Cost-benefit analysis of ergonomic program for management of low back problems among office workers

Low back problems are emerging as important work-related health disorders especially among computer office workers with substantial cost. The most prominent feature, of these conditions, is low back pain [LBP].The present study was designed to investigate low back problems among office workers in relation to ergonomic factors at work and to analyze cost-benefit of a suggested ergonomic program for management of this problem. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the office work department in a petroleum company in the Western desert. The study included 120 office workers. All participants were subjected to a predesigned questionnaire emphasizing occupational history, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, and ergonomic checklist for subjective assessment. The LBP was defined whether non-specific, radiating, persistent specific, or chronic. A parallel objective assessment of the computer desk workstations [n = 62], which were shared by workers, was carried out by experienced ergonomists with the same previous checklist. Medical records were reviewed for assessment of the cost of low back problems in the years [2007-2009]. The cost of a suggested ergonomic program was calculated for 3 years according to the market price in order to calculate cost-benefit ratio of such a program in prevention of LBP. Results showed that 61% of the examined workers gave history of LBP within the previous 3 years and clinical signs were detected in 32% of the workers. There were no significant differences between subjective and objective assessments of the different items scores of the ergonomic checklist. The lowest mean scores were reported for the chair and the work habits and training; both were negatively correlated with LBP intensity and duration. The suggested ergonomic program entails correction of the defective items to meet the standard ergonomic healthy criteria, provision of 6 periodic ergonomic training programs and enforcement of healthy work and life style habits. The final cost-benefit ratio of the ergonomic program for management of LBP among office workers of the present study was 1: 3.67 which is considered cost beneficial. Properly designed ergonomic programs are cost beneficial in management of LBP among office workers

Study of the association between fluoride level concentrations in drinking water and caries incidence among primary school children in Alexandria city

The study was carried out with the aim of investigating the association between F level concentration in tap waters in Alexandria and dental caries in a random sample of primary school children representing its six districts. Various other environmental sources e.g. food and tea as "popular drink and some hygienic factors were asked about 1- F-level concentration in tap water was found to be with in the recommended standard. 2- The caries incidence is very high among the primary school-children in Alexandria. 3- High percent of school children drink tea as a popular drink containing high level of F. 4- The high incidence of caries can be attributed to the bad hygienic conditions and other close related factors

Occupational exposure of medical professionals to some anaesthetics in Egypt I environmental studies

The present study was conducted in all the operating rooms [O.Rs.] of Alexandria University hospitals to assess the magnitude of the problem of their pollution by halothane and N[2] O anaesthetics, to study the factors affecting pollution, and to propose corrective measures. The pollutants were measured at standard locations in each O.R. by an I.R. spectrophotometer. Results showed that the O.R. personnel are exposed to extremely high levels of pollutants; the anaesthetists had the highest exposure followed by the surgeons then the nurses. The levels of pollutants did not vary in the different climatic seasons. Exposures were significantly lower when a properly functioning [to-and-fro] closed system was used, but not an old leaky one; the cuffed endotracheal tube produced less pollution than the face mask, and the spontaneous ventilation produced significantly lower pollution than other tested modes of patient's ventilation. Also, controlled O.R. ventilation significantly reduces pollution. It was recommended to control exposure by avoidance of release of anaesthetics into O.R. atmosphere by proper selection, maintenance and operation of anaesthetic equipment and application of careful anaesthetic techniques to prevent leakages and spillages, provision of scavenging systems to existing anaesthetic machines, provision of controlled O.R. ventilation, and implementing air monitoring program