Yearly Archives: 2011

General Safety Issues

AMERICA’S #1 HEALTH PROBLEM – ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG DEPENDENCE

Sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Alcohol Awareness Month is observed during the month of April.  There are many sobering facts about the effects that alcohol and drug addiction have on individuals and their families and friends.  The cost and consequences of these habits place an enormous burden on American society, as well.  Addiction strains the healthcare system, economy, harms family life, and threatens public safety. 

Substance abuse is everywhere, regardless of gender, age, ethnic groups, and people in every tax bracket.  Alcohol kills six times more young people than all illicit drugs combined.  It is a leading factor in accidents, homicides, and suicides.  Most high school students say it is fairly easy to get alcohol.  By the time American youngsters reach the age of 18, they have seen at least 100,000 beer commercials on television. 

Here are some eye-opening facts from the NCADD:

  • Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
  • Between 48% and 64% of people who die in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.
  • Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: heart disease, stroke, and cancer. (And, untreated addiction is more expensive than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined.)
  • One-quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all suicides, and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.
  • Every American adult pays nearly $1,000 per year for the damages of addiction.
  • Alcohol and drug abuse costs the American economy an estimated $276 billion per year in lost productivity, health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes and other conditions. 

Diagnosis and treatment of this disease (yes, it is a disease) is of the utmost importance.  Treatment can save lives and also dollars that would otherwise be spent in other areas of social services and medical care.  For every dollar spent on addiction treatment, seven dollars is saved in reduced health care costs.   Many employers offer counseling to their employees who have problems with drug or alcohol dependence.  Studies have shown that when these workers  have been helped, work results showed less tardiness or absenteeism, problems with supervisors decreased, as well as less incomplete work and fewer mistakes in work. 

An individual that is hooked on alcohol or drugs is not only affecting his/her life, but the lives of family, friends, and co-workers.  If family and friends can get the assistance of a trained specialist to conduct an intervention, hopefully, the individual will want to stop.   Alcohol or drugs have the ability to alter ones’ personality to the point that they are completely different than when they are sober.   

Read the facts above  again, and know that there is no good reason to become addicted to anything.  Stay in control of your life for yourself and your loved ones.  Most of all, keep our future growing by ending underage drinking. 

Sources: NCADD, US Department of Health and Human Services

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

PROTECTING OUR YOUTH FROM SPORTS INJURIES

There are two important April observances that we want to focus on today.  One is Sports Eye Safety Month and the other is National Youth Sports Safety Month.  First, in the United States, around 40,000 people suffer sports-related eye injuries annually, according to the American Academy of Opthalmology.  Their recommendation is that all athletes wear appropriate, sports-specific eye protection properly fitted by an eye care professional. 

Adults are urged to choose eyewear that will protect them from injuries while they engage in sports activities.  Eye protection is available for most sports, which include baseball, hockey, football, lacrosse, fencing, paintball, water polo, golf, and basketball.  This eyewear will not affect your performance in a game; however it may save your sight.  In most children’s sports leagues, eye protection isn’t mandatory, so it is up to parents to be sure they wear eye protection.  

Because April is National Youth Sports Safety Month, we want to encourage parents to ensure the safety of their children’s choice of sports by checking out sports fields and playgrounds for hazards.  There may be glass, rocks, debris, potholes, and movable soccer goals which are not secured, that could tip over if they are climbed on.  

As many of us have had children/grandchildren involved in sports, this is too good not to share with all of you.   It’s called the  Golden Rule of Coaching: 

  • If athletes are coached with criticism, they learn low self-esteem.
  • If athletes are coached with hostility, they learn to fight.
  • If athletes are coached with ridicule, they learn to withdraw.
  • If athletes are coached with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
  • If athletes are coached with patience, they learn to improve.
  • If athletes are coached with encouragement, they learn confidence.
  • If athletes are coached with praise, they learn to have faith.
  • If athletes are coached with fairness, they learn justice.
  • If athletes are coached with approval, they learn positive self-esteem.
  • If athletes are coached with honesty, they learn to trust.
  • If athletes are coached with modesty, they learn teamwork.
  • If athletes are coached with acceptance and friendship, they learn to find love in sport. 

We’ve probably all had tough coaches and softer-hearted ones; many times the way they treat their athletes has lasting effects.  Coaches must always keep the safety of their athletes foremost.  They should never take chances that could endanger their team.  Here’s some advice for the young athletes, and is also something  for grown-ups (parents) to remember, too:

  • Have Fun!
  • Remember this is a game designed for enjoyment.
  • Do your best while having a good time!
  • Learning how to play the game is more important than winning and losing.
  • Some kids grow faster and are better coordinated than others, but everyone catches up eventually.
  • Be patient.
  • Who you are as a person does not depend on wins and losses.
  • Treat other athletes and your coaches with respect.
  • Remember, everyone is trying their hardest.
  • Honor the rules of the game.
  • Be a good sport.
  • Support your teammates, be a team player. 
  • There’s no “I” in TEAM.

The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation encourages parents to support youth safety by calling or writing letters to athletic directors, school boards, and administrators of youth sports programs.  Encourage them as well to take a leadership role in advocating coaching education.  Be sure they have an emergency plan and an immediate first responder in case of injury.  If young people are taught how to participate safely in sports, their experiences and the bonds they make with others will remain with them for a long time. 

Sources: NYSSF, NIH.GOV

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

WORLD HEALTH DAY, TODAY, APRIL 7th

In 1948, the United Nations founded the World Health Organization.  Since  1950, World Health Day has been celebrated annually on April 7.  This observance is an opportunity to focus on key public health issues throughout the world.  Local, regional and international events are linked to the theme chosen, and these organizations sponsor events all through the year.  This year’s World Health Day is focusing on educating people of all ages to the dangers of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms and its impact on a global level.  

The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered by accident by Alexander Fleming, after he noticed the substance repelling bacteria from a laboratory plate.  Before the discovery of antibiotics, persons were easy prey to infections.  By the 1940’s antibiotics had become commonplace.  After more than sixty plus years of antibiotic use, and increases in the use of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and agriculture, many microbes have developed a resistance to these drugs.  Many antibiotics (antimicrobials) now produce only a weakened effect or none at all.  We may be on the brink of a worldwide threat, as it has been discovered that more microorganisms are becoming resistant to these drugs. 

This type of resistance, or drug resistance, happens when virus, fungi, bacteria, or parasite mutate, or change, in such a way the medication that is being used is ineffective.  Some strains of microorganisms succumb to drugs and others survive and become resistant.  The resistance is passed on to their offspring and over generations certain microorganisms become resistant to most antibiotics or antimicrobials and become “super-bugs.”  An example of a “super-bug” is MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or Staph infection – a very difficult infection to treat.  “Super-bug” infection causes  major concerns, as it can spread easily or even be fatal.  Other diseases that have become increasingly hard to control are HIV, TB, influenza and malaria. 

The only way man can win this war against microorganisms is through the judicious use of drugs.  The World Health Organization will issue a call for action to halt the spread of this resistance on April 7, 2011.  They will ask everyone in all countries to combat antimicrobial resistance.  They will be asked to think, act, and take responsibility for combating drug resistance. These professionals  include: 

  • Practitioners and prescribers;
  • The public and patients;
  • Pharmacists, and dispensers;
  • The pharmaceutical industry;
  • Policy-makers and planners. 

Over the past ten years, here are other key themes issued by the World Health Organization:

  • 2001 – Mental Health: Stop Exclusion, Dare to Care;
  • 2002 – Move for Health;
  • 2003 – Shape the Future of Life;
  • 2004 – Road Safety;
  • 2005 – Make Every Mother and Child Count;
  • 2006 – Working  Together for Health;
  • 2007 – International Health Security;
  • 2008 – Protecting Health from Climate Change;
  • 2009 – Make Hospitals Safe in Emergencies;
  • 2010 – Urbanization and Health – 1000 Cities, 1000 Lives.

As you can see, every theme has important implications for the lives of humans all over the world.  We, as individuals, must be cautious about the over-use of antibiotics.   (Please note that the public and patients are on the above list.)  It is very important that the world pay attention to this year’s theme from the World Health Organization. 

W.H.O., U.S. Global Health Initiative

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

NATIONAL WINDOW SAFETY WEEK, APRIL 4 – 10

The Window Safety Task Force, under the National Safety Council’s Community Safety Division, works with the American Architectural Manufacturing Association, Window and Door Manufacturing Association, Screen Manufacturers Association, National Association of Home Builders and other organizations to educate North Americans on the importance of window safety.  This group has been presenting materials on this subject since 1997.  They know that the leading causes of injury and death in young children are fires and falls. 

Besides doors, windows are a secondary escape route in a fire or other emergency. They are designed as points of escape.  It is critical that the windows are placed in locations in both homes and businesses where they can provide a safe exit.  Families should have a fire escape plan.  Children should be taught to get out of a house that is on fire.  Hold a family fire drill often, and plan landscaping that can possibly prevent injury if anyone does have to jump or fall from a window. 

If you have bars, grills, or other types of security on your windows, they are useless in an emergency, unless they have a functioning release mechanism.  You might think you are keeping someone out, but you may be causing yourself to become trapped, and you can’t escape!  Never paint or nail windows shut. 

When there are young children living or visiting in your home, be sure the windows they may be playing around are locked.  If you need ventilation, open taller windows, and never have furniture close to an open window, where they might climb up and fall out.  Be sure to watch when they are playing on a patio or around sliding glass doors.  A fall through glass could cause serious injuries. 

Don’t count on insect screens to catch anything except the bugs!  Shortly after we moved into the home where we currently live, we left our sliding glass door open one evening, when our birddog, Lucy, heard something outside and ran through the screen!  That was the end of leaving that door open. 

We all must understand the importance of safety in the home, and be prepared to escape in the event of fire.  Years ago, a home on our block was totally destroyed by fire, resulting in the deaths of three persons.  A mother of a four-year old, broke a window in her bedroom to run for help – she couldn’t find her child.  Later, the body of the little girl was found under a bed, where she had crawled.  If we take the time to be prepared, hopefully, tragedies such as this, can be prevented. 

There is more excellent information on this subject at the National Safety Council website.  We are all asked to share this information with friends, family, co-workers, and communities, not only through the first week of April, and all of April, but all year long.

General Safety Issues

HOW ARE YOUR REFLEXES?

I was with a group of friends this week, and while driving in some pretty heavy traffic, a car suddenly whizzed by us at a high rate of speed, and was so close to us that my friend and I who were in the back seat gasped at the same time!   Our driver assured us that she saw the car coming, but the two of us experienced a type of “panicked” reflex at that exact moment. 

Reflexes are involuntary or automatic reactions that our bodies do in response to something that we aren’t even thinking about.  We are born with “hard-wired” reflexes.  Most are located in the spine, but some are in the motor centers of the brain.  These reflexes work to keep our bodies safe from injuries.   Have you ever felt that you were about to fall, when you started twisting your body and putting your hands out to regain your balance?   What if you were carrying something valuable, and you had to choose whether to drop it as you are falling, or hold on to it?  Your brain’s conscious motor centers will take control, and you can modify the reflex action and keep your grip on the object you are carrying. However, you are still probably going to fall. 

Babies have a vast amount of reflexes.   They stretch, grip your finger, yawn, suck, and blink their eyes, which are all involuntary actions.  When you tickle the bottom of their feet, see how they straighten them out, and then curl them up again.  They throw their arms up in the air swiftly when they are moved certain ways.  A physical therapist once told me to observe how a baby, cat or dog will stretch naturally, while we adults don’t, unless we think about it.  

If someone throws something at you at work, how quickly do you react?  If your concentration is broken by a sudden action of a co-worker, are you ready to respond?  Jobs that are high-stress, or ones that cause physical or mental fatigue can cause us to sometimes have a delayed reaction.  If you get too close to a power tool, though, your reflexes tell you to pull away pretty pronto!  We should keep ourselves fit and alert for our job duties.  There is no room for substance or alcohol abuse in the workplace; either would cause us to have slower reaction time, in addition to breaking the safety rules of our employer.  

Our reflexes must work well when we are behind the wheel of a vehicle.  Statistics show that texting while driving is as dangerous as driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  While you are looking at that smart phone screen, you are losing valuable time to react to a car or truck that may suddenly stop or pull out in front of you.  What if a child runs in front of you and you are so busy making a call or texting that you are unable to stop in time?  There are too many risks that aren’t worth taking, and you should never depend on your reflex time to save the day! 

Some people are born with faster reflexes than others.  Electrical impulses actually travel more quickly through the nerves.  Practice can speed up nerve conditioning – this is the key to reaction time, whether in athletics, learning skills, or work.  With much practice, a movement almost mimics a reflex, according to experts.  Also, our reflexes may slow with age.  These also vary from person to person, in regard to reflex and reaction time.  You can either slow down, or reverse  the effects of aging by staying physically active.  Remember, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it!” 

Source: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School

General Safety Issues, High Visibility Safety

“WALKERS” THAT HAVE UNSAFE RIDES

Individuals who hang advertising flyers on homes’ doorknobs, are known as “walkers.”  Before they can begin their distribution, many of them are picked up and delivered to the designated area in cargo vans that have no seats, let alone seatbelts.  Many times, up to 10 people ride in the back, along with stacks of flyers to be circulated.  On March 4th, three people were killed and seven others were injured when the 1995 cargo van they were in burst a tire and careened into a tree.  The ironic part of it is that Texas law, (as well as most other states), does not require seatbelts for adults in a cargo van that has no seats.  There’s no state or federal prohibition against carrying adults in the back, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.  And because there are no seatbelts, restrictions on capacity don’t apply, stated the DPS.  (Another ironic part of this is that the vehicle’s manual states that carrying passengers is unsafe.)

 

Pablo Alvarado, director of the Los Angeles-based National Day Laborer Organizing Network, stated, “tragedies such as these are a reminder that more needs to be done to protect the rights and safety of workers.  Day laborers, like those who lost their lives, go to great risks to humbly provide for their families.  Employers must be responsible for their safety during and en route to work.” 

Day workers gather around service stations, shelters, and boarding houses, hoping to have the opportunity to earn typically around $40 to $55 a day, walking approximately 10 to 15 miles.  Many of these workers are homeless, and although they realize that the vehicle they are climbing into may have bald tires, or be unsafe, they need the work.  Firms who furnish cleanup crews at sports stadiums also use this type of transportation.  Some of these vans have nothing more than floorboards for persons to sit on.  Hopefully, following this accident, things may change.  Two flyer-distributing services not involved in the accident said they are rethinking their use of such vehicles and may install seats.  Until recently, the industry has taken advantage of loopholes in state and federal road safety regulations to hold down costs. 

Advertising companies that furnish this type of labor face restrictions from many cities.  Several communities in the Metroplex – Bedford, Colleyville, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Rowlett, Murphy, Coppell, and Corinth, have passed city ordinances that require these advertising companies and each of their workers to be individually registered with their local police.  Companies must pay $50 for a six-month permit.   They also require all walkers to display their permit and wear an orange reflective traffic safety vest.  Solicitation ordinances suggest that permits are not issued to anyone who has been convicted or pleaded no contest to a felony or misdemeanor in the previous ten years.  Charitable solicitations, political literature, or distribution of religious tracts are exempted from the permitting requirements.  Police want to know who is in their neighborhoods. 

There are flyer delivery services that do not rely on cargo vans.  Some say they use minivans with factory-installed seats and seat belts.  Others say they limit riders to seven, not ten.  One owner said he uses a van, but it has seats.  As he said, “It sounds kind of unsafe not to have seats.” 

Let’s hope that this latest accident will get the attention of lawmakers in order to protect the safety of those persons who do this type of work.  They deserve better than this. 

Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Uncategorized

MEDICATION SAFETY WEEK, APRIL 1 – 7

The Women’s Heart Foundation sponsors this April observance to promote awareness about the importance of keeping accurate records and understanding about the medicines that we take.  The U.S.F.D.A. estimates that $77 billion is spent annually on preventable medication-related illnesses.  Listed below are suggestions from the Women’s Heart Foundation for us to do on each of the seven focus days:

  • April 1: Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet
    Start with a clean slate. Discard outdated medicines and old prescriptions. Many drugs lose their potency over time. Store medicines in their original containers and in a cool, dry place. Locate medicines away from children and pets and from those who do not understand.
  • April 2: Know Your Medicines
    Know both the generic and trade names of your medicines. Know how to identify pills and what they are for. Make a list of all the medicines you are taking. Write down both the generic and brand names of medicines to prevent inadvertently double-dosing. Be able to identify pills by name. List prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, birth control pills, patches and supplements. Keep the list updated and keep it with you at all times.
  • April 3: Read Medicine Labels Carefully
    Are you taking what your doctor ordered and the way he ordered it? Note precautionary stickers on the label. Note the route, dose and frequency of your medicines. Keep medicines in their original containers. Pay attention to warnings. Note that some medicines can react with foods; others have to be taken on an empty stomach. Some lose potency quickly and must be kept in an air-tight container. The effectiveness of many medicines is dependent upon taking them at the correct times. How the medicine is to be taken ––the route–– is also important (i.e. by mouth, through the skin, under the tongue, inhaling. etc.)
  • April 4: Dietary Supplements Awareness
    Before you start taking a dietary supplement,  discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist.  Herbal medicines and other dietary supplements can react with medicines and have an unknown synergistic effect. All herbal preparations are contraindicated while pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • April 5: Organize Your Medicines
    Keep an updated record listing all medicines and supplements you are taking. Use of a medicine organizer box may be helpful, especially for those taking more than one pill several times a day, however, a medicine organizer box requires close monitoring, especially when there is a change in medicines. Also, be aware that use of an organizer box violates the rule of keeping medicines in their original containers. Managing pills with a medicine organizer box, while convenient, is not without risk. Take medicines as prescribed. New drugs with time-released action can offer some help with organizing with only once-a-day medicating. Ask your doctor about these newer medicines. Keep your medicine record up-to-date.
  • April 6: Transitional Care Awareness
    A change in medical regimen can be confusing and can place you at increased risk. Be diligent about communication with all healthcare professionals. Make sure you understand your medicines and how you are to take them before leaving the hospital or doctor’s office. Ask for written instructions. Be extra cautious whenever there is a change in your medical regimen. Double-check your medicines when picking up a new or refilled prescription. If in a hospital or nursing home, make sure the nurse checks your I.D. bracelet before giving you your pills. If a pill doesn’t look familiar, ask why. It may be a generic of the same drug you were taking however, if you don’t ask, you won’t know! Make sure you receive written instructions upon discharge from any medical facility and insist that both the generic and brand names of each drug you are to take is included.
  • April 7: Better Communication With Health Professionals
    Actively seek information from your pharmacist about the pills and the supplements that you are taking. Ask for print-out sheets on drugs and read them!  Discuss all risks and benefits with your prescribing practitioner. Share information about the medicines and supplements you are taking with all your prescribing practitioners and with your pharmacist. Discuss expected effects and possible side effects.  Report adverse drug effects promptly and never hesitate to ask questions when it comes your health and the use of medicines. Your doctor, healthcare practitioner and pharmacist are there to help…just ask!

We cannot be too careful when taking medications.   Communication is the key to the prevention of medication errors.  This excellent information is useful for individuals and sharing with co-workers.

Source: Women’s Heart Foundation

General Safety Issues

COUNT THE VIOLATIONS!

For the past few weeks, we have been covering the Top Ten OSHA violations and penalties assessed for fiscal year 2010.  Violation of (29 CFR 1910.272), Grain Handling Facilities, was listed as #9 on the top ten highest penalties assessed list.  The following is an article released by OSHA, March 16, 2011, regarding the death of a young worker who lost his life working in a grain bin.  Please note the numerous other violations (in italics) the company received.  These are many of the violations that have been mentioned as we have counted down the list. 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a grain company in Morral, Ohio, following the September 2010 death of a 20-year-old worker who was caught in a discharge auger while cleaning out a grain bin.  “This tragic death could have been prevented had the grain bin owner and operators followed occupational safety standards and learned from the tragedies that have occurred at other grain bins,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. “Grain elevator owners and operators must implement well-known safety practices to prevent workers from being hurt or killed in a grain bin.”   At least 25 U.S. workers were killed in grain entrapments last year, and the numbers of entrapments are increasing, according to researchers at Purdue University. There were more grain entrapments in 2010 than in any year since the university started collecting data on entrapments in 1978.

Following inspections at the company’s three bin facilities, 46 safety and health violations have been cited, with penalties totaling $465,500.  One location was issued a total of eight safety citations with proposed penalties of $175,000, including two willful citations for failing to lock out the discharge and sweep auger, and to provide an appropriate grain bin entry permit to perform work. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

Five serious citations were issued for failing to train employees in safety precautions and bin entry procedures, not having an observer during bin entry, failing to have rescue equipment, failing to test the atmosphere in the space to be entered and failing to have deflagration controls for combustible dust. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.  One other-than-serious citation (one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably wouldn’t cause death or serious harm) was issued for not having combustible dust warning signs in place.

As a result of violations discovered at the first facility, OSHA initiated inspections at the company’s two other facilities.  One facility was fined $171,000 and cited with a total of 22 health and safety violations, including two repeat safety violations for allowing employees to walk working surfaces without proper guarding in place and failing to safeguard employees from electrical hazards such as broken electrical conduits. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

Thirteen serious safety citations were issued for allowing employees to walk working surfaces without ladderway gates and mid-rails, and exposing workers to electrical and machine guarding hazards. Four serious health citations were issued for a lack of safe grain handling and electrical procedures. Three other-than-serious health citations were issued for lack of signage and hazard communication procedures.

The company’s third facility was fined $119,500 and cited with a total of 16 safety violations, including one willful violation for failing to evaluate work spaces to determine if any required confined space entry permits. Fourteen serious citations were issued for failing to implement a confined space program, not having a non-entry retrieval system, a lack of personal protective equipment for employees, a lack of electrical training, a lack of combustible dust controls and failing to train employees in combustible grain dust hazards. One other-than-serious citation was issued for a lack of combustible dust warning signs.

Since 2009, OSHA has fined grain operators in Illinois, Colorado, South Dakota and Wisconsin following similar preventable fatalities and injuries.  In addition to enforcement actions and training, OSHA sent a notification letter in August, 2010 to grain elevator operators warning them not to allow workers to enter grain storage facilities without proper equipment.    OSHA’s Region V, which includes Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin, initiated a Grain Safety Local Emphasis Program in August 2010, and has since conducted 61 inspections and issued 163 citations to grain operators/facilities. The violations cover hazards associated with grain engulfment, machine guarding, lockout/tagout of dangerous equipment to prevent accidental energization start-up, electricity, falls, employee training and combustible dust hazards.

OSHA’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program began in the spring of 2010, and is meant to focus on employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat, or failure-to-abate violations in one or more of the following circumstances: a fatality or catastrophe; industry operations or processes that expose workers to severe occupational hazards; exposure to hazards related to the potential releases of highly hazardous chemicals; and all per-instance citation enforcement actions. 

If companies do not mind paying fines, it seems they would be disturbed by the loss of life of an employee, and the fact that they are not providing for the safety of their workers.  This is an example of the various violations we have been describing.

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues

GOOD-BYE, MONTH OF MARCH, 2011!

It’s hard to say if the old saying “March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb,” applies to every part of the world.  It seems like the lion has been showing more of his teeth lately, with the horrible tragedies in Japan – an earthquake, tsunami, and the nuclear concerns.  Also, in the United States, tornadoes have already hit several areas.  Every year they start a littler earlier, or so it appears!  Floods, as well, have occurred as a result of heavy rains in certain parts of the country, and drought in others.  It’s either feast or famine, when it comes to the weather. 

In the eastern United States, March came in like a lamb, but is really threatening to go out like a lion.  In Texas, we have seen a few beautiful spring days; however, we have experienced some very unusually cold and windy March days, too.  Whatever has gone on in your corner of the world, it is hoped that it will get better soon.  April hopefully will bring showers, as rain is really needed in our state.  The threat of wildfires continues because of  extremely dry conditions. 

It is hard to realize that the first three months of 2011 have already passed us by.  We need to start preparing for spring and warm weather.  A few pretty days get us motivated to get outside and start yard work.  Take your time and gradually build up, as those muscles may not be quite ready for a full-throttle workout.  Stock up on work gloves, Eye safety glasses,  (for trimming tree limbs and mowing grass), and wear long-sleeves on your arms, and sunscreen on your face.  Spring brings a new beginning for the rest of the year, and it’s a time we all look forward to – before the heat comes around!  

Think about stocking up your emergency kit just in case bad weather should happen.  Keep plenty of water handy, some non-perishable foods, flashlights, NOAA weather radio, batteries, pet food, and other supplies ready.  Pay attention to weather warnings in your area.  Know where you can pick up your school children in case of a weather emergency, or where they will be taken for safety at their school.  Preparedness pays, regardless of weather conditions, or any other emergency situation.  Most everyone loves springtime, and yet Mother Nature can find ways to really get our attention during that season.   

Last, but not least, here’s hoping that everyone’s final day of March will mosey on out like a sweet little lamb.  But beware……….there’s one more thing to be prepared for:  April Fools’ Day!

General Safety Issues

WORKPLACE FATIGUE CAN BE COSTLY!

This past Wednesday, there were two separate but related incidents of what “sleeping on the job” could have caused, when not one, but two commercial airplanes were unable to hail the traffic controller for landing clearance, yet landed safely with assistance from a regional control center.  This happened at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.  A United Airbus A320 was carrying sixty-three passengers and a crew of five, while an American Boeing 737 was flying with ninety-one passengers with a crew of six.  Thankfully, 165 persons were safe on the ground.  The lone controller, who had worked four consecutive overnight shifts,  had fallen asleep during the period of time the two pilots were calling in.   Concerns about worker fatigue have been voiced by The National Air Traffic Controllers Union and safety advocates for years.  

The FAA was asked four years ago to work with the controllers union to revise work schedules and practices and to develop a fatigue awareness program.  Their safety board stressed the “especially problematic” concerns regarding the common practice of scheduling controllers to work increasingly early shifts over a week.  Patrick Forrey, former president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said several towers in the U.S. have only one worker during the midnight shift.  It’s unknown just how common this practice is.  Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood noted that Reagan’s tower will get a second nighttime controller and he has asked the FAA to study staffing levels at other airports around the country.  Secretary LaHood stated, “One-person shifts are unsafe. Period.” 

Working at night has a greater impact than working the same number of hours in the daytime.  On average, shift workers lose 1 – 1 ½ hours of sleep for each 24-hour period.  This can build up a sleep debt of 6 hours after 4 nights.  Working more than three or four night shifts in a row can likely cause a significant sleep debt, bringing serious consequences for safety.  Our body clock is programmed to be awake during the day and asleep at night.  Night workers have to override their body clock to remain active at night. 

Prior to 2007, a study made by FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute showed there was widespread evidence of fatigue among air controllers.  Some of those findings were:

  • More than 2/3 of those interviewed said they experienced attention lapses driving to work for early morning or midnight shifts;
  • More than 1/3 reported falling asleep while driving to or from a midnight shift;
  • 60 to 80 per cent had caught themselves about to doze off during early morning or midnight shifts. 

Fatigue has lead to many human errors. Mistakes made by shift workers in the early morning hours were critical factors in disasters at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Bhopal, and the Exxon Valdez oil spillage.  Fatigue-induced human errors bring major consequences for public safety, as well as for the workers involved.  It has been estimated that in the U.S., fatigue contributes to between 20 and 40 per cent of all commercial vehicle crashes, causing the loss of more than 15,000 lives.  Extreme fatigue may cause a person to “disengage” briefly into a “micro-sleep”.  When this happens at a critical time, an accident may result.  Micro-sleeps have been observed in train drivers and airline pilots during periods of critical operations, with the drivers and pilots sometimes being unaware that it was happening.  

There is no single method of shift management that fits all circumstances, but whichever method is used, should be tailored to the needs of the particular organization.  One thing is for sure, when it comes to airline safety, there should never be only one person in the control tower during late hours.  One person working alone with the responsibilities of that job should be able to take breaks, such as for meals and restroom. The pressures of such concentrated mental and visual work could be relieved by the presence of a co-worker.  Those that choose to fly night or day, as well as the airline crews, deserve to have their safety a top priority.

Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Bloomberg News; Department of Labour, New Zealand.govt.nz