SAF-T-GARDIAN Newsletter February 2011

Welcome to the SAF-T-GARDIAN, a monthly e-mail newsletter from Saf-T-Gard International. We designed the SAF-T-GARDIAN to be timely and useful. You are receiving this newsletter either as a valued Saf-T-Gard customer, company associate or supplier, or you have visited our website at www.saftgard.com. Some of the links are time-sensitive and may move or expire as the news changes. Some sources may also require registration.

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News You Can Use

State Funding for Electrical Safety Training
Did you know that almost every state has a reimbursement/grant program that your facility can be utilizing for safety training? e-Hazard has started a new website page to assist you in finding this training money. You do not have to use e-Hazard training in order to use the money, and the money can be used for many types of training.
In 1998, Congress passed the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to reform federal job training programs and create a new, comprehensive workforce investment system. The reformed system is intended to be customer-focused, to help Americans access the tools they need to manage their careers through information and high quality services, and to help U.S. companies find skilled workers. e-Hazard has put together a list of state programs designed to help employer's cut the cost of training for their workers.

For more information.

Source: e_hazard.com

AED Mandates Continue to Rise
Oregon requires them for every business of 50,000 square feet or more where the public congregates if it has more than 50 visitors per day. Legislation may be introduced soon in Congress to mandate AEDs in all schools. The evidence is clear: AEDs increase the chance of surviving SCA by 70 percent. For that reason, AEDs are becoming more and more common in our daily travels and in the workplace. These small, portable devices save lives by delivering an electric shock to the heart in those crucial few minutes when someone experiences SCA. AEDs are lifesaving devices that can mean the difference between life and death for a victim of SCA.
The fact is that more than 365,000 people in North America die each year from SCA. Fewer than 5 percent of people who suffer SCA survive unless an AED is used to provide an electric shock to get the heart beating again. In some places where AEDs are deployed, survival rates from SCA are reported above 70 percent. Because SCA is most effectively treated within the first few seconds or minutes of a sudden collapse, AEDs have the potential to save lives that could be lost if treatment is delayed until paramedics arrive on the scene of a cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association's Early Defibrillation movement aims to put AEDs in the hands of all first responders in places where people live, work, and play.

For the full report.

Source: Occupational Health & Safety Magazine.

Analyze This!
Performing a job hazard analysis is an effective tool to minimize or eliminate hazards and reduce accidents. Make sure your employees don't look at just the obvious dangers; train them to look for simple, everyday things that can go wrong, too. Each job in the workplace should be examined in detail so that risks can be found in the job process step-by-step. Instruct your workers to ask specific questions about the jobs they do. For example:

Are any hazardous materials involved, and do I know the proper precautions for protecting myself and co-workers?
Do I always wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Is machinery adequately guarded to protect me from injury?
Are the guards in place and in good working order?
Are there factors that could cause ergonomic injuries, such as heavy lifting, excessive reaching and twisting, or awkward postures?
Are there environmental factors, such as hot or cold temperatures or inadequate lighting or ventilation, which could cause injuries or illnesses?
Are floors clean and dry?
Is my work area kept tidy to prevent falls?
Is my work area dangerously noisy? Have sound-level measurements been taken to prevent hearing loss? Do I need hearing protection?
Have there been any changes in methods, materials, or equipment for which I need more training?
Am I aware of and following all the safety rules?

Source: BLR - Business & Legal Resources

Hands-On Training Effective in Dangerous Work Environments
Hands-on safety training for workers in highly hazardous jobs is most effective at improving safe work behavior, according to psychologists who analyzed close to 40 years of research. However, less engaging training can be just as effective in preparing workers to avoid accidents when jobs are less dangerous. More interactive types of safety training may help employees become more aware of the threats they face on the job and avoid making deadly mistakes, according to the findings in the January issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology, which is published by the American Psychological Association.
Researchers analyzed results from 113 safety training studies conducted since the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1971. The analysis included a total sample of 24,694 workers in 16 countries. The researchers used the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System to sort hazards into hierarchical categories that reflected the increasing potential for severe illness, injury or death. The hazards ranged from simple falls to fires, explosions and physical assaults.

For the full report.

Source: EHS Today

Electric Vehicle Noise - Are They Too Quiet?
From golf courses to city streets and college campuses, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming popular. They offer an economical way to transport people and move equipment. But do they create a hazard because they emit little noise, leaving pedestrians unaware of their approach? Much research has focused on EVs that travel at highway speeds. But what about those designed to operate at low speeds and over short distances, such as those found on campuses like Murray State University? A team of students and their professor conducted several experiments to test pedestrian reactions to the campus EVs.

For the full report.

Source: Professional Safety Journal and ASSE

Prescription Management for Older Adults

Prescription medication can be a great benefit to your health as you age, but it is important to follow instructions carefully. Medicine can quickly become harmful if not taken in the correct amounts and in the right way. Sometimes taking different medications can cause a bad reaction. If you or a loved one take prescription medications, it is very important to carefully keep track of which medications you take and when.
The Home Safety Council has simple steps to help you organize and safely store your medications. This can keep you from mixing up medications and will help keep your whole family safe from accidental poisoning.

For the full report.

Source: Home Safety Council

Quite Possibly The Most
Comfortable Winter Work Glove

Warmth, comfort, grip and high-visibility all in the Versa-Gard XG winter work glove. Lime yellow acrylic seamless knit glove with a warm fleecy lining has a palm coated reinforcement of black natural rubber for a safe, sure grip. Stays flexible in cold temperatures. Extended continuous elastic wrist keeps out the cold, too.

For immediate shipment.

International News

From Canada - Working in the Cold
Along with the shortened days and snow, Canadian winter months can bring frigid, sub-zero temperatures. For those who work outdoors without the comfort and protection of a toasty warm building, exposure to the cold can be hazardous and put them at risk for injury.
How do you beat the cold when you work outside? Aside from several layers of protective, dry clothing, and a healthy mix of physical activity, regular warm up periods can help you work safely in, and defend yourself from the cold. Workers who are cold are more prone to injury because the temperature impacts their performance of complex mental tasks and reduces the sensitivity and dexterity of their fingers. As well, the cold carries its own potentially dangerous side effects. It is critical that workers and supervisors know the symptoms of over exposure to cold, proper clothing requirements, safe work practices, and physical fitness requirements for work in cold as well as emergency procedures in the event of cold injury. Information is the first defense.

For the full report.

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It is February 2011 and as I write this, the Chicago and much of the central and northeast parts of the country have been blanketed, or smothered, with a major snowstorm. As beautiful as that fluffy white stuff may look, beneath it

lurk safety hazards ranging from cold and hypothermia to slips and trips to heart attacks from stressful shoveling to dangerous driving. Enter "Chicago snowstorm" in your favorite web search site to see some amazing pictures - and in the words of that old TV police sergeant, "Let's be careful out there."

February also marks the end of the 2010-2011 football season, so for my last analogy of the season, remember that the most penalized team in the NFL (the Oakland Raiders) did not make the playoffs. Penalties are not good, and when the penalties affect your safety and your company's safety program, the impact is much more than the financial impact of the fine - people can get hurt, often seriously. Safe working conditions, including an up-to-date hazard analysis coupled with a fresh approach to PPE are the goal line. Want to learn more?

Sign up now for a practical, engaging one-day seminar on NFPA 70E and other electrical safety standards. Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at the Voltgard Test Labs of Saf-T-Gard International in Northbrook Illinois. Sponsored by Saf-T-Gard International, Inc.

Question - Norman from Texas asks "Are switchboard mats recommended or required by OSHA for use in commercial office building electrical rooms?"

Answer - The OSHA standard makes no reference to commercial office building electrical rooms. However, OSHA does incorporate specific references to the ASTM D178 specification for Rubber Insulating Matting in 29CFR1910.137 (Electrical Protective Devices) and 29CFR1926.951 (Tools and Protective Equipment). ASTM D178 is the Standard Specification for Rubber Insulating Matting. Where there is a risk of exposure to energized circuits in a commercial office building electrical room, appropriate protective equipment is required under the General Duty Clause and other references. At a minimum, we recommend switchboard matting, rubber insulating gloves, and NFPA 70E arc flash clothing and equipment for the appropriate hazard rating.

PRIVACY POLICY - We do not and will not exchange lists or other information with any outside organizations. Your data is secure and private within Saf-T-Gard International.