The Impact of Job Stress and Job Satisfaction on Workforce Productivity in an Iranian Petrochemical Industry

BACKGROUND: Job stress and job satisfaction are important factors affecting workforce productivity. This study was carried out to investigate the job stress, job satisfaction, and workforce productivity levels, to examine the effects of job stress and job satisfaction on workforce productivity, and to identify factors associated with productivity decrement among employees of an Iranian petrochemical industry. METHODS: In this study, 125 randomly selected employees of an Iranian petrochemical company participated. The data were collected using the demographic questionnaire, Osipow occupational stress questionnaire to investigate the level of job stress, Job Descriptive Index to examine job satisfaction, and Hersey and Goldsmith questionnaire to investigate productivity in the study population. RESULTS: The levels of employees' perceived job stress and job satisfaction were moderate-high and moderate, respectively. Also, their productivity was evaluated as moderate. Although the relationship between job stress and productivity indices was not statistically significant, the positive correlation between job satisfaction and productivity indices was statistically significant. The regression modeling demonstrated that productivity was significantly associated with shift schedule, the second and the third dimensions of job stress (role insufficiency and role ambiguity), and the second dimension of job satisfaction (supervision). CONCLUSION: Corrective measures are necessary to improve the shift work system. “Role insufficiency” and “role ambiguity” should be improved and supervisor support must be increased to reduce job stress and increase job satisfaction and productivity.

Human Error Analysis in a Permit to Work System: A Case Study in a Chemical Plant

BACKGROUND: A permit to work (PTW) is a formal written system to control certain types of work which are identified as potentially hazardous. However, human error in PTW processes can lead to an accident. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted to estimate the probability of human errors in PTW processes in a chemical plant in Iran. In the first stage, through interviewing the personnel and studying the procedure in the plant, the PTW process was analyzed using the hierarchical task analysis technique. In doing so, PTW was considered as a goal and detailed tasks to achieve the goal were analyzed. In the next step, the standardized plant analysis risk-human (SPAR-H) reliability analysis method was applied for estimation of human error probability. RESULTS: The mean probability of human error in the PTW system was estimated to be 0.11. The highest probability of human error in the PTW process was related to flammable gas testing (50.7%). CONCLUSION: The SPAR-H method applied in this study could analyze and quantify the potential human errors and extract the required measures for reducing the error probabilities in PTW system. Some suggestions to reduce the likelihood of errors, especially in the field of modifying the performance shaping factors and dependencies among tasks are provided.

[Standardization of self-directed learning readiness scale for nursing and midwifery students]

Background and Objective: Self-directed learning readiness scale [SLRS] proposed by Fisher et al. [2001] is a self-evaluation tool containing 50 questions. The aim of the present study was to standardize SLRS for use among Nursing and Midwifery students

Methods: The statistical population of this descriptive psychometric study included all undergraduate students of Nursing and Midwifery of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences [N = 550]. Study samples were 224 students [27% males and 73% females]. The research instrument was self-directed learning readiness scale. Validity was confirmed by determining content validity and construct validity [exploratory factor analysis] and reliability was confirmed by calculating the coefficient of internal consistency [Cronbach's alpha]

Results: Three factors of self-management, willingness to learn, and self-control were extracted from the SLRS that could explain 34.5% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha for the entire questionnaire and the mentioned factors were respectively 0.92, 0.88, 0.82, and 0.79. The t-test results showed no significant difference between male and female students in regard to the total score. In addition, multi-variant ANOVA demonstrated no significant difference between male and female students in regard to self-directed learning factors. Mean and standard deviation of self-directing for all students were 176.99 and 25.41, respectively

Conclusion: Results showed that self-directed learning readiness scale has the required validity and reliability to identify self-directed learning capabilities in Nursing and Midwifery students