Thursday, March 5, 2009

Make better Choices

Safety Topic of the Week - Make better Choices
Make Safety Personal! Accept responsibility for your actions and choices. Every action, every decision you make has consequences. Make better choices. Everybody’s luck runs out, eventually!

STOP taking chances! STOP cutting corners!
Make Time for Safety…You’re Worth It!
You owe your family and co-workers that much!


Chance
By Safety Wayne

I took Chance to work today…
His friends are all injured or dead

When I asked him why he cut corners
‘Cause safety is for fools’, he said

He seemed nice enough, but he’s tricky
And can cost you dearly in the end

One thing I know for certain…
This Chance guy is not your friend

We were working on a belt conveyor
But the tool we needed was back in the shop.

I was going to run and fetch it until Chance said…
‘We’ll never get done if you have to stop’.

‘Grab the pry bar and I’ll give it a whack
It’s OK we’ll just force that darn thing back!’

Well, the bar moved as that old hammer struck
I found out listening to Chance was relying on Luck.

Now my hand is all swollen and awfully sore too
I hope something like this never happens to you

Yeah, I took Chance to work today
And luckily I’m not dead!

Tomorrow I’m going to Play it Smart
I think I’ll take Safety instead!


Work Smart...Work Safe!

3/2/09

Safety Tidbits - Did you know…
More than 70% of substance abusers are gainfully employed.
40% of all automobile accidents involve alcohol or drug use.
60% of all boating accidents involve drugs or alcohol abuse.


Check out those government websites
Lots of new stuff posted at MSHA.gov (e.g., meet the new Secretary of Labor - Hilda Solis, POV screening criteria, hazard alerts, and more) - If you haven’t visited the site lately you’ll see some changes. The OSHA.gov site has been updated as well – lots of good info (e.g., 2008 enforcement activity, planned public hearing on the new crane/derrick standard, ‘quick takes’ and more).

Sign, sign everywhere a SIGN
Do you take the time to read the signs (on the job or on the road)? Many people don’t!
Ignoring a sign can get you in trouble whether it is a stop sign or a dual hearing protection sign. The signs are there to Protect YOU!
Read and Heed the signs!
Report signage that is no longer legible!


Remember: You are the one MOST RESPONSIBLE for YOUR Safety!

March is Save Your Vision Month

When was your last eye exam? If you can’t remember then it is time to get one. Eye exams can detect vision deficiencies and eye disease. Some eye diseases can cause eye damage including vision loss without any warning signs.

For example, Glaucoma develops gradually and painlessly without symptoms. Vision loss may have already become permanent Before You Know it! Routine eye exams can also detect other health problems (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, etc.) that manifest themselves in the eyes.

The American Optometric Association recommends adults have an eye exam once every two or three years from ages 18 – 40; once every year or two from 41 – 60 years; and annually for those over the age of 60 to keep your eyes healthy. American Optometric Assn.

And…WEAR that Eye Protection along with the rest of your PPE!!!


Quote of the Week

The manager aItalicccepts the status quo; the leader challenges it. -Warren Bennis

Manager or Leader, the choice is yours…
Never compromise Safety…Step Up!

Do you see what I see?

Safety Tidbits – Thousands of work-related eye injuries occur every day in the U.S (more than 2000, daily). Ten to twenty percent of these injuries result in temporary or permanent blindness. WHY? Workers not wearing PPE; not using PPE properly; or taking risks they don’t need to take. The cost to U.S. companies is over $350 million; but the cost to the injured could be a Lifetime of DARKNESS!
Work Smart/Work Safe! -Source: Prevent Blindness America

Typical excuses:
‘These safety glasses are a waste; they’re always fogging up?’

‘Goggles are too hot!’

‘It’ll just take a second to tack this down – I don’t need a welding hood for that.’

‘It’s dark in here and I can’t see with my safety glasses on.’

‘It’s a cutting torch…safety glasses are good enough for cutting these bolts off.’

‘You don’t need safety glasses with a face shield.’


Off the job excuses…
‘I’m just trimming weeds!’

‘I’ve never warn safety glasses fixing fence before.’

‘Safety glasses... for woodwork? Come on!’


Wear your PPE (all of it!); Inspect it Daily; Store it Properly! Make sure you have what you need to do the job safely. Do you see what I see? Eyes…they’re worth hanging on to.

The world is a beautiful place… I just spent 6 hours on the Pacific Coast Highway, BEAUTIFUL! I love this country…there is so much to SEE! Wear your safety glasses/goggles/face shield, etc. and SEE the FUTURE!


The rest of the story (with apologies to the late Paul Harvey)…of the 2,000 plus eye injuries that occur every day (three quarters of a million Eye Injuries annually) 90%...ninety percent could be prevented with the proper PPE. The Choice is yours… Choose wisely.

And Watch out for co-workers too! Speak Up when you see someone committing an unsafe act. Make it a Safe Day!

2/23/09

Safety Tidbits
Watch out for the Winter Blues
Are you one of the many people who start to feel depressed in the fall and continue to feel dark and dreary until the spring? Scientists call severe winter depression Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Light and temperature play a significant role in SAD. Daylight prompts the brain to release chemicals that spark feelings of energy.

Approximately 5% of the population struggles with this disorder (their mood grows gloomier as the day gets shorter). Here are some tips for overcoming the winter blues:
-Get outside and get as much sunshine as possible. SAD sufferers claim exposure to the early morning light is best but any exposure should help.
-Keep the drapes/curtains/shade in your office and house/apartment open during daylight hours.
-Sit near windows if possible, and look outside periodically.
-On cloudy days, turn on bright lights.
-Get out of the house and see family or friends.
-Stay active, exercise…keep moving. Source: American Institute of Preventive Medicine

West Virginia Mining
Coal was first discovered in what is now West Virginia in 1742 by John Peter Salley in what is now Boone County.
Coal occurs in 53 of West Virginia's 55 Counties - only Jefferson and Hardy in the eastern panhandle have no coal.
Forty-three counties have reserves of minable (economic) coal.
There are 117 named coal seams in West Virginia.
Sixty-five seams are considered minable.
In 2006 coal was produced from 54 different seams inWest Virginia.
The Pittsburgh coal seam accounted for nearly 34 million tons of production in 2006.
West Virginia has 4% of all coal reserves. Source: wvminesafety.org/wvcoalfacts.htm

Did you know...
You know Electricity is Dangerous! Did you know that everyday in the United States there are:
8,000 Electrical Injuries3,600 Permanently Disabling20 Work related injuries every day
Well Arc Flash Hazards are dangerous too - In general, arc flash incidents are highly unlikely on systems operating at less than 240 volts phase to phase.120 volts does not provide sufficient energy to cause an arc flash hazard. Some 480V electrical services have enough capacity to cause an arc flash hazard.
Arc Flash Hazards can seriously injure or kill people on and off the job
Arc Flash is a serious issue that poses a risk to each of us
Respect electrBoldicity, wear the proper PPE.
Don’t Gamble with Your Life!

Quote of the Week:
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. -Colin Powell