Work - Volume 70, issue 3

Authors: Gharibi, Vahid | Cousins, Rosanna | Jahangiri, Mehdi | Bargar, Mina

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has required organizations to make changes to ways of working to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 in employees. OBJECTIVE: To assess the workplace response to COVID-19 in Iran. METHODS: 255 organizations completed a two-part survey. Part 1 collected data describing the business; part 2 comprised the International Labor Organization (ILO) 30-item Prevention and Mitigation of COVID-19 at Work Actions Checklist. A four-point Likert scale was used to score each item according to whether preventative measures had been actioned. RESULTS: We found a dichotomy of commitment to managing COVID-19 at …work. 42.5%of organizations had fully implemented the ILO recommended preventative actions, and 45.6%workplaces had not implemented any. Large organizations had significantly more preventative actions than SMEs; the healthcare sector had significantly better COVID-19 mitigation measures in place than construction projects; and organizations with a health and safety management system had significantly more prevention actions in place. CONCLUSIONS: ILO provided a good framework to support risk assessment of COVID-19, however only half the organizations were undertaking the necessary biological hazard control actions to prevent COVID-19 at work. There remains a need to understand the inaction of organizations who do not risk assess despite being in a pandemic. Show more

Keywords: Coronavirus, duty of care, ILO checklist, pandemic, risk assessment

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205303

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 777-784, 2021

Authors: Kaleh, Hiro | Mohammadian, Farough | Pouyakian, Mostafa

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The structure of buildings is in degradation over time, monitoring their safety status and providing timely warnings is crucial. Therefore, an efficient visual inspection of the building’s safety has intrinsic value to give early warnings to owners and managers. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide an audit tool for evaluation of the administrative in-operation buildings’ safety status. METHODS: Factors affecting the administrative buildings’ safety status was determined based on the National Building Regulations of Iran (NBRI) and other studies. Checklist items and their guidelines were prepared. Face validity (quantitative and qualitative), Content Validity Ratio (CVR), …and Content Validity Index (CVI) were calculated for the checklist. The Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) used for inter-rater reliability and Cronbach’s α was used to evaluate internal consistency of the checklist. RESULTS: Forty-seven items related to in-operation building safety were extracted from literature review. Based on the results of the psychometric analysis, 5 items were removed and 42 items remained. The values of different psychometric indices for the other items indicated their acceptable validity (α= 0.82, ICC ≥0.75). CONCLUSION: The designed checklist had a good level of validity and reliability for inspecting architectural, technical services, and managerial safety aspects of administrative in-operation buildings. Stakeholders can use it for quick and comprehensive assessment of building safety. Use of this checklist are expected to give early warnings about the safety of buildings to the stakeholders. Show more

Keywords: Building safety, in-operation building, inspection checklist, psychometric, administrative building

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205011

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 785-794, 2021

Authors: Liu, Quanlong | Zhao, Pan | Zhang, Yueqian | Li, Xinchun

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Most studies have focused on the establishment and application of the risk precontrol management system for safety in coal mines and have seldom considered the evaluation of the system operation effect. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the operation effect of risk precontrol management system of safety in coal mines and propose policy suggestions to improve the risk precontrol management level of safety. METHODS: This study applied the Objective and Subjective Weighting Method (OSWM) combined with the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to conduct evaluation and empirical research on …the operation effect of the risk precontrol management system of safety in coal mines. RESULTS: First, the evaluation index system is mainly composed of six first-level indicators and 30 subordinate secondary indicators. Second, the OSWM combined with TOPSIS is an effective method for operation effect evaluation, which yields accurate and undistorted evaluation results. Third, the calculation reference value of the operation effect in the Gengcun coal mine is 57.34, and its corresponding effect level is level III, which is basically effective. Moreover, the calculation reference values of production equipment management (P4) and inspection, audit and review (P6) are the lowest, while the calculation reference values of risk precontrol management (P1) and auxiliary management (P5) reach the critical value corresponding to effect level I, which indicates a good operation effect. CONCLUSIONS: Corresponding policy suggestions to improve the risk precontrol management level in the Gengcun coal mine are proposed based on the above evaluation results. Show more

Keywords: Coal mine enterprises, risk management, system evaluation, policy suggestions

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205039

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 795-804, 2021

Authors: O’Halloran, David | Thomacos, Nikos | Casey, Simone | Farnworth, Louise

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Research consistently shows that Australian employment services are failing those they are intended to serve. Based on findings in other human service areas, a valid and reliable instrument to measure unemployed workers’ experiences may provide an opportunity for improvement in this sector. OBJECTIVE: To establish a basis for developing a suitable rating scale. METHODS: An exploratory factor analysis combined with qualitative cross check for face validity of an existing large survey of Australian unemployed workers. RESULTS: Six factors appear to be important elements of service delivery: (F1) useful and competent, (F2) client-centred, (F3) …receptive to feedback, (F4) trustworthy, (F5) fair, and (F6) friendly. CONCLUSIONS: While each of these factors have been either described explicitly or referred to implicitly in previous studies, this study is the first to attempt to combine these factors and is a precursor to establishing a valid and reliable rating scale for use by unemployed workers in evaluating their employment service providers. At a time when Australia is exploring new approaches to employment services, such a scale using a robust set of factors may allow for the improvement of employment services and thus be held accountable to a significant stakeholder group whom they aim to serve –unemployed workers. Show more

Keywords: Unemployment, rating scale, quality improvement, service delivery, exploratory factor analysis

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205120

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 805-813, 2021

Authors: Magri, Claudia A. | Garcia, Rodrigo G. | Binotto, Erlaine | Burbarelli, Maria F.C. | Gandra, Erika R.S. | Przybulinski, Bruna B. | Caldara, Fabiana R. | Komiyama, Claudia M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Poultry activity exposes workers to accidents and unhealthy conditions with physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychological risks. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to list risk factors in poultry farms in operational, behavioral, and environmental aspects. METHODS: We evaluated poultry farm workers through quantitative and qualitative analysis applying a semi-structured online questionnaire containing 58 questions to identify risks in the workplace and health implications. RESULTS: Most facilities were air-conditioned, workers performed their activities in a totally closed environment, with low light (1 to 10 lux), for more than 40 h/wk. Regarding accidents, 61%of workers claimed to …have suffered some type of accident, 34%claimed to not use personal protection equipment, and 41%felt unable to perform their activities at some time due to health problems; handling animals and animal waste were the most significant biological risks; dust and ammonia corresponded to the most significant chemical risks; and electric shock, burns, and heat exposure were the most significant physical/accident risks. CONCLUSIONS: Workers expose themselves daily to physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, and ergonomic risks. These exposures often lead to symptoms such as stress, headache, eye and mucous membrane disorders, respiratory diseases, back and muscle pain, depression, and symptoms often associated with Sick Building Syndrome. Show more

Keywords: Work accident, poultry farming, worker welfare, ergonomics, stress

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205179

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 815-822, 2021

Authors: Ebrahimi, Hossein | Kharghani Moghadam, Seyedeh Melika

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In industrial towns, the dangers of each industry also poses a threat to other industries due to the proximity of different industries to each other. So there is a need for a safety management system. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to introduce a management system for managing the safety of industrial towns. METHOD: This cross-sectional and qualitative study was conducted in three main phases: (1) Identify the elements of the safety management systems using literature review, (2) screening and determining useful elements using Delphi technique and (3) determining the structure of safety management system. …RESULTS: Participation of the industries and their compliance with the standards were considered as the system foundation. The networks of safety information of the industries, accident’s database, safety training, contractors, emergency management and management of the changes were placed on the foundation as the system columns. The Industrial Town’s Safety Management (ITSM) system as the system roof was placed on the columns. This structure was placed within a two-line framework including the trade secrets and program audit. CONCLUSIONS: The ITSM system consists of a set of factors that can help manage the safety of the industrial towns. This system will increase the safety level of industrial towns by incorporating some safety principles. However, the safety management of an industrial town is very complex and requires a great deal of efforts. Show more

Keywords: Industry, safety, industrial town, safety management, system

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205327

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 823-832, 2021

Authors: Rhén, Ida-Märta | Fan, Xuelong | Kjellman, Magnus | Forsman, Mikael

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In the 90s, digital human manikins (DHMs) were introduced in planning of workstations, by static or semi-static simulations. Modern DHMs can simulate dynamic work and offer a rapid way for a virtual pre-production ergonomic evaluation. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders may affect surgical performance and patient safety. A prototype of an open console, which is contrary to the conventional closed consoles and may be seen as a representative for a new generation, has been designed to reduce workload for robotic surgery surgeons. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this project was to test a new DHM tool with improved usability to …evaluate the ergonomics of a console of a robotic surgical system in a pre-production stage. METHODS: The DHM tool IMMA was used together with a 3D model of the prototype console. Twelve manikins who represented females and males from two national populations were introduced. Manikin-console distances, after console adjustments per manikin, were compared with a US checklist and Swedish standard for VDU work. RESULTS: The DHM tool was useful for this case, but the distances of the checklist and the standard were needed to be obtained “manually”. The automatic functions of the DHM worked smoothly but were not optimized for VDU work. The prototype fulfilled most, but not all, of the ergonomic criteria of the checklist and the standard. CONCLUSIONS: There is room for improvements of the adjustable ranges of the console prototype. DHMs may facilitate rapid pre-production evaluation of workstations for static work; if ergonomic assessment models for VDU work are built-in, there may be a revival of DHMs in static work situations. Show more

Keywords: Robotic surgery, digital human manikin, simulation, ergonomic assessment, occupational ergonomics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213604

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 833-851, 2021

Authors: Anwar, Nabila | Alshammary, Freah | Siddiqui, Ammar Ahmed | Alenzi, Rana Homoud | Alshmmari, Bashayer Hamd | Alam, Mohammad Khursheed

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Dental students have been identified as having a high level of stress. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among undergraduate dental students of university of Hail and to determine the association of anxiety and depression in terms of gender and respective year of study. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study. Nonprobability sampling technique was used to assess the prevalence and association of anxiety and depression among male and female dental students of preclinical and clinical years of College of Dentistry, University of Hail, Saudi Arabia. Students were contacted …personally, explained the purpose of the study and asked to participate in the study. Students were asked to complete both Beck’s depression inventory and Beck’s anxiety inventory to assess the level of their respective status. RESULTS: The results of the survey revealed that a greater number of females suffered from ‘moderate’ level of anxiety (12.3%) as compared to males (3.2%). Additionally, the percentage for females to experience ‘borderline’ (11.6%) and ‘moderate’ (9.7%) level of depression was higher than their male counterparts –‘borderline’ (7.7%) and ‘moderate’ (2.6%). The level of anxiety and depression compared with genders was found to be statistically significant. It was noted that final year students (8.4%) experienced ‘moderate’ level of anxiety and there was a peak rise in level of depression among 4th year (6.5%) and 6th year (5.8%) students as compared with other years. CONCLUSION: The finding of the study emphasizes that the overall percentage of level of depression is comparatively higher than level of anxiety among dental students. Show more

Keywords: Beck’s anxiety inventory, Beck’s depression inventory, college of dentistry, Hail, undergraduate students

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213605

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 853-859, 2021

Authors: Abraçado, Mateus Pereira | Duarte, Francisco José de Castro Moura | Béguin, Pascal Daniel | Fontainha, Tharcisio Cotta | Oggioni, Barbara Passos | de Almeida, William Silva Santana

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Activity ergonomics aims to include work variability into design process to enable various dimensions of use in projects. As design evolves with use, understanding its characteristics is essential to decipher real working requirements. However, situated design can be pluralistic and may lead to different interpretations than initially intended. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims at understanding the relationship between the designing phase of work systems and the situated task design in high uncertainty operations. METHODS: In an ergonomic work analysis, cargo handling operations were observed at offshore platforms, followed by discussions with workers. Two case studies were …selected for the intervention process to demonstrate how workers dealt with high uncertainty tasks on site. RESULTS: Situated task design exhibited three main characteristics: (1) the project emerges from the situation; (2) it has an intentional and original character; and (3) it is situated in time and space to solve local problems. CONCLUSIONS: This combination is the essence of a microproject, which is a concept proposed in this paper. The design must provide resources not only to execute work but also to redesign the task on site. Show more

Keywords: Activity ergonomics, unanticipated use, situated design, situated action, material handling

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213606

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 861-873, 2021

Authors: Rashnuodi, Payam | Amiri, Arman | Omidi, Maryam | Mohammadi, Abbas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Research has shown that the decrease in the inner diameter of vessels caused by hyperlipidemia lowers the capacity for blood oxygen delivery to the cochlea. This leads to impaired cochlear metabolism and causes hearing problems. OBJECTIVE: The effects of dyslipidemia on noise-induced hearing loss in workers were examined. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 692 male employees in a petrochemical industry in the southwest of Iran exposed to 85 dB noise. Clinical audiometry and blood sample tests were used to evaluate the hearing and prevalence indices of dyslipidemia (cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL). …The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25 (p  = 0.05). RESULTS: The results showed that the prevalence of dyslipidemia was 24.5% with abnormal relative triglyceride frequency of 49.5%, HDL of 28%, LDL of 33%, and total blood cholesterol level of 37.8%. There was no significant relationship between NIHL and dyslipidemia (p  > 0.09). However, the major NIHL drops at different frequencies were in the individuals with dyslipidemia. The parameters age and dyslipidemia increased NIHL odds ratio (95% C.I.) by 1.130 (1.160–1.100) and 1.618 (2.418–1.082) respectively. CONCLUSION: The rate of hearing loss in individuals with dyslipidemia increases at different frequencies and it leads to an increase of the OR of NIHL in individuals with dyslipidemia. We can control dyslipidemia and its effective factors. The NIHL is more common in people exposed to noise. Show more

Keywords: NIHL, cholesterol, lipid, triglyceride, petrochemical

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-213607

Citation: Work, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 875-882, 2021