No abstract

This study investigates the state of the perceptions of chemical safety in laboratories among undergraduate students of the Biomedical Engineering and Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering departments at the German Jordanian University in Jordan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted anonymously with a random sample size of 174 students. A questionnaire of 32 questions was designed with five sections: demographic data, familiarity of chemical hazard signs, attitude towards chemical laboratory safety, safety practices, and familiarity with emergency equipment and procedure. The descriptive statistics showed that students demonstrated fair to good familiarity and understanding of chemical hazard warning signs. Most students had poor to fair attitudes towards chemical laboratory safety; but the assessment of students’ chemical laboratory safety practices revealed fair to good practices. While students safety awareness and practices, but not attitude, at this university were acceptable, safety procedures need to be implemented within a more professional safety education and coherent risk and safety climate management.

Instrumentalists and specifically percussionists have been found to develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the nature of their work. This study aimed to assess the MSD risk factors associated with playing the steel pan, which was invented in Trinidad and Tobago in the 20th century. A sample of 13 pannists and 13 non-pannists completed a modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and data analysis included multiple correlations, Student's t test, the Moore-Garg strain index and calculation of compressive force at the L5/S1 vertebrae. The prevalence of pain was found to be greater among the pannists; a strain index of 22.78 was calculated and the compressive force was determined to be 4507.8 N, which indicated that pannists have a high risk of developing MSDs of the upper limbs and lower back. The risk factors identified for the development of MSDs were similar to those of previous studies.