Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Thinking About Work At Home: Implications For Safety At Work, Frankie Guros

Dissertations and Theses

Safety at work is of the utmost importance to employees and the organizations they work for, and as such, it is a central issue for occupational health psychology. Although dramatic decreases in the number of worker injuries and fatalities have been observed over the last several decades, safety remains a principal concern for organizations. This is especially true in occupations in which employees face serious threats to their personal safety, such as correctional officers (COs). While a number of studies have identified workplace factors that contribute to worker safety, few have attempted to draw a link between employee nonwork experiences …

Exposition À Des Agents Pouvant Causer L’Asthme Professionnel : Utilisation Du Test D’Activation Des Basophiles Pour L’Identification Précoce De La Sensibilisation Allergique Chez Les Travailleurs, Karim Maghni, Jean-Luc Malo, Catherine Lemière

Rapports de recherche scientifique

L’asthme professionnel est un type d’asthme causé par un agent présent dans les milieux de travail. Le type principal d’asthme professionnel est celui qui est causé par le développement d’une « allergie » à certains agents présents dans le milieu de travail. La mise en évidence de cette « allergie » est une étape essentielle de l’investigation clinique ou de l’élaboration de programmes de prévention. En effet, la maladie ne peut, par définition, être présente s’il n’existe pas d’allergie démontrée. Dans l’état actuel des connaissances, l’allergie, celle de type immédiate associée à une sensibilisation avec la formation d’immunoglobulines de type …

Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Falls, And Fall Injuries In Middle-Aged Adults., Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, Theodore K. Courtney, Wen-Ruey Chang, David A. Lombardi, Melissa J. Perry, Jeffrey N. Katz, David C. Christiani, Santosh K. Verma

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Introduction

Although exercise and strength training have been shown to be protective against falls in older adults (aged 65 years and older), evidence for the role of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in the prevention of falls and resulting injuries in middle-aged adults (aged 45–64 years) is lacking. In the present study, we investigate the association between self-reported engagement in LTPA and the frequency of falls and fall-related injuries among middle-aged and older adults, while controlling for key sociodemographic and health characteristics.

Methods

Nationally representative data from the 2010 U.S. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey were analyzed in April 2014 to …

Best Practices Guidance For Nanomaterial Risk Management In The Workplace, Claude Ostiguy, Maximilien Debia, Brigitte Roberge, André Dufresne

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les nanotechnologies présentent aujourd’hui des enjeux majeurs en termes technologique, économique, éthique, social et environnemental, car elles offrent le potentiel d’améliorer de façon substantielle les propriétés de multiples produits dans tous les secteurs d’activité tant en matière de production de matériaux aux performances inédites que de diagnostic et de traitement médical. Les nanomatériaux favorisent ainsi l’émergence de nouveaux marchés, la création d’emplois, l’amélioration de la qualité de vie et peuvent contribuer à la protection de l’environnement. Du reste, l’impact se fait déjà sentir dans des secteurs aussi diversifiés que l’agroalimentaire, l’aérospatiale, la cosmétique, la construction et la santé. Au Québec, …

Pesticide Exposure, Behavior Of Farmer, And Activity Of Cholinesterase Enzyme In Blood Of Fertile Women Farmers, Deni Abdul Rahman, Zakianis Zakianis, Laila Fitria

Kesmas

Petani perempuan usia subur berisiko mengalami penurunan aktivitas kolinesterase akibat pajanan pestisida. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis hubungan antara pajanan pestisida dan perilaku pemajan terhadap aktivitas kolinesterase petani perempuan usia subur di Desa Kedunguter. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain potong lintang pada 94 petani perempuan usia subur tahun 2015. Pengumpulan data dilakukan secara observasi, wawancara, dan uji kolinesterase. Analisis data menggunakan uji kai kuadrat dan hasil analisis menunjukkan hubungan signifikan antara jenis pestisida, waktu kerja, penggunaan sarung tangan, perilaku mencuci tangan terhadap aktivitas kolinesterase petani perempuan usia subur. Hasil analisis pada penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa variabel waktu kerja memiliki nilai odds …

The Use Of Earthworms And Household Organic Waste Composting Length Of Time, Abdul Khair, Lucky Herawati, Noraida Noraida, Munawar Raharja

Kesmas

Pengomposan dengan cacing tanah merupakan proses pembuatan kompos dengan melibatkan organisme makro cacing tanah. Kerja sama antara cacing tanah dengan mikroorganisme dapat memberi dampak pada proses penguraian yang dilakukan oleh mikroorganisme tersebut dibantu dengan keberadaan cacing tanah. Oleh karena bahan-bahan yang akan diurai oleh mikroorganisme telah diurai lebih dahulu oleh cacing, maka kerja mikroorganisme lebih efektif dan lebih cepat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggunaan cacing tanah terhadap lama waktu pengomposan sampah organik dari rumah tangga dengan menggunakan desain penelitian eksperimen. Objek penelitian adalah seluruh sampah organik dari rumah tangga yang diambil secara acak pada satu rumah tangga. Variabel …

Riwayat Berat Badan Lahir Dengan Kejadian Stunting Pada Anak Usia Bawah Dua Tahun, Atikah Rahayu, Fahrini Yulidasari, Andini Octaviana Putri, Fauzie Rahman

Kesmas

Kabupaten Hulu Sungai Utara masih dihadapkan dengan permasalahan gizi pada anak bawah dua tahun (baduta). Salah satu masalah gizi hingga saat ini adalah stunting. Anak dengan riwayat berat badan lahir rendah (BBLR) merupakan salah satu faktor yang potensial memengaruhi pertumbuhan anak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji risiko riwayat berat badan lahir dengan kejadian stunting pada anak baduta. Desain penelitian adalah potong lintang. Populasi penelitian ini merupakan ibu-ibu yang memiliki anak baduta dan besar sampel sejumlah 117 terdiri dari anak baduta. Pelaksanaan penelitian dilakukan selama tiga bulan pada bulan September – November 2014. Kategori BBLR jika riwayat berat badan lahir < 2.500 gram. Analisis data bivariat menggunakan uji kai kuadrat dan data multivariat menggunakan uji regresi logistik. Hasil analisis bivariat menunjukkan bahwa terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara riwayat status BBLR (nilai p = 0,015) dengan stunting pada anak baduta. Berdasarkan hasil analisis multivariat, diperoleh bahwa BBLR merupakan faktor risiko yang paling dominan berhubungan dengan kejadian stunting. Anak dengan BBLR memiliki risiko 5,87 kali untuk mengalami stunting. Riwayat BBLR memiliki peranan penting dalam kejadian stunting anak baduta di wilayah Puskesmas Sungai Karias, Hulu Sungai Utara. North Hulu Sungai District is still facing nutrition problems among children under two years old. One of nutrition problems up to now is stunting. Child with low birthweight (LBW) record is one of potential factors influencing the growth of a child. This study aimed to assess any risk of LBW records with stunting incidence among children under two years old. This study used cross-sectional design. The population was mothers having children under two years old and samples amounted to 117 consisted of children under two years old. This study was conducted within three months on September – November 2014. Category of LBW was if birth weight records < 2,500 gram. Bivariate data analysis used chi-square test and multivariate data analysis used logistic regression test. The result of bivariate analysis showed a significant relation between LBW status records (p value = 0.015) with stunting incidence among children under two years old. Based on the result of multivariate analysis, LBW was the most dominating risk factor related to stunting incidence. Children with LBW had 5.87 times risk of suffering from stunting. LBW records take an important role in stunting incidence among children under two years old around Sungai Karias Primary Health Care area in North Hulu Sungai.

Penemuan Kasus Infeksi Kusta Subklinis Pada Anak Melalui Deteksi Kadar Antibodi (Igm) Anti Pgl-1, Arif Sujagat, Fardhiasih Dwi Astuti, Eva Muslimawati Saputri, Annisa Sani, Agil Dwi Prasetya

Kesmas

]Kusta merupakan penyakit menular kronis yang disebabkan Mycobacterium leprae. Indonesia menempati peringkat ketiga penyumbang kasus kusta terbanyak di dunia pada tahun 2012 – 2014. Kota Surabaya merupakan daerah endemis kusta. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk deteksi dini kusta subklinis berdasarkan pengukuran kadar antibodi (IgM) anti PGL-1 dan mengetahui faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan kusta subklinis pada anak di Kota Surabaya. Penelitian analitik menggunakan desain potong lintang pada bulan April - Mei 2015. Populasi dilakukan penelitian adalah keluarga yang memiliki anggota penderita kusta. Sampel dipilih dengan teknik simple random sampling dan sebanyak 30 kepala keluarga terpilih melalui rapid school and village survey pada …

Pre-Eklampsia Berat Dan Kematian Ibu, Nova Muhani, Besral Besral

Kesmas

Pre-eklampsia berat, salah satu penyebab utama kematian ibu di Indonesia dan di RSUD Dr. H. Abdul Moeloek Lampung, merupakan penyebab kematian ibu nomor satu (47,25%). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan prediktor pre-eklampsi berat (PEB) yang dinilai dari tekanan darah sistolik, tekanan darah diastolik, proteiunuria, eklampsia, sindrom hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets count (HELLP) dengan kematian ibu di RSUD Dr. H. Abdul Moeloek. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain kasus kontrol dengan jumlah sampel 60 kasus dan 120 kontrol. Data diolah dari rekam medis rumah sakit selama periode lima tahun (2010 – 2014). Hasil penelitian ini memperlihatkan bahwa sindrom HELLP memiliki …

Peran Tenaga Kesehatan Dan Keluarga Dalam Kehamilan Usia Remaja, Mery Ramadani, Dien Gusta Anggraini Nursal, Livia Ramli

Kesmas

Sebanyak 10,3% kematian tidak langsung pada ibu disebabkan kehamilan usia remaja (< 20 tahun). Di Kabupaten Tanah Datar, masih terjadi peningkatan kehamilan usia remaja dalam tiga tahun terakhir. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peran tenaga kesehatan, dukungan keluarga, dan pengetahuan remaja dengan kehamilan usia remaja di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Singgalang, Kabupaten Tanah Datar tahun 2014. Penelitian dilaksanakan pada bulan Mei – Juni 2014 menggunakan desain potong lintang. Populasi adalah seluruh remaja putri berusia < 20 tahun yang telah menikah berjumlah 215 orang. Sampel berjumlah 68 orang dan pengambilan sampel dilakukan secara proporsional di delapan jorong/desa. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara menggunakan kuesioner. Kemudian, analisis bivariat dilakukan dengan uji kai kuadrat dan analisis multivariat dengan uji regresi logistik ganda. Hasil penelitian mendapatkan sebanyak 55,9% responden hamil di usia remaja. Sebanyak 52,9% responden kurang merasakan peran dari tenaga kesehatan, 66,2% kurang mendapat dukungan keluarga, dan 58,8% memiliki pengetahuan rendah. Didapatkan hubungan peran tenaga kesehatan (nilai p = 0,032), dukungan keluarga (nilai p = 0,025), dan tingkat pengetahuan (nilai p = 0,002) dengan kehamilan usia remaja. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa tenaga kesehatan, keluarga dan tingkat pengetahuan berperan dalam kehamilan remaja. Tenaga kesehatan perlu memberikan penyuluhan mengenai risiko kehamilan remaja kepada remaja serta keluarga. Worth 10.3% of indirect maternal death is due to teenage pregnancy (< 20 years old). In Tanah Datar District, the increase of teenage pregnancy has occured in the last three years. This study aimed to determine health worker's role, family's support and teenagers' knowledge with teenage pregnancy in work area of Singgalang Primary Health Care, Tanah Datar District in 2014. This study was conducted on May – June 2014 using cross-sectional design. Population was 215 married teenage girls < 20 years old. A total of sample was 68 selected proportionally in eight villages. Data were collected through interview using questionnaire. Then bivariate analysis was conducted using chi-square test and multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression test. Results of study found 55.9% of respondents were pregnant in teen age. Respondents worth 52.9% got less health worker’s role, 66.2% got less family’s support and 58.8% had low level of knowledge. There was a relation found between health worker’s role (p value = 0.032), family’s support (p value = 0.025) and knowledge level (p value = 0.002) with teenage pregnancy. In conclusion, health workers, family and knowledge level play a role in teenage pregnancy. Health workers need to provide counseling concerning teenage pregnancy risks for both teenagers and families.

Pengaruh Musik Keroncong Selama Pelaksanaan Kangaroo Mother Care Terhadap Respons Fisiologis Dan Lama Rawat Bayi Dengan Berat Badan Lahir Rendah, Anita Rahmawati, Endah Marianingsih Theresia, Yuliasti Eka Purnamaningrum

Kesmas

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) merupakan metode merawat bayi berat badan lahir rendah (BBLR). Beberapa intervensi perawatan di neonatal intensive care unit seperti pijat bayi, KMC, dan mendengarkan musik bermanfaat untuk pertumbuhan bayi berupa respons fisiologis BBLR dan mengurangi lama rawat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui manfaat musik keroncong terhadap respons BBLR selama KMC dan lama rawat. Rancangan penelitian adalah quasi eksperimental dengan pretest dan posttest dengan desain grup kontrol. Pada Juli - September 2014 populasi penelitian adalah ibu dan bayi BBLR yang melaksanakan KMC. Pengambilan sampel dengan purposive sampling sebanyak 60 bayi. Kriteria inklusi bayi BBLR yang ditetapkan adalah berat …

Disability Prevention Programs For Older People: Factors Associated With Medical And Nursing Care Costs, Takaaki Ikeda, Susumu Yanagawa, Kenichi Murakami, Toshiyuki Inoue, Takamasa Tsurumi

Kesmas

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengklarifikasi faktor-faktor yang terkait dengan biaya medis dan perawatan lanjut usia (lansia) yang tinggal di panti sosial serta menyarankan program pencegahan disabilitas yang efektif. Total partisipan dalam penelitian ini adalah 83 orang (29 laki-laki dan 54 perempuan; usia rata-rata 81,2 ± 6,3 tahun) pada 1 November – 28 Desember 2014. Penelitian ini membandingkan biaya medis dan perawatan rata-rata per bulan dengan rata-rata nasional bagi yang berusia ≥ 65 tahun. Uji regresi logistik dilakukan untuk memeriksa keterkaitannya dengan biaya medis dan perawatan. Mereka yang pergi ke luar rumah ≥ 3 kali seminggu tiga kali lebih kecil kemungkinannya …

A Case Study: The Development Of Safety Tip Sheets For Atv Use In Ranching, Elise Lagerstrom, David P. Gilkey, John Rosecrance, Stacy Hibiske

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

Use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) has become standard practice on the modern ranch. The unique operating conditions present on a ranch, subject the occupational ATV user to hazards requiring awareness and specialized training. The purpose of this study was to apply social marketing methods to address a specific environmental health and safety issue present in the agricultural industry. A series of four ATV tip sheets were created in topic areas specific to the challenges that ATV operators encounter on a ranch. In order to evaluate the intended audiences’ perception of the tip sheets, a questionnaire was administered to all agriculture …

Use Of Spirometry For Medical Clearance And Surveillance In Occupations Requiring Respirator Use, Ushang Prakshbhai Desai

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Medical certification of workers for respirator use is an important activity of occupational medicine health professionals. Spirometry is a diagnostic tool to evaluate respiratory distress/insufficiency that may affect respirator use. In this study, we analyzed the pulmonary function data of 337 workers from different occupations which required medical evaluation to wear a respirator. The American Thoracic Society and National Fire Protection Association criteria were used to evaluate employees. Of 337 workers who were cleared for respiratory use on the basis of medical questionnaires for respirator compliance, 14 (4.15%) failed to pass respirator compliance on the basis of NFPA criteria and …

Atv-Related Workers’ Compensation Claims In Montana, 2007–2012, Elise Lagerstrom, David P. Gilkey, John Rosecrance, David J. Elenbaas

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

The objective of this study was to analyze workers’ compensation injury and fatality data associated with the occupational use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Montana. Data were provided by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry Workers’ Compensation Injury and Occupational Disease Database. Claims were identified based on a search of injury codes related to vehicular claims and then narrowed by a keyword search for events related to ATVs. Two hundred and fifteen ATV-related claims were identified between 2007 and 2012. The majority of claimants were identified as male (85%), with 23% of total claims between the ages 20–29 at …

Factors Associated With Treatment Seeking In Automotive Manufacturing, Khin Thingyan Chit

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders is very common. The main objective of the study was to identify any association between the severity of musculoskeletal symptoms and treatment choice by workers in automobile manufacturing plants.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 1017 production workers in six automobile manufacturing plants was performed. The study included the structured interviews to determine symptoms, preexisting personal risk factors, treatment choices (health care provider or no treatment sought), job strain, and job satisfaction. Nordic style questionnaire for symptoms, Karasek’s Demand Control Model and three job satisfaction questions were used to assign symptom severity, job strain, …

Characterization Of Noise Exposure For High-Volume Restaurant Workers, Desiree Gladieux

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Occupational hearing loss resulting from noise exposures encountered in the workplace affects millions of workers and costs hundreds of millions of dollars annually in Workers’ Compensation costs in the United States alone. Some industries have been well studied, and the presence of hazardous noise in the work environment established and documented. The restaurant industry is one in which little current data exists, but in which there may be cause for concern.

This work sought to quantify noise exposures for cooks, servers, and dishwashers and to determine whether or not any of these workers are at risk for Noise Induced Hearing …

Occupational Exposure To Chemical And Physical Contaminants: Sex-Differentiated Analysis, France Labrèche, Aude Lacourt, Jérôme Lavoué

Rapports de recherche scientifique

La survenue des lésions professionnelles varie selon le sexe. Une des principales explications évoquées est l’existence de nettes différences d’exposition en milieu de travail, découlant notamment des professions occupées par les hommes et par les femmes et de la nature des tâches effectuées. Cependant, il n’existe pas de données solides pour appuyer cette assertion et les analyses traditionnelles en milieu de travail se sont le plus souvent limitées à rapporter le risque en fonction du sexe, sans identifier les raisons pouvant expliquer les différences de risque observées.

Tant le gouvernement du Québec que l’Organisation mondiale de la santé ou les …

A Noise Delivery System For Multi-Animal Multi-Level Whole Body Ototoxicity Studies, John E. Stubbs, Jeremy M. Slagley, James E. Reboulet

Faculty Publications

The Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton (NAMRU-D) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force, studied ototoxic effects of JP-8 in rats. NAMRU-D used a multi-chamber whole body exposure facility for up to 96 test animals and 32 control animals at different exposure levels. The objective was to design a noise delivery system that could provide a white noise source one octave band wide, centered at 8 kHz frequency, delivered from outside the exposure chambers. Sound pressure levels were required to be within ±2 dB at all exposure points within each chamber and within ±2 …

Évaluation De Nouvelles Technologies Visant À Réduire Le Stress Thermophysiologique Associé Au Port De Vêtements Individuels De Protection Pour Les Pompiers, Denis Marchand, Chantal Gauvin, Alexis Brien-Breton, Mylène Aubertin-Leheudre, Dominic Tessier, Yann Sadier

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les contraintes thermiques liées au port des vêtements individuels de protection (VIP) contre la chaleur et les flammes sont un problème préoccupant pour la santé et la sécurité des pompiers. Les matériaux utilisés dans la fabrication des VIP ont souvent le désavantage d’être lourds, rigides et d’empêcher l’évacuation de la chaleur produite par l’activité physique lors d’une intervention. Deux nouvelles technologies de matériaux ont été développées par le Groupe CTT, un centre de transfert technologique spécialisé dans la recherche et la conception de matériaux textiles, et ses partenaires industriels, afin de réduire les astreintes physiologiques des travailleurs exposés au stress …

Procédures Et Évaluation Du Potentiel Pro-Inflammatoire Des Nanoparticules, Valérie Lavastre, David Gonçalves, Denis Girard

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Plusieurs pays industrialisés, incluant le Canada, ont opté pour le développement des nanotechnologies étant donné le grand potentiel économique que cela représente. Au Québec, de nombreuses entreprises de production de nanoparticules (NP) sont déjà implantées et il y a fort à parier que d’autres suivront ce mouvement d’ici peu. Ce faisant, le nombre de travailleurs œuvrant dans les domaines des nanotechnologies en général ou dans la fabrication et synthèse des NP augmentera grandement dans les prochaines années. Il est donc capital de prévenir le développement de maladies et d'accidents du travail reliés aux NP dont la cause est souvent d'ordre …

Cross-Sectional Associations Between Exposure To Persistent Organic Pollutants And Leukocyte Telomere Length Among U.S. Adults In Nhanes, 2001-2002., Susanna D. Mitro, Linda S. Birnbaum, Belinda L. Needham, Ami R. Zota

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Background: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may influence leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a biomarker associated with chronic disease. In vitro research suggests dioxins may bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and induce telomerase activity, which elongates LTL. However, few epidemiologic studies have investigated associations between POPs and LTL.

Objectives: We examined the association between 18 PCBs, 7 dioxins, and 9 furans and LTL among 1,330 U.S. adults from NHANES 2001-2002. Methods: We created three summed POP metrics based on toxic equivalency factor (TEF), a potency measure including affinity for the …

Review Of Sampling And Evaluation Techniques For Diesel Exhaust Particulate Matter In The Mining Industry And The Application Of A Vapor Phase Organic Carbon Correction Factor, Ryley Bosch

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The health effects associated with diesel exhaust exposure have been documented for decades. However, methods used to assess diesel exhaust have experienced considerable revision over the past twenty years. The latest sampling methodology considers particulate matter elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) analysis along with the vapor phase OC analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of vapor phase OC on the current National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 5040 sampling and evaluation techniques for diesel exhaust particulate matter.

A pilot study was conducted as part of a larger study evaluation biodiesel …

Comparison Of Integrated And Direct Reading Sampling Methods To Measure Biodiesel Particulate Matter In An Underground Metal Mine, Shelby Fortune

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Exposure to diesel exhaust, as well as the diesel particulate matter associated with the exhaust has shown to cause adverse health effect in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 human carcinogen, in June of 2012. Due to these health effects, there has been an effort in the mining industry to reduce the amount of worker exposure to diesel exhaust. Biodiesel has shown to be a promising control to reduce diesel particulate matter that is emitted during the combustion process. The use of a biodiesel blend over straight petroleum diesel has shown …

Portable Heater Use In Ice Fishing Shelters And The Potential For Carbon Monoxide Exposure, Kellie Hicks

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Every year, more than 400 people in the U.S. die from accidental Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that results from incomplete burning of common fuels such as natural gas and propane. When CO is inhaled, it enters the blood stream and reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen. The environment for ice fishing is cold and ice fishermen who use ice huts or tents commonly use portable propane heaters to heat their shelters.

During the 2012/2013 ice fishing season, random fishermen were selected to be part of a research study. Upon arrival, …

Validation Of Cleaning Method For Various Parts Fabricated At A Beryllium Facility, Cynthia Zelic

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This study evaluated and documented a cleaning process that is used to clean parts that are fabricated at a beryllium facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The purpose of evaluating this cleaning process was to validate and approve it for future use to assure beryllium surface levels are below the Department of Energy’s release limits without the need to sample all parts leaving the facility. Inhaling or coming in contact with beryllium can cause an immune response that can result in an individual becoming sensitized to beryllium, which can then lead to a disease of the lungs called chronic beryllium …

The Modern Grounds Maintenance Worker, Patrick Schenck

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

More than 1 million workers are employed in Grounds Maintenance operations in the United States today. These workers perform varied but recurring tasks necessary to maintain the orderly and healthful function of parks, residential and commercial landscapes, and institutional grounds.

Technological advancements in machinery have, over time, vastly increased the productive impact of each worker. While fewer workers are needed per acre, the same advances in production have amplified some types of health risk to this work population.

This inquiry identified the primary chronic stressors inherent in modern grounds maintenance work, chiefly exposures to noise and respirable engine emissions.

The …

Predicting Air Concentration From Source Concentrations: An Evaluation Of Benzene Emissions From A Benzene Hazardous Waste Stream, Steven Hynek

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Benzene is a common chemical in hazardous waste streams. Benzene contaminated wastes may come in the form of a liquid, solid, or sludge. The amount of benzene seen in waste streams depends upon the generator. The generator in this study has a steady supply of benzene wastes. The waste stream has the same consistency as waste streams from other generators; however there is variability in the concentration of benzene. As a result due to the lack of a consistent concentration, additional respiratory protection is in use to mitigate any additional risk from benzene. The waste is processed on average within …

Silica Exposure In Construction Workers, Brian Dye

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This paper discusses the issues, objectives, methods, results and conclusion of how to control/reduce the respirable crystalline silica exposure to construction workers in the organization hereafter referred to as the “Company.” This evaluation will be achieved by assessing the following occupational exposure tools: literature review, work practices, engineering controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) on exposures to silica during construction activities. The construction activities observed, studied, researched and sampled include concrete sawing, concrete cutting and application, and dry/wet sanding drywall mud.

High construction tasks, for example, produce respirable dusts often containing crystalline silica. Such tasks include concrete saw cutting and …

Evaluation Of Automated Vs. Manual Bagger Exposures Related To Ergonomics, Dust, And Noise At A Sand Mine Processng Plant, Lindsie Alyse Wilson

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Since 2000, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has reported 737 injuries involving bagging. Most of these injuries were related to “over-exertion” with an MSHA injury classification of “strains, sprains, and ruptured discs.” “Over-exertion” accounted for 331,130 injuries totaling 14.2 billion dollars in workers compensation costs in 2012 according to the National Safety Council (NSC). According to NSC, the average total incurred cost of an “over-exertion” injury is $42,883/claim, and the average total incurred cost of a “strain/sprain” injury is $31,521/claim.

Manual bagging in a sand mine processing plant is a highly physical job. There are six physical workplace …