BackgroundThe consumption of alcohol and other drugs causes social and health problems in industrialized societies. Furthermore, alcohol and drug consumption in the workplace is associated with work accidents, absenteeism and low productivity. The aim of the current study is to reduce alcohol and drug consumption among workers in the service industry and, as a secondary aim, to improve their healthy habits through the reduction of alcohol and other drug consumption in their leisure time.MethodsThis nonrandomized, single-group study was conducted in 12 work centers. The intervention began in 2009 and emphasized 1) health promotion and health monitoring, which included a) alcohol and drug awareness and b) the evaluation and monitoring of alcohol and drug consumption through a semistructured interview designed to assess risky consumption; urine tests aimed at detecting alcohol, cannabis and cocaine use; an Alcotest based on expired air to test for the recent consumption of alcohol and a saliva exam to test for the recent consumption of six drugs; and 2) secondary prevention if risky consumption was identified. Risky alcohol consumption was defined as the ingestion of more than 28 standard drink units (SDUs)/week among men and more than 17 SDUs/week among women (taking into account both work and leisure time). Drug consumption was considered risky consumption.ResultsA total of 1103 workers participated, and each received 5 h of awareness training. Those who presented with risky consumption received secondary prevention training. The prevalence of risky alcohol consumption decreased by 4.1% (baseline: 14.7% reduced to 10.6% in the first year; p = 0.001), a reduction that was maintained over a 3-year follow-up period.ConclusionA comprehensive program of worker health surveillance that involves stakeholders and includes monitoring can be a means of potentially improving compliance with workplace promotion programs, resulting in the facilitation of such beneficial, desired behavior change in areas such as alcohol and drug consumption.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-6133-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Contradictory data exist on the impact of occupational physical activity (OPA) on cardiovascular health. We aimed to evaluate the association between OPA and cardiometabolic risk factors. A cross-sectional study was performed in an environmental services company in 2017 (Spain). OPA was classified by work categories as being low (≤3 METs) or moderate−high (>3 METs). Multiple linear and logistic binary regression models were used to assess the associations between OPA and cardiometabolic risk factors related to obesity, blood pressure, blood lipids, and associated medical conditions, adjusted by age, sex, alcohol consumption, and global physical activity. In total, 751 employees were included (547 males and 204 females), and 55.5% (n = 417) had moderate−high OPA. Significant inverse associations were observed between OPA and weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist−hip ratio, and total cholesterol both overall and in males. OPA was significantly inversely related to dyslipidemia overall and in both sexes, while the overweight plus obesity rate was inversely related only in the total and male populations. OPA was associated with a better cardiometabolic risk factor profile, particularly in males. The fact that our models were also adjusted by global physical activity highlights the associations obtained as being independent of leisure time physical activity effects.

BackgroundThe impact of occupational physical activity (OPA) intensity, considering adults work many hours a day, on health is unknown. The present study aims to evaluate the association between the high intensity of OPA and cardiovascular risk factors of employees.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in the “Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas S.A. Company” (FCC S.A. Delegation) in 2017, Spain. The intensity of OPA of each employee was classified by work categories in low (≤ 3 METs) or high (> 3 METs). Health and lifestyle data of employees were collected on medical consultation in the workplace.ResultsAssociations were analyzed between the high intensity of OPA and cardiovascular risk factors of employees. 751 employees, 55.5% (n = 417) with high intensity of OPA. An 82.2% (n = 245) of employees with low intensity of OPA presented overweight/obesity compared with 69.0% (n = 171) with high intensity of OPA employees (p < 0.001). In men, high intensity of OPA is negatively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) (B: -0.042, p = 0.003), waist circumference (B: -0.027, p < 0.001) waist-hip ratio (B: -5.484, p < 0.001), cholesterol (B: -0.007, p = 0.001) and triglycerides (B= -0.003, p = 0.025). In women, high intensity of OPA was positively associated with blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP: B = 0.036, p = 0.005 and diastolic BP: B = 0.040, p = 0.021).ConclusionsIn conclusion, the high intensity of OPA is associated with less cardiovascular risk factors in men, whereas women are associated with high levels of blood pressure, suggesting an influence of gender and work categories.

BackgroundThe impact of occupational physical activity (OPA) intensity, considering adults work many hours a day, on health is unknown. The present study aims to evaluate the association between the high intensity of OPA and cardiovascular risk factors of employees.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in the “Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas S.A. Company” (FCC S.A. Delegation) in 2017, Spain. The intensity of OPA of each employee was classified by work categories in low (≤ 3 METs) or high (> 3 METs). Health and lifestyle data of employees were collected on medical consultation in the workplace.ResultsAssociations were analyzed between the high intensity of OPA and cardiovascular risk factors of employees. 751 employees, 55.5% (n = 417) with high intensity of OPA. An 82.2% (n = 245) of employees with low intensity of OPA presented overweight/obesity compared with 69.0% (n = 171) with high intensity of OPA employees (p < 0.001). In men, high intensity of OPA is negatively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) (B: -0.042, p = 0.003), waist circumference (B: -0.027, p < 0.001) waist-hip ratio (B: -5.484, p < 0.001), cholesterol (B: -0.007, p = 0.001) and triglycerides (B= -0.003, p = 0.025). In women, high intensity of OPA was positively associated with blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP: B = 0.036, p = 0.005 and diastolic BP: B = 0.040, p = 0.021).ConclusionsIn conclusion, the high intensity of OPA is associated with less cardiovascular risk factors in men, whereas women are associated with high levels of blood pressure, suggesting an influence of gender and work categories.