COMMUNICATIONS

COMMUNICATIONS

Exchange of information, messages and ideas between two or more than two persons is called communication. In communication some response must be generated otherwise it would be failed.

1.     GENERAL CAUSES OF COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS

·         Making assumptions

·         The receiver already knows

·         Distractions

·         Time pressure

·         Lack of experience or practice

·         Lack of attention to communication issues

·         Poor equipment or means of sending message

Those factors such as language or social cultural relationships, which interfere in the meaningful interpretation and transmission of ideas between individuals or groups, are known as Barrier of Communication. Some of them are as under:-

                                i.            Physical barriers

                              ii.            Perceptual barriers

                            iii.            Emotional barriers

                            iv.            Cultural barriers

                              v.            Language barriers

                            vi.            Gender barriers

                          vii.            Interpersonal barriers

2.      PRINCIPAL OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

There are seven basic principles of “effective communication” which make your message effective for others, these are also known as 7Cs.

i Completeness: Each and every listener or reader, desire complete information on the topic or their question. So, you have to provide your addressees complete information in a short span of time. If possible, provide some extra information which someone does not know.

 ii.            Conciseness: Conciseness means convey the message by using fewest words.

 iii.            Consideration: Consideration means to consider the listener’s interest and intention.

           Focus on “you” instead of “I” or “We”

          Show audience benefit or interest of the receiver

          Emphasize on positive and pleasant facts.

i  Concreteness: It means that the message should be specific instead of general. Misunderstanding of              words creates problems for both parties.

ii. Clarity: In effective communication the message should be very much clear so that receiver can understand it easily.

iii. Courtesy: It means tactful, thoughtful and respectful. Give respect to others and use words like “please” and “thank you”. Use expressions that show respect for the others. Choose non discriminatory expressions.

iv.Correctness: At the core of correctness are proper grammar, punctuation and spelling. So, message must be perfect grammatically and mechanically.

1.      TYPES OF SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS

Spoken and written communication can be critical in maintaining safety. We can divide the safety communication in two groups non verbal and verbal communication.

                                i.            NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

·         Safety signs

·         Warning lights

·         Alarms

·         Barriers

·         Posters

·         Hand signals

Safety Signs

·         Colour coding

·         Lock-out/tag-out

·         Permit to work

Colour coding: Colour coding means to mark with different colours as means of identification. Colour coding is extensively applied for safety consideration. It helps to identify characteristics of an object at first glance. Some colour schemes generally applied as:

Pipelines:

·         Green for Fresh Water

·         Crimson red for Steam

·         Signal red for Fire Fighting

·         Dark brown for Oils combustible liquids

·         Orange for Chemicals

·         Light blue for air

·         Black for process effluents

Gas cylinders:

·         Black for Oxygen

·         French gray for Nitrogen

·         Maroon for Acetylene

·         Blue for Entonox

·         Green for Carbon dioxide

LOCKOUT AND TAGOUT (LOTO): The procedure applied to prevent the release of hazardous energy is called LOTO.

During the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected start-up or release of hazardous energy could cause injury to employees like electrocution, burns, crushing,

cutting, lacerating, amputating or fracturing body parts and others. Following devices can be used to complete the LOTO procedure.

Energy Isolating Device: A mechanical device that physically prevents the release of energy, a switch, valve, circuit breaker, blank flange etc.

Lockout Devices: A positive means, such as a key or combination type lock, to hold an energy isolating device in a safe position and prevent energizing a machine or equipment.

Tag out Devices: A tag which can be securely fastened to an energy isolating device and shows that the energy isolating device and equipment being controlled may not be operated until the warning device is removed by the authorized person.

LOTO Procedure: Written procedure exists for all equipment and systems and must be followed.

PERMIT TO WORK (PTW): A documented permission for highly hazardous activities is called PTW.

Types of PTW:

·         Cold work permit

·         Hot work permit

·         Confined space entry permit

·         Radiography

·         Excavation

·         Electrical work

·         Roof work

·         Work near or above deep water

Consideration when using a permit to work:

·         A PTW should only be issued by a competent person who is completely familiar with the work or situation covered by the permit, e.g. lead operator or supervisor.

·         A PTW be issued with a Method Statement stating how the job is to be done.

·         The permit issuer should review the work with the worker before work begins.

·         Practical training exercises for issuing PTW should be considered.

·         The person receiving the permit must completely understand the work situation.

·         The potential hazards and the precautions required before accepting the permit.

PERMIT RECEIVER: One who receives PTW, initiates the work and supervises the activities to complete it safe and sound is known as Permit Receiver.

Responsibilities of PTW Receiver:

·         Initiating and completing all applicable sections of the PTW.

·         Supervising the work prescribed in the PTW to ensure that it is conducted in most efficient and safe manner.

·         Notifying the issuer of work progress and completion and ensuring that the site is returned to a safe and operational state.

·         Taking adequate care to preserve the permit in good condition.

·         Providing all necessary resources to perform the work.

·         Managing the revalidation of PTW if required.

PERMIT ISSUER: A person (asset holder) who is authorised to complete and issue a permit is known as Permit Issuer.

Responsibilities of PTW Issuer:

·        Reviewing, endorsing and issuing PTW.

·        Visiting the site to evaluate hazards to suggest safe guards.

·        Completing the relevant sections of PTW.

·        Ensuring the participant in the PTW carefully plan and conduct work in accordance with PTW requirements.

·        Initial gas testing before issuing PTW if required.

                               i.            VERBAL COMMUNICATION

·         Safety meetings

·         Toolbox talks prior to start of the job daily

·         Meetings with clients

Safety Meetings

Intended to provide safety training

·         Formal meetings are announced in advance to disseminate information from weekly safety letters, training issues, regulations, procedures, and hazard protections.

·         Informal meetings, called Toolbox Talks are short in duration covering a specific topic.

·         Valuable whenever equipment are changed.

·         Small group meetings are the best place to demonstrate safety procedures.

·         A safety meeting pinpoints minor hazards before they result in real problems.

·         Start the meeting on time, preferably in the beginning of the shift.

·         State primary purpose of the meeting and review old safety meeting proceedings.

·         Present material (use visual aid, or distribute printed handouts)

·         Review or give a quiz/test to the participants.

·         Present agenda for the next meeting.

TOOLBOX TALK (TBT)

Toolbox talk is a short safety talk normally delivered at work place and on a specific subject matter.

·         It is an informal group discussion lasting nearly 15 minutes among employees

·         It focuses on a particular safety issue.

·         Is held usually before a shift or a break as often as required.

·         It is a good idea to select an expertise on the subject to deliver the talk.

Remember: toolbox talk does not replace normal safety meetings.

The topic of TBT can be grouped as under:

·         Equipment: Crane safety, pre operation checking, parking on slope, etc.

·         Work tools: hand tools safety, scaffolding, ladders, etc.

·         Job site safety: confined spaces, fire prevention, hand signals, hazards recognition, etc.

·         Personal: eye and face protection, fall protection, gas cutting, PPE checklist, etc.

SAFETY MEETINGS WITH CLIENTS

These meetings are held to:

·         Discuss safety issues regarding new work

·         Review safety violation rate

·         Review measures taken to identify hazards not previously noted

Briefings on when handing over work from one shift to another.

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share