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A Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601) belonging to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 3792

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Editors

Dr. Jaron Ras

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Guest Editor

Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
Interests: firefighters; occupational health; cardiovascular health; musculoskeletal health; physical fitness; occupational performance

Prof. Dr. Lloyd Leach

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For this Special Issue on Occupational Health, Safety and Injury Prevention, we invite authors to submit comprehensive research addressing the full spectrum of workplace risks, from acute injuries to chronic occupational illnesses, with a particular focus on high-risk emergency occupations. This Special Issue focuses on the enduring challenge of safeguarding workers’ health and safety in diverse settings and evolving work-environments. Contributions can explore the interplay of chronic diseases, health, wellbeing and physical fitness to occupational health and wellness, hazard identification and risk assessment; the interplay between physical, chemical, ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors; intervention strategies and prevention programmes; the role of technologies, organisational models and safety culture; and the economic, regulatory and policy dimensions of occupational safety. The issue welcomes researchers to contribute from a diverse range of occupations and a diverse range of research areas. By drawing on rigorous empirical, methodological and theoretical work, this issue seeks to advance understanding of how chronic diseases, injuries and environmental stresses at work can be prevented, how workplace environments can be redesigned for health and safety, and how organisations can embed sustainable prevention practices. Ultimately, the goal is to deepen our knowledge of the determinants of occupational harm and the levers for effective prevention, thereby contributing to healthier, safer workforces and workplaces globally.

Dr. Jaron Ras
Prof. Dr. Lloyd Leach
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

occupational health
workplace safety
injury prevention
occupational injury
risk assessment
ergonomics
psychosocial hazards
safety culture
work-related musculoskeletal disorders
occupational diseases

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 251 KB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Reported Workplace Injuries Among Informal Waste Pickers in Landfill Sites in Johannesburg, South Africa

by Hlologelo Ramatsoma, Jeanneth Manganyi, Keneilwe Ditema and Nisha Naicker

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(4), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23040509 - 16 Apr 2026

Viewed by 789

Abstract

While South Africa’s recycling chain relies heavily on informal labour, the burden of non-fatal workplace injuries among landfill-based waste pickers remains poorly characterised. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-reported non-fatal workplace injuries and identify associated factors among informal waste pickers at landfill sites in Johannesburg, South Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional study at two purposively selected landfill sites in Johannesburg. Using convenience sampling, 354 waste pickers were enrolled (median age 34 years; 73.2% male). A structured questionnaire captured worker characteristics and self-reported injuries over the preceding six months. Robust (modified) Poisson regression was utilised to determine associations with self-reported workplace injury. Overall, 86.2% of participants reported at least one injury. Lacerations caused by contact with waste materials predominated (82.7%), followed by violence (20.5%) and needle-stick injuries (19.9%). Notably, 94.1% of participants reported using personal protective equipment (PPE), yet the injury prevalence was high. In the multivariable model, each additional year of landfill work experience was associated with a 1.0% higher prevalence of reported injury (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.01; 95% CI 1.01–1.02). Conversely, pickers aged 51 years and older had a 32% lower prevalence of injury than those aged 18–28 (aPR 0.68; 95% CI 0.51–0.90). To mitigate these risks, municipal authorities should implement mandatory safety training for site entry, provide industrial-grade, puncture-resistant PPE, and formalise the integration of landfill pickers into institutional occupational health frameworks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health, Safety and Injury Prevention)

12 pages, 476 KB

Open AccessArticle

Circumstances of Percutaneous Sharps Injuries in German Healthcare Workers—An Analysis of the Ten-Year Period from 2015 to 2024 Based on Accident Insurance Data

by Madeleine Dulon, Johanna Stranzinger, Dana Wendeler and Albert Nienhaus

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(4), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23040412 - 25 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1105

Abstract

Despite the implementation of safety-engineered devices (SEDs) in Germany, percutaneous sharps injuries (PSIs) caused by medical devices remain a major occupational risk for healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of PSIs and the circumstances of SED-associated PSIs in hospitals, medical practices, and nursing homes. Routine data from a statutory accident insurance provider for 2015–2024 were used to analyze PSI trends (n = 481,575), and survey data from online questionnaires were used to analyze circumstances of PSIs (n = 791). Routine data showed a slight decline (6.1%) in PSIs over the past 10 years across all sectors. Hospitals and medical practices had the highest rates (30.2 and 21.6 PSIs per 1000 full-time equivalents, respectively). The devices most frequently involved were blood collection needles in hospitals and medical practices and insulin pens in nursing homes. Overall, 43.1% of PSIs were related to the improper disposal of used devices. Around 31.1% of PSIs were associated with SEDs. Around 33% of SED-related injuries occurred during disposal. High workload and distraction were the most frequently reported causes of injuries. Regular training should be provided to raise staff awareness of the proper handling and disposal of used devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health, Safety and Injury Prevention)

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23 pages, 808 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pulmonary Functions and Capacities and Their Associations with Sociodemographic, Physical and Behavioural Risk Factors in Firefighters

by Jaron Ras, Jordan Sasha Kaylor and Lloyd Leach

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(3), 370; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23030370 - 14 Mar 2026

Viewed by 1096

Abstract

Introduction: Firefighters are exposed to toxic smoke and hazardous environmental conditions that place them at risk for pulmonary disorders. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pulmonary symptoms and disorders among full-time firefighters in the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service and to explore associations with sociodemographic, physical and behavioural risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted among 278 full-time firefighters using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-generated questionnaire and spirometry measurements. Physical characteristics were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied (Kruskal–Wallis H, Chi-squared test, Pearson’s correlation), with p < 0.05 denoting statistical significance. Results: More than half (53.60%) of firefighters presented with at least one pulmonary symptom. Coughing (54.36%) and nasal congestion (40.94%) were the most common symptoms. Pulmonary symptoms were more frequent among firefighters aged 30–49 years. Significant differences were found in pulmonary function between age categories (p < 0.01) and obesity in firefighters (p < 0.01). Negative correlations were found between FVC and BMI (r =−0.35), BG% (r = −0.47) and years of experience (r =−0.21). Conclusions: Findings highlight the occupational burden of pulmonary health risks and the need for regular screening and preventive strategies within firefighting populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Health, Safety and Injury Prevention)

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