Good agricultural practices(GAP) for Chinese herbal medicine(CHM) is the source of quality control in the production of CHM. To ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of Chinese herbal and natural medicine, the international community has been exploring the implementation of GAP for CHM. The implementation of GAP for CHM has a far-reaching impact, and the scale planting of CHM has been expanding. However, the medicinal materials produced by the GAP bases for CHM still cannot fully meet the market demand, and the output and quality of CHM remain to be improved. This paper summarizes construction status of GAP bases for CHM.The 129 companies that passed the certification during the implementation of GAP for CHM included 196 GAP bases, forming the scale CHM production zone with Sichuan province, Yunnan province, Jilin province, Henan province, and Shandong province as the core.The total area of GAP bases for CHM in China is about 250 000-500 000 Mu(1 Mu≈667 m2), which is still less than 1% of the total production area of CHM. The international agricultural production quality management strategies are all market-oriented behaviors.Drawing on the international good agricultural and collection practice(GACP) and hazard analysis critical control point(HACCP) as well as the relevant policies of Chinese quality management of CHM, we put forward feasible suggestions for the further implementation of GAP for CHM:(1)The market rules and international experience should be followed and employed to promote GAP management of CHM and third-party implementation of GAP certification;(2)The sound development of GAP for CHM should be boosted with the HACCP management system and the revision of GAP for CHM;(3)The implementation of policies and standards should be stepped up to facilitate the building of a whole-course traceability system for the production of CHM with high quality and reasonable prices.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control

It is crucial to establish a complete set of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) quality traceability management process system, in order to stabilize the pricing order of TCM market and reconstruct the transmission path of TCM quality signals. In this study, we reviewed the mature experience of food and drug supervision at home and abroad, analyzed the quality characteristics of TCM, and put forward that the quality control of TCM products can learn from the hazard analysis and critical control point(HACCP) system in food safety quality control. This study points out that the HACCP system provides not only technical guidance for the traceability management of TCM, but also ideas for improving the quality of TCM products and the safety risk control of TCM. The application of the HACCP system in TCM quality control can help establish an international dialogue platform for TCM and help realize the modernization and internationalization of TCM industry.
Biological Products ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control

Based on epidemiological studies, an International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group determined that strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid are carcinogenic to human even though, sulfuric acid, per se, is not. Accumulative studies indicate that there is a link between chronic occupational exposure to sulfuric acid mists and an increased risk of laryngeal cancer. Unintended, acute exposure to sulfuric acid mists can cause corrosive damage to target tissues depending on the route of exposure. This review compares the toxicity and carcinogenicity of sulfuric acid mists compared to other strong inorganic acid mists. It also examines the routes and duration of exposure (short-term, prolonged, and long-term). In vivo evidence does not support or refute the carcinogenicity of sulfuric inorganic mists even though its co-carcinogenic or promoting potential has been considered. On the basis of existing evidence on sulfuric acid mist toxicity, we suggested a putative adverse outcome pathway (AOP) relevant to carcinogenicity caused by mists containing sulfuric acid. A possible key factor involved in sulfuric acid mist carcinogenesis is the genotoxic effects of low pH since it can increase instability in chromosomes and DNA. A putative AOP for sulfuric acid mist carcinogenicity would help generate better risk assessments and more accurate predictions regarding the risk of developing cancer due to prolonged exposure. Establishing an AOP would also be useful for future studies examining the carcinogenicity of other strong inorganic mists.
Carcinogenesis ; Chemical Hazard Release ; DNA ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; International Agencies ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Occupational Exposure ; Risk Assessment ; Sulfur ; Sulfuric Acids

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of the emergency medical services (EMS) response and clinical information on mass casualty chemical incidents in Korea. METHODS: This retrospective observational study analyzed the integrated data of the EMS rescue records and EMS-treated severe trauma registry from January 2012 to December 2013. Two databases were integrated using the unique accident identification number. Chemical incidents were defined by an in-depth review of the EMS rescue records according to a previous study. Mass casualty incidents were defined as more than 6 injured individuals. The rescue, EMS, and hospital variables of mass casualty chemical incidents were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 8 mass casualty chemical incidents and 73 patients were included. The mean responded rescue vehicles and EMS vehicles were 2.4 and 3.5, respectively. The 4 incidents were an oil spill due to traffic accidents and most patients suffered minor trauma. A carbon monoxide leak caused the largest number of patients (23 people). The explosion caused by flammable polyethylene leaks showed the highest severity. In that explosion, the mortality rate was 40% and 8 patients had a disability at discharge. CONCLUSION: This study evaluated the characteristics of the EMS response and clinical information on mass casualty chemical incidents in Korea.
Accidents, Traffic ; Carbon Monoxide ; Chemical Hazard Release* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Explosions ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Casualty Incidents* ; Mortality ; Observational Study ; Petroleum Pollution ; Polyethylene ; Retrospective Studies

Road transport is the movement of passengers or goods on the road. To date, issues concerning the safety of students and school institutions have continued to attract public attention. The recent spate of incidents insideand outside the school compoundhas brought the issue of children safety into our attention. These include the escalating number of road casualties. This study was conducted to observe road hazard outside the school compound and analyse the safety risksfaced by school children by using the risk matrix. The risks are calculated to include likelihood and severity of hazard as identified in the Guideline of HIRARC 2008. The area selected was the East Coast state of Peninsular Malaysia, with over 111 schools randomly selected in Kelantan. Results werethen analysed and six highlighted hazards were discussed. The results show that the main road posed the highest risk due to speeding vehicles. These vehicles failed to slow down when approaching the school area. The school administrationmustenhance the safety of the staff, students, and public while in the school area. In conclusion, road safety awareness must be instilledamong teachers, students, parents and road users alike.
hazard ; road transport ; school ; children ; teacher ; safety ; hazard identification, risk analysis

Introduction: Workplace violence become a global concern and perceived as a very serious safety and health hazard especially in healthcare setting. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of workplace violence and its associated risk factors among healthcare workers in public hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which involved 136 randomly selected respondents among doctors and nurses in a public hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Data was gathered through a self-administered questionnaire consisted of two standardized questionnaire; Workplace Violence (WPV) and Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ-27). Results: The response rate was 91%. The prevalence of reported WPV was 71.3% where nurses (73.2%) had slightly higher prevalence than doctors (69.2%). The most common forms of WPV was verbal abuse (70.6%), followed by bullying/mobbing (29.4%), physical violence (11.0%), and sexual harassment (6.6%). The perpetrators were mostly among relatives of patients and visitors followed by the patients. Multiple logistic regression shows that respondents working in Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department was 17 times more likely to report workplace violence than those working in Pediatric Department. Also, for every 1 year younger, respondents were 5 times more likely to experience workplace violence controlling for other factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of workplace violent among respondents were high and most common among young workers, especially nurses and those working in A&E Department. Hence, further assessment should be carried out to reduce the identified risk factors and to find ways of solving this issue.
Psychosocial hazard

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to identify differences in job stress, satisfaction and commitment of cooking employees working in hotel kitchens with and without HACCP systems. METHODS: Culinary employees of 12 five-star hotels were surveyed and 504 valid data were used for SPSS analysis. Sub factors of working environment factors (job stress, job satisfaction, and job commitment) were examined for analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that hotels that implemented the HACCP system had significantly higher values for the five sub factors of employee job stress (job demand, relationship conflict, organizational system, lack of job autonomy, and job instability; p < 0.001). For the sub factors of job satisfaction (internal and external satisfaction) statistic showed a statistically significant value in hotels that did not implement the HACCP system (p < 0.001). Job attachment and job importance, which are sub factors of job commitment, showed no difference in relation to the implementation of HACCP system, and job responsibility showed a higher p-value in hotels that did not implement HACCP (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study indicate that culinary employees working at venues with HACCP systems have more job related stress, lower job satisfaction and partially less job commitment. Based on this outcome, venues that have already implemented or are planning to implement HACCP systems should consider the implications regarding their management of employees. Managerial policies that enhance autonomy, job stability, achievement, self-development, promotion, and compensation should also be implemented. Finally, meticulous attention and high investments into the work environment and human resources are necessary.
Compensation and Redress ; Cooking ; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ; Humans ; Investments ; Job Satisfaction

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to identify differences in job stress, satisfaction and commitment of cooking employees working in hotel kitchens with and without HACCP systems. METHODS: Culinary employees of 12 five-star hotels were surveyed and 504 valid data were used for SPSS analysis. Sub factors of working environment factors (job stress, job satisfaction, and job commitment) were examined for analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that hotels that implemented the HACCP system had significantly higher values for the five sub factors of employee job stress (job demand, relationship conflict, organizational system, lack of job autonomy, and job instability; p < 0.001). For the sub factors of job satisfaction (internal and external satisfaction) statistic showed a statistically significant value in hotels that did not implement the HACCP system (p < 0.001). Job attachment and job importance, which are sub factors of job commitment, showed no difference in relation to the implementation of HACCP system, and job responsibility showed a higher p-value in hotels that did not implement HACCP (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study indicate that culinary employees working at venues with HACCP systems have more job related stress, lower job satisfaction and partially less job commitment. Based on this outcome, venues that have already implemented or are planning to implement HACCP systems should consider the implications regarding their management of employees. Managerial policies that enhance autonomy, job stability, achievement, self-development, promotion, and compensation should also be implemented. Finally, meticulous attention and high investments into the work environment and human resources are necessary.
Compensation and Redress ; Cooking ; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ; Humans ; Investments ; Job Satisfaction

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate food consumption practices and analyze factors that influence customer satisfaction of an HACCP applied restaurant in a highway service area. METHODS: A total of 207 customer responses were used for data analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted using the SPSS program (ver. 22.0) for χ²-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Reasons for visiting the highway area were using the restroom (86.0%), purchasing of meals or snacks (70.1%), taking a rest (58.5%), and shopping (3.4%) and selection attributes of food sold in the highway service area were food taste (48.8%), food safety (33.3%), and waiting time for meal (10.7%). According to the results of the survey, udon (66.2%) was the most preferred meal, followed by instant noodles (56.0%), kimbap (50.7%), pork cutlet (38.2%), and bibimbap (29.0%). In addition, coffee (73.4%) was the most preferred among snacks and beverages, followed by beverages (58.9%), walnut cake (53.1%), mineral water (52.2%), and hotbar (52.2%). Satisfaction evaluation scores of foods sold in the highway service area were highest for appropriate portion size, followed by food safety, menu variety, food taste, and reasonable price. Overall customer satisfaction scores regarding the restaurant in the highway service area was 3.24 out of 5 points on average. According to the results of the multiple regressing analysis, food taste (p < 0.001) and reasonable price (p < 0.01) had significant positive effects on overall customer satisfaction. CONCLUSION: To enhance customer satisfaction, restaurant managers in the highway service area should implement HACCP, improve food taste, and set up a proper price for food sold at the restaurant in the highway service area.
Beverages ; Coffee ; Food Analysis ; Food Safety ; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points* ; Juglans ; Meals ; Mineral Waters ; Portion Size ; Red Meat ; Restaurants* ; Snacks ; Statistics as Topic

BACKGROUND: As one of the most frequently occurring accidents in a chemical plant, a fire accident may occur at any place where transfer or handling of combustible materials is routinely performed. METHODS: In particular, a jet fire incident in a chemical plant operated under high pressure may bring severe damage. To review this event numerically, Computational Fluid Dynamics methodology was used to simulate a jet fire at a pipe of a compressor under high pressure. RESULTS: For jet fire simulation, the Kemeleon FireEx Code was used, and results of this simulation showed that a structure and installations located within the shelter of a compressor received serious damage. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that a jet fire may create a domino effect that could cause an accident aside from the secondary chemical accident.
Chemical Hazard Release ; Fires* ; Hydrodynamics ; Plants