EHS Moment

[Sdf4786k]

Food for thought during the next fire drill ...

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-48395247

[Carbon82]

Food for thought during the next fire drill ...

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-48395247

Some important points to take note of during a fire emergency

 

- Do not run (most of the fatalities are caused by stampede instead of fire)

 

- Do note use lift (all lift will be homed down upon alarm activation)

 

- Exit from the building via the nearest exit (you are allowed to bypass security access during emergency)

 

- Close the door if you are the last person exiting from a room / compartment (to prevent fire from spreading)

 

- Do not bring any personal belongings along (you might hinder others from escaping)

 

- Assist the needy by getting them to follow you (imagine if they are down, people behind them might be trapped)

 

- In event that smoke start to build up along the escape route, keep your body low, or even crawl on the floor to minimize inhaling the smoke

 

- Always move to an open area, never take short cut by cutting through building (you might be trapped instead)

 

- Never re-enter the building until green light given by the Fire Safety Manager / Site Incident Commander / SCDF

[Inlinefour]

Dutch Reach

 

 

Although the 2 pictures below are targeting at safety of cyclist, the same can be applied for another other moving objects (car, trucks, even PMD and passerby). Do share this with you loved one and remind your passenger to do so, for reducing unnecessary accident and injury.

 

 

 

 

 

Gull wing even more dangerous 

 

Best to drive Lambo with scissor door 

[Sdf4786k]

Some important points to take note of during a fire emergency

 

- Do not run (most of the fatalities are caused by stampede instead of fire)

 

- Do note use lift (all lift will be homed down upon alarm activation)

 

- Exit from the building via the nearest exit (you are allowed to bypass security access during emergency)

 

- Close the door if you are the last person exiting from a room / compartment (to prevent fire from spreading)

 

- Do not bring any personal belongings along (you might hinder others from escaping)

 

- Assist the needy by getting them to follow you (imagine if they are down, people behind them might be trapped)

 

- In event that smoke start to build up along the escape route, keep your body low, or even crawl on the floor to minimize inhaling the smoke

 

- Always move to an open area, never take short cut by cutting through building (you might be trapped instead)

 

- Never re-enter the building until green light given by the Fire Safety Manager / Site Incident Commander / SCDF

- Do not bring any personal belongings along (you might hinder others from escaping)

 

Food note to those.. HR will go round to take pictures or even take possession of confidential documents during a fire drill for keepsake n put it as a compliance issue.. not good for your career..

[Carbon82]

Heat Stress

 

 

What is heat stress?

Heat stress occurs when the accumulation of heat in the body exceeds the ability of the body to remove the extra heat. The normal human body maintains the core temperature within a very narrow range. Outside these limits, vital organs will fail, the person can become unconscious and die.

 

The main body mechanism to lose extra heat is through the evaporation of sweat. When a large amount of body fluid is lost through sweating, dehydration can occur and this impairs blood circulation and the regulation of body temperature. Therefore, water replacement, through drinking, and the maintenance of adequate hydration, is important for the human sweating mechanism to continue to function optimally.

 

Heat stress can still occur even as the body is trying to remove the excess heat. There are numerous syndromes associated with excess body heat, the most relevant being heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

 

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps is one of the earliest signs of heat stress. The most common symptom is the tonic contraction of muscles (“cramping”) which usually happens in the legs. It is often the result following heavy physical work and is due to fluid and electrolyte losses caused by heavy sweating.

 

This can be treated by rest, replacement of the fluid and electrolytes (through drinking water or isotonic “sports drinks”) and massaging the affected muscles.

 

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion occurs when the loss of water and electrolytes from the body is so high, that it affects the blood flow to vital organs. It commonly presents as a sensation of “feeling weak”, dizziness or fainting. Other symptoms include headaches, blurring of vision and abdominal pain. The worker would be sweating heavily and his body temperature would usually be higher than normal.

 

Treatment is through cessation of physical activity, cooling of the body and active replacement of fluids and electrolytes. Transfer the victim to a shady or air-conditioned area (if available), remove extra layers of clothing and sponge the person down with a wet towel or cloth while fanning him/her. Restore circulation by laying him/her down and elevating the legs about 30 cm (1 foot) above ground. Replacement of fluids by drinking may not be adequate and intravenous administration of fluids (in a hospital) may be necessary. 

 

Heat Stroke

When the body is unable to remove extra heat, the core temperature may continue to increase to cause heat stroke. The affected person may be incoherent or unable to talk clearly, unconscious and lose control of his bladder and bowel functions. In some cases, the sweating mechanism may also fail, resulting in a “hot body” that is not sweating. As the body temperature rises, damage will occur to the vital organs of the body, such as the brain, kidney and liver. If not treated quickly, death will occur.

 

In the treatment of heat stroke, the first important step is to cool the body. Transfer the victim to a shady or air-conditioned area (if available), remove extra layers of clothing and sponge him/her down with a wet towel or cloth while fanning him/her. If the victim is conscious and if it is possible, he/she should be encouraged to drink water. Restore circulation by laying him/her down and elevating the legs about 30cm (1 foot) above ground. As the above is being done, arrangement should be made to call for an ambulance and evacuate the victim to a hospital.

 

And here are some useful tips to prevent heat related injuries. Stay cool.

 

[Sdf4786k]

Some important points to take note of during a fire emergency:

 

- Do not run (most of the fatalities are caused by stampede instead of fire)

 

- Do note use lift (all lift will be homed down upon alarm activation)

 

- Exit from the building via the nearest exit (you are allowed to bypass security access during emergency)

 

- Close the door if you are the last person exiting from a room / compartment (to prevent fire from spreading)

 

- Do not bring any personal belongings along (you might hinder others from escaping)

 

- Assist the needy by getting them to follow you (imagine if they are down, people behind them might be trapped)

 

- In event that smoke start to build up along the escape route, keep your body low, or even crawl on the floor to minimize inhaling the smoke

 

- Always move to an open area, never take short cut by cutting through building (you might be trapped instead)

 

- Never re-enter the building until green light given by the Fire Safety Manager / Site Incident Commander / SCDF

Video has frightening screen.

 

To be watch after dinner

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=facTAt25Wow&t=36s

Edited May 31, 2019 by Sdf4786k

[Carbon82]

Vehicles and Lightning

 

 

What happens when lightning strikes a vehicle?

 

Electrically speaking, at lightning's higher frequencies, currents are carried mostly on the outside of conducting objects. A thick copper wire or a hollow-wall metal pipe will carry most of the lightning on outer surfaces. This phenomenon is called "skin effect." The same holds true for lightning when it strikes metal vehicles: the outer surface carries most of the electricity. The persons inside this steel box can be likened to protected by a partial Faraday cage.

 

But, consistent with lightning's capricious nature, situations alter results. Is the car dry or wet? If the car is made of fiberglass (a poor conductor) or a convertible, skin effect principles may not work.

 

Some general recommendations include:

 

Personal Safety Issues. Reported incidents and related injuries make it clear that a person inside a fully enclosed metal vehicle must not be touching metallic objects referenced to the outside of the car. Door and window handles, radio dials, CB microphones, gearshifts, steering wheels, and other inside-to-outside metal objects should be left alone during close-in lightning events. We suggest pulling off to the side of the road in a safe manner, turning on the emergency blinkers, turning off the engine, putting one's hands in one's lap, and waiting out the storm.

 

Heavy Equipment. Backhoes, bulldozers, loaders, graders, scrapers, mowers, and other heavy equipment that employ an enclosed rollover systems canopy (ROPS) are safe in nearby electrical storms. The operator should shut down the equipment, close the doors, and sit with hands in lap, waiting out the storm. In no circumstances during close-in lightning should the operator attempt to step off the equipment to the ground in an attempt to find another shelter. Very dangerous step voltage and touch voltage situations are created when a "dual pathway to ground" is created. Lightning voltages will attempt to equalize themselves, and they may go through a person in order to do so.

 

Small Equipment. Smaller equipment without a ROPS is not safe. Small riding mowers, golf cars, and utility wagons are examples of unsafe vehicles. Rubber tires provide zero safety from lightning. After all, lightning has traveled for miles through the sky: four or five inches of rubber is no insulation whatsoever. People should safely abandon this machinery and get into a safe shelter.

 

School Buses. Metal buses are good Faraday cages. Make sure all windows are closed and the "hands on laps" rule is observed. Pull over and wait out the storm.

 

Damage. Reported damage to vehicles includes pitting, arcing, and burning on both exterior and interior places. Cases have been reported of total destruction of vehicle wiring, and associated electrical and electronic systems. Cases from police departments report bad burns to the hands and mouth where officers were using radio microphones when their vehicles were struck. Cases describe total blow-out of all four tires in passenger cars.

[SGMCF328]

People in a train carriage are also protected from lightning current.

 

[Carbon82]

Wiper and Safety

 

 

- Worn wiper blades are dangerous. Because 90% of your driving decisions are based on a clear, unobstructed view of the road, it's a critical safety concern that your car's wipers provide you with the cleanest windshield possible.

 

- Ozone, airborne contaminants, oil, sunlight and dirt all act to weaken and reduce your wiper blades' ability to keep your view unobstructed. And exposure to sunlight and ozone cause the wiper blades to age, even if they're not used much.

 

- Weather also plays a critical role in your windshield wiper blades' deterioration. Hot weather warps the rubber and prevents the blade from wiping your windshield cleanly.

 

- Heavy use is hard on the wipers because dust, abrasives, road grime and bug juice wear away the cutting edge the blade needs to wipe cleanly. Even road dirt acts like an abrasive to wear away the flat surface necessary for a good squeegee effect.

 

- Rubber also deteriorates over time. As blades age, they lose their flexibility and are less able to wipe cleanly. They may develop a permanent set or curvature, which prevents full contact with your windshield.

 

- Take a wet towel and run it along the edge of the blade periodically. This will remove, dust, dirt, and grime that can build up over time. Washing it away will allow your wipers to work more efficiently and last longer. This is a good time to inspect your blades for areas that look rigid or worn.

[Carbon82]

Things not to leave in your car - Aerosol Cans

 

 

You might have a can of spray deodorant lying around the car for times when you’re feeling less than fresh, but leaving any aerosol in your car is a bad idea! Aerosols, when kept in overheated conditions, can become volatile and explosive. They tend to explode at temperatures above roughly 48°C.

 

According to research, temperature inside a car can reach 50°C in just five minutes on a day when it’s only 32.5°C outside. That’s also why you never leave your pets in the car, because even if you crack a window, it’s just not enough.

 

Considering the ramifications of an aerosol can exploding, not only would your car be seriously damaged, but anyone in or near the car would be grievously injured, if not killed. Even if anyone wasn’t affected by the explosion, your wallet certainly would be; The most comprehensive car insurance policies may not cover you for damage to your car caused by your own negligence.

 

Do you keep WD-40, hair spray, Off, Fix-A-Flat, etc. in your vehicle? If so, you might want to reconsider. Whether it’s the aforementioned can of deodorant, or some spray paint, you’re better off not keeping them in your car at all. Store them in a bag that you can take with you for safety’s sake.

[Carbon82]

Things not to leave in your car - Water in plastics bottle

 

 

The real problem with plastic water bottles in cars is not chemicals from the plastic – a common urban myth – but bacteria growing inside the heated water. Bacteria multiply quickly in water that is hot but not boiling.

 

The bacteria comes when you put your mouth on the bottle to drink some of the water, so if the seal is broken on a water bottle and you’ve drunk any, there’s probably bacteria growing already. Not a big deal if you drink the water in one day and wash the bottle for reuse – but a big deal if you drink some one day, then wash it only after a few days with the bottle sitting in the hot car.

 

So what was that we said about urban myths and plastic chemicals? It’s an urban myth that if left in the heat, some of the chemicals found in plastic bottles could seep into your water, which would assumedly be extremely bad for your health if you drink the water.

 

Cancer Research UK’s website states that “small amounts of chemicals from plastic containers can end up in the food or drinks that are kept inside them” but that “the levels of these are very low.”

 

“Even in experiments where plastic bottles are heated to temperatures as high as 60°C for many hours, levels of chemicals that move into food and drink are usually far under levels that are considered unsafe.”

[Carbon82]

Things not to leave in your car - Medications

 

 

- Extreme heat can alter the chemical composition of medicine, meaning that your migraine pills, panadol, flu medication, etc. could become anything from useless to toxic.

 

- Ideally, you should be storing your medicines at a temperature ranging anywhere from 23-25°C. However, failing that, just keep them somewhere cool, dark, and dry – like a cabinet.

 

- Any medication, unless it specifies that it needs to be refrigerated, really needs to be kept at room temperature in a dry place away from heat, humidity, and light. So the best place to keep medicines is in a medicine cabinet that’s outside of the bathroom, and not on top of a refrigerator where there’s heat .

 

- The active chemicals in any medication can change in molecular form when exposed to different temperatures, potentially resulting in decomposition of the medication. This decomposition can make medications less potent and may even result in new or different effects.

 

- It’s therefore very important to consider the importance of your medication when storing it. For example, a box of Nurofen that loses some of its potency due to exposure won’t cause you anything other than mild inconvenience. But if you take medications in order to alleviate potentially harmful or even fatal symptoms of certain conditions, and that medication is made less effective or even ruined after sitting in the car for a few days, you could be in serious trouble if you take it.

 

[Carbon82]

Things not to leave in your car - Mobile phone

 

 

- Most modern mobile phones have built-in sensors to warn you of excessive heat. But if left in the car on a hot day, these functions are not enough if the temperature inside the car climbs beyond what your phone can handle. Overheating can damage the internal battery, which can lead to severely reduced battery life or simply leave your phone useless.

 

- When it comes to iPhones, Apple states that the batteries in its phones work best in temperatures of 16 - 25°C. They warn that temperatures in excess of 35°C can permanently damage the capacity of your iPhone’s battery – an unfortunate revelation for Australians, where summer temperatures upwards of 40°C are fairly common.

 

- Samsung similarly warns that using its devices outside of “normal operating conditions” (0 - 35°C) may impact their performance, as will leaving your device in a parked car on a hot day.

[Carbon82]

Things not to leave in your car - Glasses

 

 

Take advantage of your car’s sunglasses compartment while driving, but don’t leave your shades in it after you reach your destination.

 

Heat can warp plastic frames and make metal ones too hot to wear.

 

Leaving your glasses or sunglasses on the dashboard is even worse because the windshield could attract sunlight like a magnifying glass, thus a potential fire hazard.

[Carbon82]

Things not to leave in your car - Disposable lighter and canned drink
 

 

- Disposable lighters are small but dangerous items to leave in the car during hot weather. A left lighter on the front seat of a car can get so hot that it exploded and hit the windshield or injure anyone inside.

 

- Warning labels on these little fire starters instruct users to never expose them to heat above 45 degrees C or prolonged sunlight. As temperature inside cars can easily get up to 60 degrees C, making the car an unstable environment to store lighters.

 

- Canned drinks is less dangerous but more annoying. Imagine you left a can of Coke in the car while you headed for the beach and when you came back the entire top of it had popped open, spraying half of the soda everywhere.

 

- In short, it is not advisable to keep anything in a pressured container in the car parked under the hot sun, as excessive heat is likely to cause the container to give away.

[Carbon82]

The importance of headlight and maintenance

 

 

Vehicles driven in the dark without lights, or “phantom vehicles,” are a serious safety risk. Some drivers think a lit-up dashboard means their lights are on, which may not be true. It’s also important to use proper lighting in bad weather.

 

Don’t put yourself and others at risk. Turn your headlights on when driving in the dark or in bad weather. Kindly note on the following:

- Automatic headlights only work if you set them on automatic

- A bright dashboard doesn’t always mean that your headlights and tail lights are on

- Daytime running lights don’t give you enough light to drive safely in the dark or in bad weather

 

Headlights should be a part of your regular maintenance checks. Here are some things to look out for:

- Always make sure your headlight casings are clean.

- Be aware, you may not notice a blown headlight. Usually you’ll notice a reduction in brightness first.

- Check brake lights and indicators too. This is easily done by going around the vehicle before driving off.

- If you're replacing bulbs, always do so in pairs. There’s a good chance the other one won’t be far behind. 

 

[Carbon82]

Be Prepared to Adapt to Road Conditions

 

 

Motorists must be able to quickly adapt to road conditions while maintaining proper control of their vehicle. Motorists need to be alert at all times and anticipate road hazards. Be able to respond safely to the following hazardous or difficult road conditions:

 

- Road works

- Scenes of accidents

- Oil patches

- Sandy stretches

- Debris scattered on the road

- Pot holes

- Bad weather

 

If necessary, motorists should signal, slow down, or make a full stop when faced with the above situations. Never speed up, change lanes, or swerve and squeeze your  way through traffic.

[Carbon82]

Slow down

 

 

Drivers must take extra caution and care when:

 

- Entering a school or silver zone

 

- Passing a bus stop or a crowded taxi bay

 

- Approaching a pedestrian crossing

 

- Passing vehicles parked along roadsides

 

- At entrance and exit of a building / carpark

 

- Any other crowded place, especially near to blind spot (corners)