The role of standardization in safety management – A case study of a major oil & gas company

This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of various kinds of standardization, when applied to the field of safety management. Recently, there are signs that organizations operating in high risk environments take further steps towards standardization. On the positive side, standardization has the potential to enhance the predictability of normal operations as well as facilitating the transfer of lessons learnt across organizational contexts. On the negative side, standardization is by definition a strategy for dealing with known hazards and accident scenarios. We discuss how too strong an emphasis on standardization can involve unintended negative consequences for organizations’ crisis-handling capabilities.     

Development of the pH in the intestinal tract of larval turbot

The pH in the gut of turbot larvae and juveniles of turbot was studied from day 11 until the completion of metamorphosis. Dietary effects on the gut pH were estimated when larvae were offered live feed, a microdiet, only microalgae or no feed. The pH in the gut was weakly alkaline until day 24 after hatching with no differences between the foregut, midgut and hindgut. The foregut contents started to turn acidic from day 28 after hatching when the larvae were already weaned successfully, which indicates that an acidic pH is not necessary for the digestion and utilisation of formulated feed. During the following 20 days the pH in the foregut/stomach decreased further to a minimum of pH 3.5, while the pH in the midgut and the hindgut increased slightly to a maximum of pH 9.0. Larvae receiving live feed, microdiet or microalgae had a similar pH in the midgut on day 11, while starved larvae exhibited a lower gut pH. This suggests bicarbonate secretion from the larval pancreas stimulated by ingested microalgae or feed particles.     

A method for total organic chlorine determination in bleach plant recipient waters

A method, based on XAD-8 resin sorbtion and Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), was developed for Total Organic Chlorine (TOCl) determinations. The method was applied to recipient waters of a kraft bleach plant, and the determined TOCl values compared with other parameters. The detection limit was about 10 μg/l.     

Politicisation and professional expertise in the policy of nature conservation

In this paper, the policy of nature conservation in Norway is analysed, with a particular focus on policy development during the last decade moving in the direction of multi-level governance. It is argued that the logic of policy making has shifted from what can be described as 'the politics of expertise' to a process of 'politicisation'. A process of politicisation can be observed both in terms of the nature of arguments being used, and in terms of who the dominant actors are. The subjects of analysis are issues taken up by the political parties in the Parliament, and the paper focuses on two controversial questions. One is about the localisation of conservation areas on private land and the state's liability for compensation. The other is the question of whether the management of conservation areas, and in particular national parks, should be under the control of local government or the state environmental bureaucracy. The analysis documents a process moving in the direction of more complex governance structure involving more actors and broader local participation challenging the role of the professional bureaucracy.     

Optimizing the performance of phase-change materials in personal protective clothing systems.

Phase-change materials (PCM) can be used to reduce thermal stress and improve thermal comfort for workers wearing protective clothing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PCM in protective clothing used in simulated work situations. We hypothesized that it would be possible to optimize cooling performance with a design that focuses on careful positioning of PCM, minimizing total insulation and facilitating moisture transport. Thermal stress and thermal comfort were estimated through measurement of body heat production, body temperatures, sweat production, relative humidity in clothing and subjective ratings of thermal comfort, thermal sensitivity and perception of wetness. Experiments were carried out using 2 types of PCM, the crystalline dehydrate of sodium sulphate and microcapsules in fabrics. The results of 1 field and 2 laboratory experimental series were conclusive in that reduced thermal stress and improved thermal comfort were related to the amount and distribution of PCM, reduced sweat production and adequate transport of moisture.     

On Sorbent Activation in Coolside Desulfurization

In a coolside desulfurization process, partly unreacted sorbent from the boiler injection, or fresh sorbent injected into the flue-gas duct, is activated by a water spray. Primarily as a result of Inertial impactions between the sorbent particles and the water droplets, highly active slurry droplets are formed. In this paper, a theoretical model for the calculation of the sorbent activation efficiency is derived. The influence of design and operating parameters on the activation has been calculated with a simulation program. The initial mean value and standard deviation of the droplet diameter and the difference in Initial velocity between the droplets and the flue-gas are shown to be the most important parameters in addition to the water/gas ratio. The sorbent particles are activated primarily in the vicinity of the atomizing nozzles.     

Politicisation and professional expertise in the policy of nature conservation

In this paper, the policy of nature conservation in Norway is analysed, with a particular focus on policy development during the last decade moving in the direction of multi-level governance. It is argued that the logic of policy making has shifted from what can be described as 'the politics of expertise' to a process of 'politicisation'. A process of politicisation can be observed both in terms of the nature of arguments being used, and in terms of who the dominant actors are. The subjects of analysis are issues taken up by the political parties in the Parliament, and the paper focuses on two controversial questions. One is about the localisation of conservation areas on private land and the state's liability for compensation. The other is the question of whether the management of conservation areas, and in particular national parks, should be under the control of local government or the state environmental bureaucracy. The analysis documents a process moving in the direction of more complex governance structure involving more actors and broader local participation challenging the role of the professional bureaucracy.