Safety Tidbit 4.19 – Crowd Safety

Safety Tidbit 4.19 – Crowd Safety

Reference: Simple Insights – State Farm Insurance

It’s the end of the year, and I know many people are going to events like concerts, bowl games, or even New York City to ring in the new year. Personally, I hate large gatherings and feel a bit claustrophobic when I can’t move about freely. Although, I do like a good concert when one of my favorite classic rock bands is playing. I saw Styx in Hershey PA this past summer.

For this week’s Safety Tidbit, I decided to look around to see what the experts out there may have to say about crowds and individual safety. I found that State Farm published “25 Ways to Stay Safer in Large Crowds” and thought I would share several of their ways with you today.

 

1. Prevent injury

·      Make sure you know where the exits are.

·      Consider leaving if the crowd seems to be getting out of control.

·      Walk around crowds rather than pushing through them.

2. Avoid illness

·      Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date.

·      Wash your hands often, especially before and after eating or using the restroom.

·      Avoid sitting or standing near individuals who appear sick.

3. Deter pickpockets

·      Carry important items in your front pockets.

·      Wrap a rubber band around your wallet so it's more difficult to remove from your pocket.

·      Choose a purse with zipper, button, or clasp closures, and a strap that hangs across your body.

4. Stick together

·      Keep a diligent eye on your children.

·      Before leaving the house, take a photo of your child with a camera or phone. If you become separated, you will have an up-to-date photo of your child and what he or she is wearing to give to officials.

·      Remind younger children to avoid strangers, and help them identify police officers or officials to go to when lost.

Hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a new safety or health question, please let me know.

Safety Tidbit 4.18 - Twelve Days of Safety

Safety Tidbit 4.18 – Twelve Days of Safety

Reference: National Safety Council – The Twelve Days of Safety

Well it’s the holiday season again! The time of getting together with friends and family and having some good cheer. It is also a time for many accidents. The National Safety Council has compiled a nice infographic (https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/winter/infographic) using the twelve days of Christmas theme. I would like to share their points with you in this week’s Safety Tidbit.

1.     Never use lighted candles near trees or bows. Make sure candles have a stable base.

2.     Keep poisonous plants (e.g., poinsettias) out of reach of children and pets.

3.     Keep trees away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Don’t burn your tree in the fireplace.

4.     Make sure your tree has a stable platform.

5.     Choose an artificial tree that is marked fire resistant.

6.     If using a natural tree, make sure it is well watered.

7.     Check holiday lights for fraying, bare spots, gaps in the insulation or excessive kinking in the wire. Don’t overload your electrical circuits.

8.     Turn off all tree lights and decorations when not in use.

9.     When putting up decorations, properly use a step stool or ladder to reach high places. Don’t stand on chairs or other furniture.

10.  Designate a sober driver.

11.  When preparing a meal, wash hands, utensils, sink and anything else touching raw meat.

12.  Reheat leftovers to at least 165 degrees F.

One last one item is driving safely. This was the topic of an earlier Safety Tidbit, however I believe it warrants another mention. Traveling spikes during this time of year and many folks choose to travel by car. Automobiles have the highest death rate. If you are going to travel by car be prepared and ensure your family’s safety.

Be safe this season and have a great holiday. Enjoy your time with your family and friends and we’ll see you next year!

Hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a new safety or health question, please let me know.

Safety Tidbit 4.17 - Local Safety Community

Safety Tidbit 4.17 – Local Safety Community

Reference: https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=2543003

Many of you are safety and health practitioners. Some are credentialed as CSPs or CIHs or maybe have advanced degrees.  However, many are folks who have worked on the line and developed a passion for safety and now endeavor to keep your fellow workers out of harm’s way.  I applaud all of you and wish to share with you a great resource right in your backyard. 

In many places, there are local sections of the national safety and health associations – American Society of Safety Professionals and the American Industrial Hygiene Association. Furthermore, many informal groups meet regularly or at least periodically to discuss a common topic – safety. These meetings and groups are invaluable to practicing professionals for several reasons: timely information, networking, local.

The information shared at the local level are typically timely to the area. Sometimes focused around a particular event or topic but frequently with regional impact. The lessons learned are invaluable to others struggling with a situation.

Similarly, networking that goes on gives the practitioner contacts to confide in when they have a workplace dilemma. Often the safety professional can feel like they are all alone dealing with an issue. When, in fact, others may have already had the problem and can advise as to how they handled their problem.

Lastly, these smaller groups are local. Meaning that the person you are speaking with isn’t across the country or possibly the world but right in your community. I recommend you seek these groups out and volunteer your time. The rewards are well worth it, and the friendships you develop are timeless.

One such group is the Central PA Safety Association. They primarily focus in the State College-Williamsport-Lewisburg area and move their meetings around accordingly. Each spring they host (along with the Central PA Chapters of the American Society of Safety Professionals and the American Industrial Hygiene Association) a Safety Conference at the Nittany Lion Inn at Penn State University. A smaller venue, the conference typically has about 100 or so attendees with local vendors and sponsors. This spring the meeting is set for April 10 and 11, 2019. The half day is the first day and then followed by a full day on Thursday. Registration includes lunch and a vendor mixer after the first day which is always fun.

Hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a new safety or health question, please let me know.

Safety Tidbit 4.16 - The gift that could save a life

Safety Tidbit 4.16 – The gift that could save a life

Reference: National Safety Council – Carbon Monoxide

It’s December in PA and the wood stoves and fireplaces are lit, and homes are being heated with natural gas or propane. I’ve been in a few small companies that use kerosene are propane torpedo heaters to heat the workspace. If any of these heat sources are not working or vented properly a buildup of carbon monoxide can occur. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Its density is about the same as oxygen so it can distribute evenly throughout the space. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says about 170 people in the United States die every year from carbon monoxide produced by non-automotive consumer products, such as room heaters.

Initial symptoms are similar to the flu without a fever and may include:

·      Common Mild Exposure - Slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, flu-like symptoms.

·      Common Medium Exposure - Throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate.

·      Common Extreme Exposure - Convulsions, unconsciousness, brain damage, heart and lung failure followed by death.

Steps to take to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

·      Properly equip your home with carbon monoxide alarms on every level and in sleeping areas. The only safe way to detect CO in your home is with a CO alarm.

·      Every year have the heating system, vents, chimney and flue inspected by a qualified technician.

·      Regularly examine vents and chimneys for improper connections, visible rust and stains.

·      Install and operate appliances according to the manufacturer's instructions.

·      Only purchase appliances that have been approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

·      Never use a gas range/stove to heat the home.

·      Never leave your car idling in a closed garage or use fuel-powered appliances or tools in enclosed, attached areas such as garages or porches. Carbon monoxide can seep into your home through vents and doors

How about this year giving a carbon monoxide monitor to that friend that uses a fireplace to heat. You may just be giving them a gift that saves their life.

Hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a new safety or health question, please let me know.