Don't skip SOP

Today,  while doing morning prayer, thoughts about some family issues came to my mind. It happens mostly during prayer time. I had the urge to stop prayers. But, continued my prayer and I had experienced some calmness.  Had I stopped,  I might have been tensed and could have taken some decision hurriedly. 

Extending this, sometimes,  we bypass SOP and results may be as desired. But, this will make us to tweak SOP and we will definitely end with failure or accidents.

Procedures are for getting desired outcome without failure. 

Let us not bypass systems. 

Never stand behind a vehicle

There are few experiences in which a parked vehicle moves backwards, after restart, either while releasing parking brake or gear in reverse mode (though driver presumes it in forward position) and driver can't see who is behind.

Cheating

Cheating

A boy found and developed friendship with a girl through social media. Decided to marry after three years,  sent some money for marriage arrangements. On the day of marriage,  couldn't find the so called venue and the girl's phone is switched off. 

Till the day of marriage,  all communication and arrangements were only through phone. The link is given above.

Such incidents are reported regularly in the media. 

It is unimaginable to decide life's important event through phone, without personal interaction,  meeting of families. But, now and then these types of cheating are reported. In some reported cases, after the marriage,  one of the two ran away with money, ornaments. 

Or after online friendship,  ask money for treatment of some blood relation or some emergency needs.

A thorough check is required in advance in any matter.  Like we procure machinery for house or plant.

There are always some people who fall prey to exploitation. 

We have to be careful with the presumption that nothing comes free.

My nearmiss incident today on the road

I had a close call today on the road while traveling. Our driver was driving straight and suddenly, a car in opposite direction took right turn. Our driver moved swiftly  left side.

Following were noted:

1. The divider was having vegetation blocking the view of vehicles coming in opposite direction from other side of the divider

2. Other side vehicle driver was rash, having taken the U turning very fast, not close to the divider,  but seems like he wants to cross the road straight at perpendicular direction, without checking vehicles opposite 

3. Our vehicle having moved left to avoid collision with vehicle in front would have been hit by vehicle behind, had there been one - no vehicle was behind at that time

What should have been done?

1. Drive slowly while approaching road junctions or places wherever the divider ends

2. Watch for opposite coming vehicles before taking turning 

3. Show the intention of taking turn by showing the indicators, blow the horn

4. Keep safe distance to the vehicle in front to avoid possible collision if the vehicle stops suddenly or moves left/right for different reasons

5. Keep attention on the road in front ahead unless want to change the lane

Scaffolding

Yesterday,  I was on personal trip to the coastal temple town Murdeshwar in Karnataka. 

I was attracted by the scaffolding erected around the huge gopuram structure as above. The cost of the structure would have made the concerned to avoid it, but was made implies importance to safety of workers. H frames were used for the work.  

Similar scaffolding was seen around a over head tank in Mangalore City. I didn't take photo,  but this too was like a perfect design and erection job.

Great job.

Testing of overhead cranes

As a part of periodical testing,  we do load test of cranes. But, we have to test the slings, ropes, D shackles, etc also which are used for material handling. It is better to replace these items every year if operations are done in corrosive atmosphere and do examination separately for service life.

We have to check these accessories before use everyday with a checklist.  Even we have to do functional checks for upper and lower limit switches, gravity limit switch, overload current trip, anticollision sensors, etc.

We have to check the condition of shaft between motor and rope drum for any signs of degradation. 

If the surrounding environment is  corrosive, we can see pits. 

Operators need to be trained on use of daily checklist before use of the crane.

Any abnormal sound during long travel and cross travel is an indication of wheel damage/misalignment of rail tracks.

We should check condition of busbars. Loose connection of current collectors may lead to operational problems. It is better to have shrouded busbars for operational safety. Having current indicators will help to identify power supply, immediately to the user.

Visible display of safe work load helps to avoid overloading. 

In case of cranes operation with remote, we shall ensure that the frequency set for remote is unique and doesn't cause operation of other cranes in its range. 

Vehicle parking on public roads - associated hazards

It's a common scene anywhere in most of the places to find vehicles parked in public roads. 

Establishments and residential properties do not provide sufficient parking areas for occupants and visitors. Coupled to this is the space occupied by hawkers and street vendors.

Outside parking hinders movement of vehicles. This impact will be visible in emergencies. Access by emergency services will be limited preventing them from their duties. 

Sometimes,  I feel that all those encroachments shall be handled by destructive methods to prevent others in following such practices.

How do I behave after an accident

Every scary moment makes the person wiser and will be so for sometime. Once the memory becomes sluggish,  again the person will be in previous ways, till encounters or ends with another bad moment. 

So what to do?

Our behavior in every moment shall be cautious and alert as though we had a bad experience just a moment before. We need not be stressful and spoil health.  Just be aware of what can happen with a wrong action. 

Are you doing justice to your job

We joined in our job knowing well about the location,  responsibilities,  hours of work and salary. 

But, many complain about location, inadequate pay. They don't work fully in the working hours. Though, some may be present physically, but don't discharge their duties. Others, even do not be available. 

Coming to HSE field,  it is a noble profession. Not doing our job means, we are responsible for the accidents and incidents that affect the employees and public,  damage to the environment and may have potential to affect the public, and property loss leading to wastage of natural resources. 

Karma in Hindu mythology says, "what you give is what you get".

If I take salary and don't discharge my responsibilities effectively,  the salary taken will not help me or my family.  It will ruin the family, which we may not realize.  Or, by the time,  we realize,  already it would have impacted us.

But, many selfish fellows don't understand and feel victimized.  They don't have ethics, though they preach.

Such fellows are burden to the organization and society and shall be thrown out.

Else, organization will suffer. 

Walking 5000 steps in 1 hour than in 30 minutes burns more calories

LINK

Walking 5000 steps in one hour with intermittent breaks requires more energy for every resumption of walking thus burning extra calories to complete same 5000 steps in one hour than continuous walking. Looks convincing. 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/how-walking-5000-steps-in-1-hour-burns-more-calories-than-walking-same-steps-in-30-mins/articleshow/114622577.cms