IRAN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH JOURNAL
Year:2011 | Volume:8 | Issue:3|Papers Count:9

Background and Aim: Nowadays, citation analysis study of journals is a common type of research.For the first time, “Iran Journal of Occupational Health” (IJOH) is considered for a quantitative and a citation analysis study.Method: Using a descriptive cross-sectional study, all IJOH issues with scientific-research grade (n=12, including 106 papers) were investigated. The study tool was an author-made questionnaire and also an inventory. The data was gathered directly from the original published journals. Collected data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 Software.Results: Findings showed that the majority of articles have used a descriptive cross-sectional method. The subject most surveyed was ergonomics. The majority of studies used enumerative sampling method and cited to English references more than Persian. Male authors were five times more than the females and team-work corporation coefficient was calculated 0.62.Conclusion: There was no normal distribution of subjects among articles. English references were cited more than Persian ones maybe because of short of Persian resources or Persian poor indexing systems. The most repeated study methods were observational. Therefore, it is clear that interventional and other types of studies should be considered are ignored. Conditions and facilities must be enhanced for facilitating other types of studies.

Background and Aim: Human errors in many jobs especially in nuclear, military and chemical industries may bring disaster. Supporting this proposal there are many evidence around the world such as Chernobyl disaster in 1986, Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and Flixborough explosion in 1974. Therefore, human errors’ identification especially in important and complex systems is necessary and thus predicting control methods are unavoidable.Method: Recent research is a case study performed in Zagros Methanol Company in Asalouye (Southern Pars). The study tools were observation, interview with experts and control room operators, inspecting available technical documents, and completing Systematic Human Error Reductive and Predictive Approach (SHERPA) worksheets.Results: Analysis of SHERPA worksheet indicated that, %71.25 were unacceptable errors, %26.75 undesirable, %2 acceptable (with modification), %0 acceptable. Predicted risk assessment after modification was %0, unacceptable errors %0, undesirable errors %4.35, acceptable (with modification in future) %58.55, and acceptable errors %37.1.Conclusion: The study showed that the current implemented method can be used through various industries like to chemical and petroleum. Based on the results of the risk level assessment after modifications, once the system weaknesses were refined or controlled we should expect a decrease in the amount of human errors causing disaster.

Background and Aim: Negative job stress puts harmful effects on physical and psychological health of workers. However, the effects of stress can be mediated by other variables. This study examines the relationship between job stress, work pressure and the rate of reported incidents.Method: statistical research community included all workers of Isfahan Steel Company in the winter 1388 that among them, 189 individuals were selected as sample using stratified random sampling method (from the list of workers per sector) and they responded to questionnaires including 10 questions of job stress, 4 questions of work pressure and 22 questions of the rate of reported incidents. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical regression.Results: Results showed that there was a significant internal correlation among study variables (job stress, work pressure and the rate of reported incidents) (p<0.05). In addition, regression analysis showed that job stress on the rate of incidents reported directly and indirectly through perception of job pressure was effective (p<0.05). Similarly, in the inverse mediation analysis, job stress mediated relationship between work pressure and the rate of reported incidents (p<0.05).Conclusion: Reducing job stress by changing workers’ perceptions of work pressure can lower the rate of reported incidents and also the reduction of work pressure perception by improving job stress can be effective in incidence of occupational accidents.

Background and Aim: During last decades one of the hazardous agents on workers’ health has been workplaces noise. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of noise exposure in different jobs and noise induced permanent threshold shift in relation to noise level and work experience.Method: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study that performed among total workers.Dosimeters were done for determination of accurate noise exposure level during an eight-hour s shift for each job group. Audiometry was performed in a standard acoustic room by the audiologist. The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software.Results: Mean of age was 36.58±6.76 (19-52 years) and minimum, maximum and mean of work experience were 1, 18, 11.08±5.47 respectively. Mean of hearing loss was 15.38±8.63 in right ear and 16.31±9.51 in left ear and total hearing loss was 14.72±8.33. A significant relationship was also identified between noise intensity and work experience with hearing loss.Conclusion: Findings of this study indicated that there is a high prevalence of noise pollution in different parts of workplace. Considering the obtained results, that shows positive effect of noise and work experience on hearing loss, the necessity of improvement of control and protection measures is of prime importance.

Background and aim: Educating of students that have the ability to solve society problems, is considered as the most important task of universities. This important issue is achieved through effective education in a safe and stress free environment. Proper design of classroom seats proportional to anthropometric characteristics of students not only can improve academic quality but also prevent musculoskeletal disorders. In addition it may encourage students to practice correct sitting habits. This study was conducted to check the correlation of physical dimensions of students and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder with educational chair dimensions that provided by companies.Method: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 115 students of 18 to 27 years. 15 anthropometric parameters correlated with sitting on the chair were measured by anthropometry page and anthropometric caliper gauge. Dimensions of two Types of seats provided in the classrooms were compared with the standard seat dimensions.Results: comparison of dimensions confirmed that seat dimension and students dimensions correspond with one another only in elbow length parameter and other parameters were not correspondent with each other. T-Test showed that there are significant differences between girl and boy parameters.Conclusion: Comparison of the results of measurement of physical dimensions and chair dimensions with results of emotional dissatisfaction questionnaire and body map chart showed that plastic chair is better than wooden type in term of comfort, chair kind and slope of back rest, and in using plastic chairs students do not have to change their sitting postures; however, due to incorrect design of foot rest and high effective depth of sea, discomfort and pain in lower limbs is higher in plastic chairs when compared with wooden chairs.

Background and Aim: In order to physiologically fit the job to the worker’s capability, maximum aerobic capacity (VO2-max) is used. This study was conducted to estimate VO2-max and determine its associated factors among workers of industrial sector of Shiraz city.Method: In this cross-sectional study, 500 healthy male workers employed in Shiraz city industries participated voluntarily. Subjects’ aerobic capacity was assessed by ergocycle test according to Astrand protocol for 6 minutes. A questionnaire consisted of two parts covering demographic, anthropometric and physiological characteristics was used as data collecting tool.Results: Mean and standard deviation of age of workers was 32.01 and 7.66 years, respectively. Worker’s aerobic capacity was estimated to be 2.69±0.263 l. min-1. The results showed that there was association between VO2-max and age, weight and BMI while no association was found between VO2-max and height. Also, statistical analysis revealed association between VO2-max and smoking and exercise per week (p<0.05). Nature of work, shift working, job satisfaction and fatigue had no association with aerobic capacity. Based on the results, regression equations were developed for estimation of aerobic capacity.Conclusion: Aerobic capacity had association with age, weight, BMI, exercise and smoking.

Background and aim: Dentists are occupationally exposed to elemental mercury from placements of mercury-containing amalgam. Although many studies have been conducted on mercury intoxication, there is still widespread concern about possible ill effects of chronic low-level mercury exposure on dentists. The present study examined the effects of occupational exposure to low levels of mercury by a group of dentists.Method: In this historical cohort study, subjects consisted of 106 dentists and 94 general practitioners (referent group), from private and public clinics in Shiraz city. Subjects were requested to complete a questionnaire on demographic variables, symptoms experienced and work practices.Additionally, using standard methods, atmospheric and urinary concentrations of mercury were measured. The data were analyzed by appropriate statistical tests. In univariate analysis, Chi-Square test was used to compare the prevalence of symptoms among both groups. Independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney’s U-test were used to compare the mean and median of quantitative data of both groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders.Results: Both groups were similar as far as most demographic and socioeconomic variables, but age and number of personal amalgam fillings, were concerned. Median of atmospheric concentration of mercury was found to be 3.35 mg/m3. Likewise, the urinary concentration of mercury in dentists was estimated to be 3.22 mg/g.creatinine. This value was significantly higher than that of the referent group. Additionally, analysis of the data revealed that subclinical symptoms of intoxication were more prevalent in dentists.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that occupational exposure to mercury by dentists, even at low levels, is associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of subclinical symptoms of intoxication.

Background and aim: Chlorine gas is a dangerous material that is used in chemical industries. In spite of the attempts for chlorine gas release control, sudden releases still occur in the related installations. Not taking proper emergency measures after chlorine gas dispersion may result in serious harm to health of the personnel and the people residing around the industrial area. The present study considers chlorine gas dispersion scenarios, determines emergency levels and presents an optimized pattern for more effective and faster response with the least required measures for emergency conditions control.Method: In the present paper by using Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) and risk matrix the possible scenarios of chlorine gas dispersion in storage tanks unit of a petrochemical complex were considered. Then the intervals of these scenarios were determined with a view to Emergency Response Planning Guideline 1-2-3. With a view to the intensity of pollution extension and the population exposed to risk the scenarios were classified in the four emergency levels defined by Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS). Finally for each class of scenarios with a view to the related emergency level an optimum pattern of response plan in emergency conditions was presented.Results: On the basis of the results of this study, chlorine gas dispersion scenario of the catastrophic explosion of the tank and scrubber system failure in the summer was classified in emergency level 4, in the winter in emergency level 3, chlorine gas dispersion due to chlorine lines rupture in the summer and winter in emergency level 3 and chlorine gas dispersion due to leakage of flanges and gaskets in emergency level 2 according to emergency levels of CCPS.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that systematic process risks analysis by use of risks recognition methods such as HAZOP and consequence analysis may have an effective role in recognition of the possible major events. Also by classification of release scenarios in CCPS emergency levels, we can select the best pattern for emergency conditions management.