2020 Pilot Project Recipients

One-Handed Carrying on Flat and Inclined Surfaces
Duha Ali,(PhD student)/ Mark Schall PhD(Advisor)
Auburn University

Obesity has been strongly associated with work-related injuries. In particular, obese individuals have been identified as being more susceptible to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by load-carrying when compared to healthy individuals. One-handed carrying is considered one of the most fatiguing and physically demanding methods of load carrying. Performing one-handed carrying tasks on inclined surfaces has not been adequately considered in previous research studies. In manual material handling jobs, employees must be able to perform tasks without excessive stress relative to their capability. Cardiorespiratory fitness is a measure of the body’s maximal ability to transport and use oxygen to perform physical work. Physiological measurements provide an objective scale on which to compare physical tasks with respect to the stress. The objective of this proposed study is to compare the physiological and psychophysical responses of obese and healthy individuals performing different one-handed carrying tasks on flat and inclined surfaces.

Occupational Exposure Assessment of Food Truck Environments: Aldehydes, Respirable particles, and Ventilation Performance
Jonghwa Oh, PhD, Assistant Professor
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Food truck environments are unique in that various thermal cooking appliances creating various degrees of thermal plume are used in a very limited space, often without periodic ventilation performance checks. Food truck industry in the U.S has rapidly expanded with an annual growth of 6.8 % in the past five years1. The work environment of this emerging occupation however has not been investigated by other researchers to date while cooking emissions can contain harmful contaminants such as fine/ultrafine particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and aldehydes. In our pilot study performed in two local food trucks (Evaluation of Aldehydes, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and PM2.5 Levels in Food Trucks, in press as of March 19, 2020), several aldehydes and relatively high PM2.5 concentrations were found with inadequate ventilation performance while no PAHs were detected among analyzed air samples. Based on our findings and scientific literature, we propose to evaluate the food truck workers’ exposure by examining eight aldehydes, respirable particles, and ventilation performance and to implement controls where necessary and applicable.

Comparing nitrogen dioxide concentrations in homes using biomass stoves to homes using liquefied petroleum gas stoves as part of a multi-country cookstove study
Katherine Ann Kearns, PhD Student,
University of Georgia

Billions of people around the globe are impacted by household air pollution (HAP) through the use open fires inside their homes for heating and cooking, and these fires are fueled by inefficiently burning materials such as wood, crop residues, and coal (collectively referred to as “biomass”)1,2. The majority of people exposed to HAP in the form of biomass reside in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but exposure disproportionately affects women and children, as they are the ones that typically spend the most time near the fire, with a child’s exposure often starting before birth3,4. Exposure to HAP is attributable to an estimated 4 billion premature deaths every year and is associated with many adverse health outcomes including low birth weight, respiratory infections, cancer, and pneumonia, which is a major killer in children under five years of age1-4. In addition to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is another pollutant of interest in HAP settings that is understudied. Consequently, investigators of the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) wish to incorporate the personal and area assessment of NO2 concentrations in a subset of participants from the parent study. This ancillary NO2 study will inform on the efficacy of cleaner cookstoves to sufficiently reduce NO2 levels in accordance with health-based standards.

Understanding Secondary Traumatic Stress of Emergency Nurses & associated patient outcomes
Michael Callihan, PhD, Assistant Professor,
University of Alabama

In the fast-paced environment of the Emergency Department (ED), nurses are often tasked with caring for multiple patients at one time that easily decompensate and progress from sick or injured, to critically ill within a matter of minutes. The high stress placed on the nurse is suspected to perpetuate the missing of imperative clinical cues which could be mitigated early and prevent the patient from declining. This high-pressure environment, coupled with the missed cues and deterioration of patients is thought to cause traumatic experiences for the ED nurse progressing to burnout, compassion fatigue, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Secondary traumatic stress is associated with the emotions and behaviors of people who care for others that have experienced a traumatic event [1]. The emotional effects of the secondary exposure often mimics the effects seen in the individual who experienced the trauma directly. These emotional effects are experienced by ED nurses every day [2], and can have psychological effects leading to PTSD, burnout, and compassion fatigue [3-5]. While ED nurses never back away from the care of any patient, the question remains as to what we are doing to limit the exposure to this occupational risk. The Purpose of this pilot study is to explore the connection between the high-stress environments of the emergency department and missed clinical cues of patient deterioration to the development of secondary traumatic stress and PTSD among ED nurses.

Effect of Exoskeleton and Temperature Level on Construction Worker Fatigue
Chukwuma Aham Nnaji, Assistant Professor
University of Alabama

Construction workers are prone to musculoskeletal disorders from overexertion and working under extreme temperatures. One solution that has been identified by many, including the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), is the use of exoskeletons to reduce the impact of such activities and work conditions. Current work regarding exoskeletons, however, focuses primarily on rehabilitative rather than preventative uses leading to devices that exert too much force on the wearer, are impractical, uncomfortable, or unsafe for certain work-related applications. For an exoskeleton device to be designed most beneficially to the construction industry, it is crucial that it not only aid and protect the worker, but that it also responds to changing environments. Current exoskeleton research does not take into account the impact of critical environmental factors such as temperature change on exoskeleton performance. The work herein proposes to develop a method for assessing the effect of exoskeleton on physical demand in changing temperature – in a controlled environment and live field conditions. These assessments will rely on data obtained from monitoring parameters such as heart rate, skin temperature, core temperature, and electromyography (EMG). It is expected that an increase in temperature level will increase the level of physical demand when using the exoskeleton, leading to higher levels of discomfort. Work-related experiments focused on a small group of participants will generate data to test the methodology and the relationship between change in temperature and physical demand when using an exoskeleton. The data generated through this pilot work is expected to lead to future proposals through NIOSH and other funding mechanisms to expand the number of participants and include other factors that impact physical demand and worker fatigue.

Novel IR reflective coating onto textiles and fabrics for heat protection
Pillai R. Renjith, (Dr. Vinoy Thomas, Mentor)
University of Alabama at Birmingham

The atmospheric temperature shows a rapid increase in the recent years all around the world. The number of sunburn cases among workers is getting raised nowadays, i.e. Mainly because of the lack of proper aids to protect themselves from exposure to sun in the working hours. The focus is to promote productive workplaces without compromising the safety and health concerns. So, the predominant consideration should be given to their protection of workers from sun burn. The better way to protect workers is to modify the working dress with infrared reflective materials. The plasma processed nano surface is the best way for the same. The nano particle coating can be furnished aided with Cold Plasma technique. Plasma process can
in situ modify the surfaces with nanoparticles via plasma enhanced chemical vapour modification. The merit over cold plasma technique is that the temperature almost be in the range of 30˚C, that will help to keep the fabric safe and durable after the Cold Plasma Process and suitable to temperature sensitive materials too. The primary data proves that the plasma processed nano surface show more reflective nature towards infrared rays and is seems to be cooler than the unprocessed surface by approximately 11˚C. The size of particle produced by plasma technique can be confirmed with SEM and TEM and is seems to be in the range of 100-200nm, which will enhance the infrared reflection ability of the surface. The thermal and mechanical data also confirm the durability of fabric after Cold Plasma Process. All the preliminary data are promising in all aspects.

Save the Date! Southeast Region Research Symposium 2022

The Southeast Region Research Symposium in which occupational safety and health researchers and students will present their work will be held following the Southeastern States Occupational Network (SouthON) symposium on March 21-23, 2022, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  This year’s event will be the fourth collaboration of SouthON and regional Education and Research Centers and Agricultural Centers. The other centers involved are:  Central Appalachian Regional ERC, Sunshine ERC, Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health ERC and Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention—representing Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina and Alabama.

Student Awards and Scholarships

DSC Industrial Hygiene students were honored by the American Association of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF).

Erin A. Lindsey, MPH student, ASSP Alabama Chapter Scholarship

Andrew K. Spivey, MPH student, AIHF Scholarship

Savannah Jones, MPH student, George and Florence Clayton Scholarship, AIHF

Nathen Chen, PhD student, Los Alamos Scholarship, AIHF

Occupational Safety Engineering student, Duha Ali, is working on a pilot project awarded through the DSC.  Her focus is the physiological demands of one-handed carrying.

DSC Graduate Research Impacts Policy

Dr. Jenni Wise’s dissertation work used a mixed methods approach to evaluate the similarities and differences among working and non-working WWH and women at risk for HIV (WARH) in the United States using traditional return to work factors (i.e. physical capacity and cognitive capacity) and other factors prominent in the occupational literature, but not sufficiently investigated among PWH (i.e., socioeconomic status, availability of social capital/social support, and attitudes and behaviors associated with personal empowerment). Integrated findings from a mixed-methods approach suggest that attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors associated with empowerment, cognitive function and problem-solving ability, and emotional coping and psychological health influence employment and occupational productivity in WWH.

Dr. Wise’s work has influenced directions for future research and has laid the groundwork for future interventions and policy in several ways. Jenni’s work has 1) Elucidated the relationships between improved health outcomes and employment among WWH, and provided the pilot data critically needed to underscore the call for occupational programs among WWH; 2) highlighted the need for a more holistic approach to vocational rehabilitation and screening needs among WWH, and 3) important inferences for total worker health and return-to-work policies among other populations. Notably, behaviors associated with improved psychological health, problem-solving strategies, and personal empowerment can be taught through interventions, thus improving employment and health outcomes across populations.  Jenni’s work may be useful in the advocacy of expanding the provision of vocational rehabilitation within the Ryan White CARE Act and the Ryan White program.

More Congratulations…

Congratulations to Drs. Mark Schall and Sean Gallagher for their promotions.  Dr. Schall was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and Dr. Gallagher was promoted to Full Professor.

Mark Schall, PhD Sean Gallagher, PhD

 

The Deep South Center is proud to announce its 2020 graduates:

Charles L. Boyd, MPH, Industrial Hygiene

Shanita L. Thomas, MPH, Industrial Hygiene,

Tyea M. Johnson, MPH, Industrial Hygiene

Blake E. Culver, MPH, Industrial Hygiene

Jordan Nelson, PhD, Industrial Hygiene

Nicholas Smith, PhD, Industrial Systems Engineering

Brendan Fagen, MISE

Matthew Reed, MISE

Mathew Reyer, MISE

Christy Evans, MISE

Mary Beth Gordon, MISE

Grayson Phillips, MISE

Wallace Morris, MISE

Yuting Ma, MISE

Bill Weems Memorial Library

Sadly, the Deep South Center, and the OSH Community lost a valued member, William (Bill) Weems, DrPH, CIH, CSP, FAIHA.  Bill was a tireless scholar and instructor as well as an active member of the Deep South Center Board of Advisors.  Bill’s career spanned over 30 years with University of Alabama’s Safe State Occupational Health and Safety (Safe State) consultation program, first as its supervisory health consultant, and ultimately as Director.  In 2005, Bill was honored with the first William J. Wiggins Award, a national OSHA award, recognizing his work for safety excellence in the small business community.  Bill was a dedicated OSH leader and most proud of his accomplishments in the state finding solutions to “challenging environmental and occupational safety and health problems”.
As part of Bill’s legacy, his vast collection of scholarly books was donated to the DSC for use by our students and faculty.  Once the library is in place, the DSC will hold a small ceremony to honor Bill, his family and legacy.

Andrew Perkins Scholarship

In 2016, we established the Andrew Perkins Scholarship for Audiometric Testing and Hearing Conservation, to honor one of our colleagues for his commitment to training excellence and occupational safety.   This annual scholarship will provide full tuition to enable one student to attend an Audiometric Testing and Hearing Conservation course provided through Deep south Center.  The Center will post scholarship forms for those interested in applying in November.  The scholarship winner will be notified in December and allowed to choose a course from those offered in the calendar year beginning January 1.

Congratulations -Andy Perkins on New Appointment to NACOSH!

The Deep South Center for Occupational Health and Safety (DSC) is proud to announce the appointment of Andrew Perkins, CIH, CSP to the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) under the U.S. Department of Labor.NACOSH members represent occupational health, occupational safety, labor, management and public interests.The DSC recommended Mr. Perkins for a one year appointment as a Public Representative for NACOSHas an HHS Designee considering his outstanding work in occupational safety and health with his own organization and with the American Industrial Hygiene Association.He is a nationally recognized industrial hygienist working with the DSC and UAB’s Schoolof Public Health (SOPH) sharing his time and expertise in lectures, special projects with the DSC students and as a professional mentor.NACOSH works directly with the Secretaries of Labor and Health and Human Services on issues relating to the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970.Committee Members advise, consult and make recommendations to the Secretaries specifically on matters such as regulations, research, compliance assistance and enforcement.Mr. Perkins is a Senior Industrial Hygienist for Alabama Power Company and is currently serving as vice-chair for the DSC Board of Advisors. He is also a Public Health Practitioner Affiliate in the School of Public Health.