Industrial Work Environments Research Articles

Effect of sound absorption on noise reduction in the automotive industry

Industrial noise is one of the most common physical factors that cause annoyance and damage workers' health in the long term. Precautions should be taken to reduce noise and improve acoustic performance in industrial working environments. This paper aims to analyze the acoustic performance of the automotive industry and contribute to the global outcomes of sustainability and the development of strategies to improve the quality of the working environment through improvement scenarios. For this purpose, the automotive industry in Türkiye was examined as a case study. In-situ acoustic measurements were made in the seat manufacturing unit of an automotive factory and the current situation was transferred to the simulation program. The effects of acoustic improvements on A-weighted sound pressure level and reverberation time at mid-frequencies (500, 1000, 2000 Hz) were investigated through three different scenarios. In the investigations, noise distributions were carried out through noise mapping. The A-weighted sound pressure levels in the automotive industry were reduced by approximately 15 dB. As a result of the study, suggestions for noise control precautions and their effects on the automotive industry seat manufacturing unit are presented.

Electromyographic analysis of bilateral upper trapezius muscles at different levels of work-pace among sewing machine operators

Workers are driven to work faster in the industrial work environment to meet high productivity targets. An increased work pace leads to increased muscle activation. However, the effect of work pace on bilateral upper trapezius muscles during sewing machine operation in an industrial work environment has not been thoroughly investigated in experimental studies. Therefore, this research aims to conduct an experimental study to analyze the bilateral upper trapezius muscle activity of industrial sewing machine operators at different levels of work pace. Thirty subjects (15 males, and 15 females) continuously performed the sewing operation for two hours in an industrial work environment. Experiments were conducted for two levels of work pace i.e. low pace (100% of standard cycle time) and high pace (120% of standard cycle time). Electromyographic signals were recorded from the bilateral upper trapezius muscles. The EMG amplitude (RMS) among the muscles was computed. A statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in muscle activity was observed with an increased work pace. In this study, right upper trapezius muscle activity increased by 30.4% during high work pace tasks compared to low pace, while the left upper trapezius showed a 24.12% increase. The right upper trapezius showed a mean difference of 0.696 (%MVC), and the left upper trapezius showed 0.399 (%MVC), both indicating greater activity during high-pace tasks. The increase in muscle activity with time indicated the presence of muscle fatigue among sewing machine operators. Furthermore, higher muscular activity was observed among females than males. This research highlights the critical need to balance productivity goals with the health and safety of workers, reducing the risk of muscle fatigue and associated work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Effect of Sound Absorption on Noise Reduction in the Automotive Industry

Industrial noise is one of the most common physical factors that cause annoyance and damage to workers' health in the long term. Precautions should be taken to reduce noise and to improve acoustic performance in industrial working environments. This paper aims to analyze the acoustic performance of the automotive industry contributes to the global outcomes of sustainability and develop strategies for improving the quality of the working environment through improvement scenarios. For this purpose, the automotive industry in Türkiye was examined as a case study. In-situ acoustic measurements were made in the seat manufacturing unit of an automotive factory, and the current situation was transferred to the simulation program. The effects of acoustic improvements on A-weighted sound pressure level and reverberation time at mid-frequencies (500, 1000, 2000 Hz) were investigated through three scenarios. In the investigations, noise distributions were carried out through noise mapping. The A-weighted sound pressure levels in the automotive industry were reduced by approximately 15 dB. As a result of the study, suggestions for noise control precautions and their effects on the automotive industry seat manufacturing unit are presented.

Pathway to work with AI: Testing the clAIr role development method in an industrial work environment

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in work processes requires the anticipatory change of work roles because areas of activity are shifting within job profiles, resulting in new interaction patterns between humans and AI and between employees. In order to avoid role conflicts, rejection of the AI system and other undesirable side effects of AI integration, organizations must support human-AI role development with suitable measures. This article presents a methodologically sound approach to role development (clarifying AI Augmented individual roles—clAIr) using the example of service technicians in a mechanical engineering company before and during the introduction of AI-based services. It illustrates how role clarity can be achieved in the interaction with AI when job profiles shift and how role development also includes collaboration with other departments and goal-oriented external communication with customers. The method results in six basic roles that are rooted in role theory in terms of role identity, role innovation, and role clarity. clAIr allows the anticipatory examination of human-AI work roles as a process-based approach.Practical Relevance: Due to the rapidly advancing development of AI in work processes, there is a need in organizations for scientifically validated findings and examples of good practice for successful work with AI. A socio-technical approach with a focus on the changes in role identities of professionals is promising, as the anticipated development of tasks and professions resulting from AI use can only be countered with a comprehensive approach. Previous work refers to human-centered job designs but neglects the preceding process of role identification as a key challenge of implementation. This process support is made possible by the clAIr method for determining roles for working with AI. Its use requires an understanding of role theory and expertise in organizational development.

To Study the Factors Affecting the Sustainable Employment of Human Resources in the Construction Industry

Organizational executives have always taken care of the sustainable employment of their employees. It is a part of the responsibility of the manager to form a competent team and team and to continue their sustainable operation. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the construction industry and the mining industry have been investing the most in Mongolia&amp;apos;s economy. Stable employment of skilled workers has become the most important factor in creating the image of the country and the comfort of the people. The increase in turnover and turnover of employees not only increases the cost of the organization, but also leads to a lack of skills and knowledge, resulting in a shortage of human resources and a decrease in the ability to overcome competition. In recent years, since the COVID-19, there has been a lot of staff turnover due to the difficult working environment in the construction industry. This article examines the external and internal environmental factors that affect the sustainable employment of construction industry employees and calculates the relationship between them. In the research, a questionnaire survey was taken from construction industry executives, and the results were calculated using SPSS23 and Smart PLS programs. According to the results, the managers believed that the external environment has a strong positive relationship and the internal environment factors have a positive relationship with the sustainable employment of human resources in the construction industry.

Analisis Manajemen Risiko Kecelakaan Kerja Pada Mesin Automatic Bar Bending dengan Metode Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment And Determining Control (HIRADC) Pada PT Faza Jaya Pratama

Work accidents in the construction industry are often related to the operation of machinery, including the complex Automatic Bar Bending machine. This study aims to analyze the risk management of work accidents on Automatic Bar Bending machines using the Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Determining Control (HIRADC) approach at PT Faza Jaya Pratama. The research method includes hazard identification, risk assessment, and determination of effective controls to reduce the risk of accidents. The results showed that the Automatic Bar Bending machine has several potential hazards that can result in serious accidents if not handled appropriately. The risk evaluation provided a deeper understanding of the level of risk associated with the machine operation, while the implementation of appropriate controls was able to significantly reduce the risk. The implication of these findings is the need for the implementation of a comprehensive risk management strategy to improve occupational safety and health in the construction industry work environment.

Perceptions of mental health, suicide and working conditions in the construction industry-A qualitative study.

The aim of the study was to explore perceptions of mental ill health, suicidal behaviour and working conditions among male construction workers, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of these phenomenon and to identify relevant avenues for workplace interventions. Data were collected in individual and group interviews, and 43 individuals from the Swedish construction industry, workers, union representative and managers, participated in the study. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Five main themes were found: Difficult to talk about mental health, Demanding working environment affects mental health, Substance abuse among construction workers, Importance of management, and Need for routines and social support in the workplace. Many participants reported that there was a stigma related to mental health. Suicides that had occurred among colleagues were perceived to come out of the blue. The working environment in the construction industry was perceived to have a negative effect on mental health, and it was reported that the management played an important role in both the cause and prevention of mental health problems. The results from this Swedish study are in accordance with previous international research regarding a macho culture, stigma of mental health and a demanding working environment in the construction industry. The study adds to existing knowledge by highlighting that suicides were perceived to be very unexpected, that poor physical health affected mental health and that many participants did not know how to deal with mental health issues in the workplace.

The role of European chemical manufacturing companies in promoting effective communication of conditions of safe use by workers.

In 2006, the revised chemicals management legislation mandatedthat manufacturers of hazardous chemical substances conduct risk assessments for the entire substance life cycle. Additionally, they mustcommunicate use-specific safe handling advice (exposure scenarios) to their customer, asannex to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Despite significant efforts to develop workable solutions for chemical mixtures, this goal has not yet been fully achieved. Therefore, a Cefic research project (LRI B23) was commissioned on how to ensure meaningful health risk communication for workers across supply chains. The research project determined that risk-based safe use advice generated by manufacturers, often does not reach the intended end-user and was seen as not tailored to specific user needs. Recipients of the advice are also not prepared to act based on information developed by suppliers. From an industry perspective, the complexity of supply chains and substance life cycles are considered major barriers for effective safe use communication. Exposure scenarios for substance use in industrial work environments are often perceived as adding little value compared to existing safe use arrangements required by other health, safety, and environmental legislation applicable to employers and duty-holders. To attain meaningful use-specific safe handling advice for workers, including those at non-industrial premises who may benefit most from such advice, knowledge transfer and close collaboration between manufacturers and formulators remain key elements, supported by enhanced regulatory appreciation.

A mechanistic model for industrial workplace design based on inherent safety and health concepts

AbstractThis study aims to establish a mechanistic model of using inherent safety and health concepts to conduct industrial workplace risk reduction strategies during the project planning stage. Accordingly, a dedicated implementation tool termed inherently safer and healthier design model for industrial workplaces (ISHDM‐IW) is developed. First, the safety and health by design checklist is adapted to derive industrial workplace safety and health risk indicators. Then, the risk indicators are rated and weighted using the methods of risk matrix and precedence chart. Subsequently, the risk indicators are aggregated via fuzzy risk representation with the indicators' risk values and weights. Last, the inherent safety and health principles are used to do risk‐based baseline design optimization. The case study demonstrates the capabilities of the proposed ISHDM‐IW to upgrade the workplace design scheme from risk level II to risk level I, thus generating a more satisfactory workplace design alternative. The proposed ISHDM‐IW offers a novel design mechanism of inherent safety and health for industrial workplaces, which can be expected to ensure employees' safety, health, and well‐being with fundamentally better ergonomics of industrial work environments.

Work Environment and Depressive Symptoms of Webtoon Writers

BackgroundWebtoon, a digital form of comics created in the Republic of Korea, has spread widely with advantages that anyone can become a cartoonist and that autonomy of creation is guaranteed. The purpose of this study is to identify the working conditions of webtoon writers and analyze the relationship between these conditions and depressive symptoms. MethodsA survey was carried out on webtoon writers and a survey data of 312 webtoon writers were analyzed. The questionnaire included basic socio-demographic characteristics, webtoon writers’ contractual type, fields of activity (webtoon creator, story writer, illustrator), and working environment (labor discretion etc.). We investigated depressive symptoms and analyzed its relation to the work environment of webtoon writers. ResultsWebtoon writers were exposed to long working hours, high labor intensity, limited labor discretion, negative comments from readers, and had a high prevalence of depressive symptoms. Compared to story writers who contracted directly with platforms, story writers and the illustrators who contracted with content providers (CPs) were 9.51 times (OR = 9.51, 95% CI = 1.47 - 61.33) and 6.47 times (OR = 6.47, 95% CI = 1.08 – 38.75) more likely to have depressive symptoms, respectively. ConclusionsThis study emphasizes the urgent necessity to improve the overall working environment in the webtoon industry and implement measures to tackle the escalating mental health challenges faced by illustrators and story writers contracted with CPs, especially given the increasing popularity of novel comics.

Abstract 838: Population attributable fraction of occupational carcinogens for cancer incidence among Korean adults in 2020

Abstract Assessing the level and scope of exposure to occupational carcinogens on a country-specific basis presents challenges, and as a result, it has been appraised as uncertain when compared with other factors in the estimation of the burden of cancer. The Korean CARcinogen Exposure (K-CAREX) developed in 2021 is utilized to estimate the population at risk in industrial work environments in Korea (Koh et al., 2021). Our goal is to estimate preventable cancer incidence attributable to occupational carcinogens in Korea, utilizing the K-CAREX program and employing appropriate methodology. Among the exposures classified as Group 1 factors by IARC, considering the possibility of occupational exposure. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were computed using Levin's Formula (1953), considering a latency period of 15 years between exposure and cancer in our assessment. The prevalence of exposure was calculated using K-CAREX program and census data. The relative risk (RR) for incidence was derived from a meta-analysis of literature. It was possible to calculate PAFs for 11 occupational factors linked with 8 cancer types. This estimation was chosen based on a combination of exposure and sufficient evidence of human carcinogenicity. As a result, Population attributable fractions (PAFs) for cancer incidence associated with occupational carcinogens was estimated at 1% in 2020. Lung cancer (approximately 90%) was found to be the most prevalent type of cancer attributable to occupational factors, as widely acknowledged. The prevalence of exposure to occupational carcinogens was 22%, with Diesel engine exhaust being the most significant source for both genders. Since the early 2000s, the exposure levels of asbestos, subject to usage prohibition and restriction measures, were estimated to be at a lower level compared to other countries. It is evident that these estimates reflect the characteristics of the Korean industry. This is anticipated to provide a foundation for the development of methodologies and indicators essential for measuring the burden of occupational cancer in the country. Citation Format: Eun Mi Kim, Dong-Hee Koh, Sue K Park, Yoon-Jung Choi, Hong Gwan Seo, Inah Kim, Jeong-Soo Im. Population attributable fraction of occupational carcinogens for cancer incidence among Korean adults in 2020 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 838.

Research on Female Fertility Discrimination in the Technology Industry

The technology industry has always been considered a male-dominated field and women face various challenges and discrimination in the industry. One of the major issues that women face in the tech industry is maternity discrimination, which not only hurts the tech industry such as brain drain, but also affects the image of this industry. Maternity discrimination refers to unfair treatment or discrimination against women because they are pregnant, giving birth, or raising children. This paper analyses the current situation of the tech industry, its characteristics, requirements for employees and case studies in order to propose solutions and implications for the tech industry, of this maternity discrimination. The significance of studying female fertility discrimination in the tech industry is to reveal the unfairness that this discrimination has caused to women's career opportunities, salary packages, and promotion opportunities, and to provide a basis for promoting a more inclusive and equal working environment in the tech industry.

Ergonomically optimized path-planning for industrial human–robot collaboration

This paper focuses on improving the ergonomics of industrial workers. It addresses the critical implications of poor ergonomics, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders over time. A novel methodology for a path-planning algorithm designed for human–robot collaboration was introduced to tackle this challenge. The algorithm’s essential contribution lies in determining the most ergonomic path for a robot to guide a human’s hand during task execution, facilitating a transition toward an optimized body configuration. The algorithm effectively charts the ergonomic path by adopting a Cartesian path-planning approach and employing the cell decomposition method. The methodology was implemented on a dataset of ten individuals, representing a diverse group of male and female subjects aged between 20 and 35, with one participant being left-handed. The algorithm was applied to three different activities: “stacking an item,” “taking an object from a shelf,” and “assembling an object by sitting over a table.” The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the REBA score (as a measure of ergonomics condition) of the individuals after applying the algorithm. This outcome reinforces the efficacy of the methodology in enhancing the ergonomics of industrial workers. Furthermore, the study compared the performance of A* with three heuristic functions against Dijkstra’s algorithm, aiming to identify the most effective approach for achieving optimal ergonomic paths in human–robot collaboration. The findings revealed that A* with a specific heuristic function surpassed Dijkstra’s algorithm, underscoring its superiority in this context. The findings highlight the potential for optimizing human–robot collaboration and offer practical implications for designing more efficient industrial work environments.

TFFNet: A robust approach with anti-noise and domain shift adaptation for intelligent fault diagnosis of rotating machinery

Recently, deep learning has been a predominantly used technique for intelligent fault diagnosis of industrial machines. It has accomplished satisfactory performance as well. However, noise is present in a real-life industrial working environment, and the operational load also constantly changes. This work proposes a Time-Frequency Fusion Network (TFFNet) for intelligent fault diagnosis. It is robust convolutional neural network based deep-learning algorithm and eliminates the signal processing required for denoising. The success of the developed model is verified in the presence of real-time noisy conditions and under a load-varying environment. The proposed model attained 99.98% accuracy in a noisy environment and 98.6% average accuracy under six cases of domain shift. Finally, the results are compared with past studies using accuracy as a performance indicator.

Correlation Of Noise Levels With Work Stress For Natural Stone Factory Workers In An Occupational Health Law Perspective

Introduction: Permenkes No. 70 of 2016 concerning Standards and Requirements for Industrial Work Environment Health states that the NAB or Threshold Limit Value is the average intensity of exposure to physical or chemical hazards that can be accepted by all workers without causing health problems or illness at work in a day that does not exceed 8 hours. per day or 40 hours per week. The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between noise levels and work stress in natural stone factory workers in terms of health law. Method: The type of research used in this research is quantitative research with an observational analytical research design and a cross-sectional approach. The population of this study were workers at a natural stone factory in Kepuh village, Cirebon district. The sampling technique used was total sampling. The samples used were all 59 natural stone factory workers in Kepuh village, Cirebon district. Results: The research results show that most factory production areas are noisy (79.7%), factory workers experience as much stress as 76,5% Discussion: The conclusion of the research shows that there is a significant relationship between noise levels and work stress among natural stone factory workers in Kepuh Village, Cirebon Regency with p value = 0.000. The results of the juridical analysis of the relationship between noise levels and work stress among natural stone factory workers from a health law perspective are linked with Industrial Work Environment Health Standards and Requirements (Permenkes No. 70 of 2016) which states that every industry is obliged to meet standards and implement industrial work environment health requirements. The lack of socialization regarding legal regulations has resulted in the non-fulfillment of the noise threshold standards that should exist in the natural stone industry.

Identification of Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in Traffic Officers of the Tangerang City Transportation Office in 2023

Air pollution from toxic substances is one of the world's health problems and causes environmental damage. Transportation contributes to the emission process that causes air pollution from motor vehicle exhaust gases. One of them is carbon monoxide which is a toxic, invisible, colorless, odorless, and non-irritating compound that can be toxic to humans in high concentrations. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) is formed when carbon monoxide and oxygen enter the body and compete to bind to hemoglobin. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of carboxyhemoglobin in traffic officers of Tangerang City transportation department. The method used in this research is Hinsberg-lang and the sample used is blood. The results showed that carboxyhemoglobin levels in the blood of traffic officers of the Tangerang City transportation department as many as 18 respondents (100%) were still within normal limits, namely with a range of levels of 0.061 - 0.064. Carboxyhemoglobin levels in traffic officers are below the COHb threshold value according to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 70 of 2016 concerning Industrial Work Environment Health Standards and Requirements which is 3.5% of Hb.

Multi-metal interaction boosts reconstructed FeCoCrCuOx@CF toward efficient alkaline water electrolysis under large current density

Electrolysis of water is one of most promising technologies for green hydrogen production. However, the green hydrogen has a market of 4 % only, as the key-component for the technology, electrocatalyst, is expensive, inefficient or unstable. Herein, we design a series of multi-metal oxides (FeCoOx@CF, FeCoCrOx@CF, FeCoCuOx@CF, and FeCoCrCuOx@CF) on cobalt foams to achieve the high efficiency, low cost, and long-term stability by a simple thermal decomposition and electrochemical activation. Among them, FeCoCrCuOx@CF shows remarkable catalytic activity with an ultra-low overpotential (40 mV at 10 mA cm−2) and Tafel slope (27.3 mV dec−1) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which is superior to most reported transition-metal catalysts and comparable to commercial Pt/C, because of the synergistic effect of multiple metals and strong Cr-OH interaction on the reconstructed surface as induced by the dynamic dissolution and redeposition process in the reaction. In addition, the catalyst shows excellent long-term stabilities for HER and overall water splitting at 500 mA cm−2. Importantly, FeCoCrCuOx@CF has the excellent activity and high stability (100 h with only 2 % increment in applied voltage) in the industrial working environment (6 M KOH, ∼ 60 °C). Most importantly, only 3.18 V is needed to obtain > 30 A on a large size electrode for AWE (16.5 cm2, ∼ 1.84 A cm−2) in the industrial conditions. Our findings should provide novel strategies for the design of efficient and stable catalysts toward industrial water electrolysis.

Occupational Exposure of Footwear Roughing Dust during Footwear Manufacturing Process

Footwear roughing dust (FRD) is generated from roughing operations involved in footwear manufacturing. The dust is created by the friction of emery paper against the grain surface of finished leather. FRD coming from finished leather is likely to contain chromium, which is widely used for leather processing. Generally, chromium is found in two forms in the leather industry, namely Cr (III) and Cr (VI), of which the latter has an evident and adverse effect on human health. This study aims to identify the major effects of FRD on workers’ health and to find out the correlation with the factors influencing those adverse health effects. In this study, a survey among 30 roughing operators from eight footwear factories in Bangladesh was conducted. The major health effects of FRD are eye irritation, skin itching, chest pain, coughing, and fatigue. This study constructed three hypotheses to investigate whether human health is affected by FRD with working experience, the age of workers, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The results showed that working experience and use of PPE have distinct influences on the health effects caused by FRD, whereas workers’ age has no impact on their health effects. Finally, some recommendations are formulated to prevent or mitigate workers’ adverse health effects in order to ensure a better working environment in the footwear industry.

Narrative Study on Successful Career Transition Based on Experiences of Chinese Vocational College Maritime Students

Chinese vocational college maritime graduates play a crucial role in the maritime field. They operate ship equipment, ensure maritime safety, and provide important support in achieving the goal of China becoming a maritime power. Therefore, paying attention to their career development is of significant importance. This study adopted a narrative research approach and aimed to delve into the inner journey of successful career transition among 12 Chinese vocational college maritime graduates. It was conducted through semi structured interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of their experiences. The research findings indicate the interviewees identified several challenging factors associated with the maritime profession. These factors include monotonous and oppressive job tasks, high work pressure, confined spaces on ships, fixed and inflexible salaries, limited career advancement opportunities, a sense of disconnection from society, difficulties making friends, challenges achieving work–life balance, and limited prospects for career growth. These factors contributed to a subjective sense of professional dissatisfaction among them. However, once they transitioned to land-based jobs, they achieved subjective professional success. This can mainly be attributed to the fact that land-based jobs allow them to take care of their families, pursue a more independent lifestyle, maintain social connections, and lead a stable life. Based on the research findings, it is recommended ship companies and society as a whole pay attention to the career development of maritime students and improve the working environment in the maritime industry. This is necessary to meet their needs for balancing family responsibilities, pursuing a more independent lifestyle, and maintaining social connections. By addressing these aspects, it will help facilitate subjective professional success among maritime students.

Equations for estimating the static supportive torque provided by upper-limb exoskeletons

Upper-limb exoskeletons are gaining traction in industrial work environments. However, other than advertised general specifications (e.g., peak support angle), the support torque provided throughout the reach envelope is largely unknown to end users. As such, this paper describes a methodology for measuring the specific supportive torque provided by upper-limb exoskeletons. The support of four commercially available passive upper-limb exoskeletons was quantified using an isokinetic dynamometer for all support ranges and levels (n = 68). Tests were repeated four times to determine between-session reliability. Intraclass correlation coefficients demonstrated ‘Good’ to ‘Excellent’ reliability, except for one condition. Polynomial regression equations were developed for each condition to predict exoskeleton support for any upper-limb elevation angle between 10° and 180°. These equations can be used to approximate upper-limb exoskeleton support in digital human modeling assessments, or to aid selection of exoskeleton settings specific to a worker's anthropometry and work task location.