Examining the effectiveness of anti-vibration gloves with a neural network.

Whether anti-vibration gloves are effective in protecting against vibrations depends not only on the materials they are made of, but also on the parameters of the source of vibration. Depending on those parameters, the effectiveness of the same means of protection may be radically different. This article presents a methodology of using a neural network to test anti-vibration gloves.

A survey of work-related skin diseases in different occupations in Poland.

Occupational skin disorders, in particular inflammations, dryness and erythema, in 80% of cases affect the skin of hands. The most frequent diagnosis, in over 90% of cases of occupational skin diseases, points to an irritant or allergic contact dermatitis. Our aim was to study the prevalence of self-reported skin symptoms on hands and forearms in different populations.

Prevalence of chronic venous disorders among employees working in prolonged sitting and standing postures.

Research was conducted to determine the prevalence and severity of chronic venous disorders (CVD) among people working in prolonged sitting or static standing postures. Clinical examination and duplex Doppler sonography were performed on 126 employees working in a sitting (96 individuals) or a standing posture (30 individuals). Evidence of CVD was found in 59.

Physical capacity of occupationally active population and capability to perform physical work.

The aim of this study was to determine what proportion of occupationally active Poles have working capacity that enables them to tolerate hard and very hard physical work. For this purpose physical capacity of 1188 occupationally active subjects (524 women and 664 men), aged 18-64 years was examined. Their maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was determined indirectly on the basis of their heart rate during an incremental exercise test on a bicycle ergometer.

Bacterial and fungal aerosols in air-conditioned office buildings in Warsaw, Poland--the winter season.

The microbial quality of the working environment was assessed in winter in air-conditioned office buildings in Warsaw. The average indoor concentrations of bacterial and fungal aerosols were low (<10³ cfu·m⁻³), below Polish proposals for threshold limit values in public service buildings. Even during cold months, if the air-conditioning system works properly, people remain the main source of bacterial aerosol in offices, whereas infiltration of outdoor air remains a major mechanism responsible for their fungal contamination.

The influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in users of portable computers.

Introduction: Portable computers are becoming an increasingly common main work tool; however, they are not properly adapted to the workstation. Musculoskeletal complaints are a very frequent complaint reported by workers who use computers in their work. AIM.

The use of tacit knowledge in occupational safety and health management systems.

A systematic approach to occupational safety and health (OSH) management and concepts of knowledge management (KM) have developed independently since the 1990s. Most KM models assume a division of knowledge into explicit and tacit. The role of tacit knowledge is stressed as necessary for higher performance in an enterprise.

Aspects of tests and assessment of filtering materials used for respiratory protection against bioaerosols. Part II: sweat in the environment, microorganisms in the form of a bioaerosol.

The second part of the article presents the results of a study of antimicrobial activity of filter nonwovens with an addition of biocides, as a function of the presence of sweat in the environment and the method of microbe deposition on a nonwoven in the form of a liquid and a bioaerosol. At the same time, the filtration efficiency of nonwovens against microorganisms in the form of a bioaerosol was tested with the dynamic method. The results showed that the addition of sweat on the surface of a nonwoven resulted in an insignificant decrease of biological activity that still remained high.

Aspects of tests and assessment of filtering materials used for respiratory protection against bioaerosols. Part I: type of active substance, contact time, microorganism species.

This paper presents the results of a study on antimicrobial activity of polymer filter nonwovens produced by needle-punching or melt-blowing with an addition of disinfecting agents. The first part of the paper discusses how the biocidal activity of nonwovens is a function of the active agent added to the nonwovens, the duration of the contact of microorganisms with nonwovens and the type of microorganisms. The types of fibres and disinfecting agents had a considerable effect on the biocidal activity of nonwovens.

Injured professional drivers in Poland - an analysis of the causes and effects in relation to the time of the road accident.

Introduction: The objective of the paper was to present the results of an analysis of road accidents in professional drivers in Poland, from the point of view of their age, tenure, accident causes and effects in relation to the time of the accidents they were involved in.

Method: Data were obtained from a database of the Central Statistical Office. Accidents recorded in statistical accident cards from 6 consecutive years were analysed.

Aerosol generation and identification for model studies of particle-lung interactions.

This article discusses the idea and set-up of a laboratory system for generating reproducible concentrated occupational aerosols containing metal compounds. A dust representative for 2 metal-machining workstations (an electric grinder and an electric disc cutter) was released from a fluidized-bed generator, and then sampled and compared in respect to concentration, particle size distribution, particle morphology and the content of metal elements (Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mg). The results indicate the presence of a significant number of irregularly-shaped respirable particles.

A comparative study of objective and subjective assessment of occupational risk.

Measurement of dangerous, harmful and annoying factors in the working environment are used to assess occupational risk. Surveys on workers' subjective perception of risk are used, too. This study aimed to compare subjective assessment of work-related factors with their objective measurements and a national database on occupational risk.

Attenuation of noise by motorcycle safety helmets.

For workers such as police motorcyclists or couriers, traffic and engine noise reaching the ears is an important factor contributing to the overall condition of their work. This noise can be reduced with motorcycle helmets. In this study, insertion loss of motorcycle helmets was measured with the microphone-in-real-ear technique and sound attenuation with the real-ear-at-threshold method.

Corrosion of retractable type fall arresters.

Retractable type fall arresters constitute a most effective group of components used in personal protection systems protecting against falls from a height. They are designed primarily for outdoor use, which results in exposure to atmospheric factors associated with risk of corrosion of metal elements. This paper presents the results of a study, in which retractable type fall arresters were exposed to a simulated corrosive environment, a neutral salt spray.

Application of a photochromic dye in an automatic welding filter.

The main purposes of this study were to select a photochromic dye and to develop an active welding filter with a photochromic layer. A series of functionalized spirobenzopyranoindolins were synthesized and their photophysical and photochemical properties were investigated in a solution using absorption and emission spectroscopy. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy measurements were used to characterize the decays and rate constants of fluorescence emission.