Safety

Important Safety Tips

Protecting Your Body on Hot, Summer Days

Although the weather would indicate to the contrary right now, summer is just around the corner. With warmer weather comes the risk of our bodies overheating. Here are some tips from U.S. Compliance Systems to ensure our employees are protected during the warmer months:

1. Hydrate
Water needs to be kept within easy access at all times. Employees should be hydrating with a glass of water every 15 minutes and not waiting until thirsty. This will help protect you from heat stroke and provide you with the necessary energy to get the work day completed.

2. Eat Right
Employees should be eating a light meal during the hottest hours of the day and avoiding high-fat greasy items. Heavier food tend to weigh us down and zap our energy. You want to make sure you are energetic and alert to avoid any accidents from occurring in the workplace.

3. Get Sleep
Employees should be getting a minimum of 8 hours of sleep a night.

4. Avoid Air Conditioning
While this might sound crazy, it is important for employees to avoid going in and out of air conditioned areas. This will make it more difficult for your body to adjust to the high temperatures outside.

5. Look Out for Heat Stress
Keep an eye our for employees showing signs of heat stroke which include: hot skin without sweating, mental confusion, loss of consciousness, and heat cramps. If anyone shows signs, call 911 immediately!

Dropping Temperatures are Just Around the Corner...

ABNORMALLY SLOW BREATHING

COLD, PALE SKIN

TINGLING SENSATION/ RED SKIN

CONFUSION/ MEMORY LOSS

SHIVERING

LOSS OF COORDINATION

FATIGUE, LETHARGY, APATHY

SLURRED SPEECH

Cold-related work illness is a real threat to our employees who work outside during months of cold weather. All Employees should recognize the symptoms of cold-related illnesses.

Frostbite: Symptoms include sensations of coldness; tingling, stinging or aching feeling of the exposed area followed by numbness of ears, fingers,
toes, cheeks, and noses. Frostbitten areas appear white and cold to the touch.
What to Do: Seek medical assistance immediately. Frostbitten parts should be covered with dry, sterile gauze or soft, clean cloth bandages. Do not massage frostbitten tissue. Take measures to prevent further cold injury.

General Hypothermia: Symptoms include shivering, an inability to do complex motor functions, lethargy, and mild confusion.
What to Do: Conserve remaining body heat. Provide additional heat sources. Seek medical assistance.

Severe Hypothermia: Symptoms include unconsciousness and shivering stops.
What to Do: Seek medical attention immediately. Reduce heat loss by: 1)obtaining shelter; 2) removing wet clothing; and 3) adding layers of dry clothing, blankets, or a pre-warmed sleeping bag.

Some definitive measures employees can take to prevent cold-related illness include:

Personal Protective Clothing
Personal protective clothing is the most important step in fighting the elements because it provides adequate layers of insulation. Wear at least three layers of clothing:

An outer layer to break the wind and allow some ventilation (like Gore-Tex® or nylon);
A middle layer of wool or synthetic fabric (Qualofil or Pile) to absorb sweat and retain insulation in a damp environment. Down is a useful lightweight insulator; however, it is ineffective once it becomes wet.
An inner layer of cotton or synthetic weave to allow ventilation.

Pay special attention to protecting feet, hands, face and head. Up to 40% of body heat can be lost when the head is exposed. Footgear should be insulated to protect against cold and dampness. Keep a change of clothing available in case work garments become wet.

Engineering Controls
Engineering Controls help reduce the risk of cold-related injuries.

Use on-site sources of heat, such as air jets, radiant heaters, or contact warm plates.
Shield work areas from drafty or windy conditions.
Provide a heated shelter for employees who experience prolonged exposure to equivalent wind-chill temperatures of 20°F or less.
Use thermal insulating material on equipment handles when temperatures drop below 30°F.

Safe Work Practices
Safe work practices, such as changes in work schedules and practices, are necessary to combat the effects of exceedingly cold weather. Possible workable safe practices include:

Allowing a period of adjustment to the cold before embarking on a full work schedule.
Permitting employees to set their own pace and take extra work breaks when needed.
Reducing, as much as possible, the number of activities performed outdoors. When employees must brave the cold, selecting the warmest hours of the day and minimize activities that reduce circulation.
Ensuring that employees remain hydrated.
Establishing a buddy system for working outdoors.
Educating employees about the symptoms of cold-related stress -- heavy shivering, uncomfortable coldness, severe fatigue, drowsiness, or euphoria.

Provision of water
In cold weather conditions, employees are encouraged to drink warm, sweet beverages (sugar water, sports-type drinks). They should avoid drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea, or hot chocolate).

Protect Yourself During Flu Season

With the latest, serious outbreak of the flu this season, below are some tips provided by the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association) web site to help mitigate your chances of serious illness.

Get vaccinated! Vaccination is the most important way to prevent the spread of the flu. For additional information about seasonal flu vaccine priorities, see Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine.
Stay at home if you are sick. The CDC recommends that workers who have a fever and respiratory symptoms stay at home until 24 hours after their fever ends (100 degrees Fahrenheit [37.8 degrees Celsius] or lower), without the use of medication. Not everyone who has the flu will have a fever. Other symptoms could include a runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve(s). Throw tissues into a "no-touch" wastebasket.
Clean your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
1. When using soap and water, rub soapy hands together for at least 20 seconds, rinse hands with water, and dry completely.
2. If soap and water are not available, use of an alcohol-based hand rub is a helpful interim measure until hand washing is possible. When using an alcohol-based hand rub, apply liquid to palm of hand, cover all surfaces of the hands with the liquid, and rub hands together until dry.
Keep frequently touched common surfaces (e.g., telephones, computer equipment, etc.) clean.
Try not to use a coworker's phone, desk, office, computer, or other work tools and equipment. If you must use a coworker’s equipment, consider cleaning it first with a disinfectant.
Avoid shaking hands or coming in close contact with coworkers and others who may be ill.
Stay in shape. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and relaxation.
Speak with your doctor and find out if you are in a high risk category for seasonal flu (e.g., elderly, pregnant women, small children, persons with asthma, etc.).
Participate in any training offered by Universal Power & Control, Inc.

OSHA Introduces New Crystalline Silica Standards

The Respirable Crystalline Silica construction standard, 29 CFR § 1926.1153, became enforceable on September 23, 2017. The standard established a new 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, an action level (AL) of 25 µg/m3, and a host of ancillary requirements.

During the first 30 days of enforcement, OSHA will carefully evaluate good faith efforts taken by employers in their attempts to meet the new construction silica standard. OSHA will render compliance assistance and outreach to assure that covered employers are fully and properly complying with its requirements. Given the novelty of the Table 1 approach, OSHA will pay particular attention to assisting employers in fully and properly implementing the controls in the table. OSHA will assist employers who are making good faith efforts to meet the new requirements to assure understanding and compliance.

Silica Dust

If, upon inspection, it appears an employer is not making any efforts to comply, OSHA's inspection will not only include collection of exposure air monitoring performed in accordance with Agency procedures, but those employers may also be considered for citation.

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