Routine - does it ensure doing in safe manner

I was out of station for two days and stayed in a rented space. 

To brush my teeth, confident of items in the regularly used kit, I picked up a brush and tube with paste. 

Opened the tube and got strong smell of body ache pain relief ointment. Good that I didn't apply on the brush or put in the mouth.

Realisation came to me that overconfidence is not good. Familiarisation breeds to complacency and taking things lightly.

Attitude for safety

Every day we hear or read about accidents during transport, in factories, etc. Most of the time, reasons appear to be silly which could have been overcome. Still, it happens every day. 

Why it happens? 

Even though it is known that the accidents do take place for the causes in our control, occurrence indicates the perception of the person involved directly or indirectly ignoring the safety principles. 

Risk-taking is more in these instances. 

Risk-takers may earn more in financial circles, but, the benefits are always negligible compared to one major injury that cripples our as well as dependant's lives.

Easier said than followed, still one should always go for a safe method that protects him and others.

Importance of readily available data for preventing disasters - an article

Recently, I came across an article from Kinsmen Group, as given below. It discussed the importance of readily available data on workplace activities and incidents to prevent workplace disasters and protect the employees. It is called smart data, in the news item. 

Following are some of the issues and observations made (data seems to be for USA):

1. As per OSHA and Labour department, in the year 2019, more than 5000 persons died 9,00,000 were injured at workplace.
2. Companies spend an average USD 7,500 for each lost-time workplace injury (we can call this as direct cost). Other costs consist of replacement of damaged equipment, reconstruction of facilities, compensation, etc. (As per theory, direct cost is only like a tip of the iceberg. And, cost of preventing an accident will be only about one fourth of the direct cost).
3. As per National Safety Council, cost of workplace injuries in the year 2018 was USD 170 billion.
4. Each fatality costs USD 1.0 million in medical costs, employer costs, and wage losses
5. In a fatal fire and explosion incident, it seems, the emergency personnel do not have information of chemicals involved, otherwise, they could have saved the lives. 
6. Digitization and availability of data easily is not yet compulsory by many certification agencies. Organizations follow data retrieval in general age old methods like physical search instead of going for easy methods by using the computer/cloud technology/internet
7. Data should be latest

Many of us definitely would have spent a lot of time in search of some information. It is my personal experience that on most of the occasions, I spent more than two hours to retrieve, and sometimes more than one person was engaged for information retrieval. And, on some occasions, I didn't find what I want. Availability of signed information will help us to support what remember/believe and use it to convince others for implementation of safety or whatever we would like to.

Digitizing the records with a provision to search will be helpful for us and our future generation. Some believe digitization means scanning the documents. But scanning without search option makes it useless. It is a primitive form. Instead of paper search, we have to search in computer page by page. Indexing these types of scanned pages may make life somewhat better. But, if scanning of documents is in readable text form to enable search with key words, and is available in encrypted form in cloud, like dropbox, mega, onedrive, pcloud, etc and is accessible with password protection to prevent unauthorized access, it will help a lot for productive use. 

Searchable scanned records helped us greatly in the analysis of similar incidents and find suitable solutions to prevent recurrence of the incidents for a safe workplace  

Updating of data is a continuous process. 

Knowledge management is very important and critical to ensure safe productivity. World renowned safety professional Dr Trevor Kletz stated in one of his books (What Went Wrong) that incidents keep repeating either in the same or different similar organizations. We have to learn from them and implement measures to prevent recurrence.

Another safety professional Mr O.P.Kharbanda stated in a booklet about Bhopal accident, that Safety is not costly. In fact, it is free. What we need is the will to implement. 

In one of the investigation reports, EPA made an observation which states, it is not the lack of knowledge that is responsible for the accident. It is the lack of use of the available information that is responsible for the accident.

How we can get the information at first place. If it is made available in a readily searchable form and is known the personnel how to use it, then this information management will help to achieve what we intended to.

Qualified technologies and personnel should be assigned for this and definitely organizations will reap the benefits from this.

https://www.prweb.com/releases/two_strategies_help_prevent_workplace_disasters_protect_employees_with_smart_data/prweb17681313.htm

Certification

As a part of operation of a production unit, we need to maintain several records. Some of these are made or updated by internal staff, while others require examination and certification by external/authorised officials.

The intention is to ensure safe and healthy work place. The records should be genuine. If any malpractice is there, like a spoiled child, organization also goes in to gutter, at some point of time, if not immediately. 

One should not be happy with immediate effect, rather the focus should be on long term basis. Internal mechanism to check authenticity of the books shall be strong and robust to detect mistakes from short-sighted officials. Such persons need to be corrected with appropriate actions to discourage others. Even, if it delays the regular work. Then only, the culture of the organisation can be strong for the better.

The first impression of a visitor to the organisation will reflect the organisation's culture and values.

Leadership and management for safety - an article from IAEA

Today, I read a very good article about above topic, which is simple to understand and to follow. 

The link is given below to go through.

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/leadership-and-management-for-safety

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.

My experiences during lock down and curfew conditions for protection against COVID 19 corona spread / consequences

I read about this COVID 19, corona few weeks ago in whatsapp and news papers. Also saw the videos on isolation of families / citizens in China. I thought it strange and got a doubt about similar action in my place.

Then came the announcement from our state Chief Minister on 21.03.2020 in his televised address about Janata Curfew for 24 hr starting from 22.03.2020, 0600 hr. Chief Minister explained about possible repercussions from the pandemic conditions and requested the public to observe isolation in the houses during this period, not to come on roads, maintaining hygiene, etc 

Soon, it was followed with Prime Minister's appeal to the nation for 14 hr lock down from 22.03.2020, 0600 hr. PM requested all citizens to observe this and encourage health care workers by clapping / whistling from their houses at 1700 hr on 22.03.2020.

Essential services like shops for groceries, milk products, medical, media, etc per exempted.

This day was special for our family for a personal reasons. My wife invited few friends and relatives about a week before for a gathering. Upon learning lock down, she requested them not to come to our house. We brought some cake after the announcement and had midnight celebration arranged by our children.

So far so good. As per TV visuals, here and there, some persons were found on the roads and caught by police, giving advise. At about 1650 hr, I heard start of clapping, whistles, beating the metal plates, etc. Our floor families also came out and joined in this standing at their respective main doors.

Later, however, we saw in TV visuals, crowding of persons on the roads for clapping. Some followed social distancing during clapping. The whole purpose of maintaining social distancing was defeated in this act. These persons did not follow PM's advice of clapping from houses and instead came out. 

I went to work site on the following day. Then came the announcement of lock down for 21 days in continuation of this 14 hr / 24 hr period. I came back to house in the afternoon after we were advised to work from home and to maintain only skeletal staff for essential works.

3-4 days before, my younger son was given his computer to work from home by his company and I thought it is a different experience.  Now, I too joined this. Whereas my son's work is in IT, mine is in industrial safety. But, we picked up to manage. As per advice to maintain bare minimum staff, only 1-2 persons were put in roster for duties for monitoring in field and rest to interact with these 2 persons. 

In industrial establishments, as per history, a plant shutdown does not mean it is safe. One should be more vigilant to ensure safety of pressure systems like gas cylinders, storage bullets, piping, and chemical storages; observation of safety rules by persons when nobody is watching them, so on. It should be like factory still operating with a reduced manpower instead of full scale. Shutdown does not mean relaxation of safety rules / practices. It is also known that many accidents happened during startup and we should resume operations not based on what we thought it was, but only after thorough checking of all systems in the field.

Generally, I purchase provisions for a month in the first week of the month. After this 21 days lock down announcement, we checked stocks and replenished some items like cereals, cooking oil, detergents, and most importantly medicines as I got hypo hypothyroidism and severe joint pains, for a month.

A week went by and the situation in the factory was well managed by all departments. Work from home led to more working hours i.e. instead of 8 hr, we were in touch from morning to midnight. Generally, my mobile use is very less in normal conditions. It is only an instrument at home for some emergency. I used to charge this phone once in 2-3 days. But, now, because of usage, I am charging sometimes, once twice a day. 

Search for news on this virus has increased a lot. I am following covid19india.org and worldometer sites to understand the severity of the issue. 

Now, lock down is extended for another 3 weeks and hope everything will be alright. Our state government even imposed curfew during 1900-0600 hr as some persons are not heeding to the appeal of not coming out unless it is essential. Police check posts were put on the roads, patrolling is increased, and humanitarian help to those needy also is being done by these personnel as seen in social media.

One can help financially by contributing to India's  Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) and / or Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and tax exemption under 80 (g) is available for the contributions made. Please check for secure link of the sites before making contribution so that it will not go to fakes. One can even do it from his/her bank account and using link provided in the bank site after login to own account for secured payment. I did like that so that I don't worry about so many links appeared soon after the appeal by the Honourable Prime Minister of India.

Responsibility for ensuring safety at work place

The general perception of any management is that safety officer is responsible for ensuring safety. In case of occurrence of any incident or appearance of anything unpleasant, generally the finger pointing will be on safety officer.

It is true that safety officer has to ensure safety.

But, safe work conditions can be ensured in the work place only when there is cooperation from shopfloor manager and employees in the shopfloor. It is a collective effort. As long as this is not realized, the workplace can never be safer. There may not be accidents, but, this does not mean that workplace is safe for persons. It is totally by luck and till Murphy's law comes into picture, shopfloor persons have their head.

It is said that if workplace is to be safe, it can be done only by line function, but NOT by staff function. That is to say that safety can be ensured truly by workmen, supervisors and managers who are managing the shopfloor activity every moment. Any deviation can be observed immediately and can be rectified before accident takes place. Instead, if left to safety officer's observation, then plants have to depend upon their luck, as safety officer can't be present everywhere at the same time and all times.

Factories Act requires one safety officer for every 1000 employees, and with the increase in site workforce, the number of safety officers requirement is not in proportion. If these many employees can't see what is wrong in their own workplace, it is unrealistic to expect the safety officer to monitor entire area all the time.  And, why safety officer alone should tell that some thing is wrong. Every person is responsible and I am responsible for my work. If a person can't or don't want to work responsibly for his own safety and that of others, then safe workplace can NEVER be ensured.

As long as fingers are pointed at safety officer alone, it will lead to the impression among plant personnel that they need to bother only production and are not responsible for safe work conditions in the shopfloor and think that safety officer has to see that aspect. They think that safety officer has to check and ensure even the basic requirements of machine guards, functioning interlocks, lighting, ventilation, obstruction-free access,  wearing of safety shoe/helmet/safety belt, etc. Thus, ensuring safety lies mainly with the shopfloor personnel and its managers. Shopfloor managers have to be visible in the work area which can lead to better safety culture.

And it can be strengthened by advice and monitoring of safety officers.

Informative document on cyber safety

The following link may be used to see subject information.

https://www.comprompt.co.in/cyber-safe-girl-ebook/

Poor concepts on safety

Many managerial position officials think that safety means using personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety shoe, helmet, safety belt, etc.

But, it is a fact that PPE is a last line of defense to the persons. 

This is what told repeatedly by safety professionals and once people understand, they will agree.

The basis issues to be looked into start from plan, design and implementation of work area, equipment, etc where by incorporating safety as an inherent part, hazards can be taken care so that they do not lead to any unsafe conditions.

If the above fails, then PPE will help the person to minimize the consequence, if not protecting in total.

It is sad that even those persons who work in shopfloor and are likely to come in contact with hazards too do not care about their own personal safety.

People do not try to identify the hazards existing or arising in work place or even if they are known, not taken to the notice of line managers effectively either because of not giving importance or because of fear of facing rebuke. But, who will suffer.

If the line managers do not act or do not take the information on hazards properly, then they should be made to understand by complaining to next level or taking to the notice of safety department. 

The problems lies with line managers too. If they go to shopfloor everyday and see the areas with proper perspective, they too can understand as they are accountable for shopfloor safety as per Factories Act or other such legislations. If nothing else is applicable, we have IPC sections under which one can be charged under 302, 304, 304-A etc.

Once persons understand and initiative is taken, they also see to it that it is implemented at the earliest and one should not take umbrella under the pretext of delays from other agencies. It all depends on how much convinced the line manager is and his willingness to act further.

Question of cost of safety!

Safety is costly, you know!

Any caution on safety is not costly. It may appear costly with respect to money, time, presumed slowness in reaching immediate targets, etc. But, if something is found to be missing w.r.t. ensuring safety and it needs resources to correct it doesn't mean it is added cost.
We have to thank our luck that nothing happened till such time and that somehow the deficiency or lapse was seen by somebody and got an opportunity to rectify it.
Nothing goes waste when we allocate resources meant for enforcing or improving workplace. Those who suffered due to incidents/accidents can tell the impact faced by them, till their memory retains.
Generally, people will forget the lessons and repeat the mistakes in same or different form.
Repetition of mistakes and resultant accidents make the interested parties sick of the way the organization is being run with shortsightedness.
Strict control only appears to work, but how long this can go on depends on mental stamina of the persons in controlling positions.
I think we are destined to suffer at different intervals due to failure to follow the procedures meant for safety of persons/property/environment/etc and when the loss is huge, then the whole organization suffers, may lead to closure.

Safety - luck(?) or duck(0)

Everyday we face many situations that are nearmisses let it be at home, on road or at work place. I think we are all lucky several times a day, most of the days. Whether it is our mistake or of others, we go to bed without pain. There are those few occasions when we get some hit or we hit somebody to call it an accident.

This luck so many times a days, for so many days makes us to think we are super heroes and nothing happens to us. GOD bless us. 

Let us use our common sense and be careful. Let us not look at the past to pat ourselves that we are right. We are wrong at most of the times.

Let us educate ourselves and others and do not depend on the luck to be safe. Else, we will be DUCK OUT one day.

Idi Sangathi - 19th September 2015 - ఇదీ సంగతి – Full Episode

LINK

Industrial safety in Pakistan - an article from The Express Tribune

In a discussion meeting, speakers stressed the need for revision of obsolete regulations to ensure safety for workmen. It is stated that only 560 labor inspectors are available for an estimated work force of 60 million in industrial, commercial and agriculture sectors.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/949724/outdated-regulations-responsible-for-accidents/

International yoga day: Safety guidelines for yogasanas

Today is international yoga day. A recognition with more publicity for the science taught by our ancestors. 
A link below takes us to safety guidelines to be followed for practicing yoga. No amount of information is a substitute for teacher's advice. Just for information.

http://www.wailana.com/yoga/asanas/guidelines

Yesterday, I heard a lecture from which I learnt that doing yoga helps us to harmonize our thoughts and helps to have more concentration. A practical session for 10 minutes during the lecture also made me to realize the same. All participants were asked to close the eyes gently, to sit relaxingly, to concentrate inhalation and exhalation at the nose entrance. After 10 minutes, after rubbing the palms and touching the eyes, we opened the eyes. The question asked was, how much time we concentrated and observed inhalation/exhalation.
I pondered over this later also and thought that this practice will help us to realize about ourselves and try to get more concentration with practice.

Safety - who is responsible - Failures attributed to regulators

When there is a robbery, police are blamed.
When there is violence, police are blamed.
When there is train accident, railways are blamed.
When a bank shuts the shop, government and police are blamed.
When some company that offers quick returns and later closes, again as above.
When there is an aeroplane accident, airlines and regulators are blamed.
When there is pollution, factory and pollution control board are blamed.
When there is an accident, factory and factories department are blamed.

Like this, blame game goes on.

In many of the above events, I do not understand what police or regulators can do. With such meager manpower, no regulator can stop a situation.

If we are not careful about ourselves, our property, what a police can do? He will make rounds, but he can't present everywhere, every time. Similarly, if someone starts violence, the local if do not catch him, why to blame others.

No doubt, police are there to prevent and control situations, but it is not possible for them with limited man power to ensure 100% peace without cooperation from people.

Similarly, we invest money out of greediness for unrealistic returns and later cry on others.
If there is pollution, people should complain to police and regulators about the problem. Also, they can form groups and pressurize the factory management to correct or close.

It is the responsibility of the management to ensure that safe working conditions and environment for workers and public are ensured. If something goes wrong, there should be fast track courts to settle the cases within a day for quick redressal of the issues. These courts, depending upon the nature and extent of violation, can order the company to pay or close the shop. There is no need to give time for correction as it is their basic duty for safety and environment.

Managements compromise on many issues for profit. Many promise and agree to comply with all legislations, only to violate later on several rules and regulations. Such companies need not be shown any mercy, for lack of knowledge or unintentional violations, as it is their responsibility to know everything, before starting operations.

Accident prevention - enforcement by mandatory publishing of safety data on product labels

Reasons for accident prevention, as quoted by experts, are humanitarian, economic and legal. Thus, organizations have to invest sensibly for implementation of occupational health and safety (OHS) in their organizations.
Further, it is stated that the reputation is also one of the factors  for ensuring safety in the organization.

The reasons listed above, for investment in OHS are correct. However, I am not sure how many will see the reputation of the company with regards to OHS aspects, while buying its products.

Job aspirants and organizations engaging the services of organizations may take a step back and think before joining or using the services as they do not want to harm themselves or see delay of their projects. But, for this OHS data should be available before taking the decision.

I am doubtful about reputation aspect while buying a product as it does not make economic sense for anybody to pay more to products of another company because of poor reputation (on OHS management).

To drive home the message about OHS issues, may be, it should be made mandatory to display the safety statistics (readable font size and color) on their product labels. For example, 100 g of xxx biscuit packet contains 2 g calcium, 1 g iron, .......; and 2 persons injured in accidents during the making of this biscuit batch during the period ----.  It is like blood stain on the product, made to be visible in the form of data display.

A rating system also may be thought off by governments or independent rating agencies that can be displayed and seen easily to enable quick decision by conscious public.

Nobody likes to display such information and thus may be more interested to ensure health and safety. And, once it is mandatory to display safety data or rating on the product labels, definitely, it will make manufacturers to be more sensitive (atleast to sell their products) to OHS issues.

DuPont Reaches $1.28 Million Settlement Over Toxic Gas Leaks -- Update - NASDAQ.com

DuPont Reaches $1.28 Million Settlement Over Toxic Gas Leaks -- Update - NASDAQ.com



Fines should be such that violations are not taken casually. Punishments are better than fines. This is applicable in all countries. Violators should not find benefit / profit in violation.

Everybody says safety first. But, do not explain the reasons for injuries/deaths and where they erred, unintentionally.

Stress and its impact on safety

I attended a seminar on occupational health and one of the topic discussed was stress management. Ill effects of stress on the person and its consequences are known to persons. It can create health problems for the person as well of lack of concentration, multitasking of the brain, non-cooperative body organs, etc which in turn can lead the person in doing work in unsafe manner.

A participant in his presentation told the audience that while opting for a job offer in a company, he insisted on working 0900-1700 hr job though in that particular company, the serious business  generally starts after lunch and will go on in to late night hours. He requested the company management to see his talent and output and not about working hours which the company agreed and the presented said he is happy and doing well even at the age of 71 now.

Though choice of working hours is somewhat difficult, still trying for the best package helps the persons to do well in their job.

Superiors at all levels too need to be counselled for proper behavior with subordinates so that the staff below are not stressed.

My boss used to tell me that one can argue with superior but not the other way. He said, it is the responsibility of superiors to listen to subordinates and try to solve their problems in the work place rather than adding the problems.

Employees at subordinate level too need to be counselled for not to think too much on an issue which will disappear after sometime.

In a joke circulated widely on internet, every person facing a problem will have two choices.
1. You can solve it, then why to worry.
2. You can't solve it, then also why to worry.

Let us be stress-free and be happy with what we are doing and what we can do instead of worrying about works which we can't do.

Government proposes safety rating system for chemical plants | Business Standard

Government likes to rate chemical plants based on 19 key performance indicators in order to create need for zero accidents in their plants with respect to safety and security and also to provide incentives to good organizations.

I feel this is a beginning and new idea from government. Government should further extend this and ask insurance companies to use this rating while assessing the premiums. Erring companies should be charged high premiums.

But, care is to be taken to ensure that (risk) assessment will be carried out by experts and these experts are selected based on strict parameters. Else, poor assessment leads to wrong faith in the capabilities of chemical plants and its management.

Government proposes safety rating system for chemical plants | Business Standard

The draft document is available from the link as below. Interested parties can send suggestions by  end of October 2013. Such suggestions can be sent by e-mail at dirrt1@rediffmail.com; arun.agarwal@nic.in or by post. The department after receiving the comments will incorporate to prepare final documents on “Chemical Plant Safety and Security Rating System”.

http://chemicals.nic.in/Forwd30092013.pdf