Monthly Archives: February 2012

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Protective Clothing

THE IMPORTANCE OF EYE PROTECTION

Safety standards cover various kinds and classes of eye and face protection, including glasses with and without side shields, eyecup goggles, goggles, welding helmets, and face shields.  Safety glasses are both non-prescription and prescription, and are common items of personal protective equipment, PPE.  Some look like regular glasses, and are available in sleek frames that offer protection, as well as looking stylish, yet less expensive as those found in optical stores.  Special tasks such as grinding, woodworking, chemical spraying, degreasing and gas cutting and welding require safety goggles.  When choosing goggles, be sure that they seal around the face – there should be no gaps.  Goggles should have an adjustable strap.  Do not pull the strap so tight that the lens distorts your vision or the goggles hurt your face. 

Be sure that the safety eyewear is appropriate for the particular hazards of the job.  For those that work where there is debris flying around in the air, goggles would be the best choice.  Some glasses work well with side shields, which fit the temple of the frames and protect the sides of the eyes.  There are safety glasses that fit over prescription glasses (OTG’s).  A qualified person should assist in the proper fitting of protective eyewear.  Special attention must be paid to the eye, temple areas, and bridge.  If glasses are not secure, they will slip down the nose when the head is tilted downward. 

Women who wear safety goggles and glasses often have more problems with fit and comfort.  Some goggles are “one size fits all”, and may be too big.  This can be a serious health and safety hazard if gaps around the seal to the face allow flying objects and particles, sparks, chemicals, or other substances to enter the eye area.  Fogging of the lenses is common and can lead to accidents; this may be the result of poor ventilation.  Mishaps can occur if the wearer takes his/her goggles off to clear them and is hit by flying debris, or if she/he cannot see well enough to do work properly. 

The company should require that their employees have their eyes checked annually by a doctor to determine if and what kind of prescription eyewear is needed.  For those who work outdoors, safety glasses that furnish UV protection are a must.  These lenses are also helpful in protecting the eyes from bright sand, snow, or the reflections off lakes or rivers.    Texas America Safety Company features small safety glasses that fit women, small men and children.    Companies have long been designing vests, coveralls, harnesses, glasses, hardhats, work boots, and all types of safety gear for smaller men and working gals.  Our military,  as well as women in law enforcement, also want their female personnel dressed in appropriately fitting uniforms.  Some or many types of PPE are needed in most occupations.  Look for the best fit in safety glasses to protect your vision for the job you choose.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Head Protection

A “VALENTINE’S DAY” SAFETY MESSAGE TO EMPLOYERS

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February 14th is a special time to remind your loved ones, especially your sweetheart, that they are very special to you.  It’s also a time to think about your employees, and the fact that they are special to you, as well.  Without their hard work and cooperation, your business wouldn’t be successful.  Let them know how much they are appreciated by providing the safest work environment possible.  Here are some thoughts on how you can accomplish this goal: 

  • Be a fanatic about health and safety.  Let this be a top priority in your workplace.
  • Assign a safety committee with responsibility for conducting periodic safety audits, and be involved in it.
  • Reward suggestions for improved health and safety measures.
  • Post emergency phone numbers in prominent locations throughout the workplace.
  • Distribute a safety and emergency procedures and instructions manual.
  • Make workers aware through regularly scheduled safety campaigns and safety training programs.
  • Make cleanliness a requirement.
  • When you say that hard hats, head protection or other P.P.E. (personal protective equipment) are required on the work site, mean it!
  • Safety evacuation drills should be conducted where appropriate.
  • Frequent equipment inspections and safety checks should also be performed, and be relentless in practicing preventative maintenance.
  • Insist all hazardous substances and materials be tightly sealed and properly stored.
  • If workers think there is a risk or problem, listen to their concerns, because there probably is one.
  • Local health department experts can be called in to evaluate conditions and recommend corrective steps if they discover a health hazard.
  • Be sure your employees follow all OSHA guidelines, standards, and recommendations.
  • Follow all provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
  • Follow manufacturer’s suggested safety procedures such as wearing safety goggles or installing  guards on machinery.  Ensure employees do not remove guards on machinery.
  • Never encourage safety short-cuts, no matter how economical or profit-friendly they may be.  Also, don’t tolerate grandstanding, showing off or other macho behavior that is unsafe.  Being safety conscious isn’t being a sissy – it’s working smarter.
  • Mark all hazardous zones and items.
  • Monitor absenteeism due to illness or injury and review all accident reports and injury claims.  Look for patterns which may be clues to existing hazards.
  • Post safety posters throughout the workplace, and change them every now and then.  Place them in break rooms, and other places where they are most visible. 

As an employer, your liability increases dramatically whenever the person in charge does nothing about existing and potential problems.  Handling hazards before illnesses, accidents or harmful allergic reactions occur is always a winning strategy.  You know most of the hazards in your workplace.  It is your responsibility to ensure your employees that you have trusted supervisors that know where the risks are, and that precautions have been taken to protect them.  There are many businesses that have health and safety hazards that often go unnoticed and unattended.  The result is countless work-hours lost each year due to injuries, illnesses and allergies.  Some hazards are major health or safety risks; however others are troublesome, but not serious.  All merit attention. 

By showing your employees that you are sincerely concerned about their health and safety, they will reward you with hard work and loyalty.  So, this Valentine’s Day, and every day, “show them a little love” by keeping them safe.  This, and a “thank you for a job well done” is gift enough.

General Safety Issues

PREVENTING WRONG-WAY ACCIDENTS

Has anyone out there come up with the solution to prevent wrong-way accidents?  Probably not, because they are still happening and lives are being lost.  If you do have a suggestion, please send it to us, and we will do a follow-up article on this subject.  It would be good to see how many different ideas we can think of.  One thing that has been suggested for the motoring public to do is immediately report someone driving in the wrong direction to law enforcement.  The law does provide an exemption for cell phone use while driving in case of an emergency. 

If wrong-way driving is seemingly rare, why is it that about 350 people are killed and thousands more are injured every year as a result of people driving the wrong way?  This problem isn’t going away, even though researchers are looking for a way to keep it from happening.   In an attempt to curb a rising number of wrong-way crashes in the Fort Worth area, the Texas Department of Transportation, along with the Texas Transportation Institute, researched the causes of this deadly driving phenomenon.  Their findings were, not surprisingly, that most drivers were under the influence of alcohol or drugs and that most wrong-way drivers entered the highway by getting on at an exit ramp.  Their findings also showed that crashes between vehicles going the wrong way are usually severe and more likely to result in serious injury or death.  Also, they may be more likely to involve elderly drivers, and happen usually at night or early morning. 

A common suggestion is to place road spikes at exit ramps.  This type of barrier has been tested to determine if they could be used at off-ramps to stop vehicles from entering the wrong way; however, this idea isn’t feasible.  The spikes, even modified in shape, do not cause the tires to deflate quickly enough to prevent a vehicle from entering the freeway.  Stubs could also be left to damage the tires of right-way vehicles.  And, as it was pointed out, if you did stop a wrong-way car with road spikes, then you have a stalled car sitting at the exit ramp.  (Of course, that’s  better than on the freeway).

Another approach being tried by the state of Texas is installing sensors in the asphalt on several highway on-ramps that can detect when a car is travelling the wrong way.  The sensors can’t prevent drivers from getting on the highway going the wrong way, but they can send an alert to local police, who could possibly have a better chance of stopping the driver than for a driver to phone in a 911 call.  Florida and New Mexico have installed sensor systems that can detect wrong-way drivers and alert oncoming cars of potential dangers. (Good plan).

The TTI study showed that impaired drivers are looking down at the road in front of their car, and don’t look up, so they don’t see the “Do Not Enter” or “Wrong Way” signs that are displayed about 7-feet high.  The federal government wants to approve 2 ft. high reflective signs, which will also help drivers with poor night vision.  Another possible solution is reflective pavement bumps placed at ramps to indicate the correct direction.  The bumps are arranged to form an arrow that points in the correct direction to travel. 

It is agreed by authorities that elderly or confused drivers on the wrong side of the road, will pull over, once they have realized what’s happening.  Inebriated drivers are not that concerned with signs, or anything else.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, automakers, and other companies are working on a system that is designed to prevent anyone with a blood-alcohol content higher than 0.08 from operating a vehicle.  Then drunken or drugged drivers couldn’t leave their parking spots.  That would eliminate a large number of the crashes that occur.  Hopefully, when this technology is developed, it will become standard on all cars.  Until that scenario comes to pass, we must encourage drivers to have designated drivers when they plan to drink at a party, or stay home!  There may be occasional cases when someone with a health problem cannot get control of their car.  In this instance, it would be better if they had someone else drive them to their destination rather than take a chance.

Lastly, if judges would punish the DUI offenders by keeping them off the streets, we would all be much safer.  Too often, you read a story about an innocent person(s) who lost their life to a driver under the influence, who had already been convicted of DUI more than one time.  Where’s the justice for those victims?   Think about it this way, you wouldn’t want to meet someone going the wrong way in your lane.  We must pay attention when we are driving and avoid any “chance meetings”.

Seriously, please send in your comments and ideas on how we can correct this deadly problem! Thanks.

General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

DOES YOUR WORKPLACE LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS?

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Millions of people experience allergies caused by everyday exposures to agents such as dust mites, cat dander, and pollens.  Workers who encounter agents can also develop allergic reactions such as asthma, nasal and sinus allergies, hives, and even severe anaphylactic reactions.  Work-related asthma, which is caused by exposure to an agent in the workplace, is the most common occupational respiratory disorder in developed countries.  An estimated 15% of asthmatic cases reported in the United States are occupation-related.  In Canada, asthma affects over three million citizens.  Many are not aware that certain agents at their work place could lead to hyper-responsiveness of airway or aggravating pre-existing asthmatic symptoms.  Because of that, it is likely that the cases of occupational related asthma are under reported. 

Asthma is a common lung disease that creates narrowing of the air passages, making it difficult to breathe.  It can affect your ability to work, and your overall quality of life.  When asthma is not managed, it can even threaten your life.  If you are exposed to certain workplace chemicals or agents, you may be at risk for developing occupational asthma.  Many people with work-related asthma don’t realize that their symptoms are related to their work because they are the same as those for regular asthma: attacks of difficult breathing, tightness of the chest, coughing, and wheezing.  In work–related asthma, the symptoms are worse on workdays and improve when the person is away from the workplace, such as on the weekend, days off, and vacation.  Also, symptoms may be more severe at the end of the week, as compared to the beginning of the week. 

Risk factors for occupational asthma include frequent exposure to the agents involved, allergies, family history of allergies, or asthma, and smoking.  A good clinical history will help in identifying the possibility of work-related asthma.  An occupational physician could carry out a walk-through survey in the workplace to identify the possible agents that cause asthmatic attack.  Also, a look at the list of chemicals in Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) would give a clue to that. 

There are many agents that can cause occupational asthma.   Here are some examples:

  • Certain chemicals;
  • Metals and metal-working fluids;
  • Dyes, drugs, and enzymes;
  • Grains, flours, plants, and gums;
  • Natural rubber latex;
  • Animal and shellfish proteins;
  • Fungi;
  • Wood dusts, including red cedar.

Factors that can trigger work-aggravated asthma:

  • Vapors, gases, dusts, mists, sprays or fumes from industrial materials and cleaning products;
  • Dust mites or mold/fungal spores;
  • Indoor air pollution resulting from poor ventilation;
  • Outdoor air pollution and smog (for outdoor workers). 

Both employers and employees can help control or prevent work-related asthma.  Employers should:

  • Eliminate the asthma-causing agent from the workplace.
  • If elimination is not possible, substitute a less hazardous agent.
  • Apply administrative controls such as policies, procedures, safe work practices, and job rotation to minimize exposure time of workers.
  • Control the exposure.
  • Install ventilation systems to contain emissions, such as gases or vapors at the source.
  • Provide Personal Protect Equipment, such as breathing respirator masks.  PPE should not be used as the only method of exposure control when exposures are ongoing.
  • Train employees on the proper use, storage and maintenance of PPE, proper handling procedures, avoidance of spills, and safe working and good housekeeping procedures.
  • Monitor the exposure level of hazardous agents in the workplace. 

Employees should:

  • Learn about the hazards in your workplace by speaking to the employer, health and safety or union representative, or an occupational health professional.
  • Be aware of the symptoms of work-related asthma.
  • Use PPE that is provided.
  • Report any problems with equipment, PPE, or ventilation systems to the supervisor.
  • Attend training courses on work-related asthma and occupational health and safety, and participate in all health and safety programs in the workplace. 

If not recognized and treated early enough, work-related asthma is a serious illness that can result in disability and job loss. Fortunately, when potential hazards are recognized, work-related allergies and asthma can often be prevented, or their effects minimized. Employers and employees must work together to prevent work-related asthma, so all can breathe easy at work.

Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

HEART FACTS WE ALL SHOULD KNOW

Because February is American Heart Month, we want to share more information regarding heart health.  There are some important numbers you should know.  You could keep this list, and the next time you have a physical, including blood work, ask your doctor to explain just exactly where your numbers are. 

  • 120/80 or under is normal blood pressure for adults.
  • Less than 200 mg/dl is a desirable cholesterol level.
  • Less than 100 mg/dl is an optimal level of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.
  • More than 40 mg/dl is a desirable level of HDL, or “good” cholesterol.
  • Less than 150 mg/dl is a desirable level of triglycerides.  This blood fat, like LDL, can make your arteries harden or narrow.
  • Less than 35 inches for women, and less than 40 inches for men, is the best waist size.  Too much fat around the waist ups heart disease risk.  To measure your waist, put a tape measure around your midsection, just above your hips, and breathe out.
  • Between 18.5 and 24.9 is a normal body mass index (BMI).  A higher BMI can increase your risk for heart disease.
  • ZERO is your ideal exposure to tobacco, including secondhand smoke.
  • At least 30 minutes most days is how much to exercise.  Regular exercise can lower your resting heart rate.  According to a recent study in American Heart Journal, a resting heart rate higher than 90 doubled the risk for heart disease. 

FACTS WOMEN SHOULD BE AWARE OF

Many women think of heart disease as a man’s problem; however, each year, almost as many women as men die of heart disease.  Women may be less likely to survive heart attacks as men.  Why? One possible reason is women’s smaller hearts and blood vessels are more likely to be damaged.  Another reason is women may not recognize or respond to heart attack symptoms. 

Both genders usually experience the most common sign of a heart attack – pain and discomfort in the chest.  Women are more likely than men to have other signs of a heart attack.  Here are some of the symptoms they may have:

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Extreme fatigue, sometimes for days or weeks beforehand
  • Pain in the back, neck, and jaw
  • Light-headedness or a cold sweat
  • Heartburn, coughing, heart flutters, or loss of appetite 

These symptoms can come on suddenly or develop over days or weeks.  The more signs you have, the likelier it is to be a heart attack.  Every minute counts: treatment within an hour offers the best chance for survival.  If you suspect a heart attack, call 911 immediately.  On a personal note: my sister-in-law is an E.R. nurse, and she told me that too many times men come to the E.R. complaining of indigestion, when in fact, they are having a heart attack.

Don’t ignore the symptoms.  Get to an emergency room in order to be sure of what is causing the pain.  My husband thought his problem was indigestion; however, when he finally decided to go to the E.R., he was immediately taken by ambulance to a larger hospital, where they discovered he needed four bypasses.  Thankfully, he is doing well now.  

Please take care of your ticker – it’s the only one you have! 

Sources: CDC; American Academy of Family Physicians, National Women’s Health Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and American Heart Association.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Protective Clothing

PLAY IT SAFE WITH HAND TOOLS

If you stop to think about it, how many hand tools do you have around your house?  Most houses have hammers, flashlights, pliers, screwdrivers, knives, scissors, shovels, hoes, staplers, and wrenches.  Tools are such a common part of our lives that it is hard to remember that they could pose hazards.  The tools are designed with safety in mind, but tragically, a serious accident often occurs before steps are taken to search out and avoid or eliminate tool-related hazards. 

In the workplace, to remove or avoid hazards, workers must learn to recognize hazards associated with different types of tools and the safety precautions necessary to prevent those hazards.   Hand tools are non-powered.  This includes everything from axes to wrenches.  Misuse and improper maintenance are two of the greatest hazards posed by hand tools.  The employer is responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees – however, the employees are responsible for properly using and maintaining tools. 

Hand tools are indispensable helpmates.  They have played a vital role in helping in endless tasks like cutting, drilling, chopping, slicing, stripping, striking, punching, gripping, etc.  They have a very important place not only in daily routine work and home repairs but also in various industries, farm shops, vehicles, machinery or facility repair.  If they are not used with care and maintained properly, they can lead to serious injuries, such as: loss of eye; puncture wounds, contusions, severed fingers, and broken bones. 

Here are tips for hand tools safety:

  • Always choose the right tool for the right job: for example, don’t use a knife as a saw or a wrench as a hammer or screwdriver as a chisel, etc.
  • Use the right size tool – forcing a small hand tool to do the job of a large one may result in tool damage or injury.
  • Proper training: users should know how to use the tool correctly.  One example: a wood chisel should be driven outward and away from the body.
  • Wear the right protection for the job.  Protective clothing such as safety eyewear and goggles, facemasks, coveralls, and appropriate shoes should be chosen for the particular job.  Gloves can sometimes be bulky and make gripping difficult, so if there is a need for gloves, choose ones that furnish a good grip.
  • Keep cutting tools sharp and in good condition.  Dull tools are considered to be more hazardous than sharp ones.  The tools and work area should always be kept clean.  Dirty, oily and greasy tools should be cleaned after use.
  • Inspect tools before using.  Don’t use tools that are loose or cracked.
  • Tools with “mushroomed heads” during use should be sharpened regularly.
  • Sharp-edged and pointed tools should be handled with care.
  • Store tools and materials vertically, with points and heavy end down.
  • Don’t force screws; make sure that the correct screw for the job is being used.
  • All small work and short work should be secured with a vise or clamp.
  • Never use a screwdriver to check if electrical circuits are hot. (Ouch!)
  • Never use a carpenter’s hammer instead of a machinist’s hammer.
  • Never strike a hardened steel surface using a steel hammer, because a small piece of steel may break off and injure someone.
  • Do not use pliers in place of a wrench.
  • Razor blades, saw blades, knife blades should be disposed of in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
  • Never use wrenches if their jaws are sprung or loose. 

We hope those who use these types of tools in their line of work will take every precaution to work safely.  I, for one, have decided I will let my husband do all the little carpentry work that I thought I could do.  I’ve even stuck myself when chopping ice with an ice pick, so I can only imagine what damage I could do with a saw or wrench!  That’s not to say there aren’t lots of women out there that can compete with the men!  (There’s all sorts of small safety glasses sized for the ladies.  Click on womens gloves to view several items sized especially for the girls).  When you reach for that wrench, knife, shears, bolt cutters, or whatever, use with caution! 

P.S. As stated on our home page, if you need any safety products, go to www.tasco-safety.com, and be sure to mention “safety blog 5% discount offer.”

General Safety Issues

HINTS ABOUT HELPING DISABLED PERSONS

Not too very many years ago, there were few assistive devices for folks who needed some help just going through a routine day.  Many had to depend on another person to cook their food, help them dress, do laundry, help with grooming, bathing, and/or many things that we take for granted.  I knew someone who needed help with these things and more – my mom.  She developed rheumatoid arthritis in her twenties, and my dad was her “aide.”  He never minded taking care of her.  Despite numerous surgeries to help remain mobile, she fought hard to keep walking, which she did, with the help of a walker.  They are both gone now, but the advancements in devices that persons can use to help with their independence are wonderful.  Even such a small thing as a remote control, which we now take for granted, is so helpful to a person who can’t get up out of a chair to switch channels on the television. 

Maybe that is what makes me more aware of those who need a little help.  Recently, some friends and I went shopping, and one of my friends with arthritis is unable to walk very far at a time.  She can shop, then sit and rest, and she enjoys the outings with everyone.  She is not disabled, as my mother was, but when she shops in a “superstore,” she is always in need of one of the motorized carts.  We began to realize how much demand there is for those carts, and sadly, there are just not enough to go around.  Yesterday, the only two carts there were unavailable because they were being charged.  One of the employees said that they just can not get all of them charged up to keep up with the demand.  One problem, she mentioned, is the fact that while a person is using the cart, say waiting on medications at the pharmacy, they keep the cart running for maybe 20 minutes or more, which causes it to use up the power from the battery.    Hopefully, this message will serve as a hint to utilize the cart only as long as necessary, and try to return it for the next person who is waiting, by not letting it idle too long. 

In the state of Texas, as other states, there are placards for those who need special parking due to an illness or handicap.  According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, it is illegal for others to use these spaces.  Blue placards designate a permanent disability; red placards designate a temporary disability.  Misuse of these placards can cost fines up to $1,250, and/or up to 50 hours of community service.  I can empathize with persons who have to drive all around malls, looking for handicapped parking, as I’ve done it several times, only to see someone get out of their car who can walk just fine.  That extra parking space is there to allow more room to help someone in and out of the car to be seated in a wheelchair.   

Thankfully, we have more and more products that make life a little easier.  There are handicap vans, all types of mobility aids, automobile accessories, bathroom, kitchen accessories, and grooming aids.  If a person’s physician prescribes things such as a lift chair, scooter, wheelchair, Medicare or Medicaid may help pay for it. 

Now, individuals need to be more conscientious about helping others.  Don’t ignore someone who may need help with some tiny little task that you could do with your eyes closed.  Most persons won’t ask for help, as they want to maintain their independence, but your offer will be appreciated.  Pay attention to those you think you can do a favor for.  Remember, none of us are getting any younger, and hopefully, that kindness will be repaid some day.

General Safety Issues

BURN AWARENESS WEEK – FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH 11

This is a tough topic to write about, but a far tougher experience when a family goes through seeing their child burned in an accident.  Eighty percent of burn injuries occur in and around our homes.  Most of the time, the victims of these accidents are small children.  And, most of the time, those accidents were preventable.  Anyone who has raised children can verify that you can’t turn your back on a toddler.  

There are five national organizations – the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, the American Burn Association Burn Prevention Committee, the Federation of Burn Foundations, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Home Safety Council (now merged with Safe Kids Worldwide) – who have joined forces to create  National Scald Prevention.  This campaign focuses on the high -risk population 0-4 years of age and the senior population.  Also, the Shriners Hospitals for Children has begun its annual Burn Prevention Campaign.  As we said, homes are the sites of thousands of burn injuries to children every year, including scalds and fire-related injuries.  By following basic safety tips, many of these incidents would not have happened.  Shriners Hospitals for Children changes lives every day through innovative pediatric care, world-class research and outstanding medical education.  Twenty-two hospitals in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. 

One type of fire injury that toddlers and children suffer is from touching the glass front of a gas fireplace.  FairWarning report published in 2011 revealed that more than 2,000 children ages 5 and younger have suffered burns from fireplace glass since 1999, according to a federal estimate; however, some burn specialists think the actual toll is higher.  Children’s Hospital Colorado Burn Center reports:

  •          Contact with the glass of gas fireplace doors can result in second or third degree burns.
  •          Burns of the hand can result in hand dysfunction causing long term impairment and disability.
  •          Treatment of burns of the hand are time intensive, costly, painful, and can require long term therapy of the hand.
  •          The glass barrier of a gas fireplace door can heat up to more than 200 degrees F in approximately 6 minutes. 

Every year there are approximately 25,000 burn injuries resulting from scalds.  These injuries are very painful and require prolonged treatment.  The majority of scald injuries are related to hot tap water and cooking accidents.  These are places where we adults have the most control. Adequate and continuous supervision is the most effective way to prevent young children from receiving scald burns.  

The kitchen is the place where children under five are at the highest risk for burns caused by hot fluids.  We must teach our children/grandchildren under age five to not play around the stove or microwave.  Tablecloths and place mats are tempting for children to pull on, which could also cause a spill of hot foods.  Next, the bathroom is the second highest risk area for scald burn injuries in the home.  The temperature of the water that comes from the water heater should be set at a maximum of 120 degrees F.  To test bath water, submerge the hand, spread the fingers and move the hand vigorously in the water.  If the water is uncomfortable to the hand, it is too hot for a child.  Young children’s skin is thinner that adults, therefore there is an increased risk of scalding. 

Children should never be left unattended around burning candles.  Cigarettes, lighters, and other incendiary products should never be where a toddler can get to them.  There could be nothing worse than the guilt of leaving something around where curious little fingers could pick them up and injury occurred.  These tips are also directed to those who care for or are responsible for senior citizens that may be at the point of being left unattended in their homes.  Hundreds of seniors have been seriously burned, or even worse, because they simply forgot that they left something cooking on their stove, until it was too late.  They may not be able to take responsibility for themselves.  Their personal safety should be the responsibility of a close family member, or close friend.  If they have no one to check on them or a caregiver, neighbors should call Family Protective Services or another local organization that can follow up to ensure their safety. 

Please observe Burn Awareness not just this week, but all year long.  Watch out for our “little citizens” and “senior citizens.”

General Safety Issues, High Visibility Safety

HELPFUL INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY VESTS

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A very important component of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the safety vest, or surveyors vest.  Just about anywhere you go, you will see all types of workers wearing safety vests.  These vests play an important role to ensure that workers are more visible, especially in traffic areas.  There are several things to consider when purchasing safety vests. 

In your search for traffic safety vests, it’s likely you have come across products called A.N.S.I. Surveyor Vests.  ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute.  ANSI, founded in 1918, is the voice of U.S. Standards and conformity assessment system.  The official U.S. representative to the International Standard Organization, the main mission of ANSI is to help along operational and business standards that allow the United States to become competitive in the global market.  OSHA identifies rules and regulations for all types of workplace vests, including fire safety vests, traffic vests, and vests worn by law enforcement.  It should be noted that ANSI does not directly set standards, but OSHA normally uses ANSI data, after both institutions have fully done their own testing.  OSHA also analyzes volumes of data regarding workplace safety and PPE.  In the protective equipment area, however, OSHA most often takes ANSI standards and uses them as their own.  Because ANSI safety vests are approved with a high standard that meets both reflective and observed visibility minimums, OSHA will also recommend that ANSI approved vests promote worksite safety and accident avoidance. 

Colors and Materials of Vests

 Non-ANSI approved traffic safety vests are used in Class 1, for low traffic areas (such as parking lot attendants.)  Most popular colors are orange, yellow, and lime green.  Class 2 (ANSI approved) traffic safety vests are used by workers where traffic speeds are usually 25 mph or less.  These vests are orange, yellow, or lime green.  Class 3 (ANSI approved) traffic safety (speeds in excess of 50 mph) vests must be the same colors for Class 2 and 3 ANSI safety vests, using highly reflective material, which can also be worn for nigh work.  Night work greatly increases potential hazards, meaning their vests should have reflective strips for high visibility.  There is also another, the LED safety vest, that lights up while working at night. 

Typical safety and surveyors vests are made up of mesh and solid materials.  Mesh furnishes a cooler vest in warm weather.  Some vests are made of mirror-like material that shines at night when exposed to a light source.  The vests also have different types of stripes on them, which adds to their visibility. 

Surveyors vests contain many more pockets than safety vests.  There are pockets both inside and outside the vests, as surveyors have to carry many small instruments, measuring tape, and other small tools, so the pockets are a necessary part of the vest.  Another type of vest is the Incident Command Vest.  These are different colors, such as navy, red, or black, and are used by law enforcement, EMS, and firemen.  These vests have a place for an identifying badge, or can be imprinted with professional identification. 

These days, people are staying out longer during the days and evenings, such as those who enjoy riding bicycles, jogging or running.  Safety vests are an ideal way for them to be seen, as well.  Safety products for work for athletes because they are sleek and not bulky, and are intended to keep citizens safe, too, as well as those who wear them to work each day.  Another good idea is to purchase some reflective strips for your children’s bikes, to help them be more visible to drivers.

Source: Life Tips, (Texas America Safety Company), OSHA

General Safety Issues

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHISTLEBLOWING

Doctor Who Attempted To Have Whistleblowing Nurses Prosecuted Is Put On Probation

February 9th, 2011 by GruntDoc in Better Health Network, News 
AUSTIN — “Texas medical regulators on Friday placed on probation a West Texas doctor involved in the unsuccessful prosecution of two nurses who complained anonymously that the physician was unethical and risking patients’ health.  The Texas Medical Board technically suspended Dr. Rolando G. Arafiles Jr. but allowed him to continue to practice medicine while on probation for four years if he completes additional training. The board also said Arafiles must be monitored by another physician and submit patient medical and billing records for review. The monitor will report his or her findings to the board. In the mediated order signed in Austin, the board concluded that Arafiles failed to treat emergency room patients properly, did not apply hormone therapy to a female patient appropriately and failed to document patient diagnoses and treatment plans.  The board also found that Arafiles improperly tried to intimidate two nurses who reported him to the medical board for unethical behavior.” 

This particular whistleblowing issue happened in a town where we lived for several years, Kermit, Texas.  The nurses had turned the doctor in to the hospital and an outside review for things they believed were harmful to patients, being done by this physician.  When the issue was virtually ignored, they reported anonymously to the Texas Medical Board, giving the file numbers (not patient names).  It took years to resolve the problem, but as you see in the above article, the physician in question was reprimanded.  The nurses, with the support of the American Nurses Association, and hundreds of nurses, were absolved of any abuse of divulging medical records, and received settlements, as well as reestablishing their good names. 

This is an example of accusations of violating Health Insurance Portablilty and Accountability Act of 1996, which protects the privacy of individuals’ health information.  An employee who thinks that he or she has been retaliated against for disclosing HIPAA-protected information in the course of reporting or complaining about a workplace safety or health issue, may file a complaint with OSHA within 30 days of the retaliation.  OSHA is charged with regulating health and safety in the workplace, and is considered a public health authority and a health oversight agency under HIPAA. 

Persons in all types of work have the right to complain, if they feel their work conditions may be harmful and the company isn’t taking action to correct it.  One example is employees who work for publicly traded companies or companies that are required to file certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are protected from retaliation for reporting alleged mail, wire, bank, or securities fraud; violation(s) of SEC rules and regulations; or violation(s) of Federal law relating to fraud against shareholders.  This became effective under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

If you believe that your employer retaliated against you because you exercised your legal rights as an employee, contact your local OSHA office as soon as possible, because there are legal time limits.  You have a limited right under the OSH Act to refuse to do a job  because conditions are hazardous.  You may do so under the OSH Act only when (1) you believe that you face death or serious injury (and the situation is so clearly hazardous that any reasonable person would believe the same thing); (2) you have tried to get your employer to correct the condition, and there is no other way to do the job safely; and (3) the situation is so urgent that you do not have time to eliminate the hazard through regulatory channels such as calling OSHA.  Regardless of the unsafe condition, you are not protected if you simply walk off the job.  Go to www.osha.gov for more information if you are in any type of situation that you fear for your safety.  

Unfavorable personnel actions may include: 

  •          Firing or laying off
  •          Demoting
  •          Denying overtime or promotion
  •          Disciplining
  •          Blacklisting
  •          Failing to hire or rehire
  •          Denying benefits
  •          Reassignment affecting promotion prospects
  •          Reducing pay or hours
  •          Intimidation 

We hope that this will help anyone who questions their safety on the job; we also hope that work conditions are favorable to all employees, and that they are guaranteed their safety under the law.