The Tale of the Two Valves

In a large power plant, two valves stood side by side. One was always open, the other always closed. They argued every day:

“I’m more important! Without me, the machines won’t breathe,” said the always-open valve.
“Nonsense! Without me, the system would flood. I’m the key to safety,” replied the always-closed valve.

Their bickering confused the workers. Sometimes, people even forgot which valve to operate, and that nearly caused accidents.

One day, a newcomer arrived — the valve lock. Unlike the noisy valves, it was quiet but firm. It wrapped its chain around the valve handwheel and said,
“Stop fighting. My job is to make sure no one touches you by mistake. I’ll guard you both so workers stay safe.”

The open valve grumbled, “But how can a small lock protect us?”
The valve lock answered,
“I’m designed to clamp your handwheel tightly. My chain and pins keep you in position. Unless someone loosens me on purpose during maintenance, you can’t be moved. With me here, no accidents, no confusion.”

The closed valve nodded thoughtfully. “So, you’re like a guardian?”
“Exactly,” the lock smiled. “In fact, in power plants everywhere, my friends and I are already protecting valves like you. We make sure workers stay safe, machines run smoothly, and no mistake turns into disaster.”

From that day on, the two valves stopped fighting. They knew the valve lock was their silent hero, ensuring they played their part — one always open, the other always closed — without accidents ever happening again.

Lesson:
Valve locks may look small, but they’re powerful guardians of safety. With careful design and proven effectiveness, they’ve become essential in power plants, keeping both machines and people safe.