Limitations on Work and Attendance Rates after Employees with Cancer Returned to Work at a Single Manufacturing Company in Japan:Takayuki OHGURI, et al. Department of Radiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan-Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the work limitations and attendance rates after employees diagnosed with cancer returned to work from sick leave, and to identify the related factors for the limitations and attendance rates at a single manufacturing company in Japan. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 129 men and 4 women, employed in a single manufacturing industry, who returned to work after sick leave due to newly diagnosis of cancer. Limitations on work after the return to work were enforced in the workplace based on an industrial physician's evaluation. All the employees who needed measures for work were examined by the industrial physicians every 1-6 months until the termination of such work limitations. Results: Limitations on work after the return to work were enforced for 79 (59%) employees (36 employees with alteration of work, 31 with prohibition of shift work and 55 with prohibition of overtime work). A higher degree of work limitations was significantly correlated with work-related factors before sick leave (i.e. shift work, production line) as well as disease/treatment-related factors (i.e. chemotherapy, recurrence/metastasis), while the attendance rates after the return to work were not correlated with adverse work-related factors before sick leave. Conclusion: The enforcement of work limitations for employees with cancer was relatively common and was based on both disease/treatmentand work-related factors, and this phenomenon may play an important role in the return to work as well as the successful continuation of work after cancer survivors return to work. (J Occup Health 2009; 51: 267-272)

The Effect of Smoking Prevalence atWorksites on Individual Cessation Behavior: Chihiro NISHIURA, et al. Department of Safety and Health, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.-Objectives: To identify the effect of worksite smoking prevalence on individual cessation behavior. Methods: We conducted a cohort study at a Japanese worksite without a total ban on smoking, but with designated smoking areas. Baseline data were obtained in 2005 through a self-administered questionnaire from 15,229 workers in 322 work units as part of annual health checkups, and followed up in 2006. Data on smoking status, time to first cigarette after waking up, desire to quit, number of cigarettes smoked per day, and respiratory symptoms were obtained. Details like workers' demographics, blue/ white-collar workers, night shift duties, administrative position, and work unit codes were obtained from the firm's administrative records. Smoking prevalence in work units was calculated as a ratio, standardized by age, and categorized into quartiles. Multiple logistic regression was used to predict cessation by smoking prevalence, adjusting for individual level variables. Results: In the lowest smoking prevalence quartile compared with the highest, odds ratios (95% CI) of cessation among those who smoked their first cigarette more than 30 min after waking up were 2.32 (1.06, 5.09) in white-collar units and 1.86 (0.98, 3.55) in bluecollar units, and that among those with a moderate desire to quit was 2.05 (0.94, 4.49) in white-collar units. Conclusion: Worksite smoking prevalence affects the likelihood of successful cessation, especially among those with less nicotine dependence and who are in the early stage of behavioral change. This suggests that serious consideration should be placed not only on individual behavior modification but also on modification of worksite conditions. (J Occup Health 2009; 51: 48-56)

It is possible that the performance rating of line workers is affected by the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders that are included in their work more so than by the actual takt time. To investigate whether performance rating relates to the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders, we analyzed a dataset obtained from a self-administered questionnaire answered by assembly line workers (n=1579). As a result, performance rating had a significant association with unsuitable work environments, poor working postures and handling of heavy loads. The workers who reported the fastest rating had a higher exposure than others to the risk factors for occupational low back pain. The results of our study support the effectiveness of performance rating as an index of work burden.

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