Approaches to assessing effective improvement of safety culture

In this report we examined the effectiveness assessment of safety culture improvement from a systemic, multilevel perspective. Two complementary approaches were identified. A phenomenon-based approach viewed safety culture improvement from the perspective of cultural dimensions or manifestations, and how they interrelate with each other and with other sociotechnical elements of the organization. A process-based approach viewed safety culture improvement as an organizational function that involves a process dedicated to safety culture improvement, as well as specific activities that aim to improve safety culture.Four practical tools were developed to illustrate the practical application of these two approaches. Two tools illustrated the phenomenon-based approach and aimed at modelling specific safety culture attributes—raising concerns, and procedure compliance. The other two tools illustrated the process-based approach and provided means to evaluate the maturity of the safety culture assessment process and effectiveness of safety culture training. Overall, these two approaches and the four practical tools along with the theoretical and empirical justification behind them serve as a starting point for developing a comprehensive toolbox for assessing the effectiveness of safety culture improvement

КИНЕМАТИКА И ДИНАМИКА ВЫПОЛНЕНИЯ УПРАЖНЕНИЙ НА СТАЦИОНАРНЫХ СИЛОВЫХ ТРЕНАЖЕРАХ

The paper is devoted to the topical subject which is related to development of a new technology on interaction of a man and exercise machines while cultivating force characteristics which are important for sports and everyday life as well. The research objective is to determine kinematic and dynamic specific features of articular joint performance when a trainee is interacting with stationary exercise machines while performing power exercises. An original approach for determination and numerical representation of man position based on ascertainment of regularities on changes in joint angles taking into account anatomically possible degree of freedom of locomotor system joints has been used a main method for investigations. Training exercises using typical modern press machines with gravitational, elastic and dissipative forces for loading have been analyzed in the process of investigations. The investigations have revealed that the main problem of stationary exercise systems is an absence of the possibility to create loading simultaneously for several degrees of freedom for joint motions which are characteristic for natural spatial motions of a man. Other problems are connected with strict predeterminacy of human body link trajectories that reduce requirements to coordination of muscle forces, presence of uncontrollable inertial power additives arising at accelerated motion of weights used for loading and necessity to disperse mechanical energy while making exercises.On the basis of the research we have formulated the promising direction for further development of training technologies connected with weight and health-improving training that implies creation of exercise machines providing simultaneous loading with several degrees of freedom for a human locomotor system with minimum inertance and possibility of effective energy dispersion.Статья посвящена актуальной теме, связанной с созданием новой технологии взаимодействия человека с тренажерными средствами при развитии силовых качеств, важных как для спортивных достижений, так и в повседневной жизни. Цель исследования - установление кинематических и динамических особенностей работы суставных сочленений при взаимодействии тренирующегося со стационарными тренажерами в ходе выполнения силовых упражнений. В качестве основного метода исследования использован оригинальный способ определения и численного представления позы человека, основанный на установлении закономерностей изменения суставных углов с учетом всех анатомически возможных степеней свободы сочленений опорно-двигательного аппарата. В ходе исследования были проанализированы тренировочные упражнения с использованием типичных современных силовых тренажеров, использующих для создания нагрузки гравитационные, упругие и диссипативные силы. В результате исследования показано, что основной проблемой применения стационарных тренировочных систем является отсутствие возможности создания нагрузки одновременно для нескольких степеней свободы суставных движений, характерных для естественных пространственных движений человека. Другие проблемы связаны с жесткой предопределенностью траекторий звеньев человека, снижающей требования к координации мышечных усилий, с наличием неконтролируемых инерционных силовых добавок, возникающих при ускоренном движении грузов, используемых для создания нагрузки, и необходимостью рассеивания механической энергии в ходе выполнения упражнений.На основании исследования сформулировано перспективное направление дальнейшего развития тренажерных технологий, связанных с силовой и оздоровительной тренировкой, - создание тренажеров, обеспечивающих нагрузку одновременно нескольких степеней свободы опорно-двигательного аппарата человека при минимальной инерционности с возможностью эффективного рассеивания энергии

Improving design processes in the nuclear domain–Insights on organisational challenges from safety culture and resilience engineering perspectives

Design flaws have been contributing to major industrial accidents. However, design activities are understudied in human and organisational factors studies. In the nuclear power domain, both pre-operational design and design of modifications depend on a network of organizations, and aim at developing solutions which meet different criteria. Nuclear power companies often outsource the design work to organisations, which might not be hitherto familiar with the safety requirements of nuclear industry. The final phase of SADE project focused on testing and evaluating the results of the first two phases through in depth analysis of case studies conducted in Finland and Sweden. The study aimed at providing insights on the inter-organizational challenges related to design activities, which could potentially affect safety of the Nordic nuclear power plants. In 2013 we carried out 14 semi-structured interviews with representatives of power plant organisations, design organisations and regulators. Interviews of the Finnish case studies were complemented by one group interview each. The study indicated that design-related challenges in the nuclear domain are mainly inter-organizational. This implies that safety management and safety culture approaches should take better into account the inter-organisational nature of work processes. For some of the challenges (e.g. coordination) many coping practices exist throughout the network, whereas for others (e.g. shared understanding) just a few were mentioned. This signifies that design organisations have learned the consequences of insufficient coordination in previous projects, while reaching a shared understanding proves to be challenging. The design process involves both rational and creative approaches to deal with real-life problems. In nuclear industry, designers face the need to balance between fulfilling requirements and doing an extensive amount of paperwork, and creating new, safe and functional solutions. To better manage safety culture in design activities in a networked context, nuclear power companies and design supply chains need to reach a shared understanding on achieving this balance. Finally, the study provides a set of recommendations to support and improve the design process and to help anticipate emerging risks in the nuclear industry