healthcare personnel (HCP) are at risk for pertussis infection exposure or transmitting the disease to patients in their work settings. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination for HCP to minimize these risks. This study assessed Tdap vaccination coverage among U.S. HCP by sociodemographic and occupation-related characteristics.Job Characteristics Associated With Self-Rated Fair or Poor Health Among U.S. Workers
Approximately 60% of the U.S. adult population is employed. Many aspects of a person’s job may influence health, but it is unclear which job characteristics are most strongly associated with health at a population level. The purpose of this study was to identify important associations between job characteristics and workers’ self-rated health in a nationally representative survey of U.S. workers.Prevalence of Cardiovascular Health by Occupation: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Among U.S. Workers Aged ≥45 Years
Identification of groups with poor cardiovascular health (CVH) can inform where and how to target public health efforts. National prevalence estimates of CVH were derived for clinical (blood glucose, total cholesterol, blood pressure) and behavioral (BMI, diet quality, physical activity, smoking) factors among U.S. workers aged ≥45 years.Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel by Work Setting and Occupation—U.S., 2014
Routine influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP) can reduce influenza-related illness and its potentially serious consequences among HCP and their patients. Influenza vaccination has been routinely recommended for HCP since 1984.Violent Deaths Among Georgia Workers: An Examination of Suicides and Homicides by Occupation, 2006–2009
Workers in certain occupations may be at an increased risk of a violent-related death such as homicide or suicide. The purpose of this study is to describe rates of violent deaths among Georgia workers by occupation, including cases occurring at work and outside of the workplace, and identify leading circumstances surrounding suicides and homicides for the occupations most at risk.Occupational Homicides of Law Enforcement Officers, 2003–2013: Data From the National Violent Death Reporting System
Law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the U.S. are at an increased risk for homicide. The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of homicides of LEOs in 17 U.S. states participating in the National Violent Death Reporting System. This active surveillance system uses data from death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, and law enforcement reports.A Systematic Review of Interventions to Increase Stair Use
Stair climbing is an accessible activity that can be incorporated into one’s daily lifestyle to increase physical activity levels and provide health benefits. This review summarizes the effectiveness of stair interventions and explores key differences that may influence intervention effectiveness.Occupational Physical Activity and Weight-Related Outcomes in Immigrant Mothers
New immigrants are likely to be employed in occupations that provide physical activity; however, these positions may place workers at risk for adverse health outcomes. Relationships between occupational physical activity (OPA); weight-related behaviors; obesity; and depression remain underexplored among recent immigrants.Factors Associated With Participation in a University Worksite Wellness Program
Healthcare reform legislation encourages employers to implement worksite wellness activities as a way to reduce rising employer healthcare costs. Strategies for increasing program participation is of interest to employers, though few studies characterizing participation exist in the literature. The University of Michigan conducted a 5-year evaluation of its worksite wellness program, MHealthy, in 2014. MHealthy elements include Health Risk Assessment, biometric screening, a physical activity tracking program (ActiveU), wellness activities, and participation incentives.The Relationship Between Shift Work and Metabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
Although the metabolic health effects of shift work have been extensively studied, a systematic synthesis of the available research is lacking. This review aimed to systematically summarize the available evidence of longitudinal studies linking shift work with metabolic risk factors.BMI and Lower Extremity Injury in U.S. Army Soldiers, 2001–2011
Little data exist regarding the long-term impact of excess weight on lower extremity musculoskeletal injury/disorder (MID) in U.S. Army Soldiers. This prospective analysis examines the association between BMI of Soldiers at accession and risk of MID.Cross-sectional Examination of Long-term Access to Sit–Stand Desks in a Professional Office Setting
Prolonged sedentary behavior is an independent risk factor for many negative health outcomes. Although many employers have begun introducing sit–stand desks as means of reducing employee’s occupational sitting time, few studies have examined the impact of prolonged access to such desks on sitting/standing time or cardiometabolic outcomes. The present study compared occupational sedentary/physical activity behaviors and cardiometabolic biomarkers among employees with long-term access to traditional sitting and sit–stand desks.Association Between Sedentary Work and BMI in a U.S. National Longitudinal Survey
Technological advancements have made life and work more sedentary, and long hours of sitting are known to be associated with many health concerns. Several studies have reported an association between prolonged sitting time at work and weight gain, but the results are inconsistent. This study examined the relationship between sitting time at work and BMI using data from a large prospective cohort of U.S. men and women from 2002 to 2010. Initial analyses were performed in 2013, with additional analyses in 2014 and 2015.Total Worker Health Intervention Increases Activity of Sedentary Workers
Office employees are exposed to hazardous levels of sedentary work. Interventions that integrate health promotion and health protection elements are needed to advance the health of sedentary workers. This study tested an integrated intervention on occupational sedentary/physical activity behaviors, cardiometabolic disease biomarkers, musculoskeletal discomfort, and work productivity.All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality Among Koreans: Effects of Obesity and Metabolic Health
The effect of obesity on mortality in people with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors, but without pre-existing diabetes; hypertension; or cardiovascular disease (CVD), is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of obesity and MetS risk factors on CVD and all-cause mortality in an Asian cohort.Weight Advice Associated With Male Firefighter Weight Perception and Behavior
The high prevalence of overweight and obesity threatens the health and safety of the fire service. Healthcare professionals may play an important role in helping firefighters achieve a healthy weight by providing weight loss counseling to at-risk firefighters. This study characterizes the impact of healthcare professional weight loss advice on firefighter weight perceptions and weight loss behaviors among overweight and obese male firefighters.Suicide in U.S. Workplaces, 2003–2010: A Comparison With Non-Workplace Suicides
Suicide rates have risen considerably in recent years. National workplace suicide trends have not been well documented. The aim of this study is to describe suicides occurring in U.S. workplaces and compare them to suicides occurring outside of the workplace between 2003 and 2010.
