Workplace health and safety (WHS) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is especially challenging in post-conflict regions with limited regulation. This study applies the ILO ergonomic checkpoints framework to assess WHS across five industrial sectors in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A cross-sectional study was performed among 70 SMEs, spanning food, metal, construction, furniture, and chemical industries. Ergonomic compliance data were collected using a structured observational checklist. Sectoral differences in safety performance were examined through ANOVA and ANCOVA, while correlation analysis explored the associations between WHS outcomes and organizational characteristics. Assumption checks confirmed statistical validity through Shapiro–Wilk tests, Q-Q plots, Levene’s test, and Variance Inflation Factors (VIF). The results demonstrated substantial disparities in ergonomic safety compliance across sectors, with food and construction enterprises exhibiting the lowest total safety scores. Among enterprise-level factors, managerial experience and workforce size were significantly associated with WHS performance, whereas average wage and company age showed weaker links. A conceptual predictive model is proposed to guide future research, positioning the total safety score as a function of key organizational variables. This study provides a validated ergonomics-based methodology and a conceptual model to guide WHS improvements in post-conflict SMEs. Findings support targeted interventions such as WHS training and participatory risk assessments. The model offers a scalable foundation for future predictive analytics and policy design in resource-limited settings.

Background: Toluene exposure in construction workers can lead to several health problems, primarily affecting the nervous system, respiratory system, and skin. Utilizing advanced photocatalytic materials to degrade gaseous toluene aims to significantly mitigate its negative impact. Methods: In this research, photocatalysts based on pure TiO₂ and modified TiO₂ were synthesized to evaluate their efficacy in degrading gaseous toluene, a prevalent air pollutant in construction settings. Two synthesis methods were employed. Sonoprecipitation was used to create Fe-N co-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles in the first method, while the second method utilized co-precipitation and hydrothermal techniques without ultrasonic assistance to achieve Fe-N co-doping. Seven types of nanophotocatalysts were synthesized, including TiO₂-U (with ultrasonic assistance), NTiO₂-U, FeNTiO₂ (2.5)-U, FeNTiO₂ (5)-U, FeNTiO₂ (7.5)-U, FeNTiO₂ (10)-U, and FeNTiO₂ (5) without ultrasonic assistance. Characterization of the synthesized photocatalysts involved various analyses, including XRD, SEM, EDX, UV–VIS DRS, FT–IR, BET, and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm. Results: Ultrasonic assistance notably improved particle dispersion and prevented agglomeration on the photocatalyst surface. UV–VIS DRS analysis indicated a reduction in band gap energy due to Fe and N doping of TiO₂. The study also investigated the influence of Fe doping, initial toluene concentration, light source, and residence time on the degradation rate of gaseous toluene. Experimental findings showed that FeNTiO₂ (5)-U exhibited a higher degradation rate of toluene (63.5%) compared to FeNTiO₂ (5) (50%) under visible light irradiation over 15 s. Conclusions: The study underscores the significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity for toluene degradation achieved through the combined effects of ultrasound and co-doping methods.

Purpose: Pre-Start-Up Safety Review (PSSR) is widely required prior to introducing hazardous energy into process systems, yet it is often implemented as a compliance checklist rather than a performance-oriented barrier assurance mechanism. This study evaluates whether PSSR maturity at the commissioning boundary reflects operational readiness and contributes to loss prevention.,Methods: A structured PSSR Maturity Index (PMI) was developed to quantify readiness across mechanical completion, safeguard validation, documentation closure, and organizational preparedness. Barrier-focused gap analysis identified vulnerability concentrations, followed by risk-based prioritization to distinguish high-impact deficiencies. Supervised machine learning models, including Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting, were applied under stratified cross-validation to assess predictive capability for commissioning performance stability.,Results: PSSR dimensions contributed unevenly to operational stability. Safeguard readiness and mechanical integrity showed the strongest associations with performance outcomes, whereas documentation closure alone demonstrated limited protective value. Machine learning analysis confirmed consistent predictive capability, with Logistic Regression achieving the highest discrimination performance (AUC = 0.865). Sensitivity analysis further supported prioritization robustness.,Conclusion: Interpreting PSSR maturity as a measurable proxy for barrier integrity shifts its role from procedural compliance toward performance-based safety assurance. The framework bridges verification practice and operational risk control while offering a practical pathway for strengthening commissioning safety in resource-constrained industrial environments.

Background: This study investigates human behaviours during emergency evacuations using data collected at the Tabriz Grand Bazaar (TGB), a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s largest covered market. While past studies modelled crowd evacuations through simulations, limited empirical research exists on real human behaviour. Methods: Drawing on 749 questionnaire responses from TGB visitors, the study explores four key aspects of evacuation dynamics: (1) proactive vs. reactive responses; (2) competitive vs. cooperative interactions; (3) symmetry-breaking behaviours; and (4) route selection. Results: The analysis revealed that 44.2% of participants reported engaging in competitive behaviours (e.g., pushing), while only 8.4% showed a strong willingness to help others. Over 90% tended to follow others during evacuations, and 77.8% preferred to avoid the least crowded exit, indicating high symmetry-breaking tendencies. No significant correlation was found between gender and evacuation behaviours, but marital status, education, and age were significantly associated with different behavioural strategies. Conclusion: The study contributes by (1) providing behavioural insights for emergency planning, (2) informing the design of realistic evacuation simulations, and (3) offering empirical evidence to support future research.

Background: Despite the increasing complexity of ethical challenges in occupational health settings, limited attention has been paid to the ethical conduct of occupational health professionals themselves. This study examined how Quality of Work Life is associated with professional ethics among occupational health professionals, guided by Social Exchange Theory. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 occupational health practitioners in East Azerbaijan. Data were analysed using SPSS and SmartPLS, involving Pearson correlation, t-tests, ANOVA, and structural equation modelling. Measurement models were validated for reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and common method bias. Results: The findings showed a statistically significant but modest positive association between the total Quality of Work Life score and the total Professional Ethics score ( r = 0.281, p < 0.01). The strongest domain-level correlation was observed between Human Capabilities Development and Professional Autonomy ( r = 0.330, p < 0.01). Human Capabilities Development, Safe Work Environment, and Social Integration were positively associated with Professional Responsibility, Professional Autonomy, and Trustworthiness. However, the model explained only 21.4% of the variance in Professional Responsibility, 18.6% in Professional Autonomy, and 8.2% in Trustworthiness, indicating modest explanatory capacity and particularly limited explanatory power for Trustworthiness. Conclusion: The findings suggest that Quality of Work Life may be a relevant organizational factor associated with professional ethics in occupational health practice. The study highlights the potential importance of developmental and relational aspects of work in supporting moral responsibility, while acknowledging that causal conclusions cannot be drawn from the cross-sectional design. These findings are especially relevant for policymaking in developing countries where ethical conduct is central to workplace safety and public health credibility.

Pre-Start-Up Safety Review (PSSR) is routinely used as a compliance checklist, but its records are rarely converted into quantitative barrier-layer measures or linked to start-up performance. This study develops a risk-informed framework that uses PSSR maturity as a multidimensional proxy for pre-operational barrier integrity. Its novelty lies in integrating maturity measurement, barrier-gap diagnosis, risk-based prioritization, and empirical assessment of commissioning stability. A PSSR Maturity Index (PMI) was constructed across five dimensions: design conformity, mechanical completion, safeguard readiness, procedural closure, and personnel competency. The framework was evaluated using 350 PSSR evaluations from commissioning of a Heat Recovery Steam Generator at a combined-cycle power plant. Associations with stable start-up were examined using multivariable logistic regression, bootstrap resampling, and 10-fold cross-validation. Safeguard readiness (OR = 1.86) and mechanical completion (OR = 1.58) showed the strongest associations, whereas procedural closure was not independently associated with stability. The model showed modest explanatory capacity but limited discrimination (Nagelkerke pseudo- R ² = 0.163; AUC = 0.624), indicating that the readiness dimensions captured partial rather than comprehensive signals of commissioning vulnerability. The framework’s primary contribution is diagnostic: it distinguishes documentary completion from functional barrier readiness and converts routine PSSR evidence into barrier-specific gaps and risk-ranked corrective priorities. Although the findings are case-specific, the framework provides a reproducible basis for cross-site validation.