Power Plant Employees Research Articles

Work-Life Conflict, Burnout, and Associated Factors Among Hydroelectric Power Plant Employees: A Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey.

Power plants are associated with numerous occupational health and safety risk factors, with psychosocial risks being particularly significant. This study examines work-life conflict and burnout among power plant employees and discusses the factors associated with these issues. This cross-sectional study focused on employees at three hydroelectric power plants in Turkey. The inclusion criteria included employees with at least one year of tenure. Using cluster sampling, three plants were selected in Adana, Ankara, and Samsun. The sample size was determined to be 262, and 201 employees participated, yielding a 76.7% response rate. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, which encompasses the sub-dimensions of a valid and reliable scale: The Work-Life Conflict and Burnout sub-dimensions of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire-III (COPSOQ-III) were used to measure the dependent variables. The independent variables included age, education level, total and weekly working hours, perceived health status, and department. The dependent variables were work-life conflict and burnout. Ethical approval was obtained from the Gazi University Ethics Committee. Statistical analysis compared the Pearson chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Yates correction with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. The mean age was 40.83 years, with an average tenure of 11.54 years and a weekly work time of 43.51 hours. Most participants (94.5%) were male; technical unit workers comprised 71.6%. Health issues included smoking (39.8%) and chronic diseases (19.9%). Concerns about the working environment include insufficient knowledge about safety (25.4%) and lack of knowledge about risk assessments (32.3%). Many workers reported lacking personal protective equipment (11.4%) and rest areas (15.4%). Negative health impacts from work were noted by 31.8%. In addition, 51.2% believed that noise levels were outside the acceptable range. Two-thirds of employees reported inadequate measures against physical risks in the workplace. Many participants experienced work-life conflict (13.9%) and burnout (14.5%). High work-life conflict was significantly associated with younger age groups, less tenure, and negative perceived health status. Burnout was significantly related to the duration of employment, weekly working hours, and perceived health status. The study highlights the seriousness of burnout and work-life conflict among hydropower plant workers, emphasizing the need for administrative and organizational interventions to alleviate these issues. Regular occupational health and safety training, involvement in risk assessments, fair workload distribution, supportive work environments, and counseling services are recommended to reduce burnout and improve work-life balance.

Upaya Peningkatan Kinerja Karyawan Bagian Power Plant Berbasis Budaya Organisasi dan Lingkungan Kerja Fisik pada Perusahaan X di Purwakarta

Competent and high-performing human resources ensure that the company runs well, from the data obtained there are several employees whose performance is still lacking. Factors that affect the good and bad performance of employees are organizational culture and physical work environment. This study aims to determine the relationship between organizational culture and physical work environment on the performance of power plant employees at company x in Purwakarta. The method in this study uses quantitative methods with sampling techniques, namely all populations sampled. Data collection techniques by distributing questionnaires and interviews. The data analysis technique uses descriptive methods and associative methods and data analysis, namely multiple regression analysis by interpreting the output table of the SPSS version 25 program. The results showed that organizational culture partially affects employee performance, and the physical work environment partially affects employee performance. Furthermore, organizational culture and physical work environment simultaneously affect the performance of power plant employees at company x in Purwakarta.

Comparative Analysis on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship Between Generation X and Y Filipino Employees

Comparing the levels of Job Satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship Behavior among 176 power plant employees under cohorts Generation X (n=88) and Generations Y (n=88). This study purposes to find out if there is a difference in terms of the nine facets of Job Satisfaction and 2 components of Organizational Citizenship Behavior among Filipino employees in Misamis Oriental. This study collected data through an online survey utilizing a 16-item OCB Scale and 36-item Job Satisfaction Scale with established statistical reliability. Results show that both Generations X (56%) and Y (63%) respondents reported a very high level of Organizational Citizenship Behavior. And for Job Satisfaction, results interpreted Satisfied from both Generations X (84%) and Generation Y (61%). Statistical results also showed that there was a significant difference on Job Satisfaction factors, Pay, Promotion, Supervision, Fringe Benefits, Contingency Reward and Nature of Work for both concerned Generational cohorts. And there was no significant difference noted in the distribution of Organizational Citizenship Behavior directed to the Organization and the distribution of Organizational Citizenship Behavior directed to the Individual between Generation X and Y. Considering the findings of the research, it is recommended for Human Resources to conduct a survey among Generations X and Y in terms of what benefits do they find relevant. Also, for company-owners to consider flexibility options on employee benefits availment.

Factors associated with computer vision syndrome complaints in power plant employees

PT X is one of the power plants that supplies electricity to the Java and Bali regions. One of the jobs at risk of CVS complaints at PT X is office workers because they have to deal directly with computer screens for a long time. The purpose of this study was to analyze the strength of the correlation between factors associated with CVS. This study is an observational study with a cross sectional approach. The population in this study were 57 respondents. The statistical test used was Gamma coefficient test and contingency coefficient test. The results showed that there was a strong correlation between age (r=0.622), work position (r=0.770), and eye distance to the monitor (r=-0.742) with CVS complaints and a very strong correlation between work period (r=-0.840) CVS complaints. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that age, work position, and eye distance to the monitor have a strong correlation with CVS complaints and a very strong correlation between Length of service CVS complaints. It is recommended that companies urge their workers who use computers not to forget to rest their eyes and maintain vitamin A intake, besides that workers also need to rearrange their work stations to avoid bad working positions.

Evaluation of the relationship between the uses of safety procedures in the rate of human error in Yazd Combined Cycle Power Plant

Introduction: About 60 to 90 percent of an accident in the industry is caused by human error. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of safety procedures in reducing human error in Yazd Combined Cycle Power Plant employees. Materials and Methods: The present study is a quasi-experimental intervention that was conducted aimed to measure the human error of 121 employees of Yazd Combined Cycle Power Plant in 5 occupational groups (safety and firefighting, generator operation, generator operation, chemical refinery, warehouse keeping, and generator repair) in 2020. First, job safety analysis (JSA) was performed. Safety procedures related to each job were prepared, and with the help of their items and observing the process of doing work, the percentage of human error before and after the investigation was calculated. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical indicators including mean, standard deviation, median, interquartile range, frequency and frequency percentage, and Wilcoxon nonparametric test by SPSS software version 24. The significance level was considered 0.05. Results: A study on five main jobs, according to Wilcoxon test results showed, the highest and lowest human error percent before the intervention was related to generator repair occupational groups (58.59%) and warehouse keeping (4.16%). A significant difference was between human error percent before (433.41 ± 35.14) and after (440.21 ± 29.29) the intervention (p &lt;0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that performing job safety analysis and implementing safety procedures related to each job will decrease people's human error percent. Therefore, the implementation of safety procedures related to each job was suggested to the industry. This procedure must be obtained by careful job analysis, and an appropriate procedure should be developed using a panel of experts.

A secured tor local network for nuclear power plant industry

The risk of cyber-attacks on a country has grown drastically. The cyber security risks against critical power infrastructure seem to be worsening. Obviously, any sort of assault on an atomic plant is very concerning. An attack that allows hackers to manipulate the system that control a nuclear reactor, while very difficult, could have very serious consequences. The main reason for this attack is vulnerabilities in local computer networks in power plants. Which has direct access to the internet without any major protection against cyber-attacks like phishing attacks against power plant employees, virus injection tools etc., As the main defense against this attacks is to make power plant networks and employees anonymous to the internet and making sure that no one is tracking the employees which can lead to loss of sensitive information of the plant. The Tor onion networking protocol is best suitable for these types of attacks on employees and computer networks in the power plant. Since providing Tor network for individual employee in practically impossible. Our projected work aims to establish an onion router which provide overall coverage of computer systems and employees which has access to power plant inside the perimeter of power plant. To simulate the plant local networks we construct an internet router using raspberry pi which is configured with Tor onion routing protocol access the internet by computers connected to our Router.

Health Risks Associated with Occupational Exposure to Biological Air Pollutants Occurring during the Processing of Biomass for Energy Purposes: A Case Study

The main goal of this study was to assess the levels of concentration of biological air pollutants in biomass processing power plants, based on the measurements taken in a plant located in Southern Poland. This work shows problems related to the co-combustion of biomass and indicates the health risks to which employees of positions closely related to the processing and combustion of biomass are exposed. Bacterial and fungal aerosol samples were collected using a six-stage Andersen cascade impactor with aerodynamic cut-off diameters of 7.0, 4.7, 3.3, 2.1, 1.1 and 0.65 µm (Tisch Environmental, USA). The highest average concentration level of micro-organisms was recorded in the air in the biomass analysis laboratory, where there was no constant airflow. It was found that the concentration levels of biological agents were below the Polish proposals for threshold limit values in the work environment polluted with organic dust. However, it was observed that the share of the respirable fraction (RF) of bacterial aerosol (particles less than 3.3 µm) in workplaces was equal to or higher than 50% of the total concentration, which may cause increased potentially adverse health effects and problems with concentration among power plant employees. Therefore, to ensure adequate air quality in the tested object, it is necessary to properly ventilate. This preliminary research could be the important starting point for a complete and precise assessment of bioaerosol exposures in biomass processing power plants in order to protect workers’ health.

Investigating the effects of vitamins E and C on oxidative stress and hematological parameters among power plant workers: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of taking antioxidant vitamins including vitamins E and C in reducing oxidative stress levels and improving blood parameters. This double-blind randomized controlled trial study was conducted among the employees working in different parts of a power plant in Semnan, Iran, in 2017. A total of 91 employees were randomly allocated to four groups including vitamin E (400 units per day), vitamin C (1000 mg per day), vitamin E + C for 90 days, and control. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (Cat), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma, and hematological parameters were measured in the participants before and after the intervention. A significant increase was seen in the mean level of SOD, Cat, and TAC in the vitamin-treated groups as well as a significant decrease in mean MOD in vitamin C and vitamin E groups after the intervention. In the intervention groups, the number of red blood cells, hematocrit, and the level of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and MCH concentration significantly increased. After the intervention, the mean levels of MDA, SOD, and Cat in vitamin E group were significantly lower than the control group. The mean level of TAC decreased only in the vitamin C group compared to the control group. Taking vitamins E and C as nonenzymatic scavengers of free radicals appears to decrease lipid peroxidation and increase the level of antioxidant enzymes, which can be imbalanced by exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields in power plant employees. Furthermore, some hematological parameters can be improved by consuming these vitamins.

Selection of optimal models for forecasting the professional suitability of operators

The necessity of professional selection of candidates for operator professions of electric power enterprises as a key and priority element of safety culture is considered. This is primarily due to the high complexity and responsibility of the operating activities of power plant employees, as evidenced by emergency statistics. It is proposed to select models of initial professional selection of operators on the basis of psychophysiological criteria. The necessity of carrying out psychophysiological research on conformity of the applicant to requirements of a profession of the operator of technological processes in industrial conditions is defined. It is proved that the purpose of professional psychophysiological selection is to determine the level of applicants' ability to learn and predict the effectiveness of the operator's actions in the work environment, including in extreme conditions. Like any system, professional selection is based on a number of principles, adherence to which makes it more reliable and efficient. The following principles are used in the work: the principle of personal approach, which is based on the identification of certain psychological qualities of the individual in combination with the activity. The main component of this principle is also the study of motivation and degree of professional orientation of applicants for the profession. The second applied principle is the principle of suitability, which covers a comprehensive study of personality and its compliance with certain selection criteria.In the course of the research professionally important psychophysiological qualities were established, which allow distinguishing professionally suitable operators from conditionally suitable ones. This, in turn, allows solving the ergonomic problem of increasing the reliability and efficiency of the ergonomic system "man - machine - environment" by increasing the reliability of professional selection of operators and reducing the risk of erroneous actions of personnel in the power industry.

Safety Precuations and Tools Examination for Employees of Power Plant

Employee welfare and safety has been seen as one of an organization's key performance measures. Changes in employees ' working life and changes in both the internal and external business environment have brought tremendous transformation in organizational behaviour. Globalization, innovation and other aspects of work-design compelled companies to focus on the safety and welfare of workers.

Epidemiology of Late Health Effects in Ukrainian Chornobyl Cleanup Workers.

This article summarizes the results of 30 y of follow-up of cancer and noncancer effects in Ukrainian cleanup workers after the Chornobyl accident. The number of power plant employees and first responders with acute radiation syndrome under follow-up by the National Research Center for Radiation Medicine decreased from 179 in 1986-1991 to 105 in 2011-2015. Cancers and leukemia (19) and cardiovascular diseases (21) were the main causes of deaths among acute radiation syndrome survivors (54) during the postaccident period. Increased radiation risks of leukemia in the Ukrainian cohort of 110,645 cleanup workers exposed to low doses are comparable to those among survivors of the atomic bomb explosions in Japan in 1945. Additionally, an excess of chronic lymphocytic leukemia was demonstrated in the cleanup workers cohort for 26 y after the exposure. A significant excess of multiple myeloma incidence [standardized incidence rate (SIR) 1.61 %, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-2.21], thyroid cancer (SIR 4.18, 95% CI 3.76-4.59), female breast cancer (SIR 1.57 CI 1.40-1.73), and all cancers combined (SIR 1.07; 95% CI 1.05-1.09) was registered. High prevalence was demonstrated for cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases and mental health changes. However, the reasons for the increases require further investigation. To monitor other possible late effects of radiation exposure in Chornobyl cleanup workers, analytical cohort and case-control studies need to include cardiovascular pathology, specifically types of potentially radiogenic cancers using a molecular epidemiology approach. Possible effects for further study include increased rates of thyroid, breast, and lung cancers and multiple myeloma; reduction of radiation risks of leukemia to population levels; and increased morbidity and mortality of cleanup workers from cardio- and cerebrovascular pathology.

New trends in training nuclear power plant employees: probabilistic safety analysis

Abstract In the last four decades, as the nuclear industry grew and got mature, the importance of adequate risk evaluating tools became decisive. Therefore, the Probabilistic Risk Assessment (also known as Probabilistic Safety Analysis) became a cornerstone of the decisions in such high energy and high-risk industry. PSA has an internationally recognised standard, and it is supported by a group of highly trained experts, (no more than a few hundred worldwide).This work can be used as a guide for the improving the required individual and teamwork skills needed in a Probabilistic Safety Analysis - PSA Team. The necessity of such a moment in a PSA Training was imagined by Dan Serbanescu, doctor in science, nuclear energy expert, risk and safety analyst, in May 2017. After few discussions and according to recognised international standards (Probabilistic Risk Assessment procedures guide, 1983), a first time delivery was possible in the PSA Training delivered in Centrala Nuclearoelectrica Cernavoda / Nuclear Power Plant Cernavoda (2017).This article presents a systematic approach for team improvement skills, consisting of the observation, presentation of the skills required, the skills practised in the proposed exercises, the techniques used during this module (coaching included), and results. The Purpose of the newly proposed combination of training and coaching methods with the specific traditional one oriented mainly to the technical and procedural skills is to raise participants’ awareness about how soft-skills can be used in the PSA Teamwork. As Nuclear Power Plant can be easily compared with a complex organisation, soft skills are vital to be developed within the teams. PSA is becoming more required not only in nuclear but also in the aerospace industry (it was adopted by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration for all future space program and by some hazardous chemical industries, as also stated in international documents (of the European Commission for instance).

An Ergonomics Approach towards Efficient and Productive Maintenance of Fluidized Bed Heat Exchangers (FBHEs) (Morupule B Power Station)

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders have been identified as one of the most costly and demanding illnesses across the world amongst the working population, with labour intensive industries largely affected. The situation is appalling in developing nations wherein there is high demand for energy and yet has limited energy systems and expertise to produce clean energy. Moreover, there is often a distressing lack of awareness on ergonomic issues, education and training initiatives. Erudite fellows have undertaken similar studies with reference to MSDs in power stations around the world and provided possible remedies. However, this study focused on the circulating fluidised bed boiler technology installed with fluidized bed heat exchangers (FBHEs). Since the commissioning of Morupule B power plant 4*150 mw units, the fluidized bed heat exchangers (FBHEs) proved to be a regular stop point for maintenance and operations team, hence a high ergonomic risk area for everyone working at the area. Methods: A Modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was chosen and used to examine the extend at which the Morupule B power plant employees are affected by their daily work. In addition to that, the job and environment analysis questionnaire was administered as well to evaluate their work load, management system, work area, vibrations and sound and lastly an anthropometric survey was conducted on employees directly working at the FBHEs. These set of surveys were administered to 257 employees at Morupule B power station. All participants answered the questions and the data was evaluated with SPSS 18 software. Results: The prevalence of MSDs are high amongst main plant workers especially Auxiliary Plant Operators (APO) and labourers at Morupule B power plant on almost all body parts listed on the Nordic Questionnaire i.e. neck, shoulders, hands, back, and knees. Conclusion: MSDs occurred at an alarming rate within the lower cadre workers working at the FBHEs

Thyroid Disorders in Employees of a Nuclear Power Plant

The thyroid gland is a potential target organ for radiation-related damage. The aim of this analysis was to investigate the association between occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and the risk of autoimmune thyroid disease as well as thyroid nodules and dysfunction in workers of a former nuclear power station. Seventy-one male power station workers 38 to 57 years of age who had been exposed to a lifetime dose in the upper allowed range (accumulated lifetime dose 70 to 400 mSv) were compared to a population-based sample of 670 males who were not exposed to occupational radiation. Thyroid ultrasound was performed by the same observers. Laboratory parameters were analyzed in a central laboratory. After controlling analyses for age and further relevant confounders no significant differences with respect to thyroid nodules and markers of autoimmune thyroid disease were detected between exposed and nonexposed individuals. However, nuclear power plant employees had higher odds for elevated serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels than the reference group (odds ratio 4.54; 95% confidence interval 1.43; 13.91). Workers of a nuclear power plant with occupational exposure to ionizing radiation within the upper allowed dose range have an increased risk of elevated serum TSH levels. Further studies are required to confirm possible effects of occupational exposure to radiation on thyroid function.

Epidemiological surveillance at Electricité de France-Gaz de France: health assessment of nuclear power plant employees between 1993 and 1998.

Because the 17,500 employees working in nuclear power plants at Electricité de France, the national power company, may be exposed to a wide variety of industrial hazards, the health insurance department of the company has set up an epidemiological surveillance programme for them. This report describes its first stage, an analysis of their health problems. This descriptive, cross-sectional and exhaustive study examined sick-leave, mortality and cancer incidence to assess the health of the employees working from 1993 through 1998. The analysis compared the employees in nuclear power plants, considered 'exposed', with the rest of the personnel of Electricité de France-Gaz de France, the 'non-exposed' (125,000 persons). Relative risks for these variables were estimated, after stratification for age, sex and work grade. Globally, the employees in the nuclear sector appeared to have fewer health problems than the other company employees. This was true regardless of age and especially for men, operating employees and supervisory employees. Nonetheless, three points must be noted: non-work accidents generated a non-significant excess of absenteeism and mortality among these employees, especially among management and supervisory personnel; suicides affected supervisors in particular; and an excess of primary malignant brain tumours affected both mortality [relative risk (RR) = 1.96, n.s.] and incidence, especially among operating employees (RR = 2.87, 95% confidence interval = 1.00-8.43). No excess of malignant blood disease was observed. This study, performed for surveillance purposes, points to brain tumours as a problem that raises important aetiological questions. Research is now necessary to provide answers. Surveillance of nuclear plant employees at Electricité de France should be continued and expanded to include the study of specific occupational exposures.

Knowledge and Risk Perception Among Nuclear Power Plant Employees

This is a study of knowledge, risk perception, and attitudes among nuclear power plant employees. A total of 236 persons participated, belonging to 10 different professional groups and working at two Swedish power plants. Job-related radiation risks were judged about average as compared to a number of other risks. On the whole, the participants in the study were satisfied with the measures of safety at work, but there were some exceptions to this rule, especially among those hired for temporary jobs through external contractors. The experience of job-related radiation risks was related to the level of knowledge about radiation and its risks: those who knew less experienced larger risks. General level of anxiety did not correlate with risk perception. The latter was accounted for mainly by perceived radiation risks. Job satisfaction was more strongly related to perceived conventional job risks than to nuclear risks. Risk ratings were related to how subjects defined the concept of risk. Those who stressed consequences as part of their risk definition gave higher risk ratings.

Predictive effects of occupational and marital stress on the mental health of a male workforce

AbstractThis study examined the predictive contribution of occupational and marital stress to the development of symptomatolgoy, affective disorder, and alcohol‐related problems in a sample of 325 male power plant employees interviewed at baseline and one‐year follow up. After controlling for known clinical and social risk factors, we found statistically significant predictive effects of job demands on affective disorder and job decision latitude on alcohol problems. In addition, the specific combination of high job demands with low decision latitude was important in predicting the occurrence of alcohol problems. Marital stress was not predictive of poorer mental health. The analyses provided only minimal support for a stress‐buffering rote of social support.

Application of a Temporal Persistence Model to Community Residents' L]ong‐Term Beliefs about the Three Mile island Nuclear Accident1

Little is known about the conditions under which beliefs and attitudes about an issue or event will persist over time. The present research took advantage of a “natural experiment”, namely, the Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear accident, in order (a) better to understand the nature of individuals' b]eliefs about a major event to which they were exposed and (b) to evaluate a conceptual formulation developed from laboratory‐based experimental literature concerning when beliefs and attitudes are likely to be temporally persistent. Data were collected over a 3‐year period following the accident from two samples of community residents: mothers of young children who lived within a 10‐mile radius of TMI and TMI nuclear power plant employees. Samples of mothers and workers from a western Pennsylvania comparison site were also included in the study design. Results supported the persistence model in several respects. First, TMI subjects' b]eliefs, although more extreme than comparison subjects' v]iews, showed virtually no change during the study period. Second, the factors that the model suggests should account for the observed persistence were indeed consistently important predictors of TMI subjects' b]eliefs over time. Implications of the results for future applied work on long‐term reactions to major events are discussed.

Aural Protection for Utility Employees

Compliance with occupational noise exposure standards requires a period for program development and implementation. The time period for compliance with noise standards by engineering methods varies from industry to industry. Consistant with the U. S. Labor Department Bulletin No. 334, an employee hearing-conservation program includes identification of noise-exposed personnel, audiometric examination, inclusion of noise-control techniques by engineering methods, education programs, and personal hearing protection. The type of personal hearing protectors selected for use during the interim period when noise-control devices are engineered and installed depends upon the amount of noise reduction required, environmental conditions in which the protectors will be worn, and compatibility with existing safety equipment and industry safety standards. An aural protector for power plant employees was developed. This earmuff is made with no metal parts to insure a dielectric strength of greater than 30 000 V. It is approximately 33% lighter than earmuffs with metal bands, and is inexpensive and designed to be worn with safety caps. Noise attenuation provided by these earmuffs compares favorably to protection provided by alternate methods. Development and continued refinement of this “metal-less” muff has provided a viable means of personal hearing protection for power plant employees.