Road accidents in India

In an article in mint daily on 24.07.2012, it is stated that fatalities due to road accidents in India are on the rise and in the year 2011, 11.8 persons died per lakh of population compared to 11.4, 10.8, 10.5 in 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively. Within the country, highest fatalities due to road accidents are in the state Goa where 23 persons per lakh die, followed by Tamilnadu (21), Puducherry (19), Haryana (19), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (18.4), Andhra Pradesh (17.9), Delhi (12.3), Maharashtra (11.6), Uttar Pradesh (11), Bihar (4.9).
As per WHO, every hour 40 persons under the age 25 die in the globe and this is 14/hr in India in 2009. The report says drunken driving is a major factor along with speeding, low use of helmets/seat belts, etc. Deaths are on rise progressive states like Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh.
From the road safety statistics above, it appears that road accidents are less in states with good rail network compared to others and this calls for increasing the coverage of the country with good rail network. This will also help in decongestion of roads, reduction in import of fossil fuels thus saving foreign exchange, less pollution and better health.


http://www.livemint.com/2012/07/23233225/Path-to-safety.html?h=B news item
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5973996/Users/Pooja/G-ACCIDENTS.pdf road accident statistics
http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,5519345,00.html WHO report

Safety audit of Parliament reveals security hazards

The news item about hazards in the Parliament appeared in today's edition of Times of India can be read in the following link.
Safety audit of Parliament reveals security hazards

The report of safety audit points to temporary nature of jobs that have become permanent, like cabins, partitions, loose wiring, addition of air conditioners, piling of broken furniture along the stairs, etc restricting/altering access, creating hazards and putting the lives of the persons in the building at risk. It is reported that the furniture is removed based on the audit report and canteen kitchen is being moved to avoid use of gas cylinders as explosives and recommended for use of piped gas. Though it is not reported, vehicle parking also should be looked into from safety and security aspects. It will be a Herculean task for the security officials to screen these vehicles apart from the persons, but requires attention.
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Accident Investigation 101: What to Do and What Not to Do » SafetySmart

Do's and Dont's for accident investigation, appeared in Safety Smart, 18.07.2012 Wednesday.
Accident Investigation 101: What to Do and What Not to Do » SafetySmart

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Odd and extra working hours - some facilities to staff

It is common for persons to work extra hours for various reasons. May be some shopfloor problems are to be attended, a report is to be made urgently, production schedules are to be met, breakdown maintenance is to be done, somebody did not report and person doing the work has to continue next shift, and so on. These persons need to be taken care properly by allowing them to have break for some rest, some snacks/food, proper sitting/rest place, etc. Though Factories Act requires these issues to be attended, in many factories, there are no change rooms / canteen facilities, particularly for daily wage earners / contract workers. They have to settle under a tree or shed for rest and to have their food. 

So called canteens supply tea/coffee and food at fixed timings and those who have to take meals/food at intervals find it difficult and their health and performance is affected over a time period. One can't bring food prepared at home to meet his/her requirement for extended working hours. And cakes/biscuits can't replace the regular food. 

Managements should ensure availability of fresh, energetic and hygienic food at all times to their employees so that they too can have their break and refreshment and resume the work with renewed vigor. 

Accident alert - Don't leave the child in the car

In an incident, a child was left in the car and by the time father returned, the child was found dead in a tragic way. The accident alert appeared in Cite Digest can be read in the following link.
http://www.citehr.com/418712-accident-alert.html

Protect Yourself From Respiratory Hazards » SafetySmart

Good article from Safety Smart on the subject.
Protect Yourself From Respiratory Hazards » SafetySmart

Many times, persons actually doing the job also ignore the advice and try to do the job saying that it is a 2 minute job. And, they would never see the light again. Before carrying out any job, particularly in closed spaces, one should measure the concentration of all possible pollutants and also oxygen in the work atmosphere, particularly at the actual place of the work. Pollutants should be exhausted by proper ventilation so that oxygen levels are within permissible range. If it is suitable, one should enter the space by following all precautions. Else, they will become victims of dangerous work place. Though, people say 19.5% of oxygen is sufficient to enter a confined space, but still it is below 21% level in atmosphere. We should find out which are the pollutants in the work place that caused reduction in oxygen level to 19.5%. We know that carbon monoxide at 5000 ppm (0.5%) is fatal.
It is better to ensure oxygen levels nearer to atmospheric levels of 21%, else one should use self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) so that one can work safely.
Apart from confined space jobs, respiratory protection is also required in jobs where fumes, mists, dust, etc are likely to be generated / present in the work place. Engineering measures should be taken and then as a last line of protection, one can go for personal protective equipment, in this case, use of respiratory protection.
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Demolition Job Explodes in Workers’ Face » SafetySmart

A person while cutting a line with angle grinder, the gas inside the line exploded on the face causing burn injuries on the face and forearms. Wearing goggles and hand gloves saved the person from more injuries. We heard earlier, hot work i.e welding on  the pipe lines / tanks caused explosion (due to heating of contents inside and building up the pressure). In this case, possibly, after the line is cut, the escaping gas would have ignited from the sparks of grinding job.
Demolition Job Explodes in Workers’ Face » SafetySmart

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