All posts by pat brownlee

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FALL? (GUEST POST)

It is very important that commercial roof areas are sufficiently saved with fall protection systems. If a person has to do maintenance work on the air conditioner which is located on the roof, for example, it is possible that he has to work close to the edge of the roof and thus likely to fall. The implementation of these measures can be done in different ways. Either one uses railings, trusses or a fall protection system in which the person applies a safety harness via a connecting device to the anchor. In the following,  we want to take a look at the last method described. Usually these systems are very well planned and installed, but almost no one does think about how a person is rescued in the event of a fall. 

Most existing system have been very well planned and installed by experts. But once the system is installed, most of the people don’t think about the rescue situation. What happens in the case of a fall, when the person dangling in the rope suffers huge pain? How much time do I have for the rescue and especially HOW do I save the person? Can the person be lowered or is there liquid beneath the person which makes this kind of rescue impossible? How do I get to the person? 

The time frame is very short. After 15-20 minutes suspension trauma can occur, this can have serious consequences and can even bring death with it. Because of the helplessness, the victim is exposed to a lot of stress. Stefan Beckers, who was brought in a practical situation in the course of a test, said: “After I hung for 10 minutes in the rope I had excruciating pain at the pinch points. I tried everything to reduce the pain; I even had the outlandish idea to cut the rope just to reduce the pain.” 

Considering these facts, you should be aware how the person will be rescued. There are several possibilities. Either one is approaching the person from the bottom (with a forklift or similar) or you rappel the person, because the raising of the person who might even hang lifeless in the belt, is almost impossible. A descender allows to abseil the fallen person at a low speed.

To give the victim more time and protect them from the intense pain, it is recommended to use so-called trauma loops. These loops are attached to the harness and triggered in an emergency. The fallen person can stand up in the loops and thus relieve the pressure on the legs. 

No matter what kind of rescue is used; in the end it is of great importance to be aware of the type of rescue and a rescue plan should be created all the time.

Our thanks to Lino Piva of  www.abs-fall-protection.com  for bringing this important information to our attention.  Fall protection is of the utmost importance; however, as he points out, the quick rescue of the person is vital. pb

 

 

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

“LOVE YOUR HEART” MORE THAN EVER THIS MONTH!

Our heart is the major organ that keeps our bodies going.  February is American Heart Month, the time of year that several organizations, such as the American Heart Association want to impress upon us the importance of taking care of our hearts.

Did you know that heart disease is preventable and controllable?  It seems that we wait until something happens, such as a scare with heart problems before we do anything about it.  Barring predisposed heart disease, most of us are born with healthy hearts.  Exercise and proper diet are very important things to keep our entire body healthy, beginning in childhood. 

Each year, around 715,000 Americans have a heart attack.  About 600,000 people die from heart disease in our country every year, averaging one out of every four deaths.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that it is not too late to start your journey to better heart health by taking one step at a time.  Here are their recommendations:

  • Don’t become overwhelmed, or go it alone.  Get your friends and family involved and you will all be healthier for it.
  • Take one day at a time; if you fail to follow heart healthy rules today, start over tomorrow.
  • Reward yourself.  Do fun things, such as taking a walk with a friend, rather than sit on the couch eating snacks. 
  • Eat a healthy diet.  Choose fruits and yogurt rather than candy and ice cream.
  • Watch your weight. 
  • Monitor your blood pressure.
  • Don’t smoke.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Don’t overdo alcoholic beverages.
  • Keep a check on your cholesterol and triglycerides.
  • If you are diabetic, monitor your sugar levels faithfully.
  • Follow your doctor’s instructions and take your medicine as directed.

Here are the warning signs for heart attack from the American Heart Association:

  • Chest discomfort.  This usually last more than a few minutes, and may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body.  Some persons who have had heart attacks reported symptoms in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath.  This could happen in addition to or without chest discomfort.
  • Breaking out in a sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

The American Heart Association also shares warning signs for stroke:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination.
  • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

If you or someone you know has any of these signs (either heart attack or stroke), call 9-1-1!  Check the time so you will tell the EMS team what time the symptoms first appeared.  If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.  In the event of symptoms of heart attack, call EMS or have someone drive you to the nearest hospital immediately.  Do not drive yourself, unless there’s no other option.

The best Valentine you can give your family is to take care of your heart every day.  My husband had a quadruple heart bypass seven years ago, which was a very scarey event for him and our family.  Thankfully, he takes better care of himself and exercises regularly. 

Last, but not least, remember this Friday, February 7th is National Wear Red Day to remind everyone to love their hearts!

Sources: CDC, American Heart Association

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Head Protection

HOW TO ENSURE SAFETY IN SCAFFOLDING (GUEST POST)

Safety of workers is the primary concern in any kind of construction or maintenance work. There are basically three areas in which these issues take importance. They are:

  •          The work practices of workers
  •          Protective gear in use and
  •          The scaffold system being used

Scaffold System

The structure and the design of this support are very important to ensure that workers using it are safe. This can be ensured by a thorough inspection by the team and its leader. When inspecting following points should be kept in mind:

  •        Check footings since it is the foundation on which the entire support tower is standing. Footings must be sturdy enough to withstand weight of workers and equipment needed to be carried up.
  •          Toe boards, ladders, cross braces and guardrails are the other things to be sure about in terms of scaffolding safety.
  •          Guardrails should have some very minimum measurements; they should be 4 inches wide and 3.5 inches in height. 10 feet of spacing between them should be maintained. If these measurements are not adhered to then the scaffolding will not be very sturdy and can prove dangerous too.
  •          Now, when a building is being painted, cleaned or any other maintenance work  is done; there are bound to be passersby who may need to go underneath the scaffold. Their protection is also the responsibility of the contractor. This is where toe boards come in. These boards ensure that equipment or any other material does not fall down and cause injury to incent passersby.
  •          When workers need to get down or climb up they will be using ladders and cross braces; therefore easy access to them is necessary. Moreover they should be securely tied to the entire support tower.
  •          Poles should also be thoroughly inspected for any wear and tear.

Protective Gear

These cannot be emphasized enough. However, it is often seen that contractors are relaxed on this matter to save cost. This is highly unethical since people’s lives are at stake.

  •          Such protective gears include hard hats which should not only be worn by those working but also those people who may just be visiting the site for any reason.
  •          Non-skid shoes are another way to remain safe. These ensure that workers have a good grip in their upward or downward movement.
  •          Safety belts are another compulsory item on the list; this is especially important if the scaffolds are of the swinging type. These belts needless to say must be attached to something that is secure and reliable.

Work practices

There are some very important guidelines to be followed by all construction sites, their contractors and the workers there. These have been specified by the government.

As a logical thing to do; there should not be too much equipment or tools offloaded or put up on the support tower. Only the amount that will be used on the day should be taken and not the next day’s supplies too!

Author Bio

Matt Arthur – an expert and talented author, he involves in writing on creative and engaging content about various types of scaffolding, crane truck and temporary fencing.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Hearing Protection

TOP TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE DOING DIY PROJECTS THIS WINTER (GUEST POST)

 

DIY-Safety-kid 

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent

 

DIY is something that most of us will tackle at some point or another around the home. Yet, if not done carefully, it can result in accidents and injuries, and is one of the top reasons for a visit to hospital. With winter in full force, this time of year can pose further challenges for DIY enthusiasts, so read on for some top tips to stay DIY safe this winter. 

Always read instructions 

There’s always so much to do in the run up to special guests or holidays;  a growing to-do list, you might want to tackle those neglected DIY projects in time for the festive season. However, no matter what DIY job you tackle, always make sure you are fully prepared and equipped with the right tools for the job. Read instructions and understand what needs to be done. Accidents may well occur if you’re in a rush to get things checked off your list. 

Let there be light 

Natural light levels are low in wintertime, so make sure that you tackle any DIY tasks with sufficient extra lighting. If you can’t see what you’re doing properly, then you may end up banging a nail into your finger, instead of the wall! 

Be careful using ladders 

No matter what time of year you use ladders, it’s always important to be safe and careful when using them. In winter, using ladders outdoors can pose more of a compromise to safety, especially if your boots are muddy making the steps slippery. Don’t go up a ladder in windy weather, either. If there’s a problem that needs fixing, for instance with your roof, then call a professional out. 

Electrical awareness 

We’re prone to wetter and windier weather in winter, so if you need to do any DIY work in the garden involving the use of electrical items, make sure that you don’t operate them on a wet day. Electricity and water don’t mix, and could result in a nasty electric shock. 

Don’t mess with gas 

During winter we are reliant on our boilers to keep us warm and provide hot water. If your boiler conks out on the coldest day of the year, don’t be tempted to tamper around with it, in an effort to get it up and running again. Messing with gas can be very dangerous, especially for the amateur DIYer, so it’s always worth calling out a professional if your boiler does end up letting you down. 

Wear protective equipment 

Don’t cut corners with any DIY tasks by not protecting yourself. Make sure your eyes, ears, hands or feet are protected for the particular DIY tasks that you are undertaking. 

Lifting heavy objects 

Many people like to have a makeover or shift furniture around as the different seasons change.  If you need to lift, move or carry anything at home, make sure that you do it safely and don’t cause injury to your back in the process. Get help to carry items, if needs be. The last thing you’ll want is to spend your time laid up in bed with a back injury because you were too impatient to get your DIY tasks done, or didn’t ask for help. 

A lover of all things DIY, Justine writes for one of the UK’s leading online suppliers of high quality tools and machinery – Tool Orders UK.

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

We never know what the future will hold!  This is why it’s important to prepare for emergencies by storing food and water, not only in your home, but in the workplace as well. Employers should have an emergency and disaster plan in place to ensure that their employees will be protected should an unexpected event occur. If your workplace doesn’t have a plan, it’s important to suggest that they create one or contact your local Emergency Management Office to get the ball rolling.

Contact with Loved Ones

The most frustrating thing that can happen during an emergency situation is to lose contact with your loved ones. To avoid this, all employees should have a predetermined communication plan ready to go. For example, setting up a land line for your home and obtaining phone numbers for company and school landlines gives you additional options for communication should cell towers go down. It’s important to think of every possibility and establish an emergency communication plan that everyone knows.

Food Storage

Help establish a plan of action in the workplace by talking to your employer. Many companies have caught on to this and have created storage spaces for emergency food and supplies. This ensures that their employees would have access to the resources they’d need for at least a couple of days until help could arrive. High quality food storage items are available at reasonable prices online and in stores. You can find products for bulk sized a-la-carte items as well as  meal kits and food staples. These will typically come with shelf lives in the double digits to ensure quality, value and dependability when you need them most.

Communication with Local Authorities

When people in a large area are in an emergency situation, 9-1-1 emergency dispatch can be over-worked and unresponsive. Make a list of the numbers you would need to call in an emergency and keep it posted where every employee can access it easily. Examples of important numbers to list are as follows: Local police stations, state police stations, local offices of Homeland Protection, local National Guard offices, local relatives and friends, out-of-state relatives and friends, American Red Cross, and state and local emergency management offices.

First-Aid

Keeping a fully stocked and easy to use first-aid kit is vital when preparing an emergency plan. This can help you manage any injuries quickly and potentially keep them at bay should additional help be delayed. Providing basic first-aid and CPR training will also be an important aspect of fully preparing your office for first-aid in an emergency situation.

Getting Started

It’s estimated that 80% of adults work for a small company, and most small companies don’t have an emergency plan in place. It’s important for you to talk to someone in the workplace about setting a plan. Start working on emergency preparedness goals and long-term food and water storage. Take one step at a time and determine what you need to make and meet these goals. Set your priorities so you can accomplish each goal. It’s also a good idea to have an office meeting to go over important goals, numbers, and plans in case of an emergency or disaster.

To help you get started on the process of building an effective emergency plan for your workplace, we’ve provided a list of specific questions you should ask yourself to get fully prepared. Follow the list below and get started today!

  1. Do you have a safe source of light in the event of power failure?
  2. How will you communicate and get news if phone lines are not working?
  3. Do you have enough water and food stored for each person in the work place for at least 72 hours?
  4. Do you have a first aid kit and has anyone in the office been trained in first aid and CPR?
  5. What will you do if you cannot flush the toilet or wash if you have no running water? 

About Augason Farms

For more than 40 years, Augason Farms has provided quality food storage and emergency supplies to home and business owners throughout the U.S. Our high quality kits and a-la-carte items provide our customers with easy and affordable solutions for starting an emergency food storage supply.

We thank our guest author for this very informative article, which should give us all “food for thought” about an unforeseen emergency while we are at work! pb

 

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

FEBRUARY 2, 2014 – SOME BAD NEWS AND SOME GOOD NEWS

Today is Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawney Phil has predicted that we will have six more weeks of winter.  The way the weather has gone so far this year, I am betting on Phil!  Although the National Climatic Data Center has checked out his past predictions, stating that his record isn’t that good, folks around the country usually listen to the forecast by the furry critter anyway.  A little folk lore doesn’t hurt anyone!

The good news is, for football fans, that Groundhog Day actually fell on Super Bowl Sunday!  Phil isn’t making any predictions for the game, so it’s up to each fan to pull for their favorite team, either the Denver Bronchos or the Seattle Seahawks.

One thing for sure, it is certainly going to be a cold winter day for the Super Bowl.  Many folks are going to be staying inside and enjoy watching the game in the comfort of their homes, or at Super Bowl parties.  Hopefully, folks who plan to go the game or travel elsewhere will remain safe, because there are going to be icy roads throughout the country today.

If you don’t have your AFL Champions hardhat, or NFL hardhat,  and your team wins today, you’ll want to wear it to work and show everyone that your prediction was right all along!  There are NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA and NASCAR, as well as patriotic styles to choose from. 

Have fun today and stay warm for the next six weeks, just in case Punxsutawney Phil is right! 

 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

FIVE SMART TIPS FOR REMODELING YOUR KITCHEN (GUEST POST)

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 If you are looking to breathe a new lease of life into your kitchen then you would be wise to bear in mind the following tips. Each of them could not only save you money but also ensure that you end up with a kitchen that looks absolutely fantastic.

1.       Leave it to the professionals. I really can’t stress this point enough. Renovating a kitchen is a very skilled job. It takes years of training to be able to do it properly. There are plenty of people out there that try to jump in and do it themselves thinking that it will save them a bit of money. It won’t. In fact, most people find that they cause enough problems in their kitchen that it ends up costing them more money in the long run! This is why it is suggested that you take the time to find a good company that provides Phoenix Home Remodeling. It honestly will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. You are also going to end up with something that looks a LOT better.

2.       You should try to change the layout of your kitchen as little as possible. This is especially important when it comes to changing the position of major appliances. You may think that it is no big deal moving the sink a little bit closer to the oven. However, when you realize just how much it is going to cost you to plumb the sink into the new location you will quickly realize that yes, this is a big deal!

3.       You should never undertake a kitchen renovation project without ensuring that you have absolutely everything that you need to hand. There are so many people out there that are so keen to get started on their renovation that they don’t care that a major component has yet to arrive. However, these people certainly will not be laughing when they realize that they need to remove something that took them ever so long to put in place just because they need to fit something else in there. This is going to be a waste of time and money.

4.       You don’t actually need to spend a fortune to change the look of your room. In fact, you can do it relatively cheaply. For example, you don’t need to change your units unless they are very old. Instead you can look into a company that specializes in cabinet refacing in Phoenix. This is a service that will change the doors of your units. It is considerably cheaper.

5.       Think about why you are renovating the kitchen. For example, if you are looking to increase the value of the property then you will wish to renovate based on the latest trends as opposed to your own personal taste. This will give you a much better chance of increasing the value and an even greater chance of actually making a sale. If you do not intend to sell within the next few years then you can design it however you please.

Sent to us by TWD Drywall

Author Bio: Brittney is a professional writer, writes for TWDAZ, a http://www.twdaz.com/bathroom-remodel-phoenix.php bathroom renovation, a kitchen renovation company in Phoenix area.

Note:  If  you are thinking of a DIY kitchen project, be sure that you have all the personal protective equipment you need to be safe.  You surely will want some goggles or wrap-around safety glasses to keep particles from getting into your eyes, as well as gloves to protect your hands. pb

 

 

General Safety Issues

KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DIFFICULT WORK ENVIRONMENT AND A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT

Most of us at one time or another has worked with someone who makes part or all of the workday miserable.  There’s usually at least one employee who has a negative outlook on everything – can’t see the glass half-full, only half-empty.  Good supervisors should know how to turn this environment into a productive one, but it isn’t always easy.

Managers need to ensure that the person focuses on tasks or projects instead of negative personality traits.  Maybe they don’t understand exactly what their job responsibilities are, or threatened by the abilities of their co-workers.  Some of these employees are against management and won’t cooperate.  Bringing the problem to the attention of the supervisor may have to be done by other employees.  Everyone wants to get their job done, and doesn’t need a bad attitude from someone else to deter them. 

A “hostile work environment” is a different matter.  Here are some signs of hostile behavior: (which is against the law).

  • Harrassment –  Whether it is because of race, religion, origin, age, disability, military and veteran status, this behavior is discriminatory under federal law.
  • Unwelcome behavior – Intimidating, humiliating, offensive, or making threats to employees or a group of employees is also discrimination.
  • Verbal sexual advances – Bullying, telling cruel jokes, or sending negative emails or text messages – again, discrimination.
  • Hostile behavior is pervasive over time.  It should be reported to Human Resources , who can intervene in a timely fashion, because it must be addressed by the employer.
  •  Actions or communications being repeated over a period of time defines discrimination. 
  • If the work environment interferes with an employee’s career progress, resulting in failure to receive a job rotation or promotion, this is considered discrimination.

An employer can be liable for the creation of a hostile work environment if they knew about the behavior and did not sufficiently try to remedy the situation.  The hostility can be started by a boss or another workers whose actions or behavior make doing your job impossible.  If the unreasonable work situation can not be a comfortable work environment for others and is disciminatory, this is a situation that must be fixed.

In other words, if a coworker does annoying things to bother their coworkers, and demonstrates rude or obnoxious behavior, that is not considered being hostile, as much as being a distracting pest.  However, if that person tells untruths about a worker or tells sexual or racial jokes, makes fun of your background or age,  the person is creating a hostile environment.  If someone belittles you about your religion, gender or race, you are working in both a hostile work environment, and one that you are being discriminated against.  This should be reported to your supervisor. 

No matter where you work, something we all need to know, is that we do not harbor resentment against anyone.  Maybe you have a better education than others, but does that make you better than them?  Many persons have talents that far outweigh a formal education.  It takes workers with all types of skills to make a company successful.  Life is too short to make it miserable for others who want to do a good job and go home at the end of the day, feeling good about the work they have accomplished.

Let’s treat others as we want to be treated.  It takes the whole team to accomplish the goal of their employer.

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

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS (GUEST POST)

We all need to get jobs; that’s a reality we all face. And all jobs, no matter how mundane they may seem, carry with them a certain level of danger. Of course, these levels of danger vary from to another. Let’s say you make a living wrestling and catching wild bears, then there aren’t really many effective safety precautions you can take aside from not catching and wrestling those bears. Working in a typical job, like an office or so, still can be dangerous, and here are some of the dangerous “normal” jobs out there and the safety precautions you can take to avoid accidents. 

Construction and Related Fields 

        If you work in construction or some other job that requires you to be physically present in a construction site, the first step to staying safe is recognizing that the construction site is inherently a dangerous place. With all the dangerous materials, heavy equipment, and the work going around, the chances of an accident happening is extremely high, no matter the amount or quality of supervision. The common safety precaution for being in a construction site is to always wear a hard hat, as the primary risk is having something heavy land on your head. A hard hat is your friend. Keep it on your head at all times. 

Jobs Involving Chemicals and Toxic Materials 

        Working with chemicals tends to be dangerous for your general health. There have been a lot of cases wherein people suffered burns, inhaled harmful substances, and other complications that came about due to exposure to these materials. When you work in an environment where hazardous chemicals and materials abound, the common safety precaution is to wear protective gear like goggles (in case of splash back), gloves, aprons, boots, and masks all made with protective materials like rubber or latex. In more extreme cases, hazmat suits are a popular choice. 

Work Involving Animals and Fieldwork 

        Being amidst the natural elements has provided the world with officially the most dangerous jobs ever. Fishing, farming, ranching, and logging are considered to be jobs that have seen the most accidents. These accidents are hard to avoid, as most of them come from unpredictable elements like animal attacks. While there are a number of equipment that can be used to lessen work-related injuries in line with these trades, the number of these injuries can be reduced mostly by workers themselves. Working in pairs, taking extra care of themselves on and off the field (maintaining one’s self in tip top shape and getting enough rest does make one more focused and alert), along with other precautions, would be helpful. 

        At the end of the day, working is hard and dangerous as much as it is personally and financially rewarding. Whether you’re a nine to fiver working in an office, or out in the open ocean fishing, one small accident can alter your life forever. The best courses of action are watching out for yourself, getting yourself covered with a personal accident insurance plan, and hoping for the best. 

Author’s Bio

Ryan Del Villar is a writer and online marketing specialist at Money Max, Philippines’ leading online comparison portal. Ryan is also a freelance writer at Helm Word, an Online Reputation Management company. He worked as an online video editor before he started his writing career.

 

 

 

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

MORE SAFETY INFORMATION REGARDING CONCUSSIONS (GUEST POST)

Last December, we featured an article about safety concerns in sports: http://www.blog4safety.com/2013/12/football-isnt-just-fun-and-games/.  In response to that article, we received a very interesting graphic on head injuries involving children through teens.  Because we are all involved in keeping our youngsters and workers safe from traumatic brain injuries, please see the following graph on the various types of injuries, of both girls and boys.  Our thanks to http://www.bostonheadinjurylawyer.com/youth-head-injury-prevention/ for submitting this guest infographic. 

Consider the head injuries that young boys suffer before they start playing football.  We are seeing more and more professional football players claiming dementia and other disorders as the result of repeated hits to their heads.  It is important that young persons play by the rules, and protect their head at all costs.  Training them on how to do this is very important.  Ensure that their schools provide the safest helmets possible.