Hazard Analysis

The signed directed graph (SDG) is the most commonly used type of model for automated hazard identification in chemical plants. Although SDG models are efficient in simulating the plant, they have some weaknesses, which are discussed here in relation to typical process industry examples. Ways to tackle these problems are suggested, and the view is taken that a state-based formalism is needed, to take account of the discrete components in the system, their connection together, and their behaviour over time. A strong representation for operations and actions is also needed, to make the models appropriate for modelling batch processes. A research prototype for HAZOP studies on batch plants (CHECKOP) is also presented, as an illustration of the suggested approach to modelling.

Research into the automation of HAZOP has been motivated by the opportunity for reducing the considerable time spent by engineers on such hazard identification methods. However, most work so far has considered steady-state continuous process plants only. This paper describes a prototype for batch HAZOP emulation (CHECKOP), in which variations in operating instructions are considered as possible causes of hazards and operability problems. This extends the automatic modelling of hazards to some classes of human error and their effects on the process, which is modelled as a collection of state-based equipment objects whose behaviour is simulated through time.

Research into the automation of HAZOP has been motivated by the opportunity for reducing the considerable time spent by engineers on such hazard identification methods. However, most work so far has considered steady-state continuous process plants only. This paper describes a prototype for batch HAZOP emulation (CHECKOP), in which variations in operating instructions are considered as possible causes of hazards and operability problems. This extends the automatic modelling of hazards to some classes of human error and their effects on the process, which is modelled as a collection of state-based equipment objects whose behaviour is simulated through time.

The international and national directives and legislation requires to perfom validated in vitro alternative methods to animal testing of chemicals and mixtures for predictible and precise evoluation of toxicity in human. The regulatory agencies require the hazard assessment on skin and ocular as reported by the United Nations, Globally Harmonized System (UN GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. To address this need and investigate the usage of alternative methods, the five representative chemical mixtures were prepared in different compositions and their toxicity was evaluated using in vitro validated EpiDerm™ SCT for skin corrosion, EpiDerm™ SIT for skin irritation, and EpiOcular™ OCL for eye irritation. The tested chemical mixtures 1 and 3 were found corrosive for skin and irritant for both skin and eye. They were identified in the category 1 according to UN GHS. The tested chemical mixtures 2, 4, and 5 were found to be neither corrosive nor irritant to the skin and ey...

This article presents the results of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) for Bangalore, South India. Analyses have been carried out considering the seismotectonic parameters of the region covering a radius of 350 km keeping Bangalore as the center. Seismic hazard parameter 'b' has been evaluated considering the available earthquake data using (1) Gutenberg-Richter (G-R) relationship and (2) Kijko and Sellevoll (1989, 1992) method utilizing extreme and complete catalogs. The 'b' parameter was estimated to be 0.62 to 0.98 from G-R relation and 0.87 ± 0.03 from Kijko and Sellevoll method. The results obtained are a little higher than the 'b' values published earlier for southern India. Further, probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for Bangalore region has been carried out considering six seismogenic sources. From the analysis, mean annual rate of exceedance and cumulative probability hazard curve for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and spectral acceleration (Sa) have been generated. The quantified hazard values in terms of the rock level peak ground acceleration (PGA) are mapped for 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years on a grid size of 0.5 km 9 0.5 km. In addition, Uniform Hazard Response Spectrum (UHRS) at rock level is also developed for the 5% damping corresponding to 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) value of 0.121 g obtained from the present investigation is slightly lower (but comparable) than the PGA values obtained from the deterministic seismic hazard analysis (DSHA) for the same area. However, the PGA value obtained in the current investigation is higher than PGA values reported in the global seismic hazard assessment program (GSHAP) maps of for the shield area.

The Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, NFPA 70E, and relevant OSHA electrical safety standards evolved to address the hazards of 60-Hz power that are faced primarily by electricians, linemen, and others performing facility and utility work. This leaves a substantial gap in the management of electrical hazards in Research and Development (R&D) and specialized high voltage and high power equipment. Examples include lasers, accelerators, capacitor banks, electroplating systems, induction and dielectric heating systems, etc. Although all such systems are fed by 50/60 Hz alternating current (ac) power, we find substantial use of direct current (dc) electrical energy, and the use of capacitors, inductors, batteries, and radiofrequency (RF) power. The electrical hazards of these forms of electricity and their systems are different than for 50160 Hz power. Over the past 10 years there has been an effort to develop a method of classifying all of the electrical hazards found in all types of R&D and utilization equipment. Examples of the variation of these hazards from NFPA 70E include (a) high voltage can be harmless, if the available current is sufficiently low, (b) low voltage can be harmful if the available current/power is high, (c) high voltage capacitor hazards are unique and include severe reflex action, affects on the heart, and tissue damage, and (d) arc flash hazard analysis for dc and capacitor systems are not provided in existing standards. This work has led to a comprehensive electrical hazard classification system that is based on various research conducted over the past 100 years, on analysis of such systems in R&D, and on decades of experience. Initially, national electrical safety codes required the qualified worker only to know the source voltage to determine the shock hazard. Later, as arc flash hazards were understood, the fault current and clearing time were needed. These items are still insufficient to fully characterize all types of electrical hazards. The new comprehensive electrical hazard classification system uses a combination of voltage, shock current available, fault current available, power, energy, and waveform to classify all forms of electrical hazards. Based on this electrical hazard classification system, many new tools have been developed, including (a) work controls for these hazards, (b) better selection of PPE for R&D work, (c) improved training, and (d) a new Severity Ranking Tool that is used to rank electrical accidents and incidents with various forms of electrical energy.

Climate change is expected to result in an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. In turn, this will result in more frequent occurrences of extreme flood events, such as flash flooding and large-scale river flooding. This being the case, there is a need for more accurate flood risk assessment schemes, particularly in areas prone to extreme flooding. This study investigates what type of flood hazard assessment methods should be used for assessing the flood hazard to people caused by extreme flooding. Two flood hazard assessment criteria were tested, namely: a widely used, empirically derived method, and recently introduced, physically based and experimentally calibrated method. The two selected flood hazard assessment methods were: (1) validated against experimental data, and (2) used to assess flood hazard indices for two different extreme flood events, namely: the 2010 Kostanjevica na Krki extreme river flood and the 2007 Z ˇelezniki flash flood. The results obtained in this study suggest that in the areas prone to extreme flooding, the flood hazard indices should be based on using the formulae derived for a mechanics-based analysis, as these formulations consider all of the physical forces acting on a human body in floodwaters, take into account the rapid changes in the flow regime, which often occur for extreme flood events, and enable a rapid assessment of the degree of flood hazard risk in a short time period, a feature particularly important when assessing flood hazard indices for high Froude numbers flows.

The environmental hazard assessment of former mine sites concerns the surface water, groundwater, soils and sediments and allows the listing and location of the potential areas exposed to one or several contaminations with possible harmful consequences on human and the environment. This assessment needs to evaluate the intensity of the potential pollution and the site predisposition or sensitivity to be affected by this (these) pollution (s). The areas characterized by each environmental hazard classes will be mapped for a better understanding. If necessary the results will be used for the PPRM drawing up. .

The increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly Machine Learning (ML), into safety-critical automotive functions presents unprecedented challenges for safety assurance. Existing standards like ISO 26262 and ISO 21448 (SO-TIF) provide foundational guidance but often require significant interpretation and extension to adequately address the unique characteristics of AI, such as data dependency, non-deterministic behaviors, and opacity. ISO/PAS 8800 and ISO/IEC TR 5469 have begun to address these specifics, yet a practical, holistic methodology for performing and documenting Safety Analysis for AI-functions that ensures high release confidence and robust post-incident traceability remains a critical industry need. This paper proposes a novel, multi-layered methodology designed to bridge this gap. The methodology integrates a dedicated AIdriven safety analysis platform within a structured framework encompassing (L0) Safety Governance and AI Tool Assurance, (L1) a Trusted Data and Compute Layer, (L2) an AI Safety Reasoning Layer, and (L3) a Human Review and Evidence Layer, all underpinned by robust cross-cutting processes including configuration and evolution management. This approach aims to systematically manage AI-specific risks, enhance the rigor of safety analysis, and provide auditable evidence to support safety cases, thereby fostering higher confidence in the release of AIenabled automotive systems and ensuring clear accountability.

Rockfalls are very rapid and damaging slope instability processes that affect mountainous regions, coastal cliffs and slope cuts. This contribution focuses on fragmental rockfalls in which the moving particles, particularly the largest ones, propagate following independent paths with little interaction among them. The prediction of the occurrence and frequency of the rockfalls has benefited by the rapid development of the techniques for the detection and the remote acquisition of the rock mass surface features such as the 3D laser scanner and the digital photogrammetry. These techniques are also used to monitor the deformation experienced by the rock mass before failure. The quantitative analysis of the fragmental rockfalls is a useful approach to assess risk and for the design of both stabilization and protection measures. The analysis of rockfalls must consider not only the frequency and magnitude of the potential events but also the fragmentation of the detached rock mass. The la...

Rockfalls are very rapid and damaging slope instability processes that affect mountainous regions, coastal cliffs and slope cuts. This contribution focuses on fragmental rockfalls in which the moving particles, particularly the largest ones, propagate following independent paths with little interaction among them. The prediction of the occurrence and frequency of the rockfalls has benefited by the rapid development of the techniques for the detection and the remote acquisition of the rock mass surface features such as the 3D laser scanner and the digital photogrammetry. These techniques are also used to monitor the deformation experienced by the rock mass before failure. The quantitative analysis of the fragmental rockfalls is a useful approach to assess risk and for the design of both stabilization and protection measures. The analysis of rockfalls must consider not only the frequency and magnitude of the potential events but also the fragmentation of the detached rock mass. The latter is a crucial issue as it affects the number, size and the velocity of the individual rock blocks. Several case studies of the application of the remote acquisition techniques for determining the size and frequency of rockfall events and their fragmentation are presented. The extrapolation of the magnitude-frequency relationships is discussed as well as the role of the geological factors for constraining the size of the largest detachable mass from a cliff. Finally, the performance of a fractal fragmentation model for rockfalls is also discussed.

The process of making a barecore still uses traditional and simple human labor and machining technology. In the production process, there are several sources of danger found, namely: machines used, work attitudes, work methods, raw materials, and the resulting sawdust disturbs environmental quality. This study aims to identify, assess the risk of hazards in the production process as well as corrective actions to control hazards using the Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) method. The research steps were hazard identification, risk assessment and corrective action. For hazard risk assessment, the OHS Risk Assessment method is used. The results of this study found that there are four sources of danger, namely the work environment, humans, materials, and machines. The results of the risk assessment calculation obtained three risk values, namely low risk with the number of findings of 13 potential hazards, medium risk with the number of findings of 78 potential hazards and high risk with th...

The Ras Gharib area on the Red Sea coast of Egypt received heavy rainfall from Wadi Abu Had on October 26-27, 2016. The area experienced flash flooding due to this abnormal quantity of rainfall, which resulted in the deaths of tens of people and significant damage to infrastructure and properties. Multi-hazard risk analysis is a general term that refers to the analysis of the dangers in a given time and place, their magnitude, the description of how they interact, and the interpretation of the results of this compounding on a target group. The objective of this paper is to build a model of the multiple hazards that result from the flash floods in the Wadi Ras-Ghareb basin and analyze their effects on Ras-Ghareb city. To determine the likelihood of heavy floods occurring in the valley basin and Ras-Ghareb city, we utilized satellite images, carried out extensive fieldwork in the valley, and conducted runoff analysis, which includes various morphometric parameters and valley flood analysis models. We generate hydrological and surface analyses using GIS tools. Some important morphometric analyses are calculated for basin description. The geologic and geomorphologic characteristics of the study area controlled the intensity and distribution of flood destruction. Therefore, rapid precipitation and unplanned development intensify the flood's impact. The results reveal the possibility of future general flooding threatening the populous city of Ras-Ghareb. Therefore, the construction of a canal to absorb the flood load and discharge it into the Red Sea is vital to protect the city from future flood risks.

Flooding is one of the major natural disasters in Sabah, Malaysia. Several recent cases of catastrophic flooding were recorded especially in Penampang area, Sabah (e.g. July 1999; October 2010; April 2013; October & December 2014). Heavy monsoon rainfall has triggered floods and caused great damage in Penampang area. The 2014 floods has affected 40,000 people from 70 villages. The objectives of this paper are (i) to determine the Flood Hazard Level (FHL) and (ii) to determine the factors contributing to the flood occurrences. In this study, eigth (8) parameters were considered in relation to the causative factors to flooding, which are: rainfall, slope gradient, elevation, drainage density, landuse, soil textures, slope curvatures and flow accumulation Flood Hazard Analysis (FHAn) map were produced based on the data collected from the field survey, laboratory analysis, high resolution digital radar images (IFSAR) acquisation, and secondary data in three (3) different period (2002, 2...

In volcanic regions, rockfalls represent a major hazard strongly conditioned by the geomechanical behaviour of volcanic materials, the geomorphological characteristics of the relief and the climatic conditions. Volcanic rocks possess very different properties to those of other lithological groups, presenting highly heterogeneous geomechanical behaviours. Nevertheless, they have received little research attention in the field of geological and geotechnical engineering. To date, the application of geomechanical classifications to characterise and estimate volcanic slope stability has not yielded reliable results, indicating the need to establish specific criteria for these rocks. Consequently, we developed indices to estimate rockfall susceptibility, hazard and risk in volcanic slopes. The index of susceptibility for volcanic slopes (ISVS) is designed to estimate slope susceptibility to instability, which is related to the level of hazard, while the index of risk for volcanic slopes (...

PT.PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk combines the objectives of occupational safety and health into the management system at all levels of the company. Management is responsible for preventing injuries and diseases due to work. PT.PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk has succeeded in implementing an occupational safety and health management system to minimize work accidents. The occupational safety and health management system program has been established in oil palm factory in the form of recruitment, education and training, counseling, use of personal protective equipment and appreciation. Evaluation of the P2K3 work program on K3 policy can produce results, namely the acquisition of zero accident in the palm oil mill environment, in the factory environment there are no work accidents that cause loss of employee working days. The influence and application of SMK3 can be proven from the lack of work accidents in the palm oil mill environment, and several awards are obtained about occupational safety. PT.

Advances in the understanding of tsunami impacts allow developing products to assess its consequences in tsunamiprone areas, as it is the case of the coast of the Sultanate of Oman. This paper presents the followed methodology and the obtained results for the assessment of the tsunami hazard of the coast of Oman and the development of the scenario database that feeds its Tsunami Warning System (TWS). Initially, a seismo-tectonic analysis of the area was carried out, focused on identifying the seismic areas whose earthquakes could generate tsunamis affecting the coast of Oman. A database of 3181 tsunamigenic sources was characterized by means of the parameters that define their focal mechanisms. This database includes scenarios with magnitudes Mw ranging from 6.5 to 9.25 within the study area, but it is especially focused on the Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ). The 3181 cases were numerically propagated to feed the database and to work as precomputed scenarios for the TWS: In case of tsunami, the results for the closest precomputed scenario (in location and magnitude) are shown. From the database, 7 worst-case scenarios were selected and computationally simulated at national and local scale, in 9 municipalities all along the coast of Oman, resulting in tsunami hazard maps containing relevant variables in the flooded area, such as the inundation water depth and the drag level (hazard degree for people instability). Finally, in order to manage conveniently the results, an online tool, called Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment System (MHRAS), was developed. This tool is a viewer that contains an easy-to-use application, including the results of the tsunami hazard assessment and the tsunami scenario database, and the selection algorithm to choose the proper case among the precomputed ones. The results of this research are part of the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning System of Oman (NMHEWS). Tsunamis are relatively infrequent phenomena but they represent a greater threat than earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. They have caused the loss of thousands of human lives and extensive damage to coastal infrastructures around the world. Recent tsunami events like those occurred in Japan in 2011 and in Chile in 2010 and especially, the tsunami of 2004 in the

This communication addresses the "Service Design, Engineering, Operations, & Innovations" topic. It is oriented towards the "Security & safety-related services and management" and deals more precisely with the Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) practiced in high risk industrial fields: nuclear, chemical, military, and among others, guided transport. The PHA was developed at the beginning of the sixties in the aeronautical and military fields. Almost five decades later, the practice of the PHA remains not less problematic and completely far from any harmonization optics. Moreover, the European lawful and international normative contexts remain very pragmatic in that sense. In order to meet the ceaseless needs of generic methodologies allowing to harmonize the PHA, we consider that the divergences between the various actors are rather of a semantic nature then syntactic and that it wouldn't be enough to write and than distribute a glossary of concepts, but to model them in a dedicated ontology. Indeed, our objective is to conceive a "systemic ontology based generic methodology" in order to exploit efficiently the exchange of PHA know-how, of course without concession on results' coherence and completeness .

We describe a method and tool (MOCET: Model based Certification Tool) that generate computer-aided software FMEA. The method and tool are used in verification and certification of avionics programs and have great benefits also in the design phase offering a safer, more complete design while reducing the costs of late stage discovery of safety issues. The use of a FMEA tool at the early stage of design simplifies and optimizes the implementation of Defense-in-Depth, a technique of multiple layers of protection to prevent and mitigate failures and accidents. MOCET’s ability to aggregate all failure modes that produce a given high level effect provides an ideal vehicle for optimizing placement of broad spectrum recovery mechanisms during the design stage.

The British Retail Consortium Global Standard for Food Safety enjoys great popularity among food industry companies, the number of companies with the certified standard is rising every year. The packaging used for food packaging has a very large impact on the safety and quality of the packaged food. The purpose of the study was to indicate the requirements of the standard in relation to packaging, which should be implemented firstly by enterprises of the food industry. In the research part, the AHP analysis was conducted on the basis of the experts' recommendations. Decision matrixes for every criterion: hazard analysis concerning packaging, purchase procedure, packaging acceptance procedure were developed. A decision matrix for the main criterion as a result of criteria decision matrix was developed, global decision hierarchy was also developed. Research clearly showed that the most important activity (among the proposed) is hazard analysis, with a 0.517 weighted sum value. In ...

This study presents an analysis of the possible seismicity in Mexico during September 2025, using statistical models of Poisson distribution and regression. Computational simulations were carried out to generate hypothetical earthquake scenarios, with estimated magnitudes ranging from 3 to 6 on the Richter scale. The results provide a probabilistic approximation useful for understanding trends, although they do not constitute deterministic predictions [1].

In the last decade, the aircraft maintenance industry has experienced a paradigm shift in safety management. This is primarily due to the implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS) in its business practices. The critical facet of such SMS recognizes hazards ahead of time. This review aims to undertake scholarly research to enable the identification of numerous hazards within the aircraft maintenance industry. This will be done by reviewing research articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases from 2010 to September 2022. Complying with the guidelines of the PRISMA 2020 updated statement, the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology is adopted for the review. The SMS-based framework was formulated to determine the inclusion and exclusion criteria, which identified 39 studies for inclusion. The key outcomes are (i) Thirty-five studies identified six hazard-prone areas and associated hazards of the aircraft maintenance industry, whereas four research studies (two each) underscored the factors impeding the safety critical SMS enactment and organizational learning from past accidents and incidents, (ii) Reviewed literature is a mix of both reactive and proactive methodologies of hazard identification (iii) Learning from past events is critical in safety management.

Bangladesh is one of the world's most disaster-prone areas. The northwest region of Bangladesh is the most seismically active region. Dinajpur is the district closest to the Himalayan frontal thrust, making it the most vulnerable to earthquakerelated liquefaction. Therefore, the in-situ parameters are used to assess the liquefaction susceptibility of the subsurface geology for the Dinajpur district in terms of soil liquefaction safety factor (FS), the liquefaction potential index (LPI), and the liquefaction probability (PL). This study used deterministic and probabilistic techniques to estimate the liquefaction susceptibility of the area based on standard penetration test (SPT) N values. SPT data was collected at 160 different places within the study area. In an earthquake scenario with Mw = 6.5, liquefaction resistance is evaluated at each location using a 0.20g peak ground acceleration (PGA). The results of the SPT-based liquefaction assessment techniques were found to be considerably different. The soil strata prone to liquefaction in different zones of the city have been determined based on a common comparison. According to deterministic and probabilistic techniques, it has been found that, out of 160 locations, 36 and 50 sites are susceptible to liquefaction. Then, using geospatial techniques (IDW interpolation), hazard maps were created depending on the potential for liquefaction of particular locations. Finally, using an independent secondary dataset, the resulting hazard maps were validated to examine the developed approach. The obtained R 2 values for each regression analysis event were more than 0.79. Therefore, the produced hazard map may be utilized successfully for planning, management, and long-term development of the studied locations.

Work accidents that occured in Indonesia, 32% are accidents from the construction sector. The construction  sector is a sector with a work environment where there were so many hazard risks. Cable tray installation is one of the jobs in a construction project. The purpose of this research is to get an overview of the steps in the installation of cable tray and the its risk. The process of identifying work accident risk in this study uses Job Safety Analysis (JSA). Falling from height is one of the workplace accidents in the cable tray installation process. Risk control is needed to prevent work accidents that can occur due to cable tray installation.

A preliminary study was conducted to investigate the effects of sea level rise on liquefaction vulnerability in five selected locations in eastern Christchurch and Kaiapoi, New Zealand. Projected values of sea level rise in the next 25 years, 50 years, and 100 years corresponded to elevated ground water level and reduced thicknesses of non-liquefiable crust and larger estimates of near-surface reconsolidation settlement (S). Larger settlements and thinning non-liquefiable crust is expected to cause increased damage to surface structures in future earthquake events. A semi-empirical, depth-weighted index parameter called the Liquefaction Severity Number (LSN) was used to compare current liquefaction vulnerability to projected liquefaction vulnerability due to sea level rise. Significant increases in vulnerability were determined given sea level rise projections for 2065 and 2115. These findings suggest that a more detailed study would provide engineers and city planners with useful i...

As set out in BS EN 61508 and 61511, Major hazard installations are required to demonstrate the choice of any Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF), and determine and verify the safety integrity level (SIL). Both standards require human factors to be included in the assessment. However, there is a lack of a systematic approach in SIL determination methodology such as Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) to both the qualitative modelling and quantification of human reliability. This paper introduces a novel approach to assess human reliability in SIL determination, based on the integrated use of Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) for the identification of critical tasks and the assessment of the contextual factors, called Performance Influencing Factors (PIFs), which determine the likelihood of human failures. A methodology called the Success Likelihood Index Methodology (SLIM) provides a set of models for the factors that influence human error for commonly occurring activities such as alarm response, actions, checking, information retrieval and communication. Evaluation of these factors for a specific situation allows the quantification of human errors for the scenario being subjected to a SIL determination analysis. The method allows site specific information from personnel, such as panel operators and safety engineers, to be incorporated in the analysis. Issues such as dependencies between actions and verification activities, and interactions between the factors (e.g. time stress and experience) that may impact on the resulting error probabilities, can also be addressed by the methodology. The paper provides a comprehensive case study that illustrates how the methodology can be applied as part of a SIL determination analysis of a ship to shore transfer operation for a flammable liquid overfilling. This analysis shows how the overall SIL level can be determined by combining the hardware layers of protection and the human reliability analyses.

Vent opening hazard models are routinely used as inputs for assessing distal volcanic hazards (lava flows, tephra fallout) in distributed volcanic fields. These vent opening hazard models have traditionally relied on the location of mapped vents; seldom have they taken into account how vents are linked in space and time. We show that inputs needed to appropriately model distal hazards are fundamentally different than thoses required to model near-vent hazards (ground deformation). We provide a computational model to obtain more appropriate eruptive source parameters (ESPs) for distal volcanic hazard sources and show the utility of our code through three examples. The code's strength is that it links events based on the spatio-temporal relationships of vents through heirarchical clustering. The development of the code and its strenghts and weaknesses are discussed. This work challenges previous ideas about ESPs and we hope this work leads to further improvement in hazard assessme...

Staff of the Office ofEnvironmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) have reviewed your Department's proposed action level of 30 pg/L for n-propylbenzene . The proposed action level for n-propylbenzene was derived by analogy based on structural similarities to another alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon, ethylbenzene, and is based on non-carcinogenic effects (hepatotoxicity) observed in experimental animal studies. However, recent data which was not accounted for in the development of OEHHA's public health goal (PHG) for ethylbenzene (on which the n-propylbenzene Action Level is based), show ethylbenzene to be an animal carcinogen . It is not clear at this time whether n-propylbenzene could be expected to have carcinogenic effects (neoplasms in kidneys and testes of Fischer rats, and in lungs of male and liver of female B6C3F1 mice) similar to those found with ethylbenzene . Based on this uncertainty, we do not agree with the Department of Health Services (DHS) proposal to base the Action Level for n-propylbenzene on toxic effects of ethylbenzene, either from the earlier OEHHA evaluation, or including the ethylbenzene carcinogenicity study of . As the n-propylbenzene toxicological data is insufficient to derive an action level, it is OEHHA's recommendation that the Action Level for n-propylbenzene be based on another structural analog, cumene, for which there is appropriate subchronic oral toxicity data. This results in a proposed Action Level of 260 pg/L .

This document, "The Digital Transformation of Maritime Fire Integrity: A Paradigmatic Shift from Human-Centric to Autonomous Systems," presents a comprehensive, academically rigorous analysis of a foundational challenge facing the future of maritime transport: adapting fire safety paradigms for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). The traditional human-centric model, which relies on a crew for fire detection and intervention, is rendered obsolete by the advent of uncrewed or remotely operated vessels.

The core contribution of this report is to outline an initiative-taking, predictive, and digitally integrated framework. It moves beyond conventional discussions by proposing a "Digital Captain" and a "Digital Fire Center" (DFC) as the new central nervous system for a vessel's fire integrity. Key findings highlight the critical gap between the rapid pace of technological innovation, including AI-driven fire propagation models, sensor fusion, and robotic firefighting solutions, and the slow, consensus-based process of international maritime regulation by bodies such as the IMO and IACS. We argue that this regulatory lag necessitates a new, multi-tiered approach to testing and certification, one that leverages digital twins for continuous, real-time compliance rather than static, one-time physical inspections. Furthermore, the report emphasizes that in the autonomous age, a vessel's fire integrity is inseparable from its digital and cyber integrity, a concept that demands a fundamental re-evaluation of safety standards and protocols.

This work serves as a foundational reference for scholars, industry practitioners, and policymakers navigating the complexities of autonomous shipping. It not only identifies critical gaps and development areas but also proposes a clear, architectural blueprint for a safer and more resilient maritime future.

Genetically modified (GM) plants used for food and feed have an established history of safe use over more than 25 years of their commercialization. Developers and regulatory authorities have accumulated extensive experience in evaluating their safety over time. The studies required for the safety assessment of GM plants used for food and feed should now be re-defined to leverage this experience and increased scientific knowledge. This paper, a companion paper for Waters et al. also published in this issue, presents a systematic approach for the safety assessment of newly expressed proteins (NEPs) in GM plants by evaluating the two components of risk: hazard and exposure. Although the paper focuses on NEPs, the principles presented could also apply to other expression products that do not result in a NEP. A set of core studies is recommended, along with supplementary studies, if needed, to evaluate whether the GM plant poses risk. Core studies include molecular and protein characteri...

Reproductive toxicity, with its many targets and mechanisms, is a complex area of toxicology; thus, the screening and identification of reproductive toxicants is a main scientific challenge for the safety assessment of chemicals, including the European Regulation on Chemicals (REACH). Regulatory agencies recommend the implementation of the 3Rs principle (refinement, reduction, replacement) as well as of intelligent testing strategies, through the development of in vitro methods and the use of mechanistic information in the hazard identification and characterization steps of the risk assessment process. The EU Integrated Project ReProTect (6th Framework Programme) implemented an array of in vitro tests to study different building blocks of the mammalian reproductive cycle: methodological developments and results on male and female germ cells, prostate and placenta are presented.

The Karakoram Highway links north Pakistan with southwest China. It passes through unique geomorphological, geological and tectonic setting. This study focused 200-km-long section of the highway starting from Besham until Chilas. Landslides are frequent and are mostly triggered by torrential rain during Monsoon and Westerlies, leading to highway blockade. Rockfall and debris flow are prime mode of slope failures. Regional to site-specific approach was implemented to assess risk associated with these two modes. Remote sensing-based techniques were used to identify potential hazardous sites, which were further investigated for risk assessment. Modified Pierson’s rockfall hazard rating system (RHRS) rated potential rockfalls, whereas semi-quantitative technique was employed to assess debris flows. Normalized scores of each site shaped the final map, further classified into four zones: very high, high, intermediate and low risk.

Rainfall-induced landslides that change into debris flows and travel large distances are one of the treacherous natural calamities that can occur in mountainous areas, particularly in Nepal's mountains. Debris flow was the second highest cause of human death in Nepal after epidemics between 1971 and 2016. Because debris flow is common in mountainous regions, its prediction and remedial measures through land use plans are important factors to consider for saving lives and properties. The spatial distribution of the initial landslides that change into debris flow, on a watershed scale, is still an important area of study in this mountainous region to develop essential land use plan. In this research, hydrologic, slope stability and Flow-R models are applied in GIS modeling to locate potential landslide and debris flow areas for a given threshold rainfall in a mountainous watershed-Kulekhani, Nepal. Soil samples from 73 locations within the watershed and a geotechnical investigation on one old landslide area were considered to determine the Soil Water Characteristics Curve (SWCC), friction angle, cohesion, and infiltration characteristics of the subsurface soils in the study area. This information is applied in an unsaturated slope stability model to find unstable locations in the study watershed in a GIS environment. The model is tested on a recorded 24-hour rainfall of 540 mm in the watershed, and potential landslide locations are obtained. The validation results show that there is a good agreement between the predicted and mapped landslides. For debris flow run out, Flow-R model, which has the capability to analyze debris flow inundation with limited input information, and the model software is readily available in the public domain, was chosen for further analysis. Two recent debris flow events and the study watershed are taken as case studies to identify the appropriate algorithms of Flow-R for runout analysis of the study areas. Landslide-triggering threshold rainfall frequency is related to the frequency of landslides and the debris flow hazard in these mountains. The above validated models are applied in a GIS environment to locate potential debris flow areas in expected threshold rainfall. Rainfall records from 1980 to 2013 are computed for one-to seven-day cumulative annual maximum rainfall. The probable rainfalls for III 1 in 10 to 1 in 200 years return periods are identified. The anticipated probable rainfalls are modeled in the GIS environment to identify the factor of safety of mountain slopes for landslide susceptibility in the study watershed. The Flow-R model with user-defined landslide-susceptible areas was chosen for debris flow runout analysis. A relation between the frequency of rainfall and landslide-induced debris flow hazard area is derived for return periods of 25, 50, 100, and 200 years. Also, the debris flow hazard results from the analysis are compared with a known event in the watershed and found to agree. This developed method can be applied to anticipated landslide and landslide-induced debris flow from the live rainfall record to warn hazard-prone communities for saving lives and regulating hazardous transportation corridors in these mountains. In addition to this, this methodology will be a useful tool to help policy makers create appropriate land use plans. First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Mamadou Fall, for his enduring guidance, encouragement and support throughout the study period. Without his immense support I would not have had the strength and courage to accomplish this research. Another individual I am very grateful to is my co-supervisor, Dr. Bahram Daneshfar. His support and encouragement during my hard time with this research work are not only valued but also a lesson on how to be a good individual in some one's life. I would like to thank the employees of IT Services of my department, the

The main objective of this article is to demonstrate the ability of our technique in estimating the probabilistic-based time-history to be used in dynamic analysis of structures. The result of using our technique is compared with that of traditional approach proposed by Cornell (Cornell, 1968), in the form of response spectrum through a case study. Good agreement of the two approaches confirms the applicability/reliability of our technique having the merit of being dynamic form to be used in recognizing the vulnerability as well as performance evaluation of exiting important structures particularly in regions with lack of destructive earthquake information such as the region under study, Arge-Bam which was highly damaged through the destructive Bam earthquake in 2003.

All avionics software systems are subjected to certification constraints imposed by DO-178 standards. Civil avionics equipment manufacturers are quite conservative in their software development processes: most still use time-tested software engineering tools and methods, due to strict certification constraints. These certification constraints, along with the increasing size and complexity of modern avionics software-intensive systems, are having a huge impact on the cost of certifiable avionics software development. To cope with this increasing complexity, avionics equipment manufacturers need to use modern software development methodologies. This is possible with the release of DO-178C standard. In my thesis, I have explored the use of model-based software product line engineering for certifiable avionics software development, and have proposed industrial-level solutions for using a model-based software product line process based on commercially available tools. In this thesis, I have also explored the applicability of our model-based software product line process to export-controlled, certifiable avionics software development, identifying constraints that limit the reuse of software components among export-controlled avionics software and proposing technical solutions that facilitate the application of a model-based software product line to export-controlled, certifiable avionics software development. The proposed solutions are validated using industrial case studies.

RESUME Tous les systemes logiciels avioniques sont soumis aux contraintes de certification imposees par les normes DO-178. Les fabricants d’equipements avioniques civils sont tres conservateurs dans leur processus de developpement de logiciels et la plupart utilisent encore des outils et des methodes d’ingenierie logicielle eprouves en raison des contraintes de certification strictes. Les contraintes de certification, avec la taille et la complexite du logiciel des systemes avioniques modernes qui augmentent continuellement, ont un impact considerable sur le cout du developpement de logiciel avionique certifiable. Pour reduire le cout de developpement, les fabricants d’equipements avioniques doivent utiliser des methodes de developpement logiciel modernes, ce qui est possible avec la publication de la norme DO-178C. Dans le cadre de ma these, nous explorons l’utilisation de l’ingenierie de ligne de produit basee sur des modeles pour le developpement de logiciels avioniques certifiab...

According to BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Social Security Management Agency of Manpower), there has been a constant increase in occupational accidents in the last 7 years, where by 2022 it reached 265.334. The NPK factory of PT X is a petrochemical factory that produces NPK fertilizer. In it's production process, it needs nitrogen, phosphate, kalium and clay as it's raw materials. In addition to the chemical materials for it's production purposes, PT X utilizes modern machineries to make the process easier. From this description, it can be concluded that the production of NPK fertilizer would create a number of hazards which may lead to occupational accidents (OA) as well as occupational diseases (OD). This study aims to analyze the OSH risks which are present at the NPK factory of PT X using the method of Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Risk Control. This is a quantitative study with observational descriptive approaches. It was found out that before the implementation of risk control, the NPK factory of PT X had the extreme risk rate of 75%, high risk rate of 14%, and medium risk rate of 3% from the total of 28 existing hazards (100%). Upon the implementation of control on the 28 hazards, PT X experienced the decrease in risk rates as follows: high risk 11%, medium risk 23%, and low risk 7%.

This paper describes the further continuation of an investigation to identify and develop tools for the identification and management of hazards likely to arise with the quality and behavioural aspects in and resulting from automatic advicesuch as might arise with an automated system advisory function facilitating critical decision-making with an autonomous vehicle. An example of a representative critical advisory function is identified in that supporting a necessary "Sense & Avoid" capability, as embodied within an airborne autonomous system. In consideration then of how might a model driven approach, combining physical and dynamical models, statistical data and belief be combined to aid system evaluation, work has so far been undertaken to investigate the nature of suitable models to provide representations of the control structure and system dynamics. Whilst the system engineering methods are to be generic, the context of "Sense & Avoid" provides a relevant framework within which to pose a "toy-problem" with complex behaviour, against which to judge the methods and models.

Biochemical residues are serious threats to food safety. The major chemical residues found in milk and milk products are antibiotics, bovine growth hormones, pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins etc. Among these, antibiotic residue is the most dangerous one. People consuming dairy products contaminated with these residues may suffer from serious diseases like cancer, hepatopathy, kidney damage, brain tumour, cardiovascular disease etc. Some food regulatory bodies like Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), Codex Alimentarius Commission, European Union Food Safety Policy Committee are set up standard permeable level i.e. known as Maximum residual limit (MRL) for residues. MRL is defined as the highest level of chemical residues legally permitted in food or feed. To overcome this problem, the food industry should come up with strict food analysis system.

Risk analysis continues to evolve. There is increasing depth and breadth to each component of the four-step risk-assessment paradigm of hazard identification, dose-response analysis, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Basic conceptual approaches to understanding how people perceive risk are being tested against a growing body of empirical observations, many involving stakeholders. Emerging ideas such as the precautionary principle have provided challenges that have led to a rethinking of the role of risk assessment in environmental health. Newer problems, such as intergenerational issues posed by long-lasting radiation pollution, environmental justice, and the assessment and communication of risks related to terrorism, have spurred innovative approaches to risk analysis.

Scientific studies reveal that infant and child survival is strongly influenced by the demographic and biological characteristics of their mothers, with specific fertility behaviors significantly linked to mortality risk. Children born to very young (under 18) or older mothers (over 34), those with short birth intervals (under 24 months), or to mothers with high parity (more than three children) face elevated risks of dying in infancy. The combination of multiple risk factors further increases mortality. Multivariate analyses show higher death risks when mothers are under 20, and both infant and early childhood mortality are significantly affected by short birth intervals and birth order, particularly at extremes. Education also plays a critical role, as children of mothers with some schooling show improved survival largely due to fewer births, rather than age or spacing factors. Additionally, the survival of a previous sibling, particularly by one year of age, significantly influences the survival of the next child, with varying effects across age groups. Birth interval, conception timing, and pregnancy duration also impact child mortality, though their relative importance changes as the child grows.

Modern railway systems are becoming more software concentrated than ever before. Majority of safety and security related functions are monitored and controlled using software. Traditionally safety assurance methodology was focused on hardware with more emphasis on operational aspects than its development process. With the introduction of software in many railway systems especially signalling system, the traditional safety assurance approach needs to be revisited. There are fundamental differences between hardware and software with respect to the failure mechanism and behaviors. The software safety assurance becomes a vital issue, as it has been found that the majority of system accidents happen just because of the failure of safety functions monitored and controlled through Software. Safety analysis of software-based safety functions must be revisited before putting them into operation. Software safety is still an open challenge to transportation industries including Railways. This paper attempts to explain the key issues and challenges towards safety assurance of software intensive railway systems. Paper proposed a unified safety assurance approach for modern railway systems. It utilizes the operational profile of the systems for safety analysis and accordingly combines traditional safety analysis techniques with operational profile. Paper also proposed a further layer of safety justification through the introduction of software safety case.

Over the last decades, numerous extreme climate events such as extreme temperatures, droughts, heavy precipitation, and storms associated with climate change have been recorded in many countries, including Bulgaria. As a result, geomorphological hazards such as landslides, debris flows, mudflows, high-speed soil erosion, etc. often occur on the territory of the country. The debris flow is one of the most common hazardous processes in small catchments of the main river basins in Bulgaria. The Kresna Gorge located in the middle part of Struma River valley is a typical area with such processes which often cause the damages to the E79 international highway. The purpose of the present study is to characterize debris flows in Kresna Gorge (southwestern part of Bulgaria) by comparative analysis between the two events (occurred on May 24, 2009 and July 28, 2019). In order to achieve the aim of the study the geomorphological features and flow type of 2019 event were identified and the results were compared with the previous publications which investigated the event on May 24, 2009. In the present paper, the sediments and the type of transportation of the investigated event (July 2019) were determined by grain-size and clast-shape analysis. The impact of weather conditions on debris flow occurrence was shown by the analysis of the synoptic conditions on the day before the event. The results of the study bring to clarifying the geological-geomorphological and meteorological factors for the occurrence of debris flow and are important for geomorphological hazard management.

Zero accident was considered as the primary occupational health and safety value in manufacturing and service enterprises.  PT. ABC provided  electrical and instrument services, including a low-voltage installation, high-voltage installation and an instrument installation. This company is known to excellent electricity and instrument service providers across the country . Moreover, men’s power is used as a primary source to maintain  these kind  of services. Installation projects depend not only on the high working speed, but also on  high working  accuracy within  certain timeframes . As a result, work  accidents  have occurred with a classification varying from minor to fatal accidents.  The purpose of this research is to identify potential hazards to assess risk levels and  obtain recommendations for  preventing accident. The HIRARC method is employed as a research approach. This research is initiated through Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control.  This research...