Iranian Journal of Health, Safety and Environment (IJHSE)
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Investigation Effect of Biorhythm on Work-Related Accidents in The Metal Industry (A Short Report)
Get PDFBiorhythm is one of the newest subjects in the field of cognition of mental ergonomics which can be very effective in reduction of work-related accidents or mistakes with no apparent reason. With evaluating Biorhythm individuals can intervention action to reduce job accidents carried out. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship Biorhythm and work-related accidents in the metal industry. This research is a cross-sectional and analytical-descriptive in the metal industrial Isfahan city of 120 work-related accidents during 2015. The required information was collected from available documents in HSE unit of the company biorhythm charts were drawn based on a date of accidents and participants birthdays, using natural Biorhythm Software V3.02 Conduct. Finally، the data were analyzed using spss version 20 and descriptive statistics.This study showed that the frequency of accidents in critical days and negative section of physical cycle was more than expected. Also the frequency of accidents in critical days and negative section of emotional and intellectual cycles was less than expected. Most type of injury, including cuts to 35.8 percent and the lowest type of injury was torsion with 5 percent. Most limb injury, hands and fingers with 51.7 percent and the lowest limb injury were back at 2.5 percent. Accidents outbreak in physical cycles was 38.3 percent. These 120 accidents in additionally were causing 120 loss of working days in effect accident. Most percent of loss of working days were for 20 to 30 days with of 39.2 percent. Most percent of loss of working days were for 20 to 30 days with of 39.2 percent. Due to the physical nature of the work activities in the metal industry can be stated that the study showed that in physical work activities, frequency of accidents in critical days and negative section of physical cycle in which the person is not physically ready to do the job was more than expected. Therefore, by training and increasing the knowledge of workers regarding biological cycle and its effects on mental, emotional and physical status, each person effects can make some changes to their work plans during days that they do not feel well, physically or mentally, in order to prevent the likely accidents
Housing Conditions in Rural Nigeria: Empirical Evidence from Oil-Rich Akwa Ibom State
Get PDFThe study assessed the conditions of rural housing and the extent to which housing conditions related to household socio-economic characteristics of an oil-rich Nigerian State of Akwa Ibom. The study design was based on household cross-sectional survey. Direct observation and questionnaire administration were employed to collect both socio-economic and housing data from 540 randomly sampled households spread across 90 rural communities. Housing condition was evaluated using five broad indicators: safety/security, indoor temperature/ventilation, building condition, hygiene/sanitation and environmental quality, while socio-economic characteristics were examined using income, educational attainment, occupation, household size and crowding. Alongside descriptive statistics, the multiple correlation technique was used to analyze the relationship between housing conditions and socio-economic variables. Results showed aEnviron overwhelmingly poor condition of housing among the rural households. Majority of households were found deficient in facilities necessary to encourage safety, security, comfort, hygiene, sanitation, and environmental quality. The study also found households’ socio-economic characteristics to be highly correlated with housing conditions and therefore provides the basis for massive rural empowerment and development drive as a means to counter rural housing decay
Analysis and Depiction of Accessibility Levels of Water Supply Schemes in Rural Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study analyzed and depicted accessibility levels of water schemes in rural areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data on rural water schemes, population data as well as a community map of the study area were utilized. GIS technique was employed in creating a database of water schemes and the spatial distribution of the water schemes displayed on the map of the study area. Based on the criteria stipulated in the National Water Supply and Sanitation Policy for Nigeria, percentage rural water accessibility map was computed and analysed using ArcMap extension. Findings revealed the discrepancies in the sitting of water facilities and gradual phasing out of handpump boreholes to mini water schemes. Lack of community boundary map is a setback to rural water scheme implementation. Percentage access to safe water supply was found to be very low. It is recommended that the state government should set up Water Supply Technical Committee to regulate water supply programmes with the mandate of redesigning water schemes in line with the national policy standard
Simulation of The Heat Transfer Process Inside The Thatch Walls with The Aim of Saving Energy in The Buildings
Get PDFThe insulation is one of the emphasized methods in recent years to reduce energy consumption in buildings. As an insulator, thatch has the advantages such as the accessibility of the site, the least energy consumption in its construction (low cost), recyclability and compatible with the nature and the environment. The aim of this study is determining of the heat transfer coefficient and thatch mechanical properties So that due to its advantages it used as insulation and thereby reducing energy consumption in buildings considered and used. In this study, the heat transfer process in a cylindrical turn of thatch was studied. In the conducted experiments the temperature changes inside a cylinder turn were determined for different values of the ratio of the Straw to the used soil and then the obtained results were simulated using the version 2.4 of the COMSOL software. The compressive strength and mechanical properties of thatch were tested. By increasing the consumed Straw weight of 50 to 90 kg per 1 cubic meter of soil, the heat conductivity coefficient from about 1.1 decreased to about 0.3 (W/m K), the contraction percentage decreased and the porous, the compressive strength and the thatch deformability increased in the failure. Thermal insulation and the mechanical properties of the thatch were improved by the mixing of appropriate ratio of straw to soil in the construction of thatch. It can be used in the plaster of the walls and the internal and external ceilings of the building
Microbial Evaluation of Cooked Foods Served in the Central Restaurant of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Winter and Summer 2015
Get PDFFood-borne pathogens are the most important thing cause of illness and death in developing countries. Food safety is essential for central university kitchens because of the high number of meals served every day. These central university kitchen systems are of special interest as students are at relatively high-risk of developing serious complications from exposure to food bacterial contamination hazards.
A total of 144 samples of cooked foods, collected in winter and summer 2015 from the restaurants of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, were studied to determine the microbiological quality of these products. Results were analyzed through SPSS 22.0 and t-test. According to coliform count, the highest rate of contamination was in Kebab (1.17×102 CFU/g) and lowest was in fish (0.8×102 CFU/g) and also the highest rate of contamination of Escherichia coli (E.coli) was in Kebab (6 samples), and the lowest contamination level was in fish and in this regard no sample was reported to be positive. According to staphylococcus aureus, the highest contamination rate was in rice (0.97×102 CFU/g) and lowest was in fish (0.63×102 CFU/g). Kebab had the highest contamination of coliforms and staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in summer. None of the tested samples was confirmed with respect to salmonella, clostridium perfringens and staphylococcus aureus. Among the foods served in the university restaurants, Kebab had the highest bacterial contamination and fishes the lowest. Improved methods of cooking and food processing, prevention of secondary bacterial contamination, continuous monitoring and surveillance of food processing are the most important measures to prevent food contamination
A Review on Aflatoxins Reduction in Food
Get PDFAflatoxins (AFs) are cancerous secondary metabolites produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus in agricultural foodstuff such as peanuts, maize grains, cereals, and animal feeds. Food and Agricultural organization (FAO) estimated that as much as 25% of the world’s agricultural commodities are contaminated with mycotoxins, leading to significant economic losses. Moreover, AFs are highly toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. Therefore AFs reduction in food and feedstuffs is a major global concern. This review aims to bring up to date the detoxification methods applied for reduction of aflatoxins by physical (cleaning, heating, irradiation, adsorption), chemical (chemical compound, ozonization) and biological (applying bacteria, yeast and nontoxigenic Aspergillus strains) methods in different foods from 2000 to 2015. Papers related to aflatoxin reduction by managing aflatoxins risks, using resistant crops varieties, and good agricultural practices and papers related to other aflatoxins (M1, M2) were excluded
Occupational exposure and awareness of Occupational safety and health among cloth dyeing workers in Jaipur India
Get PDFAbstract:
Objectives: We assessed the health risk factors and awareness of Occupational safety and health of workers in cloth dyeing industry of Jaipur.
Methods: A pretested questionnaire was used to evaluate the health problems and awareness of occupational safety and health among workers.
Results: The majority of these workers were suffering from eye irritation, back pain, allergies, general weakness, with most workers having three to five of these health problems. Our study reported higher incidence of musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases among workers in different age groups.
Conclusion: A large number of diseases in different age groups is an indication that this industry exposes workers to many health hazards and lack of awareness and non availability of PPE in this industry is aggravating the health problems of the workers
Investigating the Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Academic Archievement of Medical Students (2013)
Get PDFIntensive use of the internet can be associated with negative psychological consequences and behavioral changes. These consequences affect different aspects of life including physical, mental and spiritual health and academic performance of the students as users. In this regard, this study is an attempt to determine the rate of internet addiction and its relationship to academic achievement among medical students of basic sciences studying at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
In this cross-sectional study, a sample size of 417 participants had been selected by stratified random sampling. To collect data a demographic questionnaire and a Farsi version of Young Internet Addiction Test was used. Descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, frequency Percent, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation test, chi-square and t-test) were used to analyze data.
57 out of 417 participants of the study (15.2%) had internet addiction. There was a significant relationship between time spent on the internet (p≤0.001) and number of failed credits in the semester prior to the study (P≤0.02 and r=-0.136). Internet addiction was not significantly associated with sex, age, age of the first internet use, parental education and academic achievement. By medical students of basic sciences internet addiction had no significant relationship with academic achievement; however, to study the effects of Internet addiction on other aspects of medical students' life is suggested
Knowledge of Men and Women about Infertility Risk Factors
Get PDFWith technological developments, creation of new industries and changing lifestyles, infertility risk factors (IRF) increased. Therefore creation of suitable solutions in society is crucial for the prevention of infertility.
Since prevention of infertility in a society is directly related to awareness about infertility, in the present study the awareness of people about infertility risk factors was assessed.
In this study, a survey questionnaire containing 24 factors related to IRF was developed and 170 persons (62 men and 108 women) from Fooladshahr, Najafabad and Mobarakeh participated and data were extracted from these questionnaires and were statistically analyzed.
Our study showed that average infertility awareness for men and women is 38% and 49% respectively. Also overall awareness was 44%. Also results showed that women’s awareness about mobile radiation and fast foods is significantly higher than men. On the other hand men have significantly higher awareness about adverse effects of chlorine in swimming pool on fertility. Higher women awareness may be related to their higher sensitivity for fertility. Also, generally a higher level of awareness was observed relating to mobile, air pollution, stress, fast foods, smoking and alcohol.
Women have a higher level of awareness about infertility risk factors. Higher awareness about some IRFs may be results from widespread media coverage
Role of Rice Farming in Development Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Rice Farmers: a Prospective Study in 2013
Get PDFFarming as job, had some activities or work task such as strenuous physical tasks and high levels of manual labor in farming job, which can increase risk of MSDs among farmers. Present study with prospective design designed for assessment role of rice farming in developmental risk of MSDs among Iranian rice farmers.
Present prospective study was performed on 75 rice farmers of Babol city in Iran and 75 participants without history of rice farming, during March 2013 until September 2013. At the beginning of the study, participants did not have any musculoskeletal complaints in each of their body parts. Study exposure in the present study was working in the rice farming workplace for one rice farming period which at least lasted for four months. Frequency of MSDs had been assessed by Nordic questionnaire at three follow-up points.
We followed 75 rice farmers of Babol city as expose and compare them with 75 participants without history of rice farming. Within the six months follow-up, MSDs complaints in 38 (50.66%), 61 (81.33%) and 47 (63.51%) rice farmers had been reported respectively in upper limbs, spinal and lower limbs regions.
In the present study, rice farming was reported as a risk factor for MSDs in the spinal region and lower limbs