ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4775-7567
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Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 16-09-2023
Abstract: An Australian National Dust Disease Taskforce was established to address the re-emergence of occupational lung disease, in particular silicosis. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) occurs in various industries in Australia. We asked occupational hygienists about their practical experiences and perspectives on RCS exposure and regulatory action. A total of 105 members of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists completed an anonymous questionnaire, which addressed in idual characteristics, experience, perceived level of employer awareness, effectiveness of current regulation, and recommendations for improvement, across three main industrial sectors. Based on professional experience, 71% were concerned about the potential for RCS over-exposure. Barriers to adequate exposure control included lack of management commitment and financial resources. The employment of specialist occupational hygiene inspectors was considered to be the most effective regulatory strategy. Given the large number of exposed workers in the construction industry, with only a moderate awareness, there is the potential for significant cost shifting of the burden of occupational lung disease from employers on to in iduals and the public health system. A nationally consistent approach to RCS exposure control across all industrial sectors is now recommended, with an increased focus on measuring and controlling exposure.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-06-2023
Abstract: Welding fume is generated during welding activities and is a known cancer-causing hazard for those working in the welding industry. Worker exposure has been shown to regularly exceed the applicable workplace exposure standard, and control measures are required to reduce worker exposure. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of control measures to prevent welding fume exposure to workers. To achieve this aim, three common welding fume control measures (local exhaust ventilation (LEV), powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) and on-gun extraction) were used during four different welding tasks. Compared to using no controls, LEV hood capture is likely to reduce welding fume concentrations in the breathing zone of a welder by up to a factor of 9. The use of on-gun LEV is likely to reduce welding fume concentrations in the breathing zone of a welder by up to a factor of 12. The 5th percentile effective protection factors of the PAPR for all s led welding activities were considerably greater than the required minimum protection factor of 50 specified in AS/NZS 1715:2009 for powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) with class PAPR-P3 particulate filters with any head covering.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 14-12-2018
Abstract: Interpretation of exposure measurements has evolved into a framework based on the lognormal distribution. Most available practical tools are based on traditional frequentist statistical procedures that do not satisfactorily account for censored data and are not amenable to simple probabilistic risk statements. Bayesian methods offer promising solutions to these challenges. Such methods have been proposed in the literature but are not widely and freely available to practitioners. A set of computer applications were developed aimed at answering typical inferential questions that are important to occupational health practitioners: Is a group of workers compliant with an occupational exposure limit? Are some in iduals within this group likely to experience substantially higher exposure than its average member? How does an intervention influence the distribution of exposures? These questions were addressed using Bayesian models, simultaneously accounting for left, right, and interval-censored data with multiple censoring points. The models are estimated using the JAGS Gibbs s ler called through the R statistical package. The Expostats toolkit is freely available from www.expostats.ca as four tools accessible through a Web application, an offline standalone application or algorithms. The tools include a variety of calculations and graphical outputs useful according to current practices in analysis and interpretation of exposure measurements collected by occupational hygienists. Tool1 and its simplified version Tool1 Express focus on inferences from data from a similarly exposed group. Tool2 evaluates within- and between-worker components of variability, as well as the probability that an in idual worker might be overexposed. Tool3 compares exposure data across groups, e.g. evaluates the effect of an intervention. Uncertainty management includes the calculation of credible intervals and produces probabilistic statements about the exposure metrics (e.g. probability that over 5% of exposures are above a limit). Expostats is the first freely available toolkit that leverages the flexibility of Bayesian analysis to perform an extensive list of calculations recommended in several international guidelines on the practice of occupational hygiene.
No related grants have been discovered for Peter Knott.