Karen Gilmore

Culture-Independent Characterization of Bacteria and Fungi in a Poultry Bioaerosol Using Pyrosequencing: A New Approach

Work in animal production facilities often results in exposure to organic dusts. Previous studies have documented decreases in pulmonary function and lung inflammation among workers exposed to organic dust in the poultry industry. Bacteria and fungi have been reported as components of the organic dust produced in poultry facilities. To date, little is known about the diversity and concentration of bacteria and fungi inside poultry buildings. All previous investigations have utilized culture-based methods for analysis that identify only biota cultured on selected media. The bacterial tag-encoded flexible (FLX) amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) and fungal tag-encoded flexible (FLX) amplicon pyrosequencing (fTEFAP) are modern and comprehensive approaches for determining biodiversity of microorganisms and have not previously been used to provide characterization of exposure to microorganisms in an occupational environment. This article illustrates the potential application of this novel technique in occupational exposure assessment as well as other settings. An 8-hr area sample was collected using an Institute of Medicine inhalable sampler attached to a mannequin in a poultry confinement building. The sample was analyzed using bTEFAP and fTEFAP. Of the bacteria and fungi detected, 116 and 39 genera were identified, respectively. Among bacteria, Staphylococcus cohnii was present in the highest proportion (23%). The total inhalable bacteria concentration was estimated to be 7503 cells/m 3 . Among the fungi identified, Sagenomella sclerotialis was present in the highest proportion (37%). Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium janthinellum were also present in high proportions. The total inhalable fungi concentration was estimated to be 1810 cells/m 3 . These estimates are lower than what has been reported by others using standard epifluorescence microscope methods. However, no study has used non-culture-based techniques, such as bTEFAP and fTEFAP, to evaluate bacteria and fungi in the inhalable fraction of a bioaerosol in a broiler production environment. Furthermore, the impact of this bTEFAP and fTEFAP technology has yet to be realized by the scientific community dedicated to evaluating occupational and environmental bioaerosol exposure.

Evaluation of a School-Based Train-the-Trainer Intervention Program to Teach First Aid and Risk Reduction Among High School Students

BACKGROUND Farming is a hazardous occupation posing health risks from agricultural exposures for the farm owner and family members. First Aid for Rural Medical Emergencies (F.A.R.M.E.) was developed to support a train-the-trainer (TTT) program to prepare high school students to teach first aid skills and risk reduction through peer interaction. This study was designed to evaluate the educational effectiveness for first aid skill development and awareness of safety issues and injury prevention impacting agricultural communities. METHODS Forty-three agricultural science students from a rural high school participated in the study. A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate knowledge acquisition and anticipatory action among groups: those participating in training and a comparison group with no training. The intervention group included 27 participants trained as first aid peer instructors using the F.A.R.M.E. manual, return demonstration, case scenario facilitation training, and teaching evaluation sessions. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated using triangulated data. Independent t test analyses were conducted on post-test scores to evaluate the knowledge acquisition and anticipatory action scores between groups. Focus group sessions assessed attitudes, experiences, and values held following the intervention of teaching peers. RESULTS Results indicate that the intervention group scored significantly higher on anticipatory action (t = 2.23, p = .03) but not knowledge acquisition (t = 1.37, p = .18). Focus group data suggest that the TTT format bolstered confidence in teaching, confirmed that teens enjoy learning from teens, and fostered pride in team work. CONCLUSIONS The F.A.R.M.E. TTT resulted in a theory and evidence-based intervention that can be implemented in a school setting to promote knowledge and skill acquisition of first aid and injury prevention among rural high school students.

Factors influencing safety among a group of commercial fishermen along the Texas gulf coast

ABSTRACT The commercial fishing trades are among the most dangerous jobs in the world. Little published information exists regarding some populations of commercial fishermen such as along the United States Gulf Coast. Studying these unique and often vulnerable groups is important to characterize potential influences on or barriers to safety in anticipation of designing interventions that can change safety behaviors. Working closely with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), a cross-sectional convenience sample of Gulf Coast shrimp fishermen in and near the Port of Galveston, Texas, was surveyed. The survey included demographic factors and broadly covered areas such as type of work and fishing activities, general or global perceptions and beliefs related to safety and accidents, self-report of ability to use safety equipment or apply procedures aboard vessel, and training considerations. Surveys were obtained following informed consent (n = 133). Of the participants, 96.7% were male with 60.9% ≥40 years old. A majority were of Asian descent (57.1% of all fishermen, 82.1% of shrimp fishermen). Over half claimed to speak little or no English and nearly 60% considered the job to be very safe to neutral. A third to half of respondents expressed doubt about their knowledge of using essential safety equipment in the event of emergency. A large portion of the participants preferred hands-on safety training (40.6%). Important findings about this group of commercial fishermen will help with future development of effective prevention practices through the delivery of culturally appropriate safety awareness training. One element that must be addressed in training programs is to increase the awareness among fishermen about the severe occupational risks inherent in this type of work. Community trust and collaborative partnerships are essential to the success of such initiatives.

Cultural Influences on Safety and Health Education Among Vietnamese Fishermen

ABSTRACT Every ethnic group has its own cultural background and history that influences how it views health behaviors. By virtue of their work history, many Vietnamese have pursued the fishing industry when migrating to the United States. Even though the fishing trades are among the most dangerous jobs in the world, there has been little attention in the literature to the significant role that culture plays in the expression and experience of occupational health practices among Vietnamese shrimp fishermen. Three focus group sessions were conducted to identify factors that hinder or facilitate receptivity to available training and to guide culturally appropriate content. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling among various Vietnamese shrimp fishermen communities in Texas. Utilizing a series of open-ended questions, sessions were conducted in their native language among owners/captains/deckhands; support infrastructure—adult family members and religious/community leaders; and industry management and insurance representatives. Translations of transcribed documents were compared with simultaneous translations to ensure thematic consistency. Conducting hands-on training among Vietnamese by experienced fishermen, specifically targeting captains, was considered key to safety culture on the vessels. Findings of the study support that training should occur in a variety of formats (hands-on), but should be periodic, current, practical, convenient, taught in the primary language of the audience by an experienced individual, culminate in a certificate of completion, and target captains first. These findings illustrate the importance of considering cultural factors in the design of workplace interventions that focus on changes in safety and occupational health behaviors.

Evaluation of Parlor Cleaning as an Intervention for Decreased Occupational Exposure to Dust and Endotoxin Among Dairy Parlor Workers—A Pilot Study

Agreater prevalence of respiratory symptoms has been observed among workers involved in animal production compared to other farmers and rural residents.(1) In addition, respiratory diseases such as byssinosis,(2) asthma,(3) allergic alveolitis,(4) chronic bronchitis,(5) and the organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS)(6) have been reported among workers in the animal feed industry, slaughterhouses, compost facilities, and other agriculture-related industries.(7) Respiratory hazards such as organic dust, microorganisms, fungi, molds, and endotoxin are common in the dairy industry.(8) Exposure to organic dust and endotoxin may lead to pulmonary inflammation among dairy parlor workers.(9–11) Organic dusts are associated with intensive livestock operations, such as dairy, swine, and poultry production; however differences in the components of these organic dusts have been reported.(12,13) A substantial amount of work has evaluated the effects of organic dust exposure among swine workers, whereas less is known about these exposures among dairy parlor workers.(13–16) Sources of organic dust on dairy farms include feed/hay grinding and animal sources, such as hair and feces.(17) Little information is available on the impact of these exposures among workers in the dairy industry. However, a few studies have demonstrated an association of dust and endotoxin exposure with markers of lung inflammation among dairy parlor workers.(9,12,18) The primary task of dairy parlor workers is to milk the cows. Cows are moved through the parlor building using workers to guide the animals as well as mechanical gating systems. Cows enter the parlor on an elevated platform for milking. Cows are typically milked three times a day over a series of three 8-hr shifts.(19) The walkways and other surfaces that come into contact with the animals become soiled with animal waste. Workers use an automated cleaning system to remove animal waste from the parlor surfaces. Therefore, increasing the frequency in which these walkways and other surfaces are cleaned may reduce the concentration of aerosolized dust and endotoxin in the milking parlor. Parlor workers spend their work shift in proximity to cows and animal waste, which may be sources of inhalation exposure to organic dust and endotoxin. Therefore, these workers may be more exposed to inflammatory agents, as organic dust and endotoxin, compared to other workers on the dairy farm. The objective of our study was to assess occupational exposure to dust and endotoxin among dairy parlor workers. This study also evaluated the effectiveness of increasing the frequency of cleaning the dairy parlor surfaces on dust and endotoxin inhalation exposure among parlor workers.

Workplace Safety Interventions for Commercial Fishermen of the Gulf

ABSTRACT Commercial fishing continues to have one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities compared with other work sectors in the United States. Attitudes/beliefs among Vietnamese shrimp fishermen of the Gulf of Mexico may influence behaviors that are risk factors for fatal and nonfatal injuries. The study employs a community trial with quasi-experimental pretest/posttest intervention design. An advisory group made up of key stakeholders including representatives from the US Coast Guard was assembled. A survey was designed using the Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical framework. Three community groups at port sites along the Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coasts were identified. Focus groups were convened at each site to select priority areas for risk intervention using training and awareness measures. Initial and follow-up surveys were administered pre-/post-interventions for each of the three community groups (2008, n = 217 completed surveys; 2012, n = 206 completed surveys). The follow-up survey was condensed and “intent to act” questions were added for the priority concerns identified (noise-induced hearing loss, machinery/winches, and fatigue). Statistically significant changes (P ranging from .000 to .042) were observed in selective attitude/belief responses for hearing/noise and fatigue. Intent to action or to adopt the intervention was high among all three groups of shrimp fishermen (hearing conservation, 82.4%; machinery/winch safety, 94.6%; fatigue awareness, 95.3%). Simple, yet culturally appropriate training and awareness measures in the form of visual and written safety messages favorably influence attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intent related to priority risk factors identified by Vietnamese commercial shrimp fishermen along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts.

Children's Safety on American Indian Farms: Information and Recommendations

ABSTRACT It is estimated that 1.2 million youth younger than age 20 live on farms; American Indian children constitute an important but understudied subset of this at-risk group. Despite documented risks of injuries and death among children who live and work on farms and a descending trend in the overall reported fatalities among youth who live and/or work on farms, very little is known about the agriculture-related injury and fatality experience of American Indian youth. Limited data indicate that drowning, motor vehicles, and poisonings are leading causes of unintentional mortality and morbidity for this group, although the attribution to agricultural exposure is not evident. The scant available data indicate a need to look more closely at agricultural work, bystander exposures, and other farm events that put American Indian youth at risk of illness, injury, or death compared to factors more fully reported for majority youth in the agriculture population, in order to guide intervention and prevention programs that are appropriate and acceptable to this vulnerable population.

Helping Gulf shrimpers adopt safety measures: importance of partnerships and research to practice.

ABSTRACT Commercial fishing continues to be a dangerous line of work. There are many hazards and the work is complex, even on a small scale. Along the United States Gulf Coast, the make-up of the commercial fishing population is diverse, with many Vietnamese shrimpers. Cultural barriers can interfere with critical communication and with receptivity to necessary safety training. In the course of studying these factors, it became apparent that language was a significant barrier among Vietnamese shrimp fishermen learning sound signals and making Mayday calls, potentially contributing to adverse events. This article is a qualitative description of a pilot project in response to this observation and aimed at the development of a model simulating the bridge of a commercial fishing vessel (including horn blast and radio). The model is used to improve knowledge and skills of the fishermen by providing instruction in Vietnamese. As a Mayday call must be made in English, instructional aids are provided to assist fishermen in the exercise. This example of research to practice (r2p) demonstrates how research findings may enhance acquisition of safety knowledge and skills through development of these types of models as well sustainable instructional tools like the multi-lingual interactive CD described here. It further illustrates the importance of partnerships in the design and delivery of workplace safety training interventions. The model, instructional aids, and CD are timely as they coincide with new regulation which mandates certification of these competencies or skills.

Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms among crawfish farmers in Louisiana-a pilot study

ABSTRACT The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) among crawfish farmers is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of MSS in nine body regions among crawfish farmers, and to examine associations between MSS and crawfish farm work activities. Questionnaires were mailed to randomly selected crawfish farmers in the State of Louisiana, USA. Site-specific MSS, demographics, and crawfish farm work information was obtained from the previous six months. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders. Among the participants (N = 184), shoulder MSS were reported most frequently (62%). Wrist/hand and low back MSS were significantly associated with tractor use (ORadj = 2.89; 95% CI = 1.28–6.56) and (ORadj = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.03–5.67), respectively. Also, upper back MSS were associated with the number of years working on a crawfish farm (ORadj = 3.07; 95% CI = 1.17–8.04). Shoulder and low back MSS were common. Tractor use may increase the risk of wrist/hand and low back MSS. Future studies need accurately assess exposures to physical risk factors for MSS so ergonomic interventions can be developed.

Cultural Effectiveness in Research: A Summary Report of a Panel Session Entitled “Engaging Populations at Risk”

ABSTRACT This paper summarizes two presentations and a panel discussion engaging health scientists, educators, and community outreach professionals who have drawn upon their experiences as researchers and agricultural workers to describe research challenges related to access, trust, language, culture, and participant benefit. These presentations and discussion took place at the New Paths: Health and Safety in Western Agriculture conference, November 11–13, 2008. An overview of changing demographics of the western agricultural workforce was provided followed by a presentation of the application of community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles including cultural considerations. Using an interview format, the panel participants discussed challenges related to involving members of vulnerable agricultural worker populations throughout the research process. Lessons learned and recommendations were explored and successes identified.