Indoor air quality research within a furniture factory

Improving conditions and quality of life depends, among others, on the environment. People spend most of their time in a day inside buildings to work, sleep, eat, rest, and do sports and other activities. The article refers to a case study based on research on indoor environment within a furniture factory;the research is achieved via instruments for collecting diverse indoor parameters, such as temperature, CO2, PM (particulate matter) concentrations, noise, and humidity levels. All data recorded are needed to evaluate the conditions of the indoor climate in which the workers are activating. The measuring methods are shortly introduced and the IAQ (indoor air quality) index is expressed. The personnel activating in this factory is working intensely, standing up, and having to wear a mask considering the Covid-19 context. Thus, it is important to depict each aspect that might trigger a concern if IAQ limits are over passed, not mentioning the synergetic context of the diverse effects. Through revealing the IAQ, and the comfort/discomfort level PMV/PPD (predicted mean vote and predicted percentage dissatisfied) employees and company management can benefit from this awareness and enhance the behaviour in such a way that one might improve the indoor condition. The rapid and irreversible climate changes, mostly due to increasing pollution level and exhaust of greenhouse gases should push humanity to make more studies of this kind and, accordingly, realize the need of improvement and development of new solutions whereby one can sustain the indoor environment as proper as possible, in addition to the outdoor climate. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.

Conception of ergonomic interventions and challenges during Covid-19 pandemic

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic shifted ergonomists’ focus from work optimization to health-related interventions. For over a year, safety measures were primarily linked to limitation of infection with the new coronavirus. The paper aims to propose a framework for conception and evaluation of ergonomic interventions and to present major challenges faced in implementation of the framework during the pandemic. Material and Methods: The proposed framework comprises comprehensive methodology for assessment of physical environment parameters and ergonomic risks, and proposal of solutions. Methods used are RNUR, software solution based on REBA and OWAS and proposed methodology for physical environment assessment based on ISO standards and Romanian standards for determination of noise, dust, lighting and microclimate. Analysis of key challenges faced during implementation and potential causes are also presented in a dedicated section. Results: The framework was applied for development of ergonomic interventions in two companies. The most prominent risks identified were noise, uncomfortable postures, standing, manual load handling (lifting, pushing, dragging, carrying), torso twisting/bending. Conclusions: The Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted the success of implementing participatory ergonomics principles, imposing the need to re-adjust strategy and find creative solutions for ensuring success of the interventions. However, the interventions were successfully finalized, the remaining objective being long-term evaluation of the intervention.