Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030085

Authors: Shinhao Yang Hsiao-Lin Huang Pei-Ling Kuo Yu-Chin Chiang Yen-An Chen

This study develops and validates risk-based emergency response scenarios for Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) and Animal Biosafety Level 2 (ABSL-2) facilities. Utilizing Bow-tie analysis, three multidimensional scenarios were constructed: infrastructure failure, biosecurity breach, and compound disaster. Four domain experts independently evaluated the scripts using the Content Validity Index (CVI), with an absolute consensus threshold of I-CVI = 1.00. To address operational gaps identified during initial evaluations, the revised protocols were strictly aligned with the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) mandatory reporting thresholds for high-hazard incidents. Furthermore, the scripts explicitly defined the Incident Command System (ICS) to prevent communication fragmentation and integrated the NC3Rs tunnel handling technique to minimize occupational bite risks. Following these targeted refinements, all items achieved absolute expert consensus. This research translates static biosafety regulations into dynamic, stress-tested training tools. By providing a standardized instrument for resilience assessment, this study equips frontline personnel with the critical capacity to navigate cascading crises while strictly adhering to a “life safety first” paradigm.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030084

Authors: Inês Ribeiro Catarina Ramos Joana Santos Carlos Carvalhais

Higher education institutions, particularly those with teaching and research laboratories, play an important role in transmitting knowledge and attitudes regarding chemical safety to their students. As such, this study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes of higher education students across different study programs regarding laboratory chemical safety. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire adapted and translated into Portuguese. The instrument comprised twenty-seven questions and was distributed to students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs that include laboratory practices in their curricula in March and July of 2025. A total of 284 students participated in the study, divided among the different study programs (CTeSP = 4.2%; Bachelor’s = 70.4%; Master’s = 21%; Doctorate = 4.2%). The results showed that, although a large percentage of students have a high level of knowledge, their attitudes are not always the most appropriate, which could jeopardize their safety and that of those around them. Our findings revealed that there is room for curriculum adjustments. Early exposure to chemical and laboratory safety concepts can promote the development of students’ awareness and future professionals’ competence. Integrating safety modules into education may enhance knowledge and skills for making informed decisions that reduce accidents/incidents in laboratory environments.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030083

Authors: Ana Rački Marinković Tomislav Katić Darko Palačić

Risk assessment is a cornerstone of effective occupational health and safety (OHS) management, yet its efficacy often varies in practice. Evaluating legislative frameworks is essential for enhancing the practical application of safety standards. This study examines the state of the risk assessment process in Croatia from the perspective of OHS experts to provide recommendations for improvement and standardization. A digital survey was conducted among registered OHS experts via the national Information System for Occupational Safety (ISZNR). Data from 967 OHS experts were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The hypothesis that current risk assessment processes are insufficiently effective was partially accepted, as a significant portion of the surveyed OHS experts perceive them as having limited functional effectiveness. While 33% of experts view the current prescribed mandatory risk assessment methodology as effective, more than half of respondents (56%) identified that risk assessments are predominantly adjusted to formal requirements rather than to actual work conditions. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in perceptions of risk assessment effectiveness based on OHS experts’ support for mandatory legal frameworks for standardization (Q19; p = 0.259) or the active usage of digital tools (p = 0.984). However, a statistically significant relationship was observed regarding general attitudes toward quality improvement through standardization (Q17; p < 0.05) and the perceived utility of digitalization (p < 0.001). The study concludes that the current process requires further improvement and suggests detailed sectoral analyses for future research.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030082

Authors: Vladimir M. Cvetković Dalibor Milenković Jasmina Bašić Tin Lukić Renate Renner

In the original publication [...]

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030081

Authors: Gibin Raju Jan-Arthur Utrecht James H. Stewart Allan R. Pinhas

Academic research laboratories often exhibit gaps between formal safety policies and everyday practices, driven by variability in training, leadership engagement, and safety practices. Effective safety therefore depends not only on formal compliance programs but also on operational factors such as training quality, SOP use, audit practices, and reporting culture. This study examines how operational factors within a large research-intensive university, including laboratory role, access to and adequacy of safety training, use of standard operating procedures (SOPs), experience with audits, near-miss reporting practices, and laboratory workers’ perceptions of risk and safety culture, are related to one another. A cross-sectional anonymous survey was administered to 1340 individuals, of whom 245 self-identified as currently working in research laboratories. Categorical data were analyzed using likelihood ratio chi-square tests with false discovery rate adjustments. Respondents reported high overall use of SOP use (85%), but staff indicated significantly lower SOP use than graduate students (69% vs. 91%, p = 0.004), and staff were more likely than faculty to view audits as helpful (97% vs. 85%, p = 0.050). Only 68% of laboratories reported documenting near misses, and 25% of respondents reported difficulty locating required training, despite 88% of training users rating it as sufficient once accessed. Although 52% of respondents classified their laboratory as moderate or high risk, 96% nonetheless described their laboratory as safe, suggesting normalization of risk based on self-reported perceptions. No significant associations were observed between perceived laboratory safety and years of experience, hours worked in the laboratory, or extent of training completed. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of not only accessible training and consistent procedures but also institutional conditions that support reporting, learning, and shared responsibility for hazard mitigation in academic research laboratories.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030080

Authors: Hamid Reza Behnood Sonja Elisabeth Forward Jan Andersson Mohammadreza Bakhtiary

Taxi drivers are a group with high driving exposure and are involved in a significant number of urban traffic casualties. Using two modelling approaches, this study examines whether the intention to speed, as measured by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), can better fit a crash frequency model than errors or lapses as measured by the Driving Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ). Data from 1000 drivers in Tehran was collected through questionnaires. The crash prediction model included a cross-sectional model using negative binomial (NB) regression methods and a tree regression model from a previous study. In the last three years, the drivers had been involved in 544 road crashes, and of those, 42 resulted in serious injuries. Due to the rare and random nature of crashes, the empirical Bayesian (EB) method was used for model testing. Comparing AIC and BIC showed that zero-inflated NB (ZINB) models performed better. The final selected model was the intention-based ZINB model without the age variable. The coefficients for intention, exposure, and driver experience were 0.205, 0.103, and −0.443, respectively. The high EB coefficients indicated strong reliance on predicted crash values. The conclusion is that road crashes are closely related to taxi drivers’ intention to speed rather than errors and lapses. This indicates that it can be described as a traffic violation, rather than a mistake. Therefore, significant efforts are required to increase compliance with speed limits and reduce road crashes. Further education and high-quality campaigns are essential elements to achieve this goal.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030079

Authors: Cátia Sousa Anne Coelho

Safety behaviour in the workplace is influenced by both individual characteristics and organizational practices; however, the conditions under which these factors interact remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on an interactionist perspective, this study examines whether perceived safety training effectiveness functions as a contextual condition that shapes the influence of personality traits on safety behaviour. A cross-sectional design was adopted, and data were collected through an online questionnaire from 268 workers across diverse professional backgrounds. Measures included safety behaviour, personality traits (neuroticism and conscientiousness), and perceived safety training effectiveness. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, multiple regression, and moderation analyses, controlling for age and gender. The results showed that neuroticism was negatively associated with safety behaviour, whereas conscientiousness did not present a significant effect when perceived safety training effectiveness was included in the model. Perceived safety training effectiveness emerged as the strongest predictor of safety behaviour. Importantly, perceived safety training effectiveness moderated the relationship between conscientiousness and safety behaviour, such that its influence was stronger at lower levels of training and diminished as training increased. These findings suggest that perceived safety training effectiveness was associated with a weaker relationship between conscientiousness and safety behaviour. By suggesting that the relationship between personality traits and safety behaviour may depend on organizational conditions, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of safety behaviour and highlights the central role of training as a key organizational resource for promoting safer work practices.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030078

Authors: Jean Sagwati Mdumela Tsolanku Sidney Maliehe Yannick Nuapia Marks Matee Sebaiwa Tlou Nelson Selepe

Pharmaceutical and microbial pollution in urban rivers is an emerging concern, particularly in developing regions with limited wastewater treatment capacity, posing risks to human health and ecosystems. This study evaluated the risk profiles of selected pharmaceutical compounds and bacterial indicators in the Sand River, South Africa, and computed their ecological risks, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and human health risk assessment. Surface water samples were collected from three sites during the wet season and analyzed for target antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with a photodiode array (PDA) detector, while total coliforms (TCs) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were enumerated using the Colilert system. Ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and erythromycin were the most abundant pharmaceuticals, with maximum concentrations of 2.50 µg/L, 2.76 µg/L, and 2.53 µg/L, respectively. TC and E. coli levels exceeded regulatory thresholds, indicating severe microbial contamination. Risk quotient analysis identified ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and trimethoprim as high-risk compounds for potential resistance selection (RQ ≥ 1), while ciprofloxacin and erythromycin posed significant ecological risks to fish. Although non-carcinogenic health risk assessment remained below concern (HI < 1), children showed higher exposure levels. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved pharmaceutical waste management and wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030077

Authors: Xavier Merino-Vivanco Fabián Díaz-Muñoz Yasmany García-Ramírez

Road safety is a global priority, and driver behavioral factors are among its most critical determinants. Although the literature has advanced in characterizing driving styles using psychometric instruments such as the Multidimensional Driving Style Inventory (MDSI), an empirical gap persists in the simultaneous integration of latent behavioral profiles, driving exposure, and road safety outcomes, particularly in Latin American contexts and across generational extremes. This study examined the relationship between latent driving style profiles and road safety outcomes among young (18–25 years) and older (≥65 years) licensed drivers in Ecuador, while evaluating the moderating role of driving exposure. A structured survey based on the MDSI was administered to 833 active drivers, and data were analyzed using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) and binary logistic regression. The six-profile solution was selected according to the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC = 11,655.07), with acceptable classification quality (entropy = 0.860; minimum posterior probability = 0.808); for inferential parsimony, these profiles were subsequently consolidated into three analytically interpretable categories: Predominantly Careful, Predominantly Risky, and Distress-Reduction. The Predominantly Risky profile was significantly associated with higher odds of traffic accident involvement (OR = 2.76, 95% CI [1.55, 4.93]), whereas the Distress-Reduction profile showed substantially higher odds of receiving traffic infraction fines (OR = 4.74, 95% CI [1.69, 13.34]). The composite driving exposure index was a robust predictor across both models (accident model: OR = 2.82, 95% CI [1.60, 5.14]; fine model: OR = 1.87, 95% CI [1.29, 2.74]). In addition, a significant interaction was observed between the Predominantly Risky profile and driving exposure in the model predicting traffic infraction fines, suggesting that exposure amplified sanction risk within this behavioral category. Older drivers showed a substantially higher representation of the Distress-Reduction profile than young drivers. These findings underscore the utility of person-centered approaches for identifying heterogeneous driver configurations and for designing profile-differentiated road safety interventions; from a practical perspective, these results support the development of targeted road safety programs that integrate behavioral profile screening with exposure-based risk management for young and older drivers.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030076

Authors: Reagile Raditsela Kirsty-Lee Sharp-Eke Ayesha L. Bevan-Dye

Establishing a strong safety culture remains a key challenge for safety professionals in the manufacturing sector. Although safety culture has been examined across South African industries such as food production, aviation and construction, limited research focuses on manufacturing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This study addresses this gap by examining how employees perceive organizational factors influencing safety culture through a six-factor leadership and safety practices framework. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from a convenience sample of 487 employees aged 18–65 years working in South African manufacturing SMEs, recruited through a national market research panel. A structured, self-administered questionnaire measured employee perceptions of organizational factors shaping safety culture and related compliance behaviors. The structural model demonstrated satisfactory reliability and strong model fit, with six core factors identified, namely management commitment, safety incentives, safety training, safety communication with feedback, safety culture, and safety compliance. Findings indicate that stronger safety culture development requires SME leadership engagement, resource allocation and open communication, supported by frequent, context-specific training and intrinsic and extrinsic incentives, while clear, enforceable compliance measures help reduce workplace hazards and maintain regulatory alignment.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030075

Authors: Tianxing Ji Mingxing Gao Haixiao Wang Hangtian Li

Grassland highways present a distinctive application context for human–machine co-driving (HMCODR), yet the evidence on takeover behavior in such environments remains limited. This study employed a driving simulator experiment to investigate how takeover scenarios, weather conditions, and driver gender influence eye-movement behavior during automated-driving takeovers on a representative Inner Mongolia grassland highway. 36 student participants completed a 2 (gender) × 3 (scenario: stationary vehicle ahead, ramp vehicle merging, and livestock intruding into lane) × 3 (weather: clear, rain–snow, and sandstorm) mixed experimental design. The mean fixation duration (MFD), fixation rate (FR), mean saccade duration (MSD), saccade amplitude (SA), and relative change in pupil area (RCPA) were recorded using a wearable eye tracker, and a mixed-design ANOVA was conducted based on these five metrics. The scenario and weather had significant effects on all eye-movement measurements (p < 0.05), with interactions observed for some indices. The ramp vehicle merging scenario elicited denser visual scanning, as reflected by a shorter MFD and a higher FR. In the livestock intruding into lane scenario, drivers exhibited a broader visual search, characterized by a longer MSD and a larger SA, along with greater pupil-area fluctuations (a higher RCPA); these effects tended to be more pronounced under rain–snow and sandstorm conditions. Across most of the condition combinations, the female drivers tended to show a higher FR, a shorter MFD, and a higher RCPA, whereas male drivers tended to show a slightly larger MSD and SA. Among all the eye-movement indices, RCPA showed a relatively more pronounced gender difference, with female drivers exhibiting values approximately 16–32% higher than male drivers. These findings extend the takeover research to grassland highway contexts and suggest that takeover assistance should place greater emphasis on hazard-relevant cues and timely gaze guidance under complex scenarios and adverse weather conditions, while the observed differences in the visual-response patterns may also inform more personalized prompting strategies to better support safety in high-risk takeover situations.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030074

Authors: Rusber Alberto Risco-Ojeda Cesar Moreno-Rojo Ruben Adrián Figueroa-León Saúl Ricardo Chuqui-Diestra Juan Carlos Ponce-Ramirez Arlette Guiuliana Villacresis-Huashuayo Janet Verónica Saavedra-Vera Luis Alberto Segura-Terrones Segundo José Palacios-Guarniz Edgar Virgilio Bedoya-Justo Abel José Rodríguez-Yparraguirre Carlos Diego Rodríguez-Yparraguirre

Musculoskeletal disorders represent one of the most frequent occupational health problems in labour-intensive industries, particularly in fish processing, where repetitive tasks and prolonged postures are common. The objective was to determine the level of ergonomic risk by applying the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method and based on the results, to formulate recommendations aimed at preventing musculoskeletal disorders and improving preventive management within the organization. The assessment included 30 workers distributed across three operational workstations, where the overall average REBA score was 8.60 ± 1.65 (range: 6–12), indicating a predominantly high level of ergonomic risk. In categorical terms, 60.0% of the workers were classified as high risk, 13.3% as very high risk, and 26.7% as medium risk, while none reached negligible or low risk levels. Significant differences were observed between workstations (Kruskal–Wallis H = 16.72, p < 0.001, ε2 = 0.545), with the nobbing stage exhibiting the highest biomechanical load (mean REBA = 10.38 ± 1.06). It is concluded that ergonomic risk is structurally integrated into the operational design of the evaluated production system; therefore, ergonomic interventions focused on redesigning workstations, adjusting height, and configuring tasks are recommended to reduce biomechanical exposure and strengthen the organization’s preventive occupational safety framework.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030073

Authors: America Romero Nora Munguía Luis Velázquez Ramón E. Robles Zepeda Carlos Montalvo Esteban Picazzo-Palencia

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is transforming industrial systems through interconnected, data-driven technologies, raising questions about how these developments affect Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). This study investigates research trends, thematic structures, and knowledge gaps at the intersection of I4.0 and OHS using a multilevel bibliometric framework applied to Scopus records published from 2011 to 2025. The analysis moves from a broad overview of the I4.0 landscape to more focused examinations of specific I4.0–OHS publications, prevention-oriented studies, and emerging-risk research. The results show that OHS has limited visibility in the general I4.0 literature and is more prominent mainly in targeted subsets, where digital sensing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and immersive technologies drive prevention-focused research. Conversely, emerging risks such as cognitive load, psychosocial stressors, and human–autonomy interaction appear in smaller, more dispersed clusters. Overall, the findings suggest that the relationship between I4.0 and OHS is unevenly developed, with established prevention mechanisms and early-stage conceptualization of new risks. Strengthening this field will require integrating human factors with digital indicators, better characterizing emerging risks, and ensuring that digital transformation supports SDG 8 by fostering safe and healthy working environments.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030072

Authors: Katlego L. Mailula Phoka C. Rathebe Masilu D. Masekameni

Automobile spray painters in small informal workshops in developing countries face high occupational exposure to organic solvents. Although health effects are well known, the influence of workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on these effects is less well understood. This study examined spray painters’ KAP regarding organic solvents and health symptoms and assessed workplace safety compliance. A cross-sectional study in Region F, Johannesburg, collected data among 152 spray painters across 47 workshops using a questionnaire and checklist. KAP scores were analysed with multivariable logistic regression to identify associations with eye, skin, respiratory, and CNS symptoms, while controlling for confounders. Workplace controls were inadequate: 64% of workshops conducted spray painting outdoors, while only 17% had a functioning spray booth. Although knowledge scores were high (45.29/50 ± 6.025), practice scores remained low (9.01/20 ± 5.275). After adjustment, higher knowledge was significantly associated with reduced odds of eye (AOR = 0.846), skin (AOR = 0.915), and respiratory symptoms (AOR = 0.890). Better practice scores also correlated with fewer skin symptoms (AOR = 0.891). No KAP construct was linked to CNS symptoms. In the absence of engineering controls, workers’ knowledge is strongly linked to lower reporting of solvent-related symptoms affecting the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. However, knowledge does not appear to influence CNS symptoms, which are probably driven by ambient solvent concentrations that individual behavioural measures cannot effectively manage. Therefore, knowledge acts as a supplementary, rather than a substitute, safeguard where engineering controls are lacking. Interventions should include education and enforceable regulations to empower workers and ensure the use of engineering controls, especially in spray booths.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030071

Authors: Kinga Hokstok Zsolt Nagy Kevin Nagy

This study examines organisational and ergonomic predictors of safety compliance in automotive just-in-time (JIT) production environments. Drawing on the theory of safety climate and the literature on organisational control, we developed a multivariate regression model to analyse how managerial commitment, production pressure, technological safeguards, training quality, severity of sanctions, and ergonomic prevention relate to employee safety compliance. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the employees of five Central European Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers (n = 221). The results show that organisational factors play a central role in explaining compliance behaviour. Management commitment and training quality emerged as the strongest positive predictors of safety compliance, while production pressure showed a significant negative association. Ergonomic prevention was also positively related to compliance, suggesting that workplace design and physical risk reduction contribute to safer behaviour. The severity of sanctions showed only a weak relationship with compliance. In general, the findings indicate that supportive organisational practices and preventive safety management are more strongly associated with compliance than sanctions-based control mechanisms alone. The results highlight the importance of integrating management commitment, training systems, and ergonomic design into safety strategies in high-pressure manufacturing environments.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030070

Authors: Boyi Zhuang Praveena Penmetsa Salman Haider Khan Emmanuel Kofi Adanu Lawrence Powell Steven Jones

Seatbelt use is well established as a life-saving measure. Nevertheless, many drivers and passengers continue to neglect seatbelt use. This study examines the risks associated with unrestrained occupants involved in motor vehicle crashes. Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2000 to 2018, the relative risk of fatal traffic accidents for unrestrained vehicle occupants in the United States was estimated using the maximum likelihood estimation method. The findings indicate that unrestrained passengers make up about 12% of all passengers on the road and face a roughly 4.3 times greater likelihood of fatality in severe crashes. Additionally, unrestrained drivers, whose higher risk profiles are linked not only to their lack of restraint but also to broader patterns of hazardous driving behavior, account for over 8% of all drivers and exhibit a risk approximately 5.4 times higher in causing fatal crashes compared to restrained drivers. The findings of this study reveal the prevalence and consequences of unrestrained vehicle occupants and supports ongoing efforts to promote seatbelt utilization and bolster road safety protocols. By doing so, we can alleviate the burden of preventable injuries and fatalities on individuals, families, and society at large, thus fostering a safer and more secure transportation environment for all.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030069

Authors: Asela Weerakoon David Thorpe Amirhossein Heravi Anirudh Atmakuru Asoke Mehera Subrata Chakraborty

This study aims to identify key health and safety challenges and examine root causes while developing a conceptual framework to improve safety. Results of the study will be useful for policy makers, regulatory authorities, construction managers, safety professionals and researchers to improve regulations, safety practices, training programs and policy development. The emerging construction industry in Sri Lanka is facing significant safety challenges for workers, including poor practices, inappropriate conduct, and negative attitudes. The construction industry was selected for this study due to its labor-intensive nature and its consistently high exposure to occupational hazards compared to other industrial sectors. The underlying root causes of these health and safety challenges remain unclear, primarily due to a lack of comprehensive government regulations, which are currently limited to the outdated Factories Ordinance of 1942. Sri Lanka was chosen as the focus of this study because of its rapidly expanding construction sector and outdated regulatory framework; it is also a representative of underdeveloped countries. Several studies have identified contributing factors such as outdated legislation, a shortage of qualified officers, poor attitudes, lack of funding, negligence, and limited awareness. To address this research gap, the safety aspects of the Sri Lankan construction industry have been examined, revealing emerging challenges such as poor safety practices, the presence of foreign workers, and the inadequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by staff. A deeper examination of these challenges indicates that sufficient safety budgets reflect leadership attitudes toward preventing injuries, and that targeted safety training for different roles can help mitigate these issues. Accordingly, a conceptual safety framework has been developed. A qualitative, semi-structured interview comprising both open- and closed-ended questions was conducted to gain insights from 26 experts (including engineers, architects, human resource personnel, safety officers, and managers) regarding workplace safety challenges. The interview data was thematically categorized based on the identified safety challenges using NVivo analysis, to determine their root causes and develop strategies to improve workplace safety. To evaluate the emotional tone of participants’ response, sentiment analysis was conducted. Results highlighted participants’ optimism when discussing proactive or successful safety measures, neutrality in objective assessments, and concern or dissatisfaction when addressing safety challenges and organizational shortcomings. Experts recommended that safety education should be introduced in universities and vocational institutes. Firms can incorporate safety training through toolbox talks and induction sessions, and they can allocate a safety budget in their contracts. The study suggests developing a certificate-level safety training module for the construction industry and provides fresh insights into the underlying causes of safety issues in the Sri Lankan construction sector. Furthermore, the study has implications for delivering a health and safety framework for project risk management in developing countries that face budget constraints and limited training and development opportunities for enhancing construction skill sets.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030068

Authors: Jolanta Klukowska-Rötzler Igor Gagarkin Dragica Suker Martin Müller Doris-Viviana Vesa Aristomenis Exadaktylos Johanna Boldt

Background: Indoor climbing is a rapidly growing sport; however, data on injury patterns and clinical outcomes remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the injury severity, characteristics, and clinical outcomes of indoor climbing-related injuries and explore the clinical applicability of the UIAA MedCom Score. Methods: We conducted a 10-year retrospective analysis (2012–2021) of patients aged ≥16 years presenting with indoor climbing-related injuries to a Swiss level 1 emergency department. Cases were identified using predefined keywords in the E-care and Qualicare databases. Demographics, injury mechanisms and patterns, Injury Severity Score (ISS), UIAA MedCom Score, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes were analysed. A multivariable logistic regression model was applied to explore factors associated with higher injury severity. Results: A total of 98 patients were included, with 50% aged 26–35 years. Injuries occurred with a similar frequency during climbing and bouldering (51.0% vs. 49.0%). The predominant mechanism was ground fall (68.4%). Lower-extremity injuries were most common, particularly affecting the ankle and foot (43%). Most injuries were of mild-to-moderate severity, with 46.9% classified as UIAA grade 2. Conservative treatment was sufficient in 83.7% of cases, while 16.3% required surgical intervention, and one fatality (1.0%) was recorded. Injury severity was significantly associated with clinical outcomes, including hospitalisation and resource utilisation. In addition, in a multivariable model, higher Injury Severity Score (ISS) was significantly associated with longer hospital length of stay. A strong association between the UIAA MedCom Score and ISS was observed (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The indoor climbing injuries of individuals presenting to the emergency department were predominantly mild to moderate and were generally associated with favourable short-term outcomes. These findings are supported by model-based analysis demonstrating an independent association between injury severity and hospital length of stay. These findings are based on a single-centre emergency department cohort and do not capture injuries managed outside the hospital setting. Therefore, conclusions regarding overall injury risk should be interpreted with caution. The observed association between the UIAA MedCom Score and ISS suggests that the UIAA classification may serve as a complementary tool for injury assessment, although further validation is required.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030067

Authors: Andrea Daly Sudesh Ramesh Bhagat Bernard Ndeogo Issifu Bhaven Naik Deogratias Eustace David Asare Odei

Roadways classified as state routes in both rural and urban settings are tree-lined, creating a canopy over the pavement surface. Although trees are beneficial to the environment, they pose a hazard to road safety in a variety of ways. For example, they offer reduced skid resistance due to fallen leaves; restrict direct sunlight on pavement surface, causing the formation of black ice and fog; and increase the risk of entire trees/branches/fruits falling on passing vehicles or blocking traffic lanes. State agencies have undertaken the task of eliminating tree canopies, inviting widespread criticism. Currently, there is a gap in the literature about the impact of tree canopy on traffic safety in the form of scientific research. This paper addresses this gap by presenting insight into the benefits of tree-trimming and/or removal operations along state routes in Ohio. Adopting the Empirical Bayesian approach, this study evaluates crashes to quantify the safety benefits. Additionally, a surrogate safety assessment was conducted to evaluate driver behaviors in the presence/absence of tree canopy. The results indicated that roadside tree trimming and pruning showed site-specific safety benefits at most locations, though no consistent project-level crash reduction or conclusive effects on surrogate safety measures, such as reduced speeds and hard braking, were observed.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030066

Authors: Boitumelo Mooketsi Johannes Tshepiso Tsoku Patrick Malose Leeto Shogole

This study compares the predictive performance of traditional multivariate time series models and machine learning (ML) techniques in modelling perceived feelings of safety among South African residents. The analysis uses secondary data from the Governance, Public Safety, and Justice Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa, covering 2013/2014 to 2023/2024 and comprising 215,301 observations. Perceived safety while walking alone in the neighbourhood during the day and after dark served as the response variables, while socio-economic characteristics such as age, sex, province, and main source of income were included as predictors. A Vector Autoregressive Moving Average (VARMA) model was estimated alongside Random Forest (RF) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) algorithms. VARMA (2,2) and VARMA (3,1) provided the best statistical fit for daytime and after-dark safety perceptions, respectively. However, ML models achieved higher predictive accuracy overall, with RF outperforming both LightGBM and VARMA in capturing nonlinear relationships and short-term dynamics. The findings underscore the value of integrating ML into public safety modelling to enhance evidence-based planning and socio-economic policy development in South Africa. Future research should consider integrating higher-frequency and alternative data sources, such as administrative crime statistics and real-time behavioural data to improve model sensitivity and forecasting accuracy.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030065

Authors: Chien-Tsung Lu Xiaofu Fan Mengyi Wei

To detect the fatigue status of air traffic controllers before duty and better manage on-the-job fatigue risk, this study proposes a convenient and effective pre-shift fatigue assessment method. A cohort of controller cadets was examined, using average reaction time, the standard deviation of reaction time, and the fastest 10% reaction time from a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) as indicators of fatigue. These indicators were combined with self-reported MFI-16 fatigue scale scores to establish a quantitative relationship between fatigue level and each metric, allowing calculation of a comprehensive fatigue index for each cadet. This quantified fatigue index was then fitted against control-aptitude test scores to develop a regression model. An experimental condition involving 24 h of sleep deprivation was used to generate data for model development and validation. Results showed strong correlations between PVT metrics (average reaction time, reaction time variability, and fastest 10% reaction time) and fatigue scale scores. The resulting fatigue index model demonstrated good agreement between predicted and measured control-aptitude test scores. This study provides a theoretical foundation for a practical fatigue detection and early-warning method for air traffic controllers, offering significant value for reducing safety risks and enhancing civil aviation safety.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030064

Authors: Mingyin Wang Xuan Di

In January 2025, New York City became the first major U.S. city to implement a cordon-based congestion pricing policy via the Central Business District Tolling Program. While the policy’s effects on traffic volume are well-documented, its impact on road safety remains underexplored. This study evaluates the short-term effects of the program on two distinct metrics: total crash counts (frequency) and injury rates (severity, defined as the number of persons injured per 10,000 residents), using a monthly panel dataset of ZIP code-level data from January 2024 to December 2025. We employ a rigorous multi-method causal inference framework—including difference-in-differences, matched difference-in-differences, and generalized synthetic control—to estimate changes in injury rates and total crash counts independently. Across all empirical specifications, we find no statistically significant reduction in either traffic injuries or collisions following the policy’s implementation. Event study analyses confirm a consistent null effect month-over-month, with no transient or sustained safety dividend. Subject to short-term methodological constraints, our findings suggest that congestion pricing functions primarily as a demand management tool; realizing immediate road safety benefits in complex urban grid networks likely requires complementary physical infrastructure interventions.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030063

Authors: Said Dawood Fayaz Somik Ghosh

The construction industry is one of the most hazardous occupational sectors globally, with persistently high rates of worker injuries and fatalities. This study examined the association between safety motivation and safety climate among construction workers, addressing a critical gap in understanding their bidirectional relationship. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 922 construction workers across multiple commercial projects within a single U.S. state, yielding 383 valid responses (41.5% response rate). The survey instrument measured safety motivation types (intrinsic, extrinsic, and negative) and multiple safety climate dimensions, including leadership and communication, safety procedures and training, peer support, recognition, and equipment availability. The results revealed that safety motivation demonstrated a significant positive correlation with overall safety climate (r = 0.467, p < 0.01), with leadership and communication showing the strongest association (r = 0.514, p < 0.01). Analysis of motivation types indicated that negative motivation (fear of accidents) predominated (41%), followed by extrinsic (34%) and intrinsic motivations (25%). The findings support a reciprocal relationship wherein safety motivation and safety climate mutually reinforce one another, influencing safety performance and outcomes. The study highlights the need for safety interventions that simultaneously address organizational climate factors and diverse individual motivational pathways to improve safety performance in the construction industry.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030062

Authors: Sarah Mohamadpour Maryam Mozaffari Narendra Malalgoda

This study presents an enhanced multi-criteria decision-making framework for ranking emergency shelters, addressing the unique needs of displaced persons beyond mere survival. By defining comprehensive criteria in collaboration with the Emergency Management Organization, the model ensures a holistic approach to shelter selection. The study applies these criteria to a case study in Manitoba, Canada, utilizing an improved Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model integrated with entropy-based methods for precise, unbiased weight calculations. This enhancement increases reliability compared to conventional TOPSIS models. The involvement of field experts bridges the gap between theoretical models and real-world applications, making the decision-making process more practical. Beyond mathematical improvements, this research incorporates the human aspects of displaced populations’ needs, ensuring a balance between quantitative and qualitative factors. The results demonstrate optimized shelter selection, improved prioritization, and more efficient resource allocation, ultimately reducing response times, minimizing disruptions, and preventing repeated relocations during evacuations in crisis situations.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030061

Authors: Marcela Carvajal-Suárez Marco Bietresato Rino Gubiani Athena K. Ramos

Agriculture is a hazardous industry, and working in livestock production has been linked to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, limited research has examined work-related risk factors contributing to MSDs among livestock workers especially in small and family-owned operations, like most of the companies located in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) region of Italy. This cross-sectional study conducted in July 2024 investigates self-reported musculoskeletal pain and discomfort and occupational exposures among dairy and swine farmworkers (N = 50; mean age = 37 years) in FVG. We assessed musculoskeletal exposures, self-reported pain and discomfort, and the use of preventive techniques to maintain musculoskeletal health. Participants reported a high prevalence (80%) of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort, particularly among those working in family operations. While lower back and knee pain were most common, work-related exposures were most strongly associated with pain in the lower back and neck. These findings highlight the need to address occupational health risks related to MSDs in livestock operations, including possible prevention and intervention strategies. This may be especially important for small and family-owned farms where preventive and ergonomic interventions may yield substantial benefits.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030060

Authors: Ladislau Radermacher Andrei Burlacu Cristian Radeanu

Abandoned mine methane (AMM) emissions represent a significant public safety and environmental hazard in post-industrial urban areas. Uncontrolled subsurface gas migration may lead to explosive accumulations in confined spaces, human exposure, infrastructure damage, and additional greenhouse gas emissions. This study develops an integrated risk assessment framework for AMM in urban environments, combining quantitative analysis of field monitoring data with semi-quantitative probability–consequence risk matrices and multi-factor evaluation. Methane concentrations were measured at 41 monitoring points during three campaigns (August–September 2024). A total of 42 influencing factors were identified and classified into seven categories (geological, mining, hydrogeological, meteorological, anthropogenic, biological, and special phenomena). Exceedance probabilities of critical thresholds were estimated with 95% confidence intervals. Consequence weights were derived using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on a five-expert panel (CR = 0.043). The framework was applied to the urban area of Lupeni, Romania, where methane concentrations of up to 54% vol. were measured during borehole screening measurements (subsurface probe points). Elevated concentrations were detected four days after commissioning of a new gas pipeline. Gas chromatographic analysis excluded pipeline leakage and confirmed a mining-related source. Results indicate a localized critical risk (R = 25 on a 1–25 scale) in hotspot P2, with a 95% confidence interval for the probability of exceeding the 3% vol. alert threshold of [0.885–1.00], justifying immediate mitigation through controlled drainage. Post-intervention monitoring showed a reduction to instrumentally undetectable levels by February 2025. The study demonstrates that administrative mine closure does not eliminate residual methane risk and proposes a complete decision-support algorithm (URBAN-MINE-RISK) for similar urban settings. The applicability of structural reliability methods (e.g., FORM) is discussed as a future research direction. The methodology is transferable to other post-mining regions in Central and Eastern Europe.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030059

Authors: Vladimir M. Cvetković Dalibor Milenković Jasmina Bašić Tin Lukić Renate Renner

Community disaster resilience is increasingly guiding risk-reduction investments, but in many Southeast European settings, comparable subnational data remain scarce. This study assesses perceived community disaster resilience across Serbia by combining BRIC–DROP dimensions into a single index and analyzing differences across hazard types and sociodemographic factors. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted using multistage random sampling and the “next birthday” method for respondent selection. The final sample included 1200 adults from 22 local government units across four regions: Belgrade, Vojvodina, Šumadija & Western Serbia, and Southern & Eastern Serbia. Participants evaluated preventive measures and societal resilience for ten hazard types and considered five social dimensions: social structure, social capital, social mechanisms, social equity/diversity, and social beliefs. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses (including Pearson correlations, t-tests, and ANOVA), and multiple linear regression identified key predictors of preventive behavior and perceived resilience. Composite scores highlighted spatial resilience differences. Overall perceptions were generally low, mostly falling below the midpoint of the scale. Furthermore, the highest ratings for implemented preventive measures were recorded for pandemics/epidemics, storms/hail, and floods, whereas the lowest were observed for environmental pollution and droughts. Perceived resilience was highest for snowstorms, storms/hail, and pandemics/epidemics, and lowest for environmental pollution and droughts. Also, respondents reported relatively strong family ties and favorable perceptions of communication and access to basic supplies, but weak institutional capacity, particularly in budget allocation, early warning and public notification, rapid decision-making, and evacuation and shelter readiness. Regression results were statistically significant but explained only a small portion of the variance. Age and public-sector employment positively predicted perceived resilience; fear, income, and, to a lesser extent, education were negatively associated. These findings highlight the structural and psychosocial factors that shape perceptions of resilience. The BRIC–DROP composite indicates generally low perceived preparedness and resilience, especially in risk communication, evacuation and shelter readiness, and financing—the key bottlenecks in strengthening local resilience. The results recommend combining institutional reform with targeted risk communication to reduce fear and build trust, especially focusing on hazard areas with the lowest confidence, such as environmental pollution and drought.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12030058

Authors: Norman Nkuzi Khoza Oscar Rikhotso Thokozane Patrick Mbonane Dingani Moyo Phoka Caiphus Rathebe Masilu Daniel Masekameni

Mining activities are characterised by a multiplicity of inherent occupational hazards. Exposure to mineral dust such as silica, asbestos, and coal dust is common in mining, leading to pneumoconiosis. Exposure to respirable silica-containing dust is one of the common respiratory hazards associated with adverse health effects such as silicosis, lung cancer, renal failure, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to mention but just a few. In southern Africa, there is a rising epidemic of silicosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB). Excessive exposure to silica-containing dust exacerbates the TB and silicosis epidemic in mining areas. There is poor control of dust exposure and a lack of occupational hygiene assessments of silica dust in mining in southern Africa. In southern Africa, there remains a persistent knowledge gap regarding the extent of occupational exposures to respirable chemical substances, such as silica dust. Consequently, occupational hygiene air monitoring was conducted in mining companies across four low-income Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia, to provide a baseline exposure dataset. The hazardous nature of work associated with mining activities still persists in these low-income countries, with 53% (n = 72) of quarries and 20% (n = 19) of coal mines having respirable quartz exposures exceeding the reference occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). The highest exposure ranges for quartz were recorded in surface aggregate quarries, with the maximum concentration recorded at 2.739 mg/m3. The highest number of air samples (93%, n = 111), which were in compliance with the OEL of 3 mg/m3 for respirable dust, were recorded in the copper, diamond, ruby, cement quarry and gold mines. This exploratory study confirms the variable extent of mineworker exposure to respirable dust and corresponding quartz fractions emanating from different mining activities. The collected exposure data provides a baseline overview of exposures within the mining industry in the SADC region. It also serves as a vital input for future regional exposure surveillance databases, as well as preliminary data for directing future research towards regional exposure prevention initiatives.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020057

Authors: Muhamad Imam Firdaus Muhammad Badrus Zaman Raja Oloan Saut Gurning

Ship collision accidents remain a critical concern in maritime safety because of their potential to cause operational disruption as well as environmental and economic damage in areas with dense shipping activity. Complex traffic interactions, differences in vessel characteristics, and dynamic environmental conditions make collision risk increasingly difficult to manage using traditional navigation measures alone. This paper presents a structured review of ship collision research, focusing on collision impacts, collision avoidance strategies, risk assessment methodologies, and safety index development. The review synthesizes reported collision cases and their environmental consequences, examines commonly used analytical frameworks including probabilistic, data-driven, and multicriteria approaches, and discusses recent developments in AIS-based analysis, sensor-based monitoring, and intelligent prediction techniques. The analysis identifies several methodological gaps in existing studies. Collision avoidance methods and risk assessment models are often developed independently, while their integration with safety index frameworks remains limited. In addition, safety index formulations differ considerably in terms of indicator selection and modeling approaches, which reduces comparability between studies conducted in different waterways. The findings highlight how different analytical approaches contribute to maritime safety evaluation at strategic, operational, and real-time levels and provide insights for developing more integrated safety assessment frameworks to support navigation risk monitoring in high-traffic maritime environments.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020056

Authors: Giacomo Belloni Petru Lucian Curșeu

Aviation safety depends critically on pilots’ mental and cognitive states, particularly in high-stakes and complex operational environments where human errors cause most safety events today. This paper reviews current advances in real-time monitoring of commercial pilots’ cognitive states through physiological and neurophysiological signals and identifies methods applicable to enhance aviation safety and efficiency. In an increasingly complex and congested system, it is essential to investigate the relationships between pilots’ mental workload, stress, startle effect, and physiological parameters to highlight cognitive overload or deficiencies in real time. This systematic literature review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, using Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed, and identified 26 eligible studies. A targeted backward citation search screened 17 additional records, and two studies were added to the initial set. Twenty-eight records were therefore included and the review highlights a range of biometric indicators of pilots’ mental states with varying degrees of validity and operational applicability. Collectively, these studies offer a clear overview of state-of-the-art approaches, while also evidencing constraints related to intrusiveness and real-world feasibility. Physiological monitoring holds strong promise for enhancing pilot performance and safety by detecting early signs of overload and stress. However, its integration into operational aviation remains limited. Future research should prioritise longitudinal, in situ evaluations, multimodal data fusion, and pilot-centred design to ensure practical applicability, non-intrusiveness, and regulatory compliance, ultimately bridging the gap between academic research and cockpit reality.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020055

Authors: Matteo Curcuruto Nicholas Todd Lilleyman Rebecca Lancioni Andrea De Vincenti Valerio Vinciarelli Andrea Bazzoli Jim Morgan

A cross-sectional correlational research design was used to investigate the relationship between organizational safety climate, supervisor safety climate, compliance, safety citizenship behaviors and safety self-efficacy. A sample of 728 workers located in a single Eastern European manufacturing plant completed self-report questionnaires regarding the aforementioned constructs. A path analysis revealed that supervisor safety climate partially mediated the relationship between organizational safety climate and the outcome variables, compliance and safety citizenship behaviors. Additionally, safety self-efficacy was found to be positively related to compliance and safety citizenship behaviors. Safety self-efficacy also moderated the relationship between supervisor safety climate and safety citizenship behaviors, such that a stronger positive correlation between safety citizenship behaviors and supervisor safety climate was present when safety self-efficacy was high. The findings suggest safety self-efficacy may be useful in predicting compliance and organizational citizenship behaviors. Further, it is likely that the presence of safety self-efficacy may serve as an enabling factor, which empowers employees who have been motivated by the supervisor safety climate to actually engage in safety citizenship behaviors. Organizations could aim to increase employee safety self-efficacy by encouraging supervisors to role model appropriate safety behaviors, by implementing adequate safety training programs and ensuring information about safety hazards and previous safety incidents is disseminated.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020054

Authors: Aleksandr B. Stefaniak Elizabeth D. Brusak Lauren N. Bowers Austin Kron Sherri A. Friend M. Abbas Virji

Powder bed fusion (PBF) and directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing use feedstock powders that contain metals associated with skin diseases. We performed a survey of surface contamination and limited task-based dermal exposure assessment (four employees) at a PBF and DED facility. Skin wipes of wrists for two employees in the PBF room had higher post-task levels of chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, and nickel. Personal clothing worn by PBF employees showed evidence of contamination with metals as did personal protective equipment (PPE). Microscopy analysis documented contamination of metals throughout most areas of the facility. Levels of metals on surfaces throughout the facility were (ng/cm2) <5.0–7247 (aluminum), <0.2–4899 (chromium), <background-6.0 (chromium VI), 0.03–468.1 (cobalt), 1.6–100.0 (copper), 32.9–19,000 (iron), 0.01–789.0 (molybdenum), 0.1–12,058 (nickel), 0.1–482.8 (titanium), and 0.07–9.3 (vanadium). Levels were significantly lower in administrative areas compared with the production area but generally did not differ among powder handling and non-powder handling rooms in production. The small number of participants in the dermal exposure assessment and uniqueness of the facility might limit generalizability of the results. At least for this facility, steps to lower skin contact with metals can include washing, consistent use of PPE, and increasing awareness of dermal hazards among workers. Approaches to reduce migration of metals throughout a facility can include using adhesive (“tacky”) mats and boot covers and frequent wet cleaning of floors, tools, handles, and high touch surfaces.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020053

Authors: Ali Işın Amy E. Peden

Swimming and water safety education can reduce drowning risk, yet research among the Turkish population is limited. This study examined differences in water safety attitude and knowledge scores by self-reported participation in swimming and lifeguard education, including any differences seen by participant gender. A cross-sectional survey collected data on demographics, swimming experience, perceived ability, aquatic location use, swimming and lifeguard education participation, water safety knowledge and self-reported attitudes. Among 255 participants (51.4% female; mean age 22), 83.9% reported being able to swim. Females were significantly less likely than males to self-report swimming ability (χ2 = 5.99; p = 0.018) or prior lessons with a qualified teacher (χ2 = 4.10; p = 0.043). Swimming or lifeguard education did not significantly affect attitude scores overall or by gender. However, both forms of education were significantly associated with knowledge scores overall and by gender, with males showing significant differences in knowledge levels after swimming (χ2 = 16.46; p < 0.001) and lifeguard education (χ2 = 11.93; p = 0.003). Findings indicate that swimming and lifeguard education were significantly associated with greater water safety knowledge but not with positive attitudes. Gender disparities persist, with females reporting lower self-reported swimming ability and males showing higher water safety knowledge after education. Expanding swimming and lifeguard education in Türkiye could enhance water safety knowledge.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020052

Authors: Francesco De Micco Gianmarco Di Palma Greta Seveso Flavia Giacomobono Roberto Scendoni Vittoradolfo Tambone

Introduction: Hospital adverse events are a global patient safety problem that account for avoidable death, long-term disability, extended length of stay, and increased healthcare costs. Underreporting, wherein fewer than 10% of events are indeed recorded, is prevalent and is characterized primarily by cultural and organizational determinants. Artificial intelligence, in the form of machine learning and natural language processing, has been described as a potential tool for enhancing adverse events detection and prediction with the use of large-scale clinical data. Materials and Methods: PRISMA-DTA guidelines were followed in this systematic review. Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched employing keywords associated with adverse events, artificial intelligence methodologies (e.g., machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing), and healthcare settings. Inclusion criteria included original research on artificial intelligence-based solutions for the detection or prediction of adverse events such as medication errors, hospital-acquired infections, and complications during surgery. Reviews, meta-analyses, and non-artificial intelligence studies were excluded. Following screening, 15 studies were found to meet inclusion criteria. Results: The referenced studies show a shift from rule-based natural language processing models to advanced deep learning and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers models. Early approaches, i.e., Support Vector Machine classifiers, achieved AUC scores as high as 0.92, while later models (Random Forest, LightGBM, XGBoost) mirrored AUCs of over 0.93. Large language models achieved F1-scores of 0.84 for named entity recognition. Artificial intelligence models even identified unreported incidents. Discussion: Artificial intelligence-powered methods are transforming adverse events detection from retrospective to predictive, proactive monitoring. There remain some challenges, however, including limited external validation, class imbalance, and interpretability of complex models. Future studies must address explainable artificial intelligence, multicenter trials, and high-quality well-annotated datasets to offer secure clinical integration.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020051

Authors: Arūnas Samas Giedrius Trakimas Alius Ulevičius Vaidotas Valskys Joris Valatka Lina Matačina Gytautas Ignatavičius

Animal-vehicle collisions (AVCs) are an increasing concern globally, yet domesticated animals, particularly dogs, remain understudied. We investigated spatial and temporal patterns of dog-vehicle collisions (DVCs) in Lithuania. Landscape variables such as distance to buildings, forests, meadows, and arable land, as well as land cover composition within a 500 m radius, were analyzed using GIS and compared to randomly generated pseudo-absence points. Temporal patterns were analyzed monthly, daily, and hourly. There was a significant difference in the number of DVCs occurring at sunrise and sunset. Moreover, DVCs were more frequent on weekends, peaking on Fridays and Sundays. Spatially, DVCs were significantly more likely to occur closer to built-up areas and meadows, and farther from forests and arable land, compared to random pseudo-absences, indicating a strong association with human-modified habitats. These findings indicate that DVCs are more influenced by human-modified landscapes and dog activity patterns, particularly around dawn and dusk.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020050

Authors: Deo Chimba Bryson Mgani Masanja Madalo Erickson Senkondo

Effective incident management is a cornerstone of transportation system performance, influencing roadway clearance times (RCTs) and the risk of secondary crashes. This study investigated how towing regulations involving large commercial vehicle crashes and jurisdictional variations affect the management of large-vehicle crashes, focusing on the relationship between regulatory frameworks, incident duration, and secondary crash occurrence with the state of Tennessee as a case study. The objective was to determine whether differences in towing policies, operational mandates, and rural/urban contexts lead to measurable changes in clearance efficiency. A multi-year dataset of more than 770,000 traffic incidents and 4400 towing-involved large-vehicle crashes from 2017 to 2022 was analyzed. Statistical methods, including two-sample testing and hazard-based survival modeling, were applied to evaluate the impact of towing regulations and operational protocols on roadway clearance and secondary crash patterns. The results consistently showed that strong performance-based towing regulations, such as mandated maximum response times and standardized training and equipment requirements, were associated with significantly lower average RCTs. Jurisdictions with enforced rapid-response mandates achieved average clearance durations of approximately 120–130 min, even under high incident volumes, compared to over 150 min in areas without performance benchmarks or with more complex procedural requirements. A pronounced rural–urban divide was observed, with incidents outside urbanized areas averaging 30–40% longer clearance times, largely due to limited towing resources, longer dispatch distances, and less stringent regulatory enforcement. Secondary crash analysis identified that more than 90% of secondary collisions were linked to crashes requiring towing, with the majority occurring within 20 min and 0.5 miles of the primary incident, underscoring the direct connection between delayed clearance and safety risk. These results carry direct implications for transportation policy and incident management practice by providing empirical evidence that standardized, performance-based towing regulations can meaningfully reduce RCTs and secondary crash risk, particularly when paired with investments in rural towing infrastructure

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020049

Authors: Fernando da Costa Pfitscher Joyce Azevedo Caetano Cintia Machado de Oliveira Glaydston Mattos Ribeiro Marina Leite de Barros Baltar

The high number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic crashes can be considered a silent global epidemic, as it is still understood by part of society as an inherent consequence of road traffic. There are several risk factors that can increase the occurrence or severity of crashes on roads, acting alone or in combination. Road safety diagnoses based on facts and evidence are essential for improving public policies to reduce victims. With the aim of assisting in these diagnoses and since the official database on these victims is not made available in detail to the public, this work investigates the relationship between seven indicators, collected in field research and in public databases, and the occurrence and fatality of traffic victims in the City of Rio de Janeiro. Linear regression models are developed for each approach and the one with the best statistical parameters is chosen. The model with greater robustness demonstrated that helmet non-use, the density of traffic enforcement cameras, and illiteracy together explain a significant portion of the variation in the fatality rate. The results are considered satisfactory, since a limited number of existing risk factors for road safety were used.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020048

Authors: Alex de Voogt Teck Chen Koh Yi Lu

Low-level flight or maneuvering defines a flight phase that is particularly common and, in some cases, central to helicopter operations, but brings several safety concerns. At low altitude, helicopters are more susceptible to collisions with objects, while there is also limited time and space in which to perform an emergency landing. A total of 403 helicopter accidents in the low-level flight phase that occurred between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2022 in the US were analyzed for their most common causes and differentiated based on the type of flight operation to gain insight into low-level flight accidents. It is shown that, for low-level flights, the proportion of fatal accidents in flights conducted under Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91, General Aviation, is 30%, but in flights conducted under Part 137, aerial application or agricultural flights, only 12%. Logistic regression analysis shows that while controlling for other factors, the proportion of fatal accidents was significantly higher in Part 91 operations. Flight experience measured as total flight hours was not a significant factor for estimating fatality. It is recommended that low-level helicopter training includes low-altitude autorotations in simulators to optimize the mitigating effect of this emergency procedure in this flight phase with a specific focus on Part 91 operations.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020047

Authors: Dionysios Tzamakos Lambros Mitropoulos

Mini-roundabouts are increasingly implemented as compact, low-cost alternatives to conventional roundabouts and signalized intersections, especially at low-speed, space-constrained urban locations where safety is a concern. Their design emphasizes speed management, reduced conflict severity, and operational simplicity, contributing to safer mobility for all road users. This paper reviews U.S., German, and UK design guidelines and synthesizes empirical safety evidence from before-and-after studies of mini-roundabout conversions. In terms of design, the U.S. practice typically relies on a single large design vehicle and more permissive geometry, whereas the German guidance adopts a multi-vehicle approach with tighter curvature and stronger compactness to enforce lower speeds, affecting crash risk and driver behavior. The UK guidance is distinguished by its flush or slightly domed central marking and flexible application approach. Conversions from two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) or one-way stop-controlled (OWSC) intersections yield substantial reductions in injury and severe crashes, with total crash reductions of 17–42%. Conversions from all-way stop-controlled (AWSC) intersections present more variable outcomes, including increases in total crashes, because drivers are still reacting based on the previous control and may not adjust their expectations quickly. Modular roundabouts are also examined as alternative compact interventions for constrained or high-risk sites, with early evidence indicating reductions in severe crashes and improved speed control while minimizing construction costs and right-of-way impacts.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020046

Authors: Richard Phelps Janis Jansz Chris Aldrich

Societal expectations for serious breaches of health and safety legislation that lead to loss of life have changed. The Australian harmonized work health and safety legislation has introduced industrial manslaughter to many jurisdictions across Australia, placing senior leaders at risk of prosecution. This paper examines whether mining construction managers (those involved in the building or maintenance of infrastructure at a mine site) have been adequately prepared, both ethically and practically, to understand how complex socio-technical systems could fail and the role human cognitive architecture plays in such systems. A case study is presented, which adequately highlights tragic outcomes from management inaction. The aim of this perspective article was to critically examine whether there is the need for greater health and safety education for construction managers within Western Australia’s mining construction sector. The analysis argues for the importance of embedding fundamental health and safety education in tertiary curricula and statutory training programs to promote and strengthen a positive safety culture and reduce high-severity incidents. The conclusion of the review is that there is a strong case for giving future mining construction leaders a better introduction to the fundamentals of workplace health and safety during tertiary education. By including work health and safety in their curricula, educational institutions can better prepare students for leadership roles in the industry.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020045

Authors: Werneck Ubiratan Felipe Santos Carina Mariane Stolz Mayara Amario

Working conditions in the offshore oil and gas industry can expose workers to fatigue and sleep deprivation due to extended working hours, irregular shift schedules, and highly complex operational environments. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of scientific literature on fatigue and sleep deprivation in the offshore oil and gas sector and their implications for health, performance, and safety. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and included primary studies published between 2015 and 2025, retrieved from the Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Embase databases. Following the eligibility assessment, fifty studies were included in the final analysis. The selected studies were classified according to their level of direct relevance to offshore oil and gas operations, distinguishing evidence derived from offshore platforms from that obtained in analogous operational settings. The findings demonstrate consistent associations between fatigue and chronic sleep deprivation and adverse occupational health outcomes. Regulatory gaps were also identified when comparing different international approaches to fatigue risk management in the offshore sector. Overall, the results underscore the need for integrated fatigue management strategies aligned with best international practices to enhance health and safety in offshore operations.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020044

Authors: Haoyuan Zhang Siqi Wang Xiaoping Jia Fang Wang

In emergency decision-making for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) CO2 pipeline leakage, risk levels and warning distances/impact ranges are often derived from different methodological systems—risk-matrix scoring versus mechanistic consequence modeling. Differences in threshold definitions and modeling assumptions make it difficult to align level assignment with distance boundaries for the same scenario, which in turn reduces the comparability and traceability of multi-scenario batch screening. To address this, this study proposes an integrated framework based on “threshold impact-distance calculation–risk-matrix mapping,” with physical consequence quantification as the main thread. A scenario library (N = 4320) covering phase state, leak aperture, operating conditions, and meteorological fields is constructed; impact distances corresponding to CO2 volume-fraction thresholds of 1%/4%/10% (R1%, R4%, R10%) are computed and then mapped to five RiskLevel classes under a unified rule set, enabling standardized synchronous outputs. The modeling tasks are formulated as RiskLevel classification and threshold-distance regression. Using a stratified 70%/30% train–test split, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) is adopted as the primary model and compared with logistic regression (LR), support vector classification (SVC), ordinary least squares regression (OLS), and support vector regression (SVR). Results show that XGBoost achieves an accuracy of 0.806 and a macro-F1 of 0.825 for RiskLevel classification, with a recall of 0.631 for the high-risk classes (RiskLevel 4–5), and yields mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 95/62/41 m for R1%/R4%/R10% regression with coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.795–0.814. Distributional analysis further indicates that threshold impact distances increase overall with higher RiskLevel, while dispersion becomes larger at higher levels. Accordingly, a parallel representation of “RiskLevel + multi-threshold rings” is recommended to support coordinated graded control and zoned warning delineation.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020043

Authors: Francesco Russo Corrado Rindone

The transport of dangerous goods (TDG) produces serious risks, particularly in urban areas, due to the high presence of people and sensitive infrastructures from a social, environmental and economic point of view. Transport Risk Assessment combines occurrence, vulnerability and exposure to support urban transport planning aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The objective of this paper is to propose a simplified risk calculation method, referring to a single link of the urban transport network, with reference to the occurrence component of the risk. The proposed formulation considers the sequence of factors that determine the overall dangerous event. The specification of the occurrence factors and a quantitative definition of the different parameters for a widespread type of transport of dangerous goods in urban areas is proposed. The results obtained are interesting because (1) the method, with quantitative parameters, can be applied to any urban area, and (2) some of the factors can also be used by replacing and introducing, where known, specific factors and relative parameters calibrated for the area for which it is planned to be implemented. The results indicate the feasibility of the proposed method without significant chemical–physical or electromechanical insights. This work is of potential interest for urban transport planners and public and private decision makers.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020042

Authors: Lisa Jane Harrison Kerri-Lynn Peachey Carlos Mesa-Castrillon David Lyle Richard Franklin Tony Lower

Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous industries in Australia, with consistently high rates of workplace injury and fatality. Traditional approaches to monitoring safety performance in agriculture have largely relied on reactive lag indicators, metrics that capture incidents after they occur, such as injury rates, compensation claims, or fatalities. While useful for identifying trends and measuring past performance, there is a need for proactive lead indicators, and these are preventive measures that identify risk and promote safer practices before injuries occur. With limited research available on leading indicators specific to the agricultural industry, the modified Delphi method has been identified and designed for this study. A panel of experts will be engaged with the aim to achieve consensus on a set of valid lead indicators for Australian agriculture. This study will include four rounds of Delphi questionnaires with the addition of a face-to-face consensus conference to be included in round four. The data gathered in this study to identify Work Health and Safety (WHS) leading indicators has potential to improve farmers’ safety, wellbeing, and personal health, as well as reducing injuries and fatalities across the Australian agricultural industry.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020041

Authors: Marinel Costel Temneanu Marius Ciprian Branzila Elena Serea Codrin Donciu

This study presents a site-specific calibration of the ratio between S-wave and P-wave peak ground acceleration (PGA) for use in low-cost, on-site earthquake early warning (EEWS) systems in Iași, Romania. A dataset of 25 intermediate-depth Vrancea earthquakes (Mw 4.1–5.7; epicentral distances 150–210 km) was analyzed. PGA values were extracted for the P- and S-wave windows on both horizontal components and combined using geometric means. The resulting S/P amplitude ratios yield a median value of kS/P = 6.19 and a logarithmic standard deviation of σlog10 = 0.31, corresponding to a multiplicative uncertainty factor of approximately ×2. These results indicate that S-wave amplitudes are typically six times larger than P-wave amplitudes at this site, consistent with soft-soil amplification observed in comparable stations in Japan and Italy. The calibrated ratio can be used as a site-specific input for future MEMS-based on-site EEW implementations to estimate the expected S-wave PGA immediately after P-wave detection, with the observed S–P delays in Iași indicating a typical available warning window of 20–22 s.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020040

Authors: Michael J. Jorgensen Nils A. Hakansson

Passive arm support exoskeletons (ASEs) have attracted interest with the prospect of reducing shoulder musculoskeletal injuries. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of passive ASEs on electrical activation of shoulder and torso muscles while performing simulated vertical and horizontal drilling exertions by 17 experienced aircraft workers. The tasks included three vertical drilling heights (chin, head, overhead levels) and two horizontal drilling heights (eye, overhead levels), where participants performed five two-second exertions with one-second no-exertion times between successive drilling exertions. Electromyographic signals from the anterior and medial deltoids, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, biceps and triceps were captured. During vertical drilling exertions, ASEs significantly reduced dominant and non-dominant medial deltoid muscle activity, as well as activity in the non-dominant anterior deltoid, but not the dominant anterior deltoid. During horizontal drilling exertions, ASEs significantly decreased dominant and non-dominant anterior and medial deltoid muscle activity. ASEs significantly reduced non-dominant and dominant anterior and medial deltoid muscle activity during the time between drilling exertions in both the vertical and horizontal drilling directions. These results are encouraging in suggesting that ASEs reduce muscular exertion during drilling tasks commonly found in aircraft manufacturing. However, ASEs must be evaluated in worksite studies to better assess their efficacy.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020039

Authors: Miha Šlebir Janja Vuga Beršnak

This study aims to investigate how an organization’s purpose (raison d’être) dictates first responder resilience-building. While existing studies often treat first responders as a homogeneous group, this research argues that significant interprofessional differences exist. Using a socioecological framework, the study employs a qualitative, comparative design to analyze three first responder systems: the Slovenian Armed Forces, the Slovenian Police, and Slovenia’s public healthcare system. The analysis is grounded in 31 semi-structured interviews, supplemented by analysis of official documents. The findings reveal three pillars of resilience—training, planning, and experience—and three distinct institutional paradigms. The military fosters a culture of proactive, institutionalized resilience-building oriented toward macro-level crises. The police exhibit a more reactive approach, where resilience-building is often undermined by chronic organizational stressors. In the healthcare system, resilience-building is fragmented and localized, with the burden falling on smaller organizational units to manage micro-level crises of capacity overload. The study concludes that an organization’s raison d’être is a vital socioecological factor that shapes its approach to resilience.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020038

Authors: Zhengqi Huo Xiaobao Yang Xiaobing Liu Xuedong Yan

Existing research on driving under the influence (DUI) crashes predominantly employs independent modeling frameworks that overlook the interdependency between injury outcomes of impaired and sober drivers, potentially leading to biased parameter estimates and an incomplete understanding of crash mechanisms. This study develops a copula-based bivariate ordered response modeling framework to investigate how injury severities of DUI and non-DUI drivers are interdependent and how this dependency varies systematically across weather conditions. Using crash data from the U.S. Crash Report Sampling System (2016–2022), we analyze 3773 two-vehicle crashes involving one alcohol-impaired and one sober driver under clear, rain/snow, and fog conditions. Three key findings emerge from our analysis. First, injury severities between DUI and non-DUI drivers exhibit significant dependency, with both the strength and structure of this association varying systematically across weather conditions. Dependency intensity increases progressively from clear weather (Kendall’s τ = 0.2717) to rain/snow (0.2966) and peaks under fog (0.3239). Moreover, the optimal dependency structure differs by weather conditions. Second, DUI and non-DUI drivers demonstrate markedly differentiated response patterns to risk factors, with the same factor often producing opposite-direction or substantially different magnitude effects on the two parties. Third, weather conditions play a critical moderating role, with most risk factors exhibiting significant amplification effects on crash injury severity under adverse weather. For example, on curved roadways under fog compared to clear weather, severe/fatal injury risk increases from 4.45% to 5.81% for DUI drivers and from 7.99% to 11.36% for non-DUI drivers. These findings highlight the importance of joint dependency modeling in alcohol-related crash research and provide evidence-based insights for weather-sensitive DUI enforcement and targeted safety interventions.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020037

Authors: Sang-A Lee Dothang Truong

Aviation maintenance is a high-risk work environment in which worker safety and operational safety must be managed simultaneously. This study develops and validates a dual-domain safety culture framework for aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) employed by U.S. Part 121 airlines. The framework distinguishes between two complementary dimensions of safety culture: Maintenance Occupational Safety Culture (MOSC), which emphasizes AMTs’ physical safety and protection from workplace hazards, and Maintenance-Based Aviation Safety Culture (MASC), which focuses on organizational practices that prevent maintenance errors and support overall aviation safety. A quantitative survey of AMTs (n = 240) was administered, and data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM). The measurement model demonstrated acceptable fit indices and reliability. SEM findings indicate that trust has a significant positive effect on both MOSC and MASC, whereas fear exerts a negative effect, though statistically non-significant. These results highlight the central role of trust in strengthening safety culture in aviation maintenance, while suggesting that fear may only marginally undermine safety-related perceptions. The validated framework further emphasizes the importance of psychological safety in enhancing both AMT well-being and operational safety. Overall, this research advances understanding of safety culture in aviation maintenance by treating occupational and aviation safety as distinct yet interrelated domains, offering practical guidance for industry leaders, safety managers, and regulators seeking to improve safety outcomes by cultivating trust.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020036

Authors: Jawad Abusalama Sazalinsyah Razali Yun-Huoy Choo Ali Attajer Ismahen Zaid

Crowd mass disasters occur over a relatively short time, and rescue operations in disasters, such as earthquakes, are challenging because of people’s behavior, type, or location. Therefore, it is essential to devise means and methods to manage such problems to minimize the consequences as much as possible. During disasters, rescue operations should be conducted in a timely conducted to save people’s lives. Otherwise, losses and consequences are severe, and if there are no proper rescuing operation models, the situation worsens, and the consequences are devastating. In particular, the allocation and coordination of limited rescue resources have a critical impact on response times and the number of lives saved. This paper aims to develop an Agent-Based Simulation (ABS) model for rescuing operations in crowd-mass disasters with six main intelligent agents. The proposed model explicitly represents the interactions among victims, rescuers, command-and-control entities, transportation assets, road networks, and affected infrastructure within a GIS-based urban environment. The developed model is based on an enhanced approach to improve rescue agents’ tasks allocation operations that enable modeling and simulation to make critical decisions for people to be rescued in a crowded mass disaster. Our task-allocation mechanism incorporates dynamic accessibility of roads, time-dependent rescue capacity, and context-aware prioritization of victims. Three related task-allocation strategies from the literature are used as baselines under identical scenarios, and performance is compared in terms of average rescue time and number of rescued victims. Results show that the proposed model achieves more efficient and robust rescue operations in most simulated experiments.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020035

Authors: Jasna Bertoncelj Nina Križnik Tanja Pajk Žontar

Emergency situations can cause sudden food shortages, which emphasize the need for preventive measures to ensure food security. The aim of this study was to determine the Slovenian population’s awareness of the official national recommendation for a 30-day emergency food supply, assess the adequacy of households’ food supplies, and identify factors influencing their quantity. An online survey was conducted among 815 Slovenian residents aged 18 to 89. The results showed that 81.0% were not aware of the national recommendations. Of the recommended foods, sugar, salt, cooking oil, jam, and pickled beet were most frequently stored, while rusks, water, canned meat sauces, bars, and dried yeast were least frequently stored. Only 17.0% of respondents had a sufficient supply of food to sustain their household members for a month or more, and only 19.1% had a supply of beverages for three days or more. Factors influencing the quantity of food supply included self-sufficiency assessment, knowledge of national recommendations, type of residence, region, household size, and number of children. This case study can serve more broadly as a basis for designing strategies to raise public awareness of the importance of emergency food supplies in improving food security during times of crisis.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020034

Authors: Edgar Arroyo-Huerta Luis Enrique García-Santamaría Gregorio Fernández-Lambert Yesica Mayett-Moreno Eduardo Fernández-Echeverría Marieli Lavoignet-Ruiz Margarito Landa-Zárate

Citrus production in Mexico relies predominantly on manual labor and traditional harvesting tools, which are often associated with physical overload, awkward postures, and reduced productivity. This study presents an exploratory, perception-based field evaluation of the BLIMPER, an early-stage ergonomic harvesting prototype designed for selective Persian lime collection. A total of 93 citrus harvesters participated through snowball sampling. A structured 33-item questionnaire was administered, covering five perception dimensions and open-ended comments. The instrument was expert-validated and demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.85). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Welch’s t-test for gender-based comparisons, and Hedges’ g to estimate the magnitude of the difference between groups. A modified Kano model was applied to classify perceived tool attributes and identify priorities for design refinement. The results indicated that 83–85% of respondents valued material strength, 64–70% approved of the unloading system, and 67–75% perceived reduced fatigue in the shoulders and lower back. The findings should be interpreted as an initial ergonomic validation based on user perceptions under real working conditions, rather than as evidence of readiness for large-scale deployment. The BLIMPER prototype shows potential to improve comfort and posture, while highlighting design aspects—weight distribution, mobility, and material selection—that require further optimization overall.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020033

Authors: Gloria H. Sakwari Israel P. Nyarubeli Suleiman Chombo Susan Reuben Naanjela Msangi Robert Duguza Simon Lwaho Abdulssalaam Omar John K. Mduma

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are leading causes of disability and productivity loss globally, yet registry-based evidence from low- and middle-income countries remains limited. The study analyzed compensated work-related MSDs claims reported to the Workers’ Compensation Fund (WCF) in Tanzania between 2016 and 2022 to identify patterns and associated risk factors. A registry-based cross-sectional design was conducted using de-identified WCF data on demographics, occupation, industry, diagnosis, and recorded workplace exposures. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate associations between work-related MSDs and risk factors. Among the 243 workers with work-related MSDs whose claims were accepted and compensated, 84% had low back pain (LBP), predominantly males (90%) and middle-aged workers (mean age 41.6 years). Mining and quarrying accounted for 50% of the cases, with drivers and mobile plant operators being the most affected. Whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure and work in mining and quarrying were significant predictors of LBP (adjusted PR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.061.49 and PR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.01–1.44, respectively). These findings highlight WBV and mining work as significant risk factors of work-related MSDs and underscore the need for targeted interventions alongside enhanced health surveillance systems for exposure documentation.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020031

Authors: Vítor Silva Cristiano Matos

Background: Antineoplastic drugs are essential in the treatment of cancer; however, they are classified as hazardous due to their genotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties. Healthcare professionals are at risk of exposure primarily through surface contamination. Despite international safety guidelines and technological innovations during the last decades, contamination remains a global occupational health challenge. Objective: This scoping review aims to identify and compare monitoring and detection methods, as well as cleaning and decontamination strategies, in relation to international occupational-safety standards. Methods: Following Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework and PRISMA-ScR reporting standards, the peer-reviewed literature and guidelines from 2000 to 2025 were reviewed. Studies were charted across three domains: contamination prevalence, monitoring/detection methods, and cleaning/decontamination effectiveness. Results: Evidence from twenty-two studies conducted in several countries worldwide demonstrated widespread surface contamination across hospital pharmacies, patient-care units, and outpatient facilities. Cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and methotrexate were the most frequently detected agents. LC—MS/MS wipe sampling remains the quantitative gold standard, while rapid immunoassay-based tools allow near real-time assessments but with reduced sensitivity. Cleaning protocols varied significantly: oxidizing and surfactant-based agents such as sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide achieved the highest removal rates (>90%) yet failed to eliminate residues completely. The included studies reported a wide range of monitoring, detection, and cleaning approaches used in healthcare settings. Conclusion: Surface contamination by antineoplastic drugs persists worldwide. Effective management requires harmonized contamination thresholds, validated cleaning strategies, adoption of rapid detection technologies, and continuous occupational surveillance.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12020032

Authors: Rebbecca Lilley Bronwen McNoe Gabrielle Davie

Cannabis is the most-used psychoactive drug in Aotearoa—New Zealand (NZ); recreational use remains illegal, while medicinal use was legalized in 2020. Cannabis use is associated with increased risk of injury; however, there is little known on the causes and circumstances of cannabis-related fatal injuries. This retrospective population study utilized coronial case files to describe the contribution and circumstances of cannabis-related fatal injuries in NZ. Between 2012 and 2016, cannabis was reported in 273 of 3599 unintentional/assault injury deaths (1.32 deaths per 100,000 person-years, 95% CI 1.17, 1.49). High-risk groups included males aged 15–44 years, Indigenous Māori, and those in deprived areas, for whom higher rates of post mortem testing were conducted. Cannabis-related fatalities mainly resulted from road crashes and multi-drug poisonings with concomitant alcohol use common, especially in traffic crashes on public roads (49% of concomitant use). Cannabis use was mainly observed in the decedent (n = 256, 94%). One in five deaths involved a worker, either as a user or as a bystander to another’s use. Coronial files identified important opportunities for safety countermeasures targeting cannabis use among drivers and its concomitant use with alcohol. Improved coverage of post mortem testing could address data limitations, including biased testing patterns and missing medical use.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010030

Authors: Adetayo Onososen Innocent Musonda

Despite sustained efforts to improve construction health and safety (CHS), accident and injury rates remain persistently high, driving increased interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled safety solutions. This study presents a thematic systematic literature review of 148 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2013 and 2025, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and sourced from Scopus. The synthesis identifies four dominant thematic areas: AI use cases, adoption barriers, realised benefits, and future research directions. Findings indicate a strong concentration of studies on vision-based monitoring, predictive hazard detection, and automated risk assessment, while organisational, ethical, and governance dimensions remain comparatively underexplored. Recurring impediments include data quality limitations, algorithmic opacity, fragmented digital ecosystems, and organisational resistance, highlighting persistent non-technical constraints on implementation. Reported benefits consistently emphasise improved predictive accuracy, real-time situational awareness, and proactive safety intervention, signalling a transition from reactive compliance-based approaches toward anticipatory, data-driven safety management. Based on these patterns, future research should prioritise explainable AI, interoperable data infrastructures, and cross-disciplinary integration to support scalable and trustworthy AI adoption in CHS.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010029

Authors: Maasago Mercy Sepadi

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) play a critical regulatory role within municipal health services, yet their occupational health and safety (OHS) risks remain poorly characterised in the literature. This narrative review synthesises evidence on the physical, biological, chemical, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards encountered by EHPs during routine municipal inspection and enforcement activities. A structured literature search across major databases was conducted, and findings were synthesised using a risk characterisation framework to examine hazard types, exposure pathways, and associated health outcomes. The review demonstrates that EHPs are exposed to simultaneous and interacting hazards through multiple routes, including inhalation, dermal contact, ingestion, traumatic incidents, and psychosocial strain. Where available, quantitative indicators of exposure magnitude from inspection-relevant environments were identified, highlighting both potential risk severity and significant gaps in direct exposure measurement. Importantly, the findings indicate that occupational risks faced by EHPs are largely systemic, shaped by organisational constraints, resource limitations, enforcement contexts, and broader governance conditions rather than isolated individual behaviours. This review contributes to safety science by providing an integrated conceptual model of EHP occupational exposure pathways and by highlighting the need for system-level OHS interventions within municipal health services. Strengthening PPE provision, organisational support, and exposure monitoring is essential to improving EHPs safety and the effectiveness of environmental health regulation.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010028

Authors: Atif Mohammed Ashraf S. Camille Peres Farzan Sasangohar

Safety science has developed extensive taxonomies for categorizing human performance failures but lacks equivalent vocabulary for describing successful work performance, leaving practitioners without adequate language to discuss adaptive practices that enable successful work under varying conditions. This study developed a worker-centered framework for categorizing procedural adaptations through empirical research at a petrochemical facility. The research employed three-phase convergent validation: Phase 1 captured behavioral data through video observation of 1422 procedural steps; Phase 2 documented differences between Work-As-Imagined and Work-As-Done using the Skip-Order-Action Framework with subject matter expert interpretation; Phase 3 evaluated emerging patterns through worker interviews. Analysis revealed that 32.9% of procedural steps showed adaptations, yet all tasks were completed successfully. Three distinct categories emerged from convergent evidence: routine adaptations represent normalized workplace practices; efficiency adaptations optimize workflow while maintaining safety standards; and safety adaptations exceed prescribed requirements through additional verification. The resulting Routine-Efficiency-Safety (RES) framework provides practical vocabulary for Safety-II implementation, enabling organizations to distinguish between different types of procedural adaptations and their functions, moving beyond binary compliance assessments toward learning-focused conversations about successful work practices.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010027

Authors: Mette Lykke Nielsen Louise Yung Nielsen Johnny Dyreborg

Platform-mediated work (PMW) represents a highly unregulated and individualized segment of the labor market, with significant implications for psychosocial work environment and limited occupational health and safety (OHS) management efforts. The use of algorithmic management (AM) by digital platforms extensively directs and disciplines remote workers in PMW, and may exacerbate risks. This study employs the affordance concept initially introduced into safety science by Vicente and Rasmussen in 1992 and later applied in social media studies. Adopting a platform-sensitive approach, this study examines how digital mediation facilitates encounters between platform workers and customers across three types of PMW, and in turn affects harassment among platform workers. The analysis draws on 22 qualitative interviews with young platform workers supplemented by three workshops involving 13 stakeholder participants, informed by the Canadian Knowledge Transfer–Exchange approach. The findings identify three high-level affordances that significantly shape risks of harassment: (1) platforms’ ability to transcend physical space; (2) a digital blurring of private–professional boundaries; and (3) the amplification of asymmetric power relations among platform workers’ customers and platforms, relations that are gendered, classed, and racialized. The type and severity of harassment differ across the three types of platforms explored.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010026

Authors: Teferi Abegaz Shifaw Wakgari Deressa Yifokire Tefera Nukhba Zia Yuan Shang Lamisa Ashraf Abdulgafoor M. Bachani

Motorcycle use is rising in low- and middle-income countries, leading to more crashes. Many deaths from these crashes are preventable with correct helmet use. This study examined correct helmet use trends and factors influencing it. A roadside cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 10 randomly selected locations across 10 sub-cities of Addis Ababa from 2015 to 2020 twice a year. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of correct helmet use. Out of 39,246 drivers and 12,950 passengers observed, 75% of drivers and 26.2% of passengers wore helmets. However, according to the Ethiopian helmet law (which requires the strapped use of any helmet type), only 34.2% of observed drivers (n = 39,246) and 9.1% of observed passengers (n = 12,950) wore helmets correctly. Under the global best-practice standard (strapped use of approved helmets excluding cap helmets) was even lower at 29.6% among drivers and 6.6% among passengers. Correct use declined over six years until the 2019 reinitiation of helmet law enforcement. Among drivers, correct use was linked to full-face helmets (AOR = 1. 90, 95% CI: 1.77–2.04), police enforcement (AOR = 1.08, 95%CI: 1.02–1.14), rain (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14–1.40), and riding on arterial roads (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.78–2.00). For passengers, being female (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.09–2.19), aged ≥18 (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.34–3.46), and riding with correctly helmeted drivers (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI: 2.88–3.95) increased correct use. The findings indicate a need for a combination of interventions, including awareness-raising campaigns, sustained enforcement, and preparing helmet standards.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010025

Authors: Jolanta Klukowska-Rötzler Céline D. Fäh Mairi Ziaka

Background: Yoga has gained popularity worldwide and is generally considered a safe physical activity. However, injuries associated with yoga practice are increasingly reported, while data on cases requiring emergency care remain limited. Methods: A retrospective single-center study was conducted, analyzing cases of yoga-related injuries treated at a Swiss emergency department between 2013 and 2023. Medical records of 67 adult patients (aged ≥16 years) were reviewed for demographics, injury characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes. The study population consisted predominantly of females (76.1%), with a median age of 35 years. Results: Most injuries were musculoskeletal in nature and predominantly affected a single body region (95.5%). The most frequently involved areas were the head (29.9%), lower extremities (25.4%), and spine (19.4%). Soft tissue injuries, particularly muscle and tendon strains as well as contusions, were most common. Injury patterns differed across subgroups: older patients were more likely to sustain head injuries, whereas younger individuals more frequently presented with extremity injuries, including the rare cases of fractures and dislocations. Conservative treatment was sufficient in 94% of cases, although 20.9% of patients required hospitalization. Conclusion: Yoga-related injuries presenting to emergency care are generally minor and mainly involve soft tissues; however, injury patterns vary across demographic subgroups. Older adults appear more susceptible to balance-related and head injuries, while younger practitioners are more prone to acute extremity trauma. Recognizing these population-specific differences may support targeted prevention strategies and safer yoga practice.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010024

Authors: Jenny N. Wang Brian Ngo Michael Madsen Josephine Lu Christine E. King Benjamin K. Young Kourosh Shahraki Donny W. Suh

Prismatic deflection loupes (PDLs) may offer ergonomic benefits over traditional through-the-lens (TTL) loupes and no loupe during ophthalmic microsurgery. Ten medical students performed microsuturing tasks under three conditions: PDL, TTL, and no loupes. Surface electromyography (EMG) captured bilateral upper trapezius activity, and a post-task 10-point Likert survey assessed comfort and related perceptions. Side-profile photos provided craniovertebral angles, which fed a trigometric model to estimate cervical spine loading (lbf) per condition. Relative to TTL, PDLs reduced upper trapezius activation by 17.2% (p = 0.009); relative to no loupe, PDL reductions were significant (p = 0.004). The TTL and no-loupe conditions did not differ significantly (p = 0.42). Comfort was highest for PDLs (7.8/10 on average); perceived strain was lowest with PDLs. CV angle and estimated cervical load were strongly inversely correlated (R2 = 0.94, p < 0.001). PDLs appear to reduce neck/shoulder muscle activity and cervical loading while enhancing comfort, supporting ergonomic value in ophthalmic surgery.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010023

Authors: Salem Beyene Kris Brijs Jemal Mohammed Bikila Wodajo Tom Brijs Geert Wets Veerle Ross

This study examines crash involvement, safety training exposure, and e-learning readiness among commercial heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers in Ethiopia. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 202 male drivers operating along the Addis Ababa–Djibouti trade corridor, a high-risk freight route that carries approximately 95% of Ethiopia’s international trade and serves as the country’s primary gateway to global markets. The survey assessed crash history, safety training experiences, perceived safety challenges, and barriers to and motivators for e-learning adoption. Results indicate persistently high crash involvement despite widespread participation in conventional classroom-based training, suggesting a gap between training provision and real-world safety outcomes. Older and mid-career drivers exhibited higher crash involvement, highlighting a gap between training provision and behavioral or operational safety outcomes, while younger and more educated drivers showed greater readiness for technology-enhanced training. Although most drivers valued safety training, many perceived existing programs as repetitive, insufficiently interactive, and poorly aligned with operational demands. Key facilitators for e-learning adoption included flexible schedules, ease of use, and motivational support, whereas limited digital skills and low perceived usefulness remained barriers for some groups. The findings highlight the need for age-responsive, flexible, and interactive e-learning approaches to complement traditional training and address persistent safety risks, such as fatigue and unsafe driving behaviors. These approaches also support scalable, technology-enhanced interventions tailored to Ethiopia’s high-risk freight corridors, while guiding future research directions.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010022

Authors: Giovanni Andrea Dimauro Salvatore Cafiso Alessandro Di Graziano Francesco Zito Giuseppina Pappalardo

This study proposes a modelling framework for simulating cyclist–vehicle interactions at urban intersections characterised by geometric constraints and variable visibility conditions. A Digital Model (DM) of the intersection geometry was developed in SUMO, complemented by a custom behavioural model calibrated using experimental trajectory data to capture cyclists’ and drivers’ perception–reaction and braking behaviour. These two components were combined to simulate scenarios with varying visibility conditions and perception-triggered braking responses in severe conflict situations. Results show that reduced visibility significantly reduces temporal safety margins, with over 50% of all simulated interactions yielding differential time-to-arrival (TTA2) values below 2 s. Furthermore, obstructed conditions lead to higher- and more-dispersed relative crossing speeds (DV), typically increasing by 0.5–1.0 m/s compared to unobstructed conditions. Simulation data confirmed that clear visibility promotes anticipatory and adaptive user behaviour, whereas limited sightlines reduce braking availability and increase the likelihood and severity of conflicts, with distributions conditioned by the intersection’s geometry. The ability to generate detailed synthetic datasets of cyclist–vehicle interactions, often not obtainable through field observation, demonstrates the potential of the proposed framework for safety assessment. This approach supports the evaluation of mitigation strategies, including C-ITS-based solutions, and provides a basis for developing predictive AI models to enhance the safety of vulnerable road users.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010021

Authors: Giulia Bacci Daniela Converso Gloria Guidetti Ilaria Sottimano Sara Viotti

The present study examines the well-being of workers in an Italian manufacturing plant, focusing on work engagement, emotional exhaustion and work ability. These dimensions have received relatively little attention in manufacturing contexts. Utilising a person-centred approach, the objective is to identify distinct subjective well-being profiles among Italian manufacturing workers and to examine how work-related psychosocial characteristics differentiate these profiles. The research, which collected data from 340 workers (predominantly male at 62.1%) between July and September 2023, focused on work engagement, emotional exhaustion, and work ability—factors that have been previously understudied in manufacturing environments. Through cluster analysis, researchers were able to identify three worker profiles. The largest group, designated “Motivated & Healthy” (45.3%), exhibited the most favourable characteristics: strong work engagement, minimal emotional exhaustion, and adequate work ability. These workers reported experiencing reduced physical demands, greater autonomy in decision-making, and superior rewards compared to their colleagues. The second-largest group, “Motivated & Stressed” (32.5%), demonstrated a mixed profile. While maintaining average work engagement, these workers experienced high levels of emotional exhaustion and diminished work ability. The smallest group, termed “Disillusioned” (22.2%), consisted entirely of blue-collar workers and exhibited the most concerning pattern: low engagement, high exhaustion, and mediocre work ability. This group also reported the most challenging working conditions, including the highest physical and cognitive demands, least decision-making authority, and lowest rewards. The study corroborates earlier research findings by identifying significant relationships between work engagement and work ability (positive correlation) and emotional exhaustion (negative correlation). These results suggest that manufacturing facilities might benefit from tailoring their support strategies to address the specific needs of each worker profile, rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010020

Authors: Sankar Prasad Chaki Melissa M. Kahl-McDonagh Kurt A. Zuelke

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for rapid, reliable, and safe laboratory workflows that ensure both diagnostic accuracy and biosafety for laboratory personnel. We developed a comprehensive approach for SARS-CoV-2 detection using saliva-based RT-qPCR that spans the entire process from sample transfer to final disposal. This workflow integrates biosafety principles with efficient diagnostic procedures, ensuring safe handling, minimized exposure risks, and reliable molecular testing. Critical components included biosecurity, standardized protocols for sample receipt, secure transfer, safe processing, and environmentally responsible disposal. By applying a holistic safety framework, we not only protected laboratory staff during the pandemic but also established a model that can inform preparedness for future emerging infectious disease threats. This approach demonstrates how laboratory safety and diagnostic efficiency can be simultaneously achieved, offering a reference for institutions seeking to balance biosafety and public health needs in outbreak situations.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010019

Authors: Georgia Yfantidou Apostolos Katsivelos Ioannis Trigonis Olga Kouli Charilaos Kouthouris

This study investigates safety management and risk prevention on Mount Olympus, Greece, focusing on challenges having an impact on visitors and professionals operating in the area. The research is grounded in theories of safety, risk management, and sustainable tourism in mountain environments. A mixed qualitative methodology was applied, including a review of secondary literature, ten semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, and data triangulation. Results show that, although major trails are well-marked, deficiencies persist in permanent rescue infrastructure, technological support, visitor education, and coordinated communication. Stakeholder collaboration remains fragmented, and the implementation of innovative technologies is limited. The study recommends enhancing inter-agency cooperation, adopting technological tools such as navigation and early warning systems, and promoting active community participation. Overall, the findings highlight the necessity of an integrated safety framework that combines prevention, preparedness, and education to ensure the sustainable development of Mount Olympus as a safe and high-quality outdoor tourism destination.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010018

Authors: Lilian Dias Pereira Irenilza de Alencar Nääs Vando Aparecido Monteiro Hercules Jose Marzoque Maria do Carmo Baracho de Alencar

This study presents a quantitative, cross-sectional analysis of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) among sick leave recipients in Brazil’s meat production chain, using official surveillance data. A marked temporal shift was observed; women remained more affected by upper limb injuries, such as shoulder and wrist disorders. In 2022, male notifications surpassed female ones, marking a turning point linked to improved reporting and the inclusion of WRMSDs in Brazil’s compulsory notification list. Workers aged 20–49 were the most impacted group, with diagnoses including shoulder lesions, tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, and occupational risk exposure. The findings highlight systemic barriers, including underreporting, inadequate protection, and weak return-to-work protocols. Implementing gender-differentiated ergonomic protocols is crucial, as it requires reducing repetitive strain for women in line-feeding/cutting roles, and mitigating environmental hazards (such as cold, vibration, and chemical exposure) for men in farming/slaughtering. These results underscore the urgent need for gender-sensitive preventive strategies and occupational health policies tailored to the meat processing industry.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010017

Authors: Michael Behm Robert Ellis Amin Akhnoukh Robin Barfield Kevin Bradshaw Jarvis Gray

Performance-based contractor prequalification allows a construction client to evaluate contractors’ past performance on similar work, improving the likelihood of high-quality work being performed. Occupational safety and health criteria are sometimes included in such prequalification criteria. What metrics are predictive of safe future work? The objectives of this research were to (1) understand best practices in safety and health performance measurement, (2) conduct an initial desktop screening of all fifty US state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) for their publicly available safety and health prequalification criteria, and (3) propose a path forward for a state DOT research inquiry to raise the level of safety and health performance of all contractors by understanding their views of the feasibility and effectiveness of a list of possible leading indicators. Lagging indicators (injury rates, experience modification rates, regulatory citations) are traditional measures; they are shown to measure past performance but are not predictive of future safe work. There is no consensus on viable leading indicators in the discipline of safety science. Seventeen state DOTs require safety metrics of some kind as part of their prequalification process. Including safety and health criteria in the prequalification process provides an opportunity to help underperforming contractors, particularly small and historically underutilized businesses, raise the quality of their site safety and health performance.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010016

Authors: Ahmed Basager Abdullah Alrabghi

Musculoskeletal disorders remain a persistent concern in automotive repair, yet empirical evidence on task-specific ergonomic risks in Middle Eastern contexts is limited. This study provides a detailed ergonomic risk profile of auto body specialists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, using a mixed-method approach that integrates the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and a validated Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Twenty-five specialists across diverse tasks including installation, weighing, painting, cutting, and lifting were systematically evaluated to identify both postural and self-reported risk patterns. Results showed a high prevalence of discomfort in the lower back (64%), shoulders (52%), and wrists (48%). Ergonomic assessment revealed that the evaluated tasks were predominantly classified as moderate-to-high-risk, with RULA scores ranging from 6 to 7 and REBA scores ranging from 8 to 11. Beyond confirming the physical strain inherent to auto body work, the study highlights contextual factors such as prolonged static postures, limited use of mechanical aids, and constrained workshop layouts that exacerbate ergonomic risks. Importantly, the findings inform multi-level recommendations ranging from workshop practices to industry standards and policy considerations ensuring that interventions are both practical and scalable. By situating locally grounded results within the broader discourse on musculoskeletal risk prevention, the study offers region-specific evidence while providing globally relevant lessons for labor-intensive industries.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010015

Authors: Marija Savković Marko Djapan Carlo Caiazzo Miloš Pušica Arso Vukićević Dragan Marinković Nikola Komatina

The main aim of this research paper is to improve the effectiveness of production processes through ergonomic optimization of industrial workstations where workers perform repetitive, monotonous assembly tasks. The study analyzes the impact of applying ergonomic and lean principles, standard of “the golden zone standard” in the design of assembly workstations on participants’ brain activity and productivity, as well as on the quality of the final products in traditional (non-ergonomic) and ergonomic scenario. The results indicated significant differences in brain activity patterns between the two scenarios, revealing higher levels of mental workload during assembly tasks in the non-ergonomic scenario for all participants. Furthermore, improvements in production processes were observed, including increased productivity; specifically, the average mental workload was reduced by approximately 35% in the ergonomic scenario, accompanied by an approximately 5% increase in productivity and an approximately 8% reduction in working time. The obtained results provide a foundation for improving the design of assembly workstations in industrial environments, as well as contributing to a broader understanding of the importance of ergonomics in the optimization of industrial processes.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010014

Authors: Azim Karimi Esmaeil Zarei Ehsanollah Habibi

Unsafe behaviors remain a major contributor to workplace accidents within broader safety-management systems. Acknowledging the essential influence of organizational and leadership factors, this study focuses on systematically identifying and prioritizing individual-level determinants of unsafe behavior through an integrated qualitative–quantitative methodology to clarify their specific role within the wider safety framework. Grounded Theory analysis of semi-structured interviews with 40 industry professionals yielded a conceptual model encompassing demographic characteristics, general health, individual competencies, personality traits, and psychological factors. Subsequently, the Fuzzy Delphi Method, applied with 20 domain experts, validated and ranked these determinants. The analysis highlighted risk perception as the most influential factor, followed by work experience, skill level, knowledge, and risk-taking propensity, whereas variables such as family welfare, substance use, and self-display exhibited relatively minor effects. These findings reveal the multidimensional nature of unsafe behavior and underscore the importance of focusing on high-impact personal attributes to enhance workplace safety. By recognizing that many individual factors are shaped by organizational and psychosocial conditions, the study provides evidence-based insights for developing integrated safety management and targeted intervention strategies in industrial settings.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010013

Authors: Ana C. Meira Castro José Mota João Santos Baptista

Forestry logging is among the most hazardous economic activities, so identifying where hazards and risks concentrate supports targeted prevention. This scoping review mapped evidence on logging hazards and risks, their co-occurrence with operations, and preventive measures. PRISMA-ScR was followed. Only peer-reviewed journal articles (2015–2025) in English on occupational hazards/risks, risk-assessment methods or preventive measures in logging were included, found in Scopus, Web of Science, Inspec and Dimensions (last search 15 September 2025). Independent data screening and extraction were performed by two reviewers, with a third reviewer resolving any disagreements. No formal risk-of-bias appraisal was conducted. Forty-two studies were included. Hazards and risks concentrated in three phases—chainsaw/manual cutting, skidding/cable yarding, and loading/short-haul transport—where acute injury mechanisms (struck-by events, slips/trips/falls, rollovers, lacerations) coexisted with chronic exposures (musculoskeletal strain, noise, vibration, diesel exhaust). Preventive measures emphasised engineering and organisational controls, complemented by raining and PPE, but were inconsistently specified and evaluated. Evidence was heterogeneous and geographically concentrated in few countries, limiting generalisability. A small set of tasks consistently concentrates acute and chronic risks; prevention should integrate accident control and health protection, prioritising engineering/organisational measures supported by training and PPE. Future studies should standardise descriptors and outcome metrics to enable comparisons.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010012

Authors: Philipp Zehnder Frederik Aasen-Hartz Markus Schwarz Tobias Resch Kai von Schwarzenberg Peter Biberthaler Chlodwig Kirchhoff Michael Zyskowski

Background: Since the introduction of rental e-scooters, they have become a popular mode of transportation not only in German cities but in other cities as well. However, this rapid increase in usage has coincided with a significant rise in associated injuries and accidents, outpacing those related to bicycles. A disproportionate number of these incidents involve alcohol consumption and young people under the age of 25, with a low incidence of helmet use. Following the example of driver training for children on bicycles, we carried out driver safety training with e-scooters and examined the results scientifically. Methods: The study conducted three voluntary driving safety training sessions in Berlin and Munich, with participants completing questionnaires before and after the training to measure their knowledge and skills (on a scale between 0 and 5; 0 = totally insecure and 5 = absolutely secure). The training included a technical introduction, practical exercises, and an educational component on injury data and prevention strategies. During the statistical analysis, the novice drivers (group 1) were compared to the non-novice drivers (group 2). Results: Out of 136 participants, 103 completed the training (a response rate of 75.7%). The mean age of the participants was 37.1 years, and 52.4% of them were female. A total of 59% had never used an e-scooter and were therefore assigned to group 1 (group 2 = experienced drivers). Both groups showed significant improvements in both knowledge of traffic laws and driving skills. Conclusions: The findings suggest that driving safety training potentially enhances the safe operation of e-scooters. However, the training demands a high level of time and motivation, making it less attractive for younger drivers who are most prone to accidents. Therefore, we recommend the use of digital driving safety training before the first use of e-scooters.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010011

Authors: Abdul Kadir Surindar K. Dhesi Vanisha Dwi Amalinda Tubagus Dwika Yuantoko Bangga Agung Satrya Farhan Fitriadi

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in educational settings is a vital responsibility that is often inconsistently implemented. There is a need for research to bridge the gap between policy and practice. This study employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods design in six schools in the capital city of Indonesia to identify key implementation barriers, strategies, and compliance levels in OHS. Data were collected from 217 teachers using a structured KPAP (Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, Practices) survey and from an additional 38 teachers via Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Quantitatively, teachers showed highly positive attitudes (99.4% viewing OHS as a professional duty) and generally positive perceptions but implementation practices were sub-optimal (e.g., low participation in drills and PPE usage), showing a gap between awareness and action. Qualitatively, the main barriers identified were a lack of specific OHS regulation or guidance for schools, limited resources/infrastructure, and the perception of OHS as a low priority. Management strategies focused on external collaboration and ongoing in-school initiatives. In conclusion, a significant gap exists between OHS awareness and its integration into school management, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened governance, comprehensive policies, and sustained capacity-building to ensure a proactive, safe, and sustainable school environment for staff and students.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010010

Authors: Ricardo Rocha Joana Santos João Santos Baptista Joana Guedes Carlos Carvalhais

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen and poses a significant occupational hazard to outdoor workers. Despite preventive guidelines, adherence to protective measures remains inconsistent. This systematic review identified the protective measures adopted by healthy outdoor workers and assessed their adherence to and the effectiveness of these measures. Following the PRISMA 2020 statement, the review searched Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed for peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies included at least 100 healthy participants and evaluated preventive or protective measures against solar UVR. Independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the McMaster Critical Review Form. From 17,756 records, 51 studies met the inclusion criteria after screening and a subsequent snowballing process. The identified protective strategies clustered into physical, behavioural, and organisational categories. Adherence ranged from low to moderate, with structured interventions and employer support improving compliance. Sunscreen use remained low due to perceived inconvenience and lack of provision. Overall, the evidence revealed substantial variability in implementation and effectiveness across occupations. Strengthened regulations and integrated interventions combining education, personal protective equipment, and organisational measures are essential. Future research should prioritise longitudinal designs and objective indicators such as biomarkers and dosimetry.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010009

Authors: Yue Wang Siqi Wang Xiaoping Jia Fang Wang

To identify and evaluate the failure issues in the livestock manure-to-biomethane supply chain, this study employs a Bayesian network approach with three inference analysis methods: diagnostic analysis, sensitivity analysis, and maximum causal chain inference. First, the main hazard categories affecting the failure of the supply chain are identified, establishing risk indicators for feedstock collection, pretreatment, anaerobic digestion, purification and upgrading, transportation, and biomethane end-use. Then, the half-interval method and possibility superiority comparison are used to calculate and rank the severity of related accidents, obtaining the severity ranking of secondary indicators as well as the severity ranking of work items and risk items. Finally, Bayesian forward inference is applied to investigate the failure probability of the supply chain, combined with backward inference to identify the risk factors most likely to cause supply chain failures and trace the formation of failure hazards. The Bayesian sensitivity analysis method is ultimately applied to determine the key hazards affecting supply chain failures and the correlations between accident hazards, followed by validation. The results show that the failure probability of the supply chain through causal inference is approximately 54.76%, indicating relatively high failure risk. The three factors with the highest posterior probabilities are mechanical stirring failure C3 (88.11%), corrosion-induced ammonia leakage poisoning D6, and equipment explosion caused by excessive pressure due to overheating during dehumidification heating D9, which are the hazards most likely to cause failures in the supply chain. Improper operations and the toxicity of related chemicals are key hazards leading to supply chain failures, with the correlation between accident hazards presented as a hazard chain by integrating severity and accident probability, and the key risk points in the supply chain are identified.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010008

Authors: Pier-Luc Langlais Marc-Antoine Masse Martin Lavallière

Modern police work requires a high degree of versatility, shifting between sedentary tasks and intense physical demands. While bicycle patrols are recognized as a tool for enhancing community policing, few empirical studies have examined the specific nature and frequency of the tasks performed by bicycle patrol officers. This study aims to compare the professional tasks of bicycle and car patrol officers in the city of Saguenay, Québec, over a three-year period. A retrospective analysis of 539 computer-aided dispatch (PCAD) entries was conducted for eight male officers (six on bicycles, two in police cars) during the summer months of 2021 to 2023. We analyzed task frequency, duration, priority, and risk level using descriptive statistics. Results showed that while both patrol types performed similar core tasks, such as citizen assistance, enforcement of municipal regulations, and responses to suspicious individuals, bicycle patrols were associated with significantly longer total PCAD-recorded intervention times (49 ± 47 min vs. 33 ± 29 min). Moreover, the distribution of call types suggests a slightly higher proportion of interventions occurring in public spaces or involving direct citizen contact, although this does not constitute a measure of increased proximity. No significant differences were observed in terms of priority or risk. Because the PCAD system does not systematically record on-scene time, the longer durations observed for bicycle patrols cannot be interpreted as qualitative advantages. Instead, the study reveals operational similarities alongside noteworthy differences between patrol types. As one of the first Canadian CAD-based analyses of bicycle patrol tasks, this research underscores the need for future studies capable of isolating on-scene time and examining the qualitative dimensions of police–citizen interactions.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010007

Authors: Natalia Orviz-Martínez Efrén Pérez-Santín José Ignacio López-Sánchez

In an increasingly technologized and automated world, workplace safety and health remain a major global challenge. After decades of regulatory frameworks and substantial technical and organizational advances, the expanding interaction between humans and machines and the growing complexity of work systems are gaining importance. In parallel, the digitalization of Industry 4.0/5.0 is generating unprecedented volumes of safety-relevant data and new opportunities to move from reactive analysis to proactive, data-driven prevention. This review maps how artificial intelligence (AI), with a specific focus on natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs), is being applied to occupational risk prevention across sectors. A structured search of the Web of Science Core Collection (2013–October 2025), combined OSH-related terms with AI, NLP and LLM terms. After screening and full-text assessment, 123 studies were discussed. Early work relied on text mining and traditional machine learning to classify accident types and causes, extract risk factors and support incident analysis from free-text narratives. More recent contributions use deep learning to predict injury severity, potential serious injuries and fatalities (PSIF) and field risk control program (FRCP) levels and to fuse textual data with process, environmental and sensor information in multi-source risk models. The latest wave of studies deploys LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation and vision–language architectures to generate task-specific safety guidance, support accident investigation, map occupations and job tasks and monitor personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance. Together, these developments show that AI-, NLP- and LLM-based systems can exploit unstructured OSH information to provide more granular, timely and predictive safety insights. However, the field is still constrained by data quality and bias, limited external validation, opacity, hallucinations and emerging regulatory and ethical requirements. In conclusion, this review positions AI and LLMs as tools to support human decision-making in OSH and outlines a research agenda centered on high-quality datasets and rigorous evaluation of fairness, robustness, explainability and governance.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010006

Authors: Omer Mermer Yanan Liu Charles A. Jennissen Milan Sonka Ibrahim Demir

Despite the agricultural sector’s consistently high injury rates, formal reporting is often limited, leading to sparse national datasets that hinder effective safety interventions. To address this, our study introduces a comprehensive framework leveraging advanced ensemble machine learning (ML) models to predict and interpret the severity of agricultural injuries. We use a unique, manually curated dataset of over 2400 agricultural incidents from AgInjuryNews, a public repository of news reports detailing incidents across the United States. We evaluated six ensemble models, including Gradient Boosting (GB), eXtreme Grading Boosting (XGB), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), Histogram-based Gradient Boosting Regression Trees (HistGBRT), and Random Forest (RF), for their accuracy in classifying injury outcomes as fatal or non-fatal. A key contribution of our work is the novel integration of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), specifically SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), to overcome the “black-box” nature of complex ensemble models. The models demonstrated strong predictive performance, with most achieving an accuracy of approximately 0.71 and an F1-score of 0.81. Through global SHAP analysis, we identified key factors influencing injury severity across the dataset, such as the presence of helmet use, victim age, and the type of injury agent. Additionally, our application of local SHAP analysis revealed how specific variables like location and the victim’s role can have varying impacts depending on the context of the incident. These findings provide actionable, context-aware insights for developing targeted policy and safety interventions for a range of stakeholders, from first responders to policymakers, offering a powerful tool for a more proactive approach to agricultural safety.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010005

Authors: Zhiheng Ni Zhen Li Mingyu Zhang Otsile Morake

To address the complex and uncertain causes of safety accidents in chemical enterprises, this study applied text mining techniques to systematically extract 29 causative factors from 422 accident reports. These factors were classified into five categories: personnel issues, resource management deficiencies, adverse organizational atmosphere, organizational process flaws, and inadequate supervision. Based on the extracted factors, a complex network model of accident causation was constructed. Using degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and eigenvector centrality, seven core causative factors were identified, along with multiple peripheral factors closely linked to them. Bayesian network-based sensitivity analysis further revealed the factors that exert the greatest influence on accident occurrence, and subsequent path analysis uncovered several critical accident propagation paths. The findings reveal core causative factors and critical propagation paths, which may inform the prioritization of risk control measures under conditions of limited resources.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010004

Authors: Jeffrey N. Rose

Zion National Park has seen substantial increased visitor use in recent years, bringing forward a number of visitor use management challenges. Many visitors consider the park’s Angels Landing trail, a steep and relatively challenging hike, a primary destination in the park. A number of well documented fatalities have been associated with the Angels Landing trail, prompting substantial risk management concerns. In the context of increased visitor use and increased attention to these fatalities, this research reviews literature on crowding and risk management before using National Park Service and media reports concerning 16 deaths associated with Angels Landing to characterize trends among age, gender, time of day, specific location, and other factors. Findings note that few of the fatalities occurred on the trail itself; those that did were not on the sections of the trail where risk management interventions have been installed, and none were associated with crowding or high visitor use. From these analyses, managers should consider disentangling notions of crowding and risk, particularly in light of new management strategies concerning permitting and limiting hikers on Angels Landing.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010003

Authors: Simone Accorsi Francesco Ottaviani Aurora Fabiano Dimitri Sossai

Background: Fire emergency management in healthcare facilities represents a complex challenge, particularly in historic buildings subject to architectural preservation constraints, where progressive horizontal evacuation is objectively difficult. This study analyzes the effectiveness of an evacuation sheet employed by Hospital Policlinico San Martino to improve the speed of evacuating non-self-sufficient patients in these buildings. Methods: This study involved evacuation simulations in wards previously selected based on structural characteristics. Healthcare personnel (male and female, aged between 30 and 55 years) conducted both horizontal and vertical patient evacuation drills, comparing the performance of the S-CAPEPOD® Evacuation Sheet (Standard Model) with the conventional method (hospital bed plus and rescue sheet). This study focused on the night shift to evaluate the most critical scenario in terms of human resources. Results: The use of the evacuation sheet proved more efficient than the conventional method throughout the entire evacuation route, especially during the first 15 min of the emergency (the most critical period). Indeed, with an equal number of available personnel, the evacuation sheet enabled an average improvement of 50% in the number of patients evacuated. Conclusions: The data support the effectiveness of the device, confirming the theoretical premise that the introduction of the evacuation sheet—also due to its ease of use—can be an improvement measure for the evacuation performance of non-self-sufficient patients, despite limitations related to structural variability and the simulated nature of the trials.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010002

Authors: Nasim Samadi Ramina Javid Sanam Ziaei Ansaroudi Neda Dehestanimonfared Mojtaba Naseri Mansoureh Jeihani

As the deployment of Automated Driving Systems (ADS) and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS-L2) expands, understanding their real-world safety performance becomes essential. This study examines the severity and contributing factors of crashes involving vehicles equipped with ADS and ADAS-L2 technologies using NHTSA data. Using machine learning models on crash datasets from 2021 to 2024, this research identifies patterns and risk factors influencing injury outcomes. After data preprocessing and handling missing values for severity classification, four models were trained: logistic regression, random forest, SVM, and XGBoost. XGBoost outperformed the others for both ADS and ADAS-L2, achieving the highest accuracy and recall. Variable importance analysis showed that for ADS crashes, interactions with other road users and poor lighting were the strongest predictors of injury severity, while for ADAS-L2 crashes, fixed object collisions and low light conditions were most influential. From a policy and engineering perspective, this study highlights the need for standardized crash reporting and improved ADS object detection and pedestrian response. It also emphasizes effective human–machine interface design and driver training for partial automation. Unlike previous research, this study conducts comparative model-based evaluations of both ADS and ADAS-L2 using recent crash reports to inform safety standards and policy frameworks.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety12010001

Authors: Ouma S. Mokwena Thabiso J. Morodi Joyce Shirinde

Women in mining face unique health and safety challenges due to anatomical and physiological differences, making the assessment and management of ergonomic risks in underground coal mines critical. This study examines the ergonomic experiences of female mineworkers through six focus-group discussions, each comprising eight participants, using a qualitative research design involving women actively engaged in core mining activities at three South African mines. Findings reveal that mining equipment and work environments often fail to accommodate the physiological needs of female workers, exposing them to a range of ergonomic hazards. Beyond physical risks, the study highlights organizational and systemic shortcomings, including inadequate implementation of existing policies and regulations. Poor hygiene in toilet facilities was also reported, with three out of eight participants taking medication for urinary tract infections, underscoring gaps in occupational health provision. The findings emphasize the urgent need for mine-specific ergonomic programs developed through participatory approaches, as part of a broader strategy to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and improve working conditions for female mineworkers. The establishment of the Women in Mining Forum further indicates that the industry is not yet fully prepared to support women in underground mining, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to create a safer, more inclusive work environment.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040125

Authors: Ştefania Ungureanu Camelia-Oana Mureșan Alexandra Enache Emanuela Stan Raluca Dumache Octavia Vița Ecaterina Dăescu Alina-Cristina Barb Veronica Ciocan

Background: Vulnerable road users (VRUs), including children and older adults, face a high risk of fatal road traffic accidents (RTAs) due to limited protection and greater injury susceptibility. Romania reports some of the highest child and elderly RTA mortality rates in the European Union. This study analyzed medico-legal autopsies from the Timisoara Institute of Legal Medicine (TILM) between 2017 and 2021 to compare fatalities in these two groups and identify key risk factors. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on autopsy records of children (0–17 years) and older adults (>70 years) who died in RTAs during the study period. Data on demographics, type of road user, traumatic injuries, cause of death, and accident circumstances were extracted and supplemented by police reports. Comparative statistical analyses were performed for categorical and continuous variables. Results: Among 395 RTA autopsies, 23 (5.8%) involved children and 51 (12.9%) older adults. Most child victims were passengers (56.5%), whereas elderly fatalities occurred mainly among pedestrians (33.3%) and cyclists (25.5%), with statistically significant differences between age groups. Polytrauma was the leading cause of death in both categories, though isolated cranio-cerebral trauma was proportionally more frequent in children. Crash circumstances also showed age-related patterns, with children more involved in high-energy collisions and older adults more frequently struck as pedestrians. Survival intervals showed a similar distribution across groups. Conclusions: Child and elderly RTA fatalities in Romania share common determinants, primarily driver-related behaviors and insufficient safety measures, while also exhibiting distinct age-related vulnerabilities. Autopsy-based data highlights these patterns and can guide targeted interventions such as stricter law enforcement, public education, and infrastructure improvements.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040124

Authors: Sayaka Noda Toshihisa Doi Kuniko Yamashita

Prolonged visual display terminal (VDT) work leads to static muscular loading, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Active chairs have been proposed to alleviate such issues; however, solutions like balance balls often induce discomfort due to excessive instability. To address this trade-off, a 360° swaying chair was developed, though its physiological effects during VDT work remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 360° swaying chair on users performing VDT tasks. Two experiments compared the swaying chair with a standard office chair (OC) under two sitting postures: a forward tilt with feet forward (AC2) and with feet back (AC3). Muscle activity, motion analysis, and subjective evaluations were conducted. The results showed that the AC3 posture (feet back) better maintained the spinal S-curve and reduced activity in the thoracic and lumbar erector spinae and rectus abdominis compared to the AC2 posture and the OC, although it may increase lower-body load. A slight forward tilt promoted activation of the internal oblique muscle. Subjective comfort was not inferior to that of the OC. These findings suggest that the 360° swaying chair, particularly in the AC3 posture, can reduce upper-body muscular and postural loads during VDT work without compromising comfort. However, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary, as they are based on a small and homogeneous sample and short-term VDT tasks.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040123

Authors: Therezia Matongo Deo Chimba

This study presents a comprehensive statewide analysis of pedestrian-involved crashes recorded in Tennessee between 2002 and 2025. We evaluated the influence of roadway, traffic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors on pedestrian crash frequency and severity with substantial components focused on lighting impacts including dark and nighttime. A multi-method analytical framework was implemented, combining descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, regression analysis, and advanced machine learning techniques including the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and the gradient boosting model (XGBoost). Results indicated that dark and nighttime conditions accounted for a disproportionate share of severe crashes—fatal and serious injuries under dark conditions reached over 40%, compared to less than 20% during daylight. The statistical tests revealed statistically significant differences in both total injuries and fatalities between low-speed (≤35 mph) and higher-speed (40–45 mph) corridors. The regression result identified AADT and the number of lanes as the strongest predictors of crash frequency, showing that greater traffic exposure and wider cross-sections substantially elevate pedestrian risk, while terrain and peak-hour traffic exhibited negative associations with severe injuries. The XGBoost model, consisting of 300 trees, achieved R2 = 0.857, in which the SHAP analysis revealed that AADT, the roadway functional class, and the number of lanes are the most influential variables. The ANFIS model demonstrated that areas with higher population density and greater proportions of households without vehicles experience more pedestrian crashes. These findings collectively establish how pedestrian crash risks are correlated with traffic exposure, roadway geometry, lighting, and socioeconomic conditions, providing a strong analytical foundation for data-driven safety interventions and policy development.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040122

Authors: María Fernanda Trujillo-Guerrero William Venegas-Toro Danni De la Cruz-Guevara Iván Zambrano-Orejuela Alvaro Page-Del Pozo Silvia Santos-Cuadros

The ergonomic risks associated with posture in conventional office workstations have been extensively studied, but there is limited research available on these risks in the context of home-based work environments. Most available studies rely solely on questionnaire-based statistical analyses, leaving a gap in understanding the specific conditions of home-based work environments. This study focuses on evaluating the effects of workstation conditions on posture and muscular efforts across three anatomical segments: head-neck, trunk-upper trapezius, and arm-deltoid. The analysis is conducted by simulating workstation setups commonly associated with academic activities performed by students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conditions examined in this study include inadequate desk height, the use of chairs without armrests, and the use of laptops. Eighteen volunteers, comprising nine women and nine men, participated in experiments conducted under scenarios designed using a 2k statistical approach. In all experiments, participants completed questionnaires, and text-writing activities were performed to evaluate the effects of these conditions. This research introduces a new non-invasive technique for ergonomic assessment that integrates photogrammetry and surface electromyography (sEMG) to simultaneously evaluate posture and muscular effort. The developed methodology allows precise, contactless analysis of ergonomic conditions and can be adapted for various professional and academic teleworking environments. Significant effects were observed in the posture (°) of the trunk and head, with both small and large effects identified at significance levels of p < 0.001 under the furniture conditions studied. In terms of EMG activity, moderate effects were observed at p < 0.01 levels between table height and upper trapezius activation, while small effects were detected at p < 0.05 levels between the use of chairs without armrests and neck. Similarly, small to moderate effects were observed in the arm-deltoid segment under the same furniture conditions. These findings reveal information about the posture and muscular effort patterns associated with the studied tasks, offering knowledge that can be referenced for similar tasks in other technical fields where telematics activities are performed.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040121

Authors: Naima Goubraim Zouhair Elamrani Abou Elassad Hajar Mousannif Mohamed Ameksa

Road traffic crashes are a major global challenge, resulting in significant loss of life, economic burden, and societal impact. This study seeks to enhance the precision of traffic accident prediction using advanced machine learning techniques. This study employs an ensemble learning approach combining the Random Forest, the Bagging Classifier (Bootstrap Aggregating), the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) algorithms. To address class imbalance and feature relevance, we implement feature selection using the Extra Trees Classifier and oversampling using the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE). Rigorous hyperparameter tuning is applied to optimize model performance. Our results show that the ensemble approach, coupled with hyperparameter optimization, significantly improves prediction accuracy. This research contributes to the development of more effective road safety strategies and can help to reduce the number of road accidents.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040120

Authors: Clinton Manuel de Nascimento Jin Hou

Intrusion detection systems (IDSs) must operate under severe class imbalance, evolving attack behavior, and the need for calibrated decisions that integrate smoothly with security operations. We propose a human-in-the-loop IDS that combines a convolutional neural network and a long short-term memory network (CNN–LSTM) classifier with a variational autoencoder (VAE)-seeded conditional Wasserstein generative adversarial network with gradient penalty (cWGAN-GP) augmentation and entropy-based abstention. Minority classes are reinforced offline via conditional generative adversarial (GAN) sampling, whereas high-entropy predictions are escalated for analysts and are incorporated into a curated retraining set. On CIC-IDS2017, the resulting framework delivered well-calibrated binary performance (ACC = 98.0%, DR = 96.6%, precision = 92.1%, F1 = 94.3%; baseline ECE ≈ 0.04, Brier ≈ 0.11) and substantially improved minority recall (e.g., Infiltration from 0% to >80%, Web Attack–XSS +25 pp, and DoS Slowhttptest +15 pp, for an overall +11 pp macro-recall gain). The deployed model remained lightweight (~42 MB, <10 ms per batch; ≈32 k flows/s on RTX-3050 Ti), and only approximately 1% of the flows were routed for human review. Extensive evaluation, including ROC/PR sweeps, reliability diagrams, cross-domain tests on CIC-IoT2023, and FGSM/PGD adversarial stress, highlights both the strengths and remaining limitations, notably residual errors on rare web attacks and limited IoT transfer. Overall, the framework provides a practical, calibrated, and extensible machine learning (ML) tier for modern IDS deployment and motivates future research on domain alignment and adversarial defense.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040119

Authors: Jian Shen Maureen Hassall

Fatal and serious injury rates remain unacceptably high in the construction industry. Leadership plays a critical role in safety management and serious and fatal injury prevention. However, limited research has examined industry practitioners’ perceptions of leadership and how it influences safety outcomes, particularly in the prevention of serious and fatal injuries in the construction industry. Therefore, a theoretical model for capturing perceptions of safety leadership was developed from a systematic literature review. To ensure that the labels and language used in the model can be understood by industry practitioners, a Delphi study was conducted involving twelve experts. Over three iterative rounds, the model was refined to include five leadership styles, seventeen elements, and eighty-five descriptive statements spanning the range from laissez-faire to transformational leadership. The refined model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding safety leadership and serves as a foundation for future empirical testing with frontline construction workers.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040118

Authors: Mirza Muntasir Nishat Antoine Rauzy Nils O. E. Olsson

Construction work is fundamentally hazardous. Traditional risk assessment tools (e.g., checklists and audits) are static in essence and hard to make evolve. In this paper, we demonstrate how to get experts dynamically in the loop thanks to machine learning. Namely, we discussed the design of a prototype risk assessment dashboard dedicated to fall accidents. The interactive graphical user interface allows professionals to generate construction scenarios and compare their evaluation of risks with that of the dashboard. The latter continuously learns from expert feedback. The proof-of-concept we present here shows that it is possible to capitalize on expert knowledge in a dynamic and user-friendly way. Thanks to its neural network architecture, not only does the dashboard learn from the experts, but professionals also learn from the dashboard.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040117

Authors: Irfan Ullah Ahmed Farid Khaled Ksaibati

Intersections represent critical crash locations on road networks necessitating targeted safety interventions. This study employs a random parameters ordered logit (RPOL) model with heterogeneity in means to analyze injury severity contributing factors across 9108 Wyoming intersection crashes that occurred from 2007 to 2017. The analysis reveals that crashes on principal and minor arterial intersections are consistently associated with higher risks of severe/fatal injuries, while urban intersections exhibit less severe consequences, likely due to lower speeds and enhanced infrastructure. Adverse weather conditions, particularly snowy and icy road surfaces, increase the likelihood of property-damage-only (PDO) outcomes while reducing severe/fatal injuries. Temporal trends show a decline in crash severity over time, coinciding with advances in vehicle safety and policy improvements. Key behavioral factors, including left turn maneuvers and driver’s age heterogeneity, influence crash outcomes, whereas intersection sight distance (ISD) had no significant effect on crash severity underscoring data limitations requiring advanced analysis methods. This study’s findings prioritize the reconsideration of arterial intersection design, urban safety enhancements, and behavior-focused countermeasures for intersection safety.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040116

Authors: Ouma S. Mokwena Joyce Shirinde Thabiso J. Morodi

Although women have participated in mining activities across the world for centuries, the industry continues to be perceived as predominantly male-oriented. This perception persists largely due to the male-dominated workforce and the physically demanding nature of mining operations. This paper examines the ergonomic impacts of mining machinery on female mineworkers. The study was conducted in three underground coal mining operations located in Mpumalanga, South Africa, using a quantitative research approach. To evaluate the ergonomic demands placed on women working underground, the researchers employed the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) in combination with direct observation techniques. The findings revealed that female mineworkers experience considerable challenges when performing tasks requiring significant physical strength and endurance. The observed female mineworker recorded a final REBA score of seven, indicating a medium-risk level. Ergonomic challenges in underground coal mining are further intensified for female mineworkers due to the absence of gender-specific considerations in equipment design, task allocation, and the overall working environment. Although the risk classification was moderate, the results underscore the need for further investigation and the timely implementation of corrective measures. Addressing these issues will require the integration of inclusive ergonomic principles that account for gender diversity within the mining workforce.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040115

Authors: Stuart N. Riddick Mercy Mbua Catherine Laughery Daniel J. Zimmerle

One of the biggest risks to safety on offshore platform safety is the ignition of high-pressure natural gas streams. Currently, the size and number of fugitive emissions on offshore platforms is unknown and methods used to detect fugitives have significant shortcomings. To investigate the frequency, size, and potential impact of fugitives, a data collection exercise was conducted using incidents reported, leak survey data, and independent measurements. The size and number of fugitives on offshore facilities were simulated to investigate likely areas of safety concern. Incident reports indicate in 2021 there were 113 reports of gas leaks on 1119 offshore facilities, suggesting 0.02 fugitives per Type 1 facility (older, shallow-water platforms) and 0.31 fugitives per Type 2 facility (larger deeper-water facilities). Leak survey data report 12 fugitives per Type 1 facility (average emission 0.6 kg CH4 h−1 leak−1) and 15 fugitives per Type 2 facility (average emission 1.5 kg CH4 h−1 leak−1). Reconciliation of direct measurements with a bottom-up model suggests that the number of fugitive emissions generated from the leak report data is an underestimate for Type 1 platforms (44 fugitives facility−1; average emission 0.6 kg CH4 h−1 leak−1) and in general agreement for the Type 2 platforms (15 fugitives facility−1; average emission 1.5 kg CH4 h−1 leak−1). Analysis of the fugitive emission rates on an offshore platform suggests that gas will not collect to explosive concentration if any air movement is present (>0.36 mph); however, large volumes of air (~600 m3) near representative leaks on the working deck could become explosive in hour-long zero-wind conditions. We suggest that wearable technology could be employed to indicate gas build up, safety regulations amended to consider low-wind conditions and real-world experiments are conducted to test assumptions of air mixing on the working deck.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040114

Authors: Oscar Rikhotso

Employers in South Africa are mandated by labour laws to implement systems of work for the maintenance and promotion of health and safety at work. In response, companies have adopted and implemented occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMSs) whose effectiveness should be continuously monitored through performance measurement. However, there remains no national convention on the specific performance measurement indicators for companies to use. The objective of this study was to determine, characterise and compare lagging indicators adopted and reported by the top 150 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed companies in South Africa. This qualitative study evaluated annual reports and data books from these companies by analysing textual data through qualitative document analysis. Only 87 of the 150 case companies reported performance using lagging indicators. The basic materials, consumer goods, consumer services and industrial sectors had the most companies which reported performance metrics. Fatality count and lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) were the most commonly reported performance metrics and were reported by 64 and 41 companies, respectively. There was variation in the number, type and form of adopted lagging indicators by the case companies. Companies in the manufacturing and mining sectors were more likely to report OHS performance, in general, than those in other sectors. The observed variation across sectors emphasises the need for harmonised indicators to measure and report OHS performance in South Africa.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040113

Authors: Miguel Gouveia Micaela Pinho Paulo Botelho Pires

Professional football players face considerable occupational hazards, with injuries posing serious challenges to player safety, club performance, and regulatory oversight. This descriptive study examines the multifaceted implications of Portugal’s Laws No. 48/2023, which formally recognises professional football as a high-risk occupation and strengthens the mandatory insurance regime through a major regulatory update. Adopting a qualitative approach, the analysis focuses on Portugal, where the professional football business model heavily relies on player commercialisation, and compares regulatory frameworks in Spain, Germany, England, Italy, France, and Brazil. Findings indicate that Portugal’s legal framework enhances player safety by ensuring comprehensive coverage and improved disability protections, yet also introduces financial pressures on clubs, particularly those with lower economic capacity. These pressures are exacerbated by limited market competition and high insurance concentration, increasing premium costs. Cross-country comparisons reveal persistent disparities in legal standards, insurance scope, and institutional coordination, which complicate risk allocation in an increasingly globalised football market. Notably, Portugal’s high-risk insurance model most closely aligns with France’s hybrid approach, in contrast to fully public schemes seen in countries like Germany and Italy. While complete harmonisation remains challenging, the study identifies key principles to guide policy reform and international cooperation. Overall, the findings advance understanding of occupational risk regulation in sport and offer practical insights for designing effective, equitable, and safety-oriented protection systems for professional athletes.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040112

Authors: Leon Proud Daniel Whitehead Tom Slatter Pete Crawforth David Curtis

Whilst subtractive manufacturing has been de-risked significantly over recent decades, the emergence of new unfamiliar materials is proving to be a significant challenge for social sustainability. Given this rapidly evolving landscape, this review serves to outline the current available data on the occupational health implications of various existing and emerging material species, ranging from radioactive metals to composite materials. A structured search of sources up to January 2025 was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science in addition to various authoritative occupational health reports, prioritising the literature directly pertaining or analogous to machining-related hazards. Evidence highlights the complexity of the machining environment, with occupational hazards ranging from toxicological factors to fire risks (i.e., due to swarf pyrophoricity). Case studies outline both relatively benign pathologies (e.g., dermatitis and sensitisation) and much more severe health complications (e.g., carcinogenicity, systemic organ damage and death), underscoring the need for continuous assessment and updating of exposure controls, even for materials traditionally regarded as safe.

Safety doi: 10.3390/safety11040111

Authors: Tian Zhao Yajuan Bi Jiayao Chen Jiangrong Yu Shilin Peng Fuli Luo Yi Chen

This comprehensive review examines the transformative role of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in advancing battery separator technology to address critical safety challenges in rechargeable lithium metal batteries. MOF-based separators leverage their highly specific surface area, tunable pore structures, and functionalized organic ligands to enable precise ion-sieving effects, uniform lithium-ion flux regulation, and dendrite suppression—significantly mitigating risks of internal short circuits and thermal runaway. We systematically analyze the mechanisms by which classical MOF families (e.g., ZIF, UiO, MIL series) enhance separator performance through physicochemical properties such as electrolyte wettability, thermal stability (>400 °C), and mechanical robustness. Furthermore, we highlight innovative composite strategies integrating MOFs with polymer matrices (e.g., PVDF, PAN) or traditional separators, which synergistically improve ionic conductivity while inhibiting polysulfide shuttling in lithium–sulfur batteries and side reactions in aqueous zinc-ion systems. Case studies demonstrate that functionalized MOF separators achieve exceptional electrochemical outcomes: Li–S batteries maintain >99% Coulombic efficiency over 500 cycles, while solid-state batteries exhibit 2400 h dendrite-free operation. Despite promising results, scalability challenges related to MOF synthesis costs and long-term stability under operational conditions require further research. This review underscores MOFs’ potential as multifunctional separator materials to enable safer, high-energy-density batteries and provides strategic insights for future material design.