Occupational Safety and Health Tips for Workplaces

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Corona virus - lockdown - employment - financial management - some thoughts

Now, a month of lockdown period is experienced by us with not much physical activity. Don't know how many more days it will continue. Seeing what was done in its origin, may be we have to undergo another month or more like this.

One observation made is that public is not going for panic stocking of house hold items. As promised by governments, vegetables, fruits, groceries are available, though shopping time is limited. I feel that restriction of timings for purchase of these items by public should not be limited. Limited time means crowds in shops thereby defeating the norm of social distancing. To avoid public roaming around in the name of shopping, present checks by police shall be continued. Persons found at distance far off than from their residence (3 km) shall be charge sheeted unless valid reason as required by government is available. 

I also feel that keeping the vehicles caught on roads by police will be a headache for them. Instead, hefty penalties shall be collected on the spot to discourage them. The amounts can be like Rs 2000 for person plying on the road without valid need, additional amounts for having more than one on bike and more than two in four wheeler, like wise. In addition, routine penalties like not having helmet, or not wearing seat belt, over speeding, etc amounts shall be charged. 

It is observed in some places that vehicles were parked on the road. Public road can't be a parking place for private vehicles. Owners of these vehicles shall be charged for this and asked to remove them. They can't make profits at the cost of public.

Industries in which chemical storages are in place shall have proper surveillance round the clock to ensure that there will not be any untoward incident. No operation does not mean that everything will be safe. House keeping shall be ensured at all times. Protections systems like fire detection and alarm system, fire extinguishing system etc shall be checked for their functionality. Weekly checks shall be done for this. Necessary permissions shall be taken from local authorities for personnel engaged in these essential services to attend their duties.

Government suggested not to operate canteens in industrial premises. But, I feel that under proper checks, persons shall be engaged for operating canteen services. There can be several issues in bringing the food from home. They can be odd hours, stress on the person making food, etc. Canteens can serve food packets to make it easier for preparation as well as for employees. 

Regarding continuation of personnel in the jobs, tt will be stressful for both the management as well as employees under conditions when plants are not operating, but management has to pay salaries without getting any income. At the same time, if they want to remove persons, it will be painful to the employees and their families. It is also problem for the managements to hire such trained and skilled persons, once things become normal. Governments advised not to remove anybody from service and to ensure monthly payment. I read somewhere that even few decades ago during lockdown because of cholera, the then governments gave paid leaves.

As a middle level solution, I feel that industry should have two types of components in the salary package. One is minimum pay which will be paid irrespective of person is working or not. It is like the pay for qualification and experience. This can include PF, house rent allowance and medical insurance/allowance. Second payment is for the performance. That is for the output delivered when works are allotted. This can include various perks like transport allowance, performance incentives, LTC, etc. When person is not given work, but to retain talent, the assured pay can make the employee to be available and even can motivate him to acquire additional skills so that he can make himself more useful to the organization and that he will be engaged so that he can get performance pay. In order to retain the person, certain minimum number of days / weeks of work can be assured in the offer letter. This way, I feel both the organization and employees should find it reasonable and will not cause much problem financially. 

If organizations are forced to make pay irrespective of whether persons are working or not, it can lead to bankruptcy and can lead to closure and employees will become jobless.

Concern about impact of switching off lights on grid on 05.04.2020, 2100 hr for 9 minutes

To express solidarity and commitment to fight present pandemic conditions, Prime Minister asked everyone to switch off lights in their homes, and show candles, mobile flash, etc on 05.04.2020, 2100 hr for 9 minutes.

There are concerns about impact on power grid by the act of public as above.

A clarification with suggestions is released as per news item below assuring about preparedness.

https://m.timesofindia.com/india/pm-modis-blackout-appeal-no-need-to-switch-off-appliances-at-home-clarifies-centre/articleshow/74982311.cms

It is mentioned that lights in essential service buildings, street lights, power consuming appliances in houses like computers, air conditioning, refrigerators, etc can be ON and the appeal is only for lights in the houses. The appeal is also for maintaining social distance during this and other times.

An incident in my house - in geyser

Today, while our bathroom electrical geyser (G) (instant) (3 lit, 3 KW) was ON  After some time,  bubbling sound was heard from the overhead tank (T) containing cold water,  located at about 0.5 m height. The outlet from geyser was opened and initially there was no flow but within 15-20 seconds, steam started coming out from this bottom outlet as well as thro' vent. The steam along with few water droplets spew from the vent (V). After 1-2 minutes, I switched off power to the geyser sensing, it may explode. 

The piping is like this: Bottom outlet from cold water tank supplies water to the geyser and hot water can be collected in two bath rooms located side by side.A parallel connection from the outlet of the overhead tank is also connected to one tap in each of these bath rooms. A vent is let above tank height. The tank is rectangular, 300 lit.

The geyser got thermo stat to cut of power supply once water is heated up. This is functioning and was checked after the incident by trial run. And, it started heating the water normally as before the incident.