Road safety - taking vehicle out from home - ramp to road - collisions?

Yesterday,  I  attended a marriage held in a community hall. Vehicle parking is in cellar with upward ramp from the road.

While leaving, I have to be cautious as the ramp is steep and immediately leads to the road. No visibility on to either side of the road till vehicle comes down as the gates of the community hall block it.

Every possibility exists, of collision with vehicles moving on the road.

Same is true at many places as we can see. If some offset is provided between gates, wall and road, it will help drivers to see others and be cautious. Even ramp also should not be extended upto the road.  Some flat landing space atleast for one vehicle should be ensured before joining the road.

Commuting - plan properly - start early - use less rush hours - for safety

Commuting during lean hours takes less time to reach the destination, less strain on the person driving, better use of time, less fuel consumption, less pollution, better mileage, decrease in traffic, so on. 

All that is required is planning of our activities. 

Many people postpone to the end, hurry at last moment,  anxious, make others also suffer.

We want to live peacefully,  but, don't make right efforts due to misconceptions 

Accident investigation - interaction / communication

The purpose of accident investigation is to know root cause so as to take measures to prevent recurrence. 

The investigators have to follow cautious approach while interacting with those concerned and others. Fear of reprimand is the main concern. If we don't show delicate and friendly approach during enquiry, and instead display rough attitude, truth will not be known. 

Some investigators create a big scene at accident site by shouting and this will not help.

Logic

When we discuss on some issue, both sides of the issue will be presented and finally, logically correct one will be accepted.

This works fine as long as the participants understand. If we attend with a preconceived notion and stubborn, then, no conclusion can be drawn. 

This logic may work in official deliberations. But, mostly it will not on public road or at home where emotions play major role compared to technical strengths. We should be careful in such places and should not take to our head that we lost our position. If we win the person(s) even by losing the argument(s), it is a batter option and gives us peace of mind and happiness and also safety (on public roads).

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.