Real-time Safety Monitoring Research Articles

Control charts for accident frequency: a motivation for real-time occupational safety monitoring

This paper quantitatively motivates the need for active monitoring of occupational safety incident data through the use of cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts. The frequency of incidents within a subset of historical accident data is analysed. The performance of Poisson CUSUM and exponential CUSUM (time-between-events) charts is compared in an illustrative example to show that shorter periods of aggregation and time-between-events monitoring lead to more timely indications of increased accident frequency. An extension showing the anticipated performance of these charts with real-time data is given. Various adjustments to the monitoring system are also simulated to show that quick implementation of hazard controls can significantly impact safety performance. Decreases in the frequency of safety incidents as a result of implemented hazard controls can also be monitored.

The Data Fusion in Multi-Sensors Grain Information Monitoring System Based on Improved BP Neural Networks

According to the architecture characteristics of the grain storage system and the main factors influencing the safety of the grain storage, this paper has proposed a two layers data fusion system based on multi-sensors grain storage monitoring technique, which is used to identify the safety of the storage. The first layer including data extraction and encoding, the second layer is mainly built up by the improved BP NN. The results show that the system can fully fuse the data collected by the sensors and realize the real-time safety monitoring of the grain storage.

Design for the Real-Time Three-Dimensional Digital Platform of GIS-Based Mine Safety Monitoring

With the applications of GIS technology, 3D modeling, programming, database technology and network communication technology, combining with Visual C ++6.0 and OpenGL, a real-time three-dimensional digital platform of GIS-based safety monitoring was designed. In the platform, a GIS-based mine simulation model and database framework were built; an overall data integration structure of the three-dimensional digital platform was designed; the GIS-based safety monitoring platform model and platform architecture were designed too. The platform has been designed and implemented in some one mining area in Shandong province and the application works well. This platform’s design and implementation, one of the most typical and successful cases in digital mine construction, provides viable ideas and methods for the construction of the real-time and three-dimensional digital safety monitoring building.

Monitoring adverse events of vaccines against Mexican flu

In November 2009, a vaccination campaign against Influenza A (H1N1) was started in the Netherlands. The accelerated registration procedure of the vaccines used in this campaign and the use of these vaccines on a large scale indicated a need for real-time safety monitoring. This article looks at the way in which the safety monitoring of the pandemic influenza vaccines was organized in the Netherlands and it gives an overview of the main findings with respect to the two pandemic influenza vaccines, Focetria and Pandemrix, used in the Netherlands. Close monitoring, an efficient processing and analyzing the reports resulted in a close and real-time monitoring of the safety of the vaccines. From 1 November 2009 until 1 March 2010, 7534 reports concerning one or more events possibly related to the administration of both vaccines were received. 2788 of the reports related to Focetria and 4746 of the reports related to Pandemrix. No signals of possible batch-related problems were detected for either vaccine. The profile of the reported adverse events is comparable with the information provided in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Differences in reported events between both vaccines may be caused by bias and confounding due to the different populations for which these vaccines have been used.

Monitoring Adverse Events of the Vaccination Campaign Against Influenza A (H1N1) in the Netherlands

In November 2009, a vaccination campaign against Influenza A (H1N1) was started in the Netherlands. The accelerated registration procedure of the vaccines used in this campaign and the use of these vaccines on a large scale indicated a need for real-time safety monitoring. To describe the processing, analysing and performing of signal detection by the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre (Lareb) on reports of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with respect to the two pandemic influenza vaccines, Focetria® and Pandemrix®, used in the Netherlands. The secondary aim is to provide a summary of the results of the safety monitoring of both vaccines. Description of the process of collecting information and analysis of the safety monitoring of the pandemic vaccines during the vaccination campaign against H1N1 in the Netherlands. An observational study on adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) associated with vaccines used in this campaign was conducted. The use of a dedicated web form with predefined AEFIs enabled an efficient way of processing and analysing the reports, resulting in a close to real-time monitoring of the safety of the vaccines. From 1 November 2009 until 1 March 2010, 7534 reports concerning one or more AEFIs possibly related to the administration of both vaccines were received. 2788 of the reports related to Focetria® and 4746 of the reports related to Pandemrix®. The total time between receiving the reports and completion was longer for the serious reports (average 2.8 days) compared with the non-serious reports (average 0.8 days). The profile of the reported adverse events is comparable with the information provided in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Differences in reported AEFIs between both vaccines may be caused by bias and confounding due to the different populations for which these vaccines have been used. No signals of possible batch-related problems were detected for either vaccine. The method applied allowed for real-time monitoring for AEFIs during the mass vaccination campaign. The use of web-based forms, preferably with information on venue and used batch numbers, enabled an efficient monitoring of possible batch-related problems. No major safety issues occurred with respect to the type of reported AEFIs, or with the batches of either vaccine.

SPA–fuzzy method based real-time risk assessment for major hazard installations storing flammable gas

For monitoring and control of major hazard installations storing flammable gas, the risk based warning/early-warning is very important. A set-pair analysis (SPA) based fuzzy assessment method (SPA–fuzzy) is proposed for the real-time risk assessment in this paper. Based on principle of SPA and fuzzy logic theory, the likelihood of accident occurrence and the consequence of the accident can be assessed, and the risk value or risk degree can be evaluated. The method takes advantage of the data acquired from the real-time safety monitoring system, so that the varying of the risk can be revealed during an accident developing. The risk assessment simulation of VCE accident caused by gas leaked from LPG tank is performed. It is shown that SPA–fuzzy method has the same risk value as that assessed by normal fuzzy method.

Consolidation Therapy with Subcutaneous (SC) Alemtuzumab Results in Severe Infectious Toxicity in Previously Untreated CLL Patients Who Achieve a Complete Response (CR) after Fludarabine and Rituximab (FR) Induction Therapy: Interim Safety Analysis of the CALGB Study 10101.

Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) is approved for the treatment of fludarabine-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Given the increasing role of chemoimmunotherapy in the treatment of CLL, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B initiated a phase II study administering FR followed by alemtuzumab for remission consolidation to previously untreated, symptomatic CLL patients (pts). Pts received fludarabine 25 mg/m2 IV on days 1–5; rituximab 50 mg/m2 IV on day 1, 325 mg/m2 IV on day 3, and 375 mg/m2 IV on day 5 of cycle 1, and 375 mg/m2 IV on day 1 of cycles 2–6; every 28 days for up to 6 cycles. Four months after the last dose of fludarabine, pts with stable or responsive disease by NCI 96 response criteria received consolidation therapy with SC alemtuzumab 3 mg on day 1, 10 mg on day 3, 30 mg on day 5, and 30 mg thrice weekly thereafter for 6 weeks. Pts received standard pneumocystis (PCP) and Varicella Zoster Virus prophylaxis and were monitored weekly for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation by PCR, antigen test, or hybrid capture. We report safety data on the first 51 pts who received alemtuzumab. Median age was 60 years (range, 23–82), and 75% were male. Of 34 pts who attained an NCI 96 partial response (PR) after FR induction, 9 (26%) experienced unacceptable toxicity to alemtuzumab, as defined prospectively by the study. Eight grade 3 toxicities (4 opportunistic infections, 3 CMV reactivation, 1 hemorrhagic cystitis), and 1 grade 5 EBV lymphoproliferative disorder were observed. In contrast, 17 pts had CR after FR induction and 8 (47%) had unacceptable toxicity. Complications included grade 3 infections in 3 pts (2 CMV, 1 cryptococcus) and 5 grade 5 infections (viral meningitis, Listeria meningitis, Legionella pneumonia, CMV and PCP pneumonia). These infections occurred both during therapy and for up to 16 months following therapy. Analysis of alemtuzumab pharmacokinetics and genomic tumor features is currently ongoing. Continuous real-time safety monitoring prompted a study amendment to prohibit further pts in CR after FR induction from receiving alemtuzumab consolidation. Accrual of new pts to the trial is complete. Only pts in PR or with stable disease after FR induction continue to receive alemtuzumab consolidation, with close monitoring for infectious and other toxicities. Detailed response and outcome data will be reported when all pts have completed therapy. We conclude that alemtuzumab cannot be safely administered as consolidation therapy to pts who achieve an NCI 96 CR following induction chemoimmunotherapy. The safety and feasibility of alemtuzumab consolidation for pts in PR after FR induction remains under study, and such therapy should not be pursued outside of a clinical trial due to concerns about serious infectious morbidity and mortality.

Examination of issues related to the development and implementation of real-time operational safety monitoring tools in the nuclear power industry

In recent years, risk and reliability techniques have been increasingly used to optimize deterministic requirements and to improve the operational safety of nuclear power stations. This paper discusses the historical development and current status of implementation of real-time operational safety monitoring tools in the nuclear power industry worldwide. A safety monitor is defined as a PC-based risk management tool, based on a plant specific PSA, which can be used to manage plant safety during the day-to-day operation of a nuclear power plant by planning maintenance activities and providing advisory information to plant operational staff in order to avoid high risk plant configurations. As this technique has only been applied in a few plants worldwide, the technology is still evolving and there are several technical and implementation-related issues which still need to be resolved. This paper attempts to summarize all such issues and describe how they have been addressed in several different applications of this technology around the world.