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OSHA’s latest top 10 list of violations was announced at the National Safety Council’s 2013 Congress and Expo in Chicago. OSHA’s fiscal year is from Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2013. The following table details the top 10 standards violated, along with the preliminary number of citations:

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OSHA’s latest top 10 list of violations was announced at the National Safety Council’s 2013 Congress and Expo in Chicago.  OSHA’s fiscal year is from Oct. 1, 2012 to Sept. 30, 2013.  The following table details the top 10 standards violated, along with the preliminary number of citations:
  OSHA Photo
Fall Protection, Scaffolding and Ladder violations are from the construction industry while the remainder are related to the general industry standards.
The top violations continue to be the same year after year with only minor deviations in the order.   Businesses should have employees familiar with the common standards most frequently cited under each of the above standard categories.   The following lists identify the most common standards violated under each of the OSHA top 10:
1. Fall Protection (1926.501):
a) 1926.501(b)(13) 6 feet or more above lower levels shall be protected from falls.
b) 1926.501(b)(1) Employees exposed to unprotected sides and edges >6 feet.
c) 1926.501(b)(10) Employees exposed to falls while working on low-slope roofs.
d) 1926.501(b)(11) Employees exposed to falls while working on steep-slope roofs.
e) 1926.501(b)(4)(i) Employees not protected from falling through holes to lower levels.
2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200)
a) 1910.1200(e)(1) Develop, implement, and maintain a written hazard communication program.
b) (1910.1200(h)(1) Provide effective training.
c) 1910.1200(f)(5) Chemical containers not labeled to identify contents.
d) 1910.1200(g)(1) Missing SDS forms for chemicals used in the workplace.
e) 1910.1200(g)(8) SDS’s not readily accessible during each work to all employees.
3. Scaffolding (1926.451):
a) 1926.451(g)(1) Scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level shall requires fall protection.  (MEMIC expects fall protection at a minimum height of 6 feet for construction)
b) 1926.451(b)(1) Platform on all working levels fully planked between front uprights and guardrail supports.
c) 1926.451(e)(1) Two or more feet above or below point of access requires ladder, stair, ramp, or similar surface.  Crossbraces shall not be used as a means of access.
d) 1926.451(c)(2) Poles, legs, posts, frames, and uprights shall bear on base plates and mud sills.
e) 1926.451(g)(4) Any guardrail systems shall comply with 1926.451 Appendix B.
4. Respiratory protection (1910.134)
a) 1910.134(c)(1)  Respirators when required need written respirator program.
b) 1910.134(e)(1)  Medical evaluation required before employee is fit tested and issued respirator.
c) 1910.134(c)(2) “Voluntary Respirator Use”  Verify it won’t create a hazard.  Requires training using 1910.134 Appendix D.
d) 1910.134(f)(2) Tight-fitting respirators  require fit testing at least annually
e) 1910.134(d)(1) Employer shall select and provide an appropriate respirator.
5. Electrical, wiring methods (1910.305)
a) 1910.305(g)(1) Flexible cords and cables not used as a substitute for fixed wiring; not run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors; run through doorways, windows, or similar openings; attached to building surfaces; concealed behind building walls, ceilings, or floors. 
b) 1910.305(b)(1) Wiring not protected from abrasion. Openings in electrical effectively closed.
c) 1910.305(b)(2) All electrical boxes and fittings provided with covers. Lamps <8’ protected from accidental contact or breakage by a suitable fixture/guard.
d) 1910.305(g)(2) Flexible cords used only in continuous lengths.  No repairs unless cord is 14 gage (12 gage construction).  Flexible cords shall have strain relief provided.
e) 1910.305(a)(2) Flexible cords protected from accidental damage.
6. Powered industrial trucks (1910.178)
a) 1910.178(l)(1) Operator shall be competent and successfully completed training.
b) 1910.178(I)(4) Refresher training conducted every 3 years or after incident or changes
c) 1910.178(I)(6) Training certification required for operators
d) 1910.178(p)(1) Trucks with defects shall be taken out of service.
e) 1910.178(q)(7) Industrial trucks shall be examined each shift before being placed in service. 
7. Ladders (1926.1053)
a) 1926.1053(b)(1) Portable ladders shall extend at least 3 feet above any landing.
b) 1926.1053(b)(4) Ladders used only for the purpose for which they were designed.  
c) 1926.1053(b)(13) The top step of a stepladder shall not be used as a step.
d) 1926.1053(b)(16) Ladders with structural defects immediately tagged  "Do Not Use" 1926.1053(b)(22) Do not carry any object or load that could cause loss of balance.
8. Lockout/tagout (1910.147)
a) 1910.147(c)(4)(i)  Procedures developed, documented and utilized to control hazardous energy.
b) 1910.147(c)(6)  Conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually.
c) 1910.147(c)(7) Provide training to “authorized”, “affected” and “other” employees.
d) 1910.147(c)(1) Establish “energy control program”.
e) 1910.147(d)(1) Lockout or tagout devices properly affixed to each energy isolating device.
9. Electrical, general requirements (1910.303)
a) 1910.303(b)(2) Electrical equipment not used according to its listing and labeling.
b) 1910.303(g)(1) Sufficient working space provided about all electric equipment.
c) 1910.303(g)(2) Electrical equipment at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against contact
d) 1910.303(b)(1) Electric equipment free from recognized hazards
e) 1910.303(f)(2) Disconnecting means shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose, unless located and arranged so the purpose is evident
10. Machine guarding (1910.212)
a) 1910.212(a)(1) One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks.
b) 1910.212(a)(3) Point of operation safeguarding.
c) 1910.212(b)  Fixed location machinery shall be securely anchored to prevent moving.
d) 1910.212(a)(5) Fan blades less than 7’ require guards with  openings no larger than (1/2) inch.
e) 1910.212(a)(2) Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere. The guard shall not offer an accident hazard in itself.

Turnaround Planning

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Turnaround Planning

Operating industrial plant sites is difficult and challenging at best. At one time or another all operating units must shutdown to upgrade or recondition equipment, conduct tie-ins, or make inspections or repairs. Many times these events present more challenges because experienced personnel may be limited. Teaming with Process Technical Services (PTS) can help make your shutdown be on time, within budget, and back in operation safely and efficiently. Our competent personnel are skilled in turnaround planning and know how to put the pieces together to insure a successful turnaround. Since 1987, PTS has provided professional and technical support services industry wide with the systems, experience and reliability required of today’s workforce.
A shutdown involves stopping process operations, de-inventorying the process, and cleaning up the process so that it is safe for maintenance personnel to open and work on the equipment. Careful turnaround planning is essential to ensure that all work is completed in a safe, effective, and timely manner
After the plant is shut down it can be decommissioned and placed in a standby state for an extended period of time, it can be decommissioned and dismantled, or it can be repaired or modified and placed back in service. This latter situation is where careful turnaround planning can reduce the downtime, while ensuring that high standards of workmanship and safety are maintained.
Most shutdowns occur to correct a situation with the process that is posing a safety, environmental, quality or capacity problem. All shutdowns are comprised of both planned and unplanned elements. The unplanned events usually occur from discoveries made after the plant is shutdown. These unplanned events can sometimes greatly extend the downtime, unless the turnaround planning has anticipated and planned for the unexpected. Careful turnaround planning can reduce the number and extent of unplanned activities.
The planning and scheduling tools used during the construction and commissioning of a process plant can also be utilized effectively for shutdowns and turnaround planning. Replacement materials must be carefully identified and located at the site to facilitate using them to replace or repair used materials. Testing of relief valves must be performed. Refurbishing of process flow control valves may be necessary, pumps refurbished, heat exchangers cleaned, plugged and/or retubed, distillation column packing examined and repaired, compressors serviced, and control system sensors checked and replaced if necessary. The list of things that need to be accomplished during an annual or biennial turnaround is nearly endless.
In some respects turnaround planning is more complex than the original pre-commissioning activities. During the pre-commissioning (construction) phase, the plant was simply being assembled from its parts. During a turnaround half the work involves disassembly of the plant before new and refurbished parts can be re-installed. Often this requires special techniques and tools.
Industries such as petrochemical, chemical, refining, fertilizer, gas separation, LNG, LPG, GTL, food and drug, pulp and paper, hazardous waste, pipeline, terminal, and power generation have relied on PTS. The highly qualified specialists employed by PTS have made it a technical services leader worldwide by providing industry with practical, dependable, and proven methods. PTS specialists include managers, supervisors, engineers, designers, advisors, operators, I/E technicians and mechanical personnel for all types of projects requiring turnaround planning.

Shutdown Scheduling

Once shutdown planning is well underway, the process of shutdown scheduling begins. During the planning and scheduling phases of a shutdown, there should be corresponding efforts in procurement, engineering, maintenance, operations, quality assurance, HSE & security, and administration in support of the work to be done before, during, and after the shutdown. To ensure these shutdown planning activities are tracked and completed, they should be included on the master execution schedule.
Process Technical Services has qualified and experienced personnel that can assist in developing the shutdown plans and shutdown schedule and the shutdown supporting activities in all participating areas.
Shutdown planning is used as input for shutdown scheduling. When shutdown scheduling starts, the units that will be shutdown are known, their shutdown duration is specified as are the number of workers available and the number required for the shutdown. Since shutdown planning is an iterative process, performed by different people, the information for the scheduling phase could change. Therefore the shutdown schedule should be periodically updated, which makes the interaction between planning and scheduling iterative as well.
Scheduling the shutdown maintenance activities can be done before the scheduling of production, or along with the scheduling of production. In the first case, maintenance periods are already known and fixed at the time when equipment must be shutdown because of legal, manpower, shop fabrication limitations, or other constraints.
In the case of large single-line process units all units in the line will usually be shut down at nearly the same time. The ability to sequence the shutdown of large single-line units is determined primarily by intermediate storage capacity. Occasionally, product can be purchased from a competitor to sustain customers until the units are returned to service.
In a refinery the flow of components between units is scheduled separately from the shutdown. Usually the maintenance department schedules the shutdown and the production department schedules production. If the shutdown schedule were to be developed independently of the production schedule, then no consideration would be given to the capability of the production department to store components and to buy or sell them. Since a refinery consists of several complex processes, cooperation and coordination between the maintenance and production departments will produce a better overall schedule. This results in better efficiency during the shutdown period.
Shutdown scheduling does not end with the shutdown of the process for maintenance work. Beginning with the first day of the shutdown, the maintenance work should be monitored closely and changes in both the plans and the schedule should be kept current with events in the field. A change in the plans can arise because of hidden problems that were not discovered until after the process was shut down and equipment opened for inspection. Changes in plans require corresponding changes in shutdown scheduling.
Changes in plans can develop in the event that critical resources are not available as previously assumed. If the needed manpower is not available, then a schedule change is required. In large scale shutdowns, early changes in the plans and schedule can ripple through the entire shutdown planning process causing changes in shutdown scheduling of later projects, and possibly extending the duration of the shutdown.
Any delays in the startup of the upgraded facilities may result in changes to the production department plans for supplying customers. Without a current set of the plans and schedule the upsets that occur early in the shutdown operations can produce unnecessary complications and delays near the end of the shutdown.
With qualified and experienced personnel from Process Technical Services assisting in the shutdown scheduling process, the time to develop the original shutdown schedule and update it during the operations phase of the shutdown will be done more quickly and with fewer chances for error.


Quality Assurance In Construction

Quality assurance in construction can be defined simply as making sure the quality of construction is what it should be. Process Technical Resources has qualified and experienced personnel that can plan and perform the systematic steps necessary for a program of quality assurance in construction.
Quality assurance in construction involves all those planned and systematic actions necessary to provide confidence that the facility will perform satisfactorily in service. Quality assurance in construction addresses the overall problem of obtaining the quality of the facility to be built in the most efficient, economical, and satisfactory manner possible. Within this broad context, quality assurance involves continued evaluation of the activities of planning, design, development of plans and specifications, advertising and awarding of contracts, construction, and maintenance, and the interactions of these activities.
In its broadest form quality assurance includes quality control as one of its elements. Quality control is the responsibility of the contractor, while quality assurance also includes acceptance. Acceptance involves sampling, testing, and the assessment of test results to determine whether or not the quality of construction is acceptable in terms of the specifications.
Construction planning is a complex process that must be kept current with the actual construction taking place in the field. The construction plans, just in terms of day-to-day changes, must be kept up-to-date. However, in the ebb and flow of events during construction there are usually a number of schedule changes that arise as a result of unforeseen events. Failure to keep the construction planning dynamic and up-to-date can create confusion and delays.
Not only must the plans keep pace with the daily events communication of the changes in the construction plans must be disseminated quickly to the affected personnel.
Quality assurance in construction requires that the procedures for incorporating design changes into the construction plans be well developed and fully utilized. The earlier that design changes are recognized and implemented the lower the cost. Quality assurance efforts in construction must closely monitor how well management of the design, and change of design processes are functioning. These represent the quality issues that need to be monitored during the quality assurance effort and acceptance testing.
Another area of activity for quality assurance in construction that must be continuously monitored is the development of plans and specifications. Architectural and engineering plans and specifications often change during the construction phase of a complex project. It is important that the procedures for incorporating these changes into the construction plans be well developed and consistently followed.
In order to minimize construction cost while meeting all of the specifications in the plans and design requires that the advertising for bids and awarding of contracts be closely monitored. The qualifications of the contractors and subcontractors to perform the services advertised and meet the quality requirements should be examined carefully all during the construction phase of the project. This is an element in the program for quality assurance in construction.
Finally, the actual construction activities should be closely monitored to ensure that the engineering plans and specifications are being met or exceeded throughout the construction process.
Process Technical Resources has experienced quality assurance personnel that can develop a quality assurance in construction program that meets the needs and requirements of the project owner.

An Evaluation of Supported Scaffold Safety

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An Evaluation of Supported Scaffold Safety



Fatal Falls from Supported Scaffolds, 1992-98
  • Total # of deaths = 267 (38/year)

    • 217 falls (81%)
    • 47 collapses (18%)

  • 15 deaths (6%) dismantling scaffolds
  • 6 deaths (2%) assembling scaffolds
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data

Research Methods
  • Used a 150-point checklist to evaluate scaffold safety practice

    • Rated scaffolds as acceptable or unacceptable

  • Evaluated 113 scaffolds in 9 areas of Eastern U.S.
  • Also evaluated information on worksite, workforce, and scaffold competent person.
Results
  • 36 of the 113 scaffolds (32%) were unacceptable and posed imminent hazards:

    • danger of collapse
    • missing planking, guardrails, and/or
    • inadequate access

  • 77 scaffolds (68%) were acceptable and posed no imminent danger to the workers.
30 Scaffolds (27%) Had Structural Flaws
  • Missing or improperly supported base plates
  • 17
  • Scaffold not tied properly to building
  • 13
  • Platform not level
  • 6
  • Some runners missing
  • 3
  • Some jacks overextended
  • 2
  • Severe overloading
  • 2
  • Some posts incorrect
  • 1
  • Some braces not tight
  • 1


36 Scaffolds (32%) Had Fall Hazards

 # fall hazards
  • Missing mid guardrails
  • 33
  • Missing top guardrails
  • 28*
     * Also missing midrails 
  • Improper access
  •  
     
  • Climbing scaffold frame
  • 23
     
  • Other severe access problems
  • 5
  • Partially planked platforms
  • 26
  • Substandard planks
  • 3


    Correlation between Structural Flaws and Fall Hazards
    • 36 scaffolds were unacceptable
    • 23 had both structural flaws and fall hazards
    • 10 had fall hazards only
    • 3 had structural flaws only
    Problems of Unacceptable Scaffolds
    • 36 scaffolds were unacceptable

      • 92% were missing guardrails
      • 83% had structural flaws
      • 78% had poor access
      • 72% were insufficiently planked
    Scaffold Competent Person
    • Required by OSHA

      • 29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3) requires inspections by competent person before each work shift and after occurrences which could affect scaffold structural integrity

    • Competent person

      • Recognize hazards
      • Authorized to take corrective action
    Competent Persons on Scaffold Sites
    • 104 sites had workers present
    • 82 (79%) had competent persons
    • 10 sites (10%) said competent person was not present
    • 72 competent persons were interviewed

      • Only 32 (44%) had scaffold safety training
    Need for Competent Person Scaffold Safety Training
    • 32 sites had competent persons who had scaffold safety training

      • 25 scaffolds (78%) were acceptable

    • 62 sites had no competent person or had one without scaffold safety training

      • 24 scaffolds (39%) were acceptable

    Electrical Safety Audits

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    Electrical Safety Audits are conducted by knowledgeable and experienced professionals who assist clients in reducing risk and help to ensure compliance with applicable standards and Regulations.
    Our auditors follow a systematic approach for evaluating potential electrical hazards and prepare reports recommending actions for improvement. Our reports assess high risk situations and areas of non-compliance with legislation or best practice and provide recommendations to rectify the issues identified. Implementation of these recommendations will reduce the likelihood of future accidents or inconvenience to the business.
    Our Electrical safety auditing services help in identifying:


    • Electrical hazards and to minimize the risk of accidents like fires due to short-circuiting
    • Areas of risk or vulnerability in your electrical systems
    • Non-compliance with the legislation and best practice

    Electrical safety auditing has lot of tangible and intangible benefits which includes:

    • The identification and elimination of safety hazards
    •  Ensuring longevity of your expensive electronic equipments like computers and other machines
    • Ensure peace of mind in your client’s mind that their valuable information like data and other documents is safe from electrical hazards
    • Improvement of employee morale
    • Development of a dynamic record of safety performance
    • Creation of positive cycle of safety improvement
    • Improvement of management awareness of problems
    • Insuring compliance with Government and industry safety related work practices

    Energy Audit

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    Energy Audit

    An energy audit is the first step to determine how much energy your home or business consumes and evaluate the steps to take to make the property  more energy efficient. An energy audit provides you with the framework needed to establish or improve energy management. It also provides a baseline for saving money and energy over time when corrected.

    The audit of energy consumption is a specialized process. It takes thorough knowledge and expertise in multiple fields to estimate design, commission and performance monitor projects for energy conservation.
    There are few fundamental ways of saving energy:

    • Accurate monitoring of the utilities in the plant or building
    • Reduction in the amount of energy required for the generation and use of the utility
    • Trapping of any unused energy
    • Recycling and re-use of energy

    By implementing these principles, we help energy intensive industries and buildings to effectively manage energy consumption, and thereby enabling a reduction in overall energy costs, making operations more competitive, increasing productivity and overall profitability.
    There are many benefits of an Energy Audit.

    FINANCIAL BENEFITS


    • Reduction in cost of energy/electricity bills by reducing consumption or by changing tariff type
    • Reduced maintenance cost by following improved utilisation of plant and optimisation in operation
    • Reduction in capital expenditure where increased efficiency avoids the need for additional plant or supply capacity
    • Increased productivity where working conditions are improved; e.g. improved temperature levels, airflow, etc
    • Elimination of low power factor penalties by talking remedial action identified during energy audit.

    ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

    Environmental benefits that arise from using energy more efficiently may include
    • Reduction of CO2 and other emissions
    • Reduction of environmental impacts related to transmission, delivery or transport of energy
    • Reduction of regional and national energy demand
    • Conservation of natural resources particularly fossil fuels and other non-renewable fuels

    MARKETING BENEFITS
    • Now more than ever, companies are finding that going green makes good marketing sense as the urgency of climate change becomes more apparent companies and clients are looking to support green businesses and products
    • Organisations will achieve recognition by the community, including potential costumers by being environmentally responsible corporate citizens.

    Power Quality Audit

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    Power Quality Audit


    All electrical devices work properly without any failure, if input power is well within set limits of electrical properties. So Power Quality Study determines the health of the electrical to load ends. Without the proper power, an electrical device (or load) may malfunction, fail prematurely or not operate at all. There are many ways in which electric power can be of poor quality and many more causes of such poor quality power. The quality of electrical power may be described as a set of values of parameters, such as:

    • Continuity of service
    • Variation in voltage magnitude.
    • Transient voltages and currents
    • Harmonic content in the waveforms for AC power.

    All these unwanted parameters can increase in power consumption, heating of equipments and wiring, malfunctioning or even damage.

    Scope of work

    Three Phase Power Quality Analyzer will be used for the following, under scope of Power Quality Audit:

    Harmonic study
    • Identify various Types of harmonics.
    • Calculation for Total harmonic Distortion.

    Power Factor Study
    • Running Power factor in the facility at main incomer.
    • Identify ways to improve power factor.

    Energy consumption study
    • Review of Single line diagram.
    • Review of connected load.
    • Energy consumption at possible load ends and total energy input.

    Phase voltage and current unbalance
    • Measurement of input current and voltage.
    • Variation of current and Voltages between phases.
    • Comparison of the unbalancing with the prescribed limits.

    Calculation for Line loss depending upon the available data

    Infrared Thermography

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    Infrared Thermography


    Infrared Thermography is science of using electronic optical devices to detect and measure radiation and correlating that to surface temperature. Thermal imagers can convert infrared radiation being emitted from the body into electric signals and thus present them visually. The various advantages of Infrared Thermography are as below:


    • It is of great significance in preventive service and maintenance, building condition, Production Monitoring, technical diagnostics etc.
    • A thermal imager makes anomalies visible, thus making an exact search for errors or fault possible.
    • It checks materials and components completely without any damage and exposes problems before malfunction can occur.

    Scope of work
    During Infrared Thermography study, the areas in which thermal anomaly will be identified. These areas will be categorized as Minor, Intermediate, Serious and Critical (depending upon the temperature) for corrective action. Following areas will be covered during study:

    Electrical Distribution System

    • Review of present condition of electrical distribution system like transformers, Distribution Boards and various load ends etc.
      HVAC System
    • Inspection of Insulation condition.
    • Identification of areas responsible for heat gain or conditioned air leakages.

    Thermal Utilities
    • Insulation condition of various utilizes such as Boilers, Thermopac, Furnaces, Water Heaters and Ovens etc.
    • Identification of areas for heat loss through doors and openings etc.

    Steam Distribution System
    • Insulation condition of piping.
    • Operating condition of Steam traps.

    Motors
    • Running condition of motors.
    • Motor Alignments

    Lighting System
    • Present condition of the light fixture.

    Lighting Audit

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    Lighting Audit
    Spaces with better lighting just feel more comfortable productive and engaging. Though it is often difficult to precisely quantify, both focused research and common experience have shown that, Lighting has a substantial impact on everything from error, scrap and accident rates to employee satisfaction and productivity

    Lighting has a unique ability to influence the tone, mood and impressions of our environment. In Commercial and industrial spaces it acts to shape perceptions of vibrancy, cleanliness, pride and efficiency.

    Why Lighting audit?

    • A Comprehensive Lighting audit is crucial to any industry which focuses on energy savings andoccupational health and safety.
    • To compare the existing lighting levels (Lux levels) as against national/international standards/codes (to be in compliance with statutory requirements)
    • To explore the possibilities of energy savings in lighting systems
    • By providing better Illumination to the workplace, an employer can reap benefits of quality and accuracy of the products manufactured
    • Improve occupational health and safety and increased employee satisfaction
    • Preserves or increases the Lighting quality while reducing the energy costs

    What to expect from Lighting audit?

    A successful audit starts with a survey of customer objectives. A detailed survey may provide opportunity to dramatic energy savings by concentrating on application-specific lighting needs. A lighting audit includes an analysis and explanation of utility charges and how they relate to the existing lighting system as well as any retrofit options being considered. For many commercial and industrial customers electrical demand charges are a significant operating cost. These are analyzed along with standard energy use charges to evaluate and maximize savings potential (this may require analysis of electrical use that is unrelated to lighting).

    We determine whether the current lighting equipment has any special features or functions (such as enclosed-rated lensing and gasketing, dimming controls, emergency egress lighting, battery backup, quartz re-strike, etc.) and if these are to be integrated with or replaced by a potential retrofit system.

    The auditor also interviews facility staff to identify any special conditions that might affect or be affected by the lighting system (such as: corrosive atmosphere and materials compatibility, excessive or oily airborne contaminants or moisture, food safety code requirements, high or low ambient thermal environment, etc.). Adequacy of illumination for individual tasks and work areas is checked. Qualitative aspects (such as glare, shadowing and uniformity) are also discussed along with practical elements such as maintenance.

    It is important to keep in mind that while inadequate illumination can have host of negative consequences, over lighting generally does not improve visibility in a significant way and represents an opportunity for energy reduction.

    What is water audit?

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    What is water audit?


  • A Water Audit is a full analysis of water processed by a utility. Water audit comprises of preparation of layout of water sources, distribution network, service/delivery points to water users and return flow of waste or excess water.
  • Water audit is an effective management tool for minimizing losses, optimizing various uses and thus enabling considerable conservation of water
  • Water audits trace water use from its point of entry into the facility/system to its discharge into the sewer/river/canal etc.

  • Benefits of Water Audit

  • Water audit improves the knowledge and documentation of the distribution system,
  • Identifies the problem and risk areas and a better understanding of what is happening to the water after it leaves the source point.
  • Leads to reduced water losses,
  • Improved financial performance,
  • Improved reliability of supply system
  • Efficient use of existing supplies
  • Better safeguard to public health and property and reduced legal liability,
  • Reduced disruption, thereby improving level of service to customers.
  • Large potential cost savings that can be achieved by water harvesting, through the recycling of water and the use of rain water.


  • What we offer?

  • We offer full quantitative analysis of water processed by a utility. Sounding and pinpointing leaks and classification as to severity. Historical leak records are analyzed to determine cost effectiveness of replacing specific mains showing high leakage.
  • Flow measurement devices may be installed at all strategic points so that water losses from various components can be identified
  • Identify meter accuracy problems resulting from improper sizing and application.
  • Corrosion control of water distribution piping system to avoid corrosion leaks.
  • Suggesting the organizations how to become nil effluent water discharge company with efficient effluent water treatment plants and using the treated water for horticulture and toilets.
  • Sound / Noise quality Audit

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    Sound / Noise quality Audit

    A sound or noise audit examines noise levels in any premises. Noise can cause ill health effects as well as socio-cultural and economic effects. In most of the cases the long and short term effects cannot be evaluated objectively.

    Noise is generated from various sources. The increasing ambient noise levels in everyday life is due to various industrial and commercial activities, fire crackers, sound producing instruments, generator sets, loud speakers, public address systems, music systems, vehicular honking and other mechanical devices have deleterious effects on human health and psychological well being of the people.

    It is considered necessary to monitor, regulate and control noise producing and generating sources with the objective of maintaining the ambient air quality standards in respect of noise.

    The various national and international standards and regulations highlight the need to monitor, control and regulate sound/noise levels and the use of protective gears to prevent the adverse effects caused from the continuous exposure to loud/noisy environments.

    In India, under the Environment protection Act – 1986 and 2010 amendment (as per Central Pollution Control board regulation),

    the Noise pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 is in existence. Few excerpts of Noise Pollution Rules – 2000 are given below:


    The noise level in any area / zone shall not exceed the ambient air quality standards in respect of noise as specified in the below given schedule

    TOP 22 REASONS FOR KIDNEY DAMAGE:

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     Photo: TOP 22 REASONS FOR KIDNEY DAMAGE:  1. Medications: Long-term use of high doses of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) -prescription painkillers, that contain ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®), or acetaminophen (Tylenol®), has a harmful effect on kidney tissue and structures, causing shrinkage of blood vessels in the kidneys. Diuretics (urine enhancers) medications may also cause excessive water loss, straining the kidneys.  2. Cigarette Smoking: Smoking has a direct relation to increased protein detected in the urine, affecting kidneys adversely. Diabetes and high blood pressure, diseases having an aggravating impact on kidney damage, are also exacerbated by smoking.   3. Sugars: Sugar laden food does not impact kidneys directly but triggers and worsens other health problems like diabetes. Diabetes and obesity are two of the most common causes of kidney damage.   4. Contrast Dyes: Dyes used in diagnostic radiology procedures like CT scans, X-rays and angiograms, have serious implications on the kidney, including Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), an abrupt decrease in kidney function. Insist on less toxic or diluted dyes, fluids to flush out toxins, or drugs to help protect the kidneys from the dye.  5. High-Sodium foods: Very little Sodium is required to maintain proper fluid balance in our body. Excessive salt intake triggers an avalanche in the body, increasing blood pressure, damaging the kidney’s filters- nephrons, accelerating kidney failure. Kidneys tend to retain water, needed for proper heart function, in order to dilute this excess electrolyte in the bloodstream.   6. High Blood Pressure: Weight control, exercise, and proper diet can control blood pressure—which puts lot of stress on your kidneys and causes loss of protein. So treating your blood pressure will help protect your kidneys.  7. Meat: Animal protein metabolism’s acidic residue triggers our body to pull calcium and other mineral salts from the bones, in order to return you to the preferred alkaline state, overstraining kidney functions. Uric acid –a byproduct of high purine foods such as meat, seafood and fish; causes kidney stones and calcium oxalate stones, due to increase in the amount of calcium excreted in urine.   8. Drug allergies: Allergic reactions put unprecedented load on the kidneys. Avoid medicines that you are allergic to, and ask about a drug’s effects on the kidneys, any time you take a new medication, to avoid kidney damage.  9. Genetically Modified (GM) foods: Processed foods contain genetically modified ingredients to increase plant’s pest resistance, immunity to herbicides, or improve crop yields. Studies have shown that these foods create a state of hepatorenal (liver and kidney) toxicity. Opt for organically grown produce and avoid common sources of GM ingredients such as processed and prepackaged foods.  10. Artificial Sweeteners: Though these sweeteners assert that they are non-caloric, studies have shown a decline in kidney function with an intake of just two diet sodas per day.   11. Carbonated Beverages: Foods, like carbonated beverages (with or without artificial sweetener) and energy drinks, that are high in phosphates, are known to have a damaging effect on blood vessels in the kidneys, and increase the chances of kidney stone formation.   12. Dairy Products: Over consumption of dairy products (contain animal proteins), increases the discharge of calcium in the urine, which has been associated with a higher risk of developing kidney stones.   13. Caffeine: Caffeine in coffee, tea, soda, and foods, can stimulate blood flow, increasing blood pressure and stress on the kidneys. It substantially raises the kidney failure prospects in obese and diabetic consumers. Caffeine consumption has also been linked to kidney stone formation by increasing calcium excretion in urine.  14. High-oxalate Foods: Oxalates, which form oxalate stones, obstruct the flow of urine and damage kidneys. If you are prone to oxalate stones, stay away or moderate foods like nuts, chocolates and spinach.   15. Gluten induced: Gluten intolerant people have shown a higher tendency of gluten-induced kidney damage. So do check your levels regularly.  16. Vitamin D deficiency:  Vitamin D is not just a vitamin but a steroid hormone that is critical to the health of kidneys and the body in general.  So get out and get a piece of the sun.  17. Pre-Renal Causes: Lead to decrease in blood supply to the kidney through: (1) hypovolemia- low blood volume due to blood loss;   (2) dehydration- through vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, fever; (3) poor intake of fluids; (4) abnormal blood flow-due to obstruction of the renal artery or vein.  18. Sepsis: Any bout of infection sends the body's immune system for a toss. The overwhelming effect causes inflammation, damage and fatal shutdown of the kidneys. So do not ignore common ailment symptoms and get the right treatment early.  19. Rhabdomyolysis: Muscle fibers, resulting from significant muscle damage due to trauma, crush injuries, and burns, clog the filtering system of the kidneys. Some medications used to treat high cholesterol can also cause rhabdomyolysis.  20. Multiple Myeloma: Multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer arising from plasma cells, which are normally found in the bone marrow, puts immense strain on the kidney’s filtration and waste disposal functions.  21. Diseases: Diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, Wegener's granulomatosis, and Goodpasture syndrome, lead to inflammation of glomeruli, the filtering system of the kidneys, severely impacting its efficiency.  22. Post-Renal Causes: Affect outflow of the urine through: (1) Obstruction of the bladder or the ureters – creates back pressure on the kidneys leading to damage and eventual shut down; (2) Prostatic hypertrophy or prostate cancer- blocks the urethra and prevents the bladder from emptying; (3) Tumors in the abdomen- surround and obstruct the ureters; (4) Kidney stones-For patients with only one kidney present, a sizeable kidney stone may cause the lone kidney to fail.   http://curejoy.com/content/ => Free Expert Advice on Natural Cure, Fitness & Yoga


    TOP 22 REASONS FOR KIDNEY DAMAGE:
    1. Medications: Long-term use of high doses of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) -prescription painkillers, that contain ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®), or acetaminophen (Tylenol®), has a harmful effect on kidney tissue and structures, causing shrinkage of blood vessels in the kidneys. Diuretics (urine enhancers) medications may also cause excessive water loss, straining the kidneys.
    2. Cigarette Smoking: Smoking has a direct relation to increased protein detected in the urine, affecting kidneys adversely. Diabetes and high blood pressure, diseases having an aggravating impact on kidney damage, are also exacerbated by smoking.
    3. Sugars: Sugar laden food does not impact kidneys directly but triggers and worsens other health problems like diabetes. Diabetes and obesity are two of the most common causes of kidney damage.
    4. Contrast Dyes: Dyes used in diagnostic radiology procedures like CT scans, X-rays and angiograms, have serious implications on the kidney, including Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), an abrupt decrease in kidney function. Insist on less toxic or diluted dyes, fluids to flush out toxins, or drugs to help protect the kidneys from the dye.
    5. High-Sodium foods: Very little Sodium is required to maintain proper fluid balance in our body. Excessive salt intake triggers an avalanche in the body, increasing blood pressure, damaging the kidney’s filters- nephrons, accelerating kidney failure. Kidneys tend to retain water, needed for proper heart function, in order to dilute this excess electrolyte in the bloodstream.
    6. High Blood Pressure: Weight control, exercise, and proper diet can control blood pressure—which puts lot of stress on your kidneys and causes loss of protein. So treating your blood pressure will help protect your kidneys.
    7. Meat: Animal protein metabolism’s acidic residue triggers our body to pull calcium and other mineral salts from the bones, in order to return you to the preferred alkaline state, overstraining kidney functions. Uric acid –a byproduct of high purine foods such as meat, seafood and fish; causes kidney stones and calcium oxalate stones, due to increase in the amount of calcium excreted in urine.
    8. Drug allergies: Allergic reactions put unprecedented load on the kidneys. Avoid medicines that you are allergic to, and ask about a drug’s effects on the kidneys, any time you take a new medication, to avoid kidney damage.
    9. Genetically Modified (GM) foods: Processed foods contain genetically modified ingredients to increase plant’s pest resistance, immunity to herbicides, or improve crop yields. Studies have shown that these foods create a state of hepatorenal (liver and kidney) toxicity. Opt for organically grown produce and avoid common sources of GM ingredients such as processed and prepackaged foods.
    10. Artificial Sweeteners: Though these sweeteners assert that they are non-caloric, studies have shown a decline in kidney function with an intake of just two diet sodas per day.
    11. Carbonated Beverages: Foods, like carbonated beverages (with or without artificial sweetener) and energy drinks, that are high in phosphates, are known to have a damaging effect on blood vessels in the kidneys, and increase the chances of kidney stone formation.
    12. Dairy Products: Over consumption of dairy products (contain animal proteins), increases the discharge of calcium in the urine, which has been associated with a higher risk of developing kidney stones.
    13. Caffeine: Caffeine in coffee, tea, soda, and foods, can stimulate blood flow, increasing blood pressure and stress on the kidneys. It substantially raises the kidney failure prospects in obese and diabetic consumers. Caffeine consumption has also been linked to kidney stone formation by increasing calcium excretion in urine.
    14. High-oxalate Foods: Oxalates, which form oxalate stones, obstruct the flow of urine and damage kidneys. If you are prone to oxalate stones, stay away or moderate foods like nuts, chocolates and spinach.
    15. Gluten induced: Gluten intolerant people have shown a higher tendency of gluten-induced kidney damage. So do check your levels regularly.
    16. Vitamin D deficiency: Vitamin D is not just a vitamin but a steroid hormone that is critical to the health of kidneys and the body in general. So get out and get a piece of the sun.
    17. Pre-Renal Causes: Lead to decrease in blood supply to the kidney through: (1) hypovolemia- low blood volume due to blood loss; (2) dehydration- through vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, fever; (3) poor intake of fluids; (4) abnormal blood flow-due to obstruction of the renal artery or vein.
    18. Sepsis: Any bout of infection sends the body's immune system for a toss. The overwhelming effect causes inflammation, damage and fatal shutdown of the kidneys. So do not ignore common ailment symptoms and get the right treatment early.
    19. Rhabdomyolysis: Muscle fibers, resulting from significant muscle damage due to trauma, crush injuries, and burns, clog the filtering system of the kidneys. Some medications used to treat high cholesterol can also cause rhabdomyolysis.
    20. Multiple Myeloma: Multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer arising from plasma cells, which are normally found in the bone marrow, puts immense strain on the kidney’s filtration and waste disposal functions.
    21. Diseases: Diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, Wegener's granulomatosis, and Goodpasture syndrome, lead to inflammation of glomeruli, the filtering system of the kidneys, severely impacting its efficiency.
    22. Post-Renal Causes: Affect outflow of the urine through: (1) Obstruction of the bladder or the ureters – creates back pressure on the kidneys leading to damage and eventual shut down; (2) Prostatic hypertrophy or prostate cancer- blocks the urethra and prevents the bladder from emptying; (3) Tumors in the abdomen- surround and obstruct the ureters; (4) Kidney stones-For patients with only one kidney present, a sizeable kidney stone may cause the lone kidney to fail.

    61 Interesting Facts About .

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    61 Interesting Facts About . . .

    India

    1. India is about 1/3 the size of the United States, yet it is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of 1,166,079,217. India is the seventh largest country in the world, at 1.27 million square miles.g
    2. India is the largest democracy in the world.i
    3. The Kumbh Mela (or Grand Pitcher Festival) is a huge Hindu religious festival that takes place in India every 12 years. In 2001, 60 million people attended, breaking the record for the world’s biggest gathering. The mass of people was photographed from space by a satellite.c
    4. Many Indians find toilet paper repellent and consider it cleaner to splash water with the left hand in the appropriate direction. Consequently, the left hand is considered unclean and is never used for eating.f
    5. To avoid polluting the elements (fire, earth, water, air), followers of Zoroastrianism in India don’t bury their dead, but instead leave bodies in buildings called “Towers of Silence” for the vultures to pick clean. After the bones dry, they are swept into a central well.f
    6. rupee
      It is illegal for foreigners to import or export Indian currency (rupees)
    7. It is illegal to take Indian currency (rupees) out of India.f
    8. India leads the world with the most murders (32,719), with Russia taking second at 28,904 murders per year.j
    9. India has one of the world’s highest rates of abortion.
    10. More than a million Indians are millionaires, yet most Indians live on less than two dollars a day. An estimated 35% of India’s population lives below the poverty line.l
    11. Cows can be found freely wandering the streets of India’s cities. They are considered sacred and will often wear a tilak, a Hindu symbol of good fortune. Cows are considered one of humankind’s seven mothers because they offer milk as does one’s natural mother.k
    12. Dancing is one of India’s most highly developed arts and was an integral part of worship in the inner shrines of every temple. It is notable for its expressive hand movements.f
    13. Rabies is endemic in India. Additionally, “Delhi Belly” or diarrhea is commonplace due to contaminated drinking water.f
    14. Many Indian wives will never say their husband’s name aloud, as it is a sign of disrespect. When addressing him, the wife will use several indirect references, such as “ji” or “look here” or “hello,” or even refer to him as the father of her child.f
    15. A widow is considered bad luck—otherwise, her husband wouldn’t have died. Elderly women in the village might call a widow “the one who ate her husband.” In some orthodox families, widows are not allowed near newlyweds or welcomed at social gatherings.b
    16. India is the birthplace of chess.l The original word for “chess” is the Sanskrit chaturanga, meaning “four members of an army”—which were mostly likely elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers.d
    17. The Indian flag has three horizontal bands of color: saffron for courage and sacrifice, white for truth and peace, and green for faith, fertility, and chivalry. An emblem of a wheel spinning used to be in the center of the white band, but when India gained independence, a Buddhist dharma chakra, or wheel of life, replaced the spinning wheel.m
    18. Khajuraho erotic sculptures
      Khajuraho’s exotic art may suggest that sex was a step for attaining ultimate liberation or moksha
    19. The temples of Khajuraho are famous for their erotic sculptures and are one of the most popular tourist attractions in India. Scholars still debate the purpose of such explicit portrayals of sexual intercourse, which sometimes involve animals.a
    20. The earliest cotton in the world was spun and woven in India. Roman emperors would wear delicate cotton from India that they would call “woven winds.” Mogul emperors called the fabrics “morning dew” and “cloth of running water.”i
    21. In ancient and medieval India, suttees, in which a recently widowed woman would immolate herself on her husband’s funeral pyre, were common.b
    22. The Himalayas—from the Sanskrit hima, meaning “snow,” and alaya, meaning “abode”—are found in the north of India. They extend 1,500 miles and are slowly growing taller, by almost an inch (2.5 cm) a year. Several ancient Indian monasteries are found nestled in the grandeur of these mountains.m
    23. India is the world’s largest producer of dried beans, such as kidney beans and chickpeas. It also leads the world in banana exports; Brazil is second.l
    24. In India, the fold and color of clothing are viewed as important markers of social classification. Additionally, a woman will be viewed as either a prostitute or a holy person depending on the manner in which she parts her hair.k
    25. With 150,000 post offices, India has the largest postal network in the world. However, it is not unusual for a letter to take two weeks to travel just 30 miles.f
    26. In India, grasping one’s ears signifies repentance or sincerity.f
    27. The Bengal tiger is India’s national animal. It was once ubiquitous throughout the country, but now there are fewer than 4,000 wild tigers left.m
    28. Indians hold prominent places both internationally and in the United States. For example, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems (Vinod Khosla), the creator of the Pentium chip (Vinod Dahm), the founder/creator of Hotmail (Sabeer Bhatia), and the GM of Hewlett-Packard (Rajiv Gupta) are all Indian.h
    29. Alexander the Great of Macedon (356-323 B.C.) was one of the first important figures to bring India into contact with the West. After his death, a link between Europe and the East would not be restored until Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) landed in Calicut, India, in 1498.l
    30. The British Raj, or British rule, lasted from 1858 to 1947 (although they had a strong presence in India since the 1700s). British influence is still seen in Indian architecture, education system, transportation, and politics. Many of India’s worst famines are associated with British rule in India.i
    31. Every major world religion is represented in India. Additionally, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism all originated in India.f
    32. About 80% of Indians are Hindu. Muslims are the largest minority in India and form approximately 13% of the country’s population. In fact, India has the third largest population of Muslims in the world, after Indonesia and Pakistan.i
    33. India has the world’s largest movie industry, based in the city of Mumbai (known as the “City of Dreams”). The B in “Bollywood” comes from Bombay, the former name for Mumbai. Almost all Bollywood movies are musicals.l
    34. Mumbai (Bombay) is India’s largest city, with a population of 15 million. In 1661, British engineers built a causeway uniting all seven original islands of Bombay into a single landmass.l
    35. Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) is known around the world as Mahatma, which is an honorific title meaning “Great Soul” in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. He devoted his life to free India from British rule peacefully and based his campaign on civil disobedience. His birthday, October 2, is a national holiday. He was assassinated in 1948.m
    36. Lotus Temple
      The Lotus temple is one of the most visited temples in the world, with over 50 million visitors per year
    37. The lotus is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. The Bahá'í house of worship in Delhi, known as the “Lotus Temple,” is shaped like a lotus flower with 27 gigantic “petals” that are covered in marble.i
    38. The banyan, or Indian fig tree, is considered a symbol of immortality and is mentioned in many Indian myths and legends. This self-renewing plant is India’s national tree.m
    39. Marigold flowers are used as decoration for Hindu marriages and are a symbol of good fortune and happiness.i
    40. The official name of India is the Republic of India. The name “India” derives from the River Indus, which most likely is derived from the Sanskrit sindhu, meaning “river.” The official Sanskrit name of India is Bharat, after the legendary king in the epic Mahabharata.m
    41. Introduced by the British, cricket is India’s most popular sport. Hockey is considered the national sport, and the Indian field hockey team proudly won Olympic gold in 1928.i
    42. Indians made significant contributions to calculus, trigonometry, and algebra. The decimal system was invented in India in 100 B.C. The concept of zero as a number is also attributed to India.m
    43. The national fruit of India is the mango. The national bird is the peacock, which was initially bred for food.m
    44. Most historians agree that the first recorded account of plastic surgery is found in ancient Indian Sanskrit texts.b
    45. Hindi and English are the official languages of India. The government also recognizes 17 other languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Nepali, Manipuri, Konkani, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu). Apart from these languages, about 1,652 dialects are spoken in the country.l
    46. India’s pastoral communities are largely dependent on dairy and have made India the largest milk-producing country in the world.l
    47. India has the world’s third largest road network at 1.9 million miles. It also has the world’s second largest rail network, which is the world’s largest civilian employer with 16 million workers.f
    48. Ganges
      Though the Ganges is one of the dirtiest rivers in the world, bathing in the river is thought to wash away one’s sins
    49. Rivers have played a vital role in India’s popular culture and folklore—they have been worshipped as goddesses because they bring water to an otherwise dry land. Bathing in the Ganges in particular is thought to take away a person’s sins. It is not unusual to spread a loved one’s ashes in the Ganges.f
    50. Raziya Sultana (1205-1240) was the first woman leader of India. She was considered a great leader, though she ruled for only three years before being murdered.b
    51. Most Indians rinse their hands, legs, and face before eating a meal. It is considered polite to eat with the right hand, and women eat after everyone is finished. Wasting food is considered a sin.i
    52. During the Vedic era in India, horse sacrifice sanctioned the sovereignty of the king.a
    53. It is traditional to wear white, not black, to a funeral in India. Widows will often wear white in contrast to the colorful clothes of married or single women.k
    54. All of India is under a single time zone.g
    55. On India’s Independence Day, August 15, 1947, the country was split into India and Pakistan. The partition displaced 1.27 million people and resulted in the death of several hundred thousand to a million people.g
    56. In recent years, Indian authors have made a mark on the world with such novels as Salman Rushdie’s TheSatanic Verses (1988), Vikram Seth’s Suitable Boy (1993), and Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things (1997).i
    57. India experiences six seasons: summer, autumn, winter, spring, summer monsoon, and winter monsoon.m
    58. India is the world’s largest tea producer, and tea (chai) is its most popular beverage.f
    59. Taj Mahal
      According to legend, to prevent the builders from ever replicating the beauty of the Taj Mahal, their hands were cut off
    60. The Taj Mahal (“crown palace”) was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666) for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (1593-1631). This architectural beauty has been called “marbled embroidery” for its intricate workmanship. It took 22,000 workmen 22 years to complete it.m
    61. The first and greatest civilization in ancient India developed around the valley of the Indus River (now Pakistan) around 3000 B.C. Called the Indus Valley civilization, this early empire was larger than any other empire, including Egypt and Mesopotamia.l
    62. After the great Indus Civilization collapsed in 2000 B.C., groups of Indo-Europeans called Aryans (“noble ones”) traveled to northwest India and reigned during what is called the Vedic age. The mingling of ideas from the Aryan and Indus Valley religions formed the basis of Hinduism, and the gods Shiva, Kali, and Brahma all have their roots in Aryan civilization. The Aryans also recorded the Vedas, the first Hindu scriptures, and introduced a caste system based on ethnicity and occupation.l
    63. Alexander the Great invaded India partly because he wanted to solve the mystery of the “ocean,” which he had been told was a huge, continuous sea that flowed in a circle around the land. When he reached the Indian Ocean, he sacrificed some bulls to Poseidon for leading him to his goal.m
    64. Greek sculpture strongly influenced many portrayals of Indian gods and goddesses, particularly after the conquest of Alexander the Great around 330 B.C. In fact, early Indian gods had Greek features and only later did distinct Indian styles emerge.m
    65. Chandragupta Maurya (340-290 B.C.), a leader in India who established the Mauryan Empire (321-185 B.C.), was guarded by a band of women on horseback.a
    66. When the first independent prime minister of India, pacifist Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), was featured in Vogue, his distinctive close fitting, single-breasted jacket briefly became an important fashion statement for the Mod movement in the West. Named the Nehru jacket, the prime minister’s coat was popularized by the Beatles and worn by such famous people as Johnny Carson (1925-2005) and Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990).n

    Afghanistan landslide: Death toll rises to 2,100

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    Afghanistan landslide: Death toll rises to 2,100

     Afghanistan Landslide_Leff.jpg
    Updated 1 hour 6 minutes ago
    Afghan authorities have confirmed more than 2,100 people have been killed following a landslide which crashed into a remote mountain village in the country's north-east.
    Villagers and a few dozen police, equipped with only basic digging tools, resumed their search when daylight broke on Saturday, but it soon became clear there was no hope of finding survivors buried in up to 100 metres of mud.
    "More then 2,100 people from 300 families are all dead," said Naweed Forotan, a spokesman for the Badakhshan provincial governor.
    The United Nations says the focus is now on the more than 4,000 people displaced by the disaster.
    Officials have expressed concern the unstable hillside above the site of the disaster may cave in again, threatening the thousands of homeless and hundreds of rescue workers.
    Triggered by heavy rain, the side of a mountain collapsed into the village in Argo district Friday morning (AEST) as people were trying to recover their belongings and livestock after a smaller landslip hit their homes a few hours earlier.
    Villagers dug with their bare hands to try to find survivors under the mountain of mud, but officials said there was little hope of finding anyone alive given the scale of the disaster.
    Rescue efforts have been hampered by difficult conditions due to a week of heavy rain.
    Seasonal rains and spring snow melt have caused heavy destruction across large swathes of northern Afghanistan, killing more than 100 people.
    Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai ordered Afghan officials to start emergency relief efforts immediately to reach the poor village.
    A UN representative in Kabul said roads to the village were open but passage was not suitable for heavy machinery.
    "Due to the size of the landslide, it is impossible to search for bodies without advanced machinery," Colonel Sayad said.
    "We hope to get some machinery and aid soon."
    Mark Bowden, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, said it may be some time yet until a clear picture of the full extent of the damage is known.
    NATO-led coalition troops in the region were discussing search and rescue contributions with Afghan forces, the UN said.
    US president Barack Obama, in remarks before a news conference at the White House with German chancellor Angela Merkel, expressed his condolences.
    "Just as the United States has stood with the people of Afghanistan through a difficult decade, we stand ready to help our Afghan partners as they respond to this disaster, for even as our war there comes to an end this year, our commitment to Afghanistan and its people will endure," he said.
    About 30,000 US soldiers remain in Afghanistan, although that number is falling as Washington prepares to withdraw by the end of this year all combat troops who battled Taliban insurgents.

    How can CO2 be stored underground?

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    How can CO2 be stored underground?

    Compressed CO2 can be injected into porous rock formations below the Earth’s surface using many of the same methods already used by the oil and gas industry. The three main types of geological storage are oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline formations, and un-minable coal beds. CO2 can for instance be physically trapped under a well-sealed rock layer or in the pore spaces within the rock. It can also be chemically trapped by dissolving in water and reacting with the surrounding rocks. Potential geological storage sites exist around the globe both onshore and offshore.

    Photo: #CCSGuide #Question5: How can CO2 be stored underground?  Compressed CO2 can be injected into porous rock formations below the Earth’s surface using many of the same methods already used by the oil and gas industry. The three main types of geological storage are oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline formations, and un-minable coal beds. CO2 can for instance be physically trapped under a well-sealed rock layer or in the pore spaces within the rock. It can also be chemically trapped by dissolving in water and reacting with the surrounding rocks. Potential geological storage sites exist around the globe both onshore and offshore.

    How Could CO2 be stored in other materials?

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    How Could CO2 be stored in other materials?

    Through chemical reactions with some naturally occurring minerals, CO2 is converted into a solid form through a process called mineral carbonation and stored virtually permanently. This is a process which occurs naturally, although very slowly. These chemical reactions can be accelerated and used industrially to artificially store CO2 in minerals.

    How Could CO2 be stored in deep ocean?

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    How Could CO2 be stored in deep ocean?

    Oceans can store CO2 because it is soluble in water. When the concentration of CO2 increases in the atmosphere, more CO2 is taken up by the oceans. Captured CO2 could potentially be injected directly into deep oceans and most of it would remain there for centuries. This could be achieved by transporting CO2 via pipelines or ships to an ocean storage site, where it would be injected into the water column of the ocean or at the sea floor. The dissolved and dispersed CO2 would then become part of the global carbon cycle.
    Photo: #CCSGuide #Question6: How Could CO2 be stored in deep ocean?  Oceans can store CO2 because it is soluble in water. When the concentration of CO2 increases in the atmosphere, more CO2 is taken up by the oceans. Captured CO2 could potentially be injected directly into deep oceans and most of it would remain there for centuries. This could be achieved by transporting CO2 via pipelines or ships to an ocean storage site, where it would be injected into the water column of the ocean or at the sea floor. The dissolved and dispersed CO2 would then become part of the global carbon cycle.

    How do CO2 Capture technologies work?

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    How do Co2 Capture technologies work?

    To capture carbon dioxide (CO2) it is first separated from other gases resulting from combustion or processing. It is then compressed and purified to make it easier to transport and store.
    Carbon dioxide resulting from combustion, particularly in the electricity sector, can be captured using one of three systems: 1) In a post-combustion system, the flue gas produced by combustion of the fuel with air only contains a small fraction of CO2. It is captured by injecting the flue gases in a liquid that selectively absorbs the CO2. 2) In a pre-combustion system, the primary fuel is first converted into gas by heating it with steam and air or oxygen. This conversion produces a gas containing mainly hydrogen and CO2, which can be quite easily separated out. 3) Oxyfuel combustion uses pure oxygen to burn the fuel instead of using air which only contains 20% of oxygen and a lot of nitrogen. It results in a gas mixture containing mainly water vapour and CO2. The water vapour is then easily removed from the CO2 by cooling and compressing the gas stream.

    Photo: #CCSGuide #Question3: How do Co2 Capture technologies work?  To capture carbon dioxide (CO2) it is first separated from other gases resulting from combustion or processing. It is then compressed and purified to make it easier to transport and store. Carbon dioxide resulting from combustion, particularly in the electricity sector, can be captured using one of three systems: 1) In a post-combustion system, the flue gas produced by combustion of the fuel with air only contains a small fraction of CO2. It is captured by injecting the flue gases in a liquid that selectively absorbs the CO2. 2) In a pre-combustion system, the primary fuel is first converted into gas by heating it with steam and air or oxygen. This conversion produces a gas containing mainly hydrogen and CO2, which can be quite easily separated out. 3) Oxyfuel combustion uses pure oxygen to burn the fuel instead of using air which only contains 20% of oxygen and a lot of nitrogen. It results in a gas mixture containing mainly water vapour and CO2. The water vapour is then easily removed from the CO2 by cooling and compressing the gas stream.

    What exactly is carbon capture and storage?

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    What exactly is carbon capture and storage?
    Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is one of the techniques that could be used to reduce CO2 emissions from human activities. It could be applied to emissions from large power plants or industrial facilities. The process involves three main steps: 1) Capturing CO2, at its source, by separating it from other gases produced by an industrial process 2) Transporting the captured CO2 to a suitable storage location (typically in compressed form 3) Storing the CO2 away from the atmosphere for a long period of time, for instance in underground geological formations, in the deep ocean, or within certain mineral compounds.

    TAN DAYS WEATHER FORECAST OF KAKINADA 6 may onwards

    Determination of Suspended Solids in Water

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    Determination of Suspended Solids in Water 

     


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