CROSH researchers are assessing the effects of workplace vibration and evaluating a training module designed to improve worker knowledge on symptoms and prevention strategies.

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and severity of vibration-related symptoms in industrial workers and assess whether training can improve awareness and prevention strategies. The workers/participants may benefit from gaining insight into how vibration exposure affects their health and learning strategies to reduce vibration-related risks.

We’re looking to visit workplaces and organizations in Northeastern Ontario, in particular around:  Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Hearst, and North Bay.

Thank you. One of our technologists will reach out to your shortly.

The workers/potential participants need to understand that:

• Participation in this study is entirely voluntary.
• There is guaranteed to be no job-related repercussions for their:
  1. participation in the study;
  2. withdrawal from the study at any point; or
  3. refusal to participate in the study.
• All information collected in this study will be kept confidential.

This research with the respective training module and on hand- and foot-transmitted vibration is currently only offered in English.

To date, there is a gap in the research regarding the use of CO2 monitors to assess air quality on public transit in Canada. Most existing studies were large-scale, with monitors mounted in the transit vehicles to assess air quality, rather than being used by individuals for personal risk assessment. This case study aims to address this gap, by evaluating the individual use of CO2 monitors for assessing air quality on a transit authority in a Northern Ontario city, including through cold winter months. The results of this assessment will provide insights into the current state of infection risk on public transit in a Northern Ontario city, while also generating information on tools and factors that workers can use to perform their own assessments to determine infection risk on their commutes using public transit.

Working on creating an insole with integrated accelerometers to allow the measurement of vibration exposure inside of a worker’s footwear to provide a greater understanding of vibration transmission and health effects.

Ontario’s underground workers are being over-exposed to harmful diesel particulates, which cause occupational diseases. Ontario’s Occupational Exposure Limit for diesel particulates need to be reduced to 20 µm/m^3. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to educate mine workers and community stakeholders about the hazards of Diesel Exhaust; and 2) stimulate policy-makers in Canada to take action to both enforce higher standards of protection and induce change in mine workplaces. We helped get the MLITSD to reduce the OEL from 400 µm/m^3 to 120 µm/m&3. Now our goal is to get the OEL reduced from 120 µm/m^3 to 20 µm/m^3. Relatedly, for her Masters work, Megan Wickie is evaluating the healthcare and economic burden of high diesel particulate matter occupational exposure limits in Northern Ontario’s underground mining industry.

Resources: Diesel Particulate Project Infographic, Diesel Particulate Project Brochure, Diesel Particulate Project One-Pager

Chronic exposure to foot-transmitted vibration (e.g. in mining and construction industries) can increase risk of vibration-induced white foot. This condition can cause pain, numbness, and cold sensitivity in the feet and toes, as well as blanching of the toes (House et al., 2010).