The Indigenous Fisherman Divers of Thailand: Diving-Related Mortality and Morbidity David Gold, Alan Geater, Soomboon Aiyarak, Somchai Wongcharoenyong, Wilawan Juengprasert, Mark Johnson, Paul Skinner, 147-167 Modification of Pathological Type A as Worksite Stress Management and Disease Prevention Intervention Dorota Żołnierczyk-Zreda, 169-188 Deposition and Retention of Ultrafine Aerosol Particles in the Human Respiratory System. Normal and Pathological Cases Leon Gradoń, Dariusz Orlicki, Albert Podgórski, 189-207 Manual Handling Injuries in Health Care Workers Nerida Bewick, Dianne Gardner, 209-221 A Model to Analyze Ergonomics Working Conditions Bahador Ghahramani, 223-236 The Effects of a Change in Work Organization Upon the Work Environment and Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Letter Carriers Kurt G.I. Wahlstedt, Clas Hakan Nygard, Kristina Kemmlert, Margareta Torgén, Marianne G. Björkstén, 237-255 The Moderating Role of Hardiness and Social Support in the Relation Between Job Stressors and Well-Being. A Lesson From a Clerical Women Sample Roman Cieślak, Maria Widerszal-Bazyl, Aleksandra Łuszczyńska-Cieślak, 257-292 Occupational Accidents of Finnish- and Swedish-Speaking Workers in Finland: A Mental Model View Simo Salminen, Antero Johansson, 293-306

The Indigenous Fisherman Divers of Thailand: Diving-Related Mortality and Morbidity
David Gold, Alan Geater, Soomboon Aiyarak, Somchai Wongcharoenyong, Wilawan Juengprasert, Mark Johnson, Paul Skinner

The Urak Lawoi are indigenous fishermen on Thailand's west coast. The population includes an estimated 400 divers who dive using surface-supplied compressed air. In a cross-sectional survey conducted among the 6 major communities of Urak Lawoi, questionnaire-based interviews were administered to active divers, ex-divers, and families or colleagues of divers who had died in the previous 5 years. Six deaths resulting from diving-related accidents were identified, indicating a diving-related mortality rate of approximately 300 per 100,000 person-years, while in the same 5-year period 11 divers had been disabled owing to diving-related events, indicating a diving-related disabling event rate of approximately 550 per 100,000 person-years. Among 342 active divers interviewed, one third reported having suffered from decompression illness, although based on reported current symptoms over 50% were classified as suffering from recurring non-disabling decompression illness. Physical examination conducted on a subset of 98 active divers revealed the presence of spinal injury (clonus, raised muscle tone, and heightened reflexes) and of joint damage (pain in one or more joint, crepitus, or restricted movement) in 24 and 30% respectively. Improved primary prevention and medical treatment are needed to reduce mortality and morbidity among this population.

Modification of Pathological Type A as Worksite Stress Management and Disease Prevention Intervention
Dorota Żołnierczyk-Zreda

The importance of helping an employee to better cope with occupational stress as the aim of stress management interventions is presented. It particularly concerns the employees who have the poorest temperamental and personality potential for effective coping and should be the target of primary stress intervention and prevention. According to evidence, Type A workers are at risk of occupational stress and disease, especially when some personality features of Type A are accompanied by high reactivity. The concept of pathological Type A is introduced.
The already existing programs of modifying Type A and the framework of a program based on the elements that have been established to be the most therapeutic for pathological Type A are presented.

Deposition and Retention of Ultrafine Aerosol Particles in the Human Respiratory System. Normal and Pathological Cases
Leon Gradoń, Dariusz Orlicki, Albert Podgórski

The particle number concentration in ambient air is dominated by nanometer-sized particles. Recent epidemiological studies report an association between the presence of nanoparticles in inhaled air at the workplace and acute morbidity and even mortality in the elderly. A theoretical model of deposition of 20 nm particles in the human alveolus was formulated. Gas flow structure and deposition rate were calculated for alveoli with different elastic properties of lung tissue. Data obtained in the paper show increased convective effects and diffusional rate of deposition of nanoparticles for alveoli with higher stiffness of the alveolar wall. The retention of deposited particles is also higher in these pathological alveoli. Results of our calculations indicate a possibility of existence of a positive loop of coupling in deposition and retention of nanoparticles in the lung with pathological changes.

Manual Handling Injuries in Health Care Workers
Nerida Bewick, Dianne Gardner

Nursing aides are particularly susceptible to manual handling injuries because they have the primary responsibility for heavy lifting. The aim of this study was to determine why a specific group of nursing aides have the highest manual handling injury rate in their hospital. The study investigated the adequacy of the manual handling training program, knowledge of manual handling, mechanical aid availability, and use of mechanical aids. Results indicated that the nursing aides' manual handling knowledge was adequate but that they rarely used mechanical aids. This lack of use of aids was in part due to an over-reliance on their own strength and abilities. This may have been due to a lack of suitable mechanical aids on the wards or a lack of familiarity with the available aids. This study suggests that neither training alone nor the purchase of equipment alone is likely to resolve manual handling problems.

A Model to Analyze Ergonomics Working Conditions
Bahador Ghahramani

An ergonomics and safety model to assess and evaluate the most critical industrial improvement areas in a developing nation. This study was initiated and supported by a Fortune 500 Corporation interested in improving its global operations in developing nations. This initiative was also fully supported by an emerging nation that was concerned with its ergonomics and safety problems. The model was tested and validated in the emerging nation and the results were used to further enhance the model so that it can be implemented and adapted to other similar work environments. The model provides a practical methodology that analyzes and evaluates an emerging nation's current work environments, suggests practical solutions, and recommends effective remedies.

The Effects of a Change in Work Organization Upon the Work Environment and Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Letter Carriers
Kurt G.I. Wahlstedt, Clas Håkan Nygård, Kristina Kemmlert, Margareta Torgén, Marianne G. Björkstén

An organizational change among 82 postal workers was studied with the aim of evaluating the effects on the work environment, work ability, and musculoskeletal complaints. The study was undertaken in 2 suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden. Psychological work demands were estimated to be reduced at the 1-year follow-up but physical work demands had changed very little. In an observation study in a subgroup of older workers, the risk of overexertion at work and musculoskeletal complaints was reduced. In spite of that, most of the older participants ( 35 years) had unchanged or increased musculoskeletal symptoms. This shows the need for early preventive measures.

The Moderating Role of Hardiness and Social Support in the Relation Between Job Stressors and Well-Being. A Lesson From a Clerical Women Sample
Roman Cieślak, Maria Widerszal-Bazyl, Aleksandra Łuszczyńska-Cieślak

The study concerns the moderating role of two variables-hardiness and social support-in the relation between job stressors and well-being. It was checked if there is a connection between hardiness and social support, and if these variables are directly related to the level of well-being. It was also hypothesized that hardiness and social support buffer the negative influence of stressors on well-being. The fact that social support and well-being are multidimensional variables was taken into account.
The cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of 200 women employed as office workers.
The results showed that hardiness correlates with the indexes of emotional support as well as practical support coming from supervisors. The connection, however, was not strong. Hardiness and social support were directly connected with the level of well-being. Interaction of these two independent variables played a marginal role. As far as the buffering role of these variables was concerned, the results have shown that hardiness did not play a buffering role and social support did to a limited degree only.
The results of the study proved that it is justifiable to treat social support and well-being as multidimensional variables.

Occupational Accidents of Finnish- and Swedish-Speaking Workers in Finland: A Mental Model View
Simo Salminen, Antero Johansson

This article is based on 2 studies. The aim of the first study was to examine the differences in occupational accident frequency between the 2 main language groups in Finland. Based on 3 independent statistical data sets, it was shown that Swedish-speaking workers had about 40% fewer occupational accidents than Finnish-speaking workers. The aim of the second study was to confirm the difference at company level. A field study in the province of Vaasa with 14 small and medium-sized manufacturing companies revealed that the accident frequency of Swedish-speaking workers was 21% lower than that of Finnish-speaking workers.