Bullying safety officer is like hitting under your own pants

Those who do not like safety officers to inspect their areas for identifying hazardous conditions and also pick up arguments to make/scare them not to visit their works areas will not help to improve the situation. It will only spiral the hazardous conditions and can lead to accidents on a large scale at a later date.
Clearly, there are provisions in related regulations to penalize and also punish the works managers for violations. It is a matter of time before the law catches up with the violators.

Unless these works managers realize the importance of safety and learn the punishments that await the (willful) violators, there is no light for the safety of the persons working in  work areas managed by such persons who are no different from murderers.

Injuries / deaths to employees in those work areas can be compared to planned murders/attempts to cause injuries as works managers neither take action to prevent unsafe conditions not help the safety professionals to identify and suggest safety measures.

Unfortunately, safety officers are not vested with powers like that of regulators and thus will be at the receiving end unless the in-charge of the facility gives unconditional support. Else, at some time or other, the safety department officials either will keep quiet leaving the matters to the fate or will look for better opportunities in other companies. Either way, it is the loss to the company having such safety culture.

Crowding near the entry point of examination centers

I went to an examination center to drop my son for medical admission entrance test. The authorities were allowing only the candidates to enter inside and stopped accomplices. There were strict instructions for them not allow the candidates even a minute late beyond the scheduled time.

Inspite of knowing this, the accomplice of the candidates like parents, friends, relatives, etc were found standing near the gate of the test center even after their wards went into the examination hall, thereby obstructing the movement of the candidates reaching the center from different places of the city and state.

This will be intriguing to those who rush at the last moment delayed for various reasons, self inflicted, traffic, not knowing the location, etc and because of no entry even for one minute late, they will be at loss and have to lose one academic year.

Nobody should be allowed to be present near examination centers and its entrances to avoid such situation.

Do not rate growth of a nation from per capita power consumption

Judging the growth of a nation based on per capita power consumption is not correct without knowing how effectively this power is consumed. If the power is consumed on wasteful activities like lighting the buildings always, running the fans/air conditioners/entertainment equipment, etc without need, etc, though it shows high per capita power consumption, it will not contribute to improving the life of the people.
This will also add to ever increasing pollution, depletion of valuable energy resources. Countries should not compare with others while making road map for installing power generation plants. Instead, it should be ensured that the wastage in the form of unnecessary usage, transmission and distribution losses, etc are minimized.

We have to remember the saying,  "the power saved is power generated" and by this we can also reduce dependence on import of coal/hydrocarbons, etc.

Reflection of sun light from the buildings damages the car parked below

Though we know reflection of sun rays can cause fire, this news item made me to keep in mind that I should consider this aspect also while studying the safety aspects of building design for issue of safety clearance. The news item states that the sun light reflected from the concave shaped building surface caused partial melting of a car parked below.

This implies that the distance of impact needs to be assessed and the designers of the buildings have to ensure that no flammable/combustible materials are kept in this range unless suitable measures are taken.

https://in.news.yahoo.com/uk-tower-accused-melting-car-sunshade-140750249.html

Stay Covered in the Sun » OHS Insider OHS Insider

SPOT THE SAFETY VIOLATION: Stay Covered in the Sun » OHS Insider OHS Insider



The article explains that those who work under Sun for more number of days, particularly during 1200 hr noon to 1400 hr get exposed to strong ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can cause skin cancer and advises to limit working during 1100 hr to 1600 hr. A good article.

Yesterday, I was under hot sun during 1115 hr to 1400 hr and my forearms and face have become red. Even after 30 hours, still I am having burning sensation on the exposed parts. Few years ago also, when I went out under hot sun, I saw the skin on my both forearms peeling off after few days. Imagine the plight of the persons who have to work for their livelihood. Immediate sun burns and possible skin cancer at a later date can not be ruled for those workmen.

http://ohsinsider.com/insider-top-stories/spot-safety-violation-stay-covered-sun?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bongarde

Explosive effect of accidents in the chemical industry

An article about chemical accidents

http://www.icis.com/Articles/2010/03/29/9345517/the-explosive-effect-of-accidents-in-the-chemical-industry.html

Blast during dismantling of a chemical boiler - 3 persons die due to burns

Three persons died in a blast that occurred during the dismantling of a chemical boiler in a scrap godown. The contents of the boiler are not known. However, this incident is a lesson that any vessel before sold as a scrap should be cleaned thoroughly to ensure that it is free from chemicals. The incident might have happened during gas cutting of the vessel with trapped chemicals generating hot gases or undergoing runaway reaction and with improper venting. Provision for venting should be available to avoid pressure rise.




http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Three-killed-in-Thane-boiler-blast/articleshow/33677572.cms