This thesis documents the results of the calibration of the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) safety performance function (SPF) for rural two-lane two-way roadway segments in Utah and the development of new SPFs using negative binomial and hierarchical Bayesian modeling techniques. SPFs estimate the safety of a roadway entity, such as a segment or intersection, in terms of number of crashes. The new SPFs were developed for comparison to the calibrated HSM SPF. This research was performed for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).The study area was the state of Utah. Crash data from 2005-2007 on 157 selected study segments provided a 3-year observed crash frequency to obtain a calibration factor for the HSM SPF and develop new SPFs. The calibration factor for the HSM SPF for rural two-lane two-way roads in Utah is 1.16. This indicates that the HSM underpredicts the number of crashes on rural two-lane two-way roads in Utah by sixteen percent. The new SPFs were developed from the same data that were collected for the HSM calibration, with the addition of new data variables that were hypothesized to have a significant effect on crash frequencies. Negative binomial regression was used to develop four new SPFs, and one additional SPF was developed using hierarchical (or full) Bayesian techniques. The empirical Bayes (EB) method can be applied with each negative binomial SPF because the models include an overdispersion parameter used with the EB method. The hierarchical Bayesian technique is a newer, more mathematically-intense method that accounts for high levels of uncertainty often present in crash modeling. Because the hierarchical Bayesian SPF produces a density function of a predicted crash frequency, a comparison of this density function with an observed crash frequency can help identify segments with significant safety concerns. Each SPF has its own strengths and weaknesses, which include its data requirements and predicting capability. This thesis recommends that UDOT use Equation 5-11 (a new negative binomial SPF) for predicting crashes, because it predicts crashes with reasonable accuracy while requiring much less data than other models. The hierarchical Bayesian process should be used for evaluating observed crash frequencies to identify segments that may benefit from roadway safety improvements.

This thesis contains the results of the development of crash prediction models for curved segments of rural two-lane two-way highways in the state of Utah. The modeling effort included the calibration of the predictive model found in the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) as well as the development of Utah-specific models developed using negative binomial regression. The data for these models came from randomly sampled curved segments in Utah, with crash data coming from years 2008-2012. The total number of randomly sampled curved segments was 1,495. The HSM predictive model for rural two-lane two-way highways consists of a safety performance function (SPF), crash modification factors (CMFs), and a jurisdiction-specific calibration factor. For this research, two sample periods were used: a three-year period from 2010 to 2012 and a five-year period from 2008 to 2012. The calibration factor for the HSM predictive model was determined to be 1.50 for the three-year period and 1.60 for the five-year period. These factors are to be used in conjunction with the HSM SPF and all applicable CMFs. A negative binomial model was used to develop Utah-specific crash prediction models based on both the three-year and five-year sample periods. A backward stepwise regression technique was used to isolate the variables that would significantly affect highway safety. The independent variables used for negative binomial regression included the same set of variables used in the HSM predictive model along with other variables such as speed limit and truck traffic that were considered to have a significant effect on potential crash occurrence. The significant variables at the 95 percent confidence level were found to be average annual daily traffic, segment length, total truck percentage, and curve radius. The main benefit of the Utah-specific crash prediction models is that they provide a reasonable level of accuracy for crash prediction yet only require four variables, thus requiring much less effort in data collection compared to using the HSM predictive model.

No description available.

Introduction: The purpose of this report is to study the possibility of building a safetytraining park in Jönköping County. The construction safety training park is a physicaltraining facility that provides an opportunity for workers in the construction industry tocarry out various training and practice safety. To build the park, the study will focus oncompanies who have an interest in this type of facility. The main aim of the park is toreduce accidents on construction sites by increasing the awareness of the employeesabout the danger that can happen. Method: This study is a case study with both quantitative and qualitative data. Thechosen data collection methods are survey interviews, and observation. The survey wasanswered by 42 individuals. Interviews were arranged with several people with deferentroll in the construction industry. Two interviews were conducted online, and the restwere conducted on the construction site. Finally, an observation in was made in theconstruction safety training park in Stockholm, Arlanda to take a closer look at howsuch a park works. Results: The study shows that the construction industry has certain safety deficiencies.The shortcomings could be solved by having a construction safety training park and theresult shows extensive interest from companies to have a construction safety trainingpark in Jönköping County. This park will help the construction companies to avoiddamage and get the workflow going, which in turn leads to increased profits for thecompanies. Analysis: The analysis methods used in this case are quantitative and qualitative. Thedata collection is presented in figures and tables to simplify for the reader. Analysis ofthe studied data shows the need of this type of training safety park in constructionindustry, due to the high number of injures that have occurred the last few years.Discussion: The main discussion in this case was about increasing reliability. Therecould be higher reliability if the number of respondents is increased. / Introduktion: Syftet med denna rapport är att studera möjligheten för att bygga enbyggsäkerhetspark i Jönköpings län. Byggsäkerhetsparken är en fysiskträningsanläggning som ger möjlighet för människor inom bygg ochanläggningsbranschen att utföra olika utbildningar och praktisera säkerhet. För attbygga parken kommer studien att fokusera på vilka företag som har intresse av den härtypen av anläggningar. Huvudsyftet med parken är att minska olyckor påbyggarbetsplatser genom att öka medvetenheten hos medarbetaren om olyckor som kaninträffa. Metod: Denna studie är en fallstudie med både kvantitativa och kvalitativa data. Devalda datainsamlingsmetoderna är en enkät, intervjuer och en observation.Enkäten besvarades av 42 personer. Intervjuer arrangerades med flera personer medolika roller inom byggbranschen. Två intervjuer utfördes online och resten utfördes påbyggarbetsplatsen. Slutligen gjordes en observation i byggbranschens säkerhetspark iStockholm Arlanda för att titta närmare på hur en sådan park fungerar. Resultat: Studien visar att byggbranschen har vissa säkerhetsbrister. Bristerna skullekunna lösas genom att ha en byggsäkerhetspark och resultatet visar på ett stort intressefrån företag att ha en byggsäkerhetspark i Jönköping Län. Denna park ska hjälpabyggföretagen att undvika skador och få igång arbetsflödet vilket i sin tur leder till ökadvinst för företagen. Analys: Analysmetoderna som används i detta fall är kvantitativa och kvalitativa.Datainsamlingen presenteras i figurer och tabeller för att förenkla för läsaren. Analysav studerade data visar på behovet av denna typ av säkerhetspark i byggbranschen, pågrund av det höga antalet skador som inträffat under de senaste åren.Diskussion: Huvuddiskussionen i detta fall handlade om att öka reliabiliteten. Detskulle kunna bli högre reliabilitet ifall antalet respondenter utökas.

Bakgrund: Det finns flera faktorer som påverkar följsamheten till riktlinjer för sjuksköterskor och följsamheten varierar över tid från en implementering av en riktlinje. Sjuksköterskor beskriver ett samband mellan graden av missade omvårdnadshandingar och deras upplevelse av patientsäkerheten. Att använda riktlinjer anses som något positivt men för många skrivna riktlinjer kan för sjuksköterskan vara svårt att följa. Den personcentrerade vården är en viktig del av vården hos de patienter som genomgått öppen hjärtkirurgi. Syftet: Syftet med studien var att undersöka intensivvårdspersonalens följsamhet till riktlinjer, faktorer som påverkade och i vilken grad de följde riktlinjerna i omvårdnaden. Metod: Fokuserad etnografisk observationsstudie med kvalitativ och kvantitativ ansats. Urvalet var patienter som är vakna efter operation och som innan hjärtoperationen bedömdes ha en vårdtid på IVA som är mindre än 24 timmar samt vårdas av personal på en intensivvårdsavdelning. Resultat: 23 (61%) av 38 omvårdnadshandlingar bedömdes som säker följsamhet och 15 (39%) omvårdnadshandlingar bedömdes som bristande följsamhet. Faktorer som påverkade omvårdnadshandlingarna var den fysiska och psykiska arbetsmiljön samt personcentrerad vård. Observationerna resulterade i fem huvudkategorier: Säker följsamhet, Brist i följsamhet, Brist i hantering av teknisk apparatur, Arbetsmiljö och Personcentrerad följsamhet. Slutsats: Följsamheten till riktlinjer är lätt att mäta men att förstå följsamheten är en svår och multidimensionell fråga. Studien visar att anpassningar av riktlinjer kan hindra eller skapa risker samt att arbetsmiljön och personcentrerad vård påverkar omvårdnadshandlingar. / Background: There are several factors that affect adherence to guidelines for nurses and adherence varies over time from an implementation of a guideline. Nurses describe a correlation between the degree of missed nursing care and their experience of patient safety. Using guidelines is considered something positive, but too many written guidelines can be difficult for the nurse to follow. Person-centred care is important for the care of patients who have undergone open-heart surgery. Aim: The aim of the study where to identify the ICU staff's adherence to guidelines, factors that affected and to what extent they followed the guidelines. Method: Focused ethnographic study with a qualitative and quantitative approach. The sample was patients who are awake after surgery and who before the heart surgery were assessed to have a stay less than 24 hours in the ICU and are cared for by staff in an ICU ward. Main Result: 23 (61%) of 38 nursing care were assessed as safe adherence and 15 (39%) were inadequate adherence. Factors that affected the nursing care were the physical and mental work environment and person-centered care. The observations resulted in five main categories: Safe Adherence, Lack of Adherence, Lack of Handling of Technical Equipment, Work Environment and Person-centered Adherance. Conclusion: Adherence to guidelines is easy to measure, but understanding adherence is a difficult and multidimensional issue. The study shows that adaptations of guidelines can prevent or create risks and that the work environment and a person-centered approach affect nursing actions.

Master of Science / Department of Food Science / Doug Powell / In the development of a hypothetical new food product (Beta Buzz) a company must have a thorough understanding of the associated food safety risks, and control factors needed to protect their consumers and their brand. The company must understand each of the suppliers, and take a proactive approach in determining the supplier requirements. It is critical that manufacturing risks be controlled and/or reduced through a combination of internal program compliance, government regulations, third party audit compliance, and/or customer audits and expectations with a focus on ingredients, the finished product and the manufacturing process itself. Food consumers have a right to safe food; the industry, as well as the government, has a responsibility to ensure consumers receive safe food.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1962 F35

Nuclear reactors with improved safety concepts are currently being studied within the nuclear engineering community, with a focus on passive safety features. One of these reactor concepts is the Very High Temperature gas-cooled Reactor (VHTR) of which the Reactor Cavity Cooling Systems (RCCS) is seen as an integral and crucial part of the passive safety concept. Considerable validation and development of the necessary software tools is required to perform analysis and designs of these future reactor concepts. The primary objective of this study is to establish a methodology for the creation of an integrated system level process model of a typical air-cooled RCCS in Flownex®, and to illustrate its applicability by simulating different scenarios that illustrate the operational characteristics of such a system. For this purpose, the existing RCCS conceptual design that is being studied by the KAERI was used as the case study. As a start, selected case studies were performed to verify that the Flownex® models were set up correctly to perform natural circulation flows, both in steady and transient conditions, and with radiation, convection and conduction taking part. These are the major typical physical phenomena in the RCCS. The models were compared with EES (Engineering Equation Solver) models of the same geometries and specifications. There was a good agreement between Flownex® and EES model results. After this verification, a simulation model of the integrated RCCS system was developed. The Flownex® models were applied to model selected possible operational scenarios. The major observations from the results are that: - The RCCS carries with it enough heat to the ambient such that the concrete wall temperature is maintained below the benchmark value of 65°C for the different boundary conditions imposed. - The RCCS maintains its functionality even with three quarters of the risers blocked or in the event that there is a break in one of the chimney pipes. / MIng (Nuclear Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Nuclear reactors with improved safety concepts are currently being studied within the nuclear engineering community, with a focus on passive safety features. One of these reactor concepts is the Very High Temperature gas-cooled Reactor (VHTR) of which the Reactor Cavity Cooling Systems (RCCS) is seen as an integral and crucial part of the passive safety concept. Considerable validation and development of the necessary software tools is required to perform analysis and designs of these future reactor concepts. The primary objective of this study is to establish a methodology for the creation of an integrated system level process model of a typical air-cooled RCCS in Flownex®, and to illustrate its applicability by simulating different scenarios that illustrate the operational characteristics of such a system. For this purpose, the existing RCCS conceptual design that is being studied by the KAERI was used as the case study. As a start, selected case studies were performed to verify that the Flownex® models were set up correctly to perform natural circulation flows, both in steady and transient conditions, and with radiation, convection and conduction taking part. These are the major typical physical phenomena in the RCCS. The models were compared with EES (Engineering Equation Solver) models of the same geometries and specifications. There was a good agreement between Flownex® and EES model results. After this verification, a simulation model of the integrated RCCS system was developed. The Flownex® models were applied to model selected possible operational scenarios. The major observations from the results are that: - The RCCS carries with it enough heat to the ambient such that the concrete wall temperature is maintained below the benchmark value of 65°C for the different boundary conditions imposed. - The RCCS maintains its functionality even with three quarters of the risers blocked or in the event that there is a break in one of the chimney pipes. / MIng (Nuclear Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

ITC/USA 2006 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Second Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 23-26, 2006 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / Drivers’ visibility is an area of automobile safety that has seen very limited improvement over the past several decades. Limited visibility is responsible for many car accidents all across America. Mirrors require constant readjustment, and are easily blocked. There is currently a lot of interest in ways to reduce or eliminate all mirrors on a car, and one such method is through a wide-angle network of cameras mounted on the vehicle’s rear. Using real-time video processing, the data from several cameras can be spliced together, and displayed on a vehicle’s dashboard in an intuitive, easy to understand fashion that a driver can quickly see without having to turn away from the road. This has extensive application to light armored vehicles in the military, as well as to automotive designers today.