Safety Tidbit 5.08 - Forklift Safety Program at a Home Improvement Store

Safety Tidbit 5.08 – Forklift Safety Program at a Home Improvement Store

This Safety Tidbit was written by one of my students, Levi Bruner – a senior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA.

Throughout workplaces across the United States, policies for forklift safety are essential for ensuring a safe work environment. It is common for home renovation centers (e.g., Lowes) to store up, rather than out. Lifts help associates retrieve items off top shelves. Let's take a look at some of the practices used to ensure worker and customer safety.

There are different steps that you must go through to get certified on a forklift. The first step is going through an online safety course that goes over the following:

1. Use of spotters
2. Choosing the right forklift for the job
3. Barricading off the area while working with a forklift
4. Bringing products down from the shelving 
5. Introducing the controls on the forklift

First, spotters must always be 10 feet in front of the forklift. Second, to pick the right forklift, you need to know the weight limit on the forklift and the weight of the object you will be picking up, and if the object weighs less than the weight limit of the forklift, then that forklift is safe to use. Third, when barricading off the aisle, a forklift is used in also the aisle adjacent must be blocked in case anything falls. When bringing the item down from the shelf, the operator must honk the horn multiple times. Lastly, is that all the controls on the forklift must be explained and practiced.

After an operator completes the online training, the operator must be trained by a certified spotter until you feel comfortable enough to take the operator's test. This test differs on which department the operator works. The certifier can do anything from setting up a little obstacle course to make you use your mirrors and make sure you are vigilant while driving. Another thing a certifier can do is make you bring stuff down from a height and then put it back up. They must make the practical exam test an operator's ability to use the forklift.

A shortcoming of the program is the difficulty in becoming a certifier. The prospective certifier only needs to read a book and sign off that they read it. The second and final step is to be observed creating an operator test by someone who is already certified. 

So, although an operator must spend a little extra time with a spotter and gain some experience before testing, becoming a certifier is easier. Ultimately, becoming a certifier rests with the expertise of the existing certifier or the employer (which is a limitation of the OSHA forklift standard).

The practices of having a spotter when operating a forklift making sure the adjacent aisle is blocked off are key to accident prevention. However, it would be nice if the certifier had a more rigorous training program.

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 5.07 - Holiday Lights

Safety Tidbit 5.07 – Holiday Lights

Reference:       NFPA Winter Holiday Fire Facts

                        Energy Today Blog

This Safety Tidbit was written by one of my students, Kenna Willson-Kerns – a senior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA.

With the holiday season fast approaching, homes, streets, and stores will be illuminated by string lights and other extravagant decorations. Along with the joy that these decorations bring, they come hand-in-hand with safety hazards. 

The majority of homeowners, during the holiday season, work to achieve a festive ascetic outdoors. This task typically requires the use of a portable ladder to hang lights and other decorations. While decorating, people primarily focus on getting the job done, and ladder safety gets pushed to the back of their mind. It isn't uncommon to see someone climbing a ladder with their hands full of lights, barely able to grasp the ladder. The simple task of climbing a ladder can be fatal if executed improperly. When using a ladder, it is essential to:

• Inspect the ladder before use
• Maintain three points of contacts
• Identify possible electrical hazards 

These three simple tasks could help to prevent unnecessary fatalities during the holiday season. Using holiday decorations creates electrical overloading, another common hazard. An example is connecting multiple strands of string lights leading to electrical overloading of a circuit. The overloading then creates the potential for a fire to occur. To calculate how many lights can be on a loop, the equation watts=amps x volts should be used. Household outlets are 120 volts, and most homes have either 15-amp or 20-amp circuits. Substitute these numbers in the equation for the maximum wattage for a circuit. The equation gives the maximum wattage, so use something less so as not to overload your circuit. 

String lights are virtually a necessity when it comes to preparing for the holidays. People place them on Christmas trees, fireplaces, walls, windows, and various other locations. Though these lights make rooms feel more festive and in the holiday spirit, it is important not to leave them on (overnight and when unattended). Furthermore, pay attention to the surface the lights are on as they could overheat and create a fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), approximately 44% of home Christmas tree fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment. The dangers of string lights are real, and people need to be made more aware. With that, most hazards during the holiday season tend to be fire-related. Please spend a little time with your family reviewing fire emergencies and what to do. Being prepared is extremely important in assuring your family's safety in the event of a fire. 

Hope this helps to keep you and your family safe this holiday season! 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 5.06 - Wintry Winds

Safety Tidbit 5.06 – Wintry Winds

Reference: OSHA Winter Weather Topic Page

This week’s Safety Tidbit was written by one of my students, Michael Emanuele – a senior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA.

The holiday season is a bustling time of the year that brings joy, promotes peace, and…stimulates the economy. Many industries push production into overload, forcing employers to work their employees longer hours as supply and demand grow. Unfortunately for the workers, the warmer temps quickly plummet, exposing workers to the harsh conditions that winter creates.

When the air temperature drops to 40 ˚F and below, workers become at risk for cold stress. Cold stress occurs when the body's core temperature drops below 96.8 ˚ F or exposing bare skin to freezing temperatures ending in injuries such as hypothermia and frostbite.

An Industrial Hygienist must be aware of the bitter cold temperatures during the winter months to ensure workers are not overexposed to the harsh temps. The IH must equate the two climatic factors (air temperature and airspeed) to accurately gauge the heat exchange rate between the worker and the worksite. This heat exchange rate is known as the Equivalent Chill Temperature (ECT) or, more commonly, as the Windchill Index. An increasing difference in the skin temperature and outside temperature combined with the wind speed results in a high rate of heat loss from the worker's skin. I recommend that the IH monitor a worksite when temperatures fall below 30˚ F, recording the dry bulb temperature and the wind speed every four hours.

Below is a quick reference to using the new Equivalent Chill Temperature Table (2001):

Wind Speed	Dry Bulb Temperature  (F˚)
MPH	50	40	30	20	10	0	-10	-20	-30
0	50	40	30	20	10	0	-10	-20	-30
5	48	37	26	19	1	-11	22	-34	-46
10	39	35	15	15	-4	-16	-28	-41	-53
15	35	21	8	3	-7	-19	-32	-45	-58
20	32	17	3	-5	-9	-22	-35	-48	-61
25	30	15	-0.4	-14	-11	-24	-37	-51	-64
30	28	12	-2	-18	-12	-26	-39	-53	-67
35	26	10	-4	-20	-14	-27	-41	-55	-69
	Equivalent Chill Temperature (F˚)

*The amber color is the dry bulb temperature in F˚, the blue column represents the wind speed in miles per hour, and the grey section is the combined number that equals the equivalent chill temperature.

A health and safety professional should ensure the following: 1. minimize worker exposure at extreme temps, 2. provide ten-minute warm-ups every hour, 3. workers wear properly insulated clothing to reduce the loss of heat from their bodies, 4. proper hydration of workers.

Finally, provide medical evaluation for any workers performing tasks in conditions -11˚F or less.

The holiday season is a busy time for everyone, and everyone wants to provide their families with the best gifts they can provide. Still, the best gift health and safety professionals can give to their workers is that they get them home to their families safely so they can enjoy the holidays.

I 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 5.05 – Ototoxins-Cadmium

Safety Tidbit 5.05 – Ototoxins-Cadmium

Reference: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4411/b019832e5c9c194ad1b615d37754544bbffe.pdf

      https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/evaluation.html

This week’s Safety Tidbit was written by one of my students, Patrick DeIvernois – a senior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA.

Ototoxins are chemicals that have toxic effects on the ear. Many ototoxins exist within the environment as single elements or as compounds. Examples of ototoxins include lead, cadmium, zinc, carbon monoxide. This tidbit will be specifically focusing on cadmium, its effects on the human body, and potential controls.

Cadmium is a rare earth metal, and exposure can occur in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries, solar cells, electroplating, pigments, as well as demolition of structures. Primarily, cadmium enters the body through inhalation.

Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard for cadmium is “1910.1027”. It states that the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for an airborne concentration of this substance must not exceed five micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 µg/m3) over an eight-hour time-weighted average exposure (TWA). The standard specifies more details regarding air monitoring.

In 2015, the Journal of International Advanced Otology published a study led by Jae Jun Song and other researchers that examined the relationship between cadmium exposure and Otitis media (OM), which is a common inflammatory disease among children. In the United States, more than half of all children will have one or more episodes of OM by the age of 3 years. Inflammation within the body increased mucin gene expression and examined other biological factors in the presence of cadmium. The researchers were able to explain the causal contribution between cadmium exposure and OM with the development of the human middle ear epithelial cells.

Employers must follow the hierarchy of controls due to the various health effects of cadmium. Elimination is used first, followed by substitution, engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The replacement of cadmium is possible using compounds such as nickel-metal hydride. Standard engineering controls for cadmium consist of isolation, ventilation, torch-cutting extensions, which are widely used within the industry to limit employee’s exposure to the substance. Administrative controls comprise of defining exposure time and decontamination zones. Personal protective equipment (e.g., respiratory protection) is last.

I 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 5.04 - WBGT vs. Heat Index

Safety Tidbit 5.04 – WBGT vs. Heat Index

Reference:        https://www.weather.gov/ict/WBGT.

The Heat Index is a measure of how hot it feels to the human body, considering the temperature and the relative humidity. The higher either value is, the higher the heat index and the greater the stress exerted on the body. Heat Index utilizes the temperature measured in the shade, and therefore, it will be higher in the sun, where many activities take place. For temperatures taken in the full sunlight, Heat Indices can increase as much as 15°F. Humidity plays a significant effect on cooling the body. If the humidity is high, sweat on the surface of the skin does not evaporate as quickly, slowing the cooling of the body. If the humidity is low, sweat evaporates too fast, leading to dehydration.

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is similar to the Heat Index in that it is an indicator of the stress on the body from the heat. While it is not as well-known as the Heat Index, it’s not a new term. WBGT was developed in the 1950s after heat-related illnesses affected the US armed services during the 1940s. After its implementation, there was a reduction in heat-related illnesses during basic training. One fundamental difference between the Heat Index and WBGT is the WBGT factors in heat loading from the sun. While Heat Index only takes temperature and Relative Humidity into account, WBGT takes several variables into account. These variables include:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Wind Speed
• Sun Angle
• Cloud Cover
• Physical Activity

Since most outdoor work happens in the sunlight, use of the WBGT is a better tool to keep your workers safe. The Heat Index, as given by the weather forecasters and used in the NIOSH/OSHA app, are great monitoring tools. However, through good industrial hygiene by taking WBGT readings and understanding the work performed, can you adequately protect workers.

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 5.03 - Flu Season

Safety Tidbit 5.03 – Flu Season

Reference:       CDC website - The Flu Season

It’s that time of year again. School has started, college football season is underway, and everyone seems to be sick. On top of all this, all the drug stores have ads reminding you to get your annual shot to get sick - aka Flu Shot.

The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States. Seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States. However, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter typically starting in October and peaking between December and February.

CDC collects, compiles, and analyzes information on influenza activity year-round in the United States and produces FluView, a weekly surveillance report, and FluView Interactive, which allows for more in-depth exploration of influenza surveillance data. 

The best way to prevent influenza is to get vaccinated. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza.  Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations. Flu vaccine also has been shown to be life-saving in children. In fact, a 2017 study showed that flu vaccination can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from flu. There are many vaccine options to choose from. CDC does not recommend one flu vaccine over another. The most important thing is for all people 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every year. If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you, talk to your doctor or other health care professional.

You should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begins spreading in your community, since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu. Make plans to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October, if possible. Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later.

So, what are you waiting for go get your flu shot and help reduce the spread of this disease.

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 5.02 - Who is Dr. Alice Hamilton?

Safety Tidbit 5.02 – Who is Dr. Alice Hamilton?

Reference:        Hamilton, Alice (1943). Exploring the Dangerous Trades: The Autobiography of Alice Hamilton. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company.

Alice Hamilton (February 27, 1869 – September 22, 1970) was an American physician, research scientist, and author who is best known as a leading expert in the field of occupational health and a pioneer in the field of industrial toxicology. Subsequent to her graduation from the University of Michigan Medical School, she became the first woman appointed to the faculty of Harvard University. 

Hamilton began her long career in public health and workplace safety in 1910, when Illinois governor appointed her as a medical investigator to the newly formed Illinois Commission on Occupational Diseases. Hamilton led the commission's investigations, which focused on industrial poisons such as lead and other toxins. By 1916 Hamilton had become America's leading authority on lead poisoning. Hamilton focused her explorations on occupational toxic disorders, examining the effects of substances such as aniline dyes, carbon monoxide, mercury, tetraethyl lead, radium, benzene, carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide gases. In 1925, at a Public Health Service conference on the use of lead in gasoline, she testified against the use of lead and warned of the danger it posed to people and the environment. Nevertheless, leaded gasoline was allowed. The EPA in 1988 estimated that over the previous 60 years that 68 million children suffered high toxic exposure to lead from leaded fuels. 

Her work on the manufacture of white lead and lead oxide, as a special investigator for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is considered a "landmark study". Relying primarily on "shoe leather epidemiology" (her process of making personal visits to factories, conducting interviews with workers, and compiling details of diagnosed poisoning cases) and the emerging laboratory science of toxicology, Hamilton pioneered occupational epidemiology and industrial hygiene. She also created the specialized field of industrial medicine in the United States. Her findings were scientifically persuasive and influenced sweeping health reforms that changed laws and general practice to improve the health of workers. 

Hamilton's best-known research included her studies on carbon monoxide poisoning among American steelworkers, mercury poisoning of hatters, and "a debilitating hand condition developed by workers using jackhammers." Hamilton was also a member of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of the Mortality from Tuberculosis in Dusty Trades, whose efforts "laid the groundwork for further studies and eventual widespread reform in the industry.

Her scientific research focused on the study of occupational illnesses and the dangerous effects of industrial metals and chemical compounds. In addition to her scientific work, Hamilton was a social-welfare reformer, humanitarian, peace activist, and a resident-volunteer at Hull House in Chicago.

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.