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Fifteen raters individually, and in five teams of three, evaluated the test-retest repeatability of published data collection and rating methods of the Strain Index by analyzing 61 job video files twice over a 5-month period. Raters estimated average and peak hand forces, measured Duration of Exertion, cycle time, and exertions per job cycle, calculated percent Duration of Exertion and Efforts per Minute, and assigned ratings for five of the six Strain Index task variables. Twelve additional jobs were analyzed to determine Strain Index Score and hazard classification. Intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficients for task variable ratings and accompanying data ranged from 0.66 to 0.95 for both individuals and teams. The Strain Index Score ICC(2,1) for individuals and teams were 0.56 and 0.82, respectively. Intra-rater reliability for the hazard classification was 0.81 for individuals and 0.88 for teams. The results indicate that the Strain Index has good test-retest reliability.

The Strain Index is one of several tools available to evaluate exposure to musculoskeletal stressors in the workplace in order to predict whether workers are at an increased risk of developing distal upper extremity disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of the Strain Index. Fifteen raters initially estimated or measured data for five Strain Index task variables: (1) intensity of exertion, (2) duration of exertion, (3) efforts per minute, (4) hand/wrist posture, and (5) speed of work, using a computer to view 61 video segments of single task jobs. Video segments were organized to provide a balanced number for each of the five variables under study, where each segment was used to provide data for a single variable. Raters then assigned rating values to each task according to published procedures. For an additional 12 segments, raters performed complete Strain Index analyses, including calculation of Strain Index scores, which were used to determine hazard classifications. Raters assessed the tasks both as individuals and as members of five three-person teams. Inter-rater reliabilities of the procedures leading to and including the Strain Index scores were assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient, (ICC(2, 1)). Inter-rater reliability for the dichotomous hazard classification was assessed using Kuder-Richardson-20 (KR-20, an ICC for dichotomous data). For task variables and estimated data, ICC(2, 1) varied between 0.66-0.84 for individuals and 0.48-0.93 for teams. The Strain Index score had an ICC(2, 1) of 0.43 and 0.64 for individuals and teams, respectively. For the most important variable, hazard classification, KR-20 was 0.91 for the individuals and 0.89 for the teams.

Exogenous microorganisms often are used to enhance bioremediation. This study compared the capabilities of two exogenous microbial cultures and an indigenous population to detoxify a Weswood silt loam soil amended with a simple chemical mixture. The first three treatments were unamended soils inoculated with either indigenous microorganisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Phanerochaete sordida. Three additional treatments consisted of soil amended with benzo[a]pyrene, pentachlorophenol, and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, which were inoculated with either indigenous microorganisms, P. aeruginosa, or P. sordida. Samples were collected from the soils at several time points from 0 through 540 or 720 d, sequentially extracted with methylene chloride and methanol, and analyzed for genotoxicity (using the Salmonella/microsome assay) and chemical degradation. Although the indigenous microorganisms were effective for removal of benzo[a]pyrene, the Pseudomonas bacteria exhibited slightly greater removal rates for 2,4,6,-trinitrotoluene. The fungal cultures were significantly more effective at degrading pentachlorophenol. The day 540 extracts from all model chemical-amended treatments were genotoxic. In most cases, the day 540 extracts were more genotoxic than the day 0 extracts. The results suggest that, under appropriate conditions, enriched cultures of microorganisms may have an increased capacity to degrade individual chemicals. However, the products of degradation in some cases might be more genotoxic than the parent compounds.

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