Journal of Health and Safety at Work

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Introduction: Improving health and the environment is one of the components of development, social welfare, and economic growth. Another influential factor in increasing health costs and reducing social welfare is work-related accidents and diseases, which impose high costs on individuals, industries, and the national economies of countries. Therefore, using multi-criteria decision-making methods, the present study provided a conceptual model to identify and rank work-related diseases’ environmental and health costs.
Material and Methods: The present study was conducted in 2023. A classification model for the economic evaluation of environmental and health costs of occupational diseases was developed to achieve the study’s aim. In the current research, the Delphi method was used to identify health and environmental criteria, and the Analytic Network Process (ANP) was used to weight the sub-criteria. Finally, the cost of health and the environment was estimated based on the available information. Naft Tehran Hospital (NSHT) was also selected as a case study site.
Results: The results showed that the drug and medical equipment cost factor, with a weight of 0.312 in the treatment sector, and the particular and infectious waste cost factor, with a weight of 0.085, were the most critical factors in the economic evaluation. Also, the parametric model results showed that 99.84% of the total costs are related to health costs, and 0.16% are related to environmental costs. In general, the results of this research showed that 61.3% of the costs of the health sector are related to the two sectors of medicine and medical equipment and the cost of service personnel, and 91.7% of the costs of the environmental sector are related to wastewater treatment and the cost of electricity consumption.
Conclusion: This study presented a semi-quantitative model to estimate health and environmental costs caused by occupational diseases. The results can create a novel scientific insight into implementing control measures using the optimal point of cost-benefit parameters. Implementing this integrated model can be a practical and effective step in allocating resources and prioritizing interventions.
 

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Introduction: Nurses play a crucial role in hospital settings, often undertaking demanding tasks that exceed their physical and cognitive capacities. The Structured Multidisciplinary Work Evaluation Tool (SMET) is an instrument for evaluating and identifying risks in workplace environments. The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian (Farsi) version of the SMET.
Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the face and content validity of the questionnaire were evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively by a panel of 13 experts. Quantitative content validity was performed using the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI). Reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC).
Results: The face validity assessment revealed that questions 3, 4, 6, 23, and 24 required clarification. The CVI for all items was calculated to be above 0.79. However, several questions had a CVR below 0.54, indicating that specialists considered some questions unnecessary or repetitive. Consequently, these questions were either removed or merged with similar items based on the scores and subsequent reviews. Cronbach’s alpha and ICC values for the entire questionnaire and its dimensions were above 0.7, indicating acceptable to strong reliability.
Conclusion: The Persian version of the SMET questionnaire demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties for comprehensive multifactorial evaluation of healthcare workplaces.

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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.

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Introduction: Fungal contaminants in workplace environments pose significant biological hazards to employee health across various industries. This narrative review aims to explore the types of contaminating fungi, their health impacts, and strategies for prevention and control in occupational settings.
Material and Methods: This study was designed as a narrative review, with scientific literature sourced from databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and local databases like Magiran and SID, covering the period from 2000 to March 2025. Keywords such as “fungal contaminants,” “occupational health,” and “mycotoxins” were used. Data were qualitatively analyzed and organized into thematic categories.
Results: Fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Stachybotrys are prevalent in environments with high humidity, poor ventilation, and abundant organic material, causing respiratory diseases, allergies, fungal infections, and chronic toxic effects. Identification methods include air sampling, molecular analysis, and mycotoxin assessment. Effective control measures encompass humidity management, enhanced ventilation, and personal protective equipment.
Conclusion: Effective management of fungal contaminants requires integrated approaches, including accurate identification, environmental control, and employee training. These measures can enhance worker health and reduce economic and social costs.