Prevention Of Occupational Hazards Research Articles

Hazard Prevention Regarding Occupational Accidents Involving Blue-Collar Foreign Workers: A Perspective of Taiwanese Manpower Agencies.

Since 1989, blue-collar foreign workers have been permitted to work in Taiwanese industries. Most blue-collar foreign workers apply for jobs in Taiwan through blue-collar foreign workers’ agencies. Because blue-collar foreign workers are not familiar with the language and culture in Taiwan, in occupational accident education and hazard prevention, the agencies play an important role in the coordination and translation between employees and blue-collar foreign workers. The purpose of this study is to establish the agencies’ role in the occupational accidents education and hazard prevention for blue-collar foreign workers in Taiwan. This study uses a qualitative method—grounded theory—to collect, code, and analyze the data in order to understand the agencies’ role in occupational accident education and hazard prevention for blue-collar foreign workers in Taiwan. The results show that the duty of agencies in occupational accident education and hazard prevention includes selecting appropriate blue-collar foreign workers, communicating between employees and blue-collar foreign workers, collecting occupational safety and health information, assisting in the training of occupational safety and health, and helping blue-collar foreign workers adapt to their lives in Taiwan. Finally, this study suggests seven important points and discusses the implementation process necessary to improve governmental policies. The government and employees should pay attention to the education/training of occupational safety and health for blue-collar foreign workers to eliminate unsafe behavior in order to protect the lives of blue-collar foreign workers.

Metal Workers with Corneal Injuries and Abuse of Topical Drugs

AIM: We evaluated metal workers injured with corneal foreign bodies (FB) in terms of health insurance, use of protective eyeglasses, and unprescribed drug use. Materials and Methods: Seventy metal workers who were injured with corneal FB were enrolled in the study. We recorded the gender, age, duration of work, use of protective eyeglasses, and health insurance status data of metal workers. In cases of FB existence, the number of FBs and unprescribed drug use were investigated. We examined the presence of corneal scars that could lead to visual impairment. Results: The mean duration of work was 11.8±10.8 years. Although 29 workers (41.5%) had corneal scars, only three workers (4.3%) had visual impairment due to scars. Also, 29 workers (41.5%) did not report the use of protective glasses; however, 22 (31.4%) workers reported their occasional use and 19 (27.1%) workers reported their routine use. Eighteen workers (25.7%) remarked on topical drug use from time to time. Ten of the 18 patients (55.6%) were using topical Tetrahydrozoline HCL, whereas five (27.8%) were using the topical anesthetic drug 0.5% Proparacaine HCl. Conclusion: Occupational protective measures are important for metal workers who are at a high risk of eye injuries. Workers must be educated on the prevention and treatment of occupational ophtalmological hazards and be warned about the side effects of taking unprescribed drugs. Language: en

The Italian National Health Service expenditure on workplace prevention and safety (2006-2013): a national-level analysis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that countries' health policies should give high priority to primary prevention of occupational health hazards. Scant data are available on health expenditure on workplace prevention and safety services and on its impact on occupational health outcomes in Italy and in other European countries. objective of the present study was to systematically retrieve, analyse and critically appraise the available national-level data on public health expenditure on workplace prevention and safety services as well as to correlate them with occupational health outcomes. National-level data on total public health expenditure on prevention services, its share spent on workplace prevention and safety services as well as on number of workers receiving appropriate health surveillance were derived from the national public health expenditure monitoring system over a 8-year study period (2006-2013). An analytic approach was adopted to explore the association between health expenditure and occupational health services supply. The Italian National Health Service spends almost € 5 billion per year on preventive care, of which 13.3% are spent on workplace prevention and safety programmes (€ 645 million, € 10.6 per capita). There is wide heterogeneity between Italian regions. Our findings are useful for health systems and policies analysis, national and international comparisons as well as for health policy makers to plan, implement and monitor occupational health prevention programmes.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Among Solid Waste Collectors in Lideta Sub-city on Prevention of Occupational Health Hazards, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Municipal solid waste workers are exposed to a number of pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites and cysts), toxic substances, chemicals that come from the waste itself and from its decomposition. While standards and norms for handling municipal solid waste in industrialized countries have reduced occupational and environmental impacts significantly, the risk levels are still very high in most developing countries including Ethiopia because of inadequate understanding of the magnitude of the problem. Despite the severity of occupational health hazards encounter by solid waste collectors their provision, knowledge and usage of personnel protective equipment is low and there is no adequate and credible evidence on occupational health risks of solid waste collectors in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of solid waste collectors towards prevention of occupational health hazards in Lideta sub-city in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among four hundred six solid waste collectors for this work. The data was collected by using semi-structured questionnaire and observational checklist, which was completed from December 2014 to February 2015. The data was entered into epi info version 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS 20 version for analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis had been performed. Adjusted odds ratio with confidence interval had been computed to see the presence of association between the dependent and selected independent variables. The results on this finding were reported using different descriptive statistics. The response rate of this study was 94.8%. Female respondents accounted 69.7%. The mean age of the study subjects was 35 years, which varied from 17 to 65 years. About 60.8% of the study participants had satisfactory knowledge on preventing occupational health risks associated with solid waste handling. Most (75.9%) of the solid waste collectors had favorable attitude while only 37.2% of them had safe practice on preventing occupational health hazards. As compared to workers who were satisfied on their job, odds of having safe occupational health practice were 2.8 higher (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.84 - 4.26). The knowledge and attitudes of workers about prevention of occupational health hazards were moderate but the magnitude of having safe occupational health practice was very low. So, implementation of basic occupational health services with provision of personal protective equipment’s and supervising waste handlers on appropriate utilization is advisable.

Risk Assessment of PAH Exposure Involving Metal Working Fluids in Fastener Manufacturing Industries

ABSTRACTThirty-four air samples from different working areas of three fastener factories were collected to assess the gaseous/particulate-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels as well as to assess the total-PAH level associated to health risks in fastener manufacturing workers. The higher total-PAH level were found in heat treatment area (1221 ng m–3), threading area (920 ng m–3), forming area (897 ng m–3), packing area (878 ng m–3), and acid-cleaning area (850 ng m–3); in addition, higher BaPeq levels were found in packing area (216 ng m–3), threading area (103 ng m–3), heat treatment area (99.3 ng m–3), forming area (91.1 ng m–3), and surface treatment area (87.1 ng m–3). Because metal working fluids are widely used in fastener manufacturing factories, PAH emissions in the gas phase (over 80%) were predominant in these working areas except for in packing area. Although the average total BaPeq exposure levels were lower than the permissible exposure limit set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, 8 h time-weighted average: 0.2 mg m–3), the lung cancer risks associated with the above mentioned PAH exposures were 4.36 × 10–4–1.14 × 10–3, and the gaseous-phase PAH exposure risk was much higher than that from particulate-phase exposure in workers exposed to oil mists in a fastener manufacturing factory. The results of this study suggest that the occupational hazards of PAHs cannot be neglected for workers in the fastener manufacturing industry; occupational hazard prevention must focus on gaseous- as well as particulate-phase PAH exposure.

A dynamic study of sentinel surveillance for occupational hazard in typical industrial enterprises in Guangzhou, China, from 2012 to 2014

To perform a sampling survey of occupational hazard in typical industrial enterprises in Guangzhou, China, by means of sentinel surveillance, to understand the classification, distribution, and concentration/intensity of occupational hazard as well as the characteristics and development of occupational health management in Guangzhou, and to provide a scientific basis for occupational health supervision. Fifteen enterprises in information technology (IT), shipbuilding, chemical, leather and footwear, and auto repair industries were enrolled as subjects. Dynamic surveillance for occupational hazard and occupational health management was performed in workplaces of those enterprises. The overall overproof rate of occupational hazard in the 15 sentinel enterprises from 2012 to 2014 was 6.16% (45/731). There was no significant difference in the overproof rate between the three years (P > 0.05). During the three years, enterprises in shipbuilding industry had significant higher overproof rates than those in other industries (P < 0.05). According to the results of occupational health management questionnaire, the overall coincidence rate of survey items was 57.88% (393/679); enterprises in IT industry had significant lower coincidence rates than those in other industries in 2012 and 2014 (47.62%, 29.63%; P < 0.05), while enterprises in leather and footwear industry had significant lower coincidence rates than those in other industries in 2013 (40.63%; P < 0.05). The enterprises in shipbuilding industry are the key to the prevention and control of occupational hazard in Guangzhou. To strengthen surveillance for occupational health in workplaces in Guangzhou, it is important to enhance occupation health supervision among small and micro enterprises and develop continuous sentinel surveillance for occupational hazard in key industries.

La prevención de riesgos laborales y el mundo del trabajo durante la dictadura franquista

Este artículo analiza la evolución de la Prevención de Riesgos Laborales y el mundo del trabajo durante los años de la dictadura franquista. Con ese fin, se estudian las políticas emprendidas por el estado durante esos años. Así se muestran, por un lado, los intentos del franquismo por ampliar su amplio poder; y por otro, los momentos de fricción que generaron estas políticas, junto al distanciamiento progresivo de los trabajadores en los últimos años del régimen de Franco. Todo ello enmarcado en el contexto nacional y comparado con las aportaciones que la historia local española ha realizado sobre este tema.

Historia de la prevención de riesgos laborales en España desde el tardofranquismo a la transición

Este artículo analiza la evolución de la Prevención de Riesgos Laborales durante los años finales de la dictadura franquista hasta la transición a la democracia. Con ese fin, se estudian las políticas emprendidas por el estado durante esos años. Así se muestran, por un lado, los intentos del franquismo por ampliar su base social y por otro los intentos por aumentar y mejorar las coberturas durante el periodo de transición. Todo ello enmarcado en el contexto nacional y comparado con las aportaciones que la historia local española ha realizado sobre este tema.

Strengthen the prevention of occupational trichloroethylene health hazards

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a widely used organic solvent and an important industrial material. It can be absorbed into the body through respiratory tract and skin, and cause occupational hazards. The acute hazard induced by TCE is occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis. Epidemiological data showed that long-term occupational exposure to TCE could also increase the risk of cancer and cause damage to reproductive system and nervous system. Thus, it is of great significance to strengthen the prevention of occupational TCE health hazards. In this paper, the health hazards and preventive measures of TCE are reviewed.

English

English

Occupational hazards education for nursing staff through web-based learning.

This study aims to explore the efficiency of using online education as an intervention measure to prevent occupational hazards in a clinical nursing setting. The subjects were 320 female nursing staff from two hospitals in Taiwan. The questionnaire results indicated that the subjects primarily experienced human factor occupational hazards, as well as psychological and social hazards. Specifically, 73.1% and 69.8% of the subjects suffered from poor sleep quality and low back pain, respectively. After web-based learning, the experimental group had higher post-test scores than the control group in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). However, there was only a significant difference (p < 0.05) in their knowledge about the prevention of occupational hazards. It is suggested that an online discussion may enhance nursing staff’s participation in web-based learning, and further facilitate their comments on negative factors. The findings can highly promote nursing staff’s attitudes and practices toward preventing occupational hazards through web-based learning.

Occupational Hazard Prevention in Manufacturing Systems

Occupational hazard prevention constitutes a key action in the area of shaping safe and healthy work conditions in manufacturing systems. This article presents the results of verification of existence and nature of relationships between the types of preventive means used and the structure of individual companies from the industrial processing sector. As part of our research work, we identified the level of use of technical means, organisational means and personal protection means in the particular divisions of the industrial processing sector, we determined the structure of individual companies from the particular divisions, and then, using the Tau Kendall correlation coefficient, we also confirmed the existence of relationships between the level of use of technical means and the structure of the analysed individual manufacturing system companies.

Study of Prevention and Controlon on Mine Enterprise Occupational Disease

Used the MarkovTRAIN model, a mining enterprises pneumoconiosis incidence trends is prediced. The result shows that the unit pneumoconiosis development quickly, must strengthen the dust prevention and control. Using LEC method to mine in the workplaces where harm worker healthy environments were evaluated and harm through improved LEC method for scientific management, and put forward effective countermeasures to control, for the prevention of occupational health hazards in mines and puts forward scientific basis for control.

Numerical Analysis of Dedusting Effects of Harmful Dust in Confined Workplace

This paper aims to the study of dedusting effects in confined workplace using finite volume method. First, the diffusion phenomenon of dust flow is described by discrete phase model, and the numerical results are compared with the experimental data. Second, the concentration of dust flow, which mixes with SiO2 and air, is calculated by three different dedusting methods, such as the exhaust fan method, the window ventilation method and the humidifying spray method. In terms of comparison results, the exhaust fan method has the best dust removal effect in confined workplace, and the humidifying spray method has the worst effect. The paper provides a technical support for dedusting design of confined workplace in the occupational hazards prevention field.

Identification the intangibles arising from investments in prevention of occupational risks and their perception in SMEs. Implications in the service sector and the servitization

Purpose: Based on the concept of Intellectual Capital and the analysis of component elements, the study aims to identify potential intangibles arising from investments in prevention of occupational risks, analyzing if adequate preventive management helps to increase the value of the company, and establishing a comparative analysis of the industrial and service companies in order to observe specifications for each case. Besides the impact and implications arising thereon due to increased outsourcing and servitization processes in business are determined. Design/methodology: Analysis of the concept and components of Intellectual Capital, intangible generated on preventive action and indicators. Study of the relevant factors servitización and outsourcing, and implications with prevention. Empirical study: Initial study and further study. A comparative analysis considers their impact on the industrial sector relative to the service sector. Analysis of results and conclusions. Findings: This article determines if adequate preventive management helps to improve the image and increase the value of the company. The possible application of the components of Intellectual Capital with respect to intangibles generated in the prevention of occupational hazards is established, outlining the indicators to measure the generation of intangibles in preventive activities. Using both the initial and then further studies, the opinions and evaluation of entrepreneurs in Madrid can be assessed. A comparative analysis considers their impact on the industrial sector relative to the service sector, their particular characteristics, and the observed trend in the awareness of the benefits of prevention, in addition to establishing implications for the progressive increase servitization and outsourcing activities. Originality / Value: The paper provides information and interpretations which confirmed the importance of risk prevention as an intangible asset and a profitable investment, which should be considered and quantified correctly. From this innovative approach new research lines may raise in order to derive implications affecting new trends in industrial organizations and service organizations.

Occupational hazards survey of specially supervised enterprises during 2011-2012 in one district of Shenzhen, China

To analyze the results of an occupational hazards survey of specially supervised enterprises (156 enterprise-times) during 2011-2012 in one district of Shenzhen, China and find out the changes in occupational hazards in these enterprises, and to put forward countermeasures for the prevention and control of occupational hazards. Occupational hazards monitoring results for specially supervised enterprises (156 enterprise-times) during 2011-2012 were included. Comparison and analysis were performed between different years, different industries, different occupational hazards, and different sizes of enterprises. A total of 1274 monitoring sites from these specially supervised enterprises were included, of which qualification rate was 73.55% (937/1274), and the noise monitoring sites showed the lowest qualification rate. The overall qualification rate in 2012 (70.37%) was significantly lower than that in 2011 (80.94%) (χ(2) = 15.38, P < 0.01). In electronics industry, the qualification rate in 2012 was significantly lower than that in 2011 (χ2 = 11.27, P = 0.001). Comparison of various hazards in different industries indicated that electronic enterprises and furniture enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in noise monitoring, printing enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in organic solvent monitoring, and furniture enterprises had the lowest qualification rate in dust monitoring. Comparison between different sizes of enterprises indicated that the qualification rate of large and medium enterprises in 2012 was significantly lower than that in 2011, while the qualification rate of small enterprises in 2012 was significantly higher than that in 2011 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). In the prevention and control of occupational hazards in specially supervised enterprises, special attention should be paid to the control of organic solvents in printing enterprises and noise and dust in furniture enterprises.

Prevention and control of occupational hazards of trichloroethylene

目的 调查分析深圳市宝安区2003至2012年职业接触三氯乙烯引起的职业危害,探讨三氯乙烯职业危害的预防与控制对策.方法 对2003至2012年诊断的三氯乙烯中毒和三氯乙烯药疹样皮炎病例进行同顾性流行病学分析.结果 2003至2012年三氯乙烯中毒和三氯乙烯药疹样皮炎病例共71例,三氯乙烯中毒22例,占三氯乙烯所致职业危害的30.9％；三氯乙烯药疹样皮炎49例,占三氯乙烯所致职业危害的69.1％,其中死亡2例,占2.8％.结论 三氯乙烯可引起的职业危害是本区的主要危害因素之一,应深入研究其发病机制,积极探讨三氯乙烯职业危害的预防与控制对策,以保护劳动者身体健康。

Study on Mine Pneumoconiosis Disease Prevention and Control Based on Method of LEC and Markov Train

Used the Markov Train model, a mining enterprises pneumoconiosis incidence trends is predicted. The result shows that the unit pneumoconiosis development quickly, must strengthen the dust prevention and control. Using LEC method to mine in the workplaces where harm worker healthy environments were evaluated and harm through improved LEC method for scientific management, and put forward effective countermeasures to control, for the prevention of occupational health hazards in mines and puts forward scientific basis for control.

A PILOT STUDY ON KNOWLEDGE &amp; PRACTICE REGARDING PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS UTILISATION OF SAFETY MEASURES AMONG FISHERMEN WORKING AT A SELECTED HA. B.R

AbstractA pilot study was conducted to assess the knowledge, practice on occupational hazards and attitude towards utilization of safety measures among fishermen at Malpe fishing harbor from 5-8-2012 to19-8-2012.The descriptive survey study was conducted among 40 fishermen. Convenient sampling technique was used in selection of sample. The data was collected by face to face interview using structured knowledge questionnaire with 30 items on knowledge on occupational hazards, 3 point scale to elicit the self reported practices in prevention of occupational hazards and by 5 point likert scale to determine the attitude towards utilization of safety measures. The overall knowledge indicated that 55% of the subjects had inadequate knowledge and rest had adequate knowledge related to work related hazards. In the area of psycho-social the subjects had adequate knowledge (63%, SD 1.05); the least possession of knowledge was in the area of safety devices (47.5%). Fishermen had moderately adequate practices (55.29%) and area wise practice score had revealed that subjects had poor practices concerning personal protective devices. Attitude found to be moderate among fishermen (95%).There was significant relationship between knowledge and practice score(r= 0.366, df= 38, P= 0.304) as well as practice and attitude scores(r = 0.370) at 0.05 level of significance. Found no correlation between knowledge and attitude scores. The study highlights the need to inspire the fishermen to improve their safety at work place and develop positive attitude about utilization of safety devices.

Analyses on the characteristics and the trends of pneumoconiosis notified between 1997 and 2009, in China

To describe the incidence of pneumoconiosis reported in China from 1997 to 2009 and investigate the epidemiological trends and characteristics of pneumoconiosis, and to provide basic data for formulating the guidelines and policies for control of pneumoconiosis, research on pneumoconiosis, and establishing the time series model for monitoring and early warning of pneumoconiosis. The national database of new cases of pneumoconiosis reported from 1997 to 2009 was subjected to systematic arrangement, descriptive analysis, and trend test using SPSS 15.0. The statistical indices included number of new pneumoconiosis cases in each year, types of pneumoconiosis, regional and industrial distributions of pneumoconiosis cases, work types of pneumoconiosis cases, and the annual changes in mean length of service and mean age at the onset of pneumoconiosis. From 1997 to 2009, a total of 122 333 new cases of pneumoconiosis were reported; the number of new cases increased since 1998, but fell to 7620 in 2003, and then it increased again to a maximum of 12 492 in 2009. Of all patients, 87.5% were cases of coal-workers' pneumoconiosis and silicosis; 54 068 (44.2%) were coal-workers' pneumoconiosis cases, and 52 930 (43.3%) were silicosis cases. The pneumoconiosis cases were distributed mainly in Hunan Province (12 995 cases, 10.6%), Shandong Province (8952 cases, 7.3%), and Sichuan Province (8417 cases, 6.9%). Most cases were distributed in coal industry (61270 cases, 50.1%), architectural, material industry (9754 cases, 8.0%), nonferrous metals industry (9380 cases, 7.7%), and metallurgical industry (8773 cases, 7.2%). The work types of these cases mainly included tunneling as the main work (15 659 cases, 12.8%), mining as the main work (15 009 cases, 12.3%), drilling (14 010 cases, 11.5%), tunneling (12 122 cases, 9.9%), and hybrid coalmine work (10 612 cases, 8.7%). The mean length of service at the onset of pneumoconiosis in new cases of pneumoconiosis was shortened from 1997 to 2009, with a median length of service of 20.00 years; the median lengths of service at the onsets of coal-workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and asbestosis were 21.58, 17.00, and 20.00 years, respectively. The median age at the onset of pneumoconiosis was 51.00 years, and the mean age of onset in new cases of pneumoconiosis increased over the 13 years. The incidence of pneumoconiosis is still high, with a marked concentrated trend in several industries, work types, and pneumoconiosis types, a marked rising trend in number of new cases, and a marked shortening trend in length of service at the onset of pneumoconiosis. The prevention and control of pneumoconiosis should be enhanced in key industries and for people engaging in key types of work according to the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis. In addition, the demonstration project of comprehensive prevention and control of occupational dust hazards should be carried out, and the monitoring and early warning system for pneumoconiosis should be established.