Effect of physiotherapy on sickness absence in industry: a comparative study.

A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out in two chemical manufacturing plants in order to ascertain the effect of an occupational physiotherapy service on absence attributed to sickness. There was no overall effect on total sickness absence rates in this study, but a possible reduction in short-term sickness absence was noted. Changes in management attitudes to absence attributed to sickness at the comparison site caused a significant reduction in short-term absences. It is concluded that physiotherapy in an occupational setting has little effect on sickness absence compared to management attitudes, but the unquantifiable benefits, such as increased employee mobility, better industrial relations and employee morale may be significant benefits, worthy of further study.

The application of test data in the selection and use of gloves against chemicals.

Within recent years there have been a number of papers on the testing of protective clothing materials for degradation, penetration and permeation by chemicals. However, little guidance has been provided concerning the practical application of such data in the selection and use of gloves. A scheme is proposed for the selection of appropriate gloves and for deciding whether they should be reused. This takes into account the toxic properties of the chemical involved, the type of activity being undertaken and the degree of protection afforded by a particular material as indicated by data obtained from standard tests.

Worker exposure to a herbicide applied with ground sprayers in the United Kingdom.

This study was designed to measure potential dermal and respiratory exposure of agricultural workers during the application of a typical herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, with five types of application equipment commonly used in the United Kingdom. The workers were monitored during filling and loading operations and during spray application. Potential dermal exposure was higher during mixing and loading all tractor-powered sprayers than during spraying. Potential dermal exposure from tractor-powered sprayers fitted with conventional hydraulic nozzles was lower than from knapsack sprayers, with exposure from a tractor-powered sprayer fitted with controlled-droplet application equipment intermediate in this regard. There was no difference in potential dermal exposure between tractor-mounted and tractor-drawn sprayers fitted with conventional hydraulic nozzles. The hands were the most highly exposed part of the body during mixing and loading operations for all sprayers, and during spraying with tractor-powered sprayers. The lower legs of the workers were exposed principally when knapsack sprayers were used. For all five sprayers, potential respiratory exposure, where detectable at all, was negligible compared with potential dermal exposure.

The safety evaluation of bendiocarb, a residual insecticide for vector control.

The safety evaluation of bendiocarb, a carbamate insecticide for vector control is described. During the course of field studies data were collected to relate dermal exposure, absorption, excretion of metabolites, whole blood cholinesterase inhibition and clinical signs and symptoms. Studies were also carried out on blood sampling techniques for cholinesterase assay and on the effects of temperature and humidity on the dermal absorption of bendiocarb. It was shown that inhibition of blood cholinesterase by bendiocarb is rapidly reversible and routine cholinesterase monitoring of operators is therefore not necessary. It was also shown that dermal absorption of bendiocarb and probably other insecticides is facilitated under hot and humid conditions and special care must be taken with insecticide application at these times. The importance of effective training, adequate protective clothing and good personal hygiene in achieving safe application of insecticides in house-spraying programmes is stressed. It is concluded from these studies that bendiocarb is a safe insecticide for vector control when used with normal safety precautions and this has been confirmed in subsequent large-scale operational programmes.

Survival without sequelae following exposure to 500 mg/m3 of hydrogen cyanide.

A case of severe over-exposure to hydrogen cyanide is presented. The toxicology of cyanide is briefly reviewed and a description of events leading to the poisoning is given. Details of clinical signs and treatment are presented.

Extrapolation from safety data to management of poisoning with reference to amitraz (a formamidine pesticide) and xylene.

Many pesticides are formulated in organic solvents. An example is amitraz, one of the formamidine group of pesticidal chemicals. As a contingency against the possibility of poisoning cases occurring, the toxicity and pharmacology of amitraz were reviewed in order to recommend medical management procedures. Amitraz has pharmacological activity, including monoamine oxidase inhibition, alpha-adrenergic agonist activity and it inhibits prostaglandin synthesis. Extrapolating from acute studies in animals, the likely signs of poisoning in humans may include bradycardia, hypotension, hyperglycaemia, CNS depression, and hypothermia. Despite the presence of amitraz, it appears that the xylene is the more aggressive component in the formulation tested, and treatment for over-exposure by the oral route is generally as for xylene ingestion, but the presence of amitraz is an indication for gastric lavage. Few cases of poisoning have occurred and these are presented.