Increasing Safety Downstream of Hydropower Facilities
This article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYThis article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 5, Issue 4
Abstract
The sudden, unexpected release of water from hydropower generation presents a hazard to fishermen below the dam. Using research involving the effect of wind speed on human performance, the hazard is identified as the rapid rise in turbulent waters whose exponential increase in impact force quickly restricts the ability to move to the shore. Cases involving the drowning of fishermen at two hydropower facilities in the Southeast are analyzed according to the principles of safety engineering. The analysis reveals that the most effective protection to the fisherman is an active warning system. Such a system would provide people at risk with timely visual and audio information concerning the immediacy of the hazard. This is most reliably accomplished with a computerized verbal‐command warning of the need to leave the area due to the intended release of water through the turbines.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Anderson, O. B., Jr., Snow, C. H., and Wilson, R. S. (1985). Tulsa hydro‐power safety visit. Mobile District, Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala.
2.
Asch, S. E. ( 1955 ). “ Opinions and social pressure.” Sci. Am., 193, 31 – 35.
3.
Cialdini, R. (1984). Influence. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York, N.Y.
4.
Daily, J. W., and Harleman, D. R. F. (1986). Fluid dynamics. Addison‐Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, Mass.
5.
Eagleson, P. S. (1970). Dynamic hydrology. McGraw‐Hill Book Company, New York, N.Y.
6.
Eagly, A. H., and Chaiken, S. (1984). “Cognitive theories of persuasion.” Advances in experimental social psychology. L. Berkowitz, ed., Academic Press, New York, N.Y.
7.
Friedmann, K. ( 1988 ). “ The effect of adding symbols to written warning labels on user behaviors and recall.” Hum. Factors, 30 ( 4 ), 507 – 515.
8.
Jones, F. R. (1982). The historical and legal circumstances surrounding the present tailwaters boating policy. Mobile District Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala.
9.
McCarthy, R. L., Finnegan, J. P., Krumm‐Scott, S., and McCarthy, G. E. (1984). “Product information presentation, user behaviour, and safety.” Proc. Human Factors Society 28th Annual Meeting, Human Factors Society, 81–85.
10.
Meehan, T. E. ( 1987 ). “ Numbers in safety: is what you see what you really get? ” Professional Safety, 32, 17 – 19.
11.
Minimization of potentially hazardous conditions. (1979). Office of Electric Power Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.
12.
Murakami, S., and Deguchi, K. ( 1981 ). “ New criteria for wind effects on pedestrians.” J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 1, 289 – 309.
13.
Penwarden, A. D. ( 1973 ). “ Acceptable wind speeds in towns.” Building Sci., 8 ( 3 ), 259 – 267.
14.
Penwarden, A. D., and Wise, A. F. E. (1975). Wind environment around buildings. Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London, United Kingdom.
15.
Promotion of safety around project reservoirs. (1986). Regional Office, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Atlanta, Ga.
16.
Seiden, R. M. (1984). Product safety engineering for managers. Prentice‐Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
17.
Snow, C. H., (1986). Buford warning horns. Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
18.
U.S. code of federal regulations, Title 29 (Labor), Part 1926 (Safety and health regulations for construction). (1926). U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
19.
Wogalter, M. S., Godrey, S. S., Fontenelle, D. R., Desaulniers, D. R., Rothstein, P. R., and Laugherty, K. R. ( 1987 ). “ Effectiveness of Warnings.” Human Factors, 29 ( 6 ), 599 – 612.
20.
Wogalter, M. S., Allison, S. T., and McKenna, N. A. ( 1989 ). “ Effects of cost and social influence on warning compliance.” Human Factors, 31 ( 2 ), 133 – 140.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 ASCE.
History
Published online: Nov 1, 1991
Published in print: Nov 1991
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.