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This research was carried out at the Motor Vehicle Periodic Inspection (MVPI) station to improve and enhance the bottleneck inspection point by using different applications to reduce the inspection time. The main problem of this research was an inspection point (No. 1) which consumed more time in comparison with the other inspection points. Accordingly, this inspection point increases the flow time in the inspection lanes. This research investigated and searched for possible solutions and alternatives aimed at achieving the objective using some tools from motion and time study and ARENA software to simulate and predict the changes expected to occur in the inspection lanes. Overall, the suggested alternatives yielded an expected improvement of 174.8% in the production capacity.

Seat belts (SBs) are effective devices for reducing injury risk due to traffic accidents. Seat belt wearing was made compulsory in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January 1999 for drivers and front seat passengers (FSPs). No comprehensive study has ever assessed SB wearing rates across the country. Also, little is known on drivers' awareness of the importance of wearing seatbelts and how human factors affect wearing habits. This study aims to determine SB wearing rates for drivers and FSPs in UAE through an observational field study. It also aims to investigate perceptions and behaviour of drivers on this issue as well as human factors that affect wearing rate through a randomly distributed questionnaire. The results of the field study show that the overall SB wearing rate across the country was 61% for drivers and 43.4% for FSPs and that there were significant differences between the seven emirates that constitute the country. The questionnaire results show that age, education level, gender, marital status and nationality of drivers affect wearing habits and perceptions. Future implications in terms of improving traffic safety awareness are discussed.

As is the case in many cities, roundabouts are used extensively in Riyadh. However, instead of improving safety, driving through roundabouts in Riyadh can be a dangerous experience as many drivers do not follow regulations. Unfortunately, no official statistics exist on accidents or violations at roundabouts and no studies have been done to assess this problem. A field study to collect data on drivers' behaviour at five roundabouts in Riyadh was done and a questionnaire was randomly distributed to drivers to explore this issue. Results showed that the percentage of drivers breaching at least one traffic regulation is approximately 90% of all drivers driving through these roundabouts, with leaving without flashing and entering the roundabout without giving way being the most frequent violation types. Questionnaire results from 384 respondents showed that there is a lack of information among most drivers on roundabout driving regulations and that driver training and licensing process does not include enough information related to this matter. Finally, practical suggestions as how to tackle this issue in terms of education, training and policing are given.

Background: In many developing countries, anthropometric measures are rarely available and dimensions of school furniture are either based on anthropometric measures from developed countries or are arbitrarily determined. Objective: The purpose of this study was to ergonomically assess classroom furniture dimensions in United Arab Emirates as compared to students' anthropometric measures. Methods: Relevant anthropometric dimensions of a sample of 200 grade 6 students were measured in two large schools in Dubai and Sharjah. Dimensions of furniture used by these students were also measured and compared to their anthropometric measures. Results: Results show that there was a major mismatch between many anthropometric measures and classroom furniture dimensions. Conclusions: There is a great discrepancy between furniture dimensions and anthropometrics measures of students. To ensure postural comfort. a new set of furniture dimensions for grade 6 classrooms in is suggested based on anthropometric dimensions of students.

Many SCI patients have incomplete cord injuries with significant distal motor function preservation and accordingly improved prognosis. The complete quadriplegic lacks all motor function below the neck and is at particular risk of respiratory compromise through loss of accessory respiratory muscles. The "high quad" or "pentaplegic" with SCI proximal to the takeoff of the phrenic nerves at C4 loses even diaphragmatic function and may require phrenic nerve pacing, become ventilator-dependent, or succumb with current 1-year mortality of approximately 28% (7).We have reviewed the database of our hospital in the attempt to assess the rate of in-hospital mortality in these patients and to identify the possible risk factors for acute and sub-acute mortality.█ INTRODUCTION S pinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating, extreme and frequently fatal trauma outcome of disturbing frequency. It is estimated that 10,000 cases occur annually in North America with an annual direct care cost of almost 10 billion dollars (8).The mortality of SCI is historically high, being 85% in 1903 and still 60%-80% in 1946. Advances in quadriplegia care -including improved standards of respiratory support, intermittent bladder catheterization, prophylactic skin care and medical prophylaxis of thromboembolism-saw this decrease to 2-4% by 1982 (3,10,11,16). AIm:To assess the in-hospital mortality rate in adult patients suffering acute traumatic complete quadriplegia and determine the possible predictors of mortality in these patients. mATERIAl and mEThODS:A review of all complete quadriplegics treated from January 1996 through March 2004 in a regional spine injuries unit measuring in-hospital mortality and other factors that might contribute to increased mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore these possible predictors of mortality. RESUlTS:We identified 126 cases of cervical spinal cord injury treated at our hospital from January 1996 to March 2004 and identified only 62 cases of complete quadriplegia. Of 62 patients, 11 (17.7%) died in the hospital. Age, gender, injury mechanism and medical co-morbidity showed only trends towards a higher mortality. Age and pre-injury medical co-morbidity were found to be significant independent predicting factors for mortality. Gender, mechanism of injury, neurological level and injury severity score were not the predictors of mortality in these patients. CONClUSION:Despite the limitations of the current evidence, advanced age and pre-existing medical co-morbidity are likely predictors of hospital mortality in the traumatic quadriplegia population.

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