Burnout has become a major occupational health concern in Japan, particularly under flexible work arrangements that may intensify self-regulatory demands. This study aimed to clarify the effects of self-endangering work behavior (SEWB) and other work-related psycho-behavioral factors on burnout among Japanese workers. An Internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with 800 participants (four groups of 200 each): two groups engaged in professional and planning work under a discretionary labor system, and two comparable groups of non-discretionary workers. The discretionary labor system in Japan allows employees greater autonomy over working hours while evaluating performance based on deemed working time rather than actual hours worked. Among professional workers, burnout (emotional impairment), SEWB, workaholism, and work engagement were significantly higher in discretionary compared with non-discretionary workers. Multiple regression analyses showed burnout was positively associated with SEWB and workaholism in both professional groups. Among planning workers, SEWB and work engagement were higher in discretionary workers, whereas burnout did not differ significantly. Burnout was positively associated with workaholism in both groups and with SEWB only in non-discretionary workers. These findings suggest differential risks of burnout depending on occupational type and labor system.

This study examined the effects of a personalized sleep or nutrition intervention on sleep in shift-workers. Fifty-seven healthy male workers on 12-hour shifts received the sleep intervention (n=25), nutrition intervention (n=22), or control (n=10). The sleep intervention aimed to improve sleep duration and quality through adjustments in sleep timing and sleep education. The nutrition intervention targeted circadian alignment by structuring meal timing and macronutrient distribution. Interventions were personalized using baseline sleep, diet, and physiological markers. Subjective sleep was assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index at baseline, last weeks of the intervention, and 8-month follow-up. Objective sleep outcomes (total sleep time, sleep efficiency, fragmentation index, and wake after sleep onset) were assessed through actigraphy at baseline, first and last weeks of the intervention. Mixed-effects models analyzed changes in subjective and objective sleep outcomes, adjusting for age, chronotype and household composition. The sleep intervention group had significantly higher insomnia scores at baseline, which improved to control levels post-intervention and remained so at follow-up. However, no significant changes in objective sleep were observed. The nutrition intervention group showed no significant effects on subjective or objective sleep outcomes. These findings suggest personalized sleep strategies may improve perceived sleep without detectable changes in objective measures.

The Fukushima nuclear power plant workers suffered tremendous stress due to the accident, and a part of them were exposed to high levels of radiation. This study included 1,157 workers and level of radiation exposure was assessed in 2012, one year after the disaster. Mental health symptoms (post-traumatic stress response [PTSR] and general psychological distress [GPD]) and three types of concern (work, life, or health-related) were assessed annually from 2012 to 2014. The relationships between high radiation exposure (≥50 millisievert [mSv]) and mental health symptoms and concern over time were analyzed using mixed-effects longitudinal beta regression and logistic regression models. A total of 352 workers were exposed to 50 mSv radiation or more (30.4%). None of the changes over time in PTSR and GPD were significantly affected by high radiation exposure. Scores for job- or life-related concern were also not significantly affected. Only scores for health-related concern were significantly elevated by high radiation exposure in 2012 (β=4.49, p=0.03), and the impact continued until 2014. Neither PTSR nor GPD was elevated by high radiation exposure among the workers. However, the workers with high radiation exposure continued to worry about their health in later years.

Air traffic control (ATC) is a demanding domain characterized by intense operational demands, including high workload and task complexity that act as significant contributors to operator fatigue alongside other physiological and psychological factors. This study investigates the effects of different types of microbreak interventions on post-task fatigue recovery among air traffic controllers (ATCOs). Using a simplified simulated ATC task, we recruited ATC-naïve participants to evaluate two types of microbreaks—meditation and walking—as well as a control condition without microbreaks. We recorded participants’ self-perceived fatigue, eye movements, heart rate variability (HRV), critical flicker fusion (CFF), heart rate, blood pressure, and performance metrics during the simulated task. The results indicate that taking a microbreak is effective in promoting subjective fatigue recovery. Furthermore, microbreaks had a significant effect on the preservation of task performance, with their effectiveness differing across microbreak types. The walking microbreak was particularly in reducing operational errors, whereas the meditation microbreak showed a non-significant trend toward mitigating declines in reaction time. The findings suggest that both microbreak types are beneficial for fatigue recovery, but walking microbreaks may confer additional benefits for sustaining operational performance.

This study investigates the impact of face shape on the pass rate of personal protective equipment N95 mask fit tests among Taiwanese healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fit tests are crucial for controlling and preventing infection, but research indicates that face shape can affect the test's effectiveness. HCWs underwent a qualitative fit test and were categorized into round, square, long, and oval face shapes based on their profile pictures. A total of 352 HCWs participated the intervention, and 287 participants passed the test, among those participants, long shaped face had a passing rate of 80.2% and oval-shaped faces was 91.7%, while round-shaped faces had the lowest passing rate of 42.9%. This study reveals that long and oval shaped face participants in Taiwanese healthcare workers have a higher fitting rate than round-shaped participants, indicating better mask fit test pass rates.

Work-life imbalance is associated with occupational burnout and poor mental health outcomes, which may impair cognitive performance. However, few studies have investigated this association. Therefore, we examined the association between work-family conflict and cognitive performance using a 10-min psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) in a cross-sectional study of 437 women working in aged care services in Japan. Work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC) scores were divided into low, moderate, and high. PVT measurements included mean reaction time (RT), slowest 10% RT, and lapses (number of responses >500 ms), categorized by median values. Higher scores indicated impaired cognitive performance. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for impaired PVT performance were calculated using a multivariable logistic regression model. The ORs (95% CIs) for high WFC compared with low WFC regarding impaired PVT performance were 2.63 (1.26–5.45) for mean RT, 2.61 (1.25–5.46) for slowest 10% RT, and 3.21 (1.51–6.82) for lapses. However, no significant association was found for FWC. WFC was associated with impaired cognitive performance, whereas FWC was not. This is the first study that suggests managing WFC may improve cognitive performance. Further longitudinal studies are needed to examine causality and improve work environments for employees with high WFC.

In this prospective cross-sectional epidemiological study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between psychosocial job-related stress (effort–reward imbalance [ERI]) and fingernail cortisol levels. In total, 136 daytime employees (109 women and 27 men; age 18–72 [38.9 ± 12.9] years) at a school uniform sewing factory were recruited. Fingernail-based cortisol analysis was performed in September 2017 (Time 1, baseline) and December 2017 (Time 2). The participants completed a short version of the Japanese ERI questionnaire at baseline. Multiple linear regression analyses controlling for potential confounders revealed that the effort score was positively associated with cortisol levels at Time 1 (β=0.252, p=0.004) and Time 2 (β=0.188, p=0.048), whereas no significant associations were observed for reward or ERI ratio. These findings suggest that linking adverse psychological working conditions to stress-related disorders may be biologically plausible. This study also highlights the importance of evaluating specific components of psychosocial stress at work in relation to chronic biological stress markers to enhance understanding of stress-related health risks and inform effective occupational health interventions.

Previous studies have reported associations between nonrestorative sleep (NRS) and various physical and mental illnesses. However, its long-term relationship with subjective health and work performance remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between NRS and subjective health and work performance among Japanese workers. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted using health examination and medical claims data from fiscal years 2018 to 2023, involving 36,160 workers. NRS was assessed at baseline based on responses to the question, “Do you feel refreshed after a typical night’s sleep?” Longitudinal associations of NRS with subjective physical and mental health and work performance were analyzed using generalized linear models. The prevalence of NRS was 55.4%. NRS was significantly associated with poorer subjective physical health (aOR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.65–1.91) and mental health (aOR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.54–1.79). In addition, workers with NRS exhibited 3.6% lower work performance (95% CI: 3.25–3.88) compared with those with restorative sleep and incurred an estimated annual productivity-related economic loss of approximately JPY 160,000 per worker. These findings indicate that NRS is associated with decreased subjective health and reduced work performance. Early screening and intervention for NRS may help improve workers’ health and productivity.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in a sample of Norwegian nurses, and to investigate whether work characteristics, demographic factors, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and shift work disorder were associated with such symptoms. A total of 1875 nurses (67.5% response rate) completed a questionnaire which surveyed frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms in different body regions during the last year, work characteristics, including shift schedule and number of night shifts and quick returns (QRs), demographic factors including age, sex, marital status, children living at home, percentage of full-time equivalent, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and shift work disorder. Data were analyzed with chi-square tests and crude and adjusted logistic regressions. Over half of the nurses (53.8%) reported musculoskeletal symptoms in one or more body regions. Compared with day only, two-shift rotation was associated with musculoskeletal symptoms (adjusted OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.20–2.14), whereas three-shift rotation and night only were not. Neither number of night shifts nor QRs were associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Probable anxiety (aOR 2.23, 1.73–2.87), depression (aOR 2.08, 1.44–3.00), insomnia (aOR 2.45, 1.95–3.09), and shift work disorder (aOR 1.61, 1.28–2.02) were associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Further research is necessary to elucidate causality.

This study investigated the association between changes in the work environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and andropause symptoms in Japanese male workers. A web survey of 374 employed male workers in Japan (mean age=45.6 yr, SD=13.2) was conducted in February 2023. Participants were asked about harassment at work, telecommuting hours, working hours, and communication with supervisors and coworkers. Andropause symptoms were measured using the Aging Males’ Symptoms scale. Multiple regression analyses were conducted. Certain changes in the work environment were significantly associated with the total score of andropause symptoms, including increased (β=0.30), unchanged (β=0.19), and decreased (β=0.23) harassment at work, decreased communication with supervisors (β=−0.20), and telecommuting hours making up approximately half of (β=0.12) or almost all working hours (β=0.09) (all p<0.05). When stratified into younger (≤49 yr) and older (≥50 yr) groups, those associations were robustly significant in the younger group. Harassment at work had significant effects on andropause symptoms among the younger group. Harassment at work worsened andropause symptoms in the younger group, while a reduction in communication with supervisors may have alleviated symptoms.

Amoste is highly carcinogenic, and its incomplete removal from the environment continues to pose significant health risks. High temperatures are known to alter the crystal structure of asbestos. In this study, we evaluated the carcinogenicity and respiratory toxicity of heat-treated amosite (AM-1000; heated at 1,000 °C) and its milled derivative (AM-1000G; heat-treated at 1,000 °C and milled), using untreated amosite as a positive control. Physicochemical analyses confirmed that AM-1000G predominantly consisted of non-asbestiform structures with an aspect ratio of less than 3. In a single intratracheal administration study in rats (2 mg; observation period up to 540 d), AM-1000G induced much less severe acute and chronic pulmonary inflammation than amosite or AM-1000 and did not cause fibrosis. No pulmonary adenoma, lung cancer, or pleural mesothelioma was observed in any group. Following intraperitoneal administration (10 mg; two-year observation period), peritoneal mesotheliomas developed in 56% (14/25) of rats in the amosite group, whereas only one (1/25) rat in the AM-1000 group developed mesotheliomas. In contrast, no peritoneal mesothelioma was observed in the AM-1000G group. This study demonstrated that AM-1000G is non-carcinogenic and exhibits markedly reduced acute and chronic respiratory toxicity. These findings provide the first scientific evidence supporting the feasibility of amosite detoxification through heat treatment, based on its biological evaluation.　

This study investigated perceptions of occupational safety and health (OSH) among foreign construction workers in South Korea and compared structural challenges with Japan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 77 workers using a 48-item questionnaire adapted from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA). Descriptive statistics identified items scoring below 4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale as areas of concern. Comparative analysis was conducted using secondary data on Japan’s OSH system for foreign workers obtained through a literature review. Sixteen items (33.3%) scored below 4.0, indicating deficiencies in communication, participatory training, and practical rule applicability. In contrast, tangible measures such as PPE provision and basic safety knowledge were rated highly. Both countries exhibited common OSH barriers, including language difficulties, limited training effectiveness, underreporting of accidents, restricted healthcare access, and insufficient mental health support. Korea’s Employment Permit System provides structured legal employment but restricts job mobility, while Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program reveals greater institutional weaknesses and partial exclusion from labor law protection. Foreign workers in both countries remain passive recipients of safety measures due to hierarchical structures and cultural isolation. Strengthening multilingual communication, participatory education, and inclusive leadership is essential to promote a proactive, worker-centered OSH culture.

Participatory action-oriented training (PAOT) is a structured, worker-centered approach designed to improve workplace safety and health. However, its applicability across different contexts remains unclear. This scoping review aims to systematically analyze the existing literature on PAOT, focusing on its utilization with various populations, contexts, and methodological approaches. Using the population-concept-context (PCC) framework, this review defines the population as workers, community members, or managers participating in PAOT; the concept as PAOT; and the context: as workplaces, communities, agriculture, and healthcare settings. Literature, from January 2000 until onward, will be searched in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Korea Education and Research Information Sharing Service, Korean Studies Information Service System, DBpia, National Digital Science Digital Library, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society. Study selection will be performed independently by three reviewers and the overall review process will be presented transparently in a PRISMA-ScR flowchart. A comprehensive mapping of the PAOT applications will be conducted based on key variables such as study design, implementation context, training components of the action checklist, and improvement outcomes. Since the 1980s, PAOT has been applied in various sectors including small enterprises, agriculture, communities, and healthcare. This review will highlight trends and gaps to support future research and practice.

Activity-based workplaces have become increasingly prevalent in many organizations. However, research on their implementation regarding perceived productivity within the public sector remains limited. The study’s purpose was to examine differences in perceived productivity, and perceived physical and psychosocial work environment factors, among public sector office employees in activity-based workplaces, in association with the amount of perceived concentration-demanding work. The study was conducted by two surveys responded during the spring 2024 by 450 respectively 320 employees in one Swedish municipality. The results were analyzed by analysis of variance, correlation- and regression analysis. The results indicate that employees with a high amount of perceived concentration-demanding tasks reported lower perceived productivity and experienced poorer perceived physical and psychosocial working environment. Notably, regression analyses revealed that particularly lack of privacy and dissatisfaction with work premises were significantly associated with lower perceived productivity. These findings underscore the importance of considering work task requirements when implementing public sector activity-based workplaces to mitigate potential productivity losses. Further qualitative and quantitative research is needed, particularly those with a longitudinal design, to increase knowledge about how different concentration-demanding work tasks are affected by work in activity-based workplaces.

This study aimed to explore women’s health literacy components related to planned pregnancy and infertility treatment use. A nationwide internet survey was conducted in February 2018 among 2,596 Japanese female full-time workers aged 18–49. Of these, 1,262 women who had desired pregnancy were analyzed. Data included a health literacy scale, pregnancy timing, and infertility treatment access. Logistic regression analysis examined the associations. As the results, the high health literacy group was significantly associated with both achieving pregnancy at the desired time (odds ratio [OR]: 1.87) and accessing infertility treatment (OR: 1.78). Specifically, the subscale “knowledge about the female body” was significantly related to achieving pregnancy at the wanted time (OR: 1.91), and “sexual health discussion with partners” was associated with access to infertility treatment (OR: 2.79) (p<0.05). These findings suggest that improving female body knowledge and partner communication are key for reproductive health education and preconception care.

Mental disorders occur frequently in physicians owing to overwork and poor psychosocial work environment. This study aimed to investigate the circumstances, characteristics, and background factors affecting mental disorders in physicians. Basic data such as sex, age at onset, alive or dead, occupation, name of disease, industrial accident recognition factors, load factors other than working hours, and overtime hours (for 31 cases of mental disorders and suicides for 11 years from 2010-2020) were obtained from the Japan Research Center for Overwork-Related Disorders database. The results showed 13 cases of suicide (41.9%) and 21 cases of mood disorders (67.7%). As for the factors recognized as industrial accidents, “extreme long working hours” related to overwork accounted for 6 cases (20.7%), and "quantity and quality of work" accounted for 27 cases (93.1%). Furthermore, clinical residents comprised 14 cases (45.2%) of the 31 mental disorder cases and 7 cases (53.8%) of the 13 suicide cases. Therefore, measures to prevent overwork and suicide in clinical residents are urgently needed in the context of mental disorder in physicians.

Working in hospitals as healthcare workers is inherently stressful, which indirectly affects employees’ adherence to procedures for infection prevention and control (IPC). While ample research exists on IPC practices, the majority neglects the psychosocial aspects of work, particularly job characteristics and safety-related organizational climates. This study utilized a two-wave multilevel panel study design with a 4-month interval, involving 379 participants across 23 critical care units in Malaysian hospitals. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources theory, we examined how job demands (i.e., workload, emotional demands, and job complexity) influence IPC practices and how three types of safety climate constructs—safety climate, psychosocial safety climate, and psychological climate—moderate the effects of job demands on IPC. Contrary to our predictions, none of the job demands were directly associated with IPC practices. However, we found that only the safety climate moderated the relationships between workload and job complexity with IPC practices. These findings suggest that each type of safety climate uniquely buffers the effects of specific job demands on IPC practices. Hospital management should implement tailored interventions to serve distinct functions in mitigating the impact of job demands on IPC adherence.

This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Japanese workers, focusing on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and different types of work (desk work, in-person work, physical labor, and unemployment), as well as various demographic factors. Using a web-based survey conducted in February 2021, we collected data from 19,941 workers aged 20–65 yr. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) was used to measure workers’ fear, with analysis focusing on the total score and two subfactors: emotional fear reactions (Factor 1) and symptomatic expressions of fear (Factor 2). The findings showed that fear of COVID-19 was significantly higher among unemployed individuals and those with serious mental illness, identifying these groups as particularly vulnerable. Our analysis also suggests that broad occupational categories, such as “physical labor”, can mask the distinct risks faced by specific subgroups, including frontline care workers. The results suggest that intervention strategies tailored to the specific needs of these vulnerable groups should be developed to provide adequate support in a future pandemic, along with enhanced mental health services. By elucidating variations in fear levels across worker populations, this study contributes to the formulation of effective public health strategies in response to global health crises.

Sleep health is recognized as a fundamental component of health and safety in the workplace. Alertness assessed by the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) is a key dimension of sleep health. Impaired PVT performance is associated with depression and burnout, but its relation to self-rated health (SRH) remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study, 378 physicians (268 men, 110 women) at Juntendo University Hospital completed a questionnaire and a 3-min PVT after duty hours. Participants were dichotomized as “healthy” or “unhealthy” group based on SRH. PVT lapses (reaction time ≥355 ms) and mean reciprocal reaction time (rRT) were categorized into quartiles. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) for poor SRH with covariates including the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D ≥20). Compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of lapses showed an adjusted OR for poor SRH of 4.50 (95% CI, 1.68–12.02), and the lowest quartile of mean rRT yielded an OR of 3.76 (1.36–10.37). These associations remained robust after further adjustment for night-shift duration, snoring, caffeine intake, and either KSS or CES-D. PVT-assessed alertness independently predicts physicians’ SRH, suggesting its utility for health monitoring among hospital physicians.

Pharmacists are at high risk of infection due to their direct contact with potentially infected patients and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine whether increased health issues among pharmacists during the pandemic were associated with pandemic-related changes in their work environment. A total of 438 pharmacists from 28 prefectures completed a self-administered survey between September 2021 and January 2022. Health issues with significant increases among pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic included depression, anxiety or emotional disorders, insomnia, eye problems and skin disorders. The following work-related factors were significantly associated with these health issues: For depression, anxiety, or emotional disorders, key factors were fear of infection during medication explanations to customers or patients and fear of infection related to work in general. Insomnia was significantly associated with shift adjustments and fear of infection when fatigued. Eye problems were linked to remote medication counseling via telephone or online platforms, disinfection and cleaning tasks, and shift adjustments. No significant work-related factors were associated with skin disorders. This study identified specific work-related tasks associated with increased health issues, offering valuable insights into the occupational risks faced by pharmacists and informing preparedness for future pandemics.

Organizational justice is an important organizational-level resource that may facilitate employees’ motivation and personal development. The aim of the current study is to test the indirect effect of organizational justice on job performance and happiness through two key psychological states: work engagement and burnout. Based on Job Demands-Resources theory, it was hypothesized that the organizational justice would be positively associated with job performance and happiness via increased work engagement and decreased burnout. In the study participated 216 employees, nested in 62 organizations. Multilevel analyses with MLwiN software revealed that organizational justice related positively and indirectly to both job performance and happiness through higher levels of work engagement. Furthermore, justice also exerted positive indirect effects on performance and happiness through its negative association with burnout. These findings suggest that organizational justice may initiate a motivational process that can enhance both work-related outcomes and personal well-being, supporting performance at work and flourishing beyond workplace.

Working from home (WFH) is considered beneficial for sleep and fatigue recovery; however, it may vary according to chronotype. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between work style, sleep, and health, focusing on different chronotypes. A total of 1,114 workers completed an anonymous online survey, and 587 adult workers were included in the study. Changes in sleep and health indicators were compared by chronotype between the periods when participants worked at the workplace (WAW) every day and WFH two days or more a week. During the WFH period, sleep duration was longer and insomnia level was lower for all chronotypes than that during the WAW period. Evening chronotypes had higher risks of insomnia, poor mental health, and poor fatigue recovery during WAW than did morning chronotypes. However, regarding mental health impairment, the relationship by chronotype disappeared during the WFH period. WFH two days or more a week may provide benefits with respect to sleep and fatigue recovery, regardless of chronotype, particularly for mental health of evening chronotype; however, evening chronotypes had lower level of sleep and health than did other chronotypes, regardless of work style.

Victims of natural disasters require extensive medical, health, and welfare services. Disaster responders play a vital role in caring for victims but frequently face their own health problems. Responders may work despite physical or psychological distress (presenteeism), leading to many problems. We examined the association of activities and environmental factors with presenteeism in responders during the acute and subacute phases of recovery from the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake (January 6 to March 31, 2024) using records from the Disaster Responder’s Health Management version of J-SPEED. Presenteeism prevalence was 2.8% (acute phase: 3.5%; subacute phase: 2.1%). Unclear task and command (aOR=8.44, 95%CI: 5.49–13.00) and inability to take meals and breaks (aOR=8.92, 95%CI: 5.86–13.60) were associated with higher presenteeism odds. Support activities in the Health Emergency Operation Center (acute phase) and an unsafe work environment (subacute phase) were also significantly associated with presenteeism. The environmental determinants of presenteeism differed in the acute and subacute phases. However, potential confounding, including responder characteristics, could not be adjusted due to data limitations, so results should be interpreted cautiously. Nevertheless, improving the working conditions and implementing a comprehensive health management system for disaster responders, including pre-disaster training programs, may help mitigate their presenteeism.

This study examines the association of unmet healthcare needs (UHNs) with health-related productivity loss (HRPL), work ability, and work engagement among Korean workers. We analyzed 6,633 workers from two waves (August 2023 and September 2024) of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study, a nationwide panel survey. UHNs were assessed based on self-reported experiences of forgoing necessary medical care. HRPL, work ability, and work engagement were measured using validated instruments. The generalized estimating equation models to repeated measurements applied to examine associations between UHNs and labor-related outcomes, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Workers with UHNs had a 9.517 percentage point higher HRPL, 3.348-fold higher odds of poor work ability, and 1.506-fold higher odds of low work engagement compared with those without UHNs. Among causes of UHNs, financial constraints were associated with the largest increases in HRPL, poor work ability and low work engagement. These findings suggest that inadequate access to healthcare not only affects individual health but also has substantial implications for labor outcomes. Policy interventions to reduce UHNs, particularly for financially vulnerable workers, may improve both health and labor outcomes.

The global work environment is changing quickly, often becoming unfavourable to employees. This scoping review aimed to synthesise the existing literature on self-undermining behaviours in the workplace, with a particular focus on their development as a concept and their application in occupational contexts. The method followed was the guidelines of the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A search was conducted using electronic databases (e.g., ScienceDirect, Scopus, EBSCOhost) and online platforms (e.g., ResearchGate). The list of references from the included studies was also assessed for any additional papers that could be relevant. The review’s inclusion criteria were as follows: studies published in peer-reviewed journals only in English that explored self-undermining. Of the 60 papers identified, eight studies with 4046 participants were included; the majority followed a quantitative method and a cross-sectional design. Self-undermining was positively associated with burnout and job demands. Self-undermining mediated the relationship between several work-related factors and outcomes. The studies in this review had limitations, e.g., self-reported data. Strategies to monitor and reduce self-undermining may be a crucial intervention to prevent burnout. Organisations shall develop and implement different programs to reduce these behaviours among employees.

This paper proposes a novel conceptual framework that integrates Disaster Risk Management (DRM) into Occupational Health Services (OHS) to improve resilience against technological hazards in high-risk industrial sectors. Even though OHS is meant to safeguard the workplace, it lacks systematic management for disaster risks such as chemical spills, industrial fires and toxic releases. To address this gap, the proposed framework synthesizes two internationally recognized models: the WHO’s Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM) strategy and the Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) model. The integration is structured across three interconnected pillars: (1) Risk Governance and Policy Alignment, (2) Proactive Risk Assessment and Preparedness, and (3) Emergency Response and Resilience-Building. This approach extends the scope of OHS from traditional hazard control and compliance to proactive disaster resilience, offering a new theoretical and practical model tailored for vulnerable and complex industrial environments. In doing so, the framework supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing worker protection, business continuity and community-level sustainability. It also lays the foundation for future empirical research and offers actionable guidance for industry leaders and policymakers.

The relationship between the employment status and mental health is well established, yet the behavioural mechanisms underlying this association across age groups remain unclear. This study investigates whether artistic leisure moderates the association between employment status and mental health, measured with the 12-item Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ-12), using nationally representative survey data from Taiwanese adults aged 18 and above. Participants were categorised into three groups. Descriptive statistics summarised mental health prevalence, and χ² tests assessed associations across age groups. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, religious affiliation, financial sufficiency, and physical health, was employed to examine the relationship. The prevalence of good mental health was highest among older adults (84.83%), followed by young (79.25%) and middle-aged adults (78.76%). Artistic leisure significantly moderated the association between employment and mental health in young adults, with those in employment who engaged in artistic activities reporting better outcomes (AOR=4.22, 95% CI: 1.98–8.96). No significant moderating association was found in the older age groups. These findings suggest that employment plays a critical role in the mental well-being of young adults, highlighting the importance of understanding the contexts and motivations behind their engagement in artistic leisure.

The aim of this work is to identify occupational situations that are at risk and/or encourage alcohol use, whatever the type of consumption. This is a review of the literature in search of articles published between 1989 and August 2019, dealing with the effects of work situations on alcohol consumption. A qualitative analysis was conducted on the articles meeting the selection criteria, and the data were summarised based on the main risk factors identified. There is some evidence supporting work organisation as being at risk of alcohol consumption. This concerns mainly shift work and long-working hours, although the relation with drinking behaviours seems to be conflicting. Social relations and interactions within the workplace may induce (or be at risk of) alcohol consumption, particularly in the case of tolerant standards. The results regarding work stress are contradictory. Data regarding physical workload are scarce. Most studies addressed alcohol consumption as a public health issue, in the labour force, and not as an occupational health issue focused on work situations and conditions. Yet this knowledge may help the occupational physician to question the work environment, in order to prevent this risk on a collective technical level and on an individual case-by-case basis.

The Working Time Traffic Light (WTTL) recommendations are detailed guidelines aimed at mitigating the health and safety effects of shift work. This paper reviews the development, implementation, and effects of the WTTL recommendations in social and healthcare. Based on the payroll-based Working Hours in the Finnish Public Sector (WHFPS) cohort of over 300,000 employees, we analysed many dose-response associations of different working hour characteristics with health and safety and developed cut-off levels and evaluation tools for the traffic light-based WTTL recommendations. The recommendations were implemented in the social and healthcare sector by embedding the recommendations into shift scheduling software in co-operation with commercial software producers, and by giving feedback on the working hour characteristics to the healthcare organizations and policymakers. Based on a 5-year follow-up, the WTTL recommendations were well-known, and used regularly by 20% of the shift planners. Compared to the non-users, the regular use of the evaluation tool was associated with improved working hour patterns, a lower number of occupational accidents, and a decrease in psychological distress. Based on the established use of the recommendations and their effects on health and safety, the development and implementation of the WTTL recommendations can be regarded as successful.

We investigated the occurrence of fractures caused by same-level falls resulting from occupational accidents in the transportation sector, utilizing data on occupational deaths and injuries (2012–2016) collected by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. We analyzed injury cases requiring four or more days of work absence, focusing on same-level falls. Multiple logistic regression was performed to assess differences in fracture occurrence across occupations. Fractures occurred in 27.8% of workers in the hired taxi business, 23.0% in general cargo transportation, 21.9% in other road freight forwarding businesses, 18.3% in the railroad and orbital sector, 16.5% in the bus line industry, and 7.5% in the airline industry. After adjusting for covariates, hired taxi businesses showed a 1.76-fold higher fracture occurrence (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–2.95) compared to the railroad and orbital sector, and 1.4-fold higher occurrence (CI: 1.08–1.85) compared to general cargo transportation. Over 60% of falls in taxi and bus lines involved temporary structures. Taxi drivers experience a high occurrence of fractures, following same-level falls, indicating a significant occupational hazard. This study emphasizes targeted interventions, including measures to prevent falls and lifestyle modifications to mitigate fracture susceptibility, to improve worker safety.