Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Managing Occupational Hazards Confronting Healthcare Workers, Kiran A. Mody

Theses

The primary goal of this thesis is to identify, evaluate, and control occupational hazards that may exist in health care facilities.

Due to the complex nature of health care facilities, healthcare workers are always challenged by an imposing group of occupational hazards. The magnitude and diversity of these hazards, and the constantly changing nature of government regulations make it difficult to guarantee absolute protection and accuracy of the material contained herein. However, awareness of the risks, compliance with basic preventive measures, and adequate interventions are all essential components to consider in protecting healthcare workers.

Therefore, potential health effects of various …

Intelad : Intelligent Computer Workstation Adjustment Software, David W. Venezia

Theses

Muscular-skeletal disorders are a significant safety concern for professional computer users. Regard for human health, regulatory emphasis, and the inherent cost of the disorders give rise to this point. In an attempt to reduce the risk of injury to computer operators from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, this body of work provides an easy to use tool capable of determining the near optimal workstation orientation for any operator/workstation combination. Using a unique algorithm and compiled anthropometric data, computer software has been specially developed to map individual workstations in the Cartesian coordinate system. This mapping yields a recommended orientation that is compared to …

The Effects Of Different Types Of Noise On Human Heart Rate, Jose R. Fabregas

Theses

In an industrial environment, chronic noise exposure is assumed to affect human heart rate. If this is true, people who are more sensitive to noise will run a higher risk of incurring cardiovascular diseases.

Sixteen healthy experimental subjects, all with normal hearing, eight males and eight females, were exposed to five different types of pink and white noise at 60, 70, 80, and 85 dBA in order to determine if any relationship exists between the heart rate and sex. Each individual was exposed for a maximum of thirty seconds for each type and level of noise. Audiometric tests were given …

Laboratory Health And Safety Compliance Guide For Private Colleges And Universities, Gina Marie Ochs

Theses

Academic laboratories are presented with the unique challenge of ensuring the health and safety of all people involved in daily activities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently enacted the regulation 29 CFR 1910.1450, "Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories," which applies to all private employers (including colleges and universities). In this work, a guide is developed to assist private colleges and universities comply with applicable governmental regulations and to ensure the health and safety of all individuals involved with laboratory activities.

Academic laboratories warrant special consideration because of the nature of experimentation (variation in research and classroom …

Reducing Health And Safety Risks By Replacing Compressed Air With An Electromechanical System, Joseph Michael Schwed

Theses

The continuous use of compressed air in many applications can often be expensive and very noisy. When compressed air is blowing freely from a nozzle, it can be used in a variety of processes. One of these is checking for the presence of a product inside a box.

In the manufacturing field, a facility has been using compressed air as a quality assurance inspector, to make certain that products are shipped properly. As the products go by on a conveyor, two employees must insert them into a carton as it is transferred to another conveyor. If an employee does not …

Compliance Documentation For Osha's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard Including Exposure Control Plan And Training, Edward Lloyd Tyerman

Theses

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) regulation on Bloodborne Pathogens is in full effect since its introduction on December, 1991. This standard mandates that every company whose workers may expect to come into contact with human blood, or other body fluids, during the course of their work develop an Exposure Control Plan, train employees about Bloodborne Pathogens and establish work practice controls. All hospitals, physician and dental offices, ambulance companies, emergency medical technicians, medical laboratories, fire departments, and sites with their own first aid and response teams must comply with the standard.

Bloodborne pathogens include, among others, the human …

Modern Techniques Used To Improve A Hearing Conservation Program In A Power Generating Plant, Eilyn Fabregas

Theses

A noise survey was conducted on the pump floor of a power generating plant, which included measuring noise levels at 261 areas of the floor (6,000 square feet) and the employees' noise doses, or 8-hour time-weighted average (TWAs). The noise levels of the 261 areas were recorded using a Sound Level Meter, and the noise doses (i.e., TWAs) were measured using a noise Dosimeter. It was found that both noise levels and TWAs were higher than the OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90 dBA and the action level of 85 dBA. According to the data gathered, it was determined …

Computerizing Occupational Safety And Health Information, James Luke

Theses

Various regulations increase the responsibility of employers to retain appropriate safety and health information, for as long as several years. Handling this increasing volume of safety and health information manually is impractical, time consuming and hence, not at all cost effective.

The purpose of this research is to examine the various aspects of computerizing safety and health information, and to evaluate a number of commercially available safety software packages.

This paper initially discusses the impact of OSHA on retaining safety and health information, and the different areas which can benefit from computerization. It also provides guidelines to analyze existing safety …

Emergency Preparedness : Disaster Planning For Health Facilities, Narendra R. Patel

Theses

There seems little that can be done to eradicate or even control natural disasters, considering the current state-of-the-art. If nothing can be done to prevent them, we must be prepared to cope with them whenever they do occur.

One possibility for greater assurance that hospital will properly accomplish its post disaster mission is an up-to-date, well-thought-out " Hospital Emergency Preparedness Plan." A well written and rehearsed disaster plan is essential for the proper and timely care of casualties arising from an internal or external disaster.

This thesis attempts to bring together many widely dispersed studies, disaster experiences and principles that …

A Computer-Aided Instruction Electrical Safety Course, Edward John Gusciora

Theses

It is the purpose of this thesis to show how computerized training can be used in helping to create an effective safety program. Through example, a complete electrical safety program will be developed for workers whose jobs do not pertain directly to electrical installations, but who use them through the course of their daily work activities. A computer-aided instruction module on electrical safety will be developed for presentation to workers on an IBM compatible computer.

Importance of Thesis

Too often safety factors go into the design criteria of a piece of equipment or a manufacturing process and do not extend …