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PubMed2003

Sampling and analysis considerations for the determination of hexavalent chromium in workplace air.

Airborne hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]) is a known human respiratory carcinogen and allergen. Workers in a variety of industries may be exposed to airborne hexavalent chromium, with exposures frequently occurring via inhalation and/or dermal contact. Analytical methods for the measurement of Cr(VI) compounds in workplace samples, rather than for the determination of total elemental chromium in workplace air, are often desired because exposure limit values for Cr(VI) compounds are much lower than for total Cr. For years, sampling and analytical test methods for airborne Cr(VI) have been investigated so as to provide means for occupational exposure assessment to this highly toxic species. Inter-conversion of trivalent chromium (Cr[III]) and Cr(VI) can sometimes occur during sampling and sample preparation, and efforts to minimize unwanted redox reactions involving these chromium valences have been sought. Because of differences in toxicity, there is also interest in the ability to differentiate between water-soluble and insoluble forms of Cr(VI), and procedures that provide solubility information concerning Cr(VI) compounds have been developed. This paper reviews the state of the art concerning the measurement of airborne Cr(VI) compounds in workplace aerosols and related samples.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of a standardized method for determining soluble silver in workplace air samples.

Several occupational exposure limits and guidelines exist for silver, but the values for each depend on the chemical form of the silver compound in question. In the past, it generally was not possible, without prior knowledge of the work process, to distinguish soluble silver from insoluble silver compounds collected in workplace air samples. Therefore, analytical results were historically reported as total silver. In this study, work was conducted to evaluate a method to differentiate between the quantities of water-soluble silver compounds and total silver collected on filters. The investigation entailed an evaluation of an International Organization for Standardization method to determine soluble silver in airborne particulate matter. The study design incorporated laboratory experiments to evaluate analytical figures of merit, such as selection of appropriate filter media and extraction solution, analytical recovery, and sample stability during storage. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters (2 microm, 37 mm) in opaque cassettes were either spiked with known amounts of silver nitrate or contained a known mass of solid silver nitrate. Results showed that over 90% of the silver was recovered from PTFE filters. Also, field studies were conducted in which workplace air samples were collected in two silver refineries. Some of these samples were analyzed only for soluble silver while others were sequentially extracted and analyzed, first, for soluble silver, then for total silver. The mass fractions of soluble silver, as compared to total silver, were approximately 2% or less. This investigation served to validate an international standard procedure for the determination of soluble silver in workplace air samples.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2002

Who would want to be a nurse? Violence in the workplace--a factor in recruitment and retention.

In a climate of a declining nursing workforce where violence and hostility is a part of the day-to-day lives of most nurses, it is timely to name violence as a major factor in the recruitment and retention of registered nurses in the health system. Workplace violence takes many forms such as aggression, harassment, bullying, intimidation and assault. Violent acts are perpetrated against nurses from various quarters including patients, relatives, other nurses and other professional groups. Research suggests that nurse managers are implicated in workplace violence and bullying. Furthermore, there may be a direct link between episodes of violence and aggression towards nurses and sick leave, burnout and poor recruitment and retention rates. This paper explores what is known about workplace violence as it affects nurses, and calls for managerial support and policy to act to improve work environments for all nurses.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Two theories/a sharper lens: the staff nurse voice in the workplace.

AIM OF THE PAPER: This paper (1) introduces the two theoretical frameworks, Silencing the Self and the Framework of Systemic Organization (2) describes the design and findings briefly of a study exploring spillover in nurses utilizing the frameworks, and (3) discusses the process and value of theory triangulation when conducting research in the context of complex nursing systems phenomena where gender, professional work, and gender identity merge. BACKGROUND/RATIONALE: A research study was designed to analyse the actual workplace behaviours of nurses in the context of their lives at work and outside work. An exploration of theoretical frameworks that could direct the measurement of the phenomena in question led to the use of two frameworks, the Framework of Systemic Organization (Friedemann 1995) and the Silencing the Self Theory (Jack 1991), and the creation of a valid and reliable summative rating instrument (the Staff Nurse Workplace Behaviours Scale, SNWBS). DESIGN/METHODS: A descriptive correlational design was used to measure behaviours between work and home. RESULTS/FINDINGS: There were statistically significant relationships found between workplace behaviours, family behaviours, and silencing behaviours as measured by the two separate scales measuring framework concepts. CONCLUSIONS: Although both theories had different origins and philosophical tenets, the findings of a research study created an opportunity to integrate the concepts of each and unexpectedly increase and broaden the understanding of spillover for women who are often nurses.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

A system for a strain-oriented analysis of the layout of assembly workplaces.

A measuring system for the more thorough analysis of muscular strain at assembly workplaces was developed. These workplaces were often based on the application of systems of predetermined motion time. The new measuring system makes use of the well-established method of electromyography, and synchronous recording of the hand-arm-shoulder motions by means of ultrasonic signals. Furthermore, a new calibration apparatus was installed, and used for the recording of maximum forces of several hand-arm-shoulder muscles during dynamic arm movements. The experimental arrangement aimed to support the design of a workplace layout, which could be used to indicate low strain motions and low strain work areas for the reach of the upper extremities. The results, yielded by the application of the measuring and evaluation system, can be the basis for a system of predetermined strain. Monitoring five muscles as an example, the application of the system for the analysis of different work rates and a worker-friendly assembly area is illustrated.

Arm↗
PubMed2005

Promoting mental well-being in the workplace: a European policy perspective.

The nature of the workplace continues to change as Europe adapts to the challenges of competing in a global marketplace. Across the European Union there is a trend of increasing absenteeism and early retirement due to mental health problems, particularly stress and depression. The social and economic costs of lost productivity in Europe are substantial. Moreover, the sustainability of social protection systems may be challenged further by increases in the levels of disability benefits paid to people who have left work on grounds of poor mental health. Yet despite these significant consequences, at both national and pan-European levels, decision-makers have been slow to recognise the importance of promoting mental health within the workplace, although recently there have been some positive developments. This paper outlines some of the socio-economic arguments for the promotion of good mental well-being in the labour force and identifies how they link with different national and European policy agendas around four key issues: economic growth and development, the promotion of a high level of public health, sustainability of social welfare systems and social inclusion. The role and activities to promote mental well-being in the workplace undertaken by both national and international organizations in Europe are outlined along with important gaps and challenges that need to be addressed.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2005

A participatory approach to the promotion of well-being in the workplace: lessons from empirical research.

Workplace stress and burnout are recognized phenomena which impact negatively on the delivery of care by health and social work organizations. In an attempt to address the negative consequences of stress in the workplace, a collaborative Participatory Action Research project (PAR), involving two large organizations, namely a Healthcare Trust and a Social Services Organization in the United Kingdom (England) was conducted. The project involved a team of professionals from Anglia Polytechnic University working with senior managers and employees of a health care organization and latterly with managers of a Social Services Organization (SSD) to develop a mental well-being strategy in each of these workplaces. This involved organizing and running of a series of five workshops in each of the two organizations and additionally surveys to determine the extent of the problem on staff and effects on their working and personal lives. An overview of the processes and reflective critique of the strengths and weaknesses of participatory action research methodology is provided. The short, medium and long-term strategies formulated by the active engagement of staff in the workshops, and the challenges in delivering and responding to these issues are carefully detailed. Recommendations are made for future collaborative work within hierarchical organizations and more importantly, the implications of delayed response to governmental policies.

Data Collection↗
PubMed2006

Somatoform disorders in the workplace in Japan.

The literature related to somatoform disorders in the workplace is very limited, and these disorders need more attention from mental health professionals in the workplace as well as from employers. Over the last decade, major changes have taken place in the work environment in Japan. More stress and less support from supervisors or colleagues in the workplace have made employees stressed out. The number of employees with mental disorders, including somatoform disorders, taking sick leave has significantly increased. In our multi-centre collaborative study, somatoform disorders were the third most prevalent psychiatric disorder in employees, after mood and schizophrenic disorders. Employees with neurotic disorders manifested physical symptoms more frequently than those without. Young employees frequently reported somatic symptoms such as general malaise, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, headache, stiff shoulder, and dizziness. A rational new approach is needed to tackle this important psychopathology increasingly seen among employees.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Clinical tools to facilitate workplace accommodation after treatment for an upper extremity disorder.

Failure to implement work site accommodations for work-related upper extremity disorders (WRUEDs) may be a factor contributing to delayed functional recovery and relapse. The present study describes the use of the 38-item Job Requirements and Physical Demands (JRPD) scale, a self-report measure of ergonomic exposure, and other case management tools to improve accommodation efforts for 101 workers (75 women, 26 men) returning to work after lost time related to a WRUED. Items were categorized into five subscales based on item content: administrative, computer-related, workstation design, environmental, and equipment. Administrative risk factors were elevated among office clerks, whereas postal clerks and letter carriers reported more workstation design risk factors, and letter carriers and electrical/mechanical workers cited more equipment-related risk factors (p < 0.05). All occupational categories rated computer-related risk factors highest. The Integrated Case Management (ICM) approach, which relies on the JRPD scale to guide recommendations, was used with a subgroup of these workers (n = 53), resulting in 1.4 times more workplace accommodations per worker than with a non-ICM approach. Clinical use of the self-reported exposure measure within the overall workplace accommodation process may have been a factor contributing to more frequent accommodation in the ICM group. This study of a subgroup of workers' compensation cases highlights the need for additional investigation of tools to integrate ergonomic approaches within the workplace accommodation process.

Arm Injuries↗
PubMed2003

Sitting posture, postural discomfort, and visual performance: a critical view on the interdependence of cognitive and anthropometric factors in the VDU workplace.

The study focuses on individual and standard visual display unit (VDU) workplaces with respect to performance and muscular load. Three different work settings were realized: The workplace was either adjusted to individual preferences or to the European standard. The third condition mirrored exactly the individual setting, however participants were told that it was set according to another standard. Dependent variables were visual performance in a search task, the rated muscular load, and individual preferences. Results show that both individual work settings yielded a superior performance as compared to the standard. However, performance and muscular comfort improved when participants knew they had adjusted the workplace. Apparently, VDU users follow a intuitive rationale adjusting their work setting minimizing muscular load and optimizing performance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Workplace risk factors and occupational musculoskeletal disorders, Part 2: A review of biomechanical and psychophysical research on risk factors associated with upper extremity disorders.

Injuries and disorders caused by overexertion and repetitive motion are the leading causes of compensable lost-time cases in the United States. Epidemiological and laboratory-based research methods have been used to evaluate the significance of various risk factors associated with overuse injuries and disorders. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health performed a comprehensive review of over 600 epidemiological studies in 1997 and concluded that there was evidence of a causal relationship between workplace exposures to forceful exertions, repetition, awkward posture, and vibration and disorders of the neck, shoulder, and upper extremities. Although epidemiological studies provide important insights to understanding the causes of work-related overuse disorders, they are sometimes criticized for their inability to measure precisely how people respond to specific risk factors found in the workplace. This article presents a review of recent laboratory studies and biomechanical models of work factors believed to be associated with increased risk of upper extremity injuries and disorders. Biomechanical models and laboratory studies do not replace epidemiological studies. However, these approaches provide important complementary information that is needed to understand the complex process of how exposures to physical risk factors result in strain that may ultimately lead to injury or disease. These studies also provide important insights as to how people react and respond to specific physical risk factors found in the workplace. Combined with epidemiological research, laboratory studies are an essential element in understanding the causes and prevention of work-related overexertion injuries.

Arm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of a personal monitor employing an electrochemical sensor for assessing exposure to hydrogen peroxide in the workplace.

A commercially available direct-reading instrument designed for personal monitoring of vapor phase hydrogen peroxide (VHP) was evaluated in the laboratory and the workplace. Monitoring VHP has gained increasing importance in the pharmaceutical industry because sterilization using VHP has proven to be a good alternative to previously used sterilizing methods. The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration impinger method for VHP measurements, based on bubbling air through an acid solution with subsequent laboratory analysis, is not practical for monitoring personal exposures. By employing an electrochemical sensor, the instrument evaluated provides real-time exposure data with auxiliary functions such as displaying concentrations in parts per million, data logging, and alarms. A double-dilution technique using a syringe pump was used to generate dynamic test atmospheres ranging from 0.2 to 10 ppm in an exposure chamber. Time-weighted average concentration data from the direct-reading instrument was compared with concentration data from the impingers. The overall accuracy was less than the +/-25%, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health criterion. No significant differences in accuracy were observed at three humidity levels (i.e., 15, 50, and 80%). The instrument was similarly evaluated in a workplace under typical conditions. The results agreed within +/-0.2 ppm. Selected performance characteristics of the instrument also were investigated, including reproducibility, response and recovery times, calibration frequency, and suitability of the calibration adapter. Results of the investigation suggest that the instrument provides a means for simple and accurate monitoring of personal exposures to VHP in workplace environments.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2003

Respiratory effects of toluene diisocyanate in the workplace: a discussion of exposure-response relationships.

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is an important industrial intermediate used in manufacturing flexible polyurethane (PUR) foams, surface coatings, cast elastomers, sealants, and adhesives. In this review long-term trends in workplace exposures to TDI are assessed in both the producing and using industries, and respiratory health effects of TDI are evaluated in relation to workplace TDI concentrations. The key respiratory health effects associated with repeated or long-term TDI exposure are bronchial asthma and an accelerated rate of decline in lung function. In the early years of the industry, annual incidence rates of occupational asthma (OA) due to TDI ranged from 1% to as high as 5 to 6%, depending on the extent of engineering and work practice controls in the various workplaces. Since the mid-1970s, annual OA incidence rates have been <1%, where 8 h TDI concentrations have been maintained below 5 ppb as determined by personal monitoring, even where short-termTDI concentrations above 20 ppb and less frequently above 40 ppb were routinely detected. In these latter settings, there is evidence that the majority of OA cases may be attributable to TDI concentrations well above 20 ppb associated with overexposure incidents. Further study is needed regarding the role of such incidents in inducing respiratory sensitization. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of lung function have indicated that continued exposure after development of work-related respiratory symptoms can lead to transient or accelerated fixed declines in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). These findings are congruent with the FEV1 declines demonstrated in general population studies of persons with persistent bronchial hyperresponsiveness or nonoccupational asthma. More recent longitudinal studies in settings with ongoing medical surveillance have provided no consistent evidence of accelerated FEV1 loss among employees exposed up to 5 ppb TDI on an 8 h time-weighted average basis.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2002

Partnership for sustainable healthy workplaces: Warner Lecture, British Occupational Hygiene Society, Sheffield 9 April 2002.

The paper sets out a fresh approach to healthy workplaces, laying foundations to meet the demands of the new millennium. Professionals such as occupational hygienists deal with issues at the heart of the economy and society, which are beginning to attract the attention of politicians. Old disciplinary barriers must be crossed and communication improved so that healthy work is accepted as a mainstream concern, integral to sustainable development. This presents challenges both to professionals and to those with responsibilities for policy. As a first step, we need to develop an understanding of how conclusions from research can inform responsible decision making. We will not be able to design and build perfectly safe environments, but real progress can be made in the field of 'workplace health defence', using available human, technical and financial resources. A vital ingredient is partnership in the workplace, involving social partners and professionals working in collaboration.

Employment↗
PubMed2004

Patterns of dermal exposure to hazardous substances in European union workplaces.

Workplace dermal exposure assessment is a complex task that aims to understand the dynamic interaction between the skin and the hazardous substances present in the surrounding environment. A European project known as RISKOFDERM gathered dermal exposure data in 85 workplaces (industrial and other types) in five countries in Europe. In order to optimize data collection and to develop a representative picture of dermal exposure, scenarios (tasks made up of a series of activities) were grouped together into dermal exposure operation units (DEOs). The allocation of scenarios to relevant DEOs was achieved on the basis of similarities of exposure routes, tasks and professional judgement. Sampling and quantification procedures were based on the approaches recommended by the OECD protocol. The laboratories involved in the analysis of the samples participated in quality assurance programmes. This exercise resulted in 419 body measurements and 437 measurements on hands expressed in terms of formulation (product) in use. Exposures for a given scenario varied by several orders of magnitude. The extent and patterns of exposure were found to be dependent on various exposure determinants, including inter- and intra-scenario variations. Hands were found to be the most contaminated parts of the body. Exposure patterns for liquid and solid contaminants were different. On the basis of the analysis of the data presented here, the averaged results (median and 95th percentile) for a given DEO unit should not be used as a representative measure of dermal exposure for all scenarios within that DEO without taking the exposure determinants into account. However, the data could be used to develop an exposure matrix (indicative exposure distributions) for different types of scenario and workplace, using determinants of exposure and a Bayesian approach to integrating expert opinion.

European Union↗
PubMed2004

Personal exposure to ultrafine particles in the workplace: exploring sampling techniques and strategies.

Recently, toxicological and epidemiological studies on health effects related to particle exposure suggest that 'ultrafine particles' (particles with an aerodynamic diameter of <100 nm) may cause severe health effects after inhalation. Although the toxicological mechanisms for these effects have not yet been explained, it is apparent that measuring exposures against mass alone is not sufficient. It is also necessary to consider exposures against surface area and number concentration. From earlier research it was hypothesized that results on number concentration and particle distributions may vary with distance to the source, limiting the reliability of estimates of personal exposure from results which were obtained using static measurement equipment. Therefore, a workplace study was conducted to explore the performance of measurement methods in a multi-source emission scenario as part of a sampling strategy to estimate personal exposure. In addition, a laboratory study was conducted to determine possible influences of both distance to source and time course on particle number concentration and particle size distribution. In both studies different measurement equipment and techniques were used to characterize (total) particle number concentration. These included a condensation particle counter (CPC), a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI). For the present studies CPC devices seemed to perform well for the identification of particle emission sources. The range of ultrafine particle number concentration can be detected by both SMPS and ELPI. An important advantage of the ELPI is that aerosols with ultrafine sizes can be collected for further analysis. Specific surface area of the aerosols can be estimated using gas adsorption analysis; however, with this technique ultrafine particles cannot be distinguished from particles with non-ultrafine sizes. Consequently, estimates based on samples collected from the breathing zone and scanning electron microscopic analysis may give a more reliable estimate of the specific surface area of the ultrafine particles responsible for personal exposure. The results of both the experimental and the workplace study suggest both spatial and temporal variation in total number concentration and aerosol size distribution. Therefore, the results obtained from static measurements and grab sampling should be interpreted with care as estimates of personal exposure. For evaluation of workplace exposure to ultrafine particles it is recommended that all relevant characteristics of such exposure are measured as part of a well-designed sampling strategy.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2003

Promoting mental health through employment and developing healthy workplaces: the potential of natural supports at work.

In England, policy developments in the field of mental health are stimulating interest in employment for mental health service users as a means of mental health promotion. To date, research that might assist in increasing employment rates amongst this group has focused largely on the question of which service users are most likely to benefit from vocational interventions and, more recently, on models of vocational support. Less is known about how employers can assist people in their transition or return to work. In this article we draw on the accounts of 17 employment project clients to identify workplace factors that were associated with job retention. Specific adjustments such as flexibility about working hours, work schedules and job tasks emerged as crucial in enabling clients to deal with the effects of medication, and to regain stamina and confidence. Over and above these, however, 'natural supports' of a kind from which any employee would arguably benefit were equally important. In this respect the main themes revolved around training and support to learn the job, supportive interpersonal relationships at work, workplace culture, and approaches to staff management. These themes might equally provide a productive focus for workplace health promotion more generally, using organization development approaches.

Employment↗
PubMed2001

Disclosure of HIV status in the workplace: considerations and strategies.

Maintaining a role in the workplace despite significant health concerns can be important in meeting an individual's emotional and economic needs. This qualitative research study reviewed the workplace experiences and disclosure decisions of 18 HIV-positive individuals. The most frequently cited reasonsfor disclosing HIV status were to explain choices they were making as they interviewed for a job and concerns about their job performance and the needfor accommodations. For individuals who disclosed their HIV status to selective members of the workplace or disclosed to no one, the primary reasons given were preference for privacy, nature of the work environment, andfear of possible consequences. The practice, policy, and research implications for social workers are also discussed.

Adult↗