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Occupational Hazards (occupational + hazard)
Selected AbstractsAn evaluation of an aggression management training program to cope with workplace violence in the healthcare sectorRESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 4 2008Janneke K. Oostrom Abstract Workplace violence is a major occupational hazard for healthcare workers, generating a need for effective intervention programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an aggression management training program. The evaluation design was based on the internal referencing strategy, an unobtrusive and applicable evaluation method that rules out some major threats to internal validity without the need for a control group. On three occasions, training participants completed a questionnaire containing experimental and control variables. As hypothesized, there was a significant improvement in the experimental variables that was larger than the non-significant change in the control variable. We conclude that aggression management training may be an effective instrument in the fight against workplace violence. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 31:320,328, 2008 [source] Allergic contact dermatitis following exposure to essential oilsAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Narelle Bleasel SUMMARY Allergic contact dermatitis from the topical use of essential oils is not widely recognized as an occupational hazard. Four cases of allergic contact dermatitis to essential oils occurring in three aromatherapists and one chemist with a particular interest in aromatherapy are described. All presented with predominantly hand dermatitis and demonstrated sensitization to multiple essential oils. One patient developed a recurrence of cutaneous symptoms following ingestion of lemongrass tea. Workers within this industry should be aware of the sensitization potential of these products and the risk of limiting their ability to continue employment. [source] Risk factors for alcoholic liver diseaseADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Stefano Bellentani Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is still a frequent disorder, even though its incidence appears to be decreasing. In spite of intense investigation, the precise mechanisms leading to ALD are still imprecisely known. This is due in part to the lack of a reliable animal model; in part to the difficulty of obtaining clinical data of adequate sample size and derived from unblased populations and finally from the lack of uniformity of the criteria used to define ALD. This paper will review what is known of the various pieces of this puzzle, with particular emphasis not only on the total amount of alcohol consumed, but also on drinking patterns and type of alcoholic beverage ingested. The other potential factors such as age, gender, genetic background, nutritional status, occupational hazards and viral diseases (especially HCV infection) will be touched upon. [source] Effect of forklift operation on lower back pain: An evidence-based approachHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 2 2008Heriberto Barriera Viruet Most studies on the occupational hazards associated with forklift operation have examined risks of fatalities and traumatic injuries. Few studies have examined the magnitude of risk of lower back pain. This research deals with an evidence-based approach designed to examine if there is a relationship between whole-body vibration and driver postures with lower back pain among forklift operators and to offer some recommendations to minimize the risk of lower back pain. To accomplish the study goal, an evidence-based approach was adopted from evidence-based medicine. The basic steps of this evidence-based approach were: (1) formulation of a clear research question from a worker-occupational problem; (2) search of the literature for the best evidence with which to answer the question; (3) critically appraise the evidence; and (4) implement useful findings in occupational health and safety practices. In addition, the metarelative risk was calculated and the biological plausibility between whole body vibration (WBV) and operator posture with lower back pain was investigated. Six observational articles satisfied the inclusion criteria adopted in this research. The methodological qualities of the published studies ranged from marginal to average. The metarelative risk was 2.1, indicating that operators exposed to driving forklifts are greater than twice the risk of those not exposed to driving forklifts to experience lower back pain. There are biological mechanisms by which WBV and operator postures could develop lower back pain. Some aspects of the work environment that influenced vibration are seat, speed, track, and tires. Awkward postures and static postures are affected by cab design, seat, time spent seated, and the task performed. It appears that there is a causal relationship between forklift operation and lower back pain. The evidence examined shows a strong association and consistency between all studies and this relationship is biologically plausible. It is recommended that intervention studies be conducted to determine the effectiveness of ergonomic controls. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] How work-place conditions, environmental toxicants and lifestyle affect male reproductive function,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 5 2002Jens Peter Bonde Summary Major temporal and geographical shifts in male reproductive function is presently an issue worldwide. The hormonal disruption hypothesis has achieved considerable attention but epidemiological evidence in support of the theory is lacking. Several occupational hazards to male reproductive function are known but exposure prevalences are hardly sufficient to play a role for reduced sperm count in the general male population. Sedentary work may be an exception. Perhaps prolonged time in the sedentary position exhausts the testicular heat regulation. But so far studies addressing implications of the heat hypothesis in the general population are few. Neither change of sexual behaviour nor reduced period of sexual continence seems to be a likely explanation. Tobacco smoking and consumption of caffeine and alcoholic beverages in adulthood have a rather marginal impact on spermatogenesis and can hardly explain major shifts or regional differences in male reproductive health. However, prenatal effects following smoking during pregnancy might play a role because we have witnessed a smoking epidemic among fertile women in some countries during the second half of the twentieth century. Moreover, if genetic factors play more than a marginal role for testicular function and sperm count, pregnancy planning resulting in reduced family size during the past 100 years could possibly explain a decline in semen quality because the most fertile part of the population reproduce less while the subfertile probably continue to get a limited number of children. [source] Invisible work, unseen hazards: The health of women immigrant household service workers in SpainAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2010Emily Q. Ahonen PhD Abstract Background Household service work has been largely absent from occupational health studies. We examine the occupational hazards and health effects identified by immigrant women household service workers. Methods Exploratory, descriptive study of 46 documented and undocumented immigrant women in household services in Spain, using a phenomenological approach. Data were collected between September 2006 and May 2007 through focus groups and semi-structured individual interviews. Data were separated for analysis by documentation status and sorted using a mixed-generation process. In a second phase of analysis, data on psychosocial hazards were organized using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire as a guide. Results Informants reported a number of environmental, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards and corresponding health effects. Psychosocial hazards were especially strongly present in data. Data on reported hazards were similar by documentation status and varied by several emerging categories: whether participants were primarily cleaners or carers and whether they lived in or outside of the homes of their employers. Documentation status was relevant in terms of empowerment and bargaining, but did not appear to influence work tasks or exposure to hazards directly. Conclusions Female immigrant household service workers are exposed to a variety of health hazards that could be acted upon by improved legislation, enforcement, and preventive workplace measures, which are discussed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:405,416, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Teen workers' exposures to occupational hazards and use of personal protective equipmentAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 10 2008Carol W. Runyan MPH Abstract Background Prior research indicates that working adolescents seek care for the toxic effects of on-the-job chemical and environmental hazard exposures. Methods This cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of 866 adolescent workers in the retail and service sector examines their exposures, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and training. Results Two-thirds of respondents were exposed to continuous, very loud noise, 55% to thermal hazards and 54% to chemical hazards. Few teens reported using any PPE, though those who had been trained reported somewhat higher usage. Conclusions Teens working in the retail and service sectors experience a variety of chemical, thermal, biologic and noise exposures. Efforts to eradicate such exposures need to be complemented by increased provision of PPE and appropriate training in their use by employers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:735,740, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mortality among workers at the Savannah River SiteAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 12 2007David B. Richardson PhD Abstract Background Workers employed at the Savannah River Site (SRS) were potentially exposed to a range of chemical and physical hazards, many of which are poorly characterized. We therefore compared the observed deaths among workers to expectations based upon death rates for referent populations. Methods The cohort included 18,883 SRS workers hired between 1950 and 1986. Vital status and cause of death information were ascertained through 2002. Sex-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were computed using U.S. and South Carolina mortality rates. SMRs were tabulated separately for monthly-, weekly-, and hourly-paid men. Results Males had fewer deaths from all causes [SMR,=,0.80, 90% confidence interval (CI): 0.78, 0.82], all cancers (SMR,=,0.85, 90% CI: 0.81, 0.89), and lung cancer (SMR,=,0.88, 90% CI: 0.82, 0.95) than expected based upon US mortality rates. The SMR for cancer of the pleura was 4.25 (90% CI: 1.99, 7.97) for men. The SMR for leukemia was greater than unity for monthly-paid (SMR,=,1.33, 90% CI: 0.88, 1.93) and hourly-paid (SMR=1.36, 90% CI: 1.02, 1.78) men. Female workers had fewer deaths from all causes (SMR,=,0.75, 90% CI: 0.69, 0.82) than expected, but more deaths than expected from cancer of the kidney (SMR,=,2.58, 90% CI: 1.21, 4.84) and skin (SMR,=,3.90, 90% CI: 2.11, 6.61). Conclusions While the observed numbers of deaths in most categories of cause of death were less than expected, there are greater than expected numbers of deaths due to cancer of the pleura and leukemia, particularly among hourly-paid male workers. It is plausible that occupational hazards, including asbestos and ionizing radiation, contribute to these excesses. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:881,891, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Occupational risk factors for prostate cancerAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 8 2007Andrea M. Sass-Kortsak PhD Abstract Background Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer have been investigated with inconsistent findings. Methods This was a population-based case-control study of men in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Cases (n,=,760) were from the Ontario Cancer Registry, 50 to 84 years old, and diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1995 and 1998. Age-frequency matched controls (n,=,1,632) were obtained from telephone listings. A questionnaire yielded information on occupational history and self-reported exposures to a list of occupational hazards. Exposures to these hazards were assessed by an occupational hygienist. Results An odds ratio estimate (OR) of 1.21 (95 percent confidence interval (% CI) 1.01, 1.46) was found for employment in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations, possibly related to exposure to whole-body vibration (OR,=,1.38, 95% CI 1.07, 1.78). For the highest quartile of lifetime cumulative workplace physical activity an OR of 1.33 (95% CI 1.02, 1.74) was found. No statistically significant associations were found for any other occupational category or exposure. Conclusions This study does not provide strong evidence for significant occupational risk factors for prostate cancer. However, whole-body vibration exposures, as well as physical activity, may be worth pursuing in future occupational studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:568,576, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Musculoskeletal pain in ragpickers in a southern city in BrazilAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2006Marcelo C. da Silva MSc Abstract Background Ragpickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials to earn a small wage. Their life and working conditions are extremely precarious. The ergonomic hazards and musculoskeletal pain in a sample of ragpickers in Pelotas, a city in southern Brazil are examined. Methods Two comparison groups were available: a matched sample of non-ragpickers from the same poor neighborhoods, and a random sample of the general population of the city. The cross-sectional study gathered data by interview on 990 individuals in 2004. Musculoskeletal pain was assessed using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. Results Ragpickers reported higher prevalences for most awkward postures and ergonomic exposures compared to neighbors with other demanding manual jobs. The prevalence within the last 12 months of low back pain (LBP), lower extremity pain (LEP), and upper extremity pain (UEP) among ragpickers were 49.2%, 45.1%, and 34.9%, respectively; levels similar to those reported by neighborhood controls. Both ragpickers and non-ragpickers reported considerably higher ergonomic exposures, and more prevalent LBP, than the general population. Conclusions Ragpickers experience many occupational hazards and ergonomic stressors. Their overall prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was similar to a comparison group with other physically demanding manual jobs. For LBP, this prevalence was substantially higher (49% vs. 35%) than in the general population. Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:327,336, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. 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