Performance evaluation of mobile downflow booths for reducing airborne particles in the workplace

Compared to other common control measures, the downflow booth is a costly engineering control used to contain airborne dust or particles. The downflow booth provides unidirectional filtered airflow from the ceiling, entraining released particles away from the workers' breathing zone, and delivers contained airflow to a lower level exhaust for removing particulates by filtering media. In this study, we designed and built a mobile downflow booth that is capable of quick assembly and easy size change to provide greater flexibility and particle control for various manufacturing processes or tasks. An experimental study was conducted to thoroughly evaluate the control performance of downflow booths used for removing airborne particles generated by the transfer of powdered lactose between two containers. Statistical analysis compared particle reduction ratios obtained from various test conditions including booth size (short, regular, or extended), supply air velocity (0.41 and 0.51 m/s or 80 and 100 feet per minute, fpm), powder transfer location (near or far from the booth exhaust), and inclusion or exclusion of curtains at the booth entrance. Our study results show that only short-depth downflow booths failed to protect the worker performing powder transfer far from the booth exhausts. Statistical analysis shows that better control performance can be obtained with supply air velocity of 0.51 m/s (100 fpm) than with 0.41 m/s (80 fpm) and that use of curtains for downflow booths did not improve their control performance.     

Workplace violence injury in 106 US hospitals participating in the Occupational Health Safety Network (OHSN), 2012‐2015

Background

Workplace violence is a substantial occupational hazard for healthcare workers in the United States.

Methods

We analyzed workplace violence injury surveillance data submitted by hospitals participating in the Occupational Health Safety Network (OHSN) from 2012 to 2015.

Results

Data were frequently missing for several important variables. Nursing assistants (14.89, 95%CI 10.12‐21.91) and nurses (8.05, 95%CI 6.14‐10.55) had the highest crude workplace violence injury rates per 1000 full‐time equivalent (FTE) workers. Nursing assistants' (IRR 2.82, 95%CI 2.36‐3.36) and nurses' (IRR 1.70, 95%CI 1.45‐1.99) adjusted workplace violence injury rates were significantly higher than those of non‐patient care personnel. On average, the overall rate of workplace violence injury among OHSN‐participating hospitals increased by 23% annually during the study period.

Conclusion

Improved data collection is needed for OHSN to realize its full potential. Workplace violence is a serious, increasingly common problem in OHSN‐participating hospitals. Nursing assistants and nurses have the highest injury risk.

     

Occupational injury among cooks and food service workers in the healthcare sector

BACKGROUND: Incidence of occupational injury is anticipated to be high among cooks and food service workers (CFSWs) because of the nature of their work and the types of raw and finished materials that they handle. METHOD: Incidents of occupational injury, resulting in lost time or medical care over a period of 1 year in two health regions were extracted from a standardized operational database and with person years obtained from payroll data, detailed analysis was conducted using Poisson regression modeling. RESULTS: Among the CFSWs the annual injury rate was 38.1 per 100 person years. The risk of contusions [RR, 95% CI 9.66 (1.04, 89.72)], burns [1.79 (1.39, 2.31)], and irritations or allergies [3.84 (2.05, 7.18)] was found to be significantly higher in acute care facilities compared to long-term care facilities. Lower risk was found among older workers for irritations or allergies. Female CFSWs, compared to their male counterparts, were respectively 8 and 20 times more likely to report irritations or allergies and contusions. In respect to outcome, almost all irritations or allergies required medical visits. For MSI incidents, about 67.4% resulted in time-loss from work. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention policies should be developed to reduce the hazards present in the workplace to promote safer work practices for cooks and food service workers.     

Denominator choice in the calculation of workplace fatality rates

The U.S. government currently publishes workplace fatality rates, using employment as the denominator. However, employment may not be a good proxy for worker exposure to risk if groups of workers differ in their hours worked. Using micro data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and Current Population Survey, this paper presents alternative fatality rates calculated using employment and hours worked. Rates are compared for worker groups defined by gender, age, occupation, and industry. In general, both measures identify the same groups of workers as facing especially high and low fatality risks. The rank correlation of the employment- and hours-based fatality rates for 222 detailed occupations is very high, with a value of 0.99. However, for a few groups, the hours- and employment-based rates may differ more than 10%. Most notably, workers below age 20 and above age 64 have rates that are 60% and 37% higher, respectively, when hours is used in the denominator. This suggests that hours—the conceptually preferable denominator—should be used when possible to calculate workplace fatality rates. Am. J. Ind. Med. 33:151–156, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The association of socioeconomic status and psychosocial and physical workplace factors with musculoskeletal injury in hospital workers

BACKGROUND: The combined effect of socioeconomic, organizational, psychosocial, and physical factors on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) were studied in a heterogeneous, socioeconomically diverse sample (cases and their matched referents) of hospital workers. METHODS: Cases were defined by a new acute or cumulative work-related musculoskeletal injury; referents were matched by job group, shift length, or at random. Information was obtained through telephone interviews and on-site ergonomics observation. Questionnaire items included sociodemographic variables, lost work time, work effectiveness, health status, pain/disability, and psychosocial working conditions using Effort Reward Imbalance (ERI) and Demand-Control (DC) models. Two multivariate models were tested: Model 1 included occupation as a predictor; Model 2 included education-income as a predictor. RESULTS: Cases reported greater pain, disability, lost time, and decreased work effectiveness than the referents. Model 1 was statistically significant for neck/upper extremity injury (Chi-square = 19.3, P = 0.01), back/lower extremity injury (Chi-square = 14.0, P = 0.05), and all injuries combined (Chi-square = 25.4, P = 0.001). "Other Clinical" occupations (34% mental health workers) had the highest risk of injury (OR 4.5: 95%CI, 1.7-12.1) for all injuries. The ERI ratio was a significant predictor for neck and upper extremity (OR 1.5: 95%CI, 1.1-1.9) and all injuries (OR 1.3; 95%CI, 1.04-1.5), per SD change in score. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the risk of WRMSDs was more strongly influenced by specific psychosocial and physical job-related exposures than by broad socioeconomic factors such as education and income.     

The effect of workplace based strengthening on low back injury rates: A case study in the strip mining industry

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effect of a once a week exercise program focused specially at lumbar extensor strengthening. This is a comparative study where workers volunteered to exercise were compared to workers who did not exercise. Low back claims for one year were noted to document efficacy of the training program. Change in strength was also noted. There was a 54% to 104% increase in strength during a 20 week program. The incidence of back injuries in the exercise group was 52 injuries per 200,000 employee hours versus the industry average of 1.09 back injuries per 200,000 employee hours. The average incidence of injury for the previous nine years at the company participating in the program was 2.94 injuries per 200,000 employee hours. The injury incidence in the workers not exercising was 2.55 injuries for 200,000 employee hours. The average workers' compensation liability dropped from $14, 430.00 per month to $380.00 per month for the study year. The significant increase in strength associated with the exercise program correlated with the greatly reduced incidence of back claims.     

Injury and illness in the American workplace: A comparison of data sources

Setting priorities for workplace health and safety research depends upon accurate and reliable injury and illness data. All occupational health databases have limitations when used to summarize the national scope of workplace hazards. The comparison of data from multiple sources may produce more credible estimates of the leading occupational injuries and illnesses. The purpose of this paper is to describe the strengths and weaknesses of six data collection systems that record occupational injuries and illnesses on a national level and to compare the leading estimates from these systems for 1990. The six systems are: 1) National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities database, 2) the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 3) The Bureau of Labor Statistics Annual Survey data, 4) a large workers' compensation database, 5) the National Council on Compensation Insurance data, and 6) The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Occupational injuries, as defined herein, predominate over illnesses in terms of the number of cases and the overall costs. Databases that provide information on the antecedents of injuries suggest how these injuries may be prevented and warrant more attention and refinement. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The challenges of everyday technology in the workplace for persons with acquired brain injury

Abstract

Purpose: To explore and describe how persons with an acquired brain injury (ABI) managed the everyday technology (ET) that they needed to use in their workplace and how this use influences their opportunities to work. Methods: Nine persons with an ABI were interviewed and observed when managing ET in their workplace. The data were analysed qualitatively with a constant comparative method. Results: The main category, “The challenge of managing ET in the workplace”, consisted of three categories, all of which reflected different kinds of discrepancies between the participants' ability to manage ET and the demands that ET imposes on them in work: “Struggling with ET to be able to continue to work; “Depending on strategies to cope with ET to continue in a particular profession”, and “Managing ET at work but concerned about keeping up with the changes”. Conclusions: The result revealed discrepancies between the abilities of the persons with ABI to manage ET in relation to the demands that technology imposed on them in their work setting. This indicated that professionals need to consider the role of ET when designing interventions supporting a person's return to work after an ABI.     

放射复合伤治疗进展

放射复合伤是核战争和核事故中多见的伤类。因伤情重、发展快、诊治难，是伤亡的重要原因，故是救治的重要对象。放射复合伤的治疗应重视：抗休克和保护心功能，早期外科处理和创伤促愈，控制感染和调节免疫，控制肠源性感染和恢复肠道功能．保护造血和促进造血重建，尽早应用抗辐射药物。     

Voluntary reporting of health care personnel seasonal influenza vaccination rates and the impact of universal policies in Illinois hospitals

Objective

In 2009, voluntary public reporting of hospital health care personnel (HCP) vaccination rates began in Illinois. We describe our experience over 3 influenza seasons and examine the impact universal policies have had on performance.

Methods

A secure website was used to report monthly HCP vaccination rates by each participating hospital. Overall and individual hospital performance was publicly reported each month.

Results

In the first two seasons, there were 11 hospitals reporting with an average end of season rate of 76% (2009–2010) and 81% (2010–2011). In the 2011–2012 season, there were 22 hospitals reporting, 9 of which had a new universal policy for HCP influenza vaccination. The average 2011–2012 end of season rate was 72% for hospitals with a voluntary program and 95% for hospitals with a universal policy. HCP were also vaccinated earlier in the influenza season when a universal policy was in place, providing greater benefit over time.

Conclusion

Public reporting of HCP influenza vaccination rates may contribute to implementation of universal employee vaccination policies. Hospitals with universal policies have higher vaccination rates than those with voluntary vaccination programs.     

Organising through compassion: The introduction of meta‐virtue management in the NHS

This paper investigates the comprehensive compassionate care reform programme within the National Health Service (NHS) in England. Through a synoptic reading of policy documents, we show how ‘compassion’ is introduced as an overarching meta‐virtue designed to govern relationships and formal positions in health care. Invoking an ‘ethics of office’ perspective, mainly drawing on the thinking of Max Weber, we evaluate the promotion of compassion as a managerial technology and argue how seemingly humanistic and value‐based approaches to healthcare management might have unintended consequences for the quality of care and the conduct of health professionals that in some ways resemble and in some ways exceed those of the more traditional New Public Management measures, which the new compassion paradigm is expected to outdo. In the paper's final sections, we turn to the original work of the nursing icon Florence Nightingale to argue that compassion and other virtues should continuously be formulated and re‐formulated in relation to the role‐specific skills and duties of particular offices in the healthcare sector.     

健康信念模式在外来务工人员意外伤害教育中的应用

外来务工人员成为意外伤害的高危人群,其本身的危险行为习惯是导致意外伤害的直接原因,健康教育在意外伤害预防中具有重要的意义。该文在综述外来务工人员意外伤害现状基础上,从外来务工者个人健康信念、影响和制约其健康信念的因素的评估及提高其健康信念的策略方面探讨了健康信念模式在外来务工人员意外伤害教育中的应用。     

对脊髓损伤患者实施心理康复护理的临床效果观察

目的对脊髓损伤患者实施心理康复护理,观察和分析其护理的临床疗效。方法按照随机数字表法将120例脊髓损伤患者分为对照组和康复组。对照组实施常规护理,康复组在对照组基础上实施心理康复护理,比较2组护理前后FMA、Barthel、Sheikh评分以及SDS、SAS评分。结果经过护理后,两组患者的FMA、Barthel以及Sheikh评分比干预前明显提高,且康复组优于对照组（P〈0.05）;两组患者的SDS和SAS评分明显下降,且康复组比对照组下降更明显（P〈0.05）。结论对脊髓损伤患者实施心理康复护理,可有效改善患者运动功能和日常生活能力,同时改善患者的抑郁和焦虑状态,促进患者康复。