Journal Detail Information

1

Cite

Share

Non-chemical Risk Assessment for Lifting and Low Back Pain Based on Bayesian Threshold Models.

Sudha P PANDALAI ; Matthew W WHEELER ; Ming Lun LU

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):206-211. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.10.001

BACKGROUND: Self-reported low back pain (LBP) has been evaluated in relation to material handling lifting tasks, but little research has focused on relating quantifiable stressors to LBP at the individual level. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Composite Lifting Index (CLI) has been used to quantify stressors for lifting tasks. A chemical exposure can be readily used as an exposure metric or stressor for chemical risk assessment (RA). Defining and quantifying lifting nonchemical stressors and related adverse responses is more difficult. Stressor–response models appropriate for CLI and LBP associations do not easily fit in common chemical RA modeling techniques (e.g., Benchmark Dose methods), so different approaches were tried. METHODS: This work used prospective data from 138 manufacturing workers to consider the linkage of the occupational stressor of material lifting to LBP. The final model used a Bayesian random threshold approach to estimate the probability of an increase in LBP as a threshold step function. RESULTS: Using maximal and mean CLI values, a significant increase in the probability of LBP for values above 1.5 was found. CONCLUSION: A risk of LBP associated with CLI values > 1.5 existed in this worker population. The relevance for other populations requires further study.
Bayes Theorem ; Benchmarking ; Lifting* ; Low Back Pain* ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Occupational Exposure ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment*

2

Cite

Share

Alteration in Leukocyte Subsets and Expressions of FcγR and Complement Receptors among Female Ragpickers in Eastern India.

Nandan K MONDAL ; Shabana SIDDIQUE ; Madhuchanda BANERJEE ; Sanghita ROYCHOUDHURY ; Sayali MUKHERJEE ; Mark S SLAUGHTER ; Twisha LAHIRI ; Manas R RAY

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):198-205. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.10.004

BACKGROUND: There are a million ragpickers in India who gather and trade recyclable municipal solid wastes materials for a living. The objective of this study was to examine whether their occupation adversely affects their immunity. METHODS: Seventy-four women ragpickers (median age, 30 years) and 65 age-matched control housemaids were enrolled. Flow cytometry was used to measure leukocyte subsets, and leukocyte expressions of Fcγ receptor I (CD64), FcγRIII (CD16), complement receptor 1 (CD35) and CR3 (CD11b/CD18), and CD14. Serum total immunoglobulin-E was estimated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, ragpickers had significantly (p < 0.0001) higher levels of CD8+T-cytotoxic, CD16+CD56+natural killer, and CD4+CD45RO+memory T-cells, but depleted levels of CD19+B-cells. The percentage of CD4+T-helper-cells was lower than the control group (p < 0.0001), but their absolute number was relatively unchanged (p = 0.42) due to 11% higher lymphocyte counts in ragpickers. In ragpickers, the percentages of CD14+CD16+intermediate and CD14dim CD16+nonclassical monocyte subsets were elevated with a decline in CD14+CD16-classical monocytes. The expressions of CD64, CD16, CD35, and CD11b/CD18 on both monocytes and neutrophils, and CD14 on monocytes were significantly higher in ragpickers. In addition, ragpickers had 2.7-times more serum immunoglobulin-E than the controls (p < 0.0001). After controlling potential confounders, the profession of ragpicking was positively associated with the changes. CONCLUSION: Ragpicking is associated with alterations in both innate (neutrophils, monocytes, and natural killer cell numbers and expression of complement and Fcγ receptors) and adaptive immunity (numbers of circulating B cells, helper, cytotoxic, and memory T cells).
Adaptive Immunity ; B-Lymphocytes ; Complement System Proteins* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; India* ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leukocytes* ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Memory ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Occupations ; Receptors, Complement* ; Solid Waste ; T-Lymphocytes

3

Cite

Share

Control of Industrial Safety Based on Dynamic Characteristics of a Safety Budget-Industrial Accident Rate Model in Republic of Korea.

Gi Heung CHOI ; Byoung Gook LOH

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):189-197. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.11.002

BACKGROUND: Despite the recent efforts to prevent industrial accidents in the Republic of Korea, the industrial accident rate has not improved much. Industrial safety policies and safety management are also known to be inefficient. This study focused on dynamic characteristics of industrial safety systems and their effects on safety performance in the Republic of Korea. Such dynamic characteristics are particularly important for restructuring of the industrial safety system. METHODS: The effects of damping and elastic characteristics of the industrial safety system model on safety performance were examined and feedback control performance was explained in view of cost and benefit. The implications on safety policies of restructuring the industrial safety system were also explored. RESULTS: A strong correlation between the safety budget and the industrial accident rate enabled modeling of an industrial safety system with these variables as the input and the output, respectively. A more effective and efficient industrial safety system could be realized by having weaker elastic characteristics and stronger damping characteristics in it. A substantial decrease in total social cost is expected as the industrial safety system is restructured accordingly. CONCLUSION: A simple feedback control with proportional–integral action is effective in prevention of industrial accidents. Securing a lower level of elastic industrial accident-driving energy appears to have dominant effects on the control performance compared with the damping effort to dissipate such energy. More attention needs to be directed towards physical and social feedbacks that have prolonged cumulative effects. Suggestions for further improvement of the safety system including physical and social feedbacks are also made.
Accidents, Occupational ; Budgets ; Republic of Korea* ; Safety Management

4

Cite

Share

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated with Gait Changes among Firefighters after a Live Burn Training Evolution.

Deanna COLBURN ; Joe SUYAMA ; Steven E REIS ; David HOSTLER

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):183-188. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.11.001

BACKGROUND: Recommendations have been proposed for minimum aerobic fitness among firefighters but it is unclear if those criteria relate to performance on the fireground. Less fit individuals fatigue more quickly than fit individuals when working at comparable intensity and may have gait changes, increasing risk of falls. We evaluated the effect of fatigue during a live burn evolution on gait parameters and functional balance comparing them to aerobic fitness levels. METHODS: A total of 24 firefighters had gait and balance tested before and after a live burn evolution. Data were stratified by aerobic fitness of greater/less than 14 metabolic equivalents (METs). RESULTS: Analysis of gait cycles measurements before and after the live burn evolution revealed that single leg stance, cycle, and swing time decreased (p < 0.05) but there were no differences in the other measures. There were no differences in time to complete the functional balance test, or errors committed before or after a live burn evolution. When firefighters were sorted by fitness level of 14 METs, there were no differences for errors or time before or after the live burn evolution. Balance data were analyzed using a linear regression. Individuals with lower fitness levels required more time to complete the test. CONCLUSION: A 14-MET criterion failed to distinguish gait or balance characteristics in this group. However, less fit firefighters did require more time to complete the balance test (p = 0.003). Aerobic fitness alone does not predict gait changes among firefighters following a live burn evolution but does appear to influence functional balance.
Accidental Falls ; Burns* ; Fatigue ; Firefighters* ; Gait* ; Humans ; Leg ; Linear Models ; Metabolic Equivalent ; Protective Clothing

5

Cite

Share

Safety and Health Perceptions in Work-related Transport Activities in Ghanaian Industries.

Charles ATOMBO ; Chaozhong WU ; Emmanuel O TETTEHFIO ; Godwin Y NYAMUAME ; Aaron A AGBO

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):175-182. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.10.002

BACKGROUND: With the recent rapid industrialization, occupational safety and health (OSH) has become an important issue in all industrial and human activities. However, incidents of injuries and fatality rates in the Ghanaian industry sector continue to increase. Despite this increase, there is no evidence regarding the element of OSH management in transport activities in Ghanaian industries. Thus, this study aims to examine the perceptions regarding the importance of safety and health in work-related transport activities in Ghanaian industries. METHODS: A survey data collection technique was used to gather information on best safety practices over a 5-month period. We randomly selected 298 respondents from industries to answer structured questionnaires. The respondents included drivers, transport managers, and safety engineers. Standard multiple regression model and Pearson product–movement correlation were used to performed the analysis. RESULTS: The result shows that for interventions to improve safety and health, concentration has been on drivers’ safety practice with less attention to safe driving environments and vehicle usage. Additionally, the respondents are aware of the importance of OSH in transport activities, but the level of integration does not measure up to the standard to reduce operational accidents and injuries. Finally, strong commitment to changing unsafe practices at all levels of operations appears to be the effective way to improve safety situations. CONCLUSION: OSH culture is not fully complied in industries transport activities. This study, therefore, supports the use of safety seminars and training sessions for industry workers responsible for transport operations for better integration of safety standards.
Data Collection ; Human Activities ; Occupational Health ; Safety Management ; Surveys and Questionnaires

6

Cite

Share

Cancer Incidence in Asbestos-Exposed Workers: An Update on Four Finnish Cohorts.

Pia NYNÄS ; Eero PUKKALA ; Harri VAINIO ; Panu OKSA

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):169-174. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.11.003

BACKGROUND: We assessed the cancer risks of four different Finnish asbestos-exposed cohorts. We also explored if the cohorts with varying profiles of asbestos exposure exhibited varying relative risks of cancer. METHODS: The incident cancer cases for the asbestos-exposed worker cohorts were updated to the end of 2012 using the files of the Finnish Cancer Registry. The previously formed cohorts consisted of asbestos mine workers, asbestosis patients, asbestos sprayers, and workers who had taken part in a screening study based on asbestos exposure at work. RESULTS: The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for mesothelioma varied from about threefold to > 100-fold in the different cohorts. In the screening cohort the SIR for mesothelioma was highest in 2003–2007, In other cohorts it was more constant in 5-year period inspection. The SIR for lung cancer was about twofold to tenfold in all except the screening cohort. Asbestos sprayers were at the highest risk of mesothelioma and lung cancer. CONCLUSION: The SIR for mesothelioma is high in all of the cohorts that represent different kinds of asbestos exposure. The smaller SIR for mesothelioma in the screening cohort with lowest level of asbestos exposure might suggest dose-responsiveness between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. It does seem that the highest risk of lung cancer in these cohorts except in the youngest of the cohorts, the screening cohort, is over. The highest SIR for lung cancer of the asbestosis patient and sprayers cohort is explained by their heavy asbestos exposure.
Asbestos ; Asbestosis ; Cohort Studies* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mass Screening ; Mesothelioma ; Miners

7

Cite

Share

Recovery and Return to Work After a Pelvic Fracture.

Antonios N PAPASOTIRIOU ; Nikolaos PREVEZAS ; Konstantinos KRIKONIS ; Evangelos C ALEXOPOULOS

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):162-168. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.10.003

BACKGROUND: Pelvic ring fractures (PRFs) may influence the daily activities and quality of life of the injured. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the functional outcomes and factors related to return to work (RTW) after PRF. METHODS: During the years 2003–2012, 282 injured individuals aged 20–55 years on the date of the accident, were hospitalized and treated for PRFs in a large tertiary hospital in Athens, Greece. One hundred and three patients were traced and contacted; 77 who were on paid employment prior to the accident gave their informed consent to participate in the survey, which was conducted in early 2015 through telephone interviews. The questionnaire included variables related to injury, treatment and activities, and the Majeed pelvic score. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were used for statistical assessment. RESULTS: Almost half of the injured (46.7%) fully RTW, and earning losses were reported to be 35% after PRF. The univariate analysis confirmed that RTW was significantly related to accident site (labor or not), the magnitude of the accident's force, concomitant injuries, duration of hospitalization, time to RTW, engagement to the same sport, Majeed score, and complications such as limp and pain as well as urologic and sexual complaints (p < 0.05 for all). On multiple logistic regression analysis, the accident sustained out of work (odds ratio: 6.472, 95% confidence interval: 1.626–25.769) and Majeed score (odds ratio: 3.749, 95% confidence interval: 2.092–6.720) were identified as independent predictive factors of full RTW. CONCLUSION: PRFs have severe socioeconomic consequences. Possible predictors of RTW should be taken into account for health management and policies.
Employment ; Greece ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Interviews as Topic ; Logistic Models ; Occupational Health ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Return to Work* ; Sports ; Tertiary Care Centers

8

Cite

Share

Evaluation of the Quality of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Based on Key Performance Indicators in Certified Organizations.

Iraj MOHAMMADFAM ; Mojtaba KAMALINIA ; Mansour MOMENI ; Rostam GOLMOHAMMADI ; Yadollah HAMIDI ; Alireza SOLTANIAN

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):156-161. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.09.001

BACKGROUND: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems are becoming more widespread in organizations. Consequently, their effectiveness has become a core topic for researchers. This paper evaluates the performance of the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001 specification in certified companies in Iran. METHODS: The evaluation is based on a comparison of specific criteria and indictors related to occupational health and safety management practices in three certified and three noncertified companies. RESULTS: Findings indicate that the performance of certified companies with respect to occupational health and safety management practices is significantly better than that of noncertified companies. CONCLUSION: Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001-certified companies have a better level of occupational health and safety; this supports the argument that Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems play an important strategic role in health and safety in the workplace.
Iran ; Occupational Health* ; Safety Management*

9

Cite

Share

Safety Evaluation of the Lighting at the Entrance of a Very Long Road Tunnel: A Case Study in Ilam.

Ahmad MEHRI ; Roohalah HAJIZADEH ; Somayeh FARHANG DEHGHAN ; Parvin NASSIRI ; Sayed Mohammad JAFARI ; Fereshteh TAHERI ; Seyed Abolfazl ZAKERIAN

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):151-155. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2016.06.002

BACKGROUND: At the entrance of a tunnel, reflection of sunlight from the surrounding environment and a lack of adequate lighting usually cause some vision problems. The purpose of this study was to perform a safety evaluation of lighting on a very long road in Ilam, Iran. METHODS: The average luminance was measured using a luminance meter (model S3; Hagner, Solna, Sweden). A camera (model 108, 35-mm single-lens reflex; Yashica, Nagano, Japan) was used to take photographs of the safe stopping distance from the tunnel entrance. Equivalent luminance was determined according to the Holliday polar diagram. RESULTS: Considering the average luminance at the tunnel entrance (116.7 cd/m²) and using Adrian's equation, the safe level of lighting at the entrance of the tunnel was determined to be 0.7. CONCLUSION: A comparison between the results of the safe levels of lighting at the entrance of the tunnel and the De Boer scale showed that the phenomenon of black holes is created at the tunnel entrance. This may lead to a misadaptation of the drivers’ eyes to the change in luminance level at the entrance of the tunnel, thereby increasing the risk of road accidents in this zone.
Iran ; Reflex ; Sunlight

10

Cite

Share

Reproductive Toxic Chemicals at Work and Efforts to Protect Workers' Health: A Literature Review.

Kyung Taek RIM

Safety and Health at Work.2017;8(2):143-150. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2017.04.003

A huge number of chemicals are produced and used in the world, and some of them can have negative effects on the reproductive health of workers. To date, most chemicals and work environments have not been studied for their potential to have damaging effects on the workers' reproductive system. Because of the lack of information, many workers may not be aware that such problems can be related to occupational exposures. Newly industrialized countries such as Republic of Korea have rapidly amassed chemicals and other toxicants that pose health hazards, especially to the reproductive systems of workers. This literature review provides an overview of peer-reviewed literature regarding the teratogenic impact and need for safe handling of chemicals. Literature searches were performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Search strategies were narrowed based on author expertise and 100 articles were chosen for detailed analysis. A total of 47 articles met prespecified inclusion criteria. The majority of papers contained studies that were descriptive in nature with respect to the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords: “reproductive and heath or hazard and/or workplace or workers or occupations.” In the absence of complete information about the safe occupational handling of chemicals in Republic of Korea (other than a material safety data sheet), this review serves as a valuable reference for identifying and remedying potential gaps in relevant regulations. The review also proposes other public health actions including hazard surveillance and primary prevention activities such as reduction, substitution, ventilation, as well as protective equipment.
Developed Countries ; Medical Subject Headings ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Primary Prevention ; Public Health ; Reproductive Health ; Republic of Korea ; Social Control, Formal ; Ventilation

DISPLAY OPTIONS

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share