Procedures In Accident Investigation And Reporting Practiced Construction Essay

Procedures In Accident Investigation And Reporting Practiced Construction Essay Chapter 1 Introduction Background of the Problem Section 15 (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514) says It shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees. It is a well known fact that no matter how good and well established a site safety program is, accidents do happened from time to time. There are many factors that contribute to these accidents, not to mention the degree of severity and it is the job of the Safety and Health Officer to determine precisely what really happens when an accident occur. It is important to conduct accident investigations with accident prevention in mind. Investigations are NOT to place blame. Too often investigations degenerate into fingerprinting, blame fixing and fault-finding exercises because the persons involved do not understand the reasons for or real value which can be gained from good accident investigations. Accident/incident investigations are a tool for uncovering hazards that either were missed earlier or have managed to slip out of the controls planned for them. It is also important to have a standardized and proper structure of accident investigation and reporting in order to get an accurate picture of what really transpired in an accident. Inaccuracies will most likely point to the wrong cause of accidents and this will inadvertently cause errors in deduction and also the wrong recommendations being made for the mitigation steps. In order to get a true representation and a clear picture of what causes an accident, there must be a standard in carrying out investigation, standard perfoma to be used, a set of general questions to be asked and equipments to help a Safety and Health Officer in carrying out his duties. By having a standard operating procedure for accident investigation and reporting, and with the help from the Department of Safety and Health (DOSH), statistics could be derived and major contributors to accidents could be identified and properly studied mitigation steps could be formulated. This will undoubtedly benefit the industry as a whole. Problem Statement What is an accident? Accident can be defined as an unplanned and uncontrolled event that led to, or could have led to injury to persons, damage to property/plant/equipment, and impairment to the environment or some other loss to the company. Problem that was observed at the Senai Pasir Gudang Desaru Expressway with regards to accident reporting is the communication breakdown that occurs; where the personnel involved does not know whom to call in a case of an emergency or fatality. Could this be because of insufficient training? Neglected induction courses? Ineffective tool-box meeting? This paper will try to find the root cause of this communication breakdown and in doing so will hopefully improve on the accident reporting and investigation procedures. The Research Framework We need to have a good understanding of the existing research results, on which to build new and relevant research activities for Occupational Safety and Health approaches. We also need to understand the appropriate research approaches for producing new knowledge. To make these activities manageable, we use a research framework. A research framework defines the categories of outputs that research can produce. It also defines a set of different research activities. Moreover, it defines what kind of research activities can be used to produce specific outputs. In tackling the questions brought herewith, a combination of primary data obtained from real research undertaken at site in the form of questionnaires and interviews involving personnel from specific department of a company and secondary data from materials taken from magazines, newspapers, internet etc will be used. Data derived from both of these data acquisition activities will hopefully answers some of the questions to the problems faced by the Safety Officers and Supervisors at site. Objective of Study The objectives of the study undertaken are to: To standardized the accident or incident reporting and investigating procedures practiced at site To address any shortcomings concluded from the study undertaken To ascertain the accident report mechanism currently practiced at site Research Questions Special consideration has to be taken in asking questions about accidents reporting and investigation. In order to ascertain where the communication breakdown occurs in an event of an accident, the main question that needs to be asked is: Do you know whom to call in case of an emergency? Is the Emergency Contact List prominently displayed at the site office or the work place? Have you been given proper induction training before starting work? Have you been given talks on what to do in an accident at your workplace? These questions have to be asked to workers of many ethnicity and considerations have to be given to the sensitivity of different cultures and religions. Significance of Study It is hoped that after conclusions have been made from the study undertaken, the accident reporting and investigation procedures could be further improve in line with the Occupational Safety and Health Management principles. Scope of Study This study encompasses the accident reporting and investigation procedures practiced at the Senai Pasir Gudang Desaru Expressway project. Two fatalities have been recorded at the worksite thus far and improvement to the overall work safety is of paramount importance to avoid any more fatalities. Accidents can yield positive results if we learn from what went wrong and prevent a reoccurrence. To achieve this we need to investigate the circumstances that led to the accident and report, record, analyses and correct its effects. Definition of Terms Below are the definitions of terms used for the purpose of this study. SAFETY AND HEALTH OFFICER a person appointed by the contractor at site to be responsible for maintaining safety and protection against accidents. This person shall have the authority to issue instructions and take proactive measures to prevent accidents. HOT WORK use of open flames, other heat sources and/or spark-producing devices where there is a potential for explosion or fire. INCIDENT an undesirable event, which has the potential to cause a serious accident. LOSS PREVENTION a before-the-loss procedure designed to identify and correct potential causes of accidents before they result in actual injuries or financial loss. MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET a summary sheet supplied by the chemical manufacturers that identifies the hazards, proper handling procedures and emergency treatment for a particular chemical. REGULATION a rule, ordinance, law, legal regulation or device by which conduct or performances is controlled. SAFE WORK PERMIT a permit issued as a written record by which the employer or employee in charge of a unit, equipment, building or area authorizes a worker and/or crew to do a specific job at the worksite. It identifies the safe work practices required for the type of work to be performed in the specified job location. SERIOUS INCIDENT a life endangering event to people, property and environment, such as major collapse of structure or plant or any incident causing multiple injuries to workers. SUB-CONTRACTOR a business, firm, partnership, consultant or individual hired by the Contractor to perform a specific task or job; or any business, firm, partnership, consultant or individual, other than employees of the Contractor, working on or around Contractors property. VISITOR any person temporarily on the worksite who is not regularly involved in the daily worksite activities. This includes, but is not limited to, delivery personnel, invited guest, the general public, etc. WILL, SHALL OR MUST to be understood as a mandatory condition. Chapter 2 Accident Investigation and Reporting Introduction The failure of people, equipment, supplies, or surroundings to behave or react as expected causes most of them. Accident investigations determine how and why these failures occur. By using the information gained through an investigation, a similar, or perhaps more disastrous, accident may be prevented. It is important to conduct accident investigations with prevention in mind. Definition of Accident Investigation and Reporting The term accident can be defined as an unplanned event that interrupts the completion of an activity, and that may (or may not) include injury or property damage. An incident usually refers to an unexpected event that did not cause injury or damage this time but had the potential. Near miss or dangerous occurrence is also terms for an event that could have caused harm but did not. Accidents occur when hazards escape detection during preventive measures, such as a job or process safety analysis, when hazards are not obvious, or as the result of combinations of circumstances that were difficult to foresee. A thorough accident investigation may identify previously overlooked physical, environmental, administrative, or process hazards, the need for new or more extensive safety training, or unsafe work practices. The primary focus of any accident investigation should be the determination of the facts surrounding the incident and the lessons that can be learned to prevent future similar occurrences. Importance of Accident Investigation and Reporting The first priority whenever an accident occurs is to deal with the emergency and ensure that any injuries or illnesses receive prompt medical attention. The accident investigation should begin immediately thereafter. This ensures that details of what occurred will be fresh in peoples minds and that witnesses dont influence one another by talking about the accident. It also minimizes the likelihood that important evidence is not moved, lost, taken, destroyed, or thrown away before the scene has been thoroughly inspected. There are indeed significant gains from good quality accident investigations. Most importantly, accident investigation are carried out to find out the cause of accidents and to prevent similar accidents in the future. Apart from this, accident investigation is also carried out to learn from what went wrong. Determination of the cause of the accident is also an important factor. Preventing recurrence of the accident, improving the work environment, compliance of regula tory requirements, finding out the cost of the accident, to fulfil moral obligation, defining trends, provision of information in case of litigation, reduction of operating costs by control of accidental losses and to express concern by the management are some of the importance of carrying out an effective accident investigation and reporting. Conclusion All accidents should be investigated. The depth and complexity of the investigation will vary with the circumstances and seriousness of the accident. The Safety Officer or other individual responsible for operations involved in an accident should ensure that an investigation is conducted and that when appropriate, corrective actions are taken. Incidents that involve no injury or property damage should still be investigated to determine the hazards that should be corrected. The same principles apply to a quick inquiry of a minor incident and to the more formal investigation of a serious event. Note: The term incident is used in some situations and jurisdictions to cover both an accident and incident. It is argued that the word accident implies that the event was related to fate or chance. When the root cause is determined, it is usually found that many events were predictable and could have been prevented if the right actions were taken making the event not one of fate or chance (thus, the word incident is used). For simplicity, we will use the term accident to mean all of the above events. When accidents are investigated, the emphasis should be concentrated on finding the root cause of the accident rather than the investigation procedure itself so we can prevent it from happening again. The purpose is to find facts that can lead to actions, not to find fault. Always look for deeper causes. Do not simply record the steps of the event. Chapter 3 Methodology Introduction The important criteria in adopting a research methodology should depend on what information we need to collect in order to make an informed conclusion to questions that arises from problems that needs to be addressed. The more focused we are about what we want to gain by our research, the more effective and efficient we can be in our research, the shorter the time it will take us and ultimately the less it will cost us (whether in your own time, the time of your employees and/or the time of a consultant). There are trade offs, too, in the breadth and depth of information we get. The more breadth we want, usually the less depth well get (unless we have a great deal of resources to carry out the research). Study Location The study location would be the project site of the Senai-Pasir Gudang-Desaru Expressway with emphasis on the personnel involved at the work site. These personnel would be the Safety and Health Officer and Supervisor, the work supervisors and foremen whom are responsible over several workers. Questionnaire Questionnaires are an inexpensive way to gather data from a potentially large number of respondents. Often they are the only feasible way to reach a number of reviewers large enough to allow statistically analysis of the results. A well-designed questionnaire that is used effectively can gather information on both the overall performance of the test system as well as information on specific components of the system. If the questionnaire includes demographic questions on the participants, they can be used to correlate performance and satisfaction with the test system among different groups of users. For the purpose of this study, I have prepared a simple questionnaire directed at key personnel at the work site with questions encompassing various aspects of occupational safety and health such as written safety and health program, managers responsibility, supervisors responsibility, safety managers role, employees, safety committees, safety and health inspection, regulatory compliance, safety and health training, injury and illness prevention activities, accident investigation and reporting and lastly on emergency preparedness. A sample of this questionnaire is attached together with this project paper in appendix 1. Analysis of Data When analyzing data from questionnaires, always start from review of the research goals, i.e., the reason we undertook the research in the first place. This will help us organize our data and focus our analysis. For example, if we want to improve a program by identifying its strengths and weaknesses, we can organize data into program strengths, weaknesses and suggestions to improve the program. If we want to fully understand how our program works, we could organize data in the chronological order in which customers or clients go through our program. If we are conducting a performance improvement study, we can categorize data according to each measure associated with each overall performance result, e.g., employee learning, productivity and results. Chapter 4 Research Results Introduction A total of 10 questionnaires have been distributed to Safety Officers/Supervisors at the Senai Pasir Gudang Desaru Expressway project site and various other project sites in Melacca and Kuala Lumpur to gauge the accident investigation and reporting mechanism. Out of the 10 questionnaires given out, 8 responded. The sample of the questionnaire can be found in Appendix I. Respondence Background All of the respondence are qualified Safety Officers and Safety Supervisors appointed by their respective companies and are registered with the Department of Safety and Health Malaysia (DOSH) or at least have attended courses conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Malaysia. They were chosen as respondence base on their vast experience and knowledge on Construction Safety and Health issues. It is hoped that their valuable feedback could improve the accident reporting and investigation procedures practiced at their respective site. Research Outcome Response from the questionnaires is tabulated and the result is shown in the spreadsheet below. No Description Respondent YES NO YES % 1 Written Safety a. Management commitment 8 8 0 100 b. Safety performance standard 8 5 3 62.5 c. Employee involvement 8 8 0 100 d. Written safety rules/procedures 8 8 0 100 e. Safety inspection 8 7 1 87.5 f. Loss prevention 8 8 0 100 g. Regulatory compliance 8 8 0 100 h. Safety and health training 8 8 0 100 i. Accident reporting/investigation 8 6 2 75 j. Safety and health promotion 8 8 0 100 k. Return to work policy 8 1 7 12.5 Average YES 85.2 2 Do Managers: a. Conduct/attend safety meetings 8 6 2 75 b. Review serious accidents/near misses 8 8 0 100 c. Ensure supervisors accountable 8 4 4 50 d. Conduct safety inspection 8 6 2 75 e. Recognize safety performance 8 2 6 25 f. Attend safety training session 8 2 6 25 g. Talk to employees about safety 8 6 2 75 h. Follow safety rules and procedures 8 7 1 87.5 i. Require supervisors to complete one safety project/year 8 0 8 0 j. Encourage supervisors to attend outside safety training 8 6 2 75 k. Provide adequate resource for accident prevention 8 5 3 62.5 l. Include safety in supervisors job description/performance 8 4 4 50 m. Review the quality of accident investigation reports 8 6 2 75 Average YES 59.6 3 Do Safety Officers/Supervisors: a. Conduct safety meetings with their employees 8 8 0 100 b. Perform safety inspections of their department 8 8 0 100 c. Take appropriate action(s) to correct safety rules 8 8 0 100 d. Talk to their employees 8 8 0 100 e. Promptly complete and submit accident investigation reports 8 8 0 100 f. Attend supervisory safety training programs 8 8 0 100 g. Conduct periodic planned safety observations 8 8 0 100 h. Identify and complete at least one safety project annually 8 3 5 37.5 i. Review and respond promptly to employee suggestions 8 8 0 100 j. Initiate immediate action(s) to correct unsafe conditions/acts 8 8 0 100 Average YES 93.75 4 Do Safety Manager: a. Conduct formal safety and health inspections 8 4 4 50 b. Encourage employees to submit safety suggestions 8 0 8 0 c. Attend at least one departmental safety meeting each quarter 8 8 0 100 d. Participate in investigation of serious injuries/near misses 8 8 0 100 e. Coordinate regulatory compliance activities 8 4 4 50 f. Conduct safety training for employees/supervisors 8 2 6 25 g. Conduct induction training 8 8 0 100 h. Attend 1-2 professional development courses annually 8 8 0 100 i. Review accident statistics and workers compensation costs 8 8 0 100 j. Serve as Chairperson or member of the Safety Committee 8 8 0 100 Average YES 72.5 5 Do employees: a. Follow all established safety rules and procedures 8 6 2 75 b. Report unsafe conditions/accidents to their supervisor 8 7 1 87.5 c. Attend all required safety training programs 8 8 0 100 d. Submit safety suggestions 8 2 6 25 e. Maintain proper housekeeping at their work place 8 6 2 75 Average YES 72.5 6 Safety Committees a. Do your company have an active safety committee 8 8 0 100 b. If yes, does the Safety Committee i. Perform safety inspections 8 8 0 100 ii. Meet at least quarterly 8 8 0 100 c. Review all serious accidents 8 8 0 100 i. Recommend safety program improvement 8 8 0 100 ii. Monitor safety program effectiveness 8 8 0 100 iii. Take timely action on safety suggestion 8 6 2 75 iv. Maintain and publish minutes of each meeting 8 8 0 100 Average YES 96.9 7 Injury/Illness Prevention Activities a. Does your company use engineering controls and/or administrative controls to prevent or control workplace injuries and illnesses 8 8 0 100 b. Does your company use safety posters, health fairs etc to promote health and safety 8 8 0 100 c. Has a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) been completed for each hazardous job 8 8 0 100 d. Has your company developed an effective ergonomics program 8 2 6 25 e. Are safety and health requirements and concerns considered when purchasing new machines, equipment and chemical products 8 8 0 100 Average YES 85 8 Accident Reporting and Investigation a. Are all workplace injuries and illnesses reported and investigated 8 8 0 100 b. Are near misses and vehicle-related accidents reported and investigated 8 8 0 100 c. Have all supervisors and managers been trained in accident investigation procedures 8 8 0 100 d. Are Safety Officers/Supervisors required to complete a separate Accident Investigation Report 8 8 0 100 e. Are incomplete reports returned to the appropriate Safety Officers/Supervisors 8 8 0 100 f. Are accident prevention programs and activities based upon an analysis of accident reports and injury and illness rates 8 6 2 75 Average YES 95.8 9 Emergency Preparedness a. Does your company have a current Emergency Response Plan 8 8 0 100 b. Are emergency phone numbers and building maps/site maps posted 8 8 0 100 c. Do all personnel know how to respond to an emergency such as fire 8 6 2 75 d. Do your company conduct periodic disaster drills 8 4 4 50 e. Are alarms tested at least once per month 8 8 0 100 Average YES 85% Main Elements Studied The main elements studied are the Accidents Investigation and Reporting procedures. The targeted questions with respect to this area are as below:- Does your company have a current written safety and health program that addresses the following elements? i. Accident reporting and investigation? (75% answered YES) Do managers m. Review the quality of accident investigation reports? (75% answered YES) 3. Do safety officers/supervisors e. Promptly complete and submit accident investigation reports? (100% answered YES) 4. Do safety managers d. Participate in the investigation of serious injuries and near misses? (100% answered YES) 5. Do employees b. Report unsafe conditions and accidents to their safety officers/supervisors? (87.5% answered YES) 6. Safety committees c. Review all serious accidents? (100% answered YES) 8. Accident reporting and investigation All questions in this section are relevant to the topic discussed. (Average YES 95.8%) 9. Emergency Preparedness All questions in this section are relevant to the topic discussed. (Average YES 85%) Generally almost all of the respondents reported positively on aspects of accident investigation and reporting in their respective companies. From having a clear written policies to having an emergency response plan in place are sure signs that accident investigation and reporting are taken seriously and thus, the standards of safety and health could only improve. Chapter 5 Conclusion Introduction With every company taking a serious stand on aspects of safety and health at the work site, so does accident investigation and reporting procedures. From the feedback gathered through questionnaires, the accident investigation and reporting mechanism are properly in placed and practiced. Discussion Accidents are usually complex. An accident may have 10 or more events that can be causes. A detailed analysis of an accident will normally reveal three cause levels: basic, indirect, and direct. At the lowest level, an accident results only when a person or object receives an amount of energy or hazardous material that cannot be absorbed safely. This energy or hazardous material is the DIRECT CAUSE of the accident. The direct cause is usually the result of one or more unsafe acts or unsafe conditions, or both. Unsafe acts and conditions are the INDIRECT CAUSES or symptoms. In turn, indirect causes are usually traceable to poor management policies and decisions, or to personal or environmental factors. These are the BASIC CAUSES. In spite of their complexity, most accidents are preventable by eliminating one or more causes. Accident investigations determine not only what happened, but also how and why. The information gained from these investigations can prevent recurrence of similar or perhaps more disastrous accidents. Accident investigators are interested in each event as well as in the sequence of events that led to an accident. The accident type is also important to the investigator. The recurrence of accidents of a particular type or those with common causes shows areas needing special accident prevention emphasis. The actual procedures used in a particular investigation depend on the nature and results of the accident. The agency having jurisdiction over the location determines the administrative procedures. In general, responsible officials will appoint an individual to be in charge of the investigation. The investigator uses most of the following steps: 1. Define the scope of the investigation. 2. Select the investigators. Assign specific tasks to each (preferably in writing). 3. Present a preliminary briefing to the investigating team, including: a. Description of the accident, with damage estimates. b. Normal operating procedures. c. Maps (local and general). d. Location of the accident site. e. List of witnesses. f. Events that preceded the accident. 4. Visit the accident site to get updated information. 5. Inspect the accident site. a. Secure the area. Do not disturb the scene unless a hazard exists. b. Prepare the necessary sketches and photographs. Label each carefully and keep accurate records. 6. Interview each victim and witness. Also interview those who were present before the accident and those who arrived at the site shortly after the accident. Keep accurate records of each interview. Use a tape recorder if desired and if approved. 7. Determine a. What was not normal before the accident? b. Where the abnormality occurred. c. When it was first noted. d. How it occurred. 8. Analyze the data obtained in step 7. Repeat any of the prior steps, if necessary. 9. Determine a. Why the accident occurred. b. A likely sequence of events and probable causes (direct, indirect, basic). c. Alternative sequences. 10. Check each sequence against the data from step 7. 11. Determine the most likely sequence of events and the most probable causes. 12. Conduct a post-investigation briefing. 13. Prepare a summary report, including the recommended actions to prevent a recurrence. Distribute the report according to applicable instructions. An investigation is not

Patas Monkeys and Company :: essays research papers fc

Patas and Company   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A hip, hop, hibbety-hop, another quick jump, and the small yet very scared (LaRoe 84) monkey had gone from one tree to the next. With a fuzzy white stomach, small, pointy ears, and a â€Å"red hat† on top of his head, this was a renowned Patas monkey that lived in Kenya’s wild grasslands. The small monkey, with his big eyes wide open, searched around the neighbhoring trees for some nuts. He stretched his neck out as much as he could to look at every nook and cranny of the trees nearby, until he finally spotted a big juicy red nut (Woodland Zoo 1). His small snout immediately turned into a sort of grin, which the Patas are actually able to do. The little monkey (Clouting 138-139) suddenly got a running start from the branch and jumped like a bolt of lightning and hit the next tree. His quickness, jumping from tree to tree was amazing, with his small body and his long gummy like arms and legs (Woodland Zoo 2). After a couple of quick jumps and hops, he had arrived at the tree to be, the one with the big red juicy nut. He quickly grabbed it and jumped. Holding the nut in one hand, the little monkey hit the ground and took off running. The sunlight in the Kenya grassland had started to dim, and the little monkey knew he had to get home before it turned dark and all the bigger and scary animals came out to get their own food. As the little monkey was running, he noticed something in the clear distance. It was big, yellow, and had an uncountable number of black spots on it. Knowing that he would probably mean lunch for this yellow menace, he little monkey slowed down to a walk. The sun was seen less and less by the minute and it was halfway dark already. He had to think of a way around because the yellow menace did not look like it would be moving anywhere anytime soon, or anytime soon enough for the little monkey to get home before it got dark. The grass bushes of the Kenya grassland were very tall, and it was hard for him to see, but the made a run for it anyway. Jumping and running as quick as his little feet could carry him, the little Patas monkey tried to run around the danger ahead.

Sci/241 Supplements

Dietary Supplements Ashley Kaiser SCI/241 October 14, 2012 Diane Peffer Dietary Supplements Just like anything there are good things and bad things that can come along with it. Our bodies need certain things such as nutrients, water and even certain minerals to survive and be healthy. Although many times we lack getting the correct amounts so there are things that are made to help make sure we get the amount needed. One of these things that are made for us to help in our daily diet is dietary supplements.Many people think of dietary supplements as containing just one type of thing such as minerals, but in reality there are different dietary supplements that are meant for different things. A dietary supplement has a basic definition of dietary supplements are vitamins, minerals, herbs and other substances that are meant to better someone’s diet. A dietary supplement can come in many different shapes and sizes such as pills, powders, capsules and even liquids.Many of these dieta ry supplements can help a person’s health out greatly, such as a pregnant woman taking folic acid while help prevent some birth defects for their baby (MedlinePlus, 2012). When it comes to taking dietary supplements there are positive benefits for taking them. It is proven that if a person eats a well-balanced diet they should be able to get enough of the vitamins, minerals and such that they need, but If a person’s body is lacking taking a dietary supplement can make up for that. Dietary supplements are also used as a therapeutic measure toward certain health conditions or risk factors.One of the main supplements that are used to treat something is Iron; this is used to keep a person from getting anemia which is an iron deficiency (Perry, 2011). There are also risks that occur with using dietary supplements that range from different levels and even things. In the United States dietary supplements are not watched and regulated as strictly as drugs are. Although it is s tated that they may not sell unsafe products there are many product out there being sold as dietary supplements and they are not.Some of these products are weight loss products, muscle building products, and even sexual enhancers. It can also be dangerous if a person is taking too much of a supplement, such as vitamin B6 which can cause nerve damage if taken in big doses for a long time. A person should also always check with their doctors before taking any dietary supplements because it can react to medication a person is on or some should be avoided before surgery’s (Perry, 2011). Although there are many different regulations out there for medications there are only certain ones for dietary supplements.Dietary supplements are not watched very closely and are not made to register with the FDA. They are still required to tell the FDA what adverse effects occur with dietary supplements such as injuries and illnesses, and they are also made to make sure that the labels are not misleading and the product is safe. The best way to know if a dietary supplement is safe is by purchasing it under something called the good manufactured practices program. This program has strict and detailed guidelines for making products meant for any consumption by a person (Marks, 2011).There are many different dietary supplements out there on the market meant to aid in certain ailments. One supplement is called Nature’s own travel well ginger, which is meant to help manage motion sickness. Many travelers or people period get motion sickness from different things such as driving to even seasickness. However, this medication does not help with nausea and vomiting it also helps with digestion, abdominal or intestinal cramping, and even maintaining healthy digestive function.The dosages for this supplement is to take one pill a half hour before traveling and every two hours after as needed, but do not exceed more than three per day. It states that there are nothing showing of negatives to treat this ailment but if the issue persists that the person should contact their doctor (My Health Warehouse, 2012). As it has been proven there are plenty of positives about dietary supplements but one still needs to be wary about them.It may be something that will or can help you to lose weight but remember that dietary supplements do not need to be watched over by the FDA. In the past people did not have any of these dietary supplements to aid in anything. Exercise and a good and healthy diet can make a big difference in a person (Marks, 2011).References Marks, S. (2011). Government Regulations for Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from http://www. livestrong. com/article/469833-government-regulations-for-dietary-supplements/ MedlinePlus. 2012). Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/dietarysupplements. html My Health Warehouse. (2012). Nature’s Own Travel Well Ginger 1000 30 Tablets. Retrieved from http://myhealthwarehouse. com. au/health-condition/health-condition-general-wellbeing/nature-s-own-travel-well-ginger1000. html Perry, M. (2011). Dietary Supplements 101: Definition, Benefits, Risks, and Regulations. Retrieved from http://www. builtlean. com/2011/11/10/dietary-supplements/

Synthesis of chloropentaaminecobalt(lll) chloride Essays

Synthesis of chloropentaaminecobalt(lll) chloride Essays Synthesis of chloropentaaminecobalt(lll) chloride Paper Synthesis of chloropentaaminecobalt(lll) chloride Paper Insert the tube into the MSB and take a mental average of the fluctuating reading. 5. Repeat the previous step three times. 6. If the MSB displays a negative number, the coordination complex is diamagnetic and no further steps are necessary. 7. Determine how many unpaired electrons reside on the cobalt. E. Interpreting Infrared Spectrum 1. Assign the bands of the infrared spectrum of the complex. Results A. Synthesizing Carbonatotetraamminecobalt (III) nitrate: [Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3 The first attempt to dissolve the ammonium carbonate in 30. 0 mL of water failed because some chunks still remained. It was important to grind the ammonium carbonate down to a fine powder because the dissolution process took place very slowly and bigger chunks would not have dissolved. After all of the 10. 012 g of ammonium carbonate was dissolved, the liquid remained clear. The addition of 7. 56 g of cobalt nitrate to 15. 0 mL of water was very fluent and took on a color between dark purple and maroon. When the ammonium carbonate and cobalt nitrate solutions were added together, the new mixture was a blood red. After the mixture was stirred, however, it darkened and became nearly black. The 4. 0 mL of 30% H2O2 solution which was slowly added caused the mixture to bubble, sizzle and gain heat, while staying black. While the solution, which was poured into a large crucible, was concentrated over a Bunsen burner, evaporation occurred very slowly. During evaporation, the solution bubbled a little, gas was evolved, and the dissolution of 2. 49 g of ammonium carbonate in the hot solution was visible due to tiny bubbles. After the evaporation was complete and the volume had dropped to 48 mL, the solution had the same appearance. However, after suction filtering the solution, the color became a lighter purple. After the cold water bath, it looked somewhat powdery on the bottom. Filtering a second time resulted in only a pink/purple powder which appeared somewhat crystalline. When the solid was mixed with a scupula during the 10 minute drying process, it looked a lot more like crystals. The final mass of the crystals was 3. 039 g. The balanced equation for the synthesis of carbonatotetraamminecobalt (III) nitrate is shown below as well as the calculations for determining percent yield. 2Co(NO3)2 + 6NH3 + 2(NH4)2CO3 + H2O2 2[Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3 + 2NH4NO3 + 2H2O Theoretical Yield: Density of NH3 (liquid) = . 628 g/ml Density of 30% H2O2 = 1. 11 g/ml Moles of NH3 = (30 ml)(. 628 g/ml)/(17. 031 g/mol) = 1. 20 mol Moles of H2O2 = (4. 0 ml)(1. 11 g/ml)/(34. 015 g/mol) = . 131 mol Moles of [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2 = . 025 mol Moles of (NH4)2CO3 = . 105 mol Limiting Reactant = [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2 (. 025 mol of [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2)(2 mol of [Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3 / 2 mol [Co(H2O)6](NO3)2) = .025 mol of [Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3 (. 025 mol of [Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3)(249. 066g) = 6. 22 g Percent Yield (Actual Yield/Theoretical Yield)(100) = (3. 039 g/6. 22 g)(100) = 48. 86 % Yield B. Measuring Absorbance Spectroscopy. Two distinct peaks of intensity were noticeable for the absorbance spectrum of the cobalt solution between 350 to 650 nm. Below are the calculations for determining the mass of crystals required to create a solution of the right concentration to produce a spectrum of absorbance at approximately 0. 6. A = ? lC 0. 6 = (100 M-1cm-1)(1 cm)(C mol/L) 0. 006 M = C mol/L mol = . 0006 .0006 mol = (mass)/(249. 037 g/mol) mass = 0. 149 g [Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3 The mass of [Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3 added to 100 mL of water was 0. 149 g. Initially, the crystals were dissolved in a beaker to ease stirring. After dissolving, the solution turned purple. The solution was poured into an Erlenmeyer flask and filled with more water to the line on the flask. Below are the calculations for determining the extinction coefficient at each lambda max. The graph for the absorption spectrum is attached. .579 = (? max)(1 cm)(. 006 M) ?max = 96. 5 .519 = (? max)(1 cm)(. 006 M) ?max = 86. 5 C. Measuring conductivity Below are the calculations for preparing a . 001 M solution of the cobalt complex in 100 mL of water. (. 001 M/1000 mL) = (. 0001 mol/100 mL) .0001 mol = (mass/249. 037 g/mol) mass = .025 g. Below are the calculations for finding k, the correction factor. k = literary value/actual value Literary value = 1384 i seimens Actual value of KCl = 1420 i seimens k = (1384/1420) = . 975 Below are the calculations for finding the conductance of the cobalt solution. Probe reading of cobalt solution = 90 i seimens [((1000)(90 i seimens))(. 975)/. 002M](1x10e-6) = 43. 88 i seimens D. Measuring Magnetic Susceptibility Average empty tube reading = -004 Mass of empty tube = . 884 g Mass of tube with crystals = 1. 022 g Height of chemical in capillary rod = 3. 25 cm. Average filled tube reading = -004 (diamagnetic) Temperature of the room = 18. 6 ? C No calculations required. E. Interpreting Infrared Spectrum [Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3 IR spectrum: spikes at frequencies(cm-1) of 280, 500, 830, 1290, 1380, 1600, and 3300. [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 IR spectrum: spikes at frequencies(cm-1) of 830, 1290, 1550, 3200. NaNO3 IR spectrum: spikes at frequencies(cm-1) of 830 and 1380. Discussion A problem occurred during the conductivity measurements of the cobalt complex. The expected values for conductance were between 118 and 131, but the actual calculated value was 43. 88 microseimens. Clearly, the problem arose during the probe reading in the cobalt solution. It is possible that the probes reading was skewed because it made contact with the glass wall of the beaker. This problem would have definitely lowered the reading relative to what it should have been. The absorbance spectrum of the cobalt complex on the wavelength interval 350-650 nm displayed two distinct peaks, meaning that both ions of the coordination compound were separated. This suggests strongly that the coordination compound was indeed synthesized correctly. The absorption intensities at both lambda maxes were relatively close, around 0. 6. These absorption values were used in the Beers Law equation to solve for the molar absorbance, also called the extinction coefficient. Both molar absorbance values are fairly close to 100, but deviations of 4 and 14 imply that some impurities still remain in the compound, possibly left over from the evaporation process. The coordination compound characterization via magnetic susceptibility was rather simple data requiring no calculations. The reason for this is that the magnetic susceptibility reading of the crystal-filled glass tube was equal to the reading of the empty tube, and that both were negative values. Negative values signify that the coordination compound is diamagnetic, which means that no unpaired electrons are present. The reason for the pairing of electrons can be explained with crystal field splitting. When electrons are introduced to d-orbitals, a change in energy occurs. Electrons will move to orbitals with the lowest possible energy. The ideal behavior for electrons after occupying the dxy, dx2, and dyz orbitals is to pair with the electrons already in these same orbitals. This is true only if ? E, or the energy difference from these orbitals to the dx2-y2 and dz2 orbitals, is greater than the energy cost for pairing with electrons in the lower orbitals. In the case of the cobalt complex, the spin pairing energy is much less than ? E, causing the electrons to pair in the lower energy orbitals. This pairing makes the complex a low-spin complex, implying that it is in fact diamagnetic. The goal of the infrared spectroscopy analysis was to prove that the cobalt coordination compound which was created during this experiment was actually created instead of a different compound with similar properties and bonds. [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 and NaNO3 were available to compare with the infrared spectrum of [Co(NH3)5CO3]NO3. Clearly, [Co(NH3)5CO3]NO3 cannot be the same compound as NaNO3 because they only share one infrared band. Both coordination compounds have a band at 3300 cm-1 which corresponds to a N-H stretch, one at 1600 cm-1 corresponding to N-H bending, one at 1300 cm-1 corresponding to N-H symmetric bending, and one at 830 cm-1 corresponding to N-H bending. The most important difference between these coordination compounds lies in the common spike of [Co(NH3)5CO3]NO3 and NaNO3 at 1380 cm-1. Because these two compounds share this spike while the Cl coordination compound does not, the 1380 cm-1 peak must represent an N-O bond, which is the most significant spike on the NaNO3 spectrum as would be expected. During the synthesis of carbonatotetraamminecobalt (III) nitrate, several factors could have contributed to the relatively low quantity of crystals formed in terms of the percent yield. After calculations, it was concluded that 6. 22 grams of crystals should have been produced. However, only 3. 039 grams was actually produced. One of these factors that may have contributed to the low percent error of 48. 86% is the short evaporation stage. Since time was a factor during the experiment, the solution may not have been given enough time to evaporate any impurities. While the final volume of the solution was verified to be 48 mL, under the designated 50 mL, more impurities could have evaporated. If the solution had sat above a Bunsen burner for a greater length of time, it would have undoubtedly become more concentrated. Another factor which possibly contributed to a low percent yield is measurement errors. Although a good level of confidence can be felt about whether or not the right amounts were added, there is always room for error. A simple miscalculation or slight deviation in a measurement could have thrown off the remainder of the synthesis. Furthermore, a very obvious source of error can be found regarding the filtering system. The crystal product is quite soluble in water for the fact that its ions can be easily separated. For this reason, ice cold water was used whenever contact had to be made with the crystals; the low temperature of the water prevents the dissolution of the crystals to some extent. In the filter, some of the crystals could have dissolved and fallen through, which would have resulted in a poor percent yield. In general, this experiment ran very smoothly and achieved its purpose of providing detailed information regarding the properties and synthesis processes of a transition metal coordination compound. To improve the results of percent yield and perhaps to improve the results in many areas of characterization, the evaporation stage should be lengthened to facilitate the removal of remaining impurities.

Organic Foods essays

Organic Foods essays Certified Organic by Geoffrey Cowley The United States Department of Agriculture will standardize the definition of foods labeled organic as of this October the twenty first. These organic foods generate eleven billion a year and are beneficial to the environment. What Consumers want to know is how they benefit from purchasing organic foods. Otto Kramm owns a large organic produce distributor, Earthbound Farm, since 1996. Kramm presently owns six thousand acres and three prosperous farms. Kramms relieved to be working at a farm that does not contain hazardous pesticides and chemicals he could bring home to his children. Over the past ten years, the organic food market has grown up to twenty percent a year! Forty percent of consumers reach for organic foods at their grocery store, and sales are expected to reach $11 billion for organic foods this year. Notable companies such as General Mills and Heinz promote organic products. Organic farms, however provide less than two percent of the nations food supply and less than one percent of U.S. cropland. As of October 21st,, the USDA seal proclaiming products sold as organic as of October twenty first, must meet specific criteria. All organic foods must be produced without hormones, antibiotics, herbicides or insecticides. The USDA does not state that organic food is safer or better than other kinds of foods. Products labeled 100% organic cannot contain any non- organic ingredients; organic products are ninety five percent organic; made with organic ingredients seventy percent organic ingredients; and some organic ingredients less than seventy percent organic. There are three aspect that benefit consumers when purchasing organic foods; more flavor, healthier produce and they are much better for the enviroment. For thirty eight percent of consu ...

International Economics Definition

International Economics Definition What exactly international economics is and what it covers tend to depend on the views of the person using the definition. Roughly speaking, it covers economic interactions between countries such as international trade. More precisely, international economics is the field of study that deals with trade between countries. Topics in the Field of International Economics The following topics are a sample of those considered in the field of international economics: Exchange rates and flows of money between countries Free trade and trade disputes, such as the softwood lumber dispute Immigration and migration between countriesThe role regulations and shipping costs play on trade flowsHow differences in tax regimes influence a companys decisions on which countries to operate in International Economics - One Perspective The book International Economics: Global Markets and International Competition gives the following definition: International economics describes and predicts production, trade, and investment across countries. Wages and income rise and fall with international commerce even in large rich developed economies like the US. In many countries, international economics is a matter of life and death. Economics as a field began in England in the 1700s with a debate over issues of free international commerce, and the debate continues. Domestic industries pay politicians for protection against foreign competition. Institute for International Economics' Definition The Institute for International Economics examines a number of hot topics in international economics, such as outsourcing, US steel policy, the Chinese exchange rate, and trade and labor standards. International economists study questions such as How do sanctions on Iraq impact the lives of the common citizen in the country?, Do floating exchange rates cause financial instability?, and Does globalization lead to an erosion of labor standards?. Needless to say, international economists deal with some of the more controversial topics in economics.

Garbology Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Garbology Assignment - Essay Example ermined person with a strong belief in my cause, which is why I have managed to stick to what I think is right despite the many temptations that I may see or even smell in daily life. Considering all that, it would not be a big step to assume that I have a soft spot for animals and may be an animal rights activist, that I may be the type to be following organizations such as PETA which help out the creatures. This may also lead one to think that I do not own any products for which an animal may have been sacrificed. These could be minks or anything made of leather like jackets, boots and bags. The next thing that one may notice are the white, disposable cups, plates and even the cutlery: forks and spoons. This could either mean that I do order take out despite the vegetable and fruit peels seen earlier perhaps when I am, supposedly, too tired to cook. Or it could also mean that I do not like washing dishes which is why I have bought the disposable items. Maybe I am allergic to the contents of the washing liquids. One may even assume that I have enough money to be doing that on a daily purpose. Buying and throwing away paper utensils when I could have just spent some money on some china, which would be durable and save me money in the long run and is just so much more sensible. Next, there are lots of empty wrappers of some kinds of candies and even chocolates. But, one cannot see any packets of crisps or any other savory eatable, which are usually so very popular, particularly amongst the youngsters. This is a dead giveaway about me having a sweet tooth and not caring much about the salty or spicy food that is available is such abundance everywhere. Most of the wrappers are red and yellow colored, which shows how much of a fan I am of Reese’s in particular. There are also several crumpled balls of paper – all stained with blue ink – peeping out from under the rest of the rubbish. One can see tiny writing on some of them instead of the black, printed text,