Archives Of Occupational Health
Volume:4 Issue: 1, Jan 2020

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common occupational diseases in hospital staff. Factors that are effective on the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders can point to stress and job satisfaction and unsuitable postures. By regarding the key role of nursing staff in hospitals in giving health services, this study has been done with the aim of the survey about the relationship between stress amount and job satisfaction with musculoskeletal disorders in nurses.

This analytical description study had been done in the year 2017, accidentally between 140 persons, 90 of available nurses that during sampling were in the nursing station of one of Tehran hospitals. For data collection one used standard questionnaire composed of demographic information and job information about musculoskeletal disorders, satisfaction, and job stress. Also for finding the relationship between variables one used correlation test, multivariate linear regression and independent t-test by SPSS20 Software.

Results shows that one of the biggest postures adopted by nurses is waist bending that the result of that is a pain in the lower part of the waist. By doing multivariate linear regression in SPSS20, a model for prediction pain in the lower part results from waist bending gained. Between job stress and job postures, there have been seen a significant relationship (P<0/05) in this test there was no significant relationship between job satisfaction and job postures.

Extra physical activities lead to unsuitable and repetitive postures in nurses that are one of the most important factors in creating job stress in nurses. For decreasing coming stress to staff, they should give information and needed knowledge about correct posture adoption to everyone.

Nowadays ionizing radiation is widely used in medicine, research and industry. In medicine, ionizing radiation is used to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat diseases such as cancer. Undoubtedly, most exposure to artificial sources is in the field of medical and diagnostic radiology. Therefore, practitioners in the field of diagnostic radiography and patients are exposed to ionizing radiation and its risks. On the other hand, despite the advantages and efficacy of diagnostic radiation in the medical field, overall less attention is paid to optimizing and controlling protection in medical radiation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the background ionizing radiation in Ahwaz diagnostic radiography centers.

Ionization radiation levels were measured in and out of each center using gamma spectroscopy (Radiation Alert Inspector-EXP 15109) at a, b, c, d and e radiographic centers within one meter above the Earth's surface. Radiation levels within each center were measured at four locations (outside of center, secretary desk, and patient waiting room and behind the radiology room) both in X-ray machine operating and non-operating condition. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS software.  

The inside ionization radiation dose in a, b, c, d and e radiographic centers were 0.121, 0.119, 0.126, 0132 and 0.128 μSv/h respectively. The outside ionization radiation dose in a, b, c, d and e radiographic centers were 0.094, 0.092, 0.093, 0.112 and 0.101 μSv/h respectively. Equivalent annual dose within and outside selected radiology centers were lower than the threshold (1 mSv / year).

The results show that the ionizing radiation dose of the X-ray equipment examined in the radiology centers of Ahwaz is lower than the global standard.

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the major work-related diseases resulting from repetitive motions, awkward postures and exertion of excessive force on joints or an acute trauma. The present study was an attempt to determine the Prevalence and factors associated with Musculoskeletal Disorders among street cleaners of Isfahan Municipality.

the present article is a cross-sectional causal-comparative study conducted on street cleaners of Isfahan Municipality. Cochran's formula was used to select 173 individuals as samples through convenience sampling. The data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire covering demographic data (age, marital status, previous and current work experience, type of physical activity, work-related activity, height and weight of individuals, height and weight of tools, etc.) and specialized data (Nordic Self-Reporting Questionnaire). SPSS software and independent T-test were used to analyze the collected data.

93% of street cleaners experienced musculoskeletal disorders in at least one organ over the past 12 months and factors associated with these disorders reportedly include occupational experience, age, marital status, height and weight of instrument, Body mass index and posture). The musculoskeletal disorders were found to be most prevalent in lower back (33%) and the shoulders (32.9%) and least prevalent in thighs (5%) over the past 12 months.

The results showed that musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent in different parts of street cleaners’ body, and a variety of factors including work experience, age, marital status, tool height, tool weight, tool grip strength and posture are associated with that.  The results also showed that correction of body movements and designing an ergonomic tool commensurate with the physical activity of street cleaners can prevent musculoskeletal disorders among them. .

Nurses are subjected to musculoskeletal disorders for the reason of working situations and pressures, which any neglect of them causes a poor quality of hospital services provided to the patients. So, the present study was conducted to develop and evaluate the intervention based on the educational and reduction of musculoskeletal disorders among nurses of Khansar Fatemieh Hospital.

This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 74 nursing staffs of Fatemieh Hospital, Khansar, Iran, who were studied completely as the whole census. Inclusion criteria were nurses who were responsible for patient transmission, with more than one year of work experience and without a case history of musculoskeletal disorders. Exclusion criteria were surgery or accident while studying as well as disinclination to continue taking part in the study. Initially, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was investigated by Nordic Questionnaire and Occupational Risk Factors by Rapid Body Assessment Technique (REBA). Evaluation criteria for the impact of training consisted of training such as film, pamphlets, handouts, informing in telegram channels, etc. Ultimately, after three months of training courses, the workstation was re-assessed through the above methods, and the data were analyzed through SPSS software version 16, Chi-square statistical tests, McNemar and Wilcoxon tests; then the effectiveness of the educational intervention was identified.

The mean age and work experience of the participants were 5.27 (32.83)and 4/55 (7.83) year respectively. The results illustrated that the highest rate of prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was pertinent to the waist (64.90%) and knee (62.20%), wrist (50/00%) in order. The results obtained from the REBA technique indicated that 89.20% of participants were above the range of risk average. After the intervention, statistical tests exhibited a significant reduction in scores and level of risk achieved by the REBA technique (p-value<0/05). Also, the results stated that there was a significant reduction in musculoskeletal pains in the areas of the neck, shoulder, and knee after the intervention (P-value<0.05). But no perceptible change could be observed in the other kinesthetic organs of the body (P-value>0.05).  No significant relationship could be seen between gender, work experience, BMI (Body Mass Index) and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (P-value>0.05) in this study, but the statistical tests indicated that there was a significant relationship between age and pain in wrist area (P-value<0.05).

The results offer that if preventative ergonomic training is part of multidisciplinary interventions and is presented through training such as film, pamphlets, pamphlets, handouts, informing in telegram channels and etc., it may have more influence on the reduction of musculoskeletal disorders.

disregarding safety requirements has made accidents of workshop mobile cranes as one of the main factors of injuries and death in civil-industrial projects. Since safety culture considered one of the most important activist indices while investigating the commitment of superior managers and other members of the organization to regard safety requirements, the present study aims at investigating the organization’s safety culture in civil and industrial projects and its relationship with regarding safety requirements of mobile cranes.

the current study is descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional research conducted within 7 civil-industrial projects from 2018 to 2019. To investigate satisfaction levels of safety requirements, 141cranes have been used through a 72-item researcher-made checklist adapted from ASME B30.5 2018 standard and protective regulation of transportation vehicles and moving materials and objects of workshops. The research team has confirmed the validity and reliability of the checklist with CVR=0.68, CVI=0.82, and Cronbach’s alpha=α-0.90. To estimate safety culture levels 677 individuals of staff such as cranes operator, technician, expert, minor managers, middle managers, and superior managers have participated in this study through random sampling method, interview, and completion of safety culture questionnaire. To analyze data Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, one way ANOVA and linear regression utilizing SPSS v25 have been employed (P-value < 0.05).

age average of study individuals equaled with 39.8 and average of their work experiences equaled with 12.29. Results out of this study revealed that there is a positive and meaningful relationship between organizations’ safety culture and consideration levels of safety requirements in mobile cranes. So that parameter of management commitment (0.001), safety preference degree (0.004), staff training (0.012) and information exchange level (0.041) have the most relationship with consideration levels of safety requirements. But there was no meaningful relationship between work conditions and consideration levels of safety requirements (0.075).

based on results of this study it seems that accidents resultant from mobile cranes occur more in uncommitted organizations so it is important to develop organizations’ safety culture through performance of academic interventions and inform organizations’ staff especially superior management and consequently increase the safety factor of mobile cranes in civil-industrial projects.

Lead is one of the most widely used metals in the industries and is the amplest metal element on the Earth’s crust. This metal disrupts the physiological processes of the body due to its accumulation in various tissues. The present study aimed to determining the association of lead exposure with blood pressure and blood components of the lead mine employees in Isfahan City, Iran.  

In this cross-sectional study, 187 workers were investigated; they worked in the lead mines of Isfahan from January to April 2016. The staff was divided into two groups: one was exposed to lead and the other was the control group. The participants' general information was collected in worksheets, including age, work experience, work shift, body mass index, blood pressure, and smoking status. Sampling was carried out by active sampling using the NIOSH 7300 method. Blood samples were taken from all participants and their hematological parameters were evaluated, including red blood cell, platelet count, percent of lymphocytes, and volume of red blood cells.

The participants' age means were 34.06 (8.8) and 37.04 (11.48) years in the case and control groups, respectively. The time-weighted average concentration of lead in the breathing zone air of workers was 0.0533 mg/m3. The average systolic blood pressure was 12.01 (1.3) mmHg in exposed workers, while it was 11.78 (1.1) mmHg in the control group. The average diastolic blood pressure was 7.84 (0.71) mmHg in exposed workers and 7.73 (0.54) mmHg in control group. Statistical test results showed a significant difference between the case and control groups with regard to their systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P<0.05). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between the lead-exposed and non-exposed groups with regard to the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.

According to the results, lead exposure can cause metabolic changes in blood pressure and some of its features. Considering the importance of this issue, some preventive measures should be taken to maintain and improve the worker's health and well-being, such as increasing the workers' rest time, performing periodic examinations for them, as well as conducting safety workshops and training sessions.

One of the most important factors in crisis management is the location of a muster point to reduce vulnerability. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of designated sites for muster point during a crisis in one of the districts of Tehran.

This study was conducted in a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study in 2018 using a researcher-made questionnaire. The assessed areas in this study included (1) the adequacy of the number of muster points, (2) parameters affecting muster points, (3) the use of the GIS in crisis management, (4) solutions affecting the reduction of damages, (5) attention to safety of muster points and (6) crisis management. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and independent t-test. Significance level was considered as 0.05.

80 crisis management experts participated in this study (63 males and 17 females). The mean age and experience of the participants were less than 40 and 15 years. The results of assessing the effeciency of the muster points in 6 studied areas showed that the highest value was related to the use of the GIS in crisis management 3.88(0.65), effective parameters on muster points 3.78(0.75) and the safety of the muster points 3.74(0.69). In addition, the analytical findings showed a significant difference with the criterion value (p<0.001).

The findings of this study indicated that the studied muster points were sufficient and determined based on population density and geographical information system parameters. In addition, these results can be used as a basis for macro managerial decisions.

Electricity is considered as the fifth cause of occupational deaths. Occupational accidents caused by electricity do not form a high percentage of total occupational accidents, but are considered due to the severity of injuries which often result in death. The present study aimed to investigate the factors affecting occupational accidents among employees of a power distribution company in Khuzestan province.

The present study was a descriptive-analytical study which conducted as cross-sectional on the files related to the accidents of the personnel of a company in 2017.  Inclusion criteria were a history of accidents during the last 5 years from 2013 to 2017. Thus, all the personnel files of the employees of the company were reviewed and a number of 92 files of the personnel who were injured during the above-mentioned years were extracted. The required information such as demographic information (age, marital status, education level), organizational information of the injured person (employment status, job title), type of injury and place of injury on the body, rate of accidents in different seasons, days, and hours were recorded on a specific worksheet in the files. SPSS software version 22 was used for analyzing the factors affecting occupational accidents using descriptive tests and chi-square test. Significance level was considered as 0.05.

The maximum number of accidents occurred in summer during 8 to 10 am and the age group of 25 to 29 years reported the highest number of fatalities. In addition, most accidents occurred in the occupational group having a job experience of 1 to 5 years.

Human errors and non- use of personal protective equipment, deficit of equipment and supervision, as well as the failure in implementing technical and safety instructions were the most critical causes of accidents and the actions such as technical and safety training before starting the work were evaluated as effective measures in controlling accidents.