Exploring the re-criminalising of OHS breaches in the context of industrial death

Since the 1980s the calls for further criminalisation of organisational conduct causing harm to workers, the public and the environment have intensified in Australia, Canada and England and Wales.' One focal point of this movement has been the criminal law's response to organisations (and their personnel) failing to comply with occupational health and safety ('OHS') standards, particularly when physical harm (death and serious injury) has resulted from those breaches. Some governments have responded with proposals to enable manslaughter prosecutions to be initiated 'more effectively' against organisations causing the deaths of workers or, in some cases, members of the public (Archibald et al, 2004; Haines and Hall, 2004; Hall et al, 2004; Tombs and Whyte, 2003). In Australia governments have also increased monetary penalties for regulatory OHS offences, a few have introduced other contemporary organisational sanctions, and some have initiated OHS prosecutions more vigorously and with larger fines.

The implications of de‐collectivist industrial relations laws and associated developments for worker health and safety in Australia, 1996–2007

The institutional and regulatory interlinkages between industrial relations (IR) and occupational health and safety (OHS) are seldom explored in the IR literature. This article begins to address this gap by examining regulatory initiatives in Australia during a period of neoliberal government. It examines the laws enacted by the federal government during this period and events and cases arising from these laws that go some way to illustrating their effects. Evidence is also drawn from detailed research on a number of state OHS inspectorates between 2004 and 2006. It is argued that de-collectivist changes to IR laws exacerbated problems posed by the growth of flexible work arrangements and a drop in union density, weakening participatory provisions in OHS laws and promoting work arrangements that undermined OHS standards. The study provides evidence of the implications of a divergence in the trajectory of IR and OHS laws and the importance of better integrating worker protection laws.

Computation of Mathematical Models for Complex Industrial Processes

Designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic researchers and industrial practitioners, this book provides comprehensive case studies on numerical computing of industrial processes and step-by-step procedures for conducting industrial computing. It assumes minimal knowledge in numerical computing and computer programming, making it easy to read, understand and follow. Topics discussed include fundamentals of industrial computing, finite difference methods, the Wavelet-Collocation Method, the Wavelet-Galerkin Method, High Resolution Methods, and comparative studies of various methods. These are discussed using examples of carefully selected models from real processes of industrial significance. The step-by-step procedures in all these case studies can be easily applied to other industrial processes without a need for major changes and thus provide readers with useful frameworks for the applications of engineering computing in fundamental research problems and practical development scenarios.

Hybrid CuTCNQ/AgTCNQ metal-organic charge transfer complexes via galvanic replacement vs. corrosion recrystallization

This study reports a hybrid of two metal-organic semiconductors that are based on organic charge transfer complexes of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). It is shown that the spontaneous reaction between semiconducting microrods of CuTCNQ with Ag+ ions leads to the formation of a CuTCNQ/AgTCNQ hybrid, both in aqueous solution and acetonitrile, albeit with completely different reaction mechanisms. In an aqueous environment, the reaction proceeds by a complex galvanic replacement (GR) mechanism, wherein in addition to AgTCNQ nanowires, Ag0 nanoparticles and Cu(OH)2 crystals decorate the surface of CuTCNQ microrods. Conversely, in acetonitrile, a GR mechanism is found to be thermodynamically unfavorable and instead a corrosion-recrystallization mechanism leads to the decoration of CuTCNQ microrods with AgTCNQ nanoplates, resulting in a pure CuTCNQ/AgTCNQ hybrid metal-organic charge transfer complex. While hybrids of two different inorganic semiconductors are regularly reported, this report pioneers the formation of a hybrid involving two metal-organic semiconductors that will expand the scope of TCNQ-based charge transfer complexes for improved catalysis, sensing, electronics and biological applications.

Influences of molecular structure on co-crystallization of polypyridyl metal complexes.

Heteroleptic complexes of the type \[RuL2L′](PF6)2 (L, L′ = combinations of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy)) were found to cocrystallize with \[Ni(phen)3](PF6)2 to produce cocrystals of \[Ni(phen)3]x\[RuL2L′]1–x(PF6)2. In this report we show that the ability of the complexes to cocrystallize is influenced by the number of common ligands between complexes in solution. Supramolecular selection is a phenomenon caused by molecular recognition through which cocrystals can grow from the same solution but contain different ratios of the molecular components. It was found that systems where L = phen displayed less supramolecular selection than systems where L = bipy. With increasing supramolecular selection, the composition of cocrystals was found to vary significantly from the initial relative concentration in the cocrystallizing solution, and therefore it was increasingly difficult to control the final composition of the resultant cocrystals. Consequently, modulation of concentration-dependent properties such as phase was also found to be less predictable with increasing supramolecular selection. Notwithstanding the complication afforded by the presence of supramolecular selection, our results reaffirm the robustness of the \[M(phen)3](PF6)2 structure because it was maintained even when ca. 90% of the complexes in the cocrystals were \[Ru(phen)(bipy)2](PF6)2, which in its pure form is not isomorphous with \[M(phen)3](PF6)2. Experiments between complexes without common ligands, i.e., \[Ru(bipy)3](PF6)2 cocrystallized with \[Ni(phen)3](PF6)2, were found to approach the limit to which molecular recognition processes can be confused into cocrystallizing different molecules to form single cocrystals. For these systems the result was the formation of block-shaped crystals skewered by a needle-shaped crystals.

Pt(II) bipyridyl complexes bearing substituted fluorenyl motif on the bipyridyl and acetylide ligands : synthesis, photophysics, and reverse saturable absorption

A series of Pt(II) diimine complexes bearing benzothiazolylfluorenyl (BTZ-F8), diphenylaminofluorenyl (NPh2- F8), or naphthalimidylfluorenyl (NI-F8) motifs on the bipyridyl or acetylide ligands (Pt-4−Pt-8), (i.e., {4,4′-bis[7-R1-F8-(≡)n-]bpy}Pt(7- R2-F8- ≡ -)2, where F8 = 9,9′-di(2-ethylhexyl)fluorene, bpy = 2,2′- bipyridine, Pt-4: R1 = R2 = BTZ, n = 0; Pt-5: R1 = BTZ, R2 = NI, n = 0; Pt-6: R1 = R2 = BTZ, n = 1; Pt-7: R1 = BTZ, R2 = NPh2, n = 1; Pt- 8: R1 = NPh2, R2 = BTZ, n = 1) were synthesized. Their ground-state and excited-state properties and reverse saturable absorption performances were systematically investigated. The influence of these motifs on the photophysics of the complexes was investigated by spectroscopic methods and simulated by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The intense absorption bands below 410 nm for these complexes is assigned to predominantly 1π,π* transitions localized on either the bipyridine or the acetylide ligands; while the broad low-energy absorption bands between 420 and 575 nm are attributed to essentially 1MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer)/ 1LLCT (ligand-to-ligand charge transfer) transitions, likely mixed with some 1ILCT (intraligand charge transfer) transition for Pt-4−Pt-7, and predominantly 1ILCT transition admixing with minor 1MLCT/1LLCT characters for Pt-8. The different substituents on the acetylide and bipyridyl ligands, and the degrees of π-conjugation in the bipyridyl ligand influence both the 1π,π* and charge transfer transitions pronouncedly. All complexes are emissive at room temperature. Upon excitation at their respective absorption band maxima, Pt-4, Pt-6, and Pt-8 exhibit acetylide ligand localized 1π,π* fluorescence and 3MLCT/3LLCT phosphorescence in CH2Cl2, while Pt-5 manifests 1ILCT fluorescence and 3ILCT phosphorescence. However, only 1LLCT fluorescence was observed for Pt-7 at room temperature. The nanosecond transient absorption study was carried out for Pt-4−Pt-8 in CH3CN. Except for Pt-7 that contains NPh2 at the acetylide ligands, Pt-4−Pt-6 and Pt-8 all exhibit weak to moderate excited-state absorption in the visible spectral region. Reverse saturable absorption (RSA) of these complexes was demonstrated at 532 nm using 4.1 ns laser pulses in a 2 mm cuvette. The strength of RSA follows this trend: Pt-4 > Pt-5 > Pt-7 > Pt-6 > Pt-8. Incorporation of electron-donating substituent NPh2 on the bipyridyl ligand significantly decreases the RSA, while shorter π-conjugation in the bipyridyl ligand increases the RSA. Therefore, the substituent at either the acetylide ligands or the bipyridyl ligand could affect the singlet and triplet excited-state characteristics significantly, which strongly influences the RSA efficiency.

Vision-based operations of a large industrial vehicle : autonomous hot metal carrier

Hot metal carriers (HMCs) are large forklift-type vehicles used to move molten metal in aluminum smelters. This paper reports on field experiments that demonstrate that HMCs can operate autonomously and in particular can use vision as a primary sensor to locate the load of aluminum. We present our complete system but focus on the vision system elements and also detail experiments demonstrating reliable operation of the materials handling task. Two key experiments are described, lasting 2 and 5 h, in which the HMC traveled 15 km in total and handled the load 80 times.

Redundant sensing for localisation in outdoor industrial environments

We describe our experiences with automating a large fork-lift type vehicle that operates outdoors and in all weather. In particular, we focus on the use of independent and robust localisation systems for reliable navigation around the worksite. Two localisation systems are briefly described. The first is based on laser range finders and retro-reflective beacons, and the second uses a two camera vision system to estimate the vehicle’s pose relative to a known model of the surrounding buildings. We show the results from an experiment where the 20 tonne experimental vehicle, an autonomous Hot Metal Carrier, was conducting autonomous operations and one of the localisation systems was deliberately made to fail.

Autonomous hot metal carrier: Navigation and manipulation with a 20 tonne industrial vehicle

This paper reports work on the automation of a hot metal carrier, which is a 20 tonne forklift-type vehicle used to move molten metal in aluminium smelters. To achieve efficient vehicle operation, issues of autonomous navigation and materials handling must be addressed. We present our complete system and experiments demonstrating reliable operation. One of the most significant experiments was five-hours of continuous operation where the vehicle travelled over 8 km and conducted 60 load handling operations. Finally, an experiment where the vehicle and autonomous operation were supervised from the other side of the world via a satellite phone network are described.

Catalytic activity evaluation of industrial Pd/C catalyst via gray-box dynamic modeling and simulation of hydropurification reactor

In this paper, dynamic modeling and simulation of the hydropurification reactor in a purified terephthalic acid production plant has been investigated by gray-box technique to evaluate the catalytic activity of palladium supported on carbon (0.5 wt.% Pd/C) catalyst. The reaction kinetics and catalyst deactivation trend have been modeled by employing artificial neural network (ANN). The network output has been incorporated with the reactor first principle model (FPM). The simulation results reveal that the gray-box model (FPM and ANN) is about 32 percent more accurate than FPM. The model demonstrates that the catalyst is deactivated after eleven months. Moreover, the catalyst lifetime decreases about two and half months in case of 7 percent increase of reactor feed flowrate. It is predicted that 10 percent enhancement of hydrogen flowrate promotes catalyst lifetime at the amount of one month. Additionally, the enhancement of 4-carboxybenzaldehyde concentration in the reactor feed improves CO and benzoic acid synthesis. CO is a poison to the catalyst, and benzoic acid might affect the product quality. The model can be applied into actual working plants to analyze the Pd/C catalyst efficient functioning and the catalytic reactor performance.

Destined to design? How and why Australian women choose to study industrial design

Despite over three decades of legislation and initiatives designed to tackle the traditional gender divide in the science, technology and design fields, only a quarter of the registered architects in Australia are women. There are no statistics available for other design disciplines, with little known about why women choose design as a career path and who or what influences this decision. This qualitative research addresses this knowledge gap, through semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with 19 Australian women who completed an industrial (product) design degree. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: childhood aptitude and exposure; significant experiences and people; and design as a serendipitous choice. The findings emphasise the importance of early exposure to design as a potential career choice, highlighting the critical role played by parents, teachers, professionals and social networks.

Studying industrial design : Exploring the experience of female students

Despite a significant increase in the number of women enrolling and graduating from design courses, the reality is that women remain ‘invisible’ in the design profession (Bruce, 1985). Over two decades ago, Bruce and Lewis (1990) argued that women were less likely than men to be designers due to three key gendered hurdles: the completion of a design degree, getting a design job and obtaining success in a design job. This paper focuses specifically on Australian women’s experience of hurdle one: the completion of a design degree, utilising industrial design as a case study. Semi-structured interview questions (exploring issues such as experience in class and the workshop, accessibility of the course and content, types of projects etc) were recorded and transcribed verbatim, with a thematic analysis conducted to better understand women’s experiences in completing their industrial design degree. This paper focuses on one key theme “navigating the design studio”, which comprises of three sub-themes: design skill development, the workshop experience and course evaluation. These findings highlight the need to understand the educational experience to ensure female designers remain motivated and eventually employable.

Industrial Designer

A discussion with Dr Rafael Gomez on Industrial Design for the Nelson Senior Graphics for Queensland Schools publication.