Work-related stress dimensions among a subsidiary company workers of Iranian oil refining and distribution company

Introduction Work-related stress and its causes are among the most important issues which can seriously challenge organizational efficiency and employees' health. Different occupational environments and groups have different levels of job stress. The present study aimed to investigate relationships between job stress and its dimensions with three occupational groups (administrative, administrative-operational, and operational) among a subsidiary company workers of Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company. Methods The present study had descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional type and was conducted among 468 out of 503 employees (with entry condition of a year of work experience as well as an official and contractual membership) volunteered to participate in research. Data collection tools included demographic questions and job stress questionnaire as well as human resource department information to determine occupational group of employees. Descriptive statistics, statistical tests, Independent test, and one-way ANOVA in addition to SPSS 21 software were used for data analysis. Results There were significant relationships between age, education levels, work experience and smoking with mean score of job stress (P-value 0.05). Conclusions Exposure to different occupational harmful agents, facing with different safety risks, being far from family, heavy workload, and uncertain employee roles have significantly increased job stress in both operational and executive occupation groups compared to other two occupational groups; hence, there is a positive correlation between high job stress and operational jobs

Coronavirus-Related Opportunities for Promoting Occupational Health and Safety

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LET’S GET BACK TO WORK: PREVENTIVE BIOLOGICAL CYCLE MANAGEMENT OF CORONAVIRUS IN THE WORKPLACE

BACKGROUND The primary response to the coronavirus pandemic has been to minimize social contact through lockdown measures. The closure of non-essential businesses to tackle the spread of coronavirus has had negative consequences for the global economy, production, and employment. OBJECTIVE To outline how known occupational health principles can be used for preventative management of the coronavirus in workplaces to support resumption of work. METHODS A discussion of current knowledge of COVID-19, the cost of the lockdown strategy, and preventative biological cycle management. RESULTS The literature indicates that biological cycle management can control for the risk of coronavirus infection, provide a suitable and sufficient exit strategy from lockdown, and support getting employees back to work. Adherence to PPE standards has been insufficient, indicating a need for workplace investment and education. CONCLUSION Imposed restrictions on workplace operations can be lifted without compromising worker health and safety when a workplace commits to practicing the three principles of biological cycle management

Effects of Work-Related Stress on Work Ability Index among Iranian Workers

AbstractBackgroundWork Ability Index (WAI) is a well-known and valid self-report tool that has been widely used in various studies to identify and avoid early retirement and work-related disability. Nevertheless, very few studies have been carried out to evaluate work ability in Iran. We aimed to investigate the WAI and the effect of work-related stress on it among Iranian workers.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study was carried out among 449 workers from five working sectors in three big cities of Iran. Work ability and work-related stress were measured using the Persian version of WAI and the Persian version of Health and Safety Executive Stress Indicator Tool.ResultsMore than a third of the workers surveyed (34.70%) did not have an appropriate level of work ability (WAI < 37). There was a significant correlation between subscales of work-related stress and the mean score of WAI. Furthermore, the variables of body mass index, sleep quality, exercise activity, job tenure, and three subscales of work-related stress including demands, supervisor support, and role were significant predictors of WAI.ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, the interventional programs must be focused on improving supervisors support, eliminating ambiguity and conflicts in the role of workers in their job and organization, reducing job demands, improving sleep quality, and increasing exercise activity

Understanding uptake of prevention and mitigation of COVID-19 at work actions in Iran

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic has required organizations to make changes to ways of working to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 in employees. OBJECTIVE: To assess the workplace response to COVID-19 in Iran. METHODS: 255 organizations completed a two-part survey. Part 1 collected data describing the business; Part 2 comprised the International Labor Organization (ILO) 30-item Prevention and Mitigation of COVID-19 at Work Actions Checklist. A four-point Likert scale was used to score each item according to whether preventative measures had been actioned. RESULTS: We found a dichotomy of commitment to managing COVID-19 at work. 42.5% of organizations had fully implemented the ILO recommended preventative actions, and 45.6% workplaces had not implemented any. Large organizations had significantly more preventative actions than SMEs; the Healthcare sector had significantly better COVID-19 mitigation measures in place than Construction projects; and organizations with a health & safety management system had significantly more prevention actions in place. CONCLUSIONS: ILO provided a good framework to support risk assessment of COVID-19, however only half the organizations were undertaking the necessary biological hazard control actions to prevent COVID-19 at work. There remains a need to understand the inaction of organizations who do not risk assess despite being in a pandemic

Understanding occupational accidents in tunnelling construction using a natural experiment

Background: Reducing occupational accidents is of utmost importance. This research investigated how individual and job-related risk factors affect occupational accidents in one of the largest tunnelling companies in Iran. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional natural experiment utilizing data from 760 employees who consented to participate in the study. 150 individuals had a history of occupational accidents and 610 individuals did not. Information about accidents was extracted from reports, medical records, and interviews. Results: The main causes of accidents were unsafe acts performed by workers. 71% by unsafe acts alone, and another 12% unsafe acts in unsafe conditions. The odds ratio of occupational accidents was significantly higher in workers aged under 30 years (p = 0.016), with a high school diploma or lower educational achievement (p = 0.012), low job satisfaction (p = 0.035), work experience less than 16 years (p = 0.023), as well as lack of regular exercise (p = 0.001). Within the final adjusted logistic model, low levels of education (OR= 5.81; 95% CI, 1.03-9.03) and younger age group (OR= 2.38 95% CI, 0.24 to 8.02) remained significant. Conclusion: Use of young and inexperienced staff, low education, and lack of simple and understandable safety guidelines for workers in the tunnelling industry have led to unsafe acts that can increase the rate of occupational accidents. Changes in working conditions, and unstable job security also contribute to explaining the accident rates in this 12-month period. Managers should pay special attention to these individual-organizational factors to prevent accidents and promote safety

EXCESSIVE DAYTIME SLEEPINESS AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE: COMPARING PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE APPROACHES

Sleep disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness have potential for a negative impact upon employees’ safety performance. This study investigated the relationship of excessive daytime sleepiness and obstructive sleep apnea on safety performance at an oil construction company in Iran. 661 employees consented. Excessive daytime sleepiness was measured using the STOP-BANG questionnaire, which screens for obstructive sleep apnea, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). To determine how sleepiness affects Occupational Incidents (accidents causing injury and near misses) both reactive data and proactive safety performance indices were measured. Demographic and predictor variables were analyzed using hierarchical multiple linear regression. Employees who met the criteria of excessive daytime sleepiness and obstructive sleep apnea had significantly poorer safety performance indicators. STOP-BANG and ESS were significant predictive factors for safety compliance (β = 0.228 and 0.370, respectively), safety participation (β = 0.210 and 0.144, respectively), and overall safety behavior (β = 0.332 and 0.213) respectively. Further, Occupational Incidents were 2.5 times higher in workers with indicators of excessive daytime sleepiness and 2 times higher in workers with obstructive sleep apnea than those without. These findings confirmed excessive daytime sleepiness as a serious safety hazard, and both reactive and proactive measures are important to understand the relative contribution of predictor variables. To reduce occupational incidents, it is essential that management procedures support good sleep hygiene with the aim of improving safety performance

Persian version of the Work Design Questionnaire: Measurement of its psychometric characteristics

Background: Work design questionnaire (WDQ), as a comprehensive and integrative tool, is one of the most important instruments frequently used to assess work characteristics. The aim of this study was to measure the psychometric characteristics of the Persian version of WDQ. Methods:Translation and cross-cultural adaptation procedures were applied in translating the original WDQ into Persian. A total of 270 participants participated in this study. The validity of the questionnaire were measured using face validity, content validity, convergent validity, and construct validity based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed through internal consistency. Results: Mean content validity index (CVI) was 0.95. The CFA results indicated support for a 21-factor solution. There were significant correlations between dimensions of WDQ and both job satisfaction and perceived stress. Cronbach's alpha of all items was 0.87. Conclusion: Results indicated that the WDQ exhibited very good psychometric properties and can be applied as a useful tool to assess work characteristics among Iranian employees. Accordingly, the authors recommend its administration in future studies. The work characteristics was significantly associated with job satisfaction and job stress. Therefore, improved work design would reduce negative consequences, such as job stress, and increase positive behaviors, such as job satisfaction

Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Tool for Assessing Postgraduate Students' Oral Presentations

Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop an oral presentations assessment tool for postgraduate students' oral presentations. Methods: First, a literature review and the ideas of 319 experienced professors were used to identify dimensions and potential items. Then the psychometric properties of the preliminary tool were measured using face and content validity, inter-rater agreement and test-retest reliability. Results: The four dimensions of the developed tool were subject knowledge, delivery, content and organization, and ergonomics. Mean content validity index and content validity ratio scores were 0.93 and 0.76, respectively. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient for the two evaluation periods was 0.92. The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.78. Conclusion: In this study, important cognitive factors in oral presentations in the form of ergonomic dimensions were included for the first time, as part of a comprehensive tool. The developed tool has appropriate psychometric properties and could be used as a valid and applicable instrument to assess post-graduate students' oral presentations

Understanding the role of oxidative stress in the incidence of metabolic syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea

Background: Understanding the causes and risk factors of metabolic syndrome is important for promoting population health. Oxidative stress has been associated with metabolic syndrome, and also obstructive sleep apnea. These are two diseases which have common prognostic characteristics for heart disease. The aim of this study was to examine the role of oxidative stress in the concurrent presence of metabolic syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea in a working population. Methods: Participants were 163 artisan bakers in Shahroud, Iran, routinely exposed to significant heat stress and other oxidative stress indicators on a daily basis as part of their work. Using a cross-sectional design, data relevant to determining metabolic syndrome status according to International Diabetes Federation criteria, and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea according to the STOP-Bang score, was collected. Analyses included hierarchical binary logistic regression to yield predictors of the two diseases. Results: Hierarchical binary logistic regression showed that oxidative stress – alongside obesity, no regular exercise, and smoking – was an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome, but not obstructive sleep apnea. Participants who were obese were 28 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome (OR 28.59, 95% CI 4.91-63.02) and 44 times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea (OR 44.48, 95% CI 4.91-403.28). Participants meeting metabolic syndrome criteria had significantly higher levels of malondialdehyde (p < 0.05) than those who did not. No difference in oxidative stress index levels were found according to obstructive sleep apnea status. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that oxidative stress contributes to the onset of metabolic syndrome, and that obstructive sleep apnea is involved in oxidative stress. Whilst obesity, exercise, and smoking remain important targets for reducing the incidence of metabolic syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea, policies to control risks of prolonged exposure to oxidative stress are also relevant in occupations where such environmental conditions exist