Tag Archives: stress

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

MENTAL SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

 
Safety in the workplace is paramount. Too often we focus on physical safety. We must not let the emotional and mental safety of our coworkers and employees fall to the wayside. Depending on the workplace, we might need to pay more attention. As much as all companies might want to deny it, some work places are more likely to lead to depression. Flipping burgers, sitting in front of the computer, or burrowing down in a cubicle can be mind-numbingly boring. These types of jobs are repetitive and are often incredibly alienating. One minute blends into another, and another, and another. It’s all too easy to succumb to the black hole of depression. Especially if our personal lives are not what they should be.

Depression in the Workplace

Depression is a serious factor that could affect the safety and productivity of the workplace. It’s so prevalent that we see instances of depression in our situational comedies like Friends and The Office. In “Performance Review” Michael Scott, the self-involved manager, pulls out a suggestion box that hasn’t been touched in a year to impress his boss. One of the first suggestions that he pulls out is “we need better outreach for employees fighting depression.” Michael breezes over this suggestion as a joke. “Nobody in here is suffering from depression,” he says. 

Employees Do Suffer From Depression

Studies have shown that up to 6% of employees experience depression every year, so depression is a little more serious than Michael Scott would believe. The episode of the office, as blasé as it is about the topic of depression, demonstrates how we must help employees who are suffering from depression. When Michael asks what joker wrote the suggestion, a coworker supplies the information. “Tom? He worked in accounting up until about a year ago,” she explained. When no one recognized the name, she pantomimes shooting herself. Suicide is a very serious possibility of depression in the workplace. 

Beyond the worst case scenario, depression can have other negative effects on the workplace. Depression leads to

  • Aches and pains which could distract employees from giving their best.
  • Easily irritated employees who might complain more often. 
  • Unproductivity caused by listlessness. (Studies suggest that around 18 work days are lost each year).
  • An increase in the number of sick days requested. (Studies suggest that around 8 work days are lost each year).

Pin Pointing Cases of Depression

In order to prevent depression or help employees, we must first be able to identify if an employee is suffering from depression. Here is a list of possible symptoms to look out for. 

  • Employees seem to carry a pervasive stress, even when doing simple tasks.
  • Vocal self-loathing.
  • Loss of energy. 
  • Inability to sleep or oversleeping.
  • Loss of appetite or overeating.
  • Anger. 
  • Reckless behavior or an increased dependence on drugs or alcohol.

Helping Employees with Depression

Depression is such a problem because only about 57% of employees suffering from depression seek mental health treatments. While companies and employees cannot forcefully restore employees to mental health, but they can go a long way to ensure that employees receive the help that can put them on the right path. Here are a few suggestions to kick depression out of your office. 

  • Encourage employees to visit human resources if they need help personally or they believe a coworker might be depressed.
  • Offer health insurance that cover psychologist, psychiatrist, doctors, and medicine.
  • Have mandatory seminars about depression and how to deal with it. 
  • If the work is mind-numbing, drudging, or repetitive, give employees frequent breaks and encourage employees to go off task every once in a while.

As a company or employee, helping others cope with depression may not seem like your business, but it should be. Both companies and employees can benefit from a depression-free workplace. Employees have a more stable place to work. Companies receive more productive, stable, and safe employees.  

Author’s Bio: 

“This article provided by the people at Bennerotte & Associates” and Samantha Hopkins”
  
Note: Thank you, Samantha for this excellent article that hopefully will help workers who know someone suffering from depression find help, and give them the support they need. pb
General Safety Issues

WHAT ARE WORKPLACE INJURIES? HOW CAN THEY BE STOPPED? (GUEST POST)

Accidents can happen in the workplace, we all know that. 600,000 of them happened in the year 2010-2011, over a third of which resulted in an employee taking more than three days off work. What’s more, you’ll be surprised how many accidents in the workplace occur as a result of poor practice from the employer.

Whether in a white-collar environment or a busy warehouse, employers that don’t care for their staff with proper health and safety will invariably see them get hurt – harming morale and costing the business in sick pay and diminished productivity.

What are the most common workplace injuries?

Irresponsible health and safety at work can result in illnesses, injuries and maladies of all shapes and sizes. From fractured limbs and bruising from slips, trips and falls to posture-related back and neck injuries as well as the psychological effects of stress and depression, there’s barely a condition that can’t be contracted at work.

However, because blue-collar workers are traditionally moving around more and exerting themselves more physically than their counterparts in offices, it makes sense that more injuries occur in warehouses, factories and industrial areas than in white-collar locations. According to the Health and Safety Executive in the UK, slips, trips and falls account for more than half of all major injuries and nearly a third of serious over 3-day injuries.

When it comes to fatal injuries, falling from height remains the biggest threat for employees with 40 dying in 2011/12 – again something that affects workers on construction sites and warehouses.

Why do employers neglect health and safety?

There’s no denying that businesses have cleaned up their act over the last 20 years and industrial areas are significantly safer than they were a few decades ago. But there are still employers out there that endanger their staff by flouting their health and safety responsibilities.

Why do employers ignore health and safety? There are a number of reasons. Although it’s tempting to think that injuries arise as a result of prudent penny-pinching businesses, it’s not quite as simple as that. Very often, a serious injury will occur not because a company has neglected to invest the necessary time and money, but because of failed communication or through the fault of individuals.

How to protect employees from injury at work

To be successfully implemented, health and safety in the workplace needs to be dealt with from top to bottom – from senior managers deciding the safest course of action through to supervisors ensuring that the directions are being safely and completely carried out. It also requires full training for all employees – and for all workers to feel comfortable enough to regulate themselves. By letting their seniors know if any work that they’re due to carry out carries a risk they’re not only reducing the risk for themselves at work, but for their colleagues too.

Author – Accident at work solicitors at Hugh James specialise in assisting employees and family members to make a claim if workers were injured on the job. From agricultural and manual handling accidents to slipping and tripping at work and workplace violence, the Hugh James team can help injured workers to receive the compensation they’re due if employers were found to flout their responsibilities.

Our thanks to Ben Magee for sending this article regarding the importance of employers living up to their responsibilities.  Every employee should be well trained, and understand the hazards and risks associated with their particular job description. pb

 

Ergonomics, Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

TEN THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR WHEN DOING AMATEUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS (GUEST POST)

The nature of construction means there’s constantly the potential for disaster. Heavy objects, sharp ends, powerful machines and more don’t mix well with soft human bodies.

Even when I work with experienced teams or am just doing a little job around the house on my own, I still occasionally come across dangerous situations and close calls. These instances are even more common in the world of amateur construction, where people without professional training often find themselves at odds with the tools and materials they’re working with.

There are plenty of reasons to consider amateur construction. It can save you money, especially on smaller-scale work. It gives people a sense of accomplishment and ownership, and lets them express their creative side exactly as they envision with their own hands. But such projects cause disasters every day. Mishaps can cause expensive damage to structures and severe injury to the builder. If you’re considering a DIY construction project, be sure to use extra caution and be on the lookout for these common mistakes:

1. Dehydration and Overexertion

Often it’s not a wild swing of a hammer or improper use of a table saw that causes mistakes, but physical fatigue and breakdown. Unless you’re a very active person on a regular basis, your body may not be prepared for the rigor or heavy construction work. Exhaustion and dehydration make people clumsy and cause them to make bad decisions. Only work when you’re rested and hydrated, and be sure to make time in your efforts for breaks and refreshment.

2. Disorganization

A poorly organized work space is the bane of construction workers everywhere. It decreases efficiency and makes the entire job take longer to complete. More importantly, though, it creates hazards. It’s difficult to be safe and effective if you’re navigating through a mess of lumber and machinery. Always make a point to keep your work place as neat as possible; the investment of time will pay itself off.

3. Working Alone

Doing anything strenuous on your own is rarely a good idea. If something happens, like a sudden injury, it can be tough to take care of yourself. Avoid doing heavy construction work without someone who knows where you are and what you’re doing in case an emergency arises.

4. Improper Safety Gear

It’s amazing how many do-it-yourselfers try to tackle a project without even the most basic of safety equipment. You don’t need a HAZMAT suit to stay protected in most situations. Even just investing in some good work gloves and decent safety eye wear will prevent an astonishing amount of injuries.

5. Electrocution

When many people undertake large construction projects, they often overlook the difficulty and danger of working with and around established electrical systems. Improperly fiddling with the wiring in your walls and appliances can cause a deadly shock. Always be sure you know how to correctly handle electrical installation or removal before starting any projects that will require it.

6. Hazardous Materials

Some construction work might involve the use of hazardous chemicals that people aren’t used to handling. This could include something as simple as gasoline, or something a little more complex like an industrial cleaner. Always be wary of any dangers related to flammability, toxic fumes, and chemical reactions due to exposure.

7. Unwelcome Visitors

Even in a relatively safe work site, it’s easy for someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing to hurt themselves or someone else. I see this commonly in homes with children and pets where boundaries aren’t properly established. Be sure to make clear to any kids present that the construction area is dangerous, and take care to zone the area off from a curious dog or cat.

8. Excess Stress on the Body

A lot of construction work is physically taxing. There’s a high amount of pressure put on sensitive body parts repeatedly. Your shoulders, wrists, knees, and back are especially at risk. To reduce the danger, follow best practices for lifting and moving heavy objects and using tools.

9. Working from a Height

Some of the nastiest construction-related injuries I’ve witnessed were due to someone getting careless and falling from a roof or ladder. Always take extra caution when working from a position where a fall could happen, even if you’re just a few feet off the ground. Learn ladder and harness safety as necessary to prevent a fall.

10. Incomplete Tool Knowledge

As tempting as it may be to skip, you should always read the manual for any tool more complex than a hammer or screwdriver. Always know the ins and outs of all your power tools, from power drills to nail guns, so you’re never taken by surprise.

Doing a personal construction project is rewarding both personally and financially, but only if you avoid causing any damage to yourself or the area around you. Always be sure to follow all general safety precautions before getting started. Happy building!

Author Profile:

Author Profile: Home-shield Mike Thomas is a private contractor and writer for HomeWarrantyDeals.com.  He enjoys DIY projects, college football and is also deeply passionate about restoring antique homes.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Health Issues

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Shingles and Chicken Pox (Guest Post)

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Submitted by Sara Dawkins, of http://www.nannypro.com/.

 Shingles is a very painful skin rash that appears in a band or a patch of red bumps on your skin.  You can only get shingles if you have already had chicken pox.  The same virus that causes chicken pox stays in your body and can cause you to get shingles at any time.  To learn more about shingles, check out these 10 things that you may not have known about the rash.

  1. Shingles affects your nerve endings.  If you got chicken pox as a child, the virus will never really leave your body.  The virus attaches itself to your nerve roots and remains dormant until something affects your immune system.  If your immune system is weakened, Shingles can occur.
  2. Often shingles will only appear on one side of your body.  The Herpes Zoster virus (chicken pox) travels down the nerve to the spine and lies dormant.  Because that nerve only serves one side of your body, it is likely that the shingles will only appear on one side.
  3. You can get shingles at almost any age.  If a person has had chicken pox at one point in their life and they have an immune system that is compromised, they can get shingles.  Despite popular belief, children are not immune and it’s not just something that people over 50 get.  Shingles will often occur during chemotherapy treatments because of the compromised immune system, or during any other severe illness.
  4. Stress can bring on shingles.  While many things can compromise your immune system, it doesn’t have to be anything very dramatic.  Have you been under a lot of stress with work and family?  Who hasn’t, right?  Even stress like that can cause shingles, despite there being no other factors.
  5. Shingles isn’t that contagious.  Shingles is not contagious in most people.  It is possible to infect someone with the Herpes Zoster virus and give them chicken pox if they have never had them or have never received a vaccine for them.  However, this can only happen if that person comes in contact with the fluid from the blisters.  For the most part, you get shingles because you had chicken pox as a kid.
  6. The red bumps will turn into blisters if left untreated.  Shingles starts out as a band or patch of blisters that are red and itchy.  As the illness progresses, blisters will develop in the rash.  The blisters will then dry up and scab over before they will go away.  Some people will scar from the blisters and sores that form, which is why it’s important not to pick at the scabs.  You can soak the infected area to speed up the healing.
  7. Shingles is not related to Herpes simplex 1 or 2.  The Herpes Zoster virus causes both chicken pox and shingles.  Herpes simplex 1 causes cold sores, which are blisters around the mouth.  Herpes simplex 2 is the kind that causes genital herpes. 
  8. If you are over 50 you can get a vaccine for shingles.  The shingles vaccine helps prevent shingles in only about 50% of recipients, according to WebMD, and may decrease the pain and duration related to shingles if the virus is contracted after someone has been vaccinated.
  9. Your skin may feel like it’s been burned.  One of the first symptoms of shingles that you should watch for is a burning feeling on your skin.  The skin won’t look like it’s been burned.  The burn feels more like a chemical burn than sunburn because the skin is not hot.
  10. Treat the itching with calamine lotion.  There is considerable itchiness with the shingles rash, and it is typically treated with over the counter medicines like calamine lotion.  Other anti-itch medicines like cortisones can also help the itch.  Other home treatments can include cold compresses and ibuprofen for the pain.

If left untreated, shingles can be one of the most painful things to endure, but there is hope if you can recognize it early and seek treatment right away.  If you start on an antibiotic and antiviral medication from your doctor as soon as you realize you may have it, you could avoid getting the blisters altogether.  Instead of treating it for four or more weeks with possible scarring, you could cut that down to only a couple of weeks.  The trick is to seek medical attention early.  Shingles can also cause numbness in fingers, but that will most likely go away over time.

Ergonomics, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

AVOIDING INJURIES DURING THE MOVE (GUEST POST)

Tips to Stay Safe When You Are Moving

How to Stay Safe and Fit As you Move?

Moving to another location can get exciting when you think about meeting new people and settling down in a totally different place. However, the stress involved in planning the move, packing and unpacking can take a toll on your health. Apart from the stress involved in moving, there is every possibility of suffering from minor and severe injuries.

Injuries are common due to lifting, loading and unloading items during the moving process. It is therefore important to consider certain safety tips prior to the big move in order to avoid injuries and have a smooth move. Keeping yourself safe during the move requires great attention. Here are a few safety tips to help you take care of yourself during the moving process.

Avoid Back Injury

Most of the injuries occur when you lift heavy items. You can hurt your back when lifting heavy items. In order to avoid back injury, you need to make use of legs for lifting items instead of your back. The best way to lift heavy items is by squatting down, grasping the item and lifting it with your legs, exerting pressure on leg muscles.

Distribute weight of boxes equally by packing items in various boxes, instead of dumping all items in one single box. This will make lifting boxes much easier.

Carry Filtered Water Bottles

A strenuous exercise like moving that involves lifting, packing and unloading heavy items dehydrates the body. In order to keep the body hydrated, it is vital to drink plenty of water during the moving process. Carry filtered water in a bottle in case the new place does not have water turned on.

Check Out for Risky Walkway Areas

Check out the areas around your home, particularly for bumpy sidewalks and dangerous walkway areas. There is every possibility of getting injured when loading items due to the risky walkway areas in your home. Ensure that the steps leading to your home are clearly seen and it is not slippery. The best way to avoid slippery areas is by placing mats on them, so that you don’t walk on such areas.

Besides, this there are other things you must duly consider for a safe move. These include poles, tree branches and pillars that can be a major obstruction during the moving process. It is imperative to get rid of these obstacles completely by removing them or marking the area with bright colored tiles.   

In order to move special items, you must hire professional movers. Moving items like refrigerator, TV set, furniture and other large appliances require the help of professional movers.

Don’t forget to keep a safety aid kit with you when moving. This will help you treat minor injuries during the move. Ensure that your cell phone is fully charged and it has all numbers of people to be contacted during emergency in case you are seriously injured. I hope these safety tips will help you avoid injuries and allow you to have an enjoyable moving experience.  

Author Bio:

 Rony Mikal is a blogger and freelance writer. He writes extensively on topics related to environmental issues, business, moving, household removals and storage and removal services London. Apart from writing, Rony takes keen interest in traveling and photography. He is an avid traveler and spends quality time with family and friends.

http://www.aussieremovals.com

 http://www.ward-thomas.co.uk

 

 

 

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

***Keeping Yourself Healthy In An Unhealthy Modern Environment***

 Unhealthy environments exist all around us, whether they are rooted by our inactivity in offices while sitting at desks all day, or if they stem from psychologically damaging exposure to unpleasant scenarios. Keeping yourself healthy in an unhealthy modern environment can make all of the difference in your appearance, health and wealth, and here is how.

Physical Health
Although it would be ideal to hit the gym every day, while consuming perfectly portioned and healthy meals at every turn, it certainly is not practical. So what do you do when you cannot break away for a workout, or consume meals on the fly with the maximum health benefits? You make it up as the day goes along.

Workout at the Office
If an afternoon at the gym is out of the question, evaluate the environment around you to develop alternate physical activity.
• Take the Stairs Instead of the Elevator
• Walk to Lunch Spots & To Complete Errands
• Park Farther Away from Your Office
• Exit Public Transportation a Stop or Two Earlier than Usual
• Walk or Run Around the Building During Your Lunch Hour
• Stand While You Work
Eating Habits
Just because you are working sixty hours a week does not mean you should depend on fast food to deliver your meals, or vending machines to satiate a 2pm snacking crave. Both alternatives can lead to the ingestion of excess fat, calories, sodium and preservatives which are just as terrible for the waistline as they are your skin, hair and overall health.
• Plan Ahead and Prepare Healthy Lunches to Keep at the Office
• Turn to Healthy Snacking Options by Keeping Them Readily Available
• Drink Lots of Water Throughout the Day
• Order Healthy Options at Restaurants: Salads, Fruits, Nuts & Yogurts
• Do Not Skip Meals

Mental Health
Stress and anxiety are not only harmful to your overall physical health, but they can compromise your mental health and ability to make sound decisions throughout the day. Stress can lead to hasty decisions, oversights and lack of logic in an effort to produce results. There are a number of ways to improve your mental health throughout the day, just by making time to do so.
• Pause & Take Deep Breaths When You Feel Overwhelmed
• Take a Walk When You Are Out of Sorts to Collect Yourself
• Exterminate Toxic Relationships with Negative Friends or Family Members
• Remove Yourself from Stressful Situations as Quickly as Possible
• Remember What Makes You Happy and Think of Those Things Often

Modern Interruptions & Solutions
If the world was not complicated enough, dealing with family, friends and coworkers on a daily basis, now you are consumed by social media outlets that can enlighten you to everything everyone else in the world is doing too. Constant exposure to other people’s stress, negative behavior and varying personalities can invite stress and anxiety into anyone’s life. There are a number of steps you can take to remove yourself from unhealthy environments, even when they are occurring online.
• Avoid Upsetting News Stories and Media Outlets
• Turn Your Phone Off at Night to Sleep More Soundly
• Allow a Specific Amount of Time to Be Spent on Social Media
• Enjoy Friends & Family in Person, Whenever Possible
• Leave Your Phone at Home or in the Car During Social Visits
• Do Not Get Involved with Conversations or Arguments that Do Not Concern You

Focus your physical and mental well-being around positive scenarios, eliminating negative people, practices and situations from your life as much as possible. This application is different for everyone, so it is important to evaluate all aspects of your life to recognize either the people or the events that are causing you to maintain an unhealthy lifestyle, physically or mentally. If you are unhappy or unwell there is certainly a root to its cause. Identify it and obliterate it.

Would you like MORE energy, BETTER health, and MORE vitality in your life?  Discover the all natural health secrets that can help you feel great and live the healthy life you deserve, visit www.agingfit.com today!

Thanks to Glen Greenbaum, for this good advice on how we can be healthier if we just listen to these suggestions! pb

 

General Safety Issues

DO YOU HAVE THE HOLIDAY BLUES?

Many times, when the holiday season begins, we have mixed emotions.  The season can be a time full of joy, cheer, parties and family gatherings. But for many people, it is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past failures and anxiety.  More reasons that some persons feel blue could be the stress of preparation for a number of guests, financial constraints, or the fact that they may be unable to be with friends and family.  We should think of the families of our military, who are far away from home.  They certainly have a right to dread the holidays.

People may also develop other stress responses such as headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating and difficulty sleeping. Even more people experience post-holiday let down after January 1. This can result from disappointments during the preceding months compounded by the excess fatigue and stress. Work-related stress may appear more as the holidays approach.  You don’t want to let the holidays become something you dread.  Holiday triggers many “downers” – from financial pressures to personal demands.

Ways to overcome these feelings instead of having a complete meltdown are:

  • Plan ahead of time and stick with plans.
  • Positive thinking that you will have a good time during the holidays.
  • Have a social support network.  Spend time with family or friends, and make good friends, who are there for you, good or bad.  Be a friend.  Have a pet.  Volunteer for a good cause, to help those in need.  Visit a church and make friends there.  Be a good listener and be there when someone needs you.
  • Exercise.
  • Think of all the things you have to be thankful for.

Coping with Stress & Depression During the Holidays

  • Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Don’t put the entire focus on just one day (i.e., Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.)
  • Remember the holiday season does not banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely; there is room for these feelings to be present, even if the person chooses not to express them.  My dad loved Christmas, and I am always sad that he and my mother have been gone for so many Christmases.  It is a very natural thing to miss those we loved dearly.  But they wouldn’t want sadness during this time of the year for the family, so we just move forward and remember the great times we had.
  • Leave yesterday in the past and look toward the future. Life brings changes.
  • Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, going window shopping or making a snowperson with children.
  • Be aware that excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression.
  • Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way.
  • Call someone you haven’t heard from in a long time.
  • Save time for yourself!

We spend many hours each day working with other people; one of the best gifts we can give them is the gift of compassion.  If they are having trouble dealing with work issues during the holiday season, offer to listen and help if you can.  Sometimes folks need professional help.    Be there for them if you can.  Everyone deserves happiness.  You might just help them shake off the “Holiday Blues!”

Source: Mental Health America; Mayo Clinic

Back Safety, Ergonomics, General Safety Issues

PREVENTING BACK INJURY AND PAIN

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About 80% of  U.S. adults will experience lower back injuries or back pain over their lifetimes.  These injuries can be caused by improper lifting techniques and overuse.  If you use proper lifting techniques, and stretch and strengthen your back muscles, the risk of back injury can possibly  be averted.  When we have back pain, it is hard to think about your work or anything else.   There are many occupations, such as nursing, factory and construction work, or standing all day in a store or bank, that puts significant demands on your back.  I used to sit at a desk 8 hours a day, which can cause or worsen back pain.  My posture didn’t help; I am sure I slumped at my desk, rather than sitting up straight.  If you understand what causes your back pain and what you can do to prevent it, you should feel much better.

Here are some examples of the pressure put on our backs (literally):

Posture: Slouching exaggerates your back’s natural curves, which leads to muscle fatigue and injury.

Stress: Pressure at work and/or home can increase your stress level and lead to muscle tension and tightness, which adds to back pain.

Repetition: Repeating certain movements can lead to muscle fatigue or injury, particularly if you’re stretching to the limit of your range of motion or using awkward body positioning.

Force: Exerting too much force on your back – such as lifting or moving heavy objects – can cause injury.  If possible, find a “work buddy.”  It is less costly on the company to have two people lifting objects safely than paying for one person’s back injury.  You may be “macho” when you are young and strong, but you will learn with age, that some of that lifting you did while you were stronger, comes back to haunt you later.

Safe lifting poster

If you work in manufacturing or another industry where your day will be comprised of lifting or handling heavy objects, be sure to stretch before beginning your day.  Make this type of exercise a regular part of your work routine.  Taking a few minutes to do a few stretching or strengthening exercises can make all the difference in the rest of your day.  Improper lifting of heavy objects causes many back injuries.  It is best to use techniques that can support your back and prevent injury.  The diagonal lift gives you a wide base of support, with more stability, energy and power.  Bend your knees and squat down; keep your back arched and head up while lifting.  This allows more power to come from the larger muscles of the legs, keeping the weight off your back.  Keep the objects close to your body.  Bad habits such as jerking, rushing, twisting or bending while lifting can cause serious injury.

Slips, trips, and falls are hazards that we all face, even at home, if we aren’t careful to keep clutter out of our paths.  Wear the correct type of shoes to fit your job.  If you are on your feet all day, you need good support, with non-slip soles if possible.  Even women who thought they had to wear high heels in the office all day seem to be changing to lower, more comfortable shoes.  Do pay attention to your posture.  Just by changing positions often, and taking time to walk around and stretch, can make you feel better and help your back.

After reviewing scientific studies on the value of back support belts in preventing lower back injury, OSHA came to the conclusion that they had no conclusion.  Therefore, they have not made wearing back belts mandatory.  The use of back support belts and braces is optional, and many companies choose to supply them to their employees.  If it is a matter of personal preference, and if it makes you feel more secure, try it.  It certainly won’t hurt anything.  Studies show that newer back supports are working.  Employees have fewer back injuries and problems.  These products also help employees retain proper posture and movement, two habits that have been shown to reduce back strain on the job.

Always listen to your body; it is usually a good warning system telling you to slow down.  Take the time to examine your work environment and find ways to help you avoid risks that could be harmful.  Talk to your supervisor if you feel the load is too much; there may be other options that will help not only you but your co-workers.

General Safety Issues

WORKPLACE FATIGUE CAN BE COSTLY!

This past Wednesday, there were two separate but related incidents of what “sleeping on the job” could have caused, when not one, but two commercial airplanes were unable to hail the traffic controller for landing clearance, yet landed safely with assistance from a regional control center.  This happened at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.  A United Airbus A320 was carrying sixty-three passengers and a crew of five, while an American Boeing 737 was flying with ninety-one passengers with a crew of six.  Thankfully, 165 persons were safe on the ground.  The lone controller, who had worked four consecutive overnight shifts,  had fallen asleep during the period of time the two pilots were calling in.   Concerns about worker fatigue have been voiced by The National Air Traffic Controllers Union and safety advocates for years.  

The FAA was asked four years ago to work with the controllers union to revise work schedules and practices and to develop a fatigue awareness program.  Their safety board stressed the “especially problematic” concerns regarding the common practice of scheduling controllers to work increasingly early shifts over a week.  Patrick Forrey, former president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said several towers in the U.S. have only one worker during the midnight shift.  It’s unknown just how common this practice is.  Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood noted that Reagan’s tower will get a second nighttime controller and he has asked the FAA to study staffing levels at other airports around the country.  Secretary LaHood stated, “One-person shifts are unsafe. Period.” 

Working at night has a greater impact than working the same number of hours in the daytime.  On average, shift workers lose 1 – 1 ½ hours of sleep for each 24-hour period.  This can build up a sleep debt of 6 hours after 4 nights.  Working more than three or four night shifts in a row can likely cause a significant sleep debt, bringing serious consequences for safety.  Our body clock is programmed to be awake during the day and asleep at night.  Night workers have to override their body clock to remain active at night. 

Prior to 2007, a study made by FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute showed there was widespread evidence of fatigue among air controllers.  Some of those findings were:

  • More than 2/3 of those interviewed said they experienced attention lapses driving to work for early morning or midnight shifts;
  • More than 1/3 reported falling asleep while driving to or from a midnight shift;
  • 60 to 80 per cent had caught themselves about to doze off during early morning or midnight shifts. 

Fatigue has lead to many human errors. Mistakes made by shift workers in the early morning hours were critical factors in disasters at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Bhopal, and the Exxon Valdez oil spillage.  Fatigue-induced human errors bring major consequences for public safety, as well as for the workers involved.  It has been estimated that in the U.S., fatigue contributes to between 20 and 40 per cent of all commercial vehicle crashes, causing the loss of more than 15,000 lives.  Extreme fatigue may cause a person to “disengage” briefly into a “micro-sleep”.  When this happens at a critical time, an accident may result.  Micro-sleeps have been observed in train drivers and airline pilots during periods of critical operations, with the drivers and pilots sometimes being unaware that it was happening.  

There is no single method of shift management that fits all circumstances, but whichever method is used, should be tailored to the needs of the particular organization.  One thing is for sure, when it comes to airline safety, there should never be only one person in the control tower during late hours.  One person working alone with the responsibilities of that job should be able to take breaks, such as for meals and restroom. The pressures of such concentrated mental and visual work could be relieved by the presence of a co-worker.  Those that choose to fly night or day, as well as the airline crews, deserve to have their safety a top priority.

Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Bloomberg News; Department of Labour, New Zealand.govt.nz

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Hearing Protection, Uncategorized

WORKPLACE NOISE MAY DAMAGE YOUR HEART

It is a proven fact that persons who work in loud places for long periods of time can suffer loss of hearing, but researchers are now saying that they may also risk developing heart disease.  Can you imagine spending eight or ten hours per day working in an atmosphere where you have to yell at each other to be heard?  More than twenty million Americans work in noisy industrial settings. 

A new finding from animal research also shows evidence that too much noise can be bad for the heart; however, some scientists suggest that the changes may be no more than part of the body’s general response to stress.  Research over the past twenty years suggests that noise exposure contributes to high blood pressure, which has been apparent in studies.  It makes sense that the excessive noise can be as stressful to the body as extreme physical exercise or high-anxiety. Noise increases the body’s level of adrenaline and cortisol, (stress hormones), meaning that your heart could be affected.  Whether at the factory or on a construction site, noise at work is a known health hazard, with studies showing it increases hearing loss, sleep problems and psychological stress, but what about the heart? 

Currently, researchers have analyzed data on more than 6,0000 working adults, age 20 and older, to see if those working in a loud environment for at least three months have a higher risk of heart disease and related problems.  Data was taken from a large ongoing study called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included interviews of participants about their health and lifestyle, as well as work situation.  They were given medical exams, as well.  The findings were striking – after taking into account several factors that are known to increase the risk of heart problems, (age, smoking, and overweight), researchers discovered that workers in loud environments were twice as likely to have heart disease compared with those in quieter settings.  They were almost three times as likely to have chest pain (angina).  The link was particularly strong for people under 50, who were between three and four times more likely to have angina or heart disease.  These workers’ “bad” cholesterol levels were not particularly high, nor were their overall blood pressure readings.  However, they were twice as likely to have high diastolic blood pressure (the lower number on a blood pressure reading).  Raised diastolic pressure has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease. 

Workplace noise is an occupational hazard that managers and employers should be concerned about.  It should be discussed by workers with their managers for prompt corrective measures, not only because it could possibly lead to heart disease, but more importantly, it can cause hearing impairment.  There are not too many options to reduce noise hazards in the industrial setting.  The most straightforward is wearing of earplugs, which can lower noise intensity by 20-30 decibels.  Finding the connection between industrial noise and heart disease is perplexing; some researchers think that noise is the stressor, so maybe that is where it all starts.  More research is being done on this important subject, but in the meantime, this study provides extra incentive to take precautions, such as wearing earplugs or safety earmuffs, to minimize noise exposure.