Category: Safety

Electrical Safety – What is an Arc Fault and What Causes It

What is an Arc-fault?

An arc-fault occurs when loose or corroded connections make intermittent contact and causes sparking or arcing between the connections. This translates into heat, which will break down the insulation of the wire and can be the trigger for an electrical fire.

Unlike a short circuit, that is a hot wire coming into contact with a ground or neutral wire, arcing may not trip the circuit breaker. If you’ve ever heard a switch buzzing, hissing, or popping, you’ll know what I’m talking about. In order to protect your home, an arc-fault circuit interrupter can be used to detect just such a problem.

via Arc Faults – What is an Arc Fault and What Causes It.

Prevention through Design

One of the best ways to prevent and control occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities is to “design out” or minimize hazards and risks early in the design process. NIOSH is leading a national initiative called Prevention through Design (PtD) to promote this concept and highlight its importance in all business decisions.

The concept of PtD can be defined as:

Addressing occupational safety and health needs in the design process to prevent or minimize the work-related hazards and risks associated with the construction, manufacture, use, maintenance, and disposal of facilities, materials, and equipment.

via CDC – Prevention through Design – NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic.

Young Workers – Tips to Stay Safe at Work

Workplace injuries are preventable. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe at work.

  • If you are asked to do a task that you think is unsafe – you have the right to say NO and refuse to do the work.
  • Get some training and learn how to identify hazards, manage risks and do the job safely before you start.
  • Ask your supervisor to watch and check that you are doing the job the right way.
  • Speak up and let supervisors know if you think a task is too dangerous or difficult for you.
  • Ask questions and check with supervisors and co-workers when you aren’t sure or can’t remember how to do a job safely.
  • Learn what to do and where to get help in an emergency.
  • Always follow the safety rules and procedures.
  • Always wear any personal protective equipment provided by your employer.
  • Report all injuries (minor or major), occupational health & safety incidents and near misses.
  • Look out for and report hazards.
  • Keep an eye on your co-workers, especially if they are new to the workplace and don’t know all the occupational health & safety  issues.
  • Try to get a good night’s rest before heading into work. Feeling tired can lead to dangerous mistakes.
  • If you have a safety concern, talk with more experienced workers such as supervisors, co-workers or your family to get some advice.

via Tips to stay safe at work.

Adult Seat Belt Use Saves Lives

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people age 5 – 34. Adult seat belt use is the single most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes. The percentage of adults who always wear seat belts increased from 80% to 85% between 2002 and 2008. Even so, 1 in 7 adults do not wear a seat belt on every trip. Primary enforcement seat belt laws make a big difference in getting more people to buckle up.

In 2010, 19 states–where 1 in 4 adult Americans live–did not have a primary law.

via CDC Vital Signs – Adult Seat Belt Use in the US.

Walking Safely

Safety is a shared responsibility for all road users, including drivers and pedestrians. The following are some tips to improve road safety for pedestrians.

Safety tips for pedestrians

Be safe and be seen: make yourself visible to drivers

  • Wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials.
  • Carry a flashlight when walking at night.
  • Cross in a well-lit area at night.
  • Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.

Be smart and alert: avoid dangerous behaviors

  • Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
  • Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
  • Don,t assume vehicles will stop; make eye contact with drivers, dont just look at the vehicle.
  • If a driver is on a cell phone, they may not be paying enough attention to drive safely.
  • Don,t rely solely on pedestrian signals; look before you cross the road.
  • Be alert to engine noise or backup lights on cars when in parking lots and near on-street parking spaces.

Be careful at crossings: look before you step

  • Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections, if possible.
  • Obey traffic signals such as WALK/DONT WALK signs.
  • Look left, right, and left again before crossing a street.
  • Watch for turning vehicles; make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you.
  • Look across ALL lanes you must cross and visually clear each lane before proceeding. Just because one motorist stops, do not presume drivers in other lanes can see you and will stop for you.
  • Dont wear headphones or talk on a cell phone while crossing.

via walkinginfo.org: Walking Safely.

Technology – Keeping Children Safe

As technology advances, communication needs and habits change as well. Children are becoming consumers of electronic information at earlier ages. Their skills at navigating digital media can even overwhelm some parents. And their access to questionable content increases as well. This is why safe practices are paramount for television viewing, video game playing, and movie watching

via Media Safety | PTA.

Prevent Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Ergonomics is the scientific study of people at work. The goal of ergonomics is to reduce stress and eliminate injuries and disorders associated with the overuse of muscles, bad posture, and repeated tasks. This is accomplished by designing tasks, work spaces, controls, displays, tools, lighting, and equipment to fit the employee´s physical capabilities and limitations.

via CDC – Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders – NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic.

Safety Committee Meeting Tips

Health and Safety Committee meetings should be held regularly on a specific day and time and at least on a quarterly basis (i.e. the first Thursday of each month/quarter at 8:30 A.M.). New committees should consider meeting on a more frequent basis. When a meeting schedule is planned well in advance, the members are then in a better position to arrange for their attendance and prepare for discussion.

A typical Committee meeting should include:

  • Review of unfinished items from the previous meeting(s) and/or activities.
  • Status reports from any sub-committees.
  • Discussion/review of safety inspection reports and the actions taken to correct observed hazards.
  • Review of accident/incidents sustained since the previous meeting and a discussion of measures to prevent similar accidents and incidents.
  • Review of the status of current action plans or training programs.
  • Review of outstanding recommendations developed by outside loss control consultants and/or Department of Commerce health and safety compliance inspectors.
  • Discussion about activities related to future action plans and/or training programs.
  • Discussion about special activities such as health fairs.
  • Discussion about new business, future agenda items, projects and meeting dates.

via Safety Committee Guidelines.

Famous Tobacco Victims – Desi Arnaz

Actor Desi Arnaz died of lung cancer on Dec. 2, 1986 at age 69. He was a star of the I Love Lucy TV series with wife Lucille Ball — both were smokers.I Love Lucy was sponsored by Philip Morris, with their cigarette products appearing both in the show and in commercials during the show’s time slot.

via Famous Tobacco Victims | CigaretteZoom.com – Zoom on cigarettes.