2013 - (Vol. 05, Issue 01)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/18676

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Browsing 2013 - (Vol. 05, Issue 01) by Author "De Silva, N"

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    Colour Associated Thermal Perception (CTP): Evidence From An Experimental Research Design Implemented In Sri Lanka.
    (Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2013-12) Hettiarachchi, A; De Silva, N
    Colours have been hypothetically recognized to alter perceived temperature. and thus differentiated as warm colours and cool colours, even though not satisfactorily supported via scientific inquiry. Given that this association could be generalized, the current investigation proposes its integration to create the optimal perceived thermal milieu demanded by human activities in built environment eventually working as a potential hybrid approach for energy conservation. In order to comprehend the logic behind warm-cool dichotomy of colour perception and to provide scientific explanation on its nature, emergence and significant factors, an experimental research design was adopted with reference to red and blue associated thermal perception (RTP and BTP). It was affirmed that a warm RTP and a cool BTP can be generalized. Colour blind subjects were found to perceive the same suggesting possibilities of CTP beyond visual perception. Colour associated thermal perception was found to be more of a psychological response. One’s psychological state triggered by colour stimuli, preference to exposed coloured environment and the preconceived, learnt ideologies molded by educational background were found to have a significant impact on both RTP and BTP. Further, BTP was found to have relationship with subject's age, and the surface temperature of blue work station while subjects' favorite colour was significant for RTP. Accordingly, CTP was found to emerge as a subtle, complex combination of several layers; psychological, learnt, external as well as certain un-revealed factors.
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    A Study on the Factors Affecting Safety Behavior of Construction Workers
    (Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2013-12) Manjula, NHC; De Silva, N
    Construction industry, being one of the most injury-prone industries worldwide in terms of serious injuries, lost work time, hospitalization, disability, and mortality, is in a great need to improve occupational safety. Behavior Based Safety (BBS) is an approach that can be applied successfully in managing occupational safety; it is gaining more interest across industry sectors globally and has the great advantage of needing the involvement of the individual employee. This paper, therefore, aimed to investigate the factors governing construction workers' safety behavior. The factors which affect construction workers' safety behavior were identified through a comprehensive literature survey. Expert interviews were conducted in order to validate and generalize the factors found in literature to the Sri Lankan context. Two categories of factors were basically identified which affect the safety behavior of construction workers, namely personal and organizational. The personal factors included age, marital status, education level, working experience, haling dependents, and safety knowledge. Study indicated that personal factors such as habits and soda l life might also have an impact on a workers safety behavior yet need longitudinal research before generalizing to a particular context. Organizational factors identified were management commitment, OSH systems and feedback mechanisms, continuous monitoring of these systems, training and awareness for workers, accidents reporting and workforce empowerment. The findings of this research were modeled in a model of construction workers' safety behavior. The findings of this study can be used in enhancing the safety performance of the construction industry.