Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Occupational Hygiene 2008-5109 3 1 2011 06 15 1 5 Farhang Akbar-Khanzadeh Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA; Samuel Windom Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA; Farideh Golbabaei Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 04 This study was initiated to assess the effectiveness of designating smoking rooms to control environmental tobacco smoke in nursing homes. Of the 39 nursing homes located in Toledo (a city in Ohio, USA) included in the preliminary survey, 33 facilities (85%) allowed smoking, 14 facilities (36%) allowed indoor smoking, and 13 facilities (33%) provided a designated smoking area. Three of these 13 nursing homes with similar levels of care agreed to participate in study that  was more comprehensive. The levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide (CO2), respirable suspended particulate matter, nicotine, and solanesol were monitored at three locations within three nursing homes: a designated smoking room with an independent ventilation system, the adjacent hallway and outside the building. The concentrations of air contaminants, except CO2, inside the designated smoking rooms were significantly higher than those in the hallways or outside. The concentration of CO2 was similar in the smoking rooms and the hallways but significantly higher than the concentration outside. The levels of ambient air temperature or relative humidity within the three locations were not generally  different. The results indicated that the designation of a smoking room with an independent ventilation system was effective in controlling the environmental tobacco smoke in these nursing homes. https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/25 https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/download/25/25

Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Occupational Hygiene 2008-5109 3 1 2011 06 15 6 11 Teimour Allahyari Department of Occupational Health, Health Faculty, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Narmin Hassanzadeh Rangi Department of Occupational Health, Health Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Yahya Khosravi Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Farid Zayeri Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 04 Cognitive-based human errors have major contribution to performance and safety in working environment. This study designed to develop a measurement tool in order to evaluate this type of errors in the occupational settings. An Occupational Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (OCFQ) was developed. Content validity of the OCFQ was performed using a quantitative approach. Reliability of questionnaire was assessed by internal consistency and test-retest methods. A preliminary list of 35-items was prepared as a starting point. After evaluation of validity, five items were rejected. The new measurement instrument with 30-items was finally developed. The content validity index (CVI) for the final OCFQ was found acceptable (CVI=0.7).  Results show that final OCFQ was internally consistent (α=96) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) was 0.99. Measurement of cognitive failure in the workplace requires a valid and reliable tool. In respect to probable outcomes of cognitive failures occurrence at work, the present study suggested that OCFQ would be a useful instrument for measurement of cognitive failure in the working environment. https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/26 https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/download/26/26

Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Occupational Hygiene 2008-5109 3 1 2011 06 15 12 17 Abdulrahman Bahrami Department of Occupational Health, Research Centre for Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran Hossien Mahjub 2Department of Biostatics and Epidemiology, Research Centre for Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran Marzieh Sadeghian Department of Occupational Health, Research Centre for Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran Farideh Golbabaei Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 04 A new method for analysis of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) using High Performance Liquid Chromatography-UV detection (HPLC-UV) is described and compared to the gas chromatography (GC) method. A charcoal adsorption tube connected to a small pump was used to obtain samples from an atmosphere chamber standard. Samples were extracted with methanol and analyzed by HPLC-UV. Chromatography was isocratic in a mobile phase consisting of water-methanol (30-70). The flow rate was set at 1 ml/min. The analyses were completely separated and were quantified using both methods. The results demonstrated no statistically significant differences between BTX concentrations between the two analytical methods with a correlation coefficient of 0.98-0.99. The GC method provided higher sensitivity than HPLC, but the HPLC determination of BTX were applicable to real samples because its sensivity was lower than the thershold limit recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH) for an 8-hour workday. https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/27 https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/download/27/27

Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Occupational Hygiene 2008-5109 3 1 2011 06 15 18 22 Iraj Mohammadfam Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, Iran Ali Kianfar 2Department of Occupational Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shahram Mahmoudi HSE Department of MAPNA Group, Tehran, Iran Farhad Mohammadfam Department of Management, Islamic Azad University of Bonab, Bonab, Iran. 2015 10 04 The analysis of incidents is one way of increasing safety in workplaces. In this approach, the process of preparing exact and scientific report is a critical step. The aim of this paper was to describe an intervention supporting the improvement of supervisors’ participation to report all occurred incidents. In this study, Future Workshop method was used with 44 supervisors in TAB Steel Company, Tabriz, Iran. In each subject, 11 supervisors were participated in four small groups, which they normally worked. In the Critique phase, the 4 teams reported 126 problems in the incident report process. During the fantasy phase, the teams produced 727 suggestions to solve the problems. Then, the supervisors made decisions on 35 commitments to change their incident reporting behaviors. Finally, in the implementation phase the number of reported incidents increased by 79.4% during the 1-year follow-up period. The discussion method used in Japan, Finland, and Sweden was also successfully implemented in Iran, and the process raised a great number of problems and suggestions related to supervisor’s incident reporting process. Creating and maintaining the proper communicational canals among supervisors and the managers of safety and health unit are the suggestions, which have been presented to increase the amount of partnership. https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/28 https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/download/28/28

Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Occupational Hygiene 2008-5109 3 1 2011 06 15 23 28 Maryam Rezaee 1Trauma Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Ghasemi Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Nematollah Jonaidi Jafari Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Morteza Izadi Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 04 Low Back Pain (LBP) is likely the most common medical disorder among work population. In this survey, prevalence of LBP and pain severity and the association of them with occupational and non-occupational risk factors were specified among office workers in Baqiyatallah University Of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in 2006 In this way the point prevalence of LBP and pain severity among office workers, role of some personal and occupational factors, and self-reported pain severity were assessed. The instruments used included direct interview, a body discomfort assessment tool that consisted of a 10-centimeter color Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a questionnaire. Face to face, interview was done for measuring of weight and height of subjects. Of 1580 volunteers, 1436 persons were participated. About 80% (79.8%) of respondents were male. Mean age of responders was 35.08 years. More than 60% had at least one episode of LBP during their working life and 45.0% of pain sufferers' first attack was during their employment. Lifetime prevalence of LBP was 92.1% and this result for last 12 months was 37.3%.   Increased age up to 40 years, increased weight, sitting work style more than 4 hours, computer use more than 5 hours a day also past history of LBP had a positive association with increased like hood of occurrence of LBP. LBP had a high prevalence in office workers. This study might help to estimate low back problems in office workers and emphasize healthy lifestyle, ergonomic measurement and control, good posture and holding educational programs. https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/29 https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/download/29/29

Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Occupational Hygiene 2008-5109 3 1 2011 06 15 29 32 Mansour R Azari Department of Occupational Hygiene, School of Public Health, Safety Promotion & Injury Prevention Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Behnam Ramazani Department of Occupational Hygiene, School of Public Health, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Sistan & Balouchestan, Iran Mohammad Ali Mosavian Department of Occupational Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Movahadi Department of Occupational Hygiene, School of Public Health, Safety Promotion & Injury Prevention Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sussan Salehpour National Reasarch Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 04 The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the association of crystalline silica aerosols exposure with malondialdehyde in blood serum and urinary neopterin and explore their potential as biomarkers of their external exposure. Nonsmoking and healthy male glass sandblasters and control population were randomly selected for this study. All groups were monitored for their personal exposure to crystalline silica according to NOISH method No. 7601. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to for analysis of malondialdehyde of blood serum and urinary neopterin, and creatinine in all study participants. The mean of personal exposure to crystalline silica aerosols in glass sanbalsters was 164 µg/m3 (SD: 112) compared with less than 0.006 mg/m3 for control group that was even below detection limit. The mean of blood serum malondialdehyde of  sandblasters(49.08±19.05µmole/l) was significantly higher than  that of control population 1.92±0.33 µmole/l (p<0.001). Urinaryneopterin of sandblasters was 10.85±3.61 mmole/mole creatini ne which was also significantly higher than control group 4.71±1.88 mmole/mole creatinine (p<0.001). Correlation between occupational exposures of glass sandblasters to crystalline silica with blood serum malondialdehyde was significant (r2=0.279, p<0.01). Malondialdehyde of blood serum and urinary neopterin could be regarded as biomarkers of exposure to crystalline silica aerosols. https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/30 https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/download/30/30

Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Occupational Hygiene 2008-5109 3 1 2011 06 15 33 37 Faramarz Majidi Department Of Occupational Health, Zanjan University Of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. Kamaledin Abedi Department Of Occupational Health, Faculty Of Health And Paramedical Sciences, Zanjan University Of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Seyed Reza Azimi Pirsaraei Department Of Occupational Health, Zanjan University Of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran 2015 10 04 The harmful effects of the long-term ocular exposure to cumulative levels of infrared radiation (IR) in glassblowing and foundries have been recognized since the late 19th century. These effects include cataracts, keratitis, and chronic dry eye problems. Therefore, infrared radiation measurements are critical and need to be assessed regularly in the industries and workplaces where there are high temperature furnaces, such as in the glass industries and foundries. However, IR measurement is not very simple, especially when the range of interest is one in which radiometers are not available, as for the IR-B and IR-C ranges, and commonly available radiometers have a limited sensitivity range. The present article deduce a calculation method for evaluating of IR irradiance based on Planck's radiation law for black body radiation and using an IR detector sensitive in the spectral range 750-1150 nm. Based on this method, workers exposure was assessed to all harmful wavelength ranges of IR radiation in three foundries (two aluminums and one cast-iron). The results suggested that IR-A and IR-B radiation (wavelength from 770 nm to 3000 nm) in the mentioned foundries were more than TLVs (threshold limit values) given by ACGIH. There were significant risks of health hazards due to IR radiation exposure. Personal protective equipment should be used in order to prevent serious damage to eyes and skin, and selection of appropriate equipment should be on an individual basis due to different radiation exposure. https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/31 https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/download/31/31

Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Occupational Hygiene 2008-5109 3 1 2011 06 15 38 42 Alireza Choobineh Research Center for Health Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Ahmad Soltanzadeh Occupational Health Department, School of Health and Nutrition, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Hamidreza Tabatabaee 3Epidemiology Department, School of Health and Nutrition, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Mehdi Jahangiri Occupational Health Department, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Masoud Neghab Occupational Health Department, School of Health and Nutrition, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Solayman Khavaji HSE department, Pars petrochemical region, Asalooyeh, Iran 2015 10 04 Shiftwork that affects diverse aspects of human life is arranged in various schedules. The main purpose of this study was to compare psycho-social problems among employees working in different 12-hour shift schedules of Iranian petrochemical industries. This cross-sectional study was carried out at eight petrochemical companies in Asalooyeh area. The study population consisted of 549 shift workers. Data on personal details, shift schedule, and adverse effects of shift work were collected by anonymous questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 11.5. Among 549 studied shift employees, 39.6% worked in 4N-7D-3N-7R (4 nights- 7 days- 3 nights- 7 rests), 29.1% in 7N-7 D-7R, and 31.3% in 7D-7N-7R schedules. Psychosocial problems among 7D-7N-7R schedule shift workers were significantly more prevalent than other schedules (p<0.05). Prevalence rates of psychosocial problems among all schedules were high, but odds ratios of problems among 7D-7N-7R schedule shift workers were significantly more than those of the two other ones were. This schedule should be changed therefore to decrease such problems. https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/32 https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/download/32/32