Hazardous Products Research Articles

At-Risk Drinking and Workplace Conditions among Latino Day Laborers

Background : Latino Day Laborers (LDL) face a variety of factors which have been associated with at-risk drinking. The objective of this study was to assess the association of at-risk drinking with measures of work site conditions. Methods : Data from surveys conducted with 307 LDL in Houston, TX in 2015 were analyzed. Sociodemographic information and measures of exposures to hazardous products at the worksite, adverse working conditions, and work stressors were collected. Measures of positive working climate at the jobsite and a climate that promoted jobsite safety were also included. Participants were administered the Hazardous Use items from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test of Consumption (AUDIT-C). Participants were classified as low-risk or at-risk drinkers based on AUDIT-C score. Logistic regression models were run to assess the associations of the sociodemographic and worksite related variables with drinking status. Results : One-hundred-five (34.2%) participants were classified as at-risk drinkers. At-risk drinking was associated with past-month income, being formerly married (compared to having never married), and lack of housing. At-risk drinking was also associated with measures of a positive working climate and a climate that promoted jobsite safety. Conclusions : One-third of our participants were classified as at-risk drinkers. At-risk drinking was associated with stressors in the form of lack of housing and no longer having a spouse but was also associated with increased income and with positive workplace factors. At-risk drinking was thus a function of both stressors and positive factors, including a positive work site.

Strength analysis of flat manhole cover in case of change of location and inclination angle of two mutually intersecting scratches

Mechanical damages of the main structural elements of the process equipment of hazardous production facilities are quite often detected during the revision process after repairs when assessing the quality of the work performed. One of the most common mechanical damages on the surface of parts and assemblies of technical devices includes scratches and risks. Significant scratches and risks that have a relatively large area and depth and limit the commissioning of the facility are subject to sampling and removal during re-repair. Superficial and non-extended scratches and risks do not belong to unacceptable defects, the technical device should not be taken into account, and further operation occurs with their presence. During further operation of the facility, such defects may not manifest themselves in any way, but may be high-voltage concentrators, which in the vast majority of cases are not critical. However, the presence of two or more scratches on the surface of the structural elements, their different location relative to each other, and therefore different mutual influence, can have a significant effect on the redistribution of zones and values of increased stresses on the surfaces where they are located. In the current regulatory and technical documents for diagnostics, these points are not considered, and accordingly are not taken into account. Therefore, the actual work is to perform a strength analysis of a flat manhole cover with two scratches, which have a different location on the surface, and a different angle of intersection relative to each other.

Формирование риск-ориентированного мышления у персонала угледобывающих предприятий

One of the solutions to the problem of risk management associated with the actions of personnel of coal mining enterprises during the performance of production functions is considered — targeted development of risk-oriented thinking with the operating personnel aimed at formation of the behavior consistent with hazardous working conditions. To master risk-oriented thinking, 97 analytical and modeling seminars were held with the participation of 1884 employees of JSC «SUEK-Kuzbass». The purpose and objectives of these seminars are presented, the experience of conducting them is analyzed, and the opinions of their participants on the results obtained are given. The authors pay special attention to the methods used in conducting the seminars, the form of their conduct and content. According to the authors opinion, the main difference between these seminars and traditional ones in the methodological aspect is the use, along with the well-known techniques and methods (the «Swiss cheese» model of the cause-and-effect relationships by D. Reason, the DuPont incident pyramid or the pyramid of G.W. Heinrich (Henrich) and etc.), the author methodology «I know. I recognize. I warn». The result of the seminars was the fact that the operating personnel of the company enterprises is massively involved in the process of identifying hazardous production situations in the workplaces, identifying key factors that need to be eliminated, as well as finding simple algorithms for their own behavior that is adequate to the hazards. The main conclusion of the authors is that carried out work proved the efficiency of the formation and development of the risk-oriented thinking among the personnel of the coal mining enterprises directly engaged in the production process. The implementation of this approach, along with the traditional ways to increase the protection of personnel with technical, technological and organizational measures, will allow to reduce the manifestations of irrational behavior of the personnel regarding occupational safety and increase the effectiveness of injury risk management.

Insight into the effect of traditional frying techniques on glycosylated hazardous products, quality attributes and flavor characteristics of grass carp fillets.

This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of quality attributes, oxidation index, glycosylated hazardous products, aroma characteristics of grass carp fillets and their relationship under air-frying, roast-frying and pan-frying. With frying progressed, the level of carbonyl protein and lipid oxidation products increased significantly (following air-frying>pan-frying>roast-frying), and the latter decreased subsequently after 6min. Fillets possessed by frying increased significantly Nε-carboxymethyl-lysines (CML) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) levels, whose increment was pan-frying>air-frying>roast-frying. Compared to raw, eighty-seven volatiles were identified and the total concentrations of those increased gradually in air-frying, but then decreased up to 6min in roast-frying and pan-frying. Furthermore, significant correlations between CML, TBARS and 5-HMF, quality attributes, oxidation index; volatiles (VIP and/or OAV>1) and lipid oxidation index were obtained. Conclusively, fillets possessed by air-/roast-frying showed more lipid oxidation and alcohols/aldehydes, while pan-fried enriched CML and pyrazines.

APPLICATION OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF RISK-ORIENTED APPROACHES IN BUILDING A NEW MODEL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

The article considers the transition to a new model of training and development of professional competencies in the field of labor protection at the national level. Attitude to advanced training courses in the field of labor protection today is ambiguous. Consultants and employers, especially of enterprises with the participation of foreign investors in the oil, mining and other industries, consider it useless and formal, regulatory authorities have reduced training only to knowledge of laws and regulations, workers do not see causal relationships between hazardous and harmful production factors and their health.

Независимый аудит как новое направление оценки промышленной безопасности на опасных производственных объектах горнодобывающего комплекса

The paper discusses a new key trend used to assess the state of industrial safety at mining operations as well as the cooperation efficiency. The experience GEOEXPERT LLC has gained in carrying out independent technical auditing and the relevance of this line of activity has been demonstrated. Taking into account current challenges and the experience of technical auditing, as well as the prospects for the development of this activity, the article and the data presented in it will help the top management to make their decisions, while the description of real auditing cases will provide the mining companies with an insight into the use of this new method of co-operation. Independent technical auditing is one of the tools to control the state of industrial safety at a mining operation, which provides a general picture of the company, classification of hazardous production facilities according to their hazard characteristics, independent verification of compliance of the production process organization and the production patterns with the regulatory requirements in order to improve the safety of operation, enhance the quality of products and reduce production risks. Three decades of experience gained by GEOEXPERT LLC and studying various aspects of challenges in the mining industry help to identify the method of independent technical auditing as one of the main tools for solving industrial safety problems and preventing emergencies at the operations.

ENVIRONMENTAL TAXATION IN THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF CITIZENS

The article is devoted to the study of the impact of humanity on the natural environment and the justification of the sources of the formation of financial resources for the environmental purposes in the context of social responsibility of citizens. It was established that the existing «consumer» system of human interaction with the natural environment is destructive for the noosphere. It was substantiated that the development of humanity and the consequences of its life activities are a key factor in the growth of negative anthropogenic impact on the environment. It was found that the ecological footprint of a person depends on the level of social well-being and population size. The relationship between the ecological and economic development of the country and its impact on the environment was reflected. The dynamics of expenses of the consolidated budget of Ukraine for the protection of the natural environment were presented. The main reasons and consequences of the change in the «plane» of common interests of man, nature and the economy in the process of human evolution have been established. The volume of emissions of polluting substances into the atmospheric air by households in Ukraine was studied. It was established that the system of environmental payments in Ukraine, in connection with the growing anthropogenic impact on the environment and, accordingly, its inhabitants, needs some optimization. The nature of the environmental tax has been clarified, the history of its emergence and the transformation of the content of this category have been investigated. It was established that the system of environmental taxation in Ukraine is ineffective and needs to be optimized, especially in the context of growing social responsibility of citizens in the conditions of increasing anthropogenic impact on the environment. The proposed changes in taxation of producers of environmentally hazardous products and traditional energy resources, as well as their consumers, were outlined. The structure of environmental tax in the context of social responsibility of citizens was proposed. The allocation of funds for environmental purposes was substantiated with an emphasis on the local budgets. An improved model of human «interaction» with the surrounding natural environment was proposed.

Hazardous radical-coupled transformation products of benzophenone-3 formed during manganese dioxide treatment

Radical-coupled transformation products (TPs) have been identified as the byproducts of various transformation processes, including both natural attenuation and artificial treatments, of phenolic micropollutants. Benzophenone-3 (BP-3), an organic UV filter of emerging concern, has been previously reported with ubiquitous occurrence in the natural environment and water bodies. Current research has demonstrated how TPs are formed from BP-3 when it is treated with manganese oxide (MnO2). The ecological and toxicological risks of these TPs have also been assessed. Polymerization of BP-3 through radical coupling was observed as the major pathway by which BP-3 is transformed when treated with MnO2. These radical-coupled TPs haven't shown further degradation after formation, suggesting their potential persistence once occurred in the environment. In silico experiments predict the radical-coupled TPs will increase in mobility, persistence and ecotoxicity. If true, they also represent an ever-increasing threat to the environment, ecosystems and, most immediately, aquatic living organisms. In addition, radical-coupled TPs produced by MnO2 transformation of BP-3 have shown escalated estrogenic activity compared to the parent compound. This suggests that radical coupling amplifies the toxicological impacts of parent compound. These results provide strong evidence that radical-coupled TPs with larger molecular sizes are having potential adverse impacts on the ecosystem and biota.

Eustrongylides spp. parasite risk management in Atherina boyeri from Lake Trasimeno.

Atherina boyeri is the primary source of fishing profit in Lake Trasimeno and a common host for Eustrongylides spp. larvae. The presence of Eustrongylides in fish is a public health concern, and effective risk management procedures are necessary to guarantee that infected products do not reach the market. Currently, in the European Union, there is no official sampling plan for fresh fish that defines sample size, inspection methods, and criteria for accepting or rejecting the product. An approach to Eustrongylides risk management is proposed in this study. A total of 270 batches of A. boyeri, each consisting of 29 specimens, were collected and examined visually in 3 years (2020-2023). The prevalence of the parasite was 20% in 2020, and in the first months of 2021, it grew up to ⁓40%, then dropped to 12.50% in December 2021 and settled at 16% in February 2022. In January and February 2023, the prevalence fell below 1%. The mean abundance was calculated and used to establish a threshold value to determine fish marketability. In 2020 and 2021, several batches were judged not marketable, and in some batches, a freezing treatment was implemented to ensure the inactivation of the parasite. In the last months of 2022 and in January and February of 2023, the presence of parasites in captured fish was negligible, and this allowed the marketability of fish as fresh. The proposed sampling plan was effective in preventing the commercialization of potentially hazardous products.

Численная идентификация показателей коррозии при оценке технического состояния оборудования

The method is presented in the article concerning numerical identification of corrosion and corrosion resistance of metals, which serves to determine the degree of hazard of the corrosive state of technical devices of hazardous production facilities. Currently, the causes of metal failure are determined by metallography, radiography, ultrasonic, color, magnetic particle inspection or sample testing. Risk of the development of corrosion processes, depending on the type of corrosion, the characteristics of its shape, the depth of corrosion damage and the area of the affected surfaces, is determined visually or by the instrumental detection methods. Numerical identification of the indicators of corrosion and corrosion resistance of metals, proposed in the work, is carried out taking into account the location of the corrosion process, the form of corrosion damage, the size, unevenness and depth of penetration of various types of corrosion, the degree of damage to the surface by uniform and local corrosion (spots, ulcers, pitting). At the same time, according to the initial size of surface and deep corrosion, the actual size of the corrosion wear of a structural element is determined, and according to the scheme of a typical type and characteristic of the form of corrosion damage, the type of corrosion is determined. Further, taking into account the corrosion hazard score in accordance with the scale of corrosion resistance, a numerical indicator of corrosion and corrosion resistance of the structural metal is determined. Studies showed that the numerical identification of the indicators of corrosion and corrosion resistance of metals makes it possible to match the type of corrosion and the characteristics of the form of corrosion damage with the corrosion coefficient depending on the scheme of a typical type of corrosion damage. In addition, numerical identification shows the extent of damage to the surface by uniform and localized corrosion, including spots, pitting and other types of corrosion. Thus, it is applicable to determine the degree of corrosion hazard in assessing the technical condition and establishing the service life at any stage of the life cycle of equipment in hazardous industries.

Analyzing Sustainable Practices in Fashion Supply Chain

Fast fashion brands create high quantities of synthetic, petroleum-based garments that result in high levels of textile waste and emissions. To change the dreadful tag of hazardous production, top-notch fast fashion leaders started paying attention towards adopting sustainable practices, including sustainable supply chain management (SSCM).This paper conducts a structured review of the annual reports on the topic of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability practices adopted by fashion brands in the supply chain management context. This study tries to identify the factors and classification influencing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives that impact supply chain performance, the customer perspective and the different technologies supporting energy efficiency and sustainable practices based on the analysis of the data related to the sustainability of top fashion brands from their past five year annual reports.

In Situ Indoor Air Volatile Organic Compounds Assessment in a Car Factory Painting Line

Proper working conditions must be one of the employers’ main concerns in any type of company but particularly in work locations where the employees are chronically exposed to hazardous compounds, like factories and production lines. Regarding this challenge, the present research addresses the mapping of a car factory painting line to possibly toxic volatile organic compounds emitted by all the coatings and chemicals used during the work shifts for the future evaluation of employees’ exposure. For the first time, a Gas Chromatography–Ion Mobility Spectrometry device was employed for the in situ detection of volatile organic compounds in an automotive factory. A total of 26 analytes were detected at nine different locations, of which 15 VOCs were accurately identified. Pure chemical-grade substances were used for the development of the VOC database. Although quantitative analysis was not the goal of this study, a calibration model was presented to one analyte for exemplificative purposes. Relative intensity profiles were plotted for all locations, revealing that some indoor VOCs can reach intensity levels up to 60 times higher than in outdoor air samples. The achieved results proved that the painting line has an abundant number of VOCs emitted from different sources and may lead to serious health risks for the employees. Additional studies shall be developed in the painting line for quantitative evaluation of the existing VOCs and their influence on the employees’ health conditions.

Towards a micro-kinetic model of Li-ion battery thermal runaway — Reaction network analysis of dimethyl carbonate thermal decomposition

Thermal runaway (TR), a major safety concern for Li-ion batteries (LIBs), involves a complex network of chemical reactions leading to the production of flammable and toxic gases. Computational modelling of LIB TR continues to aid safer battery design. But to improve the capability of TR simulations, here we apply micro-kinetic modelling to describe the kinetics of LIB TR at a mechanistic level. We focused on developing a micro-kinetic model for the thermal decomposition of dimethyl carbonate, an important electrolyte component. Comparing two reaction networks for this process, (1) not involving radical pathways and (2) involving radical pathways, we show that radical reaction pathways are important for the decomposition of DMC at low temperatures in the region of TR onset. Further, this second network is important for the accurate prediction of off-gas species. This work forms the basis of being able to predict hazardous species production. With further work to develop a reaction network for the decomposition of the entire electrolyte and electrode-electrolyte reactions, predictive capabilities can be extended to allow for detailed risk assessment of LIBs.

Towards sustainable Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) in dairy processing: Exploring enzyme-based approaches to cleaning in the Cheese industry.

Cleaning-in-place (CIP) is the most commonly used cleaning and sanitation system for processing lines, equipment, and storage facilities such as milk silos in the global dairy processing industry. CIP employs thermal treatments and nonbiodegradable chemicals (acids and alkalis), requiring appropriate neutralization before disposal, resulting in sustainability challenges. In addition, biofilms are a major source of contamination and spoilage in dairy industries, and it is believed that current chemical CIP protocols do not entirely destroy biofilms. Use of enzymes as effective agents for CIP and as a more sustainable alternative to chemicals and thermal treatments is gaining interest. Enzymes offer several advantages when used for CIP, such as reduced water usage (less rinsing), lower operating temperatures resulting in energy savings, shorter cleaning times, and lower costs for wastewater treatment. Additionally, they are typically derived from natural sources, are easy to neutralize, and do not produce hazardous waste products. However, even with such advantages, enzymes for CIP within the dairy processing industry remain focused mainly on membrane cleaning. Greater adoption of enzyme-based CIP for cheese industries is projected pending a greater knowledge relating to cost, control of the process (inactivation kinetics), reusability of enzyme solutions, and the potential for residual activity, including possible effects on the subsequent product batches. Such studies are essential for the cheese industry to move toward more energy-efficient and sustainable cleaning solutions.

Innovative and advanced fuel based on nuclear waste transuranic nuclides: An alternative fuel for TRIGA Mark II research reactor

Exploiting nuclear waste transuranic (TRU) inventories could be the promising key to developing reliable, clean, and sustainable nuclear energy. Towards this objective, different strategies are being considered, and one of the most effective strategies is the development of advanced fuels based on TRU nuclides. In this paper, a novel advanced TRU-based fuel is proposed and investigated as an alternative to the traditional fuel U-ZrH1.65 for the existing Moroccan research reactor TRIGA Mark II. The TRU nuclides used were derived from a typical 60 GWd/ton PWR-UOX reactor’s spent nuclear fuel (SNF) after one use and five years of storage. Before any new fuel loading, several studies must be performed. Hence, The current study focused on the neutronic fuel burnup point of view. MCNP6.2 stochastic code with its burn capability, CINDER90, was used to perform the calculations. In order to get a comprehensive view of the fuel conversion, analyses were performed for the reactor with the traditional fuel U-ZrH1.65, and the results were used as the basis for comparative studies of the reactor with the proposed TRU-based fuel. According to the findings, using TRU-based fuel has numerous advantages over traditional fuel U-ZrH1.65, such as long lifetime operation, better reactivity control, and low production of some biological hazardous fission products (short-lived fission products, 90Sr, and 99Tc). Furthermore, the fuel has highly significant plutonium (Pu) and minor actinides (MAs) burning ratios of about 95.1% and 92.5%, respectively. The results indicate a practical fuel option for the near future, which could be the first step towards using TRU nuclides in existing TRIGA-type reactors.

FORENSIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INTENTIONAL INTRODUCTION INTO CIRCULATION ON THE UKRAINIAN MARKET (RELEASE TO THE UKRAINIAN MARKET) OF DANGEROUS PRODUCTS

The article deals with the analysis of scientific views, theoretical provisions and legislation, and examines the forensic characteristics of the deliberate introduction in the circulation of hazardous products on the market of Ukraine (release to the market of Ukraine). The subject of the investigated crime is dangerous products. The main task of the stage of preparation for this crime is the deliberate creation of conditions for its commission. The method of directly committing the crime in question is the introduction into circulation (release on the Ukrainian market) of dangerous products, committed on a large scale. The methods of concealing the analyzed crime can be 1) destruction of the most dangerous products; 2) destruction of the raw materials from which it was made; 3) destruction or concealment of equipment on which hazardous products were produced or packaged (packaged); 4) destruction of documentation, which indicated the origin of the product or recorded the processes of economic activity associated with it; 5) making changes to the documents on the results of product testing; 6) a statement that the person did not know that the product was dangerous; 7) concealment of vehicles used to transport hazardous products. The typical consequences of the commission of the crime under study are the infliction of harm to human life, health, property or liability rights, as well as the environment. An obligatory sign of the objective side of this crime is the place of the criminal offence – the market of Ukraine, which is defined in the title and disposition of the relevant criminal law norm. The commodity market (commodity market) is the sphere of circulation of goods (interchangeable goods), for which there is supply and demand for a certain time and within a certain territory. The subject of the crime in question is general – a physically sane person who has reached the age of 16. However, this does not exclude the possibility of its commission by a special subject, in particular, an official (official). The motives and goals of the analyzed criminal offence may be different: the benefit, unwillingness to spend energy and time on the proper manufacture or sale of good-quality products or good-quality goods or the performance of good-quality work or the provision of good-quality services, the desire to improve the work of the enterprise, personal interest, commission in the interests of third parties and etc.

Elements of safety and environmental friendliness in the design of a transport scheme for the development of a forest resource base

The safety factors of production processes and processes for the design of highways are considered. The levels of hazardous and harmful production factors in open areas, in industrial premises and at the workplaces of logging, sawmilling and woodworking enterprises were studied. Conclusions are made on ensuring traffic safety on highways. Ecological aspects of the design and construction of logging roads are considered. The main factors affecting the state of the environment and measures to reduce the harmful effects of road construction are noted. A rational way to prevent the influence of traffic noise is presented.

Engineering DNA Materials for Sustainable Data Storage Using a DNA Movable-Type System

DNA molecules are green materials with great potential for high-density and long-term data storage. However, the current data-writing process of DNA data storage via DNA synthesis suffers from high costs and the production of hazards, limiting its practical applications. Here, we developed a DNA movable-type storage system that can utilize DNA fragments pre-produced by cell factories for data writing. In this system, these pre-generated DNA fragments, referred to herein as “DNA movable types,” are used as basic writing units in a repetitive way. The process of data writing is achieved by the rapid assembly of these DNA movable types, thereby avoiding the costly and environmentally hazardous process of de novo DNA synthesis. With this system, we successfully encoded 24 bytes of digital information in DNA and read it back accurately by means of high-throughput sequencing and decoding, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of this system. Through its repetitive usage and biological assembly of DNA movable-type fragments, this system exhibits excellent potential for writing cost reduction, opening up a novel route toward an economical and sustainable digital data-storage technology.

Variability in indigenous knowledge and practices of wood treatments against termites in the cities of Yaoundé and Douala (Cameroon) and their status

The aim of this study was to describe the wood treatment sector in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé (Cameroon). A total of 319 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The respondents were agents of wood depots, sawmills, hardware stores, and carpentry shops. They were asked about the diversity of products used and their perception of the risks and dangers of treatments. The chemical method (40.4%) was the main means of preserving wood against termite attack according to the respondents, followed by the traditional method with 9.4%, the physical method (2.2%) and more rarely, the use of plant extract (0.3%). All the chemicals were found to be hazardous to the environment and human health, with Xylamon being classified as the most hazardous. The physical control methods and those using plant extracts were found to be not at all dangerous for human health and the environment. Notwithstanding concerns for the protection of the environment and human health, toxic and hazardous products are still predominantly used. It would be important to move towards less or non-toxic products.

Проблемы оптимизации затрат на снижение риска аварий

With the development of production, the costs of investments in safety are growing, which requires the use of more efficient technologies to reduce risk. It is shown that already in the USSR in the normative legal acts they tried to take into account that safety is both a social and economic problem. The legislation of the Russian Federation implements two approaches to solving the problem of safety based on risk analysis. In accordance with the first approach, the rules are mandatory, but deviation from their requirements is allowed by a Safety Case based on a risk assessment. In the second, the rules are voluntary and the risk analysis is performed in order to justify the sufficiency of the applied safety solutions, as the absence of an unacceptable risk. The basis for comparison when establishing an acceptable risk can be the background risk created by people, the environment, property and other recipients from sources of hazard existing in the region where the hazardous production facility is located, independent of the hazardous production facility under consideration. If the risk, created by sources of hazard independent of the hazardous production facility, is higher than the risk created by the hazardous production facility itself, then further costs for its reduction do not affect the total risk of the recipient. It is shown that in this case, risk reduction decisions can be made in accordance with the ALARP principle. The purpose of applying the ALARP principle, combined with the search for new and better solutions, is to continuously identify best practices as they emerge, to ensure that they become the good practice of tomorrow. The more effective and less costly decisions made can be used to continuously improve safety standards (set of rules). In the process of quantitative risk assessment using the fault tree (FTA) and event tree (ETA), taking into account the cost of the selected safety systems and the expected damage in accordance with the ALARP principle, real optimization dependencies can be built for optimizing safety costs.