Monthly Archives: March 2013

General Safety Issues

EDUCATION, NOT INTOXICATION: DANGERS OF BINGE DRINKING IN COLLEGE (GUEST POST)

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Education Not Intoxication: Dangers Of Binge Drinking In College

The college years are enjoyable for all students who are deciding what they want to pursue as a profession. It is the first taste of true freedom for many teenagers and a true test of time management skills and direction. It is easy for a college student to be influenced by other students who may or may not be on a successful academic or professional path. Using alcohol is almost considered a rite of passage for the typical college student, but binge drinking can become a problem faster than the untrained drinker can realize.

1. What Is Binge Drinking

Rehabilitation professionals normally claim that anyone consuming over three drinks in an evening are binge drinkers. That threshold may not be reasonable to the average person. The average human can filter one ounce of alcohol per hour through their body, so it generally takes two drinks per hour to initiate intoxication. Even students who are drinking in this pattern are clearly at risk for developing long-term alcohol abuse problems. Serious binge drinking generally carries a component of drinking as a priority.

2. Avoiding Drinking Games

The popularity of drinking games has been a major contributor to collegiate binge drinking behavior. Alcohol consumption as a competitive sport is never a good idea. Novice drinkers do not have the tolerance that regular drinkers have built over time; therefore, it is just not a smart practice. Peer pressure can be a difficult situation to manage, but the best decision is always drink moderately or not at all if under the legal drinking age. This is especially true in public or strange locations because out-of-control situations happen quickly.

3. Educational Issues

Traditional college students are young and normally have the physical ability to recover quickly from a night of binge drinking.  However, this can easily become a daily habit which would then affect focus, organizational skills, and priorities. Class attendance may plummet along with grades. The effects could possibly be academic probation, the loss of a scholarship, and ultimately a dismissal from school altogether.

4. Legal Issues

The most obvious legal danger for a drinking college student is possession of alcohol. All states require individuals to be twenty-one years of age to purchase or possess alcohol. Public intoxication is also an illegal possession charge, so fines can be increased and jail time may be the consequence especially if caught driving under the influence. This could cause a student to miss a number of days from classes. It will create a time consuming battle with their perspective state’s DMV which will hinder driving privileges and cause a number of days missed to attend to the matter. Also, if attending college in Virginia, the attorneys’ at the Wilson Law Firm, would suggest that the defendant should pre-enroll in the 20-hour program, Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), to show initiative to the court. This, too, would take time from classes and studying.

5. Medical Issues

The short-term effects of drinking are blackouts, promiscuity, and possibly violence. The long-term effects this process can have on the body are numerous. It is particularly true of liquor. Long-term binge drinking can create medical problems with all organs and can eventually cause death from alcohol poisoning. It is proven that brain damage can occur from alcohol abuse. It can hinder the ability to learn and to hold on to knowledge. Additionally, the possibility of a serious accident of any kind is much greater when an individual is intoxicated. Many individuals have suffered a lifetime over accidents that occurred while they were intoxicated.

College is an exciting time for the students and one of concern for parents in hopes that they prepared their son/daughter for this day of autonomy with high hopes for higher learning, great memories, and the start of a successful life. The pressures to make adult decisions can lead a student to make the decision to drink alcohol. This could lead to binge drinking which almost always results in intoxication beyond legal limits. This gives way to situations that could rapidly escalate out of control. There are just too many dangers that can stem from this practice.

Kelly Dennie is a mother of a rising college freshman who is filled with excitement and concern. The attorneys’ at the Wilson Law Firm has a checklist for defendants arrested for DUI: document the situation to the best of their ability, consult with a lawyer, pre-enroll in VASAP, obtain a copy of their driving record, and gather commendations in preparation for their defense. This situation may seem frightening but, the first step in gaining control is to understand the charges, process, penalties, and to hire an experienced lawyer.

Eye Protection, Fall Safety, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Safety

SAFE WORKING AT HEIGHT (GUEST POST)

From Jason of riskatmedia.com 

There are particular hazards associated with working at height, some of these hazards accompany almost all types of work activity, such as manual handling and slips and trips.  Others, such as falls from height and contact with moving or falling objects are of particular concern to personnel who work at height.  Falls from height are the leading cause of fatal injuries at work. While contact with moving or falling objects is the third greatest cause of workplace fatality and the second greatest cause of major accidents at work. 

Manual Handling  Manual handling related activities are a major cause of occupational injury.  Low back pain, joint injuries and repetitive strain injuries affect over a million people each year, and many of these injuries are the result of manual handling. Prior to carrying out any unavoidable manual handling activity, you should help to protect yourself from injury by following good manual handling practices.  Consider the task to be carried out and the nature of the load, and be aware of your own capabilities and the environment in which you are working. In particular, tools, equipment and materials can be extremely heavy and you should give consideration to safe manual handling practices before undertaking any job that involves lifting these items while working at height, where manual lifts may be made more difficult by space restrictions and the potential to fall. 

Slip, Trips and Falls  Slips and trips represent a significant cause of work related injury.  Slips and trips can result from contamination, obstacles, inappropriate footwear, reduced visibility, the environment and people’s attitudes. It is extremely important that elevated work platforms and access ladders are kept clear of slip and trip hazards that could result in a possible fall from height.  By removing waste materials to waste skips you can contribute significantly to good housekeeping.  You can also reduce the risk of slips and trips by properly routing any cables that you use, by only taking the tools, equipment and materials necessary to the job aloft, by appropriately storing all such items and keeping walkways clear, by ensuring that you always wear appropriate footwear, and by taking responsibility for your own and your colleagues safety and containing any spills that you might discover. Scaffolders should ensure that no loose scaffolding materials are ever left on a finished scaffold. 

Contact with Moving or Falling Objects  Contact with moving or falling objects is a significant hazard to personnel involved in work at height, as well as to personnel who may be working in the areas beneath operations conducted at height.   Access to the area in which you are working from a ladder should be restricted by barriers when moving vehicles, trailers and hand bogies pose a collision risk.  Suitable barriers and signs should be used to keep the access roads used by Mobile Elevated Work Platforms clear. This will reduce the risk of collision with structures, people and other mobile plant and vehicles.  Care should still be taken to ensure that the platform’s boom or knuckles do not impede the access and working areas used by other plant and vehicles. 

Safe working practices should always be followed to prevent the fall of materials from a height.  All tools, equipment and materials essential to work aloft should be appropriately stowed to ensure that they do not fall.  Any excess materials and all debris should be removed from elevated work platforms, all loose items should be placed in storage boxes, bagged or secured where possible, edge protection should be used to prevent items falling from sloping roofs and all items you need to carry while using a ladder should be held in a belt pouch.  Where there is still a possibility that materials may fall from a height, access to the work area should be restricted by barriers and appropriate warning signs or by posting a banks-man. 

Elevated Working Platforms  Where work at height cannot be avoided, safe working practices should always be followed to reduce the risk of falling any distance which could cause injury.  You should always use an approved and safe means of gaining access to elevated working platforms.  Wherever possible, work at height should be carried out from an appropriate working platform with edge protection, making use of a safety harness and any other available work equipment and fall arrest systems to prevent falls from height.  Where this is not possible, work of a light nature and short duration can be undertaken from a ladder, while other work can be undertaken by suitably trained, experienced and medically fit individuals using a body harness and other fall arrest equipment identified during detailed planning.  You should never use temporary makeshift working platforms.

Work platforms on scaffolding should have full guardrails and toe boards.  A safety harness is required if full guarding is not possible, or if the work involves reaching over. Mesh should be installed if scaffolding is designed specifically to store bulk materials. 

Appropriate fall arrest equipment attached to a suitable anchor point inside the platform should be used whenever you work from a mobile elevated work platform. 

Edges of roofs from which a person could fall should be provided with a barrier that is properly constructed, anchored and fitted with toe boards as appropriate.  Roof openings should be protected by barriers or covers.  Fragile roof areas should be identified and protected by a barrier, or fitted with crawling boards, crawling ladders or duck boards that are properly supported.

Where ladders must be used, they should be securely lashed at the top, tied at the bottom, or held by a second person to ensure that they do not move or slip.  Ladders should be long enough to allow 3 or 4 rungs above the working step, 3 points of contact should be maintained at all times and a harness clipped to a secure anchor point should always be used. 

Structural Integrity  Elevated working platforms should be structurally sound to prevent accidents which could lead to falls from height.  All scaffolding should be erected by trained and competent personnel, they should verify that all materials are fit for purpose and that the load bearing ground and surfaces are fit for purpose.  Never be tempted to make unauthorised alterations to scaffolding. Prior to using any scaffolding on site, you must check that the scaff tag is in date and valid.  Scaffolding should be inspected weekly and following adverse weather conditions by a competent person.  If you are at all unsure that the appropriate inspections have been carried out, do not use the scaffolding and report to your manager. 

All ladders should also conform to the relevant Standard, be free from patent defect, and be inspected once a week by a competent person.  If you have any reason to doubt that a ladder has been appropriately inspected, do not use it and report to your manager.

Lanyards should be inspected before each use and should be subjected to a detailed inspection by a competent person at least once every six months.  If you have reason to think that any fall arrest equipment has not been properly inspected, please do not use it and discuss the matter with your manager. 

Planning  To reduce the risk of personnel falling all work at height should be suitably planned. Where the use of a body harness cannot be avoided for work at height, a competent manager should provide a plan which incorporates safe access and egress, as well as the type of harness and double lanyard that should be used. 

A suitable rescue plan should also be in place where a harness or restraints are used.  The rescue plan should ensure that effective communication links have been established so that assistance can be summoned. 

Training  All personnel need appropriate training and experience to safely carry out operations which involve working at height.  Only suitably trained and authorised personnel are allowed to use mobile elevated work platforms and body harnesses.  Cradles should only be used by personnel who are suitably trained and experienced. 

Human Factors  Human factors play a significant role in safe working at height.  For this reason, personnel should not work at height if you are tired or otherwise unable to give your full attention to the task at hand.  If you feel that your medical history, age, health or fitness might affect your ability to carry work at height, please discuss this with your manager.  Remember that you should never come to work in possession of, or under the influence of, alcohol or drugs.  These substances expose everyone on site to risks that are unnecessary and easily avoided. 

Environments  The risks associated with work at height can be increased by the environment in which you are required to work, Hot and cold environments can result in physical stresses and affect concentration, as they have the potential to raise or lower you body core temperature beyond safe limits.  Confined spaces limit your ability to move around, can be poorly lit and may increase the length of time taken to provide medical assistance in the event of an emergency. It is therefore extremely important that you follow safe working practices when working at height in these environments. 

Hot Works  Particular attention should be given to establishing a safe place of work and to following safe working practices when you carry out hazardous tasks, such as hot works, at height.  The risks associated with fumes, explosions and electric shock can result in falls from height.  Ensure that you use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, that you use and store gas bottles safely and that all items of electrical equipment carry a valid appliance testing label. 

Personal Protective Equipment PPE  PPE is an important means of reducing the risks associated with work at height.  At least standard PPE with safety glasses, construction hard hats and gloves should be worn, with a harness attached to suitable fall arrest equipment while accessing or working on elevated platforms.  Additional PPE, such as dust masks, breathing apparatus and hearing protection may be required for particular tasks, as outlined in the relevant risk assessment.

You should also wear close fitting garments, not wear a tie or jewellery and tie back long hair and long beards to reduce the risk of entanglement.  Only PPE in good working condition will reduce the hazards associated with your work, so it is important to remove, clean and store your PPE correctly. 

Electricity and Overhead Power Lines  Electric shock can result in death and severe burns.  In addition, serious injury can occur if an individual falls from height as a result of an electric shock. All items of electrical equipment should carry a valid test certificate or label to reduce the risk of electric shock.  Testing should be carried out by suitably trained individuals.   If any item of electrical equipment does not carry a valid test label, it should not be used and you should inform your manager.  You should also carry out a visual pre-use inspection of all equipment to ensure that it remains undamaged. 

Because of the risk of electrocution, aluminium ladders should never be used where there is a risk of contact with electricity.

Electric shock can also occur as a result of contact with overhead power lines.  Where mobile elevated work platforms are to be used near overhead power lines, an appointed person should plan and supervise operations.  Power lines should be made dead where at all possible.  Where this is not possible, work under power lines should be of short duration and all appropriate restraints and barriers should be in place to ensure that the platform cannot reach or accidentally come into contact with live power lines. 

Mobile Elevated Work Platforms MEWPs   Other safe working practices are necessary to prevent mobile elevated work platforms from overturning during work at height.  The manufacturer’s safe working load should never be exceeded and the platform should never be operated in high winds.  You should also avoid handling sheet type materials in windy conditions.

Where the use of a platform on uneven ground cannot be avoided, they should be used at reduced speed, they should not be turned on slopes and the use of road plates should be considered. 

Emergency Procedures  In the event of an emergency while working at height, isolate any equipment that you have been using, make your work area safe and use a safe means of egress to evacuate the area according to the site emergency procedures.  If you are involved in an accident, seek immediate assistance. 

Riskatmedia – Safety Training Videos

General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

KNOW THE DANGERS OF ASBESTOS (GUEST POST)

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Know the Dangers of Asbestos

Asbestos has been used as a building material since the 1950’s and
though everyone has heard of the deadly material, why exactly is it held
with such fear and what does exposure to the material mean for those
involved?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring material, which has been exploited by
the building trade for over 50 years. The material was particularly
popular due to its excellent insulating qualities as well as it
providing good protection against fire and corrosion. However, unbeknown
to tradesmen working with the material years before and many DIY
enthusiasts of today, the material that seemed to have so many amazing
properties does have its dangers, dangers which were only revealed
decades later.

Where is Asbestos Found?

All buildings constructed before 2000 are at risk of containing
asbestos and scarily this deadly material can be found in a variety of
places both in domestic and commercial environments. Asbestos Containing
Materials (ACMs) can be found in ceiling tiles, pipe insulation,
boilers, sprayed coatings, structural supports and cement roof sheeting
found on industrial roofs and walls.
Asbestos is also found in artex, these textured wall coverings were a
staple feature in 1960’s and 1970’s homes and as times have changed so
too have the interior design trends. More homeowners are putting
themselves at risk of asbestos exposure by removing artex coverings from
their walls and ceilings in favour of a more modern interior but before
completing any home improvement it’s important to know the dangers
behind asbestos so that if encountered, the asbestos can be handled and
disposed of correctly.

Identifying Asbestos

Identifying asbestos is a tricky thing and a job that should be done by
an asbestos specialist licensed by the Health and Safety Executive.
Asbestos was actually mixed with other materials during construction
making it hard to identify even to this day. According to a study by the
British Lung Foundation, around two-thirds of people said they couldn’t
confidently identify asbestos, making it even more important that you
call in a professional if you are concerned that you home may contain
the deadly material.

The Hidden Killer

If inhaled, asbestos can cause a variety of health concerns, and though
it may take anything from a few minutes to a few years for your body to
be exposed to asbestos, symptoms of exposure can take decades to
develop. Once symptoms show however, it is often too late for the person
involved, resulting in serious complications and even death.
Asbestos exposure has caused a number of conditions, the most serious
being Mesothelioma. This is a form of cancer, which affects the lung and
digestive tract lining and in recent years it has been exclusively
linked with asbestos. Asbestosis is also a result of heavy exposure,
this disease scars the lungs causing shortness of breath and other
breathing difficulties.  Asbestos exposure has also been found to cause
thickening and swelling of the lung lining, which also restricts the
lung’s capabilities causing shortness of breath and discomfort.

This article was written by LocalTraders,  the home improvement
specialists with expertise in the identification and removal of sbestos, as well as other home and garden upgrades. Their quick and
easy enquiry system connects homeowners with reliable local tradesmen
 or high quality solutions for their residential or business properties.

Anyone working around asbestos should wear the proper protective equipment, such as protective clothing, and gloves, and not wear their work clothing home with them, but change into every day clothes in order not to bring particles into their homes and family. pb

General Safety Issues

FIVE UNUSUAL SAFETY DRIVING TIPS (GUEST POST)

We all know that when someone tells you to drive safely, first thought is… don’t drink and drive or don’t text while driving, buckle up or watch the road. Common safety rules that we often disregard and take for granted. What does it really mean when you say “drive safely”?

1.       Don’t slow down.

Normally the precaution is for you not to go over-speeding. But the opposite is also recommended. Don’t slow down too much as you may stop the flow of traffic. Other cars are moving in a normal and average speed and they can’t wait for the “king of the road” to pass. Driving too slowly may frustrate drivers behind and around you. This can be another contributing factor in road deaths! Just slow down when you are in unfamiliar places and make sure to keep your hazards blinking on.

2.       Do not accept calls while driving.

Some drivers think that answering calls with the use of mouthpiece, earpiece or loud speaking are okay. However, the call will get his attention and he will focus less on what’s on the road. The brain tends to split thoughts so it’s always better to ignore calls and simply call back later. The phone would have the number of the caller anyway and it would indicate how many times the call is missed. If it’s really urgent, the concerned person on the other line would send an SMS you can read when the traffic light turns to red.

3.       Always put on the seat belt.

If it’s a short-distance driving, you may have the habit of not putting on your seat belt thinking that it won’t be of any good use. You may be lazy or sometimes forget this act for safety. Realize that most accidents happen to drivers who do not buckle up behind the steering wheel. The seat belt should claim its purpose and you should maximize whatever is designed in the car for function.

4.       Forget the toys.

Stuffed dolls, small figurines, pillows and toys are put for decorations in the car. These are girly stuff that most drivers have to please their passengers who consist mostly of their family members. Sorry to burst your bubble but these fluffy toys would not help you be safe in any way. In fact, they may even pose as danger when they block the driver’s view. Instead of placing them on the dashboard or at the back near the compartment area, leave them inside the house to avoid the risks of accidents.

5.       Never assume it’s best to overtake.

Overtaking in many cases is dangerous, especially if you are a novice driver in such a narrow road. Blind spots will always be there so it’s best to never take a wild guess and think that it’s okay to overtake when the side of the road looks clear. There might be a fast-moving car to sweep you by and this implies death or massive injuries at your end in a matter of seconds.

Conclusion

With all these safety tips, the best thing is to always make sure your car is properly serviced and maintained. Before getting inside the car, check the lights and the brakes and remove anything unnecessary that will cause distractions. It’s better that you’re safe than sorry.

 

General Safety Issues

CAN YOU GET YOUR TRAFFIC TICKET REDUCED? (GUEST POST)

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 When driving a vehicle, it is vital that you follow the traffic rules and regulations. There are specific traffic laws in every state and every driver has to abide by these laws when driving their vehicles. Failing to do so is illegal and will be considered as a violation of traffic laws. A traffic ticket is issued when you do not follow these traffic laws. 

There are mainly two types of traffic violations – moving violations and non-moving violations. Example of moving violation includes driving too fast and over the speed limit. Non-moving violation refers to parking violations and tickets issued for such violations are known as parking ticket, parking citation, or notice of illegal parking. Traffic tickets may be issued for both these types of violations. 

If you have received a traffic ticket, you may have a difficult time accepting it, especially if you think you have not done anything to deserve it. A traffic violation puts a bad impression on your driving record and a marred record can have several consequences. However, there are ways that can help you get the ticket reduced. 

In order to get a reduction on the traffic ticket, you would first need to do a thorough evaluation of your situation. If you decide to fight the ticket, there would be additional costs for court time and other legal proceedings. Experts believe your chances of beating the ticket gets slimmer with the number of violations you commit. Therefore, if this is your first time traffic violation, you will be more likely to get the ticket reduced and sometimes even dismissed than those who have multiple violations on their record. 

You would need to hire a competent attorney who would carry out the legal proceedings for you. For example, if the violation occurred in Las Vegas, you may hire an attorney who fights traffic tickets in Las Vegas. Once you have hired the lawyer, you would need to prepare a concrete plan regarding how the matter should be approached. According experts, the common type of reduction that you may get is getting a moving violation reduced into a non-moving violation. For example if you were issued the ticket for speeding, your lawyer may be able to get it reduced to not wearing a seatbelt. 

However, in order to get a good reduction, you would first need to have a clean driving record. Your chances of getting the ticket reduced gets dim if you have had received such tickets in the past.  

Author Bio: Rob Baptist is a personal injury lawyer and he shares his experiences by writing on line blogs and article. In this article he discusses about the traffic tickets in Las Vegas.

General Safety Issues

Safety Measures to Be Taken While Sailing

Another great article sent by Penny Cooper.

Sailors often heed to their ominous instincts before setting sail. A sailor must take protective measures while sailing and take charge to rescue the crew in case of an emergency. Given below are some useful tips to be exercised while sailing. 

Before you set sail 

Make note of the position at which the crew member is working and the time. Instruct the crew member to change his position according to the change of current.  Distribute floats among the crew members for use. Floats enclose the person in a localized area and minimize injuries in emergency situations.   Make a crew member responsible to monitor the crew member overboard and identify him during a rescue operation. In case of a small crew, a crew member might have to release the jib and independently handle the main sail.

Emergency measures in case of mishaps 

Perform the “Quick Stop Method” to bring back a member back on board. In this method, the boat speed is immediately reduced by turning the boat in the windward direction and moving at an average speed, while remaining close to the victim.

When performed correctly, the Quick Stop Method is effective because it is fast way of pulling back the crew member on board. The only disadvantage of this method is that it requires the boat to jibe which is difficult in case of strong winds. 

Quick Turn Method is the conventional response to retrieve the victim in an emergency. In this strategy, boat jibe is not required. The quick turn is symbolized by the figure 8. It can be done at any sail point but it has the demerit of drawing the boat further away from the victim. 

For both emergency measures, provide the victim with flotation devices if he doesn’t have them already. Buoyant objects like life rings and cockpit cushions can be thrown into the water. Aside from aiding the victim, the floats help to keep sight of the victim. 

Other safety measures  

Safety equipment such as flotation devices should also be at hand to retrieve the victim successfully. It is better if the crewmen wear life jackets while on board. An ideal life jacket should be reflective and have the boat’s name imprinted. 

A whistle should also be inserted in the lifejacket. The whistle should not have balls, because when filled with water, they become hard to blow. A flare must also be included in the life jacket to flash signal lights in case of poor visibility. 

The boat must have a life raft in a place where it can be easily retrieved. The life raft should be checked for faults and kept in working condition. Inflate it now and then to ascertain whether it will function properly at an emergency situation. Keep a ditch bag at an accessible location in your boat that has water and a stock of rations for emergency.

Though sailing is a risky venture, it can be safe and thrilling when safety measures are adopted. Crew men are required to maintain their calm at all situations and stay vigilant at all times. 

Penny is a professional associated with The Boating Hub, a website that offers extensive online sailing lessons.

Thanks, Penny, for this information.  May we suggest that all boats are equipped with first aid kits and supplies, just in case of minor injuries while sailing? 

 

 

 

Back Safety, Eye Protection, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

KEEPING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SAFE (GUEST POST)

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Construction is a notoriously dangerous industry.  In the UK, where we are based, the industry employs around five percent of the country’s workforce.  According to government statistics thosefive percent have twenty-two percent of the work related fatal injuries and ten percent of the reported major injuries.  In the US, seventeen percent of worker fatalities are in the construction industry. 

As shocking as these statistics sound, there’s been a significant improvement in both countries over the last forty years.  I think the reasons for this are threefold.  Firstly, there is much more safety legislation nowadays than formerly.  Secondly there’s a much more consistent use of safety clothing and equipment – much of which you can study at leisure on this site.  Thirdly, more workers receive various forms of safety training.  I firmly believe that the way to continue to improve safety in construction is to make training and refresher courses widely available for people employed in the industry and I also think that it’s in the construction companies’ best interest to ensure that their employees can access training.  Why do I believe this?  Well, there are several reasons: 

1)      Companies can be financially liable for the safety of their employees.  Even with insurance your premiums will go up dramatically if you have accidents on your sites.

2)      Companies generally want to employ the best workers.  If you have a good reputation for safety practice, people are more likely to want to join you and stay with you.  If your employees see that you’re willing to develop their skills, they’re much more likely to stay loyal to you.

3)      Workers are often injured by the actions of other workers.  Think about it – how likely is it that you’ll be fatally injured by a falling object that you’ve dropped? How likely is it that you’ll have put up the scaffolding that’s worked loose and caused you to fall?  The more workers on your site who have safety training, the safer the whole site will be.

4)      Companies can receive site inspections from official bodies.  Some are empowered to fine companies for non-compliance with legislation.  The more knowledgeable your employees are, the less likely you are to have compliance breaches on your sites.

5)      Companies are in a position to request bespoke training from education co-ordinators if they’re putting through a large number of pupils.  This means that the trainer(s) will put your company’s policies and procedures at the heart of their training.  You are also in a position to monitor the way that the training is delivered and make sure that your employees have the skills rather than just the piece of paper at the end of it. 

Are you involved with the construction industry?  Do you have any views on the safety training  you’ve received?  We’d be interested to read your responses in the comments section.

 Sent to us by Carl, of blogginghelper.co.uk
Email: carl@blogginghelper.co.uk
Twitter: @blogginghelper
Web: www.blogginghelper.co.uk

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

PROTECTING TEETH DURING SPORTS (GUEST POST)

Sports injuries are a leading cause of dental problems and tooth loss; flying balls, heavy objects, body contact and unpredictable surfaces can all spell danger for one’s teeth, but there are some simple and effective ways of reducing the risk of injury and preventing accidents when participating in sport. 

Sport participation is a great way of keeping fit and healthy, meeting new people and getting rid of pent-up stress and energy. But, though you may not immediately think so, it can be dangerous too. Thankfully, there is a great deal of safety equipment available for sports players of all abilities. 

Ways to protect your teeth 

If you play sport on a regular basis or play a contact sport a mouth guard is essential. Mouth guards can be purchased from sports shops and you can take them home and mould them using hot water to fit your mouth. However, a dentist-made mouth guard is the best option as they are designed to fit your mouth perfectly. They can take a little getting used to, but if your mouth guard fits well it should be relatively comfortable and it will protect your teeth from damage from balls, falls and contact with other people or objects. 

This kind of equipment is generally recommended for people who play rugby, hockey, lacrosse, ice hockey and boxing. They are also available in a range of colours and designs. You can even buy models that use the latest sports science technology to improve your sporting performance. Additional safety equipment such as helmets can also help to prevent head and facial injuries. 

Reducing your risk of injury 

Sport has many benefits, but it is often a cause of injury. You can reduce your risk of suffering a mishap by following these tips: 

  • Always warm up before you start exercising
  • Wear protective clothing and use protective equipment
  • Follow the rules of the game
  • Wear suitable and supportive footwear
  • Cool down after exercising
  • Increase the intensity of exercise gradually

Raising awareness of sporting injuries 

Many people know about the risks associated with playing sport, but if you only play sport now and again or if you assume that because you’re just an amateur you don’t need to wear protective clothing, you are putting your safety at risk. Dental injuries may seem like unlikely if you just play an hour of sport now and again, but accidents can happen at any time, in any place and there is as much chance of you suffering an injury in that hour as any other hour. Wearing a mouth guard will protect your teeth and potentially save you from losing one or more teeth; your teeth create your smile, which most people regard as their most important feature, so losing teeth can have a significant impact on your confidence, as well as the appearance of your smile. 

If you don’t know much about safety in sport or you think others would benefit from leaning about playing sport safely and preventing dental injuries and other potential hazards, why not organise a sporting event at work to raise awareness of the importance of taking safety measures when playing sport? You can combine fun, team work and getting fit with informing people about safety in sport. 

This is a blog article from the good folk at www.dentalimplant.co.uk where there is more info on protecting your mouth and finding solutions for dental health problems.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

March 3-9: National Patient Safety Awareness Week

Patient Safety Awareness Week is an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety led by NPSF. Each year, health care organizations internationally take part in the event by prominently displaying the NPSF campaign logo and promotional materials within their organizations, creating awareness in the community, and utilizing NPSF educational resources among hospital staff and patients. Visit the NPSF Store to order materials.

The theme for Patient Safety Awareness Week 2013 is Patient Safety 7/365: 7 days of recognition, 365 days of commitment to safe care. This is a week to recognize the advancements that have been made in the patient safety arena, while acknowledging the challenges that remain—and committing to work on them, every day.

Key Facts About Patient Safety

Doctors, nurses, and other health professionals dedicate their lives to caring for their patients. But providing health care can be complicated. There are often multiple steps involved in a health care visit. A number of different medical staff may be take part in the care of a single patient. And patients may be confused by unfamiliar words and technical language.  If the patient is elderly, there should be a caregiver or family member present to be sure everyone understands the physicians’ instructions.

Although hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices take many steps to keep their patients safe, medical errors can happen. Often, medical errors (also called adverse events) happen when there is a single misstep in a chain of activities.

Researchers and experts in the field of patient safety have identified a number of ongoing patient safety challenges. Below are descriptions of some of the most common and worrisome issues.  Have you or a friend or family member experienced an incident regarding safety issues while you were a patient? 

Wrong-Site Surgery

Wrong-site surgery means an operation done on the wrong part of the body or on the wrong person. It can also mean the wrong surgery was performed.  Wrong-site surgery is rare and preventable, but it does still occur. Between 1995 and 2010, 956 wrong-site incidents were reported to the Joint Commission (the Joint Commission is an organization that reviews and grants accreditation to health care institutions). One study surveyed surgical procedures from 28 hospitals and found the incidence of WSS to be approximately 1 in 112,994 procedures. For the average hospital, this means only one error every 5 to 10 years. 

However, to ensure that you aren’t that “one” error, be sure to ask the surgical staff  if the correct surgical site is marked, and ask any other questions you may have prior to the surgery.

Medication Errors

Medication errors are when a patient receives the wrong medication, or when he or she receives the right medication but in the wrong dosage or manner.  Medication errors are unfortunately very common. According to the Institute of Medicine’s July 2006 report Preventing Medication Errors, medication errors harm an estimated 1.5 million Americans each year, resulting in upward of $3.5 billion in extra medical costs. Medication errors include cases where the wrong medication is given, where the wrong dose of the right medication is given, or when medication is given the wrong way (for example, in pill form rather than liquid) or when it is given at the wrong time. 

Health Care-Acquired Infections

A health care-acquired infection (HAI) is an infection a person gets while being treated for a medical condition. HAIs may occur in patients who are treated at a medical facility or in their homes. An infection is considered to be an HAI when it occurs after treatment begins. HAIs are often discovered within 48 hours of admission to a health care facility, but other infections may also be considered HAIs.  In the United States, 1 out of 20 hospitalized patients contract HAIs. These complications of care lead to extra time in the hospital and longer recovery times.

The three most common types of HAIs are

  • Catheter-related bloodstream infections: Catheter-related bloodstream infections, or CRBSIs, are among the most common infections in patients who are admitted to critical care units. These infections occur when bacteria and other germs travel down a “central line” and enter the bloodstream.
  • Hospital-acquired pneumonia: Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is an infection of the lungs that occurs 48 hours or longer after admission to a hospital. This pneumonia tends to be more serious because patients in the hospital are often sicker and unable to fight off germs than otherwise health people. Hospital-acquired pneumonia occurs more often in patients who are using a respirator (machine) to help them breathe. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) falls into the HAP category. It may occur in patients who need a tube to breathe.
  • Surgical site infections (SSI): A surgical site infection is an infection that occurs after surgery in the part of the body where the surgery took place. Surgical site infections sometimes only involve the skin. Others are more serious and can involve tissues under the skin, organs, or implanted material (such as knee or hip replacements). 

Falls

Falls are a common cause of injury, both within and outside of health care settings. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults over 65 fall each year. Injuries that result from falls can include bone fractures, excessive bleeding, or even death.  Researchers estimate that more than 500,000 falls happen each year in U.S. hospitals, resulting in 150,000 injuries. Patients may be at increased risk of falls if

  • They have an impaired memory
  • They have muscle weakness
  • They are older than 60
  • They use a cane or walker to help them walk

Medications may also play a role in increasing a person’s risk for a fall. Studies have also shown that elderly patients taking four or more prescription medications are at three time’s greater risk for falls than are other patients.  Hospitals and other health care organizations take steps to prevent falls among their patients, such as placing a sign on the door that this patient is a fall risk. You can help prevent falls by asking your doctor or nurse about your risk and taking steps to reduce your chance of a fall.  Bed alarms are also placed on the beds of fall-prone patients.

Readmissions

A readmission is when a patient needs to return to the hospital less then 30 days after being discharged. Many factors may lead to hospital readmissions, such as poor quality care or a gap in the transition between different providers and care settings. Readmissions may also occur if patients are discharged from hospitals prematurely, or if they are discharged to inappropriate settings, or if they do not receive adequate information or resources to aid in recovery.

Patients can help avoid readmission by making sure they understand their care plan before they are discharged from the hospital. They also need to be sure to follow up on care once they leave the hospital.

Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors mean a diagnosis that was either “wrong, missed, or unintentionally delayed.” No-fault errors may happen when there are masked or unusual symptoms of a disease, or when a patient has not fully cooperated in care. Diagnostic errors may also result from system-related problems, such as equipment failure or flaws in communication. A wrong diagnosis may also occur when the clinician relies too much on common symptoms, and choosing an obvious answer, without looking further into what may be causing them.

We all want to know there is a hospital nearby when one falls ill or has an accident.  We also want to trust that we will receive professional care.  My husband developed a Strep B infection following a hip replacement, resulting in more surgery, and six weeks of home health care, including wearing an iv bag for six weeks.  Luckily, the infection cleared up, but he should not have had to go through that.  I could list numerous friends and family that have been made more sick after being hospitalized than before they went in.  I feel most of you can, too.

The best advice is to feel free to ask the doctors and nurses as many questions as you have.  Nurses and aides should do their job and give the same attention they give to patients who have no one sitting in the room with them to those who do have someone present.  It is not the sitter or family members’ job to bathe, or take care of the patient.  This happens in hospitals all too frequently.  We all are paid to do our own jobs.  It is our responsibility to be aware of negligence and/or mistakes, and report it to the compliance officer of the hospital.

I just had to add my two cents to this article.  Most of us have experienced some type of incident while in a hospital.  The statements in italics are my comments.  Feel free to send yours, too. pb

Source: National Patient Safety Foundation

General Safety Issues

WHY FESTIVALS AND CONFERENCES CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT SAFETY BARRIERS (GUEST POST)

The United States and United Kingdom both have policies when it comes to crowd control. Large and regulated events such as sports games are required to use safety barriers to discourage people from entering restricted areas. This includes places that must remain free of people for traffic and industrial equipment to move through. The public must be blocked from hazardous areas and from moving traffic. Sporting centers and even organizers might use additional barriers to help channel large crowds and keep them from overwhelming entrances and exits.

How Crowd Control Barriers Work

A barrier is a steel obstacle that rises to waist or chest height. It is similar to a fence except the construction material is a stainless steel pipe. These obstacles are heavy enough that an average person would have trouble moving one. Many barriers are chained together in order to form walls and lines that channel large crowds. When barriers are chained together, they become a single very heavy object that is difficult to move or tip over.

Police Use Them When No One Else Will

Law enforcement officers are allowed to install crowd control devices to contain any large crowd at any event where the people are gathered in the streets. While this practice at worst helps to prevent riots, it also keeps minors from playing in surrounding areas. It prevents people from being obstacles and also prevents accidents. Not all cities have laws that give a detailed list of when to set up blocks, except police are often allowed to use them at their discretion. Stadiums and other private services are entitled to use safety barriers on their property, and they make use of both soft strap directional and heavy steel barriers.

Reducing Costs By Reducing Walls

Barriers as simple as fabric tapes will provide a psychological barrier to movement. People are conditioned to moving within them and staying inside the line. Steel barricades are cheaper than building a permanent wall and they can be easily moved. This reduces costs for many institutions, because it eliminates the need to build permanent walls. There is less need to have security guards at every corner, because the mental impression of a block is typically sufficient.

Barriers for Festivals and Conferences

Festivals held in a public park can set up barricades with the park’s permission. Often organizing an event requires collaboration with the city and the police. Application forms are filled out and require information about how many people are expected to show up. Park managers may decide to put up barricades on their own or else the police will do it as a matter of policy. Different areas will have different rules, but major urban areas have policies that require some form of crowd control. They help police and organizers deal with a large crowd in the event of panic.

They are Useful and Often Necessary

Human beings are normally civilized and operate in a peaceful manner. They are not perfect, and unexpected events can cause a stampede in anger or panic. Festivals that could be considered family events will normally include children, and these smaller people are the ones most likely to wander off into dangerous areas. Barriers help large crowds direct their flow, and they also block off areas from being entrances and exits. In the event of a disturbance, police can use these barriers as management tools. The presence of barriers might cause an event to seem less family friendly, but the average person has typically seen them enough to regard them with neutrality.

Article donated by Robert Phillips who knows a thing or two about safety barriers.