Cranes Incidences Essay Example for Free

Cranes Incidences Essay Industrial safety is an important component in determining success in industrial operations. It is important that industry players develop their systems in a manner that is appreciative of safety to be in line with legal requirements for industrial operations and also ensure high levels of motivation among their employees. Motivation within any workforce is important in ensuring that operational goals are driven at and is considered a factor that can define organizational propensity to failure. Reputation of an industry entity is placed at risk if it employs approaches to operations that are risky to its workers and even customers. It is thus apparent that industrial entities have a lot to lose should they choose to operate in a manner that does not show appreciation for the role played by safety within their industries in ensuring ethical, legal and successful operations. Despite this knowledge being firmly ingrained within industries, cases of crane accidents have continued to maim and even kill industrial workers. A review of recent cases to determine the causes of the accident and make recommendation on avenues that can be used in addressing this challenge is therefore aimed at ensuring improvement in working conditions for crane workers. Review of Industrial Crane Accidents A shocking revelation in review of existing rules and crane accidents that have occurred in the recent past is that OSHA has not updated its rules for workers who operate cranes for the last 38 years (CraneAccidents. com, 2008). The labor department estimates of the fatalities shows that there are at least 82 cases of crane accidents per year (CraneAccidents. com, 2008). According to the labor department, a majority of the accidents are caused by operator errors and prevailing weather conditions especially wind (CraneAccidents. com, 2008). The differences between the figures reported by the government department OSHA and international unions of operating engineers creates an unclear picture of the extent of the problem. In one of the incidents, a rental crane failed while offloading which led to the death of two workers. The rental crane which is operated by Ocean energy let go of the load that smashed two workers to immediate death (MMS, 2009). Though the accident is still under investigation, preliminary results show that that crane was poorly maintained and the cause are mainly due to mechanical failure (MMS, 2009). Another accident that also involved a rental crane occurred during offloading (MMS, 2009). The accident which led to the death of one worker while leaving two workers with serious injuries was mainly due to poor disassembly of a rental crane (MMS, 2009). The crane incidences which are filled with inhumanity and pain are categorized as either minor or major cases (MMS, 2009. The definition of minor and major is dependent on the number of casualties though their potential for damage and loss of human life is immeasurable. In an incident that happened in Kentucky, a man who was standing next to a HTC-835 crane was dismembered and died one hour later in a hospital when the counterweight came around and struck him in the back (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). The unconscious body as found pinned between a counterweight and a bed of a truck (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). One of the factors that have been cited as having played a role in the incident is the fact that there was no warning tape around the crane (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). Discussion of Causes In the first case poor maintenance of the crane that led to failure is to blame for the incident. Though the potential that cranes have in causing incidents is known, rental companies and even organization can still choose to use cranes that have not been properly serviced. Ignorance is not the case rather irresponsibility by management and worker that leads to use of cranes that could pose danger to human life and even damage property is to blame. Irresponsibility of workers who were casualties in the incident is further brought out if their being under an offloading crane is considered. While working in an environment where crane activity is high one must have heard of incidences where cranes led to loss of lives. Taking heed of danger and appreciation of the potential that cranes have in causing damage would have pushed them into being within what can be referred to as a safe distance. Poor management of the disassembly exercise has been cited as the cause of the second incident. This lives room for a multitude of possibilities which include lack of proper training, poor supervision, lack of preparation and poor or lack of measures that can be used in ensuring that assembly and disassembly processes are carried out in the best way possible (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). Another important factor that should be noted in the second case is the involvement of a rental cranes and issues relating to management and mechanical failure. The third case is different from the others in that the victim and operators were unaware of the risks they were in. Labeling of potential risk has for a long term been used in industries to ensure that people aware of risks they are in. Cranes cause motion or objects that can smash human flesh to oblivion. Lack of a labels or a warning tapes around the cranes or any other moving object in an industrial setting is reflective of lack of appreciation of the potential that cranes have in causing damage to human life and property and lack of strong assessment measures for instance by OSHA to ensure that industrial entities operates within the developed safety framework. Analysis The causes of the accident can be looked at from at least five different dimensions. Irresponsibility, poor assessment systems, poor policy making, lack of appreciation of the potential that cranes have in damaging properties and lives and lastly lack of an effective systems that can develop social awareness on problem thus its address. Irresponsible actions for instance being under a moving crane and using cranes that have not been labeled as potential risks have led to loss of lives. Poor assessment systems are reflected in using cranes that have badly been maintained and making errors in disassembly. While technology and legal implications are changing rapidly to keep in touch with the needs of the society, the last development in OSHA with regards to crane operatives is nearly four decades ago. The relevance of the current policies to modern practice may be missing thus the lack of awareness on legal avenues that can be used in redress. Selecting rental cranes that are in bad shape and using cranes without labeling them all point to lack of appreciation of the potential that cranes have in damaging property and destroying lives. Poor policy making may also contribute to using cranes that are not in good shape and lack of counter measures to ensure cranes used are in good working condition. The expertise, skills and experience of crane operators are important in ensuring effective management of the operations; this must be ensured by all organizations to ensure human error is minimized. Legal measures and guideline like OSHA are also lacking in that the organization could use approaches that are lacking in safety and even lack labeling despite its potential risk yet remain operational. This is further brought out by the difficulties that victims face in seeking illegal interventions (CraneAccidents. com, 2009). Summary OSHA is not enough in reducing prevalence of the crane accidents. Though effective legal intervention measures can reduce and even force industrial entities to put in place effective safety measures, development of an appreciation of safety is vital to ensuring that measures are put in place. The current OSHA policies have to be reviewed to ensure they are up to date with the legal and technological factors that affect crane operations. Developing awareness on rights of crane users and highlighting the accidents will also play an important role in ensuring that industrial entities are wary of incidences. By developing awareness and helping victims seek legal redress, OSHA will ensure that organizations are aware of the negative image that can be developed by crane incidences. Responsibility is a personal issue that must be spread to all in industries. Safety training for workers would ensure that they seek their right to work in safe environments and develop awareness on risks presented by the environment they are in. It is only after appreciation of risk has been developed that effective programs can be developed.

Fools In _King Lear_ :: essays research papers

Fools and Kings Shakespeare's dynamic use of irony in King Lear aids the microcosmic illustration of not only 16th century Britain, but of all times and places. The theme that best develops this illustration is the discussion of fools and their foolishness. This discussion allows Shakespeare not only to portray human nature, but also to elicit a sort of Socratic introspection into the nature of society's own ignorance as well. One type of fool that Shakespeare involves in King Lear is the immoral fool. Edmund, for instance, may be seen as a fool in the sense that he is morally weak. His foolishness lies in the fact that he has no sense of right or justice, which rewards him with an untimely, ironic death. He discusses this as his father, Gloucester, leaves to ponder the "plotting" of his son Edgar. Edmund soliloquizes, "This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we are sick in fortune... ...we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars, as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion." (I. ii. 32) for the sole purpose of illustrating his wickedness. Edmund realizes that his evil is self- taught. This soliloquy shows the audience Edgar's foolishness in his belief that malevolence is the force that drives one to greatness or prosperity. It also illustrates the bastard's mistaken belief that by fooling his father, he might be able to eliminate Edgar, the competition for Gloucester's title, and possibly rid himself of his father in the same act. This is a prime example of immoral foolishness in King Lear. Another type of fool in King Lear is the ignorant fool. Whereas characters such as Goneril, Regan, and Edmund are fools because of their tendency to harm others for self- gain, the ignorant foolish are not necessarily driven to evil. However, the evil are almost always driven to foolish actions. Gloucester, arguably Lear's foil, puts forth an interesting perspective in the play. His character is presented as one who is blind to the truth, and ironically, one who becomes physically blind in the end. In actuality, it is his blindness to the truth of Edgar's love and Edmund's greed and apathy that ultimately brings about Gloucester's demise. When he says, "I have no way and therefore want no eyes, / I stumbled when I saw" (IV.i.173), he seems to be illustrating the realization of his own

Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Essay

1) Select a technology from 1850 to the present. Describe how it has affected productivity A technology that comes to mind is server virtualization. We use them every day in the government as we work toward going green, lower cost, increasing productivity. Since the migration to the virtual servers we were able to cut paper files by  ¾. We use a digital contract file now instead of a 6 pile folder with hundreds of page. Another reason the army has choosing to go this way is so it can spread the cost of maintenance and repair across several customers with shared servers. This results in a lower price per base. Then there is the Virtual conference, which saves millions of dollar. Now you’re asking how this affect productivity does well with virtual contract files any base has access to them with save on efficiencies, be abilities to collaborate with like minds to gain more knowledge, also to form comradely. 2)Identify the transformation that takes place in a restaurant. In a restaurant you are buying a meal but also the environment and the service. In many cases the value of inputs is measured in financial terms, which is say that organizations aim to make a profit like the Hard Rock Cafà ©. To increase efficiency managers are always seeking ways of producing more with the same level of inputs or producing the same amount with fewer inputs. Some ways to improve the productivity in the service-sector are changing working practices, investing in new technology like the ERP, motivating and inspiring staff more effectively and changing the way items are produced (Heizer & Render, 2005). With the use of ERP restaurants  wastage should be reduced at all stages of the production process. It includes Just in Time production in which items are produced to order rather than in advance (Heizer & Render, 2005). Lean production also includes a technique known as kaizen which aims to use the knowledge of employees to find ways of continuously improving the way things are done (Heizer & Render, 2005). Manages are continually reviewing what they provide better. Given ongoing changes in the competitive environment with new competitors, new demands and new technologies adding value is a dynamic process. Managers need to be looking constantly at the business environment to identify changes that could be of value to them or could possibly harm them. Interestingly any change will have different effects on different organizations. (3) The computer – especially the PC – is believed to be responsible for much of the increased productivity in the 1990s. What do think will be the â€Å"next big thing† to have a major impact on national and global productivity? The â€Å"next big thing† that will have a major impact on the national and global productivity is the advancements in wireless technology. In today’s time there are millions of mobile professionals worldwide due to the major strides that the wireless community has taken. Organizations use wireless technologies to solve every day problems and create an advantage over their companion. Using wireless technologies help them work more productively, by having better customer satisfaction, which means an increase of sales. Organization is finding that wireless has provided more flexibility to configure an office and can improve both the productivity and the moral in the work place. New standards based technologies offer improved methods to authenticate and better secure devices, helping to ensure that only authorized users can gain access to these networks. Which, I see firsthand every day working in a government agency our black berries have CAC reads sled which read our cre dentials before we can view emails. The widespread reliance on networking in business as well as the growth of the internet and online services is strong testimonies to the benefits of data and resources (Wireless Technology). Wireless solutions have advances these benefits by allowing users to access shared information, emails, and different  applications without the constraints of the wired connection. Wireless technologies have also allowed network managers to set up or add to the networks without installing or removing wires. A wireless solution offers productivity, convenience and overall cost saving then the traditional wired networks (Wireless Technology). (4) What is the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO)? Do you see it as primarily good or bad for the U.S? The role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is to oversee trade agreements including a wide range of goods and services trade and supervises all government practices that are directly related to trade, such as tariffs, subsidies, government procurement, and trade-related intellectual property rights (wto.org, 2011). Here are some reasons why the WTO isn’t good for the USA. The WTO acts as the legislature, the executive and the judiciary in matters of world trade. The WTO allows countries to sue each other. This has been primarily used by the wealthy countries to push around the smaller, less developed nations. Under the WTO, the monolithic corporations who benefit the most from free trade can easily push around the smallest and least developed nations. Under the globalized system of free trade we are all living under, all wealth is slowly but surely being transferred into the hands of the very wealthy while the rest of us are left standing around trying to figure out how th e game was rigged. The WTO forces the United States to open its doors to unsafe products. Under the WTO, labor has become a global commodity (Globalism Destroys) (5) Identify one discipline and one technology that you think will contribute in a major way to the future development of OM and describe why they will contribute According to the course text, Operations Management (OM) is described as the set of activities that creates value in the form of goods and services by transforming inputs into outputs. (Heizer & Render, 2005) OM is also a discipline that has applications in several industries including services and manufacturing. The discipline and technology I believe that will  contribute in a major way to the future development of OM is Supply-Chain Management and advances in process technologies. Advances in these areas will ease transactions between businesses thereby facilitating sustaining engineering and improvement for Operations and Management. One way is by using Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) as â€Å"wireless systems that allow a device to read information contained in a wireless device or â€Å"tag† from a distance without making a physical contact or requiring a line of sight between the two(GAO,2005). RFID provides a method to transmit and receive data from one point to another.† RFID is an automatic identification method relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. Reference Heizer, J., & Render, B. (2005). Operations Management. In J. Heizer, & B. Render, Operations Management (pp. 212-213). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall. wto.org. (2012, Nov 25). Retrieved 25 November 20121, from World Trade Organization: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/inbrief_e/inbr00_e Globalism Destroys America: 10 Reasons Why The World Trade Organization Is Bad For The United States Economy, Posted By admin On September 7, 2010 @ 3:09 am In Money Watch | Comments Disabled OM ForumThe Best Things in Life Were Free:On the Technology of Transactions,( 2012, Nov 25), Paul Zipkin (paul.zipkin@duke.edu) GAO, 2005, (2012, Nov 25). http://www.gaorfid.com/ Wireless Technology rev 3, (2012 Nov 28). h20331.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/downloads/Wireless_Technology.pdf

Burmese Python Snake Facts

The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is the third-largest species of snake in the world. Although native to tropical southern Asia, the beautifully patterned, docile snakes are popular throughout the world as pets. Fast Facts: Burmese Python Scientific Name: Python bivittatusCommon Name: Burmese pythonBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 12 feetWeight: 15-165 poundsDiet: CarnivoreLifespan: 20 yearsHabitat: Tropical rainforests of southern Asia; invasive in FloridaPopulation: Unknown; rare in the wildConservation Status: Vulnerable Description The wild form of the snake has black-bordered brown blotches on a lighter brown background. Captive-bred species come in other colors and patterns, including albino, green, labyrinth, and granite morphs. Albino Burmese Python. Stuart Dee / Getty Images Wild pythons average 3.7 m (12.2 ft), but specimens exceeding 4 m (13 ft) are not uncommon. Rarely, snakes attain lengths between 5 and 6 meters in length. Females are slightly larger than males, but much thicker and heavier. Recorded weights of mature females range from 14 to 75 kg (30 to 165 lb), while weights of males range from 7 to 15 kg (15 to 33 lb). Dwarf forms of the snake occur in some parts of its range and in captivity. Habitat and Distribution Burmese pythons live in tropical regions of southern Asia, always near a permanent source of water. While they are excellent climbers with prehensile tails, they may be found in grasslands and marshes as well as woodlands and jungles. The species is invasive in the southeastern United States. Burmese python range in Asia. Termininja   Diet Like other terrestrial snakes, burmese pythons are carnivores that feed mainly on mammals and birds. The snake is a constrictor that captures and kills prey by biting it and holding it with its rear-pointing teeth, wrapping its coils around prey, contracting its muscles, and suffocating the animal. Prey size depends on snake size. A young python may eat rodents, while a mature specimen can take livestock, adult deer, and alligators. Burmese pythons dont hunt humans, but they have caused some deaths. Burmese pythons adapt their physiology to prey availability. The snakes are opportunistic and will eat whenever prey is offered. Obesity is common in captive specimens. When fasting, the snake has a normal heart volume, reduced stomach volume and acidity, and reduced intestinal mass. Once prey is ingested, the ventricle of the snakes heart increases 40% in mass to aid digestion, its intestines gain mass, and its stomach enlarges and produces more acid. The Burmese python is an apex predator that doesnt face many threats by other animals. Hatchlings may be preyed upon by birds of prey and other carnivores. In Florida, Burmese pythons, depending on their size, may be preyed upon by alligators and crocodiles. Behavior Burmese pythons are primarily nocturnal. Younger, smaller snakes are equally comfortable in trees or on the ground, while larger, more massive snakes prefer the rainforest floor. Most of the snakes time is spent hidden in underbrush. The snakes can stay underwater up to 30 minutes and are excellent swimmers. In cold weather, the snake may brumate in a tree. Brumation is a period of motionlessness and low metabolism, but it isnt the same as true hibernation. Reproduction and Offspring Mating occurs in early spring. Females lay clutch of 12 to 36 eggs in March or April. They incubate the eggs until they hatch by wrapping around them and twitching their muscles to release heat. The female leaves the eggs once they hatch. A hatchling uses its egg tooth to break free of its shell and may remain with the egg until after molting before venturing out to hunt. Burmese pythons live about 20 years. There is evidence Burmese pythons, unlike most reptiles, can reproduce asexually via parthenogenesis. One captive female, isolated from males, produced viable eggs for five years. A genetic analysis confirmed the offspring were genetically identical to their mother. Conservation Status The IUCN lists the Burmese python as vulnerable within its range. All of the large pythons face challenges because they are killed to make leather, used in folk medicine, eaten as food, and captured for the pet trade. To a lesser extent, habitat destruction affects the snakes, too. While the Burmese python occupies a large range, its population has continued to decline. Invasive Species in Florida Meanwhile, the snakes population growth in Florida poses a significant threat to other wildlife. The Burmese python gained a foothold in the United States when Hurricane Andrew destroyed a python breeding facility in 1992. The escaped snakes spread into the Everglades. The release or escape of pet snakes has contributed to the problem. As of 2007, Burmese pythons were found in Mississippi and throughout much of Florida. Where the snakes are well-established, populations of foxes, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, white-tailed deer, panthers, coyotes, and birds are seriously depressed or have disappeared. Pythons compete with the American alligator and also prey upon it. Pets and livestock in affected regions are at risk, as well. Florida sponsors hunting contests; regulates the importation, breeding, and sale of reptiles; and works to raise public awareness of invasive species. However, Burmese pythons remain a problem in the southeastern United States. Sources Campden-Main SM.  A Field Guide to the Snakes of South Vietnam. Washington, District of Columbia. pp. 8-9, 1970.Mazzotti, F. J., Rochford, M., Vinci, J., Jeffery, B. M., Eckles, J. K., Dove, C., Sommers, K. P. Implications of the 2013 Python Challenge ® for Ecology and Management of Python molorus bivittatus (Burmese python) in Florida.  Southeastern Naturalist,  15(sp8), 63-74, 2016.Stuart, B.; Nguyen, T.Q.; Thy, N.; Grismer, L.; Chan-Ard, T.; Iskandar, D.; Golynsky, E. Lau, M.W.N. Python bivittatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2012: e.T193451A2237271. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T193451A2237271.enWalters, T. M., Mazzotti, F. J., Fitz, H. C. Habitat Selection by the Invasive Species Burmese Python in Southern Florida.  Journal of Herpetology,  50(1), 50-56, 2016.Van Mierop, LHS and S.M. Barnard. Observations on the reproduction of Python molurus bivittatus (Reptilia, Serpentes, Boidae). Journal of Herpetology. 10: 333–340, 1976. doi:10.23 07/1563071