Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Navigating The Intersections: Immigration, Diversity Of The Workforce, Precarious Work, And Vulnerabilities In Occupational Safety And Health, Daniel Côté, Jessica Dubé

Éditoriaux, lettres à l'éditeur

Dans un contexte de mondialisation croissante, la migration est une réalité incontournable qui expose les travailleurs migrants et autochtones à des conditions précaires et à des vulnérabilités accrues en matière de santé et sécurité du travail (SST). Les formes d’emploi précaires – contrats temporaires, travail à temps partiel ou informel – touchent de manière disproportionnée ces travailleurs, limitant leur accès aux droits et protections. Les travailleurs autochtones, particulièrement en milieu rural et dans des secteurs à risque, font face à des défis similaires en raison de marginalisations historiques et structurelles.

Ce texte présente les cinq articles de la section spéciale …

The Emotional Landscape Of Aviation Pilots: Analysis Of Online Professional Forums Using Natural Language Processing, Adrienne S. Renwick, Leo Gonzalez, Charles L. Silber, Alyson Mullen, Cass Dykeman, Adam Stewart, Jennifer C. Ross, James Geisler

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study investigated burnout related to emotions in three categories of pilots: commercial passenger, commercial cargo, and military. While pilot burnout has been previously studied, challenges in self-reporting limit understanding. This study extends previous research by analyzing pilots' anonymous online forum posts to gain insight into burnout-related emotions. Natural Language Processing was conducted with the RoBERTa-base-go_emotions model, which analyzed 1,130,530 online forum posts from commercial passengers, commercial cargo, and military pilots for 27 emotion categories and one absence of emotion category (i.e., neutral). An exploratory composite score reflecting burnout-related emotional expression omnibus burnout score was calculated using seven burnout-related emotions …

Better Sleep Hygiene Is Associated With Better Sleep Health In Mining Shift Workers In Australia, Philipp Beranek, Ian C. Dunican, Travis Cruickshank, Mitchell Turner

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Australia's mine sites are largely situated in remote locations and operate around the clock. Many shift workers fly to site, where they work 12-hr shifts and sleep in camp accommodation before they return home for the period rostered off work. Mining shift workers experience poor sleep, yet limited research is available on contributing factors. This study investigated, for the first time, the relationship between the sleep health and sleep hygiene in this population. A survey was disseminated to shift workers in the mining industry, utilising a cross-sectional study design. The Sleep Health Index and Sleep Hygiene Index questionnaires were used …

Investigating The Interplay Of Thermal, Lighting, And Acoustics In Intensive Care For Enhanced Patient Well-Being And Clinical Outcomes, Emil E. Jonescu, Edward Litton, Benjamin Farrell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research explores the interplay among noise levels, thermal conditions, and lighting intensity in an intensive care unit (ICU), focusing on preserving circadian rhythm and promoting nighttime sleep to advance patient-centric care. This investigation assesses lighting levels (Lux), natural versus artificial light ratios, ICU room temperature, and correlations with acoustic data during a field research period and examines the collective impact of patient exposure to sleep linked to delirium and health outcomes, addressing critical gaps in understanding. Findings reveal that noise levels between 60 and 90 dB(A) during patient occupancy exceed sleep disruption thresholds, with daytime averages of 53.6 dB(A) …

Development And Validation Of A Subject-Specific Integrated Finite Element Musculoskeletal Model Of Human Trunk With Ergonomic And Clinical Applications, Farshid Ghezelbash, Amir Hossein Eskandari, Amir Jafari Bidhendi, Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl, Christian Lariviere

Études primaires

Biomechanical modeling of the human trunk is crucial for understanding spinal mechanics and its role in ergonomics and clinical interventions. Traditional models have been limited by only considering the passive structures of the spine in finite element (FE) models or incorporating active muscular components in multi-body musculoskeletal (MS) models with an oversimplified spine. To address those limitations, we developed a subject-specific coupled FE-MS model of the trunk and explored its applications in ergonomics and surgical interventions. A parametric detailed FE model was constructed, integrated with a muscle architecture, and individualized based on existing datasets. Our comprehensive validation encompassed tissue-level responses, …

The Alcohol Exposome, Nousha H. Sabet, Todd A. Wyatt

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

Science is now in a new era of exposome research that strives to build a more all-inclusive, panoramic view in the quest for answers; this is especially true in the field of toxicology. Alcohol exposure researchers have been examining the multivariate co-exposures that may either exacerbate or initiate alcohol-related tissue/organ injuries. This manuscript presents selected key variables that represent the Alcohol Exposome. The primary variables that make up the Alcohol Exposome can include comorbidities such as cigarettes, poor diet, occupational hazards, environmental hazards, infectious agents, and aging. In addition to representing multiple factors, the Alcohol Exposome examines the various types …

Llm-Driven Fmea For Safe Human-Robot Collaboration In Disassembly, Morteza Jalali Alenjareghi, Samira Keivanpour, Yuvin Adnarain Chinniah, Sabrina Jocelyn

Articles dans des actes de congrès

Disassembly operations often present unstructured and unpredictable scenarios, such as handling hazardous materials, addressing ergonomic strain, and managing dynamic robot interactions that pose safety risks. To tackle these challenges, we propose an innovative use of large language models (LLMs) to enhance failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) in the context of human-robot collaboration (HRC) for disassembly tasks. We developed an LLM system leveraging retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) for real-time risk analysis and recommendation generation. RAG retrieves domain-specific information from the FMEA knowledge database, enabling accurate risk analysis, contextual understanding, and relevant recommendations based on user input and operational data. Evaluation of …

Effect Of Ventilation And Wearing A Facemask In Reducing Indoor Aerosol Transmission, Clothilde Brochot, Ali Bahloul

Articles dans des actes de congrès

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted research in respiratory protection and transmission routes. Indeed, the pandemic has highlighted a number of issues, including those related to the performance and use of respiratory protective equipment such as masks and ventilation. A plethora of commercial and homemade masks have widely appeared during the pandemic, although they are not yet fully regulated in performance and fit test. However, with regard to the source reduction process, testing facemasks not at the inhalation, but at the source (exhalation) offers a new perspective on how to prevent particle emissions. Different means of transmission reduction are measured …

Retour Et Maintien Durable Au Travail En Contexte De Petites Et Moyennes Entreprises, Iuliana Nastasia, Marie-France Coutu, Valerie Lederer, Alexandra Lecours, Romain Rives, Marie-Elise Labrecque

Rapports de recherche scientifique

L’incapacité au travail reliée aux troubles musculosquelettiques (TMS) constitue un fardeau important à l’échelle mondiale. La gestion des invalidités et le retour et maintien durable au travail (RMDT) sont essentiels pour prévenir l’incapacité au travail. Des principes de la gestion des invalidités et des bonnes pratiques de RMDT sont établis pour la grande entreprise. Même si plusieurs recherches indiquent l’existence de contraintes particulières pour les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME), peu d’études décrivent les actions de prévention d’incapacité au travail ou les principaux facteurs de difficulté et de succès pour un retour et maintien durable au travail (RMDT) dans ce …

Substitution Du Dichlorométhane, Caroline Couture, Jérôme Lavoué, Philippe Sarazin, Isabelle Valois, Maximilien Debia

Rapports de recherche scientifique

L’exposition aux solvants organiques est une préoccupation majeure en santé et en sécurité du travail. Selon CAREX Canada, 22 000 travailleuses et travailleurs canadiens étaient exposés en 2016 au dichlorométhane (DCM), incluant 5 600 travailleuses et travailleurs québécois. Le DCM est notamment utilisé comme solvant dans les décapants à peinture et les dégraissants, comme milieu réactionnel dans la synthèse de produits pharmaceutiques et de pesticides et comme solvant pour l’extraction de substances organiques. En plus de ses effets irritants et cancérogènes, le DCM peut être responsable d’une carboxyhémoglobinémie par production endogène de monoxyde de carbone lors de sa transformation métabolique. …

Facteurs Facilitants Et Défis Liés À L'Implantation D'Une Intervention Visant La Prévention Des Troubles Musculosquelettiques En Contexte De Travail Saisonnier : Une Étude Dans Le Secteur De La Transformation Alimentaire, Marie-Ève Major, Hélène Clabault, Isabelle Feillou, Nicole Vézina, Audrey Goupil, Nicolas Roux

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les troubles musculosquelettiques (TMS) sont largement répandus dans les pays industrialisés. La population des travailleurs saisonniers serait particulièrement touchée et le secteur de la transformation alimentaire ne fait pas exception. Ceci peut s’expliquer par une activité marquée par des conditions de travail difficiles où s’entremêlent de fortes contraintes organisationnelles et temporelles, et qui ont des conséquences sur les conditions physiques et psychosociales du travail qu’il est d’usage d’accepter, puisqu’elles sont perçues comme passagères le temps d’une saison. Un tel contexte est même identifié comme pouvant représenter une incompatibilité avec une prise en charge et un suivi des problèmes de santé. …

Évaluation Et Caractérisation De L'Exposition Aux Fumées De Soudage Et Leurs Composantes Métalliques Lors D'Activités De Soudage Au Québec, Michèle Bouchard, Jairo Buitrago-Cortes, Naïma El Majidi, Jonathan Côté, Denis Dieme, Marc Mantha, Philippe Sarazin, Capucine Ouellet, Loïc Wingert

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Problématique et objectifs :

Les fumées de soudage sont classées comme cancérogènes chez l’humain et sont associées à un risque accru de plusieurs autres effets sur la santé des soudeurs. L’objectif général de cette recherche était d’établir la nature et le niveau d’exposition aux composantes métalliques lors d'activités de soudage chez des apprentis soudeurs au Québec, en effectuant des mesures dans différentes matrices biologiques et dans l’air lors d’un suivi longitudinal.

Méthode :Cette recherche a été réalisée dans des écoles d'apprentis soudeurs de la région de Montréal, où les techniques de soudage les plus courantes sont utilisées. Elle a …

Developing A Simplified Method Of Measuring Ultrafine Particulate Matter Dose Concentrations For Diesel Emissions, Nafisat Ohunene Isa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

Developing a Simplified Method of Measuring Ultrafine Particulate Matter Dose

Concentrations for Diesel Emissions

Ultra-fine particulate matter (UFP), particularly from diesel emissions, poses significant health and environmental risks due to its small size and potential to penetrate deep into the respiratory system. Accurate measurement of UFP concentrations is essential for assessing exposure and mitigating health impacts. However, current methods for measuring UFP can be complex, time-consuming, and costly. This study aims to develop a simplified method for efficiently measuring UFP concentrations from diesel emissions, which will enable easier and more widespread monitoring of air quality and public health impacts. …

Reliability Of An Extended Version Of The 3m™ Eargage Tool To Assess Earcanal Size And Assist Earplug Selection, Bastien Poissenot-Arrigoni, Laurence Martin, Alessia Negrini, Djamal Berbiche, Olivier Doutres, Franck Sgard

Études primaires

Objective: Evaluate the ability of an extended version of the 3 MTM Eargage to estimate the earcanal size and assess the likelihood that a particular earplug can fit an individual’s earcanal, ultimately serving as a tool for selecting earplugs in the field. Design: Earcanal morphology, assessed through earcanal earmolds scans, is compared to earcanal size assessed with the extended eargage (EE) via box plots and Pearson linear correlations coefficients. Relations between attenuation measured on participants (for 6 different earplugs) and their earcanal size assessed with the EE are established via comparison tests. Study sample: 121 participants exposed to occupational noise …

Evolution Of Stressors For Healthcare Workers Over The Covid-19 Pandemic, F. Labrèche, Q. Durand-Moreau, A. Adisesh, J.-M. Galarneau, Shannon Ruzycki, Tanis Zadunayski, Nicola Cherry

Études primaires

Background:

Many studies have documented exposure to psychosocial factors in healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Few have done it prospectively with open-ended questions.

Aims:

To describe the evolution of stress factors reported by HCWs during the pandemic.

Methods:

A prospective cohort of 4964 HCWs (physicians, nurses, healthcare aides, personal support workers), from four Canadian provinces, received four online questionnaires between the springs 2020 and 2022. Responses to an open-ended question on stressful events were coded into 25 stressors. Multilevel logistic regressions assessed trends in stressors, and the effect of gender, occupation, and age.

Results:

In 2020, 91% of …

Élaboration Et Faisabilité D'Application D'Une Méthode D'Évaluation Biomécanique De L'Exposition Physique Lors Du Port D'Exosquelettes En Milieu De Travail, Xavier Robert-Lachaine, Hakim Mecheri, Denys Denis, Christian Larivière

Rapports de recherche scientifique

La prévalence des troubles musculosquelettiques (TMS) liés au travail physique reste prédominante selon les données épidémiologiques. Les récentes avancées technologiques des exosquelettes représentent une opportunité pour la prévention des TMS. Des études ont montré que les exosquelettes peuvent réduire l'activité musculaire pendant des tâches spécifiques en laboratoire. Cependant, très peu d'études ont évalué les exosquelettes directement sur le lieu de travail.

L'objectif est d’élaborer une méthode d’évaluation de l'efficacité des exosquelettes à réduire l'exposition physique des travailleuses et travailleurs et de vérifier sa polyvalence. La méthode indique la posture et l'activité musculaire des régions du dos et des épaules à …

Targeting Safety: Hazard Identification And Risk Assessment In The Work Of Wood Carving In Tunjungsekar, Malang City, Using The Hiradc Method, Resti Novita Sari, Awanda Putra Pratama, Maharani Rohma Hidayanti, Nadia Rosalinda, Nurmila Kurnia, Shalma Khoirun Nisa, Anita Sulistyorini

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

The furniture industry in Tunjungsekar Subdistrict has become one of the leading industrial centers in Malang City, successfully boosting the local economy by employing 90 percent of the workforce. However, this industry faces productivity challenges due to an ergonomically unfavorable work environment. Therefore, practical actions and in-depth analysis are needed to improve the work environment issues. This study aims to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the work of wood carving artisans in Tunjungsekar, Malang City, using the HIRADC (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Determining Control) method. Identification was carried out through direct observation and interviews with artisans, followed …

Assessing State Laws And Regulations On Radon In Us Childcare Centers, Benjamin Poku, Sayed Hussaini

Journal of Global Awareness

In the US, radon is the second most significant contributor to lung cancer, following smoking. Despite this, there is a notable absence of state-level measures and guidelines aimed at managing and mitigating the risks associated with exposure to radon gas. The objective of this research was to investigate whether state-level laws regarding radon in childcare centers have a correlation with the proportion of counties in each state that fall under radon zone 1 (with levels exceeding 4 pCi/L). The research method was secondary analysis. Data was gathered from multiple sources, including the EPA radon website, academic journals, official state government …

A Comprehensive Usability And Economic Analysis Of Heat-Related Wearable Technologies: Applications To Occupational Health, Ryan T. Cannady

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to analyze the usability and economic considerations of real-time wearable technologies that are implemented in occupational settings to assess risk of heat stress and heat strain. The study population included current agriculture workers and Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Management (EM) contractors. We employed a mixed-methods approach to comprehensively analyze the usability and economic considerations of heat-related technologies. Specifically, our approach assessed three distinct aspects the applications of these technologies in occupational settings to comprehensively address our research objective: (1) worker perceptions of heat-related wearable technologies, (2) field-based assessment of these heat-related wearable technologies, …

Does Physician-Hospital Vertical Integration Affect Hospital Output?, Soumya Upadhyay, Neeraj Bhandari

Healthcare Administration and Policy Faculty Research

Background: Physician-hospital vertical integration is gaining steam but it is unclear how they affect hospital output.

Objective: To examine the direct impact of vertical integration on hospital output.

Design: A pooled design with 6-year data using linear regressions was used. Then, panel data design with hospital fixed effects was used.

Methods: We linked American Hospital Association data (2016-2021) with AHRQ Comparative Health System Performance Initiative’s Compendium (2018, 2020, 2021; 34 987 hospital-year observations) to develop new measures of vertical integration and assess its relationship with several measures of hospital output including annualized total admissions, total number of inpatients days, …

¿Qué Futuro Les Espera A Los Trabajadores Latinos? El Calor Extremo, Las Promesas Vacías Y La Incertidumbre Política, Yunior Rivas Garcia

Capstones

Este artículo explora las condiciones mortales que enfrentan los trabajadores latinos en Estados Unidos debido al estrés por calor, un riesgo creciente en sectores esenciales como la construcción, la agricultura y el almacenamiento. A pesar de representar una proporción significativa de las muertes laborales, las protecciones contra el calor son insuficientes, y la falta de regulación federal agrava la vulnerabilidad de estos trabajadores, muchos de los cuales son indocumentados. A través de casos específicos, como la muerte de Esvin Cruz Mateo, y un análisis de las políticas laborales actuales, el texto examina las fallas estructurales que perpetúan la inseguridad laboral …

The Meatpacking Industry Needs Stronger Worker Protections And Enhanced Oversight, India Luxton, Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern

Center for Policy Research

Meatpacking plants are hazardous workplaces with high injury rates and poor working conditions, negatively impacting the health of the industry’s predominately immigrant and refugee workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated ongoing concerns in the industry, including the problems associated with consolidation and concentration, worker safety, and poor public health outcomes. This brief summarizes findings from a study that used data from 39 interviews with local, state, and federal officials and bureaucrats, worker advocates, and workers to analyze meatpacking policymaking and oversight during COVID-19. The authors find that a lack of industry oversight and decreased regulation contribute to unsafe environments, and injustices …

Attachment Styles As Moderators Of Loneliness In Remote Work, Brody Tj Loughlin

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the role of attachment styles in moderating the relationship between remote work and loneliness. Drawing on attachment theory, which posits that early life experiences shape attachment styles and influence social interactions, the study examines whether attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, and secure) moderate the association between remote work and feelings of loneliness. The research targets 394 remote workers, using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design with proportional stratified sampling to reflect the distribution of hybrid and fully remote work arrangements in the U.S. workforce. The Extent of RemoteWork measure, the Three-Item Loneliness Scale, and the Adult Attachment Scale assess …

To Reduce Mental Illness Stigma Among Emergency Medical Service Clinicians, Agencies Must Value Workers’ Psychological Safety And Health, Bryce Hruska, Maria L. Pacella La-Barbara, Marley S. Barduhn

Population Health Research Brief Series

Despite the mental health burdens on emergency medical service (EMS) personnel, most workers do not seek help due to stigma. Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) refers to how much an organization creates an environment that values, supports, and protects workers’ psychological safety and health. This data slice uses data collected in 2023 from EMS workers employed in the Northeastern U.S. Census Region to examine the association between EMS agencies’ PSC levels and mental illness stigma among EMS personnel. The results show that EMS personnel at agencies with high-risk PSC levels report 38% more mental illness stigma in the workplace compared to …

Characterising The Chemical Composition Of Bushfire Smoke And Implications For Firefighter Exposure In Western Australia, Kiam Padamsey, Adelle Liebenberg, Ruth Wallace, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study evaluates bushfire smoke as a workplace hazard for firefighters by characterising its chemical composition and potential health risks in Western Australia. Portable Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry was used to measure airborne chemical concentrations at prescribed burns across five regions, including peat (acid sulphate) fire events. Samples were collected during both flaming and smouldering phases, as well as in perceived “clear” air resting zones. Results indicated that carbon monoxide (CO) was the dominant gas, reaching concentrations of 205 ppm at the fire front, followed by nitrogen monoxide (26 ppm) and methane (19 ppm). Peat fires produced distinct profiles, …

Gambaran Persepsi Pengawas Terhadap Efektivitas Geotab Dalam Mengendalikan Risiko Kecelakaan Kendaraan Ringan Di Divisi X, Aisyah Yasmin Zafirah, Chandra Satrya

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

This study aims to understand supervisors' perceptions of the effectiveness of Geotab as a control measure for mitigating the risk of collisions involving light vehicles. Conducted in Division X of PT. X, a mining industry, from February to June 2023, this descriptive, semi-qualitative study collected data through control effectiveness questionnaires, interviews, and document review. The variables studied include the relevance, coverage, reliability, reactivity, resource competence, and supervision system of Geotab. Questionnaire results showed supervisor perception scores of 3.09 for relevance (appropriate), 3.10 for coverage (appropriate), 3.06 for reliability (appropriate), 2.99 for reactivity (appropriate), 2.93 for resource competence, and 2.95 for …

Manajemen Rumah Sakit Dalam Kesiapsiagaan Menghadapi Bencana Di Rsud Balaraja: Metode Hospital Safety Index, Puspita Gaharu Nisaa, Robiana Modjo

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Hospitals are required to provide health services under disaster conditions, serving as the front line to help survivors and patients. RSUD Balaraja of Tangerang Regency, the only Type B hospital owned by the Regency Government, is exposed to high potential disaster hazards, including floods, extreme waves, abrasions and tsunamis, as well as moderate risk of earthquakes. This study aims to analyse hospital management in disaster preparedness using a cross-sectional design with quantitative and qualitative approaches through Module 4 of the Hospital Safety Index and a phenomenological approach. The results showed that hospital management was rated as moderately safe in disaster …

Hubungan Tingkat Risiko Postur Kerja Dan Faktor Individu Dengan Keluhan Musculoskeletal Disorders Pekerja Mebel Tunjungsekar, Aquila Ghafril Azizah, Mochamad Yusuf, Anita Sulistyorini, Agung Kurniawan

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

The high poverty rate in Indonesia can be addressed through the contribution of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which absorb approximately 57.78% of the workforce in the informal sector. However, this sector faces risks of workplace accidents and occupational diseases that can impact workers' productivity and well-being. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) account for 42% to 58% of all recorded occupational diseases globally. Preliminary observations identified symptoms of MSDs, such as neck stiffness and back pain, among furniture workers in the informal sector of Tunjungsekar. This study aims to determine the relationship between the risk levels of work posture and individual …

Kajian Risiko Kesehatan Terkait Pajanan Benzene, Toluene Dan Xylene Pada Pekerja Kilang Minyak Pt. X, Putri Noer Halizah, Mila Tejamaya

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Workers in oil and gas production units are at risk of exposure to chemical hazards. One of the ingredients in petroleum is volatile organic compounds (VOC), with examples of ingredients known for their toxicity being benzene, toluene and xylene. This study aims to assess health risks related to exposure to benzene, toluene and xylene of oil refinery workers at PT. X. This study will analyze personal exposure to inhalation routes from benzene, toluene and xylene chemicals using the Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) method from the Department of Safety and Health, Malaysia. The study results showed that the risk level …

Analisis Aktivitas Fisik Pekerja Mal Pelayanan Publik Kota Cilegon, Muhammad Syifa Abdy Mulya, Indri Hapsari Hapsari Susilowati

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Physical activity is important because it has so many benefits. Even so, there are still many workers who are exposed to the risk of lack of physical activity. For this reason, it is necessary to know what affects the implementation of physical activity in workers. Quantitative design was used with a cross sectional study on 58 Cilegon Public Service Mall workers who met the criteria. As a result, 65.5% of workers are classified as active, 34.5% of workers are inactive and 12% of workers do not carry out any physical activity at all. Level of education (p value = 0.005), …