Aaohn J
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Noise-induced hearing loss ranks among the most significant occupational health problems. In the United States, more than 1 million firefighters are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss due to exposure to hazardous levels of intermittent noise from sirens, air horns, and engines of emergency vehicles and fire trucks. Although irreversible, noise-induced hearing loss is entirely preventable through both engineering controls and personal protective equipment. This article describes occupational noise exposure, hearing loss, and strategies to prevent noise-induced hearing loss among firefighters.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 5-week, 1 hour per week heart disease prevention program for sedentary female municipal workers with known heart disease risk factors. The program was designed to improve participants' knowledge and perceptions of their personal susceptibility to heart disease. In targeting an ethnically diverse, lower income working population, the researchers also sought to contribute to one of the goals of Healthy People 2010, the elimination of health disparities, specifically the reduction of health disparities in heart disease by 25% by the year 2010. ⋯ The greatest improvement in knowledge and awareness of susceptibility occurred for those with limited knowledge and low perceptions of susceptibility. The gains from this workplace health education project for largely minority female municipal workers were modest, but notable. A workplace health education program for women targeted at increasing their knowledge of heart disease may also increase their perceptions of susceptibility to heart disease.
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Thorough understanding of the hazards, risks, and program and regulatory requirements for confined space entry provides the framework for safe entry procedures. Permit-required confined spaces possess hazardous characteristics that have the potential to cause harm, physical injury, or death. ⋯ Rescue requirements and implications are discussed. Understanding the hazards of confined space entry, safe permit-entry procedures, and rescue requirements enables occupational health nurses to support the EHS team in initiating an effective confined space entry program.
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Migraine disorder is disabling, costly, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. It affects employees' quality of life and ability to work or attend school, potentially decreasing their earning ability. Migraine disorder impacts the workplace substantially through absenteeism and presenteeism and increases health care costs. ⋯ Employers may also be motivated to request that a managed care model for migraine be included in health and welfare programs, which would allow for assignment of a nurse case manager with automatic referral to a neurologist. The workplace is an ideal environment for identifying and referring migraine sufferers who only self-treat for symptoms. Prompt and effective treatment, in and out of the workplace, will decrease the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks and increase the quality of life.
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The Healthy People 2010 prevention agenda, along with the nation's leading health indicators, provides employers with national targets regarding safety, health, and disease prevention. The first five safety and health objectives presented in this article target a reduction in work-related deaths, work-related injuries, overexertion or repetitive motion injuries and illnesses, pneumoconiosis deaths, and work-related homicides. Although progress is being made, opportunities exist to make a greater impact. Using the information and strategies discussed, occupational health nurses can play a key role in developing and implementing workplace safety and health promotion programs.