Search

Many companies are facing issues related to the increasing average age of their workforce, which impacts both operational and occupational safety and health (OSH) performance. In recent years, the ageing workforce (AW) has been investigated from various perspectives by researchers, showing how companies can use different approaches to address this phenomenon, either in their OSH interventions or operational strategies. However, no studies have investigated the interrelations between these approaches. In this study, we first conducted an extensive literature review that enabled the identification of (i) the aspects of operational and OSH performance affected by the AW, (ii) the suitable types of interventions in an AW context, and (iii) the interrelations between the three. Based on this, we then present a conceptual decision support system (DSS) to assist decision makers in analysing operational and OSH performance at their workplace and defining the proper interventions for an AW context. Specifically, by considering the interrelations between the interventions and both operational and OSH performance, the conceptual DSS facilitates a win–win approach, where both operational and OSH performances are improved simultaneously by choosing the proper intervention(s). An illustrative application case is then developed to show the application of the DSS before drawing conclusions about its major strengths and limitations, and further research avenues.

The novelty of AG2STM (Acid Gas to Syngas) technology lies in the capability of producing syngas, a valuable product, from acid gases (H2S and CO2), which are refinery by-products. This work aims to propose and indicate the implementation of such technology as a revamping option of the already-running Claus plant. An applicability range based on industrial data by coupling two different software applications, i.e., Aspen HYSYS and MATLAB®. A comparison study between the two processes were developed, choosing some critical parameters (i.e., furnace inlet temperature, flame temperature, sulfur recovery efficiency, ratio of H2S and CO2 in the feed). The significance of introduced innovations is highlighted, at a technical, economic and environmental level. Due to complete recycle of H2S, relevant reduction of CO2, and syngas production the new technology appears to lean toward environmental and energy improvements and it could be integrated, without major investments, into existing systems, significantly increasing their performance.

Even though several guidelines have been proposed by public organizations about how to design an Occupational Health and Safety management system (OHSMS) customized to Small- and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs), an approach integrating and OHSMS with the risk assessment under a unified and shared logic still misses. This paper presents an evolutionary OHS tool for SMEs that combines the advantages of a simplified procedure to develop a risk analysis and outline a set of risk prevention and protection measures at workplace, such as the one proposed by the Italian legislation, with the advantages of a simplified OHS management model. It is assumed that a software tool could be the preferential way to allow a wide diffusion and an effective application of this model. The online structure also enables distributing OHS-related information directly from institutional databases. This information, provided within the same software tool used for risk assessment and OHS management, can significantly support in particular SMEs with a poor experience.