Constructing Risk and Safety in Technological Practice

Constructing Risk and Safety in Technological Practice PDF Author: Boel Berner
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134450427
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 213

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Book Description
Modern technological systems entail risks and uncertainties of hitherto unknown dimensions. This book discusses the construction of risk and safety within a variety of empirical contexts where technologies and their risk are debated and handled by individuals, groups or organizations. With contributions from leading scholars from Europe and the USA, it presents original theoretical discussions, linked to detailed empirical case studies.

Constructing Risk and Safety in Technological Practice

Constructing Risk and Safety in Technological Practice PDF Author: Boel Berner
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134450427
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 213

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Book Description
Modern technological systems entail risks and uncertainties of hitherto unknown dimensions. This book discusses the construction of risk and safety within a variety of empirical contexts where technologies and their risk are debated and handled by individuals, groups or organizations. With contributions from leading scholars from Europe and the USA, it presents original theoretical discussions, linked to detailed empirical case studies.

The Routledge Handbook of Urban Resilience

The Routledge Handbook of Urban Resilience PDF Author: Michael A. Burayidi
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429014996
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 643

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Book Description
This volume provides a comprehensive discussion and overview of urban resilience, including socio-ecological and economic hazard and disaster resilience. It provides a summary of state of the art thinking on resilience, the different approaches, tools and methodologies for understanding the subject in urban contexts, and brings together related reflections and initiatives. Throughout the different chapters, the handbook critically examines and reviews the resilience concept from various disciplinary and professional perspectives. It also discusses major urban crises, past and recent, and the generic lessons they provide for resilience. In this context, the authors provide case studies from different places and times, including historical material and contemporary examples, and studies that offer concrete guidance on how to approach urban resilience. Other chapters focus on how current understanding of urban systems – such as shrinking cities, green infrastructure, disaster volunteerism, and urban energy systems – are affecting the capacity of urban citizens, settlements and nation-states to respond to different forms and levels of stressors and shocks. The handbook concludes with a synthesis of the state of the art knowledge on resilience and points the way forward in refining the conceptualization and application of urban resilience. The book is intended for scholars and graduate students in urban studies, environmental and sustainability studies, geography, planning, architecture, urban design, political science and sociology, for whom it will provide an invaluable and up-to-date guide to current approaches across these disciplines that converge in the study of urban resilience. The book also provides important direction to practitioners and civic leaders who are engaged in supporting cities and regions to position themselves for resilience in the face of climate change, unpredictable socioenvironmental shocks and incremental risk accumulation.

Creative Systems in Structural and Construction Engineering

Creative Systems in Structural and Construction Engineering PDF Author: Amarjit Singh
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351457071
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 1040

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Book Description
An examination of creative systems in structural and construction engineering taken from conference proceedings. Topics covered range from construction methods, safety and quality to seismic response of structural elements and soils and pavement analysis.

The End of Heaven

The End of Heaven PDF Author: Sidney Dekker
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351819208
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 221

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Book Description
In this unique book, Sidney Dekker tackles a largely unexplored dilemma. Our scientific age has equipped us ever better to explain why things go wrong. But this increasing sophistication actually makes it harder to explain why we suffer. Accidents and disasters have become technical problems without inherent purpose. When told of a disaster, we easily feel lost in the steely emptiness of technical languages of engineering or medicine. Or, in our drive to pinpoint the source of suffering, we succumb to the hunt for a scapegoat, possibly inflicting even greater suffering on others around us. How can we satisfactorily deal with suffering when the disaster that caused it is no more than the dispassionate sum of utterly mundane, imperfect human decisions and technical failures? Broad in its historical sweep and ambition, The End of Heaven is also Dekker's most personal book to date.

National Policy-Making

National Policy-Making PDF Author: Pertti Alasuutari
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136177582
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 259

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Book Description
Notions of social change are often divided into local versus international. But what actually happens at the national level—where policies are ultimately made and implemented—when policy-making is interdependent worldwide? How do policy-makers take into account the prior choices of other countries? Far more research is needed on the process of interdependent decision-making in the world polity. National Policy-Making: domestication of global trends offers a unique set of hybrid cases that straddle these disciplinary and conceptual divides. The volume brings together well-researched case studies of policy-making from across the world that speak to practical issues but also challenge current theories of global influence in local policies. Distancing itself from approaches that conceive narrowly of policy transfer as a "one-way street" from powerful nations to weaker ones, this book argues instead for an understanding of national decision-making processes that emphasize cross-national comparisons and domestic field battles around the introduction of worldwide models. The case studies in this collection show how national policies appear to be synchronized globally yet are developed with distinct "national" flavors. Presenting new theoretical ideas and empirical cases, this book is aimed globally at scholars of political science, international relations, comparative public policy, and sociology.

Drift into Failure

Drift into Failure PDF Author: Sidney Dekker
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351942921
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 235

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Book Description
What does the collapse of sub-prime lending have in common with a broken jackscrew in an airliner’s tailplane? Or the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico with the burn-up of Space Shuttle Columbia? These were systems that drifted into failure. While pursuing success in a dynamic, complex environment with limited resources and multiple goal conflicts, a succession of small, everyday decisions eventually produced breakdowns on a massive scale. We have trouble grasping the complexity and normality that gives rise to such large events. We hunt for broken parts, fixable properties, people we can hold accountable. Our analyses of complex system breakdowns remain depressingly linear, depressingly componential - imprisoned in the space of ideas once defined by Newton and Descartes. The growth of complexity in society has outpaced our understanding of how complex systems work and fail. Our technologies have gotten ahead of our theories. We are able to build things - deep-sea oil rigs, jackscrews, collateralized debt obligations - whose properties we understand in isolation. But in competitive, regulated societies, their connections proliferate, their interactions and interdependencies multiply, their complexities mushroom. This book explores complexity theory and systems thinking to understand better how complex systems drift into failure. It studies sensitive dependence on initial conditions, unruly technology, tipping points, diversity - and finds that failure emerges opportunistically, non-randomly, from the very webs of relationships that breed success and that are supposed to protect organizations from disaster. It develops a vocabulary that allows us to harness complexity and find new ways of managing drift.

The Transformative Capacity of New Technologies

The Transformative Capacity of New Technologies PDF Author: Ulrich Dolata
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0415626935
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 153

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Book Description
The Transformative Capacity of New Technologies explores the questions: how and to what extent do socioeconomic structures, institutions, and actors change under the influence of new technologies? how do they react to technology-induced pressures to change? what patterns do they adopt? The book provides practical tools for analyzing and classifying exceptional periods of substantial socio-technical change.

Risk Management Practices in Construction

Risk Management Practices in Construction PDF Author: Ayodeji E. Oke
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031355571
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
This volume describes risk management practices in the construction industry in selected countries, with an emphasis on developing countries and how these countries can learn from the practices in more developed ones. Risk management in the construction industry can be difficult to understand due to the various complex procedures that are involved and to the unique concerns and contexts associated with each project. The industry has been a key contributor to the economic and social development of many countries of the world and is increasingly incorporating sustainability into its practices. However it is plagued by various risks that can affect the quality, cost, time and overall sustainability of projects. Therefore, there is need to effectively manage risk in order to ensure timely completion of construction projects in good quality and within budget, which in turn results in more efficient and often more sustainable practices. The book is divided into four parts. The first section features a primer on risk management practices as they pertain to the construction industry. The second part dives in to describe risk management in selected developing countries, including Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi-Arabia, South Africa, Sri-Lanka and Tanzania, as well as the city of Hong Kong. The third section describes the construction risk management practices of a selection of more developed countries with known risk management institutes and established practices of risk management. These countries include Australia, Canada, Sweden and United States of America. The fourth part offers a general overview of the definition, concepts and process of risk management based on reviewed literature. It also discusses the benefits of effective risk management to clients and to project teams, especially from the perspective of ensuring sustainability. This last section also summarizes the risk management practices in both developing and developed countries for the purpose of improving the practices in the former by learning from the latter.

Being Bedouin Around Petra

Being Bedouin Around Petra PDF Author: Mikkel Bille
Publisher: Berghahn Books
ISBN: 1789201217
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
Petra, Jordan became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, and the semi-nomadic Bedouin inhabiting the area were resettled as a consequence. The Bedouin themselves paradoxically became UNESCO Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2005 for the way in which their oral traditions and everyday lives relate to the landscape they no longer live in. Being Bedouin Around Petra asks: How could this happen? And what does it mean to be Bedouin when tourism, heritage protection, national discourse, an Islamic Revival and even New Age spiritualism lay competing claims to the past in the present?

Construction Safety: Principles, Practices, and Regulations for a Safe Work Environment

Construction Safety: Principles, Practices, and Regulations for a Safe Work Environment PDF Author: Charles Nehme
Publisher: Charles Nehme
ISBN:
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 85

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Book Description
Introduction: The Importance of Safety in Construction Construction is one of the most vital industries worldwide, responsible for building the infrastructure that supports modern civilization—from homes and offices to roads, bridges, and factories. However, it is also one of the most hazardous industries. Construction workers are exposed to a wide range of risks daily, including working at heights, operating heavy machinery, and handling dangerous materials. This combination of physical, environmental, and human factors makes construction safety a critical concern. A well-established safety culture not only protects the lives and health of workers but also enhances productivity, reduces project costs, and ensures compliance with legal requirements. The financial and operational implications of accidents, injuries, and fatalities can be devastating, often leading to project delays, legal liabilities, and damage to a company's reputation. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), over 60,000 fatal accidents occur in the construction industry each year worldwide, making it one of the most dangerous sectors of employment. This book aims to provide a comprehensive guide to construction safety, highlighting the principles, practices, and regulations essential for creating a safe and compliant work environment. Whether you are a construction worker, site supervisor, safety officer, or industry leader, understanding and implementing proper safety measures can significantly reduce the risks on a construction site. Impact of Safety Measures on Productivity and Cost Many companies mistakenly view safety protocols as time-consuming or costly. However, studies show that a well-implemented safety program can increase efficiency and reduce overall costs. Safe working environments reduce accidents, prevent project delays, and lead to fewer disruptions. Workers who feel safe are more likely to be productive, and well-maintained equipment reduces the risk of costly breakdowns. A Brief History of Safety Regulations in Construction The concept of construction safety has evolved significantly over time. In the early 20th century, construction workers were often exposed to extreme hazards with little to no protection. Over time, governments and industry bodies introduced legislation and guidelines to improve worker safety, leading to the establishment of organizations such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in the United States and similar agencies worldwide. These regulations have since evolved to meet the complexities of modern construction projects, from high-rise buildings to underground tunnels, aiming to ensure that safety is prioritized at every stage of the construction process. As construction projects continue to grow in scale and complexity, new safety challenges arise. This book will provide a detailed look at the modern safety measures that can help navigate these challenges, emphasizing the importance of ongoing education, training, and innovation in construction safety. What to Expect in This Book The chapters ahead will dive deep into every aspect of construction safety—from understanding common hazards to adopting cutting-edge technologies for risk mitigation. You will learn about the regulatory frameworks that govern safety practices globally and how to apply them in real-world scenarios. Practical guidelines on personal protective equipment (PPE), hazard identification, risk management, and emergency preparedness will be thoroughly discussed. Additionally, case studies will provide insights into both failures and successes in safety, offering valuable lessons for anyone working in construction. The ultimate goal of this book is to empower individuals and organizations to cultivate a culture of safety, where proactive measures are taken to prevent accidents, protect lives, and ensure that construction projects are completed efficiently and responsibly.