• Open for Business
• Age and Accidents: Lessening the Dangers for Senior Drivers
• Making Construction Clean-Up Less Messy
• Promote Proper Lifting to Reduce Back Injuries
• Happy (and Safe) Holidays
• More Than Just a Cut
• The Dishwasher Just Exploded
• A Dusty Job
• Want to advertise on the internet?
• It's easier than a hammer
• Is your scaffolding safe?
• What you can do now to prevent water damage later
• Do You Know the Law?
• Safety is Important in any Language
• Look Out Below
• Dangerous Work
• You've Got Mail
• Winter Safety Tips
• It's not just dust
• Working Drug Free
• Are You Up to Date
• Take a Team Approach to Safety
• On The Road Again
• The Higher Up You Go...
• It's Hot Outside
• What Does MSDS Mean?
• Oh That's Heavy
• A Breath of Fresh Air
• Hello, I'm Calling to Report a Claim
• Water and Electricity Do Not Mix
• This is Not a Step
• Springtime Can Mean Flooding
• Start Off 2006 with a Plan
• Let's Get Out of Here!
• It's Cold Outside
• Product Recalls
• Safety is a Must When Digging
• Protecting Against a Fall
• Don't Be a Victim
• Play it Safe with Your Holiday Party
• Making Your Workplace Safer for Teen Workers
• Safety: The Profit Center for your Business
• Are you a “Competent Person?”
• Scaffolding…Is Yours Safe?

Open For Business

For some of us, most of our New Years resolutions have already been broken. But it is not too late to make one that can help keep your business in business in case of a natural disaster. Open for Business is a business continuation program that will help keep you in business despite a disaster. It’s free, easy to use and maybe the best resolution you'll ever make.

At least one-fourth of all businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen. That's why American Family in cooperation with the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) offers a variety of tools in its Open for Business® series for small business owners to both reduce their potential for loss should disaster strike and to reopen quickly should they be forced to close.

To get started building your own secure and personalize disaster recover plan, access the IBHS website and register through the interactive online version by entering the access code AMF5561

003003 – 02/08

Age and Accidents: Lessening the Dangers for Senior Drivers

Full Article

Older workers bring a lifetime of skills and experience to their jobs, yet, the normal aging process may affect a worker's ability to drive safely, on or off the job. This informative article contains tips that will help you protect older employees from death or disability due to roadway crashes.

002997 – 02/08

Making Construction Clean-Up Less Messy

Full Article

Construction can be a messy business, as is deciding who’s responsible for clean up and following safety guidelines. Keep the designation of on-site housekeeping duties and safety measures neat and tidy with these handy tips from eLCOSH.

003000 – 02/08

Promote Proper Lifting to Reduce Back Injuries

Full Article

Heavy lifting may be unavoidable on construction sites, but debilitating back injuries may not be. This instructive article is essential reading for anyone interested in reducing short and long term back problems for their workforce. It's full of helpful medical background on a variety of back, neck and shoulder injuries and provides the simple steps to avoiding them.

003001 – 02/08

Happy (and Safe) Holidays

The following information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

As the holidays approach we like to celebrate by entertaining friends and family, throwing parties, and preparing feasts. From the buffet table to the office party, food moves center stage throughout the holiday season. Be sure to keep food safe by following basic food safety steps...

Clean: Wash hands and food-contact surfaces often. Bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, knives, sponges, and counter tops.

Separate: Don't cross-contaminate--don't let bacteria spread from one food product to another. This is especially true for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Keep these foods and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods.

Cook: Cook to proper temperatures. Foods are properly cooked when they are heated for a long enough time and at a high enough temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness.

Chill: Refrigerate promptly. Refrigerate foods quickly keeps most harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Refrigerators should be set at 40 F and the freezer at 0 F, and the accuracy of the settings should be checked occasionally with a thermometer.

Be sure to check out these additional safety tips regarding your holiday decorations from United States Fire Administration

002946 – 10/07

More Than Just a Cut

The following information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Hazard Alert — Safe Work with Power Saws  

Thousands of workers are seriously injured each year by gas or electric power saws. Some are killed — most by electric shock.

The Hazards

You can be badly cut or burned using a power saw, if you are not careful. You can get sprains and strains and lose your hearing. Grit and dust from using the saws can hurt your eyes. Dust can hurt your lungs. If you dry-cut masonry or stone that has silica in it, you can get silicosis and it can kill you. An electric saw can electrocute you. A gas-powered saw can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and kill you.

Protect Yourself

Read the owner's manual before you first use a saw. Keep blades sharp, clean, and oiled. Inspect blades for cracks.

When you use a saw, wear goggles or safety glasses with side shields, even if you wear a face shield.* Do not wear jewelry, such as chains. Do not wear loose clothes. If you have long hair, tie it inside your hard hat. Wear hearing protection.

Do not cut unless you have a clear work area and solid footing. Do not use a power saw when you are on a scaffold. Keep other people away from the saw when you are using or refueling it.

TRAINING: OSHA says you must be trained in general workplace hazards, electrical hazards, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Here is how to protect against the main hazards:
Lung diseases. Do not dry-cut masonry or stone or you can get lung disease. Cutting brick, cement, concrete, or stone can make a lot of dust — and there can be silica in it. (Silicosis can kill you.) Wet-cutting is the best way to control dust. Local-exhaust ventilation can capture the dust at the blade. As a last resort, your boss may give you a respirator. If you use a respirator, OSHA says you must have a full respirator program. This means proper selection and fitting of respirators, medical screening to be sure you can wear a respirator, and worker training to use respirators.

Electrocution. An electric saw needs to be double-insulated or have a 3-prong plug in a grounded outlet. And the outlet needs a ground-fault circuit interrupter. Unplug a saw before you change a blade. Be extra careful when working in wet grass or near a puddle. If you are cutting toward any wires, make sure they have been disconnected.

OSHA says you must not use worn electric cords or cables. OSHA says electrical equipment should not be used in damp, wet, or very hot locations - unless approved for such use.

*OSHA rules for using power tools and saws in construction are in the Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR 1926.302 and 304. The respirator standard is 29 CFR 1910.134. Other requirements can be found in 29 CFR 1926.21, 1926.59, 1926.95-102, and 1926.400.

Cuts and amputations. Make sure the saw blade is not touching anything before you turn on a saw. OSHA says a circular saw must have a guard above and below the base plate. Keep the blade guard and other safety devices on the saw. Make sure the blade guard goes back to the fully guarded position after you cut. Do not drop-start a chainsaw. To start a saw with a starter cord, put one foot on the back handle, put one hand on the top handle to keep the blade off the surface, and use the other hand to pull the cord.

Hold a saw with both hands. Do not use your leg to prop up a saw. To help prevent kickback, hold your forward arm straight and do not cut above chest height.

After you turn off a saw, hold it away from you until the blade stops turning. Do not prop the saw on your leg while the blade slows down. Turn off a saw before you carry it anywhere.

Burns. What you cut can catch fire from friction. A spark from a saw can ignite any gasoline leaking from the saw. Make sure there are no fuel leaks and the fuel cap is tight. Turn off the saw and let it cool down before you refuel it.

Sprains and strains. When you can, put your work on a solid surface at waist height. Try not to work bent over or in other awkward positions.

Carbon monoxide. If you use a gas-powered saw where there is not a lot of fresh air, carbon monoxide can kill you fast. This can happen even in a crawl space or a big parking garage. You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide gas. Fans can help keep fresh air coming in, but fans are not always enough. If you can, use an electric saw instead of a gas-powered saw. OSHA has special rules for controlling toxic gases in closed spaces and for PPE (personal protective equipment). A trained person should monitor the air with special equipment while the work is done.

OFF THE JOB
Lock the saws where children cannot get to them.

For more information, call your local union, the Center to Protect Workers' Rights (CPWR) (301- 578-8500 or www.cpwr.com), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1-800-35-NIOSH or www.cdc.gov/niosh), or OSHA (1-800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov). Or check the website www.elcosh.org.

002950 - 10/07

The Dishwasher Just Exploded

The following information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Dishwasher Exploded    

That's the call a fire department received last winter from a base-housing inspector. The inspector had been doing normal bimonthly checks of vacant units when this happened.

The inspector's usual procedure was to run the cold water in the kitchen sink, turn on the dishwasher, go upstairs to flush the commode, and run the water in the bathroom. About three minutes after she started the dishwasher, it exploded. The blast propelled the dishwasher (which was installed under the kitchen counter) across the kitchen. The cabinets, plumbing and walls were damaged.

The concussion splintered the face of the rear door to the housing unit and blew it open, destroying the lock. Pieces of the dishwasher and cabinets were scattered over 20 feet. The access panel to the attic on the second floor was dislodged, and the front door was blown open and damaged.

At first, investigators thought water in the "s" trap had evaporated, allowing sewer gas to seep into the dishwasher and explode. The next day, Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) technicians tested all kitchen-sink drains in vacant units for signs of sewer gas. The results were negative. During the course of the investigation, a maintenance worker in the housing department pointed out a paragraph in the dishwasher-owner's manual to the NAVOSH specialist. It read, "...under certain conditions, hydrogen gas may be produced in a hotwater system that has not been used for two weeks or more. If the hot-water system has not been used for such a period, before using the dishwasher, turn on all hot-water faucets and let the water flow."

The safety specialist returned to three of the vacant housing units and ran the hot water to test for emission of hydrogen gas. The meter readings went off scale in these units. Then he ran hot water in three occupied units and got zero readings. When he ran hot water in an upstairs bathroom in the unit where the dishwasher exploded, he got an extremely high reading. After NAVOSH personnel made several calls to the Frigidaire Company about the incident, a person from their legal department returned his call and told him that Frigidaire was sending two engineers to investigate the exploding dishwasher.

The engineers and NAVOSH personnel tested hot water in two vacant units. They placed clear garbage bags over the faucets to sample for gas contents. The first test resulted in the bag filling with about one to two quarts of water and a cubic foot of gas. They suspected the bulk of the gas was a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, which was generated by electrolysis in the hot-water heating systems. One of the engineers explained that there is no way to stop hydrogen gas from forming in hot-water heaters because of the metals used in constructing the tanks. Hydrogen gas isn't soluble in water, so it remains in the water-heater plumbing system as a gas under pressure. In most homes, the gas will migrate to the upper levels of the house, where it harmlessly is expelled from water faucets there. However, occasionally, it can end up trapped in the plumbing lines. In that case, when a lower level faucet (or dishwasher) is turned on, the gas is pushed through the outlet rather than finding its way to the upper level.

Hydrogen gas has one of the broadest flammable ranges of any gas. Just about any mixture will be enough to result in an explosion. The engineer theorized that the gas was forced through the dishwasher, and the timer or starter relay had enough heat to ignite the gas. However, the dishwasher was destroyed, which made it impossible to determine the exact source of ignition. The engineer said this was the first time he had heard of a dishwasher exploding, but he had heard stories of small fires at faucets because people had cigarettes in their hands when they opened a hot-water faucet that had not been opened for some time. Later, in a telephone conversation, he told the NAVOSH person that he had talked to a few old-timers in the water-heating industry, and one of them had reviewed a mishap about a washing machine blowing up in the '60s.

What This Means to You

When you move into a house or apartment that has been vacant, hydrogen gas may have built up in hot water lines, which could cause an explosion. The same is true when you return home from a vacation or open up a vacation home that has been shut.

ORM Lesson

Appliance manufacturers can do nothing to prevent this type of thing from happening again, but you, as a resident or housing inspector, can do a short ORM assessment to prevent such a recurrence. You need to know that hydrogen gas can accumulate in hot-water systems that have not been operated for a period of time. You figure the risk of something going wrong when you turn on a dishwasher to either check it or operate. If you have been using it daily, there is hardly any risk. When you go to start the dishwasher, ask yourself how long the unit has been vacant. If it's more than a couple of weeks, you need to think about getting rid of the gas before you turn on the dishwasher. If you suspect hydrogen gas may have built up in the hot-water system, flush it by turning on all hot-water faucets in the building and letting them run for several minutes. And don't smoke while you're doing it. Make it a habit of doing this every time you inspect a building. If you live in the home and are away for a vacation, do this every time you return home.

002951 - 10/07

A Dusty Job

The following information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Control of Drywall Sanding Dust Exposures

Construction workers who sand drywall joint compound are often exposed to high concentrations of dusts and, in some cases, respirable silica. Drywall joint compounds are made from many ingredients (i.e., talc, calcite, mica, gypsum, silica). Some of these have been associated with varying degrees of eye, nose, throat, and respiratory tract irritation. Over time, breathing the dust from drywall joint compounds may cause persistent throat and airway irritation, coughing, phlegm production, and breathing difficulties similar to asthma. Smokers or workers with sinus or respiratory conditions may risk even worse health problems. When silica is present, workers may also face an increased risk of silicosis and lung cancer.

A recent NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) found that drywall sanders were exposed to as much as 10 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3 for total dust set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The OSHA PEL for respirable dust (5 mg/m3), the very small particles that can go deep into the lungs, was also exceeded.

Drywall joint compound manufacturers recognize that workers might be exposed to too much dust during drywall sanding. NIOSH studied five manufacturers material safety data sheets (MSDSs) that warned workers to avoid generating dust and to use respiratory protection when dry sanding. Four of the MSDSs told construction workers to use wet sanding whenever possible, and the fifth said to cut dust exposures by ventilation. However, these guidelines are seldom followed in actual work practice. Wet sanding is generally avoided because of concerns about drying time and finish texture. Wet sanding is used to protect equipment or furnishings rather than to reduce work exposures. When respiratory protection is worn, it is often used incorrectly with little thought to training, proper selection, or fit.

Vacuum Sanding Systems

Several light-weight sanding systems are now sold to control drywall workers sanding exposures (see Figure 1). These systems use portable vacuums to capture and remove the dust before the worker is exposed to it. In 1994, NIOSH studied several of these sanding systems at the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades (IBPAT) Apprenticeship Training Facility in Seattle , Washington . NIOSH engineers compared the dust exposures from three pole-sanding and two hand-sanding vacuum control systems with the exposures from traditional, nonventilated sanding methods. The five commercially available vacuum sanding controls successfully reduced dust exposures by 80% to 97%. Four of the five sanding controls cut exposures by nearly 95%. If engineering controls had reduced total dust exposures by 90% in the HHE case report described earlier, the construction workers exposures would have remained below the OSHA PEL.

Since the 1994 NIOSH study, more manufacturers are now making drywall sanding controls to cut dust exposures. Although NIOSH has not tested these controls, researchers expect them to per- form well. In addition to cutting dust exposures, each of these new controls has its own special features that will attract both drywall professionals and the do-it-yourselfer.

In addition to lower exposures, vacuum sanding systems can help the sander, subcontractor, general contractor, and building owner in other ways. The dramatic reduction in airborne dust exposures results in a much cleaner work area during and after sanding. For workers, the clean working environment is more comfortable; less irritating to eyes, nose, and throat; and less likely to require respiratory protection. For the subcontractor, a comfortable worker is likely to be more productive, be absent less often, and require fewer breaks for fresh air. The savings and reduced regulatory liability given by lower respiratory protection requirements will be passed from the subcontractor to the building owner. Other cost savings will result from a cleaner environment that reduces dirt, cleanup time, and repair or repainting of stained floors and carpets.

Pole-Sanding

NIOSH study results suggest that the construction workers dust exposures might be cut simply by changing from hand-sanding to pole-sanding. This change is even more important when working overhead. The pole increases the space between the worker and the sanding surface, which in turn reduces the amount of dust close to the workers nose and mouth.

002952 - 10/07

Want to advertise on the internet?

Many of the same rules that apply to other forms of advertising apply to electronic marketing as well. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has prepared a guide to give you an overview of some FTC laws that apply.

002809 - 8/07

It's easier than a hammer

The following information is from the Washington State Dept of Labor and Industries.

Nail guns are tools used in place of hand-held hammers to drive nails into various types of construction materials (such as wood or masonry). There are generally two types of nail guns that are frequently used on construction sites. High velocity nail guns typically utilize an explosive cartridge to "fire" nails whereas low velocity guns utilize a piston-style mechanism activated by either an explosive cartridge or compressed air. Nail guns have been used for many years on wood-frame residential construction sites and have increased worker productivity dramatically. Now, it is rare to hear a hammer pounding a nail at a residential construction site, as it has been replaced by the rapid-fire sound of the pneumatic nail gun.

Nail guns have the capacity to fire several nails per second at a velocity over 1,000 feet per second. Although these physics will allow a nail gun to fire a projectile almost 4 inches into fully stressed concrete, when accidentally applied to the human body, the resulting damage can be severe. Although extremity injuries (such as those to the hands and feet) are most common, severe injuries to more critical areas of the body, such as the head, neck, and chest may occur. A recent study of construction workers in three states showed that 97% of all puncture wounds in residential construction were caused by nail guns and that two-thirds of all nail gun injuries occurred as a result of a safety device (i.e. a bumper or trigger safety) being by-passed or disabled.

The following guidelines can help you reduce your risk of nail gun injuries when working on construction sites:

1. Always wear safety glasses when operating pneumatic tools including nail guns. Ensure that others in the area are wearing safety glasses as well.

2. NEVER dismantle or bypass safety devices such as triggers, guards or bumpers.

3. Be aware of the location of air hoses, especially when working at heights, as they may pose a tripping hazard.

4. Do not press the trigger unless the nose is firmly pressed against the working material.

5. Never point the tool at a person and always assume it is loaded and ready to fire.

6. Always point the gun away from you when nailing materials. NEVER BACK-NAIL MATERIALS with the tip of the gun pointing toward your body.

7. Always disconnect the air hose or power supply before clearing jams or adjusting the tool.

8. Always nail top to bottom for vertical walls, in a forward direction for horizontal areas, and from the eaves to the ridge for roof sheathing.

9. Never use bottled gas in place of compressed air to operate pneumatic tools and never operate them around flammables.

10. Review the operator's manual with all employees to ensure that the tool will be used appropriately and within manufacturer's specifications.

002813 - 8/07

Is your scaffolding safe?

OSHA has developed a training tool that allows you to review the safety requirements when working with and on the seven different types of support scaffolding.

002814 - 8/07

What you can do now to prevent water damage later

Grounds maintenance and landscaping are major components of the interconnected systems that protect a commercial building from water damage. These tips, reminders and warning signs of potential problems will help you keep your building safe from water damage.

The Institute of Business and Home Safety has developed tips, reminders and warning signs of potential problems that will help you keep your building safe from water damage.

002815 - 8/07

Do You Know the Law?

State Law for Teenage Workers

Want to know what your own state laws relating to teenage workers? This link to the Department of Labor website will give you what you need to know.

002660 - 4/07

Safety is Important in any Language

Hispanic Workers OSHA site

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has developed a site with resources for Hispanic employers and workers. While this site includes links to Spanish-language resources, it is intended primarily for English-speaking and bilingual users. Within this Compliance Assistance site is a link that will provide you with a variety of their safety material into Spanish.

002653 - 4/07

Look Out Below

Falling Objects

You are at risk from falling objects when you are beneath cranes, scaffolds, etc., or where overhead work is being performed. There is a danger from flying objects when power tools, or activities like pushing, pulling, or prying, may cause objects to become airborne. Injuries can range from minor abrasions to concussions, blindness, or death. Learn what you need to know on the OSHA Construction eTool site.

002658 - 4/07

Dangerous Work

Trenching

OSHA requires that workers in trenches and excavations be protected, and that safety and health programs address the variety of hazards they face. Cave-ins are perhaps the most feared trenching hazard. But other potentially fatal hazards exist, including asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen in a confined space, inhalation of toxic fumes, drowning, etc. This OSHA Construction eTool site provides valuable safety tips.

002652 - 4/07

You've Got Mail

How Not to Get Hooked by a 'Phishing' Scam

"We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click the link below and confirm your identity."

"During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn't verify your information. Please click here to update and verify your information."

Have you received email with a similar message? It's a scam called "phishing" - and it involves Internet fraudsters who send spam or pop-up messages to lure personal information (credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information) from unsuspecting victims.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, phishers send an email or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization that you may deal with - for example, an Internet service provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or even a government agency. The message may ask you to "update," "validate," or "confirm" your account information. Some phishing emails threaten a dire consequence if you don't respond. The messages direct you to a website that looks just like a legitimate organization's site. But it isn't. It's a bogus site whose sole purpose is to trick you into divulging your personal information so the operators can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name.

The FTC suggests these tips to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam:

• If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply. And don't click on the link in the message, either. Legitimate companies don't ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company's correct Web address yourself. In any case, don't cut and paste the link from the message into your Internet browser - phishers can make links look like they go to one place, but that actually send you to a different site.
• Area codes can mislead. Some scammers send an email that appears to be from a legitimate business and ask you to call a phone number to update your account or access a "refund." Because they use Voice Over Internet Protocol technology, the area code you call does not reflect where the scammers really are. If you need to reach an organization you do business with, call the number on your financial statements or on the back of your credit card. In any case, delete random emails that ask you to confirm or divulge your financial information.
• Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge.
• Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for antivirus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically.
• A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It's especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Operating systems (like Windows or Linux) or browsers (like Internet Explorer or Netscape) also may offer free software "patches" to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.
• Don't email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization's website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser's status bar or a URL for a website that begins "https:" (the "s" stands for "secure"). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons.
• Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
• Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them. These files can contain viruses or other software that can weaken your computer's security.
• Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. Most organizations have information on their websites about where to report problems.
• If you believe you've been scammed, file your complaint at ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC's Identity Theft website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Victims of phishing can become victims of identity theft. While you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim of identity theft, you can take some steps to minimize your risk. If an identity thief is opening credit accounts in your name, these new accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. You may catch an incident early if you order a free copy of your credit report periodically from any of the three major credit bureaus. See www.annualcreditreport.com for details on ordering a free annual credit report.

You can learn other ways to avoid email scams and deal with deceptive spam at ftc.gov/spam.

002520- 01/07

Winter Safety Tips

Snow Throwers

The following information is from the US Consumer Products Safety Commission.

If you use a snow thrower, stop the engine and use a long stick to unclog wet snow and debris from the machine, according to Chairman Ann Brown of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). "Do not use your hands to unclog a snow thrower," Brown warned.

According to CPSC, you run the risk of suffering severe hand and finger injuries, even amputations, if you attempt to clear the auger/collector or discharge chute with your hands. Most of the injuries happened when people, thinking that the augers had stopped rotating, put their hands into the machine's auger/collector or discharge chute in an attempt to clear snow or debris.

CPSC offered the following safety tips for using snow throwers:

• Always stop the engine if repairs or adjustments are to be made or if the discharge chute or auger needs to be unclogged. Remove snow with a push stick or similar instrument, not with your hands.
• Always keep hands and feet away from all moving parts.
• Never leave the machine unattended if the engine is operating; shut down the engine if you must leave the machine for any length of time.
• Add fuel to the tank outdoors before starting the machine; don't add gasoline to a running or hot engine. Always keep the gasoline can capped, and store gasoline out of the house and away from ignition sources.
• If you have an electric-powered snow thrower, be aware of where the power cord is at all times.
• Check the snow thrower each time you need to use it over the winter; always refer to the owner's manual for instructions on care and maintenance.

Tips To Protect Workers In Cold Environments

The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.

Prolonged exposure to freezing or cold temperatures may cause serious health problems such as trench foot, frostbite and hypothermia. In extreme cases, including cold water immersion, exposure can lead to death. Danger signs include uncontrolled shivering, slurred speech, clumsy movements, fatigue and confused behavior. If these signs are observed, call for emergency help.

OSHA's Cold Stress Card provides a reference guide and recommendations to combat and prevent many illnesses and injuries. Available in English and Spanish, this laminated fold-up card is free to employers, workers and the public. Tips include:

How to Protect Workers

• Recognize the environmental and workplace conditions that may be dangerous.
• Learn the signs and symptoms of cold-induced illnesses and injuries and what to do to help workers.
• Train workers about cold-induced illnesses and injuries.
• Encourage workers to wear proper clothing for cold, wet and windy conditions, including layers that can be adjusted to changing conditions.
• Be sure workers in extreme conditions take a frequent short break in warm, dry shelters to allow their bodies to warm up.
• Try to schedule work for the warmest part of the day.
• Avoid exhaustion or fatigue because energy is needed to keep muscles warm.
• Use the buddy system - work in pairs so that one worker can recognize danger signs.
• Drink warm, sweet beverages (sugar water, sports-type drinks) and avoid drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas or hot chocolate) or alcohol.
• Eat warm, high-calorie foods such as hot pasta dishes.
• Remember, workers face increased risks when they take certain medications, are in poor physical condition or suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

For free copies of OSHA's Cold Stress Card in English or Spanish, go to OSHA's website, www.osha.gov, or call 1(800) 321-OSHA.

002521- 01/07

It's not just dust

Silicosis

The following information is from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Silicosis is permanent lung damage caused by breathing dust containing extremely fine particles of crystalline silica. Crystalline silica is found in materials such as concrete, masonry and rock. Since these are primary building materials, there are numerous ways for construction workers to be exposed. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a guide called "Construction Workers - It's Not Just Dust..Prevent Silicosis."

002524- 01/07

Working Drug Free

Working Drug Free

The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.

Of the 16.7 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2003, 12.4 million (74.3 percent) were employed either full or part time. Furthermore, research indicates that between 10 and 20 percent of the nation's workers who die on the job test positive for alcohol or other drugs. In fact, industries with the highest rates of drug use are the same as those at a high risk for occupational injuries, such as construction, mining, manufacturing and wholesale.

To help small businesses benefit from being drug-free, the Department of Labor and OSHA's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace program offers small businesses a range of free and easy-to-use tools to help them maintain safe, healthy and drug-free workplaces.

002523- 01/07

Are You Up to Date

OSHA First Aid Standards

The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.

Employers are required by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151 to have a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid for worksites that are not in near proximity to an infirmary, clinic, or hospital. In addition, OSHA requires certain employers to have CPR-trained rescuers on site.

Be sure you are up to date with these new guidelines.

002316 - 10/06

Take a Team Approach to Safety

Safety committees

The following information is from the Colorado State Onsite Health & Safety Consultation Program website.

The presence of an active safety committee can work to develop safety goals for the company. A well-motivated safety committee gets employees involved.

Once managers and employees buy into safety, a company will see decreased accident rates, turn-over, and absenteeism. Productivity often increases because processes tend to become more efficient when evaluated for hazard prevention.

Find out how easy and profitable it can be to have a safety committee at your company.

002318 - 10/06

On The Road Again

Vehicle Safety Program

The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.

OSHA has developed a simple ten step program that is designed to minimize the crash risk to your business.

Motor vehicle crashes cost employers $60 billion annually in medical care, legal expenses, property damage, and lost productivity. They drive up the cost of benefits such as workers' compensation, Social Security, and private health and disability insurance. In addition, they increase the company overhead involved in administering these programs.

The average crash costs an employer $16,500. When a worker has an on-the-job crash that results in an injury, the average cost to their employer is $74,000. Costs can exceed $500,000 when a fatality is involved. Off-the-job crashes are costly to employers as well.¹

₁NHTSA [2003]. The economic burden of traffic crashes on employers: costs by state and industry and by alcohol and restraint use. Publication DOT HS 809 682.

002317 - 10/06

The Higher Up You Go...

Scaffold Safety

In December of 1996, OSHA's new scaffold standards took effect. Still, many construction standard violations occur through the improper use of scaffolding. Common violations include inadequate bracing, no guard rails, unsafe access and no pins in scaffolding to prevent uplifting.

General Safety Guidelines

No scaffold shall be erected, moved, dismantled or altered except under the supervision of competent persons. A competent person is defined as one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions, and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective action to eliminate them.

Safe Usage Of Non-mobile Welded Frame Scaffolding

• The frame scaffold must be capable of supporting four times the maximum intended load.
• Using a horizontal frame separation distance of seven feet, the maximum plank extension over the end support shall be no more than 12 inches if guardrails are not used to block access to the area.
• On a 10-section wide frame scaffold, the overlap for each plank on top of each other must be 12 inches.
• A scaffold five feet wide, 35 feet in length and 30 feet high with frame spacing of seven feet must have horizontal securement every 20 feet and vertical tie-in every 20 feet.
• A frame scaffold, three sections high, using a cantilevered outrigger platform, shall use ties, guys, braces, outriggers or scaffold manufacturer's stabilizer legs or equivalent.

Scaffolding Rails

• Guardrails are required on welded frame scaffolds that are 10 feet high or more.
• Top rail height shall be at least 36 inches to a maximum of 45 inches.
• Top rail strength must be at least 200 pounds for welded frame scaffolds.
• Midrail strength on a welded frame scaffold must be at least 150 pounds.
• Scaffold legs must bear on base plates and these shall rest on either firm foundation or mudsills.

Scaffolding Planks

• The space between the scaffold planks must be no more than one inch.
• The maximum distance permitted between a plank and a frame upright is nine inches.
• An uncleated scaffold plank must extend over the end support a minimum of six inches.

Scaffolding Cross Bracing and Pins

• Cross bracing is acceptable in place of midrails when the "X" is between 20 and 30 inches above the work surface.
• Cross bracing is acceptable in place of a top rail when the "X" is between 30 and 48 inches above the work surface.
• The purpose of using pins to lock a scaffold vertically together is to prevent uplift. This can occur with a rough terrain forklift grabbing scaffold. Wind, climbing a scaffold or the use of a hoist can also cause it to lift up.

Maximum Weight

The maximum intended load of a 10-inch wide, two-inch nominal thickness wood scaffold plank platform with the scaffold frames seven feet apart horizontally is approximately 175 pounds.

Other Specs

• Scaffold platforms above one section high must be provided with safe access.
• When hook-on-ladders are used, they must be provided with a rest platform every 35 feet.
• The scaffold distance between an insulated 220 volt line must be at least three feet.

Work shall not be permitted during high winds. High winds are classified by the National Weather Service as 30 mph gusts or higher. Ultimately, the decision is to be made by the competent person.

002320 - 10/06

It's Hot Outside

The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.

002284 - 7/06

What Does MSDS Mean?

The following information is from the Colorado State Onsite Health & Safety Consultation Program website .

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (O SHA) has estimated that more than 32 million workers are exposed to 650,000 hazardous chemical products in more than 3 million American workplaces. This poses a serious problem for exposed workers and their employers.

The basic goal of a Hazard Communication Program is to be sure employers and employees know about work hazards and how to protect themselves. This should help to reduce the incidence of chemical related illnesses and injuries.

Chemicals pose a wide range of health hazards (such as irritation, sensitization and carcinogenicity) and physical hazards (such as flammability, corrosion and reactivity). OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is designed to ensure that information about these hazards and associated protective measures are disseminated to workers and employers. This is accomplished by requiring chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and to provide information about them through labels on shipped containers and more detailed information sheets called material safety data sheets (MSDSs). All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must prepare and implement a written hazard communication program. They must ensure that all containers are labeled, that employees are provided access to MSDSs, and that an effective training program is conducted for all potentially exposed employees.

A vital part of this Hazard Communication program is maintaining Material MSDSs and insuring employees have the necessary training to understand the terminology contained in MSDSs. The following pages provide brief explanations of terminology that can be used during employee training.

Please feel free to contact us at (970)491-6151 or OHSS@lamar.colostate.edu if you have questions or need further assistance.

Manufacturers, importers, distributors and suppliers are required to provide you with MSDSs for each of their hazardous chemicals. As an employer or contractor, you are required to maintain a file of MSDSs for the hazardous chemicals you use. According to OSHA, you will be able to determine if a substance is hazardous by referring to the MSDS and the label. The OSHA Standard specifies the information required on each data sheet, and all information must be written in English. However, it is good practice to translate MSDSs for chemicals your company uses frequently into all languages spoken in your workplace.

Review the MSDSs you receive for accuracy and completeness, and make sure you have the latest version on file. When an MSDS includes new information or a new compound has been added to it, additional employee training is required.

To ensure proper recordkeeping and maintenance of MSDSs, you should:

1. Make sure any employee who purchases supplies for your company is on the lookout for MSDSs.
2. Include a request for an MSDS and a label that meets the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standards on all purchase orders.
   • Ask for an MSDS for materials with labels indicating they are hazard unless an MSDS is already on file.
3. To deal with a multi-employer situation, other contractors on the site may be asked to provide hazardous substance information for the chemicals they bring to the site.

While MSDSs will appear in many different formats, they will contain essentially the same information. An MSDS should contain the following information.

Identification

1. Chemical name, as it appears on the label.
2. Manufacturer's name and address.
3. Emergency telephone number in the event of an emergency involving the substance.
4. Date prepared and the signature of the preparer.

Hazardous Ingredients/Identity Information

1. Hazardous Components: Contains the specific chemical identity, its formula, and any common names it is known by.
2. OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs): PEL is the permissible maximum amount or concentration of the chemical a person may be safely exposed to without harm.
3. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): The TLV is the concentration of a chemical in the air that can be inhaled for five consecutive eight-hour workdays by most persons without harmful effects. It is generally expressed in parts per million or milligrams per cubic meter of air.
4. Other exposure limits: Any other recommended limitation on the use of the chemical by any agency, scientific group, or organization should be included.

Physical/Chemical Characteristics

1. Boiling point: The temperature at which a liquid boils.
2. Vapor Pressure (mm Hg): Vapor pressure measures a liquid's tendency to evaporate. The higher the vapor pressure, the faster it will evaporate.
3. Vapor Density: Indicates the weight of the vapor compared with the weight of an equal volume of air. If a vapor is heavier than air (vapor density greater than 1), it will sink to the ground. If it is lighter than air (vapor density less than 1), it will rise. For example, with flammable materials, when the vapor density is greater than 1, vapors tend to collect in the lowest spot. A contractor must be alert to vapors traveling to an ignition source, then flashing back to the vapor source. Under some circumstances chemical vapors may displace oxygen.
4. Solubility in Water: Indicates whether the chemical can mix with water in any ratio without separating.
5. Appearance and Odor: A brief description of the chemical's color and smell.
6. Specific Gravity: Ratio of a material's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water. The specific gravity determines whether the material floats or sinks in water. Specific gravity values less than or equal to one indicate that water should NOT be used to extinguish a fire involving the substance unless the water comes from automatic sprinklers.
7. Melting Point: Indicates the temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid.
8. Evaporation Rate: Indicates the temperature at which a substance evaporates.

Fire and Explosion Hazard Data

1. Flash Point: Indicates the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to ignite in air when exposed to flame. When the flash point is between 100° and 110 o Fahrenheit (F), extra care must be taken in hot environments. The liquid's temperature could be high enough to be ignitable if an ignition source is introduced. Such sources might be cigarette smoking, electrical equipment and wiring, cutting and welding, or static electricity. A red diamond label is required on all liquids classified by OSHA as flammable (flash point values of 99.9 o F or below).
2. Flammable Limits: Indicates the range of vapor concentrations, which will explode when an ignition source is present. The "Lower Explosive Limit" (LEL) is the minimum amount of vapor in the air that can be ignited. The "Upper Explosive Limit" (UEL) is the maximum amount of vapor in the air that will sustain fire.
3. Extinguishing Media: Materials suitable for putting-out a fire involving the identified chemical. These fire-fighting agents are water, fog, foam, alcohol foam, carbon dioxide and dry chemical.

The four classes of fires are :

Class A -	paper, wood, straw, cloth
Class B -	flammable and combustible liquids
Class C -	fire involving energized electrical equipment
Class D -	combustible metals

Testing laboratories classify fire extinguishers based on the class of fire they are designed to put out. Each extinguisher type may contain a different extinguishing agent. For example:

Class A -	contain water
Class B -	contain carbon dioxide, foam, or dry chemical agents
Class C -	contain carbon dioxide or dry chemical agents
Class D -	contain highly specialized extinguishing compounds

1. Special Fire Fighting Procedures: Indicates the chemical's special characteristics when it comes in contact with fire, such as whether it is difficult to put out; whether it will re-ignite spontaneously; whether it is extinguished by water or other fire-fighting agents. This subsection will also indicate any required protective equipment needed when fighting the fire. It will describe toxic materials given off by the chemical when it is burned.
2. Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards: Indicates any special types of hazards requiring attention. The description will indicate whether the chemical is difficult to extinguish, will re-ignite spontaneously, and how it reacts with water and other extinguishing agents. For example, if water is applied to a combustible liquid with a flash point above 212 o F, it may foam violently or boil over, endangering workers and firefighters.

Reactivity Data

1. Stability: Indicates conditions that contribute to the stability or instability of a chemical when it is exposed to heat, pressure, or excessive shock during storage, use, misuse or transport. Look to this section to identify specific conditions to be avoided. These warnings, for example, may be "reacts violently with water" or "avoid sudden shock."
2. Incompatibility (materials to avoid): Indicates various materials or conditions you must keep the chemical away from to avoid adverse reactions. For example, a substance which ignites or explodes when it comes in contact with the chemical.
3. Hazardous Decomposition or By-products: Indicates gases, or vapors, which are released when the chemical is burned or decomposes. It tells you what hazardous substances your employees may be exposed to as a result of heating, working with, or burning the chemical.
4. Hazardous Polymerization: Polymerization is a chemical reaction where molecules of the chemical combined with molecules of another material to form a different material. This reaction is accompanied by the release of large amounts of energy that can produce fire or other hazards. Polymerization can occur when the chemical comes in contact with certain plastics, rubber or coatings. This section of the MSDS will indicate possible storage conditions that could result in polymerization. It will also indicate any inhibitor-chemicals that can be added to prevent or delay polymerization-and the expected time period in which an inhibitor is used up.

Health Hazard Data

1. Route(s) of Entry: A chemical may enter the body either through inhalation, by contact with the skin or eyes, or by being swallowed.
2. Health Hazards: Indicates any long-term (chronic) or short-term (acute) effects of a chemical on the human body.
3. Carcinogenicity: Indicates whether the chemical causes cancer. It is important that your employees understand that not all hazardous substances cause cancer when an individual is exposed to them.
4. Signs and Symptoms of Exposure: Indicates and describes the effects of exposure to the chemical (employee's appearance/behavior), the most common resulting sensations (headache, dizziness or nausea).
5. Medical Conditions Severely Aggravated by Exposure: Indicates how the chemical will affect any pre-existing medical conditions.
6. Emergency and First Aid Procedures: Indicates first aid procedures to use in order to reduce the hazardous effects of the chemical. The techniques covered will deal only with inhalation of the chemical, and skin or eye contact with it. You must emphasize that these are emergency procedures only. Exposed employees should be examined by a doctor immediately.

Precautions for Safe Handling and Use

1. Steps to be Taken in Case Material is Released or Spilled: Indicates precautions such as: "avoid breathing gases or vapors"; "avoid contact with liquids and solids"; "remove ignition sources"; "use special equipment for cleanups." This section also gives recommended techniques to use in controlling land or water spills.
2. Waste Disposal Methods: Indicates how to dispose of the chemical and contaminated materials.
3. Precautions to Take in Handling and Storing: Indicates safe handling and storage procedures to be taken to avoid hazardous reactions. This section will emphasize incompatibility and polymerization hazards, which could occur during storage or handling of the chemical.
4. Other Precautions: Indicates special precautions to use in handling or disposing of the chemical.

Control Measures

The measures described below should be taken whenever the chemical is handled or disposed of during normal use. They are not solely intended for emergencies or accidental spills.

1. Respiratory Protection: If needed, specifies type of respirators required by OSHA when the chemical is used, even as a precautionary measure in non-emergency situations.
2. Ventilation: Indicates ventilating systems needed to prevent over-exposure to the chemical. "Local exhaust ventilation" is a system with high speed and low volume that will capture a chemical quickly after it has been released. The objective is to prevent the substance from reaching the employee's breathing zone. "Mechanical (general) ventilation" is used to heat and/or cool an enclosed area in a permanent facility.
3. Protective Gloves: Indicates whether or not gloves must be worn when the chemical is handled. If gloves are required for skin protection, the type of material they should be made of will be indicated.
4. Eye Protection: Indicates appropriate eye protection such as face shields, safety goggles or glasses.
5. Other Protective Clothing or Equipment: Indicates protective equipment (aprons and boots) and what material it should be made of to prevent skin contact.

002286 - 7/06

Oh That's Heavy

The following information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Improper lifting techniques are responsible for a large percentage of back injuries among workers.

Proper methods of lifting and handling protect against injury, and make work easier. You need to think about what you are going to do before bending to pick up an object. Over time, safe lifting techniques should become a habit.

The following are basic steps you can use to ensure safe lifting and handling:

1. Size up the load and check overall conditions. Don't attempt the lift by yourself if the load appears to be too heavy or awkward. Check that there is enough space for movement, and that your footing is good. "Good housekeeping" ensures that you won't trip or stumble over an obstacle.
2. Make certain that your balance is good. Your feet should be shoulder width apart, with one foot beside and the other foot behind the object that is to be lifted.
3. Bend your knees; don't stoop. Keep your back straight, but not vertical. (There is a difference. Tucking in your chin straightens the back.)
4. Grip the load with the palms of your hands and your fingers. The palm grip is much more secure. Tuck in your chin again to make certain your back is straight before starting to lift.
5. Use your body weight to start the load moving, then lift by pushing up with your legs. This makes full use of your strongest set of muscles.
6. Keep your arms and elbows close to your body while lifting.
7. Carry the load close to your body. Don't twist your body while carrying the load. To change direction, shift your foot position and turn your whole body.
8. Watch where you are going!
9. To lower the object, bend your knees. Don't stoop. To deposit the load on a bench or shelf, place it on the edge and push it into position. Make sure your hands and feet are clear when placing the load.

Make it a habit to follow the above steps when lifting anything, even a relatively light object.

Team lifting must be coordinated

If the weight, shape or size of an object makes the job too much for one person, ask for help.

Ideally, workers should be of approximately the same size for team lifting. One individual needs to be responsible for control of the action to ensure proper coordination. If one worker lifts too soon, shifts the load, or lowers it improperly, either they or the person working with them may be injured.

Lifting heavy objects

Safe lifting of heavy items requires training and practice. For example, we've probably all seen a small person move heavy feed sacks with apparent ease. The secret lies in taking the proper stance and grip. When equipment is available, it should be used to lift and carry heavy objects. Loaders, forklifts, hoists, etc. are made for this purpose.

Finally, let's take a moment to review some of the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of safe lifting and carrying.

DO: Tuck in your chin to keep your back as straight as possible while lifting. Lift using your leg muscles. Ask for help with heavy, awkward items. When possible, use mechanical equipment to move heavy items.

DON'T: Use your back muscles to lift an object. Try to lift an item that is too heavy or awkward. Twist your body while carrying an object. Attempt team lifting without proper coordination.

002285 - 7/06

A Breath of Fresh Air

The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site .

Establishing a respiratory protection standard will protect an estimated 5 million respirator wearers working in 1.3 million workplaces. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) department estimates that compliance with the standard will prevent hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses in U.S. workplaces each year.

The Respiratory Protection standard requires employers to establish and maintain a respiratory protection program to protect their respirator-wearing workers. This standard is intended to:

• Enhance the protection of worker health.
• Promote more effective use of respirators.
• Make it easier for you to comply with its provisions.
• Make it easier to understand the policy and procedures you must follow when implementing a respiratory protection program.

What is a respirator?

Respirators are devices that protect workers from inhaling harmful substances. These substances can be in the form of airborne vapors, gases, dust, fogs, fumes, mists, smokes or sprays. Some respirators also ensure that workers do not breathe air that contains dangerously low levels of oxygen.

There are two major types of respirators:

1. Air-purifying respirators, which remove contaminants from the air.
2. Atmosphere-supplying respirators, which provide clean air from an uncontaminated source.

Respirators provide protection from respiratory hazards only when they are used properly.

What is a respiratory protection program?

A respiratory protection program is a cohesive collection of worksite-specific procedures and policies that addresses all respiratory protection elements required by the standard. For example, a respiratory protection program must contain specific procedures describing how respirators will be selected, fitted, used, maintained and inspected in a particular workplace.

These programs are generally required, whenever you or OSHA requires your employees to wear respirators. For example, you may need to establish a respiratory protection program:

• If your employees work in situations where the level of oxygen is insufficient, or potentially insufficient.
• If your employees are potentially exposed to harmful levels of hazardous gases or vapors.
• If your employees are exposed to other potential respiratory hazards, such as dust, mists, fumes, sprays and other airborne particles.

You need to supply workers with respirators when all preferred methods of protecting them from breathing contaminated air have been determined to be insufficient to reduce the contamination to non-hazardous levels. You must consider the potential for emergencies when making this determination. These preferred methods include:

• Engineering controls, such as ventilation.
• Substituting non-hazardous materials for the materials that pose respiratory hazards.
• Administrative controls, such as scheduling major maintenance for weekends or times when few workers are present.

Respirator Selection

In order to select an appropriate respirator you must:

• Conduct an exposure assessment to determine the type and amount of hazardous exposure
• Take into account the factors that can influence respirator selection such as job-site and worker characteristics
• Understand the assigned protection factors
• Know the various kinds of respirators and their relevant characteristics

Below you will find the two types of respirators available.

The respirator shown above is an air-purifying respirator. This respirator has filters, cartridges or canisters that remove contaminants from the air by passing the ambient air through the air-purifying element before it reaches the user.

The important factor that determines the effectiveness of this purifier is the filter, cartridge or canister being used. As a result, a change schedule is the part of the written respirator program which says how often they should be replaced and what information was relied upon to make this judgment. A cartridge's useful service life is how long it provides adequate protection from harmful chemicals in the air. The service life of a cartridge depends upon many factors, including environment conditions, breathing rate, cartridge filtering capacity and the amount of contaminant in the air. It is suggested that employers apply a safety factor to the service life estimate to assure that the change schedule is a conservative estimate.

The second respirator displayed above is an atmosphere-supplying device. It supplies clean air directly to the user from a source other than the air surrounding the user.

Factors that Can Influence Respirator Selection

There are three major factors that influence the type of respirator that is chosen for an individual task. One of these is the physical configuration of the jobsite. Tightly constrained areas may not permit the use of self-contained breathing apparatuses even though they might be an acceptable choice otherwise. Likewise, working around obstructions or moving machinery that can snag hoses may limit the use of airline respirators.

Another important factor is the worker's medical condition. Wearing respiratory protection poses a physical burden on the wearer. When a worker's medical condition would prohibit restrictive breathing conditions, negative pressure respirators would not be an appropriate choice.

Lastly, a worker's comfort is also an important factor in the selection of a respirator. A worker's preference should be a consideration during the respirator selection process. Among air purifying respirators, powered air purifying helmets have been subjectively rated the best for breathing ease, skin comfort, and in-mask temperature and humidity, while filtering face-pieces rated high for lightness and convenience. Each, however, has its own drawbacks, and all these factors should be taken into account during selection.

002280 - 7/06

Hello, I'm Calling to Report a Claim

We are your partners in helping you protect your business, and you are our first line of defense against losses. If a claim does occur, you should obtain relevant information immediately so we can process the claim appropriately.

If an injury occurs in your establishment, always collect the following information from those involved:

• Full name
• Full address
• Phone number

Next, report the claim, even if you feel your company is not at fault. Circumstance may dictate otherwise, and the sooner we receive notice of the claim, the better our investigation will be. We will also contact the injured party(ies) to let them know we are working on the claim.

Call our 24-hour Claim Call Center at 1-800-374-1111 or contact your American Family agent to report your claim.

What to do if there is a loss on the premises

• Obtain a detailed explanation of what occurred. Ask for the specific location where the incident occurred. Inspect the area where the loss occurred and document what you observe. Obtain the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses. This includes employees, customers and individuals who accompanied the injured person. If people are in the area, kindly ask them if they saw anything and if they would be willing to be listed as a witness.
• Keep a camera on the premises so you can take photos of the area where the incident occurred. Remove and save video camera tape if it was operating at the time and review it to see if it shows any important event. If there isn't time to review the tape, label and preserve it so it can be reviewed later.
• If the loss involves a physical object, for example machinery, a table or a chair, don't throw the object away. Clearly label what it is related to, the date and time, and secure it in a safe place until a claim adjuster can inspect or take possession of it.

002167– 04/06

Water and Electricity Do Not Mix

Combining water and electricity can be disastrous. Each year more than 300 people are electrocuted and thousands more are injured from electrical shocks or electrical fires. Many electrical injuries can be avoided through the use of a simple, inexpensive device called a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

A GFCI (shown to left) is a fast-acting electrical circuit breaker that senses small imbalances in the circuit caused by current leaking to the ground. The GFCI continually matches the amount of current going into an electrical device against the amount of current returning from the device along the electrical path. Whenever the amount "going" differs from the amount "returning" by approximately 5 milliamps, the GFCI interrupts the electrical power within as little as one-fortieth of a second.

For example, if a person washing dishes while listening to a nearby radio accidentally knocks the radio into the sink, a very dangerous electrical hazard exists. Retrieving the radio may cause the person to be electrocuted.

However, if the radio was plugged into a GFCI receptacle and the person reached into the water to retrieve the radio, the GFCI would detect a leak, shut off the power and prevent electrical shock.

Because GFCIs are effective and inexpensive, the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires GFCI protected electrical outlets on all 15 and 20 ampere, 125-volt receptacles in kitchens, within 6 feet of sinks and in bathrooms, garages, utility rooms, outdoor outlets and any other place that water or moisture may present a hazard. GFCIs can be installed at circuit breakers to protect a service line with several receptacles. Also, one GFCI can be wired to protect up to two other receptacles that are on the same circuit.

How to test a GFCI

GFCIs should be tested monthly by following these steps:

• Plug a lamp or appliance into the GFCI receptacle.
• Turn on the lamp or appliance.
• Push the test button on the GFCI receptacle. If the GFCI is working properly, the test button should turn off the power to the lamp or appliance.
• Push the Reset button on the GFCI. This should return power to the GFCI receptacle and appliance. If the power did not shut off when the Test button was depressed, there is an electrical problem that should be corrected by a licensed electrical contractor.

An inexpensive GFCI circuit tester is available in hardware stores. The GFCI circuit tester also checks for proper wiring of electrical outlets. To conduct the test:

• Plug in the testing device and check warning lights for proper wiring of the outlet.
• Push the Test button. The lights should go out.
• Push the Reset button on the GFCI. This should return power to the GFCI and the lights on the tool will reappear.

Safety Recommendations

• If GFCIs are not present at NEC-required locations, we recommend having a licensed electrical contractor install them accordingly.
• Educate employees on how to test GFCIs on a regular basis.

002169– 04/06

This is Not a Step

Portable ladders are a simple tool used widely in the workplace. However, as with any tool, misuse can result in serious injury or even death. The following regulations from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) can help reduce the likelihood of an injury while using a portable ladder.

Step One: Select the Correct Ladder for the Job 

A. Select the Correct Ladder Material

• Fiberglass: Nonconductive, which makes it a good choice when working around electricity. It is also corrosion resistant and ideal for outdoor use.

• Aluminum: Lightweight, but not for use when contact with electricity is possible. It is easy to maneuver when frequent handling is required.

• Wood: Nonconductive, which makes it a good choice for working around electricity. It is an economical choice for heavy maintenance and construction.

B. Select the Correct Ladder Type and Capacity

Type	Capacity*	Use
1A	300 lbs.	Extra Heavy-Duty Industrial Contractor
I	250	Heavy-Duty Industrial Contractor
II	225	Medium-Duty Commercial
III	200	Light-Duty Household

*Total load capacity includes combined weight of user, tools and any other material on ladders.

C. Select the Correct Ladder Size +

Stepladder		Extension Ladders
Ladder Size	Maximum Standing Height	Ladder Size	Maximum Extended Ladder Length	Maximum Working Height
4 ft.	2 ft.	16 ft.	13 ft.	9 ft.
6	4	20	17	13
8	6	24	21	17
10	8	28	25	21
12	10	32	29	25
		36	32	28
		40	35	31

+ A stepladder should be no more than 20 feet high.

A one-section ladder should be no more than 30 feet high.
An extension ladder can go to 60 feet, but the sections must overlap.

STEP TWO: USE THE LADDER SAFELY

D. Always Inspect a Ladder Before Use to be sure that:

• Steps and rungs are firmly attached and intact, free from grease or oil and have slip-resistant surfaces.
• Support braces, bolts and screws are all in place and tight.
• Metal parts are lubricated.
• Rope is not worn or frayed.
• Spreaders or other locking devices are in place.
• Sharp edges are filed or splinters are removed.
• Metal ladders are not dented or bent.

E. Do's and Don'ts of Portable Ladder Use

DO:

• Make sure only one person is on a ladder at a time.
• Wear shoes with clean, non-skid, non-leather soles.
• Face the ladder while climbing up or down and hold the side rails with both hands.
• Keep your body centered so your belt buckle is between side rails.
• Carry tools up or down on a belt or a hoist, not in your hands.
• Ensure that side rails extend at least 36 inches above the bearing point when used to gain access to a roof, floor or a level.
• Tie off straight ladders at the top, or both top and bottom, where conditions warrant.
• Use the 1:4 ratio where the ladder base is 1 foot away for every 4 feet of height to where it rests.

DON'T:

• Step on the top two stepladder steps or top four ladder rungs.
• Place ladders on unstable bases such as boxes, barrels, uneven ground, etc.
• Place ladders in doorways or passageways.
• Stand on cross bracing.
• Move, shift, or extend a ladder while occupied. Never "walk" a ladder while you are standing on it.

002164– 04/06

Springtime Can Mean Flooding

Rain. Tides. Levee failure. Ice jam. Snow melt. Floods happen, and they happen beside rivers, on the coast, in deserts and in city streets. You don't have to lose your property and possessions to rampaging waters, however. It's never too early to prepare and you can take several basic steps right now to protect your business from disaster.

First Things First

1. Check with your city or county building authority, your insurance agent or your mortgage lender to find out if your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If your property is in a participating community, you live in a flood zone. Period.
2. Consult the same sources to determine if your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, which has at least a one percent chance of being flooded in any given year. Perhaps you live in an "A" zone, generally near a lake, river or stream and subject to rising water. Or you may live in a "V" zone, an area that involves beachfront properties and is susceptible to wind-driven waves as well as rising water.

Know Your BFE
Whether you live near a river or on the ocean's shore, you should know the expected flooding level in your area. The base flood elevation (BFE), in other words. Consult your local building authority for the base flood elevation in your immediate area. Also check building department records or your property survey for the elevation of your property's lowest floor. This is the lowest enclosed area in your property, including any area - your basement, for instance - that is below ground level on all sides. If you are unable to determine the lowest floor elevation, hire a licensed surveyor to do it.

If You Live in an "A" ZONE
If your property is in an "A" zone and the lowest floor is below the base flood elevation, the best way to protect it against flood damage is to elevate your entire property so the lowest floor is at or above the base flood elevation. Keep in mind, you must use design standards that meet the minimum requirements of your community's local floodplain management building ordinance for new construction and substantially improve