Mitigating construction safety risks using prevention through design

Introduction

Research and practice have demonstrated that decisions made prior to work at construction sites can influence construction worker safety. However, it has also been argued that most architects and design engineers possess neither the knowledge of construction safety nor the knowledge of construction processes necessary to effectively perform Construction Hazards Prevention through Design (CHPtD).

Method

This paper introduces a quantitative methodology that supports designers by providing a way to evaluate the safety-related performance of residential construction designs using a risk analysis-based approach. The methodology compares the overall safety risk level of various construction designs and ranks the significance of the various safety risks of each of these designs. The methodology also compares the absolute importance of a particular safety risk in various construction designs.

Results

Because the methodology identifies the relevance of each safety risk at a particular site prior to the construction stage, significant risks are highlighted in advance. Thus, a range of measures for mitigating safety risks can then be implemented during on-site construction.

Impact on industry

The methodology is specially worthwhile for designers, who can compare construction techniques and systems during the design phase and determine the corresponding level of safety risk without their creative talents being restricted. By using this methodology, construction companies can improve their on-site safety performance.     

What kinds of injuries do OSHA inspections prevent?

Objective

OSHA's enforcement program is one of the major public efforts to protect American workers. We examine both the scope of injury prevention that inspections can contribute and the types of standards that contribute the most.

Methods

We linked Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry files for lost-time injuries and employment to calculate injury rates for 1998-2005 for all single-establishment manufacturing firms. We linked these to OSHA inspection records.

Results

Inspections with penalties did affect injury types unrelated to standards as well as those related. We also found again that citations for violations of the standard requiring personal protective equipment had the largest impact on preventing injuries.

Impact on Industry

Programs requiring protective equipment use deserve added attention from consultants and inspectors. In addition, some inspections spur managers to undertake safety measures that go beyond compliance with standards.     

The exposure risks associated with pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in bioaerosol from municipal landfill and surrounding area

Pathogenic microbes with antibiotic resistance can thrive on municipal solid waste as nutrients and be aerosolized and transported to vicinities during waste disposal processes. However, the characterization of pathogenic bioaerosols and assessment of their exposure risks are lacking. Herein, particle size, concentration, activity, antibiotic resistance, and pathogenicity of airborne microorganisms were assessed in different sectors of a typical landfill. Results showed that active sector in downwind direction has the highest bioaerosol level (1234 CFU/m³), while residential area has the highest activity (14.82 mg/L). Botanical deodorizer from mist cannon can effectively remove bioaerosol. Most bioaerosols can be inhaled into respiratory system till bronchi with sizes ranging from 2.1−3.3 and 3.3−4.7 µm. Pathogenic bacteria (Bacilli, Bacillus, and Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia) and allergenic fungi (Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Curvularia) prevailed in landfill. Although high abundance of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) producing bioaerosols were detected, these mVOCs contributed little to odor issues in landfill. Notably, surrounding areas have higher levels of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) than inner landfill with tetC, acrB, acrF, mdtF, and bacA as dominant ones. Most ARGs were significantly correlated with bacterial community, while environmental parameters mainly influenced fungal prevalence. These findings can assist in reducing and preventing respiratory allergy or infection risks in occupational environments relating to waste management.     

高原湖泊砷污染健康风险评估

以某高原湖泊为例,以湖水中的砷含量类比推算了从该湖泊取水灌溉区域内水稻和蔬菜的砷含量,对稻米、蔬菜和饮水3种暴露途径进行健康风险评估。结果表明,人群通过摄入区域内稻米、蔬菜的致癌风险系数为可接受的致癌风险,饮用湖水的致癌风险系数为不可接受的致癌风险。     

火焰原子吸收法测定人体元素含量的研究

应用火焰原子吸收法，对123个人体发样中微量元素铜、铅、锌、铁、钙进行测定。分析微量元素在不同年龄段含量变化情况和原因，对其进行探讨，并提出自己对儿童成长过程中微量元素含量变化的建议和看法。     

A synergetic model for implementing an integrated management system: an empirical study in China

The implementation and certification of quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems have become a priority for many organizations. They are viewed as symbol for success and prerequisite for survival. However, it has been proved to be difficult to operate multiple parallel management systems covering quality, environment, and occupational health and safety and to ensure their alignment with the organization's strategy. To investigate the current status of integrated management system (IMS), a structured questionnaire survey was administrated. It is concluded that the major problems for enterprises to operate multiple parallel management systems include: it causes complexity of internal management, it lowers management efficiency, it incurs cultural incompatibility, it causes employee hostility, and increases management costs. The survey also examined the internal and external factors that affect the implementation of IMS. The internal factors include: (1) human resources, (2) organizational structure, (3) company culture, and (4) understanding and perception. The external factors consist of: (1) technical guidance, (2) certification bodies, (3) stakeholders and customers, and (4) the institutional environment. The article proposes a multi-level synergy model (strategic synergy, organizational structural-resource-cultural synergy, and documentation synergy) for an effective implementation of IMS.     

大气气溶胶中痕量金属元素的研究进展

综述了近年来国内外学者对大气气溶胶中痕量金属元素的研究进展,介绍了痕量金属元素的地球化学行为,以及大气气溶胶中痕量金属的源解析方法、在环境中的循环与污染、生物有效性及对人体的健康效应。建议研发更可靠的分析方法或在线检测仪器,避免采样和样品前处理过程中痕量金属的污染和损失;建立监测网络,形成区域性的大气监测模式,更全面地分析污染来源;与监测超级站建设、空气污染流行病学设计和毒性机制研究相结合,建立更加完善的研究体系。     

南宁市河流型水源地重金属污染调查与健康风险评价

通过对南宁市河流型水源地水体中Pb、Cd、Hg、As浓度调查与健康风险评价研究,结果表明:这4种元素在水体中的质量浓度较低,均达到《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838-2002)Ⅱ类标准;经饮水途径引起的健康风险从大到小依次为AsCdPbHg,说明As是南宁市饮用水源中的主要风险因子;4种元素通过饮水途径引起的平均个人年健康致癌风险值为1.48×10-6a-1~13.75×10-6a-1,非致癌风险值为7.05×10-10a-1,均低于美国环保局和国际辐射防护委员会的推荐值。     

生命价值：无需回避评估

治理环境污染的主要效益是健康效益，即降低发病率和死亡率，但治理污染要消耗稀缺资源（经济成本）。在涉及污染与健康的环境费用效益分析中，社会必须权衡经济收入与生命价值，估价生命价值有４种方法：人力资本法、工资隐含价格法，防护费用法和实验评价法，可以从不同途径评估中国人生命价值。     

沈阳和大连市居民血硒水平的评价

采用新极谱法测定了沈阳和大连市健康居民的全血样品的含量。沈阳和大连市分别为296例和300例,全血硒含量分别为153.8±48.5μg/L和146.5±51.0μg/L。沈阳市男性159例,女性137例,全血硒含量分别为157.3±49.6μg/L和149.3±46.6μg/L。大连市男性159例,女性141例,全血硒含量分别为148.1±50.2μg/L和144.7±51.9μg/L。沈阳和大连市居民血硒水平处于营养状态,均比9年前血硒水平显著提高(p<0.001)。