United States Air Force (USAF) trainee pilots must meet medical standards to maintain flying status. Fear of losing flying status may contribute to healthcare avoidance. This qualitative study examined factors influencing mental healthcare seeking and health information disclosure among USAF trainee pilots. Sixteen interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis, achieving acceptable data saturation. Most participants were male, aged 22-41 years. Four participants were enrolled in Pilot Instructor Training, while the remaining participants were early-career pilot trainees. The most frequently reported barriers to mental healthcare seeking and disclosure included loss of flying status, career impact, fear, and perceived symptom severity. Commonly reported facilitators included embedded care, leadership support, organizational culture, and awareness of available resources. These findings suggest that multiple interconnected factors influence mental healthcare seeking and health information disclosure among USAF trainee pilots, highlighting the importance of understanding perceived barriers and supportive factors within military aviation training.

This study aimed to discover the effect of occupational factors and personality traits on cognitive failure (CF) with accident-proneness (AP) as a mediator variable. This cross-sectional study was carried out among male laborers of Karun Agro Industry Incorporation in Khuzestan, Iran. One hundred sixty-four volunteer male laborers participated in this study. The participants completed five questionnaires: CF, AP, Eysenck personality inventory, job satisfaction scale, and NASA-TLX workload. Based on the findings, the type of shift work demonstrated the highest direct impact on AP, with a coefficient effect of .568. AP, in turn, influenced CF with a coefficient effect of .347. Furthermore, workload and type of shift work exhibited significant indirect effects on CF, with a negative coefficient effect of -.142 and a positive coefficient effect of .197, respectively. In conclusion, the study found that workloads and other relevant occupational factors have direct effects on CF and also exert indirect effects through AP.

Although acute traumatic injuries (ATIs) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were relatively common among those exposed to the September 11, 2001 (9/11), terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and in Shanksville, PA, relatively few persons have received treatment from the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program for these conditions. This paper is part of a clinical best practices series for the management of persons with WTC-related physical and mental health conditions, and it focuses on ATIs and MSDs. It provides prevalence estimates for the ATIs and MSDs experienced by members enrolled in the WTC Health Program and offers diagnostic and treatment best practices on those ATIs/MSDs that were most common.

This study assessed dust exposure, respiratory symptoms, and associated factors among 315 dry coffee processing workers in Agaro, Ethiopia. We measured particulate matter using dust detectors and assessed symptoms via modified ATS questionnaires. Geometric mean concentrations of PM2.5 (3.2 mg/m[3]) and PM10 (11.6 mg/m[3]) exceeded occupational safety limits. Current respiratory symptoms were reported by 38.5% of workers (95% CI: 33-44%), peaking in machine rooms (71.2%). Machine room workers were significantly more likely to experience symptoms than hand-pickers (AOR = 3.6). Working >8 hours daily, longer employment, inconsistent mask use, and lack of safety training were independent risk factors. Agaro coffee workers face excessive dust and a high respiratory symptom burden. Protecting worker health requires engineering dust controls, reduced shift lengths, consistent mask use, and safety training.

This cross-sectional study assessed biological hazard-related knowledge and practices among 470 barbers across four districts in Bangladesh. The median knowledge score was 5 (IQR: 4-7), and the median practice score was 7 (IQR: 5-11). Approximately 45% of barbers had heard about the hepatitis B virus and 39% about the hepatitis C virus. Quantile regression revealed that higher education, monthly income (>10,000 BDT), work experience (>5 years), daily working hours (>10 h), and receipt of barbering training were significant positive predictors of knowledge scores across various quantiles. Moreover, educational attainment, higher monthly income (>20,000 BDT), receipt of barbering training, and higher knowledge scores were significantly associated with better practices. The study reveals suboptimal knowledge and practices regarding biological hazards among the participating barbers. To address these risks, policymakers should implement targeted interventions and training programs on infection control, proper sterilization methods, and disease transmission prevention among barbers in Bangladesh.

This study explored the impact of exposure to nonstandard work on workers' depression and suicidal ideation. Using data from the 12th to 18th waves of the Korea Welfare Panel Study, longitudinal analyses were conducted employing cox regression and survival analysis techniques to examine the relationships between nonstandard employment, depression, and suicidal ideation. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that individuals with the longest duration of nonstandard work exhibited a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation. Cox regression analysis confirmed a significant association between nonstandard work and depression levels. However, in the recurrent events Cox model, nonstandard work was not a statistically significant predictor of suicidal ideation; only depression showed a significant effect. Nevertheless, the findings overall indicate heavy connections between these factors, for which relevant policy implications can be proposed.

Occupational noise exposure remains a critical but under-prioritized hazard in the global mining industry, contributing significantly to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Workers in drilling, blasting, crushing, and haulage operations routinely face sound levels exceeding 85 dB(A) thresholds, often without adequate protective measures. Despite technological advances, systematic gaps persist in occupational noise hazards (ONH) research and prevention strategies. This study of systematic literature review and metadata analysis consolidate five decades of global research on occupational noise hazards in mining to evaluate methodological approaches, identify underrepresented regions and worker groups, and assess thematic trends for future occupational health strategies. The initial search yielded 69 articles, of which 65 were included for the present study. The review confirmed that most mining activities expose workers to noise levels exceeding 85 dB(A), with NIHL highly prevalent among long-tenured employees. Shift toward data-driven, interdisciplinary frameworks is needed to transform hearing protection from a compliance obligation to a health-preserving imperative.

In September 2023, a series of heatstroke cases across diverse exposure settings was observed at the University Hospital of Guadeloupe, a tropical region where published data on heatstroke are limited. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features, environmental conditions, and outcomes of these cases. We conducted a retrospective single-center study including all adult patients admitted with heatstroke between September 1 and 30, 2023. Nine cases were identified over an 18-day period; all patients were male and local residents. Five (55.6%) had exertional heatstroke and four (44.4%) had classic heatstroke. Six patients (66.7%) developed multi-organ failure, of whom five died, with a median time to death of 2 days [1-3]. The median wet bulb globe temperature and heat index at the time of each case were 26.6°C [25.9-26.7] and 33.6°C [31.4-34.4], respectively.

Silicosis is the most common occupational lung disease and association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is common. Although extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases are rare, skeletal tuberculosis is responsible for 10-35% of these cases. Pott's disease is the most common form of skeletal tuberculosis, but it is not commonly encountered today. A 49-year-old male patient presented to our clinic with complaints of back pain, leg pain, and weight loss for 9 months. His occupational history revealed that he worked as a dental technician and a sandblasting for 30 years. In 2002, he was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis. Thoracovertebral Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed lytic lesions in the anterior middle columns of the T6-T9 vertebrae and an anterior narrow angle kyphosis (Gibbus deformity) at the level of T9 vertebra. The findings were primarily evaluated in favor of Pott's disease abscess. Posterior segmental instrumentation and osteotomy were performed. The patient was evaluated as extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and anti-tuberculosis treatment was started. We present a case of pneumoconiosis with extrapulmonary tuberculosis and Pott's disease.

This randomized controlled study examined the effects of posture and progressive relaxation exercises (PRE) on perceived stress levels among bus drivers in Turkey and Malta. The study included 430 bus drivers working in public transportation services between April and October 2023. The intervention group received posture and PRE training through face-to-face instruction, brochures, audio-supported materials, and an e-learning platform, and practiced the exercises three times weekly for one month, whereas the control group received no intervention. In Turkey, the intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in PSS-14 scores, with a very large effect size compared with the control group (Cohen's d = 1.51, p = 0.001). In Malta, perceived stress scores also decreased significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.001). The findings indicate that posture and relaxation exercises are effective in reducing stress levels in bus drivers.

Nitrate (NO3[-]) and fluoride (F[-]) are beneficial in trace amounts but pose health risks at high concentrations. This study evaluated their contamination and associated health risks in water from Niger Delta communities, focusing on infants, children, teenagers, and adults through oral ingestion and dermal exposure pathways. Analysis of 113 samples revealed fluoride concentrations (3.55-7.50 mg/L) consistently exceeded the WHO guidelines (1.5 mg/L) with dietary intake mostly exceeding tolerable upper intake levels across life stage groups with a few exceptions in Communities such as Evboehighae, Ikobi, Jadawa By EPZ, Obubra and Maternity. Nitrate levels (3.55-13.10 mg/L) were below the WHO guideline (50 mg/L), with a low Nitrate Pollution Index. Human Health Risk Assessment identified oral ingestion as the main exposure pathway. Fluoride posed a pervasive non-carcinogenic risk, with its Hazard Quotient (HQ) exceeding the safety threshold for all age groups in every community. Nitrate, while low, presented a critical carcinogenic threat. The Mean Cancer Risk (MCR) for nitrate surpassed acceptable limits by several orders of magnitude for all ages, with infants most vulnerable. These findings indicate a public health crisis involving widespread fluorosis and a latent carcinogenic risk from nitrate, necessitating immediate interventions like defluoridation, pollution control, and health education.

This study assessed posttraumatic growth (PTG) among nurses during a health crisis and identified whether resilience, perceived organizational support, and well-being resource use moderate the link between negative occupational experiences (NOE) and PTG. In fall 2020, 816 nurses from a US health system completed surveys on NOE, PTG, resilience, support, and resource use. Linear regression analyzed associations and moderation, adjusting for workload and demographics. NOE predicted PTG in adjusted models (β = 0.47, p = 0.0002), strengthening in the full model (β = 0.79 per NOE unit, 95% CI [0.50, 1.01], p < 0.0001). PTG increased with organizational support (p = 0.001) and resource use (p = 0.003). Resilience showed a mixed interaction with NOE (p = 0.047), but no direct association. Perceived organizational support and well-being resource use represent actionable targets for fostering PTG.e.

Introduction: Welders are at risk of elevated blood pressure, with hypertension (HTN) linked to occupational hazards and stress. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the associations among occupational factors, stress, and HTN in welders. Methods: 2,575 welders were recruited. Demographic, occupational data and occupational stress were collected. Regression analyses and path analysis were used to examine associations and mediating effects. Results: Monthly income was inversely linked to HTN (OR=0.80), whereas longer working service (OR=1.20), confined space work (OR=1.64), shift work (OR=1.31), higher occupational role stress (OR=1.39), and higher personal strain (OR=1.48) were associated with an increased risk of HTN. Occupational stress mediated 14.00% of the association between occupational characteristics and HTN. Conclusion: Adverse occupational conditions affect HTN directly and indirectly through occupational stress, which has direct and mediating effects on HTN in welders.

Flight attendants (FAs) must meet air carrier fitness-for-duty standards to perform their safety-critical roles. Those unable to work due to illness may face occupational and financial consequences that could contribute to healthcare avoidance. We conducted an anonymous, cross-sectional, internet-based survey of U.S. flight attendants. Respondents reporting at least one of four predefined healthcare avoidance behaviors were classified as engaging in healthcare avoidance. Findings were compared to a previously published sample of U.S. pilots (n = 3,765). A total of 6,318 aviation personnel were analyzed. Among 2,553 flight attendants, 66.24% reported healthcare avoidance compared to 56.12% of pilots (p < 0.01). After adjusting for age and sex, flight attendants demonstrated higher odds of healthcare avoidance compared to pilots (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.35-1.80; p < 0.01). Healthcare avoidance appears prevalent among U.S. flight attendants and warrants further investigation.

Increased iron indices among welders are underrecognized. This study investigated their frequency and associated factors in an observational cross-sectional study including 55 male welders. Increased iron indices were defined as serum ferritin >400 µg/L and/or TS ≥45%. Standard statistical and regression analyses were used. Increased iron indices were identified in 25.5% of welders. Compared to those with normal indices, affected welders had longer employment duration. Iron parameters were significantly higher in the increased group (serum iron 139.6 vs. 93.3 µg/dL, ferritin 498.9 vs. 142.3 µg/L, TS 47.7% vs. 28.9%; all p<0.001). Liver enzymes were also higher in this group. Pulmonary siderosis was more prevalent (64.3% vs. 31.7%; p=0.032) and associated with increased iron indices (OR 3.88 [1.08-13.89]; p=0.037). Use of respiratory protective equipment was associated with lower frequency. Increased iron indices are common in welders, particularly with longer exposure and pulmonary siderosis, suggesting a need for routine monitoring.