Work environment risk factors for injuries in wood processing

Problem

The reported injury rate for wood product manufacturing in Maine, 1987-2004, was almost twice the state-wide average for all jobs. Method: A case-control study was conducted in wood processing plants to determine preventable risk factors for injury. A total of 157 cases with injuries reported to workers' compensation and 251 controls were interviewed. Results: In multivariable analyses, variables associated with injury risk were high physical workload, machine-paced work or inability to take a break, lack of training, absence of a lockout/tagout program, low seniority, and male gender. Different subsets of these variables were significant when acute incidents and overexertions were analyzed separately and when all injuries were stratified by industry sub-sector. Impact on industry: Generalizability may be limited somewhat by non-representative participation of workplaces and individuals. Nevertheless, these findings provide evidence that many workplace injuries occurring in wood processing could be prevented by application of ergonomics principles and improved work organization.     

Challenges and proposals for managing major accident risk through the planning process

Major accidents are characterized by complex causal patterns with many factors influencing the occurrence of such accidents. The causes can be found not just in the execution of the work, but also in the preparations and planning before performing the work. In this paper, we have identified a set of challenges related to planning that may influence major accident risk. The basis is theoretical and partly empirical. The theoretical part is from a study of major accident theories. The empirical part includes studies of investigation reports, interviews and a workshop. The challenges identified can be grouped into four main topics including inadequate plan, inadequate planning, inadequate shared overview and understanding and late risk identification. The challenges have subsequently been addressed through a set of proposed improvements, which are aimed at improving the planning process to better manage major accident risk.     

The business cycle and the incidence of workplace injuries: evidence from the U.S.A

Introduction

The current study explored the association between the business cycle and the incidence of workplace injuries to identify cyclically sensitive industries and the relative contribution of physical capital and labor utilization within industries.

Method

Bureau of Labor Statistics nonfatal injury rates from 1976 through 2007 were examined across five industry sectors with respect to several macroeconomic indicators. Within industries, injury associations with utilization of labor and physical capital over time were tested using time series regression methods.

Results

Pro-cyclical associations between business cycle indicators and injury incidence were observed in mining, construction, and manufacturing but not in agriculture or trade. Physical capital utilization was the highest potential contributor to injuries in mining while labor utilization was the highest potential contributor in construction. In manufacturing each effect had a similar association with injuries.

Conclusion

The incidence of workplace injury is associated with the business cycle. However, the degree of association and the mechanisms through with the business cycle affects the incidence of workplace injuries was not the same across industries.

Impact on Industry

The results suggest that firms in the construction, manufacturing, and mining industries should take additional precautionary safety measures during cyclical upturns. Potential differences among industries in the mechanisms through which the business cycle affects injury incidence suggest different protective strategies for those industries. For example, in construction, additional efforts might be undertaken to ensure workers are adequately trained and not excessively fatigued, while safety procedures continue to be followed even during boom times.     

Understanding the patterns and characteristics of Natech events in China

With the frequent occurrence of natural disasters, natural hazard triggered technological accident (Natech) risk has attracted extensive attention from academia and industry. Natech events have the characteristics of various inducements and consequences, cascading chain reactions, and complex spatial interleaving, which leads to serious consequences. The Natech event is constantly threatening China's industrial safety production. However, the systematic analysis of Natech events in China is still lacking. The study counted 288 cases in the past 20 years and constructed Natech databases. Based on the theory of risk chain and risk system, a systematic horizontal and vertical analysis was developed for the first time. It aims to understand the characteristics of Natech events in terms of temporal and spatial, hazard factors, industry and risk material, consequences and hazard. In the results, Natech events showed a fluctuating trend. The southwest region (28.13%) and the middle Yellow River region (21.18%) belong to the critical control areas. China's industries were seriously affected by the disasters of meteorological (43.75%) and secondary, especially in the Chemical & Petrochemical and manufacturing. 64.58% of Natech events caused environmental pollution, and 13.19% of Natech events caused major or above consequences. Oil (31.25%) and hazardous chemicals (28.47%) were the main substances causing pollution, fire and explosion, which need to be controlled. The research preliminarily clarifies the risk chain and characteristics of Natech events, which provided the basis for Natech risk assessment.     

我国水泥行业发展存在的问题及环保对策建议

为促进水泥行业健康有序发展,通过对水泥行业发展现状进行总结,归纳了该行业存在的主要问题,提出了推进规划环评、加大监管力度、加快淘汰落后、全面推动烟气脱硝、鼓励水泥窑协同处置和加强矿山生态恢复等方面的建议。     

采掘行业环境影响评价制度存在问题的探讨

环境影响评价是环境管理的重要组成部分,为我国的环境管理决策提供重要依据。但在实际工作中,我国的环境管理工作仍然存在一定的问题。本文结合采掘行业的特点,分别从法律层面、设计层面和环境影响评价层面等三个方向进行分析,结合发现的问题提出建议,力求从不同的角度完善相关制度和技术要求。从而使采掘行业的环境管理能全面涵盖采掘行业开发过程,最大程度地减少采掘行业开发过程中的环境影响,完善采掘行业环境影响评价制度,对我国采掘行业生态环境的改善及环境影响评价法制建设起到一定的借鉴意义。     

硼化工企业环境污染与防治对策剖析

硼化工企业由于其产生含硼酸等偏酸性污水和显酸性的废渣,对厂区周边的植被和农田的土壤等形成污染,其结果使生态环境难以恢复。通过文献调研、现场考察、专家讨论,结合环境监测部门的现场土壤等采样并对该行业污染成因进行了分析,结果表明该类污水对环境污染的严重性,并提出对该污染的防治对策,采用提出的治理工艺在污染现场对土壤实施修复使污染土地得到恢复。     

武汉市道路交通业CO_2排放与减排潜力分析

为了促进武汉市低碳经济发展,减少交通出行带来的碳排放压力,核算了武汉市道路交通出行的CO2排放量,并采用低度、中度和强化3种减排情景模式对武汉道路交通出行的碳减排潜力进行了测算,计算出了不同情景下武汉市道路交通出行的碳减排强度。结果表明,2005年以来道路交通业CO2排放总量呈显著增长趋势。私家轿车的CO2排放量增加速度最快,大货车的CO2排放量在各类交通工具排放量中占比最大,公交车和出租车的CO2排放量所占比例较小。对3种不同情景的模拟结果表明,在低度减排情景减排效果有限,强化低碳情景下才能达到减排效果。建议采取以下减排措施:改进基础设施,创建良好的出行环境;推进技术创新,降低机动车能耗污染;提升公民素质,加大碳减排的宣传力度;优化道路运输的能效和经营效率管理等。     

哈尔滨市节能环保产业发展现状及对策

在国家大力推行节能减排的形势下,哈尔滨市节能环保产业规模日益壮大,总体水平有所提升,但还存在产业结构不完善、产业规模小、技术水平不高、资金投入不足等问题。就目前国家形势和市场环境来看,节能环保产业未来发展前景良好。在发展对策上,建议制定产业规划,开拓融资渠道,制定税收优惠政策,提高企业技术水平,发挥大型企业的带动、支撑作用,加大对节能环保产业的扶持力度,使其逐步成为哈尔滨市支柱产业。     

关于加强餐饮业的环境管理

通过对建华区餐饮业现状及存在问题的调查,从对餐饮业的监督管理、实施行政干预、加强排污收费力度、提高业主的环保意识、提高管理效力、强化执法力度、加强污染治理等方面提出了加强餐饮业环境管理的建议,指出加强城区餐饮业的环境监督管理已成为城市建设的重要组成部分。