Browsing: Journal articles - occupational medicine research | Page 13

A first-of-its-kind study has shown exposure to work-related violence or threats increases the odds of certified sickness absence due to mental disorders by 46 per cent, highlighting the importance of comprehensive risk assessments to identify and control potential hazards.

Older workers involved in a workplace "senior program" had a 60 per cent lower risk of early disability retirement, a study has shown. The authors say employers can avoid extensive sick leave by promoting strategies to maintain work ability and prevent musculoskeletal pain.

By implementing the most effective psychosocial, organisational and environmental interventions created during the COVID-19 pandemic, a study has highlighted that organisations can continue to support employee wellbeing and reap the benefits of lower absenteeism and improved productivity.

Through the development of an evidence-based screening tool, and an analysis of complaints made to a WHS regulator, researchers have found the risk of workplace bullying increases through ineffective people management by supervisors, across nine major risk areas.

A major health and safety organisation's evaluation of a mysterious illness cluster, among dozens of police officers who executed a search warrant, has identified issues around the use of personal protective equipment, and prompted disease-control recommendations that apply to all industries.

Regularly missing scheduled breaks and working in small wards have emerged as surprising predictors of stress and fatigue in healthcare workers, a study has found, with the authors suggesting more specific management training programs as interventions.

The arts sector is comprised of more workers than the law enforcement and firefighting sectors combined, but WHS in the arts is often overlooked due to work conditions being poorly understood, resulting in poor safety outcomes, an occupational medicine academic has warned.

The risk of lower back pain (LBP) associated with workaholism differs depending on the level of work engagement felt by the employee, a study has found. The authors say that by improving job resources to increase engagement, employers can avoid the high levels of absenteeism associated with LBP.

An Australian study has found a strong psychosocial safety climate (PSC) at an organisational level reduces digital job demands for remote workers and reduces their work-life conflict. It highlights key steps employers can take to increase PSC levels to improve both worker wellbeing and job performance.

Two-thirds of employees who work from home experience mild to severe neck, shoulder and lower back pain, while many self-report poorer performance at home than in the office, a study has found, identifying poor home-office ergonomics as the main contributing factor.