scholarly journals Agricultural Dust Exposures and Health and Safety Practices among Western Australian Wheatbelt Farmers during Harvest

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (24) ◽  
pp. 5009
Author(s):  
Krassi Rumchev ◽  
Suzanne Gilbey ◽  
Ryan Mead-Hunter ◽  
Linda Selvey ◽  
Kevin Netto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Respiratory Protection ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Airborne Dust ◽  
Vehicle Cabin ◽  
Farm Safety ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Working Day ◽  
And Shifts

Background: Agricultural farmworkers are routinely exposed to high levels of airborne dust particles that have been linked to adverse health outcomes. Methods: This study measured personal and environmental exposures to dust particulates by farmworkers during harvesting activities. Farmers completed a workplace survey with regards to their health and safety awareness and practices and researchers observed general farm safety practices on selected farms using a checklist. Results: In this study, farmers were noted to commonly work extended hours and shifts during harvest due to rigid timing deadlines. Results showed that 40% of farmers were exposed to concentrations of inhalable particles greater than SafeWork Australia’s workplace exposure standards for grain dusts, assuming a 16 h working day over 5 shifts. Twenty-two percent were exposed to concentrations that were above the adjusted standard for 12 h shifts. Survey results showed that three-quarters of farm owners provided new workers with some type of induction related to farm safety, however this was mostly undertaken in an arbitrary manner. Despite noting that farming was a dusty occupation and reporting to use protective measures to reduce harmful dust exposures, no workers were observed to wear respiratory protection when working outside of the protection of a vehicle cabin. Conclusion: This study identified substantial gaps in health and safety knowledge among farm managers and workers, and improved education and training are highly recommended.

scholarly journals Case study: Dust in the housing of laying birds

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. e35510713170
Author(s):  
Adriana Maria dos Santos ◽  
Dermeval Araújo Furtado ◽  
José Pinheiro Lopes Neto ◽  
Fabiana Terezinha Leal de Morais ◽  
Rafael Costa Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Artificial Ventilation ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Respiratory Protection ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Sample Concentration ◽  
Working Day

As dust particles in laying poultry houses can have negative effects on health and on the environment,this study aimed to measure and compare dust concentrations in egg production sheds. The experiment was carried out in three sheds: Californian shed (G1), conventional closed shed with artificial ventilation (G2) and conventional closed shed without artificial ventilation (G3), and the birds housed were in the 22nd week of housing, in Cuité, Paraíba, Brazil.The dust particles were collected by a gravimetric pump, attached to the workers' clothes, at the height of the respiratory zone, being removed at the end of the working day. Using the evaluation methodologies (total or breathable dust) according to NIOSH (1998), weighing was performed with sample concentration calculation, then the particle size was measured by microscopy according to the methodology described by Feret(Santos, 2001), with diameter of function obtained using an optical microscope, and particles classified by size (inhalable <100 μm, thoracic <25 μm and breathable <10 μm).Considering the limit of concentration x exposure time of 3.0 mg/m3, according to ACGIH (2013), the sheds had the following values: G1-0.98 mg/m3, G2-1.45 mg/m3 and G3-1.13 mg/m3. In the classification of particles by size, the highest frequencieswere 83% thoracic, 13% inhalable, and 4% breathable.With the results presented, the implementation of the Respiratory Protection Program - PPR is suggested.

scholarly journals Airborne Spread of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus From a Swine Farm

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Øystein Angen ◽  
Martin Weiss Nielsen ◽  
Per Løfstrøm ◽  
Anders Rhod Larsen ◽  
Niels Bohse Hendriksen
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Swine Farm ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Airborne Dust ◽  
Bacteriological Investigation ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Working Day ◽  
The One

Spread of livestock-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) to farmworkers has been recognized as a risk when working in LA-MRSA positive stables, due to LA-MRSA being present on airborne dust particles. Based on this, airborne spread of LA-MRSA through stable vents is a concern that is addressed in this study. The aim of the investigation was to quantify the airborne spread of LA-MRSA from a MRSA positive swine farm. In order to achieve this, a method for sampling large volumes of air was applied. The results were compared to meteorological data and bacteriological investigation of samples from the air inside the swine barn, soil outside the farm, and nasal samples from the individuals participating in the sampling process. MRSA was detected up to 300 m (the maximal measuring distance) from the swine farm in the air but only at low levels at distances above 50 meters (0.085 CFU/m3 at a distance of 50 m in the wind plume). MRSA was detected in sock samples obtained at the soil surfaces up to 400 m (the maximal measuring distance) from the farm building. The proportion of MRSA positive soil samples decreased from ~80 to 30% with increasing distance from the farm. A total of 25 human nasal samples were sampled after the farm visits after the participants had stayed in the surroundings of the farm for an average of 10.5 h. When leaving the farm, only two of the samples (8%) were LA-MRSA-positive both obtained from one individual who was the one who had sampled the ventilation shafts. In conclusion, airborne spread of MRSA from swine farms does not seem to be an important route for human contamination for individuals staying a whole working day outside a swine farm.

scholarly journals A Modelling and Validation Approach for Predicting Particle Concentrations of Airborne Dust during the Filling Process of Cylindrical Silos

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1794
Author(s):  
Luke Stone ◽  
Stefan Zigan ◽  
Lahiru L. Lulbadda Waduge ◽  
David B. Hastie
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Feasibility Studies ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Discrete Element Modelling ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Filling Process ◽  
Airborne Dust ◽  
Process Simulations ◽  
Quality Of Products

Traditionally, when undertaking feasibility studies for designing new storage facilities such as storage silos, engineers will extract design information from experiments and evaluate potential risks associated with health and safety, suitability design for reliable material flow, and quality of products. The simulation approach applied incorporates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) approaches and experimental tests will be used for validating these simulation results. One important aspect related to handling fine and dusty materials (particles smaller than 100 microns) is the associated risk of dust explosions, which needs to be evaluated before the commissioning of storage silos; to evaluate the accumulation of fines during the silo filling process, simulations and experiments were conducted. Alumina and salt were used here as reference materials for calibration and the validation purposes. The validation efforts are significant due to the fact that the data that is accessible in simulations is vastly different to the accessible data in experiments, which is restricted by measurement techniques and equipment. Such restrictions are observed in the evaluation of particle concentrations in a large confined volume. A new methodology has been developed to evaluate concentrations in both simulations and experiments by employing a non-dimensional factor [k], here called “Concentration Rank Factor” (CRF). A significant finding of this research is that experiments and simulations can be compared using CRF. It has been found to be within 2% of the experiment averaged value of 0.64.

Health and Safety in Nail Salons: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadaf Sanaat ◽  
D Linn Holness ◽  
Victoria H Arrandale
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Runny Nose ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Nail Salons

Abstract Objectives In recent years, nail salons have become more abundant than ever. The majority are small businesses, often employing immigrant women. Nail technicians have many exposures at work including chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic hazards but few data exist on their symptoms or occupational health and safety practices, particularly in the Canadian context. The aim of this study was to learn about nail technicians, their work, and their health and safety practices. Methods Nail technicians were recruited from nail salons in Toronto, Ontario. Participants completed an anonymous survey with questions about demographics, work tasks, workplace health and safety practices, and symptoms (skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal). Results A total of 155 nail technicians (95% female) participated in the survey. The majority of nail technicians performed manicures (99%) and pedicures (96%) and applied shellac polishes (86%). Only a third (34%) applied acrylic artificial nails. The reported use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was very high; 88% reported using a mask at work and 96% reporting using gloves. The most common symptoms reported by technicians were neck (44%) and back pain (38%). Skin and respiratory symptoms were less common with 6% of technicians reporting cough, 8% wheeze, and 5% a current rash. Technicians working over 30 h per week reported more neck pain (52 vs. 32%, P = 0.02). Technicians who reported using shellac polishes were more likely to report a runny nose (25 vs. 0%, P = 0.01). Conclusions Nail technicians in Toronto, Canada are experiencing work-related symptoms. Musculoskeletal symptoms were the most common symptoms reported. Much of the focus on nail salons and health has been on chemical exposures, but ergonomic hazards should not be overlooked. Efforts to increase knowledge and improve occupational health in nail salons should include information on multiple possible workplace hazards and how to reduce impacts of exposure.

scholarly journals Worker Health and Safety Practices in Research Facilities Using Nonhuman Primates, North America

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1589-1590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily W. Lankau ◽  
Patricia V. Turner ◽  
Robert J. Mullan ◽  
G. Gale Galland
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Worker Health ◽  
Worker Health And Safety ◽  
Research Facilities
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