Work Schedule Irregularity and the Risk of Work-Related Injury among Korean Manual Workers

Abstract

Work schedules comprise various variables and generate health and safety outcomes, including work-related injury, which causes socioeconomic problems, such as productivity loss and damage to worker health. We investigated the association between work schedule irregularity and the incidence of work-related injury among South Korean manual workers using data from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey. In total, 18,330 manual workers were included. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to understand the association between work schedule and work-related injury and the influence of sufficient safety information and work schedule on work-related injury. We calculated the influence of an irregular work schedule on occupational injury after controlling for personal and work environment-related factors. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for work-related injury was 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–2.09) for an irregular work schedule. The interaction had an additive effect when the work schedule was irregular, even when sufficient safety information was provided. Manual workers had a higher incidence of injury (2.1%). Even in adjusted analyses, work schedule irregularity conferred greater risks of work injury, particularly when not working the same number of days weekly (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.21–1.90). Policymakers and health professionals need to consider the impact of work schedule irregularity on worker safety and health.

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“…Considering some of the subscales on the HRQoL, the participants with moderate OPA were found to have better HRQoL than the individuals with high OPA including bodily pain, social functioning, and mental health. In a similar vein, previous studies have shown that occupational hazards are associated with jobs that placed heavy demands on both physical and mental capabilities [25,26]. This implies that the workers with high OPA were likely to be overworking and probably putting more pressure on their body system compared with those with moderate OPA.…”

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“…"Regular work schedule" was defined as a variable with fixed daily working hours, fixed weekly working days, fixed weekly work shift, and fixed start and end time of each shift, as indicated by the answers on the fifth KWCS. Work schedules that featured irregularity in any of the criteria were considered irregular [22].…”

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“… 13 A total of 109,242 industrial accident victims and 2020 (1.8%) deaths occurred during this period. 14 The majority of these work-related injuries reportedly affected the upper limbs, lower limbs, and torso. 15…”

“…13 A total of 109,242 industrial accident victims and 2020 (1.8%) deaths occurred during this period. 14 The majority of these work-related injuries reportedly affected the upper limbs, lower limbs, and torso. 15 Most studies on the frequency and cost of injury types sustained from industrial accidents have been conducted outside Korea.…”

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