Page 37 - OOHNA Spring-Summer 2017
P. 37
Occupational Health Nurses Promoting Lung Health for Farmers n ReseaRch
Rationale for N95 respirator Key Messages
fit-testing • Consult with the farmers throughout the planning and schedul-
N95 respirator fit-testing dem- ing of the clinics, to determine best location and timing of lung
onstrates the importance of health clinics (e.g. avoid harvest times);
actively involving the poultry farm- • Consult with health care providers to establish lung clinics in
er to achieve a suitable seal, thus proximity to the farmers, as well as offering a clinic space and
ensuring that he or she is properly time suited to health care providers;
protected. there is more danger in • Include educational and clinical components to make best use of
wearing a respirator that is not fit- time with farmers and health care providers;
tested, owing to over-confidence • Connect with the local providers of spirometry, to ensure that the
in the ability of the respirator to costs are covered for high risk occupations such as poultry farming
protect from lung health risks. • Attend a Spirometry Update session, provided by the Ontario
lung association;
Rationale for pre/post broncho- • Obtain or recertify for your N95 fit-test certification.
dilator spirometry
Pre/post spirometry is the gold
standard to detect early onset of wearing the appropriate fit-tested enhances learning, to ensure the
lung disease (Gold, 2017). the respirator, reduces exposure to desired outcomes of wearing of a
post bronchodilator spirometry harmful hazards. a lung health fit-tested respirator which is suit-
can provide important data on questionnaire that includes the able for the lung health risk, and
small airway changes, which can Medical research council (Mrc) promote lung health for farmers.
indicate early onset of broncho- breathlessness scale can identify
constriction, and can be missed if when exercise limitations are pres- Conclusion
post bronchodilator spirometry is ent (Stenton, 2008). respirator use
not performed. can be promoted by offering a the lung health clinics provided
variety of types of respirators, as to poultry farmers as part of this
Discussion well as discussing the rationale study, demonstrated an efficient
for wearing the respirator, all the
coPd is preventable, eas- way to provide farming-specific
ily detected, and treatable at any time during work within the poul- lung health education, pre-post
stage (canadian lung association, try barn. a lung health clinic which spirometry testing, and N95 res-
2015). Knowing lung health risks, includes the clinical components pirator-fit testing, all in the same
and protecting the airways by appointment.
and the educational components,
Appendix #1: Example of an educational tool to review lung health risks and protective measures
lung Health Hazards and respirator types in Poultry Production (dolinar, rM, 2016).
Hazards found in Poultry Barns Type of Respirator How the respirator protects from the hazard
Bioactive dust from airborne N95 disposable Needs fit testing in order to protect.
bacteria, mold, fungus, viruses, respirator “N” means the respirator is not resistant to oil.
endotoxins. a respirator marked N95 would mean it is at least
95% efficient.
ammonia gas air-purifying, full- Needs fit testing in order to protect.
facepiece respirator the recommended level for short-term exposure
with two canisters (15 minutes) is no greater that 35 ppm. Many
providing protection poultry producers become accustomed to the
specifically against ammonia, and are less able to detect ammonia
ammonia gas below 50 ppm.
carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, air-supplied respira- Humans need 21% oxygen, and chicks can survive
carbon monoxide tor needed in 6% oxygen. For entry into a low oxygen or
high carbon dioxide or high hydrogen sulfide, a
self-contained breathing apparatus is needed. Fit
testing is not needed, since air is supplied within
a hood over the head of the worker.
OOHNA JOURNAL n spRiNg/sUmmeR 2017 35
Rationale for N95 respirator Key Messages
fit-testing • Consult with the farmers throughout the planning and schedul-
N95 respirator fit-testing dem- ing of the clinics, to determine best location and timing of lung
onstrates the importance of health clinics (e.g. avoid harvest times);
actively involving the poultry farm- • Consult with health care providers to establish lung clinics in
er to achieve a suitable seal, thus proximity to the farmers, as well as offering a clinic space and
ensuring that he or she is properly time suited to health care providers;
protected. there is more danger in • Include educational and clinical components to make best use of
wearing a respirator that is not fit- time with farmers and health care providers;
tested, owing to over-confidence • Connect with the local providers of spirometry, to ensure that the
in the ability of the respirator to costs are covered for high risk occupations such as poultry farming
protect from lung health risks. • Attend a Spirometry Update session, provided by the Ontario
lung association;
Rationale for pre/post broncho- • Obtain or recertify for your N95 fit-test certification.
dilator spirometry
Pre/post spirometry is the gold
standard to detect early onset of wearing the appropriate fit-tested enhances learning, to ensure the
lung disease (Gold, 2017). the respirator, reduces exposure to desired outcomes of wearing of a
post bronchodilator spirometry harmful hazards. a lung health fit-tested respirator which is suit-
can provide important data on questionnaire that includes the able for the lung health risk, and
small airway changes, which can Medical research council (Mrc) promote lung health for farmers.
indicate early onset of broncho- breathlessness scale can identify
constriction, and can be missed if when exercise limitations are pres- Conclusion
post bronchodilator spirometry is ent (Stenton, 2008). respirator use
not performed. can be promoted by offering a the lung health clinics provided
variety of types of respirators, as to poultry farmers as part of this
Discussion well as discussing the rationale study, demonstrated an efficient
for wearing the respirator, all the
coPd is preventable, eas- way to provide farming-specific
ily detected, and treatable at any time during work within the poul- lung health education, pre-post
stage (canadian lung association, try barn. a lung health clinic which spirometry testing, and N95 res-
2015). Knowing lung health risks, includes the clinical components pirator-fit testing, all in the same
and protecting the airways by appointment.
and the educational components,
Appendix #1: Example of an educational tool to review lung health risks and protective measures
lung Health Hazards and respirator types in Poultry Production (dolinar, rM, 2016).
Hazards found in Poultry Barns Type of Respirator How the respirator protects from the hazard
Bioactive dust from airborne N95 disposable Needs fit testing in order to protect.
bacteria, mold, fungus, viruses, respirator “N” means the respirator is not resistant to oil.
endotoxins. a respirator marked N95 would mean it is at least
95% efficient.
ammonia gas air-purifying, full- Needs fit testing in order to protect.
facepiece respirator the recommended level for short-term exposure
with two canisters (15 minutes) is no greater that 35 ppm. Many
providing protection poultry producers become accustomed to the
specifically against ammonia, and are less able to detect ammonia
ammonia gas below 50 ppm.
carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, air-supplied respira- Humans need 21% oxygen, and chicks can survive
carbon monoxide tor needed in 6% oxygen. For entry into a low oxygen or
high carbon dioxide or high hydrogen sulfide, a
self-contained breathing apparatus is needed. Fit
testing is not needed, since air is supplied within
a hood over the head of the worker.
OOHNA JOURNAL n spRiNg/sUmmeR 2017 35
