Safety illusion and error trap in a collectively-operated machine accident

Workplace accidents involving machines are relevant for their magnitude and their impacts on worker health. Despite consolidated critical statements, explanation centered on errors of operators remains predominant with industry professionals, hampering preventive measures and the improvement of production-system reliability. Several initiatives were adopted by enforcement agencies in partnership with universities to stimulate production and diffusion of analysis methodologies with a systemic approach. Starting from one accident case that occurred with a worker who operated a brake-clutch type mechanical press, the article explores cognitive aspects and the existence of traps in the operation of this machine. It deals with a large-sized press that, despite being endowed with a light curtain in areas of access to the pressing zone, did not meet legal requirements. The safety devices gave rise to an illusion of safety, permitting activation of the machine when a worker was still found within the operational zone. Preventive interventions must stimulate the tailoring of systems to the characteristics of workers, minimizing the creation of traps and encouraging safety policies and practices that replace judgments of behaviors that participate in accidents by analyses of reasons that lead workers to act in that manner.

Repair Welding Effects on the Bending Fatigue Strength of AISI 4130 Aeronautical Steel used in a Critical to the Flight-Safety Structure

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of successive TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding repairs on the reverse bending fatigue strength of AISI 4130 steel, which is widely used in components critical to the flight-safety. In order to simulate the abrupt maneuvers, wind bursts, motor vibration and helixes efforts, which generate cyclic bending loadings at the welded joints of a specific aircraft component called motor cradle, experimental reverse bending fatigue tests were carried out on specimens made from hot-rolled steel plate, 1.10 mm (0.043 in) thick, by mean of a SCHENK PWS equipment, with load ratio R = -1, under constant amplitude, at 30 Hz frequency and room temperature. It was observed that the bending fatigue strength decreases after the TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding process application on AISI 4130 steel, with subsequent decrease due to re-welding sequence as well. Microstructural analyses and microhardness measurements on the base material, heat-affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal, as well as the effects of the weld bead geometry on the obtained results, have complemented this study.

Considerations about the welding repair effects on the structural integrity of an airframe critical to the flight-safety

Structures critical to the flight-safety are commonly submitted to several maintenance repairs at the welded joints in order to prolong the in-service life of aircrafts. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding repair on the structural integrity of the AISI 4130 aeronautical steel by means of experimental fatigue crack growth tests in base-material, heat-affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal. The tests were performed on hot-rolled steel plate specimens, 0.89 mm thick, with load ratio R = 0.1, constant amplitude, at 10 Hz frequency and room temperature. Increase of the fracture resistance was observed in the weld metal but decreasing in the HAZ after repair. The results were associated to microhardness and microstructural changes with the welding sequence. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Association between distressing non-work-related events and occupational injuries

The following is a report on a case-control study whose objective was to investigate the association between distressing non-work-related events and occupational injures. Ninety three injured workers (cases) were matched with 372 non-injured controls in a large metallurgical factory in southeastern Brazil. Exposure to distressing non-work-related events was measured through a questionnaire focusing on situations pertaining to personal problems unrelated to work activities. The data were analyzed by adjusting a conditional logistic regression model, where occurrence of the work injury was the dependent dichotomous variable and answers from the questionnaire were independent continuous variables. The analysis showed an association between some distressing non-work-related events and occupational injuries. These findings imply expanding the horizon of preventive measures used in targeting. work injuries which have traditionally been focused on the control of strictly workplace risks.

Circuit board accident - organizational dimension hidden by prescribed safety

This study analyzes an accident in which two maintenance workers suffered severe burns while replacing a circuit breaker panel in a steel mill, following model of analysis and prevention of accidents (MAPA) developed with the objective of enlarging the perimeter of interventions and contributing to deconstruction of blame attribution practices. The study was based on materials produced by a health service team in an in-depth analysis of the accident. The analysis shows that decisions related to system modernization were taken without considering their implications in maintenance scheduling and creating conflicts of priorities and of interests between production and safety; and also reveals that the lack of a systemic perspective in safety management was its principal failure. To explain the accident as merely non-fulfillment of idealized formal safety rules feeds practices of blame attribution supported by alibi norms and inhibits possible prevention. In contrast, accident analyses undertaken in worker health surveillance services show potential to reveal origins of these events incubated in the history of the system ignored in practices guided by the traditional paradigm.

Characterization of micro-bubble size distribution and flow configuration in DAF contact zone by a non-intrusive image analysis system and tracer tests

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Integrated biomarker responses as environmental status descriptors of a coastal zone (São Paulo, Brazil)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efficiency of safety measures applied to a manual knapsack sprayer for paraquat application to Maize (Zea mays L.)

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the safety of mixer/loaders and applicators of paraquat to maize crop by knapsack sprayers and to determine the efficacy of safety measures applied to the sprayers. Potential dermal exposure (PDE) was evaluated in 22 worker body parts. The Cu2+ cation of a copper-based fungicide was used as tracer in the spray solution. Sanitary pads and cotton gloves were used to collect the pesticide solution on the sampled body parts. It was observed that paraquat application in front of the applicator's body (0.5 and 1.0 m lance) is unsafe because PDE was 1,979.8 ml/day (for 0.5 m lance) and 1,290.4 ml/day (for 1.0 m lance) and needs 50-80% and 37-69% control of PDE respectively. Control can be achieved by the use of protective garment on the legs and feet only, which received 92-93% of the PDE. Switching the spray nozzle to the back of the operator reduced the PDE by 98% and was sufficient to make working conditions safe, while maintaining the efficiency of application and making the work lighter and more comfortable. Mixer/loaders received 86% of the PDE to the hands and the work condition was safe (MOS > 1), however impermeable gloves could be used as a further safety measure.

Occupational ergonomics: Work posture among Brazilian dental students

This study involved observational assessment of work posture in relation to recommended ergonomic posture the requirements necessary for ergonomic posture among students in the final year of a degree program at the School of Dentistry of Araraquara-UNESP/Brazil (n =73) and investigation of the association of work posture with sex, the type of procedure, four-handed dentistry, and the region of the mouth being treated. The work posture of the students during 250 clinical procedures was observed by means of pictures. Each procedure received a posture classification: Adequate, partially adequate, or inadequate. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted. The prevalence of final posture classification was calculated using 95% confidence intervals and point estimate. Associations of interest were studied using the chi-square test, with a 5% significance level. It was concluded that the prevalence of procedures performed with partially adequate posture was high, and that the final work posture classification was not associated with the variables of interest. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group.

Organizational safety climate and adherence to standard precautions among dentists

Objective: Check the perception of dentists about safety climate at work in relation to adherence to standard precautions.Methods: It is a quantitative, cross-sectional study conducted through the application of the Safety Climate Scale to a population of 224 dentists who worked in units of primary health care in six municipalities of Parana.Results: The total score of 3.43 (SD = 0.88) reveals that dentists have a poor perception of the incentives and organizational support for adopting standard precautions.Conclusion: Unsatisfactory safety climate, where the perception of dentists about safety in their work environment is deficient, demonstrating fragile management actions of support to safety, lack of a training program in occupational health and deficient feedback to favor the adoption of safe practices.

Caracterização microestrutural de uma estrutura tubular aeronáutica submetida a sucessivos reparos de solda TIG

This work examines the possible effects of successive repair procedures on the microstructure of welded steel SAE 4130 by TIG welding process. Discussions and results were made about the metallographic analysis , non-metallic inclusions and microhardness tests , which were conducted on samples taken from the cradle engine component after the end of its life , a model airplane T-27 Tucano , made by EMBRAER and belonging were performed FAB . The choice of such component is due to the fact that this is critical to flight safety since it provides support for the aircraft engine . Thus regions of the weld metal , base metal and heat affected , with samples of the original weld bead , free of weld bead and also with four rework procedures for TIG welding zone were analyzed . It was found that after the fourth rework there is an increase in the amount of martensite , which may weaken the material with respect to resistance to fatigue. It was also found that the regions of the heat affected zone and weld metal have higher microhardness values when compared to those found in the base metal due to favoring the formation of ferritic and tempered martensite microstructures . Moreover, a welding process promotes a region with less non-metallic inclusions than metal base , which also explains the difference in the results obtained

Does water level affect benthic macro-invertebrates of a marginal lake in a tropical river-reservoir transition zone?

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)