Author profile
Sami Youakim, MD, MSc, FRCP
Indoor air quality in an office environment is meant to be safe and comfortable. The office environment is very different from the industrial setting. Toxic emissions in an office setting are not expected but may occur... Read More
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is the by-product of incomplete combustion of organic material. It is a chemical asphyxiant, and its toxicity involves the interaction of the gas with... Read More
The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Canada has been declining. According to Health Canada, in 2012 the national incidence was 4.8 per 100 000, and in British Columbia 6.1 per 100 000. In certain groups, including... Read More
Lead (Pb) is the quintessential heavy metal with toxic properties that have been recognized for centuries. It’s a naturally occurring, nonessential element with well-defined dose-toxic effect relationships. Adverse... Read More
Individuals who work with vibrating hand tools frequently and for prolonged periods are at risk of developing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), a syndrome previously reviewed in this journal.[1] HAVS is costly for... Read More
Wildland fires are common in BC, especially during the dry season. Every year thousands of fires of various sizes are started by natural or human causes. Wildland firefighters work on the front line to control the... Read More
Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral with numerous desirable characteristics, such as resistance to heat and chemicals, good tensile strength, and flexibility. As a result, it has been used in thousands of products,... Read More
Chainsaws, jackhammers, and white fingers Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is caused by occupational exposure to vibrating hand tools. HAVS has three main components: 1. Peripheral neuropathy of the hands that... Read More
The Canadian wine industry has become more sophisticated over the years and has seen improvements in product quality and competitiveness. Over the last decade, sales of domestic wines in Canada have increased by more... Read More
West Nile virus (WNV) is an important emerging disease for WorkSafeBC along with SARS and possibly the avian influenza. Since first detected in New York City in 1999, WNV has spread across North America with human cases... Read More