May Safety Tip

Six Steps to Completing an Effective Job Safety Analysis

For 27 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported on workplace injuries across the United States. During that time, both the number of cases and the rate per 100 workers has steadily decreased. In 2018, they reported 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses.

While these decreasing numbers are encouraging, occupational health and safety (OHS) professionals must constantly consider ways to improve. Currently, much of OHS is about responding to workplace accidents. While this is still extremely important, the field is changing and is becoming more about prevention and hazard identification.

Safety experts have begun to focus on educating employees and identifying potential issues rather than on what is essentially damage control. Without a solid understanding of the hazards and risks your employees face with the tasks they accomplish each day, it’s impossible to keep them safe. The hope is that taking a prevention-based approach and trying to stop an accident from ever happening will help companies save the time and money that comes along with mitigating the effects of workplace accidents.

Effective risk management starts with identifying and addressing hazards before incidents occur. While most safety professionals understand that a thorough job safety analysis (JSA) is a trusted process for evaluating workplace hazards, the challenges of carrying them out often derail companies from completing them and revisiting or updating them as needed to remain effective.  

Here are the critical steps to completing an effective JSA.

Step One: Select Which Job to Analyze

 To start the JSA process, choose the jobs or tasks that need to be evaluated. Selecting the jobs to be analyzed can be a vital consideration when employers have limited time and resources to analyze all of the various jobs associated with their operations. A good best practice is to prioritize the jobs to be analyzed. This way, even if analysis of all jobs does not occur, it will ensure that the most critical jobs are examined first.

Use the following criteria to prioritize what jobs you will analyze:

• jobs with the highest injury or illness rates,
• jobs with the highest potential for injury or illness,
• jobs in which one simple human error could lead to a severe accident or injury,
• new jobs, processes or ones that have undergone changes in processes or procedures,
• jobs complex enough to require written instructions and
• infrequently performed jobs: workers may be at greater risk when undertaking non-routine jobs.

Regardless of the jobs or tasks selected for evaluation, it’s critical to have accurate information about the hazards that workers performing them face.

Step Two: Job Task Breakdown

To perform a thorough and accurate JSA, each job must be broken down into a defined sequence of individual tasks. It’s important to avoid defining individual job tasks too narrowly or too broadly.

Generally speaking, a job should contain no more than ten individual tasks. If your JSA exceeds this number, consider separating the job into two or more separate phases. It also is vital to maintain the proper sequence of job tasks to ensure that during the hazard identification phase, hazards are addressed in the order they are encountered by employees.

Job task breakdown typically is accomplished through direct observation, with at least one safety contact or direct supervisor familiar with the job and recording the series of individual tasks as they are performed by an experienced employee. Observation of an experienced employee helps ensure that job tasks are performed in the proper sequence with a high level of precaution, helping to identify unforeseen hazards more easily. This also helps ensure that all tasks, even frequently missed steps like set-up and clean-up, are being reviewed as well

Once the observation is complete, participants should convene to review the findings and ensure that all steps sufficiently were identified.

Step Three: Identifying Hazards

Hazards should be identified immediately after the observation of job tasks while the sequence of job tasks and potential hazards still is fresh in the minds of all participants. If one or more job tasks need to be repeated, it should be done immediately, if possible.

A number of questions should be asked to assess the potential hazards in performing individual job tasks. Proceed through the sequence of job tasks one at a time and answer questions such as:

• Are there any pinch points or potential for body parts to be caught between moving machinery or objects?
• Can the worker may harmful contact with moving objects?
  Does the equipment, tools or machine in use present any potential hazards?
  Is there a potential for slips, trips or falls?
• Is there a risk of injury due to excessive strain from lifting, pushing or pulling?
  Is there a risk of exposure to extreme heat or cold?
• Is there a danger of falling objects?
• Is lighting a problem?
• Does the task expose employees to excessive noise or vibration?
• Is there potential for exposure to toxic/hazardous substances, harmful radiation or electrical hazards?

Employees performing the tasks for which the job safety analysis is being conducted should provide input and insight into the hazard identification process, and strive to consider every possible outcome in the performance of each task. Proper controls should then be developed to limit the potential for the job hazards to result in an environmental or safety incident.

Step Four: Develop Preventative Measures

The hierarchy of controls is a well-known and commonly-used tool for developing preventive measures for hazards associated with job tasks. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health lists the five controls, in order of effectiveness, with the following description:

Elimination– Physically remove the hazard
Substitution – Replace the hazard
Engineering controls – Isolate people from the hazard
Administration controls – Change the way people work
PPE – Protect the worker with personal protective equipment

Hazard elimination widely is considered to be the most effective, longest-term solution to improving job safety. However, it also often is the most difficult and expensive in the short term to implement. Administrative controls and PPE measures tend to be less expensive to implement initially, but often are less effective at controlling hazards and can be difficult to sustain in the long term.

Step Five: Document and Communicate Job Hazard Analysis Findings

 After a JSA has been completed, the findings should be documented and made available to employees so that they are aware of the hazards associated with the jobs they will be performing, and know what preventive measures will help keep them safe. JSAs should be living documents that capture information about risks, document controls and inform the employees about both the hazards in their job tasks and the best means of avoiding them.

Employees need to know JSAs exist, and have quick and easy access to them. Furthermore, workers also need to be able to understand and act on them. It’s a matter of training and ensuring that the JSAs are easy to read and understand.

The importance of effective and well-documented training cannot be emphasized enough. In many situations following a serious accident, questions of liability hinge on the issue of whether training on the JSA was conducted, whether it adequately covered what needed to be covered, and whether the evidence sufficiently backs up your answers to these questions.

Step Six: Get Help (If Needed)

Even with the steps to completing a JSA broken down, the reality is that some employers just don’t feel like they have the time or resources to complete them for each job or task. Fortunately, today’s EHS software solutions help simplify the creation, management and implementation of JSAs.

A good electronic risk analysis program makes it easy to develop good assessments and track corrective actions, and when combined with an incident management software solution, you can oversee all aspects of incidents – from reporting to tracking of corrective actions. employees – even through the use of their mobile devices – giving them better access to hazard and preventive information so they can work safer and more efficiently.

Maintaining a good JSA program is an ongoing and evolving process. If a workplace injury occurs, a review of the relevant JSA should occur to see if it had a shortcoming that may have contributed to the incident. A good practice is to involve your workforce in a periodic review exercise for existing JSAs to make sure they still accurately capture the job tasks as performed today and address all associated risks.

Better insight into the hazards workers face with their jobs and tasks leads to more effective risk management. By facilitating communication, participation and engagement among everyone involved on the worksite, JSAs offer the opportunity to identify unforeseen hazards and increase support for a stronger, more inclusive safety culture. 

https://www.ehstoday.com/safety/article/21919232/risk-management-six-steps-to-completing-an-effective-job-safety-analysis

https://www.ehs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/job_safety_analysis_fact_sheet.pdf

April Safety Tip

Hand and Power Tool Safety

According to a study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, hand and power tool injuries send an average of 400,000 people to the emergency room each year. These tools can cause lacerations, puncture wounds, dismemberment, burns, electrical shock, and death. Fortunately, there are many preventative measures that employees can take to prevent tool injuries from occurring.

Preventative Measures

 The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or OSHA, recommends that employees:

• Inspect all tools before every use
• Never carry a tool by the cord or hose
• Never hold fingers on the switch button when carrying a tool
• Secure work with clamps or a vise so that both hands can operate the tool
• Keep cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges
• Remain a safe distance away from anyone else working in the same area or observing your work
• Keep good footing and maintain balance
• Wear proper clothing for the task, and avoid loose clothing, ties, and jewelry
• Disconnect tools when not in use, before maintenance or cleaning, and when changing any accessories
• Never yank the cord or hose to disconnect it
• Maintain tools with care
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for lubricating and changing accessories
• Remove any damaged tools from use and tag them “Do Not Use”
• Never attempt to override or remove any guards

Electric Shock

Power tools can cause electric shock when used improperly. To lower the risk of electric shock, employees should never attempt to override the safety features on a three-pronged plug. They should only operate tools within their design limitations, and always wear appropriate safety gloves and footwear. Employees should store tools in a clean, dry place when not in use, and should never use power tools in damp or wet locations unless the tools are specifically rated to do so. Employees should keep their work area well-lit, and make sure that electrical cords don’t cause a tripping hazard.

Pneumatic Tools

Pneumatic tools are powered by compressed air. If used improperly, the hose that attaches the tool to an air supply can detach, flinging the tool or attachment toward the user or other employees. Other hazards of pneumatic tools include excessive noise, vibration, fatigue, and strains. Employees should wear special personal protective equipment, or PPE, when operating pneumatic tools.

 Hydraulic Tools

Hydraulic tools use pressurized fluid to generate force. Jacks are the most common example of a hydraulic tool. Employees should always take care to select the proper type of fluid to use in a hydraulic tool. When using a hydraulic jack, employees should always take the following precautions:

1. Make sure that the base rests on a firm, level surface
2. Ensure that the tool is correctly centered
3. Verify that the tool bears against a level surface
4. Check that the lift force is applied evenly

Jacks should never be used to support a lifted load. They can easily cause fatal crushing injuries if improperly used.

Liquid Fuel Tools

Liquid fuel tools are powered by fuel, typically gasoline. Employees must always transport and store fuel only in approved flammable liquid containers. Before refilling a liquid fuel tool’s tank, employees must shut down the engine and allow it to completely cool. If a tool is refueled while the engine is still hot, the pre-existing heat could ignite fuel vapors and cause a fire or explosion.

Powder-Actuated Tools

Powder-actuated tools operate like a loaded gun and may only be used by specially-trained and certified employees. These should never be used in an explosive or flammable environment. Employees should never load a powder-actuated tool unless it is going to be used immediately, and should never leave a loaded tool unattended, especially where it might be available to an unauthorized user. Employees should always select the powder level that can do the intended work without excessive force. If a tool misfires, the employee should hold it in place for thirty seconds before attempting to fire it again. If it misfires a second time, the employee should hold it in place for thirty seconds, remove the load, and immediately place the faulty cartridge in water to lessen the chance of explosion.

Abrasive Wheel Tools

Abrasive wheel tools can send sharp fragments and debris flying, potentially injuring the operator or nearby employees. These tools must be equipped with a special guard, and wheels should be properly ring-tested before each use. Employees should never clamp a hand-held grinder in a vise and must wear both eye and face protection.

Summary

While hand and power tools can be dangerous, the majority of these injuries are caused by careless use or improper maintenance. With proper training, inspection and maintenance schedules, you can reduce the risk of tool-related injuries in your workplace.

https://safetyskills.com/hand-power-tool-safety/

Source:  www.OSHA.gov

March Safety Tip

OSHA Inspections

OSHA enforces their regulations primarily through compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) conducting inspections in workplaces. These inspectors are experienced and trained industrial hygienist or safety professionals that assure compliance with OSHA standards. Because there are more than seven million workplaces in OSHA’s jurisdiction, it is impossible for them to inspect every single one. Because of this, OSHA tries to focus their inspections on the most hazardous workplaces, and has outlined the order of priority as the following:           

1. Imminent danger situations
2. Severe injuries and illnesses
3. Worker complaints
4. Referrals
5. Targeted inspections
6. Follow-up inspections

(OSHA prioritizes complaints based on severity and may conduct a phone or fax investigation when it comes to lower-priority hazards.)

There are three main components of an OSHA inspection:

• An opening conference. The opening conference is a brief meeting during which the OSHA inspector will explain the purpose of the inspection.
• A worksite “walkaround” inspection.
• A closing conference.

Inspections will begin with the inspector presenting their credentials and lead into an opening conference. During this conference, the inspector will explain the reason for the inspection and the procedures. Pre-selected individuals from your company will accompany the inspector on the tour.

The tour consists of the inspector observing hazards and whether any violations are present. They may point out problems that can easily be corrected and should be corrected immediately, although violation citations will still be issued for these instances. During the OSHA inspector’s walk-around, you should stay with the inspector and accompany him or her at all times with as few personnel as possible. Do not volunteer information just state factual information. If OSHA takes pictures, you should take the same pictures.

Prior to going into the shop,  the inspector will also look at worksite injury and illness records (OSHA 300 Log and 300A Summary), assess the current health and safety programs and talk with employees about their impressions of safety in the facility, 

Finally, the inspection itself will wrap up with a closing conference. The inspector will inform the employer and representatives of the general findings the tour, and the employer will also learn the possible course of actions.

OSHA has up to six months to send you the citations.  The citations and penalties will be spelled out in the document along with an explanation of the requirements and standards that were violated. The citations need to be posted in the area that is cited until the problems are fixed or three days depending on which is the longest period.

Violations:

There are six specific categories of OSHA violations, each of which carries either a recommended or a mandatory penalty.

• De Minimis Violations. …
• Other-than-Serious Violations. …
• Serious Violations. …
• Willful Violations. …
• Repeated Violation. …
• Failure to Abate Prior Violation.

De Minimis Violations:  A de minimis violation is a technical violation of OSHA rules that have no direct impact on health or safety. It is the least serious class of violation, and OSHA inspectors do not levy fines or issue citations for these violations. Inspectors verbally inform employers about de minimis violations and list them on the employer’s case inspection file..

 Other-than-Serious Violations:  A violation of OSHA rules that would not usually cause death or serious injury but that is nevertheless related to job safety or employee health is considered an other-than-serious violation. Failure to provide copies of safety regulations and failure to post required documentation in work areas are considered other-than-serious OSHA violations.

Serious Violations: When an employer knows of or should know of a situation that has a definite chance of causing serious injury or death, but does not remedy it, OSHA issues a serious violation. Failure to ensure that employees who carry heavy loads wear steel-toe boots is an example of a serious violation.

 Willful Violations: The most serious violation category is willful violations, and it is reserved for intentional violations of OSHA rules or situations that show disregard for employee health and safety. If an employee is killed, the violation becomes a criminal. An individual who is convicted of a fatal willful violation can also be imprisoned for up to six months. An example of a serious violation might involve a fatal crushing accident because the employer did not implement adequate safety procedures for equipment that had caused prior crushing injuries.

Repeated Violation: If an employer is cited for a particular violation, and a subsequent inspection reveals another identical or very similar violation, OSHA inspectors may cite the employer for a repeated violation.

Failure to Abate Prior Violation:  When an employer receives a violation citation, the citation includes a date by which the employer must remedy the situation. If the employer does not do so on or before the specified date, it may be liable for a fine per day from the day after the specified date until it remedies the condition.

2021 OSHA Penalty Increase

On Jan. 15, 2021, OSHA’s civil penalty amounts for workplace safety and health violations increased based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2021. Below are the maximum penalty amounts, with the annual adjustment for inflation, that may be assessed after Jan. 15, 2021.

Source:  www.OSHA.gov

February Safety Tip

Five Proven Benefits of Ergonomics in the Workplace

Benefits of a Workplace Ergonomics Process

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries reviewed 250 ergonomics case studies to reveal the impact of ergonomics on business goals like cost savings, productivity and product quality.

What did they find? That ergonomics is well worth the investment.

Here are five of the proven benefits of a strong workplace ergonomics process backed by the results of the Washington State DLI study:

1. Ergonomics reduces costs.

By systematically reducing ergonomic risk factors, you can prevent costly MSDs. With approximately $1 out of every $3 in workers compensation costs attributed to MSDs, this represents an opportunity for significant cost savings. Also, don’t forget that indirect costs can be up to twenty times the direct cost of an injury.

• 59% average reduction of Musculoskeletal Disorders
• 65% average reduction in incidence rate
• 75% reduction in lost workdays
• 53% reduction in restricted days
• 68% reduction in worker’s compensation costs
• 39% reduction in cost per claim
• 43% decrease in labor costs

2. Ergonomics improves productivity.

The best ergonomic solutions will often improve productivity. By designing a job to allow for good posture, less exertion, fewer motions and better heights and reaches, the workstation becomes more efficient.

• 25% increase in productivity

3. Ergonomics improves quality.

Poor ergonomics leads to frustrated and fatigued workers that don’t do their best work. When the job task is too physically taxing on the worker, they may not perform their job like they were trained. For example, an employee might not fasten a screw tight enough due to a high force requirement which could create a product quality issue.

• 67% average reduction in scrap/errors

4. Ergonomics improves employee engagement.

Employees notice when the company is putting forth their best efforts to ensure their health and safety. If an employee does not experience fatigue and discomfort during their workday, it can reduce turnover, decrease absenteeism, improve morale and increase employee involvement.

• 48% average reduction in employee turnover
• 58% average reduction in employee absenteeism

5. Ergonomics creates a better safety culture.

Ergonomics shows your company’s commitment to safety and health as a core value. The cumulative effect of the previous four benefits of ergonomics is a stronger safety culture for your company. Healthy employees are your most valuable asset; creating and fostering the safety & health culture at your company will lead to better human performance for your organization.

 Workplace Ergonomics – Is it worth the cost?

Yes, absolutely! Not only is ergonomics good for your business, it’s great for your employees.

Good managers consider the following when making decisions:

• Will this increase our revenues?
• Will this decrease our costs?
• Is this the right thing to do?

When considering a workplace ergonomics process, you can answer with an emphatic “YES!” to all three of these questions.

 How to Get Started?

There are six steps in the process of starting up an ergonomics program.  They include:

1. Identify risk factors.

1. • Observe your employees working – what risk factors do you see?  Talk to the employees and ask they more ideas.

2. Involve and train management and workers.

1. • Train others in observation of workers and train workers to bring ideas they have to management.

3. Collect health and medical evidence.

1. • What jobs have been causing injuries – strains, sprains, etc.

4. Implement your ergonomic program.

1. • Check out the Loss Control Manual section 15 on wcti.info/program documents/loss control manual.

5. Evaluate your ergonomic program.

1. • This is a continuous improvement program – you must stay on top of things and keep talking and observing; updating/changing as things occur.

6. Maintain involvement.

1. • Keep the employees involved.

https://ergo-plus.com/workplace-ergonomics-benefits/

https://www.jjkeller.com/learn/news

January Safety Tip

Are You Inspecting Your Forklifts Often Enough?  Are You Charging/Changing Batteries Properly?

Forklift maintenance is one of the most critical – and often overlooked – aspects of total forklift safety.

When you think about forklift safety, it’s the operational aspects that typically command attention: driving at a safe speed, minding maximum load capacities, awareness of nearby foot traffic, etc. However, forklift maintenance – and how often your company conducts regular inspections – is one area where non-compliance occurs.

OSHA requires regular inspections of all powered industrial trucks.  Many safety supervisors, foremen and others involved with workplace safety want to know how many times per week should inspections happen?

Forklift maintenance is one of the most critical – and often overlooked – aspects of total forklift safety. In fact, OSHA requires vigilant daily inspections of all forklifts, including warehouse lifts, rough terrain forklifts, narrow aisle lifts, pallet jacks, and more.

Three key OSHA guidelines lay out the framework for a productive, positively safe forklift maintenance schedule:

• 29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1) – employees and employers must never knowingly drive a forklift that is known to be unsafe…in other words, a forklift that hasn’t undergone a recent inspection.
• 29 CFR 1910.178(q)(1) – all powered industrial trucks should be removed from active use, and repairs are required to be undertaken by trained personnel. Any forklift maintenance should not be attempted by untrained employees.
• 29 CFR 1910.178(q)(1) – forklifts should be maintained to promote a clean condition, with no noticeable grease, dust, oil and other substances.

Individually, each guideline provides a crucial piece of the overall forklift maintenance puzzle. Collectively, they form the backbone of any sensible, well-planned, sustainable forklift maintenance program.

These guidelines help create a safer working environment for everyone involved with forklift use, including those you wouldn’t think would be impacted by unsafe forklifts – namely, pedestrians passing through an active work area.

Per OSHA rules, forklifts should be inspected daily – at a bare minimum, at least 3-4 times per week (if the forklift isn’t used every day). In practical terms, how does this translate into a workable forklift maintenance plan for your enterprise?

1. Monitor all critical forklift operating systems, including the brakes, steering controls, backup alarms, safety mechanisms, tilt control, and more. General rule of thumb: if it moves or impacts safety in any way, it requires constant attention. Safety on the job often begins with thorough inspections BEFORE the job even starts.
2. Ensure your maintenance personnel and employees always conduct a visual pre-check (mechanical inspections, harnesses, etc.) and operational pre-check (brakes, safety signals, cockpit controls, etc.) before each shift.
3. Have a system in place for your drivers to report any operational abnormalities or defects. Make sure your maintenance personnel and forklift operators are in regular communication.
4. Offer incentives for regular maintenance activities. Think gift cards for no skipped maintenance days, or an extra vacation day for fixing a problem that may have caused a major accident or injury. A thorough, well-designed maintenance plan backed by a worthwhile incentive plan automatically draws in more people than you’d think. Yes, it’s true – maintenance can be (quite literally) rewarding.
5. Post your general maintenance requirements where everyone can see them. This is helpful for non-maintenance personnel. For example, forklift operators get a general idea of what checks entail comprehensive maintenance procedures. This may help them identify small issues before they become serious ones.

With the guidelines provided by OSHA and your own requirements – above and beyond minimum OSHA maintenance activities – you’ll soon discover that regular maintenance is easier and more achievable than you think. Regular forklift maintenance is the smart, sensible, SAFE thing to do for your entire facility.  Don’t wait for an OSHA audit to get serious with your forklift maintenance plan. 

Tom Wilkerson is the CEO of ForkliftCertification.com (FLC).

Source:  EHS Today

Safety Checklist for Forklift Battery Charging Areas

A forklift battery charging station is a potentially dangerous environment which should be manned by trained employees to reduce the risk of accidents. Explosions, acid burns, musculoskeletal injuries, and the risk of electric shocks are all potential risks when changing and charging forklift batteries.

OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.178(g) addresses these risks by establishing a standard forklift battery charging procedure and forklift battery charging area requirements. The following checklist helps meet OSHA standards and improve workplace safety at your charging station.

Forklift Battery Charging Area Requirements

Forklift battery charging area requirements must be strictly enforced to prevent accidents. A forklift battery charging station should be used only for changing and charging batteries, and meet the following conditions:

• Provide adequate ventilation to disperse flammable and potentially explosive hydrogen fumes.
• Provide appropriate personal protective equipment(hard hats, goggles, face shields, rubber/neoprene gloves, rubber aprons, and safety toe footwear).
• Have a dry chemical, CO2, or foam fire extinguisher within easy reach.
• Provide an eyewash station with at least fifteen minutes of flow.
• Have accessible water on hand.
• Include neutralizing agents (baking soda, soda ash) to neutralize spilled acid.
• Have a nearby phone in case of emergencies.
• Possess protective rails or bollards to prevent collisions while maneuvering trucks into the charging station.
• Provide adequate warning labels clearly identifying hazards.

In addition, all staff manning a forklift battery charging station should receive appropriate training, including how to use a fire extinguisher. Truck operators should have completed appropriate forklift operator training.

Changing Forklift Batteries

Forklift battery charging procedures begin with the safe docking of the truck within the forklift battery station. Ensure brakes are applied before removing the battery.  Due to the weight of a forklift battery, use of a lifting beam, conveyer, overhead hoist, or similar heavy materials handling equipment is required by OSHA.

OSHA prohibits changing forklift batteries using a chain and two hooks, as this produces uneven force, causing internal damage and distortion to the battery. Hard hats, safety footwear, and other appropriate PPE should be worn while changing forklift batteries.

Forklift Battery Charging Procedures

Forklift battery charging procedures require close proximity to sulphuric acid and electricity, and as such charging should only be performed by trained employees. Before charging, check the following safety concerns:

• Are all employees wearing appropriate PPE?
• Are any employees wearing metallic jewelry which could conduct electricity?
• Is the area free of all open flames or any equipment capable of causing sparks?
• Does the forklift battery charging station have adequate ventilation?
• Are all metal tools kept away from uncovered batteries?
• Are charger cables in good working order?
• Does the charger have the correct outage voltage for the battery?
• During charging, follow your facility’s forklift battery charging procedures. While these may differ from facility to facility, some steps have universal applications, such as:
• Handle all electrolytes with a siphon or carboy tilter to prevent spillage.
• Ensure vent caps are in proper working order.
• Keep battery covers open for heat dispersal.
• Prohibit smoking in charging area.
• Check electrolyte level before recharging, using a hydrometer to record specific gravity.
• Check the pilot cell
• Check water level and record in service log.
• Check voltage (if the battery uses sealed vents, do not recharge with more than 2 amperes.
• Unplug and turn off the charger before connecting and disconnecting.
• Never pour acid into water. Always pour water into acid.

Source:  Safety Checklist for Forklift Battery Charging Areas

December Safety Tip

7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress   

‘Tis the season to be merry — and stressed out. But it needn’t be.

To help you have a happy season, here are 7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress.

1. Take calm-down breaks. Soon after you awake, close your eyes, take several deep breaths and meditate or just relax. Imagine yourself in a beautiful place, think of a happy memory or visualize yourself succeeding at a cherished goal. “Quieting down your mind before you begin your day can help it get off to a great start and things will flow for you,” says Debra Berndt, an expert in creative visualization and hypnosis and author of the upcoming book, Let Love In: Open Your Heart and Mind to Attract Your Ideal Partner. In addition, whenever you get stressed out, anxious or feel overwhelmed during the day, take quick relaxation breaks of 1 to 5 minutes to calm yourself down. Conscious, slow breathing can help you when you’re feeling frustrated waiting in line at the supermarket, post office or drug store.
2. Put on rose-colored glasses. When people try to push their bad habits on you during this holiday season, tune into their motivations. For instance, before you get annoyed at Aunt Jane, who keeps urging you to try a piece of her apple pie, or your co-worker Frank, who keeps trying to fill your glass with booze, first take a deep breath. Then, step into their shoes and realize that Jane is just showing that she loves you, and Frank is merely trying to be convivial. Then graciously thank them for their misguided attention. Rather than view your situation with annoyance, be grateful
3. Get moving. Perhaps one of the best ways to overcome stress during the holidays or any other time is to exercise regularly. Research shows that physical activity not boosts your fitness and energy levels but can also elevate your moods. In addition, exercise has been found to reduce anger, tension, fatigue and confusion. Despite the many demands on your time, this is not the season to stop exercising. Indeed, when regular exercisers are inactive, they begin to feel depressed and fatigued after just one week, according to a study from scientists at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Exercise also can give you that much-acclaimed “runner’s high.” Indeed, research shows that rigorous physical activity of any kind pumps up production of endorphins, your body’s feel-good neurotransmitters.
4. Go for real foods mostly. Inevitably, at this time of year, you’ll be tempted with sugary, empty-calorie “treats” just about wherever you go. But to be your most energetic, focused and happy self, it’s best to eat foods that grow on trees or on the ground (vegetables and fruits) and to choose healthy fats (such as olive oil and flax seeds), lean protein (such as fish and organic chicken) and legumes, nuts and seeds.
5. Take polite portions of “comfort” foods and drinks. During the holidays, it’s easy to “fall off the wagon” and use—or over-use—alcohol, sugar and caffeine. It’s best to think before yu treat your body like a trash can instead of a temple. The best way to stay true to the best you is to limit your consumption of such comfort or pleasure foods and drinks as apple pie, cookies, pasta and eggnog. When offered these and other “goodies,” try to take three to five “polite” bites and sips—and only after having a well-balanced meal with smart carbs (vegetables, fruits or whole grains), fats and protein. (See Tip #4.) Be aware that if you’re a sugar addict, you must be especially vigilant when it comes to desserts and quickie carbs.
6. Prepare “Nice To Do For Me” and “Need to Do For You” lists. Writing down all that you have to do during the holidays will help you realize how do-able your tasks are. Be realistic as to what you put on your lists. Then start tackling one item from each list in turn. For example, after buying gifts for your mom or significant other, take time to work out, too. By alternating between lists, you won’t feel deprived, because you’re being good to yourself. Better yet, as Cheryl Richardson suggests in her fabulous book, Take Time for Your Life: A 7-Step Program for Creating the Life you Want, prepare an “Absolute Yes” list, which will reflect priorities that inspire you to use your gift of time well. “When you practice extreme self-care and put yourself first, you are then fully available to others without resentment or anger,” she aptly points out.
7. Be generous. One of the best ways to stay calm, content and cheerful this time of year is to act generously with your loved ones, co-workers and friends. This doesn’t have to mean you’re spending a lot of money. You can be generous with your compliments. You can generously offer to do a loved one’s dreaded errand. You can generously write a fun, short poem. When you are creative with your gifts and thank you’s, people will appreciate your real, heartfelt sentiments.

Reference :Connie Bennett MSJ, CHHC, CPC,  Posted Dec 01, 2009, Psychology Today

November Safety Tip

Don’t Slip and Fall on ICE!                   

Do The Penguin Shuffle

Assume that all wet, dark areas on pavements are slippery and icy

Cars:  Use special care when entering and exiting vehicles (3 points of contact)

Arms Out:  To your sides to maintain balance

Pockets:  Pockets free of your hands (wear gloves)!

Turn your feet out (penguin style)

Use designated walkpaths (short cuts are deadly)

Roll trhough it, don’t reach out to stop the fall.  Be prepared to fall.  Try to relax your muscles.

Short Steps or shuffle for stability.

Remember to keep all paths, parking lots, doorways around the building clear of ice and snow.  Have someone check the parking lot and walks before employees come to work or just before they leave for the day – put salt or sand in a bucket at the door with disposable cups so employees can spread it as they walk to their cars.

October Safety Tip

Warehouse Safety

More than 145,000 people work in over 7,000 warehouses. The fatal injury rate for the warehousing industry is higher than the national average for all industries.

• Potential hazards for workers in warehousing:
• Unsafe use of forklifts/pallet jacks;
• Improper material storage;
• Failure to use proper personal protective equipment;
• Failure to follow proper lockout/tagout procedures;
• Inadequate fire safety provisions;
• Repetitive motion injuries;
• Docks
• Manual lifting/handling
• Charging stations
• Poor ergonomics

Forklifts – About 100 employees are killed and 95,000 injured every year while operating forklifts in all industries. Forklift turnovers account for a significant percentage of these fatalities.

Solutions:

• Train, evaluate and certify all operators to ensure that they can operate forklifts safely;
• Do not allow anyone under 18 years old to operate a forklift
• Properly maintain equipment, including tires
• Before using a forklift, examine it for hazardous conditions that would make it unsafe to operate
• Follow safe procedures for picking up, putting down and stacking loads
• Drive safely, never exceeding 5 mph and slow down in congested areas or those with slippery surfaces
• Ensure that the operator wears a seatbelt at all times
• Never drive up to a person standing in front of a fixed object such as a wall or stacked materials
• Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay
• Do not handle loads that are heavier than the weight capacity of the forklift
• Remove unsafe or defective trucks from service
• Maintain sufficiently safe clearances for aisles and at loading docks or passages where forklifts are used

Docks – Injuries happen here when forklifts run off the dock, products fall on employees or equipment strikes a person. 

Solutions: 

• Drive forklifts slowly on docks and dock plates
• Secure dock plates and check to see if the plate can safely support the load
• Keep clear of dock edges and never back up forklifts to the dock’s edge
• Provide visual warnings near dock edges
• Prohibit “dock jumping” by employees
• Make sure that dock ladders and stairs meet OSHA specifications.

Material Storage – Improperly stored materials may fall and injure workers.

Solutions:

• Stack loads evenly and straight
• Place heavier loads on lower or middle shelves
• Remove one object at a time from shelves
• Keep aisles and passageways clear and in good repair

Manual Lifting/Handling (Poor Ergonomics):  Back injuries may occur from improper lifting or overexertion.  Improper lifting, repetitive motion or poor design of operations can lead to musculoskeletal disorders in workers

 Solutions:

• Provide general ergonomics training and task-specific training
• Minimize the need for lifting by using good design and engineering techniques
• Lift properly and get a coworker to help if a product is too heavy.
• If possible, use powered equipment instead of requiring a manual lift for heavy materials
• Reduce lifts from shoulder height and from floor height by repositioning the shelf or bin
• Ensure overhead lighting is adequate for the task and area where you are working
• Provide employees with task-oriented ergonomic training;
• Use your legs and keep your back in a natural position while lifting
• Test the load to be lifted to estimate its weight, size and bulk, and to determine the proper   lifting method;
• Don’t twist while carrying a load, but shift your feet and take small steps in the direction you want to turn;
• Keep floors clean and free of slip and trip hazards.

OSHA Publication – OSHA Pocket Guide, Publication No. 3220

September Safety Tip

When used properly, a portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or controlling it until the fire department arrives. Portable extinguishers, intended for the home, are not designed to fight large or spreading fires. However, even against small fires, they are useful only under certain conditions:

• The operator must know how to use the extinguisher. There is no time to read directions during an emergency.
• The extinguisher must be within easy reach and in working order, fully charged.
• Some models are unsuitable for use on grease or electrical fires.

Select Your Extinguisher

Choose your extinguisher carefully. A fire extinguisher should bear the seal of an independent testing laboratory. It should also be labeled as to the type of fire it is intended to extinguish.

The extinguisher must be large enough to put out the fire. Most portable extinguishers discharge completely in as few as eight seconds.

Classes of fires: There are three basic classes of fires. All fire extinguishers are labeled with standard symbols for the classes of fires they can put out. A red slash through any of the symbols tells you the extinguisher cannot be used on that class fire. A missing symbol tells you only that the extinguisher has not been tested for use on a given class of fire.

Class A: Ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics.

Class B: Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, tar, oil-based paint, lacquer, and flammable gas.

Class C: Energized electrical equipment including wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery, and appliances.

Many household fire extinguishers are “multipurpose” A-B-C models, labeled for use on all three classes of fire. If you are ever faced with a Class A fire, and you don’t have an extinguisher with an “A” symbol, don’t hesitate to use one with the “B:C” symbols.

Warning: It is dangerous to use water or an extinguisher labeled only for Class A fires on a grease or electrical fire.

Extinguisher sizes: Portable extinguishers are also rated for the size of fire they can handle. This rating is a number from 1 to 40 for Class A fires and 1 to 640 for Class B fires. The rating will appear on the label. The larger the number, the larger the fire extinguisher can put out. Higher-rated models are often heavier. Make sure you can hold and operate the extinguishers are rated 1A or 2A and/or 5B, 10B, or 20B. The “C” just indicates that you can use it on electrical fires.

Installation and Maintenance

Extinguishers should be installed in plain view above the reach of children near an escape route and away from stoves and heating appliances.

Extinguishers require routine care. Read your operator’s manual and ask your dealer how your extinguisher should be inspected and serviced. Rechargeable models must be serviced after every use. Disposable fire extinguishers can be used only once; they must be replaced after one use. Following manufacturer’s instructions, check the pressure in your extinguishers once a month.

Remember P-A-S-S

Stand 6 to 8 feet away from the fire and follow the four-step PASS procedure. If the fire does not begin to go out immediately, leave the area at once. Always be sure the fire department inspects the fire site.

PULL the pin out:  This unlocks the operating lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher. Some extinguishers have other devices that prevent inadvertent operation.

AIM low: Point the extinguisher nozzle (or hose) at the base of the fire.

SQUEEZE the lever below the handle: This discharges the extinguishing agent. Releasing the lever will stop the discharge. Some extinguishers have a button that you press.

SWEEP from side to side: Moving carefully toward the fire, keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire and sweep back and forth until the flames appear to be out. Watch the fire area. If the fire re-ignites, repeat the process.

Should You Fight The Fire?

Before you begin to fight a fire:

• Make sure everyone has left, or is leaving, the building.
• Make sure the fire department has been notified by dialing 911.
• Make sure the fire is confined to a small area and that it is not spreading beyond the immediate area.
• Make sure you have an unobstructed escape route to which the fire will not spread.
• Make sure that you have read the instructions and that you know how to use the extinguisher.

It is dangerous to fight a fire under any other circumstances. Instead, leave immediately and close off the doors and windows if possible.

Why this ad?

References : www.clevelandcounty.com

August Safety Tip

Communication and Safety

Proper communication is crucial for a job to run safely and efficiently. When communication is insufficient or missing totally there can be many negative consequences for employees and the company as a whole. Recognizing the communication tools for work tasks and the work environment is important to ensure the proper messages are being received.

Tools to Communicate in the Workplace

When someone says communication, the first thing you may think about is speaking words to another person or sending an email. These are just two ways to communicate, but there are many more ways found at work. Some other examples of communication include posters, labels, warnings, bulletins, pictograms, JSAs, SOPs, body language, etc. Depending on any number of factors, each of these tools of communication can be very critical to working safe.

Communication and Safety

Proper communication and safety go hand in hand. If there is no communication for a given work task then safety is also missing. Some common tools for communicating a safety message:

• Training is a way to communicate how to do a task and how to do it safely and is one of the first methods of communication used when preparing for a work task.
• Job Safety Analysis (JSAs) or a Safe Plan of Action (SPAs) are important tools to communicate the steps of a job task, the associated hazards of each step, and the mitigation actions to be able to work safely.
• Safety meetings, Risk Reminders or toolbox talks discussing work tasks and the associated hazards of the work are very important for work crews. Paying attention to the safety meeting information can protect you during your work task that day or sometime in the future.
• Labels are found on almost every piece of equipment, tool, and chemical in the workplace. Manufacturers put these labels on for a reason. They often relay some of the most important information regarding the hazards and safeguards of that product.

There are many other ways that safety is communicated in the workplace. Verbal communication is also very important. When you see a situation where someone could be hurt or there could be property loss you should always speak up. Have a conversation with the individuals involved in the task to voice your concerns. Involve the right personnel to correct a situation before an injury occurs.

Summary

Recognize all the different tools used in the workplace to communicate a safety message. Appreciate the time and resources dedicated to develop and use these tools every day. Embrace the message they are conveying to keep you working safe and efficient. When communication is not used to its fullest potential there can be an increased chance for injury. Never be afraid to speak up when it comes to safety on the job.

Source:  Communication and Safety 

July Safety Tip

WELLNESS RESOURCES

Did you know that often your healthcare provider and insurance carrier can be a wealth of wellness information?  Many insurance companies offer programs to help you be a healthier you – such as weight management, smoking cessation, lowering blood pressure and many other topics.  Often you may even receive a discount in your costs for coverage by partaking in programs to be healthier.

Your community may also provide several resources.  For example local park districts, municipalities, and community colleges offer wellness programs plus the activities to send you on your journey to be healthier.  Check them out – they are sure to offer many options for you!

June Safety Tip

Managing the Safety of Lone Workers:

Working alone has a different definition in every region. In general, “lone worker” refers to any employee carrying out some or all of their job activities in isolation from other workers.

While all workers need to avoid injuries on the job, additional hazards exist for lone workers such as car accidents, violence from strangers or coworkers, trip & fall injuries, shock incidents, weather related incidents and a host of other hazards that differ for each job role. When a worker is alone, what would otherwise be a minor accident can very easily escalate to a more serious threat. Employers should do a complete risk & hazard assessment for every worker, and factor in cases where workers might be exposed to hazards while alone. For every hazard on the job, the risk to the worker increases if present while working alone.

Lone workers need unique policies and training which will allow them to identify high risk situations using pre-set criteria. This will allow them to proceed with their job using caution, and in a way that minimizes the chance of hazards. Training and procedures should also address “what if?” scenarios, where caution is not effective in preventing an accident. Workers will need procedures and tools to either call for help themselves, or more importantly, the ability for others to be notified in the event the worker is unable to call for help.

One fundamental protocol that should be a part of every lone worker’s procedures is the requirement to check-in with the employer on a regular basis while working alone. Doing so gives the worker a set amount of time before another check-in is required, and allows the employer to know that if the worker misses their next check-in, an accident may have occurred. Each worker’s unique hazard assessment should be used to determine how often those check-ins should happen, and the worker should have the ability to change the frequency of their check-ins based on their ever-changing hazards.

A good lone worker solution should be a part of every general safety program, and can prevent bad situations from getting worse, thus minimizing the overall risk of any job where someone is working alone. 

Do You Know Where All Your Workers Are?