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Background Environmental contamination of patient rooms and adjacent areas with C. difficile spores is a recognized transmission risk. Previous studies have shown that spores are aerosolized during patient care. These spores can remain airborne for extended periods and may contaminate distant surfaces. High-volume air sampling equipment allows for the collection of a large volume of air and was evaluated in the collection of C. difficile aerosol. Method Air samplers evaluated in this research included the DFU-1000, XMX/2L-MIL, Biocapture-650, and a MB2. Aerosols of C. difficile were generated in a 5-m 3 chamber and each air sampler sampled in the aerosol test chamber simultaneously with referee air samplers. Results The DFU-1000 achieved the highest efficiency of the 4 air samplers (P = .0145) with a mean efficiency of 38.60%. The relative efficiencies of the Biocapture-650, XMX/2L-MIL, and MB2 were 28.16%, 10.51%, and 3.05%, respectively. Discussion/Conclusions This study demonstrated high variation based on the sampling method employed. Based on the results of these studies, high-volume air samplers may be effectively applied to sample for airborne C. difficile in health care environments. The high sampling flow rate of the DFU-1000 would allow for the complete sampling of a patient room-sized volume in less than 1 hour.

This revised special report updates and supersedes the 1999 report published as document number IERA-RS-BR-TR-1999-0010. There continues to be a significant increase in the use of composite materials in the Air Force with each new aircraft. Along with increased use of composites, there is an increase in composite repair activities in the Air Force. A series of field evaluations was conducted at Charleston Air Force Base (AFB), Robins AFB, Hill AFB, McClellan AFB, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt AFB, Cherry Point Naval Aviation Depot (in a joint effort with the Navy Environmental Health Center), and the joint Air Force/Navy Aircraft Structural Maintenance School at Pensacola Naval Air Station. This updated special report summarizes the recommended sampling methodology, data interpretation, ventilation requirements, personal protective equipment, and workplace practices for advanced composite material and fiberglass repair, based upon the original sampling results from the Institute of ESOH Risk Assessment field evaluations.

This revised special report updates and supersedes the 2001 report, published as document number IERA-RS-BR-TR-2001-0009. Advanced composite material use in the military and private sector is increasing. As a result, personnel responding to a crash site should be able to assess the hazard and determine a category of high or low exposure risk. The information in this technical report provides valuable details to help Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering personnel develop local response plans for composite materials at aircraft crash sites. This special report serves, in part, as a foundational document for the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine's Composite Materials Field Guide.

An acoustical assessment was performed on the 303IS transmission monitoring at Osan AB in May 2012. It was determined that personnel performing transmission monitoring duties were exposed to hazardous noise. Exposures at certain workstations were over the adjusted 12-hour exposure limit. Recommendations include enrolling personnel in the hearing conservation program, installing electronic filtering, use of noise cancellation headphones, and further investigation to determine root causes of hazardous noise levels.

An acoustical assessment was performed on the Combat Arms Firing Range at Kunsan AB in May 2012. It was determined that the noise in the firing range did not meet the definition of impulse noise in AFOSH Standard 48-20 due to acoustical reflections, particularly off the side walls. Therefore, it was recommended that acoustical absorption be added to these side walls to reduce the reverberant field.

An acoustical evaluation of the engine test cell facilities at Misawa AB, Japan, was performed in December 2012. This assessment was accomplished to help determine overall sound pressure levels during multiple power settings of aircraft engine run-up procedures. It was determined that personnel performing these duties are exposed to hazardous noise levels. Therefore, it was recommended that engine test cell facilities should remain labeled as hazardous noise areas, personnel should be enrolled in the hearing conservation program and receive audiograms, and noise dosimetry should be performed to better characterize the cumulative noise exposures.

An acoustical assessment was performed on the firing range at RAF Feltwell in April 2012. It was determined that the definition of impulse noise in AFOSH Standard 48-20 was not met due to acoustical reflections, particularly off the side walls. Therefore, it was recommended that a Risk Assessment Code be assigned to the facility, personnel audiograms be closely scrutinized, and acoustical absorption treatments be added to reduce noise levels and reduce noise decay times. 15.

An acoustical assessment was performed on the firing range at Barksdale AFB, LA, in April of 2012, with findings provided in consultative letter AFRL-SA-WP-CL-2012-0058. This consultative letter provides acoustical treatment recommendations intended to decrease the firing range sound decay time such that it might become impulse rather than continuous noise.

Respirator cartridge change-out schedules depend upon many factors such as the contaminant, airborne concentration, humidity, temperature cartridge, and worker characteristics. End of service life indicator (ESLI) estimator calculators have been created by several cartridge manufacturers including 3M, North, and MSA. This technical report details background information pertaining to cartridge change-out schedules with regard to OSHA and Air Force requirements and manufacturer calculators which may be used to establish cartridge change-out schedules.