Exploring differences in the workplace violence experiences of young workers in middle and late adolescence in the United States

Problem: Young workers, typically characterized as 15–24 years of age, are commonly employed in jobs where the risk of workplace violence is high. It is unknown how these young workers, at varying stages of development, might understand and respond to workplace violence differently. We set out to explore whether the experiences and understandings of young workers varied between those in middle (ages 15–17) and late (ages 18–24) adolescence. Method: Separate focus groups were conducted with working students (n = 31), ages 15–17 and ages 18–24, who had either experienced or witnessed workplace violence. A focus group guide was used to facilitate the sessions which were recorded, transcribed, and content analyzed for themes. Results: Those in the older group experienced more severe episodes of sexual harassment and physical assault, reported using formal mechanisms for reporting, and noticed an employer focus on customer satisfaction over employee safety, while the younger participants tended to report to their parents. Both groups reported negative effects of experiencing workplace violence including depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, and spill over into personal life. Discussion: Findings suggest that young workers at different developmental stages may experience and respond to workplace violence differently. Further research is needed to see if these results are generalizable. Summary: It is imperative that we understand the distinct differences between these subsets of young workers and how they experience and respond to workplace violence in order to improve research, policy development, and prevention/intervention mechanisms. Practical Applications: Understanding that differences exist among young workers based on age due to developmental stage, lack of experience, education, and social awareness can enable employers, companies, policy makers, and researchers the opportunity to better address the issue of workplace violence in this population.     

The functions of social service workers at a time of war against a civilian population

This article identifies the nature of functions that social service workers employed by municipal organisations have to perform during a community disaster and subsequent reorganisation at a time of war. The article also explores to what extent the functions of workers change as a result of the transition from a peacetime routine to a war situation. Using focus groups the study assesses the knowledge of social service workers and ordinary citizens who had direct experience of the second Lebanese war in Israel (2006). Eight major functions needed at a time of disaster are distinguished among various employees. The article discusses the significance of these functions, and the need to make changes in the network of functions at a time of disaster.     

Political drivers of epidemic response: foreign healthcare workers and the 2014 Ebola outbreak

This study demonstrates that countries responded quite differently to calls for healthcare workers (HCWs) during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014. Using a new dataset on the scale and timing of national pledges and the deployment of HCWs to states experiencing outbreaks of the virus disease (principally, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone), it shows that few foreign nations deployed HCWs early, some made pledges but then fulfilled them slowly, and most sent no HCWs at all. To aid understanding of such national responses, the paper reviews five theoretical perspectives that offer potentially competing or complementary explanations of foreign government medical assistance for international public health emergencies. The study systematically validates that countries varied greatly in whether and when they addressed HCW deployment needs during the Ebola crisis of 2014, and offers suggestions for a theory‐driven inquiry to elucidate the logics of foreign interventions in critical infectious disease epidemics.     

城市室内灰尘重金属水平、影响因素及健康风险:以贵阳市为例

本研究以贵阳市为研究区域,选择73户家庭和6间办公室采集室内灰尘样品,用ICP-OES测定灰尘中常量元素Ca、Fe和重金属元素Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn含量,探究室内灰尘重金属水平及影响因素,并综合室内和室外灰尘暴露量,评估儿童所受灰尘重金属健康风险.结果表明:1家庭室内灰尘中Ca、Fe的平均含量(g·kg-1)为107、31.9;Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的平均含量(mg·kg-1)分别为1.77、107、231、81.9、199、721;2办公室灰尘中Cu和Zn含量显著高于家庭灰尘,其他元素与其在家庭灰尘中的含量差别不大;3不同楼层家庭灰尘中Ca、Fe含量差别不大,Cd、Cu和Pb含量差异明显,1楼室内灰尘重金属含量相对较高,同时高层住宅室内Pb含量大于低层住宅;4家庭住户室外环境和室内装修及使用情况等导致家庭室内灰尘重金属水平差异分布;5灰尘重金属对儿童的暴露没有表现出明显的健康风险.     

影响农民工职业安全健康需求的自身因素分析

农民工群体为国家经济发展做出了重要贡献,但其职业安全健康状况却令人担忧。通过文献整理发现,农民工自身职业安全需求低是造成这种现象的重要原因之一。从农民工自身角度来分析,来自以下四方面的原因共同制约着农民工对职业安全的需求：（1）农民工知识结构欠缺、工作年限普遍较短、缺乏对职业安全的认知意识,影响农民工对职业危害的认知;（2）来自家庭的增收压力和降低寻找工作的间接成本的要求造成了目前农民工经济压力大的状况;（3）自身技能水平较弱以及缺乏对就业信息的分析能力,削弱了他们的就业竞争力;（4）农民工群体之间缺乏沟通信任以及长期的低社会地位限制了他们的谈判能力。以上四方面原因相互作用,产生效力叠加,共同导致了目前农民工职业安全需求不足的状况。     

办公楼疏散演练综合评估方法研究

我国每年进行数以万计的办公楼疏散演练,迫切需要科学有效的评估方法,以评估应急演练所体现出的应急准备能力,提高管理方和员工的疏散安全意识和能力。从疏散人员行为表现、组织实施疏散的指挥体系、疏散程序及相关保障条件等多方面综合考虑,将应急疏散组织体制机制分析、参演人员疏散行为观测及对其主观感受调查、计算机模拟分析三者有机结合,提出了一种办公楼疏散演练综合评估方法。运用该方法对一栋高层办公楼的疏散演练的策划、组织实施、疏散人员行为和主观感受等进行了全过程跟踪评估,系统描述了该方法的使用过程。     

施工人员安全能力模型研究

在能力定义及能力模型文献综述的基础上,结合建筑业的实际,给出施工人员安全能力定义及其内涵,认为施工人员所表现出来的安全能力是安全能力任务与其内在特质相互匹配的结果;剖析安全能力与不安全行为及事故之间的关系,得出安全能力的匮乏必然导致施工人员作出不安全行为进而导致事故的发生。根据上述研究,结合建筑施工安全影响因素,提出并建立了施工人员安全能力模型。依据美国OSHA安全事故数据库中记录的一个高处坠落事故案例,应用该模型分析施工人员所表现出来的安全能力,从实践角度理解施工人员安全能力。此外,提出施工人员安全能力研究中一些有待思考和探索的问题。     

铁路糖尿病患病职工血糖控制现状分析

了解某地区铁路糖尿病患病职工血糖控制情况,为改进健康干预措施提供依据。选取新诊断糖尿病职工272人及已确诊糖尿病职工175人,分析其健康体检结果及影响因素。结果表明,目前该地区糖尿病患病职工HbA1c <7%占46.98%,原已确诊糖尿病职工糖化血红蛋白控制率29.14%,入院治疗原因中健康体检检出血糖增高和出现糖尿病症状占75.43%,药物治疗率65.71%,运动和饮食控制率均为21.71%;新诊断与原已确诊糖尿病职工在血脂异常、肥胖、腹型肥胖差异有统计学意义。该地区糖尿病患病职工规范治疗后血脂异常、肥胖等有所降低,但糖尿病患病职工新诊断病例高、血糖控制率低,原已确诊糖尿病患病职工自我健康管理能力不足;提出应充分发挥健康体检筛查作用、早诊断早防治早干预、劝导规范就医、加强精准健康干预等建议。     

石油钻井工人护耳器防护效果的评价

从实验室筛选出的７种护耳器，经９９名钻井工人现场使用作了主观评价。通过现场工人噪声防护效果的评价，推选出４种护耳器作为石油勘探工人首先使用的个人防护用品。     

“Hypersensitivity to Electricity” in the Office; Symptoms and Improvement

Nineteen persons “hypersensitive” to electricity and 20 nonafflicted persons were studied for 1 ½ years. The most discernible hypersensitivity symptoms were pricking sensations and redness in the face, but these symptoms were present in only half of the afflicted. Other symptoms were similar to symptoms experienced during office work and this study does not support the idea that electrosensitivity is one single syndrome. The “hypersensitive” persons improved significantly, mainly on neuropsychiatric symptoms, but the skin problems sustained— as did the belief about their cause. The afflicted persons used less conventional medication than the group of the nonafflicted, which suggests a general tendency for attribution to environmental factors.