Ethics and Privacy Considerations Before Deploying Sensor Technologies for Exposure Assessment in the Workplace: Results of a Structured Discussion Amongst Dutch Stakeholders
AbstractWill sensor-based exposure assessment be the future in workplace settings? Static instruments with embedded sensors are already applied to monitor levels of dangerous substances —in the context of acute health effects—at critical locations. However, with wearable, lightweight, miniaturized (low-cost) sensors developing quickly, much more is possible with sensors in relation to exposure assessment. Sensors can be applied in the work environment, on machines, or on employ ees and may include sensors that measure chemical exposures, but also sensors or other technologies that collect contextual information to supp...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 15, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
The Utility of an Occupational Contact Dermatitis Patch Test Database in the Analysis of Workplace Prevention Activities in Toronto, Canada
ConclusionsCollecting basic workplace information with patch test surveillance databases can inform the occupational health and safety system about prevention practices in the workplace and identify areas for focussed intervention. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 12, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Occupational Skin Disease in Physicians: A Review of the Literature
ConclusionsThe most frequently reported OSD in physicians is contact dermatitis from allergens in disinfectants and rubber gloves. There is also a risk of cutaneous reactions to latex. The incidence of skin cancer was higher in physicians than in the general population, and the reason for this remains unexplained and potentially biased. There are no reports of transmission of patient HPV to surgeons during wart ablation, possibly because of proper use of protective equipment. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 3, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Development of Job Exposure Matrices to Estimate Occupational Exposure to Solar and Artificial Ultraviolet Radiation
ConclusionsJEMs for solar and artificial UVR were developed for a broad range of I&O pairs in the US population and are available for use by researchers conducting occupational epidemiological studies. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - October 3, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Field Evaluation of the Ultrasonic Personal Aerosol Sampler (UPAS) for Respirable Dust Exposure in a Taconite Mine
In this study, we field tested and evaluated the performance of the UPAS for assessing worker exposure to RD in a taconite mine. Mineworkers (n = 39) from various job categories were recruited to wear both UPAS and NIOSH 0600 samplers on a work vest to estimate time-weighted exposure to RD. A strong linear relationship was observed (NIOSH method 0600 = 1.06 (UPAS) −9.22 µg m–3,r2 of 0.72, and Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.854). None of the workers were exposed to a RD concentration above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure limit (5 mg m–3). A Bland –Altman analysis reveale...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 24, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Evaluation of Methods for Sampling of Staphylococcus aureus and Other Staphylococcus Species from Indoor Surfaces
ConclusionsPre-moistened eSwabs in combination with dilution plating were found to be the best method for surface sampling of MSSA and MRSA. The method can be used for assessing the risk of exposure and transmission of MRSA from environmental surfaces. To obtain a reliable measure of concentrations and the presence ofStaphylococccus species a higher number of samples should be taken from surfaces with hand contact than from surfaces dominated by sedimented bacteria. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 24, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
A Quantitative Retrospective Exposure Assessment for Former Chrysotile Asbestos Miners and Millers from Baie Verte, NL, Canada
AbstractDespite numerous studies of asbestos workers in the epidemiologic literature, there are very few cohort studies of chrysotile asbestos miners/millers that include high-quality retrospective exposure assessments. As part of the creation of the Baie Verte Miners ’ Registry in 2008, a two-dimensional job exposure matrix (JEM) was developed for estimating asbestos exposures for former chrysotile asbestos miners/millers. Industrial hygiene data collected between 1963 and 1994 were analysed to assess validity for use in a retrospective exposure assessment and epidemiologic study. Registered former employees were divide...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 22, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Occupational Heat Stress and Practical Cooling Solutions for Healthcare and Industry Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
AbstractTreatment and management of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, which causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), requires increased adoption of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn by workers in healthcare and industry. In warm occupational settings, the added burden of PPE threatens worker health and productivity, a major lesson learned during the West-African Ebola outbreak which ultimately constrained disease control. In this paper, we comment on the link between COVID-19 PPE and occupational heat strain, cooling solutions available to mitigate occupational heat stress, and practical considera...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 21, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Corrigendum to: Outcomes of a Safety and Health Educational Intervention in Auto Body and Machine Tool Technologies Vocational College Programs: The Technical Education Curricula for Health and Safety (TECHS) Study
The Introduction of the original article contained a number of errors as an incorrect version was accidentally supplied. These have now been corrected. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 18, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Decontamination Strategies for Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs) in Healthcare Organizations: A Comprehensive Review
AbstractFiltering facepiece respirators (FFRs) are made for one-time use. A massive shortage of FFRs is widespread during pandemic events and has forced many healthcare organizations to decontaminate them and re-use for a limited time. Many decontamination methods have been proposed for the decontamination of FFRs. This review highlights various aspects of decontamination methods available in the literature. Among various methods available, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet irradiation, and dry heat seem to be the most promising decontaminants for FFRs. On the other hand, microwave, bleach, ethylene oxide, alcohol, ...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 15, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Burnout, Mental Health, and Quality of Life Among Employees of a Malaysian Hospital: A Cross-sectional Study
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout, mental ill-health, and QOL among employees of Hospital Bentong in Pahang state, Malaysia. This was a 2-week, cross-sectional online survey for Hospital Bentong employees. It consisted of (i) sociodemographic data, (ii) respondents ’ perceptions, (iii) Malay-version Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), (iv) 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS-21), and (v) WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument. In total, 52.4% of hospital employees (N = 251) participated in the study. The burnout rates were 17.5% (personal burnout), 13.9% (work burnout), and...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 12, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Measuring Precarious Employment: Type of Contract Can Lead to Serious Misclassification Error
This study aims to assess the accuracy of temporary employment as indicator or proxy measure of precarious employment. Using sensitivity and specificity analysis, we compared type of contract (temporary versus permanent) with the Chilean version of the multidimensional Employment Precariousness Scale. Temporary employment exhibited very low sensitivity (<30%) (specificity>90%), resulting in roughly 38% of false negative results. Different EPRES-Ch cut-off scores produced similar results. The main implication of these findings is that the public health relevance of precarious employment is being underestimated both in...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 12, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Corneocyte Nanotexture as Biomarker for Individual Susceptibility to Skin Irritants
AbstractIrritant contact dermatitis is a wide spread occupational skin condition. In addition to generalized protection and teaching schemes, a knowledge about individual risk might add to an improved awareness for hazards. Here, we report on a novel candidate biomarker, which might stage individual susceptibility to irritant skin damage. Subclinical sensitivity was proven in recent studies. As a nano-anatomical measure, it works non-invasively on corneocytes from tape strips. Here, we report on a 7-day course after exposure to sodium lauryl sulphate and compare the novel cell texture index with the classical markers water...
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 11, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Evidence of Absence: Bayesian Way to Reveal True Zeros Among Occupational Exposures
ConclusionsForcing the usual lognormal model to data containing a large proportion of censored values can bias risk assessment if a substantial part of the censored points are true zeroes. The Bernoulli-lognormal model is a suitable and accessible model that can account for such challenging data, and leads to unbiased risk assessments regardless of the presence of true zeros in the data. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 11, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
Availability of Personal Protective Equipment in NHS Hospitals During COVID-19: A National Survey
ConclusionsOur survey demonstrated an overall lack of PPE volume supply in the UK hospitals during March 2020, demonstrating a lack of preparedness for a pandemic. PPE was more readily available in London which was the epicentre of the outbreak. Eye and full body protection are in most lack of supply. (Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene)
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - September 11, 2020 Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research
