Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Health aspects of Semiconductor industry'

Improvements to construction health and safety were driven by primary legislation promulgated in the 1970s and by subsequent regulations, codes and official guidance. In parallel social psychology, management and leadership theories were developing practical means for achieving health and safety objectives and reducing accidents and incidents of ill health. Despite the notable improvements that were achieved in countries with strong legislatives bases, the reduction in the rate of accidents has been significant but at the same time substantially falling short of providing safe and healthy workplaces. Construction sites remain places of high hazard and high risk activities for workers. Acknowledging the gains made by the compliance approach whilst challenging the underpinning assumptions on the causes of accidents and ill health, a critical theory methodology was developed to explore different perceptions and arrive at a new understanding of workplace culture within which safe practices take place. The purpose was to determine the degree of cultural maturity within and readiness of companies for the attainment of preventative workplace safety cultures, and this was achieved through the development of two projects, 1) the development of a cultural maturity index and 2) the development of an ethics reasoning pedagogy for construction professionals. Utilising a set of criteria deemed necessary for achieving success and sustainability the first project is a metric based on behavioural objectives and rational planning was designed and developed to ascertain the intangibles that would be indicative of a company’s culture. This was field tested and substantial revisions made to the original criteria resulting in a shift of focus from Corporate Social Responsibility, innovation and resourcefulness to moral agency, ethics reasoning and leadership, all of which were subject to critical evaluation and redefining on a priori principles. The resulting model, Organisation Cultural Maturing Index, is designed to develop a greater understanding of the social relationships that underpin workplace cultures and explain the many factors that come into play when health and safety programmes and practices are developed and implemented on construction sites. The model allows for the development of and flexibility in company and site specific approaches to achieving safe outcomes through respect for autonomous thought and support for collective action by all workplace employees. The model distinguished between concepts of leadership that are associated with managing operations and originates a new concept of leadership which initiates and supports agency and advocates a restructuring of workplace relationships in order to achieve safe, healthy and sustainable construction projects and contributes to a humanising ethos in work relationships. The second project is the development of under-graduate and post-graduate modules on ethics reasoning designed to facilitate moral agency through the development of critical thinking and reasoning skills and fill a gap in construction professional education. It integrates with the OCMI model through the provision of under-graduate and post-graduate programmes of study which develop the ethics reasoning skills of construction professionals facilitating their abilities to make design and operational judgements based on human and societal benefit. This project further integrates with the ethics standards required by Joint Board of Moderators and Engineering Council in respect of professionalism, and professional code of ethics such as the RICS’s. The review will further identify from both projects those elements of innovation and originality in the methodology adopted and applied to occupational health and safety and the insights and perspectives arrived at as a consequence.

Optimum construction worker (CW) performance is required to achieve project delivery within project parameters. It is not always the case as CWs are regularly exposed to hazards, involved in accidents, their productivity is poor, they suffer from ill health, suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and contractors lack resources to allocate towards H&S. However, the lack or the absence of health and safety (H&S) measures, which the aforementioned depend on, has a negative impact on workers’ performance. Two descriptive surveys were conducted among professional construction project managers (CPMs) registered with the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and general contractors (GCs) registered with the East Cape Master Builders Association (ECMBA). Interviews were also conducted with CPMs registered with the SACPCMP residing in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area. The salient findings include: • Accidents, which occur on construction sites, impact workers’ performance; • Inadequate H&S implementation affects both CW skills and motivation, which in turn affects their performance; • Poor constructability is relevant to H&S and CWs’ skills; • Provision and maintenance of welfare facilities are commonly inadequate and affect workers’ performance, and • Projects do not benefit from the adequate financial provision for H&S. It was concluded that exposure to hazards, poor site conditions, inadequate provision of welfare facilities, WMSDs, and insufficient financial provision for H&S affect workers’ performance by either incapacitating or demotivating them. Recommendations include : CPMs should make better use of their influence on clients; they should improve communication channels between project stakeholders; legislators need to raise awareness regarding H&S and worker welfare, and training and education institutions need to empower workers and professionals with H&S knowledge.

Background: Avian influenza is a serious infectious disease attracting great concerns of the world. It not only results in a huge economic loss but also poses a great threat to public health, and poultry production plays a major role of transmission as well as a locus of pathogen evolution, mutation and adaptation of avian influenza virus between wild birds and humans. Therefore, biosecurity measures along the poultry supply chains are important to prevent and control avian influenza. My objective was to summarize the past and present various measures against avian influenza in the industrial, commercial and backyard poultry production systems. Methods: A literature search was performed by PubMed, HKU Scholar Hub and Google. Based on the inclusion criterion and exclusion criterion, the relevant articles were selected with full text in English up to 11st, July 2013. Results: A total of 18 articles were found among the 474 potentially relevant articles. Among these articles, 17articlescame from PubMed and 1 article came from HKU Scholar Hub; 2 articles were closely related to industrial poultry production, 9 articles were closely related to commercial poultry production, 3 articles were closely related to village, rural or backyard poultry production and the rest 4 articles mixed the biosecurity measures in the different poultry production systems. These articles covered various biosecurity measures such as surveillance and monitoring, segregation, cleaning and disinfection, vaccination, training for workers, stamping out, controlling markets and poultry management in the developing and developed countries. Discussion: The common control measures are discussed and the biosecurity is aneffective way to prevent the avian influenza outbreaks in poultry and then to protect the health of all people. However, there were still limitations when implementing biosecurity. Due to local social, cultural, economic, psychological and political factors, it is difficult to prevent and control the avian influenza outbreaks in the poultry supply chains only by one single measure or individual. Therefore, some recommendations referring to cooperation of public and private sectors, comprehensiveness and specifity of measures, improving risk perception and education were discussed.
published_or_final_version
Public Health
Master
Master of Public Health

The prosperity of small micro and medium enterprises (SMME’s) in the construction industry is vital for the improvement of the South African economy. Unfortunately, the poor safety record of this industry negatively affects the sustainability of SMME’s and augments the loss of human lives. Owners and managers of SMME’s in the construction industry are usually financially fragile and unaware of the direct and an indirect cost associated with injuries that may result in potential profit loss and ultimately, bankruptcy. The construction industry continues to lead with high levels of fatalities and injuries compared to other industrial sectors. High levels of non-compliance with health and safety legislation in the construction industry necessitate creative interventions to improve health and safety standards. The objective of the research was to establish to what extent SMME’s comply with health and safety in the construction industry. Research was done by means of a survey questionnaire and the findings concluded that government laws are appropriate however the enforcing of such law needs attention. Furthermore, most owners are aware of the required legislation but the competitive nature allude that “that shortcuts are taken”.

Companies are expected to reduce the impact on society caused by its operations while at the same time, generate profit for its stakeholders. One way to satisfy both parts is by creating shared values. As the trend of servitization becomes more popular the ability of Product-Service Systems (PSS) to deliver additional value to customers arises. PSS provides an opportunity for developing a sustainable business model to benefit both the society and the stakeholders. A sustainable PSS can be based on the Triple Bottom Line dimensions, environment, economic, and social. Since the economic and environmental advantages have already been studied for PSS:s, the social aspect is yet to be studied in detail. This thesis focuses on the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) theme of the social dimension, for PSS:s. Both the ability to improve the social dimension performance and the role it plays in the value proposition for PSS:s were studied. The thesis has been based on a case study on one company in a Business to Business market. It was found that customers seldom demanded or mentioned health and safety aspects for PSS:s, even when an increase of OSH was achieved by the PSS. However, it could also be concluded that all interviewed thought OSH was important for the company and the employees but there were divided opinions regarding OSH, if it would be put in the value proposition or not. By analysing the customer situation and how it operates, companies should use the customizability of PSS:s to better match their requirements and thus develop the value proposition for the PSS. Cost estimations for accidents have been done which showed that one single accident can cause very high costs. It is a good investment to prevent risks which should be communicated when selling PSS:s. Furthermore, it is important to communicate both internally within the firm, and externally to customers, about what health and safety benefits the PSS will contribute with.
Företag förväntas att reducera påfrestningarna på samhället och miljön orsakade av deras verksamhet och samtidigt fortsätta generera värde till dess intressenter. Ett sätt att tillgodose båda parter är genom att skapa så kallade delade värden. Då trenden att tjänstefiera blir mer och mer populär finns det möjlighet för ett så kallat Produkt-Service System (PSS) att leverera mervärde till kunderna. PSS ger en möjlighet att utveckla en hållbar affärsmodell som gynnar både samhället och intressenterna. Ett hållbart PSS kan grundas på de tre byggstenarna för Triple Bottom Line, miljö, ekonomi och samhälle. Då de ekonomiska och miljömässiga fördelarna redan har studerats för PSS fokuserar denna studie på hur konceptet står sig för den samhälleliga aspekten. I denna rapport studeras arbetshälsa och säkerhet för PSS, både möjligheten att förbättra den samhälleliga aspekten i Triple Bottom Line samt vilken roll dessa värden spelar för en värdepropositionering för PSS. Rapporten har baserats på en fallstudie på ett företag inom marknaden för Business till Business. Det konstaterades att kunderna sällan efterfrågar eller nämner hälso- och säkerhetsaspekter i förhandlingar om PSS, även när en ökning av arbetshälsa och säkerhet uppnåddes. Hur som helst tyckte alla intervjuade att arbetshälsa och säkerhet var viktigt för företag och anställda men det var trots detta delade meningar om det borde vara en del av värdepropositioneringen eller inte. Genom att analysera kundernas situation och hur de arbetar borde företag använda anpassningsbarheten av PSS för att bättre matcha kundernas önskemål och således utveckla värdepropositioneringen för PSS. Kostnadsberäkningar för olyckor har genomförts som visar att en enskild olycka kan orsaka mycket höga kostnader. Det är en god investering att förebygga risker vilket borde kommuniceras vid försäljning av PSS:s. Det är viktigt att både kommunicera internt inom företaget samt externt till kunderna om de hälso- och säkerhetsaspekter som PSS bidrar med.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The wildlife industry in Namibia continues to grow as the production and consumption of game meat increases. However, the health risks posed by the trade in wildlife and related by-products to livestock and humans have not been fully assessed. The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential health risks related to the increased consumption of game meat and relevant by-products by assessing the quality of game meat, as well as determine the role of game meat species in the transmission of zoonoses. The microbiological quality and safety of export game meat was assessed. No differences in the aerobic plate count (APC) were observed between the years (2009 and 2010), but the mean Enterobacteriaceae count was 1.33±0.69log10 cfu/cm2 compared to 2.93±1.50log10 cfu/cm2 between the years. Insignificant heterotrophic plate count (HPC) levels were detected in 9/23 field water samples, while faecal bacteria (coliforms, Clostridium perfringens and enterococci) were not isolated in all samples. Seven serogroups, with the exception of O26, were detected in exotic species. A white tailed deer sample had a serotype belonging to O45 which confirmed positive for stx1 gene. In springbok, 5/15 pools of faecal samples tested positive for the intimin gene. No Salmonella spp were isolated, and all E. coli isolates from the meat samples were negative for STEC virulence genes (i.e. stx1, stx2, eae and hlyA). A linear regression analysis was conducted on selected variables to identify the main predictors and their interactions affecting pH of meat 4 hours post-slaughter. In an increasing order of magnitude during winter time, the pH reached at 16-36hr post slaughter in springbok heart, liver, spleen, kidney and lungs was significantly higher than pH 6.0, while no significant differences were observed from the regulatory reference (pH 6.0) in the heart. There was a positive association between the pH of game meat 4hr post-slaughter, and liver congestion. The pH of game meat 4hr post slaughter, increased by 0.11 units per mL increase in liver congestion, and decreased by 0.04 units per minute increase in the shooting to bleeding interval, irrespective of the species. Worm eggs of strongylids, Strongyloides papillosus, Toxocara spp, Trichuris spp and coccidia were found in variable numbers in both springbok and gemsbok faeces, indicating a potential risk of transmission to other species in the ecosystem. On examination of carcasses, a novel parasite, Skjabinodera kuelzii, was identified and noted to be associated with inguinal fascia and renal fat, but the public health significance remains unclear. Nevertheless, S. kuelzii should be considered as of potential significance during routine game meat inspection. A total of 12 310 springbok were harvested from 26 commercial farms over a period of two years. Tissue samples (i.e. 60 livers, 41 kidneys and 52 hindquarter muscles) were collected from randomly selected healthy animals. The mean values (i.e. above the detection limit) of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were 0.10±0.05mg/kg and 1.04±0.21mg/kg in the liver, respectively; and 0.33±0.22mg/kg and 0.905±0.51mg/kg in the kidney of springbok, respectively. The levels of cadmium and lead in the hindquarter muscles were below the detection limit. Serum samples (n=1692) collected from sheep, goats and cattle from four presumably at-risk farms, and 900 springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) serum samples collected from 29 mixed farming units, were screened for Brucella antibodies by using the Rose-Bengal test (RBT). Positive cases were confirmed by complement fixation test (CFT). To assess the prevalence of human brucellosis, 137 abattoir employees were tested for Brucella antibodies using the standard tube agglutination test (STAT), and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cattle and sheep from all four farms were negative by RBT and CFT, but two of the four farms carried 26/42 and 12/285 seropositive goats, respectively. Post mortem examination of seropositive goats revealed no gross pathological lesions. Culture for brucellae from organs of seropositive animals was negative. None of the wildlife sera tested positive by either RBT or CFT. Occurrence of confirmed brucellosis in humans was linked to the consumption of unpasteurized goat milk, home-made goat cheese and coffee with raw milk and prior contact with goats. All abattoir employees (n=137) tested negative by STAT, but 3 were positive by ELISA. The three abattoir workers were clinically normal, and lacked historical connections with clinical cases. This study illustrates the importance of microbiological, parasitic and residue monitoring as critical components of a hazard analysis and critical control point based system for game meat. The study also provides the basis for increased integrated health research, surveillance and meat safety risk analysis.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Namibiese wildbedryf raak toenemend groter soos die produksie en verbruik van wildsvleis toeneem. Die verwante gesondheidsrisiko’s wat die gebruik van wildsvleis en verwante produkte vir mens en dier inhou, is nog nie volledig geassesseer nie. Die doelwit van die studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die potensiële gesondheidsrisiko's wat wildsvleis en verwante neweprodukte vir mens en dier inhou deur middel van die assessering van vleisgehalte en die bepaling van die rol van die wildsvleis spesies in die oordrag van soönoses. Die mikrobiologiese gehalte en veiligheid van uitvoer wildsvleis was geassesseer. Geen verskille in die aerobiese plaat telling (APC) vir monsters versamel tydens 2009 en 2010 is aangeteken nie. Die gemiddelde Enterobacteriaceae telling was 1.33± 0.69log10 cfu/cm2 in vergelyking met 2.93±1.50log10 cfu/cm2 tussen die jare. Onbeduidende heterotrofe plaattelling (HPC) vlakke is waargeneem in 9/23 water monsters, terwyl fekale bakterieë (d.i. kolivorme, Clostridium perfringens en enterokokke) nie in enige van die monsters geïsoleerd is nie. Sewe serogroepe, met die uitsondering van O26, is aangeteken vir die eksotiese spesies. Monsters verky van ʼn white tailed deer is as positief vir 'n serotipe van O45 getoets, en die teenwoordigheid van die stx1 geen is bevestig. In springbok het 5/15 poele van fekale monsters positief getoets vir die intimien geen. Geen Salmonella spp is geïsoleer nie en alle E. coli geïsoleer in die vleismonsters was negatief vir die Stec virulensie geen (d.i. stx1, stx2, EAE en hlyA). ʼn Liniêre regressie-analise is op geselekteerde veranderlikes wat as die belangrikste indikators kan dien, en enige moontlike interaksie wat die pH van wildsvleis 4 uur na-slag kan beïnvloed, uitgevoer. In 'n toenemende orde van grootte gedurende die winter tyd, die pH teen 16-36hr na slagting in springbok hart, lewer, milt, niere en longe was aansienlik hoër as die pH 6.0, terwyl geen beduidende verskille waargeneem is wanneer dit met die regulasie verwysingswaarde van die hart (pH 6.0) vergelyk is nie. Daar was 'n positiewe assosiasie tussen die pH van wildsvleis 4 uur na-slag en mate van aansameling in die lewer. Die pH van wildsvleis 4 uur na-slag, het toegeneem met 0.11 eenhede per mL toename in lewer aansameling en afgeneem met 0.04 eenhede per minuut toename in die skiet tot uitbloei interval, ongeag die spesie. Wurmeiers van rondewurms, Strongyloides papillosus, Toxocara spp, Trichuris spp en koksidia het in verskillende ladings in die mis van beide springbok en gemsbok ontlasting, voorgekom. Dit dui op 'n potensiële risiko van oordrag na ander spesies in die ekosisteem. Die voorkoms van ʼn nuwe parasiet, Skjabinodera kuelzii, in wildskarkasse is aangeteken en was geassosieer met inguinale fascia en renale vet, maar die openbare gesondheidsrisiko bly onduidelik. Daar word aanbeveel dat dié parasiet as ʼn potensiële risiko faktor tydens roetine vleisinspeksies beskou moet word. ʼn Totaal van 12 310 springbokke is oor 'n tydperk van twee jaar van 26 kommersiële plase geoes. Weefselmonsters (d.i. 60 lewers, 41 niere en 52 agterkwart spiere) is ewekansig versamel van gesonde diere. Die gemiddelde waardes (d.i. hoër as die opsporingslimiet) van kadmium (Cd) en lood (Pb) was 0.10 ± 0.05mg/kg en 1.04 ± 0.21mg/kg in die lewer onderskeidelik en 0.33 ± 0.22mg/kg en 0.905 ± 0.51mg/kg in die niere van springbok, onderskeidelik. Die vlakke van kadmium en lood in die agterkwart spiere was laer as die opsporingslimiet. Serum monsters (n=1692) is van skape, bokke en beeste van vier vermoedelik hoë risiko plase en springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis, n=900) van 29 gemengde boerdery sisteme versamel en getoets vir die teenwoordigheid van Brucella teenliggaampies deur middel van die Rose-Bengal-toets (RBT). Positiewe gevalle is bevestig deur die komplement binding toets (CFT). Die voorkoms van menslike brusellose is bepaal deur 137 abattoir werknemers te toets vir Brucella teenliggaampies deur gebruik te maak van die standaard buis agglutinasie toets (STAT) en die ensiembinding immunosorberende toets (ELISA). Beeste en skape van die vier hoë risiko plase het negatief getoets met die RBT en CFT metodes, maar bokke van twee van die vier plase het seropositief getoets (26/42 en 12/285 onderskeidelik). Nadoodse ondersoek van seropositief bokke het geen patologiese letsels aangedui nie. Die kultuur van orgaanmonsters van seropositief diere vir Brucellae was negatief. Die monsters versamel van wild het negatief getoets deur middel van die RBT en CFT toets metodes. Die voorkoms van brusellose in mense in die studie was geassosieer met die gebruik van ongepasteuriseerde melk, tuisgemaakte bokmelkkaas en koffie met ongepasteuriseerde melk, asook direkte kontak met bokke. Alle abattoir werknemers (n=137) het negatief getoets met die STAT metode, maar drie werknemers het positief getoets met die ELISA metode. Die drie abattoir werkers was klinies normaal en het nie vorige kontak met bevestigde kliniese gevalle gehad nie. Hierdie studie bevestig die belang van mikrobiologiese, parasitiese en residu monitering as kritieke komponente van 'n gevaar-analise en kritiese kontrolepunt gebaseerde stelsel vir die produksie en verbruik van wildsvleis. Die studie verskaf ʼn basis vir toekomstige navorsing gefokus op ʼn geïntegreerde benadering van mens- en diergesondheid, monitering en vleis veiligheid risiko-analises.

Mankind, and the development of people, exists due to risk-taking behaviour. It is not that humans should not take risks, but rather the ability to identify the magnitude of risk exposure in order that mankind‟s actions would be so selected as to mitigate exposed risk factors, that no harm should befall them. The approach to health and safety (H&S) has always been to manage H&S environmental factors that could have a negative impact on people, capital, and organisational systems. However, the critical component of human risk-taking behaviour that would have a far greater impact has rarely been acknowledged as part of the drivers that increase risk exposure. Human behaviour is a major contributing factor in accident causation. Although human error cannot be completely eliminated, it should be identified and correctly managed according to each individual‟s risk-taking profile. The reason people decide to take certain risks under certain conditions and the effect it has on H&S management systems is a key component to managing organisational risk exposure. To quantify the value of individual risk-taking behaviour could provide management with better opportunities of lowering the organisational risk exposure. Human risk-taking behaviour is influenced by each individual‟s perception of risk. Such perception of risk will influence decisions on risk-taking behaviour, which in turn is influenced by the individual‟s psychological profile and environmental factors, including character and the impact of a cultural environment. The electrical construction and maintenance industry differs from other similar industries in that the physical entity of electricity requires not only sensory perception for the identification and evaluation of risk factors, but also requires specialised knowledge and testing equipment to evaluate the parameters of electrical installation, plant or equipment. Without such competence, direct exposure to most electrical installations could be fatal. The optimum human resource (HR) solution for managing the risk potential of high risk-taking behaviour is the rating and allocation of specific job tasks that can match and limit the individual potential for risk-taking behaviour and the impact on organisational incident statistics. Maintaining and optimising employee job performance enables organisations to better achieve pre-set goals and missions. Such improvements being a catalyst for better job performance by setting limitations on high risk-taking behaviour, that will improve H&S performance by lowering incident rates.

Health and safety issues have always been a major problem and concern in the construction industry. Wherever reliable records are available, construction is found to be one of the most dangerous on health and safety criteria, particularly in developing countries. Efforts have been made to address this problem, but the results have been far from satisfactory, as construction accidents continue to dominate the overall construction industry. Despite the programs implemented by government authorities and measures introduced by companies themselves, the number of construction accidents still remains alarmingly high. In developing countries, safety rules usually do not exist; if they do, the regulatory authority is usually very weak in implementing such rules effectively. The UAE is one of developing countries that are currently enjoying a strong growth in construction activities. Unfortunately, some sectors of its construction industry suffer from poor safety and health conditions. Any framework of the existing occupational and health conditions is fragmented and inadequately enforced, making construction sites more hazardous. It may even be argued that relevant regulations are outdated and irrelevant in day-to-day construction operations. From this perspective this research explores the approved methods adopted in the UK in order to improve the existing code of practice in the UAE and thus introduce the foundations on which appropriate health and safety systems may be built. A framework for Health and Safety management in the UK is suggested. To reach this objective an overview of the published materials as well as the legislation has been undertaken. Questionnaires were designed and distributed to potential construction industry players and interview sessions have been conducted to meet the first objective of the project which to determine the health and safety measures currently applied on construction sites. In addition, structured interviews were carried out with selected managers from a selection of construction and oil companies, medium and large size. This thesis specifically, it investigates the safety perceptions, attitudes, and behaviour of construction workers and management safety practices. Based upon the analysis of the results, this study has demonstrated that the majority of those questioned UAE construction companies have a poor degree of risk awareness and do not seems to take health and safety as an important issue.

Thesis (Masters Diploma in Technology (Public Health)) -- Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 1992
In order to evaluate a health education programme for food handlers at a meat plant, a bakery/confectionery and a catering premises, changes in hygiene were assessed by the bacteriological analysis of swabs for hygiene indicator organisms from food contact surfaces. In this evaluation three phases were established on the basis of bacteriological assessment prior to, during and after the education programme. The first phase involved the establishment of a base line for hygiene indicator organisms prior to the education programme by taking 5 sets of bacteriological swabs over a two month period at each of the three premises, each swab set consisting of 14 swabs of food contact surfaces making a total of 210 swabs. During this time the food hygiene educational needs of the employees were assessed and on this basis a set of three video taped presentations were produced relating respectively to personal hygiene, environmental hygiene and food handling practices. The second phase consisted of the implementation of a health education programme involving consecutive tutorial sessions at one month intervals during which the video taped programme was presented. At this stage a further 5 sets of bacteriological swabs was taken at each of the premises. The third phase involved the assessment of hygiene shortly after completion of the education programme by taking a final 5 sets of bacteriological swabs of food contact surfaces at each of the premises over a further two month period. Statistically significant reductions in a number of the indicator organisms were observed during the course of the study.

Coliform bacteria have long been used to indicate fecal contamination of food, water, and solid surfaces, and thus the presence of a health hazard. In this study, the in-mill water and external effluent treatment systems of seven typical Canadian pulp and paper mills were shown to support the growth of numerous coliforms, especially Klebsiella spp, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., and Citrobacter spp . Mill coliforms were shown to be not just simple transients from feedwater or furnish (wood), but to be continuously growing, especially in the primary clarifiers. Therefore, coliforms and fecal coliforms cannot be used as fecal contamination indicators in pulp and paper mill water and effluent treatment systems.
N2-fixing coliform populations were detected in mill water systems and were analyzed using N2-fixation assays and nitrogenase gene (nifH) probing. Both active in situ populations and cultured microbial isolates were tested. Active N2-fixation was demonstrated in six primary clarifiers. Measurement of the numbers and composition of the total culturable bacterial community in a primary clarifier revealed that approximately 50% of all aerobic cells contained nifH , of which >90% were Klebsiella. Coliforms growing on MacConkey agar plates from the primary clarifier were all identified as Klebsiella and 100% of these Klebsiella contained the nifH gene. Preliminary estimates indicate that the amount of N2 fixed per day is substantial in some clarifiers.

[Truncated abstract] This thesis examines the health outcomes of women exposed to blue asbestos at Wittenoom, Western Australia. Blue asbestos was mined and milled from 1943 to 1966 by the Australian Blue Asbestos Company (ABA) at Wittenoom, 1,600km from Perth in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia. The original work for this thesis is presented in six manuscripts, some of which have been published in peer-reviewed Journals. The following aims have been investigated. 1. (a) To compare the all-cause mortality rates of women who lived at Wittenoom compared with all-cause mortality rates of the Western Australian female population (b) To assess the exposure-response relationship between asbestos and mortality in women. 2. (a) To compare the incidence rates of common cancers in women who lived at Wittenoom, compared with the incidence rates of these cancers in the Western Australian female population. (b) To assess the exposure-response relationship between asbestos and cancer incidence at various sites in women. 3. (a) To determine if reproductive cancers (ovarian, uterine cervical and corpus and breast) and gestational trophoblastic diseases are associated with asbestos exposure. v (b) To determine if ovarian cancer has been misclassified as malignant peritoneal mesothelioma or vice versa. (c) To determine if colon cancer has been misclassified as malignant peritoneal mesothelioma or vice versa. (d) To assess the exposure-response relationship between asbestos and reproductive cancer incidence. 4. To assess the susceptibility of women to asbestos exposure in comparison with men with similar exposure histories. 5. To predict the future mortality from malignant mesothelioma among women who lived at Wittenoom. '...' The Wittenoom crocidolite industry has had a damaging impact upon the health of the women workers and residents who lived there. Wittenoom women are more likely to die from malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, all cancers and all causes than women in the Western Australian population. This brief period of crocidolite mining in Western Australia's history will continue to exert a detrimental impact upon the future of the women who lived there, with another 66 to 87 mesotheliomas predicted to occur to the end of 2030.

This thesis reports on a quantitative exposure assessment and on an analysis of the attributes of the data used in the estimations, in particular distinguishing between its uncertainty and variability. A retrospective assessment of exposure to benzene was carried out for a case control study of leukaemia in the Australian petroleum industry. The study used the mean of personal task-based measurements (Base Estimates) in a deterministic algorithm and applied factors to model back to places, times etc for which no exposure measurements were available. Mean daily exposures were estimated, on an individual subject basis, by summing the task-based exposures. These mean exposures were multiplied by the years spent on each job to provide exposure estimates in ppm-years. These were summed to provide a Cumulative Estimate for each subject. Validation was completed for the model and key inputs. Exposures were low, most jobs were below TWA of 5 ppm benzene. Exposures in terminals were generally higher than at refineries. Cumulative Estimates ranged from 0.005 to 50.9 ppm-years, with 84 percent less than 10 ppm-years. Exposure probability distributions were developed for tanker drivers using Monte Carlo simulation of the exposure estimation algorithm. The outcome was a lognormal distribution of exposure for each driver. These provide the basis for alternative risk assessment metrics e.g. the frequency of short but intense exposures which provided only a minimal contribution to the long-term average exposure but may increase risk of leukaemia. The effect of different inputs to the model were examined and their significance assessed using Monte Carlo simulation. The Base Estimates were the most important determinant of exposure in the model. The sources of variability in the measured data were examined, including the effect of having censored data and the between and within-worker variability. The sources of uncertainty in the exposure estimates were analysed and consequential improvements in exposure assessment identified. Monte Carlo sampling was also used to examine the uncertainties and variability associated with the tanker drivers' exposure assessment, to derive an estimate of the range and to put confidence intervals on the daily mean exposures. The identified uncertainty was less than the variability associated with the estimates. The traditional approach to exposure estimation typically derives only point estimates of mean exposure. The approach developed here allows a range of exposure estimates to be made and provides a more flexible and improved basis for risk assessment.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 327-346). A random population survey and a survey of vegetarians were conducted to examine South Australians' beliefs about meat and vegetarianism. Meat beliefs, barriers and benefits of vegetarianism, meat consumption, personal values, use of and trust in sources of food/nutrition/health information and demographic variables were measured.

Thesis (D. Tech. (Environmental Health)) -- Central University of technology, Free State, 2013
Some epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to high levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) may be linked with the development of adverse health effects. However there is still controversy on this matter. Due to rapid technological growth in the modern society, employees in the welding and electrical industries are highly exposed to electromagnetic fields and may be at a high risk for developing occupational diseases. The health effects which may result from exposure to electromagnetic fields are related to the strength and frequency of the fields. This study was conducted to (i) assess the exposure levels to EMFs in the welding industry, (ii) determine the possible health risks associated with exposure levels, and (iii) develop a health and safety model to guide the industry on how to reduce exposure to EMFs. The study was conducted in one mega welding company in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. Welders, fitters and office workers (88 in total) gave consent to participate in the study and completed questionnaires (ethical clearance attached). Measurements of extremely low frequency EMFs were taken in workshop A, workshop B and working offices. Measurements for magnetic fields were taken at distances of 1, 2 and 3 meters (m) from the EMFs sources. The exposure levels of magnetic fields were very high in the workshops, with welders and fitters exposed to about 7.6 microtesla (μT). Electric fields were relatively low in all workstations. Participants in the study were experiencing symptoms of ill health such as headaches, sleep disorders, fatigue and distress. The symptoms reported by the workers were similar in the both groups (exposed and control). There is no clear relationship between recorded exposure levels and the development of the reported symptoms. The health and safety model was developed to guide the industry to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields. The model describes the implementation of engineering and administrative control measures in an effort to reduce exposure to EMFs. The model also highlights the importance of wearing personal protective equipment to shield against EMFs amongst others. This study suggests that occupational exposure to high levels of extremely low frequency EMFs may increase the risk for development of chronic diseases such as leukaemia, brain and breast cancer and other diseases among highly exposed employees. Implementation of safety measures is necessary to reduce exposure to EMFs.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Meat processing industries in South Africa are faced with the challenge to produce a variety of white meats. This is due to the fact that consumers tend to consume less red meat and more chicken and pork that are perceived to be healthier due to the negative publicity surrounding red meat and health. The nutritional emphasis is on leaner carcasses and an increase in the consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids while reducing the ratio of n-6:n-3 polyunsaturated fats in the diet. Another way in which this can be achieved is through introducing rabbit meat which has low fat, low cholesterol content and high protein content, while displaying a positive fatty acid profile. Carcass quality and meat quality in rabbits may to a large extent be affected by age of slaughter and type of breed. This study had a dual purpose. Firstly it aimed at quantifying the effects of breed and age on parameters pertaining to carcass quality and meat quality of commercial rabbits, namely California breed and hybrid (California x Dutch red). Secondly, to determine the differences between ethnic groups on their perceptions towards rabbit meat, thereby providing information on its marketing potential. To accomplish the first objective 50 rabbits from the two breeds were housed in individual cages, weighed on weekly basis and fed ad libitum. The rabbits were slaughtered at 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 weeks of age (n=5 from each breed). For the second objective the perceptions of three ethnic groups on factors affecting consumers' choice of rabbit meat were determined through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was tested for validity beforehand. There was no significant difference between the two breeds regarding body weight, feed intake, carcass weight and drip loss. The California breed had a higher dressing percentage (53.7%) and meat yield (29.2%) compared to the hybrid (52.5% and 27.5% respectively). Age treatments showed a highly significant difference on all parameters investigated. Increasing the age proportionately increased the amount of fat, while the moisture content decreased. The California breed exhibited higher percentages of fat compared to the hybrid at all ages of treatment. California breed contained more phosphorus, magnesium and zinc as opposed to the hybrid, the only exception being copper, where the hybrid had higher concentrations. The total fatty acid (169.2 mg/100 g) of the California breed was higher than that of the hybrid (133.5 mg/100 g). As a result there were more saturated fatty acids (55.4 mg/100 g) and monounsaturated fatty acids (62.3 mg/100 g) in the California breed than in the hybrid (44.2 and 45.6 mg/100 g respectively). Both breeds had 67% unsaturated fatty acids. Although there was no significant difference between the P:S ratio of the two rabbit breeds, the values obtained were higher (+0.9) than the value of 0.7. This is an indication that the rabbit meat contains a P:S ratio that could be considered very desirable. The n-6:n-3 ratio for both breeds were high (11.6 for California and 12.7 for hybrid). The cholesterol and amino acid profile of the two breeds were not affected by the type of breed. The consumer survey indicated that 52% (n=158) of respondents had never eaten rabbit meat before due to reasons such as scarcity, lack of knowledge about the meat, associating rabbits with pets and cultural constraints. Nevertheless, 57% of these people were optimistic about eating rabbit meat. In addition, having eaten rabbit meat before seemed to contribute positively towards acceptance of rabbit meat. Generally, respondents preferred purchasing rabbit meat in portions as opposed to live or whole carcasses. Their decision to purchase rabbit meat was firstly driven by price, thereafter freshness, leanness and tenderness of meat. The respondents expect to buy rabbit meat at a price lower than that of chicken. Rabbit meat contained low sodium and high proportion polyunsaturated fatty acids-some of the most important food attributes required to maintain and improve health. However, most of the respondents in this study were not familiar with the positive attributes of rabbit meat and need to be taught the benefits of this product.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In Suid Afrika is daar 'n uitdaging vir die vleisproduserende voedselindustrieë om 'n verskeidenheid witvleis te bemark. Dit word toegeskryf aan die feit dat verbruikers minder rooi vleis as hoender en vark eet wat as meer gesond beskou word weens die negatiewe publisiteit wat geassosieer word met rooivleis en gesondheid. Die voedingsfokus is op maerder karkasse, groter inname van polionversadigde vetsure, en 'n vermindering in die verhouding n-6:n-3 poli-onversadigde vetsure in die dieet. Een van die maniere waarop dit gedoen kan word, is die bekendstelling van konynvleis wat gekenmerk word deur lae vetinhoud, lae cholesterolinhoud en 'n hoë proteïninhoud, en 'n positiewe vetsuurprofiel. Karkas- en vleiskwaliteit van konyne word tot 'n groot mate geaffekteer deur ouderdom van slagting en die ras. Hierdie studie het 'n tweeledige doel. Eerstens mik dit na die kwantifisering van die effek van ras en ouderdom op die parameters wat met karkas- en vleiskwaliteit van die Kaliforniese ras en die kruisgeteëlde ras (Kaliforniese X Hollandse rooi) verband hou. Tweedens, om die verskille in etniese groepe vas te stel met betrekking tot hulle persepsies van die faktore wat hulle keuse van konynvleis beïnvloed, en op dié wyse inligting te verkry t.o.v die bemarkingspotensiaal daarvan. Om in die eerste doelwit te slaag is 50 konyne van die twee rasse in individuele hokke gehuisves, op 'n weeklikse basis geweeg en ad libitum gevoer. Die konyne was geslag op 9, 11, 13, 15 en 17 weke (n=5 vir elke ras). Vir die tweede doelwit, is die persepsies van drie etniese groepe oor die faktore wat die verbruikerskeuse van konynvleis kan bepaal, m.b.v. 'n gestruktureerde vraelys bepaal. Die vraelys is vooraf vir geldigheid evalueer. Daar was geen beduidende verskil tussen die twee rasse wat betref liggaamsmassa, voedselinname, karkasgewig en dripverlies nie. Die Kaliforniese ras het 'n hoër uitslag-persentasie (53.7%) en vleisopbrengs (29,2%) in vergelyking met die kruisgeteëlde ras (52.5% en 27.5% respektiewelik) gehad. Ouderdom het hoogsbeduidende verskille op al die parameters wat ondersoek was, getoon. Die toename in ouderdom was gepaardgaande met proporsionele toename in karkasvet en afname in vog. Die Kaliforniese ras het, by alle ouderdomsbehandelings, in vergelyking met die kruisgeteëlde ras, 'n hoër persentasie vet opgelewer. Die Kaliforniese ras het teenoor die kruisgeteëlde ras hoër fosfor, magnesium en sink bevat. Die uitsondering was koper waar die kruisgeteëlde ras 'n hoër waarde gehad het. Die totale vetsure vir die Kaliforniese ras (169.2 mg/100 g) was hoër as vir die kruisgeteëlde ras (133.5 mg/100 g). Om dié rede was daar in die Kaliforniese ras meer versadigde vetsure (55.4 mg/100 g) en monoonversadigde vetsure (62.3 mg/100 g) as vir die kruisgeteëlde ras (44.2 mg/100 g en 45.6 mg/100g onderskeidelik). Beide rasse het 67% onversadigde vetsure gehad. Hoewel daar geen beduidende verskille was in die polionversadigde:versadigde (P:V) verhouding nie, was die waardes hoër (+0.9) as die 0.7 wat aanbeveel word. Die n-6:n-3 verhouding vir beide rasse was hoog (11.6 vir die Kaliforniese ras en 12.7 vir die kruisgeteëlde ras). Die cholesterol- en die aminosuurprofiel was nie deur die ras beïnvloed nie. Die verbruikersnavorsing het getoon dat 52% (n=158) van die respondente om verskeie redes nog nie konynvleis geëet het nie, weens redes soos onverkrygbaarheid, gebrekkige kennis van die vleis, die assosiasie van konyne met troeteldiere en kulturele beperkinge. Desnieteenstaande is daar 57% van die respondente wat optimisties is oor die eet van konynvleis. Die eet van konynvleis by vorige geleenthede het bygedra tot die positiewe aanvaarding van konynvleis. Oor die algemeen het die respondente verkies om konynvleis in porsies te koop, in plaas van lewendig of heel karkasse. Die besluit om konynvleis te koop, is hoofsaaklik gedryf deur prys, daarna deur varsheid, maerheid en sagtheid van die vleis. Die respondente verwag dat die prys vir konynvleis laer sal wees as vir hoender. Konynvleis bevat lae natrium en 'n hoë verhouding poli-onversadigde vetsure - van die mees belangrike voedingeienskappe om gesondheid te handhaaf en te verbeter. Ongelukkig was meeste van die respondente in hierdie studie nie vertroud met die positiewe eienskappe van konynvleis nie, en moet hulle geleer word deur middel van omvattende bemarkingsaksies van die voordele van hierdie produk.

CAPES
O alto nível de ruído ocupacional é um problema presente em todas as regiões do mundo. O ruído é um agente ambiental que afeta diariamente uma grande parte de trabalhadores em indústrias e geram inúmeras consequências negativas. Pesquisas sobre o ruído ocupacional e os efeitos na saúde do trabalhador são publicados, porém, a análise da percepção individual do trabalhador sobre o seu comportamento constitui ainda um tema pouco abordado. Esta pesquisa buscou avaliar a influência do nível de maturidade dos Programas de Conservação Auditiva sobre a percepção de risco pelos trabalhadores. O presente estudo avaliou cinco empresas metalúrgicas com uma amostra de 243 trabalhadores expostos a níveis de pressão sonora superiores ao nível de ação na legislação nacional 85 dB (A). Tendo como base a revisão bibliográfica, foram aplicados dois questionários para avaliação das variáveis de natureza qualitativa. O primeiro questionário foi desenvolvido e aplicado às empresas para avaliar os níveis de maturidade em programas de conservação auditiva. Posteriormente foi aplicado um questionário para o trabalhador considerando a percepção individual do risco, a percepção dos efeitos do ruído, cultura de segurança e o comportamento de risco. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente, onde foram utilizadas ferramentas de análise de confiabilidade, análise de variância – ANOVA, Teste de Tukey e estatística descritiva para relacionar os dados. Concluiu-se que os diferentes níveis de maturidade não apresentam diferenças significativas na percepção do trabalhador, entretanto, foi possível constatar um maior percepção de risco nos diferentes níveis de exposição ao ruído.
The high level of occupational noise is a problem present in all regions of the world. Noise is an environmental agent that daily affects a large number of workers in industries and generate countless negative consequences. Research on occupational noise and the health effects of the worker is published, however, the analysis of individual perception of the worker on his behavior is still a subject little addressed. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of the level of maturity of the Hearing Conservation Programs on the perception of risk by the workers. The present study evaluated five metallurgical companies with a sample of 243 workers exposed to sound pressure levels above the action level in national legislation 85 dB (A). Based on the bibliographic review, two questionnaires were used to evaluate qualitative variables. The first questionnaire was developed and applied to companies to evaluate maturity levels in auditory conservation programs. Subsequently a questionnaire was applied to the worker considering the individual perception of risk, perception of the effects of noise, safety culture and risk behavior. The data were analyzed statistically, where tools of reliability analysis, analysis of variance - ANOVA, Tukey test and descriptive statistics were used to relate the data. It was concluded that the different levels of maturity do not present significant differences in the perception of the worker, however, it was possible to verify a greater perception of risk in the different levels of exposure to noise.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is an explanatory study into civil society's increased influence in global governance. More specifically this situation is examined by looking at the generic medicine debate that came in the wake of the passing of the Medicines and Related Substances Act by the South African government in 1997. This debate gained worldwide attention and touched some of the prevailing inequalities between the developed world and the developing world in our globalised society. The research question that is addressed here is to what extent did civil society influence the signing of the Doha Declaration of the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health by the members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001? In doing so, this thesis looks at the role of the US government, the South African government, the pharmaceutical industry, the WTO's TRIPS Agreement and civil society in the form of nongovernmental organisations like Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Oxfam and Medecines Sans Frontieres (MSF). The study applies a constructivist approach in order to analyse how civil society used global advocacy networks to inform and communicate the normative concerns regarding South Africa and developing countries' lack of access to HIVand AIDS drugs. Moreover, it examines how civil society's use of moral authority challenged the regulative power of the WTO. The study concludes that civil society played a vital role in influencing the WTO member states' decision to sign the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health. However, it was not only civil society's ability to set the agenda concerning the HIV/AIDS pandemic, but also the content of the normative concerns themselves that help explain its success. Consequently, the study further concludes that civil society's success in this specific case must be seen in light of its growing influence in challenging global governance.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is 'n verduidelikende studie van die burgerlike samelewing se groeiende invloed in globale regering. Hierdie situasie word meer spesifiek ondersoek deur te kyk na die generiese medisyne debat wat gevoer is na die Suid-Afrikaanse Regering die Medisyne en Verwante Stowwe Wet van 1997 goedgekeur het. Hierdie debat het wêreldwye aandag geniet en het geraak aan sommige van die bestaande ongelykhede wat daar heers tussen die ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende wêreld in die geglobaliseerde samelewing. Die navorsingsvraag wat hier aangespreek word is tot watter mate die burgerlike samelewing die ondertekening van die Doha Verklaring van die TRIPS Ooreenkoms en Publieke Gesondheid deur lede van die Wêreld Handelsorganisasie (WHO) in 2001 beïnvloed het. Deur dit te doen, sal hierdie tesis kyk na die rol van die Amerikaanse regering, die Suid- Afrikaanse regering, die farmaseutiese bedryf, die WHO se TRIPS Ooreenkoms en die burgerlike samelewing in die vorm van nie-regerings organisasies soos die Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Oxfam en Medecines Sans Frontieres (MSF). Die studie maak gebruik van 'n konstruktiwistiese benadering om 'n analise te doen van hoe die burgerlike samelewing globale ondersteunings netwerke gebruik het om die normatiewe besorgdhede wat heers oor die tekorte in Suid-Afrika en die ontwikkelende lande ten opsigte van toegang tot MIV en VIGS medisyne, toe te lig en te verkondig. Verder ondersoek die studie hoe die gebruik deur die burgerlike samelewing van morele gesag die regulerende mag van die WHO uitgedaag het. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die bugerlike samelewing 'n uiters belangrike rol gespeel het in die WHO lidlande se besluit om die Doha Verklaring van die TRIPS Ooreenkoms en Publieke Gesondheid te onderteken. Dit was egter nie net die burgerlike samelewing se vermoë om die agenda daar te stel ten opsigte van die MIV/VIGS pandemie nie, maar ook die inhoud van die normatiewe besorgdhede self wat bygedra het om hierdie sukses te verduidelik. Gevolglik kom die studie tot die verdere gevolgtrekking dat die burgerlike samelewing se sukses in hierdie spesifieke geval gesien kan word in die lig van sy groeiende invloed in die uitdaging van globale mag en gesag.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that at least 75% of infants receive infant formula milk (IFM) either entirely or in conjunction with breast milk during the first four months after birth. The presence of the emerging pathogen Enterobacter sakazakii in IFM has been associated with rare but fatal cases of neonatal infections and deaths. There is thus a need for accurate methods for the rapid detection of E. sakazakii in foods. At present, the methods used to detect and identify this micro-organism are inadequate, controversial and contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine the most suitable method for E. sakazakii detection after evaluation of the currently available methods. A further aim was to optimise a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the detection of only viable E. sakazakii cells utilising the DNA-intercalating dyes ethidium monoazide (EMA) and propidium monoazide (PMA). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) method for E. sakazakii detection was utilised to select 50 isolates from IFM and 14 from the environment, regardless of colony appearance. These isolates were identified by sequencing a 1.5 kilobase (kb) fragment of the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and by using the National Centre for Biotechnological Information (NCBI) database to confirm the closet known relatives. Seven of the 50 (14%) IFM isolates and six of the 14 (43%) environmental isolates were identified as E. sakazakii. The methods that were evaluated for accuracy in detecting and identifying these E. sakazakii isolates included yellow pigment production on tryptone soy agar (TSA), chromogenic Druggan-Forsythe-Iversen (DFI) and Enterobacter sakazakii (ES) agars and PCR using six different species-specific primer pairs described in the literature. The suitability of the FDA method was lowered by the low sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (87%, 71% and 74%, respectively) of using yellow pigment production for E. sakazakii identification. DFI and ES agars were shown to be sensitive, specific and accurate (100%, 98% and 98%, respectively) for the detection of E. sakazakii. The specificity of the PCR amplifications was found to vary between 8% and 92%, with Esakf and Esakr being the most accurate of the primer pairs evaluated. The current FDA method for E. sakazakii detection requires revision in the light of the availability of more sensitive, specific and accurate detection methods. Based on the results obtained in this study, a new method is proposed for the detection of E. sakazakii in food and environmental samples. This proposed method replaces the culturing steps on violet red bile glucose agar (VRBGA) and TSA with culturing on chromogenic DFI or ES agar. For identification and confirmation of presumptive E. sakazakii isolates, the oxidase test, yellow pigment production and API biochemical profiling is replaced by DNA sequencing and/or species-specific PCR with the most accurate primer pair (Esakf and Esakr). The amendments to the current FDA method will reduce the time to detect E. sakazakii from approximately 7 days to 4 days and should prove to be more sensitive, specific and accurate for E. sakazakii detection. In this study, a novel PCR-based method was developed which was shown to be capable of discriminating between viable and dead E. sakazakii cells. This was achieved utilising the irreversible binding of bacterial DNA to photo-activated PMA or EMA in order to prevent PCR amplification from the dead cells. At concentrations of 50 and 100 μg.ml-1, PMA completely inhibited PCR amplification from dead cells, while causing no significant inhibition of the PCR amplification from viable cells. EMA was equally effective in preventing PCR amplification from dead cells, however, it also inhibited PCR amplification from viable cells. PMA-PCR in particular, will be useful for assessing the efficacy of processing techniques, as well as for monitoring the resistance, survival strategies and stress responses of E. sakazakii. This will be an important step in the efforts to eliminate E. sakazakii from food and food production environments.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wêreld Gesondheidsorganisasie (WGO) beraam dat ten minste 75% van alle babas net baba formule melk (BFM) of BFM in kombinasie met moedersmelk in die eerste vier maande na geboorte kry. Die teenwoordigheid van die voortkomende patogeen Enterobacter sakazakii in BFM is al geassosieer met skaars maar noodlottige gevalle van neonatale infeksies en sterftes. Akkurate metodes word dus benodig vir die vinnige deteksie van E. sakazakii in voedsel. Die metodes wat huidiglik gebruik word vir die deteksie en identifikasie van hierdie mikroörganisme is onvoldoende, kontroversieël en teenstrydig. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die beste metode vir die deteksie van E. sakazakii te bepaal, na 'n evaluasie van die metodes wat huidiglik beskikbaar is. 'n Verdere doel was om 'n polimerase ketting reaksie (PKR) metode vir die deteksie van slegs lewensvatbare E. sakazakii selle te optimiseer deur gebruik te maak van die DNSbindende kleurstowwe, etidium mono-asied (EMA) en propidium mono-asied (PMA). Die Voedsel en Medisyne Administrasie (VMA) se metode vir E. sakazakii deteksie is gebruik om, ongeag van die kolonie kleur, 50 isolate vanuit BFM en 14 isolate vanuit die omgewing te kies. Hierdie isolate is geïdentifiseer deur die DNS volgorde van 'n 1.5 kilo-basis (kb) fragment van die 16S ribosomale DNS (rDNS) te bepaal en die Nationale Sentrum vir Biotegnologiese Informasie (NSBI) databasis te gebruik om die mees verwante spesie te bevestig. Sewe van die 50 (14%) BFM isolate en ses van die 14 (43%) omgewings isolate is geïdentifiseer as E. sakazakii. Die metodes wat geëvalueer is in terme van akkuraatheid vir deteksie en identifikasie van hierdie E. sakazakii isolate het PKR met ses verskillende spesie-spesifieke peiler pare soos beskryf in die literatuur, geel-pigment produksie op triptoon soja agar (TSA) en chromogeniese Druggan-Forsythe-Iversen (DFI) en Enterobacter sakazakii (ES) agars ingesluit. Die geskiktheid van die VMA metode is verlaag deur die lae sensitiwiteit, spesifisiteit en akkuraatheid (87%, 71% en 74% onderskeidelik) van geel pigment produksie vir E. sakazakii identifikasie. Chromogeniese DFI en ES agars was sensitief, spesifiek en akkuraat (100%, 98% en 98% onderskeidelik) vir die identifikasie van E. sakazakii. Die spesifisiteit van die PKR produkte het gewissel tussen 8% en 92%, en Esakf en Esakr is as die akkuraatste geëvalueerde peiler paar geidentifiseer. Die huidige VMA metode vir E. sakazakii deteksie vereis hersiening aangesien meer sensitiewe, spesifieke en akkurate deteksiemetodes voortdurend beskikbaar word. 'n Nuwe metode, gebaseer op die resultate van hierdie studie, word voorgestel vir die deteksie van E. sakazakii in voedsel- en omgewingsmonsters. Die voorgestelde metode vervang die kwekingsstap op violet rooi gal glukose agar (VRGGA) en TSA deur kweking op chromogeniese DFI of ES agars. Verder word die oksidase toets, geel pigment produksie en API biochemiese profiele van vermoeidelike E. sakazakii isolate vervang deur DNS volgorde bepaling en/of spesie-spesifieke PKR met die mees spesifieke peiler paar (Esakf and Esakf) vir die identifikasie en bevestiging van E. sakazakii. Die voorgestelde wysigings van die VMA metode sal die tydsduur van E. sakazakii identifikasie van 7 dae na 4 dae verminder, en behoort ook meer sensitief, spesifiek en akkuraat te wees vir die deteksie van E. sakazakii. 'n Nuwe PKR-gebaseerde metode wat tussen lewensvatbare en dooie E. sakazakii selle kan onderskei is in hierdie studie ontwikkel. Dit is bereik deur die onomkeerbare binding van bakteriële DNS aan lig-geaktiveerde EMA of PMA om die PKR amplifisering van dooie selle te voorkom. Konsentrasies van 50 en 100 μg.ml-1 PMA het PKR amplifikasie heeltemal geïnhibeer, terwyl geen inhibisie van lewensvatbare selle bespeur kon word nie. EMA was ook suksesvol in die voorkoming van die PKR amplifikasie van dooie selle, alhoewel daar ook 'n mate van DNS inhibisie was tydens die amplifikasie van lewensvatbare selle. PMA-PKR kan ook van nut wees vir die assessering van die doeltreffendheid van prosesseringstegnieke, en ook vir die waarneming van die weerstandigheid, oorlewingsstrategieë en stresresponse van E. sakazakii. Dit sal 'n belangrike stap wees in pogings om E. sakazakii van voedsel en voedsel produksieomgewings te elimineer.

The commercial mining of asbestos occurred in four Provinces of South Africa (Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga). It was initiated in the late 1800's and lasted for over a hundred years into the beginning of this century. As a producer of amphibole asbestos, South Africa far outpaced every other country being responsible for 97% of global production. The last crocidolite mine closed in 1996 and chrysotile in 2002. Anecdotal information concerning environmental contamination as a result of the former mining activities and the improper disposal of mine waste tailings has been reported by a variety of authors. Few comprehensive or systematic surveys have been conducted to date to document this issue and very little quantifiable research has been completed on the communities located in close proximity to the former mine sites to determine the extent of contamination. In 2004-2006 communities were surveyed within the Northern Cape and North West Provinces to determine the extent and severity of environmental contamination. This research developed and applied a methodology to select those communities suspected of environmental contamination, a targeted survey methodology, and a protocol for rapid sample laboratory analysis. A total of 41 communities were initially predicted by the model to be suspected for environmental asbestos contamination. Based on the inclusion of local knowledge, a final 36 communities were selected for a screening-level field assessment, 34 of which were found to contain environmental asbestos contamination at rates ranging from 20 to 100% of the surveyed locations. A total of 1 843 samples of soil and building material were collected in the screening level assessment. One community (Ga-Mopedi) was selected as being representative of the total cohort and a more detailed house to house survey was completed. A total of 1 486 samples were collected during the detailed survey. Results of the detailed survey revealed 26.2% of the homes were contaminated with asbestos containing soil and/or building material. A theoretical quantitative cumulative exposure assessment was developed to estimate the disease burden within the study area population of 126,130 individuals within the surveyed communities resulting in a predicted range of 25-52.4 excess deaths per year from lung cancer and mesothelioma due solely to environmental exposures to asbestos pollution.

In spite of the documented success of Pathogen Reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (PR/HACCP) at the processing level, farm-level and retail-level application is optional. Several factors impact the gap of food safety regulations from farm to fork. This thesis focuses on the retail level. At the retail level, pathogen survival and the associated ability to cause further disease to humans even after being subjected to certain processing and packaging conditions have varying implications on the probability of sickness or death. This issue also arises over the fact that, sometimes, appropriate handling and processing instructions are not properly followed by consumers. The primary goals of the project are to develop an optimal food safety intervention strategy that incorporates risk, cost, and the value of pathogen reduction with alternative control mechanism. We wish to evaluate incentives for PR/HACCP-like planning and adherence to best management practices that promote safe food production. These incentives will be evaluated for the retail level. In addition, we will develop optimal intervention strategies for ready-to-eat meats and poultry products that incorporate risk assessment, cost of intervention, and the value of risk reduction of alternative strategies for the farm-to-table continuum. The model adopted in this study is an expansion of the stochastic optimization model developed by Nganje, Kaitibie, and Sorin (2005) to include the optimal intervention strategy at the retail ( consumer) level. These components are simulated with firm-level microbial data at the processing and retail level using stochastic optimizer software. Stochastic dominance was also used to compare across the optimal strategies and determine if there is one clear choice that is preferred. This allowed us incorporate risk preferences of firms. The scenario method was used to determine what factors would likely affect the adoption of PR/HACCP at the retail level. Finally, this thesis provides firms and policymakers a direction for future options concerning risk mitigation strategies.

This study examines the production of masculinity in the advertisements of South Africa’s two most popular men’s lifestyle magazines, FHM and Men’s Health. I specifically focus on advertisements, as I argue that they play a crucial role in the re‐production of prominent discursive formations. Informed by a poststructuralist framework this study adopts Foucault’s notions of discourse, power and the constitution of the subject. Gender is conceived of within power relations, with a hierarchical relationship between masculinities and femininities. The gendered subject is also viewed as being constantly in process and being constructed performatively through material forms of practice. Focusing on group representations to establish gender hierarchies, I argue that these representations of people are performative acts, hailing the subjects who view them and producing reality through discourse. Hegemonic masculinity, which is argued to be prominent in advertising, is located at the highest point in the gender hierarchy. However, there is not one universal hegemonic masculinity, for it can vary across three discrete political contexts: the local, which is constructed in the immediate face‐to‐face interactions of families, organisations and social structures; the regional, which is constructed at the level of culture or the nation state; and the global, which is constructed in supra‐national locations. In the advertisements of FHM and Men’s Health there is interplay between the latter two as global and regional brands both advertise in these magazines. To investigate the portrayal of masculinities in these publications, this study first undertakes a content analysis to survey the “general landscape” of representation in the advertisements and then performs a critical discourse analysis to uncover “thick description” of the production of masculinity. The content analysis, finds that the advertisements in the sample validate both white and heterosexual forms of masculinity. The sample is comprised mostly of white males, white females and black males, generally proposing forms of hegemonic masculinity, emphasised femininity and complicit masculinity respectively. The representation of white males and black males is different both in terms of the frequency of representations and in the types of representations. I argued that a certain tension inhabits the resulting representations, which try to be inclusive of a multi‐racial South Africa, yet do so within a clearly hierarchical structure. An in‐depth analysis of eight texts, informed by Fairclough’s model of critical discourse analysis and Kress & van Leeuwen’s framework for visual analysis, finds similar results to the content analysis while providing insight into how various discourses produced the representations, particularly within non‐narrative advertisements.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Consumer Science: Food and Nutrition in the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2012
The chronic diseases of lifestyle, tuberculosis and Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome have a high prevalence in South Africa. These diseases are characterised by oxidative stress and a chronic inflammatory state that contribute to both the development and the acceleration of these diseases. Research into the phytochemical plant food components suggest that these substances could possibly play a vital role in the prevention of such disease. Corn steep liquor (CSL) is a waste product with an exceptionally high polyphenol content and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). This led to the suggestion that it could be utilised in the development of food products with functional food characteristics. Stock cubes, due to the widespread use among consumers of different socio-economic backgrounds, were identified as vehicle for the delivery of the CSL with its phytochemical content. This lead to the development of a stock cube utilising CSL as a source of phytochemical polyphenolic antioxidants with the micronutrients zinc, selenium and copper as added support to immunonutrition, along with iron due to the wide spread prevalence of iron deficiency in the South African population. The acceptability of the developed stock cube was tested by preparing savoury rice and pea soup and having blue collar (n = 50) and white collar (n = 49) participants rate the acceptability on a 9-point hedonic scale, ranging from “dislike extremely” to “like extremely”. The savoury rice received a 41% “like very much” rating followed by a 24% “like moderately” rating. The pea soup was rated even more positively as it received a 42% “like very much” rating and a 29% “like extremely” rating. In addition, among the blue collar participants, significant (p < 0.05 for each) findings occurred with a greater liking of the sample dishes prepared with the developed stock cube by participants of the ethnic Black grouping, with Xhosa as home language and being married, as well as those participants who habitually prepare the meals in the household. A significant (p < 0.05) finding with the white collar participants was a greater liking of the sample dishes prepared with the developed stock cube among those participants who would be willing to make use of a stock cube with health benefits. The developed stock cube was also subjected to six months accelerated shelf-life stability testing, reflecting twelve months real time storage. The parameters measured were microbial growth, oxidative rancidity, antioxidant status and organoleptic changes. All microbial growths tested remained within the acceptable specification ranges. Oxidative rancidity, measured as the peroxide value, was detected analytically at the fifth and sixth samplings, but was not detectable organoleptically. The antioxidant status, measured as the TAC and the total polyphenol content, remained relatively stable during the testing period. Though no noticeable organoleptic changes were observed during the stability testing, there was a darkening of the colour by the second sampling. The results of the acceptance testing, as well as the shelf-life stability testing, support the conclusions that the study objectives of developing a stock cube with functional food characteristics and it being received positively by consumers were achieved. Keywords: stock cubes; corn steep liquor; phytochemicals; consumer acceptance; new product development

In the semiconductor industry, numerous potential occupational exposures exist as a result of the diversity of chemical and physical hazards unique to integrated circuit manufacturing. The hazards associated with maintenance tasks are challenging because the sporadic nature of the tasks make exposure monitoring difficult. In particular, vacuum pump maintenance is hazardous due to the close contact with chemical waste by-products. The purpose of this study was to characterize the chemical and physical occupational exposures associated with vacuum pump maintenance (VPM) in a semiconductor manufacturing environment. The study population consisted of 9 VPM technicians at a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Oregon. VPM tasks were observed and prioritized according to potential risk of exposure. For each task studied, an exposure monitoring strategy was developed to quantify both chemical and noise exposures. Personal and area air samples of potential waste gases were conducted during maintenance tasks. All air samples were below established governmental standards. Detectable levels were found for three tasks: 0.040 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m��) of hydrochloric acid, 0.014 mg/m�� of chlorine, and 0.08 mg/m�� of fluoride containing gases during tasks associated with the metal etch tool, polynitride etch tool, and tungsten deposition tool, respectively. Several bulk samples of waste residues collected during the tasks where corrosive having low pH levels. Representative noise sampling was conducted during a 12 hour shift to characterize noise exposures. Noise samples revealed that 43% of the samples were above the 80 dBA action limit thus requiring the VPM technicians to be involved in a hearing conservation program. Field observations revealed that there were many chemical hazards associated with waste gases and residues, therefore it is likely that occupational exposures occur even though they were not detected at significant levels in this study. In addition, there were several ergonomic risk factors associated with dismantling the pump during the maintenance activities. Specific improvements in personal protective equipment, general work practices, ergonomics, and engineering controls will help to reduce the potential for occupational exposures unique to VPM. Results from this study indicate the need to conduct in depth hazard evaluations of high risk populations such as the VPM technicians.
Graduation date: 1997

碩士
國立臺灣大學
公共衛生碩士學位學程
104
Gallium arsenide is widely used in the microelectronics industry; workers involved in the cutting, grinding, sandblasting, and cleaning of gallium arsenide wafers may be exposed to gallium arsenide particles, leading to health hazards. This study targeted the health risk assessment of semiconductor industry workers’ exposure to gallium arsenide particles from the manufacture of AlGaInP Light Emitting Diode (LEDs) chips. The health risk assessment process was conducted in four main parts: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Chronic toxicity study found female rats developing alveolar and bronchial cancer when exposed to 0.1 mg/m3 and 1 mg/m3. The concentrations from chronic inhalation studies by NTP (2000) were converted to dosages and entered in the Benchmark Dose software for asssessment; the resulting estimation was 0.02 mg/kg-bw/day with a cancer slope factor (CSF) of 5(mg/kg/day)-1. To account for animal and human inhalation differences, a total uncertainty factor of 100 from inter-species extrapolation factor of 10 and human sensitivity factor of 10 was assigned. The resulting reference concentration and cancer slope factor (CSF) of gallium arsenide in human was 0.05(mg/kg/day)-1. After a walkthrough survey, lithography stations and AlGaInP trimming sations were selected to collect short-term environmental samples to assess workers’ chronic exposure. The calculated cancer risk of exposure to gallium arsenide from working at the manufacturing process was 6.15*10-7; the cancer risk of working at lithography station was 3.91*10-9; AlGaInP trimming station was 1.23*10-6. The cancer risks of exposure to arsenic and gallium were 6.97*10-8 and 1.03*10-7, respectively. The risks were all within the acceptable threshold for occupational risk of10-4.

碩士
國立交通大學
工業工程與管理系
88
The main point of this study is to discuss and establish the health and safety management system for semiconductor industry. The researcher practically discuss that by using the questionnaires and the interview which is developed according to the framework of the OHSAS 18001. The method of this study is to investigate and interview the input,process and output of the health and safety management of semiconductor industry by these tools. The result shows that there are six factors suggestions for the health and safety management in taiwan semiconductor industry. 1.The company should make employee more clear on the legislation and standard about health and safety. 2.The company should make the health and safety policy known to the public. 3.The company should put emphasis on the pursuance of legislation of the health and safety management. 4.The company should prevent the accidents. 5.The company should communicate largely with health and safety message. 6.The company should consider completely health and safety norm. In addition,the semiconductor industry either puts more costs on the health and safety management or has larger numbers of people,the employee should get more agree to the concernment of the health and safety management.

碩士
國立交通大學
工學院產業安全與防災學程
101
Semiconductor industry has important position in Taiwan finance and grows up very fast. Through the industry expanding, environmental safety and health management usually to be an important part of Business Continuity Planning (BCP). Employees have comfortable and safety working place and this is better for improving industry competitiveness. Recent years, industry safety and health management is getting more popular in many countries. Therefore, the most important job is to turn the conception to be people’s hobbit or industry culture, and not just an idea anymore. This research focuses on how to ensure that people would get improvement by following environmental safety and health regulations in order to reduce hazard risk for people and business, so we make plans for department activities and contests in order to encourage people to attend for understanding safety issue. I expect labors could learn something from these specific activities and team work by planning encouragement mode. After promoting these activities: improvement of abnormal rate is 92% ; improvement of vendors' violation rate is 42% ; improvable rate is up to 55%. Emergency tool usage is also getting higher by related activities. Therefore, Evironmental Safety Activities are not only for a professional department, also include others. We could improve and study positively every year because everyone's attandence and efforts

碩士
國立雲林科技大學
環境與安全工程系碩士班
89
The semiconductor industry leads Taiwan to strong economic growth in recent years. However, its environment, safety and health (ESH) issues gradually arouse attentions owing to its potential high pollution and risks. In addition, many semiconductor wafer foundries have aggressively constituted the ISO (International Standard Organization) 14001 Environmental Management System or OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) 18001 under the current international trends of pursing environmental protection. In order to identify the ESH issues and their relative importance for the semiconductor industry, this study first analyzed the content of newspapers from 1998 to 2000 for environmental incidents in the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park. The result showed the water pollution is the most frequent problems. In addition, based on the 1994 to 1998 safety statistical data released by the Science Park Administration, the most frequent safety problem was falling. This research also conducted an expert survey by the Delphi Method. The survey results indicated that most important environmental issues included the air, water, solid, and toxic chemical pollution, energy/resources consumption, and product design/marketing. As to the industrial safety and healthy, the results showed the important issues of personnel and equipment, and contractor safety, accidents, ergonomics and occupational health. The newly developed ISO 14031 Environmental Performance Evaluation (EPE) suggested that performance indicators should be used to help administrate management performance. So far, the semiconductor industry has utilized several indicators to evaluate different aspects-- ranging from waste generation per production unit, waste and air pollutants emissions per production unit, water use per production unit, water recycling percentage, electricity usage per production unit, CO2 emission per production unit, wastewater discharge per production unit, water pollutants discharge per production unit, the amount of toxic chemical release, the use of toxic chemical, and so on. On the industry safety side, the indicators consisted of contractor injury rate (per 100 employees), numbers of non-compliances during management evaluation, appliance breakdown rate, fulfillment of machine maintenance and repair, Lost-Day case rate (per 100 employees), cumulative trauma disorders rate and strains/sprains rate (per 100 employees). No doubt, the most crucial part above mentioned is heavily focusing on Operation Performance Indicators. Based on the principles of Pressure-State-Response (P-S-R) to develop the Environmental Condition Indicators (ECIs), Operation Performance Indicators (OPIs) and Management Performance Indicators (MPIs) described in ISO 14031 EPE, this research suggests that environment performance indicators should include waste disposal, air, water, soil and groundwater pollution, conservation on water and energy, as well as toxic reduction. Moreover, the safety and health indicators should involve personnel safety, equipment safety, accident and response, personal protective equipment, workspace environment, and personnel health and hygiene. In order to keep pace with future trends of total quality management (TQM) and company environmental report, this study suggests that the semiconductor industry should seek a way to synergy ISO14001 and OHSAS 18001 by choosing adequate indicators for monitoring and analyzing the environmental, safety and health performance through ISO 14031 EPE and P-S-R principles.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
公共衛生碩士學位學程
103
The objective of this study was to develop and demonstrate a health risk assessment process for use in the optoelectronic semiconductor industry to assess the potential health risks of chronic exposure to chemicals used in photolithography. Chemical control banding tool was first used to screen out high risk chemicals to be assessed. Human health risk assessment was conducted using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) risk assessment process. For exposure assessment, exposure modeling tool Stoffenmanager was used to predict an estimate of worker’s exposure given an exposure scenario. If the factory has collected personal sampling data, the information was used, along with the exposure model estimation as the prior distribution, to set up a Bayesian statistical update using Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. The updated distribution of the estimated exposure was then used to determine the hazard index (HI) of each compound. A photoresist had the greatest risk according to control banding. Its composition and by-products were determined by existing literatures and patents descriptions. Its main composition include Propylene glyco methyl ether acetate (also known as 1-Methoxy-2-propanyl acetate, or PGMEA), novolac resin, and photoactive compound (DNQ). Potential by-products of the photoresist include Phenol, Cresol, Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene. The dose response of each compound was re-assessed and updated when possible. Their reference concentrations and hazard indexes were determined. The resulting HIs and their 95th percentiles for each compound was 2.098 (95%: 6.59) for phenol, 11.08 (95%: 34.75) for benzene, 0.2868 (95%: 0.9025) for cresol, 0.13 (95%: 0.2628) for PGMEA, 0.02764 (95%: 0.087) for xylene, and 0.01021 (95%: 0.0.032) for toluene. Because PGMEA was the only compound that had sampling data, the HI of the other compounds were only ranked to determine compounds that should take precedence validation. Phenol and benzene in particular had the highest scores of HI and cancer risk, suggesting call for further validations.

碩士
國防醫學院
公共衛生學研究所
87
Electronic Industry morbidity cases were retrived from dataset of Labor Insurance admission information from 1985-1994. We calculate Proportional Morbidity Ratio and Proportional Cancer Morbidity Ratio to elucidate the potential higher risk morbidity or injury in the Electronic Industry. The male PCMR was found significantly elevated in malignant skin cancer and malignant pancreas cancer. The female PCMR was found significantly elevated in malignant bladder cancer and unlisted malignant urogenital cancer. The general PCMR was found significantly elevated in malignant pancreas cancer and malignant bladder cancer. A cross-sectional study is also conducted in a semiconductor factory during general health examination in 1999. Using the abnormal value shown by the examination data and after adjusting sex and age, when compared to the administration, HGB、HCT、Albumin is lower in Department of Wafer Production. As for the Department of Central Utility, HCT is lower and more right hearing loss compared to the administration.

The study dwells on one of the few companies making animal and public health chemicals in Zimbabwe. It is fairly a new company and the industry is old globally even in Zimbabwe. Chemplex has a varied product range covering grain protection, insecticides, pesticides in addition to the animal chemicals. However, Chemplex's viability is under serious threat because the existing strategies are not competitive enough for global participation. The manufacturing of products has been scaled down due to critical shortage of foreign currency. The intent of this paper is to suggest that the use of a quantitative research methodology can inform today's decision-making managers in the animal and public health chemicals manufacturing company. While not claiming to be predictive, the research seeks to develop intelligent forecasts and strategic inclinations concerning what is possible while indicating strategies for working toward desired goals. In a time of accelerating change and globalization of markets, the methodology can help in revealing to managers how to cope successfully with uncertainty and move confidently into tomorrow. In that regard, a quantitative and case study approach will be implemented. The research has proposed ISO certification, strategic alliances, outsourcing and licensing agreements as recommendations that Chemplex should seriously consider. These have been identified as highly necessary given the global trends and Chemplex's competitive potential since manpower and facilities are greatly underutilized. Chemplex does not have all the necessary resources to embark on meaningful growth and expansion on its own at the moment. The foreign currency generation will be expected to improve under such strategies as well toenable Chemplex to compete independently in future.
Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

The purpose of this research paper is to examine and evaluate the economic significance of the pharmaceutical wholesaler in South Africa’s health care industry. The pharmaceutical wholesaler experienced several challenges over the last decade. These challenges originated from changes in the competitive environment of the industry and more recent changes in the regulatory environment brought on by the State in its attempts to make medicine more accessible to the South African public. The wholesaler was forced by these changes to adapt its business model drastically in order to remain competitive. Historically the wholesaler made its profits by purchasing bulk at a discount, passing a fraction of the discount to its customers and adding a mark-up to the purchase price. It was now forced to abandon the discount and mark-up scheme and distribute medicines by negotiating a fee for the services it renders. Wholesalers now not only have to compete between themselves but also with distributors on the same basis - by negotiating logistics fees with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Operating efficiency and customer service have become essential ingredients for the wholesaler in its quest to remain competitive.
Graduate School of Business Leadership
MBL

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of M.Sc. Building (Project Management in Construction) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, 2017
The construction industry plays an important role in our lives, more specifically the residential sector, which serves to help people access their basic human right to housing. Housing is a basic human right which most South Africans are yet to realise. The high demand for housing and other forms of infrastructure by both the private and public sectors have attracted entrepreneurs who fall under the small and medium contractor categories, to venture into the residential construction mostly as sub-contractors. The construction industry is predominantly constituted of small, micro and medium enterprises. The construction industry is also unfortunately widely known to be a hazardous and accident prone sector; whereby workers are exposed to health and safety hazards on a daily basis, some which lead to loss of life. Literature has found that small and micro enterprises (SMEs) experience more occupational health and safety problems in comparison to their medium and larger counterparts. A positive safety culture is considered as an essential contributor to improved occupational safety performance in construction. Due to the highly reported health and safety challenges faced by construction SMEs, the study seeks to determine the existing safety culture of small and micro enterprises operating in private residential construction sector. The researcher explores the safety perceptions, attitudes, and behaviour of construction workers and management safety practices on small residential construction sites and therefore determine the existing safety culture. An existing safety climate assessment questionnaire was administered to workers employed at the Waterfall Country Estate, Midrand and the findings indicated that there generally exists a good safety culture on the affluent residential construction site. Unsafe worker behaviours have been blamed as the lead cause of accidents on construction work sites, but the current health and safety status of industry calls for more accountability instead of blame shifting amongst stakeholders. Interventions and strategies that seek to address the occupational health and safety of the construction industry should not be reactive, but should rather be a proactive and anticipatory process. It is therefore crucial to begin exploring proactive approaches towards the establishment of a positive health and safety culture, whereby more commitment and accountability is shown from all key stakeholders who collectively have the means to influence and contribute towards the creation of a positive safety culture in residential construction.
XL2018

The air found in a shearing shed environment is normally contaminated with many different airborne substances. These contaminants include dust (predominantly organic), bioaerosols (fungi and bacteria), and gases (ammonia and carbon monoxide). Respiratory disorders have been associated with exposure to the types of contaminants found in a normal sheep shearing environment. Twenty nine shearing sheds in the state of New South Wales in Eastern Australia were sampled for concentrations of airborne contaminants. Based on the results of this study the following recommendations are made for the shearing industry: under the current dust and bioaerosol exposure standards there are no requirements to investigate mechanical ventilation to reduce airborne contaminants and there is no need for respiratory protection in any of the monitored sheds. However, it is recommended that if a person has a known predisposition to respiratory illness/stress they should be closely monitored while working in a shearing shed. There are issues raised in this thesis that require further research including the need for an epidemiological study on the health of people working in shearing sheds in relation to their respiratory health. The monitoring of shearing sheds in other regions of Australia needs to be undertaken and based on available literature similar studies are also needed in other livestock industries in Australia.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2016
Eskom is a state owned enterprise that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to various sectors. Hence, it supports South Africa’s growth and development aspirations by constructing new electricity infrastructure. This can be achieved by adopting safety, health, environmental and quality (SHEQ) management as a business imperative. Presently, there have been a number of incidents and accidents at some construction sites of the Eskom distribution sector in the Mpumalanga province, which are mainly due to non-compliance with construction health and safety. This research project aims to determine the compliance of contractors servicing Eskom. This is achieved by checking the compliance of the health and safety file of contractors with the Safety, Health and Environmental specification checklist of Eskom. The study aims to investigate if the use of the checklist has improved contractors’ compliance by 2014. In order to achieve these aims, factors are addressed relating to the current state of construction health and safety legislation; the impact of construction health and safety on the economy; project parameters; roles and responsibilities of parties involved on construction sites; performance of small and emerging contractors. The study shows that established contractors always achieved higher compliance when compared to the emerging contractors. In 2014, 90% of contractors complied with the checklist, hence in 2015/16 the contractors can be expected to meet the 100% requirement, therefore complying with the Eskom value of “Zero Harm”.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Technology: Quality Management, Durban University of Technology, 2014.
Hearing conservation in the industrial setting has mainly focussed on the harmful effects of noise exposure on the auditory system. This study investigated the co-exposure to noise and ototoxic chemicals on the auditory system of workers engaged by labour brokers. It examined the adequacy of current occupational health and safety legislation to address chemically induced hearing loss and makes recommendations at a policy level to protect workers’ hearing at the workplace. This study is an exploratory cross-sectional field case study in an industrial setting. A sample of 300 workers was drawn from a rubber factory involved in the manufacture of components for the motor, shoe and plumbing industries in the metropolitan area of Durban. Purposive sampling was undertaken amongst a cohort of day shift workers which constituted the research subjects. The research tools used in the study included the completion of the NoiseChem questionnaire, conducting pure tone audiometric testing on research subjects, monitoring noise exposure levels and performing chemical air monitoring of the ambient environment. This study confirms that a segment of the research subjects were exposed to both ototoxic chemicals and noise. Chemical exposure of research subjects was within legal permissible limits in most instances. Noise exposure exceeded the noise rating limit of 85 dBA in certain work areas. Multiple regression analysis revealed that there was a slight trend towards co-exposure to chemicals and noise being risk factors for hearing loss with an odds ratio of 1.7 (95% CI = 0.34 – 8.57) but the p value was not significant. No significant association with hearing loss was evident for workers exposed to chemical only with odds ratio of 0.41 (95% CI = 0.11 – 1.53, p = 0.19) and noise only with odds ratio of 0.87 (95% CI = 0.32 – 2.31, p = 0.78). The study indicated that workers exposed to both ototoxic chemicals and noise may be more susceptible to hearing loss in their current jobs. The study draws attention to policy gaps in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and proposes changes to address the shortcomings.
D

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Technology: Environmental Health, Durban University of Technology, 2017.
Shift work is a necessity for many organizations. Reasons for shift work are mainly to ensure continuous and optimized operations. Many studies on shift workers have concluded that it can lead to adverse physiological, social and psychological health effects. This study examines challenges associated with working shifts at a biscuits manufacturing factory. Results should be able to assist the employer in implementing effective interventions directed at limiting the negative effects of shift work on employees. This is a convergent parallel design multi method stud among 152 shift workers in a biscuits manufacturer located in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. An abbreviated and modified form of the validated SSI questionnaire was used (Barton et al. 1995). The questionnaire contained a battery of items designed to examine the relationship of health and personal adjustment to shift work. Owing to the exploratory nature of the study, a focus group methodology was also used and this allowed for in-depth qualitative research which catered for a more comprehensive understanding of the current shift work issues. A retrospective review of injury records of employees who sustained occupational injuries between 2012 and 2013 was also conducted. The sample comprised of 85 (56%) males and 63 (42%) females. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between shift work and the likelihood of sleep disturbance, poor health outcomes and limited time for social and domestic activities, adjusting for age, sex, partner working, years working night shift, marital status, job class and years employed. Odds ratio (OR) for reported sleep disturbance was slightly higher among women (OR=1.65; 95% CI = 0.25; 10.84; p < 0.05) compared to males, but this was not statistically significant. Longer shift work experience (i.e.11-20 years) was significantly associated with better health status (OR=0.18; 95%CI = 0.06; 0.46; p < 0.05). Shift work experience (11 to 20 years) was also found to be significantly associated with limited time for both social (OR = 0.10; 95%CI = 0.03; 0.30) and domestic activities (OR= 0.25; 95% CI = 0.11; 0.57; p < 0.05) (Table 4). Age had no effect on social and domestic activities, but those 40 years and above were more likely to have limited time for social and domestic activities (OR = 3.06; 95%CI =0.60; 15.60 and OR= 2.5; 95%CI=0.47; 13.06). Those with more shift work experience seemed to have more time for social and domestic activities compared to those with less than 10 years experience. Findings from the FGD’s revealed that most participants (91%) did not get sufficient sleep time after night shift; this was mainly because of the chores they had to do after getting home form night shift and disturbances from the household and neighbours. The average time spent sleeping by majority of participants after night shift was 5 hours. Swollen feet, gastric, sleep disorders, indigestion and headaches were some common complaints experienced by shift workers in this study. About 27% of participants reported to have been injured at work before. These incidents were reported to be related to drowsiness and fatigue. The company’s incident records showed a total of 160 injuires between 2012 and 2013, of which 38 occurred during night shift. In 2012, the company recorded 65 injuries which included 51 first aid (FA) injuries, 6 minor injuries (MI) and 8 lost time (LT) injuries, as categorized by the company. 2013 had the highest number of incidents, with 95 total injuries, averaging to 7.9 injuries annually. There were 84 first aid incidents recorded for year 2013, 9 minor injuries and only 2 lost time injuries. Twenty three percent (15, n=65) incidents occurred during night shift in year 2012, of which 11% (7, n=65) were females. The number of night shift incidents slightly increased to 24% (23, n=95) in 2013 and females accounted for 9.40%. The records showed that majority of injuries happened between 17h00 and 21h00 at night. Results of this study provides evidence that shift work impacts negatively on the lives of the employees and can lead to adverse health outcomes such as poor dietary intake, headaches and swollen feet to mention but a few.
M

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Technology in Business Administration, Entrepreneurial Studies & Management Department, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015.

Recent and past events in the South Durban Basin (SDB) have highlighted the possible connection between perceived air pollution concerns and deteriorating health. The aim of this study is to explore how the SDB community perceives air pollution and if this can be related to some of the health problems that are experienced in these communities. The ultimate aim is to determine whether the respondents connect air pollution to specific illnesses and also how they perceive the actions used to combat air pollution and its negative health impacts. This information is gathered through a questionnaire conducted in various study areas both within and outside the SDB, then compared with demographic variables. This is done to determine if perception is related to direct industrial activity or if there are other factors influencing results. Variables such as race and level of education had little impact on the results. The results showed that areas within the SDB experience a high neighborhood satisfaction despite the current general belief of air pollution being connected to ill health. The control areas outside of the SDB support theories of gender and race and its relationship to air pollution, currently presented by researchers in the perception field. Strong associations’ do exist between general environmental satisfaction and gender. Perception of current legal enforcement is exerting a strong effect on air pollution perception formation. Vitally important is the connection of daily concrete experiences of air pollution with the lack of transparency and communication between industry and communities. It is resulting in the current perception of illness being connected to tangible air pollution. The aim is to further future studies on establishing links between health and air quality. Gaining insight from the study of public risk perceptions based on local knowledge and experience in particular places, will help shape the role of environmental policy and management response systems.
Geography
M.A. (Geography)

Recent and past events in the South Durban Basin (SDB) have highlighted the possible connection between perceived air pollution concerns and deteriorating health. The aim of this study is to explore how the SDB community perceives air pollution and if this can be related to some of the health problems that are experienced in these communities. The ultimate aim is to determine whether the respondents connect air pollution to specific illnesses and also how they perceive the actions used to combat air pollution and its negative health impacts. This information is gathered through a questionnaire conducted in various study areas both within and outside the SDB, then compared with demographic variables. This is done to determine if perception is related to direct industrial activity or if there are other factors influencing results. Variables such as race and level of education had little impact on the results. The results showed that areas within the SDB experience a high neighborhood satisfaction despite the current general belief of air pollution being connected to ill health. The control areas outside of the SDB support theories of gender and race and its relationship to air pollution, currently presented by researchers in the perception field. Strong associations’ do exist between general environmental satisfaction and gender. Perception of current legal enforcement is exerting a strong effect on air pollution perception formation. Vitally important is the connection of daily concrete experiences of air pollution with the lack of transparency and communication between industry and communities. It is resulting in the current perception of illness being connected to tangible air pollution. The aim is to further future studies on establishing links between health and air quality. Gaining insight from the study of public risk perceptions based on local knowledge and experience in particular places, will help shape the role of environmental policy and management response systems.
Geography
M.A. (Geography)

Introduction. Stone crushing in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania is largely an informal occupational activity, with approximately 7000 workers exposed to varying level of respirable dust. A highly marginalized, self employed, informal stonecrusher is prone to multiple work related risks, particularly dust related respiratory diseases. Aim. This study, the first to be done among informal stone crushers in Southern Africa, aimed at determining the prevalence of dust related respiratory outcomes and relationships between these health endpoints and exposure to respirable dust in this sample of stonecrushers. Methods. This was primarly a cross-sectional descriptive study with analytic components. This study analysed a subset of data collected in a health survey of stone crushers in Kigamboni informal stone quarry in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in 2007. All 200 workers working in the quarry were interviewed. A subset of 86 and 59 workers underwent exposure assessment and health assessments (spirometry and chest radiography) respectively. Associations were investigated between exposure measures and respiratory outcomes. Results. The average age of the workers was 36.3 years with 51.5% males participating in the study. Smoking was common with 30.1% male, 8.25% female smokers, with 2% ex-smokers. Personal dust sampling showed varying dust levels ranging from 0.5-2.8mg/m3 with geometric mean of 1.2gm/m3. The exposure duration of workers in the quarry ranged from 1-62 years with mean of 7.8 years. No single worker was found to use personal protective equipment at work. Reported prevalence of doctor diagnosed respiratory diseases was low: pulmonary tuberculosis (2%), chronic bronchitis (2%), asthma (3%), pneumonia (3%). In contrast, there was high prevalence of respiratory symptoms: chronic cough (13.5%), phlegm production (14.5%), productive cough (10%), wheezing (14%), mild breathlessness (9.5% ) and coughing blood (7.5%). Mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) adjusted for age, height and sex was 2.6L/min and 3.7 L respectively, among males and 2.1L/min and 3.0L respectively among females. Adjusted exposure odds ratios for symptoms were statistically significant for mild and moderate breathlessness with odds ratios of 3.4 and 3.1 respectively. Linear regression showed statistically significant decline of 2.3mls in FEV1 with years of exposure while controlling for sex, age, height , doctor diagnosed TB and smoking showing that with prolonged exposure in the quarry, workers are at a risk of developing obstructive lung disease. This trend was not evident for FVC. The majority of films were normal (60.9%), with 19.6% read as 1/0 and 19.9% as 0/1. Discussion. This study identified adverse respiratory outcomes among informal stonecrushers, particularly a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms and clinically important lung function deficits. These are in keeping with other environment studies where workers were exposed to respirable dust. Recommendations. Urgent policy initiatives for developing cost effective hazard control, engineering interventions to protect these marginalized self-employed informal sector stonecrushers are needed.
Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Patent protection grants the patent holder with a market monopoly, free from market competition allowing the patentee to charge any price; therefore medicines are sold at prices much higher than the marginal cost of production and distribution. The connection between international trade and intellectual property has aggravated human rights and public health concerns surrounding the inaccessibility of essential medicines. The World Trade Organisation‘s Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement is an international instrument which has greatly impacted intellectual property rights protection and access to medicine. It has globalized intellectual property law by obliging all Members to subscribe to the minimum international standards of protection for intellectual property. South Africa is an example of the issues faced whilst attempting to bring their domestic laws into compliance with the Agreement. The government had to attempt to strike a balance between creating an effective intellectual property infrastructure whilst realizing the therapeutic needs of those affected by HIV/AIDS. The South African Patents Act 57 of 1978 did not comply with the Agreement and was subsequently amended in order to bring its patent legislation in full compliance with the Agreement. Currently, South Africa grants patents for new uses or formulations of existing medicines consequently lengthening the period of patent monopoly by allowing pharmaceutical companies to obtain new patents for slight modifications to existing medicines. It is submitted that South Africa‘s patent legislation is more extensive than is necessary under international law, examples of this being disclosure standards and the process for compulsory licensing. In addition, it has not made use of provisions in its existing law to take measures to improve access to essential medicines, nor has it implemented legislative amendments consequent to the flexibilities established in the Doha Declaration. This dissertation seeks to review the steps South Africa has taken in its compliance with the TRIPS Agreement with respect to the relevant intellectual property legislation that has been enacted, including its implications for access to essential medicines. The intention behind this dissertation is to assess the efficacy of the intellectual property legislation in South Africa and its impact on access to medicines.
Thesis (LL.M.)-Univeristy of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

It is essential for both employers and employees to know and understand their obligations and rights about occupational health and safety. The study aimed at developing guidelines for the managers of health and safety programmes to promote compliance with OHS Act (No. 85 of 1993) among the food and beverage industry in South Africa. The study sites were from the four selected provinces of South Africa, with twenty three of them located in the Gauteng Province. A quantitative research method which is descriptive in nature was used to obtain in-depth knowledge on compliance to the health and safety legislation. Data was collected from 27 study sites using an inspection checklist and an interview- led questionnaire for the 202 employees. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Most employees on the study sites were young and therefore needed regular supervision, information, instruction and training to promote safe work and reduce injury and diseases. The study sites were male dominated. It emerged that there was general lack of consultation and communication with regards to health and safety matters between the employers and the employees. It was also noted that most study sites did not have a written and conspicuously placed health and safety policy and the OHS Act No. 85 of 1993. Majority of the study sites did not deploy adequate resources to manage problems related to health and safety at work and reduce their incidence. In addition, employees experienced injuries or illnesses at one point or the other as they were exposed to various occupational hazards. Finally, most study sites had poor housekeeping practices. Employers did not have the appropriate control measures, such as baseline risk assessments, in place. This placed employees at an increased risk of injuries and illnesses as well as the possibility of employers facing financial burdens such as higher compensation claims, medical specialist fees, fees involved in the replacement of injured employees or fees for the recruitment and training of new recruits.
Health Studies
D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)