Monitorization of alveolar deposited surface area of nanoparticles and ultrafine particles in different environments

Nanotechnology is an important emerging industry with a projected annual market of around one trillion dollars by 2015. It involves the control of atoms and molecules to create new materials with a variety of useful functions. Although there are advantages on the utilization of these nano-scale materials, questions related with its impact over the environment and human health must be addressed too, so that potential risks can be limited at early stages of development. At this time, occupational health risks associated with manufacturing and use of nanoparticles are not yet clearly understood. However, workers may be exposed to nanoparticles through inhalation at levels that can greatly exceed ambient concentrations. Current workplace exposure limits are based on particle mass, but this criteria could not be adequate in this case as nanoparticles are characterized by very large surface area, which has been pointed out as the distinctive characteristic that could even turn out an inert substance into another substance exhibiting very different interactions with biological fluids and cells. Therefore, it seems that, when assessing human exposure based on the mass concentration of particles, which is widely adopted for particles over 1 μm, would not work in this particular case. In fact, nanoparticles have far more surface area for the equivalent mass of larger particles, which increases the chance they may react with body tissues. Thus, it has been claimed that surface area should be used for nanoparticle exposure and dosing. As a result, assessing exposure based on the measurement of particle surface area is of increasing interest. It is well known that lung deposition is the most efficient way for airborne particles to enter the body and cause adverse health effects. If nanoparticles can deposit in the lung and remain there, have an active surface chemistry and interact with the body, then, there is potential for exposure. It was showed that surface area plays an important role in the toxicity of nanoparticles and this is the metric that best correlates with particle-induced adverse health effects. The potential for adverse health effects seems to be directly proportional to particle surface area. The objective of the study is to identify and validate methods and tools for measuring nanoparticles during production, manipulation and use of nanomaterials.

Silence in organizations and psychological safety : a literature review

In the business world, employees can contribute with information, ideas, concerns, opinions and proposals to their managers in respect of: (1) the way work could be performed, (2) what should / should not be done in the workplace, (3) how a particular decision can be implemented, and (4) how an organizational policy should be formed and executed (Rego, 2013). However, due to a diverse set of factors, employees often choose to remain silent in the workplace. One of these factors is psychological safety, which describes employees’ perceptions of the consequences of taking interpersonal risks in the workplace (Edmondson, 2014). The following paper is essentially a literature review and its aim is to, firstly, make a brief approach to factors reported in the literature that may affect employee voice and silence, followed up by an explanation of the types of silence that can be engaged by employees. Besides that, the authors will also make an approach to physical and psychological safety. Lastly, it will be reported some links, mentioned in the literature, between employee silence and psychological safety.

Particularidades do género masculino no Ensino da Técnica de Dança Clássica: 3º ano / rapazes

Relatório Final de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Dança, com vista à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ensino de Dança

Exposure to volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and fungi in a composting plant

Composting is an important process of solid waste management and it can be used for treatment of a variety of different wastes (green waste, household waste, sewage sludge and more). This process aims to: 1. Reduce the volumes of waste and; 2. Create a valuable product which can be recycled as a soil amendment in agriculture and gardening. A natural self-heating process involving the biological degradation of organic matter under aerobic conditions. The handling of waste and compost is responsible for the release of airborne microorganisms and their compounds in the air. Possible contaminants: a) Dust; b) Mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms; c) Volatile organic compounds; d) Endotoxins and mycotoxins…. Aim: assess exposure/contamination to: a) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs); b) Particulate matter (PM); c) Fungi. In a composting plant located in Lisbon. An additional goal was to identify the workplace with higher level of contamination. In a totally indoor composting plant. The composting operations consisted: 1º Waste already sorted is unloaded in a reception area; 2º Pretreatment - remove undesirable materials from the process (glass, rocks, plastics, metals…); 3º Anaerobic digestion; 4º Dehydration; 5º Open composting with forced aeration. All the process takes thirteen weeks.

Gestão da segurança e saúde no trabalho em trabalhos de beneficiação rodoviária: perfil de autoestrada e a aplicação dos princípios gerais da prevenção à fase de execução da obra

Mestrado em Segurança e Higiene no Trabalho

Motivar é a chave do sucesso

Mestrado em Gestão e Empreendedorismo

Prática baseada na evidência em terapia da fala

Mestrado em Gestão e Avaliação em Tecnologias da Saúde

Bullying no local de trabalho: a perceção dos profissionais de uma Instituição de Ensino Superior Politécnico norte do país

Dissertação apresentada ao Instituto Politécnico do Porto para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Gestão das Organizações, Ramo de Gestão de Empresas. Orientada por Prof. Doutor Manuel Salvador Gomes de Araújo

The Dark Side of Organizational Change: The Moderating Role of Political Behavior and Organizational Cynicism

Workplace aggression is a factor that shapes the interaction between individuals and their work environment and produces many undesirable outcomes, sometimes introducing heavy costs for organizations. Only through a comprehensive understanding of the genesis of workplace aggression is possible to develop strategies and interventions to minimize its nefarious effects. The existent body of knowledge has already identified several individual, situational and contextual antecedents of workplace aggression, although this is a research area where significant gaps occur and many issues were still not addressed Dupré and Barling (2006). According to Baron and Neuman (1998) one of these predictors is organizational change, since certain changes in the work environment (e.g., changes in management) can lead to increased aggression. This paper intends to contribute to workplace aggression research by studying its relationship with organizational change, considering a moderating role of political behaviors and organizational cynicism (Ammeter et al., 2002, Ferris et al., 2002). The literature review suggests that mediators and moderators that intervene in the relationships between workplace aggression and its antecedents are understudied topics. James (2005) sustains that organizational politics is related to cynicism and the empirical research of Miranda (2008) has identified leadership political behavior as an antecedent of cynicism but these two variables were not yet investigated regarding their relationship with workplace aggression. This investigation was operationalized using several scales including the Organizational Change Questionnaire-climate of change, processes, and readiness (Bouckenooghe, Devos and Broeck, 2009), a Workplace Aggression Scale (Vicente and D’Oliveira, 2008, 2009, 2010), an Organizational Cynicism Scale (Wanous, Reichers and Austin, 1994) and a Political Behavior Questionnaire (Yukl and Falbe, 1990). Participants representing a wide variety of jobs across many organizations were surveyed. The results of the study and its implications will be presented and discussed. This study contribution is also discussed in what concerns organizational change practices in organizations.

Agressão no trabalho em processos de mudança organizacional: O papel mediador do cinismo organizacional e do comportamento político

Workplace aggression is a factor that shapes the interaction between individuals and their work environment and produces many undesirable outcomes, sometimes introducing heavy costs for organizations. Only through a comprehensive understanding o f the genesis of workplace aggression is possible to develop strategies and interventions to minimize its nefarious effects. The existent body of knowledge has already identified several individual, situational and contextual antecedents of workplace aggr ession, although this is a research area where significant gaps occur and many issues were still not addressed (Dupré & Barling, 2006). According to Neuman and Baron (1998) one of these predictors is organizational change, since certain changes in the work environment (e.g., changes in management) can lead to increased aggression. This paper intends to contribute to workplace aggression research by studying its relationship with organizational change, considering the mediation role of political behaviors an d organizational cynicism (Ammeter, Douglas, Gardner, Hochwarter, & Ferris, 2002). The literature review suggests that mediators and moderators that intervene in the relationships between workplace aggression and its antecedents are understudied topics. Ja mes (2005) sustains that organizational politics is related to cynicism and the empirical research of Miranda (2008) has identified leadership political behavior as an antecedent of cynicism but these two variables were not yet investigated regarding their relationship with workplace aggression. This investigation was operationalized using several scales including the Organizational Change Questionnaire - climate of change, processes, and readiness (Bouckenooghe, Devos, & Broeck, 2009), a Workplace Aggressio n Scale (Vicente, 2008, 2009), an Organizational Cynicism Scale (Wanous, Reichers, & Austin, 1994) and a Political Behavior Questionnaire (Yukl & Falbe, 1990). Participants representing a wide variety of jobs across many organizations were surveyed. The r esults of the study and its implications will be presented and discussed. This study contribution is also discussed in what concerns organizational change practices in organizations.

Perspectives on access to in vitro fertilization in Portugal

OBJECTIVE: To analyze users' reasons for choosing in vitro fertilization treatment in public or private services and to identify their suggestions for improving fertility treatment. METHODS: A qualitative study using an interpretative approach was conducted. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment (nine women, one man and five couples) at home or at their workplace in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto and Lisbon, Portugal, between July 2005 and February 2006. RESULTS: Users evaluated access to in vitro fertilization treatment in public and private services based mainly on their individual experiences and called for more access to less costly, faster and friendlier care with suitable facilities, appropriate time management and caring medical providers. These perceptions were also associated with views on the need for fighting stigmatization of infertility, protecting children's rights and guaranteeing sustainability of health care system. Interviewees sought to balance reduced waiting time and more attentive care with costs involved. The choice of services depended on the users' purchase power and place of residence and availability of attentive care. CONCLUSIONS: Current national policies on in vitro fertilization treatment meet user's demands of promoting access to, and quality, availability and affordability of in vitro fertilization treatment. However, their focus on legal regulation and technical-scientific aspects contrasts with the users' emphasis on reimbursement, insurance coverage and focus on emotional aspects of the treatment. The study showed these policies should ensure insurance coverage, participation of user representatives in the National Council for Assisted Reproductive Technology, promotion of infertility research and certification of fertility laboratories.

Perceção dos riscos ocupacionais em laboratórios de ortoprotesia na região de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

Mestrado em Gestão e Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde

The transformation of work? A quantitative evaluation of changes in work in Portugal

This report is made for the Work Package 15 of WORKS project and tries to develop more information on the Portuguese situation in the work structures changes in the recent years. It starts with an analysis of socio- economical indicators (Macro economical indicators, Employment indicators, Consumption, Technology at the workplace, Productivity), and then approaches the situation in terms of work flexibility in its dimensions of time use and New forms of work organisation. It traces employment in business functions with a sectoral and occupational approach, and analyses the occupational change in South Europe with particular relevance to Portugal (skill utilisation and job satisfaction, occupational and industrial mobility, quantitative evaluation of the shape of employment in Europe. Finaly are analysed the globalisation indicators.

Task-based occupational exposure assessment and particle number concentration: two important data resources to perform risk assessment for occupational exposure to particles

Environment monitoring has an important role in occupational exposure assessment. However, due to several factors is done with insufficient frequency and normally don´t give the necessary information to choose the most adequate safety measures to avoid or control exposure. Identifying all the tasks developed in each workplace and conducting a task-based exposure assessment help to refine the exposure characterization and reduce assessment errors. A task-based assessment can provide also a better evaluation of exposure variability, instead of assessing personal exposures using continuous 8-hour time weighted average measurements. Health effects related with exposure to particles have mainly been investigated with mass-measuring instruments or gravimetric analysis. However, more recently, there are some studies that support that size distribution and particle number concentration may have advantages over particle mass concentration for assessing the health effects of airborne particles. Several exposure assessments were performed in different occupational settings (bakery, grill house, cork industry and horse stable) and were applied these two resources: task-based exposure assessment and particle number concentration by size. The results showed interesting results: task-based approach applied permitted to identify the tasks with higher exposure to the smaller particles (0.3 μm) in the different occupational settings. The data obtained allow more concrete and effective risk assessment and the identification of priorities for safety investments.

Job quality in Europe: the North-South divide

This paper examines the job quality in Europe. It is based on the results of the Fourth European Foundation Survey on working conditions covering different dimensions including work organisation, job content, autonomy at work, aspects of worker dignity, working time and work-life balance, working conditions and safety in the workplace. The results point to the existence of great diversity in the job quality across Europe and the north-south divide. The job quality differences are related to the variety of social and institutional contexts. The countries of Southern Europe, with their social and institutional contexts falling within the scope of the Mediterranean model, generally present indicators below the European average contrasting Nordic countries having the best job quality indicators.