Abstract This paper details the development and implementation of Element 17 (Incident Investigation) at the Brinsa chemical plant. The authors highlight the unwavering commitment to process safety and the progress toward a robust management system at a small facility. Over 7 years of implementation, crucial support from management lines has been instrumental in achieving remarkable results. The importance of incident investigation is highlighted not only for identifying root causes and preventing future recurrences, but also as a catalyst for the continuous development and improvement of the process safety management system. The integration of this tool into the CCPS RBSP framework at Brinsa has made it possible to address not only specific safety issues but also to strengthen the safety culture and improve the response capacity to potential risks. The case study derived from Brinsa's internal investigation vividly illustrates the importance of proactively addressing plant‐specific risks. In this context, detailed instructions were developed for the safe delivery of critical equipment during major maintenance, a task that had previously raised concerns about potential chlorine exposure. The interdisciplinary and thoughtful approach applied in developing these instructions allowed for consideration of all relevant variables, from proper equipment handling to mitigating potential hazardous substance leaks. The successful testing of these instructions in 2023 not only validated their effectiveness but also demonstrated Brinsa's ongoing commitment to the safety of its operations. This study demonstrates how incident investigation, when used effectively, is not only a reactive tool, but also a fundamental pillar for proactive risk management and the promotion of a safe and resilient work environment in the chemical industry.

ABSTRACT The scale‐up of twin‐screw extrusion for energetic materials is challenging due to their sensitivity to heat and shear. Conventional methods often fail to simultaneously ensure process safety and mixing uniformity. This study proposes a novel Volume–Geometry–Shear rate (VGS) coordinated similarity scale‐up method to achieve equivalent safety and mixing performance. Based on a validated φ20 mm benchmark extruder (5 kg/h), safety boundaries were defined via coupled 3D Polyflow and 1D Ludovic simulations. The VGS framework integrates volumetric similarity for throughput, geometric similarity for flow structure, and constant average shear rate for material integrity. When used to design a φ50 mm industrial extruder (30 kg/h), the method greatly improved safety by lowering the maximum pressure, shear stress, and viscous dissipation by 18.9%, 58.2%, and 95.93%, respectively. Meanwhile, mixing performance was preserved with a negligible deviation of < 0.6% in the overall mixing coefficient. The VGS methodology provides a robust, generalizable framework for the safe and efficient industrial scale up of energetic material extrusion.

Leak detection in pipelines transporting gas-liquid multiphase flow remains a challenging task due to complex and inherently unsteady flow behavior, particularly under intermittent regimes such as plug flow. Conventional leak detection techniques, which are well established for single-phase flow, often suffer from reduced sensitivity and false alarms when applied to multiphase systems. Motivated by these limitations, the present study investigates leakage characteristics in a horizontal pipeline conveying gas-liquid plug flow under underwater conditions. A three-dimensional transient numerical model based on the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach is developed to simulate various leakage scenarios, including different discharge sizes and gas-liquid superficial velocities. The numerical results are validated against experimental data obtained from a dedicated multiphase flow loop. Time-series pressure signals are analyzed using statistical metrics, probability density functions, and continuous wavelet transform techniques to assess their effectiveness in identifying leakage occurrence. Furthermore, a non-dimensional analysis is employed to develop a nomograph for estimating gas release velocity from underwater leaks. The results demonstrate that leakage significantly alters pressure fluctuation characteristics and gas void fraction distribution, with detectability strongly influenced by flow conditions and discharge size. The proposed nomograph predicts gas release velocity with reasonable agreement relative to experimental measurements, highlighting its potential applicability for subsea leak assessment and process safety analysis in multiphase pipeline systems.

Quantifying bacterial thermal resistance for drying and roasting processes using a novel low-humidity control method.

We have analyzed 39 major ammonium nitrate (AN) accidents (1916-2022) that reveal systemic catastrophic risks have not diminished over the past century. This challenges the prevailing narrative of improved process safety of AN on account of iterative guidelines and technology advances. Applying extreme value theory (EVT), we model temporal occurrence as a homogeneous Poisson process (maximum likelihood estimate λ ≈ 0.23 events/year) and casualty severity as heavy-tailed (generalized Pareto distribution, shape parameter ξ ≈ 1.13). These findings indicate that there are persistent systemic patterns. This is shown by the implied "shadow mean" that exceeds the sample mean by 1.5-19-fold, and societal risk profiles occupy the "intolerable" region per frequency-number curve criteria. To address this problem, we establish an EVT-based systemic monitoring framework with quantitative benchmarks, identifying 50-year (∼315 fatalities) and 100-year (∼715 fatalities) return levels as a data-driven baseline for assessing safety performance. This ensemble framework provides a necessary tool for stakeholders to monitor realized systemic risks over mechanism-driven simulations or narrative expectations.

Ensuring process safety: validating industrial cookie and waffle production with a surrogate strain

In order to lessen its impact on the environment, increase resource efficiency, and improve process safety while preserving product quality, the pharmaceutical sector is progressively implementing sustainable practices. The creation of environmentally safe synthetic pathways for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has been made possible by developments in green chemistry, catalysis, and process intensification. Waste, energy consumption, and solvent usage have been shown to be significantly reduced by techniques including step-economical and atom-efficient synthesis, one-pot processes, biocatalysis, solvent substitution, continuous manufacturing, and modular production systems. The adoption of sustainable techniques has been hastened by industry-led green chemistry programs, public-private collaborations, and regulatory guidelines from organizations like the FDA, EMA, and ICH. Technical, financial, scale-up, and regulatory obstacles still exist despite these developments. It is anticipated that new developments such as AI-driven route design, net-zero manufacturing, circular economy models, and the incorporation of sustainability in early drug discovery will further shift pharmaceutical development toward efficient and ecologically conscious production. This review critically evaluates existing techniques, industrial case studies, regulatory measures, and future perspectives in sustainable medication development, giving a comprehensive viewpoint for researchers, industry experts, and politicians.

To explore high-quality phage resources for controlling Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) contamination, a virulent phage vB-Efa1 was isolated and purified from poultry slaughterhouse sewage in this study. Its biological characteristics, whole-genome features, and potential in ensuring poultry product processing safety were systematically investigated. The phage belongs to the Siphoviridae family, with an optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1 and a titer of 8.87 lg PFU/mL; it has a 30 min latent period and stable lytic activity, retaining good stability at 25-37 °C, pH 6-8, and 4 °C. Its circular whole genome is 166,586 bp in length with a GC content of 35.46%, encoding 276 genes; no antibiotic resistance genes were detected, and only one low-pathogenic-risk virulence-related sequence was identified. Application tests in poultry products revealed that temperature is the key factor regulating phage titer: the titer stably maintained 5.5-6.6 lg PFU/mL at 4 °C, while proliferating significantly at 25 °C, reaching 7.55-8.38 lg PFU/mL at 12 h. Collectively, vB-Efa1 exhibits superior biological traits, environmental adaptability, and biosafety, making it a promising biocontrol candidate for mitigating E. faecalis contamination in poultry products.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards in healthcare aim to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of medical devices, clinical processes, and health management systems of various countries across the world. This study reviews the perception of healthcare professionals about ISO standards at Saudi Arabia concerning patient safety, medical device management, and their overall influence on clinical and nonclinical practices. The previous study was based on the global healthcare systems of the US and Europe-like developed countries. The online cross-sectional survey of 300 respondents was selected from all regions and professions. Most of the respondents were from urban regions: Riyadh represented 30.4%, Jeddah 25.2%, and the Eastern Province represented 18.6%. The biomedical engineers constituted 43.3%, physicians comprised 29.2%, and most of the participants were males, 87%. Response to the question about ISO standards was that 79.8% agreed that ISO standards play a critical role in improving patient safety; biomedical engineers demonstrated 85.2%, while physicians were at 82.6%. Medical device calibration garnered 81.0% agree that ISO standards on calibration of medical devices are important. Differences across the 4 major regions demonstrated a strong level of agreement among respondents in Riyadh and Makkah but weaker levels among those in Asir and the Northern Borders, as follows: Riyadh 81.5%, Makkah 78.9%, Asir 58.9%, and Northern Borders 53.2%. ISO adoption barriers were reported for mostly nonclinical areas; training shortage, 56.8%, and resource unavailability were the main factors that acted as the main barriers. Besides, full agreement with relevance among ISO standards came to 85.9% among professionals with more than 15 years of experience. The inference to be drawn from such findings is that the same throw a critical light on the reception and application of ISO standards in Saudi healthcare and pinpoints those areas that require further amelioration and awareness across regions and professional groups.

ABSTRACT Syngas, a mixture primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is widely used in energy and chemical industries. In practical scenarios such as catalytic reforming, methane is often blended into syngas streams, significantly altering its combustion and explosion characteristics and posing new safety challenges. In this study, the effects of methane addition on the explosion limits, critical oxygen concentration (COC), and explosion hazard of syngas were investigated through closed-vessel explosion experiments and chemical kinetic simulations. The results show that as the methane volume fraction increases from 0% to 50%, the lower explosion limit (LEL) drops from 8.75% to 5.15%, while the upper explosion limit (UEL) decreases sharply from 59.15% to 17.05%, leading to a substantial narrowing of the flammability range. The COC also increases from 6.85% to 11.55%, indicating a reduced explosion risk and enhanced inerting resistance. An explosion hazard index was further established based on pressure rise data, confirming that methane blending significantly lowers both the maximum pressure and pressure rise rate. Reaction kinetic analysis using the NUIG-Mech 1.1 and the Aramco-Mech 3.0 mechanisms reveals that OH radicals play a dominant role in sustaining chain reactions and promoting radical propagation, whereas CH3 radicals, generated from methane, act as chain inhibitors by scavenging active species such as ∙OH and ∙H. These findings demonstrate that methane admixture weakens the explosivity of syngas by suppressing radical chain branching, narrowing the explosion envelope, and improving the intrinsic safety of syngas-based processes.

Abstract Entrained flow gasification technology represents a critical advancement in the clean utilization of coal and organic waste materials. The burner, a core component of gasification systems, has historically suffered from limited operational lifespans due to issues such as erosion, thereby compromising process safety and long‐term reliability. This paper proposes an intrinsically safe design principle based on the combustion/gasification reaction process and oxygen jet entrainment within the furnace, which utilizes the isolation of an inert process medium to reduce combustion intensity. Numerical simulations demonstrate that this inert process media isolation method effectively reduces combustion intensity and flame temperature near the burner exit. Based on the proposed design principle, three kinds of gasification burner isolated by coal water slurry, steam, and pulverized coal are developed and applied in industry. The industrial applications show that the service life of the newly developed burners is greatly improved compared with the traditional burner. The service life of a novel coal water slurry burner with partial coal water slurry isolation has exceeded 180 days, and the service life of pulverized coal burner with steam and pulverized coal (oxygen stream in an annular pulverized coal jet) have surpassed 490 and 360 days, respectively.

Brazil is among the world's leading exporters of chicken meat, and microbiological evaluation of carcasses is essential to verify process hygiene and safety. This study assessed the microbiological effectiveness and economic impact of two sampling methods for poultry carcasses: the excision of pooled samples of skin and muscle from multiple carcass regions, as recommended by Brazilian authorities, and the excision of neck skin alone. In accordance with Brazilian authorities guidelines requiring carcass evaluation through Enterobacteriaceae counts, these microorganisms were employed to assess contamination across different regions of 90 carcasses. Subsequently, Enterobacteriaceae counts were performed on 144 carcasses using both sampling methods. Mesophilic microorganisms, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus were tested in ten carcasses sampled by both methods to confirm the results obtained from the enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae and results were evaluated using Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, F-test, Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn, and T-test. Additionally, costs related to labor time and protein waste were quantified in 18 slaughterhouses. Results showed that Enterobacteriaceae counts in neck, cloaca, and wing regions were similar but significantly lower than those in pooled dorsal samples (p < 0.05). Neck skin samples were statistically comparable to dorsal pooled samples and exhibited higher contamination than ventral samples, demonstrating equivalent or superior microbiological representativeness. The neck skin method required less time, produced less protein waste, and reduced costs by 99%, indicating a more efficient and cost-effective alternative for microbiological monitoring of poultry carcasses.

The nitration of anthraquinone (AQ) to form 1-nitroanthraquinone (1-NAQ) is a key step of significant industrial value in aromatic nitration reactions. However, its microscopic mechanism and the formation mechanism of regioselectivity have long lacked clear theoretical explanations. This study employs density functional theory calculations combined with an implicit solvent model to reveal the complete reaction pathway of AQ nitration under mixed acid conditions at the atomic scale. Both kinetic and thermodynamic results consistently indicate that this reaction follows a typical two-step electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism: the attack of the nitroyl ion (NO2+) on the C1 site constitutes the rate-determining step (energy barrier: 7.327 kcal/mol), while the sulfite ion abstracts the intermediate H to form 1-NAQ (energy barrier: 2.896 kcal/mol). The highly regional selectivity of the reaction toward C1 is elucidated through the local electronic structure characteristics, charge distribution, and the formation and cleavage behavior of key bonds. Thermodynamic analysis further reveals that the Gibbs free energy of both transition states decreases significantly with increasing temperature, reflecting strong thermal driving forces. The variation in heat capacity with temperature indicates the electronic restructuring accompanying the destruction and restoration of aromaticity during the reaction process. This study elucidates the mixed-acid nitration reaction mechanism of AQs, providing a comprehensive quantitative description of the nitration mechanism for AQ compounds. It establishes a theoretical foundation for designing safe, efficient, and continuous nitration processes.

Clinical faculty on nontenure academic tracks are vital to nursing education, yet they face significant emotional and structural barriers to promotion. This article explores how vague criteria, inequitable recognition, and institutional neglect create environments that foster burnout, imposter syndrome, and disengagement. Drawing from literature, case studies, and personal accounts, the authors reveal how promotion ambiguity undermines faculty well-being and retention. Recommendations are offered to enhance clarity, mentorship, and psychological safety in promotion processes. This call to action highlights the urgent need for academic institutions to equitably support clinical educators and acknowledge their indispensable role in shaping the nursing workforce.

Dysphagia involves impairments in chewing and swallowing, requiring foods with controlled textural properties to ensure safe and efficient oral processing. Despite standardized frameworks like the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), reproducible sensory evaluation tools are limited. This study proposes a methodological framework for the sensory evaluation of texture-modified foods (TMFs) designed to mimic the oral processing patterns of individuals with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). A multidisciplinary expert panel developed a structured sensory protocol incorporating emulated oral tasks representative of typical oral behaviors in OD patients. Thirty-two commercial TMFs were analyzed, identifying key sensory attributes-hardness, fracturability, adhesiveness, flowability, residue and intraoral variability-linked to swallowing safety and acceptability. Oral tasks included holding the food in the mouth, moving it with the tongue, pressing it against and removing it from the palate, assessing consistency changes, and swallowing. Each attribute was mapped to specific oral tasks. Results revealed substantial variability in the sensorial attributes of foods intended for OD people. This approach bridges clinical dysphagia care with sensory science, enabling better evaluation and development of safer, more acceptable foods for individuals with OD. Further validation is warranted to confirm its diagnostic and practical applicability.

Reimagining oil recovery: Sustainable downstream processing of oleaginous yeasts for food applications.

Abstract Background Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) is the national organization whose aim is to reduce unnecessary tests and treatments in Canada. The supporting CWC toolkit “Bye, Bye PPIs” was launched in 2017. It has been one of the most frequently downloaded toolkits. However, this toolkit was outdated and missed appropriate prescribing information on PPI use, including conditions such as (symptomatic) Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and dyspepsia, and lacked an evidence based approach for deprescribing/dose reduction. Aims To develop an up to date evidence based toolkit to support prescribers and pharmacists in implementing effective interventions to optimize PPI prescribing for adults and adolescents.1) Prescribing PPIs only for appropriate indications, durations and doses, 2) Deprescribing PPIs when there is no indication for long-term use, and 3) Engaging patients in reducing unnecessary continuous PPI use when there is no ongoing indication, the dose can be lowered, or no clear benefit is evident. Methods A core group of four individuals completed a literature review, Fishbone Diagram and Driver Diagram to better understand the existing gaps, current barriers to appropriate prescribing and describing, and effective tools to address these. Widespread input was obtained from interest holders including Family Physicians, Gastroenterologists, Internal Medicine Physicians, Pharmacologists and Quality Improvement Specialists. Consensus on final recommendations and their supporting tools were reached over a 6-month period. Results The updated toolkit (https://choosingwiselycanada.org/toolkit/ask-why-ppis/) includes a table with appropriate prescribing and duration for symptom-based treatment (e.g. dyspepsia), endoscopy-based indications (e.g. peptic ulcers), prophylaxis (e.g. NSAIDS), and rare conditions (e.g. ZE-syndrome) and whether the patient is a candidate for deprescribing. The table includes recommendations on starting dose, need for long-term use, whether step up to bid dosing can occur. A Flowchart is also depicted describing the safe process for dose reduction or deprescribing in eligible patients. See Fig 1. The toolkit includes a “myth busters” section to guide decision-making process of healthcare providers (e.g., “PPIs twice a day controls reflux better than once a day”) and a patient information handout for PPI information and symptom management. Conclusions PPIs are among the most widely used medications worldwide. While generally safe and effective, PPIs are often prescribed for a longer duration or at a higher dose than guidelines recommend. The updated CWC toolkit “ASK WHY FOR PPIs” is an evidence based guide that can easily be utilized by busy clinicians highlighting explicit recommendations on indication, dosing, and safe deprescribing of PPIs, and for patients to reduce low-value care. Deprescribing/Dose reduction: an evidence based approach to PPIs Funding Agencies NoneNA

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples share rich cultural traditions unrivalled across the world; however, the continued impact of colonisation led to sustained, profound trauma that has spanned generations. With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people presenting to hospital emergency departments (ED) for self-harm and suicidal behaviours at a rate 2.9 times higher than non-Indigenous people, there is a need to develop culturally appropriate interventions to address this growing problem. This paper sought to describe the co-design process of culturally adapting a brief therapeutic intervention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who display self-harm and/or suicidal behaviours. The adaptation focus was Therapeutic Assessment (TA), a brief intervention provided to young people who present to the ED with self-harm. The process was split into two phases located in Geraldton and Meekatharra, two communities in the Mid-west of Western Australia. In phase one, three male Aboriginal young people (aged between 16 and 19 years old) and eight Aboriginal Elders participated in two yarning circles run on one day. In phase two, 26 Aboriginal young people (aged between 12 and 25 years old), five Aboriginal senior members of the community and one Aboriginal carer participated in a combination of small yarning circles and/or single interviews. This paper describes the elements of the culturally safe process of adapting a brief intervention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people experiencing self-harm and/or suicidal behaviours. Two points are important to note. The first is that implementing a culturally safe process can be an outcome in itself, and second, that the principles supporting cultural safety can assist in evaluating how non-Indigenous researchers implement this process.

Preparation of ammonium dinitramide spherical particles with improved anti-hygroscopicity performance by a low-temperature safe process

Abstract Current selection criteria for autofrettage pressure in hoop wrapped composite vessels are inadequately defined, critically lacking consideration of axial structural safety and fatigue life requirements. To address this, the axial structure safety of the vessel during the autofrettage process within the respective selection range chosen by different criteria was analyzed. Results clarified the axial burst risks within conventional selection ranges. A safety criterion constraining pressure between the hydrostatic test and the liner axial burst limits was established. Fatigue analysis using fracture mechanics revealed that the mechanism of the autofrettage process enhances fatigue life of vessels by reducing crack-tip stress intensity factors due to residual stresses. The results also indicate that under axial structural safety constraints, the maximum fatigue life of vessels after autofrettage is only 12,100 cycles, which is significantly lower than the design requirement of 37,540 cycles. This demonstrates that current autofrettage processes fail to ensure processing safety and adequate fatigue life. To resolve this, an improved method imposing axial constraint to reduce stress and enhance liner axial capacity was proposed, and its feasibility was validated through numerical simulations. By enhancing axial load-bearing capacity, this approach expands the autofrettage pressure range, introducing higher residual stress that extends fatigue life to meet design requirements.