Nonlinear molecular based modeling of the flash point for application in inherently safer design

New chemical process design strategies utilizing computer-aided molecular design (CAMD) can provide significant improvements in process safety by designing chemicals with required target properties and the substitution of safer chemicals. An important aspect of this methodology concerns the prediction of properties given the molecular structure. This study utilizes one such emerging method for prediction of a hazardous property, flash point (FP), which is in the center of attention in safety studies. Using such a reliable data set comprising 1651 organic and inorganic chemicals, from 79 diverse material classes, and robust dynamic binary particle swarm optimization for the feature selection step resulted in the most efficient molecular features of the FP investigations. Apart from the simple yet precise five-parameter multivariate model, the FP nonlinear behavior was thoroughly investigated by a novel hybrid of particle swarm optimization and support vector regression. Besides, 195 missing experimental FPs of the DIPPR data set are predicted via the presented procedure.     

Solvent design and inherent safety assessment of solvent alternatives for palm oil recovery

The concept of inherent safety is important in developing an inherently safer and user-friendly process. This paper discusses a new integrated approach of computer-aided product design and inherent safety assessment. Computer-aided Molecular Design (CAMD) approach was utilized in this work to identify potential alternative to n-hexane, the widely used industrial solvent in extracting residual palm oil from pressed palm fibre. The formulation of solvent mixtures was optimized to meet the targeted physical properties before being tested using the Soxhlet Extraction method. Inherent safety assessment to assess the solvent's flammability, toxicity, reactivity, and explosiveness was conducted on the new solvent mix, Mixture 1 (n-hexane + ethanol), Mixture 2 (n-hexane + acetone) and Mixture 3 (n-hexane + n-butanol). It was found that Mixture 1 and 3 are safer than n-hexane and able to extract more oil than n-hexane and Mixture 2. However, the utilization of the solvent is dependent on the end product from the residual palm oil.     

性能化设计思想在化工设施布局安全设计中的应用

指令性规范是目前化工设施平面布局安全设计的主要依据,但其在应用中存在着条款僵化、安全理论基础不全面、可拓展性不明确等问题。本文将性能化设计思想引入到化工企业平面布局安全设计中,初步提出了一种包含危险辨识、性能化目标确定、后果评估及安全设施效用评估等主要组成部分的基于性能化设计思想的平面布局安全设计体系。对体系中最重要的部分—性能化目标确定进行了重点分析,将化工设施布局安全设计分为装置内设备之间的位置设计、厂区内装置区之间的位置设计以及厂区与外部单位之间的位置设计三个级别,从工艺关联性等角度对各级别布局设计中事故场景选择及设施可接受受损水平进行分析,并提出了通过匹配事故场景和设施可接受受损水平来确定性能化目标的方法。     

Assessment of chemical process hazards in early design stages

A new method called SREST-layer-assessment method with automated software tool is presented that in a hierarchical approach reveals the degree of non-ideality of chemical processes with regard to SHE (safety, health and environment) aspects at different layers: the properties of the chemical substances involved (substance assessment layer (SAL)), possible interactions between the substances (reactivity assessment layer (RAL)), possible hazard scenarios resulting from the combination of substances and operating conditions in the various equipments involved (equipment assessment layer (EAL)), and the safety technologies that are required to run a process safely and in accordance with legal regulations (safety-technology assessment layer (STAL)). In RAL, EAL and STAL the main focus is put on process safety. A case study is used to show the principles of the method. It is demonstrated how the method can be used as a systematic tool to support chemical engineers and chemists in evaluating chemical process safety in early process development stages.     

Development of inherent safety and health index for formulated product design

The numerous formulated products which are introduced to the market consist of chemical ingredients that may cause various safety and health hazards to the consumers. Therefore, it is extremely important to practice a systematic methodology to formulate products with acceptable safety and health performances. This work presents an index-based methodology to assess the safety and health hazards of the ingredients during the early formulation stage of product design. Hence, new inherent safety and health sub-indexes are introduced to improve the current safety and health hazards that are needed in formulated product design. The inherent safety and health sub-indexes are assigned with scores based on the degree of potential hazards. A higher score indicates a higher safety risk or severe health effect, and vice versa. The proposed methodology will greatly assist the users to identify the adverse safety and health effects caused by the ingredients. Hence, it is pivotal to eliminate or reduce the safety and health impacts from product usage. A case study on common ingredients used in the formulation of paint is presented on this study to describe the proposed method.     

中国职业安全健康标志认证的前景及价值

本文分析了职业安全健康标志应用的必要性和前景,结合国内外先进技术经验,初步设计了基于价值理论的职业安全健康标志的认证和使用制度。与我国现行的生产许可证特种劳防用品强制性认证制度对照,这种社会化自愿形式的认证模式涵盖企业和产品范围更广,认证要求更高,提供个性化服务的功能更强。它是对我国个体防护领域认证制度的一个有益补充,也是接轨全球个体防护产业和产品市场的必要手段。     

Analysis of “high-dollar” value safety and health citations and orders for the US coal mines

This paper presents an analysis of a “high-dollar” value safety and health citations and orders for the US coal mines using the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) data. Term “high-dollar” value relates to penalty of $10,000 and more per citation or order. The study was based on historical MSHA data for the period from 01/01/2009 to 12/31/2009. Data shows that there were 1161 “high-dollar” value citations and orders in 2009 with a total penalty of almost $31-million. The most cited standard was 75.400 – “Accumulation of combustible material” with a 259 “high-dollar” value citations and total penalty of almost $5.9-million. Among all US states, the West Virginia coal mines recorded the highest number of citations and the total penalty value. Results of this study can be used by coal mining industry to help in prioritizing resource allocations and determining control strategies.     

桥梁工程规划设计阶段施工安全风险评估的研究

研究表明,有相当大比例的工程事故原因可以追溯到规划设计的不当。将工程的规划设计纳入施工安全管理全过程,就是将事故防控的"关口前移"和"源头管理"的创新思路。本研究以桥梁工程领域为例,探讨了我国在规划设计阶段进行施工安全风险评估的发展思路,包括:完善基础理论、将工程实践和立法推动相结合、从在建工程的施工安全现状反推其规划设计等,为提升我国工程建设施工安全提供借鉴。崇启大桥及泰州大桥工程实践表明,安全是可"构建"的,通过施工风险评估,能够改善规划设计,降低施工安全的风险,从而减少施工过程人员的伤亡或健康危害。     

直线电机轮轨交通系统安全性分析

直线电机轮轨系统采用直线感应电机牵引 ,轮轨系统支承导向 ,是一种在技术、经济、环保方面均具有良好性能的新型城市轨道交通系统。该系统有两种主要技术模式 ,均有良好的安全运营记录。笔者介绍了系统的性能和设计特点 ;从牵引制动系统、控制系统、管理系统、养护维修系统以及防灾系统 5个方面对系统的安全性设计方法进行了总结 ;认为该系统具有良好的安全性能 ,先进的安全管理理念以及健全的安全防护系统 ;特别强调对该系统进行的安全设计研究 ,将为提高我国城市轨道交通系统的安全性提供新的思路     

Stigma at work: The psychological costs and benefits of the pressure to work safely

Introduction: Workplace accidents and injuries can be quite costly to both individual employees and their organizations. While safety climate (i.e., perceptions of policies and procedures related to safety that should reflect an organization's value of safety) has been established as a predictor of safety behaviors, less research has considered the possible negative pressures that could result from an environment that emphasizes safety. Though organizations may intend to create a positive safety climate, concerns about being treated differently if an employee were to be involved in a safety incident may result in unintended, but detrimental safety and health outcomes. Method: This study investigated the stigma associated with being involved in a safety-related incident in relation to self-reported safety behaviors and psychological health outcomes. The data were acquired through a two-wave prospective design, surveying workers from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk; N = 528) who indicated they were exposed to at least one physical work stressor (e.g., heavy lifting; air quality; standing for extended periods) a few times each month or more. Results: When controlling for safety climate, safety stigma was related to decreased safety compliance and poorer psychological health. There was a marginally significant interaction between safety stigma and safety motivation in relation to safety compliance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that experiencing pressure to work safely, for fear of being evaluated negatively, may actually come at the cost of employees' safety compliance and psychological health. Practical applications: These results may be useful in assessing and intervening to improve an organization's safety climate. Organizations should closely examine the climate for safety to ensure that positive aspects of safety are not undermined by a stigmatizing pressure associated with safety in the work environment.     

建筑物最佳机械排烟量的研究

基于工程性能的防排烟设计,最佳机械排烟量的确定是个关键性的问题。在分析火灾中烟流性状的基础上,给出了火灾安全疏散判别依据,从烟控系统性能化设计的角度提出了最佳机械排烟量的基本思想,并利用实例进行了验证。计算结果表明:综合了安全性和经济性的最佳排烟量定义是正确的,该建筑物的最佳机械排烟量为72m3/(h.m2)。研究成果对建筑物防排烟系统的性能化设计具有重要参考价值。     

密切值法在化工园区安全评价中的应用

在对化工园区进行安全评价时,传统的区域风险评价方法的评价结果难以反映园区内化工企业的安全状况,为解决这一问题提出一种基于密切值法的化工园区安全评价模型。首先从企业内部固有风险、企业安全生产现状以及事故应急处置能力3个方面构建安全评价指标体系,通过现场调研得到各指标取值后利用密切值法求得各企业的密切值,根据密切值的大小确定各企业的安全状况以及不同企业安全水平高低。最后取各企业密切值的均值作为园区整体的密切值,进而得到园区整体安全水平。实例表明,该方法的评价结果不仅能反映园区整体安全水平,还可以表明园区内各企业安全状况,可为化工园区及企业安全管理提供依据。     

Developing and validating a scientific model for exploring safe work practices in interdisciplinary teams

Health research literature on quality and safety in recent years has pointed to a need to explore the characteristics of interdisciplinary team work unique to the health care sector and the particular organization. The literature also has identified a need for scientific models that explore and integrate existing findings concerning team dynamics. In this article, I attempt to address these concerns by developing and validating a scientific model for exploring safe work practices of interdisciplinary OR teams. Specifically, existing health research literature on quality and safety is reviewed to identify and incorporate various team-related aspects into dimensions of the proposed model. To further validate the model, I conduct an ethnographic study of safe work practices within an interdisciplinary OR setting. I find that safe work practices can be viewed as a product of the individual’s and team’s ability to draw on and combine explicit and tacit knowledge repertoires, which again is a product of the particular inner and outer structural conditions of a system. While the findings add their own unique distinctiveness to the scientific model, the findings also compare to the existing aspects and dimensions of the model. I conclude that the fit of the empirical data to the model improves the validity of the model, and also the potential application of the model in ethnographic research within different medical and/or team settings.     

基于公众参与行为的化工企业监管治理演化博弈分析

化工生产安全事故频发对社会生活和公共安全造成严重影响。针对化工企业监管治理问题，将公众参与行为纳入到监管过程，基于演化博弈理论构建地方政府、化工企业、公众三方博弈策略收益矩阵，对比分析各博弈主体行为策略的演化稳定均衡。研究结果表明:对于化工企业，降低企业安全投入成本、加大政府处罚力度和提高政府严格监管的概率，将促使化工企业更倾向于选择安全投入策略；对于地方政府，降低政府的监管成本、增大上级政府的问责和对疏忽安全投入企业的罚款力度，将有助于地方政府最终选择严格监管策略；对于公众，降低监督举报的成本和提高对公众监督举报行为的奖励，将有利于公众积极参与监督，实现对化工企业的有效监管治理。     

化工过程开发中本质安全化设计策略

本质安全化设计是预防人为失误及设备失效、降低化工过程风险应优先采用的技术。在比较传统设计方法与本质安全化设计方法的基础上,讨论了化工过程开发各阶段实现本质安全的机会,认为在开发初期,实施本质安全化的成本低,难度小;通过分析可行性研究、工艺研究、概念设计、基础设计、工程设计等阶段本质安全化设计的影响因素、设计目标和设计方法,探索化工过程开发中本质安全化设计策略,提出了化工过程本质安全化设计流程。通过工艺过程本质安全设计、工艺流程的简化和优化、不同设计方案的本质安全度评估等措施,可提高化工过程本质安全水平。     

大型博览会前期消防监督及设计审核探讨

近年来,国内举办的各类博览会内容繁多,如车展、服装展、机电展、大型机械、油煤化工、农产品、园林技术以及各类综合性展览,展会消防安全工作尤为重要.布展期间的消防设计审核作为展会消防工作的源头,是消防监督人员及展会相关工作人员应当提前介入、重点把关的首要问题.笔者根据各地参加展会工作实践经验,针对大型展会布展中的特装展位消防设计审核工作进行探讨,包括布展前期告知事项、特装展位设计审核及特装布展施工监督管理等方面的具体要求,从源头保证大型博览会的消防安全.     

南京典型古建筑的消防现状调查和消防对策

通过对江苏南京代表性古建筑朝天宫、甘熙故居、鸡鸣寺和净觉寺的实地深入调查，从结构、材料、内容、布局和环境等方面分析了古建筑普遍存在的火灾危险性，考察了古建筑中现代消防设施建设、消防资金投入、消防管理措施和现代消防材料和技术应用的现状，发现多数古建筑在消防防护方面仍处于保守、常规、落后和消极的状态。为实现对古建筑价值的最大限度保护，应从消防安全布局、消防站建设、消防通道设计、消防给水供应、消防通讯保障、消防装备配置等方面进行性能化设计和规划；在遵循“修旧如旧”的修缮和维护原则下，需要勇于尝试和接纳纳米材料等新型化学保护材料和技术。     

Safety related questions for computer-controlled plants: derivation, organisation and application

The use of computers in process control has improved productivity and product quality but has also caused a number of accidents. If we learn from these accidents we may be able to prevent them from happening again. This paper advocates a systematic approach to deriving and organising safety-related questions from past incidents and then applying the questions to consider the safety issues related to the whole life-cycle of computer-controlled plants. Over 170 questions were derived from 300 incident reports provided by two major organisations. The questions are organised into a structured framework so that relevant questions can be located easily when considering different aspects of a computer-controlled plant. Examples illustrating the application of the questions are given. The whole set of questions is listed in the Appendix.