VAM-Velferd, arbeid og migrasjon

In the SHInE project concerning work environment and worker’s health in salmon industry, we aim to identify effective measures to reduce the content of small particles and droplets in the air at workplaces in this industry. Previous research has shown that such particles and droplets contain biological material from fish and microorganisms that are associated with respiratory and skin symptoms among workers. The project is a multi-centre project with close cooperation between research groups in the field of occupational health in Tromsø, Bergen and Trondheim. The project generates knowledge about airborne allergens, enzymes and microorganisms that may be of importance to the development of work-related skin and respiratory problems. The knowledge will provide a better understanding of which exposures and exposure mixtures are important for the development of symptoms and diseases. We will also study disease mechanisms and possible connections with hereditary factors. Knowledge about the levels of exposures required to trigger health problems provide a basis for the further discussion about occupational exposure limit values for workplaces. The project also investigate health-promoting factors in the working environment in the salmon industry. The data collection in the nine participating salmon companies is now completed. The work in the companies took place through three different phases. 1. A basic survey including meetings with management and technical staff, measurements of bioaerosols, health examinations of workers and questionnaires. The project groups in all three regions, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø, have experienced a positive reception when visiting the companies. Dedicated contact persons have been very helpful to establish stations for health examinations and equipment for exposure measurements within the factories as well as to accommodate work schedules to allow worker participation in the project. 2. An intervention period of approximately one year following the basic survey. In this period the companies selected to the intervention group implementet interventions aimed to reduce the level of bioaerosols in the work environment. The rest of the companies were assigned to a control group and carrying on with business as usual. The companies were told to prioritize production areas with visible sources of bioaerosols for interventions. We have, together with the companies, had a pragmatic approach regarding the choice of interventions allowing consideration of differences between the companies and their situations. The resulting intervention measures include 1) Technical measures targeting water nozzles and water beams directed towards biological materials 2) Educational and consciousness-raising measures focusing the use of water in cleaning routines 3) Measures to improve ventilation. 3. A follow-up survey one year after the basic survey performing the same measurements and investigations as in the basic surveys. This last phase of data collection was completed in May 2023. Each participating worker has got a personal message if he or she has any deviating results in the health examinations. In parallel with the work in companies, blood samples and environmental samples (filtered air samples) were analysed. At present we still work with establishing the project research database, checking data quality as we go. The research database is established in cooperation with the Clinical Research Department of the University Hospital North Norway. Also the research group in Trondheim and Bergen has engaged extra personell to assist the work with quality checking or statistical analyses of data. A data management group within the project follow up the agreements on data use for scientific articles, doctoral degrees and similar. Additional funding of PhD-projects linked to the SHInE-project has been sought from relevant funding bodies. At the end of 2022 the Tromsø subgroup was granted a PhD position from April 2023. The topic of the new PhD-project is allergic sensitization to salmon, with special focus on improving diagnostic extracts. A project meeting with the national project group and international collaborators was held at Valberg Slektsgard in September 2023. At the meeting we focused on becoming familiar with the collected data and discussed the further approach to data analysis and results in the various sub-projects. The first article from the project, a protocol article, was published in July 2023. Several other scientific articles are in the pipeline. In addition, we are preparing reports to each of the included companies focusing the occupational hygiene data and the effectiveness of exposure-reducing interventions for those companies that have introduced such. A meeting with the project reference group is scheduled in the beginning of 2024 where we will inform on results so far and ask for advice regarding the communication of results.

Workers in the salmon-processing industry in Norway, one of the leading industries with respect to value-creation per work year, have an increased risk of developing allergy, asthma and other hypersensitivity reactions due to occupational exposure to bioactive agents (allergens, microbes, enzymes, endotoxins) in bioaerosols. Reduction or cessation of exposure is likely to prevent the development of disease, or chronification of the condition for workers already reporting symptoms. However, the salmon industry need cost-effective and feasible interventions to reduce the bioaerosol exposure. The present project is directly addressing this need in that it aims to identify exposure–reducing measures in order to prevent work-related asthma, allergies and other hypersensitivity reactions in the salmon-processing industry. There will be a focus on user involvement from the processing plants where employers and employees are involved in developing relevant interventions with competent researchers to ensure feasible and relevant bioaerosol-reducing measures. The study also aims at identifying clinically relevant allergens in the occupational setting, as well as the relevancy of combined exposure of these bioactive molecules on the development of occupational health problems. This is needed to better understand the mechanisms and dose-response relationships for the allergic sensitization and respiratory disease reported among these workers. It can further be used to set occupational limit values relevant also to other occupational settings with similar exposures. The overall objective is to promote a sustainable work environment in the important and growing salmon processing industry in Norway by identifying and implementing exposure –reducing measures, and aiming to prevent work-related asthma, allergies and other hypersensitivity reactions. The project will be multi-centered, inter- and multidisciplinary, highly user-oriented, and apply health promoting principles.