Journal of Ergonomics

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Introduction: The psychological health is important factor in productivity of workforce and this parameter is effective on maximum aerobic capacity. This study was conducted to investigation of association between of psychological health and maximum aerobic capacity and determination of effective factors on general health in male workers of industrial sector of Shiraz city.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 500 male workers employed in Shiraz city industries participated voluntarily (age range= 20 to 59 years). The demographic questionnaire (including demographic/occupational and anthropometric (height, weight and BMI) and physiological (maximum aerobic capacity) characteristics) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were used as data collecting tools. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including T-test and Pearson Correlation by SPSS software (Version 16.0).

Results: Mean (standard deviation) of total score of general health and maximum aerobic capacity of workers were 17.00 (9.99) and 35.95 (7.39) ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant association between job tenure, BMI, marital status, educational level and shift working with general health. Also, the results showed that there was significantly association between "anxiety and insomnia" subscale and total score of general health with maximum aerobic capacity.

Conclusion: General health was significantly associated with maximum aerobic capacity, job tenure, BMI, marital status, educational level and shift working in studied workers. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE FA

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Introduction: Regarding to the competing and increasing competitions in organization and markets, paying attention to manpower and his quality of work life have progressively become important. This study was conducted with the objective of investigating of quality of working life and determination of its related factors in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) staff. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 218 employees of SUMS participated voluntarily. A questionnaire consisted of two parts was used as data collecting tool. In the first part, demographic and occupational characteristics, and in the second part questions about the quality of working life were included. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including Pearson Correlation, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U by SPSS software (Version 16.0). Results: Mean and standard deviation scores for the quality of working life of staff were 127.51±16.61. The results showed that there were associations between gender and income with quality of work life score (p<0.05), such that the quality of work life scores of women and high-income individuals were higher than those of men and lower- income staff. Age, job tenure, marital status, number of children, level of education, type of employment and job unit had no association with quality of work life score. Discussion: In this study, quality of work life had association with gender and income level of staff.

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Introduction: The maximum aerobic capacity (VO2-max) can be used to assess the cardio-respiratory condition and fit the physiological characteristics of workers to the work. This study was conducted to determine the correlation between the two methods of estimating the maximum aerobic capacity and its affecting factors among students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 104 students (54 males and 50 females) participated voluntarily (age ranged from 18 to 28 years). The subjects were assessed by step test according to Åstrand and ACSM protocols. The data collecting tool was a questionnaire including separate sections of demographic (age, sex, etc.), anthropometric (height, weight and BMI) and physiological (VO2-max) characteristics.

Results: The results revealed that the maximum aerobic capacity estimated from Åstrand and ACSM protocols were 3.21 (0.825) and 3.13 (0.707) l.min-1, respectively. Pearson correlation test showed high correlation between estimated maximum aerobic capacity via two protocols of Åstrand and ACSM (r=0.958). Meanwhile, there were significant associations among maximum aerobic capacity with weight, height, BMI and the number of hours of exercise per week.

Conclusion: The two methods for estimating the maximum aerobic capacity (Åstrand and ACSM) were highly correlated. Variables such as weight, height, BMI, and number of hours of exercise per week can be named as effective factors on VO2-m Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA

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Introduction: In the orthotic and prosthetic workshops, awkward postures, repetitive and continuously movements etc. are the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study was conducted with the objective of ergonomic assessment of working conditions in these workshops.

Material and Methods: In this study all employed personnel of linorthotic and prosthetic production centers in Shiraz city participated (n=42).Data were collected using Nordic Musculoskeletal disorders Questionnaire (NMQ) and Ergonomic Risk Factor checklist (ERF)for assessment of working conditions .Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (Ver. 16).

Results: The means (SD) of age and job tenure (years) in employees studied were 37.26 (10.21) and 12.8 (9.39), respectively .The most prevalent MSDs symptoms were reported in lower back (42.9%), shoulder (40.5%) and knee (40.5%).Working condition assessment by ERF check list revealed that the means core of upper and lower region of body and also mean of total score were higher than acceptable limit (more than 7)..

Conclusion: In working conditions improvement, corrective measures and MSDs risk factors control in studied workers should be noted to risk factors in low back, shoulder and knee. The results of this study showed that ergonomic problems in orthotics and prosthetics clinics was related to "custom shoe making", "grinding and finishing", "filling plaster cast" and "positive cast rectification" tasks and ergonomic interventions to decrees and/or eliminate of awkward working posture needed corrections.

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Introduction: Manual load lifting is the most common and most stressful activity in manual handling of loads that imposes the highest possible amount of biomechanical pressure on the body, particularly on the spine. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and to estimate the mechanical force exerted on the lower back in workers responsible for manual load lifting.

Material and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 workers responsible for manual load lifting activities in 7 industrial settings in the city of Shiraz. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used for determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the 3DSSPP software was used to estimate the forces exerted on the lower back during load lifting. Data were then analyzed in SPSS-19.Findings: The results showed that lower back problems constitute the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder (68.3%). Evaluations conducted in 3DSSPP showed that in 17.5% of the cases, compressive forces, and in 10.8% of the cases, shearing forces exerted on the L5-S1 disc were higher in the workers than the permissible levels. There were no significant differences between the rate of the prevalence of lower back pain at different levels of compressive and shearing forces exerted on the disc (p>0/05).

Results: This finding might indicate the limitations of the method used in this study for conducting a comprehensive assessment of loads exerted on the spine.

Conclusion: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, in particular lower back pain, was estimated to be high among the subjects studied. The risk levels of compressive and shearing forces exceeded the permissible amount in a low percentage of the workers studied. The 3DSSPP software might have certain limitations in the assessment of the pressure exerted on the spine.

 

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