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".

Road accidents

Statistics on accidents may help planners and designers to some extent to identify unsafe conditions like road condition,  blind curves, unmarked speed brakers, and black spots and take action. 

However,  it will be difficult to find exact reason when it comes to unsafe acts. We can generalise the unsafe acts like overspeed, overtaking on wrong side, intoxication, road crossing wherever there is a gap or even when green signal is for vehicles, not wearing helmet or seat belt, not switching head lamps or having head lamps with glare blinding opposite side drivers, parking of vehicles at wrong places, etc.

In my experience,  road crossing by pedestrians in unsafe manner is the most dangerous activity leading to accidents. Next is unsafe parking of vehicles on the roads and encroachment of roads by, building owners with ramps or gardens or keeping useless materials. Another reason is street hawkers.

Many building owners don't keep parking areas in their premises, let it me residential or commercial space. For maximum rent collection, rooms are made. And, obviously,  vehicles will be parked on the roads restricting available road space. 

I strongly believe in strict action by removal and auction of such vehicles. This enforcement action will help traffic department to generate revenue while bringing discipline. Also, restrictions on sale and registering of vehicles to such violators for an year should be imposed incapacitating their usage.

For helmet or seatbelt violators,  licence shall be canceled for an year and vehicle shall be impounded. 

For road crossing in dangerous manner,  such persons where identified shall be transported to city outskirts making them to repent for the time lost.

Safety is not about stopping work or use of PPE alone - it is the last job

If you ask anyone about safety in the plant, many managers state that they have given safety shoes and helmets to their workers. CEOs also talk about issuing PPE only. Production managers see safety officer as a person who does stopping the work, some expect stopping work is not correct, but ask for a solution. 

Need for suspension of work doesn't arise unless safety procedures are not followed or safety systems are not in place.

Safety systems means many, depending on the work. It can be, use of tested equipment, relief valves, interlocks, material handling equipment, calibration of instruments, complying to operational process parameters, statutory requirements, operations by authorized personnel, etc.

Safety department should be part of all works right from planning stage, design, fabrication or procurement,  erection, commissioning and operation.

Blame game on safety department arises when they are not involved initially and make them responsible for safety lapses at at a later stage. But, who causes safety lapses in the shopfloor. If the life of person is given value by plant, these lapses wouldn't have been continued. 

Before a work is suspended by safety officer for a lapse, the same should have been seen and action taken by production manager. 

But, conveniently, production personnel ignore and continue the operations. After work is suspended by safety officer, management will be informed with a complaint on safety manager and cover their own lapses. But, what about the likely consequences that could have taken place, if the unsafe work was continued. There are NO DOTS in the timelines that exactly at so and so moment,  accidents happen.  Nobody can predict exact time of occurrence,  but will occur if lapses are not addressed. 

Management, if clever enough, analyze the drawbacks in every department and take action. They give due weightage to the harmful incidents prevented in a timely manner by safety officer. As the adage goes, safety is top-down approach. The commitment and authority exhibited by by top management speaks itself in the form of actions by others down below. 

Then, in line with Newton's third law,  bottom-up actions follow. Shopfloor personnel will be equally committed to follow safety and participate in safety management,  report all lapses, discuss and take actions to make workplace better. 

Finally, let us remember that ensuring safety is everyone's responsibility. We don't need designation or authority to be vigilant. We have to be alert for our own safety and of others. 

Building collapse, 6 deaths, 9 injured

In a building collapse incident,  6 persons died and 9 persons were injured. Two floors were under construction. 

Read the news item in the link.

https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-thane-9weg/20260601/281908779813045

Listening to Professor M M Sharma, the greatest Indian Chemical Engineer

Professor M M Sharma is a renowned Chemical Engineer from India, a legend, taught several students in Institute of Chemical Technology,  Mumbai. Reliance Industries Chief also was his student.

My desertation work in final year Chemical Engineering course in the year 1987-88 was on manufacturing hydrogen from natural gas which was found in KG basin few years before.  As a part of this during literature review,  I  came across several papers in different journals by Professor M M Sharma on CO2 absorption in monoethanol amine (MEA). 

During my college days, one of our college professors told us that, "Chemical Engineering is about creating more contact area economically" for chemical processes to proceed.

Last month, after 38 years of working, I retired from government organization. Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a talk on "Innovations in Chemical Industry" by the Professor and organized by Chemical Engineering Chapter. Never did I imagine that I could see Professor M.M.Sharma in my life. 

In his talk, while describing several Iinnovations that have taken place in the last few decades, he stated that, "Wars are destructive, but productive for innovations". Many things came due to necessity during wars.

During the program, we came to know that Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), CSIR, India had contribution to develpping biodegradable plastic in 150-180 days. It's technology was transferred to Greenworksbio Products (GBPL), Hyderabad-based sustainable packaging firm that partnered with IICT to launch 19 commercial bioplastic products, including eco-friendly cutlery and packaging.

The program overall was good and the best part is to see Professor M M Sharma in person.

Mock drills conducted in Telangana state

Telangana state government conducted mock drills in several districts for scenarios of heavy rains, floods, industrial accidents and forest fires. Objective was to see readiness of various agencies, communication flow, resource management, adequacy of procedures and identification of gaps in the whole process.

It is really great event and kudos to all. Conducting on such large scale requires lot of planning and coordination.

One problem which is generally seen everyday for ambulance and fire tender movement in real emergencies is traffic obstruction. These vehicles are seen struggling to find way to reach destination. Hardly anyone follows traffic lanes with interspersed small vehicles, parking on roads, encroachments, etc. It is near impossible to bring order. 

Actions like towing and auction within short period are required. Penalties should be huge including punishments. Only penalty is not sufficient. 

One more observation is vehicle parking outside in some of the houses. No offsets are left. In addition, steps/ramps/gardens are made encroaching some part of the road. This will reduce minimum road width required for emergency vehicles. Width shall consider turning requirement also. All such encroachments shall be brought down mercilessly.

In future,  authorities may include drills for persons trapped in high rise buildings. Availability of escape and rescue infrastructure shall be made mandatory in all buildings. Power and water supply shall be cut to those with noncompliance. 

Avoid going to washroom before leaving the house or office

The following article is on persons who would go to washroom trying to keep bladder empty before leaving the house, so as to avoid inconvenience while outside.

It appears that this practice makes bladder to give signal for lower volumes even though it can hold larger volumes. This causes frequently visits to washroom even though not required.  Same article mentions that this can be reversed by holding the urge.

Link for full article is given below.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/wellness/always-pee-before-leaving-home-a-doctor-says-you-should-stop-heres-why/articleshow/131201594.cms?jd=V2_245726294362892&utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=taboola_news&dc_data=37133852_samsung-news-india&cex=false&geniev41=30635&origin_referral_type=minus_one&response.session=v2_a9c5a44fd5803ab1de4c9b2e55dc6d85_d251537e2f4efa9c2049ef3b87f5f6526d32eb6030712c581ceb67b080b27301_1779273499_1779273499_CNawjgYQ6IxwGI7dkoGbiK-XlgEgASgEMGc4mNEKQISXgARIx9yBBFCm3RVYAWAAaPzZlc_zy9aMdnAAgAEAiAEA&ui=d251537e2f4efa9c2049ef3b87f5f6526d32eb6030712c581ceb67b080b27301&response.id=__1dd46dd916057a72660fdf98200eda0d__867f962e6fc9cc18766cf2864787d272

Roads and pavements-end to end coverage

It is in many places that all available area is filled with bitumen or concrete for roads, pavements. During rains, with no scope for seepage, it is causing floods.  And, ground water tables are not rising.

Further, thermal radiation will be more from such surfaces, compared to earthen areas. Atleast 1-2 m kerb space with earth shall be left to allow for water seepage and reduced heat.

 

Visible safety

Some VIPs during their visits to plants/projects are found without required PPE. Many times, helmets are worn without chin strap. Such appearances by senior persons set wrong safety culture. Those in position should set an example by following safety principles. 

I also some plant heads carrying their helmets in their vehicles and using it religiously in plant areas during their visits.

Let us remember the saying, 

Yatha Raja, Thatha Praja 

(Like king, like subjects).