Students wearing hardhats on construction site

Student Research Posters

<p>Dr. Matt Law serves as Manager, Safety Strategy for W.W. Grainger, Inc., developing comprehensive environmental health, safety, and business solutions with internal and external partners to mitigate risk to people, property, and the environment. He is a Certified Safety Professional, a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, and holds a Doctor of Public Health degree from Walden University. Matt also serves as a United States Navy Reserve Environmental Health Officer and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Alliance for Central Florida Safety. He has also contributed works to the Professional Safety Journal on communication and mentorship, selling safety, and emergency risk communication.</p>


Manager, Customer Safety Strategy / W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Occupational Risk Perceptions Among Foreign-Born Construction Workers in Central Florida

<h2>Summary:</h2>
<p>Hispanic and Latino foreign-born construction workers in the United States experience higher rates of serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace than their native-born peers. Previous research has pointed to specific vulnerabilities among this population, including birthplace, age of the worker, language barriers, and education level, but little to no research has examined addressable risk factors, such as occupational risk perceptions, among this population. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the relationship between birthplace, number of years working in the United States, and occupational risk perceptions while controlling for age of the worker, language barriers, and education level. A modified conceptual model that links specific demographic factors to occupational risk perceptions served as the framework for the study. A convenience sample of construction workers in central Florida provided demographic information and self-reported risk perceptions in this cross-sectional study. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine potential relationships between birthplace and risk perceptions as well as number of years working in the United States and risk perceptions. The results of these analyses indicated a statistically significant difference in risk perceptions between foreign-born and native-born construction workers, but time spent working in the United States did not affect these risk perceptions. The implications for positive social change include the identification of risk factors that are addressable through improved training and better communication. Addressing these factors may help reduce injuries and fatalities among Hispanic and Latino foreign-born construction workers in central Florida.</p>
<h2>Why it matters:</h2>
<p>Hispanic and Latino foreign-born construction workers are one of the most vulnerable populations to occupational injuries and fatalities in the United States (US)</p>
<ul type="disc">
<li>20% of all workplace fatalities occur in construction</li>
<li>Foreign-born workers experience higher rates of serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) than native-born workers</li>
<li>The disparities among foreign-born construction workers are evident as a <u>global</u> public health issue</li>
<li>In the US, the construction industry accounts for 35% of all Hispanic and Latino worker fatalities, and 74% of these fatalities occur among foreign-born workers</li>
<li>Occupational fatalities among this population continue to increase year over year, and foreign-born workers are 15% more likely to experience a fatal injury than native-born workers</li>
<li>Central Florida is home to a significantly larger percentage of foreign-born workers than the rest of the US</li>
<li>Few US studies have explored the potential causes of these disparate vulnerabilities</li>
<li>Little to no research has been conducted in Central Florida</li>
</ul>
<h2>What the findings mean for practice:</h2>
<ul type="disc">
<li>Occupational risk perceptions among construction workers can be improved through effective training practices
<ul type="disc">
<li>Both age and birthplace have a relationship with occupational risk perceptions</li>
<li>Workplace safety training should be targeted toward and tailored to more vulnerable audiences</li>
<li>While education level and language barriers did not appear to influence risk perceptions in this study, those factors should still be considered when designing effective workplace safety training</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Previous research among foreign-born construction workers in the US has primarily focused on the relationships between demographic factors and workplace injury and fatality outcomes
<ul type="disc">
<li>These vulnerabilities are not easily, and sometimes not ethically, changeable to prevent adverse outcomes</li>
<li>This study fills a gap by examining the relationships between demographic vulnerabilities and risk perceptions, which are both addressable through appropriate intervention and directly linked to workplace injury and fatality outcomes</li>
<li>Future research should continue to examine the <u>addressable</u> leading indicators of workplace injuries and fatalities to enable positive social change for vulnerable populations</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>


<p>Udemba Chiemezie Anthony became the first ever student to be selected by the International Society for Occupational Ergonomics &amp; Safety (“ISOES”) to serve on their Executive Council (ISOES &#8211; Officers) from 2021 until the present. Anthony is a Ph.D. candidate and researcher at The Ohio State University-Columbus Ohio. Currently working with the health care system, occupational biomechanics, ergonomics, and clinical treatment department. He has been the recipient of several honors and awards, an active member Association for Institute for Supply Management, Supply Chain Management, Google, American Society of Safety Professionals, U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Assessment Center, and the Institute of Industrial, System, and Manufacturing Engineers. He has also served as a peer reviewer for several high-quality journals and conference papers. His research focuses on human factors and safety within the supply chain. Anthony graduated from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka – Nigeria, University of Aberdeen Scotland-United Kingdom, Colorado State University-Pueblo, and Wichita State University-Kansas. He received a couple of degrees from these countries which include: a degree in Chemical Engineering, Oil and Gas Chemistry, Industrial and System Engineering, and Engineering Management. Anthony believes that “Education is a game changer and an equalizer like no other and that true education aims to develop both intelligence and character.&#8221; He has been fortunate to have great learning experiences in the industry.</p>


Ohio State University

An Investigation of the Ergonomics and Desirable Features of Hospital Beds for Medical Surgery, Critical Care, and Birthing Beds.

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Patients and health professionals interact frequently and at times urgently with the hospital bed</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">My research evaluates the usefulness and usability of hospital beds for critical care, medical surgery, and birthing beds. Additionally, my research examines desirable characteristics as well as the ergonomic effectiveness of hospital bed design. Hospital beds are built intending to provide safety, comfort, and mobility for a wide range of patients with various diseases and treatment schedules.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">It is essential to</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">understand how the design of hospital beds affects patient outcomes and healthcare provider performance using ergonomics and human factors research. Hospital beds are an essential component of the healthcare environment.</span></p>
<p><b>My motivation behind this study includes:</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Medical errors are quite costly. Bed use errors are one category of these errors. Improving the usability of the beds will reduce costs associated with bed-use errors. While the beds all had features designed to reduce patient and caregiver injuries associated with bed use, time to train caregivers on bed features is rarely budgeted, so features that would reduce patient and caregiver injuries are not used correctly or at all. However, my goal was to find economical alternatives that increase the economic value and durability of hospital beds by looking at their ergonomics and attractive aspects. This may entail assessing the resilience, upkeep requirements, and flexibility of beds to adapt to various patient needs, resulting in better resource allocation and lower medical expenses.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lacking design features can cause injury or death to patients. We had an elderly family friend who was sedated while hospitalized. The bed exit alarm was not used, or not used correctly. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">She woke up confused and began wandering down the hall. A fall while still coming out from sedation could have resulted in a broken hip. So “error-proofing” bed exit alarm controls so that they are used correctly is very important to preventing unnecessary patient injuries. Beds that do not have a readily apparent method of CPR placement can delay the administration of CPR itself. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span></i><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hospital beds play an essential role in care and rehabilitation. Several instances of hospital beds impeding patient care have influenced my current research. I will share two such instances. An elderly….(Dr. Jerry L Purswell). A family friend prematurely left rehabilitation due to an uncomfortable hospital bed which did not allow for proper adjustments.  My advisor (Dr. Jerry P Purswell) at a previous school (Colorado State University-Pueblo) in the course of conducting a bed evaluation found caregivers were unable to put some of the hospital beds into a CPR position quickly.</span></i><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">” </span></i></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lacking bed design features can cause injury to the caregivers including RNs, CNAs, &amp; others who are frequently tasked with positioning, and repositioning patients in the bed as well as helping them into or out of the bed. The caregiver population is aging &amp; mostly female. Patient weights are monotonically increasing. Reduced lifting capacity with increased lifting demands is a prescription for more caregiver injuries. By making bed features and caregiver controls more intuitive, injuries to patients can be avoided. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Patient comfort is one of the main goals in healthcare settings. The objective of my work is to increase patient comfort during medical procedures, critical care, rehabilitation, and childbirth by investigating the ergonomics and desirable features of hospital beds.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Patient-centered care is an essential aspect of modern healthcare. Throughout my research, I focus on the significance of customizing healthcare environments to individual patients&#8217; requirements and preferences by examining the ergonomics and attractive aspects of hospital beds. A patient-centered care strategy that fosters dignity, autonomy, and a sense of control during hospital stays can be created by understanding how individual bed elements contribute to patient comfort and well-being. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Patient safety and risk reduction are crucial in hospital bed design. Identifying possible dangers, poor design decisions, and areas for improvement are essential in the ergonomic investigation of the beds as well as identifying appealing features for a product. Minimizing the risk of falls, injuries, and pressure ulcers through focusing on safety features including adjustable height, side railings, and pressure redistribution all are included in the scope of this study/ research.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hospital beds designed with ergonomic considerations may increase the effectiveness of healthcare workers/ providers. This research investigates task efficiency to make it easier for healthcare professionals to utilize hospital beds examining features such as adjustable positions, intuitive controls, and accessibility to medical devices and equipment. Improving healthcare provider efficiency can lead to better patient care and reduced workload strain.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Optimization of clinical outcomes is researched. Ergonomic beds that facilitate optimum patient placement including surgery site access can aid in successful treatments for medical procedures. Beds that allow for simple patient monitoring, respiration, and mobility can improve patient management in critical care. Additionally, birth beds designed with women&#8217;s comfort and support in mind can contribute to positive birth experiences. Investigating these aspects aims to optimize clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Advances in healthcare technology and design are explored. Healthcare facilities are constantly looking for new, creative ways to enhance patient care as technology develops. My motivation came from a desire to explore new features and concepts in hospital bed ergonomics to promote healthcare technology and design. This can foster collaborations between healthcare professionals, engineers, and designers, leading to the development of better, more patient-centric solutions.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Consideration of enhanced postoperative recovery is paramount. For patients, the healing phase following surgery is crucial. During our research study, we ought to select features associated with hospital beds that promote the best postoperative recovery by concentrating on the ergonomics and desirable attributes of hospital beds in surgical settings. This can include adjustable positions, pressure redistribution mechanisms, and integrated support systems that promote healing, pain management, and early mobilization.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Innovation and continuous improvement are considered. The sector of healthcare is continually changing due to improvements in research, technology, and best practices. I wanted to contribute to the ongoing innovation and continual improvement of healthcare systems by looking into the safety, ergonomics, and desired qualities of hospital beds. The study&#8217;s conclusions can be used to build new bed designs and improve on current ones, keeping healthcare institutions at the forefront of patient care.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Overall, my investigation into the ergonomics and desirable features of hospital beds for medical surgery, critical care, and birthing beds reflects a commitment to enhancing patient comfort, safety, healthcare provider efficiency, clinical outcomes, the advancement of healthcare technology and design, patient well-being, healthcare efficiency, cost-effectiveness, human-centered design, postoperative recovery, and innovation within the healthcare industry. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, these hospital bed designs should consider height adjustment, mattress comfort, patient positioning, bed stability, electronic controls, integration of medical equipment, mobility, transport, and cleanability. The beds must allow for appropriate working postures and a manageable workload for transit to be practical.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


<div class="speaker-bio">Christian Casey-Lee Virgil is a PhD candidate in Industrial Engineering at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and a Master of Science degree in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety. Additionally, he serves as a Senior Lecturer at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago and is a member of the National Technical Committee for Occupational Health and Safety. He is also a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Project Management Professional (PMP). His research interests encompass various areas such as climate change, sustainable development, public health, and occupational safety.</div>


University of West Indies - St. Augustine

Occupational Health and Safety Risk Factors Amongst Taxi Drivers in Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica

<p>Like many occupations in the informal economy, the safety and health concerns and challenges among taxi operators are often under-researched. This study sheds light on the hazardous conditions in the taxi industry and provides information that can assist taxi operators and government agencies in implementing appropriate safety measures. Regardless of occupation, every worker should have access to a healthy and safe environment and receive fair treatment and protection.</p>
<h2>Key Insights</h2>
<ul>
<li>A significant number of respondents were exposed to the typical occupational hazards that characterise the taxi industry, including verbal abuse (54.2%), physical assault (21.7%), threats of assault (45.8%) and robberies (37.3%).</li>
<li>The most severe occupational safety and health issues are the least prevalent. For example, verbal abuse (54.2%) was the most pervasive of the occupational hazards examined in the study. Physical assaults (21.7%) were the least prevalent.</li>
<li>Theft was the second least prevalent hazard in this study. Although theft is a serious criminal act that might attract legal consequences equivalent to or more severe than physical assaults, it is perceived as less harmful to taxi drivers if there is no bodily harm. Theft generally might be considered a symptom of KSA’s broader socioeconomic issues.</li>
<li>Considering that the most common weapons used in physical assaults were fists (50%) and guns (22.2%), it is not surprising that half of the respondents (72.2%) reported the assault to be severe.</li>
<li>Drivers in the 40-60 age group had the highest relative percentage of verbal abuse (54.8%), physical assaults (23.8%), threats (52.3%) and robberies (38.1%) than the other age groups.</li>
<li>Drivers who worked for 21 to 40 years also had the highest relative percentage of verbal abuse (57.1%), physical assault (28.6%) and threats of violence (57.1%). Most drivers who worked between 21 to 40 years would also be in the 40 to 60 age group.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


<div class="speaker-bio">Leah Morgan is a physical scientist and licensed asbestos inspector for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Huntington, West Virginia. She is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science at Marshall University. Her thesis research involves aquatic toxicity testing with contaminated surface water and sediment. Leah enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Evan, and her daughter, Adrienne.</div>


Marshall University

Assessing ecotoxicity of surface water and sediment in the Little Scioto River   

<p>Environmental health and safety (EHS) is a globally interconnected discipline.  The health of benthic species, for example, can ultimately affect human health through bioaccumulation and biomagnification of contaminants up the food chain.  Characterizing the toxicological effects of anthropogenic pollution on ecological receptors helps EHS specialists develop plans for remediating contaminated sites and helps inform industrial policy regulation, providing a cleaner and safer environment for future generations.</p>
<h2>Key Insights:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Healthy, lab-reared organisms were exposed to contaminated water and sediment samples from a former wood treatment facility in Ohio.</li>
<li>Tests were performed to evaluate the short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) effects to four different aquatic species.  The tests measured several parameters including survival, growth, and reproduction.</li>
<li>Surface water samples showed acute toxicity to water fleas, but only at the highest concentration (undiluted sample).  Without a dose-response relationship in lower concentrations, causation cannot be established.  Surface water samples also showed chronic toxicity to fish larvae, but only at the highest concentration and only in the upstream sample.  This toxicity is attributed to sources other than the target site.</li>
<li>No sediment toxicity was observed as hypothesized; rather, midge growth was enhanced in the most contaminated samples and was lowest in the sample furthest from the source.  This may indicate this benthic species uses the contaminants as a food source.  Water flea survival was not impacted, and reproduction was observed in all samples.</li>
</ul>


Assessing ecotoxicity of surface water and sediment in the Little Scioto River

<p>Damyan Popov graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Technology Management and a minor in Business Administration. Mr. Popov completed the program with a GPA of 3.48. He has been on the Dean’s List for four consecutive years between 2018 and 2021. Damyan is recipient of the Noel B. Grinstead Scholarship during the Fall 2020/Spring 2021.</p>
<p>Mr. Popov is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Industrial Hygiene at the University of Central Missouri. His current GPA is 4.0 with anticipated graduation in spring 2024. Damyan is a recipient of the Herbert H. Jones Industrial Hygiene Scholarship, the BCSP Foundation QAP/ABET Student Scholarship, and the AIHF Scholarship for the Fall 2022/Spring 2023.<br />
Damyan currently works full-time as an automotive technician. His work activities include diagnosis and vehicle repair, safety inspections, evaluation and monitoring of health and safety hazards.</p>
<p>His professional interests include evaluation of noise, vibration, particulate matter, sampling and analysis of organic gases and vapors. Damyan is a member of the UCM Automotive Club and has been UCM intramural soccer champion three times between 2021 and 2022. He is also a member of the Kansas City Karting Association and finished fourth and second in the Go-Kart Racing competition in 2021 and 2022 respectively in the LO206 Senior class.<br />
Damyan Popov has particular interest in motor sports safety and health.</p>


University of Central Missouri

Evaluation of Noise, Vibration, and Total Dust Exposures in Automotive Shops

<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1"><span class="s2">Currently there are more than 90,000 technicians in the United States employed in the automotive maintenance and repair industry. Working in automotive shops may pose exposure to multiple occupational risks, including noise, vibration, dust, fuel and exhaust emissions. </span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s2">Air and battery-operated tools are widely used in daily activities. Such instruments generate sound pressure levels above 90 dBA and are known to transmit HAV. </span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s2">In addition, employees are exposed to aerosols from tires, suspension and brake systems, as well as gas and vapor emissions. </span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s2">This study focused on evaluation of exposures to noise, vibration, and total dust in automotive shops.</span></li>
</ul>


<div id="lipsum">
<p>Jacqueline Basham is an Associate Safety Professional who is currently a student in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Western Kentucky University. She also serves as an instructor at Western Kentucky University in the Department of Public Health where she is the program director for the Environmental and Occupational Health Science (EOHS) undergraduate program.</p>
</div>


Western Kentucky University

Female Leaders in Occupational Safety & Health: Perceived Barriers & Potential Interventions

<p class="p2">As a student in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Western Kentucky University (WKU) I was fortunate enough to be able to complete a couple of elective courses specifically focused on female leadership. This led to my interest in wanting to know how women felt about their jobs and what could be done to improve not only their work life but their overall well-being. Women are usually balancing multiple roles and we know that can be both mentally and physically exhausting. After seeing the article from the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) about the low number of women in the safety field, and being a female in this industry myself, it really made me want to understand how that influences women in the industry and how we could make it easier for other women to get into what I think is a great career.</p>
<h2>Key Insights</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-family: var(--list--font-family); background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);">Fifteen interviews conducted with women in the safety industry ranging from 2 to more than 20 years of experience</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-family: var(--list--font-family); background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);">Six barriers were identified by a majority of participants. These included:</span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-family: var(--list--font-family); background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);">Work hours and travel required</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-family: var(--list--font-family); background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);">A lack of formal education in the safety industry prior to beginning their career</span></p>
</li>
<li>The low number of females overall in the safety industry</li>
<li>Frequently having their authority questioned while performing their job</li>
<li>A stigma of the safety industry not being for females</li>
<li>Being young and inexperienced adding to frustrations performing their job</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Three major types of interventions were identified. These included:
<ul>
<li>Resources including those related to childcare and maternity leave, financial support, and flexibility in scheduling</li>
<li>Training including leadership training and specific occupational safety and health topics</li>
<li>Support mechanisms including support from upper management, mentorship programs, and having the support of a safety team</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>


<div class="speaker-bio">Senior Certified Safety Professional (CSP) with extensive experience designing and implementing safety management systems while maintaining positive and proactive relations with managers, employees, customers, and regulatory agencies. Confident, continuous learner who is dedicated to contributing to organizational success. Able to identify problems, manage conflict, make decisions, and mitigate risk. Strong leader with demonstrated success in leadership roles.</div>


Principal Consultant, Safety, ERM

<p class="p1"><strong>Someone once told me “You can’t change the world.” I took it as a challenge.</strong></p>
<p class="p1">After witnessing a work-related injury very early in my career, I remember thinking to myself that someone should have done something to prevent that from happening. I then realized I was that someone. Over the last 15 years, I’ve tried to do whatever I could to improve the safety of workers. I have a genuine concern for workers’ well-being and safety. Workplace accidents and injuries can have significant physical, emotional, and financial consequences for individuals and their families. By focusing my research on workplace safety, I hope to contribute to creating a safer work environment that prioritizes the health and well-being of employees and prevents significant incidents from occurring.</p>
<p class="p1">Workplace safety is also an issue of broader societal importance now, with many organizations in pursuit of ESG-related goals. Governments, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders are increasingly emphasizing the need for safe workplaces. I am motivated to contribute to this societal goal by providing evidence-based insights that inform policies, regulations, and practices aimed at improving workplace safety.</p>
<p class="p1">Lastly, workplace safety is an essential area of study within so many disciplines, such as occupational health and safety, organizational behavior and psychology, industrial engineering, and sustainability. I have an academic and professional interest in advancing knowledge and understanding within these respective fields. I am striving to continue to contribute to the existing body of literature, fill gaps in knowledge, and propose innovative approaches to address workplace safety challenges in organizations.</p>
<h2 class="p1"><b>Key Insights Summarizing Research: </b></h2>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Informal safety leadership has emerged as a new paradigm in safety leadership, and there is a need to understand its impact on workplace safety. The proposed research aims to examine the impact of informal safety leadership on safety consciousness and risk perception in workplace safety events.</li>
<li class="li1">The study&#8217;s hypotheses suggest that informal safety leadership positively influences safety consciousness and risk perception in workplace safety events.</li>
<li class="li1">A diverse sample of teams in different industries and organizational settings will be selected, and a full network approach will be used to assess team members’ informal leadership behavior at the team level. Validated scales will assess safety consciousness and risk perception.</li>
<li class="li1">The research methodology employs a quantitative research approach. Surveys will collect numerical data as well as insights from open-ended questions and analyze the relationships between informal safety leadership and key safety variables.</li>
<li class="li1">The study&#8217;s findings aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of informal safety leadership on workplace safety.</li>
</ul>


Informal Safety Leadership Paradigm

<div class="speaker-bio">Ibrahim Sanusi is a safety professional with his most recent position as an EHS Operation Manager at Walmart Sam’s Club FC/DC. He started his safety career in 2014 as an HSEQ Manager developing, implementing and sustaining Total Energies’ international small site safety rating system (ISSSRS) program for a major oil and gas transportation service provider in Nigeria. Ibrahim is highly passionate about environmental sustainability and his Master’s thesis was focused on air pollution control (from diurnal evaporative emission in automobile). He also hold a class 2 Ohio EPA wastewater treatment operator license. Ibrahim was fortunate to have received scholarships and grants for his graduate program, including the BCSP’s Master Thesis Grant. He is currently preparing for his FE license, with a goal of becoming a licensed PE, a journey that will make him an Environmental Consultant at long term.</div>


2020 BCSP Foundation Research and Innovation Grant Recipient

TiO2/ZnO composite thin-film photocatalysts for gas-phase oxidation of ethanol

<p>The aim of this project is to investigate the photocatalytic activity of ZnO/TiO2 composite films for the gas-phase oxidation of ethanol. Pure TiO2, pure ZnO, and their composites were formulated using a sol-gel synthesis method, and the resulting powders were cast and dried as thin films in a flat plate ultraviolet light-emitting- diode (UV LED reactor. P25 TiO2 and commercially-available ZnO were also used for comparison. Structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the materials were characterized. The photocatalytic oxidation of ethanol vapors in air after 24 hours of reactor operation was used to assess the relative photocatalytic activity of the ZnO/TiO2 composite films. Our results show that as ZnO composition in the photocatalytic film increases, the apparent photocatalytic activity decreases, and pure ZnO (both sol-gel and purchased) had the least photocatalytic activity for vapor-phase ethanol oxidation in our test apparatus. ZnO-containing photocatalysts have lower surface areas than those of TiO2-based photocatalysts. For gas-phase photocatalysis, surface area was shown to be a critical feature for photocatalytic activity.</p>


<div class="speaker-bio">Chang received his BS and MS degrees in mechanical engineering from Yonsei University, Korea (&#8217;06 and &#8217;09). After three years of military service as a specialized research agent, he worked for LG Electronics, Inc. for 7 years, where he developed refrigerators and water purifiers. During this time, his work on hygiene projects sparked an interest in health outcomes from contaminants exposure, leading him to pursue a Ph.D. in Health Sciences at Purdue University. His current research focuses on the health effects of welding fumes that could cause lung disease, neurotoxicity, cancer, etc. Analysis of toenails as a biomarker of the exposure is also his topic of interest.</div>


Purdue University

Investigation of the Relationship Between Metal Concentrations in Welding Fumes and Toenails for Biomonitoring Chronic Exposures

<p class="p1">Welding, soldering, and brazing workers are a critical part of the US workforce, with over 574, 000 employees in 2020. Unfortunately, these workers are frequently exposed to welding fumes that contain metallic particles such as chromium, copper, manganese, iron, and nickel, which can lead to serious adverse health effects such as lung disease, Parkinson-like symptoms, and metal fume fever. However, the dose-response of different metals in a chronic exposure setting is not fully understood. Therefore, the development of a biomarker to assess chronic exposure is critical for assessing potential health risks. This study aims to investigate the use of toenail metal concentrations as biomarkers for chronic exposure to metals.</p>
<h2>Key Insights</h2>
<p class="p1">The main insight of this study is the significant association between metal concentrations in welding fumes and toenails, demonstrating the potential of toenail metal levels as biomarkers for chronic metal exposure. By analyzing metal concentrations in both welding fumes and toenails, the research found that welders had significantly higher metal levels compared to controls. As a results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves plots, the most distinguishing biomarker was toenail Mn concentration to distinguish between welders and controls, with an impressive area under the curve (AUC) of 0.87 followed by iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) concentrations. These findings provide valuable insights into their potential as biomarkers for corresponding metal exposures and have important implications for occupational health monitoring and risk assessment in industries where metal exposure is prevalent.</p>


Student Research ShowcasePosters presented at the 2023 BCSP Foundation's Research & Innovation Summit

Empowering
the Next Generation

Pioneering Solutions,
Inspiring Change

Building a Safer Tomorrow

Unleashing Innovation

Occupational Risk Perceptions Among Foreign-Born Construction Workers in Central Florida

An Investigation of the Ergonomics and Desirable Features of Hospital Beds for Medical Surgery, Critical Care, and Birthing Beds.

Occupational Health and Safety Risk Factors Amongst Taxi Drivers in Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica

Assessing ecotoxicity of surface water and sediment in the Little Scioto River

Evaluation of Noise, Vibration, and Total Dust Exposures in Automotive Shops

Female Leaders in Occupational Safety & Health: Perceived Barriers & Potential Interventions

Informal Safety Leadership Paradigm

TiO2/ZnO composite thin-film photocatalysts for gas-phase oxidation of ethanol

Investigation of the Relationship Between Metal Concentrations in Welding Fumes and Toenails for Biomonitoring Chronic Exposures

Are you a student looking to become published?

Student Research ShowcasePosters presented at the 2023 BCSP Foundation's Research & Innovation Summit

Empoweringthe Next Generation

Pioneering Solutions,Inspiring Change

Building a Safer Tomorrow

Unleashing Innovation

Occupational Risk Perceptions Among Foreign-Born Construction Workers in Central Florida

An Investigation of the Ergonomics and Desirable Features of Hospital Beds for Medical Surgery, Critical Care, and Birthing Beds.

Occupational Health and Safety Risk Factors Amongst Taxi Drivers in Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica

Assessing ecotoxicity of surface water and sediment in the Little Scioto River

Evaluation of Noise, Vibration, and Total Dust Exposures in Automotive Shops

Female Leaders in Occupational Safety & Health: Perceived Barriers & Potential Interventions

Informal Safety Leadership Paradigm

TiO2/ZnO composite thin-film photocatalysts for gas-phase oxidation of ethanol

Investigation of the Relationship Between Metal Concentrations in Welding Fumes and Toenails for Biomonitoring Chronic Exposures

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