This report was produced within the framework of the RAAK PRP project ‘Veiligheid op de werkvloer’. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used on a daily basis by millions of people all over the EU, voluntarily or as a result of EU legislation. In this report we deal specifically with the textile/garment aspects of PPE. In this context we must consider the fact that PPE encompasses a huge area with hundreds of different applications of materials and systems tuned to specific needs;from a materials point of view it represents a complex area due to the large diversity of labour conditions. Textiles and clothing represent an area where PPE is an important area of attention. On a global scale it is an area of much research. Safety and comfort are becoming more and more important and these aspects must be in balance. Uncomfortable systems will not be used and put safe working at risk. Thus there is a continuous need for technological innovation to improve the effectiveness of PPE systems. Specialization and specific combinations aimed at use under well-defined conditions contributes to finding a good balance between comfort and safety. The design of products, taking into account the individual needs represent an area of intensive research: Safety directed ‘fashion design’.The ultimate goal is the development of proactive systems by which workers (but capital goods as well) are optimally protected. There is also a lot of attention for maintenance and cleaning since protective functions may deteriorate as a result of cleaning processes. Another important point is standardization because producers need directions for product development and supply of goods. In our overview we make a distinction between static and dynamic systems. Static systems provide passive protection, simply by being a part of an equipment that separates the worker from the danger zone. Dynamic systems are more ‘intelligent’ because these can react to stimuli and subsequently can take action. These dynamic systems use sensors, communication technology and actuators. From this research the following may be concluded: 1. Safety is obtained by choice of materials for a textile construction, including the use of coatings with special properties, application of specific additives and he use of special designed fibre shapes. 2. The architecture and ultimate construction and the combinations with other materials result in products that respond adequately. This is of great importance because of the balance comfort – safety. But a lot can be improved in this respect. 3. Insight in human behaviour, ambient intelligence and systems technology will lead to new routes for product development and a more active approach and higher levels of safety on the work floor. Consequently there is a lot of research going on that is aimed at improved materials and systems. Also due to the enormous research area of smart textiles a lot of development is aimed at the integration of new technology for application in PPE. This results in complex products that enhance both passive and active safety. Especially the commissioners, government and industry, must pay a lot of attention to specifying the required properties that a product should meet under the specific conditions. This has a cost aspect as well because production volumes are usually not that large if for small groups of products specific demands are defined. We expect that through the technology that is being developed in the scope of mass customization production technologies will be developed that allows production at acceptable cost, but still aimed at products that have specific properties for unique application areas. Purchasing is now being practiced through large procurements. We must than consider the fact that specification takes place on the basis of functionality. In that case we should move away from the current cost focus but the attention should shift towards the life cycle
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The promotor was Prof. Erik Jan Hultink and copromotors Dr Ellis van den Hende en Dr R. van der Lugt. The title of this dissertation is Armchair travelling the innovation journey. ‘Armchair travelling’ is an expression for travelling to another place, in the comfort of one’s own place. ‘The innovation journey’ is the metaphor Van de Ven and colleagues (1999) have used for travelling the uncharted river of innovation, the highly unpredictable and uncontrollable process of innovation. This research study began with a brief remark from an innovation project leader who sighed after a long and rough journey: ‘had I known this ahead of time…’. From wondering ‘what could he have known ahead of time?’ the immediate question arose: how do such innovation journeys develop? How do other innovation project leaders lead the innovation journey? And could I find examples of studies about these experiences from an innovation project leader’s perspective that could have helped the sighing innovation project leader to have known at least some of the challenges ahead of time? This dissertation is the result of that quest, as we do know relatively little how this process of the innovation project leader unfolds over time. The aim of this study is to increase our understanding of how innovation project leaders lead their innovation journeys over time, and to capture those experiences that could be a source for others to learn from and to be better prepared. This research project takes a process approach. Such an approach is different from a variance study. Process thinking takes into account how and why things – people, organizations, strategies, environments – change, act and evolve over time, expressed by Andrew Pettigrew (1992, p.10) as catching “reality in flight”.
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De rol van een participatieve ruimte in de ontwikkeling van burgerschap In toenemende mate is in beleid en onderzoek aandacht voor de ontwikkeling van burgerschap, gestimuleerd door de transitie naar een participatiesamenleving. In dit artikel richten we ons specifiek op burgers in de maatschappelijke opvang en geestelijke gezondheidszorg, wiens burgerschap vaak onderontwikkeld is. Pols (2016) pleit voor het inrichten van fysieke ruimten tussen thuis en werk in waar mensen in een kwetsbare positie kunnen werken aan de ontwikkeling van burgerschap, een participatieve ruimte. In dit artikel reflecteren we op de invloed die een participatieve ruimte kan hebben op de ontwikkeling van individueel en democratisch burgerschap, naast het vaker beschreven relationeel burgerschap. Specifiek beschrijven we karakteristieken van een participatieve ruimte die invloed hebben op ontwikkeling van burgerschap. Naast theoretische inzichten gebruiken we empirische data uit een meerjarig participatief onderzoek naar Je Eigen Stek (JES), een zelfbeheerde maatschappelijke opvang voorziening.JES als participatieve ruimte draagt bij aan de ontwikkeling van individueel, relationeel en democratisch burgerschap, al is dat niet voor alle deelnemers in gelijke mate het geval. Participatieve ruimte als concept helpt dat inzichtelijk te maken. De verschillende vormen van burgerschap kunnen elkaar versterken en beperken. Onze analyse brengt een aantal elementen naar voren hoe een participatieve ruimte invloed heeft op ontwikkeling van de verschillende vormen van burgerschap. We vonden ook specifieke aanwijzingen voor het belang van fysieke aspecten van participatieve ruimte in relatie tot de ontwikkeling van burgerschap.Burgers in de maatschappelijke opvang kunnen burgerschap ontwikkelen, mits adequaat gefaciliteerd in een participatieve ruimte. Daarvoor is het belangrijk zowel in onderzoek als praktijk te kijken naar de kwaliteit van een participatieve ruimte.