Does the potential safety risk affect whether particular construction hazards are recognized or not?

Introduction: Evidence from the global construction industry suggests that an unacceptable number of safety hazards remain unrecognized in construction workplaces. Unfortunately, there isn’t a sufficient understanding of why particular safety hazards remain unrecognized. Such an understanding is important to address the issue of poor hazard recognition and develop remedial interventions. A recent exploratory effort provided anecdotal evidence that workers often fail to recognize safety hazards that are expected to impose relatively lower levels of safety risk. In other words, the research demonstrated that the underlying risk imposed by a safety hazard can affect whether a hazard will be recognized or not. Method: The presented research focused on empirically testing this preliminary finding. More specifically, the study tested the proposition that Construction workers are more likely to recognize safety hazards that impose higher levels of safety risk than those that impose relatively lower levels of safety risk. The research goals were accomplished through a number of steps. First, a set of 16 construction case images depicting a variety of construction operations that included a number of known safety hazards was presented to a panel of four construction safety experts. The experts were tasked with examining each of the known safety hazards and providing a rating of the relative safety risk that the individual hazards impose. Having obtained an estimate of the underlying safety risk, a hazard recognition activity was administered to 287 workers recruited from 57 construction workplaces in the United States. The hazard recognition activity involved the examination of a random sample of two construction case images that were previously examined by the expert panel and reporting relevant safety hazards. Results: The results of the study provided support for the proposition that workers are more likely to recognize hazards that impose relatively higher levels of safety risk. Practical Applications: The findings of the study can be leveraged to improve existing hazard recognition methods and develop more robust interventions to address the issue of poor hazard recognition levels.     

危险源的概念辨析

在现代安全科学理论中,危险源是人们认识事故形成机理的重要因素。但在学术研究领域,目前对于危险源的描述和表达并不统一。这不利于人们在生产活动中应用危险源理论开展事故预防工作。虽然危险源的一些主流概念和分类方法,从不同侧面阐明了危险源的特征和本质,却仍有其局限性。主流的危险源分类方法包括根源危险源和状态危险源、第一类危险源和第二类危险源、固有型危险源和触发型危险源、固有危险源和变动危险源、物质性危险源和非物质性危险源等。基本型危险源和控制型危险源是在传统危险源概念和分类方法基础上,对于危险源本质和特征的新的认识。基本型危险源的本质是能量或危险物质,而控制型危险源导致了前者的约束机制失效。从本质上讲,无论是约束机制自身还是约束机制失效,都是一个控制问题和系统问题。     

Occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)--how can we reduce the risk?

We analyzed occupational exposure to potentially infectious body fluids among health care workers (HCWs). Nurses were the most common exposed category of HCWs. In 73.6% cases needle sticks had been the reason of exposure. Recapping a needle was the cause of exposure in 6.9% accidents. Among 189 registered HCWs, 66 (34.9%) performed invasive procedures without any personal protective equipment. Prophylaxis with antiretroviral drugs was necessary in 43 (22.8%) cases. As many as 60.3% of exposure incidents to potentially infectious material result from non-compliance with the relevant recommendations. Continuous education and training is critically needed to prevent occupational exposure to blood-borne infections among health care workers.     

The Relationship Between Psychosocial Work Factors,Work Stress and Computer-Related Musculoskeletal Discomforts Among Computer Users in Malaysia

We analyzed occupational exposure to potentially infectious body fluids among health care workers (HCWs). Nurses were the most common exposed category of HCWs. In 73.6% cases needle sticks had been the reason of exposure. Recapping a needle was the cause of exposure in 6.9% accidents. Among 189 registered HCWs, 66 (34.9%) performed invasive procedures without any personal protective equipment. Prophylaxis with antiretroviral drugs was necessary in 43 (22.8%) cases.

As many as 60.3% of exposure incidents to potentially infectious material result from non-compliance with the relevant recommendations. Continuous education and training is critically needed to prevent occupational exposure to blood-borne infections among health care workers.     

燃煤发电厂粉尘危害及防治对策

粉尘是燃煤发电厂重点防治的职业病危害因素。以某燃煤发电厂2×330MW机组为例,调查和分析了燃煤发电厂中粉尘的种类、分布及防护设施,并对该燃煤电厂主要工种和作业场所粉尘浓度情况进行了检测、分析和讨论,提出皮带巡检工、灰库巡检工是燃煤电厂粉尘危害重点防护对象,而输煤皮带转载点、破碎机以及灰库卸灰操作位现场粉尘浓度超标严重,是燃煤发电厂粉尘危害防治的重点工作场所。在对该燃煤电厂粉尘浓度超标原因分析的基础上,从工程防护和管理等方面提出了燃煤发电厂粉尘危害相应的防治措施,为燃煤电厂粉尘危害防治提供参考和依据。     

纺织企业噪声职业危害风险评价及降噪措施

噪声是纺织业的主要职业危害之一。纺织企业生产车间的噪声不仅会影响到纺织生产的效率、工人的工作能力及安全,还会对纺织工人的健康造成危害,甚至导致职业病。以南方某纺织企业为研究对象,对其生产车间的噪声进行了调查测量,并采用职业病作业危害、职业接触风险评估二种评价方法,对该企业各生产工序的噪声职业危害进行风险评价,得出评价结论,从声源、声传播途径、个体防护及管理制度四个方面提出了降噪措施,以便更好地加强防治,预防减少噪声职业危害。     

工作场所手传振动的测量与评估——以割草机和绿篱机为例

根据ISO 5349:2001规定，将三轴加速度传感器安装在割草机和绿篱机的手柄上，通过振动分析仪AWA 6258测量割草机和绿篱机的频率计权振动总值，以进行手传振动的危害评估。结果表明:割草机和绿篱机的日振动暴露量A(8)值均超过了我国标准规定的日暴露振动限值3.5 m/s2，预计分别经过1.8～8.5 a和1.9～5.2 a后，暴露于割草和修枝工种人群的10%以上将出现振动性白指，为了有效降低或避免手臂振动病的发生，该行业的作业人员每日接触振动的时间应该控制在2.6 h以内。     

污水处理厂微生物气溶胶的暴露风险评价

为了给污水处理厂微生物气溶胶的健康风险评价提供定量依据,于2011年6—7月利用Andersen 6级撞击式空气微生物采样仪对西安市第三污水处理厂氧化沟单元内不同距离处的细菌气溶胶进行现场采样,利用平皿培养和菌落计数对细菌进行分析。选用适于我国国情的暴露因子参数,建立暴露风险评价模型,对污水处理厂的工人及周围居民的健康风险进行评价。评价点的细菌气溶胶浓度采用修正的高斯模型计算。结果表明,呼吸吸入是人体(儿童和成人)摄入微生物气溶胶的主要途径,暴露非致癌风险商随距离的增加而逐渐降低。同种途径在同样位置,儿童的风险商是成年男性或成年女性的2~3倍。经呼吸途径的风险商从大到小为儿童、成年男性、成年女性,经皮肤接触途径的风险商从大到小为儿童、成年女性、成年男性。     

Developing fuzzy signal detection theory for workers’ hazard perception measures on subway operations

The ability to perceive hazards has been suggested as being an important factor in determining safety risk. By measuring the ability to perceive hazard, at-risk workers could be identified and provided with additional training. This can reduce knowledge-based human errors and thereby help to avoid accidents. This paper proposes the use of fuzzy signal detection theory (FSDT), which combines fuzzy logic and conventional signal detection theory (SDT) to measure hazard perception. The flexibility of the proposed method allows multiple forms of qualitative and quantitative information to be used, including expert opinions and workers’ responses when quantitative data are lacking or when only qualitative aspects are known. Details have been provided on the basic postulates, formulas, and steps involved in FSDT analysis. A real-world example demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed framework. The results of a case study show that the participating workers had a medium level of hazard perception. This means that these workers were sensitive to the difference between hazard and safety. But there were still opportunities for improvement. Of the workers surveyed, five workers expressed conservative views regarding risk while the other workers expressed risky views. FSDT increases the applicability of conventional SDT analysis to many real-world settings, where the definition of a signal is less dichotomous than in a controlled laboratory environment.     

Applying HAZAN methodology to hazmat transportation risk assessment

As conceptualized and put forward by Kletz, avoiding hazard at first instance is always desirable than trying to protect or manage it. However, there could be certain hazards which may not be possible to be totally eliminated and thus shall be analyzed and assessed in order to either reduce the probability of occurrence or limit the severity of consequences. Trevor's methodologies on HAZOP and hazard analysis (HAZAN) for process hazards are quite straightforward where the hazard is considered as a point source unlike hazmat transportation which is a moving source of hazard. The authors applied the HAZAN techniques to the transportation risk assessment of three different United Nations classes of hazardous materials (hazmats) through important industrial corridors of Surat district in western India that helped local authorities not only to decide on the minimum risk routes to regulate hazmat traffic but also to prepare an effective evacuation and emergency response strategies.     

气象灾害的研究和预防是野外职业安全卫生的一个重要领域

从事野外地质勘探的职工常常处于大自然环境中。自然环境灾害(气象灾害、地质灾害等)是造成地质勘探职业伤害的重要原因之一。在诸多的环境灾害中,又以气象灾害的危害最为突出。研究和预防气象灾害,是地质勘探安全卫生工作的重要内容。如果只研究人为职业伤害(一般工业安全卫生中的主要问题),而不研究环境灾害,特别是气象灾害所造成的事故和职业病,那是舍本求末。在地质勘探安全卫生领域中,研究气象灾害及其防护技术,既是保护野外作业职工安全和健康的需要,也是拓宽安全科学外延领域的有益探讨。     

Development of machine learning based prediction models for hazardous properties of chemical mixtures

Lower flammability limit (LFL), upper flammability limit (UFL), auto-ignition temperature (AIT) and flash point (FP) are crucial hazardous properties for fire and explosion hazards assessment and consequence analysis. In this study, a comprehensive prediction model set was constructed by using expanded chemical mixture databases of chemical mixture hazardous properties. Machine learning based gradient boosting quantitative structure-property relationship (GB-QSPR) method is implemented for the first time to improve the model performance and prediction accuracy. The result shows that all developed models have significantly higher accuracy than other regular QSPR models, with the 5-fold cross-validation RMSE of LFL, UFL, AIT, and FP models being 1.06, 1.14, 1.08, and 1.17, respectively. All developed QSPR models can be used to estimate reliable chemical mixture hazardous properties and provide useful guidance in chemical mixture hazard assessment and consequence analysis.     

供电企业面向作业危险辨识方法研究

在对供电企业生产特点分析的基础上,以作业项目为研究对象,通过事故逆推法、调查问卷法和访谈法等多种方法确定供电企业危险检查表,共计19类118项;并建立了适用于一线员工使用的危险检查表与工作危害分析(JHA)危险场景描述相结合的危险辨识方法;该方法在太原供电分公司6大专业146个作业项目及1084个工作场景进行应用,实用结果表明:通过员工层控制可达到危险消除或控制的效果。     

报废弹药销毁处理职业危害因素分析与控制

报废弹药销毁处理不仅是一项非常危险的工作,而且作业过程中存在的职业危害对作业人员的健康也构成了巨大的威胁。为了预防、控制和消除职业危害,防治职业病,保护弹药销毁作业人员的健康,通过系统介绍分析报废弹药销毁处理的工艺方法,结合弹药的结构特点,全面辨识了作业过程中可能产生的职业危害因素,并提出了相应的控制措施。分析结果表明报废弹药销毁处理职业危害严重的工艺环节主要包括倒空作业和烧毁作业,其主要危害因素包括炸药的蒸气、粉尘、重金属烟尘（如铅、汞等）和CO、NOx、SO2等有毒有害气体。要预防、控制和消除报废弹药销毁处理职业危害,不仅要加强危害严重岗位的技术治理,还要采取全面系统的管理措施,如建立健全职业危害防治的各项规章制度、加强职业危害防治的宣传教育等。     

A poster campaign for improving safety on shipyard scaffolds

In a constantly changing work environment, hazards for occupational accidents are created easily. In these circumstances, more demands are made on the workers' ability to identify and to control the hazards. The objective of this study is to determine whether hazard consciousness among workers can be enhanced by a poster campaign. Attention was also paid to the role of the poster campaign in improving safety. The campaign was conducted in the shipbuilding industry and was directed primarily to workers who were exposed to risks associated with the use of scaffolds. Local conditions of the shipyard under study were taken into account in creating the campaign material. After the campaign the workers were more conscious of hazards associated with the use of scaffolds, and the number of occupational accidents was reduced in the intervention area. Improving safety at a workplace is a continual process affected by numerous factors. A poster campaign is one such action contributing to this process.     

Identification of Ergonomic-Related Hazards in an Industrial Sample Using the National Occupational Exposure Survey

The National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES) was used to determine probabilities for 4 potential physical-agent and 10 potential ergonomic-related exposure hazards among a representative sample of U.S. industries. Potential physical-agent hazard exposures, principally whole-body and segmental vibration, were highest among railroad and heavy construction industries. Several construction industries had high probabilities of potential ergonomic-related exposure hazards, especially to the back and upper extremities.

Establishments with 100 to 249 employees had the highest probability of potential exposures to the 2 types of hazards. Measures of safety and health climate did not differ consistently between high-hazard and low-hazard establishments. The approach taken in this paper may be used to help identify highrisk industries, evaluate interventions, and develop inspection strategies.     

A methodology for evaluation and monitoring of recurring hazards in underground coal mining

This study provides a methodology for evaluation and monitoring of recurring hazards in underground coal mining. An important measure in this regard may be the ‘time between occurrences’ (TBO) of hazards that can be modeled in the similar fashion of ‘time between failures’ (TBF) data modeling which is practiced in reliability study. Typically, time between accidents is modeled in safety study. This study is therefore new in two counts: (i) statistically modeling hazard occurrences based on inspection reports and (ii) monitoring of safety status based on control charting of hazard occurrences. The methodology includes Weibull-distribution based hazard rate functions, Poisson-distribution based cumulative risk functions, and Weibull-distribution based control charts. The new methodology is applied to an underground coal mining worksystem and the results are discussed. The case study results show that hazards related to machinery, ground-fall, housekeeping, roadways, and materials are more frequently occurring. It is recommended that in addition to planned inspections for identification of hazards, a control chart based hazard mitigation scheme should be employed at the mine sections for better monitoring and control of hazards.     

建筑企业员工职业病危害认知影响因素的调查分析

随着建筑行业的持续快速发展,建筑企业作业场所中的职业病危害呈现出高发性、复杂性和持续性等特点.通过针对建筑企业员工的实际状况设计调查问卷获取第一手资料,并运用SPSS17.0统计软件建立相关分析、回归分析等模型进行数据分析,可以得知建筑企业作业场所员工遭受职业病危害的可能性与对安全知识的了解程度、从业时间、性别及文化背景这四个因素的线性相关性.通过对建筑企业作业人员职业病危害的调查与分析,辨识出影响职业病危害的人为因素,提出相关的建议措施以改善建筑企业作业场所职业病危害严重的局面,提高建筑企业员工自我保护意识,增加其职业病危害防护知识,减少职业病危害事故的发生.     

铅与噪声对蓄电池制造作业工人健康影响的联合作用

探讨铅与噪声对蓄电池制造作业工人的联合作用,为职业危害联合作用健康管理提供科学依据。依据蓄电池厂作业工人的职业史调查、环境检测和生物检测资料,将研究对象分为铅与噪声联合暴露组、单纯铅暴露组、正常组,分析比较3组作业工人的听力损伤、神经系统和消化系统症状、贫血结果。结果显示在4 000 Hz和6 000 Hz频率段,联合组听力异常率及听阈均值高于单纯铅暴露组和正常组(P0.05),与单纯铅暴露组和正常组比较,联合组的神经系统和消化系统症状率明显增多(P0.05)。表明铅和噪声联合作用可增加作业者的听觉系统、神经系统和消化系统症状患病,并提出相应管理对策。