Introduction: Cable manufacture workers are at risk of exposure to physical, chemical (as toluene di isocyanate, polyethylene, polypropylene, copper and polyvinyl chloride) and mechanical hazards. Safety culture is defined as the group of beliefs, perceptions and values regarding safety that are disseminated within a specific group. Safety culture is considered as an important concept in understanding the state of safety in organizations. Aim of work: To identify the knowledge of workers of a cable manufacture factory with the types of occupational exposures they may encounter, to evaluate their perception of workplace safety culture and to find out the factors related to workplace accidents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 122 workers. An interview questionnaire including information on their socio-demographic and occupational history, their knowledge of workplace hazards, and safety culture perception at work was included. Blood lead level was measured for 24 workers as a part of their periodic medical examination. Results: The most common exposures encountered were noise, accidents mainly related to bad housekeeping and lack of personal protective devices, fire and ergonomic hazards. Fifty nine percent of workers felt they were facing medium to high risk at work. About 83.3% of the workers who had blood lead levels done were below 40 micrograms/dl. A significant association was found between number of accidents encountered in the previous year and education, noise exposure, awkward posture and wearing personal protective devices. Conclusion: Cable manufacturing is a risky occupation thus safety culture rising at workplace is crucial to acquire higher levels of performance and productivity.

Introduction: Personal protective equipment (PPE) provide a physical barrier between the user and microorganisms by preventing microorganisms from contaminating the mucous membranes, airways, skin, clothing, hair and shoes of health care workers. Aim of the work: To describe the practice of nurses and physicians as regards usage of PPE and identify the factors affecting their adherence to using these equipment. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study among health care workers at El-Demerdash hospital (a teaching hospital in Cairo, Egypt). The study included (269) physicians (from demonstrators to professors) and (331) nurses. Participants answered a questionnaire which included items on socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, questions on practice, attitude of health care workers regarding the usage of personal protective equipments. A health education poster was prepared and used by researchers to transmit a message on the importance of using personal protective equipments among health care workers through face to face interviews. Results: It was found that the independent predictors of adherence among physicians were dealing with a patient known to have a blood borne disease, availability of PPE, senior example and past experience. While in nurses the independent predictors were also dealing with patients known to have a blood borne disease, availability of PPE together with no time to use PPE and training on a clear hospital policy. Conclusion: Increasing the awareness of health care workers about the importance of adherence to usage of PPE is very important and will help in reducing transmission of infection to them. Protection of health care workers from acquisition of infectious diseases can be achieved by compliance to established infection control guidelines including rigorous infection control practices, perspective instructions for the use of PPE and post exposure antiviral prophylaxis

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Introduction: Hairdressing is associated with exposure to various harmful conditions which may be chemical, physical and ergonomic. Proper knowledge of hazardous exposures leads to reduction of adverse health outcomes. Hairdressing has been linked with several self-reported symptoms as respiratory, allergic and musculoskeletal complaints. Aim of work: To measure the knowledge of hairdressers regarding hazardous work exposures, safe work practices, in addition to describe the possible work-related symptoms experienced by them. Materials and methods: This is a cross sectional study including 200 male hairdressers working in this career for not less than 2 years. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and occupational data, description of the workplace safety measures, their knowledge regarding effects of hazardous work exposures. Complaints of any symptoms were also included related to respiratory, allergic reactions and skin problems. Results: Mean knowledge score of the study population was 4.65 ± 1.8 with the highest percentage of them reporting their knowledge of being at risk of musculoskeletal disorders and electrical injuries. Best practice was for wearing personal protective devices, washing hands after handling chemicals and before eating. A significant association was found between mean knowledge score and attending training courses. Moreover, a significant association was found between mean work duration and reporting chest symptoms and between mean working hours per day and skin allergic and musculoskeletal complaints. Conclusion: The poor knowledge of the possible health effects due to work exposures and the increased frequency of self-reported symptoms necessitate dissemination of general safety guidelines and offering more training courses to this occupational sector.

Introduction: Occupational lead exposure increases the risk for adverse renal outcomes. Lead has been reported to cause nephrotoxicity by several mechanisms. Moreover, lead toxicity induces various effects on many organs. Aim of Work: to study the association between blood lead level and some renal and clinical parameters among workers exposed to lead. Materials and Methods: The study included 120 lead exposed workers (galvanic painting) seeking periodic medical examination. The workers answered a questionnaire including questions regarding their socio-demographic characteristics and medical complaints. Also, a blood sample was withdrawn for measuring blood lead level, serum creatinine, serum uric acid and blood urea. Results: The percentage of workers with blood lead level ≥ 20 microgram/dl (µg/dl) presenting with abdominal pain, tremors and tingling of the extremities was significantly higher than the percentage of workers with blood lead level less than 20 µg/dl reporting the same symptoms. Moreover, the mean serum uric acid was significantly higher among workers with blood lead level ≥ 20 µg/dl than among those with blood lead level less than 20µg/dl. Conclusion: Lead exposed workers are at risk of several system affection including the kidneys. This necessitates the undertaking preventive measures to control exposure at the workplace and also periodic medical examination is highly recommended.