To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: HEALTH SCIENCES, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (0354).
Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'HEALTH SCIENCES, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (0354)'
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'HEALTH SCIENCES, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (0354).'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Webster, Craig Stephen. "Implementation and assessment of a new integrated drug administration system (IDAS) as an example of a safety intervention in a complex socio-technological workplace." Thesis, University of Auckland, 2005. http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/3170202.
Full textAbstract:
The rate of injury and death inadvertently caused by medical treatment is too high and exacts enormous human and financial costs. Each year in Britain and the United States alone, hundreds of thousands of patients are injured, ten of thousands are killed and billions of dollars are spent on additional health care due to iatrogenic harm. Health care organisations remain predominately human-centred in their approach to safety-that is, methods of avoiding error rely primarily on the resolve and vigilance of individual clinicians to avoid bad outcomes. However, this approach is becoming increasingly inadequate in the face of the steadily rising complexity of modern health care and the increasing number of procedures carried out each year. In other high-reliability organisations such as aviation and nuclear power generation, safety results not from the sheer effort of “operators”, but from in-depth analysis of problems and the removal and redesign of dangerous aspects of systems-the so-called systems approach. Here I present an evaluation of the integrated drug administration system (IDAS) as an example of the systems approach, intended to reorganise the way in which anaesthetists give drugs to improve performance and facilitate safe practice. The problem of drug error in anaesthesia is an important subset of iatrogenic harm in medicine. From the prospective study of 10806 conventional anaesthetics I define the rate of drug error in anaesthesia as one error in every 133 anaesthetics conducted-a rate five times higher than anything previously reported. In addition, anaesthetists rated the risk of harming a patient through drug error in the course of their career as high. I discuss the principles of safe system design, the psychology of error, and advanced systems safety concepts with respect to the design of the IDAS and the future of safety in medicine. In clinical use, the IDAS saved time before and during anaesthesia, and was rated by anaesthetists as significantly safer and more useable than conventional methods of drug administration. This work supports the hypothesis that error in anaesthesia can be reduced through the systematic analysis of its causes and the implementation of appropriate countermeasure strategies.<br>Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.
2
Ricketts, Mitchell S. "The use of narratives in safety and health communication." Diss., Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/416.
Full text
3
Carey, Christopher Miles. "The benefit of an effective safety program in the agribusiness industry." Thesis, Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/503.
Full text
4
Sparer, Emily Helen. "Improving Health and Safety in Construction: The Intersection of Programs and Policies, Work Organization, and Safety Climate." Thesis, Harvard University, 2015. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:16121136.
Full textAbstract:
Statement of Problem: Despite significant advancements in occupational health and safety in recent decades, injury rates in commercial construction remain high. New programs that address the complexity of the construction work environment are needed to keep workers healthy and safe.
Methods: The first step of this dissertation was to explore associations between organizational programs and policies, as measured by a Contractor Safety Assessment Program (CSAP) score, and worker safety climate scores. Next, a safety communication and recognition program was developed and piloted. It was evaluated through a mixed methods approach in a randomized controlled trial. Primary outcome measures included safety climate, awareness, communication, and teambuilding. Additionally, the dynamic nature of the construction site was quantified through an analysis of the determinants of length of stay of construction workers on the worksite.
Results: Correlations between CSAP scores and safety climate scores were weak at best, thus highlighting a gap in communication between management and workers. The B-SAFE program, a safety communication and recognition program was developed to meet this gap. It used data from safety inspection scores to provide feedback to workers on hazards and controls, and provided a reward when the site met a pre-determined safety inspection threshold (a measure that was fair, consistent, attainable and fair). In the final program design, the whole site was treated as the unit of analysis. B-SAFE led to many positive changes, including a statistically significant increase in safety climate scores of 2.29 points (p-value=0.012), when adjusting for time-varying parameters and worker characteristics. Workers at the B-SAFE sites noted increased levels of safety awareness, communication, and teamwork, when compared to control sites. The composition of workers on-site at any given month changed by approximately 50%, and the length of stay on-site was associated with race/ethnicity, union status, title, trade, and musculoskeletal pain (p-values<0.05).
Conclusions: The construction work environment is dynamic, with over half of the population on-site changing each month. This makes applying and evaluating traditional worksite based interventions challenging. Interventions like B-SAFE that are developed to address the complexities can have a positive impact on site safety measures.<br>Environmental Health
5
Labrèche, France P. "Occupational solvent exposure and mental disorders." Thesis, McGill University, 1989. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=74252.
Full textAbstract:
A case-referent study was designed to investigate the relationship between occupational solvent exposure and mental disorders. New cases of mental disorder (males, 40 to 69 years old), were individually matched for age and date of admission to hospital patients and neighbors. An occupational history was obtained from 91.7% of the sample (1143 subjects, or 381 'trios'), during a telephone interview or by mail.<br>No increased risk of mental disorders was found among subjects exposed to moderate levels of solvents, but the risk was elevated--though not to a statistically significant degree--at exposure to high levels. When diagnoses were divided into psychotic (ICD-9 codes 290-299) and non-psychotic (ICD-9 codes 300-316), the latter group presented an increased risk with exposure to high levels of solvents (odds ratio = 2.43, 90% C.I. = 1.16-5.08). No systematic exposure-response relationship was demonstrated, although there was a suggestion of increased risk of mental disorders among subjects exposed to high levels for 5 to 9 years.<br>Various aspects of referent selection--with a specific comparison of hospital and population referents--were also examined as a methodological issue of case-referent studies.
6
Dhillon, Balinder Singh. "The State's role in occupational health and safety administration /." Thesis, McGill University, 1992. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=56897.
Full textAbstract:
In the following thesis the administrative strategies in occupational health and safety regulation form the primary focus of discussion.<br>The initial approach for ensuring acceptable work conditions had been through direct state intervention and the use of coercive power. In view of the limitations of this approach, over time, state regulation was replaced by the "self-regulation" or "internal-responsibility system" under which participants at the workplace were given an enhanced say in the regulatory process. Recent trends have continued to favour this shift towards deregulation of the state's administrative structures.<br>The self-regulation strategy, however, also has limited applicability and can only prove effective if applied in combination with the state's enforcement strategies. The two approaches need to be viewed as being complimentary to one another and not mutually exclusive. This being the case the state's role in the regulatory process would require re-examination and alteration to ensure an effective and efficient regulatory structure.
7
Dufort, Vincent. "Exploring the link between housekeeping and occupational injuries." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape11/PQDD_0002/NQ44415.pdf.
Full text
8
Grant, Michael Patrick. "Healthcare and Commercial Construction: The Role of Inspections Within Health and Safety Interventions in Dynamic Workplaces and Associations With Safety Climate." Thesis, Harvard University, 2016. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27201742.
Full textAbstract:
Statement of problem: Dynamic work environments and physically demanding jobs in the healthcare and commercial construction industries present workers with a constantly changing suite of hazards, and hence the changing need for controls. Workers in these industries experience high rates of MSDs and other illnesses and injuries. Hazard recognition and control are essential and inspections are essential elements used to identify and anticipate hazards and to implement corrective action as part of a systems-level approach to tackle the dynamic worksite.
Methods: Because there is a dearth of practical resources for evaluating ergonomic risk factors in healthcare environments the first step in this dissertation was to explore the development of a tool and process for identifying modifiable aspects of acute care hospital patient care units to prevent work-related MSDs. To address a lack of systems-level approaches to worksite-based interventions in construction, an ergonomics program that relies heavily on inspections was developed and evaluated on five pairs of commercial construction sites. To examine associations between physical working conditions and safety climate, the relationship between weekly safety inspections and weekly safety climate scores was examined on six commercial construction sites.
Results: The inspection process provided a structured method for recognizing hazards in dynamic and physically demanding work environments and reporting both observations and recommendations to decision makers. There were no significant intervention effects, however key challenges to intervention implementation were competing safety and production priorities and break practices leading to inconsistencies delivering the intervention and key resources to workers. Variations in week-to-week safety inspections were highly correlated with variations in week-to-week safety climate.
Conclusions: Inspection tools and processes were useful in a systems-approach to workplace interventions in the dynamic industries of healthcare and commercial construction. Worksite-based ergonomics interventions focusing efforts on hazard identification, recommendations for solutions, and reinforcing both positive and negative feedback to safety management and workers can have a major impact on worker wellbeing. In addition, physical working conditions (as identified through weekly safety inspections) are an important aspect of the week to week changes of safety climate in the dynamic commercial construction environment.
9
Cherry, Nicola. "Organic brain damage and occupational solvent exposure." Thesis, McGill University, 1991. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=60012.
Full textAbstract:
309 cases of organic dementia, cerebral atrophy or psycho-organic syndrome, admitted for 5 days or more to one of 18 Quebec hospitals, were individually matched to a psychiatric referent, admitted with some other diagnosis, and a general hospital referent. Lifetime occupational history was obtained by telephone. Occupational solvent exposure was assessed by (i) individual ratings blind to case status and (ii) a job-exposure matrix. Subjects working with moderate or high solvent concentrations for at least 10 years were considered exposed. With the psychiatric referent series an odds ratio of 1.44 (90% CI 1.03-2.01) was calculated for individual exposure ratings and 1.41 (90% CI 0.89-2.23) for the job matrix. The increased risk was found largely in those with diagnoses of both organic dementia or cerebral atrophy and an alcohol related condition. A similar pattern of risk was found with the general hospital referents. Adjustment for possible confounders did not appreciably alter the risk estimates.
10
De, Grosbois Sylvie. "Occupational exposures and airways disease : a study to develop and evaluate a questionnaire for eliciting occupational exposure history for community based studies." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp02/NQ44402.pdf.
Full text
11
Hill, Brian W. "The patient's perspective of occupational lower back injuries." Thesis, Capella University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3636565.
Full textAbstract:
<p> Workers' compensation programs have emerged as among the largest and most important social programs in the United States. Workers' compensation claims in the state of Michigan account for an expenditure of approximately 1.3 billion dollars annually (Michigan Workers' Compensation Agency, 2011. 2011 <i>Annual Report</i>). Back injuries are the most prevalent work-related injury in the United States. Since 2002, such injuries in the baby-boomer generation have increased at a rate of 50% (Toossi, 2005. <i> Labor force projections to 2014: Retiring boomers</i>). The purpose of this study is to describe the personal lived experiences of older (over 55 years old) injured employees as a result of injuring their lower backs at work. The study only examined occupational lower back injuries suffered while assembling automotive parts in the state of Michigan. The study incorporates a qualitative design, specifically an interpretative phenomenological analysis, to focus on the lived experiences of the participants, and underpins the theory of planned behavior to assist with forecasting and understanding the particular behaviors within this population. A four-step data analysis method was used to illustrate and understand the meaning and essence of the lived experience of the injured, older automobile assembler worker.</p>
12
Severns, Bryan. "Incorporating multiple teaching techniques into food safety education." Kansas State University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/17761.
Full textAbstract:
Master of Science<br>Food Science Institute<br>Weiqun Wang<br>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48% of known, single-setting foodborne illness outbreaks were caused by food consumed in restaurants. The lack of food handler training and knowledge of food safety concepts is a contributing factor to the continued occurrence of foodborne illness outbreaks. This report concerns food handler training undertaken with a goal of incorporating teaching techniques other than “stand and deliver” presentations to restaurant employees in the Kansas City, Kansas Metro area. Differing messaging concepts such as discussion, role playing, and hands-on segments were used. Training took place in classroom settings as well as commercial kitchen laboratories, including a working restaurant hot-food preparation line. Participants included restaurant owners, managers, as well as front and back of the house employees. Some had completed other food safety training in the past, while others had no formal food safety training. The food safety knowledge of the participants was determined in a pre-test administered just before the training session started, with the average score being 63%. The sessions began with a slide presentation and discussion of current best practices in safe food handling, followed by two hours of kitchen lab time, in which the participants rotated through several demonstration and practice stations. Areas of emphasis during the hands-on sessions were hand washing, cooling and reheating of food, proper thermometer use, and sanitizer use. Special focus was given to mimicking a hot food preparation line where employees had to handle potentially hazardous foods such as raw hamburger, and then work with ready-to-eat foods in the same area. The participants finished the training with a multiple-choice test (a score of 75% was required for recognition of the training), followed by a discussion of the test questions. The average score after training was 76%. At all times participants were encouraged to ask questions that would address specific challenges in their respective restaurants. Participants were given a post-training course evaluation to gauge acceptance of the training. Results showed strong appreciation and preference for the hands-on segments and the inclusion of industry experts as presenters. Overall, post-test scores increased by 13.6% compared to the pre-test scores. The improvement of test scores was significant (P<0.0001) indicating that the training was successful in training restaurant managers, owners, and employees about food safety practices.
13
Hua, Ye 1967. "Occupational risk factors for renal cell carcinoma : a case-control study in Montréal." Thesis, McGill University, 1998. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=21571.
Full textAbstract:
Renal cell carcinoma, which accounts for 85% of all kidney cancers, is among the ten leading malignancies in industrialized countries. To identify occupational risk factors for cancer, a multi-site case-control study was conducted in Montreal; renal cell carcinoma was one of the sites. A total of 142 cases of renal cell cancer and 2,433 controls were interviewed in this study. Complete occupation histories were obtained, and a team of industrial hygienists and chemists estimated each subject's exposure to a list of industrial substances. Statistical analyses were carried out to estimate the association between renal cell cancer and each non-occupational and occupational variable. Among non-occupational variables collected and analysed, increased risks were observed for highest level of body mass index (BMI) and a previous history of hypertension. Negative associations were found for tea and coffee consumption. Increased risks were found in the following industries: printing related service, laundries, military, wholesale and retail trade industries. Increased risks were found in the following occupations: managers, plumbers, welders, printers, nursery workers, and aircraft mechanics. Exposure to the following substances significantly increased the risks for renal cell carcinoma: hair dust, felt dust, styrene-butadiene rubber, ozone, hydrogen sulphide, inorganic acid solution, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, jet fuel engine emissions, ink, chromium compounds, and ultraviolet radiation. The above findings were not adjusted for mutual confounding. After adjustment for known risk factors using multivariate logistic regression models, one non-occupational and several occupational risk factors were associated with renal cell carcinoma. These were: high BMI, asbestos, hair dust, felt dust, styrene-butadiene rubber, ozone, exposed to any of jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and jet fuel engine emission, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and ultraviolet
14
Johns, Karen. "Occupational exposure to power frequency magnetic fields and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/26495.
Full textAbstract:
Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (MF) have been associated with leukemia. The objective of this thesis was to determine the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) associated with occupational exposure to power frequency MF. We analyzed data collected through the Canadian National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System (NECSS) from 1624 histologically confirmed incident cases of NHL and 1643 population controls. Every occupation held by subjects was categorized through blinded expert review according to its average MF exposure. Cumulative exposure indices were calculated for each subject. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression. We found no association between occupational exposure to MF and NHL risk. We did find an association between self-reported work with pesticides and NHL risk (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0, 1.6). Our findings provide no support for the hypothesis that exposure to power frequency MF is a causal factor for NHL.
15
Gonzales, Melissa 1963. "Occupational exposure to azinphos-methyl: Correlating biological markers to environmental residue levels." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/291604.
Full textAbstract:
Peach harvester exposure to azinphos-methyl (AZM) residues estimated by the Transfer Factor (TF) ratio of Dislodgeable Foliar Residue (DFR) to Daily Dermal Exposure (DDE) was compared to estimates based on the relationship between dermal exposure and dialkylphosphate metabolite excretion. DFR was monitored in four orchards from the time of pesticide application through harvest. Eleven male harvesters wore cotton tee-shirt dosimeters and provided area-specific skin washes and wipes for DDE monitoring during work operations. Urinary dialkylphosphate metabolites of AZM were also monitored and compared to DDE results. During a later harvest for which DDE was not determined, the dermal exposure estimated by the TF (1,310 μg) was comparable to the estimates based on dialkylphosphate excretion (1,456-1,534 μg). A repeated measures ANOVA showed that harvesters' cholinesterase levels were significantly lower than 'non-harvesters'. No significant reductions in cholinesterase levels were detected over time.
16
Atkinson, Glenn. "Automated mining machine safety investigation." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1996. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp04/MQ37301.pdf.
Full text
17
Yenugadhati, Nagarajkumar. "Occupational risk factors for lung cancer: A population-based case-control study in British Columbia." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/27497.
Full textAbstract:
Occupational carcinogens have been linked to lung cancer: among 74 known occupational carcinogens and carcinogenic circumstances, 37 have been associated with lung cancer. We report on a large population-based case-control study in British Columbia (2998 lung cancer cases). In the absence of a non-cancer control group, patients with cancers other than lung cancer (11,737) served as controls. Logistic regression, adjusted for smoking history, was used to examine occupationally related lung cancer risk with histological subtypes. Elevated risk was found in several occupational circumstances: metal working, mining, deck crew of ship, bakers, workers in electric power systems, construction workers (all histological types), chefs and cooks (large cell carcinoma only), and medical workers (large cell carcinoma only). Odd ratios varied from 1.6 to 4.6, with most being around 2.0. Potential exposures found in these high risk occupational groups which warrant further evaluation include: formaldehyde, radiation, electromagnetic fields, wood dust, and cooking fumes.
18
Walls, David B. "World-class safety program." Thesis, Dallas Baptist University, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3590509.
Full textAbstract:
<p> This safety research project explores the key factors that contribute to world-class safety programs for firms in the construction industry. A world-class safety program for this study is defined as a safety culture supported by all employees, and a work environment where accidents are not tolerated; zero accident mentality. This study used the Delphi methodology to identify the leadership qualities and safety processes that a company's leadership employs to influence an overall successful safety program in their organizations. The Delphi methodology obtained subjective judgments from the Delphi expert panel (55 members participated) to create objective safety information through an iterative process that is beneficial to the entire construction industry. The Delphi panel members were composed of 75% from subcontractor trades, 18% from construction managers, and 7% from construction trade associations. The Delphi expert panel reached consensus on 67 leadership qualities and 85 safety processes that improve safety performance. The 67 leadership qualities were consolidated to eight major leadership quality categories which include commitment, integrity, accountability, competence, value people, visionary, lead by example, and culture. The 85 safety processes were consolidated to four major safety process categories which include learning organization, structure, measurement and culture.</p>
19
Baris, A. N. Dalsu. "Suicide and other causes of death in electrical utility workers : their association with exposure to electric and magnetic fields." Thesis, McGill University, 1995. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=28672.
Full textAbstract:
This dissertaion comprises three related papers.<br>The first paper reports a historical cohort mortality study which was carried out among 21,744 electrical utility workers in the province of Quebec. A total of 1582 deaths were observed at the end of follow-up (1970-1988). A job exposure matrix (JEM) was used to estimate the exposure to 60 Hz electric, magnetic, and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) from the code of the last job held by each worker. The results showed no evidence of excess of cause specific or general mortality relative to provincial death rates in the cohort overall. The ratios of Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) as estimates of rate ratio (RR) in the exposed relative to the background group were also calculated. Statistically significant RRs were found for pancreatic cancer for electric fields (RR = 2.8, 95% Confidence intervals (CI) 1.13-7.01) and for lung cancer for PEMF (RR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.05-2.25). Deaths caused by accidents and violence showed significant RRs for electric fields (RR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.59-2.92), magnetic fields (RR = 1.76, 95% 1.29-2.39) and for PEMF (RR = 1.96, 95% CI, 1.40-2.71). Occupational accidents related to power lines explain for some of the excess of deaths from accidents and violence. There was a small non-significant association with magnetic fields for leukaemia (RR = 1.52, 95% CI 0.45-4.47) and brain cancer (RR = 1.59, 95% CI 0.57-4.31), but the results for these two sites were based on small numbers.<br>The second paper reports a case-cohort study to investigate a previously suggested association between exposure to electric and magnetic fields and suicide. Forty-nine deaths from suicide between 1970 and 1988 were identified in the above-mentioned cohort and a sub-cohort comprising a one percent random sample was selected from it. Cumulative and current exposures to electric fields, magnetic fields and PEMF were estimated for the sub-cohort and cases through the JEM. For cumulative exposure, rate ratios (RR) for all three fields showed mostly small non-significant increases in the medium and high exposure groups. The most elevated risk was found in the medium exposure group for electric field-geometric mean (RR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.15-6.62). The results did not differ after adjusting for socioeconomic status (SES), alcohol use, marital status and mental disorders. There was little evidence for an association of risk with exposure immediately prior to the suicide. Small sample size (deaths from suicide) and inability to control for all potential confounding factors were the main limitations of this study.<br>The third paper reports a study of validity attributing magnetic field exposure by using a worker's last job. This was done by comparing, in a sample of the cohort, estimates obtained using last job with those obtained using full work histories. The correlation between indices based on last job and those based on all jobs varied between 0.75 and 0.78. The study showed that the last job was particularly good in identifying the highest exposed individual. The results are most likely to be generalizable to other industries in which highest exposed jobs are also skilled jobs.
20
Lo, Monaco Emmanuel. "A study of forward head-body tilts in human balance control /." Thesis, McGill University, 1990. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=59541.
Full textAbstract:
The objective of this thesis was to investigate the contributions of both the vestibular and foot/ankle somatosensory inputs to the mechanisms controlling lower limb muscular activity of normal human subjects. The standing subject was modelled as a single-link inverted pendulum, producing whole head-body tilts about an axis colinear with the ankle joints.<br>A paradigm was developed whereby the vestibular and the ankle proprioceptive afferent systems were systematically and selectively controlled or eliminated. There was a greater tendency for reflex response to be activated in the three lower limb muscles when the forward tilts had an acceleration larger than 1.4 g. This was found when the whole head-body tilts were delivered with minimal changes in ankle angle or a significant change in ankle angle from the neutral position towards dorsiflexion. Frequency of occurrence was greater for the more proximal muscle when there was minimal ankle dorsiflexion, and for one of the distal muscles when there was ankle dorsiflexion. The proximal hip extensor muscle tended to have the shortest latency during whole head-body tilts alone, while the most distal muscles had the shortest latency when the tilts occurred concomitantly with ankle rotation.
21
Dufresne, André. "Decodage de l'exposition professionnelle par l'analyse de particules extraites du parenchyme pulmonaire." Thesis, McGill University, 1990. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=70181.
Full textAbstract:
Occupational histories collected during interviews in an epidemiological study and then expressed as types and levels of occupational exposure have been compared to the results acquired in a physico-chemical analysis of the particles extracted from pulmonary parenchyma of forty-two subjects with different types of cancer. The original scenario was for a group of workers, ten exposed mainly to asbestos fibers, ten to silica, ten to welding fumes, six smokers, and six nonsmokers not exposed to the target contaminants. Fragments of tissue that had been formolated or covered in paraffin were used after having been standardized by two pathologists. The preparation and analytical protocols were validated so that a representative number of particles could be counted and "reasonably" characterized from their morphology and their chemical composition by transmission electron microscopy and laser microprobe mass analyser.<br>A Kappa test revealed that there was a limited correlation at the 5% level of confidence between the work history history and physico-chemical estimators for the group of subjects exposed to asbestos fiber (k = 0.475, p = 0.001), a 10% level for the group with silica exposure (k = 0.213, p = 0.089) and at a 5% level in the unexposed nonsmoker group (k = 0.417, p = 0.003). The average pulmonary dust burden of the log-normalized values for certain minerals that were extracted from subjects belonging to certain groups of interest were statistically different.
22
Denis, Denys. "Développement et évaluation d'une stratégie d'observation de conditions à risque pour la manutention." Thesis, McGill University, 2001. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=36908.
Full textAbstract:
It is accepted that material handling is an activity presenting a high risk for injury, particularly to the back. In this study, an observation strategy has been developed and validated in order to evaluate the presence of these risky conditions while performing a handling task. Moreover, certain future utilisation conditions were specified.<br>Fifty-one observation variables were identified and an observation structure was elaborated from three data sources. These sources were: a literature review on observation grids, interviews with expert handlers and video sequences of a laboratory manual handling study where 10 inexperience subjects performed a total of 1500 container transfers. Observational data entry was recorded from a sample of these 174 sequences for which biomechanic measures were also done.<br>The results show that observations can be reliable and valid and that the diversity of observation objects can be important and extend beyond postural variables. The observations performed on an uninterrupted video sequence are the ones that present the most difficulties. The observers' experience does not seem to be an important factor in obtaining reliable results. On the other hand, the observation criteria, the training and the breakdown of variable classes are factors susceptible to influence reliability.<br>Many observation variables for balance had a significative impact on the biomechanical measure of balance, particularly when the object is taken and put down. This is the case with the number of foot supports, the weight distribution at the base of support and the position of the object, especially it's lateral deportation with respect to the body. The backward movement of the pelvis, which enables to compensate for the added external weight to the body, was significantly associated to balance. In general grouped variables, have more impact on the measure of balance than variables taken individually. Grouped variables are also less prone to variations when handling contexts are changed. For asymmetry, shoulder orientation with respect to the pelvis, back flexion, parallelism of the shoulders to the ground, and the position of the hands on the object handled all had a significative impact on the effort asymmetries when the object was taken from the plate-form. For the control and fluidity, a difficulty in finding a corresponding biomechanical measure or reliability problems did not enable us to verify whether our observations could have permitted to evaluate the risky conditions. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
23
Loosereewanich, Preecha. "Association between pulmonary dust retention and dust exposure history, silicosis severity, and the presence of lung cancer in silicotic gold miners of the Province of Ontario, Canada." Thesis, McGill University, 1996. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=40385.
Full textAbstract:
This study addressed the question of silica exposure, silicosis, and lung cancer in respect of lung particle burden. Sixty seven paraffin-embedded lung tissue samples of silicotic gold miners (39 non-lung cancer (NLC-SI) and 28 lung cancer (LC-SI)), were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for angular particles and fibres/cleavage fragments. Crystalline silica was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction on silver membrane filter.<br>Results indicated that both silicotic groups had non-significantly different concentrations and sizes of all particle types except quartz. Indeed, the NLC-SI group had a higher concentration of quartz than the LC-SI (3.77 $ mu$g/mg dry lung tissue compared to 2.47 $ mu$g/mg, p = 0.006, Mann-Whitney test). After adjusting for the differences in age at death, silicosis severity, and other dust exposure variables, but not for unknown smoking habit, the NLC-SI group still had a higher, through statistically non-significant, quartz concentration than did the LC-SI group (3.34 and 2.35 $ mu$g/mg respectively, p = 0.106, ANCOVA). This pattern was in good agreement with a pattern of a higher silicosis severity score in the NLC-SI group. The calendar year of first exposure was a prime determinant of lung burden of total particles, silica, and clay, with the coefficients of determination $ rm (R sp2)$ of 11-15%. A significant correlation between the concentrations of silica particles and quartz was observed, although quartz was the only significant predictor of the silicosis severity in the gold miners $ rm (p < 0.001, R sp2 = 20.5 %).$ A significant correlation between quartz concentration and the year interval since last exposure to death (r = + 0.25, $ rm p < 0.05)$ suggested a possibility of impaired lung clearance of quartz. Years of dust exposure did not show a significant linear relationship with any types of lung particles. The very low asbestos concentrations detected in only a small number of cases ruled out the suspicion of asbestos as a confounder of lung cancer in the miners. In conclusion, this study of lung concentration of quartz and other minerals did not support the association of silica, silicosis, and lung cancer.
24
Kongtip, Pornpimol. "Charcoal cloth as an adsorbant for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in indoor air." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=41640.
Full textAbstract:
A comparison was made between NIOSH-type, prepacked nutshell charcoal tubes and layers of commercial charcoal cloth in a stainless steel cassette designed for the active sampling/adsorption of different concentrations of a mixture of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) (benzene, trichloroethylene, toluene, tetrachloroethylene, chlorobenzene and o-xylene). Physicochemical parameters of the charcoal cloth including breakthrough times and volumes and adsorption capacities were determined for toluene and the VOC mixture. The quantitative removal of VOCs from the charcoal cloth by solvent desorption, by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and by thermal desorption was studied prior to analysis by gas liquid chromatography with photoionization detection. Optimal conditions were explored both in laboratory and industrial environments.<br>Charcoal cloth was comparable to the NIOSH tube, adsorbed VOCs being quantitatively removed at any time up to 32 days after sampling. Although solvent (pentane, hexane) desorption yielded accurate, reproducible results with a high percent recovery of the VOCs, a major disadvantage was the irreparable damage done to the cloth, preventing its repeated use. Desorption by SFE proved unreliable for these low molecular weight VOCs, both the collecting solvents and the VOCs being lost during extraction. Thermal desorption proved to be efficient, sensitive and reliable, repeated heating having no effect on the adsorptive properties of the cloth. Charcoal cloth would appear to be a useful adsorbing medium for air sampling of both industrial and office building/home environments for either single chemicals or mixtures.
25
Zelt, Ronald G. "The electrical injury enigma /." Thesis, McGill University, 1989. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=61745.
Full text
26
Nayebzadeh, Ataollah. "Lung fibre concentration, dimension, and asbestosis severity : relationships among Québec chrysotile miners and millers." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=36666.
Full textAbstract:
The objectives of this study were: (1) to compare lung fibre concentration and dimensions found in two groups of former Quebec chrysotile miners (Asbestos and Thetford-Mines) and, (2) to investigate the relationship between lung-retained mineral fibre concentration and dimension (length, diameter, and aspect ratio) to severity of interstitial lung fibrosis (asbestosis) within these groups.<br>Lung fibre content was determined for 86 former employees of chrysotile mines and mills in two Quebec mining regions: Thetford-Mines and Asbestos (Jeffrey Mine). Six lung samples were selected for each subject from predetermined intrapulmonary sites.<br>In summary, the concentrations of tremolite for short (<5 mum) intermediate-length (5--10 mum) and long (>10mum) fibres were 4, 2, and 2 fold higher respectively among workers of Thetford-Mines than those from Asbestos. These differences were statistically significant between the two groups (p < 0.05 for all tremolite size categories). No consistent and biologically important difference was found among fibre dimensions in any of the size categories (p > 0.1 for all fibre types and size categories). These observations suggested that the much higher exposure in Thetford-Mines to asbestos fibres, tremolite fibres being more apparent, is the most plausible factor which may explain the higher incidence of lung diseases among the former miners and millers of Thetford-Mines.<br>Concentration of short (<5 mum) tremolite fibres was the best predictor of asbestosis severity in both mining groups (r = 0.44, p < 0.01 and r = 0.39 p < 0.01 for Thetford-Mines and Asbestos, respectively). Chrysotile fibre concentration showed a lower correlation with asbestosis severity among subjects from Thetford-Mines (r = 0.28, p < 0.1 and r = 0.39, p < 0.01 and for fibres <5 mum and fibres 5--10 mum respectively). Long (>10 mum) amosite fibre concentrations showed a linear relationship with asbestosis severity in the group of miners and millers from Asbestos (r = 0.5, p < 0.01). Shorter commercial amphibole concentrations did not show this relationship and these fibres were largely absent from the lungs of miners from Thetford-Mines. Concentration of asbestos bodies from lung digests was significantly associated with fibrosis for subjects from Thetford-Mines only (r = 0.3, p = 0.05). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
27
Kilfoil, Monica Rosemonde. "Reliable isokinetic evaluation of strength and neuromuscular fatigue to determine the effects of pyridostigmine in subjects with post-poliomyelitis syndrome." Thesis, McGill University, 1992. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=56980.
Full textAbstract:
Two subject groups, seven PPS (4 males, 3 females) and 15 normal controls (9 females, 6 males) were matched on the basis of age, height and weight and participated in this study. Three repeated measurements were conducted to evaluate the reliability of isokinetic measurement of strength (at 4 velocities) and fatigability (25 reciprocal contractions at 3.14 rads.s$ sp{-1}$). Data from two subsequent test days were used to evaluate the fatigue responses of the PPS subjects while ON or OFF pyridostigmine. Significant strength differences were seen between the two groups, however there was no observed difference in the rate of development of fatigue. Reliability of strength was demonstrated for the knee extensors and flexors of the PPS subjects after three consecutive test days. Fatigability of the knee extensors in PPS subjects could be tested reliably after three test days but more time would be required for reliable performance of the knee flexors. Reliability of strength and fatigability was seen for both the knee extensor and flexors of the normal controls after only two consecutive test days. A beneficial effect of the drug on fatigability was not seen in the three female PPS subjects, but was demonstrated in one male subject. The drug appeared to have a beneficial effect on strength in the remaining three male subjects.
28
El-Zein, Mariam. "Respiratory and systemic health of apprentice-welders : a prospective study." Thesis, McGill University, 2003. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=82866.
Full textAbstract:
This dissertation is a result of an epidemiological prospective cohort study carried out among apprentice welders at four vocational teaching institutions in welding profession in the Montreal region, for the purpose of: (1) assessing the respiratory health of students, before starting welding, such as respiratory symptoms suggestive of asthma, lung function and bronchial responsiveness as well as immunological sensitization to common allergens and to metals; (2) providing a reassessment of the respiratory health of these same students as well as an assessment of the incidence of systemic symptoms suggestive of metal fume fever (MFF) after being exposed to welding fumes; (3) estimating the association between MFF and the incidence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and/or the presence of welding-related respiratory symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma (OA); (4) determining whether atopy, immunological sensitization to metals encountered in the welding environment, smoking and a personal history of asthma, are associated with an increased level of BHR or welding-related respiratory symptoms suggestive of OA; and (5) determining the relationship between exposure to metal oxide fumes and the outcome variables, i.e., MFF, immunological sensitization to metals, welding-related respiratory symptoms suggestive of OA and BHR.<br>The undertaken study consisted of an initial pre-exposure assessment survey and two follow-up reassessment surveys that took place between September 1998 and June 2001. During these surveys a series of tests were carried out. These included a respiratory symptom questionnaire as well as a systemic symptom questionnaire, skin prick tests, spirometry and methacholine challenge tests. Industrial hygiene sampling for welding fumes in the breathing zone of these students was also performed. The overall results of the epidemiological study are presented in three interrelated manuscripts.<br>The first manuscript describes in detail the underlying methodology. In addition, it provides incidence figures, which are lacking in the reviewed literature, for the outcomes of interest described afterwards. The second manuscript determined the incidence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and the increase in airway obstruction from baseline values. The third manuscript confirmed our earlier findings (1) of a strong association between welding-related MFF and welding-related respiratory symptoms suggestive of OA. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
29
Blench, Michael Anthony. "The effect of wearing work boots on lumbar spine flexion." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape17/PQDD_0007/MQ32529.pdf.
Full text
30
Ku, Shawn. "Disability management, developing the ideal disability management model : the Diamond Health Management model." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape7/PQDD_0002/MQ45231.pdf.
Full text
31
Scott, Jacqueline 1966. "A new method for evaluating the performance of laboratory fume hoods." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/278106.
Full textAbstract:
Face velocity is the standard variable used to test the performance of laboratory fume hoods. A quantitative testing method developed by Caplan & Knutson involves the measurement of tracer gas leakage out of a hood. Use of that method identified parameters other than face velocity that seemed to affect hood performance. In this study, a new testing method (Scott Method) was developed to incorporate hood parameters identified by Caplan & Knutson with face velocity measurements to generate a more comprehensive hood performance test method. The Scott Method consists of a semi-quantitative rating scheme that assesses the effects of traffic, diffuser velocity, equipment in the hood, and variation in face velocity on hood performance. The performance of 10 laboratory fume hoods was measured by the three methods; the Caplan & Knutson method was used as the measurement standard. The study hypothesis was that the Scott Method would yield a better prediction of hood performance than face velocity alone. This study suggests that prediction of hood performance by the Scott Method was not significantly improved relative to the use of face velocity alone.
32
Girard, Sylvie. "La reconstruction du processus institutionnel d'enquête et de prise de décision dans le domaine de l'inspection du travail dans l'Outaouais." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/9720.
Full textAbstract:
Cette recherche, de type qualitatif, a pour but la reconstruction du processus institutionnel d'enquete et de prise de decision dans le domaine de l'inspection du travail au Quebec. Plus precisement, nous voulons regarder le cheminement quotidien de l'inspecteur de la Commission de la sante et de la securite du travail (CSST) en ce qui a trait a son role dans les enquetes d'accidents et a son mandat au niveau de la prise en charge par le milieu "employeurs et travailleurs", lui permettant de proteger les travailleurs, des risques de sante de securite, dans les lieux de travail. Cette recherche nous a permis de conclure que les exigences du mandat, que l'on a confie a la CSST, est de proteger le travailleur, se trouvant, en permanence, module par une autre exigence, sans aucun doute, aussi forte; "celle de la survie economique, des entreprises, qu'elle controle". (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
33
Snider, Judy Ann. "Health effects from exposure to traffic radar units in members of the RCMP." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/9882.
Full textAbstract:
Over the last few years the lay media have raised the question whether there may be a link between the use of police radar and the development of cancer. Radar has been used to measure traffic speed since the mid 1950's. The purpose of this research study was to determine the profile of exposure and cancer outcomes in members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who have ever performed radar duties. The design was a historical cohort study involving 4 cohorts. The target population was defined as all members of the RCMP who had been assigned to highway patrol from 1973 onward. Four cohorts of subjects were identified within this population and surveyed: pensioned members (n = 1819), active members who had 30 or more consecutive days of sick leave (n = 750), a sample of active members who had less than 30 consecutive days of sick leave (n = 750) and the deceased members (n = 146). The questionnaire ascertained police service, radar unit usage, diagnosis of cancer, risk factors for testicular cancer and socio-demorgraphic information. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
34
Koestler, Mary E. "Characteristics of workers with painful acute and chronic low back pain in an urban occupational medical center." Diss., Search in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. UC Only, 2007. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3251938.
Full text
35
Hamd, Dina H. "The risk of low back pain in health care providers who work in the homes of patients compared to nursing aides who work in the long term care hospitals /." Thesis, McGill University, 1999. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=36020.
Full textAbstract:
A cohort study was conducted in Montreal (1988--1992) to test whether working in home care as a home maker entails a higher risk of developing low back pain than working in long term care hospitals as a nursing aide; and to investigate which risk factors may contribute to low back pain. Data from 978 self-administered questionnaires were analysed. Home makers suffered more than nursing aides from low back pain attributed to work. The adjusted odds ratios for home makers were: 1.63 (95% CI = 1.03--2.58) for a first episode of low back pain during 1998--1992, 2.43 (95% CI = 1.05--5.60) for disabling low back pain in 1992, 1.51 (95% CI = 1.13--2.02) for ever having low back pain as of 1992. The study subjects were divided into two cohorts, incident (newly hired persons during 1988--1992) and prevalent (at work in 1988 and in 1992). There was an excess risk of low back pain in the incident cohort; none in the prevalent cohort. The risk of low back pain was shown to decrease with increasing age, help to move patients, adequate equipment in the bedrooms, sufficient space in the bathrooms of patients. The risk increased with convalescent post-op patients, transfers of patients, seniority greater than 5 years, delivery of children, need of a patient-lift. Disabling low back pain could be reduced by introducing the following preventive measures: adequate bedroom equipment, help to move patients, training, sufficient space in the bathrooms, less transfers of patients.
36
Drew-Nord, Dana C. "Cardiovascular risk factors in career firefighters." Diss., Search in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. UC Only, 2009. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3359546.
Full text
37
Burgel, Barbara J. "Psychosocial work factors and shoulder pain in hotel room cleaners." Diss., Search in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. UC Only, 2008. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3339180.
Full text
38
Periard, Julien. "The effect of exercise intensity on post-exercise skin blood flow control." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/26343.
Full textAbstract:
Exercise induces a residual post-exercise increase in the core temperature threshold at which cutaneous vasodilation and sweating begins. The hypothesis that exercise intensity causes a parallel increase in the post-exercise onset threshold for cutaneous vasodilation mediated by an attenuation of active vasodilator activity, was tested in nine subjects. The effect of exercise intensity on the esophageal temperature threshold for the onset of sweating was also evaluated. Esophageal temperature was monitored as an index of core temperature while sweat rate was measured using a ventilated capsule placed on the upper back. Increases in forearm skin blood flow and mean arterial blood pressure were measured and used to calculate cutaneous vascular conductance at two superficial sites, one with intact alpha-adrenergic vasoconstrictor activity and one infused with bretylium tosylate. On four separate days, subjects either remained seated for 35 min or performed 15 min treadmill running at 55, 70 or 85% VO2max followed by 20 min seated recovery. A liquid conditioned suit was used to increase mean skin temperature until cutaneous vasodilation and sweating occurred. It is concluded that intensity of exercise has a prolonged residual effect on the post-exercise vasomotor and sudomotor response by increasing the esophageal temperature at which onset of vasodilation and sweating occurs. Furthermore, the post-exercise increase in onset threshold for vasodilation is likely caused by an attenuation of active vasodilator activity modulated by baroreceptor reflexes in response to post-exercise hypotension.
39
Zhang, Jinming. "Mixed Metals Exposure, Cardiac Autonomic Responses, Inflammation and DNA Methylation." Thesis, Harvard University, 2016. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27201714.
Full textAbstract:
Background: welders are often exposed to various types of metals from the welding fumes and they also have high risks of cardiac autonomic dysfunction. Knowing the hazardous components within metals mixture as well as understanding the potential underlying mechanisms is essential for environmental and occupational regulations. Objective: to identify metal components which are associated with cardiac autonomic responses, as measured by two novel markers -acceleration capacity (AC) and deceleration capacity (DC); to examine whether inflammation mediates effects of metals exposure on AC/DC changes; to identify epigenetic variants which are associated with AC/DC changes. Methods: we collected urine, blood and electrocardiogram (ECG) samples from 75 welders over six sampling occasions between June 2003 and June 2012. Urinary concentrations of 16 types of metals were determined. Blood serum samples were analyzed for inflammatory cytokines levels including CRP, IL-2, IL4, IL6 and IL8. AC and DC values were quantified from ECG recordings. Firstly, we used linear mixed-effects models with Lasso to identify hazardous metals that were significantly associated with AC or DC changes. We fitted the co-pollutants model with “selected” metals in the linear mixed model to estimate the exposure-response relationship. Then, we conducted a mediation analysis to examine whether inflammatory cytokines mediated the effects of metals exposure on AC or DC changes. We report both direct and indirect effects in single pollutant model as well as co-pollutants models. Finally, we conducted the epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to identify epigenetic variants that were associated with AC or DC changes. Results: we observed negative associations between urinary mercury and chromium concentrations with both DC and AC changes. Indirect effects of metals exposure on AC or DC through inflammation pathway were not significant. We identified GPR133 gene at which methylation level changes were associated with DC values. Conclusion: metals exposures are associated with impaired cardiac autonomic functions. Our study did not provide evidence that these effects were mediated through inflammation pathway. However, DNA methylation of specific genes may be a potential pathway linking environmental and occupational pollutants exposure and alterations in cardiac autonomic responses.
40
Zheng, Yun. "Development of new "Detectsound": A computerized model for adjusting the level of acoustic warning signalization in the workplace." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/26415.
Full textAbstract:
Noise is a major aggressor in the workplace. It is widely acknowledged that noise may be hazardous to health and may interfere with speech communication. Researchers have found that noise and noise-induced hearing loss can also compromise the audibility of warning signals. A computerized tool called "Detectsound" has been developed for predicting the capability of workers to detect auditory warning signals in noise and for providing an optimal adjustment of signal levels according to the functional limits of the target worker(s). This work represents a comprehensive revision and improvement over an earlier version of the "Detectsound" model [Laroche et al. (1991), Applied Acoustics, 32, 193--214]. The main enhanced features are: (1) taking into account the hearing status for individuals, (2) incorporating the normative data describing the effect of noise exposure and age on hearing thresholds (ISO 1999, ISO 7029), (3) integrating more recent and accurate data on frequency selectivity, and (4) improving the user interface for the implemented software program. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
41
Woinarosky, Nicoleta. "The effect of exercisephysical activity on chronic pain and pain-related mental health issues, in computer workers with repetitive strain injuries." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/27934.
Full textAbstract:
This study focuses on computer workers with repetitive strain injury (RSI) that lead to chronic pain, interference with daily activities (work and leisure), getting a night's sleep, and pain-related mental health issues (e.g., anxiety and depression). People take their hands for granted, and when they suddenly lose the use of them and are unable to perform basic daily activities (bathing, dressing, feeding ourselves), may develop anxiety and depression.
This research examines how physical pain caused by RSI affects computer workers as a whole, and how workers use exercise/physical activity participation and health professionals use exercise/physical activity prescription to alleviate the accompanying pain, anxiety and depression, interviews were conducted with eight RSI-injured computer workers from the public service and eight health professionals who treat this type of injury. The results show that regular exercise/physical activity is seen to be a weapon in combating pain and pain-related mental health issues in RSI-injured computer workers.
An improved understanding of the benefits of exercise/physical activity for RSI-injured computer workers living with chronic pain and pain-related mental health issues will provide them with more effective coping strategies, ameliorate their emotional/psychological recovery, facilitate their active return to the workforce, and enhance their overall quality of life.
42
Muise, Brad A. "Wall service outlets as potential mold exposure pathways." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2008. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3337246.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 2008.<br>Title from home page (viewed on Jul 28, 2009). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-12, Section: B, page: 7425. Adviser: Dong-Chul Seo.
43
Alpmen, Ahmet Selim. "Development and implementation of a proactive safety performance evaluation system for general contractors." Thesis, Wayne State University, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3558129.
Full textAbstract:
<p> Construction safety is an essential aspect of the construction industry and measuring safety performance has been of continuing concern. Most of the preceding studies concentrated on two widely used metrics in industry to evaluate and improve safety performance, EMR and incidence rates. However, it is recognized that these metrics have shortcomings, such as being reactive and not proactive, or representing a macroscopic approach and not microscopic approach, or disregarding the events that lead to accidents and only being result-oriented. Improving safety is one aspect of a research but using an appropriate safety measure is as important. Using these parameters comes with their limitations, and they need to be well understood while drawing conclusions so as not to mislead an owner while comparing companies' safety performance or making a decision to select a safe contractor, the same holds true for the contractor's own management while self-assessing its safety performance and deficiencies. </p><p> This study focused on a new safety performance metric by introducing a proactive safety performance measurement system through observed safety violations of OSHA standards. The new metric, site safety performance value (SSPV) was based on OSHA's Gravity Based Penalty (GBP) system and quantified general contractors' site safety performance to measure their ability to comply with OSHA safety rules and regulations. This metric is a leading indicator based on pre-accident driven data. It was also used to develop a new predictive model to evaluate general contractors' safety performance and examine the relationships between the project and company demographics and the proactive safety measure, SSPV, for advancement of construction safety performance. The statistical model constructed can predict future contractor safety performance, and it may contribute to the contractor selection process. The methodology additionally included an investigation of specific construction trades to find out which trades carry the highest risk in terms of safety and impact construction safety performance the most. </p><p> The findings of this study can be used by numerous groups including the general contractors, owners, safety professionals and researchers to identify where safety performance can be improved, and determine the significant parameters that could help identify the areas of concern by utilizing a new proactive safety performance evaluation system.</p>
44
Rossner, Alan. "The development and evaluation of a novel personal air sampling canister for the collection of gases and vapors /." Thesis, McGill University, 2002. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=84428.
Full textAbstract:
A continuing challenge in occupational hygiene is that of estimating exposure to the multitude of airborne chemicals found in the workplace and surrounding community. Occupational exposure limits (OELs) have been established to prescribe the acceptable time weighted average for many different chemicals. Comparing the OELs to the measured workplace concentration allows occupational hygienists to assess the health risks and the need for control measures. Hence, methods to more effectively sample contaminants in the workplace are necessary to ensure that accurate exposure characterizations are completed. Evacuated canisters have been used for many years to collect ambient air samples for gases and vapors. Recently, increased interest has arisen in using evacuated canisters for personal breathing zone sampling as an alternative to sorbent samplers. A capillary flow control device was designed at McGill University mid 1990s. The flow control device was designed to provide a very low flow rate to allow a passive sample to be collected over an extended period of time. This research focused on the development and evaluation of a methodology to use a small canister coupled with the capillary flow controllers to collect long term time weighted air samples for gases and vapors.<br>A series of flow rate experiments were done to test the capillary flow capabilities with a 300 mL canister for sampling times ranging from a few minutes to over 40 hours. Flow rates ranging from 0.05 to 1.0 mL/min were experimentally tested and empirical formulae were developed to predict flow rates for given capillary geometries. The low flow rates allow for the collection of a long term air sample in a small personal canister.<br>Studies to examine the collection of air contaminants were conducted in laboratory and in field tests. Air samples for six volatile organic compounds were collected from a small exposure chamber using the capillary-canisters, charcoal tubes and diffusive badges at varied concentrations. The results from the three sampling devices were compared to each other and to concentration values obtained by an on-line gas chromatography. The results indicate that the capillary-canister compares quite favorably to the sorbent methods and to the on line GC values for the six compounds evaluated.<br>Personal air monitoring was conducted in a large exposure chamber to assess the effectiveness of the capillary-canister method to evaluate breathing zone samples. In addition, field testing was performed at a manufacturing facility to assess the long term monitoring capabilities of the capillary-canister. Precision and accuracy were found to parallel that of sorbent sampling methods.<br>The capillary-canister device displayed many positive attributes for occupational and community air sampling. Extended sampling times, greater capabilities to sample a broad range of chemicals simultaneously, ease of use, ease of analysis and the low relative cost of the flow controller should allow for improvements in exposure assessment.
45
Simon, Philippe 1964. "Long-term integrated sampling to characterize airborne volatile organic compounds in indoor and outdoor environments." Thesis, McGill University, 1997. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=34455.
Full textAbstract:
Sampling methods used for the assessment of exposure to volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in the workplace or for environmental studies are now limited to an upper integrative sampling time of 24 hours or less. Generally, these methods lack versatility and are difficult to use. A passive sampler that can extend sampling periods was developed as part of this research. This novel sampler relies on capillary tubes to restrict and control ambient air entry into an evacuated sample container.<br>A mathematical model was derived by modifications to the Hagen-Poiseuille and ideal gas laws. This model defines the relationship between container volume and capillary geometry (length/internal diameter) required to provide selected sampling times. Based on theoretical considerations, simulations were performed to study the effects of dimensional parameters. From these results, capillaries having 0.05 and 0.10 mm internal diameters were selected according to their ability to reduce sampling flow rates and to increase sampling times. Different capillary lengths were tested on various sampler prototypes. It was found that a constant sampling flow rate was delivered when a maximum discharge rate was established under the influence of a pressure gradient between a vacuum and ambient pressure. Experimental flow rates from 0.018 to 2.6 ml/min were obtained and compared with model predictions. From this comparison, empirical relationships between capillary geometry and maximum discharge rate given by the pressure gradient were defined. Essentially, based on these empirical relationships, capillary sampling flow controller specifications can be calculated to offer extended integrated sampling periods. On this basis, sampler prototypes were configured for stationary sampling and personal sampling.<br>Studies, based on theory, have indicated that factors such as temperature, humidity and longitudinal molecular diffusion are not likely to influence the passive sampling process. Subsequent experiments confirmed that temperature changes should not significantly affect flow rates delivered by controllers, and that molecular diffusion does not have any impact on the representativeness of long-term samples. Recovery tests provided acceptable results demonstrating that selected capillaries do not contribute to adsorption that could seriously affect the validity of this sampling approach.<br>Field demonstration studies were performed with both stationary and personal sampler prototypes in the indoor and outdoor environments. The performance of the sampler compared favorably, and in some instances, exceeded that of accepted methodology. These novel samplers were more reliable, had greater versatility and principally, allowed sampling periods extending from hours to a month. These inherent qualities will assist industrial hygienists and environmentalists in the study of emission sources, pollutant concentrations, dispersion, migration and control measures. This novel sampler is presently the only device available for the effective study of episodic events of VOC emission.<br>Selected capillary geometries acting as a restriction to the entry of ambient air into evacuated sample container can provide a simple, versatile and reliable alternative for the collection of VOCs. This approach can contribute to a better understanding of VOC effects on human health and the environment.
46
Momoli, Franco G. "An application of semi-bayes modeling to a study of the occupational etiology of lung cancer /." Thesis, McGill University, 2005. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=100660.
Full textAbstract:
The occupational environment has been a fruitful source of research on causes of cancer. Analyses in studies of occupational risk factors for cancer can experience problems if an attempt is made to model large numbers of exposures, some of which may be highly correlated. Typical analyses of such studies focus on one chemical at a time, but this may not adequately deal with mutual confounding. Based on a large study in Montreal, the objective of this thesis was twofold: to assess several occupational chemicals for their etiologic role in lung cancer, and to explore the use of semi-Bayes modeling to simultaneously estimate the effects of many chemicals at a time. Methods. Data came from a multiple-cancer case-control study of exposures in the work place. The study was comprised of 857 cases of lung cancer and 2172 controls consisting of patients with other types of cancer diagnosed from 1979 to 1985. Detailed occupational histories were collected and occupational hygienists translated these into exposure histories for 231 chemicals. All chemicals were analysed with conventional modeling strategies of both single and multiple parameter models. Of the 231 chemicals, 184 were singled out for analysis in a single large semi-Bayes model, which is a variant of classical empirical Bayes. This analysis is a fairly novel method suited to estimating large numbers of parameters in the face of sparse data. For the Bayesian portion of this model, chemicals were grouped by shared chemical and physical properties, based on the belief that these shared properties would imply similar effects on the risk of lung cancer. Results. Estimates for all 231 chemicals were derived under the various modeling strategies. For most chemicals, estimates changed little across these analytic approaches, though some differences were apparent. Of the 231 chemicals assessed, 53 were earmarked as requiring further evaluation and underwent additional analyses. Discussion. While semi-Bayes models have been shown previously to offer improved estimation over conventional analyses, the gains in using semi-Bayes models in the present study were less clear. Effort put into some portions of the Bayesian modeling did not materially influence the results. A number of chemicals were earmarked as potential lung carcinogens.
47
Gubernot, Diane M. "Occupational Heat-Related Mortality in the United States, 2000-2010| Epidemiology and Policy Recommendations." Thesis, The George Washington University, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3670444.
Full textAbstract:
<p> Heat stress due to ambient outdoor temperatures is a workplace hazard that has not been well studied or characterized. The incidence of occupational heat-related illness is unknown. Heat-related morbidity and mortality have been well-studied at the population level, however it cannot be determined if these findings extend systematically to workers exposed to high heat conditions. Remarkably, there is no U.S. federal standard to protect workers from the peril of elevated environmental temperatures and few states have protective regulations. This dissertation research will add to the limited knowledge base of occupational heat-related illnesses, by characterizing worker fatalities due to environmental heat stress. Three independent, but related, research strategies were designed, executed, and completed to evaluate the current research, as well as knowledge gaps, and to thoroughly describe these fatalities based on available information. </p><p> This work was initiated with a thorough literature review to summarize research findings that characterize U.S. occupational heat-related morbidity and mortality and identify gaps in the existing research literature. This review of science, health, and medical databases found that few studies examine ambient heat stress or characterize the incidence of occupational heat-related illnesses and outcomes. Significantly more research examining the heterogeneity of worker and environmental risk factors to heat exposure is needed to identify unsafe working conditions and implement practical, evidence-based heat-stress policies and interventions. The subsequent study describes the epidemiological characteristics of heat-related deaths among workers in the U.S. from 2000 to 2010. Fatality data were obtained at the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the confidential on-site Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries database. Fatality rates and risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated by year, sex, age group, ethnicity, race, state, and industry. Between 2000 and 2010, 359 occupational heat-related deaths were identified in the U.S., for a yearly average fatality rate of 0.22 per 1 million workers. Highest rates were found among Hispanics, men, the agriculture and construction industries, the states of Mississippi and Arkansas, and very small establishments. This study provides the first comprehensive national profile of heat-related deaths in the U.S. workplace. Prevention efforts should be directed at small businesses, states, industries and individuals who may be at increased risk of heat stress. </p><p> Lastly, to further characterize these fatalities, research was performed to: 1) determine the ranges of heat index and temperature at which workers fatally succumb to environmental heat; 2) identify risk factors that may influence heat-related deaths; and 3) translate these findings to policy recommendations. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and the National Climate Data Center were used to identify worker heat-related deaths in the U.S., 2000- 2010, and to assign a maximum daily temperature and heat index to each case. Demographic, meteorological, and geographical variables were analyzed to evaluate any differences in fatal heat exposure. The National Weather Service temperature alert tools, the Excessive Heat Event warning and the heat index category chart, were utilized to assess community threshold suitability for workers subjected to exertional heat stress. Of the 327 cases that qualified for the analysis, there were no differences found in mean temperatures and heat indexes between the sexes, races, age groups, ethnic groups, and industries. Southern workers died at significantly higher temperatures than workers in the North. This study supports the use of heat index and temperature as a guide when evaluating environmental conditions for workers. </p><p> Population-level heat index threshold alerts are unsuitable for preventing exertional heat stress and new warning systems should be developed. Since heat-related health hazards at work can be anticipated before they manifest, preventive measures can be implemented before illness occurs. With no federal regulatory standards to protect workers from environmental heat exposure, and with climate change as a driver for adaptation and prevention of heat disorders, it is increasing sensible and imperative for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to take action. National leadership is needed to promulgate regulations, develop new heat alert tools using the heat index as a metric, and promote state-specific occupational heat stress prevention policies.</p>
48
Feder, Katya Polena. "Handwriting performance in preterm survivors compared to peers." Thesis, McGill University, 2004. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=85068.
Full textAbstract:
There are increasing numbers of preterm children of very low and extremely low birth weights surviving due to advances in neonatal care. The majority of these children attend mainstream classrooms and perform in the low average range on cognitive measures compared to peers. However, outcome studies document a range of subtle, clinically important impairments in their motor, visual-motor and visual perceptual performance compared to peers. The impact of these impairments on a complex, occupational task such as handwriting performance has never been investigated in the preterm population using an objective measure, except through parent or teacher questionnaires.<br>The primary objective of this doctoral thesis was to characterize and compare handwriting performance in preterm children (birth weight of ≤1250 grams) attending Grade One, to typically developing peers matched by age, gender and classroom. Standardized outcome measures were used to examine handwriting performance, sensorimotor component skills and psychosocial factors. Preterm survivors demonstrated significantly lower handwriting legibility and slower speed scores compared to matched peers. Visual perception and motor accuracy were identified as predictors of legibility; and in-hand manipulation (translation) and finger identification were associated with handwriting speed in preterm children. However, in typically developing children, legibility was associated with upper extremity steadiness, visual motor control and in-hand manipulation (rotation); and speed was associated with in-hand manipulation (translation) and upper limb speed and dexterity. These findings have important implications for clinical practice in guiding both evaluation approaches and intervention strategies. Clearly, preterm survivors are at high risk for developing handwriting difficulties at school-age. Increasing awareness may help with early identification and intervention with a view towards minimizing the negative effects on self-esteem and academic achievement often documented in children with handwriting difficulty.
49
Deadman, Jan-Erik. "Estimation of exposures to extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/NQ29919.pdf.
Full text
50
Balkhyour, Mansour. "Factors that affect respirator fit-testing programs." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/289239.
Full textAbstract:
Respirators are used to minimize the exposure to air contaminants. A good fit is essential for the effective functioning of a respirator. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires an annual respirator fit testing. Respirator fit can be assessed either qualitatively or quantitatively. Two studies were conducted to assess the fit testing program with specific objectives to: (1) assess leak rates in full and half mask respirators; (2) assess the effectiveness of "feedback"1 on the quality of fit; (3) evaluate the effect of daily beard growth on respirator leak rates. In the first study, it was found that the half mask respirator has a significantly lower leak rate than the full face respirator. A significant reduction in leak rate in both respirator types with "feedback" was also observed. The finding that half mask respirators have lower leak rates directly contradicts American National Standard Institute's (ANSI) guidelines of higher Assigned Protection Factor (APF) for full mask respirator. Further studies are necessary to determine these findings and to amend respirator recommendations in the future. As expected in the second study, beard growth was associated with respirator leak rate. The effect of daily growth on leak rate over a period of twelve days could be defined by a second order regression equation. An attempt was made to describe some characteristics of beard that affect the leak rate. After 12 days of beard growth, it was found that the aspect ratio (length/diameter) of hair was inversely correlated with leak rate (r = 0.64). 1Feedback: A numerical value measuring the minimum leak rate that can be gotten from a respirator fitting with a normal donning.