<p>This thesis aims at providing reasonable explications of theprecautionary principle and the concept of precaution, todefend the precautionary principle against some commoncriticisms, and to give an indication of how the precautionaryprinciple might be operationalised.</p><p>In Essay I, the concept of precaution is analysed in termsof precautionary actions. Distinctions between precaution andtwo related concepts, prevention and pessimism, are discussed.A definition involving three necessary and jointly sufficientconditions is proposed as a reasonable explication of aprecautionary action.</p><p>Essay II attempts to provide an analytical apparatus whichmay be used for finding an authoritative formulation of theprecautionary principle. Several formulations of theprecautionary principle are examined. It is argued that theprecautionary principle can be recast into a four-dimensionalif-clause, and that this format can be used in negotiationsconcerning the precautionary principle.</p><p>In Essay III, the precautionary principle is defendedagainst five common charges, namely that it is ill-defined,absolutist, and a value judgement, increases risk-taking, andmarginalises science.</p><p>In Essay IV, a simple formalised model is introduced, inwhich the precautionary principle is interpreted in terms ofdefault values of chemicals regulation.</p><p><b>Key words:</b>Precautionary principle, precaution, risk</p>

Since the events of 9-11, aviation security has become a mounting concern for both the American and Canadian government. Because of the alleged “threats to security,” the Canadian government has followed in American footsteps and enacted the Passenger Protect Program, otherwise known as the “no fly list.” This thesis will examine the emergence of the Canadian version of the no fly list in the context of the U.S. “Secure Flight” program in order to analyze the claim that the Canadian list is unique and distinct from the American version. Drawing from the literature on surveillance and risk, this thesis suggests that both lists are operating on the precautionary principle and are thus not distinct in purpose, process or overall outcome, and that a “made in Canada” approach is a misleading notion. In fact, this thesis will show that the Canadian and U.S. governments continue to share no fly lists, use the same criteria and sources for placing an individual’s name on the list, and handle redress issues in the same manner. Most importantly, the consequences for ordinary citizens are the same regardless of whether one finds themselves on the Canadian or the American list. This thesis will (a) describe the origins of the no fly list in Canada and the USA, (b) examine the ways in which personal data are obtained from the Passenger Name Record (PNR), how these are used to construct the list(s) and how they are mined for further purposes and (c) what the consequences are for specific classes of persons, especially minorities, refugee and asylum claimants, civil libertarians, peace activists and others. / Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2009-01-14 18:08:51.773

This thesis aims at providing reasonable explications of theprecautionary principle and the concept of precaution, todefend the precautionary principle against some commoncriticisms, and to give an indication of how the precautionaryprinciple might be operationalised. In Essay I, the concept of precaution is analysed in termsof precautionary actions. Distinctions between precaution andtwo related concepts, prevention and pessimism, are discussed.A definition involving three necessary and jointly sufficientconditions is proposed as a reasonable explication of aprecautionary action. Essay II attempts to provide an analytical apparatus whichmay be used for finding an authoritative formulation of theprecautionary principle. Several formulations of theprecautionary principle are examined. It is argued that theprecautionary principle can be recast into a four-dimensionalif-clause, and that this format can be used in negotiationsconcerning the precautionary principle. In Essay III, the precautionary principle is defendedagainst five common charges, namely that it is ill-defined,absolutist, and a value judgement, increases risk-taking, andmarginalises science. In Essay IV, a simple formalised model is introduced, inwhich the precautionary principle is interpreted in terms ofdefault values of chemicals regulation. <b>Key words:</b>Precautionary principle, precaution, risk / NR 20140805

Perception of risk was used as an independent variable and behaviour as the dependent variable in the research with the assumption that level of precaution used during sexual practices to safeguard against HIV infection will be positively related to the perception of risk to HIV. The conclusiveness of this approach was dependent on evidence that participants know what risky behaviour can contribute to contracting HIV/AIDS and on their willingness to report their risk perception honestly. A snowball sample consisting of 15 Zimbabwean women living in and around Johannesburg was employed. Research objectives were addressed through semistructured interviews. For all participants, perception of risk was qualified by a number of factors. Common precautionary strategies identified by women were to remain faithful to one partner and being more contemplative when choosing bed partners and using condoms. High risk perception was marked by having had various sexual partners, inconsistently using condoms, fear of sexual violence, mistrust of partners, feeling of fear of vulnerability to HIV whenever they had sex and survival concerns. Migrant women’s adoption of safe sex was limited by their circumstances and strategies of risk management and in particular their biases in assumptions about their partners’ sexual histories. This exposes them to the vulnerabilities of HIV/AIDS. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.

none

This research project aims to investigate the level of risk/safety inherent in intermediate floors of buildings designed to the Compliance Document for the New Zealand Building Code, Fire Safety Clauses C1, C2, C3, C4 (C/AS1), and develop guidance for Fire Engineers on designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors. The project also aims to develop a new set of prescriptive fire safety requirements for intermediate floors and proposes an outline of a verification method for designing fire safety for intermediate floors. This study includes a literature review of the fire safety requirements for intermediate floors (mezzanines) of prescriptive requirements in New Zealand and other countries such as USA, Canada, UK and Australia. The results of this literature review found that the intermediate floor size is limited and varies with country. An intermediate floor that has an area exceeding the limit set out by the prescriptive requirements is considered as a storey in all the countries prescriptive requirements reviewed including the New Zealand prescriptive requirements prior to 1991. Since 1991, in New Zealand Acceptable Solutions, the intermediate floor that has an area exceeding the limit will not be treated as a storey, however, a smoke control system is required. The level of risk was quantified using a factor of safety (FoS) - the ratio of Available Safe Egress Time (ASET) to Required Safe Egress Time (RSET). Two fire models; BRANZFIRE and FDS were used to calculate ASET and SIMULEX, an evacuation program, was used to calculate movement times of the occupants of the studied buildings. Unlike the traditional method in which RSET and FoS are assessed using single value, in this project the distribution of RSET and FoS were assessed using the @RISK software package. The analysis showed that the level of risk to the occupants of the firecells containing intermediate floors is always higher than that of the equivalent firecells without intermediate floors with the same occupant load and the differences in FoS range from 10% to 60%. The analysis also highlighted that the level of risk to the occupants of firecells having intermediate floors increases as the intermediate floor size increases, however, there are no clear cut-off points at which a higher level of fire safety precaution should be provided. The cut-off points in C/AS1 of 20% for a closed intermediate floor and 40% for an open intermediate floor, are not justified by this analysis. Occupant load has significant impact on the level of safety of the occupants of the firecells containing intermediate floors. The higher the occupant load the lower the level of safety is. The definitions for open and closed intermediate floors are proposed to which open and closed intermediate floors are clearly distinguished. The term “limited area intermediate floor” in the current C/AS1 is proposed be removed and all related clauses are proposed to be amended or deleted accordingly. A proposed new set of prescriptive fire safety requirements for intermediate floors has been developed based on the occupant load of intermediate floors and not the intermediate floor size in the form of a table similar to the current Table 4.1 of C/AS1. The occupant load and fire safety precautions (FSPs) of the intermediate floors are determined based on the occupant load and their required FSPs of the equivalent firecells without intermediate floors that have the same factor of safety with the firecells containing intermediate floors. With the proposed FSPs, a firecell with lower occupant load would require lesser fire safety requirements than a firecell with higher occupant load regardless of intermediate floor size. Moreover, with the proposed FSPs for intermediate floors, the level of safety of the occupants of the firecells having intermediate floors would be very similar to the level of safety of the equivalent firecells without intermediate floors. In addition to the proposed tables of FSPs, some clauses regarding the changes in the fire safety requirement and definitions for intermediate floors are proposed. Guidance for designers in designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors in which the methods of modelling using BRANZFIRE and Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) are presented in detail, has been developed. The analysis has pointed out that the location of the exits is critical in designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors and majority of exits from the lower floor should not be located under intermediate floors. Although one of the main objectives of this research project was to propose an outline of a verification method for designing fire safety for intermediate floors, the analysis showed that it is very difficult to develop a rational verification method for designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors. Using the proposed FSPs for intermediate floors which are based on the occupant load of the intermediate floors in designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors is recommended by this study. These recommendations do not preclude the use of specific fire engineering design for designing fire safety for firecells having intermediate floors.

This study aimed to provide evidence on knowledge of attitudes toward standard precautions (SPs) and its practice of Healthcare Workers (HCWs) in government and private hospitals in Botswana. It utilised descriptive cross-sectional methodology. A range of significant findings were revealed. Good practice of SPs was noted more amongst the HCWs in government than in private hospitals. Knowledge of SPs amongst HCWs in government hospital was significantly and positively correlated to good practice of SPs. Registered Nurses (RNs) had better knowledge of SPs than HealthcareAssistants (HCAs).There was no significant difference between RNs and HCAs practice of SPS and attitudes toward the same. No significant difference in the knowledge, attitudes and practice of SPs was noted between General Practitioners (GPs) and RNs. No significant difference in the knowledge, attitudes and practice of SPs was observed between GPs and HCAs. The study findings have implications for the application of SPs in practice / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (MCur (Nursing Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge of Universal Precautions Policy by Registered Nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital (Kenya) and their perception of occupational risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. The study also assessed management of blood and body fluids of patients and identified the types and frequency of occupational exposure common among these Registered Nurses. A structured 24-item, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 185 randomly sampled Registered Nurses in selected departments at this hospital. Compliance with Universal Precautions practices was also observed using a checklist. Data analysis was done by use of a computer software package, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0. The study findings suggest: 1) lack of continuous education demonstrated by a high level of non-response about knowledge of Universal Precautions Policy with only 19% of the respondents having attended an in-service course in Universal Precautions Policy, and 2) inaccurate understanding of transmission modes of blood-borne pathogens. The majority of nurses surveyed were using Universal Precautions; with indications that nurses were not as familiar with Universal Precautions as they think they were. Respondents admitted modifying personal protection habits based on subjective judgment regarding patient’s perceived blood-borne infectious state. Non-compliant behaviours with barrier precautions were identified, which included failure to use gloves, gowns and protective eyewear, failure to wash hands, and recapping used needles. Compliance with barrier precautions was associated with patients’ perceived blood-borne status. The study revealed a high level of occupational exposures, of which the majority went unreported. Although respondents were aware of the risk of occupationally acquired blood-borne infections, their irregular practice of Universal Precautions Policy is likely to perpetuate the risks. The findings suggest a need for more educational interventions, which may result into integration of concepts into practice. Educational programmes should focus on the epidemiology of occupationally acquired blood-borne pathogens and their modes of transmission, risk of occupationally acquired blood-borne infections at work place, and with emphasis on the principle and practice of Universal Precautions Policy and current protocol of reporting mechanisms in Kenya.

in English The diploma thesis addresses the precautionary principle and its role in environmental protection. In the introduction the author deals with the origins of application of this principle, its definition and its primary characteristics. Precautionary principle is distinguished from prevention principle and differences between terms principle and approach are assessed. Subsequently the thesis describes the current state of incorporation of precautionary principle in the individual areas of environmental protection and specifies the typology of various incorporation methods. Furthermore, significant case law regarding the subject principle is introduced and the current importance of the principle is evaluated. Substantial arguments of precautionary principle critics are also included. In the final part of the thesis, the author outlines de lege ferenda ideas concerning the precautionary principle, including efficient methods of incorporation of the principle, solutions to flaws of current regulations and draft of template provisions of precautionary principle application.

Submitted by admin tede (tede@pucgoias.edu.br) on 2016-10-07T13:05:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ANTONIA DE PÁDUA VICENTE SANTANA.pdf: 4728053 bytes, checksum: 38a4bef2cdbd368d1b309d70fa230eef (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-07T13:05:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ANTONIA DE PÁDUA VICENTE SANTANA.pdf: 4728053 bytes, checksum: 38a4bef2cdbd368d1b309d70fa230eef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-23 / This paper analyzes the Rio Quente Resort and the implications of tourism to the environment of the Rio Quente District, under the view of precaution and the theory of risk by Ulrich Beck and Pierpaolo Cruz Bottini. The choice of this theme is justified due to its relevancy for the social area, economics and politics in the international, national and local scopes. The study makes a brief approach of the natural historical course and dichotomy between the sustainable development and the environmental degradation of the water resources of the Rio Quente District. Considering the current legislation in terms of environmental law, in the international and national levels, as well as the penal and environmental civil objective and administrative responsibilities. This research aims to investigate if the Public Ministry of Goiás and the City of Rio Quente County are doing their institutional roles, in regard to the traces of imminent contamination of hydric resources in the Ribeirão das Águas Quentes. Using the methodology of qualitative research and inductive method by the means of bibliography, research, interviews and visitations in loco. The current case being: The Term of Adjustment of Conduct, the monitoring of the quality of water index, and the Public Civil environmental Action, of the 2° Judicial court in law of the Tribunal of Justice of the city Caldas Novas, which abides the request of the Public Ministry, by the injunction in disfavor of the City Hall of Rio Quente. Thereafter, infers throughout the research that the Civil Public Action did not obtain effective results, up to the present, regarding the protection of Ribeirão das Águas Quentes, due to some factors such as, justice slowness, economic and politics interferences and economic dependence of the District. / A presente dissertação analisa o Rio Quente Resorts e as implicações do turismo ao meio ambiente no município de Rio Quente, sob a ótica da precaução e da Teoria do Risco segundo Ulrich Beck, e Pierpaolo Cruz Bottini. Justifica-se a escolha temática devido à relevância para a área social, econômica e política no âmbito internacional, nacional e local. O estudo faz uma breve abordagem do percurso histórico do Rio Quente Resorts, e a dicotomia entre o desenvolvimento sustentável e a degradação ambiental do recurso hídrico no município de Rio Quente. Considera a legislação vigente em matéria de direito ambiental, a nível internacional e nacional, bem como, a responsabilidade penal e civil objetiva ambiental, e a administrativa. A pesquisa visa investigar se o Ministério Público de Goiás e a Prefeitura do Município de Rio Quente vêm cumprindo o seu papel institucional, diante do indício iminente da contaminação de recursos hídricos do Ribeirão das Águas Quentes. Adota a metodologia de pesquisa qualitativa e método indutivo, por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica, entrevista e visita in loco. Analisa o caso prático: o Termo de Ajustamento de conduta, o monitoramento do Índice da qualidade da água, e a Ação Civil Pública ambiental da 2º Vara Judicial do Tribunal de Justiça da Comarca de Caldas Novas, que acata o pedido do Ministério Público, em sede de liminar em desfavor da Prefeitura de Rio Quente. Por conseguinte, inferem, através da pesquisa que a Ação Civil Pública, não obteve efetividade até o momento quanto à proteção do Ribeirão das Águas Quentes no município de Rio Quente, devido a alguns fatores, quais sejam, morosidade da justiça, interferência econômica e política, e a dependência econômica do município.