Bakgrund: Vid operativa ingrepp finns en risk för överföring av smitta mellan personal och patienter. Lokala riktlinjer ska reglera användningen av personlig skyddsutrustning. Huvudskydd används för att hindra hår och partiklar att falla ner på sterilt område. Ögonskydd skyddar personalens ögonslemhinna mot stänk av kroppsvätskor och användandet av dubbla handskar minskar risk för blodsmitta vid stick- och skärskador. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka preoperativa val av och motivering till val av huvudskydd, ögonskydd och handskar hos operatörer och operationssjuksköterskor.  Metod: I en empirisk, deskriptiv studie med tvärsnittsdesign undersöktes val av och motivering till val av huvudskydd, ögonskydd och handskar. Operationssjuksköterskor och operatörer observerades och tillfrågades med stöd av ett strukturerat frågeformulär. Resultat: På två operationsavdelningar i Stockholms län utfördes 240 observationer. Hjälmmössa valdes vid samtliga observationer inom ortopedi och vid mindre än hälften av övriga tillfällen. Ögonskydd valdes i mycket liten utsträckning av operatörer med motiveringen att de var obekväma. Operationssjuksköterskor valde att använda ögonskydd vid mer än hälften av observationerna med säkerhet som motivering. Dubbla handskar valdes vid 232 av 240 tillfällen. Slutsats: Mössa valdes för att den var bekväm och hjälm för att den rekommenderades. Ögonskydd valdes sällan. Förekomsten av att välja att använda dubbla handskar var god. Klinisk betydelse: Denna studie visar behov av information och utbildning om risken för smittoöverföring under operation. Fler och mer utförliga lokala riktlinjer för personlig skyddsutrustning skulle kunna öka användningen av hjälm och ögonskydd. / Background: Local guidelines are supposed to regulate the use of personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of transmission of infection between patients and staff during surgery. Headwear prevents hair and debris from falling down on the sterile field. Eyewear protects the eye mucosa from splashes of body fluids and the use of double gloving reduces the risk of blood contamination from sharps injuries. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the preoperative choices and motives of headwear, protective eyewear and gloves for surgeons and surgical nurses. Method: This is an empirical, descriptive study with cross-sectional design, examining the choices and motives of headwear, protective eyewear and gloves. Surgical nurses and surgeons were observed and questioned using structured questionnaires’. Results: A total of 240 observations were conducted in two surgical wards in the province of Stockholm. The staff chose to wear surgical helmets in all orthopedic surgeries and in less than half of the other surgical procedures. Surgeons did not choose to were protective eyewear, claiming they were uncomfortable. In more than half of the observations surgical nurses wore protective eyewear motivated by security reasons. Double gloving occurred in 232 occasions out of 240. Conclusion: Surgical helmets were chosen due to recommendations. Other types of headwear were chosen because they were comfortable. Eye protection was rarely chosen. The occurrence of double gloving was good. Clinical significance: This study demonstrates the need for information and education regarding the risk of transmission of infection during surgery. More and detailed local guidelines for personal protective equipment could increase the use of helmets and eye protection.

The 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak saw a substantial number of healthcare workers (HCWs) being infected, despite the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is intended to protect HCWs when caring for patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD), but PPE may play a role in the spread of Ebola in healthcare environments. Before the removal of PPE, chemical disinfection may prevent the transfer of pathogens to HCWs, but the efficacy of common disinfectants against enveloped viruses, such as Ebola, on PPE surfaces is relatively unknown. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of two common disinfectants, chlorine bleach (Clorox® bleach) and quaternary ammonium (Micro-Chem Plus®), used in healthcare settings for inactivation of enveloped viruses on PPE. The virucidal activity of the two disinfectants were tested against bacteriophage Φ6, an enveloped, non-pathogenic surrogate for enveloped viruses, on Tyvek suit surfaces. Virus was dried onto Tyvek suit surface, exposed to the disinfectants at use-dilution for a contact time of one minute, and the surviving virus was quantified using a double agar layer (DAL) assay. The Clorox® bleach and Micro-Chem Plus® produced a >3.21 log10 reduction and >4.33 log10 reduction, respectively, in Φ6 infectivity. The results of this study suggest that chlorine bleach and quaternary ammonium are effective in the inactivation of enveloped viruses on Tyvek suit surfaces. Chemical disinfection of PPE should be considered as a viable method to reduce the spread of pathogenic, enveloped viruses to HCWs, patients, and other environmental surfaces in healthcare settings.

Title: Relationship between hip muscles and dynamics front kick while using ballistic vest and backpack. Objective: Determine the rate of the relationship among isokinetic strength of hip muscles during flexion and extension movement, external and internal rotation and the dynamics of the front kick while using the military personal protective equipment. The method: The master thesis corresponds with an empirically based study of observational type. The measured research sample consisted of students (n = 15) of Military Department attending full-time and combined form of study at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of Charles University in Prague. Dynamics of front kick were measured by dynamometric Kistler plates and evaluated through computer software BioWare. Isokinetic strength of hip muscles during flexion and extension movement, external and internal rotation was tested and rated by isokinetic dynamometer Humac Norm. The flexibility of selected muscles group was measured by a specialist in physiotherapist area. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient of the order (rs) was chosen for the final evaluation of the rate of relationship. The results: The strongest correlation relationship was between the external hip rotation muscles (at speed 90 řs-1 ) and the impact force on the...

In order to leverage advances made in body-armor materials, as well as to further the design landscape, considering body armor as a complete human-centric system is becoming more prevalent. This trend necessitates a greater focus on human systems integration (HSI) and human-centric design. Digital human models (DHMs) provide a powerful tool for HSI, but modeling-and-simulation tools, let alone DHMs, have rarely been used with body armor. With respect to analysis, this is changing. New methods for evaluating body armor from a biomechanical perspective have been developed within the SantosTM DHM. It is now possible to import digital models of body-armor systems, place them on an avatar, simulate various tasks (i.e., running, aiming, etc.), and then virtually evaluate the armor's effect on performance, balance, mobility, bulk, etc. However, with respect to design, there are no available simulation tools to help users balance the goals of maximizing mobility and survivability concurrently. In response to these growing needs, there are two new areas of work being proposed and discussed. First, this work leverages a series of new virtual evaluation capabilities for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and implements a filter that automatically evaluates and selects from a library of designs the most advantageous PPE system based on user-selected objectives and constraints. Initial tests have shown realistic results with minimal computational demand. Secondly, this thesis proposes a new method for armor-system topology optimization that optimizes not only biomechanical metrics but also external (to the DHM system) metrics from potentially complex injury and protection models. The design variables for this optimization problem represent the position on the body of small body-armor elements. In addition, the existence of each element is modeled as a variable, such that unnecessary elements are determined and removed automatically. This inclusion of location in combination with the traditional existence variable is a novel inclusion to the topology optimization method. Constraints require that no two elements overlap. The objective functions that govern where the armor elements are moved must be general enough to function with any external data, such as survivability. Thus, a novel process has been developed for importing external data points (i.e., stress at points in the body resulting from a blast simulation) and using regression analysis to represent these points analytically. Then, by using sequential quadratic programming for gradient-based optimization, the armor elements are automatically positioned in order to optimize the objective function (i.e., minimize potential injury). This new approach allows any metric to be used in order to determine general body-armor concepts upstream in the design process. This system has the potential to become especially useful when trying to optimize multiple objectives simultaneously, the results of which are not necessarily intuitive. Thus, given a specified amount of material, one can determine where to place it in order to, for example, maximize mobility, maximize survivability, and maximize balance during a series of specified mission-critical tasks. The intent is not necessarily to provide a final design with one "click"; accurately considering all aspects of hard and soft armor is beyond the scope of this work. However, these methods work towards providing a design aid to help steer system concepts. Test cases have been successfully run to maximize coverage of specific external data for internal organs (and thus survivability) and mobility, while minimizing weight. The weight metric has also been successfully used as a constraint in the optimal armor design. In summary, this work provides 1) initial steps towards an automated design tool for body armor, 2) a means for integrating different analysis models, and 3) a unique example of human-in-the-loop analysis and optimization.

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Bakgrund Till akutmottagning kommer patienter med misstänkt eller konstaterad covid-19 smitta. Sjuksköterskor ska kunna ge alla patienter en god och säker vård utifrån gällande lagar och rutiner. Patienter med misstänkt eller konstaterad covid-19 kan snabbt försämras, vilket gör att sjuksköterskor ställs inför utmaningar i vården med och kring dessa patienter. För att sjuksköterskor ska kunna arbeta säkert och vårda patienter med misstänkt eller konstaterad covid-19, krävs det att de klär sig i adekvat skyddsutrustning. Syfte Att beskriva sjuksköterskors upplevelser av att bedriva säker vård för patienter med misstänkt eller konstaterad covid-19 smitta på akutmottagning. Metod  Studien genomfördes med kvalitativ metod med induktiv ansats. Datainsamling gjordes genom tio semistrukturerade intervjuer med sjuksköterskor på akutmottagning i södra Sverige. Kvalitativ innehållsanalys genomfördes av det insamlade materialet. Resultat  Tre kategorier med subkategorier framkom: Utmaning med isoleringsvård (tidskrävande, bemanning och kontakt): Arbetsmiljö (psykisk påverkan, fysisk påverkan och trygghet): Förändrat arbetssätt (logistik, kunskap, rutiner och lokaler). Slutsats  För att kunna bedriva trygg och säker vård på akutmottagning under pågående pandemi krävs det rätt förutsättningar, som anpassade lokaler för isoleringsvård, evidensbaserade rutiner, skyddsutrustning, tid för patienterna, rätt bemanning och tid för återhämtning. / Introduction Patients with suspected or established Covid-19 infection arrive to the emergency department. Nurses must be able to provide all patients with good and safe care based on current laws and routines. Patients with suspected or established covid-19 can rapidly deteriorate, which means that nurses are faced with challenges in care with and around these patients. To be able to take care of patients with suspected or established covid-19, nurses must wear personal protective equipment. Aim  To describe nurses' experiences of providing safe care for patients with suspected or established covid-19 infection within the emergency department. Method  The study was conducted using a qualitative method with an inductive approach. Data collection was done through ten semi-structured interviews with nurses in the emergency department in southern Sweden. Qualitative content analysis was performed on the collected material. Results  Three categories with subcategories emerged: Challenge with isolation care (time consuming, staffing and contact): Work environment (mental impact, physical impact and secureness (security): Changed way of working (logistics, knowledge, routines and premises). Conclusions  To provide safe and secure healthcare in emergency department during ongoing pandemic, there must be correct prerequisites, like customized premises for isolation care, evidence-based routines, personal protective equipment, adequate staffing, time for patients and time for recovery.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The purpose of this study was to determine the provision and utilisation of personal protective equipment amongst contractors in a mine in Phalaborwa Limpopo Province. A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional research approach and design were used to conduct the study. Information was gathered through self-administered questionnaires that were analysed statistically. A cross-sectional study was used to investigate the provision and utilisation of PPE amongst contractors in a phosphate mine. A quantitative research study was conducted using a questionnaire to gather data from contractors working at Foskor mine. Two hundred sixty-one employees responded to the questionnaire. The findings revealed that contractors were not being provided with PPE hence there is little utilisation of it. They have to buy PPE from their own pockets. Respondents also reported that they were not trained on the use of PPE. The use of PPE among contractors is very low as compared to permanent employees. Conclusions The contracted companies were not providing PPE to their employees. As result, PPE was not utilised as required in the mine. The response also indicated that they were not trained in the use of PPE.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge and practice of personal protective equipment amongst the employees at Laundromats in Seshego industrial site, Limpopo province. A quantitative research study was conducted using a questionnaire to gather information from employees who were working at Laundromats and possibly exposed to occupational injuries and diseases. Fifty-two employees responded to the questionnaires. The findings revealed that employees showed good knowledge (81%) about personal protective equipment but poor practice (52%) of personal protective equipment. The findings also revealed that the majority of employees (75%) did not receive training because it was not offered. Conclusion Majority of employees had good knowledge. There was an appropriate response to the majority of questions relating to knowledge about PPE. However, majority of employees had poor practice of PPE. The lack of training might have led to poor practice. Key concepts: Knowledge, Practice and Personal Protective Equipment.

Being inconspicuous in the dark outdoors can cause accidents including physical injuries. To prevent pedestrian being involved in accidents it is necessary to make them most visible to approaching people.This Master’s Thesis examines the use of retroreflective clothing in a semi-dark urban environment to provide safety through conspicuity. Through analysing the lighting situation in Stockholm, the ability of the human vision, reactions and existing products it has led to experiments and surveys to find the most efficient line placement and pattern to make an individual recognizable as human on approach.The results were that body outlines and horizontal lines along joints made a human most identifiable. Most conspicuity was given when lines were wider than 2cm and patterns contrasted to the surroundings.As the experiment was conducted in a semi-dark setting, different retroreflective design solutions might be more adequate for other lighting scenarios with more or less light

The aim of the thesis was to find out about the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in a middle-sized company in the northern part of Sweden in general was like, due to the winter climate by looking at factors promoting and inhibiting the use of PPE. The study design is a case study in focus groups conducted in one company SA Englund AB. There were 3 focus groups and 12 participants in total. The questions were written by the project- team and the questions about the winter climate were written by the author. The focus group questions were conducted in Swedish and asked in February in Sweden when it is winter. The approach with asking the questions in the focus groups in February was for the workers to have a fresh memory of PPE in the winter climate. The results showed that a construction site is a complex work environment, and the use of PPE differs from person to person. There is not a single answer on how to work with the use of PPE, but to improve PPE in general and in a winter climate has been discussed. Sub-categories include: demands of the customer, the fear of looking foolish, providing complementary supplies of the suppliers and the combination of working indoors/outdoors. The conclusion is that there are many contributing factors to why PPE is not always being used when it should. PPE is also being used at some sites all the time like helmets. This is a sign of good safety culture in many eyes while it can be a problem with bent forward postures and helmets that causes neck problems. Another problem is the performance pay, which leads to shortcuts when using PPE to save time. The thesis was written within the field of work environment and ergonomics with a focus on working preventively with accidents and ill-health in the work environment.