THE

W O R K OF T H E

ENGINEERING

AT

LABORATORY

NIZHNE-TAGIL

OF LABOR P R O T E C T I O N METALLURGICAL

AND

SAFETY

COMBINE

(UDC 669.1.004.2) S. V.

Baraev,

Translated from Metallurg, No. 10, p. 37, October, 1964

In 1963 our laboratory investigated means for e l i m i n a t i n g or reducing factors which adversely affect the working conditions of laborers and for reducing industrial accidents. For e x a m p l e , in the section where castings are fettled in the casting shop, workers were found that were suspected of having vibration sickness. Therefore, a sanitary-hygienic inspection was made of the working conditions of the fettlers, which established that the air hammers being used did not answer the requirements of the m e d i c a l standards. Most of the air hammers had a reduced number of impacts but each i m p a c t was powerful, which was explained by the slow speed of the return stroke of the striker owing to clogging of the air channels or leakage of air because of wear of the bushings or stem of the tool. The obtained amplitude of vibration of some air hammers exceeded the m a x i m u m permissible amplitude for the corresponding frequency of oscillation owing to the poor quality of regulating the h a m m e r . Repair of the air hammers with a check of the vibration parameters was not done. The pressure of the compressed air was not constant during a 2 4 - h period. The temperature of the air being fed to the air hammers corresponded to the outside air temperature. To prevent the incidence of vibration diseases, recommendations were made, which resulted in the organization of a section for the centralized repair of air tools; a device was installed for supplying warm compressed air to the air hammers at a pressure of 5.5 arm gage; the shift breakstake (in addition to the m a i n dinner hour) 10 rain after working 11/a hours, during which the workers perform prescribed gymnastic exercises; the shops are equipped w i t h " S o l l u x " - t y p e dry air chambers for warming the hands of the a i r - h a m m e r workers; therapeutic prevention is carried out; persons newly arriving to work with a i r - h a m m e r s are thoroughly indoctrinated according to instructions worked out by the laboratory. At the heat and e l e c t r i c power plant workers were found with poor hearing;their further work under conditions of noise exceeding the permissible was contraindicated. To reduce noise at the job locations and in the room, the laboratory r e c o m m e n d e d measures for additional soundproofing of all turbofans and inside fans, the joints of the compressor cylinders, open flange connections, expanders, and other parts of steam lines producing noise. In the blast- and open-hearth shops the number of acidents increases considerably during the summer, usually in the same sections: furnace; pouring; composition make-up, and stoneworks sections. The laboratory investigated the causes of these phenomena and established that the increase in accidents was due to the unfavorable weather conditions of that t i m e of the y e a r - - h i g h ambient temperature, increased dustiness and contamination of the air, and this led to premature fatiguability of the workers, lassitude, and disruption of the normal working r h y t h m - t o haste, increased nervous and physical strain. The higher incidence of acidents in the summer is also explained by the great number of holidays and e d u c a t i o n a l leaves. When the engineers and technicians take advantage of a holiday, supervision of safety matters is weakened since the supervisor temporarily performing these duties is not fully aware of the responsibilty involved in accident prevention and he is sometimes selected from persons who are poorly trained. The results of the investigation of the laboratory were submitted to the administration of the Combine. In addition to the organizational and t e c h n i c a l measures which the laboratory recommends for improving working conditions directly in the shop, the reduction and complete e l i m i n a t i o n of industrial accidents will depend, in our opinion, on the solution of a number of problems:

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The supervisors of shops and the engineers and technicians should provide for not only an increase in the productivity of labor and improvement in the quality of product but also for the creation of safe, healthy working conditions; The proper planning of production and a steady supply of all materials is needed for carrying out the industrial process; this will make it possible to produce strictly by schedule and to develop a certain working rhythm; The arrangement of the labor force should be made with an actual calculation of the reserve of workers for substitution on days of disablement. The innovators and inventors should concentrate attention not only on the economic effect but also on the obligatory improvement of working conditions and safety; The existing situation with respect to the investigation and recording of accidents and payment for days of disablement should be reviewed. The laboratory together with the section-rolling shop is studying the use of infrared radiation for heating open places and large rooms. The infrared-radiation burners, produced by the "Gazpribor" Plant, operate on natural gas. The Combine does not have natural gas. It was necessary to solve the problem of using coke-oven gas in the burners. The experimental studies have been concluded and the results are favorable. There are grounds to hope that the Combine will soon be able to heat open working places and unheated rooms with infrared-radiation burners. This win lessen the effect of the atmospheric factor on the working conditions during the winter; the use of burners for technological purposes will appreciably elevate the quality of production. The fulfillment by the shops of the measures recommended by the laboratory will undoubtedly have a substantial effect on improving working conditions and reducing accidents.

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