Requirements of the international standard ISO 45001:2018 were analysed to identify the need for monitoring, measuring and analysing the functioning of the occupational health and safety management system. This analysis has made it clear that the effectiveness of the development and implementation of the occupational health and safety management system depends on the assessment methodology. The study focused on existing studies and publications on the assessment of processes, including those related to occupational safety, assessment methods or qualitative methods, and statistical methods used for assessment. As a result, the topic has been proven relevant, and the goal of the article was determined: to study the possibility of using qualimetric methods for evaluating the labour safety management system. A survey was conducted among workers at a machine-building enterprise to evaluate the occupational health and safety management system. Verbal scales were proposed to process the study results as they allow quantitative ratings to be obtained on the coded scale of the desirability function. The study result is a technique for obtaining a quantitative assessment of the occupational health and safety management system. This technique is universal and can be applied to any enterprise. It can also be used to make managerial decisions regarding the improvement of the occupational health and safety management system.
As the world’s ecological situation worsens, the development of environmentally friendly renewable energy (RE) is becoming increasingly important. The main directions of scientific research devoted to the topic of RE are national socio-economic development of the country; development in the context of sustainable development; development policy and planning; evaluation of the achieved level of development; the situation in individual countries, etc. The analysis of literature sources conducted in this article shows that problems related to RE have not been sufficiently examined at the country or regional level, including in European Union (EU) countries. Such analysis helps to highlight regularities that are important for the further development of RE. The main purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive methodology for the quantitative assessment of RE development during the period under review and to validate it using the example of EU countries. The present research was conducted based on the methodology proposed in this article. In order to adequately assess the development of RE, it is necessary to rely on its scale and changes that occurred during the considered period (CP), i.e., to examine this development as a process. It is reflected by two parameters—the intensity of development and uniformity. The first is determined based on a value that assesses not the RE activeness at the end of the CP, but the general nature of the fluctuations that occurred during it. The uniformity of development is the sum of the ratios of its ideal and actual development values at the end of the time periods (years). The generalized RE development index is obtained by combining the values of the above parameters in an appropriate way. This helped to highlight the regularities and trends in the further development of RE: First, the level of economic development achieved by the country, measured by the gross domestic product per capita (correlation coefficient r = 0.7), has a significant influence on the development of RE. Second, on average, developed EU countries produce 52% of the RE from all electricity production, while for developing EU countries, the figure is 42%. Third, the development of RE is 1.7 times faster in developed EU countries compared to developing EU countries. Fourth, the country’s economic development has a significant influence on the development of RE in developing countries. Based on the research conducted, some contradictory results regarding the interaction between RE and countries’ economic development have been clarified. The practical benefit of the methodology is manifested in the following aspects: allows for the identification of factors that promote or hinder RE development; allows for the prediction of measures for further RE development. Thus, the methodology can serve as a methodological basis for the assessment and analysis of RE development in countries.
Low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions make nuclear energy crucial in decarbonizing the economy. In this context, nuclear safety, and especially the operation of nuclear power plants, remains a critical issue. This article presents a new fractal cluster method of control that improves the quality of assessing fuel element cladding integrity, which is critical for nuclear and environmental safety. The proposed non-destructive testing method allows for detecting defects on the inner and outer cladding surfaces without removing the elements from the nuclear reactor, which ensures prompt response and prevention of radiation leakage. Studies have shown that the fractal dimension of the cladding surface, which varies from 2.1 to 2.5, indicates significant heterogeneity caused by mechanical damage or corrosion, which can affect its integrity. The density analysis of defect clusters allows quantifying their concentration per unit area, which is an important indicator for assessing the risks associated with the operation of nuclear facilities. The data obtained are used to assess the impact of defects on the vessel’s integrity and, in turn, on nuclear safety. The monitoring results are transmitted in real time to the operator’s automated workstation, allowing for timely decision making to prevent radioactive releases and improve environmental safety. The proposed method is a promising tool for ensuring reliable quality control of the fuel element cladding condition and improving nuclear and environmental safety. While the study is based on VVER-1000 reactor data, the flexibility of the proposed methodology suggests its potential applicability to other reactor types, opening avenues for broader implementation in diverse nuclear systems.
Under the conditions of intense competition, concentration is a strategy, allowing an enterprise to stay competitive in the market. In spite of its importance, the influence of concentration on the results of commercial activities of particular enterprises and industries has not been thoroughly investigated. The correlation − regression analysis has revealed a strong relationship between the industrial activities’ concentration and the financial activities, overall profitability and sales income. The calculated dependences may be used in managing concentration processes. Under the conditions of intense competition, concentration is a strategy, allowing an enterprise to stay competitive in the market. In spite of its importance, the influence of concentration on the results of commercial activities of particular enterprises and industries has not been thoroughly investigated. The correlation − regression analysis has revealed a strong relationship between the industrial activities’ concentration and the financial activities, overall profitability and sales income. The calculated dependences may be used in managing concentration processes.
The results of numerous studies show that the control of power grid modes is carried out mainly using a technical criterion. The economic criterion is taken into account through the use of complex and inaccurate models that do not accurately predict the result. The emergence of market relations in the energy sector makes power systems economic entities in terms of production and satisfaction of demand for electricity by various economic entities (industry, households, businesses, etc.). Under these conditions, electricity is a commodity with a corresponding price and quality indicators. This requires the application of the risk assessment methodology as an economic category in the activities of power systems as a business entity. The methodology of risk assessment in market conditions requires business entities to search for methods to minimize risk as a possibility of adverse events. Under these conditions, it becomes possible to make the best management decisions regarding the most important criterion that reflects the interests of business entities at a given time. However, the imperfection of the relevant methodology for risk assessment in the energy sector delays their application in the industry. At the same time, when making management decisions, three possible levels can be distinguished: decision-making in conditions of certainty, when the result is presented in a deterministic form and can be determined in advance; decision-making under conditions of risk, when the outcome cannot be determined in advance, but there is information on the probability of distribution of possible consequences; decision-making in conditions where the outcome is random and there is no information about the consequences of the decision. An analysis of scientific publications shows that some authors’ works are devoted to solving the issues of applying the theory and principles of risks in the energy sector, in which the problem is solved only at the first two levels. At the same time, the operation of energy facilities is characterized by a high level of uncertainty and incomplete information about the consequences of such decisions. Therefore, the development of a methodology for making management decisions in the energy sector based on the theory and practice of risks, taking into account the high level of uncertainty and incomplete information, is an urgent scientific task. Implementation of algorithms and programs for controlling the modes of power grids based on them can meet the requirements for reliable and high-quality energy supply to the most demanding consumers and create favorable conditions for their business. This work is devoted to the development of scientific and methodological foundations for determining the voltage risk in power system networks, taking into account the uncertain nature of the loads and its impact on consumers. Based on the results of the study, a mathematical model of the risk of voltage collapses in networks, an algorithm and a methodology for its calculation were proposed.
19 September 2008 in Business: Theory and Practice
Various methods of measuring diversification of enterprise activities have been suggested. This shows that any unified approach to solving this significant theoretical and practical problem can hardly be found now. One of the main reasons for this is that the reliable analysis of diversification processes, aims and effects on various aspects of enterprise activities has not been performed yet. As shown by the present investigation, diversification criteria defining the number of areas of activities rather than the criteria describing the variation of work volumes in these areas should be taken into consideration. Various methods of measuring diversification of enterprise activities have been suggested. This shows that any unified approach to solving this significant theoretical and practical problem can hardly be found now. One of the main reasons for this is that the reliable analysis of diversification processes, aims and effects on various aspects of enterprise activities has not been performed yet. As shown by the present investigation, diversification criteria defining the number of areas of activities rather than the criteria describing the variation of work volumes in these areas should be taken into consideration.