prEN 1005-4: Evaluation of working postures in relation to machinery

The evaluation of working postures in relation to machinery was described. The health risk was analyzed together with contributing risk factors. The recommendations were based on current ergonomic knowledge and were subjected to changes according to future research. The recommendations were intended to reduce the risks for all healthy adults.

Time and land-use as interpretation keys for the evaluation of different remedial scenarios

In the regulated community there is often concern as to whether mass removal at a contaminated site actually reduces risk, or whether the small risk reductions achieved warrant the large costs incurred. Decision-makers have to select feasible solutions based on the required risk reduction, costs of the remediation and environmental impact. Thus,...

Exposure and risk estimation for pesticides in high-volume spraying

During twenty applications with a spray pistol of methomyl to chrysanthemums, inhalation exposure as well as potential and actual dermal exposure were monitored using the 'whole-body'-method. On the basis of the exposure data, in terms of exposure to the liquid formulation and the spray liquid, the possible health risk for methomyl and thirteen...

Monitoring of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a carbon-electrode manufacturing plant

An investigation is presented of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in a carbon-electrode manufacturing plant, as assessed by three monitoring methods, viz, environmental monitoring of the external dose by analysis of personal air samples, biological monitoring of the internal dose by analysis of urinary 1...

Investigation on the exposure of hairdressers to chemical agents

Concentrations of compounds released from hairdressing products such as ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, propane, butane, volatile organic compounds, and dust particles were measured in hairdressing salons. When compared with general accepted standards for the work place (threshold limit values, TLVs), the probability to exceed these limits...

Do you think that your health or safety are at risk because of your work? A large European study on psychological and physical work demands

A secondary analysis was performed on a large scale cross-sectional survey (n = 12,500) by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. The analysis investigates (1) 'strain', i.e. whether or not employees in 12 European Union (EU) member states considered their health or safety to be at risk because of their...

Ergonomic guidelines for the prevention of discomfort of static postures based on endurance data

This communication aims to show why guidelines to prevent discomfort of static postures can be based on endurance data, and to give insight in the aim and scope of a recent 'work-rest model for static postures' (WR model). The paper is a response to a recent paper of Mathiassen and Winkel (1992) who questioned the usefulness of discomfort and...

Assessment of dermal and inhalation exposure to zineb/maneb in the cultivation of flower bulbs

In bulb farming the use of pesticides for crop protection and bulb disinfection is extensive. To estimate long-term occupational exposure to pesticides, generic levels of exposure specific to the method of working were needed. In order to derive these values, dermal and inhalation exposure was the fungicide mixture zineb/maneb was assessed for...

Concentration-time mortality response relationship of irritant and systemically acting vapours and gases

This report presents the re-evaluation of the raw data of previously published acute inhalation toxicity studies of some volatile industrial chemicals. In these studies both concentration and exposure time were varied. The raw data were obtained from an extensive literature search and were subjected to probit analysis. The results show that the...