The dangers we live with
By Dr. Selim Erhan, TLT Editor | TLT From the Editor April 2024
Manmade dangers have risks but many possible solutions.
Living in the Northern U.S., we have few natural dangers outside of snow and ice. We don’t have many tornadoes or hurricanes, poisonous snakes, scorpions, centipedes or spiders, nor do we have alligators and large predators! And did I mention poisonous snakes? I am always fascinated with people who live with these creatures every day. Australia for instance has all of the most poisonous creatures, Africa has predators and a fair share of snakes, and the southern U.S. has more snakes and alligators. Then there are the jungles and the Amazon with piranhas!
I had a friend who lived in Brazil along the Amazon River for a couple of years. He was telling how while traveling by canoe, huge snakes would drop in from above trees, and he would immediately jump into the river. The natives in the canoe would throw the snake out, then pull him back into the canoe and move on until the next snake dropped!
Another story came from Houston, Texas, a few months back. Some friends were talking about a 10-foot alligator that was caught while sunning himself on a sand island that was a popular spot for swimmers and fisherman. They were surprised because alligators would normally stay on the other side of the lake, which was easy to see. To me, swimming in opaque waters with alligators supposedly staying on the other side of the lake is an unacceptable risk. It did not bother them. Snakes sleeping under pillows, scorpions crawling in shoes and snakes wrapped around clothes in wardrobes are all normal events for people living in these areas.
Up in the Northern U.S. we have none of these, but we do have manmade hazards. Specifically with driving, it’s tempting to test the limit with fast cars, smooth driving, large powerful trucks and SUVs. A few weeks back I heard on public radio that traffic accidents and fatalities are still very high—the vehicles are safer, we have traffic rules that help prevent accidents, and yet the statistics are grim! However, there is a difference between the hazards I mentioned previously and traffic accidents that are manmade. Driving can be much safer than what it is like now. If drivers are more alert, many accidents can be avoided. Slower drivers should be in the right lanes. Yes, traffic is merging, and it is uncomfortable to be in the right lane, but driving slow in the left lane causes people to weave around, increasing the risk of accidents. At the same time, driving super fast in the right lane, especially when a driver will be stuck just a few minutes down the road, is totally unnecessary. Driving with high beams on two-way roads blinds the oncoming drivers. The accidents caused by these, and similar driving habits, are totally preventable.
This takes me back to my Safety Training Observation Program (STOP). The training emphasizes that all accidents are preventable, and if we STOP for a second to evaluate the situation before we start, it helps us focus on the task at hand and help us clear our mind from the multiple thoughts that are racing at the same time. We hopefully do this in the laboratories, in the plants, operating machinery or handling unexpected situations. Do we practice STOP when we are driving? The dangers of traffic accidents are greatly increased because after driving for decades, it has become second nature to us. We talk, we plan and we think about issues, and in recent years we have been extremely distracted with smartphones trying to find a song, some information or even text people. To make things more dangerous, we come home safely. This builds a false sense of security. One second of distraction and one may be gone, get injured for life or kill someone on the other side. I don’t know which one would be worse.
When we sit behind the wheel, we should STOP, clear our mind of all other thoughts and remember that what we are about to do is a very dangerous activity. Mistakes can be very painful for the ones left behind or at least be very, very costly.
Dr. Selim Erhan is director of business development for Process Oils Inc. in Trout Valley, Ill. You can reach him at serhan@processoilsinc.com.