ramazan mirzaei

Respiratory illnesses resulting from dust exposure have a long history as occupational diseases, constituting approximately 60% of work-related health issues. The aim of this research was to employ the protection motivation theory in examining the proper utilization of respirators by employees at the Alumina Company of Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on 430 workers from the Alumina Company of Iran who were selected as a cluster. Each of the 22 operating sites in Alumina Company of Iran was considered a cluster and 8 sites were randomly selected. The data measurement tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, whose validity and reliability were also checked. Data collection was done using SPSS 22 statistical software and statistical models. Descriptive, T-Test, ANOVA, correlation coefficient, and linear regression analysis were analyzed.

The results showed that the average age of the participants was 41.17±7.83 years. In the regression model, perceived sensitivity and perceived response cost (p < 0.05) were significantly predictive of behavior. Among the constructs of motivational theory, perceived sensitivity was a predictor of behavior (p<0.05, B=35%). Among the demographic variables, only the variables of education (F=3/122, P=0.026) and smoking had a significant relationship with the behavior score (F=3/59, P=0.005) and other variables had a significant relationship.

The perceived sensitivity and perceived cost rise, there is an increase in the utilization of respirators among individuals. Therefore, it is imperative to develop educational initiatives and interventions aimed at enhancing protective and safety practices, drawing from the constructs of protection motivation theory. It is crucial to highlight the significance of respirator usage among workers, and it is recommended that further exploration of this research be conducted across various industries.

With the advancement of technology and the increase in the use of machinery, the process of creating risk and the possibility of accidents in industrial environments has increased. During the last half-century, there have been significant changes in the materials, processes, and types of activities in large industries, and the number of large factories has also increased, and as a result, the number of people working in these industries and the populations living around these industries have increased. which has increased their exposure to dangers. One of the most important industries in any country, including Iran, which feeds many industries and is considered one of the strategic industries and plays an important role in world trade, is refineries. A refinery is a set of chemical process units that Refinement of materials or conversion of raw materials into useful products, and due to the extent and complexity of its processes, various accidents are expected to occur in it, the important point in this connection is mainly due to the nature of the extensive use of chemicals, process accidents include a lot of damages. It may be that accident is considered one of the factors that destroy the potential in the industries, and despite the various efforts that have been made to prevent their occurrence, there is still no coherent system for rooting the accidents. In today's era, protecting the mental and physical health of the workforce is one of the principles that are the foundation of all goals and plans. In this regard, providing a safe and risk-free environment is one of the parameters that guarantee this peace. One of the main consequences of accidents in today's industries, especially those accidents that are related to a large quantity and spectrum of chemicals, is extensive environmental destruction, hence the identification of factors affecting Creating accidents and analyzing the complex and reciprocal relationships between them is an important and fundamental issue and is considered a way to prevent their occurrence. The analysis of major accidents has shown that a large part of the damages and the probability of their occurrence are preventable.This research was conducted to analyze, analyze, and root HSE incidents in process industries using the combined method of Tripod-beta and scat. During the last half-century, there have been significant changes in the materials, processes, and types of activities in large industries. The number of large factories has also increased. So, the number of people working in these industries that are exposed to Their risks have also increased.

This study is based on descriptive-analytical approach. Accordingly, accidents at South Pars gas refineries, which is a collection of 14 gas refineries, were evaluated with Tripod-beta and SCAT methods. The opinions of 10 safety experts were used to collect information. 4 accidents were evaluated by interviewing experts and after analyzing the findings, considering that one of the operational goals of this research is to identify the most important direct causes of accidents in South Pars refineries.According to the causes identified in the tripod method, the hidden problems, the pre-conditions of the accident, the main errors, and managerial, human and equipment errors were determined. Then, the output of the causes of accidents in three categories of direct causes, intermediate causes and root causes along with control measures were verified with SCAT technique. Finally, according to the cause and effect table of SCAT and using the opinions of experts, a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert logic (I completely agree, I agree, I have no opinion, I disagree, I completely disagree) to identify surface causes, root causes. and the necessary control measures were prepared. The validity of the questionnaire in measuring the research variables was confirmed by referring to the opinions of 10 safety experts. In order to check the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used with the following formula and SPSS16 software was used to calculate it.

By using the analysis done in the first part, the tables containing the main risk factors (BRF or the main risk factors), preconditions, and hidden causes of accidents are drawn and the reasons and hidden preconditions of the accidents related to each BRF will be linked in a ranking. From the total of extracted BRFs, other tables will be drawn and a general classification will be made for prioritization among the hidden causes of recurrence and common events.Based on the Friedman test and the significance level of the Chi-square value, it should be said that the prioritization of the intensity of the effect of the research variables is statistically significant (Chi-Square = 50.971 and sig = 0.007).

Risk cannot be completely eliminated, therefore, the scientific solution to deal with it is risk management and control through risk assessment. Therefore, risk management is the central and main part of strategic management in an organization. Most of the risks identified in the current study are at an acceptable level, but due to the high levels of crisis in some activities, the level of acceptable risk was reached by applying appropriate control measures. Also, it is possible to reduce the number of risks to a significant level during the initial design. In order to record the defects and failure states, it is possible to carry out the documentation activity and evaluate the security risks in a better way in the future.According to the results of the research in the Tripod beta section and the fact that HSE training resources and non-compliance with HSE standards in the implementation of service production projects are the most frequent, followed by the lack of supervision of inappropriate work behavior of people, this is in the third place. It is inferred that the policies of support and attention of institutions and senior officials of Iran National Petrochemical Industry Company and South Pars Special Economic Zone Organization along with the ever-increasing sense of need and increasing need for a strategic road map for environmental protection with compliance with HSE requirements are the most important Petrochemicals are the driving factors of the external environment.

Strategic management involves determining the organization’s direction, preparing a strategic vision and mission statement, and providing the basis for growth, profitability, and production. It also includes the inclusion of employee safety and health programs throughout the organization. The existence of a strategic plan for the scientific and practical strengthening of occupational health and safety is one of the country’s academic and industrial priorities. The purpose of this study is to present a strategic plan for developing the specialized field of occupational health and safety engineering in Iran.

The current study is a collaborative action research study that was conducted in 2021. The strategic planning committee consisted of 20 professors, experts, and doctoral students. Over the course of 14 weeks, they held regular weekly meetings, collected information from inside and outside the organization, analyzed the organization’s internal and external environment, and identified its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Based on this analysis, the committee determined the organization’s mission, perspective, values, and general and specific goals for 2021-2024. They also identified the necessary measures to achieve these goals and developed an operational plan to improve the performance of the specialized field of occupational health and safety.

Conducting this applied research led to the strategy of internal and external analysis of the specialized OHS field, determining the direction of the basic strategy, mission, perspective, values, and general goals. Finally, seven specific goals and 286 actions were determined to improve the performance of OHS. The SWOT analysis of OHS’s internal and external environment identified 27 strengths, seven weaknesses, 26 opportunities, and 12 threats. According to the results of the SWOT matrix, the strategic position of the OHS field is to implement preventive strategies and maintain existing conditions.

This plan aligns with the 4-year OHS plan. In developing the program, attention has been paid to the documents and policies of upstream organizations. The strategic position of occupational health and safety engineering is a prudent strategy. In this situation, strategies for maintaining existing conditions can be applied. Therefore, it is suggested to reduce the weaknesses of OHS as much as possible and increase its strategic capabilities by focusing on prudent strategies. From the second year of implementing the strategic plan, the OHS field can gradually focus on developing activities.

Iran, especially the Sistan-Baluchestan province, is one of the countries with the highest rates of accidents and traffic-related deaths. The present study aimed to evaluate traffic accidents referred to hospitals and the Forensic Medicine Department in Nikshahr in Sistan-Baluchestan province, Iran, during 2014-2018.

In this retrospective descriptive and analytical study, the statistical population included traffic accidents referred to hospitals and the Department of Forensic Medicine in Nikshahr. The data related to the variables of age, gender, location of the accident (inside or outside urban areas, rural roads), condition of the injured, severity of the injury, and the time of the accident were collected using a checklist. After determining the descriptive statistical indicators, the incidents were analyzed using chi-square and correlation tests.

During the study years in Nikshahr, a total of 3,669 people were involved in road accidents, out of whom 339 cases lost their lives. The highest rate of accidents (36%; n=1321) was in the age group of 19-29 years. Regarding education, 3, 260 (88.8%) crash victims were illiterate and without a university degree, while 409 (11.15%) cases had academic education. It was also detected that 1,879 (51.2%) accident victims were motorcycle riders with reported fractures, severe injuries, head injuries, and death.

The results of the current pointed to the high rate of traffic-related deaths in Nikshahr, especially in summer. Therefore, prevention management is necessary to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities.

Exhaust noise is known to be a major pollutant in the environment and workplaces due to the development of industry and transportation. Exhaust noise can be reduced to normal levels by mufflers or silencers. A reactive muffler efficiently dampens noise at low frequencies by reflecting sound waves. Therefore, muffler design is of great importance in exhaust noise reduction. Transmission loss (TL) is an essential characteristic of mufflers, demonstrating their acoustical properties. Any acoustical appliance is selected based on its damping performance and reliability. Predicting TL through experimentation is different from theoretical calculations.

In the present study, a double-expansion chamber muffler was designed as a reflective muffler on a laboratory scale by equations. Next, TL was evaluated by an impedance tube applying a 4-microphone technique to determine the acoustical performance of the designed muffler.

Findings revealed that the TL of the muffler at 312 Hz frequency obtained 27.5 dB agreement with the required TL of the muffler of 25 dB. In addition, the TL of the muffler against frequency attenuates noise in broadband frequencies.

These results indicated that the built muffler provides desired TL for exhaust chambers. Therefore, equations can be used as a precise method for muffler design. Furthermore, multi-expansion chamber mufflers are useful for reducing noise at a wide range of frequencies. Keywords

road accidents and their casualties are considerably high. In addition, the headlights of cars, especially on two-way roads, leads to glare in the eyes of oncoming drivers. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of discomfort glare of car headlights and the effects of some variables on creating discomfort glare.

The illuminance of the driverchr(chr('39')39chr('39'))s eye was measured using luxmeter and the discomfort glare caused by the carchr(chr('39')39chr('39'))s headlights was determined using the Schmidt-Clausen and Bindels model and with considering the lateral and longitudinal distance between the two vehicles and the background luminance of the road surface were determined.

In cars, in low beam mode, from 100 meters to 50 meters, the luxmeter fails to record any illuminance. In the high beam mode, discomfort glare gradually increased from the distance of 100 meters by reducing the longitudinal distance between two vehicles. Increasing on the level of discomfort glare for Samand up to 30 meters, Pride Saba GTX up to 20 meters, Pride 131SL, Renault Megan and Peugeot Pars up to 10 meters and the Peugeot 405 depending on the background luminance up to 10 and 20 meters continued. The level of annoying dulling was reduced and from that interval onwards, the level of discomfort glare reduced.

The side distance between vehicles, headlights aiming, voltage and the type of headlightchr(chr('39')39chr('39'))s lamp are affecting in the discomfort glare which can be reduced by changes in road design and vehicle headlights.

Swimming pools are one of the most important sport and recreational areas where health tips must be followed, or adverse results would threaten the health of the whole society.

The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the health and hygienic status of the swimming pools as well as water health status in public pools in Mashhad in the first nine months of 2018.

This practical research has been carried out to identify the relevant risks, as field observations for assessing the hygienic condition of indoor areas in 64 swimming pools For data collection in the present study, valid and reliable questionnaires of general information and human resources (14 question), health assessment (37 questions), and water quality control of Mashhad’s swimming pools were used. Parametric analysis of variance was utilized for normal data, and non-normal data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test by considering P <0.05.

The results of the evaluation of water quality by health centers indicated that the desirability amount of the residual chlorine, water pH, water temperature, water turbidity, microbial thermophile coliforms, heterotrophic bacteria, and water chemical quality was 86%, 96%, 95.44%, 92.44%, 96.49%, 94.96%, and 95.31%, respectively. Amount of the residual chlorine, water turbidity, and heterotrophic bacteria was below the expected level of 95%. The outcomes of the tests administered by Mashhad health and hygiene centers (supervision organization), and pool managers' self-control examinations revealed that the results of water pH, water temperature, thermophile coliform, and water chemical tests were in total accordance with standards (P <0.05).

The results showed that most of the health risks were related to the residual chlorine, turbidity, and microbial contamination of water by heterotrophic bacteria. Training swimmers and hygiene culture development have a pivotal role in controlling health risks.

Asbestos fibers are one of the hazardous air pollutants in high-traffic areas of cities. This study was conducted during summer 2016 with the aim of determining the concentration and type of asbestos fibers in the air of high-traffic areas of Zahedan, Iran.

In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, 4 high-traffic and 2 traffic-free areas of Zahedan were chosen. Ambient air samples were collected according to the NIOSH 7400 method, with a flow rate of 2 l/m and 4 hours per day. The asbestos fiber in the samples were analyzed with the use of Phase-Contrast optical Microscopy (PCM) and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM).

The mean and standard deviation of asbestos contamination density in high-traffic areas were 0.0012 (0.0004) f/cc and 0.0012, respectively, which were higher than the threshold limit value (TLV). In traffic-free areas with mean and standard deviation of 0.0003 ± 0.0003 f/cc the asbestos concentration was lower than the allowed limits. To check the normality of data Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used (p< 0.05). The results of Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there is a meaningful difference between the means of the two measured groups (p< 0.001). The types of asbestos fibers based on EDS spectrums and electron microscope images were actinolite, tremolite, and chrysotile.

The findings of the present study indicated that the concentration of asbestos fibers in the sampleswas higher than the WHO standards for ambient air (0.00005 PCM f/ml). The use of asbestos fibers in car brake and clutch, as well as in asbestos cement sheet and insulation in buildings are among the most important sources of air pollution in the city.

Fires in residential buildings, commercial complexes, and small and large industries cause a lot of financial, human, and environmental damage in different communities annually. This study is conducted with the aim to evaluate the fire risk in the selected commercial buildings in Mashhad, Iran.

This was a descriptive-cross-sectional and applied study conducted in the spring of 2019 on 10 separate commercial buildings in Mashhad. First, the necessary checklists for fire risk assessment from the NFPA 101 standard were prepared and compiled by the researcher, and the necessary information was completed according to the field surveys and obtaining the urban planning documents of the buildings. The information collected was then analyzed in the Computerized Fire Safety Evaluation System (CFSES) software for final evaluation of the buildings.

In general, the total number of commercial buildings examined (10 cases) was in an unacceptable condition in all three areas of fire risk, including the fire control, exit, and general safety aspects. In addition, the fire risk situation in older buildings (5 cases) was worse than in new buildings (5 cases).

The fire risk assessment score of the commercial buildings studied in terms of fire control, exit route, and general safety aspects was unacceptable and none of the buildings evaluated obtained the minimum safety score in these three aspects. Therefore, to improve fire safety in commercial buildings, valid fire safety regulations and standards, including NFPA 101, must be observed to prevent fire accidents and irreparable financial and human losses.

In the printing industry, workers are occupationally exposed to an extensive variety of chemical solvents, including toluene and xylene. Biological monitoring is an essential tool for assessing occupational health risk.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate occupational exposure to toluene and xylene, as well as the biomarkers of exposure, in workers of the printing industry.

The hippuric acid (HA) and o-, m- and p-methyl hippuric acids (o-, m-, p- MHAs) as the biomarkers of occupational exposure to toluene and each of the three xylene isomers, respectively, were determined in the urine samples of 84 subjects, including 44 printing workers and 40 non-exposed subjects.

The mean concentrations of toluene (37.64 ± 24.09 ppm) in the breathing zone of workers were higher, and the mean level of each of the three isomers of xylene (o-, m-, and p-xylene) was less than the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit values (TLVs). In addition, the levels of urinary HA, o-MHA, and m- and p-MHA in the exposed group were 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.11 ± 0.01, and 0.19 ± 0.07 g g-1 creatinine, respectively. Printing workers showed a significant increase in the levels of urinary HA compared to the non-exposed subjects (P < 0.001). The correlation analysis demonstrated significant correlations between the intensity of the occupational exposure to toluene and xylene and the level of exposure biomarkers in the urine.

The results indicated that although all the urinary biomarkers of exposure were below the Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) recommended by ACGIH, the levels of the urinary metabolites of toluene and xylene were increased in printing workers. Therefore, monitoring of occupational exposure to toluene and xylene is helpful in the following-up of affected workers in the printing industry.

Excessive vibration is one of the harmful agents in the work environment, and many drivers are inevitably exposed to that during driving.
Using ISO 2631-1&5 standards in the present study, the evaluation of the whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure was carried among Tehran metro drivers.
In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 23 trains were investigated and the level of exposure to vibration during daily working shift and vibration indicators were evaluated. According to ISO 2631-1, the following 5 factors were measured: the rate of frequency- weight acceleration r.m.s for each axis, the combination of axes, crest factor, peak acceleration, vibration dose value (VDV), and recent equivalent static compressive stress (Sed) and risk (R) factors - estimation criteria for damage to lumbar spine.
The results indicated that based on the basic method, the levels of drivers exposure to the vibration are less than the lower limit set by health guidance caution zone (HGCZ), and according to the VDV methods, 4 cases were found to be above the upper limit, 8 cases were within the HGCZ, and the rest were less than the mentioned limit. Moreover, according to the Sed method, 4 drivers had exposures below the lower limit, 7 had exposures within the range of HGCZ, and 12 of the mover the limit. On the other hand, on the basis of R factor, the levels of exposure of the 3 drivers were within the range of HGCZ, while the rest of them experienced the levels lower than that.
The results showed that there are several differences among the calculated criteria confirming that some of these indicators may not show a safe limit.

Vertical dynamics modeling and simulation of a six-wheel unmanned military vehicle (MULE) studied in this paper. The Common Mobility Platform (CMP) chassis provided mobility, built around an advanced propulsion and articulated suspension system gave the vehicle ability to negotiate complex terrain, obstacles, and gaps that a dismounted squad would encounter. Aiming at modeling of vehicle vertical dynamics, basic and geometrical parameters defined and degrees-of-freedom specified on a compromise between accuracy and complexity of two models. Equations of motion provided on two linear and nonlinear 5-degree-of-freedom models using two different modeling methods. There is good agreement between time responses of two presented models. The main differences of two models observed in articulated suspension degrees-of-freedom while the vehicle subjected to high frequency maneuvers that cause severe oscillations on wheels and arms in comparison to vehicle body due to lower mass and inertia properties. The linear model can be used to design a controller and the nonlinear to predict vehicle motion more accurately. Sensitivity analysis of the influential parameters is also presented to specify effects of different parameters. Results of this study may be used to design articulated suspension and making next frequency analyses.

Occupational noise exposure is one of the leading factors for developing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), particularly among workers worldwide. The literature review reveals that beside conventional strategies for preventing NIHL, multiple interventions can be applied to reduce or prevent such disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of normobaric hyperoxia pre- and post-treatment on the development of NIHL in rats.
Four groups of male Wistar rats were exposed to pure oxygen alone, noise alone, or oxygen plus noise for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. One group served as the control and received neither noise nor oxygen. Animals in the noise groups were exposed to high-pass white noise of 100 dB SPL, centred at 8 KHz. The treatment protocols were based on inhalation of pure normobaric oxygen (95%) for 3 hours in a chamber either before or after noise exposure. The auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) for click and 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 kHz stimuli, as well as distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) at 4, 6, 8, and 10 kHz, were recorded to assess the level of hearing impairment before exposure and 4 weeks post-exposure.
The results showed that pre-treatment of rats with 3 hours of normobaric hyperoxia contributed to a significant reduction in ABR threshold shifts, while improving the DPOAE amplitudes (P 0.05).
Pre- and post-treatment with normobaric hyperoxia seem to produce protective effects through either boosting cellular oxygenation or maximizing antioxidant enzyme activities and tolerance against noise-induced ischemia and hypoxia in the cochlea. Therefore, application of normobaric hyperoxia pre- or post-treatment, along with other conventional protective strategies, can be helpful in the fight against NIHL.

Different types of direct and passive smoking have been reported to be associated with conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between cigarette smoke exposure and cochlear dysfunction.
In this experimental study, 12 male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups: control group without exposure and smoke-exposed group housed in a whole-body exposure chamber (exposed to the smoke of 20 cigarettes; 9 ± 1 mg of tar and 0.8 ± 0.1 mg of nicotine per cigarette) for 8 hours a day during 10 consecutive days. The main and side stream smoke was generated in accordance with the federal trade commission (FTC) regimen (2-second puff with 35 mL volume and frequency of 1 puff per minute). Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were evaluated at a frequency range of 4620 - 9960 Hz at baseline and 1, 7, and 21 days after exposure. Repeated measures ANOVA and t test were performed for data analysis, using SPSS version 18.
In the smoke-exposed animals, temporary hearing changes were significantly different from the baseline at a greater attenuation and higher frequencies (P 0.05).
Subacute smoke exposure for 10 days resulted in the temporary reduction of DPOAEs. Chronic and subchronic effects of smoke on permanent hearing damage need to be investigated through further animal studies.

Previous studies demonstrated partial attenuation of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) or CoQ10 (ubiquinone).
The present study investigates the protection effect of coadministration of NAC and CoQ10 against NIHL.
In an experimental study in Iran in 2015, a total of 36 male Wistar rats (275 ± 25 g) were divided randomly based on the permuted block design into 6 experimental groups: (I) noise controls, (II) noise and NAC, (III) noise and CoQ10, (IV) noise and CoQ10 and NAC, (V) noise and saline (as vehicle of NAC) and (VI) noise and olive oil (as vehicle of CoQ10). Antioxidants and vehicles were intraperitoneally injected once a day for two days prior to and 1 hour before 102 ± 0.5 dB white noise exposure 8 h/day in 10 executive days and two days after the noise exposure daily. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured one day before and 1, 7 and 21 days after the exposure.
The temporary hearing changes that occurred 1-day post exposure were not significantly different in all groups (P > 0.05). The total recovery (between 1 - 21 days after noise exposure) varied by a frequency increase between 1.08 - 19.10 in the noise group compared to 1.75 - 24.5 and 0.62 - 22.08 in animals treated with NAC and the combination of NAC and CoQ10 respectively. The less permanent hearing impairment was observed in noise exposed animals treated with either NAC or both NAC and CoQ10.
The effect of coadministration of NAC and CoQ10 was neither additive nor synergic in protecting against NIHL.

Construction workers experience a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their jobs. This article aimed to evaluate the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers using Posture, Activity Tools and Handling (PATH). This is a sectional, descriptive-analytical study in a construction site in Tehran, Iran. Certain factors were identified namely body posture, weight of carried tools and objects, activities and tools, and their tasks and activities using PATH.
PATH sheets were coded for a certain job. Descriptive data and Chi-square test were employed to analyze the data using SPSS.19. Identification and evaluation were performed in three most important stages of construction: foundation, carcass, finishing (elaborate work). The mean age was 33.08±8.97. Body posture included gentle bending posture (21.2%), severe bending (8.2%), bending and twisting (7% and 1.9%, respectively). Body positions, feet, hands, and weight of tools and objects were significantly different in the working stages (P

Patient Safety Culture (PSC) involves a harmonious pattern of individual and organization behaviors based on common beliefs and values. This study aimed to evaluate the attitude of healthcare providers toward PSC in the hospitals and clinics of Zabol city, Iran.
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015. Sample population consisted of the physicians, nurses, and paraclinical staff (radiologists and laboratory experts) engaged in different healthcare centers of Zabol city, Iran. Data were collected using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V.22 at the significance level of 0.05.
In total, 231 healthcare practitioners were enrolled in this study. Participants were divided into three groups of physicians, nurses, and paraclinical staff (n=77, 33.33%). Mean of age and clinical experience was 29.94 and 6.23 years, respectively. Among the main aspects of PSC, “general understanding of patient safety” had the highest mean score (13.53), and the lowest mean score was achieved in “non-punitive response to error” (8.89). In the aspect of “manager expectations and actions promoting safety”, a significant difference was observed in the mean scores of the study groups (P=0.030). Moreover, our results showed a significant difference between the mean scores of physicians and nurses in the aspect of “openness and honesty in communication” (P=0.023).
According to the results of this study, improvement of PSC is necessary for the efficient management of hospitals and clinics. This is attainable through collaborative and instructive workshops, developing educational programs, and designing incident reporting systems.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of gadolinum on pneumotoxic effects of styrene in rats as an experimental model. In this experimental study a total number of 40 adult male Sprague Dawley rats that weighed 200 ± 13 g were randomly divided into five groups: i. styrene (St, N=10), ii. styrene+gadolinium chloride (GdCl3, N=10), iii. control (N=10), iv. GdCl3 (N=5) and v. normal saline (Nor.Sal, as a solvent of GdCl3, N=5). Normal saline, as a sham control group, was otherwise treated identically. Rats from the experimental groups were exposed to St in an exposure chamber for 6 days/week, 4 hours/day for up to 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, rats from all groups were killed by deep anesthesia. Their lungs were removed, then fixed in formalin and weighed. Tissue samples were processed routinely and sections stained by the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) methods. We measured the thicknesses of the respiratory epithelia and interalveolar septa. Obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA, the Tukey test and the paired t test. Shedding of apical cytoplasm in the bronchiole was a prominent feature of the St group. PAS staining revealed histochemical changes in goblet cells in the epithelium of the St group. While there were no significant changes in lung weights and respiratory epithelial thicknesses between all studied groups, statistical analysis showed a significant alteration in the thickness of interalveolar septa in the St and St+GdCl3 group compared to the control groups (P<0.001). Styrene induced structural and histochemical changes in bronchiole, interalveolar septa and alveolar organization in the rats’ lungs. Gadolinium appeared to partially reduce the toxic effects of styrene on the lungs.

Considering the importance and essence of farmers’ health, this study has been conducted with the aim of evaluating the amount of the dust confronting farmers and the farmers’ respiratory symptoms and function during the course of wheat collection in 2014 in Zabul villages (Sistan & Balouchestan province, Iran).For this cross sectional study, the dust of the respiratory scope of two groups (farmers and non-farmers) was sampled by PVC filter for 90 minutes with the flow rate of 1.5 lit/min on the basis of NIOSH 0500 method during daily 8 work hours of 5 successive days of manual wheat reaping. Data regarding respiratory symptoms (n=50 rural men over the age of 40) was gathered through interviews and questionnaires, and pulmonary function was measured by Spiro lobe (made in MIR of the US); besides, data analysis was done by SPSS 18, T-Test, Chi-Square, and Logistic regression.The mean dust intensity confronting the farmers was 36.7 mg/m3, and the rate of some breathing complaints namely coughing (P≤0.001), sputum (P≤0.009) and shortness of breath (P≤0.026) became meaningful in the two groups. The average amounts of spirometer parameters of the farmers were less than that of the non-farmers, and the statistical difference of all the parameters except for FEV1/FVC (P=0.06) was meaningful (P≤0.05). The results of the present study indicated that confronting with dust could cause respiratory complaints and decrease spirometer parameters in the farmers.

Workers in wood industry are exposed to vibration and its damages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate exposure to hand-arm and whole body vibration in the wood industry. In this study, the parameters of whole body and hand-arm vibrations such as effective acceleration, overall equivalent acceleration, Vibration Dose Value and crest factor were studied on two Thicknessing planes, two sliding panel saw machines, two orbital sander, and three operators of perforate procedure. Assessments were done by the use of an oscillator and an analyzer of Svantak Co. Evaluating Hand-arm and whole body vibrations were conducted based on ISO 5349-1, ISO 5349-2 and ISO 2631-1 standards, respectively, and the findings/ the evaluated data were analyzed.The mean amount of daily exposure to hand-arm vibration (RMS) in Thicknessing plane, Orbital Sander and Sliding panel saw machine operators are respectively 5.56, 5.49 and 3.37 m/s2. In addition, the average crest factor of the 3 jobs is higher than 6. Mean of daily Exposure to whole body vibration in 3 machine operators of Thicknessing plane, perforate procedure and Sliding panel saw is respectively, 0.28, 0.24 and 0.17 meters per square second. The crest factor for all the exposures was to be less than 6 and the mean of the calculated daily vibration dose equaled 5.83 with the standard deviation of 0.87(m)⁄s^1.75. In further measured situations, exposure to hand-arm vibration is more than the standard level, so engineering and management measures are required to reduce the amount of exposure and support the health of the operators and the equipment.

Personal protection has an essential role in preventing and decreasing solar UV radiation-induced cancers. This study aimed to determine the effect of education based on protection motivation theory on the harmful effects of sun rays on male students. This semi-experimental study was conducted on 200 male students from eight primary schools randomly divided to control and experimental groups. The tool used for data collection was a researcher-made questionnaire. This questionnaire included demographic and protection motivation theory questions. The validity of the study instruments was assessed and confirmed by an expert panel and the reliability by Cronbakh Alpha test (= 0. 83) through 20 samples. After primary data collection، educational intervention including lecture، with cartoon clip with PowerPoint، was performed for the intervation group. Two months later، data in both groups were collected again and analyzed through SPSS16 using descriptive and analytic statistics (independent and paired t test، Chi-square، ANCOVA (p< 0. 05). After intervention among experimental group، the mean scores of knowledge and behavior increased from 9. 55 to 15. 88 and from 6. 15 to 10. 55، consecutively. Based on linear regression testing the model could predict 12% of protective behaviors against UV radiation. Educational intervention، based on protection motivation theory، was useful in increasing knowledge and promoting preventive behaviors of ultraviolet radiation disorders In male primary school students.

Nowadays, using public transportation vehicles like metro in large cities are of significance, and exposure to whole-body vibration for the metro passengers is one of the physical contaminations. This paper is conducted with the aim of evaluating the passengers'' convenience and health both in sitting and standing conditions. The present study was done on the passengers of lines 1, 2, and 4 of Tehran metro with the use of an oscillator and a SVAN958 analyzer of SVSNTEK Co., based on the measurement methods and guidelines of ISO 2631-1, 4. Average amounts of RMS acceleration while sitting was 1.1 m/s2 with the standard deviation of 0.14 and while standing was 0.91 m/s2 with the standard deviation of 0.05; estimated VDV amount while sitting and standing equaled 6.72 m/s2 with the standard deviation of 1.26 and 6.48 m/s1.75 with the standard deviation of 0.96. Calculated RMS amounts generally fluctuated between level 3 (fairly unpleasant) and level 4 (unpleasant) of convenience evaluation scale, and total calculated VDV amounts for the sitting passengers was 1.1 m/s1.75, being more than the perceived dose of standing passengers.

Along with widespread use of computers, work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders (ULMSDs) have become the most prevalent ergonomic problems in computer users. Thus, study of the ergonomic risk factors related to ULMSDs in computer users has a special importance. The present study was conducted to assess and compare ULMSDs among computer users of Zahedan universities of Technical-Engineering and Medical Sciences by Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA).Patients and This cross-sectional study was conducted on 107 computer users (65 users from Technical-Engineering University; 42 users from Medical University with a mean age of 33.84 ± 7.26 years). A combination of four methods of observation, interviews (to collect demographic data); Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) (to determine the prevalence of pain signs and symptoms of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders); and RULA (to assess the potential risk of ULMSDs) were used. We used chi-square test for qualitative data analysis, independent-samples t-test for quantitative data analysis between two groups, and 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for multiple comparisons with 0.05 significant levels. The highest and lowest of pain percentage in computer users belonged to back (77%) and shoulders (51.24%), respectively. The most percentage absenteeism belonged to lower back region (21.5%), and the most percentage over the past 12 months due to low back pain was 19.6%. Pain signs and symptoms in the body parts of shoulder, back, and legs in computer users of Technical-Engineering University were more than those of Medical Sciences University. RULA results showed that 30.8% of the computer users of Technical-Engineering University were located in corrective action level 3 (high risk level) and 42.9% of computer users of Medical Sciences at risk level 2 (moderate risk level). There was a significant relationship between age and RULA final score (P < 0.05). The potential risk and prevalence of ULMSDs among computer users of Medical Sciences University were less than those of Technical-Engineering University due to following ergonomic principles. RULA found to be a proper method for the assessment of the ergonomic risk factors of the ULMSDs in order to prevent such disorders.

Bio-aerosols are a potential hazard in hospitals and are mostly produced by hospital staff, patients and visitors. Bio-aerosols are solid or liquid particles pending in the air and they consist of aerosols accompanying micro-organisms or organic compounds of micro-organisms such as endotoxin, metabolite, toxin and other parts of organism. Those are a potential hazard in hospitals and are mostly produced by hospital staff, patients and visitors.. This study aimed to determine the types and amount of bacterial contamination in operating rooms and emergency department of an educational hospital in Zahedan, South-East of Iran.. In this study, 72 samples were collected from three operating rooms and three rooms in the emergency department of an educational hospital during 2012. On the first day of every month, a sample was taken from each room during the morning shift; active sampling was done on plates consisting of blood agar and brain-heart infusion agar (BHI) for 10 minutes in the axis of a one-story Anderson impactor (flow rate 28.1 litter per minutes) and SIBATA air pump SIP 32-L and samples were then placed in a 35°C Incubator. Bacterial colonies were counted; warm coloring and differential tests were done and the data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.. Seventeen types of bacteria were detected including Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Viridians, Pneumococcus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Diphtheroid, Citrobacter and Enterobacter. Quantitative bacterial results showed that the number of observed bacteria in the emergency department with an average of 103.88 ± 33.84 cfu/m³ was more than that of the surgery rooms with an average of 63.32 ± 32.94 cfu/m³. Furthermore, the highest average number of all counted colonies (106 ± 28.45 cfu/m³) was determined in autumn. In all samples, S. aureus and Micrococcus were the most detected bacteria.. The World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested relatively relaxed limits of 100 cfu/m3 for bacteria and 50 cfu/m3 for fungi in the hospital air. Therefore, quantitative and qualitative outcomes of this study demonstrate that contamination level and bacterial variety in surgery rooms and emergency departments is high and effective measures must be taken to control the possible health risks..

This study aimed to investigate the effect of water-pipe (WP) smoking on hematological parameters of Wistar rats. Thirty-five young male rats (200-250 g) were randomly assigned to five groups (n=7). The control group was exposed to room air and the experimental groups were exposed to WP smoking, using a special apparatus designed to have the ability to keep the rats for 40 minutes every day for 4, 8, 12 and 12 weeks; moreover, one of the two groups of 12 weeks of WP exposer had four following weeks of rest. Blood samples were collected to evaluate red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell and platelet counts. The results showed that RBC count, Hb and Hct parameters were significantly higher in WP smoking rats than the control group (P< 0.001). We found that WBC counts insignificantly increased (P < 0.39) but Plt counts insignificantly decreased (P < 0.13) in WP smoking rats compared with control group. The findings may help to raise awareness of tobacco smokers about the potential toxicities of WP; likewise, the results can be used by physicians and public health officials in tobacco prevention programs.