Occupational Hazards

Organizations all over the world are waking up to the need of a safe, healthy and green workplace. But what about office conveyance...aren’t companies responsible for ensuring a health and safety there too? And no I am not complaining about rash driving on bumpy roads. I am talking of the other travails of travel.

Firstly there is a chance that you don’t a get a seat on the bus despite all your elbowing. Well then you can look forward to a series of fluid oscillations to match the sporadic motion of the bus. And my dear sisters if you happen to be well heeled (pun intended), then I’d say a little prayer for your toes.

Secondly there is a possibility that you get a seat on the wrong side of the bus. By wrong side I mean the sunny side. And in this glorious Indian summer that’s some experience as you can guess. Don’t they say one can contract Melanoma from over exposure to the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays?

Thirdly if you do get in the bus and manage a seat on the right side you would be a fool if you start celebrating your triumph too soon. Because now you are exposed to the ever increasing hazard of having to lend an unwilling shoulder to the flopping, drooling heads of slumbering colleagues. Yes, it is a very real threat. Not only are you forced to spend time in a confined place in close physical proximity with strangers but there is also the threat of having to share the intimacy of sleep. Mortifying I must say!

So how do we deal with these hazards? Years of commute have taught me a few tricks and smart moves that can keep you safe amid all these perils. For point number one and two all you can do is to say your prayers. For point number three however, you can be proactive.
So the next time you see someone lurching towards your shoulder in a sleep induced trance, don’t be afraid, simply change your position. Move back and forth, fiddle in your bag, move your arms like you need a stretch, anything goes. Instantly you will notice the ‘sleeper’ regaining composure and sitting up straight. Sometimes if that does not do the trick then you can shift your weight towards the sleeper’s side or maybe try a slight inadvertent nudge or start tapping your feet to some dance number playing in your mind. And if that fails too, well then you have met a tough match and you can now start sulking.

These survival strategies are not foolproof; they have their failings. What I am suggesting here, in all humility, are just a few stop-gap measures we can take until the powers-that-be take notice and mitigate our plight. So, is anybody listening?