IN-PLANT NOISE AS OCCUPATIONAL RISK FACTOR AT PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS

Aims: This study aimed to describe the characteristics of the workplace-related clusters of COVID-19 and its transmissions into communities in Vietnam. Methods and Material: We accessed the database of COVID-19 by the Ministry of Health, Vietnam. Variables included sources of infection, age, sex, nationality, the dates of onset of symptoms and discharge from hospitals, and ID of each patient tested positive with COVID-19. Information from each patient was linked to the sources of infection to identify workplace-related clusters. Among 314 patients, we excluded 43 cases related to two charter flights, the remaining 271 cases were eligible for the study.Results: The biggest cluster of hospital canteen included 26 workers and their 31 family members or hospital’s patients. The second biggest cluster included a pilot of the Vietnam airlines and other 16 patients who have close contact with him at the Bar Buddha at Ho Chi Minh City. A total of 87 patients (32.1% of 271 cases) were related to these workplace-related clusters. The suspected time and the clinical course was significantly longer in the workplace-related clusters than other patients (mean 6.52 vs. 4.05 days, p=0.0191) and (mean 28.71 vs. 20.52 days, p=0.0005), respectively. Conclusions: Because COVID-19 infection at workplaces was responsible for nearly one-third of the total patients, there was a novel emerged occupational risk factor at work due to coronavirus infection. Safety at the workplace in preventing COVID-19 transmission is highly needed.

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In-plant noise as occupational risk factor at petrochemical plants

Health Risk Analysis ◽

10.21668/health.risk/2017.1.13.eng ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 116-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A.D. Volgareva ◽

◽

L.K. Karimova ◽

L.N. Mavrina ◽

Z.F. Gimaeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Occupational Risk ◽

Occupational Risk Factor

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Development of a Digital Video-Based Occupational Risk Assessment Method

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.683850 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Nils Ove Beese ◽

Francisca S. Rodriguez ◽

Jan Spilski ◽

Thomas Lachmann

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Video Analysis ◽

Video Recording ◽

Assessment Method ◽

Occupational Risk ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Assessment Process ◽

Hazardous Substances ◽

Risk Assessment Process

The development and implementation of an observational video-based risk assessment is described. Occupational risk assessment is one of the most important yet also challenging tasks for employers. Most assessment tools to date use questionnaires, expert interviews, and similar tools. Video analysis is a promising tool for risk assessment, but it needs an objective basis. A video of a plastering worker was recorded using a 360° camera. The recording was then analyzed using the developed observational matrix concerning Work Characteristics, Work Activities as well as potential risks. Risk factors present during the video of the work included lifting, fall from ladder, hazardous substances as well as occasionally bad posture. The worker had no or just one risk factor present during most of the time of the video recording, while only 16 s with more than one risk factor present according to the observational matrix. The paper presents a promising practical method to assess occupational risks on a case-by-case basis. It can help with the risk assessment process in companies which is required by law in some industrialized countries. The matrix in combination with video analysis is a first step toward digital observational risk assessment. It can also be the basis of an automated risk assessment process.

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The Effect of Split and Vertically-Inclined Computer Keyboards on Wrist and Forearm Posture

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181397041001141 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 642-646 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Richard W. Marklin ◽

Guy G. Simoneau ◽

John F. Monroe

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Neutral Position ◽

Ulnar Deviation ◽

Occupational Risk Factor ◽

Tunnel Syndrome ◽

Computer Keyboard ◽

The Right ◽

Neutral Posture

The significant findings from this study of 90 clerical subjects, whose forearm and wrist posture were measured while they typed on three alternative QWERTY computer keyboard designs, are the following: 1) when setup correctly, commercially-available split QWERTY keyboards reduced mean ulnar deviation of the right and left wrists from approximately 12 deg. to within 5 deg. of a neutral position compared to a conventional QWERTY keyboard. 2) with at least a 30 deg. tilt of the keyboard halves, a commercially-available vertically-inclined QWERTY keyboard reduced mean pronation of the forearm by approximately 20 deg. compared to a conventional QWERTY computer keyboard (60 to 40 deg.) The finding that split keyboards place the wrist closer to a neutral posture in the radial/ulnar plane substantially reduces one occupational risk factor of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), namely ulnar deviation of the wrist. The finding that vertically-inclined keyboards reduce forearm pronation substantially is advantageous, at least theoretically, to the keyboard user. However, since the origins of WMSDs, which include carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and tenosynovitis, tend to be multifactorial, the extent to which split keyboards or vertically-inclined keyboards could reduce the frequency or severity of WMSDs is unknown.

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Healthcare institutions’ recommendation regarding the use of FFP-2 masks and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among healthcare workers: a multicenter longitudinal cohort study

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control ◽

10.1186/s13756-021-01047-x ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Katarzyna Szajek ◽

Felix Fleisch ◽

Sandra Hutter ◽

Martin Risch ◽

Theresa Bechmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Care ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Occupational Exposure ◽

Seroconversion Rate ◽

Occupational Risk ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Occupational Risk Factors ◽

Pandemic Wave

Abstract Background Health care workers (HCW) are heavily exposed to SARS-CoV-2 from the beginning of the pandemic. We aimed to analyze risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion among HCW with a special emphasis on the respective healthcare institutions’ recommendation regarding the use of FFP-2 masks. Methods We recruited HCW from 13 health care institutions (HCI) with different mask policies (type IIR surgical face masks vs. FFP-2 masks) in Southeastern Switzerland (canton of Grisons). Sera of participants were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 6 months apart, after the first and during the second pandemic wave using an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA, Roche Diagnostics). We captured risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection by using an online questionnaire at both time points. The effects of individual COVID-19 exposure, regional incidence and FFP-2 mask policy on the probability of seroconversion were evaluated with univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 99 of 2794 (3.5%) HCW at baseline and in 376 of 2315 (16.2%) participants 6 months later. In multivariable analyses the strongest association for seroconversion was exposure to a household member with known COVID-19 (aOR: 19.82, 95% CI 8.11–48.43, p < 0.001 at baseline and aOR: 8.68, 95% CI 6.13–12.29, p < 0.001 at follow-up). Significant occupational risk factors at baseline included exposure to COVID-19 patients (aOR: 2.79, 95% CI 1.28–6.09, p = 0.010) and to SARS-CoV-2 infected co-workers (aOR: 2.50, 95% CI 1.52–4.12, p < 0.001). At follow up 6 months later, non-occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals (aOR: 2.54, 95% CI 1.66–3.89 p < 0.001) and the local COVID-19 incidence of the corresponding HCI (aOR: 1.98, 95% CI 1.30–3.02, p = 0.001) were associated with seroconversion. The healthcare institutions’ mask policy (surgical masks during usual exposure vs. general use of FFP-2 masks) did not affect seroconversion rates of HCW during the first and the second pandemic wave. Conclusion Contact with SARS-CoV-2 infected household members was the most important risk factor for seroconversion among HCW. The strongest occupational risk factor was exposure to COVID-19 patients. During this pandemic, with heavy non-occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the mask policy of HCIs did not affect the seroconversion rate of HCWs.

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