BACKGROUND: Fire service workers often implement multiple duties in the emergency conditions, with such duties being mostly conducted in various ambient temperatures. METHODS: The aim of the current study was to assess the firefighters' physiological responses, information processing, and working memory prior to and following simulated firefighting activities in three different hot environments. Seventeen healthy male firefighters performed simulated firefighting tasks in three separate conditions, namely (1) low heat (LH; 29–31°C, 55–60% relative humidity), (2) moderate heat (MH; 32–34°C, 55–60% relative humidity), and (3) severe heat (SH; 35–37°C, 55–60% relative humidity). It took about 45–50 minutes for each firefighter to finish all defined firefighting activities and the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT). RESULTS: At the end of all the three experimental conditions, heart rate (HR) and tympanic temperature (TT) increased, while PASAT scores as a measure of information processing performance decreased relative to baseline. HR and TT were significantly higher at the end of the experiment in the SH (159.41 ± 4.25 beats/min; 38.22 ± 0.10°C) compared with the MH (156.59 ± 3.77 beats/min; 38.20 ± 0.10°C) and LH (154.24 ± 4.67 beats/min; 38.17 ± 0.10°C) conditions (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in PASAT scores between LH and MH (p > 0.05). Nonetheless, there was a measurable difference in PASAT scores between LH and SH (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These consequences demonstrate that ambient temperature is effective in raising the physiological responses following firefighting activities. It is therefore argued that further increase of ambient temperature can impact firefighters' information processing and working memory during firefighting activity.
Automatic Data Processing* ; Emergencies ; Firefighters ; Fires ; Heart Rate ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Memory, Short-Term

OBJECTIVES: Throughout the world, mines are dangerous workplaces with high accident rates. According to the Statistical Center of Iran, the number of occupational accidents in Iranian mines has increased in recent years. This study investigated and analyzed the human and organizational deficiencies that influenced Iranian mining accidents. METHODS: In this study, the data associated with 305 mining accidents were analyzed using a systems analysis approach to identify critical deficiencies in organizational influences, unsafe supervision, preconditions for unsafe acts, and workers' unsafe acts. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to model the interactions among these deficiencies. RESULTS: Organizational deficiencies had a direct positive effect on workers' violations (path coefficient, 0.16) and workers' errors (path coefficient, 0.23). The effect of unsafe supervision on workers' violations and workers' errors was also significant, with path coefficients of 0.14 and 0.20, respectively. Likewise, preconditions for unsafe acts had a significant effect on both workers' violations (path coefficient, 0.16) and workers' errors (path coefficient, 0.21). Moreover, organizational deficiencies had an indirect positive effect on workers' unsafe acts, mediated by unsafe supervision and preconditions for unsafe acts. Among the variables examined in the current study, organizational influences had the strongest impact on workers' unsafe acts. CONCLUSIONS: Organizational deficiencies were found to be the main cause of accidents in the mining sector, as they affected all other aspects of system safety. In order to prevent occupational accidents, organizational deficiencies should be modified first.
Accidents, Occupational ; Humans* ; Iran* ; Mining* ; Models, Statistical ; Organization and Administration ; Systems Analysis

OBJECTIVES: Throughout the world, mines are dangerous workplaces with high accident rates. According to the Statistical Center of Iran, the number of occupational accidents in Iranian mines has increased in recent years. This study investigated and analyzed the human and organizational deficiencies that influenced Iranian mining accidents.METHODS: In this study, the data associated with 305 mining accidents were analyzed using a systems analysis approach to identify critical deficiencies in organizational influences, unsafe supervision, preconditions for unsafe acts, and workers' unsafe acts. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to model the interactions among these deficiencies.RESULTS: Organizational deficiencies had a direct positive effect on workers' violations (path coefficient, 0.16) and workers' errors (path coefficient, 0.23). The effect of unsafe supervision on workers' violations and workers' errors was also significant, with path coefficients of 0.14 and 0.20, respectively. Likewise, preconditions for unsafe acts had a significant effect on both workers' violations (path coefficient, 0.16) and workers' errors (path coefficient, 0.21). Moreover, organizational deficiencies had an indirect positive effect on workers' unsafe acts, mediated by unsafe supervision and preconditions for unsafe acts. Among the variables examined in the current study, organizational influences had the strongest impact on workers' unsafe acts.CONCLUSIONS: Organizational deficiencies were found to be the main cause of accidents in the mining sector, as they affected all other aspects of system safety. In order to prevent occupational accidents, organizational deficiencies should be modified first.
Accidents, Occupational ; Humans ; Iran ; Mining ; Models, Statistical ; Organization and Administration ; Systems Analysis

OBJECTIVES: Throughout the world, mines are dangerous workplaces with high accident rates. According to the Statistical Center of Iran, the number of occupational accidents in Iranian mines has increased in recent years. This study investigated and analyzed the human and organizational deficiencies that influenced Iranian mining accidents. METHODS: In this study, the data associated with 305 mining accidents were analyzed using a systems analysis approach to identify critical deficiencies in organizational influences, unsafe supervision, preconditions for unsafe acts, and workers' unsafe acts. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to model the interactions among these deficiencies. RESULTS: Organizational deficiencies had a direct positive effect on workers' violations (path coefficient, 0.16) and workers' errors (path coefficient, 0.23). The effect of unsafe supervision on workers' violations and workers' errors was also significant, with path coefficients of 0.14 and 0.20, respectively. Likewise, preconditions for unsafe acts had a significant effect on both workers' violations (path coefficient, 0.16) and workers' errors (path coefficient, 0.21). Moreover, organizational deficiencies had an indirect positive effect on workers' unsafe acts, mediated by unsafe supervision and preconditions for unsafe acts. Among the variables examined in the current study, organizational influences had the strongest impact on workers' unsafe acts. CONCLUSIONS Organizational deficiencies were found to be the main cause of accidents in the mining sector, as they affected all other aspects of system safety. In order to prevent occupational accidents, organizational deficiencies should be modified first.