Statement from former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, India - Nuclear power is safe

Please read the link http://in.news.yahoo.com/nuclear-power-safe-air-travel-kakodkar-093819120.html. Different people see differently of various options for electric power generation. People oppose setting up of mines, power generation plants, let it be hydel, coal, gas, nuclear based plants. They say it is better to go for solar/wind/geothermal/tidal power. But, any small increase increase in the unit price will draw huge protests. But, at the same time, everybody wants cheap electricity for their homes and to energize their power operated equipment. Nobody wants to use simple methods which our parents and their parents used and also no attempt is made to reduce wastage of power.
Imagine what will happen to human beings after 50-100 years when all fossil fuels are exhausted. What amount of hazardous waste will be generated in the form of batteries that are required for storing the power generated from solar/wind based plants.
When people are requested to stop power for one hour to observe 'earth hour', hardly anybody switches off power, because we can't live without power even for one hour. If power plants trip or shutdown and power disruption occurs, hundreds will call offices of local power distribution companies immediately to know about power restoration. This is the state of affairs.
A balanced view has to be taken and go for options in which benefits far outweigh the risks. Talking from air conditioned rooms without considering the sufferings of common man will not help. Today, contribution from nuclear  power may be less, but when all other resources are exhausted and then going for nuclear or any other source is definitely not a viable option. The way we manage our limited income and try to build retirement corpus, we have to manage by using power from all sources and also get ready for future.

Reasons for injuries

Four states of mind are responsible for 90% of injuries at home and work place.  The four states are rushing, frustration, fatigue and complacency. The errors they lead to are failure to keep eyes on task, failure to keep mind on task, moving into or being in the line of fire and somehow losing balance, traction or grip.

Read the full article here.

Combustible Dusts: The Hazards & How to Control Them

SafetySmart Compliance » Blog Archive Combustible Dusts: The Hazards & How to Control Them

LINK

Banana benefits for workers of chemical factories

In a major fire incident on 5 Sep 2012 in a fire cracker manufacture unit at Sivakasi, more than 35 persons died and several were injured. Some of the died were those who went for rescue. In different news reports, it is stated that the rooms where crackers are made are totally congested with little free space and with Diwali festival approaching, the finished products in cartons were stored in the same rooms where crackers are being made.
In a news report, which I am unable to get link, I read that the chemical fumes / dust in the work atmosphere is recognized by factory managements and in some factories, workers are give banana allowance of Rs 35/week so that workers can eat bananas and get rid of ill effects of chemicals entering the digestive track.

This reminds me of my experience ten years ago in a chlorine manufacturing unit, where I attended a two-day  training programme on safe handling of chemicals. As a part of the programme, the organizers demonstrated handling of chlorine emergencies by using emergency tool kit, transfer of chlorine from one tonner to another by opening the valve of a tonner. Before start of this demo, they gave jaggery to all participants standing in a circle around the tonner and were asked to keep it in the mouth and swallow the jaggery juices forming in the mouth. The reason told was that it will help in clearing the throat choking if and when we are exposed to chlorine accidentally. Similarly, pipper mint also will help in same manner.

So, there are some cheap and workable methods that help us from ill effects of chemicals and can be followed.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/at-least-54-killed-50-injured-in-fire-at-sivakasi-cracker-unit/998193/0
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3862000.ece
http://zeenews.india.com/news/tamil-nadu/major-fire-at-sivakasi-cracker-unit-leaves-scores-dead_797872.html
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-09-10/news/33737341_1_sivakasi-cracker-makers-illegal-units

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.