Critical indicators associated with negative performance in a selectively manned unit

Introduction. Selectively manned units have a long, international history, both military and civilian. Some examples include SWAT teams, firefighters, the FBI, the DEA, the CIA, and military Special Operations. These special duty operators are individuals who perform a highly skilled and dangerous job in a unique environment. A significant amount of money is spent by the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies to recruit, select, train, equip and support these operators. When a critical incident or significant life event occurs, that jeopardizes an operator's performance; there can be heavy losses in terms of training, time, money, and potentially, lives. In order to limit the number of critical incidents, selection processes have been developed over time to “select out” those individuals most likely to perform below desired performance standards under pressure or stress and to "select in" those with the "right stuff". This study is part of a larger program evaluation to assess markers that identify whether a person will fail under the stresses in a selectively manned unit. The primary question of the study is whether there are indicators in the selection process that signify potential negative performance at a later date. ^ Methods. The population being studied included applicants to a selectively manned DoD organization between 1993 and 2001 as part of a unit assessment and selection process (A&S). Approximately 1900 A&S records were included in the analysis. Over this nine year period, seventy-two individuals were determined to have had a critical incident. A critical incident can come in the form of problems with the law, personal, behavioral or family problems, integrity issues, and skills deficit. Of the seventy-two individuals, fifty-four of these had full assessment data and subsequent supervisor performance ratings which assessed how an individual performed while on the job. This group was compared across a variety of variables including demographics and psychometric testing with a group of 178 individuals who did not have a critical incident and had been determined to be good performers with positive ratings by their supervisors.^ Results. In approximately 2004, an online pre-screen survey was developed in the hopes of preselecting out those individuals with items that would potentially make them ineligible for selection to this organization. This survey has aided the organization to increase its selection rates and save resources in the process. (Patterson, Howard Smith, & Fisher, Unit Assessment and Selection Project, 2008) When the same prescreen was used on the critical incident individuals, it was found that over 60% of the individuals would have been flagged as unacceptable. This would have saved the organization valuable resources and heartache.^ There were some subtle demographic differences between the two groups (i.e. those with critical incidents were almost twice as likely to be divorced compared with the positive performers). Upon comparison of Psychometric testing several items were noted to be different. The two groups were similar when their IQ levels were compared using the Multidimensional Aptitude Battery (MAB). When looking at the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), there appeared to be a difference on the MMPI Social Introversion; the Critical Incidence group scored somewhat higher. When analysis was done, the number of MMPI Critical Items between the two groups was similar as well. When scores on the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO) were compared, the critical incident individuals tended to score higher on Openness and on its subscales (Ideas, Actions, and Feelings). There was a positive correlation between Total Neuroticism T Score and number of MMPI critical items.^ Conclusions. This study shows that the current pre-screening process is working and would have saved the organization significant resources. ^ If one was to develop a profile of a candidate who potentially could suffer a critical incident and subsequently jeopardize the unit, mission and the safety of the public they would look like the following: either divorced or never married, score high on the MMPI in Social Introversion, score low on MMPI with an "excessive" amount of MMPI critical items; and finally scores high on the NEO Openness and subscales Ideas, Feelings, and Actions.^ Based on the results gleaned from the analysis in this study there seems to be several factors, within psychometric testing, that when taken together, will aid the evaluators in selecting only the highest quality operators in order to save resources and to help protect the public from unfortunate critical incidents which may adversely affect our health and safety.^

Policy implications of public health workforce development for disaster preparedness in the United States

Public health efforts were initiated in the United States with legislative actions for enhancing food safety and ensuring pure drinking water. Some additional policy initiatives during the early 20th century helped organize and coordinate relief efforts for victims of natural disasters. By 1950's the federal government expanded its role for providing better health and safety to the communities, and its disaster relief activities became more structured. A rise in terrorism related incidents during the late 1990's prompted new proactive policy directions. The traditional policy and program efforts for rescue, recovery, and relief measures changed focus to include disaster preparedness and countermeasures against terrorism.^ The study took a holistic approach by analyzing all major disaster related policies and programs, in regard to their structure, process, and outcome. Study determined that United States has a strong disaster preparedness agenda and appropriate programs are in place with adequate policy support, and the country is prepared to meet all possible security challenges that may arise in the future. The man-made disaster of September 11th gave a major thrust to improve security and enhance preparedness of the country. These new efforts required large additional funding from the federal government. Most existing preparedness programs at the local and national levels are run with federal funds which is insufficient in some cases. This discrepancy arises from the fact that federal funding for disaster preparedness programs at present are not allocated by the level of risks to individual states or according to the risks that can be assigned to critical infrastructures across the country. However, the increased role of the federal government in public health affairs of the states is unusual, and opposed to the spirit of our constitution where sovereignty is equally divided between the federal government and the states. There is also shortage of manpower in public health to engage in disaster preparedness activities, despite some remarkable progress following the September 11th disaster.^ Study found that there was a significant improvement in knowledge and limited number of studies showed improvement of skills, increase in confidence and improvement in message-mapping. Among healthcare and allied healthcare professionals, short-term training on disaster preparedness increased knowledge and improved personal protective equipment use with some limited improvement in confidence and skills. However, due to the heterogeneity of these studies, the results and interpretation of this systematic review may be interpreted with caution.^

Bioterrorism preparedness at a hospital level in the Southwest Region of the United States -- A systematic review

Since the tragic events of September, 11 2001 the United States bioterrorism and disaster preparedness has made significant progress; yet, numerous research studies of nationwide hospital emergency response have found alarming shortcomings in surge capacity and training level of health care personnel in responding to bioterrorism incidents. The primary goals of this research were to assess hospital preparedness towards the threat of bioterrorist agents in the Southwest Region of the United States and provide recommendations for its improvement. Since little formal research has been published on the hospital preparedness of Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico, this research study specifically focused on the measurable factors affecting the respective states' resources and level of preparedness, such as funding, surge capacity and preparedness certification status.^ Over 300 citations of peer-reviewed articles and 17 Web sites were reviewed, of which 57 reports met inclusion criteria. The results of the systematic review highlighted key gaps in the existing literature and the key targets for future research, as well as identified strengths and weaknesses of the hospital preparedness in the Southwest states compared to the national average. ^ Based on the conducted research, currently, the Southwest states hospital systems are unable fully meet presidential preparedness mandates for emergency and disaster care: the staffed beds to 1,000 population value fluctuated around 1,5 across the states; funding for the hospital preparedness lags behind hospital costs by millions of dollars; and public health-hospital partnership in bioterrorism preparedness is quite weak as evident in lack of joint exercises and training. However, significant steps towards it are being made, including on-going hospital preparedness certification by the Joint Commission of Health Organization. Variations in preparedness levels among states signify that geographic location might determine a hospital level of bioterrorism preparedness as well, tending to favor bigger states such as Texas.^ Suggested recommendations on improvement of the hospital bioterrorism preparedness are consistent with the existing literature and include establishment and maintenance of solid partnerships between hospitals and public health agencies, conduction of joint exercises and drills for the health care personnel and key partners, improved state and federal funding specific to bioterrorism preparedness objectives, as well as on-going training of the clinical personnel on recognition of the bioterrorism agents.^

Democracy in the healthcare workplace: A critical perspective

A review of existing literature revealed at least two distinct theoretical perspectives or schools of thought which are troubled by problems of the lack of participation in the workplace: Jurgen Habermas' ideal of communicative rationality (1984; 1987); and the field of workplace democracy. Whereas Habermas' ideal of communicative rationality establishes communication as necessary to attain a democratic workplace, the ideal of workplace democracy focuses on a participatory ideal in which conditions of open participation must be fulfilled in order to attain a democratic workplace. This study compared the strengths and weaknesses of the conditions proposed by Habermas with the strengths and weaknesses of the conditions selected to represent the workplace democracy ideal. Two incidents were selected for analysis which occurred within a period of one year within one large healthcare organization. The author was present as a participant-observer to assess these incidents. Each of the conditions for the ideal of communicative rationality and for the workplace democracy ideal was systematically applied to both incidents selected for analysis. The results of the analysis suggested that application of Habermas' theory provided more insight into potential distortions in communication than did the conditions selected to represent workplace democracy. Although the conditions of both models were frequently complementary and even overlapping at times, application of each theory to the same incident produced distinctly different results. ^

Use of universal precautions in the workplace: A comparison of two fire /EMS services

The Health Belief Model (HBM) provided the theoretical framework for examining Universal Precautions (UP) compliance factors by Firefighter, EMTs and Paramedics (prehospital care providers). A convenient sample of prehospital care providers (n = 4000) from two cities (Houston and Washington DC), were surveyed to explore the factors related to their decision to comply with Universal Precautions. Eight hundred and sixty-five useable questionnaires were analyzed. The responders were primarily male (95.7%) eight hundred and twenty-eight and thirty-seven were female, prehospital based (100%), EMTs (60.0%) and paramedics (12.8%) who had a mean 13 years of prehospital care experience. ^ Linear regression was used to evaluate the four hypotheses. The first hypothesis evaluating perceived susceptibility and seriousness with reported UP use was statistically significant (p = < .05). Perceived susceptibility, when considered independently, did not make a significant contribution (t = −4.2852; p = 0.0000) to the stated use of Universal precautions. The hypothesis is not supported as stated. The data indicates the opposite effect. Supported is the premise that as perceived susceptibility and perceived seriousness increase the use of Universal Precautions decreases. Hypothesis two tested perceived benefits with internal and external barriers. Both perceived benefits and internal and external barriers as well as the overall regression were significant (F = 112.6, p = 0.0000). The contribution of internal and external barriers was statistically significant (t = 0.0175; p = 0.0000) and (t = 0.0128; p = 0.0000). Hypothesis three which tested modifying factors, cues to action, select demographic variables, and the main effects of the HBM with self reported UP compliance overall was significant. The variables gender, birth, education, job type, EMS certification, years of service, years of experience providing patient care, Universal Precautions training hours, type of apparatus assigned to and the number of EMS related incidents responded to in a month were found to have a significant contribution to the stated use of Universal Precautions. ^ The additive effects were tested by use of a stepwise regression that assessed the contribution of each of the significant variables. Three variables in the equation were statistically significant. Internal barriers (t = −8.5507; p = 0.0000), external barriers (t = −6.2862; p = 0.000) and job type 2 & 3. Job type two (t = −2.8464; p = 0.0045 is titled Engineer/Operator. Job type three (t = −2.5730; p = 0.0103) is titled captain. The overall regression was significant (F = 24.06; p = 0.000). The Hypothesis is supported in the certain demographic variables do influence the stated use of Universal precautions and that as internal and external barriers are decreased, there is an increase in the stated use of Universal Precautions. ^ In summary, this study demonstrated that internal and external barriers have a significant impact on the stated use of Universal Precautions. Internal barriers are those factors within the individual that require an internal change (i.e., forgetfulness, freedom, perception of the urgency of the patient's needs etc.) and external barriers are things in the environment that can be altered (i.e., equipment design, availability of equipment, ease of use). These two model variables explained 23%–30% of the variance. ^

La hiperactividad y el empuje de la civilización

La clínica y el trabajo en las instituciones nos muestran cambios dramáticos en la subjetividad contemporánea. Las personas se encuentran expuestas a demandas sociales que tienen consecuencias funestas sobre ellas. Y que se manifiestan en grados diversos de hiperactividad, o actividad compulsiva, hasta el colapso subjetivo bajo la forma de depresión o irrupciones masivas de angustia. En los niños se verifica desde hace un tiempo un fenómeno al que se le ha dado un nombre Trastorno por Déficit Atencional con Hiperactividad, y cuyo tratamiento se confía al uso paradójico de estimulantes. En este artículo se relacionan las causas de este fenómeno, con las modalidades culturales que propician el reemplazo de la experiencia subjetiva por protocolos de acción predeterminados.

Estimación de ahorro por inspección del regulador del mercado energético a las instalaciones de energías renovables

La Administración General del Estado, a través de la Comisión Nacional de la Energía, y en colaboración con los órganos competentes de las Comunidades Autónomas correspondientes, realiza inspecciones periódicas y aleatorias cada año, sobre las instalaciones de generación eléctrica, siguiendo los criterios de elección e indicaciones que la Secretaria General de la Energía del Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio imponga en cada caso. En este proyecto se analizan las distintas incidencias de las distintas tecnologías estudiadas, así como las consecuencias jurídicas y económicas. También se ofrecen las distintas propuestas de sanción como consecuencia de estas incidencias. El objeto del presente proyecto es el estudio de la reducción de costes al estado si el organismo competente (Comisión Nacional de Energía) liquidase a las diferentes instalaciones en función de las irregularidades detectadas como consecuencia de las inspecciones realizadas durante el plan 2011/2012, así como una estimación de dicho ahorro al extrapolar dichos resultados al total de instalaciones ABSTRACT The Central Government, through the National Energy Commission, in cooperation with the competent bodies of the Autonomous Communities concerned, realizes periodic and random inspections every year on electricity generation facilities, following the criteria of choice and indications that the General Secretary of Energy from the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce impose in each case. This project analyses the different incidences of the different technologies studied as well as the legal and economic consequences. It is also offered different proposals of sanction as a result of these incidents. The purpose of this project is to study the reduction of costs to the state if the competent agency (CNE) decided to close the different facilities depending on the irregularities as a result of inspections conducted during the plan 2011/2012 and as an estimate of the savings to extrapolate these results to all the facilities.

Robust rolling stock in rapid transit network

This paper focuses on the railway rolling stock circulation problem in rapid transit networks, in which frequencies are high and distances are relatively short. Although the distances are not very large, service times are high due to the large number of intermediate stops required to allow proper passenger flow. The main complicating issue is the fact that the available capacity at depot stations is very low, and both capacity and rolling stock are shared between different train lines. This forces the introduction of empty train movements and rotation maneuvers, to ensure sufficient station capacity and rolling stock availability. However, these shunting operations may sometimes be difficult to perform and can easily malfunction, causing localized incidents that could propagate throughout the entire network due to cascading effects. This type of operation will be penalized with the goal of selectively avoiding them and ameliorating their high malfunction probabilities. Critic trains, defined as train services that come through stations that have a large number of passengers arriving at the platform during rush hours, are also introduced. We illustrate our model using computational experiments drawn from RENFE (the main Spanish operator of suburban passenger trains) in Madrid, Spain. The results of the model, achieved in approximately 1 min, have been received positively by RENFE planners

Integration of Timetable Planning and Rolling Stock in Rapid Transit Networks

The aim of this paper is to propose an integrated planning model to adequate the offered capacity and system frequencies to attend the increased passenger demand and traffic congestion around urban and suburban areas. The railway capacity is studied in line planning, however, these planned frequencies were obtained without accounting for rolling stock flows through the rapid transit network. In order to provide the problem more freedom to decide rolling stock flows and therefore better adjusting these flows to passenger demand, a new integrated model is proposed, where frequencies are readjusted. Then, the railway timetable and rolling stock assignment are also calculated, where shunting operations are taken into account. These operations may sometimes malfunction, causing localized incidents that could propagate throughout the entire network due to cascading effects. This type of operations will be penalized with the goal of selectively avoiding them and ameliorating their high malfunction probabilities. Swapping operations will also be ensured using homogeneous rolling stock material and ensuring parkings in strategic stations. We illustrate our model using computational experiments drawn from RENFE (the main Spanish operator of suburban passenger trains) in Madrid, Spain. The results show that through this integrated approach a greater robustness degree can be obtained

Failure analysis of prestressed anchor bars

Three broken steel bars from a sewed crack in a dam are reported. The inspection of the fracture surfaces of the prestressed bars suggests that fractures were triggered by small cracks and by the inherent brittleness of the bars, as fracture toughness was about 40 MPa m1/2. The analysis of the failures shows that the usual design requirements for prestressing bars fail to warn against brittle failures if some damage exists. Some recommendations, based on the concept of damage tolerance, are suggested to avoid similar unfortunate incidents.

Effect of positioning on the accuracy of decision making of association football top-class referees and assistant referees during competitive matches

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of positioning on the correctness of decision making of top-class referees and assistant referees during international games. Match analyses were carried out during the Fe´de´ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Confederations Cup 2009 and 380 foul play incidents and 165 offside situations were examined. The error percentage for the referees when indicating the incidents averaged 14%. The lowest error percentage occurred in the central area of the field, where the collaboration of the assistant referee is limited, and was achieved when indicating the incidents from a distance of 11–15 m, whereas this percentage peaked (23%) in the last 15-min match period. The error rate for the assistant referees was 13%. Distance of the assistant referee to the offside line did not have an impact on the quality of the offside decision. The risk of making incorrect decisions was reduced when the assistant referees viewed the offside situations from an angle between 46 and 608. Incorrect offside decisions occurred twice as often in the second as in the first half of the games. Perceptual-cognitive training sessions specific to the requirements of the game should be implemented in the weekly schedule of football officials to reduce the overall error rate.

Evaluación ambiental de las tecnologías de recuperación de gas en formaciones no convencionales

Este proyecto pretende ofrecer una visión general de una de las tecnologías más actuales de recuperación de gas en formaciones no convencionales: fracturación hidráulica o “fracking”. El proyecto está motivado por la necesidad de responder a diferentes cuestiones sobre los efectos ambientales, sociales y en la salud humana derivados de la utilización de esa tecnología. Ofrece, además, una descripción del proceso y utilización de la tecnología haciendo especial mención de los riesgos inherentes de su uso, aunque también se intenta establecer una vía de aceptación para su desarrollo cuyo fin último, a parte de los beneficios económicos de quienes la usan, es el de posibilitar la transición hacia el uso de unos recursos (energías fósiles de extracción no convencional) que requieren de dichas técnicas para mantener, a lo largo del tiempo, el suministro de una energía que se supone más respetuosa con el medio ambiente: el gas natural. En primer lugar se expone, a modo introductorio, la necesidad de utilización de nuevas técnicas de estimulación de pozos y su utilización para satisfacer las necesidades energéticas mundiales en los próximos años. A continuación se hace una revisión del marco regulatorio aplicable al gas no convencional. Seguidamente, se hace una descripción de los recursos y fuentes no convencionales de gas y la descripción del proceso de fracturación hidráulica. Se analizan los incidentes relacionados con su desarrollo y las posibilidades y mecanismos que pueden adoptarse para reducirlos. Finalmente, se proponen vías alternativas basadas en las mejores técnicas aplicables al uso de la tecnología, cuya finalidad sea la mayor consideración ambiental posible y el menor riesgo posible en la salud de las personas. ABSTRACT This project aims to provide an overview of the latest technologies in gas recovery unconventional formations: hydraulic fracturing or "fracking". The project is motivated by the need to respond to various questions on the environmental, social and human health arising from the use of this technology. It also offers a description of the process and use of technology with special mention of the inherent risks of their use, but also tries to establish a path of acceptance for development whose ultimate goal, apart from the economic benefits of those who use is of enabling the transition to the use of certain resources (fossil energy extraction unconventional) which require such techniques to maintain, over time, of an energy supply which is more environmentally friendly: natural gas. First discussed the need to use new well stimulation techniques and their use to meet the world's energy needs in the coming years. Below is a review of the regulatory framework applicable to unconventional gas. Next, there is a description of resources and unconventional sources of gas, and the description of the process of hydraulic fracturing. We analyze the incidents related to its development and the possibilities and mechanisms that can be taken to reduce them. Finally, we suggest alternative routes based on the best techniques applicable to the use of technology, aiming at the highest possible environmental consideration and the least possible risk to the health of people.

Sistema de supervisión y soporte para nodos LTE

El proyecto consiste en la actualización del sistema de soporte operacional (OSS) con respecto a las nuevas redes para acceso móvil LTE/4G. El trabajo es un ejercicio real ejercido para Vodafone, compañía de telefonía en España. El producto OSS de Ericsson España es un sistema de supervisión de soporte de la red para cualquier tipo de nodo, pero el proyecto se centrará en los nodos de red LTE (Long Term Evolution). Con este sistema se puede gestionar cualquier cambio en los nodos, incidencias o actualizaciones en la red de manera fiable y sin pérdida de datos. Se profundizará en la descripción del software y del hardware del producto OSS. Se hablará de la tecnología LTE, detallando la evolución sufrida en las redes, el paso de 2G/3G a 4G y todo ello centrado en la industria puntera de las redes de telefonía móviles, así como las nuevas características que esta tecnología aporta y la compatibilidad con las anteriores. ABSTRACT. This project consists of the upgrade of the operational & support system (OSS) regarding the new functionality implemented for the LTE/4G mobile access networks. The project has been implemented in a live environment in Vodafone Spain. Ericsson OSS product consists of a network monitoring system for support and configuration of Core and Radio network elements. This project will be focused on LTE (Long Term Evolution) network nodes. The OSS system can manage any changes in the nodes, incidents or updates to the network in a reliable way without data loss. The description of OSS software and hardware is going to be explained in detail. LTE technology is going to be introduced, detailing the network evolution from 2G/3G to 4G, all focused on the industry leading mobile phone networks and the new features that this technology provides.

Desarrollo de una interfaz para controlar por voz la aplicación móvil de mensajería Telegram

La aparición de los smartphones, trajo consigo el desarrollo de aplicaciones móviles de mensajería instantánea. Estas aplicaciones aprovechan la infraestructura de las redes de datos para enviar los mensajes de unos dispositivos a otros, lo que supone la posibilidad de enviar mensajes ilimitados a bajo coste. Hoy en día lo inusual es ver a alguna persona que haga uso de los antiguos mensajes de texto o sms (Short Message Service), que además llevan el coste de comunicación definido por las distintas operadoras. Tanto ha sido su auge que se ha convertido en uno de los principales medios de comunicación tanto en el ámbito personal como empresarial. Desafortunadamente, cada vez son más los conductores que hacen uso de las aplicaciones de mensajería para enviar y recibir mensajes mientras conducen, a pesar de que su uso está totalmente prohibido y penado por la ley. Por este motivo, en este proyecto se propone la modificación de la aplicación de mensajería Telegram, que permite controlar el env´ıo y recepción de mensajes únicamente utilizando la voz, evitando así cualquier tipo de distracci´on ocasionada por la interacción táctil con el dispositivo. Esta idea propuesta en el proyecto puede ayudar a reducir el número de accidentes ocasionados por este tipo de distracciones al volante, así como las posibles multas e incidentes que pueda ocasionar el uso del móvil durante la conducción. ---ABSTRACT---The emergence of smartphones, fostered the development of mobile instant messaging applications. These applications take advantage of the infrastructure of data networks to send messages between devices with almost no additional cost attached to it. Today you will hardly be able to find a person who makes use of the old text messages or sms (Short Message Service), and therefore bears the cost of communication defined by the respective operators. This boom has been such that it has become one of the main communication methods or channels in both the personal and work environments. Unfortunately, more and more drivers use messaging applications to send and receive messages while they are driving, even though its use is strictly prohibited and punished by law. Therefore our objective is to modify the existing messaging application Telegram allowing interaction with the mobile device by only using the user’s voice to send and receive messages, avoiding any distractions that any tactile interaction with the device could cause. The aim is to significantly try to reduce accidents caused while driving, as well as to avoid any related potential fines and incidents that may result from use of mobile phone while driving.

Nueva disposición de sistemas de contención de vehículos en medianas de autovía: New practices for median barriers of highways

La siniestralidad por salida izquierda de vía en carreteras de gran capacidad es un problema que, además de las dramáticas situaciones a las que da lugar, inflige a la sociedad elevados costes. Por ello, debe prestarse una intensa atención al diseño de las medianas y a la disposición de barreras en ellas, con el objetivo de evitar que se produzcan este tipo de accidentes y limitar las consecuencias de los que aún así tengan lugar. Habitualmente las medianas de autovías se diseñan aplicando casi sistemáticamente los parámetros mínimos exigidos normativamente y generalmente con barreras de seguridad adosadas o muy próximas a uno de los arcenes interiores. Sin embargo, tanto las recomendaciones técnicas nacionales como la bibliografía internacional recomiendan llevar a cabo un estudio económico de alternativas antes que colocar barreras y, si está justificada su disposición, alejarla de la calzada disponiéndola próxima al eje de la mediana. En esta tesis se analizan las ventajas y limitaciones que tiene la disposición de barrera próxima al eje de la mediana. Se ha investigado sobre el comportamiento de los vehículos al circular por la mediana y se muestra cómo se ha instalado en la obra de la autovía A‐40, Tramo: Villarrubia de Santiago‐Santa Cruz de la Zarza, destacando los aspectos más novedosos y llamativos pero que se ajustan a las mejores prácticas en la materia y también a la normativa de aplicación. ABSTRACT Many dramatic situations are caused by cross‐median traffic accidents which imply high costs for society, both in human and economic terms. It is therefore important that special attention should be paid to the design of highway medians and to the installation of safety barriers so as to avoid these kinds of incidents and to reduce their consequences. Highway median are usually designed with the application of minimum parameters, according to regulations, with the installation of safety barriers against or close to the inside border. However, Spanish technical regulations and international bibliography recommend a prior study to be carried out with the purpose of finding alternatives to this installation of safety barriers and if necessary, the installation of the safety barrier close to the centre of the median. This thesis directs its analysis towards the advantages and restrictions of installing the safety barrier close to the centre of the median. Research has shown vehicle response when within the median and we show the installation of safety barriers in the A‐40 highway stretch: Villarrubia de Santiago – Santa Cruz de la Zarza, highlighting the aspects that should be taken into account as best practices for road safety and technical regulations.