Essay on Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Introduction
In this modern world there are various professions, among them engineering is considered a well-renowned and highly respected profession. Human lives are precious and worthy, In that way, an engineer’s life is more valuable because an engineer carries massive responsibility throughout his life. Engineers face many hazards in their work place in their day-to-day life. It is very important to acknowledge those hazards which threatens the engineers.
Engineering is a versatile and large stream as there are many parts of engineering. Such as Electronics and telecommunication engineering, computer science and engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical and process engineering etc. Even though all these engineering fields have risks of different types, mechanical engineering field is mostly considered as the highly risked field. Mechanical engineering is built up with various sub branches such as aerospace engineering, thermal engineering, vehicle engineering, etc. Engineering is a common field where both men and women show interest in being a part of it. But in the mechanical engineering field, most men show interest rather than women, because of the major hazards and the type of work . For instance power tools and giant equipment are used in the mechanical field which are difficult to be handled by both men and women. So the hazards in their work places increase the fear among mechanical engineers. So it’s not only important to address the risk factors but also important to find solutions for their problems. safety engineering and its principles, the importance of risk management in mechanical engineering, and solutions to manage hazards are below.
Safety engineering and its principles
“Safety engineering” is a phrase that is very obvious to us and reveals the importance of providing the needful facilities and risk-free surroundings to every engineer and making them comfortable both physically and mentally. Through the principles of safety engineering, there are many ways to protect engineers. Engineering is a field which has a long past, even though technology has grown immensely in this modern world and most of the engineering works are computerized some of the engineering fields are manually done. Among them mechanical engineering profession is all about handling machinery, testing newly designed equipment and working with toxic materials, because of this aspect of the profession mechanical engineering is considered a ‘hands-on engagement’ profession. So the risk factor is high in the mechanical department when compared to the other departments. “Safety engineering” consists of three major principles such as hazard identification, hazard evaluation, and hazard controlling.
1) Hazard identification
First of all, the word hazard is not familiar to everyone. We may have heard this word in various places but in detail “hazard” stands for risk or danger at an extreme level. Next it can be identified through past events and can be assumed in mechanical engineering field.
Working outdoors and under hard circumstances
Apart from laboratory testing works and computer-assisted work mechanical engineers are supposed to work in difficult conditions. For instance, in aerospace engineering engineers risk their lives while they test newly designed parts of the aerospace. Even small technical failures may lead to big loss. Operating big aerospace machinery is risky because mishandling those may cause cuts in hands and minor injuries. Thermal engineering is about controlling the environment by the system of cooling and heating, working under these conditions create more hazards as the unsteady temperature may affect the workers and make them sick.
Working with nonfamiliar equipment
Every profession requires equipment which is essential to it. For example, doctors need stethoscopes as a tool. However, in mechanical engineering, most of the tools used by engineers are gigantic and hard to operate. Most of them work with the assistance of major power plants and power generators. Even a tiny mistake in that system will harm many of the workers. Because of the broadness of the mechanical engineering field engineers are supposed to work with harmful chemicals, and flammable gases so here also the chances of getting affected by misusing the above things may hurt them. Big chains and wheels are also can cause damage, and moving objects and machinery can trap some of the body parts which is called “shearing”. Drillers and cutters are also some of the equipment that threaten mechanical engineers. Direct contact with sharp-edged equipment such as blades will cause severe. Oscillating and rotating objects are also quite dangerous as they can be very harmful by hitting the engineers who operate them.
Unexpected hazards
Nature is the most common factor for everyone. There are various aspects of the nature. Some of its aspects create a danger to everyone, and mechanical engineers are also among those victims. Fire accidents are more likely to happen in the mechanical engineering field. These could affect engineers by creating fire wounds and damaging their equipment. Pressure is also a major cause that changes rapidly in mechanical engineers’ workplaces. This factor also affects them and makes them feel uncomfortable.
2) Hazard evaluation
Every system has a process for it. Here the above-identified hazards should be carried through a process to find solutions. Hazards are created by both human error and nature. Even though human errors can be reduced through proper systems natural threats are difficult to reduce. To reduce human errors every mechanical engineer and the other workers on the work site should know their responsibilities. For example, there is a supervisor who should be a good observer and should have the presence of mind.
Next, it’s very important to address the consequences of these hazards in common. This can be divided into two categories. The first one is minor problems such as small cuts, scrapes, lacerations, bruises, slight injuries, and minor machinery damages. The second one is serious problems such as limbs broken or torn out, serious injury with stitches, death, and major machinery damage. Because of these consequences affected engineers get physically and mentally ill. For instance, they will suffer under stress and feel uncomfortable.