Underestimation of language issues in frequently used accident investigation methods: a new taxonomy problem found in Dutch accident data

A wide variety of methods exist in the field of accident investigation. The challenge to find the cause for each and every accident has perpetuated a complicated and fundamental debate. In spite of the different paradigms, the many branch specific investigation methods, decades of accumulated and documented accident investigation experience, the diversity in taxonomy of causal factors, and an increasing depth of general systematic analysis tools, there are still causal factors missing out. A recent study identifies language issues as an underestimated danger. Dutch Labour Inspectorate records identify procedures and communication as an important causal factor area for major accidents. Accident investigation method taxonomies that are frequently used in The Netherlands, were investigated on the content related to language issues. Language issues are found to be either present less than proportional with observed accident rates or not present at all in frequently applied accident investigation classification systems. Hence a new taxonomy problem was found in Dutch accident data. Language issues need more attention in accident investigation methods.     

Application of the Seveso Directive in France.

First, the paper presents a brief summary of the French actual regulation on installations registered for the protection of the environment and covered by the Seveso I Directive. Then the paper discusses research and development needs for a sound implementation of the Directive, and for the new requirements on safety reports established by the Seveso II Directive. Further, it discusses issues connected with coverage of hazardous activities, learning from accidents, technical and organisational measures (safety management systems and emergency response) and human factors. The conclusions stress the need for networking and dissemination of accident investigations, development of safety management systems, and research on cognitive ergonomics and psychology related to the decision making and interventions of the operator.     

The AETL methodology as a potential solution to current challenges associated with the development and use of acute exposure levels in Seveso II applications

This paper analyses current trends in the development and use of acute exposure levels in Europe for the implementation of the Seveso II Directive [Council Directive 96/82/EC of December 9, 1996 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances. Official Journal of the European Communities, vol. L 10, January 14, 1997, Luxembourg, pp. 13-33]. It also describes a new initiative to develop a European methodology for deriving acute exposure threshold levels that responds to emerging needs in this area. The need for acute exposure values to predict human health effects of potential accidents on exposed populations has burgeoned in recent years. As the driving legislation for managing industrial hazards in Europe, the Seveso II Directive has particularly influenced this trend. Yet at this time it is questionable whether the availability and range of acute exposure values for toxic substances has kept apace with the growing need. Results of a survey of Seveso II competent authorities in the EU-15 revealed that a variety of different types of acute exposure values (AEGLs, EPRGs, etc.) are used for Seveso II applications. Moreover, a comparison of these values indicates gaps in coverage of substances as well as inconsistencies in terms of how health effects and exposure periods are defined for each type. These findings highlight an opportunity for greater collaboration on scientific inputs to application of the Directive in Europe. The ACUTEX project is an EU-funded research project aimed at furthering scientific exchange and collaboration in support of the development of acute exposure levels for toxic substances in Europe. Its goal is to develop a European methodology for deriving acute exposure threshold levels (AETLs). In particular, it provides the possibility for a common European platform for developing additional acute exposure values to meet emerging needs and cover more chemical substances. To maximise success, the work plan is designed to meet two very important challenges, the need to complement and add value to the existing array of acute exposure methodologies and the necessity of meeting requirements of a diverse range of European stakeholders. As such the project will draw on collaboration among European scientists and process of deliberation among stakeholders to deliver the following key results: (1) to facilitate wide acceptance of the methodology in Europe by both the scientific community and communities of different end-users; (2) to provide greater equivalence and transparency in implementation of the Seveso II Directive across the Member States, specifically through the development of common scientific bases for assessing risks and making risk management decisions related to toxic releases; (3) to produce a methodology that remains open to future collaboration on derivation of acute exposure levels on a European and a global basis.     

Writing Seveso II safety reports: new EU guidance reflecting 5 years' experience with the Directive

Since the coming into force of the Seveso II Directive, considerable experience has been acquired in regard to preparation of safety reports for establishments that fall under the requirements of this Directive. In light of this experience, the Amendment of the Seveso II Directive adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 16 December 2003, gave the European Commission the mandate "to review by 31 December 2006 in close cooperation with the Member States, the existing Guidance on the Preparation of a safety report (EUR 17690)". As a result, a technical working group of Member States representing the Seveso competent authorities and the European Commission's Major Accident Hazards Bureau was established to review and re-examine the guidance. The new guidance maintains the high-level and overarching character of the older version, but improves the document through better definition of conceptual elements of the safety report and greater alignment with Annex II of the Directive, which describes the essential elements of the safety report. This paper describes the new guidance in terms of its contribution to developing a harmonized conceptual framework for preparing and reviewing safety reports within the context of Seveso II implementation. Overall, the aim of the guidance is to provide concrete advice to operators and competent authorities on the logic and expectations underlying the safety report, so as to make both preparation and review of the report a more efficient and useful exercise for all parties involved.     

A "worst case" methodology for obtaining a rough but rapid indication of the societal risk from a major accident hazard installation

This paper describes a methodology developed to provide a rough but rapid indication of the magnitude of the societal risks at and in the vicinity of a major accident hazard installation. It is intended to be used by the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) as a first screening tool when examining safety reports submitted under The Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 1999. These are the Regulations which implement in the UK the major aspects of Council Directive 96/82/EC, the "Seveso II" Directive. Within the methodology a new weighted risk integral parameter is defined, suitable for comparison with criteria, and its value calculated. The paper includes examples to illustrate the use of the methodology.     

Strategic supply chain management issues in the automotive industry: an Australian perspective

The automotive manufacturing industry is an extremely competitive one. Many companies are focusing on their supply chains for sources of competitive advantage. This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study that examined contemporary issues related to supply chains in the Australian automotive manufacturing industry. Data from interviews with managers from vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers, peak industry bodies and government agencies enabled the articulation of 10 key issues. These issues were validated as being relevant to the industry by another group of managers from the industry. Review of these 10 issues showed that the relationships between the parties in supply chains are complex, and despite the success of the industry, there are a number of structural weaknesses. These issues, when taken individually, pose significant risks to the industry. When considered collectively, these risks are magnified several fold. This paper also presents research questions in the form of formal propositions associated with the 10 issues that need to be rigorously tested in order to assess the long-term viability and success of the industry. The issues that are raised can also be relevant to other industries with similar supply chain dynamics.     

Risk-maps informing land-use planning processes A survey on the Netherlands and the United Kingdom recent developments

The definition of safety distances as required by Art 12 of the Seveso II Directive on dangerous substances (96/82/EC) is necessary to minimize the consequences of potential major accidents. As they affect the land-use destinations of involved areas, safety distances can be considered as risk tolerability criteria with a territorial reflection. Recent studies explored the suitability of using Geographical Information System technologies to support their elaboration and visual rendering. In particular, the elaboration of GIS "risk-maps" has been recognized as functional to two objectives: connecting spatial planners and safety experts during decision making processes and communicating risk to non-experts audiences. In order to elaborate on these findings and to verify their reflection on European practices, the article presents the result of a comparative study between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands recent developments. Their land-use planning practices for areas falling under Seveso II requirements are explored. The role of GIS risk-maps within decisional processes is analyzed and the reflection on the transparency and accessibility of risk-information is commented. Recommendations for further developments are given.     

A methodology for controlling dispersion in food production and distribution

After a number of food safety crises, the design and implementation of traceability systems became an important tool for managing safety risks in the food industry. In the literature, numerous studies deal with traceability from the viewpoint of information system and technology development. However, traceability and its implications for food safety receive less attention in literature on production and distribution planning. From the viewpoint of operations management, an efficient management of food safety risks requires the consideration of the amounts of potentially recalled products, affected regions/customers, and logistics efforts connected to solving the safety problem. In this paper we are developing a production and distribution planning model for food supply chains to address these issues. We also present heuristics for solving the resulting mixed-integer linear programming model and demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed methodology in a numerical investigation.     

Product customisation: an empirical study of competitive advantage and repeat business

Empirical evidence is presented from 24 UK based manufacturing companies, all offering a degree of product customisation, with most having a significant pure customisation engineer-to-order (ETO) element. The evidence addresses the issue of competitive advantage, which has lacked empirical evidence in previous manufacturing strategy literature, and includes a detailed investigation of the strategic importance of repeat business. It contrasts its results with those previously found in the literature and concludes that there are significant differences in the competitive priorities theoretically associated with this sector. In particular, it is argued that cumulative capabilities are needed, with a low cost competence often included. Four different types of repeat business are identified, one relating to repeat business customisers and three relating to versatile manufacturing companies, and the strategic importance of repeat business is discussed. It is indicated that for some ETO companies, repeat business is perceived to be an important method to reduce costs and achieve business stability. However, a number of the other companies studied saw repeat business as infeasible and hence need to find other ways to reduce costs and improve company performance measures. Future research to extend this work into a longitudinal study or a broader survey is proposed.     

Integration of safety analysis in model-driven software development

Safety critical software requires integrating verification techniques in software development methods. Software architectures must guarantee that developed systems will meet safety requirements and safety analyses are frequently used in the assessment. Safety engineers and software architects must reach a common understanding on an optimal architecture from both perspectives. Currently both groups of engineers apply different modelling techniques and languages: safety analysis models and software modelling languages. The solutions proposed seek to integrate both domains coupling the languages of each domain. It constitutes a sound example of the use of language engineering to improve efficiency in a software-related domain. A model-driven development approach and the use of a platform-independent language are used to bridge the gap between safety analyses (failure mode effects and criticality analysis and fault tree analysis) and software development languages (e.g. unified modelling language). Language abstract syntaxes (metamodels), profiles, language mappings (model transformations) and language refinements, support the direct application of safety analysis to software architectures for the verification of safety requirements. Model consistency and the possibility of automation are found among the benefits.     

Corporate financial decision-makers' perceptions of workplace safety

This study, through a random national survey, explored how senior financial executives or managers (those who determined high-level budget, resource allocation, and corporate priorities) of medium-to-large companies perceive important workplace safety issues. The three top-rated safety priorities in resource allocation reported by the participants (overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily reaction) were consistent with the top three perceived causes of workers' compensation losses. The greatest single safety concerns reported were overexertion, repetitive motion, highway accidents, falling on the same level and bodily reaction. A majority of participants believed that the indirect costs associated with workplace injury were higher than the direct costs. Our participants believed that money spent improving workplace safety would have significant returns. The perceived top benefits of an effective workplace safety program were increased productivity, reduced cost, retention, and increased satisfaction among employees. The perceived most important safety modification was safety training. The top reasons senior financial executives gave for believing their safety programs were better than those at other companies were that their companies paid more attention to and emphasized safety, they had better classes and training focused on safety, and they had teams/individuals focused specifically on safety.     

A comparison of workplace safety perceptions among financial decision-makers of medium- vs. large-size companies

This study, through a random national survey in the U.S., explored how corporate financial decision-makers perceive important workplace safety issues as a function of the size of the company for which they worked (medium- vs. large-size companies). Telephone surveys were conducted with 404 U.S. corporate financial decision-makers: 203 from medium-size companies and 201 from large companies. Results showed that the patterns of responding for participants from medium- and large-size companies were somewhat similar. The top-rated safety priorities in resource allocation reported by participants from both groups were overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily reaction. They believed that there were direct and indirect costs associated with workplace injuries and for every dollar spent improving workplace safety, more than four dollars would be returned. They perceived the top benefits of an effective safety program to be predominately financial in nature – increased productivity and reduced costs – and the safety modification participants mentioned most often was to have more/better safety-focused training. However, more participants from large- than medium-size companies reported that “falling on the same level” was the major cause of workers’ compensation loss, which is in line with industry loss data. Participants from large companies were more likely to see their safety programs as better than those of other companies in their industries, and those of medium-size companies were more likely to mention that there were no improvements needed for their companies.     

Emergency planning and the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH/Seveso II) Directive: an approach to determine the public safety zone for toxic cloud releases

The EU Control of Major Accidents Hazards Directive (Seveso II) requires an external emergency plan for each top tier site. This paper sets out a method to build the protection of public health into emergency planning for Seveso sites in the EU. The method involves the review of Seveso site details prescribed under the directive. The site safety report sets out the potential accident scenarios. The safety report's worst-case scenario, and chemical involved, is used as the basis for the external emergency plan. A decision was needed on the appropriate threshold value to use as the level of concern to protect public health. The definitions of the regulatory standards (air quality standards and occupational standards) in use were studied, how they are derived and for what purpose. The 10 min acute exposure guideline level (AEGL) for a chemical is recommended as the threshold value to inform decisions taken to protect public health from toxic cloud releases. The area delimited by AEGL 1 defines the population who may be concerned about being exposed. They need information based on comprehensive risk assessment. The area delimited by AEGL 2 defines the population for long-term surveillance when indicated and may include first responders. The area delimited by AEGL 3 defines the population who may present acutely to the medical services. It ensures that the emergency responders site themselves safely. A standard methodology facilitates discussions with plant operators and concerned public. Examples show how the methodology can be adapted to suit explosive risk and response to fire.     

Risk management in the automotive supply chain: an exploratory study in Brazil

The main objective of this study was to identify the main characteristics of risk management in the automotive supply chain in Brazil, considering companies in the first and second tiers. This objective was achieved through the proposition of three hypotheses that were tested based on a survey of 211 auto parts producers scattered throughout the country, from which 77 completed forms were received. This research enabled us to conclude that the risks perceived in tier 2 are higher than those observed in tier 1. Also, it was possible to verify that the performance of companies in tier 2 (higher risk) is lower than those in tier 1. Contrary to what was observed in the literature, this research could not find evidence to confirm that risk management tools are prioritized to reduce the risk of companies in the supply chain. Therefore, this research contributes to both theory and practice: this is the first study that performs an analysis of risk management in supply chains with tier 1 and 2 companies in the Brazilian automotive industry, becoming an important complement to recent studies on this topic. For practitioners and business executives who manage risks in automotive supply chains in Brazil, this paper shows the reality of the issue in first- and second-tier companies, which can provide them with important contexts for their decision making in the day-to-day business of the automotive sector.     

RegTech – Potential benefits and challenges for businesses

The last Global Financial crisis in 2008 fuelled the need for regulation to avoid history repeating itself. New regulatory technologies (RegTech) are helping to transform how compliance issues are handled. This study aims to highlight the benefits of RegTech solutions for companies as well as the challenges of adopting these technologies. It also addresses the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) II legislation, which has led to an increase in the number of RegTech companies. Although these systems of technology offer compelling compliance tools, they also pose significant risks. For this reason, this study aims to draw attention to the opportunities and potential pitfalls associated with RegTech and propose recommendations for addressing the challenges related to implementing RegTech solutions.     

Precautions against industrial accidents: experience in applying the Seveso II Directive in central and eastern European countries.

Adopted approaches to safety reports and internal emergency plans are described. Based on the provisions of the Seveso II Directive and on the achieved state of hazard prevention management of the respective enterprises in central and eastern European states, reports and plans were prepared. Although these states are no members of the European Union, the parties recognised the requirements of the Seveso II Directive as a working basis. In detail: Methodical experience in preparing safety reports and emergency plans include a methodology in the three main steps: Analysis of information on hazardous substances, hazard analysis including all plants, more specific hazard analysis for representative plants. Basic ways of forming scenarios are given. According to a procedure, various types of scenarios were usually taken into account. Based on the assessment of effects of a substance release, important conclusions can be drawn regarding the extent of danger prevention. In most cases, the structure of the described internal accident emergency plan turned out to be helpful. The programmed system DISMA (Disaster Management) which is widely used in Germany turned out to be a suitable tool for the internal as well as external emergency planning. An example of information to the population is described.     

施工现场安全危险源实时监控与安全风险预测方法研究

对国内外建筑业施工现场安全风险的研究进行了文献综述,针对目前研究的不足之处,提出了施工现场安全危险源实时监控和安全风险实时预测的示意性模型,并详细解释了该模型的含义和方法。研究将提供一种基于前馈信号的施工现场安全危险源实时监控和安全风险实时预测的方法;并通过将现有研究的视角引入到施工现场关键安全危险源的前馈信号上,为进一步的研究打下良好的理论基础。     

Strategies for improving safety performance in construction firms

Over the years many prevention management practices have been implemented to prevent and mitigate accidents at the construction site. However, there is little evidence of the effectiveness of individual or combined practices used by companies to manage occupational health and safety issues. The authors selected a sample of 1180 construction firms and 221 individual practices applied in these companies to analyze their effectiveness reducing injury rates over a period of four years in Chile. Different methods were used to study this massive database including: visual analyses of graphical information, statistical analyses and classification techniques. Results showed that practices related to safety incentives and rewards are the most effective from the accident rate viewpoint, even though they are seldom used by companies; on the other hand, practices related to accidents and incidents investigation had a slight negative impact on the accident rate because they are frequently used as a reactive measure. In general, the higher the percentage of prevention practices implemented in a strategy, the lower the accident rate. However, the analysis of the combined effect of prevention practices indicated that the choice of the right combination of practices was more important than just the number of practices implemented.     

Use of decision criteria based on expected values to support decision-making in a production assurance and safety setting

We consider decision problems related to production assurance and safety. The issue is to what extent we should use decision criteria based on expected values, such as the expected net present value (E[NPV]) and the expected cost per expected number of saved lives (ICAF), to guide the decision. Such criteria are recognised as practical tools for supporting decision-making under uncertainty, but is uncertainty adequately taken into account by these criteria? Based on the prevailing practice and the existing literature, we conclude that there is a need for a clarification of the rationale of these criteria. Adjustments of the standard approaches have been suggested to reflect risks and uncertainties, but can cautionary and precautionary concerns be replaced by formulae and mechanical procedures? These issues are discussed in the present paper, particularly addressing the company level. We argue that the search for such formulae and procedures should be replaced by a more balanced perspective acknowledging that there will always be a need for management review and judgment beyond the realm of the analyses. Most of the suggested adjustments of the E[NPV] and ICAF approaches should be avoided. They add more confusion than value.