Category Archives: General Safety Issues

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

NATIONAL ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

As promised, we want to pass on some information regarding April being National Alcohol Awareness Month.  One of the reasons for this month being chosen is that many schools hold their proms in April, and the consequences of underage drinking need to be stressed to both parents and students.
Addiction to alcohol and drugs is not limited to young people, however.  Drug and alcohol dependence are America’s #1 health problem.  There are more deaths and disabilities each year in the United States from substance abuse than any other cause: more than eighteen million Americans have alcohol problems and between five and six million have drug problems.

Statistics from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence show that almost one-half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.  Costs of more than $276 billion per year in lost productivity, crime, traffic crashes, health care expenses and other conditions are attributed to these addictions.  Untreated addiction is more expensive than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined.
Families and coworkers play an important in convincing persons with these types of problems to get help.  Treatment improves health, job performance, and family cohesiveness.  When persons work with or live with someone who abuses alcohol or drugs, their safety and well-being are at risk.

Documentation from the Comprehensive Assessment Treatment Outcomes Registry in Ohio shows the following drastic results in occupational problems after treatment:

  • Tardiness decreased by 92%
  • Problems with supervisor decreased by 56%
  • Mistakes in work decreased by 70%
  • Incomplete work decreased by 81%
  • Absenteeism decreased by 89%

There are many places one can turn to for help.  Call: Substance Abuse Treatment Locator, 1-800-662 HELP, or www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.  If you or someone you know needs to deal with this issue, this may be the best call you or they ever made.

Sources:
NCADD
USDHHS
SAMHSA

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

LOOKING OUT FOR THE CHILDREN

We want to wish a Happy 50th Anniversary to a wonderful organization, ChildhelpÒ.
Two ladies, Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, founded this group in 1959, with a goal of meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of neglected, abused and as-risk children.  As we often see on the nightly news, there is some innocent little child missing, injured, or killed, with results later being disclosed that they fell victim to a family member.  From 2006, statistics show that four children die every day, from child abuse, and three out of four of them are under the age of four years.  Reports of child abuse are called in to authorities every 10 seconds.

In children under the age of 12, 90% of them knew their perpetrator.  They come from every socio-economic background, and chances are that 1/3 of abused/neglected children will later abuse their own children, keeping the horrible circle of child abuse unbroken.

Signs of child abuse are:

  • Anti-social behavior, problems in school
  • Unexplained marks, burns, cut, bruises
  • Bite marks
  • Fear of adults
  • Eating disorders
  • Fear of particular person or family member
  • Drastic appetite changes
  • Apathy, depression
  • Hostility
  • Unsuitable clothing
  • Unkempt, dirty
  • Extreme hunger
  • Lack of supervision

Evidently, in this world, it does take a village to raise a child!  We need to be responsible enough to report things that we suspect as child abuse to the proper authorities.  Neighbors are often reluctant to get involved until it is too late.  Calls are anonymous, and toll-free.

Call 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) it the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline.

This is a very disturbing topic, and we salute this group and all the others that focus on child safety.  We also acknowledge all the dedicated parents and grandparents that do everything in their power to protect their little ones.  However, there’s no better safety message than to ask you to watch out for all of our young people, and future generations.

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

PAMPER YOUR FEET: THEY TAKE YOU EVERYWHERE!

Too many times we take our feet for granted.  How many times have you asked your doctor to check your feet?  It’s a good idea, even though you probably haven’t done so.  Just think about it: how many miles we put on them, both at work, and those early morning or late afternoon walks.  It pays to take good care of them, especially if you are diabetic. The foot has as many moving parts as a complicated machine, and it works just as hard.  An average day of walking delivers hundreds of tons of pressure to your feet.

Foot injuries that occur at work may be punctures, crushing, sprains, slips, trips, and falls.  Lack of attention to foot safety plays an important part to many disabling injuries to either the feet or other body parts.  Other work-related foot problems can be caused by standing for long periods of time on hard floors, and poorly fitted footwear.  High heels, pointed toes, no arch support are all contributors to foot problems.  Designers of footwear have come up with some very stylish shoes that are more suitable for those women who wish to look great and be comfortable, as well.

Some ideas for choosing good footwear for work are:

  • Understand that most footwear will not stretch
  • Measure both feet when buying shoes
  • Buy shoes that fit the bigger foot
  • Try to shop in the evening, when your feet are largest
  • Choose shock-absorbing insoles if you walk, or stand on very hard floors

Companies should identify relevant hazards that cause foot problems or injuries and eliminate them.  Padding or matting on floors can serve as a cushion, as long as they are anti-slip and securely anchored.  Signs should be posted wherever there are slippery floors.

April is Foot Health Awareness Month.  We hope this will serve as your reminder to take good care of this important part of your body.

Sources:
Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety
NIA

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety, Weather Protection

MT REDOUBT, CONTINUED

Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory have been closely watching Mt. Redoubt, an active volcano in the largely volcanic Aleutian Range, since the end of January, when geologists recorded a sharp rise in earthquake activity.  In a recent AP release, (March 23)

The Alaska Volcano Observatory said there have been five eruptions since from Sunday (March 22 through Monday, March 23), which spewed ash nine miles into the air, floating down into communities north of Anchorage.  The Observatory also stated that this type of activity could indicate that it is creating a formation called a lava dome.  Volcanologist Peter Cervelli said that such a formation could collapse, causing mudflows and more ash plumes.

Citizens of Alaska are not unfamiliar with these occurrences, and usually have advance warning in order to be prepared for the eruption of a volcano.  Ash fall from the Alaska volcanoes are tiny parts of rock and glass, which can cause severe injury to breathing passageways, eyes, nose, and open wounds.  The ash can also cause damage to equipment and vehicles.

As with any natural occurrence, we encourage persons in the area to be prepared the best way possible, by:

  • Having a first aid kit ready
  • Staying inside as much as possible
  • Wearing face masks
  • Covering face with wet cloths, if masks unavailable
  • Wearing goggles, especially over contact lens
  • Keeping fresh supplies on hand, i.e., water, food
  • Closing windows and vents to chimneys.

Following most eruptions, the possibility of short-term minor discomforts such as nasal and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, uncomfortable breathing, skin irritations, and painful itchy eyes are typical results, rather than more serious health problems.  However, persons who suffer from respiratory ailments should take extra precautions to be prepared.

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

IT’S IN THE MAIL

Your ticket, that is, for running that red light and getting caught by a red light camera!
Another controversial subject, there are pros and cons of having this type of camera situated on poles at busy intersections.  According to the US Department of Transportation, running red lights is a major cause of crashes, deaths, and injuries at traffic crossroads.  These cameras take a picture of the perpetrator running through the red light, and then record the time, speed, and license number. Soon, the driver receives his/her citation in the mail.

Positive features of red light cameras are:

  • Improving overall safety of busy intersections
  • Furnishing an economic impact through reducing cost of crashes
  • Financial gain for municipality, if they are found to be accurate, reliable, and applied fairly
  • Cost effective tool to reduce violations

Causes of red light crashes may be:

  • Driver behavior: talking to passengers, using cell phone, other distractions
  • Poor intersection design and operation
  • Vehicles with heavy loads failure to slow down and stop in time
  • Poor visibility due to weather, or surroundings that impair vision
  • Misjudging signal change by driver

Negative features of red light cameras are:

  • Studies done by University of Southern Florida College of Public Health determined that cameras actually increase the severity and number of crashes, as drivers slam on their brakes to avoid going through the yellow light.
  • Increase in rear-end collisions
  • Design flaws in camera systems furnish incomplete data

Six cities in the U.S. that have been guilty of adjusting the traffic lights with shorter yellow settings, in findings by Motorists.org are:  Universal City, California, Dallas and Lubbock, Texas, Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Springfield, Missouri.  These citations bring in revenue to cities, but they need to play fair when it comes to controlling traffic.

If the yellow light is set for a shorter time, drivers from different areas, as well as locals, are caught unaware, therefore misjudging the timing of the light.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states that 22% of all traffic accidents in the U.S. occur because someone ran a red light.  Statistics from these wrecks indicate that more than 800 people have been killed, costing an estimated $7 billion in property damage, medical bills, lost production, and insurance hikes.

Whether or not there is a camera looking down on us, we must focus on our safe driving habits and obey the law.  It is up to each driver to handle this responsibility with all seriousness, and not become a statistic.

General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

Summer Safety

Because we are all trying to help make our world a safer place, it’s great when we hear from friends in other parts of the world that share the same goal.  The following article was sent to us from the United Kingdom.  We know you will enjoy these helpful reminders, and we appreciate their wanting to participate in our project: bringing safety to the forefront.

As the summer gets closer and closer, we need to be aware that the sun and the subsequent increased time spent outdoors could mean more risk of an accident happening.
At the end of last summer, British company, National Accident Helpline conducted research that suggest those outdoors took extra care not to put themselves in danger during sunny pursuits.

National Accident Helpline, the UK’s leading personal injury claim firm, surveyed more than 100 of its customers to gauge their attitudes to activities which in the past have prompted people to take unnecessary risks.

The results were happily reassuring – for example few people resorted to using lighter fluid or petrol to try and give their barbecue an added boost.

Of those surveyed, 89 per cent said that they would never do so.

Beach lovers were also mindful of safety lessons. Almost everyone surveyed – 99 per cent – said they would not set foot in the sea for a swim if they had consumed any alcohol at all.

And drivers knew that they should also be careful when the sun comes out – 96 per cent of those surveyed maintained that they would change out of their summer flip-flops and into sensible shoes before they got behind the wheel of a car.

National Accident Helpline Legal Director John Campbell said: “Most people, as our research shows, are careful and sensible with what they do – and they deserve their employers, government and private firms to take the same care.”

This concern for safety is surely not just a British thing. As long as everyone, regardless of where they are in the world, stays mindful of being safe then accidents have a much reduced chance of happening. Just by following a few simple safety tips, such as the above; driving in sensible shoes, not putting lighter fluid onto a lit barbeque etc, will put you in a safer environment with less chance of a personal injury.

It probably isn’t surprising that a lot of injuries and accidents occur due to silly mistakes, so ensure you stay safe this summer.

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

NO FOOLIN

We may just be getting over April Fools’ Day, but when it comes to our workplace, there’s no room for foolin’ around!  Everyone likes to have a little fun during the workday, but it just is not the place for practical jokes.

There’s always one person who loves to devise schemes to get laughs, but usually it is at the expense of someone else.  Jokesters can be a safety hazard at work.  Things can easily get out of control, with someone getting injured, maybe even seriously.  Some practical jokers pull stunts on others that are very dangerous.  Workers can’t concentrate on their job because they are always bracing for the next trick that is going to be played.

Companies should have policies that address hazing, harassment, and horseplay.  They need to instruct employees that these behaviors are unacceptable.  Posters and materials can be used to communicate such policies.  Every work place should have the T.E.A.M. mantra:  Together Everyone Accomplishes More.

Young or new employees should never have tricks played on them; they already have enough pressure just trying to become used to their job duties.  Also, employees shouldn’t be startled or distracted while they are working.  With job loss as high as it is at this time, we all should be working as hard as possible to keep our occupations intact.

According to Texas Workers Compensation Defense Law:
An employee is not covered if injured while intoxicated at the workplace, if injured by another person for personal reasons not related to the job, or if his or her injuries are self-inflicted. An employee also will not be covered if injured during “horseplay” with another employee.

If you are aware that someone is behaving in ways that are unsafe:

  • Take the person aside and explain that you are not comfortable with their conduct.
  • Remind the person that their victims are humiliated, embarrassed, and distrustful of others, and how would he/she feel if they were in their place.
  • Report unsafe or unprofessional behavior to your supervisor.

Remember, you can enjoy work without hurting others, either physically and/or emotionally.

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

APRIL FOOL?

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On April 1st, do you plan to be the trickster or the tricked?  At one time or another, we’ve probably all been the victims of mostly innocent pranks, at school, or our place of work.

It’s all in fun, and can’t be too bad for only one day.  So make the most of your first day of the month of April.

There are also many serious days in April: the 5th, which is Palm Sunday; 9th, observance of Passover; 10th – Good Friday, and April 12th is Easter Sunday.

A day most U.S. Citizens dread, (that’s no joke), is April 15th – the deadline for income tax filing!  April 22 is Earth Day and also Administrative Professionals Day.

Focusing on health, the month of April is Cancer Control Month, time set aside to renew our commitment to fight cancer by knowing more about prevention and early detection.  April is also Alcohol Awareness Month, to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues by raising public awareness and educating people about the devastating effects alcohol can have on our youth, individuals, and families.  April is also Foot Health Awareness Month.  We will talk about these important issues in future installments.

Whatever you do, or don’t do, just be glad that April is the beginning of warm weather and there are lots of fun things to do, as well as the start of more comfortable working conditions for those who work outdoors.  Enjoy your days, play safe, and stay safe!

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

NEW SAFETY ACCESSORY FOR CARS

Each April, the automotive industry reminds consumers of the importance of car care and driver safety. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80 percent of all crashes and 65 percent of all near-crashes involved the driver looking away from the forward roadway, such as retrieving a cell phone from the gap between the driver seat and console, just prior to (within three seconds) the onset of the event.

This statistic is a grave reminder that consumers still have much more to learn and is the reason Drop Stop, LLC developed and is launching Drop Stop®, a new car interior safety and convenience accessory designed to guard the gap between the seat and console and help keep drivers eyes on the road.  Drop Stop® provides a safer, more convenient driving experience. It eliminates the distraction and potential danger that exists when personal articles slip through a vehicle’s seat/console gap, causing the common knee-jerk reaction of taking one’s eyes off the road.  This handy item simply slips between the console and drivers seat and prevents hard to retrieve items from falling beneath the seat, especially when driving down the road.

Drivers need to exercise extreme caution when using their cell phones while driving.  How many of us have had our cell phones, billfolds, etc. fall between the seat and console?  It is so easy to become distracted during a call, and texting should be an absolute “no-no”.  Anything that helps to ensure our safety and the safety of those we meet on the road is a treasure.
For more details, go to www.BuyDropStop.com.

Just wish I’d thought of it!
Source:  Renee Cooper, Account Executive
Christie Communications

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

WALK 50 MILES PER MONTH

Make this your goal:  to walk 50 miles per month.  This great information from the AARP Bulletin gives these excellent reasons to promise yourself that you will walk 50 miles per month:

1.    Get fit:  Aerobic capacity: 19% increase; physical function: 25% increase, and risk of disability: 41% decrease.

2.    Save on annual medical bills.  Normal-weight retiree: $3,300, Overweight retiree: $2,500 and entire country: $1.4 trillion.

3.    Improve cardiovascular health.  Heart disease: 32% lower risk; Stroke: 33% lower risk, Type 2 Diabetes: 71% lower risk.

4.    Fight cancer. Breast: 18% lower risk; Colon: 31% lower risk; All forms: 33% higher survival rate.

5.    Lose weight.  Each walk: 150 calories; Monthly: 1.3 pounds; Annually: 15.6 pounds.

6.    Accelerate recovery.  Depression: 47% reduction of symptoms, Skin wounds: shorten healing by 10 days.

7.    Battle degenerative disease.  Alzheimer’s: 40% lower risk; Arthritis: 46% lower risk, Osteoporosis: 0% loss of bone density.

Listed are seven things you will have accomplished once you make this a routine part of your day.  Just half an hour of walking each day at a brisk pace of 3.5 mph will help you achieve these benefits, regardless of your age. Bone density is improved by any weight bearing exercise, and what could be better than walking?

Who can’t spare 30 minutes per day?  You could even do it on your lunch hour, before work, or after work.  If you aren’t already doing so, try it!  Walking is also a great way to relieve stress.  If you want to get really serious, get a pedometer.  An average of 10,000 steps per day will help you lose weight.  (Just don’t get into the candy after your walk!)