scholarly journals Evaluation of Health and Environmental Safety in Food and Water Production Factories in Duhok Governorate

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (02) ◽  
pp. 54-58
Author(s):  
Masood Abdulrahman ◽  
Kherailah Bebo
Keyword(s):  
Ventilation System ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Safety Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Personal Protection Equipment

Lack of adequate occupational safety and health strategies is a reason that workplace accidents in food and water production industries remain high, making this sector one of the riskiest operations worldwide. The research was carried out to examine the degree of implementing the health, occupational and environmental safety measures in the selected factories to assess health and safety level and to measurement the noise levels in these industries. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by utilizing structured pre-tested questionnaire and noise level measured at four places: selling, administrative, machine and passage industry places. The study revealed the absence of health and safety policy, and the absence of safety and training departments. The suitable measures in place to combat harmful dust generated by motor traffic were present in 23.3%, and the system with deal with the spillage was current in 43.3% of factories. Wastes segregation was found in 3.3%. Exhaust dilution ventilation system was seen in 83.3% of these factories. Personal protection equipment was not provided to all workers exposed to dust, fumes, or gases. Only 3.3% of factory staffs were aware of fire prevention and safety measures. The sound level at the machine place was above average (above 85 decibels) in all factories.

scholarly journals A Survey on Topics Rating for the Undergraduate and Diploma in Environmental Health

SAGE Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824401881104
Author(s):  
Kamaruddin Arshad ◽  
Qi Ying Lean ◽  
Long Chiau Ming ◽  
Sundara Rajan Mahalingam ◽  
Chua Say Tiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Health ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Current Content ◽  
Level Of Importance

Environmental health (EH) is the study of environment and environmental factors affecting the health of human. Identifying the most relevant and up-to-date and updated teaching topics of EH programs is vital to ensure competent practitioners are nurtured. Thus, this study aimed to attain the view of current content of EH programs for EH professionals and intended to recommend topics necessary for education and practice. The level of importance of current and newly proposed topics for EH courses at diploma and bachelor’s level was assessed using a cross-sectional survey design. Practicing EH programs graduates were invited via social media and e-mails to participate in the survey. The respondents were asked to rank the importance of different EH topics based on 5-point Likert-type scale. Descriptive statistics were employed to report the importance of EH curricula at Malaysian tertiary institutions. It was found that between diploma’s and bachelor’s level, the bachelor’s graduates were expected to have high exposure in existing topics such as vector control management, legislation for EH and safety, health and safety risk assessment, as well as newly proposed topics including critical literature evaluation and innovation in creating awareness activities. The findings from this survey could serve as a guide to improvise EH curricula to ensure the EH programs continue to produce students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and competencies.

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 Perspectives from Dentists, Dental Assistants, Students, and Patients on Dental Care Adapted to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3940
Author(s):  
Maximiliane Amelie Schlenz ◽  
Alexander Schmidt ◽  
Bernd Wöstmann ◽  
Andreas May ◽  
Hans-Peter Howaldt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Dental Clinics ◽  
Positive Perspective ◽  
Dental Assistants

Dental care has been affected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) worldwide. In contrast to other dental clinics, the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Germany) decided not to limit dental treatment to emergencies alone, but to continue dental care for all patients, with increased safety measures. As such, health care professionals may be exposed to additional physical and mental stress. The aim of this study was to assess the perspectives of all persons involved in dental care (dentists, dental assistants, students, and patients) regarding the aspects of safety measures, anxiety about self-infection and infecting others, and other prospects in the period March to December 2020 using a questionnaire. Data collection was performed between 14 December 2020 and 23 January 2021. A total of 35 dentists (response rate of 79.5%), 23 dental assistants (65.7%), 84 students (80%), and 51 patients (21.8%) completed the survey. The patients did not notice any changes in the care received. Dentists and dental assistants reported a higher workload due to additional safety measures. The majority of dentists, students, and patients agreed that normal patient care was maintained. One-third of dental assistants would have preferred emergency treatment alone and expressed significantly higher anxiety about COVID-19 infection than all other groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, all groups showed a predominantly positive perspective on dental care, and anxiety about self-infection and infecting others was especially low. However, additional measures are time-consuming and compound daily patient care. This concept, based on well-established infection control, might be a viable proposal for current and future pandemics.

scholarly journals Knowledge and compliances of safety measures among the solid waste collectors in Kathmandu valley

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-71
Author(s):  
Shova Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Solid Waste ◽  
Kathmandu Valley ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Adequate Level ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

Introductions: Safety measures of solid waste collectors are important to prevent occupational health problems. This study was designed to find out knowledge and compliance of safety measures among the solid waste collectors in Kathmandu Valley. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among solid waste collectors of Kathmandu metropolitan city from 12th August to 7th September 2018 by using a structured face to face interview schedule. Data were analysed by chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation and entered into SPSS 16 version. Results: Out of 117 waste collectors interviewed, more than 1/3rd (32.48%) had an adequate level of knowledge, and 1/5th (21.4%) had an adequate level of compliances. There was a weak negative correlation between level of knowledge and compliance on safety measures. Conclusions: One-third of respondents had an adequate level of knowledge about safety measures whereas only one fifth had an adequate level of compliances.

scholarly journals Determinant Factors of Work-Related Complaints

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Qoni Mulia Sagita ◽  
Yuliani Setyaningsih ◽  
Sulistiyani Sulistiyani
Keyword(s):  
Medical History ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Shoe Industry ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Home Workers

Home-based workers of Footwear industries in Semarang Regency are all womans. The employment status of home-based workers usually unrecognized or unregulated by the employer or their itermediaries so that they did not paid close attention about HWBs’s working condition. They often work on inadequate working environment such as poor ventilation system, bad lighting, humid working space (damp wall and floor), and also poor layout of furnitures and work equipments. That condition exaberated by lack of HWBs’s knowledge and awareness regarding their health and safety at work. In addition HBWs often with little to none education, work on long extended working hours and working under intensive labor.This research was aimed to determine the relationship between respondent characteristics, medical history, and use of PPE with work-related complaints on home workers of shoe industry in Semarang regency. This was an observational analytic study using cross sectional approach. Population in this study was 80 home workers of shoe industry in Semarang regency. The samples are 66 home workers were taken using stratified random sampling method. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution and Chi-Square test. The results of this study showed that there were some variables that have significant association with work-related complaints (p≤ 0.05) including, length of work, duration of work, personal protective equipment (PPE). While the variables of age, body mass index (BMI), and medical history did not show significant association with work-related complaints (p&gt; 0.05). Multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed the duration of work had the most powerful influence to the work-related complaints. The conclusion of this study was important for home workers to maintain health condition by doing exercise to avoid work-related complaints. Home workers that have long duration of work should increase the use of PPE such as masks and gloves.

scholarly journals Larger Workplaces, People-Oriented Culture, and Specific Industry Sectors Are Associated with Co-Occurring Health Protection and Wellness Activities

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aviroop Biswas ◽  
Colette N. Severin ◽  
Peter M. Smith ◽  
Ivan A. Steenstra ◽  
Lynda S. Robson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
Industry Sectors

Employers are increasingly interested in offering workplace wellness programs in addition to occupational health and safety (OHS) activities to promote worker health, wellbeing, and productivity. Yet, there is a dearth of research on workplace factors that enable the implementation of OHS and wellness to inform the future integration of these activities in Canadian workplaces. This study explored workplace demographic factors associated with the co-implementation of OHS and wellness activities in a heterogenous sample of Canadian workplaces. Using a cross-sectional survey of 1285 workplaces from 2011 to 2014, latent profiles of co-occurrent OHS and wellness activities were identified, and multinomial logistic regression was used to assess associations between workplace demographic factors and the profiles. Most workplaces (84%) demonstrated little co-occurrence of OHS and wellness activities. Highest co-occurrence was associated with large workplaces (odds ratio (OR) = 3.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15–5.89), in the electrical and utilities sector (OR = 5.57, 95% CI = 2.24–8.35), and a high people-oriented culture (OR = 4.70, 95% CI = 1.59–5.26). Promoting integrated OHS and wellness approaches in medium to large workplaces, in select industries, and emphasizing a people-oriented culture were found to be important factors for implementing OHS and wellness in Canadian organizations. Informed by these findings, future studies should understand the mechanisms to facilitate the integration of OHS and wellness in workplaces.

scholarly journals Health challenges in South African automotive companies: Wellness in the workplace

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Meyer-Weitz ◽  
Friederike Baasner-Weihs ◽  
Martin Weihs
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Influencing Factor ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Managerial Implications

Orientation: In South Africa, workplace programmes in the automotive industry focus predominantly on occupational health and safety and HIV and AIDS. The implementation of focused workplace interventions might be hampered when companies are not convinced that the condition (i.e. HIV and AIDS) is the main negative health influencing factor responsible for increased production costs.Research purpose: The study investigated the health influencing conditions perceived to negatively impact company production costs and related interventions.Motivation for the study: Apart from HIV and AIDS, little information is available about the health challenges in the South African workplace and focused HIV and AIDS programmes might only partly respond to the key health challenges of workplaces. The inter-relatedness of various risky lifestyle factors linked to health conditions necessitates a comprehensive health promotion approach.Research approach, design and method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst 74 companies selected through stratified random sampling. Non-parametric tests were conducted to investigate the health influencing factors perceived to impact production costs, the monitoring thereof, extent of containment and the implementation of interventions in terms of company size and ownership.Main findings: The health factors perceived to have a moderate to large impact were HIV and AIDS, smoking, alcohol use, stress, back and neck ache and tuberculosis, also reported to be better monitored and managed by medium and large organisations. Small organisations reported a smaller impact, fewer efforts and less success. HIV and AIDS programmes were more evident in large companies and those with wellness programmes (52%). Workplace programmes enabled better monitoring and managing of impacting health conditions. Smaller organisations were not convinced of the benefits of interventions in addressing health challenges.Practical/managerial implications: As the impacting health conditions seemed linked, comprehensive and integrated wellness programmes are required to address the health issues and ensure organisations’ competitiveness.Contribution: The results contribute to a better understanding of the perceived salient health influencing factors that impact on production costs. Data support the inter-relationships between the identified health concerns and call for more holistic wellness programmes.

Is there a syndrome of bullying?

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Srabstein ◽  
Thomas Piazza
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
World Health ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Psychosomatic Disorder ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Objective: We investigated the existence of a psychosomatic disorder associated with bullying by delineating its health and safety and correlates, and defining the demographic characteristics of the USA adolescents affected by this condition. Methods: This study was based on an analysis of USA data from the 1996 World Health Organization Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey. The survey provides nationally-representative, cross-sectional survey information on 9938 USA students in Grades 6–10. We examined those students who were involved in bullying as a victim and/or as a bully, with or without a self-reported cluster of depression, “bad mood”, “feeling low”, “feeling nervous” and sleeping difficulties, and one or more physical symptoms (headaches, stomach aches, back aches, dizziness). Results: A cluster of physical and emotional symptoms linked to their participation in bullying as bullies and/or victims was reported by 9.5% of adolescents, with a higher frequency of 8th Grade students and a predominance of females. These students were 8.14 times more likely to hurt themselves on purpose and 4.20 times more likely to hurt others purposely than their peers who were not involved in bullying and did not suffer from a cluster of physical and emotional symptoms. Conclusions: This study may elicit further examination and debate about the existence of a nosological entity linked to bullying. Pending further research, the present results should support the need to ascertain participation in bullying, as a bully and/or as a victim, in all pediatric visits. Furthermore, there is a need to enquire about symptoms and risks related to this form of abuse.

Effect of particulate matter 2.5 exposure to urinary malondialdehyde levels of public transport drivers in Jakarta

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-300
Author(s):  
Damai Arum Pratiwi ◽  
Budi Haryanto
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Personal Protection Equipment ◽  
The Road ◽  
On The Road ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

AbstractBackgroundPeople who work long hours on the road are intensively exposed to high levels of fine particulate matters (PM2.5) which may lead to oxidative stress mechanisms in the human body that cause deleterious health problems. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is the major metabolite produced during lipid peroxidation metabolism that serves as a reliable biomarker for oxidative stress in cells.ObjectivesTo identify the association between PM2.5 exposure and other characteristics with urinary MDA levels among public transport drivers in Jakarta.MethodsA cross-sectional design was implemented by involving 130 public transport drivers of nine trajectories from Kampung Melayu Terminal, Jakarta. The continuous PM2.5 data were collected in personal measurement during one round trip of driving. Weight and height measurements were obtained to calculate body mass index (BMI) and structured questionnaires were completed to identify other characteristics. MDA levels were examined from the driver’s urine right after driving and evaluated using TBARS analysis.ResultsThe average of PM2.5 exposure was 91.56 ± 20.05 μg/m3 and MDA levels were 2.23 ± 1.57 nmoL/mL. Drivers with overweight and obese BMI had significantly higher MDA levels (2.66 ± 1.65 nmoL/mL) compared to those with normal and underweight BMI status (1.97 ± 1.47 nmoL/mL). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated low PM2.5 exposure, normal and underweight BMI status, and a long period of working as drivers were associated with MDA levels (p<0.05). Contrary to the prior study, PM2.5 exposure was negatively associated with MDA levels due to most drivers’ BMI status being normal and underweight.ConclusionOur study suggests that the drivers who were obese and overweight should lose weight to lower the risk of increased MDA levels. We also suggest the drivers to consider maintaining their vehicle’s ventilation system or using personal protection equipment (PPE) to avoid high PM2.5 exposure while driving.

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