Motorcyclist injury severity in angle crashes at T-junctions: Identifying significant factors and analysing what made motorists fail to yield to motorcycles

Evidence in literature suggested that motorists’ failure to give way to motorcycles at junctions is the main contributory factor to motorcycle–car accidents that involve gap acceptance (i.e., approach-turn and angle crashes). This paper attempts to examine how motorist’s failure to give way affects motorcyclist injury severity in angle crashes at T-junctions, while controlling for other factors (demographic, vehicle, crash, and environmental factors). Binary logistic models of motorcyclist injury severity were estimated using the data extracted from the Stats19 accident injury database (1991–2004). Angle collisions were classified into several sub-crashes based on the manoeuvres motorcycles and cars were making prior to the accidents. The modelling results showed that injuries were greatest when a travelling-straight motorcycle on the main road crashed into a right-turn car from the minor road, particularly at stop-/yield-controlled junctions. Such crash pattern was assumed to be an accident involving right-of-way violation. Using binary logistic models, factors determining the likelihood of motorist’s failure to yield to motorcycles were also examined. The implications of the research findings of this present study were provided.     

Operators’ signal-detection performance in video display unit monitoring tasks of the main control room

This study evaluated the operators’ signal-detection performance in video display unit (VDU) monitoring tasks of the main control room (MCR). So far the study of the relationship between VDU design strategy and human errors has been superficial. To validate the effect of VDUs design strategies on operating errors in the MCR, this present research adopted a within subject experimental design to develop different experimental treatments based on two types of display modes included consistent mode and mixed mode. A total of 13 undergraduate and graduate students were recruited as participants in the experiment. Dependent variables included situation awareness, reaction time, error frequency, and subjective performance. Some research support was found for the representation principles. The conclusions of this study could not only be implemented by the human-system interface (HSI) designers of a MCR in the advanced nuclear power plant (NPP) but also could be generalized to the extent that other digital workstation similar to the MCR.     

A study on recovery of SiC from silicon wafer cutting slurry

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The objective of this study is to recover SiC from silicon wafer cutting slurry using physical separation and acid/alkali purification processes....     

The implementation of a human factors engineering checklist for human–system interfaces upgrade in nuclear power plants

The primary purpose of this paper is to provide a human factors engineering (HFE) checklist for human–system interfaces (HSIs) upgrades in nuclear power plants (NPPs). The HFE checklist is used to review the HSIs design submittals prepared by licensees or applicants for a license or design certification of a HSI upgrade. NUREG-series regulation documents are used to develop the main frame of the initial HFE checklist. The contents of the HFE checklist are constructed by the theories and principles governing human factors. Then, verification and validation (V&V) of the HFE checklist is accomplished by validity and reliability evaluation. The results show that the HFE checklist has sufficient validity and reliability for the review of HSI upgrades in NPPs.     

An empirical investigation of the influence of safety climate on organizational citizenship behavior in Taiwan's facilities.

Although the social exchange relationships between employers and employees are increasingly important to the performance of safety management systems, the psychological effects of work attitudes on this relationship have been less studied. Using a sample of first-line operators and their supervisors from 188 facilities in Taiwan which had Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18000 (OHSAS 18000) certification, the current research conducted an empirical investigation of the influence of safety climate on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Work attitude was used to disclose the psychological effect. Research results indicated that (a) safety climate was a significant predicator of OCB, (b) the psychological effect significantly influenced social exchange relationships, and (c) job satisfaction showed a stronger mediating influence than organizational commitment due to the frequent top management turnover. Discussions and implications are also addressed.     

Automation design in advanced control rooms of the modernized nuclear power plants

This study evaluated the effects of levels of automation (LOAs) decisions in advanced control rooms of the modernized nuclear power plants. Following advancements in design of digitalized human–system interfaces (HSIs), the roles of human operators have changed significantly. Negative performance and safety consequences may occur as a result of these changes. These problems are viewed as the out-of-the-loop (OOTL) performance problems. This study conducted an experiment to compare the effects of different LOAs under different operating procedures on operating performance. Experimental results indicated that blended decision-making (level 6 LOA) generates the lowest mental workload. Furthermore, the pattern of SA observed in this study is found better SA at intermediate LOA and poorer SA at low level of automation and full automation. Subjective rating results suggest that LOAs distribute the roles of option generation, and selection between human and/or computer servers which significantly impacts automated system performance. This study provides a direction for the HSI designers in nuclear power plants (NPPs). Additionally, based on results obtained by this study, the user interfaces of PCTRAN system and the alarm reset system should be improved to ensure safe operation of NPPs.     

Assessing team workload under automation based on a subjective performance measure

This study presents a subjective measure approach to assess how automation impacts teamwork. Hart and Staveland (1988) indicated that the subjective measure approach is the conventional most commonly used workload assessment method that represents the criteria against which other measures are evaluated. The subjective experience of an operating crew regarding workload normally involves the influence of many factors in addition to the objective demands imposed by a particular task. Therefore, this study first assumes that team workload is a hypothetical construct that represents the cost incurred by a specific crew to achieve a particular level of team performance. The concept of team workload is developed by applying individual workload concepts, principles, and relations to a team environment. Although teams are increasingly important in the workplace, team workload has seldom been evaluated in literature. Therefore, this study develops a subjective performance measure approach to optimize team workload. An illustrative example demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Results of this study significantly contribute to research efforts in the field of workload measurement under automation.     

Exploring motorcyclist injury severity resulting from various crash configurations at T-junctions in the United Kingdom--an application of the ordered probit models

OBJECTIVES: The fact that motorcycle users tend to be more vulnerable to injuries than those using other motorized vehicles may act synergistically with the complexity of conflicting movements between vehicles and motorcycles to increase injury severity in a junction-type accident. A junction-type collision tends to be more severe than a non-junction case due to the fact that some of the injurious crashes such as angle-collision commonly occur. Existing studies have applied several statistical modeling techniques to examine influential factors on the occurrences of different crashes among motorized vehicles but surprisingly very little has empirically explored whether a particular crash type, resulting from a junction-type accident, is more injurious to motorcyclists. This article attempts to investigate whether a particular collision is more deadly to motorcyclists conditioned on crash occurrence at T-junctions in the U.K., while controlling for environment, vehicle, and demographic factors. METHODS: The statistical modeling technique employed is the ordered probit models using the data extracted from the STATS19 accident injury database (1999-2004). RESULTS: The modeling found determinants of injury severity among motorcyclists at T-junctions in the U.K. For example, an approach-turn/head-on collision is much more injurious to motorcyclists; and, those riding in early morning (i.e., 0000-0659) are more likely to be severely injured. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers a guideline for future research, as well as insight into potential prevention strategies that might help moderate motorcyclist injuries.     

An Empirical Investigation of the Influence of Safety Climate on Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Taiwan’s Facilities

Although the social exchange relationships between employers and employees are increasingly important to the performance of safety management systems, the psychological effects of work attitudes on this relationship have been less studied. Using a sample of first-line operators and their supervisors from 188 facilities in Taiwan which had Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18000 (OHSAS 18000) certification, the current research conducted an empirical investigation of the influence of safety climate on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Work attitude was used to disclose the psychological effect. Research results indicated that (a) safety climate was a significant predicator of OCB, (b) the psychological effect significantly influenced social exchange relationships, and (c) job satisfaction showed a stronger mediating influence than organizational commitment due to the frequent top management turnover. Discussions and implications are also addressed.