TYRE SAFETY (Part 1)

I will like to start this piece of writing by asking readers a very simple question... "When are your vehicle tyres expiring?" I can only imagine the neuronic activities going on in your mind now! I am very sure you that one of the surprising issue about this question is the fact that you don't know. Of course, I know you that you know and believe that vehicle tyres do expire. The very fact that tyres are organic and chemical products can only suggest my perceived assumptions. After all, other products similar in composition to tyres like plastics, petroleum bye products, drugs, food, etc do expire.
Going back to our initial question, there is no shame in not knowing this because as in most things in our part of the world, we are neither taught nor told and so we live perpetually in ignorance and wishes. As have been emphasized in many articles in this blog, safety is not all about wishes and prayers, but current knowledge and practice of what is safe and sensible.

Safety on the road depends on several factors, one of which is vehicle condition and tyres are very important integral part of a vehicle. It is that part that interfaces between the road and the vehicle and as such must be in good shape and other to perofm its duties. According to statistics available from Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), about 80% of automobile accidents in Nigeria are caused by burst tyres due to low quality and age. This is particularly due to the florishing tokunbo cars business in the country. As important as the tyres may be in road safety, it is very unfortunate to know that this is one part of vehicle that receives little or no attention at all. Part of this attention is the simple knowledge of the status of the tyre which includes manufacture date, expiration date, speed and load rating, construction, design type, etc.

For this first part of our discussion on tyre safety, we will look at just one aspect of these facotrs that control the safety of tyres in our vehicles.
Manufacture & Expiration Date of Tyres
As part of quality assurrance of vehicle's tyres, manufacturing dates are written on the sidewall of all original tyres. As a general rule, tyres will start serious level of deterioration after 4 years of manufacture. Depending on use and other factors therefore, expiration will commence from 4-6 years at the maximum after which the tyres must be destroyed or recycled for other uses. Please note that the date of expiration is not written on the tyres but as a user, it is your responsibility to use the date of manufacture as your guide to determining the year of expiration.

To read the manufacture dates on a tyre therefore, the following steps will be a useful guide:

1. Locate the DOT number on the sidewall of the tyre. It's easy to find since the first 3 digits are "DOT." They are displayed on both sides of the tyre.
2. After the DOT, look for a 10 to 12 digit number. The last four digits will sometimes be place be placed in an oval or circle and will only be numerical.
3. Determine the age of the tyres by reading the last four digits of the full DOT number from the sidewall of the tire.
4. The first two digits of the four digits date stamp will indicate the week of the year the tyre was manufactured. For example, on the tyre in this picture, “08” means 8th week of the year (this is of course the month of February)
5. The last two digits in the date stamp number will determine the year it was manufactured. For example, “06” on the same picture means 2006
6. For the above examples therefore, the last four digits of the full DOT number displayed on the sidewall of a tyre “0806” would dictate that the tyre was manufactured in the 8th week of the year 2006.

As a driver, passenger or general user of a vehicle, use this information to determine the age of tyres on your vehicle. Always request to see this number before purchasing any tyre. If these numbers are not on the tyre, then they have been probably removed to deceive buyers and users. It's not uncommon to be purchasing a year or maybe two year old tyres, but the newer the better and compare that to the price you're being charged for them. Tyres will expire even on the shelf no matter how new or beautiful looking it appears.

Please note however that the 4 digits tyre stamp started in the year of 2000. Tyres manufactured earlier than 2000 only have three digits in the tyre stamp and if that's all you have for a tyre stamp, don't worry about how to decode it...just replace the tyres for your own safety because such tyres are definitely over nine years old. However, for the sake of knowledge, a tyre ending in "239" could have been made in the 23rd week of 1989 or 1999. This will ultimately take you to that place (you know where I am referring to) earlier than planned.

Please take care and use tyres that are of good quality and up to date.

Coming soon: TYRE SAFETY (Part 2)

RISKY ADVENTURE

Heroism is a rarely used word in many societies and the actions that qualify one as a hero can vary and also may be very subjective. while in some cultures, taking a risk is an act of heroism, in some others, being brave and daring automatically qualifies one as a hero. Worst still, in some known regions of the world, the only symbol of heroism is death. Little wonder in such places, lives really do not matter a thing.

As a senior friend will always remark, "all heroes are dead and to be one, you must lay your life down..." Dear friends, in our part of the world, especially in Nigeria, death is a serious thing and until recently, suicide was a NO NO to us. Our heroism will have to come through other forms of activities and actions but not intentional death. However, in this same Nigeria, when you see some actions and activities being performed by people during play, work, or whatsoever, you have to argue very seriously with yourself and finally agree that this is a suicide mission perceived otherwise.

Now let's get thinking; how would you describe the actions of this man in this picture? Suicidal or heroic! Perhaps bravery and daring! Well, I will tell you without being sarcastic that this is a suicide attempt and in a society where lives matter, charges ought to be filed against such a person for attempting to kill himself. But can you imagine what the bystanders and perhaps, other family members will be saying about this person...your guess is as correct as mine!

You may however be thinking again now (as would be expected) that perhaps this is not real...a possible photoshop or computer manipulation. Well, I have news for you if this is your thought now.
There are many more risky and (very highly risky) actions that people carry out today all in the name of work. I have personally seen so many that i have stopped counting and I am sure, a good number of people have seen worst cases of unsafe acts and at-risk behaviours. Sometimes, you need to take a good look at your surrounding and see what people do described as work and you will agree with me that this picture here could actually be a child's play to what you will observe.

Work has never meant death or suicide in any dictionary and definitely it is not the same. We work to improve our lives and this objective can only be achieved when people work safely, giving room to be a ble to work another day. This man is probably working or trying to perform a task but you and I know this is not right...a work is only done well if it is done safely.

Let us take this message to our society and preach the good news of safety...if it not safe, don't do it because there is always a time to do right and safe.

Road Traffic Accident in Nigeria

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is a government agency in Nigeria charged with the responsibilities of preventing accidents on Nigerian roads through awareness, training, legislation and enforcement. Recently, the agency published the statistics of recorded traffic accidents in Nigeria between the period of January and October, 2009 during the awareness campaigns to promote safe and defensive driving especially during the upcoming festive seasons.

A first look at the statistics did not strike any cord until i read between the lines and it dawn on me that these statistics are people...not just figures. Can you imagine loosing someone close to you? thousands of families in Nigeria have lost their loved ones in the last 10 months due to some actions and/or inactions on the roads which could have contributed to the accidents.


The statistics released from FRSC are shown in this piece...please consider this and remember, it can happen to anybody as long as it can be traced to same attitude on the road.

Lagos State Security Emergency Numbers

There is no denying the facts that Lagos state is setting the pace for other states in Nigeria to follow in several ways. If you have been out of Lagos state in the last two years, then you will definitely be overtly surprised by the new face of Lagos. These changes are particularly worthy of note considering the facts that many of us have lost faith in the Nigerian states and since we cannot do anything immediate about the situations, we just withdraw into our cocoons and hope that one day, things will look different…what an irony!

Part of these obvious changes is the improvement in security awareness and control in the states. A drive round town especially in the night says the story of how we all will desire the whole of Nigeria looks like. The lighting system is unbelievable...even with the epileptic supply of power from our national power grids. This you will agree with me is an important security control system as the hoodlums and other night urchins no longer have places to hide in dark alleys, under bridges, motor parks, and the likes.

In addition to this, the Lagos state emergency management parastatal in partnership with the Nigerian Police recently published some numbers for prompt responses to security issues and emergencies in Lagos state. This is laudable because in many countries of the world today, the mobile telephones have become an important tool in emergency management and after eight years of mobile telephony revolution in Nigeria, it is not too early to start enjoying same benefits.

I gave these numbers to a couple of friends recently to save in their mobile phones but as expected, some doubted the reality and workability of these services. I understand the reason for their doubts...anybody who have been in Nigeria for a while will probably be as pessimistic about such services as they were. However, it appears it is the done of a new era in Lagos and loosing out of such benefits just because we can't believe it is not good for anyone... remember that the only permanent thing in life itself is change.

My advice therefore, as stated in the attached picture, is to have it handy and ready to use whenever the need arises. The survival of yourself, family, colleagues, and others may just depend on it. You loose nothing having them saved on your phones but may loose too much if you don't have them at all. Like I always say, the choice is yours but making the right choice is not just common sense but knowledge through accurate information.

Road Safety: Over-speeding

If you are visiting Lagos metropolis for the first time on a sunday afternoon, you will probably make the same remarks someone made to me sometimes ago when I asked of his impression of the city. He was particularly impressed about the smooth movements of vehicles on the road as against what he previously heard about traffic situations in the state. He was quick to point out however that he suspected motorists were not obeying the speed limits regulation as he saw private and commercial vehicles cruising at high speed. He felt the rate of accident would be high if nothing was done about the speed. Of course, as you would expect, I was quick to tell him that there is a highway code in Nigeria that stipulates allowable speed for different categories of vehicle as well as locations; of which the acceptable maximum is not more than 100Km/Hr in most cases.

You may be quick to ask why this preamble. Well, yesterday (Sunday November 1, 2009) at about 3.00PM in the afternoon, coming from the Victoria Island through the 3rd mainland bridge, I observed a rather strange long vehicle traffic and I heard a whisper in my ears...'an accident has just occurred.' This can only be the reason for this long queue i concluded...& I was not wrong at all... a few minutes later, what I saw is the picture in this article. What a sight! I am sure there is a question on your lips right now...as I had on mine as I adjusted on my seat to see what has become of a commercial vehicle popularly called danfo in Lagos. How on earth did this bus climb up this height over one metre of concrete mass on a bright sunny afternoon? Only two answers readily come to mind: a crane must have lifted it up the concrete beam or it climbed it. The latter seemed very unlikely for me to accept but alas! that was exactly what happened. The bus climbed the beam as a result of impact from excessive speed.

This is one of the many types of accidents that have been witnessed on this bridge...vehicles somersaulting, plunging into the lagoon, to mention but a few.

Over-speeding accounts for a large percentage of causes of accidents on our roads and the consequences are obvious. The advice is simple...over-speeding kills...so kill your speed and stay alive. The choice is yours and not the vehicles.'

Vanguard for Change in Nigerian Safety Body

Our Aim:
To engender the birth of a dynamic and impactful safety body for professionals and practitioners in Nigeria through effective leadership and management
Positions
1. Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals (NISP) is the national bosy for safety professionals and practitioners in Nigeria
2. Our goal is to chat a new course for the development of an effective safety culture and paradigm in Nigeria using NISP as a national medium
3. We need a vibrant and resourceful leadership to establish NISP relevance to nation building
Nigerian Institute of Safety professionals (NISP)
The Nigeria Institute of safety Professionals was inaugurated in August 1980 as Nigeria Society of safety Professionals (NSSP) during the annual conference of the National Industrial Safety Council of the Nigeria (NISCN) as a professional technical arm of the NISCN,NISCN-is a tripartite body comprising the Governments of the federation (represented by Director of factories, Federal Ministry of labour & productivity), Employers (represented by the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association) and labour Congress), set by the Federal Government to prevent Industrial accidents and hazards and promote occupational health and welfare in industrial establishments. www.nispnigeria.com

The NISP 28th Annual Safety professionals Development Conference/Seminar comes up November 23-25, 2009 at Kaduna (Check attached poster). This conference will also provide an opportunity for all members of the institute to elect new officers to stir the affairs of the institute for the next tenure. This is particularly important because we can now make that change that is required (and if i may say, long overdue) in NISP as a national body by electing the right persons for the available posts. One of those at the forefront of this campaign for excellence and effectiveness in NISP is Evaristus Uzamere, CEO of Safety Engineering & Fire Consultants (Nig) Ltd. (Please watch out for Information on his full profile shortly on this blog). To demonstrate his commitments to achieving this goal and repositioning NISP in our society, he is seeking to be elected to the office of the National president of NISP. This could not have come in a better time, especially with orientation and awareness for rebranding and repositioning the Nigerian state in the global map. We can make the change...the very difference needed in NISP!

This is the time to make the much needed change in national NISP body. We can do it by VOTING RIGHT! Vote Evaristus Uzamere for the President.

Be there physically or by proxy and VOTE...Vote Right

Please contact dapo.omolade@gmail.com for further information and direction.

Still on Crash Helmets

Live from the city of Lagos!!!!!

Now, i believe this is a joke!!!!

But you never can tell...this is Nigeria!

The various types, shapes and quality of crash helmets on nigeria roads these days leave nothing to doubt about the strength of our ingenuity. I call it the will to survive! The onus is therefore on everyone to ensure its own safety as we have always done in many other instances. We can only hope that the responsible agency will rise to the challenge and enforce not just the use of any type of 'calabash' and 'gourds' as crash helmets but the acceptable and safe ones. This is a laudable crusade to entrench safety into the fabrics of our society and the truth is 'more lives will be protected and preserved from the consequences of road crashes' if correctly enforced.

Crash Helmet - You can't beat this ingenuity!!!

CRASH HELMETS

PPE such as crash helmet is desogned to offer some forms of protection to the users against identifed hazards. I recently saw these pictures and was alarmed!!! This must only be a joke...or what do you think?