Poor concepts on safety

Many managerial position officials think that safety means using personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety shoe, helmet, safety belt, etc.

But, it is a fact that PPE is a last line of defense to the persons. 

This is what told repeatedly by safety professionals and once people understand, they will agree.

The basis issues to be looked into start from plan, design and implementation of work area, equipment, etc where by incorporating safety as an inherent part, hazards can be taken care so that they do not lead to any unsafe conditions.

If the above fails, then PPE will help the person to minimize the consequence, if not protecting in total.

It is sad that even those persons who work in shopfloor and are likely to come in contact with hazards too do not care about their own personal safety.

People do not try to identify the hazards existing or arising in work place or even if they are known, not taken to the notice of line managers effectively either because of not giving importance or because of fear of facing rebuke. But, who will suffer.

If the line managers do not act or do not take the information on hazards properly, then they should be made to understand by complaining to next level or taking to the notice of safety department. 

The problems lies with line managers too. If they go to shopfloor everyday and see the areas with proper perspective, they too can understand as they are accountable for shopfloor safety as per Factories Act or other such legislations. If nothing else is applicable, we have IPC sections under which one can be charged under 302, 304, 304-A etc.

Once persons understand and initiative is taken, they also see to it that it is implemented at the earliest and one should not take umbrella under the pretext of delays from other agencies. It all depends on how much convinced the line manager is and his willingness to act further.

Health problems with long driving in auto gear cars

It is reported that persons driving auto gear cars for long distances need to take certain precautions to protect their health. It is advised to take break after 1-2 hours of drive to do some exercise.
It is reported that person driving automatic car will not use left leg and there is a valve in leg to control blood flow to the heart. Other information is available in the news paper report.
The news paper report in this aspect is given below.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/why-long-drives-in-automatic-cars-may-be-dangerous-for-you/articleshow/72182040.cms 


I got certain doubts about this, but may be it depends on person to person. The person referred in the news report is driver. However, the other occupants in the vehicle will be sitting throughout the journey whereas the driver will be moving atleast one leg.

Another question that arises is what about persons with amputated legs.

Accidents from opening of doors of vehicles

Persons on the road driving two wheelers or walking get injured or die when they were hit by the opening of doors of other vehicle users. This is because the person opening the door will not observe the traffic coming from behind or the persons walking. When the door hits, these persons may fall under other vehicles.

It is suggested to have sliding doors instead of outward opening doors for all vehicles so that the impact from such incidents can be reduced. Best is, to have doors on one side like in buses. But, this may not be practicable. Further, it depends on the road sense of other persons driving vehicles.

Air filling pressure tank burst

In an incident, the pressurized air filling tank bursts, a peace flies for about 100 m and falls on a boy readying for school. It causes wrist injury.

The pressure will be about 10 kg/sq.cm in normal conditions. The incident happened makes us to ensure that the equipment is checked for its integrity, connections and utility on regular basis.

Chlorine release in restaurant from mixing of bleach with cleaner

In a restaurant, chlorine release from use of floor cleaner possibly mixed or contacted with window cleaner that contains ammonia.
https://local12.com/news/local/chemical-blamed-for-deadly-reaction-in-mass-restaurant-common-in-local-eateries

As per information in internet, the following link provides useful information about chemical reaction of bleach with ammonia and other chemicals, in which harmful gases are liberated.

https://www.organic-chemistry.org/chemicals/oxidations/sodiumhypochlorite.shtm

Hyderabad traffic danger spots

https://m.timesofindia.com/city/hyderabad/proceed-with-caution-secbad-houses-13-accident-black-spots/amp_articleshow/71780559.cms

Question of cost of safety!

Safety is costly, you know!

Any caution on safety is not costly. It may appear costly with respect to money, time, presumed slowness in reaching immediate targets, etc. But, if something is found to be missing w.r.t. ensuring safety and it needs resources to correct it doesn't mean it is added cost.
We have to thank our luck that nothing happened till such time and that somehow the deficiency or lapse was seen by somebody and got an opportunity to rectify it.
Nothing goes waste when we allocate resources meant for enforcing or improving workplace. Those who suffered due to incidents/accidents can tell the impact faced by them, till their memory retains.
Generally, people will forget the lessons and repeat the mistakes in same or different form.
Repetition of mistakes and resultant accidents make the interested parties sick of the way the organization is being run with shortsightedness.
Strict control only appears to work, but how long this can go on depends on mental stamina of the persons in controlling positions.
I think we are destined to suffer at different intervals due to failure to follow the procedures meant for safety of persons/property/environment/etc and when the loss is huge, then the whole organization suffers, may lead to closure.