Occupational injuries are expanding worldwide and constitute a major safety issue. The mechanical and cut-resistant performance of 36 woven fabrics made from hard particle impregnated (HPI) hybrid yarns with stainless steel (SS) or glass filament cores and dual sheath layers of polyester and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene was examined. Mechanical testing revealed that non-HPI and HPI fabrics of 250 g/m2 areal density with SS cores exhibited the highest tensile strength (∼120-130 MPa) and maximum tear strength (∼650-850 N). Cut resistance was remarkably improved in 250 g/m2 areal density fabrics. HPI-treated SS-core fabrics withstood a maximum cutting load of ∼2930 gf, representing an 8-30% enhancement over non-HPI samples. Microscopic analysis confirmed the blunt of blades due to hard particles caused the superior cut resistance. Hard-particle impregnation reduces mechanical strength to an acceptable level but improves cut protection, making it a viable advanced occupational safety method.
Objectives. Drawing upon social exchange theory and the norm activation model, this study examines how green inclusive leadership influences employee green behavior, and proposes a theoretically ordered psychological mechanism through which this influence is explained via green psychological climate and green commitment. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 477 civil servants working in the public sector. The proposed relationships were tested using PROCESS macro-based mediation analysis. Results. Findings indicate that green inclusive leadership positively predicts employee green behavior. Moreover, green psychological climate and green commitment operate as serial mediators, indicating that leadership influences employee green behavior through a hierarchical framework involving shared environmental perceptions and internalized environmental commitment. Conclusions. By integrating social exchange theory and the norm activation model, this study advances a mechanism-based explanation of how sustainability-oriented leadership is associated with employee green behavior. The findings demonstrate that leadership is linked to employees' shared perceptions of an environmentally supportive climate, which co-occurs with higher green commitment and positive employee workplace behavior. The study contributes to the sustainability and organizational behavior literature by empirically demonstrating a theoretically ordered serial mediation mechanism linking leadership, climate perceptions and motivational commitment. The findings also provide practical insights for public-sector managers and policymakers.
This study analyzes China's national coal mine accident data (2000-2025) to evaluate safety performance. Using one-way analysis of variance and random forest regression model, the study quantitatively analyzes temporal trends, spatial clustering, accident causes and types. A time-series model was developed to predict the million-ton mortality rate, and the optimal ETS(M,Ad,N) realizes a dynamic 5-year mortality rate forecast. Results show fatal accidents peak in March, June-August and November-December. Geographically, central and southwestern regions are high-risk, with Shanxi Province alone accounting for 15.6% of accidents. Analysis of accident causes revealed that 47.2% were attributable to human factors. By type, mechanical accidents were most common, and fire accidents were the least. Based on historical statistical trends, the ETS(M,Ad,N) model projects that the mortality rate per million tons will continue to decline from 2026 to 2030. These quantitative findings provide a data-driven reference for prioritizing safety interventions and targeted risk management strategies.
Objectives. Employees' willingness and effort are critical to establishing and maintaining safety climate in healthcare institutions. The current study was conducted to understand nurses' safety motivation and their views on related factors in depth. Methods. This study, conducted using a descriptive phenomenological design, examined nurses' experiences and perceptions regarding safety behavior, factors affecting safety motivation and safety practices. Data were collected from 21 nurses working in public state and training and research hospitals. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the research data. Results. The results were grouped under the categories of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation for interpretation purposes, and two main themes and 11 sub-themes under these main themes were identified: the extrinsic motivation theme included the inadequate workforce, working hours, education and information, procedures and instructions, safety performance indicators, work environment, and the use of protective equipment sub-themes; and the intrinsic motivation theme included the teamwork, senior management's approach, experienced disorders and occupational accidents sub-themes. Conclusion. The study results indicate that nurses' safety motivation is related to workforce planning, education and management policies. However, healthcare managers should adopt approaches aiming to strengthen both intrinsic and extrinsic safety motivation of employees to ensure sustainable safety in healthcare services.
Manual weeding is a physically demanding task in nursery and landscaping work, often involving awkward postures that increase the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). This study examined the biomechanical demands of five common weeding postures: standing and bending; kneeling on one knee; kneeling on both knees; crouching; and sitting on a bucket. Twenty participants (55% male; aged 18-29 years, average age 21.5 ± 3.69 years) completed simulated weeding tasks while motion capture and surface electromyography (EMG) recorded joint motion and muscle activity. Standing and bending produced the greatest lumbar load, while crouching imposed the highest shoulder, arm and knee demands. Kneeling on both knees reduced lumbar flexion but increased lateral bending and spinal asymmetry. Sitting on a bucket showed the lowest spinal muscle activation with moderate joint loading. These findings support posture alternation and work-rest cycles to reduce ergonomic strain and inform future intervention strategies.
Objectives. Prolonged sitting is now recognized as a major health risk for office workers and is a common target for workplace health interventions that encourage movement. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify and describe sensors that can be used to design responsive interventions targeting prolonged sitting and to evaluate them objectively. Methods. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and IEEE databases were searched. A total of 8520 articles were identified and screened for inclusion. A large language model tool was used to extract predefined data fields that were confirmed by the authors. Results. A total of 282 sensors were used in the 197 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The majority of these were accelerometer-based wearables; activPAL (n = 118) and ActiGraph (n = 60). Custom-made prototypes (n = 25) and non-wearable devices (n = 14) that measure behavioural variables (e.g., sitting and standing time, stepping, activity intensity and ergonomics) were identified. Conclusions. These findings highlight the dependence of most studies on accelerometer-based wearable sensors with their well-known characteristics. The use of non-wearable and emerging prototype sensors remains limited but offers potential advantages to the future studies. Relevant sensor considerations include user experience, cost, scalability and privacy concerns to facilitate broader adoption.
Objectives. Pneumoconiosis is a concerning occupational health hazard in dentistry. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of pneumoconiosis and its association with age, gender, type of dental profession and duration of exposure among dental healthcare professionals (DHCPs). Methods. The study enrolled 138 DHCPs from an Indian tertiary care dental teaching institution who underwent structured face-to-face interviews, clinical examination, spirometry and chest radiography interpreted using International Labour Organization (ILO) classification. Potential pneumoconiosis was defined based on occupational exposure, clinico-spirometric examination and radiological findings consistent with pneumoconiosis (ILO category ≥ 1/0). The χ2 test was applied to examine association of demographic-occupational characteristics with clinical symptoms, spirometric findings, radiologic findings and pneumoconiosis occurrence. Results. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis was 3.6%, with 4.3% of subjects showing radiographic opacities. Spirometry results showed a restrictive pattern in 13.8% of participants. The frequency of potential pneumoconiosis based on clinical symptoms and radiological findings was significantly associated with age > 35 years (particularly among dental technicians) and duration of exposure > 20 years, respectively. Conclusions. Increased susceptibility of DHCPs, especially dental technicians, towards pneumoconiosis highlights the importance of adoption of stringent occupational health and safety precautions, and regular clinico-radiographic screening for timely detection of pneumoconiosis.
Objectives. Recent research on the influence of temporal factors on the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers remains limited. To investigate the impact mechanism of temporal leadership on the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers and effectively reduce the incidence of safety accidents, this study was conducted with a sample of more than 400 new-generation construction workers. Methods. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to empirically test the chain mechanism linking temporal leadership to the safety behavior of new-generation of construction workers, as well as the moderating effect of perceived work meaning. Results. This study found that temporal leadership exerts a direct and positive impact on the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers; that job stress and work-family balance play a mediating role in this relationship; and that perceived work meaning moderates the negative relationship between temporal leadership and job stress. Specifically, the stress-buffering effect of temporal leadership is more pronounced when workers perceive lower levels of work meaning. Conclusion. These findings provide theoretical and practical significance for understanding how temporal leadership influences the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers.
This study investigates how occupational health and safety (OHS) culture and fatalistic beliefs influence safety performance in the Turkish machinery manufacturing industry. Data were collected from 376 employees using validated scales and analyzed with structural equation modeling. The results showed that OHS safety culture positively affected safety performance, whereas awareness, training, and risk perception did not have significant individual effects. Risk perception increased fatalistic tendencies, whereas free will beliefs positively predicted safety performance. Fatalistic beliefs were not significant predictors, suggesting that formal safety regulations and mandatory procedures in the machinery sector may limit their behavioral effects. These findings underline the joint role of organizational culture and personal belief systems in shaping workplace safety. The study contributes to safety research in a high-risk sector and offers practical implications for managers and policymakers. Strengthening safety culture and supporting free will beliefs may help reduce workplace accidents.
This study focuses on optimizing and predicting the moisture management capacity of cut-protective fabric made from multicomponent hybrid yarn comprising a polyester inner sheath, high-performance polyethylene (HPPE) outer sheath and stainless steel (SS) core. Box-Behnken response surface design was employed to investigate the relationships between yarn parameters and moisture management capacity. Regression and analysis of variance revealed significant effects of SS fiber diameter, HPPE linear density and yarn twist level. The quadratic model showed best fit, with predicted and adjusted R2 values of 0.9313 and 0.8076, respectively. Optimal moisture management capacity was achieved with SS fiber diameter of 40-45 µm, HPPE linear density of 350-400 denier and yarn twist of 400-450 m-1, yielding a desirability score of 1.0. The model demonstrated good predictive accuracy, with a mean relative error of 1.48% and root mean square error of 0.0060, confirming close agreement between experimental and predicted values.
This study investigates physiological fatigue in construction workers during manual handling tasks using electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and the Borg CR10 scale. Twelve male workers performed repetitive lifting until exhaustion, with ECG data and subjective fatigue scores collected across low, moderate and severe fatigue levels. Results show that as fatigue increases, heart rate variability indicators (standard deviation of RR intervals [SDNN], root mean square of successive differences between adjacent RR intervals [RMSSD]) decrease, while low-frequency power (LF) and heart rate increase significantly. Statistical analysis identifies SDNN, RMSSD, LF and heart rate as four key biomarkers strongly discriminating fatigue levels. These findings reveal dynamic ECG patterns associated with fatigue and provide a theoretical foundation for establishing physiological thresholds and developing wearable monitoring systems for intelligent occupational health management in construction.
There has been a consistent increase in the global population of remote workers. Yet the linkage between occupational mental health and the most prevalent ergonomics-related stressor among remote workers, computer vision syndrome, has not received comprehensive research attention. Data were gathered from 254 participants. Data analysis was conducted using simple and hierarchical linear regression. Results revealed that computer vision syndrome has a significantly negative influence on occupational mental health (F(1,252) = 18.88, p < 0.001), even after controlling for age and gender (β = -0.27, t = -4.32, p < 0.001). It was also shown that high employee resilience has a direct, significant positive impact on occupational mental health (F(1,252) = 12.79, p < 0.001). Through interaction, a significant moderating effect of employee resilience in the relationship between computer vision syndrome and occupational mental health was observed (Model 1 [computer vision syndrome]: β = -0.26, t = -4.34, p < 0.001; Model 2 [computer vision syndrome × employee resilience]: β = 0.34, t = 3.45, p < 0.001).
TRIAL REGISTRATION:Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20240413050947N2..
Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nursing risk management target cards on patient safety in the intensive care unit (ICU), focusing on nurses' risk perceptions and safety behaviors. Methods. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design with a single-group pre-test/post-test (no control group) was used. A 3-month nursing risk management target card intervention was implemented to support proactive risk identification, warning and intervention. Quantitative data were collected using the adverse events risk perception scale among clinical nurses (AERPS) and nurse safety behavior questionnaire (NSBQ), both with established reliability. Differences were analyzed via the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Qualitative data from four focus group interviews (35 participants) were analyzed using content analysis. Results. A total of 115 ICU nurses participated. Significant improvements were observed in the total AERPS scores (Z = 3.551, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.189, 0.546]) and NSBQ scores (Z = 2.769, p = 0.006, 95% CI [0.1, 0.491]) post intervention. Three qualitative themes emerged: early identification, early warning and early intervention; development of a nursing risk mindset; and improved nursing risk management skills. Conclusion. Implementing nursing risk management target cards in the ICU significantly improves ICU nurses' risk perception and safe behaviors, potentially reducing the risk of adverse events and improving patient safety.
Objectives. This study examined fatal machinery crushing accidents in South Korea's manufacturing sector using official government investigation reports, identifying phase-specific vulnerability patterns and their policy implications. Methods. Analysis included 272 fatal accident reports (2016-2019) systematically coded through Reason's Swiss cheese model framework and interaction effect quantification using Cramér's V coefficients. Key variables comprise safeguard status, work phase, enterprise size, lock/tagout (LOTO) compliance and machinery type. Methods encompassed descriptive statistics, χ2 tests and Cramér's V analysis, exposure-adjusted risk ratios and Pareto intervention simulation. Results. Among 132 legally mandated safeguard cases, 87.1% showed non-compliance, with 59.8% occurring during maintenance phases (safeguard-maintenance interaction: V = 0.35, p < 0.001). Small enterprises (<50 employees) accounted for 65% of fatalities despite representing only 40% of manufacturing employment (risk ratio = 2.8, 95% confidence interval [2.1-3.7]). Pareto analysis identified 18 priority machinery types responsible for 82% of fatalities. Conclusion. Maintenance-phase systemic failures predominate through safeguard-procedure misalignment. Targeted interventions - mandatory LOTO audits, small and medium-sized enterprise support programs, priority machinery decommissioning - offer substantial fatality prevention. Findings inform Korean industrial safety policy while contributing phase-specific evidence to global machinery accident prevention.
Objectives. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major occupational health concern and may affect airport employees due to diverse physical, ergonomic and psychosocial work demands. This systematic review synthesized evidence on WMSD prevalence, associated risk factors, interventions and regulatory gaps across airport occupational groups. Methods. The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and was prospectively registered in the Open Science Framework. Searches of Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science (WoS) identified 3616 records published between 2000 and 2025; 39 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results. Baggage handlers were the most frequently studied group, while many airport occupations remain under-researched. The lower back, shoulders and neck were the most commonly affected body regions, with prevalence varying across occupational groups and tasks. Physical and ergonomic exposures were the most consistently reported risk factors, while psychosocial, organizational and individual factors were also associated with WMSDs. Reported interventions were limited and focused mainly on ergonomic adjustments, training and organizational strategies, with little evidence of effectiveness. Conclusions. WMSDs are a significant occupational health concern in airport environments, highlighting the need for stronger preventive strategies and more tailored regulatory and policy frameworks.
Objectives. Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for worker safety, but many employees fail to use it correctly due to limited knowledge, negative attitudes and low perceived control. This study assessed the effectiveness of a health belief model (HBM)-based educational intervention on PPE use among factory workers in Yasuj. Methods. This quasi-experimental study (2022-2023) randomly assigned 109 workers were to experimental (n = 56) and control (n = 53) groups. The intervention included six 60-min in-person sessions delivered by a researcher and an occupational health expert. Data were collected via an HBM-based questionnaire before and 2 months after the intervention. Statistical analyses included paired t tests, independent t tests and χ2 tests using SPSS version 27. Results. Pre-intervention assessments showed no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Post intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in all HBM constructs - knowledge, attitudes, perceived susceptibility and severity, perceived benefits and barriers, self-efficacy, guidance for action - as well as PPE-related behavior (p = 0.001). Conclusion. HBM-based educational interventions effectively enhance PPE usage by improving knowledge, shaping positive attitudes and addressing perceived barriers and benefits. These findings support structured educational programs as a key strategy for promoting workplace health and safety.
Objectives. Cleaning staff face occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs). Health perception may influence protective behaviors. This study investigated the relationship between health perception and protective behaviors against BBF exposure among cleaning staff at a university hospital. Methods. This cross-sectional study (June-August 2023) included 224 of 251 cleaning staff (89.2%). Data were collected via face-to-face questionnaire, including the health perception scale (HPS), the personal protective equipment (PPE) usage index, post-exposure hand-washing compliance and the infection prevention training index. Group comparisons used χ2, t, analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests; multivariate binary logistic regression identified predictors of BBF exposure. Results. Each 1-point increase in HPS score was associated with a 3% reduction in exposure odds (p = 0.013). Each additional point in the PPE usage index corresponded to a 22% decrease (p < 0.001). Always washing hands after exposure reduced odds by 56% (p = 0.003), and comprehensive training (index = 2) by 38% (p = 0.003). Gender and years of experience were not significant predictors. Conclusions. Health perception, PPE use, hand hygiene and training are significant independent predictors of reduced BBF exposure. Hospitals should integrate health perception building with comprehensive training, implement tiered PPE certification and conduct regular hand hygiene audits.
Women professionals in construction face hazards that extend beyond physical safety risks. However, existing occupational health research remains largely gender-neutral and concentrated in developed contexts, leaving the multidimensional hazard structure under-examined. This study addresses this gap by empirically identifying latent hazard dimensions for women in the Nepalese construction industry. Using a mixed-methods approach, (systematic literature review, expert validation and quantitative survey of 153 respondents), exploratory factor analysis revealed a six-factor hazard structure: gendered workplace culture and discrimination; health and safety challenges; job demands and lack of flexibility; harassment and physical risks; socio-cultural and career barriers; pay and job insecurity. The factors demonstrate strong reliability and validity. Demographic analyses show hazard exposure is socially patterned, with married women, mothers, mid-career professionals, and those in contracting roles reporting higher exposure across specific dimensions. The findings provide a validated hazard structure to inform gender-responsive risk assessment and policy reform in developing construction contexts.
Objectives. During high-speed train operations, task interruptions often occur due to technical failures or emergencies. These interruptions force the driver's attention to shift and become dispersed, which in turn leads to a decline in driving performance. Methods. In this study, a high-speed train driving task of different complexity was designed within a simulation experiment environment. By simulating interruption events, the mechanisms of task interruptions affect performance were analyzed. The experimental results show that task interruption significantly reduces driving performance, especially in high-complexity driving tasks. Furthermore, by monitoring the physiological indicators of the drivers, we found that irrelevant information during task interruptions caused significant interference with driver attention, accompanied by an increase in cognitive load. Conclusions. The findings support the memory for goals model of interruption and reveal the mechanisms by which task interruptions affect cognitive resources and working memory, which provides a scientific basis for designing effective interruption management strategies in high-speed train operations.
