Scientific school of the department of life safety

The rapid growth of capital construction in the country in the early 70's of last century attracted millions of workers, technicians and civil engineers to the construction industry. At the same time, the significant level of injuries in the construction industry caused by the construction boom in the middle of the last century has led to the need for construction professionals who would have a thorough knowledge of occupational safety requirements and those who could apply this knowledge in practice. To solve this problem in the Dnepropetrovsk Civil Engineering Institute one of the first in the USSR Department of “Occupational Safety and Ergonomics” was organized. Experienced manufacturers, associate professors of the department Bitsaiev and Chukanov (A.F. Bitsaiev worked as a chief mechanic of the largest construction trust “Dniprospetsbud”, and A.A. Chukanov – as a manager of the trust “Dniprozhitlobud”) managed to combine theoretical safety issues with urgent production problems, focusing on acute moments, to raise in the minds of students the importance of human health and life in the process of work. A significant place in the joint scientific work of Professor G.M. Krikunov and Associate Professor A.S. Bielikov found issues of prevention of occupational injuries. First of all, the organizational and physiological factors that can cause injuries in various areas of construction were studied. A survey of a number of industries: construction plant № 1, VO “Dniprovazhindustriya”, VO “Oblavtodor” and others, – showed a significant link between injuries of construction workers with the biological rhythms of a man. By the decision of the Academic Council of the Institute on the basis of the Department of Occupational Safety and Cycle “Civil Defense” on May 28, 1991, the Department of "Life Safety" was created.The main directions of scientific activity are fundamental and applied researches: assessment of fire danger of objects and consequences of fires of buildings and constructions; reduction of flammability and increase of fire resistance of building designs due to application of fire-retardant coverings; improving the radiation quality of residential buildings and ways to achieve it; safety when performing special construction works of high-rise installers; increase of safety at performance of emergency rescue operations in extreme situations; assessment of life safety in case of extreme conditions (fires, accidents, natural disasters); prevention of injuries and occupational diseases in the conditions of production; safety of life in the conditions of negative influence (noise, radiation, infrared radiation); risk assessment and development of effective measures in the conditions of radiation danger on the territory of the former uranium production «Radon»; conducting forensic examinations in case of emergencies at the facilities.