Flirting with disaster - reproduced post

Today is Hindu festival, Guru Purnima,  an auspicious day to thank mentors, guides, and teachers who lead us from darkness to light. 

We have teachers everywhere in different forms, not necessarily from educational institutions. Starts with our first Gurus as our parents. Success or failure teaches a lesson. 

Every incident let it be nearmiss, minor or major incident/injury gives us a lesson. Every person suffered is a person with knowledge and wisdom. It is for others to learn and do better. 

O.P.Kharbanda, in a book stated, "already somebody paid tuition fee, let us learn freely".

Few years ago, I purchased a book titled, "Flirting with disaster - why accidents are not accidental" authored by Marc Gerstein with 

Michael Ellsberg. After going through,  I prepared an extract for my use in workplace. I also posted it in my blog. Same as a link is reproduced below.

https://www.safework.co.in/2011/11/flirting-with-disaster-some-notes.html?m=1

But, one should read the book, end to end, to understand, enrich knowledge and practice. As we read again and again,  our thought process will lead us to understand better. 

Collapse of tunnel under construction causes deaths

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/india-tunnel-collapse-kills-22-rcna588840

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80nv79204eo

https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/sikkim-tunnel-disaster/

https://youtu.be/Fda7jULVBG4?si=WASFFAEH8Y9YEKNY

Please go through above links for information. 

Explosion of flammable methane gas released from rocks in the tunnel under construction is supposed to be a probable reason. If that is so, however small or big a tunnel work or its usage is, there is a need for continuous monitoring for flammable games and taking action for ventilation,  flameproof fittings, tools, equipment; spark arrestors,  restricted entry etc, the way it is done in mines

No accident doesn't mean everything is safe

As the heading goes, many times plant personnel will be under the false impression that they took all measures and thus no accidents. Or, no nearmiss incidents.

But, honest personnel on introspection can definitely question themselves why is it so. They look around and find so many unsafe situations and wonder why nothing happened inspite of those situations present.

Truly speaking, this is the case everywhere. I feel sorry when I come across statements in the media boasting about improvements and apparent reduction in incidents even though the ground situation remains same.

This is all about what one can conclude from visible unsafe situations. 

We should look beyond. There will be many invisible conditions that got potential for accidents. As and when it happens, consequences will be severe. 

What to do?

Periodical inspection of structural components,  preventive maintenance, repairs/replacement will help to overcome such happenings. Engage an expert team for this. Encourage plant personnel to report their observations without hesitation. Take action on reported observations, after review and give feedback to the person. It will make them proud and do much better. 

Site selection - wrong choice

Someone thought of having a bore well,  but sunk it in a municipal sewerage drain. Don't know whether, he/she could get water or not, as it is abandoned. Whether permission was obtained from concerned authorities is doubtful. 

Incident reporting-method of information collection

Obtaining correct information during the incident investigation from concerned persons including witnesses and management is vital. Many times, it will be very difficult due to noncooperation. The main reason is the fear of being implicated and possible punishment in the form of censure, transfers, loss of pay rise, loss of promotion,  etc and rarely termination and legal punishment. Information also will not come when the person conducting investigation is rude. Also, field personnel are apprehensive of rebuke from their managers for passing the Information as everyone in the line tries to save their skin from possible future actions. It is really a detective job.

Persons talked need to be assured of no action as the sole purpose of investigation is NOT FAULT FINDING BUT ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS to take corrective and preventive actions. It can be due to issue of design, layout, equipment, instrumentation, procedures, qualification, skills, training, behavior,etc.

Unless the reasons are criminal, which need to be addressed sternly, all other reasons are to be dealt internally by involving everyone, and monitored.

5 die in underground water reservoir cleaning

https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/07/12/lapalang-toxic-gas-leak-leaves-3-workers-2-rescuers-dead/

During cleaning og underground water tank having 10 meter depth, a diesel pump was being used for dewatering. The carbon monoxide CO emissions caused death of 5 persons. CO is color less and odorless. Molecular weight is similar to air. CO got more affinity (300 times) to blood compared to oxygen. 

Generally, persons will be careful during the cleaning of septic tanks and hazards of water tanks are not considered much. Due to bacterial action, rusting, oxygen deficiency is expected. However, use of diesel pump in the tank led to emissions and exposed the persons working inside leading to their deaths. With colourless and odorless CO, they will not be even aware of the hazard. In industrial jobs, hazard assessment would have revealed the issues.  Being a residential area work, it appears this assessment didn't take place.

Regulations for compulsory use of self contained breathing air sets, buddy system,  gas monitors, easy access and egress,  ventilation, multi gas detectors, location of dewatering pumps outside can help to save workers.

Urabanization - problem of domestic waste

I resumed my walking after my retirement from service two months ago. Instead of doing walking in parks, I am going around different streets, lanes, etc. It is very sad to see dumping of different types of waste generated from domestic and shops. As my walking areas are in residential colonies,  industrial waste is not seen thrown around. People are throwing out / dumping all types of wastes. Though, the municipal authorities are collecting waste from identified storage locations,  there are wastes all along the roads. Sweepers are engaged, but there is a limit to everything. Sweepers can't push heavy items like furniture thrown. There are identified locations for collection of such wastes made by authorities,  but common sense is lacking. There are private organizations who pay for wastes like electronics,  furniture,  vehicles discarded etc. I myself used this service and got paid. 

Authorities can display locations, contact numbers, website addresses which help in improving the cleanliness by collecting different wastes. It helps in improving hygiene and thus control spread of diseases. 

Another observation is trimmed tree branches kept on road side, causing problems to pedestrians,  restricted road width for vehicle movement and breeding of mosquitoes and flies as decay starts. These are trimmed by personnel of electricity department,  cable TV, telecom, etc to protect their assets. Municipal authorities should charge them for collection of such debris. It will generate some income. 

Body weight reduction

https://www.safework.co.in/2016/07/reduced-my-weight-from-96-to-76-kg-and.html?m=0

Weight reduction

Ten years ago, I did walking coupled with other measures for reduction of my overweight body (please see above link). After continuing the regime for 2-3 years, I stopped everything. After 6-9 months, my body weight was on the rise. I didn't resume weight control due to increased work, covid period, etc.

Finally, I started walking again two months ago after my retirement from service. My daily walk ranged from 3-4 km to 6-8 km, in single or multiple stretches.

But, I am not following any diet control, except that I stopped taking snacks.

My weight has come down by about 3 kg in these two months to 86 kg.

I will observe myself for improvement and hope for the best.

Parking of vehicles - angular slots are better

Today, I observed parking of 2-wheelers at 90 degrees in a narrow road limiting the available road. Instead, it could have been at 45 degrees to save space and also allow manoeuvrability. 

Google Maps - new feature for fuel efficient routes

Please see the following link on subject feature.

https://ntvtelugu.com/technology/google-maps-fuel-efficient-routes-feature-save-petrol-diesel-cost-980321.html

To get suggestion on fuel efficient route in Google Maps, go to "settings" in Profile icon, click on "navigation settings", turn on the option called "Prefer fuel-efficient routes".