Presenteeism among workers with pain has been linked to various cognitive and psychological factors; however, their structural relationships remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the structural relationships among pain catastrophizing, pain self-efficacy, psychological distress, and presenteeism among workers experiencing pain that interfered with work or daily life. An internet-based survey was conducted among 700 Japanese workers aged 20–60 years, of whom 459 who reported pain interfering with work or daily life during the preceding month were included in the analysis. Pain self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing, psychological distress, and presenteeism were assessed using validated Japanese versions of standardized questionnaires. A hypothesized path model was tested using path analysis to evaluate model fit and structural associations. The results demonstrated good model fit. Pain self-efficacy was directly and indirectly associated with presenteeism, whereas pain catastrophizing was indirectly associated with presenteeism through psychological distress. Notably, pain self-efficacy was broadly associated with multiple factors, including pain catastrophizing and psychological distress, as well as presenteeism. Higher pain self-efficacy was associated with reduced presenteeism, with associations partly observed through pain catastrophizing and psychological distress. These findings suggest that pain self-efficacy may represent a promising focus for future interventions aimed at reducing presenteeism among workers experiencing pain.

Professional bus drivers are exposed to occupational hazards leading to chronic disease, including musculoskeletal disorders and joint pain. Here, we investigated factors associated with joint pain among Swiss bus drivers. We used data from the Transport Personnel Health Cohort (TRAPHEAC-N=549), a Swiss bus driver cohort, and the Swiss Health Study (SHeS-N=1,364), a population-based study. Joint pain was assessed using the Nordic questionnaire. Exposures included vibrations, ergonomics, work organization, stress, BMI, smoking, and physical activity. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression and random forest models. Joint pain was prevalent in TRAPHEAC, especially in the neck (67%), lower-back (59%), shoulders (54%), and upper-back (45%). Comparatively, back pain prevalence in SHeS was 11% (odds-ratios comparing TRAPHEAC with SHeS: 1.89). Logistic regression showed associations between seat and floor vibrations with neck, upper-back, and elbows (odds-ratios 1.1–1.5), while stress was associated with joint pain across all regions. BMI and ergonomics were associated with selected pain locations. Random forest models, using permutation importance, identified stress (shoulder, upper-back, lower-back, and knee pain) with seat vibrations and ergonomics (neck and ankle pain), as the most influential predictors of joint pain. Despite modern infrastructure, joint pain remains prevalent among Swiss bus drivers, supporting prevention targeting biomechanical and psychosocial factors.

Acute care hospital nurses face occupational conditions linked to headache, including shift work and psychosocial stress, but pathways from work-related well-being (WRWB) to primary headache disorders remain uncharacterized in occupational settings. This cross-sectional study estimated the 1-year prevalence of primary headache disorders among 247 nurses from two acute care hospitals in Japan and examined whether WRWB is indirectly associated with headache outcomes via psychological health and sleep. Headache was classified according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. WRWB comprised work engagement, job satisfaction, and work-life balance satisfaction. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate indirect associations. The 1-year prevalence was 85.8% for any primary headache disorder, 35.2% for migraine, and 43.3% for tension-type headache (TTH). WRWB had indirect associations with any primary headache disorder (standardized β=−0.65, p<0.001), migraine (β=−0.85, p<0.001), and TTH (β=−0.60, p=0.015), but no direct associations. Pathways differed by subtype: migraine via psychological health (β=−0.47, p=0.004) and insomnia symptoms (β=−0.36, p=0.003), whereas TTH only via sleep duration (β=−0.10, p=0.041). Findings support integrating organizational and individual approaches into occupational headache management for nurses.

The present study examined the incidence of work-related fatal injuries in foreign and Korean workers in South Korea and the factors associated with fatality in these two groups. The numbers of work-related fatalities were assessed in foreign and Korean workers based on the 2021 registry of South Korea’s Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance. For foreign workers, the total number of waged workers, obtained from the 2021 Survey on Immigrants' Living Conditions and Labor Force, was used as the denominator to estimate the work-related fatality rates among foreign workers. The estimated rates of work-related fatalities for foreign workers, Korean workers, and all workers were 1.26, 0.39, and 0.43 per 10,000, respectively. Among foreign workers, work-related fatalities were particularly high for those who were in the ‘construction’ sector (4.23 per 10,000), had an ‘elementary occupation’ (2.12 per 10,000), were ‘temporary or daily workers’, and were employed in enterprises with 300 workers or more. ‘Falling’ was the leading cause of death in both groups; ‘getting caught’ was the second most common cause, and this was much more common in foreign workers. In conclusion, foreign workers had a markedly higher incidence of work-related fatalities than Korean workers.

Exercise treadmill testing (TMT) is commonly used in occupational cardiovascular surveillance for safety-sensitive workers, but age-based screening may generate high volumes of asymptomatic examinations with relatively low event prevalence. This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated whether routinely collected physiological indicators could support exploratory stratification of positive TMT responses within a treadmill prioritization (TP) framework. Occupational surveillance records were analyzed among rotational shift workers in the Indonesian oil and gas industry between January 2024 and December 2025. Universal TMT was performed in 3,631 workers (3,544 male, 87 female), with 40 positive TMT responses. Associations were evaluated using multivariable Firth logistic regression, and a reduced exploratory model including hemoglobin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was internally validated using bootstrapping. Higher hemoglobin was independently associated with lower odds of positive TMT response (adjusted OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.58–0.94). The reduced framework demonstrated moderate discrimination (optimism-corrected AUC 0.72) and visual calibration agreement. Within the derivation cohort, 409 workers (11.3%) were classified as low-risk, with no observed positive TMT responses. These findings suggest physiological reserve markers may provide exploratory stratification information alongside conventional risk indicators. However, the TP framework remains hypothesis-generating and should not modify TMT intervals or reduce testing before external validation.

Ensuring physicians’ well-being is not only a professional priority but also pivotal to delivering consistent, efficient, and high-quality medical care. Feelings of impostorism, persistent self-doubt, and fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite evident competence, can be detrimental to physicians' mental health and well-being. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of the impostor phenomenon (IP) among physicians, identify its key determinants, and explore its association with job burnout. A total of 730 physicians from various specialties completed a questionnaire that included demographic, occupational, and clinical data, the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. More than two-fifths (43.6%) of physicians reported frequent or intense impostorism. CIPS scores correlated positively with the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions of job burnout and negatively with personal accomplishment. In multivariable regression analysis, having only a bachelor’s degree, surgical specialization, non-private practice, short work experience (≤5 yr), and high job burnout were independently associated with frequent/intense IP, with adjusted prevalence ratios of 4.9, 1.1, 2.5, 2.3, and 3.1, respectively. These findings underscore the need to raise physicians’ awareness of IP and foster a supportive workplace environment, especially for those at higher risk.

This study examined differences in work engagement and psychological distress by sexual orientation among Japanese workers using data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) 2023 (N=21,200). Sexual orientation was categorized into three groups based on the original response options: heterosexual (1), sexual minority (2–4: gay/lesbian, bisexual, other), and not decided/do not know (5–6). Outcomes were work engagement (Brief Job Stress Questionnaire; range 1–4) and psychological distress (Kessler 6; range 0–24). Using analysis of covariance, we estimated adjusted means and conducted Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons in a fully adjusted model. For work engagement, the overall group effect was significant (F (2,21177)=4.338, p=0.013, partial η²=0.00041); heterosexual workers had slightly higher engagement than the not decided/do not know group (difference=0.015, p=0.014). For K6, the overall group effect was significant (F (2,21177)=17.177, p<0.001, partial η²=0.00162); the sexual minority group had higher distress than heterosexual workers (difference=0.863, p<0.001) and the not decided/do not know group (difference=0.704, p<0.001). Because Levene’s test suggested heteroscedasticity, sensitivity analyses using HC3 robust standard errors were performed; conclusions were unchanged.

Reports remain limited on individual eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for prolonged trauma-related symptoms linked to occupational memories after COVID-19 administrative redeployment among public health nurses. A woman in her 30s working as a public health nurse developed prolonged depressive symptoms, intrusive recollections, nightmares, and hyperarousal after reassignment to unfamiliar COVID-19 administrative duties. During inpatient treatment in 2021, EMDR was applied to early family-related memories in routine care, whereas occupational memories were deferred and later remained symptomatically active. Symptoms persisted despite pharmacotherapy and two courses of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Between June and October 2025, she received six outpatient EMDR sessions targeting occupational memories related to citizen complaints, procedural ambiguity, and workplace conflict. Scores on the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised decreased from 31, 32, and 25 in June 2025 to 12, 11, and 7 in December 2025, respectively. Available session-level records suggested reduced distress in documented target assessments, although ratings were not recorded uniformly across sessions. This case illustrates the clinical relevance of assessing occupational memories as possible contributors to persistent trauma-related symptoms after administrative redeployment.

Falls on the same level (FSLs) are a major cause of occupational injuries in the social welfare industry, especially in aging societies. Here, we conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate how social welfare workers perceive the risk of occupational accidents, with a focus on FSLs, and to examine the effects of age on risk perception. Respondents (n=294) rated their estimated likelihood of experiencing five major types of occupational accidents across six levels of injury severity. The results indicated that the FSL risk was not consistently underestimated relative to other accident types. However, when the subjective risk was compared with the objective accident frequency, the non-fatal FSL risk was systematically underestimated, whereas the fatal FSL risk was overestimated. Perceived risk of leaving work for more than 3 months due to non-fatal occupational accidents also decreased with age across accident types, with younger workers reporting the highest estimates and older workers the lowest. These findings suggest that underestimation of FSL risk is specific to certain injury severities and that age-related differences in risk perception are robust. Understanding how workers perceive fall risk may contribute to the development of age-sensitive interventions to improve fall prevention in the social welfare sector.

This study examines long-term occupational accident patterns in a chemical plant using approximately fifty years of internal incident records. These records were originally compiled for day-to-day safety management rather than for research purposes. They offer a rare retrospective view of how human-factor-related accidents and everyday safety practices actually evolved during long-term operation. Long-term trends in accident counts, frequency rates, and severity rates show a decline. However, closer examination indicates that as technical and equipment-related risks were reduced, incidents involving human judgment and action became relatively more prominent. In this sense, risk changed its form within the work environment. To explore this shift, incidents were examined using a cross-classification of “type of incident × unsafe behavior,” together with a distinction between routine and non-routine operations. The analysis indicates that non-routine activities—such as maintenance and troubleshooting—remain particularly vulnerable to human-factor-related issues. When viewed through the lens of Hudson’s safety culture maturity model, these patterns suggest a gradual transition from reactive to proactive practices. Rather than proposing a model of safety culture, this case study illustrates how long-term incident records reflect the practical, trial-and-error process of managing human factors and work. The findings offer insights for loss prevention and human-factor management.

Volatile aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), are widely used in paint manufacturing and can create occupational health hazards because of their toxicity and high volatility. This study assessed personal and exposure levels of BTEX compounds among workers in small- and medium-sized paint factories in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Air samples were collected using charcoal tubes and analyzed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Statistical analyses, including correlation and principal component analysis (PCA), were used to identify emission patterns and likely exposure sources. Benzene was not detected in any samples, whereas toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes were consistently present and frequently exceeded occupational exposure limits set by ACGIH and OSHA. The highest mean concentrations were found in mixing, grinding, and packaging operations, suggesting inadequate ventilation and direct solvent handling. Strong correlations between ethylbenzene and xylenes indicated shared emission sources from mixed solvent formulations. PCA showed that exposure variability was mainly process-related, with distinct components linked to blending and hardener-related activities. Chronic exposure to these levels may cause neurological, hepatic, and hematological effects, especially in workers with limited protection. The study highlights the need for engineering controls, worker training, and substitution with low-VOC or water-based products.

Work stress has been investigated at distinct levels that inflict detrimental impacts on employees’ well-being. Despite extensive research, it is unclear how employees who share demands collectively across teams seek recovery to mitigate the adverse effect of team demands on strains. Drawing from multilayer demands, we aim to understand how recovery experiences moderate the relationship between multiple job demands, fatigue, and sleep problems. Two-wave multilevel longitudinal data were collected from 248 (44 departments) and 155 (28 departments) academicians in public universities over a four-month interval and analysed using Hierarchical Linear Modelling. It emerged that psychological detachment served to moderate the relationship between individual emotional demands and fatigue and has a moderating effect between team demands (not physical) and sleep problems. Relaxation attenuates the relationship between individual physical demands and sleep problems and has an interaction effect on team-related physical demands and fatigue. Thus, the management should prioritize recovery-promoting strategies and interventions in team settings.

Long working hours are public health concern globally. However, their association with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality remains underexplored. This cohort study investigated the relationship between long working hours and all-cause and CVD mortality. A nationwide sample of 22,582 Korean workers (10,266 men, 12,316 women) was analyzed. Weekly working hours were measured at baseline. The outcomes were the all-cause and CVD deaths. Cox regression models were used to determine the relation between working hours and mortality outcomes using a sex-stratified analysis, calculating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During a median follow-up of 9.6 years, 670 all-cause deaths and 129 CVD deaths occurred. In the male workers, the HRs (95% CIs) for the association of working ≥55 h/week with mortality outcomes were 1.52 (1.06–2.17) for all-cause mortality and 2.59 (1.02–6.56) for CVD mortality, compared with working 35–40 h/week. In the female workers, the HRs (95% CIs) for the association of working ≥55 h/week with mortality outcomes were 0.74 (0.41–1.33) for all-cause mortality and 1.11 (0.31–6.92) for CVD mortality, compared with working 35–40 h/week. In conclusion, this study suggests that long working hours are linked to all-cause and CVD mortality among male workers.

Diisocyanates (DIs) are widely used industrially. Measuring the total reactive isocyanate group (TRIG) is important because the isocyanate group (-NCO) is considered responsible for inducing sensitization. However, practical and cost-effective methods for occupational exposure measurement are limited due to the high reactivity of the -NCO and the complex composition and distribution of TRIG in workplace air. This study evaluated a method using 1-(2-methoxyphenyl) piperazine (MOPIP) as a derivatization reagent in an LC-UV/FLD analytical system. Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI_mono), 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI_mono) monomers, and a mixture of HDI oligomers (HDI_TRIG) were selected as model compounds. The results revealed that the response ratios of the two detectors (UV280/242 nm and UV242 nm/FLD) of HDI_mono are useful indicators for identifying HDI_TGIG. Using MOPIP-impregnated filters (MOPIP-GFF), HDI_mono, MDI_mono, and HDI_TRIG can be measured in the ranges of 20 to 20,000, 12 to 24,500 and 92 to 9,200 ng/filter, respectively. Furthermore, the MOPIP-GFF and DI samples were relatively stable at both 4℃ and room temperature. Overall, this method exhibited good reliability over a wide concentration range for airborne HDI_mono, MDI_mono, and HDI_TRIG. Moreover, it is more convenient for field investigations than other methods, using a stable, readily available derivatization reagent and conventional UV and fluorescence detectors.

International students and workers in South Korea experience multiple stressors that may increase vulnerability to poor sleep and suicidal behavior. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 824 participants, including 474 workers and 350 students from 10 Asian countries. Sleep quality and suicidal behavior were assessed using the PSQI and the SBQ-R. Poor sleep quality (PSQI >5) was reported by 57.4% of participants, and 9.3% met criteria for high suicide risk (SBQ-R ≥7). A significant association was observed between sleep quality and suicide risk (χ²(1)=20.71, p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals with poor sleep had higher odds of high suicide risk (OR=3.53, 95% CI [1.90, 6.57], p<0.001), after adjusting for demographic factors. Male participants demonstrated significantly lower odds of suicide risk compared to female participants (OR=0.237, p=0.008). Linear regression analysis further showed that poorer sleep quality was significantly associated with higher suicidal behavior scores (β=0.21, p<0.001). These findings suggest that sleep quality is significantly associated with suicide risk among foreign residents in South Korea.

Working from home (WFH) has become increasingly common since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; however, its association with sleep among workers remains unclear. This study examined the relationship of WFH frequency with sleep duration and sleep quality among non-shift white-collar workers. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among non-shift office workers of a single Japanese company; 33,744 participants without missing data were analyzed. Participants were categorized into five groups according to WFH frequency: Office (0%), Low (1–20%), Moderate (21–80%), High (81–99%), and Home (100%). The endpoints were sleep duration ≥6 h, restorative sleep (RS), and their combination. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between WFH frequency and sleep outcomes after adjusting for confounding factors compared with the Moderate group. A higher WFH frequency was significantly associated with a higher odds ratio (OR) of sleeping ≥6 h. The Home group had a lower OR of RS. The highest OR for achieving both sleep duration ≥6 h and RS was observed in the High group (OR 1.10; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.17). Moderate-to-high levels of WFH may provide a balance between achieving a sleep duration ≥6 h and better subjective sleep quality among non-shift white-collar workers.

The aim of this scoping review was to provide an overview and classification of the studies on workplace health interventions targeted at commercial heavy vehicle drivers. Of the 36 publications included, 28 concerned solely truck drivers, five solely bus drivers, and the remaining three included professionals also from other related fields. The participants were mostly male. Most of the studies (20 publications) examined individual-focused interventions, seven studies focused on organizational interventions, and nine studies addressed both. None of the interventions focused on improving drivers’ access to healthcare. More than half of the studies included some form of technological tools. The duration of the interventions was predominantly several months; however, only eight studies reported results after a follow-up period. For future studies, four areas for development were identified. First, collecting and reporting gender-disaggregated data is required to address the unique health needs among female drivers. Second, when using technology, consideration should be given to its usability across the entire workforce and the support needed from human professionals. Third, including systematic follow-up periods would help to understand how long-lasting a behavior change is and what impact it has on health outcomes. Finally, further studies focusing on organizational interventions are especially needed.

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.