9-17-12 Make Time for LOTO

Protect Yourself -- Make Time for LOTO!

A factory worker was injured when his head and neck became trapped in a packaging machine. The accident happened at the factory of Cromar Building Products, Ltd. Glyn Addison was working on a packaging machine when he was injured. The machine was designed to wrap and seal rolls of roof felt with polythene. During its use, the machine became blocked and Mr. Addison attempted to fix the fault himself by reaching under the conveyor to free some of the polythene that had become trapped.

However, as he was doing this, the ram that pushed rolls of felt into the machine moved and trapped his head and neck against the frame of the machinery. Luckily colleagues noticed this and managed to free his head from the ram. He did however suffer injury in the incident. Mr. Addison suffered nerve damage to his neck and shoulder in the accident. These injuries have left him unable to work since for the past 18 months. An investigation into the accident found that employees regularly walked in-between gaps in the machine so that they could clear blockages. The company was therefore fined… Change is always an option – if you can’t change the Culture, you may want to change jobs! You won’t do the family any good by getting injured.

Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. -John Wooden

Work Safely because You Can’t Count on Luck
How many times in your life (on or off the job) have you said to yourself, "Wow that was a close call!?"

No matter what do or where you work, accidents can happen especially when someone cuts corners or takes unnecessary risk. That's why we all need to remember Safety first—Safety Always! You have to plan your work and perform each task safely because you can’t count on luck!

Review the task and identify the associated risks, communicate those risks to team members, then develop a strategy to mitigate the risks so the task can be performed safely.

A Few Ways to Increase Brain Power
Use your brain. You also need to exercise your mind. The more you do to keep your mind sharp, the better your level of memory and creativity. Exercise your mind by brainstorming, working word puzzles, playing games like chess or bridge, or performing mathematical tasks.
Get moving. Regular exercise can play an essential role in improving brainpower. Older adults tend to benefit more than their younger counterparts, possibly because older adults have more to gain with respect to cognitive function.
Avoid ‘‘bad’’ fats. A diet high in saturated fats can have a negative effect on brainpower. Consuming omega-3 fats has been associated with improved brain function, reduced memory loss, and less cognitive decline.
Limit Alcohol Intake. Consuming too much alcohol can impair brainpower by contributing to brain atrophy, which is linked to memory loss and impaired cognition.
Associate with positive individuals. Avoid naysayers. Being with positive people and those who encourage you will enhance your level of creativity. Negativity stifles brainpower.
Chill out. Don’t let the small stuff bother you – it can prevent you from concentrating fully. Learn to relax to think more clearly and have better focus and recall.
Take control of your life. You have control over your surroundings, make good choices and accept the responsibility for the consequences. People who feel they have no control tend to be more depressed.
Try something new. New experience can enhance your ability and willingness to think inventively. And don’t be afraid of making mistakes Think of mistakes as simply being an opportunity to learn.
Engage your inner child. To spur your sense of creativity, be a kid at heart. Take time to daydream from time to time in order to stimulate a stream of mental activity.
Expand your world. Don’t limit yourself to a narrow channel of seeing and thinking about things in a singular way. Try to think in new ways, consider other viewpoints, and develop other interests. Read, read, read, read, and then read some more. Source: Fitness.com

Lighten up
What did one ball say to the other ball? Nothing - he just looked round!

Why were all the ink spots crying? Because their father was in the pen!

Safety is a Shared Responsibility!

Safety requires a Team Effort to Get to ZERO so we expect input from each of you.

We are all responsible for safety. You are not only responsible for your safety but that of your co-workers as well. Each employee is expected to actively promote the safety program. Safety is not a spectator sport…so get in the game!

Management – Shall manage EHS programs and procedures and provide the resources needed for employees to achieve safety success including:

• Providing Leadership
• Developing Policies and procedures
• Outlining Clearly Defined Goals
• Communicating compliance expectations
• Maintaining/improving working conditions
• Providing Safety Training
• Offering Support
• Facilitating EHS Committee Meetings
• Providing PPE
• Offering Incentives when results are achieved

Supervisors – Are expected to Lead from the Front! Supervisors drive the safety program and are responsible for enforcing policies and procedures. They must also:

• Inspect work areas and working conditions
• Observe worker behavior and activities
• Ensure equipment and pre-job checks are performed
• Correct housekeeping issues
• Make decisions in the field
• Promote safety
• Communicate with and listen to subordinates
• Motivate workers
• Ensure safety rules are followed
• Set priorities

Employees – Shall use the resources provided to accomplish their jobs safely. Think Safe Production. The employee’s role is to:

• Take ownership of the safety program

• Look for, recognize and report hazards, accidents, injuries and near misses
• Assist with developing and reviewing JSAs
• Make safety observations
• Submit safety suggestions
• Participate in the EHS committee
• Buy in to the safety culture
• Actively participate in safety training
• Perform inspections of work area and equipment
• Follow established compliance policies and procedures
• Practice good housekeeping

Keep Your Mind and Eyes on Task. Even if you're performing your job safely and avoiding hazards, there is often a better or safer way to complete the task. Think about what you are doing and if you have ideas for improving the safety of your job, Share Them!

Zero Injuries is an attainable Goal! – Let's keep communicating and continue to improve safety. ASK whenever you are unsure about something!

You have the right to make a difference: If you see a safety deficiency or unsafe act, Stand Up and Speak Out for Safety. You may be the only one who caught it.

The Goal is 100%

100% Participation

100% Compliance

100% Commitment

Why 10,000%? Because 99% just isn’t good enough and here are a few examples:

If a gas meter used to measure the air prior to entry into a confined space is calibrated and operated properly only 99 percent of the time could still result in a worker fatality upon the 100th entry. Every 103 minutes someone dies on the job as a result of a traumatic injury! That worker could be you or a co-worker!

If U.S. airports accepted a 99% error-free performance rate approximately 466,750 takeoffs and landings of commercial airplanes could end in tragedy, annually. The end result could be multiple deaths - Every 5 seconds somebody is disabled in a non-occupational incident and a non-work related fatality occurs every 19 minutes!

Any safety trainer who teaches employees how to utilize fall protection equipment and other PPE correctly 99% of the time jeopardizes 15-20 workers on a large construction crew. Every 8 second a worker suffers a disabling injury, every 8 seconds!

Think Safety - 24/7!

Get off the bench and into the Game!

Fall Safety!

Please do your part to ensure employees maintain their focus in order to reduce the potential for injury. Remember, Safety isn’t a Spectator Sport… we need everyone in the game!

Fall Brings Additional Hazards

Fall is in full swing which means the days are getting shorter, which reduces visibility – remind equipment operators and truck drivers to keep an eye out for ground personnel.

Temperatures will soon be dropping, which means we’ll soon see ice and snow in many parts of the country, increasing the potential for slip and fall hazards. To reduce the likelihood of injury, workers should take smaller, deliberate steps and follow the 3-points of contact rule while walking across the site or mounting & dismounting equipment.

Maintain the Focus

The holidays are rapidly approaching and minds may start to wander as people think about holiday shopping & travel or family commitments. We must remind employees, often, about the importance of focusing on the task at hand. Loss of Focus is one of Four Critical Mental States that can lead to injury or property damage. The other three critical mental states are: Fatigue, Frustration, and Complacency.

These four critical states can also cause problems for employees off the job. Examples include: driver fatigue and texting while driving. DOT reduced the number of hours truckers can drive per day to combat driver fatigue. Now, DOT is partnering with OSHA to consider regulations to combat distracted driving by workers (truckers and carrier service personnel). However, these issues don’t only affect professional drivers; they also affect ‘off the clock’ drivers like our employees and their families. Holiday travelers, including college students, often face fatigue and distractions. Remind employees to maintain their focus even when not at work. Avoid talking on cell phones or texting while driving (or pull over to the side of the road). And remember, on a long drive, taking a 10-15 minute break can enhance mental alertness.

Another fourth quarter, off-the-job concern involves the task of putting up holiday decorations. Many people sustain personal injury while decorating their homes for Halloween and/or Christmas. Some start electrical fires or even burn down their homes due to a loss of focus, complacency or by unknowingly overloading electrical circuits. So remind employees to: Practice Safety 24/7 (at home, at work and at play).