Inspection Checklist Research Articles

Degradation and longevity of solar photovoltaic modules—An analysis of recent field studies in Ghana

AbstractSolar photovoltaic (PV) technology has attracted an enormous amount of attention and investment in recent years—translating to record deployment levels. This is due to in part to its potential role as a cleaner energy source in the emissions‐constrained development agenda that is currently being pursued at both global and national levels. Solar PV has also been propelled to the forefront of today's menu of technological options by virtue of its attributes such as scalability, fast deployment lead times, and low operating cost. Substantial investments are needed in the coming years in order to accomplish climate targets and other goals set by various countries and regional/subregional blocs. In support of informed investment decision‐making and ultimately, improved outcomes of solar PV projects, there has been an uptick in studies on operational performance of fielded PV systems across the globe. These studies are, however, geographically unbalanced, and there is the need for data from underrepresented regions. This paper presents a synthesis of results obtained from recent seminal field studies on PV module performance degradation in Ghana. The studies altogether analyzed sixty‐five (65) modules (mono‐ and polycrystalline silicon) from twenty‐nine (29) installations across the country (1118 module‐years). The field‐aged modules were characterized in situ using current‐voltage (I‐V) curves, visual inspection checklists, and thermal imaging. Annual module performance degradation rates (peak power) of 0.8%‐7%, 0.55%‐2.07%, and 1.1%‐2.4% were found for modules located in various climate subcategorizations.

Pattern of radiation safety measures and security culture in four major hospitals, Ismailia, Egypt

Background: Radiation safety and radioactive source security constitute an essential part of radiation protection in medicine, and launching them involves cultural interactions.Aim: To explore the current situation of radiation protection in hospitals in order to improve radiation safety and security culture and measures in Ismailia city hospitals.Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at 13 units in four hospitals in Ismailia city. Health care workers (292) with potential exposure to radiation (physicians, technicians, nurses and physicists) were included. Safety culture questionnaire, inspection checklist and thermo scientific model survey meter to assess the radiation levels in different units were used.Results: The results of this study showed moderate radiation safety culture (The mean scores culture was 95.3±12.8). The linear regression analysis showed that working days/week significantly predicts the safety culture of participants. Radiation safety and security measures represented in different departments were insufficient. There was variability among hospitals and departments as regard the level and the efficiency of protection, concerning shields and protection of doors and windows.Conclusion: Different departments/ units in the investigated hospitals showed an overall inadequacy of radiation safety and security measures and most of them showed inefficiency of protection as well as the design of rooms.

Contaminants of Domestic Rural Spring Water Sources in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Western Uganda

Globally, water-borne diseases have continued to challenge the health conditions of both developed and developing countries. In Uganda, most water-borne diseases are known to be the leading causes of serious health burden among the inhabitants. The study objectives were to characterize microscopic isolates using biochemical tests as well as identify the possible sources of contamination of spring water which is the commonest source of water used by rural inhabitants for domestic activities in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Bushenyi district, Western Uganda. Samples of spring water were collected from all accessible spring water sources in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Western Uganda. A total of 48 spring water samples were collected using 500 ml sterile glass bottles. The sources of contamination of the spring water samples were determined using a Sanitary Inspection Checklist which was designed using some standard response factors from a collection of standard reference checklists for drinking water quality assessment. Distribution of isolates and indicator pathogens of fecal contamination recovered from positive samples shows 77.8% from Nyakabirizi, 75% from Ishaka and 52.63% from Central divisions. Among the isolates, <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp and <i>Shigella</i> spp appeared more frequent with overall percentage of (52.63%) and (45.83%) whereas, <i>Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia</i> coli were found in (31.25%), (12.5%) and (6.25%) respectively. Sanitary inspections showed that springs in Ishaka Division posed a much higher risk (66.7%) of bacterial contamination compared to what was observed in Central (58.3%) and Nyakabirizi (58.3%) Divisions. All the sampled water sources were contaminated hence they posed substantial risk to users in the communities. Regular water examination and quality control including microbial assessment of all water sources should be maintained in the three Divisions of the Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Western Uganda.

Application of the Concept of Total Productive Maintenance in Automatic Bottle Filling Machines

Guwatirta Sejahtera is one of the companies engaged in the bottled drinking water industry. Problems that occur at PT. Guwatirta Sejahtera is the absence of routine maintenance on the machine so that damage, especially on automatic bottle filling machines, often occurs. This study applies a total productive maintenance method to determine the level of damage and identify the source of the problem as a basis for making recommendations for improvement in reducing the level of damage that often occurs in automatic bottle filling machines. The stage of the study begins by determining the engine efficiency and six big losses using the Overall Equipment Effectiveness parameter (OEE). Then proceed with identifying the source of the problem using the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) method. Recommendations for improvement include making: a daily inspection checklist, small working groups, Standard Operating Procedures for operating the machine and routine maintenance schedules. Based on the estimated calculation if the recommendation for improvement is applied, the value of the original engine efficiency of 84.26% increased to 98.97% and the initial maintenance costs of Rp.81,232,369.48 decreased to Rp.75,355,764.39 per year

Taking Advantage of Collective Intelligence and BIM-Based Virtual Reality in Fire Safety Inspection for Commercial and Public Buildings

Commercial and public buildings are more vulnerable to fires because of their complex use functions, large number of centralized occupants, and the dynamic nature of the use of space. Due to the large number of these types of buildings and the limited availability of manpower, annual fire inspections cannot ensure the continuous compliance of fire codes. A crowdsourcing application, iInspect, is proposed in this paper to harvest collective intelligence in order to conduct mass inspection tasks. This approach is supported by building information modeling (BIM) based virtual reality (VR) and an indoor real-time localization system. Based on the International Fire Code and 27 fire inspection checklists compiled by various local authorities, a generic list of inspection items suitable for iInspect is proposed, along with a reputation-based monetary incentive model. A prototype of iInspect was created for Android mobile phones, and a case study was performed in an office building in Tianjin, China, for verification of this crowdsourcing inspection approach.

Factors associated with perception of bad odor by users of ventilated improved pit latrines in Cape Coast, Ghana

Perception of bad odor in sanitation facilities is one of the causes of open defecation, which is a major cause of water pollution in developing countries. This study assessed how users of ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines in Cape Coast, Ghana, perceive the level of odor in their latrines and identified the factors associated with perception of bad odor. A total of 211 users of 127 VIP latrines were purposively sampled from selected communities within the City. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on the users’ perception of the odor level measured on an ordinal scale. The questionnaire also enquired the users’ characteristics and observations about the hygienic conditions of their toilets. An inspection checklist was used to assess the design and construction features of the latrines as well as the usage and maintenance practices. It was found that having a stake in a latrine’s ownership reduces the odds for perceiving bad odor in the latrine while attainment of higher education increases the odds. Furthermore, perception of bad odor was found to be more associated with the usage and maintenance practices (such as fouling of the squat hole or seat with excreta and mismanagement of used anal-cleansing materials) rather than the design and construction of the latrines. The findings of the study underscore the need to accompany the provision of sanitation facilities with user hygiene, as highlighted in the sanitation target of the sustainable development goals, else physical facilities alone cannot provide a guarantee against open defecation.

A neuro-fuzzy risk prediction methodology for falling from scaffold

Fall from height is one of the most significant safety issues in the construction industry, due to the high number of fatal injuries. Scaffolds are a leading cause and have one of the highest injury rates. Therefore, it is crucial to introduce preventive measures and strategies. This study introduces a hybrid approach that merges an Adaptive Neural Network-based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and a safety inspection checklist to identify risk factors and predict the risk of falling from scaffold on construction sites. Our findings indicate that platform, joints, ladders, personal protective equipment and guardrails are the most important factors. The approach can identify and assess key conditions and situations that have the greatest impact on fall risk. The hybrid ANFIS–checklist model is found to outperform the regression method in predicting fall risk. Experts can use also this approach in other safety areas to identify and predict workplace risk.

Improving Safe Mobility: An Assessment of Vehicles and Technologies among a Large Cohort of Older Drivers

Evidence suggests that older driver safety may be improved by good vehicle maintenance, in-vehicle advanced technologies, and proper vehicle adaptations. This study explored the prevalence of several measures of vehicle maintenance and damage among older drivers through inspection of their vehicles. We also investigated the prevalence of in-vehicle technologies and aftermarket adaptations. Vehicle inspections were conducted by trained research staff using an objective, standardized procedure. This procedure, developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, was based on a review of inspection checklists used by automobile dealerships and the project team's expertise. The study used baseline data from vehicles of 2988 participants in the multi-site Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) study. Among this cohort, vehicles were well maintained, had little damage, and contained a range of advanced technologies but few aftermarket adaptations. Implications of study findings for occupational therapy practice are discussed.

Ontology-Based Knowledge Management System for Digital Highway Construction Inspection

Inspection is critical to ensuring the quality of infrastructure construction. In recent years, state highway agencies (SHAs) have been facing the challenge of a shortage of experienced inspectors due to retirements, workforce downsizing, and resignations to take jobs in the private sector. There is a critical need to retain and manage the accumulated construction inspection knowledge (what, when, and how to inspect) and integrate this knowledge into the construction business process. This paper presents an ontological approach to managing inspection knowledge and the development of a risk-based digital inspection system integrated with the construction process. The developed system consists of five knowledge compartments: inspection activities prioritized based on risk; activity-centered pay items; inspection check items; detailed checks that include priority, frequency, object, attribute, and acceptance criteria; and training materials (optional). This risk-based system is designed to align with the construction process by connecting an activity to a pay item and that pay item to a check item, resulting in an automatically generated comprehensive inspection checklist for the activity. The optional training materials are designed to train inspectors in real time on an as-needed basis. Since risk is embedded in every knowledge compartment, this system not only automates and retains the inspection knowledge but also enables SHAs to allocate their limited resources to the most critical items. This system is currently being implemented by the Indiana Department of Transportation as a digital inspection protocol integrated in its e-construction process.

Risk-Based Prioritization of Construction Inspection

In their pursuit of ensuring the quality and long-term performance of pavements, state highway agencies (SHAs) have established specifications for materials testing and construction inspection processes as critical components of their quality assurance programs. SHAs face a grand challenge, however, in the ever-growing gap between the demand for inspection and the available resources. Many strategies have been proposed over time to meet this challenge by optimizing the resource allocation process. A promising approach is to allocate limited resources to the most critical inspection items. This paper presents a novel risk-based prioritization approach for construction inspection considering quality, safety, cost, and time. Specifically, the risk is assessed in two aspects: the possibility of not meeting the specification requirements and the severity of the consequences. The scope of this study includes earthwork, concrete and asphalt pavement, and bridge decks. A comprehensive list of construction inspection items was compiled from the standard specifications and manuals of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and narrowed down to a core set based on survey responses and interviews with INDOT domain experts. The resulting core set was aligned with the construction process, and INDOT expert opinions were sought to assess the risks and prioritize the inspection checklist. The resulting prioritized list can help INDOT and other SHAs nationwide to optimize their allocation of resources for inspection. Since all the inspection items are aligned with the construction process, implementation is straightforward: field engineers know not only what to inspect but also when to do so.

Safety leading indicators for construction sites: A machine learning approach

Abstract The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries in many countries. To improve the situation, senior managers overseeing portfolios of construction projects need to understand the safety risk levels of their projects so that interventions can be implemented proactively. Safety leading indicators is one way to flag sites that are of higher risk. However, there is a lack of validated leading indicators that can reliably classify sites according to their safety risk levels. On the other hand, despite the success of machine learning (ML) approaches in other domains, it is not widely utilized in the construction industry, especially in the development of safety leading indicators. This paper presents a ML approach to developing leading indicators that classify sites in accordance to their safety risk in construction projects. This study was guided by the industry-recognized Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) framework and the key types of data used include safety inspection records, accident cases and project-related data. These data were obtained from a large contractor in Singapore and the data were accumulated from year 2010 to 2016. Out of thirty-three input variables (also known as features or independent variables), 13 input variables were selected using a combination of Boruta feature selection technique and decision tree. Of the 13 selected input variables, six of them are project-related (project type, project ownership, contract sum, percent completed, magnitude of delay and project manpower) and seven of them are items in the contractor's safety inspection checklists (crane/lifting operations, scaffold, mechanical-elevated working platform, falling hazards/openings, environmental management, good practices and weighted safety inspection score). Five popular ML algorithms were then used to train models for prediction of accident occurrence and severity. During validation, random forest (RF) provided the best prediction performance with an accuracy of 0.78 and has achieved a substantial strength of agreement with Weighted-Kappa Statistics of 0.70. Comparing with similar studies, this result is promising. The prediction (i.e. the output variable) provided by the RF model can be used as a safety leading indicator of the risk level of a site. It is recommended that the predictive RF model be deployed in construction organizations, especially large public and private developers, contractors and industry associations, to provide monthly forecast of project safety performance so that pre-emptive inspections and interventions can be implemented in a more targeted manner.

An Investigation of Factors that Influence Hygiene Practices at a Small Day Care Center

The aim of this study was to explore factors that influence hygiene practices at small day care centers. It examines the effect of food hygiene training on hygiene practices and investigates the correlations between the hygienic status of food handlers' hands and that of kitchen utensils. Furthermore, it determines the influences of demographic and facility-related factors on hygiene practices in small day care centers. A total of 56 food handlers at 49 day care centers in the Gyeongnam area of South Korea participated in hygiene training. The results of the study showed that after two training sessions, the ATP bioluminescence levels of knives ( P < 0.01), cutting boards ( P < 0.01), food handlers' hands ( P < 0.001), and UV disinfection cabinets ( P < 0.01) decreased. After training, the total scores on the inspection checklist were significantly improved ( P < 0.05). Strong associations between the microbial quality of hands and kitchen utensils were seen. Classification and regression tree analysis identified important factors that influence hygiene practices at small food service kitchens, such as status of registration with the government certification authority, length of food handlers' working experience and their age, and maximum number of people served. This study helps to broaden our knowledge of food hygiene issues in small day care centers.

Risk analysis of checklist for efficient web vulnerability inspection

Risk analysis of checklist for efficient web vulnerability inspection

Implementation of an expanded point-of-care site inspection checklist in an academic medical center: An eight year experience

BackgroundWe evaluated the effectiveness of an expanded point-of-care (POCT) site inspection checklist over an extended 8-y period. MethodsA retrospective review of site inspection deficiency reports in a large academic medical center from 2010 to 2017 (year to date). ResultsThere was a significant decrease in the number of cited deficiencies per site/inspection from 2010 (3.17) to 2017 (0.27) (p<0.001). The percentage of sites without deficiencies steadily increased from 2010 (8.7%) to 2017 (80.7%) (p<0.001). The most common citation was documentation of competency assessment followed by results documentation and annual procedure review. ConclusionsRegular inspections of sites performing POCT are necessary to maintain regulatory compliance. Over time significant improvements in compliance are achievable.

English

Access to safe water is a universal need. However, many of the world&rsquo;s population lack access to adequate and safe water. Consumption of contaminated water with viruses, bacteria and parasites causes health risk to the public and the situation is serious in rural areas. So this study is aimed at assessing the bacteriological quality of drinking water at source and point of use among rural Communities of Farta Woreda, North Western, Ethiopia. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in March 2014 in 41 rural Kebeles of Farta Woreda. A total of 120 water samples were obtained from protected water sources and household water storage containers and tested for Escherichia coli by using membrane filter methods. The contaminant risk of water sources and household storage containers were assessed by sanitary inspection checklist of World health Organization. Descriptive statistics (proportion and percentage) were used to count the E. coli load and the results were interpreted using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water quality. All household water storage containers and majority 22(91.7%)&nbsp; of the protected wells and 5(83.3%) springs in the study area were not in compliance with WHO recommended values (0 CFU/100 ml of drinking water) for drinking water. Majority 10(41.7%) of protected well, 5(83.3%) protected spring and 42(46.7%) household storage containers had high sanitary risk score for E. coli. The water sources and also household water storage containers were heavily contaminated with E. coli. Source protection strategies, awareness creation on safe water handling practices as well as monitoring are necessary to enhance good drinking water quality. &nbsp; Key words: Drinking water, E-coli, bacteriological quality, rural community, storage container.

Reliability and Degradation of Solar PV Modules—Case Study of 19-Year-Old Polycrystalline Modules in Ghana

Fourteen (14) rack-mounted polycrystalline modules installed on the concrete roof of the solar energy applications laboratory at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, a hot humid environment, were assessed after 19 years of continuous outdoor exposure. The physical state of the modules was documented using a visual inspection checklist. They were further assessed by current-voltage (I-V) characterization and thermal imaging. The modules were found to be in good physical state, except some bubbles on front side and minor discolouration/corrosion at edge of the cells. Compared with reference values, the performance decline of the modules observed over the exposure period was: nominal power (Pnom), 21% to 35%; short circuit current (Isc), 5.8% to 11.7%; open circuit voltage (Voc) 3.6% to 5.6% and 11.9% to 25.7% for fill factor (FF). It is hoped that this study will provide some helpful information to project developers, manufacturers and the research community on the long-term performance of PV modules in Ghana.

Hand Held Technology; Its Place In a Environmental Compliance Monitoring System

This abstract will examine the elements of a field deployable inspection application designed to support the U S Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) field mission assignment, through the use of hand held technology. The system is designed to mimic a typical inspection through the use of software applications that replicate hard copy inspection forms. The primary elements of the program are in support of the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) regulations codified in Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 112. These regulations govern prevention related activities, Facility Response Plans (FRPs) reviews and Government Initiated Unannounced Exercises (GIUEs). Accordingly, digital inspection/evaluation forms were created utilizing File Maker Pro development software. The forms have been deployed on Apple's IPAD tablets which allow for the integration of locational attributes of Google maps and the tablet's built in digital camera. A typical inspection will consist of an Administrative Form, Notice of Inspection (NOI), SPCC Inspection checklist, FRP Review checklist, FRP Field checklist, FRP Approval Letters and when applicable a GIUE evaluation forms. These files combine to form a complete inspection folder where it is either closed out as compliant or submitted to enforcement for further deliberation. A typical inspection begins with general inspection data being entered into the Administrative Form. Data entered here auto populates each corresponding inspection form. As an added enhancement, each inspection form can be pre- populated with consistently recorded values. This is generally the case when conducting multiple inspection where the company remains the same and/or the consultant has prepared plans in a uniform/standardized manner. Consequently, both latitudinal/longitudinal attributes are automatically embedded within the application along with photographic data. Upon completion of the inspection, the data is then synchronized with a GoZync Application with File Maker Pro server via WIFI or cellular connection. After file completion and administrative review, the report can be emailed to the recipient in a PDF format. To date, field trials have been completed on a local level with the expectation that Branch wide deployment will commence in late FY 16. The Agency recently made a nationwide buy of Apple tablets for On Scene Coordinators (OSCs) as well as inspection personnel within the response program. This helped pave the way for new application development and bringing to fruition the Agency's desired mission to perform its duties in a digital environment.

Occupational Health and Safety legislative compliance in the construction sites in Windhoek, Namibia

Non compliances towards occupational health and safety legislations has been on increase globally which leads to higher incidence of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases. The aim of the study is to determine the presence of occupational hazards in the construction industry and to investigate the occupational health and safety provision and compliance among construction sites in Windhoek. A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to conduct the study. Census sampling was used to include ten construction sites with project running during data collection time and whose site managers agreed to participate in the study. Data was collected in ten construction sites with the site inspection checklist to assess the occupational hazards and OHS compliance in participated construction sites. Data was analysed with SPSS software. The study findings indicated that occupational hazards are prevalent in the construction industry, but there is poor mechanism to control hazards and to prevent hazard exposures. Furthermore, most construction sites are non compliant towards OHS legislations. It is recommended that OHS legislations should be enforced to promote the OHS in the construction industry.

Infection Prevention and Control Risk Assessment: Approach for Early Identification of Harmful Practices and Improving Quality and Safety of Healthcare Service Delivery in Acute Healthcare Settings

Background: Risk management is a process consisting of well-defined steps which, when taken in sequence, support better decision making by contributing to a greater insight into risks and their impacts. It is as much about identifying opportunity as is about avoiding losses. Effective prevention and control of infection must be part of everyday practice and be applied consistently by everyone. Methods: The study was conducted at Tygerberg Hospital in 8 clinical areas/wards during a period of 3 weeks from 23 November 2013 to 9 October 2013. Risk Assessment IPC Inspection Checklist for healthcare institutions provided by the Unit for Infection Prevention and Control (UIPC) at Stellenbosch University was used for data collection. A feedback report was shared with the unit managers and ward in-charges, and the improvement plan was developed in collaboration with them. The follow-up was done to evaluate the implementation of the improvement plan. Data was analysed using Ms Excel. Results: 6 out of 8 (75%) wards complied with ward design, hand hygiene facilities available in all wards, 5 out of 8 wards (62.5%) had inadequate and insufficient protective clothing, 7 out of 8 (87.5%) wards did not have suitable patient toilet facilities. 7 out of 8 wards (87.5%) had suitable sluice area, while 7 out of 8 wards (87.5%) had appropriate treatment area. Quality of maintenance of aseptic procedures improved from 64% (18/28) to 85% (22/26) in patients with indwelling urinary catheter. The similar improvement was noted in patients with peripheral IV lines, from 81% (57/70) to 86% (48/56) as well as in the patients with wound, from 92% (22/24) to 100% (21/21). Conclusion: 6 out of 8 (75%) assessed wards complied against IPC standards. Conducting regular IPC assessment in clinical areas in collaboration with clinical staff (unit managers and in-charges) is essential to improve the quality and safety of healthcare service delivery. Significant improvement was noted in 7 wards during follow up assessment conducted one week after the initial risk assessment, whereby urinary catheter care improved from 64% to 85% (a 21% improvement) and peripheral IV line care improved from 81% to 86% (a 5% improvement). IPC and clinical teams (nurses, doctors, etc) should work hand in hand to improve the quality and safety of healthcare service delivery.

Avaliação da Gestão da Qualidade de uma Agência Transfusional

Introduction: Quality control, when implemented, should ensure the use of blood components without the presence of transfusion reactions. Numerous regulations in hemotherapy area have driven the approaches used by transfusion agencies to minimize the risks for the patient/receptor. Objective: To carry out the evaluation of the quality management of a transfusion agency located in the city of Camboriu, SC, Brazil. Material and Methods: The PDCA Cycle (Plan, Do, Check, Act) was used to plan and organize the quality management actions, to observe the improvements and, where necessary, to assist in the resolution of detected issues. Results: Information from the hemotherapic routine of the institution was obtained through 15 technical visits. Technical Inspection Checklists in the Hemotherapy Service indicated a compliance of 80% with the norms. related to biosafety , physical area and reagents, while most of the non-conformities were observed in the Quality Management sector. Thus, Quality Tools were used for correction of non-conformities. After the execution of 11 improvement actions, the compliance percentage of the Quality Management item was found to be 100%. Conclusion: Despite the non-conformities found in the transfusion agency under study, no significant risks in the health care provided to the population were observed . DESCRIPTORS: Total Quality. Quality Management in Health. Hemotherapy Service.