1,720,997 research outputs found
Ultraviolet radiation exposure of welders
No full textUltraviolet radiation (UVR) is a by-product of the welding process and is emitted by the arc formed between the electrode and the base metal. Exposure to UVR can produce acute and chronic effects on the eyes and skin, including photokeratitis and erythema (acute), and pterygium and skin cancer (chronic). The measurement of UVR can be used to determine the level of hazard posed by a particular source.\ud
\ud
The personal UVR exposure levels of a group of welders and nearby workers was estimated using a photosensitive polymer film, polysulphone. The polysulphone film was attached to eye protection, the workers clothing and also placed throughout the workarea. The estimated ocular exposures of all subjects were found to exceed the eight-hour maximum permissible exposure limit.\ud
\ud
As the main UVR protective measure for welders is a welding helmet, the degree of protection afforded by a range of helmets was investigated in a laboratory experiment. Radiation was found to be reflected off the filter and toward the eye after entering through: (1) an opening between the edge of the shield and the side of the face, and (2) an opening between the top lip of the shield and the top of the head.\ud
\ud
The results of this study suggest that welders require ocular protection in addition to welding helmets, and that all exposed skin surfaces of workers in a welding environment should also be protected
A survey of symptoms and eye safety practices among welders
No full textWelding is a task which is potentially hazardous to the eyes. In this study we have administered a questionnaire to 128 welders to investigate ocular symptoms and eye safety practices when welding. The welders demonstrated high levels of discomfort symptoms which were correlated with the length of unprotected exposure to nearby welding, the number of welding flashes received and the length of time spent welding. Dust and fumes in the workplace were also a frequent cause of ocular discomfort. Foreign body injuries were common among the welders, many of whom also reported after-images persisting following welding
The role of environmental health in disaster management : a qualitative study of Australian experiences
No full textEven though environmental health is widely considered to be an integral component of disaster management, limited research on this topic has been conducted. Using a qualitative approach, the authors conducted in-depth interviews of practitioners in Queensland, Australia, to explore the role of environmental health in disaster management and determine how those internal and external to the profession perceive this role. The major themes that emerged described a process in which the "view of health" is socially constructed, and this process is instrumental in shaping perception of the environmental health role in disaster management. The authors also found that the role of environmental health in disaster management is experiencing renegotiation due to a complex process of challenging the socially constructed view of health, raising the profile of the profession, and achieving increased representation in disaster management. Ultimately, increased recognition and a heightened profile of environmental health will result in a more effective disaster management system and will carry over into day-to-day activities
Biological and environmental determinants
No full textThis chapter describes biological and environmental determinants of the health of Australians, providing a background to the development of successful public health activity. You will recall from the introduction to Section 2 that health determinants are the biomedical, genetic, behavioural, socioeconomic and environmental factors that impact on health and wellbeing. These determinants can be influenced by interventions and by resources and systems (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) AIHW 2012a). Many factors combine to affect the health of individuals and communities. People’s circumstances and the environment determine whether a population is healthy or not. Factors such as where people live, the state of their environment, genetics, their education level and income, and their relationships with friends and family are all likely to impact on their health. The determinants of population health reflect the context of people’s lives; however, people have limited control over many of these determinants (WHO 2007)
Sun protection policies and practices of sporting and recreation organizations
No full textThere are many public health benefits of participation in outdoor sporting activities. However, extended exposure to the sun is a significant risk factor for skin cancer. As there is limited information available on the factors that facilitate the implementation of sun protection measures and policies within sporting and recreation organisations, a study was conducted to investigate this in Queensland. This study was exploratory in nature and utilised a cross sectional design involving a telephone survey methodology. The study participants were chosen from State sporting and recreational associations to provide an insight into sun protection activities undertaken by their affiliated clubs. The study results indicate that these State associations were active in promoting sun protection to their clubs, that the clubs with sun protection policies tended to have a more comprehensive approach to sun protection, but that additional sun protection measures are needed at a club level. Consequently, it is important to continue encouraging local clubs to adopt sun protection policies and this appears more likely with the assistance of the State sporting and recreational associations
Ultraviolet radiation exposure in a welding environment
No full textThe personal UV exposure levels of a group of welders and nearby works has been estimated using a photosensitive polymer film, polysulphone. The polysulphone film was attached to eye protection, and workers clothing and also placed throughout the workarea. the estimated ocular exposure for all aubjects were found to exceed the maximum permissible exposure limit. The results sugguest welders require ocular protection on addition to welding helmets and any exposured skin area of workers on this environment also requires protection
Physical and environmental determinants
No full textThis chapter describes physical and environmental determinants of the health of Australians, providing a background to the development of successful public health activity. Health determinants are the biomedical, genetic, behavioural, socio-economic and environmental factors that impact on health and wellbeing. These determinants can be influenced by interventions and by resources and systems (AIHW 2006). Many factors combine to affect the health of individuals and communities. People’s circumstances and the environment determine whether the population is healthy or not. Factors such as where people live, the state of their environment, genetics, their education level and income, and their relationships with friends and family, all are likely to impact on their health. The determinants of population health reflect the context of people’s lives; however, people are very unlikely to be able to control many of these determinants (WHO 2007).\ud
\ud
This chapter and Chapter 6 illustrate how various determinants can relate to, and influence other determinants, as well as health and wellbeing. We believe it is particularly important to provide an understanding of determinants and their relationship to health and illness in order to provide a structure in which a broader conceptualisation of health can be placed. Determinants of health do not exist in isolation from one another. More frequently they work together in a complex system. What is clear to anyone who works in public health is that many factors impact on the health and wellbeing of people. For example, in the next chapter we discuss factors such as living and working conditions, social support, ethnicity and class, income, housing, work stress and the impact of education on the length and quality of people’s lives.\ud
\ud
In 1974, the influential ‘Lalonde Report’ (Lalonde 1974) described key factors that impact on health status. These factors included lifestyle, environment, human biology and health services. Taking a population health approach builds on the Lalonde Report, and recognises that a range of factors, such as living and working conditions and the distribution of wealth in society, interact to determine the health status of a population. \ud
\ud
Tackling health determinants has great potential to reduce the burden of disease and promote the health of the general population. In summary, we understand very clearly now that health is determined by the complex interactions between individual characteristics, social and economic factors and physical environments; the entire range of factors that impact on health must be addressed if we are to make significant gains in population health, and focussing interventions on the health of the population or significant sub-populations can achieve important health gains.\ud
\ud
In 2007, the Australian Government included in the list of National Health Priority Areas the following health issues: cancer control, injury prevention and control, cardiovascular health, diabetes mellitus, mental health, asthma, and arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. The National Health Priority Areas set the agenda for the Commonwealth, States and Territories, Local Governments and not-for-profit organisations to place attention on those areas considered to be the major foci for action. Many of these health issues are discussed in this chapter and the following chapter.\u
Personal ultraviolet radiation exposure of workers in a welding environment
No full textThe personal ultraviolet radiation exposure levels of a group of welders and nearby workers were estimated using a photosensitive polymer film, polysulphone. The polysulphone film was attached to the inner and outer surfaces of eye protection, the workers' clothing, and also placed throughout the work area. The estimated average ocular exposures (inside the helmets) for welders and boiler-makers were between four and five times the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limit, and the estimated exposures at the spectacles of nonwelders were around 9 times MPE. Body exposures (at the clothing surface) for welders were estimated to be around 3000 times MPE and for nonwelders around 13 times MPE. The ambient ultraviolet radiation levels in the factory were found to exceed the MPE by an average of 5.5 times, even in nonwelding areas. The results suggest that welders require additional ocular protection to supplement conventional welding helmets, and any exposed skin areas of workers in this environment should also be protected
- …
