HOW SAFE CAN YOU BE AND HOW SAFE ARE YOU?

HOW SAFE CAN YOU BE AND HOW SAFE ARE YOU?

Safety is a prerequisite for any enterprise. Safe practices define mature and responsible behaviour at the workplace and indeed, in one’s personal space as well.

If I were to define safety preparation in one phrase I would say it is the practice of imagining a worst case scenario and working backwards plugging holes to be prepared to be safe if indeed such a thing should occur.

As we know, business establishments and even residential areas are bound by certain rules and regulations that are non-negotiable. These are well defined and outlined in the NBC or National Building Code. To obtain a licence of safety preparedness from the fire department or any civic body, the installation of emergency lights, exigency related signages, fire extinguishers, alarms and pathfinding tools are some of the many measures that are mandatory.  This is because past experience shows us how much needless loss of precious lives and property have occurred every time there is fire accident or similar disaster just because proper safety measures were not taken and safety-related paraphernalia were either missing or not working properly in the crucial moments.

The twin talons of apathy and ignorance have caused so much damage and death in the past, and ironically continues to do so till this day, that it is high time the last man got up from his stupor and worked aggressively to learn and master at least the basics of safe behaviour.

Safety does not concern the fire department or authorities alone. Public awareness and vigilance are a must if lives and properties are to be seriously protected from the vagaries of the weather or criminals and mischief mongers even in big cities and progressive areas.

Disaster does not strike after issuing a warning. Battle readiness is the name of the game and the clock ticks 24x7. Not only must one purchase safety tools but also ensure that the staff and guests are taken to safety at all cost on priority at any given time. That means practical errors like lack of maintenance, crowding of escape routes with boxes, furniture or other impediments may prove fatal. Safety training must be imparted to the inhabitants of the concerned premises with the help of the fire department or disaster management personnel (authorized). Regular inspection and updating of equipment should be a routine habit.