Tips For Driving in the Fog

119530-foggy-driving.1Driving in fog is dangerous because visibility is reduced. To keep safe, follow these five tips for driving in fog:

1.    Slow down.

If you cannot see where you are going, do not drive fast. Use your speedometer as a guide to regulate your speed, because thick fog masks the sensation of speed by removing visual indicators of velocity.

2.    Use low-beam headlights.

When visibility is restricted, a driver’s natural tendency is to activate the high-beam headlights. When driving in fog, this further impairs visibility because the high-beam illumination reflects off of the fog and back at your vehicle.

3.    Use fog lights.

If your vehicle has front fog lights, they can help illuminate the road and make your vehicle more visible to other drivers. Some vehicles have rear fog lights, which help motorists who are following you to see your vehicle from a greater distance.

4.    Use the right-side pavement line as a guide.

In thick fog, use the white line painted on the right side of the road as a guide. Do not use the center pavement markings, because doing so will guide you to move closer to oncoming vehicles, which are also driven by people having trouble seeing where they are going.

5.    Do not stop on the road.

When you cannot see where you are going, a natural reaction is to slow down or even stop. In fog, never stop on the road. Find a safe place to pull over that is as far away from traffic as possible and turn off your lights. Leaving your lights on may cause motorists to think that your taillights indicate the lane of travel, which could cause a collision.

via 5 Tips For Driving in the Fog | J.D. Power.

New Workers’ Comp Reimbursement Rules Take Effect In Michigan

346181Changes in how doctors are paid for treating some injured employees covered by workers’ compensation are expected to address the long-term use of pain relievers and help cut medical costs for Michigan job providers, according to state officials.

The new rules prevent reimbursements for opioid treatment beyond 90 days for non-cancer-related chronic pain unless physicians meet detailed reporting requirements, the Michigan Workers’ Compensation Agency said.

via New Workers’ Comp Reimbursement Rules Take Effect In Michigan.

Passenger Without Seatbelt a Risk to Others in the Car

1_displayIn a study, published in the Jan. 21 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers looked at the association between the death of a car occupant and the use of restraints, either a seat belt or child car set, of another occupant in the same car based on fatal accident data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The found the risk of death was higher for the other occupants of the car if someone else was unrestrained, no matter where they were sitting. For example:

  • For someone in the front seat wearing a seatbelt, the risk of death rose by 20% if someone behind them was unrestrained.
  • For a restrained passenger in the rear seat, the risk of death increased by 22% if someone in front of them was unrestrained.
  • For someone with a seatbelt on one side of the car, the risk of death rose by 15% if someone in the same seat row was unrestrained.

Based on those findings, researchers say that use of a seatbelt among rear-seat occupants could prevent about one in six deaths of front-seat passengers caused by car crashes.

via Backseat Riders Need Seatbelts, Too.

Stress and Improving Overall Health in the Workplace

stress-e1370354386441Policy Considerations for Lowering Stress and Improving Overall Health in the Workplace:

  • Teleworking and flex-schedule policies
  • Job-sharing, phased retirement options
  • Healthy commuting supports and incentives
  • Smoke-free building and campuses
  • Healthy foods, healthy meetings and green/sustainable environments policies
  • Peer support and mentoring programs
  • Policies promoting volunteering and community service
  • Time off work for health promotion, physical activity, screenings, healthcare visits
  • Robust non-discrimination, diversity and cultural awareness/sensitivity programs
  • Continuing education, distance learning, and other training supports
  • Incentives for health program participation and engagement

via CDC – NIOSH – Total Worker Health™ in Action – January 2013.

How to Eat Healthy

heart2At the heart of good health is good nutrition. Make smart, healthy choices to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

INCLUDE

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Whole grains
  • Beans and legumes
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Fish (preferably oily fish high in omega-3 fatty acids), skinless poultry, and plant-based alternatives
  • Fat-free and low-fat dairy products
  • Healthier fats and non-tropical oils

LIMIT

  • Sodium and salt
  • Saturated fat
  • Sweets and added sugars, including sugar-sweetened beverages
  • Red meats – if you choose to eat red meat, select lean cuts

AVOID

  • Trans fat and partially hydrogenated oils

via How to Eat Healthy.

Workplace Health Promotion Can Increase Productivity

Fit_for_life_fit_for_workIn general, healthier employees are more productive.

  • Healthier employees are less likely to call in sick or use vacation time due to illness
  • Companies that support workplace health have a greater percentage of employees at work every day
  • Because employee health frequently carries over into better health behavior that impact both the employee and their family (such as nutritious meals cooked at home or increased physical activity with the family), employees may miss less work caring for ill family members as well
  • Similarly, workplace health programs can reduce presenteeism — the measurable extent to which health symptoms, conditions, and diseases adversely affect the work productivity of individuals who choose to remain at work

The cost savings of providing a workplace health program can be measured against absenteeism among employees, reduced overtime to cover absent employees, and costs to train replacement employees.

Example – Employee Health Concern: Obesity

  • Obese employees experience higher levels of absenteeism due to illness than normal weight employees
  • Normal-weight men miss an average of 3.0 days each year due to illness or injury
  • In comparison, overweight and obese men (BMI 25-35), miss approximately 2 more work days per year than normal-weight men, a 56% increase in missed days
  • Normal-weight women miss an average of 3.4 days each year due to illness or injury
  • In comparison, overweight women miss 3.9 days, a 15% increase in missed days; obese women (BMI greater than 30) miss 5.2 days, a 53% increase in missed days; and women with a BMI of 40 or higher miss 8.2 days, a 141% increase in missed days, almost one week more of missed work each year than normal-weight women

via CDC – Workplace Health – Business Case – Benefits of Health Program – Increase Productivity.

The Risk of Family Business Survival

Family-Business-USA-ServicesAccording to recent statistics only 30% of family owned businesses survive into the second generation, 12% are still viable into the third generation, and only 3% of all family business operates into the fourth generation or beyond. These statistics say there is a huge disconnect between the optimistic belief of today’s family business owners and the reality of the massive failure of family companies to survive through the generations.

 

Eat Healthy and Enjoy It!

photos.demandstudios.com-getty-article-189-170-92005185_XSA healthy eating plan that helps you manage your weight includes a variety of foods you may not have considered. If “healthy eating” makes you think about the foods you can’t have, try refocusing on all the new foods you can eat—

  • Fresh fruits ― don’t think just apples or bananas. All fresh fruits are great choices. Be sure to try some “exotic” fruits, too. How about a mango? Or a juicy pineapple or kiwi fruit! When your favorite fresh fruits aren’t in season, try a frozen, canned, or dried variety of a fresh fruit you enjoy. One caution about canned fruits is that they may contain added sugars or syrups. Be sure and choose canned varieties of fruit packed in water or in their own juice.
  • Fresh vegetables ― try something new. You may find that you love grilled vegetables or steamed vegetables with an herb you haven’t tried like rosemary. You can sauté (panfry) vegetables in a non-stick pan with a small amount of cooking spray. Or try frozen or canned vegetables for a quick side dish — just microwave and serve. When trying canned vegetables, look for vegetables without added salt, butter, or cream sauces. Commit to going to the produce department and trying a new vegetable each week.
  • Calcium-rich foods ― you may automatically think of a glass of low-fat or fat-free milk when someone says “eat more dairy products.” But what about low-fat and fat-free yogurts without added sugars? These come in a wide variety of flavors and can be a great dessert substitute for those with a sweet tooth.
  • A new twist on an old favorite ― if your favorite recipe calls for frying fish or breaded chicken, try healthier variations using baking or grilling. Maybe even try a recipe that uses dry beans in place of higher-fat meats. Ask around or search the internet and magazines for recipes with fewer calories ― you might be surprised to find you have a new favorite dish!

via Healthy Weight: Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight | DNPAO | CDC.

The Value of Health Assessment Data

HealthAssessOver the years, using a health assessment as part of a wellness program has become a recognized best practice in workplace health management because it works and provides value. Market leading companies across the U.S. and around the world use health assessments because they provide a level of information and knowledge about employee health that cannot be found anywhere else. These same organizations have realized good results by using the knowledge gleaned from health assessment data to reduce health risks, reduce health care spending and increase productivity.

via Uncommon Knowledge: The Value of Health Assessment Data.