Working in rooms without sun exposure leads to vitamin D deficiency

Today's news item in Times of India 'Workaholic' city faces Vitamin D deficiency brought out important health issues to those who do not see Sun. This leads to vitamin D deficiency and can cause in lower back ache, leg pain, cramps, fatigue and weakness.The incidence rate is high among IT and medical fraternity. But, now-a-days, there are many jobs which are indoor nature. Except those in marketing who are on the roads, all others are unlikely to get exposure to sun. Many have to leave from their home in the early hours for work and return only after sunset. And, with good income and loan availability, people use cars for their travel. It is reported that sun screens, air pollution and even dark skin prevents absorption of UV rays for synthesis of vitamin D
It is mentioned that vitamin D deficiency might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. At least 50% of patients with diabetes, thyroid and bone disorders suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Doctors suggest making it mandatory to fortify milk with vitamin D, like iodized salt.
Doctors prescribing 30-minute sun exposure  daily between 11 AM to 3 PM to overcome this problem.

Slow is faster and fast is exhausting - The Slow Movement

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/Slow-down/articleshow/16513338.cms

Today (23.09.2012) an article appeared in Times of India's supplement on Life on "The Slow Movement".
All of us are stressed to meet the targets and in the process, though we reach our targets, we are missing the satisfaction or peace of mind at the end. One goal is reached and we set some more goals. We do not stop to enjoy the success and what for we are doing this.
In the article, a para with sub-heading "Slow is the new fast" mentions the saying of Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Power of Slow, as "Slow is actually faster whilst fast is merely exhausting! When you slow down long enough to actually think, you make smarter decisions, that leads to better outcomes and thereby saves you time in the long run. You learn the art of managing expectations." As Gandhi once said, "There's more to life than increasing its speed."
The above reminds me of the statement of O.P.Kharbanda on safety as, "Safety is not costly. In fact it is free." We develop myths which in reality are wrong.
'The Slow Movement' is to take a few steps back from the hurdle race, and enjoy every moment of our life. This movement advocates a cultural shift toward slowing down life's pace, and enjoy living, rather than rushing through life, as Gandhi said.
Author, journalist Carl Honore who wrote the best-selling book, In Praise of Slow, describes it as "a cultural revolution against the notion that faster is always better. The Slow Philosophy is not about doing everything at a snail's pace. It's about seeking to do everything at the right speed. Savoring the hours and minutes rather than just counting them. Doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible. It's about quality over quantity in everything from work to food to parenting."
When we do things at a faster pace, we are likely to make mistakes. We do things faster and this we couple with multi-tasking i.e for example, while we talk to client, we also think about what to talk with next client or what to do for the child at home, etc. Naturally, we don't do justice to our job. Doing one job at a time with all concentration and understanding will make us happy. It is of no use in accepting all jobs and becoming a failure at the end.

My experience in online purchase

I purchased some electronic items and books online on a few occasions in the last 4-5 years. Till date my experience was good. However, recently I booked a tablet at a website as it was the lowest price compared to other sites. Some reviews in the site showed satisfied customers. However, I did not get the item in the committed 21 days period. 

Meanwhile, I came to know about several complaints on this online shopping site in several complaint forums. I contacted the customer care and they promptly registered and sent a mail and then I got a mail from business executive saying that the product is much in demand and they need another 7-8 business days for delivery. I contacted once again after a week and this time my mail to a contact mail ID resulted in automated reply to file complaint through their website, in which I did not register while ordering the tablet. After some attempts with customer care, finally I got the item. 

The above experience taught me a lesson to search for complaints on the site which we want to use in internet, so that we can take an informed decision.

There is a website www.akosha.com in which one can file their complaint against the companies. Depending upon the work, they do for free or charge some amount. The representatives will try to resolve the issue and if not possible at the end, they help the aggrieved to file complaint in local consumer forum.

Ergonomic hazards for dentists

Sometime back, I visited a dentist for tooth extraction and root canal treatment (RCT). Recently, my spouse too had dental care for which I accompanied her. I found that dentists have to stand for 30-45 minutes for 3-4 teeth extraction and if it is tough tooth, more time is required. Further, due to limitations like access, illumination and view, dentists struggle to hold the tooth and extract or give RCT. The patient will be bearing the pain. But, at the same time dentist too suffers as he has to take various postures to do his work. It is my opinion that dentists will suffer back, neck, wrist and palm related problems over a period of time, if they do not limit their work hours and do not take gaps between their consultations/dental work. However, dentists appear to be very busy with their appointment diary full. Some yoga or similar exercises also will help in maintaining a good health to dentists.

Some of the hazards to dentists and patients during their work are,

• touching different patients sometimes with bare hands
• splashing of water droplets on them
• poor ventilation
• need to answer calls from mobiles with fingers that have touched already the patient, leading to spread of bacteria
• use of common items like vaseline, cotton, bottles, etc which will be used for other patients also

Liposuction - precautions to be taken

It is reported in a local daily that a person died due to infection spread in the body after injury to intestines during liposuction in which about 12 kg fat was removed instead of below 6 kg. 

Generally, liposuction process is used for removal of fat at one place and if body mass index, BMI is more than 32.5. Otherwise, one has to go for bariatric surgery. 90% of persons gain their weight in two years after the liposuction.

The risks in liposuction can be read here.http://ehealthmd.com/content/liposuction-what-are-risks

Information about bariatric surgery can be found here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bariatric_surgery

What Confuses Everybody About Universal Wastes? Lamps

What Confuses Everybody About Universal Wastes? Lamps

Questions exist in minds of persons about how to handle mercury/fluorescent lamps as they contain some amount of mercury, which is highly toxic and is hazardous. Instructions are not available from the manufacturers to address the issue. Can we dump it as municipal waste or treat it as hazardous waste is a question needs to be answered. In view of lack of guidelines, managements often question the cost of treating and land filling these lamps as hazardous waste. The above link gives some guidelines in this regard. It is stated that as per Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), if the mercury concentration is less than 0.2 mg/lit, it can be treated as municipal waste. As per EPA observation, most of the mercury lamps fail the test.

Popcorn lung affected person awarded US $7.2 million

A person was awarded US $ 7.2 million having been affected with popcorn lung problem i.e  a form of obstructive lung disease that makes it difficult for air to flow out of the lungs and is irreversible, due to the inhalation of artificial butter flavor chemical (diacetyl) in the microwave popcorn, which he ate daily.  It is reported that he ate two bags daily for 10 years. He claimed that there are no warning labels on the popcorn bags about the dangers. Though the manufacturing company and super market that sold popcorn argued that the person got the problem from chemicals he used for years in his profession as a carpet cleaner, jurors agreed to the compensation claims made by the affected person.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57516710-10391704/colorado-man-wayne-watson-wins-$7-million-in-popcorn-lung-lawsuit/ 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Colorado-man-wins-7-2m-in-damages-for-popcorn-lung/articleshow/16483617.cms

It is reported that major manufacturers of popcorn stopped using diacetyl and are using 2,3-pentanedione which is also found to be a respiratory hazard. 

http://www.livescience.com/23360-microwave-popcorn-lung.html

The symptoms of popcorn lung disease include, scarring and hardening of lung tissue, dry cought, shortness of breath, night sweats, fever, skin peeling. 

Information on flavor related lung disease can be found from NIOSH website here. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flavorings/

Statement from former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, India - Nuclear power is safe

Please read the link http://in.news.yahoo.com/nuclear-power-safe-air-travel-kakodkar-093819120.html. Different people see differently of various options for electric power generation. People oppose setting up of mines, power generation plants, let it be hydel, coal, gas, nuclear based plants. They say it is better to go for solar/wind/geothermal/tidal power. But, any small increase increase in the unit price will draw huge protests. But, at the same time, everybody wants cheap electricity for their homes and to energize their power operated equipment. Nobody wants to use simple methods which our parents and their parents used and also no attempt is made to reduce wastage of power.
Imagine what will happen to human beings after 50-100 years when all fossil fuels are exhausted. What amount of hazardous waste will be generated in the form of batteries that are required for storing the power generated from solar/wind based plants.
When people are requested to stop power for one hour to observe 'earth hour', hardly anybody switches off power, because we can't live without power even for one hour. If power plants trip or shutdown and power disruption occurs, hundreds will call offices of local power distribution companies immediately to know about power restoration. This is the state of affairs.
A balanced view has to be taken and go for options in which benefits far outweigh the risks. Talking from air conditioned rooms without considering the sufferings of common man will not help. Today, contribution from nuclear  power may be less, but when all other resources are exhausted and then going for nuclear or any other source is definitely not a viable option. The way we manage our limited income and try to build retirement corpus, we have to manage by using power from all sources and also get ready for future.

Reasons for injuries

Four states of mind are responsible for 90% of injuries at home and work place.  The four states are rushing, frustration, fatigue and complacency. The errors they lead to are failure to keep eyes on task, failure to keep mind on task, moving into or being in the line of fire and somehow losing balance, traction or grip.

Read the full article here.

Combustible Dusts: The Hazards & How to Control Them

SafetySmart Compliance » Blog Archive Combustible Dusts: The Hazards & How to Control Them

LINK

Banana benefits for workers of chemical factories

In a major fire incident on 5 Sep 2012 in a fire cracker manufacture unit at Sivakasi, more than 35 persons died and several were injured. Some of the died were those who went for rescue. In different news reports, it is stated that the rooms where crackers are made are totally congested with little free space and with Diwali festival approaching, the finished products in cartons were stored in the same rooms where crackers are being made.
In a news report, which I am unable to get link, I read that the chemical fumes / dust in the work atmosphere is recognized by factory managements and in some factories, workers are give banana allowance of Rs 35/week so that workers can eat bananas and get rid of ill effects of chemicals entering the digestive track.

This reminds me of my experience ten years ago in a chlorine manufacturing unit, where I attended a two-day  training programme on safe handling of chemicals. As a part of the programme, the organizers demonstrated handling of chlorine emergencies by using emergency tool kit, transfer of chlorine from one tonner to another by opening the valve of a tonner. Before start of this demo, they gave jaggery to all participants standing in a circle around the tonner and were asked to keep it in the mouth and swallow the jaggery juices forming in the mouth. The reason told was that it will help in clearing the throat choking if and when we are exposed to chlorine accidentally. Similarly, pipper mint also will help in same manner.

So, there are some cheap and workable methods that help us from ill effects of chemicals and can be followed.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/at-least-54-killed-50-injured-in-fire-at-sivakasi-cracker-unit/998193/0
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3862000.ece
http://zeenews.india.com/news/tamil-nadu/major-fire-at-sivakasi-cracker-unit-leaves-scores-dead_797872.html
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-09-10/news/33737341_1_sivakasi-cracker-makers-illegal-units

Worker dies of acid burns

In an incident, when four workers were cleaning an acid tank in a factory, acid and other chemicals fell on the persons and one died while others suffered burn injuries. It is not clear from the news report, how acid fell but clearly it is a work in confined space and one has to take all precautions for such jobs to avoid such incidents. The minimum precautions to be taken are,

1. List out safe procedure, job hazard analysis and ensure safety measures for identified hazards
2. Obtain safety work permit
3. Empty the contents from the tank by pumping / draining
4. Clean the tank by water circulation or with suitable medium and test for presence of acid by sampling the circulated water
5. Isolate all inlet lines positively by inserting a blind/slip plate and not by merely closing the valves as leaking of valves is possible
6. Display caution boards at the tank pump switches for not to operate and about the work in progress and if available, remove the fuses and keep in safe custody
7. Ensure LOTO
8. Open the vent lines and admit compressed air to ensure oxygen levels at the actual place of work same as that of atmospheric air
9. Use only 24 V supply for electrical fittings inside 
10. Provide proper access and illumination 
11. Ensure work area and escape routes are free from obstructions
12. Inform medical and fire teams about nature of work and location, before start of work
13. Ensure proper breathing air set suitable for use in case of emergency, or ensure BA set use during entire work
14. Follow buddy system by having one person outside to watch for every person inside
15. Ensure to engage only medically fit personnel for the job and brief the hazards, safety measures and emergency procedures to be followed
16. Carry out trial run before start of work
17. Ensure continuous competent supervision during entire period of work

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3902905.ece?textsize=small&test=2

Tablet chokes 12 year old kid

A 12 year old kid chokes to death after swallowing a deworming tablet.http://m.timesofindia.com/city/hyderabad/12-year-old-chokes-on-tablet-dies/articleshow/16415326.cms

The kid died due to suffocation after tsking the tablet. This can happen to even elders if not taken without water.

Lab accidents are scary-An article from Science 2.0

http://www.science20.com/chemical_education/why_scary_lab_accidents_happen-93815
The above link is about the experience of a chemist. It should be read by chemists to have a feel about the need for lab safety and what can go wrong if you dont know about all implications before taking up your experiment.

Earth quake prediction - professional hazards

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/why-cant-we-predict-earthquakes-yet/13648?tag=nl.e662&s_cid=e662

The above article is about why it is difficult to predict earth quakes. It is stated that in Italy, six seismologists were tried for manslaughter for failing to predict. This is outrageous. And indicates professional hazard. The person who filed case charging the scientists should be tried first about his understanding of earth quakes and how others failed.

Woman found dead, gas leak suspected - Indian Express

Woman found dead, gas leak suspected - Indian Express

In an incident reported, a woman and two stray dogs were found dead in the sleep allegedly due to toxic gas leak from a waste transfer pipe passing through the area from industry to treatment plant. From this, it appears that there is no monitoring mechanism to assess healthiness of the piping. Whether any pipe markers with identification are in place or not is to be seen. In such a state, if somebody digs for something, he can encounter the pipe and any damage can cause jetting of the effluent from the pipe endangering the surroundings. How permission was given to lay the pipe across in the public area also should be enquired.

Know about eye wash shower

An article in detail about eye wash shower location and care to be taken is available in the following link.

http://www.chemicalplantsafety.net/safety-equipment/what-you-need-to-know-about-eye-washer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChemicalPlantSafety+%28Chemical+Plant+Safety+Resources%29

I learnt from this that the eye wash shower should be reachable in 10 seconds, to be located at same level of hazard area and dust covers should be provided to avoid contamination.

It is also stated that ANSI requires 30-90 psi pressure. It is my feeling that high pressure water should not be used as in the literature, hazards of high pressure water jets on eyes state damage to the eyes.

As per Indian Standard, the pressure to be maintained is 196 kpa i.e about 30 psi and 16 lpm flow rate for eye wash fountain and for emergency shower, it should be 110 lpm. As per this standard, it should be located within 15 m distance from chemical handling area.

The reason for minimum 15 minute cleaning is that even after this much cleaning, only about 95% chemical is washed off, which I read in internet written by an author from US about HF splash on the lab coat. I used to explain this to my audience in the training programmes about the necessity for washing atleast 15 minutes. Otherwise, human tendency is to wash till such irritation exists. However, the vapors from the chemical soaked cloth can continue to expose the persons and cause health effects later. And, HF will show delayed effects affecting lungs and exposed persons can die due to odema.

Safety during excavation

Following link from SafetySmart provides tips about safety during excavation.

http://www.safetysmart.com/safetysmart/resources/view.aspx?id=428&articleId=957&utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bongarde#.UEdzpbLibRs

There are many more precautions to be taken about safe distances to be maintained for keeping the excavated soil, provision of ladders for use in emergency, display of cautionary signs, etc.