Introduction: The excessive workload experienced by those dedicated to the care of people with functional dependencies generates various physical and social health problems. This study aims to characterize the living conditions and health of informal caregivers of people with functional dependencies in a city in the Colombian Caribbean. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and observational study was conducted with a sample of 58 caregivers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and health data, in addition to the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (Cronbach’s alpha between 0.77 and 0.80). Statistical analysis in SPSS included the Chi-square (χ²) test to evaluate associations and the Odds Ratio (OR) to quantify the strength of the relationship between dichotomous variables. Results: The caregivers are predominantly women (95%) with a work schedule of approximately 12 hours per day, 7 days per week (93%). The most common disabilities are autism (60%) and cerebral palsy (21%). Sixty-two percent of caregivers experience some degree of burden. Caregivers of people with cerebral palsy are 8.2 times more likely to use assistive devices than other groups (OR=8.2, χ²: p=0.001); caregivers with more than 10 years of experience report 4.3 times more financial difficulties than those with fewer years of experience (χ²: p=0.003). Conclusions: Informal care work in the Colombian Caribbean is markedly feminized, precarious, and structurally isolated. Prolonged caregiving experience and the intensity of daily hours are factors that increase burden, affecting the economic stability and physical health of caregivers.
Objective: To define intervention strategies at the source, in the environment, and workers to prevent heatstroke among workers at a civil engineering SME, based on risk factors and strategic planning. Method: A questionnaire was administered to four operational workers, inquiring about sociodemographic variables, working conditions, medical history, personal habits, and knowledge of the subject to define control measures. Strategic planning tools were used to review the organization’s capabilities. Results: The findings revealed high sun exposure, insufficient preventive breaks, and a lack of adequate infrastructure for rest and hydration. Individual factors that increase vulnerability were identified, such as advanced age, high blood pressure, and caffeine intake. Despite having received prior training, all workers reported symptoms consistent with heatstroke. Deficiencies were evident in the provision of specialized PPE and occupational medical monitoring. Conclusions: The study enabled the design of differentiated intervention strategies targeting the source, the environment, and the worker, aimed at reducing thermal risk. The implementation of a comprehensive plan is recommended, including reorganization of schedules, infrastructure improvements, acquisition of specialized PPE, environmental monitoring, strengthening of educational campaigns, and active medical surveillance. The feasibility of the actions must be assessed in light of the capabilities of the companies.
Introduction: Global growth in the dietary supplements sector has driven the industrial production of creatine powder. However, its synthesis and subsequent crystallization using organic solvents, such as ethanol, generate chemical risks that must be coordinated with occupational risk prevention to avoid irreversible consequences for workers’ health. Method: The hygienic risk from ethanol vapors was quantitatively evaluated in a 2,000 L industrial crystallizer (with 400 L allocated to the gas phase) inside a 500 m3 room. Using ChemCad software and Raoult’s Law modified with the NRTL model (mean activity coefficient of 1.2), the liquid-vapor equilibrium of the water/ethanol binary system (90-95% molar fraction) was calculated across 9 thermal stages (20 °C to 60 °C). The values were compared against the Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL/VLA-EC) of 1,000 mg/L. Results: The heating and maintenance phases at 60 °C recorded the highest vapor generation in the chamber, reaching theoretical concentrations of 1,283.3 mg/L and 1,325.2 mg/L respectively, which represents an unacceptable risk of 128% and 133% relative to the limit value. In contrast, during opening and discharge (20-25 °C), the hygienic risk in the room dropped drastically to an acceptable 0.01%. Conclusions: It is concluded that opening or stopping the crystallizer at high temperatures (60 °C) poses an imminent and intolerable hygienic risk, whereas operating the equipment during the cooling and final maturation phases ensures a safe working environment.
Occupational health nursing began to play a prominent role in companies in the late 1940s with the introduction of a wide range of regulations applicable to the workplace. The year 1959 marked a milestone for the speciality with the publication of the Regulations on Company Medical Services, which recognised the status of occupational health nursing for those holding a qualification issued by the National School of Occupational Medicine. In this evolution and historical journey of the speciality, the contribution of Eliseo Cobo de Blas is emblematic of the progress, recognition and future vision of this socially oriented discipline. His various roles as a nurse, writer, columnist, lecturer, teacher, cultural manager and founder of professional forums convey a commitment and a legacy that invite us to explore his life and work in greater depth.
Background: Occupational sedentary behavior is common among healthcare workers and is associated with functional decline and poorer health perception. Workplace active breaks may represent a feasible strategy to promote physical activity during working hours. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and describe the changes in functional capacity and health-related quality of life associated with the implementation of a structured workplace active break program in healthcare workers. Methods: A pilot quasi-experimental pre–post study was conducted among healthcare workers participating in an eight-week workplace active break program implemented during working hours. Functional capacity was assessed using the 30-second chair stand test, and health-related quality of life was evaluated using the SF-12 questionnaire. Pre–post changes were analyzed using paired statistical tests. 95% confidence intervals and effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated. Results: Thirty participants were included, and 27 completed the final evaluation (85.2% women; mean age 42.8 ± 7.5 years). After the intervention, an increase was observed in the 30-second chair stand test (18.6 ± 5.4 vs. 23.4 ± 6.1 repetitions; mean change +4.7; 95%CI: 2.93 to 6.56; Cohen’s d = 1.03; p < 0.001). Improvements were also observed in the physical and mental components of the SF-12. No significant changes were found in metabolic parameters. Conclusions: In this pilot study, a workplace active break program implemented in a real hospital setting was associated with improvements in functional capacity and health-related quality of life. These findings suggest that this type of intervention is feasible and justify larger controlled studies.
