起重机械安全保护控制装置的可靠性和有效性探讨

从设计、制造、安装、使用及安全技术检验等过程 ,探讨了提高起重机械安全保护控制装置的可靠性和有效性的途径 ,指出了起重机械安全保护控制装置的发展趋势 ,提出了引进国外技术应注意的问题     

Context and Systems: Thinking More Broadly About Effectiveness in Strategic Environmental Assessment in China

China is an illustrative—and extreme—case of the difficulties of balancing the pursuit of economic, social, and environmental objectives. In 2003 it adopted a form of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for its plans and programs (referred to here as PEIA) with the aim of moving towards greater environmental sustainability. The literature has explored primarily the issue of methods and legal procedures. This research contributes to the analysis of PEIA through a different set of interpretative lens. Drawing on recent developments in the theory and practice of SEA, I propose a conceptualization of SEA effectiveness that combines direct and incremental impacts, and a need for context-specific systems as a way to focus on the relationship between assessment, planning, and their context, and thus maximize effectiveness. This framework underpins the analysis of China’s experience, which I explore with the help of interview material and the literature. The result is an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of PEIA in terms of its purpose, assessment concept, process, and methods. The detailed analysis of six aspects of the context helps explain the origin of such shortcomings, and identify opportunities for its improvement. I conclude defining elements of a context-specific system for SEA that seeks to maximize the opportunity for incremental, as well as direct, effectiveness in China.     

A national evaluation of the nighttime and passenger restriction components of graduated driver licensing

Introduction

The high crash rate of youthful novice drivers has been recognized for half a century. Over the last decade, graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems, which extend the period of supervised driving and limit the novice's exposure to higher-risk conditions (such as nighttime driving), have effectively reduced crash involvements of novice drivers.

Method

This study used data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the implementation dates of GDL laws in a state-by-year panel study to evaluate the effectiveness of two key elements of GDL laws: nighttime restrictions and passenger limitations.

Results

Nighttime restrictions were found to reduce 16- and 17-year-old driver involvements in nighttime fatal crashes by an estimated 10% and 16- and 17-year-old drinking drivers in nighttime fatal crashes by 13%. Passenger restrictions were found to reduce 16- and 17-year-old driver involvements in fatal crashes with teen passengers by an estimated 9%.

Conclusions

These results confirm the effectiveness of these provisions in GDL systems. Impact on Public Health. States without the nighttime or passenger restrictions in their GDL law should strongly consider adopting them.

Impact on Industry

The results of this study indicate that nighttime restrictions and passenger limitations are very important components of any GDL law.     

A framework for evaluating OSH program effectiveness using leading and trailing metrics

Introduction

Many employers and regulators today rely primarily on a few past injury/ illness metrics as criteria for rating the effectiveness of occupational safety and health (OSH) programs. Although such trailing data are necessary to assess program success, they may not be sufficient for developing proactive safety, ergonomic, and medical management plans.

Methods

The goals of this pilot study were to create leading metrics (company self-assessment ratings) and trailing metrics (past loss data) that could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of OSH program elements that range from primary to tertiary prevention. The main hypothesis was that the new metrics would be explanatory variables for three standard future workers compensation (WC) outcomes in 2003 (rates of total cases, lost time cases, and costs) and that the framework for evaluating OSH programs could be justifiably expanded. For leading metrics, surveys were developed to allow respondents to assess OSH exposures and program prevention elements (management leadership/ commitment, employee participation, hazard identification, hazard control, medical management, training, and program evaluation). After pre-testing, surveys were sent to companies covered by the same WC insurer in early 2003. A total of 33 completed surveys were used for final analysis. A series of trailing metrics were developed from 1999-2001 WC data for the surveyed companies. Data were analyzed using a method where each main 2003 WC outcome was dichotomized into high and low loss groups based on the median value of the variable. The mean and standard deviations of survey questions and 1999-2001 WC variables were compared between the dichotomized groups. Hypothesis testing was performed using F-test with a significance level 0.10.

Results/Discussion

Companies that exhibited higher musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) WC case rates from 1999-2001 had higher total WC case rates in 2003. Higher levels of several self-reported OSH program elements (tracking progress in controlling workplace safety hazards, identifying ergonomic hazards, using health promotion programs) were associated with lower rates of WC lost time cases in 2003. Higher reported exposures to noise and projectiles were also associated with higher rates of WC cases and costs in 2003.

Impact on Industry

This research adds to a growing body of preliminary evidence that valid leading and trailing metrics can be developed to evaluate OSH effectiveness. Both the rating of OSH efforts and the regular trending of past loss outcomes are likely useful in developing data-driven improvement plans that are reactive to past exposures and proactive in identifying system deficiencies that drive future losses.     

Effectiveness of novel and traditional methods to incorporate industrial wastes in cementitious materials—An overview

Sustainable development and eco-efficiency are urgent and imperative demands for the well-being of our planet, continued growth of a society, and human development. Traditional Portland cement production seems unsustainable due to consumption of huge natural resources and energy and significant CO₂ emissions. The volume of industrial wastes is increasing significantly, leading to a number of economical and ecological problems. Although industrial wastes can be incorporated in cementitious materials by various traditional methods, the substitution ratio of industrial wastes in cementitious materials is relatively low to avoid unacceptable performance loss. Novel methods, such as improving hydraulic activities of metallurgical slags by adding composition adjusting material at high temperature, improving surface cementitious properties of fly ashes by dehydration and rehydration treatment, and arranging cement clinker and industrial wastes in the particle size distribution of blended cements according to their hydraulic activities, are reviewed. These methods provide more effective approach to prepare high performance blended cements with larger amount of industrial wastes, leading to a very significant role in CO₂ emissions reducing, resources and energy conservation of the cement industry.     

提高我国环境影响评价中公众参与有效性的对策研究

公众参与是环境影响评价中的重要内容,它是项目方或环境工作组与公众之间的一种双向交流。本文阐释了公众参与的内涵,分析了目前我国公众参与在环境影”向评价中存在的主要问题,提出了提高公众参与在环境影响评价中有效性的具体实施对策,从而使环境影响评价更加充分的发挥其重要作用。     

污染红利与污染集聚的机理与实证

文章用污染要素的替代效应与成本效应对污染集聚的形成机理进行了分析,研究结果说明污染红利会带来污染集聚.首先,污染替代效应会导致污染密集型产业成为主导产业;其次,污染成本效应一方面会导致单个企业排污加大,另一方面还会扩大污染密集型企业的数量;第三,污染替代效应和成本效应作为污染总效应的分支,二者的作用是累加的,不会互相抵消.为了检验该研究结论的正确性,本文用内蒙古工业规模效应、工业结构效应、工业科技效应指标对该省废气排放总量进行了回归分析,结果支持了上述研究结论.首先,有利于把污染当作红利使用的工业规模效应与工业科技效应均促进了废气排放的增加;其次,抑制把污染当作红利使用的工业结构效应则促进了废气排放的减少.因此,我国彻底治理环境污染是一项长期的任务,我们在加大产业结构调整的过程中,尤应加大对污染密集型产业的抑制.     

环境影响评价有效性及其建设途径探讨

概要综述了环境影响评价有效性研究的进展，从系统和整体角度探讨了ＥＩＡ有效性的涵义，并从加强ＥＩＡ国家能力建设，建立ＥＩＡ有效干预规划及设计程序的交流机制，以及在ＥＩＡ体系中加入有关系落实ＥＩＡ跟进及监察工作的内容等方面，探讨了ＥＩＡ有效性的建设途径。     

The effectiveness of reducing illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits for driving: evidence for lowering the limit to .05 BAC

PURPOSE: This scientific review provides a summary of the evidence regarding the benefits of reducing the illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving and providing a case for enacting a .05 BAC limit. RESULTS: Fourteen independent studies in the United States indicate that lowering the illegal BAC limit from .10 to .08 has resulted in 5-16% reductions in alcohol-related crashes, fatalities, or injuries. However, the illegal limit is .05 BAC in numerous countries around the world. Several studies indicate that lowering the illegal per se limit from .08 to .05 BAC also reduces alcohol-related fatalities. Laboratory studies indicate that impairment in critical driving functions begins at low BACs and that most subjects are significantly impaired at .05 BAC. The relative risk of being involved in a fatal crash as a driver is 4 to 10 times greater for drivers with BACs between .05 and .07 compared to drivers with .00 BACs. SUMMARY: There is strong evidence in the literature that lowering the BAC limit from .10 to .08 is effective, that lowering the BAC limit from .08 to .05 is effective, and that lowering the BAC limit for youth to .02 or lower is effective. These law changes serve as a general deterrent to drinking and driving and ultimately save lives. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This critical review supports the adoption of lower illegal BAC limits for driving.     

Understanding self-evaluations of effectiveness by forestry advisory committee members: a case of Ontario's Local Citizens Committee members

Researchers have devised many criteria that could assist with the development of an effective public participation process. Few studies, however, have linked these criteria to the effectiveness of decision-making resulting from these processes. We assess whether several criteria postulated by others for designing an effective decision-making process are associated with evaluations of the effectiveness of decision-making by advisory group members from a forest management planning process in Ontario, Canada. Data were collected by written questionnaires from 197 advisory group members in 2001. Four criteria were linked to the effectiveness evaluations including process control (influence), trust in decision-makers, information credibility, and process efficiency. The criterion of knowledge along with contextual variables related to experience, economic dependence on forestry, and geographical residence were not associated with evaluations of effectiveness.