Papers by Ross Di Corleto
Occupational medicine, Mar 1, 2024
Safety Science, Jun 1, 2020
Hot weather poses occupational health and safety concerns for people working in hot environments.... more Hot weather poses occupational health and safety concerns for people working in hot environments. It is known that work-related injuries increase during hot weather, yet there is an incomplete understanding of the underlying factors. Methods: A national online survey was conducted in Australia among health and safety representatives (HSRs) to better understand factors contributing to heat-related injuries in workplaces. Risk factors and preventive measures associated with reported injuries were identified using log-poisson regression models. Results: In total, 222 HSRs completed the survey. Overall, 43% reported that injuries or incidents caused by hot/ very humid weather occur sometimes or often in their workplace. Factors found to be associated with reported heat-related injuries included 'the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE)' which can hinder the loss of body heat, and 'inadequate resources and facilities'. 'Piece-rate workers' and 'new workers' were identified as being at high risk. The most frequently adopted preventive measures for outdoor and indoor workers were the provision of PPE (despite some identified issues) and access to cool drinking water. HSRs reported that less injuries occurred in hot weather among outdoor workers if work was rescheduled to cooler times and shade was provided; and in indoor environments where there was adequate ventilation, heat sources were shielded and workers were able to self-pace. Conclusion: Organisational issues, workplace hazards, personal factors and preventive measures, are all determinants of heat-related injuries in Australian workplaces. Wider adoption of identified prevention measures could reduce the incidence of heat-related injuries in outdoor and indoor workplaces.
Science of The Total Environment, May 1, 2020
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
It has long been recognised that a key control in the management of heat stress is the education ... more It has long been recognised that a key control in the management of heat stress is the education of the worker in relation to the impact of the many variables in a hot environment. For too many years the use of one parameter, the air temperature, has been the focal point of the general workforce as the measure of heat stress. Whilst there have been many tools and training materials available, most have relied on a formal training program or complicated assessments. The Basic Thermal Risk Assessment (BTRA) was introduced via the AIOH heat stress standard in 2003 as a first level assessment and was originally developed as a training tool. However over the years it has evolved in a different direction. The review and modification of this tool in the latest AIOH Heat Stress Guide began its journey back to its original intent. In early 2014 a question was posed on a Heat Stress forum discussion: "If you had a Heat Stress App for your workers, what would you want it to tell them?" This triggered a chain of events that led to the development of the Thermal Risk App. This is its story.
This study was undertaken in the alumina plant situated in Gladstone, Queensland to assess if Wet... more This study was undertaken in the alumina plant situated in Gladstone, Queensland to assess if Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was the most suitable index for use as a guideline for heat stress. Heat Stress Index (HSI) and Required Sweat Rate (SWreq) were the other indices compared and assessed using physiological monitoring of heart rate and surrogate core temperature. Results were collated and analysed using a computer program written as part of the study for the manipulation of environmental data.
Principles of Occupational Health & Hygiene, 2020
It has long been recognised that a key control in the management of heat stress is the education ... more It has long been recognised that a key control in the management of heat stress is the education of the worker in relation to the impact of the many variables in a hot environment. For too many years the use of one parameter, the air temperature, has been the focal point of the general workforce as the measure of heat stress. Whilst there have been many tools and training materials available, most have relied on a formal training program or complicated assessments. The Basic Thermal Risk Assessment (BTRA) was introduced via the AIOH heat stress standard in 2003 as a first level assessment and was originally developed as a training tool. However over the years it has evolved in a different direction. The review and modification of this tool in the latest AIOH Heat Stress Guide began its journey back to its original intent. In early 2014 a question was posed on a Heat Stress forum discussion: “If you had a Heat Stress App for your workers, what would you want it to tell them?” This tr...
In 1984, the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that working in the primary a... more In 1984, the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that working in the primary aluminium production process was associated with exposure to certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are probably carcinogenic to humans. Key sources of PAH exposure within the occupational environment of a prebake aluminium smelter are processes associated with use of coal-tar pitch. Despite the potential for exposure via inhalation, ingestion and dermal adsorption, to date occupational exposure limits exist only for airborne contaminants. This study, based at a prebake aluminium smelter in Queensland, Australia, compares exposures of workers who came in contact with PAHs from coal-tar pitch in the smelter’s anode plant (n = 69) and cell-reconstruction area (n = 28), and a non-production control group (n = 17). Literature relevant to PAH exposures in industry and methods of monitoring and assessing occupational hazards associated with these compounds are reviewed, and method...
Education and Training, 2018
such dusts, chemicals or proteins. The International Labour Organisation estimates that 700.000 p... more such dusts, chemicals or proteins. The International Labour Organisation estimates that 700.000 people in the world die yearly from occupational lung diseases. Teaching the subject at the undergraduate levels in medical schools is important, so that the students consider these diagnoses later on in their careers. However, earlier surveys have shown that the interest in occupational medicine is low in medical students. Teaching occupational lung diseases can be especially challenging since the terminology is confusing. Methods In order to improve students' learning, a puzzle game on occupational lung diseases was developed. On a game-board, five columns and ten rows made a grid of fifty squares. The headings of the five columns were different disease groups:
Safety Science, 2020
Hot weather poses occupational health and safety concerns for people working in hot environments.... more Hot weather poses occupational health and safety concerns for people working in hot environments. It is known that work-related injuries increase during hot weather, yet there is an incomplete understanding of the underlying factors. Methods: A national online survey was conducted in Australia among health and safety representatives (HSRs) to better understand factors contributing to heat-related injuries in workplaces. Risk factors and preventive measures associated with reported injuries were identified using log-poisson regression models. Results: In total, 222 HSRs completed the survey. Overall, 43% reported that injuries or incidents caused by hot/ very humid weather occur sometimes or often in their workplace. Factors found to be associated with reported heat-related injuries included 'the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE)' which can hinder the loss of body heat, and 'inadequate resources and facilities'. 'Piece-rate workers' and 'new workers' were identified as being at high risk. The most frequently adopted preventive measures for outdoor and indoor workers were the provision of PPE (despite some identified issues) and access to cool drinking water. HSRs reported that less injuries occurred in hot weather among outdoor workers if work was rescheduled to cooler times and shade was provided; and in indoor environments where there was adequate ventilation, heat sources were shielded and workers were able to self-pace. Conclusion: Organisational issues, workplace hazards, personal factors and preventive measures, are all determinants of heat-related injuries in Australian workplaces. Wider adoption of identified prevention measures could reduce the incidence of heat-related injuries in outdoor and indoor workplaces.
Science of The Total Environment, 2020
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Faculty of Health School of Public Health Social Work, 2010
This study was undertaken in the alumina plant situated in Gladstone, Queensland to assess if Wet... more This study was undertaken in the alumina plant situated in Gladstone, Queensland to assess if Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was the most suitable index for use as a guideline for heat stress. Heat Stress Index (HSI) and Required Sweat Rate (SWreq) were the other indices compared and assessed using physiological monitoring of heart rate and surrogate core temperature. Results were collated and analysed using a computer program written as part of the study for the manipulation of environmental data.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2010
Objective To examine the incidence of occupational asthma in the seven aluminum smelters of Austr... more Objective To examine the incidence of occupational asthma in the seven aluminum smelters of Australia and New Zealand from 1991 to 2006. Methods Incidence and exposure data were collected by survey from the smelters prospectively during the study period. Results The incidence of occupational asthma across all smelters combined was highest in 1992 at 9.46/1,000/year, declining to 0.36/1,000/year in 2006; a 96.2% reduction. The incidence of occupational asthma was correlated with geometric mean total fluoride concentration, measured as personal samples from employees undertaking anode changing (r s ¼ 0.497, P < 0.001). Conclusions The control of exposures, respiratory protection and pre-placement medical assessments undertaken during the study period seem to have contributed to the substantial decline in occupational asthma incidence.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Dec 22, 2010
Objective To examine the incidence of occupational asthma in the seven aluminum smelters of Austr... more Objective To examine the incidence of occupational asthma in the seven aluminum smelters of Australia and New Zealand from 1991 to 2006. Methods Incidence and exposure data were collected by survey from the smelters prospectively during the study period. Results The incidence of occupational asthma across all smelters combined was highest in 1992 at 9.46/1,000/year, declining to 0.36/1,000/year in 2006; a 96.2% reduction. The incidence of occupational asthma was correlated with geometric mean total fluoride concentration, measured as personal samples from employees undertaking anode changing (r s ¼ 0.497, P < 0.001). Conclusions The control of exposures, respiratory protection and pre-placement medical assessments undertaken during the study period seem to have contributed to the substantial decline in occupational asthma incidence.
Uploads
Papers by Ross Di Corleto