Ranking of process safety cultures for risk-based inspections using indicative safety culture assessments

Although major hazard industries have no legal obligations to demonstrate a good safety culture, it is an increasingly important factor for risk-based inspections. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a relatively simple method for external indicative assessment of the process safety culture in major hazard industries. As a first step, a tool was developed. Second, the tool was successfully tested in a workshop with major hazard inspectors. After this ‘proof of concept’ and a few adaptations to improve the tool, quantitative evaluation and validation were carried out with a representative sample of major hazard inspectors in the Netherlands. In this stage, the tool comprised 30 questions, of which 19 sufficiently frequent valid responses were given for the validity test. The evaluations demonstrate that without specific preparations, inspection teams can use the tool to discriminate between plants with poor or good safety cultures. That is sufficient for ranking as additional input for risk-based inspection strategies. The resulting indicative ‘scores’ for safety culture correlate meaningfully with the quality of process safety management systems and the number of (legal) non-compliances, which were identified by the inspection team at the same occasion. The use of the tool can be further improved by training inspectors, making minor adaptations of the inspection process, and broadening the scope of a few questions. It is expected that external assessments of safety culture will become increasingly important not only for inspectorates, but also for a range of other external stakeholders.     

A reporting guide for studies on individual differences in traffic safety

Problem

Studies on individual differences in traffic safety report differently on their methodologies, and use different statistics, and these are therefore difficult to compare and meta-analyze.

Method

Based upon a previous, extensive review and meta-analysis of the traffic safety literature, several recommendations are made about what features of the methodology of studies on individual differences (including evaluations) in safety need to be reported to facilitate interpretation and meta-analysis. Similarly, some basic types of statistical values are recommended.

Impact on Industry

The accumulation of knowledge about individual differences in traffic safety would be facilitated if scientific authors and journals adhered to these guidelines.     

Bayesian networks based laboratory retrofitting towards inherent safety: A risk-based implementation framework

Over the years, a number of high-profile laboratory accidents involving severe injuries, fatalities, and economic losses have been reported, prompting a significant increase in efforts towards laboratory safety. However, the dominant safety measures rely excessively on add-on safeguards such as sprinklers and respirators and pay little attention to reducing the hazardous factors at their sources. This study introduced the inherent safety concept to minimize laboratory hazards and developed a dedicated implementation tool called Generic Laboratory Safety Metric (GLSM). The Traditional Laboratory Safety Checklist (TLSC) was first used to represent the safety indicators, and then the Precedence Chart (PC) and Bayesian Networks (BN) methods were used to reconcile the safety indicators to develop the GLSM. The developed GLSM was subsequently demonstrated through a case study of a university laboratory. The results revealed that the safety level increased from 2.44 to 3.52 after the risk-based inherently safer retrofitting, thus creating laboratory conditions with a relatively satisfactory safety level. This work presented a set of generic solutions to laboratory retrofitting towards inherent safety with a novel GLSM as the implementation tool. The proposed GLSM would contribute to risk quantification and identification of key risk factors for assigning targeted and fundamental safety measures to achieve inherently safer laboratories.     

安全人机工效实验室规划研究

安全人机工效学是安全工程科学的重要组成部分,而安全人机工效实验是该学科研究的重要基础,安全人机工效实验围绕作业环境与作业活动模拟、作业人员心理、生理、劳动负荷等参数变化需要通过大量实验进行研究,因此有必要建立基础性、综合性、开放性与动态性相结合的人机工效实验室。通过国内外调研,根据初步规划研究建立基础测量、虚拟仿真与监测、心理与行为分析、综合评估等4个实验室,可初步形成安全人机工效实验研究平台,为进一步实现安全与健康并重安全工程研究提供良好的基础条件。     

Simulated single-bicycle crashes in the VTI crash safety laboratory

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the influence of bicycle design and speed on the head impact when suffering from a single-bicycle crash, and the possibility to study this using crash tests.

Methods: Simulations of single-bicycle crashes were performed in the VTI crash safety laboratory. Two bicycle crash scenarios were simulated: “a sudden stop” and “sideways dislocation of the front wheel”; using four different bicycle types: a “lady’s bicycle”, a commuter bicycle, a recumbent bicycle and a pedelec; at two speeds: 15 and 25?km/h. In addition, sideway falls were performed with the bicycles standing still. All tests were done with a Hybrid II 50^th percentile crash test dummy placed in the saddle of the bicycles, with acceleration measurements in the head.

Results: The crash tests showed that a sudden stop, e.g. a stick or bag in the front wheel, will result in a falling motion over the handle bars causing a forceful head impact while a sideways dislocation of the front wheel will result in a falling motion to the side causing a more moderate head impact. The falling motion varies between the different bicycle types depending on crash test scenario and speed. The pedelec had a clearly different falling motion from the other bicycle types, especially at a sudden stop.

Conclusions: The study implies that it is possible to examine single-bicycle crashes using crash tests, even though the setup is sensitive to minor input differences and the random variation in the resulting head impact values can be large. Sideway falls with the bicycles standing still were easier to perform with a good repeatability and indicated an influence of seating height on the head impact.     

在煤矿构建人因安全测评室的探索

人因安全管理是煤矿安全管理中的重要内容,而其中的一项重要内容则是人员测评.参考已有研究经验,并结合煤矿生产的特点,基于测评方法和侧重点的异同、企业实施检测的条件与环境等因素,对煤矿安全人因测评指标进行重新归纳,提出了一套系统性好、针对性强、且具有较高可操作性的煤矿人因安全测评室的构建方案.总结出三类与煤矿安全生产紧密相关的人因指标模块:心理素质、生理机能和认知能力,并给出了每个模块的具体测评指标及检测方法.最后还给出了测评室建设实施及完善推广的相关建议.     

Two discrete choice experiments on laboratory safety decisions and practices

IntroductionThe path toward enhancing laboratory safety requires a thorough understanding of the factors that influence the safety-related decision making of laboratory personnel. Method: We developed and administered a web-based survey to assess safety-related decision making of laboratory personnel of a government research organization. The survey included two brief discrete choice experiments (DCEs) that allowed for quantitative analysis of specific factors that potentially influence safety-related decisions and practices associated with two different hypothetical laboratory safety scenarios. One scenario related to reporting a laboratory spill, and the other scenario involved changing protective gloves between laboratory rooms. The survey also included several brief self-report measures of attitude, perception, and behavior related to safety practices. Results: Risk perception was the most influential factor in safety-related decision making in both scenarios. Potential negative consequences and effort associated with reporting an incident and the likelihood an incident was detected by others also affected reporting likelihood. Wearing gloves was also affected somewhat by perceived exposure risk, but not by other social or work-related factors included in the scenarios. Conclusions: The study demonstrated the promise of DCEs in quantifying the relative impact of several factors on safety-related choices of laboratory workers in two hypothetical but realistic scenarios. Participants were faced with hypothetical choice scenarios with realistic features instead of traditional scaling techniques that ask about attitudes and perceptions. The methods are suitable for addressing many occupational safety concerns in which workers face tradeoffs in their safety-related decisions and behavior. Practical Application: Safety-related decisions regarding laboratory practices such as incident reporting and use of PPE were influenced primarily by workers’ perceptions of risk of exposure and severity of risks to health and safety. This finding suggests the importance of providing laboratory workers with adequate and effective education and training on the hazards and risks associated with their work. DCEs are a promising research method for better understanding the relative influences of various personal, social, and organizational factors that shape laboratory safety decisions and practices. The information gained from DCEs may lead to more targeted training materials and interventions.     

美国高校实验室废弃物安全管理浅析

实验室废弃物的收集、管理不当会造成严重的环境污染甚至人员伤害,这已经引起国内外相关部门的高度重视。美国高校在实验室废弃物安全管理方面积累了科学、规范的管理经验：通过对实验室科研人员的专业培训保证废弃物的安全分类收集;通过专业环境健康安全管理部门人员的科学管理实现对废弃物的安全收集与存放;通过专业废弃物收集处置公司来实现废弃物的安全转移运输和最终无害化处理。为加强国内高校实验室废弃物的安全管理,在对美国高等院校实验室废弃物的收集、储藏、运输和处理等方面调查研究的基础上,结合国内实验室废弃物安全管理的现状,对国内外高校实验室废弃物的安全管理进行了对比分析,以期为国内高校实验室废弃物的安全管理工作提供有益的借鉴。     

对安全发展的几点认识

<中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十一个五年规划的建议>(以下简称<建议>)中,明确提出了"坚持节约发展、清洁发展、安全发展,实现可持续发展"的重要指导原则.     

模糊综合评价在实验室安全管理评价中的应用

由于高校和科研部门中的实验室安全隐患多、运行管理复杂,故对应的安全管理评价指标和方法难以确定。模糊综合评价方法是解决影响因素多、评价指标复杂问题的常用方法。通过总结和研究高校实验室安全管理的特点,对多个实验室进行实地考察,并在听取专家意见的基础上,建立实验室安全管理评价指标体系,结合层次分析法确定了各指标的权重。通过专家打分得到综合评价矩阵,采用基于加权平均算子的模糊数学方法得到实验室安全管理评价的结果集。将该方法应用于某实验室的安全管理评价,分析得出安全管理中的薄弱环节,为采取有效的风险预控措施提供了一定的理论依据。     

青岛理工大学安全工程专业实验室建设探讨

安全工程专业的学科建设离不开安全实验室的建设,就青岛理工大学的安全工程专业实验室建设进行了探讨.从实验室建设的重要地位入手,结合安全工程的专业课程设置情况,提出了安全工程实验室应设置的实验内容.     

皮带机的一种安全检测装置

介绍磁力式皮带速度检测器的作用、性能和使用效果。     

安全管理新概念--关于"安全学习志"的探讨

本文提出了一种基于安全学习志的安全管理新概念.安全学习志是一种用于解答安全管理难题,将组织的经验知识转化为行动的管理工具.它继承了中华民族修志写史的优良文化传统,同时也借鉴了国外商业领域利用学习志集中学习互动的优点.具体从编撰方法、功能作用、推广应用及发展前景等几个方面阐述了这种管理概念的可行性.     

A safety self-management intervention for mining operations

PROBLEM: This quasi-experimental field study examined the efficacy of a safety self-management process to increase safety-related work practices in mining operations. METHODS: After a 7-week baseline, 15 miners participated in a safety self-management training and education presentation. The participants in a prebehavior condition (n=8) recorded their intentions to engage in specific percentages of safety-related work behaviors before starting their shift for the day. In contrast, participants in a postbehavior condition (n=7) recorded their percentages of safety-related work behaviors after their shift for the day. RESULTS: During withdrawal (4 weeks), the miners did not complete any self-monitoring forms. Based on 10,905 behavioral observations, safety self-management was effective at increasing the frequency of safety-related behavior (p<.05). For the prebehavior condition, the mean percent safe score across three target behaviors increased 34.8% during intervention. Similarly, in the postbehavior condition, the mean percent safe score across three target behaviors increased 40.1% during intervention. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The results suggest that employees who work in relative isolation or have little oversight, compared to traditional industrial workers, may benefit from a process by which they can systematically observe themselves.     

A short scale for measuring safety climate

A 6-item measure that assesses global work safety climate was validated using multiple samples each from a hospital and a nuclear energy population. Across all 14 samples the 6-item measure had acceptable internal consistency. The measure was associated with better adherence to safe work practices, reduced exposure to environmental stressors, the presence of more safety policies and procedures, a positive general organizational climate, and decreased accidents. As evidence for discriminant validity, safety climate was unrelated to most demographic measures and had relatively small relationships with sleeping problems and negative mood. Evidence suggests that this measure is a reliable and valid way to assess global safety climate.     

体系安全性分析的双层次框架

为识别体系(So S)中的薄弱环节、评价威胁风险并提高体系安全性,根据安全系统工程和体系工程理论,提出体系安全性基本概念。基于复杂网络科学和传统安全分析技术,提出一种双层次分析框架,从脆弱性角度和威胁风险角度研究体系安全性。脆弱性分析可从拓扑结构和非拓扑因素2方面识别对体系安全较关键的脆弱点;威胁风险分析能得到脆弱点面临的任意威胁组合,并识别后果较严重的威胁风险。结果表明:体系安全性包括宏观的脆弱性应对能力,和微观的威胁风险控制能力。体系安全性分析需宏观和微观双层次相结合,全面考虑体系安全性诸因素。基于识别结果的威胁评价将提高安全分析的针对性和效率。     

A framework for measuring safety level for production environments

The paper demonstrates the feasibility of applying a new approach termed hybrid structural interaction matrix (HSIM) to the prioritisation of safety parameters in an organization. The methodology proposed is a prioritizing concept that integrates the structural interaction matrix (SIM), the hierarchical tree structured diagram (HTSD), and the goal programming (GP) concept from the decision science field. The paper presents an easy-to-apply methodology that reduces subjectivity commonly found in existing prioritizing methodologies. To this end, the safety of the manufacturing organization is analyzed and the important areas conceptualized such that the safety manager could have a more precise measurement and understanding of the safety system. With this, the safety manager would obviously reduce errors in measurement due to bias in human assessment of safety performance that may be characterized of existing safety prioritizing paradigm. The originality in the work lies in the development of a new star in the applied form to safety management.     

A survey-based system for safety measurement and improvement

PROBLEM:A task force sought to develop a method for safety measurement that is reliable and valid and provides a framework for improvement efforts. METHOD: Over a 10-year period, through working in a chemical company with about 6,000 employees and over 50 plants, the authors researched the use of employee surveys to measure safety and as a diagnostic tool for improvement efforts. RESULTS: The statistical studies indicate that this survey, which evolved from the Minnesota Safety Perception Survey, is both reliable and valid as a measurement tool. The survey measures important components of the management system including (a) management's demonstration of commitment to safety, (b) education and knowledge of the workforce, (c) effectiveness of the supervisory process, and (d) employee involvement and commitment. This study also describes anecdotal evidence that the diagnostic element of the survey enables the development of effective action plans to improve safety performance. This evidence includes ratings of the process by plant managers who have used it. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The survey and related methods have helped to improve safety performance in several companies.     

基于Web的企业安全监管信息系统

针对企业安全监管中信息繁杂、处理困难所导致的监管效率低下等问题,提出一种基于Web的安全监管信息系统.系统采用Browser/Server构架,实现信息管理、实时监控、数据更新与信息抽取.并以某专业测井公司为实例,开发了基于Web的测井安全监管信息系统投入使用,实现了职工信息、培训计划、职业健康、放射剂量、放射源、资质证书、车辆年检、实时提醒等信息管理功能.应用结果表明,系统可变粗放式管理为精细化运作,能有效提高企业安全监管信息化水平.     

A semi-quantitative methodology for risk assessment of university chemical laboratory

University chemical laboratory is a high-risk place for teaching and scientific research due to the presence of various physical and chemical hazards. In recent years, university chemical laboratory accidents occur frequently. This urges the need to enhance university chemical lab safety. A semi-quantitative methodology comprising Matter-Element Extension Theory (MEET) implemented with Combination Ordered Weighted Averaging (C-OWA) operator is proposed to assess the risk of a university chemical laboratory. First, an index-based risk assessment system of university chemical laboratory is built by identifying various risk factors from a system perspective. Then, C-OWA operator is used to calculate the weight of assessment indices, whereas MEET is employed to determine the correlation degree of assessment indices. Finally, the comprehensive risk of university chemical laboratories is assessed, and some safety measures are proposed to reduce the risk of university chemical laboratories. The applicability of the proposed methodology is tested using a practical case. It is observed that the methodology can be a useful tool for risk assessment and management of university chemical laboratories.