Objectives Evening and night work have been associated with higher risk of injury than day work. However, previous findings may be affected by recall bias and unmeasured confounding from differences between day, evening and night workers. This study investigates whether evening and night work during the past week increases risk of injury when reducing recall bias and unmeasured confounding. Methods We linked daily working hours at the individual level of 69 200 employees (167 726 person years from 2008–2015), primarily working at hospitals to registry information on 11 834 injuries leading to emergency room visits or death. Analyses were conducted with Poisson regression models in the full population including permanent day, evening and night workers, and in two sub-populations of evening and night workers, with both day and evening or night work, respectively. Thus, the exchangeability between exposure and reference group was improved in the two sub-populations. Results Risk of injury was higher after a week with evening work [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–1.37] and night work (IRR 1.33, 95% CI 1.25–1.41) compared with only day work. Similar, although attenuated, estimates were found for evening work among evening workers (IRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.12–1.25), and for night work among night workers (IRR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01–1.20). Conclusion There is an overall increased risk of injury after a week that has included evening or night work compared with only day work. Though attenuated, the higher risk remains after reducing unmeasured confounding.

Background: The logging industry is recognized as one of the most dangerous professions in the U.S., but little is known about safety management practices on remote logging sites.Methods: A total of six focus group sessions were held among logging supervisors and front line crew members in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas (N = 27 participants).Results: Participants perceived that logging was a dangerous profession, but its risks had been mitigated in several ways, most notably through mechanization of timber harvesting. Log trucking‐related incidents were widely identified as the primary source of risk for injury and death on logging work sites. Human error, in general, and being out of the machinery on the work site were highlighted as additional sources of risk.Conclusions: Participants indicated high levels of personal motivation to work in a safe manner but tended to underestimate workplace hazards and expressed widely varying levels of co‐worker trust. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:58–68, 2017.

Objective: Health care workers are at risk for work-related asthma, which may be affected by changes in cleaning practices. We examined associations of cleaning tasks and products with work-related asthma in health care workers in 2016, comparing them with prior results from 2003. Methods: We estimated asthma prevalence by professional group and explored associations of self-reported asthma with job-exposure matrix–based cleaning tasks/products in a representative Texas sample of 9914 physicians, nurses, respiratory/occupational therapists, and nurse aides. Results: Response rate was 34.8% (n = 2421). The weighted prevalence rates of physician-diagnosed (15.3%), work-exacerbated (4.1%), and new-onset asthma (6.7%) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness symptoms (31.1%) were similar to 2003. New-onset asthma was associated with building surface cleaning (odds ratio [OR], 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–3.33), use of ortho-phthalaldehyde (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.15–2.72), bleach/quaternary compounds (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.10–3.33), and sprays (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.12–3.47). Conclusion: Prevalence of asthma/bronchial hyperresponsiveness seems unchanged, whereas associations of new-onset asthma with exposures to surface cleaning remained, and decreased for instrument cleaning.

Bullying victimization in childhood and adolescence is a global health priority, but little is known about the long‐term economic impacts of bullying on the victim. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between bullying victimization in pre‐ or early adolescence and young adult income in a representative cohort of US youths. Data from a nationally representative longitudinal survey were analyzed. A total of 525 US youth‐completed surveys that included questions on bullying victimization in 2002/2003 (at ages 9–14 years) and 2007/2008 (at ages 14–18 years) as well as provided their income at age 25 (±1 year) (mean follow‐up time: 13.2 years). Associations between different types of bullying victimization (e.g., verbal and physical) and income at age 25 (±1 year) were assessed using multivariable linear regression, stratified by gender. Approximately half of participants reported being picked on at least once in the past month, and about one‐fourth reported being left out of activities at least once in the past month. Bullying victimization at ages 9–14 years was negatively associated with income levels later in life, but victimization at older ages was not. Only two exposures were associated with adult income when adjusting for sociodemographic covariates: being left out of things and having your things taken by others. Among females, reporting being left out of things at least 2–3 days per week was associated with decreased adulthood income. Among males, having your things taken about once per week or more was significantly associated with income, but the pattern was inconsistent. This study provides evidence of differences in the relationship between bullying victimization and income between males and females, with females’ income differences associated with less aggressive forms of bullying than males.

Adult-onset asthma, notably prevalent among healthcare professionals, especially nurses, is often attributed to occupational factors such as exposure to cleaning agents. Studies consistently underscore the substantial role of such exposure in work-related asthma among hospital staff. We aimed to (a) identify and characterize current practices in cleaning and aerosolized medication administration; (b) assess changes in practices since a similar 2003 study of Texas healthcare workers; and (c) identify factors contributing to diverse exposures within healthcare job categories. We conducted focus groups with 38 participants in 6 healthcare settings, analyzing current practices, changes since 2003, and factors contributing to exposure diversity. We used a three-step approach for data analysis, including sociodemographic characterization, a scissor-and-sort technique for exposure description, and qualitative content analysis. Participants were primarily healthcare providers (76%) and housekeepers/cleaners (11%) who reported exposure to aerosolized medications, cleaning products, adhesives, and solvents. Participants reported transitioning from cleaning practices to new formulas with reduced odors and shifting from spray cleansers to wipes. Personal protective equipment (PPE) used during cleaning tasks varied, with training differing among job categories. Aerosolized medication administration varied among facilities, with reported medication types and protocol changes over time. The results emphasized the significance of maintaining uniform protection, disseminating knowledge, and consistently adhering to PPE protocols in the healthcare environment. Addressing the identified gaps in comprehension and potential sources of exposure variability requires additional focus on occupational health and safety initiatives.