Noise exposure abatement: a perspective from industry occupational health risk assessment reports

Background: Occupational health risk assessments are building blocks for occupational health programmes, allowing for the rating of identified risks and the continuous re-evaluation of the effectiveness of abatement measures. In South African industry, occupational health risk assessments are formally documented in reports, which can be presented as demonstration of legal compliance with legislation. Objective: To identify noise abatement measures recorded in noise risk assessment reports of four manufacturing companies and to rate their effectiveness. Methods: We analysed the occupational health risk assessment reports from 21 operational facilities in four South African companies from the manufacturing and utilities sectors to evaluate, through document analysis, the recorded noise abatement measures. Noise abatement measure effectiveness was rated using a preassigned effectiveness percentage scale. Results: Administrative controls and hearing protection devices were the most commonly used noise exposure abatement measures, but hearing conservation programmes were generally poorly formulated. There were inter- and intra-company differences in the qualitative risk assessment approaches used for rating or ranking the noise risk, which led to different risk conclusions and prioritisation outcomes. The calculated control effectiveness of the abatement measures showed that noise exposure remained largely unacceptable: 16 of the 21 operational units had unacceptable noise exposures, four had tolerable exposures, and one had broadly acceptable exposures. Conclusion: The four companies' common noise abatement measures, as elements of formalised hearing conservation programmes, which included administrative controls and hearing protection devices, were not effective in reducing noise exposure to the broadly acceptable level, reflective of limited use of engineering controls.

Continuing professional development system for health-care professions, Egypt

While the regulatory framework for medical education in Egypt has rapidly evolved, the progress of developing a system for continuing professional development has been slow. In 2018 the government approved legislation establishing a regulatory authority for continuing professional development and added expectations for continuing professional development as a condition of relicensure for physicians in Egypt. The new authority has deployed a provider-accreditation model that sets criteria for educational quality, learning outcomes, independence from industry, and tracking of learners. Only accredited providers can submit continuing professional development accredited activities. Despite regulatory and administrative support there have been several barriers to the implementation of the system including limited availability of funding, lack of suitable training venues and equipment for hands-on training, and resistance from the profession. As of March 2022, 112 continuing professional development providers have achieved accreditation, and deployed 154 accredited continuing professional development activities. The majority of accredited providers were medical associations (64%) and higher education institutions (18%), followed by medical foundations and nongovernmental organizations (13%) and health-care facilities (5%). One electronic learning platform has been accredited. Any entity with commercial interests cannot be accredited as a continuing professional development provider. Funding of continuing professional development activities can be derived from provider budgets, programme registration fees or appropriate sponsors. Funding from industry is limited to unrestricted educational grants. The foundations for an effective continuing professional development system have been established in Egypt with the aim of achieving international recognition.

Healthcare, artificial intelligence and the fourth industrial revolution: ethical, social and legal considerations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is usually associated with high-tech robotics, automation and science fiction, and can seem daunting to some.However, AI in general has grown considerably over the past 50 years, and is the current driving force behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution.While it proposes improvements to almost every field that it touches, including the medical sciences, ethical, social and legal challenges associated with its implementation arise. One may question whether AI, which can replace the human element by nature of its operation,has a place in South African and African communities, in certain instances. AI systems can potentially become discriminatory and lead to stigmatisation, if the systems are not properly tailored to reflect the specific characteristics of a population group. Over-reliance on the use of technology, without fully understanding the effects and consequences of the systems, could also prove to be problematic

Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Prevalence and Noise Abatement Techniques in a Steel-Making Plant

Background: A high prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is observed amongst employees in the steel manufacturing industry.Objective: To determine the prevalence of NIHL and current noise abatement techniques implemented at a steel manufacturing plant.Methods: Structured questionnaires were completed by permanent employees at a steel-manufacturing plant for the purpose of collecting information on occupational and medical histories; noise exposure in and outside the work environment; use of hearing protection devices (HPDs); andcurrent noise abatement procedures. A walk-through survey was also conducted to observe implemented noise abatement techniques using the Noise Induced Hearing Loss Regulations of 2003 as a guideline.Results: A total of 17.9% of workers suffered from NIHL (95% CI 11.8% - 22.5%). Administrative controls; lubrication and mufflers were identified by more than 70% of the respondents as control procedures most often implemented by the company. Most of the respondents (77%) used HPDs always and 97% indicated that they fit their HPDs at the beginning of the shift.Conclusion: NIHL remains a significant health problem in this steel industry despite the implementation of noise abatement techniques and the implementation of a noise conservation programme with all the required elements

Occupational health and safety management systems - a review of practices in enterprises in Botswana

Unsafe working conditions create heavy burdens in workplaces and on the wellbeing of workers. Despite this; Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) to reduce accidents and diseases in workplaces remain inadequate in many countries; including Botswana. An exploratory cross-sectional study; using secondary data; was undertaken to establish OHSMS practices in various industrial sectors in Botswana. The results showed that a quarter (27.6) and about half of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); respectively; and just over half (60) of large enterprises; have existing OHSMS. Only 29.2 of enterprises had an OHS policy statement. The elements of OHSMS were not uniformly implemented across all enterprises; with SMEs faring poorly. However; 71.1 of enterprises reported provision of induction courses. OHSMS is not widely practiced in Botswana; raising concerns for worker wellbeing; particularly in SMEs. Further research is needed to identify gaps and the development of a coherent OHSMS for the country

Adoption of formal HIV and AIDS workplace policies: An analysis of industry sector variations

Addressing HIV and AIDS is the responsibility of many stakeholders including private sector companies. However; increasing evidence reveals that the majority of companies around the world are yet to acknowledge and respond to HIV and AIDS as a workplace issue. One factor that has been identified in the literature as playing a role in determining whether a company responds to HIV and AIDS; or not; is the industry/sector in which a company operates. This study therefore sought to empirically examine whether in the context of Malawi there were significant variations in the adoption of formal HIV and AIDS workplace policies based on the industry/sector in which a company was operating; as well as analyse the dynamics underlying such variations. Using survey data collected from 152 randomly selected private sector companies in Malawi; the results of this study revealed significant variations in the adoption of HIV and AIDS workplace policies among companies operating in various sectors. Companies in the service sector were leading the adoption compared to companies in other sectors such as the trading sector. Furthermore; the evidence from this study showed that differences in staff participation in the activities of HIV and AIDS institutions may explain the industry/ sector variations. These results provide an important avenue to scale up company responses to HIV and AIDS by intensifying staff participation in the activities of HIV and AIDS institutions. Such institutions appear to play a vital role of providing up to date HIVand AIDS-related information upon which companies are able to develop a business case for responding to the epidemic

Adoption of Formal HIV and AIDS Workplace Policies: An Analysis of Industry/Sector Variations

Addressing HIV and AIDS is the responsibility of many stakeholders including private sector companies. However; increasing evidence reveals that the majority of companies around the world are yet to acknowledge and respond to HIV and AIDS as a workplace issue. One factor that has been identified in the literature as playing a role in determining whether a company responds to HIV and AIDS; or not; is the industry/sector in which a company operates. This study therefore sought to empirically examine whether in the context of Malawi there were significant variations in the adoption of formal HIV and AIDS workplace policies based on the industry/sector in which a company was operating; as well as analyse the dynamics underlying such variations. Using survey data collected from 152 randomly selected private sector companies in Malawi; the results of this study revealed significant variations in the adoption of HIV and AIDS workplace policies among companies operating in various sectors. Companies in the service sector were leading the adoption compared to companies in other sectors such as the trading sector. Furthermore; the evidence from this study showed that differences in staff participation in the activities of HIV and AIDS institutions may explain the industry/sector variations. These results provide an important avenue to scale up company responses to HIV and AIDS by intensifying staff participation in the activities of HIV and AIDS institutions. Such institutions appear to play a vital role of providing up to date HIV and AIDS-related information upon which companies are able to develop a business case for responding to the epidemic

Morbidity and Mortality Patterns of Nigerian Petroleum Oil Refining and Distribution Industry

Aimed at unraveling the nature and extent of health effects and impacts of occupational exposures in the Nigerian petroleum refining and distribution industry; this study probed the morbidity and mortality partterns of this industry using oral interviews; questionnaires responses and secondary data from the industry. Results revealed that workers of this industry suffer from wide range of disease conditions involving virtually all body organs/systems; manifesting with varied symptoms that often brought them to the industry-based plant clinic. Questionnaire responses by the staff showed that Bad eye sight (16.3); sexually transmitted diseases (8.9); hypertension (8.8); musculo-skeletal health effects including chronic and intermittent back/low back pain (8.6); neck and shoulder pain (2.7) and chest pain (2.0)); sleeping/relaxing difficulty (8.0); recurring headache (6.4); reduced hearing/noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) (6.4); erectile dysfunction (weak erection)(5.3); breathing difficulty (3.9); Road transport accident (3.1); Peptic Ulcer disease (PUD)(3); Diabetes mellitus(2); prostate enlargement (0.5); Tonsil enlargement (0.1); pulmonary disease (0.1) and renal disease (0.1) were some of the symptoms/diseases or complaints by the staff. Documentations at the plant clinic however; revealed that malaria/functional disorders (33.3); respiratory disorders (13.5); Musculo-skeletal/ Rheumatic diseases (14.0); High blood pressure (10.9); gastrointestinal disorders (9.1) and Diabetes mellitus (4.1) were among the leading clinical conditions responsible for higher clinical attendance at the plant clinic. Genito-Urinary disorder (3.3); Eye/Visual Disorder (2.7); ear; nose and throat Problems (1.9); Occupational dermatitis (0.3) and Non-Occupational Skin Disorders (2.3) are among the reckonable entries that made the list of ailments suffered by the staff. Mortality statistics showed that a total of 79 deaths occurred within the period under review. Retroviral disease (21) topped the list of cause of death; followed by road/water transport accidents (16.5) and cardiac related diseases (13.9). Virtually all body organ/system-related pathologies including those of the lungs (5.1); endocrines (presence of diabetes mellitus (3.9); kidneys (3.8); liver (2.5); blood (leukaemia 2.5); and CNS (1.3) contributed to the cause of death. These results indicate that oil and gas work environment predisposes to sundry health effects that might hasten staff death. This calls for a comprehensive review of the contents of the occupational health services as to guarantee total health protection for the workers of this critical sector of the Nigerian economy

Patterns of Accidents and Injuries in a Nigerian Oil Refining and Distribution Industry

This study was conducted among the workers of Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) and Pipelines and Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC); both of which are subsidiaries of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) located in Elesa Eleme; near Port Harcourt; Nigeria; using data entries from the relevant units of the industries. A total of 594 (100) accident cases occurred between 2006 and 2008 across the various departments/units of the industries. Among these were industrial accidents (54.7); domestic accidents (32.7); road transport accidents (13.0). Fire/Explosion incidents 85(26.2) were among the prominent industrial accident events reported within the period under review. These accidents were responsible for 450 accident injuries of various descriptions; the majority of which occurred in the males than females

Appraisal of Occupational Health Practices of Workers in an Oil Producing Company in Port Harcourt-Rivers State; Nigeria

Background: Workers in the oil industry are exposed to different types of hazards capable of causing various forms of health problems. The hazards considered by the study were noise and carbon monoxide poisoning amongst other forms of hazards. The importance of occupational health can never be overemphasized since human capital is the most important amongst all the factors of production.Aim: The study aimed at appraising the occupational health practices of workers in the selected oil industry.Methods: Two hundred participants were used as sample for the study. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the participants. Descriptive statistics of simple percentages and frequency counts were used in analyzing the data collected.Results: One hundred and sixty one (80.5) of the respondents agreed to the presence of noise pollution with damaging effects on the eardrum and carbon monoxide poisoning as occupational hazards in the company. One hundred and thirty five (67.5) also agreed that some workers in the industry have lost their hearing to the noise hazard inherent in their jobs. According to 56of the respondents safety gadgets such as earmuffs and plugs were not sufficiently provided by the company. Up to 80.5of the respondents also disagreed that workers were always making use of the safety gadgets provided.Conclusion: Findings revealed poor occupational health practices by the workers giving rise to victims of occupational hazards in the company. Safety gadgets were not sufficiently provided. Most employers in the developing countries are known not to be providing occupational health services for their workers while most workers do not also c o m p l y w i t h t h e s a f e t y s t a n d a r d s . Recommendations were made on the need to apply the tools of health education; supervision and monitoring to ensure service utilization by workers

Evaluation quantitative de l'exposition au benzene chez les travailleurs d'une raffinerie au Gabon

Dans les raffineries de petrole; le benzene constitue l'un des risques chimiques les plus preoccupants pour le medecin du travail et pour l'ensemble des acteurs qui s'interessent a la prevention. Afin d'evaluer le degre d'exposition au benzene chez les travailleurs d'une raffinerie du Gabon situee a Port-Gentil capitale economique; une etude transversale prospective a ete conduite sur six mois entre le 1er Avril et le ler Octobre 2004. Sur 384 salaries presents; 100 ont ete retenus par tirage aleatoire simple en fonction du degre d'exposition suppose. Au debut du poste; chaque salarie retenu a fait l'objet d'une enquete au moyen d'un questionnaire qui lui etait remis accompagne d'un badge GABlE. Le. recueil des urines a ete effectue en fin de poste et en fin de semaine ainsi que la recuperation des badges. Les analyses d'acide trans trans muconique (Attm) urinaire et des badges ont ete effectuees dans un laboratoire de toxicologie de Nantes (France). Les sujets retenus etaient tous de sexe masculin et de nationalite gabonaise. 65pour cent des agents avaient au moins 40 ans et 66pour cent avaient plus de 20 ans d'anciennete. La concentration moyenne de benzene dans l'air respiree variait entre 0;0 16 et 0;109 ppm et celle de l'acide trans trans muconique entre 0;023 et 0;083 mg/g de creatinine. Ces valeurs se sont averees inferieures aux valeurs de reference qui sont respectivement de lppm et de lmg/g de creatinine. A l'instar des etudes rapportees par la litterature; nous avons confirme d'une part l'existence des variations interindividuelles dans la biotransformation du benzene inhale en Attm; et d'autre part les correlations existant entre l'Attm et le degre d'exposition au benzene; puis entre l'Attm et le tabac. Une cartographie du benzene; un programme de surveillance des lieux de travail et de la sante des travailleurs; une procedure de travail aux bassins API et un programme d'information sur les risques en milieu de raffinage ont ete proposes a l'employeur L'amenagement du systeme de ventilation du laboratoire; la mise en place d'une politique de traitement des eaux usees et l'actualisation des textes relatifs a la prevention du risque benzenique ont ete formules en guise de recommandations. En raison de la dangerosite de cette substance; la surveillance de l'exposition au benzene doit etre une priorite pour les employeurs et pour tous ceux qui sont concernes par la prevention

A review of the effects of wood dust and vapours at work

There are 350 carpenters in the Seychelles. Most of them do not wear dust masks or safety glasses or overalls. Nor is the dust locally extracted at the machine itself. Three of these carpenters in the single year were suspected having lung cancer. Ultimately two of the diagnoses were confirmed whilst; the third was found to be a pneumoconiasis. The use of modern machinery; which produces very fine dust particles; without the use of the protective apparel which is compulsory in the developed world; is likely to have been an important contributory factor to these 3 mens' respiratory diseases

Impact des effluents d'un complexe agro-industriel sucrier sur la distribution des mollusques dulcaquicoles a Mbandjock (Cameroun)

Des prospections malacologiques ont ete entreprises dans la zone sucriere de Mbandjock (Cameroun). La discussion des mollusques est discutee suivant les types d'habitat. L'incidence des effluents du complexe agro-industriel (SOSUCAM) sur la faune malacogique est evaluee. En general; un faible degre de pollution est favorable a la faune malacologique alors qu'une forte pollution lui est nuisible. La presence de bulinus globosus est mise en evidence. Ce mollusque; hote intermediaire de schistosoma haematobium; etait absent lors des prospections anterieures. L'extension de bulinus globosus dans la localite devrait faire l'objet d'une surveillance a long terme

Haematological indices and serum lead level in welders working in automobile industry in a Nigerian city

Forty-four welders working in car maintenance industry in Jos; Nigeria had their haemoglobin; haematocrit; leucocyte; platelet and serum lead level determined; while their urine were screened for haem synthetic products. The serum lead level in welders was 28.5 plus 11.2/ng/dl which was significantly higher than the value of 20.8 plus 9/ng/dl recorded for the control group. Though 24 welders who had worked over 10 years had higher serum levels than 20 welders who had worked for less than 10 years this was not statistically significant; also urine examination did not reveal the presence of porphyrinogen or porphyrin in the welders