Project for Better Occupational Health in the Salmon Processing Industry
The goal of the SHInE* project is to identify effective measures to improve air quality in the workplaces of the salmon processing industry.
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The measures focus on reducing the content of droplets and particles containing biological material, known as bioaerosols. Previous research has shown that workers in the fishing industry, shellfish industry, and agriculture can experience skin and respiratory issues due to exposure to bioaerosols. The project will investigate which components of bioaerosols may contribute to health problems, as well as the mechanisms involved. Additionally, we will examine which factors in the working environment of the salmon processing industry promote good health.
SHInE is a multicenter project involving the occupational medicine departments at the university hospitals in Tromsø, Bergen, and Trondheim, as well as UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NTNU, and the University of Bergen. The project is led from Tromsø and includes several international partners. The project group is interdisciplinary, with expertise in medicine, occupational hygiene, natural sciences, psychology, and social sciences. Emphasis is placed on close dialogue between researchers and the industry at all stages of the project. The reference group includes representatives from salmon processing factories, employer and employee organizations, and the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, all of whom are important partners.
Nine salmon processing factories are participating in the research project, located in Northern Norway, Central Norway, and Western Norway. The work in the factories is divided into three phases:
Baseline Survey (2021-2022): This phase included meetings with management and technical staff, occupational hygiene measurements, health examinations, and questionnaire surveys.
Intervention Period: In this phase, the intervention factories themselves implemented measures to reduce the level of bioaerosols in collaboration with the researchers, while the control factories maintained regular operations.
Follow-up Survey (2022-2023): One year after the baseline survey, a follow-up survey was conducted using the same methods as in the first phase.
The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway (NFR) and includes two PhD candidates and one postdoctoral fellow.
*Effects of Interventions to prevent work-related asthma, allergy, and other Hypersensitivity reactions in Norwegian Salmon industry workers.