Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Occupational Noise Dose Reduction via Behavior Modification Using In-Ear Dosimetry among United States Air Force Personnel Exposed to Continuous and Impulse Noise","authors":"Jesse A. Trawick, J. Slagley, R. Eninger","doi":"10.4236/OJSST.2019.92005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/OJSST.2019.92005","url":null,"abstract":"In-ear dosimetry and noise exposure feedback were used to modify worker attitude and behavior regarding hearing protection use. The study specifically addressed whether providing in-ear noise exposure data to workers resulted in a reduction in average noise dose rate equivalent continuous levels. Nineteen combat arms instructors (impulse noise group) and heavy equipment operators (continuous noise group) working for the United States Air Force volunteered to participate in a six-month field study using in-ear dosimeters to collect daily noise level data. Participants served as their own control group, receiving periodic noise exposure feedback reports in the latter half of the study only. The control and feedback phase noise exposure data were examined using analysis of variance for differences that could be indicative of more effective hearing protection device use. Additionally, a 7-point Likert survey was used to monitor worker attitude towards hearing protection use, and worker medical histories were examined for evidence of previous hearing loss. Overall, this research found a significant reduction in noise dose rate equivalent continuous level (-2.5 dB with p = 0.019) for the continuous noise group following periodic noise exposure feedback on in-ear noise levels. This effect was not detected at the individual level due to limited samples. No effect was detected in the impulse noise population, likely due to limitations of dosimeter technology in response to impulse noise. No correlation between worker attitudes towards hearing protection and noise dose rate equivalent continuous level was detected for either group (continuous p = 0.249; impulse p = 0.478). While workers reported that in-ear dosimeters and noise exposure feedback helped them control their exposures, few reported using immediate feedback functions to control noise exposures within a work shift. These results indicate that in-ear dosimetry and noise exposure feedback could provide an effective tool to reduce worker noise exposures over time. However, advances in dosimeter technology are necessary before it can be evaluated for impulse noise. Additionally, further research is necessary to understand the link between worker attitude and hearing protection device use.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"206 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122507445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determining the Effect Rate of Speed, Volume of Passenger Cars, Heavy Vehicles and Light Non-Passenger Car Vehicles on Likelihood of Accidents on Urban Highways","authors":"M. Hosseinlou, E. Abbasi","doi":"10.4236/OJSST.2019.92004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/OJSST.2019.92004","url":null,"abstract":"In this article, the role of speed and volume of traffic on occurrence of accidents on urban highways is investigated using Fuzzy models and the accident data of Tehran urban highways is used as case study. To fuzzify the variables in scatter diagram, the notion of statistical percentiles is used for assigning the linguistic terms. To produce rules in each model, one or more variables are deemed effectively in occurrence of accidents. The evaluated number of accidents by developed models is compared with the number of observed accidents. The results of comparison represent the accuracy of each model. The model with the highest value of R2 is the best model and the variables deemed effective for that model are those which do play a role in occurrence of accidents. Comparing the effect of elements of traffic volume indicates that after the average speed, volume of light non-passenger car vehicles is more effective on occurrence of accidents on urban highways than volume of heavy vehicles and passenger cars. After that the part of volume of heavy vehicles is more prominent than volume of passenger cars in the likelihood of more severe accident. The opposite is true for no injury accidents. After prioritization of variables in terms of influence on occurrence of accidents, the authors employed the models best fitting the data with the highest value of goodness of fit to do the sensitivity analyse. Sensitivity analyse specifies the effect rate of each variable on likelihood of accidents.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128735780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sandwich Structure Composite with Expandable Graphite Filled or Coated: Evaluation of Flame Retardancy and Mechanical Performances","authors":"Chenkai Zhu, Jingjing Li, Fan Ji, Xiaosu Yi, C. Rudd, Xiaoling Liu","doi":"10.4236/ojsst.2019.91002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/ojsst.2019.91002","url":null,"abstract":"Sandwich composites are increasingly used in high-performance application due to their high specific stiffness, strength and thermal insulation. The sandwich composites were developed using honeycomb and carbon fibre reinforced composite face sheet in this study. Expandable graphite (EG) weighting 5 wt% and 10 wt% were filled in honeycomb or coated on face sheet to improve the fireproof performance. The vertical burning test, cone calorimetry test, thermal insulation analysis, scanning electron microscopy and mechanical test were taken into account. With the increase of EG in the sandwich composites, a significant improvement on flame retardancy with better thermal insulation, lower values of peak heat release rate and MAHRE were confirmed for sandwich composite with EG both coated and filled. In addition, the sandwich with EG coated on face sheet presented better fire resistivity and thermal insulation properties when compared to that with EG filled in honeycomb. However, more total smoke release was also observed for EG coated composites due to partial combustion of resin within sufficient heat and oxygen. Furthermore, no significant effect on the mechanical properties of composites was confirmed from both fireproof approaches.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124352508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brick Kilns of Nepal: A Non-Governmental Organization Perspective","authors":"Shilpa Shrestha, S. Thygerson","doi":"10.4236/ojsst.2019.91001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/ojsst.2019.91001","url":null,"abstract":"Better Brick Nepal (BBN) works under the larger NGO, Global Fairness Initiatives, to promote the reliably sourced brick manufacturing by eliminating forced, bonded labor, and child labor, promoting workplace safety and health, providing fair wages, and preventing workplace harassment. The brick industry is regarded as the second largest source for air pollution after vehicle emissions in Kathmandu Valley. The brick kiln workers who live on the kiln premises in huts are highly exposed to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. This study reviewed the practices of BBN kilns that adhere to recommended standards for worker rights, health and safety. An NGO such as BBN is proving successful at eliminating inhumane work practices and in improving brick kiln worker health and safety.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"100 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117239506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comparative Analysis of the Two Main Documents Used in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in France and Québec as a Framework for Improving Occupational Health and Safety","authors":"Chloé Bignon, Adel Badri","doi":"10.4236/ojsst.2019.91003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/ojsst.2019.91003","url":null,"abstract":"Context and background: In France as in Quebec, occupational health and safety (OHS) has become a national priority. While organizations in these two societies differ slightly, preventive measures are the same, and legislation requires that the chosen approach to improving OHS be reduced to writing, even in small and medium-sized enterprises. Prevention is managed through existing structures within companies and is documented by the employer. Such documentation is mandatory and allows the company to manage its risks and to monitor the hazards associated its activities. The principal document used for this purpose is known as the “Document unique” in France and the “Programme de prevention” in Quebec. Motivation: The aim of this concise review of the literature is to compare the “Document unique” and the “Programme de prevention” and thereby help experts develop a universal document that combines the best features of the French and Quebecois versions. Methods: Differences between these two documents are noted. Through comparative analysis, we explain how prevention, the regulatory context and the field of application are defined in each case. We then discuss the helpful features and the limitations inherent in both documents and conclude with a table of comparison. Results and conclusions: The advantages and inconveniences appear to be similar for both documents. There are nevertheless opportunities to combine the best features of the Document unique and the Programme de prevention in order to obtain an improved guide for the writing of a complete accident prevention and OHS policy appreciated by employers and employees alike.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129133656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation and Outcomes of Multidisciplinary-Reported Incidents Regarding Patient Safety Management at Special Functioning Hospital in Japan","authors":"T. Ayabe, M. Tomita, M. Okumura, S. Shimizu, Eiko Uchida, Yukari Miura, K. Itai, Kunihide Nakamura","doi":"10.4236/ojsst.2018.84007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/ojsst.2018.84007","url":null,"abstract":"Background: It is an important study to investigate incident reports submitted by multidisciplinaries in the Special Functioning Hospitals of Japan. We clarify the characteristics of the incidents and evaluate the outcomes obtained from a polygonal analysis. Material and Methods: We collected 1638 incident reports submitted by multidisciplinaries for one year from April, 2016 to March, 2017. The incidents were retrospectively analyzed byprofile, levels, distribution, and ratios. Results: The majority of incidents (94.7%, 1551/1638) were distributed between the levels 0 to 3a, on the other hand, the incidents of a level higher than 3b occupied 5.3%. The reports from nurses were 75.3% (1234/1638) and those from doctors were 12.8% (209/1638). The level 3b totalled 30.6% (64/209) of the doctor-reported incidents. In contrast, the level 2 totalled 33.8% (417/1234) of the nurse-reported incidents. The levels of the doctor-incidents were comparatively higher than those of the nurse-incidents. The profiles of the incidents were categorized as drug administration (n = 439, 26.8%), nursing care (n = 399, 24.4%), drain and tube (n = 258, 15.8%), medical treatment and care (n = 199, 12.1%), medical examination (n = 141, 8.6%), medical equipment (n = 99, 6.0%), giving instructions (n = 66, 4.0%) and blood transfusion (n = 12, 0.7%). Conclusions: It is important for multidisciplinaries to report incidents because they can learn novel experiences from the incidents for preventing a recurrence. By proper utilizing of the incident-reporting system, it could be aneffective tool that helps the medical staff build a strong patient safety culture, and a safer workday would improvetheir quality of healthcare.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133846174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Iterative Design of Impact-Damping Gloves for Safer Boxing","authors":"P. Perkins, A. Jamieson, Geordie Ferguson, W. Spratford, A. Hahn","doi":"10.4236/OJSST.2018.83005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/OJSST.2018.83005","url":null,"abstract":"Design methods were employed over a 5-year period to develop boxing gloves capable of substantially buffering impact forces delivered to an opponent, thereby permitting safer boxing. Multiple concepts were explored, with sophistication of prototypes gradually increasing. The protypes underwent both quantitative laboratory testing and qualitative evaluation in the field. The laboratory testing methods were evolved over time to enhance test reliability and ecological validity. Feedback from the laboratory and field trials was highly instrumental in guiding the process of glove development. It was eventually found that, compared to standard boxing gloves, pneumatic gloves with sealed bladders were effective in reducing peak impact forces and peak rates of force development when impact magnitudes were low to moderate but not when they were high. By contrast, pneumatic gloves incorporating a bladder enabling air exchange with the external environment were protective across the entire range of impact magnitudes likely to be encountered in boxing. These gloves are configured differently from standard gloves in terms of the positioning of the fist relative to the glove padding, but now have close visual resemblance to standard gloves. The aesthetics of the gloves have proven critical to their acceptance. Wearer comfort is also vital and, although we extensively pursued the concept of thumbless gloves, we finally deemed it necessary to include separate thumb compartments to accommodate user advice. There is scope for further glove refinement, but recent experience indicates that the latest version is currently sufficient for use in modified boxing programs that emphasise safety, with such targeted contextual sufficiency realising a fundamental aim commonly associated with projects employing the design approach. Small batches of the gloves have recently been manufactured to cater for modified boxing programs.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"54 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124434242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enclosing the Air Gap from Formalin Delivery Tubing to Vertical-Flow Fish Egg Incubators Does Not Decrease Aerosolized Formaldehyde Levels","authors":"J. Voorhees, Brian Fletcher, M. E. Barnes","doi":"10.4236/OJSST.2018.83006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/OJSST.2018.83006","url":null,"abstract":"Formalin treatments are frequently used to control water molds during hatchery incubation of salmonid eggs, creating potential occupational safety and health issues. This investigation evaluated the use of a novel technique to enclose the air gap from formalin treatment tubes to 16-tray vertical-flow incubation stacks. Standard formalin treatments of 1667 mg/L for 15-minutes were administered to one, three, or five stacks, both with, and without air gap enclosures. Enclosing the air gap did not significantly reduce aerosolized formaldehyde levels. Even during the treatment of five incubation stacks when formalin amounts were the greatest, mean (SE) peak airborne formaldehyde levels were 1.6 (0.2) mg/L and 1.5 (0.2) mg/L, either with or without air gap enclosure, respectively. The failure of air gap enclosure indicates other techniques are required to decrease aerosolized formaldehyde during formalin treatments of fish eggs in vertical-flow incubators.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"32 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115552259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Longitudinal Look at Habit Strength as a Measure of Success in Decreasing Prolonged Occupational Sitting: An Evidence-Based Public Health Initiative","authors":"S. Pedersen, P. D. Cooley, C. Mainsbridge, Vaughan Cruickshank","doi":"10.4236/ojsst.2018.82004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/ojsst.2018.82004","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Sitting to perform desk-based work is considered to be a habit. To test this hypothesis, desk-based workers volunteered to be part of a yearlong pilot study utilising an e-health intervention designed to interrupt prolonged workplace sitting with movement breaks. Methods: Participants in a passive-prompt group had to engage with an e-health software programme on an hourly basis during work hours, while participants in an active-prompt group were allowed to postpone the prompt each hour. Daily adherence data and self-reported sitting habit strength were measured every 13 weeks for one year. A mixed design ANOVA was used to determine significant differences at the p < 0.05 level. Results: Passive-prompt participants reported significant improvements in reducing sitting habit strength over time, compared to active-prompt participants who actually reported increased sitting habit strength. Conclusions: This study provided preliminary evidence that changing desk-based workers’ sitting habits might be more difficult than previously estimated and that passive-based interventions could be one solution.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"82 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132587952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of Probabilistic Model for Marine Steam System Failure Analysis under Uncertainty","authors":"Sidum Adumene, S. Nitonye","doi":"10.4236/OJSST.2018.82003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/OJSST.2018.82003","url":null,"abstract":"In ship and offshore operations, machinery systems have associated operational hazard because of the prevailing harsh environment. Therefore, the need for an overall evaluation of the associated risk and failures of these systems, such as the marine steam boiler, is crucial to the industry. The concept of probability risk model is used to model the failure mode considering the overall risk associated with the system as a whole. The rate of occurrence of the failure that described the basic events as represented by the fault tree was developed to model the marine steam system. This specific event was implemented and evaluated to estimate the failure frequencies of the overall systems, based on the available failure rate in core literatures. A risk model which is hazard severity weight with its failure frequencies, and the time of operation was applied in the analysis. The probability of failure of the boiler system was estimated at 0.323225 at 35,040 operating hours with hazard severity weight of catastrophic if it occurs. The associated failure frequency calculated for the period is 1.114 × 10-5. The over failure frequency of the marine steam system for the period of consideration is conditioned on the pre-defined minimum cut sets of the top event. This therefore agreed with the fact that the basic events with their failure frequencies will lead to the catastrophic failure of the entire system within the period if the maintenance plan is not proactive.","PeriodicalId":183634,"journal":{"name":"Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124442817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}