Why accidents continue to occur?

We read regularly in news papers that accidents continue to occur though here and there the concerned are charge sheeted. Most of the time, the families of the victims are compensated by the managements and the issue is resolved to the satisfaction of both parties. Many times, accidents are reported. It is likely that there are many accidents which are not reported and settled without notice. Though this may satisfy the aggrieved, it will not stop recurrence of accidents, if not in the same organization, as no lessons are drawn. The only lesson drawn is that it is economical to pay rather than ensure safety at workplace. This is a common sense. Why one will spend more when there are ways to reduce costs.

There will be reports for sometime in newspapers and then everybody will forget. This is true everywhere in the world. In some countries, as experts say, regulators are task masters and award huge penalties. However, the fact that accidents continue to occur in these countries shows that there is something wrong in implementation of accident prevention programme.

When there is some financial scam, more are affected and there are many stake holders in voicing there concern and try to punish the responsible. However, this is not visible in case of industrial accidents. I do not know, in how many cases, regulators stopped operations permanently after an accident. There may be suspension of operations for a while, but not as a whole. Managements can absorb losses due to suspension of operations for a while. Some can even clevery carryout maintenance works during this period which may be due after sometime and thus save time from annual shutdown.

A serious message is to be sent to managements with severe actions that can make them to realize about the importance of safety given by governments and that they may lose even their personal wealth if any accident occurs.

Otherwise, it is better for the regulators to stop issuing press notes about poor conditions in factores and be contended with the existing conditions.

Workplace accidents - where we are?

I read three articles 1) Why Safety Training is a Good Investment, 2)  Safety Training Pays Off Every Minute and 3) Training Adult Learners on importance of safety training for accident reduction. According to these, in US every year there are 4.0 million non-fatal injuries, 1.0 million man-days lost, every day 15 workers die because of workplace injuries / illness. Training the persons makes them to realize, recognize, evaluate and take effective measures for control of workplace accidents and avoid its ill effects / consequences. As pointed out in the 3rd article, to succeed careerwise, people will be learning relevant new issues. However, we have to make them realize that they have to learn safety aspects also. Otherwise, there will be bloodbath at the workplace as no attention is paid for ensuring the workplace safety. Any decision for increase production without safety means somebody will be hurt in the field. The decision maker may not realize that his decision is the reason for the deaths / injuries. Like, some people say 'to give human touch', decision makers have to give 'safety touch' and assess all consequnces arising out of their consequences.

Now-a-days, in western countries, when buying or placing order on a company, organizations conduct audit including quality, environment and safety audit. Similarly, while recruiting executives, these organizations should verify the safety credentials in the previous employment. For first timers, they can assess knowledge on safety systems, applicable legislations, etc or after recruitment, they can impart safety training. It is not sufficient only to see capabilities / past experience in achieving / reaching production targets alone. Assessment is to be done for SAFE PRODUCTION. Otherwise, accidents like at Bhopal, Deep Water Horizon, etc can happen and lead to closure of the unit or selling of the assets to meet obligations.

CHOICE IS YOURS. WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION.

What is the level of safety followed in advanced countries and others?

It is common to read / hear about the accidents all over the world. However, what is surprising me is that the number of accidents, type of accidents, deaths / injuries due to accidents are occuring in advanced countries as well as in developing countries.

Though governments of developing countries claim about poverty, illiteracy, lack of resources to implement safety, need for development as the reasons for inability to control accidents, I am unable to find the reasons for the accidents in advanced countries. In these countries, as I understand, greater transparency exists, unions are strong and are powerful that question the managements about poor conditions w.r.t safety, huge amounts are spent for ensuring safe conditions, providing PPE, doing audits, etc. Prosecutions are also carried out on erring companies and punishments/penalties are imposted. Still many accidents take place in advanced countries like those in the other world. Most of the accidents appear to be preventable. I am not really getting any reason for this phenomena.

Whether this indicates that the attitude to safety is same whether the country is advanced or not. The motive is to gain short term benefies i.e profits. Accidents are taken as part of the job and the victims are compensated. Only the amount of compensation varies from country to country. Paying compensation appears to be a better business model compared to spending money on accident prevention.

Safety nets - test before use!!!

It is a good practice to have safety nets for works at height to prevent injuries during fall of persons. Small time contractors usually avoid provision of safety nets and even if they were forced, they will provide nets only below the place of work and shift the net as the work proceeds. Because of the cost, the quality of these safety nets also is questionable. In case of doubt, it is better to test the capacity of the nets by dropping sand bags of sufficient weight from height and see whether the net is intact or strands are broken or the net sags. This will also give confidence to the workers and will be an eye opener for the contractor if the net fails. Normally, safety nets should withstand 2200 kgf. They should be provided such that the fall of person is restricted to 2 m and the width of the nets is atleast 6 m from the place of work. There should not be any gap between the wall and the net. Any construction material / debris that falls should be removed immediately to avoid injuries to persons falling on to the net. At many construction sites, I saw construction debris accumulated on the nets with nobody to remove them.

If the floor is good, then one can provide mobile nets which I saw at a construction site. A scaffold structure is made with the net tied all around. This will be located below the place of work at height and is moved as per requirement.

A few construction engineers question about the need for providing the safety net or its practicality to provide. At many places, I saw even for a small work, scaffold is erected (11 storyes height at one software company building, 5 storey height at one super speciality hospital). Therefore, what is required is commitment to ensure safety. Else, we get 1000s of excuses for not providing the scaffold / safety net.

A simple incident during the construction

Recently, I heard an accident from my friend who experienced during the floor tile work in his apartment. Tiles were purchased and brought to the apartment. The marble tiles (about 10' x 6') were kept in an inclined position in the corridor outside the apartment. The corridor is about 4' width. Next day, when he went to construction site, one of the worker commented that the tiles are having vertical straightline cracks and appear to be joined with white cement.
To check the condition, the person in-charge for laying the tiles was called. Both my friend and the worker pulled one tile to vertical position and checked for cracks. To the dismay of my friend, there were such vertical lines as if joined by white cement. Then, 2nd tile also was brought to vertical position and then the third. While checking the third, by holding the tiles in vertical position with my friend on one side and the worker on the other side, slowly the tiles started moving towards the worker's side as the center of gravity (C.G) shifted. This could not be seen initially, but shortly both understood something is wrong and tried to push the tiles to the wall without success. The tiles were now heavy and beyond the capacity of the both persons. Both shouted for help.
Immediately, workers in the ground floor rushed and with great difficulty, the tiles could be put back into position. By that time, the worker had chest congestion because of the weight of marble tiles on him. Immediately, he was rushed to the hospital and the person was alright in a day.
The above accident is unimaginable for ordinary folks like us. The fact that the experienced construction worker also did not caution before examination shows that we have to learn a lot.

Later, on enquiry, the supplier informed my friend that they are not cracks but lines which come during polishing and that he will not spoil his reputation by supplying damaged tiles. He offered to replace the tiles of much superior quality and premium brand, even if one single tile shows cracks.

Similar to the above incident, I remember, few years ago, when my child (about two years old at that time) climbed over the refrigerator racks to take some fruits, the refrigerator started falling towards the floor.
Fortunately, I was next to the refrigerator and immediately could hold and stop the fall of the unit. Otherwise, my child could have got injured under the falling refrigerator.
Same is the case, when we go up the portable ladders and try to access by over reaching. Then also, ladder can fall on the side because of shifting of C.G.

Disposal of gas cylinders ?

Recently there was leakage of chlorine from a cylinder in the Mumbai Port Trust yard and few were affected. Subsequently, I read that all these unclaimed chlorine cylinders lying in the yard for more than 10 years were disposed by dumping them in the sea, under the supervision of a responsible officer of Disaster Control Authority.

This is not a good practice to dispose the cylinders. By dumping the cylinders in the sea, we will be causing harm to the fishes under the water.

It is difficult to dispose a cylinder, if we do not know the contents. However, it is not a new issue to dispose chlorine cylinders. The chloro alkali industry which is well established in the country could have been approached. Every such manufacturing facility is equipped with neutralization / transfer methods. Every two years, the cylinders are tested by the manufacturers at their facilities by emptying the cylinders, cleaning, checking for corrosion, hydro test, etc.

It is unfortunate that a crude method is followed to dispose these chlorine cylinders and in the process creating a hazard for the marine environment.

This disposal is no different from adding effluents to water bodies by some erring industries.

Why safety principles are followed in an organization?

1. Genuine concern
2. Humanitarian feelings
3. Regulations
4. Strict enforcement by authorities
5. Powerful unions
6. Past experience with accidents
7. ISO/OHSAS system implementation
8. Client's requirement
9. Stage show
10. Dedicated team of safety professionals and listening management