The Experts below are selected from a list of 273 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Alan J Crockett - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Chronic respiratory conditions in a cohort of metropolitan Fire-Fighters: associations with occupational exposure and quality of life
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2014Co-Authors: Tjard R. Schermer, Michael Smith, Michael Morgan, Winifred Malbon, Alan J CrockettAbstract:Objectives To assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions in metropolitan Fire-Fighters and to study associations between occupational exposure, use of respiratory protection and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Fire-Fighters with and without chronic respiratory conditions. Methods Cross-sectional cohort analysis: Respiratory symptoms, medical conditions, occupational tasks and exposures and consistency of using respiratory protection were inquired by questionnaire. The SF12^®V2 Health Survey was used to measure physical (PCS-12) and mental (MCS-12) HRQoL. Fire-Fighters were categorised in subgroups: asthma; COPD/emphysema/chronic bronchitis; no chronic respiratory conditions; and as being ‘not involved’ or ‘involved’ in Fire-fighting tasks, the latter further categorised as ‘consistent’ or ‘inconsistent’ use of respiratory protection. PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores were compared between subgroups and categories using linear regression. Results Five hundred and seventy Fire-Fighters were analysed, 24 (4 %) fulfilled the criteria for asthma, 39 (7 %) for COPD/emphysema/chronic bronchitis. Fire-Fighters with asthma were older than those in the other two subgroups and had been employed in the Fire service longer. Respiratory subgroups did not differ in their involvement in Fire-fighting tasks. Ninety-one percent of Fire-Fighters reported relevant occupational exposure in the past year. Mean PCS-12 scores for Fire-Fighters with no chronic respiratory conditions, asthma and COPD/emphysema/bronchitis were 52.0 (SD 6.9), 47.0 (8.5) and 48.1 (9.4). For PCS-12 (but not for MCS-12), interaction between having a chronic respiratory condition and inconsistent use of respiratory protection during Fire knockdown was observed ( p
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chronic respiratory conditions in a cohort of metropolitan Fire Fighters associations with occupational exposure and quality of life
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2014Co-Authors: Tjard Schermer, Michael S Morgan, Michael D Smith, Alan J Crockett, Winifred MalbonAbstract:Objectives To assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions in metropolitan Fire-Fighters and to study associations between occupational exposure, use of respiratory protection and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Fire-Fighters with and without chronic respiratory conditions.
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lung function and health status in metropolitan Fire Fighters compared to general population controls
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2010Co-Authors: Tjard Schermer, Trish Malbon, Michael S Morgan, Nancy Briggs, Christine Holton, Sarah L Appleton, Robbert Adams, Michael D Smith, Alan J CrockettAbstract:Purpose To assess health status of South Australian (SA) metropolitan Fire-Fighters in terms of lung function and health-related quality of life, compare these with general population controls, and explore associations between Fire-Fighters’ self-reported occupational exposure and health status.
Judith K Sluiter - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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which subgroups of Fire Fighters are more prone to work related diminished health requirements
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2012Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Purpose To determine whether certain subgroups of Fire Fighters are prone to work-related diminished health requirements.
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feasibility and acceptability of workers health surveillance for Fire Fighters
Safety and health at work, 2011Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a new workers’ health surveillance (WHS) for Fire Fighters in a Dutch pilot-implementation project. Methods: In three Fire departments, between November 2007 and February 2009, feasibility was tested with respect to i) worker intent to change health and behavior; ii) the quality of instructions for testing teams; iii) the planned procedure in the field; and iv) future WHS organisation. Acceptability involved i) satisfaction with WHS and ii) verification of the job-specificity of the content of two physical tests of WHS. Fire Fighters were surveyed after completing WHS, three testing teams were interviewed, and the content of the two tests was studied by experts. Results: Feasibility: nearly all of the 275 Fire Fighters intended to improve their health when recommended by the occupational physician. The testing teams found the instructions to be clear, and they were mostly positive about the organisation of WHS. Acceptability: the Fire Fighters rated WHS at eight points (out of a maximum of ten). The experts also reached a consensus about the optimal job-specific content of the future functional physical tests. Conclusion: Overall, it is feasible and acceptable to implement WHS in a definitive form in the Dutch Fire-fighting sector.
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reproducibility and validity of the stair climb test for Fire Fighters
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2010Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Purpose A new job-specific test for Fire Fighters, the stair-climb test (FFstair-climb) was evaluated for reproducibility and validity for use in future workers’ health surveillance.
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clinimetric quality of the Fire fighting simulation test as part of the dutch Fire Fighters workers health surveillance
BMC Health Services Research, 2010Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Background: Clinimetric data for the Fire fighting simulation test (FFST), a new test proposed for the Workers’ Health Surveillance (WHS) of Dutch Fire Fighters, were evaluated. Methods: Twenty-one Fire Fighters took the FFST three times with one and three weeks between testing. Clinimetric quality was determined by means of reliability, agreement and validity. For reliability and agreement, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and standard error of measurement (SEM), were analysed. For construct validity, the tests from 45 Fire Fighters were correlated with their own and their supervisors’ rated work ability. Results: The ICCs were 0.56 and 0.79 at the one-week and three-week test-retest periods, respectively. Testing times ranged from 9 to 17 minutes; the SEMs were 70 s at the one-week and 40 s at the three-week test-retest periods. The construct validity was moderate (-0.47 ≤ r ≤ -0.33; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The FFST was reliable with acceptable agreement after three weeks. Construct validity was moderate. We recommend using FFST as a part of the WHS for Dutch Fire Fighters. It is advised that Fire Fighters should perform the FFST once as a trial before judging their performance in testing time during the second performance.
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what do we know about ageing at work evidence based fitness for duty and health in Fire Fighters
Ergonomics, 2007Co-Authors: Judith K Sluiter, Monique H W FringsdresenAbstract:This study sought to collect evidence on age and workability in Fire Fighters, using systematic international literature searches, interviews, and secondary analyses from Dutch Fire fighter studies. Recent decades have witnessed growing demands on Fire Fighters, who face peak task demands during duty. Older Dutch Fire Fighters experience greater emotional and mental demands than their younger colleagues. Huge inter-individual variation emerged in task performance with over six-fold differences in time-on-tasks and the percentage heart rate reserve between and within age groups. However, no age-effect was observed in lifting capacity during simulations. Compared to their youngest colleagues, older Dutch Fire Fighters face a six-fold increase in the risk of health complaints. The international literature lacks psychological age effects studies. Semi-functional tests, (e.g. exercise stress testing or push-ups) do not predict workability. Regular screening of Fire Fighters, using multi-modal functional tests ...
Mariechristine J Plat - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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which subgroups of Fire Fighters are more prone to work related diminished health requirements
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2012Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Purpose To determine whether certain subgroups of Fire Fighters are prone to work-related diminished health requirements.
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feasibility and acceptability of workers health surveillance for Fire Fighters
Safety and health at work, 2011Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a new workers’ health surveillance (WHS) for Fire Fighters in a Dutch pilot-implementation project. Methods: In three Fire departments, between November 2007 and February 2009, feasibility was tested with respect to i) worker intent to change health and behavior; ii) the quality of instructions for testing teams; iii) the planned procedure in the field; and iv) future WHS organisation. Acceptability involved i) satisfaction with WHS and ii) verification of the job-specificity of the content of two physical tests of WHS. Fire Fighters were surveyed after completing WHS, three testing teams were interviewed, and the content of the two tests was studied by experts. Results: Feasibility: nearly all of the 275 Fire Fighters intended to improve their health when recommended by the occupational physician. The testing teams found the instructions to be clear, and they were mostly positive about the organisation of WHS. Acceptability: the Fire Fighters rated WHS at eight points (out of a maximum of ten). The experts also reached a consensus about the optimal job-specific content of the future functional physical tests. Conclusion: Overall, it is feasible and acceptable to implement WHS in a definitive form in the Dutch Fire-fighting sector.
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reproducibility and validity of the stair climb test for Fire Fighters
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2010Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Purpose A new job-specific test for Fire Fighters, the stair-climb test (FFstair-climb) was evaluated for reproducibility and validity for use in future workers’ health surveillance.
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clinimetric quality of the Fire fighting simulation test as part of the dutch Fire Fighters workers health surveillance
BMC Health Services Research, 2010Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Background: Clinimetric data for the Fire fighting simulation test (FFST), a new test proposed for the Workers’ Health Surveillance (WHS) of Dutch Fire Fighters, were evaluated. Methods: Twenty-one Fire Fighters took the FFST three times with one and three weeks between testing. Clinimetric quality was determined by means of reliability, agreement and validity. For reliability and agreement, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and standard error of measurement (SEM), were analysed. For construct validity, the tests from 45 Fire Fighters were correlated with their own and their supervisors’ rated work ability. Results: The ICCs were 0.56 and 0.79 at the one-week and three-week test-retest periods, respectively. Testing times ranged from 9 to 17 minutes; the SEMs were 70 s at the one-week and 40 s at the three-week test-retest periods. The construct validity was moderate (-0.47 ≤ r ≤ -0.33; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The FFST was reliable with acceptable agreement after three weeks. Construct validity was moderate. We recommend using FFST as a part of the WHS for Dutch Fire Fighters. It is advised that Fire Fighters should perform the FFST once as a trial before judging their performance in testing time during the second performance.
Tjard Schermer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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chronic respiratory conditions in a cohort of metropolitan Fire Fighters associations with occupational exposure and quality of life
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2014Co-Authors: Tjard Schermer, Michael S Morgan, Michael D Smith, Alan J Crockett, Winifred MalbonAbstract:Objectives To assess the prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions in metropolitan Fire-Fighters and to study associations between occupational exposure, use of respiratory protection and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Fire-Fighters with and without chronic respiratory conditions.
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Lung function and health status in metropolitan Fire-Fighters compared to general population controls
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2010Co-Authors: Tjard Schermer, Trish Malbon, Nancy Briggs, Christine Holton, Robbert Adams, Michael Morgan, Sarah Appleton, Michael Smith, Alan CrockettAbstract:Purpose To assess health status of South Australian (SA) metropolitan Fire-Fighters in terms of lung function and health-related quality of life, compare these with general population controls, and explore associations between Fire-Fighters’ self-reported occupational exposure and health status. Methods The study was a cross-sectional comparison of (respiratory) health indices between 501 Fire-Fighters and 1,324 general population controls taken from the North West Adelaide Health Study (NWAHS). All were men aged 21 to 61. Measurements included spirometry (i.e., forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV_1), forced vital capacity (FVC), mid-expiratory flow (FEF_25–75) and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) health-related quality of life questionnaire. Results Health status in the Fire-Fighters was generally better than in NWAHS controls. Mean % predicted FEV_1 and FVC were 103.4% [SD 12.1] versus 89.5% [13.7] and 110.0% [11.6] versus 88.5% [12.5] (both p
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lung function and health status in metropolitan Fire Fighters compared to general population controls
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2010Co-Authors: Tjard Schermer, Trish Malbon, Michael S Morgan, Nancy Briggs, Christine Holton, Sarah L Appleton, Robbert Adams, Michael D Smith, Alan J CrockettAbstract:Purpose To assess health status of South Australian (SA) metropolitan Fire-Fighters in terms of lung function and health-related quality of life, compare these with general population controls, and explore associations between Fire-Fighters’ self-reported occupational exposure and health status.
Monique H W Fringsdresen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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which subgroups of Fire Fighters are more prone to work related diminished health requirements
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2012Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Purpose To determine whether certain subgroups of Fire Fighters are prone to work-related diminished health requirements.
-
feasibility and acceptability of workers health surveillance for Fire Fighters
Safety and health at work, 2011Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a new workers’ health surveillance (WHS) for Fire Fighters in a Dutch pilot-implementation project. Methods: In three Fire departments, between November 2007 and February 2009, feasibility was tested with respect to i) worker intent to change health and behavior; ii) the quality of instructions for testing teams; iii) the planned procedure in the field; and iv) future WHS organisation. Acceptability involved i) satisfaction with WHS and ii) verification of the job-specificity of the content of two physical tests of WHS. Fire Fighters were surveyed after completing WHS, three testing teams were interviewed, and the content of the two tests was studied by experts. Results: Feasibility: nearly all of the 275 Fire Fighters intended to improve their health when recommended by the occupational physician. The testing teams found the instructions to be clear, and they were mostly positive about the organisation of WHS. Acceptability: the Fire Fighters rated WHS at eight points (out of a maximum of ten). The experts also reached a consensus about the optimal job-specific content of the future functional physical tests. Conclusion: Overall, it is feasible and acceptable to implement WHS in a definitive form in the Dutch Fire-fighting sector.
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reproducibility and validity of the stair climb test for Fire Fighters
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2010Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Purpose A new job-specific test for Fire Fighters, the stair-climb test (FFstair-climb) was evaluated for reproducibility and validity for use in future workers’ health surveillance.
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clinimetric quality of the Fire fighting simulation test as part of the dutch Fire Fighters workers health surveillance
BMC Health Services Research, 2010Co-Authors: Mariechristine J Plat, Monique H W Fringsdresen, Judith K SluiterAbstract:Background: Clinimetric data for the Fire fighting simulation test (FFST), a new test proposed for the Workers’ Health Surveillance (WHS) of Dutch Fire Fighters, were evaluated. Methods: Twenty-one Fire Fighters took the FFST three times with one and three weeks between testing. Clinimetric quality was determined by means of reliability, agreement and validity. For reliability and agreement, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and standard error of measurement (SEM), were analysed. For construct validity, the tests from 45 Fire Fighters were correlated with their own and their supervisors’ rated work ability. Results: The ICCs were 0.56 and 0.79 at the one-week and three-week test-retest periods, respectively. Testing times ranged from 9 to 17 minutes; the SEMs were 70 s at the one-week and 40 s at the three-week test-retest periods. The construct validity was moderate (-0.47 ≤ r ≤ -0.33; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The FFST was reliable with acceptable agreement after three weeks. Construct validity was moderate. We recommend using FFST as a part of the WHS for Dutch Fire Fighters. It is advised that Fire Fighters should perform the FFST once as a trial before judging their performance in testing time during the second performance.
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what do we know about ageing at work evidence based fitness for duty and health in Fire Fighters
Ergonomics, 2007Co-Authors: Judith K Sluiter, Monique H W FringsdresenAbstract:This study sought to collect evidence on age and workability in Fire Fighters, using systematic international literature searches, interviews, and secondary analyses from Dutch Fire fighter studies. Recent decades have witnessed growing demands on Fire Fighters, who face peak task demands during duty. Older Dutch Fire Fighters experience greater emotional and mental demands than their younger colleagues. Huge inter-individual variation emerged in task performance with over six-fold differences in time-on-tasks and the percentage heart rate reserve between and within age groups. However, no age-effect was observed in lifting capacity during simulations. Compared to their youngest colleagues, older Dutch Fire Fighters face a six-fold increase in the risk of health complaints. The international literature lacks psychological age effects studies. Semi-functional tests, (e.g. exercise stress testing or push-ups) do not predict workability. Regular screening of Fire Fighters, using multi-modal functional tests ...