The influence of weather on fatal accidents in Austrian mountains

Projections of warmer global temperatures in fast approaching time horizons warrant planning strategies for reducing impacts on human morbidity and mortality. This study sought to determine whether increases in temperature and other changes in weather indices impacted rates of fatal accidents occurring in the popular mountainous regions of Austria with the purpose of improving mountain prevention and accident mitigation strategies. The study was based on the merging of 3285 fatal outdoor accidents reported by the Austrian Alpine Safety Board for the period 2006 to 2018 with daily meteorological data from 43 nearby climate stations during the same period. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the odds of one or more fatal accidents per station and day with weather indices as predictors, controlling for weekend effects bringing more visitors to the mountains. Separate prediction models were performed for summer and winter activities, as well as for specific disciplines. Even after adjustment for concomitant effects impacting mountain fatal accidents, the daily weather indices of temperature, relative humidity, global radiation, cloudiness, snow cover and precipitation were statistically significantly associated with fatal accident risk. In particular, a one-degree Celsius increase in temperature was associated with a 13% increase in odds of a mountain biking accident in the summer and a 8% increase in odds of a mountain suicide in the winter. An increase in global radiation by 1 kWh/m2 was associated with a 11% and 28% increase in fatal accident odds for mountaineering in the summer and touring in the winter, respectively.

Software Design for Adaptive Laser Headlights

The road traffic collisions and injuries, is still a major concern in automotive field. A disproportionate number of fatal accidents happen at nighttime. The major part of the collision is contributed by the human factors. Yet the technology in automobile is continuously assisting drivers while driving. Driving in the dark is not always easy as roads aren’t always illuminated, in such cases a powerful headlight is needed to illuminate most of the road. But such headlights cause glare to the oncoming traffic and again the chances of collision increase, with risking lives of passengers. Therefore, a need of smart headlamps which can illuminate the road far ahead without glaring the oncoming traffic is generated. This research aims to build a Laser based adaptive headlight system which can fulfil the need. The headlight design is proposed using Tinkercad software in which Arduino circuit has been used and software design is presented. The system works well with responding to the steering angle and controls the intensity of light preventing oncoming traffic from getting glared. Keywords: Adaptive headlight system, laser headlights, Arduino, Arduino software design, design of headlight system, cornering lights, effects of laser headlights, Tinkercad

A Phenomenological Study on the Exposing Experience and Overcoming of Repeated Fatal Accidents of Fire-fighting Officers on Outdoor Service

The core purpose of this study is to provide useful information for educational and psychological programs for outdoor fire-fighters by comprehensive analysis of their repeated experience in exposure to fatal accidents and overcoming them. To this end, eight outdoor fire officials in charge of rescue and emergency affairs were selected as subjects of the study at a fire Station in Cheonan and conducted in-depth interviews. Subsequently, interview data were analyzed through Giorgi's phenomenological analysis method and 10 essential themes were derived as followings; the sorriness and regret of his inexperience at the scene of the fatal accident, the painfulness and sorriness for the inevitable fatal accident, a frightening and trembling emotional experience, the blocked emotional response, an emotionless experience, the spread of anxiety, the realization of the importance of confrontation, the realization of the importance of time to escape stress, an experience in the power of empathy and comfort from family and colleagues, and an experience in the importance of professional calling consciousness.

Situational Awareness and General Aviation Accidents

Situational awareness is a concept increasingly used in aircraft accident investigation reports. We analyzed 94 general aviation accidents in which situational awareness was mentioned by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator to determine factors that are significantly more often associated with fatality. We found a consistent use of the situational awareness concept, mainly applied to situations in which aircraft inadvertently collided with each other, with other man-made objects, and with various kinds of terrain. A significantly higher proportion of fatal accidents occurred during nighttime, in instrument meteorological conditions, or low visibility conditions. In addition, flights occurring during the cruise phase or in combination with spatial or geographical disorientation proved most often fatal.

Factors Contributing to Accidents During Aerobatic Flight Operations

INTRODUCTION: Aerobatic flight operations involve a higher level of risk than standard flight operations. Aerobatics imposes considerable stresses on both the aircraft and the pilot. The purpose of this study was to analyze civilian aerobatic aircraft accidents in Australia, with particular emphasis on the underlying accident causes and survival outcomes.METHODS: The accident and incident database of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau was searched for all events involving aerobatic flight for the period 19802010.RESULTS: A total of 51 accidents involving aircraft undertaking aerobatic operations were identified, with 71 aircraft occupants. Of the accidents, 27 (52.9) were fatal, resulting in a total of 36 fatalities. There were 24 nonfatal accidents. In terms of injury outcomes, there were 4 serious and 9 minor injuries, and 22 accidents in which no injuries were recorded. Fatal accidents were mainly due to loss of control by the pilot (44.4), in-flight structural failure of the airframe (25.9), and terrain impact (25.9). G-LOC was considered a possible cause in 11.1 of fatal accidents. Nonfatal accidents were mainly due to powerplant failure (41.7) and noncatastrophic airframe damage (25). Accidents involving aerobatic maneuvering have a significantly increased risk of a fatal outcome (odds ratio 26).DISCUSSION: The results of this study highlight the risks involved in aerobatic flight. Exceeding the operational limits of the maneuver and the design limits of the aircraft are major factors contributing to a fatal aerobatic aircraft accident. Improved awareness of G physiology and better operational decision-making while undertaking aerobatic flight may help prevent further accidents.Newman DG. Factors contributing to accidents during aerobatic flight operations. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(8):612618.

The Causes of Occupational Accidents and Injuries in Romanian Firms: An Application of the Johansen Cointegration and Granger Causality Test

Organizational risks are present in any activity, so it is important to manage them properly. The jobs are dynamic and involve a series of processes and activities. The entire human resource is exposed to several risks. If these risks are approached correctly, the organizational capacity to achieve its objectives and vision will increase considerably. This paper aims to investigate the relationships between work accidents (fatal and non-fatal) and the causes that contribute to their occurrence (causes dependent on the executor, causes dependent on the means of production, workload-dependent causes, and work-dependent causes—the work environment). The augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) test is employed to check the data stationarity series, while the Johansen test determines the cointegration relation of variables. The data have been collected from Romanian organizations. The vector error correction model (VECM) and Granger causality test are applied for speed of adjustment, nature, and direction of variables’ relationship. This research demonstrated that both data series are free from the unit-root problem at first difference. The lag length criterions select the third lag for model fitness, and Johansen cointegration declares that variables are cointegrated for the long term. The vector error correction model shows the speed of adjustment from the short to the long run is 83.35% and 42.60% for work and fatal accidents. The study results show that fatal accidents have a series relationship with selected cases for the short run and have a long-run relationship with the means of production. Fatal accidents are directly related to means of production. Fatal accidents are not designed by executors, workload-dependent causes, or work environments in the short run. Fatal accidents are directly related to the means of production and sudden incidents happening in the long run. Fatal accidents are considered by executors, workload-dependent causes, or work environments in the short run. In the long run, fatal accidents are directly related to the means of production and sudden incidents happening.

Fatality and Operational Specificity of Helicopter Accidents on the Ground

INTRODUCTION: Accidents with aircraft standing are more likely with helicopters than fixed-wing aircraft due to the common presence of off-airport landings and the possibility of the rotor system to strike objects in its immediate surroundings.METHODS: A total of 115 accidents involving helicopters characterized as standing as a broad phase of flight were selected from the NTSB online database for the period 1998 until 2018.RESULTS: Accidents reporting fatal (8.7) or serious injuries (7.8) were significantly less likely to occur when the aircraft was substantially damaged (84.3) or destroyed (5.2). The majority of the cases occurred after off-airport landings (57.4), which were reported significantly more often in Alaska (N= 15). A main rotor strike with an individual was at the basis of each of the 10 fatal accidents in the dataset and in 8 of these cases the cause of the accident was attributed to the victim. None of the accidents occurred in instrument meteorological conditions, but, in particular, high winds and gusts proved a main cause of accident (18.3).CONCLUSION: Pilot, passengers, and crew endangered themselves when they were outside the aircraft while the rotors were still turning. Helicopter operating manuals should highlight the limitations and dangers for wind and wind gusts not only during takeoff and flight, but specifically when standing.de Voogt AJ, Hummel C, Kalagher H. Fatality and operational specificity of helicopter accidents on the ground. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(7):593596.