Documents Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 13 results

"Australia was a producer and user of asbestos and has one of the highest national incidences of mesothelioma in the world. The incidence is still rising and expected to do so for another 10-20 years. A study was conducted in 1996 to examine the past and current incidence rates of mesothelioma in a number of industries and occupations as the basis for predicting future outcomes. Occupational histories of a total of 3758 mesothelioma cases collected by two sequential national schemes--the Australian Mesothelioma Surveillance Program (1979-1985) and Australian Mesothelioma Register (1986-1995)--were reviewed and coded by the authors. The building industry contributed the largest number of cases nationwide followed by shipbuilding and repair, asbestos cement production, crocidolite mining and milling, railway locomotive construction and repair, coal-fired power stations, and other engineering operations. The mean latency between initial occupational asbestos exposure and diagnosis of the disease was 37.4 years (range = 4-66 years) for cases notified between 1979 and 1985, and 41.4 years (range = 6-84 years) for those between 1986 and 1995. Trends for each industry group have been changing considerably in the past 16 years, with the traditional primary asbestos industry cases from crocidolite mining and milling now on the decline and cases from asbestos cement production having plateaued. In contrast, more recently, more cases were observed from the asbestos user industries such as the building industry, and from occupations such as plumbers, carpenters, machinists, and car mechanics. These increases might be a reflection of the longer latency effects of the intermittent and less severe exposures in these larger occupational groups."

"The purpose of this study was to describe possibilities for the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among floor layers and to analyze the factors that promote or constrain innovation in prevention. A questionnaire study included 102 floor layers and 180 apprentice floor layers. Questionnaires were used to register musculoskeletal complaints, psychosocial factors, and proposals for prevention. Interviews were carried out of key persons from the trade, selected from the floor layers, employers, and their trade association, with the purpose of getting more knowledge about the barriers to innovation. The results indicate that musculoskeletal disorders are still a great problem in skilled floor layers, and also in apprentices. Primary prevention of work-related knee disorders and accompanying stress requires a reduction in work tasks performed in kneeling positions. Tools that can be used in standing positions for floor laying work tasks are considered useful for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Throughout their training, young apprentice floor layers slowly become socialized into the group, and absorb the same identity, attitude to problem-solving, and use of tools and working methods as the adult floor layers. Deep-rooted habits are very resistant to change. The intensity of the work, time pressures, frequent changes of work locations, and the trade's pattern of working in small firms are also factors that make it difficult to introduce good practice innovations in the floor laying trade. Work-related strain can be decreased in the trade by combining changes in tools, materials, and working methods. It is necessary to include educational training of apprentices and skilled floor layers, and also foremen and employers. Breaking down the barriers to change demands education and instruction by people who know the trade well, who can communicate effectively with the floor layers, and who are accepted by the trade. "(Authors abstract)

"The first step in addressing any problem is recognition of the problem and a measure of its size and scope. There have been few reviews to date of the evidence of a musculoskeletal disorders problem in construction, particularly in the United States. Construction contractors in the United States have questioned the existence of a musculoskeletal disorders problem in construction, so a review of the evidence is warranted. The types of evidence reviewed include: 1) historical evidence, 2) injury data, 3) workers' compensation data, 4) medical exam data, 5) survey data, and 6) exposure data. Injury data generally represent injuries that the employers have identified as work-related and recorded or reported. Workers' compensation data are from cases that have been filed by workers for compensation and quite often represent only "closed" cases where compensation has been awarded. Medical exam data are from physical examinations of workers. Symptom survey data are the most inclusive and show the number of workers who self-report musculoskeletal problems. Exposure data include measurements made of exposure to musculoskeletal risk factors. The existing data show construction workers to be at significant risk of musculoskeletal injury, specifically related to the work they do. Their risk of musculoskeletal injury is much higher than that of other workers who have less heavy work, about 50 percent higher than all other workers. Several trades have been extensively studied, while others have been studied to a lesser extent. While the exact relationship between exposures and injuries is complex and often multifaceted, it would be difficult to deny the existence of the problem and the fact that these injuries are, to a great extent, related to the work that construction workers perform."(Author's summary)

"Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a major cause of work-related disability and lost-time illnesses for many occupational groups. This study determined the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among young construction workers. A symptom and job factors survey was self-administered to 996 construction apprentices. Prevalence was determined by the percent of positive responses to musculoskeletal symptom questions. Odds ratios and 95 percent confidence intervals were the measures of association between prevalent musculoskeletal symptoms and demographic, leisure, and job factors and were determined by logistic regression. The low back was the site most commonly reported for job-related musculoskeletal symptoms (54.4%), which was also the most common reason for seeking care from a physician (16.8%) and missing work (7.3%). Number of years worked in the construction trade was significantly associated with knee (p-trend = 0.0009) and wrist/hand (p-trend < 0.04) MSD symptoms and was suggestive of an association with low back pain (p-trend = 0.05). "Working in the same position for long periods" was the job factor identified as most problematic, with 49.7 percent of all construction apprentices rating it as a moderate/major problem contributing to musculoskeletal symptoms. Musculoskeletal symptoms are a significant problem among young construction workers at the beginning of their careers. Prevention strategies are needed early in the apprentice training program to reduce the potential disability associated with work-related musculoskeletal symptom disorders."(Authors' sumary)

The purpose of the study was to (1) compare measured and estimated hearing loss among forge hammering workers by applying models for risk assessment based on measurements of impulse noise, and (2) model the hazardous effects of impulse noise on hearing. Noise exposure and hearing loss among forge hammering workers were studied at two forge workshops of an automobile company, where the equivalent sound pressure levels (104 and 105 dB) were the same, but the peak levels and degree of impulsiveness were significantly different. The hearing threshold levels of selected groups of workers (97 and 235 workers)were determined. Comparison between the measured and expected hearing losses defined according to the ISO standard revealed 2 dB difference in excessive hearing loss (1 dB and 3 dB for the workers of workshop 1 and 2, respectively). The excessive hearing loss equals an increase of 3.5 years of exposure. The hearing loss of workers exposed to low impulsive noise could be predicted well using ISO 1999-1990. The hearing loss of workers exposed to high impulsive noise correlated significantly with the peak levels and the number of impulses in combination.

This article reviews the health effects, treatment, prevention strategies, and international standards for hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). It draws attention to the proposed International Standards Organization (ISO) 1998 revision requirement to base the assessment of vibration on the root-sum-of-squares for all directions rather than the dominant direction; the European Economic Commission (EEC) directives with their threshold, action, and ceiling levels; and the intent of the EEC, United Kingdom, and Japanese jurisdictions to propose action levels to prevent the incidence of vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomenon (VWF) from exceeding the background level in their countries. Proposals for the revision of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) Threshold Limit Values (TLV®s) are presented.

To better understand hazardous waste remediation workers and their training needs, interviews were conducted with personnel (n=115) from 29 sites. Personnel included project managers, prime contractors, subcontractors, safety officers, and on-line workers. All of the prime contractors reported having an emergency response plan, 96% reported having a medical surveillance programme, and 89% reported having a site- specific health and safety plan. Reported inconsistencies in responses from respondents at the same site indicate possible gaps in training and communication. Almost all respondents had received the required 40 hours of off-site training, but 20% reported that hands-on field exercises were not included. Participation in the required 3 days of on-site training was reported by 66%. Lack of experience, the sporadic nature of hazardous waste site cleanup work, and high turnover present special challenges to the implementation of an effective health and safety training programme.

"The article critically reviews the importance of historical developments in the field of hazardous waste management and cleanup in the US, including waste already deposited at thousands of sites and waste being generated in day-to-day industrial operations. Government regulations for the protection of personnel at hazardous waste sites are outlined. The article considers issues of primary preventive strategies (e.g. air monitoring) and secondary preventive strategies (e.g. medical surveillance) and makes recommendations."

"The NIOSH Analytical Method 7400 for airborne fibers specifies the use of electrically conductive cowls for air sampling. Data collected from a number of laboratories indicate that a significant fraction of collected dust may be deposited on the inside of electrically conductive cowls during air sampling for man-made mineral fibers. The purpose of this article is to present a cowl rinsing procedure for airborne fiber sampling. This method is the consensus of an ad hoc group formed to evaluate existing cowl rinsing procedures. A number of issues related to cowl rinsing are also addressed."