Organisation of Essential Services in Mauritius

Organisation of Essential Services in Mauritius 3.0 Introduction The level of activities at the MFRS is very high and includes a cocktail of hazards and risks to the HS of its employees. In any essential service organization, where there is poor HS management system, the fire fighter’s safety is compelled to be affected and impaired. Therefore, the provision of adequate HS measures become necessary as it greatly contributes to enhance fire fighter’s safety and health. 3.1 An overview of the Fire Service Department in Mauritius Port Louis Coromandel Quatre Bornes Curepipe St Aubin Mahebourg Flacq Piton Triolet 3.1.1. History and Foundation Founded in the year 1906 the first fire station was erected in the centre of Port-Louis and named Port Louis Municipal Fire Station. At this date Mauritius had 11 stations including 4 Municipals, 4 districts, 1 Mauritius Marine Limited (MMA), 1 Airport Mauritius Limited (AML) and 1 Port-Mathurin, Rodrigues. But, nowadays with the exception of the AML, MMA and Port- Mathurin Fire Station, the other fire station has merged into the Government Fire Services under the Ministry of Local Government with addition of two more fire stations. However, with rapid development and complexity of incidents the fire services has added more tasks in their duties and hence has added rescue operation where fire fighters provide paramedic services as well. This is why it is now called the Fire and Rescue Services Department. (Fire Services Act, 1947, Mauritius). Henceforth, MFRS is responsible for ensuring the people of the republic of Mauritius are supported by and benefit from, an effective disaster and emergency management system and essential emergency response services. The MFRS provides fire mitigation and management services, emergency rescue and disaster management services. It currently operates 9 Fire Stations manned by about 800 fire fighters working on 4 shifts to provide fire and emergency cover for the whole country with a population of about 1.2 million. This gives us a fire fighter-to-population ratio of 1 fire fighter on duty for every 7000 in population to respond to an annual average of 5000 to 6000 fires, about 2000 non-fire incidents with a fleet of about 40 fire fighting vehicles. 3.1.3 Organigram of the Fire and Rescue Services. (Appendix) 3.1.4. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS. 1. Fire Prevention Issuing of fire certificate, fire clearance and certificate of registration. Inspection of places where the above certificates can be issued like high rise buildings, shops, industries and so on. Carrying out fire awareness campaigns at workplaces and schools. Performing fire drills for fire alertness. 2. Operation. Indulging in fire fighting. Carry out rescue operation, for example; road accidents, rescue of animals. Render other special services, for example; floods, cyclones and tsunami. Carryout safety talks at community level. Carrying out fire drills at station level. 3. Control Room Unit Hazards emergency calls ( Dial the hotline 115) Mobilize suitable operational (at station level) resources. Notify other agencies relevant to incident. Produce relevant support in dealing with emergency. Record and maintain data relating to emergency. 4. Hydrant Maintenance of fire hydrant. Installation of new hydrant. Seek location for water sources. 5. Training unit Carrying the training for new recruit’s fire fighters. Performing refreshers training to fire fighters in relation to their duties. Giving lectures in connection with fire awareness campaigns. 3.1.5. Division of Labour. Fire services in Mauritius comprises of about 700 staffs which include the following: Table 3.1: Division of labour CFO- Head of department. DCFO-Assist the CFO in his daily routine work. ACFO-Assist the DCFO in his work. DO- Responsible for controlling a number of sections or stations. SSO-Responsible for the management of only one particular station. STNO-Responsible for controlling a particular team (watch) in a station. SO-Assist the STNO in his daily station routine work. FF-Carry out all operations work like firefighting rescue and other cognate duties. 3.2. Vision of the MFRS. To have a Republic of Mauritius free from the dangers of fire and other emergency threats and safe to live, work and visit anytime and anywhere. 3.3. Mission of the MFRS The mission of the Fire Services Department is to: Save life Effect rescue in Road Traffic Accident, flooding, cyclone, tsunami and other natural calamities. Protect properties endangered by fire and the environment. Effect special services. Render humanitarian services and give advice on fire prevention and protection measures. 3.4. The strategic goals of the MFRS are dedicated to build a safe Mauritius society by: Reduce the number of fires, road accidents and other emergency incidents. Reduce the severity of injuries in fire, road traffic accidents and other emergency vehicles. Reduce commercial, economic and social impact of fires and other emergency incidents. Create a safe working environment for our fire fighters. Safe guard the environment and heritage (both built and natural). Provide a sustainable service that demonstrate quality and best value service provision. Building public confidence in the fire services. Continually develop the resources available to meet changing needs. Working effectively with all their partners and stakeholders. 3.5. Health and Safety at MFRS. With the promulgation of the OSHA in the year 2007, the minister proclaimed that this act shall bind the state as per Section 3 of OSHA 2005. 3.5.1. Health and Safety Officer. At the MFRS, there is no such appointed officer. However, there are safety officers from the Ministry who come on regular OSH audit to identify risks to SH. They recommend in writing all recommendations and measures that have to be implemented by the employers. The role of Health and safety Officer (HSO) is to implement appropriate training program to meet the requirements of OSHA 2005, but it can be argued that this requirement is not met. It should be noted that practically all the hazards and risk pertaining to the job of firefighters are found on incident ground. So, HSO from the ministry caters for only 5% of HS of fire-fighters. 3.5.2. Role of Incident Commander as HSO. The incident commander has the duty to supervise and monitor the safety and health of fire fighters on incident ground. He must carry a dynamic risk assessment with the continuous changing environment because new hazards, emerged with increased risks. Unfortunately, those commanders have not been given SH training and carryout their job without caring for the SH of fire-fighters. 3.5.3. Medical Check up. According to section 77 of OSHA, a medical check up is carried out periodically at the public hospitals as recommended by the Occupational physician. Unluckily some firefighters do not attend medical appointment. 3.5.4. First Aid According to section 45 of OSHA 2005 and First Aid Regulation, first aid boxes with appropriate items are to be placed at conspicuous place. At fire stations, there are first aid boxes but there are missing first aid items or else they are out of date. 3.5.5. Health and Safety Training Section 5 of OSHA 2005 stipulates the duties of employer where training is an important element for the health and safety of personnel. Despite the fact that there are qualified firefighters with Bsc honors working in private companies as HSO, the MFRS have never used the competency of these firefighters to undergo any SH training. Consequently, they lack information and instructions on proper use of PPE’s, tools, equipment and how to carryout their jobs in a safe and healthy manner. 3.6 Summary This chapter has provided an overview at MFRS, stressing on the mission, vision, strategic, goals and task organization. The role of incident Commander as HSO, general SH in the MFRS, SH training.

A Time Someone Acted with Courage or Cowardice

There have been numerous times when time has chosen to test society, and man has been put to the task of deciding to stand and fight, or to escape for the sake of his life. Across the pages of history, we can find examples of people who have opted to stand and fight, as well as of those who have decided to run for their lives. Those who choose to stand and fight become immortal in the memories of people.On the eleventh of September 2001, America was tested and the citizens were put in the most hardest of times. It was a time that called for the bravery that lies in hearts that are truly brave.Several people panicked and chose to jump to their deaths rather than burn in the buildings. Yet, there were people who chose to walk into death’s arms for the sake of their duty to their nation and to their fellow men. There were a few people who chose to run into the smoking and burning buildings as fires blazed simply so that they could free people as many people as they could from the clutches of death.One such brave man was Port Authority Police Officer John Mc Loughlin who chose to risk his life so that he could save the lives of as many people as he could. He was one of the few who chose to attempt to climb higher and higher up the building while the panic stricken people chose to take any escape route they could to save their lives. He risked his life so that he could save other people’s lives.Police Officer John Mc Loughlin was busy patrolling the Port Authority bus terminal when he saw the plane that hit the north tower pass over him. He was amongst the first few who reacted to the news and commandeered a team of Police Officers into the burning tower.Once inside, Police Officer John Mc Loughlin and his team were confronted with times they had never thought they would have to go through. He led a team of fellow officers Jimeno, Dominick Pezzulo, and Antonio Rodrigues. Out of whom only Jimeno and McLoughlin managed to survive. His was one of the firs t teams to have entered into the tower in an attempt to save the lives of as many people as they could by helping them evacuate.By walking into that burning and collapsing tower, Police Officer John Mc Loughlin walked into the face of death and came out alive to tell the tale. Police Officer John Mc Loughlin was regarded as one of the men who showed the most bravery at the time when the American people were in a state of shock and the world stood stunned.One cannot help but feel that the first few who chose to fight back at the moment when the attacks took place were those who ran into the towers after the attack had taken place. The towers were crumbling down and people were choosing to jump off the roof tops and out the windows, yet there were men who were brave enough to risk their lives and chose to walk towards an epicenter of distress and pain from where the rest of the world was wanting to run away from.These men and women were America’s first move against terrorismâ⠂¬â„¢s attack on humanity, and one of these brave men was Police Officer John Mc Loughlin. Numerous tributes have been given to Police Officer John Mc Loughlin, one of the most prominent off which is the elaboration of his role through his character in the 2006 movie World Trade Center, played by Nicholas Cage (Stone, 2006).Works Cited Stone, O. (Director). (2006). World Trade Center [Motion Picture].   

Religious skepticism among a large portion of the youth

The â€Å"conventional† God is what the youth today does not believe in. That is what has led them to Atheism , Agnosticism et cetera. The youth no longer wants to do what they are told to do without question. They want to stand up and question beliefs. They want to think for their own. Religion is not a methodical approach to life which one must follow in order to reach his or her desired goal.Religion is more than that. Religion is a way of life. Religion has to relate o a person on an individual level, because religion is all about belief. Every person has different beliefs. This is why different religions formed in the first place. Belief creates perception. And perception creates experience. Hence religion is directly based on belief. Hence someone else's belief cannot be adopted by a person as their own belief. This is the very reason the youth has questioned the act of following others' beliefs and following a rigid set of rules.It has also been seen that many people wh o realize that there's something missing, a link that Just isn't there. These very people, who at a period in their lives were completely involved in â€Å"worldly matters†, go in search of that link. These could be youth, or even people in As an example, youths have become a part of religious organizations in search of that missing link. Many such organizations exist all over the world. What led these youths to make the drastic change in their life was the very fact that they were not ready to accept someone else's beliefs.I will elaborate my view about the youth and the believers and beliefs that they find that anyone might find absurd. These very â€Å"rituals† and â€Å"superstitions† are thought of y the youth as the cause of the lack of belief in religion. In a majority of Hindu society, at many festivals, a coconut is offered to the deity by smashing the coconut in front of an idol. Now, I myself have known of this ritual, and have even taken part in prac ticing it many times. Whereas the very reason of this offering or the very significance of it, it was not known by many people I asked. The practice in itself is very symbolic.Before cracking it open, the whole outer layer of the coconut is shaven off, signifying getting rid of all desires except the desire to realize Ruth, which the small bit signifies. Now the outer shell is cracked open, revealing the pure white milk inside, signifying the purity inside, exposing it. Then the last bit of the outer covering is shaven off, signifying renunciation of the last desire, exposing the three holes in the coconut, symbolizing the three eyes, the third eye being the eye of wisdom. If we take another example, religious practices like â€Å"Sati†4 are widely boycotted in modern society.These might be thought of as having a religious origin, and because people are against them now, they are thought to be unreasonable. Even when people try to find the reason behind these practices, they seldom succeed. The answer in such cases is known by very few people. It is observed that people in one religion many a times do as someone with religious authority asks them to blindly, or they fool themselves by making themselves believe that whatever they are being told makes sense. Due to this, the youth thinks that all religious means is praying and following a set of rules, not freedom.But religion could be far from that. Thus what they despise is not religion, but thoughtless action, doing things blindly. That might be religion for some, but it cannot be assumed that that is religion for all. This is why some people break off from organized religion, and start their inner journey, their inner search for something. Some of these people find on their path people like them, people who do not believe in thoughtless 3 4 as defined by The Oxford Dictionary the former Hindu practice of a widow throwing herself on to her husband's funeral pyre. Of 7 action, and connect with them. The se people also have a religion. Their belief, their religion may be called by the same name as some other people's, but it is not the name thing as theirs. It also so happens that the religions or religious sects that are usually broken off from have rules that are to be adhered to. Whereas places that satisfied and happy people end up in are relatively relaxed. This happens because every person's religious Journey is his very own, not someone else's. It can play out encouraged to do what the youth is doing, encouraged to question everything.They will only find their way if they get out of their comfort zone and try to. Conformity and fear of failing or doing something wrong prevents people from seeking the truth. These practices have always been a part of their lives, but they have not been able to find out why. This is what leads the youth to think that these religious practices, and hence religion, is mindless. But a number of people cannot represent religion as a whole, as and r eligious beliefs and practices are very diverse, and are different for everyone.For some, every ritual and practice holds significance and meaning, whereas for some it doesn't. Often, we know only of the latter, causing us to form opinions of that religion based on the people we see. There are also sciences like Nasty† and â€Å"Fen Shut† that are believed by some to be precise, but regarded by others as unnecessary or fake and deceptive, as pseudo sciences. What happens is, sciences like these originally were literally sciences. They worked on the basis of reason.If, according to Vast, the windows should be placed in a certain part of the house, or the flow of water should be in a certain direction, it is to provide cross ventilation and to increase efficiency and the flow of positive energy throughout an indoor space. Another idea that doesn't appeal to many people is the idea of renunciation and raying, surrendering yourself † as in Hinduism or Buddhism for exa mple. But this is an idea; not a compulsion. This is an idea that has worked for some, not a compulsory decision or a command.This doesn't mean that religion is only for people who will completely leave everything; because not everyone will – not everyone can. When it happens that someone really gives up Worldly duties', or when someone renounces things, they do not control themselves from being a part of the ‘illusion' or ‘Mama's but they simply understand that it is temporary, thus there is no point in eating attached to temporary dualities. For the renounces, it is not a struggle to stay away from the illusion; it is the only way forward † something they would want to do, and be happy doing. Maya is defined as the illusion or appearance of the world perceptible by the senses or through immediate experience 5 of 7 Everyone has their own interpretation of everything, thus making it impossible for many people to follow exactly a set of rules; the meaning of words, especially when it comes to matters of religion or spirituality, cannot be interpreted in the exact same way † for no two people think alike. This gives rise to personalization to suit every individual, only people do not realize that they are allowed to personalizes.The very reason people decide not to be religious is because they think that religion dictates. It dictates their life and their choices. My experience of studying World Religions has made it possible for me to think more broadly. I have read and talked to different people about how many religions like they could be when put into practice by different people due to their own different interpretations. This course has vastly influenced, and helped form my view of religion as it is today. It has also encouraged me to take interest in spirituality and religion.

Environment Essay Alternative Fuels are the Solution to...

The environment is a hotly debated topic in todays society. Some of the subtopics that are going to be discussed are going to be those related to the way technology is changing, what industries are doing to help prevent further pollution, some of the methods used in paper recycling, and some discussion of renewable energy sources. For the most part, this section of the research paper, unlike the other sections, is going to attempt to discuss some of the ways the public has been dealing with, and are finding new ways to deal with environmental problems that we are presently facing. nbsp; There are currently three main sources of pollution: they are, water pollution, waste pollution, and air pollution. Of these three forms of†¦show more content†¦nbsp; In addition to factory emissions, auto emission pollutants have also been reduced by the use of a tool that has been around for quite some time, the catalytic converter. Because gasoline is not completely utilized upon combustion, many toxic gases are able to escape in the form of exhaust. A catalytic converter is a box-like device that is placed somewhere in the exhaust system between the point of exhaust release from the engine, to the actual release of the exhaust to the environment. A catalytic converter works by transforming harmful gases through a series of chemical reactions to essentially non-harmful gases. Catalytic converters have been proven to be very beneficial in reducing the amount of harmful gases released into the atmosphere. nbsp; Instead of just trying to reduce auto emissions, car companies are also researching alternative fuel sources. 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