CONTENTS:

Articles:

PROTECTION OF HUMAN IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Towards a Model of Safety Climate Measurement Ali M. Alhemood, Ashraf M. Genaidy, Richard Shell, Michael Gunn & Christin Shoaf, 303-318       Toxicity of Some Phenolic Derivatives—In Vitro Studies Lidia Zapór, 319-331       The Effect of Age on Cognitive Performance Under the Impact of Vibration in a Driving Environment Mohammad Muzammil, 333-348       Risk Factors to Musculoskeletal Disorders and Anthropometric Measurements of Filipino Manufacturing Workers Jinky Leilanie Del Prado-Lu, 349-359

PROTECTION OF HUMAN AT THE WORKSTATION

Age-Related Thermal Strain in Men While Wearing Radiation Protective Clothing During Short-Term Exercise in the Heat Anna Marszałek, Juhani Smolander & Krzysztof Sołtyński, 361-367       Ergonomics Improvements of the Visual Inspection Process in a Printed Circuit Assembly Factory Paul H.P. Yeow & Rabindra Nath Sen, 369-385       Selection of Sorption Material for Tests of Pesticide Permeation Through Protective Clothing Fabrics Sylwia Krzemińska & Teresa Nazimek, 387-397       Handheld-Assisted Field Data Collection for Occupational Risk Assessment David Vernez, Jean-Michel Poffet & Adel Besrour, 399-410       Workstation Design in Carpet Hand-Weaving Operation: Guidelines for Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders Alireza Choobineh, Mohammadali Lahmi, Mostafa Hosseini, Houshang Shahnavaz & Reza Khani Jazani, 411-424

NOTES

Occupational Exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)—How Can We Reduce the Risk? Magdalena Leszczyszyn-Pynka, Małgorzata Kłys-Rachwalska, Beata Sacharczuk & Anna Boroń-Kaczmarska, 425-429

Towards a Model of Safety Climate Measurement
Ali M. Alhemood, Ashraf M. Genaidy, Richard Shell, Michael Gunn & Christin Shoaf

In this study, a survey instrument was developed to measure safety climate. A review of the scientific literature as well as consultation with an expert panel was used to determine the survey’s dimensions. Next, the survey was administered, first as a pilot study (n = 15) and then as a full scale study (n = 229), to employees of the City of Cincinnati Department of Public Works. The psychometric integrity of the survey was assessed according to validity, reliability and utility criteria. Results are presented and discussed.

Toxicity of Some Phenolic Derivatives—In Vitro Studies
Lidia Zapór

Cytotoxicity of 5 phenol derivatives (phenol, catechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone and phloroglucinol) was tested using a mouse 3T3 fibroblast cell line. Its relationships with structural and physicochemical properties were investigated.
Linear regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to characterise the relationship between cytotoxicity (expressed by IC₅₀ values) and physicochemical parameters of compounds or their toxicity in vivo expressed by LD₅₀ values. The studies showed that physicochemical properties of compounds seemed to have less influence on their cytotoxic potency than structural properties. Cytotoxicity of the compounds probably depends on the number of –OH groups and their location in the aromatic ring more than on physicochemical properties of compounds.
The best correlation was obtained for IC₅₀ values and LD₅₀ values determined following rabbit skin administration and experimental skin irritation score.

The Effect of Age on Cognitive Performance Under the Impact of Vibration in a Driving Environment
Mohammad Muzammil

The effect of organismic variable age on human cognitive performance was studied under the impact of vibration in different automobile driving environments, namely city streets, rural roads and highways. Reaction time was measured in milliseconds through a human response measurement system specifically designed for the purpose. Results of the study showed that age had a significant effect in city street and rural road conditions. It was also found that the level of equivalent acceleration of vibration and a difficulty index significantly affected cognitive performance in all driving conditions. The organismic variable age observed to have a significant effect on task performance implied that youngsters and older people are stressed differently in specific environments of driving so proper stress management strategies should be evolved for them in order to minimize the number of accidents.

Risk Factors to Musculoskeletal Disorders and Anthropometric Measurements of Filipino Manufacturing Workers
Jinky Leilanie Del Prado-Lu

This study looked into the risk factors to musculoskeletal disorders and established anthropometric measurements of Filipino workers in 29 manufacturing industries. Anthropometric measurements of 1,805 workers were taken, and 495 workers were surveyed. Limitation of motion was found in 0.8% of the respondents, affectation in activities of daily living was seen in 1.6% and 3.2% felt discomfort in the head and neck. Upper trunk and low back pain was experienced by 23.8%. Odds ratio results (p = .05) showed that it is 29 times likely for workers to develop low back pain when they stand for 2–8 hrs a day than when they sit all the time. Anthropometry can be used for the design of workstations and work furniture.

Age-Related Thermal Strain in Men While Wearing Radiation Protective Clothing During Short-Term Exercise in the Heat
Anna Marszałek, Juhani Smolander & Krzysztof Sołtyński

The aim of the study was to compare heat strain among different age groups of men in protective clothing during short-term physical work. Eight young (20–29 years), 6 middle-aged (41–55 years), and 6 older (58–65 years) men exercised for 30 min on a cycle ergometer (40% V_{O2 max}) in 2 hot environments with a similar WBGT (ca. 26 ºC): once with minimal clothing without infrared radiation (E1), and once with aluminized protective clothing under infrared radiation (E2). All subjects had sedentary jobs, but only the older subjects were physically active in their leisure-time. Body temperatures, heart rate, sweat rate, and subjective feelings were determined during the tests. Higher thermal strain was observed in E2 than in E1. No age-related differences in thermal strain were observed in either experiment indicating that active older men can tolerate short work periods with protective clothing in the heat as well as younger sedentary men.

Ergonomics Improvements of the Visual Inspection Process in a Printed Circuit Assembly Factory
Paul H.P. Yeow & Rabindra Nath Sen

An ergonomics improvement study was conducted on the visual inspection process of a printed circuit assembly (PCA) factory. The process was studied through subjective assessment and direct observation. Three problems were identified: operators’ eye problems, insufficient time for inspection and ineffective visual inspection. These problems caused a huge yearly rejection cost of US $298,240, poor quality, customer dissatisfaction and poor occupational health and safety. Ergonomics interventions were made to rectify the problems: reduced usage of a magnifying glass, the use of less glaring inspection templates, inspection of only electrically non-tested components and introduction of a visual inspection sequence. The interventions produced savings in rejection cost, reduced operators’ eye strain, headaches and watery eyes, lowered the defect percentage at customers’ sites and increased the factory’s productivity and customer satisfaction.

Selection of Sorption Material for Tests of Pesticide Permeation Through Protective Clothing Fabrics
Sylwia Krzemińska & Teresa Nazimek

The paper presents the results of studies on selecting a solid sorption material for absorbing liquid crop protection agents which permeate samples of protective clothing fabrics. The sorption materials were investigated and selected with an assumption that they should have a high recovery coefficient for biologically active substances, used as active ingredients in crop protection agents, at a presumed, acceptably high level. The selected substances were determined with a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (dichlorvos, cypermethrin and 2,4-D) and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector (carbofuran).
The tests demonstrated that polypropylene melt-blown type unwoven cloth had high recovery coefficients for all 4 active ingredients proposed for the study. The highest recovery coefficient, –.97, was obtained for carbofuran. The recovery coefficients obtained for the 3 remaining substances were lower: .89 for cypermethrin and 2,4-D, and .84 for dichlorvos.

Handheld-Assisted Field Data Collection for Occupational Risk Assessment
David Vernez, Jean-Michel Poffet & Adel Besrour

A computerized handheld procedure is presented in this paper. It is intended as a database complementary tool, to enhance prospective risk analysis in the field of occupational health. The Pendragon forms software (version 3.2) has been used to implement acquisition procedures on Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and to transfer data to a computer in an MS-Access format. The data acquisition strategy proposed relies on the risk assessment method practiced at the Institute of Occupational Health Sciences (IST). It involves the use of a systematic hazard list and semi-quantitative risk assessment scales. A set of 7 modular forms has been developed to cover the basic need of field audits. Despite the minor drawbacks observed, the results obtained so far show that handhelds are adequate to support field risk assessment and follow-up activities. Further improvements must still be made in order to increase the tool effectiveness and field adequacy.

Workstation Design in Carpet Hand-Weaving Operation: Guidelines for Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Alireza Choobineh, Mohammadali Lahmi, Mostafa Hosseini, Houshang Shahnavaz & Reza Khani Jazani

Carpet weavers suffer from musculoskeletal problems mainly attributed to poor working postures. Their posture is mostly constrained by the design of workstations. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 2 design parameters (weaving height and seat type) on postural variables and subjective experience, and to develop guidelines for workstation adjustments. At an experimental workstation, 30 professional weavers worked in 9 different conditions. Working posture and weavers’ perceptions were measured. It was shown that head, neck and shoulder postures were influenced by weaving height. Both design parameters influenced trunk and elbows postures. The determinant factor for weavers’ perception on the neck, shoulders and elbows was found to be weaving height, and on the back and knees it was seat type. Based on the results, the following guidelines were developed: (a) weaving height should be adjusted to 20 cm above elbow height; (b) a 10º forward-sloping high seat is to be used at weaving workstations.

Occupational Exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)—How Can We Reduce the Risk?
Magdalena Leszczyszyn-Pynka, Małgorzata Kłys-Rachwalska, Beata Sacharczuk & Anna Boroń-Kaczmarska

We analyzed occupational exposure to potentially infectious body fluids among health care workers (HCWs). Nurses were the most common exposed category of HCWs. In 73.6% cases needle sticks had been the reason of exposure. Recapping a needle was the cause of exposure in 6.9% accidents. Among 189 registered HCWs, 66 (34.9%) performed invasive procedures without any personal protective equipment. Prophylaxis with antiretroviral drugs was necessary in 43 (22.8%) cases.
As many as 60.3% of exposure incidents to potentially infectious material result from non-compliance with the relevant recommendations. Continuous education and training is critically needed to prevent occupational exposure to blood-borne infections among health care workers.