JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE ENGINEERING
Year:2019 | Volume:6 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:8

Background and Objective: One of the main steps to increase the level of safety and plan for reactions in the active or developing units is to assess the risks, such as releasing chemicals in the environment. The present study aimed to model the leakage consequences from gas condensate reservoirs for developing an emergency response plan. Materials and Methods: In order to investigate gas condensate distribution from reservoirs and related consequences in a gas refinery, PHAST software was used in this study. Using process data, landing maps, and meteorological information, the modeling was performed for four scenarios, including a jet fire, pool fire, flash fire, and vapor cloud explosion. In each scenario, the dimensions of the incident and extent of the damage were investigated, and the obtained results were utilized in identifying hazardous areas in the refinery, proper locating of safe areas, and improving routes used in emergencies. Results: In the 650 reservoirs, which are the most dangerous unit equipment, the four scenarios can lead to deadly consequences. In this regard, the incident of vapor cloud explosion and after that pool fire had the most consequences. Accordingly, up to 490 m, the reservoirs, including the control center and some routes, will be affected by possible incidents. Conclusion: According to the regions wind rose and modeling, some changes should be made in the emergency plan, including the fact that the two access routes should be situated more distant from the reservoirs and they should not be placed in the direction of the wind. In addition, two muster points should be located more distant from the reservoirs, and the control center should be fortified against fire and explosion.

Background and Objective: Steel industries are among the most dangerous industries. Nowadays, risk assessment is of great importance in order to control them to maintain the health of the workforce. Decision matrix risk-assessment technique is a systematic approach widely used in the Occupational Health and Safety risk assessment. In this regard, the present study aimed at safety and occupational health risk assessment in one of the steel industry. Materials and Methods: As a follow-up study used in the steel industry, the proposed risk assessment methodology was applied for hazard types in each department of the plant. In a typical matrix method approach, the measurement of risk value is obtained by evaluating two risk factors, including the likelihood of a hazard and severity of the hazard while it arises. In this study, the parameters of likelihood and severity related to the hazards in a steel manufacturing plant were weighted using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, and then the priority order of various hazards was determined by Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity of an Ideal. Results: Performing the assessments led to the identification of 66 types of hazard in 6 sections, including the hazards of the storage, hazards of the furnace, hazards of the production hall, hazards of the maintenance hall, hazards of the packing hall, and hazards of the quality control department. According to the intradepartmental ranking results of risk assessment, D4, F4, F7, PH3, PH7, MH7, P2, and QC7 were the highrisk hazards (i. e., the first ranks of each department) and required the highest level of attention. However, D1, F16, PH13, MH10, P6, and QC5 were reported with the least risk level (i. e., the last ranks of each department). Conclusion: The fuzzy approach enables experts to use verbal variables for evaluating two factors that are the parameters of the matrix method. Therefore, in the present study, the fuzzy approach was proposed to deal with shortcomings of a crisp risk score calculation and decrease the inconsistency in decision making. Depending on the risk control hierarchy, control measures were implemented regarding the hazards placed at the top of intradepartmental rankings. The obtained results of this study enable managers to make the best decisions in order to provide and implement preventive measures based on indicators and events by the evaluation of safety performance.

Background and Objective: Participatory ergonomics refers to the active participation of all components of an organization in the development and implementation of ergonomic knowledge in order to improve workplace conditions, as well as the safety of workforce in the organization. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of participatory and educational ergonomics on the nurses' safety performance. Materials and Methods: A one-month interventional study was conducted on 90 nurses working in a Khuzestan Petroleum Healthcare Hospital using the convenience sampling method. The subjects were assigned into three groups: participation, training, and control. The researcher-made safety performance questionnaire (i. e., scopes of safety participation and compliance with safety rules) was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance and the paired ttest in SPSS Software, version 16. Results: According to the results of the study, no significant difference was found in the safety performance level of the nurses in three groups before the intervention (P<0. 05); however, there was a significant difference in the post-intervention (P<0. 001). The significant difference was observed between the participation and control group concerning safety participation, and between the education and control group in terms of compliance with safety rules (P<0. 001). Conclusion: Participatory ergonomics is more effective than training in improving the safety performance of the nurses. The implementation of participatory ergonomics in combination with senior management commitment could be an effective step for achieving ergonomics goals in healthcare organizations.

Background and Objective: Ergonomic training does not impose the same costs as the other interventions, such as changing the work procedures, using new technologies, and redesigning the work environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous ergonomic training on the rate of productivity and exposure to ergonomic risk factors. Materials and Methods: In this study, 51 employees of a food industry factory in Tehran in the year 2018 were selected by random sampling method. The demographic and productivity data were collected by demographic and achieve questionnaires, respectively. In addition, exposure to ergonomic risk factors was evaluated by Quick Exposure Check (QEC). This information was re-collected after a four-month ergonomic audio-visual training course. The efficacy of the training course was examined by the paired t-test. Results: Our findings indicated that almost half of the participants were in the worst possible posture and the number of people who had the unsuitable posture did not change pre-and post-intervention. The results demonstrated that two-thirds of the samples had a moderate productivity score and training was not effective in this regard. Despite the lack of significant changes in terms of productivity and exposure to risk factors of ergonomics, the scores of these two variables altered significantly. In other words, the change was not significant in a way that could alter the levels of these two variables in the studied subjects. Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, continuous ergonomic training could reduce the QEC score and increase productivity in the work environment.

Background and Objective: The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries. Therefore, in order to improve the conditions and perform preventative interventions, the senior managers of construction projects need to understand the factors affecting safety performance. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between safety investments and safety performance indicators in the construction industry. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was carried out on five major construction worksites of Tehran, Iran, using multiple case study method in 2018. Data were collected using various techniques, such as performing structured interviews, evaluating safety documentation, and using questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 18). Results: Obtained results of the present study indicated a strong negative correlation between the various types of safety investments (i. e., total safety investments, basic safety investments, and voluntary safety investments) and accident frequency rate (i. e., retrospective index) (r=-0. 936, P<0. 05). In addition, the findings revealed a strong direct correlation of the aforementioned variable with safety performance (i. e., prospective indicator) (r=0. 939, P<0. 05). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between marital status and age with safety performance (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Results of the present study showed that an increase in the level of safety investments (i. e., total safety investments, basic safety investments, and voluntary safety investments) will improve safety performance.

Background and Objective: Occupational burnout syndrome is a long-term response to stressful situations that may cause a reduction in the function, efficacy, and productivity of systems or individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of occupational burnout and its related factors among dentists working in Semnan, Iran, during 2014. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study included 86 dentists working in Semnan Iran. The data were collected using a 22-item Maslach burnout inventory that evaluated emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics, including t-test, as well as Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient tests. Results: In this study, 40. 7%, 22. 1%, and 97. 7% of the participants suffered from severe emotional exhaustion, severe depersonalization, and severe reduced personal accomplishment, respectively. According to the results, there was a reverse relationship between the age and the prevalence rate of depersonalization (P=0. 02); however, a direct association was observed between age and personal accomplishment (P=0. 002). Moreover, the females obtained higher scores of emotional exhaustion (P=0. 002) and depersonalization (P=0. 003), compared to males. Furthermore, dentists' working hours per week correlated significantly with depersonalization (P=0. 085). Conclusion: Higher levels of occupational burnout were observed among the general dentists in Semnan, Iran. Moreover, about half of the dentists had emotional exhaustion and more than 95% of them suffered from reduced levels of personal accomplishment. Therefore, it is necessary to consider steps to reduce workload, working hours, and daily stress among dentists.

Background and Objective: Despite the adverse effects of workplace stress on the physical-mental health of individuals and organizational productivity, this important issue has rarely been addressed in the country. With this background in mind, the present research was conducted to investigate the effects of stress on work ability, the work-related accident rate, and the performance of Takhte-Jamshid Hospital in Karaj. Materials and Methods: In the current study, work stress was considered the dependent variable, mediator variables included work ability index and work-related accidents, and hospital performance was regarded as the dependent variable. The statistical population included the total number of 636 Takhte Jamshid Hospital employees out of which of 240 employees were selected as the study population based on Cochran formula. The data collection was performed using the standard questionnaires developed by Aguinis regarding work ability index, work stress, and employee work performance. Results: Based on the obtained results, mean scores of work stress, work ability, and hospital performance were obtained as 3. 06, 22. 2, and 3, respectively. According to the structural equation modeling, work stress negatively affected both working ability (R2=-0. 87) and work-related incidents (R2=0. 68). Moreover, the results were indicative of the negative impact of work stress on the rate of work-related accidents (R2=-0. 34). Furthermore, the rate of work-related accidents rate had an adverse effect on hospital performance (R2=-0. 62). Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, it can be concluded that work stress exerts a significant effect on the reduction of employees' working ability and performance of the hospital. Therefore, it is expected that mitigation of work stress can lead to a lower rate of work-related accidents and higher quality of hospital performance.

Background and Objective: Nowadays, the possibility to use nanomaterials due to their size and unique characteristics in various fields of science and technology is provided. On the other hand, these unique properties have raised many concerns about the potential effects of nanomaterials on human and the environment. Occupational exposure is the most prevalent way of human confrontation with nanomaterials. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the symptoms of the employees of nanotechnology companies in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: At first, a questionnaire on non-specific symptoms was designed and validated by a group of specialists. Then, nanotechnology companies were identified and the questionnaires were provided for the employees of these companies. Finally, the data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22). Results: The obtained results of the present study showed that the designed questionnaire had a good validity and reliability. The employees' average age of less than 34 years and the average work experience of less than 7 years indicates that nanotechnology is a young field of science in our country. The findings of the current study showed that the frequency of skin symptoms (e. g., roughness, itching, and redness), respiratory symptoms (e. g., coughing, sneezing, and sore throat), and ocular symptoms (e. g., burning, itching, and redness) were relatively high among the employees of the nanotechnology companies. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that the frequency of some symptoms were high among the employees of the companies under investigation. Therefore, it is necessary to implement control measures to reduce the employees' confrontation with nanomaterials.