The Safety Bulletin is Triodyne's second in a series of landmark publications which explore the field of Safety Engineering.
Volume 1 No. 1
This is a two-page version of Safety Brief V.11 # 2., Safeguard Evaluation Protocol.
Safeguard Evaluation Protocol - A Decision Tree for Standardizing,
Optionalizing, Prohibiting, Ignoring, Enhancing or Characterizing Safeguards.
Ralph L. Barnett and Steven R. Schmid
Volume 1 No. 2
The most important system for measuring risk, Accident Frequency Rate (AFR), is discussed here.
Risk Analysis..
Peter J. Poczynok and Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 1 No. 3
This is an exerpt from a paper presented at the 1994 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exhibition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Winter Annual Meeting. The full text of this paper is available at
no charge from Triodyne. Inc.
Strongest Link Principle.
Dennis B. Brickman and Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 1 No. 4
An analysis of research into light-duty vehicle rollover accidents.
Light-Duty Vehicles in Tripped-Rollover Situations.
Kenneth L. d'Entremont
Volume 2 No. 1
Discussion of the Triodyne Friction Tester.
Friction Sled.
Claudine P. Giebs, Ralph L. Barnett and Peter J. Poczynok
Volume 2 No. 2
It's better to collapse than to topple over, it's better to be short than tall and it's best not to fall at all.
The Drunk, the Child and the Soldier - My, How They Fall.
Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 2 No. 3
It is often necessary to establish the integrity and adjustment of truck brake systems following an accident. A simulator has been developed to diagnose problems experienced during post-accident brake adjustment.
Air Brake System - Field Testing.
Christopher W. Ferrone and Dror Kopernik
Volume 2 No. 4
A discussion of the definitions and history of safety rules of thumb.
Safety Rules of Thumb.
Ralph L. Barnett and Peter J. Poczynok
Volume 3 No. 1
Sawing off a limb in back of you - this image has become cartoon cliche. On the other hand, sawing off a limb in front of you does not conjure up the slightest portent of danger. Nevertheless, when this activity is combined with an extension ladder, it can lead to the telescoping collapse of the ladder.
Extension Ladders - Going Out on a Limb.
Ralph L. Barnett and Andrew H. Tudor
Volume 3 No. 2
The full text of this SAE Paper, No. 933049, entitled "An Experimental Method for Determining Occupant Loading in Heavy Trucks and Equipment" is available by contacting Triodyne Inc.
Ride Evaluation - Heavy Trucks and Equipment.
Christopher W. Ferrone and Brian D. King
Volume 3 No. 3
Reconstruction of vehicle accidents involves analyzing physical and testimonial evidence. However, physical evidence that remains after a collision in an intersection is independent of signal-light color and can never resolve the question of who ran the red light. Furthermore, drivers often disagree and witnesses may not have observed the lights in question. In these cases, analyzing testimony that correlates the color of any signals in the intersection with accident events may reveal the culprit.
Who Ran the Red Light?
Dror Kopernik and John Goebelbecker
Volume 3 No. 4
The FDA approval process cannot assure that medical devices are defect free. The major responsibility for safety and efficacy remains with the medical device manufacturer.
Defect Free Medical Devices.
James R. Wingfield
Volume 4 No. 1
Bowhunters wear a safety belt for fall protection when climbing to or hunting from a tree stand. This bulletin focuses on the minimum weight design of the safety lanyard.
Fall Protection: Minimum Weight Lanyards for Bowhunters.
Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 4 No. 2
The full text of this paper was presented at the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in November of 1996, and is available at
no cost from Triodyne Inc.
The Grate Debate.
Dennis B. Brickman and Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 4 No. 3
When a diesel engine is exposed to a combustible airborne environment it has a propensity to become a "runaway".
The Runaway Diesel - External Fuel Ingestion.
Christopher W. Ferrone and Charles Sinkovits
Volume 4 No. 4
A heavy truck is about to turn left onto a high speed, multi-lane highway. An approaching car in the distance appears far enough away for the truck driver to pull out and start his turn. Seconds later, a collision occurs. What went wrong?
Is a Left Turn Right?
John Goebelbecker, Michael A. Dilich and Dror Kopernik
Volume 5 No. 1
A discussion of computer-generated simulation and animation as they relate to vehicle accident reconstruction.
Computer Animation and Simulation in Traffic-Accident Reconstruction.
Kenneth L. d'Entremont
Volume 5 No. 2
The experiences of the baking industry and interlocking of safeguards is summarized here.
Interlocks - Tha Baking Industry Experience.
Steven R. Schmid
Volume 5 No. 3
Minimum Safety Standard - An Oxymoron.
Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 5 No. 4
Important information regarding fire and explosion accident investigation.
Standards Opposing Spoliation in Fire & Explosion Investigations.
John A. Campbell
Volume 6 No. 1
The ability of a heavy truck to successfully negotiate a curve depends upon the vehicle's speed, its loaded stability and the geometry of the curve. When a rollover occurs, evaluation of factors related to the driver, the vehicle, and the roadway is required.
Truck Rollover.
Michael A. Dilich and John M. Goebelbecker
Volume 6 No. 2
This bulletin demonstrates the benefit of securely tying ladders before transporting them on roof racks.
Truck Mounted Ladder Racks.
William G. Switalski and Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 6 No. 3
"It doesn't work." "It keeps on breaking down." "It doesn't produce to specifications." When claims such as these are made against a new product it is often necessary to investigate the engineering design process which gave rise to the product in the first place.
Engineering Design Process Issues.
Crispin Hales
Volume 6 No. 4
An important issue in fire safety is discussed in this bulletin.
Flash Point.
John A. Campbell and Kim R. Mniszewski
Volume 7 No. 1
An analysis of fall behavior as reported in the Cook County Verdict Reporter from 1991 and 1997.
Falling: The Cook County Illinois Experience.
Claudine P. Giebs Myers, Peter J. Poczynok
Volume 7 No. 2
On curves where margins of safety for heavy trucks are small, exceeding the advisory speed by less than 5 mph or performing abrupt steering maneuvers can cause some trucks to roll over.
Margin of Safety for Heavy Trucks on Curves.
John M. Goebelbecker and S. Carl Uzgiris
Volume 7 No. 3
This bulletin presents information on two electrical ignition sources which are not well covered in the fire investigation literature.
Know As Arcs--In-Line & Wet-Wire Electrical Fires.
John A. Campbell and Scott M. Howell
Volume 7 No. 4
Interlocking is a safety philosophy; it is not just the use of interlock devices. Interlocks are used almost exclusively as countermeasures against risk-taking. To entertain their universal adoption is nothing short of a societal commitment to extend protection to individuals engaged in determined advertent multiple misuses of technology.
Interlocked Barrier Guards: Risk-Taking Philosophy.
Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 8 No. 1
The speed of bungee cord hooks has been measured for various brands of bungee cords with different lengths, diameters and initial elongations.
Bungee Cord Hook Speed.
Adam Dybek and Dennis B. Brickman
Volume 8 No. 2
A heavy truck manufactured in the mid-1990's is likely to be equipped with an electronic control module (ECM) which has the capability of being the truck's "flight recorder" in a serious accident.
Electronic Control Module - The "Flight Recorder" of Heavy Trucks.
Christopher W. Ferrone and John M. Goebelbecker
Volume 8 No. 3
An often humorous collection of safety anecdotes.
Safety Potpourri.
Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 8 No. 4
Sometimes, brake lights or turn signals are accused of not functioning and contributing to accidents. The validity of such claims can often be scientifically determined by examining the manner in which the condition of the subject lamp was changed by the collision.
Were His Lights On?
Dror Kopernik and Michael A. Dilich
Volume 9 No. 1
This bulletin discusses the primary sources of a washing machine flood.
The Washing Machine Flood.
William G. Switalski
Volume 9 No. 2
Primary vs. Secondary Protection: Why Interlocks Are Not an Acceptable Alternative to Lockout.
William G. Switalski
Volume 9 No. 3
Analysis of Vehicle Motion Using Aerial Photography.
Dror Kopernik and John Goebelbecker
Volume 9 No. 4
Weaknesses in a ladder structure are not always self revealing. Furthermore, a momentary loss of foot or hand control or even a patch of ice or grease may compromise a climber's safety. The proposed climbing strategy optimizes the safety profile. On the other hand, climbers must continue to follow the "classical ladder rules" dealing with ladder angle, overreaching, etc.
How To Climb An Unsafe Ladder.
Ralph L. Barnett
Volume 10 No. 1
Tautliner Vans Case Study: Safety Philosophy.
Ralph L. Barnett and Christopher Ferrone
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