Importance of communication in safety

Communication is an important aspect in every part of life.

As all of us know, even a dot or comma in written communication can change the whole meaning.

It should be in simple language, shorter, to the point.

Then, it will be easily understood.

Some accident takes place and if location is not told exactly, valuable time is lost by emergency services in reaching and rescuing.

Sometimes, persons have the habit of talking for longer time, which could have been completed in 1-2 minutes.

Saying same in different forms will only make the listener to loose interest.

Say what to convey in very few sentences and then monitor for proper implementation. 

Sending circulars, use pictures, which are easy to understand.

Review what you are sending or talking to avoid confusion.

How many lessons and how many times we should get?

It is saddening to see news item on one accident or other regularly in print/electronic media. 

The accident at LG Polymers was a jolt to all. 

But, in succession, there were accidents at different places. 

Though the reason stated is lock down, this can't be a reason for not ensuring safety. 

If not lock down, there can be other reasons like strike or operators resigning, so on.

When a factory is set up, before operation, we have to identify all possible ways by which something can go wrong and have an emergency procedure prepared and rehearsed on regular basis.

It is not that somebody has to ask.

Afterall, so much money is poured.

Why can't we check and have a list of critical areas / parameters for inspection at a frequency they deserve to ensure safety.

I remember a statement from one of US EPA's investigation report, the reason for accidents is not the lack of knowledge, but lack of application.

The great safety professional, Trevor Kletz in one of his books mentioned that accident recur at regular intervals, if not in same plant, it may occur in similar some other plant.

If somebody thinks, accidents are unavoidable, then, let us remember the quote from our former President, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, "Preventable accident, if not prevented due to our negligence, is nothing short of murder".

From my experience, and being in safety profession for last twenty years, I feel that, safety shall be part of curriculum in all courses, starting from play school, LKG, UKG, ... degree.

The extent of content can be decided upon the standard.

Initially, it can be a line or para in the chapter.

After, 12th standard, it can be a compulsory paper. 

Else, I feel, importance of safety will not be pushed into the learning minds.

When I studied my chemical engineering, it was a chapter in a paper in my final year. 

But, I might have skipped the question, if any, was there in my examination, which I do not remember.

But, I understood about safety only after posted in safety department.

Legal aspects also should be taught atleast in courses after 12th standard, where the pass outs from these courses, can be supervisors or managers and may lead the organizations in front after few years of experience.

The awareness about events and euphoria is also less or short lived. 

We soon forget about the incident and its impact.

Do we need kicks in our back regularly.

When somebody joins an organization, he should be rotated through, HRD, safety and finally in production. Maintenance experience also helps to do better in production.

Persons posted after initial training, should be authorized or certified for the job.

Retraining or recertification is also required, say, once in three years, without which, persons should not be given pay rise or promotion.

Let us be attentive to our surroundings and take care of ourselves and neighbourhood.