Sleep apnea and automobile accidents: Review of regulation for drivers

Several studies show a crescent association between sleep-disordered breathing, excessive sleepiness and automobile accidents. Many countries already discussed about specific regulations for drivers with these conditions, including questionnaire and/or investigation by a qualified specialist. In Brazil, these discussions have barely begun. In view of that, we suggest some items to be included in our traffic law.

An investigation into the loss of the Brazilian space programme's launch vehicle VLS-1 V03

There has been a rapid increase in the complexity and integration of many safety-critical systems. In consequence, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify the causes of incidents and accidents back through the complex interactions that lead to an adverse event. At the same time, there is a growing appreciation of the need to consider a broad range of contextual factors in the aftermath of any mishap. A number of regulators, operators and research teams have responded to these developments by proposing novel techniques to support the analysis of complex, safety-critical incidents. It is important to illustrate these different approaches by applying them to a number of common case studies. The following pages, therefore, show how STAMP and AcciMap might support the Serviço Público Federal investigation into the explosion and fire of the Brazilian launch vehicle VLS-1 VO3. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Emergency response to railroad accidents involving hazardous materials

The chemical industry has to face safety problems linked to the hazards of chemicals and the risks posed by the plants where they are handled. However, their transport may cause significant risk values too: it’s not totally possible to avoid the occurrence of accidents. This work is focused on the emergency response to railway accidents involving hazardous materials, that is what has to be done once they happen to limit their consequences. A first effort has been devoted to understand the role given to this theme within legislations: it has been found out that often it’s not even taken into account. Exceptionally a few countries adopt guidelines suggesting how to plan the response, who is appointed to intervene and which actions should be taken first. An investigation has been made to define the tools available for the responders, with attention on the availability of chemical-specific safety distances. It has emerged that the ERG book adopted by some American countries has suggestions and the Belgian legislation too establishes criteria to evaluate these distances. An analysis has been conducted then on the most recent accidents occurred worldwide, to understand how the response was performed and which safety distances were adopted. These values were compared with the numbers reported by the ERG book and the results of two devoted software tools for consequence analysis of accidental spills scenarios. This comparison has shown that there are differences between them and that a more standardized approach is necessary. This is why further developments of the topic should focus on promoting uniform procedures for emergency response planning and on a worldwide adoption of a guidebook with suggestions about actions to reduce consequences and about safety distances, determined following finer researches. For this aim, the development of a detailed database of hazardous materials transportation accidents could be useful.

Tri-level study: modification. Task 1: final report on potential benefits of various improvements in vehicle systems in preventing accidents or reducing their severity. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

A study of severe vehicular accidents. Phase 2.

National Highway Safety Bureau, Washington, D.C.

Special investigation report : wing failure of Boeing 747-131, near Madrid, Spain, May 9, 1976.

Issued Oct. 6, 1978.

Investigation of detonators and electric detonators,

On verso of t.-p.: First edition. June, 1913.

Ten fatal automobile accidents.

National Highway Safety Bureau, Washington, D.C.

Multidisciplinary investigations of highway traffic accidents. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Multidisciplinary investigations of vehicular accidents in the New Orleans area. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

A multidisciplinary study of alcohol-related accidents. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Multidisciplinary accident investigation. Freeway off-ramp departure; school bus rollover; 29 fatalities. MDAI team report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Investigation of accident reduction by grooved concrete pavement. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.

Investigation of motor vehicle/bicycle collision parameters, volume I. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Investigation of motor vehicle/bicycle collision parameters, volume II, appendices. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.