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Operating room fires are considered 'never events'; they are uncommon but can prove to be potentially damaging to the humans involved and the expensive operating room instrumentation. Research indicates that significant knowledge gaps exist in orthopaedic community relating to fire prevention, fire safety and fire management. A 24-year-old male patient with clavicle fracture was planned for surgical fixation. A nerve block procedure was performed. Skin preparation was done with 10% betadine scrub and surgical spirit. The surgical team performed skin incision, and superficial dissection was carried out using electrocautery. A fire broke out, and on noticing the fumes, saline was poured, drapes were removed and the authors observed charring of deeper linen and skin damage. A superficial thermal burn, greenish blue in colour (7 x 1.5 cms) located 1–1.5 cms above the surgical incision was evident (see Fig. 4). The event was later explained to the patient. The surgical scar was healthy, and burn margins became defined and darkish green blue. Dressing was done with megaheal ointment. The burn healed in 4 weeks. As these events are rare, a specific action protocol has not been orchestrated. With newer reports coming in, orthopaedic associations should work out a sustainable plan of action to minimize the occurrence of these events and the damage incurred. Training of orthopaedic and anaesthesia team and operating room personnel remains the most important step in countering a fire event, as more the helping hands, the better is the outcome. Maintaining a high vigil ensures timely action response to maintain patient safety and counter adverse events effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A certain dumping site is located near a river, and its overall height and step height are relatively high, which makes the influence of rainwater infiltration greater, posing potential hazards under rainfall conditions. Based on the stacking situation of the site and the surrounding environment, the seepage characteristics of the waste dump under rainfall conditions were studied, and the potential hazards of the waste dump slope were analyzed, then the corresponding treatment plans were proposed. The results show that with continuous rainfall, there will be a transient saturation zone on the surface of the waste dump slope and it will continue to expand to the inside of the slope. During the rainfall process, the pore water pressure of the slope increased rapidly to a positive value, then gradually stabilized, and the slope reached a saturated state. Under the influence of rainfall, the relative stability relationship of the dump slope is: slope bottom>slope top>mid-slope, and the potential hazard site is from + 85 m platform to + 170 m platform. By adding a safety platform and reducing the slope angle, the potential hazards can be effectively controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the departments of civil engineering, many experiments are conducted in laboratories for educational and research purposes. Varying degrees of respirable dust are generated as the outcome of these experiments, which could cause harm to instructors' and students' health. This study is devised to highlight the importance of indoor air quality in university laboratories. As part of the research, four different particulate matter (PM) sizes (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM4.0, and PM10) were measured during specific experiments—sieve analysis, preparation of the concrete mixture, crushing aggregate by jaw crusher, dynamic triaxial compression test, sieve analysis of silt specimen, cleaning sieve by an air compressor, and proctor compaction test—being conducted periodically in the laboratories of civil engineering departments. The measured values are mainly high compared to indoor air quality standards. Mitigation strategies were applied to reduce indoor air PM levels in the three experiments that contained the highest PM levels. The results have shown that mitigation strategies applied as control measures could make a remarkable difference in protecting instructors and civil engineering students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología is the property of Fundacion Salud, Ciencia y Tecnologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and research question: In case of events such as a cyber attack or a mass casualty incident, ad hoc measures have to be taken in hospitals. As part of the critical infrastructure, hospitals are required by law to prepare, update and exercise alarm and emergency plans for various special situations. The processes and instruments involved for emergency response are defined in the hospital alert and emergency planning. The present study aims to explain with which resources and for which special situations hospitals are prepared. Methods: A prospective, exploratory, anonymous survey of hospitals in Germany was conducted. Hospitals with both internal medicine and surgery departments were included. Out of 2497 hospitals listed in the German Hospital Directory (www.deutsches-krankenhaus-verzeichnis.de), 1049 met the inclusion criteria. After correcting for hospital groups with shared administrations, 850 employees were identified and contacted by e‑mail. Quality and risk management managers were asked about resources, risks, and content of their own hospital alert and emergency planning using a standardized questionnaire. The survey was conducted using the online platform EFS Survey (Tivian XI GmbH, Cologne) via www.unipark.de. Access to the survey was via a nonpersonalized hyperlink. Apart from the size and type of hospital surveyed, no data were collected that would allow identification of an individual person. Results: Of the participating hospitals 45% (n = 43) were primary care hospitals, 24% (n = 23) were specialty care hospitals, 10% (n = 9) were nonuniversity maximum care hospitals, and 21% (n = 20) were university maximum care hospitals. In total 95 hospitals participated in the survey, of which 98% (n = 93) reported having a hospital alert and emergency plan. Preparation for individual scenarios varied widely. Of the participating hospitals 45% (n = 43) reported having been the target of cyber attacks with an emphasis on maximum care hospitals (55%, n = 11 of 20). Technical redundancy for computer systems is available in 67% (n = 63) of participating hospitals, while independent means of communication exist in 50% (n = 47) of hospitals. A physician-staffed crisis and disaster management unit existed in 60% (n = 56) of the surveyed hospitals. At least a part time position for planning issues was installed in 12 hospitals. Conclusion: Most participating hospitals are aware of the need for a hospital alert and emergency plan and have various scenario-specific plans in place. Especially mass casualty events, fire and hospital evacuation scenarios are uniformly covered among participating hospitals; however, gaps appear to exist not only for chemical, biological or radionuclear situations but also especially in the area of extreme weather events and infrastructure failures. Only about two thirds of all participating hospitals have contingency plans for water supply and/or heating failures. An important limitation of the study is the comparatively low response rate of 12.9% (n = 95 of 850). While primary care hospitals were underrepresented in the study, 32% of Germany's larger hospitals (> 800 beds) participated. In the future, there is a particular need to engage enough medical staff in the area of hospital alert and emergency planning and refunding of these measures by hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the frequent occurrence of natural disasters and public emergencies, China’s land space security is facing severe challenges, especially in terms of disaster risk prevention and control as well as the planning and development of land space resilience. It is imperative to integrate resilience planning with national land space planning, to improve land space’s capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation and satisfy the country’s requirements for high-quality development of the national land. This study analyzes the current status and existing problems in the planning and construction of China’s land space resilience, proposes the objectives and general ideas, and constructs an overall framework for the planning and construction of national space resilience. A development path is also summarized from the aspects of technology methods, spatial governance, and working system. Furthermore, countermeasures are suggested from three aspects, namely, optimizing the legal and regulatory system, policy system, and technical standards system, to provide a decision-making reference for the research and practice of land space resilience planning and construction in China.

• Hazard control and prevention in safety management aim to eliminate or disable hazards. • Presented the hazard control and prevention practices in a coal-fired power plant as a case study. • Empirical validated the influence of hazard control and prevention practises on safety outcomes through safety compliance. • Prove that driven leading indicators affect observant leading indicators before affecting safety outcomes. Introduction: The electrical utility industry, which plays a vital role in sustaining other sectors, contributes to high occupational accident rates in the utility industries. The high accident rate shows that there has been insufficient effort made to control unsafe actions and conditions in the workplace. This study aims to examine the influence of hazard control and prevention as leading indicators of safety behaviors and outcomes in coal-fired power plants in Malaysia. Methods : This quantitative research was conducted by distributing survey questionnaires randomly to five coal-fired power plants in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 340 respondents were involved in this research. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis was performed using SmartPLS to validate and examine the relationship of the proposed model. Results : The results validate the construct of hazard control and prevention consisting of planning, action, managing, and verifying, while the safety outcomes construct consists of occupational accidents, fatal accidents, near misses, and lost time injuries. The results indicate that hazard control and prevention significantly relate to safety compliance, safety participation, safety motivation, and safety knowledge. Moreover, safety outcomes were influenced negatively by hazard control and prevention through safety compliance. Conclusion : The model provides a better understanding of the influence of hazard control and prevention on safety behavior and outcomes. Practical Applications: The model can be used as guidance for practitioners and researchers in planning and implementing hazard control and prevention to improve health and safety in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 44-question Thai Home Fall Hazard Assessment Tool (Thai-HFHAT) was developed to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults from their home environment. However, the reliability of this tool has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT and determine the demographic characteristics associated with home hazards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate inter-rater reliability. The participants in this study were 51 older people from various types of Thai houses: a one-story elevated house, a one-story non-elevated house, and a house with two or more floors, 51 caregivers of older patients, and 5 village health volunteers (VHV). A prospective design was used to evaluate test-retest reliability with older people at different times in their homes. All participants answered 44 Thai-HFHAT questions to determine inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities. The reliabilities were analyzed using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Demographic characteristics including sex, occupation, and education were used to identify the factors affecting home hazards, and linear regression was used to analyze. Results: The ICC of inter-rater reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84) and the test-retest reliability was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88) for the older adults, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89) for the caregivers and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.477-0.83) for the VHV. In demographic variables, personal business career and education level (grades 1-3) had significant relations with the total number of home hazards in the 44-questions Thai-HFHAT. Conclusions: The 44-question Thai-HFHAT is suitable for home hazard assessment among older adults in Thailand. Further studies are needed to investigate changes in the house environment after using the 44-question Thai-HFHAT to determine which changes can reduce fall risk.

Background: The 44-question Thai Home Fall Hazard Assessment Tool (Thai-HFHAT) was developed to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults from their home environment. However, the reliability of this tool has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT and determine the demographic characteristics associated with home hazards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate inter-rater reliability. The participants in this study were 51 older people from various types of Thai houses: a one-story elevated house, a one-story non-elevated house, and a house with two or more floors, 51 caregivers of older patients, and 5 village health volunteers (VHV). A prospective design was used to evaluate test-retest reliability with older people at different times in their homes. All participants answered 44 Thai-HFHAT questions to determine inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities. The reliabilities were analyzed using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Demographic characteristics including sex, occupation, and education were used to identify the factors affecting home hazards, and linear regression was used to analyze. Results: The ICC of inter-rater reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84) and the test-retest reliability was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88) for the older adults, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89) for the caregivers and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.477-0.83) for the VHV. In demographic variables, personal business career and education level (grades 1-3) had significant relations with the total number of home hazards in the 44-questions Thai-HFHAT. Conclusions: The 44-question Thai-HFHAT is suitable for home hazard assessment among older adults in Thailand. Further studies are needed to investigate changes in the house environment after using the 44-question Thai-HFHAT to determine which changes can reduce fall risk.

Background: The 44-question Thai Home Fall Hazard Assessment Tool (Thai-HFHAT) was developed to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults from their home environment. However, the reliability of this tool has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT and determine the demographic characteristics associated with home hazards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate inter-rater reliability. The participants in this study were 51 older people from various types of Thai houses: a one-story elevated house, a one-story non-elevated house, and a house with two or more floors, 51 caregivers of older patients, and 5 village health volunteers (VHV). A prospective design was used to evaluate test-retest reliability with older people at different times in their homes. All participants answered 44 Thai-HFHAT questions to determine inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities. The reliabilities were analyzed using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Demographic characteristics including sex, occupation, and education were used to identify the factors affecting home hazards, and linear regression was used to analyze. Results: The ICC of inter-rater reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84) and the test-retest reliability was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88) for the older adults, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89) for the caregivers and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.477-0.83) for the VHV. In demographic variables, personal business career and education level (grades 1-3) had significant relations with the total number of home hazards in the 44-questions Thai-HFHAT. Conclusions: The 44-question Thai-HFHAT is suitable for home hazard assessment among older adults in Thailand. Further studies are needed to investigate changes in the house environment after using the 44-question Thai-HFHAT to determine which changes can reduce fall risk.

Background: The 44-question Thai Home Fall Hazard Assessment Tool (Thai-HFHAT) was developed to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults from their home environment. However, the reliability of this tool has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT and determine the demographic characteristics associated with home hazards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate inter-rater reliability. The participants in this study were 51 older people from various types of Thai houses: a one-story elevated house, a one-story non-elevated house, and a house with two or more floors, 51 caregivers of older patients, and 5 village health volunteers (VHV). A prospective design was used to evaluate test-retest reliability with older people at different times in their homes. All participants answered 44 Thai-HFHAT questions to determine inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities. The reliabilities were analyzed using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Demographic characteristics including sex, occupation, and education were used to identify the factors affecting home hazards, and linear regression was used to analyze. Results: The ICC of inter-rater reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84) and the test-retest reliability was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88) for the older adults, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89) for the caregivers and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.477-0.83) for the VHV. In demographic variables, personal business career and education level (grades 1-3) had significant relations with the total number of home hazards in the 44-questions Thai-HFHAT. Conclusions: The 44-question Thai-HFHAT is suitable for home hazard assessment among older adults in Thailand. Further studies are needed to investigate changes in the house environment after using the 44-question Thai-HFHAT to determine which changes can reduce fall risk.

The lithium-ion battery (LIB) thermal runaway (TR) has been a major safety problem, and effective countermeasure to suppress the TR becomes indispensable. Owing to the outstanding cooling capacity, the water mist presents efficient suppression effect on TR, but the comprehensive understanding on the cooling mechanisms remains unclear. In this work, the fine water mist (FWM) that is driven by the air flow has been applied to suppress the TR, and the cooling control processes under various thermal hazard conditions have been comprehensively analyzed. Results show that TR can be efficiently suppressed with the FWM applied before the critical temperature, which is identified as 252.5 ± 2.5°C. The average surface cooling rate increases from 1.04 to 1.22°Cs−1 with the increasing flow rate, and the total heat dissipation maintains approximately at 2.10 kJ, once the flow rate exceeds 0.2 mLs−1. It is identified that the most efficient cooling process can be obtained under the duration of 80 s. The influence of the flow rate and duration of the FWM on the cooling effect has been discussed to comprehensive reveal the control mechanism, and the excellent cooling control effect of the FWM flow has been verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective - This study intends to identify the post-COVID-19 safe working practices that have been established and to investigate how the workplace's culture of safety practices has evolved due to the pandemic. Methodology/Technique - The study used a conceptual development framework that used two data sources: journal publications (secondary data) and field interviews (primary data). The secondary data analysis of the literature review revealed seven post-pandemic workplace practices that are being employed in this study. These practices include workplace hazard control factors and preparedness plan factors. Findings - Based on the interviews with the 22 companies (safety personnel and practitioners) in the various industries, it was discovered that only three aspects of post-pandemic workplace safety culture were totally actual practices and adopted by all the companies, namely: following guidance from the federal state and Ministry of Health (MOH), monitor hazard control and safe work, and introduce new methods of work. On the other hand, the remaining four elements are seen as not being as crucial to several major industrial sectors. Novelty - It is seen to have a positive significance if viewed comprehensively. Disclosing the results of a study can provide a benchmark for other companies to compare their own practices and performance against. Additionally, it is necessary to conduct more comprehensive research, particularly regarding the employees' perspectives and their involvement in implementing and improving workplace safety practices. The current study only considered the employer's viewpoint, as the safety personnel represents their interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 44-question Thai Home Fall Hazard Assessment Tool (Thai-HFHAT) was developed to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the risk of falls among community-dwelling elderly from their home environment. However, the reliability of this tool has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT and determine the personal characteristics associated with home hazards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate interrater reliability. The participants in this study were 51 elderly people from various types of Thai houses: a one-story elevated house, a one-story non-elevated house, and a house with two or more floors, 51 caregivers of elderly patients, and 5 village health volunteers (VHV). A prospective design was used to evaluate test-retest reliability with older people at different times in their homes. All participants answered 44 Thai-HFHAT questions to determine inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities. The reliabilities were analyzed using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Personal characteristics including sex, occupation, and education were used to identify the factors affecting home hazards, and linear regression was used to analyze. Results: The ICC of inter-rater reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84) and the test-retest reliability was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88) for the elderly, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89) for the caregivers and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.477-0.83) for the VHV. Personal business career and education level grades 1-3 are less than 0.05, which showed these factors had a significant relationship with the 44-question Thai-HFHAT score as the dependent variable. Conclusions: The 44-question Thai-HFHAT is suitable for home hazard assessment among the elderly in Thailand. Further studies are needed to investigate changes in the house environment after using the 44-question Thai-HFHAT to determine which changes can reduce fall risk.

Background: The 44-question Thai Home Fall Hazard Assessment Tool (Thai-HFHAT) was developed to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the risk of falls among community-dwelling elderly from their home environment. However, the reliability of this tool has not been studied. This study aimed to examine reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT and determine the person characteristics associated with home hazards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for this research. The participants in this study were 51 elderly people from various types of Thai houses: a one-story elevated house, a one-story non-elevated house, and a house with two or more floors, 51 caregivers of elderly patients and 5 village health volunteers (VHV). All participants answered 44 Thai-HFHAT questions to determine inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities. The reliabilities were analyzed using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Personal characteristics including sex, occupation, and education were used to identify the factors affecting home hazard and linear regression was used to analyze. Results: The ICC of inter-rater reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84) and the test-retest reliability was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88) for the elderly, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89) for the caregivers and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.477-0.83) for the VHV. Personal business career and education level grade 1-3 are less than 0.05, which showed these factors had a significant relationship with the 44-question Thai-HFHAT score as dependent variable. Conclusions: The 44-question Thai-HFHAT is suitable for the home hazards assessment among the elderly in Thailand. Further studies are needed to investigate changes in the house environment after using the 44-question Thai-HFHAT to determine which changes can reduce the risk of fall.

The EU-project SAFFI targets food for EU's 15 million and China's 45 million children under the age of three. It aims at developing an integrated approach to enhance the identification, assessment, detection and mitigation of health risks raised by microbial and chemical hazards along EU and China infant food chains.SAFFI will benchmark the main risks through an extensive hazard identification system based on multiple data sources and a risk ranking procedure. It will also develop procedures to enhance top-down and bottom-up hazard control by combining management options with a panel of technologies for the detection and mitigation of priority hazards. Furthermore, it will explore unexpected contaminants by predictive toxicology and improve risk-based food safety management of biohazards by omics and predictive microbiology. SAFFI will co-develop with and deliver to stakeholders a decision-support system (DSS) to enhance safety control all along the food chain. This DSS will integrate the databases, procedures and methods described above and will be a framework for a generic DSS dedicated to other food.This overall methodology will also be implemented in a complementary Chinese side of the project, and exemplified for each side, with four case studies that were selected to cover priority hazards, main ingredients, processes and control steps of the infant food chain. Resulting databases, tools and procedures will be shared, cross-validated, concatenated, benchmarked and finally harmonized for further use in the EU and China.This EU-China multi-actor consortium of 20 partners involves academia, food safety authorities, infant food companies, a paediatrics association and technological and data-science SMEs.

Summary: In a time where the awareness of food safety and quality increases among the general population, it is vital that consumers are enabled to make informed decisions on risks involving the safety of their food. The SAFFI (Safe Food for Infants in EU and China) project aims to build an integrated decision support system (DSS) for the infant food chain that will enable stakeholders at all levels to make informed decisions regarding infant food. The infant food chain was selected due to its strict regulatory requirements, its vulnerabilities as highlighted by different food safety crises, the economic importance of the infant food sector in the EU and China and the focus on this particular food chain by food safety authorities.The SAFFI project will incorporate data and models from work packages dealing with hazard identification (HI), hazard detection (HD), hazard control (HC) and risk ranking (RR). The models will be integrated into a user-friendly and upgradeable cloud-based decision support system application. A multi-actor cost-benefit analysis of the project will be carried out, enabling the stakeholders in the project to assess the relevance of implementing the project technologies by integrating food safety, regulatory and economic criteria.The decision support system will be validated on four specific case studies, and tested on end-users, with the aim of extending this approach to other food chains.

• A railway operational hazard knowledge graph modelling method is developed. • A knowledge graph embedding-based hazard prediction method is proposed. • A procedure of formulating targeted hazard control measures is shown. • An application to real accident data demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach in predicting hazards and assisting in making accident prevention decisions. Railway operational accidents are usually caused by the domino effects of hazards. Predicting such hazards before accidents is an essential way to prevent operational accidents of railways. Various railway operational hazards constitute a heterogeneous relationship network due to their interactions. It is useful to predict hazards from such a network. In this paper, a novel knowledge graph-based hazard prediction approach is proposed, aiming to capture hazards in advance for blocking potential accident causation paths. This approach serves as a powerful supplement to classical ways of predicting railway accident information. Its originality lies in the application of knowledge graph embedding-based link prediction theory to railway operational hazard prediction, by means of a translation-based embedding method adapting to the relational features of hazards. It also provides a feasible way to construct the railway operational hazard knowledge graph. The outcomes of this approach could offer railway operators the basis of decision regarding accident prevention. An example of application to a set of real railway operational accident data in the UK is presented. The results show that this approach is effective in terms of predicting hazards and assisting in developing targeted hazard control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This article verifies the applicability of an assessment method on flood risk reduction, combining and assessing hazard control measures and exposure reduction measures together. The method develops collated flood risk curves and uses limited data, so it is an approach which can be readily applied in developing countries, where an understanding of flood risk reduction measures are become increasingly important. The method was proposed as a result of studies conducted by the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan. When applying the method to a river improvement and relocation scheme with land mounding in Mindanao, the Philippines, the advantages and limitations of the method are considered.

This article verifies the applicability of an assessment method on flood risk reduction, combining and assessing hazard control measures and exposure reduction measures together. The method develops collated flood risk curves and uses limited data, so it is an approach which can be readily applied in developing countries, where an understanding of flood risk reduction measures are become increasingly important. The method was proposed as a result of studies conducted by the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan. When applying the method to a river improvement and relocation scheme with land mounding in Mindanao, the Philippines, the advantages and limitations of the method are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Occupational hazards is an area where many countries have begun to pay more emphasis as it affects the health of many particularly in developing countries. However, documented literature is scarce in this regard although occupational hazards are common in workplaces. The study was carried out with the objective of describing the physical hazards and control measures adopted in the formal medium and large-scale industrial sector in Sri Lanka. Results Of the 69 units of the 25 factories, physical hazards detected in the workplaces were; excessive noise (78.3%), poor light (58%), increased temperature (65.2%), and poor ventilation (68.1%). Over 50% of large machinery and 33% of medium-scale machinery were not adequately guarded. Nearly 41% of the machinery were difficult to operate, of them 36.2% had controls in positions which were hard to reach. Of safety measures adopted, only 34.8% had proper demarcation of areas with 28.9% displaying safety signs. Housekeeping was poor in 59.4% and less than 40% had safe storage of raw materials and end products.

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For the longitudinal cracks on the top surface of inverted arch of a loess tunnel which located at Lanzhou South Ring Expressway, the mechanism and development process of the tunnel floor heave were analyzed by means of in-situ deformation monitoring and numerical simulation. Through the observation of the vertical settlement on the top surface of the inverted arch filling, and the simulation results with the focus on the stress of the uneven settlement of the inverted arch, we found the main cause of the cracks was that the tensile stress in the middle of the inverted arch exceeded the tensile strength of the concrete. Combining the analysis results and the actual working conditions, we formulated the construction scheme as locking anchor pipes and reinforced concrete pavement. And the effectiveness of the scheme had been verified in practice. The research results not only guided the field construction, but also provided a basis for optimizing the support system of loess tunnel, and also a reference for similar engineering constructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive Vision Systems have gained a lot of interest from industry and academia recently, due to their potential to revolutionize human life as they are designed to work under complex scenes, adapting to a range of unforeseen situations, changing accordingly to new scenarios and exhibiting prospective behavior. The combination of these properties aims to mimic the human capabilities and create more intelligent and efficient environments. Contextual information plays an important role when the objective is to reason such as humans do, as it can make the difference between achieving a weak, generalized set of outputs and a clear, target and confident understanding of a given situation. Nevertheless, dealing with contextual information still remains a challenge in cognitive systems applications due to the complexity of reasoning about it in real time in a flexible but yet efficient way. In this paper, we enrich a cognitive system with contextual information coming from different sensors and propose the use of stream reasoning to integrate/process all these data in real time, and provide a better understanding of the situation in analysis, therefore improving decision-making. The proposed approach has been applied to a Cognitive Vision System for Hazard Control (CVP-HC) which is based on Set of Experience Knowledge Structure (SOEKS) and Decisional DNA (DDNA) and has been designed to ensure that workers remain safe and compliant with Health and Safety policy for use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The FMCG manufacturing industry in industrially developing countries operates in a manual or semi-automatic setup, employing a vast labor force. Several non-standardized work activities prevail on the FMCG shop floor and remain prone to safety-related risks involving repetitive motions, forceful exertions, and awkward postures. Among those, the rework of defective pouches/sachets is an unsafe activity of prime concern. It is prone to minor nicks, cuts, and injuries due to inadequate tools being used. It involves sharp cutters/blades and extensive forceful manual hand squeezing, which leads to drudgery and safety concerns. There lies the lack of standardized tools/apparatus for rework activity, and efforts towards its mitigation are required., Objective: Current research aims to address occupational safety-related issues in non-standardized rework activity in small-scale FMCG units through an innovative product design approach., Methods: An ergo-audit was conducted in eight small-scale FMCG units to identify the prevailing ergonomic stressors and safety concerns. The most critical area of concern, i.e., rework activity, was chosen through card-sorting sessions and discussions held with the stakeholders. An appropriate context-specific apparatus was designed/developed to ensure better safety and occupational health utilizing a systematic product design method involving three phases: initial field survey, design and development, and field trials., Results: The apparatus, which was developed and factory-trialed, was evaluated for productivity improvement and ensuring user compatibility from various human factors' perspectives., Conclusion: In field trials, the developed apparatus was found effective in mitigating safety concerns and various ergonomic stressors associated with FMCG rework.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a safety communication and recognition program designed to encourage improvement of physical working conditions and hazard reduction in construction. METHODS: A matched pair cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted on eight worksites (four received the intervention, four served as control sites) for approximately five months per site. Pre- and post-exposure worker surveys were collected at all sites (N=615, pre-exposure response rate of 74%, post-exposure response rate of 88%). Multi-level mixed effect regression models evaluated the effect of the program on safety climate as assessed from surveys. Focus groups (N=6–8 workers/site) were conducted following data collection. Transcripts were coded and analyzed for thematic content using Atlas.ti (version 6). RESULTS: The mean safety climate score at intervention sites, as measured on a 0–50 point scale, increased 0.5 points (1%) between pre- and post-invention exposure, compared to control sites that decreased 0.8 points (1.6%). The intervention effect size was 1.64 (3.28%) (P-value=0.01) when adjusted for month the worker started on-site, total length of time on-site, as well as individual characteristics (trade, title, age, and race/ethnicity). At intervention sites, workers noted increased levels of safety awareness, communication, and teamwork compared to control sites. CONCLUSIONS: The safety program led to many positive changes, including an improvement in safety climate, awareness, teambuilding, and communication. The program was a simple intervention that engaged workers through effective communication infrastructures and had a significant, positive effect on worksite safety.

With the acceleration of urbanization and rapid growth in infrastructure investment, ground collapse caused by the insufficient carrying capacity of roads and shallow surficial geology is among the new geological hazards threatening urban security and affecting the human living environment. Based on an analysis of hundreds of ground subsidence cases occurring in Shanghai during the period 2003–2014, we divided ground collapse into six types based on natural factors and human activities. The formation mechanism of various types of ground collapse was analyzed and discussed. The causes and deformational mechanisms of soil erosion, void formation, and ground subsidence were analyzed by illustration and case study. Through research and experimentation, geophysical prospecting methods such as ground penetrating radar and three-dimensional radar are effective methods for detecting and providing an early warning of ground collapse. Through the analysis and discussion of the formation mechanism of ground collapse in the Shanghai area, this study provides a reference for the early warning and prevention of urban ground collapse in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discharge of oil-based drill cuttings to open sea has been adjudged to cause acute and sub-lethal toxic effects such as smothering of seabed life (due to the formation of cuttings piles), poisoning of aquatic life (due to the presence of toxins), and eventual ecological disruption/eco-toxicological disturbances of offshore environment. Equally, oil based drilling fluids are desirable for drilling explorations but they are generally expensive; as a result, their recovery from drill cuttings has the outlook of offering economic benefit to oil and gas industries. In order to circumvent the possible dangers of drill cuttings and to recover oil based drilling fluid for reuse purposes, the treatment of oil-contaminated drill cuttings becomes indispensable. Thermal desorption facility of Warri Refinery in Delta State, Nigeria was employed for this study. Drill cuttings are removed by circulating the drilling fluid over mechanically controlled equipment such as shale shakers, high speed centrifuge, vortex dryers and thermal desorption system. The composition analysis of materials after treatment reveals 80% solids and 10% recovered base oil which is of high economic value. The Thermal Desorption Unit (TDU) process recovers between 10-12 m³ of oil in every treated 100 tons of oily cuttings. Keywords: investigation, reclamation, oil base cuttings, composition analysis, hazard control [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of vision and sensor data together with the resulting necessity for formal representations builds a central component of an autonomous Cyber Physical System for detection and tracking of laborers in workplaces environments. This system must be adaptable and perceive the environment as automatically as possible, performing in a variety of plants and scenes without the necessity of recoding the application for each specific use. But each recognition system has its own inherent limits, especially those which task is to work in unidentified environments and deal with unknown scenarios and specifications. The platform described in this paper takes this into account by connecting the probabilistic area of event detection with the logical area of formal reasoning in a Cognitive Vision Platform for Hazard Control (CVP-HC). In order to support formal reasoning, additional relational scene information is supplied to the recognition system. In this platform, the contextual knowledge is used to improve the recognition and interpretation of detected events. This relational data together with all collected information is represented explicitly as a Set of Experience Knowledge Structure (SOEKS), categorized and stored as a Decisional DNA (DDNA), a decisional safety fingerprint of a company. By these means, the systems assesses and addresses critical unsafe behaviors whilst gives support to an explicit long term culture change process. By the use of context the CVP-HC is capable adjust accordingly without the need of rewriting the application’s code every time conditions or specifications changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current global workforce stands at about 2.8 billion. Workers spend about one third of their lifetime at workplace. Workers expect safe working environment as their fundamental human right. However there are still poor working conditions especially in developing countries due to lack of practicing simple preventive measures. The standard of Occupational health and safety available at any work place is the main determinant of workers’ health. Workers all over the world, face dual occupational hazards, the traditional as well as novel in the complex work settings due to rapid industrialization, technological advancement and globalization, over the last few years. An equally wide variety of chemical, physical and psychological hazards in production. Occupational health issues affect individuals, families and communities, as well as the citizens of the world. All the stake holders including the state, the manager, the employer and the worker have certain responsibilities to take up medical, engineering and legislative interventions to make work environment safer. This review study was conducted at Department of Community Medicine, Gomal Medical College, D.I.Khan from October 9, 2016 to November 30, 2016. Qualitative, secondary data was collected through literature search. MEDLINE (PubMed), Google scholar and Pakmedinet were searched out employing relevant keywords from 2000 onwards until January 2017. Data was organized, summarized, analyzed & interpreted. The objective of the study was to identify existing gaps on occupational health and safety in industries in developing countries and propose future research areas.

A statistical safety control method is presented that utilizes location data from a relatively inaccurate yet cost-effective system to track workers in real time, and prevent unsafe situations at construction sites. In light of the inac­curacy of the tracking system, buffer areas are defined as statistical zones, at some distance from potential workplace hazards. Statistical alerts are created according to predefined rules when the hazard exposure of workers in those zones crosses a certain threshold. The results of tests of the method demonstrate that the model is able to successfully process the location data in order to compensate for its inaccuracy. This is done without necessitating a significant increase in the areas that are defined as being of high risk, and therefore off-limits for most workers on site. The model can thus ensure the efficiency of the construction work by restricting the size of the areas on site that are off-limits for most work­ers, while at the same time ensuring the safety of workers. The method can also ensure that alerts will not be ignored by using statistical rules to avoid an excessive number of alerts, and by discerning who should be the client of an alert. First published online: 22 Jun 2016

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effect of an ergonomic hazard control (HC) initiative, undertaken as part of a company ergonomics standard, on worker injury risk. METHODS: Using the company’s ergonomic hazards database to identify jobs with and without ergonomic HC implementation and linking to individual job and injury histories, injury risk among person-jobs with HC implementation (the HC group) was compared to those without HC (NoHC group) using random coefficient models. Further analysis of the HC group was conducted to determine the effect of additional ergonomic hazards controlled on injury risk. RESULTS: Among 123 jobs at 17 plant locations, 347 ergonomic hazards were quantitatively identified during the study period. HC were implemented for 204 quantified ergonomic hazards in 84 jobs, impacting 10 385 persons (12 967 person-jobs). No HC were implemented for quantified ergonomic hazards in the remaining 39 jobs affecting 4155 persons (5046 person-jobs). Adjusting for age, sex, plant origin, and year to control for any temporal trend in injury risk, the relative risk (RR) for musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) was 0.85 and the RR for any injury or MSD was 0.92 in the HC compared to NoHC group. Among the HC group, each ergonomic hazard controlled was associated with risk reduction for MSD and acute injury outcomes (RR 0.93). CONCLUSION: Systematic ergonomic HC through participatory ergonomics, as part of a mandatory company ergonomics standard, is associated with MSD and injury risk reduction among workers in jobs with HC implemented.

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Background: Chronic exposure to antineoplastic drugs (ADs) may result in reproductive, liver, renal, lung, and cardiac toxicity. Moreover, bone marrow suppression, mucosal ulcers, and cancer may develop. In developing countries, adverse health effects owing to occupational exposure to ADs and adherence to safe handling guidelines are not well documented. Aim: This study was conducted to determine the health effect of occupational exposure to ADs and evaluate adherence to control methods. Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional approach was adopted. ADs-exposed nurses and clinical pharmacists (n=54) were compared with nonexposed group (n=54). Self-reported clinical manifestations. and use of exposure controls were reported via an interview questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for complete blood count and liver and kidney function tests. Results: Significantly higher rate of impaired fertility (31%) and oral ulcers (36.36%) were reported by ADs-exposed nurses and clinical pharmacists compared with nonexposed group (3.8 and 7.4%, respectively; P=0.01 and P=0.00, respectively). Moreover, ADs-exposed group had significantly lower mean white blood cell count (6518±2064.79/μl) and significantly higher mean creatinine level (056±0.13 mg/dl) compared with nonexposed group (7307±2001.4/μl and 0.51±0.12 mg/dl, respectively; t=2.02, P=0.04; and P=0.04, respectively). Inadequate controls were reported, mainly lack of medical surveillance (100%), lack of training (69.1%), insufficient handling practices, and low usage of personal protective equipment, particularly among nurses. Conclusion: The study highlighted chronic adverse effects associated with occupational exposure to ADs and inadequate implementation of exposure control methods. Findings necessitate raising awareness among ADs-exposed nurses and clinical pharmacists to introduce engineering controls, conduct hazard awareness training, initiate medical surveillance program, and ensure adherence to safe handling practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A statistical safety control method is presented that utilizes location data from a relatively inaccurate yet costeffective system to track workers in real time, and prevent unsafe situations at construction sites. In light of the inaccuracy of the tracking system, buffer areas are defined as statistical zones, at some distance from potential workplace hazards. Statistical alerts are created according to predefined rules when the hazard exposure of workers in those zones crosses a certain threshold. The results of tests of the method demonstrate that the model is able to successfully process the location data in order to compensate for its inaccuracy. This is done without necessitating a significant increase in the areas that are defined as being of high risk, and therefore off-limits for most workers on site. The model can thus ensure the efficiency of the construction work by restricting the size of the areas on site that are off-limits for most workers, while at the same time ensuring the safety of workers.The method can also ensure that alerts will not be ignored by using statistical rules to avoid an excessive number of alerts, and by discerning who should be the client of an alert. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal runaway (TR) is an essential issue puzzling the application of lithium-ion batteries, while there is a knowledge gap about TR characteristics of batteries under varied wind velocities. This study employed an experimental approach to investigate the influence of longitudinal wind velocity on TR behaviors of batteries in a restricted channel. The results indicate that the key parameters of TR are significantly affected by wind velocities. The onset time of safety valve opening, TR occurring, and maximum surface temperature appearing rises exponentially over wind velocity. Whereas the onset temperature of the first two decreases linearly with wind velocity. Temperature rising rates at different stages also tend to change similarly. The maximum surface temperature and temperature rise rate have no visible correlation with wind velocity. A simplified thermal balance analysis method was proposed to dissect the wind velocity effect during TR. Three regions for TR can be divided based on the critical wind velocity of 3.5 m/s and 4.5 m/s. The maximum temperature difference in the channel corresponds to the flow state depending on wind velocity. This work can enhance our knowledge of the longitudinal wind impact on TR and provide a new viewpoint to preventing TR and its propagation. • Thermal runaway experiments were conducted in a restricted channel. • The impact of longitudinal wind on thermal runaway behavior was discussed. • The correlation between characteristic time/temperature and wind velocity was revealed. • The thermal runaway mechanism under varied wind velocities was unveiled. • The appropriate wind velocity could partly prevent thermal runaway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic amines (BAs), a class of toxic nitrogen-containing compounds, are commonly found in high-protein fermented foods. This study investigated whether, what and how the fermentation parameters influence the BAs accumulation in spontaneous soy sauce fermentation. The results showed that BAs accumulation in soy sauce fermentation throughout the year showed significant seasonal differences, which were closely related to temperature and pH value. Furthermore, different microbial communities were found in high- and low-BAs groups, indicating that seasonal fermentation factors affect BAs accumulation by influencing the microbial population. Following bioinformatic analysis, single-microorganism culture analysis, and simulated fermentation, it was found that lower temperature or higher NaCl concentration can reduce BAs accumulation, most likely by suppressing the proliferation of BAs-producing bacteria. This is a comprehensive study of the impact of fermentation parameters on BAs production, and will serve as a foundation for future research on BAs management. • The accumulation of biogenic amines (BAs) in soy sauce showed seasonal variations. • The accumulation of BAs was closely connected to temperature and pH value. • Fermentation parameters affect BAs production by influencing microbial growth. • Fermentation parameters affect BAs production by influencing microbial fermentation characteristics. • 40.79% BAs were reduced by lowering the fermentation temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 44-question Thai Home Fall Hazard Assessment Tool (Thai-HFHAT) was developed to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults from their home environment. However, the reliability of this tool has not been studied. This study aimed to examine the reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT and determine the demographic characteristics associated with home hazards. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate inter-rater reliability. The participants in this study were 51 older people from various types of Thai houses: a one-story elevated house, a one-story non-elevated house, and a house with two or more floors, 51 caregivers of older patients, and 5 village health volunteers (VHV). A prospective design was used to evaluate test-retest reliability with older people at different times in their homes. All participants answered 44 Thai-HFHAT questions to determine inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities. The reliabilities were analyzed using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Demographic characteristics including sex, occupation, and education were used to identify the factors affecting home hazards, and linear regression was used to analyze. Results: The ICC of inter-rater reliability of the 44-question Thai-HFHAT was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84) and the test-retest reliability was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64-0.88) for the older adults, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65-0.89) for the caregivers and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.477-0.83) for the VHV. In demographic variables, personal business career and education level (grades 1-3) had significant relations with the total number of home hazards in the 44-questions Thai-HFHAT. Conclusions: The 44-question Thai-HFHAT is suitable for home hazard assessment among older adults in Thailand. Further studies are needed to investigate changes in the house environment after using the 44-question Thai-HFHAT to determine which changes can reduce fall risk., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2023 Wittayapun Y et al.)

La méthode HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) permet de maîtriser la sécurité sanitaire des aliments depuis de nombreuses années. Celle-ci a été transposée au processus de traitement des patients en radiothérapie pour étudier les risques encourus par les patients. L'approche pragmatique développée aboutie à la visualisation claire des dangers et à la définition de mesures adaptées pour les maîtriser. HACCP method is used for quality insurance in the food industry for many years. It was adapted to radiotherapy to evaluate risk in the treatment process. This pragmatic approach led to the clear identification of different hazards along the process. It also allowed implementation of appropriate measures in order to reduce them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]