The hypothesis that ageing workers have a higher need for recovery than younger workers was confirmed.

This study demonstrated significant associations of OSC with three end points that are relevant within the framework of well-being at work in nursing homes. The results are suggestive that OSC should be treated as a characteristic of the entire workplace, rather than as an individually experienced characteristic. The strikingly strong association between OSC and prevalence of poor work ability is suggestive for an important role of OSC within the context of maintaining work ability.

PURPOSE: The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ I) was developed as a tool to assess a broad range of psychosocial work environment factors and was recently revised (COPSOQ II). The research question in this study was: Do COPSOQ II-scales predict a high need for recovery (NFR) after work better than COPSOQ I-scales? METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in 990 subjects (84.5% response), employed in the public sector. Psychosocial factors were assessed by COPSOQ I and COPSOQ II. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios for the presence of a high NFR, controlled for gender, age, physical workload and other relevant occupational and non-occupational factors. Analyses were performed for COPSOQ I and COPSOQ II separately. RESULTS: In both COPSOQ versions, 'quantitative demands' (p < 0.001) and 'job insecurity' (p < 0.005) were significantly associated with a high NFR. Additionally, in the COPSOQ I model, 'demands for hiding emotions' (p < 0.05) and 'degrees of freedom' (p < 0.05), and in the COPSOQ II model 'emotional demands' (p < 0.05) and 'commitment to the workplace' (p < 0.005) were significant as well. 'Degrees of freedom' was omitted by the developers in the revised COPSOQ II. Reintroducing it into the COPSOQ II model did not alter the existing associations, but pointed out 'degrees of freedom' to be an additional important dimension (p < 0.05). The COPSOQ II model with 'degrees of freedom' included also had the best data fit. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested the COPSOQ II to be better predictive than COPSOQ I for a high NFR, but also indicated that 'degrees of freedom' should be included into the COPSOQ II when studying the NFR as outcome parameter.

The study provided representative data on cardiorespiratory fitness, BMI and total body fat percentage for Belgian firefighters. The findings suggest the need for a structural approach on healthy eating and regular physical exercise in firefighters.

Causes and circumstances related to 162 needlestick injuries in nursing homes were analyzed. In addition to nurses, geriatrics helpers were found to be an important occupational group at risk. Insulin pens were the most frequent cause of needlestick injuries among nursing personnel. Insulin pens are a major instrument involved with unsafe needle-handling practices.

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The study enabled to identify several easy to assess occupational factors that were associated with NSC, providing clear cut-off points concerning duration of computer work. Use of the computer mouse, both duration and relative position, and forearm support were also important factors.

The aims of the study were to evaluate the occupational risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in kindergarten teachers working with children aged 2.5-6 years, and to determine occupational risk factors within the occupation of kindergarten teaching. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was conducted in 211 kindergarten teachers and 283 administrative workers. Relevant confounding factors were considered. Overall seropositivity rates ranged from 16.4% in childless women to 33.7% in women with one child or more. Raising own children was the major risk factor for CMV seropositivity: adjusted OR 2.25. Kindergarten teaching showed to have a significantly increased CMV seropositivity rate: adjusted OR 1.54. Among kindergarten teachers, washing hands at school, number and age of the pupils, and seniority had no significant influence on seropositivity. The results indicated an increased risk of CMV infection in kindergarten teachers and an insufficiency of hygienic measures to prevent seropositivity.