[Determining safety integrity level on a hydrogen production unit with application of the of protection analysis method]

The criticality of existing hazards of chemical processes requires that several protection layers to be used against them. In this regard, applied layers efficiency and resistance analysis is a necessity. In this study the level safety of protection layers of a hydrogen production unit, has been evaluated. In order to assess the protection layers the preferred Layers of Protection Analysis method has been used. In this study, events have the severe effect, initiating causes and frequencies, Independent Protection Layers and Probability of Failure on Demand, the total probability of intermediate events and Safety Integrity Level were investigated. Results showed that the essential risk reduction was ranging from 10[-1] to 10[-2] and a Safety Integrity Level 2 was determined as a requirement. The results also specified it was not necessary to carry out a Quantitative Risk Analysis study. The time consuming nature of preferred Layers of Protection Analysis method, dis show the combination of this method by a software tools may result in more efficient method and lead to more speed and precision.

[Determination of effective risk factors in incidence of occupational accidents in one of the large metal industries, Arak [2005-2007]]

Occupational accident is an unplanned and harmful event which occurs in workplace environments. Among various occupations and activities, large metal industries are the most hazardous industries in the world. This study was designed in one of the Arak metal industries in order to determine the incidence rate of occupational accidents as well as its risk factors. Initially in an incidence study, 873 workers were followed historically to determine the number of accidents since 2005 to 2007. Then the cases were compared with a random sample of workers with no accident [251 workers] in a case control study. After data collection by a structured questionnaire, statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression in SPSS software [V.16]. During these three years, 359 accidents had been occurred and the annual incidence rate of accident was equal to 137 per 1000 workers. There was a significant relationship between occurrence of accident and age, work experience, education level, height, and systolic blood pressure as well as shift work [p<0.05].The marital status and number of children were not significant risk factors. Moreover, unsafe practices was the first case of accident, age and educational level were remained in regression model as the most important predictors of incident of occupational accidents. Considering the high frequency rate of accidents and based on our findings, planning and implementation of safety training, modifying non-safe conditions, supplying workers with appropriate standard protective equipment and appropriate facilities are recommended.

Evaluation of injuries among a manufacturing industry staff in Iran

Occupational injury is related to personal characteristics. This phenomenon is a controversial issue. This paper presents the relationships of certain occupational and individual characteristics with frequency of occupational injuries. A standardized injury questionnaire was completed for 199 employees in a big Iranian industrial company [MAPNA Group] by the researcher in the presence of the subjects. The data were analyzed using zero-inflated Poisson regression with random effects. We demonstrated a significant relation between the marital status [P< 0.001] and score of injures [P < 0.001] with number of injuries by employees. Technicians and supervisors have high chance of [not to be injured at all] relative to workers [P< 0.05]. Technicians and supervisors have less number of injuring than workers have [P< 0.05]. In addition, increasing assessment score decreases the number of injuring of employees [P< 0.001]. Due to being aware of the risks and remedial measures, married employees and workers should be assisted by occupational specialists

[Effects of safety signs on the modification of unsafe behaviours]

In recent decades studies have shown that the main cause of accidents is unsafe acts. Installation of safety signs is a complementary corrective action for unsafe act control. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investgate the effects of safety signs on the modification of unsafe behaviours. This interventional study was carried out in one of the turbine manufacturing industries in Iran, based on safety behaviour sampling technique. The unsafe acts was first determined and recorded, then 71 standard safety signs was installed based on [ANSI -Z535.2 and 3-2007] and 3 and 6 months after that the behaviours were evaluated. The behaviours before and after using the safety signs were compared. The frequency of unsafe behaviors was 41.7% before the intervention. The most frequent unsafe behaviours were not or incorrect use of personal protective equipments, taking improper postures and unsafe work at height. There and 6 months after the intervention, unsafe behaviours reduced to 27.3% and 31.3% respectively [p<0.005]. The findings showed that safety signs have a statistically significant effect on the reduction of unsafe behaviours. However, this effectiveness will be reducing over the time

[Epidemiological evaluation of fatal occupational accidents and estimation of related human costs in Tehran]

The human being has an important role in the production cycle and it cannot be possible to use him like other manufacturing organizations. Death due to occupational accidents causes loosing years of life, years of working and other relegated costs in addition to hardware assets' loss. Therefore, controlling the rate of accidents has been one of the continuous efforts of human. The target of this research is estimation of fatal occupational accidents and related human costs. This research was performed as a cross sectional study in 2003. Population of study included all dead insured staff, about 231 person, in Tehran province. The required data for this survey was collected through particular checklists by referring to various branches of the social security organization. The data then were evaluated by means of Excel and software that had been designed for this purpose. In these three years 19.8 percent of all accidents happening for insured staff occurred in Tehran. 3.1 percent of which led to death. This research showed that 7552 years of life and 3656 years of work were lost because of the occurrences of occupational accidents. Findings also showed that human cost for each fatal occupational accident was 3.3 milliard Rials. Reading the significant costs caused by occupational accidents, it is really important to recognize the accidents' causes, control the rate of them and provide sufficient and appropriate occupational health and safety services