[Use of Disaster Management Computerized Simulation System in a teaching hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences]

Introduction: with a dramatic increase in costly mass casualty incidents over the past few decades, disaster planning and preparedness now represent a prominent part of health care policy and practice. Administration of computer technologies, including computerized simulation techniques, in hospitals can improve management of future incidents

Materials and Methods: in this research, we used SIMAN/ARENA software of disaster management in one of the teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data about the patient's need for specific surgeries, possibility of re-operation, length of operations and necessary equipment's including number of operating rooms and staff, imaging facilities and treatment stations in emergency department were collected. Two teams took part in this program: a simulation team and the hospital staff team. Both teams were trained before taking part in this study

Results: with the help of simulation system, the simulation team created various preplanned "events" and simulated in and out hospital situations. Hospital staff team reacted to these situations and was able to recognize and solve various problems in different critical points in hospital by using different tactical means

Conclusion: simulation technique used in this limited scale drill was useful in evaluating and improving preparedness of hospitals for managing a multi-casualty incident. The current system can be used in all hospitals in Iran to improve preparedness for receiving victims of a multi-casualty incident

Evaluation of risk factors causing musculoskeletal disorders using QEC method in a furniture producing unite

The musculoskeletal disorders cover a large percent of occupational diseases; therefore, in order to protect workers from such disorders, there is a need to evaluate workers positions at work in different industries. In a major furniture manufacture located in Tehran, 500 workers were examined. These workers were divided into fourteen working groups, including production lines of water-heater, air condition, electromotor production line, dunnage making hall, plastic hall, smithery, restaurant, store, engineers and supervisors, facilities, transportation, assembly of absorptive refrigerator and drivers. The results from Nordic Questionnaire and performing the evaluation method showed that, there was a significant relevance between outbreak of back pain and workgroups [P=0.005] and between the outbreak of pain in neck and workgroup as well. A significant relevance of P=0.005 indicating that, the working in the above mentioned work-place causes pain in both back and neck. Between other parts of the body and workgroup no significant relevance observed. Among workgroups, there was a significant relevance between the water-heater production line [P<0.005] and pain in the back, and there was also a significant relevance among the work in air-conditioning production line and the plastic injection [P=0.002], causing pain in the neck. The results from Quick Exposure Check [QEC] in one hundred working posture have shown that 10% of them fall into first and second level and 90% of them were categorized in third and forth levels