DIRSST-funded researchers at Université de Montréal developed and validated a technique for using the air exhaled by workers to perform biological monitoring of exposure to industrial solvents.
A first large-scale study was conducted of the risk of accidents during garbage collection For 300 hours, researchers followed, observed and filmed 55 workers over a distance of 2,800 km. Garbage collectors were found to handle an average of more than three tonnes of garbage each; to make 482 flexion, 203 throwing and 159 twisting movements; and to travel more than two kilometres during each hour of their work day. The study clearly identified the major causes of accidents and proposed concrete solutions to eliminate them.