Rachel L Bailey

Publications (2)3.16 Total impact

• Article: Evaluation of a preventive program to reduce sensitization at a beryllium metal, oxide, and alloy production plant.

  Rachel L Bailey, Carrie A Thomas, David C Deubner, Michael S Kent, Kathleen Kreiss, Christine R Schuler
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  ABSTRACT: We evaluated a workplace preventive program's effectiveness, which emphasized skin and respiratory protection, workplace cleanliness, and beryllium migration control in lowering beryllium sensitization. We compared sensitization prevalence and incidence rates for workers hired before and after the program using available cross sectional and longitudinal surveillance data. Sensitization prevalence was 8.9% for the Pre-Program Group and 2.1% for the Program Group. The sensitization incidence rate was 3.7/1000 person-months for the Pre-Program Group and 1.7/1000 person-months for the Program Group. After making adjustments for potential selection and information bias, sensitization prevalence for the Pre-Program Group was 3.8 times higher (95% CI = 1.5 to 9.3) than the Program Group. The sensitization incidence rate ratio comparing the Pre-Program Group to the Program Group was 1.6 (95% CI = 0.8 to 3.6). This preventive program reduced the prevalence of but did not eliminate beryllium sensitization.
  Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 05/2010; 52(5):505-12. · 1.88 Impact Factor
• Article: Efficacy of a program to prevent beryllium sensitization among new employees at a copper-beryllium alloy processing facility.

  Carrie A Thomas, Rachel L Bailey, Michael S Kent, David C Deubner, Kathleen Kreiss, Christine R Schuler
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  ABSTRACT: In 2000, 7% of workers at a copper-beryllium facility were beryllium sensitized. Risk was associated with work near a wire annealing/pickling process. The facility then implemented a preventive program including particle migration control, respiratory and dermal protection, and process enclosure. We assessed the program's efficacy in preventing beryllium sensitization. In 2000, the facility began testing new hires (program workers) with beryllium lymphocyte proliferation tests (BeLPTs) at hire and at intervals during employment. We compared sensitization incidence rates (IRs) and prevalence rates for workers hired before the program (legacy workers) with rates for program workers, including program worker subgroups. We also examined trends in BeLPTs from a single laboratory. In all, five of 43 legacy workers (IR = 3.8/1,000 person-months) and three of 82 program workers (IR = 1.9/1,000 person-months) were beryllium sensitized, for an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5, 10.1). Two of 37 pre-enclosure program workers (IR = 2.4/1,000 person-months) and one of 45 post-enclosure program workers (IR = 1.4/1,000 person-months) were beryllium sensitized, for IRRs of 1.6 (95% CI 0.3, 11.9) and 2.8 (95% CI 0.4, 66.2), respectively, compared with legacy workers. Test for trend in prevalence rates was significant. Among 2,159 first-draw BeLPTs during 95 months, we identified seven months when high numbers of redraws were required, with one possible misclassification in this facility. Fewer workers became sensitized after implementation of the preventive program. However, low statistical power due to the facility's small workforce prevents a definitive conclusion about the program's efficacy. These findings have implications for other copper-beryllium facilities, where program components may merit application.
  Public Health Reports 124 Suppl 1:112-24. · 1.27 Impact Factor