scholarly journals Presence of the Potential Toxic Metals (PTMs) in the urban and peri-urban topsoils

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Vrhovnik ◽  
Matej Dolenec ◽  
Anja Ilenič ◽  
Alenka Mauko Pranjić
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Mineralogical Composition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Soil Horizon ◽  
Social Aspect ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Official Gazette ◽  
Home Gardening ◽  
Urban Topsoils ◽  
Agricultural Areas

The occurrence of the PTEs contamination in the environment resulting from the point or diffuse sources increases with globalization and population growth. Anyway the benefits of home gardening for the physiological and physical well-being, as well as uncertainties regarding food supply chain in the case of Covid-19, the desire to use home-grown (local) food is increasing more and more. There is no information available on the PTE pollution of urban soils used for the food production in Slovenia. Therefore, the main goal of present study is the characterization of urban gardens and agricultural areas affected by flooded sediments. The total concentrations of PTEs in soil and sediment samples were ICP-MS. The concentrations of PTEs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) exceeded the permissible limit values defined in Slovenian Official Gazette. To define the natural or artificial origin of PTEs, the mineralogical composition of the selected soils and sediments was determined. The results obtained in present study were correlated with the national background values measured in the upper soil horizon and showed elevated concentrations. In addition to the environmental issues, the social aspect of potential impacts of PTEs on human health and safety was investigated. The results show that despite the numerous local, national and international plans and measures, greater awareness of the general public is needed to understand the hazardous effects of PTEs and the need for appropriate management of contaminated soil in the case contaminated areas.

Changing Places

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
John MacDonald ◽  
Charles Branas ◽  
Robert Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Open Space ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
City Life ◽  
New Science ◽  
Science And Art ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Scientific Testing ◽  
Large Groups

The design of every aspect of the urban landscape—from streets and sidewalks to green spaces, mass transit, and housing—fundamentally influences the health and safety of the communities who live there. It can affect people's stress levels and determine whether they walk or drive, the quality of the air they breathe, and how free they are from crime. This book provides a compelling look at the new science and art of urban planning, showing how scientists, planners, and citizens can work together to reshape city life in measurably positive ways. It demonstrates how well-designed changes to place can significantly improve the well-being of large groups of people. The book argues that there is a disconnect between those who implement place-based changes, such as planners and developers, and the urban scientists who are now able to rigorously evaluate these changes through testing and experimentation. It covers a broad range of structural interventions, such as building and housing, land and open space, transportation and street environments, and entertainment and recreation centers. Science shows we can enhance people's health and safety by changing neighborhoods block-by-block. The book explains why planners and developers need to recognize the value of scientific testing, and why scientists need to embrace the indispensable know-how of planners and developers. It reveals how these professionals, working together and with urban residents, can create place-based interventions that are simple, affordable, and scalable to entire cities.

scholarly journals Compatibility as guiding principle for ergonomics work design and preventive occupational health and safety

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Strasser
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Occupational Diseases ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Design ◽  
Human Organism ◽  
Machine System ◽  
Human Capacity

AbstractMutual adaptation and inter-changeability of system elements are very important prerequisites for machines, technical devices and products. Similar to that technical compatibility which can be achieved by standards and regulations, optimum design of human-oriented workplaces or a man-machine system cannot be attained without, e.g., a compatible arrangement of connected displays and controls. Over and above those stimulus/response relations, all technical elements and interfaces have to be designed in such a way that they do not exceed human capacity in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. Compatibility between the properties of the human organism on the one hand, and the adaptable technical components of a work system on the other hand, offers a great potential of preventive measures. Examples of ergonomically designed working tools show that compatibility is capable of reducing the prevalence of occupational diseases and repetitive strain injuries as well as leading to lower physiological cost in such a way that the same output results from a lower demand of human resources or even a higher performance will be attained. Compatibility also supports the quick perception and transmission of information in a man-machine system, and as a result of lower requirements for decoding during information processing, spare mental capacity may enhance occupational safety. In the field of software, compatibility also helps to avoid psychological frustration. All in all, the center core competency, which reflects the major significant function of the ergonomist in work design, consists in determining the compatibility of human capacity and planned or existing demands of work. In order to provide efficient working tools and working conditions as well as to be successful in occupational health and safety, ergonomics and industrial engineering in the future are expected to pay more attention to the rules of compatibility. Applied in an appropriate way, these rules may convince people that ergonomics can be a powerful means for reducing prevalence of occupational diseases and complaints, and has a positive effect on overall system performance. Besides presenting examples of work design according to the principle of compatibility, also methods will be shown which enable the assessment of the ergonomic quality of hand-held tools and computer input devices.

scholarly journals Foreword and Introduction to This Issue on Contemporary Safety Topics in Animal Research

ILAR Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-126
Author(s):  
John Bradfield ◽  
Esmeralda Meyer ◽  
John N Norton
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Animal Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The Status ◽  
Safety Considerations ◽  
Animal Care ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Institutions with animal care and use programs are obligated to provide for the health and well-being of the animals, but are equally obligated to provide for safety of individuals associated with the program. The topics in this issue of the ILAR Journal, in association with those within the complimentary issue of the Journal of Applied Biosafety, provide a variety of contemporary occupational health and safety considerations in today’s animal research programs. Each article addresses key or emerging occupational health and safety topics in institutional animal care and use programs, where the status of the topic, contemporary challenges, and future directions are provided.

729 Daily stress and nightmares are bidirectionally associated among nurses

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A285-A285
Author(s):  
Odalis Garcia ◽  
Danica Slavish ◽  
Jessica Dietch ◽  
Brett Messman ◽  
Ateka Contractor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Vaccine Response ◽  
Daily Stress ◽  
Potentially Traumatic Events ◽  
Sleep Diaries ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Bidirectional Associations

Abstract Introduction Nurses may experience frequent nightmares due to stressful work environments. Some studies estimate that 35% of nurses experience nightmares related to experiences at work. Nightmares may also exacerbate stress among nurses, although this has yet to be tested empirically. We examined daily bidirectional associations between stress severity and nightmare occurrence and severity, and whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms moderated those relationships. Methods 392 nurses (mean age = 39.54 years; SD = 11.15; 92% female; 78% White) were recruited for a larger study on sleep and vaccine response. For 14 days, upon awakening, nurses completed daily sleep diaries to assess previous-day stress severity (0 = not at all, 4 = extremely), as well as nightmare occurrence (0 = no nightmare, 1 = nightmare occurred) and nightmare severity (0 = not at all, 3 = very). PTSD symptoms were assessed at baseline using the PTSD Checklist of DSM-5 (PCL-5). Multilevel models were used to examine bidirectional, within-person associations between daily stress and nightmares, and cross-level moderation by baseline PTSD symptoms. Results Approximately 10.5% of nurses met criteria for PTSD based on PCL-5 scores. 47.2% of nurses reported at least one nightmare across the two weeks. Days with greater stress severity were associated with higher odds of experiencing a nightmare (OR = 1.22, p = 0.001), as well as greater nightmare severity that night (b = 0.09, p = 0.033). Nightmare occurrence (b = 0.15, p < 0.001) was associated with greater next-day stress severity. PTSD symptoms did not moderate daily stress and nightmare associations. Conclusion Nurses face intense occupational demands and frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events. Our results indicated nightmares and stress may occur in a bidirectional fashion among nurses. Results were similar regardless of nurses’ PTSD status. Future studies should explore whether targeting nightmares and stress may improve nurses’ health and well-being. Given the essential role that nurses play in maintaining patient health and safety, it is critical to understand the causes and consequences of their sleep-related disturbances. Support (if any):

Note on the regulation of veterinary medical devices in the EU: A review of the current situation and its impact on animal health and safety

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
H Potockova ◽  
P Kusnierik ◽  
J Dohnal
Keyword(s):  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Safety And Efficacy ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Health And Safety Risks ◽  
The Eu

Medical devices form a large heterogeneous group of products ranging from simple tools to medical testing and implants, the safety and efficacy of which are strictly regulated in all developed countries. Thanks to the health and cost benefits, medical devices have also found their way into veterinary medicine but, surprisingly, the regulation of these products is far less complex or, in some cases, missing altogether. Given the complexity and potential hazards of certain veterinary devices, the current state of affairs may lead to health and safety risks, both for animals and personnel involved. This review is the first to systematically map the current situation in the EU, revealing health and safety risks in practice for both animals and personnel involved and discussing them in a broader context. Only six out of the EU's 28 member states (Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia) were found to have at least a degree of regulation of veterinary devices. As a result, a single product may be regulated as a veterinary medicinal product, a veterinary medical device or not be regulated at all, depending on the particular EU member state in question. As things stand, veterinary medicine makes use of all kinds of medical devices, including human products, regardless of their regulatory status and (pre-market) control. However, the use of such devices may influence the health and well-being of animals. Several measures are therefore suggested to attain the required levels of safety and efficacy surveillance for veterinary medical devices without creating excessive administration.

Leveraging blockchain based decentralized apps for the Tokyo Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic

First Monday ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rishi Sabarigirisan ◽  
Aditi Biswas ◽  
Ridhi Rohatgi ◽  
Shyam KC ◽  
Shekhar Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Crowd Management ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Smooth Contact ◽  
Public Health And Safety

The COVID-19 pandemic has induced a cloud of uncertainty over the mega sports event, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Cancelling or re-scheduling the event could have serious repercussions on the economic, social and environmental well-being for the involved stakeholders. Thus, it becomes critical to conduct events of this magnitude by adopting appropriate public health measures. In this research, we primarily focus on two main premises relative to public health and safety, contact tracing and crowd management. We explore and evaluate the usability of blockchain based decentralized apps in crowd management and contact tracing for the Tokyo Olympics using value-focused thinking (VFT). A VFT framework aids in narrowing fundamental and strategic objectives that need to be addressed for smooth contact tracing and crowd management by understanding stakeholder viewpoints. We established an equivalence of the objectives identified through VFT with blockchain technology properties. Further, we also present a conceptual ideation of contact tracing and crowd management through blockchain based decentralized apps for the Tokyo Olympics. This work could potentially assist decision-makers, researchers and stakeholders involved in organizing the Tokyo Olympics in understanding and analysing the utility of blockchain based decentralized apps for crowd management and contact tracing.

scholarly journals SAÚDE E SEGURANÇA DE TRABALHADORES EM GALPÕES DE MATRIZES DE FRANGOS DE CORTE

Nativa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 380
Author(s):  
Cinara Da Cunha Siqueira Carvalho ◽  
Ilda De Fátima Ferreira Tinôco ◽  
Cecília De Fátima Souza ◽  
Maria De Fátima Araújo Vieira ◽  
Thamara Amaral Diniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
The People ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
De Se ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Rural Work

O bem-estar animal tem sido amplamente discutido, abordando as ações e efeitos no processo de criação, transporte até o abate, a fim de se adequar os meios de produção. No entanto, bem-estar é um assunto de ampla abrangência e que atualmente, adequa também as condições de trabalho das pessoas que atuam no setor agrícola. A segurança e a saúde dos trabalhadores é motivo de preocupação, uma vez que a forma como o indivíduo se sente ou como exerce as suas atividades, pode influenciar de forma negativa na produção animal. Diante dessa crescente preocupação, objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar os efeitos da tipologia das edificações e do sistema de produção de matrizeiros de frangos de corte sobre as condições de saúde, segurança e ergonomia dos trabalhadores envolvidos na atividade. De posse dos dados coletados, verificou-se que as atividades que exigem o carregamento de peso, principalmente quando realizada por mulheres, podem vir a prejudicar a coluna bem como outros membros corporais. Os demais fatores ergonômicos como concentração de gases, luz e ruído não tornaram o ambiente insalubre uma vez que as instalações são abertas favorecendo a ventilação natural e iluminação.Palavras-chave: ergonomia, produção de frangos, trabalho rural. HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WORKERS IN HARBORS OF BROILERS BREEDER ABSTRACT:Animal welfare has been widely discussed, addressing the actions and effects in the process of creation, transportation to slaughter, in order to suit the means of production. However, well-being is a matter of wide scope and currently, it also suits the working conditions of the people who work in the agricultural sector. The safety and health of workers is a matter of concern, since the way in which the individual feels or how he practices his activities may negatively influence animal production. Faced with this growing concern, this work aimed to evaluate the effects of typology of buildings and the system of production of broilers breeder on the health, safety and ergonomic conditions of workers involved in the activity. With the collected data, it was verified that the activities that require the weight load, especially when performed by women, can harm the spine as well as other body limbs. Other ergonomic factors such as concentration of gas, light and noise have not made the environment unhealthy since the facilities are opened favoring natural ventilation and lighting.Keywords: ergonomics, poultry production, rural work.

scholarly journals Smart occupational health and safety for a digital era and its place in smart and sustainable cities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 8831-8856
Author(s):  
María-Isabel Sánchez-Segura ◽  
◽  
German-Lenin Dugarte-Peña ◽  
Antonio de Amescua ◽  
Fuensanta Medina-Domínguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
Support Service ◽  
A Value ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Prevention Model

<abstract> <p>As innovative technologies emerge, there is a need to evolve the environments in which these technologies are used. The trend has shifted from considering technology as a support service towards making it the means for transforming all complex systems. Smart cities focus their development on the use of technology to transform every aspect of society and embrace the complexity of these transformations towards something leading to the well-being and safety of people inhabiting these cities. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is an essential aspect to be considered in the design of a smart city and its digital ecosystems, however, it remains unconsidered in most smart city's frameworks, despite the need for a specific space for smart OHS. This paper summarizes a 9-month process of generation of a value proposition for evolving the sector of OHS based on a value-map in whose creation several stakeholders have participated. They focused on identifying the products, the methods, the organizational structures and the technologies required to develop an updated, dynamic and robust prevention model focused on workers in smart and complex contexts, and to improve the organizations' capability to guarantee safety even in the most changing, digital and disruptive settings. To assess the relevance and validity of this value-map, a study was carried out to match the set of its elements and its specific and conceptual products discovered, considering also the definition of the past needs and future trends of the sector that a set of renowned stakeholders and key opinion leaders (with mastery in OHS from several companies and industries) have recently defined for the decade of 2020. A prospective analysis of this match is presented, revealing that there is still an existing gap to be covered in the context of smart cities design: the explicit guarantee of safety for workers.</p> </abstract>

scholarly journals Hand-arm vibration management: an operational health and safety strategy framework

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
David John Edwards ◽  
Igor Martek ◽  
Obuks Ejohwomu ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
M. Reza Hosseini
Keyword(s):  
Critical Realism ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Action Research Approach

PurposeHuman vibration exposure from hand-operated equipment emissions can lead to irreparable and debilitating hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). While work-place health and well-being (H&WB) policies, strategies and procedures have been extensively researched and documented, little has been done to develop a specific strategic framework tailored to the management of hand-arm vibration (HAV). This study fills that gap.Design/methodology/approachA mixed philosophical approach of interpretivism and critical realism is adopted within a case study of a utilities contractor. Within this overarching epistemological design, action research approach is implemented via a three-stage investigation, namely, relevant company H&WB documents and procedures were examined, leading to the formulation of semi-structured interview questioning of the H&WB team. Their responses informed the next line of questions, delivered to middle-management responsible for overseeing H&S.FindingsThe findings are instructive in revealing that while substantial documentation management (augmented with protocols and checks) was in place, the system fell short of implementation within the workforce and thus failed to preserve worker H&WB. The investigation generated recommendations for shoring up H&WB deficiencies observed and developed a theoretical model to represent these. Though these recommendations were developed in response to a specific case, they form the core of a HAV operational H&WB strategy framework with applicability over a broader context.Originality/valueThis research provides unique insight into contemporary industry practices employed to manage HAV in the workplace and represents an invaluable opportunity to learn from prevailing practices and rectify deficiencies observed.

Trends in Wearable Technologies for Earth Science

2018 ◽  
pp. 1339-1360
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Woolman
Keyword(s):  
Earth Science ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Monitoring Systems ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Science Field ◽  
Wearable Technologies ◽  
Current Trends

In this chapter, we discuss the need for wearable technologies for earth science field research, a discipline that can be both extremely physically rigorous and even potentially dangerous at times. The field is also technically challenging because of environmental conditions as well as often being conducted in remote offline regions. Current trends in available wearable technology devices suitable for earth science applications are explored, in addition to describing possible modifications to existing wearable technologies in order to make them deployable, practical offline-capable geoscience systems. Offline Health and safety monitoring systems designed to operate on a low-powered personal body-area network system as well as offline (non-internet dependent) wearable communication technologies are particularly addressed. These types of wearable technologies represent some of the most complex aspects in this field as well being some of the most customizable systems with highly configurable components for remote back country fieldwork functionality.

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