Attitudes of OHS inspectors towards practicing factory inspection in Egypt

Workplace inspection is part of a comprehensive health and safety program in which the workplace is closely examined on a regular basis of identifying and reviewing potential and actual hazards associated with equipment, tools, and industrial processes. The aim of the present study is to investigate the process of factory inspection as a tool of pertaining safety and welfare of employees in Egypt as well as to study the attitudes of inspectors who are responsible for the process of factory inspection in Egypt. The present study is conducted on 210 inspectors. 145 of them belong to different industrial, commercial, and service enterprises in Egypt and classified as group [A]. The other 65 inspectors are members of the Ministry of Labor in Egypt and classified as group [B]. Two forms of questionnaires are formed to provide personal, professional, and attitudinal data. Percentages of males in group [A] inspectors [95.2%] are greatly higher than that in group [B] [46.0%]. The bachelor degree in group [B] inspectors [89%] is more predominant than in group [A] inspectors [50.3%]. The main source of occupational health and safety [OHS] knowledge for group [A] inspectors is the training programs [75%], while, it is the practical training or by asking seniors for group[B]. The predominant aims of inspectors are safe work environment, safe workers and mitigation of occupational hazards. Some of job descriptions are identical. There are significant variation between the two groups of inspectors in how they evaluate work environment, [P=0.00001[asterisk]]. Only 78% and 91% of groups [Al and [B] inspectors, respectively know the Egyptian Labor Law No.12/2003. In case of danger, 73% of group [A] and 72% of group [B] inspectors take action[s] coincide with their responsibilities as informing management. There is non-significant variation between their opinion regarding the importance of the field of OHS and environment. Factory inspection is an important tool in assisting OHS programs. Efforts should be directed to enrich knowledge of inspectors continuously. Legislative knowledge is also needed. Inspectors should be continuously encouraged and supported from all involved authorities; this will help them do perfectly. Employers should be encouraged to fulfill the requirements of OHS programs

Indoor air quality of schools in Alexandria city

Poor air quality in schools can affect children's desire and ability to concentrate and learn and may lead to increased rate of absenteeism. This study was carried out with the aim of characterizing and measuring indoor air quality in school buildings, measuring ventilation status and studying the impact of design and environmental parameters on some measured pollutant levels. The study was carried out in some primary schools of Alexandria City. All ventilation rate levels exceeded the ASHRAE standard of 15 cfm/pupil except for a few cases. Badly located and small window area led to air stagnation and low ventilation rates. Levels of TSP greatly exceeded a suggested daily guideline of 150 mug/m3. The highest average levels of TSP were found inside classrooms surrounded by unpaved playground and located near semi rural, commercial and heavy traffic areas, while lowest levels were in classrooms located next to residential areas. The average total bacteria were highest in winter. There was also a slight increase in respiratory symptoms and signs in winter. There was a significant positive correlation between average total, pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria with average TSP Levels, indoor CO2 levels and relative humidity; while a significant negative correlation was observed with ventilation rate and class volume occupied. The average attack rate of respiratory conditions was 1.96 episode per child. Running nose was the highest frequent symptom. Students of first grade had an incidence rate higher than that among fifth grade students