Journal of Health and Safety at Work
Year:2018 | Volume:8 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:8

Introduction: Job Satisfaction is a perception that improves employees’ productivity, motivation and empowers them. Therefore, recognizing the factors affecting it and paying attention to emotional intelligence can provide the basis for increasing job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of emotional intelligence on job satisfaction considering the mediator role of job burnout, emotional Labor, emotional inconsistency, personality deprivation and deficiency of individual success in the Staff of Guilan University of Medical Sciences.Material and Method: This research used descriptive and cross-sectional method. The study population included 413 staffs from the faculties of Guilan University of Medical Sciences. The sample was determined 200 people using Cochran’s formula. A standard questionnaire was used to collect data. Content validity was done for this questionnaire and also its reliability studied using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data using Lisrel software.Result: The results showed that emotional intelligence affects emotional inconsistency, emotional exhaustion, emotional Labor, job satisfaction, deficiency of individual success and deprivation of personality. Also, emotional inconsistency affects on emotional exhaustion, deficiency of individual success, job satisfaction and personality deprivation. In addition, the results show that emotional exhaustion affects deprivation of personality, deficiency of individual success and job satisfaction and finally, the deficiency of individual success affects job satisfaction.Conclusion: Considering the relationship between job satisfaction with job burnout, emotional intelligence and emotional inconsistency, it would be helpful for managers to implement programs to increase  employee satisfaction and self-efficacy and provide a context for reducing job burnout.

Introduction: Microorganisms in hospitals are potential sources of infection to patients and staffs. Bioaerosol exposure is associated with a vast range of adverse health effects including infectious diseases, acute toxic effects, allergy. This study aimed to survey the type and density of bioaerosols in ambient air of different wards of educational hospitals Ardabil in 2016.Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 educational hospitals of Ardabil city in 2016. ZTHV02 sampler and Tryptic soy Agar along with Cycloheximide antibiotic were used to evaluate and determine the airborne bacterial counts. The average sampling time was 10 minutes. Air samples were transported to the lab just after sampling and incubated for 48 hours at 37oC. Then, raised colonies were counted. Bacterial density was expressed as CFU/m3± SD.Result: Mean bacterial concentrations were 10.3 and 23.4 CFU/m3 in Imam and Alavi hospitals, respectively. X-ray room in Imam Khomeini hospital and ICU room in Alavi hospital had the highest bacterial count. But, the least bacterial loads were observed in ICU and Angiography wards of Imam Khomeini and CTSCAN ward in Alavi hospitals. The most prevalent bacteria species isolated from air samples of Imam hospital was Enterococcus spp followed by Pseudomonas spp, coagulase negative Staphylococci spp and Non –Enterococcus group D Streptococci and for Alavi hospital; Coagulase negative Staphylococci spp followed by Psodomonas spp, Klebsilla spp and, Enterococcus spp. No significant correlations were found between bacterial counts, temperature and humidity of the sampling sites. However, bacteria density significantly were higher in morning shift comparing to evening shift (P<0.05).Conclusion: High concentration of airborne bacteria bio-aerosols in Ardabil hospitals can be important health risks for health workers and the patients.

Introduction: Electrospun nanofibers are suitable option to synthesize filtering mats for nanoparticles. This study was aimed to fabricate polyurethane nanofiber mats through electrospinning process and to investigate the effect of different parameters such as packing density, face velocity and particle type on the filtration efficiency and quality factor of electrospun polyurethane nanofiber mats.Material and Method: The nanofiber mats were produced by electrospinning process. Polyurethane granules were dissolved (15w/w%) in a solvent system consisting of dimethylformamide and tetrahydrofuran (3:2). Then, the filtration performance testing system was made at the Fluid Mechanics Department of Hanyang University of South Korea and the filtration efficiency and pressure drop of prepared nanofiber mats were studied.Result: Findings showed that by increasing the duration of electrospinning, the basis weight, thickness, packing density, initial pressure drop and filtration efficiency of the mats increased, and the quality factor of the mats decreased due to the increase of the pressure drop. The increase in electrospinning duration from 15 to 45 minutes was led to the increase in pressure drop from 7 to 32 Pa and the average filtration efficiency was increased about 9-10% for KCl and DEHS test particles. The filtration efficiency and quality factor of the prepared polyurethane nanofiber mats were declined with the increase of filtration face velocity from 2 to 5 and 10 cm/s. The reduction in filtration efficiency was more obvious for particles smaller than 425 nm. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that prepared polyurethan naofiber mats provide acceptable filtration performance. What is more, such nanofiber mats can have other potential benefits such as light basis weight, low thickness and simple production.

Introduction: Nowadays, demand for protection against radar radiation using electromagnetic shielding is on the rise. Double-layer or multilayer shielding were devised in order to improve the single layer electromagnetic shielding properties. In this study, we tried to prepare a new double-layers electromagnetic shield and investigate the effect of structural factors such as thickness, similarity in layers and mixing time on the shielding effectiveness for double-layers shields.Material and Method: This study used the Resin Epoxy EI-403 and Nickel Oxide nanoparticles to prepare single layer shields by casting method (with two different mixing time: 10 and 66 min) in 2, 4 and 6 mm thicknesses and 7 wt% Nickel oxide nanoparticles. Then, in order to prepare double-layers shields, single-layer shields were placed on each other without air space. Scattering parameters were measured by a Vector Network Analyzer (V.N.A) and shielding effectiveness were calculated in X-band radar frequency range.Result: The highest and the lowest averages of shielding effectiveness in single layer shields were 84.14% and 46.05%, respectively. These values were 66.34% and 41.99 %, in double layers electromagnetic shields. The averages of shielding effectiveness values in the double-layers shields (with 10 min in mixing time) in 6, 8 and 10 mm in thickness were 41.99%, 45.45% and 43.25%, respectively. These values in 66 min in mixing time, increased to 54.30%, 62.07% and 66.34%, respectively.Conclusion: In this study, the shielding effectiveness in double-layers were less than single layer electromagnetic shields. Although the increase in mixing time improved the shielding effectiveness of both single and double layer shields, it could not increase the shielding effectiveness in double layer shields in comparison with single layer. Also, the increase in mixing time in double-layer shields showed that shielding effectiveness decreased with increasing thickness in these shields. Also, it was seen that using a similar single-layer shield in the structural of a double-layer shield led to an increase in skin depth and multi reflections .It finally reduced the shielding efficiency in double layer. It is suggested that in the future, other studies be conduct to improve the shielding effectiveness in these electromagnetic shields.

Introduction: Adverse effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including general and specific effects like carcinogenic of benzene are well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate occupational exposure to BTEX compounds in the painting unit of an automotive industry and subsequently health risk assessment of exposure to these compounds.Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the paint unit of an automotive industry including painting cabin, pre-painting salon and painting salon sections. After analyzing samples, gathered from different sections, by GC-MS, BTEX compound were identified as the main contaminants. In the next step, NIOSH1501 and EPA methods were used to measure and analysis of BTEX and risk assessment, respectively.Result: Findings showed that benzene concentration in painting cabin was higher than occupational exposure limits provided by the Environmental and Occupational Health Center of Iran. Life time cancer risk for benzene per 1000 has been reported10, 3.63 and 1.27 in the painting cabin, pre-painting and salon sections, respectively. It was also for ethyl benzene 2.5m 1.8 and 38.0 in the mentioned sections, respectively. The non-cancer risk for benzene and xylene in the painting cabin and pre-painting sections were higher than recommended allowable level.Conclusion: Regarding the high level of cancer risk values obtained for benzene and ethylbenzene in the studied units and also high values of non-cancer risk for benzene and xylene, it is recommended to conduct biological exposure assessmnet of the workers and improve existence control systems using modern engineering control systems.

Introduction: The responsibility of achieving sustainable development goals in most megacities and subsequently in Tehran megacity are in charge of the municipalities. Since, the goal of municipalities in environmental-friendly activities is to protect the physical and mental health of citizens. Therefore, the sustainability assessment of health performance in municipalities is one of the most significant issues in the field of municipal sustainable development of megacities. The Objective of this study was to develop a tool for assessing the sustainability performance of Tehran municipality in the field of health- related activities and services.Material and Method: In this research the main sustainability indicators in the field of health performance were extracted and localized by providing an indicator-based tool for Tehran municipality as a case study. To determine the initial set of effective indicators, guidelines and standards related to health sustainability issues were surveyed, and an initial set of indicators were extracted. Afterward, a two-round Delphi method was applied by 12 qualified experts to select the most robust indicators of Health performance and assign the importance of the inclusion for each proposed indicator on a seven-point Likert scale. The mean value set to 70% and the standard deviation less than 1 were considered as t he cut value.Result: The findings resulted in extracting 11 main categories and 28 sustainability indicators of health performance. The set of indicators related to the “green space” and “waste” categories with slight differences gained the first and second position in the health sustainability field respectively, whereas “urban planning”, “active and healthy life” and “health and hygienic services” located in the bottom of the list with the relatively close scores. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that due to little difference between the score of the main selected categories (less than 1 point difference between the highest and lowest categories) and also due to the fact that the expert panel reached a consensus on the total 11 categories, therefore in order to achieve municipal sustainable development and improving the health level of citizens in the future, it is essential to have a robust consideration toward applying engineering and management measures against all 11 selected categories.

Introduction: Considering the necessity of evaluating novel thermal indices for different individual and environmental conditions, the aim of this study was validation of a new enthalpy index for evaluation of heat stress in hot and dry climate.Material and Method: In this descriptive analytical 97 city services outdoor workers were randomly selected and evaluated in spring and summer seasons in Qom city, Iran. Correlation between new enthalpy index and standard WBGT index, as well as physiological response of deep body temperature was studied and analyzed.Result: Findings showed that regardless of the time of measurements, correlation between enthalpy and WBGT index was better than its correlation with tympanic temperature (R2= 0.756 versus R2= 0.391). Considering the time of measurement, it was found that with increasing temperature and decreasing humidity, the correlation between indices was reduced, although the correlation ratio was maintained similar.Conclusion: Due to the simplicity of the enthalpy index measurement ,its independency to measure the globe temperature and the possibility of estimation of this index using daily climate parameters in meteorological stations, and on the other hand, appropriate validity of enthalpy against WBGT and core temperature, it can be a good alternative for WBGT index and as a screening index for thermal environments in hot and dry condition.

Introduction: Extensive human and economic losses due to the fire accidents shows the necessity of scientifically dealing with major industrial fires, , investing in the development of fire protection technologies and determination of the most effective techniques to limit damages. This study is conducted to evaluate the effect of active and passive protection methods on reducing the level of fire risk, in the control room of a thermal power plant.Material and Method: In the first phase of this study, fire risk level for buildings, goods, occupants and activities was calculated using Fire Risk Assessment Method for Engineering. In the second phase, from 36 sub-factors affecting risk level, three sub-factors of passive protection measures and two sub-factors of active protection measures were analyzed and modified, in reducing the fire risk level of occupants.Result: The results of the present study showed that occupants’ fire risk level (20.64) is above the acceptable level. Correction of three sub-factors, including constant fire load, floor number, and changing the dimensions and area of the control room up to 40% and installing an automatic fire extinguishing system and training the occupants to use fire extinguishing equipment and emergency evacuation up to 33%, is effective in reducing the fire risk level.Conclusion: Passive and active protection methods, despite their impacts on reducing the level of risk, cannot provide an acceptable level of fire safety independently. Therefore, combined use of these methods is essential to protect buildings and people, and prevent any interruption in the system’s activities.