Browsing by Author "Hrudey, Steve E."

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Characterisation of weathered hydrocarbon wastes at contaminated sites by GC- simulated distillation and nitrous oxide chemical ionisation GC/MS, with implications for bioremediation
    (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2004-08-03T00:00:00Z) Pollard, Simon J. T.; Hrudey, Steve E.; Rawluk, Marv; Fuhr, Bryan J.
    An extended analytical characterisation of weathered hydrocarbons isolated from historically contaminated sites in Alberta is presented. The characterisation of soil extracts, chromatographically separated into component classes, by GC- simulated distillation and nitrous oxide (N2O) chemical ionisation (CI) GC-MS provides new insights into the composition of the residual oil at these sites, the principal partition medium for risk critical components. The combined polar and asphaltene content of representative soil extracts ranged from 40% w/w to 70% w/w of the oils encountered. An abundance of C14–C22 2–4 ring alicyclics, alkylbenzenes and benzocycloparaffins is prevalent within the saturate fractions of site soils. Implications for the partitioning of risk critical compounds at sites with weathered hydrocarbons and the practical application of bioremediation technologies are discus
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    Effective drinking water collaborations are not accidental: Interagency relationships in the international water utility sector
    (Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2014-02-01T00:00:00Z) Jalba, D. I.; Cromar, N. J.; Pollard, Simon J. T.; Charrois, J. W.; Bradshaw, R.; Hrudey, Steve E.
    The role that deficient institutional relationships have played in aggravating drinking water incidents over the last 30 years has been identified in several inquiries of high profile drinking water safety events, peer-reviewed articles and media reports. These indicate that collaboration between water utilities and public health agencies (PHAs) during normal operations, and in emergencies, needs improvement. Here, critical elements of these interagency collaborations, that can be integrated within the corporate risk management structures of water utilities and PHAs alike, were identified using a grounded theory approach and 51 semi-structured interviews with utility and PHA staff. Core determinants of effective interagency relationships are discussed. Intentionally maintained functional relationships represent a key ingredient in assuring the delivery of safe, high quality drinking water.
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    Resilience to evolving drinking water contamination risks: a human error prevention perspective
    (Elsevier, 2013-06-21) Tang, Yanhong; Wu, Shaomin; Pollard, Simon J. T.; Hrudey, Steve E.
    Human error contributes to one of the major causes of the prevalence of drinking water contamination incidents. It has, however, attracted insufficient attention in the cleaner production management community. This paper analyzes human error appearing in each stage of the gestation of 40 drinking water incidents and their causes, proposes resilience-based mechanisms and tools within three groups: consumers, drinking water companies, and policy regulators. The mechanism analysis involves concepts and ideas from behavioral science, organizational culture, and incentive analysis. Determinants for realizing cleaner drinking water system are identified. Future efforts and direction for embedding resilience into drinking water risk management are suggested. This paper contributes to identifying a framework and determinants of resilience-oriented management mechanisms for cleaner drinking water supply, and, is essential for ensuring the successful practice of managing drinking water contamination risks. It harmonizes the two fields of risk management and resilience thinking, and provides a new insight for implementing effective actions in drinking water-related sectors.
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    Risk analysis and management in the water utility sector - a review of drivers, tools and techniques
    (Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2004-03-01T00:00:00Z) Pollard, Simon J. T.; Strutt, J. E.; MacGillivray, Brian H.; Hamilton, Paul D.; Hrudey, Steve E.
    The provision of wholesome, affordable and safe drinking water that has the trust of customers is the goal of the international water utility sector. Risk management, in terms of protecting the public health from pathogenic and chemical hazards has driven and continues to drive developments within the sector. In common with much of industry, the water sector is formalizing and making explicit approaches to risk management and decision-making that have formerly been implicit. Here, we review the risk management frameworks and risk analysis tools and techniques used within the water sector, considering their application at the strategic, programme and operational levels of decision- making. Our analysis extends the application beyond that of public health to issues of financial risk management, reliability and risk-based maintenance and the application of business risk maturity models.
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    Risk management capabilities - Towards 'mindfulness' for the international water utility sector
    (2006-12-31T00:00:00Z) Pollard, Simon J. T.; Strutt, J. E.; MacGillivray, Brian H.; Sharp, J. V.; Hrudey, Steve E.; Hamilton, Paul D.; Clive Thompson and John Gray
    Public health protection must be the primary goal of a drinking water utility; delivered through supplying safe drinking water. For complex multi-utilities, this goal may come under pressure from the need to manage a plethora of business risks. We describe a risk management maturity model for assessing the capacity of utilities to manage business risks and comment on the importance of ‘mindfulness' as a prerequisite for effective risk managemen
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    Risk management for assuring safe drinking water.
    (Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2006-12-01T00:00:00Z) Hrudey, Steve E.; Hrudey, Elizabeth J.; Pollard, Simon J. T.
    Millions of people die every year around the world from diarrheal diseases much of which is caused by contaminated drinking water. By contrast, drinking water safety is largely taken for granted by many citizens of affluent nations. The ability to drink water that is delivered into households without fear of becoming ill may be one of the key defining characteristics of developed nations in relation to the majority of the world. Yet there is well-documented evidence that disease outbreaks remain a risk that could be better managed and prevented even in affluent nations. A detailed retrospective analysis of more than 70 case studies of disease outbreaks in 15 affluent nations over the past 30 years provides the basis for much of our discussion [Hrudey, S.E. and Hrudey, E.J. Safe Drinking Water—Lessons from Recent Outbreaks in Affluent Nations. London, UK: IWA Publishing; 2004.]. The insights provided can assist in developing a better understanding within the water industry of the causes of drinking water disease outbreaks, so that more effective preventive measures can be adopted by water systems that are vulnerable. This preventive feature lies at the core of risk management for the provision of safe drinking wate
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    A role for human reliability analysis (HRA) in preventing drinking water incidents and securing safe drinking water
    (Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2009-05-05T00:00:00Z) Wu, Shaomin; Hrudey, Steve E.; French, Simon; Bedford, Tim; Soane, Emma; Pollard, Simon J. T.
    The prevalence of water quality incidents and disease outbreaks suggests an imperative to analyse and understand the roles of operators and organisations in the water supply system. One means considered in this paper is through human reliability analysis (HRA). We classify the human errors contributing to 62 drinking water accidents occurring in affluent countries from 1974 to 2001; define the lifecycle of these incidents; and adapt Reason's ‘Swiss cheese’ model for drinking water safety. We discuss the role of HRA in human error reduction and drinking water safety and propose a future research agenda for human error reduction in the water sec