Objectives: Essential workers, particularly in health care and social services, were critical during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet their mental health outcomes remain understudied. We examined changes in (1) sickness absence (SA) due to common mental disorders (CMDs), and (2) antidepressant prescription in health and social care workers during versus pre-pandemic periods.

Methods: Using Swedish national registers, we included health care and social workers (aged 19-65 years) from 2018 to 2021. We compared quarterly incidence rate (IR) trends for SA >90 days due to CMDs, and for antidepressant prescriptions, across 2 periods: pre-pandemic (January 2018 to February 2020) and during the pandemic (March 2020 to December 2021) using interrupted time-series analysis. Analyses accounted for seasonality and were stratified by age, sex, and education.

Results: There was no evidence of a difference in IR trends for SA >90 days or for antidepressant prescription pre-pandemic versus during the pandemic for the entire sector. However, trends of IR for antidepressant prescription increased among workers in medical laboratories (8.7% per quarter change; 95% CI, 4.4%-13.1%) and hospitals (1.5%; 95% CI, 0.6%-2.5%) and decreased per quarter for ambulance transports (5.4%; 95% CI, 0.4-10.0%). Women (10.9%; 95% CI, 7.2%-14.7%) and highly educated individuals (10.0%; 95% CI, 4.1%-16.1%) working in medical laboratories as well as 19-25-year-olds working in primary and dental care (7.3%; 95% CI, 1.7%-13.1%) also experienced an increase in antidepressant prescription.

Conclusions: Although overall trends in SA >90 days and in antidepressant prescription remained stable, certain occupational and sociodemographic groups were found to be affected in regard to antidepressant prescription. These groups warrant targeted support in future health crises.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and validate 2 concise measures of workplace loneliness.

Methods: A 3-item scale for loneliness at work (SLAW-3) and a single-item scale for loneliness at work (SLAW-1) were developed by modifying existing scales for general loneliness. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted of 1228 full-time employees in Japan to test the reliability and validity of these scales. Internal consistency of the SLAW-3 was assessed using Cronbach α coefficient, and the construct validity was examined through correlations with established measures of workplace loneliness, psychological distress, well-being, self-rated health, and workplace social support.

Results: The SLAW-3 demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach α = .91) and unidimensionality. It correlated positively with established measures of workplace loneliness and psychological distress measures and negatively with well-being and workplace social support measures. The SLAW-1 also demonstrated significant correlation with the SLAW-3 and with psychological indicators such as distress, well-being, self-rated health, and workplace social support.

Conclusions: The SLAW-3 was found to be a reliable and valid measure of workplace loneliness. The SLAW-1 also demonstrated adequate construct validity, despite its single-item format. Both scales are short and may be effectively used to assess workplace loneliness in large-scale employee surveys or brief screenings.

Objectives: To quantify the short-term impact of an unexpected stay-at-home exposure, caused by a shipment suspension, on body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic markers among employees with different levels of occupational physical activity.

Methods: Health-check records from 8307 workers at a large Japanese automobile manufacturer were linked to company attendance data covering a shipment suspension (January to April 2024). An interrupted time-series assessed BMI trajectories before, during, and after the halt. Among 614 employees who underwent an additional examination in April 2024, mixed-effects models related the duration of stay-at-home to changes in BMI and blood pressure within low-, medium-, and high-intensity job categories.

Results: Compared with pre-halt trends, medium-intensity and high-intensity workers showed significant level rises in BMI (0.96 kg/m²; 95% CI, 0.56-1.36; and 0.64 kg/m²; 95% CI, 0.24-1.04, respectively) at the onset of the suspension. Mixed-effects analyses showed a positive dose-response between the duration of stay-at-home and BMI gain in high-intensity jobs (0.47 kg/m² per 20% absent days; 95% CI, 0.37-0.58). Per 20% of scheduled workdays absent, systolic blood pressure was higher in the medium- and high-intensity groups. No significant effects were observed among sedentary workers.

Conclusions: Employees whose daily energy expenditure relies on job-related physical activity are especially susceptible to weight gain and blood pressure elevations during forced work interruptions. Business continuity plans should embed tailored countermeasures-such as structured exercise programs and phased returns to on-site duties-to safeguard metabolic health during future operational disruptions.

Objectives: Various factors influence urinary hippuric acid concentrations; however, the role of climatic factors on such concentrations has not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: This study examined the correlation between urinary hippuric acid concentrations and climatic factors. Data were obtained from health examinations of 2236 employees at a large manufacturing company who used organic solvents over a 3-year period. Each participant underwent a health examination for organic solvent use during both the summer (June to August) and winter (December to February). Urinary hippuric acid concentrations were log-transformed, and a linear mixed-effects model was applied to assess their association with average temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure recorded in Nagoya City, Japan.

Results: In a multivariate linear mixed-effects model including all meteorological variables, average temperature showed a significant positive association with log-transformed urinary hippuric acid concentrations (estimate = 0.013; 95% CI: 0.007-0.020; P < .001). This corresponds to an estimated 1.3% increase in urinary hippuric acid concentrations per 1°C rise in temperature. In contrast, neither average atmospheric pressure nor relative humidity showed a statistically significant association (P = .981 and P = .817, respectively). Among the confounding variables, smoking was significantly positively associated with concentration (P = .001), whereas alcohol consumption showed a significant negative association (P = .031).

Conclusions: Urinary hippuric acid concentrations exhibited seasonal variation among workers at a large manufacturing company, with elevated levels observed during the summer. These findings underscore the importance of considering climatic factors when interpreting urinary metabolic biomarkers.

Objectives: Biological exposure monitoring is particularly useful for understanding skin absorption of hazardous substances; however, existing measurement methods for aromatic amines show room for improvement, as they focus only on unchanged compounds. This study aimed to determine urinary concentrations of the unchanged compounds and metabolites of 3 aromatic amines (aniline, 2,4-dimethylaniline [m-xylidine], and 2-methylaniline [o-toluidine]) following enzymatic hydrolysis pretreatment, to calculate their proportions, and to assess markers for occupational biological exposure monitoring.

Methods: Urine samples were collected at the end of work shifts on consecutive days from 11 workers at a plant handling aromatic amines. Samples were enzymatically hydrolyzed using glucuronidase and sulfatase. The urinary concentrations of 25 substances were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Results: After exposure to the 3 aromatic amines, the major urinary excretion types were benzene ring-hydroxylated compounds, ring-hydroxylated and N-acetylated compounds, and side-chain methyl group oxides. The presence of unchanged and N-acetylated compounds was minor. Metabolism and urinary excretion were relatively different between the workers in our study and reported values from animal studies.

Conclusions: Excluding metabolites with low specificity, the sum of unchanged compounds and primary metabolites in urine could be a useful marker for biological exposure monitoring. Regarding aniline exposure, the relevant markers are the sum of aniline, N-acetyl-4-hydroxyaniline, and 2-hydroxyaniline. For 2,4-dimethylaniline exposure, the markers are the sum of 2,4-dimethylaniline, N-acetyl-4-carboxy-2-methylaniline, and 6-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylaniline. For 2-methylaniline exposure, the markers are the sum of 2-methylaniline, N-acetyl-4-hydroxy-2-methylaniline, 4-hydroxy-2-methylaniline, and 6-hydroxy-2-methylaniline. Urine sampling is recommended at the end of work shifts on consecutive working days.

Objectives: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent condition in Japan that negatively affects workers by reducing their productivity. However, previous studies primarily focused on patients with severe AR symptoms. This exploratory study aimed to examine the association between AR, including mild cases, and reduced work productivity in the general working population.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted between March and April 2024, recruiting adult workers living in the Kanto region through a health care center and affiliated companies. Absenteeism, presenteeism, and weekly economic costs were compared between individuals with and without AR. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the association between AR severity and productivity. A causal mediation analysis was also conducted to explore the indirect effects of depressive symptoms, positive and negative affect, and sleep quality on the association between AR and presenteeism.

Results: Of the 555 participants, 347 (62.5%) reported having AR, whereas 208 (37.5%) reported not having AR or were unsure. No significant differences were observed in absenteeism or presenteeism between the AR and non-AR/unknown groups. In the AR group, AR severity was significantly associated with increased presenteeism (unstandardized partial regression coefficient B = 4.19; 95% CI, 3.48-4.90; P < .001). Causal mediation analysis revealed a significant total natural indirect effect (TNIE) only for depressive symptoms (TNIE = 5.246; 95% CI, 0.059-10.432; P = .047).

Conclusions: In the nonclinical setting, the overall impact of AR on work productivity may be limited among Japanese workforces.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of incident cases and calculate the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of kidney cancer in a multicenter cohort study.

Methods: Baseline studies included 601 individuals across 12 factories manufacturing or recycling indium compounds between 2003 and 2006. In total, 341 individuals had undergone at least 1 follow-up health checkup by 2022. Of these, 128 individuals were examined from 2019 to 2022, with a mean follow-up duration of 17.1 years (range 13.3-18.4). The overall SIRs of kidney cancer were calculated.

Results: One female and 2 male incident cases of kidney cancer were identified at 3 different factories. The mean age was 55 years, and they were either smokers or secondhand smokers. The mean duration of indium exposure was 14.6 years, and the mean serum indium concentration at baseline was 2.3 μg/L (range <0.1-4.3 μg/L). One case consistently exhibited undetectable indium concentrations in both serum and kidney tissue. Another case involved double primary cancers of the lung and kidney. The expected number of kidney cancer cases based on the Japanese general population was 0.505. The overall SIR was 5.95 (95% CI, 2.02-17.47). Even after excluding the case with undetectable In-S and In-K levels, the overall and female SIRs remained significantly elevated (overall SIR 3.96; 95% CI, 1.09-14.44; female SIR 56.86; 95% CI, 9.80-314.69).

Conclusions: Indium exposure may contribute to the development of not only lung cancer but also kidney cancer in humans. Continued follow-up in the cohort study is warranted.

Objectives: To synthesize ocular and visual effects caused by occupational exposure to video display terminals (VDTs). Additionally, we aimed to identify the occupational and nonoccupational risk and protective factors related to these effects, and to propose a conceptual mapping to manage affected workers.

Methods: The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO and the systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A search of MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed to identify studies published between January 2006 and December 2023. Only primary studies were included. Study quality was assessed using a critical appraisal tool based on STROBE statements for cross-sectional studies and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network checklist for randomized controlled trials and cohort and case-control studies. Low-quality studies were excluded.

Results: Eighty-five articles were included, 50 of high quality. The main ocular and visual effects were computer vision syndrome, dry eye disease, and other isolated signs and symptoms. The main risk factors were the daily hours of VDT exposure, female gender, use of ophthalmic or contact lenses, increasing age, altered lighting conditions, and job seniority. Breaks, adequate workstation design, and ergonomic improvements were the main protective factors. Psychosocial factors and lifestyle behaviors also may influence ocular and visual health at work.

Conclusions: Wide methodological variations were found, making it difficult to compare studies. Nevertheless, an evidence-informed conceptual mapping has been proposed that could be used as a starting point to guide preventive measures in VDT work settings. Further research with appropriate epidemiological designs is needed to establish causal relationships or determine temporal sequences between exposures and outcomes.

Background: Return-to-work (RTW) support has become a growing priority in occupational health. Manual workers-who constitute over half of the global labor force-may face greater RTW barriers due to the physically demanding nature of their jobs. However, few studies have quantitatively compared the perceived RTW barriers between manual and nonmanual workers. This study aimed to compare perceived RTW barriers between manual and nonmanual workers with chronic conditions to inform the development of tailored support strategies.

Methods: We analyzed 219 employed adults, either actively working or on certified leave, who attended consultations at one particular hospital between September 2019 and June 2020 to obtain support for balancing work and medical treatment. Perceived RTW barriers were assessed with a validated 10-category yes/no structured checklist (personal: work ability/psychological/health literacy; workplace: structure/system/support; intersectoral/social). Logistic regression was performed to compare barriers between manual and nonmanual workers.

Results: Manual workers were significantly more likely to report barriers related to psychological impacts (odds ratio [OR] = 2.34) and workplace systems (OR = 2.88). Although work ability did not differ significantly by job type, it was the most frequently reported RTW barrier in both groups.

Conclusions: Manual workers’ RTW challenges are characterized by psychological and organizational barriers. RTW programs should assess psychological readiness before resumption of duties and provide managerial training to address anxiety and loss of confidence, while implementing job-specific accommodations such as phased tasks, ergonomic adjustments, and light duties in coordination with health care providers.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and sickness presenteeism by directly comparing data collected before, during, and after the pandemic.

Methods: We analyzed data from the fifth (conducted before the pandemic: July 2017 to November 2017), sixth (conducted during the pandemic: October 2020 to April 2021), and seventh (conducted after the pandemic: July 2023 to November 2023) Korean Working Conditions Surveys, comprising 114 140 workers. The primary outcome was self-reported sickness presenteeism, defined as attending work despite illness over the past 12 months. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between the COVID-19 period and sickness presenteeism after adjusting for demographic characteristics.

Results: The prevalence of sickness presenteeism significantly decreased from 20.9% (before the pandemic) to 17.2% (during the pandemic), and it further decreased to 6.9% (after the pandemic). After adjusting for demographic and workplace characteristics, the odds of sickness presenteeism were significantly lower during the pandemic (odds ratio [OR] 0.84; 95% CI, 0.80-0.87) than before. Furthermore, the odds further decreased after the pandemic (OR 0.35; 95% CI, 0.33-0.37) relative to during the pandemic.

Conclusions: Sickness presenteeism decreased across the COVID-19 pandemic periods in South Korea. This decrease was observed in relation to the implementation of government-mandated sick leave policies for infectious disease control, suggesting an association between policy enforcement and decreasing sickness presenteeism.

Objectives: The continuity of mental health problems from childhood to adulthood is well acknowledged, as is the impact on work ability. However, knowledge is scarce about individuals who maintain work ability and have no sickness absence (SA), despite mental health problems. The aim was to identify sociodemographic and health-related factors among private and public employees with a history of depression and/or anxiety, and no SA.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 9039 Swedish twin individuals born between 1975 and 1986, with and without a history of depression and/or anxiety, and employed in the private or public sectors. Survey data from 2005 were used to classify self-rated depression, anxiety, and overall health. Data on SA, education, occupational class, outpatient health care use, and prescribed antidepressants were obtained from national registries. Participants were prospectively followed for SA from 2006 to 2020. Logistic regression analyses were applied to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs.

Results: Approximately 37% of individuals with previous depression and/or anxiety were not on SA during follow-up, compared with 54% of those without such history. Lower use of antidepressants implied higher odds for no SA among both private (OR: 2.09; 95% CI, 1.64-2.66) and public (OR: 2.38; 95% CI, 1.78-3.19) employees with previous depression and/or anxiety. Having fewer visits to outpatient health care was significantly associated with no SA (ORs: 2.22-3.60). Being a white-collar worker implied higher odds for no SA only among those privately employed (OR: 1.39; 95% CI, 1.10-1.76).

Conclusions: Primarily, health-related factors seemed to play a role in no SA among young employees with previous depression and/or anxiety.

Objectives: This study examined the support provided by occupational physicians (OPs) in Japan to employees with long COVID, a condition that significantly affected workforce health during the pandemic.

Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed, consisting of qualitative interviews followed by a questionnaire survey targeting OPs certified by the Japan Society for Occupational Health. The interviews explored actual experiences of supporting workers with long COVID, and the findings were used to develop the questionnaire. The survey and interview findings were integrated to describe overall occupational health (OH) practices.

Results: Twenty OPs reported 30 cases of employees with long COVID in the interviews. Based on these findings, a questionnaire survey was conducted, yielding 182 valid responses. The integrated results showed that OPs most frequently reported “Main OH responses” such as active listening, return-to-work assistance, and lifestyle guidance. Measures such as explaining workers’ compensation applications and preparing lists of outpatient clinics were less frequently reported. For “Advice for employers,” limitation of overtime, reduction of workload, and telework were commonly reported, whereas demotion and reassignment were rarely reported.

Conclusions: This study clarified how OPs in Japan supported workers with long COVID through diverse, context-dependent practices. The identified main OH responses and advice for employers provide a framework for understanding current practices. Developing practical case examples, structured assessment tools, and workplace guidelines, together with further research grounded in real-world practice, will enhance OPs’ ability to provide appropriate support and strengthen preparedness for future health crises.

Objectives: The number of people with a chronic condition in the workforce is rising and the majority use medication. Medication self-management at work might be problematic. This study aimed to provide insight into the experiences of employees with balancing medication self-management and work.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were held with 18 individuals with a variety of chronic health conditions, occupations, and medications. Interviews were guided by a topic list, transcribed, and open-coded. Thematic analysis identified determinants and behaviors that play a role in the interaction between medication self-management and performance and well-being at work.

Results: Fifteen participants used medication at work, mostly as needed and often administered on the go or covertly. Medication use at work was often perceived as doable due to flexibility and already established routines. However, a cumulative complexity of integrating medication use into the workday, the degree of side effects, and people’s attitude towards openness could hinder successful integration of medication self-management at work. Participants adapted their medication schedule, made adjustments during their workday, and/or found ways to cope with these challenges emotionally. Medication often enabled work participation, although side effects of medication could impact workability, and (anticipated) stigma could affect the extent to which people can be themselves at work.

Conclusions: Medication self-management at work requires adaptability from individuals themselves, their colleagues, and employers. Fostering a culture of acceptance and understanding at work while providing practical support can enhance medication self-management practices and well-being at work.

Objectives: Work-time control (WTC) may influence sleep health by allowing workers to align schedules with their personal needs, but findings have been inconsistent. In South Korea, where long working hours and low autonomy are prevalent, further investigation is required. This study aimed to examine the association between WTC, sleep quality, and sleep duration in South Korean workers.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the fifth wave of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study, a nationwide panel survey of South Korean workers aged 19-70, were used. The analytical sample included 5183 paid employees. WTC was categorized as low or high, and sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, with poor sleep quality defined as a score ≥11. Short sleep duration was defined as <7 hours per night. Poisson regression was used to estimate the prevalence ratios (PRs) after adjusting for age, sex, education, income, occupation, working hours, and shift work.

Results: Low WTC was associated with a higher prevalence of poor sleep quality (PR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.09-1.77), adjusting for age, sex, education, income, occupation, working hours, and shift work. No significant association was found between WTC and short sleep duration. In the stratified analysis of weekly working hours among employees working 40-52 hours per week, there was a significant association between low WTC and poor sleep quality.

Conclusions: Lower WTC was associated with poorer sleep quality. Improving work-time autonomy may enhance sleep, particularly among workers with moderate weekly working hours (40-52 hours).

Objectives: Prolonged sitting time is gradually being recognized as detrimental to health. As technological advances have made workplaces increasingly sedentary, describing sitting time by occupation is useful for identifying at-risk groups and promoting occupational health. This study aimed to elucidate the differences in sedentary time according to occupation using a nationally representative sample.

Methods: Self-reported total sedentary (sitting or lying down during waking hours) time was obtained from the 2013 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Occupations were classified as professionals, managers, clerks, sales, service, protective services, agricultural/forestry/fishery workers, transport/machine operators, manufacturing/construction/cleaning laborers, homemakers, and unemployed individuals. Sedentary time by occupation was compared using an analysis of covariance adjusted for age and sex.

Results: A total of 4071 workers aged 20-64 years were analyzed. Age-adjusted sedentary time was longer in men than in women. The age-adjusted sedentary time among different occupations ranged from 280 to 499 min/d. The longest age-adjusted sedentary time was observed among clerks (499 min/d), followed by managers (437 min/d). In contrast, the shortest sedentary time was observed among agricultural/forestry/fishery workers (280 min/d). Clerks and managers had longer sedentary time on weekdays than on days off, whereas other occupations, including homemakers, did not.

Conclusions: Sedentary time differed substantially among occupations, with a variation of approximately 3.5 h/d. Prolonged sedentary time, a known health risk, may represent a substantial occupational exposure, particularly among clerical workers. Occupational health staff should monitor workers’ sedentary time to promote better occupational health outcomes.

Objectives: To explore the independent associations between serum lipids and low back pain (LBP) among male aircraft maintenance technicians after adjustment for ergonomic exposures.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 1713 male aircraft maintenance technicians. LBP and ergonomic exposures were assessed using the Chinese Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Quick Exposure Check, respectively. We measured fasting serum lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Associations were examined using binary and ordinal logistic regression models with sequential adjustments for personal and occupational covariates.

Results: The prevalence of LBP was 42.4%. After adjustment for potential confounders, the natural logarithm of TG (ln-TG) was positively associated with LBP presence (odds ratio [OR] 1.229; 95% CI, 1.020-1.480; P = .030) and intensity (OR 1.301; 95% CI, 1.097-1.542; P = .003), whereas HDL-C was inversely associated with LBP presence (OR 0.639; 95% CI, 0.438-0.932; P = .020). Categorical analysis identified key factors associated with higher LBP presence, including work experience of 5-9.9 years, high/very high back exposure, moderate/high work pace, high/very high stress, and borderline-high/high TG. The adjusted ORs for these key ergonomic exposures were higher than those for any lipid parameter.

Conclusions: Among male aircraft maintenance technicians, serum TG is an independent correlate of LBP after adjustment for ergonomic exposures. Given that ergonomic exposures are the predominant associated factors, prevention strategies should primarily focus on ergonomic interventions, with the management of serum lipids such as TG an adjunctive measure.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the current status of support activities for balancing medical treatment and work by company size and to examine their relationships with turnover rates.

Methods: Managers and human resources personnel registered with an internet research firm were surveyed. A total of 1500 subjects were incorporated in this anonymous online survey, with 300 subjects in each of the 5 tiers of company size. The questionnaire included company size, turnover rate, and 24 items of support activities for balancing treatment and work rated on a 4-point scale. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted on these 24 items. Adjusted means were calculated for each factor score by company size using analysis of covariance, with post hoc tests to identify specific differences among company sizes. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships between initiatives and turnover rates.

Results: A CFA supported a 7-factor model of support activities. Significant differences among company sizes were found for 5 factors. For example, fostering a workplace climate that facilitates balancing treatment and work showed higher scores among companies with fewer than 50 employees. Associations between various initiatives for treatment-work balance and turnover rates varied by company size.

Conclusions: This study revealed that multifaceted initiatives for balancing treatment and work, assessed using a 7-factor, 24-item index, differed by company size and were associated with turnover rates. These findings provide important implications for promoting support for balancing treatment and work across companies of all sizes.

Objectives: Work-related stress is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the contributions of specific work-related stressors, support, and satisfaction to CVD incidence are not fully understood. Clarifying whether lifestyle behaviors and physiological factors mediate associations between stressors and CVD is essential for targeted prevention.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, a cohort of 4820 Japanese workers (3876 men and 944 women) aged 35-65 years was followed up for CVD incidence from 2007 to 2022. Work-related stressors (eg, quantitative job overload), support (eg, supervisor support), and satisfaction (eg, family life satisfaction) were assessed using the 57-item Brief Job Stress Questionnaire. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for CVD risk. Mediation analysis evaluated the role of lifestyle behaviors (eg, smoking, alcohol consumption) and physiological factors (eg, systolic blood pressure, obesity) in the association between stressors and CVD incidence.

Results: Quantitative job overload, low supervisor support, and low family life satisfaction were independently associated with increased CVD incidence (HRs ranging from 1.69 to 2.33). A proportion (24.9%) of the association of quantitative job overload with CVD was significantly mediated by obesity (P = .007).

Conclusions: Quantitative job overload, lack of supervisor support, and low family life satisfaction were significant predictors of CVD among Japanese civil servants. These findings suggest that both reducing excessive workload and strengthening support systems inside and outside the workplace may be important for CVD prevention among Japanese civil servants.

Objectives: Inappropriate telework environments, including work-from-home (WFH) settings, have been linked to physical and mental health problems. However, no systematic assessment has been conducted regarding the WFH environment (WFH-E). The aim of this study was to clarify the current methods used to assess the WFH-E and its association with health- and work-related outcomes through a scoping review.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Ichushi for literature published since 2010 on WFH-E assessment. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, assessment methods were summarized using 18 items categorized into 9 domains. Additionally, associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes were reviewed.

Results: Of 1669 articles collected, 37 studies published from 2020 were ultimately included in this review. Thirty-four articles involved subjective assessments, and 9 involved objective assessments. The most frequently assessed item was artificial lighting, followed by thermal conditions and noise. Items such as color, greenery, building materials, and odor were rarely assessed. Most studies showed significant associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes.

Conclusions: Studies on the WFH-E increased following the COVID-19 pandemic, showing significant associations between the WFH-E and health- and work-related outcomes. However, most assessments were subjective, with objective assessments remaining rare. Additionally, the assessment items were limited and biased, indicating that interior design elements were insufficiently assessed. Developing additional objective and comprehensive methods for assessing the WFH-E is needed.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Canadian health care workers (HCWs) and identify motivators for COVID-19 vaccination, compared with the general population (GPop).

Methods: As part of the iCARE study, 4 cross-sectional age-, sex-, and province-weighted population-based samples of 12 009 Canadians aged 18+ years were recruited between May 2021 and February 2022. Participants self-reported HCW and vaccine status.

Results: A total of 738 participants identified as HCWs, with 8.5% being vaccine hesitant, versus 12.6% of the GPop (P = .005). In multivariate analyses, those with a chronic disease were less likely (HCW odds ratio [OR] = 0.34; GPop OR = 0.77) and parents with children <18 years of age in the household were more likely (HCW OR = 2.29; GPop OR = 1.39) to be vaccine hesitant. Needing only a single-dose vaccine (86%; 82.6%), and vaccine safety (46%; 42%) and effectiveness (38%; 37%) were most likely to motivate hesitant HCWs and GPop to get vaccinated.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight less vaccine hesitancy in HCWs compared with the GPop, despite demographic and motivator correlates being similar. In terms of policy implications, shared interventions emphasizing vaccine safety, reduced illness severity, shorter disease duration, and the advantages of single-dose options may benefit all groups.

Objectives: Special health examinations in Japan lack standardized judgment guidelines, potentially leading to wide variation in outcomes. This study quantified inter-institutional differences in abnormal-finding rates for examinations targeting specified chemical substances and organic solvents, and examined whether institutional judgment criteria are associated with these rates.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 115 facilities affiliated with the National Federation of Industrial Health Organizations (Zen-Eiren). Facilities reported abnormal-finding rates for fiscal years 2022-2024. Physicians’ judgment criteria were assessed using case vignettes addressing the use of exposure information and biological monitoring. Associations between rates and judgment criteria were evaluated using nonparametric tests (Spearman rank correlation; Wilcoxon rank-sum).

Results: Valid responses were obtained from 45 facilities (39.1%). Abnormal-finding rates for specified chemical substances and organic solvent examinations were strongly correlated within facilities. For organic solvent examinations, facilities that did not emphasize the exposure-finding association reported higher abnormal-finding rates than those that did. A similar, but nonsignificant trend was observed for specified chemical substance examinations (P = .066). Abnormal finding rates tended to rise when biological monitoring alone triggered abnormalities and nonoccupational factors were not excluded in both examinations.

Conclusions: Major special health examinations in Japan show substantial inter-institutional variation in abnormal-finding rates, partly explained by differences in judgment criteria-particularly the weight placed on linking clinical findings to workplace exposure. Establishing standardized national guidelines is essential to improve consistency, reliability, and system effectiveness.

Objectives: To develop and validate a predictive model for mental health-related sick leave using data from Japan’s Stress Check program linked with personnel records (demographics and sick-leave history), and to evaluate its predictive performance compared with the conventional high-stress classification.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of employees (2020-2024) in a 14-company corporate group spanning diverse occupations. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was developed using data from 2020-2023, with company and year as random intercepts. Variable robustness was confirmed through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression. Model calibration and discrimination were evaluated using the Brier score and area under the curve (AUC), respectively. The model was temporally validated on 2024 data.

Results: Among 87 138 person-years in the development phase, 695 employees took mental health-related sick leave (0.8%). Seven predictors-younger age, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, low job control, poor job suitability, and low coworker support-were significantly associated with sick leave. The recalibrated model showed good discrimination (AUC = 0.708) and calibration (Brier score = 0.0079) in development, and higher performance in validation (AUC = 0.819; Brier score = 0.0026). The conventional high-stress classification performed poorly.

Conclusions: The proposed model demonstrated robust predictive validity and outperformed the conventional high-stress classification. By providing quantitative and continuous risk stratification within the Stress Check framework, it offers a practical approach to support risk-based prioritization and decision-making in occupational health practice.

Objectives: Firefighters face a disproportionately high risk of developing cancer due to occupational exposure to carcinogens, including combustion byproducts, diesel exhaust, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in firefighting foams and protective gear. This study aimed to systematically review existing literature on cancer risks among firefighters, with particular attention to exposures, prevention strategies, and decontamination practices, and to propose a novel model addressing current gaps.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Peer-reviewed articles, international reports, and high-quality training materials were included. A total of 37 records were included in the final review. Data were synthesized across thematic areas relevant to firefighter cancer risk.

Results: Five key themes were identified: (1) cancer incidence and mortality, (2) occupational exposure sources, (3) basic prevention practices, (4) gear hygiene, and (5) station decontamination models. The review also identified a critical gap in current decontamination protocols for volunteer firefighters in rural areas, who often respond to emergencies using personal vehicles. To address this, we proposed a novel, volunteer-specific decontamination framework, the Schutte Model, adapting existing best practices to minimize carcinogen transfer during gear transport.

Conclusions: This study provides both an evidence-based synthesis and a novel intervention model. Findings underscore the urgent need for inclusive, low-cost, and culturally tailored prevention strategies to reduce cancer risks among all firefighters, particularly volunteers operating in under-resourced and decentralized contexts.

Objectives This scoping review aimed to assess the role of machine learning in workplace mental health research by systematically analyzing existing studies to understand current methodologies, applications, and trends.

Methods We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including EBSCO, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, PsycINFO, IEEE, and ACM, screening a total of 5600 abstracts. Altogether, we analyzed 92 journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters published before September 2025.

Results Since 2020, there has been a notable increase in publications on the topic. Studies have mainly employed cross-sectional designs (73%) and workplace questionnaires (51%) targeting specific occupational groups (67%), particularly from Asia excluding China (41%). Supervised learning methods, such as Random Forest and Neural Networks, have been frequently utilized to investigate conditions like depression, burnout, and anxiety. Most studies predicting mental health at work using machine learning are currently conducted by data scientists as single-measurement studies, whereas longitudinal studies from medicine, epidemiology, social sciences, or behavioral sciences are comparatively rare. In the context of machine learning, prediction denotes the model's ability to infer outcomes based on input data. However, most publications do not systematically analyze the temporal dynamics of mental health or forecast mental health outcomes from an epidemiological perspective.

Conclusions The application of machine learning in occupational mental health research remains in its preliminary stages, with a primary focus on methodology and computer science. The review highlights the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration to fully leverage the potential of machine learning in advancing occupational health research.

Objectives 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol (2EH) is a volatile organic compound that can cause sick building syndrome and can be released from flooring materials for more than 10 years through the hydrolysis of compounds with 2-ethylhexyl moieties. Previous studies using mice have raised concerns about tissue-damaging effects on the olfactory epithelium (OE), olfactory bulb (OB), brain, lungs, and skin. A subchronic mouse study observed degeneration of OE at concentrations as low as 20 ppm. However, the effects of long-term exposure to 2EH remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the histopathological effects of chronic exposure to 2EH relative to its airborne concentration.

Methods Ten-week-old male ICR mice were exposed to 0, 0.5, 10, or 100 ppm 2EH by inhalation for 8 h/d, 5 d/wk, for 6 months. Subsequently, histopathological analysis was conducted.

Results At 0.5 ppm, acute and chronic inflammation were observed in the OE and alveoli, with tissue repair in the OE, and thickening of the epithelium and smooth muscle in the bronchi. Metaplasia of OE in the respiratory epithelium was induced at 10 and 100 ppm. At all concentrations, the number of mature neurons in the OE and immature neurons in the OB decreased, suggesting that olfactory nerve activity was suppressed. Fibroblasts increased in the dorsal skin. Microglia in the hippocampus and amygdala increased in number.

Conclusions Chronic inhalation exposure at airborne concentrations of 2EH as low as 0.5 ppm caused inflammation in the OE, OB, segmental bronchi, and alveoli, and affected the target area of OB neurons.

Objectives While the health issues of expatriates have predominantly been investigated in the context of assignments to developing countries, there is a paucity of research addressing Japanese expatriates stationed in the United States, which is a developed country.

Methods This study employed quantitative content analysis, using the text mining software KH Coder 3 on records obtained from 17 Japanese expatriates who participated in interviews with an occupational physician during a US medical tour in May 2025.

Results The interview records comprised 7856 words and 440 sentences. Co-occurrence network analysis extracted 6 factors: The following subjects were examined: “Family life and daily challenges,” “Extended working hours and meetings between Japan and the United States,” “Comprehensive health checkups (Ningen Dock) and patterns of health care utilization,” “Health checkups and test results,” “Workload and stress,” and “Physical inactivity and weight gain.” Among these, the factor with the highest frequency of constituent terms was “Extended working hours and meetings between Japan and the United States.”

Conclusions Japanese expatriates encounter considerable health challenges, including difficulties in daily life, limited access to medical care, insufficient physical activity, and the substantial burden of work and meetings that extend late into the night owing to time differences. Global companies should ensure appropriate management of health- and work-related issues, even in assignments to developed countries, with particular attention to support systems, such as adjusting meeting schedules and providing family support.

Objectives To develop a Workplace Health Initiatives Checklist for Women (WHIC‑W), we assessed content validity (expert) and provided initial evidence for construct validity by examining hypothesized cross-sectional associations with burnout, productivity, and job satisfaction.

Methods A multidisciplinary expert panel comprising gynecologists, occupational physicians, nurses, industrial hygienists, and psychosomatic specialists created 26 items for the WHIC‑W. A survey was conducted in October 2023 with 3343 working women aged 20-69 years. The checklist includes 2 domains: Domain 1 (15 items on work environment) and Domain 2 (11 items on pregnancy, child/elderly care, and support for balancing illness and work). The outcome included the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, work productivity using presenteeism (WHO Health and Work Performance Questionnaire) and absenteeism (health-related days off in the past 28 days), satisfaction rated on a visual analog scale (0-10), and intention to resign over the past year.

Results The checklist was scored on a 26-point scale, with a median score of 3 (interquartile range: 1-9), indicating limited workplace support for women. Higher checklist total scores were associated with lower personal burnout (β = −0.32, 95% CI: −0.435 to −0.196), work-related burnout (β = −0.30, 95% CI: −0.395 to −0.207), and client-related burnout (β = −0.17, 95% CI: −0.276 to −0.065), and higher absolute presenteeism (β = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.336-0.516; higher score = less performance loss), absenteeism (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.001-1.021), and satisfaction (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.055-1.079).

Conclusions This study provides preliminary construct validity evidence supporting WHIC-W as a formative checklist, with higher scores showing hypothesized cross-sectional associations with lower burnout, better productivity, and job satisfaction.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association between handedness and the incidence of occupational accidents among Japanese workers.

Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted from March to December 2023. Among 9451 workers at the baseline, 6156 responded to the follow-up. Participants who reported working fewer than 20 days per month and those with weekly working hours of less than 30 hours were excluded from the analysis, leaving 4016 participants for final analysis. We assessed handedness using the FLANDERS Handedness Questionnaire at baseline and occupational accident experiences at follow-up. We used adjusted Poisson regression analysis to calculate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of occupational accidents among participants. The multivariate-adjusted model was adjusted for covariates: age, sex, education, industry, working hours, work style (day, shift, night, others), and sleeping time. The IRR and 95% CI were subsequently calculated.

Results Of the participants, 3646 were right-handed, 193 mixed-handed, and 177 left-handed. Occupational accidents were reported by 181(5.0%) of right-handed, 19 (9.8.%) of mixed-handed, and 11 (6.2%) of left-handed participants. Compared with right-handed participants, the IRR for occupational accidents was significantly elevated in mixed-handed participants (IRR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.17-2.88). However, no significant difference was observed in left-handed participants (IRR = 1.13; 95% CI, 0.63-2.04).

Conclusions Mixed-handedness is associated with a higher incidence of occupational accidents. In contrast, left-handedness does not confer additional risk.

Objectives Research on the impact of ergonomic risk factors on neuropathic pain is limited. Accordingly, this study investigated the relationship between ergonomic risk exposure and neuropathic pain in a population of South Korean workers.

Methods Data were obtained from the third and fourth rounds of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study. Neuropathic pain was identified using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) screening tool. The association between ergonomic risk factors and neuropathic pain was analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were estimated after adjusting for relevant confounding factors.

Results Two-wheeled vehicle operation (OR = 3.66; 95% CI, 1.26-10.58), manual material handling (OR = 2.81; 95% CI, 1.63-4.85), kneeling or squatting (OR = 2.47; 95% CI, 1.35-4.53), repetitive hand or finger motions (OR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.38-3.19), trunk flexion, extension, or lateral bending (OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.25-3.63), and wrist twisting, pushing or pulling with upper limbs (OR = 1.90; 95% CI, 1.08-3.34) were significantly associated with neuropathic pain in the fully-adjusted model.

Conclusions This study supports a link between ergonomic risk factors and neuropathic pain among South Korean workers.

Objectives The competencies required of occupational health nurses (OHNs) to effectively address increasingly complex occupational health needs require systematic clarification. This scoping review aimed to comprehensively examine occupational health nursing competencies by mapping their scope, definitions, and practical applications.

Methods This study adopted a scoping review methodology to systematically summarize key concepts and knowledge. Literature searches were conducted using the Ichushi Web and PubMed databases, covering studies published between 2015 and 2025. Keywords included “occupational health nursing” and “competencies.” Peer-reviewed studies published in English or Japanese were included. Two researchers independently conducted primary and secondary screenings, resulting in the selection of 31 studies based on predefined eligibility criteria.

Results Thirty-one studies were included in the review. Occupational health nursing competencies were described as both basic competencies, essential for all OHNs, and advanced competencies, which are demonstrated by proficient nurses and associated with high performance. The competencies were categorized into 4 domains: “foundations of occupational health nursing,” including professionalism and communication; “coordination,” including relationship building; “management,” including Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA)-based management; and “occupational health activities,” including health promotion and consultation.

Conclusions Occupational health nursing competencies span basic to advanced levels and integrate knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes required for effective occupational health practice. These competencies highlight the importance of foundational expertise, collaborative coordination, systematic management, and practical occupational health activities. The findings provide a framework that may support the development of structured education and training programs to strengthen occupational health nursing practice in increasingly complex work environments.

Objectives Workplace violence (WPV) is increasing globally, and nurses are disproportionately affected. While WPV has been studied in high-risk units such as emergency departments and mental health units, less is known about violence in general medical and surgical hospital wards, where most nurses work. WPV exacerbates nursing workforce shortages, especially in rural hospitals, which already face staffing challenges. In rural areas, previous research indicates that nurses’ familiarity with patients and visitors makes patient-initiated violence more complex, and limited resources may mean a lack of on-site security and reduced local police presence. This study aimed to describe generalist nurses’ experiences of WPV by patients and visitors in acute hospital wards, with particular attention to rural settings where reported.

Methods A scoping review using PRISMA-ScR guidelines identified relevant peer-reviewed studies via CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Scopus.

Results Of 165 records, 12 met the inclusion criteria. No included studies directly reported rural hospital generalist nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, and evidence for this cohort could not be isolated. Four themes emerged: high prevalence of violence, underreporting, contributing factors, and negative impacts. Most generalist nurses reported experiencing WPV, with increased risk when inpatients were awaiting care-facility beds. These negative outcomes both result from, and contribute to, workforce shortages.

Conclusions Despite recognition of the issue, there is little evidence on patient-/visitor-initiated violence in rural hospital general wards. Further research is needed to understand how such violence affects nurses’ safety, patient care quality, and workforce sustainability in rural areas, to inform policies.

Objectives Participatory organizational interventions (POIs) may improve workers’ mental health and work performance, but evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cluster-randomized controlled trials (cRCTs) remains limited. The meta-analysis has not been updated since it was published in 2015; a previous study focused on health care workers; and potential outcomes have not been adequately examined. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of POIs on mental health and work performance among workers.

Methods The current study searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society for papers published up until November 11, 2022. Eligible studies were cRCTs assessing the effects of POIs on mental health or work performance. The risks of bias were evaluated by using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for cRCTs and meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model.

Results Fourteen cRCTs were included in the systematic review, and 8 cRCTs in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed a nonsignificant beneficial effect on mental health conditions [standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.04; 95% CI, −0.10 to 0.03], positive mental health (SMD = −0.004, 95% CI, −0.077 to 0.068), and work performance (SMD = 0.01; 95% CI, −0.10 to 0.13).

Conclusions This study did not confirm that POIs had a statistically significant effect on mental health or work performance. However, several studies that reported favorable results tended to emphasize active and structured participation, alignment with workers’ needs, and attention to organizational context. Further research is needed to identify the conditions under which the interventions are effective.

Objectives Prolonged reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with impaired health and chronic diseases. Despite this connection, it remains unclear which psychosocial job demands are the strongest predictors of reduced HRV and poorer health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the most relevant psychosocial job demands that predict reduced HRV.

Methods The study participants were 163 municipal employees (86% female, mean age 47) who responded to a survey on psychosocial job demands and measured their electrocardiography-based HRV over 4 consecutive nights during a normal work week. The root mean square of successive RR intervals (RMSSD) was used as an indicator of autonomic nervous system activity mediated by the vagus nerve. Hierarchical mixed model regression analysis included psychosocial job demands and the most relevant individual factors and occupational sector as a nested random effect. Dominance analysis (DA) was used to assess all the variable combinations to identify the most significant determinants of HRV across the regression models.

Results The participants’ RMSSD was stable over the measurement period. DA ranked the participants’ age as the factor that most affected RMSSD. The psychosocial job demands that seemed to be the most relevant for RMSSD were encountering bullying and violence at work, ethically challenging situations at work, and effort-reward imbalance. Gender was ranked as the fourth factor.

Conclusions These results need to be confirmed in further studies, but they suggest that workplace bullying and violence as well as ethically challenging situations at work might have the greatest effect on HRV among public sector employees.

Objectives This study aimed to develop a method for measuring airborne concentrations of tert-butylphenols (tert-BPs) to assess workers' occupational exposure.

Methods Air samples were collected using an XAD-7 sorbent tube. tert-BPs were desorbed from the sorbent with methanol, and their concentrations in the desorbed solutions were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Method validation included evaluation of retention efficiency, storage stability, method quantitation limit, and reproducibility.

Results The retention efficiencies for 2-tert-BP, 3-tert-BP, and 4-tert-BP in the XAD-7 sorbent tube were 89%-97%, 93%-96%, and 95%-96%, respectively. Relative standard deviations, reflecting the overall reproducibility of the proposed method, ranged from 0.5% to 5.9% for all tert-BPs. tert-BPs remained stable on the XAD-7 sorbent tube for at least 7 days at 4°C. The method quantitation limit was 0.118 μg/sample for each tert-BP.

Conclusions The developed method provides a robust and reproducible approach for assessing occupational exposure to airborne tert-BPs, enabling accurate determination within a concentration range of 0.8-160 ppb. This method can facilitate more precise risk assessments in occupational environments.

Objectives It is well established that participation in community activities is positively associated with mental and physical health and overall well-being. However, little is known about the effect of community activities on work. We investigated the association between work engagement (measured in 2023) and frequency of worker participation in 2 types of community activities: community contribution activities and hobby-learning activities (measured in 2022).

Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study comprising a baseline survey in 2022 and a follow-up survey in 2023. The sample comprised workers aged ≥20 years from different industries in Japan. Data for 14 526 participants aged 20-65 years were analyzed. Participants answered an online questionnaire to report the frequency of 2 types of community activities. Work engagement was assessed using the Japanese version of the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. We used multiple regression analysis.

Results The multivariate analysis showed that participation in community contribution activities was significantly associated with higher work engagement compared with no participation (B = 1.18; 95% CI, 0.38-1.98 for at least once per week; B = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.38-1.64 for 1-3 times per month; and B = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.16-0.76 for several times per year). Participation in hobby-learning activities was significantly associated with higher work engagement compared with no participation (B = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.16-1.22 for at least once per week).

Conclusions Our findings suggest a potential association between participation in community activities and higher work engagement.

Objectives Submarine environments pose unique challenges to maintaining physical activity due to space constraints, operational demands, and prolonged confinement. This review aims to synthesize existing literature on the health and performance consequences of reduced physical activity in submarine personnel and to examine feasible strategies to mitigate these effects during deployment.

Methods A narrative overview methodology was adopted, with peer-reviewed studies identified from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Articles examining physical activity patterns, health outcomes, and exercise or movement-based interventions in submarine environments and comparable confined operational settings were included.

Results Submarine deployments are consistently associated with reduced physical activity, low step counts, and limited opportunities for structured exercise. Prolonged inactivity during deployment may contribute to unfavorable changes in body composition, including increases in fat mass, potential reductions in muscle mass, and in some contexts, alterations in bone health. Collectively, these changes may increase longer-term cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal risk, particularly with repeated deployments. Practical, low-burden strategies such as increasing daily movement, no-load or bodyweight resistance exercise, and minimal-dose eccentric-focused training appear feasible within submarine constraints and may help preserve health and physical function.

Conclusions Maintaining physical health during submarine deployments requires proactive, context-specific approaches compatible with the operational environment. Low-resource exercise strategies that emphasize maintenance of activity, rather than performance optimization, may provide a practical means of mitigating health and performance declines during deployment. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effectiveness and implementation of these approaches in submarine populations.