Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Protective Devices”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Athletic footwear: unsafe due to perceptual illusions.

Modern athletic footwear provides remarkable plantar comfort when walking, running, or jumping. However, when injurious plantar loads elicit negligible perceived plantar discomfort, a perceptual illusion is created whereby perceived impact is lower than actual impact, which results in inadequate impact-moderating behavior and consequent injury. The objective of this study was to examine how plantar tactile (mechanical) events affect perceived plantar discomfort. Also, we evaluated the feasibility of a footwear safety standard we propose, which requires elimination of the above illusion. Twenty subjects gave numerical estimates of plantar discomfort produced by simulated locomotion (concurrent vertical (0.1-0.7 kg.cm-2) and horizontal (0.1-0.9 kg.cm-2) plantar loads), with the foot supported by either a smooth rigid surface or a rigid surface with 2 mm high rigid irregularities. Vertical or horizontal load alone evoked no discomfort (P greater than 0.05), whereas together, discomfort emanated from loads as low as 0.4 kg.cm-2. Irregularities heightened discomfort by a factor of 1.89. This suggests that the proposed safety standard is feasible, since compliance could be achieved simply by adding surface irregularities to insoles and by other changes that heighten localized plantar loads. However, until this standard is adhered to, it might be more appropriate to classify athletic footwear as "safety hazards" rather than "protective devices".

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Preventive measures against ocular trauma on squash courts].

AIM: Squash-ball induced trauma is an important cause of severe ocular injuries. Fortunately they can be prevented by wearing of protective goggles. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of these protective devices in Swiss Squash Clubs. METHODS: A detailed questionnaire was sent to all Squash Clubs in Switzerland (n = 82). The solicited information comprised: the possibility to buy protective goggles in the proshop, presence of posters in the club encouraging the members to wear protective goggles, assessment of the risk of ocular trauma by a squash ball (high or low), and the evaluation of ocular sequelae after squash ball injury. RESULTS: In the French-speaking part of Switzerland 35% of the clubs responded, whereas the percentage in the German-speaking part was 32% did. Of all the clubs who returned the questionnaire only one was found to sell protective goggles in the sports centre (4%). Two further clubs had posters encouraging the players to wear eye protection (7%). Three other clubs in the French-speaking area and two in the German-speaking area planned to introduce these measures (18%). 63% of the clubs considered the risk of an ocular injury to be low, 7% even as very low. Only 26% of the clubs who returned the questionnaire considered the risk to be much higher. CONCLUSION: The interest of squash clubs in protective eye wear is very low, as the risks for a serious ocular injury are underrated. It is therefore important to bring the danger of racket sports to the attention of patients.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMed2002

Organizational climate, staffing, and safety equipment as predictors of needlestick injuries and near-misses in hospital nurses.

BACKGROUND: Recently passed federal legislation requires institutions to adopt safety equipment to prevent needlesticks, but there is little empirical evidence of the effectiveness of specific types of safety devices or the contribution of safety devices to reducing needlesticks relative to the contributions of staffing, organizational climate, and clinicians' experience. METHOD: In 1998, 2287 medical-surgical unit nurses in 22 US hospitals were surveyed in regard to staffing and organizational climate in their hospitals and about patient and nurse outcomes, including needlestick injuries. Hospitals provided information about available protective devices at the time of the survey. Relationships between nurse and hospital characteristics and protective equipment and the likelihood of needlestick injuries and near-miss incidents were examined. RESULTS: Poor organizational climate and high workloads were associated with 50% to 2-fold increases in the likelihood of needlestick injuries and near-misses to hospital nurses. Capless-valve secondary intravenous set systems and use of any type of protective equipment for IV starts or blood draws were associated with 20% to 30% lowered risks of both event types. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse staffing and organizational climate are key determinants of needlestick risk and must be considered with the adoption of safety equipment to effectively reduce sharps injuries.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1997

A prospective study of injuries in licensed floorball players.

Injuries occurring among 457 licensed floorball players in the Swedish National League were analysed prospectively during the season from 1993 to 1994. Fifty-one (11%) players sustained 58 injuries. The majority (76%) of the injuries were due to trauma mostly during the gama (55%). Twenty-three (52%) of the traumatic injuries were caused by an opponent or a stick. Ankle sprain (35%) was the most common diagnosis. Injury severity classified with regard to time of absence from sport participation were similarly distributed for minor (36%), moderate (29%) and major (35%) injuries. The total rate of injury was 2.5 per 1000 hours for female and 2.6 for male players. Although this rate is lower than for contact sports like soccer and ice-hockey, we feel that further investigation of floorball injuries and improvement of protection devices would be valuable.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Eye injuries from traditional sports in Aosta Valley.

We reviewed the records of the patients hospitalised for eye injuries in Aosta Valley between January 1976 and June 1993. Eye injuries from traditional regional sports accounted for 27 cases (41.5% of all ocular sport injuries), of which 21 (77.8%) occurred during the game 'tsan', the most popular one. Injuries led to legal blindness in 3 (11.1%) cases and to a permanent visual loss in 2 (7.4%). Although our data do not allow to assess either a significantly higher incidence or severity of eye injuries from Aosta Valley regional games as compared with other sports, the possibility of severe trauma with visual loss suggests to extend the use of protection devices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Eye protection in dental laboratories.

Many dental laboratory procedures increase the chances of serious eye injury. This would include traumatic injuries due to projectiles or through exposure to harsh chemicals or heat and infections from contact with patient body fluids. To help assure a safer working environment, awareness of the need for eye protection must be established and maintained by all laboratory personnel. The purpose of this article are: 1) to list the applicable federal regulations concerning eye safety in dental laboratory workplaces; 2) to describe the various types of appropriate eyewear; and 3) to identify which protective devices best prevent exposure to specific types of hazards. The goal of this article is to help dental laboratories with their employee safety programs, especially concerning the selection of protective eyewear. Such programs must include engineering controls and work practice controls plus appropriate personal protective equipment. Laboratories today must comply with safety mandates in the most effective and efficient manner.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1996

An analytical framework for relating dose, risk, and incidence: an application to occupational tuberculosis infection.

An adverse health impact is often treated as a binary variable (response vs. no response), in which case the risk of response is defined as a monotonically increasing function R of the dose received D. For a population of size N, specifying the forms of R(D) and of the probability density function (pdf) for D allows determination of the pdf for risk, and computation of the mean and variance of the distribution of incidence, where the latter parameters are denoted E[SN] and Var[SN], respectively. The distribution of SN describes uncertainty in the future incidence value. Given variability in dose (and risk) among population members, the distribution of incidence is Poisson-binomial. However, depending on the value of E[SN], the distribution of incidence is adequately approximated by a Poisson distribution with parameter mu = E[SN], or by a normal distribution with mean and variance equal to E[SN] and Var[SN]. The general analytical framework is applied to occupational infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). Tuberculosis is transmitted by inhalation of 1-5 microns particles carrying viable M. tb bacilli. Infection risk has traditionally been modeled by the expression: R(D) = 1 - exp(-D), where D is the expected number of bacilli that deposit in the pulmonary region. This model assumes that the infectious dose is one bacillus. The beta pdf and the gamma pdf are shown to be reasonable and especially convenient forms for modeling the distribution of the expected cumulative dose across a large healthcare worker cohort. Use of the the analytical framework is illustrated by estimating the efficacy of different respiratory protective devices in reducing healthcare worker infection risk.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1964

RADIATION PROTECTION IN CANADA. IV. FACTORS OF IMPORTANCE IN MINIMIZING RADIATION EXPOSURE OF PATIENTS, OPERATORS AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC RADIOLOGY.

Factors that may reduce the dose of radiation, from diagnostic and therapeutic x-ray procedures, to the patient and to the occupational and non-occupational worker are outlined. Suitable basic radiation measuring apparatus is described. It is recommended that, in diagnostic radiography, relatively high kilovoltage, proper cones, collimation and adequate filtration be used. Some specific recommendations are made concerning fluoroscopic, photoroentgen and portable x-ray examinations. Film monitoring of personnel is advisable. Examples are given of protective devices to lessen the dosage to the occupational worker. It is the responsibility of the radiologist or physician in charge to ensure that the x-ray equipment is safe to operate and the radiation dose to the patient is kept to a minimum. The roentgen output for all radiographic examinations should be known by the responsible user.

Canada↗
PubMed1979

Chain-saw facial injuries.

Accidents caused by kickback from chain saws produce facial injuries with consistent features. These features include oblique, destructive, ragged lacerations of the left side of the face. Although eyelid damage may be severe, damage to the globe itself is minimal. An analysis of 10 such accidents revealed this consistent pattern. Of this group, eight injuries were left-sided and six involved mainly the eyelid and adjacent structures. Only one patient was left with permanent damage to the globe and with slightly impaired (20/60) vision. The upper lid was always more severely damaged than the lower. The author discusses the merits and disadvantages of protective devices for both operator and machine.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors related to quadriplegia in football and the implications for intervention strategies.

Axial compressive loading, the principal cause of spinal cord quadriplegia in American football, is produced when a player is forcibly struck on the crown of the helmet. This impact subjects the small cervical vertebrae to a large compressive force that often produces stress that exceeds the failure limit of the spine. Several factors influence the outcome in axial collisions, including the available kinetic energy, the displacement needed to dissipate the energy, and the end conditions of the collision (i.e., the position of the head). Effective intervention of this catastrophic injury requires the melding of information from the fields of biomechanics and epidemiology. From a biomechanical perspective, neck loading should be kept at a level that is below the failure limit of the cervical spine. The epidemiologic rate at which these injuries develop among football players suggests that cervical quadriplegia is rare. Thus, protective devices intended to lower the forces on the cervical spine may not succeed in dramatically reducing the incidence of this injury. Because this injury is rare, it is important to consider that introducing new protective equipment, intended for intervention of one problem (i.e., cervical quadriplegia), may lead to other injuries.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2001

The Ramathibodi nasal filter in a simulated human airway: evaluated with laser smoke particles and a laser diode dust portable monitor.

The Ramathibodi nasal filter was specially designed as a personal respiratory protective device. It was attached to a simulated human airway composed of a nasal and pharyngeal model, airway passage and lung model machine. The system was run in a laser smoke particles environment. The laser smoke particles with suspended particulate matter size of less than 15, 10 and 2.5 microns (PM15, PM10 and PM2.5) were selected. The amount of each particle size in the simulated human airway with and without the Ramathibodi nasal filter was measured continuously by a laser diode portable dust monitor. One hundred sample sizes were analyzed by a descriptive statistical method at the Department of Otolaryngology, Ramathibodi Hospital from January to November 1999. The graphic distribution patterns of each residual particle size in the simulated human airway with and without the Ramathibodi nasal filter were compared. The filtration efficacy of the Ramathibodi nasal filter should be tested further by this experimental model. The device could be applied intermittently in adult nasal vestibules.

Dust↗
PubMed1989

Injuries caused by firewood splitting machines.

The aim of this paper is to present the types of injury caused by firewood splitting machines and also to elucidate the accident mechanism. The study is based on 15 cases. The machine has a rotating spiral cone, and usually the victims' gloved fingertips were caught by the point of the cone. This led to either amputations, usually of radial fingers and/or penetrating wounds through the middle of the hand. In most cases the accidents could not be blamed on bad working techniques. The study of the mechanisms of injury points to insufficient protective devices in a machine construction which has a potentially dangerous working principle.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Training forensic staff.

The author provides a training package for forensic staff on how to handle prisoner patients who are being treated at a healthcare facility. She covers such topics as fire and evacuation plans, interim life safety measures, blood and bloodborne pathogens exposure, universal precautions, respiratory protection and TB, and voluntary medical immobilization and protection devices.

Blood-Borne Pathogens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ocular trauma in children.

1. The frequency of eye injuries in children is high. The frequency and severity of at least 90% of these injuries, however, could be prevented. 2. Toys, especially bicycles and BB guns, are a major source of eye injury. Another major cause of ocular trauma is sports-related injuries. 3. Ophthalmic professionals should emphasize the role of spectacles as a protective device for children and advise parents of the advantages of polycarbonate spectacles.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Industrial ocular morbidity in a north Indian town.

A study on industrial ocular morbidity was carried out in 6 industrial establishments at Saharanpur. The mean age of the respondents was 35.3 years. 58.2% were regular floor staff. 10.6% professed suffering from an industrial ocular injury. 60% of these injuries were sustained by ocular metallic trauma. 51.9% complained of ocular symptoms at the time of the survey. The frequency of ocular complaints increased with age. The point prevalence of ocular morbidity was 746.03/1000 industrial workers. Refractive errors were the commonest ocular condition (56.7%) observed, followed by Trachoma (32.6%). The highest prevalence of morbidity was recorded among workers above 44 years. Clerical and managerial personnel had higher prevalence compared to other jobs. Only 3.6% of the floor workers were using protective devices while on the job.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2002

Work-related injuries and occupational health and safety factors in smaller enterprises--a prospective study.

The aim of this study was to determine whether any of the health, environmental and safety (HES) factors registered by visiting small mechanical enterprises in Norway at the start of the study could predict the risk of occupational injuries in subsequent years. Twelve HES factors, including injury awareness, programme for action, employee participation, training and use of personal safety devices, were registered. A questionnaire was completed by interviewing the employer and observing production. Two variables based on observation of the use of safety equipment were significantly correlated with occupational injuries. There is potential for prevention in smaller enterprises by increasing the use of personal protection devices and safety equipment on machines. Frequent inspection with feedback to the workers is probably the most effective means of attaining the desired result of reducing injuries.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2006

Noise exposures aboard catcher/processor fishing vessels.

BACKGROUND: Commercial fishing workers have extended work shifts and potential for 24 hr exposures to high noise. However, exposures in this industry have not been adequately characterized. METHODS: Noise exposures aboard two catcher/processors (C/P) were assessed using dosimetry, sound-level mapping, and self-reported activities and hearing protection device (HPD) use. These data were combined to estimate work shift, non-work, and 24 hr overall exposure levels using several metrics. The length of time during which HPDs were worn was also used to calculate the effective protection received by crew members. RESULTS: Nearly all workers had work shift and 24 hr noise levels that exceeded the relevant limits. After HPD use was accounted for, half of the 24 hr exposures remained above relevant limits. Non-work-shift noise contributed nothing to 24 hr exposure levels. HPDs reduced the average exposure by about 10 dBA, but not all workers wore them consistently. CONCLUSIONS: The primary risk of hearing loss aboard the monitored vessels comes from work shift noise. Smaller vessels or vessels with different layouts may present more risk of hearing damage from non-work periods. Additional efforts are needed to increase use of HPDs or implement noise controls.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1976

Rushing the net and retinal detachment.

With the growth in popularity of tennis has come an increase in ocular injuries due to tennis balls. This report describes ten patients who sustained ocular confusion from high-speed tennis balls. Seven of the patients required either retinal surgery, laser photocoagulation, or both. Early detection of regional damage is essential, but of greater importance is prevention. For that reason, we advise use of some sort of ocular protection device for high-risk individuals.

Adult↗