Working Conditions Research Articles

An integrated Fine-Kinney risk assessment model utilizing Fermatean fuzzy AHP-WASPAS for occupational hazards in the aquaculture sector

The multidisciplinary field of occupational health and safety (OHS) aims to identify, assess, and mitigating hazards that arise in the workplace or due to the execution of the work. The Fine-Kinney method is a quantitative risk assessment widely applied in many industries to identify, evaluate and prevent potential hazards. Despite the widespread usage of the classic Fine-Kinney approach in several research, its effectiveness in addressing the issue of objective risk appraisal among decision-makers is limited. Therefore, this study proposes a comprehensive occupational risk assessment framework that integrates the Fine-Kinney method with the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) under the Fermatean fuzzy environment. The Fermatean fuzzy set (FFS) offers a more flexible solution in determining the uncertainty and vagueness of information, as it covers membership and non-membership degrees in a wider area compared to intuitionistic and Pythagorean fuzzy sets. The AHP approach is used to calculate the weightage of each each Fine-Kinney risk parameter (probability (P), exposure (E), and consequence (C)), and WASPAS method is used to find the ranking of the hazards. In the proposed model, Fermatean fuzzy weighted geometric (FFWG) operator is used for aggregation of expert opinions. Finally, sensitivity and comparative analyses are also performed to further highlight the adaptability and efficiency of the proposed occupational health and safety risk assessment (OHSRA) model, and a case study analyzing occupational hazards for aquaculture operations is presented to demonstrate the model's rationality and feasibility.

Characteristics and health impacts of bioaerosols in animal barns: A comprehensive study

Bioaerosols produced during animal production have potential adverse effects on the health of workers and animals. Our objective was to investigate characteristics, antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs), and health risks of bioaerosols in various animal barns. Poultry and swine barns had high concentrations of airborne bacteria (11156 and 10917 CFU/m3, respectively). Acinetobacter, Clostridium sensu stricto, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus were dominant pathogenic bacteria in animal barns, with Firmicutes being the most abundant bacterial phylum. Based on linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), there were more discriminative biomarkers in cattle barns than in poultry or swine barns, although the latter had the highest abundance of bacterial pathogens and high abundances of ARGs (including tetM, tetO, tetQ, tetW sul1, sul2, ermA, ermB) and intI1). Based on network analyses, there were higher co-occurrence patterns between bacteria and ARGs in bioaerosol from swine barns. Furthermore, in these barns, relative abundance of bacteria in bioaerosol samples was greatly affected by environmental factors, mainly temperature, relative humidity, and concentrations of CO2, NH3, and PM2.5. This study provided novel data regarding airborne bio-contaminants in animal enclosures and an impetus to improve management to reduce potential health impacts on humans and animals.

Evolution of work conditions for employees driving for work in France based on data from the 2003, 2010 and 2017 SUMER surveys (Surveillance Médicale des expositions aux risques Professionnels)

IntroductionThe occupational road-accident risk on public roads and the work conditions for professional driving is still an important issue in occupational health despite lower road-accident rates. This study presents the evolution over time of the work-related constraints for these employees based on the Sumer surveys carried out in 2003, 2010 and 2017. MethodData from the 2010 and 2017 surveys were restricted to match the scope of the 2003 survey in order to enable prevalence data to be compared in equivalent populations. The main variable of interest was “driving (car, truck, bus, and other vehicles) on public thoroughfares” for work (during the last week of work: yes/no). Work time characteristics, work rhythm, autonomy and scope for initiative, collective work group, standards and evaluations variables were completed by the occupational health physicians. A self-administered questionnaire was also provided to employees and contained the Job Content Questionnaire, which assesses decision latitude, social support and psychological demands, the reward scale of Siegrist questionnaire, the hostile behaviour with inspired questions for Leymann, sick leave and work accidents during the past 12 months and job satisfaction. Finally, prevention in the workplace was also completed by the occupational health physicians. ResultsAbout 25% of employees in France were exposed to work-related driving in 2017, which was stable in comparison with 2003 and 2010. However, the population was older and there were more females, more often from the clerical staff/middle manager category and working in companies with fewer than 10 employees. Employees exposed to work-related driving were also more frequently exposed to sustained work schedules and physical constraints, but less exposed to psychosocial risks. ConclusionsThe percentage of employees exposed to occupational road accident risk, i.e., exposure to work-related driving, remained stable at about 25% in 2017 compared with previous surveys. These employees were also more frequently exposed to sustained work schedules and physical constraints, but less exposed to psychosocial risks. Practical ApplicationsPrevention campaigns on work-related road accident risk should be provided to all employees in all companies since all jobs can be concerned.

Media coverage of the impact of the war on gender segregation in the Ukrainian labor market

The article aims to outline the trends of gender professional segregation occurring in Ukraine during the military conflict. Materials and Methods. The research was carried out with the use of qualitative methods. A content analysis was chosen for this study. The material consists of online textual publications, which include interviews with managers, specialists, and employees of the State Employment Center. It also includes interviews in which women residing on the territory of Ukraine share their experiences of employment and work during the war. Results and Discussion. In Ukraine today, two factors operate in parallel. On the one hand, there is an urgent need to fill vacancies in professions that have traditionally been dominated by men. On the other hand, the financial situation of women is on the decline. Women are forced to rethink their gender identity in the family and in society because of financial difficulties and their inability to guarantee a minimum of financial stability for themselves and their families. This leads them to be willing to accept jobs with working conditions that are particularly harmful and difficult. Employment opportunities for women are increasing due to differentiated demand, which contributes to the reduction of horizontal gender segregation. One factor that impedes this process is the demand for professions traditionally considered women’s domains, which do not require basic skills, and for which demand increased during the war. These professions are mainly related to manufacturing and working specialties. Given that educated and skilled women occupy blue-collar jobs, we can expect vertical segregation to intensify during wartime, when gender differences are manifested in positions and roles with differing status or potential for advancement. In the area of state gender policy, Ukraine has business development initiatives that reduce the gender gap in women’s access to assets and capital to invest in profitable entrepreneurial industries. However, these initiatives only involve a limited number of women and cannot be associated with radical gender changes in society. At the same time, the positive aspects of reducing horizontal gender segregation observed in Ukraine during wartime may be negated by the lack of or insufficient incentives for the development of preschool education. Thus, there are few effective levers to overcome gender segregation in Ukraine in the short and medium term. Achieving gender equality in the labor market is practically declaratory. Conclusions. In the context of the wartime crisis, gender segregation is a significant issue with negative consequences. A market specifically for women’s labor is emerging, and the social status of women’s work is declining compared to pre-war times. This situation may reinforce societal stereotypes that view men as more suitable for leadership positions, potentially decreasing women’s motivation and career aspirations.

Direct Support Professionals: Diversity, Disparities, and Deepening Crisis.

In the United States, direct support professionals (DSPs) support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) so they can live in the community. Thirty years of deinstitutionalization and the development of community living options would not have been possible without DSPs. Although life for people with IDD improved greatly, working conditions, wages/benefits, demands, stress/burnout, and trauma experienced by DSPs have worsened. Turnover and vacancy rates threaten the availability of community supports for too many people with IDD. DSPs from diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds face significant workplace disparities. These issues were discussed during the Research and Training Center on Community Living's 2022 State of the Science Conference. We propose important research questions needing solutions to continue constructively addressing these critical issues.

Improving industrial security device detection with convolutional neural networks

<p>Employee safety is paramount in the manufacturing industry to ensure their well-being and protection. Technological advancements, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNN), have significantly enhanced this safety aspect by facilitating object detection and recognition. This project aims to utilize CNN technology to detect personal protective equipment and implement a safety implement detection system. The CNN architecture with the YOLOv5x model was employed to train a dataset. Dataset videos were converted into frames, with resolution scale adjustments made during the data collection phase. Subsequently, the dataset was labeled, underwent data cleaning, and label and bounding box revisions. The results revealed significant metrics in safety equipment detection in industrial settings. Helmet precision reached 91%, with a recall of 74%. Goggles achieved 85% precision and an 87% recall. Mask absence recorded 92% precision and an 89% recall. The YOLOv5x model exhibited commendable performance, showcasing its robust ability to accurately locate and detect objects. In conclusion, the utilization of a CNN-based safety equipment detection system, such as YOLOv5x, has yielded substantial improvements in both speed and accuracy. These findings lay a solid foundation for future industrial security applications aimed at safeguarding workers, fostering responsible workplace behavior, and optimizing the utilization of information technology resources.</p>

Monitoring Environment Safety Control Automation for Coalmine based on WSN-IoT

Miners' safety is indeed a critical issue, encompassing various challenges that put their health and lives at risk. Mining processes often emit hazardous and toxic fumes, posing serious risks to the health and safety of workers involved in these operations. This issue places significant strain on the mining industry, as it must continually work to mitigate these risks and ensure the well-being of its workforce. The research focuses on detecting temperature, fire, and harmful gases in coal mines using sensors in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) module. The detected data is then transmitted through a serial interface and sent to the corresponding location through the IoT cloud using Zigbee. The device provides an early warning system that assists miners in saving their lives before any fatalities occur. This is achieved through the establishment of a wireless sensor network using IoT technology. The proteus tool is used for designing the proposed work.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic among healthcare workers at the grassroots level in Vietnam

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, an immediate priority is to monitor rates of mental health issues to understand related factors and inform interventions. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychological and mental health impact of COVID-19 and some related factors among HCWs at the grassroots level in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 675 HCWs working at health facilities through questionnaires. The finding showed the rate of HCWs who were psychologically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was 37.2%, of which 64.1% of HCWs were afraid to tell their families about the risk of exposure to COVID-19 at work. The 31.0% of HCWs had difficulty sleeping deeply/insomnia due to the COVID-19 epidemic. No statistically significant differences were found in the psychological impact of COVID-19 between HCW groups by age, gender, seniority, and professional qualifications. Some groups of HCWs were found to have poor psychological health. Our research suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs working in healthcare facilities experienced an increased psychological burden; psychological interventions for those at high risk and with common mental disorders should be included to reduce this burden and protect HCWs' mental health.

Organisational conditions for safety management practice in homecare and nursing homes, pre-pandemic and in pandemic

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic was a major challenge for health care and eldercare service all over the world, regarding prevention of spread of contagion to both the elderly and care workers. This study used a mix method design, aiming to identify important conditions for Occupational Health and Safety Management (OHSM) in practice in home care and nursing homes, in general and regarding the prevention of spread of contagion. The result show how conditions for OHSM differed according to eldercare setting and had stronger importance in homecare, both pre-pandemic and in pandemic. Routines and standardized procedures of OHSM was introduced and improved during the pandemic. The routines and standardized procedures had importance for OHSM and COVID-specific OHSM, especially in homecare (r2: 0,86) but also in nursing homes (r2: 0,39). Team communication of risks, work adjustments and equality climate were also of importance. The OHSM work in homecare was understood as Rooms for re-constructing standardized guidelines to un-standardized settings. The practice of safety work was formed by room for elders’ independent decisions of forming their homes and by room for groupthink shaped by employees’ earlier knowledge experiences and norms. Supportive conditions with equal climate, explicable routines, visual instructions and reflections of OHSM have stronger importance where work environments are unstandardized and work and organizational conditions underdeveloped (i.e. homecare). To better bridge the gap between work as imagine and done in unstandardized contexts, conditions in general and specifically the opportunities to reflect and adapt routines together need to be improved.

Teamwork self-efficacy and employee satisfaction: a sequential framework to build employee cohesion

The occupational psychological health of the employees is affected by the behavior of their peers in the workplace. To reduce psychological stress and improve the well-being of employees, organizations are focusing on developing coherence through various human resources practices. In the current business scenario, it is crucial to address psychological stress by building employee cohesion. The aim of this study is to analyze how employees’ teamwork self-efficacy influences group cohesion through employee satisfaction. This study followed a quantitative approach to test the data, which comprises 228 information technology (IT) professionals, working in top IT companies in India. This study used a partial least squares structural equation modeling approach to test the hypothesis. The results revealed that employees’ teamwork self-efficacy is not directly influencing employee cohesion, whereas it has a significant positive influence on an employee’s cohesion only with the mediation effect of an employee’s satisfaction. Predominantly, an employee’s extrinsic satisfaction has a greater influence on the aforesaid relationship than an employee’s intrinsic satisfaction. The results of this study suggest human resources development practitioners place more emphasis on delivering motivational benefits and providing collaboration-oriented interventions that strengthen teamwork self-efficacy, since these factors may directly affect employee cohesion given that a large portion of the respondents were young adults.

Study on the estradiol degradation gene expression and resistance mechanism of Rhodococcus R-001 under low-temperature stress

Estradiol (E2), an endocrine disruptor, acts by mimicking or interfering with the normal physiological functions of natural hormones within organisms, leading to issues such as endocrine system disruption. Notably, seasonal fluctuations in environmental temperature may influence the degradation speed of estradiol (E2) in the natural environment , intensifying its potential health and ecological risks. Therefore, this study aims to explore how bacteria can degrade E2 under low-temperature conditions, unveiling their resistance mechanisms, with the goal of developing new strategies to mitigate the threat of E2 to health and ecological safety. In this paper, we found that Rhodococcus equi DSSKP-R-001 (R-001) can efficiently degrade E2 at 30°C and 10°C. Six genes in R-001 were shown to be involved in E2 degradation by heterologous expression at 30°C. Among them, 17β-HSD, KstD2, and KstD3, were also involved in E2 degradation at 10°C; KstD was not previously known to degrade E2. RNA-seq was used to characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to explore the stress response of R-001 to low-temperature environments to elucidate the strain’s adaptation mechanism. At the low temperature, R-001 cells changed from a round spherical shape to a long rod or irregular shape with elevated unsaturated fatty acids and were consistent with the corresponding genetic changes. Many differentially expressed genes linked to the cold stress response were observed. R-001 was found to upregulate genes encoding cold shock proteins, fatty acid metabolism proteins, the ABC transport system, DNA damage repair, energy metabolism and transcriptional regulators. In this study, we demonstrated six E2 degradation genes in R-001 and found for the first time that E2 degradation genes have different expression characteristics at 30°C and 10°C. Linking R-001 to cold acclimation provides new insights and a mechanistic basis for the simultaneous degradation of E2 under cold stress in Rhodococcus adaptation.

Study of spatiotemporal evolution of coupled airflow–gas–dust multi-field diffusion at low-gas tunnel

The increasing level of mechanization in coal mining means more dust and gas are generated during excavation operations in tunnels. The high concentrations of dust and gas severely affect production efficiency and the physical and mental health of workers. Here, Ansys Fluent simulations were performed to derive the spatiotemporal evolution of coupled airflow–dust–gas diffusion in a low-gas excavation face. The aim was to optimize pollution control by determining the optimal duct distance, L, from the working face in the excavation tunnel. Our results showed that the airflow field affects the coupled diffusion and transport of dust and gas. According to a comparison of the effects of different duct distances from the working face, when L = 6 m, the average dust concentration in the tunnel is low (257.6 mg/m3), and the average gas concentration in the tunnel is 0.28 %, which does not exceed the safety limit. Accordingly, the optimal distance of the duct for pollution control is 6 m. The results of field measurements supported the validity of the simulation. Our findings can be used to improve the air quality in tunnels, thereby keeping miners safe and the working area clean.

Comparative studies on microstructural characteristics and wear behavior of high-speed and low-speed laser cladding graphene/CoCrFeMo0.5NiTi0.5 high-entropy alloy composite layers

To prevent the failure of curved parts due to wear under actual working conditions, a graphene/CoCrFeMo0.5NiTi0.5 high-entropy alloy composite coating was prepared on the surface of a curved part using both high-speed and low-speed laser cladding (LLC). The surface morphology, physical phases, elemental distribution, microstructure, microhardness, and wear behavior of this coating applied via high-speed and LLC were comparatively studied. The results showed that the maximum height difference on the surface of the high-speed laser cladding (HLC) layer was only 44.7% of that of the LLC layer, and the surface powder was more completely melted. The average microhardness of the HLC layer was about 1.49 times higher than that of the LLC layer and showed a maximum hardness of 666.38 HV0.5, which was about 2.95 times higher than that of the substrate. The internal microstructure of the HLC layer was finer and the diffusion of Fe atoms from the substrate into the coating was significantly reduced. In all three wear environments, abrasive wear occurred in both the low-speed and HLC layers. The total wear rate of the LLC layer was 230.588 μm3·N-1·mm-1, which was about 3.06 times higher than that of the HLC layer (75.395 μm3·N-1·mm-1). The wear surfaces of both cladding layers were oxidized, and the wear rate increased with the oxygen content on the wear surfaces under the same wear conditions. Meanwhile, the oxygen content of the wear surfaces of both cladding layers in sodium chloride solution was significantly higher than that during dry wear.

Analysis of converter transformer pressboard insulation degradation under surge using mathematical morphology

Nowadays, with the significant expansion of industrial growth, the bulk power requirement can only be satisfied through high-voltage direct current HVDC transmission. The converter transformer is the utmost vital part of the HVDC transmission. Pressboard insulation is most commonly used as inter-disc insulation in converter transformers. During working conditions due to elevated temperature and different operational stresses, insulation material gets deteriorated. It may cause a risk to the life of the converter transformer. The effects of elevated temperatures as well as frequency on pressboard insulation of the converter transformer are examined in this study. The condition evaluation and morphological changes in pressboard insulation at elevated temperatures can evaluate with the help of frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The impact of elevated temperatures on insulation material can be analyzed based on surface roughness and dielectric parameters. In MATLAB Simulink environment, a dual winding single-phase converter transformers valve side star winding 60 discs model is constructed for impulse test. Based upon arrival time and velocity of traveling wave, insulation degradation location can be identified by using mathematical morphology. The simulation results demonstrate that the suggested method can notably located degradation across disc winding.

Vascular Surgery Cases Disproportionately Jeopardize Trainee Safety

Vascular Surgery Cases Disproportionately Jeopardize Trainee Safety

Literature review: Work music in reducing work stress

High productivity allows companies to produce goods and services at lower costs, so they can offer more competitive prices in the market. Productivity may experience a decline which can have a negative impact on organizational performance. Decreased productivity can be caused by prolonged work stress. This research aims to analyze the role of work music in reducing work stress. This research was carried out using the method literature review by determining inclusion and exclusion criteria using PICOS (Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study design) from 7 articles that met the eligibility criteria, then data extraction was carried out by evaluating work music in reducing work stress. Based on the results of a systematic review conducted, it shows that the occupational safety and health program in the form of providing work music is able to increase worker productivity found in various types of work so that it can optimally increase the profits of the employing agency.

A Comparative Analysis of Support Vector Machine and Decision Tree Algorithm for Predicting Fault in Uninterruptible Power Supply Systems

Power supply systems can have problems, and Ghana Gas Limited is not an exception. Ghana Gas Limited uses an intricate Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system which is made up of several parts such as electromechanical components, PCB boards, and electrolytic capacitors. The majority of components have technical lifespans that are governed by usage, operational environment, and working conditions, such as electrical stress, working hours, and working cycles. Most of the time, these errors affect the integrity and power supply after manufacture. The issue is that it takes longer for the professionals who operate on this machine to recognize these flaws, which makes it difficult for them to predict errors quickly or anticipate the likelihood of faults happening in the system components at an early stage for effective corrective action to be performed. Support vector machines (SVM) and decision trees were used in this study to anticipate faults for technical data scheduling of uninterruptible power supply systems for Ghana Gas Limited in an efficient manner. Based on a comparative analysis using these two techniques, faults in Ghana Gas Limited's power supply system were predicted using a four-hour daily interval dataset on UPS recordings, including input voltage, battery voltage, battery current, and alarm, spanning from August 2017 to October 2023. The findings depicted that the support vector machine was more efficient in detecting the fault locations in the power supply system with an accuracy of 96.80%, recall of 99.80%, precision of 100 %, F1-score of 93.15%. The results from the error metrics also validate the measures in assessing the predictive ability of the model with MAE of 0.42%, MSE of 1.18%, RMSE of 4.45%, R2 of 99.97%, RMSLE of 0.036%, and MAPE of 0.21%.

Role of participation committee in developing workplace condition, safety and welfare services in Ready-Made Garment Industry of Bangladesh

An abstract is a summary of entire paper should be written in Cambria with font size- 10. The Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh plays a crucial role in the country's economy. Nonetheless, it frequently encounters challenges concerning workplace conditions, safety standards, and welfare services. This study investigates the participation committee's (PC) role in ensuring sustainable working conditions, workplace safety, and welfare within Bangladesh's RMG industry. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study conducted interviews with 30 respondents using semi-structured questions and employed a convenient sampling technique to select participants. The findings reveal that the participation committee has notably enhanced workplace safety in the RMG industry. Through active involvement, the committee has fostered improved communication between management and employees, leading to better working conditions, the eradication of labor rights neglect, and strengthened enforcement of national employment and labor regulations. The paper concludes by stressing the necessity for collaborative efforts involving stakeholders at various levels to consistently enhance workplace conditions, safety standards, and welfare services in Bangladesh's Ready-Made Garment industry. Originality in a study on participation committees in Bangladesh's ready-to-garment industry lies in presenting innovative approaches, methods, or insights, addressing literature gaps, or exploring uncharted territories, thus enhancing welfare services and workplace health and safety.

Fire emergency response system at PT X based on International Safety Rating System (ISRS)

Fire is the unwanted occurrence of fire. Preparedness in the face of catastrophic fire events is part of the Occupational Safety and Health (K3) standards that must be implemented in the company. PT X is a company engaged in concrete manufacturing. In the production process, many potential hazards, such as fires, can cause losses. This research aims to study the fire emergency response system at PT X. The method used is descriptive research, with data collection done cross-sectionally. The analysis was carried out descriptively by clearly and thoroughly describing the condition of the object of study and comparing it with the applicable regulatory standards. The results showed that PT X had implemented a fire emergency response system and efforts to prevent and overcome fire hazards. PT X's efforts include forming a firefighting team providing fire hazard management facilities such as fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, evacuation stretchers, and other infrastructure facilities. PT X has conducted fire emergency response and first-aider training for employees and workers. This research concludes that PT X has implemented an emergency response system well and refers to the International Safety Rating System.

Daily planning conversations and AI: Keys for improving construction culture, engagement, planning, and safety.

The construction industry is known for its inherent risks, contributing to ~170,000 workplace injuries and illnesses annually in the United States. Engaging in prejob safety discussions presents a crucial chance to safeguard workers by proactively recognizing hazards and ensuring that crews are well-oriented with safety protocols before commencing work each day. However, research shows prejob meetings are often conducted hastily without the depth required to fully uncover risks. This study examines the characteristics that distinguish high-impact, high-quality prejob safety conversations from lower- quality counterparts. Strategies are provided for improving engagement, psychological safety, hazard analysis, accountability, and leadership support to transform safety talks into dynamic interactions that empower employees to operate safely. Additionally, this study reviews leading-edge artificial intelligence techniques, enabling construction firms to capture, analyze, and optimize their daily planning conversations at scale to drive safety excellence. Implementing the evidence-based strategies discussed allows organizations to realize the immense potential of prejob conversations for preventing injuries and fatalities.