Zagazig Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Risks To The Health Of Wood Workers: What Can Be Done?

S Mirza

OBJECTIVE: To identify health problems of wood workers and suggest recommendations for its prevention. METHODS: Extensive online search was made for medical literature on it published in English from 1960’s to date.151 articles were retrieved which were tailored to 124 including books, reviews and epidemiological studies.53 of them were relevant and are included in this review. RESULTS: Wood workers are exposed to wood dust, fungi, bacteria, endotoxins, formaldehyde, phenol and various injuries in their working environment. This leads to impaired pulmonary functions; non-cancerous respiratory diseases like rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis; occupational cancers like sino-nasal cancer, laryngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, mesothelioma, Hodgkin’s disease, bladder cancer, skin cancer, prostate and brain cancer. This can be prevented by decreasing exposure to wood fumes in air by proper ventilation and decreasing work hours by increasing shifts, personal protective equipment and regular nasal lavage. CONCLUSION: Wood workers are exposed to various biohazards at their work place which increases risk of occupational diseases which can be prevented by provision of healthy work environment. KEY WORDS: wood workers health, wood industry exposures, hazards of wood

Skin Prick Tests and Dose Response Relationship between Pulmonary Function Tests and Chronic Exposure to Flour in Baking Industry

ME El-Helaly

Background: flour dust is a respiratory sensitizer and chronic exposure to it could affect the pulmonary functions and stimulate allergic responses. Objectives: the objectives of this study were to: a) study the association between chronic exposure to flour among bakers and the prevalence of work related respiratory and allergic symptoms, b) assess allergic reaction to flour dust using Skin Prick Test (SPT), c) evaluate the existence of dose-response relationship between exposure to flour and the pulmonary function tests among Bakers. Subjects and Methods: The study was carried out on 60 bakers working at different bakeries at Dekernis, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt; and 30 control subjects. All participants were submitted to a self administered questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, general medical examination, chest examination; spirometry and SPT. Results: All work related respiratory symptoms were more prevalent among bakers compared to the controls (P< 0.05). Moreover, eye and nasal allergic symptoms were more prevalent among bakers compared to the controls (P<0.01). Positive SPTs to wheat grain were more prevalent among bakers (18.30%) compared to the controls (3.30%) (P<0.05). Bakers had lower FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF compared to the controls (P<0.0). Regression analysis test results revealed a negative significant correlation between FVC, FEV1 and FEF; and the duration of exposure to flour, indicating a dose response relationship between the duration of exposure to flour and the pulmonary function tests. Conclusion: long-term occupational exposure to flour among bakers is associated with both respiratory and allergic symptoms most probably due to wheat grain; and could affect their pulmonary function tests with a dose-response relationship. Keywords: respiratory, allergic, skin prick test, flour , bakers

Implementation Of An Educational Training Program In First Aid For Newly Graduated Nursery School Teachers At Zagazig City

SA Ali

Preschool children constitute 11.5% of total population in Egypt. They are exposed to injuries and accidents due to curiosity, lack of experience and increased mobility. Day care institutions for preschoolers increased nowadays to help working mothers for caring for their children. The nursery school teacher has crucial role in caring for children, supervision and prevention of health hazards. They should be well trained on first aid and emergency control to save children lives. Aim of study: to develop, implement and evaluate an educational training program for newly graduate nursery school teachers about first aid of some emergency situations occurring to preschooler. Subjects & methods: An intervention study, the participants were 60 newly graduate nursery teachers from Faculty of Specific Education, Zagazig University at 2008. Data were collected using questionnaire to test teacher's knowledge concerning first aid. This forms the 1st part of the study. The 2nd part included a health education program which was designed to meet participant's needs. It was performed by researchers on 20 sessions, 30-45 minutes per session, the participants were divided into small groups in practical sessions. The 3rd part was an evaluation of the program. It was done by statistical analysis for pre and post results of participant knowledge questionnaires. An observation check list was used to assess their practice towards 1st aid for wounds, fractures, epilepsy, fainting, epistaxis, suffocation and burns. Results: the participated group of teachers were females,20 ± 2 years old, mostly from rural area, they already taught knowledge concerning growth and development of children, first aid measures in the 3rd academic year in the faculty but non of them practice these topics. There was high significant improvement of knowledge and practice of the studied group in the post test in comparison to pre test. Knowledge and practice increased, on the average, from 0-10% to 80- 95% in first aid of wound, fractures, epileptic convulsions, fainting, epistaxis, suffocation and burn. Conclusion: the designed health education and training program led to significant improvement of knowledge and practice of nursery school teachers in first aid and dealing with emergency situations occurring to preschoolers. Recommendation: Adding practical course for first aid and emergency for the undergraduate curriculum in Faculty of Specific Education. Refreshing educational training courses for all nursery school teachers. Key words: preschool health care, intervention program, emergency situations