A temporal evaluation of respirable crystalline silica exposure for construction tasks.

Personal air monitoring using a TSI SidePak AM520 personal aerosol monitor was performed on a northern Colorado construction site during five tasks from the OSHA Table 1: Specified Exposure Control Methods When Working With Materials Containing Crystalline Silica to estimate silica dust concentrations in real time. Photometric measurements were modified using a gravimetric correction factor and a % respirable crystalline silica adjustment. Each task was sampled once; sample time ranged from 14 min to 40 min, with a mean sample time of 27 min.

The Evaluation of Worker Exposure to Airborne Silica Dust During Five OSHA Table I Construction Tasks.

Fifty-one (51) personal silica air samples were collected over 13 days on 19 construction employees while they performed five different construction tasks found in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) respirable crystalline silica standard for construction, Table 1, which specifies engineering, work practice, and respiratory protection controls that employers can use in lieu of exposure monitoring to adhere to the standard. The average construction task time was 127 min (range: 18-240 min) with a mean respirable silica concentration of 85 μg m-3 (standard deviation [SD] = 176.2) for all 51 measured exposures.

The associations between occupational health and safety management system programming level and prior injury and illness rates in the U.S. dairy industry.

U.S. dairy workers suffer occupational injuries and illnesses at rates higher than the national average.

Effects of Residential Environmental Screening and Perception Surveys on Superfund Environmental Health Risk Perceptions.

Residents at one of the nation's largest and longest-operating Superfund sites (Butte, Montana) have expressed environmental health risk perceptions that often diverge from those of EPA and other official stakeholders responsible for the investigation and remediation of site contamination aimed at protecting human health and the environment. A random sample of Butte residents participated in a study of how home-based environmental screening influences environmental health perceptions. Participants completed surveys measuring environmental health perceptions before and after a home site screening of soil and drinking water for lead and arsenic conducted by the research team.

Are hard hats a risk factor for WRMSD in the cervical-thoracic region?

Objectives: To investigate the effect of wearing hard hats on the lower cervical and upper thoracic region using surface electromyography (sEMG) and possible link to work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD).

Methods: Twenty study subjects wore sEMG sensors placed on the upper trapezius muscle on their dominant side to assess muscle activity while wearing different hard hats. Study subjects were asked to don six different hard hats and assume varied neck postures.

Control of wildfire-sourced PM2.5 in an office setting using a commercially available portable air cleaner.

A steady increase in wildfire event severity and season length has led to greater potential for exposure to fine particulate matter associated with wildfire smoke. Research has found fine particulate matter to be correlated with a myriad of health ailments and thus effective strategies for controlling exposures are needed. In this study, a correction factor associated with wildfire-sourced fine particulate matter was established for a TSI SidePak AM520 by conducting sampling with a co-located MetOne BAM 1020.

Environmental health perceptions in a superfund community.

A disconnect between community perceptions and officially documented Superfund remedial actions and health outcomes may hinder the essential community engagement at Superfund sites. This study evaluates the extent of one such potential disconnect in Butte, Montana, which is part of the largest U.S.

A comparison of respirable crystalline silica concentration measurements using a direct-on-filter Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) transmission method vs. a traditional laboratory X-ray diffraction method.

Evaluation and control of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposures are critical components of an effective mine industrial hygiene program. To provide more timely exposure data in the field, an end-of-shift Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry method has been developed for evaluation of direct-on-filter RCS. The present study aimed to apply this FT-IR method using field samples collected in three Northwestern U.

Noise characterization of oil and gas operations.

In cooperation with The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, researchers at Colorado State University performed area noise monitoring at 23 oil and gas sites throughout Northern Colorado. The goals of this study were to: (1) measure and compare the noise levels for the different phases of oil and gas development sites; (2) evaluate the effectiveness of noise barriers; and (3) determine if noise levels exceeded the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission noise limits. The four phases of oil and gas development include drilling, hydraulic fracturing, completion and production.

Comparing Occupational Health and Safety Management System Programming with Injury Rates in Poultry Production.

Effective methods to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses in animal production agriculture are sorely needed. One approach that may be helpful for agriculture producers is the adoption of occupational health and safety management systems. In this replication study, the authors compared the injury rates on 32 poultry growing operations with the level of occupational health and safety management system programming at each farm.

Client Perceptions of Occupational Health and Safety Management System Assistance Provided by OSHA On-Site Consultation: Results of a Survey of Colorado Small Business Consultation Clients.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) On-Site Consultation Service provides assistance establishing occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) to small businesses. The Safety and Health Program Assessment Worksheet (Revised OSHA Form 33) is the instrument used by consultants to assess an organization's OHSMS and provide feedback on how to improve a system. A survey was developed to determine the usefulness of the Revised OSHA Form 33 from the perspective of Colorado OSHA consultation clients.

Developing effective worker health and safety training materials: hazard awareness, identification, recognition, and control for the salon industry.

Objective: In addition to formaldehyde, workers in salons can be exposed to other chemical irritants, sensitizers, carcinogens, reproductive hazards, infectious agents, ergonomic, and other physical hazards. Worker health and safety training is challenging because of current product labeling practices and the myriad of hazards portending risk for a wide variety of health effects.

Methods: Through a Susan B.

Occupational exposures to noise resulting from the workplace use of personal media players at a manufacturing facility.

This study examined the contribution of noise exposures from personal media player (PMP) use in the workplace to overall employee noise exposures at a Colorado manufacturing facility. A total of 24 workers' PMP and background noise exposures were measured. Twelve PMP users worked in high-background-noise exposure (HBNE) areas, and 12 worked in low-background-noise exposure (LBNE) areas.