Occupational Medicine

Identification and Prioritization of Criteria Affecting the Location of Safe Assembly Points Using the Best-Worst Method

F Azad — 2025-01-11

Introduction: Identifying secure gathering spots during emergencies is a crucial step in emergency management across multiple industries, particularly in oil, gas, and petrochemical fields. This study was designed to identify and rank the factors affecting the placement of safe assembly points for implementation in the country’s process industries.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive-exploratory study was conducted at the National Petrochemical Company. During the initial phase, criteria affecting the selection of safe assembly points were determined by examining scientific literature, standards, guidelines, along with national and international directives. A Delphi study involving 15 experts in emergency management experts was subsequently conducted to finalize the criteria list . During the second phase, these criteria were prioritized and ranked through a multi-criteria decision-making method utilizing and the Best-Worst Method.

Results: The Delphi study was completed after two rounds, revealing 10 internal and 7 external criteria, amounting to 17 criteria that affect the determination of safe assembly points during emergencies in processing industries. Within the internal criteria, accessibility was the highest rated (weight: 0.1948), vulnerability to incidents was second (weight: 0.1543), and travel time was third (weight: 0.1109). Among the external criteria, the distance from nearby hazardous centres was the highest (weight: 0.2181), the type of potential scenarios was second (weight: 0.2081), and nearby emergency facilities placed third (weight: 0.1462).

Conclusion: In process industries, the placement of safe assembly points during emergencies must take into account factors like the distance from surrounding hazardous areas, the type of possible incidents, ease of access, vulnerability to incidents, nearby emergency services, and wind patterns to guarantee optimal personnel protection.

Role of organizational silence in predicting job burnout and its components: A case study of Malayer University employees

A Khakpour — 2025-01-11

Introduction: The advancement of organizations depends on engagement, providing essential and constructive insights and prospectives from human resources and intellectual capital. This research designed and implemented to study the impact of organizational silence syndrome on employee burnout. Moreover, the connections between research variables and demographic variables were tested.

Materials and Methods: The study employed a descriptive-correlation approach, while the research framework is a multivariate correlation design. The statistical population of the research consisted of 110 administrative employees of Malayer University. Considering the small size of the community, the census approach employed. Data collection tools included organizational silence questionnaires developed by Dina et al. (2003) and job burnout questionnaires by Meslash and Jackson (1981).

Results: The study’s findings indicated a notable connection between organizational silence and components job burnout. The findings of the research showed a noteworthy correlation between ProSocial silence and emotional exhaustion (r=0.294 / sig=0.001). Nevertheless, there was no significant connection between defensive and acquiescent silence and emotional exhaustion. Among the variables of organizational silence, Acquiescent silence (r=0.374/sig=0.001) and defensive silence (r=0.456/sig=0.011) were significant predictors of depersonalization. According to the results, proSocial silence had a significant relationship with the feeling of inadequacy (r=0.222/sig=0.012). However, there was no significant connection between Acquiescent and defensive organizational silence and the sense of inadequacy. The research results also confirmed the existence of significant relationships between certain demographic variables and job burnout as well as organizational silence.

Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, managers of organizations should foster a transparent atmosphere for employees enabling them to share their views openly and without apprehension. This is crucial as organizational silence, not only contributes to employee burnout but also leads to numerous adverse effects for both the organizational and individuals.

Evaluation of the frequency and risk of corona virus in different occupations of a teaching hospital in Yazd City

F Kargar-Shouroki — 2025-01-11

Introduction: Healthcare professionals are the frontline soldiers against Corona.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all personnel at a teaching hospital located in Yazd City. Each participant completed a questionnaire that included demographic information as well as their history regarding the frequency and length of daily contact with a patient infected with COVID-19. It also covered the duration of personal protective equipment (PPE) usage and alcohol-based hand rub application during direct exposure (with 1 meter) and throughout aerosolizing procedures performed on the patient. Incidence rate, Frequency rate, probability, severity rate, and risk of corona infection were evaluated among various occupational groups within the hospital.

Results: 40.66% of the staff employed in the hospital were infected with corona virus. The highest frequency of corona infection was observed among nurses (51.60%). Over 90% of healthcare personnel who did not utilize PPE for 95% of their work time faced a high-risk level for the coronavirus. Physicians reported the highest number of daily exposures (averaging 27.94 exposures) and the longest exposure time (averaging 243.89 minutes). The highest risk of infection among doctors (60.93) and nurses (39.49) was observed. The nurses exhibited the highest incidence rate (51.22) and frequency rate (26.27).

Conclusion: Due to a significant percentage of hospital staff with coronavirus, and with the highest infection rates occurring among nurses, adequate training for the use of PPE is necessary.

Relationship between perceived organizational support and psychological well-being of municipal employees: the mediating role of job boredom

Z Moradi — 2025-01-11

Introduction: The effectiveness of the municipality and its employees, as the key entity in the urban management framework, significantly influences the quality of life and citizen engagement; consequantly, this study aimed to explore the mediating effect of job boredom on the relationship between perceived organizational support and the psychological well-being of municipal employees. Materials and Methods: The approach of descriptive research involved correlational modeling using structural equations. The statistical population comprised all 500 employees of Tehran Municipality in 2022, according to Karjesi and Morgan’s table, 220 individuals (92 women and 128 men) were chosen using convenience sampling. The instruments utilized in the research included job boredom scale (Rijsiger et al., 2012), perceived organizational support (Eisenberg et al., 1986) and psychological well-being (Reif, 1989). Data analysis utilized the Pearson correlation method, structural modeling and partial least squares algorithm (Smart PLS3) along with the software SPSS16.

Results: The results indicated that the overall research model aligned well with the experimental data. The findings showed that job boredom and perceived organizational support can directly predict psychological well-being (p<0.001). Additionally,, the indirect influence of perceived organizational support through job boredom on psychological well-being was significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The research findings indicate that job boredom and perceived organizational support are crutial factors in predicting psychological well-being, and counseling and psychotherapy centers should focus more on these variables whenassessing the psychological well-being of employees.

Assessing the relationship between low back pain and job stress on the work ability index among healthcare workers in an educational hospital in Tehran

L Khedmati Hampa — 2025-01-11

Introduction: Considering that stress in the workplace for healthcare workers employees can adversely affect their work ability, diminish productivity, and lead to job dissatisfaction, burnout, as well as negative physical and mental outcomes, the present study was designed to assess the effect of low back pain and stress levels on the work ability index among healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Iran.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on healthcare professionals in one of the hospitals in Tehran City in 2022. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among study participants was evaluated using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Additionally, the Work Ability Index (WAI) was employed to evaluate the participants' work ability, while the HSE Stress Questionnaire was used to measure their job stress levels.

Results: A lower level of job stress among healthcare professionals was significantly associated with daily (P=0.02) and weekly (P=0.004) working hours. Moreover, healthcare professionals who did not experience low back pain in the past week were able to work more hours per day compared to others (P=0.01). In the linear regression model, the relationship between the Work Ability Index (WAI), job stress, and job position remained statistically significant (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Tackling job-related stress and enhancing employee well-being is essential to improve work productivity and overall health. Implementing specific interventions and conducting further research could effectively contribute to achieving these goals.

Evaluation of accidents and work-related injuries among farmers of Shahreza in Isfahan province in 2022

F Kargar-Shouroki — 2025-01-11

Introduction: Agriculture industry is associated with the serious work-related injuries. The aims of this study were to determine type, cause, and frequency of accidents as well as injured body part, and to evaluate the association between accident type, , demographic information, and injured body part among the agricultural workers.

Materials and Methods In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the injuries noted in the medical records of 98 injured farmers in Shahreza, located in Isfahan Province, in 2022 were analyzed..

Results: The results of the study indicated that the highest number of accidents were fallen (59.20 %), the most injuries were to hands and arm (70 %), and the main cause of injuries were machinery (45.90 %), especially tractors (57.80 %). Age and education level showed a notable correlation with the type of accidents among the farmers. The greatest declines were noted among with less than a high school diploma (61.50%) and in age group of 51-65 years old (52.60%). There was a statistically significant association between accident type and injury, with the fall accident resulted in 65.70% hand and arm injuries, 50% neck injuries and 65.60% leg injuries. Additionally, the highest occurrence of accidents and effective three-month average were observed in July and August, respectively.

Conclusion: The rising incidence of vehicle overturns and falls suggests that the design features and use of safety belts should be evaluated. Concerning the majority of hand and arm injuries noted during falls, particularly in middle-aged adults without a high school diploma, it is recommended that workers received training on farm safety to reduce the agricultural injuries.

Assessment and management of occupational risks in industrial projects using the HAZID technique: a case study of chain dry boom crane in Yazd alloy steel oxygen plant project

R Fallah Madvari — 2025-01-11

Introduction: It is necessary to pay attention to the key role of chain dry boom crane in heavy industrial projects such as the steel industry, to identify and manage occupational risks related to it. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying, evaluating, and managing job risks associated with chain dry boom cranes in the Yazd Alloy Steel Oxygen Plant project using the HAZID technique and providing control strategies to reduce the risk level.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted qualitatively using the HAZID technique. The statistical population included 50 operators, managers, and project experts, and the required information was collected through semi-structured interviews and HAZID workshops. Identified risks were classified into three categories: technical, environmental and human and were evaluated using the risk matrix. Control measures to reduce risk were also proposed and implemented.

Findings: In this research, occupational hazards associated with dry chain cranes were identified and classified into three main categories including technical hazards (40%), environmental hazards (30%) and human hazards (30%). Failure of hydraulic systems, failure of boom and safety equipment were considered as technical risks, dealing with high voltage power lines and inappropriate weather effects as environmental risks, and use of unauthorized operators and ignorance of safety principles were considered as human risks.

Conclusion: The results of this research showed that after the implementation of control measures, the level of risk decreased significantly. Applying the HAZID technique in similar industrial projects can improve safety and prevent accidents by accurately identifying risks and providing preventive solutions.

Management of thrombocytopenia detected in occupational health examinations: A review article

F Nejatifar — 2025-01-11

Introduction: The accidental discovery of thrombocytopenia is a medical challenge and may be of little clinical importance or indicate a serious disease affecting the hematopoietic system. In this article, we have discussed how to manage incidental isolated thrombocytopenia identified during occupational health examinations.

Materials and Methods: In this study, to effectively address the thrombocytopenia found accidentally in screening tests, researchers searched reliable databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and others.

Results: In general, thrombocytopenia may result from a decrease in platelet production, an increase in platelet consumption, or an increase in platelet separation from the circulatory system. In dealing with thrombocytopenia, a thorough history, physical examination, and targeted laboratory tests can identify patients who need immediate intervention. Common causes of thrombocytopenia include false thrombocytopenia, drug use, congenital thrombocytopenia, chronic liver disease, distributed thrombocytopenia, concurrent deficiency of folic acid and vitamin B12, immune thrombocytopenia purpura, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, viral infections, and systemic autoimmune disorders. Additionally, assessing the risk of bleeding in these individuals should be considered.

Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia discovered in screening tests is a relatively common finding and has numerous underlying causes. A systematic approach is required to identify its underlying causes. Knowing the list of common benign causes of isolated thrombocytopenia and the alarm symptoms of this disorder can help an occupational health specialist identify high-risk people and take the necessary measures.