Category Archives: Uncategorized

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

ABOUT THOSE LABELS………

For the past several years, food labels have furnished a lot of information regarding calories, carbohydrates, sodium, and other contents of its particular container.  Under the United States Food and Drug Administration, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition regulates approximately $417 billion of domestic foods, $49 billion imported foods and $15 billion worth of cosmetics sold.  From the point of United States entry or from processing to their point of sale, the DFSAN ensures foods and cosmetics are safe.  Meat, poultry, and eggs are regulated under the United States Department of Agriculture.

The USFDA has been protecting the food safety of Americans for more than 100 years; we have one of the safest food supplies in the world.  In addition to foods for human consumption, they also safeguard foods for animals as well.  They ensure that food and cosmetics are accurately, honestly labeled, and protect consumers from economic fraud, in addition to promoting nutrition and economic originality.

Some communication methods with the public include:

  • Food labels that have been revamped to be easier to understand nutritional value
  • Warning labels for drugs that contain iron, to safeguard children
  • New regulations on seafood safety
  • Furnish scientific evidence by showing a link between food/nutrient and disease or health conditions, which can be used in labeling

The main elements of the FDA’s Food Protection Plan are advanced through prevention, intervention, response, and legislative proposals.

There’s a world of information on those labels.  Not only are they helpful to those who count calories, they also assist persons who need to limit their intake of certain ingredients.  So, read those labels!

USDA,
CFSAN

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

Uncategorized

SAFETY TIPS FOR THOSE “UP IN THE AIR” WORKERS!

Did you ever notice a guy standing high up in a bucket, working on electric or telephone lines?  Looks like fun for those of us who don’t make our living doing that.  But there are safety risks involved, such as falls, electrocutions, and tip-overs for workers who stand in cherry pickers or bucket trucks, which are held up by boom-supported aerial platforms.

According to OSHA, the following safe work practices are encouraged:

  • Always treat power lines, wires and other conductors as energized, even when they are down or appear to be insulated.
  • A restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the boom or basket to prevent the worker(s) from being pulled from the basket should always be used.
  • If provided, use outriggers.
  • Unless permitted by the manufacturer, never move the equipment with workers in an elevated position.
  • Hydraulic, mechanical, or electrical safety devices should never be overridden.
  • Workers who operate aerial lifts are to be properly trained in the safe use of the equipment.
  • Elevating work platforms should be maintained and operated according to manufacturers instructions.
  • Load limits of equipment should not be exceeded.  The combined weight of worker, tools and materials should be considered.

The next time you see one of these workers, you might just say thanks for getting your power, cable, or telephone back on line during that last storm.  Their job is not an easy one!

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

Uncategorized

ON THE ROAD AGAIN…..TURN THAT CELL PHONE OFF!

The following information is for your good and the good of all others on the road – using cell phones while driving is dangerous, and puts you and others at risk!  Many countries, as well as some cities and states in the United States have made it illegal to talk using a hand-held phone while driving.  California drivers under age 18 may not use cell phones while driving, except in emergency situations.

If you simply must use a cell phone on the road, here are some tips to keep you safe:

  • Stop the vehicle while placing calls.
  • Use hand-free or speaker phones.
  • If you have to text, for Pete’s sake, pull off the road!
  • Focus on your driving; do not make emotional or important business calls that divert your attention.
  • Keep your phone within easy reach.
  • Let your passenger make the call for you, or let your passenger drive while you make the call.

There are many folks who make their living driving all day (or night).  Employers should ensure mobile workers are using their cell phones safely, and not risking their life or others due to improper cell phone usage.  Companies should create and enforce policies regarding hands-free operation of cell phones in order for their remote workers to be less distracted while driving.  Some prefer to use answering services for their drivers to access once they arrive safely at their destination.

How on earth did we ever make it without these wonderful little gadgets?  They are a welcome convenience to our busy lives; however, we need to exercise caution if we choose to use them while driving.  If we don’t pay attention, the results could be devastating.

Uncategorized

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR JOB?

One of the most wonderful gifts in the world is to have a job that you truly love.  Most people work in many occupations until they find the perfect job, but there are others who go to work every day to make a living for themselves and their families, regardless of it being their “dream job”.  It’s up to you to be content and thankful for the job you have.  Let’s talk a little about career pros and cons.

Few vocations exist that don’t include a fair amount of stress. Factors that lead to tension in the workplace are:

  • Lack of chances for promotion
  • Fear of losing job through outsourcing/downsizing
  • Inappropriate pay for job performed
  • Conflict with co-workers, supervisors
  • Lack of necessary resources to promote your success

If boredom on the job is part of your problem, you may not have sufficient responsibilities to correspond with your capabilities.  Don’t let your mind drift to the point that you put yourself or others in danger.  If your job duties involve being a caregiver, or operating equipment or machinery, boredom could be deadly!

You may need to seek a new challenge at your workplace; ask your supervisor to assign you to a different task.  Watch for new job opportunities that are posted from time to time at your place of employment, and go for it!

If you are given a low evaluation from your supervisor, or hear negative comments from coworkers, turn that into a plus, not a negative.  Who hasn’t thought at one time or another, “I’ll show them, I’m outta here!”  Slow down, and think about it; make this a learning experience.  Keep in mind:  there’s always someone out there ready to take your position; we are all replaceable.

Be thankful that you have that job, and look around at the work “family” that you have:  folks that you greet each morning and spend 8 hours or so with.  Show them the appreciation that you have for them, and it will pay off in big dividends for you.

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

First Aid Safety, Uncategorized

HEADACHES, WHAT A PAIN!

There’s probably no one on the planet that hasn’t experienced a headache from time to time.
Did you know there are five classifications of them?

  • Vascular – Migraine, which occur more frequently in women, and Cluster, which are experienced more often in men.
  • Myogenic – These headaches are more muscular, tightening or tensing facial and neck muscles.  Tension is the most common type of myogenic headache.
  • Cervicogenic – Can be from a disorder of the neck; anatomical structures innervated by cervical roots C-1, C-3.
  • Traction – Symptoms of other disorders. Causes range from sinus infection to stroke.
  • Inflammatory – Also caused by other disorders, with the same cause range, sinus to stroke.

Many headaches respond to simple analgesia such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen.  When sufferers have more recurring headaches, some medical professionals recommend keeping a “headache diary”.  By making entries on the type of headache and other aggravating factors, a pattern may be revealed that would help treat the cause, thereby preventing headaches from returning.  Sometimes caffeine is recommended to supplement pain killers.

Helping you to cope with and understand headaches can be Step #1 to a healthier you!

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

Uncategorized

SCHOOL DAYS ARE BACK. DRIVE SAFELY!

School bells are ringing again, and a whole new set of parents and students will be on the roads, rushing to get their little ones to school on time!  Experienced parents and students will also be hitting the streets again.School Sign

We ask you to make this “New School Year’s Resolution”:

“I will take no risks to endanger the safety of my child or other children. I will drive safely this entire year, even if I am late to work or my child is tardy.”

The consequences of an accident far outweigh the consequences of being delayed.

Safety tips to keep in mind when taking/picking up your child:

  • Plan ahead, and allow extra time to deliver your child to school on time.
  • Young children may dart into path of cars, so watch, watch, watch!
  • Don’t assume that your child is safe in a crosswalk; tell them to stop and look both ways, if not accompanied by a crosswalk guard.
  • Be familiar with school zones and speed limits at your child’s school.
  • Do not let your cell phone, palm, or other wonders of technology distract you from the primary goal:  the ultimate safety of your child and other children.
  • Motorists need to obey all traffic laws and speed limits.
  • Be sure to stop for school buses that have stopped to load or unload passengers.
  • When you are backing out of your driveway, be sure to watch for kids hurrying to school, either walking or on their bikes.

We take many things for granted in our daily routines: our jobs, families, and health.  A blunder caused by rushed, careless driving could alter many lives, so slow down, and drive carefully!