12 PUBH 5138 Health Effects of Physical Agents

Recommended Readings:

• OHS Body of Knowledge (Australia)
• Physical Agents (CCOHS)
  • See also Physical Agents (OSHwiki)
• Physical Agents and Occupational Disease Compensation: Noise, Vibration, Radiation, and Other Physical Agents

Section 1: Hearing Impairment Caused by Noise

• Noise and your health (Government of Canada)
• The Effects of Noise on Health – Noise pollution is more than a nuisance. It’s a health risk (Harvard Medicine)
• Guidance for Evaluating Human Health Impacts in Environmental Assessment: NOISE (PDF) (Health Canada)

• Exposure and Limit

  • Noise Exposure Calculator – Excel File (OHCOW, Ontario) 
  • Noise – Occupational Exposure Limits in Canada (CCOHS)

• • Noise – Occupational Exposure Limits for Extended Workshifts (CCOHS)

• ACGIH, Occupational Noise Exposure (OSHA)
  • Threshold Limit Values (TLVs): 85 dBA Permissible Exposure Limit with a 3 dBA exchange rate.
• Noise & Hearing Loss Prevention (NIOSH)
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) : 85 dBA, as an 8-hour time-weighted average (85 dBA as an 8-hr TWA) using a 3-dB exchange rate.

• Control

  • Noise – Control Measures (CCOHS)
  • Reducing Noise Exposure: Noise Controls (CDC)
  • Noise Control Tool (IHSA – More In Depth)
  • Hearing Protection:
    • Should meets the requirements set out in CSA Standard Z94.2-M1984 (View with a free registered account)
    • The New CSA Z94.2 Standard: Hearing Protection Devices — Performance, Selection, Care, and Use is Now Published (Canadian Audiologist)

Section 2: Diseases Caused by Vibration

It produce disorders of muscles, tendons, bones, joints, peripheral blood vessels or peripheral nerves.

• Vibration Syndrome

  • Vibration Syndrome (CDC)
  • Vibration – Health Effects (CCOHS)
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon
    • Raynaud’s Phenomenon (CCOHS)
      • What is Raynaud’s phenomenon?
      • What are the signs and symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon?
      • What causes Raynaud’s phenomenon?
      • How long does it take for Raynaud’s phenomenon to develop?
      • What workers are at risk of Raynaud’s phenomenon?
      • What tests are available for Raynaud’s phenomenon?
      • What treatment is available for Raynaud’s phenomenon?
      • How do you live with Raynaud’s phenomenon?
      • How can Raynaud’s phenomenon be prevented?
      • Are there laws regarding vibration exposure at work?

Photo Attribution: Tcal at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

• • • Journal Article

      Raynaud’s phenomenon in the occupational context (Full Article) (PDF)

      • Cordeiro, R. A., & Andrade, R. M. D. (2019). Raynaud’s phenomenon in the occupational context. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, 65, 1314-1320.  https://www.scielo.br/j/ramb/a/RtDP77R5nYBVPbhYwrf5Zbd/?format=pdf&lang=en

       

  • Effects of Vibration (Victorian Trades Hall Council, Au)

• • Construction physical ill health risks: Vibration (HSE, UK)
  • Vibration white finger – hand arm vibration syndrome (DermNet NZ, NZ)

• Exposure Limit

  • Canada: Many Canadian jurisdictions do not have regulations for vibration exposure (CCOHS)
    • Refer to Federal or Provincial Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, OHS Regulation etc. to take reasonable precautions to ensure worker’s health and safety.
      • British Columbia
        • for hand-arm vibration, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists publication entitled Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices, dated 2003, as amended from time to time;
        • for whole-body vibration, ANSI Standard S3.18-2002/ISO 2631-1-1997, Mechanical Vibration and Shock – Evaluation of Human Exposure to Whole Body Vibration – Part 1: General Requirements, as amended from time to time;

• • • ACGIH:
      • Vibration – Measurement, Control and Standards (CCOHS)
        • See Sections:
          1. What are the standards or guidelines for exposure to hand-arm vibration?
          2. What are the standards or guidelines for exposure to whole-body vibration?

• • • • Hand Arm Vibration (PDF) (University of Houston Clear Lake)
        • See Table 1 or
        • Hand-Arm Vibration of the TLV® booklet
      • Whole Body Vibration (PDF Slides) (CCOHS)
        • See Slide 59 or

• • • • • Whole-Body Vibration of the TLV® booklet
    • EU Vibration Exposure and Action Limits (EUR-LEX)

• • • • Hand Arm Vibration
        • the daily exposure limit value standardized to an 8-hour reference period: 5 m/s;
        • the daily exposure action value standardized to an 8-hour reference period: 2.5 m/s.
      • Whole Body Vibration
        • the daily exposure limit value standardized to an 8-hour reference period: 1.15 m/s² or, at the choice of the Member State concerned, a vibration dose value of 21 m/s ^1.75.
        • the daily exposure action value standardized to an 8-hour reference period shall be 0.5 m/s2 or, at the choice of the Member State concerned, a vibration dose value of 9.1 m/s ^1.75.

• Control and Prevention

  • Vibration – Measurement, Control and Standards (CCOHS)
  • Vibration – Understand and minimize the effects of vibration (Public Health Scotland)
  • Best Practices – Vibration at the Work Site (PDF) (Government of Alberta)
    • Introduction to Vibration
    • Vibration Health Effects
    • Identifying and Assessing Vibration Exposures
    • Methods for Reducing Hand-Arm Vibration Hazards
    • Methods for Reducing Whole Body Vibration Hazards
  • More:

    • Journal Article

      A Study of Attitudes and Behaviors in Industries Regarding Implementation of Low-Vibrating Machines and Measures to Reduce Vibration Injuries

      • Fisk, K., & Ek, Å. (2021, June). A Study of Attitudes and Behaviors in Industries Regarding Implementation of Low-Vibrating Machines and Measures to Reduce Vibration Injuries. In Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (pp. 63-69). Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-74611-7_9

Section 3: Diseases caused by compressed or decompressed air

• Health Effects:

  • What is compressed air (SafeManitoba)
  • Barometric Pressure Increased (ILO, UN)
  • Barometric Pressure Reduced (ILO, UN)
  • Reduced oxygen environments (Hypoxic environments) (HSE, UK)
  • A health risk assessment of working in hypoxic atmospheres (PDF) (HSE, UK)
    • Section 4 Results (Hypoxic work environment and effects of hypoxia)
    • Section 5 for major physiological, medical and psychological effects of various hypoxic state
  • Commercial Diving (OSHA)
    • Overview
    • Standards
    • Hazards and Solutions
    • Safety and Health Programs
    • Additional Resources
  • Scuba Diving: Decompression Illness & Other Dive-Related Injuries (CDC)

  • In-depth Journal Article Reading

    Decompression Sickness (in depth understanding)

    • Cooper, J. S., & Hanson, K. C. (2019). Decompression sickness. https://europepmc.org/article/NBK/nbk537264

• Related Legislation

  • in Canada
    • General: Cleaning with Compressed Air (CCOHS)
      • See Section:
        • Where compressed air is allowed for cleaning, how can I do it safely?
    • Federal:
      • Regulated under various sections in Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations SOR/86-304
        • Compressed Air
          • Division I General Control of Hazards
            • Section 10.21 – 10.22
        • Diving:
          • PART XVIII Diving Operations
      • WHMIS
        • WHMIS (Government of Canada)

• • • Provincial:
      • For Compressed Air
        • Nova Scotia Workplace Health and Safety Regulations Part 2
          • Section 2.1

• • • • • Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations Part 5 Compressed Gas

• • • • • WHMIS (Nova Scotia)
      • For diving:
        • Occupational Diving Regulations

• • Standards for Commercial Diving in USA:
    • Commercial Diving (OSHA)

• Safety Guidelines for Working with Compressed and Decompressed Air

  • Cleaning with Compressed Air (CCOHS)
  • About work in compressed air (HSE, UK)
  • Compressed air safety (HSE, UK)
  • How to Work Safely with – Compressed Gases (CCOHS)
  • Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety (PDF) (uOttawa)
  • Guide to the Occupational Diving Regulations for the Seafood Harvesting Industry (PDF) (NS, Canada)
  • Decompression management (WorkSafe Queensland)

Section 4: Diseases Caused by Ionizing Radiations

• Radiation Basics:

  • About radiation (Government of Canada)
  • Ionizing Radiation – Occupational settings (OSHA)
  • Units
    • Radiation – Quantities and Units of Ionizing Radiation (CCOHS)
      • What units are used for measuring radioactivity?

• Health Effects

  • Radiation Health Effects (EPA)

  • Journal Article

    Low dose or low dose rate ionizing radiation-induced health effect in the human

    • Tang, F. R., & Loganovsky, K. (2018). Low dose or low dose rate ionizing radiation-induced health effect in the human. Journal of environmental radioactivity, 192, 32-47. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X1830362X?casa_token=z6xM08nE5cEAAAAA:AfAFvpPT4QVhq4WpwRYtRI9FNtM2vjWfer4DvFurf_zP70w4gVBi_P60-KbmgqwrKa52tb7P

• Exposure Limit:

  • ACGIH:
    • The TLVs adopted by many jurisdictions as guidelines or legal limits: 20 mSv
  • In Canada,
    • the annual effective dose limit for the public: 1 mSv
      • consistent with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommended annual dose limit for the general public (1 mSv)
      • based on information from regular monitoring of the most exposed workers, and their the average annual doses are 5 mSv per year.
    • Quantities and Units of Ionizing Radiation – with exposure limit (CCOHS)
  • OSHA
    • Whole body including head, trunk, active blood-forming organs, eyes lenses or reproductive organs: 1.25 rem per quarter
    • Hands, forearms, feet and ankles: 18.75 rem per quarter
    • Skin of whole body: 7.5 rem per quarter

• • Recommendations (ICRP)
  • Radon Limit:
    • Radon in Building (CCOHS)
      • The annual occupational exposure limit: 50 mSv (milli-Sievert) of effective dose in one-year dosimetry period
      • In Indoor for dwellings: 200 Bq/m³

• Control & Prevention

  • Ionizing Radiation (OSHA)
  • About occupational radiation exposure (Government of Canada)
  • International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Guidance for Occupational Exposure
  • Radiation and Your Patient: A Guide for Medical Practiioners (PDF) (ICRP)
  • Personal exposure monitoring for ionizing radiation (dosimetry) (PDF) (Government of Alberta)

• Legislation

  • Federal:
    • Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304)
      • Part X Hazardous Substances Division I General – Control of Hazards
        • Section 10.26 Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation
    • Radiation Emitting Devices Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. R-1)
    • Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1370)
  • Provincial:
    • Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Professionals Act
    • Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Professionals Regulations 
    • Specified Site Regulations 

Section 5: Diseases caused by optical (ultraviolet, visible light, infrared) radiations including laser

• Basics and Health Effect

  • Non-Ionizing Radiation (OSHA)
  • Non-Ionizing Radiation – Electromagnetic (PDF) (OHS Body of Knowledge, Au)
    • Understanding Non-Ionizing EMR (P.3)
    • Definition and Use, Health Effects and Risk Management of
      • Extra Low Frequency Radiation (P.5)
      • Radio Frequency Radiation (P.7)
      • Infra-Red Radiation (P.11)
      • Visible Light (P.13) (Also in Ergonomic Section)
      • Ultraviolet Radiation (P.18)
      • Lasers (P.25)
  • Radiofrequency Radiation Profile
  • Solar UV Radiation Profile
  • Health effects of radiation (Government of Canada)

• Exposure Limits

  • Health Canada
    • Recommendations for localized exposures to radiofrequency EMF in the 6 GHz to 300 GHz frequency range
  • OSHA:
    • Radiofrequency and Microwave Radiation – Standards
    • No specific OSHA standards for radiofrequency and microwave radiation issues
    • Below highlights the OSHA standards and documents related to radiofrequency and microwave radiation:
      • General Industry (29 CFR 1910) – Occupational Health and Environmental Control:
        • 10 mW/sq. cm. (unenforceable for the U.S. Federal OSHA enforcement)
      • Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926) – 1926 Subpart D:
        • 10 mW/sq.cm.
    • ACGIH
      • Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values for Physical Agents, 7th Edition:
        • Provides consensus exposure limits for radiofrequency and microwave radiation.

• Controls

  • Radiation (non-ionizing) (WorkSafeBC) – with health effects and risk reduction
  • International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
    • ICNIRP STATEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR NON-IONIZING RADIATION PROTECTION (PDF)
    • Different CNIRP Guidelines to Download (PDF)

• Legislation:

  • Federal
    • Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304)
      • Part X Hazardous Substances Division I General – Control of Hazards
        • Section 10.26 Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation
  • Provincial
    • Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Professionals Act
    • Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Professionals Regulations 

1. 1. • Specified Site Regulations 

Section 6: Diseases caused by exposure to extreme temperatures

• General:

  • Thermal Comfort for Office Work (CCOHS)
    • What is meant by thermal comfort?
    • What temperature should an office be?
    • What impact does air velocity have?
    • What role do the other factors play?
  • Humidity and Humidex
    • Humidity and Your Health (Public Health Post.org)
      • With recommendation

• • • Journal Article

      Indoor air humidity, air quality, and health – An overview (Full Article)

      • Wolkoff, P. (2018). Indoor air humidity, air quality, and health–An overview. International journal of hygiene and environmental health, 221(3), 376-390. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1438463917306946

       

  • Literature Review:

    Indoor Humidity and Human Health–Part I: Literature Review of Health Effects of Humidity Influenced Indoor Pollutants (Full Article) (PDF)

    • Baughman, A. (1996). Indoor Humidity and Human Health–Part I: Literature Review of Health Effects of Humidity. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Edward-Arens/publication/292036403_Indoor_humidity_and_human_health_-_Part_I_Literature_review_of_health_effects_of_humidity-influenced_indoor_pollutants/links/5807a9db08ae5ed04bfe7917/Indoor-humidity-and-human-health-Part-I-Literature-review-of-health-effects-of-humidity-influenced-indoor-pollutants.pdf
  • Humidex Rating and Work (CCOHS)

• Temperature Conditions – Hot

  • Basics and Health Effect

    • Basic Knowledges (CCOHS)
    • Thermal stress in the work place (Government of Canada)
      • Section 6. Heat Stress
    • Heat and Health (WHO)

  • Legal Limits

    • Canada Temperature Conditions – Legislation (CCOHS)
    • TLV see Basic Knowledges (CCOHS)
      • What are the exposure limits for working in hot environments?

  • Control Measures

    • Hot Environments – Control Measures (CCOHS)
    • Hazard Alert: Heat Stress Guidelines (PDF) (Province of Nova Scotia)
    • Heat Stress and Strain (ACGIH)
      • TLV ®and its goal
      • WBGT calculations
      • Clothing Adjustment Values for Some Emsembles
      • Screening Criteria for TLV® and Action Limit for Heat Stress Exposure
      • Metabolic Rate Categories and the Representative Metabolite Rate with Example Activities
      • Guidelines for Limiting Heat Strains
      • Elements to Consider in Establishing a Heat Stress Management Program
      • Job-Specific Controls
    • Best Practice – Working Safely in the Heat and Cold (PDF) (Work Safe Alberta)
      • Specific Jurisdiction Regulations and Guidelines for Outdoor Heat Exposure (P.32 – 38)
      • ACGIH Screening Criteria for Heat Stress Exposure (P.40)
      • Correction of TLV for Clothing (P. 41)
      • Recommended Actions Based on the Humidex Reading (P.42)

• Temperature Conditions – Cold

  • Basics and Health Effect

    • Basic Knowledges (CCOHS)
    • Thermal stress in the work place (Government of Canada)
      • Section 7. Cold Stress
    • Cold Stress – Cold Related Illnesses (CDC)

  • Exposure Limit

    • Canada Temperature Conditions – Legislation (CCOHS)
      • TLV see also Basic Knowledges (CCOHS)

  • Control Measures

    • Cold Environments – Working in the Cold (CCOHS)
    • Cold Environments – Health Effects and First Aid (CCOHS)
    • Wind chill index (Government of Canada)
    • 7 steps to cold weather safety (Government of Canada)
    • Cold Stress – Recommendations (CDC)
      • It contains:
        • Recommendations for Employers
        • Recommendations for Workers
    • Cold Stress Guide (OSHA)
    • Best Practice – Working Safely in the Heat and Cold (PDF) (Work Safe Alberta)
      • Specific Jurisdiction Regulations and Guidelines for Outdoor Cold Exposure (P.43 – 45)
      • Work Warm-up Schedule for Outdoor Activities (P.49)
      • Estimating Wind Speed (P.50)
      • Wind Chill Calculation Chart (P.51)
      • Controlling Exposure (P.53 – 61)
  • Whenever relationship of the diseases with physical agents could not be clearly established, we should include all the possibilities in a scientifically sounded principle.

Section 7: Other physical agents at work and their health effects

• Ergonomics, computer and workstation design; repetition, force

  • About Ergonomic Hazards
    • Ergonomic (CCOHS)
      1. Lifting, pushing, pulling
      2. Sitting, standing
      3. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
      4. Lighting
      5. Shiftwork
      6. Office
      7. Tools
    • Lighting Ergonomics – General (CCOHS)
    • Ergonomic hazards (Comcare, Australian Government)
    • Repetitive Strain Injuries: A Real Pain (CCOHS)
    • What are work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)? (CCOHS)
  • Identification and Control:
    • Identifying and Addressing Ergonomic Hazards Workbook (PDF) (OSHA)
    • Identify HAZARDS and RISKS in your OFFICE (Comcare, Australian Government)
    • Ergonomic hazards (Comcare, Australian Government)
      • See section: Eliminate ergonomic hazards
    • Ergonomic Hazards  (PDF)(UBerkeley)
      1. Risk Factors for Ergonomic Injuries
      2. Identifying Risk Factors
      3. Eliminate the Hazard
      4. Improve Work Policies and Procedures
      5. Provide Personal Protective Equipment
      6. Inspection Checklist for Ergonomic Risk Factors
    • MSD Prevention Series: Prevention Guideline (Institute for Work & Health)
  • lifting, NIOSH and ACGIH guidelines
    • Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling (PDF) (NIOSH)
    • 2005 ACGIH Lifting TLV: Employee-Friendly Presentation and Guidance for Professional Judgment (Full Report) (OSTI.GOV)
      • From https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1358182
  • Lighting Standard and Canada Legislation
    • Federal
      • Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304)
        • Part VI Lighting – Level of Lighting Standards refer to the Schedules:
          • Schedule I – Office Areas
          • Schedule II – Industrial Areas
          • Schedule III – General Area
          • Schedule IV – VDT Work
    • Provincial
      • Occupational Safety General Regulations Part IV Lighting

Other Interesting Information

• Frequent Hand Washing for COVID-19 Prevention Can Cause Hand Dermatitis: Management Tips (Cureus)

• Journal Article

  Occupational Health of Women: Analyzing Physical and Psychological Impacts on Their Health (Full Article) (PDF Available for Download) 

  • Nasreen, S., & Sharafat, S. (2022). OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH OF WOMEN: ANALYZING PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS ON THEIR HEALTH. New Horizons (1992-4399), 16(1).  http://www.greenwichjournals.com/index.php/NH/article/view/631
• Health Hazards in Construction (PDF) (OSHA)
• Impacts of Climate Change on Occupational Health and Safety (PDF) (IRSST)