President Obama is faced with the daunting predicament of keeping his campaign promises or maintaining a relationship with Canada. Obama must make a decision soon on allowing the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. This pipeline, if approved, will span 2,000 miles and connects Canadian oil sands to refineries in Houston and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed pipeline will reduce the United State's dependence on oil import and OPEC. Environmentalist disapprove of the pipeline because it will carry oil derived from toxic tar sands. 

Obama may lose the support of the environmental groups he won over while campaigning for re-election.  The approval of the pipeline would go against his environmental promises because of the carbon emissions caused by the production of tar sands oil. This decision may backtrack all of the environmental strides the President has made. For the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, they view the approval of the pipeline as a betrayal  and a contradiction to Obama's promises to make the climate change a top priority of his second term. 

Canada's government has stated that the country's economy, employment and national security will benefit from the Keystone project despite being widely protested by environmental groups. According to the New York Times, Canada has powerful allies in the United States labor movement, which is pushing for the pipeline because proponents say it would generate tens of thousands of jobs, and in big companies like Exxon Mobile and Chevron that are heavily invested in the oil sands fields. "The signal of a rejection of a permit by the president would be a significant change in the Canada - U.S. relationship," said Greg Stringham, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers' vice president for oil sands and markets. 

Reuters sources say the decision may be delayed until June. 

Respected Subscribers & Readers,

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan is pleased to share with you that this year’s “World Congress on Cardiology Scientific Session” is scheduled in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Join your colleagues from across the globe at the WCC Scientific Sessions 2012 Dubai to share the latest science on treatment and prevention. It is the forum for all experts in the field as well as commercial, public and non-governmental parties to meet and exchange knowledge. This event shall benefit the world from April 18 to 22, 2012.

The World Congress of Cardiology is a major international event that not only focuses on the cardiology problems of the region in which it is hosted −by working alongside our national members, and for 2012 this will be the Middle East − it also addresses and tackles the importance of cardiovascular disease on a global scale by attracting a strong and enviable international faculty of experts.

Dr Arif Abdullatif Al Mulla, Dr Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Dr Jeroen Bax and Dr Robert Bonow are leading the WCC 2012 Scientific Programme Committee (SPC) that develops the  following scientific topics which will be covered during the WCC Scientific Sessions 2012 by world-renowned speakers:

• Arrhythmias
• Heart failure / Left ventricular function / Myocardial function
• Valvular disease / Pulmonary circulation / Myocardial-pericardial disease
• Ischemia / Coronary artery disease / Coronary interventions
• Peripheral circulation / Stroke / Non-coronary interventions
• Hypertension
• Epidemiology / Prevention / Health promotion / Health advocacy
• Dyslipidemia & Metabolic disorders
• Basic science
• Cardiac imaging
• Pediatrics / Congenital heart disease
• Nursing

Read the full advanced programme here.

Special sessions including joint sessions with WHF members, the World Health Organization, the Gulf Heart Association or the Pan Arab Heart Failure Association will also feature in WCC 2012 scientific programme.

For the first time, two workshops on Echocardiography and Electrocardiography are jointly organized with Emirates Cardiac Society.

The event shall be organized at Dubai International Convention Centre (DICEC), Sheikh Zayed Road, World Trade Centre, Roundabout, Dubai.

First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan wish them very best of luck for success of this event.

To Our Health and Safety,

Faisal Javed Mir & First Aid to Save a Life Pakistan

Welcome Respected Readers,

Today we will update you on “Use of Aspirin in chest pain (sign of cardiac arrest)”.

Use of Aspirin while suffering with chest pain was not addressed in 2005 guidelines but it is now included in the latest guidelines.

Courtesy to American Heart Association (AHA) for sharing with us that evidences from two large, randomized studies clearly demonstrated that the administration of aspirin within the first hours of onset of chest discomfort in people with acute coronary syndromes reduced mortality.

Let see how it is drafted in the latest guidelines.

2010 Guidelines: “While waiting for EMS to arrive, the first aid provider may encourage the victim to chew 1-adult (not enteric coated) or 2 low-dose baby aspirin if the patient has no allergy to aspirin, other contraindication to aspirin, such evidence of a stroke or recent bleeding.”

It is very clear from the above excerpt that first aid provider may encourage and not states that he/she should himself/herself can administer (if semi-conscious then it is already late for this). Meanwhile, first aid provider should also (if appropriate) ask patient of any allergy to aspirin or other contraindications if he/she knew and could be of great help for EMS personnel as well.

To Your Success,
Faisal Javed Mir

http://firstaidtosavealife.com/2011/07/24/use-of-aspirin-in-chest-pain/

Robert Gordon University Thursday 1^st September 18.00

As a leader in engineering design and information management solutions to the Oil & Gas industry, AVEVA is keen to contribute to the debate and to fully understand the role of Information Systems within Health & Safety.

As such we would like to invite you to come along to our engaging event to be held at Aberdeen Business School on the evening of Thursday, 1^st September 18:00 for 18.30 start.   The purpose of this event is to showcase the findings of an independent study carried out by researchers at Robert Gordon University, in order to provide the industry as a whole with  a better understanding of the role information management plays in managing health and safety in the Oil & Gas Industry. The research also explores how organisations achieve improvements in health and safety performance based on factors that range from culture to technology.

Hosted by Jeremy Cresswell, editor of the Press and Journal’s ENERGY supplement and honorary Professor at RGU’s Business School, the evening will commence with a presentation of the report’s findings by Professor Rita Marcella, Dean of Aberdeen Business School. This will be followed by a panel discussion of the topics raised and we are delighted to announce the panel members comprise

-          Malcolm Webb, Chief Executive of Oil & Gas UK

-          Brian Taylor, Chief Operating Officer for KCA DEUTAG Drilling Ltd

-          John Pearson, Managing Director Europe and West Africa for AMEC Natural Resources

-          Robin Davies, Vice President Integration & Business Improvement for Subsea 7

Refreshments on arrival and a post event buffet will be provided.  There will be ample parking at the university and no parking restrictions are in place. 

We would be delighted to welcome you along to join the debate. To ensure we have enough space available I would be very grateful if you could inform us of your intention to attend by contacting Matt Wren, Marketing Coordinator for AVEVA’s UK operations; matt.wren@aveva.com +44 1246 572916.

See the event online at www.aveva.com/rgu

Most of us learn safety from home. As our parents, friends and relatives direct us “this not be done, this should be done”. They only dictate but the thing is the one should understand the reasons and make understand the other. This is the area one which we should give stress to make a healthy community. We should be a role model for the followers. We should be able to explain and convince the other, why? And why not?. There will be many questions on the mind. For example, we say to our children don’t play with electricity. Child says “my father told me not to play with electricity”, so I am not playing.  This should not be the case. Father have the responsibility to make understand the child what happens if electrocuted, what are the safety systems are inbuilt, what social and environmental impact, how to save electricity and convince the child. So child never forgets these things and it act as a basic lifeline in the future.

What happens here, the busy father leave behind this responsibility because he has to fulfill a lot of other responsibilities and he is not able to find time to spare with children and family.  We should share our concern with the children also to the maximum possible extend. We should be able to convert our experiences into small stories and ask our children to evaluate it. Let them learn from it. There by we can keep on developing our children and a new generation. We should provide learn and develop environments instead of spoon feeding the data. Let us try to develop skills, observe safety attitude in our young generation which can act as a backbone for many achievements. A safety cautious personality can make win & win situation.

The importance of having an up to date “Driving at Work Management System in place is getting crutial by the day as legislation dictates that we must protect our businesses from the few.

One of the biggest issues we face as human beings is our attitude to certain protocols in life, for instance how many times have we heard someone at work or within our business say;

“It’s not my job”        or       “It won’t happen to me”

It never ceases to amaze me at times that a large proportion of employees will pass the buck by assuming you are responsible when an incident happens. It is all too easy to lay the blame at somebody else’s doorstep and it could be yours if you are not careful, it’s called human conditioning. 

Health & Safety isn’t a sexy subject, and before you doze off, as it always happens when we talk about Health & Safety especially compounded with vehicles being a very emotive subject then I am onto a loser before I start!

We need to take a hard look at the management systems that we have in place, because, as the legislation gets tighter and resultant fines from breaches being like telephone numbers. Can we afford not to take action and be responsible 100% of the time whether that is from an employer, employee, sub contractor or volunteer perspective?

So how do you protect everyone in your business? The answer is easy; communicate with everyone in a manner that gets the message across, without alienating them or yourself into the bargain.

It is funny; when we use the word “communicate” we tend to clam up and are not sure where to start.

Get a pad and pen out and let me ask you; when someone whom you employ or engage to do work for you, drives on behalf of your organisation.  Do you see or think of areas that can eat into your profit? If so write them down and address it.

For instance a van livered up with your name pristine and proudly displayed and the driver is either doing something or a number of things all at the same time. Such as using a mobile phone, smoking, speeding, hand gestures or even parked irresponsibly. You may even class these as minor issues. But they can dent your reputation without you knowing about it until it is too late. Would you purchase food from a baker when the driver delivering the goods has been seen smoking in the cab?  or would you recommend a plumber, joiner or an electrician if they cut you up and started giving gestures out the window?, I know I wouldn’t and perhaps now I have maybe started you thinking.

No matter what business you are in and are using vehicles, you run the risk of lost sales revenue by the actions of a few. Now we all need sales to keep the business going it is our life blood.

Take speeding & mobile phone issues and a minimum 3 points on the drivers licence as a result, what will this do to your insurance renewal? The driver has a risk of losing their licence with totting up of points? What is your policy for reporting this?

With businesses going through difficult times, can you really afford to eat into what profit you may have?

Now let’s look at the worst case scenario and the driver has caused or is involved in an incident. If a fatality has occurred the police will treat it the same way as a murder and you better hope that you have a fully auditable management system in place to protect you which will stand up to close scrutiny.  

Examples above will have a cost; however fines for serious breaches could put you out of business unless you have money stashed under the mattress so to speak and you don’t need to own the vehicle.

What will the cost be if you have to replace an employee who was injured, died or even sent to prison because of the incident. Now I hear you say the dreaded words “That won’t happen to us” It could, how do you know as it only takes a lapse of concentration. Oh, and what about all the adverse publicity, fine and the time it drags out as it could be a few years before it is heard in court if you are deemed negligent.

Putting your house in order isn’t rocket science and you have three choices.

1.      Engage a company to help you install a proper management system.

This will allow you to get your house in order correctly using the expertise available.

2.      Do it yourself or have someone in your organisation do it.

Understanding what is required may eat into more resources than you realise and the person needs to be competent and have an understanding of what is required.

3.      Continue as you are.

This isn’t an option, if you have something in place get it reviewed, otherwise you may well be in a false position. If you are not sure what you have in place get it checked out now as it could be the best decision you have made.

These options have cost implications; the most expensive will only come to light when you have an incident. The big question is can you afford to take the chance? Safety isn’t a cost option, it is a necessary option as the:

“Unexpected will always happen when you least expect it too!”

The April 2010 report of Australian, New Zealand and International Workplace Fatalities is now available; below you will find a statistical extract from the FULL report.

2010 Totals are 1391, which break down to the following:

These statistics show Total Fatalities & Incidents are:

These statistics show Mortality Rates are:

Highest Industries with Fatalities

Highest Mechanisms of Fatalities

Email grant@achievablesolutions.com.au if you would like to receive a copy of the FULL Report complete with graphical analysis and incident details.

The February 2010 report of Australian, New Zealand and International Workplace Fatalities is now available; below you will find a statistical extracted from the FULL report.

2010 Totals are 625, which break down to the following:

9 - Australia           

3 - New Zealand

613 - International 

These statistics show Total Fatalities & Incidents are:

These statistics show Mortality Rates are:

Highest Industries with Fatalities

Highest Mechanisms of Fatalities

Email grant@achievablesolutions.com.au if you would like to receive a copy of the FULL Report complete with graphical analysis and incident details.