مجله مهندسی بهداشت حرفه ای
سال نهم شماره 3 (پاییز 1401)

Traffic accidents are one of the most important challenges metropolises face, which impose significant costs on them every year. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of accidents and the factors affecting them among city taxi drivers in Kermanshah, Iran.

In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, 320 male urban taxi drivers in Kermanshah were investigated in 2018. The required data were collected using a multi-part questionnaire including demographic and occupational characteristics, a visual analog scale for fatigue, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. To analyze the data, non-parametric statistical tests and logistic regression models were employed by using SPSS software (version 25).

The frequency of accidents among urban taxi drivers of Kermanshah was 38.3% (n=123). Significant differences were observed in the variables of work experience, fatigue level, and smoking among drivers with and without accidents (P<0.05). Based on logistic regression, smoking (odds ratio: 2.68 and 95% confidence interval: 1.66-4.33) and one unit increase in the fatigue level (odds ratio: 1.01 and 95% confidence interval: 1.00-0.1-02) were significantly associated with an increased chance of the accident in the drivers.

Due to the relatively high prevalence of accidents among urban taxi drivers, it is necessary to design and prioritize comprehensive programs to identify and control the factors affecting accidents in this group of drivers.

Emergency evacuation planning is one of the most central protective measures in emergency situations. Determination of the emergency muster points is one of the principal requirements of emergency evacuation planning. In this regard, this study aimed to represent a framework for determining emergency muster points in process industries.

After examining various texts, the effective criteria for determining emergency muster points were identified, and the relative weight of each criterion was calculated using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method. Finally, the fuzzy technique for order preference by the similarity of an ideal solution (FTOPSIS) method was utilized to prioritize and determine optimal emergency muster points.

According to the calculations by the FAHP method, from the total 12 criteria surveyed in this study, the first eight criteria from any factors with the highest weight were introduced as the most significant factors. The criteria of external factors affected relative weights, dis-tances from the hazard centers, prevailing wind conditions, nature of probable scenarios, and the presence of vulnerable groups. On the other hand, the criteria of internal factors included the potential impact of the accident, easy accessibility, visibility, and monitoring, as well as travel time.

Identification and evaluation of emergency muster points shall be made based on distances from the hazard centers, prevailing wind conditions, nature of probable scenarios, presence of vulnerable groups, the potential impact of the accident, easy accessibility, visibility, and monitoring, as well as travel time.

The present study was designed and conducted to identify and determine the parameters of health, safety, and environment (HSE) affecting cloud computing in providing intelligent services in the rail transportation system.

This cross-sectional study was carried out based on the Delphi technique and expert opinions on the rail transportation system in 2020. This research was performed in five steps, including a comprehensive review of the related literature, identification, presentation of HSE parameters affecting cloud computing in providing intelligent services in the rail transportation system, and three Delphi rounds. Sixteen experts participated in the field of HSE and rail transportation. The coefficient of variation (CV) and desirability of each parameter were considered at < 20% and ≥ 4, respectively.

Based on this Delphi study, 15 parameters related to HSE and influential on cloud computing technology in the provision of intelligent services in the rail transportation system were introduced. Moreover, the CV index was estimated at 8.0%. The parameters of future research, the existence of a skilled workforce, and cloud service resource management tools had the highest degree of desirability (4.875).

The findings indicated that identifying functions and challenges of HSE regarding cloud computing technology in the rail transportation system could help decision-makers to improve effective services in the rail transportation system and reduce the associated risks.

Excessive working hours, insufficient rest, and irregular driver schedules are factors that could cause drowsiness in professional drivers; consequently, reducing the driver's ability and increasing the chance of road accidents. Therefore, the present study aimed to Investigate the relation between drivers working and resting hours with the occurrence of road accidents among heavy vehicle drivers.

This analytical and cross-sectional research was performed in 2018 and 200 heavy vehicle drivers in Tehran province, Iran, were evaluated. A standard driver safety questionnaire was used to collect data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 21).

The mean age of drivers, driving hours per day, continuous driving hours, and rest hours per day were calculated as 47.5 ± 9.05 years, 10.66 ± 2.52, 5.82 ± 1.87, and 8.7 ± 1.13, respectively. The average number of road quasi-accidents and accidents for drivers in the last five years was 4.26 ± 2.29 and 1.1 ± 1.2, respectively. The number of accidents was significantly associated with age, drowsiness, safety and health education, driving hours, the number of continuous driving hours, and the number of rest hours. No significant association was found between the number of accidents and smoking.

Behaviors such as long driving hours, long continuous driving hours, short rest hours, and drowsiness are among the causes of heavy vehicle drivers’ accidents in the country. Planning with the approach of informing, and raising awareness and skills of drivers to change their harmful habits and high-risk driving behaviors could significantly reduce road accidents.

Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) is one of the most important principles that should be considered in any activity, including industrial and service activities. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the role of HSE in the parameters affecting the technology foresight approach in an automotive industry.

This study was conducted based on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) in an automotive industry from 2020 to 2021. The statistical population included experts, supervisors, and managers in Pars-Khodro Company (Tehran, Iran), and the study sample was 138 people. The process of conducting this study included identifying the parameters affecting the technology foresight approach in the automotive industry through a comprehensive library study and implementing FAHP through a field study.

The results showed that all parameters of soft and hard technology, as well as political, economic, social, and HSE factors, significantly affected the technology foresight approach in the automotive industry (P<0.001). The final normalized weights for these six parameters were 0.378, 0.163, 0.280, 0.051, 0.098, and 0.031, respectively. The incompatibility rate of the comparisons was 0.09.

The findings indicated that soft technology is the most important factor and HSE factors are the least important one in technology transfer and foresight approach.

Staff responsible for transporting patients to the hospital are at risk for musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, this study was performed using the MAPO method and 3DSSPP software to estimate the mechanical load on the waist of staff carrying the patient.

In the first stage, the hospital wards and the number of personnel who transferred patients manually were identified and evaluated with the MAPO index. 3DSSPP software was used to identify and evaluate the risk factors causing back injuries in personnel. The results were analyzed using SPSS (version 26) and descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and correlation tests.

Participants consisted of 24 people, including 21 men and 3 women, with a mean age of 35.6 years. According to the results of 3DSSPP software, in 37.5% of people, the estimated ligament damage was more than the allowable limit. The compressive force on the L4/L5 and L5/S1 vertebral discs was higher than the allowable limit in 58.3% and 62.5% of subjects, respectively. Based on Pearson's statistical test, there was a significant correlation between the results of MAPO and 3DSSPP methods.

To reduce and minimize the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders, it is necessary to eliminate the factors affecting the patient's mobility, such as assistive devices and equipment, environmental factors, improved education, and the factors affecting the disorders. The MAPO method was an effective way to plan preventive measures to reduce the risk of disorders, and 3DSSPP software was also a good tool for examining the forces acting on the waist.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are always considered a guide for performing tasks in industries. The present study aimed to identify the effective factors in increasing the usability of safety SOPs.

In this observational-analytical study, guidelines, books, and studies in the SOPs were used to identify factors that improve their usability. These factors were assigned to four main groups. A Delphi study was conducted to investigate and ensure the effectiveness of these factors. Data analysis, including validity and reliability, was performed in SPSS software (version 22).

In this study, which aimed to design and develop a tool for increasing the usability of SOP, 22 factors were identified and categorized into four main groups. After the Delphi study, the content validity ratio (CVR) for the designed instrument was 0.83, the content validity index (CVI) was calculated at 0.955, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was obtained at 0.819.

In this study, 22 factors in four main groups were identified to be effective in increasing the usability of safety SOPs. Their effectiveness was evaluated and proven. According to this study, all procedures in the industry should be developed in a specific framework, their applicability should be examined in a specific period of time, and if necessary, they should be reviewed and amended.

Occupational exposure of bakers to flour dust beyond the standard level leads to lung problems and allergies. The present study aimed to determine and compare the flour dust concentration in various bakeries in Urmia, Iran, in 2021.

In this study, three types of bakeries (Lavash, Barbari, and Sangak) with two baking methods (traditional and machine) were selected. The breathing air of 160 bakery workers was collected according to the MDHS 4/14 method by an IOM sampler at a flow rate of 2 liters per minute, and the flour dust was determined by the gravimetric method. Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance were used to present and analyze data using SPSS statistical software (version 22).

The mean (±SD) for age and working experience of the bakers were 40.39 ± 10.17 and 15.13 ± 9.49, respectively. The concentration of flour dust in the air of all types of bakeries was higher than the occupational exposure limit (0.5 mg/m3). Traditional Lavash and machine Sangak bakeries had the highest (8.61 mg/m3) and the lowest (1.35 mg/m3) flour dust concentrations in the air, respectively. The traditional baking method produces more air pollution than the machine. The average concentration of flour dust in all types of bakeries showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.05).

The workers of different bakeries in Urmia are exposed to flour dust higher than the occupational exposure limit. Due to less contamination, baking bread with a machine is preferable to the traditional method. Lavash, Berberi, and Sangak bakeries are respectively the priority of occupational health control interventions. Educating workers regarding the effects of flour dust on health and proper working practices, application of general and local ventilation and health surveillance are suggested for all types of bakeries with the mentioned priority.