Mixing of chemicals - chlorine release

Chlorine gas released in to atmosphere affected persons, when staff of a health club accidentally mixed

ub chain has been fined £20,000 after several people were treated in hospital due to a chlorine gas leak. 

polyaluminium chloride with the swimming pool disinfectant sodium hypochlorite

 

Poor management and control of hazardous substances was found as the cause for the occurrence of the incident during investigation.

        

Proper training, testing of understanding and retraining are most important in handling chemical substances and only those who qualify and are certified for hazardous substance handling should be engaged in such works.      

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/health-club-fined-over-toxic-gas.21393479

New NIOSH Smart Phone App Addresses Ladder Safety

The following links to the subject matter. While I copied this application in my android tablet and phone, I found a number of android applications useful for safety professionals, like checklists, API pressure vessel questions, dangerous goods manual, physics equations, chemistry equations, heat exchanger, cylindrical tank volume, valves, sound meter, light meter, speed meter, HSE news, etc. And all these and many more are free.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-06-17-13.html

Scaffold erection - work at height - construction safety

I booked a flat and work is in  progress (for last three years!!!). Today, I attended a meeting of flat owners with the builder. Like earlier times, again date for handover was extended by a month. The reason told was that because of rains and high velocity winds at height, and as it involves erection of scaffolds i.e work at height, construction activity was stopped.

Whatever was in other owners' minds, as a safety professional, I was glad to hear such a thing that builder stopped his work inspite of project delay. Already, he is running beyond the agreed possession date which was almost two years ago and is liable to pay some compensation as per the agreement.

How many will take such a decision though it is well known fact that any untoward incident will lead to project delays due to enquiries by police and municipal authorities.

Construction is an activity in which large number of accidents take place and the work force is also mobile with little protection for their lives.

Bank employee takes a nap on keyboard, transfers millions | The Hindu

Bank employee takes a nap on keyboard, transfers millions | The Hindu

293 million US dollars were transferred by a bank employee who was asleep while on the job. Imagine what can happen if somebody on the job in the control room of a chemical plant sleeps.

All plant employees should be healthy, and had sufficient rest before attending their duty. In some plants, workers have long working hours and on few occasions, they have to continue if reliever does not come, doing overtime.

Legislations specify number of working hours (8-9.5 hr) with rest in between and also the number of hours which a person can work continuously in a day and number of hours in a week, quarter and so on to ensure that they get sufficient rest and are not forced or lured for extra money they get. It is not possible to work more hours continuously and this will lead to mistakes and accidents.

Work at height - Two Decisions and Two Outcomes

Picture This! Two Decisions and Two Outcomes » SafetySmart

LINK
The above link shows necessity of using safety belt while working at height.

SafetySmart Compliance » Blog Archive 10 Astonishing Facts About Arc Flash

SafetySmart Compliance » Blog Archive 10 Astonishing Facts About Arc Flash

LINK

Lost track - road accident

The autorikshaw driver lost control as his front wheel got separated and was off the driving path. Opposite coming bike rider could not escape the intruder of his path. Four persons were injured in the accident.

Many Texas plants lack safety inspections despite risks, data show : Stltoday

Many Texas plants lack safety inspections despite risks, data show : Stltoday


 

Ammonia accidents

In the Wake of West, Texas: 1,000 Toxic Chemical Accidents You Have Not Heard Of

LINK

Forklift for transport of persons

 Most famous cricketer and politician, Imran Khan fell from a makeshift platform on the forks of a forklift, while moving up to reach election campaign stage. The video (http://vimeo.com/65647621) and (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AlUH9vqCf5g)  show clearly that already, it was used to move some people on to the stage before the incident happened. There were 6-7 persons including Imran Khan on the forklift, and while fifth person tried to go up, the group lost balance and fell from a height of about 5 m.
The idea of using forklift instead of erecting steps to reach the stage is a misconceived one and in the process caused injuries to the cricketer and politician. In industries, use of forklift for other than material handling/movement is viewed seriously.