Measures for Bioaerosol Reduction in the Salmon Industry

Summary

Workers in the salmon industry are at risk of developing allergies and respiratory diseases, including asthma, due to occupational exposure to bioaerosols, i.e. biological agents such as allergens, enzymes and endotoxins, in their work environment. The overall objective of this intervention trial is to identify effective and feasible control measures (interventions) that reduce exposure to these bioaerosols.

The project comprises nine salmon processing factories in northern, central and western Norway. The factories are allocated to either one of the two intervention arms or the control group. In all factories, an assessment of exposure to bioaerosols will be performed. In addition, employees will be invited to undergo a health examination and fill out a self-administered questionnaire including information on demographics, work tasks, health and health promoting factors.

The intervention trial is part of a broader study that comprises several substudies including the identification of clinically relevant allergens, investigation of exposure-response relationship between the exposure to individual bioactive agents in bioaerosols and investigations of prevalence of airway symptoms, altered lung function, skin symptoms or immunological responses indicating hypersensitivity. Finally the project includes the identification of health promoting factors that are present in the salmon processing industry.

The project is an interdisciplinary multi-center study that places great emphasis on a close dialogue between the researchers and industry in all phases of the project.

Conditions

• Asthma, Occupational
• Hypersensitivity

Interventions

OTHER

Nozzles (NZ)

Technical intervention targeting alteration of nozzles or nozzle function along the production line, e.g. by manipulation of nozzle dimensions, alteration of operating pressure or shielding of the nozzle's output stream. How the intervention is to be carried out in detail in the respective factory is to be developed in collaboration with the factory staff. This can include local specific characteristics, specific location of intervention or others.

OTHER

Cleaning of surfaces (CS)

Behavioural or technical intervention. This can include increased use of swabbing instead of flushing with water hoses or alterations in use of water hoses for cleaning. Examples for the latter are a reduced flushing frequency, reduction of number of employees executing the work, alterations of hose dimension or nozzles on hoses. How the intervention is to be carried out in detail in the respective factory is to be developed in collaboration with the factory staff. This can include local specific characteristics, specific location of intervention or others.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Research Council of Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• UiT The Arctic University of Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• Haukeland University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Bergen

  collaborator OTHER

• St. Olavs Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital of North Norway

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• ANJE Höper, PhD · University Hospital of North Norway

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-20

Primary Completion

2023-06-30

Completion

2023-06-30

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations