• Title/Summary/Keyword: hazard level

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Safety Data Sheets as a Hazard Communication Tool: An Assessment of Suitability and Readability

  • Kevin Ho;Thomas Tenkate
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.15 no.2
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    • pp.192-199
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    • 2024
  • Background: Safety data sheets (SDSs) are hazard communication materials that accompany chemicals/hazardous products in the workplace. Many SDSs contain dense, technical text, which places considerable comprehension demands on workers, especially those with lower literacy skills. The goal of this study was to assess SDSs for readability, comprehensibility, and suitability (i.e., fit to the target audience). Methods: The Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) tool assessed SDSs for suitability and readability. We then amended the SAM tool to further assess SDSs for comprehensibility factors. Both the original and amended SAM tool were used to score 45 randomly selected SDSs for content, literacy demand, graphics, and layout/typography. Results: SDSs performed poorly in terms of readability, suitability, and comprehensibility. The mean readability scores were Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (9.6), Gunning Fog index (11.0), Coleman-Liau index (13.7), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook index (10.7), all above the recommended reading level. The original SAM graded SDSs as "not suitable" for suitability and readability. When the amended SAM was used, the mean total SAM score increased, but the SDSs were still considered "not suitable" when adding comprehensibility considerations. The amended SAM tool better identified content-related issues specific to SDSs that make it difficult for a reader to understand the material. Conclusions: In terms of readability, comprehensibility, and suitability, SDSs perform poorly in their primary role as a hazard communication tool, therefore, putting workers at risk. The amended SAM tool could be used when writing SDSs to ensure that the information is more easily understandable for all audiences.

Regional Traffic Safety Evalution and Identifying Driver Violations to Be Controlled by Priority (지역별 교통안전도 평가와 중점관리 법규위반사항 적출)

  • 김경환
    • Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.5-24
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    • 1994
  • The purpose of this study is to develop an accident hazard index model in order to be used for the evaluation of regional traffic safety and to develop a driver violation index model in order to identify the primary causes of traffic accidents. The accident hazard index model was developed considering the accident rates based on population and the vehicle registration. The driver violation index model was developed considering the accident rates of each item of driver violation. Using the models developed in this study, it is identified that in the provincial level analysis the degree of the traffic safety of Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Kyungbuk Province are evaluated to be low. In the county level analysis of Kyungnam Province, the degree of the traffic safety of Yangsan, Euirung, Haman, Sachun and Tongyung County are evaluated to be low. Also, it is found that the major driver violations causing accidents in the nation are driving by unlicensed drives, improper passing, and improper railroad crossing : in Kyungnam Province, improper passing is the most driver violation.

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Probabilistic analysis of seismically isolated elevated liquid storage tank using multi-phase friction bearing

  • Moeindarbari, Hesamaldin;Malekzadeh, Masoud;Taghikhany, Touraj
    • Earthquakes and Structures
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.111-125
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    • 2014
  • Multiple level performance of seismically isolated elevated storage tank isolated with multi-phase friction pendulum bearing is investigated under totally 60 records developed for multiple level seismic hazard analysis (SLE, DBE and MCE). Mathematical formulations involving complex time history analysis have been proposed for analysis of typical storage tank by multi-phase friction pendulum bearing. Multi-phase friction pendulum bearing represent a new generation of adaptive friction isolation system to control super-structure demand in different hazard levels. This isolator incorporates four concave surfaces and three independent pendulum mechanisms. Pendulum stages can be set to address specific response criteria for moderate, severe and very severe events. The advantages of a Triple Pendulum Bearing for seismic isolation of elevated storage tanks are explored. To study seismic performance of isolated elevated storage tank with multi-phase friction pendulum, analytical simulations were performed with different friction coefficients, pendulum radii and slider displacement capacities.

Nonparametric Analysis of Warranty Data on Engine : Case Study (엔진에 대한 품질보증데이터의 비모수적 분석 사례연구)

  • Baik, Jai-Wook;Jo, Jin-Nam
    • Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.40-47
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    • 2006
  • Claim history data of rather long period were collected to assess reliability and warranty cost analyses. The data were appropriately organized to be used for further statistical analyses. For each critical component, nonparametric statistical method was applied to obtain reliability plot. Hazard plots of the components in a subsystem or system level were also obtained. Competing risk model was assumed to obtain the performance of the subsystem or system level.

A study on Risk Assessment Procedure for the Structural changes of Navigable Airspaces (공역의 구조적 변경에 따른 위험평가 절차 연구)

  • Kim, Do-Hyun;Kim, W.Y.
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.13-18
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    • 2012
  • 'Navigable airspace' means an airspace at and above the minimum safe flight level, including airspace or flight procedures needed for safe takeoff and landing. Airspace may be established as needed and may be abolished, and in some cases may be limited to airspace management. These are absolutely based on risk assessment. Safety is the state in which the risk of harm to persons or of property damage is reduced to, and maintained at or below, an acceptable level through a continuing process of hazard identification and risk management. 'Risk' is the assessed potential for adverse consequences resulting from a hazard and 'Risk assessment' involves consideration of both the frequency and the severity of any adverse consequence. This paper proposed 'risk assessment procedure' for the structural changes of Navigable Airspaces through literature reviews relevant to manuals on airspace management and risk management.

Assessment of Post-Earthquake Fire Behavior of a Steel MRF Building in a Low Seismic Region

  • Chicchi, Rachel;Varma, Amit
    • International journal of steel structures
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.1470-1481
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    • 2018
  • Building-level response to post-earthquake fire hazards in steel buildings has been assessed using primarily two-dimensional analyses of the lateral force resisting system. This approach may not adequately consider potential vulnerabilities in the gravity framing system. For this reason, three-dimensional (3D) finite element models of a 10-story case study building with perimeter moment resisting frames were developed to analyze post-earthquake fire events and better understand building response. Earthquakes are simulated using ground motion time histories, while Eurocode parametric time-temperature curves are used to represent compartment fires. Incremental dynamic analysis and incremental fire analysis procedures capture a range of hazard intensities. Findings show that the structural response due to earthquake and fire hazards are somewhat decoupled from one another. Regardless of the level of plastic hinging present in the moment framing system due to a seismic event, gravity column failure is the initiating failure mode in a fire event.

HAZARD ANALYSIS OF TYPHOON-RELATED EXTERNAL EVENTS USING EXTREME VALUE THEORY

  • KIM, YOCHAN;JANG, SEUNG-CHEOL;LIM, TAE-JIN
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.47 no.1
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    • pp.59-65
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    • 2015
  • Background: After the Fukushima accident, the importance of hazard analysis for extreme external events was raised. Methods: To analyze typhoon-induced hazards, which are one of the significant disasters of East Asian countries, a statistical analysis using the extreme value theory, which is a method for estimating the annual exceedance frequency of a rare event, was conducted for an estimation of the occurrence intervals or hazard levels. For the four meteorological variables, maximum wind speed, instantaneous wind speed, hourly precipitation, and daily precipitation, the parameters of the predictive extreme value theory models were estimated. Results: The 100-year return levels for each variable were predicted using the developed models and compared with previously reported values. It was also found that there exist significant long-term climate changes of wind speed and precipitation. Conclusion: A fragility analysis should be conducted to ensure the safety levels of a nuclear power plant for high levels of wind speed and precipitation, which exceed the results of a previous analysis.

Modeling and simulation of large crowd evacuation in hazard-impacted environments

  • Datta, Songjukta;Behzadan, Amir H.
    • Advances in Computational Design
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.91-118
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    • 2019
  • Every year, many people are severely injured or lose their lives in accidents such as fire, chemical spill, public pandemonium, school shooting, and workplace violence. Research indicates that the fate of people in an emergency situation involving one or more hazards depends not only on the design of the space (e.g., residential building, industrial facility, shopping mall, sports stadium, school, concert hall) in which the incident occurs, but also on a host of other factors including but not limited to (a) occupants' characteristics, (b) level of familiarity with and cognition of the surroundings, and (c) effectiveness of hazard intervention systems. In this paper, we present EVAQ, a simulation framework for modeling large crowd evacuation by taking into account occupants' behaviors and interactions during an emergency. In particular, human's personal (i.e., age, gender, disability) and interpersonal (i.e., group behavior and interactions) attributes are parameterized in a hazard-impacted environment. In addition, different hazard types (e.g., fire, lone wolf attacker) and propagation patterns, as well as intervention schemes (simulating building repellent systems, firefighters, law enforcement) are modeled. Next, the application of EVAQ to crowd egress planning in an airport terminal under human attack, and a shopping mall in fire emergency are presented and results are discussed. Finally, a validation test is performed using real world data from a past building fire incident to assess the reliability and integrity of EVAQ in comparison with existing evacuation modeling tools.

Implementation of Community-based Hazard Mapping Support System for Traditional Towns with Local Heritage (지역 유산을 가진 전통 마을을 위한 지역 사회 기반 위험지도 작성 지원 시스템의 구현)

  • Min, Byung-won
    • Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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    • v.8 no.4
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    • pp.115-120
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    • 2018
  • This paper describes the design and trial development of a system that supports continuous hazard mapping by local residents in their daily life. We performed an interview survey to design our system in a model traditional town in Saga Prefecture, Japan. The results show that despite continued efforts, many practical problems remain and residents feel unsafe. Considering these results, we designed and developed a unique information and communication technology-based support system that contributes to community-based disaster prevention and reduction. The continuous resident participation and posting design are the core concept for our community-based approach. Our system continues to support making a hazard map by integrating the community-based hazard information. Local residents register information (disaster types, risk level, photographs, comments, positional information) about locations that could be dangerous in a disaster. In addition, our system enables information sharing through a Web server. We expect that this information sharing will allow local hazard information for each district to be used.

Development of flood hazard and risk maps in Bosnia and Herzegovina, key study of the Zujevina River

  • Emina, Hadzic;Giuseppe Tito, Aronica;Hata, Milisic;Suvada, Suvalija;Slobodanka, Kljucanin;Ammar, Saric;Suada, Sulejmanovic;Fehad, Mujic
    • Coupled systems mechanics
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    • v.11 no.6
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    • pp.505-524
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    • 2022
  • Floods represent extreme hydrological phenomena that affect populations, environment, social, political, and ecological systems. After the catastrophic floods that have hit Europe and the World in recent decades, the flood problem has become more current. At the EU level, a legal framework has been put in place with the entry into force of Directive 2007/60/EC on Flood Risk Assessment and Management (Flood Directive). Two years after the entry into force of the Floods Directive, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), has adopted a Regulation on the types and content of water protection plans, which takes key steps and activities under the Floods Directive. The "Methodology for developing flood hazard and risk maps" (Methodology) was developed for the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the methodology used in the majority of EU member states, but with certain modifications to the country's characteristics. Accordingly, activities for the preparation of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment for each river basin district were completed in 2015 for the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Activities on the production of hazard maps and flood risk maps are in progress. The results of probable climate change impact model forecasts should be included in the preparation of the Flood Risk Management Plans, which is the subsequent phase of implementing the Flood Directive. By the foregoing, the paper will give an example of the development of the hydrodynamic model of the Zujevina River, as well as the development of hazard and risk maps. Hazard and risk maps have been prepared for medium probability floods of 1/100 as well as for high probability floods of 1/20. The results of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) recording were used to create a digital terrain model (DMR). It was noticed that there are big differences between the flood maps obtained by recording LiDAR techniques in relation to the previous flood maps obtained using georeferenced topographic maps. Particular attention is given to explaining the Methodology applied in Bosnia and Herzegovina.