Public Health Commons^™

Stairway Step Dimensions: Replication Of A Measurement System Study, Christopher Hicks, Roger C. Jensen, Joselynn M. Adams

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

This paper reports a replication of a prior measurement system study. The earlier study examined the nosing-to-nosing measurement system for measuring steps in a stairway to determine uniformity. In each study, two individuals measured six flights of stairs on two separate occasions. The difference in the first and second study was the different measurers. Step attributes used to define uniformity are riser height and tread depth. The measurers in each study obtained 744 values of riser height and 672 values of tread depth. The ANOVA for each study indicated that less than 4% of the variance in these attributes was …

Adequate Ventilation: How Is It Defined And Does It Adequately Warn Consumers?, Christopher Blankenship

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to clarify and define the term “adequate ventilation.” Upon looking at regulations, court cases, and other elements, it is clear that the term is inadequate to inform consumers and does not instruct consumers on how to achieve proper ventilation. To find out if consumers understand this, random persons were asked to define it. The answers were given a numerical value to show the knowledge trend. The outcome showed that most people do not understand how to achieve proper ventilation. Conclusion: Diagrams showing how to set up a room with ventilation and new instructions are …

Perception Of Slipperiness And Prospective Risk Of Slipping At Work, Theodore K. Courtney, Santosh K. Verma, Wen-Ruey Chang, Yueng-Hsiang Huang, David A. Lombardi, Melanye J. Brennan, Melissa J. Perry

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Objectives: Falls are a leading cause of injury at work, and slipping is the predominant cause of falling. Prior research has suggested a modest correlation between objective measures (such as coefficient of friction, COF) and subjective measures of slipperiness (such as worker perceptions) in the workplace. However, the degree of association between subjective measures and the actual risk of slipping at the workplace is unknown. This study examined the association between perception of slipperiness and the risk of slipping.

Methods: 475 workers from 36 limited-service restaurants participated in a 12-week prospective cohort study. At baseline, demographic information was collected, participants …

Association Between Childhood Adversities And Adulthood Depressive Symptoms In South Korea: Results From A Nationally Representative Longitudinal Study, Seung-Sup Kim, Hyobum Jang, Hyoung Yoon Chang, Young Su Park, Dong Woo Lee

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Objective To examine how childhood adversity (ie, parental death, parental divorce, suspension of school education due to financial strain or being raised in a relative's house due to financial strain) is associated with prevalence and incidence of adulthood depressive symptoms and whether this association differs by gender and by age in South Korea.

Design Prospective cohort design.

Setting Nationally representative longitudinal survey in South Korea.

Participants 11 526 participants in South Korea.

Outcome measure Prevalence and incidence of adulthood depressive symptoms were assessed as a dichotomous variable using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale in 2006 and 2007. …

Complete Genome Sequence Of The Epidemic And Highly Virulent Ctx-M-15-Producing H30-Rx Subclone Of Escherichia Coli St131, Paal S. Andersen, Marc Stegger, Maliha Aziz, Tania L. Contente-Cuomo, Henry S. Gibbons, Paul Keim, Evgeni V. Sokurenko, James R. Johnson, Lance B. Price

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

We report the complete genome sequence, including five complete plasmid sequences, of Escherichia coli ST131 isolate JJ1886. The isolate was obtained in 2007 in the United States from a patient with fatal urosepsis and belongs to the virulent, CTX-M-15-producing H30-Rx sublineage.

Owner Of Towing Company Dies When Struck By Box Truck, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

In the early morning hours of a summer day, a 49-year-old male owner-operator of a towing company died when he was struck by a driver operating a box truck. The towing company had been called to retrieve a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that had broken down in another state and was returning the vehicle to its owner in Kentucky. It was approximately 4:00 a.m. when the towing company owner and his two sons were on an interstate returning with the SUV, when the operator thought the load felt strange. He parked his tow truck on the right hand shoulder and …

The State Of Health And Safety Program Management As It Pertains To Osha In The Funeral Industry: A Formative Analysis, Brad William Kuchnicki

Online Theses and Dissertations

From a law perspective, contingency refers to possible events that may or may not happen, by which, when happening, some particular title may be affected. In the funeral industry, OSHA regulations govern a vast array of procedures directly related to day-to-day operations. If at any time one of these controls have or have not been implemented, enforced or altered, the organization could be influenced. This thesis will analyze the state of health and safety program management as it pertains to OSHA in the funeral industry.

A Look At The Deaths Of Career And Volunteer Firefighters In America: Who Has The Higher Rate Of Death?, Matthew Joseph Flanagan

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study will look at whether career or volunteer firefighters are more likely to die while engaging in firefighting activities, including training. Also, it will look at the causes of death and determine the leading cause of death for both career and volunteer firefighters. This will be done through looking at the numbers of firefighter deaths reported and applying statistical analysis. Only municipal fire departments will be included in this study.

Examining The Value Of Fire Prevention Inspections In Commercial Occupancies, Philip Steven Gairson

Online Theses and Dissertations

This research paper will evaluate the value of conducting fire prevention inspections within the commercial occupancy and the associated reduction in the occurrence of fires. While the fire problem within the United States has experienced a decline in the number of fires and fire related injuries, the reality is that the nation continues to experience significant fire loss. With the introduction of more comprehensive codes and standards, the enforcement of fire regulations becomes paramount in maintaining a fire safe community. Typically, fire prevention enforcement is accomplished through annual fire inspections performed by the fire department. While personnel within the fire …

Safety On A Drilling Rig: Is It Safety Culture?, Jonathan Wade Henson

Online Theses and Dissertations

Why do workers on a modern offshore drilling rig continue to make decisions leading to unsafe conditions, acts or incidents? In a perfect world, workers in any industry would go to work and come home in the same condition as they started the day: no incidents. Worker injuries and deaths are all too common in the workplace whether on land or at sea. On a modern drilling rig, operating hundreds of miles offshore, far from the nearest hospital, working in all kinds of weather presents an industry ripe with risks. The worker or rig hand holds the key to making …

The Effect Of Work And Family Role Stressors On The Well-Being Of Public Sector Employees In South Korea : Three Comparative Perspectives Of Gender, Role Domain, And Employment Sector, Geunpil Ryu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study aimed to address the main research question of how work and family role stressors effect employees' well-being. In particular, this study addressed four main research topics: (a) whether work and family role stressors are significantly associated with well-being indicators; (b) whether work and family role stressors are related differently to well-being for men and women; (c) whether work and family role stressors have cross-domain effects, and which domain has more predictive power to explain an individual's healthiness; and (d) whether any differences exist between private- and public-sector employees in the relationship between work and family role stressors and …

Assessment Of Neck And Shoulder Muscle Coactivations And The Effect On The Musculoskeletal System, Regina Derria Pope-Ford

Dissertations

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) constitute one of the most important occupational health issues in healthcare workers who are susceptible to upper extremity disorders. Yet MSDs in the healthcare professions have not been studied extensively beyond the lower back. The focus population for this research is the field of dentistry where neck and shoulder disorders have been documented to have a high prevalence. Though quantitative data has been collected, many prior studies have focused on self-reported information. The goal of this research is to provide insight into the inter-relationship of muscles in the upper extremities. One way to accomplish this is to …

Disparate Health Implications Stemming From The Propensity Of Elderly And Medically Fragile Populations To Shelter In Place During Severe Storm Events, Joshua G. Behr, Rafael Diaz

VMASC Publications

Chronic conditions, disability limitations (mobility, cognitive, and sensory), and the need for assistance with activities of daily living are characteristics of elderly and medically fragile populations. Theory suggests that households with these vulnerability attributes are more likely to suffer storm-induced adverse and prolonged health consequences and, therefore, ought to evidence an increased propensity to evacuate prior to a severe storm event. Yet despite being more sensitive to storm disruption, the elderly and medically fragile populations are only slightly more likely to evacuate in the face of impending storms. This suggests, for these groups, there may be other factors such as …

Lead-Based Paint Awareness, Work Practices, And Compliance During Residential Construction And Renovation, James D. Blando, Nickita Antoine, Daniel Lefkowitz

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently implemented the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule that applies to pre-1978 residences because of the potential presence of lead-based paint. Enforcement of this rule may be difficult and therefore it is crucial to understand the awareness and beliefs of contractors and the general public because these will likely be major determinants of exposures resulting from residential renovation work. The study described in this article utilized two mailed surveys: one directed to the general public and the other directed to contractors. The surveys were conducted in New Jersey and Virginia. Field observations were also …

Identifying Environmental Health Priorities In Underserved Populations: A Study Of Rural Versus Urban Communities, M. C. Bernhard, M. B. Evans, S. T. Kent, E. Johnson, S. L. Threadgill, S. M. Becker

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives- Understanding and effectively addressing persistent health disparities in minority communities requires a clear picture of members' concerns and priorities. This study was intended to engage residents in urban and rural communities in order to identify environmental health priorities. Specific emphasis was placed on how the communities: defined the term environment; their perceptions of environmental exposures as affecting their health; specific priorities in their communities; and differences in urban versus rural populations.

Study design- A community-engaged approach was used to develop and implement focus groups and compare environmental health priorities in urban versus rural communities.

Methods- A total of eight …

Evaluation Of A Novel Rapid Diagnostic Test For Schistosoma Haematobium Based On The Detection Of Human Immunoglobulins Bound To Filtered Schistosoma Haematobium Eggs, Johnathan M. Sheele, Jimmy H. Kihara, Sarah Baddorf, Jonathan Byrne, Bhaskara Ravi

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Objectives To determine whether the detection of human IgG bound to Schistosoma haematobium eggs from filtered urine could be used as a rapid diagnostic test (RDT-Sh).

Methods We filtered 160 urine samples from children in the Kwale District of Kenya to isolate S.haematobium eggs and used anti-human IgG antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase to bind to the human IgG attached to the eggs. We then added 3,35,5-tetramethylbenzidine base (TMB), which turns blue in the presence of horseradish peroxidase to detect the S.haematobium eggs. The RDT-Sh was compared in a blinded manner to urine microscopy.

Results The RDT-Sh was positive in …

Impact Of Climate Change On Occupational Health And Safety, Ariane Adam-Poupart, France Labrèche, Audrey Smargiassi, Patrice Duguay, Marc-Antoine Busque, Charles Gagné, Joseph Zayed

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les effets des changements climatiques (CC) sont souvent discutés en fonction de leurs impacts sur l’environnement et sur la population générale. Toutefois, leurs conséquences sur la santé et la sécurité des travailleurs (SST) n'ont été que très peu abordées par la communauté scientifique. Pourtant, les travailleurs peuvent être directement ou indirectement affectés par les CC notamment par des contraintes thermiques auxquelles ils peuvent être exposés ou encore, par des modifications aux écosystèmes qui sont à la base de leurs activités économiques. L’objectif général de cette étude était d’explorer les avenues de recherche en regard de l’impact négatif des changements climatiques …

Participatory Training In Manual Handling: Theoretical Foundations And Proposed Approach, Denys Denis, Monique Lortie, Marie St-Vincent, Maud Gonella, André Plamondon, Alain Delisle, Jacques Tardif

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Les activités de manutention sont source de blessures musculo-squelettiques – particulièrement au dos – et ont fait l’objet de plusieurs études et d’efforts de prévention au fil des ans. Former les manutentionnaires est une avenue de prévention répandue. Une approche de formation dominante consiste à enseigner des consignes de base qui se matérialisent à travers des techniques standards que les manutentionnaires doivent appliquer en tout temps. Certaines études récentes remettent en question les effets de ces formations tandis que d’autres apportent un regard nouveau sur la réalité du travail de manutention. …

Ceinture De Sécurité Pour Chariots Élévateurs À Contrepoids : Étude Préliminaire De Critères Normatifs Et D'Utilisabilité, Denis Rancourt, Sylvie Beaugrand, Christian Larue, Geneviève Masson

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Depuis l’entrée en vigueur d’un nouvel article du Règlement québécois sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (RSST), les chariots élévateurs en porte-à-faux à grande levée, à poste de conduite au centre non élevable et à conducteur assis doivent être munis d’un dispositif de retenue empêchant le cariste d’être écrasé par la structure du chariot lors d’un renversement. La ceinture de sécurité pelvienne est un des moyens les plus couramment utilisés actuellement pour satisfaire cette exigence. À partir de la consultation des écrits, de l’examen sommaire de quelques ceintures vendues …

Gants Résistant Aux Piqûres D’Aiguilles : Évaluation De La Dextérité Manuelle, De La Sensibilité Tactile Et Du Confort Pour Les Travailleurs : Étude Exploratoire, Chantal Gauvin, Jaime Lara

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Les policiers, les agents de la paix en services correctionnels, les éboueurs et les cols bleus horticulteurs sont très préoccupés par les risques de piqûre avec des aiguilles hypodermiques. Ces piqûres les exposent à du sang potentiellement contaminé et au risque de contracter des maladies transmissibles par le sang telles que le VIH et les hépatites B et C. Ces travailleurs doivent porter des gants résistant aux piqûres d’aiguilles tout en conservant une dextérité manuelle et une sensibilité tactile adéquates. Le choix de gants de protection dont ils disposent est limité, …

Predictors Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorders In Police Officers: Prospective Study, André Marchand, Richard Boyer, Céline Nadeau, Mélissa Martin

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Ce projet de recherche vise à mieux comprendre le développement de l'état de stress post-traumatique (ÉSPT), à la suite d'un accident de travail, par l'étude des facteurs de risque et de protection qui y sont associés. Il provient d'une demande du milieu policier où les travailleurs sont fréquemment exposés à des événements traumatiques (ÉT). Les chercheurs posent l'hypothèse que les facteurs péri et post-traumatiques pourront mieux expliquer le développement de l'ÉSPT et l'adaptation aux ÉT vécus par le personnel exposé que les facteurs pré-traumatiques. Cette étude est originale, car elle s'intéresse …

Presence, Intensity, And Temporal Changes In Generalized Anxiety Disorder Maintenance Factors In Workers Undergoing Rehabilitation For Persistent Musculoskeletal Pain, Marie-France Coutu, Marie-José Durand, André Marchand, Marie-Élise Labrecque, Djamal Berbiche, Geneviève Cadieux

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Problématique : La prévalence du trouble d’anxiété généralisée (TAG) est plus élevée chez les personnes ayant une lombalgie, comparativement à la population en générale. En présence d’un TAG, l’intolérance à l’incertitude sera élevée et des stratégies inefficaces entraîneront le maintien de l’anxiété. À long terme, une réduction de l’efficacité personnelle à résoudre des problèmes et l’apparition de symptômes dépressifs pourraient nuire au retour au travail. L’objectif général de cette étude exploratoire vise à mieux comprendre la nature des manifestations anxieuses de travailleurs ayant un TMS persistant. Pour ce faire l’objectif principal …

Validation Of A Mechanical Hazard Fault Tree For Interventions In Printing Press Danger Zones, Laurent Giraud, Sabrina Jocelyn, Barthélemy Aucourt, Serge Massé, Renaud Daigle

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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En 2006, un recensement des pratiques d'usage les plus sécuritaires, relatives à des interventions sur des presses à imprimer, a été effectué par l'Association paritaire de santé et de sécurité du travail secteur imprimerie et activités connexes (ASP imprimerie), dans le but d'établir une procédure de travail sécuritaire propre à ces machines qui comportent plusieurs zones dangereuses. À partir de cela, l'ASP a construit un arbre de défaillance retraçant les combinaisons de causes engendrant l'écrasement d'une partie du corps d'un travailleur dans un angle rentrant de presse à imprimer. …

Development Of A Clinical Practice Guideline On Work Functioning Assessment Of The Physically Impaired Person, Sophie Roy, Marie-José Durand, Hélène Corriveau

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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L’évaluation des capacités reliées au travail (ÉCT) de personnes souffrant d’une déficience physique est courante en ergothérapie. Les résultats obtenus servent à déterminer l’admissibilité à des services de réadaptation, à aider à la décision lors d’un processus de réorientation professionnelle ou encore l’admissibilité à des indemnités de remplacement de revenus. Ils peuvent aussi être utilisés dans la planification des interventions de réadaptation visant le retour en emploi ou pour l’adaptation d’un poste de travail. Cependant, la pratique des cliniciens à l’égard de l’ÉCT présente une grande variabilité qui pose un questionnement …

Characterization And Control Of Occupational Exposure To Nanoparticles And Ultrafine Particles, Maximilien Debia, Charles Beaudry, Scott Weichenthal, Robert Tardif, André Dufresne

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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De nombreux travailleurs sont exposés à un ensemble de particules présentes à une échelle nanométrique. En hygiène du travail, il est commun de différencier les nanoparticules (NP) manufacturées, des particules ultrafines (PUF) qui proviennent de sources naturelles, humaine ou industrielle. Étant donné qu’il existe des lacunes importantes dans les démarches usuelles d'évaluation du risque à ces particules, l’objectif de cette recherche était d’évaluer les expositions professionnelles à des PUF et des NP. L’objectif secondaire était de tester globalement les capacités d’évaluation des expositions professionnelles aux NP et aux PUF dans un …

Amélioration Des Services Et Des Soins De Fin De Vie : Mieux Comprendre Les Effets Sur La Satisfaction Et Le Bien-Être Des Infirmières, Lise Fillion, Manon Truchon, Michel L'Heureux, Céline Gélinas, Marie Bellemare, Lyse Langlois, Jean-François Desbiens, Clémence Dallaire, Réjeanne Dupuis, Geneviève Roch, Marie Anik Robitaille

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Avec le vieillissement de la population, la demande de soins palliatifs (SP) de fin de vie est croissante et les services de santé s’organisent. Au Québec, les SP de fin de vie sont surtout intégrés aux soins curatifs et on retrouve peu d’unités de SP spécialisées. Ces soins s'incorporent alors aux soins à domicile ou à ceux dispensés dans les unités de soins spécialisés en centre hospitalier, comme l’oncologie et les soins critiques. Les infirmières y jouent un rôle majeur. Selon ce choix organisationnel, les infirmières vivent un contexte de travail …

Worker Evaluation Of Manual Dexterity, Tactile Sensitivity And Comfort When Wearing Needlestick-Resistant Gloves: Exploratory Study, Chantal Gauvin, Jaime Lara

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Les policiers, les agents de la paix en services correctionnels, les éboueurs et les cols bleus horticulteurs sont très préoccupés par les risques de piqûre avec des aiguilles hypodermiques. Ces piqûres les exposent à du sang potentiellement contaminé et au risque de contracter des maladies transmissibles par le sang telles que le VIH et les hépatites B et C. Ces travailleurs doivent porter des gants résistant aux piqûres d’aiguilles tout en conservant une dextérité manuelle et une sensibilité tactile adéquates. Le choix de gants de protection dont ils disposent est limité, …

Regulating Small Firm Safety Via The Supply Chain: Implications Of The Australian Work Health And Safety Act, Susanne Bahn, John Kitching

Research outputs 2013

The impact of the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS Act) highlights subcontractor working practices. By motivating contractors to influence subcontractor working practices, regulation influences the latter’s health and safety performance. Indirect routes of regulatory influence, working via supply chains, might prove to be a more effective means of improving small firm health and safety than placing obligations upon subcontractors directly, and limit contractor exposure to their new liability for subcontractor breach.

Illegitimate Tasks And Employee Well-Being: A Daily Diary Study, Erin Eatough

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on an occupational stressor that has been recently introduced to the literature, illegitimate tasks, or tasks that seem unreasonable or unnecessary at work. Previous work has demonstrated the relationship between illegitimate tasks and a narrow set of discrete emotions as well as negative employee performance behaviors. The current research contributes to the literature by expanding the nomological network associated with illegitimate tasks and uses a rigorous daily diary methodology in a full-time working sample. It was expected that illegitimate tasks reduce state levels of self-esteem as well as other employee well-being indicators including anger, depressive mood, fatigue, …

Evaluation Of Four Portable Cooling Vests For Workers Wearing Gas Extraction Coveralls In Hot Environments, Joseph Kevin Johnson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Excessive exposure to heat stress can cause a host of heat-related illnesses. For laborers, job specific work demands and protective garments greatly increase the risk of succumbing to the effects of heat stress. Microclimate cooling has been used to control heat stress exposure where administrative or engineering controls are not adequate. This study tested the performance of four personal cooling vests for use with insulated protective clothing (gas extraction coveralls) in warm-humid (35 ° C, 50% relative humidity) and hot-dry (40°C, 30% relative humidity) conditions. On 10 separate occasions, 5 male volunteers walked on a treadmill to elicit a target …