Safety Executive Research Articles

COVID-19 in Workplace Settings: Lessons Learned for Occupational Medicine in the UK.

This paper addresses lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic from a UK Occupational Medicine perspective to permit comparison with other national accounts. In spite of good prior research and statute, the necessary resources to protect workers' health were seriously lacking when the pandemic struck. Weak public health guidance, which did not recognise dominant airborne transmission, was applied to workplaces, leaving workers and others unprotected, especially in respect to Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as regulator was lacking, for example, in not producing guidance to protect HealthCare Workers (HCW) who were amongst the most at risk. The UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry should address shortcomings such as these, but recommendations must be accompanied by robust means to ensure appropriate implementation. These should range from substantial measures to improve indoor air quality, to a permanent pandemic management organization with adequate resources. The enforcing authority has to be obliged to publish more specific workplace guidance than the public health authorities. Occupational medicine as a discipline needs to be better prepared, and hence to assert its responsibility towards high standards of workers' health protection. Future research has to include investigating the best means of mitigation against airborne infection and the management of post-acute covid sequelae.

Salivary cortisone as potential predictor of occupational exposure to noise and related stress.

Salivary cortisone strongly correlates with serum cortisol, and since it is less invasive to measure salivary cortisone than serum cortisol and easier than to measure cortisol in saliva, as its concentrations are much lower, we wanted to compare salivary cortisone and cortisol levels as markers of noise-induced stress reaction. The study included 104 participants aged 19-30 years, 50 of whom were exposed to occupational noise ≥85 dB(A) and 54 non-exposed, control students. All participants took samples of their saliva with Salivette® Cortisol synthetic swabs on three consecutive working days first thing in the morning. Salivary cortisone and cortisol levels were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, they completed a 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire, and occupationally noise-exposed participants also completed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) questionnaire on occupational psychosocial risks. The exposed participants had significantly higher cortisone (P<0.001) and cortisol (P<0.001) levels than controls, and the correlation between cortisone and cortisol levels in the exposed participants was strong (ϱ =0.692, P<0.001), which suggests that salivary cortisone can replace cortisol measurements in saliva as a more reliable method than salivary cortisol and less invasive than serum cortisol. However, the level of perceived stress scored on PSS-10 in the exposed participants did not differ significantly from stress reported by controls, but correlated negatively with cortisone levels, which is contrary to our expectations and raises questions as to why.

Factors Abssociated With Occupational Irritant Contact Dermatitis In Cleaning Service

Occupational contact dermatitis is one of the occupational diseases which often arises due to contact with materials in the work environment. Cleaning service (CS) is an example of a job exposed to daily irritants that can cause skin irritation. The study used an analytic observational method with a cross-sectional approach. The population of CS throughout the University of Muhammadiyah Malang is 42 people with simple random sampling. The research data used a questionnaire from the Health and Safety Executive UK (HSE UK). The analytical technique used is the Fisher Exact and Kruskal Wallis test (alternative chi-square) in the bivariate test and logistic regression in the multivariate test. Bivariate analysis showed there was no specific relationship between the length of work (p= 0.178), duration of exposure (p= 0.068), and length of exposure (p= 1,000) in CS employees at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, while in multivariate analysis it was not influenced by the same effect, significance (sig wald duration of exposure 0.851 and length of work 0.070). The incidence of occupational contact dermatitis caused by irritants often occurs after exposure, so there is no conclusion on the length of work, duration of exposure, and length of exposure.

A51Educational effectiveness of a high-consequence infectious disease training course using ultraviolet simulation

High-consequence infectious diseases (HCID) are pathogens which spread easily between people, have high mortality rates, and lack effective treatment [1]. Examples include Ebola and Lassa fever. Most emerging pandemics, including COVID-19, are initially classified as HCID. Assessment of patients with suspected HCID infection is an advanced procedural skill requiring application of enhanced infection control measures including patient isolation, personal protective equipment, and decontamination. There is a risk of healthcare worker infection if procedures are not followed [2]. HCID often present in non-specialist centres; there is a need for an accessible, educationally effective HCID course for NHS staff. We developed a course for clinicians in infectious disease and emergency medicine, in collaboration with the Health &amp; Safety Executive and clinicians in the UK-HCID network. The course uses a blended approach; theoretical components are taught with online learning. Practical components are taught with high-fidelity, multidisciplinary simulation using VIOLET, a mannequin which coughs, vomits and sweats ultraviolet markers ( Ultraviolet tracers are used to replicate contact and airborne transmission of infectious pathogens in simulation scenarios Between 01/12/22 and 01/04/23, 57 specialized clinicians participated. All participants passed post-course competency-based practical assessments. Participants demonstrated significant gains in knowledge between pre- and post-course tests (mean score 61% vs. 83%, This is the first HCID simulation course internationally using ultraviolet markers to allow visualization of contamination. The course appears to be an effective educational intervention and improves learner confidence in PPE use. Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.

Experimental and kinetic study on the cyclic removal of low concentration CO2 by amine adsorbents in confined spaces

Amine-based adsorbents show great promise for removing low-concentration CO2 from environmental control and life support systems (ECLSSs) to ensure crew safety and task execution. In this work, granular silica gel (SG) support was prepared by the extrusion–spheronization (ES) method, and amine-based adsorbent pellets were synthesized by impregnating the SG support with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). Dynamic CO2 circulation removal tests were carried out under simulated confined space conditions in a 100 L chamber to evaluate the low concentration CO2 removal performance of the adsorbent pellets. The effect of operating parameters on CO2 removal performance was investigated by orthogonal experiments. CO2 adsorption capacity and removal efficiency were significantly affected by CO2 concentration and reaction temperature, while reaction rate was intimately depended on CO2 concentration and gas flow rate. The maximum CO2 adsorption capacity (0.55 mmol CO2/g), removal efficiency (83.25%) and reaction rate (0.93 mmol CO2/min) were achieved under the optimized conditions of 20 °C, 1.25%CO2 and 2 L/min. A kinetic equation well representing the correlation between reaction rate and CO2 concentration and gas flow rate was established. The TEPA-SG-ES adsorbent pellets exhibited satisfactory working stability, with CO2 removal efficiency and adsorption capacity slightly decreased from 83.25% and 0.55 mmol CO2/g to 75.45% and 0.53 mmol CO2/g in 10 cycles, respectively. The slight decay in CO2 adsorption performance was associated with the oxidative degradation of amine species in oxygenated atmosphere to form amide, nitrite and imine phases, and the change of amine distribution over the pellets in multiple cycles. Overall, the desired TEPA-SG-ES adsorbent pellets could be nice scavenger candidates for circulating purification of CO2 in confined spaces.

Management standards and burnout among surgeons in the United Kingdom.

Burnout arising from chronic work-related stress is endemic among surgeons in the UK. Identification of contributory and modifiable psychosocial work characteristics could inform risk reduction activities. We aimed to assess the extent to which surgeons' psychosocial working conditions met aspirational Management Standards delineated by the UK Health and Safety Executive, draw comparisons with national general workforce benchmarks and explore associations with burnout. Surgeons (N = 536) completed the Management Standards Indicator Tool and a single-item measure of burnout. Descriptive data were computed for each Standard, independent t-tests were used to examine differences between trainees and consultants, and hierarchical linear regression was applied to explore relations between psychosocial work environment quality and burnout. Psychosocial work environment quality fell short of each Management Standard. Trainee surgeons (n = 214) reported significantly poorer psychosocial working conditions than consultant surgeons (n = 322) on the control, peer support and change Standards. When compared with UK workforce benchmarks, trainees' psychosocial working conditions fell below the 10th percentile on four Standards and below the 50th percentile on the remainder. Consultant surgeons were below the 50th percentile on five of the seven Standards. Psychosocial working conditions accounted for 35% of the variance in burnout over that accounted for by socio- and occupational-demographic characteristics. Surgeons' psychosocial working conditions were poor in comparison with benchmark data and associated with burnout. These findings suggest that risk management activities based on the Management Standards approach involving modification of psychosocial working conditions would help to reduce burnout in this population.

What is the probability of encountering unexploded bombs on a UK construction site?

Quantitative risk data are essential for efficient and consistent assessment of risk, and allow for the effective use of cost–benefit analysis to assess mitigating measures. Quantitative assessment of the risk posed by unexploded bombs (UXBs) on construction sites within the UK involves the identification of a set of contributory risk factors and modelling the interaction between them. This interaction of risk factors has been modelled using Monte Carlo simulation built into a new risk assessment tool (JG-MCS). Some of the output results from the tool are presented, including the limited validation that is possible against published work. The tool is used to assess the sensitivity of risk to some of the problem variables, and several of the underlying assumptions are investigated. The model has also been extended to explore the influence of investigative mitigation measures. Fundamental questions are raised regarding the risks being assessed, how they are presented and the efficacy of some mitigation measures. For the scenario used, it was found that the overall risk of UXB encounter was low before mitigation and only slightly lower after mitigation. Also, the cost of implementing measures to reduce the risk posed by UXBs might be considered to be below the bracket of what is described by the UK Health and Safety Executive as ‘reasonably practicable’.

Staff well-being in UK children’s hospices: a national survey

ObjectivesPoor psychological well-being among healthcare workers can have numerous negative impacts, but evidence about levels of burnout in children’s hospice care staff is limited. This study aimed to determine the...

Cutting On Existing Bonded Post-Tensioned Slabs: Safety Precautions, Procedures and Execution

Post-formed cut-off or cutting of the post-tensioned slabs is a common practice during post-tensioning work. However, cutting on existing post-tensioned slabs must be done carefully to avoid severe damage to the building. The measurements during the design review are critical in considerations of post-cutting conditions, variations between shop drawings and site, possible grouting failure and excessive deformation. This paper presents a successfully execution of cutting operations on bonded post-tensioned slabs without compromising the structural strength and serviceability. There are procedures and requirements that need to be considered prior to cutting at the design stage, prior to cutting at the site and at slab cutting stage. The safety precautions are necessary for unintentional scenarios that require immediate action. Cutting the slab creates potential hazards. It was found that the grouting material plays an important role not only in solidifying the concrete but also in forming a secondary anchorage mechanism. Therefore, selection of suitable grouting material should be based on the dimension of the locking area. In contrast to unbonded post-tensioned slabs, bonded post-tensioned slabs do not require de-tensioning and re-tensioning.

Mental wellbeing and psychosocial working conditions of autistic veterinary surgeons in the UK.

Certain autistic characteristics (such as hyper-focus and attention to detail) are valued by veterinary surgeons and autistic adults may disproportionately self-select into the profession. Links between mental wellbeing and retention in the veterinary profession highlight an imperative to profile autistic veterinary surgeons' mental wellbeing and identify protective factors. The psychosocial work environment may represent one such protective factor. We aimed to assess autistic veterinary surgeons' mental wellbeing, the extent to which their psychosocial working conditions achieved UK government management standards and links between these. Eighty-five autistic veterinary surgeons completed the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and the Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards Indicator Tool. Descriptive comparisons were drawn with normative data; correlation and linear regression analyses examined relations between mental wellbeing and psychosocial working conditions. Mental wellbeing and psychosocial work environment quality were markedly below veterinary surgeon and general workforce norms. Psychosocial working conditions accounted for 44% of the unique variance in mental wellbeing, with 'control' and 'role' making a significant contribution. This exploratory study involved a small self-selecting sample, raising the possibility of response bias. Work design centred on the enhancement of control and role clarity would likely support mental wellbeing in this population.

Noise Exposure and Job Stress – a Structural Equation Model in Textile Industries

Noise exposure is one of the most important physical agents in the workplace which can induce job stress in several ways. The aim of this study was to model the interactions between independent and mediating variables and job stress using structural equation modeling. In this study, Weinstein’s noise sensitivity scale, noise annoyance questionnaire, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) job stress questionnaire and job satisfaction scale were used. To assess worker’s noise exposure, the 8-hours equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq;8 h), was measured based on ISO 9612 (2009). To achieve the aims of study, the structural equation model was run using R software 3.4.1 and Cytoscape software 3.6.0. Based on the results, while there was a direct positive correlation of noise exposure on total job stress, there were also indirect positive effects through job satisfaction and noise sensitivity as mediator variables. Using hearing protective devices negatively affected total job stress through a direct pathway and an indirect pathway when job satisfaction was a mediator variable. Regarding the total effect of noise exposure and using hearing protection devices on job stress subscales, it can be concluded that noise exposure and using hearing protection devices had greatest effect on colleagues support and demand, respectively. It can be concluded that noise exposure and lack of hearing protective devices have a significant positive effect on job stress among workers of a textile industry. In addition to the direct effect, this factor can induce job stress through noise sensitivity, job satisfaction and noise annoyance. Therefore, measures which can decrease any of the mentioned factors, also can alleviate job stress.

A New Approach for Anonymizing Transaction Data with Set Values

This article proposes a new method that can guarantee strong privacy while minimizing information loss in transactional data composed of a set of each attribute value in a relational database, which is not generally well-known structured data. The proposed scheme adopts the same top-down partitioning algorithm as the existing k-anonymity model, using local generalization to optimize safety and CPU execution time. At the same time, the information loss rate, which is a disadvantage of the existing local generalization, is further improved by reallocating transactions through an additional bottom-up tree search process after the partitioning process. Our scheme shows a very fast processing time compared to the HgHs algorithm using generalization and deletion techniques. In terms of information loss, our scheme shows much better performance than any schemes proposed so far, such as the existing local generalization or HgHs algorithm. In order to evaluate the efficiency of our algorithm, the experiment compared its performance with the existing local generalization and the HgHs algorithm, in terms of both execution time and information loss rate. As a result of the experiment, for example, when k is 5 in k-anonymity for the dataset BMS-WebView-2, the execution time of our scheme is up to 255 times faster than the HgHs algorithm, and with regard to the information loss rate, our method showed a maximum rate of 62.37 times lower than the local generalization algorithm.

Health and Safety Workshop Report (2022)

This report summarises the discussions that took place around the topic of “Ammonia as an Energy Vector – Health and Safety” during the Health and Safety Workshop of the 1st Symposium on Ammonia Energy hosted at Cardiff University from the 1st to the 3rd of September 2022. Several presenters from various companies and organizations participated in the discussions, and all provided some insight into the most concerning issues when using ammonia as an energy vector. The workshop, hosted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), promised to examine some important questions that need to be answered via R&amp;D to tackle the unknowns of using ammonia in both the energy and transport sectors. The outcome of the workshop is this document, which will be put forward in the following H&amp;S workshops scheduled to be taking place in future sessions of the Symposium, with the aim of coordinating research efforts undertaken by industries, governmental bodies and academic institutions that are targeted at solving the problems related to producing, carrying, distributing and employing ammonia as an energy source.

ORTHOPAEDIC INSTRUMENTS AND ORTHOPAEDIC OPERATIONS CAN EXCEED NOISE REGULATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Industries such as agriculture, construction and military have stringent rules about hearing protection due to the risk of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). Due to the use of power tools, orthopaedic staff may be at risk of the same condition. The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have clear standards as to what is deemed acceptable occupational noise levels on an A-weighted and C weighted scale. This review is aimed to assess evidence on noise exposure testing within Orthopaedic theatres to see if it exceeds the HSE regulations.A targeted search of online databases PUBMED and EMBASE was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) principles. This review was registered prospectively in PROSPERO. An eligibility criterion identifying clinical studies which assessed noise exposure for Orthopaedic staff in theatres were included. Noise exposure data was extracted from these studies and a comparison was made with A weighted and C weighted acceptable exposure levels as quoted in the HSE regulations.Fourteen papers were deemed eligible, which reviewed 133 Orthopaedic operations and 64 Orthopaedic instruments. In total, 61% (81 of 132) of Orthopaedic operations and 70% (45 of 64) of instruments exceeded the noise regulations on an A weighted scale. 22% (10 of 46) of operations exceeded the maximum C weighted peak acceptable noise level.Orthopaedic instruments and operations can exceed safe occupational noise levels. NHS Trusts have clear policies about noise exposure in the workplace but have yet to identify Orthopaedic theatres as a potential at risk area. Orthopaedic staff need education, monitoring and protection whereas Employers and Occupational Health should consider assessments to identify at risk staff in Orthopaedic theatres and offer preventative methods from NIHL.

Relationship between job stress and work-related quality of life among emergency medical technicians: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study was aimed to determine the relationship between job stress and work-related quality of life (WRQoL) among emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Lorestan province, Western Iran.DesignThis was a cross-sectional...

Protecting Outdoor workers from Cold

Workers who are exposed to cold temperatures may be at risk for cold stress. Cold stress can occur when the body is unable to warm itself and can lead to hypothermia, frostbite and other health problems. To protect workers from cold stress, employers should provide appropriate clothing and equipment, such as insulated clothing, gloves and hats, and ensure that workers take frequent breaks in warm areas. Employers should also provide training on the signs and symptoms of cold stress and what to do if someone is affected. Additionally, employers should monitor the weather forecast and adjust work schedules as needed to avoid having workers in cold temperatures for prolonged periods. In the UK, there is no specific legal minimum workplace temperature, but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that indoor temperatures should be at least 16°C (61°F) or, if the work involves significant physical activity, 13°C (55.4°F). These recommendations are based on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which state that employers must provide a ‘reasonable’ temperature in the workplace.

Pregnant theatre staff in orthopaedic operating rooms: An observational study

PurposeTrauma & Orthopaedic (T&O) surgery presents several occupational hazards to pregnant women and the unborn child. National bodies have produced guidelines to mitigate these risks as far as possible but individual trusts must be aware of them and implement them in their local policies. Our study aims to re-assess whether national guidelines for the protection of pregnant women are better adhered to nationally by providing a comparison to a previous study in 2018. MethodsA national observational study of 146 NHS trusts in the UK was conducted. Each trust was asked to complete a freedom of information request regarding all orthopaedic guidelines relating to pregnant theatre staff, which specifically related to the protection of the mother and foetus from exposure to harmful activity in theatre. Compliance was ascertained by cross-checking local policies with national guidelines. Results82/146 (52.0%) of NHS trusts responded to the Freedom of Information request. 31/75 (41.3%) respondents followed Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance for New and Expectant Mothers with 17/75 (22.7%) following multiple national guidelines. 16/75 (21.3%) NHS trusts do not follow any national guidelines in protecting new and expectant mothers from occupational hazards in the orthopaedic theatre setting. ConclusionsAlthough an improvement has been made since 2018 in complying with national guidelines protecting new and expectant mothers from orthopaedic-related hazards, a sizeable proportion of NHS trusts do not comply with any national guidelines, putting employees at undue risk. There is a continued need for pregnant surgeons to be aware of and seek occupational health advice from dedicated professional bodies if the NHS trust does not provide specific guidance. Simultaneously, a sustained effort must be present to continue to inform NHS employers of their duty to protect new and expectant mothers and signpost them to relevant guidance.

Pengaruh Jenis Pekerjaan, Alat Pelindung Diri Dan Riwayat Atopi Tehadap Dermatitis Kontak Iritan Pada Petugas &lt;i&gt;Cleaning Service&lt;/i&gt;

Cleaning service (CS) is a job that often causes irritant contact dermatitis due to frequent contact with materials in the work environment, where the work is wet and is associated with water, soap, or other chemicals in a moment or repeatedly. This study aims to determine the effect of type of work, use of personal protective equipment, and history of atopy on the incidence of irritant contact dermatitis in cleaning service employees at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang. This study used an analytic observational method with a cross-sectional approach. The entire CS of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang population is 42 people with simple random sampling. The research data used a questionnaire from the British Health and Safety Executive (HSE UK) with the analysis technique using the Fisher Exact and Kruskal Wallis tests (alternative chi-square) in the bivariate test. In contrast, for multivariate, it used logistic regression. The research results obtained included: (1) bivariate, there was a relationship between the type of work (p=0.017), the use of personal protective equipment (p=0.047), and a history of atopy (p=0.001) in CS employees at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang. Furthermore, multivariate, there is a significant effect between the type of work (sig Wald = 0.029), use of personal protective equipment (sig Wald = 0.032), and history of atopy (sig Wald = 0.013). In conclusion, irritant contact dermatitis has a significant relationship with the type of work, use of PPE, and history of atopy.

Why Does Work Stress Occur in Nurses?

Introduction:Work stress can occur in many professions, including nursing, which is inseparable from individual characteristics. Inpatient is one of the units at Ploso Regional Public Hospital, Jombang, which has time-consuming work that requires observation on an ongoing basis. This study aimed to understand the relationship between individual characteristics, such as age, gender, marital status, working period, and personality type, with the level of work stress experienced by the inpatient installation unit nurses at Ploso Regional Public Hospital, Jombang. Methods: Observational descriptive study was applied with a cross-sectional design. Age, gender, marital status, working period, and personality type were the independent variables used in this study, while the dependent variable was work stress. The sample used was the total accessible population of nurses in the inpatient unit with 33 respondents. The data collection method used was a general questionnaire for personal variables (age, gender, marital status, working period), Personality Type Questionnaire for personality type, and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Questionnaire for work stress. Data were analyzed using chi-square correlation and spearman correlation test. Results: In the inpatient installation unit, most nurses were male between the ages of 24-37, had a working period of less than five years, were married, and had type A personality. The individual characteristics which had a moderate relationship with work stress were age (ρ = 0.419), marital status (ρ = 0.461), and working period (ρ = 0.359). Gender (ρ = 0.246) and personality type (ρ = 0.179) had a weak relationship with work stress. Conclusion: Age, marital status, and working period had a moderate relationship with work stress, while gender and personality type had a weak relationship.

The use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersiveX-ray analysis (EDXA) as a measurement tool for EMPs tasks, guidelines

In a variety of European countries SEM/EDXA based methods are widely used for the measurements and judgements relating thereof regarding asbestos analysis. Most of these methods are used also for other fibrous particles, commonly indicated as Elongate Mineral Particles (EMPs).The span of guidelines reflects the broad use of SEM/EDXA as an analytical method. Guidelines regarding air measurements both for ambient and indoor air are well established. These methods are widely used as is shown in a proficiency testing scheme, organized by the British Health and Safety Executive (HSL) with participants from countries all over Europe and some countries from Asia and Africa. For workplaces a similar guideline with a reduced sensitivity is available, allowing measurements in higher dust concentrations. Features of the methods like analytical sensitivity, detection limits and measurement uncertainty are discussed.For material analysis we apply different analytical methods, using SEM/EDXA as a final step. They are different both in sample preparation and sensitivity. Most of the methods are qualitative or “semi-quantitative” and thought for the analysis of commercial asbestos containing products mainly. If quantitative analysis based on EDXA is used for identification other EMPs can be identified as well. An important tool is the morphological impression of the fibers or structures in the SEM in addition.Changes in regulations which may be expected, will modify some of the methods. Especially lowered Threshold Limit Values (TLV's) in occupational air measurements are difficult to achieve.