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Sustainability in Work Environments: Occupational Health and Safety

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 7732

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ornwipa Thamsuwan

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Interests: agricultural health and safety; occupational health risk assessment; biomedical signal processing; ergonomics; wearable sensors; exoskeleton
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

On 10 June 2022, the International Labour Organization adopted a resolution on the inclusion of a safe and healthy working environment as the fifth category in their framework of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. This declaration is particularly relevant to the context of sustainability and sustainable development, as occupational health and safety (OHS) and sustainability are intertwined and inseparable. Not only is the prevention of work-related illnesses closely linked to the social pillar of sustainability, but the concept of human–environment interaction like One Health also contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability.

In this regard, this Special Issue aims to support quality research by collecting novel projects and case studies on OHS and its relationship with the sustainability of work environments. In the existing literature, OHS research is often presented with a goal of either improving productivity for employers or mitigating the risks of injury for workers (i.e., from economic and health standpoints, respectively). This Special Issue provides an opportunity for researchers to discuss the impact of OHS from different angles—that is, within the sustainability framework.

Dr. Ornwipa Thamsuwan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

ergonomics
human factors
workplace injury prevention
ethics
environmental health
one health
social equity
sustainable workplace

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Musculoskeletal Disorders in Primary School Teachers

by César O. Ramírez-García, Danny J. Lluguay-Quispillo, Jorge D. Inga-Lafebre, María F. Cuenca-Lozano, Rosa M. Ojeda-Zambrano and Carmen C. Cárdenas-Baque

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16222; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316222 - 23 Nov 2023

Viewed by 2057

Abstract

Teachers in schools often face working conditions imposed by educational institutions that can pose ergonomic risks and affect their health. This research aims to determine the presence of musculoskeletal disorders and the ergonomic risk factors associated with this population. We collected anthropometric data, assessed musculoskeletal symptoms using the Nordic Kuorinka questionnaire in 134 teachers, and analyzed their workplaces using the ERGO/IBV software. The results include an anthropometric description, highlighting that 94% of women and 87% of men are overweight or obese. It also shows the presence of musculoskeletal discomfort, with 69% and 49% of teachers reporting neck and back/lumbar pain, respectively. Among the main attributions to these discomforts, teachers mention that repetitive tasks, improper postures, and stress are the causes. Finally, the results of the ergonomic assessment are mentioned. Using the rapid entire body assessment method, a high and very high risk level was identified for each subtask, while in respect to repetitive tasks, the neck was identified as the most critical area due to the activities performed. In conclusion, we found an association between back/lumbar pain and body mass index, suggesting that overweight or obesity may increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, cervical pain is directly related to the repetitive tasks performed by teachers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Work Environments: Occupational Health and Safety)

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15 pages, 923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors among Employees in Public Utility Places of Zhejiang Province, China

by Lizhi Wu, Xueqing Li, Pengchen Tu, Xiaofeng Wang, Zhijian Chen and Mingluan Xing

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13573; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813573 - 11 Sep 2023

Viewed by 722

Abstract

Depression has been known to adversely influence the working performance of employees. However, compared with physical health, few studies have reported the prevalence of depressive symptoms among employees in workplaces. This study aimed to investigate the current situation and the relationships among the prevalence of depressive symptoms, physical health, social–psychological factors, working conditions, environmental perception, and workplace performance of employees in public utility places in Zhejiang Province, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the fourth quarter of 2019. A total of 1232 individuals responded to the survey. Six types of information—sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, psychosocial factors, four groups of physical symptoms, working performance, and depressive symptoms—were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed. The survey results showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among employees in public utility places in Zhejiang Province was 17.9%. Perceptions of a poor work environment, poor interpersonal relationships, an unfulfilling life, and frequent ocular and general uncomfortable symptoms were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms. Strong work ability, fulfilment in life, and taking the initiative to wear or use protective equipment at work were associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms. The results of this study will provide valuable guidance for the scientific intervention for depressive symptoms among public utility place employees in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Work Environments: Occupational Health and Safety)

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14 pages, 1616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occupational Accidents in Ecuador: An Approach from the Construction and Manufacturing Industries

by Mario Paguay, Juan Diego Febres and Eduardo Valarezo

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12661; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612661 - 21 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1187

Abstract

Ecuador is a country in South America, where, in 2021, there were 849,874 companies that had total sales of USD 105.23 billion, which had 2,698,650 workers. This study was carried out with the aim of analyzing occupational accidents by industry type in Ecuador, focusing mainly on the construction and manufacturing industries. The data were provided upon express request to the National Directorate of General Occupational Risk Insurance of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute. The data used in this study concerned accidents involving qualified workers affiliated with the Ecuadorian Social Security System. The data obtained were used to calculate the general accident rate, accident rate by sector, permanent disability rate, and mortality rate. Between 2016 and 2019, 6960 qualifying accidents occurred in Ecuador. Approximately 89.71 ± 0.36% of the accidents investigated involved men, and 50.28 ± 2.49% of these accidents caused permanent disability. The mortality rate was, on average, 10.60 ± 1.83%, 2018 being the year with the most deaths due to accidents at work. The Ecuadorian sector with the highest accident rate was the manufacturing industry with 26.15 ± 2.50%, followed by the construction industry with a rate of 17.47 ± 3.59%. The manufacturing industry had the highest rate, with a significant difference of accidents that resulted in permanent disability, with an average of 31.79 ± 2.85%, while the construction sector had the highest rate of fatal accidents, with an average of 25.82 ± 5.05%. This is the first study to report the number of qualified occupational accidents in Ecuador. With this study, a starting point is established for future analyses of the evolution of occupational accidents by type of industry in Ecuador. Future studies could determine the increase or decrease in the number of accidents, evaluate rates of permanent disability and death, and establish risk factors and preventive measures for each task or activity in all productive sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Work Environments: Occupational Health and Safety)

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18 pages, 324 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Organizational Efforts in Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Workplace Mistreatment on Attitudinal Responses

by Jongsoo Park

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1800; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031800 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1539

Abstract

Despite increasing attention to workplace mistreatment in organizations, few studies have investigated the consequences of such negative experiences on employees. Using the Canadian Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) data (about 80,000 observations), this study examines the relationships between workplace mistreatment and outcomes at work and the moderating role of organizational efforts in preventing and handling workplace mistreatment among Canadian federal government employees. Empirical results of an OLS regression and logit model document that perceived workplace mistreatment, in terms of workplace harassment and discrimination, is negatively related to job satisfaction and continuance organizational commitment and positively related to turnover intention. The analysis also shows that the linkages between workplace mistreatment and the three outcomes were weaker when organizational efforts aimed at dealing with workplace mistreatment were perceived to be high. Implications of these results for research and practice are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Work Environments: Occupational Health and Safety)

Other

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17 pages, 845 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

A Systematic Review Discussing the Sustainability of Men and Women’s Work in Industry 4.0: Are Technologies Gender-Neutral?

by Sarah Maggioli and Liliana Cunha

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5615; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075615 - 23 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1583

Abstract

The introduction of new technologies at work in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has led to the emergence of risks for health, even if they are still underexplored. However, their understanding does not usually adopt a gender perspective, even though the gendered division of work has differentiated health outcomes. As sustainability is at the top of the political agenda and in consideration of the gender segregation that exists at work, it is pertinent to question how I4.0 technologies are reconfiguring workplaces and impacting women and men’s health. Following a systematic review approach using the PRISMA protocol, this study explores how gender is integrated in I4.0-themed studies, exploring employment, work, and health. After the identification and screening phases were completed, a total of 16 papers were included. Literature exploring technological transformation from a gender point of view is scarce, as well as research developed in concrete work contexts. The literature in this domain tends to address employment prospects, and women are generally described as being more at risk for job loss through automation processes. Health risks in the literature found in this review were mostly neither considered nor differentiated for women and men. Future studies should consider the specificities of different work contexts through the development of case studies in different activity sectors so that the risks for women and men can become visible. This way, interventions at a work organization level are enabled to create more sustainable working conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Work Environments: Occupational Health and Safety)

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