Diagramas complejos de salud en el trabajo: metodología para el estudio sistémico de los procesos laborales / Complex diagrams of health in the workplace: A methodology for the systemic study of work processes

El estudio de los procesos de trabajo es una tarea «compleja¼ que incluye el conocimiento exhaustivo y preciso de los riesgos y exigencia laborales ahí presentes. Dichos riesgos y exigencias son el resultado de cómo se relacionan los elementos fundamentales del proceso laboral que, al interactuar con el hombre que trabaja, pueden afectar su salud. La finalidad de estas líneas es mostrar una metodología de carácter etnográfico, para investigar los procesos de trabajo en las entidades productivas y plantear las acciones preventivas conducentes. Esta metodología está basada en la observación directa y en la experiencia obrera de los procesos laborales. Consta de tres instrumentos de recolección de información: 1) Diagramas de Flujo del Proceso de trabajo; 2) Descripción de los Diagramas de Flujo de los Procesos de Trabajo; y 3) Cuadros de Resumen de los Diagramas Complejos de Salud en el Trabajo. A partir de los datos que proporcionan los Cuadros de Resumen, se estructura un repertorio de recomendaciones para el centro laboral. En cuanto a la utilidad de esta metodología, ha sido ampliamente probada en diversos sectores económicos, como: agricultura, industrias extractivas, de la transformación y la construcción, así como de los servicios, ya sean micro, pequeñas, medianas o grandes empresas. En síntesis, es una herramienta que proporciona el conocimiento integral de los procesos de trabajo, de los riesgos y exigencias que de ahí se derivan, y suministra las medidas preventivas para eliminar o controlar los peligros que acechan a los trabajadores en sus labores(AU)

The study of work processes is a complex task that includes exhaustive and precise knowledge of the labor demands and risks in a given workplace. These risks and demands result from the relationship among the fundamental elements of the work process, whose interaction with a worker can affect his health. The purpose of this study is to show how an ethnographic methodology was used to investigate work processes in productive industry workplaces and propose appropriate preventive actions. The methodology is based on direct observation and workers' experience of work processes. It consists of three data collection instruments: 1) Work process flow charts; 2) description of the flow diagrams of the work processes; and 3) summary tables of complex diagrams of workplace health. Based on the data provided in the summary tables, a set of recommendations for the workplace was designed. This methodology has been widely tested in various economic sectors, such as agriculture; extractive, transformative, and construction industries; and services, whether in micro, small, medium, or large companies. In summary, this is a tool that provides integrated knowledge about work processes and the risks and demands inherent in them and provides preventive measures to eliminate or control dangers to workers(AU)

Manejo y disposición de desechos sólidos en la zona industrial Lurigancho del Perú / Management and disposal of solid waste in the Lurigancho industrial zone of Peru

La presente nota científica plantea una propuesta para gestionar de manera integral el problema ocasionado por la mala disposición de los desechos sólidos en la zona industrial Lurigancho, Perú. Se basa en el modelo de operador, que considera la parte política, estratégica y regulador, de esta manera contar con indicadores, que sirvan de herramientas para la toma de decisiones en la en la gestión de residuos a las plantas industriales a partir de su control, vigilancia, información y clasificación. Esta propuesta se aplicó en doce lugares de disposición de los residuos industriales, puntos de monitoreo, con dos intervenciones, con la evaluación inicial se observó caos ambiental, con desbordamiento de los contenedores de basura, sin aprovechamiento de los residuos y proliferación de fauna nociva. Posterior a la inducción para ejecutar la propuesta, en la segunda intervención, posterior a 45 días, se precisó mejoras considerables, aplicándose recomendaciones objetivas basadas en los valores de los indicadores los que permitieron la planificación estratégica y operativa y de la programación y el control generales. Los resultados preliminares hacen suponer que esta propuesta atiende requerimientos medioambientales y de salubridad, a través de la reducción y procesamiento de los residuos, cuya inadecuada disposición puede llegar a afectar la salud humana(AU)

This scientific note presents a proposal to comprehensively manage the problem caused by poor disposal of solid waste in the Lurigancho industrial zone, Peru. It is based on the operator model, which considers the political, strategic and regulatory part, thus having indicators that serve as tools for decision-making in the management of waste at industrial plants based on its control. , surveillance, information and classification. This proposal was applied in twelve industrial waste disposal sites, monitoring points, with two interventions, with the initial evaluation environmental chaos was observed, with overflow of garbage containers, without use of waste and proliferation of harmful fauna. After the induction to execute the proposal, in the second intervention, after 45 days, considerable improvements were required, applying objective recommendations based on the values of the indicators, which allowed strategic and operational planning and general programming and control. . Preliminary results suggest that this proposal meets environmental and health requirements, through the reduction and processing of waste, whose inadequate disposal can affect human health(AU)

Higienización y eliminación fúngica en instalaciones industriales para la disminución de riesgos ocupacionales / Sanitization and fungal elimination in industrial facilities to reduce occupational risks

Se ha comprobado que la exposición a bioaerosoles se asocia con varios efectos sobre la salud, como enfermedades pulmonares y alergias. El presente estudio transversal tuvo como objetivo investigar la contaminación por hongos en varias superficies pertenecientes a dos industrias de alimentos. La toma de muestra se realizó en tres semanas, inmediatamente después de realizada la limpieza y desinfección y antes de iniciar la producción. Se recolectaron 400 muestras de superficie (vidrio, acero inoxidable, aluminio, goma y plástico), también se evaluó la eficacia del programa de higienización en el control de la población de hongos. Todas las muestras presentaron recuentos fúngicos <10 ufc/cm2, sin haber diferencias significativas entre los tipos de superficie, sin embargo, las superficies plásticas exhibieron mayor crecimiento logarítmico de los hongos. Se determinó que 49,60% de las especies identificadas correspondieron al género Penicillium. Aunque los niveles de hongos en las industrias estudiadas fueron inferiores a los niveles recomendados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud, algunas medidas de salud ambiental como lavar y desinfectar las superficies después de cada turno de trabajo, y se recomiendan inspecciones periódicas para garantizar la seguridad de los trabajadores y de los productos que allí se manufacturan(AU)

It has been proven that exposure to bioaerosols is associated with several health effects, such as pulmonary diseases and allergies. The present crosssectional study aimed to investigate fungal contamination on various surfaces belonging to two food industries. The sampling was carried out in three weeks, immediately after cleaning and disinfection and before starting production. 400 surface samples were collected (glass, stainless steel, aluminum, rubber and plastic), the effectiveness of the sanitation program in controlling the fungal population was also evaluated. All the samples presented fungal counts <10 cfu / cm2, with no significant differences between the types of surfaces, however, the plastic surfaces exhibited higher logarithmic growth of the fungi. It was determined that 49.60% of the identified species corresponded to the Penicillium genus.Although the levels of fungi in the studied baths were lower than the levels recommended by the World Health Organization, some environmental health measure ssuch as washing and disinfecting surfaces after each working shift and periodic inspections are recommended ensuring the safety of the workers and the products that are manufactured there(AU)

Saneamiento industrial: Biodisponibilidad de patógenos en superficies / Industrial sanitation: Bioavailability of pathogens on surfaces

En condiciones adecuadas como humedad, alcalinidad, o temperatura, determinados patógenos logran adherirse a las superficies y sobrevivir ciertos períodos fuera de un anfitrión, persistiendo en algunos casos a procesos deficientes de limpieza y desinfección, configurándose como un posible foco de transmisión. Por ello, el correcto saneamiento cumple un propósito vital en la protección de los trabajadores de la industria y otros sectores frente al riesgo de contaminación por contacto directo con las superficies contaminadas. La literatura científica muestra amplia evidencia de la supervivencia de patógenos sobre superficies que son habituales dentro de instalaciones industriales, como acero, aluminio, madera, plástico y vidrio. La supervivencia de microorganismos en las superficies puede configurarse como candidato a marcador de biodisponibilidad, que puede ser usado en la industria para establecer y auditar los planes de higienización y saneamiento industrial, permitiendo estudiar la eficacia de los compuestos usados en la desinfección, y variables como su concentración, temperatura, e intervalos de aplicación y remoción(AU)

Under suitable conditions such as humidity, alkalinity, or temperature, certain pathogens manage to adhere to surfaces and survive certain periods outside of a host, persisting in some cases to poor cleaning and disinfection processes, becoming a possible source of transmission. Therefore, proper sanitation serves a vital purpose in protecting workers in industry and other sectors from the risk of contamination by direct contact with contaminated surfaces. The scientific literature shows ample evidence of the survival of pathogens on surfaces that are common within industrial facilities, such as steel, aluminum, wood, plastic and glass. The survival of microorganisms on surfaces can be configured as a candidate for bioavailability marker, which can be used in the industry to establish and audit industrial sanitation and sanitation plans, allowing to study the efficacy of the compounds used in disinfection, and variables such as its concentration, temperature, and application and removal intervals(AU(

Biorreactores de un solo uso en la industria biofarmacéutica y su uso en la producción de candidatos vacunales contra SARS- COV-2. Artículo de revisión / Single-use systems bioreactors in the biopharmaceutical industry and its use in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine's candidates production. A review

Los biorreactores de sistemas de un solo uso (SUSs), también conocidos como biorreactores desechables, se han convertido en una parte integral de las instalaciones biotecnológicas de fabricación para bioproductos con un mercado potencial que espera una tasa de crecimiento de casi el 15,5% durante el período pronosticado: 2018 a 2023. Los biorreactores SUSs son más seguros, simples y flexibles al compararlos con sus contrapartes, biorreactores de acero inoxidable, por lo que su uso se está incrementando en la industria biofarmacéutica principalmente en la planificación de vías rápidas de proyectos complejos, incluidos los relacionados con la pandemia de SARS-CoV-2. Así, el uso de SUS se ha convertido en una alternativa eficaz para la producción rápida de candidatos a vacunas. Pero algunas desventajas técnicas y operativas aún obstaculizan su uso en todo el mundo. Esta revisión brinda una visión racional del uso, los tipos, los parámetros operativos y las nuevas aplicaciones de los biorreactores SUSs en la industria biofarmacéutica. Asimismo, también se discuten los parámetros apropiados y las limitaciones de este equipo, enfocándose en su uso para la producción de vacunas contra COVID-19

Single-Use-Systems (SUSs) Bioreactors, also known as disposable bioreactors, have become an integral part of biotechnology manufacturing facilities for bioproducts with a potential market expecting a growth rate of nearly 15.5% over the forecast period: 2018 to 2023. SUSs bioreactors are comparatively safe, simple, and flexible than their stainless-steel bioreactors counterparts thus, their usage is being augmented in the biopharmaceutical industry mainly in planning fast tracks of complex projects, including those related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Thus, the use of SUSs has become an effective alternative for the rapid production of vaccine candidates. However, some technical and operational disadvantages still hamper their worldwide use. This review gives a rational insight into SUSs bioreactors use, types, operational parameters and new applications in the biopharmaceutical industry. Likewise, the appropriate parameters and limitations of this equipment, focusing on its use for vaccine production against COVID-19 are also discussed

Avaliação das instalações físicas, a fim de prevenir a contaminação dos alimentos em Unidade de Alimentação e Nutrição industrial da zona oeste do Rio de Janeiro / Evaluation of the physical installations, in order to prevent from contamination of the foods in feeding unit and nutrition industrial of Rio de Janeiro's West Zone

O objetivo deste estudo foi elaborar um Check List para a verificação das Boas Práticas de Fabricação nas instalações físicas de uma UAN localizada na zona oeste do Rio de Janeiro, capaz de englobar pontos que necessitam de fiscalização, a fim de prevenir a contaminação biológica dos alimentos. A UAN analisada apresentava várias não conformidades nos itens avaliados, apresentando condições higiênico-sanitárias insatisfatórias para manipulação de alimentos. Este fato reforça a necessidade de mudanças urgentes e também de maior fiscalização dos órgãos competentes junto ao estabelecimento, no que diz respeito às Boas Práticas de Manipulação de Alimentos. Foram avaliados 45 itens, distribuídos em edificações e instalações (recebimento, armazenamento, pré preparo e preparo), assim como vestiários, instalações sanitárias, abastecimento de água e gás e demais áreas.

Evaluation of chemical-specific IgG antibodies in male workers from a urethane foam factory

BACKGROUND@#Plastic resins are complex chemicals that contain toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and/or trimellitic anhydride (TMA), which cause occupational allergies (OA), including respiratory allergies. Serum IgGs against TDI and TMA have been suggested as potential markers of the exposure status and as exploring cause of OA. Although TDI-specific IgG has been examined for suspected OA, TMA-specific IgG is not commonly evaluated in a urethane foam factory. This study therefore investigated both TDI- and TMA-specific IgGs in suspected OA patients and to evaluate the usefulness of the measurement of multiple chemical-specific IgG measurement for practical monitoring.@*METHODS@#Blood samples were collected from two male workers who developed respiratory allergies supposedly caused by occupational exposure to TDI and/or TMA for the presence of TDI- and TMA-specific IgGs. In addition, blood samples from 75 male workers from a urethane foam factory, along with 87 male control subjects, were collected in 2014 and tested for the same IgGs in 2014. The presence and levels of TDI- and TMA-specific serum IgGs were measured using dot blot assays.@*RESULTS@#We found that controls had mean concentrations of TDI- and TMA-specific IgGs of 0.98 and 2.10 μg/mL, respectively. In the two workers with respiratory allergies, the TDI-specific IgG concentrations were 15.6 and 9.51 μg/mL, and TMA-specific IgG concentrations were 4.56 and 14.4 μg/mL, which are clearly higher than those in controls. Mean concentrations of TDI- and TMA-specific IgGs in the factory workers were 1.89 and 2.41 μg/mL, respectively, and are significantly higher than those of the controls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.026 for TDI- and TMA-specific IgGs, respectively).@*CONCLUSION@#The workers suspected of OA showed an evidently high level of TDI- and TMA-specific IgG, and these levels in workers at the urethane foam factory were also significantly higher than those in controls. In conclusion, the measurement of TDI- and TMA-specific IgG among workers using plastic resins is helpful to monitor their exposure status.

Adverse health effects of asbestos: solving mysteries regarding asbestos carcinogenicity based on follow-up survey of a Chinese factory

The present review summarizes the results of several follow-up studies assessing an asbestos product manufacturing plant in Chongqing, China, and discusses three controversial issues related to the carcinogenicity of asbestos. The first issue is the amphibole hypothesis, which asserts that the carcinogenicity of asbestos is limited to amphiboles, such as crocidolite, but not serpentines, such as chrysotile. However, considering the possible multiple component of asbestos carcinogenicity in the presence of tobacco smoke or other carcinogens, chrysotile cannot be regarded as non-carcinogenic. Additionally, in a practical sense, it is not possible to assume "pure" chrysotile due to its ubiquitous contamination with tremolite, which is a type of amphibole. Thus, as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) assessed, all forms of asbestos including chrysotile should be regarded carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). The second issue is the chrysotile/tremolite paradox, which is a phenomenon involving predominant levels of tremolite in the lung tissues of individuals who worked in locations with negligible levels of tremolite due to the exclusive use of chrysotile. Four possible mechanisms to explain this paradox have been proposed but this phenomenon does not support the claim that amphibole is inert. The final issue discussed is the textile mystery, i.e., the higher incidence of cancer in asbestos textile plants compared to asbestos mines where the same asbestos was produced and the exposure levels were comparable. This phenomenon was first reported in North America followed by UK and then in the present observations from China. Previously, levels of fiber exposure were calculated using a universal converting coefficient to estimate the mass concentration versus fiber concentration. However, parallel measurements of fiber and mass concentrations in the workplace and exposed air indicated that there are wide variations in the fiber/mass ratio, which unjustifies the universal conversion. It is possible that contamination by airborne non-fibrous particles in mines with mass fiber conversion led to the overestimation of fiber concentrations and resulted in the textile mystery. Although the use and manufacturing of asbestos has been banned in Japan, more than 10 million tons of asbestos had been imported and the majority remains in existing buildings. Thus, efforts to control asbestos exposure should be continued.

Gestión del desarrollo de productos en el Centro de Inmunología Molecular / Product development management at Molecular Immunology Center

El crecimiento de las empresas en un mundo altamente competitivo depende del rendimiento superior del proceso de desarrollo de sus productos. Estudios anteriores mostraron que hoy la dificultad principal del crecimiento del Centro de Inmunología Molecular está en la capacidad de penetrar los mercados de exportación, y el desarrollo de nuevos productos. La implementación de un sistema de gestión de desarrollo de productos a partir del diagnóstico de las limitaciones actuales permitirá eliminar las restricciones en el desarrollo de nuevos productos y constituirá una herramienta para el éxito de la realización de los mismos de manera competitiva. En este artículo se caracteriza la gestión de desarrollo de productos en el Centro de Inmunología Molecular, a partir de la realización de encuestas y tormentas de ideas y se propone un sistema de gestión para el desarrollo de productos en la institución que permita su uso como herramienta para su competitiva realización(AU)

The growth of companies in a highly competitive world depends on the superior performance of the development process of their products. Previous studies showed that today the main difficulty of the Molecular Immunology Center growth resides in the ability to enter international markets, and in the development of new products. The implementation of a product development management system based on the diagnosis of the current limitations will eliminate the restrictions and will be a tool for successfully implementing competitive products at the center. The product development management in the Center of Molecular Immunology is characterized in this paper starting from surveys and brainstorming results; and a product development management system is proposed to the institution as a tool to create a sustainable competitive advantage for the new products(AU)

Establecimiento de límites microbiológicos internos para áreas clasificadas Grado D / Establishing internal microbiological limits for D grade-classified areas

Objetivo: contribuir al aseguramiento de la calidad microbiológica de una planta de producción de vacunas, a través del establecimiento de límites internos de alerta y de acción para sus áreas clasificadas Grado D. Métodos: se estudió la microbiota residente de cada área clasificada Grado D. Se analizaron muestras de aire tomadas por el método volumétrico. Las superficies e indumentaria del personal fueron evaluadas por el método de contacto. Los recuentos de microorganismos fueron analizados estadísticamente para la determinación de los límites de alerta y de acción. Resultados: se establecieron los límites de alerta y de acción microbiológicos para cada área clasificada Grado D de la planta de producción del Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas basados en la determinación de los rangos habituales de trabajo. Se establecieron límites, como en el caso de guantes pos trabajo para un área Grado D, donde la norma no los define. Conclusiones: se mostró concordancia con los límites recomendados por la autoridad regulatoria nacional ANMAT y proporcionó información sobre la carga microbiológica de los ambientes clasificados Grado D, que será de utilidad tanto para la comprensión del ingreso y circulación de microorganismos como para la implementación de medidas para prevenir la contaminación microbiana, aspectos críticos en la fabricación de vacunas seguras, puras y eficaces(AU)

Objective: to contribute to ensuring the microbiological quality of a vaccine manufacturing plant through the establishment of internal microbiological alert and action limits for their grade D classified areas. Methods: the resident microbiota of each grade D classified area was studied. Air samples taken by the volumetric method were analyzed. The surfaces and the staff's gowning were evaluated by the contact method. The microorganism counts were statistically analyzed to determine the alert and action limits. Results: the microbiological alert and action limits have been established for each Grade D classified area of the production plant of the National Institute of Human Viral Diseases, based on the determination of the usual working ranges. Limits were set, as in the case of gloves after work for a Grade D area, where the standard does not define them. Conclusions: the results generally agreed with the limits recommended by the national regulatory authority ANMAT, and additionally, this study provided information on the microbiological flora of grade D classified environments, which will be useful for both understanding the entrance and circulation of microorganisms and implementing measures to prevent biocontamination, which are critical aspects in the manufacture of effective, pure and safe vaccines(AU)