Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Introduction: In an educational environment, the quality of vision is integral to educational progress. Creating visual comfort and increasing efficiency and the desire to study are among the benefits of adjusting the lighting in classrooms and preventing visual impairment in the students. The present study was conducted to evaluate the degree of internal lighting in girls' schools across Hamadan in 2006 and 2014 so as to help identify their potential problems.

Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in girls' schools across Hamadan on two different occasions –in 2006 and 2014. On each occasion, the average general and local lighting on the classroom blackboards were measured by the recommended methods of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America on non-sunny days using a Lux Meter and were then compared to the standard limits recommended in the Health and Safety Code of schools and by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. In addition to the degree of lighting, certain quality assessment criteria were assessed, including the lighting layout, lamp maintenance, contrast, internal surface cleaning, lighting system maintenance, type of lamps and technical suitability of the design.

Results: Taking the criteria for favorable lighting conditions into account, less than 25% of the sites examined had favorable lighting on both occasions in 2006, only 16% of the classes had favorable general lighting and in 2014, the degree of lighting fell to an unacceptable range in all classes and only 6% of the entire classroom were covered by a standard degree of local lighting on the blackboard. The results also show that surface reflection coefficients are within the desirable range.

Conclusion: The lack of favorable general and local lighting on the blackboard at schools in 2014 and its comparison with the results of the 2006 lighting assessment indicate that providing standard lighting is still a problem for schools. Improper lighting layouts and the use of incandescents or inappropriate light bulbs are among the major causes of poor lighting conditions in girls' school across Hamadan. 

Introduction: Introduction: Inappropriate sizes of school furniture and the deformation of children’s bodies is one of the issues of concern in the world. The aim of this study was the evaluation of anthropometry of primary students aged 6-12 years in Mazandaran, Iran and the design of school furniture based on the anthropometric criteria of the students.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 18 anthropometric dimensions of 2336 boys and girls aged 6-12 years in 2014-2015 were measured. To collect data, anthropometric chair, camera and camera stand, and Anthropometric photo graphical software were used. After determining the anthropometric dimensions, ergonomic school furniture was designed.

Results: Average, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, median and percentile value of 2.5 to 97.5 of the anthropometric dimensions of students were calculated. The results showed that gender had no effect on the popliteal height in the age groups of 6 to 7 and 7 to 8, but age had effects on popliteal height (P < 0.001). In the age groups of 8 to 9 and 9 to 10 years and also the age groups of 10 to 11 and 11 to 12 years both gender and age had effects on popliteal height (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The results showed that by eliminating the effects of gender, 16.2 mm popliteal height increased per year. It was also found that after eliminating the effects of age, popliteal height increased 20.39 mm more in girls than in boys. Until the age of puberty, the anthropometric dimensions in girls increased more than in boys. The dimensions of ergonomics tables and chairs for students were designed in three sizes.

Background and Objectives: Psychosocial factors are among the factors affecting employee productivity. Since few studies have been done in this field, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between psychosocial factors regarding productivity.
Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2020 among 105 employees of a food distribution company in Ahvaz. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire, Copenhagen Psychosocial Factors Questionnaire (COPSOQ) and Goldsmith Hershey Productivity Questionnaire. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to investigate the relationship between variables.
Results: The results showed that there was no significant relationship between any of the demographic variables with the score of psychosocial factors and productivity (P> 0.05). Psychosocial factor 2 has a negative and significant relationship with the average score of productivity, ability, role clarity, organizational support, motivation, feedback and credibility. And psychosocial factor 4 has a negative and significant relationship with motivation. The mean score of psychosocial factors, factor 1 and 3 showed a positive and significant relationship with the mean score of productivity, ability, role clarity, organizational support, motivation, feedback and credibility.
Conclusion: Considering the role of psychosocial factors on employee' productivity, it is necessary to consider organizational interventions in order to control effective psychosocial factors. More attention to psychosocial factors in the workplace can play an effective role in the efficiency and productivity of employees and the organization.