Assessing attitudes, beliefs and readiness for musculoskeletal injury prevention in the construction industry.

The objectives are to determine attitudes and beliefs among construction workers and supervisors related to taking action to reduce musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs). "Action" stage of change was confirmed if workers in the last 6 months are continuing to take steps to reduce MSIs. Surveys (520 workers; 35% and 171 supervisors; 67%) revealed that more workers are concerned about MSIs (p<0.

Evaluation of selected ergonomic assessment tools for use in providing job accommodation for people with inflammatory arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis (IA) is a leading cause of work disability, especially for those with jobs involving repetitive, hand-intensive or manual work. Ergonomic interventions may mediate against job loss. Our objective was to identify desirable features of an ergonomic tool for use in providing job accommodation for people with IA, and to evaluate a selection of ergonomic and rehabilitation tools against these features.

Impact of expert versus measurement-based occupational noise exposure estimates on exposure-response relationships.

Objective: Expert-judgment has frequently been used to assess quantitative exposure for epidemiologic studies, but accuracy varies widely dependent on the type of exposure and the availability of measurements to anchor estimates. There is limited empirical evidence of the sensitivity of exposure-response relationships to expert- versus measurement-based exposure assessment strategies. We examined the sensitivity of the exposure-response relationship between occupational noise exposure and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality using both expert- and measurement-based occupational noise estimates in a retrospective cohort study of sawmill workers (n = 27,499).

Measuring low back injury risk factors in challenging work environments: an evaluation of cost and feasibility.

Background: Measuring low back injury risk factors in field research presents challenges not encountered in laboratory environments.

Methods: We compared the practical application of five measurement methods (observations, interviews, electromyography (EMG), inclinometry, and vibration monitoring) for 223 worker days in 50 heavy-industry worksites in western Canada. Data collection successes, challenges, costs, and data detail were documented for each method.

Ceiling baffles and reflectors for controlling lecture-room sound for speech intelligibility.

Reinforcing speech levels and controlling noise and reverberation are the ultimate acoustical goals of lecture-room design to achieve high speech intelligibility. The effects of sound absorption on these factors have opposite consequences for speech intelligibility. Here, novel ceiling baffles and reflectors were evaluated as a sound-control measure, using computer and 1/8-scale models of a lecture room with hard surfaces and excessive reverberation.

Application of land use regression to estimate long-term concentrations of traffic-related nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter.

Land use regression (LUR) is a promising technique for predicting ambient air pollutant concentrations at high spatial resolution. We expand on previous work by modeling oxides of nitrogen and fine particulate matter in Vancouver, Canada, using two measures of traffic. Systematic review of historical data identified optimal sampling periods for NO and N02.

Air pollution and development of asthma, allergy and infections in a birth cohort.

Few studies have addressed associations between traffic-related air pollution and respiratory disease in young children. The present authors assessed the development of asthmatic/allergic symptoms and respiratory infections during the first 4 yrs of life in a birth cohort study (n = approximately 4,000). Outdoor concentrations of traffic-related air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide PM(2.

Characterization of environmental sources of the human and animal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii in British Columbia, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Cryptococcus gattii has recently emerged as a primary pathogen of humans and wild and domesticated animals in British Columbia, particularly on Vancouver Island. C. gattii infections are typically infections of the pulmonary and/or the central nervous system, and the incidence of infection in British Columbia is currently the highest reported globally.

Impact of the specificity of the exposure metric on exposure-response relationships.

Background: Exposure misclassification may occur when nonspecific exposure indicators are used. Developing estimates of more specific measures may be difficult due to sampling limitations or a paucity of historical measurements and, thus, often requires substantial effort. We examine the impact on exposure-response relationships of moving from 2 measures of exposure mixtures (dust, chlorophenols) to more specific exposure indicators (wood dust, pentachlorophenol, tetrachlorophenol) in a retrospective cohort.

Use of a violence risk assessment tool in an acute care hospital: effectiveness in identifying violent patients.

This study examined the use and effectiveness of the Alert assessment form. The form is part of the Alert system, used by one large acute care hospital to identify patients with a propensity for violence. All reported incidents of patient violence from August 1, 2003, through December 31, 2004, were included in patient charts.

Traffic-related air pollution and otitis media.

Background: Otitis media is one of the most common infections in young children. Although exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a known risk factor associated with otitis media, little information is available regarding the potential association with air pollution.

Objective: We set out to study the relationship between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and otitis media in two birth cohorts.

Experimental evaluation of radiosity for room sound-field prediction.

An acoustical radiosity model was evaluated for how it performs in predicting real room sound fields. This was done by comparing radiosity predictions with experimental results for three existing rooms--a squash court, a classroom, and an office. Radiosity predictions were also compared with those by ray tracing--a "reference" prediction model--for both specular and diffuse surface reflection.

Auralization study of optimum reverberation times for speech intelligibility for normal and hearing-impaired listeners in classrooms with diffuse sound fields.

Speech-intelligibility tests auralized in a virtual classroom were used to investigate the optimal reverberation times for verbal communication for normal-hearing and hearing-impaired adults. The idealized classroom had simple geometry, uniform surface absorption, and an approximately diffuse sound field. It contained a speech source, a listener at a receiver position, and a noise source located at one of two positions.

Work organization and musculoskeletal injuries among a cohort of health care workers.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between work-organization factors (job control, job demands, and workload measures) and the risk of lower-body musculoskeletal injury among health care workers.

Methods: A four-year, retrospective cohort study of 3769 health care workers was carried out in one acute care hospital in the Canadian province of British Columbia. A job-exposure matrix was constructed for the work-organization factors from survey and administrative data and assigned to workers on the basis of their occupation and department of employment.

Cancer and occupational exposure to pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol (Canada).

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the carcinogenicity of pentachlorophenol and tetrachlorophenol using data from the BC sawmill workers cohort study.

Methods: The cohort consisted of 27,464 men employed by 14 sawmills for 1 year or more between 1950 and 1995. Fatal (1950-1995) and incident (1969-1995) cancers were identified using national registries.

Subjective assessment of listening environments in university classrooms: perceptions of students.

A questionnaire is developed to evaluate perception of the listening environment by university students. The objectives were to develop a questionnaire-based measurement tool, derive a measure of perceived classroom-listening quality, use the questionnaire to investigate factors that enhance, impair, or do not affect perceived listening quality, and consider the implications for classroom design. The questionnaire was administered to over 5700 students in 30 classrooms at one university.

Comparative gene genealogies indicate that two clonal lineages of Cryptococcus gattii in British Columbia resemble strains from other geographical areas.

Cryptococcus gattii has recently emerged as a pathogen of humans and animals in the temperate climate of Vancouver Island, British Columbia (B.C.).

Evaluation of a modified scavenging system to reduce occupational exposure to nitrous oxide in labor and delivery rooms.

We developed a new scavenging mask for the administration of nitrous oxide to mothers-to-be during labor in order to minimize leakage of the patient's exhaled breath into the room and, therefore, decreasing staff exposure to nitrous oxide. The scavenging system was designed with an inner mask for gas delivery, an outer mask to capture exhaled breath, and a continuous exhaust airflow based on breathing flow rates. In this study we field tested the scavenging system by measuring personal exposures of nurses (N = 30) and room air concentrations (N = 33), while patients self-administered nitrous oxide either through the conventional or modified scavenging system.

Electromyography as a measure of peak and cumulative workload in intermediate care and its relationship to musculoskeletal injury: an exploratory ergonomic study.

Injury rates in Intermediate Care (IC) facilities are high and the factors related to these injuries are unclear. The objectives of this exploratory sub-study, which is part of a large multi-faceted study in 8 IC facilities are to: (1) evaluate EMG measured over a full-shift in the back and shoulders of 32 care aides (CAs) as an indicator of peak and cumulative workload (n = 4 x 8 facilities); investigate the relationship between EMG measures and injury indicators; and explore the relationship between EMG measures and other workload measurements. Lumbar EMG was converted to predicted cumulative spinal compression and ranged in CAs from 11.

Effects of theatrical smokes and fogs on respiratory health in the entertainment industry.

Background: Theatrical fogs (glycol or mineral oil aerosols) are widely used in the entertainment industry to create special effects and make lighting visible.

Methods: We studied 101 employees at 19 sites using fogs and measured personal fog exposures, across work shift lung function, and acute and chronic symptoms. Results were also compared to an external control population, studied previously.

Evaluation and determinants of airborne bacterial concentrations in school classrooms.

A survey of 39 elementary schools was undertaken to determine indoor air concentrations of bioaerosols within a coastal, temperate climatic zone in British Columbia, Canada. This article reports the results for airborne bacteria. Determinants of exposure were grouped into environmental (outdoor temperature, relative humidity, season, weather), ventilation and comfort parameter (indoor relative humidity, temperature, indoor CO2 concentration, indoor fungal concentration), and occupancy (number of occupants, activity levels, occupancy patterns) variables.

Occupational exposure to noise and mortality from acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Exposure to noise is highly prevalent in the workplace, and an etiologic association with cardiovascular disease has been hypothesized. Although there is evidence of hypertension among noise-exposed workers, evidence of heart disease has been less conclusive.

Methods: We identified a cohort of 27,464 blue-collar workers from 14 lumber mills in British Columbia who worked at least 1 year between 1950 and 1995 and who were followed up over the same period.

Considering risks to healthcare workers from glutaraldehyde alternatives in high-level disinfection.

Due to concerns over glutaraldehyde's toxicity, two substitutes have recently been introduced; ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid. There is limited information about the health effects for employees from these products. This study assesses the current practices regarding the use of high-level disinfectants in British Columbian hospitals and predicts the relative toxicities of each product.

A field comparison of four fungal aerosol sampling instruments: inter-sampler calibrations and caveats.

Unlabelled: Four bioaerosol samplers (Reuter Centrifugal, Andersen N6 Single Stage, Surface Air System Super 90, and Air-o-Cell) were used to take c. 300 side-by-side measurements at 75 public building sites. Regression models were developed to examine the relationships between each method pair.

A field comparison of four samplers for enumerating fungal aerosols I. Sampling characteristics.

Unlabelled: This study compared the performance of four bioaerosol samplers, the Reuter Centrifugal Air Sampler, the Andersen N6 single stage, the Surface Air System 90, and the Air-o-Cell, in measurements for airborne fungal propagules collected in 75 public building sites without prior knowledge of water damage or mold problems in British Columbia, Canada. The samplers had differences in detection limits, reproducibility, and overall yield. However, high and significant correlations between samplers (indoor samples: Pearson r = 0.