Pool Chemical Storage and Handling

Do you know how to Safely Store and Handle Pool chemicals? Have you ever experienced a Pool Chemical reaction ? We will discussion real life experience of “What happens IF pool products are stored and handled incorrectly.” Discuss why people handle pool products in an at risk manner, then close out the discussion with tools and information to improve safe handling and storage of pool products.

Addressing Disparities Via Community Health Workers

Community health workers, also known as promotores de salud, peer leaders, patient navigators, or health advocates, serve as a model for addressing health disparities in vulnerable, low income, and under-served communities. Community health workers play an important role in promoting community-based health education and prevention in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate, particularly in communities and for populations that have been historically under-served and uninsured. As members of the communities, they usually share the language, socioeconomic status, and experiences of the community they serve, which enable them to have a trusting relationship to serve as a liaison between health and health services to facilitate health communication and education. In addition, community health workers have provided useful information about workplace environment exposures. Community health workers are on the front lines, educating their community peers to ensure that everyone stays healthy and safe by building capacities of disadvantaged communities.

Presenters on this panel will define community health workers and their role in addressing environmental health and health disparities. Presenters will also describe the successes of community health workers through evidence-based programs by highlighting accomplishments of successful programs. They will conclude by establishing the link between community health workers, health disparities, and environmental health.

Workers on the front line: pathogen exposures and injuries in swine slaughter and processing

Industrialization of food-animal production has public health consequences that can directly affect workers and others involved in food-animal production. Slaughterhouse workers work in close contact with live animals, wastes, blood/carcasses, and may be among the most intensively exposed to many pathogens carried by animals. Pathogens carried by animals in industrialized production systems may have been selected for antimicrobial resistance, as a consequence of use of subtherapeutic concentrations of antibiotics. Another potential health concern among processing plant workers is injury. Processing plant work often involves repetitive tasks at high speed or work with sharp tools or around dangerous materials including the product itself (bones). These conditions can lead to increased risk of injury.

To study factors associated with Staphylococcus aureus exposure, specifically drug-resistant forms, we conducted a cross-sectional study of workers of the largest hog slaughterhouse and processing plant in the United States, located in Tar Heel, North Carolina. We conducted interviews in English and Spanish to collect information on demographics, occupational history, availability and use of protective equipment, recent health history (including infections and use of antibiotics), work related injuries, contact with animals, and diet Each participant provided a nasal swab to determine exposure to S. aureus. Swabs were cultured and the presence of S. aureus was confirmed. All S. aureus isolates were subjected to antibiotic-resistance testing.

We enrolled 164 workers, 63 of their household members, and a reference group of 111 community members (total n=336). Sixteen isolates were positive for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) identified phenotypically (4.8%). Workers had the highest prevalence of MRSA (5.6%), followed by their household members (4.8%), and community referents (3.6%). Prevalent carpal tunnel syndrome was reported by 11% of processing plant workers, compared with 2% and 4% of household members and community members, respectively. Conversely, prevalence of lacerations was highest among household members. Approximately, 74% of workers reported that there are parts of his/her body that hurt from their job at the end of the workday in contrast with 33% and 43% of household and community members. Implications and public health recommendations of this study will be shared during this presentation.

Food Service Inspectors Promoting Restaurant Worker Protection- a Pilot Assessment and Intervention Study

While conducting routine food safety inspections, Bay Area environmental health inspectors identified at least one occupational hazard in approximately 69% of the 261 food facilities inspected as part of a pilot project focusing on preventing work-related injuries. Over 200,000 such injuries occur in U.S. food establishments every year. Recognizing the unique access that environmental health inspectors have to the kitchen and other areas of food facilities when conducting periodic health inspections, UC Berkeley’s Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) recruited two Bay Area counties to partner in the development of a pilot assessment and intervention project. LOHP worked with the inspectors of each county to develop distinct protocols for hazard identification and intervention. San Francisco opted for a limited, less time consuming version of the pilot which included a 5-item checklist of sentinel worker safety hazards for the assessment, and an intervention consisting of sharing a letter explaining the pilot effort and providing the facility operator with a brochure on restaurant worker safety. Contra Costa County developed a more time-intensive version including a 15-item checklist with an intervention that distributed the OSHA brochure, targeted safety tipsheets, on-the-spot education, and referral for trainings with LOHP.

San Francisco found that 60% of the restaurants lacked certain required labor signage and 13% of the facilities had ventilation issues. Contra Costa County staff found the most common sentinel hazard was the lack of required labor postings, slippery floors, inadequately stocked first aid kits, and absence of non-slip mats. Key challenges to the project included inspectors having to balance “core” food safety responsibilities with the voluntary pilot activities focused on worker safety. Local environmental health departments will likely need to adapt the effort for their own use – one protocol will not “fit all.” The pilot showed promise in collaborating with, as one inspector put it, “the perfect people to be communicating” about worker health and safety in food facilities. The presentation will expand on the findings of the sentinel hazard assessment, feedback from inspectors and operators on the interventions, the evaluation of the two protocols, and how they may be applicable in the participants’ jurisdictions.

 

Implications of Silver Nanoparticle (Nano Ag) Exposure on Respiratory Physiology

Silver has been one of the most commonly used materials for various applications. As the level of production and use of engineered silver nanoparticles (Nano Ag) increases, the exposure risk to Nano Ag at both occupational and non-occupational settings has become real. Despite the availability of many cellular toxicology studies, few studies have been conducted to understand the physiological impacts on respiratory system. In this study, Nano Ag of various sizes and concentrations (size ranging between 10 and100nm at varying concentrations between 10 and 1000 ppb) was homogenized in representative environmental and physiological conditions by using bovine surfactant (Calfactant) at room temperature. Both control and experimental groups of suspension/solutions were used to measure the contact angles for each sample by using a goniometer. The measured contact angles, then, were used for surface tension as a way of indirect measurement of physiological impacts. The results show that:

1. Nano Ag at 100nm size range (compared to 15nm size) causes more significant change in surface tension in a representative environmental condition without having the effects of surfactants, 
2. The effect of Nano Ag exposure in terms of change in surface tension reduction was more prominent by smaller size Nano Ag (i.e. 15nm in this case) than larger size Nano Ag (i.e., 100nm) in a physiological environment, 
3. Size effect on surface tension at 15 and 100nm is less distinctive in the concentration ranges between 50 and 100ppb of Nano Ag, while smaller Nano Ag (15nm) causes more dramatic increment of surface tension at a higher exposure concentration (1000ppb) than larger size Nano Ag (100nm). 

From the results it is concluded that:

1. human respiratory physiology can be more easily compromised by smaller Nano Ag in a size and concentration dependent manner, and 
2. it might be possible to implement preventive measures in nanomaterial induced toxicity at manufacturing facilities by better understanding the correlation between the size in nano scale and pathophysiological conditions.

Can EOSH Specialists and Health Physicists be on The Same Page? Lessons from Hanford

Communication between EOSH Specialists and Health Physicists is sometimes difficult because their disciplines have different histories, equipment, principles and approaches to exposures. Why is this so and can anything bring them together better in this multidisciplinary holistic health world?

Health assessment of self employed workers [POSTER]

Only few studies have compared health of self-employed workers to that of employees.Self-employed seem to have a higher risk to catch occupational diseases than employees, with consequently a lower health level.

We conducted one of the first cross sectional study with the aim to compare health level of self-employed woodworking crafsmen to staff workers.Clinical and paraclinical data for self-employed craftsmen and employees were collected by occupational heath doctors according to a standardized protocol. Health data and professional status relationships were analysed by logistic regression with adjustement for age, sex, food exposure, and smoking. A total of 208 craftmen and 281 staff workers were included. Craftmen had more dermatologic pathologies, ear/nose/throat symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms and hearing loss. The two populations did not differ regarding cardiovascular, neurologic, digestive symptoms or spirometric results.

This survey confirm a high morbidity rate among self-employed craftsmen, suggesting that self-employed status can be a risk factor for health.

Variations in Occupational Selectivity Based Upon On-Line Degrees

The variants regarding the viability of professional certification and employment based upon the accreditation of on-line universities.

We have evaluated the percentage of graduates receiving professional certification subsequent to completing on-line undergraduate and/or graduate degrees. Based upon our findings, graduate of on-line universities compete equally in receiving professional certifications and are well advanced in the work environment.

Statistical analysis indicate that the work experience of adult students completing OSH degrees through accredited on-line universities receive professional accreditation at a comparable rate as those attending traditional universities.

Cosmetology and Young Adults in New Jersey: Occupational Ergonomics and Tanning Prevalence, Practice and Risk Perception of Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) Exposure

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Public Health’s NJ Safe Schools Program (NJ SS) focused on cosmetology related hazards that young adults in NJ are exposed to, including ergonomics, Right to Know (RTK) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure due to indoor tanning. NJ SS created a Task Force (TF) to consider potential environmental and occupational safety and health issues related to cosmetology programs offered through NJ public schools. This TF worked 2010-2012. One TF objective was to increase education through a poster provided to salons on proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). A student poster contest was determined to be a good way to get information about ergonomics in cosmetology into schools and salons to target young adults and new workers. Handwashing posters were “models” to emulate. In addition to this poster, a RTK brochure (in English and Spanish) on cosmetology and ergonomics and a supplemental website were created. NJ SS believes information provided will inform both training and practice in salons. In addition to the TF, NJ SS also focused on UVR exposure to sorority and fraternity members in NJ as one group of young adults who may be at high risk of UVR exposure due to their relatively higher prevalence of sun seeking behaviors outdoors.

Additionally, about twenty five million Americans artificially tan indoors annually. Indoor tanning is a major risk factor for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers and other injuries due to UVR exposure. The young adult population is especially vulnerable due to their high prevalence of indoor tanning. A questionnaire was used to assess family skin health history, skin cancer risk factors, tanning behavior, use of PPE and risk perceptions associated with UVR exposure. Results suggested almost half of the study population tanned indoors once in their lifetime and the majority were aware of adverse health effects associated with tanning. To decrease UVR exposure from indoor tanning, public health practitioners must engage in aggressive educational campaigns. Both the Cosmetology TF and the indoor UVR exposure study found environmental health educational campaigns targeted to young adults were most effective to communicate risks.