Journal of Health and Safety at Work

---

Introduction: Every year thousands of people in Iran loss their lives in traffic accidents. Any those accidents, motorcycle accidents are fatal. Safety attitude is a predictor of risky behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality, attitudes to safety and risky behaviors.

.

Material and Method: In this study 254 motorcycle drivers were randomly selected in Tehran city, and they were asked to complete personality, the attitude to safety and risky behaviors questionnaire.

.

Result: A statistically significant correlation was found between different domains of personality (fear, anger, Emotional styles, altruism, anomaly) and attitude to safety (traffic flow in obedience to the law, driving speed, driving excitement), (P = 0/001). Also between personality and attitude to safety the relationship was statistically significant (p = 0/001).

.

Conclusion: Attitude to safety is a predictor for risky behavior. Personality also the impact indirectly on the attitude to safety have and risky behaviors.

---

Introduction: There are risk of fire accidents in Operating rooms during surgery. Experts estimate annually around 100 fire accidents occur in the operating rooms of United States’s hospitals. 10 to 20 of these accidents lead to severe injuries and about 1 to 2 lead to death. Despite such accidents rarely happen, but they can lead to serious injury or death of patients.

.

Material and Method: This Cross-sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted among several hospitals belonged to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In this study, all personnel of operating rooms were investigated. Questionnaire were used to collect information and the chi-square test was applied to examine the relationship between the Knowledge of operating room personels on fire prevention and control methods, jobs and work experience. For statistical analysis SPSS14 were used.

.

Result: In this study from 220 participants, about 19.72% had full awareness, 19.62% had partial knowledge, 19.37% had low awareness and 40.97% had no knowledge on fire prevention methods, concerning fire control methods. However, 76% of the participate had full awareness and 24% had no knowledge. Test result Statistically showed that the relationship between the awareness of operating room personnel to fire control methods and work experience were significant (P-value <0.05). But, the relationship between the knowledge of operating room to fire control methods and the type of jobs were not significant. Also no significant relationship were found between the level of awareness in operating room personnel to fire prevention methods, work experience and job title.

.

Conclusion: The results indicated that the operating room staff awareness of fire prevention and control methods are low. The results also showed that awareness of fires prevention are lower than the awareness of fire control among the studied personel. Regarding to the potential risk of fire in the operating room, it is suggested that in order to increase awareness of vulnerable patients and personnel in operating conditions, measures like educational need assessment, training workshops on fire prevention and control methods should be implemented.

---

Introduction: In today comparative markets, the organizations and companies will be success that adopt the standards related to their all works and services. By thechnalization and machinism, we are witnessed of higher rate of industrial accidents as well as economic losses in everyday activities. Therefore, the need for occupational safety and health standards is future required, otherwise, a serious losses will rise for those organizations, accordingly.

.

Material and Method: IIn this study, the threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths were evaluated by one of the tools named SWOT, in one of the assembly industries company in Iran, in order to controlling the operations in this company considering to safety and health standard (OHSAS18001). A comparison of the company’s performance in implementing the safety and health standards was done between years 1387 and 1388 contain in the Company considered, and weighted scoring weaknesses, strengths, threats and opportunities using the matrix of internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (treats and opportunities) then, the importance of each factor were determined in the company’s implementation and enforcement of those standards.

.

Result: Focusing on the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, some strategies to improve the implementation were presented. Any points were weighted based on the most important weaknesses identified as the lack of monitoring contractors, lack of management commitment for implementation of OHSAS18001, no attempt to identify the risks of change, lack of training needs assessment, main strengths identified in the context of adequate budget health and safety, environmental efforts, identify risk for abnormal conditions, the most important threats for immediate delivery customer orders and the opportunity to support the safety and health plans, were determined.

.

Conclusion: Sum of the weighted scores in year 87 were obtained for the external factors (opportunities and threats), 2.16 and internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) 1.66. Both of these scores were less than 2.5 (minimum amount of the acceptable rate) so, the company has been poor performance in the implementation of this standard for the year 87 and a weak reaction in the use of opportunities and the minimize threats has. In case of internal factors, it was worse than external one and the situation was more bold of the weaknesses companies to the strengths and of the organization. But, in the year 88, due to changes in the organizational structure of the company, the weighted score for external factors 3.2 and for the internal factors was 3.64, indicating an improvement in the companies conditions.

---

Introduction: Occupational injuries and accidents as one of the problems have always been considered important in occupational environments. Domino model that Heinrich was formed to pursue the idea of the cause of the accident is the man. Thus one of the effective way to reduce accidents will be control by the unsafe behaviors among workers by promoting safety culture.

.

Material and Method: In this descriptive - analytical study, the reliability and exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire. In total 303 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS 17 software.

.

Result: The alpha crumbed, coefficient was 0/86. Structural factor of the questionnaire was evaluated using factor analysis. KMO and Bartlett’s sphericity test coefficient were 0/909 and 9785/057, respectively. The varimax rotation showed that all test questions are based on factors.

.

Conclusion: The results indicated favorable validity of this questionnaire for use in detergents and cleaners industries within the country. Considering the load factor safety culture in detergents and cleaners industries, contained 5 factors including “management commitment”, “education and information exchange,” “supportive environment”, “barriers” and “priority to safety”. The obtained the correlations, the highest positive correlation was belong to the “management commitment” (r=0/952), as the strongest correlation with the safety culture.

---

Introduction: Application of agricultural machineries such as tractor has been yielded a considerable development in different agricultural activities and productions. However, noticeable health problems such as noise pollution impact the users of these off-road vehicles. The purpose of this study was to determine the noise level induced by agricultural tractors and to evaluate the driver’s noise exposure level.

.

Material and Method: The sound pressure levels of three brands of tractor include John Deere, Ferguson and Romani were measured by sound level meter model Tes-1358. The characteristics of place for measuring tractors noise pollution were determined based on the ISO standard No 7216, 5131. The acquired data was analyzed using spss16 software.

.

Result: The results showed that the highest and the lowest noise level around the tractors were 83.8 dB (A) and 73.9 dB (A) for the John Deere and Romani, respectively. The effect of different transmission gears on the noise level of tractors was not statistically significant Pvalue>0.05. While, the effect of the tractor engine speeds on the noise level was statistically significant Pvalue<0.01. The exposure time of the most of drivers was frequently about 8 hour or more In this regards, the exposure levels of the tractor’s drivers to noise measured between 85-90 dB (A) were higher than the Iranian occupational exposure limit (85 dB (A)).Moreover, mean noise reduction rate of exsisting room which was used upon the typical tractor’s body was 9.5 dB in one octave band.

.

Conclusion: Application of standard cockpit and expansion mufflers can effectively reduce noise pollution emission and driver’s occupational exposure. Moreover, regular preventive maintenance and effective hearing conservation program including annual audiometry, hearing protection device, occupational health training for drivers must be implemented.

---

Introduction: In last decades, due to the increase in the number of VDT works prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders has increased among users. One of the main risk factors for those problems might be related to the computer keyboards. Keyboards might lead to these problems, in different ways. Keyboard geometry is one of the main ways. As a result, the various types and shapes of personal computer keyboards have designed in order to provide a neutral or relaxed posture in the wrist and forearm areas. Slanted, sloped and tilted keyboards are the most important alternative keyboard designs for this mean.

.

Material and Method: In this paper, with a systematic approach, related studies were searched in authentic databases and finally eleven studies met to our inclusion criteria for review.

.

Result: findings in different studies showed that alternative keyboards clearly can provide an ergonomic neutral posture for the wrist and forearm. As a specific objective in the study, it was found that the best keyboard, to form an ideal posture for the wrist and forearm is ‘NIOSH keyboard‘ because of its ergonomic design.

.

Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of the alternative keyboards on the wrist and forearm postures, it is concluded that use of the alternative keyboards can decrease risk factors related to the wrist and forearm postures. Results can be applied by personal computer users, computer designers, occupational hygienists and ergonomists.

---

Introduction: According to the literature, a large number of people working in industries and service providing personnel, such as firefighters, physicians, and nurses, are shift workers. The spread of shift working in industrial societies and the incidence of the problems resulting from shift working have caused the researchers to conduct studies on this issue. The present study also aimed to investigate melatonin and cortisol circadian rhythms in the security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

.

Material and Method: The present study was conducted among 20 security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. In order to collect the required data, blood samples were taken from the participants in different times of the day (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22) and cortisol and melatonin levels were determined using radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay techniques, respectively. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (v. 16.0) and analyzed using One-Way ANOVA.

.

Result: The results showed that as the intensity of light increased during night time, the level of plasma cortisol increased, as well. Besides, no statistically significant difference was found between the plasma cortisol levels in natural light and 4500-lux light. On the other hand, a significant difference was observed between the level of plasma cortisol in natural light and 9000-lux light as well as 4500- and 9000-lux lights. The study findings also showed that as the intensity of light increased at night, the level of plasma melatonin decreased. In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the plasma melatonin levels in natural light and 4500-lux light. Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed between the plasma melatonin levels in natural light and 9000-lux light as well as 4500- and 9000-lux lights.

.

Conclusion: The present study aimed to investigate the subsequences of shift working in the security guards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and showed that occupational exposure to bright light could affect some biological markers, such as melatonin and cortisol secretion.

---

Introduction: Because of some important advantages such as creation job opportunities and providing raw material for some industries, animal husbandry plays an important role in Iran. According to the work force statistics, there are considerable number of employees working in animal husbandries sections. However, there is few information concerning cattle husbandry unit sanitations and workers health and safety condition. The aim of this project was to investigate the health and safety condition of cattle husbandry units and their workers in Babol.

.

Material and Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among all the traditional and industrial cattle husbandry units (n=52) in the rural area of Babol city during winter 2010. The data were collected from all of the active cattle husbandry units, and inactive units were omitted from the sample list. The data were gathered by means of tailor-made data collection sheet through an interview and direct inspection done by the environmental health technicians. The data analyzed using descriptive statistical indexes and Chi- square test, and p<0.05 was considered as significant.

.

Result: The findings indicated that the mean value of years of work experience was 15.1±12.9 years and 30% of workers were illiterate. Immunization against tetanus was 43%. Only one fourth of the workers had health card and 36% had periodic medical examinations. More than 55% of the participants had not passed health and safety orientation courses. Almost half of the workers experienced work related accidents and 60% of the units had no hygienic toilets. According to Chi-square test result, there were significant statistical correlations between the level of education and years of experience by complying with some health and safety rules.

.

Conclusion: Our results indicated that, more attention should be given to educational programs about health issues and a serious supervision of health legislations is necessary.

---

Introduction: Universities play a key role in creating a knowledge-based society and its sustainable development. Strategic planning by strategically analyses internal and external environments of the organization, forecast its future, identifying its strategic direction, and strengthening organizational structures, processes, and outcomes, creates and sustains competitive advantages. This study aimed to formulate a strategic plan for the Occupational Health Engineering (OHE) department of School of Public Health (SPH) at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).
Material and Methods: In this participatory action research, a strategic planning committee was formed. The strategic planning committee used the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) matrix to evaluate the internal and external environments of the OHE department. Then, the mission, vision, values, goals and objectives of the OHE department were defined. Finally, the operational plan including actions to achieve the goals and objectives were formulated.
Results: Experienced professors and staff, specialized laboratories, professional journals, and high ranked postgraduate students were the most important strengths; and theoretical and non-practical courses, lack of educational protocols, poor communication with industries, lack of resources, and low motivation of employees were some of the weaknesses of the OHE department.  The support of senior managers of TUMS, industry liaison council at school and university, facilities of the university faculties, comprehensive research laboratories of the university, capacities of the private sector and increasing the demand for research in the industry were the opportunities. High inflation, political sanctions, the absence of consulting engineering companies and the uncertainty of research priorities of industries were important threats to the OHE department. Therefore, the OHE department is in a conservative strategic position. The strategic direction of the department, including the mission, vision, values and goals, until 2025 was determined. Improving the structures, working processes and performance of the occupational health department were determined as objectives and 81 actions were formulated to achieve these objectives.
Conclusion: The educational departments, schools and universities must have a strategic plan for progress. The strategic plan of the occupational health department of TUMS was formulated in line with the four-year plan of the university and coordinated with the operational plans of the educational, health and research deputies of TUMS and school of public Health. Proper implementation of this comprehensive and evidence-based strategic plan will improve the performance of the occupational health department.

---

Introduction: The purpose of occupational health is to maintain and improve the health of employees and improve their physical, mental and social well-being through the prevention, control and elimination of occupational hazards. It is necessary to integrate educational, research and health service activities to prevent and control potential occupational health hazards in the community. This study aimed to develop a Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) for occupational health at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).
Material and Methods: In this participatory action research, a strategic planning committee was established, whose members were professors of the occupational health department in the school of public health and managers of the occupational health department in the health deputy of TUMS. The strategic planning committee carried out a strategic evaluation of the internal and external environments of both occupational health deprtments of TUMS and identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Then, the strategic direction of JCPOA including the vision, mission, values, goals and objectives was determined. Also, the strategies and actions to achieve the goals and objectives were identified. Finally, the action plan to achieve these objectives was developed.
Results: This applied research led to the strategic evaluation of the internal and external environments of the occupational health depratment of the School of Public Health and the occupational health depratment of the Health deputy of TUMS, determining the strategic direction, and finally, developing an action plan to achieve the goals and objectives.
Conclusion: The JCPOA for occupational health was developed using a collaborative and systemic approach. The proper implementation of this plan can lead to the improvement of occupational health indicators in the community. Cooperation between university and industry is necessary for the sustainable development of society.

---

Introduction: Relief work is inherently associated with various stress-inducing factors due to the nature of the profession. Among relief-related professions, firefighters, due to the responsibilities related to firefighting and safety services, are exposed to various physical and chemical hazards. Therefore, the primary aim of this research was to compare the effect and practice retention, central and operational and skill-based stability over the balance of the firefighters with and without firefighting and rescue clothing and Hazardous Materials.
Material and Methods: The statistical population consisted of 5500 firefighters from the city of Tehran. As for the intervention, in the first group, central stability exercises, and in the second group, operational and skill-based exercises were performed by the firefighters during their shift days for a period of 6 weeks. The balance of the firefighters in both groups was measured at three stages: at the beginning of the intervention, immediately after the 6-week training period, and one month after the end of the training. The “Y Balance” board was used to assess the firefighters’ balance. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance and the Bonferroni post hoc test at a 5% significance level, using version 26 of the SPSS software.
Results: According to the results of this study, the balance of firefighters in both the right and left legs was significantly greater in the operational and skill-based training group compared to the central stability training group, both immediately after training and one month later (p < 0.05). With performing operational and skill-based training, right leg balance in the rescue suit was significantly higher than in the fire protection and hazmat suits (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the fire protection and hazmat suits (p > 0.05). Left leg balance in the rescue suit was significantly higher than in both the fire protection and hazmat suits, and balance in the fire protection suit was significantly higher than in the hazmat suit (p < 0.05). Additionally, firefighters’ balance significantly improved after balance training (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the balance measured one month after training and immediately after training (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: In addition to the fact that core stability exercises particularly task specific functional training are effective in improving balance and preventing injuries, the retention of these effects over time should be taken into account.

---

Introduction: Fire risk assessment in oil storage tanks faces challenges due to incomplete, conflicting, and uncertain data, particularly when empirical evidence is limited. Traditional point-based likelihood estimates often fail to capture expert doubt and epistemic uncertainty. This study aims to develop and evaluate a novel hybrid framework combining Dempster-Shafer Theory (DST) and Bayesian Networks (BN) to improve the trustworthiness of fire risk prediction in such industrial settings.
Material and Methods: The proposed approach integrates DST to model expert uncertainty through interval probabilities (Bel–Pl) and BN to dynamically update causal relationships as new information appears. The study implements computational coding to enable DST calculations for five expert opinions across 243 scenarios, overcoming prior limitations in multi-expert modeling due to computational complexity.
Results: The hybrid DST-BN framework demonstrated superior ability to incorporate incomplete and conflicting expert data, reducing overconfidence linked to point estimates. Interval probabilities offered more trustworthy representations of epistemic uncertainty, while BN integration allowed traceable and adaptable causal modeling. The computational solution facilitated practical application of DST with multiple experts, enhancing the strength of the risk assessment.
Conclusion: This research provides an effective DST-BN hybrid methodology for assessing fire risk in fixed-roof oil tanks, improving accuracy and trustworthiness in complex industrial environments. By addressing the shortcomings of point-based methods and enabling multi-expert participation, the framework supports clearer and more defensible probabilistic inferences. Future work may focus on integrating real-time sensor data and AI-based decision systems to further strengthen dynamic risk assessment capabilities.
 

---

Introduction: Workplace noise is one of the main sources of health problems. Noise can have many direct and indirect effects that threaten human health in various ways. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of noise annoyance on anxiety among workers.
Material and Methods: This study included 60 workers from a carton manufacturing company, who were divided into two groups based on noise exposure: exposure (noise level more than 85 dB) and control (noise level less than 85 dB). Noise exposure of the individuals at the workplace was measured in accordance with ISO 9612:2009 standard and using a TES-1354 dosimeter. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Spielberger Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and noise annoyance was measured using a 100-point visual analog scale. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA statistical software. 
Results: The mean age and work experience of the study subjects were 35.78 and 10.78 years, respectively. The results indicated a statistically significant difference (P-value < 0.05) in the mean noise annoyance scores between the groups. The mean noise annoyance score in the exposed group was significantly higher (88.03) than in the non-exposed group (47.6). The average anxiety scores in the exposure and control groups were 106.81 and 101.6, respectively. In addition, regression analysis showed that each unit increase in noise annoyance level resulted in a 1.08-fold increase in anxiety in the exposed group.
Conclusion: Noise annoyance is often the most common psychological response to noise exposure and can be a predictor of many mental disorders or illnesses, including anxiety. Therefore, it is important to implement control measures to reduce noise exposure in the workplace.

---

Introduction: Commercial trucking is one of the most challenging occupations, with long work hours, short rest periods, and substantial psychological pressures that contribute to fatigue and deterioration at work. Since regular physical activity is one of the pillars of healthy life and can improve physical and mental functioning, the present study investigated the relationship between physical activity and driver performance with occupational fatigue as a possible mediator.
Material and Methods: The study population was intercity commercial truck drivers in several cities of Razavi Khorasan Province. Using Green’s formula, we calculated a sample size of 140 participants. Data were collected with the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory, the Sharkey Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Driver Performance Questionnaire (unsafe behaviors). Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analyses.
Results: Our results showed a significant positive correlation between occupational fatigue and driver performance problems (P=0.001). Both the correlation between physical activity and work fatigue, and the correlation between physical activity and driver performance were significant negative correlations (P=0.001). In addition, the indirect link between physical activity and driver performance via occupational fatigue was also significantly negative (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Based on our research results, enhanced physical activity contributes to enhanced driver performance (decreased unsafe behaviors) of commercial truck operators, directly and indirectly through decreased occupational fatigue. This study provides scientific evidence for the development of safety policy in the transportation industry of Iran.

---

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.
 

---

Introduction: Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds (BTEX) and heavy metals in industrial settings poses significant health concerns. These substances may lead to toxic, carcinogenic, and hematobiochemical effects. This study aimed to assess the health risks associated with exposure to these pollutants in a power equipment manufacturing industry over a 10-year period and to compare the accuracy of quantitative (USEPA) and semi-quantitative (Singapore) risk assessment methods.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted across six occupational groups. Personal air sampling of BTEX and heavy metals was performed according to NIOSH protocols. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were estimated using the USEPA method and the Singapore semi-quantitative approach. Additionally, hematological and biochemical indicators of exposed workers were analyzed.
Results: Nickel had the highest cancer risk, and the highest hazard quotient (HQ) values were related to xylene, benzene, and nickel. While the semi-quantitative method classified most risks as negligible to low, the USEPA method identified several cases with definite health risks. Significant effects were observed on SGOT, SGPT, fasting blood sugar, creatinine, and blood pressure among exposed groups.
Conclusion: The USEPA method demonstrated higher sensitivity and reliability in identifying occupational chemical hazards and should be prioritized in future assessments. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of preventive measures to reduce chronic exposure to BTEX and heavy metals in similar industrial settings.

---

Introduction: Unsafe acts are one of the main causes of workplace accidents. Given the critical role of the steel industry in our country, and the limited research on human factors, and the importance of identifying the contributors to accidents, this study was conducted with the aim of identifying human factors influencing accidents and unsafe behaviors using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). The identified factors were then prioritized using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Analytic Network Process (ANP) methods. Based on the results, appropriate recommendations were proposed for the prevention of accidents and the reduction of unsafe acts.
Material and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out in the rebar production unit of a steel manufacturing plant. Among 35 recorded accidents over the past two years, 28 were related to the rebar production unit. Data were collected through review of accident reports, seven on-site observations during high-risk shifts, and interviews with employees. After analyzing the occupational accidents, the rebar production process in the rolling unit was identified as a high-risk area. The HFACS checklist was used to assess this process and classify the human factors contributing to accidents. Subsequently, DEMATEL and ANP methods were applied to determine causal relationships and prioritize the factors.
Results: The HFACS analysis identified 236 human factors, among which the preconditions for unsafe acts and organizational factors had the highest frequency (24.57% each), while external factors had the lowest (8.47%). According to DEMATEL results, organizational influences exerted the greatest impact on other levels, whereas external factors had the least effect. In terms of being influenced by other levels, unsafe acts showed the highest level of susceptibility, whereas unsafe supervision had the lowest levels. Based on ANP findings, the preconditions for unsafe acts had the highest importance, while unsafe supervision had the lowest in contributing to unsafe acts.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that improving safety culture, improving organizational regulations, implementing targeted training programs, and updating equipment can play a significant role in reducing accidents caused by unsafe acts. The results provide practical insights for managers and policymakers and can serve as a useful tool for decision-making in occupational health and safety within the steel industry.

---

Introduction: Work-family conflict can lead to negative outcomes such as psychological distress in all employees, especially female nurses, as they face unique occupational challenges. However, the specific aspect of work-family conflict that contributes most significantly to psychological distress, as well as the underlying mechanisms involved, has not been thoroughly examined. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between work-family conflict dimensions and psychological distress.
Material and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2022 on 277 female nurses employed at public hospitals in Bushehr Province. The data collection tool consisted of work–family conflict and psychological distress questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS v. 19 and PLS Graph v. 3, with path analysis.
Results: The direct effects of two dimensions of work-family conflict, namely “the interference of work with personal and family life” and “the interference of family life with work,” on psychological distress were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). In addition, the mediating effect of the “work interference with personal and family life” on the relationship between “insufficient facilities and support” and psychological distress was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the mediating effect of the “family dissatisfaction” in the relationship between “the interference of work with personal and family life” and psychological distress was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The interference of work with personal and family life, and the interference of family life with work, were identified as significant factors that directly affect psychological distress. In addition, “insufficient support and facilities” can increase “the interference of work with personal and family life”, thereby leading to greater psychological distress among female nurses. Planning to enhance support measures in both the workplace and personal life can help reduce the negative consequences of work-family conflict, such as psychological distress in female nurses. 

---

Introduction: Students play a key role in shaping the future of any society and spend a significant amount of time in educational environments. Creating an optimal learning environment requires close attention to factors affecting student well-being, particularly thermal comfort and indoor air quality. This study aims to systematically review the existing literature on thermal comfort and ventilation systems in schools.
Material and Methods: This systematic review was conducted based on the Cochrane methodology, involving a comprehensive search of three major databases — Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed — for articles published between 2020 and 2024. The inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed, conference, and review articles published in English that included the keywords “thermal comfort,” “ventilation,” and “school” in their title, abstract, or keywords. Studies focusing on preschools, universities, or other non-primary/secondary educational settings, as well as those conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, were excluded.
Results: A total of 42 articles were selected after a rigorous screening process. The highest number of publications was reported in 2023. Key findings included: Most studies focused on elementary and secondary schools. The majority of research was conducted during the summer season, which may limit generalizability across seasons. There was considerable variation in CO₂ levels, with some exceeding recommended standards. In simulation studies, DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus were the most frequently used software tools. Additionally, results showed that: Indoor air quality and thermal comfort are significantly influenced by the type of ventilation system. Schools using natural ventilation often experienced higher CO₂ concentrations and lower thermal comfort than recommended. Implementation of Demand-Controlled Ventilation (DCV) has shown promise in improving indoor air quality and reducing pollutant levels.
Conclusion: This paper can contribute to the improvement of educational space design, enhancement of student learning, and promotion of indoor environmental health. It also provides insights into the latest methods for measuring and simulating thermal comfort and indoor air quality. For more practical outcomes, long-term studies with larger sample sizes across different seasons and times of day are needed. Combining computer simulations with real-world measurements can support cost-effective and optimized design of educational spaces. Future research should focus on standardizing temperature, humidity, CO₂ levels, and selecting the most appropriate ventilation strategies for classrooms.
 

---

Introduction: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitalization are pivotal in enhancing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), reducing workplace accidents, improving conditions, and boosting organizational productivity. This study examines the impacts, challenges, and opportunities of these technologies in workplace safety.  
Material and Methods: A narrative review was conducted via databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect) using keywords like “AI in occupational safety” (2013–January 2025). After screening 125 articles, 71 met the inclusion criteria (Persian or English publications). Qualitative content analysis identified key challenges and opportunities.  
Results: Artificial intelligence has been used in predicting incidents, monitoring, process optimization, and analyzing OHS challenges. By analyzing historical data and hazard patterns, AI enables proactive risk mitigation. Continuous learning in AI models enhances predictive accuracy and environmental adaptability. However, data quality issues persist; techniques such as transfer learning offer potential solutions. AI-driven automation reduces human error, yet challenges include ethical concerns and infrastructure gaps.
Conclusion: AI and digital technologies are transforming OHS through predictive analytics and real-time surveillance. To fully leverage these benefits, future efforts must focus on addressing data quality issues, establishing robust ethical frameworks, and developing advanced infrastructure. Further research is essential for the practical implementation of AI in a variety of work environments.