Tag Archives: Responsibility

MY INDIA – SAFE INDIA V

Life Saving Education, Safety, Safety as a Responsibility, , , , , , , ,

The 4th of March is celebrated as National Safety Day across India. It was on this day 52 years ago the National Safety Council was established and the day is celebrated as National Safety day. Almost all the industries and establishments across India celebrate the entire week. Competitions are conducted on safety in different ways like making posters, writing slogans, and of course the safety pledge is administered. Every year there is a theme which is given and this year the theme is OUR AIM – ZERO HARM. Coincidentally it was the same Maggie and Jaggy were discussing. Zero Incidents. In this conversation they will discuss the theme of the National Safety day. Let us follow the conversation.

Maggie: “Hello Jaggy trust you are on top of the world.”

Jaggy: “Yes Maggie. The month of March is a busy one for all trainers in Emergency Response.”  

Maggie: “Why March only?”  

Jaggy: “March being safety month that’s why.”

Maggie: “Yes you are correct. We are celebrating Safety week.” 

Jaggy: “That is great Maggie.” 

Maggie: “The theme of the Safety day OUR AIM- ZERO HARM, I just could not fathom the meaning behind it.”  

Jaggy: “The theme is quite simple. It matches with the zero accidents theme your workplace has taken up.”  

Maggie: “Oh! A great coincidence but how?”

Jaggy: “The message is very clear. It says we will aim to create a culture, or habits that will not cause harm to anything in the world what we live in.”  

Maggie: “I don’t quite follow you.”  

Jaggy: “When we say no harm to anything it means, People, Environment and Property.”  

Maggie: “I can understand harm to people and environment but property?”

Jaggy: “Yes property too. There are many things and equipment which help us in day to day life. They too must not be damaged is it not?”

Maggie: “But use of these things can cause harm to our health also.”

Jaggy: “Yes to an extent. Only when you use the things without any control. The theme says that too. Limit use of devices that can harm your health.”  

Maggie: “Now I understand. So what should one do, to achieve the aim no harm.”

Jaggy: “To do so first and foremost, one needs to follow safety rules at all times. No violation is permitted. Second, ensure housekeeping is perfect whether at home or the work place. Third, ensure the environment around you is clean and not harmful. Fourth, ensure safety becomes an attitude with everyone around you.”  

Maggie: “Will it help?”

Jaggy: “Yes, as long as you reiterate to everyone around you. Set a standard and then everything falls into place.”

Maggie: “Ok. Does no harm involve animals and plants too?”

Jaggy: “Definitely! When harm is caused to the environment it affects them too.”  

Maggie: “Can you explain better?”

Jaggy: “In this world of ours, there are 80 million living species. If all the earth worms of the world, become extinct the world, will be wiped out in 13 years. If all the insects, become extinct the world, will end in 3 to 5 years.”  

Maggie: “Oh! What if humans become Extinct?”

Jaggy: “If you ask me, the world, will simply be better than what it was before. Everything has a place in this universe by design. When the design is disturbed, then the balance collapses. Same with safety. It is upon us to ensure the design is not disturbed. Our Aim- Zero Harm.”  

Let all my readers wherever you are in the world, the theme of the National Safety day of India holds true. By aiming to cause no harm, safety standards can really be improved. Let us all strive for that.  

Keep the comments flowing, and do not hesitate to correct me if you want to. Always open to suggestions for improvement.

Stay safe and be safe.

Live Life – Save Life.

Seshadri Varadarajan.

MY INDIA SAFE INDIA IV.

Education, Life Saving Education, Safety, Safety as a Responsibility, , , , , , ,

Happy New Year to all my readers and to everyone across the world. Trust all are Safe and living up your life. My resolution for this year is to make it the BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE. I do not know how to do it but will make it happen. I truly appreciate all who have read my last blog on HIRA and expressed their happiness over it. I was overwhelmed with the response I have received for the same. Continuing the conversation, Maggie and Jaggy take it a step forward by discussing about the ‘Incident, Accident and Disaster’. Let us enjoy the conversation.

Maggie: “Happy New Year Jaggy.”

Jaggy: “Wish you too the same Maggie. Trust all is well with you.”

Maggie: “Yes Jaggy, everything is just great and all the conversations with you, have been useful to me.”

Jaggy: “Thanks for the good wishes. The pleasure is always mine.”

Maggie: “One of the resolutions that my organisation has taken for this year is ZERO ACCIDENTS. I was very happy about it but did not know how we are going to achieve it.”

Jaggy: “That’s a great resolution to start the year. It can be achieved if you can minimize the incidents.”

Maggie: “Minimize incidents? Can you clarify the same?”

Jaggy: “Yes Maggie. It is quite simple. Every accident is preceded by an incident. If incidents are avoided, then accidents too can be prevented.”

Maggie: “Can you be more specific?”

Jaggy: “Sure. An incident is any occurrence, situation or happening which can result in injuries or even cause death. In an incident, a person may not necessarily be injured or hurt. In common language, it is termed as a ‘Near Miss’ or ‘Just Miss’.”

Maggie: “Examples please.”

Jaggy: “I will give them once I explain an Accident. An accident is an unexpected event or occurrence, in which a person is either hurt, or in a fatal state. The injury could even be major. For one accident to happen many incidents have to occur.”

Maggie: “You mean to say for one accident to occur we need many incidents to happen. Can you tell me the exact difference?”

Jaggy: “Slipping on a wet floor is an incident, falling is an accident. An object falling near you is an incident, falling on you is an accident. Stopping a vehicle suddenly is an incident, hitting the other vehicle is an accident. There are many examples and you are intelligent enough to understand.”

Maggie: “So how do we prevent accidents?”

Jaggy: “Every accident is preventable if all the incidents are reported. Every incident not reported can turn into an accident.”

Maggie: “You mean to say that even if I slip on a floor, I report it.”

Jaggy: “Yes, as it helps another person avoid falling. It is the old Banana skin on the floor story. There are people who on seeing the skin remove it, and put it in the trash can. Some others see it and just walk by it doing nothing. The attitude of doing nothing after seeing it can result in an accident.”

Maggie: “Now I understand. Our Safety Manager has given us formats to report the same. He calls it a Near Miss report and there are going to be rewards for people who report.”

Jaggy: “Yes exactly. He seems to know his responsibility and may there be many like him in all work places.”

Maggie: “Understood. Then what is a Disaster?”

Jaggy: “A disaster is nothing but the hardships created due to the accidents that occur. It may involve multiple loss of life, or even huge damage to property. That is why the damage caused by natural events like Earthquakes, floods are known as Natural Disasters.”

Maggie: “Oh now I understand.”

Jaggy: “As of now, look out and report the incidents so that accidents can be avoided. It is a responsibility for all.”

Jaggy and Maggie will be continuing to enlighten all of us with their conversations. Keep watching for the updates. As I had said earlier, accidents can be prevented if each one of us act responsibly to report any incidents. Let us aim for ZERO INCIDENTS so that accidents will never occur. Let us make incident or near miss reporting as one of the resolutions of the year.

Stay safe and be safe. Live Life Save Life.

Seshadri Varadarajan.

MY INDIA SAFE INDIA II.

Fire & Life Safety Education, Life Saving Education, Safety as a Responsibility, , , , , ,

A million thanks to all my readers of the last blog “My India Safe India”. By giving me an honest and critical feedback, you have motivated me to continue this series of conversations between Jaggy and Maggie.

A lot of things happened since the last blog. Some great memories, some not so good ones and the accidents which have happened all over the world during the month. Maggie and Jaggy will continue their conversation on Safety and in this episode, they will talk about unsafe conditions and unsafe acts. Enjoy the conversation.

Jaggy: “Hello Maggie!”

Maggie: “Hi, Jaggy. Good to see you again.”

Jaggy: “Nice to see you too!”

Maggie: “It was an interesting discussion on Safety and I have taken upon myself to be safe and keep others around me safe.”

Jaggy: “Good to hear that.”

Maggie: “Last time you had told me that I should avoid unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. Can you add more to that, please?”  

Jaggy: “Thanks for reminding me. Accidents happen anywhere due to unsafe conditions and acts.”

Maggie: “Is it so?”

Jaggy: “Yes.”

Maggie: “Can you explain further?””

Jaggy: “An unsafe condition is any situation, environment or place which can cause injury, loss of life or even damage to property.”

Maggie: “Any examples?”

Jaggy: “A water-logged road is an unsafe condition. Work being carried out without proper signs, equipment without guards, defective tools, poor housekeeping and something as simple as a wet floor, either at home or the work place.”

Maggie: “A wet floor in a home is an unsafe condition?”

Jaggy: “Elementary, dear Maggie. You can slip and fall, is it not? Poor lighting too is an unsafe condition.”

Jaggy: “Yeah, Maggie. Accidents many a time occur in the dark.”

  • A BAD ROAD
  • POOR HOUSEKEEPING

Maggie: “Poor lighting?”

Maggie: “Then what are unsafe acts?”

Jaggy: “Any activity you undertake which can cause injury or endanger your life is an unsafe act.”

Maggie: “Could you explain with examples?”

Jaggy: “Driving a vehicle on a water-logged road, ignoring safety signs, working without proper personal protection, rash driving, standing beneath suspended loads, walking in the dark without a light, not wearing seat belts or helmets.”

Maggie: “Wow! So many examples.”

Jaggy: “There are many more but listing them all is not possible.”

Maggie: “Then how do we improve Safety?”

Jaggy: “First thing to be done is to report an unsafe condition as and when we see it. Many don’t do that.”

Maggie: “Don’t we do that?”

Jaggy: “Many just walk past an unsafe condition or an unsafe act. Only a few take action and report it. When you observe anyone doing an unsafe act, ask them to stop it.”

Maggie: “Many use mobile phones while riding 2 wheelers which is an unsafe act. How do I stop it”?

Jaggy: “Sustained awareness campaigns by all of us can produce the results and reduce injuries and death.”

Maggie: “How can one prevent accidents from happening?”

Jaggy: “By doing Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.”

Maggie: “I do not understand what you said?”

Jaggy: “We will discuss this in our next conversation. Till then, watch out and ‘Stay Safe’.”

We all are, in one way or other, responsible for the accidents which happen everywhere and as a Safety Teacher, I believe that all accidents can be prevented.

Happy reading. Jaggy and Maggie will discuss more on safety in the forthcoming blogs.

Till then,

“Live Life, Save Life”

“Seshadri Varadarajan. 

MY INDIA- SAFE INDIA I.

Life Saving Education, Safety, Safety as a Responsibility, , , , , , ,

A HAPPY 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL MY READERS FROM INDIA AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

Independence brings upon us great glory but at the same time, increases responsibility in whatever we do. We have the power in us to reach great heights. The heights reached by independent India have been well documented and known to the entire world. The strides we have made as a Nation are enormous and made us the talk of the world. Euphoria of celebration is in the air all over the country and let us all soak in the moment. India takes pride in how far we have come as a country and Indians have incredible faith in how far we can go. Let us take India to unimaginable heights by just doing a bit more than what we do. But to achieve all this, Safety is paramount. I have been doing my bit for the past 3 years writing on First Aid, Fire Fighting and Rescue, Motivation. As I enter into my 4th year of blogs, I thank each and every one of you for the unstinted support. More than the praise, it was the critical feedback which has helped me improve.

Jaggy and Maggie have created a lot of awareness on various aspects of first aid through their conversations. Most of the readers believe that they should have a lot of conversations. In a fresh series of conversations, they will be discussing a lot of aspects on Safety. Safety is ever evolving and this is my attempt to make India and the world as a whole, a safer place to live in.

Over to Jaggy and Maggie.

Maggie: “HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, JAGGY!”

Jaggy: “Yes. HAPPY 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY TO YOU TOO!”

Maggie: “75 years and we have grown so much, is it not?”

Jaggy: “We have grown to a large extent and the world knows it.”

Maggie: “We are indeed a great country, Jaggy and I am proud of that.”

Jaggy: “Me too, Maggie, at the same time I want to make it a Safe Country, too.”

“Maggie: Are we not safe in the country? What do you mean?”

Jaggy: “My meaning of a Safe country is to minimize loss of life and injuries everywhere across the country.”

Maggie: “Everywhere?”

Jaggy: “Yes, ‘everywhere’ meaning home, work place, roads, travel, occupational, behaviour, leadership and health.”

Maggie: “I get it, but I have a question. What is Safety?”

Jaggy: “Safety is everything. It is a Culture, which when implemented and imbibed, makes life a lot easier.”

Maggie: “Please explain in simple terms. I don’t want your philosophy.”

Jaggy: “Safety is an easy ABC. Always Be Careful.”

Maggie: “How can we be careful at all times? Is it practically possible?”

Jaggy: “Not every time but most of the time.”

Maggie: “How can we be careful at all times?”

Jaggy: “By taking responsibility.”

Maggie: “How?”

Jaggy: “Your first responsibility is towards yourself to not get injured. Second responsibility is towards your family. When we are injured, they suffer. Third responsibility is towards your organization and for the people whom you work with. Fourth, it is for the country and your countrymen.”

Maggie: “You mean to say Safety is the responsibility of every one.”

Jaggy: “Without a doubt.”

Maggie: “Can you give me more clarity on this.”

Jaggy: “Let me tell you a story. In a school, a girl was studying in the primary class. She used to be good in studies, sharp at grasping and excelled in whatever she did. Yet the teacher was perturbed.”

Maggie: “Why?”

Jaggy: “The girl though outstanding in the class was very shabby in appearance. Badly dressed, poor hygiene. The teacher used to wonder what is wrong with the kid till one fine day she took action.”

Maggie: “What action did she take?”

Jaggy: “She followed the girl to her home. While following her, she came to know that this girl came from a place which was filthy and dirty. The less said about the home of the girl and the parents. This shocked the teacher but also spurred her into action. One fine day, she took the girl home, bathed her, dressed her in new clothes and sent her home.”

Maggie: “Wow!”

Jaggy: “On seeing the girl come home dressed and looking beautiful, the parents even wondered whether it was their child. Realisation sank in. They looked at themselves in the mirror and their house. They immediately cleaned themselves, the house and also painted it with whatever minimum resources available. Seeing one house clean and painted, all the residents cleaned their homes, the streets and the area. In just a short time, from a filthy dirty area, it became the most beautiful area in the town.”

Maggie: “All because of one teacher taking up responsibility.”

Jaggy: “With Freedom comes great responsibility, and when all of us take it up, can we not make our country great but safe too?”

Maggie: “What else do we need to do to be careful?”

Jaggy: “Avoid unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.”

Maggie: “What?”

Jaggy: “Will tell more about it soon. Enjoy the extended Independence Day week end safely.”

Maggie: “You too.”

Jaggy: “Jai Hind.”

Maggie: “Jai Hind.”

The Indian Armed Forces say THE MORE WE SWEAT IN PEACE, THE LESS WE BLEED IN WAR. When all of us make Safety a responsibility, India can be great and safe.

Seshadri Varadarajan.

A Responsible and Safe Citizen of India.