Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Assessment Of Exposure To Composite Nanomaterials And Development Of A Personal Respiratory Deposition Sampler For Nanoparticles, Lorenzo Cena

Lorenzo Cena

The overall goals of this doctoral dissertation are to provide knowledge of workers' exposure to nanomaterials and to assist in the development of standard methods to measure personal exposure to nanomaterials in workplace environments.

To achieve the first goal, a field study investigated airborne particles generated from the weighing of bulk carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the manual sanding of epoxy test samples reinforced with CNTs. This study also evaluated the effectiveness of three local exhaust ventilation (LEV) conditions (no LEV, custom fume hood and biosafety cabinet) for control of exposure to particles generated during sanding of CNT-epoxy nanocomposites. Particle number …

Evaluation Of Iowa’S Anti-Bullying Law, Marizen Ramirez, Patrick Ten Eyck, Corinne Peek-Asa, Joseph E Cavanaugh, Angela Onwuachi-Willig

Angela Onwuachi-Willig

Background Bullying is the most common form of youth aggression. Although 49 of all 50 states in the U.S. have an anti-bullying law in place to prevent bullying, little is known about the effectiveness of these laws. Our objective was to measure the effectiveness of Iowa’s anti-bullying law in preventing bullying and improving teacher response to bullying. Methods Sixth, 8th, and 11th grade children who completed the 2005, 2008 and 2010 Iowa Youth Survey were included in this study (n = 253,000). Students were coded according to exposure to the law: pre-law for 2005 survey data, one year post-law for …

Hazcom 2012 Implementation, Cheri Marcham

Cheri Marcham

This presentation reviews changes to the OSHA Standard called HazCom 2012. Old and new definitions for "health hazards" are discussed as well as labeling requirements.

Aiha White Paper: Electronic Cigarettes In The Indoor Environment, Cheri Marcham

Cheri Marcham

This presentation covers the effects of different volatile organic compounds released by electronic cigarettes which can cause health problems. More research on the effects of electronic "smoke" should be conducted on the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredients in electronic cigarette exhaust.

Electronic Cigarettes In The Indoor Environment, Cheri Marcham

Cheri Marcham

"E-cigarettes should be considered a source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates in the indoor environment that have not been thoroughly characterized or evaluated for safety."--NIOSH

A Review Of Studies Of Ventilation And Indoor Air Quality In New Homes And Impacts Of Environmental Factors On Formaldehyde Emission Rates From Composite Wood Products, Francis (Bud) Offermann, Cheri Marcham

Cheri Marcham

While increasing outdoor air ventilation rates does reduce the indoor concentrations of air contaminants with indoor sources, the actual reductions in concentrations can differ significantly from those calculated with the assumption of a constant indoor emission rate. The ratio of actual to predicted concentration reductions for the low to high outdoor air ventilation modes ranged from 0.59 for formaldehyde to 1.37 for benzaldehyde. Increases in emission rates for compounds such as formaldehyde are consistent with mass transfer theory for emissions from materials such as composite wood where mass transfer is limited by gas-phase diffusion across the boundary layer. Decreases in …

Body Of Knowledge: Field Use Of Direct-Reading Instruments For Detection Of Gases And Vapors, Cheryl L. Marcham, Et Al.

Cheri Marcham

AIHA and its members and volunteers worked collaboratively to develop the technical framework, known as the Body of Knowledge (BoK), that outlines the knowledge and skills a competent person should possess and be able to demonstrate when operating direct-reading instruments (DRIs) for detection of gases and vapors.

Electronic Cigarettes: Not Just Water Vapor, Cheryl (Cheri) L. Marcham, John (Jack) P. Springston

Cheri Marcham

• Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs) are battery-powered devices that deliver vaporized nicotine and other substances, such as flavorings, to users without smoke or combustion. They are commonly marketed as smoking cessation tools and, as such, are promoted as being a healthier alternative to smoking. • A common misperception is that that e-cigarettes only release water vapor. In reality, though, these devices release nicotine and other chemicals in a vapor form that can expose both the user (a.k.a., the vaper), as well as those in the immediate vicinity, to those contaminants. While the health risks of e-cigarettes compared to regular …

An Investigation Of Quality Climate And Its Association With Implementation Of Quality Management System, Sai K. Ramaswamy, Gretchen A. Mosher

Sai Ramaswamy

Quality management and continuous improvement are paramount for businesses to survive and thrive in today’s competitive landscape (Goetsch & Davis, 2003; Abdullah et al., 2009). One effective approach to operationalize quality processes and continuous improvement goals is a formalized quality management system (Khanna et al., 2010; Mosher et al., 2013). Quality management systems are embodiments of the organization’s policies, procedures, plans, resources, processes and delegation of responsibility and authority designed to achieve customer satisfaction within the boundaries of organizational objectives (Goetsch & Davis, 2003). While these systems are being used extensively across many industries, the ideas are relatively new to …

Approaching Safety Through Quality: Factors Influencing College Student Perceptions, Sai K. Ramaswamy, Gretchen A. Mosher

Sai Ramaswamy

Quality management practices have been identified by previous literature as a factor that could potentially reduce the level of safety incidents and hazards in agricultural work environments. The present study used multivariate analysis to examine the effect of independent variables such as quality and safety awareness, work experience, safety and quality management experience, and the perceived importance of safety and quality on the role of quality management practices as a mitigating factor for safety hazards and incidents in agriculture. Variables were measured on a five-point scale using a survey questionnaire. Data were collected from approximately 900 undergraduates enrolled in the …

Perceptions Of Agricultural College Students On The Relationship Between Quality And Safety In Agricultural Work Environments, Sai K. Ramaswamy, Gretchen A. Mosher

Sai Ramaswamy

Agriculture is a high-hazard industry that employs a large number of young workers below the age of 25. Recent studies have documented a strong positive correlation between quality management in agriculture and occupational safety as perceived by agricultural workers. Younger workers have been found to be at higher risk for occupational injuries and fatalities in agriculture. Furthermore, college students in agriculture have minimal exposure to safety and quality management principles in their coursework and thus may not be aware that the two concepts are associated. Little research has studied how young workers perceive the relationship between safety and quality and …

Pre-Professional Perceptions Of Safety And Quality Concerns In Agricultural Work Environments, Sai Kumar Ramaswamy

Sai Ramaswamy

Pre-professionals in the field of agriculture will play a vital role in the application and implementation of quality and safety policies in agricultural work environments. Yet, no comprehensive study has been completed to understand these pre-professionals' perceptions of quality and safety and how these two factors interact in the agricultural workplace. This study built on the work of Mosher et al. (2012), which measured the interactions between employees' perceptions of safety and quality in an agricultural work environment. To understand how pre-professionals perceive the link between quality and safety, undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences …

Profiling Work Health And Safety Incidents And Injuries In Australian Army Personnel: An Investigation Of Injuries And Other Incidents Suffered By Army Reserve Personnel, Rob Marc Orr, Rodney Pope, Ben Schram, Dylan Macdonald, Wayne Hing

Ben Schram

The Army reserve soldier is an integral part of overall Army capability and functioning. Although only becoming full-time when participating in training exercises or when called on for operations, these personnel are generally expected to perform at a level commensurate with full-time soldiers of the same rank and trade. Due to their transitions between civilian and military employments, they are typically exposed to less chronic military physical conditioning than their full-time counterparts. This reduced chronic conditioning, but requirement to perform the same tasks at the same level as full-time soldiers, may leave the reserve soldier at a higher risk of …

Profiling Work Health And Safety Incidents And Injuries In Australian Army Personnel: An Investigation Of Injuries And Other Incidents Suffered By Army Reserve Personnel, Rob Marc Orr, Rodney Pope, Ben Schram, Dylan Macdonald, Wayne Hing

Wayne Hing

The Army reserve soldier is an integral part of overall Army capability and functioning. Although only becoming full-time when participating in training exercises or when called on for operations, these personnel are generally expected to perform at a level commensurate with full-time soldiers of the same rank and trade. Due to their transitions between civilian and military employments, they are typically exposed to less chronic military physical conditioning than their full-time counterparts. This reduced chronic conditioning, but requirement to perform the same tasks at the same level as full-time soldiers, may leave the reserve soldier at a higher risk of …

Training For Tactical Operations In Tropical Environments: Challenges, Risks, & Strategies For Risk Management, Rodney Pope, Rob Orr, Anthony Walker, Shane D. Irving, Ralph P. Jones, Richard J. Gorey, Scott D. Gayton, Joseph Knapik

Rob Marc Orr

Tactical operators, encompassing military, law enforcement, fire and other emergency personnel, can be found in all climatic zones. These tactical operators may be deployed at short notice to tropical environments, often with limited time to acclimatise if based in more temperate zones. They are then expected to undertake arduous tactical tasks, often repeatedly and for extended periods in the tropical area. These demands combine with harsh environments, personal protective equipment (PPE), tactical loads, threats to life, and responsibility for the safety and survival of others to place immense physical and mental stresses on tactical operators. Managing the resulting risks is …

A Functional Movement Screen Profile Of An Australian State Police Force: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Robin Marc Orr, Rodney Pope, Michael Stierli, Ben Hinton

Rodney P Pope

Background Police officers are required to perform dynamic movements in unpredictable environments, the results of which can lead to injury. Early identification of poor movement patterns of a police population, and potential sub groups within this population, may provide opportunities to treat and minimise injury risks. The aim of this study was to profile the functional movement capabilities of an Australian state police force and potential sub groups through a retrospective cohort study. Methods Retrospective data from an Australian State Police Force were provided for analysis (♂ n = 1155, mean (±SD) age = 31.34 ± 8.41 years: ♀ n …

A Comparison Of Fitness Scores Between Injured And Uninjured Police Cadets., J. Jay Dawes, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Craig Elder

Rodney P Pope

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether there were significant mean score differences on selected fitness tests between cadets who sustained an injury while attending a 27-week state patrol training academy and their uninjured counterparts. Methods: Archival data for eighty-one cadets from two 27-week state patrol training cohorts were utilized for this analysis. This data was collected as part of the agency’s normal training academy fitness assessment prior to commencement of training. The data included self-reported age (yrs); height (in) and weight (lbs); and push-up, sit-up, vertical jump and 20 meter multi-stage fitness test (20m-MSFT) scores. Injury …

A Comparison Of Fitness Scores Between Injured And Uninjured Police Cadets., J. Jay Dawes, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Craig Elder

Rob Marc Orr

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether there were significant mean score differences on selected fitness tests between cadets who sustained an injury while attending a 27-week state patrol training academy and their uninjured counterparts. Methods: Archival data for eighty-one cadets from two 27-week state patrol training cohorts were utilized for this analysis. This data was collected as part of the agency’s normal training academy fitness assessment prior to commencement of training. The data included self-reported age (yrs); height (in) and weight (lbs); and push-up, sit-up, vertical jump and 20 meter multi-stage fitness test (20m-MSFT) scores. Injury …

A Functional Movement Screen Profile Of An Australian State Police Force: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Robin Marc Orr, Rodney Pope, Michael Stierli, Ben Hinton

Rob Marc Orr

Background Police officers are required to perform dynamic movements in unpredictable environments, the results of which can lead to injury. Early identification of poor movement patterns of a police population, and potential sub groups within this population, may provide opportunities to treat and minimise injury risks. The aim of this study was to profile the functional movement capabilities of an Australian state police force and potential sub groups through a retrospective cohort study. Methods Retrospective data from an Australian State Police Force were provided for analysis (♂ n = 1155, mean (±SD) age = 31.34 ± 8.41 years: ♀ n …

Load Carriage And What It Means For Search & Rescue, Rob M. Orr, Rodney Pope

Rob Marc Orr

SAR personnel may often be required to carry external loads as a task requirement. In turn these external loads may be carried in extreme environments across unpredictable terrain. In tactical occupations, like those undertaken by Defence Force, law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel, these loads, which can range from 10 to over 50kg, are known to cause a variety of injuries to the neurological and musculoskeletal systems of the carrier. In addition, these loads are known to impede task performance and in some cases have ultimately led to mission failure. To mitigate these potential risks of injury and performance …

Profiling The Incidents And Injuries Of Part-Time And Full-Time Soldiers In The Australian Army, Dylan Macdonald, Rodney Pope, Rob Orr

Rodney P Pope

Aim •To profile the incidents & injuries reported in Part-time compared to Full-time soldiers serving in the Australian Army Methods •Retrospective cohort study, covering 01 Jul 2012 –30 Jun 2014 •Incident data for ARES & ARA extracted from WHSCAR database by system administrators & made non-identifiable •Inclusion Criteria: –Incident or injury sustained by Part-time or Full-time personnel –Incident or injury occurred during 01 July 2012-30 June 2014 •Exclusion Criteria: –Foreign defence service on secondment –Missing data •Population sizes ascertained from annual Defence Agency Resources & Planned Performance reports •Total annual numbers of ARES days served provided by AHQ •Data analysis: …

Incidence Rates Of Reported Work Health & Safety Incidents & Injuries In Part-Time & Full-Time Australian Army Personnel, Rodney Pope, Dylan Macdonald, Rob Orr

Rodney P Pope

Aims: 1. To investigate & compare the incidence rates of WHS incidents & injuries in ARES & ARA populations, reported in the WHSCAR database 2. To compare these injury incidence rates to injury rates reported by other injury surveillance systems for comparable army populations

Profiling The Incidents And Injuries Of Part-Time And Full-Time Soldiers In The Australian Army, Dylan Macdonald, Rodney Pope, Rob Orr

Rob Marc Orr

Aim •To profile the incidents & injuries reported in Part-time compared to Full-time soldiers serving in the Australian Army Methods •Retrospective cohort study, covering 01 Jul 2012 –30 Jun 2014 •Incident data for ARES & ARA extracted from WHSCAR database by system administrators & made non-identifiable •Inclusion Criteria: –Incident or injury sustained by Part-time or Full-time personnel –Incident or injury occurred during 01 July 2012-30 June 2014 •Exclusion Criteria: –Foreign defence service on secondment –Missing data •Population sizes ascertained from annual Defence Agency Resources & Planned Performance reports •Total annual numbers of ARES days served provided by AHQ •Data analysis: …

Australian Army Recruit Training: Course Length And Recruit Injury Rates, Georgina Dawson, Ryan Broad, Rob Orr

Rob Marc Orr

Access abstract in the Conference Abstract E-book, page 115

Leg Power As An Indicator For Risk Of Injury Or Illness In Police Recruits, Rob Orr, Rodney Pope, Samantha Peterson, Michael Stierli, Ben Hinton

Rob Marc Orr

Access abstract in the Conference Abstract E-book, page 123

Incidence Rates Of Reported Work Health & Safety Incidents & Injuries In Part-Time & Full-Time Australian Army Personnel, Rodney Pope, Dylan Macdonald, Rob Orr

Rob Marc Orr

Aims: 1. To investigate & compare the incidence rates of WHS incidents & injuries in ARES & ARA populations, reported in the WHSCAR database 2. To compare these injury incidence rates to injury rates reported by other injury surveillance systems for comparable army populations

How Could, Should, And Would Physicians Use Facebook With Patients, Joy Peluchette, Katherine Karl, Alberto Coustasse

Alberto Coustasse, DrPH, MD, MBA, MPH

After reviewing the benefits and risks of social media, we examine online discussion boards to determine the thoughts of physicians and patients regarding the use of Facebook to communicate with one another about health-related issues. Of the 290 comments analyzed, we found 42 percent were opposed to physicians using Facebook. Additionally, most (51.7 were opposed to physicians being Facebook “friends” with patients. Most opponents expressed concerns about privacy and the need to maintain professional boundaries in the physician-patient relationship. We provide suggestions for how healthcare administrators can effectively manage their social media presence and provide assistance to physicians.

Construction Induction Training: How Effective For The Housing And Civil Construction Industries In Wa?, Susanne Bahn, Llandis Barratt-Pugh

Llandis Barratt-Pugh

Introducing practices to reduce the number of work-related injuries in the construction industry is a continual challenge, specifically in WA where the industry is adapting to the additional pressures of a second development boom this century. In 2006, Worksafe WA responded by introducing mandatory certification in safety awareness training for all employees, before they could begin work on a construction site. This paper reviews the impact of this training on the housing and civil sectors of the industry. It presents both the perceptions of the stakeholders from their survey responses and from the analyses the lost time injury/disease statistics. These …

The Impact Of Management Styles Upon Organisational Change And Safety Cultures, Susanne Bahn, Llandis Barratt-Pugh

Llandis Barratt-Pugh

In this paper we discuss the findings of two large studies conducted during 2005/06 that illuminated the role of managers as change agents. We draw the findings together to conceptualise and model the leadership styles and behaviours that appear to be successful in reshaping organisational safety culture. The first study identified the instrumental influence that managers have on the safety culture within organisations. The second study revealed the influential role of managers as change agents during a cultural change initiative when they applied a flexible approach using formal and informal agencies of change. The paper situates these two studies in …

Is The Construction Induction Training Scheme In The Housing And Civil Construction Industries Of Western Australia Effective In Improving Safety Culture?, Susanne Bahn, Llandis Barratt-Pugh

Llandis Barratt-Pugh

This paper presents the findings of a 2011 study that evaluated the effectiveness of the Construction Induction Training (CIT) scheme (White Card) in the housing and civil construction sectors. This mixed method study collected data in three phases through: the segregated statistics of the Lost Time Injuries and Diseases (LTI/Ds), a broad industry questionnaire, and 82 interviews with managers and construction workers working in metropolitan and regional areas. The main findings indicate that there is broad acceptance of the benefits of the training across all stakeholder groups. The statistics show that there was a slight rise in LTI/Ds in the …