Table 5
Examples of work tasks/exposures associated with respiratory symptoms among MRTs
| Work task/exposure | 3 or more respiratory symptoms OR* (95% CI) | 2 or more WR respiratory symptoms OR* (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| LEV, local exhaust ventilation. | ||
| *Odds ratio adjusted for age, gender, and childhood asthma. | ||
| †⩾1/wk and daily v never and <1/wk. | ||
| ‡<1/wk or more v never. | ||
| §Few times/month, weekly, and daily v never and rarely. | ||
| ¶0.05<p<0.1. | ||
| **p<0.05 (all other p values <0.01). | ||
| Workplace | ||
| Machines have LEV (all v none, some, most) | 0.5 (0.3 to 0.7) | 0.6 (0.4 to 0.9)** |
| Ventilation in area where films processed perceived as adequate (v inadequate) | 0.5 (0.4 to 0.7) | 0.4 (0.2 to 0.5) |
| Tasks past 12 months | ||
| Processor leak | 1.5 (1.0 to 2.2)** | 1.6 (0.98 to 2.6)¶ |
| Delay of clean up >1 day | 2.4 (1.6 to 3.5) | 2.1 (1.3 to 3.3) |
| Floor drain clogged | 1.7 (1.2 to 2.4) | 2.0 (1.2 to3.2) |
| Free a film jam† | 2.3 (1.5 to 3.4) | 2.9 (1.8 to 4.8) |
| Unblock blocked processor drain‡ | 2.4 (1.6 to 3.7) | 1.8 (1.0 to 3.0)** |
| Processing film by hand (wet developing)‡ | – (see table 4) | 2.1 (1.1 to 4.0)** |
| Clean up processor chemical spill‡ | 2.0 (1.4 to2.7) | 2.8 (1.9 to 4.2) |
| Detect odour of processing chemicals in work area§ | 1.8 (1.3 to 2.5) | 2.8 (1.7 to 4.5) |
