Tag Archives: law

Back Safety, Ergonomics, General Safety Issues

HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR MOVERS (GUEST POST)

Movers help people relocate from point A to point B. They are called on to carry large and heavy furniture and appliances safely. Movers oversee the process and make sure all items are hauled to the new location in the fastest and safest way possible, using packaging tools and trucks for prep and transport. 

The Life of a Mover

The responsibilities of movers are more on strength of body instead of mind. In each project they manage, movers carry heavy boxes and push and pull cargo multiple times. With this nature of work, movers are exposed to health and safety hazards that should be identified and prevented. If one fails to do so, he/she may end up injured and out of the job for good. 

Peruse the Workplace

For starters, make your work environment safe by checking for anything unsafe or unhealthy within the area. A box full of sharp nails may be ready to collapse at any moment while a furniture piece may have some splinters waiting for the precise time to strike. Determine what is the highest risk and priority and how to deal with it. Prior planning and preparation for every project should be adopted into the workplace. 

Repair the Identified Problems

Take action to repair any issues that you’ve identified within the workplace. Pick up loose nuts and bolts that you could trip on or wrap exposed cables and wires with tape to avoid getting electrocuted or starting a fire. Check the issues you just addressed and make sure it won’t happen again. 

A professional mover must also plan and prepare individual health and safety measures for every project they undertake. Completing some training courses are also imperative to work safely. This not only helps you work proficiently and safely but also adds to your credentials as a professional mover. 

Familiarize Yourself With the Law

Know the laws relevant to moving and update yourself. There are laws for the transport of potentially dangerous goods, mass and dimension restrictions, load limit requirements, fatigue management, etc. Involve and inform your coworkers so that they too can exercise these health and safety protocols. 

Keep Your Vehicle in Perfect Condition

The other half of the moving process is transport. This means you should also be sure your vehicle is functioning properly. A flat tire can delay the move and even jeopardize the items carried by the vehicle. Your moving vehicle should be fit for the job. Have it checked and maintained regularly. This includes tire alignment, oil change, and engine diagnosis. Call a mechanic or learn the safety procedures of changing tires and other vehicle maintenance procedures if you are going to do it yourself. 

When in the driver’s seat, avoid multitasking like texting on your phone. Avoid distractions while loading and unloading as well. Bring a valid driver’s license along just in case you get in trouble with authorities. To avoid any problems, abide by all road regulations and laws. Be prepared for unprecedented circumstances like vehicle inspections and heavy traffic incidents. Install alert warning systems to avoid speeding and getting pulled over.

Handling Electrical Systems

Movers may also be required to perform some electrical work. If you are untrained and inexperienced in electrical work, call licensed electricians to do it for you. Do not attempt anything on the system if you are unsure as this may lead to injuries. Use exclusion zones when closely working with overhead power lines. Take note that the requirements for exclusion zones differ with voltage. The higher the voltage, the larger the exclusion zone. 

Avoid Stress

Avoid stressful situations and defuse them immediately before it worsens. A clear and focused mind is necessary to perform your responsibilities as a mover. Stress can cloud your judgment and disable you from thinking straight. This could lead to workplace accidents. Physical and mental fatigue should also be avoided by getting adequate rest and eating a well-balanced diet. Never leave for work on an empty stomach. Eat nutritious meals like cereals and whole grain breads that give you carbohydrates for energy. Get at least 6 hours of sleep per day to allow your mind to replenish. 

Protect Yourself From Extreme Temperatures

When at work, avoid extreme temperatures. Avoid the scorching summer heat by staying in the shade. Wear multiple layers of clothing during the cold winter season. Exposing your body to physical work plus the harsh climates can take its toll on both mind and body.  

This guest post was written by Victor Daily, passionate blogger with extensive experience from Brisbane, Australia. Important information for this article have been provided by http://www.yourlocalmovers.com.au.

We appreciate the great advice from Victor and hope he sends more!  Persons who do much lifting might want to consider wearing a lifting belt, and using the correct lifting methods to avoid back injury.  pb

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Protective Clothing

LAW REQUIRING PPE PROVISIONS ISN’T ENFORCED BY EMPLOYERS (GUEST POST)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is defined as personal and protective specifically against the hazard or hazards that have been identified. PPE must be compatible and work effectively with other equipment. Correct PPE equipment is required to ensure that employees are protected from injury or disease through their work and provides a last line of defence when other risk management strategies have failed in some way. 

PPE is legally the responsibility of employers within the UK. The law currently emphasizes that employers must provide their staff with free of charge PPE. However, a recent TUC article has highlighted that over one in five workers are being forced into providing or replacing PPE equipment that they needed for their work. This is relevant particularly across the electrician and construction industries. 

Notably out of these, the survey highlighted that 11.6% of workers were required to use safety equipment at work and yet it was not provided or paid for by their employer. An additional 8.9% were responsible for any damage or replacements for employer provided PPE. 

An example would be the need to invest in good quality Arc Flash Hood in a usable and working condition as is essential for many electricians; the expense of which should be footed entirely by employers as dictated by the law. 

Compounding the poor levels of PPE provision there are two further factors to consider: 

  • Employers, where they do offer PPE, often buy low quality PPE of a standard size in an attempt to maximise profit through minimising costs. Employees therefore find that they are limited to uncomfortable, incorrectly sized PPE which is not effective against hazards and therefore often buy their own equipment. 
  • Within the current market place many workers within the construction or electrical engineering sector are now termed as self-employed, or are working through an agency. This enables employers to shirk around the law regarding satisfactory PPE and increasingly opens the doors to the requirement of self-funding for PPE provision. 

Interestingly, the law also goes as far as to state that every employer should ensure that all PPE provided is fully maintained (including replaced or cleaned where appropriate). This means kept in good repair and in efficient working order. With this in mind it’s also perhaps surprising to learn that a staggering 60% of those with employer provided PPE that requires regular cleaning are held responsible for the task. Their employers made no investment or provision for cleaning of PPE equipment. 

Unfairly, it seems that it’s most often than not workers from lower paid roles that are held responsible for the costs, and disproportionately it is female employees that are required to provide their own attire. This means there are many newly qualified electricians having to spend money they can least afford gaining test and commission, cherry-picking other types of certificates as well as investing in or maintaining their  Electrical PPE in order to make themselves more employable. 

Naturally the electrical companies currently benefit a lot from the individuals’ efforts to land work and are happy with the current situation. Until the law is backed up through pressure on companies, including those in the construction industry, to employ on a PAYE basis things look set to remain problematic. There is already little enforcement of the existing law and as a result many are forced to pay from their own pocket or go without, which is unthinkable within the construction industry. The government’s future plans to reduce the number of workplace inspections are set to increase the chance of the situation getting worse for the little guy before there’s any improvement.

Sent to us by Pete Clydesdale, of Clydesdale.net.  Pete, thanks so much for pointing out that many contractors do not furnish the correct ppe for the employees, or none at all.  In the U.S., OSHA has very much the same regulations, and through inspections they have penalized many companies for these violations.  It is lawful that every person have the right to safe working places and the correct protection. 

For quality safety products from glasses to gloves, and inbetween, check out Texas America Safety Company.

 

General Safety Issues

NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK

My apologies for waiting until the end of National School Bus Safety Week to get this article published!  But the safety of our children that ride school buses is an important matter throughout each school year.  The theme of this year’s observance is “Be Aware – Know the Danger Zone!”  Did you know that an area 10 feet around the bus is a distance that students, bus drivers, and other motorists should be aware of?  The annual campaign aims to educate the public on school bus safety issues.  According to House Resolution 498, from July 18, 2006, here are excerpts from the latest version of the bill that is currently available on Gov.Track: 

“There are approximately 480,000 yellow school buses that carry 25 million children to and from school every weekday; Whereas America’s 480,000 school buses comprise the largest mass transportation fleet in the country – 2.5 times the size of all other forms of mass transportation (transit, intercity buses, commercial airlines, and rail, combined -; Whereas during the school year, these buses make more than 50 million passenger trips daily carrying the Nation’s future – our children.

Whereas school bus transportation is eight times safer than traveling in a passenger vehicle; and is the safest form of ground transportation available.  School buses meet higher construction, equipment and inspection standards than any other vehicle, and school bus drivers meet higher qualification, training, and testing standards than any other drivers.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, an average of 820 students are killed annually during school transportation hours, but less than 2 per cent of them are school bus passengers.  Despite the industry’s best efforts, accidents still happen; An average of seven school-age passengers are killed annually in school bus crashes, and an average of 19 children are killed each year getting on and off the bus.  Most of those killed are children aged five to seven, and most often they are killed in the area immediately surrounding the bus. (The Danger Zone.)

School Bus Safety Week is celebrated in more than 40 states and sponsored by the NHTSA, created to remind all students of the best ways to get on and off the bus.  This SBSW dates back to 1966, and also recognizes the hard work and dedication of school transportation personnel, especially the many drivers who ensure a safe journey each and every day.” 

It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus, loading or unloading students.  The bus has flashing red lights, and an arm that swings out to warn motorists to stop at a safe distance behind the bus, allowing the children to cross the road if necessary.  Drivers must be courteous and let the bus driver to do their job safely.  They are the first person that the children see who represents their school district every morning.  They are the last person the students see as they leave to go home.  With the large number of students who ride school buses every day, they should know that they will get to and from school safety. 

In many states, when a vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus with red lights activated, troopers who are following (or may be riding on the bus) will radio ahead to other troopers who will pull over the offending motorist and issue a ticket that could cost up to $1,000. (Texas) 

Remember that this is about keeping children safe; you should always stop for a school bus regardless of your chances of getting caught.  It is certainly not worth the risk to save a few minutes of your time.

 

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General Safety Issues

GREAT IDEA FOR COPS/BAD IDEA FOR CRIMINALS!

I saw this on t.v. the other night; then read about it today, so I am eager to see if you agree with me – I think  that body cameras for cops are a great idea!  (Of course, if I’m the “perp”, I may not think so.)  It seems that hundreds of police departments across the country are using tiny body cameras for their officers to wear to be able to record a traffic stop, hot vehicle pursuit,or an unfolding violent crime.

There are red-light cameras, dash-cams, and nanny-cams, so why not more assistance for our law enforcement officers?  This tiny camera can record, download and be replayed instantly, either for evidence or to help confirm police reports.  They act as a safety net to improve police accuracy.  At this time, they are not mandatory, and cost about $100 to $125 each.  Many officers are paying for them out-of-pocket.

Oakland, California and hundreds of other police departments across the U.S. are equipping officers with small body cameras to record incidents between themselves and citizens.  It serves as protection for officers, citizens and with investigations.  Instead of getting just one or two versions, it levels the playing field, acccording to Steve Tidwell, executive director of the FBI National academy Associates in Quantico, Virginia.  As he states, “it’s all there, in living color.”

The officers must turn on their cameras for traffic stops and possible searches.  They must download their video within a day, and they are not allowed to edit or manipulate it.  These videos can be stored up to five years.

Michael Risher, an attorney with the ACLU of Northern California says law enforcement agencies using body cameras need to have clear and consistent objectives.  It can’t be where they turn them off and on when they want to.  These cameras should greatly improve relations between the police and community, if done right.

We watch a lot of reality shows, many involving law enforcement.  With the types of crime that police are exposed to on a daily basis, any kind of technology that can help them should be at their disposal.  Many crimes are committed by people that have access to high-powered guns, and just might use one when an officer asks them to open their car door. Hopefully, this tiny personal law enforcement camera will prove to be a big help for our law enforcement officers to be able to catch the bad guys, and prove who the “bad guys” really are – not our lawmen.

General Safety Issues

THERE’S NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE!

I have always felt like anyone who could abuse a child, an older person, or an animal has no heart.  Yesterday, March 2nd, it took a very small man to stand up and talk about a very large problem: elder abuse.  Mickey Rooney, age 90, spoke before a Senate Special Committee on Aging, and described his experience of suffering from abuse for several years by his stepson and his stepson’s wife.  In February, Rooney won a restraining order against them, following claims that they were attempting to get him to sign over control of his assets, and leaving him fearing for his safety.  He said he had suffered in silence because he was embarrassed to admit this was happening to him, but has to speak out for millions of seniors who are suffering, as well.   Following the hearing, the committee chair, Senator Herb Kohl, introduced legislation that would create an Office of Elder Justice to help coordinate law enforcement response to chronic abuse of the aged. 

There are so many different ways that elderly persons can be abused:

  • Financial – unauthorized use of funds, property, misuse of personal checks, credit cards, accounts, stolen cash, household goods, forging signatures, identity theft, investment fraud, and phone scams, to name only a few.
  • Physical – use of force, restraints, hitting, shoving, inappropriate use of drugs, and confinement.
  • Emotional – verbal intimidation such as threats, yelling, ridicule.  Nonverbal psychological abuse such as ignoring, isolating them from friends or activities, terrorizing or menacing. 

An older person may begin showing signs of mental deterioration, but we shouldn’t dismiss this on the word of the caregiver or facility (if they are in a nursing home, etc.).  If there is tension between caregivers and the patient, it may be because something is going on that they are not able to tell anyone.  Watch for bruises, scars, broken bones, sprains, broken eyeglasses or frames, or signs of being restrained.  Older people may be being mistreated in their own home, the home of their children, a private care facility, hospital, or nursing home.  If you notice any of these signs, you must get involved.  An expert in this subject, who appeared on CNN News today, says that for every person that comes forward, there are approximately 23 that haven’t been heard about.  That’s a frightening statement. 

None of us are able to reverse our age – we are all headed in the same direction.  Hopefully, if we live to be 90 years old, our minds will still be as sharp as Mickey Rooney’s.  He was clear in what he had to say, and said it with a sincere heart.  Regardless of laws that are passed, there has to be something done at every level to improve the status of our elderly.  We as individuals can volunteer to visit them, substitute for a family caregiver who needs a break, or be an ombudsman for the elderly.  Every older person has a great story to tell; some may not remember what happened yesterday, but they can recount stories from their childhood and never miss a detail.  Many know every word to the old gospel songs, and sing them with great pride.  Don’t count the older generations out.  For those who still have their parents, treasure every moment.  They were there for you, and you should do the same for them.  You may not be able to take care of them, but you can find someone who will be responsible for their well-being and care for them in a loving way.  That’s all anyone can ask. 

In most states, the first agency to respond to elder abuse reports is Adult Protective Services.  Information and referral is also available from National Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

General Safety Issues

“NO” TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE!

In a previous article, we quoted the following from OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration): 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.   This applies to workers all over the world.  There should be zero tolerance for sexual harassment – at work, or elsewhere.   An explanation of the company’s policy against sexual harassment should be posted for every employee’s information.

Federal U.S. law prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace under Title VII of the1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended.  Title VII applies to private and most public employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, and joint employer-union apprenticeship programs with 15 or more employees.  The law makes certain employers are responsible for preventing and stopping sexual harassment that occurs on the job.  Retaliation is also against the law.  If someone takes revenge against a person who complains about sexual harassment, i.e.,  as being made to take an unpaid leave of absence, or given a less desirable job in the same or different department – this is an example of retaliation. 

There are many kinds of conduct of a sexual nature that workers should let the harasser know are unwelcome.  Some examples of behavior that is unacceptable are:

  1. Verbal or written: personal behavior, comments about clothing or a person’s body; sexual jokes, sexual innuendoes, spreading rumors about a person’s private life; threatening a person, repeatedly calling them on the phone.
  2. Physical: Assault, blocking movement; inappropriate touching of a person; putting their arms around a person (uninvited.)
  3. Visual: Drawings, pictures, screensavers or emails of a sexual nature.
  4. Nonverbal: Looking up and down a person’s body; derogatory gestures; following  (stalking) them. 

Although you may be embarrassed to report your concerns, companies cannot be legally responsible for taking care of the situation until they know about it.  It is important that you document and ask witnesses (if involved) to sign your documents.  Write down dates, places, times, and everything that has happened.  One incident may not constitute sexual harassment, unless it is rape or attempted rape.  Several incidents of unwelcome conduct may add up to harassment.   It is best if you report the harassment in writing.   Your employer must know in order to be responsible for a coworker, supervisor, client, or customer’s actions.  These reports should be kept in your personnel file, which you have a right to review at any time.  Also, keep copies of all paperwork at home or in another location, away from the workplace. 

It is a shame that there are “bullies” in most workplaces.  If you are approached in an unpleasant manner, tell the person “NO” and let them know you mean it; ask if this is the way they would behave in front of their spouse or family members; or how would they like to have their actions recorded on your cell phone, on a camera at work, or even reported in the news?  Hopefully, that would be enough to cause them to back off. 

There are acts of discrimination against persons because of their race, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation.  Unwelcome conduct creates an abusive and hostile work environment, not only for the target of the abuse, but to employees as well.  We all have the right to expect to go to work each day and not have to worry about being made to feel uncomfortable or threatened.

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

WANT TO GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT?

As we continue talking about dangerous jobs, protective service occupations are very hazardous.  The middle word, service, is just that.  Men and women in law enforcement are there to serve the public 24-7.  Fatalities in their professions are high, with homicide being the leading cause, followed by highway crashes.

Television shows that depict the many types of law enforcement are popular for a reason.  There’s just something about the thrill of the chase that catches our attention, whether in real life, on the news, or a television program.  When we hear a siren, most of us are curious as to what it’s all about.  If you are looking for an exciting career, there are many types from which to choose:

  • Police Officer
  • Undercover Officer
  • Border Patrol
  • Drug Enforcement Agency
  • F.B.I.
  • Customs Service
  • Secret Service
  • Security Officer
  • SWAT Team
  • Border Patrol
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • Parole Officer
  • Prison Guard
  • Sheriff
  • Air Marshal
  • Departments of Public Service (Highway Patrol)

There have been almost 800 violent assaults against Border Patrol agents in the last year, an increase of 108% from the year before.  Being a Federal Park Ranger has become one of the most hazardous jobs in law enforcement.  Since September 11, 2001, rangers have shifted their focus to drug smugglers and other fugitives.  They are 15 times more likely to be killed in the line of duty than a DEA agent.  Two of the most dangerous parks (among the top ten list of dangerous parks in our country, according to the US Park Ranger Fraternal Order of Police) are Amistad National Recreation Area, near Del Rio, Texas, and Big Bend National Park, also located in Texas.  There are so few people and too many miles to patrol for criminals bringing in loads of drugs, as well as illegal aliens, which makes it difficult for law enforcement.

We owe a big debt of gratitude to the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities and our country.