Carpet industry is one of the most important traditional handicraft in IRAN.Considering the long history of carpet industry in Iran and the existence of working a lot of men and women in the villages of Iran in this field, carpet industry as can be regarded acomplementary industry for farming so paying attention to the health of worekers in thefield can play an important role in socio economic development of our villages.This descriptive cross- sectional study was conducted on 2200 carpethandicrafters in Mehryz, yazd, Iran. selected through census. The relerant questionnairewas filled out by occupational health specialists and intern students of mdeicine viainspection, clinical examination and interviewing.44.4% of the target group were between 15-24 years of age. 78.5% of the marriedsubjects had 5 children or lower and 85.2% of them had different levels of literacy. 14.7%had a history of psychologic disorders; 4.6% ophthalmologic disorders, 4.5% endocrinedisorders and 19.8% had history of infectious diseases. indicated that there was a significant relationship between different disorders ofmind, skin, heart, muscle, and skeleton with temperature of the mind,handicrafters working environment (P<0.05). As we expected pulmonary disease was less prevalent among the subjects who possessed a better and more appropriate ventilating system for their morking place after correlation analysis, of the data it was revealed that with increasing the working years, the subject's visual capacity also decreased. In addition, the working hours decreased in relation to the subject's increase in blood pressure. The result of the study showed that some diseases,like pulmonary and ocular diseases is high in carpet workers.The diseases in the subjects with inappropriate working place was higher than others.So it is nesseary today more attention to heath of the carpet workers and their working places.

Rural hand-made carpet cooperatives established with the aim of supporting the deprived and productive of carpet weavers of country and organizing them in the cooperative discipline system for accessing social and economic justice in this art and national industry. This study aims at assessing the role of these cooperatives in improving social and economic situation of carpet- weavers. The statistical community of the study includes all members of carpet cooperatives of Hamadan province selected according to Cochran’s formula. This sample included 214 of carpet – weavers. In addition, an equal number of carpet- weavers (214) who are not member of carpet cooperatives selected to compare the social and economic situation of two groups. The subject selected randomly through proportional stratified sampling. The most important tool for data collection was questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire confirmed by specialists and its reliability computed using Cronbachs Alpha coefficient (0.81(. Results indicate a significant difference between two groups of carpet-weavers. The members and non-members regarding the rate of production, income, access to loan and facilities of carpet- weaving, access to raw material and carpet- weaving tools, rate of social interaction, rate of social awareness and special carpet-weaving knowledge and this difference is almost one percent (1%) in such a way that in all seven economic and social indices studied on member carpet-weavers, they had a better condition compared with non-member ones. In addition, result revealed that there is a significant different between members and non-member carpet- weavers in regard with insurance services, getting loan and facilities and attendance in educational courses (1%). In general, handmade carpet cooperatives play an important role in improving the social and economic situation of carpet-weavers in Hamadan province.

Occupational exposure to dust generated in the process of carpet weaving which can lead to pulmonary complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to carpet dust size and parameters of lung function. This retrospective case-control study was performed on 95 carpet weaver City Khomein. The total exposure inhaled carpet dust using air sampled was determined by gravimetric method. Spirometry parameters including FVC، FEV1، PEF and FEF25-75weaving of pulmonary function and related parameters such as temperature and humidity in the working environment were collected. The total dust exposure associated with lung function parameters were studied. Results showed that the total dust concentration in the study group vs. 2. 47 ± 4. 69 mg per cubic meter، compared with the control group (1. 33 ± 2. 89 mg per cubic meter) were significantly higher. Comparison of total dust concentration in lung function observed a significant relationship between these two parameters (P-value = 0. 321). Environmental parameters such as humidity، temperature and ventilation of the workshops showed that the workshops were in need of reform to reduce dust. Studies showed an inverse relationship between the experience and FVC، FEV1 and PEF، and FEF25-75 criteria exist indices decreased with increasing years of work provided. These results indicate that the survival of the project study area، contact Kelly carpet dust as an occupational risk factor، there is still a high rate.

In recent years, the wave of economic sanctions has overshadowed Iranchr('39')s economy with the aim of reducing the financial power, national welfare and disbelief, and a new confrontation has opened up on the Iranian economy. With respect to special importance and role of carpet weaving and its place in the countrychr('39')s economy, identifying and studying the recent problems of hand-made carpet weavers along with economic sanction is essential. The purpose of this research is to formulate and validate a conceptual framework via thematic analysis through descriptive in-depth semi-structured interviews. The statistical population includes carpet weavers in Arbatan city in East Azarbaijan province, among whom 20 carpet weavers were selected by purposeful sampling and participated in this study. The findings show that the challenges in four main themes include individual challenges, production and sales challenges and administrators challenges and 33 sub-themes. Finally, according to the results of the research, suggestions have been made like the development of low-cost supportive financial facilities, systematization and organization of in-country raw material processing mechanisms and appropriate advertising in global markets to solve carpet weaving problems.

Epidemiological studies have shown a significant correlation between awkward back posture and low back pain among carpet weavers. Therefore, this study aims for estimating cumulative compression load among carpet weavers during a shift work. In this study, the awkward back postures of 4 male and 9 female carpet weavers were monitored, using electronic inclinometer for 4 hours. The level of cumulative compression load for a 8-hour shift was calculated. The highest compression load exerted on L4/L5 was due to the compacting and knotting subtasks. The maximum, cumulative compression load was related to the subtask of weaving. The levels of cumulative compression load during a shift work in male and female groups were estimated equal to 21.8 and 13.13MN-S, respectively. Results showed that although the level of compression load in both gender groups is lower than the recommended limit, the level of cumulative compression load in males is higher than in females. Therefore, results from different studies show that the estimation of compression load, per se, does not suggest the existence of physical stresses on the low back. In addition, the estimation of daily commutative compression can be an important index in predicting occupational low back pain

Women constitute a large part of the Iranian carpet weaving population, who usually weave carpets at home without an employer and are deprived of compulsory social insurance. The carpet weaving insurance law passed in 2009 gave them the opportunity to use social insurance, but a group of women carpet weavers from the suburbs of Tabriz is being studied who, despite their full-time employment, could not enjoy it. Why not having access to the law is the main question. Qualitative methods and semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Data analysis with the thematic method in the intersectional theoretical framework shows that unequal interpersonal and in-group relationships, structural barriers, cultural and ideological justifications, and the disciplinary and administrative regulation in relation to each other have led to the deprivation of these women from labor rights. Women carpet weavers are marginalized not only because of their gender, but also because of their intertwined status with their location, economic-social class, and age, which even the Iranian legal system seeks to enact laws and regulation to support them, it is not available. The labor law system, with its narrow definition of worker, does not recognize women carpet weavers as workers and does not provide an appropriate mechanism to ensure their access to labor rights. The authors conclude that the persistence of social inequalities even with the enactment of some protected laws by the legal system, such as carpet weavers' insurance will be better understood by the method of intersectional analysis.

A study of various deficiencies observed in the process of pile carpet weaving in the Province of Kashan has revealed that the most important defects are: unevenness, crimpled sides and erroneous application of the cartoon. Improving weavers’ skills will have a significant effect on reducing these defects. Therefore, weavers should be given educational advice on recognizing the capabilities of looms and other rug weaving equipment, the quality of raw materials and their harmonious use, the correct way of weaving flatwoven rugs, the manner of interlacing the wefts, and daftin-zadan (pounding an iron comb on the weft).

Carpet weaving is a high risk occupation for developing MSDs, as awkward working postures, repetitive movements, contact stress and long working time are common. The objectives of the present study, which was carried out at the Iranian hand-woven carpet industry, were determination of MSDs symptoms prevalence, workstation and working posture assessment, identification of major factors associated with MSDs symptoms in different body regions and developing guidelines for workstation design. In this study, 1439 randomly selected weavers from 9 Iranian provinces have participated. Data on personal details, workshop characteristics and MSDs symptoms was collected by questionnaire. Posture and workstation assessment were performed by observational technique. The results revealed that musculoskeletal symptoms prevalence rates in shoulders (47.8%), lower back (45.2%), wrists (38.2%), upper back (37.7%), neck (35.2%) and knees (34.6%) were high as compared to general Iranian population (for neck, back and large joints p<0.0001). Working postures were found to be deviated form neutral. Lack of proper seat, leg clearance, adjustment mechanisms, together with incorrect weaving height made weavers worked in constrained, harmful postures. The results were subjected to multivariate analyses in order to find the major factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Several such factors were identified for symptoms of each body regions. Identified ergonomic factors were loom type, working posture, daily working time, seat type and type of knots. Based on the results, some general guidelines for weaving workstation design were developed. The prototype test showed that the new workstation was acceptable to subject tests and improved working posture.

urmia unvercity of medical science, Study Type: Research | Subject: Ergonomics | Received: 2013/07/9 - Accepted: 2013/10/26 - Published: 2014/09/15 Long term working in a static and awkward posture is known as an important risk factorof work related musculoskeletal disorders in hand carpet weavers. Inappropriate workstation and awkward posture can increase the electrical activity and fatigue in muscles. The aim of this study was the measurement of muscle load and fatigue by surface electromyography and Borg CR-10 scale methods. Two typical carpet weaving workstations (A: seated with cross legged posture and B: seated on chair) were simulated in the laboratory and 12 women carpet weavers with mean age of 32.5 years, without any musculoskeletal problems in upper limb were invited to this study and they were asked to work in each workstation in separate days for 3 hours. Surface EMG signal recordings were done during these 3 hours for four muscles (bilateral trapezius and bilateral deltoid) andall subjects were asked to report shoulder region fatigue in Borg CR-10 rating scale. The RMS and MF values were extracted form row EMG signal to estimate the muscle activity and fatigue. The result of this study shown that muscle activity in all muscles under the test in workstation A is higher than workstation B (P <0.05). In comparison between the muscles, the mean RMS of the trapezius is higher than bilateral deltoid (P<0.01). Joint analysis of spectral and amplitude for estimating the muscle fatigue shown that muscle fatigue incidence in workstation B is more than workstation A. In comparison between Borg CR-10 rating scale, there is no significant difference in two workstations. According to these results, it can be concluded that working in two workstations can increase the risk of work related musculoskeletal disorders in shoulder region and further studies and hence, designing the ergonomic workstation for carpet weavings is necessary

This study discusses the manifestation of carpets in children’s literature. Since carpets are one of the universal symbols of Iranian art and culture, scholars and educators should attempt to institutionalize this art and craft as a cultural issue in the society. Obviously, such a movement must begin from childhood and use methods and models based on children’s interests. A story is one model that children naturally admire. The present article is a case study of one of the best Iranian children stories on the topic of carpets. The article has presented and interpreted various parts of the story, demonstrating how the author, by pointing to the traditional motifs of carpets, making use of a symbolic language, religious and national symbols and values, the appropriate techniques of writing for children, as well as narrating the life of a little girl working in a carpet weaving workshop, has represented the features and values of carpets in both realistic and surrealistic contexts. The cultural and social status of carpet weavers and other groups involved in the production of carpets must be taken into further consideration. These people should receive due respect as artists preserving a major part of Islamic Iran’s cultural heritage.