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The development of spheres of the economy is significantly dependent on changes in the external environment. Increasing the production capacity of enterprises, expanding market opportunities, image positions are formed under the influence of a set of management decisions that is a response to certain changes in the environment. The purpose of the article is to reveal the essence and features of priority approaches to risk assessment in the activities of entities of the agricultural sector. It was proved that identifying effective alternatives is an advantage that allows you to get the planned results, minimize costs and limit the overuse of all types of resources. The effectiveness of analytical assessment can be ensured only under clearly defined conditions of partnership and levels of responsibility, a common goal, which is focused on the development of market eneteties. The supplement formed by the authors is related to possible solutions that can be aimed at bringing market enteties to bankruptcy or fictitious bankruptcy, that is, certain fraudulent actions. The making decisions should take into account all possible scenarios of events and risks. Risk assessment should be aimed at obtaining reliable information on the choice of alternative solutions, which will be focused on the timeliness and adequacy of the formation, adoption and adjustment of decisions taking into account the changing situation, its scale and complexity of practical solutions, threat prejudices. It is advisable to form an effective (adequate) risk management strategy that will ensure the achievement of goals. One of the important rules for organizing the management process should be to optimize the relationship between the level of risk and the possible results of themanagement decisionsimplementation, selected alternatives. The difference in risks in the areas of adjustment of management decisions depends on their scale, which determines the tools for implementing the selected alternatives. An important component of the effectiveness of the assessment is the correct analytical task, the choice of an effective research method and adequate to the situation (input conditions) management decision (management decisions). Analytical assessment and risk prediction in a global world cannot be limited territorially, the global world proves the need to adapt and adjust management decisions by market enteties in view of existing and potential hazards, including environmental ones.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the concept of Work-Life Balance with emphasis on the definition and content of construct. Based on a review of the literature, the article highlights the diversity of approaches defining the work-life balance (WLB) as well as the lack of a single accepted definition, on which the practitioners and academics community agree. The most problematic term was found to be the term “balance”. On the basis of analysed knowledge, the definition of work-life balance is proposed. The definition of WLB is based on presumption that WLB is such a state, that work life quality allows the full potential of a private life to be realized. According to this presumption a definition of work-life balance has been proposed and a formula for the calculation of work-life balance has been formed.

Existing methods of assessing the influence of factors allow to determine this influence indirectly without taking into account the speed (intensity) of their influence and the relationship between them. The article proposes a method of assessing the complex impact of significant factors on the failures of cranes, the relationship between which is presented in the form of a kinetic system, changing over time depending on the change of any active factor. The accumulated statistical material of accidents on cranes of different kinds are the initial data in the conduct of studies to assess the cumulative effect of various factors on the performance of crane equipment. The proposed methodology will take into account the intensity of the changes in factors associated with their change. This takes into account the kinematic state of the current factors, which is determined by the speed of change of each external factor, depending on the related factors acting on it. The results of the evaluation of crane failures under the proposed methodology do not contradict the studies of other authors and allow to assess the intensity of mutual influence of factors on each other.

In article reveals a possibility of assessment of danger and risks of wheel automobile vehicles when using in various climatic conditions on the example of operation in Iran. Results of the analysis of climatic and road service conditions of automobile vehicles are given in the Republic Iran. Special attention is paid to the analysis of constructive safety and breakdown rate of the cars manufactured in Iran. The general approach to assessment of non-failure operation and risks of automobile vehicles is described taking into account the defining factors. The order of assessment of risks is shown on the example of the brake system of the widespread car in the country. The technique of the analysis and assessment of risks offered in article allows to increase reliability and safety of operation of the car thanks to the prevention of refusals and prevention of possible accidents. The organization of operation of new models of automobile vehicles and justification of guarantee certificates of the supplier with application of the offered two-stage approach allows to develop and introduce in practice of work of the motor transportation enterprises and dealer companies system of the technical actions providing accident-free operation of vehicles and cutting expenses on car repairs during the guarantee period taking into account regional features of operation.

Higher legal standards with regards to the data protection of individu-als such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are increasing the pressure on developers of IT artifacts. Typically, when developing systems, we subsequently evaluate them with users to elaborate aspects such as user experi-ence perceptions. However, nowadays, other evaluation aspects such as legality and data policy issues are also important criteria for system development. For this purpose, we introduce LEGIT (legal design science evaluation), which pro-vides developers with guidance when considering legal requirements. We use the case of the GDPR to illustrate the feasibility, applicability, and benefit to the de-velopment process. With this novel method adapted from law research, we are able to derive actionable guidance for developers to evaluate developer efforts in increasing legal compatibility. To illustrate our methodological approach, in this paper, we describe the key steps of the method with respect to the evaluation of a learning assistant. We develop an AI-based learning assistant for university stu-dents to demonstrate the application of the novel evaluation method. We briefly discuss how this procedure can serve as the foundation for a new evaluation method of legally compatible systems in design science research.

During many years of statistical observations, the causes of almost one third of all emergencies, accidents, incidents and accidents at hazardous production facilities are organizational measures directly related to the presence of the human factor. The main tasks of the state policy in the field of industrial safety are: improving the requirements, training programs, certification and verification of knowledge of managers and specialists of operating organizations; development and implementation of information technologies that enable interaction with operating organizations, to optimize the acquisition, storage and analysis of information on production control over observance of requirements of industrial safety, systems safety management; introduction of risk-based approach in the organization of Federal state control (supervision) in the field of industrial safety. The ways to improve the efficiency and quality of certification of industrial safety, through information and communication technologies, allowing to introduce uniform requirements for training programs, to test the knowledge of managers and specialists for certification commissions of organizations, using a risk-based approach.

The succession of hazards, threats and disasters management and reduction international frameworks since the 1990s coincides with the promotion of new notions. The emergence of these notions frames the debate: are semantic evolutions modifying practices at the margin, paradigm changes or performative tools allowing practice maintenance? A retrospective view shows that these notions succeed each other as management actors encounter obstacles to yielding practical content. There are constant dialectics between the academic and operational spheres. The purpose of this article is to explain the performativity of the concepts, to identify the contradictions and to contemporize the effects of counter-productivity. The articulation of vulnerability towards resilience and then adaptation is presented as a solution to the problems posed by uncertainty and the difficulties of dealing with complexity. However, those new frameworks lead to a triple displacement of the problem, in time and space and on individuals instead of actually addressing it. These limitations and some theoretical contradictions lead to counter-productive measures. The purpose of this article is to overcome these by focusing on the notion of response. The goal is to build a median proposition between two poles: the socio-technical paradigm of vulnerability and the socio-ecological paradigm of resilience and adaptation. Vulnerability, resilience and adaptation are considered tools enabling the response’s orientation. The response then becomes operationalized into different objectives and measures. We then propose to reconstruct a response in a non-contradictory way, by taking out non-commensurable frameworks. The notion of response enables us to find a middle term between an all-encompassing framework, which retains the relevant orientations of the previous frameworks, but that is not contradictory. Responses are not a set of global solutions, large strategic plans or textbook prescriptions, but a vast project undertaken to mobilize more robust tools and understand risk as socially produced and constructed. La succession des cadres d’action internationaux pour la prévention et la gestion des risques, menaces, catastrophes et désastres depuis la décennie 1990 coïncide avec la promotion de nouvelles notions. L’émergence de nouveaux termes interroge : s’agit-il de simples évolutions sémantiques qui modifient les pratiques à la marge, de changements de paradigmes ou d’outils performatifs qui permettent finalement de reproduire à l’identique les pratiques existantes ? Un regard rétrospectif montre que les notions se succèdent au fil des difficultés rencontrées par les acteurs pour les opérationnaliser. Il existe une dialectique constante entre les sphères académiques et opérationnelles. Cet article propose dans un premier temps d’expliquer la performativité des concepts, d’identifier les contradictions entre les usages et de montrer les effets de contre-productivité. L’articulation de la vulnérabilité à la résilience, et désormais à l’adaptation, est présentée comme la solution aux problèmes posés par l’incertitude et la difficulté à composer avec la complexité. Cependant, ces nouveaux cadres de pensée et d’action conduisent à un triple déplacement du problème, dans le temps, dans l’espace et sur les individus, sans permettre de le traiter pour autant. Les limites, et les contradictions théoriques sont à l’origine de mesures de gestion contre-productives. Pour dépasser ce constat, l’article propose alors de se concentrer sur la notion de réponse. L’objectif est de construire une proposition médiane entre le paradigme socio-technique de la vulnérabilité et le paradigme socio-écologique du couple résilience/adaptation. Vulnérabilité, résilience et adaptation deviennent des outils qui permettent d’orienter la réponse, qui s’opérationnalisera ensuite dans différents objectifs et dispositifs. Notre but est de reconstruire la réponse de façon non-contradictoire. La notion de réponse nous permet de trouver un moyen terme entre les différents cadres, en ne retenant que les orientations pertinentes et en éliminant les contradictions. Les réponses ne consistent pas ici en un ensemble de solutions globales, de plans stratégiques ou de prescriptions mais dans un projet plus vaste qui cherche à mobiliser des outils plus robustes pour comprendre comment le risque est socialement produit et construit.

A well working transportation infrastructure is crucial for modern societies and the mobility of people. The general public relies on a sound infrastructure to fulfill their increasing and individual mobility needs. This means a wide range of transport necessities – e.g. daily way to work and daily (consumer, service) needs. In the event of a crisis, e.g. caused by a natural hazard, the transport infrastructure becomes vital for different reasons. The people have to be evacuated or rescued from the affected area. Furthermore, relief aid and supplies, as well as rescue forces do require unimpaired access to the crisis area. Natural disasters, like an earthquake or a flooding, are disturbing the transport infrastructure negatively. Cascading consequences are, for example, impassable roads, disturbed railway connections and a reduced transport capacity of persons and goods. To develop evacuation strategies, to plan logistics operations of emergency forces in the affected area and to safely route these forces through the affected area, among others, routing tools are required that take into account the current state of the infrastructure [1]. The Institute of Transportation Systems of the German Aerospace Center has developed KeepOperational, a web-based, integrated decision support tool for traffic management and crisis logistics. As a key feature, this system can directly inject impairments of the transportation infrastructure – derived from various sources – into the routing network so that these disturbances will be considered by the routing algorithms.

A current topic of high relevance in the transport sector is the automation of driving. Automation affects not only passenger transport, but also freight transport. While industry players are promoting automation to achieve the next level of driver assistance systems as a selling point, policymakers are supporting this innovation in the expectation of reducing congestion, fuel consumption and accidents. Hence, publicly funded projects deal with activities on infrastructure issues, legal aspects, technology development, connectivity aspects, information technology security and data protection. However, the user side of automated driving in freight traffic, the logistics and forwarding companies so far had little involvement in designing the technology and the framework conditions according to their needs. The exclusion of the user perspective can however lead to non-market-oriented solutions. Against this background, the article aims to convey the perspective of potential users of automation technology and to demonstrate the conditions of technology acceptance. The main result of the analysis is clear: The great benefit potential for users will be unleashed if the driver is replaced by the technology, due to the increasing scarcity of drivers, the increasing cost pressure and low margins and, the increasing need for efficient logistics processes, which drives the demand for automated trucks. In the opinion of the logistics industry, it is very unlikely that the driver will take on other tasks while driving for labour force qualification and economic reasons. The novelty of this finding contradicts the current use cases considered by the manufacturing industry: an automated truck with a driver who can follow other activities on the tour. There are signs, that the development of a user-oriented product therefore means the development of a driverless truck.

This paper explores how the functional safety of industrial deployments can be improved through emerging Industrie 4.0 approaches. We discuss how new sources of data, that are becoming accessible through advancing digitalization, can be used for this purpose, and how principles from predictive maintenance systems can be applied to industrial fail-safe applications: based on data from the industrial components themselves and from their environment as well as on metadata about interactions between these systems and people, we propose to create a model-based monitoring and controlling system that focuses on preserving the functional safety of the installation as a whole. We expect such a Predictive Fail-Safe system to mitigate or even prevent unsafe consequences of failures even in highly dynamic “smart factories”, thereby reducing or preventing harm to other equipment, the environment, and the involved people.

Hospitals provide highly sophisticated services, but they are largely steered by means of simplistic management models, which do not match the complexities faced by these organizations. The design of management models in hospitals and public organizations at large shows a bend toward reductionism. The reductionism of these models is rooted in their short-termism, and in the myopia of their designers. The purpose of our contribution is to draft a path by which steering approaches can be developed, which are more effective in coping with organizational complexity than the short-termist, reductionist management models often in use. Using a generic model, we demonstrate that conventional approaches to steering entail unintended side effects leading to counterproductive system behaviors and to results inferior to those coming from no steering at all. We suggest how more sophisticated steering models can be designed to induce desirable modes of system behavior.

The features and world experience of information risk management are analyzed. The necessity of a comprehensive approach to the analysis and management of information risks in corporate systems is proved. The economic-mathematical model was built with the application of the the-ory and tools of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic, which can more accurately measure the risk of information and make effective decisions in reducing the risk of possible lost in the corporate systems.

This paper analyzes cascade effects of natural disasters and investigates their impact on relief operations with respect to critical infrastructure, in particular, the transport infrastructure, electricity and human health. Causal-Loop-Diagrams (CLDs) are generated in order to provide useful information for decision makers. CLDs clearly visualize cascade effects which enable one to identify non-linear critical feedback processes and to analyze the behavior of the considered system. In order to investigate if the identified behavior occurred in real-world cases, we apply the CLDs to concrete natural disaster events, the European flood of 2002 and the European heat wave of 2003. Independent of the type of disaster, it can be concluded that cascade effects negatively affect critical infrastructure. The impacts on disaster relief operations can be proven for the case of the flood of 2002. In case of the heat wave of 2003 some of the assumed interdependencies did not appear in that analysis. The analysis shows that cascade effects and interdependencies between the different sectors of critical infrastructure can be visualized by the presented CLDs and are of high importance in order to understand their impact on disaster relief operations.

Bacterial resistances to antimicrobial drugs pose serious public health challenges. The observed increase of resistances is attributed to the uncontrolled, massive and often unnecessary administration of antibiotics both in human and veterinary medicine. To support the responsible use of antimicrobials in animals and help veterinarians selecting the most suitable antimicrobial drugs, we developed the AntibioticScout.ch as a comprehensive decision supporting tool providing online access to the current knowledge of rational antibiotic prescription practices. User-friendly search functions allow for the fast and efficient retrieval of information that is structured in this database by animal species, organ systems and therapeutic indications. In addition, an online form allows to report treatment failures in order to identify problematic cases as well as ensuing risks and take appropriate mitigation measures. The present report describes the workflow of this decision support system applied to the prudent use of antimicrobials in companion animal medicine.Bakterielle Resistenzen gegenüber antimikrobiellen Wirkstoffen stellen das Gesundheitssystem vor grosse Herausforderungen. Die Ursachen für die Zunahme der Resistenzen werden der ungezielten, massiven und oftmals überflüssigen Verabreichung von Antibiotika sowohl in der Human- wie auch in der Veterinärmedizin zugeschrieben. Um den verantwortungsvollen Einsatz von antimikrobiellen Wirkstoffen in der Veterinärmedizin zu unterstützen und die Tierärzteschaft bei der Auswahl des geeigneten Antibiotikums zu beraten, wurde mit AntibioticScout.ch eine umfassende Online-Entscheidungshilfe geschaffen, die jederzeit Zugriff auf anerkannte Prinzipien der evidenzbasierten Verschreibungspraxis erlaubt. Die Datenbank ist nach Tierarten, Organsystemen und Indikationen strukturiert und benutzerfreundliche Suchprogramme gewähren das rasche und effiziente Auffinden der Informationen. Darüber hinaus wird ein Online-Formular zur Meldung von Unwirksamkeiten angeboten um Problemfälle sowie Risiken zu erkennen und die Entscheidungshilfe zu verbessern. Mit dem vorliegenden Beitrag soll die Anwendung des AntibioticScout für den umsichtigen Einsatz von Antibiotika in der Kleintiermedizin veranschaulicht werden.Les résistances bactériennes face aux substances antimicrobiennes placent le système de santé face à de grands défis. L’augmentation des résistances est attribuée à une utilisation mal dirigée, massive et souvent inutile d’antibiotiques tant en médecine humaine qu’en médecine vétérinaire. Afin d’encourager une utilisation responsable des substances antimicrobiennes en médecine vétérinaire et pour soutenir les vétérinaires lors du choix de l’antibiotique adapté, on a créé, avec AntibioticScout. ch, une aide à la décision de grande envergure qui permet de recourir à chaque instant aux principes de prescription reconnus de la médecine fondée sur les faits (Evidence Based Medicine). La banque de données est structurée par espèces animales, systèmes d’organes et indications et un moteur de recherche intuitif garantit de trouver rapidement et efficacement les informations. D’autre part un formulaire en ligne pour l’annonce d’une inefficacité est proposé afin de reconnaitre les cas à problèmes et les risques en vue d’améliorer l’aide au diagnostic. La présente contribution pour but de démontrer l’utilisation d’AntibioticScout pour un usage prudent des antibiotiques en médecine des petits animaux.Il sistema sanitario deve far fronte a importanti sfide a causa della resistenza batterica agli antimicrobici. Le ragioni dell’incrementata resistenza sono attribuibili alla somministrazione non mirata, massiccia e spesso inutile di antibiotici sia nella medicina umana che veterinaria. Per sostenere un impiego responsabile di sostanze attive antimicrobiche in medicina veterinaria e per consigliare i veterinari nella scelta dell’antibiotico appropriato, è stata creata la piattaforma online AntibioticScout. ch. Questa è uno strumento decisionale online che permette di accedere immediatamente ai principi riconosciuti, basati sull’evidenza, nella prassi delle prescrizioni. La banca dati è suddivisa per specie dell’animale, organo e indicazione e inoltre di un programma di ricerca, di facile utilizzo, che permette una rapida e efficace ricerca delle informazioni. Inoltre viene messo a disposizione un modulo online di notifica dell’inefficacia della terapia antibiotica per riconoscere casi problematici e rischi in modo da migliorare il processo decisionale. Questo studio desidera illustrare l’applicazione di AntibioticScout per un impiego prudente di antibiotici nei piccoli animali.

Model-based energy scenarios are a widely used tool for supporting economic and political decision makers. The results of energy modeling and the conclusions deduced therefrom, however, depend on the model input data derived from framework assumptions about future developments in the embedding society, which are deeply uncertain in the long term. The challenge to deal with this ‘context uncertainty’ in a systematic and comprehensive manner has only recently started to attract intensified attention in energy research; the search for appropriate methods is ongoing. This paper proposes a new concept for the construction of socio-technical energy scenarios, which combines familiar environmental modeling approaches with new developments in qualitative scenario methodology, and demonstrates the possible application of the concept in model-based energy scenario construction. © 2016 Elsevier

The advent of fully automated road vehicles is a topic currently getting attention in the field of transport as well as futures research: the technology is assumed to radically change the way we move in the future as well as to expand and differentiate existing mobility concepts. Still, the implications of automated driving are first and foremost discussed from a technological point of view and uncertainty about how this transition might take place remains. The embedding in the system of automobility respectively the transport system as a whole, currently lacks analytical as well as empirical examination. In our paper, we will discuss the topic in relation to three possible sociotechnical transition scenarios: (1) evolution, (2) revolution and (3) transformation. We will extrapolate different scenarios of automated driving based on current technical, economic, infrastructural, spatial, and transport developments and discuss its consequences for the transport system and mobility concepts.

In recent decades the numbers of cases of skin cancer have been increasing worldwide in light skinned populations. In Germany skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. To reduce the burden of skin cancer protection from ultraviolet radiation (primary prevention) and early detection (secondary prevention) of the disease play a decisive role. In this context information to the population about preventive behavior and the support of informed decision-making in skin cancer screening are important aspects in communication. This paper gives an overview about communicational aspects in the promotion of skin cancer prevention. In the development of communicational interventions it is important to identify the relevant target groups. Relevant key opinion leaders have to be included in the information process. Additionally, interventions should be based on a theoretical framework and be designed for the respective target group. Furthermore, different forms of communication and communication tools are provided for the realization of an information intervention. To appraise the intervention elements of summative and formal evaluation are available. The current results provide important findings about different effects of communicational aspects on knowledge and behavior of the population; however, due to the complexity of information interventions a particular effect cannot be explained by a single communicational element.

Summary Background: There are no widely-accepted methodical specifications with which to objectify cleansing effectiveness and skin compatibility of occuptional skin cleansing products in Europe. Therefore the German Social Insurance Agency (DGUV) initiated a study with the goal to evaluate such products in view of the potency and the safety of hand cleansers. A market analysis was a part of the project. Methodology: The product descriptions and safety data sheets of 120 products (5–20/manufacturer) of 11 manufacturers were evaluated between 02/2008 and 04/2008. Results: The manufacturers used mainly ingredients of low irritancy. The declaration of the applied ingredients was in the majority of the cases correctly labeled according to the INCI Declaration. Although there was documentation of skin tolerability for most products, the manufacturers used widely differing tests of skin compatibility. Evidences for cleansing effectiveness were not declared or have not been provided. One manufacturer even promised medical effects of its products. There was no uniform general classification of products making it difficult to identify characteristics of cleansers and choose between them. Conclusions: Presently, there are no commonly accepted criteria to classify products in view of cleansing effectiveness und skin compatibility. Generally accepted criteria and test methods are needed for the evaluation of hand cleansers in order to provide the possibility of transparency and comparability.

SummarySeveral challenges arise from the wide application of molecular genetic analyses, among them the need to introduce rules to evaluate molecular genetic test systems as well as test laboratories. This article specifically addresses laboratories performing molecular genetic tests for diagnosis, prevention and therapy of various diseases. The topics that will be discussed will support these laboratories to achieve and sustain a high quality and avoid mistakes and errors. The article covers important preanalytic, analytic and postanalytic aspects in regard to molecular genetic testing as well as quality management issues. In addition laboratory responsibilities, training of personnel, data protection issues, as well as informed consent aspects will be discussed. Beyond that, some molecular genetic methods will be dealt with in regard to potential quality criteria.

SummaryIn the last years several point of care testing (POCT) systems used for coagulation parameters have been developed and became daily routine. As for other POCT applications (e. g. blood gas analysis) there is a need for user education and continous improvement of quality assurance.For some POCT coagulation systems a comprehensive quality management has not been established yet. According to the feasibility and availability of control material and system self control each POCT coagulation method described in this article has a varying concept of quality management. Besides a high quality standard in manufacturing systems, devices and reagents the education of the user and the automatic self control of the instrument as well as the application of electronic and/ or liquid control samples contribute to the total quality assurance.Even if a “like versus like” control material is not available a comprehensive quality management should be implemented in daily routine concerning pre-analytic as well as technical and post-analytic criteria.Anyway to do nothing as the available control material seems to be not suitable is a bad decision.

Traceability to recognised references, ultimately to the SI units, is an indispensable prerequisite for measurement results to be comparable and trustworthy and hence accepted worldwide. This holds also for chemical measurement results, particularly as these are often used as a basis for important decisions and agreements, for example in health care and environmental protection. The concept of traceability and the special problems associated with its application to chemical analysis as compared to metrology in general are described. Current approaches to establish traceability of chemical measurement results are reported. The most important development in the last two decades was the establishment of the Consultative Committee for Metrology in Chemistry under the Metre Convention, which provided the basis for an international reference framework for chemical measurements. In order to link up laboratory results anywhere in the world with this international reference framework, traceability structures on the national level are required. It is shown, using the demand for traceable chemical measurements in Germany as an example, how such structures can be established and efficiently used.

This article describes the basic principles of photoprotection with classic sunscreens containing chemical and/or physical UV filters and standard methods of sun protection factor (SPF) determination. In addition, the new governmental regulations and recommendations of the European Commission for photoprotection are presented and compared to regulations in other regions of the world. Finally, the efficacy of sunscreens in sunlight-induced non-sunburn effects, such as immune suppression and carcinogenesis are discussed.

REACH establishes a new principle for assessing the risks of chemicals towards humans and the environment: producers and importers of substances bear the main weight of the new substance stewardship. They have to register the substances which are produced or imported with the central EU Chemicals Agency. This includes consideration of uses and possible releases of the chemical throughout the product chain. In addition, producers and importers of chemicals have to ensure that management measures are adequate to control the associated risks over the life-cycle of the chemical. By introducing the 'no data - no market' principle REACH intends to build a dynamic system of growing risk knowledge and risk control for chemicals. In turn, authorities will withdraw from compiling detailed risk assessments and risk reduction strategies. Local, reversible risks and point emission sources will no longer be a topic of expert committees at EU level. During the registration procedure authorities might serve as helpers e.g. by establishing help-desks to support the compilation of the registration dossiers. For the evaluation step of REACH authorities will be able to concentrate on substances and uses of high concern which pose a risk to humans and the environment. Where risks are identified as not adequately controlled and therefore needing regulation at Community level, authorities will propose the respective substances as candidates for authorisation. In addition authorities might suggest restrictions for certain uses. For these legal elements the responsibility still lies with the authorities. Chemicals with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties (PBT-substances) are considered as substances of very high concern and therefore should be subject to authorisation. Producers and importers are required to identify potential PBT-substances in the registration dossiers. Since the responsibility for introducing legal measures remains with the authorities, they also need to implement mechanisms to identify potential candidates during the evaluation procedure.

REACH is the proposed new chemicals regulation in the European Union. It builds on existing legislation, parts of which have been operating for 40 years, while tackling the identified shortcomings of the current system. The main objective of REACH is to improve the knowledge on chemicals, their properties and uses. In order to achieve this objective it is essential that industry assumes its responsibility to hold the knowledge on the substances they are manufacturing or importing and to share this knowledge with the authorities and their downstream users. REACH will require all substances manufactured and imported at and above one tonne per year to be registered. Through the Registration procedure, the obligation of industry to hold and share with authorities their knowledge of chemicals will materialise. REACH aims also to control better the use of substances of very high concern, this obviously includes the restriction of certain substances or certain uses. Through the Authorisation procedure, REACH will allow controlled use of substances of very high concern, such as carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances, substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, and substances that are very persistent and very bioaccumulative. Increased knowledge and increased control, supplemented by substitution of dangerous substances and the fostering of innovation, will have as clear results a higher level of protection of human health and the environment, but additionally will bring along the opportunity to rebuild confidence in chemicals.

Significant efforts are currently under way to improve the safety of the medication process in hospitals. Among other solutions, new developments involving information technologies (IT) have attracted growing attention, as they have the potential to attenuate a leading cause of error: human failure. IT interventions focus on the three major steps of drug use: prescription (computerized physician order entry, CPOE), dispensing (automated dispensing systems, ADS) and administration (scanning barcodes or RFID tags). Although these technologies are used more and more in hospitals, only few robust data are actually available to measure their real impact on patient safety. CPOE is the best studied, followed by ADS and scanning technologies. More data are necessary to demonstrate their usefulness or to generalize results obtained in selected environments. An increased use of IT in future years seems to be unavoidable, but its implementation will be a real challenge, since cultural, human, technical, and ergonomic aspects will have to be taken into consideration to avoid failure. Moreover, these technologies can also potentially induce new risks, e.g. data entry errors, that need a careful consideration during implementation. In conclusion, IT has a huge potential to help reduce the occurrence of medication errors in hospitals, but the real positive impact and the induced risks need to be systematically and scientifically evaluated in various environments. In the Geneva university hospitals, some developments are under way to implement IT on pilot processes, with a concomitant evaluation by a systematic risk analysis method (FMECA).

Large quantities of hazardous substances are required to meet the needs of today's industrial society. During the manufacture, transport, and use of these substances – whether they serve as raw materials, intermediate products or energy carriers – accidents and damage cannot be totally excluded despite all the efforts and technical knowledge that may go into their prevention. Incidents involving hazardous chemicals always represent a substantial risk for accident response teams, the general population, and the environment. In order to keep damage to a minimum, special attention must be given to training the specialists involved. It is possible to demonstrate the risks resulting from hazardous materials and the most suitable methods of effectively combating such risks by the use of thought-provoking practical experiments. This is shown with a number of examples.

Despite the many benefits of prone positioning in critically ill patients with respiratory failure and ARDS in the ICU, its technical problems have not yet been adequately resolved. Different approaches with special beds for prone positioning do exist, but these devices are difficult to handle, often not available and involve high costs. With this in mind, we developed an easy handling prone positioning system (MBS) that requires no special beds and runs at low cost. The MBS is a cost-effective device, yielding many benefits for prone positioning in critically ill patients with severe athelectasis and ARDS.

Preventive measures for quality in cadiac surgery which are based on electronic data processing initially have to overcome a variety of obstacles. Some of the most serious encountered are the need for more extensive but more precise and correct documentation, the definition of quality and the identification of parameters to assess it, fears that means to check everything and everybody are being installed, and finding ways to found the measures. The measures have two aims at least: ensuring a broad general standard of treatment which every patient can expect, and supporting efforts at a continuous improvement of treatment methods and thus of the results. These aims dictate that any measures instituted have to be of a permanent nature: they cannot be reached in the long term by a simple supplementary activity such as a research project. On the contrary, a complete integration in the general hospital routine and in the standard documentation and information processes is necessary. As these today still are not usually based on clinical progress reports which are formally suitable for data processing, reorganisation to achieve this is a prerequisite for successful quality assurance. This means, however, that those responsible for quality must help in the reorganisation.