First of all … I hope 2012 is an excellent year for you.
It appears Thomas Kuhn developed the concept of paradigm shift in 1962 when he wrote “The Structure of Scientific Revolution”. Today, the term is used and often abused, but it appears to be a change of thinking from one way to another.
I recently had a mild paradigm shift. I say mild because it is not earth-shattering, and some of you will roll your eyes at my paradigm shift, but it is a paradigm shift nonetheless.
As part of my training courses, I often discuss valves. I introduce valves with hand gestures, and I am adamant the delegates use the correct hand. This is because most valves are right handed. A right handed valve is closed by turning the top of the hand wheel to the right (a clockwise motion). The term “righty-tighty lefty-loosy” applies to valves. By turning the top of the hand wheel to the right it become tight (the valve is shut off or closed). By turning the top of the hand wheel to the left it become loose (the valve is loose, therefore opened). When delegates use the incorrect hand, the demonstration does not work as well.
I go on to say the following:
+ I have never seen a left handed valve in industry
+ I have only seen left handed valves on hot water taps in sinks, showers, and bathtubs
As part of my recent travels (many of you recall my 9 trips in 10 weeks) I got to spend some time in airport frequent flyer facilities. One early morning flight meant I had to shower at the airport … and there it was … a left handed COLD water valve. In fact, both the hot and cold water valves were left handed. Of note is that they were 1/4-turn valves (probably ball valves with the handle installed “incorrectly”).
Remember, I did say my paradigm shift was minor.
Now, please let me editorialise.
I believe a left handed valve is a safety hazard, and should not be allowed in an industrial facility. For a shower at an airport, it is an acceptable risk – the biggest issue is someone gets a squirt of water that is either too warm (not hot, but warm) or too cold. Using risk assessment methodology … consequence below trivial, frequency extremely likely, risk very small and therefore acceptable.
But in an industrial facility, where a valve is opened / closed in an emergency based on operator instinct, I believe it is a hazard.
By the way … the left handed valves in the shower were quite convenient. The layout of the shower meant I would naturally use my left hand to regulate the valves, so it worked quite well. In thinking about it – it was probably a good idea. And THAT is the paradigm shift – that left handed valves do have a reasonable purpose and function in society (but not industry).
Final note … according to New Zealand colleague Colin Feltoe (one of the best risk assessors on the planet), a hazard is the potential to cause harm, so there is no such thing as a potential hazard. A potential hazard is therefore the potential to cause potential harm, thus my use of the term “hazard” instead of the term “potential hazard”.