JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE ENGINEERING
Year:2021 | Volume:8 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Background and Objective: Bus drivers, the same as other drivers, are prone to unsafe behavior, and accidents are associated with driver’ s risky behavior. Moreover, traffic accidents are different in intra-city and intercity routes, which can be at least partly due to the driver’ s behavior. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the dangerous driving behavior of intra-city and intercity bus drivers. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical study was performed on 107 intra-city and 99 intercity bus drivers in the city of Zanjan, Iran, using demographic characteristics form and the Dula Dangerous Driving Index. Eventually, the collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version19) through a t-test, chi-square test, and linear regression. The p-value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean weekly working hours of intra-city bus drivers are significantly higher than those of intercity bus drivers (P<0. 05). Moreover, the mean of the dangerous driving index and its sub-scales, except for aggressive driving, were higher in intra-city bus drivers, compared to intercity bus drivers (P<0. 05). In addition, the weekly working hours variable had a negative impact on the risky driving score in the intra-city driving routes; however, it had a negative impact on the emotional/cognitive driving subscale and a positive impact on the drunk driving subscale in the intercity driving rout (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Despite the lower number of fines and deaths on intra-city routes, it is necessary to take more serious control measures for the risky behaviors of bus drivers. These include developing intervention programs to manage bus drivers’ working hours in order to reduce fatigue and raise drivers’ awareness for less risky driving behaviors.

Background and Objective: Regarding the psychological context of the environment, color is discussed as another environmental factor that has a great impact on human perception and behavior. In the study of the psychological-mental performance of individuals, indicators are used that indicate the individual's cognitive status. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of color on the psychological functions of individuals. Materials and Methods: This systematic review searched published full-text and English articles in PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct ISI Web of Knowledge databases using such keywords as "color, function, cognitive, psychological" without a time limit. Eventually, 60 eligible articles were reviewed and included in this study. Results: Initially, 312 articles were identified out of various databases, and 123 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On the other hand, 63 articles were excluded from the study due to a lack of experimental studies, and 60 articles were selected for final review. The factors that were emphasized in the studies included selective attention (n=6), alertness (n=3), sport performance (n=4), intellectual performance (n=7), aggressiveness/dominance evaluation (n=7), caution/avoidance (n=7), attraction (n=6), store/company evaluation (n=5), eating/drinking (n=7), memory (n=4), arousal (n=2), and time perception (n=2). The results also revealed that color had a significant effect on cognitive functions, including selective attention, alertness, sports performance, intellectual performance, aggressiveness/dominance evaluation, caution/ avoidance, attraction, store/company evaluation, eating/drinking, time perception, memory, and arousal. Conclusion: Color should be considered one of the main ways to promote mental health, perception, and behavior of people.

Background and Objective: A variety of natural, man-made, and technological hazards threaten the resilience of a system and make it vulnerable. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the vulnerability of the gas distribution network in the city of Tehran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in town board stations (TBSs) in one of the gas distribution areas of Tehran during 2019-2020. This study was conducted based on the approach of identifying hazard and threat centers and vulnerability assessment. The vulnerability assessment was performed using a three-dimensional matrix consisting of three factors, including the probability of occurrence, the severity of the damage, and the extent of preparedness for the threat. Results: In total, six hazard or threat sources were identified in the studied TBSs, including insulating joints, shut-off valves, station pipelines, sensors, regulators, and filters. The vulnerability caused by these six sources was estimated at 36, 30, 120, 112, 40, and 140, respectively. Based on the results, insulating joints, shut-off valves, and regulators presented threats of level two (medium), and station pipelines, sensors, and filters were level three threats (severe). The vulnerability index was in the range of 101-215. Conclusion: The results indicated that the resilience of TBSs in this area are threatened by six major sources. Furthermore, the results of the vulnerability assessment of these TBSs revealed that the resilience to these threats is relatively low. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the reduction of vulnerability in this area of the gas distribution network.

Background and Objective: Sleep is one of the basic human needs that can cause physical and psychological problems if it is not met properly. Musculoskeletal disorders and job stress are among the most important concerns of staff in organizations, especially hospitals. This study aimed to determine the sleep quality of nurses and its relationship with musculoskeletal disorder prevalence and job stress. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 218 nurses working at two hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. The data were collected using the Pittsburgh sleep quality, Nordic questionnaires, as well as Health and Safety Executive job stress questionnaire. Moreover, the nurses' body posture was investigated using the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) method. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21). Results: The sleep quality of 67. 31% of the nurses was undesirable. According to the results, the sleep quality had a significant relationship with the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (P=0. 002, R=0. 514), QEC final score (P<0. 001, R=0. 589), and job stress (P<0. 001, R=-0. 793). Conclusion: In this study, sleep quality was regarded as an effective parameter in the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders and job stress among nurses. Therefore, lack of attention to the sleep quality of nurses not only deteriorates their health but also has negative effects on providing services to the patients.

Background and Objective: Permit-to-work system is a formal, documented, and written system aiming at controlling the risk of occupations that are considered potentially dangerous. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the criteria affecting the performance of the permit-to-work system in an oil refinery. Materials and Methods: The present study was designed and implemented in three steps. In the first step, the primary research criteria were identified after reviewing previous studies and conducting interviews with experts. In the second step, the Fuzzy Delphi method was used to determine the final criteria after obtaining the opinions of 25 experts regarding the primary criteria. Finally, the fuzzy hierarchical analysis method was utilized to weigh and prioritize the identified criteria. Results: The result of the Fuzzy Delphi method showed that six criteria affected the performance of the permit-to-work system. These criteria included the hazard identification and risk assessment, training and competence of individuals, preventive actions, communication, responsibility, and coordination. The prioritization of these criteria using fuzzy hierarchical analysis showed that responsibility )final weight 0. 191), as well as coordination and communication (final weight 0. 134( obtained the highest and lowest importance among the identified criteria, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, a model of decision-making based on Delphi methods and fuzzy hierarchical analysis was introduced to identify the factors affecting the performance of the permit-to-work system in an oil refinery.

Background and Objective: Deviant behaviors, such as occupational violence, are recognized as a serious crisis all across the globe. It can lead to physiological stress and reduces job satisfaction, as well as social and family relationships. The present study aimed to assess the individual and occupational factors affecting the incidence of workplace violence among workers in different industries in East Azerbaijan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. The research population consisted of all personnel in five industries, including the chocolate factory, food industry, health products, steel, and agricultural industry in East Azerbaijan. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire provided based on standard questionnaires developed in International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Health Organization (WHO). The validity and reliability of this questionnaire were confirmed in previous studies. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 22) using Chi-square and multiple logistic regression test. Results: In all industries, verbal violence with a frequency of 46. 6% was the most common type of violence. Moreover, internal organizational factors played a major role in the incidence of occupational violence in these industries. The results of logistic regression pointed to the statistically significant associations of occupational violence with referring to a psychiatrist (P=0. 005), gender (P=0. 001), and work shift(P=0. 001). Conclusion: The high prevalence of verbal violence highlights the necessity of some plans and measures in this regard. Therefore, it is recommended that ergonomics and psychology intervention be implemented to reduce the stressful environmental conditions and violence among employees.

Background and Objective: The number of road accidents and casualties is considerably high in Iran. In addition, car headlights, especially on two-way roads, cause glare in the eyes of oncoming drivers. This study aimed to determine the level of discomfort caused by the glare of car headlights and the effects of some variables on creating discomfort glare. Materials and Methods: The illuminance of the driver’ s eye was measured using luxmeter, and the severity of discomfort glare caused by the car’ s headlights was determined using the Schmidt-Clausen and Bindels model, the lateral and longitudinal distance between the two vehicles, and the background luminance of the road surface. Results: In the low beam mode of the cars, luxmeter failed to record any illuminance from 100 to 50 meters distance. In the high beam mode, the discomfort glare gradually increased by the reduction of the longitudinal distance between two vehicles from the distance of 100 meters. Increase in the level of discomfort glare for Samand, Pride Saba GTX, Pride 131SL, Renault Megan, and Peugeot Pars cars continued up to 30, 20, and 10 meters, and up to 10 and 20 meters in the case of Peugeot 405 car depending on the background luminance, respectively. The level of discomfort glare reduced from these intervals onwards. Conclusion: The discomfort glare can be affected by changes and adjustments made in the side distance between vehicles, direction and height of car headlights, as well as voltage and type of headlight lamp and can be reduced by changes in road design and vehicle headlights.

Background and Objective: Due to major constraints on time, implementation, and funding in every industry, one of the essential strategies for the management of noise control and selection of the best method is to prioritize noise control methods. The present study aimed to prioritize noise control methods in a battery factory using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted based on a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional design. After measurement of sound pressure level and identification of the main sources of noise pollution, Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) were used for screening the criteria and methods of noise control. The relative weight of each of them was calculated by two factors of Eigenvalue and Eigenvector to prioritize noise control methods based on the study criteria. Results: Based on the results, the Inconsistency Ratio (IR) in pairwise comparisons in all cases was less than 10%, and the consistency of the answers was confirmed. Moreover, among the study criteria, the acoustic efficiency of method with weight (0. 1810), and among the proposed methods for noise control, the method of controlling the time of exposure to noise and training of workers with weight (0. 1732) had the highest priority. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the best criterion for selecting a sound control device is the acoustic efficiency of the method. Furthermore, based on the results, controlling the duration of exposure to noise and training workers in conditions of high noise exposure was the best method to control noise in a battery factory.