Awareness of Ergonomics and its Relationship with the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders: a study on physiotherapists in Shiraz, Iran

Background: Ergonomics is a science dealing with human's physical and mental abilities and limitations, and inattention to this science leads to physical injuries among the staff and consequently affects the efficiency and productivity of the organisations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of Shiraz physiotherapists about ergonomics and its relation with the prevalence of their musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2015 on all physiotherapists working in Shiraz hospitals. Data were collected through a questionnaire about the awareness of ergonomics and analyzed through SPSS22 software package. Results: Mean age and work experience of the physiotherapists were respectively 34.06±8.5 and 9.38±7.45 years. Mean awareness of subjects about ergonomics principles, work conditions and the rate of occupational injuries and work problems were respectively 3.15 ± 0.5, 2.70 ± 0.52 and 1.80 ± 0.82 from 5. There was a significant relationship between awareness of ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders (P=0.04). Increase in awareness of ergonomics was associated with decrease of the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (P=0.04, CI 95% =0.086-0.995, OR=0.259). Conclusion: The results show that increased awareness of ergonomics leads to musculoskeletal disorders reduction. Therefore, compiled educational programs can have a significant impact on learning about right body postures during work and can consequently reduce musculoskeletal disorders and occupational injuries and problems

The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Relation with Fatigue and Occupational Burnout in the Staff of a Petrochemical Industry

Background: Occupational burnout is a sign of various fatigue states and can cause diseases like musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and its relation with fatigue and occupational burnout in the staff of a petrochemical industry. Methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 121 personnel working in a petrochemical industry in 2017. For data collection, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) questionnaire, Nordic questionnaire, and Maslach Burnout questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 and the significance level was considered 0.05. Results: In general, 71.1% of the subjects suffered from at least one musculoskeletal disorder in their organs during the past year. There was no significant relation between musculoskeletal disorders and occupational burnout. Musculoskeletal disorders were significantly associated with decreased motivation (P=0.035), one of the fatigue domains. Musculoskeletal disorders were also significantly related with the type of occupation (P = 0.017). Conclusion: Musculoskeletal disorders are probably related with some fields of fatigue and burnout. Further studies should be done. Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Fatigue, Occupational Burnout, Petrochemical

The Quality of Sleep and Its Related Factors among Truck Drivers in Kerman

Introduction: Sleeping is one of the important biological needs of human beings which has an important role in maintaining health and quality of life. Driving is one of the occupational groups in which the quality of sleep is of a great importance for job performance and safety. This study was conducted to evaluate the sleep quality of truck drivers in the city of Kerman, Iran. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 truck drivers in the transportation terminal of Kerman city in 2011 through simple random sampling. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire containing demographic features and Petersburg sleeping quality questionnaire. ANOVA, t-test, Pearson’s coefficient of correlation and test were used for data analysis. Results: Mean age and driving record of studied drivers were respectively 40.51±9.03 and 15.25±8.26 years. Mean score of sleeping quality was 7.58±0.37 from 21. In whole, 61% of the drivers had unsatisfactory sleep quality. Quality of sleep showed significant relationship with age (P=0.002) and driving record (P=0.02). Also there was a significant relationship between age and working hours (P=0.03). Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that sleep quality of most truck drivers in Kerman is unsatisfactory, and as sleeping is one of the factors that can affect drivers’ health and safety on the roads, we suggest that initiatives should be implemented for alleviating the sleeping problems of drivers. Keywords: Sleep, Sleep quality, Truck driver

Survey of general health status and the factors affecting in it among industry staffs in Kerman

Introduction & Aims: From World Health Organization’s point of view, health is well-being in terms of physical, social and mental not merely the absence of disease. Public health is the very important factor in the industries if neglecting, its effects on both individuals and organization would be irreparable. This study aimed to assess the general health condition and its effective factors in an industry staff. Methods: This was across sectional study and all employees in this industry were recurred or collected by census (n= 110). The demographic questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used for data collection. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS software (Ver.20) and the independent t-tests, ANOVA and Spearman correlation coefficient test.Results: Based on the results, the average score for general health in sub-groups of physical disorders was 6.06±2.78, anxiety was 4.01±2.64, social disorder was 11.97±3.98 and depression was 3.30 ±3.74. In these sub-groups 67.3%, 82.7%, 7.3% and 85.5% of the subjects were in healthy group. There was no statistically significant difference between the variables of age and work history, and score of public health sub-groups whereas there was a statistically significant difference between the total score of general health and education.Conclusion: Factors such as education can be named as effective factor on the general health condition of employees in this industry. In the present study, a very small percentage of individuals in social disorder sub-groups, were normal. Therefore, by conducting survey and focus in this area and executive decisions positively, we can contribute to increase general health condition.*Corresponding Author: Emkani Mojtaba, Master of Science, department of occupational health engineering, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.Email: [email protected]

Advancing understanding of vulnerability assessment in process industries: A systematic review of methods and approaches

In the context of process safety, vulnerability refers to the inherent susceptibility of a process industry to exacerbate the potential for escalating negative outcomes resulting from natural or man-made disturbances. Conducting vulnerability assessments is crucial in identifying potential hazards and formulating effective risk management strategies to prevent accidents, thereby ensuring the safety of individuals and the environment within process industries. However, there is evident scope for further enhancement in this domain, specifically with regards to adequately addressing uncertainties associated with human behavior. This study aimed to investigate vulnerability assessments in the process industries through a systematic review. The primary objective was to analyze the existing literature in this field. The review focused on identifying relevant publications published between 2010 and 2022 and explored different categories of vulnerabilities, such as human, physical, social, and safety vulnerabilities. Multiple approaches were utilized in assessing vulnerability, including index systems, graph theory, decision-making methods, and modeling techniques. The utilization of 2D or 3D vulnerability maps within Geographic Information Systems (GIS), combined with the implementation of cellular automata and Bayesian network theory, has demonstrated enhanced precision in depicting vulnerable areas. This research critically examines the merits and drawbacks of these various methodologies, while also offering suggestions for future studies aimed at refining vulnerability assessment techniques to bolster the safety and security of process industries. In essence, this article underscores the significance of vulnerability assessment in mitigating potential risks and hazards in process industries, providing a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners invested in this domain