Tag Archives: stay home

By Sarah Walden of UmbrellaBagger.com

Traveling to the office during dangerous weather conditions can be frightening. Safety precautions are necessary for employees and management to remain calm, collected and protected during severe storms. Paying attention to any and all warnings before, during and after a storm secures employees during their commute and office hours. Aside from safety concerns, trekking to work in bad weather is uncomfortable and a lack of preparation can lead to an intolerable day.

Here are four tips to help make the rainy, slushy or snowy commute easier for full-time employees.

Stay Informed and Drive Cautiously

Set up weather alerts on a smart phone or computer the night before a large storm is due. Tune into the morning news while getting ready and take notice of the suggested strategies and tips for the current conditions. When leaving the house, travel with extreme caution and care. If proximity allows, consider carpooling with coworkers – multiple eyes and ears increases awareness of precarious conditions and helps ease stress for drivers.

Dress Appropriately

Invest in a reliable raincoat and sturdy rubber boots. Although clunky and awkward, protective outdoor gear helps keep work clothes dry. Forgoing style during the commute to the office is better than sitting in soggy clothing all day long which can lead to a head cold or wrinkled attire.

Take Advantage of Facility Accommodations

Spend a little more money to park in the indoor garage or covered lot on days when weather is extreme. Opting for street parking is usually the more cost-effective alternative, but defrosting a car after eight to nine hours of snow or ice build up is time consuming. Fallen tree branch damages or sliding accidents cost more time and money than garage parking fees.

Unlike drivers, walkers get stuck with soppy shoes and a wet umbrella after their commute. Office lobbies are often equipped with dry floor mats and a wet umbrella bag dispenser. Both resources prevent slip and fall accidents that are all too common during winter snowstorms and the rainy spring months. Don’t bypass these luxuries; they are in place to keep workforce visitors safe and dry.

Take the Day off or Work from Home

There is no shame in missing work if travel doesn’t feel safe. Use a sick day or paid leave if necessary. Although roads may seem fine in the morning, conditions can change rapidly in the afternoon. Getting home could be a nightmare and pose a greater threat than the initial travel. If necessary, ask to work from home. Most managers allow remote labor, as long as employees have a computer and the basic materials to complete their duties for the day.

Dealing with rain, snow and ice shouldn’t have to interfere with productivity. Instead of letting the weather dictate professional life, take the necessary precautions to aptly coordinate work-related travel.

Thanks, Sarah, for this unique idea for wet umbrella bag dispenser(s). These would work great for work, school, or churches. pb

General Safety Issues

STAY HOME WITH THE SNIFFLES: STUDY SHOWS PAID SICK LEAVE REDUCES WORKPLACE INJURIES (GUEST POST)

January 16, 2013 pat brownlee

Workers brave workplace hazards every day, hoping that they won’t reset the “number of days without a workplace accident” sign. It may seem obvious, but staying home when ill drastically reduces the chance of nonfatal occupational injuries.

Workers with paid sick leave were 28 percent less-likely to be injured at the workplace in comparison to workers without PTO days, a study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health concluded. Data on approximately 38,000 adults working in the private sector who participated in the National Health Interview Survey was used.

The financial pressure drives employees to work even though ill. “If fewer people work while they are sick,” study researcher Abay Asfaw, Ph.D., said in a statement, “this could lead to safer operations and fewer injuries in the workplace.” Depending on the job occupation and sector, workplace injury differed. Construction workers were at a 21 percent increased risk without paid sick time off compared with 18 percent for health care personnel.

Another study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health concluded that coming into work while sick increased the chances of needing to take more sick time off later, according to Rodale News. It may seem that employees will use less time off in the short run, but the sickness compounds or grows worse without necessary rest, resulting in a greater number of work absences over the long run. Ill workers reporting for work more than six times were 53 percent more-likely to be absent for two weeks in the future. Those same workers were also 72 percent more-likely to take two months sick leave in the following year and a half.

Sevenson, an environmental remediation service, practices a stringent Corporate Safety and Health Program to avoid an unnecessary Sevenson Environmental lawsuit along with worker injuries. Employees engaged in hazardous-waste remediation are monitored to ensure that their surroundings aren’t negatively impacting health. Here are some other blue-collar tips to prevent harmful accidents at work.

Break Time

Along with the aforementioned paid-time-off days, taking time off during the day is also of utmost importance. Hours of continuous work inevitably leads to fatigue. To avoid workplace mishaps as a result of fatigue, take a break at least once an hour to give your body and mind brief, restorative rest.

Awareness

Over time, workers become overly comfortable within their workplace environment. Comfort can lead to calamity. Workers’ previously sharp awareness is blunted, even though the level of danger remains the same. Always remain mindful of your environment and acutely focused on all surroundings.

Safety First

From slip-resistant shoes to hazmat suits, workers must equip the proper safety gear to avoid workplace incidents. Ensure that you’re always suited for safety — money spent toward equipment to prevent harm is well worth it in comparison to life-threatening, preventable injuries.

By Stephanie Diaz A former public relations specialist, Stephanie is a blogger who shares tips on saving money and getting ahead in any economy.

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

SAFETY ADVICE FOR LABOR DAY, 2012

August 30, 2012 pat brownlee

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

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

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

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

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

Work Safety Blog