Summer Hazards for Workers
     During the summer, more workers are performing job tasks outdoors. The types of jobs can vary greatly ranging from construction work to farming and other agricultural duties to road paving and painting. While the hazards can be different from those found in indoor environments, there are still practical ways to protect workers from outdoor hazards. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has worked to compile information regarding various outdoor work hazards and offer safety and health resources to assist employers and workers in avoiding these hazards.
     During the summer months, heat illness (including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, cramps, and fatigue) is a prevalent issue for outdoor workers as well as those working indoors. It is not uncommon for outdoor workers to endure temperatures over 100° F during their work day. In another example, heating and air-conditioning contractors in home attics can encounter temperatures of 120° F or more. Many workers in foundries and mines work in hot conditions year round often made worse in the summer months. The NIOSH document Working in Hot Environments provides a detailed overview of the hazards of working in heat and offers prevention measures.

Click here for the full report.

OSHA Focus on Forklift Safety
     A wide variety of American workplaces, including those in the construction, manufacturing, transportation and wholesale trade industries, benefit from the use of powered industrial trucks, also known as forklifts. However, forklifts also cause dozens of fatalities and thousands of injuries in our country's workforce each year. With a hazard-free working environment and greater adherence to forklift safety precautions, most of these deaths and injuries can be avoided. The following OSHA resources are available to help employers and employees prevent forklift-related mishaps:

• Safety and Health Topics page on powered industrial trucks
• Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training Information Cards for General Industry and Construction
• OSHA booklet on Materials Handling and Storage
• Safety and Health Information Bulletin: Protecting Young Workers: Prohibition Against Young Workers Operating Forklifts

NIOSH Programs - Wholesale and Retail Trade
     During the past 30 years, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted studies involving worker populations from the wholesale and retail trade sectors. These studies describe the work of cashiers, sales persons, stocking clerks, materials handlers, order pickers, grocery packers, telephone sales representative, gas station clerks, and fork lift drivers, to name a few of the common occupational titles studied by NIOSH that pertain to workers in 146 trade-based businesses. Despite these efforts, due to its size and diversity, the wholesale and retail trade sector remains understudied.
     The NIOSH research program for the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector is focused on these 21 million trade workers and on the prevention of occupational diseases, injuries, and fatalities. This is accomplished through a program of research and applied interventions. The program strives to fulfill its mission as follows:

• High quality research
• Practical solutions
• Partnerships - with labor, industry, government, and other stakeholders
• Research to Practice.

Click here for more information.

U.S. Department of Labor Plans Third Annual Drug-Free Work Week
     A drug-free workplace policy is a vital component of a safe workplace. From Oct. 20-26, 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will stage its annual Drug-Free Work Week, dedicated to communicating the importance of working drug-free in positive, proactive ways. Drug-Free Work Week is sponsored by DOL's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace program, but its true spirit is found at the local level in activities conducted by various organizations and in individual workplaces across the country. To get resources and specific ideas on how your organization can support the week's activities, visit the Drug-Free Work Week Web site.

The Hazards of Lead Poisoning
     Lead poisoning, caused chiefly by the inhalation of dust and fumes, is a common hazard in the construction industry. Employees involved in demolition, salvage, removal, encapsulation, cleanup and renovation operations are particularly at risk. Lead dust can also be carried home from work on clothing, skin, or hair, so it is important for everyone to take proper preventive measures against exposure.
     Here are some pointers from OSHA:

• Know the symptoms of lead overexposure, such as abdominal pain, headaches and loss of motor coordination.
• Use personal protective equipment, such as gloves, nonpermeable clothing and approved respirators.
• Wash your hands and face thoroughly before eating.
• Away from work, never wear clothes and shoes that were worn during periods of possible lead exposure.

Click here for OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Page on Lead Hazards in the Workplace

Where is Your NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards?
     The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG) is intended as a source of general industrial hygiene information on several hundred chemicals/classes for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals. The NPG does not contain an analysis of all pertinent data, rather it presents key information and data in abbreviated or tabular form for chemicals or substance groupings (e.g. cyanides, fluorides, manganese compounds) that are found in the work environment. The information found in the NPG should help users recognize and control occupational chemical hazards.
     The Pocket Guide includes the following:

• Chemical names, synonyms, trade names, conversion factors, CAS, RTECS, and DOT numbers
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (NIOSH RELs)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
• NIOSH Immediate Dangerous to Life and Health values (NIOSH IDLHs)
• A physical description of the agent with chemical and physical properties
• Measurement methods
• Personal protection and sanitation recommendations
• Respirator recommendations
• Information on health hazards including route, symptoms, first aid and target organ information.

Click here to download.

News You Can Use

Developing a Hearing Conservation Program
     OSHA and state safety regulations require that an employer monitor noise in a workplace and that appropriate hearing protection be furnished to the employee when required under the regulations. OR-OSHA from the State of Oregon has developed a workshop to provide the basic knowledge needed to understand why hearing conservation is an important part of the safety and health equation.
     By the end of this presentation, participants should be able to…

1. Explain how sound is created
2. Describe how the ear receives and interprets sound
3. Name two ways sound is measured
4. Describe at least two indicators of excessive noise in a workplace
5. Name the part of the ear damaged by excessive noise and the medical test used to document that damage
6. Identify five key elements of a hearing conservation program

Click here for the instructor guide in PDF format.

Click here for the instructor guide in PowerPoint format.

Click here for the workbook in PDF format.

Click here for the workbook in PowerPoint format.

NFPA Report Shows That Young Children and Older Adults Are At Highest Risk of Death from Home Fires
     People at the highest risk of death in home structure fires are the very young and very old, according to the Characteristics of Home Fire Victims report released today by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

• In 2002-2005, children under age 5 were one and a half times as likely to die in a home fire as the general public.
• People age 65 and over were more than twice as likely to die in a home fire and the risk of death increased with age among older adults, with those 85 and over being nearly four times as likely to die.
• The highest risk of non-fatal injury from home fires was faced by people age 20-49 and 75 or over. Risk of injury for adults between 20-34 years old was 30 percent greater than the average person.
• For children 14 and under, heating equipment is the leading cause of civilian fire deaths. Children under the age of 5 are more than eight times as likely to die in fire caused by playing with heat source than are people of all ages.

     NFPA offers the following tips on 10 things people can do to be fire-safe at home:

1. Watch your cooking
2. Give space heaters space
3. Smoke outside
4. Keep matches and lighters out of reach
5. Inspect electrical cords
6. Be careful when using candles
7. Have a home fire escape plan
8. Install smoke alarms
9. Test smoke alarms
10. Install sprinklers

Click here for the full report.

Source: National Fire Protection Association 

Right Tree Right Place -  Proper Tree and Site Selection Provide Trouble-Free Beauty and Pleasure for Years to Come
     Trees need space to grow both above and below ground. Carefully consider your surroundings. Choose a tree and location where the ultimate height and spread of the tree will remain at least 10 feet away from power lines. Roots may be damaged if underground facilities need to be dug up for repairs.
     Proper selection of trees under or near power lines:

• Reduces Fire Hazards
• Limits the need for frequent pruning
• Increases Property Value
• Adds Beauty to the Community

SELECTREE – A Tree Selection Guide Managed by the California Polytechnic State University, SelecTree has over 1400 different trees in its database with 49 different criteria to search within the following four categories: Site Characteristics, Tree Characteristics, Maintenance and Use. Through this site, you search by tree attribute, which allows you to choose a tree with a safe height. To begin your search for trees to plant, please visit SelecTree’s Tree Selection Guide. They also have a page dedicated to Utility Precautions. This page will help facilitate your tree selection by providing a comprehensive list of appropriate tree species to plant near utility lines.
     While the tree selection information was developed for California, the precautions and planting guide are applicable to any location.

Click here for SelecTree

Click here for the full report.

Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Communication Strategies for Achieving a Total Safety Culture
     Employers need to overcome the perception that giving safety-related feedback creates interpersonal conflict. One of the most effective ways to improve a safety culture and prevent injuries is to optimize safety-related communication throughout an organization. Unfortunately, employees often fail to “speak up” when they observe risky behaviors even when they know they should.
     The Safety Culture Survey administered to hundreds of organizations by Safety Performance Solutions Inc. (SPS) indicates 90 percent of respondents believe employees should caution others when they’re operating at-risk. However, only 60 percent say they actually do provide this critical feedback. During training and structured interviews, employees were asked why there’s such a gap between people’s values (“should caution”) and actual behaviors (“do caution”). Participants responded that giving safety-related feedback will create interpersonal conflict, indicating, “It’s not our job to give safety feedback.” Also, they often do not feel competent at giving safety feedback or they don’t want to insult coworkers who have more experience.
     Effective communication is an integral part of achieving an injury-free workplace. Most injuries are due, in part, to risky behaviors, yet employees often are reluctant to provide safety-related feedback to coworkers. You can improve your safety culture (and performance) by providing sound guidelines to improve safety-related communication. By providing and receiving safety feedback more effectively – including corrective feedback (for at-risk behavior) and praise – the workplace can be more safe.

Click here for the full report.

Source: Occupational Hazards Magazine

Focus on Disaster Preparedness and Recovery

The Hurricane eMatrix - Hazard Exposure and Risk Assessment Matrix for Hurricane Response and Recovery Work
     Work conditions change drastically after hurricanes and other natural disasters. In the wake of a hurricane, response and recovery workers will face additional challenges, such as downed power lines, downed trees, and high volumes of construction debris, while performing an otherwise familiar task/operation.
     In this Hazard Exposure and Risk Assessment Matrix, OSHA provides information on many of the most common and significant additional hazards that response and recovery workers might encounter when working in an area recently devastated by a hurricane. This Matrix highlights a number of tasks and operations associated with disaster response and recovery. The Matrix is designed to help employers make decisions during their risk assessment that will protect their employees working in hurricane-impacted areas.

Click here to access this valuable resource tool.

Key Products You Need When CPR is needed.....   Will you be ready? The Saf-T-Gard CPR Kit allows your company or facility to be prepared in the event of an emergency requiring CPR assistance.  Each durable plastic kit contains two MICROSHIELD ® clear mouth barriers with gloves and wipes, two disposable antiseptic towelettes, two disposable wipes and one red biohazard waste bag.  Click here for more information or to order now for immediate delivery.

BE Prepared Informed Safe Visit www.saftgard.com/2besafe

1. QUESTION? - Where is your nearest first aid kit?  Is it full?

2. QUESTION? - When was the last time your respirator users were fit-tested and had the required medical examinations?

3. QUESTION? - Do your workers have a choice of suitable ear protection (plugs or muffs)?

4. QUESTION? - How recently was your last hand protection audit to determine if you are using the gloves with the best combination of properties for your application?

5. QUESTION? - How are you handling hazardous material handling, storage, and spill control?

What was your score?

Want more information on any of this month's Saf-T-Tips?  E-mail us for a prompt reply.

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