Ask a sample of lay people you know, and you will be surprised to learn that they know very little about honeybees.
Pollination is perhaps the most important natural process for our food security. Many fruits and oil-seeds depend on honeybees for reproduction.
The benefits of honey are widely known, but its production is not the most important thing that bees do during their busy lives.
Bees are also thought to be adept at keeping caterpillar pests away. Here is a web address to a report on this matter:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7796138.stm
Agriculture would not be the same without honeybees. Yet, even farmers ignore these brave and industrious creatures.
The rearing and breeding of honeybees is a matter of high technology, and deserves abundant funding. Yet, very little is done in this vital matter. It is simply because of our ignorance.
There are secular benefits in promoting awareness of honeybees and their crucial contributions to our lives. That is why the event announced at the following link is so important:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990108070
Do your bit for pesticide safety and environmental conservation by promoting awareness about honeybees.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Perils of Globalization
People have always traded with distant associates. Commerce pre-dates the constitution of many modern nations. It is normal to sing the praises of global trade. After all, is it not logical to stretch a market as widely as possible? E-commerce makes it possible for your products to reach customers you may never have targeted.
What does all this have to do with safety and risk management? You have to be pro-active in limiting sales to countries in which you have regulatory clearances. Another approach is to obtain permissions for your brands in countries such as the United States. A US registration is a mark of product safety. The process can tell you things about your product that you have not known before.
Please cut and paste the following address on your browser to review and example of the effects of unauthorized international trade:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2006/NEW01298.html
It follows that global trade threatens unsuspecting consumers. Temptations to buy medicines off the Internet can endanger health. That is why ethical pharmaceutical companies warn web site visitors that some of their pages are restricted to customers from specific countries. Visit the following page for an example:
http://www.novartis.com/products/pharmaceuticals.shtml
Safeguard your customers and your brands as well, by consciously restraining your logistics so that you do no business in an area where you lack regulatory clearances.
What does all this have to do with safety and risk management? You have to be pro-active in limiting sales to countries in which you have regulatory clearances. Another approach is to obtain permissions for your brands in countries such as the United States. A US registration is a mark of product safety. The process can tell you things about your product that you have not known before.
Please cut and paste the following address on your browser to review and example of the effects of unauthorized international trade:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2006/NEW01298.html
It follows that global trade threatens unsuspecting consumers. Temptations to buy medicines off the Internet can endanger health. That is why ethical pharmaceutical companies warn web site visitors that some of their pages are restricted to customers from specific countries. Visit the following page for an example:
http://www.novartis.com/products/pharmaceuticals.shtml
Safeguard your customers and your brands as well, by consciously restraining your logistics so that you do no business in an area where you lack regulatory clearances.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Towards a Risk Management Culture
Why do trees shed leaves in Autumn?
Risk management is the way of nature. Adaptation is not a guarantee against every disaster, but it does improve the chances of survival.
Greed and negligence are fatal lovers. Traditional growth and profit compulsions blind management teams from safeguarding the enterprises for which they are responsible.
How can conservative thinking permeate an organization?
Here is a link to a process that brings group intellect to bear on identifying and managing risks. (Please cut and paste the address on your browser as the link facility does not function at the time of writing this post).
http://www.iso.org/iso/management_standards.htm
An ISO 14001-compliant organization builds a culture of risk management. Everyone has opportunities to express doubts and fears. Not all dangers can be countered, but at least consensus is built around risks that are taken consciously.
Potential Problem Analysis is another process-driven way of building a risk-management culture. Here is another address for you to visit:
http://www.diegm.uniud.it/create/Handbook/techniques/List/PPA.php
Culture evolves through practice in society, but formal organization should not wait for events to follow
Risk management is the way of nature. Adaptation is not a guarantee against every disaster, but it does improve the chances of survival.
Greed and negligence are fatal lovers. Traditional growth and profit compulsions blind management teams from safeguarding the enterprises for which they are responsible.
How can conservative thinking permeate an organization?
Here is a link to a process that brings group intellect to bear on identifying and managing risks. (Please cut and paste the address on your browser as the link facility does not function at the time of writing this post).
http://www.iso.org/iso/management_standards.htm
An ISO 14001-compliant organization builds a culture of risk management. Everyone has opportunities to express doubts and fears. Not all dangers can be countered, but at least consensus is built around risks that are taken consciously.
Potential Problem Analysis is another process-driven way of building a risk-management culture. Here is another address for you to visit:
http://www.diegm.uniud.it/create/Handbook/techniques/List/PPA.php
Culture evolves through practice in society, but formal organization should not wait for events to follow
Monday, January 5, 2009
Start with New Accounting
Are profits from risky and polluting enterprises for real?
Safety and environment conservation awareness is a distinguishing feature of this Millennium. A business that has got away with major risks and negative impacts in the past, can afford to lose no time in cleaning up its act.
Which function should lead this revolution? Consider the perspective at the following address:
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20090501-18613-4.html
Accountants are not well-versed in the technical aspects of a business. That is why old methods of accounting and audit are truly obsolete.
New ways of measuring costs will lead to viable competitive strategies for the future.
A business in generics is most vulnerable, because competition can force a Gross Margin to the bone. No one in an industry wants to be the first to bell the cat of risk management. Regulations may not be comprehensive in safety and re-mediation terms.
Do you pay taxes on fictitious profits, and distribute wealth that does not exist?
Here are some key actions with which you can start this week:
1. Commission a HAZOP covering operations outside production as well.
2. Take a fresh look at your product and service pricing.
3. Press your industry association for joint and pro-active steps to promote safe business operations.
4. Review your contingent liabilities and insurance cover for product liabilities.
5. Put your emergency response procedures to the test.
Post below or write to SafetyBrigade@gmail.com if you need help, or if you care to share your opinion and experience.
Safety and environment conservation awareness is a distinguishing feature of this Millennium. A business that has got away with major risks and negative impacts in the past, can afford to lose no time in cleaning up its act.
Which function should lead this revolution? Consider the perspective at the following address:
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20090501-18613-4.html
Accountants are not well-versed in the technical aspects of a business. That is why old methods of accounting and audit are truly obsolete.
New ways of measuring costs will lead to viable competitive strategies for the future.
A business in generics is most vulnerable, because competition can force a Gross Margin to the bone. No one in an industry wants to be the first to bell the cat of risk management. Regulations may not be comprehensive in safety and re-mediation terms.
Do you pay taxes on fictitious profits, and distribute wealth that does not exist?
Here are some key actions with which you can start this week:
1. Commission a HAZOP covering operations outside production as well.
2. Take a fresh look at your product and service pricing.
3. Press your industry association for joint and pro-active steps to promote safe business operations.
4. Review your contingent liabilities and insurance cover for product liabilities.
5. Put your emergency response procedures to the test.
Post below or write to SafetyBrigade@gmail.com if you need help, or if you care to share your opinion and experience.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Networking for Safety
The breadth and depth of a network determine its effectiveness.
Consider risk management. There are so many unlikely dangers that People who operate and maintain a system can overlook.
It is the same with emergency responses. Chances of containment and recovery are directly proportional to the number of hands on deck, organization, and above all, speed of response.
Invite as many domain experts as you can to step in and repeat your hazard analysis. Include lay people as well, especially those who live and work in the vicinity of your sites.
Offer reciprocal emergency response facilities to as many people as you can. Count on others to step in and help you when disaster strikes. Attend to their emergencies on the highest priority. Provide for continuity of your own operations even when you are away.
Broadband, multi-media Internet makes this cheaper and more feasible than during days without a World Wide Web. Now the challenge is to give flesh and physical resources to networks of electronic processors.
Consider risk management. There are so many unlikely dangers that People who operate and maintain a system can overlook.
It is the same with emergency responses. Chances of containment and recovery are directly proportional to the number of hands on deck, organization, and above all, speed of response.
Invite as many domain experts as you can to step in and repeat your hazard analysis. Include lay people as well, especially those who live and work in the vicinity of your sites.
Offer reciprocal emergency response facilities to as many people as you can. Count on others to step in and help you when disaster strikes. Attend to their emergencies on the highest priority. Provide for continuity of your own operations even when you are away.
Broadband, multi-media Internet makes this cheaper and more feasible than during days without a World Wide Web. Now the challenge is to give flesh and physical resources to networks of electronic processors.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
The Rehearsal Panacea
"It never rains, but pours"
This is how you may feel in an emergency. It will take place outside your normal working hours. Telephones will not work. Crucial people will be on leave. The information you so desperately need will be nowhere to be found.
Rehearse and hope that you never need the training.
Rehearsal needs repetition. This is a part of the learning process. Besides, fitments in to organizational structures change all the time. What if the fire-control team who know your products has retired or been transferred to another location?
Back-up is a related concept. Build redundancy in to your emergency control Things rarely go right the first time, especially when you need them to do so. Question all assumptions, and cover serious risks regardless of their probabilities.
Here is a link to a commendable initiative in this respect:
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090105/NEWS01/901050353
This is how you may feel in an emergency. It will take place outside your normal working hours. Telephones will not work. Crucial people will be on leave. The information you so desperately need will be nowhere to be found.
Rehearse and hope that you never need the training.
Rehearsal needs repetition. This is a part of the learning process. Besides, fitments in to organizational structures change all the time. What if the fire-control team who know your products has retired or been transferred to another location?
Back-up is a related concept. Build redundancy in to your emergency control Things rarely go right the first time, especially when you need them to do so. Question all assumptions, and cover serious risks regardless of their probabilities.
Here is a link to a commendable initiative in this respect:
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090105/NEWS01/901050353
Friday, January 2, 2009
May it remain a phobia
Fear of a fire engulfing my home is amongst my worst nightmares.
Old buildings with wooden staircases are most vulnerable. Outdated, illegal, and poorly-maintained wiring make things much worse.
Rehearsals of emergency routines until the fire brigade arrives are most important in such circumstances. Here is a link to a photograph and a report on how the effects of fires can be contained through prior planning.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4812896a11.html
(Please copy the URL to your browser: the link facility here does not work at the time of posting).
We are fortunate that fires are unlikely. However, it does tend to lull us in to complacence.
Have your house, offices, warehouses, and manufacturing sites been assessed for fire safety? Are you prepared to deal with a conflagration? I have worked with chemicals. That is why I am paranoid about containing water and powder used to fight fires.
I hope this post will never be put to any test in real life.
Old buildings with wooden staircases are most vulnerable. Outdated, illegal, and poorly-maintained wiring make things much worse.
Rehearsals of emergency routines until the fire brigade arrives are most important in such circumstances. Here is a link to a photograph and a report on how the effects of fires can be contained through prior planning.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4812896a11.html
(Please copy the URL to your browser: the link facility here does not work at the time of posting).
We are fortunate that fires are unlikely. However, it does tend to lull us in to complacence.
Have your house, offices, warehouses, and manufacturing sites been assessed for fire safety? Are you prepared to deal with a conflagration? I have worked with chemicals. That is why I am paranoid about containing water and powder used to fight fires.
I hope this post will never be put to any test in real life.
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