Citation

Ayoub MA. J. Occup. Accid. 1981; 3(2): 115-128.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The paper, presented in two parts, introduces and illustrates simulation modeling as a viable approach for dealing with complex issues and decisions in safety and health. Part I (J. Occup. Accidents, 3: 3-20) outlines the essentials of simulation, including model design, data gathering, algorithms, documentation, and simulation experiments. It then concludes by reviewing two studies: fire emergency evacuation and noise evaluation. The fire study presents a model that estimates, among other things, the time required to evacuate a production area with a given geometry and a fixed number of exits. The noise study employs a model to predict the exposure level of employees working with manufacturing processes which generate different random sounds throughout the work shift.Part II of the paper details two additional studies: evaluation of employee exposure to airborne radioactive materials and effectiveness of the safety organization. The first study seeks to define a policy to manage a facility used in testing employees for radiation contamination. An acceptable policy is one that would permit the testing of all employees as defined under regulatory requirements, while not exceeding available resources. The second study evaluates the relationship between safety performance and the characteristics of the organization, its management, its policy, and communication patterns among various functions and levels. Both studies use models where decisions are reached based on the prevailing conditions and occurrence of key events within the simulation environment. Finally, Part II highlights several problem areas suitable for simulation studies.