Tag Archives: injury prevention

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

APRIL IS INJURY PREVENTION MONTH, SO PLAY IT SAFE!

 Our parent company, Texas America Safety Company, is dedicated to providing the very best safety products for all types of business, from construction, office, manufacturing, healthcare, oil field, law enforcement, to the military.  Because April is Injury Prevention Month, we want to tell our readers that “Safety” is our middle name, and we are encouraging everyone to be as safe on the job, on the road, or at home or play as they can be. 

Safety is a keystone in every company’s foundation. Without a strong safety program, all other aspects of a company’s performance suffer.  Every company should have the goal of providing the best personal protective equipment and safety training for the entire work fleet.  Employees may become bored with the usual safety meeting presentations, so it is important that they are able to participate and be a part of the company’s plan in order to be in compliance with OSHA standards.  New employees should have the opportunity to understand what they are expected to do on their job – be trained the right way to do things, and have it explained in their home language in case they don’t comprehend English very well. 

There are many statistics on how many persons are injured or killed annually in car accidents, home accidents, sports, and work.  Our main objective is to help protect those who go to work every day with the plan of coming home safely at the end of their shift.  If you observe someone at your workplace who is “an accident waiting to happen,” tell your supervisor before it actually does!  We know there will always be someone who takes chances on the job, knowing they are at risk.  One false move may be their last.  Anyone who gets behind the wheel knows they are at risk of being in an accident.  The best advice is to pay attention to the other driver, and forget about the cell phone and other distractions.  Farmers know the best ways to operate equipment and how to handle animals.  They also know that an accident can happen at any time.  Construction workers are at the top of the list for injuries.  There are  many hazards for most jobs; we just can’t be too cautious about being injured. 

We ask that everyone uses a strategy to avoid becoming injured.  Taking your time and doing the job right, whether it is yard work, housework, playing sports, office work, or physical labor, do it right, and don’t risk having to go to the hospital.  Lost work time costs the employer; it may require hiring another person to replace someone temporarily while the worker recovers. 

Our EMT’s, firefighters, and law enforcement are to be commended, as they are the first responders in times of accidents; they treat the injured and rush them to hospitals for care.  Their jobs are not easy ones, and even they sometimes get injured on the job.  

Whether your job requires eye, head, hand, respiratory protection, or any other equipment, check out www.tasco-safety.com for your special needs.

Let’s all play it smart and stay safe.

 

 

 

 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Head Protection, Hearing Protection

HOW TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FORKLIFT OPERATION (GUEST POST)

Forklift operation is serious business—one wrong decision by an inexperienced driver can cause catastrophic injury to people and equipment. By training your workforce on proper forklift operation, not only are you keeping your employees safe, but you’re also preventing workers’ compensation claims.

For some companies, forklift operation is necessary to keep business processes moving. If an untrained employee causes the truck to tip over, drops a load or causes a vital part of the machinery to break, those processes are disrupted. A loss in output means a loss in revenue.

So, it’s a good idea to develop a simple yet comprehensive training program that ensures all forklift drivers understand the risks involved, the parts of the machine and what to do during emergencies. This article will introduce you to four topics that must be addressed during that training period:

1. Pre-Operation Checklist:

Forklift drivers should answer these questions before turning on the machine:

•    Are “no-go” zones marked with fences and signs?
•    Is there a sufficient amount of ventilation and lighting to work safely?
•    Is there a lot of noise around that may impair your ability to hear?
•    Are road surfaces even and clear of obstacles?
•    Are rail tracks and ramps in place?
•    Are there overhead structures, such as fittings, cables, power lines or low doorways?
•    Are there any other obstructions?
•    Are there dry or wet areas? Spills?
•    Are the loading docks clear? Do they have edge protection?
•    Is there sufficient room on storage racking or capacity?
•    Are the forklift-operating paths wide enough?
•    Are there any areas that are congested?
•    Are there any blind spots?
•    Will there be any interactions with traffic or pedestrians during operation?

2. Workplace Injury Prevention:

Workers Can Do the Following to Prevent Injury:

•    Position the forklift arms lower to ground level.
•    Ensure the parking brake is set.
•    Make sure all controls are in neutral.
•    Do not jump from the forklift.
•    Maintain three points of contact when you get on and off the forklift.
•    Minimize the amount of times you need to get on and off the truck.
•    Make sure to park and work in well-lit areas so your vision is not obstructed, and you can see the road surfaces, traffic and pedestrians.
•    Forklifts should be fitted with anti-slip surfaces and grab-rails.

3. Basic Safety Tips:

Here are a few safety tips for basic forklift operation:

•    Only use the forklift for its intended purposes.
•    Wear a seatbelt.
•    Obey speed limits.
•    Obey warning signs.
•    Drive at speeds suitable for the traffic conditions and road surfaces.
•    Wear safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from debris and dust.
•    Use extra caution when driving on ramps and inclines.
•    Report damaged racking to the supervisor.
•    Slow down and sound off the horn before driving through a doorway or before entering a busy aisle.
•    Always travel at a safe distance behind other vehicles or forklifts.
•    Be aware of blind spots.
•    Do not reach through the mast or place parts of your body outside of the forklift.
•    Be aware of hazards, such as electrical cables and power lines.

4. People and Forklifts:

When workers become too comfortable around industrial machinery, they might make a careless decision—like letting passengers ride in the forklift. Here are a few guidelines that should be addressed regarding the interaction between people and forklifts:

•    Do not carry passengers on forklifts that are not designed to do so.
•    Do not raise people on the fork pallets or arms.
•    Be conscious of people working around the truck.
•    Do not allow people near stacked loads.
•    Do not allow people to be around a forklift while it is being loaded or unloaded.

If you’re training employees about proper forklift operation, it’s important that the lessons don’t stop when the training period ends. Make sure workers don’t get complacent by occasionally testing their knowledge. Ask them questions about proper operation at employee meetings, and encourage them to suggest ways to make the workplace more safe and productive.

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Tom Reddon is a Forklift Specialist for National Forklift Exchange and sits on the MHEDA Executive Dialogue Board.  You can read his workplace safety and forklift blog or connect with him via Twitter @TomReddon.

Pat Brownlee wrote:

Back Safety, Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

Six Common Workplace Injuries That Can Be Prevented (Guest Post)

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Written by Jay Acker

Injuries that occur at work can be detrimental to a company’s bottom line. The problem is not just in the cost of litigation and increased insurance premiums from workers’ compensation claims, but also in the loss of motivation and productivity that can occur across an office when employees perceive neglect in their employer.

It’s far better to be proactive and avoid workplace injuries before they occur. Whether your company is solely office-based or utilizes a warehouse and a fleet of vehicles, there are universal accidents that can affect any type of business. To stop and prevent injuries before they have a chance to harm employees and derail a company, make yourself of aware of the most common workplace hazards and how to remedy them.

Repetitive Motion Disorders

Although tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and bursitis (swollen elbow) are not the most dramatic of workplace injuries, they are among those with the most long-term impact. Because these disorders develop over long periods of time, they’re also more difficult to reverse the effects of. And because of the growing number of sedentary office workers, they’re becoming more and more common. Use company alerts, emails and posters to remind employees to stretch and take breaks throughout the day. Ergonomic desks and chairs to support the lower back are integral, and you may even consider letting employees switch to stand-up desks if they express interest.

Slips and Falls

Although the possibility of a fall on scaffolding or construction sites is obvious, few office managers realize the real danger of stretching power cords and cables across an office. Make a rule against extending cables through areas that receive walking traffic. Likewise, ensure that stairwells and hallways are well-lit. And if an area of your workplace is ever mopped (even the bathroom), don’t forget the prudent legal benefit of a ‘wet floor’ sign.

Vehicle Accidents

Even if you trust a particular employee, think twice before handing them the keys to your personal or company vehicle to run a quick errand for you. Any worker that drives on company business should undergo a driving record background check. Furthermore, implement a company rule against sending text messages or talking on cell phones while driving, even if your state allows it.

Overexertion

In jobs where heavy objects are often moved, workers are generally prepared, including utilizing back-supporting belts and building strength through the consistency of their work. Within office environments, however, it’s common for employees to overestimate their ability. If a refrigerator needs to be moved in the break room or the copy machine needs to go out for repairs, leave these tasks to hired professionals. Even moving reams of copy paper could lead to an injury that could come back to haunt the business. Let employees know that they’re not expected to do any heavy lifting at their job and urge them to err on the side of caution when those tasks arise.

Heavy Machinery

Because new warehouse and machinery workers often come from a similar workplace, it’s tempting to toss them the keys to the forklift and let them get started immediately. Avoid this — any employee utilizing industrial machinery needs to undergo company-specific formal training before being allowed to work. Furthermore, establish rules about long hair, jewelry, and loose fitting clothing to avoid injury around moving parts.

Workplace Violence

In any workplace, tempers can flare. The key to avoiding workplace violence is early intervention. It’s rare that a disagreement will come to blows without weeks of tension stewing before a critical moment. Make it clear to employees that they won’t be looked down on for speaking out about an issue. Have an objective mediator and plan in place to handle disputes as they arise, settling small differences before they boil over into damaging and dangerous altercations.

Whatever type of business you’re in, the potential for workplace injuries is there. By preparing yourself and instilling an emphasis on safety and well-being amongst your employees, your company will be better suited to handle small injuries that arise, avoiding most of them before anyone ever has a chance to get hurt.

Jay Acker leads a production team at www.safetyservicescompany.com that creates safety training materials. SSC offers contractor-prequalification and other contractor verification servicers.

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

HELMET LAW REPEALS: TWO OPPOSING VIEWS – GUEST POST

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Michigan’s recent helmet law repeal has people debating over whether helmet laws are a matter of personal safety or public affairs. Michigan now allows motorcyclists over the age of 21 to ride without a helmet as long as they carry $20,000 worth of additional insurance and have passed a motorcycle safety course within the last two years. Many motorcyclists are excited about this development, as they believe that wearing a helmet comes down to personal safety, and should be their choice. Opponents of the bill say that the repeal will spell out millions of dollars a year in additional healthcare costs, paid by the government and state taxpayers, which could be prevented if all riders wore helmets.

According to statistics, motorcycle helmets reduce the chance of fatality in a crash by 37%. A motorcyclist riding “lid-free” is 40% more likely to suffer from a fatal head injury. Oklahoma is an example of a state that enforces helmet use for riders under a specific age – in this case, anyone under the age of 18.

Currently, twenty nine states have repealed a universal helmet law. A total of 19 states still require all motorcyclists to wear helmets. Another 28 states enforce some motorcyclists to wear helmets, usually requiring it for riders under a specific age, such as Michigan and Oklahoma. Only three states currently have no motorcycle helmet laws in place – New Hampshire, Iowa and Illinois.

After Florida repealed  its motorcycle helmet laws in 2002, it saw a 40% increase in riders admitted to hospitals to treat motorcycle injuries, and the fatality rate rose by 24%. The costs to treat motorcycle injuries, where head wounds were the primary focus, increased by $22 million dollars in the first two and a half years following the repeal.

Smarter-usa.org claims that only slightly more than half of all motorcycle crash victims have private health insurance, which means the millions of dollars in annual injury healthcare costs for uninsured riders is paid by the government (aka taxpayer dollars). Michigan’s repealed law requires riders to have personal health insurance, plus additional insurance- though many say it is not enough. The average motorcycle claim paid by the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association is $418,000 – hardly touched by the additional $20,000 of insurance that Michigan bikers are being required to carry.

Bikers who oppose helmet laws say that such laws infringe on their rights. They argue that personal safety is their own choice and is not a decision that should be made by lawmakers. Some cite that other activities such as alcohol consumption and the use of tobacco cause more deaths and cost the economy much more in healthcare costs, and yet the law does not prohibit the use of these substances because the use of these products is a personal choice.

Some bikers who oppose helmet laws also point out that allowing motorcyclists to ride “lid-free” will encourage tourism to the state, boosting the state economy.
Others still, say that most motorcycle accidents, whether the bikers are wearing helmets or not, are caused by negligence or lack of experience – things a helmet can’t fix.

Whatever side of the fence you are on, one thing is clear – this is a heated topic, and one that will continue to stir debate as more states consider repealing their own helmet laws. But for now, many Michigan motorcyclists are happy to feel the wind in their hair as they ride home, for the first time, without a helmet.

Noble McIntyre is an experienced Oklahoma motorcycle accident attorney and the senior partner and owner of McIntyre Law.  Thank you, Noble, for this very informative article.  It’s hard to understand why anyone would be “hard-headed” enough to take chances by not protecting their head!