IRAN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH JOURNAL
Year:2010 | Volume:7 | Issue:1|Papers Count:12

Background and aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is known as a health threat. In Iran CVD is the first leading cause of death. The more prevalence of cardiovascular risks factor leads to the higher prevalence of CVD. Previous studies revealed CVD prevention depends on healthy lifestyle. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among occupational population of the Isfahan Electricity Production and Distribution Worker (IEPW) and to plan a strategy for CVD prevention.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all 585 occupational populations of IEPD in 1387. Data was based on questionnaire including demographic characteristics, medical history, and physical examination. Gender, age, education, occupation, married statues, smoking, and physical activity were considered in demographic characteristic, CVD risk factors and non-communicable disease history in medical history, and height, weight, waist circumstance, hip circumstance, and blood pressure in physical examination. FBS, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HOLC, TG were tested for each person. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 15.Results: The findings showed that 4.2% had high FBS, 33.3% high LDL-C, 48.2% high total cholesterol, 26.4% low HDL-C, and 51% high TG Obesity was seen in 13.6%, overweight in 46.7%, abdominal obesity in 42.8%, and physical inactivity in 75%. In addition, 16.4% were current smoker and 5.8% of were ex-smoker.Discussion: considering nearly high prevalence of CVD risk factors in occupational population, recognition of CVD risk factors could provide an intervention program to prevent CVD in this company and maybe in other companies.

Background and aims: varicose of lower limbs is one of the most common injuries which is caused and intensified by the job activities through passing the time and can cause the person and the society to bear the high cost. This study has been done in order to investigate the relationship between the demographic and occupational factors with the lower limb varicose severity of the nurses in Amol hospital.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through on 203 nurses in Amol hospitals.Questionnaire was used to collect the required information. It was completed through interview and physical examination based on the standard CEAP forms.Results: 145of the subjects were female.73.9% of the nurses had varicose with different levels (CI95%: 77- 65). Female gender, age, BMI (OR=1.21), regular exercise (OR=0.31), family history, weight, and overtime between job factors (OR=1.01), years of service, standing (OR =2.3) and sitting in the ward had significant relationship with the varicose intensity.Conclusion: It seems that the necessary training to reduce disability and treatment expenses to adjust risk factors and prevention of inducing varicose is essential according to the high number of the nurses who have lower varicose veins with different intensities and the effect of lots of demographic and occupational factors.

Background and aims: As a Development of Industrial process, human, environment, equipment, material and validity of system has been exposed to hazardous conditions. Regards of 32.3 percent of occupations in industries, this study focused on risk assessment of foundry unit by energy trace and barrier analysis (ETBA) method and presented approaches to control of accident.Methods: the recent study is as a case study one to risk assessment in a foundry unit in Qazvin industrial city in1387. In this study risks were founded by ETBA method and evaluated by MILSTD-882B. Data were collected by direct observations, interview with workers and supervisor and engineers, walking-talking through method, documents investigation of operational processors, preventive maintenances, equipment technical properties, accidental and medical documents. Finally ETBA worksheets completed.Results: totally 154 risks has been found.40 from total are been unacceptable risk, 68 unfavorable and also 46 acceptable but with remediation action. Casting workshop had risks more than other workshops (with 74 identified risks). Potential and heat energies were founded as most hazardous energies, with respectively 51 and 38 risk cases.Conclusion: This study recommended to be done actions for identification and control risk, such as: safety training, occupation training, preventive maintenance, contract safety, safety communication and safety audit group.

Background and aims: The present study carried out to evaluate health effects associated with chronic occupational exposure to low levels of mercury vapors.Methods: The study population consisted of 46 male workers occupationally exposed to mercury vapors and 65healthy unexposed employees. Subjects were administered a questionnaire on symptoms experienced and underwent clinical examinations as well routine biochemical tests.Additionally, using standard methods, atmospheric and urinary concentrations of mercury were Measured.Results: Environmental and urinary concentrations of mercury were estimated to be 3.97±6.28 mg/m2 and 34.30±26.77 mg/lit, respectively. While these values were blow there commended TLV and BEl for this substance, exposed subjects had significantly higher concentrations of urinary mercury levels than their unexposed counterparts. No significant differences were noted between CBC, BUN, serum creatinine or serum activity of liver enzymes of both groups. Conversely, analysis of the data revealed that symptoms such as somatic and mental fatigue, anorexia, loss off memory and personality change were significantly more common among exposed individuals.Likewise, painful spasm of the extremities, irritability, vague fears and insomnia were more frequent among exposed population, although the differences were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Theses observations indicate that occupational exposure to mercury vapors, even at low levels, is likely to be associated with neurological and psychological symptoms.

Background and aims: the stress is creating from high density, complexity and long hours of work. Stress is higher among Knowledge workers because of the nature of knowledge work based on the complexity and high focus, aside from the Millennium Challenge is the productivity of Knowledge workers. The aim of this study reviews the relationship between stress and productivity of Knowledge workers at the Mess-Sarcheshmeh company.Methods: in this cross sectional study was studied 120 Knowledge workers of Mess- Sarcheshmeh Company. Data in this study were extracted through interviews and completing of performance measurement questionnaire, stress measurement questionnaire and Knowledge workers productivity measurement questionnaire.Results: The group of Computer Programming has highest productivity and job satisfaction, and stress in this group is more desirable. Stress in the 95 percent confidence level and loyalty and job satisfaction in the 90 percent confidence level are associated with knowledge workers productivity. Job satisfaction has most effect on knowledge workers productivity.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that not only stress has harmful effects suffering of people to emotional and physical diseases. But also, it affects on the productivity of managers and knowledge workers. Deal with it, which need for proper proactive planning in this area, who should participate in planning the annual interest adhered.

Background and aims: Shift work is a major feature of working life that affects diverse aspects of human life. The main purposes of this study were to investigate shift work-related health problems and their risk factors among workers of "12-hour shift" schedule.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at 8petrochemical industries in Asalooyeh area. Study population consisted of 1203 workers including 549 shift worker (46%) and 654 day worker (54%). Data on personal details, shift schedule and adverse effects of shift work were collected by anonymous questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 11.5. The level of significance was set at 5%.Results: Although, the results showed that health problems among shift workers was more prevalent than day workers, but the differences were just significant in gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal disorders (p<0.05). Multiple linear regressions indicated that in addition to shift working, other variants such as long work hours, type of employment, second job, number of children and job title were associated with health problems.Conclusions: Prevalence rates of gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal problems among shift workers were significantly higher than that of day workers. Although, working in shift system was the main significant factor associated with the reported problems, but other demographic and work variables were also found to have association.

Background and aims: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most important causes of workers disabilities, increasing compensations and reducing productivity in developed and developing countries. This study was aimed to determine prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and assessment of them by using QEC and LUBA methods and comparison of results in a manufacturing company in Iran.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 115 operators in 15 working stations by using QEC and LUBA methods. The prevalence of MSDs was obtained by using Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ).The data were analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficients.Results: According to findings of NMQ, 81.4 percent of operators at least in one of nine parts of musculoskeletal system have pain since 12 months ago. Assessment with QEC and LUBA revealed that 71.3 and 24.35 percent of operators respectively are in action level four.Conclusion: According to the analysis, correlation between findings of NMQ and action levels in QEC is higher than LUBA action levels. Whereas LUBA just assess working postures, this method is not a suitable tool for evaluation of working stations that require repetitive carrying of loads, static posture and long time to do.

Background and aims: Carbon monoxide poisoning is a major cause of mortality due to gas inhalation. It is more prevalent in winter, because of poor indoor ventilation. The purpose of our study was to evaluate exhaled carbon monoxide of students and to estimate their exposure to this gas.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in winter 2008. The exhaled carbon monoxide level of 184 students was assessed by breath analyzer. Questionnaire data were collected to assess smoking habit, types of domestic exposures and symptoms of carbon monoxide intoxication.Results: Students consists of79 boys and 105girls.Number of cases in carbon monoxide levels of 0-6 ppm, 7-10 ppm, 11-20 ppm and above 20 ppm were consecutively 150 (81.52%), 23 (12.50%), 10 (5.43%) and 1 (0.54%). The difference of symptoms in different groups was not significant.Conclusion: Due to our results, 34 (18.47%) cases of healthy nonsmoker students had abnormal exhaled carbon monoxide level of more than 1-3ppm which could be attributed to environmental exposures. 11 (5.97%) cases had carbon monoxide exhaled level of more than 11ppm which exceeds the permissible exposure limits. More attention should be paid to the sources of carbon monoxide exposure in children, in order to minimize morbidity and mortality related to carbon monoxide intoxication.