Hazardous Conditions Research Articles

Remodelling and functional features of the left ventricle in miners

Introduction. Diseases of the circulatory system are the main cause of mortality in the employable population. Preserving occupational longevity involves the identification of early signs of myocardial damage by modern techniques, which will allow taking a fresh look at the prevention of cardiovascular pathology in people engaged in harmful working conditions. Materials and methods. The study included two hundred thirty six miners of average age of 47.1±0.36 years who underwent periodic medical examination at the Institute clinic. The work experience in hazardous occupation conditions was 22.7±0.6 years. The study was based on transthoracic echocardiography using tissue Dopplerography and speckle tracking technology. Results. Concentric remodelling of the left ventricle was detected in 25.9% of the miners. Arterial hypertension was revealed in 65.6% of the miners with concentric remodelling of the left ventricle versus 34.3% of the miners with its normal geometry (p=0.00002). There were no significant differences in the left ventricular contractile function indices in the groups. In both groups, diastolic dysfunction type 1 was predominantly detected, which was significantly more common in the miners with concentric remodelling of the left ventricle (62.3% and 42.0%, p=0.006). Pseudonormal type of diastolic dysfunction occurred in 8.2% of the group with concentric remodelling versus 5.14% with normal left ventricular geometry, p= 0.38. Limitations. The study was limited by the number of the examined persons undergoing periodic medical examination at the Research Institute for Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. Conclusion. Remodelling of the left ventricular myocardium in miners did not correlate with a decrease in the longitudinal deformation of the left ventricle, which indicates the possible influence of harmful occupational factors on the development of its systolic dysfunction. Diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle had a clear relationship with remodelling of the left ventricular myocardium. In this regard, it is recommended to conduct echocardiography during an in-depth periodic medical examination of miners with long-term work experience to identify a risk group for developing cardiovascular accidents.

Assessment of occupational health hazards among printing press workers

Background Workers in printing press are frequently exposed to various occupational health hazards, including physical, chemical, mechanical (ergonomic), biological, and psychological hazards while doing their jobs. Chemical and mechanical hazards pose a significant threat to the health and safety of printing press workers (PPWs). A hazardous working condition not only brings numerous health risks to the workers’ health but also minimizes the enterprise’s productivity. Recognizing these hazards and their consequences is the first step toward creating a safer and healthier work environment for this dedicated workforce. Aim To assess occupational health hazards (OHHs) as reported by PPW. Design A descriptive study design was utilized. Sample A purposive sample of 299 was approached for the current study. Tools Printing Press Workers Structured Questionnaire. Results Workers at the printing press were exposed to different types of OHHs, 44.6% of PPWs were exposed to chemical hazards, 46.3% were exposed to mechanical hazards, 58.5% were exposed to accidents in the workplace, and 39.5% had work accidents due to machines. Regarding causes of chemical hazards, 61.5, 55.2, 89.0, and 57.2% of PPWs were always exposed in the workplace to dust, organic solvents, ink, and lead, respectively. As for the causes of mechanical hazards, 61.9% of the study sample always have work that requires carrying heavy objects, 63.9% have a job that always requires a fixed work situation, and 61.9% have work that requires vigorous effort or maximum range of motion. Additionally, 68.9% of the study sample always have work that requires pushing or pulling, and 68.9% always have jobs that require similar repetitive movements. There were highly statistically significant positive correlations between the work stage and chemical and mechanical hazards (P=0.00). Conclusion PPWs faced various OHHs and health problems due to their work and environment. Over one-third were exposed to mild chemical hazards, almost half were exposed to moderate chemical hazards and less than one-fifth were exposed to high chemical hazards. Regarding mechanical hazards, over one-third of PPWs were exposed to mild mechanical hazards, another one-third were exposed to moderate mechanical hazards, and almost one-third were exposed to high mechanical hazards. Recommendations Conduct training programs on safety and health measures to increase knowledge and awareness of printing workers to minimize OHHs. Also, ensure effective usage of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Safety Helmet for Miners

Abstract: The safety helmets basically aim at safety of miners reducing the risks of accidents. It also highlights the hazardous environments of mining and potential dangers that the workers face while working in mines. Safety helmets will be containing infrared sensors which keep track of the environment of the miner. It highlights the inherent risks miners face, including poor visibility, potential collisions, and hazardous conditions. The helmets are capable of alerting the miners from dangers. Infrared sensors can sense the heat signatures and obstacles in real-time resulting in spatial awareness. The helmets also consist of Arduino to enable real-time data processing and communication integration. The helmet also consists of LoRa which provide wireless communication between helmets and receiver ends, which would notify them in case of any emergency. The abstract concludes by enhancing the importance of IR-sensors, LoRa and Arduino which interfaces all of the above equipment.

Landslide Deposit Erosion and Reworking Documented by Geomatic Surveys at Mount Meager, BC, Canada

Mount Meager is a deeply eroded quaternary volcanic complex located in southwestern British Columbia (BC) and is known for its frequent large landslides. In 2010, the south face of Mount Meager collapsed, generating a long-runout debris avalanche that was one of the largest landslides (50 × 106 m3) in Canadian history. Over the past 14 years, the landslide deposit has been reworked by stream action, delivering large amounts of sediment to Lillooet River, just downstream. In this study, we investigate 10 years of geomorphic evolution of the landslide deposit using orthophotos and digital elevation models (DEMs) generated using Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry on aerial photographs acquired during unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) surveys. The SfM products were used to produce a series of precise maps that highlight the geomorphological changes along the lower Meager Creek within the runout area of the landslide. Comparison of DEMs produced from 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2019 imagery allowed us to calculate deposit volume changes related to erosion, transport, and redeposition of landslide material. We estimate that about 1.1 × 106 m3 of sediment was eroded from the landslide deposit over the period 2015–2019. About 5.2 × 105 m3 of that sediment was redeposited inside the study area. About 5.8 × 105 m3 of sediment, mainly sand, silt, and clay, were exported from the study area and are being carried by Lillooet River towards Pemberton, 40 km from Mount Meager, and farther downstream. These remobilized sediments likely reduce the Lillooet River channel capacity and thus increase flood hazards to the communities of Pemberton and Mount Currie. Our study indicates a landslide persistence in the landscape, with an estimated 47-year half-life decay, suggesting that higher flood hazard conditions related to increased sediment supply may last longer than previously estimated. This study shows the value of using SfM in tandem with historic aerial photographs, UAV photos, and high-resolution satellite imagery for determining sediment budgets in fluvial systems.

A model for the prediction of thermal runaway in lithium–ion batteries

The increasing popularity of electric vehicles is driving research into lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Thermal runaway (TR) in LIBs is a serious concern for the safe operation of these high–energy-density batteries that is yet to be overcome. A reliable model is needed to predict voltage variation, heat generation, temperature rise, and the process leading to TR of a LIB battery under its operating conditions (charging–discharging). Such a model can be used to design battery packs more resilient to thermal runaway or assess how a battery pack would perform under hazardous conditions. Furthermore, it can be used for generating a warning signal if there is a possibility of the battery going towards TR. This paper presents an approach to solving this problem, which is not currently well addressed in the literature. The approach adopted in this paper is based on a numerical analysis of a multilayered electrochemical–thermal model of LIB. Tuning the parameters of a LIB for accurate results from this numerical model is presented, as well as the details of the approach in the paper. Experiments are performed under several LIBs, and their voltage and surface temperature variations are measured under various operating conditions, including thermal runaway. The results of the experiments are compared with the predictions of the numerical simulations. An excellent agreement is observed with the experimental results, proving the accuracy of the proposed approach. This approach can be configured to give results in a few minutes. The paper also discusses how the developed approach can be used to create a TR warning during operating conditions or to change the mode of operation of a LIB before a hazard occurs.

Chemical and olfactometric inventory of gaseous spot vents in Mt. Amiata volcanic-geothermal area (Italy)

Geothermal areas are typically characterised by the presence of gases and odours in the background atmosphere, stemming from natural emissions and possible mining exploitation of the area. This study presents the first olfactometric investigation of endogenous gas emissions from natural and archaeo-industrial vents in a geothermal area. Mt. Amiata is known for its complex geology and historical cinnabar mining. This study offers an inventory of spot gas emissions, not only in terms of odour and chemical concentration but also including flux data, a ground-breaking achievement in this field. The primary challenge of this investigation was estimating the emitted flow from ground holes or mine entrances, posing the risk of hazardous anoxic conditions. To address this challenge, an innovative and adaptive approach was adopted. The main breakthrough method involved the adaptation of a balometer, typically employed for indoor ventilation systems, to measure the flow of endogenous gases. Field surveys revealed odour concentrations that can exceed 106 of ouE/m3, surpassing industrial emission level considerably. Chemical concentrations, primarily consisted of CO2 (80/90 %v/v) and CH4 (∼10%v/v), providing critical insights into the global warming potential (GWP) associated with natural emissions. Moreover, these spots, often located at ground level and lacking a substantial atmospheric dilution, pose potential risks to nearby individuals, with concentrations of gases such as H2S surpassing safety thresholds. Total emissive flux of the investigated spot vents in the Mt. Amiata area, showed that the emission rate of H2S is notably substantial (55 kg/h), roughly equivalent to emissions from approximately four 20 MW geothermal plants, as along with odour emission rates in the order of 107 ouE/s. Considering the GWP derived from emitted gases, the total inventory assessment of the spot vents resulted in 36 t/h or 23 t/h CO2eq, depending on the time horizon considered (GWP20 or GWP100 respectively).

Thermal aging of high‐performance fabrics used in the outer shell of firefighters' protective clothing

AbstractHigh‐performance fibers are known for their exceptional specific strength and resistance to various hazardous conditions, including fire. However, the long‐term performance of these fibers when exposed to convective heat has rarely been reported. This study investigated the accelerated thermal aging behavior of three high‐performance fabrics of different blends of inherently flame‐resistant high‐performance fibers: copolymer of aramids (Technora®)/polybenzoxazole (PBO); para‐aramid/meta‐aramid; and para‐aramid/polybenzimidazole (PBI). Fabric specimens were thermally aged for up to 1200 h at temperatures ranging from 90 to 320°C. While all three fabrics experienced losses in the breaking force, the Technora®/PBO fabric displayed the best strength retention, despite the complete disappearance of the Technora® fiber crystallinity after aging at 320°C for 1200 h. The para‐aramid/PBI blended fabric showed signs of competing aging processes at high temperatures. An increase in the fabrics' crystallinity and evidence of chain scission were observed after thermal aging. Additionally, degradation in the fabric's water‐repellent finish was observed. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of more durable and safer protective gear, particularly for high‐risk activities like firefighting.

A Review on Highway Network System - Samruddhi Expressway

Highway networks serve as critical arteries of transportation infrastructure, facilitating the movement of goods and people across vast geographical regions. As traffic volumes continue to increase and technological advancements reshape transportation systems, there is a pressing need to optimize the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of highway networks. This abstract presents a comprehensive system approach aimed at addressing these challenges. The proposed highway network system integrates advanced technologies such as intelligent transportation systems (ITS), real-time traffic monitoring, data analytics, and machine learning algorithms to optimize traffic flow, minimize congestion, and enhance safety. By leveraging data from various sources including sensors, cameras, and connected vehicles, the system enables proactive traffic management and congestion prediction, allowing authorities to implement timely interventions and mitigate potential disruptions. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms enables predictive maintenance of infrastructure, identifying potential issues before they escalate into critical failures. This proactive approach not only reduces maintenance costs but also enhances the reliability and lifespan of highway assets. Moreover, the system prioritizes safety through the implementation of automated collision avoidance systems, adaptive speed control, and real-time incident management. By leveraging vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technologies, the system enables vehicles to exchange critical information, such as hazardous road conditions or impending collisions, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall safety. Additionally, the system incorporates sustainability principles by optimizing traffic flow patterns to minimize fuel consumption and emissions, promoting eco-friendly transportation practices, and facilitating the integration of electric and autonomous vehicles into the existing infrastructure.

Economic instability, income, and unemployment effects on mortality: using SUR panel data in Iran.

This study aims to investigate the effects of socioeconomic factors on mortality in Iran. To this end, this research examines how economic instability, income, and unemployment affect mortality using a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) with panel data for 30 provinces in Iran from 2004 to 2019. The results indicate that unemployment and mortality have a countercyclical relationship among the working age-groups 20-59 but a procyclical pattern among old-age (60+), except for rural mortality. This result is harmonious between employment and age-group mortality. This finding implies that unemployment increases mortality in working age-groups due to psychological stress and poverty risk. In addition, the income level decreases mortality in all ages over 40 years due to the provision of higher access to health and medical services and social welfare. However, it increases mortality in rural areas and age-group 20-39 because of their hazardous, unsafe, and stressful work conditions. Therefore, policymakers should plan for an inclusive economic growth to reduce poverty and out-of-pocket payments and increase the quality and accessibility of public health services, especially for beneficiaries of lower social groups. Moreover, they should adopt strategies to alleviate the burden of premature, preventable, and treatable deaths.

"Caminando Con Riesgo": perceptions of occupational injury, workplace safety and workers rights among Spanish-speaking hospitalized patients.

Occupational health disparities are well documented among immigrant populations and occupational injury remains a high cause of morbidity and mortality among immigrant populations. There are several factors that contribute to the high prevalence of work-related injury among this population and those without legal status are more likely to experience abusive labor practices that can lead to injury. While the work-related injuries and experiences of Spanish-speaking workers have been explored previously, there is a paucity of literature documenting injury among hospitalized patients. Additionally, there are few documented hospital-based occupational injury prevention programs and no programs that implement workers rights information. The purpose of this study was to further explore the context of work related injuries primarily experienced by Spanish speaking patients and knowledge of their rights in the workplace. This was a semi-structured qualitative interview study with Spanish speaking patients admitted to the hospital for work related injuries. The study team member conducting interviews was bilingual and trained in qualitative methodology. An interview guide was utilized for all interviews and was developed with an immigrant workers rights organization and study team expertise, and factors documented in the literature. Participants were asked about the type and context of the injury sustained, access and perceptions of workplace safety, and knowledge of participants rights as workers. All interviews were conducted in Spanish, recorded, transcribed in Spanish and then translated into English. A codebook was developed and refined iteratively and two independent coders coded all English transcripts using Dedoose. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was reached and data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. A total of eight interviews were completed. All participants reported working in hazardous conditions that resulted in an injury. Participants expressed a relative acceptance that their workplace environment was dangerous and acknowledged that injuries were common, essentially normalizing the risk of injury. There were varying reports of access to and utilization of safety information and equipment and employer engagement in safety was perceived as a facilitator to safety. Most participants did have some familiarity with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections but were not as familiar with OSHA procedures and their rights as workers. We identified several themes related to workplace injury among Spanish speaking patients, many of which raise concerns about access to workplace safety, re-injury and long-term recovery. The context around immigration is particularly important to consider and may lead to unique risk factors for injury, recovery, and re-injury both in the workplace and beyond the workplace, suggesting that perhaps immigration status alone may serve as a predisposition to injury. Thus, it is critical to understand the context around work related injuries in this population considering the tremendous impact of employment on one's health and financial stability. Further research on this topic is warranted, specifically the exploration of multiple intersecting layers of exposure to injury among immigrant populations. Future work should focus on hospital-based strategies for injury prevention and know your rights education tailored to Spanish speaking populations.

Ergonomics assessment of drudgery in rice-wheat production system in India: a case study of women farmers

Farm women are often forced to work in extremely hazardous conditions due to their limited access to improved agricultural technologies. This circumstance makes agricultural work physically demanding, requiring significant physiological effort and the maintenance of good posture. It is also very exhausting, time-consuming, and stressful. The study was designed to evaluate and quantify the drudgery involved in the rice-wheat production system for rural women. Three replications of a 10-min work cycle without a break were used to assess the physiological and postural demands of various farm tasks on the female workers. Observations were recorded on farm women workers who were in normal health, without any major illness, and regularly involved in farm operations. In the attempt to obtain and analyze the prioritized drudgery experiences in crop production activities through drudgery assessment and reduction, various ergonomically sound farm tools and implements were provided for crop cultivation and intercultural operations. Data indicating musculoskeletal disorders were analyzed by ergonomics assessment of postural and biomechanical assessments using the Human Physical Drudgery Index (HPDI), resulting in the maximum drudgery reflecting very high risk in transplanting (48.4%), followed by threshing (47.2%), load carrying (46.00%), and harvesting (45.14%). For physiological ergonomics quantifications, the most drudgery-prone activities in the rice-wheat production system, i.e., transplanting, harvesting, threshing & post-harvest, and load carrying, were evaluated, and it was found that drudgery is caused by different activities with reflects working energy expenditure rate ranging from ~7.00 to 12.00 (kJ/min) and total cardiac cost of work (TCCW) ~ 331.00 to 524.00. Multivariate regression analysis was employed to drive relationships between energy expenditure rate (dependent variable) and other independent variables, such as age, body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), calf circumference (CC), skinfold measurements, body density (D), % body fat, fat mass, and fat-free mass (kg). It was found that energy expenditure rate during various crop production practices is positively correlated with independent variables (R = 0.721, R2 = 0.520, Adjusted R2 = 0.518, Standard Error of Estimate = 0.0324, Durbin-Watson = 1.531). It was found that with higher physiological parameters, the corresponding energy expenditure is maximized relating to the drudgery in respective agricultural activities. The present study addressed the magnitude of drudgery for women farmers in the rice-wheat production system and its mitigation strategy.

On the issue of assessing the blood lipid spectrum in working men of different ages

Introduction. Harmful working conditions contribute to the development of dyslipidemia
 Goal – assessment of the blood lipid spectrum in men of different age groups under conditions of occupational stress.
 Materials and methods. We analyzed the lipid spectrum of the blood in men aged up to 40 years (groups No. 1, 2 with different work experience, n=22 and n=20) and over 40 years of age (group No. 3, n=20). Assessed working conditions. Nutritional status, diet, physical activity, tobacco smoking, and alcohol consumption were determined.
 Result. Working conditions are harmful in terms of tension of 3.2 degrees. Physical activity is insufficient, 47.3% have three meals a day, 52.7% have two meals a day. In groups under 40 years of age with different years of experience, 68.2% and 63.2% are overweight; in people over 40 years old, 55.0% are overweight, class I obesity. at 20.0%. The proportion of smokers is 4.5%, 10.0% and 20.0%. With increasing age and experience, triglycerides increased (from 1.12±0.95 to 1.53±0.94 (p=0.022), total cholesterol (from 5.04±1.22 to 6.31±1.2, p=0.001), low-density lipoproteins (from 3.8±0.98 to 4.83± 1.11, p=0.01) mmol/l; proportions of people with hypertriglyceridemia (from 9.1 to 43.8%), hypercholesterolemia (from 40.9% to 93.7%), high LDL-C (from 47.6 to 93.75%); 
 in subgroup No. 1, 19.0%, No. 2, 33.4% had HDL-C below normal. Lipid atherogenicity increased from 3.34±0.13 to 3.95±0.27 (p=0.031). 
 Limitations. Men under 40 and over 40 years of age with varying years of experience working in hazardous work conditions. 
 Conclusion. Hard work with poor nutrition and physical inactivity contributes to atherogenic changes in blood lipids. It is proposed to expand the list of studies to assess the atherogenicity of lipids in trained workers; in people with strenuous work, determine at an earlier age for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

The Cyclical Battle of Insomnia and Mental Health Impairment in Firefighters: A Narrative Review.

The occupational requirements of full-time non-administrative firefighters include shift-work schedules and chronic exposure to alerting emergency alarms, hazardous working conditions, and psychologically traumatic events that they must attend and respond to. These compiling and enduring aspects of the career increase the firefighter's risk for insomnia and mental health conditions compared to the general population. Poor sleep quality and mental health impairments are known to coincide with and contribute to the symptom severity of one another. Thus, it is important to determine approaches that may improve sleep and/or mental health specifically for firefighters, as their occupation varies in many aspects from any other occupation. This review will discuss symptoms of insomnia and mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicide in firefighters. The influencing factors of sleep and mental health will be examined including anxiety sensitivity, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance. Current sleep and mental health interventions specific to full-time firefighters are limited in number; however, the existing experimental studies will be outlined. Lastly, this review will provide support for exploring exercise as a possible intervention that may benefit the sleep and mental health of this population.

Exploring construction workers' attention and awareness in diverse virtual hazard scenarios to prevent struck-by accidents

Repetitive tasks in construction reduce workers' attentiveness of hazards on sites. This decline in attentiveness can be influenced by their situation awareness level. However, research on the relationship between attentiveness and situation awareness is scarce in the construction safety domain. This study employs eye-tracking techniques to investigate how visual attention changes due to variations in workers’ situation awareness levels. A virtual reality-based experiment was conducted to evaluate the situation awareness level of individual workers and examine its relationship with attentiveness towards different hazards using the situation awareness global assessment technique and linear regression analysis. The experimental findings reveal that the overall trend of allocating attention toward hazards declined over time. Furthermore, the attentiveness of workers varied depending on their situation awareness levels and the type of hazardous condition. Throughout the experiment, the group with a low situation awareness failed to sustain their vigilance toward hazards as effectively as the group with a high situation awareness. The outcomes of this study will help construction safety trainers understand variations in workers' vigilance behavior over time and, thus mitigate the risk of accidents owing to inattentiveness at job sites.

Hierarchical Lateral Planning With Minimum Curvature Peak for Autonomous Vehicles

Abstract This study focuses on the lateral safety of autonomous vehicles. The aim is to provide greater safety margins for the motion controller under hazardous conditions by improving the planning methods. The proposed lateral planning method employs a hierarchical structure. First, a graph search method that considers road curvature is presented. This method benefits from the design of jump nodes and can generate a safe corridor in real-time by backtracking. Next, a concise and effective optimization problem is constructed in the Frenet frame. It is designed to optimize the path by incorporating the peak, integral, and differential of curvature into the objective function. By solving this problem using CasADi, the path within the safe corridor is obtained. Finally, the proposed planning method is combined with a model predictive motion controller and tested through simulation and experimentation on a real vehicle platform. This planning method has good scalability, adaptability, and real-time performance. Simulation and experimental results show that this method can help avoid exceeding lateral limits of road surface friction, improve path-following accuracy, and enhance the safety of autonomous vehicles in dangerous conditions.

THERMAL CONDITION OF LIGHT DEVICES AND ACCOUNTING IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

The thermal regime of a light device largely determines its reliability and safety, lighting and electrical characteristics. For better dissipation of the heat generated in the devices, thermal fittings are designed in the form of devices for the passage of convection flows, radiators, and circuit boards. The study of the thermal regime of lighting devices has always been and remains an urgent task, both for lighting devices with traditional light sources and with LEDs. If the thermal conditions of lighting devices do not match the temperature characteristics of components and materials, their service life is sharply reduced. This is especially important for luminaires intended for use in industrial premises with hazardous environmental conditions.

Tending to Tradition?

From 1901-1942, the Ethical Policy era in the Dutch East Indies was a period when ‘ethical’ colonial policies, which sought to retain the cultural integrity and welfare of the Indonesian people were introduced by Dutch colonial authorities. These ethical policies included strengthening Indonesia’s agricultural economy to bolster local welfare, as well as integrating traditional Indonesian laws and values (adat) into their labour policies—particularly for female labourers. This paper explores the effects of Dutch Ethical Policy on the labour conditions for Indonesian women by examining the consequences of agricultural expansion, how adat is retained in labour policies, perceptions of Dutch versus Indonesian women, and the female night labour bill of 1925. It posits that the Netherlands used pretenses of promoting Indonesian welfare and retaining traditional customs to justify and cover their complacency in the hazardous labour conditions for Indonesian women as a means to earn more profit from crop yields.

Evaluating emergency response at a hospital near the Gaza border within 24 h of increased conflict

BackgroundFrontline hospitals near active hostilities face unique challenges in delivering emergency care amid threats to infrastructure and personnel safety. Existing literature focuses on individual aspects like mass casualty protocols or medical neutrality, with limited analysis of operating acute services directly under fire.ObjectivesTo describe the experience of a hospital situated meters from hostilities and analyze strategies implemented for triage, expanding surge capacity, and maintaining continuity of care during attacks with limited medical staff availability due to hazardous conditions. A focus will be placed on assessing how the hospital functioned and adapted care delivery models in the event of staffing limitations preventing all teams from arriving on site.MethodsA retrospective case study was conducted of patient records from Barzilai University Medical Center at Ashkelon (BUMCA) Medical Center in Israel within the first 24 h after escalated conflict began on October 7, 2023. Data on 232 admissions were analyzed regarding demographics, treatment protocols, time to disposition, and mortality. Missile alert data correlated patient surges to attacks. Statistical and geospatial analyses were performed.ResultsPatients predominantly male soldiers exhibited blast/multisystem trauma. Patient surges at the hospital were found to be correlated with the detection of incoming missile attacks from Gaza within 60 min of launch. While 131 (56%) patients were discharged and 55 (24%) transferred within 24 h, probabilities of survival declined over time reflecting injury severity limitations. 31 deaths occurred from severe presentation.ConclusionInsights gleaned provide a compelling case study on managing mass casualties at the true frontlines. By disseminating BUMCA's trauma response experience, strategies can strengthen frontline hospital protocols optimizing emergency care delivery during hazardous armed conflicts through dynamic surge capacity expansion, early intervention prioritization, and infrastructure/personnel protection measures informed by risks.

Identification of root cause of fatal confined space incidents in Malaysia and strategies for prevention

BackgroundThe high number of confined space incidents in Malaysia suggests that working in a confined space exposes workers to a substantial risk of serious injury or fatality. The rapid development of industry and technology has increased the need to work in confined spaces and significantly impacted the risk management of confined spaces. Utilizing past incident data through investigation will help develop risk management and preventive measures related to confined spaces. As a result, this paper will conduct a fatal incident investigation associated with confined spaces from 2010 to 2020 in Malaysia.MethodologyThe incident investigation uses the improved systematic casual analysis technique (SCAT) to identify the immediate cause and the direct cause. From the identified fatal incidents immediate causes, the study will highlight the main hazard that causes fatal incidents in confined spaces. The preventive measure is developed based on the main hazard of confined spaces that cause fatalities.ResultThe result of the study has identified that physical and atmospheric hazards are the main factors that cause fatal incidents associated with confined spaces in Malaysia. Moreover, from the SCAT checklist, the study has revealed that failing to use PPE properly and hazardous environmental conditions are the main immediate cause of fatal incidents in confined spaces.ConclusionEffective risk management of confined spaces, with a particular focus on addressing atmospheric and physical hazards, is crucial for preventing accidents, especially those incidents resulting in fatalities. Future studies should expand their focus to include injuries and near-miss events in confined spaces, aiming to develop more effective and inclusive safety measures by analyzing a broader range of incidents.

Western Montana Snow Squall Climatology and Synoptic Patterns, 2000–2020

The rapid onset of whiteout conditions, from strong winds, blowing snow, and heavy snow, associated with snow squalls often results in hazardous travel conditions. Snow squalls bring pronounced impacts to the transportation sector, leading to accidents, fatalities, and significant travel delays. Given these impacts, historical frequencies, and the synoptic environments associated with snow squalls in western Montana were examined to develop forecast aides, primarily through synoptic pattern recognition, for meteorologists to identify and communicate snow squalls. A 20-yr climatology was constructed to identify events characterized by wind gusts ≥26 kt (30 mph) and visibility ≤0.8 km (0.5 mi). 74 snow squall events were identified from 2000 through 2020 across three ASOS sites: Missoula (KMSO), Kalispell (KGPI), and Butte (KBTM). The median duration of heavy (moderate) snow during snow squalls was 26 (34) min. A composite study utilizing these events was conducted using the NCEP North American Regional Reanalysis. The composite study along with surface observations, revealed three distinct snow squall patterns and types: orographic snow bands, Pacific cold fronts, and Canadian arctic fronts.