Occupational contact dermatitis: Return to work using a multidisciplinary clinic model.

Background: Occupational contact dermatitis often results in work disruption. Return-to-work (RTW) is an important outcome.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine RTW outcomes and factors associated with such outcomes using a multidisciplinary clinic model.

The Utility of an Occupational Contact Dermatitis Patch Test Database in the Analysis of Workplace Prevention Activities in Toronto, Canada.

Background: Occupational skin diseases are common suggesting that there are still gaps in workplace prevention. Patch test surveillance systems provide an opportunity to collect work related information in addition to clinical information and patch test results.

Objectives: To examine 5 years of data related to workplace prevention by industry sector in a patch test surveillance database for workers with a diagnosis of occupational contact dermatitis.

Gaps in Workplace Education For Prevention of Occupational Skin Disease.

Background: Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is a common occupational disease. Evidence suggests that education and training are effective prevention strategies. In spite of these known prevention strategies, workers continue to develop OCD.

The development and testing of a tool to assess joint health and safety committee functioning and effectiveness.

Background: Concern regarding functioning and effectiveness of joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) in Ontario hospitals was raised following the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in 2003. A subsequent literature review revealed a lack of studies focused within the healthcare sector.

Methods: A tool to measure JHSC effectiveness was developed by a panel of occupational health and safety experts based on a framework from the healthcare sector.

Return to Work for Nurses With Hand Dermatitis.

Background: Occupational skin disease is common in healthcare workers. If the healthcare worker develops moderate to severe dermatitis, return to work (RTW) may be challenging.

Objectives: The study objectives were to review the impact of an RTW program on the work status of nurses with occupational hand dermatitis and to identify successful intervention methods and strategies.

Joint health and safety committees - What is their impact in the acute care hospital?

Background: There is very little in the literature on the effectiveness of Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSCs) in the healthcare sector and a paucity of information on how JHSCs are perceived in the workplace.

Objective: This study was carried out to explore hospital worker, hospital management, and healthcare sector stakeholder views on the effectiveness of JHSCs in the acute healthcare setting.

Methods: The study used a qualitative descriptive design with: (1) nineteen focus groups and twenty two individual interviews in three hospitals of different sizes; and (2) eight individual interviews with external stakeholders.

Glove Use and Glove Education in Workers with Hand Dermatitis.

Background: Occupational skin diseases are common. The occurrence of occupational skin diseases represents a failure of primary prevention strategies that may include the use of personal protective equipment, most commonly gloves.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe current glove use and education practices related to gloves in workers being assessed for possible work-related hand dermatitis.

The development and test re-test reliability of a work-related asthma screening questionnaire.

Objective: Work-related asthma (WRA) is under-recognized and delays in recognition contribute to long-term morbidity. The objective of the project was to develop a WRA screening questionnaire for use by primary care providers in the assessment of individuals with asthma, and to evaluate the respondent burden, test re-test reliability and face validity of the questionnaire.

Methods: A literature search was undertaken and an expert advisory committee was convened.

International guidelines for the in vivo assessment of skin properties in non-clinical settings: Part 2. transepidermal water loss and skin hydration.

Background: There is an emerging perspective that it is not sufficient to just assess skin exposure to physical and chemical stressors in workplaces, but that it is also important to assess the condition, i.e. skin barrier function of the exposed skin at the time of exposure.

International guidelines for the in vivo assessment of skin properties in non-clinical settings: part 1. pH.

Background: Skin surface pH is known to influence the dissolution and partitioning of chemicals and may influence exposures that lead to skin diseases. Non-clinical environments (e.g.

Propylene glycol dermatitis in the printing industry: the fundamental role of a workplace visit.

Workers in the printing industry serve as an example of a working population that is at high risk of developing occupational skin disease. Daily exposures include both irritants and sensitizing agents. While many substances have been associated with occupational contact dermatitis in this population, no detailed cases of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from propylene glycol (PG) have been reported to date.

Rapid development of allergic contact dermatitis from dicyclohexylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate.

Isocyanates are widely used in the manufacturing of rigid and flexible foams, fibers, and coatings such as paints, varnishes, and elastomers but are rarely reported as contact sensitizers. The aliphatic diisocyanate dicyclohexylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (DMDI) is known to be a strong cutaneous sensitizer. We report a 27-year-old woman who developed a severe eczematous eruption on the arms, trunk, and abdomen within 2 weeks of employment at a company using the product Chem-Dec 808 isocyanate (containing 40-70% weight per weight DMDI).

Form and function of joint health and safety committees in Ontario acute care hospitals.

Even though joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) have been in existence in Ontario workplaces for almost 30 years and healthcare workers are at high risk for workplace injury, there has been little research done related to JHSC functioning in Ontario's healthcare sector. In his recent review of the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Toronto, Justice Archie Campbell found that JHSCs in Ontario hospitals were not fulfilling their intended roles and responsibilities. The objective of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the role, resources, structure and functioning of JHSCs in Ontario hospitals.

Hand dermatitis in auto mechanics and machinists.

Background: Auto mechanics and machinists presenting with suspected allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) have traditionally been patch-tested with a standard screening tray and a specialty tray such as the Oil and Cooling Fluid Series. While this has proven useful for patch-testing the machinist, there is a need for the development of a more specific allergen testing tray for the auto mechanic.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare clinical features and patch-test results of auto mechanics and machinists with hand dermatitis to evaluate differences in allergen profiles.

Perceptions about hearing protection and noise-induced hearing loss of attendees of rock concerts.

Background: This study examines perceptions of rock concert attendees about risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and use of hearing protection at a busy Toronto rock concert venue.

Methods: Two hundred and four questionnaires were completed and returned (75% response rate) by attendees at four rock concerts.

Results: The respondents had an average age of 20.