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Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an ergonomic intervention program based on the PRECEDE–PROCEED model in terms of improving exposure risks and work-related health problems in emergency medical dispatchers. Methods: This quasi-experimental study used an interrupted time series design. Participants were 55 employees working in an Emergency Medical Communications Center in Iran. The intervention program was based on the PRECEDE–PROCEED model and included five face-to-face training sessions and installing auxiliary equipment according to best ergonomic principles. Direct observations of the emergency medical dispatchers' working postures using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment and a survey which included a modified Nordic Questionnaire, Work Ability Score, Visual Fatigue Questionnaire, and a Behavioral Factors Questionnaire were used at three time points: baseline, 1 month post-intervention, and 3 months post-intervention. Results: The modified Nordic Questionnaire showed significant reductions in pain intensity scores for neck, lower back, knee and ankle after the ergonomic intervention program. In addition, there were considerable post-training improvements in behavioral factors (knowledge and enabling factors) and working postures. No significant changes were observed in Work Ability Scores, or visual symptoms. Conclusions: An ergonomic intervention program based on a systematic framework such as the PRECEDE–PROCEED model and on-site interventions can be effective in improving and enhancing the working conditions of emergency medical dispatchers. Therefore, it is suggested that ergonomic interventions be implemented based on standard and valid behavioral change models such as PRECEDE–PROCEED model in other work environments in which musculoskeletal pain and digital eye strain are common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Work proper lighting means a safe, healthy and comfort conditions for work under a lighting system that includes qualitative and quantitative features. This study aimed to evaluate the surface local lighting of works and eye fatigue among research and development staffs of an automotive industry. Instrument & Methods: In this descriptive study in Research and Development Department of an automotive industry in 2015, 126 official staffs were selected randomly. A demographic questionnaire and the Visual Fatigue Questionnaire (Persian Version) were used for data gathering. Hagner EC1 Luxmeter was used to measure the local lighting. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software, through descriptive statistics. Findings: The lighting in 382 stations (75.8%) was improper and less than standard. The minimum and maximum intensity of light was between 22.4lux in station 2 (inventory department) and 581lux in station 4 (systems and methods department). The overall intensity in more than 50% units, except the Systems and Methods Department, were less than the standard (300lux). 40.4% of the participants had severe eye fatigue, 28.6% had moderate visual fatigue, 28.6% had low visual fatigue and only 2.4% had no visual fatigue. The average of visual fatigue was 3.50±1.97. Conclusion: The workplace lighting and the eye fatigue of computer users in the Research and Development Department of the studied automotive industry are not in an acceptable condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental conditions such as lighting and thermal comfort are influencing factors on sleep quality and visual tiredness. The purpose of this study was the determination of the relationship between thermal comfort and light intensity with the sleep quality and eye fatigue in shift nurses. Method. This cross-sectional research was conducted on 82 shift-work personnel of 18 nursing workstations in Isfahan Al-Zahra Hospital, Iran, in 2012. Heat stress monitoring (WBGT) and photometer (Hagner Model) were used for measuring the thermal conditions and illumination intensity, respectively. To measure the sleep quality, visual tiredness, and thermal comfort, Pittsburg sleep quality index, eye fatigue questionnaire, and thermal comfort questionnaire were used, respectively. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, and Pearson correlation. Results. Correlation between thermal comfort which was perceived from the self-reporting of people with eye tiredness was -0.38 (P=0.002). Pearson correlation between thermal comfort and sleep quality showed a positive and direct relationship (r = 0.241,P =0.33) but the correlation between thermal comfort, which was perceived from the self-reporting of shift nurses, and WBGT index was a weak relationship (r = 0.019). Conclusion. Based on the obtained findings, it can be concluded that a defect in environmental conditions such as thermal conditions and light intensity and also lack of appropriate managerial plan for night shift-work nurses are destructive and negative factors for the physical and mental health of this group of practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]