Objective: To assess colorectal cancer screening (CRC) practices in Department of Energy (DOE) workers enrolled in an occupational medical screening program. Methods: A telephone survey adapted from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2020 questionnaire, addressing CRC screening history and CRC high risk conditions, was administered to participants aged 45–85 years, over 4 months in 2023. CRC screening adherence was reported as frequencies and percentages, and predictors of adherence as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Overall, 823 (81%) of 1015 respondents reported a CRC screening history adherent to United States Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines. Age [45–59 years: AOR: 0.3 (0.2, 0.6), 60–69 years: AOR: 0.8 (0.5, 1.3), >75 years: AOR: 0.5 (0.3, 0.9) vs. 70–75 years], being high-risk for CRC [AOR: 2.6 (1.4, 5.0)], and geographic region of residence [South AOR: 2.0 (1.3, 2.9), Midwest AOR: 1.3 (0.8, 2.2), and East AOR: 3.3 (0.4, 26.4) vs. West] were associated with adherence to USPSTF CRC screening guidelines. Conclusion: Lower adherence to CRC screening recommendations among younger workers who are experiencing an increasing incidence in CRC offers occupational medicine programs an excellent opportunity to encourage CRC screening adherence among younger workers and thereby decrease the morbidity associated with colorectal cancer.
Occupational skin diseases (OSDs) represent one of the most prevalent categories of work-related illness, affecting workers across a broad spectrum of industries globally. Despite their high incidence, OSD remains frequently underdiagnosed and inadequately managed. This narrative review synthesises current knowledge on the anatomy and physiology of skin as the body’s primary biological barrier, the spectrum of occupational exposures responsible for skin pathology, and the clinical entities that arise from such exposures. The paper examines high-risk occupational groups, describes common diagnostic approaches, and outlines evidence-based management strategies. Emerging issues including the rising burden of acrylate sensitisation in the beauty industry, nanoparticle exposures, and pandemic-driven overuse of disinfectants are also discussed. The review concludes by outlining preventive strategies in line with the hierarchy of controls.
The event is organized by the Scientific Committee on Occupational Medicine (SCOM) of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and the National Secretariat of Perú. The objective of this event is to promote the update on emerging occupational diseases, their impact on the population and prevention strategies, adopting a comprehensive approach that addresses medical, management and legal perspectives. The event is aimed at occupational physicians and occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals from Peru, neighboring countries and other regions of the world. The main thematic axes were Diagnosis and management of occupational diseases, risk exposure, cancer and work, emerging diseases at work, disability, Occupational health for informal sector and small-scale enterprises, ergonomics, toxicology, legislation in OSH, and others. The presentations were delivered by international and national experts. Each presentation included an overview, statistics from different regions, good practices in OSH in different sectors, cases management and proposals for improving prevention measures and medical surveillance with a global vision. As result, the future and opportunities for Occupational Medicine and Occupational Health professionals was positioned in Latin-America, being Peru the venue for the global networking and potential collaboration to promote research in OSH and improving medical surveillance for workers, including informal sector which is so relevant in Latin-America.
Long working hours may be associated with adverse health outcomes among ride-hailing drivers. The study aims to examine the associations between long working hours, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and occupational stress. Additionally, it explores the association between long working hours and the co-occurrence of WMSDs and occupational stress. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 668 ride-hailing drivers in Beijing, China, from August to October 2024. WMSDs were assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Occupational stress was assessed using the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). In this study, co-occurrence was defined as the joint classification of WMSDs and occupational stress in the same individual. Participants were categorized into groups of <55 and ≥55 working hours per week. Binary and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between weekly working hours and health outcomes. Overall, 77.8% of participants worked ≥55 h per week. The prevalence of WMSDs and occupational stress was 53.0% and 56.4%, respectively. Weekly working hours ≥55 h were significantly associated with higher odds of occupational stress after full adjustment (aOR = 3.99, 95% CI: 2.59–6.13), but were not significantly associated with WMSDs (aOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.74–1.70). Occupational stress was associated with higher odds of WMSDs (aOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.11–2.18). Compared with drivers working <55 h per week, those working ≥55 h per week had higher odds of having one condition (aOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.21–3.14) and co-occurrence of occupational stress and WMSDs (aOR = 4.64, 95% CI: 2.57–8.36). The prevalence of co-occurrence was 37.9% in the ≥55 h group and 16.2% in the <55 h group. Long working hours were associated with occupational stress and with the co-occurrence of occupational stress and WMSDs among ride-hailing drivers. However, no independent association was observed between long working hours and WMSDs. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive occupational health interventions targeting ride-hailing drivers.
