Azian Hariri

Preliminary Measurement of Welding Fumes in Automotive Plants

The preliminary measurement of welding fumes was conducted by means to get firsthand experience and understanding the welding fumes issues in automotive assembly plant in Malaysia. Personal sampling pumps were provided to a human welder of highest risk in the assembly section. Series of direct reading measurement for area sampling of particulate matters 2.5µm or less in diameter size (P.M 2.5 ), toxic gases and temperature were also conducted at the same time. The welding fumes sample were then analyze by scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Questionnaires were distributed to the welders for questionnaires pilot test purpose in order to determine welders knowledge on welding hazards and persistent symptom experience by each welder. Results of the study show that welding fumes contains the highest element of cobalt and nickel. Carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and ammonia level were well below the standard level. Results from the mean score questionnaire analysis shows the welders posses limited knowledge of welding fumes hazard and not sure of the health effects of welding fumes There are eight persistent symptoms that had been experience by at least 50% of the welder. This preliminary study had successfully identified suggestion and alteration towards the actual measurement that will be conduct on the next stage.

Experimental Study on Welding Fumes Exposure from Aluminum Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Process

Welding fumes are known as hazard that can cause acute health effects. Welders exposures to welding fumes are oftentimes difficult to evaluate due to the different parameters settings exist in their workplace. Therefore, this experimental study focused on welding fumes exposure towards aluminum metal inert gas (MIG) welders. The experimental set-up was done by using a dummy welder and a welding machine attached to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) workbench for programmable welding route. This preliminary experiment aims at comparing results between scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), inductively coupled mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) analysis method. New insight on the consistency of the SEM-EDS experimental results, comparison of element detected by using SEM-EDS and ICP-MS result analysis and the different elements detected between standing and sitting welding position were recognized through this preliminary experimental study. It is concluded that SEM-EDS analysis are not suitable to be used as a preliminary analysis to shortlist the metal elements exists in the welding fumes sample due to the misleading results if compared to the elemental characterization measure proportional to the atomic number such as ICP-MS.

Sub-index derivation of welding health-hazard index (WHI) for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia

Malaysia is a developing nation and the manufacturing sector is the major contributor to the Malaysian economy. In the year 2009, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) contribute to 28,840 establishments which represented 94.2 percent of the total establishments in the manufacturing sector in Malaysia. Welding is a common industrial process in manufacturing sector that has both acute and long term chronic hazards mainly from the inhalable welding fumes. Welding fumes assessment in SMEs welding workplace is essential in order to ensure the minimum level of exposure is maintained as required by the prevailing standards. However, providing concentration or emission information alone is insufficient and meaningless to the workers and company management. There is an urgent need to develop an index which served as a ranking tool in comparing environmental condition at different location and to simplify complex health hazard issues of welding fumes that can be comprehended easily by the workers and company management. Preliminary ideas on the derivation of the sub-index from rating of health effect, mixture hazard, doses and weightage of metal fumes element were outlined in this paper. At the end of this paper, future works regarding aggregation factor and verification of the index were also discussed.

Toenail as Non-invasive Biomarker in Metal Toxicity Measurement of Welding Fumes Exposure - A Review

Workers are exposed to a variety of heavy metal pollutants that are released into the environment as a consequence of workplace activities. This chemical pollutants are incorporated into the human by varies of routes entry and can then be stored and distributed in different tissues, consequently have a potential to lead an adverse health effects and/or diseases. As to minimize the impact, a control measures should be taken to avoid these effects and human biological marker is a very effective tool in the assessment of occupational exposure and potential related risk as the results is normally accurate and reproducible. Toenail is the ideal matrix for most common heavy metals due to its reliability and practicality compared to other biological samples as well as it is a non-invasive and this appears as a huge advantage of toenail as a biomarker. This paper reviews studies that measure the heavy metals concentration in toenail as non-invasive matrix which later may adapt in the investigation of metal fume emitted from welding process. The development of new methodology and modern analytical techniques has allowed the use of toenail as non-invasive approach. The presence of a heavy metal in this matrix reflects an exposure but the correlations between heavy metal levels in the toenail must be established to ensure that these levels are related to the total body burden. These findings suggest that further studies on interactions of these heavy metals in metal fumes utilizing toenail biomarker endpoints are highly warranted especially among welders.

Energy consumption in residential building: The effect of appliances and human behaviour

Electricity is the predominant energy source used in these buildings. Therefore, energy management in residential buildings requires serious attention to ensure the energy consumption in residential building have been managed properly. Currently, the unstable of fuel price give the big impact to electricity price. Due to the issue, consumers require to use electricity more wisely. Using energy efficiently is one of the solution to reduce energy consumption. This paper aims to propose an initiative strategy for energy management system based on an analysis of energy consumption in residential building. The level of energy consumption among the occupants was found by obtaining electricity bills and distributing a questionnaire. A case study was carried out in selected areas in the Southern Zone of Peninsular Malaysia. The results of the study show that energy consumption was significant increased by month and the EEES as one of energy management system was suggested.

Determination of Important Parameters and Technical Characteristic for Welding Fumes Index Development by Using QFD Approach

This paper discussed on the determination of important parameters and technical characteristic for the development of a welding fumes index by using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) approach. Welding fumes index is developed with the objective to enhance the welding workplace safety and health. Index simplifies complex health-hazard issues of welding fumes to be comprehended easily by the employees. Questionnaires on welder desire to know the various welding fumes health effects that exist in their workplace were distributed among welders of a selected automotive assembly lines in the state Pahang, Malaysia, during a pilot case study. Results of the questionnaires show that all the customer requirements (irritants effect, sensitizer effects, respiratory system effect, systemic toxin effect, reproductive toxins effect, carcinogen effect, mixture effect) were equally important to the welders. The relationship between the customer (welder) requirement and technical characteristic were established whereby important technical characteristics were shortlisted. Development of welding fumes index according to employees demand will increase the knowledge and awareness on occupational safety and health among employees. The paper provides the main idea on development of welding fumes index taking into consideration the needs of the customer i.e. welder.

Experimental and CFD modelling for thermal comfort and CO2 concentration in office building

Computational fluid dynamic CFD was used for simulating air flow, indoor air distribution and contamination concentration. Gases pollution and thermal discomfort affected occupational health and productivity of work place. The main objectives of this study are to investigate the impact of air change rate in CO2 concentration and to estimate the profile of CO2 concentration in the offices building. The thermal comfort and gases contamination are investigated by numerical analysis CFD which was validated by experiment. Thus the air temperature, air velocity and CO2 concentration were measured at several points in the chamber with four occupants. Comparing between experimental and numerical results showed good agreement. In addition, the CO2 concentration around human recorded high, compared to the other area. Moreover, the thermal comfort in this study is within the ASHRAE standard 55-2004.

Risk prediction model: Statistical and artificial neural network approach

Prediction models are increasingly gaining popularity and had been used in numerous areas of studies to complement and fulfilled clinical reasoning and decision making nowadays. The adoption of such models assist physician’s decision making, individual’s behavior, and consequently improve individual outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of care. The objective of this paper is to reviewed articles related to risk prediction model in order to understand the suitable approach, development and the validation process of risk prediction model. A qualitative review of the aims, methods and significant main outcomes of the nineteen published articles that developed risk prediction models from numerous fields were done. This paper also reviewed on how researchers develop and validate the risk prediction models based on statistical and artificial neural network approach. From the review done, some methodological recommendation in developing and validating the prediction model were highlighted. According to studies th...

Flow characteristics of 3-D turning diffuser using particle image velocimetry

It is often necessary in fluid flow systems to simultaneously decelerate and turn the flow. This can be achieved by employing turning diffusers in the fluid flow systems. The flow through a turning diffuser is complex, apparently due to the expansion and inflexion introduced along the direction of flow. The flow characteristics of 3-D turning diffuser by means of varying inflow Reynolds number are presently investigated. The flow characteristics within the outlet cross-section and longitudinal section were examined respectively by the 3-D stereoscopic PIV and 2-D PIV. The flow uniformity is affected with the increase of inflow Reynolds number due to the dispersion of the core flow throughout the outlet cross-section. It becomes even worse with the presence of secondary flow, 22% to 27% of the mean outlet velocity. The flow separation takes place within the inner wall region at the point very close to the outlet edge and the secondary flow vortex occurs dominantly within half part of the outlet cross-section.

Vitality of plants to live in the indoor environment

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is generally a public concern because 90% of people spend their time indoor. IAQ must be preserved wisely to guarantee the health of the building occupants. One of the ways to maintain the quality of air is by placing plants in the building. However, all plants come from the outdoor, and the environment is different compared to indoor. Environmental factors such as temperature and light will absolutely affect the growth of the plant. Light and temperature that are too bright or too deem can wither the plants. Nevertheless, certain plant is capable of adapting with different situation after assimilation process has been conducted. This study intends to analyze the capacity of seven selected plants (Anthurium, Dumb Cane, Golden Pothos, Kadaka Fern, Prayer Plant, Spider Plant, and Syngonium) to live in an indoor environment. The vitality of plants is based on photosynthetic level that is measured using leaf - chamber (LI-COR 6400). Two groups of plants were located in indoor and outd...