Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:27:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / A crescente preocupação com o nível de risco associado ao transporte de materiais perigosos levou várias instituições internacionais a empenhar esforços na avaliação de risco em nível regional. Seguindo essa tendência, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os mais recentes processos de análise de riscos decorrentes do transporte rodoviário de materiais perigosos. No presente trabalho foram avaliadas 21 metodologias de análise de riscos, desenvolvidas por vários autores e para diversas localidades. Em especial, duas foram revistas e discutidas: um método recentemente desenvolvido pelo Instituto Federal Suíço de Tecnologia (Nicolet-Monnier e Gheorghe, 1996) e a estratégia delineada pelo Center for Chemical Process Safety - CCPS (1995), levando em consideração a estimativa do risco individual e social. Também foram aplicados os modelos de Harwood et al. (1990) e de Ramos (1997), adaptados por Hartman (2003) à realidade das estradas do Estado de São Paulo. A extensão dessas metodologias foi explorada, a fim de encontrar as suas vantagens e desvantagens. Como estudo de caso o presente trabalho considerou o transporte de amônia ao longo de duas rotas possíveis por rodovias do Estado de São Paulo, incluindo uma parcela significativa de avaliação em área densamente povoada, obtendo-se os resultados utilizando uma das metodologias de analise de risco. A inovação proposta por esse trabalho foi a pesquisa, o desenvolvimento e a introdução de duas variáveis ao modelo proposto por Harwood et al. (1990). Essas variáveis ponderadoras no valor do risco foram: a idade do condutor e a zona de impacto conforme o período do dia em que o transporte foi realizado em função do volume do produto transportado. As alterações propostas têm como objetivo deixar o valor do risco mais sensível em relação ao tipo do produto transportado e a idade do condutor. As principais etapas processuais relacionadas com a análise quantitativa dos riscos para sistemas de transporte são suportadas pelos métodos precedentes para instalações fixas. Especial atenção foi dada à forma de coletar informações locais e para estimar coeficientes que refletissem as condições prevalecentes na região considerada no estudo de caso apresentado. / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Problem: Nurses are potentially exposed to hazardous drugs (HDs) in their practice. HD exposure is associated with adverse outcomes (reproductive problems, learning disabilities in offspring of nurses exposed during pregnancy, and cancer occurrence). Safe handling precautions (safety equipment and personal protective equipment, [PPE]) minimize exposure to HDs and decrease the potential for adverse outcomes. Despite existing OSHA recommendations, adherence to precautions is below recommendations. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among factors affecting nurses’ use of HD safe handling precautions, to identify factors that promote or interfere with HD precaution use, and to determine nurse managers’ perspectives on use of safe handling precautions. This study used a conceptual model which proposes that both individual and organizational factors influence precaution use. Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Nurses (N = 165; 46% response rate) from oncology centers across the US who reported handling chemotherapy completed a mailed survey. Instruments measured HD precaution use, knowledge, self efficacy, barriers, perceived risk, conflict of interest, interpersonal influences and workplace safety climate. Hierarchical regression was used. Twenty managers of nurses handling chemotherapy were interviewed. Results: Nurses were experienced in oncology (M = 15.8 ± 7.6) yrs, well-educated (62.5% ≥BSN), certified in oncology nursing (85%), worked in outpatient settings (69%), and on average treated 6.8 ± 5.2 patients per day. Chemotherapy exposure knowledge was high (M = 10.9, ± 1, 0-12 scale); as was self efficacy for using PPE (M = 20.8 ± 3, 7-24 scale), and perceived risk (M = 3.14 ± .6, 0-4 scale). Total precaution use during HD administration and disposal was low (M = 1.9, SD = 1.1, 0= never to 5 = 100%). Nurse characteristics did not predict HD precaution use. In the final model (R2 = .29, F (2, 155) = 24.6, p < .000), fewer patients per day, fewer barriers and better workplace safety climate were independent predictors of higher precaution use. Conclusions: Results emphasize the importance of organizational influence on nurses’ HD safe handling precaution use and suggest fostering a positive workplace safety climate and reducing barriers as interventions.

The discharge of a landfill leachate to a receiving water body can cause a serious pollution problem. One component of leachate that can have a severe impact on a receiving water body is ammonia and its oxidized form, nitrate. This study investigated the biological treatibility of a high ammonia leachate, with specific regard to nitriification and denitrification. A continuous-feed, single sludge denitrification system with recycle was used. Leachate ammonia concentrations of up to 288 mg/L-N were reduced to less than 1 mg/L. The ammonia was removed by nitrification and bacterial uptake. About 25% of the incoming ammonia was taken up by the bacteria in the anoxic reactor; the rest was subsequently nitrified in the aerobic reactor. The nitrates produced in the aerobic reactor were recycled back to the anoxic reactor to undergo denitrification. Glucose was added directly to the anoxic reactor to aid denitrification. The degree of denitrification was dependent on the glucose loading to the anoxic reactor; however, 100% denitrification was achieved on several occasions. The influent leachate COD removal was 20%; however after the addition of glucose to the system, a mean COD removal of 74% was obtained. Of the COD removed across the system, 85% was used in the anoxic reactor for denitrification, and the remaining 15% was used by the heterotrophs in the aerobic reactor. The four metals monitored regularly, zinc, manganese, nickel and iron were removed by the biomass, but not to the same extent During the latter part of the study, the system was first spiked with manganese, and then - zinc, to try and induce an inhibitory effect on the nitrification process. The manganese had no detectable effect on the system. However, total zinc (>95% soluble) levels of between 14.9 and 17.6 mg/L caused substantial inhibition of the nitrification process, resulting in approximately 70 mg/L ammonia in the effluent (feed = 216 mg/L). This inhibition was also evident from the lower percent nitrification values and the unit nitrification rates. This high influent zinc concentration also caused deflocculation, resulting in the loss of significant quantities of biomass with the effluent. The high zinc concentrations also inhibited the denitrifiers, resulting in a decrease in the ammonia uptake, as well as an increase in the COD (used)/Nitrate+Nitrite (NOT) (reduced) ratios in the anoxic reactor. The zinc levels were then lowered to allow the system to return to normal; after this state had been reached, the influent total zinc (>95% soluble) levels were again increased up to 19.5 mg/L. This concentration of zinc did not result in any ammonia appearing in the effluent; thus, it is possible that the bacteria had acclimatized to these high influent zinc concentrations. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

This dissertation consists of three chapters discussing the effects of changing trade barriers for Canadian firms and a final chapter investigating hazardous waste trade, one of the important environmental issues in international business. The first three chapters use simple theoretical structures and firm level data to examine the evolution of Canadian manufacturing following the tariff changes imposed by the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement. Chapter one considers the influence of falling tariffs on firm survival, chapter two investigates how trade liberalization effects firm growth in terms of size and productivity, and the third chapter considers the implication o f falling trade barriers for firm financial structure. The fourth chapter diverges from the first three to explore the determinants of international shipments in hazardous waste using a gravity model with factor endowment conditions and waste trade data from 89 countries. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

This diploma thesis elaborates on dangers of intentional misuse of transported hazardous substances. Introduction part is about legislation which determines conditions for hazardous substances treatment and their transportation. There are several types of transportation, they are described in separated chapter. Road transportation dominates in Czech Republic. Focus is put on motivation factors for misuse of hazardous substances. Factors increasing risk of misuse of hazardous substances follow. Based on it, suggestions for precautions and means to lower the risk were created. Separated chapter is dedicated to methodology for determining attractiveness of hazardous substances. To map situation in Czech Republic, I did survey in several companies. Results are summarized in last chapter.

Research has shown the color used to represent threat information can influence perceived risk and how individuals respond to watches and warnings. However, there is no standardized color scheme for hazardous weather products across the weather enterprise. This study’s objective was to determine if color inconsistencies have an effect on a product’s intended risk perception utilizing two public surveys. Results suggest color inconsistencies when representing hazardous weather products have a detrimental effect on that product’s intended message. The first survey found people use color to help determine risk and rely on whether a filled or outlined polygon is displayed. The second survey found the term “warning” is perceived to have more risk than the term “watch” for all hazardous weather types tested. The results from both surveys suggest a national, uniform color scale based on risk should be implemented across all weather enterprise agencies.

No description available.

Industry both consumes and creates an abundance of dangerous goods, which must be transported from producers to end-users. This creates opportunities for incidents, including traffic accidents, which could release poisonous, corrosive, flammable or carcinogenic substances into the environment. Releases of dangerous goods at a location may pose a significant threat to the health of the neighbouring population. The Durban South Basin, with its hazardous mix of heavy industrial, employment and residential areas, was chosen as the case study for research into the risks associated with the transportation of dangerous goods. High levels of traffic flow occur in this region and significant volumes of dangerous goods are transported on the roads within the basin. The objectives of this investigation were to: develop a methodology that may be applied to estimate the likelihood and consequences of releases of dangerous goods due to road accidents; and to evaluate the usefulness of this methodology by applying it to estimate the risks posed to the people residing in, working in and travelling through the Durban South Basin. The literature pertaining to risk assessment of dangerous goods transport was examined. A review was undertaken of the current state of the art and the theory and methodology used by previous researchers. As intersections provide greater opportunities for vehicles to be involved in accidents, traffic surveys were conducted at selected intersections within the Durban South Basin in order to obtain an indication of the flow of dangerous goods vehicles and the types of dangerous goods being transported through these locations. Two approaches were utilised to estimate the likelihood of dangerous goods accidents and releases at intersections: a deterministic model and an innovative method based on Monte Carlo simulation. Dispersion modelling and geographic information systems were integrated to estimate the impacts of accidental releases of dangerous goods at intersections. Queuing analysis was combined with dispersion modelling to estimate the risks posed to road users from dangerous goods releases. The investigation verified that dangerous goods transportation risk assessment could be performed even when there are substantial data uncertainties. Furthermore, in comparison to the deterministic approach typically used in transportation studies, Monte Carlo simulation facilitates a deeper understanding of the nature and distribution of dangerous goods accident risk. The results suggest that although dangerous goods accidents and releases are infrequent, the potential exists for very serious incidents involving large numbers of injuries. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries / Department: Regional and Community Planning.

A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 1992. / The formulation of effective safety measures to counteract the potential for disaster presented by the transportation of hazardous materials requires that reliable data is available as to the nature and extent of such traffic. Such data is currently unavailable and a roadside interview survey was conducted in the PWV area in order to ascertain the quantities and type of material being transported locally. the routes used, the types of vehicles and containers involved, and compliance with existing regulations. It was found that of the 1068 Vehicles surveyed carrying hazardous material, only 22% fully complied with existing legislation. A risk assessment model for use by both operators and authorities is then developed, in which the survey data is input to determine the least risk route between Johannesburg and Sasolburg. / AC2017