Application of the thermoelectric cooling system in making a cooling belt: A case of heat stress control measure device.

BACKGROUND: Climate change and global warming are emerging as new challenges worldwide. The World Meteorological Organization has reported that the temperature is expected to rise by an average of 1.2°C between 2021-2025. This increase in temperature will expose more and more workers to extreme heat. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the possibility of using thermoelectric coolers for cooling the water circulation circuit of a cooling belt, which can be used for extended periods in high-temperature environments. METHODS: A cooling belt was designed using thermoelectric coolers (TEC) and two blowers. The TECs were equipped with heat sinks and heat exchange block made of aluminum at hot and cold sides to exchange heat effectively. RESULTS: The experiment was conducted under actual environmental temperature conditions during three different time periods, with mean temperatures of 31, 48, and 41°C. The mean temperature of the belt section was recorded as 20.73, 24.52, and 21.38°C, respectively. The maximum average difference between the inlet air temperature and the inside cooling belt temperature was 40.45°C. CONCLUSION: The experiment revealed that the cooling performance of the designed prototype remained within an acceptable range (18°C) despite the increase in ambient temperature. Moreover, the cooling system can be utilized in high-heat environments to reduce thermal stress.

Compliance with health protocols in the banking sector facing Covid-19.

Background: The spread of the coronavirus has become one of the current challenges in the world. Implementing health protocols in the workplace along with informing people who face them, has become a vital issue. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of compliance with health protocols and measure the level of awareness, attitude and performance of bank employees while facing Covid-19. Materials and methods: The data collection tool included a checklist and two questionnaires (demographic information and the other on the awareness, attitude and performance of bank staff) regarding the coronavirus. Results: A total of 199 bank employees from 25 bank branches participated in the study. The results showed that in 24% of the bank branches, the staff did not use face masks. And 100% of the studied bank branches lacked proper ventilation. The mean awareness scores of female employees (94.3) were significantly higher than those of male employees (87.7). Also, the performance of female employees (93.2) was significantly better than male employees (87.2). Conclusion: The results showed that to achieve proper performance in controlling and reducing the covid-19 disease among bank employees and other workers, these items are noteworthy: (1) Providing and training the correct use of protective equipment including face masks. (2) Monitoring for strict implementation of health protocols. Therefore, it is necessary to keep training and information up-to-date due to the new phenomena of this disease.

Survey of the health, safety and environment climate and its effects on occupational accidents.

BACKGROUND: Preserving and protecting the human resources is considered as the most important capital in any economic section by industrial development. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the health, safety and environment (HSE) climate and its effects on occupational accidents in a petrochemical industry. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was performed on 354 male workers in a petrochemical industry (10 different categories of site operators). Data was collected through a questionnaire, which its validity and reliability were standardized with Cronbach's alpha at 0.85. In this questionnaire the safety condition, workplace environment, disease symptoms were investigated in five, four and three dimensions, respectively. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 23 and LISREL version 8.8. RESULTS: According to the model values, there were significant correlation between safety condition and workplace environment r = 0.66, also between work safety condition and disease symptoms. The three hidden variables of work safety condition, work mental environment and physical workplace had significant effects on disease symptoms. Therefore, safety condition was the most effective variable on disease symptoms. Two significant predictors were work safety condition and physical workplace for work mental environment with coefficients γ= 2.29, ß= -0.1, respectively. CONCLUSION: HSE condition indicators, working environment and disease symptoms reflect workers' views on HSE issues in the workplace. It can be beneficial in rooting the factors affecting occupational accidents and performance evaluation in the organization HSE management system.

The role of ambient parameters on transmission rates of the COVID-19 outbreak: A machine learning model.

BACKGROUND: In recent years the relationship between ambient air temperature and the prevalence of viral infection has been under investigation. OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed at providing the statistical and machine learning-based analysis to investigate the influence of climatic factors on frequency of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Iran. METHOD: The data of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and some climatic factors related to 31 provinces of Iran between 04/03/2020 and 05/05/2020 was gathered from official resources. In order to investigate the important climatic factors on the frequency of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in all studied cities, a model based on an artificial neural network (ANN) was developed. RESULTS: The proposed ANN model showed accuracy rates of 87.25%and 86.4%in the training and testing stage, respectively, for classification of COVID-19 confirmed cases. The results showed that in the city of Ahvaz, despite the increase in temperature, the coefficient of determination R2 has been increasing. CONCLUSION: This study clearly showed that, with increasing outdoor temperature, the use of air conditioning systems to set a comfort zone temperature is unavoidable. Thus, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 increases. Also, this study shows the role of closed-air cycle condition in the indoor environment of tropical cities.

Face masks vs. COVID-19: a systematic review

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread rapidly around the world. Two types of approaches have been applied to use of face masks as a tool to prevent the spread this disease in society. The aim of the systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of face masks against the novel coronavirus. A literature search was performed using different databases until April 30, 2020. Search terms were 'facemasks', 'novel coronavirus', and 'healthcare workers'. Five studies were included in the systematic review. A study stated that no difference between surgical and cotton masks. Also, two studies have emphasized the use of surgical masks or N95 respirators by medical staff, and two other studies emphasized the use of any type of face mask by general public. More studies in controlled contexts and studies of infections in healthcare and community places are needed for better definition of the effectiveness of face masks in preventing coronavirus.

La enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) se propagó rápidamente por todo el mundo. Se han aplicado dos tipos de enfoques al uso de máscaras faciales como herramienta para prevenir la propagación de la enfermedad en la sociedad. El objetivo de la revisión sistemática fue evaluar la efectividad de las máscaras faciales contra el nuevo coronavirus. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica utilizando diferentes bases de datos hasta el 30 de abril de 2020. Los términos de búsqueda fueron: 'máscaras faciales', 'nuevo coronavirus' y 'trabajadores de la salud'. Se incluyeron cinco estudios en la revisión sistemática. Un estudio indicó que no hay diferencia entre las máscaras quirúrgicas y las de algodón. Además, dos estudios han enfatizado el uso de máscaras quirúrgicas o respiradores N95 por parte del personal médico, y otros dos estudios enfatizaron el uso de cualquier tipo de mascarilla por parte del público en general. Se necesitan más estudios en contextos controlados y estudios de infecciones en el cuidado de la salud y en lugares comunitarios para una mejor aclaración de la efectividad de las mascarillas para prevenir el coronavirus.

A doença de coronavírus (COVID-19) se espalhou rapidamente por todo o mundo. Dois tipos de abordagens foram aplicados ao uso de máscaras faciais como uma ferramenta para impedir a propagação da doença na sociedade. O objetivo da revisão sistemática foi avaliar a eficácia das máscaras faciais contra o novo coronavírus. Uma pesquisa bibliográfica foi realizada usando diferentes bancos de dados até 30 de abril de 2020. Os termos de pesquisa foram: máscaras faciais ',' novo coronavírus 'e' profissionais de saúde '. Cinco estudos foram incluídos na revisão sistemática. Um estudo indicou que não há diferença entre máscaras cirúrgicas e máscaras de algodão. Além disso, dois estudos enfatizaram o uso de máscaras cirúrgicas ou respiradores N95 pelo pessoal médico e dois outros estudos enfatizaram o uso de qualquer tipo de máscara pelo público em geral. É necessário mais estudos em ambientes controlados e estudos de infecções nos serviços de saúde e na comunidade para esclarecer melhor a eficácia das máscaras na prevenção do coronavírus