Chloroform exposure in air and water in Swedish indoor swimming pools —urine as a biomarker of occupational exposure
ConclusionThere is an accumulation of chloroform concentrations in urine during a workday and a correlation between personal air and urine concentrations of chloroform among workers in Swedish indoor swimming pools. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 20, 2023 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Work in nursing homes and occupational exposure to endotoxin and bacterial and fungal species
In conclusion, we give an overview of the general microbial exposure in nursing homes and show that microbial exposures are higher for staff with more care and nursing tasks compared with administrative staff. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - June 10, 2023 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Wood dust in France. Trends in the population of exposed workers between 1982 and 2017 based on a job-exposure matrix assessment
ConclusionThis article is the first to describe occupational exposure to wood dust in France for all workers and to follow its evolution over the last 40 years. Occupations and industries still at risk in 2017 are also described with the aim of helping to improve prevention policies. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - May 31, 2023 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
The impact of long Covid on people ’s capacity to work
AbstractThis commentary addresses the post-COVID-19 syndrome and its implications for workers ’ health. Post-COVID-19 syndrome consists of a set of physiological and psychological symptoms resulting from SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection, which occur continuously for several weeks or months. Therefore, it is an affectation that has multiple consequences for the recovery of people’s health, and compromises the ability to perform daily activities, including work, whether in person or remotely. Although several studies have been published so far, and several long-term consequences on people’s health have been demonstrated...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - May 30, 2023 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Managing the risks of an asbestos bulk storage facility at a research institute
AbstractThe South African National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), formerly the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit, has previously milled about 544 kg of anthophyllite, crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile asbestos fibre materials. This endeavour came about in an attempt to address a recommendation, made by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), to make asbestos standard reference samples available for research. Some of these reference samples, as well as the bulk, unprocessed materials are still within the care of the NIOH and can be obtained for the purpose of Public Health research under strict terms and cond...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - May 29, 2023 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Exposure levels of dust, endotoxin, and microorganisms in the Danish recycling industry
ConclusionThe production workers of the Danish recycling industry participating in this study had higher exposure levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi than the administrative workers. Exposure levels of inhalable dust and endotoxin among recycling workers in Denmark were generally below established or suggested occupational exposure limits (OEL). However, 43% to 58% of the individual measurements of bacteria and fungi were above the suggested OEL. The waste fraction was the most influential determinant for exposure, and the highest exposure levels were seen during handling paper or cardboard. Future stu...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - May 16, 2023 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Health and Safety Regulations for COVID-19: A Policy Analysis
The objective of this study was to describe such state and federal regulations enacted between January 2020 and January 2022. Regulations, including emergency temporary standards (ETS) and permanent standards, were identified through a search of Nexis Uni and Bloomberg Law and review of US OSHA websites and theFederal Register. Full texts were reviewed for regulatory scope, hazard and exposure definitions, determination of exposure or risk levels, and control strategies. Four state (California, Michigan, Virginia, and Oregon) and two federal regulations were identified. All regulations described respiratory aerosols as the...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - December 13, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Occupational Health and COVID-19: A Special Issue
In much of the world, one can be forgiven for thinking that the coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) has ended, as the activities of daily life have resumed for most. Infections persist, however. There are few people who have made it to this point in the pandemic as fortunate as I, who lost no family members or close friends, and found their career, while disrupted on a day-to-day basis, to thrive with the global interest and investment in research about COVID-19. Indeed, an untallied number of workers were forced through social and personal economic necessity to put themselves at increased risk of COVID-19 to pr...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 18, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
An Investigation into Occupational Related Stress of At-Risk Workers During COVID-19
ConclusionsAs workplaces navigate past the pandemic, occupational stress should be addressed head-on through workplaces providing expanded resources so as to assure work stress associated with future pandemics are mitigated appropriately. Whether the stressor is associated with irregular shift work or psychosocial aspects (i.e. relying on coworkers), many of these stressors have the possibility to become exacerbated by external factors such as pandemics. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - November 9, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
The Changing Job of School Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Media Content Analysis of Contributions to Stress
The objective of this study was to explore COVID-19 occupational changes and their contributions to stress among school nurses and UAPs through a content analysis of local and national media articles. A Google search of articles published between February 2020 and September 2021 was conducted using the following search terms: ‘school nurse’, ‘COVID-19’, ‘health aide’, ‘stress’, and ‘experiences’. A search was also conducted in Nexis Uni. Articles were included if the topic discussed school nurses or UAPs and COVID-19. All articles that examined nurses in other settings were excluded from the review. W e...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 16, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Air and on Surfaces in Rooms of Infected Nursing Home Residents
In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 is frequently detected in air and on surfaces in the immediate surroundings of room-isolated COVID-19 patients, providing evidence of environmental contamination. The environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 and infectious aerosols confirm the potential for transmission via air up to several meters. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 7, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Use of Personal Protective Equipment Among Healthcare Workers During the First and the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
ConclusionWe found a substantial increase in the use of PPE and a substantial decrease in PPE failures from the first to the second wave of COVID-19 in Denmark. However, there is still a need for continuous focus on compliance in use of PPE among healthcare workers. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 30, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Assessing the Fit of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Fitted with an Ear Loop Strap System: A Pilot Study
AbstractThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of millions of people worldwide have become new users of respiratory protective devices. Facemasks and KN95 respirators utilizing an ear loop straps system (ELSS) have recently become popular among occupational and non-occupational populations. Part of this popularity is due to the ease of wearability as compared with traditional devices utilizing two headbands, one worn over the head and the other behind the neck —a universal strap system used in NIOSH-certified N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). Some users convert the two-strap configuration to an adjustable E...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - August 4, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Elevated COVID-19 Case Rates of Government Employees, District of Columbia, 2020 –2022
ConclusionsThe results suggested higher case rates for emergency responders and frontline personnel than for general population in D.C. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 28, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Evaluation of Face Shields, Goggles, and Safety Glasses as a Virus Transmission Control Measure to Protect the Wearer Against Cough Droplets
AbstractFace shields (also referred to as visors), goggles and safety glasses have been worn during the COVID-19 pandemic as one measure to control transmission of the virus. However, their effectiveness in controlling facial exposure to cough droplets is not well established and standard tests for evaluating eye protection for this application are limited. A method was developed to evaluate face shields, goggles, and safety glasses as a control measure to protect the wearer against cough droplets. The method uses a semi-quantitative assessment of facial droplet deposition. A cough simulator was developed to generate dropl...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - July 20, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
