Musculoskeletal analysis of mining activities

This paper presents a framework for motion capture and musculoskeletal analysis of underground mining procedures. The framework discusses suitable motion capture solutions, musculoskeletal modelling and best practices. Preliminary analysis was conducted to assess quantitative musculoskeletal risks of rod handling and fitting with the drilling rig. The preliminary results of the analysis provide recommendations to minimise risks of potential muscular injuries.

A risk analysis model to reduce computer security risks among healthcare organizations

The paper describes the on-going development of a new computer-based security risk analysis methodology that may be used to determine the computer security requirements of medical computer systems. The methodology has been developed for use within healthcare, with particular emphasis placed upon protecting medical information systems. The paper goes on to describe some of the problems with existing automated risk analysis systems, and how the ODESSA system may overcome the majority of these problems. Examples of security scenarios are also presented.

Bad sports : the risks associated with not 'fitting in'

This paper is about peer rejection and bullying in schools and the tragic consequences that it can have. The focus of the paper is in the ways schools interact with groups of young males and, more importantly, those who are left out of these groupings. My concern is that schools currently give too little attention to informing and/or shaping the peer group practices of young people. I argue that the current educational theory and practice focus too heavily on individuals and their potential to act independently and overlook the all-important socialization that takes place within and between groups. Drawing on two case-studies of young males who experience peer rejection, I seek to raise concerns about the contemporary socializing practices of young males and the burgeoning need for schools to play a role in bringing about change. Given the continued prominence of sport as a trajectory for defining the dominant masculinity, I believe that it is critical that physical educators engage with the discussions and debates that surround this topic.

Growing Up as Risky Business? Risks, Surveillance and the Institutionalized Mistrust of Youth

This paper will argue that a major problem for young people today is that they increasingly cause adults anxiety. This anxiety translates into a raft of interventions and strategies and programmes that target young people. These imaginings reflect and constitute a range of anxieties about the dangers posed by some young people, or to some young people, and how these risks might be economically and prudently managed. These institutionalized relationships of mistrust can have a range of often negative consequences (intended or otherwise) for individuals and populations of young people. I argue that Foucault's work on disciplinary, sovereign and governmental forms of power provides a generative framework for analysing what I refer to as the institutionalized mistrust, surveillance and regulation of contemporary populations of young people.

Acknowledging risks when deciding to outsource business processes : the case of data theft

Outsourcing is generally framed in terms of benefits and cost savings, rather than risks. One important risk is “data theft”. This paper draws upon a longitudinal study into IT and business process outsourcing to present a theoretical model incorporating risk. Sources include qualitative interviews with purchasers, non purchasers, and vendors of outsourced business process services. It concludes that data theft is an under-acknowledged risk in all business process outsourcing (BPO), but is higher for offshore outsourcing. This risk may be mitigated, but when factored into the business case can invalidate typically small cost savings. In acknowledging and adequately costing this risk, decision-makers may find BPO, particularly where offshore vendors are involved, less attractive.

The risks and rewards of international construction from an Australian perspective

Very little research has been carried out regarding the risks and rewards of the international construction industry/market from an Australian perspective. A survey was sent to Australian based construction companies known to be operating internationally, to obtain their insights and perspectives on the risks and rewards of the international construction industry/market and international construction projects. Australian based companies have expanded their operations in order to benefit from inducements such as growth, profit and diversification. Continuing globalization and the openness of new markets has also provided significant opportunities to expand for Australian companies. Those Australian construction companies that have been operating abroad have been doing so for 20+ years in the Asia-Pacific and Australasian regions. This is significant as it shows that easily accessible markets are a stepping stone for further overseas expansion. The most commonly rated rewards for operating overseas were growth and profit; which matched the initial reason most companies chose to expand overseas. It was established that the ability to increase long term profitability through diversification was the biggest inducement for Australian construction companies expanding their operations overseas. When asked to rate the risks associated with international construction not one risk was rated significantly higher than the rest which supports the conclusion that the types of risks and rewards associated with each market rarely vary; only the severity and likelihood of occurrence. From an overall Australian perspective this research has established that the reasons and rewards for expanding overseas were the identical. Further that the risks associated with international construction were established as being different and varied depending on the market.

Understanding informations systems outsourcing success and risks through the lens of cognitive biases

Because outsourcing of information systems (IS) is now widespread, it is generally assumed to be successful. It is also often assumed that outsourcing risks are easily managed. In this paper we adopt an “evidence based management” approach to first test these assumptions through a qualitative metaanalysis of academic studies into IS outsourcing outcomes. Our research reveals a shortage of reliable and valid evidence for outsourcing’s benefits, and for the level of risk involved. We then use data from a series of focus groups to explain the paradox of widespread adoption of a strategy with limited empirical support. These focus groups were interpreted through the lens of research on a
range of cognitive mechanisms and biases that are known to affect decision makers. We conclude that cognitive mechanisms that are likely to affect sourcing decisions include framing biases, cognitive dissonance, attribution error, and the “optimism”, “confirmation”, “disconfirmation” and “overconfidence” biases. Given the shortage of supporting evidence, and the potential for these biases to operate, we argue that researchers need to be more critical in their analysis of reports of the success and risks of IS outsourcing.

Action on climate change : the health risks of procrastinating

Objective: The world's climate will continue to change because of human influence. This is expected to affect health, mostly adversely. We need to compare the projected health effects in Australia arising from differing climate change scenarios to inform greenhouse gas emission (mitigation) policy.

Methods: We estimated health effects in Australia (heatwave mortality, dengue transmission regions) around 2100 under various greenhouse gas scenarios: "strong policy action" (efforts made now to reduce emissions) and "no policy action" (emissions continue at present high levels with no climate change-specific policies).

Results: Compared with no policy action, mitigation could reduce the number of deaths caused by hot temperatures among older Australians by 4,000–7,000 a year (range reflects likely population size at 2100). Under a scenario of "no action", the zone of potential transmission of dengue fever expands 1,800 kilometres (km) south, as far as Sydney. In contrast, by markedly constraining greenhouse gas emissions now, this southward extension could be limited to 600 km (to Rockhampton). The number of displaced people within the Asia-Pacific region could increase (by orders of magnitude) under the "no action" scenario because of adverse socioecological circumstances aggravated by climate change.

Conclusions: Additional health effects will accrue as a result of the projected climate change throughout this century, and individuals and health systems should be prepared for some level of adaptation. However, timely and strong policy action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would diminish the extent and severity of estimated future health effects.

Minimising risks in IT outsourcing: choosing target services

This paper provides a risk-based framework for deciding on which IT services to outsource and which to keep in-house. This framework considers the probabilities both of negative outcomes, and of failing to achieve positive outcomes. The authors examine the major components of outsourcing risk and their drivers, and from this derive a series of questions decision-makers can ask when deciding what sourcing options to adopt for different services. The framework was developed on the basis of five years of qualitative and quantitative research into the experiences of organizations involved in outsourcing IT.

Mandatory folate fortification - will benefits outweigh risks?

The article considers the concerns raised about the implementation of mandatory food fortification in Australia. Mandatory food fortification, the compulsory addition of nutrients to food products, is a powerful policy approach for public health nutrition. The danger in exposing every Australians to increased amounts of nutrients is discussed. Mandate folate fortification is being assessed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand due to the increased cases of neural tube defects in Australia.