Comparison of Two Methods Used for Ranking Task Exposure Levels Using Simulated Multi-Task Data

摘要

The role of the occupational hygienist is to protect the health and well-being of workers and the public through anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards arising in or from the workplace. During the evaluation phase, an occupational hygienist may collect air samples to quantify workers' exposure levels. Documentation of exposure-related factors, or determinants, is an important aspect of both the sampling event and the comprehensive exposure evaluation. Some examples of determinants include: worker location, raw materials and equipment used, engineering controls, environmental conditions, and task. Researchers have studied determinants of exposure to identify factors that are associated with an increase or decrease in exposure levels. Determinants are observed and recorded during experimental and observational studies. This study compared the performance of two methods, P- screen and multiple linear regression, at ranking task exposures. Monte Carlo methods using simulated data were used to assess performance of the methods under a variety of experimental conditions.