- Low-temperature health hazards among workers of cold storage facilities in Lahore, Pakistan
Cold storage facilities are the most common workplaces that produce artificially cold work environments and are associated with different adverse effects on human health, work productivity and the occurrence of accidents and injuries. The aim of this study was to measure the antagonistic health effects on workers, so that common factors causing abnormal symptoms could be determined, and to gather basic information to monitor the associated health risks from the exposure to cold work environments. The study disclosed various adverse cold-related complaints of the studied subjects who were exposed to extreme cold conditions during a maximum number of working hours. The most consistent problems were related to musculoskeletal discomfort, skin problems and respiratory abnormalities.
- Awareness among medical students regarding the binocularity level in the course of future specialty choice
Vision standards exist in many occupations with particular reference to medical science. The presence of a sufficient level of binocular vision is especially important in surgical specialty to perform visually demanding procedures. The purpose of this study was to reveal the level of awareness of one’s binocular status among medical students, and the significance of having binocular vision in terms of specialty choice. The medical students’ awareness of their own binocular status appears low. There is a strong need for implementing at least some quality standards for visual assessment to decide if a given student has an adequate eye function to participate in surgical procedures.
- Health promotion in medium and large workplaces in Poland in the face of the aging population. The specificity of companies with various employment sizes and economic condition
Demographic projections indicate the inevitable intensification of the aging process of the population. This raises serious challenges for employers due to shrinking and aging labor resources. One of the tools to counteract and limit the consequences of this demographic process is to promote health in the workplace, adapted to the needs and health expectations of employees of all ages. There is currently a lack of research in Poland that would show employers' responses to the demographic process in question. The attitude of entrepreneurs to health promotion as a way of dealing with its effects is also not studied. It is not known if they take into account the specific needs and health expectations of the younger and older part of the crew in health-promoting activities. There is also no information as to whether and how the approach to these issues varies depending on the size and economic situation of companies. The purpose of the article is to recognize these unknowns in the representation of medium and large workplaces. Employers should be made aware of the inevitability of the aging process and the possible consequences for the organization. There is a need to shape the skills of company management in the field of effective preventive and corrective actions (including pro-health ventures) and to support such implementations.
- Work-family and family-work conflicts and health conflicts: the protective role of commitment and job satisfaction
The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between work-family (KPR) and family-work (KRP) conflicts and health, including variables that can regulate (measure or moderate) these relationships: work engagement and job satisfaction (satisfaction from work, positive affect - AP and negative affect - AN at work). The results confirm that the relationships between KRP/KPR and health are complex and mediated by involvement in work and satisfaction with it. They also show that greater commitment promotes job satisfaction and indirectly strengthens health. In addition, its high level is a buffer for direct adverse effects of the NRP on health. Increasing involvement in work in the face of strong conflicts, especially the NRP, can be helpful in preventing their negative effects on health.
- Simulator disease and Simulator Sickness Questionnaire in Polish practice. Research on professional drivers subject to compulsory initial and periodic qualification courses
The phenomenon of simulator disease is measurable in terms of physiological symptoms. The article presents the practical use of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) in post-exposure studies along with the assessment of the tool itself by the respondents. The obtained results indicate the occurrence of simulator disease symptoms even in simulators faithfully reflecting the movement of the vehicle cabin. Assessments of the tool by the respondents and the level of involvement in working with the questionnaire indicate its positive reception.
- Assessment of the knowledge of hunters and foresters on the possibilities of preventing Borrelia burgdorferi infections
The study aimed to assess the awareness of hunters and foresters regarding the actions taken to prevent Borrelia burgdorferi infections. Educational activities are necessary among people undertaking hobby and professional activities in the forest areas of Poland and Ukraine. It seems reasonable to conduct research on preferences in the selection of repellents among groups at risk of tick bites.
- Phenomena of stress and burnout in palliative care
The study analyzed the phenomenon of occupational burnout, paying attention to the prospects of the patient, his family and the helper. Practical principles of effective care for dying people and their families were also indicated, so that the therapeutic team was free from the phenomenon of occupational burnout.
- Health effects of environmental and occupational exposure to aluminum
The work is a review of the literature discussing the health effects of environmental and occupational exposure to aluminum (Al) and its compounds. Exposure sources, absorption routes and metabolism are discussed in detail. The role of Al and its compounds in the etiology of some diseases related to both environmental exposure and exposure in the work environment was also presented. Al toxicity most often affects the nervous, skeletal, hematopoietic, urinary and respiratory systems. The increased effect of active oxygen species can stimulate the formation of amyloid deposits. The clinical picture of aluminum smelters was dominated by ataxia, memory impairment, abstract thinking impairment and depressive states. Aluminum compounds cause disorders not only of mental, but also motor skills.
- Rare respiratory diseases of professional etiology
The paper presents the specificity of rare respiratory diseases with unusual causes. Ardystil syndrome, characterized by the occurrence of organizing pneumonia, which appeared for the first time in the employees of a textile screen printing factory as a result of exposure to inhalation of substances used in the air painting industry, was discussed. The secondary form of alveolar proteinosis associated with exposure to chemical agents and organic dust, as well as the occurrence of agricultural workers in Portugal and the lungs of vineyard sprayers, has been described. The paper presents eosinophilic bronchitis showing high similarity to bronchial asthma. at the baker, nurse and employees exposed to acrylates, α-amylase and welding gases. The work on diacetyl exposure at factory workers producing popcorn may also pose a threat to the respiratory system. A new factor that can cause bronchial and lung diseases is fiberglass used by workers building small boats and ships. An increased risk of respiratory discomfort also occurs in those employed in textiles, professionally exposed to raw materials or cotton dust. Risk factors for these diseases are also agents designed to protect various surfaces against moisture. The rare occurrence of some occupational respiratory diseases means that a detailed epidemiological analysis and assessment of the relationship between the etiological factor and the development of the disease are impossible. In this review of the literature, it has been emphasized that the occurrence of a respiratory disease always requires special attention to occupational and environmental exposure.
- Protection of the health of the population against electromagnetic threats - challenges arising from the planned implementation of the 5G radio communication system in Poland
There is ongoing discussion of electromagnetic hazards in the context of the design of a new fifth generation wireless technology - the 5G standard. There are concerns about safety and health threats resulting from the impact of the electromagnetic field (PEM) emitted by the designed 5G radio broadcasting devices. In Poland, there are requirements limiting population exposure to PEM above 300 MHz to 7 V / m. They result from taking into account protective measures not only of direct thermal hazards, but also of various indirect and long-term hazards. Many countries have not set legal requirements in this frequency range or have introduced them on the basis of a recommendation for protection against direct thermal hazards only (Council Recommendation 1999/519 / EC), which corresponds to permissible frequency-dependent PEM levels of 20-60 V/m. This work was created as part of an interdisciplinary cooperation of engineers, biologists and doctors professionally associated with the protection of the biosphere against the negative effects of PEM for years. It presents the state of knowledge about the biological and health effects of PEM emitted by mobile telephony radio equipment (including the millimeter waves planned for use in the 5G network) and against this background, EU recommendations and applicable civil protection regulations in Poland were compared. The results of previous studies on the biological action of PEM radiated by mobile telephony broadcasting devices up to 6 GHz do not allow conclusive conclusions, although scientific evidence was considered sufficient to classify such PEM as a potentially carcinogenic environmental factor by the World Health Organization. Currently, there is also no adequate scientific data to assess the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic millimeter waves that are planned to be used in the designed 5G transmission devices. However, due to the fact that there are data indicating the existence of biophysical mechanisms of PEM impact that may lead to negative health effects, it seems necessary to apply the environmental precautionary principle and the ALARA principle when creating the radio requirements for the construction of the radio infrastructure of the planned 5G system.
Medycyna Pracy (Occupational Medicine) - full list