Category Archives: Uncategorized

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

GETTING OUT THE TURKEY FRYER? TIPS FOR COOKING SAFELY

If you see your neighbor sporting safety goggles, safety mitts, and carrying a fire extinguisher, he’s really not headed to a fire, but getting ready to fry the turkey!  It has become quite a tradition to fry Thanksgiving or Christmas turkeys instead of the old-fashioned way, baking them in the oven.  But the aforementioned equipment might come in handy to keep the cook safe!  Despite the delicious outcome, make yourself aware that there are certain risks involved:

  • Most fryers do not have thermostats; therefore, temperature should be checked often because the oil could overheat to combustion. Never allow grease or oil to exceed 350°F.  Oil will ignite at 550°F to 700°F.
  • Turkeys that are not completely thawed could also cause oil to splash, threatening burns.
  • It is always important to follow manufacturer’s instructions and use extra caution when cooking with hot oil, which presents a fire hazard as well as a burn hazard.
  • Do not overfill pot with oil.
  • Never use inside an enclosed area (garage, patio) or under overhang of house.
  • Cooker should only be used on a level stable surface, away from wood decks, dry grass, shrubs, etc.
  • Keep propane cylinder at least 18” away from cooker while in use.
  • Keep an operable type BC fire extinguisher within easy reach.
  • Sides of pot can become extremely hot, so use mitts to prevent burns.  Goggles can protect ones eyes from oil splatters.
  • Never leave cooker unattended.  Keep children/pets away from cooker, even when through cooking, as the oil will remain very hot for a long period of time.
  • Cooker must not be operated in the rain.  Cover the pot immediately and turn it OFF.
  • If parts to the cooker are damaged, missing, or improperly installed, do not operate it.

If tasty fried turkey is your choice for the holiday, please keep these safety tips in mind.  Cook with care, and enjoy your feast! 

Happy Thanksgiving from Texas America Safety Company and Blog4Safety.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Uncategorized

IT’S “GET SMART ABOUT ANTIBIOTICS” WEEK!

Sponsored by the Center for Disease Control, the week of November 12 through 18th is dedicated to educating the public about the use of antibiotics and other similar drugs, which are called antimicrobial agents.  In use for the past 70 years to treat patients with infectious diseases, these drugs have immensley reduced illness and death from infectious diseases since the 1940’s.  Antibiotic use has been very beneficial, and when prescribed and taken correctly, their value in patient care is huge.  However, the drugs have been used for so long and so widely that the infectious organisms the antibiotics are designed to kill have adapted to them, making the drugs less effective.  Those patients who are infected with antimicrobial-dresistant organisms are more likely to have more expensive and longer hospital stays, and may be more likely to die as a result of the infection.

A growing number of disease-causing organisms, also known as pathogens, are resistant to one or more antimicrobial drugs.  A wide range of pathogens—including the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, the viruses that causes influenza, the parasites that cause malaria, and the fungi that cause yeast infections—are becoming resistant to the antimicrobial agents used for treatment.  More information about some of the organisms and diseases associated with antimicrobial resistance, may help us understand how important it is to not misuse antibiotics. 

Acinetobacter

Acinetobacter [asz−in−ée−toe–back−ter] is a group of bacteria commonly found in soil and water. While there are many types or “species” of Acinetobacter and all can cause human disease, Acinetobacter baumannii [asz−in−ée−toe–back−ter   boe-maa-nee-ie] accounts for about 80% of reported infections.  Outbreaks of Acinetobacter infections typically occur in intensive care units and healthcare settings housing very ill patients. Acinetobacter infections rarely occur outside of healthcare settings.

Anthrax

Anthrax is a serious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that forms spores. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic mammalian species, but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or to tissue from infected animals or when anthrax spores are used as a bioterrorist weapon. Some strains of B. anthracis may be naturally resistant to certain antibiotics and not others. In addition, there may be biologically mutant strains that are engineered to be resistant to various antibiotics.

Group B streptococcus

Group B Streptococcus (group B strep) is a type of bacteria that causes illness in newborn babies, the elderly, and adults with other illnesses, such as diabetes or liver disease. Group B strep has shown confirmed resistance to certain antibiotics. (My husband had this B strep bacteria following a hip replacement. He went through six weeks of antibiotic therapy through home health, wearing an IV continuously.) 

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella infections commonly occur among sick patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions. Patients whose care requires devices like ventilators (breathing machines) or intravenous (vein) catheters, and patients who are taking long courses of certain antibiotics are most at risk for Klebsiella infections. Healthy people usually do not get Klebsiella infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. Serious or life-threatening occurrences of “Staph” infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. Visitors are cautioned to wash their hands before entering and when leaving the room of a patient with Staph infection.  Visitors should avoid touching catheters or wound sites on the patient.  

MRSA in communities can be widespread and therefore, anyone is at risk.  Most people who get MRSA get infections of the skin.  Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact. Openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene.  People may be more at risk in locations where these factors are common, such as: athletic facilities, dormitories, military barracks, correctional facilities, and daycare centers. 

Preventing MRSA infections is a high priority for CDC. CDC is actively working to reduce MRSA infections in the United States through intensive efforts with healthcare providers to improve infection control practices and prevent HAIs. (Hospital-Associated Infections.) CDC also continually monitors the occurrence of MRSA and other infections in the population. CDC’s work provides the foundation for national and local healthcare-associated prevention efforts.  

When you are ill, your physician knows how much antibiotic therapy you should be given.  A good rule of thumb to stay healthier this winter is to eat healthy foods, exercise, and wash your hands often, especially when you go in and out of public buildings.  Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or car, so you can clean your hands when there’s no water available.

 Source: CDC

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

10 Tricks to Make Your House Easier to Keep Clean (Guest Post)

10 Tricks to Make Your House Easier to Keep Clean

Sent by Maria Wells of http://www.housekeeping.org
 

After a stressful day, the last thing busy parents want to do is walk into a messy house. Coming home to a clean house, on the other hand, is like a much-needed breath of fresh air.  Why not keep your house cleaner, longer?  Doing so will give you a little more time to do the things you want to do, rather than doing the things you don’t.  The next time that you are cleaning your house, give some of these tricks a try. They’ll extend your homes’ clean life and save you some cleaning time.

  1. Keep shower doors cleaner with Rain-X.  Start by thoroughly cleaning your shower doors with a glass cleaner.  If the glass is textured, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to get into the glass grooves.  Using a razor blade, scrape off any soap that has caked onto your doors.  Dry the glass completely with a soft towel.  Spray on Rain-X or a product called Aquapel, then wipe the glass clean with a microfiber cloth.  The product leaves a thin coating on the glass which will repel soap and water. The end result is that your shower doors will stay cleaner for much longer. While these products, which can be found in the automotive department at discount stores, are typically used for windshields, they also work great on shower doors.
  2. Squeegee off the walls after each shower.  By squeegeeing off the water and soap after each shower you will limit the amount of water and soap that dries onto your shower walls and doors.  Make sure to dry any water off of your faucet and the metal around the glass on the shower doors to avoid water spots.  This will keep your shower looking sparkling clean.
  3. Brighten cabinets with heat. Over time kitchen cabinets get coated with grease. This happens so gradually that it’s usually not even noticeable.  Microwave a sponge for 30 seconds and then put on some rubber gloves before grabbing the sponge.  Spray the cabinets with a cleaner that contains orange oil.  Use the hot sponge to wipe away layers of grease and grime that have accumulated on your cabinets.  Not only will the kitchen smell like fresh oranges, but the oil will give the cabinets that just like new shine.  The oil will also help to prevent food from sticking in the future.
  4. Remove pet hair with ease and slow down its return.  If you have pets that shed you probably have struggled with keeping pet hair off of your furniture.  Start by wrapping a paint roller with duct tape, sticky side out.  Now roll the furniture; the tape will pick up the hair much faster than a vacuum.  To keep the hair off longer, wipe a dryer sheet over the furniture and drapes.  There will be less static for the hair to hold onto. 
  5. Remove soap scum with a putty knife.  Soap scum can be very difficult to remove.  Wait until the shower walls are completely dry and use a 4 inch plastic putty knife to scrape the soap scum off of the tile and walls.  After you have scraped off the soap scum, clean with your regular cleaner.  Dry the walls with a towel and apply some car wax, using a liquid car wax just like you would on your car.  Wipe it on and wait until it gets hazy, then buff it off with a soft cloth.  The wax will repel the water and soap in the future.
  6. Apply grout sealer to tile back splashes.  Twice a year apply a couple of coats of grout sealer to your grout lines.  Once the sealer is dry it will prevent stains from getting onto your grout.  Any food splatters can be wiped away without worry of stains.
  7. Apply stone sealer to your stone counter tops.  Follow the package directions and apply stone sealer to your stone counter tops to reduce the chances that a spill will stain your stone counters.  Stone is porous and can absorb stains, making it impossible to get clean.  Doing a little extra work a couple times a year will keep your counters looking like new for a longer period of time.
  8. Leave the lid of your washer open for an hour after use.  To avoid the expense of buying a special cleaner for your washing machine you just need to leave the lid of your washer open for an hour after you’ve washed clothes.  This allows the moisture to evaporate so that you can eliminate mold and mildew that will make your washer smell.  Making this a habit will keep your washer looking and smelling cleaner for an extended period of time.
  9. Have a big mat at all doors.  Most dirt that gets into the home is tracked in on shoes.  To help keep your house cleaner, you need to keep the dirt outside.  The ideal size for a mat is more than one stride long.  You want people to walk on the mat with both of their feet before stepping into your home.  The mat should be a deep texture like that of AstroTurf.  To further keep dirt out of the home, place a mat on the inside of the door as well.  Also, ask people to take their shoes off at the door.
  10. Keep doors, drawers, and cabinets closed.  Make a habit of keeping drawers, cabinets, and doors closed, as dirt tends to blow around.  If the drawer or door is left open the dirt can get in there.  By making a habit of keep things closed, the insides of cabinets and drawers, along with what they hold, will stay clean a lot longer.

Thank you, Maria, for these great tips. It’s great to come home to a nice, clean house.  There are some other tips for making our homes safer, such as, keeping clutter picked up  and having loose rugs taped down with double-sided tape, to prevent falls.  Wearing gloves while doing some of the cleaning projects will protect your hands, as well.  pat

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

A QUICK REVIEW OF SAFE CO-SLEEPING (Guest Post)

In the United States co-sleeping with your infant is an extremely controversial topic.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (or AAP) advices against bed-sharing and instead advocates for room-sharing. The Consumer Product Safety Commission agrees with the AAP and advises parents to not place their babies in adult beds. While there are definitely benefits to sharing a bed with your baby, in Western culture the risks seem to outweigh the benefits, which are as follows:

  • Easy and convenient breastfeeding
  • Sleep synchronization for mother and baby
  • Increased bonding
  • Baby can smell, hear, and feel their mother which may promote safer sleep via “protective arousal”
  • Increase in nighttime sleep for both mother and baby.

The risks of bed-sharing include:

  • Suffocation
  • Entrapment
  • Strangulation
  • Rolling over onto baby
  • Knocking baby off of the bed
  • Increased risk of SIDS, in some cases.

Soft adult mattresses, loose bedding, bed frames, headboards, footboards, and positioning the bed close to walls may contribute to the risk of a baby being harmed or killed during bed-sharing.  In other cultures, where injuries and deaths related to bed-sharing are comparatively less, the cultural practices for bed-sharing are different. For example, in other cultures the mattresses may be firm and placed directly on the floor.

Infants who bed-share with siblings or with parents who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and infants with parents who smoke could be at a greater risk for injury or death while co-sleeping.

The term co-sleeping and bed-sharing are often used interchangeably, but they have two separate meanings.   Dr. Sears offers clarification to the different terms. The term co-sleeping refers to sleeping close enough to the baby for easy comforting, while the term bed-sharing refers to mother and baby sleeping side by side in an adult bed.

Placing your baby in a safe, separate, and close sleep space offers the benefits as co-sleeping without the added risks associated with bed-sharing. In fact, the Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper Bassinet, recommended by co-sleeping advocate and pediatrician Dr. Sears, attaches to a parents bed and keeps the mother and baby close to each other while still providing the baby with a separate sleep space on a firm mattress, away from the parent’s bedding, headboard, and footboard, which can all contribute to suffocation, strangulation, entrapment, or even SIDS.

For parents who opt to bed-share, despise the warnings, they should:

  • Always put their baby to sleep on her back
  • Always ensure their baby’s head is not covered
  • Make sure that their headboard or footboard doesn’t have cutouts that could trap their baby
  • Not leave their baby alone in the bed
  • Ensure  that their bed is away from walls, which could trap their baby should he fall
  • Ensure their bed is away from blind cords and drapes to prevent strangulation.
  • Be sure that there are no crevices between the headboard and mattress, which could lead to entrapment.
  • Not use pillows, comforters or other fluffy, loose bedding

For parents who choose to co-sleep, they should:

  • Always put their baby to sleep on her back
  • Use a wearable sleep blanket, rather than loose bedding
  • Place nothing else in the bassinet or crib
  • Position the bassinet or crib away from blind cords and drapes
  • Be sure the mattress fits snugly into the bassinet  or crib
  • Be sure the bassinet or crib sheet fits snugly and securely.

So, is co-sleeping safe?

Yes. The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a safe and separate sleep space, in the parents’ room, within arm’s reach away from his mother.

Sent to us by Sara Dawkins. pb

 

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Uncategorized

TEN WAYS TO INTRODUCE WHOLE FOODS INTO YOUR FAMILY’S MENU (Guest Post)

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While trying to eat healthier, one way you can do so is by consuming more whole foods.  By eating more whole foods you are helping to strengthen your body’s immune system, which allows it to fight off colds and other illnesses more easily, as well as providing it with plenty of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.  Have you ever wondered why certain people never seem to get sick while others always seem to be sick?  People may chalk it up to good genes, but much of the time it’s because they eat a healthy diet rich in whole foods.  Here are 10 ways you can incorporate more whole foods into your family’s diet and get on the path to healthier living.

1. Portion out fruits and veggies and keep them in the fridge for snacking.  Kids and adults alike will readily grab a snack from the fridge if it’s convenient. The problem is that most of the time the most convenient options are chips and other unhealthy snack foods that come pre-portioned. Keeping pre-portioned baby carrots, apple slices, and other whole foods in individual containers in the fridge make them easier to grab, which makes them much more likely to be eaten. Eliminate the bad snack choices and offer only the healthy choices instead. 
2. Add fruit to every meal.  Most people like fruit because it’s a sweet snack option, but in a natural and healthy way.  The FDA recommends that half your plate be filled with fruits and veggies.  Fruit can also be mixed into a smoothie or consumed as a 100% juice.  However when you can, choose whole fruits, because the fiber content of whole fruits is very important to a healthy diet according to the American Dietetic Association.
3. Make a salad for lunch.  Instead of filling the kids up with white bread sandwiches for lunch try fixing them a salad.  By adding things like dried and fresh fruit, nuts, hard-boiled eggs, and lots of different veggies to the lettuce base it becomes a tasty meal.  By incorporating some of the kids’ favorites they will be more likely to eat the salad.  If you are worried about protein feel free to add in some beans or lean meat.
4. Set aside one night a week to eat vegetarian.  Call it Meatless Monday or Tofu Tuesday and make it a fun experience for your family.  Make vegetarian lasagna using thinly sliced eggplant instead of pasta, and top it with plenty of low-fat cheese. Your family will be pleasantly surprised at how much it tastes like their old favorite.  Soups are another easy way to go meatless, as are other pasta or casserole options.

5. Instead of a starch, serve two vegetables.  An easy way to get more vegetables into your family’s diet is by making two veggies with dinner.  Leave out the pasta or potato that you might normally fix and serve a green salad and asparagus with a proper portion of meat instead.
6. Sweeten food with pureed fruit instead of sugar or syrup.  If the kids normally enjoy waffles with syrup for breakfast, change it up so that they are eating whole grain waffles and some pureed strawberries or blueberries in place of the syrup. The natural sweetness from the fruit will make a nice alternative to the regular syrup topping.
7. Eat fruit for dessert.  Sliced fresh fruit in a bowl with a little honey drizzled over it will make a light and refreshing end to any meal.  To save money, try to look for fruits that are in season, or choose a good quality frozen fruit or fruit canned in its own juice.  During the summer try grilled fruit for dessert.
8. Serve smoothies to your family for an on-the-go breakfast choice.  Start with frozen fruit and you won’t need to add ice to the blender.  If your kids don’t like veggies, you can easily hide them in a smoothie and they will never know, and for some extra protein blend in some Greek yogurt.  These sweet concoctions can be made for four people just as easily as they can be for one, and offer a healthy option that’s perfect for the most important meal of the day.
9. Whole foods aren’t limited to just fruits and veggies.  Anything that is consumed as close to how it appears in nature is considered to be a whole food.  For instance, a baked or grilled chicken breast is unprocessed and unrefined, so it is a whole food and a very healthy protein choice, as are eggs and fish.
10. Add beans to everything.  Okay, maybe not everything, but kidney beans can be added to sautéed ground turkey to make chili, and black beans can be added to some lettuce with some whole kernel corn, and fresh tomato salsa for a southwest salad. Beans are an easy, healthy way to bulk up nearly any savory meal.

Our thanks to Suzanne Cullen, who works with Aupair.org for sending this very useful advice on healthier eating.  Many companies encourage their employees to eat healthy and participate in fitness programs.  If we would all get on the bandwagon, and teach our children to get in the habit of grabbing a piece of fruit rather than chips or cookies, we’d have a healthier generation coming up! 

 

 

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

ROAD ACCIDENT: INJURY COMPENSATION FOR CYCLISTS (GUEST POST)

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Road accident: Injury compensation for cyclists

Cycling in the city: Good for the environment, good for your fitness, and sometimes a great way to beat the congestion in the morning rush hour. Nevertheless, city cycling can be hazardous and cyclists are particularly vulnerable sharing the road with much larger more powerful vehicles.

Thousands of cyclists are injured on the roads of the UK every year, sometimes fatally, and often through no fault of their own. Carefully following the rules of the road, and wearing appropriate safety gear and lighting should always be a priority if you are a cyclist, however accidents can still happen as a result of negligence on the part of other road users. If you are involved in a collision with another vehicle and it wasn’t your fault then you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim to compensate you for your injury and any financial losses that you incur.

If you are suffer a collision with a vehicle and you find yourself well enough to do so, you or someone acting on your behalf should exchange details with the other party, and note down as much information as possible regarding the nature of the collision. Photographic evidence can be particularly useful in establishing who was liable for the collision. If you are not well enough to take the details of the other person involved in the collision the police will usually do this for you.

If your claim is successful the amount of compensation that you receive for your injury will depend on a range of factors including the severity of the injury and the level of impact that it has had on your life as well as any financial losses that resulted from your accident.

The sooner you are able to begin the process of making a claim, the more successful it is likely to be. Making a compensation claim doesn’t have to be difficult or complex. If you’re wondering how to make a personal injury claim a specialist personal injury solicitor can help assess whether you are eligible, and proceed to guide you through the entire process, from obtaining the appropriate medical examinations to providing comprehensive legal advice.

A combination of the widespread introduction of inner city cycle lanes and increasingly congested roads across the UK have perhaps contributed to the rising popularity of pedal cycling. In spite of greater awareness on the part of motorists, the cyclist remains a very vulnerable road user. Protecting yourself should be paramount, but no matter what you do accidents may sometimes happen. If you sustain an injury through no fault of your own, making a personal injury claim can help you get the compensation that you deserve. 

This post was written by John Hughes

P.S. If I may add to this informative article, in addition to wearing all the safety gear that protects from injuries, certain high-visibility stickers placed on the bicycle or helmet may help prevent an accident, as well.

Uncategorized

A LOOK INTO THE MIND OF A BURGLAR (GUEST POST)

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Burglar Reveals 15 Trade Secrets

Ever wonder what goes through the mind of a burglar? Well, SimpliSafe home security sent a team of us out to hit the streets for some raw data. We got the chance to sit down with burglary professionals and ask them some real tough questions. It wasn’t easy getting these questions answered but we got them! We gathered the most common answers and assembled them to give you an inside look into the mind of a burglar. It’s time for you to meet Bob, your local burglar.

Hello, my name is Bob and I’m your local neighborhood burglar!

First I’m going to tell you what I look for before breaking into your home, and then I’m going to tell you how I can break into your home. I’ll even tell you what I’m doing and looking for inside your home.

A lot of people ask me why I do what I do, and why I haven’t been caught yet. Do you know what I tell them? Because people don’t realize how easy they make it for me. I shouldn’t be doing this but I need a challenge!

Here’s what I’m looking for to make your house my next target:

Before picking a house I have to scope the whole neighborhood. To do this I’m not going to be walking in the traditional cat burglar uniform. I’m going to be walking around with a rake, dressed up as the cable, electric, or phone repairman. In some cases I even post a flier on your door for a closer look. Usually my work hours are from 8AM-11AM. I want to avoid any kind of confrontation.

  • High privacy fences – This way your pesky neighbors can’t sneak up on me or call the police
  • Any sort of high vegetation, like trees or shrubbery, covering your windows – this way they can’t see me break your window. I prefer lots of cover.
  • Toys or playground equipment in your yard – Toys or playground equipment in your yard are signs that kids live there, which to me equals a mother lives there and “cha-ching” that means JEWELRY.
  • I’ll post a flyer on your door to get a closer look of your home. I’m also checking to see if you have a burglar alarm.
  • I’ll knock on your door to see if anyone is home. If someone answers the door I’ll just come up with some bogus story.
  • I’m going to check if the front or back door is unlocked. Sometimes people usually hide a key somewhere easy to access. If I can’t find a key I will check the windows. If worse comes to worse I’ll just smash a window.
  • I can also get into a home through your doors using my trusty crowbar.
  • If I can’t make it into your house in one minute I just move onto the next one.
  • I always use the same search pattern. I go straight to the master bedroom. I look for cash, jewelry, or anything that might be valuable. People often make the mistake of leaving money or jewelry in the most common areas.
  • I’ll even look under the bed and in your closets.
  • I’m always listening for outside noises. It’s a 6th sense.
  • I check your bathroom medicine cabinets for any narcotic prescriptions. Pills are easy money.
  • I’m going to check your kitchen and living room for electronics, credit cards, car keys, and personal information.
  • After I have gathered everything I need, I call my backup driver to meet me so we can load up all the goods in the car or van.
  • Once I have loaded all the goods, my associate and I drive away to the next target. It’s a never ending cycle.

Here’s how I break into your home:

Now here’s what I’m doing once I’m inside your home:

And that’s it folks. It usually takes me about 8-12 minutes to get in and out of your home. It’s as easy as that!

In closing, there are a lot of things that you can do to avoid someone like me. A security system is a no brain-er. If that’s not an option, leaving a TV or stereo on during the day usually helps someone like me avoid your home. This usually indicates someone is home. Also most burglars won’t even attempt entry if they know there’s a large dog in the home.

So now you know my methods and secrets. Hopefully this will help you avoid bad guys like me. If not, I’ll be lurking around. So, once again, I’m Bob, your local Burglar, and I’ll be coming to a city near you!

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

TEN RULES TO AVOID DOMESTIC ACCIDENTS – GUEST POST

10 Rules to Avoid Domestic Accidents

Domestic accidents are an integral part of our lives and one cannot ignore them completely. Especially when you have small children in your house and a lot of clutter as well, you must expect some form of contingencies in your house. The best way to prevent such accidents is to exercise caution where you can. Many times, adults too fall victim to domestic accidents. Besides implementing appropriate steps to avoid such accidents, also maintain a complete first aid box to provide immediate medical attention to the person.

In this article we will tell you 10 rules to avoid domestic accidents so your loved ones are safe:

1. Avoid Too Much Clutter at Home

The more your house is cluttered, the greater are the chances that anyone could face contingencies. This happens because things are not organized and are thus placed at the wrong places. For example, scissors on your bed or over your sofa can be equally dangerous for both children and adults.

2. Keep Dangerous Items Out Of Reach of Children

Dangerous items include sharp items, glass items, cleaners, chemicals, blades, sharp tools, match boxes etc. Children are not aware of the consequences of the wrong use of these items and your absence can be very dangerous.

3. Keep the Garage Closed At All Times

Garages should be kept closed at all times of the day when no one’s around since it has equipment, tools, flammable liquid and maybe chemicals that can be dangerous for any one including adults who do not know the correct usage of such things.

4. Ensure the Pool Area Is Fenced

This is really important when you have small children in your house. Install fences so that even if your child strolls around, there is no danger of him/her drowning in the pool.

5. Keep Away Sharp Objects in the Kitchen Out Of Reach

Children make their way inside kitchens very easily and you cannot shun them always, instead keep away sharp objects away and do not leave them on counter-tops and tables.

6. Never Let Your Children Come Near the Gas Oven or Hold Knobs

Gas ovens alone account for a high number of domestic accidents. Keep your child away from gas ovens and gas knobs. Tell them it’s very dangerous right away so they do not come into contact with them even if you are away.

7. Keep Glass Bottles, Frames and Mirrors at Safe Places

Take off even slightly scratched glass from your coffee table, dining table, picture frames etc. These can be equally dangerous for both adults and children.

8. Arrange Your Glass Furniture and Decoration Pieces Wisely

Arrange glass furniture and decoration pieces wisely as anyone might knock over them. Avoid placing heavy glass at low levels in smaller settings.

9. Do Not Leave Your Children Alone In Bathrooms

Children love playing with water and everyone else does too, but doing so in a bathtub in the bathroom can be fatal as well!

10. Keep Your Store Room Locked Away

Store rooms are hardly ever very clean and organized. Mostly, people keep them full of old furniture, and things that can be potentially harmful in storerooms. A storeroom full of such items is surely a great threat for anyone.

 

Andrew works in the healthcare industry distributing daily living aids and bathroom aids. As part of his job, Andrew has gained experience on the risk of domestic accidents and how to avoid then.  (We at Blog4Safety appreciate Andrew’s advice on avoiding accidents in our homes. 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing, Uncategorized

OFFSHORE DRILLING SAFETY – Joint Post

Offshore Rig Safety – Joint Post

Pat Brownlee writes for  Texas America Safety Company, (Blog4Safety), http://www.tasco-safety.com/ and David Beastall writes on behalf of Acre Resources,  who recruit for health and safety jobs.

Offshore drilling provides 24 percent of U.S. oil and 25 per cent of U.S. gas supply, but not without inherent occupational risks.

Personnel who work on offshore rigs normally work two weeks on and two weeks off. Their mode of transportation to and from platforms is usually by helicopter, unless situated close enough they can travel by vessel. As a result every employee must be trained on how to be deployed to and from helicopters.

The Gulf of Mexico has a constant flow of helicopter traffic, and the weather over the Gulf varies from fog to strong winds, thunderstorms, and hurricanes. In the United States, personnel safety for offshore drilling requires proper training in compliance with OSHA and American Petroleum Institute Standards.

The Health and Safety Executive in the UK recorded a fall in unintended oil and gas leaks in 2011 with the trend still present leading into the first quarter of 2012. However the HSE findings were that there are still further steps that need to be taken in order to reduce the risk of unnatural environmental disasters and occupational health and safety risks for drilling crews and energy professionals out in the field.

The number of leaks from hydrocarbons is seen as an important KPI and indication of how successful the offshore industries around the world are at managing major risks. Accidents and loss of life show a strong correlation to unintended sea oil and gas leaks.

So how is the offshore energy industry tackling health and safety responsibilities?

Rig specialists in safety are usually required to have a bachelor’s or associate degree in occupational health or public safety. These safety officers or advisors are responsible for emergency planning and implementation, conducting safety audits, and seeing that any safety-related problems are corrected. Offshore rig workers have a different kind of safety culture, as they not only must contend with the hazards of a land-based drilling rig, but the responsibilities that accompany working in a marine environment, and the costs of mistakes that might be made. They must be prepared on what to do in case of a fire or blow-out or other incident.

Demand for health and safety professionals who can provide foresight, analysis and manage the risks heavily involved and associated with high risk occupations and jobs are shown to be increasing demand. This is in part because natural carbon resource and energy suppliers are keen to avoid the potential fallout rather than investing in post disaster management. Such incidents that result in the loss of billions of dollars to put things back on the right track are often later revealed to have been avoidable in the first place were health and safety not ignored or corners cut in an attempt to squeeze down costs.

The last line of defense when something goes wrong on any job, is personal protective equipment, (PPE). Employers are responsible for training workers on how to use their safety gear and enforce the use of these pieces of equipment, which include hardhats, goggles or safety glasses, safety shoes, flotation devices, fire-retardant coveralls, and more.  The PPE any man or woman wears can be the difference between sustaining a minor injury to receiving a permanent disability. The protection it provides is limited, but the use of PPE is crucial.

Ensuring workers are comprehensively trained in how to use the personal protective equipment and potentially lifesaving resources available to them however can make a huge difference when the unexpected happens.

Nearly a year on from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the attitudes and corporate culture surrounding the offshore energy industry are now seen to be changing, partly in response to some of the worst man-made environmental disasters experienced within the industry. The Deep Water Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico involved BP and one of their leased deep sea drilling rigs located within close proximity to the United States. When this exploded, 11 men were killed and many others sustained serious injury in the process alongside the consequences and environmental damage still being felt to this day.