Tag Archives: drive safely

General Safety Issues

FIRST, SAFETY!

As we begin the year 2014, think about the many plans that are on your list.  First, we make those New Year’s Resolutions.  That usually last maybe two weeks, (especially the one about losing weight!)    We all have much to look forward to in the coming year.  And we need to focus on the positive, living a good life, and not worrying about things that are out of our control.  

Today is a good day to talk about safety.  Safety should be the first item on everyone’s agenda.  From the time you get up in the morning, preparing for the day, make up your mind that this day will be a safer driving day.  When you leave for work , depart a little earlier than usual so you won’t be stressed getting to work on time.  That’s the safe way.  Drive as though your life depends on your control of your vehicle – because it does.  Don’t talk on your cell-phone and definitely do not text!  Those messages can wait. 

Don’t take unnecesssary chances.  Is there anyone out there that can honestly say they haven’t pulled their vehicle into another lane and almost caused an accident?  Or ran through the yellow light, rather than waiting for the green?  What if someone else going the other way does the same thing?  You may not reach your destination at all.

Once you arrive at work, get started.  There’s no need to visit about what just happened, because you are now on someone else’s time.  If the job you perform is hazardous, use the appropriate safety gear that your company has furnished you.  It won’t be their fault if something flies into your eye because you didn’t wear your safety glasses.  You know what you are expected to do, so keep safe while you do it. 

Businesses should have an agenda to keep their employees safe at all times.  Each New Year is an ideal opportunity to assess the company’s safety plan, and convey it to all employees.  Plan training on a regular basis; things change and we all get in the habit of doing things a certain way, when there may be a new, easier, faster, and safer way.  Safety leaders could make this year’s resolution to include their employees in the design of their safety program; let them know how important their cooperation is to the company and their co-workers. 

Safety posters play a large part in encouraging employees to work safely.  They may be humorous or serious, either way, they convey a very important message.  

The employees of Texas America Safety Company and Blog4Safety wish each one of you a very safe, healthy, and successful New Year.  It is our hope that newfound peace will be attained in parts of the world that are in strife.  The most important wish of all is that our troops can return home safely.  Their duties require them to perform their job all the while staying safe! 

 

General Safety Issues

HAPPY “END OF LABOR DAY”

The anticipation of a holiday weekend is almost as much fun as the holiday itself.  Traveling, going to a lake, skiing, fishing, camping, or to a city to see the sights, Labor Day is usually the “last roundup” of summer vacations.

We hope that on this day those of you who are not working have had some great experiences and a safe weekend.  When it is time to head for home, please don’t drive too fast, or text and drive.  It is a known fact that our law enforcement officers (highway patrol) are out in full force, so leave early enough that you don’t speed.

On your way home, you might think about those who don’t get to celebrate Labor Day, but go about their usual business.  Some that come to mind are convenience store clerks, medical personnel,  nursing home staff, private caregivers, supermarket employees, transportation workers, and oilfield workers that must check their leases every day, 365 days per year.

Special thought is given to our military; this is just another day for them.  Those that are in harms’ way don’t get a day off.  During this trying time for decisions to be made, say a prayer for everyone of them.  It is thanks to them that we have the freedom to work and take time off every once in a while.

Hopefully, you will all arrive safely at home, get the kids ready to go to school, and start a “short week” with a good attitude.  Please work hard and stay safe!

 

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

From all the gang at Texas America Safety Company and Blog4Safety:

We wish you a very safe and Happy Halloween.  In the past, we have  encouraged parents to take all safety precautions so their little ghosts and goblins have a great time while scaring their neighbors and friends.  Have an adult or older teen sibling go with them, and be sure their costumes have some reflective bright colors or markings in order for them to be seen!

Go through all the treats to ensure that they are safe to eat.  If you must drive during this time of trick or treating, exercise caution, drive slowly and watch for all the little ones.  They aren’t thinking about watching for cars, so we must all watch for them.

Have fun!

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

SAFETY ADVICE FOR LABOR DAY, 2012

For the United States and Canada, Labor Day (Labour Day), is officially celebrated on the first Monday of September.  Other countries observe their Labor Days on May1st, or other chosen dates annually.  In the U.S. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894.  This day was to celebrate workers and improve their working conditions.  It was a day of celebration and/or rest. 

Now, Labor Day describes the last major holiday before Thanksgiving, and the last chance for a long weekend to wrap up summer activities.  Despite the high cost of gasoline, many choose to travel at least more than 50 miles from home.  It is predicted by AAA that approximately thirty-three million Americans will be on the roads between Thursday, August 30th, and Monday, September 3rd.   Eighty-five per cent of them will go by car, an estimated eight per cent will fly, and others will be on trains, buses, or cruise ships. 

If you drive, please observe speed limits, no use of cell phones or alcohol while driving, and obey the law.  State troopers will be watching, to ensure that you do just that.  Be sure all passengers are buckled up and leave early enough that you don’t have to rush to reach your destination.  Have someone riding with you to “man” the cell phone; if you are alone, just turn it off and get your messages later.  If it’s off, you won’t be tempted to text and drive! 

There are plenty of things we can do to be entertained at home or gatherings with our friends.  It is wise to stay off the roads during this holiday, which has been shown to be the second deadliest holiday of the year, with Thanksgiving #1.  Volunteering is always a great day to spend a holiday, and many folks can use the help! Should you plan a barbecue or picnic, keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot and don’t invite the insects.  Keep some insect repellent handy wherever you are, remember, West Nile Virus has hit pretty hard in places such as north Texas.  Pack the usual necessities for picnics, hiking, cookouts, boating, camping, fishing: along with insect repellent, add sunscreen, a first aid kit, sunglasses, and a NOAA weather radio, just in case of a rapid change in the weather. 

There still remain thousands of workers who haven’t found work, so let’s hope that they have something to celebrate next Labor Day – a job!  Have a safe holiday, and return home safely.

Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Health Issues

AN ANNUAL REMINDER: JUNE IS NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH

 

The National Safety Council is the organizer of  “June – National Safety Month”.  This year’s theme is “Safety 24/7”, because the National Safety Council says, “injuries and deaths off the job greatly outnumber those on the job.” 

That is a pretty frightening thought; however, if you think back, you may remember some close calls you have already had this year.  Maybe you started daydreaming while driving, and ventured a little too far into another lane on the road.  Maybe you thought you could do that one text while driving, only to look up to another close call.  Did you do something at work, that could have hurt someone else, or yourself?  This could be a good time to focus on staying safe, both at home, work, or play. 

There is a different safety focus for each week in June.  Week #1 is Employee Wellness and PALA+ Challenge.  (PALA stands for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Plus challenge.  PALA+ is designed for anyone who wants to improve ones lifestyle by eating healthier and exercising more.  Employers will be showing their commitment to their employees’ health and safety by starting this program up.   It’s just common-sense that by eating well and exercising, we all feel better.  What better time to start exercising either at work, or after work than now?  Many industries offer fitness centers for their employees to utilize.  Exercise and proper diet are important to every individual that desires to get healthy and stay that way. 

Week #2 is focusing on Ergonomics.  This is the science of fitting the job to the worker by designing tasks and furnishing equipment to suit the capability of each worker.  The secret is to prevent injury before it occurs.  Those workers in the healthcare field who are constantly lifting and assisting patients come to mind when thinking of ergonomics.  Also, those who work in warehouses, or office workers require proper ergonomics training.  Sitting at a desk all day requires proper posture, lighting, and ergonomically correct furniture. 

Week #3 focus is on Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls.  Falls are one of the most common injuries in the workplace.  Falls usually result from a slip or trip.  Housekeeping is essential to protecting workers by keeping obstacles out of the walkways, furnishing good lighting, and mopping and waxing floors when workers are away from the work area.  Loose carpet or rugs, and poorly placed electric cords have also been known to cause nasty falls. 

(One more thing about falls: recently, an elderly man we know fell and lay on the floor all night, until his daughter checked on him the next day.  He couldn’t reach his cell phone and wasn’t wearing a call-alert button.  If you know someone who stays at home alone, please see that they get this life-saving device that can immediately summon someone to help.) 

Last, but not least: Week #4 is “Driving Safely!”  How on earth to we get the message across to drivers to be safe?  It seems that we all truly want to be careful drivers, yet when we get behind the wheel, our personalities change!  (Maybe not all, but some of us!)  We just published an article about “Click It or Ticket” – these officers mean business about fastening that seatbelt.  They also are very serious if a driver is caught drinking while driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  There’s several culprits that contribute to distracted driving, especially cell phones.  Please, don’t text and drive!  Surely you have time to share that conversation through text or talk after you get home!  Please, for the safety of others on the road, do the right thing and turn the phone off.  The last thing my husband instructs me to do before I leave for a road trip alone is to Drive Defensively, as he has always said you never know what the other person is going to do.   

We hope you will use this information to keep yourselves and others safe.  We have wrapped up National Safety Month in one article; however, all these subjects we have written about or will continue to in future posts.  Texas America Safety Company and Blog4Safety are dedicated to helping keep you safe.

General Safety Issues

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU!

I think everyone is amazed by the way this year, 2010, has flown by!  The holiday travel season will begin with Thanksgiving Eve, on November 24th.  Travel time from Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Eve is very busy and carries the warnings from State Patrols throughout the nation to drive with care, buckle up, and don’t text and drive or drink and drive, as this is a very deadly time of the year for traffic accidents.

We want to thank each one of you who take the time to read our Blog4Safety.com.  It is our hope that you have found some of our helpful ideas useful in keeping you and yours a little safer.  We try to touch on a variety of topics by focusing on work, home, play, and driving safety, as well as keeping our children safe.  Hundreds of people are already buying or thinking about buying Christmas gifts, to avoid the rush.  When you make purchases for children, be sure that you pick toys that are safe.  We will have plenty of time later to talk about Christmas, so let’s just talk about this week’s holiday. 

Too many times, it seems that Thanksgiving gets overlooked, when the real commercial success in the U.S. jumps from Halloween to Christmas.  But this particular day is a time to stop and be thankful for the things we share – for freedom to worship as we choose, for the gathering of families to enjoy each other’s presence, and the “presents” are just being together.  It is also a time to pause and be thankful for the memories of parents, grandparents, and other family members who made our holidays so special.  We are also grateful for friends, who are  another of life’s gifts that grow more valuable as the years go by.

Many of you have sent in very nice comments, which we really appreciate.  We were asked to write an article on head protection for an international safety magazine, Health & Safety International,  this year, which was truly an honor.  A few safety websites have exchanged ideas with us, and it’s been fun to compare notes and safety suggestions from different points of view. 

By the way, if you are one of those super shoppers that just can’t resist the bargains on “Black Friday,” be careful!  People will be rushing to get those good deals, so don’t get in their way!  A spokesperson for the National Retail Federation reports that although it is the busiest shopping day of the season, it usually is not the highest in sales.  The past couple of years, the Saturday before Christmas topped Black Friday purchases.  Many persons enjoy getting out and seeing what’s out there in the way of good prices.  If you are a brave soul, and that is your cup of tea, go for it!  (I think I will play it safe and stay home and shop online “Cyber Monday!”)    Whatever you choose to do, stay safe!

Once again, we wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving Day!  Stay with us for more safety tips from Blog4Safety!