Risk Profile Improvement
Whether out of economic need or simply a desire to continue working, many baby boomers aren’t leaving their jobs anytime soon.
In fact, many workers 55 and older are staying in the workforce. By year’s end their numbers will surpass those who are aged 25 to 34. And the trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future — until 2020.
via Older Workers To Outnumber Younger Employees For The First Time.
Overexertion has long been among the leading causes of nonfatal workplace injuries, and attempts to combat it continue to be a burden on employers and their pocketbooks. An estimated 3.5 million overexertion injuries occur every year, most of which are from excessive lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying. Back injuries are the most common form of overexertion in the workplace and can result in huge costs. According to a 2010 report from the Boston-based Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, in 2008, overexertion cost businesses $13.4 billion in direct workers’ compensation costs – accounting for more than 25 percent of the overall $53.4 billion national burden.
via 6 11 Stop the Strain.
Unbuckled occupants “become a back-seat bullet” in a crash, says Pam Fischer, state highway traffic safety director. In collisions, experts say, unbelted passengers in the back seat continue to move at the same rate of speed as the vehicle they’re in until they hit something — seat back, dashboard, windshield or people in the front seat. Yet many view the back seat as somehow safer.
via States expand seat belt laws to cover rear-seat riders – USATODAY.com.
Accidents are more expensive than most people realize because of the hidden costs. Some costs are obvious — for example, Workers’ Compensation claims which cover medical costs and indemnity payments for an injured or ill worker. These are the direct costs of accidents.
But what about the costs to train and compensate a replacement worker, repair damaged property, investigate the accident and implement corrective action, and to maintain insurance coverage? Even less apparent are the costs related to schedule delays, added administrative time, lower morale, increased absenteeism, and poorer customer relations. These are the indirect costs — costs that aren’t so obvious until we take a closer look.
Top safety tips to help prevent tip-over hazards
A national campaign to prevent construction-worker falls was launched recently. The campaign encourages everyone in the construction industry to work safely and use the right equipment to reduce falls. Special emphasis and activity will focus on residential construction contractors and workers.
FACT – FALLS KILL!
Falls are the number one cause of construction-worker fatalities, accounting for one-third of on-the-job injury deaths in the industry.
To turn this problem around, we need to promote the use of fall prevention practices by contractors and construction workers.
via CDC – Directory of NIOSH Construction Resources – Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction.
Your home or work routines can be disrupted with little or no warning by natural disasters, fires or other catastrophic events. Its important that you and your family are prepared as help may not always be available. During large community wide emergencies, first responders – police, fire and emergency medical services may be overwhelmed with numerous calls for help or even physically unable to reach your location due to blocked roads. Make a plan and share this information with your loved ones to prevent needless confusion and worry.
Employers should take the following steps to protect workers from heat stress:
via CDC – Heat Stress – NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic.
Machine safety is critical for worker safety, because machines have many ways to injure workers: Many machines have moving parts, sharp edges, and hot surfaces with the potential to cause severe workplace injuries such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness. Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from these preventable injuries. Any machine part, function, or process that might cause injury must be safeguarded. When the operation of a machine may result in a contact injury to the operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled
via CDC – Machine Safety – NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic.
Fireworks can be very dangerous. Here are some safety tips:Let’s celebrate our nation’s heritage on the Fourth of July, but celebrate safely. via Welcome | The National Council on Fireworks Safety.