Tag Archives: accidents

General Safety Issues

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS HELP SOLVE THE PUZZLE

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We recently talked about “human error” in the workplace.  Regardless of the reason behind an industrial accident, the failure of equipment, people, supplies, or surroundings to behave or react as expected is the cause of most of them.  Thousands of accidents occur throughout the United States every day.  By using information gained by an accident investigation, the why’s and how’s can be determined, and hopefully, prevent them from happening again. 

An industrial accident can cause extensive physical damage to a structure where the accident happened and injuries or death to workers involved in the accident.  This is the point where the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), steps in and conducts an investigation.  An OSHA inspection procedure is conducted, utilizing specialized investigation techniques.   The following information from OSHA explains the reasons for investigating an accident;  if any of the following four events take place:

  1. If there is an employee fatality during the accident;
  2. If there is a critical injury or sickness;
  3. If there is exposure to a serious toxic chemical or disease occurs;
  4. If there are more than three employees that undergo hospitalization from the accident. 

OSHA representatives will come to the site of the accident once receiving word of the event.  They will then do an initial report.  Accident investigations are more complex than other inspections, requiring a greater degree of technical and investigative skill than other types of programmed or non-programmed inspections.  They often require coordination between Federal, state, and local investigative entities.  Compliance personnel and employers are required to interact with the investigating authorities. 

The main goal of the inspection is to identify the causes of an industrial accident, which could lead to citations.  The inspection will not only reveal the causes, but the probability of hazards in surrounding areas, while creating an injury log and calculating the amount of time required for complete cleanup.  OSHA is also required to coordinate with the Bureau of Investigations if there is a fatality at the scene of the accident.  OSHA will contact family members of the employees involved in the accident to provide them with important information related to the accident. 

Another important technique that OSHA uses is interviewing witnesses that were present during the accident.  The representatives of OSHA do not conduct interviews until after they are familiar with the industry in which the accident occurred.  Then they will interview people who saw the event, those who have first-hand knowledge of the accident, and other witnesses who have information about the circumstances that led up to and preceded the accident.  The purpose of these interviews is not fault-finding, but rather fact-finding.  There will also be documentary evidence, photographs and videos, as well as diagrams, sketches and maps that better describe the work-site accident.   Depending on the results of the investigation, OSHA will cite the corporation or individuals involved in the accident, recommend criminal proceedings (if deemed appropriate), and create a detailed investigative report.

American workers and employers want safe and healthful places in which to work.  They want everyone on the job to go home whole and healthy each day.  Determined to make that dream possible, OSHA is committed to assuring, so far as possible, that every working man and woman in the nation has safe and healthful working conditions.  OSHA believes that providing workers with a safe workplace is central to their ability to enjoy health, security, and the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

 

Source: OSHA, Cal/OSHA

General Safety Issues

HUMAN ERROR IN THE WORKPLACE

First of all, we are all humans, and humans aren’t perfect.  We often hear that the cause of an accident was “human error.”  After investigation, that may be found to be true.  But there is a correlation between the workplace environment and the human that is employed there.  We know that businesses must comply with government regulations and standards of safety and health for their employees. 

It would seem that the starting point of avoiding human error is to establish strong policies and procedures.  Beginning with human resources personnel, who pass on valuable information to new employees, and following through with training, management, good communication, and the design of a workplace that leads to safety – are all  factors that will ensure that  people work successfully.  

I can truthfully admit that as a new employee, with early-on training, I still didn’t understand fully about my new job.  It takes time and practice to really catch on.  Maybe some are faster learners that I was, but I know that when there’s too much information to absorb, it’s easy to make errors.  I did clerical work, and there’s certainly room for error there.  Think about someone who does data entry all day long, and may miss just one digit on the keyboard, causing costly errors.  (Remember the computer glitch that caused the Stock Exchange to seemingly tank not too long ago?)  Between 70% and 90% of workplace errors are attributed to “human error”, but it may be due to a mismatch between the plan of the systems with which they may be required to work and the way they think and work. 

If a company assures their employees that they want an employee to report a mistake they made, in order to ensure safety, without reprimanded, those workers will be more likely to do so.  Many times workers are under peer pressure, or demands of their supervisors to complete a job hurriedly; or they may be placed in a work environment that is not conducive to safety.  The blame does not fall on the employee under these conditions.  For example, if their job requires charting or reading meters, and the lighting isn’t adequate, whose fault is it when the readings  are incorrect?  

Companies must have a strong safety committee that enforces compliance with safety rules.  If employees know that  part of their job evaluation is based on their compliance with safety rules and wearing the Personal Protective Equipment they are required to wear, they may be more vigilant to avoid making mistakes.  Continued safety training and repeated training is important to the success of any employer.  Another key to good safety practice is to have some type of reward for employees who recognize and report a potential hazard.  If employers could rotate the repetitive and boring types of responsibilities among several persons, by giving them different tasks, a safer workplace could be established.  Posters always play a valuable role in reminding workers to stay alert. 

As stated earlier, there will always be “human errors.”  Some of those errors have proved to be very devastating to  individuals and families, such as airline crashes or medical errors.  These are usually the ones that are reported to the public.  But small mistakes or big ones will continue being made.  Every single person needs to be more aware of the consequences of their mistakes, and do the very best they can do.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH AT 2 A.M.

For those who live in the Daylight Saving Time zone, be sure to set your clocks back one hour next Sunday, November 4th!   (So set your clocks back Saturday night.) The pros and cons of this decision made by the government are debated year after year.  Many people enjoy having extra daylight to enjoy outdoor activities, and others wish it were just left alone and not changed. 

During World War I, Daylight Saving Time was instituted in the U.S. in order to save energy for war production, by taking advantage of the daylight between April and October.  Between the wars and after World War II, communities and states were able to choose whether they wanted to observe DST.  During World War II, the government again required the states to observe this change.    In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which standardized the length of Daylight Saving Time.    

Since 2007, DST is four weeks longer, due to the passage of the Energy Policy Act in 2005.  This act extended four weeks – from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November, hoping that it would save 10,000 barrels of oil each day through reduced use of power by businesses during daylight hours.   Unfortunately, it is very difficult to determine energy savings from this plan, based on a variety of factors.  Many persons speculate that little or no energy is saved by this time change.  Power usage increases in the early morning hours, as people must get up for work while it is still dark to prepare for their day.  Some even have to commute before daylight. 

Although research shows that traffic fatalities are reduced when there is more daylight, the early morning darkness brings more danger for workers driving to work, and children walking to catch the school bus while it’s still dark.  With the time change, statistics show an increase in evening traffic accidents immediately following the time change in November, as drivers face going home in a darker environment, and possibly children are on their bikes returning home from after-school activities.

To ensure that we don’t “fall backward” on safety, this marks an excellent time to do a home safety evaluation.  The National Fire Protection Association recommends that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms be checked once a year.  Their figures show that around ninety per cent of homes in the United States have smoke alarms; however one-third of those are estimated to have dead or missing batteries.  They also recommend that smoke alarms be replaced after 10 years.  Some newer types of alarms have remote controls, making it easier than ever to check them. 

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be:

  •        Installed on every level of the home, and in sleeping areas
  •        Tested once a month
  •        Equipped with new batteries annually 

Also, keep a fire extinguisher handy, and have a fire escape plan for every member of the family.  While you are doing your home safety evaluation, also ensure that your door locks function properly,  keep your home locked, and have a stocked first aid kit, just in case.

Enjoy that extra hour of sleep we lost in the spring!

General Safety Issues

WAYS TO PRACTICE WORK SAFETY

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Today’s article is presented by guest blogger, Corey Palmer.

When you are at work, you want to stay safe. It can be hard to do, but there are some things that you can do in order to ensure that you are safe. Here are some of those tips for you that you should use when you are working.

One of the first things you can do is be aware of your surroundings. There are many who have said that they have looked around their place of employment and have found that there are things that can be taken care of. When they look at this, they find that there are things that are at the moment a danger.

When you are looking around, one of the areas that is where most accidents happen are on the floor. Falling is something that many have done and it can be prevented. One way is that spills need to be cleaned up and wet areas need to have some kind of protection like rubber matting for better grip while walking. When they are cleaned up, you save others from falling. You need to wipe shoes during rainy or snowy weather as well to prevent this.

Crime is something else that you have to be careful about. Many think that just because there is security there that they are safe. This might very well be so, but you never can assume anything. Many things have happened when security is there. So, to prevent break-ins or car theft, you need to take in your purse and other belongings that might be worth something. You also need to make sure that if you are going to your car at night,  you are walking with someone.

There are many things about safety that we often take for granted. There are some things that many of you might not even consider as a safety concern. One of those things is sexual harassment. This needs to be addressed and for some of you, you need to realize that if you are being sexually harassed at work, then you aren’t safe. So, know what it is and who to go to if this is an issue.

The last thing that one needs to do is know the rules that your company has. The other thing is that you need to make sure that you adhere to the rules that they have. They are there to protect you. Many think it’s just so the job can cover it’s butt. To some extent, this is true. For you though, it’s to keep you safe.

These are the things you can do. Wear the uniform. Follow the rules. It’s all really that simple whether you think so or not.

Thanks, Corey, for submitting this great information.  We hope to hear from you again!

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

A SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE WANTING TO HELP!

 This weekend I received the following comment from a very special mother, with regard to  an article, “Drive Safely Work Week.”  Please pay close attention to this message about a subject that we are all familiar with, but don’t  heed the warnings.  Hopefully, this will wake us all up:

We lost our son March 15, 2009 because he was texting while driving. He had everything going for him, he was just 23, a United States Marine and father and he let something as silly as texting take his life. I have made it a point in my life to speak and teach any and everyone I can on these dangers so maybe just one family will not have to go thru the pain and suffering we go thru everyday. Please look at your last text and tell me, is it really worth dying over or possibly killing someone else?? Thank you,
TBreen

In the article, I was trying to convey that a phone conversation is not worth risking anyone’s life over.  I hope my message gets through to all drivers that we must pay attention to our driving, and turn those phones off.  If we must use a cell phone, we need to pull over- to protect ourselves and others on the roads.  I asked for permission to share her message with all of you, and this was her response:

“PLEASE share, my husband and myself have made it our mission now to get our sons story out there and pray that it saves just one life. I am not sure I mentioned but we have done a PSA/Documentary for AT&T and also for a company named Motion Masters a learning video that is for schools and businesses. Your life is changed forever and there is not a waking second that you do not think of your child, a parent is not supposed to bury their child… Keep the articles going.. God Bless..

This mother and father are doing all they can to teach us that we must continue to get out the message: don’t text while driving!  Hopefully,  families will realize how important it is to teach their young drivers that this is one of the most common causes of accidents.  It has been proven that texting and driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving.  It’s time for it to stop!  It can be as simple as turning off the phone.   If everyone would comply, we’d see fewer accidents.

If you wish to comment, please send your wishes to me, and I will be happy to convey them to  this special family, who is trying to save others.  We are grateful to them for sharing their message.

General Safety Issues

A COMMENT REGARDING “DRIVE SAFELY WORK WEEK”

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October 4 – 8 is Drive Safely Work Week.  This years’ campaign is about the dangers of distracted of driving, and is sponsored by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.  How many persons on our nation’s roads drive trucks or buses for a living?  They have the responsibility to focus on driving safely every day.  The rest of us should do the same. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 40,000 Americans die on our highways every year.  Every twelve minutes someone dies in a vehicular accident on U.S. Roads.  Every 10 seconds someone is injured and has to be taken to an Emergency Room.  It is also estimated that in addition to the 40,000 Americans who die annually, another 270,000 are hospitalized, resulting in costs  exceeding ninety-nine billion dollars to states and our nation.  Even though the NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration) says vehicle fatalities have declined in recent years due to newer vehicles having better safety features, and seat belt use has improved, the number of traffic deaths caused by distracted driving has increased. 

The agency reports that distracted drivers cause 4 out of 5 motor vehicle crashes in the U.S.  The main distractions are cell phones and gadgets. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that more than 500,000 persons are injured and nearly 6,000 die in accidents annually caused by distracted drivers.  

If you think you have already read the above article, you have!   The following comment was sent to me from Teresa Breen, and it is an important message that I want to share with all our readers.  Please give her comment extra special attention: 

 “We lost our son March 15, 2009 because he was texting while driving. He had everything going for him, he was just 23, a United States Marine and father and he let something as silly as texting take his life. I have made it a point in my life to speak and teach any and everyone I can on these dangers so maybe just one family will not have to go thru the pain and suffering we go thru everyday. Please look at your last text and tell me, is it really worth dying over or possibly killing someone else?? Thank you,”

After reading her comment, I asked permission to share this message with our readers, and this was her response:

“PLEASE share, my husband and myself have made it our mission now to get our sons story out there and pray that it saves just one life. I am not sure I mentioned but we have done a PSA/Documentary for AT&T and also for a company named Motion Masters a learning video that is for schools and businesses. Your life is changed forever and there is not a waking second that you do not think of your child, a parent is not supposed to bury their child… Keep the articles going.. God Bless..”

So, again: put down the cell phone, or turn it off.  Those messages will be there when you are able to stop.  The cost of human life is worth more than some conversation on the phone.  Things can happen too quickly, especially when we are behind the wheel.  If you have to make a call, by all means, pull over and stop.  You will be much safer, and so will the others that are sharing the road with you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

COULD YOU DO SOMEONE ELSE’S JOB?

Have you ever wondered if you could fill in for another employee at your workplace if they got hurt and were unable to work for a while?  Statistics show that many personnel absences are caused by accidents in the workplace.  If management has neglected safety measures and failed to do cross training for such occasions, everyone will suffer the consequences.  

Cross training procedures for absences in workplace management must meet with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s safety and procedural standards.  When companies do not follow those guidelines, they risk disaster for their employees and businesses.  Employees should be prepared for all types of emergencies.  With our present telecommunication systems, companies can conduct cross training for absences in the workplace for all employees in all work-shifts.  In the absence of a key employee, anyone would be qualified and able to perform safety standards and emergency measures for accidents and/or disasters.  More intensive training can be given in addition to computer-based plans. 

Do you know what to do in case of a bomb threat?  Fire? Emergency evacuation?  Does your management team conduct drills very often?  Do you have first aid training, and would you know how to respond to emergency needs of your coworkers?  Do you know where the first aid kit and first aid supply is?

Safety coordinators should be responsible for designating others to take their place in the event that they are not present at the time of an emergency.  There should be several persons that can conduct an orderly evacuation of employees, those who will stay in the premises for last-minute decisions, and someone to follow up and account for all employees.  It is very important that safety cross training is done.  Teamwork is a necessity!

If you work for a large company, and have noticed a job that you might be interested in, ask your supervisor.  People do best in the jobs that are suited for them.  Persons that follow the rules and are cautious in going about their duties, are ones that management recognizes.  Those that express a desire to learn different aspects of a variety of jobs are able to replace someone who may be absent due to illness or injury.  Being familiar with more than one job responsibility is beneficial to both the employee and company.  And companies may find they can do more with less, when they have employees that are able to “multitask.” 

Sometimes it may not be as easy to fill someone else’s shoes as it looks.  Everyone can stuff the “suggestion box” with great ideas,  but until you actually do someone’s job, you can’t know.  It certainly is admirable if you want to try!

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

CONCERNS ABOUT DRUGGED DRIVERS

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We worry about drunk drivers, drowsy drivers, and other risk-takers on the highways, such as drugged drivers.  Driving under the influence of prescription drugs can be deadly.  Medications act on systems in the brain that impair driving ability.  Warnings against the operation of machinery (including motor vehicles) for a specific time after use are included with the medications.  How many pay attention to those warnings?  If prescription drugs are taken without medical supervision (i.e., when abused), impaired driving and other harmful outcomes can happen.

Drugs acting on the brain can alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time, and other faculties required for safe driving. The effects of specific drugs of abuse differ depending on their mechanisms of action, the amount consumed, and the history of the user. The principal concern regarding drugged driving is that driving under the influence of any drug that acts on the brain could impair one’s motor skills, reaction time, and judgment.

Behavioral effects of these medications vary widely, depending not only on the drug, but on the person taking it.  Anti-anxiety drugs can dull alertness and slow reaction time.  Others, like stimulants, can encourage risk-taking and alter the ability to judge distances.  Mixing prescriptions or taking them with alcohol can worsen impairment and sharply increase the risk of crashing.

One example of a tragedy caused by a drugged driver is of a young lady riding her bicycle who was hit and killed by a drugged driver.  Police thought the driver had been drinking, as her speech was slow and slurred.  Rather than drinking, she told police that she had taken several prescription medications, including a sedative and muscle relaxant.  Police also said she did not stop after hitting the girl, until later when she crashed into another vehicle down the road.  She was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of drugs.

Many states recognize drivers may be driving under the influence, but not from alcohol.  They consider any drug that causes one to fail a field sobriety test to be cause for getting a DUI arrest.  Unlike alcohol, there is no agreement on what level of drugs in the blood impairs driving.  Setting a limit for prescription medications is more difficult, because the chemistry of drugs’ effects are harder to predict that alcohol’s.  Some drugs may linger in the body for days.  Anyone who is taking prescription medications and knows how the particular medication affects them, should stay off the roads.

It is now time that we recognize and address the dangers that can occur with drugged driving, a dangerous activity that puts us all at risk.  Drugged driving is a public health concern because it puts not only the driver at risk, but also passengers and others who share the road.

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

UNDERSTANDING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

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The human brain is the most complex organ in the human body, producing every thought, action, memory, feeling, and experience.  As there are constantly connecting and changing nerve cells, memories are stored in the brain, habits are learned, and personalities shaped.  Our brain structure is shaped partly by genes but mainly by experience.  How it ages depends on both genes and lifestyle.  The brain needs to be properly exercised and fed the right diet, just as the rest of our body requires. 

During our lifetime, things happen that can have a lasting effect on our bodies.  Persons may suffer head injuries due to a car accident, a hard fall, blows to the head to athletes. Military personnel suffer TBI’s as a result of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) and other horrors of war. 

About 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries in the United States annually.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says traumatic brain injuries kill about 52,000 Americans every year, and result in 275,000 hospitalizations.  A bump, blow, or jolt to the head may be severe enough to disrupt normal brain function.  The CDC also reports that falls are the Number 1 leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, but road traffic injuries are second, and result in the highest percentage of deaths – 31.8%. 

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) is commonly referred to as a concussion.  There may be a brief loss of consciousness or disorientation, ranging up to 30 minutes. Damage may not be visible on an MRI or CAT scan.  Symptoms of MTBI are headache, lightheadedness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, fatigue.  MTBI can have long-term effects.  

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury results in loss of consciousness for over 30 minutes, or amnesia.  The same symptoms of MTBI are included, along with others, such as vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures, slurred speech, and  loss of coordination. 

Our military personnel are furnished helmets for head protection.  Athletes also wear helmets to protect from head and neck injury.  These helmets should be of good quality. Motorcyclists should always wear their helmets, as well as bicyclists.

It makes sense that when personal protective equipment is furnished for employees, company supervisors should be sure that their employees are in compliance.  ANSI Hard hats should have a rigid external shell that resists and deflects blows to the head.  Inside that shell is a suspension system that acts as a shock absorber.  Hardhats are constructed with partial or full brims.  The full brim protects from spills, splashes and drips.  Many hardhats can accommodate faceshields, earmuffs, and other accessories needed to make the job easier and safer.  Knowing all this, statistics show that often workers who suffer impact injuries to the head are not wearing head protection at the time of injury.   

Wearing all types of Personal Protective Equipment is the responsibility of each employee.  It has been purchased for good reason, just as it is called: Personal and Protective.  Every one should use their head, and wear that helmet or hardhat!