Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are a major part of occupational diseases in working environments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders by the Muscle Fatigue Assessment (MFA) method. This study also sought to determine the effects of an ergonomic intervention on the mentioned risk in an assembly industry. Methods: This study was conducted on 15 people working in the assembly line. Medical records of assembly line workers were reviewed and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaires (NMQ) after one year of intervention. Activities of these workers in the assembly line were evaluated by the Muscle Fatigue Assessment method (MFA) and workers were given the necessary training. Data were analyzed using the SPSS-16 software. Results: The initial evaluations showed that neck, back, leg and knee, respectively in 6.67, 20 and 13.33% were in "very high" priority corrective measures. Re-assessments after the intervention showed that percentage of people with musculoskeletal disorders in the neck in the "very high" corrective actions changed to zero. The percentage of organs, with "high" corrective actions before the intervention, was greatly reduced. For example, a reduction was recorded around the waist from 60% to 33.33% and neck from 53% to 26.27% after the intervention. A total of 30 cases of abnormalities were detected before the intervention, and after the intervention this number reduced to 11. conclusions: According to MFA score, risk of musculoskeletal disorders was reduced by intervention in this industry and according to Questionnaire, prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was also significantly reduced.

There is little epidemiological data to make reliable conclusions about the effects of exposure to cold on the body’s physiological responses. The current study aimed to address this lacuna in the available research. The study sample consisted of 50 outdoor mechanic workers as a case group and 15 staff members as a control group used in the outdoor automechanic workshops. Air environmental factors, including dry‐bulb temperature and air velocity, were measured by the portable hot wire thermo anemometer in the workstation of each subject. The body’s physiological responses were also measured during daily activities in accordance with ISO 9886. Using Semmes–Weinstein monofilament, touch sensory tests were conducted for determining hands’ sensorineural functions. The baseline measurements showed the mechanic workers had lower finger sensation levels and finger skin temperatures than the control group (p < 0.05). This may be attributed to long‐term exposure to acute cold air during cold seasons. However, after short‐term exposure to extreme cold environment, the mechanic workers showed lower losses in finger skin temperatures and finger sensation levels than the control group ( p < 0.05). The findings confirmed that prolonged localized cold exposure among mechanic workers can result in localized habituation of vasoconstrictor responses.

Nurses, as the largest forces in the health system, are always challenged with various work responsibilities such as long working hours, lack of manpower and death of patients. This study aimed at providing a model of the relationship between workload and physical and mental health, sleep disorders, and individual and family problems by the mediation role of job stress. The present study is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 300 nurses in a specialty and sub-specialty hospital in Tehran. For this reason, various questionnaires including demographic, survey of shift workers (SOS) and job stress questionnaires were used to collect the desired data. The proposed model was presented using structural equation modeling method based on Smart-PLS and SPSS-20 software. The results show that workload has an effect on job stress (β=0.747), mental health (β=-0.291), Physical health (β=-0.253), sleep quality (β=-0.234) and personal and family problems (β=-0.206). Also the results of this study show that job stress has an effect on mental health (β=-0.295), Physical health (β=-0.349), sleep quality (β=-0.295) and Personal and family problems (β=-0.441). In conclusion, results showed that the data fitted well with the model and that workload is associated with physical and mental problems, sleep disorders and individual and family problems both directly and indirectly through job stress mediation.

Introduction: noise pollution has a negative effect on physiological parameters, efficiency and auditory system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a sound screening method for estimating sound risk in small workshops of Hamadan city. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 plants with more than 20 workers. Noise screening was done using a screening form. Next, noise level was measured at all the plants by SL 4001 sound level meter and regular grid method. Data were analyzed using Pearson's test and linear regression by SPSS version 16 software. Results: The mean (SD) scores of sound pressure level and screening form were 80.12 dB (7.277) and 60.50 (8.964) in the 22 understudy plants, respectively. The average measured workshop area and volume were 1448 and 10300, respectively. Pearson's test revealed a significant relationship between the results of the two methods, (P > 0.046). Also the percentage of workers at risk (greater than 85 dB) was 32.29 and the percentage of workers within safe limit (less than 85 dB) was 63.3. While the largest percentage of workers in the caution zone (82 dB) was 67.04. conclusions: A correlation was shown between the results of the two methods. The use of this method to identify workshops with the possibility of noise pollution is effective.