School-age children increasingly use smartphones to conduct their learning activities; increasing reports of disorders related to smartphone use exist, including visual-related symptoms, stress, and musculoskeletal pain. This study aimed to examine risk factors for musculoskeletal pain among primary school students using smartphones. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 233 school-aged children in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Data collection used a questionnaire for musculoskeletal symptoms using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire with ISO 11,226:2000. Through Chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression analysis, factors independently associated with musculoskeletal pain were determined. An important factor in the development of musculoskeletal pain was the prolonged use of smartphones for longer than 60 min, particularly among children aged 6–9 years old. In regards to musculoskeletal pain, almost 53% of the students used their smartphones while lying down. Posing in a prone position while using a smartphone was 7.37 times more dangerous than sitting. The laying position tilts numerous organs at varying angles, especially the upper arm. The risk of musculoskeletal complaints must be reduced by educating parents, children, and the relevant government organizations about safe smartphone usage. The mentioned factors may be used to anticipate the onset of musculoskeletal pain caused by smartphone use in young children.

The playground is perhaps the one area where school children feel like they can roam free, and public playgrounds provide many learning opportunities through different types of play. A cross-sectional descriptive study is presented with the objective of studying playground safety and the play behavior of primary school children at a park in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. The total number of playground equipment pieces was 22, the sample group of children was 362 children, and the data were collected using a playground safety survey and an observation form on playground play behavior. Data were collected from 2017 to 2018 and were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency, average, and standard deviation. The research showed that: (1) the most common defects of playground equipment included the material selection, the distance of the stair steps, and the height of the playground equipment; (2) the lack of awareness of children in terms of using the playground equipment safely; and (3) the three top risks in the play behavior of children were not checking equipment or toys before play, playing on the equipment over-adventurously, and playing on the equipment carelessly with friends. Related government agencies should provide support and management for playground areas and playground equipment by continuously implementing equipment checks, improvements, and repairs.

Introduction and objective. The palm quality selection process has risks of problems in ergonomics. The aim of this research is to study the factors related to musculoskeletal disorders in quality control palm workers at palm purchasing establishments in Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Materials and method. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 workers with musculoskeletal disorders, as assessed by the Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Disease, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. Ergonomic risk assessment was performed using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and the data studied with the help of descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 19. Results. The sample included 96% of males with an average age of 34.2 years (SD=11.09). The participants used pickup trucks to transport palm oil from the plantation. 72% of the workers had worked at the plantation for 4.9 +/- 4.9 years; 54% did not work overtime. The average amount of palm oil collection for palm quality control was 23.5 +/- 11.3 tons/day. Quality control palm workers using sidecars (28%) were found to be moderately at risk, and those using trucks (72%) were at a high level of risk. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders after one year at work was 78%. The amount of palm oil controlled per day, working overtime, car type used for transport, and ergonomics risk level, were significantly related to musculoskeletal disorders in quality control palm workers (p-value <0.05). Conclusions. The results indicate a need for the top management and health-related personnel to promote occupational health and safety measures for quality control palm workers.

The number of security guards in universities, has significantly increased. This study aimed to predict work ability of university security guards. A cross-sectional study of 97 university security guards in Thailand was performed. Data were collected through interviews using a questionnaire covering social demographics, behavioral health, and work ability. The data were analyzed using Chi-squared tests and logistic regression models. The average Work Ability Index (WAI) score was 38.1 ± 3.8, with 65.0% of participants scoring 'good'. Social support significantly influenced WAI (p = 0.004). Those with insufficient support were 4.3 times more likely to show poor workability. Mental health also impacted WAI (p = 0.006); those with poor mental health were 4.7 times at risk. Additionally, work experience affected WAI (p = 0.039). Those with over five years of experience showed reduced work ability compared to their less-experienced counterparts (AOR = 0.4; 95% CI [0.20, 0.96]). Supervisors should provide social support and offer rewards and commendations to enhance employees' abilities, health behaviors, and management of underlying diseases. Additionally, organizations should prioritize health and safety in workplace to ensure that their employees are healthier and perform their tasks more effectively.