“The Government Award” is the recognition and affirmation of the government, and it is a common honor for the whole company.” At the award ceremony of the 17th Science and Technology Innovation Government Award (hereinafter referred to as the “The Government Award”) held recently, Mr. Haisheng Zhong, Chairman of Suzhou lapsen Intelligent Technology Co. (hereinafter referred to as “Lapsen”) was awarded the “Government Award” in the vocational category. Speaking of his feelings after receiving the award, Haisheng Zhong said.

The project for which lapsen declared the “Government Award” is “Research, development and industrialization of dangrous-work robots for hazardous working envirnment in heavy industry”. Through customized development of robot operating systems for different work scenarios, the project provides customers with intelligent special robotic equipment that can adapt to harsh production environments in different scenarios. These special robots can replace people from dangerous jobs and realize cost reduction and efficiency for enterprises.

“China’s heavy industry covers a wide range of industries with large scales, and is the foundation of the country’s development, as well as the basis for the growth of other industrial components. But all along, China’s heavy industry went through the low-end process of expansion with poor operating environment.” Zhong Haisheng said, the consequences of the extensive and speedy growth, on the one hand, occupational hazard is a big threat; on the other hand, also the huge pressure on the production safety supervision department. Moreover, with the changes in labor structure, enterprises are also facing the reality of recruitment difficulties, expensive labor, the field of dangerous-work “machine for man” is imperative, which also allows Zhong Haisheng see the prospects for the development of the company.

MACHINE FOR MEN IS A MUST

I. Hazardous and harmful factors

Hazardous factors are factors that can cause injury or death to people or sudden damage to articles. Harmful factors are factors that can affect human health, cause disease or cause chronic damage to articles.

Dangerous and harmful factors in ferroalloy production include: fire, explosion, fall accidents, vehicle injuries, lifting injuries, burns, electrocution, drowning, boiler explosions, mechanical injuries, strikes, dust, poisoning and asphyxiation, ultraviolet radiation, high temperatures, inhalable particles and noise. Hazardous chemicals involved are ferrosilicon, acetylene, oxygen, carbon monoxide and so on.

According to “Building Design Fire Prevention Code” (GB50016-2006), the substances involved: acetylene belongs to Class A fire substances, carbon monoxide, oxygen belongs to Class B fire substances, and charcoal belongs to Class C fire substances. According to “Catalog of Highly Toxic Substances” (2003 edition), carbon monoxide is a highly toxic substance. According to “Classification of Hazard Degree of Occupational Exposure to Toxic Substances” (GB5044-85), carbon monoxide belongs to Class II (highly hazardous) substances, and oxygen belongs to Class IV (mildly hazardous) substances.

II. Dangerous and Harmful Levels

According to the process of ferroalloy production and production equipment (facilities), explosive, flammable, toxic and corrosive chemicals involved in the production process are: ferrosilicon (molten), acetylene (dissolved in medium), oxygen (compressed) and carbon monoxide.

Molten liquid ferrosilicon if water, rapid heating to above its boiling point and rapid vaporization, resulting in an explosion. The consequences will cause mass deaths and injuries, building damage and other serious consequences, in the production process to take effective precautions.

III. Main Hazardous Factors

Dust

The types of dust in this project mainly include ore dust, charcoal dust, silica dust (containing free SiO2), ground sand, recycling dust, etc. Because of its fine particles, it is easy to cause harm to the human body through the respiratory tract, and in serious cases, it can cause respiratory diseases such as pneumoconiosis. Mineral heat furnace surface, raw material plant, feeding system and other places are the main sources of dust production. In the process of production, workers inhale dust for a long time, which can cause lung tissue fibrosis-based lesions, hardening, loss of normal respiratory function, resulting in pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis is an occupational disease that cannot be cured. Treatment can only reduce the complications and delay the development of the disease, but cannot make the tissue lesions disappear.

Noise

Any unwanted sound that makes people feel annoyed and irritated is generally called noise. Noise is an irregular, disorganized sound formed by many dissonant fundamental sounds and their harmonics. The project air compressors, dust removal fans, fans, transportation vehicles, pumps, furnace production is the main source of noise, in the opening and stopping, normal operation of the noise will be generated, for high-noise equipment without noise reduction measures or soundproofing devices, long-term work in a high-noise environment, not only may cause occupational deafness, but also may cause high blood pressure, heart disease, neurosis and other diseases. Noise also pollutes the environment, affecting people’s normal life and production activities, especially strong noise can also damage the building and affect the normal operation of instruments and equipment.

Ultra-High temperature

The reaction temperature of ferrosilicon workshop is as high as 1800℃ during the production of ferrosilicon, and if the workers are not at a safe distance from the furnace or wear protective gears, they will be harmed in the process of smelting and discharging from the furnace.

Ultraviolet radiation

In the production environment, ultraviolet rays appear in the electromagnetic wave radiation when the temperature of the object is higher than 1200℃. (Molten ferrosilicon can reach temperatures of up to 1800°C.) UV radiation can cause dermatitis, and the most common form of UV damage to the eyes in the workplace is the occupational disease of photophthalmitis, which is caused by exposure to electric arc light.

Behavioral risk factors

Behavioral risk factors include unauthorized command and unauthorized operation. Most of the accidents are caused by people who do not follow rules and regulations.