Now, more than ever, safety is crucial both inside and outside the workplace, which is why the National Safety Council will still be recognizing National Safety Month® in June. Observed annually by NSC, the nation’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, National Safety Month focuses on saving lives and preventing injuries, from the workplace to anyplace. – National Safety Council.
Check out free materials for non-members or join and get more here.
Or take the pledge to do your part here.
One of the easiest things an equipment operator can do to stay safe is to fasten his or her seat belt. Wearing a seat belt protects against injury in the event of a serious accident. It can also help the operator maintain control during sudden extreme movement. Nevertheless, we continue to see serious injuries and fatalities resulting from lack of seat belt usage. MSHA engineers estimate that 3-4 miners’ lives could be saved each year if seat belts were used universally. MSHA regulations require the use of seat belts in most equipment and circumstances. Seat belt design is evolving in terms of operator comfort and responsiveness. For example, some will tighten when equipment reaches a critical tilt point. There are also a growing number of tools available to ensure that seat belts are used by operators and visible to supervisors. These range from standard reminder chimes to cab-top lights that change color when the seat belt is buckled. What’s important is that functioning seat belts are made available and are used by all equipment operators at all times. – MSHA
OSHA has been working on ways before the pandemic to get the Whistleblower Protection Program out to workers who don’t understand they have this important freedom. It’s even more critical now. Click on the image above for more or click HERE to see the MSHA version. Note that protecting one another’s health is the same as protection from other hazards.
There’s also good information on the Department of Labor site explaining what to do in just about any workplace to protect all involved from Corona virus here.
Washington — A new safety tip card created by the National Transportation Safety Board for commercial motor vehicle drivers and owners is intended to reinforce common lessons learned from agency crash investigations.
Designed to be stored above a truck’s visor, the card advises drivers to:
You can download a free pdf copy of it here.
Even if you’re at home it could be time for a refresher on how to use chemicals safely… or maybe especially if you’re home. Here’s a timely one on safely using cleaners and disinfectants. Once we return to work there will have to be an increase in use of them.
Follow the basic warnings provided in the graphic above, but more directly read the label, SDS (if you’re at work, though you can probably find one if you aren’t), and any other reliable materials you can find. Beware of alternate uses or combinations you might find recommended online. Remember, these are helpful, but powerful chemicals.
You can read the CDC technical report here.
Struck-by incidents are a leading cause of death among construction workers,[1] and since 1992 the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in the construction industry.[2] According to OSHA, the four most common struck-by hazards are being struck-by a flying, falling, swinging, or rolling object. The NORA Construction Sector Council is undertaking a number of initiatives to increase awareness of struck-by hazards and ways to prevent them, including developing this online resource and launching a National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents.
Great graphics and resources to use anytime here.
Damaged or defective welds on aerial lifts have caused several fatalities in the mining industry.
Best Practices to Prevent the Mechanical Failure of Welded Connections
Prevent accidents by following proper welding procedures and performing regular inspections for damages or defects.
Download a pdf of the alert Here.
I’m always interested in what makes people behave the way they do. A lot of my reading and listening focuses on this topic with the hope of understanding how people could be influenced to work more safely. One great resource I’ve found is Hidden Brain, an NPR podcast that examines how we think and why we behave the way we do. You can check it out here.
Outdoor work requires proper preparation, especially in severe winter weather conditions. Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments, employers have a responsibility to provide workers with employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards, including winter weather related hazards, which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to them (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970). Employers should, therefore, train workers on the hazards of the job and safety measures to use, such as engineering controls and safe work practices, that will protect workers’ safety and health.
To bring heightened awareness to the perils of driving while sleep-deprived, the National Sleep Foundation declares November 3-10, 2019 as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week ®. The Foundation’s annual outreach effort aims to reduce the number of drivers who decide to drive sleep-deprived — responsible for more than 6,400 U.S. deaths annually — through accessible research and communications tools.
A poll commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) shows that a total of 97% of those polled see drowsy driving as a threat to safety, with more than 68% considering it to be a major threat. Furthermore, three in 10 Americans reported not knowing how many hours they could be awake without sleep and still drive safely. These findings highlight the need for public education on how to assess one’s alertness and risk of driving while drowsy.