Midnight Silence, Morning Voices 📅 Date: 17th April
Midnight Silence, Morning Voices
Last night, I stayed at the plant till 3 AM. It was planned. Sometimes, you need to see the truth when no one expects you to be watching.
As I moved through the plant, I noticed how eerily empty it felt. Very few people were around—most were either sleeping or hiding. Yes, even some of the security guards. I didn’t shout. I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I simply disturbed a few gently, spoke to them like a friend.
What’s the point of anger when you’re trying to build trust?
Correction is more powerful when it comes with calm clarity.
Morning Meeting: Speaking of Safety and Support
This morning, I focused the meeting on CLTI—our simple but essential framework: Cleaning, Lubrication, Tightening, and Inspection. I especially emphasized inspection—because what we don’t check, we can’t protect.
I also talked about what I saw during the night: people sleeping on shift. Not to blame, but to highlight the danger—to themselves and to the plant. The message was clear: stay active, inspect often, and report issues.
That small nudge created a ripple.
Voices from the Floor: A Chain Reaction of Honesty
One after the other, team members stepped forward with real feedback.
It was raw, unfiltered, and real. And I welcomed every bit of it.
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Mr. Tabate said the Bucket Elevator chute needs modification, and a coal mill duct is in poor condition—even the support is unstable.
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Mr. Yendabre promised to check safety shoe stocks. He rightly pointed out that even a small looseness in machinery can be dangerous. Timely action is the key.
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Mr. Moumouni, our welder from mechanical, stressed that the airlift system must be functional. He also mentioned unsafe conditions—like missing safety shoes and falling concrete that no one is addressing.
I briefly explained why modern plants are moving from airlift to belt elevators—less maintenance, better efficiency—but I noted his points with seriousness.
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Mr. Ayivor from the workshop raised a critical issue—lack of training on new machines. He added that educated workmen's feedback is often ignored.
He's right. Their observations are often spot-on. We need to shift from instruction-based leadership to interaction-based leadership.
This meeting got stretched, yes—but it was probably one of the most productive and honest ones we’ve had so far.
Plant Visit: Hidden Dangers in Plain Sight
Post-meeting, I resumed rounds:
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Stopped at the Mechanical Workshop
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Checked Stores
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Greeted the Main Gate security
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Then took a longer walk with the Security Officer, especially around the empty lane between Stores and the Grinding Unit’s boundary wall
There, a serious risk came to light.
The boundary wall is bending outwards—old construction and likely undermined. If it collapses, it could be fatal.
Add to that, the area is densely vegetated, making night patrolling risky—a perfect spot for someone to hide, or for an accident to go unnoticed.
We often focus on machines, but sometimes the real danger is in the spaces we ignore.
Safety Interlocks: A Dangerous Loophole
One issue made my jaw drop.
The Preheater Fan doesn’t trip even when the temperature touches 500°C.
It’s shocking. Unbelievable. But real.
This is not just a loophole—it’s a liability waiting to explode.
I’ve made a mental note to initiate a full audit of safety interlocks—this can’t be overlooked anymore.
Closing Reflection
Some nights reveal more than days. And some mornings, when people feel heard, they rise beyond roles and routines.
From a quiet vigil at night to a chorus of feedback in the morning, today reminded me:
Leadership is not about standing tall—it's about listening deep.
When your people feel safe to speak, the plant becomes a living, breathing system of change.
We’re still far from where we need to be. But for today, I saw signs of awareness, ownership, and urgency—and that’s a start.
Let me know if you'd like this diary to be compiled weekly or turned into something more formal later. You're building not just a plant, but a culture.
Key Points – 17th April
Stayed at plant till 3 AM; night shift staff found sleeping or hiding
Handled the issue with a calm and friendly approach
Morning meeting focused on CLTI and inspection culture
Spontaneous feedback session from team members
Serious safety and operational concerns raised
Plant visit: Mechanical Workshop → Stores → Security → Dangerous boundary wall
Identified vegetation and structural hazards for night patrolling
Major issue: Preheater fan doesn't trip even at 500°C
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