Work is a major social determinant of health. We conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the association between coronary heart disease (CHD), its risk factors, and the working environment among Japanese male workers. We collected data from 10,572 workers (mean age 49.9 yr) who underwent annual medical check-ups in Toyama, Japan, in 2016. This study included data from health check-ups and questionnaires on medical history of CHD, hypertension, and diabetes, and the use of medication. The working environment included company size and industry categories. Company size was classified into 4 categories according to the number of full-time workers (1–20, 21–100, 101–300, 301–). The industry category was classified into 10 categories. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association. In total, 1.5% of patients had a history of CHD and 31.5% and 11.0% of participants were suffering from hypertension and diabetes, respectively. Compared to workers in a large company, those in a smaller company were more likely to have CHD. Moreover, there was a significant association between CHD’s risk factors and working in the transportation industry. Health providers, including medical doctors, should consider employee working environment as a potential risk factor for CHD.

A schoolteacher’s job is considered one of the most stressful occupations globally. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has posed further challenges for schoolteachers. This study aimed to examine the effects of the pandemic on primary school teachers’ stress responses in Japan. We analyzed the data from a nationwide survey of public-school teachers conducted between June 2019 and December 2021. The total numbers of participants were 65,968 in 2019, 72,248 in 2020, and 75,435 in 2021. Working hours and perceived main stressors as well as stress response scores were assessed. Contrary to expectations, the results showed that the stress response scores among primary school teachers did not increase in the first year of the pandemic. Rather, the stress response scores and the proportion of high-stress teachers significantly decreased from the pre-pandemic year (2019) to the first year of the pandemic (2020). However, the stress response scores showed a rising trend in the second year of the pandemic (2021). Participants’ working hours decreased from 2019 to 2021. The findings in relation to teachers’ main stressors matched these trends. Continuous monitoring of teachers’ stress levels is required both during and after the pandemic.

Much research has identified safety motivation as an essential individual-level antecedent of safety performance. Recently, scholars have shown interest in workplace support as an essential factor of safety motivation. While support from different sources is theoretically distinct, each is argued to be not just an antecedent, but also an outcome of the other. A similar reciprocal relationship is also expected between support and safety motivation. Our research utilised the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) and Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1988) to examine the role of each source of support on safety motivation; and investigate their reciprocal relationships. We used structural equation modelling to analyse three-wave longitudinal data (three months apart) from 314 firefighters throughout Malaysia. The result confirmed direct relationships and interestingly, denied that reciprocal relationships exist between organisational support, social support, and safety motivation over time. Our study recommends that the fire department should encourage support from all sources, primarily from senior management since it is the catalyst that activates support from other sources.

This study was conducted to quantitatively examine the effects of respiratory protective equipment (respirators) and various other types of protectors in preventing the scattering of vocalization droplets. Each of 12 adult male volunteers was asked to vocalize intermittently for 1 min at a target intensity of approximately 100 dBA in an experimental room adjusted to a humidity of approximately 60–70%. The subjects vocalized while wearing respirators, other types of protectors, or no protectors at all. The droplet concentration in a particle size range of 0.3 to 10 μm was measured under each experimental condition, and the transmitted particle concentration and penetration were calculated. The concentration and penetration of particles transmitted from the respirators were lower than those transmitted from the other protectors examined. The probability of infection reduction through the use of the protectors was estimated from the data obtained on the effectiveness of the protectors in preventing the scattering of droplets. We concluded that there is no need for additional droplet scattering prevention in various work settings when appropriate respirators are used under optimal conditions.

Health checkups are considered to promote occupational and public health. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which participation in social activities encourages middle-aged people to participate in health checkups and adhere to doctor-visit recommendations. We analyzed 337,024 longitudinal observational studies involving 33,420 individuals aged 50–59 yr in the baseline year (2005) derived from a nationwide, population-based, 14-wave survey. We estimated fixed-effects logistic models to elucidate how people’s participation in health checkups and recommended doctor visits are affected by participation in social activities. Attending health checkups was positively associated with participation in social activities, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–1.22) and a marginal effect of 3.3% (95% CI: 2.7%–3.9%). Adherence to doctor-visit recommendations was also positively associated with participation in social activities, with an OR of 1.15 (95% CI: 1.08–1.23) and a marginal effect of 3.3% (95% CI: 1.8%–4.8%), although the association was observed only among regular employees. These results provide new insights into the effectiveness of health checkups.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmogenic disorder predisposing patients to a high risk of sudden cardiac death. Specific guidelines on the health surveillance of BrS workers are lacking. We report here three cases requiring assessment of specific job capacity, investigated with an interdisciplinary protocol including 24-h Holter electrocardiography with modified precordial leads, pharmacological test with ajmaline, molecular genetic analysis, electrophysiological study with ventricular stimulation, risk stratification, and occupational medicine evaluation: (1) a female 42-yr-old company manager with positive ajmaline test and CACNA1C gene mutation (judged fit for the job with limitations regarding work-related stress); (2) a male 44-yr-old welder with positive ajmaline test, SCN5A gene mutation, and associated OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome), who was advised to refrain from night shifts and driving company vehicles; (3) a male 45-yr-old electrical technician with inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmia, who was implanted with a biventricular cardioverter defibrillator, and therefore recommended to avoid exposure to electromagnetic fields and working at heights. We conclude that the collaboration between the cardiologist and the occupational physician allows defining the functional capabilities and the arrhythmogenic risk of BrS workers, to optimize job fitness assessment.

In Japan, the “Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts to Promote Work Style Reform” was enforced in 2019 to reduce long working hours. However, work style reforms largely depend on workers’ and companies’ awareness and abilities. This study aimed to develop the Work Style Reform scale to assess the competencies required for work style reform and to examine its validity and reliability. This study was conducted with a diverse sample of 1,641 Japanese workers, and 17 questions across three subscales—Work Style, Personal Style, and Work Environment—were developed. After a response bias analysis, some items were discarded based on an exploratory factor analysis; the reliability coefficients were calculated; and a confirmatory factor analysis was performed. The convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated through a multi-trait multi-method analysis. Finally, nine questions remained. Construct validity, reliability and convergent validity were sufficient for all Subscales, and discriminant validity was sufficient only for Work Style. In conclusion, while Work Style was sufficient, issues remained in other subscales. To improve the accuracy of them in the future, it is necessary to examine the validation of discriminant validity using different indicates and the addition of new items to the smallest subscale; Personal Style.