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Design and Development of a Visual Comfort Questionnaire (VCQ) for Employees in the Workplace
Mostafa Rahmiani Iranshahi, Masoud Shafiee Motlagh, Elahe Dortaj, Maryam Farhadian,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Visual comfort is an important and influential factor on safety, mental health, sleep quality, and musculoskeletal disorders of employees in the workplace. This study aimed to design and develop a questionnaire to assess the visual comfort of employees in the workplace.
Methods: The study was performed on 101 participants (88 men and13 women) in the food industry. First, the available lighting questionnaires in the field of lighting were reviewed, and a question bank was set up. Twenty questions were considered in two sections of natural and artificial lighting (10 questions in each section) based on the opinion of 10 experts in this field. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed using the content validity index (CVI) based on the comments of experts. To validate the questionnaire in the workplace, The lighting of employees' workstations was evaluated according to the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) standards and compared with the results of the questionnaire.
Results: The Cronbach's alpha of natural and artificial lighting visual comfort questionnaire was 0.858 and 0.922, respectively. The total CVI of the questionnaire was 1. There was a significant positive relationship between the score of the visual comfort questionnaire and the workstations' illumination (P = 0.001). More than 97% of employees who had workstations with the desired lighting reported excellent levels of visual comfort.
Conclusion: The visual comfort questionnaire had good and acceptable reliability and validity. This tool is recommended for the use of visual comfort asessments of employees in work environments given the fewer number of and simplicity of sentences.

A Survey on the Sleep Quality in Agricultural Tractor Drivers in Different Climatic Conditions
Ehsan Houshyar, Hadi Daneshmandi,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Among the various agricultural activities, working and driving with farm tractors in different weather conditions lead to fatigue and burnout. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sleep quality of farm tractors drivers in different weather conditions.
Methods: Amongst tractor drivers in Behbahan, Eqlid, and Kavar, 90 participants (Kavar: 27; Eqlid: 33; Behbahan: 30) were selected. The required data was gathered using the demographic characteristics questionnaire and standard questionnaire Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We used Kruskal-Wallis and Post-hoc pairwise comparison tests to analyze the data (α = 0.05).
Results: The results showed that there were no significant differences in sleep quality and sleep quality parameters between different region tractors drivers (P > 0.05); but there were significant differences in mental sleep quality (P = 0.001), in terms of delays in falling asleep (P = 0.02), going to sleep duration (P = 0.04) and between Kavar and Behbehan tractor drivers, and also there are significant differences in going to sleep duration (P = 0.04) between Kavar and Eqlid tractor drivers.
Conclusion: Working in critical cold weather (like nights in Eqlid) or critical hot weather (like noon in Behbahan) should be strongly forbidden by providing with a suitable working schedule especially while tractor drivers without driver’s cabin. Drivers’ cabins safeguards drivers against temperature, wind and dust, and, therefore increase their comfort and sleep quality.

The Effect of Environmental and Ergonomic Stimuli of the Work Environment on Employees’ Behavior by the Mediating Role of General Health
Mehdi Fadaei, Mahdi Homayounfar, Mansour Soufi, Amir Daneshvar,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (7-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Considering the importance of employees' behavior in service organizations and its significant impact on their success and failure, the present study investigates the environmental and ergonomic factors affecting the mental health and behavior of employees in one of the branches of Islamic Azad University.
Methods: The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of data gathering and analysis. The statistical population of the study includes: 315 employees of Rasht Branch of Azad University, out of them 196 people were selected by random sampling method and the necessary data were collected using a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling and SMART PLS3 software were used to test the hypotheses.
Results: According to the findings, workplace layout affects on use of work equipment (0.389), use of office chair (0.252) and environmental conditions (0.538), but the effect of workplace layout on the posture of employees was not confirmed in 5 percent significance level. Also, the effect of posture (0.586), layout (0.440), work equipment (0.458), office chair (0.345) and environmental conditions (0.550) on public health and also the effect of general health (0.690) and environmental conditions (0.158) on employees’ behavior is significant. Examining the indirect relationships of the research model also shows that workplace layout affects employee behavior through the general health and environmental conditions. Workplace layout influences employees’ behavior through work equipment, office chair, environment conditions and general health.
Conclusion: The indirect effect of workplace layout on employees’ behavior through public health has the highest impact (0.304), therefore, making policies for the general health, can improve employees’ behavior.

Determining the Effect of Ergonomic Principles of the Work Environment on the Burnout of Employees of Ilam Petrochemical Company with the Role of Safety Culture Moderator
Mohammad Reza Omidi, Nabi Omidi, Hadi Meftahi, Maryam Panahi,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Considering the role of human resources in every organization, it is very important to address issues that lead to the reduction of occupational injuries in the workplace, it is clear that preventing the occurrence of job burnout in improving people's mental health. It plays an important role. One of the topics that can be useful in reducing job burnout is the application of ergonomic knowledge and compliance with safety principles, which is the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of workplace ergonomic principles on job burnout with the moderating role of safety culture.
Methods: The current research is descriptive survey research, the statistical population of this research is all the employees of Ilam Petrochemical Company, which was obtained by using the Cochran formula, and the sample size is equal to 310 people; The main tools for collecting information in this research include demographic profile questionnaires, ergonomic principles, job burnout, and safety culture. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the professors using face and content validity methods, and the reliability was also confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In this research, structural equations based on path analysis in SMART PLS software were used to analyze and test research hypotheses.
Results: The impact of ergonomic principles on the burnout of Ilam Petrochemical employees is negative and significant with coefficients (T = 12.26, R2 = -0.42), and the cultural impact of safety on burnout is also negative and significant with coefficients
(T = 14.07, R2 = -0.32). is, the test of the main hypothesis shows that safety culture moderates the effect of ergonomic principles on job burnout and causes more reduction of job burnout.
Conclusion: Compliance with the principles of ergonomics in the work environment and the existence of a safety culture in Ilam Petrochemical will reduce job burnout.

Performance of Vests based on Nanofibers and Packages of Phase Change Materials to Reduce Thermal Stress in a Hot Work Environment: An Experimental Study
Ali Davoodizadeh, Mohsen Aliabadi, Majid Habibi Mohraz, Maryam Farhadian, Masoud Shafiee Motlagh,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cooling vests based on nanofibers and packages of phase change materials (PCM) in reducing the thermal stress of medical personnel in hot workplaces.
Methods: In this experimental study, 20 males were exposed to 10 combined scenarios of temperatures of 24°C and 32°C in a room simulating atmospheric conditions and having 5 samples of cooling vests. Physiological parameters, including skin surface temperature, tympanic temperature, and oral temperature were measured before and after exposure to air temperature conditions by simulating the activity metabolism of hospital workers. The normal distribution of the data was checked with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the analysis of the effect of the scenarios was performed through the analysis of variance with repeated measurements.
Results: The results confirmed that in the condition without a vest, the air temperature of 32°C compared to the air temperature of 24°C had a greater effect in increasing the tympanic body temperature (P<0.05). The significant effect of using nanofiber vests along with PCM packages was observed in reducing skin temperature, tympanic temperature, and oral temperature in hot temperature conditions with effect sizes of 0.498, 0.568, and 0.349, respectively (P<0.05). The effect size of increasing the air temperature was lower than that of the type of cooling vests on the physiological responses, indicating that the effectiveness of the designed vests is enhanced with an increase in temperature (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of nanofiber cooling vests and PCM packages is effective in maintaining the body temperature stability of medical personnel in hot environments due to ideal weight and acceptable effect size.

Comprehensive Fall Prevention Strategies in Elderly: A Systematic Review
Neda Ghasemi, Mohamadhossein Nabian, Hossein Fallah, Morteza Ghasemi, Amirmohamad Najafipour,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Falls are one of the leading causes of injury in the elderly; therefore, prevention and early intervention seem essential. Given the importance of examining and identifying factors affecting falls and the lack of such studies, it is essential to conduct this research to investigate the factors influencing falls in older adults in developing countries, with an emphasis on safety and ergonomics.
Methods: A review method was used to conduct this study. Articles from 2019 to 2024 were found using the keywords: "Fall risk factor," "Safety," "Elderly," "Fall prevention," "Home safety," and "Urban safety" on PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar websites.
Results: After a total of 1,154 publications were located, 523 were chosen based on their titles, 120 were examined based on their abstracts, and 51 were chosen whose full texts were available in English. Many elements, including psychological, physical, and cognitive characteristics, ergonomic and safety tools, awareness and education, social factors, and urban services, were examined in the publications about falls among the elderly.
Conclusion: The risk factors for falls in the elderly were taken into account in this study by classifying external variables and internal factors, all of which had an impact on falls in the elderly. The results indicate that few studies have simultaneously assessed multiple factors. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies examine multiple factors concurrently, considering the impact of awareness factors.

Investigating the Association of Noise Exposure with Occupational Stress and Work Ability among Workers of a Food Processing Plant
Rasoul Hemmatjo, Abolfazl Ghahramani, Mansour Mahmoodaghbash,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (2-2025)
Abstract
Objectives: Numerous factors such as job types and conditions, work organizations, and individual characteristics affect work ability of the workers. Furthermore, occupational stress is not solely influenced by individual characteristics; a stressful work environment is also a significant source of stress. Noise has been recognized as one of the major occupational hazards that adversely affects work condition in many industries. In the present study, the association of noise exposure with occupational stress and work ability of the workers in a food processing plant was investigated.
Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 142 workers of a food processing plant in various work groups. The OSIPOW questionnaire results were utilized to measure occupational stress and the work ability of the workers was determined by Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire. Noise exposure of the workers was calculated as a measure of 8-hour time weighted average. The association between noise exposure and work ability was analyzed using Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. Multiple regression test was utilized to analyze the simultaneous effect of variables. Moreover, one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) was used to analyze the mean difference of independent variables.
Results: The findings demonstrated a significant positive association between noise exposure and stress level across various work groups (P<0.001). Furthermore, a significant negative relationship can be found between noise exposure and work ability of the workers (P<0.001). A simultaneous analysis of variables influencing occupational stress and WAI showed that noise had the most effect. Although  occupational stress levels were not significantly different across working groups, mean difference of WAI was significant.
Conclusion: Based on the obtained findings, higher levels of noise exposure may contribute to increased occupational stress and decreased work ability among workers.

Effect of Tonal Noise and Irrelevant Background Speech on Neurophysiological Based on Personality Traits: An Experimental Study
Ali Sobhani Dargah, Mohsen Aliabadi, Rostam Golmohamadi, Maryam Farhadian, Mohamad Babamiri, Shiva Mohammadjani Kumeleh,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (2-2025)
Abstract
Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of tonal noise and background speech on neurophysiological parameters and noise annoyance based on personality characteristics.
Methods: In this experimental study, 25 male students were exposed to four scenarios of tonal noise, irrelevant speech, and broadband noise as a reference in a simulated laboratory environment. The LF/HF index and galvanic skin response were recorded before and during exposure to the noise. The level of noise annoyance was determined at the end of each test session using the noise annoyance questionnaire according to ISO 15666.
Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) indicated that the difference between the values of neurophysiological indices and noise annoyance in different noise exposure scenarios was significant (P<0.05). The effect of different tonal sound levels on galvanic skin response and noise annoyance was significant (P<0.05). In addition, the effect of 65 dB tonal sound level and 55 dB speech sound level on the LF/HF index was reported to be significant (P<0.05). Also, the effect size of 1.919 in exposure to 65 dB tonal sound level had the highest value compared to other noise exposure scenarios for the noise annoyance variable.
Conclusion: Exposure to different levels of tonal noise and irrelevant speech leads to disruption of individuals' neurophysiological parameters and noise annoyance in individuals regarding some of their characteristics and personality traits.

Assessing the structural suitability of parks for the elderly with an emphasis on ergonomic considerations
Samira Goran, Samaneh Pourhadi, Dr Aram Tirgar, Zahra Geraili,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (5-2025)
Abstract

Background and Objectives: The use of parks is very valuable for the elderly for various reasons such as physical, psychological and social aspects. Therefore, The suitability of these spaces to the needs of the elderly is of particular importance. The purpose of this study was to determine and introduce criteria for evaluating and classifying parks in terms of structural suitability for the elderly.
Methods: This methodological study was designed in 1403 and was conducted simultaneously with the psychometric and validation of the structural fit assessment tool for the elderly-friendly park. The structural components were determined through a literature review and item validation using the Delphi method. After determining content validity, the items were classified into mandatory, essential, and ideal sections by obtaining at least two-thirds and one-third of the experts' votes, respectively, and descriptive statistics were used in data processing.
Results: The final review of 58 items by experts showed that the majority of items (41 items, equivalent to 71%) were mandatory, 13 items (22%) were essential, and 4 items were ideal. The highest share of mandatory items was declared by ergonomists and the lowest by gerontologists.
Conclusion: Structural components of park design appropriate to the characteristics of the elderly are mandatory or essential in most of the cases studied, and only a few of them were identified as ideal. Therefore, the design of elderly-friendly parks requires attention to various aspects, including accessibility, safety, and comfort.


Factors affecting visual comfort: A systematic review
Payam Heydari, Avin Ahmadian, Aram Mohamadi, Pakhshan Ahmadian, Seyyed Ehsan Samaei,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (5-2025)
Abstract
Introduction: Today, visual comfort is considered an important and fundamental component of man-made environments. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to all factors affecting it. This study was conducted as a systematic review to summarize the factors affecting visual comfort.
Methods: An electronic search was conducted in national and international databases including Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, BMJ Learning, Springer and ProQuest. Articles were searched using keywords such as visual comfort, architectural features, space configuration, interior design, physical factors, and lighting.
Results: Out of 135 articles, the full text of 19 articles was finally reviewed. Questionnaires were used in 53.5% of studies, while device measurement were used in 21.4%. Physical factors were found to have the most impact on visual comfort, accounting for 51.4% of the studies reviewed. Additionally, architectural factors, space configuration and interior design accounted for 25.7% of the impact on visual comfort in the studies reviewed.
Discussion and Conclusion: Improving visual comfort can be achieved by influencing factors such as physical elements, architectural design, space configuration, and interior design. This can lead to a reduction in errors, improved performance, decreased injuries from falls, and an overall increase in quality of life.

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