A cross-validation of safety climate scale using confirmatory factor analytic approach

PROBLEM: Given the lack of a consistent factor structure of safety climate, this study tested the stability of a factor structure of a safety climate scale developed through an extensive literature review using confirmatory factor analytic approach and cross-validation. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 722 U.S. grain industry workers participated in the questionnaire survey. RESULTS: The safety climate scale developed through the generation of an item pool based on a table of specifications, subsequent scientific item reduction procedures, reviews from experts, and pilot test yielded adequate reliabilities for each dimension. Each item showed proper discriminative power based on both internal and external criteria. Criterion validity was manifested by the significant positive correlation of the scale with five criteria. Evidence of construct validity was provided by both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Both calibration and validation samples supported a consistent factor structure. Management commitment and supervisor support were found to influence other dimensions of safety climate. DISCUSSION: This study provides an insight into the primary reason why previous attempts have failed to find a consistent factor structure of safety climate: No specification of the influence of management commitment and supervisor support on other dimensions of safety in their models. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The findings of this study provide a framework upon which accident prevention efforts can be effectively organized and underscore the importance of management commitment and supervisor support as they affect employee safety perceptions.     

"We all knew that a cyclone was coming": disaster preparedness and the cyclone of 1999 in Orissa, India

Imagine that a cyclone is coming, but that those living in the affected areas do nothing or too little to protect themselves. This is precisely what happened in the coastal state of Orissa, India. Individuals and communities living in regions where natural hazards are a part of daily life develop strategies to cope with and adapt to the impacts of extreme events. In October 1999, a cyclone killed 10,000 people according to government statistics, however, the unofficial death toll is much higher. This article examines why such a large loss of life occurred and looks at measures taken since then to initiate comprehensive disaster-preparedness programmes and to construct more cyclone shelters. The role of both governmental organisations and NGOs in this is critically analysed. The good news is that, based on an assessment of disaster preparedness during a small cyclone in November 2002, it can be seen that at community-level awareness was high and that many of the lessons learnt in 1999 were put into practice. Less positive, however, is the finding that at the state level collaboration continues to be problematic.     

城市“屋顶花园”对城市气候影响方法研究

:随着社会经济的迅猛发展 ,我国城市数量不断增多 ,城市规模不断扩大 ,随之带来的是城市环境不断恶化。如何改变这种状况 ,使城市规模和环境协调发展 ,是摆在科技工作者面前的紧迫任务。理论分析和实际观测资料表明 ,城市平顶屋面绿化是改善城市气候的最有效的途径之一 ,它对由于城市而产生的“五岛”效应均有不同程度的消弱或改善作用。通过关于城市屋面绿化对城市气候影响过程的分析 ,阐明了城市屋面绿化对城市气候影响的特征 ,并从理论上着重提出用移植法和数值模拟法来研究其影响的程度 ,最后提出了理想城市环境应具有的特征 ,并呼吁城市建设部门成立专门的机构以全面负责平顶屋面的绿化     

中国气候变化影响研究概况

介绍了目前我国在未来气候变化影响研究方面的概况,气候影响研究采用的方法多为政府间气候变化专业委员会(IPCC)第二工作组提出的气候变化影响评价方法。未来气候变化影响研究是在大气中C0₂浓度加倍,或气温、降水变化的情景下,进行未来农业、林业、水资源、生态环境以及海平面上升等方面的潜在影响研究,其中有模型研究、实验室研究、宏观研究和适应对策研究等。这些研究采用的未来气候情景多为GCM模型预测的气候情景。      

Safety climate, attitudes and risk perception in Norsk Hydro

The aims of this paper are to test mental images of risk and to present some results of a survey of safety climate, employee attitudes, risk perception and behaviour among employees within the industrial company Norsk Hydro. Two mental images were tested. They are both based on the assumption that it is possible to make a distinction between cognitive and affective processes involved in risk perception. The first model was the ‘rationalistic’ approach, which assumes that the affective component of risk perception is influenced by cognitive judgements. The justification for the second model is found in Zajonc's [Zajonc, R.B., 1980. Feeling and thinking. Preferences need no inferences. American Psychologist 35 (2), 151–175] conclusion that emotions are precognitive. In this model, entitled the ‘mental imagery’ approach, emotion is seen as the driving force affecting cognition of risk and safety. Employees at 13 plants have answered a self-completion questionnaire. The plants belonged to the agricultural, aluminium, magnesium and petrochemical divisions within Norsk Hydro. A total of 731 respondents replied to the questionnaire. The mental imagery approach was somewhat better fitted to the data than a rationalistic approach. Safety climate and employee attitudes towards safety and accident prevention contributed significantly to the variance in employee occupational risk behaviour. Worry and the extent to which the employee felt safe/unsafe was the most important predictor for the cognitive judgement of risk. Acceptability of rule violations seemed to be the most important predictor of behaviour, probably because acceptability also affected how often the respondents took chances and broke safety rules.     

The impact of organizational climate on safety climate and individual behavior

Relatively little previous research has investigated the meechanisms by which safety climate affects safety behavior. The current study examined the effects of general organizational climate on safety climate and safety performance. As expected, general organizational climate exerted a significant impact on safety climate, and safety climate in turn was related to self-reports of compliance with safety regulations and procedures as well as participation in safety-related activities within the workplace. The effect of general organizational climate on safety performance was mediated by safety climate, while the effect of safety climate on safety performance was partially mediated by safety knowledge and motivation.     

北太平洋地区沙尘沉降与海洋生物兴衰的关系

通过对2001年4月中亚强沙尘暴过程在中国、韩国、日本和北美大陆地面PM10观测结果进行统计分析,推算出了北太平洋PAPA地区的沙尘沉降通量,结合同期PAPA地区的海洋表层有机碳和叶绿素观测结果,探讨了北太平洋沙尘与海洋生物兴衰的关系.结果表明,本次强沙尘暴过程可以给PAPA地区带去大约3.1～5.8μg/m³的风成Fe元素,它激发了海洋生物泵,引起海洋浮游植物的快速繁盛.     

MESOSCALE ATMOSPHERIC 2XCO2 CLIMATE CHANGE SIMULATION APPLIED TO AN OREGON WATERSHED1

ABSTRACT: A 2xCO2 climate and runoff in the Upper Deschutes Basin in central Oregon is simulated using a mesoscale atmospheric model and a watershed model that incorporates spatial variability of the runoff process. A nine‐year control climate monthly time series provides a benchmark for assessing changes related to a warmer and wetter 2xCO2 climate. Potential evapotranspiration is increased by 23 percent and snow water equivalent is reduced by 59 percent in the 2xCO2 climate. Annual runoff increases by 23 percent, while November runoff increases by 55 percent. The average maximum monthly runoff is in May for both the control climate and 2xCO2 climate, but in five of the nine years the monthly maximum runoff for the 2xCO2 climate occurs two to five months earlier than for the control climate. The minimum runoff month is one to five months earlier in the 2xCO2 climate in seven of the nine years, and the month of average minimum runoff is March in the control climate and November in the 2xCO2 climate. Since precipitation is greatest in December in both the control climate and 2xCO2 climate, the earlier maximum and minimum runoff for a 2xCO2 climate indicates greater watershed sensitivity to temperature than to precipitation.     

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON WATER RESOURCES OF THE TSENGWEN CREEK WATERSHED IN TAIWAN1

ABSTRACT: This study presents a methodology to evaluate the vulnerability of water resources in the Tsengwen creek watershed, Taiwan. Tsengwen reservoir, located in the Tsengwen creek watershed, is a multipurpose reservoir with a primary function to supply water for the ChiaNan Irrigation District. A simulation procedure was developed to evaluate the impacts of climate change on the water resources system. The simulation procedure includes a streamflow model, a weather generation model, a sequent peak algorithm, and a risk assessment process. Three climate change scenarios were constructed based on the predictions of three General Circulation Models (CCCM, GFDL, and GISS). The impacts of climate change on streamflows were simulated, and, for each climate change scenario, the agricultural water demand was adjusted based on the change of potential evapotranspiration. Simulation results indicated that the climate change may increase the annual and seasonal streamflows in the Tsengwen creek watershed. The increase in streamflows during wet periods may result in serious flooding. In addition, despite the increase in streamflows, the risk of water deficit may still increase from between 4 and 7 percent to between 7 and 13 percent due to higher agricultural water demand. The simulation results suggest that the reservoir capacity may need to be expanded. In response to the climate change, four strategies are suggested: (1) strengthen flood mitigation measures, (2) enhance drought protection strategies, (3) develop new water resources technology, and (4) educate the public.     

冬小麦中轻度水分胁迫的增产节水效应研究

利用大型水分试验场的防雨棚遮挡自然降水,采用人工定量补水进行冬小麦土壤含水量占田间持水量40%～50%、45%～50%、50%～55%、50%～60%、55%～60%、60%～70%持续时间分别为5、10、15天水分胁迫处理的控制试验。试验结果表明:50%～70%的中轻度水分胁迫处理,冬小麦具有显著的增产节水效果;2年平均,增产6.3%～7.4%,节水28.2%～34.1%。中轻度水分胁迫下,冬小麦增产节水作用机制的实现,主要是通过水分胁迫效应诱发增强:①冬小麦根系的找水功能;②产量构成因子的优化;③复水后光合速率的提高。冬小麦水分胁迫效应的最佳利用时间为返青-拔节期,此时进行水分胁迫效应利用最有利于冬小麦稳产增产。