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08 December 2009

Climate change summit gets underway

The world’s biggest ever negotiations aimed at tackling climate change began today in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

More than 15,000 participants from more than 190 nations are all hoping over the next two weeks to reach a deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the talks, which have been dubbed ‘Hopenhagen’ by the world’s media.

Although the summit’s objectives were scaled back – a legally binding treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol is not likely – the 105 world leaders have said they will push for at least a political declaration.

Yvo de Boer, the UN’s Climate chief, is insistent on the talks' success: “I don’t think it’s going to fail,” said de Boer. “I mean, if I look at the number of people who’ve committed to come here to make sure that it’s a success, the announcements of financial support that we have received, the targets that have been announced, the developing country engagement that we’re seeing, I don’t think it’s going to fail.”

Find out more details on

http://en.cop15. dk/?gclid= CNzxs9qgxp4CFQdl 4wodMggIsA





SSV

The Law of Garbage Truck

One day, I hopped into a taxi and took off for the airport . We were driving in the right lane when suddenly, a black car, jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed the brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'


He explained, "Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. NEVER take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on with the routine life." Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets.


The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...... 'Love the people who treat you right.. Pray for the ones who don't.'


A very rightly said quote: Life is 10% what you make and 90% how you take!!!!

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T.M.KHALEEL BATCHA
DIRECTOR
INSTITUTE SAFETY MANAGEMENT-CHENNAI

07 December 2009

Hand wash most effective way to avoid H1N1

Washing your hands is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid infections such as H1N1 and seasonal influenza, says a Geisinger physician.

"Washing your hands is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid infections such as H1N1 and seasonal influenza," said Lisa Esolen, M.D., Medical Director of Infection Control, Geisinger Health System.

"Because this year's H1N1 virus has been so contagious and has rapidly spread widely, it is especially important to remember to wash your hands," she added.

"We don't realize how often we touch our eyes, nose or mouth after having touched food, other people, or inanimate objects, all of which carry germs, that can lead to illness" Dr. Esolen said. "Handwashing is the single most effective way to minimize your risk for getting and infection or spreading one to others."

To properly wash your hands, run them under running water and then apply soap. Rub vigorously for at least 20 seconds (say your ABC's or sing "Happy Birthday" twice) develop a thick lather, and then rinse and dry.

"You should always wash your hands before eating, after sneezing, coughing, and after touching anything dirty," Dr. Esolen said. (ANI)


SAFETY

04 December 2009

British Standards for Smoke and heat control Systems

1.Specification for natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators

http://rapidshare.com/files/316143274/BSEN12101_2.pdf.html


2.Specification for powered smoke and heat exhaust ventilators

http://rapidshare.com/files/316143785/BSEN12101_3.pdf.html


3.Specification for pressure differential systems — Kits

http://rapidshare.com/files/316144154/BSEN12101_6.pdf.html

Building Research Establishment Report

External fire spread: building separation and boundary distances
http://rapidshare.com/files/316140192/BR_Report_187__External_Fire_Spread_.pdf.html

Design principles for smoke ventilation in enclosed shopping centres

http:///rapidshare.com/files/316140791/BRE186__design_smoke_ventilation_shopping_centres_.pdf.html

World AIDS Day

Each year, 1st December is celebrated as WORLD AIDS DAY.



The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988.



Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education.



World AIDS Day provides governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations, and individuals with an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic.



The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.



According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.



The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.





Lets us all join hands to fight with this deadly disease and increase awareness about this disease.



KNOW AIDS FOR NO AIDS.

19 November 2009

What killed Ranjan Das and Lessons for Corporate India

Hi,

What killed Ranjan Das and Lessons for Corporate India


A month ago, many of us heard about the sad demise of Ranjan Das from
Bandra, Mumbai. Ranjan, just 42 years of age, was the CEO of SAP-Indian
Subcontinent, the youngest CEO of an MNC in India. He was very active in
sports, was a fitness freak and a marathon runner. It was common to see him
run on Bandra's Carter Road. Just after Diwali, on 21st Oct, he returned
home from his gym after a workout, collapsed with a massive heart attack
and died. He is survived by his wife and two very young kids.


It was certainly a wake-up call for corporate India. However, it was even
more disastrous for runners amongst us. Since Ranjan was an avid marathoner
(in Feb 09, he ran Chennai Marathon at the same time some of us were
running Pondicherry Marathon 180 km away), the question came as to why an
exceptionally active, athletic person succumb to heart attack at 42 years
of age.


Was it the stress?


A couple of you called me asking about the reasons. While Ranjan had
mentioned that he faced a lot of stress, that is a common element in most
of our lives. We used to think that by being fit, one can conquer the bad
effects of stress. So I doubted if the cause was stress.


The Real Reason


However, everyone missed out a small line in the reports that Ranjan used
to make do with 4-5 hours of sleep. This is an earlier interview of Ranjan
on NDTV in the program 'Boss' Day Out':


http://connect. in.com/ranjan- das/play- video-boss- day-out-ranjan- das-of-sap- india-229111- 807ecfcf1ad96603 6c289b3ba6c376f2 530d7484. html



Here he himself admits that he would love to get more sleep (and that he
was not proud of his ability to manage without sleep, contrary to what
others extolled).


The Evidence


Last week, I was working with a well-known cardiologist on the subject of
‘Heart Disease caused by Lack of Sleep’. While I cannot share the video nor
the slides because of confidentiality reasons, I have distilled the key
points below in the hope it will save some of our lives.


Some Excerpts:


· Short sleep duration (<5 class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1258625012_6">Interleukin- 6 (IL-6), Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-alpha)
and C-reactive protein (cRP). They increase risks of many medical
conditions, including cancer, arthritis and heart disease. Paper published
in 2004.


· Sleeping for <=5 hours per night leads to 39% increase in heart
disease
. Sleeping for <=6 hours per night leads to 18% increase in heart disease. Paper published in 2006. Ideal Sleep For lack of space, I cannot explain here the ideal sleep architecture. But in brief, sleep is composed of two stages: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and
non-REM. The former helps in mental consolidation while the latter helps in
physical repair and rebuilding. During the night, you alternate between REM
and non-REM stages 4-5 times.


The earlier part of sleep is mostly non-REM. During that period, your
pituitary gland releases growth hormones that repair your body. The latter
part of sleep is more and more REM type.


For you to be mentally alert during the day, the latter part of sleep is
more important. No wonder when you wake up with an alarm clock after 5-6
hours of sleep, you are mentally irritable throughout the day (lack of REM
sleep). And if you have slept for less than 5 hours, your body is in a
complete physical mess (lack of non-REM sleep), you are tired throughout
the day, moving like a zombie and your immunity is way down (I’ve been
there, done that L)


Finally, as long-distance runners, you need an hour of extra sleep to
repair the running related damage.


If you want to know if you are getting adequate sleep, take Epworth
Sleepiness Test below.






Interpretation: Score of 0-9 is considered normal while 10 and above
abnormal. Many a times, I have clocked 21 out the maximum possible 24, the
only saving grace being the last situation, since I don’t like to drive
(maybe, I should ask my driver to answer that line J)


In conclusion:


Barring stress control, Ranjan Das did everything right: eating proper
food, exercising (marathoning! ), maintaining proper weight. But he missed
getting proper and adequate sleep, minimum 7 hours. In my opinion, that
killed him.


If you are not getting enough sleep (7 hours), you are playing with fire,
even if you have low stress.


I always took pride in my ability to work 50 hours at a stretch whenever
the situation warranted. But I was so spooked after seeing the scientific
evidence last week that since Saturday night, I ensure I do not even set
the alarm clock under 7 hours. Now, that is a nice excuse to get some more
sleep. J


Unfortunately, Ranjan Das is not alone when it comes to missing sleep. Many
of us are doing exactly the same, perhaps out of ignorance. Please forward
this mail to as many of your colleagues as possible, especially those who
might be short-changing their sleep. If we can save even one young life
because of this email, I would be the happiest person on earth.


ps: Incidentally, just as human beings need 7 hours of sleep, you should
know that cats need 15 hours of sleep and horses need 3 hours of it. So are
you planning to be a cool cat or a dumb horse?

............S S V