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Objective: To develop a model for prioritizing economic sectors for HIV preventive intervention programs in the workplace. Methods: This study was undertaken in Karnataka state, India. A 3-stage survey process was undertaken. In the first stage, we reviewed secondary data available from various government departments, identified industries in the private sector with large workforces, and mapped their geographical distribution. In the second stage, an initial rapid risk assessment of industrial sectors was undertaken, using key-informant interviews conducted in relation to a number of enterprises, and in consultation with stakeholders. In the third stage, we used both quantitative (polling booth survey) and qualitative methods (key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions) to study high-risk sectors in-depth, and assessed the need and feasibility of HIV workplace intervention programs. Results: The highest risk sectors were found to be mining, garment/ textile, sugar, construction/infrastructure, and fishing industries. Workers in all sectors had at best partial knowledge about HIV/AIDS, coupled with common misconceptions about HIV transmission. There were intersector and intrasector variations in risk and vulnerability across different geographical locations and across different categories of workers. This has implications for the design and implementation of workplace intervention programs. Conclusions: There is tremendous scope for HIV preventive interventions in workplaces in India. Given the variation in HIV risk across economic sectors and limited available resources, there will be increased pressure to prioritize intervention efforts towards high-risk sectors. This study offers a model for rapidly assessing the risk level of economic sectors for HIV intervention programs.

Even after many years of OSHA-regulated efforts to conserve hearing, and despite the ready availability of hearing protection devices (HPDs), rates of noise-induced hearing loss continue to rise. A recent […]

EVERY YEAR, SOME 4000 PEOPLE IN the UK die from asbestos-related diseases, (1) most of them as a result of exposure of the victims prior to the 1980s, when the [...]

Onsite occupational and environmental health nursing program, which is introduced to improve the safety standards of the employers and employees, will help a lot in reducing the number of workplace injuries. The wok place injury costs can be reduced with the proper implementation of the programs. The challenges involved in the implementation of this program are also discussed.

working Group on Occupational and Nonoccupational Hearing Conservation This technical report and accompanying position statement were updated from existing policy documents, "The Audiologist's Role in Occupation Hearing Conservation" (LC7-84), 1985 [...]

The relationship between jute dust and lung interstitial fibrosis was studied by instilling groups of rats, via trachea, with jute dust and comparing the results with those for positive (quartz) and negative (saline) controls. The rats were sacrificed at regular intervals and their lungs and hilar lymph nodes were analyzed for collagen content and morphologic changes. The earliest changes consisted of alveolar edema, increased numbers of intraalveolar macrophages, and marked thickening of the interalveolar septa, with mixed cellular infiltrates. Moderate thickening of the alveolar walls and the zones around the peribronchioles was seen in the test groups at 6 mo. After 12 mo, some fibrosis of the alveoli walls and peribronchiole zones occurred. Interstitial cellular nodules were observed occasionally, composed mainly of dust particles, fibroblasts, reticular fibers, and collagen fibers. The collagen content in the lungs of the jute dust groups was significantly higher than for the saline control group for all test periods. The authors conclude that jute dust may induce lung interstitial fibrosis., JUTE is a vegetable fiber cultivated in China, India, Pakistan, and other south Asia countries. Because the fiber is easy to grow and its products are inexpensive, jute processing is [...]

Screening for metals in urine is important because toxic levels of these elements are linked to disease. In the current study, the authors used differential pulse stripping voltammetry on a hanging mercury drop electrode for the simultaneous determination of cadmium, cobalt, lead, and nickel in the urine of 63 production and 63 quality control workers in a steel production plant, along with 63 matched normal controls. Urinary sampling is a noninvasive procedure, and in this study participants had good compliance. Metal levels for both the production and quality control workers were significantly higher than for controls. The results reveal the need for immediate improvements in workplace ventilation and industrial hygiene practices for this cohort., MONITORING OF TOXIC METALS in urine is important because metals influence the course of biological processes. (1) Differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV) is widely used for the measurement of toxic [...]

Aims: To evaluate the effect of implementation of an evidence based skin care programme for wet work employees as part of an occupational health and safety management system. Methods: 375 [...]

Measurement strategies for hazard control will have to be efficient and effective to protect a worker's health and well being. No measurement strategy for hazard control will ever be cost [...]