Controlling exposure to laboratory animal allergens

Laboratory animal allergy (LAA) is a significant occupational disease that may affect up to one third of personnel exposed to laboratory animals. Research has characterized the relative risks of exposure, in terms of intensity, frequency, and duration, associated with given tasks and work areas in the animal facility. Studies have shown that reduced exposure to animal allergens can reduce the incidence of LAA and relieve symptoms among affected workers. A combination of measures to eliminate or control allergen exposure, including engineering and administrative controls and personal protective equipment, have been integral components of effective LAA management programs. The author provides a comprehensive review of exposure control options, considerations, and " best practices" relative to laboratory animal allergen in the context of traditional industrial hygiene methods.     

Chemical safety in animal care,use, and research

Chemical safety is an essential element of an effective occupational health and safety program. Controlling exposures to chemical agents requires a careful process of hazard recognition, risk assessment, development of control measures, communication of the risks and control measures, and training to ensure that the indicated controls will be utilized. Managing chemical safety in animal care and use presents a unique challenge, in part because research is frequently conducted in two very different environments--the research laboratory and the animal care facility. The chemical agents specific to each of these environments are typically well understood by the employees working there; however, the extent of understanding may not be adequate when these individuals, or chemicals, cross over into the other environment. In addition, many chemicals utilized in animal research are not typically used in the research laboratory, and therefore the level of employee knowledge and proficiency may be less compared with more routinely used materials. Finally, the research protocol may involve the exposure of laboratory animals to either toxic chemicals or chemicals with unknown hazards. Such animal protocols require careful review to minimize the potential for unanticipated exposures of the research staff or animal care personnel. Numerous guidelines and regulations are cited, which define the standard of practice for the safe use of chemicals. Key chemical safety issues relevant to personnel involved in the care and use of research animals are discussed.     

Institutional responsibilities in contamination control in research animals and occupational health and safety for animal handlers

The mechanisms for controlling microbial contamination in research animals are similar to those for preventing exposure among animal handlers to naturally occurring pathogens, research-related biohazards, or animal allergens. Research and resource preservation are the primary goals of each approach, and an appropriate assessment of risk is their foundation. The identification of potential risks enables the implementation of relevant risk management or control measures. This article summarizes the components of an occupational health and safety program for animal handlers, including screening, training, work practices, effective use of engineering controls, selection and use of personal protective equipment, and emergency response protocols. The features of a risk assessment and risk management program and the level of interaction and training required to implement and sustain the program correlate well with programs designed to control microbial contamination in laboratory animals. This article includes an explanation of the five Ps of risk assessment and risk management. Pathogens and the proposed experimental procedures account for the first two Ps; the other three focus on training and awareness of the personnel involved in the experiment, protective equipment and work practices, and factors associated with the place (or facility) where the research will be conducted. Animal handlers comprehension and knowledge determine the success of any containment program, and so this review also includes a discussion of critical teaching points for animal handlers and of the importance of evaluating personnel to verify their proficiency and competence in required protocols.     

Basic considerations in assessing and preventing occupational infections in personnel working with nonhuman primates

Transmission of zoonotic infections of nonhuman primates to human contacts is a documented occupational hazard. Although the list of naturally occurring and experimentally induced infections of nonhuman primates is extensive the risks of transmission may substantially be reduced by the use of good animal care practices, appropriate protective measures and devices, and suitable animal facilities. The essential elements of good animal care practices include high levels of personal hygiene; minimizing the creation of potentially infectious aerosols and droplets; use of personal protective clothing, devices, and vaccines; a system for reporting, evaluating, and treatment of occupational exposures and infections; and animal facilities appropriate for the species being used and the activities conducted. These essential elements are described and discussed in the context of published voluntary codes of practice--notably "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories."     

Chemical process based reconstruction of exposures for an epidemiological study. III. Analysis of industrial hygiene samples

As part of an historical cohort study to investigate the mortality experience of industrial workers exposed to chloroprene (beta-CD) and other substances, all available industrial hygiene exposure monitoring data were collected and summarized. From discussions with on-site industrial hygiene personnel, it was apparent that these data were not collected for epidemiological purposes and, therefore, their use in characterization of exposures was problematic as the data mostly pertained to samples collected to investigate the performance of specific tasks. These data were, however, informative for validating the exposure modeling process used to estimate historical exposures. The data summarized below clearly indicate that exposures to beta-CD were lowered across the time period of this study. Typically, the exposures recorded were less than the occupational exposure limits of the periods in which the exposures were recorded. Additionally, exposure measurements recorded in the recent past do not represent the exposure actually experienced by the worker as a strict personal protective equipment use program has been in place for the facilities studied since the mid-1980s.     

Effects of different protective clothing for reducing body exposure to chlorothalonil during application in cucumber greenhouses

Occupational exposure safety remains a major issue during greenhouse spray applications in China. Herein, we tested the safety of 2 protective clothing types to be used in cucumber greenhouses: 100% cotton hooded coveralls and non-woven fabric hooded coveralls. A hand-operated knapsack sprayer was used for chlorothalonil application (75% WP). The whole-body dosimetry technique was used to collect dermal exposure samples, including gloves and socks. In the absence of any personal protective equipment (PPE), chlorothalonil application resulted in a total dermal exposure of 5759.5 μg/h. When 100% cotton hooded coveralls (including single-layer gloves) and non-woven fabric hooded coveralls (including rubber gloves) were used as protective measures, the total dermal exposures of the applicators were 5759.5 and 2511.3 μg/h, representing deflection rates of 88.7 and 95.1% of the total dermal exposure in the absence of PPE, respectively. Next, dermal exposure when using 2 cotton garment layers (100% cotton hooded coverall as the outer-layer garment and 85% cotton underwear as the inner-layer garment) was analyzed. The penetration rate of the outer-layer garment was first estimated; the penetration rate for the left lower leg section was 1.8% (the lowest), and that of the chest section was 12.1% (the highest), with a mean penetration rate of 6.3%. When a single-layer 100% cotton coverall (including 100% cotton gloves) and a non-woven fabric coverall (including rubber gloves) were used as protective measures, the main exposure site among the applicators was the face (including the neck). Thus, to reduce the exposure risk of farmers during chlorothalonil application, it is essential to strengthen protective clothing and improve protection for the face (including the neck), which is often exposed. Moreover, it is essential to improve knowledge on occupational safety and self-protection measures among farmers. These findings may provide useful information for risk mitigation and management and epidemiological studies in China.     

Assessment of personal protective equipment use and occupational exposures in small industries in Jeddah: Health implications for workers

Small-scale industries account for a large proportion of jobs and play a vital role in most countries’ economic growth and prosperity. Due to the very low use of personal protective equipment (PPEs), employees are exposed to numerous physical, chemical, and accidental hazards in small-scale industries. PPEs are very effective in minimizing occupational injuries, accidents, and other hazards which otherwise result in substantial manpower and financial losses. The study objective was to assess the availability and use of PPEs as well as self-reported occupational exposures among workers in surveyed small industries in Jeddah. The study involved 102 workers from 28 small-scale industries (vehicle repair, welding, and paint). A survey was conducted to gather data of socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported occupational exposures, and frequency of PPEs used by workers. The occupational exposures (never exposed, sometimes exposed and always exposed) were reported in percentages including; noise exposure (19.6, 73.5 and 6.9%); dust/smoke exposure (9.8, 69.6 and 20.6%); vapors/fumes exposure (11.8, 60.8 and 27.5%); and direct sunlight (43.1, 56.9 and 0%), respectively. The reported use of different PPEs in descending order was; knee joints mats (50%), welding shields (50%), safety glasses (33.3%), gloves (27.5%), face masks (26.5%), safety shoes (10.8%) and earplugs/ muffs (8.8%). On the basis of this study findings, hand hygiene and general OSH awareness like interventions can be developed which will help in minimizing workplace exposures among small-scale industry workers.     

Safety Considerations for In Vitro Toxicology Testing

A range of hazards may be encountered in in vitro toxicology laboratory work. Such hazards are primarily chemical reagents for which the level of risk, particularly with long-term exposure, may be difficult to ascertain. Cells and tissues may also present biosafety concerns and it is important that risk assessments are prepared for each procedure before commencing project work. Ideally control measures should be simple and combine the use of appropriate equipment with documented procedures supported by risk assessments. In any laboratory staff and procedures change significantly over time, thus monitoring of procedures (including waste disposal) and a comprehensive training programme for all staff are essential components to assure both the quality and safety of laboratory work.     

Improving Risk Assessment: Toxicological Research Needs

A workshop convened to define research needs in toxicology identified several deficiencies in data and methods currently applied in risk assessment. The workshop panel noted that improving the link between chemical exposure and toxicological response requires a better understanding of the biological basis for inter-and intra-human variability and susceptibility. This understanding will not be complete unless all life stages are taken into consideration. Because animal studies serve as a foundation for toxicological assessment, proper accounting for cross-species extrapolation is essential. To achieve this, adjustments for dose-rate effects must be improved, which will aid in extrapolating toxicological responses to low doses and from short-term exposures. Success depends on greater use of validated biologically based dose-response models that include pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data. Research in these areas will help define uncertainty factors and reduce reliance on underlying default assumptions. Throughout the workshop the panel recognized that biomedical science and toxicology in particular is on the verge of a revolution because of advances in genomics and proteomics. Data from these high-output technologies are anticipated to greatly improve risk assessment by enabling scientists to better define and model the elements of the relationship between exposure to biological hazards and health risks in populations with differing susceptibilities.     

Occupational medicine programs for animal research facilities

Occupational medicine is a key component of a comprehensive occupational health and safety program in support of laboratory animal research and production facilities. The mission of the department is to maximize employee health and productivity utilizing a population health management approach, which includes measurement and analysis of health benefits utilization. The department works in close cooperation with other institutional health and safety professionals to identify potential risks from exposure to physical, chemical, and biological hazards in the workplace. As soon as exposures are identified, the department is responsible for formulating and providing appropriate medical surveillance programs. Occupational medicine is also responsible for targeted delivery of preventive and wellness services; management of injury, disease, and disability; maintenance of medical information; and other clinic services required by the institution. Recommendations are provided for the organization and content of occupational medicine programs for animal research facilities.     

Personal protective equipment for registration purposes of pesticides

Regulatory authorities in North America, Europe and Australia use different approaches for the estimation of exposure reduction effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE) in registration processes of agrochemical pesticides. TNO has investigated current views and facts for the use of default values and set up a discussion paper which can be used as a starting point to achieve an internationally harmonised set of PPE protection factors for regulatory use. For inhalation exposure Loading it is proposed to use the assigned protection factors (APF) as deduced by BSI (British Standard Institution) and ANSI (American National Standards Institution). Since these values are somewhat variance and since in agricultural settings efficient control and proper training and education with respect to inhalation protection devices is generally absent, it is good to err on the safe side and to use the Lowest of both values, if available. For dermal exposure Loading differentiations are made for operators and re-entry workers and further for hand and body protection. Next to this the restrictions and framework for the use of the proposed defaults are very relevant. Oral exposure loading is only considered in special cases where dermal exposure may be relatively high and the hand-mouth shunt may lead to appreciable oral exposure loading. The presented defaults for PPE have been discussed with experts of regulatory authorities and industry, but a formal discussion still has to take place. This needs to be done on EU level between Member States. The current proposal is based on state-of-the-art knowledge and policy considerations, but further research is needed to better underpin the proposed values and/or to adapt them.     

The role of health care workers and antiviral drugs in the control of pandemic influenza

Until a vaccine against the new strain becomes available, the response to newly emerged pandemic influenza will consist of the use of antiviral drugs and measures that limit exposure to infectious individuals. These first-line defence measures include isolating cases upon diagnosis, reducing close contacts, the use of personal protective equipment and hygiene, and using antiviral drugs for treatment and prophylaxis. There are significant 'costs' associated with control measures, so to justify such interventions it is important to assess their potential to reduce transmission. In this paper, we determine the effect that a number of different antiviral interventions have on the reproduction number of infectives and the probability that an imported infection fades out, and determine parameter scenarios for which these interventions are able to eliminate an emerging pandemic of influenza. We also assess the role that health care workers play in transmission and the extent to which providing them with antiviral prophylaxis and personal protective equipment modifies this role. Our results indicate that this class requires protection to avoid a greatly disproportionate contribution to early infective numbers, and for the maintenance of a stable health care system. Further, we show that the role children play in increasing transmission is moderate, in spite of closer mixing with other children.     

How to develop a Standard Operating Procedure for sorting unfixed cells

Written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are an important tool to assure that recurring tasks in a laboratory are performed in a consistent manner. When the procedure covered in the SOP involves a high-risk activity such as sorting unfixed cells using a jet-in-air sorter, safety elements are critical components of the document. The details on sort sample handling, sorter set-up, validation, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance, personal protective equipment (PPE), and operator training, outlined in the SOP are to be based on careful risk assessment of the procedure. This review provides background information on the hazards associated with sorting of unfixed cells and the process used to arrive at the appropriate combination of facility design, instrument placement, safety equipment, and practices to be followed.     

浅论与实验动物相关的职业健康安全与人畜共患病

道义上的责任或是法律法规都要求公司或单位提供一个安全和健康的工作环境,以保障员工免受不必要的危害。职业健康与安全（OHS）规程的目的就是预防职业伤害和疾病,它不仅需要满足法规的要求,更重要的是控制危害和减少风险。本文描述了实验动物相关OHS规程的重要性及一些关键要素,如管理措施、设施的设计与运行、控制与危险物的接触、教育和培训、职业健康专业化服务、仪器设备的性能、信息管理、应急措施及对规程的评估和完善。本文还简要地介绍了常见的实验非人灵长类动物相关的人畜共患疾病,以及如何安全地从事实验动物相关工作。     

Problems of multiple transfusions

The use of blood infusion in large amounts is increasing sharply. Increased knowledge of blood group antigens has alerted physicians to the possible hazards of hemolytic reactions to subgroups that must be eliminated by proper cross-matching techniques. Multiple transfusions of preserved blood often defeat their purpose in control of bleeding, for thrombocytopenia is enhanced. Careful selection of blood or preparations of plasma concentrates offer increased protection to the recipient.Plastic bag equipment increases the yield of viable platelets and keeps blood in usable condition for longer periods of storage. The use of multiple transfusions has complicated the selection of preserved blood to control pigment metabolism.     

Risk of occupationally acquired illnesses from biological threat agents in unvaccinated laboratory workers

Many vaccines for bioterrorism agents are investigational and therefore not available (outside of research protocol use) to all at-risk laboratory workers who have begun working with these agents as a result of increased interest in biodefense research. Illness surveillance data archived from the U.S. offensive biological warfare program (from 1943 to 1969) were reviewed to assess the impact of safety measures on disease prevention (including biosafety cabinets [BSCs]) before and after vaccine availability. Most laboratory-acquired infections from agents with higher infective doses (e.g., anthrax, glanders, and plague) were prevented with personal protective measures and safety training alone. Safety measures (including BSCs) without vaccination failed to sufficiently prevent illness from agents with lower infective doses in this high-risk research setting. Infections continued with tularemia (average 15/year), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (1.9/year), and Q fever (3.4/year) but decreased dramatically once vaccinations became available (average of 1, 0.6, and 0 infections per year, respectively). While laboratory-acquired infections are not expected to occur frequently in the current lower-risk biodefense research setting because of further improvements in biosafety equipment and changes in biosafety policies, the data help to define the inherent risks of working with the specific agents of bioterrorism. The data support the idea that research with these agents should be restricted to laboratories with experience in handling highly hazardous agents and where appropriate safety training and precautions can be implemented.     

Respiratory Health – Exposure Measurements and Modeling in the Fragrance and Flavour Industry

Although the flavor and fragrance industry is about 150 years old, the use of synthetic materials started more than 100 years ago, and the awareness of the respiratory hazard presented by some flavoring substances emerged only recently. In 2001, the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) identified for the first time inhalation exposure to flavoring substances in the workplace as a possible occupational hazard. As a consequence, manufacturers must comply with a variety of workplace safety requirements, and management has to ensure the improvement of health and safety of the employees exposed to hazardous volatile organic compounds. In this sensitive context, MANE opened its facilities to an intensive measuring campaign with the objective to better estimate the real level of hazardous respiratory exposure of workers. In this study, exposure to 27 hazardous volatile substances were measured during several types of handling operations (weighing-mixing, packaging, reconditioning-transferring), 430 measurement results were generated, and were exploited to propose an improved model derived from the well-known ECETOC-TRA model. The quantification of volatile substances in the working atmosphere involved three main steps: adsorption of the chemicals on a solid support, thermal desorption, followed by analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our approach was to examine experimental measures done in various manufacturing workplaces and to define correction factors to reflect more accurately working conditions and habits. Four correction factors were adjusted in the ECETOC-TRA to integrate important exposure variation factors: exposure duration, percentage of the substance in the composition, presence of collective protective equipment and wearing of personal protective equipment. Verification of the validity of the model is based on the comparison of the values obtained after adaptation of the ECETOC-TRA model, according to various exposure scenarios, with the experimental values measured under real conditions. After examination of the predicted results, 98% of the values obtained with the proposed new model were above the experimental values measured in real conditions. This must be compared with the results of the classical ECETOC-TRA system, which generates only 37% of overestimated values. As the values generated by the new model intended to help decision-makers of the industry to implement adapted protective action and information, and considering the high variability of the working environments, it was of the utmost importance to us not to underestimate the exposure level. The proposed correction factors have been designed to achieve this goal. We wish to propose the present method as an improved monitoring tool to improve respiratory health and safety in the flavor and fragrance manufacturing facilities.     

某私营木制家具制造企业2004 年与2010 年职业病危害因素检测 与评价报告比较和分析

目的:通过比较2个年份职业病危害因素检测与评价报告,评估职业病防治工作的效果。方法:选取两份有代表性的报告,比较和分析职业病危害防护设施的安装、个人防护用品发放与使用、警示标示以及各项检测结果的合格率。结果:该企业2010年各项调查指标相比2004年明显提高。结论:该企业各项职业病防治工作效果显著,劳动环境明显改善,但仍需注意噪声、木粉尘的危害。     

Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields. The situation in Greece

PurposeThe management of the occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF), an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issue of great scientific, social and economic significance, was under intense negotiations at European level over the last twenty years; the Directive 2013/35/EU is the new legislative tool. The presented study deals with the practical aspects of the Directive’s implementation.MethodsThe appropriate, extensive measurements and the overall EMF exposure assessments (i.e. exposure mapping, identification of hot spots, proposition of solutions) were conducted in specific workplaces, including power production, railway, broadcasting, clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems, industrial and research sites, as well as common office workplaces.ResultsThe vast majority of the performed EMF assessments did not reveal occupational overexposures; moreover in most of the cases, even the general public exposure limits (in the above occupational areas) were not exceeded. The very few localized overexposures detected, were manageable on the basis of the technical and organizational OHS principles.On the contrary, the maintenance procedures of the EMF emitting equipment, as recorded in this survey, presented overexposures revealing a challenging field.ConclusionsThis study lays a firm basis for the clarification of the occupational EMF environment, where potential exposures might be high. The proper risk assessment demands precise exposure identification and deep understanding of the EMF nature and hazards. Misconceptions range from the common exposure overestimation to the rarer case of the maintenance hazards underestimation, while attention is needed concerning the proper application of the complex limiting system of the Directive.     

不同职业人群对口罩的选择与正确佩戴

口罩是预防呼吸道暴露的重要防线,正确选择和佩戴口罩可以降低新型冠状病毒(2019 novel coronavirus,2019-nCoV)等呼吸道传播病原感染的风险。但是,口罩类型、防护等级、职业性质、工作环境和防护要求以及正确的佩戴方式均会影响防护效果。本文以国家标准、行业标准以及诊疗方案等资料为参照,针对不同职业人群对口罩的选择与佩戴的关键点展开论述,为不同人群正确使用口罩提供参考,降低各类人群的暴露风险,以利于疫情的控制。