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Laura Punnett

Publications and source records attributed to Laura Punnett.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Pathomechanisms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders: conceptual issues.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) by definition are a subset of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that arise out of occupational exposures. While traditional exposure assessment techniques have proved to be successful in identifying ergonomic exposures that are epidemiologically linked to these disorders, some are troubled by the lack of one-to-one correspondence between specific occupational exposure profiles and specific MSDs. In the absence of more sophisticated hypotheses that might explain the occurrence of WRMSDs in a variety of exposure patterns, the aetiologic relationships may (again) be called into question. Another unanswered question is whether specific types of WRMSDs have qualitatively different exposure-response relationships. A clearer understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms associated with specific WRMSDs could help future researchers better determine how and when various occupational exposure profiles become pathogenic. Such knowledge could also be used to design exposure assessment tools to capture exposure information more relevant to the risk of WRMSDs. The main goals of this paper are to summarize several recently described pathomechanisms, most of which have been discussed primarily in clinical and experimental literature that might not be widely read by occupational health scientists. Suggestions are made as to how future research could evaluate whether these phenomena are relevant to the effects of physical exposures and the underlying disease processes of common WRMSDs.

Disease Progression↗
PubMed2002

Ergonomic exposures in apple harvesting: preliminary observations.

BACKGROUND: Recent research on occupational injury to apple harvest workers in New York and Pennsylvania indicates that muscle strain is one of their leading problems. A descriptive study of ergonomic risks for strains of the shoulder and lower back among apple harvesters was carried out to identify opportunities for intervention. METHODS: Based upon pilot observation in four orchards, a Posture-Activities-Tools-Handling (PATH) data collection template was designed and used to analyze the work of fifty-one workers in eight additional apple orchards. RESULTS: Physical loading on the shoulder appears to result from three major factors: reaching to pick apples with elbows over shoulder height; downward pressure from the bucket's strap in contact with the collarbone; and strain from carrying the ladder. Strain to the back appeared to come from three circumstances: static, awkward picking postures; bending to empty the picking bucket into the bin; and supporting a full load of the apples with the lower back. CONCLUSION: Possible intervention strategies are suggested, with emphasis on direct communication and active involvement on the part of the growers and harvesters.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The contribution of occupational risks to the global burden of disease: summary and next steps.

BACKGROUND: The Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) project of the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed worldwide mortality and morbidity in the year 2000 resulting from exposures to selected occupational hazards. This article summarizes findings of the WHO CRA project, presents the estimates of the International Labor Organization (ILO) for total deaths due to workplace risks, and calls for action. OBJECTIVES: Global burden estimates and counts of deaths assist ministers and other decision and policy makers to make informed decisions and to take action regarding risk reduction. METHODS: The WHO CRA methodology combined the proportions of the population exposed to five occupational hazards (excluding numerous risks due to inadequate global data) with relative risk measures to estimate attributable fractions of the selected health outcomes for both morbidity and mortality. ILO estimates of total numbers of global work-related injury deaths apply national fatality rates to employment data for the particular country; for disease deaths ILO uses an attributable risk approach. RESULTS: In 2000, the selected occupational risk factors were responsible worldwide for 37% of back pain, 16% of hearing loss, 13% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 11% of asthma, 8% of injuries, 9% of lung cancer and 2% of leukemia, and about 100% of pneumoconioses and mesothelioma. These selected risks at work resulted in the loss of about 24 million years of healthy life and caused 850,000 deaths worldwide, about 40% of the ILO estimate of 2.2 million total deaths. CONCLUSIONS: These global and regional analyses have identified areas where specific preventive actions are required.

Accidents, Occupational↗