Worker dies of acid burns

In an incident, when four workers were cleaning an acid tank in a factory, acid and other chemicals fell on the persons and one died while others suffered burn injuries. It is not clear from the news report, how acid fell but clearly it is a work in confined space and one has to take all precautions for such jobs to avoid such incidents. The minimum precautions to be taken are,

1. List out safe procedure, job hazard analysis and ensure safety measures for identified hazards
2. Obtain safety work permit
3. Empty the contents from the tank by pumping / draining
4. Clean the tank by water circulation or with suitable medium and test for presence of acid by sampling the circulated water
5. Isolate all inlet lines positively by inserting a blind/slip plate and not by merely closing the valves as leaking of valves is possible
6. Display caution boards at the tank pump switches for not to operate and about the work in progress and if available, remove the fuses and keep in safe custody
7. Ensure LOTO
8. Open the vent lines and admit compressed air to ensure oxygen levels at the actual place of work same as that of atmospheric air
9. Use only 24 V supply for electrical fittings inside 
10. Provide proper access and illumination 
11. Ensure work area and escape routes are free from obstructions
12. Inform medical and fire teams about nature of work and location, before start of work
13. Ensure proper breathing air set suitable for use in case of emergency, or ensure BA set use during entire work
14. Follow buddy system by having one person outside to watch for every person inside
15. Ensure to engage only medically fit personnel for the job and brief the hazards, safety measures and emergency procedures to be followed
16. Carry out trial run before start of work
17. Ensure continuous competent supervision during entire period of work

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3902905.ece?textsize=small&test=2

Tablet chokes 12 year old kid

A 12 year old kid chokes to death after swallowing a deworming tablet.http://m.timesofindia.com/city/hyderabad/12-year-old-chokes-on-tablet-dies/articleshow/16415326.cms

The kid died due to suffocation after tsking the tablet. This can happen to even elders if not taken without water.

Lab accidents are scary-An article from Science 2.0

http://www.science20.com/chemical_education/why_scary_lab_accidents_happen-93815
The above link is about the experience of a chemist. It should be read by chemists to have a feel about the need for lab safety and what can go wrong if you dont know about all implications before taking up your experiment.

Earth quake prediction - professional hazards

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/why-cant-we-predict-earthquakes-yet/13648?tag=nl.e662&s_cid=e662

The above article is about why it is difficult to predict earth quakes. It is stated that in Italy, six seismologists were tried for manslaughter for failing to predict. This is outrageous. And indicates professional hazard. The person who filed case charging the scientists should be tried first about his understanding of earth quakes and how others failed.

Woman found dead, gas leak suspected - Indian Express

Woman found dead, gas leak suspected - Indian Express

In an incident reported, a woman and two stray dogs were found dead in the sleep allegedly due to toxic gas leak from a waste transfer pipe passing through the area from industry to treatment plant. From this, it appears that there is no monitoring mechanism to assess healthiness of the piping. Whether any pipe markers with identification are in place or not is to be seen. In such a state, if somebody digs for something, he can encounter the pipe and any damage can cause jetting of the effluent from the pipe endangering the surroundings. How permission was given to lay the pipe across in the public area also should be enquired.

Know about eye wash shower

An article in detail about eye wash shower location and care to be taken is available in the following link.

http://www.chemicalplantsafety.net/safety-equipment/what-you-need-to-know-about-eye-washer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChemicalPlantSafety+%28Chemical+Plant+Safety+Resources%29

I learnt from this that the eye wash shower should be reachable in 10 seconds, to be located at same level of hazard area and dust covers should be provided to avoid contamination.

It is also stated that ANSI requires 30-90 psi pressure. It is my feeling that high pressure water should not be used as in the literature, hazards of high pressure water jets on eyes state damage to the eyes.

As per Indian Standard, the pressure to be maintained is 196 kpa i.e about 30 psi and 16 lpm flow rate for eye wash fountain and for emergency shower, it should be 110 lpm. As per this standard, it should be located within 15 m distance from chemical handling area.

The reason for minimum 15 minute cleaning is that even after this much cleaning, only about 95% chemical is washed off, which I read in internet written by an author from US about HF splash on the lab coat. I used to explain this to my audience in the training programmes about the necessity for washing atleast 15 minutes. Otherwise, human tendency is to wash till such irritation exists. However, the vapors from the chemical soaked cloth can continue to expose the persons and cause health effects later. And, HF will show delayed effects affecting lungs and exposed persons can die due to odema.

Safety during excavation

Following link from SafetySmart provides tips about safety during excavation.

http://www.safetysmart.com/safetysmart/resources/view.aspx?id=428&articleId=957&utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bongarde#.UEdzpbLibRs

There are many more precautions to be taken about safe distances to be maintained for keeping the excavated soil, provision of ladders for use in emergency, display of cautionary signs, etc.