Fires

Every day we are seeing some news on accidents here and there. Many of these seem to be avoidable with their own common sense, while others could have been avoided with supervision and monitoring.

We do not pay attention to the work we are doing. An oversight even momentarily leads to the initiation of events ultimately resulting in accidents with or without injury. 

Some incidents are like, the person wants to complete the allotted work quickly so that either he can do more and get financial benefit, or leave the workplace either for rest or go away for some personal work. These things do happen when time discipline is not followed. Greediness is another reason. In these cases, supervision to ensure SOP compliance as well as to ensure shopfloor attendance for the allotted shift schedule is essential. We should not encourage to do work by circumventing the safe work procedure or standard operating procedure to get more output. These will result in accidents for sure. This can be compared to overspeed driving. 

Similarly, as summer is approaching, already many fire incidents are reported in the media. Many are attributed to short circuits. But, why the factories/buildings should have faulty wiring. Is not the responsibility of the owner who is running the operations, to check and ensure that his property is safe and no interruption takes place because of such incidents. Huge property losses are reported from the fire incidents with the well-known / widely reported reason of short circuit. 

Insurance firms should ensure the compulsory submission of annual audits from recognized agencies by the firms for the renewal of insurance. Any addition of electricity load also shall not be done without certification from the auditing agency. This is required to ensure that the wiring, distribution boards, protection systems and supply systems are suitable to take the proposed loads. 

Local bodies also shall not give additional electricity loads unless such certifications are submitted and are verified by the agency.

A fire incident will not only damage the particular firm due to its fault but also endangers nearby buildings and their occupants. This also puts the lives of firefighters at risk during their work for fire extinguishing.  Thus, local governments and agencies have every right to get audits before permitting additional loads or works.

Display boards - its importance

Many times, persons question about the importance of bill boards, its utility and money spent is considered as waste. Questions are also raised about, does the reader / viewer is serious to understand and follow.

Apprehension were particularly w.r.t. posters, slogans, etc. 

The way bill boards attract about products / entertainment visuals, the same way boards with preaching may not attract.

However, over a period of time, suddenly, a realization may come to the viewer by comparing his/her own experience and it strikes them for better. 

For that particular moment to arrive, it can be immediate or it may take months/years together. Again, over a time, persons will forget. But, these displays act as a reminder.

Till such time, though it looks simple, the meaning is not understood. 

We have to remember that slogans / proverbs are the outcome of somebody's experience or forethought. These are same as rules and regulations made after observing so many incidents / events.

Hence, we should give sufficient thought, have creativity to make attractive boards for personnel to see and understand at the earliest so that it helps them to follow for better, helps in day-to-day activities, develops attitude and safety culture. 

Wrong side driving - road safety

Recently, I went outstation on road by car due to some emergency. The distance covered one way was about 550 km. 

In this particular route, in one stretch, I had many near misses, as I found vehicles of all types like 4- / 2- wheelers, carts, etc coming straight opposite in the wrong direction. 

Assuming I am safe due to the road divider, I was driving at 80-100 kmph speed. But, as I entered this particular stretch, I narrowly missed opposite coming vehicles many times. Initially, I thought it is a one-time affair. But, there was a constant stream of vehicles of all types. In one particular place, I thought I got one more life. The truck coming opposite straight in the wrong direction to me was about to hit, after taking a turn from the other side at about 50 distance (which I did not expect such a thing can happen). To avoid a collision, I changed from the lane adjacent to the divider to the middle lane. But, this truck driver also moved to the middle lane, and hurriedly he moved to the first lane again, thus narrowly missing me. Further to this wrong direction driving, he started staring at me. 

I felt that this lane discipline is nothing and should be careful during driving in this stretch at all times that vehicles can come in all directions. 

Some thoughts about width of vehicles

Sometimes, while driving, I missed narrowly hitting the backside of the vehicles while overtaking. Though I tried to keep some distance during overtaking, still these vehicles come closer to me. This happened mostly with tri-wheelers.

It is my impression that the tri-wheeler vehicles due to their smaller driver cabin compared to their luggage rear portion, these drivers are taking care of only themselves without ensuring safe margins for entire vehicles.

So, I feel that the width of the vehicle should be the same both at the front and back so that this sort of problem may not arise.

Rare incident in the mid air

Freak incident

https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/plane-windscreen-cracked-by-block-of-ice-that-fell-from-another-plane-flying-1000-ft-above/844279

Use of PPE - need for checks before use

In an incident involving the fall of the person from height, investigation of the incident revealed damaged safety belt. Though the person used a safety belt, when he slipped and fell, the belt got broken near the hook. The belt got damaged from weld sparks. 

In another incident of fall of a person, the person did not buckle the belt properly. 

These examples stress the need for use of proper PPE, checking for its integrity before use, training the personnel for safe use, and supervision.

Countries by Petrol Prices and GDP per capita - StatisticsTimes.com

Petrol price in different countries globally and in India is available at the following. The data may not be the latest as of the moment but gives an idea to the persons interested in knowing where we are.

Countries by Petrol Prices and GDP per capita - StatisticsTimes.com

https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/fuel-price/petrol

Covid masks - entry of strands / fibre into the mouth

All of us are using masks for protection against covid. Disposable masks coming with 2/3 layers are having fibrous material as a lining and depending on the quality, these fibres/strands are entering the mouth. This may lead to future problems once they enter the body through the mouth to lungs/stomach. To avoid entry, it is better to replace such masks once in 2-3 hours. The best is to go for cloth type masks.

Bottle Gourd (laukee) toxicity

Bottle Gourd (laukee) toxicity: Tahira Kashyap lands up in ICU after consuming bitter bottle gourd, shares a warning note | 

The Times of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/bottle-gourd-laukee-toxicity-tahira-kashyap-lands-up-in-icu-after-consuming-bitter-bottle-gourd-shares-a-warning-note/photostory/86936261.cms

Covid pandemic - change of working hours

The second wave is on the downside and as per experts, the third wave is in the beginning stage. Governments expressed concern about the lack of discipline among the public. 

W.r.t. organizations, some organizations are continuing work from home. Others resumed working in the official spaces. 

However, where possible, we can alter working hours so that those commuting to the workplace can travel in hours that are different from other organizations. 

Flexible hours also can be followed where possible. 

We lost so many work hours due to the pandemic in the first two stages. Governments and organizations can have tight control till the entire situation is controlled. Definitely, this pandemic will continue for few months or 1-2 years. But all efforts taken earlier will go waste if it is not followed.