HSE
Prolonged night driving unsafe
Prolonged night driving unsafe
11 Jun 2008, 1229 hrs IST, IANS
WASHINGTON: Prolonged driving at night impairs performance at the steering wheel and should be discouraged, according to a new study.
The study focussed on 14 healthy youths who drove in three nocturnal sessions (3-5 am, 1-5 am and 9 pm to 5 am) on an open highway.
Researchers monitored inappropriate line crossings in the last hour of driving of each session, sleep variables, self-perceived fatigue and sleepiness.
As compared to the 3-5 am driving session, the ratio of inappropriate line crossings increased by 2.6 in the 1-5 am session and by a factor of four in the 9 pm-5 am driving session.
Self-related fatigue and sleepiness scores were both correlated to driving impairment in the 1-5 am and 9 pm-5 am driving sessions and increased significantly during the nocturnal driving sessions compared to the reference session.
“Until now, regulations have taken into account maximal duration of driving, but the cumulative effects of sleepiness and fatigue were never studied or integrated in the driving regulation,” said Pierre Philip of Université Bordeaux in France, co-author of the study.
“Here, we show that performance is badly affected by time of the day, and therefore, we think that a warning to limit maximum nocturnal driving duration should be included in professional safety recommendations.”
The findings of the study were presented Tuesday at ‘SLEEP 2008’, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
Child safety: a checklist
Child safety: a checklist
Many accidents to children can be prevented if a few precautions are taken. DR. B. RAMACHANDRAN outlines what needs to be done.
EACH year, hundreds of children are injured, some fatally. Often, this happens in or around the house, while the parents or caretakers are present. A few simple precautions can prevent many of these accidents.
Electrical
Electricity is dangerous. Children love to stick objects into exposed electrical outlets. Use dummy plugs to cover unused outlets — if these are not readily available, simply buy a new plug and insert into the outlet.
Avoid leaving long lengths of power cords exposed — the child can pull these and cause an appliance to fall. Also make sure that all the power cords are in good condition, without being frayed. Avoid using too many extensions since these can overheat and cause a short circuit or a fire.
If you are having a new home or flat built, ask the electrical contractors to install an Earth Linked Circuit Breaker (ELCB). This is a device that will instantly shut off the supply to the home if it detects an earth leak, such as when someone accidentally gets an electric shock. You can also request that all the outlets and switches be installed at a height above the reach of the average toddler.
The kitchen
Many household accidents happen here.
Children love to play with fire — do not leave matches around where a child can get hold of them. Teach children about fire safety from an early age. Also, do not leave pots and pans on the gas or range unsupervised. Ensure that the handles of saucepans or other vessels are turned away — this will make it harder for a toddler to reach up and tip the contents over himself.
Keep all knives, forks and other sharp objects out of reach. This includes items like mixer blades.
Keep all kitchen and other household cleaners out of the reach of children, preferably under lock and key. This also applies to kerosene, if you use it.
The bathroom
Keep all cleaning agents, such as acids and detergents in a locked cabinet. Many of these compounds are highly corrosive and can do serious damage if ingested.
Adjust the temperature control on your geyser so that it is not too hot — you should be able to hold your hand without discomfort in the hot water stream.
Food safety
Many foods can be dangerous for small children since they can aspirate the items, which will result in blockage of the breathing passages. The air passages of a child are relatively small and are easily blocked. In addition, children often talk or laugh with food in their mouth. It is difficult to enforce the following safety tips but medical professionals see many disasters that could have easily been avoided.
Children under five years should not eat hard items like murukku, seedai and hard candy. Nuts are especially dangerous. Popcorn (which is light) can easily be aspirated into the lungs.
Teach children not to put too much food into their mouths and also not to talk with food in the mouth.
Toys
Many toys can be dangerous. There are no enforceable guidelines in India about toy design and safety issues. You can take the following steps to ensure that toys do not hurt your child.
Make sure that the toy is age appropriate — what is suitable for an older child may be unsafe for a younger child.
Watch out for toys with sharp edges and small parts — children below three years can aspirate small parts and choke.
Avoid toys that have paint that peels off. The paint can be ingested when a child puts it into his mouth.
If a toy uses button cells, be very careful since toddlers can swallow them.
Baby walkers
Baby walkers can be extremely dangerous and are totally unnecessary. Babies who use walkers do not start walking any faster than others. However, babies do not have the ability to control the extra mobility provided by a walker and can run into furniture or other objects, or fall down stairs and get hurt.
General
Go around the house regularly and ensure that there are no sharp edges exposed that can hurt a child.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children. Many tablets look like candy and toddlers love to eat them. Even medicines like iron tablets and vitamins are dangerous.
Do not give leftover medicines prescribed on a previous occasion or for others to a child — it may be both inappropriate and dangerous.
Do not allow children to play unsupervised on balconies.
Do not allow children to play on the rooftop, even if supervised. Most parapet walls are not high enough to prevent a child from falling over.
Be extremely careful around stairs — infants and toddlers can easily fall down and injure themselves. If you have open stairs in a house, consider having a carpenter make a temporary safety gate until the child is old enough to use the stairs without assistance.
Do not place chains or other closed loop like objects around a child’s neck. These can get caught on objects and strangulate the child.
Keep agarbati and other burning objects well away from children — children sometimes try to look at the glowing tip and get burns on the face.
Do not allow children to play with or handle plastic bags — these can suffocate a child if placed over the head.
Water safety
Children have no innate fear of water and must be carefully supervised. Even a bucket with only a few inches of water at the bottom can be a death trap for a toddler who could fall into it head first.
Be extremely wary when small children are in or near swimming pools or other water bodies. Most incidents of drowning happen in the presence of the parents or other adults. It is impossible for one person to effectively supervise a group of children and one child can easily be missed in a large group.
Travel safety
Two wheelers: No one should ride a scooter or motorcycle without wearing a helmet. Since paediatric helmets are not available, ideally no child should ride on a two-wheeler. Children are much more prone to head injuries than adults because the size of the head is larger relative to the body and therefore children fall headfirst. Even a very low speed accident can cause serious or fatal injury.
More than two people should never ride a two-wheeler. Unfortunately, it is all too common to see entire families on the same vehicle.
Car Travel: Ideally, all occupants in a car should wear seat belts — even low speed accidents can cause serious injury to passengers not wearing seat belts.
In addition, children should travel only in a properly designed child safety seat. Unfortunately, these are generally not available in India. In the absence of car seats, the following safety measures may be of some help.
Do not allow children to travel in the front — if the car stops suddenly, the child will be thrown forward and can sustain serious head injuries by hitting the windshield or dashboard.
Do not allow children to sit in an adult’s lap. In the event of an accident, both will be thrown forward and the adult’s weight will crush the child.
Wear seat belts, even if you mainly drive within the city — children emulate adults and they too will learn to use seat belts if you set an example. However, do not fit an adult seat belt onto a child until he is old enough, otherwise serious damage can happen in the event of an accident. In general, a child can wear an adult seat belt when he is about 4.9 feet (145 cm) tall, or weighs more than 36 kg.
Do not allow children to play with items like pencils, sticks, etc. since these can injure the child or another occupant in the event of the vehicle coming to a sudden stop.
Similarly, do not keep large, unrestrained objects in the passenger compartment — these can be thrown out and injure occupants during a sudden stop.
World environment day: E-waste a major challenge
World environment day: E-waste a major challenge
Thursday June 5 2008 09:29 IST Express News Service
KOCHI: It is World Environment Day on Thursday.
Recognising the rapid changes in climatic conditions as a major issue, the United Nations Environment Programme has come up with a slogan `Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy’ for World Environment Day 2008.
The United Nations has asked various countries and major companies to focus on reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.
Low carbon economies and lifestyles, alternative energy resources and forest conservation have been identified as the major areas that need concentration.
Burning of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas is found to be the major reason for the emission of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide.
E-waste is going to be the major challenge in the coming days. Irrational use of electronic equipment makes a sizable contribution to the challenge.
A number of studies on e-waste management have shown the gravity of the issue in major cities like New Delhi and Bangalore. The picture is not impressive in Kerala too.
“The emission of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide due to the burning of coal and natural gas is the major issue. Then there are these electricity and thermal plants at different parts of the state.
“The emission of carbon by vehicles make the issue more serious.We still do not have an effective mass transport system. Natural methane emission from the catchment area of mega dams has proved as serious as a large quantity of carbon emission,” said Society of Energy Engineers and Managers president C Jayaraman.
Plastic turns eco-friendly!
Plastic turns eco-friendly!
Thursday June 5 2008 00:00 IST Express Features
Even as another World Environment Day approaches, the global concerns of most environmentalists remain the same-growing pollution, global warming and that old villain that refuses to die or degrade, plastic.
The Government of Kerala banned plastics below 30 microns and encouraged the use of alternatives to plastic like paper, cloth and even jute. But none of them could replicate the sturdy utility of plastic.
Given the scenario, an alternative which has all the advantages of plastic and is also biodegradable, seemed the best answer and this is exactly what Kochi-based Biomate Enterprises is trying to market in Kerala.
OXO-biodegradable plastics are plastics with a very small amount of pro-degradant additive added during the manufacturing process.
This additive helps degradation, initially by oxidation and then enables the microorganisms to access the carbon and hydrogen in plastic, making it biodegradable.
While the process can take from a few months to a few years, it is accelerated by sunlight and continues as long as there is air.
The benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic are many. Apart from being completely degradable, it can also be recycled.
It does not require to be segregated during waste collection and disposal. Since it releases carbon slowly, it also produces high quality compost.
Most alternatives to plastic are about 300 to 400 times more expensive to produce; the only extra cost to consider here is the cost of the additive.
When one adds the fact that pollution caused during production is negligible compared to the production of paPlastic turns eco-friendly!
Thursday June 5 2008 00:00 IST
Express Features
Even as another World Environment Day approaches, the global concerns of most environmentalists remain the same-growing pollution, global warming and that old villain that refuses to die or degrade, plastic.
The Government of Kerala banned plastics below 30 microns and encouraged the use of alternatives to plastic like paper, cloth and even jute. But none of them could replicate the sturdy utility of plastic.
Given the scenario, an alternative which has all the advantages of plastic and is also biodegradable, seemed the best answer and this is exactly what Kochi-based Biomate Enterprises is trying to market in Kerala.
OXO-biodegradable plastics are plastics with a very small amount of pro-degradant additive added during the manufacturing process.
This additive helps degradation, initially by oxidation and then enables the microorganisms to access the carbon and hydrogen in plastic, making it biodegradable.
While the process can take from a few months to a few years, it is accelerated by sunlight and continues as long as there is air.
The benefits of oxo-biodegradable plastic are many. Apart from being completely degradable, it can also be recycled.
It does not require to be segregated during waste collection and disposal. Since it releases carbon slowly, it also produces high quality compost.
Most alternatives to plastic are about 300 to 400 times more expensive to produce; the only extra cost to consider here is the cost of the additive.
When one adds the fact that pollution caused during production is negligible compared to the production of paper and cloth bags, biodegradable plastic clearly wins over other alternatives.
This kind of biodegradable plastic has already been used with some success in supermarkets in countries like the UK and Portugal. Major users include leading food chains like Pizza Hut and KFC.
Biomate Enterprises has sent a proposal to the State Pollution Control Board, but they have not yet received an official response. Biomate is planning to market its product with the help of big hotels, hospitals and supermarkets in the state. In fact, Best Bakers in the city is one of the first to start using OXO biodegradable plastics.
Hopefully others will follow the lead. For details, contact 6492728, 9249582728.
per and cloth bags, biodegradable plastic clearly wins over other alternatives.
This kind of biodegradable plastic has already been used with some success in supermarkets in countries like the UK and Portugal. Major users include leading food chains like Pizza Hut and KFC.
Biomate Enterprises has sent a proposal to the State Pollution Control Board, but they have not yet received an official response. Biomate is planning to market its product with the help of big hotels, hospitals and supermarkets in the state. In fact, Best Bakers in the city is one of the first to start using OXO biodegradable plastics.
Hopefully others will follow the lead. For details, contact 6492728, 9249582728.
Big bin: Tackle the trash
Big bin: Tackle the trash
Tuesday June 3 2008 00:00 IST Express Features KOCHI
WITH the introduction of the bylaw on garbage, most Kochiites heaved a sign of relief.
However, unlike many issues where the authorities have more responsibility than the citizens, waste management is an issue that has to start at home.
While the Corporation has finally got its act together by bringing out the bylaw, it remains to be seen whether the law will translate into reality.
Waste management is an easily organised task if done systematically.
The Corporation’s new rules state very clearly that you’ve got to segregate waste, otherwise Corporation workers will not collect it. You can start by using two buckets- one a green one normally supplied by the Corporation and the other a white one which is used to contain all non-biodegradable waste.
Non-biodegradable waste includes all paper items, plastic containers, kits, toys, pencil sharpenings, juice packets, pet bottles, diapers, napkins and the like.
Biodegradable waste includes kitchen food waste, vegetable and fruits peels, plants, grass and weeds. Use a newspaper at the bottom so that the bucket will remain clean and the person collecting the waste can easily clean the bucket off the residue.
The non-biodegradable waste can be further segregated into: a) Recyclable waste: Plastics, paper, glass, metal, etc. b) Toxic waste: Old medicines, paints, chemicals, bulbs, spray cans, fertiliser and pesticide containers, batteries, shoe polish. c) Soiled waste: Hospital waste such as cloth soiled with blood and other body fluids.
(Toxic and soiled waste must be disposed of with utmost care.) Certain things can be kept aside to be sold to the man who buys old items. These items include newspapers, used bottles, magazines, carry bags, old exercise books, oilcans, etc. This is one form of segregation which can be done as a routine.
In fact, much of the household waste can be separated daily into different bags for different categories of waste such as wet and dry waste which should be disposed of separately.
Dry waste consisting of cans, aluminium foils, plastic, metal, glass, and paper can be recycled. One should also keep a bin for toxic waste. Wet waste which consists of leftover foodstuff and vegetables can also be put in a compost pit and the compost can be used as manure in the garden.
Waste management: See how they do it
Waste management: See how they do it
Tuesday June 3 2008 00:00 IST, ENS KOCHI
Now that we have a bylaw in place to ensure that the waste is segregated before disposal, we decided to ask a few councillors and Corporation officials to check out how they manage the waste generated at their homes.
TK Shamsuddin, chairman of health and education standing committee, buries the biodegradable waste on the premises of his house. Non-biodegradable waste is burnt. Being the health and education standing committee chairman, Shamsuddin is responsible for the waste disposal management.
Mayor Mercy Williams has set up a small waste treatment plant at her house. “The plant was constructed a year ago and it is very effective,” the Mayor said.
The aerobic compost plant in Ponnurunni division which is represented by Deputy Mayor C K Manisanker is a model to others. “In my house, untreated biodegradable waste is used as manure. We burn paper and other things. If there is a large quantity of waste it is taken to the aerobic plant. The plant has been functioning here for the last six years,” he says.
There was no garbage crisis at the Ponnurunni division when the city was finding it difficult to deal with garbage.
Melly Joy, councillor from Edakochi and former standing committee chairperson, uses the waste as feed for poultry. “There are only three members in my family, therefore not much waste is generated. Paper waste is burnt on the house premises itself,” she said. Anitha Jyothi of Elamakkara is also doing the same. She said that the amount of waste generated from her house is very little.
“Biodegradable waste is buried on the premises of the house while paper waste is burnt,’’ she said.
Corporation opposition leader A B Sabu who represents Poonithura, a division which shares border with Tripunithura municipality, said that the waste generated in his house is also buried.
“As my house is a few kilometres from the city, there is not much problem of waste disposal. Besides, we have set aside an area in our compound to dispose of biodegradable waste,” Sabu said.
City grappling with garbage – Kochi – Express News Service report
City grappling with garbage
Tuesday June 3 2008 00:00 IST ENS K Surekha
There’s no end to the garbage woes of the city.
A day after the compendium of bylaws to govern the solid waste management process came into effect, heaps of garbage can be seen piled on the roadsides. Bundled in plastic covers that display the names of many a store and supermarket in the city.
The bundles are an indication that people are not aware of the segregation of biodegradable waste from the non-biodegrable. Most homes in the city have been asked by the corporation to put the waste in separate bins (red and green that are yet to reach a majority of homes).
“I paid Rs 70 for the bins and haven’t got them, I burn most of the waste in my compound because the workers don’t collect the waste on a daily basis and keeping the waste near the gate for hours is unhealthy and inauspicious. When it pours this will surely breed diseases,” says Sreebala, a housewife at Mavelipuram Colony in Kakkanad.
In most homes the garbage is left near the gate at the mercy of crows and rats. If people who collect the waste are nowhere to be seen, where will the residents throw the waste? In some flats the workers collect the garbage religiously but the plastic and the rest are mixed together.
“The people who come to collect it are irregular and the stench in the apartment drives everyone crazy,” says Minu Mathew who resides in a flat at SRM Road.
It is the same at many other apartments. Some civic conscious people do take pains to divide the waste in two bags. But the plastic waste is collected only once in a blue moon. People living in limited spaces find it difficult to keep the waste at home for long. And they don’t feel like paying the monthly fee of Rs 30 to the Corporation.
Unless the Corporation takes measures to clear the waste on a daily basis, the residents will have no go but to dump it in the neighbour’s vacant plot, stealthily leave it by the wayside, or throw it into canals and backwaters that are already stagnating with waste. After all, Keralites are more bothered about personal hygiene than their surroundings.
There’s a big hoarding at the entrance of Shenoy Road saying a word of thanks to the people who’ve managed to keep the road so dirty.
“It’s up to the residents to complain to the concerned people and get the waste collected daily. We’re collecting all the waste and after segregation, processing it at the Brahmapuram plant,” says Mayor Mercy Williams.
Now most of the shops in the city have done away with plastic bags and the waste management is better, she says.
In a city that has a population of 16 lakh and a floating population of over a lakh, the number of waste bins in the streets and on the highways are few and far between. Going by the waste seen in and around the city, the Corporation will have a tough task to maintain a clean Kochi.
The fine way to a clean city
The fine way to a clean city
Monday June 2 2008 04:46 IST ENS
KOCHI: The waste management bylaw introduced by the Cochin Corporation for a Zero Waste Kochi came into effect on Sunday.
The bylaw clearly defines the citizens’ role in assisting the civic body and lays down the penalty for violation of its norms. Kochi is the first city in the state to implement such a bylaw.
To create awareness among the people of the city, the Corporation has allowed June as a grace period, during which time offences will invite only 50 percent of the fine. Fines will be exacted from July 1.
The use of plastic has been banned. A fine of Rs 500 will be exacted for production, distribution, procurement, sale or transportation of banned plastic products.
A second offence will invite a penalty of Rs 5,000, and a third offence Rs 10,000. A fourth offence will mean a fine of Rs 25,000 and six months imprisonment. Solid or liquid waste should not be dumped in public or private properties or in water bodies.
Bathing, spitting, urinating and defecating, slaughtering of animals and vehicle washing in public places is prohibited. The penal provisions of the bylaw are applicable not only to residents of the city but to visitors also. Residents will pay a monthly fee of Rs 30 to the Corporation for removal of segregated waste from houses.
Institutions which generate a large quantity of waste have to set up their own waste treatment systems or pay a fine of Rs 5,000. Rs 250 will be charged for littering in public places, for not keeping one’s house/building premises clean and for not segregating and handing over waste for disposal.
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