Working Environment Measurement Research Articles

Present State and Problems of Work Environment Control in the Workplaces using Hazardous Materials based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act in Japan

In Japan, working environment measurement is prescribed in the designated workplaces using hazardous materials. Measurements should be carried out periodically and countermeasures are performed depending on the results. By introducing such a system, working environments have remarkably improved. However, in the designated workplaces, measurements should be continued even in work environments found safe. On the other hand, measurement need not be obliged for non-designated workplaces even if hazardous materials are utilized.In the United States of America and many European countries, work environment management and work management are carried out by measuring personal exposure concentrations. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is now discussing the introduction of personal exposure monitoring. However, many problems exist to prevent the simple introduction of American and European methods. This paper describes the brief history, present state and problems of work environment control in Japan, comparing with the systems of American and European countries.

작업환경측정과 노출평가 프로그램(ECETOC TRA) 비교에 따른 위해성 평가에 관한 연구

This study was conducted to compare the value of the working environment measurement with the expected exposure value drawn by using a program, thereby going to investigate whether it is available to the risk assessment of domestic workplace. We used the ECETOC TRA program which is one of the exposure predictive models. Four kinds of substances were measured in two workplace which was exposed to organic solvents and one kind of substance was measured in three workplace which was exposed to dusts and then an exposure assessment of chemical risk factors was conducted. The result value of the working environment measurement, solid substance exceeded standard in one site, and it was found that the other solid and liquid substances were within the standard. The value of the exposure assessment program showd the same result; it was higher than the value of the working environment measurement, suggesting that due to its nature, the exposure assessment program is run only on the worst situation. Therefore, it was found that when the exposure assesment program is used, variables should be substituted only after accurately assessing the workplace and it is a good idea to assess the risk beforehand with the exposure assessment program in the case of the workplace which employs no more than 5 people and where it is hard to assess the working environment.

294 Does depression severity predict differences between individual and work-unit averaged measures of the psychosocial work environment?

ObjectivesIt is debated if results from epidemiological studies on psychosocial factors at work and risk of depression are affected by the common rater problem, thus inflating associations by introducing reporting...

State of Toner Exposure of Workers Who Handle Toners

The aim of this study was to ascertain the actual state of toner exposure of workers who handle toner. Personal exposure measurements were conducted on workers handling toner in which the respirable dust (RD) concentration by work type was determined. Targeted work types consisted of "machine recycling", "toner manufacturing", "toner research/development", "machine design/development" and "servicing." The implementation period lasted from April 2003 to March 2011, and measurements were conducted annually. The measurement method conformed to the Japanese Working Environment Measurement Standards (new standards adopted starting in 2005). Comparing the RD concentrations for fiscal year 2003 by work, significant differences were found between machine recycling and the other four work types, as well as in toner manufacturing and the other four work types. Similarly, based on the new legislative standards applied in Japan from fiscal year 2005, significant differences were found between machine recycling and the other four work types, as well as in toner manufacturing and the other four work types. It is clear that workers engaged in machine recycling and toner manufacturing are exposed to toner, and that a certain level of exposure is continuing. Although it cannot be said that workers involved in toner research/development, machine design/development and servicing have no toner exposure, the concentration is of an extremely low level. At present, toner exposure levels by work type can be divided into two groups-one consisting of machine recycling and toner manufacturing, and the other consisting of toner research/development, machine design/development and servicing.

Fiabilidad y validez del Copenhagen Burnout Inventory para su uso en España

The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) is a public domain questionnaire measuring the degree of psychological fatigue experienced in three subdimensions of Burnout: personal (PB), work-related (WB), and client-related Burnout (CB). The study aimed to examine the acceptability, reliability and construct validity of the Spanish version of CBI. The study population consisted of 479 workers of educational centers, social work centres, healthcare centres and workers within the industry sector. Data was collected in 2009 through a self-administered questionnaire including the three CBI scales, sixteen scales of psychosocial work environment (COPSOQ ISTAS21) and perceived general and mental health and vitality (SF-36). Response rate was 78.7%. The three scales have an inter-item correlation average between 0.42 and 0.60 and a corrected item-total correlation between 0,49 and 0,83. The internal consistency of the three scales had Cronbach's α values of 0.90 for PB, 0.83 for WB and 0.82 for CB. Burnout was related to both psychosocial work environment and wellbeing measures in the expected direction and intensity. The items of the three scales show good discrimination capacity, good consistency and homogeneity. The three CBI scales have an acceptable internal consistency reliability index, slightly higher in PB. The discrimination capacity of the scales is verified through the discrimination index and the different levels between occupations and activities. These results demonstrate that the Spanish version of the CBI is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring Burnout.

Extraction Rate of Low Concentration Organic Vapor Adsorbed in Activated Carbon Tube for Work Environment Measurement in Japan

Measurement technique of harmful substances, particularly various organic vapors in air has a significant role in administration and improvement of work environment. We can measure high levels of organic vapors directly by several types of gas sensor or indicator today. However, low concentration of organic vapors (~dozens ppm) is beyond detection or difficult for precise measurement on its own in many cases. Therefore, in work environment measurement established by the industrial safety and health act of Japanese government, activated carbon tube (sampling tube) is used for sampling of measuring object vapor by concentrating method with aspiration pump unit. That is, after the concentrated sampling for a given length of time, measuring object constituent is extracted by organic solvent (for instances; carbon disulfide, acetonitrile, methanol and so on) from activated carbon. Then, the liquid samples are measured by gas chromatograph. The above method is called solid substance collecting method, and measurements are administered in reference to control concentration at 298 K established by the workplace evaluation standard of Japanese government.

Characteristics of a Real Time Monitor Using the Interference Enhanced Reflection Method for Organic Vapors

Performance and sensor characteristics of a monitor for volatile organic compounds (VOC monitor) using the interference enhanced reflection (IER) method were investigated for 52 organic solvent vapors that are designated as class 1 and class 2 organic solvents by the Ordinance of Organic Solvent Poisoning Prevention in Japan. Test vapors were prepared by injecting 1 to 3 μl of liquid solvent into a 20 l Tedlar(®) bag and perfectly vaporizing them. The vapor concentration was simultaneously measured with the monitor and a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with flame ionization detector, and both values were compared. The monitor could detect all the solvent vapors that we used. Linear response was obtained between the concentration measured by the monitor and those by the GC. The monitor could detect 1/10 of the administrative control level for 37 of 52 solvent vapors, including toluene and xylenes. For 15 vapors, on the other hand, the monitor could not be used for the working environment measurement because the sensor response was low or the regression lines did not pass through the origin.

Psychosocial work environment among Swedish audiologists

Objective: The study examined the self-reported psychosocial work environment for audiologists working in three practice types (public, completely private, and private but publicly funded). Design: A cross-sectional e-mail survey using the demand-control-support questionnaire, a short version of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) questionnaire, and descriptive data. Study sample: Five-hundred Swedish licensed audiologists. Results: Overall, the results indicate differences in psychosocial work environment pertaining to the practice types. These differences are small and the type explains few percent of the variability accounted in the measures of psychosocial work environment. Social support seems important for the psychosocial work environment and is considered a reward in itself. Using the demand-control model, 29% of the audiologists reported working in a high-stress psychosocial work environment. Using the ERI-ratio to estimate the imbalance between effort and reward it was shown that that 86% of the participants experienced an unfavorable work situation where the rewards do not correspond to the efforts made. Conclusions: The organizational framework has minor effect on self-reported psychosocial work environment for Swedish licensed audiologists. The percentage of unfavorable ERI-ratios seen in Swedish audiologists seems conspicuously high compared to other working populations in general, but also compared to other health service workers.

Achieving employee wellbeing in a changing work environment

PurposeThe purpose of this expert commentary is to provide an overview of current scholarship on changes occurring in the work environment and its impact on employee wellbeing. The commentary touches on frontier issues such as measurement of healthy work environment, positive and negative changes in work environment influencing employee wellbeing, link between employee productivity and wellbeing, challenges in converting theory into practice, sustainable organizational behavior, workplace wellness, and several other issues germane to the special issue.Design/methodology/approachThe expert commentary explicates the current state of scholarship in relation to the theme of the special issue. The design of the expert commentary, a scholarly conversation between the Guest Editors and University Distinguished Professor Ellen Ernst Kossek, provides an easy to access summary of the current knowledge in the area. This format is intended to inform readers ofIJMand to stimulate further scholarship in the area.FindingsThe expert commentary provides a gist of key findings in the extant area of research, serving to inform readers about what we know, do not know, and fruitful areas for further enquiry.Originality/valueIt provides an overview of current knowledge in the area.

Physical and psychosocial work environment factors and their association with health outcomes in Danish ambulance personnel – a cross-sectional study

BackgroundReviews of the literature on the health and work environment of ambulance personnel have indicated an increased risk of work-related health problems in this occupation. The aim of this study was to compare health status and exposure to different work environmental factors among ambulance personnel and the core work force in Denmark. In addition, to examine the association between physical and psychosocial work environment factors and different measures of health among ambulance personnel.MethodsData were taken from a nationwide sample of ambulance personnel and fire fighters (n = 1,691) and was compared to reference samples of the Danish work force. The questionnaire contained measures of physical and psychosocial work environment as well as measures of musculoskeletal pain, mental health, self-rated health and sleep quality.ResultsAmbulance personnel have half the prevalence of poor self-rated health compared to the core work force (5% vs. 10%). Levels of mental health were the same across the two samples whereas a substantially higher proportion of the ambulance personnel reported musculoskeletal pain (42% vs. 29%). The ambulance personnel had higher levels of emotional demands and meaningfulness of and commitment to work, and substantially lower levels of quantitative demands and influence at work. Only one out of ten aspects of physical work environment was consistently associated with higher levels of musculoskeletal pain. Emotional demands was the only psychosocial work factor that was associated with both poorer mental health and worse sleep quality.ConclusionsAmbulance personnel have similar levels of mental health but substantially higher levels of musculoskeletal pain than the work force in general. They are more exposed to emotional demands and these demands are associated with higher levels of poor mental health and poor sleep quality. To improve work environment, attention should be paid to musculoskeletal problems and the presence of positive organizational support mechanisms that can prevent negative effects from the high levels of emotional demands.

The contribution of work environment to nurses' assessments of the quality of patient care

The quality of patient care was found to be significantly correlated with work environment measures in a quasi-experimental study in the Saskatoon Health Region. Since first line supervisors face multiple pressures in organizing the work of their units, they need to be supported by senior leadership for continuity in instilling a common purpose and shared values to the patient care staff. The role of supervision and leadership is crucial in strategically managing the human, financial and technical resources in our healthcare system, especially when such resources are likely to remain limited.

Epidemiology of head injury in the United Arab Emirates

Head injury increases mortality in trauma patients. We aimed to study the epidemiological and clinical features of head injury in Al-Ain city, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Trauma patients with head injury who were admitted to Al- Ain Hospital for more than 24 hours and those who died in the hospital were included in the study. Data were prospectively collected from March 2003 - March 2006. 589 patients were studied, and 521 were males (88.3%). The median (range) age was 30 (1-89) years. The most common mechanism of injury was road traffic collision (67.1%) followed by fall from height (11.9%). Head injury was mild in 82.2% of patients, moderate in 5.7%, and severe in 12.1%. 20.9% of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. 35 patients died (overall mortality 5.9%). Patients who died had significantly higher Injury Severity Score (p<0.0001), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (p<0.0001), and higher Abbreviated Injury Scale of the head (p<0.0001). Motor vehicle collision was the main mechanism of head injury in the UAE followed by fall from height. Legislation for compulsory seatbelt usage and helmet usage by bicyclists and motorcyclists should be adopted. A safe work environment and preventive measures at work should be introduced.

The impact of organizational stress and burnout on client engagement

This article explores the impact of organizational attributes on client engagement within substance abuse treatment. Previous research has identified organizational features, including small size, accreditation, and workplace practices, that impact client engagement (K. M. Broome, P. M. Flynn, D. K. Knight, & D. D. Simpson, 2007). This study sought to explore how aspects of the work environment impact client engagement. The sample included 89 programs located in 9 states across the United States. Work environment measures included counselor perceptions of stress, burnout, and work satisfaction at each program, whereas engagement measures included client ratings of participation, counseling rapport, and treatment satisfaction. Using multiple regression, tests of moderation and mediation revealed that staff stress negatively predicted client participation in treatment. Burnout was related to stress but was not related to participation. Two additional organizational measures—workload and influence—moderated the positive relationship between staff stress and burnout. Implications for drug treatment programs are discussed.

An Attitude Survey of Radiological Technologists toward Qualification Acquisition of Licentiate and Degrees in Mie Prefecture

We conducted a questionnaire consciousness survey concerning qualification acquisition of licentiate and degrees among 406 radiological technologists working for medical facility in Mie Prefecture. We employed a mail-back questionnaire method. Then we analyzed relationships between progressive purpose and gender, age, and membership of the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology (JSRT). Results derived note the most common licentiate the participants wanted to acquire was the license concerning emergency medical care. On the other hand, they had limited interest in radiation therapy, nuclear medicine areas and the working environment measurement expert class I. In conclusion, the results of this study revealed the present condition that the necessity of qualification acquisition of licentiate is not recognized incorrectly. In addition, there was a mountain of issues for working radiological technologists to attend graduate school to get degrees. It is important to utilize the results of this study to enlighten their consciousness for limited interest licentiate, and interest them in attending graduate schools.

Discrepancy between objective and subjective measures of job stress and sickness absence

The aim of this study was to examine the association of the discrepancy between externally and self-assessed measures of work environment with long- and short-term sickness absence. The study population included 6997 middle-aged men and women from the Whitehall II cohort, whose work characteristics were examined at baseline (1985-1988) through both an external evaluation and self-report, with a follow-up of up to 13 years of sickness absence reporting from administrative records. The primary exposure of interest was the discrepancy between measures of work stress for fast job pace, conflicting demands, and decision latitude. In mutually adjusted models, external measures of job characteristics were more strongly associated with higher rates of sickness absence compared with self-assessed measures, for both lower frequency of fast work pace and lower conflicting demands (i.e., "passive" levels). Individuals who self-reported higher frequencies of fast work pace and conflicting demands than were reported through external assessment had higher rates of short-term sickness absence [incident rate ratios (IRR) of 1.13 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.11-1.15) and IRR 1.14 (95% CI 1.11-1.16), respectively]. There was no difference in rates of sickness absence found for decision latitude [IRR 1.02 (95% CI 1.00-1.04)]. Our findings demonstrate that the discrepancy between externally and self-assessed job demand measures have additional predictive power beyond each individual measure of job structure, which may be related to the extent of cognitive and emotional processing of assessment questions as compared to decision latitude measures.

Will "Common" Work Environment Measures Lead to "Common" Health Service Performance?

The establishment of common work environment measures has the potential to increase the focus on and potentially improve human resource management (HRM) practice throughout the Canadian healthcare system. However, based on research evidence, we suggest that successful execution cannot be achieved through top-down implementation of a set of "lag" indicators. We also stress that without accompanying management training in HRM, it is unlikely that the potential benefits of an indicator set will be realized.

The Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES): psychometric properties of a new tool for epidemiological studies among waged and salaried workers

BackgroundDespite the fact that labour market flexibility has resulted in an expansion of precarious employment in industrialised countries, to date there is limited empirical evidence concerning its health consequences. The...

Determination Method for Nitromethane in Workplace Air

The purpose of this research was to develop a determination method for nitromethane (NM) in workplace air for risk assessment. A suitable sampler and appropriate desorption condition were selected by a recovery test in which a spiked sampler was used. The characteristics of the proposed method, such as recovery, detection limit, and reproducibility, and the storage stability of the sample were examined. A sampling tube containing bead-shaped activated carbon was chosen as the sampler. NM in the sampler was desorbed with acetone and analyzed by a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. The recoveries of NM from the spiked sampler were 81-97% and 80-98% for personal exposure monitoring and working environment measurement, respectively. On the first day of storage in a refrigerator, the recovery from the spiked samplers exceeded 90%; however, it decreased dramatically with increasing storage time. In particular, the decrease was more remarkable for the smaller spiked amounts. The overall LOQ was 2 microg/sample. The relative standard deviation, which represents the overall reproducibility, was 1.1-4.0%. The proposed method enables 4-hour personal exposure monitoring of NM at concentrations equaling 0.001-2 times the threshold limit value-time-weighted average (TLV-TWA: 20 ppm) proposed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, as well as 10-minute working environment measurement at concentrations equaling 0.02-2 times TLV-TWA. Thus, the proposed method will be useful for estimating worker exposure to NM.

Study on the Working Environment Measurements and Risk Management by Gas Detector Tubes in the College

Study on the Working Environment Measurements and Risk Management by Gas Detector Tubes in the College

Present problems in Environmental Health at University based on the assessments of working environment measurements of chemical materials at Tohoku University

Present problems in Environmental Health at University based on the assessments of working environment measurements of chemical materials at Tohoku University