Evaluation and redesign of protective masks used by male Filipino painters in Oscar Painting Company.

• Main Authors: Cheng, Frederick, See, Anthony, Yap, Benedict
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Subjects: Masks > Safety measures; Industrial Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10275
• Institution: De La Salle University

Painting jobs expose workers to dangerous chemicals that can be easily inhaled in the body. Therefore the use of respirators that are effective and at the same time, comfortable is essential. In this study, four types of protective masks, namely Rubber Cartridge Mask, Sponge, Dust Mask with Plastic Frame and dust Mask without Plastic Frame were taken into consideration. These workers who use these masks were used as test subjects in this study. Discomfort problems like difficulty in breathing, itchiness, moisture formation etc. analyzed. The first involved gathering surveys from the painters of Oscar Painting Company. Based from the survey percentage importance and percent satisfaction for each mask currently used was computed. With the respective importance for each attribute and their satisfaction rating, gap measurements were computed. If the computed gap measurement value produces a negative value, it means that the mask used doesn't meet the required desirability. This is known as a desirability gap. The results show that the largest problem encountered by the users is that of eliminating the paint odor with a gap measurement value of - 73.33%, next discomfort is that of moisture formation inside the mask with a value of -10.56%. Other difficulties are poor fitting of the facepiece and difficulty in breathing with a value of -6.75% and -4.33% respectively. An analysis of customer requirements is then made in order to make the necessary improvements. The first analysis made is that of leakage testing wherein the appropriate frame shape, frame material and lining material were defined. The use of activated carbon filter to filter out the paint chemicals is also used. The second stage involved determining design attributes like lining material, inner-lining material, filter area, filter configuration, exit valve location that contribute to the comfort of the users. Surveys were used to find out which combination of factors provides the highest level of comfort. The proposed mask introduced several changes. The height of the facepiece was reduced to 9 cm to fit the population, the filter weight is also reduced to 40.6 grams, and the air intake area is also increased to from 4.4087 to 17 cm for easier inhalation. The valve is placed at the front to enable exhaled air to exit immediately, the strap width was increased to 2.5 cm. An inner frame lining made leatherette was introduced to reduce odor and a rubber foam sheet was used as a lining material. The proposed mask showed significant improvements in satisfaction ratings based on computed z-values. Newly computed gap measurements resulted in all positive values, which indicate that the design attributes satisfy the required customer needs.