Constructability: The key to reducing investment risk

The National Technology Roadmap for Semi-conductors indicates that the growth of the advanced technology factory cost is creating an exponential growth in factory investment risk. Management techniques are needed to help reduce that investment risk. Constructability implementation, if performed right, is a management concept that has been shown to reduce construction costs by 10 to 20 times its implementation cost. A corporate and project level constructability implementation program was developed by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) to help integrate construction knowledge with engineering, beginning at project inception. This article provides an historical base describing the development of constructability, constructability program criteria, and the constructability review process

Effects of a Smoke-free Law in Parks and Beaches on Smoking (2012)Behaviour: Methods to Determine Effectiveness

OVERVIEW As part of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control, smoke free laws have resulted in reductions of indoor air pollution, improvements in respiratory and cardiovascular health, reduction of smoking uptake by youth, and increasing tobacco use cessations in various jurisdictions. Although many studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of smoke-free policies in indoor spaces (e.g. restaurants, bars, workplaces, hospital settings, etc.), little is known about the effectiveness of such policies in outdoor public spaces. On September 1st, 2010, Vancouver’s smoke-free by-law for the city’s parks, beaches, and facilities came into effect. The aims of this study are two-fold. a) To examine the effect of this smoke-free law on the frequency of smoking in selected parks and beaches, and b) To determine the change in location of smoking, within parks and beaches, following the enactment of the smoke-free law. The hypotheses guiding this study are: 1. There will be a lower frequency of observed smoking behaviour following the introduction of the law and 2. Smoking behaviour will be dispersed to the peripheries (i.e. margins) of the parks and beaches, following the enactment of the smoke-free law

Effects of a Smoke-free Law in Parks and Beaches on Smoking Behaviour: Methods to Determine Effectiveness

OVERVIEW As part of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control, smoke free laws have resulted in reductions of indoor air pollution, improvements in respiratory and cardiovascular health, reduction of smoking uptake by youth, and increasing tobacco use cessations in various jurisdictions. Although many studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of smoke-free policies in indoor spaces (e.g. restaurants, bars, workplaces, hospital settings, etc.), little is known about the effectiveness of such policies in outdoor public spaces. On September 1st, 2010, Vancouver’s smoke-free by-law for the city’s parks, beaches, and facilities came into effect. The aims of this study are two-fold. a) To examine the effect of this smoke-free law on the frequency of smoking in selected parks and beaches, and b) To determine the change in location of smoking, within parks and beaches, following the enactment of the smoke-free law. The hypotheses guiding this study are: 1. There will be a lower frequency of observed smoking behaviour following the introduction of the law and 2. Smoking behaviour will be dispersed to the peripheries (i.e. margins) of the parks and beaches, following the enactment of the smoke-free law

Smoking on the Margins? Assessing the Health Equity Effects of a Smoke-free Law in Parks and Beaches

Policies which aim to limit secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure by restricting spaces where people can smoke have been shown to improve population health and garner a high level of support from the public, health professionals and policy makers. Following local, national and international examples, Vancouver’s Board of Parks and Recreation approved a smoke-free by-law for the city’s parks, beaches, and facilities effective September 1, 2010. Research suggests that such smoke-free by-laws, when enacted indoors, may affect men and women in different ways, but little research has examined the effects of such outdoor smoking bans on women and men and other segments of the population. Such by-laws may have different effects because some people may not have the means to seek out alternative places to smoke, have access to resources to quit smoking, or have other sites for recreation. Hence the aim of this study is to apply a health and health equity lens to examine Vancouver’s smoke free la

Smoking on the Margins? Assessing the Effects of a Smoke-free Law in Parks and on Beaches

This study uses a health equity lens to examine the development, adoption and implementation of an outdoor smoke-free bylaw in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The study aims to: Understand the health and health equity effects of a new outdoor smoke-free policy in parks and on beaches; Assess the differential impacts of the policy for diverse groups of women and men, in particular those with a high prevalence and susceptibility to smoking and those who are exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS); Develop recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of future smoke-free policies to reduce any unintended contributions to health inequities arising from their implementation

Equitable Consequences? Issues of Evidence, Equity and Ethics Arising from Outdoor Smoke-free Policies

From introduction: Kass argues that an ethical approach in public health is one that places the fewest burdens on individuals’ health without significantly reducing the potential benefits of intervening. Yet many population health regulations are highly intrusive, compromising individual liberty and imposing penalties for non-compliance. Moreover, the benefits of these regulations and the burdens they impose may not be shared equally. When developing interventions, the state has, therefore, an obligation to consider the benefits and burdens, particularly on those vulnerable to health inequities and other disparities

Smoking on the Margins? Assessing the Effects of a Smoke-free Law in Parks and on Beaches

This study uses a health equity lens to examine the development, adoption and implementation of an outdoor smoke-free bylaw in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The study aims to: Understand the health and health equity effects of a new outdoor smoke-free policy in parks and on beaches; Assess the differential impacts of the policy for diverse groups of women and men, in particular those with a high prevalence and susceptibility to smoking and those who are exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS); Develop recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of future smoke-free policies to reduce any unintended contributions to health inequities arising from their implementation

Equitable Consequences? Issues of Evidence, Equity and Ethics Arising from Outdoor Smoke-free Policies

From Introduction: Kass argues that an ethical approach in public health is one that places the fewest burdens on individuals’ health without significantly reducing the potential benefits of intervening. Yet many population health regulations are highly intrusive, compromising individual liberty and imposing penalties for non-compliance. Moreover, the benefits of these regulations and the burdens they impose may not be shared equally. When developing interventions, the state has, therefore, an obligation to consider the benefits and burdens, particularly on those vulnerable to health inequities and other disparities