Validating the effectiveness of a self-report tool to predict unsafe behavior of industrial workers: a QEEG analysis

Objectives. Unsafe behavior (UB) is defined as the likelihood of intentionally or unintentionally deviating from pre-defined plans. This study aims to investigate the validation of a self-report tool for measuring workers' cognitive-based UB using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG). Methods. The cognitive-based unsafe behavior questionnaire (CUBQ) was completed by 632 front-line workers in a manufacturing industry to identify differences in the backgrounds of the subjects regarding UBs. Two groups were then selected as extreme groups and QEEG was conducted based on the international 10-20 electrode placement. Results. The mean values of absolute power (AP), alpha/beta ratio (ABR) and alpha/gamma ratio (AGR) from brain oscillations in different regions of the cortex were significantly different between the studied groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, these values were found to be significantly correlated with slips, lapses and mistakes, as measured by certain scales of the CUBQ (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The findings of this study indicated differences in brain oscillation activities among industrial workers with different UB backgrounds. These results confirm the effectiveness of CUBQ as a proactive tool for safety practitioners to predict industrial workers' UBs.

Dynamic stability evaluation of trunk accelerations during walking in blind and sighted individuals

BACKGROUND

Dynamic stability is a fundamental goal in standing activities. In this regard, monitoring, analysis, and interventions made to improve stability is a research topic investigated in the biomechanics of human movements. Vision has a major role to play in controlling human movement. Nonetheless, little is known about the effects of visual deprivation, especially from birth on dynamic gait stability.

METHODS

The current study was conducted on 20 congenital blind and 10 sighted people (15-38 years). To evaluate the dynamic stability, descriptive data, harmonic ratio (HR), improved harmonic ratio (iHR), and root mean square (RMS), based on trunk acceleration data were measured in three axes: anteroposterior (AP), vertical (V), and mediolateral (ML) while participants walked an eight-meter straight path.

RESULTS

In the comparison of blind and sighted people (eyes open), standard deviation, HR, iHR, and RMS indices were found to be significantly different in both AP and V directions. All the mentioned parameters were significantly lower in blind than in sighted participants. In the comparison of blind people and sighted ones with closed eyes, changes were observed in the maximum, range, standard deviation, and RMS only in the AP axis. In the comparison between eyes open and closed in sighted people, a significant difference was found only in the harmonic ratio of the vertical axis.

CONCLUSION

Visual deprivation led to a decrease in dynamic stability parameters in the AP and V axes. Even the movement of sighted people in unchallenged conditions is dependent on visual information.

Looking beyond the screen: A systematic review of safety in control rooms

As a complex socio-technical system, the Control Room (CR) is central to many industries, such as process, aviation, transportation, and mining. CRs' complexity impacts the safety, operational, engineering, regulatory, and financial performance of the system. In this study, a search strategy was defined and applied to three reputable databases: Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. The search results underwent a two-stage screening process based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were investigating the safety in the CR, full-text availability, and writing in English. The exclusion criteria were unrelated to the safety in the CR, non-English Language, and non-original studies. A total of 59 studies were included in the analysis. The included articles were systematically reviewed from the Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) and Human Factors Engineering (HFE) perspectives. Since these records covered various subjects related to human reliability and human factor aspects, a categorization step was added to the study process. In this step, all included studies were categorized based on their subjects. A total of 7 categories were identified, including reliability (17 documents), safety performance (13 documents), decision-support systems (7 documents), fire safety (2 documents), communication/teamwork (11 documents), situation awareness (4 documents), and others (5 documents). Finally, the included studies in each category were analyzed and discussed. The results of this study help identify different aspects of safety in the control room and plan to improve their safety weaknesses, which ultimately leads to an increase in the efficiency of employees and various industries.

Employing a three-stage procedure to develop a sizing system for medical gloves

There is a need for gloves that are designed based on the dimensions of the hand of each society because the proper size is a key factor that affects performance. This study aimed to design and develop a glove-sizing system for Iranian healthcare workers using anthropometric data. This study was conducted on a sample including 540 healthcare workers across Iran classified by ethnicity and gender. Thirty-three dimensions were measured as the anthropometric data. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and clustering analysis were used to create classifications for glove sizes. The most effective dimensions in defining the hand sizes of Iranian healthcare workers were middle finger length and the handbreadth. The designed six-size system covered 94% of the sample. This system can be used to design suitable gloves for Iranians. The sizes presented can be used to compare size differences in different communities. Practitioner summary: In this study, an attempt was made to design a sizing system with maximum coverage for medical gloves using statistical analysis methods and hand anthropometric dimensions of Iranian healthcare workers. The method of this study can be used in other communities as well for improving sizing systems.Abbreviations: PCA: Principal Component Analysis; GSS: Glove Sizing Systems; TEM: Technical error of measurement; R: Reliability coefficient; KMO: The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin; PC1: The first principal component; PC2: The second principal component; FCMC: Fuzzy c-means clustering; XS: Very small; S: Small; SM: Medium small; LM: Medium large; L: Large; Xl: Very large.

Knee Extension Exercise Effects on Physiological and Psychophysical Performance: Normal Weight Versus Obese Office Workers

BACKGROUND

Knee extension exercise is useful and practical for obese and overweight people as this form of exercise is effective in minimizing body weight loading on joints and improving the body's physiological function. This study aimed to compare the physiological and psychophysical parameters of office workers while computer-based working in an active workstation equipped with an active footrest (AFR) prototype with a mechanism for performing knee extension exercises in a sitting position, and also to compare the physiological and psychophysical parameters among normal-weight and obese office workers.

METHODS

In this quasi-experimental study, the physiological parameters of heart rate (HR) and energy expenditure (EE) (measured with the Fitbit Charge HR smartwatch) were measured in two cross-over random sessions for 32 office workers (16 normal-weight and 16 obese) aged 28 to 50 years (M = 42.72, standard deviation [SD] = 4.37) while performing office tasks in sitting and active workstations (equipped with AFR). Perceived physical exertion, comfort, fatigue, and liking were also measured by rating the participants.

FINDINGS

Short-term activity of the participants with AFR performing computer tasks significantly improved physiological and psychophysical parameters compared with the participants in sitting workstations. However, there was no significant difference in the effect of AFR on physiological and psychophysical parameters between normal-weight and obese participants.

CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE

Given the significant increase in EE and HR resulting from exercise with AFR compared with the conventional workstation, the use of AFR can help office workers achieve the minimum standard of physical activity at their workplace.

Investigating Glenohumeral Joint Contact Forces and Kinematics in Different Keyboard and Monitor Setups using Opensim

Background

The musculoskeletal complaints of the shoulder are prevalent in people who work with computers for a long time.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the glenohumeral joint contact forces and kinematics in different keyboards and monitor setups using OpenSim.

Material and Methods

Twelve randomly selected healthy males participated in an experimental study. A 3×3 factorial design was used in which three angles were considered for the monitor and three horizontal distances for the keyboard while performing standard tasks. The workstation was adjusted based on ANSI/HFES-100-2007 standard to maintain a comfortable ergonomic posture for controlling confounding variables. Qualisys motion capture system and OpenSim were used.

Results

The maximum mean range of motion (ROM) of both shoulders' flexion and adduction was observed when the keyboard was 15 cm from the edge of the desk, and the monitor angle was 30°. The maximum mean ROM of both shoulders' internal rotation was recorded for the keyboard at the edge of the desk. Peak forces for most right shoulder complex muscles were obtained in two setups. 3D shoulder joint moments were significantly different among nine setups (P-value<0.05). The peak anteroposterior and mediolateral joint contact forces were recorded for the keyboard at 15 cm and the monitor at zero angles (0.751 and 0.780 N/BW, respectively). The peak vertical joint contact force was observed for the keyboard at 15 cm and the monitor at 15° (0.310 N/BW).

Conclusion

The glenohumeral joint contact forces are minimum for the keyboard at 8 cm and the monitor at zero angles.

Assessment of the effects of white cane variables on step symmetry of blind individuals

BACKGROUND

Step symmetry is an important feature of human gait and is often regarded as a key index of healthy individuals' walking. This study evaluated the effects of height, white cane technique, and cane tip on symmetrical gait in blind individuals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty blind and ten sighted subjects, aged 15-38 years, participated in this study. The harmonic ratio (HR) and improved HR (iHR) were measured by trunk accelerometer as gait symmetry index in three axes: anteroposterior (AP), vertical, and mediolateral of the body. These parameters were measured in the sighted group in open-eye conditions and in the blind group in five experimental conditions with different two heights (standard and long), two tips (pencil and roller), and two techniques (two-point touch and constant contact) of white cane when they walked in the 6-m path.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between HR and iHR of the blind and sighted group, which indicates a significant reduction of symmetry loss in the blind group. Among the five different conditions studied in the group of blind people, an increase was observed in the HR and the iHR on the AP axis during the application of a standard cane with a roller tip, which indicated an increase in symmetry.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results, a long cane with a pencil tip and a standard cane with a roller tip in the constant contact technique can increase step symmetry.

The potential impact of emotionally loaded stimuli on over/under-estimating neutral situations among power plant control-room operators

BACKGROUND

Human emotions vary on a contextual basis. The significance of emotions becomes even more salient in Control Room Operators (CROs) in power plants.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of emotionally loaded pictures on over/underestimating neutral situations.

METHODS

Twenty CROs voluntarily enrolled in the present study. Twenty-one blocks were considered, including ten emotionally loaded and 11 neutral blocks. The stimuli were alternatively submitted to subjects in random order. Each block comprised 13 images from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), which were shown for 5 seconds. Subjects were required to complete the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) after exposure to the first and the last neutral blocks, which were identical.

RESULTS

Our analyses showed significant differences between IAPS arousal and SAM1 and SAM2 arousal ratings (p SAM1&IAPS = 0.00, p SAM2&IAPS = 0.02). There was no significant relationship between the first and the second arousals, and emotionally loaded images corresponded to no significant difference in terms of valence.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggested that the participants overestimated neutral situations compared with IAPS only in arousal level. Furthermore, CROs can still retain their ability to assess neutral situations in the case of viewing emotional stimuli, especially in valence level, at least half an hour after the first rating. A study design with pure negative/positive and high arousal levels may still provide even more significant results.

Development of an Ergonomic, Portable, Climber-Propelled Date Tree Climbing Device

In the most of main date fruit producer regions, including Iran, date palm crown access operation is still performed traditionally. The date plantation workers need to climb date trees. This may cause an unsafe condition, which increases the risk of fall from height. It is also associated with ergonomic and health problems. The present study aimed to develop a date tree climber device (DTCD) covering all aspects of safety, ergonomics and efficiency. A primary model of the DTCD was structured and modified based on a review of existing devices, a field investigation and an unstructured interview with 20 farmworkers. Participants rated their comfort, perceived pain and discomfort as well as exertion levels when using the DTCD compared to a traditional device (Parband). In total, eight key elements were suggested for the desired device. More than 60% of the participants reported that the DTCD was comfortable/very comfortable compared to Parband. Additionally, DTCD could significantly reduce the pain and discomfort of the back (p < .001), knees (p = .001) and Ankles/feet (p = .01). However, no significant difference was found between devices when the physical exertion was compared through Borg's RPE scale and heart rate analysis. The results of regression analysis showed that the DTCD users perceived lower exertion as the body weight increased (β = -0.18, p = .013). The signs of musculoskeletal disorders, pain and discomfort were strongly reduced among DTCD users and safety aspects improved, generally by reducing discomfort and physical exertion.

Developing a Decision Aid Tool for selecting pen-paper observational ergonomics techniques: a quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

A significant error that may occur during ergonomic risk assessment and invalidate assessment reliability corresponds to technique selection. This study aimed to develop a new tool called the Decision Aid Tool (DAT) to reduce pen-paper observational technique selection errors.

METHODS

This quasi-experiment before-after study was performed in three phases. In the first phase, the participants' skills in technique selection were examined by showing them 20 videos of different single-task jobs. In the second phase, the DAT was designed using pen-paper observational techniques. Finally, in the third phase, 115 occupational health specialists included in the study through purposive sampling of experts evaluated the tool's efficacy.

RESULTS

The results of the first phase showed that 62% of participants made an error in selecting the proper technique. The mean and standard deviation scores from the first and third phases were 11.4 ± 6.59 and 39.01 ±1.89, respectively. The mean scores increased significantly after using DAT, and 97.5% of participants could correctly select task techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of DAT was confirmed in a quasi-experimental before-and-after study. Using DAT increases the participants' ability to choose the correct technique. The DAT can be functional for practitioners to select the pen-paper observational techniques correctly under the purpose of assessment, the body areas, and the characteristics of the task to be assessed.

A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Occupational Health Specialists' Knowledge and Application of Pen-and-Paper Observational Methods for Ergonomics Assessment

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSErgonomic risk assessment is a key step in managing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Diverse assessment methods exist, and errors may occur if inappropriate methods are selected. Understanding the level of knowledge, how to use methods, and exploring factors affecting erroneous usage of these methods, can provide useful information for health and safety regulatory authorities and decision-makers to identify problems and determine an action plan to eliminate them. We found that Iranian occupational health specialists have little knowledge about the types of pen-and-paper observational methods (OMs), and most of them use a limited number of these methods. Content analysis of interviews identified three main categories of influential factors and 12 subcategories. The main categories were educational, individual, and organizational factors. These results suggest the need for more effort to ensure that practitioners possess better knowledge and skills in the selection and application of pen-and-paper OMs.

Physical and psychological workloads and their association with occupational fatigue among hospital service personnel

Background

Physical and psychological workloads are a vital issue in the workplace. This study aimed to investigate the association between physical and psychological workloads and occupational fatigue among Iranian hospital service personnel. In Iran, hospital service personnel refers to a group of healthcare workers who undertake a range of duties, such as moving and carrying the hospital waste, transporting patients by wheelchair or gurney to the operating room, x-ray department, other wards, or other locations around the facility, performing cleaning tasks such as changing linens, mopping floors, and sterilizing equipment, and following infection control procedures to reduce the risk of spreading germs within the hospital setting.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 198 Iranian hospital service personnel. The response rate was 86%. The data were gathered using 1) The Persian version of the Job Content Questionnaire (P-JCQ) for assessing physical and psychosocial workloads and 2) The Persian version of the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (P-SOFI-20) for assessing fatigue dimensions.

Results

According to the P-JCQ, the physical and psychological workload intensities were high in 72.7% and 47% of the participants, respectively. Based on the P-SOFI, the participants’ mean scores of “physical fatigue” (21.73 ± 6.2), “psychological fatigue” (13.61 ± 5.76), and “fatigue due to shift work” (18.17 ± 5.6) were moderate, while the mean score of “general fatigue” was high (27.3 ± 6.98). The findings revealed that various types of fatigue are associated with age, gender, marital status, daily working hours, and psychological workload.

Conclusions

Psychological workload was a determinant of occupational fatigue among Iranian hospital service personnel. Hence, an interventional program, including job enrichment, job rotation, and work-rest cycle, is recommended.

Psychometric properties of the physical environment problems and barriers scale in older adults’ homes using an ergonomic approach

BACKGROUND: As older adults prefer to live in their homes, it is of paramount importance to examine the adaptation of the environment to the older adults’ capabilities. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate psychometric properties of a scale to measure physical environment problems and barriers in older adults’ homes using an ergonomic approach in Iran. METHODS: This mixed-method investigation was conducted in two stages in Yazd, Iran. The primary 71-item version of the questionnaire was developed according to qualitative findings and a thorough review of the literature. Then the psychometric characteristics, including face, content, construct validity, were assessed. Content validity was also assessed using CVI and CVR. Finally, its reliability and construct validity were confirmed by composite reliability (CR), Fornell-Larker matrix, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using Smart PLS software version 3. RESULTS: The face validity of the developed scale was acceptable, and the mean scores of CVI and CVR were 0.78 and 0.84, respectively. The preliminary draft of the scale was categorized into seven dimensions. Factor validity and reliability were confirmed by acceptable factor loadings, and desirable realms of composite reliability (>0.7) average variance extracted (>0.5). The cross-loading method and the Fornell-Larker matrix were used to evaluate the divergent validity of the scale, and the results confirmed its acceptable fit. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that reliability reached acceptable values, and different aspects of validity were almost confirmed. Accordingly, the questionnaire was to measure physical environment problems and barriers in older adults’ homes; however, it requires further validation for future use in other contexts.

Validity and reliability of Persian version of the workplace cognitive failures scale and its relationship with personality traits

BACKGROUND: In nursing practice, cognitive failures can be evaluated as an essential indicator of the cognitive capacity of individuals. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Workplace Cognitive Failures Scale (P-WCFS) among Iranian nurses and its relationship with personality traits. METHODS: Data collection had two phases: 1) The P-WCFS prepared through a standard translation process. Then the content validity was evaluated by a panel of specialists. Reliability Cronbach’s coefficient alpha obtained 0.91 from a pilot study. 2) For measuring neuroticism and conscientiousness used the Goldberg Personality Questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory factors analyzed in two separate parts of the sample (n = 351). SPSS (v 18) and STATA 14 performed for Statistical analysis. Spearman correlation and Pearson correlation coefficient used to measuring the convergence and examine the relationship between the subscales of the questionnaire. RESULTS: Cronbach’s alpha was 0.92, which showed a high level of reliability for this questionnaire. The three-factor model of WCFS was well-fitted. The reliability of all three sub-scales was a reasonable level. Cognitive failures and its subscales had negative and strong relationships with conscientiousness and neuroticism. The highest internal consistency was related to memory subscale, and all scales had a success rate of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the P-WCFS has high reliability and validity and can be used in nursing society.

Recommended maximum holding time of common static sitting postures of office workers

PURPOSE

A posture maintained for a long period can be harmful to the health of office workers. This study aimed to estimate the recommended ergonomic duration for maintaining different sitting postures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty healthy male and female students participated in this experiment designed to measure perceived discomfort caused by maintaining common static sitting postures of office workers in a simple ergonomic setup for four minutes. The Borg CR10 scale was given to the participants to assess the discomfort in different body parts, before and after each experiment. Based on the mean group discomfort level of 2, the recommended holding time of each posture was estimated.

RESULTS

The recommended holding time and its discomfort score for each studied posture were tabulated. The shortest holding time of a posture was obtained for the moderate neck flexion (1.61 minutes), and the longest holding time was obtained for legs posture with 90-degree knee flexion (6.45 minutes).

CONCLUSIONS

The recommended holding time in this study may help to assess the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders in office workers and train the individuals involved in office tasks in proper sitting behavior.

Comparison of physical workload and physical work capacity among municipality cleaners in Shiraz to determine number of workers needed to counterbalance physical workload

Background

Assessing physical workload is the most important step in deciding whether a workload is high and adopting appropriate control strategies to reduce physical workload. This study aimed to compare physical workload and Physical Work Capacity (PWC) among municipality cleaners in Shiraz to determine the number of workers needed to counterbalance physical workload.

Methods

The present cross-sectional study was performed on 97 municipality cleaners in Shiraz. In the first step, the participants' maximum aerobic capacity (VO₂-max) was estimated in the laboratory using an ergometer bicycle and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) protocol, based on which the PWC was estimated. Secondly, energy expenditure and heart rate during work were measured using a POLAR400 device in an eight-hour shift. At the end of the work shift, the workers’ perceived physical exertion was assessed using a Rating of Perceived Exertion 6–20 (RPE 6–20) Borg scale. In the final stage, the physical workload was assessed based on the results of the two steps.

Results

The mean VO₂-max of the cleaners and PWC were estimated to be 2.6 ± 0.66 l min⁻¹ and 4.3 ± 1.088 kcal min⁻¹, respectively. The average energy consumed during work was 4.122 ± 1.016 kcal min⁻¹. The overall results of this study showed that physical workload was greater than PWC in 46% of the municipality cleaners. In addition, it was found that 12.45% workforce was required to be added to the street cleaners of Shiraz municipality to reduce the physiological workload on the employed workforce.

Conclusions

With respect to the high level of physical activity in a significant proportion of the cleaners, measures such as increasing the workforce are suggested.

The global incidence and associated factors of surgical gloves perforation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Surgeon's hands are exposed to a range of chemical and physical stressors that influence the integrity of gloves. Thus, glove perforation facilitates pathogen transmission through the holes. Numerous studies have shown that glove perforation is of great importance, but there is still no complete consensus.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the safety conditions of surgical gloves based on the incidence of glove perforation among surgical teams.

METHODS

A literature review was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ISI, and ProQuest databases. The incidence of glove perforation was reviewed in eight categories. A total of 580 articles were found in the initial search.

RESULTS

109 articles containing 130 datasets were analyzed. The overall incidence of glove perforation was 14.44 %. Surgeons had the highest incidence of glove perforation (23.09 %). An increase in the duration of surgery increased the odds of perforation. It was found that 68.58% of the glove perforations were not identified by practitioners.

CONCLUSION

Despite major advances in the design of surgical gloves, the issue of safety and integrity of gloves has not improved. Due to the high incidence of surgical glove perforations, most of which had not been identified, it is imperative to consider strategies to minimize the incidence of perforation. The results of the present study can be used to integrate information related to the rate of perforation of surgical gloves in different surgeries.

Investigating the effect of background music on cognitive and skill performance: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Existing studies on the impact of background music in the workplace have reported varying results, from improving production and performance to being known as an annoying factor. Given the lack of evidence of the background music influence on the cognitive factors in the work place in previous studies and the lack of study on the effect of background music on skill performance when gender and personality type is considered, research in this area seems necessary. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the influence of background music on cognitive and skill performance in the work place with regard to gender and personality type. METHODS: This study was conducted with the participation of 52 students (26 males and 26 females) aged between 18–30 years old. Sustained attention, working memory, fine finger and gross manual dexterity skills and personality type were assessed. Participants were randomly tested once when being exposed to classical instrumental music and once again when faced with complete silence RESULTS: Playing background music improved students working memory but had no significant effect on sustained attention. Music also improved skill performance.Overall, memory performance and fine finger dexterity were found significantly better in extroverts when compared to introverts during playing background music. CONCLUSION: Background music improves working memory and speeds up performance in skill tasks, however the role of personality type in influencing background music on cognitive and skill performance needs further investigation.

Effects of an ergonomic intervention program based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model for reducing work-related health problems and exposure risks among emergency medical dispatchers

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of an ergonomic intervention program based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model in terms of improving exposure risks and work-related health problems in emergency medical dispatchers.

METHODS

This quasi-experimental study used an interrupted time series design. Participants were 55 employees working in an Emergency Medical Communications Center in Iran. The intervention program was based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model and included five face-to-face training sessions and installing auxiliary equipment according to best ergonomic principles. Direct observations of the emergency medical dispatchers' working postures using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment and a survey which included a modified Nordic Questionnaire, Work Ability Score, Visual Fatigue Questionnaire, and a Behavioral Factors Questionnaire were used at three time points: baseline, 1 month post-intervention, and 3 months post-intervention.

RESULTS

The modified Nordic Questionnaire showed significant reductions in pain intensity scores for neck, lower back, knee and ankle after the ergonomic intervention program. In addition, there were considerable post-training improvements in behavioral factors (knowledge and enabling factors) and working postures. No significant changes were observed in Work Ability Scores, or visual symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

An ergonomic intervention program based on a systematic framework such as the PRECEDE-PROCEED model and on-site interventions can be effective in improving and enhancing the working conditions of emergency medical dispatchers. Therefore, it is suggested that ergonomic interventions be implemented based on standard and valid behavioral change models such as PRECEDE-PROCEED model in other work environments in which musculoskeletal pain and digital eye strain are common.

Identifying barriers and problems of physical environment in older adults' homes: An ergonomic approach

BACKGROUND

The main purpose of ergonomics is environment adaptation to humans, and the root cause of the barriers and problems of the older adults is the mismatch between the home environment and their limitations.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to identify and explain physical environment barriers and problems among older adults' homes in Yazd, Iran.

METHODS

This qualitative study was conducted as conventional content analysis. In total, 53 participants including 36 older adults and 17 caregivers were enrolled in the study. The participants were selected using convenience and purposive sampling methods, while the data collection method was a semi-structured interview. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and then analyzed using MAXQDA11 software.

RESULTS

Following data analysis, 268 initial codes were extracted. They were classified into three major categories and 31 sub categories. The main categories are "barriers and problems associated with older adults' sensory limitations," "barriers and problems associated with older adults' motor limitations," and "barriers and problems associated with older adults' cognitive limitations."

CONCLUSIONS

Although the data collected from the older adults and their caregivers are in many cases similar, caregivers can provide reasons for the barriers and problems as well as solutions better than the older adults. The data also indicate that most of the problems and barriers are related to motor limitations.

Assessing the effectiveness of an ergonomics intervention program with a participatory approach: ergonomics settlement in an Iranian steel industry

PURPOSE

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common occupational problems affecting the health and productivity of workers worldwide. Ergonomic intervention programs (EIPs) can play an effective role in preventing these disorders in the workplace. Assessing the effectiveness of an EIP is a challenge faced by both industries and researchers. This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of an EIP on human resources productivity (HRP), musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), general health and occupational fatigue in a steel industry.

METHODS

This study was conducted in a steel industry in Isfahan, Iran, between 2018 and 2021. To assess the effectiveness of the EIP with a participatory approach, training and redesign of workstations, the criteria of HRP, MSDs, general health and occupational fatigue were investigated before and after the intervention, using HRP Questionnaire, Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ), 28-item General Health Questionnaire (28-GHQ), Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI-20) and Occupational Fatigue/Exhaustion Recovery (OFER-15) Questionnaire, as data collection tools, respectively.

RESULTS

The implementation of EIP in the studied industry significantly led to an increase in HRP (p < 0.05). The prevalence of MSDs decreased significantly in most regions of the body after the interventions (p < 0.001). In addition, the program significantly improved general health (p < 0.001) and reduced occupational fatigue among employees (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of EIP was significantly effective in working conditions improvement. Therefore, implementing EIP with participatory approach, workforce training, as well as redesigning of workstations are recommended in industries.

Investigation of office workers' sitting behaviors in an ergonomically adjusted workstation

Objectives. Common ergonomic office workstations are designed for a few optimum postures. Nonetheless, sitting is a dynamic activity and the ideal sitting posture is rarely maintained in practice. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the sitting behavior of office workers in an actual working environment using ergonomically adjusted workstations to examine whether they promote maintaining appropriate sitting postures. Methods. Sitting behaviors (frequency of postures and position changes in different body parts) were explored among 26 office workers during a 60-min sitting duration, using the posture recording and classification method developed by Graf et al. The rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method was also used to assess postural load. Then, the results of the RULA method were compared with the results from investigating the sitting behavior of office workers. Results. Common ergonomic workstations were effective in eliminating some awkward postures. However, some important risk factors such as holding postures with an inappropriate lumbar spine curve (86% of the observations) and maintaining a posture for a long time (for 7-12 min) were observed in the participants' sitting behaviors, while they were neglected in the RULA method. Conclusions. The common ergonomic workstations could not guarantee the users' appropriate sitting behaviors.

Designing and Usability testing of a New Prototype Active Footrest for Knee Extension Exercise Among Office Workers

OBJECTIVES

The active factor along with light exercise can reduce static muscle work and increase muscle flexibility and endurance. Accordingly, this study aimed to design and prototype a new active footrest, implemented in conventional sitting workstations and to test its usability among office workers.

METHODS

The steps taken to design and prototype the active footrest were a) selection of an exercise appropriate for goals of ergonomic interventions, b) idea development, c) selection of the best conceptual design, d) design with SOLIDWORKS version 2016 software, and e) fabrication of a prototype. Afterward, the usability of the active footrest prototype was assessed among 20 office workers (10 females) using field data by the System Usability Scale.

RESULTS

Upon the completion of the design steps, the active footrest prototype was prototyped by taking into account design criteria (e.g. functionality, inclusive design, easy application, and reduction of additional body movement), anthropometric data and mechanical properties. The participants rated the usability of the active workstation as 89 ± 8.21 (out of 100) and indicating good usability results.

CONCLUSION

In this study, an active footrest was designed and prototyped to perform knee extension exercise with the capability of being implemented in conventional sitting workstations.

The Relationship Between Helmet Weight, Cognitive Performance, and Mental Workload

Introduction: This study sought to examine the effects of helmet weight on cognitive performance and mental workload. Twenty participants were studied in 3 one-hour sessions. Methods: The study participants were requested to read and work with computers under the following 3 conditions: wearing no helmets, wearing a helmet that weighed 800 g (A), and a helmet weighing 1500 g (B). “N-back” task and Continuous Performance Test (CPT) were employed to assess cognitive performance. At the same time, NASA-TLX and Thermal Comfort and Fatigue Perception Scale were used to evaluate mental workload and comfort. At the end of the intervention sessions, perceived mental workload, thermal comfort, and fatigue in the head were measured. Moreover, the research participants’ cognitive performance was gauged before and after the sessions. Results: The present study findings revealed that helmet weight significantly impacted cognitive performance (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was detected in the participants’ mental workload before and after the intervention. Conclusion: Helmet weight could affect cognitive performance. Therefore, in designing helmets, the helmet’s weight should be considered an essential factor.

Evaluation of a passive low-back support exoskeleton (Ergo-Vest) for manual waste collection

The purpose of study was to determine the biomechanical, physiological, and subjective effect of a Passive Exoskeleton device (called Ergo-Vest) among 20 waste collectors in the working environment. Compression force and moment on L4/L5 related to 400 critical postures of the participants were estimated using the 3DSSPP software. The heart rate and energy expenditure are measured as the physiological strain using the Polar RS400 Heart Rate Monitor. Borg scale perceived exertion, system usability scale, and ergonomic design indicators of the device were collected as the subjective parameters. Compression force and moment on L4/L5 disc were decreased when the Ergo-Vest was utilised. There was no significant difference in energy expenditure and heart rate with and without the device. The workers' perceived physical exertion was decreased while using the Ergo-Vest. From the perspective of end users, the usability and ergonomic design features of the Ergo-Vest was acceptable. Practitioner summary: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is high among the Iranian waste collectors. To mitigate this occupational problem, the effect of a passive exoskeleton for lower-back support (Ergo-Vest) was investigated on the workers' spine loading, physiological parameters, and perceived physical exertion. The result shows spine force reduction and lower subjective responses.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomics risk assessment and implementation of participatory ergonomics program for pistachio farm workers

Background and objectives:

Pistachio farmers are exposed to a variety of risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, no study has been conducted to investigate MSDs in pistachio workers. Therefore, in the present study, besides investigating the prevalence of MSDs and their ergonomic risk factors, the participatory ergonomics (PE) method is used to provide an intervention program to reduce MSDs in this population in harvesting and processing pistachio.

Methods:

The present study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase 138 workers participated. The prevalence of MSDs was assessed with Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the ergonomic risk factors was identified with ManTRA method. In the second phase PE was used to perform ergonomic interventions for reducing MSDs and the effect of the intervention was investigated. Sixty-four workers participated in the second phase (32 in the case group and 32 in the control group).

Results:

The highest prevalence of MSDs was in shoulders (63.7%), followed by the lower back (63%) and wrists/hands (52.1%). The comparison showed that after implementing the PE intervention program, the prevalence of MSDs in the intervention group was not significantly different from that in the control group. However, in the reassessment by the ManTRA method for five tasks that were identified as high risk in the first phase, a decrease in ManTRA final score was observed for all the five tasks.

Conclusions:

MSDs were prevalent in all body regions of workers. After implementing PE interventions exposure to ergonomic risk factors decreased.

Does Size Affect the Rate of Perforation? A Cross-sectional Study of Medical Gloves

OBJECTIVES

Healthcare workers often have unnoticed minor abrasions on their hands, putting them at risk of contracting infectious diseases from patients, if the integrity of the medical gloves is compromised. This study aimed to compare the rate and location of glove perforation between well-fitted and ill-fitted gloves.

METHODS

The participants of this cross-sectional study were 45 midwives in the maternity ward of a hospital in Shiraz city, Iran. A total of nine pairs of medical gloves including three pairs of fit size, three pairs of gloves with one size smaller (tight), and three pairs of gloves with one size larger (loose) were given to subjects, and asked them to use the gloves during episiotomy repair operations. After completing the task, all gloves were collected safely and gloves perforation was investigated based on water test (NF EN 455-1).

RESULTS

The perforation rate of the fit, tight, and loose medical gloves was 20, 37.78, and 34.81%, respectively. The results showed a significant difference between glove perforation of different glove sizes (P < 0.05). In general, there was a significant difference between the perforation rate of the fit glove and ill-fitted gloves (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Wearing the wrong size gloves may increase the glove perforation rate. Providing a wide range of glove sizes by the hospital management, and choosing the best glove size can be very effective in reducing the glove perforation and increasing safety for healthcare workers and patients.

Research Outputs in Ergonomics and Human Factors Engineering: A bibliometric and co-word analysis of content and contributions

This paper analyzes research outputs in Ergonomics and Human Factors Engineering (EHFE), revealing its intellectual structure via bibliometric techniques, co-word, network analysis, and science visualization tools. Population comprises of 23,472 records published during 2000-2018, in 19 core journals of Human Factors and Ergonomics subject category in Scopus. The findings showed that in EHFE fields "the United States", "University of Central Florida" and "Stanton NA" were the most productive country, university and author, respectively. It was also found that "Ergonomics" was the most frequent keyword and "Ergonomics and Human Factor" were the most frequent co-occurred keywords in EHFE documents. Hierarchical cluster analysis led to the creation of eight topical clusters, including among others "Biomechanics ergonomics", "Work-related MSDs & work system design", and "Performance". The results indicated that "Biomechanics ergonomics" was a well-matured cluster while "Human machine interaction", "Ergonomics design", "Macro-ergonomics", and "Cognitive ergonomics" were found to be emerging or declining clusters.

Understanding job stress in The Iranian oil industry: A qualitative analysis based on the work systems model and macroergonomics approach

The aim of this study was to understand why and how working in the oil industry causes job stress. Using the work-systems model as a guiding framework, we conducted 15 in-depth interviews with employees of an oil company located on an island in the Persian Gulf to investigate work system-related stressors. The interviews were audio-taped, and qualitative content data analysis was carried out continuously and simultaneously with data collection over a 12-month period. 1118 meaning codes were extracted which could be understood though fourteen categories of stressor associated with the five themes of the work system. Employees reported the job was stressful primarily because of organizational structural problems and management attributes, although aspects of living and working on the small island were also difficult. These results provide direction for intervention that can dovetail with risk assessment of occupational health of workers.

Investigating association between job stress dimensions and prevalence of low back pain among hospital nurses

BACKGROUND

There are a few studies conducted on job stress dimensions and their relationship with Low Back Pain (LBP) among Iranian nurses.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between job stress dimensions assessed via Demand-Control-Social Support (DCS) and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models and prevalence of LBP among Iranian hospital nurses.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 495 randomly selected nurses of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) participated. Demographic/occupational questionnaire, the Persian version of the Job Content Questionnaire (P-JCQ) and the Persian version of the ERI Questionnaire (P-ERIQ) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 19) using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The LBP prevalence was found to be 69.9%. The means±standard deviations of job stress dimensions were obtained as follows: decision latitude: 64.67±6.82, physical job demands: 15.52±2.6, social support: 23.18±3.65, psychological job demands: 38.02±4.98, effort: 8.73±2.62, reward: 23.12±5.31, over-commitment: 12.25±3.09, and effort-reward ratio: 0.86±0.3. The findings revealed that the work experience (OR = 1.56), psychological job demands (OR = 1.082), and effort-reward ratio (OR = 3.43) were predictors for LBP among the study population.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence rate of LBP among studied nurses was high. About half of nurses had high psychological demands, low decision latitude and low social support. Based on the effort-reward ratio, nurses had experienced high level of stress. Interventional programs and coping strategies for reduction of work-related stress and, subsequently, prevention of LBP are recommended among hospital nurses.

Development and validation of a Nurse Station Ergonomics Assessment (NSEA) tool

Background

Nurse stations are one of the primary units for supporting effective functioning of any hospital. They are important working environments that demand adherence to known ergonomic principles for the well-being of both staff and patients. The aim of this study was to develop a psychometrically tested tool for the assessment of the ergonomic conditions of nurse workstations in hospitals.

Methods

Ten hospitals, with a total of 133 nurse stations participated in this mixed-methods research. The domains and items of the tool were developed based on a literature review, an experts’ panel, and interviews with nurses.

Results

The final nurse station ergonomic assessment (NSEA) tool has good psychometric properties. Validity was assessed by face validity and content validity. Reliability was evaluated using inter-rater agreement and test-retest reliability analyses with a four-week interval between assessments. The NSEA is comprised of 64 items across eight domains: layout and location (7 items), workspace (11 items), security-safety (5 items), environmental conditions (8 items), counter (8 items), chair (13 items), desk (9 items), and monitor (3 items).

Conclusions

The NSEA adds to the literature a tool for managers to ensure they comply with legal requirements and support best practice for those working on hospital wards. The NSEA can be used to identify challenges for healthcare professionals who use nurse stations and support the execution of targeted interventions to improve human-environment interactions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-021-00600-8.

Improving working conditions in an Iranian hospital: a participatory ergonomics approach

Objectives. The future workshop (FW), as a participatory ergonomics approach, is used to change the actual situation of a system into a preferable one. This study was conducted at a major hospital to identify ergonomic problems and provide appropriate solutions for improving working conditions using the FW technique. Methods. Twenty-five mid-level managers of the hospital participated in a 2-day FW. In the critique phase, the ergonomic problems were thoroughly discussed. After brainstorming followed by structuring and grouping of ideas, 75 ergonomic problems were identified and classified into four groups. Solutions and action plans were proposed to improve working conditions. Results. There were nine problems in the personnel-managerial group. Eighteen action plans were proposed to fix them. Stressful occupational factors were the worst problem in this group. Five problems were characterized in the physical space group and 10 action plans were presented. Seven problems were detected in the equipment group, for which 13 action plans were presented. In the welfare group, six problems and 12 action plans were presented. Conclusion. The results revealed that the FW was an appropriate method to find ergonomic bottlenecks in the hospital and a good basis for devising ergonomic interventions.

Common errors in selecting and implementing pen-paper observational methods by Iranian practitioners for assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders risk: a systematic review

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the types and frequency of pen-paper observational methods (OMs) used by Iranian practitioners and to identify their errors in selecting and implementing these methods. Methods. This was a systematic review and analytical study of papers in which the OMs had been used. Scientific databases were analyzed from September 1970 to September 2018. Errors were determined based on a list of wrong practices both in the selection and implementation of methods. Three ergonomists carried out the process of identifying errors independently. Results. The most frequently used methods were rapid upper limb assessment (RULA), quick exposure check (QEC) and rapid entire body assessment (REBA), respectively. Errors in selecting and implementing pen-paper OMs were 53.3 and 36.4%, respectively. Conclusions. Despite the abundant number of pen-paper OMs, Iranian practitioners use few of them. The high rate of errors can indicate a lack of knowledge and skills among practitioners for selecting and implementing OMs. The development of decision-making tools may help practitioners to select appropriate pen-paper OMs for assessing different types of tasks.

Nurses' uncertainty about medical gloves safety during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Nurses, as the largest group of health professionals, are at the frontline of the healthcare system in response to COVID-19 epidemic. This study aimed to evaluate the nurses’ certainty and satisfaction with medical gloves when exposed to coronavirus in Fars province, south of Iran.

Methods

Using convenience sampling, 400 hospital nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak were selected from eight hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). A questionnaire about glove reliability, including protection in tasks, durability, integrity and tear resistance, feeling fearful, and focusing on duties, and the nurses’ anxiety regarding their infection with coronavirus was distributed to the selected nurses to complete. 375 questionnaires were completed (response rate of 93.75%). Among the participants, 180 (48%) were in the corona section and 195 (52%) were hardly possible to have contact with coronavirus pneumonia patients.

Results

The mean score (SD) of anxiety about infection with COVID-19 for nurses in the COVID-19 section and those in the non-COVID-19 section were 6.08 (2.8) and 4.56 (2.58), respectively (p < 0.05). The mean duration of gloves usage in a day was almost similar in the two groups (about 5 h), but the number of glove replacements was significantly higher among the nurses in the corona section (6 times) compared to those in the non-corona section (3 times). The two groups were also significantly different regarding glove protection in daily tasks and glove durability.

Conclusion

The nurses in the corona section had more concerns about medical gloves as a type of personal protective equipment. In addition to health education on controlling and preventing the spread of diseases, raising awareness about the reliability of personal protective equipment can improve nurses’ performance.

The Medical Gloves Assessment Tool (MGAT): Developing and validating a quantitative tool for assessing the safety and ergonomic features related to medical gloves

BACKGROUND

Medical gloves play a very important role in protecting health care workers and patients. It is very important to pay attention to the safety and ergonomic properties of medical gloves in their protective function.

AIM

To develop a quantitative tool for evaluating the safety and ergonomic properties of the medical gloves.

METHODS

Five hospitals with a total of 185 health care workers participated in the research. The domains and items of the tool were developed based on an expert's panel, interviews with health care workers and a literature review. Face, content and construct validity was used for validation. Reliability was also evaluated using internal consistency.

RESULTS

The final tool included 26 items in six domains, including tactile sensation, dexterity, grip strength, fitting, reliability and hand hygiene. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.82 for the total scale.

CONCLUSION

The final tool had good validity and reliability. The findings of this study led to the development of a comprehensive standard tool that can be used to assess the ergonomic and safety status of medical gloves.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

With this tool, problems related to medical gloves can be identified among nurses, and the necessary interventions can be predicted.

Upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms among Iranian hand-woven shoe workers

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) are highly prevalent among weavers. In Iran, little information is available regarding the prevalence of MSDs and their causal risk factors among hand-woven shoe workers. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of UEMSDs and to identify risk factors associated with UEMSDs symptoms among 586 Iranian hand-woven shoe workers. METHODS: The data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and by direct observation of working postures via the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) technique to determine ergonomic risks. RESULTS: The prevalence of MSDs symptoms was high among the hand-woven shoe workers. The mean RULA grand score of 6.3 indicated that in most cases the workers’ postures at their workstations needs to be investigated and changed immediately to prevent musculoskeletal injuries. The highest prevalence rates of MSDs were observed in the shoulders, wrists and arms. The result of multiple logistic regression modeling showed that risk factors associated with UEMSD symptoms were job experience, daily working hours, job satisfaction, working posture, work pressure, and discomfort at workstation, as well as individual factors, such as age, gender, BMI, material status, working conditions, education level, and lack of regular sport/physical activities. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study emphasize that any interventional program in this industry has to focus on improving working conditions particularly by designing ergonomics-oriented workstations and hand tools.

Relationship between mental workload and salivary cortisol levels: A field study

BACKGROUND

Mental workload (MW) assessment is a key point in research and development of human-machine interfaces in the workplace.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the relationship between mental workload and the amount of salivary cortisol amongst technicians of an Iranian combined cycle power plant.

METHODS

A total of 18 technicians participated in this pilot study. First, task analysis was carried out to determine operation steps that forced us to separate them in to two groups. Next, the Visual, Auditory, Cognitive, and Psychomotor (VACP) technique and NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire were used to examine their mental workload. Then, the operator's salivary samples were collected at four specific times of both off and working days. Finally, the relationship between mental workload and salivary cortisol was examined with the analysis of Pearson correlation.

RESULTS

The results of mental workload assessment with subjective methods showed a high level of mental workload amongst all technicians. No significant association was observed between the NASA-TLX questionnaire and VACP technique with concentration of salivary cortisol (p = 0.081).

CONCLUSION

Based on the results, it can be concluded that salivary cortisol might not be an appropriate physiological method to assess mental workload, since cortisol levels are highly dependent on individuals' circadian rhythm.

Electromechanical rolling whiteboard for improving posture and comfort of users in classrooms

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is high among teachers. Poor posture when writing on whiteboards is considered among the important causes of these disorders.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to evaluate an electromechanical rolling whiteboard for educational environments as an ergonomic intervention.

METHODS

Thirty university lecturers volunteered to take part in the study. Participants performed a 5-minute writing task on a regular board and on the newly modified whiteboard in random order. The comfort and effectiveness of the boards and the perceived physical effort and posture of the participants were evaluated and compared by applying the verbal rating scale, Borg's rating of physical exertion scale, and rapid entire body assessment, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 83.2% of participants reported the new whiteboard to be comfortable or more comfortable to use than the regular whiteboard, and 76.6% of them found the new whiteboard to be higher or much higher in effectiveness and usefulness in comparison with the regular whiteboard. The comfort and posture ratings revealed that exertion was significantly less and posture improved while writing on the new board as compared to its counterpart (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The new whiteboard increased user comfort, reduced physical effort, and improved posture, hopefully leading to a decreased number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Cognitive and skill performance of individuals at sitting versus standing workstations: a quasi-experimental study

Objectives. This study aimed to assess cognitive and skill performance at sitting and standing workstations among students from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods. Forty students (20 females and 20 males) participated in this quasi-experimental study. Tests were performed among randomly selected participants over two consecutive days: day 1, the Beck depression inventory and Beck anxiety inventory were used to assess the severity of depression and anxiety in the study participants, respectively, and Raven's general intelligence test was used to measure intelligence quotient; day 2, five performance assessment tests (cognitive performance assessment tests 'n-back', 'Stroop' and 'advanced reaction time'; skill performance assessment tests 'two-arm coordination' and 'Purdue pegboard') were randomly selected and presented to individuals at each workstation (sitting and standing workstations). At the end of each sitting and standing position, the comfort of the workstation was measured using a visual analog scale. Results. No statistically significant difference was shown between sitting and standing positions in terms of 'n-back', 'Stroop', 'advanced reaction time', 'two-arm coordination' and 'Purdue pegboard'. Participants were more comfortable in sitting positions and more easily distracted in standing positions. Conclusions. Sitting and standing positions had no significant effects on participants' cognitive and skill performance.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and determination of associated risk factors in female workers in clothing manufacturing workshops of Yazd city

Introduction: Upper limb musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent and undesirable health consequences among workers in clothing industry. To improve working conditions, workplace ergonomic assessment is necessary. This study was conducted among workers of clothing manufacturing workshops to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and to assess ergonomic working conditions to identify major risk factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms.Methods: One hundred and fifty female workers from clothing manufacturing workshops of Yazd city participated. The Nordic questionnaire and an ergonomics checklist consisting of 6 sections were used as data collection tools. An index was calculated for each section of the checklist. Action categories indicating the priority of corrective measures were also defined. Data analysis was performed using the ANOVA and ROC curve tests by SPSS software (version 17).Results: The results showed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the upper limbs among the study population. In this study, a significant association was found between the calculated ergonomics index and MSDs in different body regions (p<0.05). The mean of this index among the workers who reported symptoms was less than those of the other group indicating undesirable ergonomic conditions. In addition, 68.7% of the workers were categorized in the first priority of intervention (requiring ergonomic intervention as soon as possible).Conclusion: The prevalence of MSDs was high among the workers of clothing workshops. The developed checklist was considered as an appropriate and low cost tool for ergonomic evaluation of sewing workshops. The results also indicated that most ergonomic problems in these workshops originate from inappropriate general working conditions, work organization, manual material handling, hand tools, workstation and working post

Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Agricultural Workers: A Cross-sectional Study in Iran

Objective: In Iran, as in most developing countries, agriculture is considered a hazardous industry. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) have been shown to be the most common occupational injury among farmers. The present study was carried out among agricultural workers of Fars province, Iran to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and to assess working postures and ergonomic working conditions to identify the major risk factors associated with MSD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1501 randomly selected Iranian agricultural workers with at least 1 year of job tenure. Data were collected using demographic/occupational questionnaire, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Quick Exposure Check (QEC) technique, and ergonomic working conditions checklist. Results: The mean age of the participants was 41.39 ± 13.64 years. The results of NMQ showed the highest prevalence of MSD symptoms was related to lower back (59.3%), knees (36.9%), and upper back (36.6%). Indeed, the QEC score was high or very high (action levels 3 and 4) in 83.1% of the farmers. Moreover, the ergonomic working conditions checklist revealed that the participants' "working postures" index had the lowest mean, indicating poor ergonomic conditions, while "hand tools" had the highest mean, indicating proper ergonomic conditions. Conclusions: The results demonstrated the high prevalence of MSD symptoms among Iranian agricultural workers. Elimination of harmful working postures was recommended to improve working conditions.

Assessment of mental workload and its association with work ability in control room operators

BACKGROUND

Modern technology has reduced physical workload and imposed high mental workload on the control room operators in industrial settings. The present study was conducted among control room operators to assess their mental workload, investigate their workability, examine the relationship between mental workload and workability, and determine the factors associated with workability.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out among 213 control room operators in six Iranian process industries. Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) was used to assess the mental workload, and Work Ability Index (WAI) was used to determine workability. The relationships between demographic characteristics and dimensions of mental workload and workability were examined by univariate tests. Logistic regression analysis was also used to determine the factors associated with the operators' workability.

RESULTS

The results showed a high mental workload in the study population (82.38±8.8). Yet, the operators showed a good and excellent level of workability (56.4%). Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed a significant inverse linear relationship between the mean score of mental workload and workability (r=-0.581). Besides, regression modeling demonstrated that mental demand (OR=0.90), temporal demand (OR=0.90), effort (OR=0.91), frustration (OR=0.92), from NASA-TLX subscales were significantly associated with workability. Moreover, mental and temporal demands were important factors associated with reduced workability.

CONCLUSION

Monitoring tasks imposes high mental workload on the control room operators, which may result in adverse effects on their workability as well as on the safety of the system.

The effects of playing music during surgery on the performance of the surgical team: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Music is an economical, advantageous and reliable means of reducing stress or stress-related problems.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of playing music during surgery on the performance of the surgical team through a systematic review of published studies.

METHODS

The relevant databases of Medline/PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct were searched up to July 2018 to find related articles. The comprehensive literature search was reduced to 19 articles that met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The articles comprised 13 studies and reported on the positive effects of music on the performance of the surgical team. The effects included a more relaxing and pleasant environment, more accurate and precise performance of tasks, a decrease in the mental workload and task completion time, increased situation awareness, a reduction in stress and anxiety and improved memory consolidation. Five studies reported on the negative effects of music during surgery as being a negative impact on task completion, poor auditory performance and increased likelihood of having to repeat requests. The remaining article reported no significant differences between groups compared.

CONCLUSIONS

Most studies reported positive effects of music on the surgical team during surgery. These results indicate that it may be possible to improve the performance of the surgical team during surgery while playing controlled music.

Relationship between personality type and musculoskeletal disorders among office staff

Background:

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have been recognized as common health-related problems in the workplace. Accordingly, poorly-designed workstations and assigned tasks can lead to exposure to risk factors inducing MSDs among office staff. Accompanied by physical risk factors, psychological ones in working environments can also contribute to MSDs occurrence. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality types as a psychological factor and MSDs occurrence among office staff.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was carried out on office staff working at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) in 2016. The participants included 339 employees recruited using multi-stage simple random sampling method. The required data were likewise collected via a demographic characteristics information checklist, the Personality Pattern Questionnaire (PPQ), as well as the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ).

Results:

The findings revealed that the participants’ mean±standard deviation (SD) age were 36.4±7.8 years. As well, the most prevalent MSDs complaints were reported in lower back, knee, and neck regions with relative frequencies of 35%, 30%, and 25% respectively. Moreover, the results demonstrated that 0.6% of the participants were determined as individuals having a strong tendency for type A personality, 26.8% of them showed tendency for type A personality, 63.1% of these employees were categorized into those having a tendency for type B personality, and 9.4% of them were identified as participants who showed a strong tendency for type B personality. Additionally, statistically significant relationships were observed between personality types and MSDs occurrence (p=0.023). Furthermore, musculoskeletal symptoms were reported more prevalent among individuals having tendency for type A personality.

Conclusion:

Personality types and MSDs occurrence seemed to be associated. It was thus suggested to take account of psychological factors (e.g., personality types) in macro policy-making, employee selection, and professional staff training programs.

The relationship between work-related psychosocial factors and burnout among Iranian nurses: Job Demand-Control-Support model

Background:

Nursing work environment consists of a number of work-related psychosocial risk factors such as excessive workloads, lack of social support, emotional demands, job insecurity and confronting with challenging situations all of which may induce burnout. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between work-related psychosocial factors and burnout among Iranian nurses.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was carried out among 522 nurses. The data related to work-related psychosocial factors and burnout was gathered using Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), respectively. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to examine the relationship between work-related psychosocial factors and burnout.

Results:

Mean scores of the dimensions of burnout for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment were 13.6 (SD=8.6), 18.42 (SD=7.1), and 28.45 (SD= 9.15), respectively. Psychological and physical job demands were positively correlated with different dimensions of burnout while social support and job control showed negative correlation with them.

Conclusion:

Appropriate interventions on reducing job demands both psychologically and physically and increasing social support and job control are suggested in prevention of burnout among the studied nurses.

Psychological and physical job demands, decision latitude, and work-related social support among Iranian waste collectors

Waste collection is known as a stressful and physically demanding job in low/middle income countries. This study aimed to assess the psychological and physical job demands, decision latitude, and work-related social support among Iranian waste collectors. In this cross-sectional study, field observation, video capture, and unstructured interviews were performed to understand the process of waste collection. Data were collected from 200 waste collectors of Shiraz city using a demographic/work characteristics questionnaire and a job content questionnaire (JCQ). Logistic regression analysis was used for the prediction of independent variables affecting job content dimensions. A p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results show that the rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in Shiraz city was 0.576 kg/capita/day, which translates into about 1076 tons of waste per day per the current population of 1,869,001. The total amount of MSW produced in Shiraz over a four-year period from 2014 to 2017 were 346,093, 363,505, 392,869, and 400,863 tons, respectively. About half of the waste collectors reported high levels of psychological and physical job demands. More than half were concerned with the low level of decision latitude and social support in the workplace. Night-workers (OR = 3.29) and smokers (OR = 2.75) reported higher psychological job demands than day-workers and non-smokers, respectively. Decision latitude and social support were inversely associated with the level of education (OR = 1.90), and daily working time (OR = 2.46), respectively. Based on the Demand-Control-Support Model, waste collectors were exposed to relatively high levels of job stress associated with occupational risk factors.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the "Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue Scale"

Background:

Fatigue is a common symptom in office workers. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (P-MAF) scale and its association with productivity among Iranian office workers.

Methods:

In order to validate the MAF scale, using “forward-backward” translation, cognitive debriefing, and cultural adaptation procedure, the English version of the MAF was translated into Farsi. A total of 129 Iranian office workers with at least 1-year job experience were included in the study. The Persian version of the Health and Work Questionnaire was used for assessment of the productivity in the participants.

Results:

Internal consistency for all subscales of the P-MAF scale was acceptable (α ≥ 0.854). The correlation of convergent validity and the correlation of discriminant validity for all subscales ranged from 0.466 to 0.948 and 0.121 to 0.5, respectively. Internal consistency of each subscale of P-MAF for sex, marital status, job tenure, and daily working hours was high (0.810–0.952). Factor analysis of the P-MAF scale revealed that its items were related to severity, distress, timing of fatigue, interference with activity at home, and interference with activity away from home. The results showed significant correlations between the score of fatigue and some subscales of P-MAF, including concentration/focus (r = 0.649, P < 0.001) and impatience/irritability (r = 0.334, P = 0.001).

Conclusions:

The P-MAF had appropriate structural characteristics, was a valid and reliable instrument, and could be used for measuring fatigue among Iranian office workers.

Relationship between Job Stress and Fatigue Based on Job Demand-control-support Model in Hospital Nurses

Background

This study aimed to examine nurses' job stress based on Karasek's demand-control-support model and assess its relationship with different aspects of fatigue.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 522 nurses working in educational hospitals. Job stress dimensions and fatigue were measured by the Persian version of Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), respectively.

Results

The results showed that psychological and physical job demands obtained high scores, but social support and decision latitude got low scores. MFI results indicated that the highest score was related to the general fatigue. Moreover, the results showed a significant positive relationship between psychological job demands and general fatigue, but a significant negative correlation to reduced activity.

Conclusions

Considering the effects of job stress on nurses' fatigue, it is necessary to develop a suitable interventional program for nurses in healthcare centers, especially hospitals, to decrease job stress and improve working conditions.