• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2011

Objective: The aim of this paper is to introduce the activities and research trends of human reliability analysis including brief summary about contents and methods of the analysis. Background: Various approaches and methods have been suggested and used to assess human reliability in field of risk assessment of nuclear power plants. However, it has noticed that there is high uncertainty in human reliability analysis which results in a major bottleneck for risk-informed activities of nuclear power plants. Method: First and second generation methods of human reliability analysis are reviewed and a few representative methods are discussed from the risk assessment perspective. The strength and weakness of each method is also examined from the viewpoint of reliability analyst as a user. In addition, new research trends in this field are briefly summarized. Results: Human reliability analysis has become an important tool to support not only risk assessment but also system design of a centralized complex system. Conclusion: Human reliability analysis should be improved by active cooperation with researchers in field of human factors. Application: The trends of human reliability analysis explained in this paper will help researchers to find interest topics to which they could contribute.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2021

The use of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) in the development of safety-related Human-Machine Interface (HMI) systems has gained much momentum in nuclear applications. Recently, one of the application areas for the Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR1400) is in the development of the advanced Component Interface Module (CIM) of the Engineered Safety Features Actuation System (ESFAS). Using systems engineering approach, we have developed a new FPGA-based advanced CIM software. The first step of our software development process involves the Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) based on the previous CIM design. In this paper, we describe the qualitative approach used in performing the preliminary hazard analysis. The paper presents the methodology for applying a modified Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) procedure for the conduct of PHA which resulted in a qualitative risk-ranking scheme that informed the decisions for the safety criteria in the requirements specification phase. The qualitative approach provided the justification for design changes during the advanced CIM software development process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2022

This paper describes an attempt to improve and optimize the operational safety level of a domestic research reactor by conducting a probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) under full-power operating conditions. The PSA was undertaken to assess the level of safety at an operating research reactor in Korea, to evaluate whether it is probabilistically safe and reliable to operate, and to obtain insights regarding the requisite procedural and design improvements for achieving safer operation. The technical objectives were to use the PSA to identify the accident sequences leading to core damage, and to conduct sensitivity analyses based thereon to derive insights regarding potential design and procedural improvements. Based on the dominant accident sequences identified by the PSA, eight types of sensitivity analysis were performed, and relevant insights for achieving safer operation were derived. When these insights were applied to the reactor design and operating procedure, the risk was found to be reduced by approximately ten times, and the safety was significantly improved. The results demonstrate that the PSA methodology is very effective for improving reactor safety in the full-power operating phase. In particular, it is a highly suitable approach for identifying the deficiencies of a reactor operating at full power, and for improving the reactor safety by overcoming those deficiencies.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2018

Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) has been used in shipping and offshore industries for many years, supporting the decision-making process to guarantee safe running at different stages of design, fabrication and throughout service life. The assessments of a risk perspective are informed by the frequency of events (probability) and the associated consequences. As the number of offshore platforms increases, so does the length of subsea pipelines, thus there is a need to extend this approach and enable the subsea industry to place more emphasis on uncertainties. On-board operations can lead to objects being dropped on subsea pipelines, which can cause leaks and other pipeline damage. This study explains how to conduct hit frequency analyses of subsea pipelines, using historical data, and how to obtain a finite number of scenarios for the consequences analysis. An example study using probabilistic methods is used.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.25-32
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• 2022

As a project delivery method, Design-Build (DB) has provided owner, architect, and contractor groups with a process of early design and rapid construction for the past three decades. Although there are many benefits to using standard DB, dissatisfaction has arisen due to limitations to innovate, limited owner involvement during design, and often lengthy procurement. Progressive Design-Build (PDB) has become an appealing alternative providing benefits not seen with standard DB. This paper investigates how PDB impacts a project and how it compares against standard DB; it also presents a proposed framework for evaluating the owner's responsibility and assessment of a project, which we named the "Four Pillars of Project Success". The four pillars are defined with respect to an owner's responsibility and assessment of a project, including project predictability, project risk, project schedule, and project cost. We conducted a literature review, examined several public project case studies, analyzed PDB project information collected by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), and held stakeholder interviews with owners, contractors, and architects who have used both PDB and standard DB. This paper offers insight into PDB's structure and outcomes so an owner group can make an informed decision when considering PDB as their next construction contracting method.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2024

The reliability-based seismic design of steel frames is a complex process that incorporates seismic demand with a structural capacity to attain safe buildings aligned with specified constraints. This paper introduces an efficient base shear force formulation to support the reliability-based design process of steel frames. The introduced base shear force equation combines the seismic demand statistics with the reliability objective to calculate a fictitious base shear force for linear static analysis. By concentrating on the seismic demand and promising to meet a certain level of reliability, the equation converts the reliability-based seismic design problem to a deterministic one. Two code-compliant real-size steel moment frames are developed according to different reliability objectives to demonstrate the competency of the proposed formula. The nonlinear dynamic analysis method is used to assess the seismic reliability of the constructed frames, and the numerical results validate the credibility of the suggested formulation. The base shear force calculation method regarding seismic reliability is the main finding of this study. The ease of use makes this approach a potent tool for design professionals and stakeholders to make rapid risk-informed decisions regarding steel moment frame design.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1093-1096
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• 2012

Background: Cervical cancer is common among women worldwide. A multitude of risk factors aggravate the disease. This study was conducted to: (1) determine the prevalence and (2) make a comparative analysis of the socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors of cervical cancer and knowledge, attitude and practice between rural and urban women of North Bengal, India. Study Design: Community-based cross-sectional study. Methods: A survey (first in North Bengal) was conducted among 133 women in a rural area (Kawakhali) and 88 women in an urban slum (Shaktigarh) using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires. The respondents were informed of the causes (including HPV), signs and symptoms, prevention of cervical cancer and treatment, and the procedure of the PAP test and HPV vaccination. Results: The prevalence of risk factors like multiparity, early age of marriage, use of cloth during menstruation, use of condom and OCP, early age of first intercourse was 37.2%, 82%, 83.3%, 5.4%, 15.8% and 65.6% respectively. Awareness about the cause, signs and symptoms, prevention of cervical cancer, PAP test and HPV vaccination was 3.6%, 6.3%, 3.6%, 9.5% and 14.5% respectively. Chi-square testing revealed that in the study population, significant differential at 5% exists between rural and urban residents with respect to number of children, use of cloth/sanitary napkins, family history of cancer and awareness regarding causes of cervical cancer. Regarding KAP, again using chi-square tests, surprisingly, level of education is found to be significant for each element of KAP in urban areas in contrast to complete absence of association between education and elements of KAP in rural areas. Conclusions: A large number of risk factors were present in both areas, the prevalence being higher in the rural areas. The level of awareness and role of education appears to be insignificant determinants in rural compared to urban areas. This pilot study needs to be followed up by large scale programmes to re-orient awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2016

Recently, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has amended the law to Design for Safety in working design stage of construction work. There should be informed the disaster likelihood and severity of unit-works to decide risk of unit-works in Design for Safety. Therefore, the construction disaster data of ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ corporation were classified as 24 unit-works and the disaster likelihood and severity of unit works were analyzed in this study. The safety management level of unit-works which based on analysis data was suggested 3 groups; special management and emphasis management, regular management. The results of this study can be used as basic information to perform Design for Safety in construction. And this information will be able to reduce the disaster.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.853-857
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• 2013

Objectives: Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Breast screening in normal and/or asymptomatic women is essential to reduce the burden of breast malignancies. Our study aimed to identify possible risk- and/or co-factors associated with breast screening in North Indian women. Methods: A public health research survey was conducted among 100 women of North Indian ethnicity during clinic visits in a 6-month timeline (April-October 2012). Demographic and clinical data, including mammography screening, were recorded in the questionnaire-based proforma after conducting a 10 minute interview. Written informed consent was taken from all the participants. Results: The mean age of the participants was $32.2{\pm}9.9$ years. Out of 100 women, 6% had family history of breast disease. Breast-related complaints/malignancy, including galactorrhoea, mastitis, axillary lump, fibrocystic disease, fibroadenosis and adenocarcinoma were observed in 41% participants; age stratification revealed that 82.9% of this group (n=41) were <30 years, while 9.7% and 7.3% were >30 years and 30 years of age, respectively. 32% participants underwent mammography screening and 8% had breast ultrasound imaging. Age stratification in the mammography screening group demonstrated that 24 women were <40 years, while 7 women were >40 years. Conclusions: Our pilot study identified possible co-factors affecting breast screening in North Indian women. These findings may be beneficial in early detection of breast abnormalities, including malignancies in women susceptible to breast cancer, and thus aid in future design of cost-effective screening strategies to reduce the increasing burden of breast carcinoma in women worldwide.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2013

Recent changes in the global climate environment have resulted in a wide variety of climate-related disasters, including floods, tidal waves, forest fires, droughts, etc. In addition, global warming raises the risk of food poisoning, which may increase the spread of infectious diseases and alter their structure. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to provide accurate and persuasive information to consumers so that they can be fully informed of climate change and alter their behavior accordingly. Therefore, the intention of this study was to develop posters and contents for image production related to climate change and food safety. The posters are focused on consumers with headings such as "Climate Change Threatening Food Safety", "Earth getting warmer, your dining table is at risk", "Warning signs ahead for the globe", and more. Five poster drafts were selected initially, and a survey was carried out amongst 1,087 people regarding their preferences, with the most preferred design chosen. The images related to climate change and food safety defined climate change, how it relates to food safety, the risks it poses to the food industry, and lastly, how the public can respond in the future. Therefore, to further communicate the importance of food safety to consumers, the development, education, and promotion of these contents should be performed to provide safety information to consumers in the future.