Database

A detailed review of expert opinion was converted into a numerical format. Not surprisingly, the issues which safety practitioners regard as important were highlighted. More usefully, the financial context of a construction project gave rise to potentially useful risk rating ideas. Evidence from: A Research Report by the BOMEL Consortium, The Radar report is available to subscribers: 1#8 1

Further evidence that non-severe head injury can lead to significant effects on daily life. Interventions are possible if detected early. Evidence from: CM Stonnington. Brain Injury. July (2001) Vol. 15 #7 p 561. The Radar report is available to subscribers: 1#7 10

The research found symptoms of HAVS in workers who had not previously reported any. Effects of exposure to hand arm vibration were evident in those with and without any symptoms of HAVS. the findings are consistent with a gradually developing disease. Early identification of trend would be possible, but the false positive rate would be high. Evidence from: R Cederlund et al. Disability and Rehabilitation. September (2001) Vol.23 #13 p 570. The Radar report is available to subscribers: 1#7 9

Claims that shoulder pain is a sign of injury are plausible if there has been an impact event or similar. Gradually emerging pain however can have many potential causes, some of which are addressed by ergonomics standards. But is breach material? This would depend on context and degree of breach. Evidence from: H Miranda et al. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Aug (2001) Vol.58 #8 p 528. It is tempting to assume that breach of duty must imply a material contribution. However, standards developed for regulation may not meet the standards required by the common law. The Radar report is available to subscribers: 1#7 8

This very powerful study found evidence that smoking is associated with a higher risk of multiple sclerosis. If so, the proposed link between physical injury and multiple sclerosis would be less confidently assigned among smokers. Evidence from: MA Hernan et al. American Journal of Epidemiology. July (2001) Vol. 154 #1 p 69. The Radar report is available to subscribers: 1#7 7

There are many risk factors for asthma. Identifying the significance of a guilty exposure must be set in the context of competing risk factors. Causation research should be corrected for known risk factors. Childhood asthma increases the risk of adult asthma. Evidence from: MM Haby et al. Thorax. August (2001) Vol.56 #8 p 589. Risk factors and their statistical strengths were reported in this paper. The Radar report is available to subscribers: 1#7 6