Nautical safety and efficiency: simulation and reality

The paper deals with training and research using maritime simulation techniques to provide cost-effective and safe solutions to maritime transportation problems. In order to reduce the probability of accidents, training and research is required in which the human factors are fully taken into account.     

一氧化碳的危害及防治

一氧化碳(CO)由焦炭或煤的不完全燃烧制得。也可从水煤气或煤气中分离出来。在有机合成工业上用作原料,如用作制造光气、甲醇、草酸等,在冶金工业上用作还原剂等。     

Research note: Job design and technology: A sociotechnical systems perspective

This study is a constructive replication of investigations into the technology-job design relationship. It is hypothesized that the utilization of a preprogrammed/system controlled technology reduces environmental variance resulting in routine (simple) versus non-routine (complex) job designs. Empirically it was noted that employees perceive and describe their jobs as routine when they interact with a system controlled technology.     

Occupational health and safety promotion: Problems and solutions

Most occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals would agree that having a good OSH promotion programme is a challenge, and problems can be encountered at almost every stage in the planning and delivery of the programme.The first obstacle which may be encountered is programme justification. How does one convince employers and employees of the need for OSH promotion, and does competition from “Wellness Programmes” reduce available resources? Programme planning, deciding what constitutes a programme, and what to include in the OSH promotion programme, may be a dilemma. The programme implementation, deciding who implements the activities and how a programme is sustained, may be other difficult issues. Finally, programme evaluation can be problematic: How is it done properly? and Who should evaluate the programme?Possible solutions to these problems may include the costing of work accidents and occupational ill health to justify the need and benefits of an OSH programme, and riding on the bandwagon of “wellness promotion” instead of competition for limited resources. In programme planning, knowing what is wanted and employing a professional to plan the programme is essential. The programme coverage should encompass health and safety issues, and preventive strategies should be directed towards both environment and lifestyle factors. There should be a prioritization of topics according to the needs of workers. The choice of OSH professionals versus “wellness promoters” or human resource officers as programme co-ordinators may affect the programme outcome. Training supervisors and line workers to be trainers would involve those directly in contact with work hazards in the programme. Programme evaluation is crucial. There should be provision for both process and outcome evaluations, and pains should be taken to ensure independence and objectivity of evaluations. The idea of linking programme results to the OSH personnel assessments is worth considering.The delivery of OSH promotion programmes in a relevant and effective manner poses a real challenge. While some obstacles and problems appear to be insurmountable, these challenges have to be faced and overcome in order to achieve the goals of protecting and promoting the health of the worker.     

On-road and simulated driving: concurrent and discriminant validation

Introduction

A converging pair of studies investigated the validity of a simulator for measuring driving performance/skill.

Study 1

A concurrent validity study compared novice driver performance during an on-road driving test with their performance on a comparable simulated driving test.

Results

Results showed a reasonable degree of concordance in terms of the distribution of driving errors on-road and errors on the simulator. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between the two when driver performance was rank ordered according to errors, further establishing the relative validity of the simulator. However, specific driving errors on the two tasks were not closely related suggesting that absolute validity could not be established and that overall performance is needed to establish the level of skill.

Study 2

A discriminant validity study compared driving performance on the simulator across three groups of drivers who differ in their level of experience - a group of true beginners who had no driving experience, a group of novice drivers who had completed driver education and had a learner's permit, and a group of fully licensed, experienced drivers.

Results

The findings showed significant differences among the groups in the expected direction -- the various measures of driving errors showed that beginners performed worse than novice drivers and that experienced drivers had the fewest errors. Collectively, the results of the concurrent and discriminant validity studies support the use of the simulator as a valid measure of driving performance for research purposes.

Impact on industry

These findings support the use of a driving simulator as a valid measure of driving performance for research purposes. Future research should continue to examine validity between on-road driving performance and performance on a driving simulator and the use of simulated driving tests in the evaluation of driver education/training programs.     

现代应急管理:理论体系与应用实践

现代应急管理是研究突发事件的现象及其发展规律的学科,集成多个学科的前沿理论、方法和技术,是当代中国应急管理发展需依托的知识体系及方法论。本文从现代应急管理的概念和理论出发,阐述了应急管理的功能体制与组织架构、风险分析策略与应急评价方法创新、新兴风险防范与应急管理机制设计、应急管理技术支撑与系统平台等核心问题。同时,从应急资源、应急产业、协作模式、应急文化4个方面对现代应急管理的应用与实践提出一些建议。研究表明:现代应急管理能够全面提高国家综合防灾减灾救灾能力。     

Azodicarboxylates: Explosive properties and DSC measurements

A large number of azodicarboxylates and their derivatives are produced and used in the chemical industries. The versatile applications of these azodicarboxylates in research institutes and in the chemical industries for chemical synthesis arouse additional hazards. The intent of this paper is to obtain first knowledge about the structure–response relationship regarding the explosive properties and the thermal hazards of different versatile used azodicarboxylates. The substances are examined with the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, different laboratory test methods, based on the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, are applied to determine the explosive properties of the mentioned substances. On the basis of the obtained results, the known influence of the nitrogen content within the molecule regarding their thermal behaviour could be confirmed. The measured heat of decomposition appeared to be proportional to the nitrogen content within the group of the aliphatic and the aromatic azodicarboxylates. To emphasize this dependency, further investigations should be done. The long term objective of this research is to develop structure–response relationships of the explosive properties and the thermal hazards originating from azodicarboxylates.     

Path forward: Emerging issues and challenges

The NIOSH Construction Program worked with industry stakeholders to develop a National Occupational Safety and Health Construction Agenda to target future research and activities. The Program and its partners are also cognizant that new developments can emerge over time and that research can play an important role in helping to understand and address these emerging issues. Examples of emerging issues relevant to construction safety and health are described. These include: (a) climate change and energy considerations; (b) green construction developments and opportunities; (c) new materials; (d) changes in industry structure and practice; (e) workforce developments and disparities; (f) injury underreporting and cost and risk shifting; and (g) increased interest in addressing root causes. Responding to emerging issues while maintaining a focus on fundamental longstanding issues represents an ongoing challenge for researchers and industry organizations. Additional research to understand the diffusion and adoption of research by the industry is also needed. Research accomplished to date provides a strong foundation for addressing future industry needs and trends.     

Hearing Protectors: Topicality and Research Needs

Occupational noise specialists do not generally recommend hearing protection devices (HPDs) as a preferred solution to noise risk prevention. Nevertheless, these devices are widely used and are in fact often necessary. Selection of an HPD should take into account comfort and the capacity for perceiving external signals, when they are worn. Current European regulations require that HPD attenuation be considered, when comparing noise exposure to limit values. However, HPD attenuation is effectively unknown under real-world conditions. Some methods are designed to give approximate attenuation values and these provide results within a wide statistical range. Field measurement methods and current standards have been developed to deal with this situation. The specific characteristic of impulse noise requires establishment of dedicated criteria and tools for HPD selection and testing. This paper introduces a number of avenues for research, which could be of assistance in improving HPD selection, qualification and design.     

EN374-1:抗化学品和微生物的防护手套第一部分:术语和性能

此标准规定了使用抗化学品/微生物防护手套的要求及常用术语。     

HRA in China: Model and data

Human reliability analysis (HRA) is generally viewed as quite an important part in probabilistic safety assessment (PSA). In this paper, a THERP + HCR HRA model is presented to model the operators’ post-accident behavior in Chinese nuclear power plants. The paper shows how the model is structured and how to consider and acquire the corresponding data, including HCR data modification and HRA event tree data. A case study is presented to make an illustration.     

The Researcher's Notebook: Mission and scope

Order and simplification are the first steps toward the mastery of a subject—the actual enemy is the unknown.

Thomas Mann, The Magic Mountain (1924), Ch. 5.

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield

     

Novice teen driving: GDL and beyond

The Symposium on Novice Teen Driving: GDL and Beyond--Research Foundations for Policy and Practice, held in Tucson, AZ, on February 5-7, 2007, provided a detailed overview of graduated driver licensing (GDL) and other beginning driver issues in the United States. This paper summarizes the information presented at the Symposium and in its background papers. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This information and summary should help all interested persons and organizations, including industry, in their efforts to improve GDL and teen driver programs in the United States, which in turn will further reduce traffic crashes and fatalities involving teenage drivers.     

Attachment behavior and health: relationships at work and home

This article examines the relationships between interpersonal attachment orientations, health, and social support. Four hypotheses specified relationships between three interpersonal attachment orientations (interdependent, counterdependent, and overdependent), physical and psychological symptoms, and social support. Data were collected from 297 students, the majority of whom were also full-time employees. An interdependent orientation was negatively related to social dysfunction. Counterdependent and overdependent orientations were negatively related to health. A counterdependent orientation was negatively related to social support, while an overdependent orientation was positively related to social support from co-workers and family. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.