Lakhwinder Pal Singh

Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Indian Steel Industry Workers: An Exploratory Study

Objective: The present study focused on exploring the current level of hearing protection and subsequently determined the prevalence of occupational noise-induced hearing loss among casting and forging industry workers. Background: The casting and forging industry provides employment to a significant portion of the population. Method: The level of hearing protection was assessed through questionnaire survey of 572 workers. Out of these workers, 165 and another control group of 57 participants were assessed by formal audiometry. Audiometric tests were conducted at frequencies of 1.0 KHz to 8.0 KHz. The occurrence of hearing loss was determined on the basis of a hearing threshold level with a low fence of 25 dB. Student’s test and ANOVA were used to compare the various groups; a p value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: More than 90% of the workers sampled showed significant hearing loss at medium and high frequencies. The analyses revealed a higher prevalence of significant hearing loss among the forging workers compared with the workers associated with the other activities. Conclusions: The workers of the Indian steel industry are highly exposed to occupational noise. The majority of workers are not protected from noise-induced hearing loss. There is a need to provide special ear protectors for workers engaged in forging. A complete hearing protection program, including train-ing, audiometry, job rotation, and the use of hearing protection devices, needs to be introduced.

Occupational Exposure to Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter and Lung Functions Deterioration of Steel Workers: An Exploratory Study in India

Objective. Manufacturing industry, especially casting and forging (iron and steel) industry, comprises a major part of the occupation in India. However, health protection is still ignored. Therefore the present study explores the respiratory symptoms among steel workers and subsequently measured the level of exposure to RSPM and lung functions parameters using spirometry investigation. Method. Present study assessed the level of respiratory symptoms through questionnaire survey of 572 workers, out of which 309 workers and another control group of 74 subjects were assessed for the spirometry test. Both of the groups were statistically matched for age and BMI. Students’ t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare the various subgroups. Results. The results reveal that workers are exposed to higher respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) levels than the limit of 5 mg/m3 prescribed by Indian factory act. The spirometric parameters such as FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF25–75, PEFR, PIFR, and FIVC were significantly lower in exposed group than in controls. In the present scenario the iron and steel SMEs of the region are very much lagging behind in implementing the occupational health and safety practices. Conclusions. The majority of the workers were not wearing proper PPEs like masks due to ergonomically bad design, and at the same time they were working 60 to 72 hrs/week, which leads to very high level of exposure to RSPM. Therefore, the workers were under higher risk of lungs functions deterioration.

Prevalence of permanent hearing threshold shift among workers of Indian iron and steel small and medium enterprises: a study.

Occupational noise exposure and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) have been recognized as a problem among workers in Indian industries. The major industries in India are based on manufacturing. There are appreciable numbers of casting and forging units spread across the country. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of permanent hearing threshold shift among the workers engaged in Indian iron and steel small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and compared with control group subjects. As a part of hearing protection intervention, audiometric tests were conducted at low (250-1000 Hz), medium (1500-3000 Hz), and high (4000-8000 Hz) frequencies. The occurrence of hearing loss was determined based on hearing threshold levels with a low fence of 25 dB. Comparisons were made for hearing threshold at different frequencies between the exposed and control groups using Students t test. ANOVA was used for the comparison of hearing threshold dB at different frequencies among occupation and year of experience. A P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. All data were presented as mean value (SD). Over 90% of workers engaged in various processes of casting and forging industry showed hearing loss in the noise-sensitive medium and higher frequencies. Occupation was significantly associated with NIHL, and hearing loss was particularly high among the workers of forging section. The analyses revealed a higher prevalence of significant hearing loss among the forging workers compared to the workers associated with other activities. The study shows alarming signals of NIHL, especially in forging workers. The occupational exposure to noise could be minimized by efficient control measures through engineering controls, administrative controls, and the use of personal protective devices. Applications of engineering and/or administrative controls are frequently not feasible in the developing countries for technical and financial reasons. A complete hearing conservation programme, including training, audiometry, job rotation, and the use of hearing protection devices, is the most feasible method for the protection of industrial workers from prevailing noise in workplace environments in the developing countries.

Experimental investigation of effect of roller burnishing process parameters on surface roughness and surface hardness of C40E steel

Surface finish and dimensional accuracy are ever in demand because of strong influence of these characteristics on major functional properties like friction, fatigue strength, wear resistance, load carrying capacity, and corrosion resistance of any materials. In the present work the effect of burnishing process parameters like burnishing condition, burnishing speed, feed, depth of penetration, number of passes is investigated on the surface roughness and hardness of C40E steel. Taguchi design of experiment is used for present experimentation. Taguchis L18 mixed orthogonal array is used for optimisation of input parameters and analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed for concluding vital and fruitful results. Investigation reveals that minimum surface roughness value of .129 µm at wet burnishing condition .557 rpm speed, .06 mm/rev feed, 1.5 mm depth of penetration and double pass of tool and optimised surface hardness 94 HRB at dry burnishing condition, 371 rpm speed, 0.11 mm/rev feed, 1.5 mm depth of penetration and third pass of tool is obtained.

Quality Management Practices vs. Performance of SMEs: An Empirical Study of Indian Industries

The intense competition in the current marketplace has forced firms to re-examine their methods of doing business. Economic liberalization and globalization of economy is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. However survival of industry and its economic growth is dependant on the productivity level. This is very true in developing countries like India because of higher population growth, higher interest rates, rising inflation, domestic and international competition, scarcity of raw materials, fiscal deficit etc. The present work is an empirical study of impact of quality management practices like just-in-time, 5Ss tools, suggestion schemes, workers participation, quality circles and ISO certification on performance of SMEs. The performance parameters incorporated for the study were manpower and assets utilization, inventory management, quality aspects, cost aspects, time performance and purchasing procedure. A comprehensive questionnaire was developed and circulated to the different firms and responses were collected for analyzing the data. On the basis of literature review and the survey of the industry, objectives were identified; the impact was validated on the basis of correlation analysis

Technological Implications of Supply Chain Practices in Agri-Food Sector: A Review

In the present era, business is in a global environment that compels the enterprises to consider rest of the world in their competitive strategy analysis, despite of location or principal market base. The firms cannot isolate themselves or ignore external factors such as economic trends, competitive positions or technology advancement in other countries. While going truly global with supply chain management, a company develops product in the United States, produce in India and trade in Europe, and they have changed the traditional operation management & logistical activities. This change in trade and the modernization of transport infrastructures have elevated the importance of flow management to new levels. Manufacturers and researchers have noticed many problems concerning supply chain activities. Usually either a system or subcomponent in supply chains is discussed in the literature, but they fails to answer the rational (why, what, how) behind them. An attempt has been made in this paper addressing a review of the principles, bottlenecks and strategies of supply chain practices for organizations to sustain in the global market, with an emphasis on the implications of Indian agri-food sector. Findings of this review reveal that the associated economic benefits in sustainable agri-food supply chains can be achieved through innovation, supply chain collaboration, elimination of uncertainties and introducing global supply chain practices into green and lean initiatives.

Relationship between Damping Factor and Compressive Residual Stress for Shot-Peened Austenitic Stainless Steel

The mechanical properties of austenitic stainless steel are rarely improved by heat treatment. Shot peening is a well-known cold working process that affects thin surface of materials. By controlling the shot peening intensity and shot size, the variable mechanical properties film thickness was obtained from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. The damping factor and compressive residual stress are determined experimentally and forming a relation between them. It was found that damping factor in thin film surface increases with depth of deformed layer. An investigation was carried out, and it was found that the increase in damping factor was due to introduction of compressive residual stress and increased hardness due to shot peening. The paper discusses a model of changing damping properties with compressive residual stress and depth of deformed layer of austenitic stainless steel.

The Impact of ISO Implementation on Output Parameters in SME's in India

In the globalize world the there has been a tough competition among the manufacturing as well service sector. The manufacturing firms are striving to survive in the competitive world. However the firms have to struggle with growing trade deficits and outsourced operations, while strong market competitors have emerged, using superior manufacturing practices and continuous process improvement. The small and medium enterprises are also being stressed by their customers to adopt quality management systems. The present work is an exploratory study of impact of ISO certification on output parameters. The output parameters incorporated for the study are manpower and assets utilization, inventory management, quality aspects, cost aspects, time performance and purchasing procedure. A comprehensive questionnaire was framed; different firms were visited in and around Jalandhar (Punjab) and data were collected through personal interviews. On the basis of literature review and preliminary survey of the industry, hypotheses were formulated, the data were processed and analysed hypotheses were validated using correlation analysis.

Effect of Occupational Factors on Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Insurance Office Employees: A Case Study

Introduction: The job of insurance employees demands prolonged sitting in the office and they are overworked, which can cause musculoskeletal pain through constant stress on the musculoskeletal system. Objective: The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among insurance office employees and to analyze the effect of the occupational factors on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. Method: The survey was carried out at various insurance offices in Punjab (India). The population consists of 182 insurance office employees is studied using questionnaire on duration of office work, frequency of rest break, daily travelling hours, work place layout and musculoskeletal symptoms. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck, shoulders, wrists, upper back, lower back and forearm were 58.2, 38.4, 13.1, 28.5, 46.1 and 7.6%, respectively. Frequency of rest break once in more than 4 h was strongly associated with all MSD’s in all body regions. The travelling hours of more than 3 h/day related to work is also associated with upper back pain and low back pain. Conclusion: The musculoskeletal symptoms are associated strongly with frequency of rest break, travelling time for work and perception of workplace ergonomics. A high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms were observed in neck, lower back, shoulder, and lower back pain among insurance office employees.

Optimization of Occupational Whole Body Vibration Exposure for Rotavation Operation

The study focused to investigate the relative importance of forward speed, pulling force and tilling depth on tractor ride comfort in terms of overall vibration total value (OVTV). Taguchi’s L27 orthogonal array used to formulate a systematic design of experiments. It provided twenty-seven (27) experiments with five (5) replications for each set to get an average of root mean square (RMS) weighted acceleration value (aw). Point vibration total value (PVTV) was calculated at three different locations (i.e. tractor platform, seat-pan and seat backrest) in order to obtain OVTV. The magnitude of overall vibration total value (0.637–0.843 m/s2) represents the ride little to fairly uncomfortable as per ISO 2631-1 (1997). The fast fourier transform (FFT) analysis resulted dominant frequencies around 10 Hz and 12 Hz, which is observed to be very sensitive frequencies for human body due to existence of natural frequencies of various body parts. The optimum values of forward speed, pulling force and tilling depth are 1.3 m/s, 6 kN, and 0.16 m to obtain reduced OVTV.