Occupational Exoskeletons: Understanding the Impact on Workers and Suggesting Guidelines for Practitioners and Future Research Needs

This paper examines occupational exoskeletons and their effects on workers. The study includes a thorough evaluation of the current literature on occupational exoskeletons, with an emphasis on the impact of these devices on workers’ health and the safety, performance and users’ subjective perceptions. The aim of the study was to gain knowledge of how exoskeletons affect the workers and to identify practical suggestions for practitioners. The findings of the study suggest that exoskeletons can have both positive and negative effects on workers. Some users claimed enhanced comfort and decreased fatigue, whilst others reported discomfort and suffering. The study highlights the importance of considering the individual needs and preferences of workers when selecting and implementing exoskeletons in the workplace, with a focus on health, safety, performance and user acceptance. Based on the findings, the paper presents suggestions for employers and practitioners to ensure the effective and safe use of exoskeletons in occupational settings. These recommendations cover areas such as the assessment of workplace requirements, the selection and fit of exoskeletons, the optimization of design and ergonomics and the evaluation of performance. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for further research in this area, particularly in the areas of long-term use

Sustainable Circular Economy for the Integration of Disadvantaged People: A Preliminary Study on the Reuse of Lithium-Ion Batteries

The circular economy is attracting the attention of governments and companies who recognize the importance of promoting a sustainable approach toward social and industrial development. The European Union requires EU State members to support a sustainable approach to improving the production and consumption of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). This paper supports the conceptualization of a sustainable circular economy model, proposing the reuse of lithium-ion batteries from WEEE. The aim is to define a circular economy-based production model for the reuse of waste lithium-ion batteries and support the inclusion of disadvantaged people in the recovery process, breaking the barriers of social discrimination. The activities introduced in this paper are part of a circular economy project for the social integration of disadvantaged people. In this paper, the preliminary results of the project are introduced, proposing a methodology for the disassembly of waste lithium-ion batteries. The disassembly line balancing proposed in this paper focuses on the need to include workers with physical, psychological, sensory, or intellectual limitations, as well as people experiencing communication difficulties. Future steps of the project will focus on the design of the assembly line to produce battery packs for pedal-assisted bicycles from the recovered lithium-ion cells

Understanding human factors to improve occupational safety in manufacturing: a case study

This paper investigates how the deviation of an industrial process from its optimal productivity, maintenance, and quality levels can lead to safety issues. An integrated approach was developed in 2021 to analyze the correlation between safety deficie- ncies and process inefficiencies. In this study, the proposed approach was adopted, aiming to identify potential connections between the safety issues that emerged from the previous investigations and the process inefficiencies. A case study describes the application of the proposed approach in an Italian company leader in the production of boilers for domestic and industrial heating and cooling systems. The findings show that the joint analysis of the results from the investigations in the proposed approach allows understanding the human factors in the investigated manufacturing process, i.e. the environmental, organizational, and job factors, and the human and individual characteristics which influence behavior at work in a way which can affect occupational safety

A home is a safe place only for men: the failing securitization of the “shadow pandemic” in Italy

Questo lavoro si propone di indagare in che misura l’applicazione della teoria della securitizzazione alla violenza sessuale e di genere (SGBV) in Italia durante le fasi più acute della pandemia da COVID-19 abbia avu- to successo. Il quadro metodologico di riferimento è stato sviluppato nel 1998 dalla scuola di Copenaghen per trattare alcune questioni di carattere politico come problemi di sicurezza, compiendo un’operazione dialogica chiamata atto linguistico (speech act), per convincere un pubblico ritenuto credibile a mettere in campo misure straordinarie. Analizzando due revisioni alla formulazione iniziale della teoria, ovvero la macrosecuritizzazione (macrosecuritization) e il conseguente dilemma della securitizzazione (securitization dilemma), l’elaborato sostiene che il Governo italiano e il Dipartimento per le Pari Opportunità non siano stati in grado di articolare un atto linguistico convincente né di implementare misure emergenziali d’impatto perché il contenimento del virus ha prevalso sulla messa in sicurezza di donne e ragazze.This work aims to investigate to what extent the application of the securitization theory to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Italy during the first phases of the COVID-19 pandemic was successful. The methodological framework used was developed in 1998 by the Copenhagen School of Security Studies to address certain issues as security concerns, performing a dialogical operation called speech act, to convince a credible audience to deploy extraordinary measures. By analyzing two further revisions to the initial formulation of the theory, namely macrosecuritization and the ensuing securitization dilemma, the paper argues that the Italian Government and its appointed Department for Equal Opportunities were not able to carry out a powerful speech act or implement strong emergency actions because the containment of the virus prevailed over securing women and girls. Parole chiave: Securitizzazione; pandemia ombra; violenza di genere; Italia; COVID-19. Keywords: Securitization theory; shadow pandemic; sexual and gen- der-based violence; Italy; COVID-19

Analysis of sustainable concrete obtained from the by-products of an industrial process and recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste

warming. In response to the extreme climate changes and the lack of primary resources that social-economic systems are The excessive exploitation of natural resources for construction is producing an extreme impact on air pollution and global experiencing all over the world, international and local governments are supporting the development of the culture of warming. In response to the extreme climate changes and the lack of primary resources that social-economic systems are sustainable manufacturing, following the principles of the circular economy. In this context, the present study supports the experiencing all over the world, international and local governments are supporting the development of the culture of research on the design of sustainable and cross-industry value chains. This paper investigates the characteristics of sustainable sustainable manufacturing, following the principles of the circular economy. In this context, the present study supports the concrete obtained from industrial waste and recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste. The industrial waste research on the design of sustainable and cross-industry value chains. This paper investigates the characteristics of sustainable adopted in this study is the by-product of an industrial production process. The aim was to investigate the characteristics of concrete obtained from industrial waste and recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste. The industrial waste such a by-product as a recycled additive for sustainable concrete and to assess its eco-compatible safety performance. The adopted in this study is the by-product of an industrial production process. The aim was to investigate the characteristics of results suggest that the by-products adopted in this research provide an interesting alternative to the use of primary resources, such a by-product as a recycled additive for sustainable concrete and to assess its eco-compatible safety performance. The e.g. the fine sand, in the concrete mixture. However, the optimal amount of by-products depends on the characteristics of the results suggest that the by-products adopted in this research provide an interesting alternative to the use of primary resources, waste material in the mixture. The eco-compatibility test was performed to investigate the leaching behavior of the proposed e.g. the fine sand, in the concrete mixture. However, the optimal amount of by-products depends on the characteristics of the sustainable concrete. The present research promotes the adoption of a cross-industry and circular approach towards waste material in the mixture. The eco-compatibility test was performed to investigate the leaching behavior of the proposed sustainability, showing that the use of industrial waste to produce sustainable concrete allows benefits for all the stakeholders sustainable concrete. The present research promotes the adoption of a cross-industry and circular approach towards involved in the value chain and for society. sustainability, showing that the use of industrial waste to produce sustainable concrete allows benefits for all the stakeholders involved in the value chain and for society

The Impact of Occupational Safety on Logistics and Automation in Industrial Plants

Research on workplace health and safety analyses the integration of work practices with safety, health and wealth of people at work. The aim of occupational safety is to realize a safe and health work environment, eliminating or reducing the risks for workers' safety and health. The objective of this thesis is the study, integration, development and application of innovative approaches and models for decision-making support in the context of occupational safety in industrial plants and logistics. Such methodologies are expected to lead practitioners and decision-makers, in particular safety professionals and companies, in the management of occupational safety. In particular, this research focuses on the integration and application of ergonomics principles to reduce biomechanical overload of manual work, and methodologies and solutions to improve safety of confined space work in industrial plants. The study of biomechanical overload due to manual handling of loads and awkward postures is the object of several researches and publications addressing the ergonomic risk assessment and the ergonomic approach to remove or reduce the risk of manual handling injuries and disorders. Furthermore, when awkward postures are assumed in high-risk workplaces as confined spaces, the overall risk of work is extremely high. Confined space work is a high-risk activity, posing a significant hazard for both workers and rescuers involved in the emergency response. The leading cause of accidents and fatalities in confined spaces is atmospheric condition (Sahli & Armstrong 1992, Harris et al. 2005, Flynn & Susi, 2010, Meeker, Susi & Flynn 2010, Ye 2011, Bellamy 2015). Further common causes are fire, explosion, ignition of flammable contaminants, spontaneous combustion and contact with temperature extremes. Besides, work activities in confined spaces (e.g., welding and maintenance tasks) frequently require awkward and static postures, at high temperatures. This thesis stresses the importance of implementing health and safety interventions at workplace. These interventions have impact not only on enterprise level but also on individual and social levels. Furthermore, protection of human life is a matter of human rights and human life has an invaluable value. In this thesis, the role of occupational safety and safety strategy as means for the improvement of workers and companies’ performances clearly emerges. Two parallel research fields on occupational safety are investigated: ergonomics and confined spaces. Selected data are introduced related to occupational accidents and diseases due to biomechanical overload and work in confined spaces. The literature survey on controls for risk elimination and reduction shows that technology for safety is available. Nevertheless, injuries and accidents still occur, i.e. safety is frequently considered an expensive investment and a compliance obligation. Specifically, administrative and engineering controls for risk elimination and reduction are introduced for each research field. Administrative controls include work procedures and mathematical models for the design of safe work processes. Such control methods reduce the workers' exposure to occupational risk factors. The ergonomic analysis of manual handling activities drives the modelling by multi-objective optimisation problems in the design of administrative controls for the ergonomic risk reduction in different industries. Administrative controls for risks in confined spaces include work procedures, a multi-criteria decision tool and the analysis of the requirements of Internet of Things (IOT) technologies for reducing the risk of confined space work. The introduction of automation to replace manual work and engineering controls for confined space work are analysed for the risk elimination. Results show that the integration of ergonomics and safety principles in the industrial processes plays a leading role in the successful implementation of the overall strategy. Technologies for safe confined space work and technical solutions assisting workers during manual material handling tasks have been the focus of the Solutions Database Project, funded by the Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale of Bologna (AUSL), Italy. The study of such technological and technical solutions lead to the development of the Solutions Database, a free access database available online for researchers and practitioners (http://safetyengineering.din.unibo.it/en/banca-delle-soluzioni). The thesis ends with the recommendation that companies should integrate workplace health and safety principles to human resource management and work organisation. The management of health and safety issues should be considered to be crucial for workplace development, as a lever to increase performance and productivity. Finally, this research aims to support and reinforce the evolution of the concept of safety in industry, from ex post required obligation, to ex ante optimisation strategy

Participative ergonomics for the improvement of occupational health and safety in industry: a focus group-based approach

This paper introduces a participative approach to the investigation and promotion of health and safety in industry. The proposed methodology promotes the active participation of the workers in the analysis of consequences and causes of unsafe behaviours that may result in work-related musculoskeletal disorders, accidents, injuries or near-misses. The developed participative technique is the Focus Group with Workers, based on the Fault Tree Analysis method (FGW-FTA). Focus groups are conventionally used by social and behavioural researchers to understand opinions, motivations, attitudes, and mental processes that underlie people behaviours. The innovative procedure in this paper addresses researchers and safety professionals during the focus groups with the workers for the identification of critical risk factors in the workplace. The result is a structured analysis, operated by and with the workers, for the identification of consequences and causes of unsafe behaviours. Finally, the developed methodology addresses the definition of a set of preventive and protective measures, and corrective actions for the improvement of health and safety in the workplace. An experimental study in an Italian boiler manufacturer describes the proposed methodology and the results of the focus groups with the workers. An evaluation questionnaire was elaborated to investigate the workers’ knowledge on occupational health and safety. A second questionnaire was developed to understand the workers’ perception on occupational risks. Each participant was invited to fill in both the questionnaires before and after the focus groups with the workers. The results of the study proved the effectiveness of the developed methodology in improving workers knowledge and perceptions on occupational health and safety

Density-based mixing parameter for hybrid functionals

A very popular ab-initio scheme to calculate electronic properties in solids is the use of hybrid functionals in density functional theory (DFT) that mixes a portion of Fock exchange with DFT functionals. In spite of their success, a major problem still remains, related to the use of one single mixing parameter for all materials. Guided by physical arguments that connect the mixing parameter to the dielectric properties of the solid, and ultimately to its band gap, we propose a method to calculate this parameter from the electronic density alone. This method is able to cut significantly the error of traditional hybrid functionals for large and small gap materials, while retaining a good description of structural properties. Moreover, its implementation is simple and leads to a negligible increase of the computational time.Comment: submitte

Thermal comfort prediction of aged industrial workers based on occupants' basal metabolic rate

The increasing workforce ageing brings benefits and challenges in industrial structu- res. Industries consider aged workers as essential resources thanks to their experience and skills. Conversely, the aged workers’ progressive functional and cognitive decline reduce their tolerance to industrial environmental conditions, negatively impacting performance. In particular, after age 30, there is a progressive inefficiency in the physiological response to temperature changes. Therefore, thermal discomfort conditions have a worse impact as the workers’ age increases. The Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) methodology is conventionally used to predict the human sensation of thermal comfort on a seven-point thermal sensation scale. Such methodology does not take account of progressive decline in thermoregulation capacity with age. This paper aims to fill this gap by proposing an analytic model for the prediction of thermal comfort. The Metabolic rate (M) parameter in the PMV equation is calculated from the Harris-Benedict equations revised by Mifflin and St Jeor (1990) for the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), including the age factor for a more accurate evaluation of the workers’ thermal sensation. The aim is to safeguard the aged workers’ health and well-being to enhance their performance during work

prognostic health management of production systems new proposed approach and experimental evidences

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