Unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the World Wars on the North Sea floor pose an uncertain occupational safety risk for dredging and cable installation. At present mitigation strategies are based on an interpretation of the precautionary principle that uses a worst-case approach, that is, assuming that UXO will be encountered, will explode, and will harm people onboard. We propose a probabilistic framework to estimate the UXO risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDrug-induced QT prolongation increases the risk of Torsade de Pointes (TdP). Drug-induced QT prolongation is a complex and unpredictable system due to many uncertainties. Risk factors such as electrolyte disturbances, heart failure and genetics play an important role in estimating the effect on QT prolongation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn 2008 in the Netherlands the Guideline 'Transmission of medication in the chain' was published. This guideline described that upon admission and discharge in the hospital verification of medication should take place. This caused significant investments in staff by hospitals to meet with this guideline.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this contribution, we propose that 'sound' government policy should be characterised by a proportionate, integral vision with due consideration to tradeoffs between social costs and benefits. This principle also applies to government policy regarding the protection of workers from exposure to chemicals. It should be taken into account that having a job is a huge health benefit.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the middle of the worldwide COVID-19 crisis, the whole of Europe was alarmed about a possible side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19. Consequently, the use of this AstraZeneca vaccine was temporarily suspended in many European nations including the Netherlands. In this article, we chronologically describe the decisions that were made about the use of this vaccine in the Netherlands and we discuss the risk-benefit ratios of these actions as well as possible non-medical reasons that may explain why these actions were taken.
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