Country growth measurement with per capita power consumption

Many compare growth or development of a country with per capita power consumption. Unless power consumption is productive and the power generation and transmission is by efficient means, it is wastage of resources, spread of pollution and damaging to the environment.

Many organisations use power for lighting, ventilation/air conditioning and they will be running continuously even when persons are not present. Similarly, many domestic users continue to run their utilities in the house.

This type of power consumption will show increase in per capita power consumption. But, it does not mean increase in development of the country. Instead, it is wastage of resources,  deprivation of resources to others in the present or to future generations, damage to the environment.

Aeroplane engine fails during travel, safely landed - BBC news item

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41454712

Unguarded opening - fall of person from height

A person fell down to death from possible unguarded opening at height. 

As per established practices and legislations, all openings that can lead to fall of persons  have to be provided with guard rails of 1.0 m height.

The news item is available here.

Real time gas alerts for quick emergency response

http://www.ehstoday.com/industrial-hygiene/emergency-response-real-time-gas-alerts?NL=OH-05&Issue=OH-05_20170905_OH-05_128&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_b&utm_rid=CPG03000007741031&utm_campaign=21710&utm_medium=email&elq2=2860de413b4a4fc1af1a7d690f749f26

Illustrative discussion on inherent safety and secondary prevention - an article

Please see the item on subject line below.

http://fortune.com/2017/09/05/houston-chemical-plant-fire-explosion-arkema-crosby/

‘Toxicity a relative thing’: Worst industrial chemical disasters in human history

‘Toxicity a relative thing’: Worst industrial chemical disasters in human history: An explosion rocked the Arkema plant in Texas once again Friday due to degrading chemicals as a result of Hurricane Harvey. RT looks back at history’s worst industrial chemical disasters, following the plant CEO’s comments that “toxicity is a relative thing.”

LINK

Fatal accident during maintenance on underground enclosure

https://www.manufacturing.net

Rail track maintenance - safety issues

As per several news paper reports, the following appear to be the safety issues / challenges involved in track maintenance:

1. Train schedules need to be maintained.
2. This leads second priority for release of equipment / tracks for maintenance.
3. Punctuality pressure is making concerned not understanding the problem and thus not giving top priority even for immediate maintenance.
4. "unofficial work" i.e. doing maintenance on the tracks by putting red flags at 1200 m on either side of the track, but without restricting the speed of trains on the track will even put the lives of maintenance crew on tracks at risk, as it is likely that they make take chance to complete the work before the train passes through.
5. If they start and do not complete the work, then all those on the train are at risk.
6. Then, the observation of highly educated like degree holders in engineering, business administration etc joining as trackmen do not listen to supervisors also appears to be correct. For unemployed, getting job is first priority. After getting the job at junior cadre, they find that they are monitored by persons whose education levels are at SSC or so but they have become seniors due to experience. This makes ego hurt in some persons with BE / BTech / MBA qualification and leads to disobedience. Their non-cooperation leads to work pressure on others.

Unless maintenance is given top priority and the authority for decision making lies with field supervisor, these types of accidents appear to be routine. Due to availability of smart phones, the field persons can take photographs of the track to be repaired and can send through whatsapp or similar application to their next level official and can obtain permission for work. This will definitely put some control on abuse of authority by field staff but at the same allowing next higher level to make decision immediately and allow for maintenance.

Construction site deaths - scaffold collapse, fall from height, electric shock

Avoidable accidents at different construction sites led to death of 3 persons in construction sites.
The primary reasons are collapse of scaffold on which persons were working, fall of person from height and burns due to electric shock respectively.
The news item may be read in the link below.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/three-construction-workers-killed-within-5-hours/

Lab facility takes electrical repairs after fire safety audit

The premium lab initiates electrical repairs based on fire safety audit. The facility saw 14 accidents during last 15 years. Short circuit alone caused Rs 7.48 crore loss out of total loss of Rs 7.84 crores.
Anytime is better than ignoring.

The facility needs appreciation for taking up fire safety audit and initiating measures.
https://www.nyoooz.com/news/pune/894897/ncl-undergoes-fire-safety-audit-orders-fresh-electrical-repairs-on-its-premises/

Gas cylinder explosion during refilling - cylinder flies 800 m

A person died during explosion while refilling helium gas cylinder. The cylinder flew off 800 m.

Cylinder filling needs to be done only by authorized agencies with necessary precautions as per Gas Cylinder Rules.

 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/balloon-seller-dies-as-gas-cylinder-explodes-in-mumbai/articleshow/60038330.cms?intenttarget=no&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Top_Headlines

Construction safety - lessons to be learnt

NDTV news report link provides details about construction industry hazards.

Read the report here.http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/even-after-fatal-accidents-indias-construction-sites-remain-death-traps-for-workers-1734233

Drop in accidents inspite of increase in number of vehicles in Delhi in last seven years

As per reports appeared in Times of India and Economic Times, 32 lakh vehicles are added in Delhi during last seven years. However, the accidents dropped by 26.4% during the period.
The traffic authorities are confident of improving safety by engineering measures, awareness and enforcement of regulations.

Electrical vehicles are not environment friendly totally

Electrical vehicles do not have emissions at the place of their use. However, the electricity that is required for charging has to be produced somewhere and if this comes from fossils, then the place of power plants are polluted. Further, the transmission losses and efficiency during charging are to be taken into account.

The other side is that the environment impact for transport of hydrocarbons to places of use also need to be considered.

Most of the times, we see that electrical vehicles are pollution free and hype is being created. The waste created from batteries also has to be seen, they great improvements are made during last decade.

But, we have to understand that they are good only at the place of use for above reasons.

Near miss incident - Tractor crossing rail track narrowly misses speed train

See the video here
http://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/caught-on-camera-shocking-moment-speeding-train-misses-tractor-by-inches-1730982

LPG cylinder blast kills fireman - Selfie madness of public affects more

A 19.2 kg LPG cylinder bursts in a fire incident in a bakery. About 47 persons including 37 local residents and others including firemen, police were injured in the incident.
It is reported that the curious onlookers were mostly interested in taking selfies, affecting fire fighting operations as well as endangered fire fighters affecting their free movement.


See the news item here.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/jul/17/cylinder-blast-in-city-bakery-kills-56-yr-old-firefighter-1629638.html

Mistake by one - impact on all

Government authorities suspended works at all civil projects as a crane collapse in a site caused 7 deaths. Authorities would like to inspect all sites to ensure safety.
This shows that unless measures are taken by everybody in their work sites, their businesses can get affected, even if the mistake is by others in some other place. Industries of similar nature should interact regularly with each other to improve safety and implement the same. 
The following news item is an example.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-accident-idUSKBN1A809X?il=0