Gebisa Kabito

Gebisa Kabito

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Public Health

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Prevention of Occupational Lung Diseases from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Construction Industry

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a confirmed cause of occupational lung diseases (OLDs), such as silicosis. Although entirely preventable, RCS exposure continues to affect workers in high-risk industries such as construction. In Australia, over 600,000 construction workers are exposed to RCS annually. Atmospheric monitoring (conventional methods) is the gold standard for assessing and controlling RCS exposure; however, its implementation is often limited by feasibility and resources, particularly in the construction industry. In response, evidence-based exposure modelling tools have emerged as viable alternatives for predicting and/or controlling various contaminants, including RCS. Therefore, this research aims to identify evidence-based exposure modelling tools and test feasibility within the Australian construction industry.

 

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2023 Scholarship Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2016 Scholarship Scholarship for master’s degree in public health University of Gondar Ethiopia -

Research Project Grants

1.      Safety practice improvement among building construction Projects in Gondar town, Amhara National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019/2020 (CoA). Funded by University of Gondar

2.      Assessment of community responses during the early phase of the covid-19 epidemic in Gondar city: Risk perception, information exposure, preventive measures: a mixed approach, 2020 (PI). Funded by University of Gondar

3.      Assessment of indoor particulate matters, microbial count and association with respiratory symptoms among Under-five children” in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia, 2018(CoA). Funded by University of Gondar

4.        Occupational Health Risk Mitigation (HRM) Methods for Sanitation Workers: Assessment of Barriers of Access and Practice of Safe Sanitation Work (SSW) in Ethiopia, 2022 (CoA). Funded by Water Aid, UK

As an instructor, I have experience teaching various subjects to both graduate and post-graduate students. For graduate students, I teach a comprehensive introduction to Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health, Determinants of Health, and Instrumentation and Sampling Techniques. This course covers a range of topics related to the health and safety of workers in their workplace and the environment. On average, class sizes for this course are around 50 students.

For post-graduate students, I specialize in teaching Occupational Diseases Prevention and Control. This course focuses on the identification, prevention, and control of occupational diseases that can arise from various workplace exposures. The class size for this course is smaller, with an average of 10 students, allowing for more personalized instruction and interaction with the students.

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