Browsing by Author "Loureiro, Isabel F."
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- Is the crisis affecting the companies’ commitment on the OSH issues? (The workers’ perceptions)Publication . Vale, Cláudia; Loureiro, Isabel F.; Rodrigues, Matilde A.; Azevedo, RuiPortugal is undergoing an economic crisis affecting the European Union since 2007. The financial unsustainability of the country required foreign aid and austerity measures have been implemented. In consequence, it is expected more financial difficulties to the companies at different levels, particularly in issues related with safety. In this context, Leahy et al . (2012) pointed out that, due to the crises, companies have to adjust their priorities regarding the investments namely, on the Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) issues. Even though OSH is now one of the most important and most highly developed aspects of EU’s policy on employment and social affairs, Kompier (2006) e Papadopoulos et al . (2010) confirmed that in the past few years, the work environment have suffered significantly changes. The most important ones are the workload, the schedule and worker flexibility, the extension of working hours for the weekend, the inconsistent schedules, the precarious work (Kompier 2006; Papadopoulos et al ., 2010). These changes are responsible for some effects on the workers’ wellbeing, take as example the exposure to the psychosocial risks and stress at work. Nowadays organizations need to be increasingly more competitive, in part due to the financial crises we are facing, but also due to the emergence of new competitors. In Portugal the most affected dimension was the Small and Medium enterprises (SME). This factor has a negative impact in the economic competitiveness as this type of companies is responsible for the employment of two millions people. It is authors’ believes that the effects of an economic crisis on safety and health are a challenging topic nevertheless, studies in this area, can stress new strategies to then OSH issues.
- Musculoskeletal disorders in the use of backpacks - A reviewPublication . Pereira, Gonçalo A.; Batista, Mariana R.; Rodrigues, Matilde; Loureiro, Isabel F.Spine pathologies are not a recent problem. There is evidence that problems related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in children and adolescents are increasingly (Ebbehojet al ., 2002), and the school environment and related tasks can have influence on it. The school environment is a factor of great influence in the development of postural changes and MSDs, for being the period of development of bone structure. At this period, improper habits in children and adolescents, such as incorrect posture, improper transport of backpacks or excess weight carried in backpacks can also be identified. Therefore, this is the best time to stimulate healthy habits to reduce the probability of occurrence of MSDs, irreversible in adult hood as in this period aspects related to overload and inappropriate postures become determinant to the development of the musculoskeletal system. The incorrect carrying of heavy backpacks can contribute greatly to this problem, which is the focus of this investigation study.