Tag Archives: falls

General Safety Issues

TEN COMMON HOLIDAY ACCIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN AVOID THEM

TEN COMMON HOLIDAY ACCIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN AVOID THEM

GUEST POST

We’ve all seen holiday horror stories from fictional ones like National Lampoon or real ones like Black Fridays gone bloody.  But did you know that there are many things that can happen to the real life average American that aren’t seen on television?  To give you an idea, we have gathered the 10 most common holiday accidents to help you better avoid them.

  • Fire – It is the season where a roaring fireplace is a must.  However, that fireplace can lead to loads of injuries in damage.  In 2006, holiday fires were thought to have caused nearly one billion dollars in damage.
  • Candles – The most common source of these fires were candles.  While holiday candles are a must, so is putting them out.  It is also important to not put anything flammable near them or set the candle holder anywhere it can be easily knocked over.
  • The trees – Did you know that the elegant Christmas tree is the most likely item to catch fire when it is started?  Fresh trees look and smell beautiful but can literally be a ten foot tinderbox.  Keeping flames, including smokers away from the tree just makes good holiday sense.
  • Falls – They happen to the best of us, especially when the drinks are flowing and the room is full of people.  With thousands of people visiting the ER every year during the holiday season for falls, it makes more sense than ever to watch where you are going, where others are going, and just to take your time getting there.
  • Frying – Americans deep fry everything, and the holidays are just all the more reason to break out the fryer.  This can include everything from potatoes to turkeys.  If firing up your fryer this year, do it outdoors, on concrete, and keep an extinguisher handy if the worst happens.
  • Drunk Driving – With holiday drinks occasionally loaded with liquor, it can be easy to forget that the eggnog isn’t just made from eggs.  Keep your mind on getting home safely, not that holiday drinking.  Designated drivers are also a good idea.
  • Icy roads – You don’t want to be incapacitated by alcohol to suffer this holiday-related hazard.  Freezing rain, snow, and more can make yesterday’s safe road today’s automotive slip and slide.  Proceed with caution, and be extra careful if your car has rear wheel drive.
  • The mall – With the holiday frenzy in full swing, it can also be easy to have an accident at the mall.  Aside from the mobs associated with huge sales, there are other hazards.  Wet floors, broken escalators, and people doing the walk-and-text have led to more mall mishaps.
  • The lights – Have you spent hours untangling holiday lights?  You might just be one of the 12,000 ER visits due to holiday-related cuts, shocks, and more.  Any lights with exposed wires or cut glass should just be chucked as new lights are cheaper than a hospital visit.
  • Shocks – Need an outdoor extension cord but only have an indoor one?  What’s the harm?  With the possibility of both a serious electric shock and burning down your house, there can be considerable harm.  Using the wrong type of cords, bulbs, or products that aren’t waterproof can also cause big holiday damage.

This article was sent to us today, December 24th, by Brooke Stafford, a nursing practitioner student and also a writer for  Family Nurse Practitioner Degrees. The site helps students find the right nurse practitioner degree to fit their needs.

Thank you, Brooke, for this informative article.  The ten safety reminders that you have written about also apply after Christmas, as well, in taking down trees and decorations.  We know the malls will be packed with shoppers either exchanging gifts or looking for more bargains.  So we need to pay attention to the tips you sent us!   Please stay in touch, and good luck in your studies in the health field.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

SAFETY TIPS FOR SENIORS (AND) EVERYONE! PART I

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It’s very normal for us to be concerned with our safety as we age.  It’s natural that as we grow older, we take more risks with everyday tasks.  Here are some suggestions that you may have already thought of;  if not, let’s think about ways to make our lives safer.   Take a mental picture of your home, room by room.  Are there some changes we should consider making?  Things in my home that are hazards are loose rugs in my hallway.  If I continue to keep them, I should use double-sided tape or non-slip padding on the underside, especially at corners and center, to prevent them from slipping.  We know that slips, trips, and falls, are serious hazards for workers, as well as seniors. 

Continuing through your home: how about the living room/den?  Are they cluttered?  You should never leave anything on the floor where someone could trip.  Furniture should be arranged to provide clear, easy pathways.  Power and extension cords should be taped along the baseboards of walls to keep them out of the way.  If there are steps in the home, have a ramp or handrail installed.  Having a soft nightlight in each room would help us find our way in the dark.

Going into the kitchen, see if the items you use the most are stored on easy-to-reach shelves, between waist and eye level.  If the step stool is old (please, never use a chair), get a stepladder with handles for extra support.  Keep flammables, like cup towels away from the stove.  Don’t wear loose clothing around the stove while you are cooking.  If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, purchase one, and have the store representative show you how to properly use it. 

Bedroom: never tuck in an electric blanket if you use them.  This can cause overheating and result in a fire.  Heating pads should not be used in bed; if someone falls asleep with it on, burns can result, even at low temperatures.  Have a light near the bed within easy reach.  Install a nightlight between the bed and bathroom to avoid a fall in the dark. 

Accidental falls in the bathroom are a common cause of broken hips; apply self-adhesive non-slip strips to the bottom of the tub or shower.  Have a grab bar inside the shower; installing another one beside the toilet is advisable.  Accessible toilets, 3 to 5” higher than a standard seat, make it safer and more convenient.  It would be wise to have locks that can open doors from both sides. 

Stairway/Porch Steps: one of the most common sites of falls is the stairway, or on the porch.  Stay safe on stairs with light-sensitive night lights in unlit stairwells, hallways, and by placing light switches at doorways, and at top and bottom on stairs.  Railings should be installed for sturdiness on steps of porches.  Paint porches with grit to prevent slips.

 One last point: if you have pets, watch them when you have older visitors, if you are a senior citizen, or have someone living with you that needs a safe haven.  I had a very dear friend, 97 years old, who had always been very careful about falling, because she was a very tiny lady and concerned about breaking her hip.  While visiting, the owner’s large dog greeted her, and knocked her down.  The result was a broken hip, and she died from complications of the surgery.  (She sweetly said, “it wasn’t the dog’s fault!” )  Another first-hand accident I am aware of was when an 80-year old lady was tripped by a young cat.  She also broke her hip, and required weeks of therapy following surgery.  She was in her early 80’s, and survived.  Our animals don’t intend to hurt someone, but we must be vary careful to avoid these types of accidents.

I hope these ideas will be of help.  Tomorrow, we will continue with more tips.  Please stay tuned………………….

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Respiratory Safety

SAFETY IN GRAIN HANDLING FACILITIES

Both employers and employees must know all the precautions to protect themselves against potentially hazardous conditions in grain handling facilities.  Grain handling facilities are those such as grain elevators, feed mills, flour and rice mills, dry corn mills, dust palletizing plants, soybean flaking operations, and the dry grinding operations of soycake.  Many safety and health hazards are associated with grain handling operations.  Suffocation and falls are the two leading causes of death at grain handling facilities.  Other risk factors are potential flash fires and explosions as a result of excessive amounts of airborne grain dust, and electrocutions and injuries from improperly guarded machinery.  OSHA issued the grain handling facilities standard (29CFR 1910.272) to reduce injuries and deaths in the grain handling industry.  This standard requires workers to be trained in the identification and control of grain handling hazards.  Health and respiratory hazards are also presented by exposures to grain dust and airborne contaminants. 

The most important facet of preventing health issues and injury risks in all industrial activities is proper training.  Prior to new employees starting work, when changes occur in assignments, or if employees are exposed to new or unfamiliar hazards – the proper training must be applied.  Also, when workers are assigned to infrequent, special, or suspected hazardous tasks (such as bin entry or handling toxic or flammable substances), they must have been trained correctly.  Specific procedures included are performing housekeeping, hot work, lockout/tagout, and preventative maintenance.  Grain handling facilities are required to implement a hot work permit system.  This type of work includes electric or gas welding, cutting, grinding, brazing, or any similar activity that produces a flame or spark.  The permit guarantees that the employer and operating personnel are aware that hot work is being performed and that accurate safety precautions have been taken.

 We have talked about confined spaces in previous articles.  In grain handling, there will be a necessity to enter silos, bins, and tanks.  As mentioned before, atmospheric testing in confined spaces is mandatory.  These tests must be conducted before entry (by experts) and continued until work is finished.  Ventilation, supplemented by the use of appropriate air supplied respirators, shall be provided when: oxygen levels are less than 19.5%. 

At home or work, it seems that housekeeping is extremely vital, especially so in industrial settings.  OSHA standard allows “a maximum accumulation of no more than 1/8 inch of dust in priority housekeeping areas of grain elevators.”  When this amount of grain dust accumulates, steps must be taken immediately for its removal.  All lockout-tagout procedures required by 29 CFR 1910.147 and OSHA standard should be observed when entering grain elevators or silos for maintenance.  If a person enters a bin, silo, or tank from the top, they must wear a full parachute-type body harness with a lifeline.  This holds the body vertical and in case of an accident, makes easier removal of the victim through small access hatches.  A well-trained and properly equipped attendant is required to maintain communication with the personnel in the confined area during the whole time, and to provide help when needed. 

Workers in grain handling face serious dangers of suffocation, entanglement, falling, fires, explosions, electrocutions, and injuries from improperly guarded machinery.  These dangers will be eliminated if employers implement a safe grain handling program, train their employees on the safe handling of grain, and both employer and workers carefully follow the procedures to ensure the safe handling of grain.  

As we reported earlier, in an article about the Top Ten OSHA violations and penalties assessed for 2010, Violation of (29 CFR 1910.272) Grain Handling Facilities came in at #9 on the most penalties assessed list.   At least 25 U.S. workers were killed in grain entrapments last year, and there were more grain entrapments in 2010 than in any other year since researchers at Purdue University began collecting data on the subject in 1978.  The following is a list of violations that received citations, many of them classified as serious, in 2010:

  • Failure to train in safety precautions and bin entry procedures;
  • No observer during bin entry;
  • No rescue equipment;
  • Not testing atmosphere in the space to be entered;
  • Failure to have deflagration controls for combustible dust;
  • Walk working surfaces without guarding in place;
  • Failure to safeguard employees from electrical hazards such as broken electrical conduits;
  • Lack of signage and hazard communication procedures;
  • Failure to evaluate work spaces for confined space entry permits;
  • No confined space entry program;
  • Non-entry retrieval system;
  • Lack of personal protective equipment;
  • Lack of electrical training;
  • Lack of combustible dust controls;
  • Failure to train employees in combustible grain dust hazards. 

All workers should have the assurance that these things are not going to happen to them; that their company would purposely do everything possible to guarantee a safe return home after their shift every day.  Let’s hope that 2011 will result in fewer violations and safer, well-informed and properly trained employees.

Source: OSHA, Texas Dept. of Insurance (TDI)

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Respiratory Safety

PROTECTING WORKERS’ SAFETY & HEALTH DURING RESCUE AND RECOVERY, PART II

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Rescue workers and emergency responders never know what type of hazards they may face, depending on the particular type of disaster that occurs.  We began listing general precautions that they should take in Part I of this article.  Although we know that they are prepared for all types of emergencies, we want to share this information in hopes that it will be of assistance. 

Rescue workers and emergency responders will more than likely be exposed to blood or body fluids, or pathogens from sewer system breakage.  It is very important that they wear gloves, other protective clothing, and respiratory protection.  Decontamination of workers and equipment (P.P.E.),  before leaving the site is very important to prevent adverse health effects, contain any hazards to the site, and prevent secondary contamination of off-site facilities (e.g., fire stations, or workers’ homes) or additional equipment, such as ambulances.  Slips, trips and fall hazards from holes or protruding rebar may exist.  Fall protection equipment, with lifelines tied off to suitable anchorage points (e.g., bucket trucks) should be used whenever possible.  Hardhats should be worn when working around unstable structures where there is a potential for secondary collapse.  Also, there could be types of over-hanging debris that could fall on workers. 

In Part I, the use of respiratory protection was mentioned.  N-95 or greater respiratory protection is acceptable for most activities with dust exposure, including silica and cement dust.  Use full-face respirators with P-100 organic vapor-acid gas combination cartridges if airborne contaminants are causing eye irritation.  

Workers should be monitored for signs of heat/cold stress, such as altered vital signs, confusion, excessive sweating, and fatigue.  Work schedules should be adjusted to rotate personnel, and additional workers should be added to work teams.  Everyone should refrain from food and beverages in areas exposed to toxic materials. 

Because so many disasters have already occurred this year, it is important to know that when large-scale disasters overwhelm State and local assets, the National Response Framework (NRF) Worker Safety and Health Support Annex can provide technical assistance needed to help protect Federal, State, Tribal, and local organizations’ response and recovery workers.  According to OSHA, depending on the scope, complexity, and hazards associated with the incident services of the NRF include the following: 

  1. Identifying and assessing worker health and safety hazards present at the site and in the environment.
  2. Assessing the resources needed to protect workers and identifying sources available to meet those needs.
  3. Providing technical expertise in industrial hygiene, occupational safety and health, structural collapse engineering, safety engineering, radiation safety, biological and chemical agent response, and occupational medicine.
  4. Managing the creation and implementation of a site-specific health and safety plan (HASP).
  5. Monitoring and managing worker safety and health hazards through on-site identification, evaluation, analysis, and mitigation, including personal exposure monitoring.
  6. Providing assistance with developing, implementing, and monitoring the personal protective equipment (PPE) program, including the selection, use and decontamination of PPE.
  7. Coordinating the collection and management of exposure and accident/injury data to identify trends and facilitate data sharing.
  8. Coordinating and providing incident-specific response and recovery worker training.
  9. Assisting with the development and distribution of educational materials on preventing and mitigating hazards. 

Although we wish that this year’s disasters were over, it is only May, and there are seven months left in this year.  We know that thunderstorm season is here, as well as flooding disasters, with hurricane season not too far behind.  We owe our thanks to those emergency workers who stand by, prepared to serve whenever and wherever needed. 

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

PROTECTING WORKERS’ SAFETY AND HEALTH DURING RESCUE AND RECOVERY – PART I

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Rescue workers and emergency responders are the first to arrive on the scene following a catastrophe, and often it is in unfamiliar surroundings and adverse weather conditions.  Rescue workers and emergency responders are ready to save lives and secure the environment to help protect the lives of those to follow.  Operations that they may be involved in include victim rescue or body recovery around piles of rubble and other debris, collapsed structures or near structural steel.  Hazards may exist at every twist and turn.  Many times, utility services are damaged, including downed electrical cables, overhead power lines, broken gas lines, compressed gas cylinders, or broken steam or water mains.  There may be piles of construction and all types of debris that workers are exposed to.  Service personnel from utility companies should be in charge of restoring power. 

Respiratory protection is very important to combat effects from breathing dust and hazardous atmospheres which may contain some, or all, of the following: freon, carbon monoxide, asbestos, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, welding gases, airborne smoke and dust, and/or flying debris.  Respiratory assistance is also needed when entering confined spaces with limited openings from entry or exits.  If working in confined spaces, be sure that at least one person remains outside the space to monitor operations and can assist in an evacuation if necessary.  Rescue equipment and reliable communications, along with functioning alarm systems, are imperative in this type of situation. 

Hearing protection is necessary because of excessive noise from heavy equipment, rescue/ventilation, tools and generators that are used in these processes.  When heavy equipment is being operated, a spotter should be close by each piece of heavy equipment to protect rescue workers.  Workers should wear high-visibility safety vests to ensure that they are identifiable by other rescue and support workers.  Footwear should protect against sharp debris.  Safety glasses with side shields, at a minimum, are also necessary items of Personal Protective Equipment. 

Hand protection, of course, should always be worn, as there will be many potentially infectious materials present.  Sometimes it is important to use latex or nitrile gloves under heavy-duty gloves, which will protect the wearer from puncture wounds, cuts, or injuries that break the skin.  A combination of a cut-proof inner layer glove and a latex or similar outer layer is preferable. 

We will conclude with Part II of this article tomorrow.  There are other potential hazards and suggestions for safety that we want to pass on to you.  Our rescue, recovery, and emergency personnel are highly trained professionals and volunteers, and we feel it is important that the general public knows what they face during these trying times. 

Source: OSHA

 

 

 

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

NATIONAL WINDOW SAFETY WEEK, APRIL 4 – 10

The Window Safety Task Force, under the National Safety Council’s Community Safety Division, works with the American Architectural Manufacturing Association, Window and Door Manufacturing Association, Screen Manufacturers Association, National Association of Home Builders and other organizations to educate North Americans on the importance of window safety.  This group has been presenting materials on this subject since 1997.  They know that the leading causes of injury and death in young children are fires and falls. 

Besides doors, windows are a secondary escape route in a fire or other emergency. They are designed as points of escape.  It is critical that the windows are placed in locations in both homes and businesses where they can provide a safe exit.  Families should have a fire escape plan.  Children should be taught to get out of a house that is on fire.  Hold a family fire drill often, and plan landscaping that can possibly prevent injury if anyone does have to jump or fall from a window. 

If you have bars, grills, or other types of security on your windows, they are useless in an emergency, unless they have a functioning release mechanism.  You might think you are keeping someone out, but you may be causing yourself to become trapped, and you can’t escape!  Never paint or nail windows shut. 

When there are young children living or visiting in your home, be sure the windows they may be playing around are locked.  If you need ventilation, open taller windows, and never have furniture close to an open window, where they might climb up and fall out.  Be sure to watch when they are playing on a patio or around sliding glass doors.  A fall through glass could cause serious injuries. 

Don’t count on insect screens to catch anything except the bugs!  Shortly after we moved into the home where we currently live, we left our sliding glass door open one evening, when our birddog, Lucy, heard something outside and ran through the screen!  That was the end of leaving that door open. 

We all must understand the importance of safety in the home, and be prepared to escape in the event of fire.  Years ago, a home on our block was totally destroyed by fire, resulting in the deaths of three persons.  A mother of a four-year old, broke a window in her bedroom to run for help – she couldn’t find her child.  Later, the body of the little girl was found under a bed, where she had crawled.  If we take the time to be prepared, hopefully, tragedies such as this, can be prevented. 

There is more excellent information on this subject at the National Safety Council website.  We are all asked to share this information with friends, family, co-workers, and communities, not only through the first week of April, and all of April, but all year long.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WE’RE NOT THROUGH COUNTING OSHA VIOLATIONS!

It seems that the Top Ten List of Violations on OSHA’s Top Ten for 2009, were still on their Top Ten List for 2010, many of them just in different places.  The third highest on the penalties assessed list for 2010 was violation of (29CFR 1910.21), Safety Training and Education, Construction, Walking and Working Surfaces.  Serious, willful, or repeat violations can result in harm or death from hazards, and it seems that employers would do everything in their power to protect their employees from such hazards, rather than pay stiff penalties. 

Slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents; fifteen per cent of all accidental deaths are caused by slips, trips, or falls – second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities.  OSHA standards for walking/working surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment, except where only domestic, mining, or agricultural work is performed.  Annually, about 20 workplace fatalities happen, with another 3,700 injuries resulting  in lost workdays.   

As in any job, on-the-job training is first and foremost, with the accent on safety.  Employees who could be exposed to specific hazards related to walking and working surfaces, scaffolding, mobile elevated work platforms, and portable and fixed ladders, should have full knowledge of the safeguards and precautions to prevent injuries.  Retraining is imperative for affected employees whenever there is a change in the appropriate area, or when an employee is seen deviating from the prescribed safe work practices.  Training should be done by experienced and qualified persons.  Training should be certified with written training records, and actual work observations should verify the effectiveness of such training. 

  • Proper guarding should be provided for open pits, ditches, floor openings, and other open areas by covering or guarding with a standard railing.  If not guarded or covered, it must be protected by a temporary barrier on all exposed sides or attended by an assigned person.
  • Appropriate railings for stairways that are 30” – 34” to tread should be provided. 
  • A standard railing on all open sides should guard all open-sided platforms that measure four feet or more above the adjacent floor of ground level.
  • Six foot controlled access zones along pits, floors, and flat roof edges where fall protection is not feasible should be set up.  A controlled access zone must use control lines or other barriers to restrict employee access to fall hazards.  Warning signs must be posted at controlled access zones.
  • Employees working on steep slope roofs (greater than four inches of run per twelve inches of rise) that are four feet or more above a lower level must be protected from falls by a guard rail system, personal fall arrest system, or safety net system; and
  • Employees working on low slope roofs (less than or equal to four inches of run per twelve inches of rise) with unprotected sides and edges that are four feet or more above a lower level are protected by one of the following methods:

(1) A guard railing system; (2) personal fall arrest system; (3) safety net system; (4) combination of a “warning line” and any other of the above; or  (5) a combination of a “warning line” and a safety monitor. 

Walking and working surfaces should have the strength and integrity to support employees safely.  Floors should not be overloaded with materials and/or equipment over the approved load limits.  Elevated storage and other platforms should be marked with the load bearing weight.  Aisles and passageways should be clearly visible and allow space for both moving equipment and employees.  There should also be safe clearance room at all turns, doors, and passageways, and the areas should not be obstructed by physical barriers or stored materials.  Work environments should be kept neat and orderly, waste properly discarded, and floors kept clean.  Mats and grating could be used when appropriate. 

Hopefully, this year will bring fewer violations of this standard, as well as many others.  Training employees, protecting them from workplace injuries by better planning and housekeeping, and giving them the right PPE for each particular job will pay dividends for companies, along with the reward of a safe workday every day for each person.  That would be the best reward for everyone involved!

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

DECORATING CAN BE DANGEROUS!

By now, many of you already have your homes beautifully decorated, with the tree trimmed and glowing lights outside the house.  If we’re too late for you, this warning is for those who haven’t done their decorating yet, and/or all of you who will be taking them down in a few weeks.  According to the U.S. Consumer Safety Products Commission, around 12,500 people each year are treated in emergency rooms for cuts, shocks, and other holiday decorating-related injuries.  Four in ten accidents are reported to be falls from ladders, with men being the ones hurt more often than women.  

The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises that when working on a ladder, position the ladder close to the area you plan to work, and keep materials near-by, in order to not to have to reach too far.  They also advise to take your time in order to avoid risks.   More good advice from the AAOS: place some nightlights in rooms where you’ve had to rearrange furniture to accommodate decorations.  This will hopefully help your family avoid falling by lessening nighttime confusion. 

If you choose a fresh Christmas tree, be sure to keep it watered frequently.  Artificial trees should be marked “fire resistant”, indicating the tree will likely not catch on fire.  Hundreds of fires are attributed to dried-out Christmas trees each year, resulting in approximately 17 deaths, and an average of over $13 million in property loss and damage.  Be certain that any lights you put on your tree are tested in recognized labs that show they meet safety standards.  Many imported lights may not meet those safety standards.  Christmas trees are things of beauty, but there are other hazards involved, in addition to the lights on them.  Avoid decorating with breakable or sharp decorations.  If using “angel hair” (spun glass), be sure to wear string knit gloves to avoid cutting your hands. Also, art snow sprays can contaminate the lungs and cause skin irritation, so read the container’s directions carefully. 

Candles also start numerous fires each year, resulting in an average of 150 deaths, 1,200 injuries, and approximately $385 million in property loss.  Please be sure to never leave your home with candles burning.  Of course, you would never leave burning candles in the reach of children or where they could be tipped over by pets.  Many times we have seen persons dislocated from their apartments because of the carelessness of a tenant that left a burning candle unattended.

We hope your holiday decorating goes by without incident.  The emergency rooms are standing by, just in case, but let’s keep them quiet this year by staying safe and healthy for the holidays!

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!

Fall Safety

AVOIDING FALLS IN THE WORKPLACE

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According to the Centers for Disease Control, every day, four construction workers in the United States die on the job, and falls are the leading cause.  Also, the top ten most frequently cited OSHA violations are for improper fall protection, scaffolding safety, and ladder safety, resulting in the highest penalties, as well. 

The Bureau of Labor statistics classify falls as: falls on the same level of work, falls to lower level, and jumps to a lower level, when a worker jumps voluntarily to avoid a fall or other injury.  Construction workers have the highest number of fatalities from falls.  Falling from roofs is one of the main types of falls.  

Companies are required to train workers in how to avoid falls.  They must understand how to use fall protection equipment, such as harnesses, lanyards, rope grabs, roof anchors, roofers’ kits, tie-off slings and ladder safety systems.  Workers should know not to carry other objects while climbing a ladder.  There are certain procedures that meet the legal requirements for working in heights.  A very important daily habit to have is to be sure their equipment is in good shape, each time they get ready to use it. 

Platforms should be used correctly.  It’s easy to get off balance while standing on scaffolding or other types of platforms, and the results could be devastating.  Supervisors should set a good example for their workers, and never allow them to take shortcuts.  The workplace should have guardrails around floor openings and take other measures to keep their employees safe.   There are many sources of falls, and not all falls are fatal, but can lead to injuries, and lost time.  Workers can slip on floors, stairs, escalators, steps, parking lots, and chairs (yes, standing on chairs to change a light bulb or retrieve something is a big no-no.)  Weather conditions can also become a hazard for those working in heights. 

A  friend of mine recently bought a bike.  She fell the first time up, and broke her shoulder.  Now, she is getting ready for surgery in a few days, and will miss work for a few weeks.  Another friend fell off her back steps and broke her arm!  (I am really being careful now.)  We can fall anywhere, anytime, but the main concern is that we try to be careful and keep our bones intact!  

Bureau of Labor statistics also report that the cost to the company of a workplace fall can be around $40,000, with additional costs ranging four to ten times that amount.  The way things are these days, it will pay to encourage all employees to be very, very careful!