OBJECTIVE: We evaluated a workplace preventive program's effectiveness, which emphasized skin and respiratory protection, workplace cleanliness, and beryllium migration control in lowering beryllium sensitization. METHODS: We compared sensitization prevalence and incidence rates for workers hired before and after the program using available cross sectional and longitudinal surveillance data. RESULTS: Sensitization prevalence was 8.9% for the Pre-Program Group and 2.1% for the Program Group. The sensitization incidence rate was 3.7/1000 person-months for the Pre-Program Group and 1.7/1000 person-months for the Program Group. After making adjustments for potential selection and information bias, sensitization prevalence for the Pre-Program Group was 3.8 times higher (95% CI = 1.5 to 9.3) than the Program Group. The sensitization incidence rate ratio comparing the Pre-Program Group to the Program Group was 1.6 (95% CI = 0.8 to 3.6). CONCLUSIONS: This preventive program reduced the prevalence of but did not eliminate beryllium sensitization.
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated a workplace preventive program's effectiveness, which emphasized skin and respiratory protection, workplace cleanliness, and beryllium migration control in lowering beryllium sensitization. METHODS: We compared sensitization prevalence and incidence rates for workers hired before and after the program using available cross sectional and longitudinal surveillance data. RESULTS: Sensitization prevalence was 8.9% for the Pre-Program Group and 2.1% for the Program Group. The sensitization incidence rate was 3.7/1000 person-months for the Pre-Program Group and 1.7/1000 person-months for the Program Group. After making adjustments for potential selection and information bias, sensitization prevalence for the Pre-Program Group was 3.8 times higher (95% CI = 1.5 to 9.3) than the Program Group. The sensitization incidence rate ratio comparing the Pre-Program Group to the Program Group was 1.6 (95% CI = 0.8 to 3.6). CONCLUSIONS: This preventive program reduced the prevalence of but did not eliminate beryllium sensitization.
Authors: Kristin J Cummings; Doug O Johns; Jacek M Mazurek; Frank J Hearl; David N Weissman Journal: Arch Environ Occup Health Date: 2018-12-02 Impact factor: 1.663
Authors: Jenna L Armstrong; Gregory A Day; Ji Young Park; Aleksandr B Stefaniak; Marcia L Stanton; David C Deubner; Michael S Kent; Christine R Schuler; M Abbas Virji Journal: J Occup Environ Hyg Date: 2014 Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: M Abbas Virji; Christine R Schuler; Jean Cox-Ganser; Marcia L Stanton; Michael S Kent; Kathleen Kreiss; Aleksandr B Stefaniak Journal: Ann Work Expo Health Date: 2019-10-11 Impact factor: 2.179