Safety Tidbit 7.17 - Essential Equipment Safety

Safety Tidbit 7.17 – Essential Equipment Safety

Reference: Jensen RC, Holland CJ. Ladder Safety: A Taxonomy of Limb-Movement Patterns for Three Points of Control. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(8):2897.

My student wrote this Safety Tidbit, Ms. Adalyn Valenti – a Junior in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Applied Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA, graduating in Spring 2023. 

The use of ladders and powered platforms has a significant impact on the workplace. However, the impact depends on the ladder and/or powered platform utilization. Utilization of equipment throughout the workplace involves taking proactive safety measures. Including taking an extra step to ensure the safety of employees within the workplace is the utmost priority. Utilization of essential equipment within the workplace shall begin with proper training.

In the United States, slips, trips, and falls are the number one cause of workplace injuries.

The safety of ladders and powered platforms can often get overlooked within the workplace. Falls, trips, and slips are commonly associated with ladders and powered platforms.

The idea is to focus on essential safety tips to ensure employees within the workplace are utilizing both ladders and powered platforms properly. Inside the workplace, the safety of employees shall always be a priority. To keep employees safe, they shall know the hazards associated with ladders and powered platforms. Training includes the hazards associated with utilizing ladders and or powered platforms inside the workplace.

Ladder and Powered Platform Associated Hazards:

-Standing on the top step of the ladder or guardrails of a powered lift to complete a task.

-Utilizing a ladder and or powered platform that is short or not tall enough to complete the task.

-Positioning the ladder/powered platform in an inappropriate position or location.

-Utilizing a ladder or powered platform that is damaged or not in proper working condition.

-Place ladders on powered platforms to perform a task within the workplace.

Providing a safe workplace for employees begins with essential training. The following tips can help mitigate or eliminate ladder and powered platform associated injuries within the workplace.

Helpful tidbits when utilizing a ladder or powered platform:

-Conduct a self-assessment of the equipment to ensure it is ready for use.

-Maintaining three points of contact on the ladder by always having one hand and two feet on the ladder.

-Wear a personal fall arrest system when appropriate when utilizing a powered platform or ladder.

-Ensure the location of the equipment clears the distance needed to prevent injury.

-Avoid using ladders and powered platforms near powerlines as the equipment is composed of metal.

-Ensure to place the equipment on a level surface before utilizing it to perform a task.

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.

#IUPSafety #IUPSafetyScience

Safety Tidbit 7.16 - Heat Exhaustion

Safety Tidbit 7.16 – Heat Exhaustion

References:     https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/default.html

My student wrote this Safety Tidbit, Mr. Jerome Davis – a Junior in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Applied Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA, graduating in Spring 2023.

Many workers in the United States deal with working in heat daily, whether indoors or outdoor. According to OSHA, 50% to 70% of outdoor fatalities occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments. The body needs to build a tolerance to the heat over time gradually. The number one heat illness that comes to mind is Heat exhaustion. According to the CDC, heat exhaustion is the body's response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. These symptoms can quickly identify heat exhaustion: fatigue, irritability, thirst, nausea or vomiting, dizziness or light-headedness, heavy sweating and elevated body temperature or fast heart rate. The risk factors of heat exhaustion working in warm environments, heat sources, physical activity, heavy or non-breathable work clothes.

Heat exhaustion is an easily preventable heat illness on any given day. Employers don't have an option to ignore heat exhaustion because that would mean they disregard the health of their employees. Employers' expenses for protecting workers from heat exhaustion aren't high because all you need is a simple plan. Employers must create plans to protect workers from developing heat-related illnesses as stated in the OSHA General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1). The plan could be a heat exhaustion plan, and that plan will discuss actions that need to take place to keep workers safe. 

The plan will discuss oversight daily, adequate first aid, and the protocol for summoning medical assistance, engineering controls, work practices training, etc. Other things employers could do to minimize heat exhaustion are providing sufficient rest and shade, providing water, whether it's a station or water bottles, at all times, calculating total heat stress, training the workers on heat exhaustion, and controlling workers' rotations/shifts. By conducting these simple tasks, heat Exhaustion will be minimized and even prevented in certain situations.

Here are some quick tips NIOSH gives excellent first aid tips when fighting Heat exhaustion.

Treat a worker suffering from heat exhaustion with the following:

• ·      Take workers to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment.
• ·      Call 911 if medical care is unavailable.
• ·      Stay with the worker until help arrives.
• ·      Remove workers from the hot area and give them liquids to drink.
• ·      Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks.
• ·      Cool the worker with cold compresses or have the worker wash their head, face, and neck with cold water.
• ·      Encourage frequent sips of cool water.

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.

#IUPSafety #IUPSafetyScience

Safety Tidbit 7.15 - Best Practices when Using a Ladder

Safety Tidbit 7.15 – Best Practices when Using a Ladder

Reference: Best practices for safe use of ladders. Occupational Health and Safety Blog. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.hseblog.com/best-practices-for-safe-use-of-ladders/

My student wrote this Safety Tidbit, Mr. Tanner Melnyk – a Junior in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Applied Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA, graduating in Spring 2023.

Ladders are widely used all around the world for occupational or recreational reasons. Ladders are handy for many situations; using them safely should be a top priority, as falling from any height results in serious injuries. Understanding the best practices and how to use a ladder safely is essential for humans. When using ladders in a workplace, the employer must ensure that each ladder used meets the requirements of OSHA 1910.25 Subpart D.

Requirements and Best Practices:

●      Position the ladder with the ladder rungs, steps, and cleats parallel, level, and uniformly spaced;

●      Do not coat wooden ladders with any material which may obscure structural defects;

●      Ensure metal ladders are made with corrosion-resistant material or protected against corrosion;

●      Verify ladder surfaces are free of puncture and laceration hazards;

●      Use ladders only for their designed purposes;

●      Inspect ladders before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects which could cause employee injury;

●      Secure ladders before climbing;

●      Inspect ladders before and after use to ensure proper use.

The proper use of ladders ensures less chance of an injury occurring. The primary injuries (approximately 60%) involving ladders are falls. The top five reasons that ladder accidents happen are incorrect extension ladder setup angle, inappropriate ladder selection, preliminary ladder inspection, improper ladder use, and lack of access to ladder safety tools and information. The ladders deemed unsafe must be equipped with a “Do not use” sign.

In conclusion, ladder safety is essential and can cause serious injuries when not properly followed. Ladder safety includes picking the right ladder, properly inspecting the ladder, making sure the area is safe, and securing the ladder before climbing. These and many more steps will allow ladder accidents to decrease and make the workplace safe.

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.

 #IUPSafety

Safety Tidbit 7.14 - COVID-19 and Worker Adaptation

 Safety Tidbit 7.14 – COVID-19 and Worker Adaptation

Reference: The Push for Adaptation- COVID-19 and Worker Health https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ecpe/how-covid-19-changed-worker-safety-and-health

My student wrote this Safety Tidbit, Mrs. Aubrey Ozolins – a Junior in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Applied Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA, graduating in Spring 2023.

Health and safety in the workplace have always been fundamental issues for organizations. Better occupational safety means that the employees will work better, help to reduce the turnover of employees, and help the employees do their jobs more effectively. With the COVID-19 pandemic, companies had to act quickly to keep their employees safe while trying to prevent the spread and staying optimistic.

With COVID-19, companies have realized that they are flawed for significant health concerns. They were entirely unprepared for life's new "norm" and running their companies. Distancing, masking, and remote working are several examples to help stop the spread. But now that COVID-19 is not a significant concern, how has worker safety changed, and what companies are using to adapt to the new norm. This pandemic has helped introduce the Total Worker Health (TWH) idea.

Total Worker Health helps address the challenges of worker safety, health, and well-being. It measures the worker's experiences, collects data to understand what needs changing, provides ideas on how to modify the working environment, and helps to encourage the relationship of corporate limits to help that the workplace is safe. TWH focuses on the two ideas of protecting and promoting health in the workplace. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it ruined the image of how safe these workplaces were and accelerated addressing these issues. With the use of the TWH practices, companies became more resilient during this time and now have plans for the future in case of another global emergency. 

For the implementation of TWH, a few values will not change and evolve because of COVID-19. In the article titled "An Integrative Total Worker Health Framework for Keeping Workers Safe and Healthy During the COVID-19 Pandemic," the authors gave six critical components of applying a successful TWH:

·      Focus on the working conditions for infection control and supportive environments to increase psychological demands.

·      Allow the employees to participate in identifying the daily challenges and help to create unique solutions.

·      Employ comprehensive and collaborative efforts to increase the efficiencies of the system.

·      Committing as the leaders to support the workers through actions and positive communications.

·      Adhere to legal and ethical standards.

·      Use data to help to guide actions and to evaluate the progress.

With these components, the organizations can address the individual demands that their employees may have. While also allowing the employees to complete their tasks in a safe area and contribute to the feedback to continue to make the changes.

The researchers have found that while it can take several months to implement, TWH practices showed an increase in good health outcomes for the company and brought the Health and Safety departments together in the companies that once separated them. With this new cohesion, the lower the number was of health risks and concerns.

TWH is not just a short-term idea and can be incredibly effective even after the ravages of COVID-19. Even with the threat of this disease gone, worker health and safety will always need to remain at the forefront of companies. It was because of COVID-19 that adapted to this way of thinking necessary to thrive and survive.

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 7.13 - Beach Safety

Safety Tidbit 7.13 – Beach Safety

Reference: Person. (2020, August 18). Beach safety tips: In and out of the water. Healthline. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/beach-safety#covid-19

My student wrote this Safety Tidbit, Ms. Abbey Graham – a Junior in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Applied Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA, graduating in Spring 2023.

 

As Summer quickly approaches, many people begin to plan trips to their favorite place, the beach. You and your families plan to pack up the most oversized vehicle you have with the kids for a getaway during this time of year. Your last thought at the beach is your safety when having so much fun, but a beach is a dangerous place.

 

Every beach posts beach rules with signs and flags meant for your safety. There may be lifeguards and beach patrol on duty, although each beach is different and may only have posted rules to follow. You must follow the lifeguards or other beach patrol officers' guidance and instructions for your safety in the sand or the water. You can speak to any person on duty about your safety and concerns. You can also find beach rules posted near the entrances of the beach or the lifeguard stands and towers. Listed below are some rules that you may see posted:

·      Look for flags set up on the beach.

·      Know where lifeguard stations are.

·      Look for signs and posts near the entrance or lifeguard tower

·      Talk with lifeguards for tips and information about the beach and water conditions.

 

For ease, lifeguards use beach flags to communicate beach conditions. The color of the flag color indicates the water condition. Below are listed some flag colors and their general meaning:

·      Double red flag: water closed, no public swimming

·      Red flag: high hazard or surf and/or currents

·      Yellow flag: medium hazard or moderate surf and/or currents

·      Purple flag: dangerous marine life such as jellyfish, stingrays, or dangerous fish

·      Green flag: low hazard, calm conditions

·      Black and white checkered flag: set up along the beach, usually as a pair, to indicate separate sections to help keep swimmers and surfers safely apart in the water.

 

The most crucial factor before you swim in the ocean or any other body of water is the ability to swim. You can take swimming lessons at any local Red Cross chapter or YMCA. Swimming in the ocean is hazardous, and there are many things you should be looking out for. Swimming in a large body of water is often very different from your local pool or lake. Listed below are some things you need to be cautious of when swimming in the ocean:

·      Tides and undercurrents

·      Unexpected changes to beach conditions

·      Water depths at drop-offs

·      Rocks, debris, and other hazards

·      Local marine life that can sting or bite

·      Boats, ships, and other watercraft that may be in the water at the same time

·      Bad weather in the area, such as lighting or thunderstorms

·      Tsunami warnings

 

Common beach injuries are minor cuts and scrapes, jellyfish stings, and sunburn.

The last significant thing you need to know how to identify in the ocean is a riptide. Riptides are when the tidal water moves quickly under the water's surface. They are powerful and fast-moving, creating a current that flows away from the beach. If you get caught in a rip current, swimming parallel back to the shore instead of in a straight line is essential. You can spot one if the waves aren't breaking, you see foam on the beach, or seaweed or discolored water pulled from the shore.

 

Water conditions can quickly change, so you need to analyze the condition before entering. A couple of things you want to follow is to keep an eye on kids and friends because drowning can happen quickly, and the currents naturally move you up and down the shore, so you always want to be able to identify the people of your party. If there is an emergency and it happens to be you, you want to make yourself visible and loud. If you are caught in the water and having trouble making it back to shore, wave your arms above the water and call for help. If you see someone pulled under or away from shore, call for a lifeguard or call 9-1-1. Entering the water yourself may be dangerous, so throw out a flotation device to the person or rope that can help pull them back to shore.

 

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 7.12 - What is your "Why" for Workplace Safety?

 Safety Tidbit 7.12 – What is your "Why" for Workplace Safety?

Reference: Innovative Safety Products LLC. (2021, July 22). What is your "why". Safety Talk Ideas. Retrieved from https://www.safetytalkideas.com/safetytalks/what-is-your-why/

This Safety Tidbit was written by my student, Ms. Megan Rutledge – a senior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA, graduating in Summer 2022.

 

Everyone thinks differently about why they should put safety first while working or if they should even consider safety as a priority. It is crucial to find your "why" for working safely to drive continuous safety improvement in your workplace. Safely working may not come naturally to everyone, and you may argue that aspects of safely working go against our human nature. Motivation will vary for each individual. However, there should be motivation for everyone. 

 

Listed below are a few reasons that could drive you to find your "why" for choosing to work safely:

·       Your health. Personal health and well-being can be the most significant driving factor because injuries can impact your life. However, some individuals are willing to take risks if they think it only impacts themselves.

·       Your family. Whether you're working to help support your family or have a family at home that you value, the family could be your "why". The "why" puts into perspective that taking a risk will affect you and affect those you love.

·       Your coworkers. For some people, coworkers maybe their home away from home. Taking a shortcut at work or choosing to perform an unsafe task could cause harm to those around you. Taking a step back and realizing the damage it may cause someone else's life could be someone's "why."

·       Your company. An accident in the workplace can negatively impact a business. It could lead to a reduction in benefits, lower raises, or even layoffs. Your company also relies on you each day for production, and having an employee off work could affect production.

·       Your influence. The influence could be a personal reason for choosing your "why" or for those around you. Those around you will watch how you work and may base their actions on yours. If you are a more experienced worker, it is essential to set an example for the newer workers.

 

While these are only a few examples of your "why" for workplace safety, there are others that may pertain more to you. I encourage you to find your "why" before going to work each day and think of that reasoning as your workday continues.

 

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 7.11 – Best Practices to Avoid Forklift-related Fatalities and Injuries

Safety Tidbit 7.11 – Best Practices to Avoid Forklift-related Fatalities and Injuries

Reference: Fowler, Lauren. “How to Reduce Forklift Accidents - Be Safe & Save Lives.” WAYCO, WAYCO - Best Forklift Warranties & Safety Training, 10 Feb. 2019, https://www.wayco.ca/blog/2018/12/18/how-to-reduce-forklift-accidents-be-safe-amp-save-lives.

This Safety Tidbit was written by my student, Mr. Michael Zahorchak – a junior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA, graduating in Spring 2023.

Why do forklift accidents occur? Accidents tend to occur when the operator or bystanders don't have education and proper training around the forklift. You can follow many practices to lower the chances of forklift-related injuries or fatalities. If you are a forklift operator, you should understand a few basic things like how it operates, the weight the forklift is designed to handle, and how to repair it. Understanding these three factors can lower the chances of a forklift injury substantially.

A few practices include:

-       Only trained and licensed individuals should operate forklifts

-       Always wear your seatbelt when operating

-       Avoiding edges such as unprotected loading docks

-       Never attempt to jump off the forklift if it is tipping

-       Operating at safe speeds and adjusting speeds for certain work conditions

-       Never overload the forklift

-       Travel with forks close to the ground

-       Eliminate forklift operation in heavy foot traffic areas

-       PROMOTE PEDESTRIAN AND WORKER AWARENESS

Most accidents occur in the workplace from workers not being trained enough or knowing how to maintain the forklift correctly. A study by OSHA showed that proper operator forklift training could reduce the risk of accidents by 25-30%.

Another significant rule when operating a forklift Is that pedestrians always have the right of way. Better management and awareness practices can prepare all workers for understanding this part of forklift operating. Driving a forklift has similar rules to driving on the road when it comes to the pedestrian. You could come up with better practices for this by creating designated walkways and designated travel ways for the forklift. Pedestrian awareness training also has a significant role in safety while operating forklifts that doesn't get talked about too much. Pedestrians need to be just as alert as the operator to minimize any risks of getting injured.

Finally, preventing loading problems and overloading the lift is a big way to prevent injuries or fatalities. Along with each forklift, there is a manufacturer's load capacity plate. The load capacity determines the maximum weight that a particular forklift can safely carry. The maximum load rating is critical because if you don't follow this, it could lead to the forklift tipping, and serious injuries can result from that. Also, correctly distributing the weight is very important while loading the forklift and operating it. Ensuring the load is secured at an evenly distributed weight is another way to reduce tipping over. A study showed that 14% of forklift accidents/serious crush injuries come from rollover, collision, or falling loads if the load is too heavy for the lift.

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.