Title: Assessment of the Menstrual Cycle on Upper Extremity Function among Female Workers

Award: $9,509

Project Abstract:

In 2021, the women’s labor force participation rate was 56.2% (BLS, 2023). When considering
the area of healthcare practitioners and technical workers, this demographic accounts for 75.9%
of those employed. The healthcare practitioner and technical worker demographic consisted of
83,250 workers and healthcare support workers consisted of 39,500 workers in Mississippi
alone. Specifically, 8 in 10 workers in the healthcare occupations were women. Work-related
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant concern among hospital workers. Although
women make up a significant portion of the workforce, they are often overlooked regarding
injury prevention and reduction efforts. Although a prominent portion of the working population is
made up of females, the available literature targeting reductions in workplace injuries with an
emphasis on the female worker is sparse.
Unique to the female “occupational athlete” is the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle has a
significant influence on female physiology and functional capacity metrics.
The female healthcare participants will be enrolled in the study for the course of three menstrual
cycles. Each cycle will consist of three visits, one visit during each phase of the cycle. Menstrual
cycle phase confirmation will occur via salivary analyses and urinary analyses to confirm
ovulation. The Noraxon human factors and ergonomics Assessment and the Proteus Motion
assessment will be used to assess musculoskeletal functional capacities over the typical
menstrual cycle, while the RightEye and Noraxon balance systems will assess neurocognitive
performance during the same periods. The findings of the proposed study could facilitate
improvements in the approaches taken to mitigate injury risk among the female “occupational
athlete” mitigating the health care costs associated with MSDs.

Final Report:

Email Address: Karmstr3@go.olemiss.edu 

Title: Feasibility and Acceptability of Stop the Bleed® Training Among Truck Drivers

Award: $20,000

Project Abstract:

In 2021, nearly 90,000 Americans died due to unintentional injury, with roughly 25,000 deaths due to motor
vehicle crashes (MVCs). Commercial truck drivers comprise a workforce of roughly 2.2 million in the U.S and
experience high rates of workplace injury and fatalities, many involving MVCs. Large trucks are involved in
roughly 9% of fatal MVCs, yet they account for <5% of registered vehicles. For those critically injured,
uncontrolled bleeding is the primary preventable cause of death and is responsible for 55% of trauma-related
deaths, as complete blood loss can occur in less than 5 minutes. As truck drivers experience high levels of
occupational risk and people injured in MVCs are at high risk of preventable death due to uncontrolled
bleeding, opportunity exists to reduce mortality by promoting early intervention. Evidence supports the
effectiveness of Stop the Bleed® training in improving bleeding control skill acquisition among lay learners,
increasing individuals’ willingness to help those injured, and enhancing trainee confidence to provide bleeding
control aid. However, implementation of Stop the Bleed® training has not been explored in occupational
settings, specifically commercial trucking. The ultimate goal of our research is to reduce mortality due to
uncontrolled bleeding through facilitating widespread dissemination of bleeding control training. The purpose of
this study is to assess current response to injury and the feasibility and acceptability of providing bleeding
control training to commercial truck drivers. We will visit three major commercial truck stops to recruit a
convenience sample of 60 truck drivers from commercial truck sites. Participants will interact with the research
team and bleeding control training materials, and provide feedback on the feasibility and acceptability of
receiving Stop the Bleed® training. Findings will be used to inform large-scale studies on effective methods for
widespread dissemination of Stop the Bleed® training and determine its impact.

Final Report:

Email Address: arjones3@uab.edu

Title: Plasma surface engineered ACF mats for effective aerosol-mediated heavy metal remediation

Award: $9,509

Project Abstract:

Final Report:

Email Address: VTHOMAS@UAB.EDU

Title: The Effectiveness of Back-Support Exoskeletons in Reducing Muscle Fatigue

Award: 15,000

Project Abstract:

Occupational low back pain is a major contributor to disability and lost workdays in industrialized
settings. The development and adoption of back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) hold significant
potential for reducing the risk of occupational work-related musculoskeletal disorders. However,
most current literature on BSEs is focused on the short-term effects of BSE use in simple and
brief task simulations. There is a research gap in understanding BSE’s effectiveness in increasing
endurance time and mitigating muscle fatigue. There is also a relatively limited understanding of
how users adapt to BSE use over time, in terms of changes in task performance strategies and
physical demands. Hence, current evaluations of exoskeleton efficacy may not be predictive of
the extent to which BSEs effectively alleviate the cumulative strain on the musculoskeletal system,
which is essential for injury prevention. Considering these research gaps, our specific aims are to
(i) determine how endurance time is affected by the use of back-support exoskeletons, and
(ii) compare the rate of development of muscle fatigue and adaptations in trunk kinematics
during prolonged repetitive lifting/lowering performed until exhaustion, when using back-support                                                                                                                                                                              exoskeletons (as compared to control no-exoskeleton conditions). A repeated-measures mixed-methods                                                                                                                                                                                    study is proposed, where participants will complete repetitive lifting/lowering tasks in the sagittal plane,                                                                                                                                                                             between waist and ground level, until exhaustion, in acontrol condition (no-exoskeleton), when using a rigid, powered BSE, and when using a soft,
passive textile-based BSE. The trend of fatigue development will be quantified by tracking
changes in primary (trunk) and secondary (hip/knee) muscle activity, joint kinematics, and users’
overall subjective experience. Outcomes from this study will provide a deeper understanding of
whether BSEs can be effective in mitigating fatigue. The detailed data on motor control strategies
and subjective assessments of exoskeleton effectiveness and design features will be broadly
disseminated to guide future design and optimization of exoskeletons.

Final Report:

Email Address: Sriniv5@clemson.edu

Title: Comparison of Health, Fitness, and Performance Markers Between Recruit and Career Firefighters

Award: $9,942

Project Abstract:

Individuals who pursue firefighting will undoubtedly be exposed to high intensity and high stress situations.
From this exposure comes increased risks for hypertension and sudden cardiac death. Health and fitness
factors that can act as protective measures against these outcomes and promote performance have been
thoroughly researched in incumbent firefighters. However, as age increases, physical fitness status declines,
putting firefighters at increased risk for disease and lowering their occupational performance. There has
been a plethora of research on incumbent firefighters and their health and physical fitness status, as well as
their hormonal and physiological responses to the stressors of their job. However, there is a deficit of the
same type of research investigating generally healthier and more fit firefighter recruits. The purpose of this
study is to assess differences in health and fitness between incumbent and recruit firefighters, and how those
health and fitness markers correlate to performance on a standardized occupational task. This study also
seeks to compare the physiological and hormonal responses to a standardized occupational task between
incumbents and recruits. To assess health and fitness, participants will come to our laboratory twice to
complete a series of health and fitness tests. On a third visit, participants will complete a standardized
occupational task while wearing heart rate monitors. Pre- and post-task blood will be analyzed for blood
chemistry, cortisol, and testosterone responses. An α level of 0.05 will be used to determine statistical
significance. Independent samples t-tests will be used to compare health and fitness markers, and
performance on the occupational task. R-to-z transformations will be used to compare correlations with task
performance. Repeated measures ANOVAs will be used to compare hormonal responses. It is hypothesized
that incumbent firefighters will have reduced health and fitness markers, but lower stress responses to the
occupational task, when compared with recruits.

Final Project:

Email Address: atlemense@crimson.ua.edu

Title: Air Pollution in the Operating Room: Protecting Surgeons and Staff from Potential Inhalation Toxicants from Surgical Smoke

Award: $20,000

Project Abstract:

Surgeons and staff working in operating rooms face a unique occupational exposure from surgical procedures:
surgical smoke. Surgical smoke is the byproduct of heat-generating devices being used on tissue during
surgery. From electrocautery devices to lasers and ultrasonic devices to drills, these devices are critical to
surgical safety and effectiveness, however, the high heat applied to tissues during these procedures result in
the generation of potential inhalation toxicants that may be harmful to the staff in the operating room when
inhaled in significant amounts. Smoke evacuators can be used to minimize exposures, however, not all
hospitals have effective evacuators, placing those who do not use evacuators at potentially higher risk of being
exposed to harmful chemicals and health risks. This project intends to measure particulate matter (PM) and
volatile organic compound (VOC) levels, including the elemental components of the PM inhaled, to
characterize the exposures and compare levels in the presence and absence of smoke evacuators. We will
quantify and analyze air pollutants in the operating room in a total of 20 surgical cases in two hospital systems
in Birmingham, AL – The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital and the Birmingham Veterans Affairs
Medical Center. Both real-time and gravimetric analysis methods will be utilized to evaluate particulate matter
concentrations in the operating room in two locations – closest to the operating site and further away, and X-Ray                                                                                                                                                  Fluorescence analysis to determine the elemental composition of PM in surgical smoke. A hand-held total
VOC monitor will be used simultaneously to evaluate VOC concentration variations. Findings from this study
will help improve our understanding of the occupational exposures healthcare staff experience in surgical
rooms, and importantly, for health systems to strategically deploy interventions to protect staff from surgical
smoke and help introduce methods to reduce this occupational exposure

Final Report:

Email Address: ruzmyn@uab.edu

Click on the PPRT recipient names below for information on the awardee and to view their final report.

Title: Comparison between WBGT app prototype and WBT monitor to assess heat stress risk in groundskeeping in an eastern North Carolina university setting

Award: $9,999

Project Abstract:

The Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index is the preferred environmental heat
metric for heat-related illness prevention in the workplace and is typically measured using a heat
stress monitor. However, WBGT data may not always be easily accessible for worksite heat
stress evaluation due to several factors. The OSHA-NIOSH mobile app was recently found to be
inaccurate. Professors from East Carolina University recently developed a web app prototype to
calculate the current and forecasted WBGT, but it has not been tested for accuracy. This study
aims to assess the reliability of this WBGT app prototype in providing accurate heat stress risk
information for university-based groundskeeping workers in eastern North Carolina. WBGT
indices will be datalogged at two on-campus monitoring sites using heat stress monitors from
March-September 2023 and assigned to risk levels by workload based on the ACGIH Threshold
Limit Values. Hourly WBGT risk levels from both the heat stress monitor (WBGTins) and app
(WBGTapp) will be time-matched and analyzed using cross-tabulation. If found to be reliable,
the app may be used by supervisors and managers responsible for the heat safety of outdoor
workers to alert them in a timely manner about taking preventive measures to reduce risk of HRI

Final Report: PPRT 2023 Final Report – Bridget Angol.pdf

 Email Address: ora@ecu.edu

Title: Multi-Level Analysis of Resilience Safety Climate of Large Construction Companies: Evidence from Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction Sector

Award: $20,000

Project Abstract: An urgent issue in the US construction industry is the safety plateau, i.e., the fatality rate of construction workers in the
past decade has been stable (~9.5 per 100, 000 workers). To overcome the safety plateau, new approaches are needed.
Resilience Safety Climate (RSC) is a promising new approach for continuous improvement of construction safety
performance. It refers to shared perceptions of construction professionals toward their organization’s as well as their own
abilities to monitor and respond to external changes, to learn from the changes, and to anticipate future incidents.
However, there is a lack of research on RSC. A few existing studies on RSC in the construction field either focused on
company/site level or site/worker level, and no studies have systematically examined all three levels, i.e., company, site,
and worker level. In addition, discrepancies in safety perceptions across organization levels are expected, considering
different roles and responsibilities of people across the hierarchy of organizational structures. However, the existing
studies on safety climate discrepancies across organizational levels were mainly focused on construction companies/sites
of other countries, such as Colombia, while little evidence has been collected from US. To fill the above research gaps,
the goal of this proposal is to measure RSC of large construction companies (no. of employees >=500) that focus on heavy
and civil engineering construction. Survey data from three organizational levels (~50 company level management, ~100
site management, and ~300 individual workers) will be collected. Perception discrepancies in RSC between the three
groups within one LRCC, and the relationships between discrepancies in RSC across organizational levels and workers’
safety incident frequency will be investigated. Results from this project will contribute to identifying workplace dynamics
and beliefs that lead to safety decisions and help design organizational interventions properly customized to the structure
and nature of the construction industry.

Final Report:

 Email Address: ychen106@uncc.edu

Title: Accuracy of a Wearable Device for Core Body Temperature Monitoring

Award: $20,000

Project Abstract: 

Final Report:Final report- J. Oh

 Email Address: jonghwa@uab.edu

Title: Occupational Burns among Restaurant Workers in Jefferson County, AL: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and
Prevention

Award: $9,500

PROJECT ABSTRACT:
The primary goal of this project is to explore the epidemiology of occupational burns among restaurant workers
in Jefferson County, AL. Occupational burns are a significant workplace hazard that can have severe physical,
emotional, and financial consequences, with restaurant workers being particularly vulnerable due to their
frequent exposure to hot surfaces, liquids, and flames.1 Despite studies conducted in other parts of the United
States, there is a scarcity of knowledge about the prevalence and risk factors of occupational burns among
restaurant workers in Jefferson County, AL, and the broader southeast US. This pilot study aims to fill this
knowledge gap by examining the prevalence of occupational burns among restaurant workers in Jefferson
County, AL, and associated risk factors. Research in other regions suggests a high incidence of occupational
burns among fast-food workers,2,3 highlighting the need for investigation in the southeast region, where there is
a documented concentration of fast-food establishments.4,5,6 This study will develop a survey instrument to
collect data on the prevalence of occupational burns and related individual, occupational, and community-level
factors. The survey will be distributed to a convenience sample of restaurant workers in Jefferson County, AL,
to capture a comprehensive understanding of this injury. Using multivariable logistic regression, the study will
identify individual, occupational, and community-level risk factors associated with occupational burns among
restaurant workers in Jefferson County, AL. The results will provide valuable information to develop targeted
interventions that prevent and reduce this injury, as well as policies and regulations aimed at safeguarding
restaurant workers from occupational burns. By addressing the gaps in our knowledge and providing valuable
insights into the incidence and risk factors of occupational burns, this research will help prevent this workplace
injury among restaurant workers. This will result in a safer work environment, improved employee health, and
reduced healthcare costs

E-mail Address: nfp@uab.edu

Click on the PPRT recipient names below for information on the awardee and to view their final report.

Evaluating the Physiological Effects of Inclined Carrying

DAli_FinalReport_PPRT2021

Authors: Duha Ali, Mark Schall

Learning Objective:

Physiological and psychophysical assessment while performing one-handed carrying

Duha Ali is a doctoral student and Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University. She earned her master’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a graduate certificate in occupational, safety and ergonomics from the same university. As a research assistant in ergonomics, Duha has been involved in several research projects in occupational safety and ergonomics. Her primary role in these projects was to assist with the data collection, recruitment and consenting of participants, training of graduate and undergraduate students on the different devices, assistance with data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of the results. Duha has an extensive experience in project management. Prior to her enrollment to Auburn University, she worked as a project officer on many projects for two international organizations.

Measuring the Impact of Secondary Stressors on Patient Outcomes through Simulation

DSC ERC FINAL REPORT MCallihan 2022

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the influence of secondary stressors on nursing performance
2. Describe a complex simulation that provides a learning environment for the functioning nurse
3. Discuss the patient outcomes relative to the secondary stressors placed on the nurse

Measuring nitrogen dioxide concentrations in homes with biomass cookstoves compared to homes with liquefied petroleum gas stoves in Guatemala, Peru, and Rwanda as part of the multi-country HAPIN study.

1. Provide a brief overview of my contribution to the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial, with a focus on my field research in Guatemala and my dissertation projects.
2. Share an update on the Nitrogen Dioxide project that occurred in Guatemala, Peru, and Rwanda as part of the HAPIN study.

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Effect of Exoskeleton and Temperature Level on Construction Worker Fatigue

Learning Objectives:

1. Provide an assessment of the ability of wearable robots to prevent WMSDs that impact body parts and WMSDs risk factors
2. Assess the impact of exoskeleton on muscle activation during drilling operations, in room and hot temperatures
3. Assess the impact of exoskeleton on perceived exertion during drilling operations, in room and hot temperatures

Biography:

Chukwuma (Chuma) Nnaji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Dr. Nnaji holds a BS degree in Building from Imo State University, an MBA from Oregon State University’s College of Business and an MS and Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University. His research focus is on generating foundational insight on human behavior, as well as formulating strategies and developing decision support tools that enhance construction safety and health, human-machine interactions, construction automation, sustainable construction, workforce development in different construction environments. Dr. Chuma is a member of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), National Society of Black Engineers, and the Precast Concrete Institute.

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Development of a Fit-Matching Tool for Safety Eyewear: Fit Examinations

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the issue(s) with personal protective equipment (PPE) especially for eye protection
2. Discuss in innovative control measure to resolve the fit issue of protective eyewear

Novel IR reflective coating onto textile fabrics for heat protection

Learning Objectives

– Use of low temperature plasma processing (LTP) for the development of IR reflective coating.
– Nano particle tailored substrate surface for IR reflective labor coats to ensure productive workplaces without compromising the safety and health concerns.
– Systematic characterization of the fabricated IR reflective nano layer for ensuring its efficiency and durability.

Biography:

I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Materials Engineering under the guidance of Dr. Vinoy Thomas, Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Department, UAB. I have finished my master’s degree in Chemistry from University of Kerala, India, as well as in Materials Engineering from University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. My work is focusing on Environmental pollution such as heavy metals, VOC, etc., its effects on human health, and its remediation.

Click on the PPRT recipient names below for information on the awardee and to view their final report.

Effect of Work-to-Rest Cycles on Cardiovascular Drift and Maximal Oxygen Uptake During Heat Stress 

Anne M. Mulholland, Hillary A. Yoder, Jonathan E. Wingo

Learning Objectives:

1. To determine the effect of work-to-rest ratios on cardiovascular strain, indexed as cardiovascular drift
2. To determine the effect of work-to-rest ratios on work capacity

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Anne is a graduate student in the Department of Kinesiology at The University of Alabama. Her research interests include cardiovascular and environmental physiology, specifically related to cardiovascular responses during physical activity in the heat. She graduated in August 2020 with her master’s degree in exercise physiology, and this pilot project served as her master’s thesis.

E-mail: ammulholland@crimson.ua.edu

Physiological Responses to Heat Stress in Groundskeepers

Learning Objectives:

1. Characterize heat stress and strain experienced by groundskeepers
2. Evaluate hydration practices of groundskeepers
3. Evaluate kidney function of groundskeepers

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E-mail: hayoder@crimson.ua.edu

Fabrication and Evaluation of Sustainable Fibers for Volatile Organic Content

Authors: Hanxiao Huang, Derrick Dean

Learning Objective: 

1. The fabrication of Cellulose Acetate (CA) based scaffolds
2. The effectiveness of nanodiamond in the VOC adsorption

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E-mail: hhuang@alasu.edu

Forced treadmill running reduces systemic inflammation yet worsens upper limb discomfort in a rat model of work-related musculoskeletal disorders 

Authors:  Tianqi Gao Smith, Ann E. Barr-Gillespie, David Klyne, Michelle Y. Harris, Mamta Amin, Ryan W. Paul, Geneva E. Cruz, Huaqing Zhao, Sean Gallagher, Mary F. Barbe         

Learning Objectives:

1. To introduce a novel rat model to study musculoskeletal injury and recovery    
2. To discuss musculoskeletal injury and recovery mechanism during cyclic loading  

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Tianqi Gao Smith is Senior Health Services Analyst at Mayo Clinic’s Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery in Rochester, MN. Prior to Mayo, she was Assistant Professor of System Science and Industrial Engineering at State University of New York at Binghamton. She acquired her PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering with foci in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, and Occupational Injury Prevention from Auburn University under the advisement of Dr. Sean Gallagher. This PPRT study served as a significant part of her dissertation.      

E-mail:  tenchigao@gmail.com