Safety Is Not An Accident

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Hear hear;

 

 

Safety is not an accident

 

Some cultures in the developed world have become so obsessed with safety awareness that they seem to have lost sight of common sense. It is hard to know what to make of reported bans on skipping ropes and knitting needles. The warning on a packet of peanuts that it "contains nuts" is one example of the abundance of pointless and seemingly needless cautionary signs stating the obvious.

 

Presumably, nervous governments are trying to protect those in society incapable of thinking for themselves while also taking extreme steps to avoid being sued by those on the prowl for compensation.

 

But we are in no position to criticise. If those in the West seem to pay excessive attention to safety matters, then our problem is that we pay too little. Essential traffic rules are ignored, potholes and cracked slabs obstruct roads and pavements, and long-tailed boats and ferries are frequently overloaded. This appalling attitude to safety leads to tragedies, such as the scaffolding collapse on Wednesday at the construction site of a giant statue honouring a revered monk in Pathiu district of Chumphon province. Two workers died, apparently because a foreman did not wait until the concrete was dry. It was a painful reminder that rarely a month goes by without a construction or demolition-related accident, and that workers in this industry are three times more likely to be killed on the job than others in hazardous occupations.

 

Festivals invariably lead to carefree excess and a lowering of safety standards and this is reflected in heightened accident statistics. This week's celebration of the Chinese New Year proved to be no exception when a fireworks display turned into tragedy in Suphan Buri. An investigation showed that a launcher tube was angled improperly, causing a firework to be directed too close to the ground where it ignited other fireworks. This catastrophic error led to an explosion and fire that killed four people, injured 93 and damaged 734 properties during a televised fireworks display. Predictably, the Interior Ministry vowed to tighten safety regulations to prevent a recurrence, although the specifics of how and when this will be achieved were not revealed.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit hit the nail on the head when he said the tragedy in Suphan Buri should serve as a lesson for all in public safety. For among the spectators at the fireworks display was Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister, Chumpol Silpa-archa, who would do well to heed such advice and follow the urging of the Tourism Council of Thailand to look into the safety standards prevailing in the industry.

 

What is proposed is a Tourism Risk Fund as a reassurance for tourists that they will always be taken care of, so that they continue coming back, even during times of trouble.

 

The prime concern of any visitor is his or her safety. Tourists want assurances that bus operators will not put their lives in danger through reckless driving, that they are not at risk from an improperly grounded hot water heater, that the boats they travel in are not irresponsibly and dangerously overloaded, and that they will not be struck by a racing jet ski or speedboat if they venture into the sea at a resort.

 

Strict government regulation and proper safety inspections can achieve this, but it will take more to develop a permanent and nationwide culture of safety. Surely all of us want to make our country a safer place to live and work in. Doing so is not just a matter of public and personal interest; it is well within our abilities.

 

Bangkok Post 28/01/12