Tibbi- i- kar
Year:2018 | Volume:10 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:13

Introduction: Exposure to impermissible noise in the workplace is one of the most common occupational hazards and may cause hearing loss. One way to control industrial noise is by acoustic absorbers. Nanoparticles can be used to composite materials. We aimed to design acoustic panels based on gypsum, silicon oxide nanoparticles, hydrolysed cotton and nano-dye, as well as to compare their sound absorbance at various frequencies. Materials and Methods: The nanocomposite consisting of gypsum, hydrolyzed cotton, silica nanoparticles and nano-dye was prepared by simple mixing and heat treatment, and then its sound absorption coefficient was investigated. The absorption coefficient was evaluated at frequencies of 250 to 5000 Hz using static waves and in accordance with ISO 9803-1. Results: Maximum difference of the absorption coefficient was 10% at 2500 Hz, and it was related to a sample consisting of gypsum, nanosilica, hydrolysed cotton, and nano-dye, compared to a pure plaster sample. The highest absorption coefficient (0.46) of the sample was from gypsum, nanosilica and hydrolysed cotton at the frequency of 5000 Hz. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the absorption coefficient was increased with increasing frequency, but decreased by adding nanoparticles and nano-dye.

Background: This research aimed to study the mediating effect of Job Satisfaction (JS) on the relationship between Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) and Perceived Organizational Support (POS) of the employees of Narin Tile Company in Yazd, Iran. Methods: The JS, OCB, and POS questionnaires were administered to a sample of participants (n=200); i. e., all employees of Narin Tile Company through stratified random sampling. Pearson Correlations and Path Analysis were used to test the hypothesized relationships. Results: Results indicate that JS (as the mediator) had no significant effect on the relationship between POS and OCB; however, POS had a strong meaningful effect on both OCB and JS variables. Moreover, there was a strong significant positive correlation between the payment, and fringe benefits as well as social interaction, and POS. Significant positive relationship was found between POS and JS (r=0. 19). Furthermore, there was strong significant positive correlations between ‘ altruism and conscience’ and JS, as well as between ‘ fringe benefits, nature of work and social interactions’ and OCB. Conclusion: 􀃖 erceived organizational support (POS) of the employees had a significant effect on changing and promoting organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of the employees. Also, it could improve employees’ job efficiency and performance at work.

Background: The Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) is one of the emerging posture assessment methods for the office workers. Limited studies have examined the validity of this method for the reliable assessment of the ergonomic risk factors among the office workers. We investigated the relationship between the ROSA and anthropometric dimensions, knowledge and behavior of the office workers in an Oil and Gas Company in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an oil company during 2016. All 259 office employees worked on the central headquarter and operational offices, completed the General Nordic, as well as the knowledge and behavior questionnaires. Then, the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) and anthropometric dimension measurement were conducted for the participants. Data analysis was done for descriptive statistics, and Pearson correlation test using SPSS software (version 22). Results: The results showed an inverse association of the employees’ ergonomic knowledge and behavior with the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (p<0. 01). In addition, reduction of employees’ stress and duration of cellphone use, correcting the monitor height, and decreased ROSA scores, yielded decreased prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (p<0. 01). Height, weight, age, gender, body mass index, work station, computer work, and job experience, had a significant correlation with the ROSA scores (p<0. 01). Conclusion: ROSA score along with other individual, workplace and work-related factors can be applied to assess the ergonomic risk factors in the office workplaces.

Introduction: Traffic accidents are an inevitable part of driving. Due to large number of traffic accidents in Iran, several studies have evaluated the association between traffic accident and various personal and environmental factors. Method: This retrospective analytical study was performed on 569 drivers, in Yazd (ce دtral Iran) from April to August 2016. The participants were professional drivers of heavy vehicles who had received their driving license after 1991. Dependent variable was defined as time to first accident. Survival analysis was conducted to determine the effect of personality type (A or B) on the time to first accident. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier method were used to test the hypothesis. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 20. Results: Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the risk of accident is higher for those with type A personality. However, there was no statistically significant difference in occurrence of accident between the personality types (p= 0. 379). Conclusion: We found that risk of accident for those with type A personality is higher than type B. It implies that it may be considered for medical and annual checking of driving licences.

Background: Exposure to hydrochloric acid in industrial units can be associated with risks to the human respiratory system. The aim of this study was to investigate the respiratory symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction caused by exposure to hydrochloric acid washing unit of a steel industry. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a single acid washing unit of a steel industry in 2017. The exposed group included 45 male workers and a reference group of 41 unexposed office employees. A questionnaire was used to collect personal and occupational data and a pulmonary function test was conducted with the supervision of an occupational medicine specialist. Pulmonary function parameters included FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. T-test and chi-square test were used to analyze the data in SPSS. The significance level in this study was defined as less than 0. 05. Results: All lung function parameters in exposed subjects were lower than the reference group and this difference was statistically significant for FVC and FEV1 parameters (p<0. 05). Respiratory symptoms were more prevalent in the exposed subjects than non-exposed (p>0. 05). Based on the results of the regression model, exposures to hydrochloric acid increased the chance of these symptoms by up to 7. 4 times. Conclusion: This study showed that exposure to hydrochloric acid alone could increase the risk of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function disorders. Therefore, risk management should be considered for the exposure to this chemical compound.

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal complications are one of the causes of disability, and risk factors such as manual handling and repetitive work can cause or exacerbate them. Industrial workers encounter wide range of risk factors for these disorders as well as high mental workload. We investigated the relationship between musculoskeletal disorers and working postures with mental workload in the workers of Sarcheshmeh copper complex, Kerman, Yazd. Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 220 out of 800 individuals were selected randomly based on the demographic distribution of the working units and the field study of working areas. Data were collected using demographic, Nordic, NASA mental workload index, and QEC questionnaires. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Results: The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was due to the buttock and lumbar, and back regions, (38. 6% and 38. 2%, respectively); while the least prevalence was due to one or both thigh(s) (2. 3%). There was a significant relationship between the mean total burden of mental workload and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (p <0. 05). Conclusion: High prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and its relationship with individual characteristics such as age, work experience and mental labor, necissitates the control and reduction of these disorders by implementing engineering and administrative controls.

Background: Particulate matter air pollution is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. By increasing the number of tile and ceramic industries in the two past decades, workers in these industries exposed to pathogenic respirable particulate matter pollutants. Therefore, this study aimed to assess respiratory exposure to airborne particles in a tile and ceramic factory was done. Methods: In This observational study, sampling from Respiratory zone of 93 workers in a tile and ceramic industry for both respirable and inhalable particles were performed. Sampling of inhalable particle based on NIOSH_0500 protocol and respirable particles based on NIOSH_0600 was conducted. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software Results: : 92. 47 percent of Workers were exposed to respirable particles less than TLV and 39. 8 percent of them were exposed to inhalable particles more than TLV. The maximum concentration of respirable particles 13. 04 mg/m3 and inhalable particles 84. 88 mg/m3 in respectively reported for crusher unit. The lowest concentration of respirable (0. 41 mg/m3) and inhalable (min =1. 74 mg/m3) particles were observed in coating line workers division Conclusion: Since the workers are exposed to concentrations more than threshold limit value of respirable particles, and especially inhalable particles in some units, appropriate control measures must be considered to prevent possible consequences.

Background: Nurses have a key role in providing health services in health care organizations. Addressing factors affecting the nurses’ job performance and optimal adjustment of these factors is crucial to success of health providing systems. We investigated the effect of individual factors on nurses’ performance. Methods: In 2016, 575 employed nurses from selected hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences enrolled this cross-sectional study. Multi-stages cluster sampling used for gathering information. Demographic questionnaire and nurse performance checklist were used, Chi-square and independent sample t-test were used for comparing the groups. Results: Mean and standard deviation of total job performance scores were 217. 44 and 31. 25, respectively. Unacceptable level of performance was found in 45% of the participants. Among the seven areas examined in job performance, working styles and general performance had the most and the least mean score, respectively. Also, results showed that nurses with less weekly working hours had better performance (p= 0. 008) and nurses with higher educational level had positive and significant better job performance (p<0. 001). Conclusion: The results of present study showed that educational level of nurses and their weekly work hours had positive impact and negative impact on their job performance, respectively. So, it is necessary to select nurses with high level of education and set their weekly work hours lesser, in parts of the hospital where better job performance of nurses is needed.

One of major factors in fitness for work evaluation is risk. Risk evolution is estimated based on medical problems development in a person› s job. personal risk estimation is very important in safety critical jobs, such as driving and pilotage. Medical incompetence can lead to catastrophic accidents for the person, his/her partner(s) or passengers. Human or engineering errors can cause fatal accidents in safety critical jobs. Usually, one tenth of these accidents are due to human errors and one tenth of human errors are due to medical incompetence. Acceptable risk threshold of medical incompetence is vary based on medical condition, job and work properties. Acceptable risk threshold could not be considered as low as zero because of different reasons. Personal risk estimation and comparing it with acceptable risk threshold in safety critical jobs is one of major determinative factors for permission doing certain safety critical jobs.