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Safety Hazards (safety + hazard)
Selected AbstractsAn attenuation model for distant earthquakesEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2004Adrian Chandler Abstract Large magnitude earthquakes generated at source,site distances exceeding 100km are typified by low-frequency (long-period) seismic waves. Such induced ground shaking can be disproportionately destructive due to its high displacement, and possibly high velocity, shaking characteristics. Distant earthquakes represent a potentially significant safety hazard in certain low and moderate seismic regions where seismic activity is governed by major distant sources as opposed to nearby (regional) background sources. Examples are parts of the Indian sub-continent, Eastern China and Indo-China. The majority of ground motion attenuation relationships currently available for applications in active seismic regions may not be suitable for handling long-distance attenuation, since the significance of distant earthquakes is mainly confined to certain low to moderate seismicity regions. Thus, the effects of distant earthquakes are often not accurately represented by conventional empirical models which were typically developed from curve-fitting earthquake strong-motion data from active seismic regions. Numerous well-known existing attenuation relationships are evaluated in this paper, to highlight their limitations in long-distance applications. In contrast, basic seismological parameters such as the Quality factor (Q -factor) could provide a far more accurate representation for the distant attenuation behaviour of a region, but such information is seldom used by engineers in any direct manner. The aim of this paper is to develop a set of relationships that provide a convenient link between the seismological Q -factor (amongst other factors) and response spectrum attenuation. The use of Q as an input parameter to the proposed model enables valuable local seismological information to be incorporated directly into response spectrum predictions. The application of this new modelling approach is demonstrated by examples based on the Chi-Chi earthquake (Taiwan and South China), Gujarat earthquake (Northwest India), Nisqually earthquake (region surrounding Seattle) and Sumatran-fault earthquake (recorded in Singapore). Field recordings have been obtained from these events for comparison with the proposed model. The accuracy of the stochastic simulations and the regression analysis have been confirmed by comparisons between the model calculations and the actual field observations. It is emphasized that obtaining representative estimates for Q for input into the model is equally important.Thus, this paper forms part of the long-term objective of the authors to develop more effective communications across the engineering and seismological disciplines. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] An improved method for detecting red cells with hemoglobin H inclusions that does not require glass capillary tubesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2003D.E. Sabath Summary, -Thalassemia trait is the most common inherited abnormality worldwide. Diagnosis of , -thalassemia trait can be difficult as there are no abnormalities detectable by hemoglobin electrophoresis or high-performance liquid chromatography. Detection of individuals with , -thalassemia trait, particularly the type present in many Asian populations, is important for genetic counseling purposes, because these individuals are at risk for having offspring with hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis, a fatal condition. The best routine diagnostic method to detect individuals with , -thalassemia trait is staining reticulocyte-enriched red cell preparations with brilliant cresyl blue to detect hemoglobin H inclusions. Current methods use centrifugation of microhematocrit tubes to enrich for reticulocytes, which presents a laboratory safety hazard. In this report, we describe an alternative technique to enrich for reticulocytes that does not require glass capillary tubes, but is as effective as the capillary tube method for reticulocyte enrichment and detection of cells containing hemoglobin H inclusions. [source] Reserve nitrous oxide cylinders on anaesthetic machinesANAESTHESIA, Issue 9 2000apparatus The presence of reserve nitrous oxide cylinders on anaesthetic machines is not necessary and potentially hazardous, wasteful and polluting. Although reserve nitrous oxide cylinders are routinely present on the anaesthetic machines in many hospitals in the UK, it is our concern that they are not checked or maintained properly. We examined a sample of cylinders and surveyed the practice amongst the anaesthetic staff in our Department with an anonymous questionnaire. This confirmed that: (1) the equipment is not properly maintained, 68% of cylinders sampled having passed a 3-year expiry date; (2) checks are of little practical use, are not routinely performed by anaesthetists, and only 46% of respondents routinely check the nitrous oxide cylinders. In conclusion, the nitrous oxide cylinders are not properly checked or maintained and may represent a safety hazard. [source] Occupational health and safety experience of day laborers in seattle, WAAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2008Noah S. Seixas PhD Abstract Background Day Labor is a growing part of the informal economy in the US, and in Seattle, and may entail a high risk of injury and illness at work. Methods We surveyed 180-day laborers, at two worker centers and an unregulated "Street" location concerning their job-specific exposures and injury experience. Results Exposures to both health and safety hazards were common at all three sites. After controlling for type of work, immigrant workers were 1.5,2 times more likely than non-immigrant day laborers to report exposure to hazardous conditions. Among the 180 participants 34 reported injuries were classified as "recordable." We estimated an injury rate of 31 recordable injuries per 100 full time employees. The three hiring locations had differing job experiences and exposures. Those hired through worker centers had a lower risk of exposures, while the Street workers were more likely to refuse hazardous work. Conclusions Day laborers are exposed to numerous hazards at work, resulting in high injury rates. Multiple approaches including community based organizations which may provide some employment stability and social support for protection at work are needed to reduce occupational injury and illness risk among these vulnerable populations. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:399,406, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Chronic disease risk in central New York dairy farmers: Results from a large health survey 1989,1999AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2005Paul L. Jenkins PhD Abstract Background The agricultural workplace presents a variety of health and safety hazards; it is unknown whether farm work may be a risk factor for certain chronic diseases. Methods The health survey data from a large rural population in central New York were used from two studies (1989, 1999) to assess both 1999 prevalence and 10-year incidence of self-reported diabetes, heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension among farm (predominantly dairy) and non-farm residents. The 1999 asthma prevalence was also assessed. Results Multiple logistic regression models for 1999 prevalence found statistically significant protective effects of farming for hypertension (OR,=,0.83, P,=,0.0105) and hypercholesterolemia (OR,=,0.853, P,=,0.0522). Non-significant results were seen for heart disease (OR,=,0.67, P,=,0.128) and diabetes (OR,=,0.856, P,=,0.1358). The model for 1999 asthma prevalence showed a significantly elevated risk for farming (OR,=,1.542, P,=,0.0004). Logistic models created for the 10-year incidence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and heart disease did not show a significant effect for farming. Conclusions The protective effect of farming observed for the 1999 prevalence of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia was not seen for the 10-year incidence of these diseases. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:20,26, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] An overview of inherently safer design,PROCESS SAFETY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2006Dennis C. Hendershot Inherently safer product and process design represents a fundamentally different approach to safety in the manufacture and use of chemicals. The designer is challenged to identify ways to eliminate or significantly reduce hazards, rather than to develop add-on protective systems and procedures. In the chemical process industries, risk management layers of protection are classified as inherent, passive, active, and procedural. Inherently safer design focuses on eliminating hazards, or minimizing them significantly, to reduce the potential consequence to people, the environment, property, and business. Inherently safer design is considered to be the most robust way of dealing with process risk and can be considered to be a subset of green chemistry and green engineering. It focuses on safety hazards,the immediate impacts of single events such as fires, explosions, and short-term toxic impacts. Many of the strategies of inherently safer design are not specific to the chemical industry, but apply to a broad range of technologies. Strategies for identifying inherently safer options are discussed, with examples. However, for most facilities, a complete risk management program will include features from all categories of layers of protection. Also, the designer must be aware that all processes and materials have multiple hazards and that there can be conflicts among the risks associated with different alternatives. Design alternatives that reduce or eliminate one hazard may create or increase the magnitude of others. Recognition and understanding of these conflicts will enable the designer to make intelligent decisions to optimize the design. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2006 [source] Instrumental analysis of gas hydrates propertiesASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2010Y. Rojas Abstract Gas hydrates attracted intense research interest when it was first recognised some 70 years ago that they were responsible for the blockage of flow lines, valves and well heads, thereby causing great loss of production and other severe safety hazards to the oil and gas industry. After many decades, these compounds are still the topic of research activities in various multi-disciplinary fields, including chemical and petroleum engineering, earth and geophysics, chemistry and environmental sciences. This is not only due to the great impact that these compounds have on the oil and gas industry, but also to the potential applications they have in many evolving areas, including, but not only, natural gas storage and transportation, carbon dioxide sequestration, and sea-water desalination. It is generally accepted that gas hydrates represent the largest source of hydrocarbons on earth, something which has not been appreciated until only recently. Management, either prevention or application or both, of gas hydrates requires a complete knowledge and understanding of the formation, decomposition and inhibition mechanisms of gas hydrates, which in turn demands advanced experimental methods and instrumental techniques for gas hydrate characterisation. This paper reviews a broad range of techniques that have been used for natural gas hydrate characterisation. It includes the basic physical science principles of each method and the gas hydrate properties that each method is capable of detecting, including some modern instrumental analyses that enable direct determination of gas hydrate phases and possible measurement of molecular interactions within the fluid phases. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Working children and accidents: understanding the risksCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2001L White Summary Recent research suggests that a significant proportion of school children aged 10,16 years are employed outside the home during the school term. Delivery work represents only a minority of such employment and children are found working in a wide range of ,adult' jobs, particularly in the service sector. This raises concerns about health and safety hazards faced by working children. There is an absence of data on the effects of different kinds of work and working conditions on child health and development, which is thus a barrier to defining goals, policies and effective action. This paper aims to address these issues through presenting some research findings on child employment and incidences of accident. The study is based on surveys of school children in North Tyneside and Norfolk. Our analysis shows that there is a high level of accidents occurring at work among children aged 10,16 years old. While legislation exists in the UK to prevent children from working in the most hazardous environments and to prohibit young children from undertaking any employment, it is clear that such work does take place. Our findings indicate that it is time to look at the occupational health of children as a major concern. [source] | |||||||||||||