Iran Occupational Health
Year:2018 | Volume:15 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:16

Background and aims: In today’s business world, managers use outsourcing strategy as tool to establish competitive advantage and business capabilities in order to subcontract some activities and tasks to qualified contractors. Selecting the fittest contractor from qualified contractors can prevent waste of resource and keep organizational resource. With regard to complexities, risks and conditions of oil industry, one of the main criteria to select contractor in this industry is safety. In addition to such criteria as affordability, experience, specialized human resource, etc., the contractor should have acceptable health and safety executive (HSE) and appropriate performance. This study aims to determine contractor selection model by means of combined DEMATEL and ANP methods and grey relational analysis by safety approach.Methods: In this study we used combined DEMATEL and ANP methods and grey relational analysis approach in order to rank criteria and to select best contractor (case study in oil industry), while developing conceptual structure, we can minimize qualification and effect of assessor’s personal judgment in evaluation process and contractor selection.Results: The results of this study show that main safety indexes to select contractor in oil industry are safety history and investment in safety sections.Conclusion: This matter indicates (a) risks of this industry and (b) effect of safety education and effect of investment (in other sections) on performance of other sections and entire organization.

Background and aims: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of environmental concern because of their adverse effects on human health. VOCs contain a large group of substances like toluene. Today application of catalytic beds is one the ways to control these kinds of emissions. In this study photocatalytic removal of toluene vapour by titanium dioxide nanoparticles immobilized on ZSM-5 zeolite have been investigated.Methods: First, the bed of ZSM-5 was prepared in the form of granules. Next, titanium dioxide nanoparticles with ratios of 5 wt% were stabilized on it. To determine their characteristics, samples were used from BET, BJH and SEM analyses. Finally, the performance of the beds in the removal of toluene vapors at two concentrations of ppm 50 and 300 ppm in the dynamical system was investigated.Results: The result of tests showed that ZSM-5 has a porous surfaces with surface area of 356.4 m2/g. That after the calcination at temperature of 450oc it decreased to 332.5m2/g.The results of the photocatalytic degradation process showed that the best performance of ZSM-5/TiO2 bed was at concentration of 50 ppm, so that was able to remove 42% toluene vapors.Conclusion: According to the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that stabilization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the ZSM-5 zeolite can be a good method to remove toluene vapors and other similar pollutants.

Background and aims: Sleep quality is defined as the perceived deep sleep. More than half of nurses have sleep disorders. The aim of this study is to compare perceived sleep quality between burn and non-burn nurses.Methods: In a cross-sectional design in Imam Reza Hospital in 2016, 55 nurses of burn ward were compared to a representative sample of other clinical wards. The validated Persian version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was filled. Data were analyzed through SPSS v.11.5.Results: All burn nurses (55, 100%) and 96% (48) of non-burn nurses had a sleep disorder without a statistically significant difference. Only sleep efficiency was better in burn nurses (85% with no sleep disorder) compared to non-burn nurses (64% with no sleep disorder) (p=0.01). Sleep quality was significantly reduced by increasing age (r=-0.23, p=0.02) and increasing years of work history (r=-0.23, p=0.01) but not with overtime work (r=0.08, p=0.38).Conclusion: With respect to the high prevalence of sleep disorder, we believe that screening interventions should be considered in the nursing system. This approach can hopefully help in starting therapeutic interventions to reduce or even eliminate the burden of sleep disorder.

Background and aims: Work-related accidents each year have a significant impact on workers ‘productivity and ultimately the economy of the society. It is estimated that each year two million workers around the world die due to work-related accidents. And approximately 100 million occupational accidents occur each year in the world. Risk perception as a subset of safety culture shows an instant image of people safety perceptions of organization. Because, as a fact, Researches has shown that occupational accidents risk perception affected safe behavior directly and indirectly, the aim of this study was to relationship between occupational accidents risk perception of fueling stations workers with the HSE management performance in fueling Stations in Ahvaz city in 2016.Methods: By the Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) technique identified 54 occupational dangerous position in gas stations. Then, occupational accidents risk perception questionnaire on 1-5 Likert scale was distributed in 92 gas station workers. Data were analyzed using the software SPSS19. Also, HSE management performance in gas Stations evaluated by the Balance Square Card (BSC) technique that analysis and investigate the relationship between occupational accidents risk perception with the HSE management performance used multivariate linear regression analysis.Results: That results showed workers risk perception was a good level 72.2% and HSE management performance in gas Stations was a good level 65%. Finally it was found that the relationship between occupational accidents risk perception with the HSE management performance is a meaningful and positive relationship the people have a better understanding of risk and HSE management performance score will increase.Conclusion: The results obtained showed that a positive risk perception was associated with reduced risks. Also HSE management can be effective on improving workplace risk perception.This study provides a framework for strategic planning HSE Managers to protect workers and prevention occupational accidents.

Background and aims: Mineral oils are petroleum derivatives used in metalworking processes. In recent years, considering the carcinogenicity of less refined mineral oil, two separate threshold limit values considered in recent years. The present study designed to compare the spectrometry methods of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet (UV), for analysis of mineral oil.Methods: Mineral oils in two different refinement classes were prepared from metalworking processes. Then after determination of density, two types of mineral oils were spiked into Cellulose Ester filter at the same concentration (concentration range: 10-2250 mg/sample). Carbon tetrachloride and cold pentane as extraction solvent was used for FT-IR and UV, respectively. Validation parameters including precision, accuracy, detection and quantitation limit were evaluated in both methods.Results: Detectable concentration ranges of FT-IR and UV methods were close to each other. Intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation in highly refined oil in FT-IR and UV methods was 5.04, 3.57 and 6.16, 6.01 percent, respectively, and for poorly refined oils in 5.12, 5.21 and 6.36, 6.13 percent respectively. The recovery rates of the two methods was not significantly different (p=0.461). LOD and LOQ for highly and poorly refined mineral oils in FT-IR and UV analytical methods were 2.61, 2.22 and 7.83, 7.74, and 8.2, 7.3 and 25.84, 15.55 mg/sample, respectively.Conclusion: FT-IR compared to UV method, has higher precision for analysis of the mineral oils. According validating parameters of this study, FT-IR and UV methods can be used as an alternative to NIOSH methods in the measurement of mineral oils.

Background and aims: The previous studies has been shown high incidence of accidents and occupational injuries in metal smelting industry because of the nature of the processes. It was also found that more than 70 percent of the accidents occur due to workers' unsafe behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate and analysis of workers' unsafe acts in metal smelting industry in Kashan in 2016.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 178 Metal smelting Industry Workers. Workers' unsafe behaviors were determined by observation method using Tarannt checklist. Demographic data were collected by Self-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi-square-test, t-test, ANOVA and linear regression by SPSS16 software.Results: 43.23 percent out of Workers' behaviors was unsafe. The most of the unsafe behaviors was Non-use of personal protective equipment and the least of them was indiscretion. The significant differences were observed between unsafe behaviors and age, education level, smoking, work stations and safety and health training (p.value<0.05).Conclusion: The study showed high prevalence of unsafe acts in metal smelting industry. The most of workers' unsafe acts was related to lack of use of personal protective equipment. Producing and distributing high-quality personal protective equipment, encouraging the use of these devices and specialized training courses in the field, can reduce workers' unsafe acts and occupational accidents effectively.

Background and aims: Human resource is the most important capital in any organization.It is important to review and identify factors associated with those resources that can be effective on organizational performance. This study purpose is to measure the effect of empowerment and enhancing communication skills on staffs’ job performance in Beheshti Hospital, Yasooj, Iran.Methods: This research is descriptive and based on practical purpose. The study population is consisted of all administrative staff, managers, experts and hospital nurses that its number was 150 people in 1395. Sampling was conducted using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The instrument used in this study was a questionnaire. PLS software and the structural equation have been used to analyze model and assumptions.Results: The results showed that empowerment and enhancing communication skills have effect on job performance significantly (p<0.05). Cronbach's alpha values of empowerment, communication skills and job performance were 0.87, 0.88 and 0.81, respectively, indicating the relationship between variables. Our proposed model was confirmed, too.Conclusion: The results showed that the transfer of job information to each other, sympathized with their work and performed it with all the quality, regarding to discipline and administrative regulations, avoid of wasting time and useless works, creating a sense of responsibility among employees and respect for colleagues, and increasing job performance.

Background and aims: Disasters and events including natural and man-made disasters cause several harmful consequences in society. Health sector has an essential role in reducing deaths and injuries during disasters. Therefore, the present study was performed to study disaster safety and risk assessment in health facilities of Iran University of Medical Sciences in functional, nonstructural & structural components in 2015-2016.Methods: This study is cross-sectional. To conduct the study, we used Disaster Risk Assessment in Primary Health Care Facilities Guidelines and forms of recognition threatening risks, functional preparedness assessment tool, non-structural & structural vulnerability assessment tool in 214 health units covered by Iran University of Medical Sciences. After summing up the results of all centers, safety level, vulnerability and preparedness for centers were calculated as percentage.Results: Based on the results functional preparedness level in health centers for Iran University of Medical Sciences is 23%, safety of non-structural, structural elements and total safety are 27, 20 and 22 %, respectively. Also, safety level index in disaster 3 form 10 was estimated.Conclusion: According to the results current situation of disaster preparedness centers is far from the favorable level. This condition is caused by lack of coherent organization for disaster risk management, lack of sufficient funds and knowledge of this context. As a result, appropriate measures in disaster risk management, especially in increasing the understanding of disaster risk at the community and authorities level should be done.

Background and aims: Modern technology has imposed more cognitive demands than physical demands to operators in most workplaces. The increase of cognitive demands in real working conditions can have negative effect on the mental health and performance of operators. This study was coducted with the aim of subjective and objective evaluation of operators’ mental workload in a city traffic control room.Methods: In this study 16 opeartors of a traffic control center participated voluntarily. In setteled day at resting condition the physiological indices were measured for 5 minutes before the work started and after it was finished for each operator. Regarding to the city traffic density (low and high mental work conditions) the physiological indices were measured for 5 minuts in each condition. Also at the end of each condition the NASA-TLX questionaire was completed by each operator. The data were analysed using t-test and repaeated measure analysis of variance by SPSS.21 software.Results: The Results of our paired t-test showed a significant differences between the subjective responses of operators in all dimensions of NASA-TLX except for physical demand in low mental workload condition compared to high mental workload. The Findings of the repeated measures of ANOVA showed that there is a significant differences between the mean of heart rate, SDNN, RMSSD and LF/HF ratio features by increasing difficulty of mental work compared to before and after rests among operators.Conclusion: Our finding indicated that with increasing traffic density a lot of mental load imposed to operators maybe causing mental health problem and decreasing performance among operators in future. Therfore, in the traffic control room, organizing and managing human resources based on the workload in different working conditions is recommended.

Background and aims: Higher education plays an important role in the development of human resources and professional expertise. However, academic failure could expose families and governments with numerous scientific, cultural and economic problems.Identification of important factors relevant to academic achievement requires further researches. Regular physical exercise is among the most important contributor of a healthy lifestyle which is known to be associated with better performance. Physical ability with intermediation of cognitive ability leads to academic achievement. This study is a step towards assessing this hypothesis by evaluating direct and indirect effects of aerobic capacity on students ‘academic performance.Methods: 350 bachelor students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were participated in this study. After studying and signing consent form, they completed Faam and Taylor Academic Performance Questionnaire and accomplished complex Stroop Cognitive Test as well as Chester Step Test. Data was analyzed using "SPSS22" through path analysis.Results: Pearson correlation test showed a positive and significant relationship between physical ability with cognitive ability and academic performance. Path analysis showed that the maximum aerobic capacity had an overall causal effect of 0.505 on academic performance while its mediated effect by cognitive ability was 0.054.Conclusion: In line with previous researches, positive relationship between physical ability, cognitive ability and academic performance were approved. The maximum aerobic capacity can affect academic performace. However, if other possible intermediate variables (not yet identified) are correctly identified and located in this template, total effect coefficient of maximum aerobic capacity on academic performance will increases and consolidation of current template will promote.

Background and aims: One of the major occupational issues usually in the form of institutional responses to job pressures among human service workers is job burnout.Considering the effects of burnout in organizations, study of the effectiveness of psychological therapies is necessary. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of group multimodal counseling (MMT) on burnout dimensions of a gas company employees.Methods: The research uses a semi-experimental and pre-test, post-test design with control group. Population of this study was all employees of a gas company in Kermanshah ac in 2012. To conduct this research 30 persons selected target sampling method. The samples assigned in 2 groups (control & experimental) randomly. The experimental group was provided with the 8 session’s intervention based on group multimodal counseling. The research instruments were Maslach burnout inventory. The gathered data were analyzed through MANCOVA.Results: Research findings showed that there are significant differences between experimental and control groups in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and enhancing personal performance (p<0.05).Conclusion: Whole results indicated that group multimodal counseling is effective on reducing emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and enhancing personal performance in studied employee.

Background and aims: Employees in hospitals and healthcare centers are exposed to a wide range of respiratory contaminants, such as biological and chemical contaminants. To protect employees against these hazards, it is necessary to use respiratory masks with appropriate protection factor. This study aimed to assess respiratory hazards risk to determine the protection factor of mask in one of the hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, initially Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) method was used to determine the groups and job duties including respiratory protection program. Then, protection factor of the required respiratory masks in the jobs including respiratory protection program was determined by the recommended method by Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Sante et en Securite du Travail (IRSST).Results: The results of this study showed that for the present number of respiratory contaminants in the hospital, N95/FFP2 respirators have not sufficiently degree of protection and it is essential to use respirators with higher protection factor such as full face PAPR (Powered Air-Purifying Respirator) or have helmet/hood with cartridge A1B1P3.Conclusion: In situations where there is no possibility to measure and evaluate respiratory contaminants, especially biological contaminants that have no standard measurement methods and occupational exposure limit, using the qualitative (semi-quantitative) method presented by IRSST can be effective in determining the protection factor of mask and the type of respiratory mask.

Background and aims: Using water pump in residential buildings to provide the required water pressure is accompanied by noise pollution and the annoyance of residents. So, the purpose of this study is to reduce water pump noise pollution with designed acoustic curtains in a residential building of Qazvin city.Methods: The mean sound pressure level was measured before and after control intervention around the sound source based on ISO 9612, using the sound level meter (Casella-Cell.450).The sound level meter was calibrated using a calibrator (Cell-110.2). The frequency analysis was done in 1.1 octave band and the weighting frequency of A. Acoustical features of acoustic curtains (thickness, material and dimensions) were determined on the base of required sound transmission loss in predominant frequency. The volumetric flow of air required to decrease the temperature inside the enclosure up to 40oC to maintain a reasonable air temperature for pump performance was calculated using the energy-mass conservation law. Temperature inside the enclosure was measured with a mercuric thermometer.Results: The mean sound pressure level before and after control around the pump was measured 67 dBA and 46 dBA respectively. The required insertion loss in predominant frequency (2000 Hz) to accommodate noise limit in residential buildings was considered to be 26 dB and based on which acoustic curtain surface density was calculated between. The average sound pressure level measured after control (46dBA) with predicted sound pressure level by mathematical calculation after control (47dBA) was not significantly different. The volumetric flow rate required to maintain a temperature of 40oC inside the enclosure was calculated to be 1.2 cubic meters per minute. The temperature was measured inside the enclosure of 38oC.Conclusion: Control of noise pollution using acoustic curtains with a lower cost and weight, higher installation speed and higher sealing can be considered as one of the proper methods for enclosing noise resources.

Background and aims: Regarding development of several thermal indices and limitations of these indexes, in this research we were examined the applicability and validity of Modified discomfort index (MDI) in Outdoor occupational environments.Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 175 subjects in summer (2016) in 12 mines construction materials of Tehran Province. Environmental and Physiological parameters (oral temperature, tympanic temperature and skin temperature) were measured simultaneously at three periods; also Modified discomfort index (MDI) together with three other Direct Indices include Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), Oxford index (WD) and Wet-bulb dry temperature (WBDT) were calculated. For survey of applicability and validity of Modified discomfort index, the correlation between this index and other Direct Indices at different times of day with Physiological parameters was determined through the Pearson correlation coefficient.Results: The results showed that MDI index had more correlation with environmental parameters dry bulb temperature (r=0.918, p<0.001) and relative humidity (r=0.43, p<0.001), also very high correlation coefficient with wet-bulb temperature and black-globe temperature (r>0.88, p<0.001).Among the thermal indices used in this study, MDI index had more correlation coefficient with three other indices. On the other hand; MDI had the highest correlation coefficient with oral temperature (r=0.508, p<0.001) and the higher correlation with the tympanic and skin temperature after the WBGT index. In all cases, there was a very good correlation between MDI and other indicators at different times of day.Conclusion: It can be concluded that MDI, despite being simple, lack of need for sophisticated equipment to measure, having a high correlation with physiological parameters, low cost and easy interpretation can be used as substitute for the WBGT index in the range of temperature and humidity study.

Background and aims: Hairdressers, because of using hair dyes, are exposed to PPD that endanger their health. Measuring the concentration of PPD is an assured way to measure the PPD rate. PPD causes leukemia and other blood disorders. PPD acute poisoning leads to respiratory distress, rhabdomyolysis, muscle necrosis and renal failure, severe edema of the face and neck, increased serum lactate deshydrogenase, and creatine phosphokinase. The aim of this study is to measure Sari hairdressers’ risk of exposure to PPD and the affecting factors.Methods: In this cross-sectional study which was conducted in September 2016, samples were taken from 47 barbers in a health center in districy 3 in Tehran. To measure the PPD, a three-piece cassettes sampler was used, and the samples were analyzed by HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography). The Kata thermometer was used to measure PPD’s affecting factors such as air flow rate and the thermo-hydrometer was used to measure air temperature, and humidity. Data analysis was based on regression analysis, independent test and Chi-square test and Fisher’s Exact test. The significance level was considered as p<0.05.Results: PPD average concentration of samples was 1.89%±0.00093. The PPD concentration was significantly associated with hairdresser’s ambient humidity (p<0.001, r=0.36). The relationship between work space and concentrations of PPD was significant (p<0.001, r=0.32).Association between PPD’s concentration and the number of operators was statistically significant (p<0.022, r=0.24). The relationship between the concentration of PPD with drying temperature, flow rate, ventilation, and local exhaust ventilation was not significant.Conclusion: The average concentration of PPD is lower than OSHA limit. Using gloves, local exhaust ventilation, glasses, and splash goggle could be a method of prevention for barbers.