Night Vigilance and the ABC of Safety
The ABC of Working at Height
This morning, during the morning meeting, I spoke about something simple yet critical—the ABC of working at height with a safety belt.
✔ A – Anchoring: Always secure yourself to a strong and stable anchorage point. Without a proper anchor, the best safety belt is useless.
✔ B – Body wear: A full-body harness, worn correctly, distributes force evenly in case of a fall. A loose or improper fit can be just as dangerous as no harness at all.
✔ C – Connection: The lifeline or lanyard must be properly attached between the anchorage point and the harness. A single weak link can fail when it matters the most.
It's basic knowledge, yet many accidents happen due to missing one of these steps. The goal is to make safety a habit, not just a checklist.
Night Vigilance: A Message That Must Be Heard
Security and vigilance don’t end when the shift is over. In fact, the real risks emerge when most people have gone home, when visibility is low, and when there is an assumption that everything is fine.
To drive home this point, I shared a detailed message in the group about how night vigilance should be done. It included:
➡ Key focus areas (critical machinery, stockyards, fuel storage, etc.)
➡ What officers should observe and report
➡ How proper rounds should be conducted
But a message alone is not enough.
I translated it into French—the local language—and made sure Mensah and Kalagbe read it. They took their time to understand. Language should never be a barrier in communication, especially for something as critical as security. I asked them to post it on the noticeboard for everyone to see.
A Long-Awaited Report on Night Vigilance
After lunch, I finally met with Mr. BVK Raju—he had conducted the night vigilance round last night along with Delegate member Mr. Aluih.
I had been pushing for this review for a week now. And the findings were worse than expected.
➡ People sleeping in different corners of the plant. Not just security officers—workers, helpers, and even operators.
➡ Some key areas completely unchecked. Machines and stock areas left exposed.
➡ No accountability. Night rounds were more of a formality than a duty.
It was clear—we had to act immediately.
A Crucial Meeting at 3 PM
Without delay, I called for an urgent meeting at 3 PM.
✔ HODs were present.
✔ Their second-line team members joined as well.
I tried to keep calm, but some things cannot be ignored.
Vigilance is not a passive job. It is an active responsibility. If people are sleeping on duty, it means the whole system is sleeping.
I told them to hold meetings with their own teams immediately—not tomorrow, not next week—TODAY.
This cannot be just another discussion. It has to translate into action.
A Personal Struggle: The Hardships of Working Abroad
Later in the day, I spoke with Mr. BVK Raju again.
He has to leave for India immediately. His wife is unwell, and his family needs him.
This is the reality of working abroad. No matter how much dedication you have, family always comes first.
The biggest problem of working in a foreign land is that when personal emergencies arise, you are far away. And sometimes, no amount of professional commitment can fill the distance.
I assured him that he should do what’s necessary. Work can wait. Family cannot.
Another Evening, Another Unpredictable Shower
By now, I am getting used to it. A light shower in the evening, completely unannounced.
No dark clouds. No signs of rain. Just a sudden shift.
Maybe nature is reminding us—things change when you least expect them to.
It’s better to be prepared.
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