Journal of Health and Safety at Work

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Introduction: Exposure to crystalline silica in the construction workers such as miners and diggers are widespread. Exposure to respirable silica (quartz) can results in silicosis. The goal of this study was to determine the contribution of each workers and component task to total dust and respirable quartz exposure in the tunnel of metro.

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Method and Materials: The assessment of crystalline silica and total dust was performed according to standard procedure ( NIOSH 7601).

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Results: Both total dust and quartz levels were high. The results of total dust in the digging process (37.63± 0.76 mg/m3) were higher than in the cement work ( 9.88 ± 0.80 mg/m3). The maximum 8 h time-weight average concentration for quartz was found among the digging workers (0.407± 0.006 mg/m3) , followed by the barbed workers (0.11 ± 0.008 mg/m3).

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Conclusion: It can be concluded that the total dust contains high amounts of crystalline silica and it is responsible for the occupational exposure to quartz in n construction workers. Thus, it is to be expected that the construction workers will suffer negative health effects due to exposure to the quartz dust.

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Introduction: Whole body vibration occurs when human is on a vibrating surface and the vibration influences parts of the body which are far from the contacted part. Up to now, various health-related problems due to whole body vibration have been reported, including back pain, sciatica, gastrointestinal problems, genital problems and hearing impairment. In the present research, vibration was measured about 2000 minutes in 23 train of 4 active lines of Tehran metro in order to determine the rate of subway drivers’ exposed to whole body vibration.
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Material and Method: Vibration meter and SVAN 958 analyzer, made by Svantek company, were utilized for measuring the whole body vibration. The level of weighted r.m.s acceleration for each axis, the combination of axes, peak factor, VDV and other common exiting ratios in the standard were measured and calculated according to ISO 2631-1.
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Result: Findings showed that according to Basic method drivers exposure to vibration is less than the lowest value of health guide critical region (<0.45m/s2). However, based on Vibration Dose Valuation (VDV), the exposure of 12 cases were higher than the lowest value (<8.5 m/s1.75) and only 11 cases were lower than the mentioned amount.
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Conclusion: Investigation of the result obtained from Basic method and VDV method manifested different amounts of vibration exposure in a way that VDV predicts higher level of risk, compared to basic method. The results shows that some presented indicators can not presented the safe zone in human vibration evaluations.

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Introduction: Neighborhood environment plays an important role in the health of residents. This study was conducted to assess health, safety and environment (HSE) in poor and rich vicinities in order to improve health levels of the neighborhoods, using Community-Based Intervention (CBI) approach.

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Material and Method: In the present field study, HSE variables were assessed by a checklist (NHSES) through observation, interviews with neighborhood residents as well as document review.Of the 374 vicinities in Tehran, ten regions were selected through cluster sampling. The Control Chart approach was used in order to compare the field data and the possibility of decision-making about the neighborhoods.

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Results: Overall, results showed that status of health, safety and environment in both rich and poor neighborhoods in Tehran was in the warning level.

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Conclusion: The CBI is an appropriate model for empowerment of neighborhoodsin a way that promote HSE status.

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Introduction: Emotional intelligence as the ability to understand and control feelings and emotions, and job satisfaction as positive attitudes of employees towards their jobs is amongst the effective indicators in the workplaces. Therefore, this research invetigated the effect of emotional intelligence of employees on their job satisfaction in one of the Oil refineries in Tehran.
 

Methods and Materials: This research is a practical and cross-sectional study. The statistical population consisted of 300 employees selected by stratified random sampling method. Bar-On questionnaire (90-item) and JDI questionnaire (70-item) were used in order to measure emotional intelligence and job satisfaction, respectively. LISREL8.72 software was employed to estimate causal effect between study variables and calculation of descriptive indices and comparison of variables were done by means of SPSS software version 18.
 

Results: According to results, there was a direct association between emotional intelligence of employees and their job satisfaction. In other words, the higher emotional intelligence, the higher rate of job satisfaction. Of the 15 sub-scales of emotional intelligence, Responsibility and Self-expression obtained the highest and the lowest scores, respectively. Furthermore, Supervisor and Salaries were ranked as the highest and the lowest valued subscales of job satisfaction. According to the results, employees job satisfaction level are improved in parallel to increase of education level and the maximum score of this variable was belonged to the age group of 30-45 years.}
 

Conclusion: Emotional intelligence, as a psychological variable, affects the worker's job satisfaction. Considering the direct relationship between these two variables, by training and increasing the emotional intelligence of employees, job satisfaction and consequently their efficiency and productivity can be improved in the workplaces.

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Introduction: In recent years, a growing attention has been paid to assess the physical characteristics of rich and poor urban districts to understand social health differences. Urban districts environment play a major role in health of the residents. Previous few studies have considered some aspects of limited neighborhood environment. The current study was designed to investigate the reliability of the Neighborhood Health, Safety and Environment (NHSE) tool in one of Tehran city neighborhoods.

Material and Method: Dimensions and related items of the NHSE were extracted based on the previous studies and interviews with city experts. Five observers completed the NHSE in a selected neighborhood in order to test inter and intra-rater reliability of the tool. Data analysis was done using the Cronbach’s alpha, Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and kappa coefficient.

Result: The ICC and Cronbach’s alpha were estimated 0.86 for all dimensions of the NHSE. The calculated kappa values were in the range of 57%-66% for inter-rater reliability and 0.47-0.62 for intra-rater reliability.

Conclusion: The NHSE tool was shown to have a desirable inter and intra-rater reliability and a good level of internal consistency for assessing the health, safety, and environment (HSE) of the neighborhoods.

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Introduction: Using diesel generators is necessary for activities like welding in construction sites and it is often accompanied with noise pollution. The aim of this study was to evaluate noise pollution induced by diesel generators in construction activities in one of the districts of Tehran city.
 

Material and Method: In this descriptive study, 14 construction sites were selected for the evaluation of noise pollution in Tehran, district 4. Background and diesel generators sound pressure level were measured in accordance with BS 5228(2015) and noise guidance in the area around the construction sites. Diesel generators sound pressure level at 4 points and also the audio frequency analysis, one meter away from the device was measured at a random locations around it. TES-1358, Type 2(Taiwan) sound level meter was used to measure sound pressure level and calibration was performed before and after noise measurement. The validated Noise annoyance questionnaire adopted from ISO15666 standard, completed by the residents. T test, correlation and analysis of variance was performed to analyze data using SPSS software ver. 22.
 

Result: The mean equivalent sound level of diesel generators background noise were respectively 76 ± 4.05 dB(A) and 46.2 ± 1.09 dB(A) around the construction sites. Diesel generators noise around the construction sites was higher than the noise limit (background noise plus 5 dB)(P Value <0.05). The highest (95.3 ± 0.33 dBA) and lowest (90.9 ± 0.63 dBA) average sound pressure level was related to Benz355 and Perkins generators. One-way ANOVA statistical analysis showed significant differences in the average sound pressure level of various diesel generators between the devices (P Value <0.05). The mean sound pressure level among 190 sound monitoring stations in the interior parts of the construction sites were about 81.11 ± 4.6 dB(A). The experienced noise annoyance was evaluated higher than the average by 73.4 percent of residents. Residents’ noise annoyance and noise level around construction sites were significant using Pearson correlation (R=0.486, P value <0.05). Dominant noise frequency and associated sound pressure level of diesel generators were measured 63 Hz and 84.4 dBA, respectively.
 

Conclusion: Diesel generators noise in the area around the construction sites was higher than the environmental noise limit and it was accompanied with abundant noise annoyance for residents around these construction sites. Therefore, due to the lack of environmental rules related to construction industry noise pollution in Iran, assessment and approving of such rules is essential to reduce noise annoyance in urban areas.

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Introduction: Comprehensive and reliable performance evaluation of organizations has always been one of the main concerns of stakeholders and managers of organizations. Performance evaluation can raise awareness of the progress made in improving the performance of any organizations, especially in the field of health, safety, and environment (HSE) and thus, create the necessary motivation and opportunity to improve the quality of HSE performance. National quality awards and excellence approaches emphasizes the fact that survival in global competition requires improving the performance of organizations on a global scale. The EFQM enterprise excellence model, as a comprehensive tool with a comprehensive approach to all aspects of organizations, helps managers to understand their organization well.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted in Tehran Industrial Group in 2018, during which the performance of this industrial group in the design and construction of one of the dams in the south of the country was evaluated and analyzed. The data collection tool was a standard self-assessment questionnaire based on the EFQM enterprise excellence model, the validity and reliability of which was tested by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient at 0.971.
Results: In terms of “enablers” criteria, the leadership dimension, with a score of 76.36, obtained the best percentage of scores, while the processes criterion with a score of 72.04 had the lowest percentage of scores. This dimension, along with staff, resources, and partnership dimensions, needs to be improved. In the field of “results” criteria, the key performance results with 79.77 points had the best percentage and the customer result dimension with a score of 69.13 had the lowest, indicating that the organization should improve these sectors.
Conclusion: The results indicated the suitable status of the organization in terms of the criteria of excellence model. The results of this model are generally used for systematic analysis of the organization in order to achieve a comprehensive view of the organization and its challenges.

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Introduction: Despite the legal prohibition of asbestos fiber usage in the country, numerous studies have documented its presence in the air of various cities, including Tehran. This urban air pollution stems from the extensive use of asbestos in construction materials such as pipes, insulators in cooling and heating systems, and friction devices like brake pads and clutch plates, among other consumer products. Prolonged exposure to these fibers can have severe health consequences for residents, leading to respiratory issues, pulmonary fibrosis, and cancers such as mesothelioma. Consequently, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study to examine both the extent and nature of asbestos fiber distribution in Tehran’s air.
Material and Methods: This study measured the concentration of asbestos fibers in Tehran’s air over a 12-month period. Monthly samplings were conducted at eleven Tehran Air Quality Control Company-operated stations. The sample collection, preparation, and analysis adhered to the NIOSH 7400 method. Microscopic examination results were then translated into asbestos fiber concentrations using the appropriate formulas.
Results: Analysis of samples taken across four seasons revealed that spring recorded the highest average asbestos fiber concentration at 0.00134 f/ml, while the lowest concentration was observed in summer at 0.117 f/ml.
Conclusion: Given the widespread ban on asbestos use in many countries, including Iran, its presence in urban air is unexpected. Regrettably, flawed policy decisions made during the import ban announcement and the extended timeframe set for the ban’s initiation allowed companies to import and stockpile asbestos indiscriminately for future use.