Types Of Personal Protective Equipment Research Articles

The Efficacy of Anti-vibration Gloves.

Anyone seeking to control the risks from vibration transmitted to the hands and arms may contemplate the use of anti-vibration gloves. To make an informed decision about any type of personal protective equipment, it is necessary to have performance data that allow the degree of protection to be estimated. The information provided with an anti-vibration glove may not be easy to understand without some background knowledge of how gloves are tested and does not provide any clear route for estimating likely protection. Some of the factors that influence the potential efficacy of an anti-vibration glove include how risks from hand–arm vibration exposure are assessed, how the standard test for a glove is carried out, the frequency range and direction of the vibration for which protection is sought, how much hand contact force or pressure is applied and the physical limitations due to glove material and construction. This paper reviews some of the background issues that are useful for potential purchasers of anti-vibration gloves. Ultimately, anti-vibration gloves cannot be relied on to provide sufficient and consistent protection to the wearer and before their use is contemplated all other available means of vibration control ought first to be implemented.

Effectiveness of Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers Caring for Patients with Filovirus Disease: A Rapid Review.

BackgroundA rapid review, guided by a protocol, was conducted to inform development of the World Health Organization’s guideline on personal protective equipment in the context of the ongoing (2013–present) Western African filovirus disease outbreak, with a focus on health care workers directly caring for patients with Ebola or Marburg virus diseases.MethodsElectronic databases and grey literature sources were searched. Eligibility criteria initially included comparative studies on Ebola and Marburg virus diseases reported in English or French, but criteria were expanded to studies on other viral hemorrhagic fevers and non-comparative designs due to the paucity of studies. After title and abstract screening (two people to exclude), full-text reports of potentially relevant articles were assessed in duplicate. Fifty-seven percent of extraction information was verified. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework was used to inform the quality of evidence assessments.ResultsThirty non-comparative studies (8 related to Ebola virus disease) were located, and 27 provided data on viral transmission. Reporting of personal protective equipment components and infection prevention and control protocols was generally poor.ConclusionsInsufficient evidence exists to draw conclusions regarding the comparative effectiveness of various types of personal protective equipment. Additional research is urgently needed to determine optimal PPE for health care workers caring for patients with filovirus.

Health Status And Pesticide Exposure Level Of Terrestrial Pesticide Applicators In Córdoba, Argentina

Pesticide exposure in rural areas affects a sector of the population that is highly exposed and very vulnerable. Thus, agricultural workers represent a highly vulnerable population to the toxic effects of pesticide exposure. The rural area of Cordoba dedicated to extensive crops (soybean, corn, sorghum, peanuts, wheat and sunflower) experienced a rapid expansion in the last 20 years, with 7.3 million hectares in 2011/2012. The technological farming model used in the region requires increasing amounts of chemicals, to control pests, leading to a particular setting of sanitary risk to farm workers and rural communities. The study of health impacts of pesticides and the accurate estimation of pesticide exposure is of major concern in public health. This cross sectional study aimed to describe the health conditions of terrestrial pesticide applicators in Córdoba Province, Argentina, in relation to their pesticide exposure level. Methods: A standardized self administered questionnaire was used to collect basic determinants of exposure, health status and other variables of interest (n=2115). Two indexes were created to describe applicator exposure, the Level of pesticide exposure (LPE) and the Cumulative exposure index (CEI). The LPE algorithm includes labor activities with pesticides as well as application methods, weighted by the type of personal protective equipment used; the CEI incorporates the previous LPE information and takes into account average time of exposure. Subjects were classified in three categories: low, medium and high exposure. Associations were found between adverse health outcomes and the highest exposure level for each index. Medical consultation in the last year for reasons related to occupational pesticide use, nervousness or depression and lung diseases were associated with the high category of the LPE (p<0.05).

Personal protective equipment for the Ebola virus disease: A comparison of 2 training programs

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for preventing Ebola virus disease (EVD) includes basic PPE (B-PPE) and enhanced PPE (E-PPE). Our aim was to compare conventional training programs (CTPs) and reinforced training programs (RTPs) on the use of B-PPE and E-PPE. Four groups were created, designated CTP-B, CTP-E, RTP-B, and RTP-E. All groups received the same theoretical training, followed by 3 practical training sessions. A total of 120 students were included (30 per group). In all 4 groups, the frequency and number of total errors and critical errors decreased significantly over the course of the training sessions (P < .01). The RTP was associated with a greater reduction in the number of total errors and critical errors (P < .0001). During the third training session, we noted an error frequency of 7%-43%, a critical error frequency of 3%-40%, 0.3-1.5 total errors, and 0.1-0.8 critical errors per student. The B-PPE groups had the fewest errors and critical errors (P < .0001). Our results indicate that both training methods improved the student's proficiency, that B-PPE appears to be easier to use than E-PPE, that the RTP achieved better proficiency for both PPE types, and that a number of students are still potentially at risk for EVD contamination despite the improvements observed during the training.

Small-scale vegetable producers’ perception of pests and pesticide uses in East Shewa zone, Ethiopia

Vegetable growers’ knowledge of pest and their control method was assessed in 2014 in East Shewa zone, Ethiopia. Vegetable growers were well aware of key pests of vegetables, although some of them did not consider pests as constraint to vegetable production. All respondents scouted their vegetables for pests and used presence or absence of pest as criterion for spraying. About 76% of the respondents read pesticide label before buying pesticides, while the rest 24% of the respondents did not read pesticide labels. All vegetable growers sprayed insecticide, whereas fungicides and herbicides were applied by 90% and 7% of the respondents, respectively. About 72% of the respondents washed their sprayer after each application day and discharged the washings onto the soil. Moreover, the majority (62%) of the respondents threw empty pesticide containers around the field. Also, it was found that 71% of the respondents did not use personal protective equipment (PPE) while spraying pesticides, but a few used one or two types of PPE. More than half of the respondents sprayed pesticides on mature crops and sold the produce within three to five days.

Auditory localization performance in the azimuth for tactical communication and protection systems

An important consideration in assessing auditory abilities is the effect personal protective equipment (PPE) can have on performance. Tactical Communication and Protection (TCAP) systems are a type of PPE that is becoming more common in military applications. These types of systems provide radio communications, while also protecting the user from hazardous noise through passive and active attenuation. These systems have an active acoustic pass-through mechanism that utilizes an external microphone and internal earphone to restore environmental hearing. Past research has shown that this type of pass-through mechanism can negatively affect localization ability. In the present study, six participants localization ability was tested for two different signals (AK-47 impulse, 500 ms white noise) across an array of eight loudspeakers arranged in a ring around the test participant. The systems tested consisted of three types of in-ear TCAPs, one over-the-ear TCAPs, and one passive nonlinear hearing protection device. All systems were tested with the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) donned. In general, localization performance was worst for the AK-47 impulse signal. Across signals, the over-the-ear TCAPs had significantly more front/back confusions and greater localization error than the in-ear systems.

What's trending in the infection prevention and control literature? From HIS 2012 to HIS 2014, and beyond

SummaryThis is an informal review of some of the trends in the infection prevention and control literature since the last Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) conference in late 2012. Google Trends was used to investigate how the volume of interest in various infection control topics had changed over time. Ebola trumped all the others in Google searches, reflecting a surge of publications in the literature. Aside from Ebola, other trends in the infection prevention and control literature covered in this article include Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, universal versus targeted interventions, faecal microbiota transplantation, whole genome sequencing, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and some aspects of environmental science. The review ends with an attempt to predict some of the trends in the infection prevention and control literature between now and the next HIS conference in 2016.

Work safety climate, personal protection use, and injuries among Latino residential roofers.

This analysis describes work safety climate, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and injuries among Latino residential roofers, and examines the associations of work safety climate with PPE use and injuries. Eighty-nine North Carolina residential roofers completed a baseline interview and daily logs about perceptions and use of PPE, occurrence of injuries in last 12 months, and work safety climate. The mean work safety climate score was 26.5 (SD = 5.6). In the baseline interview, participants reported that the majority of employers provided PPE and that they used it most or all of the time; daily log data indicated that PPE was used for half or fewer of hours worked. 39.9% reported any injury in the last 12 months. Work safety climate was significantly correlated with the provision and use of most types of PPE, and was inversely associated with injury. Supervisors promoting safety may increase the PPE use and decrease injuries.

Are we prepared for Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers?

Are we prepared for Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers?

Guidance on the use of respiratory and facial protection equipment

Infectious micro-organisms may be transmitted by a variety of routes, and some may be spread by more than one route. Respiratory and facial protection is required for those organisms that are usually transmitted via the droplet/airborne route, or when airborne particles have been artificially created, such as during ‘aerosol-generating procedures’. A range of personal protective equipment that provides different degrees of facial and respiratory protection is available. It is apparent from the recent experiences with severe acute respiratory syndrome and pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza that healthcare workers may have difficulty in choosing the correct type of facial and respiratory protection in any given clinical situation. To address this issue, the Scientific Development Committee of the Healthcare Infection Society established a short-life working group to develop guidance. The guidance is based upon a review of the literature, which is published separately, and expert consensus.

Infectious disease risk in asbestos abatement workers

BackgroundThe current literature reports increased infectious disease occurrence in various construction occupations, as an important contributor to morbidity and mortality arising from employment.These observations should be expanded to asbestos abatement workers, as the abatement can create an environment favorable for bacterial, viral and fungal infections.DiscussionAsbestos abatement work employs activities resulting in cuts, blisters and abrasions to the skin, work in a dirty environment and exposure to dust, mists and fumes.Furthermore, this population exhibits a high smoking rate which increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory infections.In addition, these workers also commonly employ respirators, which can accumulate dirt and debris magnifying exposure to microbes. Use of respirators and related types of personal protective equipment, especially if shared and in the close environment experienced by workers, may enhance communicability of these agents, including viruses.SummaryAbatement workers need to be provided with information on hazards and targeted by appropriate health education to reduce the infection risk. Epidemiological studies to investigate this risk in asbestos removers are recommended.

Digital 3-D Headforms Representative of Chinese Workers

Headforms are useful for designing and testing various types of personal protective equipment used to protect millions of workers from occupational hazards in China. Although the Chinese national standard of head-and-face dimensions for adults was first published in 1981, headforms based on those dimensions were never developed. In 2006, an anthropometric survey of 3000 Chinese civilian workers was conducted. As part of the survey, 350 subjects were scanned with a Cyberware 3D Rapid Digitizer. The manual measurements and 3-D digital scans from this survey were used to develop 3-D digital headforms that represent Chinese workers. The objective of this study was to develop headforms that represent today's Chinese workers. Ten facial dimensions relevant to respirator fit were chosen for defining a principal component analysis model which divides the user population into five face size categories. Mean facial dimensions from manual measurements were then computed to target the ideal facial dimensions for each size category. Five scans were chosen from each face size category to be used in the construction process. Selected scans were then averaged to construct a representative headform for each face size category. Five digital 3-D headforms were developed: small, medium, large, long/narrow, and short/wide. These distinct sizes of digital 3-D headforms take into account the linear distance between landmarks as well as the surface contours captured during the 3-D scan. The dimensions of constructed headforms were within approximately 4 mm between the corresponding computed means and manual measurements of anthropometric landmarks for the sample population in each size category. These new headforms represent the facial size and shape distribution of current Chinese workers and may be useful for respirator research and development. The Chinese medium headform has a wider face width, shorter face length, and smaller nose protrusion when compared with the current U.S. standard headforms. Upon validation, it may be useful to incorporate these dimensions into Chinese and international respiratory protective devices standards.

Personal protective equipment use and allocation in home health during disasters

Home health preparedness for disasters is imperative, including the need to identify essential resources to protect home health professionals from exposure during an event. Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) is expected to be limited during a disaster, and PPE distribution and allocation needs to be prearranged to minimize infection transmission risk. This article outlines the appropriate use and allocation of PPE for home health agencies as part of disaster planning. A literature review and Internet search were conducted in July-August 2010. A spreadsheet was created delineating the best practices related to PPE use and allocation identified by each source. Recommendations were divided into themes/domains for simplification and clarity. A total of 46 articles, planning documents/reports, and Web-based training programs were identified and screened. Of these, 28 were deemed relevant, including 12 journal articles and 16 published reports, book chapters, planning documents, or training programs. Themes for PPE use and allocation in home health during disasters in the literature included identifying the types of PPE used in home health, determining PPE needs, storing PPE, allocating PPE when resources are limited or depleted, disposing of PPEl, and educating staff. Having access to the correct types and quantities of PPE during a disaster will be essential to home health agencies. The information presented in this article can assist home health agencies in developing emergency management plans that address planning issues related to PPE.

Assessing gait changes in firefighters due to fatigue and protective clothing

Each year, roughly 11,000 firefighters are injured as a result of slips, trips and falls, which account for over 25% of all fireground injuries. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) can increase risk of fall-related injuries due to its weight, restrictiveness, and increased heat stress. Modification of PPE may serve to mitigate firefighter injuries related to loss of balance and falls. We examined the effects of choosing ‘enhanced’ protective clothing (lightweight, breathable, and less restrictive compared to typical firefighting PPE) and simulated firefighting tasks (18-min bout over four activities) on subsequent gait performance. To assess the effect of wearing protective clothing and firefighting activity, seven gait parameters and three movement errors were assessed during level and obstacle-crossing walking tasks. Forty-four firefighters wore one of two types of PPE (‘Standard’, ‘Enhanced’) during three testing conditions (baseline in station uniform, pre-firefighting activity in PPE, and post-firefighting activity in PPE). The effect of donning any PPE was found to significantly impair gait performance. Fatigue may impact effective mobility since more movement errors were observed during post-activity than pre-activity assessments. Although the Enhanced PPE did not lead to any significant differences in gait parameters compared to Standard PPE, participants in Enhanced PPE made twice as many movement errors, potentially attributed to lack of familiarity with the gear. These results suggest that wearing firefighting PPE and heat-stress induced fatigue are associated with reduced gait performance and increased risk for tripping over obstacles.

Provision and use of personal protective equipment among home care and hospice nurses in North Carolina

We investigated the frequency with which home care/hospice nurses are provided with and use personal protective equipment (PPE) and factors associated with use. We conducted a mail survey among home care/hospice nurses in North Carolina in 2006. The adjusted response rate was 69% (n = 833). Between 68% and 86% of nurses were always provided with the relevant types of PPE; these nurses were 2.5-3 times more likely to use the PPE in scenarios involving a potential for blood exposure compared with nurses who were not always provided with PPE. Nurses who always had sufficient time during home visits were 50% more likely to use PPE. Nurses who visited more homes with adverse working conditions were less likely to use PPE. The public health policy of providing PPE to health care workers and ensuring that they use that equipment to prevent occupational blood exposure is not being fully implemented for home care and hospice nurses. Greater provision of PPE could reduce blood exposure in this population. Conditions of the home care/hospice work environment may be impeding nurses' ability to use PPE.

Factors contributing to discomfort or dissatisfaction as a result of wearing personal protective equipment.

In a metal refining plant, 366 workers were interviewed to investigate factors contributing to the discomfort or dissatisfaction of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Up to 97.8% of these individuals used one or more types of PPE. The percentages of employees who reported their hard hats and cooling vests as comfortable were 17% and 19%, respectively. Twenty-five percent of workers felt their respirators and safety harnesses were comfortable. Safety glasses ranked at 50%, gloves 53%, and safety shoes 54% for comfort factor. The percentage of employees who tolerated their PPE (just acceptable) ranged from 27% to 52%. The most frequently cited factors contributing to discomfort or dissatisfaction of wearing PPE were related to the workers' beliefs that the PPE was not needed, created a new hazard, interfered with work, was too heavy, was hard to wear, prohibited breathing or communicating, irritated skin, put pressure on the body, and was of an undesirable type or model.

Using personal protective equipment effectively

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for the safe working of all dental professionals. In this article, Kathy Porter explains the different types of PPE and outlines where and when it should be used.

Management Practices and Risk of Occupational Blood Exposure in U.S. Paramedics: Non-Intact Skin Exposure

To estimate the risk of blood exposure to non-intact skin in U.S. paramedics; to estimate risk ratios for selected management practices. A mail survey was conducted among a national sample of licensed paramedics in the United States in 2002-2003. The adjusted response rate was 55% (N = 2,664). The overall 12-month risk of non-intact skin blood exposure was 8.7% (95% confidence interval: 6.4-11). As the number of types of personal protective equipment (PPE) always provided by the employer increased, risk decreased. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals for selected factors were: not being provided with appropriate PPE, 2.4 (1.6-3.3); job evaluation doesn't include following safety procedures, 1.8 (1.0-2.7); supervisor wouldn't speak to paramedic about not following Universal Precautions, 2.1 (0.9-3.2); both of the above supervisory behaviors, 2.3 (1.3-3.6). Providing appropriate personal protective equipment is an effective means of preventing non-intact skin blood exposure and possible consequent bloodborne infection in paramedics. Future research should aim to identify factors limiting the provision of this equipment and to evaluate the advisability of interventions to increase provision. Supervisory behaviors that emphasize safe work practices may also be effective in preventing non-intact skin exposure in paramedics. Future research should develop interventions that apply general knowledge of management behaviors that promote worker safety to the work environment of paramedics.

Use of Engineering Controls and Personal Protective Equipment by Certified Pesticide Applicators

A convenience survey of 702 certified pesticide applicators was conducted in three states to assess the use of 16 types of engineering controls and 13 types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Results showed that 8 out of 16 engineering devices were adopted by more than 50% of the respondents. The type of crop, size of agricultural operation, and the type of pesticide application equipment were found to influence the adoption of engineering controls. Applicators working on large farms, users of boom and hydraulic sprayers, and growers of field crops were more likely to use engineering devices. Respondents reported a high level of PPE use, with chemical-resistant gloves showing the highest level of compliance. An increase in pesticide applicators wearing appropriate headgear was reported. The majority of respondents did not wear less PPE simply because they used engineering controls. Those who did modify their PPE choices when employing engineering controls used tractors with enclosed cabs and/or were vegetable growers.

Safety: Protecting Yourself Should Be Your #1 Priority

Working in a hospital in and of itself can be an unsafe act. Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? The truth is that a healthcare organization can be looked at as a house with several visitors who carry illness and disease into a localized area, thereby increasing the potential for healthcare workers to get sick. Although this is by nature unavoidable, there are steps that healthcare workers can take to minimize their susceptibility to illness in their workplaces. Although most safety concerns that biomeds typically address are equipment related, patient and operator safety issues also must be considered. All healthcare workers should guard against the potential for acquiring or spreading disease when coming in contact with patients, as well as equipment. Certain departments within healthcare organizations—particularly infection control and risk management departments, which provide education to keep all personnel informed of potential exposures and hazards, as well as preventative measures—can be helpful in these endeavors. Hand washing is one of the most effective safety measures, and proper technique—including the use of soap and alcohol-based rubs—is essential to halt the spread of infection. Hand washing with soap requires first wetting hands with warm running water, then applying the soap and rubbing hands together—while keeping them lower than elbows—until the soap lathers. Wash vigorously for 15 seconds and focus on all parts of the hands (front and back, in between fingers, under nails and over wrists), then rinse the hands thoroughly under running water with fingertips pointed down. Hands should then be dried thoroughly, and—since not everyone is as meticulous as they should be—use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door. Hands must be clear of visible debris when using alcohol-based rubs. If not, you need to wash your hands. And when applying the alcohol rub, more is not better—a single application of the dispenser is enough to do the trick. Rub hands together, using the same technique as for hand washing (front and back, in between fingers, under nails, and over wrists) until all of the alcohol evaporates. If the alcohol does not fully evaporate before you are finished, you have not performed the proper technique. Seems pretty basic right? The next step is to decide when to perform such measures. To ensure you are not bringing in or leaving with any unwanted pathogens, wash your hands at the start and at the end of each shift. When on the floors, wash your hands before and after you enter patient rooms. And although it may seem almost too basic to mention, it is also essential to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, or using the restroom. Believe Safety: Protecting Yourself Should Be Your #1 Priority