Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

The Incidence Of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer In Relation To Occupational Exposure To Textile Fibers And Dusts In Montreal, Canada, 2008-2011, Maymouna Myriam Ka, France Labrèche, Mark S. Goldberg, Vikki Ho

Études primaires

Objective To estimate the associations between occupational exposure to textile fibers/dusts, and incidence of postmenopausal invasive breast cancer.

Methods

A population-based case-control study conducted in Montreal (2008 − 2011) identified hospital cases (N = 695) and population controls (N = 608) from the electoral list. Occupational hygienists examined participants’ occupations and tasks, and attributed exposures to several textile fibers. For all tumors and according to biomolecular subtypes, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using logistic regression models with different exposure indices, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Ever exposure to cotton dust was associated with an increased …

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, …

Vocational Training And Occupational Health: An Ergonomics Approach To Gender And Disabilities For Social Sustainability, Myriam Bérubé, Céline Chatigny, Marie Laberge

Études primaires

The Work-Oriented Training Path (WOTP) in Quebec, Canada, is a dual vocational training program that offers students with learning difficulties supervised traineeships. Teachers play a pivotal role in managing students' occupational health and safety (OHS), yet must do so under tight time constraints, limited institutional guidance and highly diverse student profiles. Building on an activity-centered ergonomics and capabilities framework, this multiple-case study explores how gender, disabilities, and work determinants shape OHS management within the WOTP, emphasizing their implications for social sustainability. Twenty-seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 WOTP teachers; 497 narrated anecdotes, which are units of speech when teachers' …

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) …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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), …

Examining Assessment Tools To Predict Burnout Among Healthcare Practitioners And Students, Robin Hilliard Albertson, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

The U.S. health system is stretched thin by pressures to expand service delivery and improve outcomes while reducing costs. This pressure is intensified by global health crises and other factors, resulting in further reductions in the healthcare workforce due to burnout. The strain leaves healthcare practitioners at risk of experiencing negative consequences of burnout, even death [1]. This study explored the correlations between three validated assessment tools to determine if early signs of burnout in healthcare practitioners and students can be identified succinctly, thus expanding the current body of evidence on the strengths of environments supporting career retention and healthcare …