دو ماهنامه سلامت کار ایران
سال دوازدهم شماره 4 (مهر و آبان 1394)

Health hazards under heat stress conditions are well known and many industrial workers expose to heat stressful environments. Protection of the health of workers with suitable productivity is very important; the idea requires adoption of a heat stress index that is both reliable and easy to use. Recent studies have found that Thermal Work Limit (TWL) performs better than Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) as a predictor of the impact of environmental heat stress. The aims of this study was to evaluate the heat stress level using TWL and WBGT in indoor and outdoor work environments، as well as to identify the correlation between the values of indices in order to determine the optimal index.

The study was undertaken in June 2014 on an onshore drilling rig workers (21 subjects) as indoor group and administrative personnel (31 subjects) as outdoor group of National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) located in Ahvaz. Both TWL and WBGT were used to assess the thermal stress at the beginning، middle and end of the shift over 3 consecutive days. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.

Based on TWL and WBGT values no significant thermal stress was identified in the indoor working group، but in the outdoor group، the TWL shown different evaluation compared to WBGT. There was significant correlation between the indices at all three shifts in both groups (p-value<0. 05).

WBGT values exceeded of TLV، whereas no case of heat illness was reported during 3 days of the study among the outdoor group. Therefore، the TWL has been shown to be more realistic index than WBGT which was found to be too conservative and inappropriate.

High levels of noise that most operators of agricultural machinery are exposed to for a long time contribute to cause chronic fatigue and irreversible hearing loss. For this reason، occupational health and safety issues related to such machinary should be considered as a key criterion in the design of agricultural machinery and as a critical factor in the acceptance and sales of these equipment. In this study، some factors affecting the sound pressure level of two combines were evaluated. Accordingly، sound pressure level of John Deere 1055 and Sampo 3065 combine harvesters were evaluated at the operator''s ear، 7. 5 and 20 meters of the device. Measurements were performed using a microphone MP201، preamplifier MA231 and MC3022 data acquisition system. A factorial experiment that arranged as a completely randomized design with four replicates was used and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 17. The results of this study indicate that different levels of the variable gear ratio، type of operation، engine speed and microphone distance was significant on sound pressure level at 1% level. The results also show that the sound pressure level at the ear position in the combines without cab is greater in comparison to other distances. Sampo and John Deere combine cabs reduce noise level to 5. 67 and 9. 39 dB، respectively. The results of this research revealed the existence of a cabin in both types of combine harvesters، had a significant impact on the reduction of noise level that the use of cab in John Deere in comparison to Sampo، reduced noise levels to a greater degree. But what is certain is that large numbers of combine harvesters that currently are used in different regions of the country are without the cabin. Regarding the use of these combine harvesters، hearing protection is absolutely essential.

the aim of the current study is to investigate physical activity and life satisfaction and their role in job stress of military staff. The procedure was based on descriptive–analytical method، and using a questionnaire.. Total of 959 of military staff were given job-stress-questionnaire and SWLS، and the obtained data was analyzed by SPSS. physical activity variable of sample group related to sub-component of tiredness with average of 2. 97 and standard deviation of 0. 71 had the topmost mark، whereas the lowest grade was allocated to the sub-component of physical exercises over work with the average of 2. 54 and standard deviation of 0. 76. As for life satisfaction، they were 21. 97 and 7. 78، respectively. On job stress ground، results showed that job stress among sample had the best situation concerning sub-component of «role» with the average of 3. 79 and standard deviation of 0. 86، whereas the worst condition was related to sub-component of «communication» with the average of 2. 77 and standard deviation of 0. 84. Multiple regression coefficients suggested that job stress can be predicted through physical activities. life satisfaction among military personnel is at a proper level and problem-base mode is the most used method to cope with stressors.

Based on various studies، the noise can have a significant effect on human health. Annoyance is the most common bad effect that may be caused by the noise and traffic. Awareness of costs of traffic noise has various advantages in decision making and on control measures to reduce the traffic noise. Therefore، the purpose of this study is to analyze the costs of traffic noise on the residents'' health in city of Tabriz in 2011. Contingent valuation method (CVM) was used to obtain willingness to pay (WTP). First، the effects of noise on human، including individual dissatisfaction to noise، harassment and other effects of traffic noise were obtained using a questionnaire. Two methods were then applied to obtain the costs of noise effect on human health. One، directly from investigation of the relationship between WTP and annoyance caused by noise، and the other one، by investigating the relationship between annoyance and Level day-evening-night (Lden). The results were then compared with the determined thresholds. The results showed that 60% of individuals show medium and medium to high levels of annoyance. For groups with moderate annoyance (39% of cases) the amount of Lden was 67 dB with 65،593،125€، for groups with high level annoyance، Lden was 71 dB with the cost of 38،513،160 €. Since the burden of the costs’ of noise placed on the people of Tabriz are so heavy، control measures are suggested for policy makers that may yield worthy results in the long term.

Pulmonary disorders are among the most frequent complaints of subjects in their working ages and may lead to considerable sickness absences and temporary or permanent disability. This study was conducted to follow subjects with probable occupational asthma referring to occupational medicine clinic of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. This was a follow-up study on 95 workers with probable diagnosis of occupational asthma who were followed for 2 years after diagnosis regarding return to work. Data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 20) using T-test and non-parametric tests. Ninety five workers with probable diagnosis of occupational asthma entered the study. After 2 years follow-up most subjects (82.11%) returned to their previous job. The results of spirometry and respiratory symptoms were significantly associated with return to work but, no significant association was revealed between age and job experience with return to work. The finding of this study showed that a considerable number of workers with occupational asthma remain in their previous job regardless of their symptoms.

Job burnout is a prevailed problem among employees. An Inventory that has been formed to assess counselor’s job burnout is Geldard Burnout Inventory. The aim of this research was to determine the factorial structure of this questionnaire, to prepare the short version that can be used for all jobs. Tools used in this study included the Job Descriptive Index and Geldard Burnout Inventory. The studied statistical population consisted of 460 subjects from male employee who were working at office jobs. Type of research method was correlation. To determine the questionnaire’s reliability and correlation, at the start 20 questions from 40 questions of Geldard Burnout Inventory were selected and both twenty-item and forty-item questionnaire were conducted on a group and correlation between two questionnaires was determined. To determine contemporary validity, correlation between prepared questionnaire and Job Descriptive Index was acquired. The obtained data were analyzed by inferential statistical tests (exploratory factor analysis, independent average comparison test and Pearson correlation test). exploratory factor analysis showed that short questionnaire of job burnout was consist on three factors: prevailed atmosphere on job environment, job mass and pressure and emotional exhaustion. Results showed that prepared questionnaire and it’s dimensions are positively significantly correlated with Geldard forty- item questionnaire and are negatively significantly correlated with Job Descriptive Index, so both results imply sufficient validity. Given the approval of the prepared twenty-item questionnaire, it is able to identify and distinguish those are at risk of job burnout; so the short version of the questionnaire can be used for organizational planning and preventive and identifying plans of job burnout at organizational and individual levels and also for individual and group researches.

Today one of the most important issues in organizations, companies, offices and schools is that people should know how to turn off the fires in emergency situation. Certainly knowing about fire factors and safety in workplaces can reduce the costs of fire accidents, and in this study our goal is to determine the knowledge level of students related to methods of fire control. In this study 280 students were randomly selected from different colleges of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. The questionnaire was used to gather data and the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS (ver11). The results show that only about 22/5 % of students have relevant information that they get it from schools and other about 75% don’t have enough knowledge about fire. Studies show that there is no relation between knowledge, age, sex and course (p>0/05) and there is a meaningful relation between education and the level of knowledge (p>0/05). According to the result of study which shows low fire knowledge level among students, relevant training programs are required to teach how fire exist, how to prevent fire and how to extinguish the fire.

Patient safety is one of the main factors in quality of services provided by a health system. Patient safety culture plays a key role in improvement of patient safety, reduction of medical errors, and prevention of adverse events in health care organizations. Thereby, the present study is aimed to survey patient safety culture in hospitals of Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences. This research was a cross sectional study that conducted on all qualified staff of hospitals affiliated with Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences in 2013. Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) questionnaire was used to assess patient safety culture. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS (16), using Chi-Square test and logistic regression model. Total score average of patient safety culture was 25.50±9.52. The results showed that among the twelve dimensions the highest and lowest scores were obtained by the supervisor/ manager expectations & actions promoting patient safety (score rate 45%) and the reporting frequency of adverse events (score rate 15%) respectively. According to logistic regression model there was also significant relationship between the patient safety culture and direct contact with the patient, employment duration in hospital, and current unit (p<0.05). Total average of patient safety culture and scores of all twelve dimensions were lower than the acceptable criteria. Patient safety culture in the studied hospitals urgently needs enhancement and improvement. So, creating policies to institutionalize and enhance patient safety culture among the staffs are recommended.

Today, using magnetic adsorbents and the subsequent magnetically separation of pollutants is highly considered by researchers due to it’s ease of use, low cost and rapid results. Therefore the aim of this study was the synthesis of a magnetic composite of activated carbon/Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4/PAC), and its application as a magnetic adsorbent for simultaneous removal of lead and aniline from industrial wastewater.

Physical, surface and morphological features of the adsorbent, as well as, the performance of adsorption process were studied in a batch system by investigating the changes in parameters such as pH, contact time, adsorbent and adsorbate concentrations, and temperature. In order to explain experimental data, Freundlich and Langmuir equilibrium isotherms, in addition to Lagergren, Ho and Elovich kinetic equations were applied.

Results of this study demonstrated that 90 % of lead and 94 % of aniline were removable by the synthesized adsorbent under the optimal conditions (pH 6, a contact time 60 min and adsorbent dose of 2 g/L). Experimental data from adsorption were better described by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

According to these results, it can be claimed that Fe3O4/PAC had an effective adsorption capacity for simultaneous adsorption of lead and aniline, and thus, it is recommended