NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: MRSA and the Workplace
     Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pustules and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) refers to types of staph that are resistant to a type of antibiotic methicillin. MRSA is often resistant to other antibiotics, as well. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph (meaning that bacteria are present, but not causing an infection with staph), approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.
     Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated staph infections include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.
     Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-associated MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.

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New NIOSH Program Focus on Youth @ Work: Talking Safety
NIOSH is pleased to present Youth @ Work: Talking Safety, a foundation curriculum in occupational safety and health. This curriculum is the culmination of many years’ work by a consortium of partners dedicated to reducing occupational injuries and illnesses among youth. The initial curricula upon which Youth @ Work: Talking Safety is based included WorkSafe!, developed by the Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at the University of California, Berkeley, and Safe Work/Safe Workers, developed by the Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) in Newton, MA. Those products were produced under grants from NIOSH as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor: the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents: the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration; and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Talking Safety is a comprehensive curriculum consisting of six modules, student handouts, overheads, a PowerPoint slide show, video, and interactive activities. It also includes references to resources for more information. The curriculum raises awareness and equips students to become partners in workplace safety and health. Major topics include raising awareness of risks for teen workers, recognizing workplace hazards, understanding hazard control options, dealing with emergencies, understanding rights and responsibilities of teen workers, and empowering students to communicate with their employer about workplace safety.

Click here for more information and to download the curriculum.
 

OSHA Issues New Combustible Dust Instruction
     The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new safety and health instruction that details OSHA policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that handle combustible dusts and that may have the potential for a dust explosion. Combustible dusts are often either organic or metal dusts that are finely ground into very small particles, fibers, chips, and/or flakes. These dusts can come from metal, wood, plastic and organic materials such as grain, flour, sugar, paper, soap and dried blood. Dusts can also come from textile materials. Some of the industries in which combustible dusts are particularly prevalent include agriculture, chemical, textile, forest and the furniture industry.
     The instruction provides detailed information on OSHA's inspection scheduling, resource allocation, inspection resources and procedures. This information is particularly useful in educating businesses on how to achieve compliance with OSHA requirements in advance of any inspection.

Click here to download the new instruction document.

OSHA Issues New General Industry Guidance on Selection and Use of Slings
     A new guide on the selection and use of slings when handling and moving materials was recently issued. The document, Guidance on Safe Sling Use, updates the 1975 standard by including information on synthetic round slings, and newer grade materials being used in alloy steel chain and wire rope slings. Improper selection and use of slings can result in sling failure or load slippage which can lead to injuries or death. According to OSHA accident data, there were four fatalities from 1994 to 1996 due to the misuse or failure of slings.

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Thousands of New Products in the New Saf-T-Gard Catalog

Expanded product categories

Now includes electrical safety products and arc flash solutions for electric utilities, electrical contractors, telecom and cable operators, and industrial facilities maintenance.

New Public Safety products for first responders including police, fire and civilian teams as well as municipal public works departments.

Click here to request your free copy of the new Saf-T-Gard catalog and product guide.

News You Can Use

Avian Influenza - Guidelines on the Use of Personal Protective Equipment
     Avian influenza is a highly contagious and often serious disease among birds. In recent years there has been evidence of transmission of "highly pathogenic" strains to people who have close contact with infected birds. Employees who have been identified as being at risk of infection during avian influenza outbreaks have included poultry workers, veterinarians, animal inspectors, and workers involved in managing, culling, or disposing of infected birds. Cal/OSHA has developed a matrix to provide guidance to employers in developing protective measures for employees, including personal protective equipment. The type and level of recommended protection are based on the likelihood that birds are infected, the type of work to be performed, and the context of the work operation. This matrix can be used as a guide to planning. If there is an outbreak, recommendations may change as more is learned about how the specific viral strain is transmitted and controlled.

Click here to download the matrix.
 

Introduce Your Family To Mr. Plug
     Mr. Plug helps increase electrical safety awareness, especially for children. But Mr. Plug can also remind adults of electrical hazards and safety precautions. Make learning about electrical safety fun! The Mr. Plug Fun Book, available in two versions-one for prekindergarten; the other for kindergarten through third grade-uses coloring activities and quizzes to help teachers and parents help children learn about electrical safety. Both versions are also available in Spanish.

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Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International

22 Safety Items No Home Should Be Without
     Your home is your castle, but that doesn't mean you can pull the drawbridge and all will be safe. Plenty of dangers have already invaded your home. According to the National Safety Council, there were 29,500 deaths associated with the home in the year 2000. Take an inventory of your home safety items so that you can be prepared to battle any emergency. You'll find that these are all essential to your family's safety. And, of course, feel free to add items to this list depending on your family's needs.

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Source: National Safety Council

Survey: Exercise Has Positive Impact on Productivity
     Eighty percent of workers say that exercise has or would have a positive impact on their well being, and 78 percent say that exercise has or would have a positive impact on their overall productivity at work, according to the results of a survey. One office furniture manufacturer unveiled the results of the second in a three-part Workplace Index Survey on the Nature of Work in 2007. Conducted by Opinion Research Corp. (ORC), the study examines the importance of fitness in the workplace, the role companies play in encouraging employee fitness, and the impact that fitness has on productivity levels overall.
     The survey of nearly 700 office workers in the United States reveals that only one-third (31 percent) of respondents exercise during work hours. In addition, just one-third of respondents have access to fitness equipment provided by their company or work in an environment that promotes fitness. More often, employers do not provide workers with this access; 62 percent of respondents cite not having an appropriate place to exercise at work as the primary reason for not doing so.
     Additionally, exercise during the workday has a perceived impact on employees' frame of mind and ability to focus at work. Eighty-five percent of respondents say that exercise gives them energy to stay awake, and 79 percent use exercise to take a necessary break from the office. Fellow co-workers also play an inspirational role for others, as more than 50 percent of respondents choosing to exercise do so with colleagues for motivation.

Click here for the full report.

Source: Occupational Health & Safety Magazine
 

ANSI/ASSE Z359-2007: Better Fall Protection
     According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls remain the No. 1 killer in the construction industry and the No. 2 killer in private industry. Many of those deaths occurred even though the supervisor thought he was doing the best he could to protect his employees. Until now, employers have been left to solve their fall hazards with requirements scattered throughout OSHA and ANSI. However, a new standard, ANSI/ASSE Z359-2007 Fall Arrest Code, addresses the elements of a Managed Fall Protection Program and provides the guidelines to design or strengthen your program.
Z359-2007 received final ANSI approval earlier this year and encompasses five standards within the code:

• Z359.0-2007 - Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest;
• Z359.1-2007 - Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components;
• Z359.2-2007 - Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program;
• Z359.3-2007 - Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems; and
• Z359.4-2007 - Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components.

These standards are fall protection-specific, and were developed, discussed and fine tuned by a committee that included engineers, end users, military personnel, representatives from OSHA and ANSI, trainers, fall protection equipment manufacturers, fall protection specialists, rescue experts and academics.

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Source: Occupational Hazards Magazine
 

Focus on Disaster Preparedness including Homeland Security

Ready Business Mentoring Initiative
     Designed as a call-to-action for business leaders, the Ready Campaign has created Ready Business Mentoring Initiative. This new initiative is designed to help owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses prepare for emergencies. Ready Business Mentoring Initiative includes the Ready Business Mentoring Guides which are designed to teach business owners and managers about affordable ways to better protect their businesses. In addition, the Ready Campaign collaborated with the Education Disaster Extension Network (EDEN) to create presentation materials to support the Ready Business Mentoring Guides. These materials assist business and community leaders in hosting and delivering business preparedness workshops and training sessions. These sessions and the Ready Business Mentoring Guides outline how businesses can plan to stay in business; talk to employees; and protect assets.

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Key Products You Need Emergency Preparedness First Aid Kit Now Available - Click Here

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

1. WINTER WEATHER WARNING - Sunlight reflecting off snow and ice is a visual hazard - use appropriate safety eyewear.
2. WINTER WEATHER WARNING - Wear a winter liner under your safety cap - available in fleece, Sherpa, and Thinsulate (r) materials.
3. WINTER WEATHER WARNING - Dress for the task with insulated duck fabric jackets, chore coats, overalls and coveralls.  Arc flash rated garments also available.
4. WINTER WEATHER WARNING - It is better to be seen and not hurt - with high-visibility cold weather outerwear rated ANSI/ISEA-107 class 3.
5. WINTER WEATHER WARNING - Polar*Gard (r) cold temperature leather work gloves keep hands warm and dry.

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

Hi-Visibility Outerwear Rated ANSI/ISEA-107 Class 3

High-visibility cold weather jacket features yellow waterproof oxford polymer-coated fabric with 4 ounce quilt lining, heavy duty zipper with storm flap, elastic waist and cuffs, and concealed hood.  2 inch wide reflective stripes, 2 horizontal and 6 vertical.  2 hip pockets and 2 inner pockets.  Meets ANSI/ISEA-107 standard for class 3 safety apparel. 

Style RG-8000 - stock sizes M  L  XL  2XL  3XL  4XL

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