"Listening Ears and Silent Blasters" | Date: 15th May 2025, Wednesday

Today was a day of contrasts - hope and helplessness.


For the first time this week, I attended the morning meeting. And I’m glad I did. Right after the prayer, our safety officer conducted a practical demonstration that caught everyone’s attention - how to rescue and safely shift a person who has fallen from a height, using a flat bed and proper body-fixation technique.

It wasn’t just theory; it was a live demo, crisp and professional. His confidence and presence of mind made it clear that the man had practiced well. Everyone clapped - not just politely, but genuinely. It set a positive tone.

Because I was present, many people used the chance to voice concerns and issues - many of them were repeats, but I let them speak. I’ve come to understand something very clearly here: if you don’t give people a proper outlet to speak, they’ll eventually erupt in unpredictable and often unproductive ways. So today, I simply listened.

However, on the technical side, the storm continued.

Line-1 is now officially down due to cyclone jam. So, it’s no longer a theory - both plants are suffering the same problem at nearly identical times. This confirms it's not an equipment-specific issue, but rather a process or material problem. And that’s a dangerous finding.

We've initiated focused checking. It might be material segregation, fluctuation in fuel quality, improper draft balance, or even human interference. Whatever it is, this has to be solved fast.


And then came another bitter finding.

I was shocked to learn that none of the air blasters in the entire plant are working. That too - not just because of poor upkeep, but because many power cables have been cut and stolen. Yes, stolen. No words.

Some air blasters are wrongly installed, some never commissioned correctly, and now some are vandalized. This is a classic case of a neglected system that is now biting us back - hard.

The plant feels like an old library - everything exists, but nothing is in use. Everything needs dusting, repair, and revival. A huge amount of work lies ahead, and it’s overwhelming when I think of the scale. But at least today, the awareness is spreading.

Also, today was one of the hottest, most humid days since I’ve come. And yet, strangely, I didn’t skip lunch. A small win, but I’ll take it.

Key Points of the Day:

  • Attended the morning meeting after a few days of skipping.
  • Excellent safety demonstration by the Safety Officer - professional and appreciated.
  • Multiple plant personnel raised concerns, many repetitive, but all were heard.
  • Line-1 stopped due to cyclone jam, confirming that both lines share the same problem.
  • Likely material or process-related issue, investigations are ongoing.
  • All air blasters found non-functional, due to incorrect installation and theft of power cables.
  • Workload is enormous - from repairing equipment to rebuilding systems and trust.
  • Very hot and humid day, but had lunch - sign of small routine stability.



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