Safety and Technology

Safety & Technology What we have gained?

Modern days we today live in brick and mortar houses, have well managed drainage systems and advanced agricultural technologies. If you think that these facilities and the concept of smart cities are things of modern era, then you are absolutely wrong.

Perplexed YES

While looking at modern day structures and ideas evolving from references from past. We have still not gone to the correct books. Ancient technology is still complex for us. We have designed our education system so complex, that the basic elements of knowledge are missing. There is a saying what you had sown you with get the same fruit. Challenges persist as prolong use of toxic industrial chemicals and negligent discharge and foul play have contaminated the country’s soil, air and possibly water.

Recent studies showed that, soil samples from Goa and six cities, including New Delhi and Mumbai, the average concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Indian soil was almost twice the amount found globally—12 ng/g (nanogram per gram) dry weight as against 6ng/g. (Ref. Study of Tamilnadu University with international institutes)

PCBs are synthetic organic chemicals used in electrical equipment, adhesives, paints and several other products. In April 2016, India said manufacturing and importing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) will be banned after December 31, 2025. It becomes more shocking when an international researcher found even the depth of oceans is not safe from PCB contamination with “extraordinary” levels of contamination found in two of the deepest trenches in the ocean—Mariana Trench in the North Pacific and Kermadec Trench in the South Pacific. This polluting chemical persisted and found its way into the remotest corner of the earth even though the US had banned its use back in 1979.

What actions can be taken?

What’s the solution we have in hand? “Informal e-waste recycling process is an emerging problem and it is growing. Still, it is one of the sources of PCBs in developing nations today. Besides proper waste disposal, open burning of dumped waste should be stopped.

Not only PCBs, but several other organic pollutants can be released due to incomplete combustion of waste, particularly plastics, e-waste and biomedical waste,

It’s true to understand the need of hour. The most unthoughtful process of keeping things and safe keeping is not the responsibility of safety officer. Recent discussion during safety summits also highlighted few core industrial challenges. We talk of safety and sustainability but in this race what has really lost is the essence of safe keeping. Everything in industry is on measurable, value based, true value for life is lost.

Malpractices and negligence are key tool for productivity, higher output and the plate of safety is hanged outside, stating “It’s our First-Priority”. Question “IS IT”.  Although this may not be true to many or most of the industry but it persists, how do we evaluate it, with increasing number of air pollution, increased health issues & Reported incidents that come out. Each knowledge sharing session, focuses on how to make things safe, but we are trying to run the old machinery which is not having those capabilities to understand the corrective action need. Ground reality along with challenges comes in light when media reports a horrifying disaster of industry of fire, blast, & gas leak. Who has suffered, reports come out most contractual workers, labour. Can we replace life by compensation, how to counter this have we worked on solutions correctly?

Often these questions are unclear or unanswered. Result there is a committee, there is a report, & investigation – later file Close. In true sense post incident, there should be alarm and perception base evaluations to be done. Compliance, Change control and conditional change assessments to be done.

Most important tool to learning is Discussion.  Let’s Discuss.  ...Solutions... 

Piyush Tripathi:9824663306