TELEMATIC TRAINING VIA A WEBSITE OF TECHNICIANS IN

WORK-RELATED RISK PREVENTION

Pilar Martínez Jiménez, Gerardo Pedrós Pérez

Department of Applied Physics, University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain

Antonio Cubero Atienza, Dolores Redel Macías, Lorenzo Salas Morera, Laura García Hernandez

Department of Project Engineering, University of Cordoba, Spain

Keywords: Risk Prevention, e-Learning, Engineering.

Abstract: This work presents a web portal for telematic training in work-related risk prevention: noise at work and

machine vibrations. Training in Work-related Risk Prevention, especially in the area of Industrial Hygiene,

has a practical laboratory component, which is fundamental for a correct preparation of prevention

technicians so that they can become acquainted with the field equipment that they have to use in risk

evaluation, its configuration, principal parts and handling; everything from its calibration to its application

in measuring as a function of the job’s conditions, always within the correct methodological application

dictated by the national and international norms which regulate these field applications. This signifies

important time expenditure for specialist teachers and in field equipment for the users being trained. With

virtual laboratories containing the web application developed it is aimed to complement experimental

laboratory training, with simulative tools which provide the knowledge and the practical handling of the

equipment under the most real conditions possible, thus considerably reducing the number of laboratory

hours necessary. It is a matter of having a catalogue of virtual laboratories with a free and easy access, the

one in the first stage being specifically that corresponding to noise at work.

1 INTRODUCTION

At present, the main objective of many software

systems developed is teaching and the transmission

of knowledge. The use of a computer for this

purpose accelerates the learning process of the

notions provided by the system since interacting

with it helps the contents to be assimilated more

quickly and placidly.

The creation of a virtual laboratory permits the

dissemination of that information to its final users

and the teaching of theoretical-practical concepts by

experimentation making use of the new

technologies. In addition, the expansion of the

software through Internet makes it easy for any

professional or student interested in the theme

developed to use the laboratory and benefit from its

contents, thus obtaining a didactic complement to

the traditional theory classes. Although there is

abundant information on work-related risks

produced by noise and vibrations, effects (Bedi R.,

2006; Bhattacharya SK., 1991; Yildirim I., 2007)

instruments and measurement techniques, there is

very little software combining all the information to

be considered by the technicians in the prevention of

the problems caused by noise and vibrations in

industry.

The effects of vibrations and impacts on human

beings have been known for a long time. At the

beginning of the 18

century, B. Ramazzini in his

book “Examination of the diseases of artists and

artisans” observed the loads and stress in horse

tamers produced by machine vibrations and

described the effects in the following way: “….. The

force of the vibration shakes the entrails and

practically displaces them from their normal

position…”

Nowadays, work activities like driving transport

vehicles or rotating, alternative drilling or percussion

manual tools signify to the worker a prolonged

exposure of machine vibrations (Lercher P. 1996),

transmitted both to the hand-arm system and to the

160

Mart

ınez J

ımenez P., Pedr

os P

erez G., Cubero Atienza A., Redel Mac

ıas D., Salas Morera L. and Garc

ıa Hernandez L. (2010).

TELEMATIC TRAINING VIA A WEBSITE OF TECHNICIANS IN WORK-RELATED RISK PREVENTION.

In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Computer Supported Education, pages 160-165

 SciTePress

whole body. This type of vibration is the cause of

such complaints as vascular disorders in the hands,

lesions in the lumbar zone in the spinal column and

in the nervous system connected to it, or respiratory

problems (Guinchard P, Charbotel B, et al. 2008).

In spite of the large number of the working

population exposed to this type of vibration, there is

a scant culture of prevention existing on exposure to

vibrations in work posts. Although there is abundant

information on exposure to vibrations, its effects,

instruments and measurement techniques, there are

very few software containing all the information to

be considered by problem prevention technicians on

exposure to vibrations.

In recent years there has been a great

development of virtual Laboratories in the education

of different disciplines (Jimenez, PM, 2009),

nevertheless in the whole consulted bibliography we

have not found any that this one dedicated to the

study of the prevention of labour risks, and

especially to vibrations and noise.

With the aim of solving the problem of the

scarcity of software on exposure to vibrations, it has

been attempted to develop a virtual laboratory on

this theme in the labour scenario. It supplies both

theoretical and practical information on all the fields

covering this topic, and the possibility of interacting

with the instrumentation typical of this subject by

means of simulating it. The website and virtual

laboratories have been created to provide that

information thus making it easy for any person

wishing to go deeper into the theme to do so.

2 OBJECTIVES

The main objective that it is aimed to fulfil is the

development of a software application which makes

up for the absence of information experienced by

students of technical studies when acquiring

theoretical knowledge and carrying out practical

classes in laboratories, specifically in the classes

corresponding to experimentation with the concrete

instruments for the measurement of vibrations and

noise.

The secondary objectives are:

 To develop an application containing

information referring to the instrumentation and

measurement methods.

 The application has direct access to the

regulation in force on the protection of the health

and safety of workers against risks related to

exposure to machine vibrations.

 To include extensive information on the possi-

ble effects on workers brought on by vibrations

and noise.

 The software has a complete training tutorial for

expert technicians.

 To permit the user to become familiarized with

some of the measurement instruments by means

of the simulation of their functioning in different

work posts.

 To permit the updating of the information it

contains through a resource manager with a

database which contributes dynamism to the

application itself.

 The virtual laboratory has a general interface for

the presentation of different applications related

to Work-related Risk Prevention.

 The web page works in a “multiplatform”

environment. The application can be used in any

computer regardless of its operative system.

 It is intuitive and easy to use as it is aimed at

people who do not necessarily have any

extensive knowledge of the subject.

3 EXPERIMENT DESCRIPTION,

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the developed portal it is aimed to concentrate all

the aspects necessary for a specialist in the

prevention of work-related risks: noise and

vibrations (Figure 1).

Figure 1: First display screen of the Work-Related Risk

Prevention portal.

With it, the drawbacks which real laboratory

learning entails disappear:

 The high cost of instruments for measuring

noise.

 The need for a teacher to supervise the

operations carried out in each machine.

 The need to fit out a laboratory in order to carry

out these practical classes.

 The need to adopt a timetable to set up the

practical classes.

The sections included are:

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* A tutorial to guide the technician, supplying

him/her with information on different physics fields

dealing with noise and vibrations, the

instrumentation to be used in measuring them, the

regulations in force, updated, to be applied during

that measuring process together with the different

configuration parameters to be used in controlling

noise, and a series of tutorial videos which facilitate

the understanding of the handling of the devices

related to this theme.

* Gallery in which there is a useful educational

illustrated reference with information on all the

machines and instruments employed.

* Virtual Laboratory or Simulation that presents

measurement and calibration processes of a lot

devices, as dosimeter, sonometer, calibrator, and

vibrometers. Also, theses sections include

calculations and results, interpretation of images,

resolution of cases, etc.

The developed web has the following

characteristics:

* Flexible interface for access to information

available.

* Opportunity for the learner to repeat the

practical activities as many times as he/she considers

it necessary until the didactic results wished are

achieved.

* The learning timetable is established by the

users themselves in accordance with their needs.

* Possibility of use of software at all times.

3.1 Functioning

An application has been set up to permit the

handling of the different sections detailed in the

definition of the real problem.

The user can gain access to each of those

sections by selecting the corresponding option.

By using a multimedia platform in which,

through animations and an attractive interface which

makes learning a pleasure for the user, all the

necessary theory is provided for the latter for an

optimal understanding in the field of industrial noise

and vibrations, as well as a complete description of

the instruments required in the measuring and

prevention of both the noise and machine vibrations,

together with explanatory video-tutorials making it

easier to manage them (Figures 2 and 3).

Furthermore, in this application a file has been

included by all the legislation relating to risks

prevention, which is permanent updated by the web

administrator and which in addition can be

downloaded by the student.

With regard to the laboratories and depending on

the apparatus with which work is going to be done

virtually, the technician has to insert data for their

correct working. Similarly, there is a possibility of

consulting the explanation of the working of the

apparatus and to manipulate it. To ensure that the

user learns correctly, the system guarantees that if

this is the first time h/she accesses to it, h/she should

carry out some basic activities on it, then, later, be

able to increase their difficulty (Figure 4).

Figure 2: Image gallery.

Figure 3: Tutorial and legislation.

In addition, the practical activities (virtual

laboratories) present in the programme include the

principle of “learning while practising”, with which

the user will acquire the necessary capacity to

handle the machines in real life and interpret their

results. H/she will be able to verify analytical

solutions and experiment with different

configuration parameters.

Figure 4: Working of the dosimeter.

3.2 Environment

The interface was aimed to be simple, friendly and

intuitive so that all its users, regardless of their

degree of knowledge on the theme, would be

capable of handling it (Figure 5).

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Figure 5: Interface on training in work-related risk from

vibrations.

The system is directed both at Work-related Risk

Prevention technicians and learners in the field of

industrial noise and machine vibrations, who should

have basic knowledge of Office Automation and

Windows, and a computer with the resources

necessary for executing the programme.

The application has been developed with the

ActionScript programming language and the

database MySQL, so that for its modification it will

be necessary to dispose of Macromedia Flash 8 and

an Oracle system. For its use and visualization only

a browser will be needed since this programme is

accessed to through the website of the Department

of Applied Physics at Córdoba University

http://rabfis15.uco.es/, by either Explorer 6.0,

Firefox, Netscape, with the installation of the plug in

of Flash Player being considered necessary.

3.3 External Aspect

The interface is intuitive and ergonomic to handle. It

has shades of eccentricity and tries to be very clear

and perceptive. Its objective is to facilitate access to

different units of the programme easily and quickly.

The constant use of a multitude of sounds and of

continuous movements is not recommendable since

this may slow down the execution of the

applications and prevent the user from achieving

his/her objectives at any speed.

There is a striking presentation of the

information as it makes use of multimedia

techniques to attract the user’s attention.

From the user’s point of view, the interface

should permit him/her to locate the information and

carry out his/her operations quickly as can be

verified in most web pages.

It has been attempted not to distract the user too

much with the design but at the same time make the

application attractive, reaching a halfway point in

the animations employed.

The developed product is available at all times in

the website http://rabfis15.uco.es/ of the

Department of Applied Physics at Córdoba

University.

Together with the application developed the

documentation generated during its creation process

is supplied. This includes the technical handbooks,

which contain the general information on the process

of analysis, design, implementation and system test,

and the Code Manuals in which the source codes of

the applications developed are described.

A user’s guide is also included with all the

information necessary for a good management of the

application. Screen captures are carried out on all

and every one of the sections of the application to

support the information offered in it.

4 RESULTS OBTAINED AND

AVAILABILITY OF USE

A web portal has been created for training in work-

related risk prevention, which is being used in the

Master in Work-related Risk Prevention at Córdoba

University, and is permanently available in the

server http://rabfis15.uco.es/ of the Physics

Department.

4.1 Virtual Laboratory Actions

The following are the possible actions that the

normal user can perform in the execution of the

programme:

4.1.1 Consult a Technical Tutorial

The user has at his/her disposal a tutorial divided

into different sections with the aim of facilitating

his/her study of the theory of machine vibrations and

noise.

The information given in the tutorial is structured

in the following way:

 Physical properties of vibrations and noise: in

this section an extended definition of vibrations

and noise is made.

 Parameters which define the vibrations and noise

at work: In this section each of the parameters

intervening is defined.

 Spectrum analysis of vibrations: In this section

some physical aspects of the vibrations

phenomenon are described in relation to their

study in the frequency domain.

 Vibration and noise measurement techniques: In

this section, the diverse practices employed in

measuring are described, depending on the

situation, the objective, the place and conditions

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of the environment in which these measurements

are made.

 Effects or pathologies of vibrations and noise on

people: In this section, a detailed description is

given of the effects that the work-related risks

being studied can cause.

 Control systems: In this section, the methods for

remedying the vibrations and noise or for

restricting them to tolerable levels are described.

o Control systems in the source

o Vibration uncoupling systems

o Control systems by Individual Protection

Equipments (EPI).

o Administration controls.

 Vibrations and noise in industry: In this section

the risks that it is possible to localize in industry

are detailed.

4.1.2 Consult a Legislation Tutorial

The user disposes of a tutorial with the legislation in

force in order to find out the legal regulations

concerning vibrations and noise in a job of work.

The information given is classified in accordance

with the existing norms, including laws, royal

decrees and directives.

4.1.3 Consult a Photo Gallery

The user can gain access to a gallery in which he/she

can observe the different apparatus and instruments

used. The user can identify, become acquainted with

and study the general characteristics of these

instruments.

4.1.4 Simulation of the Phenomena:

Measurement and Treatment

The user can access to a laboratory in which he/she

is shown a series of simulations in order to prepare

him/her in the measurement of vibrations and noise

and the interpretation of his/her results. As an

example, some of the simulations available are:

 Calibration process: Simulation of the calibration

process of a vibrometer controlling a possible

incorrect calibration.

 Vibrometer: Simulation corresponding to the

handling of this measurement device.

 Simulation in work posts.

4.1.5 Consult Video-Tutorials and Consult

Help

The user, by using videos which provide comple-

mentary information on certain aspects included in

other modules of the application (Figure 6).

Figure 6: Video-tutorials.

In each of the programme’s modules the help

section can be accessed to from that module. It is

easy to use and very useful to the user for solving

problems arising when browsing through the

application.

To finish, the possible actions which the user at

an administrator level can perform by executing the

application are detailed. To gain access to these

actions the user must fill in a form to confirm that

he/she is a user at an administrator level.

4.1.6 Manage Users

The user-administrator can enrol other user-

administrators so that they can gain access to the

application’s management tool. Each user-

administrator can modify his/her own password to

enter the management tool of the virtual laboratory,

and, if necessary remove him/herself from the

application itself. No user-administrator can change

the password or remove any other user-

administrator.

The user can insert, modify and even remove the

address of the virtual laboratories referring to Work-

related Risk Prevention from the access list to

laboratories.

The contents permit the user-administrator to

manage the information of the application’s

tutorials. The user-administrator can insert, modify

and remove contents from the different tutorials in

the virtual laboratory. In the same module there is an

option for showing the information from some

section of the tutorials to see if it is correct.

The user-administrator can update the

information contained in the virtual laboratory

guide. In the same module, the user-administrator

can insert, modify and remove links of interest

within the application.

The user-administrator can upload files of

images for the tutorials and pdf files for their

subsequent downloading for the normal users of the

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application. The module shows all the images

uploaded.

5 USEFULNESS AND

SELF-EVALUATION OF THE

EXPERIMENT

The web portal developed has only been finished

and implemented for a short time in the web server,

and, therefore, it has not been used with the students.

However, some pilot validation qualitative tests have

been done with different users taken at random and

all of them have underlined two important aspects of

this programme. On one hand, how easy it is to use,

and, on the other, they say that it has helped them to

improve concepts. Most of them have also

mentioned that the section corresponding to the

videos in which the handling of the apparatus was

explained and visualized was of great interest to

them.

In a second stage of investigation, this tool will

be implemented with the students and the results

obtained studied.

The quality and reliability of the software are

two of the most important characteristics to be taken

into account in the creation of the software. That is

why the application developed with this work has

been submitted to pertinent exhaustive tests in order

to minimize, as far as possible, the risk of any

failure.

However, as the application has to be accessed

by Internet, the speed at which it returns the data

will depend to a great extent on the quality of the

connection both of the computer in which it is

installed and the users who access to it.

6 CONCLUSIONS

A software application has been developed which

compensates for the lack of information experienced

by technical students when acquiring theoretical

knowledge and doing practice exercises in the

laboratories corresponding to Work Hygiene: work-

related risk prevention, especially in the practical

classes on experimentation with specific instruments

measuring vibrations and noise.

The portal and laboratories implemented have

the following characteristics:

 This application contains extensive information

referring to the instrumentation and methods for

measuring machine vibrations and noise.

 It has direct access to the legislation in force on

the protection of the health and safety of workers

against risks related to machine vibrations and

noise at work

 It includes ample information on the possible

effects on workers which can be brought on by

vibrations and noise.

 It has a detailed training tutorial for expert

technicians.

 It permits the user to become familiarized with

some of the instruments for the measurement of

machine vibrations and noise by means of the

simulation of their working in different job posts.

 It permits the updating of the information

contained in it through a resource manager with a

database which makes the application more

dynamic.

 It has a general interface for the presentation of

the different applications related to Work-related

Risk Prevention.

 It functions in a “multiplatform” environment.

The application can be used in any computer

regardless of its operative system.

 It is intuitive and easy to manage since it is

aimed at people who do not necessarily need any

broad knowledge in the subject.

REFERENCES

Bedi R. Evaluation of occupational environment in two

textile plants in Northern India with specific reference

to noise Industrial Health 44, 112, 2006.

Bhattacharya S. K., Hearing acuity in weavers of a textile

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1981.

Guinchard P, Charbotel B, Pouget E, et al., Occupational

exposure to car driving and adverse health effects

(except road crashes). Review, Archives des Maladies

Professionnelles et de L’ Environnement 69, 3, 464-

474, 2008.

Jimenez, P. M; Perez, G et al., Virtual learning

environment for physics instruction, 1st International

Conference on Computer Supported Education, 2009

Portugal CSEDU 2009: Proceedings, Vol II 73-77,

2009.

Lercher P, Environmental noise and health: An integrated

research perspective, Environment International 22,

117, 1996

Ramazzini, B., Deseases of Workers (1713), Hafner, New

York, NY, 1964.

Yildirim I, The effects of noise on hearing and oxidative

stress in textile workers, Industrial Health 45 , pp. 743,

2007.

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