Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Development Of Pandemic Burnout Inventory For Health Personnel, Sisca Mayang Phuspa, Anjarie Dharmastuti, Adi Heru Sutomo, Syahirul Alim

Kesmas

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the workload of health personnel in Indonesia, and the risk of burnout has thus doubled. Several instruments exist to assess burnout, but none have been specifically developed for health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, to close this gap, developing a Pandemic Burnout Inventory for health personnel is important. This study used mixed methods with a sequential exploratory design at five COVID-19 referral hospitals. A total of 30 informants were employed in the qualitative phase, selected using an intensity sampling approach, and 731 respondents in the quantitative phase were obtained in field trials and online …

Investigating And Mitigating The Harmful Impact Of Precarious Employment On The Health And Well-Being Of New York City Food Workers, Emilia F. Vignola

Dissertations and Theses

Much of the United States (US) food chain – from production to processing, wholesale, retail, and services – is characterized by precarious employment, defined as work with little employment security, inadequate income, and limited rights and protections. Studies show that precarious employment is associated with adverse mental and physical health and well-being outcomes. Separate research indicates numerous health issues in certain segments of the food workforce; little scholarly work has explored the contribution of precarious employment as an upstream driver of these health issues. Gaps remain in our understanding of 1) the health needs and status of workers across the …

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

Rowan-Virtua 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 …

Research Personnel Exposure To Carbon Dioxide During Euthanasia Procedures, Devon Nealer, Felicia Reibstein, Jennifer Bendorf, Emily Lafferty, Stephanie Ramborger, Taylor Swift, Jacqueline O'Malley, Thomas Boyle

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a commonly used euthanasia agent in animal facilities. This procedure is carried out by replacing oxygen with carbon dioxide in animal cages, thus providing a quick and painless method of euthanasia. Unfortunately, there has been limited research on the potential effects of human exposure to CO2 during euthanasia procedures.

Following a previous carbon dioxide exposure study in the vivarium at Rowan SOM in 2016, the CO2 cylinders and euthanasia chambers have been relocated to room 153 Science Center and the vivarium has adopted a localized exhaust that helps remove the contaminant at the source.

While the …

The Association Of Long Working Hours And The Use Of Prescription Sedatives Among U.S. Workers., Emmanuel Ezekekwu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Meeting the needs of a round-the-clock and globalized society has led to an increase in long working hours. This trend has been accompanied by a corresponding rise in sleep disorders and subsequent use of sedating medications. Overtime hours have been associated with adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular diseases, symptoms of psychological distress, and health behaviors, including risky intake of alcohol and smoking. Hence, the main objectives of this three-paper dissertation were to examine the multi-faceted relationship between working hours, the use of prescription sleep aids, the onset of psychological distress, and the use of health care services. METHODS: …

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 …

Physician Stress In The Era Of Covid-19 Vaccine Disparity: A Multi-Institutional Survey, Sarah Zahl, Debasis Mondal, David Tolentino, Jennifer A Fischer, Sherry Jimenez

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

CONTEXT: Healthcare workers are at a high risk of infection during infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the availability of several vaccines against COVID-19, the absence of vaccination in patients and colleagues remains a continuous source of stress in healthcare workers. We conducted a survey of physician preceptors, both MDs and DOs, to explore the impact of differences in the patients' and colleagues' vaccination status on their well-being, stress, and burnout.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine whether exposure to unvaccinated patients and/or colleagues increases stress and burnout in physician preceptors by utilizing a …

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 …

Relationships Between Leading And Trailing Indicators At Construction Sites In Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia, Anas H. Halloul

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Statement of Purpose: This study sought to assess the relationship between leading and lagging indicators in construction safety Management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In particular, it sought to determine whether construction sites with higher leading indicators predicted fewer incidents/accidents.Rationale for Study: Construction safety management is a critical occupational health concern globally. Scholars have researched approaches to improve safety measures and performance in construction sites. However, there is little discourse assessing the relationship between the leading indicators and the occurrence of incidents and accidents in construction sites. General Methods: A quantitative analysis was used in this study. Data were …

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, …

Effects Of Occupationally Military-Relevant Particle Mixtures (Sio2, Cdo, Cr2O3) On A549 Human Pulmonary Epithelial Cells, Isabella M. Muffoletto

Theses and Dissertations

In the course of maintaining a safe, mission-ready aircraft fleet and operational runways, United States Airmen experience a range of occupational risks. These risks include inhalable hazards generated from oft-used maintenance practices, such as blasting which emits silica from the media abrasives as well as contaminants from the exterior coatings. Additional inhalation hazards range from engine and fuel emissions, chemical agents, radiation, and explosives, to naturally occurring and human-manufactured biopathogens. Of notable concern are emissions in forward-deployment areas, including urban pollution, particulates released from runway construction and maintenance activities, and combustion from burn pits containing hazardous and unknown combinations of …

Modeling Radiation Exposure On Flight Missions To Analyze Aircrew Risk, Camila V. Quintero Hilsaca

Theses and Dissertations

GCR and SPE comprise the majority of the ionizing radiation experienced in the upper atmosphere within flight-altitude environments. Although previous studies have analyzed radiation doses from single sources on civilian flight operations, there is a lack of research focused on dose received by military personnel during flight from both sources simultaneously. In-flight radiation environments are modeled through the MCNP6 for two separate aircraft, an Air Force A-10 and a Boeing 737. Particle fluence values for galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events for four separate flight paths are determined using the CARI-7A software and the SIRE2 toolkit, respectively. MCNP6 code …

Method Development Biological Agent Personal Decontamination Effectiveness For Airman Battle Uniform Fabric Material: Ms2 Bacteriophage, Alisha Helm

Theses and Dissertations

This article presents a study that investigates the effectiveness of a common decontamination (decon) strategy used by Airmen in the United States Air Force who may find themselves in a densely populated area during an emergency evacuation. Ultimately, this study addresses the following questions: Is there a significant difference in the number of viral particles being re-aerosolized before and after the applied decon strategy, and is this difference significant enough to consider the decon strategy effective? The study entails using MS2 bacteriophage to contaminate swatches of Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) fabric. Swatches were secured to a vortex centered in the …

The Determinants Of Stunting In The Under-Five In Three Municipalities In The Special Capital Region Of Jakarta, Tria Astika Endah Permatasari, Chairunnisa Chairunnisa, Hernani Djarir, Lily Herlina, Munaya Fauziah, Andriyani Andriyani, Yudi Chadirin

Kesmas

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the global decline in public health status. This study aimed to analyze the determinants of stunting in the under-five in three municipalities in the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in August-December 2020 with 460 pairs of mothers and children selected by simple random sampling. Stunting was measured using a conventional anthropometric index (length/height-for-age), and anthropometric failure was measured using the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 41.5%,35%, and 19.8%, respectively, and 62% of the under-five experienced anthropometric failure. The dominant factor associated …

Presidential Vote Share And Covid-19 Vaccination Rate In Indonesia: A District-Level Cross-Sectional Ecological Study, Gede Benny Setia Wirawan, Ni Luh Zallila Gustina, Ivy Cerelia Valerie, I Gusti Ayu Indah Pradnyani Rs, Muchamad Zaenal Arifin, Pande Putu Januraga

Kesmas

Political affiliation has been reported as a determinant of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in some countries, although few studies have examined the Asian context. This study aims to fill this gap by employing an ecological study design using Indonesian regions as data points. Political affiliation was represented by incumbent President Jokowi’s vote share in the 2019 presidential election. Potential confounders included population density, human development index, availability of hospitals and primary health care, 2019–2020 economic growth, COVID-19 mortality rate, and proportion of Muslims in the population. The final analysis included 201 out of 501 districts and cities in Indonesia. Controlling for …