Safety Elements Research Articles

СУЧАСНІ ПРОБЛЕМИ ВИРОБНИЧОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ НАФТОГАЗОВОГО КОМПЛЕКСУ УКРАЇНИ

Production in the oil and gas sector, causing the existence of an increased risk of hazards both for the internal and external environment of operation, requires increased attention to the problems of ensuring industrial safety. The issue of ensuring the production safety of the enterprises of the oil and gas complex of Ukraine is particularly relevant in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been ongoing since 2014 and is in full-scale phase for the second year in a row, accompanied by significant destruction throughout the country. The problems of improving the functioning of enterprises of the oil and gas complex of Ukraine are constantly in the field of view of researchers, each of whom focuses attention on a certain set of problems and possible ways to solve them. At the same time, more attention is paid to the problem of production safety of oil and gas enterprises from the point of view of its individual components. Thus, the modern domestic scientific discourse does not focus on the problems of production safety of the enterprises of the oil and gas complex, which actualizes the need for research on the specified issues. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the components of industrial safety of enterprises of the oil and gas complex of Ukraine and to determine the problems of its provision in the context of the Ukrainian-Russian war. Methods. The methodological basis of the research was made up of general scientific and special methods of economic science, in particular methods of theoretical generalization and logical abstraction. Analytical materials of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Labor Service of Ukraine, the State Statistics Service, the World Bank, the Government of Ukraine and the European Commission were used in the research process and processed using methods of statistical analysis: comparison, grouping, calculation of growth rates etc. The results. The essence of the categories "safety" and "industrial safety" of the enterprise was studied. Existing domestic and foreign approaches to identifying the key components of industrial safety of oil and gas complex enterprises are analyzed. The author's approach to the formation of the composition of industrial safety elements is proposed and the characteristics of each of them are given. The situation with industrial injuries in the industry in the pre-war period was studied and the losses of the sector and ecology as a result of hostilities were analyzed. The peculiarities of modern processes of ensuring industrial safety at the enterprises of the oil and gas complex of Ukraine are substantiated

APPLICATION OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FIELD OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT: FOREIGN AND KAZAKHSTANI EXPERIENCE

The article discusses modern innovative technologies used in the field of wastewater treatment. Special attention is paid to the principles of operation, advantages and applications of technologies such as membrane bioreactors, anaerobic reactors, aerobic granular precipitation, photocatalytic and electrochemical purification, as well as bio- and nanofiltration. The analysis of the experience of the implementation of these technologies in various countries, including successful cases demonstrating the improvement of the quality of water resources and increasing the efficiency of water treatment systems. The experience of Kazakhstan is considered separately, where the use of advanced wastewater treatment methods is becoming an important element of environmental safety. A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of the use of technologies in Kazakhstan and abroad is carried out, the main factors influencing the success of their implementation in the country are highlighted.

'I Think the First Priority is Physically Safe First, Before You Can Actually Get Psychologically Safe': Staff Perspectives on Psychological Safety in Inpatient Mental Health Settings.

While the concept of psychological safety has been gaining momentum, research concerning psychological safety in inpatient mental health wards is lacking. To investigate how psychological safety is conceptualised by healthcare staff in inpatient mental health units, and what barriers and facilitators exist. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse 12 interviews. Participants conceptualised psychological safety as feeling safe from physical harm, being able to develop meaningful relationships and feeling valued at work. Participants often did not feel physically safe at work, which led them to feel psychologically unsafe. Barriers to psychological safety were reliance on agency workers, punitive management approaches and the inherent risk in working with mental health inpatients. Facilitators included appropriate staffing ratios and skill mix, being able to form meaningful relationships and having access to support. The emphasis on the physical safety element within psychological safety means that existing definitions of psychological safety require extension for the mental healthcare context. However, large-scale research is needed to further understand experiences of psychological safety in this group. A better understanding of the dimensions of psychological safety in inpatient mental health settings could support the development of tools to investigate psychological safety interventions. Organisations could support psychological safety through regular staff supervision and improved staffing ratios and skill mix.

WP6.14 - Automated analysis of operative video in surgical training: Scoping review

Abstract Aims There is an increasing availability of operative video for use in surgical training. Emerging technologies can now assess video footage and automatically generate metrics that could be harnessed to improve the assessment of operative performance. This scoping review explores the current application of automated video analytics in surgical training. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane database were searched to identify studies which applied automated video analytics to trainee-performed operations. Search terms included ‘trainee’, ‘video analytics’ and ‘education’. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data on the methods of analysis, metrics generated and application to training. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were followed. Results Thirteen studies were identified. Computer vision tracking was the most common method of video analysis. Metrics were generated for processes (e.g. movement of instruments) and outcomes (e.g. intraoperative phase duration). Two studies generated metrics to assess critical safety elements (e.g. critical view of safety in laparoscopic cholecystectomy). Automated metrics were able to differentiate between different skill levels (e.g. consultant vs. trainee) and correlated with traditional methods of assessment. There was a lack of longitudinal application to training and only one qualitative study reported the experience of trainees using automated video analytics. Conclusion Automated video analytics is an emerging field which provides an objective assessment of operative performance. Gathering evidence to demonstrate the impact of long-term use on training outcomes is a priority for future research.

Assembling Zn2+ on surface of kevlar NanoFibers as functionalized separator for dendrite-free Zn anode and high-performance Zn metal batteries

The proliferation of wearable electronic products has made the development of flexible energy storage devices increasingly important. Among various options, aqueous Zn metal batteries are promising due to their low cost, safety, non-toxicity, environmental friendliness, and abundant element storage. However, the growth of dendrites on the anode surface of Zn metal batteries is a significant challenge to efficient transport of Zn2+, which leads to reduced battery capacity or even failure. This limitation hinders practical applications for these batteries. This study develops a functionalized separator with high ion transport performance and excellent mechanical performances by electrostatic assembling deprotonated PPTA− molecular chains with Zn2+ using Kevlar as a raw material. The successful assembly of Zn2+ is confirmed through chemical composition and functional group analysis. The prepared separator significantly shows the increased the transfer number of Zn2+ and decreased activation energy of Zn2+ deposition. The separator is used in Zn||Zn symmetric batteries, achieving a reversible deposition/stripping process of more than 180 h at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 and a deposition capacity of 1 mAh·cm−2. When applied to Zn||MnO2 batteries, an initial discharging specific capacity of up to 220 mAh·g−1 is obtained at a high current density of 2 A g−1, and the battery could be cycled stably for more than 1, 200 cycles, with a smooth and flat Zn anode surface and no obvious dendrite growth. The separator has good potential for flexible energy storage applications due to its excellent mechanical strength, which enables it to maintain high electrochemical activity even after bending 500 times at 180°. Overall, the functionalized separator effectively inhibits dendrite growth, improves the electrochemical stability of Zn metal batteries, and demonstrates significant application potential for other flexible energy storage applications.

Automated analysis of operative video in surgical training: scoping review.

There is increasing availability of operative video for use in surgical training. Emerging technologies can now assess video footage and automatically generate metrics that could be harnessed to improve the assessment of operative performance. However, a comprehensive understanding of which technology features are most impactful in surgical training is lacking. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the current use of automated video analytics in surgical training. PubMed, Scopus, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane database were searched, to 29 September 2023, following PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Search terms included 'trainee', 'video analytics', and 'education'. Articles were screened independently by two reviewers to identify studies that applied automated video analytics to trainee-performed operations. Data on the methods of analysis, metrics generated, and application to training were extracted. Of the 6736 articles screened, 13 studies were identified. Computer vision tracking was the common method of video analysis. Metrics were described for processes (for example movement of instruments), outcomes (for example intraoperative phase duration), and critical safety elements (for example critical view of safety in laparoscopic cholecystectomy). Automated metrics were able to differentiate between skill levels (for example consultant versus trainee) and correlated with traditional methods of assessment. There was a lack of longitudinal application to training and only one qualitative study reported the experience of trainees using automated video analytics. The performance metrics generated from automated video analysis are varied and encompass several domains. Validation of analysis techniques and the metrics generated are a priority for future research, after which evidence demonstrating the impact on training can be established.

Assessment of comprehensive school safety in Vietnam: From policy to practice

Since the first School Safety Program launched by the Ministry of Education and Training in 2007, Vietnam has promoted various multi-sectoral activities to advance school safety nationwide. This study aims to identify the opportunities to advance school disaster safety by assessing policies and practices in Vietnam. A framework adapted from the ASEAN Comprehensive School Safety Framework and School Disaster Resilience Assessment is utilized to evaluate policy coverage and implementation level of school safety in Vietnam. The study systematically reviewed legal documents at national level, followed by questionnaire surveys conducted for primary schools in Da Nang City, which was selected as a pilot evaluation site owing to its vulnerability to natural disasters and extensive records of school safety practices. Results show that the most critical elements of school safety have been reflected in existing policy documents and regulations. However, the gap between policies and implementation remains due to the inadequacy of school safety viewpoint, designated roles and responsibilities, resources, and guidelines for supporting the school safety practices at the local level. The findings emphasize the importance of a national school safety framework that enables institutional and resource arrangements for better practices at the local level.

COASTing Through Bedside Report: An Innovative Approach to Safe Transitions of Care.

Bedside shift report improves patient satisfaction, peer accountability, communication, and decreases safety events. Clinical practice of bedside report varied prior to the pandemic. Due to limited personal protective equipment and exposure risk, bedside report was halted during the pandemic. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice was used to guide this project. To standardize communication during bedside report, safety data and literature were reviewed and grouped by themes. The acronym COAST was developed, consisting of code status, oxygen, access, safety, and tubes/drains. These elements were to be discussed at the bedside during handoff. Compliance with completing elements of COAST increased during the pilot, 9- and 12-month sustainment periods. Additional safety-related outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation wristband application, falls, and good catches improved. Notably, overtime declined. A bedside report with standardized communication focusing on safety elements can improve compliance with adoption and patient safety outcomes.

Applications of Psychological Principles in Game Design: Unveiling the Dynamics and Psychology of Valorant

"Valorant" is a multiplayer shooter game developed by Riot Games that has gained significant popularity in the competitive gaming community. Players are provided with an immersive gameplay experience with a blend of first-person shooter mechanics, distinctive character skills, and strategic teamwork dynamics. This article explores several elements of Valorant, including agents, game types, weapons mechanics, map layouts, and team strategy through case study and some literature review. Whats more, it analyzes the roles and dynamics within teams, investigating their impact on achieving success in gameplay. Moreover, the article explores the elements of risk and safety in Valorant, providing insight into how cognitive and emotional processes influence player decision-making. This examination provides readers with valuable insights into the intricacies of Valorant and its substantial impact on the competitive gaming arena.

건설현장의 스마트 안전보건활동 요소에 관한 중요도 분석

The purpose of this study is to analyze the importance of smart safety and health activity elements in order to increase the execution power and effectiveness of smart safety and health activities at construction sites. To this end, in this study, the elements of smart safety and health activities were derived from the technical, educational, and management levels, and AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) survey data were collected and analyzed for safety-related experts at construction sites. As a result of the relative importance analysis of the elements of smart safety and health activities, the priority of smart experience education programs was the highest, and smart risk assessment system, smart safety control system operation, smart worker safety management, smart work site management, smart technology specialized training instructors, smart risk area access management, safety and health management system, smart education certification system, smart equipment management, and smart non-face-to-face education were sequentially high. The results of this analysis can be evaluated as the most effective way to prevent and act on safety accidents in construction sites and situations using Augmented Reality(AR) and VR(Virtual Reality), and it needs to be introduced first. In addition, in order to prevent and reduce various industrial accidents at construction sites, it suggests that smart safety and health activities at the enterprise level, such as smart experience education, risk assessment, and integrated safety management systems, are needed rather than smart safety and health activities at the individual level.

Justice Work: Sisters (Having to) Do It for Themselves

Abstract This article outlines findings from our research which sought to explore the lived experiences of victim/survivors of stalking and/or coercive control as they navigated their way through the Scottish Criminal Justice System (SCJS), commissioned by the Scottish Government. Building on the work of Acker (1990), Hochschild (1983), Fishman (1978), Kelly (2016) and Vera-Gray (2018; 2020) our findings show that women’s involvement as victim-survivors with the criminal justice system insists they perform elements of both hidden (behind the scenes) and visible (but unacknowledged) work. These types of work replicate already identified elements of emotional, safety and violence work. In addition, however, we uncovered a new form of work that women must undertake when seeking justice which we have conceptualized as ‘Justice Work’.

Casgevy: Innovative Medicinal Products Require Innovative Approaches to Regulatory Assessment.

Casgevy (exa-cel) is an autologous cellular therapy modified ex vivo by a CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene-editing technology. For Casgevy to be granted the indication in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, one single-arm trial was submitted which was not amenable to conventional statistical analysis of 'effect of cause'. Therefore, an analysis was conducted on the basis of 'cause of effect' making use of the scheme described by Toulmin coupled to an analysis of causal inference. Based on the current data within the submitted study: subjects with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia no longer needed a red blood cell transfusion with a 93-percent probability if and only if administered Casgevy; PNS = 93%. It is acknowledged that unknown elements of safety may yet be revealed by long-term follow-up of recipients of Casgevy. Its durability of efficacy is, at present, also an unknown that may also be ascertained by long-term follow-up of recipients. The limitations of a causal analysis are related to assumptions of the proposed causal structure which may not capture the complexity of the real world. Overall, the claim that Casgevy is indicated to treat people with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia is considered to be supported by the results of the submitted study; the benefit-risk evaluation of Casgevy is found to be positive.

Safe use elements of finished herbal products: insights from consumers and practitioners in Malaysia

BackgroundThe use of finished herbal products (FHPs) among Malaysians today is expanding rapidly leading to a huge market of FHPs in the country. However, the mass production of FHPs in today’s market is alarming due to safety-use issues that could lead to serious adverse effects. Nevertheless, demands are still high for FHPs as most consumers perceived it as safe to consume as it is made from natural substances as the active ingredients. This study aims to explore the safe use elements of FHPs identified by two stakeholders: consumers and practitioners in Malaysia and further compare these elements with the current regulations.MethodsAs an exploratory study, its approach is to investigate at an in-depth level of understanding of safe use elements from the involved stakeholders: consumers and practitioners. We had a total of 4 focus group discussion sessions (1 FGD session with consumer and 3 FGD sessions with practitioners) as a method of collecting data from the participants. The FGDs were conducted in local native Malaysian and then being translated by researchers without changing their meanings. Thematic analysis was done which involves methodically reading through the verbatim transcripts and consequently segmenting and coding the text into categories that highlight what the participants have discussed.ResultsFrom the result, we found that both practitioners and consumers agreed a safe FHP must be in compliance with the guidelines from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH). There are other safe use elements highlighted including halal certification, trusted over-the-counter outlets, and published reports on the safety, efficacy, and quality.ConclusionsIn conclusion, both practitioners and consumers agreed that the most important safe-use element is compliance with MOH guidelines, but the depth of discussion regarding the safety elements among these stakeholders holds a very huge gap. Thus, initiatives must be planned to increase the knowledge and understanding about the MOH guidelines towards achieving a sustainable ecosystem in the safe use of FHPs.

Exploring treatment decision-making in chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase.

The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has transformed the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Each approved TKI has its own risk-benefit profile, and patients have choices across lines of therapy. Identifying the initial and subsequent treatment that will lead to the best possible outcome for individual patients is challenging. In this review, we summarize data for each approved TKI across lines of therapy in patients with CML in chronic phase, highlighting elements of each agent's safety and efficacy profile that may impact patient selection, and provide insights into individualized treatment sequencing decision-making aimed at optimizing patient outcomes.

Connected FPSOs Thrive on Automation

Modern life is connected. Our computers, phones, and watches are all tapped into personal insights, from a daily planner to keep track of meetings and appointments to a health monitor tracking everything from heart rate to blood oxygen level in real time. This connectivity has bled over into many different facets of our lives, including work. Business and industry maintain critical connections allowing for simplification of complex tasks and the monitoring of machines for safety and performance. As the oil field has become more connected, increasing opportunities for automation have been introduced into both new and existing oilfield technologies with aims to achieve new levels of productivity and safety. Whether it is a robotic arm on the drill floor of a rig bringing pipe from the stand to the well or autonomous robots being used for inspections and other operation observations in hard-to-reach or remote places, if the connectivity is there it opens the door to a vast, new toolkit for contractors and operators alike. In 2023, a group of contractors came together to help define the next steps in automation for floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels. The FPSO Coalition—made up of SLB, Rockwell Automation, Sensia, and Cognite—is a collaboration designed to accelerate the evolution of FPSOs by developing and employing new digital capabilities aimed at improving the reliability, availability, safety, and efficiency of the assets, while lowering the carbon footprint of their offshore operations. FPSOs have been invaluable tools for offshore development around the world for decades. Some older hardware does not have the benefit of being wired for connection or pieces of equipment being Internet of Things (IoT)-ready. As much as the coalition looks to solutions to integrate into new facilities, it also explores the limitations and potential for bringing older yet still viable components into the digital age. Under the venture, SLB was tapped to bring advanced digital solutions, subsurface domain expertise, and complex integration and project management capabilities to scale up efficiencies and lower the carbon footprint of operations across every stage of the FPSO life cycle. Rockwell would provide expertise in control and safety systems for FPSOs, as well as extensive experience in power systems. “Keeping in mind that the typical operating life of an FPSO can be 20-25-30 years, a lot can change in terms of technology, process conditions, regulatory requirements, etc.,” said Greg Trostel, global industry development manager for floating production at Rockwell Automation. “But ultimately, the main goal of automation is to ensure the reliable and safe operation of the vessel—no loss of containment, no personnel at risk, no environmental incidents. “Ideally, automation systems can adapt and grow with the changing technology and changing requirements. We depend on the automation systems to keep all the individual process modules connected to, and operating in concert with, the main vessel systems,” he said. One of the first things tasked to the coalition was a contract awarded to SLB for a multipurpose dynamic simulation solution providing an immersive digital twin environment to dynamically simulate operational processes and their control and automation systems, train personnel, and strengthen safety elements at five newbuild FPSO units to be installed in Búzios Field in the Santos Basin for Petrobras.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS REGARDING INFECTION PREVENTION AT THE TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR KPK

Occupational health and safety is a crucial element in every organization, especially in a health care setting. Health care workers (HCWs) play a role as vectors and reservoirs for the spread of infection from patient to patient and staff as well. Infection control and prevention practices are essential elements of quality health care and patient safety in health facilities. Objectives: This study was aimed at assessing the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of the HCWs towards infection control at three public sector hospitals in Peshawar KPK. The study will help policymakers in the design and development of appropriate infection prevention programs and strategic plans by identifying the gap in infection control practices. Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nurses regarding infection prevention and control by using a validated and structured questionnaire in three tertiary care hospitals in KPK. The sample size was calculated by using the Raosoft calculator, and the sample size was 318 nurses from these three hospitals, including those nurses who were willing to participate in the study and nurses who had more than one year of experience. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Result: The participants were 55% male and 45% female; 55% were married, 42% were unmarried, 2% were divorced, 51% were diploma holders, 49% were degree holders, and most of the participants were charge nurses, which is 89%, and 11% were working in different administrative positions. Most of the participants who completed the survey were working in intensive care units, which is 66%, and others working in general wards and OPDs. 61% of nurses got information about safety precautions from training, 61% and 29% from books, and 10% from other resources. Participants who got training were 52%, and 48% of participants did not get any training on infection control precautions. Nurses who had knowledge about safety precautions were 84%; only 16% had not enough knowledge about infection control precautions. In attitude and practice about infection control, 58% were in compliance with practice, and 88% showed a positive attitude regarding infection control practices. Conclusion: In the conclusion, we can say that there is enough knowledge among nurses regarding infection control practice, but implementation of this knowledge in practice should be ensured by doing strict supervision of infection control practices in every health care facility.

Risk Assessment for Nuclear Terrorism Probability and Its Application on a Hypothetical Nuclear Facility.

Radiation protection contains the key elements of nuclear safety and security. Despite the overlap between nuclear safety and security, their objectives differ fundamentally, focusing on unintentional accidents and intentional malicious events, respectively. As such, the Potential Facility Risk Index (PFRI), originally created for security purposes, has evolved into an approach that combines conventional probabilistic risk assessment (PRA), which is a widely employed method to evaluate the safety risks of nuclear facilities. This research has developed a risk assessment model within the PFRI framework to calculate the probability of nuclear terrorism. Three essential components of the model are integrated: an analysis of historical nuclear terrorism data to determine an initial threat frequency; the target-specific factor using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) target attractiveness analysis; and the adversary motivation factor based on site-specific social influences from the Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States (PIRUS) dataset. Applied to a hypothetical nuclear facility, the model produces a nuclear terrorism probability of 8.97 × 10-3 y - 1. The systematic methodology proposed in the study enables the derivation of nuclear terrorism probability with results in the same risk unit as safety risk assessment. This method allows decision makers to seamlessly incorporate nuclear safety and security risk assessments, offering a comprehensive perspective. Consequently, it enriches comprehension of nuclear facility risks and establishes the groundwork for future advancements.

Rituximab Therapy for Immune-Mediated Neurological Diseases: Our Experience at a Tertiary Care Centre.

Rituximab (RTX) is a monoclonal anti-CD20 chimeric antibody that inhibits B cell activity. However, it is an appealing substitute for traditional immunomodulatory drugs as a swiftly acting, targeted therapy with mounting evidence of efficacy and tolerance in numerous neuroinflammatory conditions. We discuss the scientific evidence for the use of RTX in neurological illnesses, as well as the dose, safety, and other practical elements of prescription. This study aims to assess and correlate the effects of RTX on immune-mediated neurological disorders. The primary objective of this study is to determine the outcomes in patients treated with RTX for the following conditions: myasthenia gravis (MG), autoimmune encephalitis, multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy, and inflammatory muscle disease. The secondary objective is to assess adverse drug reactions in patients treated with RTX. This is a prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care centre. The data were analyzed for the period from May 2022 to May 2024. Approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee before commencing the study, andwritten informed consent was obtained from all patients. A total of 56 patients were included in the study. The distribution of patients according to diseases is as follows: MG (17), MS (11), NMOSD (10), MOGAD (7), immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy (6), autoimmune encephalitis (3), and inflammatory muscle disease (2). However, one patient was lost to follow-up in the autoimmune encephalitis group. All patients experienced improvements in symptoms, and no relapse episodes have been reported except for one patient who had a relapse in the inflammatory muscle disease group. During the infusion process, some adverse drug reactions, such as chills and rigors, were observed, and two patients experienced major side effects, such as Pott's disease and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. Nevertheless, overall, rituximab shows promise as an off-labelimmunosuppressive treatment for the aforementioned neurological immune-mediated diseases.

Hybridization effect on energy absorption capacity of composite crash boxes

AbstractCrash boxes are safety elements generally made of metallic materials and mounted on the chassis of vehicles to prevent possible injuries to driver and passengers by absorbing the energy generated during a collision and ensuring integrity of vehicle. In order to save fuel and reduce harmful gases released into the environment, the proportion of metallic materials used in vehicles is decreasing and being replaced by composite materials. While composite materials are as durable as metallic materials, they are preferred because they are lighter. In this study, circular composites consisting of glass (S1), aramid (S2), carbon (S3), and hybrid combinations of aramid‐carbon‐glass (S4), carbon‐glass‐aramid (S5), and glass‐aramid‐carbon (S6), all with epoxy resin matrices, were produced using the vacuum infusion method and investigated. Crush parameters, maximum peak loads and specific energy absorption of hybrid tubes with different fiber types and winding order were compared. S3 tube had the best energy absorption performance among all samples of 257.288 Joules, while the worst energy absorption performance was obtained for S2 tube with 30.944 Joules. Among the hybrid samples, the best result was determined as 166.50 Joule with hybrid S5. Although the energy absorption capacities of hybrid composite tubes were close to each other, they had lower results for energy absorption and specific energy absorption than S1 and S3. For specific energy absorption, as with energy absorption, the best result was obtained with S3, while the lowest result was obtained with S2.Highlights The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of composite crash boxes. The effect of fiber type and hybridization was examined. Specific energy absorptions and maximum contact forces were compared. Cylindrical samples were produced by vacuum infusion. The variation of damage depending on fiber type was investigated.

Adjusting vehicle secondary safety ratings to account for crash-avoidance technology fitment using real-world crash and injury data

Objectives Publicizing safety ratings of vehicles can motivate manufacturers to prioritize safety and help consumers choose safer vehicles, leading to safer fleets. The benefits of primary safety technologies that prevent crash occurrence are not currently incorporated in current ratings in a way that values their safety benefits consistently. We aimed to propose a method for assigning weights for each safety technology to account for established safety benefits using published effectiveness and prevalence from real-life data. Methods To illustrate this method, we present a worked example calculated using crash and injury data from Australia and New Zealand. The method proposed attenuates the weights for given safety technologies where two or more safety technologies fitted to the same vehicle are effective for the same types of crashes. Results In the worked example using Australasian data, large SUVs were estimated to have the largest safety increment from the fitment of all the technologies considered compared to vehicles without these primary safety technologies, with an almost 17% reduction in crash occurrence. Cars with all the technologies fitted had estimated average crash reduction of between 11% and 12%. Conclusions Different market groups have different crash patterns, so the safety attributable to safety technology fitment differs at the market group level. This study presents an approach for providing a summary measure of crash avoidance according to the fitment of safety technologies. If this measure is combined with an estimate of secondary safety (whether derived from existing crash and injury data or from new car crash assessment programs), the combined estimate then represents the important elements of safety provided by the vehicle. The methods presented here form a rational basis for assigning safety ratings to represent the benefits of swiftly developing safety technologies.