Showing 16 results for Ghasemi
Mohamad Hosein Ghasemi, Abed Salimi, Mehrdad Anbarian, Maasome Fadaee, Sara Moghadasi, Hamed Esmaeeli,
Volume 3, Issue 1 (Journal of Ergonomics 2015)
Abstract
Introduction:
Today, computers are widely used in many homes and workplaces. The relationship
between computer use and musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and upper
extremities has been well documented. Muscle fatigue in the shoulder and arm
regions is one of the most frequently reported problems in computer users.
Supporting the upper extremities has been suggested as a way to reduce the
static load on upper body muscles while using a keyboard. The purpose of this
study was to determine the effect of elbow and forearm support on upper
trapezius muscle fatigue while typing.
Materials and Methods: Eight
students of Bu-Ali Sina University (Hamadan, Iran) participated in this quasi-experimental study. The
surface electromyography activity of the upper trapezius muscle of the dominant
side was recorded in three positions, namely without elbow support, elbow
support with the table, and elbow support with a pad while typing. The muscle fatigue index for the three
typing positions was
calculated based on the median frequency slope of the raw electromyography
signals. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed for
statistical analyses.
Results: Median
frequency slope decreased significantly in elbow support with the table in
comparison with non-support position (p = 0.04). There were no significant
differences between elbow support with a pad and other two positions.
Conclusion: These
results suggested elbow support as a mechanism to delay trapezius muscle
fatigue and thus increase task efficiency. More research is required to
determine the advantages or disadvantages of using different pads.
Mehrdad Anbarian, Fatemeh Rajabian, Mohammad Hossein Ghasemi, Rashid Heidari Moghaddam,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (Journal of Ergonomics-Fall 2017)
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the heel wedges on the electromyography activities of the selected left and right lower back muscles during load lifting.
Methods: A total of 17 male subjects voluntarily participated in this quasi-experimental study. The selected subjects lifted a box, weighing 10% of their body weight, above the height of their hip joint, descending as far as the thigh, parallel to the ground, and then ascending to the starting position. The above task was performed nine times in two conditions, including with and without the heel wedges. Using the ME6000 electromyography system, the activity level variables were normalized and the median frequencies of the erector spinae (ES) and the multifidus (MU) muscles were recorded. The subjects also held the box for 30 s in the standing position with stretched hands. The paired t-test was used for the data analysis.
Results: The results showed that during static load lifting using the heel wedge, the median frequency of the right ES muscle changed significantly (P<0.05). Also during dynamic load lifting using the heel wedge, the activities of the left and the right ES muscles as well as the left MU muscle decreased significantly (P<0.05). However, no significant differences between the two conditions were observed for the other variables (P>0.05).
Conclusion: During such occupational tasks, a decrease in the activities of the selected lower back muscles with the heel wedge might result in a delay in the onset of muscle fatigue. The above findings might be used in the design of shoes, suitable for the work environments. However, further investigations are needed in this area in order to provide more accurate results.
Mohammad Babamiri, Fakhradin Ghasemi, Rashid Heidari Moghadam, Jjalil Derakhshan, Mahnoush Karimi,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (Journal of Ergonomics 2018)
Abstract
Background: “Participatory ergonomics” is defined as an active participation of all members of the organization in the development and implementation of ergonomic knowledge in order to improve the working environment, quality, productivity and safety of the organization. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate process of working condition with the participatory ergonomic approach and its impact on one of the printing industries.
Methods: This research is an interventional study carried out in one printing industry center. To identify the ergonomic risk factors the “Nordic Questionnaire" and “Ergonomic Review Points” and to evaluate the quality employees’ working life, the NIOSH modified quality of life curriculum was used. The results were by conducting a paired t-test using SPSS20 software package.
Results: The investigation of health, and working conditions using the supplementary checklist before and after applying the review points with participatory ergonomic approach shows a significant increase. Data analysis using the paired t-test showed a significant improvement in quality of working life and reduction of musculoskeletal disorders after intervention (P <0.001).
Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that the individuals’ social skills and abilities have increased by participation in the process of participatory ergonomics. Increasing the quality of working life has a significant role to improve the health of workers and reduce occupational accidents. Therefore, the implementation of participatory ergonomic program with the collaboration of industrial managers can be an effective step towards achieving human resource satisfaction and health.
Rashid Heidarimoghadam, Mehrane Shabani, Younes Lotfi, Fakhradin Ghasemi, Younes Mohammadi,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (Journal of Ergonomics 2018)
Abstract
Introduction: One of the factors affecting carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the lack of coordination and appropriateness of these tools. Designing a handy tool helps with a better performance, befitting and less fatigue. In this study, anthropometric data on the hands (right and left) of women and men were collected.
Materials & Methods: This research was descriptive and 576 people participated in this study; 10 anthropometric measurements of the hand according to the principles of measurement of Pheasant were measured by digital caliper under the same conditions. The measured anthropometric dimensions were the length of the hands and palms, the width of the hands and palms, the length of the fingers (m1-m2-m3-m4-m5) and the maximum power grip. Descriptive indices such as percentile 5, 50 and 95, maximum and minimum, mean and standard deviation were calculated using SPSS software.
Results: 290 women and 286 men participated in this study. Mean and standard deviation of age was (40.58 ± 9.95), height (1.66 ± 1.14) and BMI (26.85 ± 4.50). 90.8% were right handed and (9.2%) were left handed. The mean difference in length of hand, palm length, hand width, thumb length, middle finger length, small finger length, maximum power grip of women and men were statistically significant (P<0.01). All dimensions of the hand in men were larger than women.
Conclusion: Anthropometric dimensions are influenced by factors such as gender, age, genetics, and even type of nutrition, occupation, and other factors. The size of the dimensions of the hands of women and men are different. Anthropometric database of two communities should be used to design handheld devices that are commonly used by both women and men. The findings can be used to design and redesign any hand tools and improve the convenience of users.
Fakhradin Ghasemi, Mostafa Mirzaei, Mohsen Mahdinia, Ebrahim Darvishi, Reza Shahidi,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (Journal of Ergonomics 2018)
Abstract
Introduction: Many organizational, social, and personal factors can affect safety performance of employees. Personal commitment to safety is another factor in this regard to which has been paid less attention in previous studies. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the role of this factor in shaping safety performance of employees.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 workers from several small manufacturing industries in several provinces located in the center of Iran. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. In order to determine the role of personal commitment to safety, several hypotheses were defined. According to them, personal commitment to safety can mediate the effect of organizational factors on safety performance. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for examining the hypotheses.
Results: The model demonstrated that personal commitment to safety has significant direct effect on safety performance. Management commitment to safety is the main factor affecting personal commitment to safety (P<0.01, path coefficient= 0.257). Supportive environment was another important factor in this regard (P<0.01, path coefficient= 0.175). In contrast, safety training had no significant effect on personal commitment to safety (P=0.328), demonstrating its poor designing.
Conclusion: Personal commitment to safety can be promoted by improving organization and social factors, such as management commitment to safety and supportive environment, which in turn would result in improvement of safety performance.
Mohammad Babamiri, Rashid Haidari Moghaddam, Fakhrodin Ghasemi, Mohammad Ghaffari, Mahdi Razee, Khadijeh Bandeh Ellahi, Alireza Mortezapour,
Volume 6, Issue 3 (Journal of Ergonomics 2018)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Nowadays, the use of the Internet among students has become widespread. Addiction to virtual networks and online games can have various consequences, including the threat of musculoskeletal system in these people. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of addiction to social networks and online games on students’ wrist pain.
Methods: This study was conducted among 665 students. Data collection was done through three questionnaires of problematic use of online games, social networking addiction and Nordic musculoskeletal disorders. Data were compared by Chi-square and independent T-test and finally, logistic regression model was presented at a significant level of 0.05.
Results: The results showed that social network and online game addiction can increase the risk of pain in the wrists. Sex had a significant impact in the effect of social network addiction on pain in the wrist. Other results of the present study are the not significant differences in the age and level of education of the participants in the prevalence of wrist pain.
Conclusion: It can be stated that there is a likelihood of a relationship between social network and online game addiction with wrist pain. Therefore, due to high prevalence of this addiction among students, appropriate planning should be taken to reduce complications and injuries, especially in the wrist area of them.
Fakhradin Ghasemi, Kamran Gholamizadeh, Amin Doosti-Irani, Rahmani Ramin,
Volume 6, Issue 4 ( Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Upper extremities are very vulnerable to work-related musculoskeletal disorders and selecting the best technique for assessing their exposure to ergonomic risk factors is of pivotal importance. This study aimed to compare two techniques of SI and ACGIH-HAL and assess their relationship with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among butchers.
Methods: The study population was all butchers in Hamadan, Iran. After observing the activities, the assessments were conducted using both techniques. The severity of CTS syndromes was assessed using Boston questionnaire. The agreement between the techniques was investigated using Kappa coefficient. The association between the risk levels obtained from the techniques with the severity of CTS syndromes were assessed by regression analysis and fixing the effect of personal factors such as age, body mass index, and wrist ratio index.
Results: a total number of 152 butchers were evaluated. SI and ACGIH-HAL techniques respectively recognized 76 and 102 cases as low risk (agreement in 69 cases), 40 and 27 cases as moderate risk (agreement in 8 cases), and 36 and 23 cases as high risk (agreement in 18 cases). The Kappa coefficient between two techniques was 0.36 (P<0.001). By fixing the effects of age, body mass index, and wrist ratio index, both techniques had significant association with the severity of CTS syndromes. However, the association between SI and severity of CTS syndrome was higher than that of ACGIH-HAL.
Conclusion: SI had a higher estimate of risk than ACGIH-HAL. It seems that the predictive ability of SI for the severity of CTS syndrome is better than that of ACGIH-HAL.
Fakhradin Ahmadi Kanrash, Iraj Alimohammad, Jamileh Abolaghasemi, Kazem Rahmani,
Volume 7, Issue 1 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Noise pollution is one of the most harmful physical factors in working environments in developed and developing countries, which has significant impacts on the workers’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate mental and physiological effects of chronic exposure to noise.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out randomly in 2018 on 250 workers in the automotive Industry. To measure the subjects’ aggression and annoyance levels, the Buss and Perry’s Aggression Questionnaire was used as well as an annoyance questionnaire. In this study, blood pressure measurement was also done using ALPK2 mercuric pressure gauge.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and noise annoyance in the groups with a lower-than-85 and higher-than-85 dB sound pressure levels (P<0.001). Besides, the results of multivariate regression showed that the annoyance level and sound pressure level had a significant relationship with the workers’ blood pressure (P<0.01). Also, there was a significant correlation between aggression components and sound pressure level (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The results of this study clearly showed that chronic exposure to noise in work environments was associated with psychological and physiological changes, such as increased blood pressure and aggression levels. Hence, implementation of preventive programs can help reduce the incidence of the psychological and physiological disorders.
Fakhradin Ghasemi, Maedeh Hasini, Mojtaba Ahmadi, Mostafa Rahmiani-Iranshahi,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Designing workstations in accordance with anthropometric characteristics of employees can prevent awkward working postures and reduce the risk of such disorders. The present study aimed at investigating the anthropometric compatibility of workstations in a sewing company and its relationship with working postures.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sewing company located in Hamadan province, Iran. Working postures were assessed in standing and sitting workstations using REBA and NERPA techniques, respectively. Anthropometric dimensions were measured in accordance with ISO 7250 and anthropometric compatibility with workstation was investigated. Mann-Whitney test was used for assessing the relationship between anthropometric compatibility and working posture.
Results: A total of 205 employees with a mean age 31.29 years participated in this study. Working postures were mostly in an unacceptable condition and the need for ergonomic intervention was evident. In sitting workstation, there was no significant relationship between working postures and anthropometric compatibility in terms of seat depth, seat width, and backrest height. In contrast, anthropometric compatibility with seat height and desk height were significantly associated with working posture (P<0.05). In standing workstations, a significant relationship was observed between anthropometric compatibility and desk height (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Anthropometric incompatibility with workstation generally deteriorated the working postures. However, anthropometric compatibility with seat height and desk height were the ones with a significant relationship with working posture. Therefore, for redesigning workstations the seat height and desk height should be considered first.
Tahmineh Moradi Tamadon, Fakhradin Ghasemi, Iraj Mohammadfam, Omid Kalatpour,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Firefighting is a difficult and dangerous job. This job requires decision-making and speed in action in critical situations. Such conditions increase the probability of human error in the firefighting activities. Setting up fire operators as the first step of emergency response is associated with high criticality. The purpose of this study is identification and assessment of the risk of human error while setting up and operating fire operators.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 2019. Tasks related to the operation of industrial firefighting operators were studied and analyzed by Hierarchical Task Analysis. Then, human errors in the operation of fire operators were identified and analyzed using the systematic human error reduction and prediction approach (SHERPA). Finally, appropriate prevention solutions were proposed to reduce the risk of errors.
Results: A total of 480 errors were detected for 130 tasks as 49.58% of them were action errors, 39.17% check type, 10.42% communication and 0.83% were selective errors and no retried error was observed. According to the results of risk assessment, 8.33% of the errors were unacceptable, 24.17% were undesirable, and 48.33% were acceptable risks but needed to be revised and 19.17% were acceptable without the need for revision.
Conclusion: The process of operating fire operators can be associated with human errors and prevent successful firefighting operations. Therefore, these errors should be identified and controlled using appropriate methods.
Jafar Akbari, Mahmood Abolghasemian, Amir Ghaffari, Fereydun Moghaddas, Mohammad Amin Mououdi, Shaghayegh Rahimi Kamal, Asoumeh Jozkanani,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Presenteeism is introduced as a phenomenon according to which employees are physically present in the workplace but are functionally absent. This study aimed to investigate presenteeism and productivity loss associated with health problems among employees of the Iranian Gas Transmission Company (IGTC).
Methods: The participants were 2298 employees. Data collection instruments included the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6) and the Health and Work Questionnaire (HWQ). Data analysis was performed using the multivariate logistic regression in SPSS software version 26.
Results: More than 52% of the participants (1189 people) had experienced presenteeism at least once a year, while a total of 1073 people (47%) were non-presenteists. The results showed that the HWQ subsets including productivity (P = 0.001), focus (P = 0.023), relationships with the manager or boss (P = 0.007), impatience and irritability (P = 0.026), workplace satisfaction (P = 0.038) and finally the total HWQ score (P = 0.011) had a statistically significant relationship with presenteeism.
Conclusion: Presenteeism reduces the productivity of the workforce by reducing individual productivity, reducing people's ability to concentrate, the inappropriate perception of the relationship with the manager/ boss, increasing their impatience, irritability and level of work-related stress and eventually reducing the level of people's satisfaction with the work environment. This imposes a lot of costs on the organization.
Fakhradin Ghasemi, Rashid Heidarimoghadam, Payam Khanlari,
Volume 9, Issue 3 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hospital and medical staff use medical gloves to protect themselves and their patients from infectious agents. Wearing gloves may reduce manual dexterity and grip strength and interfere with work performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of wearing medical gloves on grip strength, manual dexterity, and perceived comfort.
Methods: 20 people (10 women, 10 men) participated in this study. Participants were tested in three gloveless modes, with latex gloves and with nitrile gloves with two tests, a 9-hole pegboard and a modified pegboard. Perceived comfort in working with gloves, wearing and removing gloves was also assessed using a subjective scale.
Results: The age range of participants was 20 to 40 years with an average of 29.45 years. There was a significant difference in manual dexterity between gloveless hands and nitrile gloves in the 9-hole pegboard test. In the modified pegboard test, gloveless hand manual dexterity was significantly different from both latex and nitrile gloves. The results also showed that wearing any type of glove significantly reduced the grip strength of individuals. The worst comfort rating was given to wearing gloves.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that wearing gloves reduces manual dexterity and grip strength. A modified pegboard test is also recommended to assess the manual dexterity of medical gloves. Latex and Nitrile gloves are difficult to wear and should be considered in designs.
Mohammad Sadegh Ghasemi, Ehsan Garosi, Naser Dehghan, Maryam Kaboli,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: A high workload is a major challenge to health care workers, especially first- line supporters, like nurse assistants, and this has many negative consequences. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the workload of nurse assistants in one of Tehran hospitals.
Methods: The research is descriptive- qualitative using qualitative content analysis, with the participation of 13 nurse assistants selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi- structured interviews and after each interview, the data were loaded and analyzed in MAX QDA software and this process continued until data saturation. Please match the last sentence with the farsi version.
Results: In the findings of continuous data analysis, a total of 473 codes were found in the factors affecting workload in the process of nurse assistants' work system. Finally, they were classified into five categories of Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model (person, task, organization, tools, equipment and environment).
Conclusion: Most factors affecting workload are obtained in the organizational component and the least in the environmental component of the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model, which indicates the significant role played by interpersonal relationships in the workplace and hospital rules on the workload of nurse assistants.
Iraj Alimohammadi, Shahram Vosoughi, Jamileh Abolghasemi, Athena Rafieepour, Seyed Hosein Tabatabaei, Batool Delshadi,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Inappropriate sitting posture on bench can contribute to pain and musculoskeletal disorders in students. Hearing and vision disabilities may be the cause of inappropriate sitting postures among students. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in normal and students with hearing abnormalities in Ilam city.
Methods: Twenty students with hearing abnormalities (case) and 40 students with normal hearing (control) from primary schools in Ilam city of both genders were randomly included in the study. The worst recorded sitting posture of students on the bench was evaluated by the RULA method. Digimizer software was used to survey the body angles of the students while sitting on the bench. The used for analyzing the obtained data in 95% confidence interval.
Results: The results of posture evaluation showed that there was a significant difference in rula scores between case and control groups (P = 0.001). Deviation from the natural angles of the body in the case groups was more than the control group (P < 0.001), which has a direct and significant relationship with the increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Conclusion: Musculoskeletal disorders possibility incidence were more common in students with hearing abnormalities compared to typical students which was due to an increase in deviation from the natural angles of the body and inappropriate postures. Given the limitation of the sample size, the present study recommends further research with the same goal and encourages interventional studies to correct the posture of hard of hearing students.
Sina Ghasemi, Behzad Imani, Ramin Rahmani, Shirdel Zandi,
Volume 11, Issue 4 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the common problems in most work environments and work ability is considered a factor affecting the performance and productivity of employees. In the present study, the status of these two components and their relationship with each other in the staff working in the operating room were investigated.
Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted in the winter of 2023. In this research, 96 employees working in the operating rooms of government hospitals in Hamadan, Iran were enrolled by census sampling method based on the inclusion criteria. The data were collected through the Nordic standard questionnaire and the work ability index questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) at two levels of descriptive (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential (t-test) statistics.
Results: In this study, 4 (4.2%) of the participants had one musculoskeletal disorder and the remaining 91 personnel (95.8%) had more than one disorder in their musculoskeletal systems. Average work ability index was 42.3±04.91. The results of the independent t-test showed that the work ability index among people with pain in the neck (P=0.003), shoulders (P=0.001), elbows (P=0.038), back (P=0.011), knees (P=0.001), and legs (P=0.002) were less than those without pain in these organs.
Conclusion: Results indicated the need to pay more attention to the implementation of ergonomic work environment and management interventions to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and thereby increase the efficiency and effectiveness of personnel.
Neda Ghasemi, Mohamadhossein Nabian, Hossein Fallah, Morteza Ghasemi, Amirmohamad Najafipour,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 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.
