The extent of work related fatal accidents has been analysed statistically by agencies throughout the world. As a result of this analysis there is a wealth of information available categorised by industry types, sub-industry, occupation, sex, age, nature of occurrence, bodily location, agency of occurrence and mechanism of injury. It is however extremely difficult to identify information pertaining to confined space fatalities such as contributory factors, mechanisms of injury and other data of an epidemiological nature.

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Esta pesquisa trata de uma análise do trabalho de dez eletricistas que atuam em espaços confinados de redes subterrâneas de distribuição de energia, na Companhia Estadual de Energia Elétrica, Porto Alegre, RS. Foi identificada a demanda ergonômica dos eletricistas, com base em um método participativo (Análise Macroergonômica do Trabalho) de levantamento e avaliação dos dados, que gerou insumos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho e segurança e, conseqüente, promoção de prevenção de acidentes. A pesquisa revelou que os eletricistas consideram como aspectos mais positivos do trabalho os relacionamentos entre chefia, supervisores e colegas. Em contrapartida, apontam problemas críticos de diversas naturezas: biomecânico/posto, organização do trabalho, ambiental e relacionados à empresa. Também foram identificados níveis elevados de demandas físicas e mentais do trabalho, concluindo-se que o medo, evidenciado no discurso dos eletricistas, é referente ao trabalho com eletricidade e não ao trabalho em espaços confinados. Além disso, a pesquisa apontou cinco procedimentos, considerados como padrões mínimos, para a realização de trabalhos seguros em espaços confinados: reconhecimento, monitoramento da atmosfera, ventilação, treinamento e resgate.Apesar dos eletricistas não terem ciência da existência destes procedimentos, os mesmos foram citados, direta ou indiretamente nas entrevistas, como aspectos relevantes ao trabalho, sendo atribuído a maioria deles um baixo nível de satisfação. Com isso, conclui-se que a implantação de um programa de permissão de entrada em espaços confinados, além de promover a segurança neste ambientes tem relação direta com a satisfação dos trabalhadores. / The focus of this dissertation is the work analysis of ten electricians who act in confined space at underground power lines at the Estate Electricity Company in Porto Alegre, RS. It was identified the electricians’ ergonomic demand items. The research was carried out according to the participatory methods of survey and assessment of data, to improvement of safety and work conditions and, therefore, to prevent accidents. The research disclosed that the electricians have the relationship with their superiors, supervisors, and workmates as the most positive aspect of the job. On the other hand, they point out critical problems from different causes: biomechanical, task organization, environmental, and the ones related to the company. Overload regarding physical and mental work demand has been identified, proving that the fear, evident in the professionals’ speech is about the electricity, and not related to confined underground spaces. Besides, the research also displayed five procedures regarded as minimal standards to execute safe work in confined spaces: recognition, testing and monitoring atmosphere, ventilation, training and rescue. Despite the little knowledge electricians have on this criteria, some points of it were reported, some in an indirect way, during the interviews as relevant aspects to the work, being attributed to most of them a low level of satisfaction. Therefore, it comes to the conclusion that the implantation of a Permit-Requires Space Program, besides promoting accidents prevention in these spaces, has a direct relationship with the workers’ satisfaction.

Esta pesquisa trata de uma análise do trabalho de dez eletricistas que atuam em espaços confinados de redes subterrâneas de distribuição de energia, na Companhia Estadual de Energia Elétrica, Porto Alegre, RS. Foi identificada a demanda ergonômica dos eletricistas, com base em um método participativo (Análise Macroergonômica do Trabalho) de levantamento e avaliação dos dados, que gerou insumos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho e segurança e, conseqüente, promoção de prevenção de acidentes. A pesquisa revelou que os eletricistas consideram como aspectos mais positivos do trabalho os relacionamentos entre chefia, supervisores e colegas. Em contrapartida, apontam problemas críticos de diversas naturezas: biomecânico/posto, organização do trabalho, ambiental e relacionados à empresa. Também foram identificados níveis elevados de demandas físicas e mentais do trabalho, concluindo-se que o medo, evidenciado no discurso dos eletricistas, é referente ao trabalho com eletricidade e não ao trabalho em espaços confinados. Além disso, a pesquisa apontou cinco procedimentos, considerados como padrões mínimos, para a realização de trabalhos seguros em espaços confinados: reconhecimento, monitoramento da atmosfera, ventilação, treinamento e resgate.Apesar dos eletricistas não terem ciência da existência destes procedimentos, os mesmos foram citados, direta ou indiretamente nas entrevistas, como aspectos relevantes ao trabalho, sendo atribuído a maioria deles um baixo nível de satisfação. Com isso, conclui-se que a implantação de um programa de permissão de entrada em espaços confinados, além de promover a segurança neste ambientes tem relação direta com a satisfação dos trabalhadores. / The focus of this dissertation is the work analysis of ten electricians who act in confined space at underground power lines at the Estate Electricity Company in Porto Alegre, RS. It was identified the electricians’ ergonomic demand items. The research was carried out according to the participatory methods of survey and assessment of data, to improvement of safety and work conditions and, therefore, to prevent accidents. The research disclosed that the electricians have the relationship with their superiors, supervisors, and workmates as the most positive aspect of the job. On the other hand, they point out critical problems from different causes: biomechanical, task organization, environmental, and the ones related to the company. Overload regarding physical and mental work demand has been identified, proving that the fear, evident in the professionals’ speech is about the electricity, and not related to confined underground spaces. Besides, the research also displayed five procedures regarded as minimal standards to execute safe work in confined spaces: recognition, testing and monitoring atmosphere, ventilation, training and rescue. Despite the little knowledge electricians have on this criteria, some points of it were reported, some in an indirect way, during the interviews as relevant aspects to the work, being attributed to most of them a low level of satisfaction. Therefore, it comes to the conclusion that the implantation of a Permit-Requires Space Program, besides promoting accidents prevention in these spaces, has a direct relationship with the workers’ satisfaction.

Esta pesquisa trata de uma análise do trabalho de dez eletricistas que atuam em espaços confinados de redes subterrâneas de distribuição de energia, na Companhia Estadual de Energia Elétrica, Porto Alegre, RS. Foi identificada a demanda ergonômica dos eletricistas, com base em um método participativo (Análise Macroergonômica do Trabalho) de levantamento e avaliação dos dados, que gerou insumos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho e segurança e, conseqüente, promoção de prevenção de acidentes. A pesquisa revelou que os eletricistas consideram como aspectos mais positivos do trabalho os relacionamentos entre chefia, supervisores e colegas. Em contrapartida, apontam problemas críticos de diversas naturezas: biomecânico/posto, organização do trabalho, ambiental e relacionados à empresa. Também foram identificados níveis elevados de demandas físicas e mentais do trabalho, concluindo-se que o medo, evidenciado no discurso dos eletricistas, é referente ao trabalho com eletricidade e não ao trabalho em espaços confinados. Além disso, a pesquisa apontou cinco procedimentos, considerados como padrões mínimos, para a realização de trabalhos seguros em espaços confinados: reconhecimento, monitoramento da atmosfera, ventilação, treinamento e resgate.Apesar dos eletricistas não terem ciência da existência destes procedimentos, os mesmos foram citados, direta ou indiretamente nas entrevistas, como aspectos relevantes ao trabalho, sendo atribuído a maioria deles um baixo nível de satisfação. Com isso, conclui-se que a implantação de um programa de permissão de entrada em espaços confinados, além de promover a segurança neste ambientes tem relação direta com a satisfação dos trabalhadores. / The focus of this dissertation is the work analysis of ten electricians who act in confined space at underground power lines at the Estate Electricity Company in Porto Alegre, RS. It was identified the electricians’ ergonomic demand items. The research was carried out according to the participatory methods of survey and assessment of data, to improvement of safety and work conditions and, therefore, to prevent accidents. The research disclosed that the electricians have the relationship with their superiors, supervisors, and workmates as the most positive aspect of the job. On the other hand, they point out critical problems from different causes: biomechanical, task organization, environmental, and the ones related to the company. Overload regarding physical and mental work demand has been identified, proving that the fear, evident in the professionals’ speech is about the electricity, and not related to confined underground spaces. Besides, the research also displayed five procedures regarded as minimal standards to execute safe work in confined spaces: recognition, testing and monitoring atmosphere, ventilation, training and rescue. Despite the little knowledge electricians have on this criteria, some points of it were reported, some in an indirect way, during the interviews as relevant aspects to the work, being attributed to most of them a low level of satisfaction. Therefore, it comes to the conclusion that the implantation of a Permit-Requires Space Program, besides promoting accidents prevention in these spaces, has a direct relationship with the workers’ satisfaction.

Regarding the myriad disputed documents encountered within the science of forensic document examination, questioned handwriting is the most prevalent. This includes the simulation or alteration of and or additions to handwriting and signatures. The current study examined the changes that may occur in writing when given a limited amount of space. Several participants completed a survey wherein writing samples were taken under varying space allowances. These space restrictions were made under differing conditions such as boxed signatures, additions to prewritten material, and alterations to letters and numbers. The results of the study found characteristics of reflex of avoidance in the participants' handwriting. These characteristics included changes in height, width, and letter spacing in accordance to the amount of space provided. The examples of reflex of avoidance defined throughout this study may serve to assist forensic document examiners in the detection of alterations within questioned documents.

Despite the plethora of information regarding cellular crowding and its importance on modulating protein function the effects of confinement on biological molecules are often overlooked when investigating their physiological function. Recently however, the encapsulation of biomolecules in solid state matrices (NafionTM, sol-gels, zirconium phosphate,etc.) has increased in importance as a method for examining protein conformation and dynamics in confined space as well as novel applications in biotechnology. Biotechnological applications include, but are not limited to, bioremediation, biosensors, biocatalysts, etc. In order to better utilize solid state materials as substrates for biological molecules an understanding of the effects of encapsulation on the detailed dynamics associated with physiological function is required as well as a complete characterization of the physical properties associated with the space in which the biological molecule is to be confined. The focus of this research is to probe the effects of confinement on the thermodynamics of ligand photo-release/rebinding to the prototypical heme protein, myoglobin, encapsulated within sol-gel glasses utilizing photoacoustic calorimetry (PAC) and photothermal beam deflection (PBD). Optical spectroscopies (including optical absorption and fluorescence) have also been employed to characterize the molecular environments of materials including Zr-phosphate and metal organic polyhedral (MOPs), thought to be good candidates for novel bio-hybrid materials. The assembly mechanisms associated with MOPs were also examined in order to develop a foundation through which new, bio-compatible MOPs can be designed. Overall the results presented here represent a technological breakthrough in the application of fast calorimetry to the study of proteins in confined space. This will allow for the first time the acquisition of detailed thermodynamic maps associated with the well-choreographed biomolecular dynamics in confined environments.