All posts by Doug

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

RIDE LIKE THE WIND!

Kids of all ages love to ride on ATV’s (All-Terrain Vehicle, 3 or 4 wheels).  Before you hit the trail, however, there’s a lot to think about, safety being primary.  ATV accidents cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of emergency room visits yearly.

In our area not too long ago, a couple riding together on an ATV out in the country were unable to stop when they suddenly turned onto a road and hit the back of a dump truck.  The driver of the truck saw them coming from a side road and tried to veer out of the way, but they were coming pretty fast.  When the ATV driver tried to stop, the girl was thrown off the ATV and hit the back of the truck.  The rider was not hurt but the girl lost her life.  If they had been more aware of the risks involved, maybe this could have been avoided.

Here’s some Do’s and Don’t’s that could make a difference:
DO:

  • Get properly trained.  Drivers that have had formal training have a lower risk of injury.
  • Always wear protective gear.  Head injuries are a risk, so you should purchase a helmet that is certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Snell Memorial Foundation, or American National Standards Institute.
  • Wear other types of clothing such as ankle boots, goggles, gloves, long pants and long-sleeved shirts.  They help avoid cuts and abrasions, as well as injuries from rocks, trees, and other debris.
  • Be sure the ATV fits you like a glove.  Many accidents are caused because an ATV is too large for the rider.  Grip reach, throttle reach, and brake reach are very important.  There should be the right clearance between the seat and your inseam to stand up to properly absorb shock while riding in rough terrain.  Clearance should be 3” to 6” when standing.  Get advice from the dealer to be sure you choose the right size.
  • Go by ATV Safety Institute recommendations for appropriate age/engine size:  Age 6 and older to 70 cc’s; Age 12 and older to 90 cc’s, and Age 16 and older to 90 cc’s and up.

DON’T:

  • Take kids on adult ATV’s. One-third of all ATV-related deaths and emergency room injuries are kids.  Those under age 16 that ride on adult ATV’s are twice as likely to be hurt as those who ride youth ATV’s.
  • Ride tandem. Most ATV’s are designed to carry only one person, who is able to shift weight more freely in all directions.  Interactive riding is critical to maintain safe control, especially on varying terrains.  Passengers make it hard for the driver to control the vehicle.
  • Ride on pavement; it is very difficult to control an ATV on paved roads and there’s the threat of collision with cars or other vehicles.  Many fatal ATV accidents happen on paved roads.
  • Ride under the influence of drugs/alcohol; reaction time and judgment are impaired, plus, it’s illegal.

ATV’s do not handle the same as a motorcycle.  Most savvy riders will acknowledge that knowing how to properly drive either an ATV or motorcycle through getting the right training is very important.  You wouldn’t put a kid in a car and tell him to put it in Drive and take off, would you?  The old saying of “sink or swim” doesn’t cut it in today’s world.  Take the time to learn “safety first”, and you’ll have hours and hours of fun while “riding like the wind!”

General Safety Issues

NEW OSHA CRACKDOWN

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(O.S.H.A.)-Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s role is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women.

Here is valuable information regarding seven significant OSHA standards that will have an impact on American employers:

1. Recordkeeping: On October 1, 2009, OSHA announced its national emphasis program on recordkeeping. This emphasis program will include greater scrutiny of employer maintained OSHA logs, whether employers are recording all workplace recordable injuries/illnesses, and more.

2. Annual verification of lockout/tagout procedures: OSHA will focus on whether employers are complying with the requirement to conduct periodic inspections (at least annually) of the energy control procedures as required by 20 CFR 1910.147 (c)(6)(i).

3. A general lockout/tagout policy does not comply with OSHA regulations: Employers must have a separate lockout/tagout procedure for each piece of different equipment.

4. Combustible dust standard: On April 29, 2009, OSHA announced it would initiate rulemaking on combustible dust hazards. OSHA will issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and convene related stakeholder meetings to evaluate possible regulatory methods, and request data and comments on issues related to combustible dust.

5. Per employee penalties for PPE and training violations: OSHA has issued its final rule allowing OSHA to cite employers on a “per employee basis” for failure to wear/use required personal protective equipment (PPE). This rule went into effect January 12, 2009, and applies to PPE and training. As a result, an employer who has failed to properly train employees or who has employees not wearing or using PPE may receive a citation per employee.

6. Liability of general contractors for hazards they did not create and/or where their own employees were not exposed: In February 2009, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals a certain case held that OSHA regulations do not preclude OSHA from issuing citations to a general contractor under the multi-employer citation policy simply based on the fact that the general contractor “controls” the worksite regardless of whether or not the general contractor created the hazard or had its own employees exposed to the hazard.

7. OSHA settlement agreements and additional employer obligations: Employers should be aware that OSHA is mandating uniformity in the language of ALL settlement agreements. Additionally, OSHA is including in all settlement agreements language that seeks to use the settlement process as a way to get employers to agree to undertake additional obligations.

Safety should be the #1 priority chosen by all employers.  Taking the time for proper safety meetings and training for on-the-job accident prevention is not nearly as costly as just one tragic accident.

Source: ProfessionalDevelopmentUniversity.com

Uncategorized

SMILE….YOU’RE ON “COPS” CAMERA!

Most often, if and when you get pulled over by a police officer, you are probably not going to be in a very good mood, because chances are, that patrol car has an onboard camera.  The fact that you are the star of the show may not be much fun – you really don’t want to be known as a speedster, and you sure don’t want your friends to see you if you’ve had too much to drink!

Currently, there are more than 600 law enforcement motorcycle officers across the United States that are equipped with clip-on video cameras.  The clip-on video cameras are also being utilized by private security companies, firefighters, and insurance adjusters, as well as motorcycle police.  In Texas, 45 to 50 law enforcement agencies are using the Vievu cameras.

Law enforcement has come a long way…. They first wore voice recorders attached to their uniform shoulders, and later, video cameras were placed in patrol cars.  The price for this type of camera ranges from $699 to $899, and $500 for extra hard drive storage.  There’s one switch, no wires, and the camera holds up to four hours of video.  With an average traffic stop taking only 2 to 3 minutes, they easily have enough room for a 10-hour shift.  The video can then be downloaded from the camera to a computer.

Not knowing how people are going to react to a traffic stop, these cameras document how everyone behaves: the driver, as well as the officer.  The clip-on cameras are a great way to protect the motorist, city, and police officer.

So next time, you get pulled over by a motorcycle officer, smile, because you may just be on “Cops Camera”.  Drive safely, don’t text while driving, pay attention, and you might just avoid being a film star!

General Safety Issues

SAFETY FIRST IN 2010!

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How about starting off this year with a pledge for a banner safety year in your workplace?  We all start off with the best of intentions, but somehow, things happen and our plans go up in smoke!  OSHA reports that on a typical workday:

  • 17 workers are killed on the job (traumatic injury).
  • 137 more workers die of occupation-related injuries.
  • 17,138 workers are injured on the job.
  • Estimates show employers pay almost $1 billion per year for direct costs of workplace injuries.
  • There are hidden costs such as retraining employees and lost productivity due to workplace injuries.

These and many other reasons contribute to the idea that safety policies and procedures should be executed with good planning and follow-up.  First of all, new employees should have safety training from the very first day on the job.  They should understand safety basics and the particular hazards of their specific job responsibilities.

Companies should pay close attention to how many incident reports and safety complaints are issued:  if there is an increase in near-misses or accidents, what departments are involved, what types of injuries, or if there is a certain group that seems to be reporting more accidents or close calls.  Refresher training should be given to groups that have experienced mishaps.

Employees should know they have the right to voice complaints to their compliance officer, if they feel policies are not being followed.  It is the responsibility of the compliance officer to investigate the issues and correct them, if necessary.  Safety committee members should establish good safety and health programs that can help prevent worker compensation claims.

One of the key factors in workplace safety is providing the right Protective gear.  Employees should understand how their PPE works and why it is necessary to wear it at all times while on the job.  This is an important compliance issue and affects everyone if someone gets hurt due to not wearing his/her protective gear.

This is a great time to plan for flawless safety performances at work.  Hopefully, this time next year, you will be getting ready for another completely “accident-free work year”!
Good luck!

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

TIPS FOR SAFELY “UNDECORATING”

This is the perfect time to remind you to be very cautious when taking down Christmas lights and decorations.  The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission notes that thousands of persons are treated annually in emergency rooms, doctors’ clinics, and other medical facilities due to injuries caused from improper ladder use.  Since ladders are the most important apparatus you use when doing this type of work, we want to share this information with you, to help you be sure that you use the right kind:

  • Industrial – heavy duty with a load capacity of not more than 250 lbs. – Type I.
  • Commercial – medium duty with load capacity of not more than 225 lbs. (such as painting or other tasks) – Type II.
  • Household – light duty with load capacity of not more than 200 lbs. – Type III.
  • Stepladders – ideal for chores in the house or office.  A stepladder makes a good choice for many duties: they are easy to manage and take up little storage space.  Be sure to try it in the store before you purchase it, because you want to be sure it is comfortable and feels stable to climb.

Aluminum ladders are the most durable, but they conduct electricity.  Wood ladders are popular, but they eventually may rot.  The most durable and non-conductive ladders are fiberglass.  Always be sure to inspect stored ladders for cracks or breaks.

Other tips on the use of ladders include:

  • Don’t go higher than the 2nd rung on a stepladder or 3rd rung on a straight or extension ladder.
  • Never stand on top or on the paint shelf of a ladder.
  • Do not leave ladders unattended.  Children love to try them out!
  • Maintain 3-point contact while climbing a ladder. (Either 2 hands and a foot, or two feet and one hand.)
  • Stay in the center of the ladder at all times.
  • If you work in an office, or at home, please, please don’t use a chair to change a light bulb or reach something. Find the stepladder, it’s much safer!

According to OSHA, falls from step, straight, combination and extension ladders are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries.  As we all know, accidents happen at home, as well, and might have devastating outcomes.  Play it safe as you take down the trimmings; because time flies, you’ll soon be putting them back up again.

Uncategorized

HELLO, 2010!

We are ready to bid 2009 farewell, and look forward to 2010!  We hope you all survived the holidays, and are ready to gear up for another year.  Let’s all hope that this year brings financial stability to our country, a chance for peace in order for our troops to come home, and a political establishment that will make good decisions for the entire country.  There are many hard-working Americans that just want us to all be on a fair playing field.  For those who are without work, let’s hope that you find a job soon.

Here are some interesting observances that January presents.  We’d like to pass them on:

  • National Birth Defects Prevention Month, (March of Dimes)
  • National Blood Donor Month
  • Cervical Health Awareness Month
  • Crime Stoppers Month
  • Eye Health Month
  • Fiber Focus Month
  • Glaucoma Awareness Month (Prevent Blindness America)
  • Thyroid Disease Awareness Month

If you know someone who has any of the above health problems, get involved and see if you can help!  We call need to be “Crime Stoppers” every day and be more aware of things that happen around us.

Here’s a little “January Trivia”, Days of Interest:

  • 1st – New Years’ Day, Of Course!
  • 15th – First Superbowl game (Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 1967)
  • 18th – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • 19th – Texas State Holiday – Confederate Heroes Day
  • 24th – California Gold Discovery Day, 1848, at Sutters Mill.
  • 25th – Elvis’ First #1 hit released, “Heartbreak Hotel”, 1956
  • 27th – Viet Nam Peace Accord, 1973.  End of the Viet Nam War.
  • 28th – U.S. Coast Guard was established in 1915.

We sincerely hope that 2009 was a good one for you and yours, and that 2010 will be even better!  Please make a pledge to work and play safely.  We wish a healthy, Happy New Year to you and yours!  Hello, 2010!

Uncategorized

GOODBYE 2009!

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Every year at this time, we are looking forward to a new and better year.  We have high hopes that many of the bad things that happened in 2009 won’t be repeated.  Many of us are making New Year’s Resolutions; most of us will break them before the end of January!  Goals include losing weight, saving money, and improving our lives in different, ambitious ways.
Good luck to all of you that reach your targets in 2010!

In bidding a fond farewell to 2009, we can’t help but review many memorable things that it brought us:

  • New President, Barack Obama was inaugurated in January.
  • “Twitter-Mania” – a social network that allows you to express your views in 140 characters or less.
  • The new Yankee Stadium, which replaced The House That Ruth Built in 1923.
  • A huge commercial US Airways plane sitting in the Hudson River, with many of its 155 occupants standing on the wings.
  • Visions of Jamaican sprinter, Usain “Lightning” Bolt shatter his own world records in 100 and 200-meter sprints at the World Track and Field Championships in Berlin.
  • H1N1 Virus – originally called “Swine Flu”, later changed to the medical name in order to absolve pigs of the stigma involved.  This terrible illness started in Mexico in April, and quickly spread throughout the world.  In June, the World Health Organization declared it a Global Pandemic.  Almost 10,000 persons died worldwide due to this virus.
  • A shooting at one of our military bases, Ft. Hood, Texas, that resulted in the deaths of 12 soldiers and one civilian, and wounded 30 others.  How could that have happened?
  • Scandals: in politics, entertainment, sports world, and the biggest Ponzi scheme in U.S history.
  • An historic healthcare debate and vote in Congress – with lots of work still ahead.

Famous persons that passed this year were: Walter Kronkite, Patrick Swayze, Ricardo Montalban, Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson.  These are just a few that had an impact on many lives through entertainment, politics, or in the case of Mr. Kronkite, the most trusted news anchor in the U.S. for many years.

It’s hard to believe that nine years have already zipped by in this new century. It’s going to take all our villages to make 2010 a safe, sane year!  Wouldn’t it be great if there were no bad headlines at all?  How about these resolutions: no missing kids or missing persons, no wrong-way or distracted driving auto accidents, no pandemics, no wars, no taking chances or shortcuts, no standing on chairs rather than ladders, no going without P.P.E., (get the idea?) Wouldn’t it be great to live in a perfect world? We don’t, so there will always be challenges.

This year, as always, our concerns are to continue to provide helpful safety ideas involving the workplace, home, and other activities.  In addition to safety issues, we focus on encouraging our readers to keep their bodies healthy by exercise and diet.   Let’s try hard to be careful at work, play, behind the wheel, and anywhere else an accident may be lurking.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HEALTH TO ALL IN 2010!

General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT RESPIRATORS, PART II

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This is a continuation of our post on respirators.  You can find the first segment here.

For anyone that has to wear Personal Protective Equipment, it’s a common fact that if it isn’t comfortable, it is going to be harder to wear it for a full day’s shift.  When deciding on a respirator, it is important to find the right type that fits around the face.  The type of exposure in the workplace determines the level of protection that is needed.

OSHA requires Fit Testing for all employees.  Workers must have time to learn how to put the respirator on the right way, and be sure that it fits.  This Fit Testing must be done before the initial use of the respirator and worn at least five minutes before the test is done.  There are Respirators Fit Test Supplies specifically for this purpose.  User Seal Checks are when the wearer inhales and exhales several times, to be sure the respirator will collapse slightly when inhaling and expand slightly upon exhaling.  If air leaks out between the face and the respirator, it is not a good facial fit.  A User Seal Check does not substitute for a Fit Test.

When choosing the right respirator for the job, you will need:

  • Soft, foam nose pads;
  • Bendable nose bands;
  • Wide adjustable head straps – they work better than the thin ones that dig into skin or get tangled in hair.

A dual-exhalation valve helps direct exhaled air down and away from face to reduce fogging glasses.  If you have changed any facial structure, due to loss of weight or surgery, a new type of respirator may be necessary to ensure a good fit.  Respirators will not fit properly over beards.

Be sure to check the label for NIOSH-approved equipment, and read all warnings and instructions that come with the respirator.  Your choice should be based on contaminants, workplace concentrations, and other site-specific conditions.  The workplace should be compliant with Federal, State, and Local regulations on worker safety, including, but not limited to OSHA regulations.  For more information, please go to the NIOSH /NPPTL (National Personal Protective Laboratory) website.

Source: CDC/NIOSH

General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT RESPIRATORS, PART I

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You may not work in an environment where you need a N95 Particulate Respirator; however, in the United States, there are an estimated 5 million workers in 1.3 million workplaces that are required to wear them.  Because respirators are recommended by OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard to control occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with gases, vapors, fumes, sprays, mists, sprays, fogs, smokes, and harmful dusts, there are many important things to understand about them.  OSHA requires Fit Testing for all employees that are required to wear light-fitting respirators; workers should be allowed time to learn how to properly put them on and know that they have the proper fit.

A respirator is a Personal Protective Equipment device that is worn on the face and covers at least the mouth and nose.  They protect the worker in two ways, one by removing contaminants from the air- Air Purifying Respirators.  Second, Air Supplying Respirators protect by supplying clean, breathable air from another source.

One of the most commonly used NIOSH-approved respirators is the N95 respirator.  The approved regulation defines the N95 as a filter class that removes at least 95% of airborne particles during “worse case” testing using “most penetrating” sized particles during testing.  Filters meeting such criteria are given a rating of 95.

Here are the different types of respirators:

Filter Class              Description

  • N95, N99, N100:    Filters at least 95%, 99%, 99.97% of airborne particles. Not resistant to oil.
  • R95, R99, R100:    Filters at least 95%, 99%, 99.97% of airborne particles. Somewhat resistant to oil.
  • P95, P99, P100:    Filters at least 95%, 99%, 99.97% of airborne particles. Strongly resistant to oil.
  • HE (High Efficiency Particulate Air):    Filters at least 99.97% of airborne particles. For use on PAPRs only. PAPRs use only HE filters.

Two of the most common styles of respirators are the cup style (preformed type) and flat fold type.  The elastomeric respirators have a molded facepiece, which uses replaceable filtering cartridges.

If an employer has told you that respiratory protection is needed because of inhaling hazards from airborne particles, it is important that you understand the importance of selecting comfortable, well-fitting PPE that you will be wearing 8 to 12 hours per day.  Although they furnish the PPE, it is up to you to be sure that you are compliant and inspect your protective equipment prior to wearing it every day.

In Part II, we will talk about Fit Testing and User Seal Checks.

Source:
CDC/NIOSH

Uncategorized

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

While the kids are counting down the days until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the rest of the families are scurrying about to get a few last-minute gifts, making sure that all the grocery list has been filled, and thinking about all there is to do until that special time.

All the folks at Texas America Safety Company and Blog4Safety wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and that your loved ones will be safe and well.  There will be lots of travelers on the highways, and we urge you to be mindful of getting to your destination safely. Many of our friends are stranded in airports in northern parts of the country, due to bad weather.  We hope everyone gets to their point of arrival without any problems.  It’s always a good idea if you are going by car to take along some supplies, just in case.  Be sure to have your cell phone with you, and please don’t text while you are driving!

Also, this is a time of the year that there are many folks that are not fortunate enough to have any packages under the tree, or even a tree, for that matter.  Keep them in your heart and do what you can to help.  There will be people that are just happy to have a warm meal, or a place to stay.  Hopefully, in the coming year, we will see an increase in jobs for the unemployed, and fewer people losing their homes.

If the old saying “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link” has any truth to it, we must all stand together to become strong.  Keep this in mind when you see someone who needs a little boost, either physically or emotionally.  Be thankful for what you have and remember the foundation you were given to be able to provide for your family.

Have a blessed and Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!