Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Tidbits – 2/20/08

Did You Know…?
-Do not go out on ice that is less than 2” thick. 8-15” of clear ice is needed to support a vehicle.
-Kerosene heaters can be dangerous due to the Carbon Monoxide they produce. The colorless, odorless gas can be deadly in enclosed spaces.
-By age 55, 80% of people may show some sign of osteoarthritis. Take your calcium!
-The 5-year survival rate for prostate and breast cancer is over 84%, but only about 4% for pancreatic cancer victims.
-About 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer annually. A healthy diet, exercise, and early diagnosis greatly improve your odds.
-Sometimes when you’re feeling hungry, your body is telling you it needs water!
-Annually, more than 1 million eye injuries occur at home. Another 1.4 million occur on the job. Safety glasses–wear’em and see the future!


Proud Mary -- but not too Proud
“The real power behind whatever success I have now was something I found within myself - something that's in all of us, I think, a little piece of God just waiting to be discovered.” --Tina Turner

Lessons I've learned from My Deaf Dog
-Silence is golden! But it can also be lonely especially in the information age!
-This is your life, enjoy it! Life can be great, but only if you get excited about it.
-People Need Attention, too! Often we’re too busy to notice, but you can make somebody’s day just by smiling, asking how they are, and then listening awhile.
-Leftovers aren’t all bad…especially when you have to eat on the run.
-Affection is good! Surprising someone with a wet kiss once in awhile is O.K., unless you’ve been drinking out of the toilet.
-Everybody needs a stress reducer! Play some ball; go for a walk; tear a newspaper to shreds; or just run around in circles awhile – Exercise is good for you!
-Learn to forgive! Even best friends won’t always see eye to eye (get over it!)
-Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff! People (and dogs) make mistakes; things go wrong -- That’s Life – don’t lose sight of what is important (friends and family).
-Every day is a precious gift. Live in the moment! Enjoy the company of those you love while they are still here – time is fleeting. Sometimes tomorrow never comes.

Learn to Live
“Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life.”
--Bertolt Brecht

Aspirin, Alcohol and Poisons
-The JAMA has reports taking aspirin before consuming alcohol increases blood alcohol levels by 26%, and the aspirin slows the body's metabolism.
-Put cleaners, pills and dangerous chemicals out of reach of children. Of the 2 million poisonings that occur each year, about half involve children.


Quote of the Week
“You can't help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.” --H. Norman Schwarzkopf

Week 8 – You live what you see!

A friend of mine told me to check out the pickle-challenge at http://www.joetye.com/pickle-challenge.html and I am glad I did…thanks Bob!
Are you a complainer? I guess we all are to some degree but it seems that the problem has gotten worse over the years. Some people seem to enjoy having something to complain about…and a few even live for it. Are we becoming a nation of whiners…I hope not!
What good comes of it? Some people offer a lot of lip service when they find something they don’t like or have a problem come up in their personal or professional life. What good comes from that? When a problem arises (as they often do) instead of whining about it why not take action? Discuss the problem, look for viable solutions and correct the issue that is creating all the fuss. Do something that will actually help fix the problem -- work towards solutions.
What’s wrong with whining? It is a negative emotion and negativity breeds more of the same. Instead focus your energy on positive thoughts and actions and your life will be better and you’ll have more energy. You will be safer too because you’ll be more focused on what you do when you do it. Be a problem solver!
A few tips from Joe Tye!
-Don’t be a victim of your past. Even if mommy loved Tommy best, the past is the past. Focus on the positive memories and let those negative experiences go. You’re not perfect and neither were your parents...Live for today!
-Don’t buy into the Crying game. Just by being born in the US you have more opportunities then most people will have in their lifetime. Americans are among the richest individuals in the world. Some folks walk miles for clean water, millions have little or no shelter. Thousands starve every day! Life is good – Focus on the Positive!
-Spend time with the important people in your life! Family and friends can rejuvenate you when the world is playing hard ball so take a time-out every now and then. Life isn’t meant to be easy which is why you have a support system. Life is for living…give it a whirl!
-Life is what you make it! You have a choice every day to decide what kind of day you’re going to have… People live what they see! Look for the good things in life (there’s plenty there it just may be harder to see).
Make it a Great Day…you’re the only one who can!!!

Monday, February 18, 2008

Tidbits – 2/11/08

Life is more than work
“When making your choice in life, do not neglect to live.”Johnson, Samuel

Tidbits

-"Mayday, Mayday" the international radio distress signal, has nothing to do with the first of May. It represents the pronunciation of the French m'aider, "help me," or the latter part of the phrase--venez m'aider, "come help me." -In his book, "Hazards of Medication," Eric Martin reveals a startling fact: many of the "safe" drugs, which are sold in drugstores without prescription, actually contain hallucinogenic ingredients in the same family as LSD and hashish. Over 130 different products (sleep aids, sedatives, etc.) contain hallucinogenic ingredients.
-Annually, road construction work zone incidents result in 700-800 deaths and 5000 injuries. Give workers a Brake in these areas – fines often run double.
-You can save gas by making sure your tires are properly inflated. Check ’em often!

Leadership

Leaders have the confidence to test boundaries, the courage to face adversity, and the knowledge to make difficult decisions.

OSHA Numbers

OSHA conducted over 39,000 workplace inspections in 2007 – 4 percent more than they were budgeted to do. Here is the citation breakdown:
2007 2006
Total Citations 88,846 83,913 (6% increase)
Serious 67,176 61,337 (9% increase)
Repeat 2,714 2,551
Willful 415 479
The good news is accident and injury numbers continue to drop and our focus is worker safety!

Nothing worthwhile is easy
Success will not lower its standard to us. We must raise our standard to success. Rev. Randall R. McBride, Jr.

Speed Lifting
Many people die shoveling snow every year. Strenuous work can lead to a heart attack, especially if you are out of shape. Too often people don't realize just how strenuous shoveling snow is. Besides heart attacks, it is an easy way to hurt your back. It's like speed lifting. If you plan to shovel at a steady rate, you should be sure you are in good enough shape to go to the gym and do some fast and furious lifting. If you plan to shovel (or do any other strenuous activity)and you are NOT sure you're up to it, get someone else to do it for you. If you can't, then take your time. It's not like you're putting out a fire. The snow will still be there after you take a break. I recommend you stress more than once to your employees just how strenuous shoveling snow can be.

Quote of the Week:
“Be honorable yourself if you wish to associate with honorable people.” --Welsh Proverb

Week 7 – Drive…JUST DRIVE!

On the road are you talking or driving? If you do both you are three times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident. Eating and messing with the radio or applying make-up while driving is also not recommended.

Car Accidents kill over 40,000 people every year.
A cousin of mine died this week in a car accident. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunting/fishing guide from Colorado. He worked as a Wildlife Conservation Officer and was ex-military…he was 45. He fought in Desert Storm and had been to Iraq early in the latest war but made it back O.K. both times. He died at the wheel of his personal vehicle like tens of thousands of other people every year. These are the only facts I know about the accident but below are some other facts you need to know.
-According to a recent NHTSA report, Cell phones are the No. 1 Driver Distraction.
-Almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near misses occur within three seconds of some form of driver distraction.
-Reaching for a moving object multiplied the risk of a crash or near-crash by nine times, according to the study.
-Reading, applying makeup, or dialing a handheld device tripled the risk.
-Alcohol the No. 1 Killer of drivers and passengers under the age of 30 it also plays a significant part in other mishaps.

Alcohol is involved in…
33% of all accidents
If you drink, Drink in Moderation and NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!!!!!

40% of all industrial deaths
Alcohol and/or drugs (even some prescription meds) can pose serious problems in the workplace. If you are taking anything that may affect your ability to work safely please tell your supervisor immediately.

45% of all drownings
Water and alcohol do not mix. Whether you’re boating, skiing or swimming avoid alcohol or DRINK IN MODERATION!!! Do not operate a boat under the influence of alcohol.

85% of all homicides
Firearms and Drinking is a DEADLY COMBO! Keep the booze put away until the firearms are Locked Up! And remember: EVERY WEAPON is a LOADED Weapon!

86% of deaths due to fire
Avoid playing with fire and/or fireworks if you have been drinking. People do stupid things and get strange ideas when they’ve had too much to drink and Fire is Unforgiving!

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Keep marching on

Recent Happenings:
Last month, Richard Stickler was reappointed Head of MSHA just days after his temporary term expired. He vows to continue the implementation of Congress’ safety improvements.

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) again voiced concerns over Stickler’s long history as a coal company supervisor, manager and executive. They would prefer a person that has less industry ties, and you may remember the Senate never did confirm Stickler’s original appointment. Anyway, he will remain at the helm for now.

February 4th
Today, Sticker submitted a $332 Million budget request for fiscal year 2009. The budget would allow the agency to add 55 metal/non-metal inspectors and the goal is to complete all mandatory inspections for the first time since the inception of the agency.

President Bush is proposing to cut federal spending on coal-mine safety enforcement by about 6.5 percent, according to a new budget plan released Monday. But lawmakers, led by Byrd, increased MSHA's budget for the current 2008 financial year from Bush's proposed $313.5 million to nearly $334 million. So the real comparison between current year spending and Bush's proposal amounts to a cut from $334 million to about $332 million, or about 0.6 percent.

The agency continues to issue Pattern of Violation (POV) notices to mine operators. From all indications we can expect this trend to continue.

Conferencing changes
On February 4, MSHA also issued Procedure Instruction Letter No. I08-III-01, providing District Managers and Conference and Litigation Representatives ("CR's") discretion to refuse to go forward with any informal conference unless the citations alleged an unwarrantable failure or alleged that "high" negligence was involved. It goes on to say that, although the CLR or the District Manager may go forward with a conference "at their discretion", any pending requests for conferences that do not involve unwarrantable failures or high negligence violations should be cancelled. Here is a link to the Procedure Instruction Letter http://www.msha.gov/regs/complian/PILS/2008/PIL08-III-1.pdf
MSHA did not cite a reason for this change, however the increasing number of citations and the dramatic increase in penalties have prompted a matching increase in conference requests.

What does all this means to you:
All miners, mine operators and contract employees need to do all they can to ensure worker safety and regulatory compliance. The monetary penalties have increased dramatically and some operations have seen a serious increase in the number of citations issued. One operator recently received over $600,000 in citations and small operations have seen penalties in excess of $1,000 for PPE violations. However in some districts the amount of paper written has changed very little. As we round each corner, the road appears to keep getting tougher...and we still have the S-miner Act looming in the distance (although Pres. Bush is promising a veto). Keep your head up and throw your shoulders back it could get ugly.

What you can do:
Work with management to ensure that all supervisors are enforcing MSHA regulations and company policy. Conduct routine audits of the facility and spot check employees. Correct unsafe conditions and stop unsafe acts.

Work with MSHA and Industry Professionals:
Utilize Educational Field Services (EFS) or Small Mine services to improve safety at your operation. Bring in these professionals for the Training Makes a Difference (TMD) initiative or request a Compliance Assistance Visit when appropriate (although I hear some districts are not offering CAVs as they are trying to get all of the mandated inspections completed). You can also start or join a local Holmes Chapter and share best practices with local operators. Industry professionals need to communicate so that we can work together and learn from one another.

Bottom Line:
Maintain your focus on worker safety but don’t forget regulatory compliance (whether it improves miner safety or not) is a requirement if you want to avoid citations. Many of the seasoned inspectors are retiring, which means the agency has lost a lot of experience. Work with the new inspectors but don’t be afraid to fight bad paper. Let’s do what it takes to protect our miners…and remember nobody said it would be easy!

Friday, February 1, 2008

Week 5 Safety Tips

Super Bowl Weekend ---don’t forget SAFETY!
Whether you’re cheering on the Giants or the Patriots one thing is certain…Green Bay will be watching (bummer!). Here are a couple things to consider before, during and after the BIG GAME.

NHTSA reports two significant facts about Super Bowl weekend worth reviewing:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 158 people, representing 51 percent of all traffic fatalities, died during the 2004 Super Bowl weekend due to impaired drivers with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of .08% and higher.
NHTSA reports that young males, ages 21 to 34, are most likely to be involved in automobile crashes, to drive while impaired, and to be among those least likely to wear their safety belts. Research also shows that this same demographic is the core audience for major sporting events, such as the Super Bowl.
"This one is a no-brainer," said Commander, Naval Safety Center, RADM George Mayer. "Use risk management - if you’re going to party during the Super Bowl, use a designated driver. If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party and serving alcohol, complete the pass and get the keys from the drivers who might be drinking. Or try an alternative, host an alcohol-free party. These are simple steps to keep Sailors and Marines safe (and they’ll work for you too), as well as protect innocent drivers on the road who could become victims."

FROM The USDA - WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2008 - Millions of Americans will settle down in front of the television on Super Bowl Sunday to cheer on their favorite team, making this the second highest day of food consumption in the United States after Thanksgiving. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service offers some smart tips to help Super Bowl partygoers and hosts avoid committing their own food safety "personal fouls." "While football has the 'two-minute' warning, the food safety arena has the 'two-hour' rule," said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond. "One of the biggest food safety mistakes people make during these types of gatherings is that they let perishable food items sit out for far too long." Read more at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news/NR_012408_02/index.asp
Be Smart, Be Safe both on and off the job! Enjoy the game!

The choice is yours!
Every moment of one's existence one is growing into more or retreating into less. Norman Mailer
It is how people respond to stress that determines whether they will profit from misfortune or be miserable. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,

Tidbits – 1/30/08

Be Strong
“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” --Albert Einstein

Falls are the No. 1 Killer in the home
Certain age groups among children are more prone to certain types of falls. For example, infants are more likely to fall from furniture, while toddlers are more likely to fall from windows. Older children sustain more fall-related injuries from playground equipment.
Furniture - Babies who are left unsupervised on top of beds, changing tables, and even couches, can roll off unexpectedly.
Windows - Young children are naturally curious and will explore an open window. Windows that are open just five inches pose a danger to children under the age of 10. Falls from windows tend to be the most severe and/or fatal. In addition, even a closed window can be dangerous if the child can get near it - falling through glass can cause serious and often fatal injuries.
Stairs - Infants and toddlers do not realize the danger of falling down stairs. In addition, older children who are running up and down stairs can trip and injure themselves. Clutter on stairs poses an increased risk of falling.
Floor surface - Area rugs that are not secure, especially on bare floors, can cause a child to fall. Mats that are not slip-resistant and tubs without slip-resistant stickers can increase the risk of falling.
Playgrounds - Although playgrounds can provide children with exercise and an enjoyment of the outdoors, they also pose safety hazards. Faulty playground equipment, not using proper equipment for different sporting activities, and careless behavior leads to an estimated 15 child fatalities ages 14 and under each year.
Ladders – Many homeowners are injured every year from falls off ladders or from light duty aluminum ladders failing. Use a spotter, stay off the top two-steps of an A-frame to maintain 3-pts of contact, secure extension ladders, keep your belt buckle between the rails and tie-off as needed.

Hey, I like your hair!
"Play the 'Reverse Gossip' Game. See how many nice things you can say 'behind someone's back'." --Bob Burg

Did You Know…
-Check with CPSC Over a half million bunk beds have been recalled in the past few years for safety’s sake.
-Spice it Up! Peppers can contain as much as 6 times more Vitamin C than Oranges.
-Java Booster! Caffeine will raise your blood pressure. Typically, a cup of coffee raises an adult's blood pressure 2-4 points for up to three hours. -Use 3-pts of contact to Maintain Balance, Traction and Grip - About 300,000 disabling injuries occur each year due to slip trips and falls.
Eyes and Mind on Task! More than 100 U.S. workers die as a result of a work-related accident or illness every day.


Quote of the Week
"In life you have a choice: Be bitter about your situation or be better and take steps to improve your situation." --Robert Holbrook