Risks and Hazards at Rotary Screen Printing (Part 4/6): Manual Materials-Handling

This-study aimed at identification of occupational-hazards and risks, associated with manual materials- handling (MMH), incorporating manual-lifting, but excluding pushing and pulling. The-study was limited to-printing-section, of a-textile-mill. Questionnaire, observations, and document-analysis, were the-main- research-instruments. Pre-testing, of the-questionnaire, was done, according to the-ISO 20252:2006 (E). Reliability (the-Cronbach’s co-efficient) was obtained via SPPS-17, version 22, and established high-inter –item-consistency (α >0.87). Descriptive-statistics was employed to-analyze both; qualitative and quantitative-data. The-study established, that some-MMH practices, in the-department, are hazardous and risky, and can-contribute to Musculoskeletal-injuries and/or Musculoskeletal-Disorders. In-particular, absolute-majority of the-respondents, reported, that MMH was their-daily-responsibility; and also-stated, that the-loads, they handle, were, largely, both; heavy (20-50kg), bulky (too-wide (> 50 cm)), and long (> 30cm). Moreover, the-mainstream indicated, that: (1) heavy-loads (rolls of fabric, and containers of dyes/pigments/solvents) were lifted manually, in awkward-working-positions, solo (without help), and with not knowing of the-weight of the-load, to be-lifted; in-addition, inadequate/ short-handholds made lifting more-precarious, increasing the-risk of injuries, and of dropping the-load; (2) material-handling-equipment was not in-good-condition; considerable-force was needed to-push, or pull, equipment, such-as trolleys; (3) repetitive-tasks, and movements, were-routinely carried-out; and (4) the-floor was uneven and sloping, making the-movement of goods, even-more-difficult. Numerous-tailored-recommendations included: preventive technical/engineering-measures (mechanization, and rearrangement of workplace); and organizational/administrative-measures (job-rotation, task-specific training, proper-machine and plant maintenance, including Total Productive Maintenance, and good housekeeping), among-others. The-study also-offered a-review of theoretical-background on: Standards for manual-handling; NIOSH-lifting- equation; Preferred-position and zone, for safe-lifting; and Lifting-Principles. The-study is important; foremost, for the-mill-administration, as knowing the-hazards is a-paramount-step on the-road, to their-eradication, or reduction. Furthermore, this-unfunded-study also contributed (in its-small-way) to the-body of knowledge, on the-subject-matter.   Keywords: lifting, heavy load, awkward posture, repetitive tasks, MH, MMH

Conceptual Design of a Massaging Device to Mitigate Exercise Associated Calf Muscle Cramps

Exercise-associated muscle-cramping (EAMC) is a-common-condition, experienced by recreational and competitive-athletes, which can potentially-endanger their-health, as-well-as professional-career. This paper reports the-synopsis of a-conceptual-design, simulation, and analysis of a-massaging-device to-mitigate paraphysiologic-EAMC, in-the-calf-area. Document-analysis was utilized as one of the-study-instruments (including published-research on the-concepts of cramps and their-treatments; selected-relevant International-patents; the-use of anthropometric-data in product-design; prior-art on massaging-devices, and selected-devices, currently available at the-market, with their-respective-limitations). The-study applied fundamental-Engineering-principles of product design, and was-carried-out in-compliance with ISO7250: 1996 (Basic-human-body-measurements for technological-design). The-best-ranked-design (out of the 3 design-alternatives, made) was chosen, via Engineering-Design Weighted-Decision-Matrix, and confirmed by the ‘Drop and Re-vote’ (D & R) method. 2D-drawings, of the-best-design-alternative, were created by computer-aided-design (CAD) AutoCAD-software, while 50th percentile, adult-male was selected, as a design-target. Relevant-leg and hand-dimensions (one-dimensional measurements), were obtained from published-anthropometric-data-tables. Simulation of Stress-Analysis/Single-Point Static-Analysis (to-detect and eliminate rigid-body-modes; and separate stresses across contact-surfaces) was done by Autodesk Inventor-Version: 2016 (Build 200138000, 138). Conceptual-design of the-massaging-device was optimized according-to results of simulations, calculations, and fundamental engineering-product design principles. The-study also revealed that the-patho-physiology, causing EAMC, is most-likely multi factorial and complex. Overall, the-results of this-concise-study are rather-positive, providing a-good starting-point for advanced-exploration on the-same. Further-improvements and trials, however, are necessary. The-study, hence, recommended: (i) Further-studies, to-optimize the-dimensions of the-device, to-accommodate different-shapes of calf-muscles; (ii) More-advanced-methods, such-as PuCC; AHP, and TRIZ should be considered in-selection of the-best-design-alternative; (iii) Comprehensive-materials-selection should be detailed via Ashby-charts; (iv) To-carry-out a-detail-design; (v) To-fabricate a-prototype; (vi) To-conduct additional-tests (e.g., FEA/FEM) and explorative-use-ability-trials, in-collaboration-with the-department of Medical-Engineering, School of Medicine, MU; and (vii) To-analyze the-marketing-aspect of the-final-device. The-device is potentially-beneficial to sports-health-care-providers, coaches, and athletes; moreover, it could be included into-First-Aid Sport-kit (subject-to satisfactory-trails). Keywords: EAMC, spasm, athlete, sports, theories. DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/10-2-0

Hazards and Risks at Rotary Screen Printing (Part 2/6): Analysis of Machine-operators’ Posture via Rapid-Upper-Limb-Assessment (RULA)

Musculoskeletal-disorders (MSDs) are one of the-most-noticeable global-problems, ergonomists come- across, in the-workplace. To-prevent MSDs, their-root-causes, particularly, poor/awkward-postures, should be identified, first. This-study examined such-postures, at-printing-section of finishing-department, at textile-mill, via numerical-rating ergonomic-assessment-tool, namely Rapid-Upper-Limb-Assessment (RULA). In-addition, ISO 11226: Ergonomics, evaluation of static-working-postures (2000); and EN-1005- 4: Safety of machinery, human-physical-perfor­mance, and evaluation of working-postures, in relation to-machinery, were-used, as a-reference. The-RULA-analysis, on the-two-chosen highest-risk-postures (#1 and #2), identified 2nd and 3rd action-level of danger of musculoskeletal-injury (MSI), necessitating further-investigation, and possible-change/correction. These-investigations revealed the-following-risks of MSDs or MSIs, for the-posture #1: (1) awkward-back posture--trunk-bending-forward, at the-waist, with 46 degrees deviation, from neutral-posture; (2) visually-demanding-operation (risk of eye-strain); (3) contact-pressure; (4) stress on lower-extremities; and (5) standing-static-posture. For the-posture #2, the-risks were: (1) awkward-neck, and head-posture, with 38 degrees-deviation, from neutral-posture; (2) risk of eye-strain; (3) stress on lower-extremities; and (5) standing static-posture. Several-tailored recommendations, to-control, or prevent, the-identified-hazards, were-offered, including: engineering, work-practice/administrative, and PPE-approaches. In-addition, 3 areas, for-further-research, were identified. Moreover, informative-synopsis on relevant-issues were-also-given, such-as on: Work-related MSDs (WRMSDs) and their-prevalence; Working in neutral-posture; Awkward-posture, its-effects, and relevance to WRMSDSs; Upper-limb-MSDs; RULA; Spine and awkward-back-posture; Visually demanding-operation and eye-strain; Printing-defects; Digital-image-processing-techniques; Contact pressure; Standing-static-posture; Stress on lower-extremities; and GSE- automatic-dispensing systems, among-others. The-study is important, for textile-printing-industry, particularly the-management of the-textile-printing-section, at the-textile-mill, as it provides specific-recommendations, for consideration to-implementation, to-reduce and control the-risks of WRMSDs. It-also-adds (in its-small-way) to-the-body of knowledge on WRMSDs. Keywords: textile industry, MSDs, WRMSDs, awkward-posture, printing defects, machine operator

Solid Waste Management (SWM) at a University Campus (Part 2/10): Review on Legal Framework and Background to SWM, in-Kenya

This-review is a-second-piece, in-a-series of 10. It-is focused on SWM, at a-Kenyan-context, and it is the-most-comprehensive and up-to-date-coverage (currently-available) on Legal-Foundation/framework, to-SWM, in-Kenya (proving chronological-account for the-last 70 years), and including: Codes, Acts, Regulations, Rules, Policies, Bills, Action-Plans, the-Constitution, Flagship-projects, and a-Product-Ban. This-review have justified, that Kenya, indeed, has made substantial-efforts, at-the-policy-arena, to-oversee, regulate, and promote good-practices, in-SWM. The-relevant-efforts, manifested by Kenya, as: (1) being a-signatory, or a-party-to, the-main-International-Conventions and Treaties; (2) enacting numerous-laws and by-laws; and (3) creating institutions and systems, at-different-levels of governance. The-problem, however, is in the-proper-implementation/enforcement of the-laws. Logically, even most- progressive-laws, are worth absolutely-nothing, and remained-good, only on-paper, if not implemented. The-task, therefore, remains, for the-national and local-governments, as-well-as other-SWM-stakeholders, to-make-every possible-effort strictly implementing the-existing-laws and regulations. To-achieve this-task the-capacity development in, and financial-sustainability of, MSWM, is necessary. This-study have also-exposed multi-dimensional and complex-nature of the-existent challenge of MSWM, in-the-country. To-achieve the-SDGs and the-Kenya-Vision-2030, Kenya should focus (as a-long-time objective) on a-complete transformation, of the-current unsatisfactory-MWM-system, to sustainable-waste and resource- management. Ambitious-target of 100% waste-collection, to all-urban-citizens (regardless of income-level, and including: informal-settlements, slums, and peri-urban areas), should-be focused-on. An-innovative Results-Based Financing-model, of SWM; Upgrading of the-current waste-dumping-sites to designed-sanitary-landfills; and Change of habits, and cultural-perceptions, towards waste, was also proposed. Keywords: Environmental law, local government, good governance, Waste hierarchy, ISWM, capacity development

Solid Waste Management (SWM) at a University Campus (Part 1/10): Comprehensive-Review on Legal Framework and Background to Waste Management, at a Global Context

This-work, being the-first, in-a-series of 10, was intended to-provide a-sufficient-introductory to SWM; yet, it can also-be-treated-as an-independent and a-complete-piece. This-article starts-with a-concentrated-digest (synthesized from over 400 published-reference-documents), providing a-starting point, for readers, interested in-advanced-investigation on the-topic. As-such, the-following-issues were presented and analyzed: SWM history; Global and regional-generation-rates; WM-‘value-chain’; SWM-technologies; Impacts of uncontrolled-SW; International-Conventions, Protocols, Agreements, and commitments, addressing SWM, and their-analysis; as-well-as Global-SWM-practices (including municipal-waste management) and current-challenges, incorporating POPs. It was concluded, that waste is completely-unavoidable in-any, and every-human-activity; however, the-way the-waste is handled, stored, collected, and disposed-off, will-determine the-quality of our-surrounding-environment, to-be-either; clean, pleasant, healthy, and sustainable, or filthy, disgusting, harmful, and wasteful. The-way each-individual, company/organization, government, and society, at-large, deal with their-waste, will-eventually-determine our-own-future, as-humans. The-study also justified, that the-waste should-be-treated as a-resource, as it still-contains many-valuable-materials. The-study also-offered a-new-analogy; the-sustainable SWM-system should-be analogous to-a-digestive-system, extracting all-the-recyclables from the-waste, and only then discarding, the-small-remainder/waste. The-author, also-believes that Recycling (with a-capital R) is the-future of human-civilization; however, it must be done in the-environmentally sound-sustainable-manner, to-protect health of workers, and also to-extract the-optimum-amount of valuable-materials, from the-waste. This-study also-exposed, that despite the-existence of International, regional, and multilateral-agreements, illegal-trafficking of hazardous, toxic, radioactive, and e-waste, is still widely-practiced. Such-practices can-be regarded-as Environmental-racism, conducted by, or with the-help of, an-international-‘eco-mafia’. Environmental-racism was analyzed against human-rights; in-the-context of both; the-Universal-Declaration of Human-Rights and the-generation-approach. The-author also-justified, that Environmental-racism is real, alive, and widespread-global-trend, affecting many, if not all-countries. Environmental-racism is a-sin, against humanity; logically, as any-sin, it should-be exposed, condemned, and fought against, with every-fibre, of impartiality, left in-us. The-study also-exposed an-increasing-interest of majority of African-countries in inherently-dangerous nuclear-energy (with its-by-product--radioactive-waste); the-recommendation was offered, to-shift their-interest to clean/green/renewable-energy-sector, particularly solar-energy. There is also a-common-prejudiced stereotyped-misconception, that, in-the-developed-countries almost-everything (including WM) is: superior, brainy, flawless, highly-organized, and tidy; in-contrast, in-developing countries, and particularly in-the-‘dark’-continent of Africa, almost-everything (including WM) is substandard, mediocre, unsound, ad-hoc, and filthy. The-selected-examples, provided in-this-paper, will, possibly, demonstrate, that the-current-situation, at-least, with-regard-to WM, is not so ‘black and white’. This-paper has also-offered several-recommendations for further-research. Lastly, this-article does not claim to-be fully comprehensive, as it-is physically-impossible ‘to-fill an-ocean into a-small-cup’, and even the-most-comprehensive-review, have to-stop, at a-certain-point. Nevertheless, the-cohesive-theoretical-background, alongside-with author’s analytical-scholarly-input, hopefully provides a-credible-contribution to-the-body of knowledge, on-the-subject-matter, as-well-as a ‘food-for-thought’. With anticipation, this-work will not only attract, but also hold, considerable-attention, from SWM stakeholders, and other-interested-parties, both; locally and internationally. Keywords: Environmental racism, Convention, human rights, ‘eco’ mafia, POPs, e-waste, toxic, hazardous, radioactive, nuclear plants, solar energy, Africa.

Universal Design to Limit Food Cross-Contamination: Incased Set of Kitchen Utensils with Five Color-Coded Food Chopping Boards and Knifes

This-study is focused on a-conceptual-design of a-kitchen-appliances/utensils-set, comprising of five-color-coded food-chopping-boards and five-matching-color-coded-knifes, to-reduce cross-contamination at private-homes, as-well-as at food-establishments. Selected-relevant-Patents, as-well-as products, available locally and internationally, were analyzed. The-Joseph-Joseph Index™ Color-Coded Chopping-Boards set (of four), was chosen as a-point of reference for the-current-design; its-seven-identified-limitations have-directed the-scope of the-current-design. Target-specifications/objectives, of the-set, were formulated from the-document-analysis, while Pair-wise-Comparison-Charts were-used, to-rank the-importance of the-objectives, in the-different-levels. The-best-ranked-design (out of the-four-alternatives made) was chosen, via standard Engineering-Design Weighted-Decision-Matrix (EDWDM) and ‘Drop and Re-vote’ (D&R) method. 2D-drawings, of the-best-design-alternative, were created via computer-aided-design (CAD) AutoCAD-software 2018, while 3D-modeling, of the-set and all-its-components, was produced by Autodesk-Inventor-Version: 2016 (Build 200138000, 138). Designed-labels (positioned on each-board and each-knife, as-well-as on the-set itself, as an-inclined-panel) were introduced, to-cater for the-people with color-blindness (according to-the-fundamental-principles of the-Universal-design), and also to-avoid-confusion (as a-reminder which board is which) for all-users. The-study adopted ‘analysis’ method of materials-selection. The-main objectives, of the-intended-set, was used as a-guide, in-preliminary-materials-selection. This-concise-study has focused on conceptual-design only; and, hence, it-is further-recommends to: (i) carry-out a-detailed-design; (ii) select a-specific-material (out of the-group, identified by this-study); (iii) choose a-mode of fabrication of the-set; (iv) examine the-possibility of incorporating of anti-microbial-agent(s) and/or coating(s); (v) fabricate the-prototype(s); (vi) conduct explorative-use-ability-trials; and (vii) analyze the-marketing-aspect of the-final-set. This-work is potentially-beneficial-to engineering-product-design students and faculty, as-well-as to-households and food-establishments (subject-to successful-implementation). Keywords: Color blindness; Materials selection; Food safety; Joseph Joseph Index™ Color Coded Chopping Boards set. DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/10-5-05 Publication date:June 30th 201

Snoring and Its-management (Part 1/2): A Review

In-this-study ‘snoring’ was considered under-the-umbrella of sleep-disordered-breathing. The-article reflects concise-background-information, selected via document-analysis, on: Snoring (definitions, types, causes, prevalence, and effects, including: (i) acoustic-disturbance (noise-pollution) and resulted sleep- deprivation, and relationship-problems; and (ii) health-effects, due-to Upper Airway-obstruction); and Snoring-management (treatments and remedies), including the-concept of anti-snoring chin-strap-device. Although, snoring is a-medical-issue, this-review, primarily-targeted, non-medics – product-designers, in-particular; also, it was not intended to-be fully-comprehensive, and, hence, should-be-considered for illustrative-purpose. Nevertheless, the-author trusts, this-review, provided a-contribution (in its-small-way) to the-body of knowledge, on the-subject-matter. Moreover, the-study constituted an-important-step, toward deeper-understanding, of snoring, and its-management-options, alongside with their-limitations, in-the preparation for the-design of an-anti-snoring-device (Part 2/2). Finally, further-research-areas were recommended, on: (1) country-wise-survey on snoring-prevalence; (2) perceptions on snoring; (3) anti- snoring-treatments and remedies, available, and their-cost implications; and (4) the-design of anti-snoring-device (for-example uncomplicated chin-strap-device), to-offer an-affordable-solution, to untapped-local-population of snorers. Keywords: OSA; sleep-disordered-breathing; anti-snoring-devices; anti-snoring-surgery

Hazards and Risks at Rotary Screen Printing (Part 6/6): Control of Chemical Hazards via Cleaner Production Approaches

This-current-study examined occupational-chemical-hazards, at a-finishing-department (printing-section), of a-textile-mill, via questionnaire/checklist-surveys; document-analysis; site-visits, and walk-thorough- investigations. The-study revealed that: absolute-majority, of the-respondents, reported, that they do routinely-handle and use hazardous-chemicals; 90.9 % alleged that they had been exposed-to the-organic-dusts; 72.7% reported that some-workers did not use personal-protective-equipment, even if provided; 63.6 % indicated that there were some-workstations, without local-exhaust-ventilation; 45.5 % of the-workers recorded, that hazardous-chemicals can-be-substituted for less-hazardous-ones, while the-rest said:” I do not know”; and 36.3 % stated, that they were using hazardous-chemicals, while not been-trained in their-proper-use and handling. It-was-also-observed, severally, that: the-departmental-floor had spilled-off-chemicals, from the-machines; in-roller-cleansing, workers used to-dip a-cleaning-rag, into an-unlabeled-container of cleansing-solvent, which was left-open, all-the-time;  and that shop/towel rags, used to-clean-up of machine-parts and spills, of chemical-substances, during printing-operations, were-routinely soaked, washed, and then, re-used. Overall, the-study revealed, that workers could-be exposed to numerous-hazardous-chemicals, particularly, highly-volatile-solvents. In-addition, lack of Democratic-control, and lack of training and awareness of safer-alternatives, to-hazardous-chemicals, as-well-as unsafe-working-practices, were identified.  To-eliminate, or to-reduce workers’ exposure to-chemicals, and to-protect the-environment, this-study provided numerous-general-recommendations (under Engineering and Administrative-control-methods), applicable to any-textile-printing-industry, as-well-as proposals, specifically-tailored to the-subject-department. The-recommendations were, largely, based on the-following-approaches of Cleaner-Production, such-as: input-substitution; better-process control; equipment-modification; on-site recovery/reuse; and good-housekeeping-practices. In-addition, areas for further-research was identified. Moreover, informative-synopsis on: Complex, and simple-definition for a-hazardous-chemical; The-United-Nations Globally-Harmonized-System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS); Volatile-Organic-Pollutants; Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs); Rotary-printing machine, its-operation, chemicals, involved, and their-hazards and emissions, were offered. The-study is believed, to-be important, not only for the-target-department and the-management, of the-mill, but also for the-textile-printing-industry-professionals. Keywords: VOC, MSD, MSI, MSDS, ventilation, air pollution, water pollution, flammability, PPE

Scientific Research, Writing, and Dissemination (Part 1/4): Boosting Research Quality

This-is the-first-piece of a-tetralogy on Scientific-Research, Writing, and Dissemination. Many-researches have published articles and, even, books, on-Scientific-Research; however, at-the-time of this-study, none of-them articulated Kenyan-scenario, in-engineering-context. Research is one of the-core-functions of any-university-system; hence its-quality is-paramount. This-paper had-critically examined the-wider, local-institutional-context, of the-current-practice, and trends, in-scientific-research. A-survey (sample-size of 15 senior-engineering-faculty), observations, interviews and a-document-analysis-instruments, were utilized. The-main-findings of this-study were: (1) 73% indicated, that getting sufficient and trustworthy background-information was the-biggest-challenge (e.g. for identifying reliable-sources from-the-Internet); and (2) 64% pointed-out on the-problem of identification representative-sample-size, in their-research. In-addition, some-misconceptions, regarding: (1) the-quality-aspect of research; and (2) qualitative-research and its-value to-engineers-researchers; were-identified. Primarily, this-work was intended as a-contribution to a-heated ongoing debate, presenting a-basis for reflection and supported-argument, on the-quality of research, in the-institution. Besides, it provided a-rigorous-selection of helpful and enlightening-insights on the-issues, relevant to-the-quality of research, such-as: The-overall-process of Research, including specifics on the-Research in-Engineering; Assessment-models of Research-quality; Qualitative-research vs. Quantitative-research; Western-dominance in-Research; Reviewing of literature/Document-Analysis; Evaluation and selection the most-appropriate and reliable-sources; Sample-size and sampling-techniques; and Good-research practice (often overlooked), including ethical-issues, among-others. Several recommendations also-offered, on how to-improve, the-current-situation. Keywords: research types; quality; engineering; choosing sources; literature review, Internet

Scientific Research, Writing, and Dissemination (Part 4/4): Dissemination of Scholarly Publications

Dissemination, of research-findings, is usually-seen, as the-culmination-stage, of the-entire research- process, and, hence, this-article closes the-tetrology on Scientific Research, Writing, and Dissemination. The-study was designed to-survey and analyze dissemination-awareness, patterns, and preferences, on scholarly-journal-publications, by-Engineering-faculty. The-study utilized a-survey, interviews and a-document-analysis. The-major-study-findings exposed 82% of the-respondents, who-stated that:  (1) they usually-disseminate their-research in Open-Access(OA) Journals, which are both; print & e-format; (2) they-usually-publish in-International-Journals; and (3) OA can be-beneficial, as it gives wider dissemination of research-works. 73% usually-publish in specialty-journal(s), while 64%-in publishing house(s) or platforms, with many-journals. 55% and 36% of the-respondents indicated that U.S.A. and UK is the-most-prestigious-country, for-them, to-publish, respectively. 55% also-stated, that works, in OA-journals, are not properly-peer-reviewed. To-give a-broader-perspective, the-synopsis of the-publishing process, alongside with the-dissemination-channels (Traditional-print-journals and ‘The Cost of Knowledge’ campaign; OA-Journals, including Predatory-journals; Institutional Repository (IR); Social-networks; and Conference-presentations) and other-relevant-issues, such-as: Future-prospects of the-dissemination; Credibility and ranking, of scientific-journals; Publication-Ethics in-scientific publishing; Choosing an-appropriate-journal; Submission of a-manuscript, for-review; and Increasing citation-rates of a-publication, were-presented. Moreover, constructive-criticism, on the-current-practices, in the-local context was-articulated, next-to relevant-recommendations, to-improve the-situation (at the-level of: government, university, school, and individual-faculty). In-addition, two-areas for further-research, was identified. This-paper reflects the-personal and independent-opinions of the-author and does-not-mirror the-positions, on the-subject-matter, of the-affiliated-school, or university. The-author trusts this-publication is very-tangible, as-well-as, timely; it-is, therefore, expected to-attract great-deal of attention, from different-researchers, regardless of their-discipline, stage of career-development, experience in-publishing, country, and type of their-institution, among-others. Keywords: academic ranking of journals, questioner, citation, outlet, journal selection, journal publication, publishing, manuscript submission