BICYCLE SAFETY

Bicycle riding is fun, healthy, and a great way to be independent. But it is important to remember that a bicycle is not a toy; it’s a vehicle!

Safe Riding Tips

Before using your bicycle make sure it is ready to ride. You should always inspect your bike to make sure all parts are secure and working properly. Remember to:

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  Wear a Properly Fitted Bicycle Helmet. Protect your brain, save your life.

Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit. Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar) if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.

Check Your Equipment. Before riding, inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work.

See and Be Seen. Whether daytime, dawn, dusk, foul weather, or at night, you need to be seen by others. Wearing white has not been shown to make you more visible. Rather, always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding day or night. Also wear something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you.

Control Your Bicycle. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.

Watch for and Avoid Road Hazards. Be on the lookout for hazards such as, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and dogs. All these hazards can cause a crash. If you are riding with friends and you are in the lead, yell out and point to the hazard to alert the riders behind you.

Avoid Riding at Night. It is far more dangerous to ride at night than during the day because you are harder for others to see. If you have to ride at night, wear something that makes you more easily seen by others. Make sure you have reflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle (white lights on the front and red rear reflectors), in addition to reflectors on your tires, so others can see you.

Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated with the bicyclist’s behavior, including such things as not wearing a bicycle helmet, riding into a street without stopping, turning right or swerving into traffic that is coming from behind, running a stop sign, and riding the wrong way in traffic. To maximize your safety, always wear a helmet AND follow the rules of the road.

Rules of the Road – Bicycling on the Road

Bicycles are vehicles, and cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When riding, always:

Go With the Traffic Flow. Ride on the left in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it.

Obey All Traffic Laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.

Yield to Traffic When Appropriate. Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield (wait) for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a smaller roadway, you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. This also means yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.

Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.

Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes AND ears. Watch out for, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don’t wear a headset when you ride.

Look Before Turning. When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.

Watch for Parked Cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).

Children less than 10 years old, however, are not mature enough to make the decisions necessary to safely ride in the street.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Importance of English Language

In our country English is important for a number of reasons. India is a vast country with different languages in different parts of the country. These regional languages differ from each other so much that it is not possible to communicate with people of other regions without a common language. So English is a link language.

English is an international language. English is the language of our Constitution, the Supreme Court, the High Courts and official departments. English is now firmly rooted in the soil of India. It has become a part of Indian life. Thus English has great importance for the integrity of India.

English is not the most widely spoken language in the world in terms of the number of native speakers--there are many more Chinese speakers than native English speakers--but Chinese is spoken little outside of Chinese communities, so English is the most widespread language in the world. . The importance of English is not just in how many people speak it but in what it is used for. English is the major language of news and information in the world.

In today's world, we have to get knowledge of advanced technologies and all kinds of branches of Science. All advanced knowledge in science, technology and medicine is available in English. The results of the latest researches come to India through the medium of English. This language is a store house of social and political knowledge. Hence, study of English language is of great importance for a developing country like India. Without knowledge of this language, our technicians, mechanics and engineers cannot progress.

India is a peace-loving country and wants to spread the same message to all countries of the world. The other countries also take interest to understand and know this policy of India. We have to explain and convince friendly nations our point of view. All this is possible only through a common medium of exchange of ideas and views. English is such a language having an international status and can provide the best medium to interact with outside world.

Today, developed countries have made tremendous progress in the field of science and technology. The world is making progress in these fields at a terrific speed. To increase and encourage more research work in Science and Technology, we have to study all these subjects in detail. And for this the importance of English cannot be denied. Our own regional languages do not have the depth and capacity to understand and co - relate all these technological developments and as such, cannot served the purpose to keep pace with the fast growing world outside. Most of the best books on all such subjects are available in English language only. We cannot translate it all in our own regional languages, therefore, knowledge of English can only prove to be a blessing.

English is a widespread and important language in the world today. It is used not only for communication between native speakers and nonnative speakers of English but between nonnative speakers. Even though it does not have the greatest number of speakers in the world, it is the most widely used language in the world, and it will be used by more people in the future.

WHITE NOISE

What is White Noise?

White noise is the noise created when all audible frequencies of sound are combined at the same time and the same density. It is similar in nature to white light, which occurs when all the colors of the spectrum are brought together. White noise incorporates over 20,000 frequencies. Also called white sound, white noise is used primarily as a sleep or relaxation aid.

The actual sound produced by white noise is comparable to rainfall or ocean waves. It is a gentle tone that can be found in nature. Because white noise combines all frequencies of sound ranging from very low tones to high pitches, it is very useful in masking other noises and sounds.

Fans and radio stations with no broadcast are often used as white noise simulators, providing a soothing sound that blocks out other background noises. While these methods do not produce true white noise, their effects are a good example of practical uses for white sound. The main drawback to using this variety of white noise, however, is that the user has no control over the volume or frequencies produced in this manner.

Consumers can also purchase white noise that has been recorded onto a CD, which is less expensive than investing in a white noise machine. In addition to cost effectiveness, CDs allow the user to alter the bass and treble of the noise to mask lower or higher background sounds in any given location.

STOPPING THE SPREAD OF GERMS (FLU)

Stopping the Spread of Germs (FLU)

Illnesses like the flu (influenza) and colds are caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs and usually spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The flu and cold virus is usually prominent during rainy season, and is typically known as "flu season." It is important to know treatment and prevention options, so that one can be prepared.

These are a few tips that can help prevent the spread of germs:

Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose, or Mouth-Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can live for a long time on surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and tables.

Cover Your Mouth and Nose When You Sneeze or Cough: Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Wash your hands every time you cough or sneeze.

Wash Your Hands Often: When available, wash your hands with soap and warm water, then rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces for 15 - 20 seconds. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.

When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. If using a gel, rub the gel in your hands until they are dry. The alcohol in the gel kills germs that cause colds and the flu.

Stay Home When Sick - Check with a Doctor When NeededWhen you are sick or have flu symptoms, stay home, get plenty of rest, and check with a doctor as needed. Keeping your distance from others may protect them from getting sick. Common symptoms of the flu include:
High Fever
Cough
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (more common among children than adults)

Practice Other Good Health Habits: Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Practicing healthy habits will help you stay healthy during flu season and all year long.

BLUE ENERGY (OSMOTIC POWER)

BLUE ENERGY (OSMOTIC POWER)

Blue energy, sometimes called ocean energy, is a term for the method of generating electricity through the convergence of both fresh and salt water.


Blue energy extracted by osmosis, also called Salinity gradient power or Osmotic Power is the energy retrieved from the difference in the salt concentration between seawater and river water. Two practical methods for this are Reverse electrodialysis (RED), and Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO).Both processes rely on osmosis with ion specific membranes. The key waste product is brackish water (water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater)

Blue energy is only useful in certain geographical areas. The only way to create blue energy other than in a laboratory is at an estuary, where fresh water river currents and the saline tides of the ocean meet at the river’s mouth. Though the technology of blue energy has been understood for quite sometime, manufacturing the membranes was far too expensive to become a practical energy alternative. Recently, more economical membranes have been developed which will allow blue energy technology to begin being implemented in suitable environments. Currently blue energy is being used successfully in the Netherlands.

The environmental benefits of blue energy are invaluable. Blue energy does not emit greenhouse gases, the use of blue energy where possible will help to reduce global warming and other consequences caused by burning fossil fuels. In addition, blue energy does not take up a lot of space like energy grids do, and ecosystems are not negatively affected as they are with mining and drilling for example.

Words to Move on

Words to Move on

A Man is not finished when he’s defeated
he’s finished when he quits.

No person can be greater
unless he takes genuine joy in the success of those under him.

Excellence is not a Singular act, but a habit
You are what you repeatedly do.

Success is more attitude than aptitude.

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.
The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty

Change is the law of life
& those who look only to the past or present
Are certain to miss future.

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be
Continually fearing you will make one.

There are no secret to success. It is the result
Of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure”
Colin Powell

Everybody sooner or later
Sits down to a banquet of consequences

When you do the same things
The same way all the time,
Don’t expect a different result.

Always do right.
This will gratify some people,
And astonish the rest.

Maintaining open line of communication are a
Fundamental key to organizational excellence.
Take an extra moment to communicate
What you want and why you need it.

An acre of performance
is worth a whole world of promise.

Setting an example is not the main means
of influencing another, it is the only means
Albert Einstein

ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

Asbestos is a silicate mineral, a fibrous, naturallyoccurring material of varying chemical compositions.Asbestos is used in well over 3,000 products includingbuilding materials and goods.

Severe lung disease can be caused by asbestos, such asasbestosis and/or cancer, through the inhalation ofexcess quantities of the fiber. It usually takesseveral years for symptoms of asbestos diseases tobecome apparent.NOTE: It is the Company's policy toavoid working in areas where employees may be exposedto asbestos at levels above the OSHA established PEL.When that is not possible, this section and SafetyProcedure SP-007 should be followed.)

The current allowable level of asbestos (PEL) in theair established by the Occupational Safety and HealthStandards is .2 fibers per cubic centimeter greaterthan 5 microns in length in an 8 hour tirne-weightedaverage. A short term (excursion) limit of 1.0 fiberper cubic centimeter of air (I f/cc) as averaged overthirty (30) minutes has also been established.

Control of the exposure to asbestos can take severalroutes. Substitute another product that will do thesame job; use personal protective equipment such asNIOSH-MESA approved respirators; use adequateventilation equipment before the fibers reach thebreathing zone of the workers; practice goodhousekeeping by removing accumulated and settled dustby HEPA vacuum cleaning; and wet the product toprevent expulsion of the dust into the air that theworkers breathe.

To prevent contamination away from the work place,clothes the workers wear should not be laundered athome. The clothing should be handled at the work placewhere workers are required to change to streetclothing and shower facilities are available.

Any employee that is exposed to asbestos fibers inexcess of the above specified limits will be notifiedin writing of the exposure as soon as practical butnot later than five (5) days of the findings.

Each employee exposed to airborne concentrations ofasbestos fiber in excess of the limits specified abovewill be provided with medical examination relative tothis exposure. The initial medical examination will begiven within 30 days of the initial exposure that willinclude as a minimum a chest roentgenogram, a historyto list symptomatology of respiratory disease, and thepulmonary function test to include forced vitalcapacity (FVC) forced expiratory volume at one second(FEV Sub. 1.0). These employees will also be givenannual medical evaluations thereafter.

Records shall be maintained of all medicalexaminations administered to employees. These recordswill be maintained for at least 30 years.