scholarly journals Risk assessment of workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica in silica crushing units in Azandarian Industrial Zone, Hamadan, Iran

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Poormohammadi ◽  
Effat Sadat Mir Moeini ◽  
Mohammad Javad Assari ◽  
Salman Khazaei ◽  
Saed Bashirian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Crystalline Silica ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Industrial Zone ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Machine Operator

Introduction: Azandarian industrial zone with about 40 active silica crushing units is one of the largest industrial area in Hamadan province, Iran. Materials and methods: In this study, the personal exposure of workers in the activated silica crushing units was measured. Assessing the risk of mortality due to exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) in the workplace was then estimated through measuring the personnel exposure in accordance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 7601 method. Moreover, the mortality rate of lung cancer and risk of mortality due to exposure to RCS were estimated. Results: Based on the results, the average exposure of employees to RCS in the crushing units was in the range of 1.70 -0.14 mg/m3. As observed, the lowest and highest exposure was obtained for the admission unit and sandstone, respectively. In general, it can be inferred that in all studied occupation positions, the exposure level was higher than the recommended standard (0.25 mg/m3). As can be seen, the carcinogenic risk level for the exposed workers was in the range 2-26/1000. The results of risk assessment showed that the highest risk level was related to the stamping machine operator unit and the lowest was related to the administrative unit. Conclusion: Therefore, the workers working in high-risk units such as stamping machine operator and stone separation operator are more likely to suffer from adverse health complications such as silicosis, lung cancer and other respiratory complications.

scholarly journals Biological risk assessment: A challenge for occupational health and safety practitioners during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Carlos Carvalhais ◽  
Micaela Querido ◽  
Cristiana C. Pereira ◽  
Joana Santos
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Biological Risk ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Qualitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Medium Risk

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 global pandemic brought several challenges to occupational safety and health practice. One of these is the need to (re)assess the occupational risks, particularly, biological risks. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to promote guidance to occupational safety and health practitioners when conducting a biological risk assessment in this context. METHODS: The main steps of the biological risk assessment are explained with some inputs regarding the novelty posed by SARS-CoV-2 and an example of a qualitative risk assessment method is presented. Also, its application to two different activities was exemplified. RESULTS: In both cases, the assessment considered that vulnerable workers were working from home or in medical leave. The results showed low or medium risk level for the assessed tasks. For medium risk level, additional controls are advised, such maintain social distancing, sanitize instruments/equipment before use, use proper and well-maintained PPE (when applicable), and promote awareness sessions to spread good practices at work. Employers must be aware of their obligations regarding biological risk assessment and OSH practitioners must be prepared to screen and link the abundance of scientific evidence generated following the outbreak, with the technical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This paper could be an important contribution to OSH practice since it highlights the need to (re)assess occupational risks, especially biological risk, to ensure a safe return to work, providing technical guidance.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of HOSHRA Index for Occupational Safety and Health Risk Assessment in Hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Jahangiri ◽  
Amirreza Mostafavi ◽  
Alireza Choobineh ◽  
Mahnaz Shakerisn ◽  
Hamid Reza Tabatabaei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Despite huge advances in science, technology, and medical equipment, numerous concerns grow over healthcare workers (HCWs) since they are exposed to a wide range of biological hazards due to the nature of their work. Objectives: The current study aimed at developing and validating an index to assess the risk of occupational safety and health (OSH) in hospitals and healthcare settings. Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, an index called the hospital occupational safety, and health risk assessment (HOSHRA) was developed and validated through the face and content validity as well as internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. Ultimately, the developed index was utilized to assess OSH risks in 36 teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Results: The mean score of the HOSHRA index among the selected hospitals was 71.53 ± 5.93, indicating that the OSH risks were at a moderate level. According to the HOSHRA action levels, OSH risk level for ergonomic hazards was high, but it was moderate for physical, chemical, ergonomic, and psychological ones. In terms of physical hazard subcategories, the risk of electrical hazard, as well as fire and explosion, was high, but it was moderate for fall and slip, and radiation. Conclusions: The developed observation-based method showed an acceptable content validity and reliability for OSH risk assessment of hospitals. The HOSHRA index could also be used for hospitals as an applicable measure to improve their OSH.

scholarly journals Risk assessment of mortality from silicosis and lung cancer in workers of machine factories and traditional brick production workshops with crystalline silica exposure

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Rezazahehazari ◽  
F Sahatfardi ◽  
F Zarei ◽  
A Ebrahimi Hariri ◽  
S Salehpour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Crystalline Silica ◽  
T Test ◽  
Optimal Method ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Silica Dust ◽  
Significant Difference

Introduction: Exposure to dust is an essential factor in the brick production industry. Determining the mortality rate from silicosis and lung cancer is very important in exposure to crystalline silica dust. Therefore, this study was conducted to risk assessment of workers in machine factories and traditional brick production workshops. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 in a machine factory and five traditional active brick production workshops in Qarchak and Varamin city located in the southeast of Tehran. All employees of a brick-making machine factory (40 people) and five traditional brick-making workshops (30 people) were selected by census sampling. Their exposure to total respiratory dust and respirable crystalline silica was evaluated by the NIOSH0600 method and NIOSH7602 optimal method. Mortality risk assessment from silicosis and lung cancer was performed based on Mannetej and Rice models. Data were analyzed by t-test after entering SPSS19 software. Results: The average concentrations of crystalline silica and total respiratory dust in traditional workshops are 0.651 ±0.69 and 28.27 ± 23.05, and in a machine factory are 0.297± 0.27 and 17.6 ±8.6 mg / m3. The T-test showed a significant difference between the traditional and mechanical brick factory in occupational exposure to total respiratory dust (P=0.001). However, no significant difference was observed in exposure to crystalline silica (P=0.107). In both traditional and machine brick factory, the risk of death from silicosis and lung cancer is unacceptable. Conclusion: The results showed that the industry's mechanization has reduced exposure to total respiratory dust and crystalline silica and reduces the risk of death from lung cancer. But the risk of death from lung cancer and silicosis is still high in both traditional and mechanical factories

scholarly journals Comparison of the Qualitative and the Quantitative Risk Assessment of Hazardous Substances Requiring Management under the Occupational Safety and Health Act in South Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1354
Author(s):  
Hyung-Il Moon ◽  
Sang-Woo Han ◽  
Saemi Shin ◽  
Sang-Hoon Byeon
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Hazard Risk ◽  
Qualitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Safety And Health

The risk assessment of hazardous substances has become increasingly important for the efficient prevention and management of various diseases or accidents caused by increased amounts of hazardous substances in the workplace. In this study, risk assessment was conducted for 36 kinds of hazardous substances requiring management by using qualitative and quantitative risk assessments. Qualitative risk assessment was performed by multiplying the exposure level class by the hazard class according to the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s (KOSHA) Chemical Hazard Risk Management (CHARM). The quantitative risk assessment was followed by a four-step risk assessment system presented in the Guidelines for Hazard Risk Assessment of Chemicals (KOSHA GUIDE W-6-2016). In the quantitative assessments, we presented a new method of classifying risk levels into four steps, much like qualitative assessments. In this study, the quantitative risk assessment was considered difficult to predict through qualitative risk assessment. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a quantitative risk assessment after a qualitative risk assessment for a higher level of risk assessment.

scholarly journals Personal Exposure Level and Health Risk Assessment of Nitrogen Dioxide in an Industrial Area

2008 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Taek Jeon ◽  
Won-Ho Yang ◽  
Seung-Do Yu ◽  
Jong-Dae Lee ◽  
Bu-Soon Son
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Nitrogen Dioxide ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
Exposure Level

Lung Cancer Risk Assessment in Relation With Personal Exposure to Airborne Particles in Four French Metropolitan Areas

2005 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 1211-1217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Nerriere ◽  
Denis Zmirou-Navier ◽  
Patrick Desqueyroux ◽  
Nathalie Leclerc ◽  
Isabelle Momas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Lung Cancer Risk ◽  
Metropolitan Areas ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Airborne Particles ◽  
Cancer Risk Assessment

The prospects of occupational risk management during reforms of regulatory legislation basis

2019 ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vadim B. Alekseev ◽  
Nina V. Zaitseva ◽  
Pavel Z. Shur
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Social Insurance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Occupational Risk ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
Work Safety ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Legal Principles

Despite wide legislation basis of regulating relations in work safety and workers’ health, one third of workplaces demonstrate exceeded allowable normal levels of workers’ exposure to occupational hazards and present occupational risk for health disorders.In accordance to national legislation acts, evaluation should cover factors of occupational environment and working process, and occupational risk is understood in context of mandatory social insurance. This approach has been formed due to mostly compensatory trend in legal principles of work safety in Russia by now. Implementation of new preventive concept of work safety, based on idea of risk management for workers, necessitates development of legal acts that regulate requirements to evaluation of occupational risk and its reports with consideration of changes in Federal Law on 30 March 1999 №52 FZ “On sanitary epidemiologic well-being of population”.Those acts can include Sanitary Rules and Regulations “Evaluation of occupational risk for workers’ health”, that will contain main principles of risk assessment, requirements to risk assessment, including its characteristics which can serve as a basis of categorizing the risk levels with acceptability.To standardize requirements for informing a worker on the occupational risk, the expediency is specification of sanitary rules “Notifying a worker on occupational risk”. These rules should contain requirements: to a source of data on occupational risk level at workplace, to informational content and to ways of notifying the worker. Specification and implementation of the stated documents enable to fulfil legal requirements completely on work safety — that will provide preservation and increase of efficiency in using work resources.

Applying the risk principle to optimize accuracy and equity in correctional risk assessment: Results From a Simulation

2021 ◽  
pp. 0306624X2098652
Author(s):  
Grant Duwe
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Risk Principle ◽  
Changes In Risk ◽  
The Impact

As the use of risk assessments for correctional populations has grown, so has concern that these instruments exacerbate existing racial and ethnic disparities. While much of the attention arising from this concern has focused on how algorithms are designed, relatively little consideration has been given to how risk assessments are used. To this end, the present study tests whether application of the risk principle would help preserve predictive accuracy while, at the same time, mitigate disparities. Using a sample of 9,529 inmates released from Minnesota prisons who had been assessed multiple times during their confinement on a fully-automated risk assessment, this study relies on both actual and simulated data to examine the impact of program assignment decisions on changes in risk level from intake to release. The findings showed that while the risk principle was used in practice to some extent, the simulated results showed that greater adherence to the risk principle would increase reductions in risk levels and minimize the disparities observed at intake. The simulated data further revealed the most favorable outcomes would be achieved by not only applying the risk principle, but also by expanding program capacity for the higher-risk inmates in order to adequately reduce their risk.

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