MATEC Web of Conferences, open access proceedings in Materials science, Engineering and Chemistry

The application of the method for assessing the level of safety at work starts with a document that contains the cover page, the description of the company (name, location, core business, organizational chart etc.), description of the work system, a detailed list of its components, and a brief description of the assessment method. It continues with a Microsoft Excel document, which represents the actual application of the method and, finally, there is another document presenting conclusions, proposals, and prioritizations, which leads to the execution of the Prevention and Protection Plan. The present paper approaches the issue of developing the Microsoft Excel document, an essential part of the method for assessing the level of safety at work. The document is divided into a variable number of worksheets, showing the risk categories of general, specific, and management.

Noise exposure in rubber manufacturing poses significant risks to worker health, safety, and productivity. This study explores these challenges via an integrated approach that combines task-based and group noise measurements as required by Directive 2003/10/EC, noise mapping, real-time monitoring, and worker feedback. Noise levels were found to range from 81 to 89 dB(A) across worker groups, with task-specific peaks exceeding 91 dB(A) near high-noise machinery. To mitigate these risks, engineering controls, including acoustic barriers and machine isolation, were proposed alongside administrative measures such as task rotation and improved access to personal protective equipment. The analysis demonstrated a link between noise levels and reduced productivity, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Integrating IoT sensors and AI for real-time noise monitoring offers opportunities to increase compliance, reduce exposure, and improve safety outcomes. Whilst engineering controls involve higher initial investments, cost-benefit analysis highlights their long-term advantages in reducing health-related expenses and improving productivity. This study reinforces the importance of a proactive, worker-centered approach to noise management in rubber manufacturing, emphasizing sustainability, risk mitigation, and the adoption of innovative technologies to create safer and more efficient workplaces.

In the current context of sustainability management and energy insecurity, amplified by the military instability determined by the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the increasingly frequent occurrence of a series of plausible scenarios for disasters or energy blackouts worldwide, this work is a real and applicable model for regional states that would like to critically analyze the situation of their energy security through identifying all the plausible risk scenarios targeting the energy critical infrastructures. The study has identified and assessed two of the most plausible risk scenarios (a natural disaster and a terrorist attack) in the case of a strategic power substation of 220 kV, 400 kV, or 750 kV undergoing a blackout effect. After having assessed the risks, the safety strategy for Romania’s national power system has been elaborated together with the safety strategy for the European Power system-ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity). The results of the study match other specialized works from different European countries and might represent a model for other types of energy safety risk assessments and for other types of critical infrastructures that are vital for the modern European society and for sustainability management.