Iran Occupational Health
Year:2016 | Volume:13 | Issue:4 |Papers Count:14

Background and aims: Due to the rapid development of agricultural mechanization and the use of tractor as one of the most important agricultural machinery, principal focus should be on the health, ergonomic and safety working conditions of the tractor operators. Methods: In this research the impact of BMI index and the leg angles of Iranian common tractors drivers on pain threshold reduction of gastrocnemius muscle during clutching were investigated. Experiments were performed on two tractors including MF285 and MF399 models as two Iranian common tractors. The experiments were conducted by employing 30 drivers. Results: The results of data analysis showed that in MF285 tractor, the drivers with higher BMI index (within the normal range) and lower leg and thigh angles had small decrease of pain threshold. Consequently, these tractor drivers feel low level of stress in their gastrocnemius muscle. The BMI index had the highest regression coefficient for all time intervals during and after clutching of MF399 tractors. The impact of this variable for all time intervals on the reduction of pain threshold was the highest. So that one unit increase in BMI index would decrease the pain threshold reduction by 1, 0. 89 and 0. 69 N, respectively. The results of genetic algorithm showed that when the BMI index, knee, thigh and ankle angles are 24. 75 kgm2, 101, 76 and 100 degrees, the decrease of pain threshold in Gastrocnemius muscle is reached to 0. 016 Newton. For the MF399 tractor, when the BMI index, knee, thigh and ankle angles are 24. 86, 130, 115 and 95 degrees, the decrease of pain threshold is reached to 0. 316 Newton. Conclusion: The effect of BMI index was negative on the decrease of pain threshold for all time intervals, during and after clutching for both of tractors. The Gastrocnemius muscle of the drivers with higher BMI index is under less stress during clutching.

Background and aims: Threats against welders' health due to exposure to welding fume is an important issue; thus, controlling and examining effective exhaust of fumes are necesary. In this study, was evaluated prototype operation of local exhaust ventilation on-gun in bench scale. Methods: Duct velocity average was determined using traverse points method and calculated flow rate by hood using ACGIH standard method. Also capture velocity close in contaminant source (Arc Point) was measured using thermal anemometer. Then, in order to determine total particles concentration and capture efficiency created by system NIOSH 7200 standard method was used. Results: Duct velocity average and created flow rate by evaluated system were 6296. 1± 92. 50 fpm and 34. 06± 0/50 scfm, respectively. Also, capture velocity in close of the weld point was obtained 140 fpm. Sampling results for averaged total particles concentration in off and on positions of system were 75± 7 mg/m3 and 16. 7± 4 mg/m3, respectively. As a result, 77% containment efficiency was achieved by this system. Conclusion: The local exhaust ventilation used in this study was a low cost prototype and according to the acheived results, it leads to reduce total particles concentration (T. P) in breathing zone aproximately to 22%.

Background and aims: Transportation of hazardous chemicals is one of the main phases in chemical life cycle which could endanger the safety of people and facilities that are located in the tanker traffic roads. The aim of this study was to assess risk of chemical transportation in the pass leading to Amirkabir terminal in Shiraz city. Methods: In this cross sectional study, risks of chemical transportation in all routes leading to Amirkabir terminal were calculated using Transportation Risk Rating Index (TRRI). Required data were gathered through material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and interview by responsible persons in the terminal. Results: TRRI was at dangerous and high level for some of chemicals in 56. 6% of the length of studied routes. Butane had the highest value TRRI in the distance below 500 meter from residential area. Conclusion: Chemical transportation risk index for routes located in residential areas was at the dangerous level. Appropriate strategies and effective measures should be applied in order to reduce the risk to the acceptable level.

Background and aims: The use of imaging such as X-rays may have an important role in early diagnosis, staging, planning treatment and monitoring of patients during treatment. Radiology ward staff is at risk of low-dose occupational exposure. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the biological effects of low dose occupational exposure to ionizing radiation on blood cell indices of radiology ward staff employed in a governmental hospital in Tehran. Methods: In this case-control study, some blood parameters in 30 radiation workers(cases) and also 30 persons who worked in other parts of the hospital were compared. Matching was done for confounding factors. The data was analyzed with software SPSS 20 (p<0. 05). Results: According to this study, there are no statistically significant differences in blood parameters such as red blood cells, white blood cells, hematocrit, platelets between radiation workers and other workers (p>0. 05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the hematological parameters of radiation workers exposed to low doses of radiation may not predict the amount of radiation effects.

Background and aims: Air traffic control has known as a complex cognitive task, which requires controller to focus on task for long time. Mental workload plays an important role in the performance of controllers. The aim of this study was to assess the workload of air traffic controller on the basis of task load factors. Methods: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted among fourteen air traffic controllers. First, air traffic control tasks were determined using hierarchical task analysis (HTA) technique and two low and high workload scenarios were designed based on the task load factors for controlling job. Next, the workloads of the controllers were assessed in these two scenarios by NASA-TLX inventory. Results: The results of HTA showed that air traffic control contains 49 main subtasks. The findings of the NASA-TLX showed that under high workload condition, mental demand with mean scores of 71/93 was the most overloaded task. Moreover, there were significant relationship between mental, physical, temporal demands, effort and frustration under high and low workload (p>0. 05). Thus, it was not significant for performance variable under both low and high level conditions (p<0. 05). Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of task load factors concerning air traffic controllers. Therefore, other evaluation methodologies is suggested with focused on the task load factors including Performance Assessment in all sectors of air traffic control center.

Background and aims: According to World Health Organization estimations, 3. 7 million deaths were attributable to ambient air pollution annually, that shows pollutants associated with high rate of mortality and morbidity. Thus, present study with aim of quantifying and estimating health impacts attributable to two pollutant of PM2. 5 and CO in 8 industrial cities of Iran during 2011 by AirQ model were performed. Methods: At first, required data were taken from Department of Environment in understudy cities. With coding in excel, analysis and calculation of statistical parameters was performed for quantifying, and information imported to AirQ model. Finally, results of total mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular disease were presented in tables and graphs. Results: According to results, with increasing each 10μ g/m3 concentration of PM2. 5 and 1mg/m3 increasing in CO, risk of mortality increased 1. 5% and 0. 7% respectively. Cumulative of total mortality attributable to PM2. 5 in Isfahan and Shiraz was estimated 585 and 454 cases that this rate is allocated of 5. 42% of all deaths in these cities. Sum of cumulative cases of mortality for CO in Isfahan, Tehran and Shiraz estimated 14 (2. 15%), 24 (0. 86 %) and 3 cases (0. 69%) respectively. Conclusion: The study emphasized that PM2. 5 and CO as well as other pollutants have adverse affect on human health. Among 8 under study cities, Ahwaz had lowest mortality attributable to CO and highest mortality attributable to PM2. 5, which it can be due to either continuing of days with higher concentration of particulate or higher average of this pollutant in Ahwaz city.

High risk organizations and industries such as oil and gas extraction, chemical and petrochemical industries, nuclear and aerospace industries and air traffic control organization, in addition to use of advanced technology, have complex social aspects as well. Recent studies have shown that the combination of advanced technology and social vague rules of such organizations are forming a complex system that encounter with a new type of risk which is inaccessible to conventional risk analysis approaches. Therefore, through a comprehensive review of recent studies, the ineffectiveness of traditional risk analysis methods in complex socio-technical systems and the roots of inefficiency will be discussed. The ineffectiveness of traditional risk analysis methods in complex socio-technical systems rooted in the inefficiencies of out of date accident models and theories that have shaped the theoretical field of these method. Intrinsic conditions in such complex systems are completely different with that of accident formation mechanisms.

Background and aims: The operating room is a critical place for accident. One of the events that is likely to occur at this location is fire accident during the surgery. This type of accident rarely happens, but if happen, they can lead to serious injury or death of patients. Therefore the purpose of this study is the assessment of awareness and practice of operating room personnel about prevention of fire and effective factors in operating room in Khuzestan hospitals. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among operating rooms in Khuzestan hospitals in 2014. The sample consisted of 253 employees (31% anesthesia nurse and 69% operating room nurse) from 18 hospitals who were selected by simple random sampling. In this study, all operating rooms personnel were investigated, in random sampling. Fire prevention questionnaires were used to collect information; awareness and practice of operating room personnel about preventing of fire, the relationship between these two factors with the age, work experience and the effect of training, education, sex and job title were also investigated. To examine the relationship between variants, SPSS v. 16 was used and for comparing the groups Mann– Whitney was used. Results: Considering awareness of strategies of preventing fire, 15% had high awareness, 25% medium, 48. 4% poor and 11. 1% had no awareness. For operation, 87. 2% were high operating, 14. 2% medium, 6. 7% poor and 8% were very poor. There was no relation between the age and work experience with awareness and operation in Kendal's correlation test (p>0. 05). The comparison test in this study showed that training is effective on operation and awareness (p<0. 05), but there was no significant difference between awareness and operation of man and women. Also, there was a significant difference in comparison of average scores of awareness between education levels (technician and bachelor) (p<0. 05), but there was no significant differences between the type of jobs (p>0. 05). This study showed that the level of operation of operating room personnel was more than anesthesia personnel and the differences was significant (p<0. 05). Conclusion: The results from this study and previous ones indicate that awareness about fire prevention ways between operating room personnel is low and their safety is not satisfied. However, performance is at the appropriate level to fire prevention. The result of this study also showed that factors such as previous training in the field of fire prevention, education level and type of job can be factors related to awareness and practice toward prevention of fire.

Background and aims: One of the most relevant domains of health psychology in workplace is occupational burnout. Individual differences can modify this exhaustion better or worse. The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between burnout and mental health of a group of university office workers. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 234 employees working in the five university parts (vice-chancellors) participated in this study. We applied a multi-stage cluster sampling. All participants completed these scales: General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Results: The results showed there are significant relationships between burnout and mental health, and between burnout and emotional dysregulation. Burnout both directly and indirectly, through a difficulty in emotion regulation affects the mental health of university staff. Difficulty in emotion regulation also has little independent effect on mental health. Conclusion: Based on these results, it seems that all working people, even in relatively similar conditions are not affected the same psycho-social side effects of their jobs. The results indicate the mediation of emotional regulation that has both theoretical and practical implications.

Background and aims: Inappropriate solid waste management industry in recent years has created a variety of risks. As a result, the health, safety and the human’ s environment is at risk for it. Main objective of this study is solid waste management assessment of 10 large food industries in Tehran. Methods: This study is descriptive and sectional based on field visits, questionnaires, preparation of the database and the analysis of the results. The selected units were categorized based on ISWMI scale. The questionnaire consisted of 47 questions related with key elements of industrial solid waste management. This question consists of 10 separate areas. 10 large industrial units of the food industry in Tehran were randomly selected. Results: The results showed that the index of selected industrial units based on ISWMI scale (based on100) is: 96 for J company (very good), 49 for A company (week), 85 for H and I company (very good), 72 for E, 77 for F and 80 for G (good), 57 for B, 63 for C and 64 for D company (moderate). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, industrial waste management situation in most of the selected units are above average. However it seems that factors such as a lack of senior management commitment and belief to implementation of the waste management system, the lack of requirement industrial units to employ an expert in environmental or environmental health and the lack of a comprehensive at the national level plan for waste management of the most effective factors to determine ISWMI values in industries.