The Antineoplastic Drug Exposure Monitoring Program
The “Hazardous Drug Exposure Prevention Program (HazDEPP)” is a two-year pilot project aimed at reducing risks from incidental exposure to antineoplastic drugs in healthcare settings. Healthcare workers face chronic exposure risks from hazardous drugs, many of which are carcinogenic or reproductive toxins, contaminating surfaces in pharmacies and clinical settings. The project utilizes surface wipe sampling methods to gather exposure data, which will inform and educate healthcare staff about best practices for exposure control. By implementing a new surveillance strategy, HazDEPP seeks to establish a sustainable system for ongoing exposure reduction, ultimately enhancing safety protocols in healthcare facilities across British Columbia.
Occupational and Environmental Illicit Drug Monitoring
The “Occupational and Environmental Illicit Drug Monitoring” project aims to understand the risks associated with secondhand exposure to illicit drugs in workplaces like hospitals and housing facilities. It houses two sub projects: “Characterizing Short-term Exposure to Fentanyl when Indoor Smoking Occurs” which use novel sampling equipment to measure drug concentrations in air during and after smoking events. The second titled “Analytical Sampling Method Development: Surface-Wipe Sampling for Fentanyl and Other Illicit Drug” aims to characterize illicit drugs on workplace surfaces. The findings will inform safety protocols and workplace policies to protect workers while enabling them to respond effectively to overdose situations.
Ototoxicity and Occupational Hearing Loss in BC
The “Audiometric Database Analysis of the Effects of Ototoxicants in the Workplace” project seeks to explore the prevalence and impact of ototoxic chemicals in British Columbia workplaces. Ototoxicants or ototoxic chemicals are substances that can cause hearing loss, either independently or in conjunction with noise exposure. By analyzing the exposure to these chemicals with audiometric test results, the project aims to understand their impact on occupational hearing loss. Through data-driven recommendations, the project seeks to help improve occupational safety standards and hearing conservation programs in BC.
Workplace Whole Body Vibration Exposure
The “Evaluation of an Innovative Seat Technology to Reduce Workplace Whole Body Vibration (WBV) Exposure” project is an innovative approach seeking to improve the health and safety of workers in industries that rely on light and medium-duty vehicles. Vehicle operators of extended periods of time, are exposed to whole body vibration which is major contributor to musculoskeletal disorders, especially lower back pain (LBP). This project will seek to assess the effectiveness of a low-profile seat suspension system, developed by Suspension Systems Technologies (SST) in reducing WBV through real-world testing.