Journal of Health and Safety at Work

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Introduction: Protection of the respiratory system has been a vital, and for this purpose, various solutions have been proposed, including the use of masks. One of the most important parameters to measure the effectiveness of the mask against the penetration of microbial agents. The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the bacterial and particle filtration of medical masks.
Material and Methods: To assess bacterial performance, the national standard 6138, compliant with EN14683, and Type I medical masks were utilized. Staphylococcus aureus bacterial suspension was prepared and passed through the mask using a nebulizer and through an impactor with a flow rate of 28.3 l/min. Plates containing soy agar were placed in the impactor. Subsequently, all plates were incubated, and the bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) of the masks was determined by counting the bacterial colonies that passed through the mask’s media as a percentage of the total bacteria. It is worth noting that the pressure drop and particle filtration efficiency were also determined for all masks
Results: Based on the results of the particle removal performance for the particle size of 3 µ, the masks were categorized into three groups with efficiency above 99%, above 95% and 90%. According to the standard, all masks had an acceptable pressure drop below 40 Pa. The acceptable bacterial filtration rate for type I masks should be above 95%. The results showed that type A and B masks have an acceptable bacterial filtration rate and there is a significant correlation between the types of masks examined in terms of bacterial and particle efficiency.
Conclusion: The results showed that different types of masks under investigation have significant differences in terms of particle capture efficiency and bacterial filtration performance. In addition, there is a significant correlation between bacterial and particle filtration efficiency.
 

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Introduction: Job factors play a critical role in shaping employee health and mitigating burnout. Work-family conflict leads to outcomes such as burnout, emotional exhaustion, and decreased performance. Similarly, employees’ perception of job insecurity can negatively affect their burnout, work attitudes, well-being, commitment, and interpersonal relationships. This study investigates the interplay between job security, work-family conflict, and burnout, with a focus on the mediating role of work engagement among office workers.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024, collecting data from 119 employees in administrative units at a medical university in Iran. Structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis. The measurement tools included standardized questionnaires for work engagement, work-family conflict, job security, and job burnout. The questionnaires were utilized based on a Likert scale, with confirmed validity and reliability.
Results: The findings from the correlation analysis indicated that job security had a significant positive relationship with work engagement. In contrast, burnout showed a negative correlation with job security and work engagement, while it had a positive correlation with work-family conflict. Results from the structural equation modeling revealed that work-family conflict had a direct relationship with burnout but did not significantly affect work engagement. Work engagement acted as a protective factor in reducing burnout and served as a mediator between job security and burnout; however, its mediating role between work-family conflict and burnout was not confirmed.
Conclusion: Numerous factors impact the psychological health of administrative employees. Organizations should tailor their interventions based on these factors and their interrelations. Overall, employee empowerment programs aimed at increasing work engagement and reducing work-family conflict can enhance the quality of working life and decrease burnout within organizations.