Bridging the research-practice gap: Validity of a software tool designed to support systemic accident analysis by risk managers
- Authors: Goode, Natassia , Salmon, Paul , Taylor, Natalie , Lenné, Michael , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Full Text: false
- Description: Despite the proposed advantages of systems accident analysis (SAA) methods for understanding incident-causation, these approaches have not been widely adopted by practitioners. This represents a significant gap between research and practice in accident analysis. The Understanding and Preventing Led Outdoor Accidents Data System (UPLOADS) provides a series of tools to address this gap. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of UPLOADS by comparing analyses generated by risk managers and researchers experienced in SAA. Twenty-three risk managers used UPLOADS to collect and analyse incident data from their organization over a three month period. The reports were then analyzed by two researchers experienced in SAA, and compared to those generated by participants. Participants identified half the number of factors identified by researchers, and tended to focus on only one or two factors as the causes of each incident. The potential consequences for practitioners' understanding of incident-causation and countermeasure development are discussed, as well as ways of improving the system. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.
Assessing health risk of reclaimed water using human cell culture
- Authors: Ackland, Margaret , Michalczyk, Agnes , Freestone, David , Stagnitti, Frank
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water Vol. 37, no. 8 (2010), p. 49-53
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: For risk analysis of reclaimed water, current animal and toxicity testing may not detect subtle effects such as interactions that could contribute to complex diseases such as cancers that develop over a long period of time. There is a need for assays that can be validated against known human physiological processes. We have previously validated sensitive human cell culture assays for their responsiveness to agents that induce carcinogenesis in vivo. In this initial study we analysed the effects of three batches of reclaimed water on human colonic cells. At concentrations of up to 10-fold, they had no significant effect on the cellular markers, indicating an overall lack of biological activity. The assay has potential but needs to be refined to maximise its sensitivity.