Working Conditions Research Articles

An Empirical and Deep Learning Investigation of Working Conditions and Musculoskeletal Outcomes in Wheat Farmers

Background: In developing countries, various farming activities are performed manually with the help of traditional hand tools. Therefore, agriculture is recognized as one of the risky occupations Objective: This research study aims to identify the critical working conditions of wheat farmers in Rajasthan state, India. Method: Data were collected through the survey conducted on 75 randomly selected wheat farmers of Rajasthan. The survey questionnaire gathered information related to demographic, occupational, and musculoskeletal discomfort faced by the farmers. In addition, a deep learning-based posture detection study of the workers was performed to assess the postural risks through a rapid upper limb assessment score. Result: The collected data were analyzed further for fruitful insights. The survey outcomes showed that awkward posture (41%) and repetitive movement (35%) were the most reported reasons for the severe risks of musculoskeletal disorders among farmers. The posture evaluationbased study outcomes showed that approximately 51% of subjects lie in the action category 4, which shows the higher level of risks in the activities performed by farmers. Conclusion: It is suggested to apply the principles of physical ergonomics in the agriculture sector and spread awareness among the farmers about the agriculture risks associated with farming activities.

Characterizing the Compressive Force at L5/S1 During Patient Transfer From Bed to Wheelchair.

The peak compressive forces at L5/S1 during patient transfers have been estimated. However, no study has considered the actual patient body weight that caregivers had to handle during transfers. We developed a simple kinematic model of lifting to address this limitation. Fifteen prospective health care providers transferred a 70-kg individual who mimicked a patient ("patient") from bed to wheelchair. Trials were acquired with the patient donning (weighted) and doffing (unweighted) a 5-kg weight belt. Trials were also acquired with and without knee assistance and a mechanical lift. During trials, kinematics and kinetics of transfers were recorded to estimate the peak compressive force at L5/S1 using static equilibrium equations. The peak compressive force was associated with the transfer method (P < .0005), and the compressive force was 68% lower in lift-assisted than manual transfer (2230 [SD = 433]N vs 6875 [SD = 2307]N). However, the peak compressive force was not associated with knee assistance, nor with a change in the patient body weight. Our results inform that mechanical loading exceeding the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health safety criterion occurs during patient transfers, confirming a high risk of lower back injuries in caregivers. However, the risk can be mitigated with the use of a mechanical lift.

Occupational Health Nursing models and theories: A critical analysis in the scope of the unitary-transformative perspective.

Occupational Health Nursing (OHN) has followed a complex path to build and strengthen its theoretical basis. Starting with Public Health core principles, theories were shaped by the dualism of person worker and working environment, where sometimes the centre of the thought was given to the latter and other times to the former. The problem was not much on such conflict but on the definition of the correct OHN focus and whether genuine nursing knowledge was being applied. We are worried that other disciplines radically influenced the theoretical path taken by OHN theorists. To approach this problem, a unitary-transformative perspective can help us describe and analyse this phenomenon and engage scholars to reflect upon the accurate epistemological focus of OHN. We aimed to deepen this reflection and uncover a new OHN theoretical focus.

Modal Analysis and Optimization of Fluid-Structure Coupling for Rotor and Inner Cylinder of Vertical Condensate Pump

Background: Low-frequency resonance is one of the common issues encountered during the variable-frequency operation of condensate water pumps. There have been numerous patents and papers proposing solutions to address the low-frequency resonance problem in condensate water pumps. However, the solutions for resonance problems often need to be tailored to specific circumstances. Methods: Based on the acoustic method, the dynamic model of the rotor and inner cylinder of Jiangsu Guohua Chenjiagang Power Plant 2B condensate pump is established to compare the difference between dry modal and fluid-structure coupling modal, the influence of perpendicularity, concentricity and bearing wear on the natural frequency of rotor is studied. Results: The rotor is rigid under normal conditions. When the bearing is worn, the frequency of the rotor will be greatly reduced and may fall into the frequency conversion operation range to excite resonance. The deviation of perpendicularity and concentricity will not directly lead to the decrease of rotor modal but will lead to the increase of bearing stress, aggravate bearing wear, and then affect the rotor modal. As the inner cylinder only relies on the fixed support at the top, the structure stiffness is low, which may lead to low-frequency resonance. By adding two support structures at the guide vane, the first-order modal frequency of the inner cylinder can be increased from 3.29 Hz to 28.88 Hz, effectively avoiding the operating frequency range of the system. Conclusion: This study can guide the optimization of similar pump structures.

Research on Typical Fault Diagnosis of Gear based on GHM Multiwavelet Transform and MCKD Algorithm

Background: Gear is the key part of the transmission part of mechanical equipment, which has a high failure rate under complex working conditions or long-term operation, directly affecting the reliability of mechanical equipment. To realize online monitoring of gears and predict gear faults, whether the diagnosis of typical gear faults is accurate and timely is a key link, so it is necessary to study the diagnosis of typical gear faults. Objective: This paper aims to propose a method that can effectively diagnose typical faults of gears and is easy to program, which is beneficial to realize online monitoring of rotating machinery equipment faults. Method: A typical gear fault diagnosis method based on GHM multiwavelet transform and maximum correlation kurtosis deconvolution algorithm (MCKD) is proposed in this paper. The measured vibration signal is decomposed into components with multiple scale spaces and frequency bands through the GHM multiwavelet transform. Then, the MCKD algorithm is run to suppress the noise of GHM multiwavelet transform coefficients, and the periodic components containing fault information are retained and reconstructed. The typical faults such as gear pitting and broken teeth are tested. Results: GHM multiwavelet transform combined with MCKD algorithm can accurately locate the frequency band containing fault information from the vibration signal with multiple modulations, double sideband, and multi-frequency interference and effectively extract the fault frequency and its frequency multiplication. The root means a square error of the extracted fault frequency is 0.08. This method has a good noise suppression effect and high accuracy in extracting fault frequency. Conclusion: The method proposed in this paper is helpful in realizing automatic programming of gear fault diagnosis and is of great significance in realizing real-time monitoring and online diagnosis of rotating machinery equipment faults. More related patents will appear in the future.

Pulp grade monitoring using binocular image through multi-scale feature cross-attention fusion network and saliency map constraint

Pulp grade is an important indicator for performance monitoring in froth flotation process. Previous studies have shown that the pulp grade can be predicted more accurately by using the stereo vision information of froth images. However, due to the low intra-class variation among froth images under the identical working conditions and the similarity in shape and texture among bubbles, it is challenging for current binocular image-based methods for grade prediction. Therefore, to accurately predict the key performance indicators in flotation process, a prediction model based on binocular image fusion is proposed in this paper. First, a calculation method of froth image saliency map is proposed, and the saliency map is used as a priori knowledge to guide the prediction model to learn the characteristics of the region of interest in the image. This measure aims to solve the problem of difficulty in grade prediction caused by low intra-class differences in froth images. Then, a multi-scale feature cross-attention fusion network is introduced, wherein the multi-scale features of the left and right views serve as attention mechanism gating signals to extract common feature from binocular image. After that, a pulp grade prediction model is developed based on Video Transformer Network. The results on actual industrial flotation datasets show that, compared with other pulp grade prediction methods, our proposed approach reduces the mean absolute error and root mean square error by 22.84% and 23.55%, respectively.

Ocular disorders and compliance to protective eyewear among quarry workers in Akamkpa local government area of cross river state, Nigeria

The quarry industry over time has played a pivotal role in the transformation of the physical environment but with attendant negative effects on workers. This study ascertained the pattern of work related ocular disorders and compliance to protective eye devices among quarry workers in Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State Nigeria. This descriptive cross sectional study employed the use of a structured interview followed by a comprehensive external examination of the eyes of the subjects by qualified eye care practitioners. Data generated was analysed using the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) version 25.0. Results were presented descriptively using tables and figures. The study took place in 8 quarry sites located in 4 communities randomly selected and involved 184 subjects randomly selected comprising of 140 (76.09%) males and 44 (23.91%) females. The age of the participants ranged from 18-60 years with a mean age of 32.03±2.23 (SD). The study revealed that predominant ocular symptoms experienced were blurry vision (31.5%), itchy eyes (27.94%), ocular irritation/ grittiness (15.55%), eye/ headaches (12.46%) and discharges (9.61%). The most common ocular surface anomalies observed were pterygium (41.80%), corneal scar/ ulceration (18.03%) and allergic conjunctivitis (16.39%), while the most frequent type of eye injuries reported were superficial foreign bodies, blunt trauma and superficial ocular abrasion accounting for 50.92%,30.06% and 11.04% respectively. Injuries due to quarrying activities were more common among labourers (41.10% and 29.45% among stone crushers and stone processors respectively), while workers with less than 5 years work experience reported more work related eye injury (74.85%) with broken stones (80.39%) accounting for most of the injuries. Similarly, a majority (94.7%) of the participants had knowledge of Personal Protective Eye Devices (PPEDs) only 26.44% had the appropriate PPEDs and just 30.43% of them complied regularly with their usage during work. There was a statistically significant association between work experience and the occurrence of work related ocular injuries (p&gt;0.001) but the use of PPEDs has no statistically significant association with the occurrence of eye injuries. The study concluded that workers at the Akamkpa quarry, Nigeria suffered various types of work related ocular anomalies and while a majority of them had prior knowledge of the benefits of PPEDs, the level of availability and utilization is relatively low and recommended health education and strict enforcement of safety regulations.

Development of Virtual Reality based Immersive Safety Training Content for Plant Industry

Development of Virtual Reality based Immersive Safety Training Content for Plant Industry

POST-PANDEMIC TRADE FAIR DYNAMICS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF EXHIBITORS' VIEWS ON DIGITAL AND HYBRID TRADE FAIRS

This study investigates evolving perceptions and preferences among exhibitors regarding trade fair formats, focusing on virtual, hybrid, and physical events. The aim is to understand how attitudes have shifted post-pandemic and the implications for future trade fair strategies. A longitudinal comparative analysis was conducted using survey data collected from exhibitors over two years. The analysis focused on evaluating perceptions of virtual, hybrid, and physical trade fairs, examining factors such as cost savings, technological barriers, health safety advantages, and interpersonal interactions. Findings indicate increasing recognition of cost and time-saving benefits in virtual formats. Despite technological improvements, challenges in interpersonal interactions persist. Interest in hybrid events is rising, but concerns exist about effectively combining physical and virtual advantages. Confidence in physical trade fairs is rebounding, especially among less COVID-affected exhibitors, suggesting a coexistence with virtual events rather than a complete replacement. Strategic flexibility is crucial to optimizing engagement across diverse preferences and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The findings underscore the need for trade fair organizers to adapt their strategies to accommodate hybrid models effectively. Future research should delve deeper into specific factors influencing exhibitor satisfaction and engagement in hybrid environments, informing ongoing adaptations to the evolving trade fair landscape.

Quality of life and psychological distress in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis and transplantation

BACKGROUND Among diverse profound impacts on patients’ quality of life (QoL), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) frequently results in increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Renal replacement therapies such as hemodialysis (HD) and transplantation (TX) are intended to enhance QoL, although their ability to alleviate psychological distress remains uncertain. This research posits the existence of a significant correlation between negative emotional states and QoL among ESRD patients, with varying effects observed in HD and TX patients. AIM To examine the relationship between QoL and negative emotional states (depression, anxiety, and stress) and predicted QoL in various end-stage renal replacement therapy patients with ESRD. METHODS This cross-sectional study included HD or TX patients in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. The 36-item Short Form Survey and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) was used for data collection, and correlation and regression analyses were performed. RESULTS The HD and TX transplantation groups showed statistically significant inverse relationships between QoL and DASS scores. HD patients with high anxiety levels and less education scored low on the physical component summary (PCS). In addition, the results of the mental component summary (MCS) were associated with reduced depression. Compared with older transplant patients, TX patients’ PCS scores were lower, and depression, stress, and negative working conditions were highly correlated with MCS scores. CONCLUSION The findings of this study revealed notable connections between well-being and mental turmoil experienced by individuals undergoing HD and TX. The PCS of HD patients is affected by heightened levels of anxiety and lower educational attainment, while the MCS of transplant patients is influenced by advancing age and elevated stress levels. These insights will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of patient support.

Employee training, safety and health care practices in manufacturing industry: Basis for employee holistic well-being framework in manufacturing firms

Employee training, safety and health care practices in manufacturing industry: Basis for employee holistic well-being framework in manufacturing firms

Evaluating the radioactivity and health risks in oil and gas production areas: insights from Titas Gas Field, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Conducting comprehensive studies of radioactivity and associated risk assessments in the oil and gas industry is crucial due to the potential accumulation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in production operations. This pioneering study investigates radioactivity levels in surface soil from the Titas Gas Field area in Bangladesh by a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector, a crucial resource of the nation’s energy infrastructure. In surface soil, the activity of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K varied from 18–41 Bq/kg, 28–62 Bq/kg, and 280–600 Bq/kg, respectively. Particularly, the levels of 232Th exceeded the global average value for soil. These elevated 232Th levels are likely attributed to a combination of natural geological processes of enriching thorium bearing minerals, geochemical processes favouring thorium retention and human activities selectively impacting these radionuclides. The estimated of radiological risk reveals that some indices exceed recommended limits, hence pose a concern for public health. The study recommends periodic monitoring, public awareness campaigns, remediation efforts, and long-term management strategies to protect environmental and public health. The findings of this research underscore the critical need to recognise and address radiological hazards associated with gas extraction activities to safeguard the health and safety of workers and nearby communities in Bangladesh.

Study on Oxygen-Enriched Combustion Characteristics of Blast Furnace Gas Boiler

ABSTRACT To study the dynamic characteristics of OEC (oxygen-enriched combustion) in a BFG (blast furnace gas) boiler, the BFG boiler of an iron and steel enterprise is taken as the research object, and a thermal test bed for OEC of BFG is set up, and a thermodynamic simulation model of the BFG boiler is constructed based on the heat loss of chemical incomplete combustion obtained from thermal test, using MSP (Multi-Subject Simulation Platform). The effects of OC (oxygen concentration) and the position of oxygen entering the furnace chamber on the key parameters of the OEC process of the BFG boiler under different working conditions were analyzed. The results showed that the excess air coefficient of 1.2 and exhaust temperature of 120°C was kept constant during the thermal test. With a fuel volume of 2.4 Nm3/h, for example, after the OC was increased from 21% to 40%, the combustion flame temperature in the furnace was increased by about 34°C, the heat loss due to unburned gas was reduced by 0.21%, and the boiler efficiency was increased by 1.38%. In the dynamic model, at the instant when the OC is changed, the disturbance of the whole system is relatively large, and the FAT (furnace average temperature) outlet, the pressure of the steam ladle, and the MST (main steam temperature) will have a step change, and then gradually level off again. With the increase of OC, the combustion reaction is more and more intense, the steam side of the heat transfer process is strengthened, the boiler efficiency is improved, and the FAT chamber outlet, the steam ladle pressure and the MST after OEC in different ways of oxygen entry into the furnace chamber will be longer and longer to reach a stable value. The results of the study can provide a reference for the OEC operation of BFG boilers.

The AUREX cell: a versatile operando electrochemical cell for studying catalytic materials using X-ray diffraction, total scattering and X-ray absorption spectroscopy under working conditions

The AUREX cell: a versatile <i>operando</i> electrochemical cell for studying catalytic materials using X-ray diffraction, total scattering and X-ray absorption spectroscopy under working conditions

Navigating suicidality: swedish social workers’ approaches to identifying and supporting suicidal clients

ABSTRACT This study examines how Swedish social workers across various social work agencies identify and support suicidal clients. Thematic analysis of interviews with seven social workers reveals a reliance on strong client relationships and past experiences with suicidal clients. The social workers consistently assess severity of suicidal intent in clients. Despite variations in roles, social workers generally express comfort in dealing with suicidal clients by using intuition, discretion and professional and organizational logics to support suicidal clients in personalized ways. The exercise of professional discretion and interventions varies based on roles, work conditions, and relationships with suicidal clients. Notably, social workers in addiction recovery outpatient care exhibit a high degree of discretionary power, while youth treatment workers in residential care units prioritize continuity of care, involving psychiatry when needed. Case workers often view psychiatry as responsible for decisions about suicidal clients and routinely refer them to psychiatric care.

Managing the impact of workplace trauma for Australian first responders: Harmonizing policy and practice

IMPACT Workers’ compensation costs are rising for first responder organizations, and mental health issues remain a serious concern for their employees. While advocates have long called for wellbeing programmes to address these challenges, this article evaluates the actual impact of such a programme. The authors explore the influence of team belongingness and a supportive work environment. While workplace trauma significantly affects the mental health of frontline workers, those who participated in the wellbeing programme and had strong team and organizational support reported lower psychological distress. The article highlights the importance of multi-level wellbeing interventions for the first responder workforce.

Green synthesis of Titanium dioxide nanoparticle using combination of plants and its antimicrobial study with their characterization

Abstract The characteristics and biological qualities of the nanomaterial rely heavily on how it was made. Green nanoparticle production has been developed to minimize pollution, cut expenses, and enhance safety for both human health and the environment by reducing metal ions using plant extracts as opposed to industrial chemical agents. The goal of the current work is to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles in an environmentally friendly manner by using an extract from the combined shells of Stone apples (Aegle marmelos) and Wood apples (Limonia acidissima). Titanium dioxide nanoparticle formation was verified using various characterization techniques. Well diffusion was used to measure the antimicrobial activity. The fungal strains that were employed were Aspergillus Niger, Candida Albicans, and Aspergillus Flavus. All fungul strains were successfully inhibited by both the crudely prepared extract and the biosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles; however, the biosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles exhibited a high zone of inhibition ranging from 25 to 30 mm, while the crudely prepared extract had a low zone of inhibition ranging from 13 to 19 mm. A moderately sized zone of inhibition was observed in both the crude produced extract and the biosynthesized Titanium dioxide nanoparticles at a dilution of 100 μg/ml. Lower dilutions demonstrated less noticeable inhibition. Overall, these results showed that treatment with biosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles significantly slowed the growth of many microorganisms.

Analysis of the “Star-Shaped” Safety Education and Training Mechanism in the Chemical Laboratory

Analysis of the “Star-Shaped” Safety Education and Training Mechanism in the Chemical Laboratory

Evaluating the Health Risks and Safety Protocols for Welders Exposed to Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Fumes: A Systematic Literature Review

Evaluating the Health Risks and Safety Protocols for Welders Exposed to Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Fumes: A Systematic Literature Review

Exploring stroke survivors’ and physiotherapists’ perspectives of the potential for markerless motion capture technology in community rehabilitation

IntroductionMany stroke survivors do not receive optimal levels of personalised therapy to support their recovery. Use of technology for stroke rehabilitation has increased in recent years to help minimise gaps in service provision. Markerless motion capture technology is currently being used for musculoskeletal and occupational health screening and could offer a means to provide personalised guidance to stroke survivors struggling to access rehabilitation.AimsThis study considered context, stakeholders, and key uncertainties surrounding the use of markerless motion capture technology in community stroke rehabilitation from the perspectives of stroke survivors and physiotherapists with a view to adapting an existing intervention in a new context.MethodsThree focus groups were conducted with eight stroke survivors and five therapists. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsFive themes were identified: limited access to community care; personal motivation; pandemic changed rehabilitation practice; perceptions of technology; and role of markerless technology for providing feedback.ConclusionsParticipants identified problems associated with the access of community stroke rehabilitation, exacerbated by Covid-19 restrictions. Participants were positive about the potential for the use of markerless motion capture technology to support personalised, effective stroke rehabilitation in the future, providing it is developed to meet stroke survivor specific needs.