Tag Archives: rules

General Safety Issues

NEW WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN ROAD SAFETY (GUEST POST)

It may not seem like the most cheerful of subjects, but a website is available that highlights just how dangerous roads can be.

Not just in America, not just in Europe and not just in Africa; roads are deadly places wherever you are in the world. This research, courtesy of The Pulitzer Centre, looks at the problem in brilliant detail – allowing you to see just how many people meet their match on the roads in a single year.

Gruesome yes, but fascinating reading none the less; as not only are you presented with an interactive map that allows you to scroll over the various nations, but also a multitude of facts and figures about the road traffic accidents that occur in that particular nation.

As well as being given a statistical breakdown of the different types of fatal accident that occurred in that country in the past 12 months, you are also presented with a final percentage of the death toll. Reasons for the fatalities are also given – such as failing to wear a seatbelt, helmet and even alcohol intake and high speed.

One thing that is startlingly obvious when looking at the figures is that the former Soviet states have certainly paid the price for higher vehicle ownership and a greater number of drivers over the past decade. The death toll on Russian roads, for example, is still about five times higher than what is seen in most European Union countries and about double the number for the United States.

This may act as a stark warning to the likes of China, who have seen sales of motor vehicles rocket in recent years.  The site also highlights that it’s not just drivers of vehicles who suffer in road accidents; pedestrians make up a large amount of the total in most counties.

In New York City for example, pedestrians account for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. Not a shocking amount considering the density of the population – but still a huge number. This is despite attempts by several mayors to reduce the risk of accidents by outlawing activities such as “jay walking” for example.

For all the bad news there are some pieces of good news regarding road deaths that certainly make for happier reading.

Take Sweden. The Scandinavian country had only 266 road fatalities in 2010, a rate of 3 deaths per 100,000 citizens, and the lowest among industrialized nations. Though an explanation is not given, this impressive figure can only be put down to greater road safety awareness among drivers and pedestrians.

And what about the one-time bad boys when it came to motoring offences, Australia? They have cleaned up their act too. With some of the most reckless drivers in the world and highest death rates going some 50 years ago; strict enforcement of safe driving laws has resulted in an 80 percent decline in road fatalities since.

For a little lighter relief and general road traffic trivia there are some more educational facts on display other than just what country has the most road deaths and which nations have improved.

Like who knew that in Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission only recently made it compulsory for new drivers to take driving lessons and pass a test before obtaining a licence; in the past you could simply buy a licence?

Read this site at your own risk, but don’t let it put you off; driving is undoubtedly safer now than it ever was.

If nothing else, this research shows the contrast in attitudes towards motoring and road safety across the globe and how those attitudes can be changed with greater awareness and education.

Take a look for yourself at www.roadskillmap.com.

Written by journalist and blogger Matthew Crist in association with TSR Injury Law, the Minnesota auto accident attorney. For more information on TSR Injury Law please visit our website at www.tsrinjurylaw.com.

General Safety Issues

CREATING A SAFE WORK PLACE ENVIRONMENT (GUEST POST)

“Nicholas Haywood is a home improvement specialist and DIY enthusiast who has experienced his own share of preventable accidents. He writes on behalf of Vista Window Film, a provider of window tint.”

Safety in the workplace—whether a construction site or a factory—is
paramount. It should be held above the need for a profit or the
“efficiency” that the workers demonstrate. Injuries in the workplace are
often too extreme to let safety lapse. One wrong move can lead to a crushed appendage or a chopped off hand. What follows are law suits, months of recovery, pain, and possibly the inability to ever continue to work in your chosen profession. Here are some tips to increase work place safety.

*Set Work Place Rules and Boundaries*

If your workplace does not already have them, you should set some rules
that will increase safety. If you are the boss this is fairly easy.
Employees that feel that their safety is threatened by the lack of rules
can petition the boss for additional safety rules. If the boss is unwilling
you should point out that increased safety will also benefit the boss.

* Obey Work Place Rules and Boundaries*

Rules can only protect you from permanent injury if they are obeyed.
Employers should assure that rules are followed by all employees. Safety
procedures often involve multiple people to adhere to. My wife suffered a
permanent knee injury when none of her co-workers would help her lift a
patient. The safety procedures demanded that two people are required for
that particular job. An environment that promotes breaking safety rules
will result in multiple injuries that will leave you short staffed.
Employees that work in an unsafe environment due to the status quo should bring the problem to the boss. In the meantime employees should ensure that they follow the rules to the best of their capability. By helping each other you are helping everyone stay healthy.

*Become in the Habit of Keeping Things Orderly *

An orderly work place will lead to increased safety. Work areas with
objects strewn everywhere are hazards. Here are a few suggestions to
increase safety with an orderly work place:

·         Employers should have set areas where large objects can be
placed. Large objects placed in the middle of paths are walking hazards to
workers that are carrying large objects that hinder their site.

·         Electrical equipment should be plugged into nearby objects or
attached to outlets with extension cords. Wires that are pulled taught can
be dangerous to the person using the equipment and the people walking
nearby.

·         Store dangerous equipment in predetermined areas. This will
create an area where employees know that they need to be careful instead of increasing the risk of injury across the whole site.

*Decrease Distractions*

As an employer or an employee you should endeavor to decrease distractions in the work place. Distractions often lead to employees making preventable mistakes that lead to serious personal injury. Here are a few areas of distractions that can be eliminated in the workplace:

Many places play *music.* Music can be harmless. Many establishments play music in the background to provide a better ambience for the people within the area. Music does not always fit well in the workplace. Some employees are unable to concentrate while music is playing. These employees could Bob and Jimmie themselves into cut off fingers while using the handsaw. Before turning on music make sure that all employees will be able to function safely while it is on.

*Fighting and bickering* like music is a distraction for the surrounding
employees that have issues concentrating. Fighting and bickering can also
lead to an unstable atmosphere. The individuals involved in the altercation
could experience lingering rage or tension from the fight. Rage is well
known for making individuals less likely to think and behave logically and
safely. This could lead to an increased likelihood of a major accident.

*Improper Lighting *could be catastrophic to employees. Too much or too
little light can decrease the ability of employees to work safely. Sudden
glares from windows around sun rise or sun set can make it impossible for
employees to use tools safely. It is important to ensure that your
workplace is properly lighted.

·         If your work area experiences too much light you can fix the
problem by decreasing the amount of light let into the room through windows with window film, curtains, or blinds. Alternately too much light can be combated with sunglasses.

·         If not enough light is available, you can plug install more
lights or buy portable construction lights.

There are, of course, a myriad of other safety suggestions to increase safety in the workplace; the ones I have suggested are only a few. As an employer or an employee it is your responsibility to contribute as much as possible to the overall safety of the work place. By working together, we can decrease the likelihood of workplace accidents.

General Safety Issues

Thirty Blogs Parents of Teens Learning to Drive Must Read (Guest Post)

Sent to us by Barbara Williams of http://findababysitter.org.  We can never find too many tips on applications that help our teens realize how important the task of safe driving .  These blogs should offer insight into that responsibility.

It can be a scary time for parents when their teenagers are finally old enough to drive.  While you are in the car with her you may feel like you have some sense of control because you’re there to help her make good decisions.  However, when she takes off for her first solo drive, you probably will feel a bit anxious.  The more you can teach your teen before her first drive by herself, the better off she will be.  Here are 30 blog entries that can help the parents of teen drivers.

Cell Phones and Driving

It’s not unusual these days to find that your teen is tied to her cell phone morning, noon and night.  Because of this, it’s important that your teen knows that distracted driving is not only dangerous, but is also a leading cause of teenage accidents.  Implementing a rule regarding your teen’s cell phone use while driving is important, and could save her life.  These five blog posts will explain further.

Texting and Driving

Texting while driving is a dangerous concern for your teen, perhaps even more so than talking on the phone while driving, because you need to type on your phone. Many teenage deaths have occurred because of sending or reading a text from a friend or family member. It’s not just teens who are at risk, though; laws are being put into place to stop texting while driving for everyone.  These five blog articles will explain the reasoning behind the changes.

Proposed Law Changes

Here are five blog posts sharing some of the proposed law changes as they relate to teenage drivers.  Many have heard about cell use and texting being banned, but others are related to how many passengers you can have in the car.  Read these posts and educate yourself and your teen driver.

Driving Safely

Obviously, parents want their children to drive safely on the road, but how do you teach them everything that they need to know?  There are drivers’ education classes that you can send your child to and you can drive with your kids, but is that enough? Some people don’t think so.  Here are five blog articles that will show some other ways to teach teens to drive safely.

Winter Driving

Winter driving can be treacherous and deadly for an experienced driver, let alone a less experienced teenager.  Make sure that you practice driving with your teenager in all weather conditions.  Letting your teen know how the car could react during certain weather conditions is an important part of teaching your teen to drive.  These five blog posts will give you tips on how to teach your teen to drive safely during the winter.

Parents’ Role

At the end of the day it is up to the parents to make sure their teen is ready to get behind the wheel.  As a parent, do you know everything you need to know in order to make your teen into the best driver that he can be?  Here are five blog posts explaining what the role of the parent is in teaching teens to drive.  Maybe you will know them all, but you may also pick up a tip or two.

General Safety Issues

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF (GUEST POST)

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Sent by Bethany Johannson

When employees in good standing with their employer are injured at work, or as a result of work, funds paid into the worker’s compensation system by the employer, or paid directly from the employer as a self-insurer, will provide limited, short term financial aid.

According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, the worker’s compensation system is ordinarily administered by the state. Each state may vary somewhat in benefit delivery and mandates, but worker’s compensation programs are mandatory for all businesses. For federal employees, the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act delivers workers’ compensation benefits to federal employees, including postal workers.

In Georgia, for example, the 1920 law mandating a workers’ compensation fund has since been administered by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Funding comes from assessments from insurance companies and self-insured employers, who commonly consider workers’ compensation funds a line item in the yearly budget and report. However, by availing himself (or herself) of the program, an employee is bound to the conditions of the law and can’t seek redress under another system (e.g., a lawsuit).

If a worker’s claim to compensation is contested, or an employer feels it is being held unjustly liable for an injury, either party may ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. If no agreement is reached, the Appellate Division can make a decision. Both these legal entities are able to assess and rule on both facts and legal ramifications. When an acceptable decision is finally hammered out, it has the same weight as binding arbitration.

The Georgia law applies to all employers, from public corporations and nonprofit organizations to private companies having at least three full-time or part-time employees. It does not apply to federal government workers, railroad workers, farm workers and domestic help, to name a few exceptions.

State-by-state evaluation of the workers’ compensation program shows most (but not all) following the Georgia example, except in the number of workers needed to trigger workers’ compensation mandate. Variations may also occur in the dollar amount and length of paid leave, depending on the nature of the injury and the state in which it is incurred. One thing is written in stone: an on-the-job injury will elicit a claim, and a valid claim will establish coverage.

When state laws do not prompt the employer to approve a claim asking for coverage, injured workers can invoke the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal regulation that protects the disabled from job discrimination. This law operates under Title I of the ADA and forbids employers from refusing to hire the disabled, refusing to promote them, and refusing to give them the same wages for the same job as another employee without disabilities.

However, like most employment law, Title I contains a loophole which allows companies with 15 or fewer employees to bypass the law. In the case of employment agencies, labor organizations and labor management committees (comprised of both corporate management and union representatives), however, as few as one employee brings the Title I rule into play.

Workers who can’t work for an extended period of time, typically a year or more, will at some point apply for Social Security disability insurance. While on this disability income, medical attention will be provided through Medicare. If the injured party does not recover enough to work again, Social Security offers a safety net that includes minor dependents, called SSD (Social Security Disability).

An injured employee returning to work is entitled to ask for some consideration for his or her limiting disability, and as far as it is within their power, employers are obliged to accede. This is called reasonable accommodation. However, this does not mean that employers are required to spend vast amounts of money for specialized equipment, or overhaul the area where the disabled employee worked.

Employers can alter work schedules for a few months, or permanently, if the injured employee is stressed or exhausted by the job. Employers can also shift the employee into a less demanding or sensitive position, but not necessarily at a lower rate of pay.

In effect, the ADA directs employers to, if needed:

1.       Alter a job application process to provide alternatives to an interview (for those with hearing or speaking disabilities), written and timed test (for those with a hand injury that precludes writing), or a demonstration of particular abilities. This latter can apply even where no injury is present, as for example in an assembly line that operates with only right-handed people, and the applicant is left-handed, if he or she can prove ability to meet performance goals.

2.       Alter the work environment, or the manner in which a job is performed, so that a disabled individual can do the work.

3.       Alter the methods by which employees are given performance reviews, promotions, pay raises and bonuses, as well as job training and improvement seminars, so that the disabled employee can enjoy the same advantages as employees without a disability. 

The Workers’ Compensation program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides a very succinct explanation of accommodations that a disabled employee may trigger. These are:

  • Modifying equipment, or even acquiring new equipment
  • Altering testing and training materials and policies
  • Restructuring job flow and performance metrics
  • Altering existing facilities to make them handicapped accessible
  • Altering work schedules
  • Providing readers and/or interpreters (for the blind or deaf)

Our thanks to Bethany for this excellent explanation of how workers’ compensation works for employees who have been injured on the job and are unable to work. 

 

General Safety Issues

NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK OCT 14-20

The third week of October has been designated as National Teen Driver Safety Week, for the sixth year.  This year’s theme is “Share, Not Scare!”  Stressing the importance of driving safely, schools and other organizations will be teaching teenagers that car crashes are the #1 killer of teens.  Research has shown that parents are the single greatest influence on their teen’s driving.  Parents must set the example early on, by buckling up every time they get behind the wheel, slowing down, not texting and talking on the phone, and focusing on the road.

Several states offer Graduated Drivers Licensing, which is a three-step plan:

  • A minimum supervised learner’s period.
  • After passing the driver’s test, they receive an intermediate license, which limits the amount of unsupervised driving time.
  • Full privileges license after completion of previous stages.

Check to see if your state has this program.

You’ve heard the old saying, “Practice makes perfect.”  This is certainly true when it comes to teen drivers.  Even though parents have busy schedules, the more time they spend letting their teens drive gives them the advantage of experience.  They need to drive in different road situations and at various times of the day with adult supervision.    Letting your child operate a motor vehicle without supervision is taking a terrible risk.  Give them as much driving time as possible – thirty to sixty practice hours over a six-month period is recommended.

The Centers for Disease Control make the following suggestions to parents:

  •          Set rules for your teen drivers.  Set limits to keep them safe.  Be sure they know they must abide by the laws of the state, limit nighttime driving, and wear seat belt.
  •          Restrict the number of passengers they may have in the car.
  •          Talk about signing a Parent-Teen Driving Contract (on the CDC website).

Discuss how important it is to follow the rules, and the consequences for breaking them.  Hang this contract on the refrigerator door as a reminder that you want him/her to stay safe, and that when the rules of safe driving are followed, greater driving privileges will result.

Here are some added suggestions from TeenDriverSource on how to communicate with your teen drivers: 

  • Focus on the positive. Talk about positive behaviors like always wearing a seat belt and being a good passenger instead of focusing on what teens should not be doing.
  • Engage rather than offend. Get your friends involved in creating a NTDSW campaign at your school that promotes the benefits of safe behaviors. Positively structured learning experiences have a much greater chance of motivating people to choose safe, smart behaviors. For campaign ideas, visit ridelikeafriend.org.
  • Empower rather than scare. Teens want to do the right thing and be a part of the solution. Reaffirm their positive instincts by celebrating safe driving and passenger behaviors. Do not dwell on the few at your school who are rebelling in an unhealthy way. Stay positive. Others will follow your lead.

Learn more about messaging to motivate at mostofus.org. This site offers advice about positive health-related communication. It also discusses how to build positive campaigns, ones proven to influence teens to avoid substance abuse, violence, car crashes, and other health risks.

Let’s think about turning National Teen Drivers Safety Week into an every day promotion!  We should think about praising our children for being safe drivers as often as we warn them to be careful.  Let them know that you appreciate them for paying attention and staying safe! pb

General Safety Issues

GETTING YOUR CHILD READY TO RIDE THE SCHOOL BUS (GUEST POST)

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 Sent to us by Molly Cunningham.

Since school has already started you may have already experienced this transition; however, it’s never too late to be aware of safety for your child who may be riding a school bus for the first time. pb

When the time comes for your little one to begin attending school, it can be heart-wrenching to watch his tiny little form clamber up the steps of the massive school bus, knowing that he’s growing up no matter how much you may not want him to. Even though you can’t stop him from getting older, you can help him prepare for this transitional age in his life, starting with what to expect when riding the school bus. There are a wide variety of things that your little scholar should know before he takes his first school bus ride, but these five are among the most important.

  1. How to Follow the Rules – Though some rules can seem unnecessarily strict to young children, your child should understand that those rules are in place to protect him and ensure his safety, as well as the safety of others. Shouting, standing up, roughhousing, or otherwise misbehaving can cause him to be subjected to disciplinary action up to and including suspension of bus privileges. Your child’s school will inform you about the rules governing bus behavior and will usually include a dedicated section in the school handbook. Taking the time to go over these rules and ensuring that your child understands what is and is not allowed when riding the bus can help him avoid any disciplinary problems and ensure a safe riding experience.
  2. What to Do if the Bus Is Late – While the system governing school transportation is usually an efficient and effective one, it’s important for parents and kids to understand that the system is run by human beings, who are not infallible. Buses can be late, delayed by inclement weather or other situations out of the drivers’ control. A late bus can cause children who are eagerly waiting to return home from school to panic. To prepare your children for this situation, be sure that they know what they should do and who they should contact to notify them of the situation.  Instill in them the notion that the most important thing to do is follow the instructions of their teachers and school administrators until the bus arrives. Almost all schools will have a contingency plan in place for just such an event, but your child needs to know that he will be taken care of and that the event, while new and scary to him, is one that the school staff is trained to handle.
  3. Pay Attention At All Stops – Very few experiences that your child has on the bus are as disconcerting as realizing that their stop has been passed and that they’re now in unfamiliar territory. While many drivers will keep in mind that a very young, inexperienced rider could be distracted by socializing and the novelty of riding a school bus, most will only wait so long to see if a child is present for their stop before heading to the next. Sleeping children are particularly difficult for a driver to see, so your child should be taught the importance of paying attention, staying awake, and getting off at the right stop.

4.        General School Bus Safety – Kids should know general bus safety guidelines before their first bus trip to ensure that they don’t inadvertently engage in unsafe behavior. It’s important to teach your child that he should always step away from the curb as the bus is approaching, and should only walk towards it after the bus has come to a complete stop. He should also know that he should never stoop to pick up objects that have fallen under the bus, and that he should only cross the street in front of the bus and at a distance of at least ten feet to ensure that the driver can see him. The small stature and quick movements of younger children make it difficult for drivers to spot them, and also makes it harder for a child to spot oncoming vehicles and other obstacles.

5.  The Dangers of Bullying – Bullying is a very serious problem, and it’s one that often occurs in the raucous environment of the school bus. Because bus drivers can have difficulty hearing everything that’s being said to an individual child over the collective din of many little voices, you simply cannot rely on the bus driver’s ability to detect and prevent bullying. Your child should understand the dangers of being a bully themselves, and know what to do if they’re the victim of bullying from other children on the bus. Assuring him that he can always tell an adult about any problems that he’s having or difficulties he’s forced to endure on the school bus is very important, because he may feel as if he has nowhere to turn if he becomes a target of school bus bullies.  The school principal should be notified, as well.

To get children prepared for their first trip on the school bus, role play various scenarios and talk about what to expect from the trip. Be sure to include everything from boarding the bus, to paying attention at each stop, to exiting the bus safely, and everything that could happen in between.  This is a very big step for your child.

Our thanks to Molly Cunningham, of Liveinnanny.com  for these excellent words of advice.  pb

General Safety Issues

BASKETBALL IS A FUN, ROUGH GAME!

Basketball is a fun sport that most kids have probably tried at one time or another.  From “Little Dribblers” on up, it is a great game.  Kids need to understand the rules of basketball and how much fun it can be when all participants follow those rules.  Because it is a contact sport, basketball injuries occur very often.  There’s lots of flailing of arms and throwing elbows while trying to go for rebounds or fending off a competitor.  Kids who want to participate in basketball or any sport usually are aware of the risks involved.  That is why they are taught the fundamentals of the game, and learn to be safe playing on the court with other players.   Those who play in team sports  bond with teammates, and that bond carries on through their school years and many times, beyond.

Strength training is important for preparing for any sport.  For basketball, strengthening the muscles around the knees can be very helpful.  Common injuries in athletes who play basketball are sprained knees, sprained ankles, jammed or broken fingers, broken noses, and poked eyes.  Other possibilities are colliding with other players, walls, or posts, and head concussions.   Players must wear the correct types of basketball shoes, protective mouth guards, and eye and nose gear as needed.  Doctors may prescribe certain bracing be worn by athletes who have experienced injuries of their knees.  (Now that we’ve pointed out a few hazards, let’s talk about some fun things.)

One of the most exciting March activities for college students and basketball fans alike is March Madness!   A total of 65 men’s teams vie for the Men’s Division I NCAA championship.  Women’s Division I NCAA Basketball playoffs feature 64 teams competing to reach the Championships.  At the time of this writing, conference tournaments are being played to see who gets picked to compete in the regional play-offs and later advance to the Road to the Final Four.   This is the culmination of a season of hard-played basketball, with many games won by a margin of one-point.  It’s hard to pick the real winner when both teams are equally skilled, but the team with the top score gets to move on.  

Another exciting tournament held each year is the National Invitational Tournament, which invites teams that did not make the NCAA playoffs to first compete on campus sites, with the semi-final and final game played at Madison Square Garden, in New York City.  This is also an honor to the teams that almost made it to the Big Dance, but maybe missed by only a point or two in play-off games.  Because the NCAA tournament is required to host winners from all Division I conferences, chances are that some of the ones that missed an invitation to that tournament may have had better records.  Also,  pro basketball teams have been competing now for a while, so we will watch as they begin their playoffs, as well.  There’s plenty to enjoy if you are a round-ball fan, before we move on to baseball!

Each year, many talented college players  will be chosen to move on to professional basketball next season.  So, if your “little dribbler” aspires to play like his/her hero when he or she is older, teach him or her, to play safe, play fair, and keep in good physical condition.  Parents can start them off by providing them with healthy diets and teaching good sportsmanship.  Whether they choose to be an athlete, or a scholar, or both, leadership qualities are taught at home, at a young age.

General Safety Issues

PAY ATTENTION TO SAFETY RULES!

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In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is concerned with knowing that every employee in the workplace is safe.  Training and practice are the cornerstones of workplace safety.  Management of any business, large or small, must determine how its safety program will be implemented.  There should be a site-specific, employee-specific analysis.  Small businesses must comply with OSHA regulations, although there may be slightly different standards.  By putting good safety training programs into practice, businesses can avoid penalties, improve morale and increase productivity. 

 Having good safety leaders is a major factor in a successful safety program.  They should have excellent communication skills.  They need to be educated in all safety facets of the workplace and familiar with any past issues that have occurred.  Each employee must be taught that safety is foremost.  They should have adequate training before beginning any job where there is risk.  

We all know how difficult it is to learn a new job: the amount of duties each person is responsible for, how to perform the job safely and efficiently, becoming familiar with manuals, and  company policies, such as drug testing, etc.  If the job has risks, such as handling hazardous materials, or exposure to other workplace injuries, the new employee must learn all about what type of personal protective equipment, (i.e., hardhats, gloves, glasses, etc.) how to wear it, and take care of it, and when to replace it if damaged.  

Retention is an important word in safety training.  The leader must determine these things in judging the trainees:

  • Were they really listening?
  • Do they understand the proper ergonomics?  If the job requires twisting, lifting, or awkward positions, will they know what to do?
  • Is the workplace free from trips, slips, and fall hazards?
  • Has the noise factor been taken under consideration?
  • Do they realize the importance of PPE?
  • How well did they really comprehend?
  • Do they know what to watch for?

All workers must respond by giving the instructor the proper attention:

  •          Listen to your safety instructor.  He/she is there to teach you how to be safe.
  •          Pay Attention!  Your training is for your benefit.
  •          Do Not Rush! 
  •          Avoid monotony.  Try to vary your routine or ask to rotate duties.
  •          Be Careful All the Time – You can use caution for years, and then get hurt by not paying attention for only a couple of seconds.
  •          Don’t Take Risks! – A show of bravado won’t help you win the  respect of co-workers.
  •          Don’t Cut Corners on Safety!
  •          Use Common Sense.
  •          Again, listen to your leader and co-workers. 
  •          Look out for your co-workers.
  •          If you see an unsafe act, tell your supervisor.
  •          If in doubt, check it out! 
  •          Don’t hesitate to ask questions about things you don’t clearly understand.

The goal of everyone is to do a day’s work and go home safely at the end of the day.  Follow the rules of safety and everyone wins!  Be a part of your company’s safety TEAM – Together Everyone Accomplishes More!

General Safety Issues

WAYS TO PRACTICE WORK SAFETY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK

Did you know that there are approximately 474,000 school buses transporting some 25 million children to and from school every day in this country?  National School Bus Safety Week, began October 18th and goes through October 22nd.    This observance is sponsored by: National Association for Pupil Transportation, National School Transportation Association, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation, National Safety Council, and School Bus Manufacturers and Suppliers. Their goal is to educate students and the public about school bus safety.  Students may enter a national poster contest, with the winning poster being distributed throughout the United States. 

School buses are among the safest transportation we have, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, who also reports that those riding buses are 8 times safer than ones riding with parents or peers.  Statistics show that around six children die per year as passengers on school buses; however, fatalities have more often occurred from pedestrian accidents involving motorists who illegally pass school buses, failing to see children.  When a school bus is stopped, flashing lights on the bus warn drivers to stop, in order to allow children to safely board and get off the bus.  Motorists should be vigilant when sharing the road with the big yellow buses. 

School bus drivers have to have nerves of steel!  (I’m talking from my experiences, such as band trips, etc.)  Kids can get rowdy on school buses, and drivers should have rules (short and simple), that their young passengers follow.   It is helpful when bus drivers get to know their kids and are a positive role model.  Parents should expect their students to show respect to their driver, who plays this very important role in getting them safely to school and back home. 

Here are some safety reminders for parents and students from The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration: 

  • Parents should be sure that their children get to the bus stop on time.
  • Students should stand back several feet from the edge of the road until the bus comes to a complete stop.
  • If a student drops an object near the bus, he/she should ask the driver for help.  The driver may not be able to see when a child bends over to pick something up.  The best solution is to have all their things secure in a backpack or bag.
  • Be sure clothing or backpacks have no loose drawstrings that could get caught in the bus door.
  • Understand that the danger zone is the area 10′ around the school bus.
  • Ask school officials or transportation authorities to change the location of a bus stop if it is not in a safe place.
  • Students should cross the street in view of the driver: “Cross in View – It’s the Thing to Do.” 

Those big yellow buses not only transport our kids to school every day, but also take them on field trips, to sports events, and many other extracurricular activities.  Their passengers are our future; we must obey the laws that protect the lives of our children and their caregivers – the drivers.