FAULT TREE ANALYSIS FEATURES IN INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS SAFETY ASSESSMENT: A CASE STUDY

Fault tree analysis is useful both in designing new products/services or in dealing with identified problems in existing ones. In the quality planning process, the analysis can be used to optimize process features and goals and to design for critical factors and human error. As part of safety process improvement, as it is emphasized in the present paper, it can be used to help identify root causes of undesired events such as occupational injuries and illnesses. A case study of application in industrial safety systems illustrates the aim, principle and structure of the technique, allowing better prevention measures selection and implementation

Industrial pollution and control measures in romanian foundries

Over the last decades significant improvements have been achieved in industry regarding the control of major polluting substanccs and gradually the environmental impact has shifted towards the so-callcd diffuse sources of pollution. Nevertheless, industrial processes still account for a considerable share of the overall pollution in Europe and it is very important to further reduce their contribution to "unsustainability". The European Union (EU) has a set of common rules on permitting of industrial installations. These rules are set out in the so-called Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive of 1996 (IPPC). Romania is one of the countries which became a full member of the EU and is currently in the implementation process, in order to fulfill ail the obligations that apply to the Member States. A large number of these obligations derive from the IPPC Directive, which aims at the protection of the environment as a whole and the public health as well. In this framework, the paper aims to present a synthesis of the findings issued after a thorough examination of a large number of documents relevant to the Best Available Technologies. On this basis, guidelines were developed for the application of BATs for several categories of the industry branches in Romania. This paper concerns the developed guidelines for foundries. It was concluded that in order to reduce the emissions and to keep the emissions as low as necessary it is not sufficient to implement technical measures only. It is also important to consider the "human factor" in the environmental regulations. Therefore it is suggested that a log file of the maintenance actions be required to be reported in the future regulations

Chemical risk ranking and evaluation: case study in a paint manufacturing company

As economies grow and the use of chemicals becomes more and more widespread, the adoption of effective control measures allows for safer use of chemicals on an industrial scale. Chemical hazards can have severe negative consequences for both the health of employees, the safety of personnel and facilities (fire and explosion risk) and the environment. To characterize them, it is necessary to combine the inherent hazards associated to chemicals with their conditions of use that may generate emissions and exposures. Various methods, both qualitative and quantitative are available worldwide for chemical risk assessment, but unfortunately in Romania this important aspect is treated in a minimalist manner, which can often be considered as insufficiently rigorous. In this perspective, the present paper aims to validate through a practical case study conducted in a Romanian paint manufacturing company, the application of a simplified method of chemical risks prioritization and assessment. The obtained results allowed the substantiation of the control measures of these risks, being also able to constitute an instrument of raising awareness for all the interested parties (occupational safety and health inspectors, managers, safety officers, supervisors, workers), in the effective management of the chemical risks

Improved Education and Trainings in the Field of Fire Protection

The article presents the characteristics of the subject "Fire and rescue protection" carried out at the Faculty of Management at the Czestochowa University of Technology in the field of "Work Safety and Hygiene". The modified program consists of lectures and exercises and also presents a practical way of implementing the selected issues in a given building. Next, the methodology of research and the results of questionnaire surveys conducted in the target group of students are presented, referring to the improved content and methods of education and training in the field of fire protection. The article ends with conclusions from the conducted research and the proposed concept of activities for the future

APPROACHING THE ECONOMIC COSTS ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND DISEASES: PRINCIPLES, CONCEPTS AND STRUCTURE

Occupational Health and Safety management is more and more strongly related to the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses, as a top priority in most companies. The present article presents a synthesis of authors’ attempts to identify the elements which should be taken into account in determining the cost of occupational injuries and diseases at the national level, with a focus on basic influence factors. Our aim is to help companies managers to emphasize the economic costs of not improving workplace safety and health – to employers, to workers and to society as a whole – and to inform decision-makers on further developments to be considered in the occupational risk management processes

Improved Education and Trainings in the Field of Fire Protection

The article presents the characteristics of the subject "Fire and rescue protection" carried out at the Faculty of Management at the Czestochowa University of Technology in the field of "Work Safety and Hygiene". The modified program consists of lectures and exercises and also presents a practical way of implementing the selected issues in a given building. Next, the methodology of research and the results of questionnaire surveys conducted in the target group of students are presented, referring to the improved content and methods of education and training in the field of fire protection. The article ends with conclusions from the conducted research and the proposed concept of activities for the future

Managing the dust degree – related risks in Valea Jiului collieries: a synthesis

The paper aims to make a synthesis regarding the risks associated with the presence of industrial dust in the underground atmosphere of the coal mines. Thus, in the first part of it are presented relevant aspects regarding the health risk associated with the exposure to silica dust, as well as the flammability and explosiveness of the coal dust, in correlation with the mechanism of the explosion. The second part is dedicated to identifying and substantiating measures to combat the explosiveness of coal dust. In presenting the mentioned measures, the emphasis is placed on highlighting the scope and the specific advantages and disadvantages of each measure, with particular emphasis on the possibilities offered by the use of less employed techniques in mining operations in the Jiu Valley, such as it is, for example, the treatment of mining works with hygroscopic substances. The purpose of the authors is to offer the experts in the field of management of occupational safety and health in the mining industry an overview, in conjunction with specific information elements that facilitate the decision-making processes regarding the minimization of the hazards associated with the degree of coal dustiness in the Jiu Valley collieries

Chemical risk ranking and evaluation: case study in a paint manufacturing company

As economies grow and the use of chemicals becomes more and more widespread, the adoption of effective control measures allows for safer use of chemicals on an industrial scale. Chemical hazards can have severe negative consequences for both the health of employees, the safety of personnel and facilities (fire and explosion risk) and the environment. To characterize them, it is necessary to combine the inherent hazards associated to chemicals with their conditions of use that may generate emissions and exposures. Various methods, both qualitative and quantitative are available worldwide for chemical risk assessment, but unfortunately in Romania this important aspect is treated in a minimalist manner, which can often be considered as insufficiently rigorous. In this perspective, the present paper aims to validate through a practical case study conducted in a Romanian paint manufacturing company, the application of a simplified method of chemical risks prioritization and assessment. The obtained results allowed the substantiation of the control measures of these risks, being also able to constitute an instrument of raising awareness for all the interested parties (occupational safety and health inspectors, managers, safety officers, supervisors, workers), in the effective management of the chemical risks