Documents cold 9 results

"La réglementation européenne et belge concernant les ambiances thermiques de travail demande que chaque entreprise cherche à éviter ou à réduire l'exposition des travailleurs à ce facteur de risque. Conformément à la stratégie SOBANE de gestion des risques professionnels, cette brochure décrit une méthode à quatre niveaux : dépistage, observation, analyse et expertise qui devrait permettre de mieux prévenir et /ou corriger les risques liés aux ambiances thermiques de travail. La brochure comprend une série de fiches d'aide. Elle a été rédigée par le professeur Jacques Malchaire, chef de l'unité hygiène et physiologie du travail de l'UCL, qui a coordonné le projet SOBANE cofinancé par le SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale et le Fonds social européen."

"Objective:Respiratory outcomes and work-related factors were studied in two seafood worker populations representing different occupational environments.Methods:Levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), spirometric values, prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and self-evaluated exposures were compared between 139 Norwegian salmon workers and 127 Russian trawler workers.Results:Increased odds ratios (ORs) of shortness of breath with wheezing and prolonged cough as general respiratory symptoms were found in salmon workers, while increased ORs of work-related dry cough and running nose were found in trawler fishermen. Both worker groups ranked “cold work environment,” “use of disinfectants,” and “contaminated indoor air” as the first, second, and third most important causes of work-related respiratory symptoms, respectively. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels were higher in asthmatic trawler workers compared to asthmatic salmon workers.Conclusions:Respiratory symptoms commonly associated with obstructive airway diseases were more prevalent in salmon workers, while symptoms commonly associated with asthma and short-term effects of cold air exposure were more prevalent in trawler workers."

"BackgroundMortality and morbidity rates are often highest during the winter period, particularly in countries with milder climates. A growing body of research has identified potential socioeconomic, housing and behavioural mediators of cold weather-related adverse health and social outcomes, but an inclusive systematic review of this literature has yet to be performed. Methods A systematic review, with narrative synthesis, of observational research published in English between 2001 and 2011, which quantified associations between socioeconomic, housing or behavioural factors and cold weather-related adverse health or social outcomes. Results Thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Average study quality was not high. Most studies failed to control for all relevant confounding factors, or to conduct research over a long enough period to ascertain causality. Low income, housing conditions and composite fuel poverty measures were most consistently associated with cold weather-related adverse health or social outcomes. Conclusions This review identified socioeconomic, housing and behavioural factors associated with a range of cold weather-related adverse health or social outcomes. Only tentative conclusions can be drawn due to the limitations of existing research. More robust studies are needed to address the methodological issues identified and uncover causal associations. A review of qualitative and intervention studies would help to inform policies to reduce the adverse health and social impacts of cold weather."

"Thermoregulatory and thermal subjective responses were studied in ten male, clothed subjects during continuous (C) and intermittent (I) exercise at the same average level of oxygen consumption. The subjects performed both I and C twice, dressed in two different three-layer cold-protective clothing ensembles of two thermal insulation levels [total clothing insulation = 2.59 clo (L) and 3.20 clo (H)]. Experiments were carried out at an ambient temperature of -10 degrees C. Rectal temperatures increased similarly in both types of exercise. Mean skin temperature (Tsk) was lower in I compared to C with both levels of clothing insulation. Over the last 0.5 h of the experiment Tsk was approximately 1.3 degrees C lower in I than in C for clothing L. The skin evaporation rate was higher in clothing H than L but did not differ between I and C. Subjective ratings for thermal sensations of the whole body (BTS) and hands were close to neutral in I and around slightly warm in C. The BTS was lower in I than in C and was lower in L compared to H. It was concluded that, at equal average energy expenditure, thermal responses to intermittent and continuous exercise in the cold differ in clothed subjects, principally as a result of different patterns of heat exchange."

"L'objectif de ce dossier est de fournir aux médecins du travail des "pistes" ou "points de repères" pour des solutions de prévention réalistes, concrètes et pratiques, en tenant compte des variabilités individuelles et en abordant la conception ou l'adaptation des lieux de travail. Les facteurs de risque ont été analysés et une méthode rapide et simple d'évaluation du "risque météorologique" au poste de travail en période de grand froid est proposée (indice de refroidissement éolien). Cette méthode ne saurait être substituée à des méthodes plus complexes permettant de faire un bilan thermique précis, indispensables dans certaines situations de travail. En revanche, à la portée de non spécialistes et ne nécessitant que des matériels simples, cette méthode devrait permettre de répondre, en première approche, à des situations climatiques exceptionnelles et ainsi de proposer les mesures de prévention adéquates. Les mesures, listées dans ce dossier, sont à adapter en fonction des situations de travail."

"This book describes a number of industrial chemicals in common use and certain physical agents which pose potential hazards to health. Each section relates to a particular chemical or agent and provides information concerning use, exposure limits, hazards and their prevention. The exposure limits quoted are those published by the Health and Safety Executive which are revised and reprinted annually. They take account of sound industrial practice and are reasonably practicable to achieve."