Light Meter Research Articles

The Impact of Visual Digital Unit Exposure on Ocular Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome Among Selangor Office Workers

Objective: Computer Visual Syndrome (CVS) is a common condition characterized by a range of ocular symptoms resulting from excessive screen time. As visual digital unit (VDU) usage has skyrocketed across all age groups, CVS has become a prevalent issue in both personal and professional life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between the impact of VDU and ocular symptoms of CVS among office workers in Selangor. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 46 office workers completed a self-reported Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) assessment using a questionnaire adapted from a previous study. The questionnaire includes 9 questions about ocular symptoms, rated on a 5-point scale: none, slight, moderate, severe, and very severe. Computer screen illumination was measured using a lux meter. To account for potential confounding factors, environmental conditions were also assessed. These included the number and type of light sources, window presence and size, window treatments, lighting fixture placement, and overall workspace cleanliness, following the guidelines on occupational safety and health for working with video display units by the Malaysia Department of Occupational Safety and Health.Results: Among all participants, the majority (93.5%) did not use anti-glare screen monitors and 20% had inadequate lighting with less than 450 lux. Of the respondents, 63% of the respondents reported experiencing eye strain and eye fatigue (60.9%) during work hours. Eye fatigue was the most commonly reported ocular symptom, with 24% of respondents experiencing it more than six times per week. Lighting reflector was found to be 3.5 times more prevalent to cause eye redness (odds ratio (OR)=3.50; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.50–24.33). The likelihood of experiencing eye strain due to the absence of an anti-glare was 1.8 times higher and the absence of a lighting reflector increased the likelihood by 1.7 times. Conclusion: The alarmingly high prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) among office workers underscores the critical need for immediate and effective ergonomic interventions. This research is imperative to identify specific risk factors and develop targeted strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of prolonged VDU use on ocular health.

Design of Digital Lux Meter Based on Arduino Using EL7900 Photodiode Sensor

Aims: To design and manufacture a digital lux meter to the illumination intensity (E) detection tool that is more efficient, relatively cheaper, and can be carried because it has a smaller shape and size compared to tools on the market. Study Design: Design of lux meter digital based on Arduino uno using an EL 7900 sensor. Place and Duration of Study: Physics Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Udayana University, from June 2024 to September 2024. Methodology: The method used is to design electronic components so that it can become a digital lux meter. The main processor uses Arduino. The microcontroller functions as a data processor which is the output of the EL 7900 sensor. The HC-SR04 sensor is a distance sensor whose function is to measure the distance measured on the design tool. The detection results from the sensor are then processed in the microcontroller and displayed on the OLED. Results: Lux meter digital based on Arduino uno using EL 7900 sensors has been produced. The results of the research show that the further the measurement distance from the light source, the illumination intensity (E) decreases. This research also finds that the illumination intensity will increase if the source power is increased. Based on calibration testing between the design tool and the reference tool, it shows very good results with an error rate of 0.06%. Field test results showed that the level of accuracy of the illumination intensity between the design tool and the reference tool at a distance of 150 cm from the light source with different light source power reached 99.48%. Conclusion: In this research, digital lux meter to the illumination intensity (E) detection tool, relatively cheaper and can be carried because it has a smaller shape and size compared to tools on the market. Based on calibration testing, it shows very good results with an error rate of 0.06%.

Optical Fiber Technology for Efficient Daylighting and Thermal Control: A Sustainable Approach for Buildings

Different direct solar harvesting systems for daylighting are being explored to achieve high uniform illumination deep within buildings at minimal cost. A promising solution to make these systems cost-effective is the use of plastic optical fibers (POFs). However, heat-related issues with low-cost POFs need to be addressed for the widespread adoption of efficient daylighting technologies. Previous studies have explored solutions for this overheating problem, but their effectiveness remains uncertain. This study proposes a low-cost fiber optic daylighting system integrated with a newly patented mechanical component designed to secure the fiber optic bundle at the focal point, providing three levels of heat filtration while ensuring uniform illumination. Our methodology involves selecting a small area, installing the setup, and measuring both heat and light readings, followed by validation through software simulations. The operational principle of this technology is explained, and experimental tests using lux meters and infrared thermometers were conducted to investigate the system’s characteristics. The three-level heat filtration device reduces temperature by approximately 35 °C at the surface of the optical fiber, and the average illumination of the room is around 400 lux. These results were further verified using RELUX simulation software. The findings demonstrate the promising potential of this new device in solar heat filtration and achieving uniform illumination. Recommendations for mitigating overheating damage and exploring heat filtering possibilities in new parabolic solar daylighting systems for further research are also provided.

Fostering prospective teacher-students to contextualize blackbody radiation in astrophysics

Abstract In astrophysical concepts, a star can be treated as a blackbody. However, teaching blackbody radiation in physics classrooms is not often relevant to astrophysical contexts. Therefore, prospective teacher-students need to have experiences contextualizing blackbody radiation in astrophysics. This study aimed to investigate how the inquiry lesson activities for teaching blackbody radiation in an astrophysics context, including the design of a simple experimental setup and the worksheets. The experimental setup was designed using affordable equipment like a tungsten bulb, a basic meter, a small piece of compact disk, and a smartphone application called lux meter. By manipulating the voltage across the tungsten filament and measuring the current and intensity using a lux meter, students can calculate its temperature, analyze the spectrum through PHET simulation, and construct a graph of wavelength vs intensity. The method of this study combines a qualitative analysis to describe the resulted spectral by the apparatus, lesson design, and description of the implementation. In addition, quantitative analysis using a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was conducted with prospective teacher-student participants who had taken the astronomy course and are still taking the modern physics course. The results show that inquiry lesson using simple apparatus model and materials positively fosters prospective teacher-students understanding of how to contextualize the blackbody radiation concept in astrophysics.

Potensi Pencahayaan Alami pada Bangunan Peribadatan Gereja GPIB Filadelfia Semarang

Natural lighting is one of the supporting functions of space that can positively impact space users. One of the benefits is visual comfort when carrying out various indoor activities. Visual comfort is needed in every room, including the worship room. This study aims to evaluate the intensity of natural lighting in the GPIB Filadelfia Church Semarang church hall. This research uses the quantitative method by doing direct observations and measurements using a lux meter placed at twelve measuring points during sunny weather. The results showed that the average light intensity in the morning, afternoon, and evening complies with the visual comfort standards of SNI 03-6197-2000; thus, overall visual comfort is achieved. However, some measuring points with small lighting intensity are still not up to standards because the location is too far from the openings. A light barrier also affects the difference in light intensity at each measuring point.

IoT Based Poultry Cage Quality Monitoring System

This research aims to create a better cage quality monitoring system in poultry farms, the parameters observed in particular are ammonia gas, where this gas greatly affects the health and productivity of laying hens, the data taken is processed in percentage terms and a comparison of several conditions in the location where the equipment is placed. The system is made using ESP32 microcontroller as the main board, DHT22 as a temperature and humidity sensor, MQ135 as a sensor to detect ammonia gas levels, GY302/BH1750 as a light sensor, light sensor or light meter sensor is used to optimize the circadian cycle of laying hens, the monitor system uses data sent by the main board to the database and taken as output by the mobile application. At the implementation stage, the system is able to function properly where the monitor system can send and receive data with the database as an intermediary between hardware and software. The DHT22 sensor can detect temperature and humidity changes with minimal error, the error rate obtained for DHT22 sensor reaches 2.26%, the MQ135 sensor can detect ammonia gas levels according to set program, the GY302/BH1750 sensor can detect changes in light with quite optimal accuracy, all sensor activities can be monitored through the software that has been created, when the system is used for a long period of time periodically the main board will stop sending data to the database, This can last 30 to 40 minutes, with a reboot solution.

Method for enhanced gesture recognition under low light conditions based on wearable mechanoluminescence sensors

Gestures, as one of the key modes of human–computer interaction, are currently identified and processed mainly through two methods: machine vision imaging and wearable stress/strain sensing.However, the former has high requirements for lighting and background.This paper innovatively proposes a feature fusion algorithm that combines mechanoluminescent sensors for gesture recognition under low-light conditions. Unlike existing methods, this algorithm creates a system that integrates mechanoluminescent sensors for visual gesture recognition. By triggering the sensor’s luminescence through mechanical stress, it provides additional light source information to enhance image quality in low-light environments.For this purpose, this study employed the fluorescent emission properties of ZnS:Cu to fabricate a mechanoluminescence sensor. Its mechanoluminescence response characteristics were measured. Based on these findings, an algorithm for the fusion of gesture information features was developed for low illumination backgrounds. This algorithm decomposes the gesture visual images through YCbCr, extracting the HOG features of the Cr channel (Cr-HOG). Simultaneously, feature fusion is performed using the pooling layer (VGG16-Conv5-pool) following the convolutional layer (Conv5-3) in the VGG16 model. A one-to-one composite SVM classifier is constructed to complete the training and testing of the gesture recognition model. Ultimately, the feasibility of this enhanced gesture recognition method was validated through unmanned vehicle control experiment. Experimental results demonstrated that in environments with an illuminance level below 10 LUX measured by a light meter, the average recognition rate of the wearable mechanoluminescence sensor feature fusion algorithm reached 95.82 %. This is 32.24 % higher than the recognition rate of the single Cr-HOG feature classification and 28.27 % higher than the single VGG16-Conv5-pool feature classification. Compared with feature extraction using ResNet-50 and DenseNet-121 networks, the recognition rate for classifying gestures under low-light conditions is approximately 30 % higher.Compared with other image enhancement recognition methods, the recognition can be increased by up to 30.88 %.

Circadian Rhythm of Distal Skin Temperature in Healthy Older and Young Women and Its Relationship with Sleep-Wake Rhythm and Environmental Factors under Natural Living Conditions.

Little is known about the healthy aging of the circadian timing system under natural living conditions. This study explores changes in the circadian rhythm of distal skin temperature (DST) with aging and relates these changes to sleep-wake timing and environmental influences. DST, sleep-wake timing, 24-h light exposure, and physical activity were measured and averaged over seven consecutive days using temperature sensors, actigraphy with a light meter, and sleep diaries in 35 healthy older women (60-79 years) and 30 young women (20-34 years). Circadian rhythm characteristics, describing strength (amplitude) and timing (acrophase) of the DST rhythm, were calculated using cosinor analysis. The older adults displayed an 18-19% smaller amplitude and a 66-73 min earlier acrophase (peak time) for DST rhythm than the young adults, indicating a weaker and phase-advanced DST rhythm. The phase advance for DST was not due to an earlier evening increase, but to a shorter nocturnal plateau period. Daytime light exposure inversely affected strength (amplitude) but not phasing of the DST rhythm in older adults. The DST rhythm was 3.5 times more advanced than the sleep-wake rhythm, showing an altered phase relationship (phase angle) between both rhythms with aging. The phase angle was more heterogeneous among older adults, showing differential aging. The phase advance for DST rhythm and the altered and heterogeneous phase relationship between DST and sleep-wake rhythms were not related to ambient light exposure and the physical activity of older adults. This suggests that healthy aging of the circadian system might be due to endogenous mechanisms such as an internal rearrangement rather than external influences.

Investigation of daylight availability in university dining halls: A case study at the University of Jordan

This study evaluates the availability of daylight inside a university’s dining halls over two days (one sunny and one cloudy) using light meters in real-life sittings. Quantitative monitoring was conducted for horizontal and vertical illuminance levels (HILs and VILs) derived from daylight inside of the dining halls and outside under an unobstructed sky, along with monitoring of the illuminance levels of the artificial light inside. The results are discussed in relation to the minimum recommended HIL value in dining halls of educational buildings (150 lux) set by the Jordanian National Construction Constitution’s lighting code. Further, a questionnaire was conducted with 239 students and employees to evaluate daylight and artificial light from the user’s perspective of the dining halls. HIL, as a dependent variable, was found to vary between the two examined halls, which had different façade fenestrations and hall characteristics. The analysis found that, within the halls, only the area within a 2-metre distance from the north- and west-oriented windows complied with the recommended value, except at breakfast time on a cloudy day. The middle and deepest areas of both halls were significantly lacking in daylight on both cloudy and sunny days. The subjective mean evaluation corresponds with the daylight VILs but contradicts the artificial illuminance levels. As such, subjective needs and preferences may not correspond with objective measurements. This study opens a new path of daylighting research for a largely neglected space: foodservice halls in educational buildings.

The Correlation Between Lighting Intensity, Eye Fatigue, Occupational Stress, and Sleep Quality in the Control Room Operators of Abadan Refinery

Background: The control room is a critical work environment where optimal performance is essential to minimize errors. Lighting is one of the key environmental factors influencing the performance of control room operators. Inadequate sleep quality and job stress also significantly impact job performance. Poor sleep quality, eye fatigue, inappropriate lighting, and occupational stress can lead to errors and decreased accuracy in work. Objectives: The present study aims to determine the correlation between lighting intensity, eye fatigue, occupational stress, and sleep quality among control room operators at the Abadan Refinery. The study was conducted in 2022. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 190 control room operators at the Abadan Refinery in 2022. A lux meter device was used to evaluate the intensity of lighting. Standard Pittsburgh sleep quality, eye fatigue, and Occupational Stress questionnaires were also administered. The results were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The average light intensity of the work surface was 347.95 ± 147.34 lux. The mean and standard deviation of job stress score and sleep quality were 155.42 ± 9.18 and 9.38 ± 1.62, respectively. The average eye fatigue score was 5.09 ± 0.821 in people without glasses and 4.47 ± 0.828 in people with glasses. A significant correlation was found between brightness intensity and visual fatigue (ρ = 0.201, P = 0.029). The correlation between eye fatigue and sleep quality score was also significant (ρ = 0.225, P = 0.002). However, no significant correlation was observed between lighting intensity and sleep quality (ρ = - 0.005, P = 0.946). The correlation between the overall score of occupational stress and sleep quality was statistically significant (r = - 0.148, P = 0.042). Conclusions: The results showed a significant correlation between lighting intensity and the factors of sleep quality and eye fatigue. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between eye fatigue and sleep quality, as well as between occupational stress and sleep quality. Therefore, it is suggested that planning to minimize job stress, and improve lighting and sleep quality for gas refinery control room personnel should be designed and implemented by the authorities.

Efficient fiber-inspection and certification method for optical-circuit-switched datacenter networks

Datacenter networks (DCNs) consisting of optical circuit switches (OCSs) have been considered as a promising solution to dramatically improve their transmission capacity, energy efficiency, and communication latency. To scale optical-circuit-switched DCNs (OCS DCNs), hierarchical OCSs with tens of thousands of optical fibers need to be installed, and they should be inspected before starting datacenter operations. Since traditional DCNs consist of electrical-packet switches (EPSs), the condition and cabling of fibers can be inspected easily by probing neighboring EPSs. However, OCS networks cannot be inspected in the same manner because OCSs cannot transmit and receive probe signals. Thus, we have had to attach and detach a light source and power meter (LSPM) to every switch for probing all the fibers, which takes weeks. This paper proposes an efficient method for inspecting and certifying fibers in an entire DCN without repeating LSPM reattachment. Our method is based on (1) theories on quickly estimating the fiber condition on the basis of the intensity of received probe signals, (2) the maximum allowable loss of each fiber derived from the transceiver budget used in operations, and (3) an algorithm that reduces the number of probes needed. The results from an extensive numerical evaluation indicate that our method inspected a DCN with 18,432 fibers in at most a day, whereas a baseline method involving repeated LSPM reattachment would take more than a week. We also confirmed that our method never produced false negatives and false positives under practical network conditions.

Evaluation of The Feasibility of Wood Working Construction Workshop

This study aims to determine the feasibility level of the Wood Work Construction Workshop of the Civil Engineering Department of FT UNP based on the standards of Permendiknas number 40 of 2008, SNI 03-6575-2001, and ISO 9001: 2008. This research approach uses descriptive qualitative research methods and uses a policy evaluation model. The object of this research is the wood working construction workshop. Data collection techniques were carried out by means of observation, interviews, direct measurement and documentation. The research instrument used a checklist that was used during direct measurement. The technique of obtaining data uses a roller meter, lux meter, sound level meter, thermometer and anemometer. The results of this study are the workshop area according to the standard, the area of hand wood working area according to the standard, the area of wood machinery according to the standard, the area of storage and technician areas according to the standard, the lighting level of the wood workshop in the morning according to the standard, at noon according to the standard, and in the afternoon not according to the standard, workshop natural ventilation air circulation for air temperature in the morning is up to standard, in the afternoon and evening is not up to standard, air humidity in the morning and afternoon is up to standard, in the afternoon is not up to standard, air velocity in the morning and afternoon is not up to standard, in the afternoon is up to standard, sound and noise are up to standard, room temperature in the morning is up to standard, The number of students is according to the standard, the number of technicians is not according to the standard, the implementation of workshop practice is according to the standard, the color of the room is according to the standard, the wood workshop practice equipment for hand tools is according to the standard, the working station tool of the type of tool consists of 4 types not according to the standard and 8 types are according to the standard, Workshop facilities for furniture are according to the standard, educational media are according to the standard, fire protection equipment is not according to the standard, first aid kits are according to the standard, personal protective equipment is not according to the standard, workshop support equipment for electrical contact boxes are according to the standard, trash cans are not according to the standard, information data boards are according to the standard, vacuum is not according to the standard.

: Analisis Persebaran Intensintas Penerangan Di Laboratorium Balai Keselamatan Dan Kesehatan Kerja (K3) Samarinda Berdasarkan PERMANKER No. 5 Tahun 2018 Menggunakan Metode Mapping

A light is needed by humans to recognize an object visually. Good lighting allows people to see the objects they are working on clearly and quickly. There is a national standardization that is used as a race for the intensity of lighting that is categorized based on the type of work performed. Therefore, this study aims to determine the level of intensintas lighting in the Laboratory of the Center for Occupational Safety and health (K3) Samarinda based PERMENAKER No. 5 of 2018. In this study using the mapping method used as the determination of the coordinate points and then use the Lux meter EC 1 and Laser Meter Distance for data retrieval illumination. The results obtained the intense level of illumination in the Laboratory of the Center for Occupational Safety and health (K3) Samarinda based on PERMENAKER No. 5 of 2018 (lighting standards according to job classification) the work areas that meet the standards are on the administration workbench, pretreatment table (Room 8), and fume hood laying room (Room 7) while the work areas of the weighing room (Room 1), UV-VIS room (Room 2), Spectrophoto room (Room 3), Natural absorption room (Room 4), and solid chemical room (Room 5) did not meet the standards.

Comparative Study of RF Electromagnetic Field Exposure Standards

Nowadays it is necessary to know the different electromagnetic field exposure standards for getting the information regarding power density and electric field near to us. Since mobile phone is the integral part of the personal and daily life, electromagnetic field exposure from base stations is increased. Over the past eight to ten years, there has been a notable surge in wireless data traffic and the introduction of new communications technologies, leading to a rapid development of the technologies employed in mobile phones. This paper compares various electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure guidelines and examines radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure estimates from base stations in the Kolhapur region. Exposure levels are measured in V / m and mw / m2 for 15 selected sites from urban rural areas of Kolhapur using KM-195 exposure meter. Total 15 sites were selected for the measurement of power density and electric field. Summary and statistics of power density and electric field in miliwatt / m2 and volt / m for each measurement area is done. Finally, all EMF exposure levels are compared with global standards. After comparing it is found that the stricter country in EMF exposure is Austria, its exposure level standard is 0.001 w/m2. It is very lesser than other countries. Followed by Austria the other stricter countries are Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Paris, Hungary, Russia and Bulgaria. Their EMF exposure levels are 0.09, 0.095, 0.1 and 0.2 w /m2 respectively. Keywords— ICNIRP, mobile base station, Department of Telecom, ARP & SNA, Exposure standard

EVALUATION OF ORAL AND DENTAL HEALTH POLYCLINICS IN TERMS OF ERGONOMIC DESIGN FACTORS

The comfort conditions of oral and dental health clinics depend on physical environment factors. The satisfaction of the patient, physician, and staff is directly proportional to the suitability of the ergonomic conditions of the environment. Physical factors affect the health and performance of physicians and personnel working all day long. At the same time, the spatial and technical organization of clinic structures is very important for patient health and comfort. In the literature research, there were no adequate studies on the physical risk factors that the dentist, staff, and patients are exposed to during clinical applications in terms of architectural discipline. This study aims to reveal the ergonomic comfort conditions of dentists, staff, and patients in the oral and dental health outpatient clinic. The research method is fieldwork. An oral and dental health polyclinic in Istanbul was determined as the research area. The research technique is “on-site observation,” “measurement,” “survey” and “interview”. "Luxury Light Meter", "Sound Meter" and "Thermometer" applications were used to measure the light, sound, and temperature values of the space. A questionnaire with the Likert Scaling Model was administered to patients, physicians, and staff. As a result, patients prefer to be treated in the outpatient clinic where they feel comfortable, and dentists and their staff can work more motivated and more efficiently in environments where they feel comfortable and healthy. To provide quality service in an oral and dental health clinic, attention should be paid to physical environmental factors, spatial and technical characteristics, and the comfort of patients, dentists, and staff should be considered.

Preliminary Studies of Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted from Mobile Phone and its Health Implications

The research work aimed to study the Radiofrequency radiation emitted from mobile phone and its health implications. The experiment was carried out in the dark room (research room) of Physics Department Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola where the light meter sensor was used to obtain the intensities of the radiation coming from the surface of the mobile phone at normal and while ringing, at morning, afternoon and at night. The results obtained shows that 2G SIM card of MTN gave the highest intensity for both normal condition and while ringing at 0 cm, 0.7031 Wm-2 and for 3G is 0.6715 Wm-2 at 0 cm and 4G is 0.6004 Wm-2 at 0 cm, when mobile phone was ringing, the intensities for 2G, 3G and 4G at 0 cm are 0.81765 Wm-2, 0.7505 Wm-2 and 0.7268 Wm-2 respectively, for morning reading. The highest value for the half distance is 79.67 cm and the lowest value obtained showed 0.0168 cm. The lowest absorption coefficient is 0.0163 Wm-2 cm-1 and the highest value is 0.0283 Wm-2 cm-1. The highest value of peak intensity is 0.5469 Wm-2 and the lowest is 0.5180 Wm-2. Whereas the results of afternoon and night followed the same pattern. The result obtained in this work is higher than the result obtained in Ojuh and Isobana (2015). The result is also higher than that of the recommended value by the International Commission on Non-ionizing radiation protection (ICNIRP). The effects that this may cause includes blood brain barrier, eye pain and weakness, and brain tumor

Comparative Analysis of Methods of Evaluating Human Fatigue

AbstractThe present study used four different methods to estimate fatigue. Forty-seven volunteers (45 men and 2 women), 41.3 ± 7.5 years old, truck operators for 11.5 ± 6.0 years, were included. All participants accepted the invitation to be included in the study. Actigraphy and core temperature were evaluated. The 5-minute psychomotor vigilance test, the Karolinksa Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and the postural assessment using the Light Sonometer™ (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil) were performed. Fatigue prediction was performed using the Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool (FAST) program. In response to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), 51.06% had good sleep quality and 48.94% had poor sleep quality with an average efficiency of 81.6%. In response to the actigraphy, workers slept an average of 7.2 hours a day with 93.5% efficiency. The workers' core body temperature (CBT) cosinor analysis showed a preserved circadian curve. Core body temperature showed differences between the 6 hours worked in each shift. Similarly, the light sound level meter showed lower risk scores for fatigue in day shifts. Only the variable of the fastest 10% of the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) showed worse results, while no significant differences were observed by the KSS. The risk analysis by FAST showed a strong influence of the circadian factor. In conclusion, each method has positive and negative points, and it is up to the evaluator/manager to identify the method that best suits the purpose of the evaluation, as well as the local culture and conditions. We recommend using different methods of risk assessment and management in combination with fatigue prediction by Sonometer as well as carrying out assessments, which enable researchers to estimate performance and fatigue throughout the working day, since these may change over the duration of the working day.

Evaluation of work-related health and safety risks associated with hairdressers in Nairobi County, Kenya City

Hairdressers are exposed to awkward posture, prolonged standing, long working hours and chemical hazards capable of causing adverse health effects. The present study aimed to evaluate hairdressers' safety and health risks. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional and analytical design. Systematic random sampling was used to select salons and hairdressers. Closed and open-ended questionnaires were distributed to 286 hairdressers who consented to participate in the study. An observation checklist, WISHA caution checklist, thermometer, light meter and noise level meter were used to collect data in the sampled salon. Data were analyzed descriptively and with regression analysis. It was found that the average space for salons was 8.79 m2, and 68.5% of hairdressers work for long hours (11-12 hours). It was established that 5.48% of salons have an adequate amount of light and that 8.22% of salons have high temperatures. Aprons were the most used personal protective equipment by hairdressers. Manual handling of salon equipment and awkward posture cause musculoskeletal disorders among hairdressers. Their odd ratios impacting the health and safety of hairdressers were 2.706 and 2.728, respectively. The study reveals that hairdressing salon designs, space, lighting, and temperatures affect the health and safety of hairdressers. The hours off work and minimal or no breaks also have negative impacts on the health and safety of hairdressers

Fractional Distribution of Solar UV-B Absorbance on Outdoor Workers within Nsukka Metropolis, South Eastern Nigeria

Ultraviolet radiation is one of the physical concerns of the environment. Several nations have thus moved research attention to this area. This research work aimed at measuring the solar UV-B absorbance on outdoor workers in Nsukka metropolis, South Eastern Nigeria. An LS125 multi probe UV Light Meter with UV- B sensor was used to measure the UV-B irradiance across five study locations representing the various occupations, viz: Barracks (mechanics), Opi (Farmers), Ogige (Traders), Zik’s flat (motor park workers) and Onuiyi (Bricklayers). A UV-Vis spectrophotometer was used to determine the change in the optical absorbance of polymer polysulphone dosimeters. Result shows that UV-B Irradiance was highest at solar noon across the study locations. The dosimeter placed on the head received the highest dose of UV- B radiation at the study locations. The values of the cumulative UV-B exposure of the dosimeters placed on the body parts at the study sites were higher than the occupational exposure limit of 30J/m2 for a 6.5-hour exposure time for both the eye and skin recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The AIC and BIC values shows that the logarithm regression model outperformed the other models tested. This work therefor sets a reliable baseline data for solar UV-B radiation monitoring in Nsukka, South Eastern Nigeria and also recommend that protective clothing be worn carrying out daily activities during peak solar UV-B radiation hours,

Comparison of Using Android-based Lux Meter and Split Flux Method in Natural Lighting Material in Building Physics Course

Background: The use of learning media is very influential in the learning process. In natural lighting calculation material, students usually use the Split Flux method, but the calculation is long because students have to provide a solar arc in the form of a printout on mica. So in this study, students will be divided into several groups to calculate natural lighting using an android-based lux meter.Methods: The approach used in this research is a quantitative approach, with an empiricist paradigm, and with a survey method. The survey was conducted on students who had taken the Building Physics course. The survey was conducted using an instrument. The instrument is an open and closed questionnaire.Results: The survey results show that (1) 73% of respondents chose the answer 51% to 75%, meaning that 73% of students understand the split flux method and 28% of respondents chose 75% to 100%, meaning that 28% of students understand the split flux method; (2) 78% stated that it was easier to use an android-based lux meter to measure natural lighting; (3) 79% stated that it was faster to use an android-based lux meter to measure natural lighting.Conclusion: By using an android-based lux meter, students can install it on their respective handphone, besides students are facilitated in measuring natural or artificial lighting and are not paid, besides that the process is faster and more flexible by using the help of android-based lux meter media in Building Physics courses, students become more interested in learning natural lighting measurements because they can easily take lighting measurements in a room.