Effect of STOP technique on safety climate in a construction company

Safety programs are a core part of safety management in workplaces that can reduce incidents and injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of Safety Training Observation Program [STOP] technique as a behavior modification program on safety climate in a construction company. This cross-sectional study was carried out on workers of the Petrochemical Construction Company, western Iran. In order to improve safety climate, an unsafe behavior modification program entitled STOP was launched among workers of project during 12 months from April 2013 and April 2014. The STOP technique effectiveness in creating a positive safety climate was evaluated using the Safety Climate Assessment Toolkit. About 76.78% of total behaviors were unsafe and about 54.76% of total unsafe acts/ at-risk behaviors were related to the fall hazard. The most cause of unsafe behaviors was associated with habit and unavailability of safety equipment. After 12 month of continuous implementation the STOP technique, 55.8% of unsafe behaviors reduced among workers. The average score of safety climate evaluated using of the Toolkit, before and after the implementation of the STOP technique was 5.77 and 7.24, respectively. The STOP technique can be considered as effective approach for eliminating atrisk behavior, reinforcing safe work practices, and creating a positive safety climate in order to reduction incidents/injuries

[Assessment of the relationship of the risk of subjective work load to musculoskeletal disorders in bank staff in Kurdistan province]

Subjective workload [SWL] is a general concept in ergonomics literature. SWL is defined as the costs to the operator's health to achieve a certain level of performance. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of SWL for musculoskeletal disorders in bank employees in Kurdistan Province. Material and Method: This analytical - descriptive study included 200 employees from the banks of Kurdistan Province. NASA-TLX software and general Nordic questionnaire were used for the assessment of subjective work load and the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders respectively. Statistical analysis was performed by means of SPSS19. 78% of the subjects were male and 22% were female. The mean age and mean work background of the subjects were 36.28 and 14.2 years, respectively. On the whole, 48% of the staff had experienced pain at least once during the past year with highest frequency in the neck [48%], lower back [44%], and upper back [36%]. The NASA Index showed that the bank staffs have scored the effort scale and efficiency scale with respective mean values and SD of 72.8 +/- 25.3 and 36.0 +/- 22.6, as the maximum and minimum values among the various aspects of workload. Data analysis revealed that mean subjective workload had statistically significant relationships with matrimony, work background, and also with prevalence and experience of pain [P=0.0001]. The rate of subjective workload and musculoskeletal disorders in bank staff are high to the same degree and it seems that subjective workload scales not only add to the subjective workload but also act as a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders

[ relationship between exposure to respiratory pollutants and pulmonary function tests capacities in steel industry workers]

In the steel industry, workers are often exposed to high concentrations of dust particles of raw materials such as iron ore, coke, manganese, and metal fumes such as iron oxides, manganese and silicon which can affect respiratory function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between exposure to respiratory pollutants and pulmonary function tests capacities in steel factory workers. Material and In this historical cohort study, a total of 260 workers were divided into two groups. One group was exposed and the other group was not exposed to respiratory pollutants. Environmental sampling was used to evaluate the type, distribution and exposure rate. In order to evaluate respiratory problems and lung function of the workers we used ATS standard questionnaire and spirometry, respectively, based on ATS/ERS guidelines. The mean total dust levels measured in bag filter, blast furnace, material supply and casting units were 13.32, 12.015, 11.75 and 10.98 mg/m3 respectively. The measured mean values for fume particles in blast furnace and casting units were 8.54 and 6.81 mg/m3 respectively. 37.6% of the workers had a history of respiratory symptoms, 32.3% of them were among the exposed group [p<0.05]. Mean percentages of FEV1/FVC were significant in exposed and unexposed groups. Mean percentages of FVC and FEV1 in the exposed group were lower than those of ATS standard range, but the relationship was not significant. It seems that workers exposed to pollutants are at risk of developing respiratory symptoms and reduced spirometric indices. Therefore, appropriate measures should be considered to reduce the impact of pollutants

intervention for noise control of blast furnace in steel industry

Noise pollution is currently a major health risk factor for workers in industries. The aim of this study was to investigate noise pollution and implement a control intervention plan for blast furnace in a steel industry. The measurement of sound pressure level [SPL] along with frequency analysis was done with the sound-level-meter Cell-450. Personal noise exposure was performed using dosimeter TES-1345 calibrated with CEL-282. Before planning noise controls, acoustic insulation properties of the furnace control unit and workers' rest room were assessed. Control room and workers' rest room were redesigned in order to improve acoustical condition. The SPL before intervention around the Blast Furnace was 90.3 dB [L] and its dominant frequency was 4000 Hz. Besides, noise transmission loss of the control and rest rooms were 10.3 dB and 4.2 dB, respectively. After intervention, noise reduction rates in the control and rest rooms were 27.4 dB and 27.7 dB, respectively. The workers' noise dose before and after the intervention was 240% and less than 100%, respectively. Improvement the workroom acoustic conditions through noise insulation can be considered effective method for preventing workers exposure to harmful noise