Sun Safety at Work Canada: a multiple case-study protocol to develop sun safety and heat protection programs and policies for outdoor workers.

BACKGROUND: CAREX Canada has identified solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) as the second most prominent carcinogenic exposure in Canada, and over 75 % of Canadian outdoor workers fall within the highest exposure category. Heat stress also presents an important public health issue, particularly for outdoor workers. The most serious form of heat stress is heat stroke, which can cause irreversible damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. Although the need for sun and heat protection has been identified, there is no Canada-wide heat and sun safety program for outdoor workers. Further, no prevention programs have addressed both skin cancer prevention and heat stress in an integrated approach. The aim of this partnered study is to evaluate whether a multi-implementation, multi-evaluation approach can help develop sustainable workplace-specific programs, policies, and procedures to increase the use of UV safety and heat protection. METHODS/DESIGN: This 2-year study is a theory-driven, multi-site, non-randomized study design with a cross-case analysis of 13 workplaces across four provinces in Canada. The first phase of the study includes the development of workplace-specific programs with the support of the intensive engagement of knowledge brokers. There will be a three-points-in-time evaluation with process and impact components involving the occupational health and safety (OHS) director, management, and workers with the goal of measuring changes in workplace policies, procedures, and practices. It will use mixed methods involving semi-structured key informant interviews, focus groups, surveys, site observations, and UV dosimetry assessment. Using the findings from phase I, in phase 2, a web-based, interactive, intervention planning tool for workplaces will be developed, as will the intensive engagement of intermediaries such as industry decision-makers to link to policymakers about the importance of heat and sun safety for outdoor workers. DISCUSSION: Solar UV and heat are both health and safety hazards. Using an occupational health and safety risk assessment and control framework, Sun Safety at Work Canada will support workplaces to assess their exposure risks, implement control strategies that build on their existing programs, and embed the controls into their existing occupational health and safety system.

Carotid intima-media thickness is increased in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses.

BACKGROUND: The feasibility of carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT), an established cardiovascular disease marker, as a cardiac risk marker in mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) patients was explored. OBJECTIVES: To determine if C-IMT is abnormal in MPS versus unaffected controls, and if C-IMT correlates with coronary artery diameter in MPS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Measurements of C-IMT via neck ultrasound and echocardiographic parameters, including coronary artery diameters, were obtained from MPS and control patients, and compared. RESULTS: Sixteen MPS subjects (6 MPS I, 6 MPS II, 2 MPS III, 1 MPS VI, 1 MPS VII) and sixteen age, ethnicity, and gender-matched controls were enrolled. Median MPS and control subject ages were 8.3±4.5 and 8.6±4.3 years, respectively (p=0.73). Mean MPS and control C-IMTs were 0.54±0.070 and 0.48±0.034 mm (p=0.0029). No differences in left main, left anterior descending, or right coronary artery diameters were seen between MPS and controls. A significant proportion of MPS subjects had mitral insufficiency (14/16; p=0.0002), aortic insufficiency (10/16; p=0.0021), and left ventricular dilatation (7/16, p=0.037) versus controls. C-IMT did not correlate significantly with age, height, weight, coronary measurements, or duration of treatment. CONCLUSION: C-IMT in MPS patients is increased compared to matched controls, likely reflective of arterial intima-medial glycosaminoglycan accumulation. MPS subjects demonstrated a high percentage of left-sided valvular insufficiency and ventricular dilatation. Additional studies should be performed in MPS patients to determine if C-IMT correlates with arterial elasticity, biomarkers of vascular dysfunction, and higher risk of cardiovascular events.