Work-related stress among sworn and non-sworn law enforcement personnel.

Sworn law enforcement personnel in the United States face high rates of work-related stress. Yet, the well-being of more than 300,000 non-sworn personnel, particularly regarding work-related trauma and stress, remains underexplored. This study aims to test the hypothesis that non-sworn personnel experience lower levels of stress, comparing stress and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) between sworn and non-sworn personnel.

Acute work-related injuries among older adults in the USA on Medicare, 2016-2019: a national longitudinal study.

Objectives: Work-related injuries are only partially captured for older workers in the USA, likely due to low sensitivity of traditional data sources, such as workers' compensation, to capture non-fatal incidents. Using claims from Medicare, the primary health insurance of most US adults after age 65, we identified and described work-related injuries among Medicare enrollees aged 65 years and older.

Methods: We identified injury claims from 2016 to 2019 Medicare inpatient and outpatient claims for aged 65+ Medicare fee-for-service enrollees.

Impacts of COVID-19 on Stress in Middle School Teachers and Staff in Minnesota: An Exploratory Study Using Random Forest Analysis.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted many occupations, teachers and school staff have faced unique challenges related to remote and hybrid teaching, less contact with students, and general uncertainty. This study aimed to measure the associations between specific impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and stress levels in Minnesota educators. A total of 296 teachers and staff members from eight middle schools completed online surveys between May and July of 2020.

Characteristics and Risk Factors for Electric Scooter-Related Crashes and Injury Crashes among Scooter Riders: A Two-Phase Survey Study.

Electric scooters (or e-scooters) are among the most popular micromobility options that have experienced an enormous expansion in urban transportation systems across the world in recent years. Along with the increased usage of e-scooters, the increasing number of e-scooter-related injuries has also become an emerging global public health concern. However, little is known regarding the risk factors for e-scooter-related crashes and injury crashes.

Risk factors for occupational injuries in schools among educators and support staff.

Introduction: School districts employ a large number of employees who work in educational (e.g., teachers) or other support roles, including educational assistants, custodians, food service, bus drivers, and community and recreation workers.

Evaluation of the efficacy of an intersection conflict warning system at two-way stop-controlled rural intersections: difference-in-differences and triple-difference analytical approaches.

Objective: Intersection conflict warning systems (ICWSs) have been implemented at high-risk two-way stop-controlled intersections to prevent right-angle crashes and associated injuries. This study involved investigation of the impacts of ICWSs on crash reductions.

Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental design to analyse the potential causal relations between Minnesota's ICWSs and various crash rate outcomes (including total, injury, non-injury, targeted right-angle and non-right-angle crashes) in pre-post analyses.

Design and evaluation of a rural intersection conflict warning system and alternative designs among various driver age groups.

Advanced Rural Intersection Conflict Warning Systems (RICWS) were deployed as countermeasures to reduce severe right-angle crashes at rural thru-STOP controlled intersections across the United States (U.S.).

Assault Deterrents and Educators' Risk of Physical Assault: A Case-Control Study.

The study purpose was to identify associations between assault deterrent presence in kindergarten through 12th (K-12) grade schools and physical assaults (PAs) against educators. Data collected through a two-phase study identified physical and nonphysical violent events and utilized a nested case-control study to identify PA risk/protective factors. Analyses included multivariable modeling.

The association between janitor physical workload, mental workload, and stress: The SWEEP study.

Background: Approximately 2.38 million janitors are employed in the U.S.

Janitor ergonomics and injuries in the safe workload ergonomic exposure project (SWEEP) study.

Introduction: A Minnesota union identified to researchers at the University of Minnesota a concern relevant to a possible relation between their daily workload and outcome of occupational injuries among a population of janitors.

Objective: To assess if the ergonomic workload is related to injuries among janitors.

Methods: Following an initial group discussion among janitors, which identified common and hazardous tasks potentially leading to occupational injuries, a questionnaire was developed, pre-tested, and distributed to the janitors.

The impact of different approaches to exposure assessment on understanding non-malignant respiratory disease risk in taconite miners.

Introduction: We examined the association between cumulative silica exposures in taconite mining and non-malignant respiratory disease (NMRD) using a comprehensive assessment of current and historical exposure measurements in a cross-sectional study of Minnesota taconite mining workers. We also explored the impact of exposure measurement methods by comparing estimated exposure risk from two different exposure measurement modeling approaches.

Methods: Miners were screened with an occupational and medical history questionnaire, spirometry testing and chest x-rays per ILO guidelines.

Comparing disability and return to work outcomes between alternative and traditional workers' compensation programs.

Background: The Union Construction Workers' Compensation Program (UCWCP) was developed in 1996 as an alternative workers' compensation arrangement. The program includes use of a preapproved medical and rehabilitation network and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and prioritizes a quick and safe return-to-work. The aim of this study is to determine if differences in recovery-related outcomes exist between UCWCP and the statutory workers' compensation system (SWCS).

Knowledge of work-related injury reporting and perceived barriers among janitors.

Introduction: The goal of this study was to evaluate and improve janitors' knowledge of workers' rights and responsibilities for assessing and reporting work-related injuries, and to determine the barriers for reporting occupational injuries.

Methods: Questionnaires, designed to collect data retrospectively for two, sequential six-month periods, were disseminated to 1200 full-time unionized janitors in the Twin Cities. Immediately following the baseline questionnaire administration, a randomly selected sub-group of janitors (~600) received information on workers' rights and responsibilities for reporting injuries; six-months later a questionnaire comparable to the baseline questionnaire was disseminated to the 1200 janitors.

A marginal structural model approach to analyse work-related injuries: an example using data from the health and retirement study.

Background: Biases may exist in the limited longitudinal data focusing on work-related injuries among the ageing workforce. Standard statistical techniques may not provide valid estimates when the data are time-varying and when prior exposures and outcomes may influence future outcomes. This research effort uses marginal structural models (MSMs), a class of causal models rarely applied for injury epidemiology research to analyse work-related injuries.

Janitor workload and occupational injuries.

Background: This study was designed to identify potential effects of workload and sleep on injury occurrence.

Methods: Questionnaires were disseminated to janitors in the SEIU Local 26 union; 390 responded and provided information on workload, sleep, and injury outcomes. Quantitative measurements of workload and sleep were collected via FitBit devices from a subset of 58 janitors.

Occupational Injury Among Janitors: Injury Incidence, Severity, and Associated Risk Factors.

Objective: Determine injury incidence and severity and potential associated risk factors for injury, among janitors.

Methods: Questionnaires were disseminated to 1200 full-time janitors in the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 26 union; 390 responded and provided information on their injury experiences and exposures, based on personal characteristics and work-related activities. Multivariable analyses, including bias adjustment, were implemented using directed acyclic graphs to determine potential risk.

A longitudinal study of work-related injuries: comparisons of health and work-related consequences between injured and uninjured aging United States adults.

Background: Age may affect one's susceptibility to the myriad physical hazards that may pose risks for work-related injuries. Aging workers are not only at risk for work-related injuries but, also, at even higher risk for more severe health and work-related consequences. However, limited longitudinal research efforts have focused on such injuries among the aging workforce.

Risk factors for unintentional occupational injury among urban transit bus drivers: a cohort longitudinal study.

Purpose: Although many studies have focused on bus operators' occupational diseases, work-related injury and associated risk factor data are limited. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate unintentional injury and exposures that may affect injury risk among metropolitan bus operators.

Methods: Demographic, work-related, and injury data obtained from a metropolitan transit company for a 5-year period, enabled estimates of rates per 100 full time equivalents (FTEs) and adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using Generalized Estimating Equations and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively.

Student-inflicted injuries to staff in schools: comparing risk between educators and non-educators.

Objective: Student-inflicted injury to staff in the educational services sector is a growing concern. Studies on violence have focused on teachers as victims, but less is known about injuries to other employee groups, particularly educational assistants. Inequities may be present, as educational assistants and non-educators may not have the same wage, benefits, training and employment protections available to them as professional educators.

The Relationship Between Shiftwork and Violence Against Nurses: A Case Control Study.

This study investigated the potential relationship between shiftwork and work-related physical assault (PA) against nurses who are at high risk of violence globally. Nurses (6,300), randomly selected from the licensing database and working in Minnesota, were surveyed regarding PA experiences. Through a nested case-control study, nurses who reported a PA in the previous 12 months and controls who were randomly selected from their assault-free working months, respectively, identified exposures experienced during the month prior to the assault month (cases) and the random non-PA months (controls).

Large Machinery-Related Agricultural Injuries Across a Five-State Region in the Midwest.

Objective: High agricultural injury related mortality and morbidity rates persist. This study addressed a knowledge gap regarding large machinery-related injury magnitude, consequences, and risk factors.

Methods: From randomly selected Midwestern agricultural operations in 1999 and 2001, 7420 eligible households participated.

A case-control study of mesothelioma in Minnesota iron ore (taconite) miners.

Objectives: An excess of mesothelioma has been observed in iron ore miners in Northeastern Minnesota. Mining and processing of taconite iron ore generate exposures that include elongate mineral particles (EMPs) of amphibole and non-amphibole origin. We conducted a nested case-control study of mesothelioma in a cohort of 68,737 iron ore miners (haematite and taconite ore miners) to evaluate the association between mesothelioma, employment and EMP exposures from taconite mining.

Occupational exposures and lung cancer risk among Minnesota taconite mining workers.

Objective: To examine the association between employment duration, elongate mineral particle (EMP) exposure, silica exposure and the risk of lung cancer in the taconite mining industry.

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study of lung cancer within a cohort of Minnesota taconite iron mining workers employed by any of the mining companies in operation in 1983. Lung cancer cases were identified by vital records and cancer registry data through 2010.