Occupational Health Risk Assessment Research Articles

Development and application of a fuzzy occupational health risk assessment model in the healthcare industry.

Hazards of the workplace and their impacts on the healthcare industry affect the quality of patient care and safety and impose high costs on the healthcare industry. Occupational health in this industry requires proper identification of hazards and managing the related risks. In this study, the researchers attempted to develop an easy-to-use and high applicability occupational health risk assessment model with a fuzzy approach to evaluate risks more precisely. In this study, a fuzzy inference system (FIS) was designed and applied to develop a risk assessment model. This study showed that the developed model could be applied as a practical model for evaluating occupational health risks. The weight of each risk criterion was used to calculate the risk level by adopting a fuzzy approach. The risk assessment results construed using the fuzzy set theory provided a broad picture of risks and could work adequately in the presence of inaccurate and insufficient data to calculate the risk. This model calculates risk levels and provides us with the dispersion and distribution of the calculated value of the risk number.

Occupational health risk assessment for organic solvent in the major posts of printing industry

Objective: To evaluate the occupational health risk of organic solvents in major posts of printing industry, and to provide technical reference to take targeted risk control measures. Methods: In January 2021, the contact ratio method was used to assess the occupational health risk of organic solvents in the major posts of 84 printing enterprises in Shantou, and Monte Carto method was used to estimate the probability distribution of risk levels in the majorpostsin January 2021. Results: The highest probability of risk assessment in printing and membranecovering post is Level 4 (high risk) , which are 76.2% and 67.6% respectively; the highest probability of simulation evaluation result in oil blending, dispensing and cleaning post is Level 3 (medium risk) ; and the simulation evaluation result in glueing post are mostly Level 3 (medium risk) and Level 4 (high risk) , the probability of which are 45.7% and 54.3% respectively. Conclusion: The occupational health risk of organic solvents in the major posts is generally middle-high risk level, and then the occupational health risk control of organic solvents in major posts of printing industry should be strengthened.

New model for occupational health and safety risk assessment based on Fermatean fuzzy linguistic sets and CoCoSo approach

Nowadays, occupational health and safety management has gained more and more importance by organizations around the world because it positively impacts on the productivity, competitiveness and reputation. The occupational health and safety risk assessment (OHSRA) is a critical activity to identify and evaluate the most serious work-related hazards for corrective actions. In this study, a new OHSRA model using Fermatean fuzzy linguistic sets (FFLSs) and combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) approach is proposed for the risk evaluation and prioritization of occupational hazards. Specifically, the scientific contributions of this study are as follows: The FFLSs are used to cope with the complex and vague risk evaluations obtained from experts; the CoCoSo approach is utilized to determine the risk priority of the identified occupational hazards; an extended block-wise rating the attribute weighting method is introduced for specifying risk criteria weights. Finally, the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed OHSRA model are demonstrated by an occupational risk assessment example along with simulation experiments and a comprehensive comparative analysis. The major advantages of the proposed model are higher flexibility in handling experts’ intricate and fuzzy assessment information and effective in providing a reliable risk ranking of occupational hazards with high discriminability.

Occupational health risk assessment of the benzene exposure industries: a comprehensive scoring method through 4 health risk assessment models

Benzene is one of the most common occupational hazards in the working environment which was in the list of group 1 carcinogens. This study applied four occupational health risk assessment models: EPA model; MOM model of Singapore; the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) model, and the Technical guide WS/T 777-2021 of China. The models assessed both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects of benzene for 1629 employees in 50 factories in Jiangsu Province (China) who were exposed to benzene in the working environment and analysis the risk between industries by principal component analysis (PCA) method. The highest occupational health hazard of benzene among the five industries is petroleum processing industry, then followed by chemical products manufacturing industry, special equipment manufacturing industry, wood processing and products industry, and at last the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The population of abnormal routine blood parameters in the subjects was mostly in the "wood products industry" group, and the concentration of benzene in "wood products industry" group is the lowest in 5 groups. The industries with low exposure concentration have higher blood abnormality rates; this may be caused by the fact that blood damage is more secretive under low occupational health risk.

Application of chest imaging changes in result validation for occupational health risk assessment of alumina dust-exposed operations

Application of chest imaging changes in result validation for occupational health risk assessment of alumina dust-exposed operations

Implementation of the provisions of the methodological platform standards for the assessment and management of occupational health risk for employees

Introduction. To substantiate and practical use of optimal management solutions to reduce risk levels, it is necessary to continue research on solving the main tasks of the scientific medical platform "Preventive Environment", aimed at creating technologies for early diagnosis of occupational and production-related diseases, an objective assessment of modern working conditions and the labor process, the development of biological monitoring system and risk management. The study aims to scientifically substantiate the model of interaction of individual elements of the working condition system and health of employees based on the risk level assessment of risk depending on the complex of harmful and/or dangerous factors of the production environment and the labor process in the main types of economic activity. Materials and methods. We have analyzed the results of a special assessment of working conditions at the workplaces of mining and coal industry enterprises, ferrous metallurgy plants and aluminum production. Experts have summarized the materials of occupational morbidity and its structure. To assess the risk of developing chronic general somatic diseases in workers the researchers have performed a cross-sectional epidemiological study. We have studied changes in biomarkers of exposure and effect in the conditions of professional exposure to mercury on the employee's body. Results. The analysis of modern working conditions of workers employed in mining (underground and open-pit mining), metallurgical enterprises (ferrous metallurgy plants, aluminum production), coal industry enterprises indicates that working conditions were and remain difficult and harmful, especially when performing underground mining operations. The assessment of occupational risk to the health of employees of mining and processing plants showed that the constant exposure to high levels of harmful factors - vibration, the severity of labor and the intensity of the labor process. This contributes to an increased risk of development and high spread of diseases of the circulatory system and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as a significant increase in these indicators with an increase in work experience in harmful working conditions, which allows us to consider these diseases as production-related. Occupational morbidity at enterprises of the leading sectors of the economy decreased in 2020, most significantly at ferrous metallurgy plants. A comprehensive analysis of changes in biomarkers of exposure and effect in the conditions of professional exposure to mercury on the employee's body made it possible to identify groups at increased risk of developing health disorders. The analysis of a special assessment of working conditions, occupational and production-related morbidity of workers in certain sectors of the economy, as elements of the health risk assessment system, allowed us to develop Standards for enterprises in the mining and coal sectors of the economy, ensuring the preservation of workers' lives and health. Limitations. The studies have certain limitations, since they do not concern all sectors of the economy, but only the mining, coal industry, ferrous metallurgy plants and aluminum production. The period for which occupational morbidity was analyzed is 5 years (2016-2020). These limitations open the way for further research. Conclusion. The implementation of the developed provisions of the standards provides a risk-oriented approach in occupational health, being an important and necessary element of the formation of a preventive and preventive model of occupational risk management. Ethics. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Application of three risk assessment methods to noise risk assessment in an automobile foundry enterprise

Objective: To explore the applicability of three different kinds of noise occupational health risk assessment methods to the occupational health risk assessment of noise exposed positions in an automobile foundry enterprise. Methods: In July 2020, the occupational-health risk assessment of noise-exposed positions was conducted by using the Guidelines for risk management of occupational noise hazard (guideline method) , the International Commission on Mining and Metals Guidelines for Occupational Health Risk Assessment (ICMM) method and the Occupational-health risk index method (index method) respectively, and the results were analyzed and compared. Results: Through the occupational health field investigation, the noise exposure level of the enterprise's main workstations was between 80.3 and 94.8 dB (A) , among which the noise of the posts of shaking-sand, cleaning and modeling was greater than 85 dB (A) ; The noise risk of each position was evaluated by the three methods, and the adjustment risk level was between 2 and 5 assessed using the guideline method, between 2 and 3 assessed using the index method, and 5 evaluated using the ICMM model. Conclusion: Each of the three risk assessment methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. The ICMM model has a large difference in value assignment, and values in the results are larger than expected. The evaluation results of the guideline method and the index method are consistent in some positions, there is certain subjectivity in the evaluation using the index method, and the guideline method is more objective.

Supporting Occupational Health and Safety Risk Assessment Skills: A Case Study of Five Companies.

Financial burden due to poor occupational safety practices remains high although occupational health and safety (OHS) have improved in recent years. Conducting risk assessment is one way to improve OHS. Workplaces may not have sufficient expertise in risk assessment. The aim of this study was to identify the needed OHS risk assessment skills, current support in the workplaces and the ways to improve risk assessment skills. This study was conducted with the Delphi survey for OHS experts (n = 13) and with interviews (n = 41) in the case companies. OHS experts agreed that the most significant skills were for employees to identify hazards and minimize risks in one’s work; for supervisors to influence others with a good example; and for OHS experts to understand and manage the wholeness of safety practices and understand and manage the meaning, concepts, and criteria of risk assessment. The current main support methods were learning at work, training and written instructions. However, many of the interviewees felt that they had not received risk assessment training and that the support depended on their activity. Finally, the OHS experts determined that the most feasible ways to improve risk assessment skills were training, coaching and giving clear instructions. Likewise, the interviewees suggested various training methods. Based on these results, concrete development plans to improve risk assessment skills can be made.

Assessment of occupational health and safety risks in a Turkish public hospital using a two-stage hesitant fuzzy linguistic approach.

Occupational health and safety (OHS) risk assessment studies have gained importance recently as a result of increasing occupational accidents and occupational diseases. The health sector has a greater risk than many sectors for occupational accidents and occupational diseases. Although the health sector is one of the priority sectors in Turkey, OHS practices have not been fully implemented in this field. For this reason, this study adopts a two-stage approach to assess the OHS risks in the health sector by combining the Fine-Kinney and multi-criteria hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set (HFLTS) methods. The proposed method was applied to the OHS risks in the operating room of a public hospital in Turkey. As a solution to the problem, first, the potential hazards and related risks in the operating room were determined by the experts. In this first stage, 44 hazards were determined from the opinions of experts and records of past incidents. Parameter weights were then determined using the multi-criteria HFLTS method. The multi-criteria HFLTS method was used to evaluate seven hazards to be categorized as substantial-risk or higher according to the Fine-Kinney method, taking into account parameter weights. Sensitivity analysis was then carried out. Finally, actions were taken to mitigate the risks.

Application of multiple occupational health risk assessment models in occupation health risk prediction of trichloroethylene in the electroplating and electronics industries

Objectives. This study assessed the occupational health risks of work group exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) in the electroplating and electronics industries in China. Methods. The UK Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Singapore and the Chinese semiquantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of TCE. Twenty degreasing groups and 14 cleaning groups were recruited in the companies selected. Results. The concentrations of TCE in 66.7% of the cleaning groups and 35.0% of the degreasing groups exceeded the permissible concentration time-weighted average (PC-TWA) in China, and the concentrations of TCE in 100.0% of the cleaning groups and 70.0% of the degreasing groups exceeded the permissible concentration short-term exposure limit (PC-STEL) in China. Over 60.0% of the work groups were evaluated at high risk and over half of the work groups were evaluated at high cancer risk by the risk assessment models. Conclusion. Most work groups exposed to TCE in the electroplating and electronics industries in China are at high risk. The cleaning groups may have a higher risk for TCE exposure. The Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method are more practical than the other methods.

Occupational health risk assessment of automobile painters in Owerri metropolis, Nigeria | JBES 2022

Occupational health risk assessment of automobile painters in Owerri metropolis, Nigeria | JBES 2022

Cardiopulmonary parameters and organ blood flows for workers expressed in terms of VO2 for use in physiologically based toxicokinetic modeling

ABSTRACT Minute ventilation rates (VE), alveolar ventilation rates (VA), cardiac outputs (Q), liver blood flow (LBF) and kidneys blood flows (KBF) for physiologically based toxicokinetic modeling and occupational health risk assessment in active workers have apparently not been determined. Minute energy expenditure rates (E) and oxygen consumption rates (VO2) in workers during exertions and their aggregate daytime activities are obtained by using open-circuit wearable devices for indirect calorimetry measurements and the doubly labeled water method respectively. Hundreds of E (in kcal/min) and VO2 (in L of O2/min) were previously reported for workers. The oxygen uptake factors of 0.2059 ± 0.0019 and 0.2057 ± 0.0018 L of O2/kcal during postprandial and fasting phases respectively enabled conversion of E into VO2. Equations determined in this study based upon more than 25 000 published measurements enable the calculation of 15 parameters in the same worker only by using the VO2 reflecting workload. These parameters, notably VE, VA, VE/VO2 VA/Q, Q, LBF and KBF were found to be interrelated. Altering one of these changes the order of magnitude of the others. Q, LBF and KBF decrease when supine adults at rest switch to an upright position. This effect of gravity diminished when VO2 increased. The fall in LBF and KBF during exertion might enhance muscle blood flow as reportedpreviously. Taken together these equations and data may improve the accuracy of physiologically based toxicokinetic modeling as well as occupational health assessment studies in active workers exposed to xenobiotics. List of main abbreviations: AVOD: arterioveinous oxygen content difference.BMI: body mass index (in kg/m2).BSA: body surface area (in m2).BTPS: body temperature and saturated with water vapor.Bw: body weight (in kg).E: minute energy expenditure rate (in kcal/min).FGE: organ blood flow factor for the gravitational effect on blood circulation.H: oxygen uptake factor, volume of oxygen (at STPD) consumed to produce 1 kcal of energy expended.KBF: kidneys blood flow (in ml/min).LBF: liver blood flow (in ml/min).PBF: liver or kidneys blood flows expressed in terms of percentages (in %) of Qsup C values: namely PBF = (LBF or KBF/Qsup C) x 100.Q: cardiac output (in L/min or ml/min).Qsup C: cardiac output for the cohort of males or females in supination (in ml/min).STPD: standard temperature and pressure, dry air.sup: values measured when adults are in the supine position.up: values measured when adults are in the upright position.VDphys: physiological dead space at BTPS (in L).VT: tidal volume at BTPS (in L).VA: alveolar ventilation rate at BTPS (in L/min).VA/Q: ventilation-perfusion ratio (unitless).VE: minute ventilation rate at BTPS (in L/min).VO2: oxygen consumption rate (i.e. the oxygen uptake) at STPD (in L/min).VQ: ventilatory equivalent for VO2 (VE at BTPS /VO2 at STPD)

Occupational Health Risk Assessment (OHRA) Tool – A way to determine exposure estimation and risk management

Occupational Health Risk Assessment (OHRA) Tool – A way to determine exposure estimation and risk management

Occupational safety and health risk assessment and management challenges in Brazil – lessons from the AquaSafe mobile software application

Occupational safety and health risk assessment and management challenges in Brazil – lessons from the AquaSafe mobile software application

Occupational Health and Poisoning Risk Assessment at a Crude Oil Port

The throughput of crude oil port is huge, and there are many toxic substances in crude oil, and the cumulative contact effect of toxic substances is obvious because the single operation time of the crude oil port operators is long. The purpose of this study is to investigate the hazard status of crude oil port and evaluate the occupational health and poisoning risk level, so as to provide crude oil operator for risk control. In order to evaluate the occupational health and poisoning risk of crude oil port operators, and to better protect operators, the exposure ratio was determined based on the detection of benzene and hydrogen sulfide concentrations, the main hazard factors of crude oil. Comprehensive analysis of benzene and hydrogen sulfide hazard characteristics, contact ratio, hazard control measures, exposure time and other factors of the exposure index, using the comprehensive index method to determine the exposure level, and finally determine the occupational health and poisoning risk of operators. To determine the occupational health and poisoning risks of workers. The assessment indicated that the risk rating for exposure to benzene and hydrogen sulfide was moderate, but there were weaknesses in hazard control measures. Once the protective effect of sanitary engineering is weakened or invalid, the workers will suffer serious occupational health and poisoning harm. To reduce occupational health and poisoning risk, operators should strengthen on-site monitoring of benzene and hydrogen sulfide concentration and personal protection.

Effect of occupational hazard factor type of acetylenogen dust on occupational health risk assessment results

To explore the differences of health hazards between acetylenogen dust as two different occupational hazards of "particles not otherwise regulated" and "calcium carbide". A calcium carbide production enterprise in northwest China was selected. The occupational health survey was used to obtain the spatial distribution and population distribution of calcium carbide dust. Occupational health testing was performed to determine the time-weighted average exposure concentration(C_(TWA)) and excursion limits of calcium carbide dust in the workplace and the main exposure positions. The Singapore semi-quantitative risk matrix was used for occupational risk assessment. The "Classification of Occupational Disease Hazards in the Workplace Part 1: Productive Dust"(GBZ/T 229.1-2010) was used for the operation classification. The calcium carbide dust was regarded as two different occupational hazards: "particles not otherwise regulated" and "calcium carbide", the differences of health hazards between which were compared. PC-TWA of calcium carbide was performed at 2.28 mg/m~3. The heat amount of CaC_2 and CaO released after reacting with water was compared by using Hess' s law, and the reaction rates of the two reactions are compared. The concentrations of calcium carbide dust in the workplace of belt inspection position and the calcium carbide crusher was higher(14.3-15.7 mg/m~3), and the concentrations of the driver in the calcium carbide loader was higher(13.8 mg/m~3). The result of the risk assessment show that the health risks of calcium carbide dust in various positions are basically low risk. Only when the type of damage was "calcium carbide", the risk of the driver of calcium carbide loader increase to medium. The operation classification result show that the hazard classification of calcium carbide dust in each post is basically relatively harmless. Only the type of damage was "calcium carbide", the classification of the driver of the calcium carbide crusher loader increased to moderately hazardous operations. As for the "calcium carbide", the operation classification index of calcium carbide were higher than that of "particles not otherwise regulated". CaC_2 reacting with water released more heat than that of equal amount CaO. In the current production process of calcium carbide dust, except for the crushing section, its occupational health risk was low, but the health risk level of calcium carbide as "calcium carbide" was higher, indicating that the evaluation of calcium carbide dust as "particles not otherwise regulated" may underestimate its occupational hazard.

Occupational health risk assessment of BTEX in municipal solid waste landfill based on external and internal exposure

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) released from landfills have received increased attention because of their health risks. In this study, individual external and internal exposures of BTEX in a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill were simultaneously studied for the first time. Eight workers from the landfill (as the case group) and eight control subjects were enrolled in the study. In total, 88 air samples and 232 urine samples (194 samples from the case group and 38 samples from the control group) were obtained from 2018 to 2019. According to the results of external exposure monitoring, benzene was the predominant component of BTEX, and the exposure level was higher in winter than in other seasons. Carcinogenic (RiskT) and noncarcinogenic (HIT) risks were calculated based on a dose-response model. The RiskT (1.64 × 10−8–1.09 × 10−6) might exceeded the limit, whereas HIT (9.84 × 10−4–1.40 × 10−2) was within their thresholds. Benzene was the major contributor to both RiskT and HIT. Internal exposures were evaluated by measuring urinary metabolites of BTEX. Levels of urinary BTEX metabolites for case group were higher than those for control group. A remarkable increase in urinary metabolites was observed from the urine samples of the case group after their shift compared with those before their shift. t,t-MA, the metabolite of benzene, was found to exceed the biomonitoring guidance limits of both China and the United States of America. Landfills can be considered as a potential BTEX exposure source for landfill employees. Minimizing occupational exposures and appropriate personal protective equipment are needed in reducing BTEX exposures.

Оценка и прогнозирование персонального профессионального риска с уточнением его категорий при помощи вероятностных методов

Existing approaches to occupational risk assessment more often involve evaluating its group levels and individual risks are assessed less frequently. These approaches provide deterministic risk assessment which doesn’t take into account uncertainty in risk categorizing when its values are close to boundaries between adjoining risks categories. It substantiates the necessity to assess occupational risk levels using probabilistic methods. Our research object was occupational risk and the basic subject was distribution of individual occupational risk levels among workers. Our test group was made up of oil and gas extraction operators exposed to noise equal to 80–85 dBA at their workplaces (173 people). Our control group included oil and gas extraction operators and engineering and technical personnel occupationally exposed to noise equal to 60–77.8 dBA (259 people). We performed a priori assessment of occupational health risks; accomplished epidemiologic analysis of a cause-effect relation between health disorders and work; calculated group occupational health risks; calculated and predicted individual occupational risk using mathematical modeling of dependence between probable negative responses and working conditions, age, and period of employment; determined risk categories more precisely using fuzzy sets by calculating the membership function. As a result, we established that proven individual risk levels were distributed unevenly (1.06•10-4–1.47•10-2) as per categories within a group characterized with a suspected average risk level. A category of proven individual risk levels was determined more precisely using fuzzy sets; after that distribution of probability of their membership was evaluated to detect that at the moment of the research a share of workers with their proven individual occupational risks falling into lower risk categories (p > 0.5) amounted to 89.6 %. We attempted to predict risks for the whole employment period given that working conditions remained the same and no prevention activities were provided. Our prediction revealed that individual occupational risks would remain unacceptable for all workers in the test group and would amount to 2.53•10-2–3.51•10-2; a risk category was also expected to become higher. In-dividual occupational risk would be categorized as average for most workers and as high for 23 % of them (p < 0.5).

Assessing and predicting individual occupational risk and determining its exact categories using probabilistic methods

Existing approaches to occupational risk assessment more often involve evaluating its group levels and individual risks are assessed less frequently. These approaches provide deterministic risk assessment which doesn’t take into account uncertainty in risk categorizing when its values are close to boundaries between adjoining risks categories. It substantiates the necessity to assess occupational risk levels using probabilistic methods. Our research object was occupational risk and the basic subject was distribution of individual occupational risk levels among workers. Our test group was made up of oil and gas extraction operators exposed to noise equal to 80–85 dBA at their workplaces (173 people). Our control group included oil and gas extraction operators and engineering and technical personnel occupationally exposed to noise equal to 60–77.8 dBA (259 people). We performed a priori assessment of occupational health risks; accomplished epidemiologic analysis of a cause-effect relation between health disorders and work; calculated group occupational health risks; calculated and predicted individual occupational risk using mathematical modeling of dependence between probable negative responses and working conditions, age, and period of employment; determined risk categories more precisely using fuzzy sets by calculating the membership function. As a result, we established that proven individual risk levels were distributed unevenly (1.06•10-4–1.47•10-2) as per categories within a group characterized with a suspected average risk level. A category of proven individual risk levels was determined more precisely using fuzzy sets; after that distribution of probability of their membership was evaluated to detect that at the moment of the research a share of workers with their proven individual occupational risks falling into lower risk categories (p > 0.5) amounted to 89.6 %. We attempted to predict risks for the whole employment period given that working conditions remained the same and no prevention activities were provided. Our prediction revealed that individual occupational risks would remain unacceptable for all workers in the test group and would amount to 2.53•10-2–3.51•10-2; a risk category was also expected to become higher. In-dividual occupational risk would be categorized as average for most workers and as high for 23 % of them (p < 0.5).

Occupational Health and Safety Risk Assessment on Informal Workers in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra

Introduction: One of the blacksmith industry centers in South Sumatra is in Limbang Jaya I, Ogan Ilir. Informal businesses such as blacksmiths are businesses that do not have operational standards in their work processes. Various risks from the work process can, therefore, arise, from injury to hearing loss. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out risk analysis in the work of blacksmith sector using Preliminary Hazard Analysis. Methods: This study used a descriptive research method with a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews, hazard checklists, and PHA worksheets. There were 12 informants in this study consisting of 4 key informants and 8 blacksmith worker informants. Results: The results showed that the hazards identified based on the work process were physical hazards, chemical hazards, ergonomic hazards, and psychosocial hazards. The efforts could be made by performing audiometric checks on workers, working time arrangements, stretching before and after work, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Conclusion: Based on the results of risk ranking, it is known that out of 34 lists of hazards that existed in the blacksmith's work process in Limbang Jaya 1 Village, there were 8 types of hazards included in the high risk group, 12 hazards included in the serious risk group, 12 hazards included in the medium risk group, and 2 hazards included in the low risk group.Keywords: blacksmith, preliminary hazard analysis, risk management