Yesterday and today, news papers reported that temperatures in different parts of A.P set a record for the decade. Temperatures are in the range 45-48 degree Celcius in many cities. The main reason, I feel is, indiscriminate tree felling. Whenever we go under a tree shade or along the road adjacent to good greenery area, we feel a cool breeze. Trees are cut because of increased urbanization. To meet never ending traffic problems and congestion, roads are widened and for this adjacent trees on the road side are cut. Every year, we feel that summer is starting in advance, precisely because of this tree cutting and resultant temperature rise. May be, there are other factors. But, it is our duty to protect our surroundings. If trees are to be cut to meet some other needs, then we have to ensure that these cut trees are planted safely in areas adjacent to widened roads. Green coverage should not decrease because of our needs.
There is a saying that "Vriksho rakshathi, rakshithaha" meaning that" save trees, it will save us". How true it is. Proverbs are the result of experiences of our ancestors over hundreds of years and we are least bothered about them. We do not want to learn evern after experiencing directly because of our acts without foreseeing the effects.
Governments spend vast amounts of money for forestry but it is also the duty of people to put some money from their pocket to protect environment by planting and saving trees in their yard so that they will have good air and also to the public.
Though, it is difficult and also lead to corruption or misuse, it should be made mandatory to plant trees in every house / apartment complex along with soak pits for collecting the rain water to help the public and reduce stress on government resources and those who violate should be penalized heavily (GREENERY VIOLATION PENALTY). This money should be distributed to some NGOs specifically formed for ensuring and increasing greenery (not by having lawns which are costly to maintain but by planting saplings, relocating the cut trees, etc which are mostly one time affair or require attention for less time) and the accounts of these NGOs should be audited. Public can be encourage to donate to an account setup for this purpose, say "GREEN FUND" and can give tax exemption to the contributors like it is given for certain donations made for flood relief, CM/PM Relief Funds, religious donations, free food schemes of some religious institutions, etc.
May 12, 2010
May 4, 2010
User charges for fire fighting services
A news paper report mentioned that the AP Fire Services department is proposing to charge for their services provided to commercial establishments and higher income group individuals above a set category so that they can finance their activities and maintain their facilities.
It is true that any thing comes free will not have any value in the eyes of beneficiaries, though nobody wants to loose their propery in a fire or get themselves injured. But, acts of carelessness, not providing sufficient safety measures disregarding the risk to make money, no respect for statutory provisions, etc shall be dealt severely and I feel user charges are definitely one of such methods.
First, there should be creation of awareness about hazards and measures to be taken which can be communicated while issuing permission for construction of buildings / licence to establish a business or trade / renewal / payment of property taxes , etc in the form of 1-2 page pamphlet and also printed on the backside of electricity bills or similar nature. Punishments / penalties also should be mentioned in the same leaf so that one will take serious note of the contents.
Then, user charges as and when service is provided should be at such higher rates that one should hesitate if wants to use. In case of Fire Services, there should not be any option. If there is a fire and even if someone on the road informs through emergency phone number, they should come and then charge. It should be made mandatory for emergency services to charge after attending the calls irrespective of who called or informed about emergency.
The insurance companies should give some discount in the policy premium, if there are sufficient verifiable safety measures taken by the beneficiary.
Such measures will make the citizens to be aware and be safety minded. Governments should not provide its services for free, atleast to creat awareness that NOTHING IS FREE.
It is common to criticise Service departments like Fire / municipal / traffic / police / intelligence / factories / pollution control board, etc that they are not upto mark or not doing their job. No doubt, all are not at same level and there can be inefficiency / corruption, etc and other factors / reasons like lack of man power or other resources. But, first of all, if individuals are not careful, do not want to follow atleast common sense leave apart rules and regulations, then who can help and what anybody can do to protect. Just imagine that you are a traffic police, for example, and think how you can regulate the traffic by the acts which yourself would have committed on various occasions. Definitely, it will provoke you to think and motivate you to do the right things.
There is a saying that it is easy to awake a sleeping person but not the ones who pretend to sleep. No amount of resources in the world can create a safe place, if the individual decides not to be safe. Only, they can be controlled for sometime. It is not possible for any monitoring / regulating agency to watch each and everyone. If that is the requirement, then 50% of our population will be regulators while others are subject under watch.
It is true that any thing comes free will not have any value in the eyes of beneficiaries, though nobody wants to loose their propery in a fire or get themselves injured. But, acts of carelessness, not providing sufficient safety measures disregarding the risk to make money, no respect for statutory provisions, etc shall be dealt severely and I feel user charges are definitely one of such methods.
First, there should be creation of awareness about hazards and measures to be taken which can be communicated while issuing permission for construction of buildings / licence to establish a business or trade / renewal / payment of property taxes , etc in the form of 1-2 page pamphlet and also printed on the backside of electricity bills or similar nature. Punishments / penalties also should be mentioned in the same leaf so that one will take serious note of the contents.
Then, user charges as and when service is provided should be at such higher rates that one should hesitate if wants to use. In case of Fire Services, there should not be any option. If there is a fire and even if someone on the road informs through emergency phone number, they should come and then charge. It should be made mandatory for emergency services to charge after attending the calls irrespective of who called or informed about emergency.
The insurance companies should give some discount in the policy premium, if there are sufficient verifiable safety measures taken by the beneficiary.
Such measures will make the citizens to be aware and be safety minded. Governments should not provide its services for free, atleast to creat awareness that NOTHING IS FREE.
It is common to criticise Service departments like Fire / municipal / traffic / police / intelligence / factories / pollution control board, etc that they are not upto mark or not doing their job. No doubt, all are not at same level and there can be inefficiency / corruption, etc and other factors / reasons like lack of man power or other resources. But, first of all, if individuals are not careful, do not want to follow atleast common sense leave apart rules and regulations, then who can help and what anybody can do to protect. Just imagine that you are a traffic police, for example, and think how you can regulate the traffic by the acts which yourself would have committed on various occasions. Definitely, it will provoke you to think and motivate you to do the right things.
There is a saying that it is easy to awake a sleeping person but not the ones who pretend to sleep. No amount of resources in the world can create a safe place, if the individual decides not to be safe. Only, they can be controlled for sometime. It is not possible for any monitoring / regulating agency to watch each and everyone. If that is the requirement, then 50% of our population will be regulators while others are subject under watch.
Apr 24, 2010
House Keeping in waste yards
Today I read about a fire incident in a thermal plant storage yard where wild grass caught fire. This fire spread to nearby combustibles with flames reaching very high and in the process damaged two HT cables.
Such incidents or conditions can be seen in every factory. With good intentions, areas will be cleaned. Then, someone else in the evening hours dumps scrap and other unwanted material. Over a period of time the area becomes a big dumping yard along with growth of wild vegetation and the area is prone to fire hazard. All types of wastes can be seen like domestic waste, plastic scrap, metallic scrap, civil debris, etc. Because no one attends, creepers will go up on the HT structures and become source for spreading fire in the event of any fire at ground level.
Good house keeping not only keeps hazards away but also gives ambience and affects positively the persons in the area.
Few months back, a wild grass fire in railway wagon yard lead to complete damage to the wagon. It may be noted that oil soaked cotton waste can catch fire because bacterial action. This bacterial action is exothermic and over a period of time the heat buildup causes sudden fire of the material.
Compared to earlier years, in this year 2010, many fires were reported in different cities of our country and because of courageous efforts by firemen who get peanuts for their efforts, huge properties are saved. All we do for their efforts is to observe two minutes silence on every 14th April, give speeches and forget Fire Services Day and the firemen.
There is a dialogue in Telugu movie, "tinnama, padukunnama, tellarinda". This is what we do with respect many issues including safety.
It has become a fashion to blame regulators for each and every incident. If we are not prompt in what is happending in our house or our own backyard, who can do what.
Such incidents or conditions can be seen in every factory. With good intentions, areas will be cleaned. Then, someone else in the evening hours dumps scrap and other unwanted material. Over a period of time the area becomes a big dumping yard along with growth of wild vegetation and the area is prone to fire hazard. All types of wastes can be seen like domestic waste, plastic scrap, metallic scrap, civil debris, etc. Because no one attends, creepers will go up on the HT structures and become source for spreading fire in the event of any fire at ground level.
Good house keeping not only keeps hazards away but also gives ambience and affects positively the persons in the area.
Few months back, a wild grass fire in railway wagon yard lead to complete damage to the wagon. It may be noted that oil soaked cotton waste can catch fire because bacterial action. This bacterial action is exothermic and over a period of time the heat buildup causes sudden fire of the material.
Compared to earlier years, in this year 2010, many fires were reported in different cities of our country and because of courageous efforts by firemen who get peanuts for their efforts, huge properties are saved. All we do for their efforts is to observe two minutes silence on every 14th April, give speeches and forget Fire Services Day and the firemen.
There is a dialogue in Telugu movie, "tinnama, padukunnama, tellarinda". This is what we do with respect many issues including safety.
It has become a fashion to blame regulators for each and every incident. If we are not prompt in what is happending in our house or our own backyard, who can do what.
Apr 23, 2010
My outdoor trip - skin burns
Yesterday, I went outside in a bike at about 1000 hrs to city outskirts to see someone. As it was very hot and also the distance is about 50 km and it took totally about 3 hrs to complete our trip, by the time we reached home, we were totally exhausted. I wore a half shirt and both fore arms as well as exposed portions of toes are burning / itching. At about 15 km from my house, we started taking different types of fluids, like pudina water, water melon, lemon soda, ice cream, coold drink, etc. However, by the time we reached, we were totally exhausted and there was no power at home due to scheduled power cut.
After lunch, I slept for about two hours and when I woke up and washed my face, I could see my red face, red forearms, red skin below the neck in the front side. This is like 1st degree burns. Even after 24 hours now also I am having skin burning sensation in the calf area and fore arm. Like any skin burn, it may take a week to return to normal skin.
Though, I wore a hat and covered my eyes with spectacles (photo sensitive), still I am suffereing from the travel under the hot sun. If this is the case with me who travel only very rarely, what about the workers who work for livelihood. What are the minimum measures to be provided to them to protect them hot sun and in this country, how many are really providing these facilities like sun shade, water, etc is a big question mark.
After lunch, I slept for about two hours and when I woke up and washed my face, I could see my red face, red forearms, red skin below the neck in the front side. This is like 1st degree burns. Even after 24 hours now also I am having skin burning sensation in the calf area and fore arm. Like any skin burn, it may take a week to return to normal skin.
Though, I wore a hat and covered my eyes with spectacles (photo sensitive), still I am suffereing from the travel under the hot sun. If this is the case with me who travel only very rarely, what about the workers who work for livelihood. What are the minimum measures to be provided to them to protect them hot sun and in this country, how many are really providing these facilities like sun shade, water, etc is a big question mark.
Thigh cramps - some analysis from physician
Last Saturday, at about 0230 hrs I got up from my mat and immediately I felt severe pain in both thighs at same point. The pain was so severe and for 1st time in my life my mind was totally blank and was unable to do or think any think. Just I walked here and there for 15 minutes in the house by which time it started subsiding. Next day being Sunday, I could not contact any of our official doctors. On Monday, I met my physician with the problem which was still persisting to some extent. He told me that this called cramp and not pain as there was muscle contraction like where as pain means it is present continuously. Then the reason for the cramp could be loss of salts (Na, K chlorides; hormone change, thyroid problem, sugar levels). As per his advise I underwent some tests also. It appears to be TSH which is above permissible levels. I am yet to contact the doctor with the report but a search in the internet shows that failure of thyroid can cause such levels of TSH released by pitutory gland.
In this entire episode, one thing I noticed is that for last few weeks because of higher temperatures outside, I am drinking more water 4-5 lit a day and this also brought down my food intake by more than 50%. More water means more urine and this might have caused loss of salts also as it is mentioned in some articles that excessive water drinking can lead to water addiction with the resulrt of loss of salts. I might have been subjected to such loss. But, medical tests show electrolytes in normal levels.
The doctor advised me to take glass of water with electrolytes once in two hours or tender coconut and whenever I go out he advised me to take water with atleast some sugar and salt added instead of plain water.
Summer safety tips are therefore useful and we can understand only when are subjected to the consequences.
I thought my experiences will be useful to some body and therefore this POST.
In this entire episode, one thing I noticed is that for last few weeks because of higher temperatures outside, I am drinking more water 4-5 lit a day and this also brought down my food intake by more than 50%. More water means more urine and this might have caused loss of salts also as it is mentioned in some articles that excessive water drinking can lead to water addiction with the resulrt of loss of salts. I might have been subjected to such loss. But, medical tests show electrolytes in normal levels.
The doctor advised me to take glass of water with electrolytes once in two hours or tender coconut and whenever I go out he advised me to take water with atleast some sugar and salt added instead of plain water.
Summer safety tips are therefore useful and we can understand only when are subjected to the consequences.
I thought my experiences will be useful to some body and therefore this POST.
Apr 22, 2010
LPG GAS leak, explosion and burns
Many times it is reported in news papers that there was LPG stove explosion leading to burns / deaths. Not many people are clear whether it is the explosion of stove or cylinder or gas. Normally, the leaking gas creates flammable atmospheres and when someone tries to switch on the light in the morning or uses lighter, the leaking gas in flammable range ignites and explodes. Bursting of cylinder is a rare case which can happen only when the cylinder is exposed to external fire and contents inside are pressurised and then the cylinder explodes with fragments flying all around.
Few years back, it is reported that a fragment from such explosion killed a person on the road. Otherwise, the gas explosion causes burn injuries and deaths to occupants of the building, causes collapse of the roof, shatters window panes, doors, etc.
Simple precautions like closing the regulator after use every time, keeping constant vigil / observation when milk or other items are kept on the stove, changing the hose once in two years or as recommended by the hose manufacturer will keep safe our homes and save us from consequences.
Similar to the above, auto rikshaw drivers check the level of petrol / diesel in the tank in the darkness with the help of a lighted match stick and the vapour in the tank catches fire leading severe burns. Such news reports also appear now and then in the news papers.
Such incidents as above show that people lack even common sense and it is a big question mark about how governments, regulators, society can protect them. Because such acts not only injure these silly people but also affect nearby persons and may cause destruction to persons / property located even 50-100 m away.
Few years back, it is reported that a fragment from such explosion killed a person on the road. Otherwise, the gas explosion causes burn injuries and deaths to occupants of the building, causes collapse of the roof, shatters window panes, doors, etc.
Simple precautions like closing the regulator after use every time, keeping constant vigil / observation when milk or other items are kept on the stove, changing the hose once in two years or as recommended by the hose manufacturer will keep safe our homes and save us from consequences.
Similar to the above, auto rikshaw drivers check the level of petrol / diesel in the tank in the darkness with the help of a lighted match stick and the vapour in the tank catches fire leading severe burns. Such news reports also appear now and then in the news papers.
Such incidents as above show that people lack even common sense and it is a big question mark about how governments, regulators, society can protect them. Because such acts not only injure these silly people but also affect nearby persons and may cause destruction to persons / property located even 50-100 m away.
Injury to a worker while cleaning concrete mixer - on a HOLIDAY
A new item came today in a Telugu daily that one worker died while cleaning a concrete mixer. As per the news item, Wednesday is a weekend holiday for the company. Therefore, the worker went to the machine to clean the mixer. Not knowing this, another worker switched ON the mixer leading to injuries.
Though the intentions can't be questioned about cleaning on a holiday, it is not clear why different jobs are taken up on the same machine on the same day, by different teams. If such jobs are to be done, then LOTO systems has to be followed. Atleast, one supervisor should stand near the machine so that activities can be coordianted.
Similar incidents happened a few months ago as reported in a news paper that lead to death.
Normally, when someone opens the mixer chamber, a power trip mechanism gets actuated to trip the power supply to the machine, even if he does not switch OFF initially. Just to save few minutes, safety systems are bypassed leading to loss of many days of work. The persons responsible for bypassing the systems should be held guilty and punished severely. The punishment should not be worker level people but to supervisors or higherups who fail to see functionality of safety systems.
Such safety systems should not be located outside where they are easily accessible and can be bypassed. They should be located deep inside the machine so that one has to open entire machine to bypass. May be such designs can prevent persons from bypassing the safety systems.
Again, permit system should be enforced for works on all days irrespective of whether it is holiday or not. Persons should not be allowed to work on machines even if he is over enthusiastic to do the work. They should get permission from Manager of the plant to work on holidays or at period other than normal working hours and it should be logged and intimated to concerned supervisors and safety people. The equipment should have a sort of locking system with keys deposited in Security so that when some one draws the key of the equipment for some work, it will be recorded and the next person who wants to work will be aware of existence of persons.
Such injuries and deaths are total loss and painful to the families, organization and to the society and should be dealt with all seriousness.
Though the intentions can't be questioned about cleaning on a holiday, it is not clear why different jobs are taken up on the same machine on the same day, by different teams. If such jobs are to be done, then LOTO systems has to be followed. Atleast, one supervisor should stand near the machine so that activities can be coordianted.
Similar incidents happened a few months ago as reported in a news paper that lead to death.
Normally, when someone opens the mixer chamber, a power trip mechanism gets actuated to trip the power supply to the machine, even if he does not switch OFF initially. Just to save few minutes, safety systems are bypassed leading to loss of many days of work. The persons responsible for bypassing the systems should be held guilty and punished severely. The punishment should not be worker level people but to supervisors or higherups who fail to see functionality of safety systems.
Such safety systems should not be located outside where they are easily accessible and can be bypassed. They should be located deep inside the machine so that one has to open entire machine to bypass. May be such designs can prevent persons from bypassing the safety systems.
Again, permit system should be enforced for works on all days irrespective of whether it is holiday or not. Persons should not be allowed to work on machines even if he is over enthusiastic to do the work. They should get permission from Manager of the plant to work on holidays or at period other than normal working hours and it should be logged and intimated to concerned supervisors and safety people. The equipment should have a sort of locking system with keys deposited in Security so that when some one draws the key of the equipment for some work, it will be recorded and the next person who wants to work will be aware of existence of persons.
Such injuries and deaths are total loss and painful to the families, organization and to the society and should be dealt with all seriousness.
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