These MSHA-required records must be maintained by mine operators. Just a reminder, when your friendly MSHA inspector stops by...this is what he or she will be looking for...
-Comprehensive Part 46 Training Program (update annually)
-Part 62 - Hearing Conservation Program and annual training records (must cover all 7 points listed in 62.180)
-Written HazCom (Hazardous Communication) Program
-Miners’ Representative (and contact information) - 40.3 Post it!
-MSHA 2000-7 Legal ID (Update as needed) – 41.12
-MSHA 7000-1: Accident Reports (MSHA Reportables – each one must be investigated)
-MSHA 7000-2: Quarterly Employment Reports
-Supervisors’ Daily Workplace Exams - 56.18002
-Mobile Equipment Inspections - 56.14100
-Firefighting equipment inspection records - 56.4201 (If contract company is used they need written documentation of inspections)
-Continuity and resistance of electrical equipment grounding test records (56.12028) (Due 12 months following last inspection)
-Pressure Vessel Inspections - 56.13012 (Varies by State; MSHA enforces the State regulations)
-Current First aid Records – Documentation for currently trained individuals capable of providing first-aid assistance on all shifts when hazardous work is being conducted - 56.18010
-Independent Contractor Register - List of Contractors working on site with contact information (and MSHA ID if they have one) - 45.4
-If applicable, Respirator Protection Program and respirator fit-testing records requested during MSHA health sampling activities of employees (determines penalty if there is an over-exposure to surveyed contaminants).
MSHA EFS may be able to help you get your plan into compliance. Small mines personnel can help the small mines group (companies with less than 5 employees) and in special circumstances they may be able to assist contractors with their plans if the mine operator requests such assistance in writing.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tidbits – 12/26/07
Go ahead…saddle up
“Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway.”
--John Wayne
Ladder Safety Tips
Ladder use leads to approximately 25,000 on-the-job injuries every year and accounts for 25% of all falls in the home (where 1,200 people suffer serious injury every year). Remind workers to inspect ladders before using them (at home or on the job), regardless of which ladder they choose for the task they perform. Tell workers to check:
-The shoes – all of them! Workers should avoid leather soles because they're often slippery and unsafe. And try to keep their shoes free of mud, grease, oil and snow. If working with electrical equipment, make sure there are no nails or screws lodged in the soles of their shoes. Then check the ladders' shoes. Ladders should have non-skid safety feet and be in satisfactory condition. Warn workers not to use a ladder whose safety feet are loose or worn.
-Inspect the whole ladder, including the side rails for flaws and cracks, and the rungs for looseness.
-Check for sharp edges on side rails or rungs. These can usually be filed down. But if extensive repairs are required, they should always be done by a qualified service person.
-Check pulleys and extension locks on extension ladders to ensure that they're functional and in proper working order. Ropes should be replaced if they show signs of aging or wear.
-Watch for dents, rust or corrosion. Some chemical compounds such as potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and ammonia are known to corrode and weaken aluminum over time.
-Anything loose? Look for loose rivets and fastenings and other signs that the ladder needs replacing.
-Don't skimp! Buy a quality ladder to start with and maintain it!
For what its worth
"If you refuse to be made straight when you are green, you will not be made straight when you are dry." --African Proverb
Say What?
-30% of all fatal crashes are a result of a driver traveling at an excessive speed and account for an average 1,000 American deaths, every month.
-26% of drivers, in a recent poll, said they run red lights "daily." Use caution at those intersections!
-(At least) 6% of all US car accidents are directly attributed to drivers talking on their cell phone, according to a recent Harvard study.
-11 miles the approximate distance you would have to run to burn off the calories from a fast food meal of a cheeseburger, medium fries, and medium soda. Source: Pryor Creek Recreation Center.
-20.9% of the U.S. adult population (persons 18 and older) consider themselves smokers. In 1965 the number was more 42.4%.
Quote of the week “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” --Chinese Proverb
“Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway.”
--John Wayne
Ladder Safety Tips
Ladder use leads to approximately 25,000 on-the-job injuries every year and accounts for 25% of all falls in the home (where 1,200 people suffer serious injury every year). Remind workers to inspect ladders before using them (at home or on the job), regardless of which ladder they choose for the task they perform. Tell workers to check:
-The shoes – all of them! Workers should avoid leather soles because they're often slippery and unsafe. And try to keep their shoes free of mud, grease, oil and snow. If working with electrical equipment, make sure there are no nails or screws lodged in the soles of their shoes. Then check the ladders' shoes. Ladders should have non-skid safety feet and be in satisfactory condition. Warn workers not to use a ladder whose safety feet are loose or worn.
-Inspect the whole ladder, including the side rails for flaws and cracks, and the rungs for looseness.
-Check for sharp edges on side rails or rungs. These can usually be filed down. But if extensive repairs are required, they should always be done by a qualified service person.
-Check pulleys and extension locks on extension ladders to ensure that they're functional and in proper working order. Ropes should be replaced if they show signs of aging or wear.
-Watch for dents, rust or corrosion. Some chemical compounds such as potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and ammonia are known to corrode and weaken aluminum over time.
-Anything loose? Look for loose rivets and fastenings and other signs that the ladder needs replacing.
-Don't skimp! Buy a quality ladder to start with and maintain it!
For what its worth
"If you refuse to be made straight when you are green, you will not be made straight when you are dry." --African Proverb
Say What?
-30% of all fatal crashes are a result of a driver traveling at an excessive speed and account for an average 1,000 American deaths, every month.
-26% of drivers, in a recent poll, said they run red lights "daily." Use caution at those intersections!
-(At least) 6% of all US car accidents are directly attributed to drivers talking on their cell phone, according to a recent Harvard study.
-11 miles the approximate distance you would have to run to burn off the calories from a fast food meal of a cheeseburger, medium fries, and medium soda. Source: Pryor Creek Recreation Center.
-20.9% of the U.S. adult population (persons 18 and older) consider themselves smokers. In 1965 the number was more 42.4%.
Quote of the week “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” --Chinese Proverb
Tip 52 - Raise the bar in '08
If you always do what you've always done...you'll always get what you've always got!
Ghandi says, "you must be the change you wish to see in the world."
The mining fatality count y-t-d is 63 (31 Metal/Non-metal and 32 Coal). Let's hope those numbers don't climb any higher. I find these numbers disturbing and you should too! What happened, why have we plateaued? We have made little or no progress over the last five years.
Let's Review
1907 was the worst year ever for coal mining in the U.S. with 3,242 deaths. That year, America's worst mine explosion ever killed 358 people near Monongah, WV. Total deaths in all types of U.S. mining, which had averaged 1,500 or more during earlier decades, decreased on average during the 1990's.
The metal and nonmetal mining death rate per 200,000 employee hours averaged .02 for the 1995-99 period, compared to average yearly rates about seven times higher in the 1930s and three times as high in the 1950s. The year 2004 was the safest year in modern mining history, with a total of 55 coal and metal and nonmetal mining fatalities. There were 57 mining fatalities in 2005.
There was an all-time low 22 coal mining fatalities in 2005 and the all-time low for metal/nonmetal mining was 26 in 2003. There were 35 metal/nonmetal mining fatalities in 2005. In 2006 there were 26 fatalities in metal/non-metal and 47 more in coal.
Its time to 'Raise the bar!' If we truly want things to change we have to do more than hope, and it is time we raise the bar. We can all do a better job when it comes to safety and it starts with each of us. Supervisors, managers and lead men must 'walk the walk' we have to lead by example or nothing will ever change. Union officers and safety committee members can also make a huge impact. These individuals must 'help carry the safety torch!' Others are watching and waiting for your leadership. Every employee on site should be focused on getting their job done without getting themselves hurt. We must also focus on our co-workers and keeping them safe (anybody can have an off day -- don't you want the back up?).
Production IS Important! Yes, production is important -- without it we would all be looking for work, but at what cost? We should all be focused on SAFE PRODUCTION! Cutting corners is not an option just because a piece of equipment is down...if fact that is when we should really be focused on safety. Serious injuries most often occur during non-routine tasks. The four critical states are Fatigue, Frustration, Rushing and Complaceny all of which can be a factor during an unplanned outage. Let's remember that...Safety Always!!! Because nobody should have to die earning a living.
Let's make the committment to reduce accidents, injuries, and citations in the New Year! WE can do better...it really is up to you!
Ghandi says, "you must be the change you wish to see in the world."
The mining fatality count y-t-d is 63 (31 Metal/Non-metal and 32 Coal). Let's hope those numbers don't climb any higher. I find these numbers disturbing and you should too! What happened, why have we plateaued? We have made little or no progress over the last five years.
Let's Review
1907 was the worst year ever for coal mining in the U.S. with 3,242 deaths. That year, America's worst mine explosion ever killed 358 people near Monongah, WV. Total deaths in all types of U.S. mining, which had averaged 1,500 or more during earlier decades, decreased on average during the 1990's.
The metal and nonmetal mining death rate per 200,000 employee hours averaged .02 for the 1995-99 period, compared to average yearly rates about seven times higher in the 1930s and three times as high in the 1950s. The year 2004 was the safest year in modern mining history, with a total of 55 coal and metal and nonmetal mining fatalities. There were 57 mining fatalities in 2005.
There was an all-time low 22 coal mining fatalities in 2005 and the all-time low for metal/nonmetal mining was 26 in 2003. There were 35 metal/nonmetal mining fatalities in 2005. In 2006 there were 26 fatalities in metal/non-metal and 47 more in coal.
Its time to 'Raise the bar!' If we truly want things to change we have to do more than hope, and it is time we raise the bar. We can all do a better job when it comes to safety and it starts with each of us. Supervisors, managers and lead men must 'walk the walk' we have to lead by example or nothing will ever change. Union officers and safety committee members can also make a huge impact. These individuals must 'help carry the safety torch!' Others are watching and waiting for your leadership. Every employee on site should be focused on getting their job done without getting themselves hurt. We must also focus on our co-workers and keeping them safe (anybody can have an off day -- don't you want the back up?).
Production IS Important! Yes, production is important -- without it we would all be looking for work, but at what cost? We should all be focused on SAFE PRODUCTION! Cutting corners is not an option just because a piece of equipment is down...if fact that is when we should really be focused on safety. Serious injuries most often occur during non-routine tasks. The four critical states are Fatigue, Frustration, Rushing and Complaceny all of which can be a factor during an unplanned outage. Let's remember that...Safety Always!!! Because nobody should have to die earning a living.
Let's make the committment to reduce accidents, injuries, and citations in the New Year! WE can do better...it really is up to you!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Tidbits – 12/17/07
Protect Yourself
The threat of Identify theft is growing...what can you do to protect yourself? Here are a few tips from Readers Digest...
-Have all mail sent to a P.O. box instead of your home (especially if you have a rural address and an empty home during the day)
-Add spyware protection to your home computer and keep it current. Free software is available from a variety of sources (e.g. http://lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware).
-Buy a shredder and shred all documents (especially credit card billing statements, etc.) before throwing the information out.
-Opt out of unsolicited credit card offers by calling 888-567-8688.
-Do not open email from people you do not know.
-Use different passwords for your online accounts and don't make them too easy to figure out.
The threat of Identify theft is growing...what can you do to protect yourself? Here are a few tips from Readers Digest...
-Have all mail sent to a P.O. box instead of your home (especially if you have a rural address and an empty home during the day)
-Add spyware protection to your home computer and keep it current. Free software is available from a variety of sources (e.g. http://lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware).
-Buy a shredder and shred all documents (especially credit card billing statements, etc.) before throwing the information out.
-Opt out of unsolicited credit card offers by calling 888-567-8688.
-Do not open email from people you do not know.
-Use different passwords for your online accounts and don't make them too easy to figure out.
Words of Wisdom
"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." Carl Sandburg
"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." Carl Sandburg
Beware of the Bully
In a recent survey more than half of those surveyed said they have suffered or witnessed bullying on the job.
-Most bullies are bosses (72%)
-Most targets are non-supervisory workers (55%)
-In 80% of the cases the bullying is legal.
-40% of those bullied found work elsewhere meaning that companies can end up losing many talented workers due to the inappropriate actions of a manager.
In a recent survey more than half of those surveyed said they have suffered or witnessed bullying on the job.
-Most bullies are bosses (72%)
-Most targets are non-supervisory workers (55%)
-In 80% of the cases the bullying is legal.
-40% of those bullied found work elsewhere meaning that companies can end up losing many talented workers due to the inappropriate actions of a manager.
When you make a stand, don’t stand still too long!
"Stoop and you'll be stepped on; stand tall and you'll be shot at."
Traveling Tidbits
-Traveling for the holidays – Be Careful! Most fatal accidents occur on Saturdays between 12 and 3am. Pull over when you start feeling drowsy and live.
-Motor vehicle accidents are the largest single cause of accidental deaths both on and off the job. Approximately 42,821 people die in crashes annually.
-Daytime running lights are a low-cost method to reduce crashes.
-Keep your eyes on the road and if you are driving somewhere for the holidays remember to take along an emergency kit.
-Remember to wear your hat when it’s cold out - you lose about half to three-fourths of your body heat through your head. So pack some winter caps (extra gloves, jackets, etc.) in the trunk before hitting the road.
-Motor vehicle accidents are the largest single cause of accidental deaths both on and off the job. Approximately 42,821 people die in crashes annually.
-Daytime running lights are a low-cost method to reduce crashes.
-Keep your eyes on the road and if you are driving somewhere for the holidays remember to take along an emergency kit.
-Remember to wear your hat when it’s cold out - you lose about half to three-fourths of your body heat through your head. So pack some winter caps (extra gloves, jackets, etc.) in the trunk before hitting the road.
Quote of the Week: "You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it." --Albert Schweitzer
Week 51 - Tips to Live by
(I believe this came from an old Take Two Program -- I made a few modifications. )
Set your Own Standards. Don’t be influenced by others around you who are negative. If you fail to wear safety glasses because others don’t, remember the blindness you may suffer will be yours alone to live with.
Operate Equipment only if Qualified. Your supervisor may not realize you have never done the job before. Let him know if this is the case, so the necessary training can be provided.
Respect Machinery. If you put something in a machine’s way, it will crush it, pinch it or cut it. Make sure all guards are in place and remember to de-energize the power first before placing your hands in a point of operation.
Use your own Initiative for Safety Protection. You are in the best position to see problems when they arise. Ask for the personal protective equipment or additional guidance you need.
Ask Questions. If you are uncertain, ask. Do not accept answers that contain, “I think, I assume, I guess”.
Use Care and Caution when Lifting. Most muscle and spinal injuries are from overstraining. Know your limits and do not attempt to exceed them. The few minutes it takes to get help can save you from a serious back injury.
Keep up with the Housekeeping. Disorganized work areas are the breeding grounds for accidents and you are not the only one at risk.
Wear Proper and Sensible Work Clothes. Wear sturdy and appropriate footwear and replace boots/shoes as needed. Avoid loose clothing, dangling jewelry and be sure that long hair is tied back and cannot become entangled in any machinery.
Use Good Hygiene Practices. Avoid touching eyes, face and mouth with gloves or hands that are dirty. Wash up before breaks and at the end of your shift to reduce the potential for exposure.
Be a Positive Part of Safety Efforts. Willingly accept and follow safety rules. Then encourage others to do so. Your attitude can play a major role in the prevention of accidents and injuries.
Life is short enough...why take needless chances? Work safely today to see tomorrow!
Set your Own Standards. Don’t be influenced by others around you who are negative. If you fail to wear safety glasses because others don’t, remember the blindness you may suffer will be yours alone to live with.
Operate Equipment only if Qualified. Your supervisor may not realize you have never done the job before. Let him know if this is the case, so the necessary training can be provided.
Respect Machinery. If you put something in a machine’s way, it will crush it, pinch it or cut it. Make sure all guards are in place and remember to de-energize the power first before placing your hands in a point of operation.
Use your own Initiative for Safety Protection. You are in the best position to see problems when they arise. Ask for the personal protective equipment or additional guidance you need.
Ask Questions. If you are uncertain, ask. Do not accept answers that contain, “I think, I assume, I guess”.
Use Care and Caution when Lifting. Most muscle and spinal injuries are from overstraining. Know your limits and do not attempt to exceed them. The few minutes it takes to get help can save you from a serious back injury.
Keep up with the Housekeeping. Disorganized work areas are the breeding grounds for accidents and you are not the only one at risk.
Wear Proper and Sensible Work Clothes. Wear sturdy and appropriate footwear and replace boots/shoes as needed. Avoid loose clothing, dangling jewelry and be sure that long hair is tied back and cannot become entangled in any machinery.
Use Good Hygiene Practices. Avoid touching eyes, face and mouth with gloves or hands that are dirty. Wash up before breaks and at the end of your shift to reduce the potential for exposure.
Be a Positive Part of Safety Efforts. Willingly accept and follow safety rules. Then encourage others to do so. Your attitude can play a major role in the prevention of accidents and injuries.
Life is short enough...why take needless chances? Work safely today to see tomorrow!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Tidbits 12/10/07
Holiday Parties, Alcohol and Eating
Drink Responsibly at holiday gatherings. Traffic accidents and deaths increase dramatically during the holiday season because of alcohol consumption. Remember the one-one rule -- one drink per hour. It takes your body about one hour to rid itself of each half ounce of alcohol. Overeating tends to make people drowsy…be careful about getting on the road after a big holiday meal.
It’s up to you
“Whether you find satisfaction in life depends not on your tale of years, but on your will.” –Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
FYI
-Check those ladders at home and on the job. The rate of ladder-related injuries has been on the rise for the last decade. Follow proper safety procedures.
-Hearing loss can occur quickly if you are exposed to noise levels above 100 dB…many mower, snow blowers and power tools fall into this category.
-According to a recent study, Thursday is the most dangerous day of the work week with over 20% of workplace injuries occurring on Thursdays.
The number of workplace fatalities is falling but the number of non-English speaking Hispanics killed on the job is increasing. Source: Safety Alert for Supervisors
Listen to this!
“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.” --Doug Larson
Hearing Loss…A growing concern
More and more people are experiencing trouble with their hearing. According to a recent survey, more than half of U.S. baby boomers have already experienced hearing loss. Many with a loss refuse to deal with the problem and this can affect workplace performance. Almost 60% of those with a severe loss are not wearing hearing aids and many more have not even had a hearing test. The future doesn’t look any brighter as younger generations have higher rates of exposure to excessive noise thanks to louder car stereos, I-pods, MP3 players, etc. Talk to your children today about the dangers of using these devices with the sound cranked up. Source: Safety Alert for Supervisors.
Bet You Didn’t Know
-More than 90% of flowers have an unpleasant scent or no scent at all.
-The largest snowflake on record measured eight inches in width.
-About 21 pounds of milk are required to make one pound of butter.
-About 50% of the world's fresh water supply is found in the Great Lakes.
-Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them use to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired."
Quote of the Week: “To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” --Abraham Lincoln
Drink Responsibly at holiday gatherings. Traffic accidents and deaths increase dramatically during the holiday season because of alcohol consumption. Remember the one-one rule -- one drink per hour. It takes your body about one hour to rid itself of each half ounce of alcohol. Overeating tends to make people drowsy…be careful about getting on the road after a big holiday meal.
It’s up to you
“Whether you find satisfaction in life depends not on your tale of years, but on your will.” –Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
FYI
-Check those ladders at home and on the job. The rate of ladder-related injuries has been on the rise for the last decade. Follow proper safety procedures.
-Hearing loss can occur quickly if you are exposed to noise levels above 100 dB…many mower, snow blowers and power tools fall into this category.
-According to a recent study, Thursday is the most dangerous day of the work week with over 20% of workplace injuries occurring on Thursdays.
The number of workplace fatalities is falling but the number of non-English speaking Hispanics killed on the job is increasing. Source: Safety Alert for Supervisors
Listen to this!
“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.” --Doug Larson
Hearing Loss…A growing concern
More and more people are experiencing trouble with their hearing. According to a recent survey, more than half of U.S. baby boomers have already experienced hearing loss. Many with a loss refuse to deal with the problem and this can affect workplace performance. Almost 60% of those with a severe loss are not wearing hearing aids and many more have not even had a hearing test. The future doesn’t look any brighter as younger generations have higher rates of exposure to excessive noise thanks to louder car stereos, I-pods, MP3 players, etc. Talk to your children today about the dangers of using these devices with the sound cranked up. Source: Safety Alert for Supervisors.
Bet You Didn’t Know
-More than 90% of flowers have an unpleasant scent or no scent at all.
-The largest snowflake on record measured eight inches in width.
-About 21 pounds of milk are required to make one pound of butter.
-About 50% of the world's fresh water supply is found in the Great Lakes.
-Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them use to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired."
Quote of the Week: “To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” --Abraham Lincoln
Tip 50 – Thank a Vet...
...and Exercise your Freedom!
Friday was December 7th – Pearl Harbor Day! The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor is what got the U.S. into World War II. Over 2,400 Americans died that day (see photos below). Many more young men and women have died to give us our freedom. So the next time you pass an elderly Vet with his Unit emblazoned on his cap, or see a soldier in an airport or at the mall, take a minute and say THANKS! Remember these heroes and don’t forget the soldiers that serve today.
You have the Freedom to Focus – Keep Eyes and Mind on Task! Distractions are a major cause of injury, be cautious when you are distracted and you could prevent an injury.
You have the Right to Proper PPE - Check your Safety Equipment (each time you use it). It only takes a few minutes to see whether it is good to use or needs replacement. You don’t want to find out too late that it won’t perform as expected!
You have the Right to Think Safety – Remember: Machines do not have Brains! You have to use your own and sometimes you have to think for your co-workers too, their mind(s) may not be on task.
You have the Right to a Safe Workplace and the Freedom to Conduct Inspections! Be sure to conduct quality work area and equipment inspections and report deficiencies immediately. If you can eliminate the hazard then do so, if not – be sure to warn others!
You have the Freedom to Communicate – Please Do So! Miscommunications can lead to mishaps and injury. Talk to your co-workers and others in your work area. Keep others up to date when plans change.
You have the Freedom to Work Safely – Avoid Short cuts! Nobody should have to die or suffer injury while trying to make a living. Work safely and watch out for your co-workers too – you are your brother’s keeper!
"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it. Plan more than you can do, then do it." Anonymous
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." Anne Bradstreet
"The way to procure insults is to submit to them: a man meets with no more respect than he exacts." William Hazlitt
Get a handle on Safety...It's your grip on Life!
Friday was December 7th – Pearl Harbor Day! The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor is what got the U.S. into World War II. Over 2,400 Americans died that day (see photos below). Many more young men and women have died to give us our freedom. So the next time you pass an elderly Vet with his Unit emblazoned on his cap, or see a soldier in an airport or at the mall, take a minute and say THANKS! Remember these heroes and don’t forget the soldiers that serve today.
You have the Freedom to Focus – Keep Eyes and Mind on Task! Distractions are a major cause of injury, be cautious when you are distracted and you could prevent an injury.
You have the Right to Proper PPE - Check your Safety Equipment (each time you use it). It only takes a few minutes to see whether it is good to use or needs replacement. You don’t want to find out too late that it won’t perform as expected!
You have the Right to Think Safety – Remember: Machines do not have Brains! You have to use your own and sometimes you have to think for your co-workers too, their mind(s) may not be on task.
You have the Right to a Safe Workplace and the Freedom to Conduct Inspections! Be sure to conduct quality work area and equipment inspections and report deficiencies immediately. If you can eliminate the hazard then do so, if not – be sure to warn others!
You have the Freedom to Communicate – Please Do So! Miscommunications can lead to mishaps and injury. Talk to your co-workers and others in your work area. Keep others up to date when plans change.
You have the Freedom to Work Safely – Avoid Short cuts! Nobody should have to die or suffer injury while trying to make a living. Work safely and watch out for your co-workers too – you are your brother’s keeper!
"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it. Plan more than you can do, then do it." Anonymous
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." Anne Bradstreet
"The way to procure insults is to submit to them: a man meets with no more respect than he exacts." William Hazlitt
Get a handle on Safety...It's your grip on Life!
Professionalism
One of the presentations at this year’s MSHA TRAM was on Professionalism. One must remember the importance of maintaining a professional image no matter what it is we do. For safety professionals this is extremely important. We must be careful not to compromise our reputation and should always lead from the front. Safety professionals are constantly talking the safety talk and it is vital that we ‘walk the walk’. A couple other key pointers are listed below.
Recognize all workers as professionals. Treat everyone you work with as an equal; each employee possesses a skill that they have been hired to perform. Recognizing employees and contractors as the professionals they are will give them cause to treat you the same way.
Respect those with whom you work. Remember to be courteous to both employees and contractors. This will give people a reason to ‘work with you’ and they will be more apt to reply positively than if you disrespect them.
Be kind. Sometimes people forget to use the proper PPE or follow the proper procedure because their mind was not on task. Give them a friendly reminder and make sure they understand the risk.
Don’t intimidate but EDUCATE. You won’t make any points by embarrassing someone. If a mistake is made, or a point not clear explain the WHY. Once people know why they have to do something they are more likely to comply and they will appreciate you taking the time to explain the point to them.
Maintain your focus. Remember everyone is trying to get through the day without an injury. People take chances because they do not see or understand the risk. People are not coming to work to get hurt…they are on our side. But it is up to the safety professional to keep everyone pulling in the same direction. Maintaining a positive attitude and working with people is the best way to achieve our goal.
Safety is the key that unlocks the door of success!
Recognize all workers as professionals. Treat everyone you work with as an equal; each employee possesses a skill that they have been hired to perform. Recognizing employees and contractors as the professionals they are will give them cause to treat you the same way.
Respect those with whom you work. Remember to be courteous to both employees and contractors. This will give people a reason to ‘work with you’ and they will be more apt to reply positively than if you disrespect them.
Be kind. Sometimes people forget to use the proper PPE or follow the proper procedure because their mind was not on task. Give them a friendly reminder and make sure they understand the risk.
Don’t intimidate but EDUCATE. You won’t make any points by embarrassing someone. If a mistake is made, or a point not clear explain the WHY. Once people know why they have to do something they are more likely to comply and they will appreciate you taking the time to explain the point to them.
Maintain your focus. Remember everyone is trying to get through the day without an injury. People take chances because they do not see or understand the risk. People are not coming to work to get hurt…they are on our side. But it is up to the safety professional to keep everyone pulling in the same direction. Maintaining a positive attitude and working with people is the best way to achieve our goal.
Safety is the key that unlocks the door of success!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Tidbits – 12/03/07
Four things to remember to reduce injury (from SafeStart)
-Keep your Eyes on Task
-Keep your Mind on Task
-Keep hands, feet, and other body parts out of the Line of Fire
-Maintain your Balance Traction and Grip by using 3-points of contact.
Make time for the family!
“All children wear the sign ‘I want to be important NOW’, and many of our problems with them arise because nobody reads the sign.” --Dan Pursuit
Arrive Alive – Don’t Drink and Drive
Christmas is coming! Remember to Drink Responsibly at holiday gatherings; if you’re driving, don’t drink at all. Traffic accidents and deaths increase dramatically during the holiday season because of alcohol consumption. Remember the one-one rule -- one drink per hour. Watch out for drivers who may be under the influence, and if you over do it…call a cab.
Did you know…?
-Health care premiums increased 6.9% for companies with 5000 workers or more in 2006. Some smaller companies saw double digit increases.
-Arkansas and Michigan recently joined 19 other states in setting a minimum wage above the federal rate of $5.15. Washington rates number 1 with at $7.63.
-Falls from ladders injure more than 20,000 American workers every year.
-Workplace fires kill 200 people each year and injure more than 5000 people, annually. The cost to businesses is over $2.3 Billion a year.
-The largest snowflake on record measured eight inches in width.
70-80% of all hearing loss within the manufacturing industry is caused by compressed air.
-Yellowstone National Park has about 10,000 geysers; more than the rest of the world combined.
-50% of the world's fresh water supply is found in the Great Lakes.
Life…it’s not suppose to be easy
"It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top." --Arnold Bennett
BIG TV Alert
66% of U.S. households have three or more television sets. Many are positioned haphazardly leading to more than 7,000 children being treated annually after a TV mishap. Place TVs on a sturdy stand, not on a dresser, bookshelf, or stereo speaker. And one more thing, keep and eye on the kids, especially if you’re not used to having children in your home.
Quote of the Week: "Happiness is giving back a little more than you received. Peace is accepting what has been offered with thanks." --Ralph Arbitelle
-Keep your Eyes on Task
-Keep your Mind on Task
-Keep hands, feet, and other body parts out of the Line of Fire
-Maintain your Balance Traction and Grip by using 3-points of contact.
Make time for the family!
“All children wear the sign ‘I want to be important NOW’, and many of our problems with them arise because nobody reads the sign.” --Dan Pursuit
Arrive Alive – Don’t Drink and Drive
Christmas is coming! Remember to Drink Responsibly at holiday gatherings; if you’re driving, don’t drink at all. Traffic accidents and deaths increase dramatically during the holiday season because of alcohol consumption. Remember the one-one rule -- one drink per hour. Watch out for drivers who may be under the influence, and if you over do it…call a cab.
Did you know…?
-Health care premiums increased 6.9% for companies with 5000 workers or more in 2006. Some smaller companies saw double digit increases.
-Arkansas and Michigan recently joined 19 other states in setting a minimum wage above the federal rate of $5.15. Washington rates number 1 with at $7.63.
-Falls from ladders injure more than 20,000 American workers every year.
-Workplace fires kill 200 people each year and injure more than 5000 people, annually. The cost to businesses is over $2.3 Billion a year.
-The largest snowflake on record measured eight inches in width.
70-80% of all hearing loss within the manufacturing industry is caused by compressed air.
-Yellowstone National Park has about 10,000 geysers; more than the rest of the world combined.
-50% of the world's fresh water supply is found in the Great Lakes.
Life…it’s not suppose to be easy
"It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top." --Arnold Bennett
BIG TV Alert
66% of U.S. households have three or more television sets. Many are positioned haphazardly leading to more than 7,000 children being treated annually after a TV mishap. Place TVs on a sturdy stand, not on a dresser, bookshelf, or stereo speaker. And one more thing, keep and eye on the kids, especially if you’re not used to having children in your home.
Quote of the Week: "Happiness is giving back a little more than you received. Peace is accepting what has been offered with thanks." --Ralph Arbitelle
Tip 49 - Gambler – Who me?
Do you ever ‘Play the Lottery?’ Of course you do everyday, right!
Every time you get in you car, cross the street, go to work or the grocery store there is risk involved. Routine tasks like throwing a breaker, driving nails, chopping wood, or putting up Christmas lights can get you hurt especially if your mind and eyes are not on task.
Our choices and our actions can have a huge influence on the risks we face and the eventual outcomes when a chance exposure meets a waiting hazard. The right choices can make all the difference.
Various hobbies can increase the risk factor
Kayaking, skydiving, and other extreme sports involve a lot of risk that can lead to serious injury. Simply taking a motorcycle or four-wheeler for a spin, or stock car racing on Saturday night can also lead to injury. Bicycles and skateboards pose risk for our children as do cars and cell phones.
Many people are ‘tuned out’ now days with MP-3 players and other distractions. Just crossing the street is risky but if you’re jamming to Black Sabbath or Willie Nelson on your iPod or MP-3 player you’re asking for it. Similarly, using power tools or working around the house also poses a certain amount of risk. In fact workers are six times more likely to get hurt at home. And whether on the job or off, the more experienced we become the more chances we are willing to take. Complacency is a key factor in a lot of injuries and the consequences can be fatal. Remember Eyes on Task/Mind on Task.
Daily choices can have a lasting impact
Simply choosing not to Buckle Up can end up being a death sentence. Leaving the confines of the vehicle increases your chance of death by 300%. Choosing not to wear PPE can also have dire consequences. Some say it is a modified version of Russian roulette. You may luck out and avoid injury for years but as time goes by the odds stack up against you. Remember hazards vary; some things (e.g. electricity) can cause harm with one exposure others (e.g. welding fumes) cause serious health problems over time. Be smart reduce your risk, look for ways to reduce the hazard(s) and when you have no other options Wear the proper PPE. Proper inspection, maintenance, and storage of PPE is vital to maximize your protection.
Use the proper tool for the job
Falls are the No. 1 killer in the home! So buy a good industrial ladder (avoid the inexpensive aluminum ones you can get at Wal-Mart – they have a 200 lb. limit). It will cost you a little extra, but so will being laid up at home for 6 weeks when that cheap ladder fails.
Take Workplace Exams and Equipment Inspections seriously
Required inspections are tools to identify hazards and reduce risk so don’t pencil whip them. Conduct thorough exams of your work area and the equipment you operate to uncover hazards before an exposure occurs. Report issues as you find them and get deficiencies corrected in a timely fashion.
Safety...it's your job too!
Every time you get in you car, cross the street, go to work or the grocery store there is risk involved. Routine tasks like throwing a breaker, driving nails, chopping wood, or putting up Christmas lights can get you hurt especially if your mind and eyes are not on task.
Our choices and our actions can have a huge influence on the risks we face and the eventual outcomes when a chance exposure meets a waiting hazard. The right choices can make all the difference.
Various hobbies can increase the risk factor
Kayaking, skydiving, and other extreme sports involve a lot of risk that can lead to serious injury. Simply taking a motorcycle or four-wheeler for a spin, or stock car racing on Saturday night can also lead to injury. Bicycles and skateboards pose risk for our children as do cars and cell phones.
Many people are ‘tuned out’ now days with MP-3 players and other distractions. Just crossing the street is risky but if you’re jamming to Black Sabbath or Willie Nelson on your iPod or MP-3 player you’re asking for it. Similarly, using power tools or working around the house also poses a certain amount of risk. In fact workers are six times more likely to get hurt at home. And whether on the job or off, the more experienced we become the more chances we are willing to take. Complacency is a key factor in a lot of injuries and the consequences can be fatal. Remember Eyes on Task/Mind on Task.
Daily choices can have a lasting impact
Simply choosing not to Buckle Up can end up being a death sentence. Leaving the confines of the vehicle increases your chance of death by 300%. Choosing not to wear PPE can also have dire consequences. Some say it is a modified version of Russian roulette. You may luck out and avoid injury for years but as time goes by the odds stack up against you. Remember hazards vary; some things (e.g. electricity) can cause harm with one exposure others (e.g. welding fumes) cause serious health problems over time. Be smart reduce your risk, look for ways to reduce the hazard(s) and when you have no other options Wear the proper PPE. Proper inspection, maintenance, and storage of PPE is vital to maximize your protection.
Use the proper tool for the job
Falls are the No. 1 killer in the home! So buy a good industrial ladder (avoid the inexpensive aluminum ones you can get at Wal-Mart – they have a 200 lb. limit). It will cost you a little extra, but so will being laid up at home for 6 weeks when that cheap ladder fails.
Take Workplace Exams and Equipment Inspections seriously
Required inspections are tools to identify hazards and reduce risk so don’t pencil whip them. Conduct thorough exams of your work area and the equipment you operate to uncover hazards before an exposure occurs. Report issues as you find them and get deficiencies corrected in a timely fashion.
Safety...it's your job too!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
From our friends at SafetyXchange
10 Things a Safety Trainer Never Hears
By Glenn Demby-->
(see Safety Xchange link in right column)
1. Hey! Get up! It's MY turn to sit in the front row!
2. Your safety talk was so exciting that I didn't notice it was 25 minutes over the scheduled time!
3. Personally, I find inspecting my respirator so much more enjoyable than playing golf.
4. As General Manager, I was going to recommend an additional $5,000 per month for wining and dining new customers; but I've decided to put the money into your safety budget instead.
5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher of the tail-gate safety talks!!!
6. As a safety director, you're a valued part of our management team and, doggone it, you deserve to be paid like it so you can live like the other senior managers do.
7. I love it when we have these management safety awareness meetings!!!!
8. Hey! Now THESE are some really cool safety glasses!
9. The plant manager would like to send you to a two-week safety seminar in the Bahamas, if that's okay with you.
10. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment in the morning like seeing that lime green "SAFETY FIRST" fob on my key ring!
Honorable Mention:
"Hey Bob! Can I inspect all the forklifts today? Just to be thorough... PLEASE???
Submitted by:Ralph B. WhiteSafety and MaintenanceSmith Industries, Midland Texas
By Glenn Demby-->
(see Safety Xchange link in right column)
1. Hey! Get up! It's MY turn to sit in the front row!
2. Your safety talk was so exciting that I didn't notice it was 25 minutes over the scheduled time!
3. Personally, I find inspecting my respirator so much more enjoyable than playing golf.
4. As General Manager, I was going to recommend an additional $5,000 per month for wining and dining new customers; but I've decided to put the money into your safety budget instead.
5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher of the tail-gate safety talks!!!
6. As a safety director, you're a valued part of our management team and, doggone it, you deserve to be paid like it so you can live like the other senior managers do.
7. I love it when we have these management safety awareness meetings!!!!
8. Hey! Now THESE are some really cool safety glasses!
9. The plant manager would like to send you to a two-week safety seminar in the Bahamas, if that's okay with you.
10. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment in the morning like seeing that lime green "SAFETY FIRST" fob on my key ring!
Honorable Mention:
"Hey Bob! Can I inspect all the forklifts today? Just to be thorough... PLEASE???
Submitted by:Ralph B. WhiteSafety and MaintenanceSmith Industries, Midland Texas
When tomorrow starts without me…
(I hope you never need this, but thought it was too good not to share.)
When tomorrow starts without me
by David M. Romano
When tomorrow starts without me and I'm not there to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today.
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you.
And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand
An angel came and called my name and took me by the hand.
He said my place was ready in heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But when I walked through heaven's gates I felt so much at home
When God looked down and smiled at me from His great golden throne.
He said, "This is eternity and all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past, but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow for today will always last,
And since each day's the same way there's no longing for the past.”
So, when tomorrow starts without me don't think we're far apart
For every time you think of me I'm right here in your heart!
When tomorrow starts without me
by David M. Romano
When tomorrow starts without me and I'm not there to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today.
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you.
And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand
An angel came and called my name and took me by the hand.
He said my place was ready in heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But when I walked through heaven's gates I felt so much at home
When God looked down and smiled at me from His great golden throne.
He said, "This is eternity and all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past, but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow for today will always last,
And since each day's the same way there's no longing for the past.”
So, when tomorrow starts without me don't think we're far apart
For every time you think of me I'm right here in your heart!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tip 48 - Its Up to YOU!
A review
When it comes to Safety....it really is up to you!
The best safety program in the world - cannot keep you safe unless you heed the warnings and follow the rules.
The most experienced safety manager - cannot get you home at the end of the day, unless you take an active roll in the safety program.
Your Supervisor can only do so much - he/she cannot wear your PPE for you and they cannot be with you every step of the day! You have to make the conscious decision to put on the PPE and work safely!
90% is not enough! You must follow the rules 100% of the time (at home, at work, and at play). If you don't there is a possibility for injury.
Home hazards! Your chances of getting hurt at home are 5 to 6 times greater than they are of getting hurt at work.
Home injuries are costly! Workers Compensation does not cover home injuries. All the more reason to follow sound safety practices at home. And remember: your children are watching and learning from You!
PPE 24/7 Helmets are a good idea for bikes, motorcycles, snowmobiles, skate boarding, etc. Hearing protection while mowing the yard, hunting, or using powertools can help save your hearing. Safety glasses should be worn for any activities to protect your eyes and tinted ones improve your vision on sunny days. Wear gloves, to avoid hand injuries and frost bite, and don't forget fall protection can save your life (falls are the No. 1 killer in the home). And, if you are hanging out in your tree stand you should be tied off.
Drive Safely and Drive Sober! Be careful over the holidays...a DUI will ruin it even if nobody gets hurt! And don't drive drowsy...pull over and get 10-20 minutes of sleep before pushing on. We see too many families destroyed by MVA tragedies every Holiday Season.
We can talk safety all we want...but it is Up to YOU to WALK the WALK! YOU are the Safety Program!
Safety...it really is UP TO YOU!
"Get a handle on Safety...It's your grip on Life!"
When it comes to Safety....it really is up to you!
The best safety program in the world - cannot keep you safe unless you heed the warnings and follow the rules.
The most experienced safety manager - cannot get you home at the end of the day, unless you take an active roll in the safety program.
Your Supervisor can only do so much - he/she cannot wear your PPE for you and they cannot be with you every step of the day! You have to make the conscious decision to put on the PPE and work safely!
90% is not enough! You must follow the rules 100% of the time (at home, at work, and at play). If you don't there is a possibility for injury.
Home hazards! Your chances of getting hurt at home are 5 to 6 times greater than they are of getting hurt at work.
Home injuries are costly! Workers Compensation does not cover home injuries. All the more reason to follow sound safety practices at home. And remember: your children are watching and learning from You!
PPE 24/7 Helmets are a good idea for bikes, motorcycles, snowmobiles, skate boarding, etc. Hearing protection while mowing the yard, hunting, or using powertools can help save your hearing. Safety glasses should be worn for any activities to protect your eyes and tinted ones improve your vision on sunny days. Wear gloves, to avoid hand injuries and frost bite, and don't forget fall protection can save your life (falls are the No. 1 killer in the home). And, if you are hanging out in your tree stand you should be tied off.
Drive Safely and Drive Sober! Be careful over the holidays...a DUI will ruin it even if nobody gets hurt! And don't drive drowsy...pull over and get 10-20 minutes of sleep before pushing on. We see too many families destroyed by MVA tragedies every Holiday Season.
We can talk safety all we want...but it is Up to YOU to WALK the WALK! YOU are the Safety Program!
Safety...it really is UP TO YOU!
"Get a handle on Safety...It's your grip on Life!"
Friday, November 23, 2007
Tidbits – 11/26/07
Are you ready for Flu Season?
It is that time again…TIME TO GET A FLU SHOT. The worst months for the flu are generally December through February. The worst flu pandemic occurred in 1918-19 and caused an estimated 40 million deaths. Today, because of increased travel abroad, the CDC projects a pandemic could result in 2 to 7.4 million deaths globally (maybe more). Experts claim we are overdue for a pandemic; that is why they are watching the Avian Influenza so closely. One way to control the spread of the flu is by regularly washing your hands with soap and water.
You can get there from here
“You always pass failure on the way to success.” Mickey Rooney
Fall Reminder
The CPSC warns us not to put children to sleep in loose-fitting T-shirts or over-size clothes made from cotton or cotton blends. These garments catch fire easily and are associated with 200-300 ER-treated burns to children annually. Loose-fitting clothing stands away from the body, making contact with an ignition source more likely. Loose-fitting, non-flame-resistant clothing allows an air space next to the body that helps keep the fire burning, possibly injuring children. Snug-fitting garments need not be flame-resistant because they are made to fit closely against the body. Their stretchy fabrics make them comfortable. Snug-fitting sleepwear does not ignite easily and does not burn as rapidly because there is little air under the garment to feed a fire. Flame-resistant garments do not continue burning when removed from an open flame. Remember: Inflammable means it WILL BURN!
Be a giver not a taker
“If success is important to you, earn it by service to others not at the expense of others.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
From our friends at OSHA and WHO
-Use caution when working with torches or doing any type of hot work…workplace fires and explosions injure 5,000 workers every year.
-These workplace fires cost U.S. businesses more than $2.3 million each year.
-Did you know OSHA says approximately 10% of all workplace accidents are a result of people not following lockout/tagout procedures?
-These lockout/tagout violations result in more than 100 fatalities and 50,000 injuries every year.
-More than 17,000 Hazmat incidents occur every year.
-Back injuries account for one out of every five workplace injuries and 25% of compensation claims. According to the BLS more than a million workers suffer back injuries every year.
-The World Health Organization tells us that the Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) has spread to Europe with confirmed cases in Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
Quote of the Week
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King Jr.
It is that time again…TIME TO GET A FLU SHOT. The worst months for the flu are generally December through February. The worst flu pandemic occurred in 1918-19 and caused an estimated 40 million deaths. Today, because of increased travel abroad, the CDC projects a pandemic could result in 2 to 7.4 million deaths globally (maybe more). Experts claim we are overdue for a pandemic; that is why they are watching the Avian Influenza so closely. One way to control the spread of the flu is by regularly washing your hands with soap and water.
You can get there from here
“You always pass failure on the way to success.” Mickey Rooney
Fall Reminder
The CPSC warns us not to put children to sleep in loose-fitting T-shirts or over-size clothes made from cotton or cotton blends. These garments catch fire easily and are associated with 200-300 ER-treated burns to children annually. Loose-fitting clothing stands away from the body, making contact with an ignition source more likely. Loose-fitting, non-flame-resistant clothing allows an air space next to the body that helps keep the fire burning, possibly injuring children. Snug-fitting garments need not be flame-resistant because they are made to fit closely against the body. Their stretchy fabrics make them comfortable. Snug-fitting sleepwear does not ignite easily and does not burn as rapidly because there is little air under the garment to feed a fire. Flame-resistant garments do not continue burning when removed from an open flame. Remember: Inflammable means it WILL BURN!
Be a giver not a taker
“If success is important to you, earn it by service to others not at the expense of others.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
From our friends at OSHA and WHO
-Use caution when working with torches or doing any type of hot work…workplace fires and explosions injure 5,000 workers every year.
-These workplace fires cost U.S. businesses more than $2.3 million each year.
-Did you know OSHA says approximately 10% of all workplace accidents are a result of people not following lockout/tagout procedures?
-These lockout/tagout violations result in more than 100 fatalities and 50,000 injuries every year.
-More than 17,000 Hazmat incidents occur every year.
-Back injuries account for one out of every five workplace injuries and 25% of compensation claims. According to the BLS more than a million workers suffer back injuries every year.
-The World Health Organization tells us that the Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) has spread to Europe with confirmed cases in Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
Quote of the Week
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King Jr.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
I am Thankful!
For the Wife who says its hot dogs tonight,
Because she is home with me, and not out with someone else.
For the Husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato,
Because he is home with me and not out at the bars.
For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes,
It means she is at home, and not out on the streets.
For the Taxes that I pay,
it means that I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party
it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the Clothes that fit a little too snug
it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work
it means I am out in the sunshine.
For the lawn that needs mowing; for windows that need cleaning;
and, gutters that need fixing…
it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government
it means we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
it means I am capable of walking and that I have been
blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill
it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church that sings off key
it means I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing
it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours
it means that I am alive.
For too much e-mail because
it means I have friends who are thinking of me.
And finally, for the soldiers who go to battle and risk their lifes
when old men in Congress and the Presidents we elect decide to go to war.
Thanks God...I am truly blessed.
Because she is home with me, and not out with someone else.
For the Husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato,
Because he is home with me and not out at the bars.
For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes,
It means she is at home, and not out on the streets.
For the Taxes that I pay,
it means that I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party
it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the Clothes that fit a little too snug
it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work
it means I am out in the sunshine.
For the lawn that needs mowing; for windows that need cleaning;
and, gutters that need fixing…
it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government
it means we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
it means I am capable of walking and that I have been
blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill
it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church that sings off key
it means I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing
it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours
it means that I am alive.
For too much e-mail because
it means I have friends who are thinking of me.
And finally, for the soldiers who go to battle and risk their lifes
when old men in Congress and the Presidents we elect decide to go to war.
Thanks God...I am truly blessed.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Tidbits – 11/19/07
-Wear your hearing protection! Approximately 30 million Americans suffer from Chronic Hearing Loss.
-Drive sober! Don’t drink and drive over the holidays…it can lead to an arrest or even deadly consequences. (you probably heard about the gal from Tulsa, OK that killed 5 pedestrians and didn’t even stop because she was drunk. Many lives were changed because of one bad decision).
-Pay attention to the road. Driver distraction accounts for 80% of all motor vehicle crashes put the cell phone down and focus on the road…PLEASE?-The average life expectancy for U.S women born in 2005 is 80 years compared to just 48 years for those born in 1900.
-Lock it out! 44% of non-fatal workplace amputations involved people caught in equipment that they did not lock out.
Be True to Yourself
“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”
–Frederick Douglas
Fireplace Safety Tips
-When was the last time you had your fireplace cleaned by a chimney sweep. If you don’t remember, do it now and avoid a chimney fire this winter.
-Make sure your fireplace has adequate protective linings and smoke ducts and that the chimney is clear and in good repair.
-Open the damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. This will avert the build-up of poisonous gases.
-Never use charcoal lighter fluid or gasoline to light a fire --the vapors could explode.
-Never use coal/charcoal in a fireplace because of the carbon monoxide danger.
-Don’t burn trash in the fireplace, as these materials can generate deadly fumes.
-Artificial logs are not like real logs. They are usually made of sawdust and wax with special burning properties. Read and follow instructions listed on the logs.
-Adding artificial logs to a burning natural wood fire can cause a flare up – be careful.
-Do not poke artificial logs -- the flaming wax could stick to the poker and drop onto the floor or carpet. Poking the log could also cause a flare-up.
-Never soak newspaper logs in flammable fuels because of the explosion potential.
-Soaking newspapers in water, before/during rolling, removes the clay content and makes for better burning. Put the logs on end and let them dry for 2 weeks prior to use.
-Do not overload the fireplace --it can lead to overheating of wall or roof materials, particularly if the fireplace is constructed of metal.
-Always use a fire screen around the fireplace to keeps sparks from flying out.
Quote of the Week: Remember…
"The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter." –Unknown
-Drive sober! Don’t drink and drive over the holidays…it can lead to an arrest or even deadly consequences. (you probably heard about the gal from Tulsa, OK that killed 5 pedestrians and didn’t even stop because she was drunk. Many lives were changed because of one bad decision).
-Pay attention to the road. Driver distraction accounts for 80% of all motor vehicle crashes put the cell phone down and focus on the road…PLEASE?-The average life expectancy for U.S women born in 2005 is 80 years compared to just 48 years for those born in 1900.
-Lock it out! 44% of non-fatal workplace amputations involved people caught in equipment that they did not lock out.
Be True to Yourself
“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”
–Frederick Douglas
Fireplace Safety Tips
-When was the last time you had your fireplace cleaned by a chimney sweep. If you don’t remember, do it now and avoid a chimney fire this winter.
-Make sure your fireplace has adequate protective linings and smoke ducts and that the chimney is clear and in good repair.
-Open the damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. This will avert the build-up of poisonous gases.
-Never use charcoal lighter fluid or gasoline to light a fire --the vapors could explode.
-Never use coal/charcoal in a fireplace because of the carbon monoxide danger.
-Don’t burn trash in the fireplace, as these materials can generate deadly fumes.
-Artificial logs are not like real logs. They are usually made of sawdust and wax with special burning properties. Read and follow instructions listed on the logs.
-Adding artificial logs to a burning natural wood fire can cause a flare up – be careful.
-Do not poke artificial logs -- the flaming wax could stick to the poker and drop onto the floor or carpet. Poking the log could also cause a flare-up.
-Never soak newspaper logs in flammable fuels because of the explosion potential.
-Soaking newspapers in water, before/during rolling, removes the clay content and makes for better burning. Put the logs on end and let them dry for 2 weeks prior to use.
-Do not overload the fireplace --it can lead to overheating of wall or roof materials, particularly if the fireplace is constructed of metal.
-Always use a fire screen around the fireplace to keeps sparks from flying out.
Quote of the Week: Remember…
"The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter." –Unknown
Holiday Safety Tips
-More a million DRUNK Drivers are convicted every year. Many lives are destroyed by the fatalities and disabling injuries caused by people driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
-So Drink responsibly, and be careful of eating too much. A full driver can be a drowsy, dangerous driver. Be careful and make it home safely.
-If you are traveling let people know when to expect you, make sure your cell phone is fully charged or pickup a charger that fits in the cigarette lighter.
-Chirstmas lights can lead to home fires so be careful.
-Don’t connect more than three sets of lights to an extension cord (and buy a good cord not the one for $1.00).
-Keep cords and lights away from water under the tree and from flammables.
-Don’t run cords under rugs or carpet as wires can overheat and start a fire.
-Don’t string outside lights in cold weather and never use indoor lights outdoors, as internal wiring can get brittle and break creating electrical hazards.
-Unplug Christmas tree lights and blow out the candles when going to bed or leaving the house.
-Keep an eye on the little ones...trees do tip over and candle wax can burn...don't let the holidays turn into a tragedy. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!
-So Drink responsibly, and be careful of eating too much. A full driver can be a drowsy, dangerous driver. Be careful and make it home safely.
-If you are traveling let people know when to expect you, make sure your cell phone is fully charged or pickup a charger that fits in the cigarette lighter.
-Chirstmas lights can lead to home fires so be careful.
-Don’t connect more than three sets of lights to an extension cord (and buy a good cord not the one for $1.00).
-Keep cords and lights away from water under the tree and from flammables.
-Don’t run cords under rugs or carpet as wires can overheat and start a fire.
-Don’t string outside lights in cold weather and never use indoor lights outdoors, as internal wiring can get brittle and break creating electrical hazards.
-Unplug Christmas tree lights and blow out the candles when going to bed or leaving the house.
-Keep an eye on the little ones...trees do tip over and candle wax can burn...don't let the holidays turn into a tragedy. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!
Tip 47- Get ready for Winter
The cold weather is coming and that affects us, our vehicles, our animals and our homes. It also affects the way we dress for work, the equipment we operate and the surfaces we work on and around. Here are just a few things to remember as the temps begin to drop.
Visibility - Take the time to scrap the windows or allow the vehicle to warm up and thaw the frost before hitting the road. And always keep a scraper and a flashlight in your car. You want to be visible if you break down at night.
Slip and Fall hazards - Ice, slush and snow not only affect visibility but can lead to slips and falls causing fractured hips or sprained wrists. Be careful on the roadways and walkways and give yourself more time to get to work by leaving early.
Equipment Warm up/Cool down - Remember equipment takes longer to warm up and diesel equipment should always be allowed to idle for awhile (3-5 minutes) before shutting it down after operating it for a while.
Machinery issues - Belts will shrink and tighten up causing more spillage as material slides off. Moving parts can freeze up due to the ice and snow so be careful…they can break loose suddenly and begin moving.
Coveralls/gloves pose potential hazards - Be careful with coveralls around equipment (you should not be working around unguarded equipment to begin with, right!). Remember to zip up the zippers on the legs and arms (if the coveralls have them) always buckle both shoulder straps and trim any loose threads, etc. Every year people get caught in machinery because of their coveralls. And wear gloves that fit…machinery can grab a glove and pull your arm in. Gloves also cause reduced dexterity which can make some tasks more hazardous…plan your work accordingly.
Cold Weather hazard - Take breaks as necessary to avoid frost nip/frost bite especially when performing work outdoors! Dress in layers so you can remove a layer or two as the day warms up.
Flu Shots - These are a good idea and local physicians tell me it is best to get a shot between the middle of November and the middle of December.
Check your vehicle - Now is a good time to check your antifreeze (check the radiator cap -- it may need replacing), tires, belts, hoses, etc. Throw a blanket or maybe some extra jackets, gloves and winter caps in the trunk. Don't forget the jumper cables, flashlight, and first aid kit. A can (to melt snow), matches and a candle are a good idea if you live in say North Dakota like I used to.
Home issues - Have the fireplace cleaned; change the furnance filters (when was the last time you serviced your furnace?); disconnect the hose and put it away; install weather strip as needed; get the Christmas lights up before it gets too cold, etc., etc. Don't forget Fido - his water can freeze and he may need an extra blanket or two to stay warm…an a rawhide bone will keep him busy and take his mind off the cold.
Visibility - Take the time to scrap the windows or allow the vehicle to warm up and thaw the frost before hitting the road. And always keep a scraper and a flashlight in your car. You want to be visible if you break down at night.
Slip and Fall hazards - Ice, slush and snow not only affect visibility but can lead to slips and falls causing fractured hips or sprained wrists. Be careful on the roadways and walkways and give yourself more time to get to work by leaving early.
Equipment Warm up/Cool down - Remember equipment takes longer to warm up and diesel equipment should always be allowed to idle for awhile (3-5 minutes) before shutting it down after operating it for a while.
Machinery issues - Belts will shrink and tighten up causing more spillage as material slides off. Moving parts can freeze up due to the ice and snow so be careful…they can break loose suddenly and begin moving.
Coveralls/gloves pose potential hazards - Be careful with coveralls around equipment (you should not be working around unguarded equipment to begin with, right!). Remember to zip up the zippers on the legs and arms (if the coveralls have them) always buckle both shoulder straps and trim any loose threads, etc. Every year people get caught in machinery because of their coveralls. And wear gloves that fit…machinery can grab a glove and pull your arm in. Gloves also cause reduced dexterity which can make some tasks more hazardous…plan your work accordingly.
Cold Weather hazard - Take breaks as necessary to avoid frost nip/frost bite especially when performing work outdoors! Dress in layers so you can remove a layer or two as the day warms up.
Flu Shots - These are a good idea and local physicians tell me it is best to get a shot between the middle of November and the middle of December.
Check your vehicle - Now is a good time to check your antifreeze (check the radiator cap -- it may need replacing), tires, belts, hoses, etc. Throw a blanket or maybe some extra jackets, gloves and winter caps in the trunk. Don't forget the jumper cables, flashlight, and first aid kit. A can (to melt snow), matches and a candle are a good idea if you live in say North Dakota like I used to.
Home issues - Have the fireplace cleaned; change the furnance filters (when was the last time you serviced your furnace?); disconnect the hose and put it away; install weather strip as needed; get the Christmas lights up before it gets too cold, etc., etc. Don't forget Fido - his water can freeze and he may need an extra blanket or two to stay warm…an a rawhide bone will keep him busy and take his mind off the cold.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Remember our Veterans!
I didn't want Veterans' Day to pass without saying Thanks to all of the wonderful men and women of the Armed Forces. Whether they are currently serving or past members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard or Coast Guard these folks need to know we appreciate them. Crowds at Veterans' Day Parades have dwindled in recent years and that is a real shame. We should all be out there on Veterans' Day showing our support!!!
I thank all the fine men and women who have fought and continue to fight so that me, my family, friends, neighbors and co-workers can be FREE. They fight to protect us all (even the protestors, the flag burners, etc.). Thanks guys and gals for keeping this American and the rest of our Fine Country Free -- I appreciate your sacrifices and know many more feel the same way. Stand up America and Salute the Veteran...it is the least you can do!
God Bless America! See photo at bottom of page
I thank all the fine men and women who have fought and continue to fight so that me, my family, friends, neighbors and co-workers can be FREE. They fight to protect us all (even the protestors, the flag burners, etc.). Thanks guys and gals for keeping this American and the rest of our Fine Country Free -- I appreciate your sacrifices and know many more feel the same way. Stand up America and Salute the Veteran...it is the least you can do!
God Bless America! See photo at bottom of page
Tip 46 - Ask "Why not?"
Some ask why the big push for safety...I ask why not and you should too!
A common frustration for safety managers (and others) is the fact that some people just don't get it. This is a problem that many of us face, everyday. Why do people put themselves in harm's way for short term gains? Do they understand the risks? Are we giving our employees (and our childern) the training and tools that they need to survive in today's workplace? Some think 'it won't happen to me', but when it does happen to them they find out they were wrong.
Safe production is efficient production...many of America's best companies have figured it out. Mine operators and business owners know it too, but some workers still think they are helping the company out by taking unnecessary risk. We cannot afford the 'company man' mentality whether it is an hourly worker, a supervisor or a manager. These types of people usually end up getting people hurt.
Some supervisors and/or managers do not enforce safety rules because they do not want to upset their subordinates (and former co-workers) ...WHY NOT? Believe me it will upset the wives, husbands, parents and childern of our employees if we let their loved one die on the job. It will also be something you will regret for the rest of your life.
Nobody should have to die while they are trying to make a living, but many do! Why!? We get what we accept...maybe we need to expect more from ourselves, our co-workers and our superiors. Are we not our brothers' (and sisters') keepers? Please do your part to "get 'em all home at the end of the shift!"
Safety...why not?
A common frustration for safety managers (and others) is the fact that some people just don't get it. This is a problem that many of us face, everyday. Why do people put themselves in harm's way for short term gains? Do they understand the risks? Are we giving our employees (and our childern) the training and tools that they need to survive in today's workplace? Some think 'it won't happen to me', but when it does happen to them they find out they were wrong.
Safe production is efficient production...many of America's best companies have figured it out. Mine operators and business owners know it too, but some workers still think they are helping the company out by taking unnecessary risk. We cannot afford the 'company man' mentality whether it is an hourly worker, a supervisor or a manager. These types of people usually end up getting people hurt.
Some supervisors and/or managers do not enforce safety rules because they do not want to upset their subordinates (and former co-workers) ...WHY NOT? Believe me it will upset the wives, husbands, parents and childern of our employees if we let their loved one die on the job. It will also be something you will regret for the rest of your life.
Nobody should have to die while they are trying to make a living, but many do! Why!? We get what we accept...maybe we need to expect more from ourselves, our co-workers and our superiors. Are we not our brothers' (and sisters') keepers? Please do your part to "get 'em all home at the end of the shift!"
Safety...why not?
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
MSHA-required Documents
MSHA requires Mine Operators to maintain the following records
Here is a list of the documents you need to have available for MSHA during an inspection, just in case you didn’t know. With the new assessments you don’t want any surprises.
Comprehensive Part 46 Training Program (update annually)
Part 62 - Hearing Conservation Program and annual training records (must cover all 7 points listed in 62.180)
Written HazCom (Hazardous Communication) Program
Miners’ Representative (and contact information) - 40.3 - Post it!
MSHA 2000-7 Legal ID (Update as needed) – 41.12
MSHA 7000-1: Accident Reports (MSHA Reportables – each one must be investigated)
MSHA 7000-2: Quarterly Employment Reports
Supervisors’ Daily Workplace Exams - 56.18002
Mobile Equipment Inspections - 56.14100
Firefighting equipment inspection records - 56.4201 (If contract company is used they need written documentation of inspections)
Continuity and resistance of electrical equipment grounding test records (56.12028) (Due 12 months following last inspection)
Pressure Vessel Inspections - 56.13012 (Varies by State; MSHA enforces the State regulations)
Current First aid Records – Documentation for currently trained individuals capable of providing first-aid assistance on all shifts when hazardous work is being conducted - 56.18010
Independent Contractor Register - List of Contractors working on site with contact information (and MSHA ID if they have one) - 45.4
If applicable, Respirator Protection Program and respirator fit-testing records requested during MSHA health sampling activities of employees (determines penalty if there is an over-exposure to surveyed contaminants).
Safety…is it everywhere you want to be???
Here is a list of the documents you need to have available for MSHA during an inspection, just in case you didn’t know. With the new assessments you don’t want any surprises.
Comprehensive Part 46 Training Program (update annually)
Part 62 - Hearing Conservation Program and annual training records (must cover all 7 points listed in 62.180)
Written HazCom (Hazardous Communication) Program
Miners’ Representative (and contact information) - 40.3 - Post it!
MSHA 2000-7 Legal ID (Update as needed) – 41.12
MSHA 7000-1: Accident Reports (MSHA Reportables – each one must be investigated)
MSHA 7000-2: Quarterly Employment Reports
Supervisors’ Daily Workplace Exams - 56.18002
Mobile Equipment Inspections - 56.14100
Firefighting equipment inspection records - 56.4201 (If contract company is used they need written documentation of inspections)
Continuity and resistance of electrical equipment grounding test records (56.12028) (Due 12 months following last inspection)
Pressure Vessel Inspections - 56.13012 (Varies by State; MSHA enforces the State regulations)
Current First aid Records – Documentation for currently trained individuals capable of providing first-aid assistance on all shifts when hazardous work is being conducted - 56.18010
Independent Contractor Register - List of Contractors working on site with contact information (and MSHA ID if they have one) - 45.4
If applicable, Respirator Protection Program and respirator fit-testing records requested during MSHA health sampling activities of employees (determines penalty if there is an over-exposure to surveyed contaminants).
Safety…is it everywhere you want to be???
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
A Safety Professional
The Safety Professional
Anonymous
Sandwiched tightly between Top Brass and the teaming masses sits a wild-eyed individual madly singing a safety tune. He's the most misunderstood, maligned and unsung person in all the world of business. He's the proverbial "SAFETY PROFESSIONAL".
This fellow's a little bit of all strata's....a member of none. To the employee or worker he's a tool of management; to management, he's just another employee.
He finds his job interesting. He speaks for management from the "Ivory Tower" and then runs out to the Production Area, Warehouse or Work Site to hear how it sounds. He must keep his head in the "brass' board room", his feet in the muck.... a difficult position to keep from falling on his butt.
He has the curiosity of a cat....the tenacity of a mother in law...the determination of a taxi driver...the nervous system of a race car driver...the digestive capacity of a goat...the simplicity of a jackass...the diplomacy of a wayward husband...the hide of a rhinoceros...the speed of a rocket and the good humor of an idiot.
He has the busiest, shrewdest, plottingest, worryingest, most thoroughly washed brain of any human. His mail basket is always full, his desk is a constant mess and his calendar looks like cave drawings. Nobody has been given the run-around as often, has been passed so many bucks, is left holding so many bags, and has cut his way through so much red tape.
The SAFETY PROFESSIONAL keeps the coffee plantations, aspirin plants, liquor distilleries and the midnight oil companies in business. He must tread lightly over mountains of eggs, knowing where to tread and, more importantly, when and where NOT to tread. You'll find him everywhere...shouting loudly over the din of a bunch of roaring engines, whispering softly in the hallowed precincts of thick-carpeted offices.Whenever there is an accident, the SAFETY PROFESSIONAL is often called in to explain why and how it happened. He's expected pull rabbits out of nonexistent hats; when the job is thankless, he gets it. He must engender interests in good housekeeping to people who live in garage sale clutter ...promote wider responsibility to people who have a narrow focus ... preach safety to people who think they don't need it. He must listen to the phrase, 'that's always the way we've done it," until he vomits.
Despite all the careful planning he is usually found dangling on a deadline...he's the original cat on the hot tin roof...in the middle of a muddle and of course LATE. The master of understatement, he must make fire protection sound as essential as religion and an accident cost sound like the national debt.
He's suppose to be a "specialist" who can breath new life into committees and meetings... leadership into management... cooperation into supervisory personnel... responsibility into employees/workers. He must inspire without propaganda... propagandize without being obvious. He parks his 1980's jalopy between the boss' new Mercedes and the janitor's SUV. When he's clever, it goes unnoticed...when he stubs his toe, the world is there to see and mock it.
To him a headache is normal; he'd have ulcers if he could afford them. He has more critics than Harry Truman. He meets more people who think they know more about safety than the company has conveyor hooks.
He can never be right. When he simplifies, he's pandering. When he gets a little technical, he's over their head. Half the people wonder what he does... the other half know what he does but think he's doing it wrong! When an idea turns out lousy and after the blame has been thoroughly kicked between the employee/worker, foreman and supervisor, it winds up in his lap.
More people bend his ear than anybody else's. Everybody thinks he always has time to stop and listen to a joke...hear a gripe...attend a meeting... serve on a committee. He does, and winds up taking most of his work home.
He has no peer in the realm of praise, propaganda and procrastination. He knows he's right; only the world thinks he's wrong. If he has an idea, it was stolen. However, a stolen idea is research! Where else do you think the background material for this sad tale of woe about a Safety Professional originated?
Anonymous
Sandwiched tightly between Top Brass and the teaming masses sits a wild-eyed individual madly singing a safety tune. He's the most misunderstood, maligned and unsung person in all the world of business. He's the proverbial "SAFETY PROFESSIONAL".
This fellow's a little bit of all strata's....a member of none. To the employee or worker he's a tool of management; to management, he's just another employee.
He finds his job interesting. He speaks for management from the "Ivory Tower" and then runs out to the Production Area, Warehouse or Work Site to hear how it sounds. He must keep his head in the "brass' board room", his feet in the muck.... a difficult position to keep from falling on his butt.
He has the curiosity of a cat....the tenacity of a mother in law...the determination of a taxi driver...the nervous system of a race car driver...the digestive capacity of a goat...the simplicity of a jackass...the diplomacy of a wayward husband...the hide of a rhinoceros...the speed of a rocket and the good humor of an idiot.
He has the busiest, shrewdest, plottingest, worryingest, most thoroughly washed brain of any human. His mail basket is always full, his desk is a constant mess and his calendar looks like cave drawings. Nobody has been given the run-around as often, has been passed so many bucks, is left holding so many bags, and has cut his way through so much red tape.
The SAFETY PROFESSIONAL keeps the coffee plantations, aspirin plants, liquor distilleries and the midnight oil companies in business. He must tread lightly over mountains of eggs, knowing where to tread and, more importantly, when and where NOT to tread. You'll find him everywhere...shouting loudly over the din of a bunch of roaring engines, whispering softly in the hallowed precincts of thick-carpeted offices.Whenever there is an accident, the SAFETY PROFESSIONAL is often called in to explain why and how it happened. He's expected pull rabbits out of nonexistent hats; when the job is thankless, he gets it. He must engender interests in good housekeeping to people who live in garage sale clutter ...promote wider responsibility to people who have a narrow focus ... preach safety to people who think they don't need it. He must listen to the phrase, 'that's always the way we've done it," until he vomits.
Despite all the careful planning he is usually found dangling on a deadline...he's the original cat on the hot tin roof...in the middle of a muddle and of course LATE. The master of understatement, he must make fire protection sound as essential as religion and an accident cost sound like the national debt.
He's suppose to be a "specialist" who can breath new life into committees and meetings... leadership into management... cooperation into supervisory personnel... responsibility into employees/workers. He must inspire without propaganda... propagandize without being obvious. He parks his 1980's jalopy between the boss' new Mercedes and the janitor's SUV. When he's clever, it goes unnoticed...when he stubs his toe, the world is there to see and mock it.
To him a headache is normal; he'd have ulcers if he could afford them. He has more critics than Harry Truman. He meets more people who think they know more about safety than the company has conveyor hooks.
He can never be right. When he simplifies, he's pandering. When he gets a little technical, he's over their head. Half the people wonder what he does... the other half know what he does but think he's doing it wrong! When an idea turns out lousy and after the blame has been thoroughly kicked between the employee/worker, foreman and supervisor, it winds up in his lap.
More people bend his ear than anybody else's. Everybody thinks he always has time to stop and listen to a joke...hear a gripe...attend a meeting... serve on a committee. He does, and winds up taking most of his work home.
He has no peer in the realm of praise, propaganda and procrastination. He knows he's right; only the world thinks he's wrong. If he has an idea, it was stolen. However, a stolen idea is research! Where else do you think the background material for this sad tale of woe about a Safety Professional originated?
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Safety Tip No. 45
It's Hunting Season…be careful out there!
Hunters Remember -- There is No Closed Season on Safety!
Don't pull a Dick Cheney, follow good hunter safety practices...a few tips from miners.
Be sure of your target before you shoot! The biggest buck in the woods isn't worth someone's life. Have a safe and enjoyable season. - Dale Byram, Training Center
Never point your gun at anything you don't intend to shoot. - Reggie Lamons, No. 7 MineAlways make sure the safety is on while transporting or walking with your gun. - James Blankenship, No. 4 MineNever attempt to climb up or down a tree stand with a loaded gun. - David Evers, CMODo not carry small children deer hunting with you and make sure the deer is dead before you put it in your vehicle. - Sundery Robinson, No. 7 Mine
Hunt sober! - Guy Hensley, CMO
Wear a bright colored hat so you will not be an easy target. - Shelby Cowley, CMO
Wear your safety belt when hunting from a tree stand. - John Aldrich, No. 7 Mine
Always wear your hunter orange while in the woods. - Buddy Smith, No. 7 Prep Plant
Never shoot at a sound or movement. Be certain of your target before you pull the trigger. - Judy Lake, CMO
Look beyond the target before shooting… High powered ammo can travel in excess of a mile. - Mark Piper, No. 7 Mine
When crossing over a fence, unload your gun if alone or pass your gun to a hunting partner with the safety on before crossing the fence. - Vann Wilhite, CMO
Always treat every gun as if it is loaded. - Jack Gravely, No. 7 Mine
It is safest to hunt with a buddy, but when not possible, let someone know where you are hunting and what time you expect to return…it could save your life. - David Minor, Central Lab
ALWAYS assume that other hunters are not as safe as you are. - James Jones, CMO
Never carry a loaded gun on a 4-wheeler. - Chuck Reed, No. 7 MineIn the interest of post-hunting safety at home, after being gone for DAYS on a hunting trip, when arriving back home be sure to greet your wife with a big smile and a dozen red roses. - Gail Dennis, No. 4 Mine
Hunters Remember -- There is No Closed Season on Safety!
Don't pull a Dick Cheney, follow good hunter safety practices...a few tips from miners.
Be sure of your target before you shoot! The biggest buck in the woods isn't worth someone's life. Have a safe and enjoyable season. - Dale Byram, Training Center
Never point your gun at anything you don't intend to shoot. - Reggie Lamons, No. 7 MineAlways make sure the safety is on while transporting or walking with your gun. - James Blankenship, No. 4 MineNever attempt to climb up or down a tree stand with a loaded gun. - David Evers, CMODo not carry small children deer hunting with you and make sure the deer is dead before you put it in your vehicle. - Sundery Robinson, No. 7 Mine
Hunt sober! - Guy Hensley, CMO
Wear a bright colored hat so you will not be an easy target. - Shelby Cowley, CMO
Wear your safety belt when hunting from a tree stand. - John Aldrich, No. 7 Mine
Always wear your hunter orange while in the woods. - Buddy Smith, No. 7 Prep Plant
Never shoot at a sound or movement. Be certain of your target before you pull the trigger. - Judy Lake, CMO
Look beyond the target before shooting… High powered ammo can travel in excess of a mile. - Mark Piper, No. 7 Mine
When crossing over a fence, unload your gun if alone or pass your gun to a hunting partner with the safety on before crossing the fence. - Vann Wilhite, CMO
Always treat every gun as if it is loaded. - Jack Gravely, No. 7 Mine
It is safest to hunt with a buddy, but when not possible, let someone know where you are hunting and what time you expect to return…it could save your life. - David Minor, Central Lab
ALWAYS assume that other hunters are not as safe as you are. - James Jones, CMO
Never carry a loaded gun on a 4-wheeler. - Chuck Reed, No. 7 MineIn the interest of post-hunting safety at home, after being gone for DAYS on a hunting trip, when arriving back home be sure to greet your wife with a big smile and a dozen red roses. - Gail Dennis, No. 4 Mine
Tidbits – 11/05/07
Fewer US Workers Got Hurt/Sick on the Job in 2005
The rate of non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses throughout the United States dropped slightly in 2005 compared to 2004. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says the rate among private industry employers was 4.6 per 100 equivalent full-time workers, compared to 4.8 per 100 in 2004.
Still, according to BLS, 4.2 million non-fatal injuries/illnesses occurred in private injury workplaces in
2005 – including 2.2 million that involved either days away from work, job transfers or restricted duties,
or a combination of those.
Recent Mining Fatalities: Year to date there have been 56 fatalities in mining 26 in Coal and 30 in Metal/Non-metal compared to 67 (43 in Coal and 24 in Metal/Non-metal) at this time last year. Please remind employees to work safely now that days are short and the weather is changing. Focus on the task as hand…Safety Pays!
How True
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” Norman Vincent Peale
The Great American Smoke-out
This year the Annual Smoke-Out is scheduled for November 15th, 2006. This is an excellent time to quit smoking. Smoking is an addiction, so quitting may not be easy. However, there are several smoking cessation programs out there and help may be also be available through your company EAP. Here are a few reasons to quit:
-Annually, more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. are from smoking related illnesses.
-If all women quit smoking during pregnancy, about 4,000 new babies would not die each year.
-Among infants to 18 months of age, approximately 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia are attributed to secondhand smoke, annually.
-Quitting smoking cuts your risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, other cancers, lung diseases and respiratory illnesses.
Go for the optional side air bag
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates 2,000 lives could be saved, annually, if
every vehicle had this safety feature. A recent study found that side airbags providing head protection
cut a driver’s death risk by 37%. Those protecting the chest and abdomen also cut the risk of death by more then 25%. Side-impact airbags have been around since the mid-1990s and roughly 80% of new
cars sold have them available as standard or optional equipment. Pickup trucks lag behind passenger cars with side airbag available only in about 50% of the new pickups on the market.
Quote of the week: Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt
The rate of non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses throughout the United States dropped slightly in 2005 compared to 2004. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says the rate among private industry employers was 4.6 per 100 equivalent full-time workers, compared to 4.8 per 100 in 2004.
Still, according to BLS, 4.2 million non-fatal injuries/illnesses occurred in private injury workplaces in
2005 – including 2.2 million that involved either days away from work, job transfers or restricted duties,
or a combination of those.
Recent Mining Fatalities: Year to date there have been 56 fatalities in mining 26 in Coal and 30 in Metal/Non-metal compared to 67 (43 in Coal and 24 in Metal/Non-metal) at this time last year. Please remind employees to work safely now that days are short and the weather is changing. Focus on the task as hand…Safety Pays!
How True
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” Norman Vincent Peale
The Great American Smoke-out
This year the Annual Smoke-Out is scheduled for November 15th, 2006. This is an excellent time to quit smoking. Smoking is an addiction, so quitting may not be easy. However, there are several smoking cessation programs out there and help may be also be available through your company EAP. Here are a few reasons to quit:
-Annually, more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. are from smoking related illnesses.
-If all women quit smoking during pregnancy, about 4,000 new babies would not die each year.
-Among infants to 18 months of age, approximately 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia are attributed to secondhand smoke, annually.
-Quitting smoking cuts your risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, other cancers, lung diseases and respiratory illnesses.
Go for the optional side air bag
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates 2,000 lives could be saved, annually, if
every vehicle had this safety feature. A recent study found that side airbags providing head protection
cut a driver’s death risk by 37%. Those protecting the chest and abdomen also cut the risk of death by more then 25%. Side-impact airbags have been around since the mid-1990s and roughly 80% of new
cars sold have them available as standard or optional equipment. Pickup trucks lag behind passenger cars with side airbag available only in about 50% of the new pickups on the market.
Quote of the week: Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt
Friday, November 2, 2007
Be careful around the house
Many people are cutting wood and getting ready for winter. Remember to practice chain saw safety (see the hyperlink under Safety links on the right).
If you're putting up storm windows or Christmas lights, be sure your ladder is on firm ground (better yet - find some one to hold it for you). Falls are the No. 1 cause of injuries in and around the house.
We turn our clocks back this weekend. This is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and CO2 Monitors.
Those of you with a fireplace -- when was the last time you had a chimney sweep clean out your chimney? Chimney fires are far too common, do it today!
Have you had the furnace serviced lately? How about the filters -- disposables filters should be changed out monthly.
And remember, Life is what you make it...So MAKE IT GREAT!!!!!!!!!
If you're putting up storm windows or Christmas lights, be sure your ladder is on firm ground (better yet - find some one to hold it for you). Falls are the No. 1 cause of injuries in and around the house.
We turn our clocks back this weekend. This is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and CO2 Monitors.
Those of you with a fireplace -- when was the last time you had a chimney sweep clean out your chimney? Chimney fires are far too common, do it today!
Have you had the furnace serviced lately? How about the filters -- disposables filters should be changed out monthly.
And remember, Life is what you make it...So MAKE IT GREAT!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Don't forget the Family!!!
Buying Time...
The man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his 5 year old son waiting for him at the door. "Daddy, may I ask you a question?" Yeah, sure, what is it?" replied the man. "Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?" "That's none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily. "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?" pleaded the little boy. "If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour." "Oh," the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, "Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?" The father was furious. "If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you're being so selfish. I work long, hard hours everyday and don't have time for such childish games." The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boy's questioning. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money! After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00, and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door. "Are you asleep son?" he asked. "No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy. "I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said the man. "It's been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here's that $10.00 you asked for." The little boy sat straight up, beaming. "Oh, thank you daddy!" he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money then looked up at the man.
"Why did you want more money if you already had some?" the father grumbled. Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied. "Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?"
Give the family some time this weekend and have some fun!
The man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his 5 year old son waiting for him at the door. "Daddy, may I ask you a question?" Yeah, sure, what is it?" replied the man. "Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?" "That's none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily. "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?" pleaded the little boy. "If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour." "Oh," the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, "Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?" The father was furious. "If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you're being so selfish. I work long, hard hours everyday and don't have time for such childish games." The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boy's questioning. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money! After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00, and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door. "Are you asleep son?" he asked. "No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy. "I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said the man. "It's been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here's that $10.00 you asked for." The little boy sat straight up, beaming. "Oh, thank you daddy!" he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money then looked up at the man.
"Why did you want more money if you already had some?" the father grumbled. Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied. "Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?"
Give the family some time this weekend and have some fun!
What I've Learned In Life...
(I do not know where I got this but it is good!)
I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries whenwe sing "Silent Night." Age 6
I've learned that you can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. Age 7
I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. Age 9
I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it,Mom makes me clean it up. Age 13
I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up,you should try cheering someone else up. Age 14
I've learned that although it's hard to admit it,I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me. Age 15
I've learned that silent company is often more healingthan words of advice. Age 24
I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life'sgreat pleasures. Age 26
I've learned that wherever I go, the world’s worst drivershave followed me there. Age 29
I've learned...that if someone says something unkind about me,I must live so that no one will believe it. Age 39
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don'tknow how to show it. Age 41
I've learned that you can make someone's day by simplysending them a little card. Age 44
I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greaterhis need to cast blame on others. Age 46
I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 47
I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift myspirits for hours. Age 49
I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the sideaway from the phone. Age 50
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way hehandles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage,and tangled Christmas tree lights. Age 52
I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills. Age 52
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents,you miss them terribly after they die. Age 53
I've learned that making a living is not the same thingas making a life. Age 58
I've learned that if you want to do something positivefor your children, try to improve your marriage. Age 61
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with acatchers mitt on both hands. You need to be ableto throw something back. Age 64
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.But if you focus on your family, the needs of others,your work, meeting new people, and doing the verybest you can, happiness will find you. Age 65
I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness,I usually make the right decision. Age 66
I've learned that everyone can use a prayer. Age 72
I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles. And to tell the truth,I've seen several. Age 73
I've learned that even when I have pains,I don't have to be one. Age 82
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.People love that human touch-holding hands, a warm hug,or just a friendly pat on the back. Age 85
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. Age 92
I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries whenwe sing "Silent Night." Age 6
I've learned that you can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. Age 7
I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. Age 9
I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it,Mom makes me clean it up. Age 13
I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up,you should try cheering someone else up. Age 14
I've learned that although it's hard to admit it,I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me. Age 15
I've learned that silent company is often more healingthan words of advice. Age 24
I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life'sgreat pleasures. Age 26
I've learned that wherever I go, the world’s worst drivershave followed me there. Age 29
I've learned...that if someone says something unkind about me,I must live so that no one will believe it. Age 39
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don'tknow how to show it. Age 41
I've learned that you can make someone's day by simplysending them a little card. Age 44
I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greaterhis need to cast blame on others. Age 46
I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 47
I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift myspirits for hours. Age 49
I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the sideaway from the phone. Age 50
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way hehandles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage,and tangled Christmas tree lights. Age 52
I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills. Age 52
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents,you miss them terribly after they die. Age 53
I've learned that making a living is not the same thingas making a life. Age 58
I've learned that if you want to do something positivefor your children, try to improve your marriage. Age 61
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with acatchers mitt on both hands. You need to be ableto throw something back. Age 64
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.But if you focus on your family, the needs of others,your work, meeting new people, and doing the verybest you can, happiness will find you. Age 65
I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness,I usually make the right decision. Age 66
I've learned that everyone can use a prayer. Age 72
I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles. And to tell the truth,I've seen several. Age 73
I've learned that even when I have pains,I don't have to be one. Age 82
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.People love that human touch-holding hands, a warm hug,or just a friendly pat on the back. Age 85
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. Age 92
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tidbits 1/08/07
Walk for the Health of it
Walking is the one exercise that almost anyone can do, regardless of age or level of physical fitness. Everyone has something to gain from a brisk 30-minute walk enjoyed several times a week. Benefits include: increased cardiovascular fitness, reduced stress, increase energy, improved eating and sleeping habits, and a lowered risk of heart disease and stroke. ‘Take a Walk’... it’ll do you some good!
Education
"What would life be without the constant struggles we must go through, struggles that teach us so much about ourselves?" --Janine Staplins
The Deadly Dozen
Acquaint yourself with the items listed below; these are the major causes of accidents and injury. The ranking may change from year to year, but these are some of the main things to watch for if you want to protect your people. (From our friends at USF&G Ins.)
Unsafe Actions
1.) Unauthorized use/operation of equipment.
2.) Removing, by-passing or making safety devices inoperative.
3.) Servicing moving or working equipment.
4.) Operating or working at an unsafe speed.
5.) Failure to wear the proper protective equipment.
6.) Failure to secure or tie down against unexpected movement.
7.) Using defective tools or equipment.
8.) Using tools or equipment in an unsafe manner.
9.) Standing in an unsafe place or taking an unsafe posture.
10.) Riding hazardous moving equipment.
11.) Horse-play, distracting, startling and goofing around.
12.) Failure to warn or signal as required.
Unsafe Conditions
1.) Inadequate guards or safety devices
2.) Unexpected movement hazard
3.) Poor Housekeeping
4.) Protruding object hazards
5.) Close clearance or congestion hazards
6.) Hazardous arrangement, placement, or storage
7.) Inadequate illumination
8.) Lack of an adequate warning system
9.) Fire and explosion hazards
10.) Hazardous defects of tools or equipment
11.) Hazardous atmospheric conditions
12.) Hazardous personal attire (loose clothing, long hair, jewelry, etc.)
Give it a shot
"Treat people as if they were what they should be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." --Johan von Goethe
Walking is the one exercise that almost anyone can do, regardless of age or level of physical fitness. Everyone has something to gain from a brisk 30-minute walk enjoyed several times a week. Benefits include: increased cardiovascular fitness, reduced stress, increase energy, improved eating and sleeping habits, and a lowered risk of heart disease and stroke. ‘Take a Walk’... it’ll do you some good!
Education
"What would life be without the constant struggles we must go through, struggles that teach us so much about ourselves?" --Janine Staplins
The Deadly Dozen
Acquaint yourself with the items listed below; these are the major causes of accidents and injury. The ranking may change from year to year, but these are some of the main things to watch for if you want to protect your people. (From our friends at USF&G Ins.)
Unsafe Actions
1.) Unauthorized use/operation of equipment.
2.) Removing, by-passing or making safety devices inoperative.
3.) Servicing moving or working equipment.
4.) Operating or working at an unsafe speed.
5.) Failure to wear the proper protective equipment.
6.) Failure to secure or tie down against unexpected movement.
7.) Using defective tools or equipment.
8.) Using tools or equipment in an unsafe manner.
9.) Standing in an unsafe place or taking an unsafe posture.
10.) Riding hazardous moving equipment.
11.) Horse-play, distracting, startling and goofing around.
12.) Failure to warn or signal as required.
Unsafe Conditions
1.) Inadequate guards or safety devices
2.) Unexpected movement hazard
3.) Poor Housekeeping
4.) Protruding object hazards
5.) Close clearance or congestion hazards
6.) Hazardous arrangement, placement, or storage
7.) Inadequate illumination
8.) Lack of an adequate warning system
9.) Fire and explosion hazards
10.) Hazardous defects of tools or equipment
11.) Hazardous atmospheric conditions
12.) Hazardous personal attire (loose clothing, long hair, jewelry, etc.)
Give it a shot
"Treat people as if they were what they should be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." --Johan von Goethe
2007 Health and Safety Tip 2
Hand Tools -- Inspect them daily!
Use the right tool for the job you are performing. Taking shortcuts often leads to injury…take the time to do it right!
Need a screwdriver? Use the right size and type and secure the piece you are working with to avoid hand injury. If you need an awl or a chisel get one...don't use a screwdriver.
Hammer Time? Remember the claw hammer is for carpentry, the machinist's hammer for machine work. And, always make sure your swing radius is clear when using a sledge.
Mushroomed heads on hammers, chisels, punches, etc. must be ground down for safety or pieces can break free and cause injury to you or a co-worker.
Keep sharp edged tools in a safe position at all times. A tool belt is a good idea for tool transport…and a safer alternative then having them in your pockets.
Never use a hammer with a hardened metal face on a highly tempered chisel, wedge or other tool. One or both are to be of a soft steel type to prevent metal fragments.
Wrench it! It is better to pull than to push and face the jaws in the direction of the pull. Stand to the side when pulling down on wrenches above your head and remember... Cheater pipes can get you in trouble.
File it under Safety. Don't use a file without a handle and never use a file as a pry bar…they are brittle and will break.
Check your Bite! If using a pry bar be sure your bite is secure by applying slight pressure initially. Then, check your balance before exerting your full force.
Look at your tools every shift - Broken, damaged or defective tools must be tagged and turned in for repair or replacement.
Keep an edge on your pocket knive and other blades…injuries are more common with a dull blade! And to avoid cutting yourself, always cut away from your body.
Watch where you lay your tools and equipment. Keep them off stairways and out of main walkways. And finally, Keep those tools CLEAN!
Action is worry’s worst enemy. --American Proverb
"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." --Henry David Thoreau
Keep up the good fight… people are starting to listen. --Safety Wayne
Use the right tool for the job you are performing. Taking shortcuts often leads to injury…take the time to do it right!
Need a screwdriver? Use the right size and type and secure the piece you are working with to avoid hand injury. If you need an awl or a chisel get one...don't use a screwdriver.
Hammer Time? Remember the claw hammer is for carpentry, the machinist's hammer for machine work. And, always make sure your swing radius is clear when using a sledge.
Mushroomed heads on hammers, chisels, punches, etc. must be ground down for safety or pieces can break free and cause injury to you or a co-worker.
Keep sharp edged tools in a safe position at all times. A tool belt is a good idea for tool transport…and a safer alternative then having them in your pockets.
Never use a hammer with a hardened metal face on a highly tempered chisel, wedge or other tool. One or both are to be of a soft steel type to prevent metal fragments.
Wrench it! It is better to pull than to push and face the jaws in the direction of the pull. Stand to the side when pulling down on wrenches above your head and remember... Cheater pipes can get you in trouble.
File it under Safety. Don't use a file without a handle and never use a file as a pry bar…they are brittle and will break.
Check your Bite! If using a pry bar be sure your bite is secure by applying slight pressure initially. Then, check your balance before exerting your full force.
Look at your tools every shift - Broken, damaged or defective tools must be tagged and turned in for repair or replacement.
Keep an edge on your pocket knive and other blades…injuries are more common with a dull blade! And to avoid cutting yourself, always cut away from your body.
Watch where you lay your tools and equipment. Keep them off stairways and out of main walkways. And finally, Keep those tools CLEAN!
Action is worry’s worst enemy. --American Proverb
"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." --Henry David Thoreau
Keep up the good fight… people are starting to listen. --Safety Wayne
Safety Tidbits – 1/03/07
-January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month. Make a Difference – Donate Today…it could Save a Life!
-In a recent survey, employees were asked what they wanted from an employer… the Top Three Responses were Appreciation for work done (hearing Thanks!); Feeling In on things (being in the loop - part of the team) and Understanding of personal issues (compassion).
No worries mate!
“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.”
–Joey Adams
Talk to the Kids about Driving Safely
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 1- to 34-year olds in the U.S. According to the U.S. DOT, 3,620 drivers in the15-20 age group died in car crashes in 2004, accounting for 14 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 18 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes. Twenty-four percent of the teen drivers killed were intoxicated. In 2002 (latest data available) the estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 years old was $40.8 billion, according to the NHTSA. Teenage deaths due to motor vehicle accidents occur on weekends 53% of the time. Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a youth passenger in automobile 45% of the time.
Most Americans (61 percent) think that 16-year-olds are too young to drive, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll. The poll, conducted in December 2004, also found that 53 percent thought that licenses should not be issued until the age of 18.
Anyway
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
Love Them Anyway.
If you do good people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Do Good Anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them;
Help People Anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies;
Succeed Anyway.
Give the world your best and you will get kicked in the teeth;
Give The World Your Best Anyway!
Taken from a sign on the wall in the Calcutta Children’s Home founded by Mother Teresa.
Fire Safety Review
Fires kill approximately 5,500 Americans and injure over 300,000 each year. The major causes of home fires: Smoking 26%, Incendiary or Suspicious 16%, Heating 14%, Child Playing 10%, Electrical Distribution 10%, Cooking 8%.
-Teach the family to STOP, DROP and ROLL if clothes catch fire. Purchase collapsible LADDERS, if you have small children, and practice using them. Source: NFPA
-Nearly 3/5 of the residential fatalities occur in homes without a WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS! Purchase quality smoke detectors and replace batteries annually.
-A carbon monoxide detector is also a good idea. Source: USFA
Quote of the Week
“The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.” --Theodore Rubin
-In a recent survey, employees were asked what they wanted from an employer… the Top Three Responses were Appreciation for work done (hearing Thanks!); Feeling In on things (being in the loop - part of the team) and Understanding of personal issues (compassion).
No worries mate!
“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.”
–Joey Adams
Talk to the Kids about Driving Safely
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 1- to 34-year olds in the U.S. According to the U.S. DOT, 3,620 drivers in the15-20 age group died in car crashes in 2004, accounting for 14 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 18 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes. Twenty-four percent of the teen drivers killed were intoxicated. In 2002 (latest data available) the estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 years old was $40.8 billion, according to the NHTSA. Teenage deaths due to motor vehicle accidents occur on weekends 53% of the time. Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a youth passenger in automobile 45% of the time.
Most Americans (61 percent) think that 16-year-olds are too young to drive, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll. The poll, conducted in December 2004, also found that 53 percent thought that licenses should not be issued until the age of 18.
Anyway
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
Love Them Anyway.
If you do good people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Do Good Anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them;
Help People Anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies;
Succeed Anyway.
Give the world your best and you will get kicked in the teeth;
Give The World Your Best Anyway!
Taken from a sign on the wall in the Calcutta Children’s Home founded by Mother Teresa.
Fire Safety Review
Fires kill approximately 5,500 Americans and injure over 300,000 each year. The major causes of home fires: Smoking 26%, Incendiary or Suspicious 16%, Heating 14%, Child Playing 10%, Electrical Distribution 10%, Cooking 8%.
-Teach the family to STOP, DROP and ROLL if clothes catch fire. Purchase collapsible LADDERS, if you have small children, and practice using them. Source: NFPA
-Nearly 3/5 of the residential fatalities occur in homes without a WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS! Purchase quality smoke detectors and replace batteries annually.
-A carbon monoxide detector is also a good idea. Source: USFA
Quote of the Week
“The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.” --Theodore Rubin
2007 Week 1
Health and Safety Tip 1 -- MAKE TIME FOR SAFETY especially when performing NON-Routine Tasks!!!
Many of us will be going into our annual outage or turn-around in the very near future. Here are a few things to remember.
-Safety Starts with Training - Make sure your contractors and their subs have the required training before they start work at your facility.
-Lock it out and Tag it - PUSH LO/TO, de-energize and verify…One Lock and tag for each person at risk!
-Accident Potential Increases - whenever non-routine tasks are performed.
-Multiple Projects - Increased Concern - keep all parties in the loop…daily planning and progress meetings are a great idea.
-Focus on Communication - You'll be fighting tight schedules, extended shifts and sleep deprivation…all of which can affect decision making. You need to Communicate Effectively!
-Tie-off that Ladder - See last week's Tidbits
-Follow Proper Lifting Techniques - Remind workers to use mechanical means whenever possible, bend at the knee not at the waist, keep the load close, avoid bending and twisting at the same time…etc.
-Consider Environmental Factors - and plan accordingly. Wind, rain, ice and snow can and do cause problems for man and machine.
-Mind the Little Stuff - Take care of housekeeping Before it presents a hazard! A dirty worksite can present slip, trip and fall hazards.
-Audit and Inspect - Conditions change continually when outage work is going on…keep an eye on changes especially those which may affect worker safety.
Plan your work and Work your Plan…MSHA spells it S.L.A.M.
Henry Ford said it best, "Before anything else, getting ready is the key to success."
Many of us will be going into our annual outage or turn-around in the very near future. Here are a few things to remember.
-Safety Starts with Training - Make sure your contractors and their subs have the required training before they start work at your facility.
-Lock it out and Tag it - PUSH LO/TO, de-energize and verify…One Lock and tag for each person at risk!
-Accident Potential Increases - whenever non-routine tasks are performed.
-Multiple Projects - Increased Concern - keep all parties in the loop…daily planning and progress meetings are a great idea.
-Focus on Communication - You'll be fighting tight schedules, extended shifts and sleep deprivation…all of which can affect decision making. You need to Communicate Effectively!
-Tie-off that Ladder - See last week's Tidbits
-Follow Proper Lifting Techniques - Remind workers to use mechanical means whenever possible, bend at the knee not at the waist, keep the load close, avoid bending and twisting at the same time…etc.
-Consider Environmental Factors - and plan accordingly. Wind, rain, ice and snow can and do cause problems for man and machine.
-Mind the Little Stuff - Take care of housekeeping Before it presents a hazard! A dirty worksite can present slip, trip and fall hazards.
-Audit and Inspect - Conditions change continually when outage work is going on…keep an eye on changes especially those which may affect worker safety.
Plan your work and Work your Plan…MSHA spells it S.L.A.M.
Henry Ford said it best, "Before anything else, getting ready is the key to success."
Safety Tidbits 9/3/07
Did you know…
-You can save about $100/year with a programmable thermostat and replacing your five most used lights with Energy Star-rated ones can save you another $60 annually..
-You should never use bug sprays for humans on your animals (they are not formulated for animal use).
-A headache is your body’s cry for help. You should consult a physician if you have recurring headaches.
-42% of Americans say they eat dinner in front of the TV everyday (no wonder why we have communication problems and weight issues in this country).
-Annually, 76 Million Americans suffer food-borne illnesses and about 5,000 do not survive the experience. Restaurants are the source of at least half of the exposures.
Think about it
“If you want to be respected, be respectable. If you want to be liked, be likeable. If you want to be loved be loveable. And, if you want to be employed, be employable.” –William Boetcker
Preventing a Charley Horse
Charley horse is the common name for a muscle spasm that usually occurs in the legs. It begins suddenly and may cause severe pain when the muscle won’t relax. Muscle spasms often occur after exercise and at night. They may last for a few seconds to several minutes, and usually occur when a muscle has been over-worked or strained. Other causes may include: a.) Exercising while dehydrated, b.) A mineral deficiency
c.)Not enough blood getting to the muscles
No matter the cause, for fast relief, stop your activity and stretch or massage the muscle. To prevent charley horses from happening in the first place, stretch everyday to improve flexibility, don’t overdo your workouts, drink plenty of fluids, and increase your potassium intake. Source: Medline Plus @ nlm.nih.gov
Everything Changes
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” –John F. Kennedy
Watch it!
Watch your thoughts for they become words;
Watch your words for they become actions;
Watch your actions for they become habits;
Watch your habits for they become character;
Watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
-Thanks Mike
Quote of the Week
"The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already." -John Buchan
-You can save about $100/year with a programmable thermostat and replacing your five most used lights with Energy Star-rated ones can save you another $60 annually..
-You should never use bug sprays for humans on your animals (they are not formulated for animal use).
-A headache is your body’s cry for help. You should consult a physician if you have recurring headaches.
-42% of Americans say they eat dinner in front of the TV everyday (no wonder why we have communication problems and weight issues in this country).
-Annually, 76 Million Americans suffer food-borne illnesses and about 5,000 do not survive the experience. Restaurants are the source of at least half of the exposures.
Think about it
“If you want to be respected, be respectable. If you want to be liked, be likeable. If you want to be loved be loveable. And, if you want to be employed, be employable.” –William Boetcker
Preventing a Charley Horse
Charley horse is the common name for a muscle spasm that usually occurs in the legs. It begins suddenly and may cause severe pain when the muscle won’t relax. Muscle spasms often occur after exercise and at night. They may last for a few seconds to several minutes, and usually occur when a muscle has been over-worked or strained. Other causes may include: a.) Exercising while dehydrated, b.) A mineral deficiency
c.)Not enough blood getting to the muscles
No matter the cause, for fast relief, stop your activity and stretch or massage the muscle. To prevent charley horses from happening in the first place, stretch everyday to improve flexibility, don’t overdo your workouts, drink plenty of fluids, and increase your potassium intake. Source: Medline Plus @ nlm.nih.gov
Everything Changes
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” –John F. Kennedy
Watch it!
Watch your thoughts for they become words;
Watch your words for they become actions;
Watch your actions for they become habits;
Watch your habits for they become character;
Watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
-Thanks Mike
Quote of the Week
"The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already." -John Buchan
Safety Tidbits 8/27/07
If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right
“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Vincent Lombardi, NFL Coach
Motorcycle fatalities on the rise
My teenage son wants a motorcycle a ‘crotch rocket’ because some of his friends have them. I told him he doesn’t need one and the NHTSA agrees with me. Here is some information from the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
All data is from 2005.
-4453 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents in the United States (a 13% increase over 2004).
-87,000 additional motorcyclists were injured in traffic accidents (a 14% increase).
-34% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
-Forty-one percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2005 had a blood alcohol concentration of .0.08 g/dL or higher.
-The majority of fatalities involved drivers under the age of 30 years.
-Per vehicle mile motorcyclists are 34% more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic accident.
-Helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists.
The right attitude can get you through it
“Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force.” Tom Blandi, French literary theorist and author
Did you Know…
Each year, approximately 109 work-related fatalities occur in Oklahoma, and 20 involve machinery; Nationally, the top three work-related killers are motor vehicle accidents, falls and homicides, in that order.
Obesity is an epidemic in the U.S and more than half of Americans are overweight; one-third of Americans are obese.
Obesity is on the rise because high calorie, high fat food is abundant and physical activity is optional.
Oklahoma is ranked 14th highest in the nation for obese adults and 16th highest in the nation for overweight high schools students.
One in every five children under the age of fourteen years old is overweight.
Quote of the Week:
“One man with courage makes a majority.” –Andrew Jackson
“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Vincent Lombardi, NFL Coach
Motorcycle fatalities on the rise
My teenage son wants a motorcycle a ‘crotch rocket’ because some of his friends have them. I told him he doesn’t need one and the NHTSA agrees with me. Here is some information from the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
All data is from 2005.
-4453 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents in the United States (a 13% increase over 2004).
-87,000 additional motorcyclists were injured in traffic accidents (a 14% increase).
-34% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
-Forty-one percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2005 had a blood alcohol concentration of .0.08 g/dL or higher.
-The majority of fatalities involved drivers under the age of 30 years.
-Per vehicle mile motorcyclists are 34% more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic accident.
-Helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists.
The right attitude can get you through it
“Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force.” Tom Blandi, French literary theorist and author
Did you Know…
Each year, approximately 109 work-related fatalities occur in Oklahoma, and 20 involve machinery; Nationally, the top three work-related killers are motor vehicle accidents, falls and homicides, in that order.
Obesity is an epidemic in the U.S and more than half of Americans are overweight; one-third of Americans are obese.
Obesity is on the rise because high calorie, high fat food is abundant and physical activity is optional.
Oklahoma is ranked 14th highest in the nation for obese adults and 16th highest in the nation for overweight high schools students.
One in every five children under the age of fourteen years old is overweight.
Quote of the Week:
“One man with courage makes a majority.” –Andrew Jackson
Safety Tip for Week 35
Safety follows Wisdom
That is the PCA slogan, and wisdom usually follows leadership. Everybody needs to be a Safety Leader!
Leadership…what is it?
Here are some definitions pulled off the web
Leadership is an interactive conversation that pulls people toward becoming comfortable with the language of personal responsibility and commitment. –CoachThee.com
A leader is ANYONE who can show us what direction to pursue on a specific topic. -Leadersdirect.com
Leadership is not just for people at the top. Everyone can learn to lead by discovering the power that lies within each one of us to make a difference.
Choose to make a difference, take an active role for SAFETY! We all see things every week (sometimes every day) that need to be addressed. Ignoring these safety issues is not the answer! Problems do not just go away, they have to be addressed. Remember: MSHA says defects affecting safety have to be addressed ‘in a timely fashion’. So, Make the Right Choice - Choose to Make a Difference!
-Report unsafe conditions, immediately!
-Intervene and Stop unsafe acts (use a positive approach)
-Report injuries and near misses when they happen
An effective safety program requires everyone to be actively engaged. Be a team player…the team is counting on you to do your part.
"Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things."
-Peter F. Drucker
If you are unhappy with the results in your life or organization, it may be time to make some change. Pete Senge says, "Every organization is uniquely designed to exactly produce the results it achieves".
Now be careful out there!
Safety Wayne
Aspire to be a bigger person
"Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous -- not just to some people in some circumstances -- but to everyone all the time." -Thomas J. Watson, Founder of IBM
That is the PCA slogan, and wisdom usually follows leadership. Everybody needs to be a Safety Leader!
Leadership…what is it?
Here are some definitions pulled off the web
Leadership is an interactive conversation that pulls people toward becoming comfortable with the language of personal responsibility and commitment. –CoachThee.com
A leader is ANYONE who can show us what direction to pursue on a specific topic. -Leadersdirect.com
Leadership is not just for people at the top. Everyone can learn to lead by discovering the power that lies within each one of us to make a difference.
Choose to make a difference, take an active role for SAFETY! We all see things every week (sometimes every day) that need to be addressed. Ignoring these safety issues is not the answer! Problems do not just go away, they have to be addressed. Remember: MSHA says defects affecting safety have to be addressed ‘in a timely fashion’. So, Make the Right Choice - Choose to Make a Difference!
-Report unsafe conditions, immediately!
-Intervene and Stop unsafe acts (use a positive approach)
-Report injuries and near misses when they happen
An effective safety program requires everyone to be actively engaged. Be a team player…the team is counting on you to do your part.
"Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things."
-Peter F. Drucker
If you are unhappy with the results in your life or organization, it may be time to make some change. Pete Senge says, "Every organization is uniquely designed to exactly produce the results it achieves".
Now be careful out there!
Safety Wayne
Aspire to be a bigger person
"Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous -- not just to some people in some circumstances -- but to everyone all the time." -Thomas J. Watson, Founder of IBM
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Safety Tip of the Week
Safety…Just Do It Part 2 of 2. Do you ever watch people and wonder why… like why did five people walk by that coffee cup or pop can and yet none of them bothered to pick it up? Or maybe, you’ve seen co-workers walk by an oil spill or fail to yield at a blind corner…do you ever say anything to them? One thing I cannot understand is why people don’t take a more active role in Safety (it costs nothing…unless we say or do nothing, then it could cost someone dearly!!!). It reminds me of the old story about Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody?
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
Sounds an awful lot like the hurdles we face when it comes to Safety doesn’t it? Maybe that is why we continue to see co-workers getting injured on the job. Maybe that is why the fatalities continue… because we (you and I) are not stepping up to the plate every time we get the chance.
Are we taking the initiative to Stop each unsafe act, and correct each unsafe condition? If not, "What are we waiting for?" We need to be consistent…we cannot tolerate unsafe conditions and we must intervene every time we witness an unsafe act, even if it means upsetting somebody. To those of you who are stepping up to the plate THANK YOU! To those who are still not on board, don’t wait for a serious injury to open your eyes. Be proactive! Be somebody! Together we are making a difference.
Safety… Just Do it!
"I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody." -Lily Tomlin
"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off." -General Colin Powell
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
Sounds an awful lot like the hurdles we face when it comes to Safety doesn’t it? Maybe that is why we continue to see co-workers getting injured on the job. Maybe that is why the fatalities continue… because we (you and I) are not stepping up to the plate every time we get the chance.
Are we taking the initiative to Stop each unsafe act, and correct each unsafe condition? If not, "What are we waiting for?" We need to be consistent…we cannot tolerate unsafe conditions and we must intervene every time we witness an unsafe act, even if it means upsetting somebody. To those of you who are stepping up to the plate THANK YOU! To those who are still not on board, don’t wait for a serious injury to open your eyes. Be proactive! Be somebody! Together we are making a difference.
Safety… Just Do it!
"I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody." -Lily Tomlin
"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off." -General Colin Powell
Safety Tip of the Week
Remember the Small Stuff!
Plan your work and work your plan! A little planning can safe a lot of time. Many people are injured trying to make up time lost from failing to plan.
Know the job and check the work area Before you Start! Make sure you have the tools you need to do the job safely and see that the area is safe to work in! Don't get hurt by an unexpected hazard.
Follow company PPE requirements. Some areas are marked 'Dual Protection Required' because noise levels are loud enough to damage your hearing. If dust masks or face shields are required be sure to have these items at your disposal.
Use a ground fault circuit interrupter in wet areas. Make sure that the housing on double insulated tools is intact and never cut ground plugs off of tools or equipment.
Power tools should always be used in the constant finger pressure mode. Never remove or disable equipment guards and if you find guards missing tag the tool out of service.
Maintain your focus! Remember to keep your focus on the task at hand. Keep track of both hands at all times and be aware of others in your work area.
Non-routine Tasks can be dangerous! Many workers are injured performing non-routine tasks. The risk is even greater during after-hour or extended shifts.
The job isn't over until the clean up is done!
Housekeeping is an ongoing process. Yes, it is important to clean up the work area once a task is completed, but it is just as important to pick up (trash, debris, tools, etc.) throughout the day.
Safety…it really is up to YOU!
Have a Great week!!
Plan your work and work your plan! A little planning can safe a lot of time. Many people are injured trying to make up time lost from failing to plan.
Know the job and check the work area Before you Start! Make sure you have the tools you need to do the job safely and see that the area is safe to work in! Don't get hurt by an unexpected hazard.
Follow company PPE requirements. Some areas are marked 'Dual Protection Required' because noise levels are loud enough to damage your hearing. If dust masks or face shields are required be sure to have these items at your disposal.
Use a ground fault circuit interrupter in wet areas. Make sure that the housing on double insulated tools is intact and never cut ground plugs off of tools or equipment.
Power tools should always be used in the constant finger pressure mode. Never remove or disable equipment guards and if you find guards missing tag the tool out of service.
Maintain your focus! Remember to keep your focus on the task at hand. Keep track of both hands at all times and be aware of others in your work area.
Non-routine Tasks can be dangerous! Many workers are injured performing non-routine tasks. The risk is even greater during after-hour or extended shifts.
The job isn't over until the clean up is done!
Housekeeping is an ongoing process. Yes, it is important to clean up the work area once a task is completed, but it is just as important to pick up (trash, debris, tools, etc.) throughout the day.
Safety…it really is up to YOU!
Have a Great week!!
Safety Tip for Week 43
Why is Safety such a tough sell?
O.K., we gave you the PPE, yet some employees don't always where it…why is that?
The personal protective equipment is purchased to help keep you safe. It can only work when it is used properly.
When you see a co-worker not wearing his/her PPE please remind them that they need it. They may get mad but they'll get over it.
Pre-shift equipment inspections are required to ensure that the equipment is safe to operate, yet some employees pencil whip them…why? We pay you to conduct a thorough inspection. Please take these inspections seriously - document and report deficiencies, immediately!
Supervisors may be responsible for documenting Workplace Inspections but employees should never just walk by a safety hazard. Everyone is responsible for ensuring that their workplace is free of recognized hazards. When you see an unsafe condition address it or report it on the spot. See an unsafe act, intervene immediately!
Supervisors have to make field decisions daily…some put production first, others take risks that they wouldn't let their subordinates take…why is that? The message should be clear, Safety cannot be compromised. If it is unsafe for a worker it is unsafe for the supervisor too! Take all safety concerns seriously and address them in a timely fashion. And contact a manager if you have any questions.
Buy into the Safety Program because it takes all of us working together, everyday, to be successful!
Safety means getting home at the end of the shift, everyday…please do your part and Stay SAFE!
Thank you!!!
Safety Wayne
O.K., we gave you the PPE, yet some employees don't always where it…why is that?
The personal protective equipment is purchased to help keep you safe. It can only work when it is used properly.
When you see a co-worker not wearing his/her PPE please remind them that they need it. They may get mad but they'll get over it.
Pre-shift equipment inspections are required to ensure that the equipment is safe to operate, yet some employees pencil whip them…why? We pay you to conduct a thorough inspection. Please take these inspections seriously - document and report deficiencies, immediately!
Supervisors may be responsible for documenting Workplace Inspections but employees should never just walk by a safety hazard. Everyone is responsible for ensuring that their workplace is free of recognized hazards. When you see an unsafe condition address it or report it on the spot. See an unsafe act, intervene immediately!
Supervisors have to make field decisions daily…some put production first, others take risks that they wouldn't let their subordinates take…why is that? The message should be clear, Safety cannot be compromised. If it is unsafe for a worker it is unsafe for the supervisor too! Take all safety concerns seriously and address them in a timely fashion. And contact a manager if you have any questions.
Buy into the Safety Program because it takes all of us working together, everyday, to be successful!
Safety means getting home at the end of the shift, everyday…please do your part and Stay SAFE!
Thank you!!!
Safety Wayne
Safety Tidbits 10/22/07
FYI
-Protect your Eyes! Sight accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all sensory perceptions.
-Early PPE! The first US Marines wore high leather collars to protect their necks from sabers, hence the name “leathernecks.”
Are You Trained?-Experts estimate that up to 25% of emergency room visits could be avoided if more people knew first aid.
-Drink in moderation! Alcoholism is a leading cause of osteoporosis in men.
Remember This…
“If you don't run your own life, someone else will.” --John Atkinson
Save Your Back
An estimated 8 out of 10 Americans will have a back injury at some point.
In 2002, 411,000 on the job back injuries occurred – or more than 1000 a day.
When LIFTING, get as close to the load as you can and grasp it firmly. Keep your back as straight as possible and use your more powerful leg muscles to lift.
Always PUSH, do not pull if possible. DO NOT TWIST when you lift and carry.
Sleeping rests the back so for best results sleep on your side with KNEES BENT or on your back with knees elevated (use a pillow).
A Lady Knows
"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." --Margaret Thatcher
Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters
The CPSC reminds parents that each year many children are hurt while trick-or-treating. Below are a few tips to follow to avoid injury.
Take children out early before it gets totally dark.
Children should carry flashlights to see easily and use reflective strips to aid in being seen.
Purchase or make costumes of light colored materials.
Costumes should be short enough so that children won’t trip.
Sword, knives and other accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.
Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes.
Children should wear sturdy, well-fitting shoes.
Inspect all candy prior to letting your children consume it.
Warn children of the dangers of fire from jack-o-lanterns. Source: CPSC
Thought of the Week: Make Good Choices
You must learn to face the fact, always, that you choose to do what you do, and that everything you do affects not only you but others. --Holly Lisle
-Protect your Eyes! Sight accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all sensory perceptions.
-Early PPE! The first US Marines wore high leather collars to protect their necks from sabers, hence the name “leathernecks.”
Are You Trained?-Experts estimate that up to 25% of emergency room visits could be avoided if more people knew first aid.
-Drink in moderation! Alcoholism is a leading cause of osteoporosis in men.
Remember This…
“If you don't run your own life, someone else will.” --John Atkinson
Save Your Back
An estimated 8 out of 10 Americans will have a back injury at some point.
In 2002, 411,000 on the job back injuries occurred – or more than 1000 a day.
When LIFTING, get as close to the load as you can and grasp it firmly. Keep your back as straight as possible and use your more powerful leg muscles to lift.
Always PUSH, do not pull if possible. DO NOT TWIST when you lift and carry.
Sleeping rests the back so for best results sleep on your side with KNEES BENT or on your back with knees elevated (use a pillow).
A Lady Knows
"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." --Margaret Thatcher
Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treaters
The CPSC reminds parents that each year many children are hurt while trick-or-treating. Below are a few tips to follow to avoid injury.
Take children out early before it gets totally dark.
Children should carry flashlights to see easily and use reflective strips to aid in being seen.
Purchase or make costumes of light colored materials.
Costumes should be short enough so that children won’t trip.
Sword, knives and other accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.
Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes.
Children should wear sturdy, well-fitting shoes.
Inspect all candy prior to letting your children consume it.
Warn children of the dangers of fire from jack-o-lanterns. Source: CPSC
Thought of the Week: Make Good Choices
You must learn to face the fact, always, that you choose to do what you do, and that everything you do affects not only you but others. --Holly Lisle
Basic First Aid Tips
When an injury or medical emergency occurs, seconds count. Anybody can call for help. So call for an ambulance if you think one is needed. Ambulance services do not charge a fee unless they transport a patient and they can always be turned around.
DO NOT render first aid unless you have been properly trained to do so. Always call for an ambulance if the situation looks bad.
Before assisting a victim, protect yourself first. Assess the scene and determine the prevalent hazards, if any. Whenever possible, wear gloves to protect yourself from blood and other bodily fluids.
When an emergency occurs, make sure the victim's tongue does not block his/her airway and that the mouth is free of any secretions and foreign objects. It's extremely important that the person is breathing freely. And if not, you must administer artificial respiration promptly.
Act fast! If the victim is not breathing start CPR (if you have the training), or if the victim is bleeding severely. Remember every second counts. Open cuts and or bleeding? Apply direct pressure and/or elevate the wound and use the pressure points if necessary.
Do not move a person with serious neck or back injuries unless you have to save him from further danger. If he has vomited and there is no danger that his neck is broken, turn him aside to prevent choking and keep him warm by covering him with blankets or coats.
If you are busy administering first aid have someone else call for help. The person who summons help should explain the nature of the emergency and ask what should be done pending the arrival of the ambulance. Reassure the victim, and try to remain calm until a member of the Emergency Response Team or outside help arrives. Your calmness can relieve the fear and panic of the patient.
Tips
·
Heat Stress is a real concern in the the hot summer months. Keep track of your self and your co-workers. Drink plenty of fluids and take breaks as needed. Breaks should be taken in cool or shady areas.
Don't give fluids to an unconscious or semiconscious person. Fluids may enter his windpipe and cause suffocation. Don't try to arouse an unconscious person by slapping or shaking.
DO NOT render first aid unless you have been properly trained to do so. Always call for an ambulance if the situation looks bad.
Before assisting a victim, protect yourself first. Assess the scene and determine the prevalent hazards, if any. Whenever possible, wear gloves to protect yourself from blood and other bodily fluids.
When an emergency occurs, make sure the victim's tongue does not block his/her airway and that the mouth is free of any secretions and foreign objects. It's extremely important that the person is breathing freely. And if not, you must administer artificial respiration promptly.
Act fast! If the victim is not breathing start CPR (if you have the training), or if the victim is bleeding severely. Remember every second counts. Open cuts and or bleeding? Apply direct pressure and/or elevate the wound and use the pressure points if necessary.
Do not move a person with serious neck or back injuries unless you have to save him from further danger. If he has vomited and there is no danger that his neck is broken, turn him aside to prevent choking and keep him warm by covering him with blankets or coats.
If you are busy administering first aid have someone else call for help. The person who summons help should explain the nature of the emergency and ask what should be done pending the arrival of the ambulance. Reassure the victim, and try to remain calm until a member of the Emergency Response Team or outside help arrives. Your calmness can relieve the fear and panic of the patient.
Tips
·
Heat Stress is a real concern in the the hot summer months. Keep track of your self and your co-workers. Drink plenty of fluids and take breaks as needed. Breaks should be taken in cool or shady areas.
Don't give fluids to an unconscious or semiconscious person. Fluids may enter his windpipe and cause suffocation. Don't try to arouse an unconscious person by slapping or shaking.
10/29/07 Safety Tidbits
Tidbits – 10/29/07
Your Success depends on you!
No one but you determines your success in life. Making the right choices paves your way.
Did You Know …
-About 125 people die each year in school bus related crashes. 67% of those killed were occupants of other vehicles and 6% were pedestrians.
-Speed is a factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, killing an average of 1,000 Americans every month.
-In states where speed limits were raised to 65 mph in 1987, the higher limits are causing about 15-20 percent more deaths on rural interstates each year than otherwise would be expected.
-In a recent poll, 26% of drivers said they run red lights "daily." How about you?
-In the last century, the average life span has increased by over 30 years.-Trepanning, or drilling a hole in the skull, is the oldest known operation.
-FYI - 85% of bottled water sold is actually municipal water.
-Floods cause more death and destruction in the U.S. than any other natural disaster.
The Power of Observation
“I'm not smart, but I like to observe. Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.” --Bernard Mannes Baruch
Talk to the Kids about Driving Safely
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 3,620 drivers in this group died in car crashes in 2004, accounting for 14 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 18 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes. Twenty-four percent of the teen drivers killed were intoxicated. In 2002 (latest data available) the estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 years old was $40.8 billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Teenage deaths due to motor vehicle accidents occur on weekends 53% of the time. Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a youth passenger in automobile 45% of the time.
Most Americans (61 percent) think that 16-year-olds are too young to drive, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll. The poll, conducted in December 2004, also found that 53 percent thought that licenses should not be issued until the age of 18.
Quote of the Week:
“You can’t win by sitting on the side lines. You can make a difference, but only if you get in the game.” –Kirby Alan Walters
Your Success depends on you!
No one but you determines your success in life. Making the right choices paves your way.
Did You Know …
-About 125 people die each year in school bus related crashes. 67% of those killed were occupants of other vehicles and 6% were pedestrians.
-Speed is a factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, killing an average of 1,000 Americans every month.
-In states where speed limits were raised to 65 mph in 1987, the higher limits are causing about 15-20 percent more deaths on rural interstates each year than otherwise would be expected.
-In a recent poll, 26% of drivers said they run red lights "daily." How about you?
-In the last century, the average life span has increased by over 30 years.-Trepanning, or drilling a hole in the skull, is the oldest known operation.
-FYI - 85% of bottled water sold is actually municipal water.
-Floods cause more death and destruction in the U.S. than any other natural disaster.
The Power of Observation
“I'm not smart, but I like to observe. Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.” --Bernard Mannes Baruch
Talk to the Kids about Driving Safely
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 3,620 drivers in this group died in car crashes in 2004, accounting for 14 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 18 percent of all the drivers involved in police-reported crashes. Twenty-four percent of the teen drivers killed were intoxicated. In 2002 (latest data available) the estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 years old was $40.8 billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Teenage deaths due to motor vehicle accidents occur on weekends 53% of the time. Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a youth passenger in automobile 45% of the time.
Most Americans (61 percent) think that 16-year-olds are too young to drive, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll. The poll, conducted in December 2004, also found that 53 percent thought that licenses should not be issued until the age of 18.
Quote of the Week:
“You can’t win by sitting on the side lines. You can make a difference, but only if you get in the game.” –Kirby Alan Walters
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