Stage 2 Research Ethics Approval Form for Analyzing the Root Cause for Major Accident Involving Blasting Works

The Stage 2 Research Ethics Approval Form is mandatory for all research carried out by students and staff at the University. This form is to be completed for projects in risk category 2 and 3. The project aims to analyze the root cause of major accidents involving blasting works and establish safety measures required in rock explosion measures by outlining methods and procedures to be followed. The study involves human participants above 16 years of age, and data would be collected through questionnaires. The collected data would be used by government and emergency organizations to help in addressing the risks involved. The study involves risks such as exposure to loud noise during blasting, risk of losing jobs by participants if working for companies that do not share any field activity, and injuries from blasted rocks which may lead to death.

STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM
All research carried out by students and staff at the University must receive ethical approval before any
data collection commences.
Notes
 Applicants complete the Risk Checklist and Stage 1 - Research Ethics Approval Form prior to completing
this Stage 2 - Research Ethics Approval Form. Following completion of the Risk Checklist and Stage 1 -
Research Ethics Approval Form, if your research study was provisionally classified as Risk Category 2 or
3, you need to complete this form.
 Full details of the project are to be provided in this Stage 2. Where a question in the Risk Checklist was
answered YES, please ensure that specific details are included in the appropriate box below.
 If a question does not apply to your project, insert ‘Not applicable’ or N/A.
 Help is provided for each question. Further help can be found in the Research Ethics Procedures
document.
 You navigate through the form by using the tab keys. If you prefer to complete a normal Word
document, you can unlock the form by selecting the ‘Restrict Editing’ button on the Developer tab, then
click on ‘Stop Protection’. The boxes should expand to allow space for your text.
 Spellchecking is not available in Word forms, so you may find it helpful to prepare your responses in a
Word document and then copy these to this form.
 Ensure the form is completed in sufficient detail to allow the reviewer to judge the ethical issues raised
by the study. Remember that the reviewer will be considering the following questions when reviewing
your application in order to be able to give ethical approval:
o is it ethical to conduct the research project and is the proposed method of investigation
appropriate, thorough and ethical?
o does the research project meet the requirements of the relevant Research Ethics Principles
(Research Ethics Policy A2.4)?
TO BE COMPLETED FOR PROJECTS IN RISK CATEGORY 2 AND 3
Your name NAGUREDDY RAGHURAM
Project
title
ANALYZING THE ROOT CAUSE FOR MAJOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING
BLASTING WORKS
1 Project Overview
Please give a brief overview of your study, including a summary of your aims and objectives.
Help: Describe the purpose of the research and what question(s) the project should answer.
The project focuses on the risk factors and major causes of the acident during blasting works. The project
goal is to create and establish safety measures required in rock explosion measures by outling methids
and procedures to be followed.
Project objectives include;
i. Set out rules that govern workplace operations.
ii. Establish boundaries of the activities to take place in any earth work activity.
iii. Establish a clear defined procedure of assessing pre and post explosive activities to avert
accidents.
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STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
2 Methodology
Please give a description of your methodology, including any data collection and analysis methods.
Help: Give an outline of your study here. If the project is complex, you can also submit your research
proposal/protocol (no more than 2-3 A4 sides) if this would help the reviewer’s understanding of the
project. Include details of your (or your Research Supervisor’s) appropriate skills and qualifications to carry
out this research.
The study ivolves analysis of the factors that result to accidents during blasting activities. The required
data would be collected throufh use of questionares . The data to be collected involves particepants
pesonal data, experience with blasting riks and blasting organization workd for. Data analysis would be
done throgh tables, graphs and charts to help in decision making.
3 Main Ethical Considerations
Please give a brief description of the main ethical considerations involved in the study.
Help: All research projects will have ethical issues, and you will be asked later in the process on
recruitment, voluntary participation and the right to withdraw, but highlight here the main ethical
considerations for your study (which may concern, e.g., the type of participants, the sensitive nature of
the study, the data collection process, a lone researcher carrying out research off-campus, security-
sensitive research) and advise how you will address the main issues. If the project is funded, give details
here, and whether there are any potential conflicts of interest involved in the study.
The main ethical considerations of the study are; keeping data collection confidentiality, secrecy of the
operational information, and integrity of the data collected
4 Human Participants
If your study includes Human Participants (or their data), please give a description of who will be
included.
Help:
 Please note this should include sample size/number of participants, whether the project will focus on
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STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
any particular groups/individuals, if it will include any at risk or vulnerable participants, participants
aged 16 years or under, etc. Please also specify your rationale for including / excluding groups of
participants.
 If the research involves secondary data not in the public domain, give details in this section.
The study would include human particepants above 16 years of age. The study would capture particepants
data in order to help in analyzing factors that affect blasting works. Data to be captured inlude; names,
age, previous earth work they have been involved, accident involved( if any) and number of those injured.
The main reason why project focused on particepants of 16 years of gae is to allow them to be able to
express their opinion as mature employees. The numebr of particepants in any earth work depends on
nature of the work.
5 Recruitment, Voluntary Participation, Consent and Right to Withdraw
If your study includes Human Participants, please give a brief description of the recruitment process,
how you will ensure voluntary participation, if (and how) informed consent will be obtained prior to
participants taking part in the study, and the right of withdrawal from the research process.
Help:
 This should include clear information on how participants will be identified, approached and recruited;
whether the study will include any covert research or deliberate deception; whether help is required
from a third party/ gatekeeper to access participants; what information you will give participants, etc.
 If expenses or any incentives are to be offered to participants, give full details.
 If your research involves students, colleagues and/or other employees then you must specify the
rationale for this and how you will address issues of coercion or feelings of obligation.
 Regarding withdrawal from the study, discuss the different stages/dates a participant could withdraw
or withdraw their data, and how they could do this.
The study involves human particepants and all of them should undergo through interview to ascertain the
level of expressing themselves using comon language such as English in order to avoid any communication
barrier in workplace. Additionally, interview would be meant to make sure all particepants are able to give
accurate results as required. Voluntariry particepation would make sure all human partice pants are free
to join and withdral from the study. To make sure particepants are free to particeopate, consent form will
be failed to avoid controversy. All particepants will have right to widrawal freely but should folllow
organizatioanal procedures to make sure it does not affect organizatioanal operations.
6 Risks and Benefits
Please give a brief description of how, when and where the research will take place and whether there
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STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
are any risks and/or benefits involved.
Help:
 This should include information on what participants will be required to do, the rationale for this and
the level of risk involved.
 When considering risks, please refer to risks to the participants (e.g., for research in sensitive areas),
the researcher, any other parties to the research; and also any health and safety issues for anyone
involved (e.g., for lone researchers carrying out fieldwork).
 If participants will be exposed to ionising radiation, separate approval documentation must be
submitted with this application.
The research would take place i areas involving earth work activitie such as road constructions, blasting
worksa and drilling of rocks. The study would take place duirng earthnwork process so that it is possible
to analyze benefts and risks involved. Benefits involved in the study is gaining general skills on earth work
activities and payments that cover all expenses and risks involved. Similarly, the study would involve some
risks such as expose to loud noise during blasting, risk of losing jobs by particepants if working for
companies that do not share any filed activity and injuries from blasted rocks which may lead to death.
7 Personal Data, Anonymity and Confidentiality
Please specify what type of information/data will be collected/analysed and the source(s). In addition,
specify if and how you will ensure the anonymity of participants and keep information confidential.
Help: This should include information on whether you are collecting new information/data or using that
that is already in the public domain; whether the data you are using includes personal details; how the
data will be processed and stored; who will have access to it; how and when it will be destroyed; the Data
Protection requirements for any sensitive personal data, etc. In addition, include whether there may be
any requirements for disclosure of information to other parties due to professional practice or legal
reasons. If there are limits to confidentiality, explain clearly how the participants would be advised about
these limits and possible outcomes.
The data collectec wold be a new one which is not in the public domain and should be kept secret. It will
include; particepants name, age, previous work and experince gained, risks involved from previous work
and the company they were working for during the experience. After collection of data, it will be stored in
government or agency information system to for future reference. The collected data would be used by
government and emergency organizations to help in adressing the riks involved. The data would be
accessed by any accredited body and that has agreed to follow given rules related to confidentiality and
integrity of data. Particepants would be addressed through workshops and seminars. The possible
outcome is the incraesed security measures in working sites and study particepants.
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STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
8 Reporting and Dissemination
Please give details of the planned dissemination and specify if the findings from the research will be
published and whether any permission is required for this.
Help: This should include information on the methods of dissemination (e.g., dissertation/thesis) and/or
what will be published and where (research papers, conference presentations). Specify if any permission is
needed (e.g., from participants, clients, gatekeepers, etc.) prior to publication, and whether there are any
potential issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights when creating or using materials.
Collected inoformation can be disseminated through publications of thesis so that it can be included in
future study. It is important for any publication organization to request from particepants the foem of
data to be published . There are no intellectual issues related to the study because collected data is not
owned by any organization.
9 Location of research
Will the research take place outside of the country where you are enrolled as a student, or for staff,
outside of the UK?
YES NO If yes, give details below.
Help: If yes, please specify where the research will take place and what will be involved. Research must
comply with the laws of the country where it is taking place and also comply with local Data Protection
and Intellectual Property legislation: you must confirm that your research is compliant with local
requirements and how you have ascertained this. Advise if the project requires ethical approval in-country
and how this has been ascertained. If approval is required, a copy of this should be included in the
application or details of the process of how it will be obtained. Please make reference to insurance and
indemnity cover for the project where relevant.
10 Collaborative Projects
Is the research is a collaborative project (i.e., it involves more than one institution)?
YES NO If yes, give details below.
Help: If yes, please specify the other institutions involved and if ethical approval needs to be / has been
given by them. Please also specify what procedures have been put in place to ensure ethical compliance
from all partners.
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STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
11 Any other permission or external ethical approval required to undertake the project
Please specify if the project requires any other ethical approval or permissions not mentioned
previously in this application and how and when these will be obtained.
Help:
 Other permissions: ethical approval does not give the right of access to the University’s students, staff
or the use of University premises to carry out research, and you may need to contact an appropriate
University gatekeeper for agreement to approach potential participants or for the use of premises, so
please give details.
 Gatekeepers: permission of a gatekeeper for initial access to participants may be required or to carry
out data collection on their premises.
 If your project requires approval from an external ethics committee, this should normally be obtained
prior to submitting this application.
 If a Disclosure and Barring Service check is required due to the specific participant group, give details.
 Regarding insurance and indemnity cover, some projects will require individual confirmation of cover.
See the Research Ethics Procedures document for more details.
No other permissions are required to undertake the research.
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STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
FOR PROJECTS INVOLVING RISK CATEGORY 2 AND 3: DECLARATION AND SIGNATURE/S
APPLICANT (STUDENT/STAFF MEMBER/RESEARCHER)
I confirm that I will undertake this project as detailed in stage one and stage two of the application. I
understand that I must abide by the terms of this approval and that I may not make any substantial
amendments to the project without further approval. I understand that research with human participants
or their data must not commence without ethical approval.
I have read an appropriate professional or learned society code of
ethical practice:
Yes N/A
Where applicable, give the name of the professional or learned
society:
Signed Nagureddy Raghuram Date 14/02/2018
RESEARCH SUPERVISOR/DIRECTOR OF STUDIES RECOMMENDATION FOR STUDENT PROJECTS
I confirm that I have read stage one and stage two of the application. The project is viable and the student
has appropriate skills to undertake the project. Where applicable, the Participant Information Sheet and
recruitment procedures for obtaining informed consent are appropriate and the ethical issues arising from
the project have been addressed in the application. I understand that research with human participants
must not commence without ethical approval. I recommend this project for approval.
Name Signed Date
Local Research Ethics Co-ordinators
Please complete EITHER A (giving ethical approval for the project) OR B (recommending the project
to the School level group for approval)
A LOCAL RESEARCH ETHICS CO-ORDINATOR APPROVAL
For projects approved by the Local Research Ethics Co-ordinator
I confirm ethical approval for this project
LREC
Name
Signed Date
OR
B LOCAL RESEARCH ETHICS CO-ORDINATOR’S RECOMMENDATION FOR SCHOOL APPROVAL
For projects that require School level approval
I recommend this project for consideration at school level. It cannot be approved at local level due to the
following reason(s)
LREC
Name
Signed Date
School level group
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STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
For projects approved at School level please complete the box below.
PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL LEVEL GROUP
I confirm that this project was considered by the School level group and has received ethical approval
Group
Lead
Signed Date
OR
University Research Ethics Sub-Committee
For projects approved by URESC please complete the box below.
Projects involving security-sensitive research do not need supervisor/LREC approval prior to being
considered by the Chair of URESC.
PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE RESEARCH ETHICS SUB-COMMITTEE
I confirm that this project was considered by the Research Ethics Sub-committee and has received ethical
approval
Chair Signed Date
This form will be retained for the purposes of quality assurance of compliance and audit for THREE years
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STAGE 2 - RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM (December 2016)
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION: what to submit with the application
For projects involving human participants, you must submit, where appropriate, the Participant Information
Sheet/s and consent form/s. You must also submit every communication a participant will see or receive.
Failure to do so will cause delays to the application.
Below is a checklist reminder of what could be submitted, depending on the research project. Please tick
the appropriate boxes for each attachment or give details of the document at the end of the checklist.
SUBMISSION CHECKLIST Tick box
RISK CHECKLIST AND STAGE 1 – RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM
STAGE 2 – RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL FORM
Participant Information Sheet(s)
Consent Form(s)
Assent Form (usually for children participants)
Recruitment documents
eg, posters, flyers, advertisements, email invitations, letters, web pages if online research
Measures to be used
eg, questionnaires, surveys, interview schedules, psychological tests
Screening questionnaire
Letters/communications to and from gatekeepers/third parties
Evidence of any other approvals or permissions
eg, NHS research ethics approval, in-country approval
Research proposal/protocol (no more than 2-3 A4 pages)
It is not a requirement that this is included, however, if this would help the understanding of a
complex project by the reviewer(s), please include
Risk assessment form
Some projects may require a risk assessment form: see the Procedures document for details (eg,
projects involving a physical intervention, collecting data off-campus)
Approval documentation for projects involving ionising radiation
Confirmation of insurance and indemnity cover where relevant
Some projects need to be referred to the Insurance & Risk Officer: see the Procedures document
Security-sensitive research form
Other: give details here:
SUBMITTING YOUR FORMS
 Students: email the typed forms (stage one and stage two) and supporting documentation to your
Research Supervisor or Director of Studies.
 Staff: email the typed forms (stage one and stage two) and supporting documentation to your Local
Research Ethics Co-ordinator.
 Security-sensitive research: the stage one form (and stage two form if applicable) should be submitted
directly to the URESC Chair, Professor Karl Spracklen, [e-mail] and include the
Security-sensitive research form, available from the Research Ethics web page.
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