دو ماهنامه سلامت کار ایران
سال نهم شماره 1 (بهار 1391)

Carpet knitters play an important role in economic systems of families and they are dealing with stress at work for many reasons. Therefore, they need both external and internal supporting resources for coping with these stresses. Among supporting resources, self-esteem is the most internal and social support is the most external supporting resources. This study was designed to identify the relationship between perceived social support and self-esteem in Naeen village ’ s carpet knitters. This study is a descriptive- analytical research with correlation design. Two hundred carpet knitters of Naeen’s villages were assessed using two questionnaires; “Cooper Smith” scale of self-esteem and multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Results were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Regression. According to Pearson correlation coefficient, a significant correlation was found between self esteem and social support, r = 0.48, (p< 0.001). Consequently, social support can influence the individuals self-esteem and when people have higher self-esteem and self- confidence, they can play their roles properly and achieve more success in both private and social life

The property loss and physical injuries due to fire events in buildings demonstrate the necessity of implementation of efficient and performance based fire safety measures. Effective and high efficiency protection is possible when design and selection of protection measures are based on risk assessment. This study aims at presenting a software method to make possible selection and design of building fire safety measures based upon quantitative risk assessment and building characteristics. based on “Fire Risk Assessment Method for Engineer (FRAME)” a program in MATLB software was written. The first section of this program, according to the FRAME method and based on the specification of a building, calculates the potential risk and acceptable risk level. In the second section, according to potential risk, acceptable risk level and the fire risk level that user want, program calculate concession of protective factor for that building. The prepared software make it possible to assign the fire safety measure based on quantitative risk level and all building specifications. All calculations were performed with 0.001 of precision and the accuracy of this software was assessed with handmade calculations. During the use of the software if an error occurs in calculations, it can be distinguished in the output. Application of quantitative risk assessment is a suitable tool for increasing of efficiency in designing and execution of fire protection measure in building. With using this software the selected fire safety measure would be more efficient and suitable since the selection of fire safety measures performed on risk assessment and particular specification of a building. Moreover fire risk in the building can be managed easily and carefully.

The relationship between physical-mental health and Migraine headaches and stress, especially job stress, is known. Many factors can construct job stress in work settings. The factor that has gained much attention recently is inequality (imbalance) of employees’ effort versus the reward they gain. The aim of the current attempt was to investigate the validity of effort-reward imbalance model and indicate the relation of this model with migraine headaches and psychological well-being among subjects in balance and imbalance groups. Participants were 180 personnel of Oil distribution company located in Isfahan city, and instruments used were General health questionnaire (Goldberg & Hilier), Social Re-adjustment Rating Scale (Holmes & Rahe), Ahvaz Migraine Questionnaire (Najariyan) and Effort-reward imbalance scale (Van Vegchel & et al). The result of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis for investigating the Construct validity of the effort-reward imbalance model showed that in both analyses, the two factor model was confirmed. Moreover, findings indicate that balance group was in better psychological (p<0/01) and physical (migraine) (p<0/05) status comparing to the imbalance group. These findings indicate the significance of justice to present appropriate reward relative to personnel performance on their health. Implication of these findings can improve Iranian industrial personnel health from both physical and psychological aspects.

Accident investigation show that more than 90 percent of accidents cause by human errors. Human errors are also due to cognitive failures. Cognitive failures can be defined as cognitive-based errors on simple tasks that a person is normally able to complete without fault; such mistakes include problems with memory, attention or action. The present study was designed to develop a measurement tool for the estimation of cognitive failures in industrial workplaces. In the present analytical-descriptive study, an Occupational Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (OCFQ) was developed. For the evaluation of validity, internal consistency and repeatability of the OCFQ the content validity, Cronbach α coefficient and test-retest methods were used, respectively. A draft of 35-items questionnaire was created and following the evaluation of validity, five items were rejected. The new measuring instrument with 30-items was developed. The CVI for the final OCFQ was found to be acceptable (CVI=0.7). Results showed that the final OCFQ was internally consistent (α=0.96) and repeatable (ICC =0.996 and P<0.001). For measurement of cognitive failure in industrial workplaces, a valid and reliable instrument is required. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the developed questionnaire (OCFQ) is a valid and reliable tool for the estimation of cognitive failures in industrial workplaces.

Promotion of workers’ health and safety is one of the main tasks of managers and planners. One of the important sciences that can assist managers to achieve this gool is ergonomics. This article presents results of workload and job satisfaction survey in a heavy metal components manufacturing company in Tehran, in 2010. This cross sectional study conducted by survey of all operational workers. Workload is survived by NASA-TLX questionnaire that contained six dimensions and job satisfaction evaluated by short version of Minnesota questionnaire. Job satisfaction questionnaire ’s reliability which assessed by Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.91. In addition, data analysis results declare that the average job satisfaction scale was 65 and at medium level and workload with 85.11 as average scale was at the high level. Effort and physical loads were two dimensions which have high amount in the workload In addition, no statistical significant relation was observed between the total job satisfaction score and workload score. (p<0.05). While the performance dimension showed a positive relationshipwith job satisfaction, frustration demonstrated a negative relationship with job satisfaction. In order to improve the work conditions the administrative and technological controls should be implemented and actions need to be taken to modify workload dimensions specially, two dimensions with the high amount and dimensions that have relationship with job satisfaction.

Increasing rate of reference of Influenza patients to hospitals besides recent H1N1 pandemic experiences and also threats of incoming Avian flu denote to the importance and necessity of Hospital's staff annual vaccination against influenza. In this cross sectional and questionnaire based study 276 of shiraz general hospital's personnel were selected by convenient method. The collected data were entered and processed in SPSS/WIN 11.5. Responding rate was 75%. Among participants, 159 (77%) were nurse and 24 (12%) were medical doctors.85 % were female and Mean age of responders was 36.13±7.83 years. Mean score of knowledge was 16/54±2/75; showed 80% of desired level.117 (57%) said that their exposure possibility to flu patients in hospitals is moderate to high degree.135 (65%) did not have history of influenza vaccination in last year and the most common causes of Influenza vaccination declination by whom were belief of not getting influenza from others, distrust about vaccine efficacy and concern about adverse reactions of influenza vaccine. In 62(30%) who received influenza vaccination in last year, the most common causes of Flu vaccination were protection of patients of getting influenza, reducing the chance of being off work due to protracting influenza and protection of families of getting influenza. Increasing work load of hospitals by referred flu patients besides diversity and unpredicted nature of influenza pandemics and confirmed role of non- flu vaccinated hospitals’ staff in developing influenza outbreaks at hospitals, shows the importance of improving Influenza vaccination uptake rate among hospitals’ staff based on the global and national protocols.

High percentage of musculoskeletal disorders occurs due to awkward working posture and poor workstation design. So this study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders, evaluate workstations and investigate the effectiveness of ergonomic interventional measures among medical school staff of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). In this interventional study, 200 employees of different units of medical school of SUMS participated. They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected via anonymous questionnaire, RULA and QEC techniques as well as an ergonomic workstation checklist that was used to evaluate working conditions. The results showed that after conducting interventional program for the experimental group there was a significant relationship between employee's increased awareness of ergonomics and workstation improvement (p≤0.05). Additionally, the prevalence rate of reported musculoskeletal disorders in experimental group was significantly reduced following intervention (p≤0.05). After corrective measures, level of risk was decreased and working postures were improved. A significant relationship was observed between risk levels and neck and shoulder pain in the experimental group (p≤0.05). Following the intervention, workstations scores were increased significantly. On the basis of the findings of this study, it could be noted that the ergonomic interventional program was effective to improve working posture and workstations as well as to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among the staff.

Security personnel of hospitals in Iran are one of shift worker groups that are affected more than of other shift workers.

This study was performed in 3 hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and 130 workers of security personnel were evaluated. Data of shift workers were collected with Survey of Shift workers (SOS) questionnaire and at the same time, the stature, weight and blood pressure were also measured.. Further, 130 people of unexposed group were evaluated by this questionnaire.

Comparison between two groups (shift workers and non-shift workers) has shown significant difference between the prevalence of high blood pressure, sleep disorders, satisfaction of individual life, satisfaction in family life, satisfaction in social life, psychological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, digestive disorders, musculoskeletal disorders in two groups and this significant difference in shift workers are more than of unexposed group.

Investigation of these disorders has identified the importance of paying attention to shift workers requirements and contribution of workers in work schedules, problem solving and improvement of work conditions.