Implementation of Heart and Dematel Integration to Steam Boiler Working Process

Human Error Assessment and Reduction Technique (HEART) is a practical and powerful approach to prioritize errors related to human actions, based on probabilities. HEART can determine error producing conditions (EPCs) which cause human errors for different processes including main duties (MDs) and sub-duties (SDs). HEART can be applied quickly for any process where human reliability is important. In this study, HEART and advanced version of Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (AV-DEMATEL) integration proposed by Can and Delice in 2018 was performed for evaluating human related errors in steam boiler working process. In this way, the interactions between MDs, SDs and EPCs in a steam boiler working process were considered to compute process error probability (PEP). Additionally, the applicability of the proposed approach by Can and Delice (2018) was demonstrated again.

Comparison of different Parameters of Heart Rate Frequency of Tasks Performed during Aircraft Open-Basket Ground Deicing Activities

Plane deicing is mandatory to insure safe plane take-off. Previous human factors studies have shown that open-basket deicing activity can be improved. The objective of the paper is to compare heart rate assessment models within a field study with numerous influencing variables and small sample size as well as to deepen our understanding of the most demanding openbasket tasks using cardiac output. A field study in a Canadian centered plane deicing facility was conducted in 2016-2017. 12 participants contributed to a thorough description and analysis of open-basket deicing activities. Respiratory and cardiac output of these participants was collected using Hexoskin vests. Working heart rate, heart rate reserves as well as calculations of absolute cardiac cost were done. Working heart rate (WHR), Heart Rate Reserve (HRR) and Absolute Cardiac Cost (ACC) do not behave uniformly for the majority of participants. In field studies with a large number of influencing variables on the heart rate, it is usually not sufficient to consider one single evaluation measure like WHR. In the interest of protecting employees, it seems to make sense to use the more cautious measures HRR or ACC as parameters instead of WHR. Superimposed activities (e.g. forced postures and dynamic use of upper body) have a significant effect on heart rate increases. In 8 out of 11 cases we have fatigue-related increases in heart rate over the observation period. Similar studies need to be conducted in other aircraft deicing facilities.

Background Noise and Reverberation Times and Acoustical Quality in A University Classrooms in Jeddah, KSA

This study investigated the acoustical quality of seven classrooms and learning spaces at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. The physical characteristics of sounds measured in these classrooms included Background Noise Levels (BNLs - dBA) and Reverberation Times (RTs - seconds). Measurements were conducted in unoccupied conditions. In addition, information about rooms' sizes, design, components and building materials were collected. Results of BNLs and RTs indicated poor acoustical condition in the new classrooms, while old classrooms provided fair or acceptable acoustical quality for learning and teaching based on their RTs. BNLs in the new classrooms ranged from 42 to 71 dBA, and RTs ranged from 1 to 1.4 seconds, which all were higher than the allowable BNL (35 dBA) and RT (0.6 seconds) (ANSI 12.60.2010) according to their rooms sizes. This poor acoustical condition were found to be associated with ventilation noise, reflective surfaces, and classroom design. In conclusion, recommendations to improve the acoustical quality for better learning and teaching in the investigated new classrooms were highlighted in this paper.

The Impact of the Pandemic on the Quality of Life of Healthcare Professionals

The state of international public health emergency, declared on January, 30th 2020 has seen an increase in frequency and intensity of health workers in the work place to support COVID-19 positive patients and indirectly their families. This has seen them come into direct contact with the lives and experiences of other people and with their own, both positive and negative,feeling compassion for those assisted and helplessness in the face of death. The observational study, conducted through the use of Kendall’s Self Report questionnaire ProQOL-Professional Quality of Life Scale (2009), version 5, consisting of 30 questions on a Likert scale (from 1 “never” to 5 “very often”), referable to three dimensions: Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Compassion Satisfaction, allowed the 46 subjects involved to measure their inner resources, assessing the level of stress and emotions experienced. The representative sample of the Calabria region was selected randomly. Everyone was asked to fill in the online questionnaire, after dilling in a descriptive part related to demographic data such as age, sex, marital status, city of residence, profession, city where they work, years of work experience, length of the working week and the impact that the pandemic has had on their work. The results obtained from the research show a reduction in the quality of professional life perceived by health care professionals during the pandemic period.