Visible Domain Photocatalysis Performance of Ti-Si Thermal-Sprayed Coatings

Cost and performance-effective materials used in advanced oxidation processes such as photocatalysis have obtained widespread attention in recent years. In this study, thermal spraying was used as a one-step method to obtain thick visible-light-active photocatalyst coatings on two types of substrates, namely, plain carbon steel and copper. A mixed metallic titanium–silicon powder bearing 10% wt. Si was used as feedstock. The optical bandgaps of the coatings were close to 1.000 eV, allowing good photodecoloration efficiencies (>89%) and mineralization efficiencies (>67%) for methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions under visible light irradiation. The photodegradation process could be successfully modelled by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood pseudo-first-order kinetic model, with reaction rate constants k between 0.16 and 1.06 h−1

Austenitic Stainless Steel as a Catalyst Material for Photo-Fenton Degradation of Organic Dyes

In this paper, a typical austenitic stainless steel was used as a catalyst in the visible photo-Fenton degradation process of two model dyes, methylene blue and methylorange, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and potassium persulfate as free radical-generating species. The concentration intervals for both peroxide and persulfate were in the range of 333–1667 μg/L. Very high photodecoloration efficiencies have been achieved using peroxide (>93%), while moderate ones have been achieved using persulfate (>75%) at a pH value of 6.5. For methylene blue, the maximum mineralization yield of 74.5% was achieved using 1665 μg/L of hydrogen peroxide, while methylorange was better mineralized using 999 μg/L of persulfate. The photodegradation of the dye occurred in two distinct steps, which were successfully modeled by the Langmuir–Hinshelwood pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Reaction rate constants k between 0.1 and 4.05 h−1 were observed, comparable to those presented in the reference literature at lower pH values and higher concentrations of total iron from the aqueous media

Using new digital technologies in employee training to avoid occupational accidents in the industry

The most frequent workplace accidents in the industry are most of the times caused by the employer’s failure to fulfill their obligation to provide appropriate on-the-job training. Starting from this state of affairs, this paper analyzes the main cause of workplace accidents in the industry, which is the lack of training, or incomplete or inadequate training of employees, a situation indicated by the latest studies and the latest activity report of Labor Inspectorate. The solution identified by most employers was to use the online environment, this being the only way that allows the achievement of both of the aforementioned objectives at the same time. In this context, the paper identifies and proposes the use of the online environment, especially in the process of distance training of workers, giving them the opportunity to receive training documents, to analyze them, to electronically sign them and send them to the employer in electronic format. This proposal of supplementing the current legislation with the possibility of using the online environment in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS) also takes into account other categories of benefits that this solution brings, such as streamlining OHS and optimizing costs incurred in fulfilling these legal obligations

Study on the application of the QEC (Quick Exposure Check) on the ergonomic risks assessment in the industrial field

In Romania there are approximately 200,000 employees in the automotive industry, ranking 4th in the EU, after Germany, France and Poland. Many workers in these industries complain of musculoskeletal disorders caused by the high pace of work, awkward positions, handling of masses, etc., often being cumulated. It is therefore essential that these risks related to ergonomics are correctly identified, assessed and treated. The Quick Exposure Check (QEC) is an advanced exposure assessment method that combines observational assessment and self-reporting. This paper presents an applied study of the QEC methodology, a technique based on questions that will be answered by both the observer and the evaluated worker. The research analysed the activity of manually transferring metal parts (components from the automotive industry) from a trolley on a conveyor belt for processing and, vice versa, taking the processed parts from a conveyor belt and placing them on a trolley, because these activities generate many risks to workers’ health. Analysing the results of the evaluation of the ergonomic risks generated by incorrect and / or awkward positions during the activities, using the QEC method, it is found that there are some areas of the body that are much affected during these activities

Study of health and safety in the manufacturing industry using Pareto analysis

The present paper carries out a study on health and safety in the manufacturing industry. The health and safety is analyzed for industrial workers in Brasov county for the years 2017 and 2018. The analysis is based on data for work related accidents and the processing was made using the Pareto Analysis. By complying with the 80/20 rule, it can be focused on the analysis of the 20% of the causes of work accidents that account for 80% of the total work accidents analyzed. Finally, it is presented which actions that can be taken to reduce accidents based on the analysis of the specific stages. After applying the Pareto Analysis in the year 2018 are obtained satisfactory results compared to the year 2017, thus optimizing the performance of the industrial activity in terms of health and safety and improve Quality Assurance in Industrial Manufacturing