ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In both developed and developing countries, noise is regarded as the most common occupational hazard in various industries. The present study aimed to examine the effect of sound pressure level (SPL) on serum cortisol concentration in three different times during the night shift. METHODS: This case–control study was conducted among 75 workers of an industrial and mining firm in 2017. The participants were assigned to one of the three groups (one control and two case groups), with an equal number of workers (25 participants) in each group. Following the ISO 9612 standard, dosimetry was adopted to evaluate equivalent SPL using a TES-1345 dosimeter. The influence of SPL on serum cortisol concentration was measured during the night shift. The serum cortisol concentration was measured using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) test in the laboratory. Repeated measure analysis of variance and linear mixed models were used with α = 0.05. RESULTS: The results indicated a downward trend in the serum cortisol concentration of the three groups during the night shift. Both SPL and exposure time significantly affected cortisol concentration (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001). Conversely, age and body mass index had no significant influence on cortisol concentration (p = 0.360, p = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Based on the obtained results, increasing SPL will lead to enhancement of serum cortisol concentration. Given that cortisol concentration varies while workers are exposed to different SPLs, this hormone can be used as a biomarker to study the effect of noise-induced stress.
Subject(s)
Body Mass Index , Developing Countries , Hydrocortisone , Mining , Noise , Noise, Occupational , RadioimmunoassayABSTRACT
Mental workload is one of the factors that influence individuals' performance in the work environment as well as their efficiency and productivity. The present study aimed at examining the association between mental workload and general health among welders of Tehran Heavy Structuress Metal Company.This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016. The sample included 100 welders who were working in Tehran Heavy Structures Metal Company. Sampling was done through conducting a census. A demographic questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-28 [GHQ-28], and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index [NASA-TLX] mental workload questionnaire were used to collect data. The obtained data were fed into SPSS [version 22] and analyzed through Chi-square, one-way ANOVA, Kruscal Wallis Test, Pearson product moment correlation, and Mann-Whitney U Test.The results showed that the participating welders had an average age of 36.16 +/- 7.81, an average work experience of 9.65 +/- 5.83, and a BMI of 25.95 +/- 3.39 kg/m2. The mean and standard deviation of the overall score of welders' mental workload were 65.88 +/- 21.15. The cut-off scores for the total mental workload questionnaire and the subscales were respectively set at 23 and 6. The results demonstrated that 26% of the welders were suspected of mental disorder. Furthermore, the results of Pearson correlation indicated that there was no significant relationship between the overall score of NASA mental workload and that of general health [p-value>0.05].Welders' mental workload is relatively high. Therefore, further research should be conducted in order to identify main risk factors that lead to mental and health disorder. Future studies should also be performed to present some solutions for te purpose of decreasing or preventing these side effects among welders as much as possible
ABSTRACT
Sleeping is an important physiological process, wielding deep effect on the spiritual and physical health of individuals. The present study has been carried out to investigate workers' sleep quality in GoleGohar Mineral Industries Co., Sirjan, Iran. This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study has been carried out in 2012. The statistical society included 345 workers in of psychological health of workers in Hematite and Pelletizing section in GoleGohar Mineral Industries Co., Sirjan. The sampling method was simple random selection. Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] was applied in the study, with the Cronbach validity of 0.83. Analysis of data was carried out under SPSS 19 software using descriptive and inferential statistics tests. Workers averaged 30.92+/-4.78 years of age and their working experience averaged 5.47+/-3.24 years. 82.9 percent of the workers responding to the questionnaire were satisfied with their jobs, and 17.1 percent were not satisfied. Body Mass Index [BMI] for workers averaged 24.5+/-3.51 Kg/m3.51 Kg/m[2] 46.9 percent of workers experienced satisfactory sleep and 53.1 percent of them experienced unsatisfactory sleep. The present study has reported workers' sleep quality in a modest level. With high influence of sleep quality on individual performance and on their general health, and high incidence of workplace events, this aspect of workers' health should be in the focus of policy-makers and relevant authorities in health sector
ABSTRACT
Heat stress is a significant occupational health and safety for workers in petrochemical industries. Heat stress is a combination of heat load individual and environmental factors impose on workers' bodies, which in turn, have impacts on workers' performance, safety, and health. The present paper is carried out to determine the heat stress levels in workplace and to compare it with allowed Wet Bulb Globe Temperature [WBGT] according to ISO 7243 standard. the present study was carried out in three consecutive weeks in Mehr Petrochemical Complex in South Pars Special Economic Zone in Assaluyeh, 270Km southeast of Bushehr in spring of 2011. The study was carried out on workers in different parts including workers in packaging, mechanics, welding, and store keeping sections. Environmental parameters of dry temperature, natural wet temperature, glowing temperature, and relative humidity were measured to calculate an index for Wet Bulb Globe Temperature according to ISO7243 standard, and metabolism rate was estimated according to ISO 8996 standard. Metabolism level for workers in two groups of mechanics and welding sections according to ISO 8996 standard was 95W/m2, and for workers of packaging and store keeping sections calculated as 75W/m2. Based on ISO 8996, work load for all four sections was light. The means of weather parameters such as dry temperature, natural wet temperature, glowing temperature, and relative humidity were statistically significant for all four sections. It was also indicated that the highest level of WBGT were obtained for workers in mechanics [33.26+/-0.21], packaging [32.02+/-0.2], welding [31.37+/-0.2], and the lowest level was estimated for store keeping workers [27.4+/-0.22], with changes being statistically significant. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: findings of the present study indicated significant changes between different groups in measured parameters and calculated indices, which confirm results of previous body of research. Workers in three groups of mechanics, packaging, and welding are exposed to heat stress, and among these three, mechanics workers' exposure to heat stress is higher, but WBGT index in store keeping work place is lower than allowed level. Thus, they have been experiencing favourable work atmosphere