HS : Holiday Safety Briefing

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Chapter :- Home Safety  

Holiday Safety Briefing

If your family, like many others, will be hitting the road this year to see friends and relatives during the holiday season, you’ll find these pre-travel holiday road trip tips helpful for making your trip safe and memorable, in a good way.

In this safety briefing, we’ll take a quick minute to remind you of the things we know you’ll check anyway: ensuring tires are properly inflated, the oil has been recently changed, the window washer fluid is topped off, and the entire car is in good, working condition.

That being said; let’s cover some other helpful tips.

Holiday Travel Part 1

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), holiday seasons driving is the most dangerous holidays for drivers. This is due to the increased amount of drivers on the road, urgency to reach a destination, poor driving conditions that winter months bring, and many other factors.

Protect your family and your vehicle this holiday season with these tips.

1. A week before setting off for your destination, perform vehicle maintenance:

• Brakes – Check for wear and fluid levels.
• Exhaust system – Repair as necessary; carbon monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning. 
• Fuel and air filters – Replace as needed.
• Battery and ignition system – Make sure they are clean and functioning properly.
• Heater and defroster – Ensure they work properly.
• Headlights and hazard lights – Check for serviceability.
• Thermostat – Ensure it works properly.
• Windshield wiper equipment – Repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.
• Install good winter tires – Make sure the tires have adequate tread.
• Antifreeze levels – Check they are sufficient to avoid freezing.

Holiday Travel Part 2

1. Check the weather. If you plan to travel when inclement weather looms, monitor road and weather conditions by checking local news stations or Internet traffic and weather sites. You can sign up for weather alerts to receive text messages and optional alerts for your area. However, do not check your phone while driving and avoid all unnecessary distractions when you are behind the wheel. Before you leave the driveway or parking lot, take time to clear snow and ice off your car windows, mirrors, lights, reflectors, hood, roof and trunk. Drive with your headlights on and be sure to keep them clean to improve visibility. Use caution when snow banks limit your view of oncoming traffic.

2. Make an emergency road kit. emergency kit should include a first aid kit, jumper cables, an ice scraper, and a snow brush. Additionally, you should carry:

• Sand, cat litter, or traction mats
• Small shovel
• Gloves, hats, and blankets
• Flashlights with fresh batteries
• Warning flares or reflective triangles
• Shop rags or paper towels 
• Drinking water and nonperishable snack bars
• Warm clothes
• Basic hand tools
• Phone chargers

3. Map your route in advance and be prepared for busy roads. Consider altering your travel times to avoid the heavy traffic.

4. Have your paperwork in order. Make sure your auto insurance policy is current and that you have a copy in your vehicle.

5. Have roadside assistance information readily available. This will come in handy in case an incident occurs.

Have the Right Gadgets on Hand

The right gadgets can make a long drive safer and much more comfortable. Consider the following to be critical gadgets that are worth the investment:

1. A good navigation system. It is your choice which one you use but be sure to have one and know how to use it. If you’re renting a car for the trip, get the rental guys to give you a quick tutorial. If you’re using your smartphone, be sure you have a car-charger and mounting device to hold it within the driver’s view.
2. Easily accessible cash. If you are taking toll roads on your trip, it’s worth take necessary permits/pass. This permit/pass works on many toll roads and bridges in the country and can be purchased online and paid monthly, eliminating at least one road trip headache and slow-down.
3. A cigarette lighter splitter. The design teams of cars haven’t caught up with our modern population’s growing need to plug in our gadgets, so while the old-fashioned cigarette lighter remains a popular place to plug in, it allows only one device to use it at a time. If you’ve got multiple devices you need to keep charged, consider a splitter.
4. A travel medical kit. Whether you’re traveling by plane or by car, it’s important to be able to handle minor medical emergencies yourself. See our blog post What’s In Your Travel Medical Kit? for more details.

Home Security

The holidays are a time for fun gatherings and for many of us that means leaving home to visit friends and family. However, a home break-in while you’re away can leave a bad taste long after the holiday turkey is gone. Thieves know there are plenty of empty houses during the holidays, so if you can make your home look occupied, they’ll seek out easier targets.

Here are some tactics that can help create this illusion:

• Leave on some lights and have a radio or TV playing. Install timers to turn lights on and off at the times you normally would.
• Don’t let mail or newspapers pile up. Put a hold on your mail or ask a neighbor to pick it up for you.
• Make sure your trusted neighbors know you’re gone.
• Proudly display your home security sign and arm your security system.
• Make sure your landscaping is trimmed and doesn’t provide any hiding spots near entry points.
• If you’ll be away for more than a few days, arrange for a lawn service or neighbor to cut the grass or shovel snow while you’re gone.
• Don’t advertise your absence on social media. If you’re somewhere far away and check in on Facebook, burglars know you won’t be home for a while.
• Wait to post those vacation photos until after you get home. That beautiful beach picture you posted on Instagram tells thieves that your home is an easy target.
• Park a car in the driveway or ask a neighbor to park in your driveway while you’re away.
• Put motion detectors on outdoor lights.
• Remove the spare key. Experts say thieves are pros at spotting fake plastic rocks and they know to look under mats and above door sills.

Food Safety

Packing food is a great idea for a road trip; it helps keep the driver awake and alert and it keeps kids full with nutritional rather than fast food.

Easy to transport foods like popcorn, nuts, pretzels, and dry cereal are good options because they won’t go bad even if they get warm. Grapes, carrots, celery and other fruits and veggies are also safe as long as they are fresh, washed beforehand, and packaged in sealable containers.

Follow these basic food safety tips while on your holiday road trip:

• Don’t let food sit un-refrigerated for more than two hours.
• Pack any foods that need to be kept cold in an insulated cooler with plenty of ice.
• Ensure everyone washes their hands with soap and water before eating and pack hand sanitizer for use between stops.
• Bring leftovers home with care. Keep them chilled and reheat thoroughly before serving.

Home Safety - Inside & Outside Home

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Chapter : Housekeeping Safety

Home Safety - Inside & Outside Home

Inside Your Home : Do & Don't 

• DO cover all electrical outlets and wall switches with cover plates, and replace any that are damaged.
  
• DO protect small children and pets by using plastic safety covers in all unused outlets and keeping cords out of sight and reach.
• DO make sure all electrical devices are in good repair - if a damaged wire inside a tool or appliance touches the body of the device, it would be the same as touching a bare wire.
• DO use extension cords only on a temporary basis.
• DO use a quality surge suppresser with enough sockets for every component.
• DO keep all electrical devices away from water sources.
• DO flag the fuse or breaker switch so no one else touches it while you're working. If you're not sure which circuit you'll be working on, turn off the main breaker switch or remove the primary fuse cartridge.

• DON'T yank electrical cords from the wall - this can damage both the plug and the outlet.
• DON'T attach a cord to another surface with nails or staples - they can damage the insulation.
• DON'T use damaged or brittle electrical cords, even if bare wires aren't visible.
• DON'T attempt to fix an electrical appliance or tool while the unit is plugged in.
• DON'T plug one extension cord into another.

Outside Your Home : Do & Don't 

• DO have GFCI outlets and waterproof covers on all outdoor outlets.
• DO look out for overhead power lines every time you use a ladder or pole. Stay at least 10 feet away from any electrical lines.
• DO call a professional for help trimming trees near power lines.
• DO keep electrical devices and cords away from water.
• DO keep children and pets away from padmount transformers. If the door is open or the lock is broken, call your electric company right away.
• DO teach kids to stay far away from substations, and explain what the warning signs mean.

• DON'T assume the black coating on wires is insulation - it could be just plastic weatherproofing that provides no protection from contact injuries.
• DON'T let kids climb trees or fly kites near power lines.
• DON'T disguise transformers or meters with paint or bushes - a utility worker might need to work safely around it or find it quickly in an emergency.
• DON'T hang signs on utility poles. Nail, staples or tacks can pose a big danger to workers who must climb the poles.
• DON'T tamper with an electric meter (it's dangerous and illegal), and keep it free of ice and snow during the winter.

HS : LPG gas cylinder's expiry date (INDIA)

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Chapter : Housekeeping Safety

LPG gas cylinder's expiry date (INDIA)

Expired Cylinders are not safe for use and may cause accidents. In this regard please be cautious at the time of accepting any LPG cylinder from the Vendor.

Here is how we can check the expiry of LPG cylinders:

On one of three side stems of the cylinder, the expiry date is coded alpha numerically as follows A or B or C or D and some two digit number following this e.g. D06.

The alphabets stand for quarters:

1. A for March (First Qtr)
2. B for June (Second Qtr)
3. C for Sept (Third Qtr) &
4. D for December (Fourth Qtr)

The digits stand for the year till it is valid. Hence D06 would mean December qtr of 2006.

Please Return Back the Cylinder that you get with a Expiry Date, they are prone to Leak and other Hazardous accidents...

The second example with D14 allows the cylinder to be in use until Dec 2014.

HS: Hazards at home

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Chapter : Housekeeping Safety

HAZARDS AT HOME

Fire inspections are a regular part of your workplace safety program. Look for fire hazards and remove them.

These fire inspections are also important at home. You should regularly examine your house for situations which could cause a fire or prevent escape. Then take the steps necessary to eliminate the hazards.

One of the most important thing to check is your fire fighting system. Do you have any effective fire fighting system in your building or house? Is it still operative or isolated because of some leaks? Do you and your family members know how to fight a kitchen fire?

Besides testing your fire fighting system, you can help keep your family safe by planning what to do in case of fire.

All household members should know:

• An escape route in case of fire
• Where the keys for all doors are available.
• What to do in case of a fire in the neighboring apartment.
• Where to meet outside.
• Whom to contact in case of emergency (Emergency  No 108)

You must also ensure that escape doors and windows open easily. Exit doors and stair case must be free of blocks and shall not be restricted by Garbage bins and other items. Do not use lifts and elevators during a fire as power supply may trip or may be isolated.

Take a tour through your house to look for other fire hazards. Here are some possibilities:

• Flammable liquids stored in the house or near sources of ignition can cause fires and explosions. Keep gasoline and solvents in a separate ventilated area away from the living area.
• Inspect your gas line. Check for leaks. Replace regulators and hoses periodically.
• Know where to isolate your water line in case there is a flooding in your kitchen or toilet due to a broken pipe.
• Do not try to operate any electrical system standing in the water or wet floor.
• Don't keep large quantities of combustible materials in the house, especially near escape routes such as hallways, stairwells and exits.
• Look for electrical problems which could cause a fire. Flickering lights, loose switches and damaged cords or overheated wires and plugs are warnings of electrical fire.
• Place fire extinguishers in accessible areas near kitchens or work area. Show family members how and when to use an extinguisher - emphasizing the importance of getting everyone to safety and calling the fire department first.
• At each phone in the house, post emergency numbers including whom to call in case of fire. Also post your own address and telephone number because a panicked person can forget these.

HS : Common Housekeeping Hazards @ Home

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Chapter : Home Safety 

Hazards @ Home 

Housekeeping activities can put you at risk for strains and sprains. Be sure to do these activities with safety in mind.

Making beds

Risk factors:

• Awkward postures — like bending over while reaching forward to tuck in the sheets.
  
• Gripping with force — like using a pinch grip when pulling up the sheets.

Safe work practices:

• Avoid bending forward. Bend knees, not your back.
• Flex your knees as you make the bed. Walk around the bed rather than reaching over it. If you must work from one side, keep one hand on the bed for support.

Cleaning

Risk factors:

• Awkward postures — like bending over or kneeling, or reaching overhead for a long time.
• Static postures with force — like scrubbing while bending or reaching.
• Contact stress — like kneeling on hard surfaces.

Safe work practices: Use cleaning equipment with long handles for hard-to-reach areas.

• If kneeling, place a folded towel under your knees to avoid the pressure.
• Make sure your protective gloves fit well so you don’t use extra force when gripping.
• Use a sturdy, slip-proof step stool when doing high-reach tasks.

Doing Laundry

Risk factors:

• Awkward postures — like bending forward and twisting when loading and unloading the washer and dryer.
• Gripping with force — like lifting laundry with a pinch grip which increases the force required by the muscles in your hand and forearm.

Safe work practices:

• Carry loads you can manage comfortably.
• Don’t twist your body while lifting. Follow your feet and move side-to-side.
• Avoid bending forward. Flex your knees when reaching into the washer or dryer.
• Use a power grip rather than a pinch grip when handling laundry.
• Fold clothes at a comfortable height. Your shoulders should be relaxed.

HS : SAFETY AT HOME

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Chapter : Housekeeping Safety

SAFETY AT HOME

Often most of us perceive safety as a practice related to job and we don’t educate and advise our dear ones to be safe at home. It is also true that we do not have feeling for safety at home.
 

Safety is a practice, which has to be, followed everywhere needless to say whether the person is on duty or is at home.

For most people, their homes spell a sense of well being, safety and security. But how safe is your house really is a big question.

Statistics say that all fires are small to start with and how quickly they spread depends on contributing human elements. Carelessness, negligence, and plain ignorance could often be the cause for major conflagrations.

Statistics and analysis of past accidents rate frayed wiring, carelessly installed gas cylinders, kerosene stoves, and even a carelessly thrown cigarette or match as most common cause of fires.
 
Common Causes
 
Let us Begin with kitchens

Check the gas cylinder as soon as you get it. Unconnected cylinders should be capped with the security cap. Cylinders that develop a leak should be moved out to an open area. The rubber tube is the weakest link; change it periodically (once a year) with a genuine LPG gas tube and not a ‘look alike’ of the same color, found in vessel and hardware shop.

Kerosene stoves catch fire when the oil leaks, or if it is refilled while in use. Pumping stoves and petrol-max lanterns burst when safety valve and gauge are struck and inflated beyond the permissible pressure. Put out candles and oil lamps when no one is at home or at night when going to sleep.

Use an apron while cooking and never lean over the stove to pick up anything. Use only tongs and not old pieces of clothes to lift hot vessels. Kitchen is a hazard prone area for children. Don’t allow them to play there. Store matches and lighters out of reach. Inflammable materials, oils and fuels, must be stored safely in closed containers and kept away from hot zones. Clothes, calender and old newspapers can also catch fire in the immediate vicinity of stoves and burners. Strike matches away from yourself. A match can break and fall on your clothes.

Electricity is one of the most useful inventions of mankind but overloading, bad connections and joints; faulty wiring are all potential fire hazards. Old homes with white wiring that is more than 20 years old rise sparking, apart from steep power bills on account of distribution losses.

Never have a temporary or naked joints. Avoid multiple pin plugs. When electricity flows heat is produced. Overloading can cause a rapid build up of heat and cause short circuits, that in turn can trigger a fire. The fire can then spread through the plastic insulation and where it passes over windows or doors the falling embers can set curtains, and subsequently doors and windows afire.

Never plug in more than one appliance into one plug. Use only three pin plugs and plug them in to three pin sockets. The third pin is actually the earth pin with an earth core connected to the metal casing. Good earthing should obviate shocks, so if even if you have a slight suspicion of shocks, check the entire earthing circuit.

Never keep wires under mats or carpets or doorways where they can get
crushed and loose their insulation.

Forgetfulness

Always switch off electrical appliances after use and then remove the plug from the socket. Electrical appliances become potential ignition sources when left energized for a long time.
Irons left on to perform a future task and forgotten is one of the major causes behind many fatal accidents. 
When leaving on a long vacation or overnight trip, switch off the mains.
 
Long term measures

Electrical heating appliances like ovens, geysers, heaters and irons need special precautions, because the heavy flow of current can cause the insulation to deteriorate. And never store clothes or old newspapers near them.
 
Fuse off

Always use the correct gauge and quality of fuse wire for replacement. A fuse not only protects the wiring but also the appliance by blowing itself out if there is a short circuit. However, if the fault is appliance-induced, this must first be corrected before replacing the fuse. Never use a fuse of higher capacity, as it will not serve the purpose for with it is meant. A miniature circuit breaker is the best bet and for wiring. Leading manufacturers like finolex have introduced flame proof / fire retardant wiring. It is now compulsory in commercial buildings but not in homes as yet.

Don’t go up in smoke

The tip of a burning cigarette is as hot as 400 degree C. any combustible material coming in contact with it ignites easily. This type of fire is totally avoidable if you follow some safe smoking practices.
 
Avoid smoking indoors. If this rule is not followed, provide sufficient ashtrays in the house. Fill the tray with a little water or sand – this will be sufficient to extinguish the cigarette. Never throw paper or trash in the ashtray. Trashcans should never be a substitute for ashtrays, as they may contain oily rags and paper. Never leave a burning cigarette in an ashtray if you are leaving the room even for a minute. It takes only that much time for a cigarette dropped on a pillow or mattresses for the whole bedroom to go up in flames.
 
In high-rise buildings
 
The consequences will be massive in case of a fire in crowded places like commercial complexes, residential buildings, cinema theatres, airports and railway stations. In these places, the staircase, which becomes the only safe exit, can be the location of a stampede.
 
The National Building Code of India stipulates the width and number of staircases that a public building should have. For example, a 1000 capacity hall should have staircases of a minimum width not less than 6 feet. Brought by the ISI in 1980, it serves as an excellent reference book for layout planners, designers, architects and construction companies. There should be sufficient space around the building to prevent spread of fire from or to the next building. There should be space for entry and operation of the fire tender. Vertical spread of fire is stupendous given the chimney effect. Radiated heat from below can ignite curtains and furniture in upper floors.

 
Evacuation
 
Since most high-rise buildings have high occupancy, evacuation should be orderly and planned. Have a practice fire drill to familiarize every one. Invalids, elderly and senior citizens along with children should get precedence. Electrically operated passenger lifts and elevators behave erratically during fires; quite often they get stuck at the floor where the fire is raging. Since there is a restriction on the height of the fire ladder available with fire brigades, the fire has to be fought from within.

Precautions

All electrical wiring must be encased in metal conduits. A master control switch for each floor can be located at the ground floor for emergency switch-off. Cable passages from one floor to another or one wing to another must be closed and sealed with a non-flammable compound or material. Since fires spread through AC ducts, individual air conditioning for each occupancy or floor is preferable. Use automatic fire dampers for each floor if a central system is in use.
 
Construction stage
 
Right from the commencement of design and construction, architects and builders can contribute substantially to fire loss prevention by minimizing the use of combustible material. Plenty of good quality fire retardant material for decorating, furnishing, partitioning and false ceiling is now domestically being produced.
 
Fire extinguishers

In developed countries, every kitchen and every automobile has a small portable fire extinguisher. While insurance may give monetary compensation, the loss never be substituted. So it is time Indians become safety conscious and keep a handing Carbon-dioxide cylinder in the kitchen and another in the car on inside panel near the feet. Remember, fires start as small ones but soon fan out and spread consuming everything in its path. In a car, the paint and petrol burn fiercely, destroying the entire vehicle in minutes.
 

Battling Blazes

• When fire strikes, there will be little time to think. So have a contingency plan and train yourself to handle an emergency.
• If paper or clothes catch fire (wood also) pour water on them. Never pour water on electrical or oil or chemical fires.
• If cooking oil, grease, ghee or butter catches fire, do not use water - it will cause can explosion and spread the fire faster. If a pan is on fire, put off the stove and put a lid on the pan.
• In case of electrical fire, switch off the mains and use sand or a CO2 fire extinguisher. Dry powder type fire extinguishers too are approved for electrical fires.
• When the clothes are on fire, pour water if available, otherwise drop to the ground and roll. Do not run as it will fan the flames. In case of other people, wrap a blanket or thick towel to starve the flame of essential oxygen.
• In case of a big fire, advise everyone to leave the house. Do not stay back to collect important belongings. Do not use lifts when a fire is raging- as the lift shaft may fuel the fire like an air passage.
• If trapped in a smoke filled room, get down on all fours and crawl out. Smoke free zones exist normally 12 to 24 inches above the ground level. Cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth if possible. Even clear air could contain carbon monoxide.
• In case of minor burns, pour water till pain subsides. Never use grease or milk or any country remedies. Do not apply ointment before consulting a doctor.
• Have the telephone number of ire and emergency services pasted on your