- Minimize Back Injuries
- Reduce Stress to Increase Productivity
- Hand Tools That Don’t Hurt
- Stay Safe and In Compliance with OSHA’s Guide to Eye and Face PPE
- Don’t Buy What You Can Get For Free
- Got a Boiler?
- Do You Know What to Do When a Tornado Strikes?
- Air Compressor Safety
- Open for Business
- Age and Accidents: Lessening the Dangers for Senior Drivers
- Don't "Slip Up" When It Comes To On-site Safety
- New Lockout-Tagout Training a Win-Win for Employers and Employees
- Happy (and Safe) Holidays
- Working With Wood Presents Extra Hazards
- Too Bright For Me
- On Guard
- Want to advertise on the internet?
- Store it safely
- Safety on the loading dock
- What you can do now to prevent water damage later
- Do You Know the Law?
- Safety is Important in any Language
- Computers Can Be a Pain
- Check it out
- You've Got Mail
- Winter Safety Tips
- Eyes Wide Open
- Working Drug Free
- Are You Up to Date
- On The Road Again
- Take a Team Approach to Safety
- Will Your Automatic Sprinkler System Work When You Need It Most
- Store it Safely
- It's Hot Outside
- A Breath of Fresh Air
- What Does MSDS Mean?
- Hello, I'm Calling to Report a Claim
- Water and Electricity Do Not Mix
- That's Hot
- Springtime Can Mean Flooding
- Start Off 2006 with a Plan
- Let's Get Out of Here!
- Lift it Safely
- Product Recalls
- Is Your Place of Business Loud?
- Keep Everyone Safe with Lockout/Tagout
- 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 Your Machines Appropriately Guarded?
- The Right Personal Protective Equipment
- Create an OSHA-approved Emergency Action Plan
- Take Ladder Safety to New Heights
- Sound Advice for Preventing Hearing Loss
- Reduce Forklift Fatalities
Minimize Back Injuries
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Full Article |
Back injuries are all too common in the workplace. Use this handy and helpful list of tips and techniques to help keep your employees injury-free and on the job.
003293 - 10/08
Reduce Stress to Increase Productivity
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Full Article |
Don't think stress is affecting your workforce? Think again. Surveys indicate that problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than any other cause, including financial or family problems. Read the full article to learn the causes of work-related stress and ways to reduce it.
003294 - 10/08
Hand Tools That Don't Hurt
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Full Article |
Reduce the risk of repetitive-stress injuries for your work force, by selecting the best, most ergonomic tools. This thorough guide helps you pick hand tools that will not only get the job done easier and faster, but also lower the risk of costly and persistent injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis or muscle strain.
003297 - 10/08
Stay Safe and In Compliance with OSHA’s Guide to Eye and Face PPE
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Full Article |
Eye and face protection is a serious issue. Show your employees their safety is important—and stay in compliance—by following OSHA requirements for personal protective gear for eyes and face.
003301 – 10/08
Create an OSHA-approved Emergency Action Plan
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Full Article |
This helpful article from OSHA provides detailed requirements and guidelines for creating and implementing an EAP that will help keep your business safe and in compliance.
003191– 7/08
Take Ladder Safety to New Heights
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Full Article |
If your employees are climbing portable ladders, the risk of injury and even death is climbing as well. Keep costly accidents to a minimum with the help of these insightful safety tips from OSHA.
003192– 7/08
Sound Advice for Preventing Hearing Loss
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Full Article |
While exposure to dangerous levels of noise at the workplace may be unavoidable, permanent hearing damage is not. After reading this article, you’ll know how to keep your employees from being one of the over 10 million Americans to suffer on-the-job hearing loss.
003193– 7/08
Reduce Forklift Fatalities
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Full Article |
Each year nearly 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 are seriously injured in forklift-related incidents in the U.S. alone. This detailed information from The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers some practical ways to lower the statistics.
003195– 7/08
Don’t Buy What You Can Get For Free
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Don’t be duped by misleading or even threatening solicitors offering to sell you OSHA documents. All the OSHA publications and posters your workplace needs to stay in compliance are FREE and easily available at the official OSHA Web site.
003136 - 05/08
Got a Boiler?
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Full Article |
Maintaining a boiler room can be a dangerous and pressure-packed responsibility. Turn down the heat with this informative article that’s chock full of helpful information and includes a convenient maintenance checklist.
003137– 5/08
Do You Know What To Do When a Tornado Strikes?
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Full Article |
While you can’t prevent dangerous weather events such as tornados, being prepared for them can prevent injury and save lives. Reading this important information from the Storm Prediction Center can help you and your employees weather even the most dangerous storm.
003138– 5/08
Air Compressor Safety
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Full Article |
If air compressors are a part of your business, you need to read this article. With a handy self-inspection checklist and additional safety tips, you’ll find the guidance you need to deflate safety risks and stay in compliance with OSHA regulations.
003139– 5/08
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
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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
Don't "Slip Up" When It Comes To On-site Safety
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Full Article |
Slips, trips, or falls account for 12 to 15 percent of all Workers' Compensation costs. Don’t let the safety efforts in your workplace slide; use the advice in this helpful and thorough article to help ensure that it’s your accident numbers, not your employees, that are falling.
002998 – 02/08
New Lockout-Tagout Training a Win-Win for Employers and Employees
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Full Article |
Your employees can never be too safe or too smart when it comes to Lockout-Tagout practices. That’s why this proven and interactive new training program is so important for new hires and experienced workers alike. Click the link below to learn more about the program, read case studies and how to enroll.
002999 – 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
Working With Wood Presents Extra Hazards
The following information is from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Woodworking facilities are inherently prone to fires and explosions for the following reasons:
- They contain large quantities of fuel in the form of wood and wood products, sawdust, and flammable materials such as paints, oil finishes, adhesives, solvents, and liquid propane for internal combustion engines. Woodworking facilities are especially at risk for fire due to the abundant production of sawdust, which will ignite and burn far more easily than whole pieces of lumber. Sanders, routers, and shapers in particular produce large amounts of fine dust. Very fine wood dust is especially hazardous. It can accumulate on rafters and other building structural components and in unexpected spots all around your facility, far from the point of generation.
- They contain ignition sources, such as potentially faulty electrical wiring, cutting and welding operations, sparking tools, propellant actuated tools, and employee smoking. There is also the potential for static electrical discharges and lightning.
An annual inspection of the lockout/tagout program should be conducted to ensure that it is followed.
Common Hazards
Potential Hazards:
Large quantities of fuel in the form of wood and wood products, sawdust, and flammable materials such as paints, oil finishes, adhesives, solvents, and liquid propane for internal combustion engines.
Possible Solutions:
Preventing the buildup of dust is one of the key means for controlling fire and explosion hazards. The principal engineering control technology for control of dust is exhaust ventilation. The primary work practice control is good housekeeping.
Dust collection is best accomplished at the source-at the point of operation of the equipment, if feasible. For many pieces of equipment, well-designed ducts and vacuum hoods can collect most of the dust generated before it even reaches the operator. Very fine dust that manages to escape point-of-source collection can be captured from above by general exhaust points located along the ceiling. These control technologies are effective for most equipment, excepting machines that commonly produce the very finest dust or large quantities of dust.
Good housekeeping extends to periodic hand cleaning of your entire facility, as some dust will escape from even the best exhaust system and will eventually accumulate on rafters and other out-of-the- way spots. Also, it is extremely important to inspect and clean your exhaust ventilation system on a regular basis to maintain maximum efficiency.
You must also:
- Ensure the proper use and storage of flammable materials, such as paints, finishes, adhesives, and solvents.
- Segregate tasks particularly prone to fire and explosion hazards, such as spray painting, welding, and use of powder-actuated nail guns.
- Train employees to recognize, avoid, and correct potentially hazardous conditions and behaviors. Train employees so that they are acquainted with the special equipment and aspects of building design related to dealing with fires and explosions.
- Control ignition sources. This involves using electrical systems rated for the projected use and protected by appropriate circuit breakers, grounding all equipment prone to accumulating static electrical charges, grounding entire buildings against the possibility of lightning strikes, and controlling and banning smoking in and around the workplace. Consult Subpart S of OSHA's General Industry Standards for more information on electrical design requirements.
- Never permit blow-down of accumulated dust with compressed air. Blowing dust with compressed air will create the very type of dust cloud that presents the greatest explosion hazard.
- Provide continuous local exhaust ventilation on all woodworking machines. The local exhaust systems must have a suitable collector. Dust collection systems must be located outside the building, unless the exceptions described in NFPA standards are met.
- Segregate combustible and flammable materials such as lumber stock and chemical solvents from each other and from ignition sources.
- Ensure that you use equipment with a hazard classification appropriately rated for your work environment.
What Other Fire Protection Measures Should Be Taken?
- Fire-resistant construction and/or fire-resistant materials (particularly fire doors that could be used to contain the spread of a fire).
- Explosion relief devices, such as blow-out panels in walls, floors, and ceilings that protect structural integrity in the event of an explosion.
- Multiple emergency exits that are well marked and easily accessible. These exits should lead people directly away from the areas of greatest likely hazard.
- Emergency alarms and communications systems to promote rapid evacuation and fire fighting response.
- Automatic sprinkler systems designed for a worst-case fire scenario.
- Readily accessible, portable fire extinguishers fully charged with fire retardants appropriate to the types of fires likely to occur in that area.
What Should You Do to Protect Workers in the Event of a Fire?
- Install an alarm system to warn for necessary action or safe escape [1910.165].
- Establish emergency plans and fire prevention plans [1910.38].
- Install battery-operated emergency lighting along the floor to aid in the evacuation of smoke- filled buildings.
- Store fire-retardant blankets, clothing, and masks in areas where workers could conceivably need them to pass through smoke and flames to reach exits.
002955 - 10/07
Too Bright For Me
The following information is from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Optical Radiation: Welding Protection
The intensity of visible light and radiant energy produced by welding operations varies depending on the task, the electrode size, and the arc current. Workers involved in welding, cutting, and brazing operations must use appropriate welding protection depending on specific welding operations. [1926.102(a)(5)]
Only filter lenses with the appropriate shade number will provide protection against optical radiation. Filter lenses must coincide to specific radiant energy exposure. Welding protectors are constructed of heat resistant material such as vulcanized fiber or fiberglass and fitted with a filtered lens to protect workers eyes from burns caused by infrared or other intense radiant energy. These devices protect the eyes and face from flying sparks, metal spatter, and slag chips produced during welding, brazing, soldering, and cutting.
Welding helmets are secondary protectors intended to shield the eyes and face from optical radiation, heat, and impact. Use welding helmets in addition to primary protection such as safety spectacles or goggles to provide adequate protection.
Stationary windows:
Lift-front windows:
Hand held shields:
Welding goggles:
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Headgear:
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002956 - 10/07
On Guard
The following information is from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Crushed hands and arms, severed fingers and limbs, lacerations and abrasions - the list of possible machinery-related injuries is long and horrifying. Many hazards are created by moving machine parts. Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from preventable injuries.
The following standards have been established to ensure the safety of machine operators and other employees in the area:
- Machine Guarding
- Point of Operation Guarding
- Additional Guarding
- Barrels, Containers, and Drums
- Exposure of Blades
- Anchoring Fixed Machinery
- Eye and Face Protection
- Lockout/Tagout
For a printable sample employer self-inspection checklist for safeguards and other hazards, please see Appendix G.
The purpose of machine guarding is to protect the machine operator and other employees in the work area from hazards created by ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips & sparks. Some examples of this are barrier guards, light curtains, two-hand operating devices etc. [1910.212(a)(1)]
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002957 - 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
Store it safely
When material is removed from a pallet where it has been stacked, there are risks to the worker. This guide developed by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) will help you consider the best and safest way to store and unload material on a pallet.
002817 - 8/07
Safety on the loading dock
Every day materials arrive and finished products leave your business - often through a loading dock. Such a high level of activity can present special risks to dock workers. However, there are steps you can take to lessen that risk.
The following information is from the State Office of Risk Management of Texas website.
The biggest reason to put a priority on dock safety is not so much related to the frequency of incidents in the dock areas as it is to the potential severity of injuries that can occur in these types of accidents. Injuries sustained when pedestrians are impacted by a lift truck, falling loads, or tractor-trailer tend to be very serious and even fatal. Prevention of these types of accidents can be achieved through proper equipment, training, and enforcement of safe operating procedures.
When people think of dock safety, one of the first things that come to mind is the wheel chock. This is a wedge-shaped block placed in front of the rear wheel of a trailer to prevent the trailer from moving away from the dock while the trailer is being loaded. OSHA regulations require the use of wheel chocks or other vehicle restraining devices when loading and unloading trucks and trailers. This keeps the trailer from moving away from the dock during the loading process.
It is essential that lighting is bright enough to ensure the safe loading of a product and to help forklift operators see pedestrians. Lights mounted on forklifts aid entry into trailers and ease operations on ramps or in remote areas. Heat strips or climate curtains can help control temperature throughout the building, although pedestrians must use caution when passing through these to avoid forklift traffic.
To prevent slips, trips, and falls from happening, the walkways, stairs, and walking surfaces of ramps and dock plates should be coated with a non-skid paint. Also mark all walkways with yellow lines to control traffic. Be aware of sharp drops or uneven ground such as cargo loading areas and try to eliminate these drop points in docking areas by using mechanical substitutions such as tailgate loaders in trucks or ramps that store flat when not in use. Warning signs should be posted in these areas. Never jump from a dock; be careful not to step backward off docks; keep your mind and your eyes on what you are doing. Ramps and gang planks have hazards similar to loading docks. These should have gradual slopes, be as wide as possible and as dry as possible.
Spills may affect how quickly powered equipment can stop and make walking surfaces very slick for pedestrians. Correct sources of leaks, and clean up any oil and grease spots immediately. Dock workers must also be aware of procedures to contain spills, be trained to recognize chemical hazards, and know what personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear when handling chemicals.
Safety awareness is not enough to reduce dock hazards. You must have systematic inspections and auditing, and you must have safeguards in place. Identify sources and types of injuries by reviewing past mishap reports. Management must take steps to organize product movement, control pedestrian traffic, and secure racking. Enforce compliance to all procedures. Plant safety is directly related to the enforcement of safety procedures. If you don't enforce it, it won't happen.
002818 - 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
Computers Can Be a Pain
Ergonomics/Computers
Covering everything from monitor and chair placement to lighting and preventive exercises, this website courtesy of the Division of Occupation Health and Safety provides the computer user the ergonomic information to prevent computer workplace stress and strain.
002655 - 4/07
Check it out
Warehouse Safety
Your warehouse area can present a variety of hazards that you may not have considered. This checklist will help you identify the risks that need to be addressed.
002662 - 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
Eyes Wide Open
Forklift Safety
Note: Your American Family Loss Control Representative, contacted through your American Family Agent, can help you set up or obtain forklift safety training for your employees.
Forklift Operator and Pedestrian Safety
Forklifts, if not operated properly, can cause serious injury and property damage. To avoid these problems, it is best to set up a safety effort that involves all forklift operators, as well as all employees who are pedestrians in the forklift operating area. To keep a workplace safe, the following guidelines are recommended for forklift use:
Hire Only the Best Drivers
- Require a candidate's forklift driving experience to be listed on the job application.
- Check all driving references.
- Require a candidate to perform a hands-on forklift inspection and conduct an operation evaluation.
- Ensure that the candidate possesses all the necessary visual, auditory, physical and mental abilities to operate a forklift.
Train Forklift Operators
Ensure forklift operators receive periodic training on safe forklift inspection and operation techniques. Training topics could include hands-on demonstration and evaluation of the following forklift tasks:
- Forklift safety inspection.
- Locating controls and instrumentation and their tasks.
- Changing or charging fuel or power source.
- Carrying load up or down an incline.
- Safety operating rules or techniques.
- Tiering of palleted loads.
- Loading or unloading flatbeds and trailers.
- Stacking or unstacking racks.
- Steering and maneuvering.
- Operating the truck on different surface conditions.
- Understanding the composition of loads carried, including vehicle capacity and load stability.
- Operating in pedestrian traffic.
- Being aware of other hazardous conditions unique to the workplace.
Inspect Your Forklifts
- Daily inspections can detect many problems before they cause serious accidents.
- Ask your forklift manufacturer to provide suggestions, schedules and inspection forms to assist in setting up a maintenance program for your particular type of forklift.
- Consider installing seat belts, operating beacon caution lights and backup alarms to enhance safe forklift operation.
Pedestrian Safety Guidelines
Workers who are not forklift drivers also have a responsibility for safe forklift operation. Specifically, they can take the following actions to make forklift operation safer:
- Whenever a forklift approaches, stop and make sure the operator sees you. If need be, step out of the aisle and let the forklift pass.
- Look both ways before stepping into an aisle, around a corner or through a side door. Be sensitive to blind spots in the work area.
- Organize the work place to keep aisles and adjacent areas clear of employees and other obstructions.
- Do not allow yourself to be lifted on a pallet or fork blades.
- Do not walk or work beneath an unsupported lifted load.
- Report any unsafe behavior of operators or pedestrians that you observe.
Forklift Operator Hazards
- Moving too fast.
- Not looking when backing up.
- Carrying a view-blocking load.
- Falling objects caused by poor load stacking or lifting.
- Pedestrians standing or being lifted on pallets or fork blades.
- Not giving pedestrians right of way.
Pedestrian Hazards
- Standing or walking in blind spots, such as around corners and doorways.
- Walking or working in aisles as forklift approaches.
- Standing or being lifted on a pallet or fork blades.
Forklift Operating Area Hazards
- Materials stacked in or near aisles.
- Rough or uneven floor surface.
- Oil, water or other slippery substances on the floor.
- Poor lighting in forklift operating areas.
- Forklifts in poor condition or in need of repair.
002526- 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
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
1 NHTSA [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
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
Will Your Automatic Sprinkler System Work When You Need It Most
Automatic Sprinkler Systems
Automatic sprinkler systems are the most effective means of providing life safety and limiting property loss during fires. The key to ensuring that your sprinkler system will work when needed is to include the system in an ongoing program of inspection, testing and maintenance performed by a qualified employee or sprinkler contractor.
Use this chart from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Regulation 25 as a reference guide on wet pipe and regular dry pipe systems and as a checklist to determine the status of your system.
002319 - 10/06
Store it Safely
Store Flammable Liquids Safely
Storage, handling and use of flammable and combustible liquids requires special attention. These liquids don't burn or explode by themselves; however, heavier-than-air vapors from liquid evaporation tend to settle on the floor. These vapors can flow along the floor for long distances, ignite at some remote point and flash back. This is one reason why specially designed storage cabinets and rooms must be used for flammable liquids, such as paints, solvents and thinners.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code 30, up to 15 gallons of flammable liquids must be stored in safety cans. Amounts from 15 to 60 gallons must be stored in a standard flammable liquid storage cabinet meeting the specifications of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code 30.
Flammable liquid storage cabinets, which can be found in any safety equipment/supply store, must adhere to the following guidelines:
- Do not store more than 60 gallons of flammable liquid per small containers in a flammable liquid storage cabinet.
- Cabinets must be Underwriter Laboratory (UL) approved.
- The cabinet top, doors and sides must be made of 18 U.S. gauge sheet steel and double walled with tight joints.
- The door must have a three point latch with a sill raised to at least 2 inches above the bottom of the cabinet to retain spilled liquids.
Also according to the NFPA Code 30, flammable liquids with flash points lower than 73 degrees F and in quantities greater than 60 gallons must be stored in a specially designed storage room. This room is designed to protect flammable liquids from fire exposures in other portions of the building and to contain fires that originate within the room.
Flammable liquid storage rooms must have the following features:
- Ideally, the room must be detached from the main building. The next best option is an attached room separated by a blank wall.
- The room must be ventilated for removal of vapors. Ventilation must be either a gravity or mechanical exhaust ventilation system. The ventilation must be continuous, 24 hours a day, and a complete air change within the room must occur at least six times per hour. A gravity system has openings present at the top and bottom of the room which allow air to circulate in from the top and out at the bottom.
- Explosion-proof wiring is required. Class I, Division 2 wiring is required for rooms that store sealed containers. If dispensing or mixing takes place, the wiring must be Class I, Division 1.
- Ceilings, floors and walls must have a fire resistance rating of two hours. The door must be Class B, self-closing, and be fire rated for 1 ½ hours.
- Floors and wall edges that join the floor must be liquid tight.
- Raised sills of at least 4 inches in height must be present to prevent liquid from flowing to adjoining areas. A permissible alternative is an open-grated trench, which drains to a safe location, across the width of the opening inside of the room.
002287 - 7/06
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
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:
- Air-purifying respirators, which remove contaminants from the air.
- 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
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:
- Make sure any employee who purchases supplies for your company is on the lookout for MSDSs.
- 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.
- 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
- Chemical name, as it appears on the label.
- Manufacturer's name and address.
- Emergency telephone number in the event of an emergency involving the substance.
- Date prepared and the signature of the preparer.
Hazardous Ingredients/Identity Information
- Hazardous Components: Contains the specific chemical identity, its formula, and any common names it is known by.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Boiling point: The temperature at which a liquid boils.
- Vapor Pressure (mm Hg): Vapor pressure measures a liquid's tendency to evaporate. The higher the vapor pressure, the faster it will evaporate.
- 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.
- Solubility in Water: Indicates whether the chemical can mix with water in any ratio without separating.
- Appearance and Odor: A brief description of the chemical's color and smell.
- 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.
- Melting Point: Indicates the temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid.
- Evaporation Rate: Indicates the temperature at which a substance evaporates.
Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
- 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).
- 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.
- 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 |
- 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.
- 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
- 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."
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Route(s) of Entry: A chemical may enter the body either through inhalation, by contact with the skin or eyes, or by being swallowed.
- Health Hazards: Indicates any long-term (chronic) or short-term (acute) effects of a chemical on the human body.
- 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.
- 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).
- Medical Conditions Severely Aggravated by Exposure: Indicates how the chemical will affect any pre-existing medical conditions.
- 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
- 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.
- Waste Disposal Methods: Indicates how to dispose of the chemical and contaminated materials.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Eye Protection: Indicates appropriate eye protection such as face shields, safety goggles or glasses.
- 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
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
That's Hot
The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.
Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are used to reduce heat and friction and to improve product quality in industrial machining and grinding operations. There are numerous formulations, ranging from straight oils (such as petroleum oils) to water-based fluids, which include soluble oils and semi-synthetic/synthetic fluids. MWFs may be complex mixtures of oils, emulsifiers, anti-weld agents, corrosion inhibitors, extreme pressure additives, buffers (alkaline reserve), biocides, and other additives. In use, the fluid complexity is compounded by contamination with substances from the manufacturing process (such as tramp oils, hydraulic fluids, and particulate matter from grinding and machining operations). Furthermore, water-based metalworking fluids support microbial growth, which introduces biological contaminants (such as bacterial and fungal cells or cell components and their related biological byproducts such as endotoxins, exotoxins, and mycotoxins).
Some 1.2 million workers in machine finishing, machine tooling, and other metalworking and metal-forming operations are potentially exposed. Workers can be exposed to the fluids by breathing aerosols generated in the machining process, or through skin contact when they handle parts, tools, and equipment covered with the fluids. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines MWF aerosol as the mist and all contaminants in the mist generated during grinding and machining operations involving products from metal and metal substitutes.
Occupational exposures to metalworking fluids may cause a variety of health effects. Respiratory conditions include hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), chronic bronchitis, impaired lung function, and asthma. Work-related asthma (WRA) is one of today's most prevalent occupational disorders, imposing significant costs in healthcare and workers' compensation. Dermatologic exposures are most commonly associated with, but not limited to, allergic and irritant dermatitis (skin rash). In addition, substantial evidence shows that past exposures to some metalworking fluids were associated with increased risk of some types of cancer. Although actions taken in the last several decades have reduced that risk, it is not known if these actions have totally eliminated the risk.
NIOSH recommends that exposures to MWF aerosols be limited to 0.4 milligrams per cubic meter of air (thoracic particulate mass), as a time-weighted average concentration up to 10 hours per day during a 40-hour workweek [ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/98-102.html ]. The recommended exposure limit (REL) is intended to prevent or greatly reduce respiratory disorders associated with MWF exposure. Some workers have developed WRA, HP, or other adverse respiratory effects when exposed to MWFs at lower concentrations. This REL is technologically feasible for most metalworking operations.
Several preventive measures are available to reduce MWF exposures and their effects. Formulations have been developed with safer, less irritating additives and MWF components. Machinery has been modified to limit the dispersal of MWF mists. In addition, the use of protective gloves, aprons, and clothing, the education of workers regarding the safe handling of MWFs, and the importance of workplace personal hygiene are all key to controlling the exposures to MWFs.
002171– 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
- 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.
- 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 improved structures. You can also take the following measures to avoid flood damage in an "A" zone:
- Use water-resistant building materials in areas below the base flood elevation.
- Leave the basement or lower floors unfinished if they're below base flood elevation.
- Prevent sewer lines from backing up by installing backflow valves or standpipes.
- Raise your washer and dryer and other equipment such as the water heater, oil tanks, furnace and electrical wiring on concrete blocks, above the base flood elevation level. If you are unable to raise a particular item, consider anchoring it and protecting it with a floodwall or shield.
- Install flood shields or built-up barriers for basement windows and doors. The tops of shields and barriers should extend above the base flood elevation.
- Install and maintain a sump pump system if you have below-grade floors.
- Landscape with native plants and vegetation that resist soil erosion.
If You Live in a "V" Zone
Properties in "V" zones are threatened not only by rising water, but by wave action as well. The answer in this case: relocate your property. If relocating isn't an option, however, elevate your house on piles or piers. Here, too, you must use design standards that meet the minimum requirements of your community's local floodplain management building ordinance for new construction and substantially improved structures. Be sure to have an architect or engineer evaluate your elevation plans.
When A Flood Threatens
You can improve the odds of your property surviving a flood by taking these precautions, but you won't make it flood-proof. Nor do these measures guarantee your safety. Take these additional steps to protect yourself and your family as fully as possible:
- Become familiar with your community's disaster preparedness plans and create a family plan. Identify escape routes from your property and neighborhood and designate an emergency meeting place for your family to reunite if you become separated. Also establish a contact point to communicate with concerned relatives.
- Put together an emergency kit that includes a three-day supply of drinking water and food you don't have to refrigerate or cook; first aid supplies; a portable NOAA weather radio; a wrench and other basic tools; a flashlight; work gloves; emergency cooking equipment; portable lanterns; fresh batteries for each piece of equipment; clothing; blankets; baby items; prescription medications; extra car and house keys; extra eyeglasses; credit cards and cash; important documents, including insurance policies.
- If flooding threatens, follow weather and news reports so you know how much danger you're facing. Obey evacuation orders from local authorities.
For more information about protecting your property and family from floods, check this source:
National Flood Insurance Program
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Insurance Administration
500 C Street, S.W.
Washington , D.C. 20472
1-800-427-4661
www.floodsmart.gov
Remember, property owners insurance policies do not cover damage caused by floods. The federal government created the National Flood Insurance Program to provide this coverage to property owners. Twenty-five to thirty percent of all flood claims are paid for properties outside of special flood hazard areas, so if your community participates in this federal program, you should purchase flood coverage either directly from the NFIP or from a participating insurer. Contact your insurance agent or company.
002168– 04/06
Start Off 2006 with a Plan
American Family has partnered with the Institute for Home and Business Safety to provide you with access to “Open for Business,” a Web-based disaster recovery plan. This comprehensive, yet easy to use system will design an individual program that is secure and can be updated at any time – all at no cost to you.
001980– 01/06
Let's Get Out of Here!
The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.
Emergency Exit Routes
How would you escape from your workplace in an emergency? Do you know where all the exits are in case your first choice is too crowded? Are you sure the doors will be unlocked and that the exit access behind them will not be blocked during a fire, explosion, or other crisis? Knowing the answers to these questions could keep you safe during an emergency.
Workplace Exit Routes
Usually, a workplace must have at least two exit routes for prompt evacuation. But more than two exits are required if the number of employees, size of the building, or arrangement of the workplace will not allow a safe evacuation. Exit routes must be located as far away as practical from each other in case one is blocked by fire or smoke.
Requirements for Exits
- Exit areas must be separated from the workplace by fire-resistant materials––that is, a one-hour fire-resistance rating if the exit connects three or fewer stories, and a two-hour fire-resistance rating if the exit connects more than three floors.
- Exit areas can have only those openings necessary to allow access to the exit from occupied areas of the workplace or to the exit discharge. Openings must be protected by a self-closing, approved fire door that remains closed or automatically closes in an emergency.
- Always keep the line-of-sight to exit signs clearly visible.
- Install lighted “EXIT” signs using plainly legible letters.
Safety Features for Exit Routes
- Keep exit routes free of explosive or highly flammable furnishings and other decorations.
- Arrange exit routes so employees will not have to travel toward a high-hazard area unless the path of travel is effectively shielded from the high-hazard area.
- Ensure that exit routes are free and unobstructed by materials, equipment, locked doors, or dead-end corridors.
- Provide lighting for exit routes adequate for employees with normal vision.
- Keep exit route doors free of decorations or signs that obscure their visibility of exit route doors.
- Post signs along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge if that direction is not immediately apparent.
- Mark doors or passages along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit with a “Not an Exit” sign or with a sign identifying its use (such as “Closet”).
- Renew fire-retardant paints or solutions when needed.
- Maintain exit routes during construction, repairs, or alterations.
Design and Construction Requirements
- Exit routes must be permanent parts of the workplace.
- Exits must lead directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside.
- Exit discharge areas must be large enough to accommodate people likely to use the exit route.
- Exit route doors must unlock from the inside. They must be free of devices or alarms that could restrict use of the exit route if the device or alarm fails.
- Exit routes can be connected to rooms only by side hinged doors, which must swing out in the direction of travel if the room may be occupied by more than 50 people.
- Exit routes must support the maximum permitted occupant load for each floor served, and the capacity of an exit route must not decrease in the direction of exit route travel to the exit discharge.
- Exit routes must have ceilings at least 7 ft., 6 in. high.
- An exit access must be at least 28 inches wide at all points. Objects that project into the exit must not reduce its width to less than 28 inches.
001979– 01/06
Lift it Safely
The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.
- Make sure your powered industrial trucks (forklifts) meet the design and construction requirements established in American National Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II ANSI B56.1-1969.
- Obtain written approval from the truck manufacturer for any modifications or additions that affect the capacity and safe operation of the vehicle.
- Change capacity, operation and maintenance instruction plates, tags or decals to specify any modifications or additions to the vehicle.
- Keep nameplates and markings in place and maintained in a legible condition.
- Make sure forklifts that are used in hazardous locations are appropriately marked/approved for such use.
- Conduct battery charging only in designated areas.
- Provide appropriate facilities for flushing and neutralizing spilled electrolytes, for fire extinguishing, for protecting charging apparatus from damage by trucks and for adequate ventilation to disperse fumes from gassing batteries.
- Provide conveyors, overhead hoists or equivalent materials handling equipment for handling batteries.
- Properly position and secure reinstalled batteries.
- Use carboy tilters or siphons for handling electrolytes.
- Make sure forklifts are properly positioned and brakes applied before workers start to change or charge batteries.
- Make sure vent caps are properly functioning.
- Take precautions to prevent smoking, open flames, sparks or electric arcs in battery charging areas and during storage/changing of propane fuel tanks.
- Keep tools and other metallic objects away from the top of uncovered batteries.
- Keep concentrations of noxious gases and fumes below acceptable levels.
- Make sure forklift operators are competent to operate a vehicle safely as demonstrated by successful completion of training and evaluation conducted and certified by persons with the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and evaluate their performance.
- Any training program content should include all truck-related topics, workplace related topics and the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.178 for safe truck operation.
- Conduct refresher training and evaluation whenever an operator has been observed operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner or has been involved in an accident or a near-miss incident.
- Conduct refresher training and evaluation whenever an operator is assigned to drive a different type of truck or whenever a condition in the workplace changes in a manner that could affect safe operation of the truck.
- Conduct evaluations of each operator's performance at least once every three years.
- Make sure forklift load engaging means are fully lowered, with controls neutralized, power shut off and brakes set when a forklift is left unattended.
- Make sure operators maintain a safe distance from the edge of ramps or platforms while using forklifts on any elevated dock, platform or freight car.
- Have in place sufficient headroom for the forklift and operator under overhead installations, lights, pipes, sprinkler systems, etc.
- Provide overhead guards in good condition to protect forklift operators from falling objects.
- Make sure operators observe all traffic regulations, including authorized plant speed limits.
- Require drivers to look in the direction of and keep a clear view of the path of travel.
- Require operators to run their trucks at a speed that will permit the vehicle to stop in a safe manner.
- Make sure dock boards (bridge plates) are properly secured when loading or unloading from dock to truck.
- Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay.
- Make sure all loads are stable, safely arranged and fit within the rated capacity of the truck.
- Operators should fill fuel tanks only when the engine is not running.
- Use only replacement parts for trucks that are equivalent in terms of safety with those used in the original design.
- Examine trucks for safety before placing into service and remove unsafe or defective trucks from service.
001984– 01/06
Product Recalls
Does your business own any tools, appliances, machinery or a fire extinguisher? If so, that product may have been recalled. Find out if you are affected.
001981– 01/06
Is Your Place of Business Loud?
Noise, or unwanted sound, is one of the most common health problems in American workplaces. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that 30 million workers in the U.S. are exposed to hazardous noise. Exposure to high levels of noise may cause hearing loss, create physical and psychological stress, reduce productivity, interfere with communication, and contribute to accidents and injuries by making it difficult to hear warning signals.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to determine if workers are exposed to excessive noise in the workplace. If so, the employers must implement feasible engineering or administrative controls to eliminate or reduce hazardous levels of noise. Where controls are not sufficient, employers must implement an effective hearing conservation program.
The first step toward solving any noise problem is to define it. To understand what requirements must be implemented according to OSHA, it is necessary to determine exposure levels.
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). The following describes how noise affects conversation:
- When noise levels are above 80 decibels people have to speak very loudly.
- When noise levels are between 85 and 90 dB, people have to shout.
- When noise levels are greater than 95 dB, people have to move close together to hear each other at all.
A noise survey should be performed to screen for noise exposures and to determine if additional monitoring is necessary. The employer must administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposures are at or above an eight hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA. This is referred to as the “action level.”
A hearing conservation program should include the following:
- Monitoring Program – The employer must develop and implement a monitoring program whenever information indicates that any employee’s exposure may equal or exceed the action level.
- Audiometric Testing Program -Audiometric testing monitors the sharpness and acuity of an employee's hearing over time, and also provides an opportunity for employers to educate employees about their hearing and the need to protect it. Employers must establish and maintain an audiometric testing program for all employees exposed at or above the action level of 85 dBA-TWA. The program must be provided at no cost to employees.
- Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs)- Employers must make HPDs available to all employees exposed at or above the action level. These must be provided at no cost to employees and must be replaced as necessary. Employers must ensure that HPDs are worn by employees when needed. Employees must be given the opportunity to select their HPDs from a suitable variety. The following are examples of different types of HPDs:
- Expandable foam plugs – Made of a formable material designed to expand and conform to the shape of each person’s ear canal. These plugs are rolled into an expandable crease-free cylinder. The final result should be a smooth tube thin enough so that about half the length of it will fit easily into the ear canal.
- Pre-molded, reusable plugs- Pre-molded plugs are made from silicone, plastic or rubber and are manufactured as either “one-size fits most” or are available in several sizes. A critical tip about pre-molded plugs is that a person may need a different size plug for each ear. Advantages of pre-molded plugs are that they are relatively inexpensive, reusable, washable, and convenient to carry and come in a variety of sizes.
- Canal caps-Canal caps often resemble earplugs on a flexible plastic or metal band. The earplug tips of a canal cap may be a formable or pre-molded material. Some have headbands that can be worn over the head, behind the neck or under the chin. The main advantage canal caps offer is convenience. When it’s quiet, employees can leave the band hanging around their necks. They can quickly insert the plug tips when hazardous noise starts again. Not all canal caps have tips that adequately block all types of noise. Generally, the canal caps tips that resemble stand-alone earplugs seem to block the most noise.
- Earmuffs – Earmuffs come in many models designed to fit most people. They work to block out noise by completely covering the outer ear. Muffs can be “low profile” with small ear cups or large to hold extra materials for use in extreme noise. Some muffs also include electronic components to help users communicate or to block impulsive noises. Workers who have heavy beards or sideburns or who wear glasses may find it difficult to get good protection from earmuffs. The hair and the temples of the glasses break the seal that the earmuff cushions make around the ear. For these workers, earplugs are best.
The best hearing protector is the one that adequately blocks out the noise, is comfortable, convenient, and that will be worn each time the worker is in an environment with hazardous noise.
- Employee Training and Education – The employer must institute a training program for all employees with noise exposures at or above the action level and ensure employee participation. Training must be repeated annually for each employee in the hearing conservation program and be updated to be consistent with changes in protective equipment and work processes.
- Recordkeeping-The purpose of the OSHA recordkeeping regulations is to assist employers in recognizing and correcting hazards by tracking work-related injuries/illnesses and their causes.
For more detailed information go to www.OSHA.gov
001848 – 10/05
Keep Everyone Safe with Lockout/Tagout
“Lockout/tagout” refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. This requires, in part, that a designated individual turns off and disconnects the machinery or equipment from its energy source(s) before performing service or maintenance and that the authorized employee(s) either lock or tag the energy-isolating device(s) to prevent the release of hazardous energy and take steps to verify that the energy has been isolated effectively.
The federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.147, addresses the practices and procedures necessary to disable machinery or equipment, thereby preventing the release of hazardous energy while employees perform servicing and maintenance activities. The standard outlines measures for controlling hazardous energies, as well as electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and other energy sources. In addition, 29 CFR 1910.333 sets forth requirements to protect employees working on electric circuits and equipment. This section requires workers to use safe work practices, including lockout and tagging procedures. These provisions apply when employees are exposed to electrical hazards while working on, near, or with conductors or systems that use electric energy. OSHA estimates that compliance with the lockout/tagout standard prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries on the job annually. Workers injured on the job from exposure to hazardous energy lose an average of 24 workdays for recuperation.
What must employers do to protect employees? Employers must follow the OSHA standard listed above. Some of the most critical requirements from this standard are:
- Develop, implement, and enforce an energy control program.
- Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked out. Tagout devices may be used in lieu of lockout devices only if the tagout program provides employee protection equivalent to that provided through a lockout program.
- Ensure that new or overhauled equipment is capable of being locked out.
- Develop, implement, and enforce an effective tagout program if machines or equipment are not capable of being locked out.
- Develop, document, implement and enforce energy control procedures. (See note to 29 CFR 1910.147C(4)(i) for an exception to the documentation requirements).
- Use only lockout/tagout devices authorized for the particular equipment or machinery and ensure that they are durable, standardized, and substantial.
- Ensure that lockout/tagout devices identify the individual users.
- Establish a policy that permits only the employee who applied a lockout/tagout device to remove it. (See 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3) for exception.)
- Inspect energy control procedures at least annually.
- Provide effective training as mandated for all employees covered by the standard.
- Comply with the additional energy control provisions in OSHA standards when machines or equipment must be tested or repositioned, when outside contractors work at the site, in group lockout situations, and during shift or personnel changes.
For more information contact www.OSHA.gov.
001852 – 10/05
Don't Be a Victim
Unfortunately, violence in the workplace occurs more often than you would think. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports, according to information published by the Bureau of Justice, that an average of 1.7 million people were victims of violent crime while working or on duty in the U.S. each year from 1993-1999. A research project conducted by the Workplace Violence Research Institute showed that workplace violence results in $36 billion in annual losses to organizations. The most common type of workplace violent crime is simple assault with an average of 1.5 million incidents per year.
Workplace violence can occur from many sources both internal and external. Some possible sources include employees, former employees, customers, visitors, contractors or domestic situations. Hostile customers or employees usually display warning signs that indicate they are moving toward violence. The following is a list of signs and characteristics that a potentially violent person may display or have. Although it is important to not make a hasty judgment about someone, keep in mind that a potentially violent person may not exhibit or have all of the following signs and characteristics.
- Direct or veiled verbal threats of harm
- History of intimidation of others
- Carrying or concealing a weapon at work
- A history of violent behavior
- Obsession with weapons, often exotic weapons
- Expression of extreme desperation over recent family, financial or other personal problems
- Numerous conflicts with manager and other employees
- Drug/alcohol abuse or extreme changes in behavior
- Inability to accept criticism
- Agitation displayed in the form of resistive tension, clenching of fists, a boxer stance, or yelling/screaming and waving their hands in the air
- Homicidal or suicidal comments or threats
It is important to recognize the first line of defense against workplace violence is security awareness. Companies should have a work place violence prevention plan in place. This plan should detail the company’s policies related to violence as well as describe an action plan for how they will deal with a violent incident. In addition to having a plan, the following engineering controls are steps that companies can take to help prevent violence.
- Limit access to the facility by keeping doors locked. Institute a key card entry system for employees.
- Require all visitors to register so that security knows who belongs in the facility and who doesn’t.
- Install panic alarms for those who work directly with the public.
- Provide adequate lighting around the building and parking areas.
- Have emergency phones available throughout the facility to call security personnel or 911.
Employees should be trained on how to respond if a violent incident occurs. This training should include:
- Who to call for help
- Emergency escape routes
- Safe places to escape for both inside and outside the facility
- Identifying that all employees are accounted for
You can be a victim of workplace violence when working outside of the office also. The following are some safety tips for employees working in the field:
- Plan your routes carefully and know where you are going in advance.
- Travel with a partner if possible, especially when traveling to an unfamiliar or known high crime area. Avoid these areas after dark.
- Notify someone of your travel schedule, where you are going and when you are scheduled to return.
- Carry a cell phone.
- Consider using a call in/check in system.
- Avoid alleys, doorways and blind spots.
- Avoid using stairwells. They are often a good place for an assailant to hide and may not transmit sound well.
- Never let anyone assaulting you take you to a secondary location! Your chances are probably better to try to break away and run when you have the opportunity.
- If faced with an assault and the assailant is after your property, let them take what they are after. Don’t fight for material possessions.
- When you park, turn your car around so that it is headed in the direction you will be leaving. Never park where you are trapped.
For additional information go to http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/
001849 – 10/05
Play it Safe with Your Holiday Party
When it comes to events that involve alcohol, there is one important thing to remember. Hosts can sometimes be held liable for the actions of their intoxicated guests. Such liability may include damages for property loss, as well as for personal injuries to third parties. Since legal standards vary greatly from state to state, be sure to check with your attorney.
An organization can be held liable for damages resulting from having served alcohol under two principal codes, the first being statutory liability under state liquor liability laws and the second being common law liability under the theory of social host liability. The former, often referred to as dram shop acts, prohibit the sale or delivery of alcohol to any visibly intoxicated person or to minors. Although dram shop acts have traditionally applied only to commercial servers of alcohol (bars and liquor stores), courts sometimes interpret them to apply to anyone who sells alcohol.
Depending on the circumstances, courts sometimes also impose liability on social hosts. So, when planning that big party or any function where liquor will be served, act prudently. The following suggestions could help minimize potential liability:
- Eliminate open bars, punch bowls and beer kegs. The days of help-yourself bars are long over. Without supervision, there is a greater chance that some guests may drink too much, substantially increasing the likelihood they will injure others. Don't sponsor or host any event at which unsupervised drinking takes place, including informal gatherings in hospitality suites.
- Don't let alcohol be the sole focus of an event. Make sure there are sufficient amounts of food and nonalcoholic beverages available. This will reduce the possibility that people could leave the event inebriated.
- Serve alcohol for a reasonable time. Alcohol should not be served for too long or too short a period of time. Allow guests to pace themselves by serving alcohol at reasonable intervals, and don't make a "last call" announcement. Consider using a system that provides some control over consumption. For example, even when drinks are free, give guests a limited number of drink tickets.
- Hire a trained bartender. Never allow the organization's employees or members to serve drinks. If you hire a professional bartender, the bartender or his or her employer may insulate you from potential liability. Professionals are trained to recognize when to stop serving someone and they are also often covered by insurance.
- Arrange designated drivers. Make arrangements with a service to provide transportation for guests who may have had too much to drink. Tell attendees about the service before the party.
- Get insurance. You can't eliminate all potential liquor liability. It's prudent to obtain the appropriate insurance coverage. In addition, if the event is hosted at a hotel, convention center or other facility, it helps to have the facility name the host organization as an additional insured.
It really just comes down to common sense. A preliminary dose of prudence can protect your business and avoid later liability hangovers.
001850 – 10/05
Making Your Workplace Safer for Teen Workers
The following information is from the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web site.
Adolescent workers are protected by two laws enforced by the Department of Labor (DOL):
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Each state also has child labor laws. Employers must comply with both federal and state laws. When federal and state standards are different, the rules that provide the most protection to youth workers will apply.
- The FLSA and state laws provide child labor provisions that were designed to protect minors in non-agricultural and agricultural employment by restricting the types of jobs and the number of hours they may work.
- Non-agricultural youth workers: hours permitted and jobs permitted.
- Employers must post the FLSA Required Minimum Wage Poster.
The OSH Act requires that employers provide a safe and healthful work environment and comply with occupational safety and health standards. This includes following OSHA Standards such as:
- Employers must assess the hazards in their workplace, select the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for their employees, (such as gloves, aprons and foot protection) and have their employees use the PPE [1910.132(a)] and [1910.132(d)].
- Employers must make any employees exposed to hazardous materials aware of the hazards and train them to protect themselves from these hazards [1910.1200 Hazard Communication Standard].
- Employers must display a poster prepared by the DOL or your state labor department informing employees of the protections of the Occupational Safety and Health Act P.L. 91-596, December 29, 1970 and its amendments.
Consider implementing the following:
- A review of the worksite to eliminate identified hazards and ensure jobs are as safe as possible.
- Provide training to ensure that adolescents recognize hazards and are competent in safe work practices. Training should include how to prepare for fires, accidents, violent situations, and what to do if they get injured. Teens need to know that if they get injured, they have the right to file a claim to cover their medical benefits and some of their lost work time.
- Provide appropriate supervisors for teens that recognize hazards and are competent in safe work practices.
- Stress safety, particularly among first-line supervisors; they have the greatest opportunity to influence teens and their work habits.
- Implement a mentoring or buddy system for new youth workers. Have either an adult or experienced teen be a buddy to answer questions to help the inexperienced worker learn the ropes of a new job.
- Encourage teens to ask questions about tasks or procedures that are unclear or not understood.
- Remember that teens are not just "little adults." Employers must be mindful of the unique aspects of communicating with teens.
- Ensure that equipment operated by teens is both legal and safe for them to use. Employers should label equipment young workers are not allowed to operate. The YouthRules! website has available downloadable stickers for employers to place on hazardous equipment to alert all workers that no one under 18 years of age may operate the equipment. There is also a sticker designed specifically for forklifts developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
- Develop a drug-free workplace program. Abuse of alcohol and other drugs by workers of any age creates significant but avoidable workplace hazards.
- Develop a safety and health program in your facility to help prevent workplace injuries.
DOL Youth Worker FLSA Information: Child Labor Fact Sheets
- Fact Sheet #2 Restaurants and Fast Food Establishments under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- Fact Sheet #32 Youth Minimum Wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Fact Sheet #34 Important Changes in the Child Labor Laws Affecting the Driving of Automobiles and Trucks Under Hazardous Occupations Order No. 2.
- Fact Sheet #41 Fast Food, Full Service Restaurant and Supermarket Industries Child Labor Compliance Survey.
001761 - 6/05
Safety: The Profit Center for your Business
Have you ever thought of your loss control program as helping your company make a profit?
If not, consider this: According to OSHA, 6,000 employees in this country die from workplace injuries while another 50,000 die from illnesses caused by exposure to workplace hazards. Also, 6 million workers suffer non-fatal workplace injures costing an estimated $125 billion annually. It is estimated that when a business experiences a loss, for every dollar paid for by insurance, the business can lose another $4 to $8 in uninsured or indirect costs.
That's why an effective loss control program, performed on a regular basis, is critical. An effective loss control program can assist in preventing the unforeseen before it happens. Beyond the benefits of employee and customer safety, the importance of loss control is obvious considering that this money could instead be profit, employee wages or benefits, funding for new equipment or more.
For more information on how to set up a safety program, free of charge, visit our Loss Control section.
001759 – 6/05
Are Your Machines Appropriately Guarded?
According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), workers who operate and maintain machinery suffer approximately 18,000 amputations, lacerations, crushing injuries, abrasions and over 800 deaths per year. Any machine part, function or process that may cause injury should be appropriately guarded. According to OSHA there are three basic areas of machines that require safeguarding:
- The point of operation - That point where work is performed on the material, such as cutting, shaping, boring or forming of stock.
- Power transmission apparatus - all components of the mechanical system which transmit energy to the part of the machine performing the work. These components include flywheels, pulleys, belts, connecting rods, couplings, cams, spindles, chains, cranks and gears.
- Other moving parts - All parts of the machine which move while the machine is working. These can include reciprocating, rotating and transverse moving parts, as well as feed mechanisms and auxiliary parts of the machine.
There are also four types of guards:
- Fixed
- Interlocked
- Adjustable
- Self-adjusting
Each type of guard has its advantages and limitations. To help you choose which guard is right for your machinery, go to http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/ or http://www.osha.gov/Publications/Mach_SafeGuard/chapt1.html.
001749 – 6/05
The Right Personal Protective Equipment
Safety spectacles, goggles, face shields -- Do you know the right personal protective equipment (PPE) for the face to use for the job? Each year many workers suffer blindness or other severe eye injuries as a result of not using or the improper use of PPE. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to determine if hazards are present in the workplace that require the use of PPE. If such hazards are present, you must:
- Determine which PPE is appropriate for the task.
- Require your employees to use it.
- Communicate your PPE decisions to your employees.
- Select PPE that properly fits your workers.
Some common examples of PPE protection include:
- Eye protection. Prevents particles, such as metal shavings from a grinding wheel, from flying into the operator's face and eyes. Also offers protection from a chemical splash.
- Hearing protection. Anytime a worker is exposed to a noise level of 85 decibels or above, protective measures such as foam ear plugs should be taken.
- Respiratory protection. To keep particulates or vapors out of the lungs, this protection can range from dust masks to self-contained breathing apparatus.
- Head protection. Hard hats should be worn whenever there is an overhead hazard.
Workers who are required to use PPE must be trained on the following:
- Use PPE properly.
- Be aware of when PPE is necessary.
- Know what kind of PPE is necessary.
- Understand the limitations of PPE in protecting employees from injury.
- Put on, adjust, wear and remove PPE.
- Maintain PPE properly.
For more information on determining what PPE is right for the task go to Eye and Face Protection eTool.
001750 – 6/05
Want More?
We have additional customized safety information for your business.
These recommendations were developed using generally accepted safety standards. Compliance with these recommendations is not a guarantee that you will be in conformance with any building code, federal, state or local regulation regarding safety or fire. Compliance with these recommendations does not ensure the absolute safety of your occupation or place of business. It is the property owner's duty to warn any tenants or occupants of the property of any safety hazards that may exist.
American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries
Home Office – Madison , WI 53783
www.amfam.com
