title: Investigating real-time monitoring of fatigue indicators of New Zealand forestry workers

authors: Bowen, Judy

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: The New Zealand forestry industry has one of the highest fatality and injury rates of any industrial sector in the country. Worker fatigue has been identified as one of the main contributing factors. Currently no independent and objective large data source is available that might support an analysis of this, or provide the basis for ongoing monitoring to further investigate. In order to successfully manage fatigue in the forestry workplace, we must identify suitable ways of detecting it. Industry partners are increasingly looking at monitoring solutions (particularly lightweight, wearable technology) that aim to measure worker activities and physiological metrics in order to determine if they are fatigued.

In this article we present the results of studies which investigate whether or not such technology can capture meaningful data in a reliable way that is both practical and usable within the forestry domain. Two series of studies were undertaken with in-situ forestry workers using reaction and decision-making times as a measure of potential impairment, while considering activity levels (via step count and heart rate) and job-roles. We present the results of these studies and further provide a comparison of results across different ambient temperatures (winter vs. summer periods). The results of our studies suggest that it may not be possible to identify correlations between workloads (based on both physical and cognitive stresses) and fatigue measures using in-situ measurements as results are highly personalised to individual workers and can be misleading if the wider context is not also taken into consideration.

text: Investigating real-time monitoring of fatigue indicators of New Zealand forestry workers The New Zealand forestry industry has one of the highest fatality and injury rates of any industrial sector in the country. Worker fatigue has been identified as one of the main contributing factors. Currently no independent and objective large data source is available that might support an analysis of this, or provide the basis for ongoing monitoring to further investigate. In order to successfully manage fatigue in the forestry workplace, we must identify suitable ways of detecting it. Industry partners are increasingly looking at monitoring solutions (particularly lightweight, wearable technology) that aim to measure worker activities and physiological metrics in order to determine if they are fatigued.

In this article we present the results of studies which investigate whether or not such technology can capture meaningful data in a reliable way that is both practical and usable within the forestry domain. Two series of studies were undertaken with in-situ forestry workers using reaction and decision-making times as a measure of potential impairment, while considering activity levels (via step count and heart rate) and job-roles. We present the results of these studies and further provide a comparison of results across different ambient temperatures (winter vs. summer periods). The results of our studies suggest that it may not be possible to identify correlations between workloads (based on both physical and cognitive stresses) and fatigue measures using in-situ measurements as results are highly personalised to individual workers and can be misleading if the wider context is not also taken into consideration.

year: 2019

title: The impacts of liquor outlets in Manukau City: The spatial and other characteristics of liquor outlets in Manukau City

authors: Cameron, Michael Patrick

subjects: liquor outlets

abstract: This report describes the spatial and other characteristics of liquor outlets in the Manukau City area in January 2009. These characteristics are important in terms of their effects on the availability of alcohol. Several key results were found relating to the characteristics of alcohol sales. First, onlicence outlets are most dense in areas with good transport links, such as town centres, and in areas with high amenity value. Second, off-licence outlet density is positively related to population density and to relative deprivation. Further, off-licence outlets are typically not gathered together in clusters. Rather they are distributed throughout the area in order to reduce local competition. Finally, areas with a higher density of off-licence outlets experience lower prices, longer operating hours and later 
weekend closing times. Further research into the relationship between liquor outlet density and alcohol-related harms should take account of these relationships.

text: The impacts of liquor outlets in Manukau City: The spatial and other characteristics of liquor outlets in Manukau City This report describes the spatial and other characteristics of liquor outlets in the Manukau City area in January 2009. These characteristics are important in terms of their effects on the availability of alcohol. Several key results were found relating to the characteristics of alcohol sales. First, onlicence outlets are most dense in areas with good transport links, such as town centres, and in areas with high amenity value. Second, off-licence outlet density is positively related to population density and to relative deprivation. Further, off-licence outlets are typically not gathered together in clusters. Rather they are distributed throughout the area in order to reduce local competition. Finally, areas with a higher density of off-licence outlets experience lower prices, longer operating hours and later 
weekend closing times. Further research into the relationship between liquor outlet density and alcohol-related harms should take account of these relationships.

year: 2012

title: Ngati Rahiri versus Ngati Tamatera

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: Conflict between Ngati Tamatera, of Ohinemuri, and Ngati Rahiri, of Te Aroha, was provoked by the latter believing that members of other hapu had received money for the Aroha Block to which they were not entitled. In addition, the two hapu disagreed over the block’s northern boundary. In early 1877 Ngati Rahiri threatened violence and even fired over the heads of several rangatira passing through their land, thereby challenging their right to intrude on it. In response, Ngati Tamatera, with the assistance of Ngati Koi, blocked the road to Te Aroha and also the Waihou River against Ngati Rahiri, although they permitted Pakeha to pass. Pakeha took a relaxed attitude to the conflict, not expecting any real battles occurring during a squabble they understood to have been caused by members of an inferior hapu having their names wrongly included in Crown grants.
After Ngati Tamatera erected two small and unimpressive pa to block both road and river, Ngati Rahiri retaliated by constructing a similarly unimpressive pa at Omahu, their settlement at Te Aroha. Apart from much posturing, the only actions taken were Ngati Tamatera sending back to Omahu an aged woman who had come down the river in a canoe and Ngati Rahiri stealing pigs and peaches and firing shots near a settlement. The Native Minister and various officials, notably James Mackay, intervened to resolve the conflict, which was ended with a reconciliation initiated by Ngati Tamatera and formalized by a large meeting of both hapu at Omahu.
Once this quarrel was settled, negotiations to enable the Crown to purchase the Aroha Block were resumed.

text: Ngati Rahiri versus Ngati Tamatera Conflict between Ngati Tamatera, of Ohinemuri, and Ngati Rahiri, of Te Aroha, was provoked by the latter believing that members of other hapu had received money for the Aroha Block to which they were not entitled. In addition, the two hapu disagreed over the block’s northern boundary. In early 1877 Ngati Rahiri threatened violence and even fired over the heads of several rangatira passing through their land, thereby challenging their right to intrude on it. In response, Ngati Tamatera, with the assistance of Ngati Koi, blocked the road to Te Aroha and also the Waihou River against Ngati Rahiri, although they permitted Pakeha to pass. Pakeha took a relaxed attitude to the conflict, not expecting any real battles occurring during a squabble they understood to have been caused by members of an inferior hapu having their names wrongly included in Crown grants.
After Ngati Tamatera erected two small and unimpressive pa to block both road and river, Ngati Rahiri retaliated by constructing a similarly unimpressive pa at Omahu, their settlement at Te Aroha. Apart from much posturing, the only actions taken were Ngati Tamatera sending back to Omahu an aged woman who had come down the river in a canoe and Ngati Rahiri stealing pigs and peaches and firing shots near a settlement. The Native Minister and various officials, notably James Mackay, intervened to resolve the conflict, which was ended with a reconciliation initiated by Ngati Tamatera and formalized by a large meeting of both hapu at Omahu.
Once this quarrel was settled, negotiations to enable the Crown to purchase the Aroha Block were resumed.

year: 2016