Inspection Guidelines Research Articles

An Assessment of Food Safety Risk at Fairs and Festivals: A Comparison of Health Inspection Violations Between Fairs and Festivals and Restaurants

Food safety practices have always been a sensitive topic for food service providers and consumers. Consumers want to know if the food they consume has been prepared safely. Food service establishment inspections by health inspectors are considered a reflection of restaurant cleanliness and presumably represent the "safety" of the establishment when eating out. Food services at temporary events, such as fairs, festivals, and farmers' markets are inspected differently from restaurants, however, and in some cases may not required to be inspected at all according to some state food codes if they are "not-for-profit." The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the differences in health inspection violations between temporary food services (those found at fairs, festivals, and farmers' markets) and restaurants. The study provides event planners with insight into the most common violations at these locations to help guide them to hold events successfully without occurrence of food-borne illnesses outbreaks at fairs, festivals, and farmers' markets. In fact, results of this study showed that more violations were found in restaurants than in temporary food services. Results of the study suggested that training for food handler and inspection guidelines for temporary food services should differ from those of permanent food service establishments.

The solder paste printing process: critical parameters, defect scenarios, specifications, and cost reduction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively explore the effects of critical parameters on solder deposition and to establish a systematic approach for determining guidelines for solder paste inspection (SPI) workstations.

Distribution ofTaenia saginatametacestodes: a comparison of routine meat inspection and carcase dissection results in experimentally infected calves

A comparison of techniques for detecting the presence of Cysticercus bovis in bovine carcasses was made by using carcass dissection and routine beef inspection guidelines. In the study, 28 calves were used after they were tested and found to be negative for the presence of anti-C. bovis serum antibodies and were inoculated orally with aliquots containing 6×104 Taenia saginata eggs. One hundred and twenty days after inoculation, the animals were slaughtered and a post mortem evaluation was done following Brazilian Federal Beef Inspection guidelines. This routine meat inspection was able to identify 71.42% of the assessed infected carcasses as being parasitized. This result implies that 28.58% of the infected carcasses would have been released as fit for human consumption since they would have been considered as free of C. bovis infection when using this method for carcass assessment. Only 3.07% of the total 2311 metacestodes present in the carcasses were identified by the conventional procedures of sanitary inspection. The assessment of different parts of the carcasses showed high infestation rates in shoulder clod (14.37%), head (11.21%), neck+chuck roll (8.05%), heart (7.75%) and top (inside) round (7.18%) which, together, were responsible for housing 48.51% of all the cysts found in the 24 beef cuts assessed. These numbers contrasted to the low incidence of cysts found in organs such as tongue (3.12%), diaphragm (1.69%) and esophagus (1.60%) which are usually described as predilection sites for the parasite.

A Rigorous Method for Inspection of Model-Based Formal Specifications

Writing formal specifications can help developers understand users' requirements, and build a solid foundation for implementation. But like other activities in software development, it is error-prone, especially for large-scale systems. In practice, effective detection of specification errors still remains a challenge. In this paper, we put forward a rigorous, systematic method for the inspection of model-based formal specifications. The method makes good use of the well-defined consistency properties of a specification to provide precise rules and guidelines for inspection. The inspection process utilizes both well-defined expressions derived from the specification and human inspectors' judgments to find errors. We present a case study of the method by describing how it is applied to inspect an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) software specification to investigate the method's feasibility, and explore potential challenges in using it. We also describe a prototype software tool including its functions and distinct features to demonstrate the tool supportability of the method.

Reducing Solder Paste Inspection in Surface-Mount Assembly Through Mahalanobis–Taguchi Analysis

Increased functional density and reduced input/output (I/O) spacing are the market trends in the electronics manufacturing industry. Industry reports indicate that approximately 50%-70% of soldering defects are attributed to the solder paste printing process for printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. Hence, after the printing process, a solder paste inspection (SPI) system is generally used to examine the amount of solder paste deposition. Effective selection of components and bonding pads during solder inspection is extremely important in achieving desired process cycle times and ensuring assembly yield. This paper uses the Mahalanobis-Taguchi system to establish a systematic approach to determining guidelines for solder paste inspection. Among a total of 203 bonding pads on the board for a GPS product, the optimal model suggests that the solder deposition of 121 bonding pads be inspected. The reduction ratio is 40.4%, and the feasibility of the proposed model is verified. Also, for those bonding pads to be inspected for their solder paste deposition, this study uses empirical data to define the specifications to effectively distinguish acceptable PCB samples from defective. The threshold is within the 100% capability for judgment of solder paste printing quality in the surface mount assembly process.

Ensuring Safety and Quality of Tissues in Italy: Application of European Directives

Three European Directives published in 2004 and 2006 require Member States to take a series of regulatory actions to ensure appropriate quality and safety of tissues and cells. These directives define responsibilities to inspect and certify centers, to put vigilance systems in place and to publish information on certified centers and their activities. A European-funded project led by the Italian National Transplant Centre has supported Member States in the development of common guidelines for inspection, tools for vigilance, and training for inspectors. In Italy, inspections are conducted every 2 years at each tissue bank, and a vigilance system has been launched. Information on Italian centers and their activity is published in the Eurocet Registry.

Inspection Guidelines for Wastewater Force Mains

This report brings together a body of information on the characteristics of the wastewater force main network and the most common defects encountered. The technologies and methods used by utilities to inspect the force mains to identify and locate these defects are identified together with what are the perceived unmet needs. This report provides a comprehensive review of the current state-of-the-art in inspection technology for pressure pipelines. It also reviews the data management and processing and considers the application, effectiveness, and suitability of the technologies reviewed for use in force mains. The report also provides a risk-based failure evaluation. Innovative inspection technologies and methods for force main inspection are reviewed under five categories: 1) external inspection of ferrous force mains, 2) internal inspection of ferrous force mains, 3) inspection of asbestos cement force mains, 4) inspection of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe force mains, 5) inspection of plastic force mains. The study includes 10 case studies of actual inspections undertaken on pressure mains using technologies reviewed in the report. It proposes a structured approach to force main investigation driven by information need and cost-effectiveness within a condition assessment and asset assessment program. It provides guidelines for developing and implementing force main inspection programs. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series . ISBN: 9781843392866 (eBook)

Inspeção sanitária em creches: uma proposta de roteiro de inspeção

O trabalho apresenta um projeto de intervenção na realidade concreta das ações de Vigilância Sanitária, através da proposição de um roteiro para inspeção destinado a creches. Os objetivos específicos foram identificar os fundamentos jurídicos, técnico-científicos e sanitários que possam nortear a prática de inspeções sanitárias em creches; elaborar uma proposta de roteiro que permita um processo de análise mais explícito, objetivo e homogêneo e discutir a contribuição do instrumento proposto para a atividade de Vigilância Sanitária, com base na literatura científica pesquisada. Para a realização do trabalho foi feita uma revisão fundamentada em textos didáticos e normativos das áreas de educação e saúde, legislação sobre Vigilância Sanitária e Educação Infantil, outros roteiros já existentes e artigos da literatura científica sobre agravos à saúde em crianças que frequentam creches. O trabalho focaliza o conteúdo da legislação específica vigente e sua aplicabilidade na prática da inspeção sanitária em creches e baseia-se na Portaria - MS n. 321 de 26.05.1988. Este estudo apresenta um instrumento para avaliar a qualidade do atendimento nas creches sob o aspecto da promoção da saúde e sugere estudos posteriores de validação para o contexto, com a possível inclusão de um sistema de classificação para os padrões de conformidade, por meio de uma metodologia estatística.

Manual of Guidelines for Inspection and Maintenance of Intelligent Transportation Systems

Proper installation, care, and maintenance of intelligent transportation system (ITS) equipment increase the efficiency and connectivity of surface transportation systems, conserve the public's investment in the highway system, and ensure that the system will provide maximum benefits to travelers. ITS equipment failures and malfunctions caused by a lack of technical knowledge, inadequate inspection during installation, and improper maintenance practices can result in increased motorist and maintenance costs (unnecessary failures or malfunctions, increasing personnel and repair time, replacement part costs, and spare part inventory requirements), increased number of accidents, increased delays, degraded air quality, and fuel consumption. Before this study, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) did not have an inspection and maintenance manual as a reference document to assist its inspectors and ITS design, traffic operations, and maintenance personnel to minimize problems; to monitor the performance and failure rates; and to provide a cost-effective approach to inspecting, maintaining, upgrading, and operating ITS equipment on roadways. Rutgers University, in close collaboration with Orth-Rodgers and Associates, Inc., developed a state-of-the art and practical ITS inspection and maintenance manual and implemented it in the form of a user-friendly software tool. This tool provides NJDOT with complete, practical, and efficient inspection procedures for proper installation and preventive or routine maintenance of ITS equipment. Initial feedback after several hands-on training workshops from a group of expert users of the manual and its software implementation was positive and encouraging.

Evaluating Suspension Bridge Cables on North America's Busiest International Crossing

The main cables of the Ambassador Bridge—carrying four lanes of traffic over the Detroit River between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada—have recently been inspected internally for the first time, after 78 years of service. The bridge has a suspended main span of 1,850 ft, with back spans consisting of trusses supported on steel bents. The main cables comprise 37 strands of 218 wires each, protected with red lead paste. The wires are No. 6 gauge, cold drawn and double galvanized, with a specified minimum tensile strength of 215 ksi. Cable strength was calculated by means of the procedures of NCHRP Report 534: Guidelines for Inspection and Strength Evaluation of Suspension Bridge Parallel Wire Cables. Four locations were inspected along the length of each cable, and wire samples removed for testing. All three models presented in NCHRP Report 534 were used to estimate cable strength: the simplified strength model, the brittle wire model, and the limited ductility model. Modifications to the NCHRP procedure were required for the unloaded backstay locations. The results of the evaluation showed the cables to be in very good condition, with a calculated factor of safety of 2.70, which was based on the limited ductility model. The reduction in strength from the as-built condition was less than 10% at the worst location.

Study of a risk-based piping inspection guideline system

A risk-based inspection system and a piping inspection guideline model were developed in this study. The research procedure consists of two parts—the building of a risk-based inspection model for piping and the construction of a risk-based piping inspection guideline model. Field visits at the plant were conducted to develop the risk-based inspection and strategic analysis system. A knowledge-based model had been built in accordance with international standards and local government regulations, and the rational unified process was applied for reducing the discrepancy in the development of the models. The models had been designed to analyze damage factors, damage models, and potential damage positions of piping in the petrochemical plants. The purpose of this study was to provide inspection-related personnel with the optimal planning tools for piping inspections, hence, to enable effective predictions of potential piping risks and to enhance the better degree of safety in plant operations that the petrochemical industries can be expected to achieve. A risk analysis was conducted on the piping system of a petrochemical plant. The outcome indicated that most of the risks resulted from a small number of pipelines.

Research on Risk‐Based Piping Inspection Guideline System in the Petrochemical Industry

The purpose of this research is to create an expert risk‐based piping system inspection model. The proposed system includes a risk‐based piping inspection system and a piping inspection guideline system. The research procedure consists of three parts: the risk‐based inspection model, the risk‐based piping inspection model, and the piping inspection guideline system model. In this research procedure, a field plant visit is conducted to collect the related domestic information (Taiwan) and foreign standards and regulations for creating a strategic risk‐based piping inspection and analysis system in accordance with the piping damage characteristics in the petrochemical industry. In accordance with various piping damange models and damage positions, petrochemical plants provide the optimal piping inspection planning tool for efficient piping risk prediction for enhancing plant operation safety.

Books

Book reviewed in this article:Reviews: Monitoring sweatshops: Workers, consumers, and the global apparel industry. By Jill ESBENSHADEReviews: Globalization and cross‐border labor solidarity in the Americas: The anti‐sweatshop movement and the struggle for social justice. By Ralph ARMBRUSTER‐SANDOVALRecent books: IUSLaborRecent books: Cuadernos de Relaciones Laborales.Recent books: Revista del Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos SocialesRecent books: Les chantiers de l'économie social et solidaire. Edited by Alain AMINTAS, Annie GOUZIEN and Pascal PERROTRecent books: Les mutations de l'emploi en France. By the Institut de recherches économiques et sociales (IRES)Recent books: Mobility, labour migration and border controls in Asia. Edited by Amarjit KAUR and Ian METCALFERecent books: Nurses on the move: Migration and the global health care economy. By Mireille KINGMARecent books: Primer centenario de la inspección de trabajo y seguridad social. Publicación conmemorativa.Recent books: Recueil d'écrits de Pierre Laroque.New ILO publications: Application of international labour standards, 2006 (I): Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.New ILO publications: Labour inspection.New ILO publications: Application of international labour standards, 2006 (II): Information document on ratifications and standards‐related activities.New ILO publications: Competing for global talent. Edited by Christiane KUPTSCH and Eng Fong PANGNew ILO publications: Decent work: Objectives and strategies. Edited by Dharam GHAINew ILO publications: Decent work in the Americas: An agenda for the Hemisphere, 2006–2015.New ILO publications: ILO activities in the Americas, 2003–2006.New ILO publications: Guidelines for labour inspection in forestry.New ILO publications: La reforma laboral en América Latina: 15 años después. Un análisis comparado. Edited by María Luz VEGA RUIZNew ILO publications: Maternity at work: A review of national legislation. Findings from the ILO's Conditions of Work and Employment Database. By Ida ÖUN and Gloria PARDO TRUJILLONew ILO publications: Promoting fair globalization in textiles and clothing in a post‐MFA environment.New ILO publications: Restructuring for corporate success: A socially sensitive approach. Edited by Nikolai ROGOVSKYNew ILO publications: The end of child labour: Within reach.New ILO publications: The fundamentals of minimum wage fixing. By François EYRAUD and Catherine SAGETNew ILO publications: Trabajo.New ILO publications: Vocational education and training institutions: A management handbook and CD‐ROM.New ILO publications: Yearbook of labour statistics 2005

Risk Assessments of Columns Using RBI Program in Petrochemical Plant

Risk-based inspection (RBI) guideline based on API 581 provides a methodology for calculating the risks of equipment in refinery or petrochemical plant. However, there is a major limitation of its application to the petrochemical plant directly since only a representative material is considered in calculating the risk, especially in part of the consequence of failure, even though the equipment is composed of numerous materials. The objectives of this paper are to develop an enhanced RBI program to resolve shortcoming inclusive of the above issue and to evaluate the risks of equipment in petrochemical plant using the program. In this respect, the mole fractions of materials were used to fully incorporate the characteristics of different materials. The proposed RBI program consists of qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative risk evaluation modules in which toxic materials as well as representative materials were selected automatically for comparison with those in the current guideline. The RBI program has been applied to evaluate the risks of equipment in Naphtha Cracking Center (NCC) which is a typical facility of petrochemical plant. Thereby, promising evaluation results were obtained and applicability of the proposed RBI program was proven.

Photogrammetry Applications in Routine Bridge Inspection and Historic Bridge Documentation

This study explored the use of digital close-range photogrammetry for routine bridge inspection and historic bridge documentation. The major objective of the research was to evaluate the feasibility of photogrammetry for these two bridge engineering applications. Study results indicated that photogrammetry provides sufficient accuracy and is a noncontact, inexpensive, and practical measurement option. The research involved two photogrammetry projects. In the first project, photogrammetry techniques were employed in geometry measurement of a simple-span prestressed concrete bridge. The bridge was measured and evaluated according to routine bridge inspection guidelines. PhotoModeler, a consumer-grade photogrammetry software program, was used to process the images for measurements of vertical clearance, lateral clearance, deck width, and structure length. Comparison between photogrammetric and hand measurements showed minor differences, with the percentage error ranging from 0.06% to 1.43%. In the second pro...

United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) targets laboratory quality.

1. Judy Davis 2. Don Lavanty Once again, the quality of services provided by clinical laboratories across the nation is under the scrutiny of the federal government. CLIA '88 was implemented in 1992 to ensure that all laboratories meet the same minimal standards, based on the complexity of testing performed rather than by location. However, laboratory quality problems recently surfaced in several locations, prompting proposed federal legislation and a study of clinical laboratory quality by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess: The study, presented to Congress in June 2006, focused on oversight by CMS, state CLIA-exempt programs, and laboratory accrediting agencies including the College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), and COLA. Principal findings cited by GAO in the study include: 1. Insufficient data exists to identify the extent of the problem. CMS state survey data prior to 2004 is not available. When inspection guidelines changed in 2004, the prior data was purged. GAO is concerned that potential quality problems are masked. 2. Announced inspections are problematic. Laboratories prepare specifically for inspection so announced inspections fail to provide a true picture of the laboratory's quality. CAP and JCAHO inspections have since begun announced inspections. All agree that physician office laboratory inspections should be announced due to disruption of patient care,…

Photogrammetry Applications in Routine Bridge Inspection and Historic Bridge Documentation

This study explored the use of digital close-range photogrammetry for routine bridge inspection and historic bridge documentation. The major objective of the research was to evaluate the feasibility of photogrammetry for these two bridge engineering applications. Study results indicated that photogrammetry provides sufficient accuracy and is a noncontact, inexpensive, and practical measurement option. The research involved two photogrammetry projects. In the first project, photogrammetry techniques were employed in geometry measurement of a simple-span prestressed concrete bridge. The bridge was measured and evaluated according to routine bridge inspection guidelines. PhotoModeler, a consumer-grade photogrammetry software program, was used to process the images for measurements of vertical clearance, lateral clearance, deck width, and structure length. Comparison between photogrammetric and hand measurements showed minor differences, with the percentage error ranging from 0.06% to 1.43%. In the second project, a historic noncomposite, steel girder bridge was selected for documentation. Three-dimensional models of the bridge in elevation and of the pier were developed with PhotoModeler. Dimensions obtained from the models were compared with the design drawings, which showed that photogrammetry measurements differed by 0.23% to 8.00%. Two-dimensional, orthographic photographs (orthophotos) were also developed in PhotoModeler and edited with AutoCAD to provide scaled elevation drawings of the bridge.

Case Study of the Use of API 581 on HK and HP Material Furnace Tubes

Risk-based inspection guidelines have been created by several technical societies, most notably the ASME and API. This study intends to show how one of these techniques, American Petroleum Institute, API 581 assesses risk and determines inspection intervals of furnaces tubes. The paper also explains the difficulties of applying API 581 and discusses the meaning of the results and the inspection program proposed in API 581.

Framework for Cone Feature Measurement Using Coordinate Measuring Machines

Complex forms such as conicity have been largely ignored in the coordinate form literature, in spite of the sufficient need to inspect them in parts such as tapered rollers in bearings. This paper attempts to develop guidelines for inspection of cones and conical frustums using probe-type coordinate measuring machines. The sampling problem, the path determination, and fitting of form zones are each addressed in detail. Moreover, an integrative approach is taken for form verification and detailed experimental analysis is conducted as a pilot study for demonstrating the need for the same. Three separate sampling methods are applied: Hammersley, Halton-Zaremba, and Aligned Systematic; at various sample sizes using sampling theory and prior work in two-dimensional sampling. Linear and nonlinear deviations are formulated using optimization and least-squared methods and solved to yield competitive solutions. Comprehensive experimental analysis investigated issues of model adequacy, nesting, interactions, and individual effects, while studying conicity as a response variable in the light of sampling strategies, sizes, cone surface areas, and fitting methods. In summary, an orderly framework for sampling and fitting cones is developed which can lead to the development of comprehensive standards and solutions for industry.

Trichinellosis in China: epidemiology and control.

The first outbreak of human trichinellosis in China, according to official national publication, was registered in Tibet in 1964. Since then, more than 500 outbreaks, numbering 25161 cases with 240 deaths, have been recorded. However, this reported quantity is probably highly underestimated because adequate diagnostic techniques might not have been available in the whole area. Moreover, infection in animals is widespread over China, with the prevalence of pig trichinellosis being as high as 4% in some provinces. The estimated situation of trichinellosis in China highlights the necessity not only for its control, but also for the government to elaborate new regulations and guidelines for animal inspection.