Evacuation Plans and Procedures

eap-exit-wall-placardAn emergency action plan (EAP) is usually a written document required by particular OSHA standards. For smaller organizations, the plan does not need to be written and may be communicated orally if there are 10 or fewer employees [29 CFR 1910.38(b)]. The purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. The elements of the plan must include, but are not limited to:

  • Means of reporting fires and other emergencies
  • Evacuation procedures and emergency escape route assignments
  • Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate
  • Procedures to account for all employees after an emergency evacuation has been completed
  • Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them
  • Names or job titles of persons who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan

via Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool | Emergency Action Plan Expert System – Introduction.

What’s at-risk or heavy drinking?

chaindrinker1For healthy adults in general, drinking more than these single-day or weekly limits is considered “at-risk” or “heavy” drinking:

•   Men:  More than 4 drinks on any day or 14 per week

•   Women:  More than 3 drinks on any day or 7 per week

About 1 in 4 people who exceed these limits already has alcoholism or alcohol abuse, and the rest are at greater risk for developing these and other problems. Again, individual risks vary. People can have problems drinking less than these amounts, particularly if they drink too quickly.

via What’s at-risk or heavy drinking? – Rethinking Drinking – NIAAA.

Top 10 Holiday Diet Tips of All Time

image1. Trim back the trimmings. Go all out and deck the halls with boughs of holly, glitter, and lights, but when it comes to holiday food, accessorize with care. To shave calories, go easy when adding nuts, cheese, cream sauces, gravy, butter, and whipped cream — additions that don’t add much to the meal, but can add plenty to your waistline. Trim calories wherever you can so you leave the party feeling satisfied, but not stuffed, recommends Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD, author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous.

2. Wear snug clothes and keep one hand busy. When you wear snug-fitting attire, chances are you’ll be too busy holding in your stomach to overeat. While you stand around looking posh in your holiday finery, hold a drink in your dominant hand so it won’t be so easy to grab food, recommends obesity expert Cathy Nonas, MS, RD.

3. Chew gum. When you don’t want to eat, pop a piece of sugarless gum into your mouth. This works well when you’re cooking or when you’re trying not to dive into the buffet, says Nonas.

4. Be a food snob. If you don’t love it, don’t eat it, says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Melinda Johnson, MS, RD. Scan the buffet for foods you truly treasure and skip the everyday dishes that are available all year long. And don’t think it’s your responsibility to sample everything on the buffet. Go ahead and indulge in your personal holiday favorites, then find a seat and, slowly and mindfully, savor every mouthful.

5. No skipping meals. Always eat normally on the day of a party. “People who skip meals to save up calories tend to overeat everything in sight once they get there,” says Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, author of Diet Simple. “Eating sensibly throughout the day will take the edge off the appetite and empower a bit of restraint.” Start with a nourishing breakfast, have a light lunch, then a small snack or salad shortly before the event.

6. Check it out. First things first. When you arrive at the party, grab a sparkling water with a twist, and wait at least 30 minutes before eating. This will give you time to relax, get comfortable in your surroundings, and survey your food choices on the buffet before diving in, says Tallmadge. A buffet is an invitation to eat all you can, and unless you carefully scrutinize it and make wise choices, you’re likely to overeat.

7. Add fun and games. Cynthia Sass, MPH, MA, RD, co-author of Your Diet Is Driving Me Crazy, proposes taking the focus off food and getting family and friends more active during holiday parties. Think horseshoes, badminton, sledding, ice skating, or building snowmen. Indoors, try a spirited game of charades, or rent an instructional dance video followed by a dance-off. “The best parties include dancing, so why not make dancing after eating a new holiday tradition for a great form of fun and recreation?” asks David Katz, MD, MPH, author of The Flavor Point Diet.

8. Alternate alcohol with nonalcoholic beverages. Alcoholic drinks are loaded with calories — especially holiday favorites like eggnog. “Cut your alcohol calories in half by alternating water or seltzer between alcoholic beverages,” Katz advises.

9. Skip the appetizers. “Eschew the appetizers rather than chewing on them,” says Katz. If you need a little nibble before the meal, go for the veggies, fruit, salsa, or a small handful of nuts.

10. Limit the variety. Brian Wansink, PhD, author of Mindless Eating, suggests putting only two items on your plate when you go to the food table. Return as many times as you like, but only take two items each time. “Variety stimulates appetite, and if you limit your choices to just a few items and stick with these, it will be easier to control than eating a little bit of 20 different dishes,” agrees Katz.

via Top 10 Holiday Diet Tips of All Time.

Role of the Supervisor

functionalneeds-6Over the years, the role of the supervisor has changed. At one time, supervisors were feared order-givers who told employees what to do and policed their work. Successful supervisors today are more likely to be good leaders, coaches, and motivators. Good supervisors are respected by their team members, because most employers have come to understand that people are more productive if they are happy, motivated, and upbeat.

via Role of the Supervisor.

Why Is Physical Activity Such a Big Deal?

20131126-healthy-agingRegular exercise and physical activity are important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults. Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age. Regular physical activity over long periods of time can produce long-term health benefits. That’s why health experts say that older adults should be active every day to maintain their health.

via Introduction | National Institute on Aging.

Changes to the OSHA Illness & Injury Recordkeeping Standard

business-insurance-policyStarting January 1, 2015 the new federal OSHA changes will require employers to file a detailed report within eight hours of fatal workplace accidents.

Severe on-the-job injuries that do not result in death but require hospitalization must be reported within 24 hours,  Such reports must be filed regardless of the size of the business.

Currently, the regulations require such reports only if a worker was killed or three or more workers were hospitalized as a result of a workplace accident.  The new 24-hour reporting requirement includes all work-related hospitalizations, amputations or loss of an eye.  All employers, including those partially exempted by reason of company size or industry classification, will be required to comply with the new severe injury and illness reporting requirements.

The new federal regulation maintains the current exemption for any employer with 10 or fewer workers from the requirement to maintain the 300 logs of worker injuries and illnesses.  The new rule also updates the list of employers partially exempt from OSHA recordkeeping requirements.  https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/ppt1/RK1exempttable.html

via LARA – Changes to the OSHA Illness & Injury Recordkeeping Standard.

Prevent Heart Attacks with 5 Healthy Habits

persha-dopomoga-pri-insulti_2Many doctors will tell you when they talk to their patient about changing his or her life style, their response will be something like “Heart disease runs in my family so there is nothing I can do about it.”

Of course, family history is a factor but a recent study concluded that changing to a heart-healthy lifestyle can overcome what’s in your genes.

A recent study involved 20,771 men between ages 45 and 70. When the study began, none of the men had a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Over the 11-year period of the study 1,361 of the men suffered heart attacks. They were most likely to be those with poor diets, little exercise, smoked and drank to much alcohol.

The least likely to suffer a heart attack followed 5 healthy habits:

  1. Eating a healthy diet.
  2. Drinking moderately.
  3. Never smoked.
  4. Excercised moderately (such as walking or biking)  40 minutes a day and vigorously at least one hour per week.
  5. Maintained a healthy waistline (about 37.4 inches or less).

The researchers concluded that 4 out of 5 heart attacks could be prevented by sticking to these 5 healthy habits.

E-Cigarettes: Health and Safety Issues

electronni-cigariHow E-Cigarettes Work

They look like the real thing. The end glows as you inhale. As you exhale, you puff out a cloud of what looks like smoke. It’s vapor, similar to the fog you might see at rock shows, says M. Brad Drummond, MD. He’s an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

All e-cigarettes work basically the same way. Inside, there’s a battery, a heating element, and a cartridge that holds nicotine and other liquids and flavorings. Features and costs vary. Some are disposable. Others have a rechargeable battery and refillable cartridges.

Using an e-cigarette is called “vaping.”

Are They Safe?

The nicotine inside the cartridges is addictive. When you stop using it, you can get withdrawal symptoms including feeling irritable, depressed, restless and anxious. It can be dangerous for people with heart problems. It may also harm your arteries over time.

So far, evidence suggests that e-cigarettes may be safer than regular cigarettes. The biggest danger from tobacco is the smoke, and e-cigarettes don’t burn. Tests show the levels of dangerous chemicals they give off are a fraction of what you’d get from a real cigarette. But what’s in them can vary.

“E-cigarettes may be less harmful than cigarettes,” Drummond says. “But we still don’t know enough about their long-term risks or the effects of secondhand exposure.”

Pro and Con

E-cigarettes have triggered a fierce debate among health experts who share the same goal — reducing the disease and death caused by tobacco. But they disagree about whether e-cigarettes make the problem better or worse.

via E-Cigarettes: Health and Safety Issues.

How to Help a Friend or Loved One Suffering from a Chronic Illness

img-1304514759If someone you love is diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening disease, you may feel desperate and completely helpless. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Research has shown us that family and friends can play a huge role in helping patients deal with a chronic illness.

When a person is suffering from a chronic illness, it’s important that they feel truly cared about. What matters most is how people interact with the sick person.

Here are some ways that patients and their families can get the kind of support they want from others:

  • Put an end to family secrets. In other words, honesty is still the best policy. We often try to protect our families and loved ones from bad news, but hiding a person’s serious illness from the rest of the family can backfire. Communicate directly and be open with family members.
  • Include your children. Although their understanding of the situation may be limited, children still appreciate being told what’s going on around them. Children can sometimes view themselves as the cause of problems or major events that happen around them. They may view a parent’s illness as being caused by something they did. Be open, honest, let children know it’s OK to ask questions. This will help relieve some of their anxiety. Remember, a child can be a great source of laughter and warmth for a sick individual.
  • Be selective. Everybody under the sun doesn’t need to know about your illness or your loved one’s illness. Choose who you care to share your news with carefully. Some relationships will prosper and some will become strained. What’s important is that you feel that sharing the information with an individual will provide a stronger sense of support and strength.
  • Be clear about how family and friends can help. People want to feel useful. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help or favors, such as cooking a meal or helping with the school carpool.

Finally, if someone you love if suffering from a chronic illness, learn about the disease, help out with daily errands and chores, and give emotional support. Sometimes we all need a shoulder to cry on.

via How to Help a Friend or Loved One Suffering from a Chronic Illness.