Cyclone Montha: Do's And Don'ts
Before Cyclone Season
Inspect your house; fix loose tiles, doors, and windows.
Remove dead or unstable trees near your home. Secure loose objects like bricks, tin sheets, lumber, garbage cans, and signboards.
Keep wooden boards ready to cover glass windows if needed.
Stock hurricane lanterns with kerosene, battery-powered torches, and extra dry cells.
Demolish unsafe or condemned buildings.
Keep extra batteries for radios and non-perishable dry food ready for emergencies.
When Indoors During Cyclone
Switch off electrical mains and gas supply to prevent fires or gas leaks.
Close doors and windows to protect against strong winds. Evacuate if your house is unsafe, weak, or in a flood-prone area.
Stay updated on weather forecasts, evacuation notices, and safety instructions via trusted sources like NDTV, the IMD, and local authorities.
Drink safe water by boiling or purifying it to avoid waterborne diseases.
Board up windows or use storm shutters; if boards are unavailable, use paper strips on glass to reduce splinter injuries.
Keep emergency lights, torches, food, and water within reach.
If Outdoors During Cyclone Montha
Avoid entering damaged buildings until authorities declare them safe.
Stay clear of broken electric poles, wires, and sharp debris to prevent injuries or electrocution.
Take shelter in sturdy buildings or designated cyclone shelters to protect yourself from strong winds and flying debris.
During Cyclone Alerts And Evacuation
Listen to official warnings on radio or trusted news sources. Ignore rumours.
Leave low-lying areas and head for higher ground or evacuation shelters early to avoid getting stranded.
Pack essential items, including medicines, food for infants or elderly, and important documents.
Follow shelter rules and stay until authorities confirm it is safe to leave.
After Cyclone
Do not return home until authorities declare the area safe.
Prevent waterborne and vector-borne diseases by seeking medical help and getting necessary vaccinations.
Avoid dangling wires and other hazards, which may still be live.
Drive carefully, and watch for debris, fallen trees, and flooded areas.
Clear your premises of rubble, fallen branches, and other obstacles.
Report accurate information about property damage, injuries, and other losses to help authorities assess the cyclone's impact.
A surprise inspection for work at height should check for compliance with safety standards, proper use and quality of equipment, and adherence to the work permit process from issuing to closing. The goal is to observe work practices as they actually occur, not just when an inspection is expected.
ReplyDeleteWork at height surprise inspection checklist
Ladder safety
Suitability: Confirm the ladder type is appropriate for the task. For example, use a fiberglass ladder near electrical sources.
Condition: Inspect for visible damage, such as loose, cracked, or bent rungs or rails. Ensure non-slip feet are in good condition. Check that spreader bars on stepladders lock properly.
Placement: Verify the ladder is on a stable, level surface and set at the correct angle (4:1 ratio for extension ladders). Ensure the top extends at least 1 meter (3 feet) above the landing surface.
Use: Observe that workers maintain three points of contact while climbing and do not overreach. Confirm they are not working from the top three rungs of a straight ladder or the top cap of a stepladder.
Quality of fall protection equipment
Harnesses and lanyards: Inspect for any cuts, burns, fraying, pulled stitches, or excessive soiling. Check that D-rings, buckles, and snaphooks are free of damage and corrosion and that locking mechanisms function properly.
ReplyDeleteAnchor points: Verify that anchorage points are secure and rated to support the required load.
Lifelines and retractables: For self-retracting lifelines (SRLs), inspect the housing for cracks and the line for cuts or frays. Perform a quick, sharp pull test to ensure the unit locks correctly.
Inspection tags: Check that all fall protection equipment has been inspected by a competent person and has a legible tag with the latest inspection date.
Support and safe practices
Training and competency: Interview workers to confirm they have received proper training for the work being performed at height and on the equipment being used.
Exclusion zones: Check that the area below the work is barricaded to protect others from falling objects. Appropriate signage should be posted.
Overhead hazards: Ensure measures are in place to prevent falling objects, such as using tool lanyards or toe boards.
Physical condition: Verify that workers are medically cleared for work at height.
Work at height permit to work (PTW) process
1. Permit issuance
Authorization: Confirm the permit was issued and signed by a qualified authority after a thorough review.
Details: Check that the permit contains all necessary information, including the work description, location, duration, and involved personnel.
Risk assessment: Verify that a risk assessment (Job Safety Analysis) was completed and documented for the specific task and location.
Control measures: Ensure all required control measures and personal protective equipment (PPE) identified in the risk assessment are specified on the permit.
2. Permit execution (during work)
On-site display: Confirm the valid permit is available and displayed at the worksite.
Compliance: Check that workers are following the safety precautions listed on the permit.
Time validity: Verify that work is being conducted within the valid time frame specified on the permit.
Conditions check: Assess if the conditions at the site (e.g., weather) are consistent with those described on the permit. The permit must be cancelled if conditions become unsafe.
3. Permit closing
Work completion: Confirm that the work has been completed and the work area has been returned to a safe state before the permit is closed.
Cancellation: Ensure the permit is signed off and officially closed by the authorizing and executing parties.
Recordkeeping: Verify that a copy of the completed and closed permit is retained for a specified period for future auditing.
As per mockdrill Scenario used to be given by Shri Saroj sir for every month
ReplyDeleteAn Emergency Mock Drill — Overview awareness
An emergency mock drill is a planned, simulated exercise conducted to test the readiness, response, and coordination of employees, emergency teams, and systems during a potential emergency situation such as a fire, chemical spill, explosion, or medical emergency.
🎯 Purpose
1. To assess the effectiveness of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP).
2. To ensure employees know what to do and where to go during emergencies.
3. To identify gaps in communication, procedures, and resources.
4. To evaluate the performance of emergency teams and first aiders.
5. To promote a proactive safety culture.
⚙️ Types of Emergency Mock Drills
1. Fire Drill – Simulating a fire and evacuation.
2. Chemical Spill Drill – Responding to hazardous material leakage.
3. Medical Emergency Drill – Handling injuries or illness at work.
4. Rescue Drill – Confined space or height rescue scenario.
5. Natural Disaster Drill – Earthquake, flood, or storm response.
6. Security / Bomb Threat Drill – Testing response to suspicious activities.
🧭 Steps to Conduct a Mock Drill
1. Planning Phase
• Define objectives and select the scenario.
• Notify key personnel and emergency response team.
• Assign observers and prepare equipment.
2. Execution Phase
• Sound the alarm and initiate the emergency scenario.
• Ensure realistic simulation (without creating panic).
• Observe individual and team responses.
• Evacuate employees to the assembly point.
3. Evaluation Phase
• Conduct a debriefing session immediately after.
• Record time taken for evacuation and response.
• Identify lessons learned and improvement areas.
• Prepare a Mock Drill Report with photos, findings, and corrective actions.
🧑🚒 Roles & Responsibilities
• Site Manager: Authorize and oversee the drill.
• HSE Officer: Plan, execute, and document the drill.
• Fire Wardens / Marshals: Lead evacuation and headcount.
• First Aiders: Attend to mock casualties.
• Observers: Evaluate and record performance.
• All Employees: Follow instructions and cooperate during the drill.
🧾 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Total evacuation time
• Headcount accuracy
• Response time of emergency teams
• Communication effectiveness
• Correct use of PPE and emergency equipment
• Compliance with procedures