Bow-Tie. No, we're not going to dinner.

Salaam friends.

I'd like to share what we had learnt at work last week - part of our Learning From Incidents monthly series.  But instead of focusing on a particular incident, this month we looked back to basics - How do we prevent incidents from happening, and if they do happen, how do we prevent them from getting worst.

We were introduced to a tool called Bow-Tie. Not to put on our tuxedo though :-)   Normally Bow-Tie is used by companies involved with high risks activities to manage their Major Accident Hazards (MAH), where occurrence could likely result in multiple fatalities, significant assets loss, serious environmental issues and really affect your company's reputation.

Basic Bow Tie Diagram

The blue box is the incident we are trying to avoid from happening - the red box on the left is the threat that could cause the incident to happen and the green box on the left is the barrier that we need to beef up to ensure the incident doesn't occur.  But if it does occur, we need to prevent it from getting worst (red box on the right), so we have to make sure the green box on the right is effective.

Bow-Tie Diagram - in simpler terms

Same thing, but in much simpler terms to help any layman like you and me.

Example of Prevention (Left Side)

We used the example of road accident as the thing that can go wrong. What could cause it to go wrong, well one of it could be road conditions.  The barriers can be endless but we picked up three main ones.  For example we have to ensure the tires are in great condition, we follow the speed limit and we are trained to drive safely. If we have 'holes' in these barriers e.g. tires are bald, we speed and are not competent, the likelihood of an accident is high or... inevitable.

Example of Recovery (right hand side)

OK... the incident actually happened, but it could get worst.  In this example, Na'uzubillah (I seek protection from Allah), it could result in death.  How we can avoid it from getting worst is to make sure the barriers actually work: airbags, seat belts and cars with good great crumple zones

The presenter, a scouser with great sense of humor offered an example where the top event is "achieving just average year end appraisal".  Now, working backwards, what can we do to make sure it won't happen? Deliver more than target, be visible, more structured in our work? But when it does happen, average appraisal = lower salary increment / lower bonus and the worst that could happen is the iPad or the iPhone that we've dreamed of purchasing hedged against the potential bonus, may remain a dream. How do we prepare for that? Plan B perhaps?... that Nokia still looks useful and it's only a tenth the price of an iPhone.....

You can use whatever top event you'd like, and it can help prepare you for the worst OR better still, avoid them from happening by strengthening your barriers. Practice makes perfect. I am still working on it myself.

I hope this is of help.  And Mike S, I hope your google search for bowtie will lead you here :-)

Salaam
Azmi

Friendship

Assalaamu 'alaikum

I am currently taking a breather after an exhaustive 3 day of long hours - a day of preparations for 2 major events that took place yesterday and today.  I should hit the sack by now having only slept for 10 hours.....combined in the last 3 days.

Anyway, a quick one on Friendship, that I feel like I want to share. (pssst, I know my kids loved to read the blog, especially Iman hence why I wrote this here :-)

On Monday, to prepare for the event on Tuesday, I have to stand in for our MD to personally discuss the event with our Guest of Honour, a Government Minister for 8 years now.

After the formalities, I recalled stories from my dad that he knew the Minister from their studying years in the UK in the 60's and I suggested to the Minister that he might know who my dad is.  When I mentioned my dad's name, the Minister was so excited he told the PA to arrange a visit to see his old friend, since they would be around the area.  The Minister told me he hadn't met my dad for maybe 10 years.

I called my dad immediately when I left the MInister's office to let him know of the plan.  Early this morning, I received a call from my dad who sounded so excited, letting me know that the minister spent an hour at my dad's place.  An hour of a Minister's time is precious, and I am so happy to bring joy to my dad.

Allah teaches us in mysterious ways.  Here, I learned that friendship knows no boundaries:

No matter how high you go, never forget your comrades and whenever an opportunity comes to meet your buddies, grasp it and make full use of the time.

Alhamdulillah.

Now I need to sleep, and I'll sign off now.

Salaam friends, wherever you are.  May Allah grants me opportunity to meet every one of you.

Jimi @ Pg Hj Azmi Razak

Happy New Year? Alhamdulillah, Happy New Year indeed.

Assalamu 'Alaikum

In the office last Friday, the 6th day of 2012, I still wished people happy new year and they reciprocated my wishes with excitement. Taking the cue from that, I still think it is not too late to wish the same to you, so  Happy New Year to you all.

Yes, 2012 is just another year to some, but it means a lot to others who wanted to start with a clean sheet and all that, new resolutions, targets, goals, you name it. I wish you Allah's blessings and may you achieve your new goals for 2012.

We had a great closing of 2011. On the New Year's eve we hosted my mother in law's 66th birthday. My bro & sis in laws from Bandar stayed over and our kids enjoyed having their cousins around. We moved the fusbol table to the main entrance and let the kids (and a few adults :P) enjoy.

Our new year however did not start well.  On the first public holiday of 2012, I was called in to the office to help the communication team with their press conference following a minor oilspill.  After four hours away, I made up to the family by taking them out to the beach to see and also show them what had happened and then grabbed dinner.  Alhamdulillah the beach was already cleared by the time we went there, but the kids simply enjoyed being at the beach including taking pics with one of the oil spill response transport.

The above photos were taken from The Borneo Bulletin. 

The bottom picture showed the volunteers from Brunei Shell's 

business partners helping out with the cleanup

Iman, Aaeeshah (hidden) and Muhammad with one of the

 Oil Spill Response equipment, sort of special version ATV 

to help with pulling the oil booms and other equipment

Our company men, doing their regular inspection to ensure

 no more spill made shore after the cleanup. 

The next day, school reopened and Alhamdulillah kids were alright, returning to their normal routine without much fanfare.  Muhammad is now in Year 6 preparing for his PSR (Primary Certificate of Education). Iman got promoted to Year 3 and Aaesshah is no longer in kindy, now in Year 1.

I was however concerned that the school now requires every student to use the school's exercise book (with the school logo).  Nonetheless, I bought the exercise books from the school for my three children for nearly $55, although I felt I could save $15 or even $20 if I were to buy them from the shops.   It's not much, yes but for those families who earn just enough to get by, it would be a burden.  After all, an exercise book is the an exercise book, right?  The logo doesn't make a difference at all, so why bother? I pick my battles, so I relented in this case.

On a different light and a cheery one at that, we welcomed the arrival of my new nephew Awangku Ariff Rayyan bin Pengiran Azirul Ridzuan, a baby boy to my younger brother and his wife born at 5.28am on Sunday morning, 8th January.  Alhamdulillah Rayyan looked healthy, and weighed 3.7kg.  We were up early on a Sunday for the hour long drive to see Rayyan, who was sound asleep all the while we were there and was not at all bothered with the attention. He even posed for us!

Baby Rayyan, sound asleep and thinking :-)

Abang Muhammad, Kaka Aaeeshah, Ngangah Girl and Kaka Iman.

 Ngangah Haji behind the camera :-)

Till next time, Happy New Year to all. Be safe always.

Wassalam

Mr G

ps - on the way home from seeing Rayyan, we saw two cars involved in an accident. I believed it was caused by a car making a U-turn (legal) but not anticipating the speed of the oncoming car, he got hit at the back and swerved.   The driver felt pain on his back so we told him to sit tight and wait for emergency services once we've confirmed there was no bleeding.  The other driver was ok, his car badly damaged at the front and he was thankful that he wore his safety belt.  2 points to note here: Situational awareness and using the safety equipment.  If you are on top of that, InsyaAllah things should be alright.

Meet my friend ERIC. ERIC PD.

Assalamualaikum

Last night we returned home from a short holiday in the capital, a 100 km drive home.  In torrential rain.  I knew the tyres are in good condition as I've checked them before the trip.  Brakepads are still ok from recent servicing checks and the dashboard control lights indicate everything are ok.  Despite all that I drove at only 60km/h in the 100km/h zone.  With precious cargoes on board - 4 loved ones, I would do anything to ensure their safety.

Apart from my ever so faithful co-pilot Mrs G who kept me company with iPad playing songs from when we started going out 14 years ago, I was also guided by a friend, ERIC PD.  ERIC tells me how to control the hazards of the trip.

OK, ERIC PD is not a real person, but a lego-man and in the Health and Safety world is oft used term to spell out the hierarchy of controls to control risks of any activity.

How often have we seen or heard in the news or even on facebook after a major accident, that  people would ask the authorities to tighten the rules, which is actually way down the order to control risks.  Let me share with you what ERIC PD means:

E mean Eliminate. Get rid of the hazard, or replace with something less hazardous.  Eliminating the trip is a no-no, so I moved on to the next level.

R means Reduce: Reduce the nature of the hazard or the exposure to the hazard.  In our case, we drove from home to hotel - point A to point B, no detour.  I also made sure everyone wore their seat belts.  When we reached the hotel, we walk around the area rather than driving around.

I means Isolate.  Isolate the hazard from the people.  In industries, if a machine is too noisy, then we isolate them i.e. put it at a distance to the point that it is doesn't cause noise hazards to the workers.

C means Control.  Control who has access to the hazard.  Limit the exposure time as only necessary.  Ensure all the controls/procedures are in place.

P means Protection.  Always assume that what could go wrong would go wrong, and always wear personal protective equipment.  The standard fare where I work, the standard protection are fire retardant coveralls, safety boots, helmets, goggles and to some extent, gloves.

D means Discipline.  All controls are monitored, reviewed and enforced.  Any breach of the controls will be dealt with accordingly.

Alhamdulillah we reached home in 1 hr 40 mins, against the usual 1 hr 10 mins.  Half an hour late, but we arrived safely.  Thanks to my wife and also ERIC.  Alhamdulillah.

During the drive home we were overtaken by cars we reckon were doing c. 120-130km/h.  The highway was like a river yet the mindless drivers drive like they were boats!  At the highway near our destination, we saw two tow trucks with a police car in chase - today I heard there were 7 injuries in an accident related to that, with a person suffering broken leg.  Let's hope everyone recovers well.  And share their ordeal on what caused the accident and tell others how to prevent it from happening.

Let's see how you can apply ERIC PD to your day to day activity.  In the kitchen.  In your garden.  In the bedroom :D

Always think safety.

Take care & till then, Wassalam.
G