The field performance of frontal air bags: a review of the literature

This article presents a broad review of the literature on frontal air bag field performance, starting with the initial government and industry projections of effectiveness and concluding with the most recent assessments of depowered systems. This review includes as many relevant metrics as practicable, interprets the findings, and provides references so the interested reader can further evaluate the limitations, confounders, and utility of each metric. The evaluations presented here range from the very specific (individual case studies) to the general (statistical analyses of large databases). The metrics used to evaluate air bag performance include fatality reduction or increase; serious, moderate, and minor injury reduction or increase; harm reduction or increase; and cost analyses, including insurance costs and the cost of life years saved for various air bag systems and design philosophies. The review begins with the benefits of air bags. Fatality and injury reductions attributable to the air bag are presented. Next, the negative consequences of air bag deployment are described. Injuries to adults and children and the current trends in air bag injury rates are discussed, as are the few documented instances of inadvertent deployments or non-deployment in severe crashes. In the third section, an attempt is made to quantify the influence of the many confounding factors that affect air bag performance. The negative and positive characteristics of air bags are then put into perspective within the context of societal costs and benefits. Finally, some special topics, including risk homeostasis and the performance of face bags, are discussed.     

Bystander injury evaluation of children from midwestern agricultural operations

Background

With more than a million youth living on agricultural operations, it is important for parents to understand the consequences of bystander injuries that children experience in these environments. We identified the childhood injuries for bystander status and compared the severity of these injuries to the working children in the Regional Rural Injury Study-II (RRIS-II).

Methods

RRIS-II followed 16,546 children (∼ 85% of eligible) from rural communities in the Midwest for two six-month recall periods in 1999 and 2001. Demographic, injury, and exposure data were collected through comprehensive computer-assisted telephone interviews. Child injuries were cataloged using narrative scenarios into four categories: (a) directly work-related; (b) indirectly work-related; (c) non-working accomplice; and (d) non-working attendant; the latter three all being bystander categories. Poisson regression modeling was used to calculate rates of bystander injuries. Frequencies were used for comparison of severity measures.

Results

Among the 463 child injuries (aged < 20 yrs), 102 were bystander injuries. Of the bystander-related injuries, 14 were identified as indirectly work-related (working bystanders), 27 as non-working accomplice (passengers/tag-alongs), and 60 as non-working attendant (playing on the operation). The overall rate of bystander injuries was 6.4 per 1,000 people, 95% CI (5.0, 8.1). Males, compared with females, had more than twice the injury rate (8.7; 95% CI 6.4-11.8, and 3.9; 95% CI 2.7-5.7, per 1,000 people, respectively). Bystanders in this population had more severe injuries with 4% having life-threatening circumstances; of these, 4% of the accomplices and 2% of the attendants subsequently died.

Conclusions

Children who live or work on agricultural operations are vulnerable to many hazards. Therefore, this study examined child injuries and found a clear difference in the consequences of these injuries between working-related and bystanding-related injuries.

Impact on Industry

Unlike occupations such as construction and mining, where laws and organizations have been created for the protection of bystanders, agricultural bystanders have remained unprotected and have had to face the consequent injury and death outcomes. As public health professionals considering these risks, it is necessary that we work to develop more intervention studies and continue to propose suggestive guidelines for child safety in these environments so as to challenge family traditions and possibly spark public policies that will give further protection to this population.     

航空危险品运输作业风险管理

由于危险品的危害特性,运输操作上涉及多环节因素以及航空运输装载的特殊要求,在航空运输作业环节中易造成安全事故,因此需要对危险品航空运输作业进行风险管理。根据人-机-环-管分析方法,从航空危险品运输中的收运、卸载、储存、装载环节进行危险源识别,并构建指标体系。用三角模糊数和ANP相结合的方法对风险发生的严重度进行分析。对安全影响较大的前几位因素:人员违规,规章制度,监督检查,员工教育、培训,应急预案,防护装置使用率,提出了安全管理体系的建立及实施,加强从业人员的管理,对危险品运输环节的设备进行管理风险控制措施。     

A study of pedestrian and bicyclist exposure to head injury in passenger car collisions based on accident data and simulations

The objective was to assess head injury risks and kinematics of adult pedestrians and bicyclists in primary impact to the passenger cars and secondary impact to the ground using real world accident data and computer reconstructions of the accidents. For this purpose, a subsample of 402 pedestrians and 940 bicyclists from the GIDAS database, Germany, was used for the statistical analysis, from which 22 pedestrian and 18 bicyclist accidents were further selected for reconstruction. PC-Crash was used to calculate impact conditions, such as vehicle impact velocity, vehicle kinematic sequence, and thrown distance. These conditions were employed to identify the initial conditions in reconstruction in MADYMO program. A comparable analysis was conducted based on the results from accident analysis and computer reconstructions for the impact configurations and the resulting injury patterns of pedestrians and bicyclists in view of head injury risks. Differences in HIC, head-relative impact velocity, linear acceleration, maximum angular velocity and acceleration, contact force, thrown distance, Wrap Around Distance (WAD), and head contact time were evaluated. Injury risk curves were generated by using a logistic regression model for vehicle impact velocity. The results indicate that bicyclists suffered less severe injuries compared with severity of pedestrian injuries. In the selected samples, the AIS 2+ and AIS 3+ head injury risks for pedestrians are 50% probability at impact speed of 38.87 km/h and 54.39 km/h respectively, while for bicyclists at 53.66 km/h and 58.89 km/h respectively. The findings of high injury risks suggested that in the area with high frequency car-pedestrian accidents, the vehicle speed limit should be 40 km/h, while in the area with high frequency car-cyclist accidents the vehicle speed limit should be 50 km/h.     

基于车-车碰撞仿真的驾乘人员损伤差异影响因素

为了解车-车碰撞事故中驾乘人员损伤差异影响因素,首先运用PC-Crash软件再现一例真实交通事故,通过分析面包车驾驶员的运动学及损伤响应,验证了其仿真车内乘员损伤的有效性,然后设计了包含6组车速、12个碰撞位置的72次试验,并通过仿真获得人体损伤数据,利用作图法分析所得数据.结果表明:当且仅当车速大于等于50 km/h时,驾乘人员头、胸、腿等部位的损伤才会出现明显差异,且差异程度随碰撞车速增加而增大;当车速大于50 km/h且碰撞位置在被撞车辆左侧或右侧前方时,驾乘人员各部位损伤差异最明显,其中又以腿部损伤最为突出,且靠近撞击侧乘员的损伤更严重.研究成果将为更好地利用损伤认定驾乘关系提供支持.     

空中危险接近事件中的空管风险因素识别

空中相撞是全球航空五大高风险事件类别之一,空中危险接近是导致空中相撞事故的必然环节之一.为了找出导致空中危险接近发生的空管风险因素,厘清其中的关键因素并进行控制,从系统角度建立了空中危险接近的系统控制结构,构建了空中危险接近中空管风险因素的STAMP-HFACS分析框架.利用该框架得到了管制指挥的机型复杂性、指挥席错发指令、注意力分配不当和排班不合理等22个空中危险接近事件的空管风险因素.使用德尔菲法确定了各因素间的直接影响关系,通过模糊DEMATEL法确定了指挥席错发指令、管制员精神压力大、注意力分配不当、情景意识不足、管制指挥航班流量峰值、扇区结构复杂度和管制员疲劳等是较为重要的风险因素.同时,确定了管制指挥航班流量峰值、自动化系统告警反馈不充分、扇区结构复杂度、管制指挥的机型复杂性、恶劣气象条件和所指挥航班的机组不守听等9项基础性因素是其他因素的原因.     

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a monitoring system for improved evacuation from passenger ships

This paper presents an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of a novel passenger monitoring system based on RFID technology for implementation onboard passenger ships. Such a system will be able to detect and keep track of passengers onboard the ship in emergency situations in order to provide crucial decision support to the officer in charge of evacuation. This will lead to increased safety and security on passenger ships. However, this increased safety will come at a certain cost. A methodology in line with Formal Safety Assessment is employed in order to assess the cost-effectiveness of the system, involving a thorough risk analysis.     

Child passenger injury risk in motor vehicle crashes: a comparison of nighttime and daytime driving by teenage and adult drivers

INTRODUCTION: To examine the association between child passenger injury risk, restraint use, and crash time (day vs. night) for children in crashes of vehicles driven by teenage versus adult drivers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving telephone interviews with insured drivers in a probability sample of 6,184 crashes involving 10,028 children. RESULTS: Child passengers in teen nighttime crashes had an increased injury risk and an increased risk of restraint nonuse compared with those in teen daytime crashes. This increased injury risk can be explained by differences in the age of child passengers, collision type, and child passenger's restraint status associated with time of day. CONCLUSIONS: In order to limit the risk of injury to child passengers driven by teens, Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws should include provisions restricting nighttime driving, as well as mandates for age-appropriate restraint for child passengers. Consideration should also be given for education in child passenger safety for novice teen drivers as part of the licensing process. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Results of this study can be used to support advocacy efforts by the automotive industry and others to promote nighttime driving restrictions on novice drivers. In addition, given that both driver groups were more likely to be involved in a single-vehicle collision during the night, technologies such as electronic stability control may offer opportunities for protection. Further reseach on specific circumstances of teen nighttime crashes is needed to inform industry efforts to improve visibility or vehicle operation under poor lighting conditions.     

Removal of Volatile Organic Compounds from polluted air

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are among the most common air pollutants emitted from chemical, petrochemical, and allied industries. VOCs are one of the main sources of photochemical reaction in the atmosphere leading to various environmental hazards; on the other hand, these VOCs have good commercial value. Growing environmental awareness has put up stringent regulations to control the VOCs emissions. In such circumstances, it becomes mandatory for each VOCs emitting industry or facility to opt for proper VOCs control measures. There are many techniques available to control VOCs emission (destruction based and recovery based) with many advantages and limitations. Therefore, deciding on a particular technique becomes a difficult task. This article illustrates various available options for VOCs control. It further details the merits, demerits and applicability of each option. The authors hope that this article will help in critically analysing the requirements and accordingly decide on the appropriate strategy to control VOCs.     

Risk of serious injury of occupants involved in frontal crashes of cab-over-type trucks

Objectives: Truck vehicles (TVs) have a different structure and stiffness than non-TVs and are used commercially for transporting goods. This study aimed to analyze whether truck occupants have a greater risk of serious injury than those of other types of vehicles.

Methods: Crash data were obtained from the Korean In-Depth Data Analysis Study (KIDAS) for calendar years 2011–2016. Vehicles involved in frontal crash were included and classified into TVs and non-TVs (passenger cars and sports utility vehicles). We compared the demographic characteristics and serious injuries by body region between the 2 groups and analyzed factors that contributed to the serious injury severity from frontal crashes.

Results: The analysis was based on 884 occupants; 177 (20.0%) were in TVs and 707 (80.0%) were in non-TVs. Non-TVs had more frontal airbags deployments than TVs (50.9% vs. 3.4%, P <.01). TV occupants were 4.8 times more likely to have a serious lower extremity (LE) injury (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.820; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.407–9.653) and 2.5 times to have a serious abdominal injury (AOR = 2.465; 95% CI, 1.108–5.487) compared to non-TV occupants.

Conclusions: Truck occupants had more serious LE and abdominal injuries than those of other types of vehicles in frontal crashes. Structural improvement and legislative efforts to develop safety systems are necessary to improve the safety of truck occupants.     

不同温度条件下生态减污袋去除模拟污水中氨氮及磷的效果研究

研究在低温和常温条件下不同比例砂土与黏土混合制成的生态减污袋对模拟污水中氨氮及磷的去除效果。试验模拟污水中氨氮及磷的质量浓度分别为10 mg/L和1 mg/L,生态减污袋中砂土和黏土的质量比分别为1∶1、5∶1和10∶1,温度控制在22℃和4℃。结果表明,低温条件下砂土与黏土比例为1∶1的减污袋对模拟污水中氨氮和磷的去除率分别达到67%和38%;而砂土与黏土比例为10∶1的减污袋对低温条件下模拟污水中氨氮和磷的去除率均最低,分别为32%和28%,其对常温条件下污水中氨氮和磷的去除率也分别只有48%和52%。对比常温条件下的试验,低温条件下生态减污袋的去除效果明显偏低。由于黏土颗粒具有较大的比表面积和较好的离子交换能力,因此应选择黏土含量较高的生态减污袋,以在低温条件下保持良好的去氮除磷效果。     

Underground coal mining injury: A look at how age and experience relate to days lost from work following an injury

Coal has been mined in the United States since colonial times and coal mining has always been a dangerous occupation. Despite the dangers involved in coal mining, coal is essential to the functioning of our society. Coal provides energy for products, businesses, and homes. Not only is coal mining a dangerous occupation, but, like many other industries, coal mining has also been referred to as a “graying occupation” as many coal miners are reaching retirement age. Younger workers possess certain advantages as older workers may have age-associated decrements in cognitive function, health, and recuperative ability. Although there are documented decreases in health and safety associated with age, there are also benefits at the workplace associated with increasing age. Increasing age brings about more experience and familiarity with the work environment. This study used the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) database on accidents, injury, and illness from the years 2003 through 2007 to examine how age, experience at the current mine, total years experience as a coal miner, and experience in the current job affects injury severity. The results of the data indicated that there was a relationship between age and days lost as well as total mining experience and days lost following an injury. Furthermore, the data indicated an increased risk of overexertion injuries as age increases. These are important findings for the coal mining industry as many miners are more experienced and older.     

出口风速对防烟空气幕防烟效果影响的数值模拟

本文利用火灾模拟软件FDS,以四川消防研究所高层实验塔二层为原型,建立模型研究了防烟空气幕防烟空气幕出口风速对高层建筑前室烟气运动的影响,试验中在前室内设置18个测点,测定前室内的温度、CO浓度及能见度变化情况,试验结果表明：当风速〈1m／s时,前室内各测点处各参数变化情况与无风幕时基本相同,防烟效果不明显,风速〉2．5m／s时,随着出口风速的增加,前室内各测点处温度、CO浓度降低,能见度增加,烟气蔓延途径由前室上部逐渐变为前室下部,且前室门处0．2m、1．25m高度处测点处各参数值瞬间波动很大,综合考虑防烟的有效性及经济性,认为防烟空气幕的最佳运行风速应为2．5m／s～3．5m／s。     

Examining legal rules to protect children from injuries in recreational and sport activities

Our jurisprudence assigns duties to persons to keep children safe. Under negligence law, a breach of duty causing an accident means the breaching party can be liable for damages inflicted on the injured person. Legislatures are considering new laws that reduce the damages that activity providers will need to pay to injured participants. Under some statutes, injured persons are precluded from maintaining lawsuits. In other cases, injured plaintiffs have a more stringent burden of proving liability. While activity providers may use insurance to pay for accident damages, for some injuries we might hold injured persons responsible. Four suggestions are offered as mechanisms to reduce tort litigation.     

Utilization of state-wide hospital separations data and the injury impairment scale to assess the incidence of spinal cord injury arising from motor vehicle traffic crashes

The objectives of this study were to determine whether routine state-wide hospitalization data can be used for population level surveillance of the incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) from motor vehicle traffic crashes (MVTCs) and to verify the coverage of the Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register. A method was developed to identify new injury incidents from routine South Australian hospitalization data. Mapping software was then used to derive the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Impairment Scale (IIS) codes for each incident case of spinal injury using the principal diagnosis code on the hospital data file. IIS code values in the range from 3 to 6 were considered to be comparable with the SCI coding criteria utilized by the Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register (ASCIR) which were based on the criteria of the American Spinal Injury Association. The number of estimated new incident cases of SCI based on the IIS coding of hospitalization data was compared with the actual number reported from the ASCIR. The case numbers were highly comparable overall and also by time and age group suggesting that the coverage of the ASCIR was very high. The results of the study support use of the IIS for estimating incident case numbers of MVTC-related SCI from routine state-wide hospitalization data. If routine hospital separations data elsewhere were suitable for the purpose and the IIS also proves to be applicable to non-MVTC-related SCI, the incidence of SCI could be monitored in state and national populations using the IIS and this could provide an alternative data source where registers of SCI do not exist. In addition, the IIS provides a means to assess coverage where registers do exist.     

An analysis of injury claims from low-seam coal mines

Introduction

The restricted workspace present in low-seam coal mines forces workers to adopt awkward working postures (kneeling and stooping), which place high physical demands on the knee and lower back.

Method

This article provides an analysis of injury claims for eight mining companies operating low-seam coal mines during calendar years 1996-2008. All cost data were normalized using data on the cost of medical care (MPI) as provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Results

Results of the analysis indicate that the knee was the body part that led in terms of claim cost ($4.2 million), followed by injuries to the lower back ($2.7 million). While the average cost per injury for these body parts was $13,100 and $14,400, respectively (close to the average cost of an injury overall), the high frequency of these injuries resulted in their pre-eminence in terms of cost. Analysis of data from individual mining companies suggest that knee and lower back injuries were a consistent problem across companies, as these injuries were each among the top five most costly part of body for seven out of eight companies studied.

Application/Impact

Results of this investigation suggest that efforts to reduce the frequency of knee and low back injuries in low-seam mines have the potential to create substantial cost savings.     

Analysis of posttraumatic stress disorder in children with road traffic injury in Wenzhou,China

Objective: Road traffic accidents are the leading health threat to children and cause significant long-term mental health problems. This study aimed to characterize posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children suffering from road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Wenzhou, China.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 537 children (aged 1 to 13 years old) with RTIs. The epidemiological features, PTSD incidence, clinical manifestation, and risk factors were analyzed based on a customized PTSD risk factor questionnaire. The outcome factors were also evaluated by means of the logistic regression method.

Results: The PTSD incidence was 24.77% in children with RTIs. The incidence of PTSD was related to the personality, family environment, and family care of the children. It was found that early psychological intervention and reasonable family care from the family might promote physical and mental welfare as well as contribute to the development of more effective treatments to prevent PTSD.

Conclusion: For susceptible children, in addition to dealing with the somatic injury, psychological intervention and family care should be carried out as early as possible.