Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Ladder Safety: A Taxonomy Of Limb-Movement Patterns For Three Points Of Control, Roger C. Jensen, Charles Holland

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

Traditional guidance on ladder safety emphasizes training workers on the use of three points of contact. More recent guidance is to train workers to use three points of control. What is lacking is empirical information about what limb-movement patterns eectively support the use of three points of control. This project was conducted to establish a taxonomy of possible limb-movement patterns and a means for comparing relative safety. Prior to the experiment, a taxonomy of six possible limb-movement patterns was established. A sample of 20 undergraduate students performed four tasks each without any instructions on limb-movement pattern. The tasks were ascending …

Supporting Older Adults Through Aging In Place And Capable Programs, Laura Compton

OTD Capstone Projects

This experiential component or doctoral capstone project involved a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. Through this agency, projects were completed based on identified needs of the Aging in Place and CAPABLE programs. The Aging in Place (AIP) program provides critical home repairs to low-income adults aged 60 years and older. The CAPABLE program provides the same critical home repairs along with a select number of visits from a registered nurse and an occupational therapist to help the older adults age in place safely.

Wildfire Smoke Worsens Coronavirus Risk, Putting Firefighters In Extra Danger, Luke Montrose

Public and Population Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

As summer approaches, two forces of nature are on a collision course, and wildland firefighters will be caught in the middle.

New research suggests that the smoke firefighters breathe on the front lines of wildfires is putting them at greater risk from the new coronavirus, with potentially lethal effects.

At the same time, firefighting conditions make precautions such as social distancing and hand-washing difficult, increasing the chance that, once the virus enters a fire camp, it could quickly spread.

As an environmental toxicologist, I have spent the last decade expanding our understanding of how wood smoke exposure impacts human health. …

An Ergonomic Assessment Of Healthcare Rehabilitation Workers, William Shepherd, Laramie Locke, Katherine Archibong

Scholars Week

Patient handling is a common task within the healthcare industry. Rehabilitation Therapists (RTs) and Rehabilitation Therapist Assistants (RTAs) report a significantly high incidence rate of low-back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The purpose of this study was to characterize the ergonomic risks associated with patient transfers and assisted gait therapy. Exposure to ergonomic risk factors were assessed using the Strain Index (SI), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and 3-Dimensional Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP). Subjects included three RTs and one RTA at a local assisted living and rehabilitation healthcare facility. Preliminary results indicate a high risk of developing MSDs …

Defining Stress Among Oregon Corrections Professionals, Jessica T. Ballin

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Corrections professionals experience some of the highest levels of chronic stress compared to other occupations. This leads to poor mental and physical health, increased mortality, negative job performance, and increased economic costs, such as work-related injuries, sick leave, worker’s compensation claims and disability. Improving health and safety among this occupation requires identifying the factors contributing to stress and the associated economic impact. We assessed corrections professionals (n=296) working at six different Oregon Department of Corrections facilities near the Portland-area of varying security levels. Participants completed a cross-sectional survey, including demographics, work history and validated stress and occupational constructs. The outcome …

Occupational Stressors Among Firefighters: Application Of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (Mcdm)Techniques, Fazel Rajabi, Hossein Molaeifar, Mehdi Jahangiri, Shekofeh Taheri, Sean Banaee, Payam Farhadi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Firefighters are exposed to a wide range of occupational stressors due to the nature of their job. Multicriteria decision-making technique (MCDM) is a method for identifying, evaluating, and preventing occupational stressors among firefighters. The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize the occupational stressors among firefighters using the fuzzy delphi method (FDM) and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP).

Methods: This qualitative-descriptive study was carried out in two stages. First, the most important occupational stressors of firefighters were identified and screened using a systematic review of scientific references and expert opinions based on the FDM. Then, all of …

Assessing Particulate Matter Wall Loss With Conductive Vs. Non-Conductive Cassettes Used For Airborne Mineral Dust Sampling, Curtis Caroll

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Occupational exposure assessments for aerosols are commonly conducted by drawing air through a filter media, which is housed in cassette. Previous studies assessing metal and coal dust aerosol concentrations have shown a significant amount of particulate matter adhering to the inner cassette wall, thus underestimating the mass concentration reported from filter media. A common control strategy to minimize wall loss is to perform sampling with cassettes comprised of conductive material. The objective of this study was to assess the potential for cassette wall loss associated with mineral dust air sampling techniques employing conductive vs. non-conductive cassettes. Area total and respirable …

Perceptions Et Attitudes Face À La Conduite Automobile Dans Un Contexte De Travail Chez Les Policiers En Fonction Et Les Aspirants Policiers, Martin Lavallière, François Bellavance

Rapports de recherche scientifique

La conduite automobile représente une composante importante du travail policier. De la patrouille à la conduite en situation d’urgence, le policier se doit d’être constamment à la recherche d’informations pour lui permettre de préserver sa sécurité derrière le volant et celle de la population qu’il dessert. Des études sur les accidents routiers au travail ont montré que les policiers ne sont pas à l’abri des collisions routières et que celles-ci, lorsqu’elles surviennent, sont potentiellement mortelles. L’objectif de cette étude est de 1) documenter les perceptions et les attitudes face à la conduite automobile en fonction de l’appartenance à un groupe …

Integrating Aviation Technology, Emergency Services, And Human Resilience: Considerations From Social Scientists, Chelsea A. Lenoble Ph.D., Joel M. Billings Ph.D., Allison A. Kwesell Ph.D., Ray H. Chang Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have a range of applications within the field of disaster response. This presentation offers a novel framework of psychosocial considerations designed to advance UAS and disaster management integration. Social scientists highlight important challenges to the effective integration of three primary entities: UAS, the team of teams that responds to disasters, and populations affected by disasters.

The presentation adopts an emerging theoretical perspective on the intersection between UAS capabilities and disaster phases and extends it by bringing necessary attention to social science issues. Specifically, the framework outlines psychosocial considerations and areas of improvement for preparation (training), response …

Synthetic Pesticides And Health In Vulnerable Populations: Agricultural Workers, Cynthia L. Curl, Meredith Spivak, Rachel Phinney, Luke Montrose

Public and Population Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose of Review: This review aims to summarize epidemiological literature published between May 15, 2018 and May 14, 2019 that examines the relationship between exposure to synthetic pesticides and health of agricultural workers.

Recent Findings: Current research suggests that exposure to synthetic pesticides may be associated with adverse health outcomes. Agricultural workers represent a potentially vulnerable population, due to a combination of unique social and cultural risk factors as well as exposure to hazards inherent in farm work. Pesticide exposure among agricultural workers has been linked to certain cancers, DNA damage, oxidative stress, neurological disorders, as well as respiratory, metabolic, …

Retrospective Cohort Study Of Pure Tone Audiometry Threshold Shifts From Ototoxic Substance, Continuous Noise, And Impulse Noise Exposures At Tinker Air Force Base From 2005 To 2019, Marc J. Blair

Theses and Dissertations

This retrospective cohort epidemiology study sought to establish the comparative risks and potential indicators of hearing loss associated with combinations of ototoxic substances, impulse noise, and continuous noise exposure. Currently, there is not an existing model or methodology in the Department of Defense (DoD) that joins occupational exposure data and pure tone audiometric data. After developing an integrated database model for Tinker Air Force Base, the largest of three depot installations within Air Force Material Command, 2,372 individuals were grouped into eight combinations of exposure groups with a minimum three years exposure duration to hazards. The incidence rates and relative …

Electronic Image Detectability Under Varying Illumination Conditions, Jeremy J. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Light in the built environment plays an essential role in the vision and the health of humans through non-visual receptors in the eyes. Unfortunately, image analysts and other Air Force personnel who engage in the detection of objects on softcopy displays are often required to work in very dimly-lit or dark environments as higher illumination reduces the contrast of displayed information. Literature has shown that increases in light exposure improves circadian rhythm entrainment and reduces the negative health consequences of insufficient lighting. This research examines the effects of indoor lighting to determine if increases in ambient illumination or changes to …

Development And Characterization Of A Filter-Based Bioaerosol Sampler Capable Of Integration Into Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Stephanie A. Ohms

Theses and Dissertations

In developing functional SUAS, performance characteristics that indicate system capability should be developed prior to initiating initial system design. Key performance parameters should be developed involving all system elements (including vehicle body, operator, ground station, sensor, and algorithm or processing module). A bioaerosol sampler designed specifically for the use in SUAS was characterized based on designated performance measures to determine overall effectiveness compared to traditional bioaerosol samplers. For a system with a goal of accurately identifying and quantifying areas of airborne biological contamination or surveying background levels for longitudinal studies, performance parameters such as weight of the vehicle with payload …

Assessing Challenges Associated With Sampling Hexavalent Chromium Under New Consensus Guidelilnes, Megan L. Steele

Theses and Dissertations

Hexavalent chromium is a corrosion inhibitor found in the primer of most aircraft platforms across the Department of Defense (DoD), from fighter jets to transports. It is also known to cause cancer in humans. Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) legal exposure limit is 5 μg/m³ for workers exposed to hexavalent chromium. A non-regulatory scientific body has recently recommended lowering this exposure level over a factor of ten and sampling with a different sampler that collects particles with the same efficiency as the nose during inhalation. This inhalable sampler collects more particles than the one currently used …

Increasing Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors In Cargo Drivers, Ronda L. Bell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to examine the extent to which lifestyle behaviors of transportation drivers in North Texas can be improved with health education. This research study was conducted to examine the health behaviors of transportation drivers as a result of an educational partnership between nursing and the transportation industry. The goal was to improve healthy lifestyles through education to decrease chronic illness and comorbid conditions of a significantly at-risk occupational population. The impact of this education was immediate and verified with quantitative measurement and statistical analysis. Results demonstrated that after nurse-led health education, transportation drivers reported significant …

Keberadaan Jentik Aedes Aegypti Dan Aedes Albopictus Berdasarkan Karakteristik Kontainer Di Sekolah Dasar, Keluharan Duren Sawit, Jakarta Timur, Tahun 2018, Bobby Ilham Ramadhan, Umar Fahmi Achmadi

Jurnal Nasional Kesehatan Lingkungan Global

Background. Kelurahan Duren Sawit is the highest kelurahan found cases of PE (+) and death cases of DHF in Primary school-aged children in Kecamatan Duren Sawit. This study aimed to see larva Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus based on container chracteristics include types, materials, volume, water condition and color in SD, Kelurahan Duren Sawit. Based on the identified container characteristics, then we can know the potential level of longing for the presence of larva Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Method. This study uses primary data by looking all containers in Kelurahan Duren Sawit Primary School. The design study was cross-sectional, …

Gambaran Higiene Sanitasi Makanan Dan Penerapan Prinsip Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (Haccp) Di Unit Instalasi Gizi Rumah Sakit X Tahun 2018, Putri Chaerina Septiani, Ririn Arminsih Wulandari

Jurnal Nasional Kesehatan Lingkungan Global

This study is a descriptive research to know the overview of implementation food hygiene sanitation in Nutrition Installation Unit of Hospital X, year 2018 that used observation, interview, and laboratory analysis as methods of collecting data. The results obtained from this research are known that sanitation hygiene in the hospital nutrition unit X is quite qualified according to the checklist referring to Permenkes 1096 Year 2011. However, there are several aspects to be improved such as sanitation facilities, building, and cooking utensils storage. Based on bacteriological result on food samples, hand swab of food handlers, and cutlery in hospital X …

Dampak Pajanan Particulate Matter 2,5 (Pm2,5) Terhadap Gejala Penyakit Paru Obstruktif (Ppok) Kronis Eksaserbasi Akut Pada Pekerja Di Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok, 2018, Ashila Diza Rahmadini, Budi Haryanto

Jurnal Nasional Kesehatan Lingkungan Global

Background. According to studies, one of the places with highest activity that caused the release of this emission in in ports. Port activities such as delivering goods to and from the port caused high amount of PM2,5 to be released to the air and it can affect field worker, one of them is Acute Exacerbation Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or AECOPD. Methods. The study used observational design study with cross-sectional approach to 75 field workers whom had worked more than 1 year. Results. The results of this study indicate that PM2.5 exposure at the port has exceeded WHO levels of …

Kejadian Penyakit Paru Obstruktif Kronik (Ppok) Pada Pengendara Ojek Online Di Kota Bogor Dan Kota Depok Tahun 2018 (Studi Kasus Pencemaran Udara), Muhammad Aziz Hakim Ramadhan, Budi Hartono

Jurnal Nasional Kesehatan Lingkungan Global

Background. Taxibike online drivers are the population at risk of lung function impairment caused by exposure of traffic-air pollutions, particularly PM2,5. This study aims to know the incidences of COPD, and its relationship with working hours behaviour, the use of PPE, the loacation of work, nutritional status and the degree of smoking among taxiboke online drivers in Bogor and Depok City . Methods. This study used primary and secondary data with the number of research subjects as many as 100 taxibike online drivers. The design study in this research was cross sectional. Data were analyzed bivariately with chi-square test and …

Analisis Risiko Kesehatan Pajanan Inhalasi Debu Particulate Matter 2.5 Pada Siswa Sekolah Menengah Pertama Di Kota Depok Tahun 2018, Amiati Silitonga, Bambang Wispriyono

Jurnal Nasional Kesehatan Lingkungan Global

Particulate Matter2.5 is becoming international concern due to its unique nature. With a size less than 25 microns, these pollutants can penetrate deep to the alveoli. Consisting of a variety of materials and capable of plastering by toxic chemical pollutants, the toxicity of PM2.5 cannot yet be determined with certainty. One of the important sources of PM2.5 is the road traffic. Populations close to the source of exposure will have potential hazards, one place with a densely populated such as school. Schools close to the highway may be the site of exposure to students with PM2.5. Students are vulnerable group …