Journal of Health and Safety at Work

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Introduction: Emission of volatile organic compounds through industrial processes to the environment has been received more attentions currently. Photocatalytic oxidation process as a new emerging technique in air purification can be substituted for conventional techniques such as activated carbon adsorption. In photocatalytic oxidation process, pollutant molecules decompose to water and carbon dioxide molecules. The objective of present study was the examination of influencing parameters such as concentration, relative humidity, and superficial gas velocity on photocatalytic oxidation of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in a fluidized bed reactor.

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Material and Method: In this study photocatalytic oxidation of MEK was examined in a fluidized bed reactor. Gamma alumina coated titanium dioxide particles under ultraviolet light were used as photocatalyst. The efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation process was determined using measurement of MEK concentrations at the inlet and outlet of the fluidized bed reactor.

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Result: The study of MEKphotocatalytic oxidation was carried out in the concentration range of 100 to 800 PPM with 25% and 45% relative humidity. Photocatalytic degradation of MEK at the relative 45 % humidity was slightly lower than 25 %. Increasing MEK concentration from 200 to 800 PPM was led to decrease in degradation efficiency. At concentrations of 100 and 200 PPM MEK, increasing superficial gas velocity did not change the degradation efficiency, whereas, at concentrations of 200 to 800 PPM, increasing superficial gas velocity resulted in decrease in MEK degradation.

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Conclusion: In photocatalytic oxidation of MEK, there is a competitive adsorption between water and MEK and at higher relative humidity degradation of MEK decreases. In the fluidized bed reactor increasing superficial gas velocity causes decrement in MEK photocatalytic degradation.Increasinginitial concentration of pollutant results in decreasing ofphotocatalytic efficiency due to the limited number of active sites on the catalyst surface.

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Introduction: ”Exposing to danger” or in other words, “risk” is a process which is led to an uncertain result in every field. Project risks are uncertain contingent events or situations that if they occur will have positive or negative effects on project’s objectives. Todays, research and educational process and more complicated and the professional risk management become much more difficult, as a result.

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Material and Method: In this research, the health and safety issues have been studied and analyzed using ISO 14121 and the environmental issues by EMEA to determine the risk level separately for research laboratories and to prioritize corrective measure in each field (school).

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Result: The finding in this study showed that from all the main risks within the rage of 38-86 percent have been decreased. Moreover average of the risk level for the health, safety and environment cases showed a significant decrease (Pvalue<0.0001) by implement controlling and protective countermeasures compariy to the priority state without any measures.

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Conclusion: The risk assessment with hazards control strategy based on ISO 14121 is a compatible method in laboratory site as universities and other reasearch sites.

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Introduction: work related musculoskeletal disorders are the most wide spread type of occupational diseases among workers. Awkward body postures during work and manual material handling are among the most important risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders in different jobs. Due to importance of recognizing these factors prevalence and risk factor of work related musculoskeletal disorders, this research was aimed to study the among employees of Kashan City’s Saipa automobile industry in 2011.

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Material and Method: This study is a descriptive-cross sectional study conducted among workers with manual material handling 37 activities and 84 work duties. To recognize musculoskeletal disorders, body map questionnaire was applied and occupational risk factors were evaluated using Key Index Method (KIM). Data was analyzed using SPSS and Excel software.

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Result: Highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was in low and upper back region (%92). Based on the results from KIM, workers in the installing the tire, shuttle-aided fitting of seat, and engine work station had higher risk level with the scores of 66, 52 and 52, respectively. Risk level among three individuals (%3.6) was at 1, 40 (%47.6) at 2, 38 (%45.2) risk level 3, and 3 (%3.6) at 4.

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Conclusion: Awkward body posture, improper twisting and flexion of low back were major risk factor among worker doing manual material handling tasks. Regarding the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, appropriate ergonomic interventions such as engineering and organization interactions can reduce this risk factors (posture, heavy load, duration, workplace conditions) as much as the risk level reach to an acceptable level.

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Introduction: Agriculture is one of the oldest jobs in the world and almost 7-2 billion people all over the world are working in this field. In the field of agriculture workers may be always in danger, due exposure to various chemical and physical factors. Despite the dramatic technological developments in agricultural science, this field is still among one of the most dangerous workplaces in the world.

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Material and Method: This study is conducted in the suger cone industry. It is about agricultural machines and their major role in noise production. In order to identify the dominant- source index model was proposed.

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Result: All the agricultural machines were classified and the main characteristics of each group such as type of the machines, their number, the number of operators, and existence of cabin, were determined. Also operator's annual exposure to noise was measured according to the international standards. The data was analyzed with the proposed model formula, and the noise – source indices were calculated.

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Conclusion: The results show that the suger cane reaper poster case I H7000 has the highest noise- production index among all other agricultural equipments. So the suger cane reaper was identified as the main source of sound production in the agricultural industry. This machine in usually being used in harvesting the suger can farms. After identifying this device as the main source of sound in the suger can farming industry, a sound – controlling method was proposed in order to reduce the operator exposure in the caloin. First a fall, the noise frequently of the inside and outside of the cabin was analyzed in case the engine speed was 2100 rpm. After identifying the dominant frequency, the capacity of cabin sound reduction was determined with the usage of cabin transferring reduction index the proposed control method was based on increasing the absorption of the cabin. The results shows that the  Sound pressure level indices in the dominant frequencies of 125, 250, 500, 1000, 1000.2, 90.3 were respectively 100.2,90.3, 86.6,83.6 but after performing the control method the numbers were reduced to 82.1,75.2,80.5,80.2 in the other hand. Sound pressure level in frequencies of 8000, 4000, 2000 was below the permutable limit and does not cause significant dangers. So there will be no need for further reduction in noise levels.

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Introduction: Every year thousands of people in Iran loss their lives in traffic accidents. Any those accidents, motorcycle accidents are fatal. Safety attitude is a predictor of risky behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality, attitudes to safety and risky behaviors.

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Material and Method: In this study 254 motorcycle drivers were randomly selected in Tehran city, and they were asked to complete personality, the attitude to safety and risky behaviors questionnaire.

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Result: A statistically significant correlation was found between different domains of personality (fear, anger, Emotional styles, altruism, anomaly) and attitude to safety (traffic flow in obedience to the law, driving speed, driving excitement), (P = 0/001). Also between personality and attitude to safety the relationship was statistically significant (p = 0/001).

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Conclusion: Attitude to safety is a predictor for risky behavior. Personality also the impact indirectly on the attitude to safety have and risky behaviors.

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Introduction: There are risk of fire accidents in Operating rooms during surgery. Experts estimate annually around 100 fire accidents occur in the operating rooms of United States’s hospitals. 10 to 20 of these accidents lead to severe injuries and about 1 to 2 lead to death. Despite such accidents rarely happen, but they can lead to serious injury or death of patients.

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Material and Method: This Cross-sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted among several hospitals belonged to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In this study, all personnel of operating rooms were investigated. Questionnaire were used to collect information and the chi-square test was applied to examine the relationship between the Knowledge of operating room personels on fire prevention and control methods, jobs and work experience. For statistical analysis SPSS14 were used.

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Result: In this study from 220 participants, about 19.72% had full awareness, 19.62% had partial knowledge, 19.37% had low awareness and 40.97% had no knowledge on fire prevention methods, concerning fire control methods. However, 76% of the participate had full awareness and 24% had no knowledge. Test result Statistically showed that the relationship between the awareness of operating room personnel to fire control methods and work experience were significant (P-value <0.05). But, the relationship between the knowledge of operating room to fire control methods and the type of jobs were not significant. Also no significant relationship were found between the level of awareness in operating room personnel to fire prevention methods, work experience and job title.

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Conclusion: The results indicated that the operating room staff awareness of fire prevention and control methods are low. The results also showed that awareness of fires prevention are lower than the awareness of fire control among the studied personel. Regarding to the potential risk of fire in the operating room, it is suggested that in order to increase awareness of vulnerable patients and personnel in operating conditions, measures like educational need assessment, training workshops on fire prevention and control methods should be implemented.

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Introduction: In today comparative markets, the organizations and companies will be success that adopt the standards related to their all works and services. By thechnalization and machinism, we are witnessed of higher rate of industrial accidents as well as economic losses in everyday activities. Therefore, the need for occupational safety and health standards is future required, otherwise, a serious losses will rise for those organizations, accordingly.

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Material and Method: IIn this study, the threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths were evaluated by one of the tools named SWOT, in one of the assembly industries company in Iran, in order to controlling the operations in this company considering to safety and health standard (OHSAS18001). A comparison of the company’s performance in implementing the safety and health standards was done between years 1387 and 1388 contain in the Company considered, and weighted scoring weaknesses, strengths, threats and opportunities using the matrix of internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (treats and opportunities) then, the importance of each factor were determined in the company’s implementation and enforcement of those standards.

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Result: Focusing on the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, some strategies to improve the implementation were presented. Any points were weighted based on the most important weaknesses identified as the lack of monitoring contractors, lack of management commitment for implementation of OHSAS18001, no attempt to identify the risks of change, lack of training needs assessment, main strengths identified in the context of adequate budget health and safety, environmental efforts, identify risk for abnormal conditions, the most important threats for immediate delivery customer orders and the opportunity to support the safety and health plans, were determined.

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Conclusion: Sum of the weighted scores in year 87 were obtained for the external factors (opportunities and threats), 2.16 and internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) 1.66. Both of these scores were less than 2.5 (minimum amount of the acceptable rate) so, the company has been poor performance in the implementation of this standard for the year 87 and a weak reaction in the use of opportunities and the minimize threats has. In case of internal factors, it was worse than external one and the situation was more bold of the weaknesses companies to the strengths and of the organization. But, in the year 88, due to changes in the organizational structure of the company, the weighted score for external factors 3.2 and for the internal factors was 3.64, indicating an improvement in the companies conditions.

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Introduction: Occupational injuries and accidents as one of the problems have always been considered important in occupational environments. Domino model that Heinrich was formed to pursue the idea of the cause of the accident is the man. Thus one of the effective way to reduce accidents will be control by the unsafe behaviors among workers by promoting safety culture.

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Material and Method: In this descriptive - analytical study, the reliability and exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire. In total 303 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS 17 software.

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Result: The alpha crumbed, coefficient was 0/86. Structural factor of the questionnaire was evaluated using factor analysis. KMO and Bartlett’s sphericity test coefficient were 0/909 and 9785/057, respectively. The varimax rotation showed that all test questions are based on factors.

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Conclusion: The results indicated favorable validity of this questionnaire for use in detergents and cleaners industries within the country. Considering the load factor safety culture in detergents and cleaners industries, contained 5 factors including “management commitment”, “education and information exchange,” “supportive environment”, “barriers” and “priority to safety”. The obtained the correlations, the highest positive correlation was belong to the “management commitment” (r=0/952), as the strongest correlation with the safety culture.

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Introduction: Application of agricultural machineries such as tractor has been yielded a considerable development in different agricultural activities and productions. However, noticeable health problems such as noise pollution impact the users of these off-road vehicles. The purpose of this study was to determine the noise level induced by agricultural tractors and to evaluate the driver’s noise exposure level.

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Material and Method: The sound pressure levels of three brands of tractor include John Deere, Ferguson and Romani were measured by sound level meter model Tes-1358. The characteristics of place for measuring tractors noise pollution were determined based on the ISO standard No 7216, 5131. The acquired data was analyzed using spss16 software.

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Result: The results showed that the highest and the lowest noise level around the tractors were 83.8 dB (A) and 73.9 dB (A) for the John Deere and Romani, respectively. The effect of different transmission gears on the noise level of tractors was not statistically significant Pvalue>0.05. While, the effect of the tractor engine speeds on the noise level was statistically significant Pvalue<0.01. The exposure time of the most of drivers was frequently about 8 hour or more In this regards, the exposure levels of the tractor’s drivers to noise measured between 85-90 dB (A) were higher than the Iranian occupational exposure limit (85 dB (A)).Moreover, mean noise reduction rate of exsisting room which was used upon the typical tractor’s body was 9.5 dB in one octave band.

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Conclusion: Application of standard cockpit and expansion mufflers can effectively reduce noise pollution emission and driver’s occupational exposure. Moreover, regular preventive maintenance and effective hearing conservation program including annual audiometry, hearing protection device, occupational health training for drivers must be implemented.

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Introduction: In last decades, due to the increase in the number of VDT works prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders has increased among users. One of the main risk factors for those problems might be related to the computer keyboards. Keyboards might lead to these problems, in different ways. Keyboard geometry is one of the main ways. As a result, the various types and shapes of personal computer keyboards have designed in order to provide a neutral or relaxed posture in the wrist and forearm areas. Slanted, sloped and tilted keyboards are the most important alternative keyboard designs for this mean.

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Material and Method: In this paper, with a systematic approach, related studies were searched in authentic databases and finally eleven studies met to our inclusion criteria for review.

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Result: findings in different studies showed that alternative keyboards clearly can provide an ergonomic neutral posture for the wrist and forearm. As a specific objective in the study, it was found that the best keyboard, to form an ideal posture for the wrist and forearm is ‘NIOSH keyboard‘ because of its ergonomic design.

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Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of the alternative keyboards on the wrist and forearm postures, it is concluded that use of the alternative keyboards can decrease risk factors related to the wrist and forearm postures. Results can be applied by personal computer users, computer designers, occupational hygienists and ergonomists.

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Introduction: According to the literature, a large number of people working in industries and service providing personnel, such as firefighters, physicians, and nurses, are shift workers. The spread of shift working in industrial societies and the incidence of the problems resulting from shift working have caused the researchers to conduct studies on this issue. The present study also aimed to investigate melatonin and cortisol circadian rhythms in the security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

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Material and Method: The present study was conducted among 20 security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In order to collect the required data, blood samples were taken from the participants in different times of the day (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22) and cortisol and melatonin levels were determined using radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay techniques, respectively. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (v. 16.0) and analyzed using One-Way ANOVA.

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Result: The results showed that as the intensity of light increased during night time, the level of plasma cortisol increased, as well. Besides, no statistically significant difference was found between the plasma cortisol levels in natural light and 4500-lux light. On the other hand, a significant difference was observed between the level of plasma cortisol in natural light and 9000-lux light as well as 4500- and 9000-lux lights. The study findings also showed that as the intensity of light increased at night, the level of plasma melatonin decreased. In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the plasma melatonin levels in natural light and 4500-lux light. Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed between the plasma melatonin levels in natural light and 9000-lux light as well as 4500- and 9000-lux lights.

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Conclusion: The present study aimed to investigate the subsequences of shift working in the security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and showed that occupational exposure to bright light could affect some biological markers, such as melatonin and cortisol secretion.

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Introduction: Because of some important advantages such as creation job opportunities and providing raw material for some industries, animal husbandry plays an important role in Iran. According to the work force statistics, there are considerable number of employees working in animal husbandries sections. However, there is few information concerning cattle husbandry unit sanitations and workers health and safety condition. The aim of this project was to investigate the health and safety condition of cattle husbandry units and their workers in Babol.

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Material and Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among all the traditional and industrial cattle husbandry units (n=52) in the rural area of Babol city during winter 2010. The data were collected from all of the active cattle husbandry units, and inactive units were omitted from the sample list. The data were gathered by means of tailor-made data collection sheet through an interview and direct inspection done by the environmental health technicians. The data analyzed using descriptive statistical indexes and Chi- square test, and p<0.05 was considered as significant.

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Result: The findings indicated that the mean value of years of work experience was 15.1±12.9 years and 30% of workers were illiterate. Immunization against tetanus was 43%. Only one fourth of the workers had health card and 36% had periodic medical examinations. More than 55% of the participants had not passed health and safety orientation courses. Almost half of the workers experienced work related accidents and 60% of the units had no hygienic toilets. According to Chi-square test result, there were significant statistical correlations between the level of education and years of experience by complying with some health and safety rules.

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Conclusion: Our results indicated that, more attention should be given to educational programs about health issues and a serious supervision of health legislations is necessary.

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Introduction: Universities play a key role in creating a knowledge-based society and its sustainable development. Strategic planning by strategically analyses internal and external environments of the organization, forecast its future, identifying its strategic direction, and strengthening organizational structures, processes, and outcomes, creates and sustains competitive advantages. This study aimed to formulate a strategic plan for the Occupational Health Engineering (OHE) department of School of Public Health (SPH) at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).
Material and Methods: In this participatory action research, a strategic planning committee was formed. The strategic planning committee used the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) matrix to evaluate the internal and external environments of the OHE department. Then, the mission, vision, values, goals and objectives of the OHE department were defined. Finally, the operational plan including actions to achieve the goals and objectives were formulated.
Results: Experienced professors and staff, specialized laboratories, professional journals, and high ranked postgraduate students were the most important strengths; and theoretical and non-practical courses, lack of educational protocols, poor communication with industries, lack of resources, and low motivation of employees were some of the weaknesses of the OHE department.  The support of senior managers of TUMS, industry liaison council at school and university, facilities of the university faculties, comprehensive research laboratories of the university, capacities of the private sector and increasing the demand for research in the industry were the opportunities. High inflation, political sanctions, the absence of consulting engineering companies and the uncertainty of research priorities of industries were important threats to the OHE department. Therefore, the OHE department is in a conservative strategic position. The strategic direction of the department, including the mission, vision, values and goals, until 2025 was determined. Improving the structures, working processes and performance of the occupational health department were determined as objectives and 81 actions were formulated to achieve these objectives.
Conclusion: The educational departments, schools and universities must have a strategic plan for progress. The strategic plan of the occupational health department of TUMS was formulated in line with the four-year plan of the university and coordinated with the operational plans of the educational, health and research deputies of TUMS and school of public Health. Proper implementation of this comprehensive and evidence-based strategic plan will improve the performance of the occupational health department.

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Introduction: The purpose of occupational health is to maintain and improve the health of employees and improve their physical, mental and social well-being through the prevention, control and elimination of occupational hazards. It is necessary to integrate educational, research and health service activities to prevent and control potential occupational health hazards in the community. This study aimed to develop a Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) for occupational health at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).
Material and Methods: In this participatory action research, a strategic planning committee was established, whose members were professors of the occupational health department in the school of public health and managers of the occupational health department in the health deputy of TUMS. The strategic planning committee carried out a strategic evaluation of the internal and external environments of both occupational health deprtments of TUMS and identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Then, the strategic direction of JCPOA including the vision, mission, values, goals and objectives was determined. Also, the strategies and actions to achieve the goals and objectives were identified. Finally, the action plan to achieve these objectives was developed.
Results: This applied research led to the strategic evaluation of the internal and external environments of the occupational health depratment of the School of Public Health and the occupational health depratment of the Health deputy of TUMS, determining the strategic direction, and finally, developing an action plan to achieve the goals and objectives.
Conclusion: The JCPOA for occupational health was developed using a collaborative and systemic approach. The proper implementation of this plan can lead to the improvement of occupational health indicators in the community. Cooperation between university and industry is necessary for the sustainable development of society.