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Occupational exposure to electric and magnetic fields during tasks at ground or floor level at 110 kV substations in Finland

Korpinen L., Paakkonen R.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2016

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Vol. 22, No. 3

384--388

EN

The aim was to investigate occupational exposure to electric and magnetic fields during tasks at ground or floor level at 110 kV substations in Finland and to compare the measured values to Directive 2013/35/EU. Altogether, 347 electric field measurements and 100 magnetic field measurements were performed. The average value of all electric fields was 2.3 kV/m (maximum 6.4 kV/m) and that of magnetic fields was 5.8 µT (maximum 51.0 µT). It can be concluded that the electric and magnetic field exposure at ground or floor level is typically below the low action levels of Directive 2013/35/EU. The transposition of the directive will not create new needs to modify the work practice of the evaluated tasks, which can continue to be performed as before. However, for workers with medical implants, the exposure may be high enough to cause interference.

2

Self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms and usage of computers and mobile phones among working-age Finns

Korpinen L., Paakkonen R.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2015

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Vol. 21, No. 2

221--228

EN

The aim of the work is to study self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms among working-age Finns using logistical regression models. The study was carried out as a cross-sectional study by posting a questionnaire to 15,000 working-age persons. The responses (6121) revealed that 101 (1.7%) Finnish working-age persons suffered depression very often and 77 (1.3%) suffered anxiety very often during the last 12 months. Symptoms uncovered in the comparative analysis of respondents who had quite often or more often depression to respondents who had less depression showed differentiation. The same result was obtained in the analysis of self-reported anxiety symptoms. With the logistical regression models (from depression and anxiety), we found associations between physical symptoms (in shoulder) and depression and between different mental symptoms and anxiety or depression. In the future, it is important to take into accout that persons with physical symptoms can also have mental symptoms (depression or anxiety).

3

Cardiac pacemakers in magnetic fields of a shunt reactor at a 400 kV substation

Korpinen L., Kuisti H., Tarao H., Elovaara J., Virtanen V.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2015

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Vol. 21, No. 2

229--232

EN

The use of cardiac pacemakers (PMs) increases in Western countries. The aim of the study is to investigate cardiac pacemakers (PMs) using a human-shaped phantom in magnetic fields of a shunt reactor at a 400 kV substation. We performed seven PM experiments using a phantom. Two locations close to the shunt reactors were chosen. The magnetic field exposure was over 1000 µT in one location and over 600 µT in the other one. The magnetic field exposure did not disturb the tested five different PMs (in unipolar or bipolar configurations). It can be stated that in our experiment, the magnetic field exposure (over 600 µT and over 1000 µT) did not disturb the PMs (in unipolar or bipolar configurations). Since we only studied some PMs, it is possible that the magnetic field exposure at 400 kV substations can cause disturbances to other PMs. However, the risk of disturbances does not seem to be high.

4

White-Collar Workers’ Self-Reported Physical Symptoms Associated With Using Computers

Korpinen L., Paakkonen R., Gobba F.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2012

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Vol. 18, No. 2

137--147

EN

The aim of our work was to study the physical symptoms of upper- and lower-level white-collar workers using a questionnaire. The study was cross-sectional with a questionnaire posted to 15 000 working-age persons. The responses (6121) included 970 upper- and 1150 lower-level white-collar workers. In the upper - and lower-level white-collar worker groups, 45.7 and 56.0%, respectively, had experienced pain, numbness and aches in the neck either pretty often or more frequently. When comparing daily computer users and nonusers, there were significant differences in pain, numbness and aches in the neck or in the shoulders. In addition, age and gender influenced some physical symptoms. In the future, it is essential to take into account that working with computers can be especially associated with physical symptoms in the neck and in the shoulders when workers use computers daily.

5

Physical Symptoms in Young Adults and Their Use of Different Computers and Mobile Phones

Korpinen L., Paakkonen R.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2011

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Vol. 17, No. 4

361--371

EN

This paper presents the use of new technical equipment by young adults (30 years old or younger), and the physical symptoms they have. The paper then analyses how the symptoms are associated with the use of computers and mobile phones, taking into account the background information. The study is based on a survey of 15 000 working-age (18–65) Finns. The responses (1563) covering young adults’ physical symptoms were analysed. Altogether 53.3% of all young adults had pretty often or more frequently pain, numbness or aches in the neck and 32.2% had aches in the hip and lower back. Women experienced more pain, numbness or aches in the neck (65.0%) than men (34.5%). The use of different computers at leisure quite often had an association with some symptoms in different parts of the body. In addition, exhaustion at work had associations with some physical symptoms. In the future, it is essential to note ergonomic reasons and exhaustion at work when young adults experience pain, numbness or aches.

6

Mental Symptoms and the Use of New Technical Equipment

Korpinen L., Paakkonen R.

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

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2009

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Vol. 15, No. 4

385--400

EN

The aim of this paper was to present how mental symptoms are connected to the use of desktop, portable or minicomputers (communicators and hand-held computers), mobile phones, and background information such as age and gender in the Finnish working-age population. The study was carried out as a cross-sectional study by posting a questionnaire to 15 000 working-age (18–65) Finns. The mental symptoms of 6 121 respondents were analysed using the model factors age, gender, the use of computers and the use of mobile phones. In all data, the use of desktop computers was related to mental symptoms. However, the results of our data are not highly reliable, because the nonresponse rate was over 50%. Nevertheless, it may be essential to take into account in the future that working with computers can increase workers’ mental symptoms, and it is important to observe their mental health.