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Abstract Due to the aging of the workforce, combined with increased life expectancy, and the changing nature of work, interest in retirement among researchers has increased dramatically. One area in particular that has attracted a large portion of this interest is retirement decision-making. The primary objective of this chapter is to review the extant literature on retirement decision-making, organized according to three major “decision points” in the retirement process. In addition to reviewing this literature, the chapter identifies a number of gaps in both research and theory underlying retirement decision-making research. The chapter concludes with a number of suggestions for applying what is known about retirement decision-making to influence retirement-related decisions, for the benefit of both individuals and organizations.
Ozone (O3) is a criteria pollutant that is anticipated to increase over the next decade because of climate-related activity. Varying amounts of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced as byproducts during O3 generation from oxygen depending on the method of production, including the source and oxygen purity. A review of the current literature confirms a lack of consistent monitoring and reporting of potential nitrogen species produced with different methods of experimental O3 generation. The lack of consistent monitoring and reporting is potentially a factor that can explain divergence of reported experimental O3 exposure outcomes from different research groups. In the present report, we compare the effects of O3 generation from either a filtered air (FA-ozone) or a pure oxygen (Oxy-ozone) source on NOx generation and measures of O3-induced lung injury. We also consider if this impacts mixed exposures with O3 and ultrafine carbon black (CB) based on if the O3 was generated from a filtered air (FA-ozone-CB) versus a pure oxygen (Oxy-ozone-CB) source. Comparing FA-ozone versus Oxy-ozone, we observed increased lung inflammation and injury in the FA-ozone group. In the FA-ozone-CB group, compared with the Oxy-ozone-CB group, the FA-ozone-CB inhalation exposure resulted in the formation of a greater amount of NOx and induced protein nitrotyrosine in the lungs. Moreover, the FA-ozone-CB group had evidence of eosinophil recruitment not observed in the Oxy-ozone-CB group. Overall, this suggests that the source of oxygen for O3 generation impacts experimental outcomes. Furthermore, measurement and reporting of nitrogen species in O3 exposure should be considered.
Accurate assessment of ground bearing capacity is essential for the safe installation of large construction equipment, such as mobile cranes and pile drivers. However, in practice, ground strength is often evaluated empirically through visual and walk-over inspections, in which individuals assess firmness by stepping on the ground. This subjective approach has led to accidents caused by undetected ground failures.While plate loading tests are widely accepted as a reliable method for evaluating ground bearing capacity, their application in the field is often limited by time and equipment constraints. To address this issue, a simplified testing apparatus was developed that utilizes the self-weight of construction machinery to perform rapid load tests. This method reduces testing time from approximately three hours to about ten minutes.Comparative field tests were conducted using both the conventional plate loading test and the proposed method. The results exhibited a strong correlation between the two approaches and demonstrated consistent reproducibility under identical ground conditions.
IntroductionThe increasing prevalence and multiorgan involvement of Long COVID among the general population has raised concerns about the possible long-term effect of this condition among industrial workers. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the prevalence and risk factors of adverse work outcomes among Malaysian manufacturing workers affected by Long COVID.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Long COVID Questionnaire, Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQoL) Scale, and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire, which were physically distributed to previously-COVID-19 infected participants via convenient sampling. Simple logistic regression and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the association between the various risk factors and adverse work outcomes.ResultsAmong the 797 participants, a quarter (24.7%) of the workers with Long COVID demonstrated poor WRQoL. A total of 12.8% and 42.4% of workers with Long COVID had issues of sickness absenteeism and sickness presenteeism, respectively. Only 6.3% of the Long COVID workers had safety issues at work. Socio-clinical factors [i.e., older age (aOR=1.02) and smoking (aOR=1.38)], Long COVID symptoms [i.e., increased number of Long COVID symptoms (aOR=1.15)], work factors [i.e., engaged in shift work (aOR=1.25), handling of chemicals hazardous to health (aOR=2.51), exposure to confined space entry (aOR=1.60), exposure to excessive noise (aOR=1.55), and manual handling (aOR=1.33)], organisational factors [i.e., absence of sickness absence policy (aOR=2.77)] were significant risk factors of adverse work outcomes among workers with Long COVID. Conversely, personal factors [i.e., informing employers about the Long COVID symptom (aOR=0.32)] had a protective effect on adverse work outcomes.ConclusionsThe impact of Long COVID on WRQoL, sickness absenteeism, sickness presenteeism, safety issues at work, as well as the multifactorial nature of adverse work outcomes highlights the need for targeted workplace interventions, supportive policies, early detection, and inclusive occupational health frameworks at the workplace.
