Validating and Identifying Health and Safety Performance Improvement Indicators: Experience of Using Delphi Technique

The literature on health and safety (H&S) is bound with different elements and indicators of measuring H&S performance. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the success and challenges of using quantitative and qualitative approach of Delphi technique in validating and identifying H&S performance indicators that small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) can use to measure and monitor their H&S performance improvement at project level. Furthermore, discuss the identification of experts in the field of H&S, ways of improving consensus analysis and minimizing experts’ non-response. This study is based on practical experience of the researchers pertaining to the Delphi technique method which is a constructivist or interpretive approach to knowledge. The study started with an extensive literature review to identify core elements and leading indicators characterizing H&S culture to develop a Delphi questionnaire that was used in the first round of Delphi. A four round Delphi technique was conducted to attain consensus of the identified H&S indicators. The experts were identified from published articles of H&S, practitioners’ website of H&S and word of mouth. The use of email was used as a mode of communication. This study set to warn but also encourage the use of Delphi technique as a method to unearth information in areas where consensus has not been reached such as H&S performance measurement indicators for construction SMEs in South Africa

Perception of the Effects of Substance Abuse among University Students: A Case of Built Environment and Civil Engineering Students at a South African University in Gauteng Province

Substance abuse among youths is a worldwide epidemic that impacts negatively on the health sector as well as the family and society. Early student life at the university is a time of tremendous high motivation to conform to the behaviours, values and attitudes that are valued by the student culture. However, students observe their peers’ behaviour and alter their own behaviour with their peers’ norms and expectations. Some of the perceived peer norms can however lead to substance abuse, which has led students’ not to complete their education. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine students’ perception on the effects of substance abuse on their physical, cognitive and affective development. The research philosophy adopted was positivism and the approach was deductive. Hence, a self-administered questionnaire containing items developed from literature review was administered to 199 built environment and civil engineering students at a South African university. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The reliability for internal consistency of the measured constructs i.e. physical, cognitive and affective was determined using Cronbach’s alpha test. Independent sample t-test was used to test the hypotheses on the perception of students who had experimented on drugs and those who had not experimented on drugs on their physical, cognitive and affective development. The results suggest that over 40 percent of students in this university are not aware of the substance abuse policy. Furthermore there was no statistical significant difference on the perception of the effect of substance abuse on students who had experimented on drugs and those who had not experimented on drugs on their physical and affective development. However, there was a significant difference on the effect on their cognitive development. It is recommended that students at this university should be made aware of the substance abuse policy. Furthermore, those who experimented on substances e.g. drugs indicated less perception on their effects on their cognitive development. It is recommended that this cohort of students warrants further research

Permutation Groups and Puzzle Tile Configurations of Instant Insanity II

The manufacturer claims that there is only one solution to the puzzle Instant Insanity II. However, a recent paper shows that there are two solutions. Our goal is to find ways in which we only have one solution. We examine the permutation groups of the puzzle and use modern algebra to attempt to fix the puzzle. First, we find the permutation group for the case when there is only one empty slot at the top. We then examine the scenario when we add an extra column or an extra row to make the game a 4 × 5 puzzle or a 5 x 4 puzzle, respectively. We consider the possibilities when we delete a color to make the game a 3 × 3 puzzle and when we add a color, making the game a 5 × 5 puzzle. Finally, we determine if solution two is a permutation of solution one

Improvements in the perturbation simulations of the global reference atmospheric model

The Global Reference Atmospheric Model (GRAM) program includes the capability for simulating pseudo-random perturbations in density, temperature, pressure, or wind components along a simulated reentry trajectory or other path through the atmosphere. Some concerns were expressed by GRAM users, however, that the mean-square perturbation gradients may be too large for small values of the vertical separation Delta z. The present GRAM perturbation simulations, based on a one-step autoregressive model, yield a power spectrum versus wavenumber k which is proportional to k sup -2 at high wavenumbers. This feature also produces mean-square perturbation differences which are directly proportional to Delta z, and mean-square perturbation gradients which are inversely proportional to Delta z. Thus, root-mean-square gradients, (Delta f/Delta z) sub rms, increase with decreasing Delta a as Delta z sup -1/2. A simple modification to GRAM is suggested which overcomes this problem, i.e., which produce root-mean-square gradient that remain bound as Delta z approaches zero. Possible applications of more sophisticated simulation approaches, e.g., second order autoregressive models, or fractal model techniques, were also explored briefly but found to yield improvements which appear too small to justify their considerable added complexity for use in the GRAM programs

Evaluating management commitment to health and safety in small and medium construction enterprises

Construction health and safety (H&S) in small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) has received little attention in South Africa, in terms of either research or support for preventive initiatives. Previous research suggests that this sector has serious problems exacerbated by limited access to human, economic and technological resources. Moreover it is now recognized that methods developed specifically for large firms cannot necessarily be transferred to smaller and medium firms, hence the need to investigate management commitment to H&S among SMEs

Construction health and safety culture in South African small and medium enterprises

Construction health and safety (H&S) culture in small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) has received little attention in South Africa, in terms of either research or support for preventive initiatives. Previous research suggests that this sector has serious problems exacerbated by limited access to human, economic and technological resources. Moreover it is now recognized that methods developed specifically for large firms cannot necessarily be transferred to smaller and medium firms, hence the need to investigate the H&S culture in SMEs. This exploratory study is based on descriptive survey using semi-structured and structured questionnaire, and non-probability sampling to give an overview of the characteristics of H&S culture and practices in SMEs firms in the South African construction industry

Improvements in the Global Reference Atmospheric Model and comparisons with a global 3-D numerical model

The status of the Global Reference Atmospheric Model (GRAM) and the Mars Global Reference Atmospheric Model (MARS-GRAM) is reviewed. The wavelike perturbations observed in the Viking 1 and 2 surface pressure data, in the Mariner 9 IR spectroscopy data, and in the Viking 1 and 2 lander entry profiles were studied and the results interpreted

A qualitative study on solar energy use in South Africa

Abstract: Many South African citizens and residents are dependent on Eskom for electricity distribution. Its’ limited energy distribution and its’ ever increasing cost has taken its toll on the consumers. The citizens might be motivated to adopt solar energy technology to circumvent this problem. It is therefore imperative to establish, additional information that warrants investment in solar energy technology. Furthermore, it is imperative that consumers are presented with a database of information to the efficiency of solar power in households who have already implemented solar energy technology. It can therefore be suggested that there is paucity of research in South Africa in relation to challenges and benefits of using solar energy. In this regard a study was conducted in Gauteng province, in the city of Johannesburg, in South Africa to fill this gaps. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews. The target population for the current study were the suburban households which had solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar water heaters (SWHs) installation. A total number of 15 respondents were interviewed. The data was analysed using Tesch’s open coding approach. The findings suggest that these Johannesburg suburban households shared similar positive experiences and negative experiences from the use of solar energy systems. The findings suggest that the use of solar energy saved on electricity. However they experienced water leakage from their geysers. The findings from this qualitative research is of particular importance to the South African households who are considering an alternative solar energy supply

Perception on the effects of substance abuse in a comprehensive university: a case of gender

Abstract: Substance abuse has been identified to interfere with the students’ physical, cognitive and affective development. The main aim of this study was to determine the perception of gender on the effects of substance abuse on their physical, cognitive and affective development. Methodology: The research philosophy adopted was positivism and the approach was deductive. A self-administered questionnaire containing items developed from literature review was administered to 199 built environment and civil engineering students at a South African university. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Cronbach alpha was used to achieve the reliability for internal consistency of the measured constructs i.e. physical, cognitive and affective development. Item correlation identified the correlation of the measures of physical, cognitive and affective development. T-test was further conducted to test gender perception on the effects of substance abuse on the physical, cognitive and affective development. Findings: The measures of physical, cognitive and affective development had a strong relationship and were reliable measures. Furthermore, the results suggest that there was no statistical significant difference on the perception of the effect of substance abuse on cognitive development as informed by male and female students. However, there was a significant difference on their perception on substance abuse on physical and affective development. Limitation(s): The respondents were from one comprehensive university, therefore the findings cannot be generalized for all the tertiary institutions in South Africa..