Category Archives: General Safety Issues

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

MOSQUITOS ARE STILL HERE!

I was playing golf last night and, without thinking, left the mosquito repellent at home.  I spent most of the time out there swatting at the bugs.  Needless to say, it didn’t turn out to be one of my more relaxing games.

For those of us who live in warmer climates, the arrival of fall doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be on guard against mosquito bites.  Viruses that cause West Nile, dengue fever, eastern and western equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis are carried by these little pests. Tom Sidway, veterinarian and manager of Texas Department of State Health Services zoonosis control program, states that 30 per cent of the states’ 1,700 West Nile cases from 2002-2006 became ill after August 31.

To reduce the risk of mosquito-borne infection:

  • Cover as much skin as comfortable when outdoors.
  • Use insect repellents that contain DEET.
  • Change water in pet bowls, bird baths, and wading pools several times per week.  Drain standing water from around your home.
  • Make sure door seals are intact; mosquito-proof your house.

We know that all mosquito bites don’t cause illness, but we need to protect ourselves when we are outdoors.

Texas DSHS

General Safety Issues

HOLDING TAILGATE MEETINGS

No, this isn’t a tailgate party before a football game, it’s a 10-15 minute on-the-job meeting held to make employees aware of work-related illnesses and accidents.
In California, these meetings are required in both the construction and tunneling industries.
The person in charge asks employees to share actual experiences, ones that they have witnessed: an on-the-job accident or near-accident.  These meetings are casual and relaxed, where the workers feel comfortable talking about topics that pertain to their particular job hazards.  The meetings are always about safety and health problems on the job, and employee participation is encouraged.  Meetings are held to ensure rules are followed and to prevent accidents from happening.

As an example, and according to Cal/OSHA, workers are killed or injured every year because machine guards are taken off and not replaced.  Typical excuses given for this type of accident are:

  • “I didn’t have to time to replace it”
  • “The guard slowed me down”
  • “Listen, I’ve run these machines for years without guards and I’ve never been hurt”
  • “I wanted to be sure the machine was running ok, just never got around to replacing the guard”.

Of course, it’s too late for the victim after the accident has occurred.  Regretfully, it is then that the guards are replaced and strict rules are enforced.

Regardless of what type of company safety policy is enforced at your place of business, it is important that all workers have input to make sure they are protected from accidents and illnesses that are job-related.

Source: CAL/OSHA

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

UNDERSTANDING FOOD ALLERGIES

Because September is National Food Safety Education Month, there’s no better time to discuss food allergies.  More than 160 foods exist that can cause reactions for people with food allergies.  Eight most common allergenic foods listed by the law are named:
1.    Milk
2.    Eggs
3.    Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod)
4.    Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp)
5.    Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)
6.    Peanuts
7.    Wheat
8.    Soybeans
The Food Allergen Labeling & Consumer Protection Act of 2004, requires that food regulated by the FDA, local and imported, list source of ingredients.  (Foods not regulated by the FDA are meat, poultry, and certain egg products.)

Allergic reactions may include: hives, coughing, wheezing, rash, itchy sensation in the mouth, swelling of the face, tongue, or lip, vomiting and/or diarrhea, swelling of the throat and vocal cords, and difficulty in breathing.

A person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, following ingestion of a food allergen.  Mild symptoms that occur after ingesting food allergens can sometime become more severe, and should be treated promptly.
Anaphylaxis can lead to: severe lowering of blood pressure and shock (anaphylactic shock), constricted airways in the lungs, and extreme swelling of the throat.  It is estimated that anaphylaxis to food results in 30,000 emergency room visits, 2,000 hospitalizations, and 150 deaths annually.
From first-hand experience, we recommend a person with tendencies toward food allergies carry an antihistamine with them at all times.  Prompt administration of epinephrine by autoinjector (e.g., Epi-pen) during early symptoms of anaphylaxis may help prevent this serious situation.

CFSAN/FDA

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

RECOVERING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER GROUND

Since today is the anniversary of the horrible tragedy on 9/11, I thought it might be good to mention an article written shortly after the event covering details of the recovery effort.

“A Dangerous Worksite – World Trade Center” is a must-read.  This informative article on OSHA’s website greatly details the grueling efforts of thousands of people working to recover the remains of those who lost their lives, and to reclaim the ground where the twin towers once stood.  The goal of OSHA, City of NY, Construction and Labor Unions and government entities was to recover the site with no further loss of life.

Workers from virtually all walks of life are listed in the article, along with pictures that bring it all back to its harsh reality.

To quote John Henshaw, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, U S Department of Labor: “On May 30, 2002, when the recovery was completed, not another life had been lost, and illness and injury rates were far below national average for industries involved in the recovery.”

Along with hundreds of suppliers and businesses in America, T.A.S.C.O. proudly sent hardhats and respirators to protect the dedicated workers.  OSHA distributed more than 131,000 respirators, 11,000 hard hats, 13,000 safety glasses and goggles, 21,000 pairs of protective gloves, and identified more than 9,000 hazards.
Texas America Safety Company, along with all Americans, salutes the workers for their hard work during the 10 months of the recovery mission.

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

Dry your Clothes. Don’t Fry Them!

It’s not a good idea to leave your home with your clothes dryer running.  Leaving it on for a quick run to the store could result in tragedy.  The U.S. Consumer Product Commission estimates that an annual 15,500 fires happen because of faulty clothes dryers.  Eighty per cent of those fires are in residential settings.

Information that you should know regarding clothes dryers fires:

  • Reduced airflow and lint accumulation combine to be the major cause of dryer fires.
  • Lint should be removed from the dryer before or after each load of clothes.
  • Vent material should be made of metal, not vinyl or foil, which are combustible.  Also, the spiral type of venting material collects lint, causing a build up.
  • Outside dryer vent should be checked while the dryer is operating to see if airflow is working properly.
  • When installing dryer, adequate space should be left between dryer and wall.
  • Use special care when clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals are being dried.  Wash clothes twice if possible to reduce the amount of chemicals left in them.
  • A dryer that works harder to evacuate lint and moisture can trigger enough heat to cause overheating, which can set off a fire.
  • Never go to sleep with the dryer running.
  • If you are moving or building a new home, plan for the dryer to be near an outside wall.

CPSC
USFA.DHS.GOV

General Safety Issues, High Visibility Safety, Weather Protection

Are You Bright Enough For Your Work?

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Until the document regarding American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel (ANSI/ISEA 107-1999) was published, there was no authoritative guide for performance specifications, design, and use of high visibility and reflective apparel, which included vests, bib-jumpsuit coveralls, jackets, harnesses and trousers.  The many workers that need this protection are now assured of being seen, both day and night, when they wear apparel that conforms to these regulations.  These conspicuity classes of garments are based on wearer’s activities:
Class I:

  • Occupations requiring full and undivided attention to approaching traffic, moving no faster than 25 mph.
  • Non-complex work backgrounds.
  • Working away from traffic.
  • Examples: Sidewalk maintenance workers, parking lot attendants, roadside “right of way”, delivery vehicle drivers (if criteria is met for Class I), shopping cart retrievers, and workers in warehouses with equipment traffic.

Class I garments should have a visible background of 217 sq. inches, and visible reflective of 155 sq. inches.
Class II:

  • Occupations for workers that need greater visibility in inclement weather, or have greater risks than Class I; whose activities are near roadways where traffic speeds exceed 25 mph but less than 50 mph.
  • Complex work backgrounds.
  • Diversion of traffic attention.
  • Examples: Ship cargo handlers, roadway construction, airport baggage/ground crew, emergency response/law enforcement, forestry, railway workers, school crossing guards, trash collection and recycling, delivery vehicle drivers where criteria is met.

Class II garments should have a visible background of 755 sq. inches, and visible reflective of 201 sq. inches.
Class III:

  • Occupations of workers who face serious hazards and have high task loads that require attention away from their work.  Garments should provide enhanced visibility to more of the body, such as arms and legs.  Workers in locations where traffic exceeds 50 mph, should have the highest level of conspicuity.
  • Workers who are exposed to extreme weather conditions.
  • High risk workers and limited sight distances jobs.
  • Examples: Utility workers, roadway personnel, survey crews, emergency response, equipment operators, railway workers, accident side investigators.

Class III garments should have a visible background of 1240 sq. inches, and visible reflective of 310 sq. inches.

Always be sure that the label on the vests identifies the vest maker and that it meets ANSI/ISEA.  It should display a picture of the vest, class and brightness level, and garment care guide.
Source: ANSI, Occunomix

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Protective Clothing

HUNTERS, BE READY!

As fall approaches, so does hunting season!  Sportsmen and sportswomen who enjoy hunting, camping, hiking or other activities need to be prepared for disease-causing bacteria that may be waiting for them.  According to Guy Moore, a wildlife biologist with Texas Department of State Health Services, “outdoor activities bring a greater risk of exposure to diseases transmitted by fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other animals.”
Some of these germ carriers are:

  • Wild hogs, which can carry brucellosis, a bacterial disease.
  • Deer, which can transmit anthrax, a bacterium that can cause a severe, life-threatening disease in both animals and humans.
  • Fleas and some animals such as squirrels, cats, rats, prairie dogs, and mice can transmit plague to humans.
  • Mice can spread hantavirus infection to people.  They shed the virus in droppings, urine and saliva, and upon drying, these excretions can spread in the air on dust particles.
  • Ticks – an infected tick can cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
  • Mosquitoes, of course, are a nuisance and can carry organisms that cause encephalitis and West Nile infection.
  • All warm-blooded animals are susceptible to rabies.  Skunks, bats, coyotes and foxes are known carriers of rabies.

If you are still determined to go out there and enjoy the outdoors, don’t let us discourage you.
Most of these illnesses are rare, with the exception of West Nile.  Just keep these reminders handy:

  • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after handling game.
  • Wear eye protection when dressing game.
  • Use insect repellents containing DEET.
  • Wear protective clothing, and light colored clothes so you can spot ticks.
  • Stay away from overgrown brush and tall grass if possible.
  • Do not touch antlers, bones, hides or other parts of dead animals.

Texas DSHS

General Safety Issues, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

Get The Lead Out.

Often, we hear on the news about imported toys containing lead that is harmful to children.  But for workers at many construction sites, lead is a very common hazardous component.  Contact can come from inhaling dust and fumes, and may be ingested when hands are contaminated by lead dust.

To “get the lead out”, workers should do the following:

  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment: gloves, and clothing.
  • Be sure to wash hands and face after work, and always before eating.
  • Never enter eating areas wearing protective equipment.
  • Use respirators, and be alert to symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, loss of motor coordination, headaches.
  • At work, ensure adequate ventilation – stand upwind of plumes.
  • Use dust collection equipment and employ wet methods to decrease dust.
  • Never wear exposed work clothes away from work.
  • Use correct cleaning methods and wash clothes daily.

OSHA

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

DROWSY DRIVERS

Drivers falling asleep behind the wheel of an automobile or truck are major problems we all face.  Typical characteristics of crashes involving this driving hazard are:

  • Late night/early morning hours
  • Late afternoon (older drivers)
  • Occur on high speed highways
  • Driver doesn’t attempt to avoid crash
  • Driver was alone
  • Likely to be serious accident
  • Single vehicle leaving roadway

A study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in conjunction with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Association showed that drowsiness was greater during night hours (midnight to dawn).  The time of day of drowsiness was more a factor than total of hours driven.  The study also revealed drivers need to be given the opportunity to obtain adequate sleep. (Average sleep time was 5.2 hours).  Two major findings were: inadequate sleep and tendency for drowsiness at night.

In another study, young male drivers were more prone to sleepiness while driving, as well as shift workers.  The young male drivers were not as interested in resolving the problem (inexperienced drivers contribute to many fatal accidents); however, the shift workers would welcome ways their employers could make the drive home safer for them.  Fatigue and drowsiness can be a fatal combination; if employers could provide transportation for their shift workers who are not safe to drive, it would be of great benefit to the employee and employer.

Lawmakers should be made aware that the placement of rumble strips along the sides of highways have been shown to be effective to alarm or awaken sleepy drivers as their vehicle is going off the road.  This is one small countermeasure to combat drowsy driving.

Ways to prevent drowsy driving:

  • Plan ahead and get sufficient sleep before trip
  • No drinking alcohol, even small amounts (it’s against the law)
  • Limit driving between midnight and 6 a.m.
  • Ask passenger to drive, when you feel sleepy
  • Stop in a safe place for a 15-minute nap
  • Consume caffeine equal to 2 cups of coffee
  • Avoid driving too many hours per day
  • Stop and take breaks

We hope this article didn’t put you to sleep, and that you will drive safely!

OSHA
NHTSA
FMCSA

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

TAKING THAT BIG STEP – COLLEGE!

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Thousands of students will soon start moving to the college of their choice, and there will be many things on their minds.  We have a few tips that will help make the move into that apartment or dorm room a little easier and safer:

  • Plan ahead.  Organize your move and take only the things you really need.
  • Get help:  most parents and friends will be happy to help you with your move, and any extra hands will get you settled in sooner.
  • Know how to lift properly, and don’t pack boxes too heavy.  Avoid back injuries.  No one wants to start new classes with a bad back, let alone miss all the campus activities!
  • Wear comfortable shoes.  It may sound funny, but when you get older, you will understand!
  • Don’t forget to take important records.  Having your medical information is important.
  • Take old phone numbers so you can still get in touch with folks back home.
  • If you are on medication, ask your physician to transfer your prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice.
  • Visit the city of your school early if possible, in order to familiarize yourself to new surroundings.
  • Be sure to pack a Survival Kit!  Non-perishable food, paper plates, bottled water, a few towels, linens, and pen and paper to list things you forgot, will come in handy until you have time to purchase groceries, and other items you need.
  • Remember to take a tool kit with the basics: hammer, nails, screwdriver, etc.  Pack flashlights, one for your room and one for your car.

One last thing, be sure to use the “Buddy System” when walking on campus at night.  Stay safe, and have a wonderful school year!