68 research outputs found

    From the Prospective of Ergonomics: Estimating Overall Stressors and Task Demands in the Construction Sites in Saudi Arabia Using an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

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    651-658Balancing individual capabilities with occupational demands and workplace stressors is necessary to reduce stress and prevent ergonomic and safety hazards. This is particularly true in occupations like construction that are characterized by numerous stressors, intense perceived overall demands, environmental factors, physical and mental loads, awkward postures, and organizational and personal factors in particular in Saudi Arabia. The current study proposes a subjective tool for assessing the impact of stressors on overall task demand (OTD). The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to estimate the OTD and identify the factors that contribute to it. The OTD assessment tool survey participants were 524 male and was validated at actual construction worksites with 168 workers distributed among 7 jobs. The findings showed that OTD was significantly affected by occupational demands and identified a relationship among OTD, physiological measures and the NASA-TLX score. The proposed framework can help decision-makers and supervisors identify task demands, determine risk factors, and develop strategies for balancing job demands and worker capability

    Современные концепции управления высшим учебным заведением

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    Целью и задачами статьи является исследование современных подходов к управлению вузом, их критический анализ и возможность оптимизации процессов деятельности вуза

    Improving the Performance in Occupational Health and Safety Management in the Electric Sector: An Integrated Methodology Using Fuzzy Multicriteria Approach

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    The electric sector is fundamental for the economic and social development of society, impacting on essential aspects such as health, education, employment generation, industrial production, and the provision of various services. In addition to the above, the growing trend in energy consumption worldwide could increase, according to expert estimates, up to 40% by 2030, which in turn increases the efforts of the public and private sector to meet increasing demands and increase access to energy services under requirements of reliability and quality. However, the electricity sector presents challenges and complexities, one of which is the reduction of health and safety risks for workers, service users, and other stakeholders. In many countries, this sector is classified as high risk in occupational safety and health, due to its complexity and the impact of accidents and occupational diseases on the health of workers, in infrastructure, in operating costs and competitiveness of the energy sector. Worldwide, there are rigorous regulations for the electricity sector, from local and national government regulations to international standards to guarantee health and safety conditions. However, it is necessary to develop objective and comprehensive methodologies for evaluating occupational safety and health performance that provides solutions for the electricity sector, not only to comply with standards and regulations also as a continuous improvement tool that supports the decision-making processes given the complexity of the industry and the multiple criteria that are taken into account when evaluating and establishing improvement strategies. In scientific literature, different studies focus on the analysis of accident statistics, the factors that affect accidents and occupational diseases, and the risk assessment of the sector. Despite these considerations, studies that focus directly on the development of hybrid methodologies for the evaluation and improvement of performance in occupational safety and health in the electrical sector, under multiple criteria and uncertainty are mostly limited. Therefore, this document presents an integrated methodology for improving the performance in occupational health and safety in the electric sector through the application of two techniques of Multi-criteria Decision Methods (MCDM) uses in environments under uncertainly. First, the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is applied to estimate the initial relative weights of criteria and sub-criteria. The fuzzy set theory is incorporated to represent the uncertainty of decision-makers’ preferences. Then, the Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) used for evaluating the interrelations and feedback among criteria and sub-criteria. FAHP and DEMATEL are later combined for calculating the final criteria and sub-criteria weights under vagueness and interdependence. Subsequently, we applied the proposed methodology in a company of the energy sector for diagnosis of performance in OHS to establish improvement proposals, the work path, and implementation costs. Finally, we evaluate the impact of the strategies applied in the improvement of the performance of the company

    Ultraviolet Radiation Induced Dopant Loss in a TiO2 Photocatalyst

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    Doped TiO2 has been studied with intense interest in recent decades because of its ability to utilize visible wavelengths and enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic processes. Thus, as a class of materials, it is of significant interest for use in environmental ambient energy utilization applications. Using a popular and well-studied form of doped TiO2 (nitrogen doped) as an example, we show how 28 days of UVA irradiation which is identical in intensity with solar conditions is sufficient to cause the UV induced surface segregation and eventual loss of nitrogen dopant species in TiO2. This is evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transient absorption spectroscopy. The loss of interstitial nitrogen dopants correlates with the eventual permanent loss of photocatalytic activity and visible light absorption. The UV induced loss of dopants in a metal oxide is unprecedented and represents a potential problem where the environmental use of doped metal oxides in applications is concerned

    Synthesis optimization of carbon-supported ZrO2 nanoparticles from different organometallic precursors

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    We report here the synthesis of carbon-supported ZrO2 nanoparticles from zirconium oxyphthalocyanine (ZrOPc) and acetylacetonate [Zr(acac)4]. Using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS), we could investigate the thermal decomposition behavior of the chosen precursors. According to those results, we chose the heat treatment temperatures (THT) using partial oxidizing (PO) and reducing (RED) atmosphere. By X-ray diffraction we detected structure and size of the nanoparticles; the size was further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. ZrO2 formation happens at lower temperature with Zr(acac)4 than with ZrOPc, due to the lower thermal stability and a higher oxygen amount in Zr(acac)4. Using ZrOPc at THT C900 °C, PO conditions facilitate the crystallite growth and formation of distinct tetragonal ZrO2, while with Zr(acac)4 a distinct tetragonal ZrO2 phase is observed already at THT C750 °C in both RED and PO conditions. Tuning of ZrO2 nanocrystallite size from 5 to 9 nm by varying the precursor loading is also demonstrated. The chemical state of zirconium was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which confirms ZrO2 formation from different synthesis routes

    Occupational Safety and Health Conditions Aboard Small- and Medium-Size Fishing Vessels: Differences among Age Groups

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    Although marine fishing is one of the most hazardous occupations, research on the occupational safety and health (OSH) conditions aboard marine fishing vessels is scarce. For instance, little is known about the working conditions of vulnerable groups such as young and aging fishermen. The objective of the current paper is to study the OSH conditions of young and aging fishermen compared to middle-aged fishermen in the small- and medium-size (SM) marine fishing sector. A cross-sectional study was designed, and 686 fishermen working aboard SM fishing vessels were interviewed to collect information about their safety and health. The associations of physical and psychosocial work conditions with safety and health outcomes, e.g., injuries, illnesses and job satisfaction, are presented. The results of the current study can be utilized in the design of effective accident prevention and OSH training programs for the three age groups and in the regulation of working conditions aboard fishing vessels
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