Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1944.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Background Health care facilities are characterised by a high level of exposure to hazardous agents, which significantly endanger the health and life of workers. Occupational hazards, exposure to blood and body fluids accidents and safety precautions constitute an important public health issue. Occupational health is the identification and control of risks arising from physical, chemical, and other workplace hazards in order to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. The high occurrence and burden of occupational hazards in hospitals include sharps/needlestick injuries, contact with blood and body fluids, blood-borne infections, and accidents. Health workers at Letaba Hospital are facing occupational health and safety risk at their workplace. Objectives The objectives of the study were to identify the type of work and related hazards that health workers are exposed to at Letaba Hospital and to find out if health workers at Letaba Hospital are aware of the occupational hazards at the workplace. Methods A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional method was used. The population comprised 649 nurses, doctors, cleaners, kitchen workers, laboratory technicians and laboratory technologists employed at Letaba Hospital. Stratified random sampling was used to select 374 health workers who participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results The study showed that health works, particularly nurses and doctors and nurses are exposed to needle pricks and kitchen workers are exposed to sharps. Cleaners and porters are exposed to slippery floors as well as uneven floors. Laboratory technicians, laboratory technologists and porters are exposed to specimen containers. Health vi workers lack knowledge on the toxic gases available at the hospital. The study also revealed that health workers are aware of the risk of using uneven floors and the risk of using stairs/steps at their workplace. Conclusion The study concluded that health workers at Letaba Hospital experienced physical, biological, chemical as well as psychosocial hazards at their workplace. Keywords Occupational hazards, health workers and occupational health.

It is recognised that as with any other risk; health, safety and environment issues require an integrated management system to comprehensively and sustainably manage the risks in the workplace. However to move beyond the paper based systems, ultimately require a behavioural change that can only be achieved through a culture change that continually re-invents itself and that motivates staff (human beings) to intrinsically do the right thing every day, every time and without any overseer. This study focuses on the critical success factors for the practical implementation of a safety culture improvement initiative in South Africa.

Welding is a common metal fabrication process within industry. Epidemiology suggests that welders as an occupational group demonstrate slight, but significant, increased risks of respiratory ill-health. This might be expected as welding processes often present high levels of occupational exposure to oxidising gasses and weld fumes which are often inadequately controlled through local exhaust ventilation or personal respiratory protection because of high costs and the burden of worker participation. Fundamental control strategies of occupational hygiene encourage development and use of engineering controls as the best means to optimally control occupational exposure. However, engineering controls have not yet been successfully developed to control occupational exposure to welding fume and gases. This thesis investigates the interrelationships between ultra-violet radiation (UV). ozone (0:;). and hexavalent chromium (CrVI) in metal inert gas (MIG) welding in order to investigate possible methods to control occupational exposure to welding fume and gases by engineering contro!' Past studies of occupational ill-health in welders are reviewed as is the currently understanding of the physico-chemical principles by which the various components of welding fume evolves. Experiments were designed to investigate the mechanisms of formation of UV, 0 3 and CrVI formation from which a number of possible control strategies were developed further. Among these results emerge two process modifications with exciting potential to reduce two toxic components. 0, and CrVI , in stainless steel welding fume and gas. The addition of trace amounts of Zinc to chromium containing steel wires virtually eliminates all 0, and significantly reduces hexavalent chromium within the weld plume. As Zn is a volatile metal, it does not contaminate weld quality but increases the zinc oxide le\els in the fume slightly. A second method developed in this thesis involves the addition of a dual shield gas shroud containing reducing gases such as C2H .. to remove 0, and consequently. reduce Cr(VI) levels. Preliminary results suggest that these methods can be used separately. or in combination, to provide a practical means of controlling occupational exposure to two of the more toxic components of welding fume and gases. This thesis describes in details the experiments and results culminating in successful preliminary development of engineering controls for 0 3 and CrVI through process modification of the stainless steel MIG welding process. Further work for further development of these methods is outlined and funding to extend this area of applied research is being actively pursued with the support of major UK industry.

This thesis presents a new conceptual model of occupational outcome based on the results of input from 5 key stakeholder groups in the field of occupational health including patients, healthcare providers, employers, unions, and insurers. Data from 77 participants who took part in one of either 18 individual interviews or 11 focus groups were qualitatively content analyzed. The goals were to: 1) compare the range of meanings given to the concepts of health, occupational health, and occupational outcome, 2) understand the range of opinions among stakeholders and identify areas of agreement or disagreement and, 3) to develop a framework of occupational outcome incorporating the views of all key stakeholders. Health, occupational health, and occupational outcome were found to have different and complex meanings that extended beyond those in existing research, and that related to the role a variable is hypothesized to have in a larger framework. Stakeholders differed in the depth, breadth, and qualitative nature of the themes discussed. Natural alignments among some stakeholder groups emerged which varied depending on the context, however a specific focus could be identified for each group. No single stakeholder group alone expressed all the themes and the complexity of the relationships among them; the whole could only be understood in terms of the sum of the stakeholder parts. A new model emerges in which occupational outcome is encompassed by the interactions of 3 key factors: Function and Ability, Individual Behaviours, and Environmental Factors. These are embedded within larger models of both occupational health that includes both individual health and workplace health, and of quality which is comprised of the interactions between structure variables, system participant factors, and outcome. The new model and the process undertaken to develop it meet two important needs for occupational health; enhancing understanding and conceptualization of occupational outcome, and enhancing understanding of the perspectives of stakeholders in the occupational healthcare system. The findings have implications for research, and delivery of quality care to patients with occupational disease or injuries. Some next steps include model validation and testing, measurement scale development, clarifying new variables through ongoing stakeholder discussion, and model application.

It is recognised that as with any other risk; health, safety and environment issues require an integrated management system to comprehensively and sustainably manage the risks in the workplace. However to move beyond the paper based systems, ultimately require a behavioural change that can only be achieved through a culture change that continually re-invents itself and that motivates staff (human beings) to intrinsically do the right thing every day, every time and without any overseer. This study focuses on the critical success factors for the practical implementation of a safety culture improvement initiative in South Africa.

No description available.

The research objectives were:- 1.To review the literature to establish the factors which have traditionally been regarded as most crucial to the design of effectlve exhaust ventilation systems. 2. To design, construct, install and calibrate a wind tunnel. 3. To develop procedures for air velocity measurement followed by a comprehensive programme of aerodvnamic data collection and data analysis for a variety of conditions. The major research findings were:- a) The literature in the subject is inadequate. There is a particular need for a much greater understanding of the aerodynamics of the suction flow field. b) The discrepancies between the experimentally observed centre-line velocities and those predicted by conventional formulae are unacceptably large. c) There was little agreement between theoretically calculated and observed velocities in the suction zone of captor hoods. d) Improved empirical formulae for the prediction of centre-line velocity applicable to the classical geometrically shaped suction openings and the flanged condition could be (and were) derived. Further analysis of data revealed that: - i) Point velocity is directly proportional to the suction. flow rate and the ratio of the point velocity to the average face velocity is constant. ii) Both shape, and size of the suction opening are significant factors as the coordinates of their points govern the extent of the effect of the suction flow field. iii) The hypothetical ellipsoidal potential function and hyperbolic streamlines were found experimentally to be correct. iv) The effect of guide plates depends on the size, shape and the angle of fitting. The effect was to very approximately double the suction velocity but the exact effect is difficult to predict. v) The axially symmetric openings produce practically symmetric flow fields. Similarity of connection pieces between the suction opening and the main duct in each case is essential in order to induce a similar suction flow field. Additionally a pilot study was made in which an artificial extraneous air flow was created, measured and its interaction with the suction flow field measured and represented graphically.

The thesis examines the system of occupational health and safety in France. It analyses the use of expert manpJwer in the field with a view to establishing the pJssibility of a profession in health and safety. An input-output model is developed to bring together the necessary elements of prevention of accidents and occupational diseases. The role of institutions concerned with health and safety is analysed with reference to this model. The research establishes the need for a health and safety specialist role. The recognition and status of this role are found to be subject to other criteria including the acceptance by institutions of such a specialist role. The model is also used to define the role of this specialist as expected by the various institutions intervening in the field.

No description available.