ELEMENT:
        foreach $key (keys %Contracts) 
        {
           $tot_count++;
           {# lock block
              lock @{$Contracts{$key}};
              next ELEMENT if ($Contracts{$key}[STATE] eq $ST_VOID); 
              next ELEMENT if ($Contracts{$key}[STATE] eq $ST_REPORTED); 
              $elapsed_time = time() - $Contracts{$key}[START];
              .... lots more accesses to the  $Contracts{$key} record.