Fire Risk Assessment and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Fire Protection Actions in a Combined-Cycle Power Plant

The increasing abundance of fires in industrial buildings has led to the growth of fire risk assessment and protection methods. However, few studies have been performed on the practical application of these risk assessment methods in industrial structures. This study aimed at assessing fire risk and determining the effectiveness of fire control measures to reduce fire-related injuries and fatalities to occupants at a combined-cycle power plant in the northeast of Iran. In the present study, firstly, the fire risk level of the real condition for the occupants, building and contents, and activities were measured using the Fire Risk Assessment Method for Engineering (FRAME). Then, taking into account the fire control measures, the fire risk was recalculated and compared with the acceptable risk level. The results indicated that the occupants’ fire risk level was 1.26 that was above the acceptable level. Furthermore, in the case of a fire, the expected destruction of the control room will be approximately 20%. Assuming a constant fire load modulation via building construction by non-burning materials or up to 10% burning materials, the occupants’ fire risk level will be decreased by 8% compared to the current situation. Also, in the state of designing standard emergency exit routes and using the fire alarm system, the fire risk level will be decreased by 50% and 52%, respectively, compared to the current condition. This study indicated that applying quantitative engineering methods for fire risk assessment can help to find practical solutions to minimize losses and fire-related injuries to industrial building occupants

Non-Image Forming Effects of Light on Brainwaves, Autonomic Nervous Activity, Fatigue, and Performance

Fatigue and sleepiness are one of the main causes of human errors and accidents in the workplace. The empirical evidence has approved that, in addition to stimulating the visual system, light elicits brain responses, which affect physiological and neurobehavioral human functions, known as the non-image forming (NIF) effects of light. As recent evidences have shown the positive effects of red or low correlated color temperature white light on alertness and performance, we investigated whether exposure to 2564 K light could improve subjective and objective measures of alertness and performance compared with 7343 K, 3730 K, and dim light (DL) conditions during the daytime. Twenty two healthy participants were exposed to the light while they were performing a sustained attention task and their electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded. Both 2564 K and 7343 K conditions significantly reduced EEG alpha-power compared with the DL and 3730 K conditions. Moreover, the 2564 K, 7343 K, and 3730 K conditions significantly reduced subjective fatigue, sleepiness and increased heart rate and performance compared with the DL condition. Furthermore, the effects of light conditions on alertness and performance varied over the day so that more effective responses were observed during the afternoon hours. These findings suggest that light interventions can be applied to improve daytime performance

Using Multi Criteria Decision Making Approach to Determine the Control Priority of Gaseous Pollutants from the Economic – Environmental Perspective in a Combined Cycle Power Plant in 2017

Introduction: The development and growth of industrial activities, has made environmental pollution a global challenge. Environmental assessment is an important approach which in addition to examining the impact of environmental pollutants on human health and other living organisms can provide solutions for optimal decision making and set control priorities. Methods: In this study, due to the importance of the relationship between qualitative criteria, the hierarchical analysis method was conducted to determine the control priorities of gaseous pollutants. Document reviews, results of measuring pollutants at power plant, knowledge and experience of 20 experts in health, environment and industrial safety were utilized in order to select and evaluate SO2, NOX, CO2 and CO2 gases. Then, criteria of permissible exposure limits, social costs and consequences were used for pairwise comparisons. Finally, inconsistency coefficient was calculated to confirm the results and compatibility in assessments. Results: Results of this study showed that NOX with the final weight of 0.58 was regarded as the first priority, SO2 with the weight of 0.32 considered as the second priority, CO2 with the weight of 0.052 was set as the third priority and CO with the weight of 0.038 was regarded as the last priority. Conclusion: Multi criteria decision making techniques, using expert qualitative opinions and converting them into quantitative variables reduces uncertainty in choices and ambiguity in planning, and can be utilized as an acceptable approach in determining control priorities of environmental pollutant

Knowledge and Attitudes of Environmental and Occupational Health Engineering Students towards the Benefits and Risks of Nanotechnology

Introduction: Nanotechnology as a key technology in the 21st century refers to the science of manipulating molecules and atoms in size range of 1 to 100 nanometers. Given the importance of investment in research and development, promoting knowledge and attitude of students can have a positive effect on expanding the scope and use of these emerging technologies. Methods: In this descriptive analytical study, the knowledge and attitudes of 130 students towards the benefits and risks of nanotechnology were investigated through a questionnaire. The participants were studying occupational and environmental health engineering in Hamadan, Ilam, and Semnan Universities of Medical Sciences. Results: The mean score of students' knowledge was 16.08 ± 1.61. A significant difference was observed between the mean scores of knowledge in undergraduate and graduate students (P= 0.001). However, no significant deference was observed in the mean score of knowledge between women and men, different age groups, and the year of entrance to university. Using linear regression equation and by considering knowledge level as a dependent variable, it was indicated that age and educational level were significantly related to the state of knowledge. Conclusion: The results showed that most students did not have an acceptable level of knowledge about nanotechnology. Considering the benefits and risks of this technology, students have a positive attitude to develop use of nanotechnology in Iran. &nbsp