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Workers who use extension ladders risk permanent injury or death from falls and electrocutions. These hazards can be eliminated or substantially reduced by following good safety practices. This fact sheet examines some of the hazards workers may encounter while working on extension ladders and explains what employers and workers can do to reduce injuries. OSHA’s requirements for extension ladders are in Subpart X—Stairways and Ladders of OSHA’s Construction standards.
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Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Effects of Alcohol - Tool Box Safety Talks
This document provides general information about a safety and health
topic and is only intended for use in facilitating discussions with
employees in safety meetings. It does not address all hazards, OSHA or
local requirements related to the topic or accompanying photograph.
Effects of Alcohol: The purpose of this toolbox talk is to provide some basic information and to increase the level of awareness to focus on this as a potential safety issue on the job. This will primarily address issues of “the morning after” affect.
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL:
The above information briefly summarizes some of the some of the effects of a person that is hung over. Direct effects of alcohol vary with the individuals. In general, a person will excrete approximately one alcohol drink per hour.
Consider the following:
An employee is out until 1:00 a.m. and has consumed 12 or more beers. They show up to work at 7:00 a.m. This employee is likely to have at least six alcohol drinks in his system at the time of starting the work. At this rate, the employee will start work intoxicated, eventually drift into a hangover and will probably be working in a very dangerous state during most of the workday.
ISSUES OF A HANGOVER
All employees should be aware of the condition their co-workers report to work in. Specifically, employees that start work and are hung over from use of alcohol or drugs from the night before should be watched very closely. The following are some points to consider:
• A person with a hangover may have lower levels of alcohol in their system and may be “legally sober”.
• Any levels of alcohol in the system can affect the central nervous system, which will affect
JUDGMENT and MOTOR SKILLS. (Judgment and Motor Skills are critical components of working safely on a construction site.
HANGOVER EFFECTS
Employees that are hung over are impaired from low sugar levels, dehydration and may still be legally intoxicated.
Symptoms / Effects:
• Impaired judgment
• Decreased motor skills
• Potential for dizzy spells, etc.
Employees no longer under the influence of alcohol but still feeling hung over still have an effect:
Symptoms / Effects:
• Impaired judgment
• Decreased motor skills
• Dizziness
• Increased potential to lose consciousness
Bottom Line:
Employees that come to work with a hangover may become injured or injure others and should be asked to stop work and possibly sent home. Keep a close eye on your co-workers.
Production is important, but employees that are under the effect of alcohol or hangovers are a serious safety issue that may wind up a tragedy.
This information provided by: Assurance Agency
Effects of Alcohol: The purpose of this toolbox talk is to provide some basic information and to increase the level of awareness to focus on this as a potential safety issue on the job. This will primarily address issues of “the morning after” affect.
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL:
The above information briefly summarizes some of the some of the effects of a person that is hung over. Direct effects of alcohol vary with the individuals. In general, a person will excrete approximately one alcohol drink per hour.
Consider the following:
An employee is out until 1:00 a.m. and has consumed 12 or more beers. They show up to work at 7:00 a.m. This employee is likely to have at least six alcohol drinks in his system at the time of starting the work. At this rate, the employee will start work intoxicated, eventually drift into a hangover and will probably be working in a very dangerous state during most of the workday.
ISSUES OF A HANGOVER
All employees should be aware of the condition their co-workers report to work in. Specifically, employees that start work and are hung over from use of alcohol or drugs from the night before should be watched very closely. The following are some points to consider:
• A person with a hangover may have lower levels of alcohol in their system and may be “legally sober”.
• Any levels of alcohol in the system can affect the central nervous system, which will affect
JUDGMENT and MOTOR SKILLS. (Judgment and Motor Skills are critical components of working safely on a construction site.
HANGOVER EFFECTS
Employees that are hung over are impaired from low sugar levels, dehydration and may still be legally intoxicated.
Symptoms / Effects:
• Impaired judgment
• Decreased motor skills
• Potential for dizzy spells, etc.
Employees no longer under the influence of alcohol but still feeling hung over still have an effect:
Symptoms / Effects:
• Impaired judgment
• Decreased motor skills
• Dizziness
• Increased potential to lose consciousness
Bottom Line:
Employees that come to work with a hangover may become injured or injure others and should be asked to stop work and possibly sent home. Keep a close eye on your co-workers.
Production is important, but employees that are under the effect of alcohol or hangovers are a serious safety issue that may wind up a tragedy.
This information provided by: Assurance Agency
Monday, April 14, 2014
First Aid - Some do's and don'ts
Download the full article
When attempting to aid an accident victim, an untrained person may do more harm than good.
Even some of the first aid training you have had in the past may no longer be the best approach. If you have not had first aid training within the past year, limit your assistance to what is immediately necessary to save life and limb and remember these “don’ts.”
1. Do not treat any injury involving blood or body fluids without first putting on latex gloves.
2. Do not attempt to move a person with injuries to the back, neck legs or head. Protect them where they lie and especially do not try to get them to stand. Serious aggravation of broken bones, spinal cord injuries or internal bleeding may result.
3. Do not attempt to straighten a twisted limb. Serious damage to blood vessels, nerves or skin may result.
4. Do not use tourniquets; direct pressure with a clean bandage will control bleeding.
5. Do not apply ointments or powders to cuts, scrapes or burns. Use only the clean, dry dressings supplied in the first aid kit.
6. Do not attempt to rub or wipe a particle from a person’s eye. Often repeated blinking will do the trick. Do take advantage of eye wash stations or eye wash solution in the first aid kit.
7. Do not raid the first aid kit to replace home supplies. Do notify your supervisor when items are used or missing.
From Assurance Agency
When attempting to aid an accident victim, an untrained person may do more harm than good.
Even some of the first aid training you have had in the past may no longer be the best approach. If you have not had first aid training within the past year, limit your assistance to what is immediately necessary to save life and limb and remember these “don’ts.”
1. Do not treat any injury involving blood or body fluids without first putting on latex gloves.
2. Do not attempt to move a person with injuries to the back, neck legs or head. Protect them where they lie and especially do not try to get them to stand. Serious aggravation of broken bones, spinal cord injuries or internal bleeding may result.
3. Do not attempt to straighten a twisted limb. Serious damage to blood vessels, nerves or skin may result.
4. Do not use tourniquets; direct pressure with a clean bandage will control bleeding.
5. Do not apply ointments or powders to cuts, scrapes or burns. Use only the clean, dry dressings supplied in the first aid kit.
6. Do not attempt to rub or wipe a particle from a person’s eye. Often repeated blinking will do the trick. Do take advantage of eye wash stations or eye wash solution in the first aid kit.
7. Do not raid the first aid kit to replace home supplies. Do notify your supervisor when items are used or missing.
From Assurance Agency
Monday, April 7, 2014
Ergonomics
Download the full article.
WORKPLACE ORGANIZATION
The way you organize the elements of your workplace to fit your individual needs is probably the most important consideration in working comfortably. You can save time and effort throughout the work day by taking a few minutes to think about the best position for your equipment and the most effective use of your space.
Make sure that you:
• Have sufficient desk area which allows you to position your keyboard, mouse, display, document holder and other items (such as a telephone) in the way that works best for you.
• Organize your desk to reflect the way you use work materials and equipment. Place the things that you use most regularly, such as a mouse or telephone, within the easiest reach.
• Vary your tasks and take periodic breaks. This helps to reduce the possibility of discomfort or fatigue.
EARLY DETECTION
The most painful cases of CTS are those that have gone undetected or untreated over a long time. CTS can be caught easily in its early stages, however, and much of the pain and all of the disability avoided.
Early symptoms include a tingling in the fingers, often beginning several hours after work activity has stopped. Because of this delay in the appearance of symptoms, many CTS sufferers don't make the connection between their work activities and the pain they feel until it's too late. The tingling can lead, over time, to stiffness and numbness in the fingers and hand, and then to severe wrist and hand pain.
For many individuals the early symptoms of CTS go unnoticed. Employers and co-workers can help one another identify the onset of CTS by watching for and pointing out any unconscious shaking of the hands, rubbing of the wrists, or unusual postures or hand positions at the keyboard.
At the first sign of CTS, you should be examined by a doctor who specializes in hand and wrist disorders. The doctor can perform a number of simple tests to detect CTS, and can prescribe specific steps for avoiding the problem.
Mom Always Said ...
Why does garden-variety ergonomic wisdom tell us to "sit up straight," with hips and knees at perfect 90-degree angles? Good question. Probably the same reason most people only exercise the muscles they can see in the mirror: It looks good. Sitting up straight, even with a good lumbar support, is very tiring. That is why you will not see anyone doing it for more than a few minutes at a time. They will gradually slump forward, chin poking out over the desk and keyboard, pulling on all the usual anti-gravity muscles in the back, neck and shoulder ... and wonder what brought on those nagging aches by the end of the day (hmm, must be "stress").
From: Assurance Agency
WORKPLACE ORGANIZATION
The way you organize the elements of your workplace to fit your individual needs is probably the most important consideration in working comfortably. You can save time and effort throughout the work day by taking a few minutes to think about the best position for your equipment and the most effective use of your space.
Make sure that you:
• Have sufficient desk area which allows you to position your keyboard, mouse, display, document holder and other items (such as a telephone) in the way that works best for you.
• Organize your desk to reflect the way you use work materials and equipment. Place the things that you use most regularly, such as a mouse or telephone, within the easiest reach.
• Vary your tasks and take periodic breaks. This helps to reduce the possibility of discomfort or fatigue.
EARLY DETECTION
The most painful cases of CTS are those that have gone undetected or untreated over a long time. CTS can be caught easily in its early stages, however, and much of the pain and all of the disability avoided.
Early symptoms include a tingling in the fingers, often beginning several hours after work activity has stopped. Because of this delay in the appearance of symptoms, many CTS sufferers don't make the connection between their work activities and the pain they feel until it's too late. The tingling can lead, over time, to stiffness and numbness in the fingers and hand, and then to severe wrist and hand pain.
For many individuals the early symptoms of CTS go unnoticed. Employers and co-workers can help one another identify the onset of CTS by watching for and pointing out any unconscious shaking of the hands, rubbing of the wrists, or unusual postures or hand positions at the keyboard.
At the first sign of CTS, you should be examined by a doctor who specializes in hand and wrist disorders. The doctor can perform a number of simple tests to detect CTS, and can prescribe specific steps for avoiding the problem.
Mom Always Said ...
Why does garden-variety ergonomic wisdom tell us to "sit up straight," with hips and knees at perfect 90-degree angles? Good question. Probably the same reason most people only exercise the muscles they can see in the mirror: It looks good. Sitting up straight, even with a good lumbar support, is very tiring. That is why you will not see anyone doing it for more than a few minutes at a time. They will gradually slump forward, chin poking out over the desk and keyboard, pulling on all the usual anti-gravity muscles in the back, neck and shoulder ... and wonder what brought on those nagging aches by the end of the day (hmm, must be "stress").
From: Assurance Agency
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
First Aid- Some Do’s and Don’ts
When attempting to aid an accident victim, an untrained person may do more harm than good. Even some of the first aid training you have had in the past may no longer be the best approach. If you have not had first aid training within the past year, limit your assistance to what is immediately necessary to save life and limb and remember these “don’ts.”
1. Do not treat any injury involving blood or body fluids without first putting on latex gloves.
2. Do not attempt to move a person with injuries to the back, neck legs or head. Protect them where they lie and especially do not try to get them to stand. Serious aggravation of broken bones, spinal cord injuries or internal bleeding may result.
3. Do not attempt to straighten a twisted limb. Serious damage to blood vessels, nerves or skin may result.
4. Do not use tourniquets; direct pressure with a clean bandage will control bleeding.
5. Do not apply ointments or powders to cuts, scrapes or burns. Use only the clean, dry dressings supplied in the first aid kit.
6. Do not attempt to rub or wipe a particle from a person’s eye. Often repeated blinking will do the trick. Do take advantage of eye wash stations or eye wash solution in the first aid kit.
7. Do not raid the first aid kit to replace home supplies. Do notify your supervisor when items are used or missing.
Questions you can use to get them talking:
What to do in an emergency?
• Do we have any trained first aid workers on the job?
• Do you know where to report injuries and where first aid supplies are?
• Do you know where and how to call for emergency doctor and ambulance service?
From Assurance Agency
###
1. Do not treat any injury involving blood or body fluids without first putting on latex gloves.
2. Do not attempt to move a person with injuries to the back, neck legs or head. Protect them where they lie and especially do not try to get them to stand. Serious aggravation of broken bones, spinal cord injuries or internal bleeding may result.
3. Do not attempt to straighten a twisted limb. Serious damage to blood vessels, nerves or skin may result.
4. Do not use tourniquets; direct pressure with a clean bandage will control bleeding.
5. Do not apply ointments or powders to cuts, scrapes or burns. Use only the clean, dry dressings supplied in the first aid kit.
6. Do not attempt to rub or wipe a particle from a person’s eye. Often repeated blinking will do the trick. Do take advantage of eye wash stations or eye wash solution in the first aid kit.
7. Do not raid the first aid kit to replace home supplies. Do notify your supervisor when items are used or missing.
Questions you can use to get them talking:
What to do in an emergency?
• Do we have any trained first aid workers on the job?
• Do you know where to report injuries and where first aid supplies are?
• Do you know where and how to call for emergency doctor and ambulance service?
From Assurance Agency
###
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