نشریه طب کار
سال سوم شماره 3 (پیاپی 5، پاییز 1390)

Safety culture is one of a number of ideas currently seen as having the potential to move organizations to higher standards of safety. The present study examined the impact of events on the culture safety in the workers of Textile industry.

In this case- control study data collected using questionnaire. In the questionnaire, 75 questions were multiple choices (Standard Safety Culture Questionnaire) and six questions were related to the accident (Accidents questionnaire).The collected data were then coded into the SPSS software.

In this study the most common cause of occupational accidents is indiscretion (53%) and most of the accident has been cut (38%). The relationship between negative and positive safety culture with a history of accident was significant (P<0.05) but Age, work experience and education in case and control groups were not significantly associated with safety culture.

Occupational accidents are the main factors threatening the human resources in organizations. One way to prevent major accidents is creating and reinforces a culture of safety. Senior managers play a major role of building culture and accelerating this. Accordingly, first, it is necessary for managers and administrators of work to have real belief to safe working until the culture being established in organization.

This study was designed as an epidemiologic survey on occupational accidents in Marvdasht, Arsanjan and Passargad in a 6 year period. This was a cross-sectional study which was conducted on occupational accidents occurred between 2005-2010 in all industrial and producial units in Marvdasht, Passargad and Arsanjan. The frequency of accidents was calculated according to the type of accident, time of accident, job, sex, age, marital status, educational status, employment duration, insurance status, nationality and type of activity. Data was analyzed using chi square test. The highest frequency of accidents occurred in 25-29 years age group (29.75%), the most important cause of accidents was fall (36.82%), the job with the highest frequency of accidents was construction (38.6%), the most frequent time of accidents was in 7-10 AM (31.7%), the most frequent organ involved was hand (29.26%) and the most frequent outcome was injury-fracture-toxicity (65.7%). According to the results employers and managers should implement research-based educational programs about health, job and management in order to observe the effects of industrial hygiene on the reduction of occupational accidents in the workplace.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are caused by chronic and long-term exposure to ergonomic factors or by an acute injury. MSDs are the most important cause of work hour loss and medical costs in the workplace. In this study, ergonomic risk factors and frequency of MSDs of workers of an agricultural equipment-manufacturing plant were evaluated. In a cross-sectional study 70 workers were evaluated. Nordic questionnaire was used for evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders and RULA and QEC methods were used for ergonomic risk assessment. Data was analyzed using SPSS (ver. 17). Mean age and employment duration of the workers was 32.75±3.6 and 6.45±7.9, respectively. Frequency of MSDs in these workers was 40.3%. Frequency of the disorders in each body part was: back (12.8%), knee (8.7%), hand (7.8%), neck (6%), and shoulder (5%). RULA score for welding and painting units was 7 and this measure for warehouse and assembly unit was 6 which are in the action level of 3 and 4, respectively. QEC score in 21.3% of workers was between 51 and 70, and 8.2% had a score more than 70, and both need ergonomic intervention. A considerable percent of workers in this factory work in a non-safe ergonomic situation and the frequency of musculoskeletal disorders are high among them which needs a proper ergonomic intervention.

Galvanization is the process of coating steel or cast iron pieces with a thin layer of zinc allowing protection against corrosion. Workers are exposed to HCL during pickling of metals. The aim of this study was to obtain the frequency of irritant and respiratory symptoms among galvanizers exposed to hydrochloric acid. In this study 80 galvanizers exposed to hydrogen chloride and 111 workers from other departments of plant they were selected. Information was collected using ATS questionnaire and a questionnaire for other irritant symptoms and physical examination and demographic data sheet. Exposure assessment was performed by NIOSH 7030 method. The PBZ air sampling and area sampling for hydrochloric acid were below the permissible level (TLV – 8hr = 5 PPM). Results showed that the frequency of the irritation symptoms such as nose and throat burning, eye burning, dyspnea, hoarseness, dental discoloration and sensitization were significantly higher in galvanizers. Results showed that after adjustment for confounding variables such as age and duration of exposure, there was a relationship between irritant, respiratory symptoms, primary stages of dental erosion and hydrochloric acid exposure lower than current TLV.

Noise-induced hearing loss is on of the most important disease which may lead to some disturbances in worker's safety and performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of hearing loss among the workers of a uranium mine in the central region of Iran. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Measurements were performed in A-weighting scale in response to fast detector. Frequency of hearing loss in left and right ears were assessed in 150 workers. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Mean age and duration of employment of the subjects was 33.68±7.56 years and 8.08±5.30 years, respectively. Pearson's correlation test showed a significant relationship between hearing loss at frequencies of 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Hz with age and duration of employment (p<0.05). Hearing loss is increased by increasing age and duration of employment. Considering employment duration to be constant, hearing loss was averagely increased 0.52 for each unit increase in age and considering age to be constant, hearing loss was averagely increased 0.2 for each unit increase in employment duration. This study didnt show a significant hearing loss among the workers because 39.3% of workers were young and 32.7% were office workers without significant exposure to noise but there was a positive correlation between total hearing loss and age and employment duration. Age was more effective on hearing loss than employment duration.

Aromatic solvents widely have a wide range of usage in various industries. A great number of epidemiologic studies show the liver toxicity resulting from exposing to organic solvents and their effect on liver transaminases. In the present study, the effect of milk drinking on the level of liver enzymes among a paint manufacturing industry workers is evaluated. The present study is a before & after clinical trial. 162 paint manufacturing industry workers were studied. They had been chronically exposed to aromatic solvents such as Benzene, Toluene and Xylene. Demographic information was collected by using a questionnaire and the level of liver enzymes ALT and AST was measured by blood testing among the studied workers. Feeding workers with 200 ml milk daily was considered as the initial intervening factor, and after one year, again the level of liver enzymes was measured. Mean age of the subjects was 31.5 ± 8.84 year and the mean of body mass index was 24 ± 3.04 Kg/m2. Measuring the concentration of aromatic organic solvents at paint manufacturing hall indicated that, the workers were exposed to these solvents at more than permissible levels. The level of liver enzymes of the studied workers after one year drinking 200 ml milk daily was significantly reduced (P<0.001). Considering that milk drinking was effective in reducing the level of liver enzymes among workers among workers who were chronically exposed to aromatic solvents, therefore, the present intervention can have a major role in preventing the incidence or in reducing the liver lesions among workers predisposed to risk.

Asthma is a common respiratory disease that causes occupational disability. Specific occupations may be related to induction or exacerbation of asthma. The objective of present study was descriptive evaluation of occupations in asthmatic patients.

In this cross sectional study, 339 asthmatic patients older than 17 years were evaluated regarding their occupations. One hundred and seventy nine patients had at least one occupation. Their occupations were classified based on Standard Occupational Classification 1991 (SOC-91) and frequency of asthmatic patients was determined for each occupational group.

The most frequent occupation in our asthmatic patients was trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (66 cases, 36. 87%). In this occupational group, the most frequent occupation belonged to taxi driving (13 patients, 7. 2%). After that, sales And service occupations such as hairstylists and barbers, bakers and food service providers were frequent occupations (39 cases, 22. 3%). The less frequent occupations in our asthmatic patients were management occupations (2 cases) and health occupations (one case).

Asthma may be more frequent in some occupations such as trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations and after that sales and service occupations. Evaluation of worsening asthma symptoms in mentioned occupations is recommended.

Occupational accidents are a non-separable part of workplaces especially industrial settings. These accidents lead to long-term off-work periods, impairment and disability among experienced workers and eventually affect industrial productivity. This study was designed to assess registered occupational accidents in different industries in Yazd.

In a retrospective cross-sectional study on the files of registered occupational accidents in a 1-year period from March 2007 till March 2008, 533 occupational accidents were evaluated.

Among all industries, metal and construction had the highest frequency of accidents (24.7%). Accidents mostly occurred in the morning (65.7%). The most frequent type of accidents was entrapment (32%). These accidents had led to death (10.8%), and permanent impairment (9.3%).

According to the results of this study a considerable amount of occupational accidents lead to impairment and disability, so more attention to worker training, safety measures and using appropriate personal protective devices is recommended.