Around 40 percent of all road traffic accidents involve bicycles, and the trend is rising. According to the latest figures from accident insurers, 22,000 bicycle accidents occur every year. A third of these occur during the darker seasons. However, if you equip yourself and your bike well for dusk and darkness and for winter conditions, you will protect yourself and help to prevent further accidents.

According to Suva, cyclists usually have a narrow silhouette compared to other road users. This is often not easily recognizable. If you also wear bright clothing, a fluorescent vest and reflectors on your bike, rucksack, helmet and shoes, you will also increase your visibility.

"Equipped with reflectors, people are visible from a distance of 130 to 160 meters, whereas people in dark clothing are only visible from 40 to 50 meters," explains Simon Vonmoos, leisure safety expert at Suva.

With three tips and anticipatory driving behavior, personal safety can be increased in both summer and winter, regardless of which vehicle you are driving. The currencies apply:

• Make yourself visible
• Show clearly where you want to go
• Don't let yourself be distracted

Source: Suva

Almost 70 percent of the Swiss population work privately on Windows computers. According to a projection by the security software provider Eset, the number of privately used Windows systems totals over 2.7 million computers. A large majority of systems in Swiss households have a current version of Windows installed. However, at least until the end of 2021, over 135,000 devices were still running outdated and no longer supported versions of the operating system. Specifically, this is said to be 120,000 PCs with Windows 7, 10,900 with Windows 8, 3200 with Windows Vista and 2300 Windows XP PCs.

MacOS ranks second among the operating systems used in private households with a usage rate of 28 percent or 1.2 million devices. Linux as a desktop OS, on the other hand, is still not very widespread in Swiss private households with only 1.2 percent. Extended support for Windows 8.1 ends on January 20, 2023. Users should already prepare for this end of support and switch to a current version. According to Eset, the following three tips are recommended to protect against cyber attacks:

• Update Windows versions: Old Windows operating systems should no longer be used. Eset recommends switching to Windows 10 or Windows 11, and a Linux distribution could also be an alternative.
• Regular updates: The operating system, firmware and installed software should always be up-to-date.
• Use security software: A modern Internet security solution is definitely not a bad idea.

Source: Eset

Already from the age of 30, bones begin to age and stability slowly decreases. In osteoporosis, however, there can be an excessive reduction in bone mass, which makes the bones less resilient and can break even with a small amount of stress. The problem is that osteoporosis usually goes undetected for longer periods of time, according to the University Hospital of Zurich. This is momentous because bone loss is usually not noticeable through pain. With the following tips, bones can be stabilized at an early stage:

• Get plenty of exercise: Even quick, short bursts of skipping and jogging stimulate bone cells more than swimming or cycling.
• Focus on the right nutrition: Calcium and protein in particular play an important role in building and maintaining strong bones and muscles. Good sources of protein such as meat, dairy products, tofu, figs and green vegetables as well as mineral water are advisable.
• Soak up the sun: Vitamin D ensures that we absorb calcium better.
• Consume alcohol only in small quantities: The limit or low-risk consumption is considered to be a maximum of two glasses per day for men and one standard glass per day for women. A standard glass is equivalent to one deciliter of wine and three deciliters of beer.
• It is best to give up smoking altogether: Smoking deprives the body of valuable vitamins and nutrients.
• Pay attention to weight: A BMI between 20 and 25 is ideal.

The detailed tips can be found on the website of the University Hospital Zurich under this Advisor articles.

Source: USZ

Eagle Eye Networks has released an annual e-book on video surveillance trends for 2022. It provides an executive and business owner's outlook on the physical security landscape and how to successfully plan projects involving video surveillance. The cloud-based video surveillance service provider proclaims five trends in video surveillance for 2022:

• Companies demand more flexibility in customer-specific analytics
• Video surveillance can help companies affected by the labor shortage do more with less.
• More customers are realizing the business benefits of video surveillance.
• More pandemic trends for telecommuting, work-from-home, and doorstep delivery
• Interoperability will be the key to data management and security, he said.

The free e-book on video security trends can be on the website from Eage Eye Networks can be downloaded.

Source: Eagle Eye Networks

The corona pandemic resulted in a veritable flood of parcels. In times of the pandemic, when retail outlets were closed for long periods, online shopping obviously continued to gain in appeal. Swiss Post recorded an all-time record of over 180 million parcels delivered for the Corona year 2020. Whereby the deliveries of the various private parcel delivery services are not included here.

The joy of the recipient when receiving the package can lead to suffering for the supplier. After all, anyone who transports heavy loads incorrectly and without aids is harming their body.

"Physical overload can lead to tendonitis, signs of wear and tear such as osteoarthritis, or to back complaints. In extreme cases, these back complaints manifest themselves in the form of a slipped disc," explains Christian Müller, ergonomics expert at Suva.

Days lost cost a fortune

Apart from physical suffering, high costs are incurred because the injured employees are absent from work. Statistics show that 670,000 employees suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders and are absent from work for an average of three working days per year. Suva calculates that each day of absence costs around 1,000 Swiss francs, bringing the total cost to over 2 billion Swiss francs, which is a burden on the healthcare system, companies and the entire Swiss workplace.

The use of assistive devices enables the sustainable reduction of accidents, overloads and ultimately physical complaints. The benefits go beyond this, however, because assistive devices can also save time.

"A parcel delivery person who uses suitable aids at work protects his musculoskeletal system and saves a lot of energy. This enables him to maintain his work pace until the end of the day, even during a long working day," says Müller.

The aids are numerous and their use differs with regard to the object to be transported and the place of application. When transferring parcels, there are various tools that can facilitate the daily work. If the parcels are stacked on pallets when the deliveries are prepared, the use of a scissor lift enables the parcels to be lifted to waist height, which massively relieves the strain on the back. For particularly heavy packages, lifting aids such as vacuum lifters can be used. If delivery to the customer is possible via flat accesses, trolleys or sack trucks can be used. Stair climbers can help with stair access. In addition, a carrying strap can be useful for smaller packages.

In addition to the use of auxiliary equipment, it is important to design route planning and vehicle loading in such a way that each package is moved only minimally and optimally only during delivery itself. Here, too, time and forces can be saved.

Image gain thanks to professionalism

Last but not least, professional handling of loads also pays off for the company's image. After all, what customer is happy when he has to open the door to a sweaty and stressed parcel delivery person? A company that equips its employees professionally also exudes confidence in the customer that the ordered goods will arrive at the customer's premises without incident or transport damage.

Cyber attacks have become a serious threat to security and the economy in Switzerland, the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) writes in a statement. Attacks on companies and authorities continue to take place almost daily, it said. On average, the NCSC receives more than 300 reports of successful or attempted cyberattacks almost every week.

More tasks for the NCSC

The reports to the NCSC were mostly made on a voluntary basis by companies, authorities and private individuals. As a result, the Federal Council wants to strengthen the reporting system. The operators of critical infrastructures are to be made more accountable for this. A reporting obligation is intended to ensure that the NCSC has a comprehensive and clear picture of the situation and can warn operators of critical infrastructures at an early stage.

The reporting procedure should be as simple as possible. All attacks that endanger the functioning of critical infrastructures or contain signs of extortion, threats or coercion are to be recorded. To capture these reports, the NCSC's electronic reporting form will be available. To that end, the NCSC would be tasked with alerting the public to cyberthreats. Additional anchoring of the reporting requirement in the Information Security Act (ISG) will also more firmly establish the duties and responsibilities of the National Cyber Center.

Source: NCSC

Hospitals are considered the largest players in the healthcare system in terms of costs. According to a ZHAW research project, data-based forecasting models for predicting, planning and forecasting staff scheduling could help reduce cost pressures in hospitals while creating more resources to pay more attention to patients.

Strengthening prevention and early detection

These could include sensors and apps that allow more data for patient monitoring, or sensors in the buildings to simplify waiting times or temperature measurement. According to the ZHAW, data-based predictive models can help predict, plan and optimize staff scheduling, but also promote physical activity after a procedure to determine treatment goals during care. In general, digitization should make it possible to detect or even prevent illnesses earlier, according to a release on the ZHAW's "Shift" research project.

Various research institutions involved

For three and a half years, a consortium led by the university is researching how the transformation of the hospital could be implemented in the future. The flagship project is being led by the Winterthur Institute of Health Economics at the ZHAW School of Management and Law, together with an interdisciplinary ZHAW team from IT, health, data analysis, and process design. In addition to the University Hospital Basel, the Universities of Basel and Zurich, the FHNW and the hospitals, 24 industry partners are involved.

The research project will pursue three goals. The first objective would be to find out how inpatient treatment in the hospital and outpatient follow-up care for patients at home could be seamlessly linked with the help of digital technologies. The second point is all about developing solutions to further strengthen the ability of staff and patients to act in everyday hospital life. The third area concerns the development of effective and efficient hospital management processes.

Source: ZHAW

Europol has collected huge amounts of people's personal data in the past. Actually, data of suspects should be deleted within six months. According to the EU data protection commissioner, the agency did not comply with this requirement.

EU Data Protection Supervisor Wojciech Wiewiórowski has now ordered the police agency Europol to delete all of its data invited, provided there is no longer a link to criminal activity. The data contained a high level of information, the exact content of which is often unknown to Europol itself.

Already in September, Wiewiórowski sent a first warning to the police authorities, who had not yet shown any cooperation.

Europol is now given one year to delete sensitive data. According to a report by "The Guardian" included the data silo of four petabytes.

Source: Die Zeit 

The construction worker's helmet is the classic example of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the importance of wearing it is undisputed. The specifications are clear, because according to Art. 5 BauAV, a hard hat must be worn for all work "where there is a risk from falling objects or materials". This will not change in 2022 as a result of the new BauAV. Enforcing the obligation to wear PPE will remain a permanent task for occupational health and safety officers, and not only on the construction site.

Inform and involve employees

Where employees are required to wear PPE, the reason must be clear. Supervisors should consistently counter the attitude that a helmet must be worn "because of Suva" or a regulatory agency. Even if it seems obvious when it comes to helmets, everyone must be made aware of the risks of serious head injuries - e.g. during crane operation or scaffolding - and why a bump cap is not enough.

Protective clothing is more likely to be accepted if employees are involved in the selection process. Supervisors encourage positive attitudes toward PPE by explicitly praising consistent wearing. In teams, veterans should pay attention to newcomers and apprentices.

Staying consistent, even as a boss

A PPE wearing requirement always applies to everyone, without exception. Even the managing director who gives tours of the company to business associates or politicians must wear a helmet, hairnet or noise protection if this is prescribed on site, as must all his guests. Similarly, the requirement to wear a helmet on a construction site also applies to architects and site managers. Anyone who, as the "boss," allows himself a private exemption here is acting irresponsibly, lacks credibility and undermines the safety commitment of everyone else.

Investigate causes of rejection ...

Anyone who takes off their helmet has a reason for doing so. Is it uncomfortable? Does it get too warm or too cold on the head? Does the helmet pinch or cause itching? Or is there a lack of understanding of the necessity of head protection? Only those who ask these questions can take targeted action against non-wearing. Maybe it's just a question of convenience, because it's tedious to always have to fetch your helmet from the other end of a large construction site. Then this can be organized differently so that helmets are ready where the employees arrive and the workday begins.

... and actively find solutions

It is understandable that the tendency to take off the helmet "just for a moment" increases in the summer heat on the construction site. Instead of tolerating this, supervisors should insist on the wearing of helmets, but at the same time take the sensitivities of their employees seriously. It is always necessary to clarify how strains can be avoided without losing protection, e.g.:

Is the helmet suitable for summer heat? Does it have ventilation slots or individually adjustable ventilation zones that prevent heavy sweating?
Is the helmet properly adjusted and fitted to the employee? When was the welding band last replaced?

Can helmet accessories be used, e.g. a neck protector with active cooling effect through evaporative cooling in summer or a helmet undercoat (thin cap) for protection against the cold in winter?

Independently of this, it should be checked whether the work can be moved to a cooler time of day or carried out under a shady sun awning or similar. Often, creative approaches at different levels (technical + organizational + high-quality PPE) can defuse conflict situations over wearing requirements. And even if a simple solution is not found immediately, employees receive the signal that employers and supervisors are seriously concerned about their well-being. This alone solidifies acceptance to use protective equipment.

This technical article appeared in the printed edition SAFETY-PLUS 4-2021.
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Security researchers at Avenan, a Checkpoint company, observed a massive new wave of hackers exploiting the commenting feature of Google Doc applications in December. In October, Avenan first discovered that the commenting feature of Google Docs, Sheets and Slides could be exploited to send spam emails. Accordingly, the known vulnerability has not yet been closed by Google.

The attackers target Google Docs and Spreadsheets users by adding a comment to documents mentioning specific users with an "@", which automatically sends emails to the users' Outlook inboxes. The mail sent via Google can then contain both text and malicious links. So far, the attackers have primarily targeted Outlook users over 100 different Gmail accounts. Since the mails are delivered directly via Google, they are usually not detected by antivirus programs and firewalls.

Jeremy Fuchs, Cybersecurity Researcher/Analyst at Avenan, advises users to contact the legitimate sender and confirm the validity of the message if they are unsure. Avenan also recommends users check any email addresses in comments to make sure they are legitimate before clicking on a Google Docs comment.

Source: alltechnews.com

In consultation with exhibitors and planners, Nürnberg Messe has decided to postpone Perimeter Protection until 2023, although exhibitions have been held in Nürnberg again since September 2021.

The exhibition events are still possible under the requirements of the Bavarian Infection Control Measures Ordinance, but there is great uncertainty among customers, according to a statement from Nürnberg Messe.

It is not foreseeable how the infection will develop in the coming weeks. Therefore, the situation with regard to the spread of the new virus variant Omikron, is also not predictable for mid-January 2022, Thomas Preutenborbeck, Member of the Management Board at Nürnberg Messe, is quoted as saying.

"We want to avoid having to make the decision to postpone together with the exhibitors shortly before the event. That is why we have now done this before the Christmas break, in order to create planning security for everyone involved," Preutenborbeck continues.

The next Perimeter Protection will be held at the Exhibition Center Nuremberg from January 17 - 19, 2023.

Ketamine therapy reduces depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in the short term, according to a review of all available scientific evidence. A team led by the University of Exeter analyzed 83 published studies. The strongest evidence emerged around the use of ketamine to treat major depression and bipolar depression.

Effect up to two weeks

According to the experts, symptoms decreased after only one to four hours in the course of a single treatment. The effect lasted for up to two weeks. There are indications that repeated treatment could prolong the effect. However, more research is needed here to determine how long this period is likely to be.

Single or multiple doses of ketamine also resulted in a moderate to large reduction in suicidal ideation. This improvement was noted as early as four hours after treatment. It lasted for an average of three days. The effect lasted for up to a week. According to lead researcher Merve Mollaahmetoglu, ketamine should be useful for rapid relief from depression and suicidal thoughts.

The administration of ketamine creates a window of opportunity for further therapeutic intervention. "It is important to note that this review examined the administration of ketamine in carefully controlled clinical settings where any risks of ketamine can be safely controlled," Mollaahmetoglu said.

Further areas of application conceivable

In other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, there is preliminary evidence that treatment with ketamine may provide benefits. In addition, in individuals with substance use disorders, treatment resulted in short-term reductions in craving, use, and withdrawal symptoms.

The findings, published in British Journal of Psychiatry Open, bring together the scientific results of a growing body of research on the potential benefits of ketamine for the treatment of conditions where treatment options are limited. The overall review includes 33 systematic reviews, 29 randomized controlled trials, and 21 observational studies.

A number of questions are currently unanswered in this area of research. These include the optimal dose, route of administration, and number of doses in treatment. There is also a need for research on the additional and interactive benefits of adjunctive psychotherapy. The review was published by the Medical Research Council financed.

(Source: Press release)