All posts by Gary

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety, Uncategorized

TRAGEDY IN WEST VIRGINIA

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Monday, April 5th brought tragedy to the families of coal miners after an explosion occurred in the Upper Big Branch mine, where twenty-five miners lost their lives, with four more missing. The mine produced approximately 1.2 million tons of coal last year and is operated by Massey Energy Company. The company is one of the nation’s five top coal producers. In 2009, federal inspectors fined the company more than $382,000 for repeated serious ventilation and equipment violations at Upper Big Branch. Other violations included failing to follow plans, allowing combustible coal dust to pile up, and for improper firefighting equipment.

Methane gas is thought to be the cause of the explosion. Methane is one of the main dangers in coal mining. The Eagle coal seam releases up to 2 million cubic feet into this mine every 24 hours. Large fans are used in mines to keep the odorless, colorless gas concentrations below specific levels; if the concentrations build up, a spark (similar to a static charge made by walking across carpet in the winter,) can cause an explosion, which happened at the Sago mine explosion in 2006. That mine is located in northeastern West Virginia. Federal and state regulators have required mine operators to store extra oxygen supplies in the mines since that time. Upper Big Branch miners carry a container of breathable air on their belts, in addition to stockpiles of air containers throughout the mine. There are also chambers for miners to seek refuge in if they can reach them.

Coal mining and the timber industry are the two main industries in West Virginia. Miners know the many ways they can get hurt or killed in their jobs. One miner commented that he had never been asked to do anything unsafe by his employer, Massey Energy. Accidents happen in mining; families draw close to each other for comfort and depend on their faith to bring them through.

Almost one-half of the power used in the United States is generated by coal; more than 130,000 miners put their lives at risk to provide it. Ironically, I had just written an article less than a week ago about Black Lung disease being on the rise. There are so many hazards associated with mining. Americans should be thankful that there are tough, hard-working people that risk life and limb to produce our country’s energy.

Uncategorized, Weather Protection

IT’S ALMOST TIME FOR THE WINTER PARALYMPICS!

The Winter Olympic Games were completed on February 28th . However, another spectacular event is taking place in March, the X Paralympic Games, to be held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Dates for the games are March 13th to March 21st.

Approximately 600 athletes from 45 countries have been training hard to win gold medals. These games feature the best athletes in the world with various disabilities. The slogan of the Paralympic Movement is “Spirit in Motion”. The first Summer Paralympic Games were held in Italy in 1960. Sweden hosted the first Winter Paralympic Games in 1976. We look forward to cheering on our favorite athletes, and wish them all “Good Luck!”

For the Winter Paralympic Games, you will see great competition in the following events:

 1. Ice Sledge Hockey

2. Wheelchair Curling

3. Alpine Skiing

4. Biathlon

5. Cross-Country Skiing

 

 Summer Paralympic Games include:

1. Athletics (track and field)

 2. Boccia

3. Cycling

4. Equestrian

5. Football 5-a-side

6. Football 7-a-side

7. Goalball

8. Judo

9. Powerlifting

10. Rowing

11. Sailing

12. Shooting

13. Swimming

14. Table Tennis

15. Volleyball (sitting)

16. Wheelchair basketball

17. Wheelchair fencing

18. Wheelchair rugby

19. Wheelchair tennis

 

These athletes come from all over the world to show that they have the skills and power to triumph in their chosen sport by overcoming the obstacles they contend with.  Congratulations to every competitor; you make the world proud!

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

ENSURING THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS SAFETY

Safety Meetings and Safety Training are conducted to keep you safe while you earn your pay.  But what if these meetings were presented in a language that you didn’t know?  America has always been known as a Melting Pot, with immigrant workers coming from all over the world.  Many of them are from disadvantaged countries, and work in seasonal jobs such as agriculture.  Others work in construction, mining, and industries with high mortality rates.  Some are machine operators, assemblers, cleaners, and helpers.  Limited English proficiency may be a direct contributor to workplace injuries or fatalities. 

OSHA has a history of requiring employers to train their employees in a manner that they understand.  If they don’t speak English, then preparation for their job tasks, as well as safety and health training, is to be conveyed in the language that they understand.  If the employee’s vocabulary is limited, training must account for that limitation.  Simply telling them to read training materials will not satisfy the employer’s obligation.  OSHA also requires employers to verify that employees have acquired the knowledge and skills for which they have been trained; i.e., lockout/tagout, respiratory protection, bloodborne pathogens, etc.

Having worked for an oilfield construction company in West Texas several years ago, I know there were many of our employees that didn’t understand or speak English, and were dependent on their Spanish-speaking supervisors to instruct them.  They worked hard for minimum wage, and did a good job.  But there were injuries, as well.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shares these examples of how they are working to improve problems that immigrant workers face:

§ The NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program identifies and studies work-related injury deaths, with the goal of identifying effective prevention measures.
§  Through on-site investigations, NIOSH and cooperating states collect detailed circumstances for select incident types, including deaths of Hispanic workers since 2002.
§ Targeted research programs focused on the construction and agricultural sectors, both of which employ a disproportionate share of immigrant workers. 
§ An occupational health disparities program, which is conducting research on the causes and prevention of occupational health disparities including those experienced by immigrant workers. 
§ A Spanish language website and translation of several NIOSH publications into Spanish.
§ An innovative information and communication effort with the Spanish-language television network Telemundo and other partners, in which construction safety messages were incorporated dramatically into a widely watched prime-time series, and supplemented with a public service announcement and a special website.

 
Companies and their supervisors are responsible for the safety of all workers, must understand the hazards of their job, as well as the importance of wearing Personal Protective Equipment, and how to take care of it.  If employees see a co-worker that is at risk, regardless of a language barrier, or any other reason, they need to reach out and help.  That way, everyone stays safe!

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, Home Safety Products, Uncategorized

OBSERVE LABOR DAY BY NOT LABORING

Well, another Labor Day is rolling around again. Where does the time go? Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the Fourth of July! In case you don’t already know, here are a few facts concerning Labor Day:

  • Canada led off with the idea in 1872. Parades and other festivities honored workers following The Trade Union Act, which legalized and protected union activities.
  • In the United States, the Central Labor Union followed suit, and started the holiday for workers in 1882.
  • Labor Day became a federal holiday in the U.S. in 1894.
  • Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September.

Now that we have our facts behind us, we hope that your Labor Day holiday will be a safe one. We know that most Americans regard this holiday as the official winding up of summer fun, the beginning of school, start of football season, and last holiday until Thanksgiving.

As the dog days of summer are here, make the most of the long weekend (September 4th -September 7th) by traveling safely, allowing plenty of extra time to get to your destination and back home, in order to avoid a ticket from your friendly state trooper.

If you are going on an outing, such as fishing, camping, hiking, etc., be sure to take along your sunscreen, first aid kit, sunglasses, insect repellent, and protective gear. Because the weather is still warm, you’ll want to keep all perishable food items cold, and not leave them out of the ice chest for more than one hour. Taking along a NOAA weather radio would be a good plan, too, as this time of the year, there may be weather changes that would affect your outdoor activities.

We hope the weekend will be a good one for you, and that you go back to your job rested and/or energized for fall. Play it safe, whatever you choose to do.

General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety, Uncategorized

CLOUD OF H1N1 VIRUS STILL LOOMING

The mysterious strain of influenza that began last spring is hanging over countries throughout the world like a heavy cloud.  Officials in the U.S. are concerned that the virus could infect as many as 30 to 50 per cent of its citizens, put 1.8 million persons in hospitals, and possibly kill between 30,000 to 90,000 people.  Seasonal flu kills 36,000 Americans in an annual normal flu season, and causes more than 200,000 patients to be admitted to hospitals.

Another main concern from health officials is that prescription medications, Tamiflu and Relenza, are being widely misused.  In the United Kingdom, experts had warned physicians not to prescribe the drug just because of public demand.  These medications can reduce the severity of the illness; however, they should be given only to high-risk patients, such as pregnant women, children under 5, or persons with underlying health conditions.

Excessive overuse can build up a resistance to antiviral drugs, as well as lead to a lack of medicine for those who desperately need them.  Many persons who have been taking Tamiflu in general, have not completed the required dosage, and some have reported side effects, such as vomiting or nausea.

As we witnessed on local television news last night, the first lesson being taught in an elementary school yesterday (the first day of school), was washing their hands.  School officials are aware of the importance these and other precautionary measures are to avert the spread of H1N1 in their schools.  As we have reported, government officials have designated local school administrations to be the decision makers if the need arises to close their schools.  It is felt that long periods of school closures are not necessary, as was done in the spring.  Anyone who has been ill is asked not to return to school until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours.  The same should apply to return to work, as well.

Five vaccine providers are working diligently to get the first immunizations out as soon as possible.  Until they are tested and approved, it is recommended that persons take the regular seasonal flu shot that should be available in September.

Fall Safety

Prevent Falling Accidents

In the United States Construction industry, falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. An average of between 150-200 workers each year are killed and more than 100,000 injuries are the result of falls at construction sites. Accidental falls are complex events resulting from either equipment-related or human issues. Therefore, the standards for falling protection deal with preventing fall hazards, and providing proper safety equipment.

Fall protection systems should be carefully designed for appropriate work situations. Proper installation of safety systems, safe work procedures, training and supervision are necessary to ensure workers’ security. Lastly, use some common sense when working off the ground. It’s always better to have too much protection than not enough.

Listed below is a short glossary of fall prevention equipment that can be furnished for safe endeavors:

¨ Anchorage – Secure point of attachment for lanyards, lifelines or deceleration devices.

¨ Body Harness – Straps secured about the person that distribute fall-arrest forces over thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and shoulders, which is attached to other parts of fall-arrest system.

¨ Deceleration Device – Any mechanism: rope, grab, forms of lanyards, auto retracting lanyards that dissipate a substantial amount of energy during fall arrest.

¨ Lanyard – Flexible line of rope or strap that has connectors to a deceleration device, lifeline, or anchorage.

High Visibility Safety

The Colors of Safety Awareness

When you are driving down the highway, and you see construction workers, rescue workers, or persons picking up litter along the roads, have you noticed the bright colors they wear? Those safety vests, hard hats, clothing, reflective stripes, etc. are there for their protection and to assure that they are conspicuous to oncoming traffic.

When you watch emergency personnel doing their job, notice those bright colors on their clothing, and remember color is just one of the many ways to help ensure a person’s safety.

Primary Safety Colors are:

Safety Orange – Used for vests, traffic cones, hunting vests, barrels and other construction marking devices.

Fire Engine Red – Named mainly for fire engines and other emergency vehicles.

Chartreuse Yellow – Greater visibility at night; many cities now use this color for fire engines and emergency equipment.

Neon Yellow – Most visible color to the human eye, present on most vests.

High Visibility Yellow – Used for coveralls, rainwear, slush boots.

High Visibility Safety Products are a neccessity when working near traffic. Remember to be safe and plan ahead.

Back Safety, Ergonomics, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

Proper Lifting Techniques

We use our back every day, whether we realize it or not.  We twist, bend, push, pull, and lift all day long.  Most of us don’t pay much attention to the movements and back muscles involved in these everyday actions. That is, until we pull a muscle in our back and have trouble doing simple things like sitting, walking, or even getting in and out of bed.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, there have been an average of nearly 270,000 reported back or spine injuries each year from 2003 to 2006.  Fortunately, these numbers are steadily decreasing(303,750 in 2003, down to 250,670 in 2006), so progress is being made.

Most injuries probably could have been avoided by paying a little more attention to what we are doing and how we are doing it.  Proper lifting techniques and using team lifting for heavier or awkward items help reduce the strain on your back muscles.

  • Keep objects close to your body: Carrying objects close to your body helps keep the “load center” in balance.  The farther from the body the item is, the more muscle strength needed to lift the item.  This forces the muscles to move in ways they are not designed to move, which can cause a strain or pull.
  • Bend your knees and keep your back straight: Focusing on keeping your back straight reduces the chances of twisting or bending in such a way that puts stress or strain on the muscles
  • Lift with your legs: Your leg muscles are designed to lift.  Using your leg muscles makes it easier to lift the item, as well as take the strain off your back.

Some jobs or hobbies require constant lifting and carrying.  In these situations, it may be helpful to utilize a back support. They come in many different styles and are fairly inexpensive($17-$36). When compared to the national average of around $9,000 per incident for non-surgery medical expenses ($30,000+ for injuries requiring surgery), $36 and a bit of prevention is well worth the time and cost.

Eye Protection, Hand Protection, Hearing Protection, Home Safety Products, Respiratory Safety

Mowing Safety

This summer, everyone will be outside working in their yards. Young people mow lawns to earn a little spending money while out of school. But did you know that in 1990, of the 87,000 people injured by lawnmowers, 20,000 were under 25 and 10,000 of those were younger than 15 years old.

Many injuries can be avoided by taking the proper precautions:

    >These products are readily available to you for your safety. Be prepared and be safe this summer.
Eye Protection

Why Should I Wear Safety Glasses?

glasses

Why should you have to wear safety glasses while working? If you are working with hazardous chemicals or anything that might break and send small particles into the air, you need safety glasses or safety goggles to avoid getting something in your eyes. You might not realize that hazardous particles floating around can damage your vision; however, irritation, scratching, or even blindness can also occur when the eye is left unprotected.

Even if something doesn’t go directly into the eye, you may still have damage if you accidentally wipe your eye and the substance gets swept into it. If you are working with glass or mechanical parts that could break, you can prevent most eye injuries by wearing your safety glasses or face shields. It’s also important that you don’t rely solely on sunglasses or prescription glasses to protect your eyes because they are not designed for impact or splashes.

There are some very stylish safety glasses out there for those who want to look good on the job. In addition, there are glasses with magnification bifocals for those with vision problems. If you need more than reading glasses, you can also buy a pair of safety glasses with an insert for prescription lenses. There are even safety glasses you can put over your regular prescription glasses!

So there is really no excuse for neglecting your eyes when such a wide variety of safety glasses exist. A few dollars can help to prevent blindness or other damage to your eyes. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.