Documents biophysical study 9 results

"A hyperventilation theory provides an innovative framework for understanding how job stress contributes to pathophysiological processes that increase the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. With respect to the control of these disorders, a hyperventilation theory has important implications for establishing effective work organization interventions and individual stress-management methods. In this regard, breathing is a biobehavioral metric for assessing whether psychosocial aspects of work organization are in balance with a worker's needs and resources. A hyperventilation theory also provides a unique rationale for coping with job stress and musculoskeletal discomfort through breathing training, light physical exercise, and rest breaks."

"Trends in global working life suggest that the occurrence of jobs characterized by long-lasting low-level loads or repetitive operations is increasing. More physical “variation” is commonly believed to be a remedy against musculoskeletal disorders in such jobs. One aim of the present paper was to shortly review the validity of this conviction. An examination of the available epidemiologic literature pointed out that the effectiveness of initiatives like job rotation or more breaks is weakly supported by empirical evidence, and only for short-term psychophysical outcomes. Only a limited number of studies have been devoted to physical variation, and concepts and metrics for variation in biomechanical exposure are not well developed. Thus, as a second objective, the paper proposes a framework for investigating and evaluating aspects of exposure variation, based on explicit definitions of variation as “the change in exposure across time” and diversity as “the extent that exposure entities differ”. Operational methods for assessing these concepts are also discussed."

"Cet article est le résultat d'une étude menée par l'INRS, entre 2000 et 2004, à la suite d'une demande concernant principalement l'étude des relations entre les exigences du travail et les effets sur la charge physique, mentale et émotionnelle des navigants. Pour répondre aux préoccupations soulevées par les demandeurs, le choix a été fait de s'intéresser aux vols court et moyen courriers. La démarche méthodologique a reposé sur une approche ergonomique et psychosociale. Les résultats s'articulent autour de trois axes : l'environnement physique, la charge de travail et le stress du personnel. Ils sont développés et discutés en fin d'article. En conclusion, des propositions concrètes d'actions de prévention, émergeant naturellement de cette étude, sont présentées."

"The purpose of this study was to determine whether registered nurses in specific areas of employment during pregnancy had a higher risk for congenital anomalies in their offspring. An offspring cohort (n = 22,611) was created through linkage of the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency live and stillbirth records from 1986 to 2000, to a female cohort database registered nurses. Of these, 16,005 (70.8%) were registered in a specific area of employment when pregnant. Odds ratios were calculated using generalized estimating equations (GEE), binary logistic regression with adjustment for sex, mother's age, and year of birth. Elevated risks of congenital anomalies were found for the singleton offspring of nurses employed in the following areas: operating rooms and pediatric nursing units (heart anomalies); maternal newborn units (integument); emergency room (respiratory system); and psychiatry (upper alimentary tract). Further research is needed to determine whether these are chance or consistent findings and whether exposure patterns might provide biological plausibility."

"The belief that it is possible to have a perpetual “economic growth” based on fossil energy has been challenged since the 1970s. However, only in the last decade is this issue re-emerging once again because of the predicaments of climate change and peak oil. Many, finally start to perceive that an “economic degrowth” entailing a downscaling of the current size and pattern of socio-economic systems seem unavoidable. In this paper we analyze the implications, the feasibility and the desirability of possible trajectories of downscaling from an energetic perspective. The quantitative analysis is based on the methodological approach of societal metabolism, and it provides a dynamic accounting of the profile of energy flows required and consumed by societies in relation the expression of a given set of societal functions. This analysis makes it possible to check two types of constraints: external constraints (supply and sink side limits for the whole) and internal constraints (the feasibility of energy budget of the various parts of the society expressing the required functions). The analysis of the metabolic pattern of a sample of developed countries is used to discuss possible implications of: (i) demographic changes; (ii) the declining supply of net energy sources, and (iii) the effects of the Jevons' Paradox. Within such an analysis, a few assumptions and recipes of the degrowth movement seem problematic: (i) population is and will remain as a relevant variable to be considered; (ii) the proposed reduction in working hours seem to be impractical unless a major catastrophe will reset current civilization to pre-industrial standards; and (iii) voluntary reduction of personal energy consumption, even if a welcome adjustment, alone will not solve the existing problems. In the final part of the paper, future energetic road maps are questioned within the realm of post-normal science. Can we “plan” degrowth? If we are serious about the need of doing “something completely different”, societies will have to learn how to deliberate under uncertainty within the realms of flexible management and stop planning for either growth or degrowth. Moreover, before suggesting policies, it would be wise first to try to understand the option space."