Search results

This paper aims to examine the influence of hip protective clothing on ensemble performance attributes related to thermal comfort. It also explores the effect on protective pads of various materials and the arrangements of material. The thermal comfort characteristics are thermal insulation and moisture vapour resistance.

For this research, four ensembles of clothing were used: one ensemble without hip protective clothing and three ensembles with hip protective clothing. A thermal manikin was used to test the thermal insulation and moisture vapour resistance of the ensembles.

The findings revealed that incorporating hip protective clothing into the clothing ensembles influenced the thermal resistance and moisture vapour resistance of the ensemble. In the “all zones group,” the influence of the hip protective clothing depended on clothing style, with hipster-style clothing producing insignificant changes. In the “hip zones group” and “stomach and hip zones group,” hip protective clothing strongly influenced the thermal comfort attributes of ensembles. Pad material and volume play important roles in these changes in thermal comfort attributes.

These outcomes are useful for the design and engineering of hip protective clothing, where maximizing protection while minimizing thermal and moisture vapour resistance is critical for wear comfort and adherence in warm or hot conditions. The designer should consider that material, volume and thickness of protective pad affect the overall thermal comfort attributes of the hip protective clothing.

In hot forging, a significant amount of forging force is used for overcoming frictional force at the die-billet interface. The high frictional force along with thermomechanical stress lead to wear, plastic deformation, mechanical fatigue and cracks, which reduce the service life of hot forging dies. Of all these different types of issues, wear is the predominant mode of failure in hot forging dies. This paper aims to describe mechanisms of wear transition in different loads at near forging temperature, occurring during sliding of chromium-based H11 tool steel specimens.

High temperature pin-on-disc tests are performed with pin specimens machined from bars of X38CrMoV5 steel, heat treated to surface hardness of 40-42 HRc. The disc is made of EN 31 steel with hardness of 60-62 HRc. Tests are performed at constant temperature of 500°C, and the normal load was varied from 20 to 70 N.

Scanning electron microscopy investigations on worn surface have revealed that wear is primarily due to abrasion and plastic deformation. The test results show an increasing trend in wear rate with increase in load up to 30 N, followed by a reversal in trend until 50 N. This transition in wear rate is caused by development of wear resistant layers, which are formed by compaction of wear debris particles on to the worn surfaces. These compact layers are found to be stable during load range from 40 and 50 N. However, with further increase in load, abrasive wear tracks are observed without any evidence of protective layers. As a result, there is an increase in wear rate with increase in loads above 50 N. In addition, plastic shearing was dominant over abrasive wear at this load regime.

The study on wear behaviour of H11 hot forging steel at 20 to 70 N will be an input to the research in hot forming industries.

People working in the hot environment are constantly exposed to the overheating, that can lead to cardiovascular disorders and as a consequence result in occupational diseases. The purpose of this paper is to present developed personal liquid cooling system that is able to efficiently draw excess heat from the human organism, protecting against thermal stress.

The paper presents study concerning the assessment of effect of the coolant temperature in the developed liquid cooling garment (LCG) on physiological parameters of the subjects (heart rate, body temperature, skin temperature) and parameters of the undergarment microclimate, as well as subjective sensations reported by volunteers exercising in hot microclimate while wearing LCG and without LCG.

Obtained results of physiological parameters measurements, as well as undergarment physical parameters and volunteers subjective sensations, proved satisfactory level of thermal stress reduction while working in the aluminized protective clothing in hot environment by the developed personal liquid cooling system for the variant with coolant temperature 19°C and the flow rate 0.9 dm3/min.

This paper presents a new clothing construction intended for LCG that can efficiently support human thermoregulation processes while working in the hot environment.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a general picture for describing the formed tribofilm, including chemical and physical aspects in the micro-scale and the nano-scale. In a previous study, the durability of zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) tribofilms on cylinder liner samples has been investigated in a tribometer model system by using fresh and aged fully formulated oils and replacing them with PAO8 without additives. Analyses of the derived tribofilms by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy could give some hints about the underlying mechanisms of the tribofilm build-up and wear performance, but a final model has not been achieved.

Thus, characterisation of these tribofilms by means of focused ion beam-transmission electron microscopy (FIB-TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy is presented and a concluding model of the underlying mechanisms of tribofilm build-up is discussed in this paper.

For tribotests running first with fresh fully formulated engine oil, a rather homogeneous ZDDP-like tribofilm is found underneath a carbon rich tribofilm after changing to non-additivated PAO8. However, when the tests run first with aged fully formulated engine oil, no ZDDP-like tribofilm has been found after changing to non-additivated PAO8, but a wear protective carbon rich tribofilm.

The obtained results provide insights into the structure and durability of tribofilms. Carbon-based tribofilms are built up on the basis of non-additivated PAO8 because of the previously present ZDDP tribofilms, which suggests an alternative way to reducing the consumption of antiwear additives.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of underwear on the microenvironment of human clothing.

Based on the basic laws of energy and mass conservation, the paper combined the theory of heat and mass transfer to establish the simulation of the influence of underwear on human thermal reaction in microclimate and prediction model of human thermal reaction law.

The impact on the microenvironment affected by tighter underwear is less than the effect of loose underwear and computational flow dynamics (CFD) can accurately predict the thermal reaction parameters’ values of the human body.

It can be effectively used for the prediction of heat exchange between human body and environment in high-temperature environment and human thermophysiological parameters, and overcomes the individual differences of human experiments and the danger and repeatability of high-temperature environmental experiments.

When the issues surrounding corporate social responsibilities (CSR) are discussed, who or what organisation should be considered as the key player in CSR? Is it the service provider or a consumer on the socio-economic market that qualifies as a key player? One might be quick to suggest that traditionally service providers are supposed to play CSR roles. To think of the topic critically not only is a service provider that is required to play CSR roles but that the consumer is equally deemed to play a commendable role. Others may argue that such a suggestion is conclusive to mean that a banana vendor is supposed to follow his customers/consumer in question so that they do not throw the banana peels hazardously and affect the environment negatively.

The consumer, just like the vendor/service provider, ought to have discipline and principles as to how he or she utilises products around rather than blame the opposite on wrongly providing a service from which many are benefiting from.

The debate above suggests that consumers of products have their roles to play as regards CSR so that those that provide them with a socio-economic service can continue to do so and that relations between a consumer and a service provider are mutual and sustainable.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) industries in developing Africa use manual power to produce the desired consumables and because no technology is involved their products are reasonable and affordable. However, the manual power is applied at a risk and at the expense of the service providers’ health. Is there any consciousness of the situation at hand by the consumer? The specific local SME industries to be discussed are quarry stone crashing, charcoal making and cement industry outlets leading to a debate on whether consumers just like service providers need to work together to ensure that the local SME industries cited are recognised for sustainable development purposes.

The use of shoulder protectors is strongly recommended when carrying objects on the shoulder to ensure the health and safety of workers. Thus, this study aimed to develop and verify an ergonomic shoulder protector that considers human body shape and carrying posture from an ergonomic perspective. Ultimately, this study will present a shoulder protector with enhanced fit and safety for carrying workers at construction sites.

The shoulder protector was designed and printed using three-dimensional printing technology with variable side neck points and shoulder point heights to reflect the human body's shoulder line shape and to position the carried object stably on the shoulder. The developed shoulder protectors were evaluated in terms of their fit according to the work posture of the carrier, adherence upon motion and durability through structural analysis.

The design of the shoulder protector for carrying workers followed the shoulder line. It is best placed above the side neck point by 1.0 cm and above the shoulder point by 2.0 cm. Its length is slightly shorter than the human shoulder for superior fit and safety.

The final shoulder protector (FSP) for carrying workers reflects the body curvature while enhancing fit and safety by considering activity and protective factors. As functional studies and evaluations on the need for protectors are scarce, this study provides fundamental data in the evaluation of protective gears.

Defines the purpose of this research as to design a coverall for fire fighting, with special emphasis on sizing and fit to maximize wearer comfort and mobility, as well as incorporate design features which would improve the functionality of the garment. Uses a structured functional apparel design approach to develop garment specifications and an interaction matrix. Using a literature review, user input, and market survey, details the development of a prototype fire fighting coverall. Evaluates the prototype coverall using objective measurements of range of motion for ten selected body movements and subjectively by having wearers fill out a wearer acceptability scale to determine their perceptions of fit and comfort in both their current and prototype coveralls. Results show that for all measurements, the prototype coveralls were preferable to the current coveralls worn, indicating the potential for further development of this design.

Farmers' exposure to pesticides is high in developing countries. As a result many farmers suffer from ill‐health, both short and long term. Deaths are not uncommon. Seeks to address this issue.

Field survey data from Sri Lanka are used to estimate farmers' expenditure on defensive behaviour (DE) and to determine factors that influence DE. The avertive behaviour approach is used to estimate the costs. Tobit regression analysis is used to determine factors that influence DE.

Field survey data show that farmers' expenditures on DE are low. This is inversely related to high incidence of ill health among farmers using pesticides.

The results of this study are useful, not only for Sri Lanka, but also for many countries in South Asia, Africa and Latin America in reducing the current high levels of direct exposure to pesticides among farmers and farm workers using hand sprayers. Farmers' exposure to pesticides is a major occupational health hazard in these countries.

Food-borne diseases can be prevented with the knowledge of food safety. Food-related infirmity, especially in developing economy perspective such as Iraq can be addressed effectively with adequate food safety knowledge. So, this study aims to analyse the food safety knowledge of Iraqi students studying in food science programs.

Four aspects of food safety, namely, the food poisoning, personal hygiene, temperature control and cross contamination and cleaning were considered to understand the food safety knowledge of Iraqi students. A survey of 105 Iraqi food technology students was conducted to know their food safety knowledge. A structured questionnaire was made involving multiple choice scales. Among the alternatives, one alternative was right and all other alternatives were wrong. Respondents were asked to pick the correct answer amongst the given alternatives. Correct answer given by the respondent was considered a measure of food safety knowledge.

Findings of the study revealed that students had insufficient knowledge about various dimensions of food safety. Students had knowledge about the food poisoning (p < 0.001) Students had partial understanding about personal hygiene wherein they had knowledge about handwashing practices (p < 0.001) and food-handling practices (p < 0.001). Respondents had knowledge about role of freezing in bacterial growth (p < 0.001). Students only had knowledge about separation of cooked and uncooked food (p < 0.001), indicating partial understanding about cross contamination and cleanliness. Both age and gender of the student did not have relationship with their food safety knowledge. The results implied that instructors and tutors should stress upon the socio-cultural facets to facilitate the food safety knowledge. Educators should also emphasize upon the application and laboratory demonstration of food safety knowledge rather than over-emphasizing the theoretical part.

The present study suffers from multiple limitations demanding specific mention. The study undertook a quantitative methodology and made use of a close-ended questionnaire. As generally the quantitative studies include the self-reported actions or behaviours of the selected respondents, the present study also offers its results on the basis of self-reported behaviour of the students. It might be possible to observe the difference between the stated and actual behaviour of the food technology students. Other researchers might use an observational study to obtain more genuine results.

It is important to study food technology students regarding their food safety knowledge due to their projected future roles, as students are stipulated to perform the role of managers, food handlers, trainers, experts and caterers in the future in food industry. These students are more likely to influence the food safety orientations of society at large than the those belonging to other educational programs. Hence, this study offered a review of food safety knowledge of food technology students.