Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Conditions Facilitant L’Appropriation De Démarches Préventives En Santé Psychologique Au Travail Par Les Gestionnaires, Caroline Biron, France St-Hilaire, Geneviève Baril-Gingras, Marie-Esther Paradis, Shirley Chabot, Rébecca Lefebvre, Hans Ivers, Michel Vézina, Pierre-Sébastien Fournier, Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet, Chantal Brisson

Rapports de recherche scientifique

De plus en plus d’évidences scientifiques montrent que les risques psychosociaux (RPS), tels une demande psychologique élevée, une faible latitude décisionnelle, un faible soutien social et un déséquilibre entre les efforts et la reconnaissance reçue au travail, contribuent au développement de problèmes de santé psychologique, de troubles musculosquelettiques de même que de maladies cardiovasculaires. Ces atteintes à la santé figurent parmi les principales causes d’absence du travail pour maladie. La littérature sur les interventions préventives en santé psychologique concerne principalement les interventions visant à modifier certaines caractéristiques individuelles (par exemple les habitudes de vie des travailleurs) plutôt que …

A Review Of Studies Of Ventilation And Indoor Air Quality In New Homes And Impacts Of Environmental Factors On Formaldehyde Emission Rates From Composite Wood Products, Francis (Bud) Offermann, Cheri Marcham

Publications

• While increasing outdoor air ventilation rates does reduce the indoor concentrations of air contaminants with indoor sources, the actual reductions in concentrations can differ significantly from those calculated with the assumption of a constant indoor emission rate.
• The ratio of actual to predicted concentration reductions for the low to high outdoor air ventilation modes ranged from 0.59 for formaldehyde to 1.37 for benzaldehyde.
• Increases in emission rates for compounds such as formaldehyde are consistent with mass transfer theory for emissions from materials such as composite wood where mass transfer is limited by gas-phase diffusion across the boundary layer.
• Decreases in …

A Lifetime Of Healthy Living: Unifying Awareness Of Healthy Living Among Appalachia's Diversified Community, Kyle M. Smith, Joy L. Gritton

Celebration of Student Scholarship Poster Sessions Archive

No abstract provided.

The Emergence Of Systematic Review In Toxicology, Martin L. Stephens, Kellyn Betts, Nancy Beck, Vincent Cogliano, Kay Dickersin, George Gray, +8 Additional Authors

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

The Evidence-based Toxicology Collaboration hosted a workshop on “The Emergence of Systematic Review and Related Evidence-based Approaches in Toxicology,” on November 21, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. The workshop featured speakers from agencies and organizations applying systematic review approaches to questions in toxicology, speakers with experience in conducting systematic reviews in medicine and healthcare, and stakeholders in industry, government, academia, and non-governmental organizations. Based on the workshop presentations and discussion, here we address the state of systematic review methods in toxicology, historical antecedents in both medicine and toxicology, challenges to the translation of systematic review from medicine to toxicology, and thoughts …

Détection Des Microorganismes Par Fluorescence/Raman Uv Dans Des Aérosols, Des Suspensions Ou Sur Des Surfaces : Étude Exploratoire, Michaela Skulinova, Geneviève Marchand, Jean-François Gravel, Jacques Lavoie, Yves Cloutier

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les microorganismes et leurs sous-produits sont présents dans tous les milieux de travail. Ils se retrouvent en suspension dans l’air, dans un liquide ou déposés sur des surfaces. Ils peuvent avoir des impacts importants sur les entreprises et la santé des travailleurs. Leur détection, à l’aide d’approches classiques faisant appel au dénombrement sur milieux gélosés, exige du temps et des ressources considérables. Cette étude vise à explorer une approche alternative et novatrice soit l’utilisation des signaux de fluorescence émis à différentes longueurs d’onde pour la détection et la différenciation de microorganismes en milieu de travail.

Un système mobile de …

Résistance Des Matériaux De Protection Aux Agresseurs Mécaniques Multiples : Coupure Et Perforation Simultanées, Ennouri Triki, Phuong Nguyen-Tri, Meriam Azaiez, Toan Vu-Khanh, Chantal Gauvin

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les lacérations de type perforation et coupure représentent une part importante des blessures aux mains dans plusieurs milieux de travail. Les agresseurs mécaniques comme la pointe d’un couteau, des échardes de métal, des pièces mal ébavurées ou des éclats de verre peuvent être très diversifiés et constituer des risques multiples. Le port de gants de protection contribue à réduire ces risques. Cependant, les gants n’offrent pas toujours une résistance adéquate pour tous les types d’agresseurs. Puisqu’il n’y a pas de corrélation entre les résistances à la coupure, à la perforation et à la piqûre, par exemple, un matériau …

Développement D’Outils Et De Méthodes Pour Mieux Évaluer Et Améliorer La Protection Auditive Individuelle Des Travailleurs, Franck Sgard, Hugues Nélisse, Frédéric Laville

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Lorsque l’élimination à la source ne peut être envisagée, la protection individuelle demeure la solution la plus utilisée pour protéger les travailleurs exposés à des niveaux de bruit importants en raison de sa facilité et de sa rapidité d’implantation, ainsi que de son faible coût économique. Le port des protecteurs auditifs est néanmoins associé à plusieurs problématiques : (i) ils peuvent être un cofacteur de risque pour les accidents du travail, (ii) leur performance réelle est souvent très différente de celle affichée en laboratoire ce qui peut induire une sous-protection du travailleur, (iii) les méthodes normalisées de déplacement du seuil …

Evaluation Of Particulate Metal And Noise Exposures At A Foundry And Recommended Control Strategies, Jeshua Sargetis

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

An evaluation of current industrial hygiene practices were performed at a foundry located in the Northwestern United States. The foundry was evaluated for respirable and inhalable manganese, respirable crystalline silica and noise exposure. Personal breathing zone sampling was performed using proper safety and health practices on workers in the foundry and around the entire facility. Results showed that workers were being exposed to respirable manganese but not inhalable manganese. Bulk crystalline silica sampling was performed and personal breathing zone sampling was performed as a follow up to certain control measures which showed low concentrations. Area noise sampling was conducted in …

Reducing Noise Exposures Produced By Vibratory Finishing Machines, Anna Kroening

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Tumbling operators are exposed to loud occupational noises when loading and unloading the metal products in tumbling machines. The increase in the number of hearing loss injuries in the metal stamping industry initiated OSHA’s Special Emphasis Programs in designated industries and locations across the United States. Because occupational hearing loss injuries do not manifest themselves until years later, it is critical that employers install engineering controls immediately in order to protect worker’s hearing and prevent hearing loss injuries.

Tumbling machines come in a variety of configurations. In addition to sound absorption material that can be installed on floors, ceilings, and …

Comparison Of Sample Methods And Results For Hexavalent Chromium Exposures At Langley Afb, Ericka Crosley

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Various exposure limits and analytical methods are recommended for hexavalent chromium exposures. While the OSHA standard is legally binding, NIOSH and ACGIH recommendations should be considered as well when determining personnel overexposures. Hexavalent chromium is linked to severe acute and chronic effects, including cancer. The United States Air Force currently uses NIOSH methods 7600 and 7605 to sample for hexavalent chromium. This research analyzed if personnel are being overexposed, in addition to comparing NIOSH 7600 and NIOSH 7605 results to determine if both methods are required, or if one can be used in place of both. The results of the …

Whole Body Vibration Exposure To Crane Operator’S, Steven Campbell

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Whole body vibration (WBV) has been linked to lower back disorders (LBD’s). The purpose of this study is to determine whether crane operators are exposed to whole body vibration (WBV). If exposure exists then, do they exceed a current consensus standard. This information will be used to determine whether WBV should become a larger discussion item when purchasing cranes and or rebuilding. This information can also be used to make the case for seat replacement or at the very least a qualification to consider when purchasing replacement seats.

While many studies exist relating WBV to LBD, I could not find …

An Exploratory Study Of Carbon Monoxide Exposures In Ice Rink Volunteers, Jonathan Triner

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Hockey has grown in popularity in the United States substantially in the last fifty years. The combustion engine has primarily been utilized to power the ice resurfacing equipment to make the ice smooth and able to support the next activity. The exhaust from the combustion engine creates a source of CO that could be harmful to the bystanders if the exhaust is not ventilated from the area properly. Many studies have investigated CO concentrations in ice rinks, but few have evaluated carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels as a biological indicator of CO exposure, in order to evaluate the potential health effects of …

An Analysis Of Helmet Sound Attenuation During Abrasive Blasting, Michael Lindsey

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

During abrasive blasting, the operator is exposed to a process consisting of combined sound pressure levels from compressed air propelling an abrasive media through the hose, the abrasive striking metal substrate, the flow of breathing air inside the helmet, and the reverberation of sound inside the walls of the blast booth. The resulting noise can reach peak sound pressure levels (Lpeak) of 128 dBA, exceeding allowable occupational exposure levels.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the noise levels produced during abrasive blasting, attempt to further quantify total noise exposure to the abrasive blast operator, and calculate combined attenuation …

Making It Sound As Good As It Tastes: Noise Reverberation Reduction In A Micro Distillery Tasting Room, Andrew Sheehy

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Noise reverberation in micro distillery tasting rooms can interfere with speech communication and negatively impact the acoustic quality of live music. Noise reverberation was characterized in a tasting room in Butte, MT by calculated and quantified methods. Sound absorbing baffles were then installed in an effort to reduce reverberation and improve room acoustics. The overall reverberation time and speech interference level were decreased by measureable amounts that corresponded with an increase in overall absorption in the space. Reverberation time decreased from 0.85 seconds to 0.49 seconds on average. As shown by a customer survey given before and after the installation, …

Advancing The Knowledge Of Organic Farming Data In New Mexico: Health And Injury Surveillance Systems, Virginia Sedore

Population Health

While the concept and practice of organic farming has been around since the mid-1800s, there is little data currently being collected on injury, illness, or fatality within the organic farming population, leaving the health risks unknown. This paper intends to look at the surveillance systems currently in place to collect injury and illness data as it relates to organic farmers, and in particular, the New Mexico organic farmer. Evaluations of the current surveillance systems were conducted, and organic farmer demographics were analyzed using rate ratio comparisons of United States(U.S.), Texas, and New Mexico. The results show that the current surveillance …

Critical Heat Stress Evaluation In Two Ebola Ensembles, Christopher T. Lee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ebola, a type of filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fevers, dominated global headlines in 2014 when the largest Ebola epidemic in history took place in West Africa. Healthcare practitioners were at particular risk of contracting Ebola while taking care of patients with the disease because they were easily exposed to bodily fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, and feces, quite often in the intensive care unit (ICU). While personal protective equipment (PPE) protects the healthcare practitioner by providing an effective barrier against the virus, users were also at risk for heat stress because of the type of protective clothing. In this …

Using Artificial Neural Networks To Predict Disease Associations For Chemicals Present In Burn Pit Emissions, Amanda R. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

In June of 2015, 27,378 of the 28,000 returning Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans report being exposed to burn pits. According to Barth et al. (2014), 9,660 returning OIF/OEF veterans were diagnosed with respiratory diseases, to include asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis, thus strengthening the need to develop decision support tools that can be used to understand the relationships between chemical exposure and disease. In this study an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was used to predict the chemical-disease associations for burn pit constituents. Ten burn pit constituents were tested using varying hidden layers, similar chemical structure relationships, and three …

Neck Injury Criteria Development For Use In System Level Ejection Testing; Characterization Of Atd To Human Response Correlation Under -Gx Accelerative Input, Craig M. Zinck

Theses and Dissertations

The use of Helmet Mounted Displays is ubiquitous in the field of aviation, adding operational capability, increasing head-supported weight and potential neck injury risk. Developing neck injury criteria to evaluate and quantify neck injury is important to ensure ejection systems are produced within acceptable standards. An ATD to human transfer function is developed that quantifies the difference between ATD and human neck response from -Gx accelerative tests, and demonstrates how this function can be applied to ATD test data to make previously developed human risk functions directly applicable to interpreting ATD data with a human based neck injury criterion. A …

Comparison Of Urinary Pahs Among Firefighters And Asphalt Pavers, Theodore Aquino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Firefighters and asphalt pavers are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during various work activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate urinary PAH levels and compare these bio-monitoring levels among firefighters, asphalt pavers, and non-occupationally exposed individuals. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) urinary PAH levels were used for non-occupationally exposed controls. When compared to the NIST standard for smokers and non-smokers, firefighters demonstrated statistically significant differences in urinary concentration differences for the following metabolites: 2-OH-fluorene, 3-OH-fluorene and 1-OH-pyrene, which were lower in firefighters than the NIST mean for smokers. 1-OH-phenanthrene, 2-OH-phenanthrene and 3-OH-phenanthrene were higher …

Risk Factors Associated With Non-Compliance With The Respiratory Protection Program Among Firefighters, Brandon Dawkins

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Non-compliance with respiratory protection programs among firefighters may put them at increased risk of injury and illness from occupational exposures during fire extinguishing activities. This research aims to characterize respiratory protection practices among Florida firefighters. This information will allow better understanding of factors that are associated with non-compliance with respiratory protection guidelines.

Methods: Survey questionnaire was used to characterize Florida fire departments in this cross sectional study. Four hundred and seventy-seven surveys were administered to Florida firefighters both in person and electronically to collect information regarding firefighter knowledge and participation in their respective respiratory protection programs during the past …