Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

The Impact Of Sars-Cov-2 On The Consolidated Meatpacking System In The United States, Judith R. Solomon

Anthós

The Sars-Cov-2 virus has had a particularly intense impact on the meatpacking industry in the United States. In this paper I provide a brief introduction to the social, economic, and political realities that lead to mass deaths of meatpacking workers from COVID, and the impact of a consolidated meatpacking system on disease mitigation. These workers are considered expendable due to a lack of power.

Living Separate Lives: How To Nurture A Work-Life Balance, Amanda Bullington

OVGTSL 2023: Ongoing Challenges, Creative Solutions

Librarians faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us quite literally brought our work home with us as we learned to interact with our colleagues virtually and adapted to performing our job duties from home. During this time, I was handed an additional personal challenge. I was diagnosed with a chronic health condition requiring multiple surgeries. I was now not only struggling to work from home as a cataloger but struggling to work from home as a cataloger while managing my daily pain. As someone who does not enjoy working from home, this seemed like an impossible challenge. …

Comparing Particulate Matter Exposures During Two Work Shifts In A Large University Dining Commons Kitchen, Shalom Emmanuel, Atin Adhikari

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Objective: Cooking emits a huge concentration of indoor air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM). Exposure to PM can lead to long-term adverse respiratory effects among workers engaged in cooking. Only a few studies have measured cooking-related air pollutants in large school cafeterias where young student workers are frequently employed. The objective of this research was to compare stationary exposures to PM from cooking during two work shifts at a very large university dining commons kitchen.

Methods: Number concentrations of PM of varying aerodynamic sizes (1, 2.5, 5, and 10 µm) were measured at the back kitchen, DC grill, and …

The Benefits Of Static Stretching On Health: A Systematic Review, Semir Masic, Denis Causevic, Nedim Covic, Seth Spicer, Ahmed Gawash

Stratford Campus Research Day

Background: The positive effects of static stretching exercises (SS) on physical fitness and rehabilitation are well established, but the effect on general health and physical fitness, including muscle function, flexibility, and activities of daily living at the individual level are less well understood.

Objectives: The objective of this systematic review was to compile the latest research on the effects of SS on general health and different occupational groups with regards to improving or maintaining general health.

Search Methods: This review was registered on PROSPERO and followed PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE-Online medical articles, and Science Direct databases …

Surviving The Stigma: Incorporating Mental Health Literacy To Increase Help-Seeking In California First Responders, Yvonne C. Newson

Master's Projects and Capstones

First responders are at risk of developing mental health problems due to repeated exposure to traumatic incidents, increasing their chance of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and suicide. Unfortunately, first responders do not recognize that they may have a mental illness and are reluctant to seek help. This paper will discuss the prevalence of mental health problems among first responders and the barriers to their help-seeking. These barriers include the stigma around mental illness within the culture, the assessability of professional help, and the lack of mental health literacy regarding their well-being. Further discussion will focus …

Stress Management And Coping Strategies For Quantity Surveyors In Sri Lanka In The 21st Century, Kavindu Theekshana Gunasekara, W.M.C.L.K Wijekoon, Chanuri Kalugala

International Journal of Advanced Technology in Civil Engineering

The construction industry is one of the most traditional fields which has a much higher competitiveness and complexity. These factors promote several unhealthy work practices and procedures. Quantity Surveyors are considered one of the most important stakeholders in the construction industry. Due to their duties and responsibilities associated throughout the entire life cycle of the construction project they are suffering from more work stresses than the other professionals in the industry. There are previous studies that are conducted regarding the factors affecting the work balance, and job satisfaction of Quantity Surveyors and various types of workplace-related stress, stress-causing factors and …

Occupational Safety And Health Practices Among Physical Therapists In Metro Manila During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study Protocol, Zyra Mae V. Sicat, Paulin Grace M. Espino, Kristina B. Devora, Richard Lemuel Q. Budomo, Jewel Jace M. Abella, Barbara Nicole Y. Angeles, Giancarlo Philip H. Benzonan, Coby Jaleeyah Y. Chan, Erika L. Ignacio, Peter Oliver G. Palacio Jr., Julia Erin G. Tan

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: The purpose of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is to protect and prevent workers from being exposed to risks and hazards that are detrimental to their health and safety. For the past two years, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the most significant occupational health outcomes to physical therapists (PTs) due to the nature of their work. However, minimal studies have been conducted about the experiences and OSH practices of PTs during the pandemic. This study aims to understand the experiences of clinical PTs in Metro Manila, Philippines during the pandemic. The study also seeks to explore …

Adult Asthma Associated With Roadway Density And Housing In Rural Appalachia: The Mountain Air Project (Map)., W Jay Christian, John Flunker, Beverly May, Susan Westneat, Wayne T Sanderson, Nancy Schoenberg, Steven R Browning

UK CARES Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Appalachian Kentucky is a rural area with a high prevalence of asthma among adults. The relative contribution of environmental exposures in the etiology of adult asthma in these populations has been understudied.

OBJECTIVE: This manuscript describes the aims, study design, methods, and characteristics of participants for the Mountain Air Project (MAP), and focuses on associations between small area environmental exposures, including roadways and mining operations, and lifetime and current asthma in adults.

METHODS: A cohort of residents, aged 21 and older, in two Kentucky counties, was enrolled in a community-based, cross-sectional study. Stratified cluster sampling was used to select …

Identifying Occupational Health And Safety Risks Among Environmental Health Officers In Australia And New Zealand Through An Online Survey, Garry Dine, Sue Reed, Jacques Oosthuizen, Edmore Masaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

To identify the occupational health and safety (OHS) risks among environmental health officers (EHOs) in Australia and New Zealand. The objectives were to profile and compare OHS experiences from different countries and regions to gain a regional perspective on OHS hazards that impact EHOs. An online hazard exposure survey was conducted among 339 EHOs (Australia: n = 301, 88.8%; New Zealand: n = 38, 11.2%). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare 2 ordinal data groups, the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for more than 2 ordinal groups, and the independent samples t test was used to compare the …

Risk-Reduction Research In Occupational Safety And Ergonomics: An Editorial, Roger C. Jensen, David P. Gilkey

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

Occupational health and safety is one of the pillars of public health. The magnitude of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities has been well documented through retrospective analyses of existing record systems. This Special Issue in IJERPH sought research papers addressing risk reduction studies in occupational safety and ergonomics.

Workers' Perceptions On The Tolerability Of Their Respirators In Malaysia, Muhammad Z. Yusof, Nor I. Mukhtar

Journal of Health Research

Background: Little is known about Malaysian workers' tolerance for respirators in the workplace. This study aimed to assess Malaysian workers' perceptions of respirator tolerability and its relationship to socio-demographics and compliance.

Method : This cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2021 among respirator users in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors. Background information and respirator compliance were collected using a structured online questionnaire. A R-COMFI questionnaire was used to measure respirator tolerability.

Results: This study recruited 340 participants, but only 278 of them met the inclusion criteria. More than half reported that wearing respirators was uncomfortable, impacted focus, …

Introduction To Bioaerosols Assessment And Control, 2nd Edition, Cheri Marcham, John (Jack) Springston

Publications

• Risk Assessment
• Assessment for the Presence of Bioaerosols
• Sampling
• Purpose/ Necessity
• Interpretation Controls
  • Ventilation
  • Other Controls

The Analysis Of Risk Factors Affecting The Proportion Of Standard Threshold Shift Among Manufacturing Workers, Firly Ratsmita, Muhammad Ilyas, Liem Jen Fuk, Dewi S. Soemarko, Levina Chandra

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Introduction. About 82% of cases of hearing loss due to employment occur in workers in the manufacturing sector. The prevalence of hearing loss has a permanent impact that can be detected by standard threshold shift (STS). The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between individual and occupational risk factors on the proportion of STS. Methods. The research was a cross-sectional study on employees with noise exposure. The independent variables include individual factors such as age, history of hypertension, history of diabetes mellitus, smoking, body mass index, and occupational factors such as the history of chemical exposures, working …

Could Hypertension In Radiographers Associated With Low Ionizing Radiation Exposure? An Evidence-Based Case Report, Rita I. Wijaya, Levina C Khoe, Muchtaruddin Mansyur

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Low-dose ionizing radiation exposure (

A Work-Related Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis In A Worker Exposed To Heat Stress: A Case Report, Shanti Puji Lestari, Muchtaruddin Mansyur

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis (TPP) is an uncommon disorder, characterized by the triad of acute hypokalemia, muscle paralysis, and thyrotoxicosis. Attacks are typically transient, last hours to days, and may be triggered by many conditions, including exposure to heat stress in both indoor and outdoor activities. Indoor workers, especially those working around furnaces, ovens, smelters, and boilers, are at a higher heat stress risk, even higher risk if they have other individual factors such as obesity, dehydration, slower heat acclimation, consume certain medications and presence of underlying diseases. A 48-year-old man presented a sudden onset weakness in all four limbs, associated …

Development Of Food-Based Recommendation And Nutrient-Dense Meal For Female Shift Workers In West Java, Indonesia, Shanti Puji Lestari, Nuri Purwito Adi, Umi Fahmida, Dian Kusuma Dewi, Muchtaruddin Mansyur

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Introduction. Some manufacturing industries employ not only male workers but also female workers, who are required to undergo shift work. Given the altered eating habits as well as metabolic and endocrine profiles of shift workers, this will affect their nutritional needs. Considering that anemia that occurs in female workers is primarily nutritional anemia, this becomes a challenge in the field of occupational nutrition, especially in terms of preparing food for female workers in accordance with their nutritional needs. The aim of the study is to develop a set of FBR for female shift workers using the Linear Programming (LP) approach. …

A Cohort Retrospective Study Of Framingham Score And Ecg Abnormality Among Coal Mining Workers, Faizal Ablansah Anandita, Isman Firdaus, Rino Alvani Gani, Retno Asti Werdhani, Muchtaruddin Mansyur

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Introduction. ECG is widely used for detecting cardiovascular disease in coal mine worker’s medical check-up. As the study has proven, coal mine workers have a double cardiovascular risk from their workplace hazard and their own medical risks as individuals. An early detection and risk assessment method is needed to predict ECG abnormalities in the future. This study will analyze the relationship between ECG abnormality and Framingham Risk Score on coal mine workers’. Methods. We examine ECG result from medical check-up of male coal worker during 2018 and 2021. Using Minnesota Code, we determine ECG abnormality categories in the 2021 result, …

The Effect Of Physical Training Program For Fitness Improvement On Sickness Absence Of Workers At A Chemical Company In Indonesia, Anita Johan, Aria Kekalih, Nuri Purwito Adi, Ambar W. Roestam, Dewi S. Soemarko

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Introduction. Sickness absence, which can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, is an important productivity parameter for the company. Therefore, there are many wellness programs developed in the workplace in an effort to improve workers’ health, fitness, and productivity. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a physical training program for fitness improvement (VO2 max value) on sickness absence. Methods. This study was conducted by observing the results of the workers' physical training program in the chemical company during 2018, using a cohort retrospective design. SPSS Statistics version 22.0 was used for analysis, with the chi-square …

The Importance Of Occupational Health Service In The Era Of Vuca And The Dissemination Of Related Research Results, Muchtaruddin Mansyur

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Worldwide have been facing the era of dynamic life with the rapidly changing global situation for decades. This era is colored by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) situation that is aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have all experienced the VUCA situation with the COVID-19 Pandemic that has lasted over 2 years. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)1 report should be a common reference for dealing with situations that are not just uncertain but also called “uncertainty complexes”. So-called because its dimensions take on a new form that has never been seen before in human history. The complexity of …

Preparing For The Next Disaster: Lessons Learned From The Early Experiences Of Autistic Adults During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amber Pomponio Davidson, Cecilia Feeley, Beth Pfeiffer, Mark Salzer

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Disasters, such as the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, create significant disruptions for individuals and their communities. Understanding these disruptions is a first step towards planning for future events and disaster recovery. This research aims to explore how the initial COVID-19 restrictions, including lockdowns, impacted adults with Autism (ASD). Method: Using semi-structured interviews to understand how individuals with ASD experienced the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, twelve participants were interviewed: six individuals with ASD (ages 20-38), three parents of individuals with ASD, and three support staff for individuals with ASD. Analysis: Grounded theory methods were used to analyze the impacts …