Objectives: Among occupational sectors, construction is still one of the branches with the highest reported numbers of work-related injuries and diseases, which can even lead to death and in many cases induce permanent health consequences. The vast majority of these occupational injuries and diseases are preventable; accordingly, an improvement in preventive strategies, also through a better knowledge of the main factors involved in these events, is one of the most important objectives for better occupational health and safety in the construction sector. Considering the individual factors associated with a higher risk of work-related adverse health effects in workers, an inadequate perception of occupational risks is among the most relevant issues. Risk perception can vary according to different cultural backgrounds, highly influenced by ethnicity, and it affects the relations between workers in the work environment, and the way by with they undergo the specific occupational tasks and manage risky situations frequently occurring on construction sites. Accordingly, the aim of the authors was to develop a new tool for the assessment of risk perception in construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds. Material and Methods: A team of health and safety experts involved in the training of construction workers from various ethnic backgrounds and in different regions of Italy developed and validated a questionnaire-based tool for the evaluation of their risk perception. Furthermore, through a factor analysis, a reference model defining various dimensions of occupational risk perception, relevant for the different ethnicities, was identified. Results: The final tool included 12 items aimed to assess the associations between the ethnic background and occupational risk perception of construction workers. The authors identified 4 relevant dimensions: behavioral control, work conditions, safety climate and personal attitude. Conclusions: The proposed tool should be considered to explore the appropriate ways for the development of effective preventive strategies for construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds in Italy.

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Purpose:The aim of this pilot study was to clarify the acceptability and clinical efficacy of an oxygen-enriched oil-based gel for treatment of angular cheilitis. Methods: A class IIb medical preparation, packaged in appropriate syringes, was tested. Patients were instructed how to use the gel for 10 days: finger rub application (3 times daily) on the dried lesion after meals, without eating, drinking, or speaking for at least 30 min thereafter. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess whether there were any differences in the distributions of reported pain and lesion dimension. A microbiological examination was also performed with oral swabs; chi-squared test was used to compare the difference in the presence of microorganisms before and after treatment. Results: Thirty patients were treated. A significant improvement in reported outcome and a significant reduction in the initially measured largest dimension of the lesion were observed after use of the clinical protocol. Additionally, a significant reduction in the pathogen count was found. Conclusion:Even if with limitations, data showed that this medical preparation facilitated prompt recovery from reported pain, without adverse reactions. Further work with a larger study population, and possibly a randomized control medication, will be needed.