Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Human Performance In Manufacturing Tasks: Optimization And Assessment Of Required Workload And Capabilities, Maria Chiara Leva, Lorenzo Comberti, Micaela Demichela, Alberto Caimo

Conference papers

This paper discusses some examples where human performance and or human error prediction was achieved by using a modified version of the Rasch model(1980), where the probability of a specified outcome is modelled as a logistic function of the difference between the person capacity and item difficulty. The model needs to be modified to take into account an outcome that may not be dichotomous and o take into account the interaction between two macro factors: (a) Task complexity: that summarises all factors contributing to physical and mental workload requirements for execution of a given operative task & (b) Human capability: …

Evaluating The Consistency Of A Breathing Flow Recording Device Across Different Elastomeric Half-Mask Respirators, Samuel Jennings Munnis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the organization in charge of approving respiratory devices in the United States, as permitted by 42 CFR Part 84. Standards that NIOSH uses to certify powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) are based on respiratory data collected before the 21^st century. With new technologies, it is possible to gain a more accurate understanding of breathing flow of healthcare workers (HCWs). A new portable breathing flow recording device developed by The S.E.A. Group was intended for use with a Sundström SR100 mask with a P100 filter. This study tests the device with …

Performance Study Of An Unconventional Breathresponse Papr Against A N95 Ffr And Conventional Paprs, Huihui Yang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the first responders when infectious pathogens occur. Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) are one of the most widely used personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. Currently, few studies have been performed with HCWs in the actual healthcare work environments to assess discomforts, acceptance and protective efficiency towards wearing and use of PAPRs. The main purpose of this dissertation was to introduce and assess a brand new unconventional PAPR (Koken breath-response PAPR). The protection performance and user preferance of this unconventional PAPR were studided and compared to that of a N95 FFR and traditional PAPRs.

Firstly, a laboratory …

Women's Occupational Health And Safety In The Informal Economy: Maternal Market Traders In Accra, Ghana, Joyceline Amoako

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Improving maternal health and women’s health is necessary, especially in countries with high maternal and child mortality rates. Most research on maternal health focuses on women’s reproductive health and, as a result, very little is known about the impact of occupation on maternal health (World Health Organization, 2006). It is also interesting to know that “Occupational Health Research” has been heavily criticized for the general absence of a gender standpoint, usually resulting in the exclusion of women and their concerns at the workplace (World Health Organization, 2006). In Ghana, an open-air market is an integral place of work for women. …

Bilan Sur La Pratique Du Cadenassage Sur Des Machines Industrielles, Yuvin Chinniah, Damien Burlet-Vienney, Benyamin Karimi, Barthélemy Aucourt

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Pour favoriser l’avancement des connaissances sur le cadenassage et les autres méthodes de contrôles des énergies et ainsi soutenir le plan d’action de la Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), une thématique de recherche sur le cadenassage a été élaborée et mise en œuvre par l’Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST). La présente étude s’inscrit dans cette thématique de recherche.

Les travailleurs appelés à intervenir dans la zone dangereuse d’une machine pendant tout travail de type hors production (ex. maintenance, réparation) doivent appliquer une procédure …

Caractérisation Des Particules Nanométriques Non Intentionnelles Émises Dans Différents Milieux De Travail, Maximilien Debia, Cyril Catto, Alan Fleck, Jean-Philippe Masse, Gilles L'Espérance, Brigitte Roberge

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les particules nanométriques émises non intentionnellement (PNNI) en milieux de travail présentent un potentiel de toxicité pour les travailleurs. Elles montrent une importante capacité de se déposer dans le système respiratoire et se distinguent par leur grande surface spécifique et un potentiel élevé d’inflammation pulmonaire. Cette étude vise à caractériser les PNNI émises dans six milieux de travail à travers un large éventail d’indicateurs.

Les concentrations ont été évaluées selon les métriques numériques et massiques à l’aide d’une panoplie d’instruments à lecture directe (ILD). Des mesures intégrées ont aussi été effectuées en tenant compte du type de contaminant spécifique à …

Appareil De Protection Respiratoire De Type P100 : Les Contraintes Liées À L’Intensité Du Travail Et Aux Conditions Ambiantes, Denis Marchand, Chantal Gauvin, Ludovic Tuduri, Samuel Charbonneau, Igor Zovilé

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Dans le secteur de la construction, l’exposition professionnelle à divers contaminants tels que l’amiante, la silice cristalline et les moisissures est présente dans plusieurs métiers. Dans ces milieux, lorsque le contrôle à la source et les mesures administratives et d’ingénierie s’avèrent insuffisants, le port d’un appareil de protection respiratoire (APR) est essentiel pour réduire les risques d’exposition aux contaminants aéroportés. Dans certaines situations de travail et de températures ambiantes contraignantes, le port d’un APR pourrait augmenter la pénibilité des tâches, poussant les travailleurs à vouloir le retirer, alors qu’ils sont toujours exposés à certains contaminants. Cette étude avait comme objectif …

Caractérisation Des Émissions De Bitume Haute Résistance Au Désenrobage (Hrd) Avec Dope D'Adhésivité, Simon Aubin, Mélanie Huard, Mélodie Bonin, Charlotte Fortin-Lecomte

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Produit de distillation du pétrole, le bitume est chauffé puis mélangé à de la matière minérale broyée (le granulat) pour former l’enrobé bitumineux qui est utilisé pour le pavage de la grande majorité des routes. Les gaz, vapeurs et particules émis lorsque le bitume ou l’enrobé est chauffé sont constitués d’un groupe complexe de composés chimiques réglementés sous le nom de fumées d’asphalte (ou de bitume), notamment dans le Règlement sur la santé et la sécurité du travail du Québec. Si le bitume démontre un manque d’adhésivité au granulat selon la norme prescrite, une dope d’adhésivité (additif chimique) y est …

Transformation Du Granit : Caractérisation Et Contrôle De La Poussière De La Silice Émise Par Le Polissage, Ali Bahloul, Rafael Francisco Vanterpool Jorge, Abdelhakim Djebara, Victor Songmene, Mohamed Nejib Saidi, Jules Kouam, Marcelo Reggio, Fernando Villalpando

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les régions de l’Estrie et de Montréal regroupent un nombre important d’établissements œuvrant dans le secteur de la fabrication de produits en granit contenant de la silice cristalline (SiO2). La poussière émise lors de la transformation de ce matériau peut contenir un pourcentage élevé de quartz et représenter ainsi un risque élevé pour la santé des travailleurs exposés. En effet, le polissage manuel à sec ou par voie humide des matériaux graniteux présente le pire scénario d’exposition des travailleurs à de la poussière lors de la transformation du granit. Cette poussière est projetée dans toutes les directions sous l’effet des …

Vers Une Conception De Barricades Plus Sécuritaire Dans Les Mines : Étude De L'Interaction Entre Le Remblai Et Les Structures Encaissantes, Li Li

Rapports de recherche scientifique

L'industrie minière est un secteur qui contribue grandement à l’activité économique du Québec. Aujourd’hui, le secteur minier est plus sécuritaire, mais le taux d’accidents mortels reste encore le plus élevé parmi les travailleurs rémunérés au Québec. Le remblayage souterrain est couramment utilisé dans l'industrie minière pour améliorer les conditions de terrain, et ainsi assurer un espace de travail plus sécuritaire aux travailleurs œuvrant sous terre. Néanmoins, l'application de cette technique requiert la construction de barricades dans les galeries d'entrée aux points de soutirage pour retenir les remblais en place. Or, des cas de rupture de barricades récents indiquent que celles-ci …

La Lambda-Cyhalothrine Comme Insecticide En Milieu Agricole : Étude De La Toxicocinétique De Biomarqueurs Pour Le Suivi De L’Exposition Des Travailleurs, Michèle Bouchard, Jonathan Côté, Rania Khemiri

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les insecticides pyréthrinoïdes sont une famille de pesticides largement utilisés au Québec pour lutter contre les insectes nuisibles dans les cultures maraîchères. Parmi ces insecticides, on compte la lambda-cyhalothrine. Malgré l’utilisation abondante de ce pyréthrinoïde, il existe peu de données sur le comportement biologique de cette molécule chez l’humain. Il devient donc essentiel de développer des outils pour bien évaluer l’exposition des travailleurs à ces pesticides lors d’épandages ou de travaux dans des zones traitées. La surveillance biologique, par la mesure de produits excrétés dans l’urine (appelés métabolites), est considérée comme une approche privilégiée pour évaluer les doses réellement absorbées …

A Transfer Matrix Model Of The Iec 60318-4 Ear Simulator: Application To The Simulation Of Earplug Insertion Loss, Yu Luan, Franck Sgard, Simon Benacchio, Hugues Nélisse, Olivier Doutres

Études primaires

The IEC 60318-4 ear simulator is used to measure the insertion loss (IL) of earplugs in the ear canal of an acoustical test fixture (ATF) and is designed to represent an average acoustic impedance (in a reference plane) of the human ear. The ear simulator is usually modeled using a lumped parameter model (LPM) which has frequency limitations and inadequately accounts for the thermo-viscous effects in the simulator. The simulator numerical models that can better deal with the thermo-viscous phenomena often lack essential geometric details. Most related studies also suffer from the lack of experimental validation of the models. Therefore, …

Procedure To Measure The Penetration Of One Mechanical Filter For Nanoparticles: Validation By Comparison, Pooya Abdolghader, Clothilde Brochot, Fariborz Haghighat, Ali Bahloul

Études primaires

Nanoparticles (NPs) are particles of less than or equal to 100 nm in diameter. Due to their size, they have a significant effect on health and safety of people. Capture of these NPs in general ventilation systems by filters remains one of the most widely used means of protection due to its relative simplicity of implementation and its effectiveness for capturing various size of particles. In North America, filters used in general ventilation systems are tested by the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2 and are graded according to their efficiency, which is a function of particle diameter. However, the current standard limits …

Revisiting The Effect Of Manipulating Lumbar Stability With Load Magnitudes And Positions: The Effect Of Sex On Trunk Muscle Activation, Christian Larivière, Ali Shahvarpour, Christina Gravel, Myriam Gauvin, Anne-Marie Jean, Ariane Viau, Hakim Mecheri

Études primaires

Background

Lumbar spine stability is regularly studied by positioning different loads at different heights and distance and measuring trunk muscle activation changes. Some of these studies have reported sex differences, but this needs to be revisited while controlling for confounding factors.

Method

20 males and 20 females sustained three static standing postures, with various loads (0, 5 and 10% of body weight), to evaluate the effect of height and distance. Activation of 12 trunk muscles was recorded with surface electromyography (EMG).

Results

Females activated their external obliques a little more than males, with increases ranging between 1.5 and 2.3% of …

Cartouches De Protection Respiratoire Contre Les Gaz Acides : Établissement Des Performances En Laboratoire Avec Le Dioxyde De Soufre, Ludovic Tuduri, Adrien Debernardi, Yves Cloutier, Brigitte Roberge, Jaime Lara

Rapports de recherche scientifique

L’exposition des travailleurs aux contaminants aéroportés doit être maîtrisée et maintenue en deçà des valeurs limites réglementaires. Lorsque l’ensemble des mesures administratives, d’ingénierie et de protection collective ne permet pas d’atteindre des niveaux d’exposition sans danger pour leur santé, les travailleurs concernés doivent être équipés d’appareils de protection respiratoire (APR). En l’absence de situations de danger immédiat pour la vie et la santé (DIVS), des APR à épuration d’air sont utilisés. Dans le cas des contaminants gazeux, ou des vapeurs, ces APR sont munis de cartouches remplies d’adsorbants. Se pose alors la question du temps de service de ces cartouches. …

Bacterial Contamination Study Of Loose-Fitting Power Air Purifying Respirators (Papr) Compared To N-95 Ffr And Surgical Mask, In A Simulated Sterile Environment, Tyler J. Church

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) are commonly used in a health care setting, providing a higher level of protection than traditional surgical masks or N-95’s. However, little can be found in literature about their use in a sterile environment, such as an operating room. Thus, this study aims to compare bacterial contamination of three different models of PAPRs (3M^TM Versaflo^TM TR-600-ECK, 3M^TM Air-Mate^TM, and MAXAIR CAPR 710) to a N-95, surgical N-95 and surgical mask. The experiments were conducted in a small room with no ventilation, under two conditions, door open and door closed. Each …

Analysis Of User Preference With N95 And Powered Air-Purifying Respirators In A Healthcare Work Environment, Brittany Renee Carver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For those working in the healthcare field, personal protective equipment is vital. Healthcare workers are often first responders when it comes to dealing with patients who are infected or when a disease outbreak occurs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all healthcare operations to provide employee protection against blood borne pathogens. With the increase of life-threatening disease outbreaks, such as SARS in 2003 and Ebola in 2014, it is of the upmost importance to make sure respirators are best suited for users and acceptable for long term use. It has been shown through previous studies that due to …

There You Enjoy Life Here You Work- Brazilian And Dominican Immigrant Views On Work And Health In The Us, Cristina Brinkerhoff, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira, Rosalyn Negrón, Natalicia Tracy

Gastón Institute Publications

Abstract: Structural inequalities in the U.S. work environment place most immigrants in low paying, high-risk jobs. Understanding how work experiences and influence the health of different immigrant populations is essential to address disparities. This article explores how Brazilian and Dominican immigrants feel about their experiences working in the U.S. and how the relationship between work and culture might impact their health. In partnership with the Dominican Development Center and the Brazilian Worker Center, we held five cultural conversations (CCs) with Brazilians (n = 48) and five with Dominicans (n = 40). CCs are participatory, unstructured groups facilitated by representatives from …

Workers’ Perception Of Hazards On Recycling Sorting Facilities In São Paulo, Brazil, Ana M Moreira, Wanda M Günther, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira

Gastón Institute Publications

This paper discusses views, perceptions, experiences, knowledge and behaviors related to occupational risks among recycling workers. Data collection involved field observation and two focus groups in each site. Narratives were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Findings are presented according to the following topics: economic and environmental value of recycling; aspects of employment in the cooperative system; occupational hazards; and suggestions of improvements. Municipal programs of ive collection, as implemented in most Brazilian municipalities, still need improvements to achieve their goals and objectives. We learned that organizing recycling workers in cooperatives, despite its broad acceptance as a replacement to informal …

Workers' Perception Of Hazards On Recycling Sorting Facilities In São Paulo, Brazil, Ana M. Moreira, Wanda M. Günther, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira

Gastón Institute Publications

This paper discusses views, perceptions, experiences, knowledge and behaviors related to occupational risks among recycling workers. Data collection involved field observation and two focus groups in each site. Narratives were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Findings are presented according to the following topics: economic and environmental value of recycling; aspects of employment in the cooperative system; occupational hazards; and suggestions of improvements. Municipal programs of selective collection, as implemented in most Brazilian municipalities, still need improvements to achieve their goals and objectives. We learned that organizing recycling workers in cooperatives, despite its broad acceptance as a replacement to informal …

Needs Assessment Regarding Occupational Health And Safety Interventions Among Textile Workers: A Qualitative Case Study In Karachi, Pakistan, Numan Hussain, Muhammad Masood Kadir, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Rozina Karmaliani, Tanzil Jamali

Community Health Sciences

Objective: To determine the perceived health and safety needs identified by textile workers, managers and experts as well as direct observation of the prevailing health and safety practices in the textile industry.
Methods: The qualitative study using the needs assessment conceptual framework was conducted in July-August 2015 in Karachi, and comprised focus group discussions with textile workers, in-depth interviews with factory managers and health and safety officers, and key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders and experts. A walk-through survey was also conducted in selected mills for which the Checklist of hazards in textiles was used.
Results: A total of 6focus …

Filtration Of Nanoparticles Applied In General Ventilation, Clothilde Brochot, Pooya Abdolghader, Fariborz Haghighat, Ali Bahloul

Études primaires

Nanoparticles (NPs) are particles with a diameter less than or equal to 100 nm. Because of their size, they pose a major challenge to workers’ health and safety. General ventilation is one of the solutions in order to minimize both occupational and general exposure.

In North America, ventilation filters are tested according to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2 and rated according to their efficiency results as a function of particle diameter. The most penetrating particle size (MPPS) is commonly accepted as being 300 nm, but it no longer represents the worst-case scenario in terms of particle diameter and filter penetration.

The purpose …

Halogenated Flame Retardants And Organophosphate Esters In The Air Of Electronic Waste Recycling Facilities: Evidence Of High Concentrations And Multiple Exposures, Sabrina Gravel, Jérôme Lavoué, Bouchra Bakhiyi, Miriam L. Diamond, Liisa M. Jantunen, Jacques Lavoie, Brigitte Roberge, Marc-André Verner, Joseph Zayed, France Labrèche

Études primaires

Background

In response to a worldwide increase in production of electronic waste, the e-recycling industry is rapidly rowing. E-recycling workers are exposed to many potentially toxic contaminants, among which flame retardants (FRs), mainly suspected of being endocrine disruptors, are thought to be the most prevalent.

Objective

To conduct an exposure assessment of four chemical groups of FRs in Canadian e-recycling facilities, and to identify the main cofactors of exposure.

Methods

Personal air samples were collected over a workday for 85 workers in six e-recycling facilities, grouped into three facility sizes, and for 15 workers in control commercial waste facilities. Total …

Maintaining Lumbar Spine Stability: A Study Of The Specific And Combined Effects Of Abdominal Activation And Lumbosacral Orthosis On Lumbar Intrinsic Stiffness, Christian Larivière, Jean-Alexandre Boucher, Hakim Mecheri, Daniel Ludvig

Études primaires

Abstract

Background:

Two potential interventions for enhancing lumbar stability are to actively increase abdominal muscle activity, either through the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) or bracing, and passively increase lumbar stiffness using a lumbosacral orthosis (LSO).

Objective:

To compare the increase in lumbar stiffness after 2 active interventions (ADIM versus bracing) and 1 passive intervention (LSO), and to evaluate the combined effect of active (abdominal bracing) and passive interventions.

Methods:

In this experimental and comparative study, lumbar stiffness, a surrogate measure of lumbar stability, was estimated in 25 healthy individuals during 7 trunk perturbation conditions: (1) control, (2) ADIM, (3) bracing …

Stress State Analysis And Tensile-Shear Fracture Criterion In Combined Puncture And Cutting Of Soft Materials, Ennouri Triki, Chantal Gauvin

Études primaires

The mechanics of the combined puncture and cutting of protective materials by a pointed blade are studied theoretically and experimentally, by means of stress state analysis. Through analysis of the stresses occurring during the puncture cutting of a variety of neoprene and nitrile rubber membranes by pointed blades with different cutting-edge angles, a force state of pushing/shear-dependent loading is formulated and discussed. By considering this combined loading as an asymmetric fracture, two equations—for pushing force component and shear force component—are then derived from the stress intensity factors. From this stress analysis, a model based on fracture mechanics theory is developed …

The Current Burden Of Cancer Attributable To Occupational Exposures In Canada, France Labrèche, Joanne Kim, Chaojie Song, Manisha Pahwa, Calvin B. Ge, Victoria H. Arrandale, Christopher B. Mcleod, Cheryl E. Peters, Jérôme Lavoué, Hugh W. Davies, Anne-Marie Nicol, Paul A. Demers

Études primaires

Exposure to occupational carcinogens is often overlooked as a contributor to the burden of cancer. To estimate the proportion of cancer cases attributable to occupational exposure in Canada in 2011, exposure prevalence and levels of 44 carcinogens were informed by data from the Canadian carcinogen exposure surveillance project (CAREX Canada). These were used with Canadian Census (between 1961 and 2011) and Labour Force Survey (annual surveys between 1976 and 2013) data to estimate the number of workers ever exposed to occupational carcinogens. Risk estimates of the association between each carcinogen and cancer site were selected mainly from published literature reviews. …

The Effect Of Extensible And Non-Extensible Lumbar Belts On Trunk Postural Balance In Subjects With Low Back Pain And Healthy Controls, Ali Shahvarpour, Richard Preuss, Christian Larivière

Études primaires

Background

Previous findings suggest that wearing a lumbar belt may benefit some patients with low back pain; however, the mechanisms of action are not yet fully understood.

Research question

The effect of wearing two flexible (extensible and non-extensible) lumbar belts on trunk postural control was investigated during an unstable sitting task.

Methods

Healthy subjects and subjects with LBP sat on a wobbling chair, with and without the lumbar belts. Chair rotation was measured in the sagittal and frontal planes, and 10 linear and nonlinear measures of balance were computed to assess the quantity (3 measures) and quality (7 measures) of …

Ultrasound Measures Of The Abdominal Wall In Patients With Low Back Pain Before And After An 8-Week Lumbar Stabilization Exercise Program, And Their Association With Clinical Outcomes, Christian Larivière, Sharon M. Henry, Dany H. Gagnon, Richard Preuss, Jean-Pierre Dumas

Études primaires

Background

Lumbar stabilization exercise programs (LSEPs) act positively on clinical outcome measures in patients with low back pain (LBP), but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Among the various neuromuscular mechanisms, a good candidate is better activation of the abdominal wall, as measured with rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI).

Objectives

To determine whether RUSI measures are (1) sensitive to LBP status and treatment (LSEP) and (2) correlate with clinical outcomes following the LSEP.

Design

An exploratory one-arm clinical trial with healthy participants as a control group.

Setting

LSEP was delivered in a clinical setting; outcomes were measured in a laboratory …

Use Of Magnetic Resonance Image Registration To Estimate Displacement In The Human Earcanal Due To The Insertion Of In-Ear Devices, Simon Benacchio, Olivier Doutres, Arthur Varoquaux, Éric Wagnac, Arnaud Le Troter, Virginie Callot, Franck Sgard

Études primaires

In-ear devices are used in a wide range of applications for which the device's usability and/or efficiency is strongly related to comfort aspects that are influenced by the mechanical interaction between the device and the walls of the earcanal. Although the displacement of the earcanal walls due to the insertion of the device is an important characteristic of this interaction, existing studies on this subject are very limited. This paper proposes a method to estimate this displacement in vivo using a registration technique on magnetic resonance images. The amplitude, the location and the direction of the earcanal wall displacement are …