Your Place: Rid your home of toxic chemicals - KansasCity.com

Your Place: Rid your home of toxic chemicals - KansasCity.com

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Chemical agent plant construction paused to improve safety » Local News » The Richmond Register

Construction of a pilot plant was stopped by Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass to review safety systems, procedures, create safety awareness among the employees, etc after the occurrence of four accidents involving cuts and bruises and two near miss incidents. This action is commendable, as normally nobody stops the work even after the occurrence of major accidents and try to bargain with regulators to start the work at the earliest. Such actions will resulting in increased confidence among the employees and help in achieving a better work place.


Chemical agent plant construction paused to improve safety » Local News » The Richmond Register

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Thai PM orders assessment of all factories every 3 months

To assess the risk of chemicals used in the factories, quarterly assessment by factory visits was order by Thai PM. Though, this may happen in the beginning, it is difficult to sustain in the long run unless otherwise, sufficient number of factory inspectors with authority are available. Governments should also consider safety promotion by penalizing/rewarding the factories. If a factory's safety performance is consistently good over a period of time, say five years without any accident, tax benefits or discounts in insurance premiums  may be provided. Similarly,  if safety performance is not good, they should be taxed more or insurance premium should be enhanced. This may lead to hiding the accident data. Therefore, all accidents should be registered by factories in a government website and be publicly available. If there is any non-reporting, it can be brought to the notice of the government and they should be rewarded sufficiently and their identity be protected governments can announce rewards to factory workers to bring to their notice, by giving cash rewards. Further, the identity of these persons should be protected.
PM orders assessment of all factories every 3 months

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Unemployment leads to drop in injuries?

As per a study in UK, there were 1.5 million workplace accidents and injuries ranging from paper cut to serious chemical burns. Over last 10 years when unemployment rose by 65%, for 100,000 workers, fatalities dropped from 0.9 to 0.5, major accidents by 11% (to 99 in 2011), 3-day absence injuries by 48% (to 363). The reasons cited are, reduction in man power needs due to technological improvements thus reducing man-machine contact, realization by companies that safety investment pays in the long term by reduction in claims, non-reporting, etc.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/4/prweb9347738.htm

Five workers die as wall collapses

During digging for a cellar under a building, five workers were buried alive due to caving in of adjacent excavated earth of 15 feet high and also collapse of side wall. 

I am unable to provide the link for the picture which I saw in the news paper (Times of India) in local edition that appeared on 13.04.2012 which opens the eyes of careless site engineers who do not bother to keep the excavated soil away from the trenches. As per good safety practices, the excavated soil should be kept atleast 1.5 m or 50% of the depth of the trench whichever is higher. Further, the angle of repose of the soil also should be taken in to account depending upon the nature of the soil/earth excavated. Generally, 15 degree (with horizontal) is the safe angle.
And, shoring as required also needs to be ensured so that there will not be any collapse.  In another incident reported few years ago, two persons working at a depth of about 3-5 feet were buried from the earth adjacent due to disturbance/vibrations caused. 

When people are covered even partially under the soil, it is difficult for them to come out of it and suffer due to the impact and pressure of the soil on their body leading to death. 

http://www.indiablooms.com/NewsDetailsPage/2012/newsDetails130412k.php

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Five-workers-die-as-wall-collapses/articleshow/12645263.cms

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article3310070.ece

Participative approach by workers: A Case of Two Chemical Accidents

The following link is about two facilities involved in same job but is about how participation by workers can make wonders for their own safety and of others and its contribution to the organization. Participative approach is an age old philosophy but is hardly practiced. But, when followed, it ensures a safe work place for all.
The Union Difference: A Case of Two Chemical Accidents

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chemical accidents – Center for Health, Environment & Justice

As per an article appeared in the web, there are 483 chemical plants in US that can endanger more than 100,000 lives each. And there are many more chemical plants that use dangerous chemicals that can impact the lives of many in the vicinity of the plant. A statement is made that many of these are located in areas where low income and other groups do live. However, I think this statement may not be true. Generally, when any plant is located, it will be ensured that there is no habitation around, unless otherwise these plants are very old, say 50-60 years before. People try to live near the factories in which they are working for ease of mobility and access and thus over a period of time, factories will be surrounded by thick population who are not working in these plants. Initially, even factory managements encourage such growth as they get cheap man power quickly. But, once accidents start happening, same population and their bosses (read political leaders), environmentalists, etc will demand for shifting of the production facilities to remote places. Even if these are shifted, there is no guarantee that they will remain isolated forever. The story repeats.
There is also a statement in the report that some plants substituted poisonous chemicals with less harm or harmless chemicals. Elimination/substitution/operating at near atmospheric conditions/etc are most desirable methods to eliminate hazards and those plants which reduce dangers by any of the methods should be encouraged by way of tax relief for sometime so that others too get motivated.




chemical accidents – Center for Health, Environment & Justice

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North Sea gas leak on March 25, 2012 at 4000 m below the surface

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21637-no-toxic-hydrogen-sulphide-in-north-sea-gas-leak.html
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21631-north-sea-gas-leak-venting-from-newly-disturbed-source.html
http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/scottish-headlines/north-sea-gas-leak-source-located-1-2199804#


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2121457/North-Sea-gas-leak-threatens-repeat-Piper-Alpha-oil-rig-disaster-Aberdeen.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Change of guard - impact on safety policies

Changes are imminent - whether it is the top man or at different levels. Every time, organizational change occurs particulary at top level, it is certain that the new management will review policies in all respects. People want to leave their imprint by thinking differently and this is one of the reason for shuffling of positions in any organization.
Depending upon the knowledge, experience, interests and targets of the person taking charge,  and also the advise provided by down under, unless otherwise it is one-man army as in small organizations, the policy shift can be either good or bad to the organization (and to the subordinates?). It may take sometime to see the results of these changes.
As per rules, whenever the occupier or safety in-charge changes, this information needs to be informed to regulators immediately. And, it is better if regulators keep a watch on the affairs of such organization(s) for a reasonable period, to ensure that the safety issues continue to get top priority inspite of the changes in the organization.

A capsule for removing radioactive contamination from milk, fruit juices, other beverages

A capsule for removing radioactive contamination from milk, fruit juices, other beverages

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