THE SAFETY NET CO N SU LT
JANUARY 2022
•
DESIGN
•
ENGINEER
IT’S ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST. •
CONSTRUCT
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 01
Keep Your Home and Family Safe During Winter Storm Season 12.14.2021 | Weeklysafety.com
SAFETY FIRST. Austin employees have During extremely cold weather or winter storms, staying warm and safe can be
worked 4,583,387 hours
a challenge. Winter storms can bring cold temperatures, power failures, loss of
without a Lost Time Accident
communication services, and icy roads.
through 11/2021.
Winter storms can range from moderate snow over a few
ready for winter travel, and weatherproof your home
hours to a blizzard that lasts for several days. Heavy snow
against the frigid temperatures.
can immobilize a city requiring households to be on their own for a period of time and everyone should be prepared for the impact a winter storm may have on a community.
Develop an emergency communication plan in case family members find themselves separated during a winter storm. Assemble supplies ahead of time that may be beneficial to
Winter storms are sometimes referred to as “deceptive
have on hand during a winter storm. It’s important to plan
killers” because most injuries, illnesses and deaths happen
ahead in case the power goes out. Include supplies such as:
after the storm has passed or are only indirectly caused by
• Flashlight, battery-operated radio and extra batteries
the weather. The dangers of winter storms include: • Frostbite or hypothermia caused by prolonged exposure to the cold • Traffic accidents due to low visibility or icy road conditions • Heart attacks brought on by over-exertion while clearing snow
• First aid kit with one-week supply of prescription medicine • Enough non-perishable food and water to last three days or more with a manual can opener • Extra blankets and sleeping bags Have safe emergency heating equipment available such as a fireplace with an ample supply of wood, or a small,
• Carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators
well-vented, wood, coal or camp stove with fuel.
• Slips and falls on icy walkways
Insulate water pipes and allow faucets to drip during
If a winter storm is developing in an area near you, it is
unusually cold weather to prevent pipes from bursting.
important to understand weather alerts that are issued by
Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors and
the National Weather Service (NWS).
keep fire extinguishers on hand.
Winter Weather Advisory – When winter driving conditions
Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full. Don’t
begin to become difficult due to snow, ice and sleet.
forget to prepare an emergency supply kit for your car too.
Winter Storm Watch – Heavy sleet or snow or even ice
During a winter storm, especially if you have to go outside
storms are possible. Everyone in the area should remain
for any reason, it is important to dress warmly in loose-fitting,
alert and be prepared.
layered, light-weight clothing. Outer garments should be
Winter Storm Warning – A major winter weather event is
water repellant. Mittens are warmer than gloves because
expected. Everyone should seek shelter and stay off the roads until the storm passes. Pay attention to developing weather conditions, prepare yourself for cold winter weather, make sure your car is
fingers generate warmth when they touch each other. Keep dry and remove wet clothing to prevent a loss of body heat. Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth when outdoors.
Driving is very dangerous during and immediately after
Winter storms can cause power outages that may last a
a winter storm. Plan to stay off the road until the weather
few minutes, a few hours or even a few days. Many people
clears and the roads are safe. If driving is necessary,
have portable generators available to use to ensure they
ensure you have emergency supplies of food, water, warm
stay safe and warm at home in the event of a power
clothing, and a full tank of gas. If possible, travel during the
outage, but portable generators also have their own
day and do not travel alone.
unique risks. The primary hazards to avoid when using a
People die every year from heart attacks that happen
generator are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from the
while they are shoveling snow because cold weather
toxic engine exhaust, electric shock or electrocution, and fire.
can put added strain on the heart. Use caution and take
Generators should be used in well-ventilated outdoor areas
frequent breaks when shoveling snow. Lift lighter loads
with the generator exhaust system at least 5-feet from all
when shoveling snow or try pushing the snow instead of lifting it.
doors, windows and vent openings to the house. Never use
Because homes require extra heating during winter storms,
a generator in an attached garage, even with the door
it’s important to follow safety precautions to keep your family and your home safe from a winter fire. Keep anything that can burn, including people, at least 3-feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. Never use your oven to heat your home. Make sure the fireplace
open. Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling. Never refuel a generator while it is hot. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite. Store fuel for the generator in an approved safety can that is clearly labeled. Use the type of fuel recommended in the instructions or on the label on the generator.
has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not
Fireplace ashes should be cool before putting them into a
use in rain or wet conditions. Operate it on a dry surface
metal container, and the container should be kept a safe
under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp
distance away from your home.
held up on poles. Do not touch the generator with wet hands.
Be prepared in case the power goes out. Have flashlights
Carbon monoxide (CO) deaths are always highest during
and other battery-powered lighting easily accessible, along
the winter months due to increased use of gas-powered
with extra batteries. Never use candles.
furnaces and alternative heating, cooking, and power
Be very careful if you plan to use portable electric space heaters. Always place the heater on a solid, flat surface that is out of the way of foot traffic. Plug the heater directly
sources used improperly indoors during power outages. Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or charcoal burning device indoors or in any partially enclosed area.
into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord which can
As employees begin thinking about their holiday plans and
create a trip hazard. Ensure the space heater you are using
finishing up work projects for the year, consider scheduling
has a thermostat, overheat protection, and an auto shut-off
a quick safety meeting on Winter Storm Safety.
system that works in case it tips over. Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room and when you go to bed.
3
Get a Head Start on Your Safety Resolutions 11.03.2021 | EHS Today Most people wait for the new year to make resolutions—a time for a fresh start. But in order to be successful, you first need a plan to work on your habits and that plan needs to expand across the entire year, not just the month of January. Whether you’re looking to make a change individually or at the organizational level, our guides on habit building, change management, toolbox talks and human factors will help you achieve your goals.
HELPING OTHERS BUILD NEW HABITS When it comes to helping others build better habits, you need to look beyond your own personal motivators to help them effect change. Use this guide to help your employees learn how to stay on the right path.
A FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING HUMAN FACTORS
HOW TO MAKE HABITS STICK
Discover a flexible framework that helps organizations take
Most of what we do every day is habitual, so learning how
management, supervisors, and frontline workers in a
to change or form new habits can be a game-changer in
practical system to manage human factors.
safety. Use this guide to help your employees learn.
a holistic approach to workplace safety by connecting
TOOLBOX TALKS Discover easy and effective ways to deliver better toolbox talks. Start engaging employees with safety meetings that work.
Tips on Preventing Eyestrain 11.01.2021 | EHS Today Rest the muscles of your eyes by focusing on a distant
• Work with a light screen background (dark type or
object, away from your monitor, occasionally.
images on white or pale background)—you will find it is
Given the fact that the average American spends over 7
easier on your eyes.
hours looking at a screen each day, according to a June 8,
• Rest the muscles of your eyes by focusing on a distant
2021, report from Data Reported, here are some tips from
object, away from your monitor, occasionally.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association on how to
• When using a laptop, look into the distance more
avoid eyestrain. In an overall report on ergonomics, the organization identified several problem areas and possible corrections for eyestrain, including:
GLARE • Move or shield the light source. • Move the monitor. • Change the monitor’s angle. • Apply a good quality glare filter to the monitor. • When correcting for glare, don’t create other problems. For instance, if you move your monitor, don’t put it in a place that will produce neck strain. The monitor should be directly in front of you. • When possible, place your monitor at a right angle with the window.
LIGHTING LEVELS • Following the preceding recommendations, adjust your screen position and lighting sources (lamps, etc.) to achieve best results.
frequently. A laptop monitor will probably not have the best placement, since it is attached to the keyboard. • If you are using a laptop at your primary workstation, a docking station with an external keyboard and mouse should be used. An external monitor, or display, should also be considered.
READABILITY OF SCREEN AND DOCUMENT • Place monitors directly in front of you and documents to the immediate right or left, at the same distance. • Upgrade or replace monitors with poor resolution or flicker. • Adjust your monitor’s font size or (if appropriate). • If you wear glasses, consider getting full frame reading glasses prescribed for the working distance of your monitor (typically, 15 to 30 inches/ 38 to 76 cm). These will allow you to place the monitor correctly and see well without stressing your posture. • Place the monitor so that the top of the screen is at your line of sight. If you wear bifocals the top of the screen should be slightly below your line of sight. • Don’t skip visits to the eye doctor. Eyestrain could indicate a problem with your vision beyond the use of a computer monitor.
5
The Wild, Wonderful World of Manufacturing Ergonomics 11.16.2021 | EHS Today by Scott Mullett Here are postures and movements to watch out for—and how to redesign processes for fewer injuries and greater worker comfort. Ergonomics, at its core, is central to all that is performed in the workplace. It’s much more than fitting the workplace to the worker; it’s the combination of engineering, biomechanics, psychology, sociology, design, complex problem solving and anthropometry. Ergonomics encompasses the whole workforce of a company, and a focus on ergonomics is essential to reducing injury rates, creating a safe working environment and decreasing costs—all while increasing production. When looking at manufacturing ergonomics, it’s important to know that it is possible to improve the workplace. Much of the time, the work setting and processes do not change often. However, if an ergonomic risk factor occurs, engineering controls can be implemented and workflow processes can change to benefit workers and reduce discomfort. Here are five awkward postures for workers to avoid and seven steps to help you initiate a successful ergonomics program.
AWKWARD POSTURES TO AVOID IN MANUFACTURING Part of the challenge with manufacturing ergonomics is that work may involve repetition, forceful exertion or sustained body positioning, all of which pose a risk to proper body alignment. Therefore, safety professionals should watch for these four postures. If found, they should consult with workers, engineers, operations, ergonomists and other key stakeholders to implement corrective actions. This may involve engineering changes or additional safety trainings, which could include a comprehensive stretch and flex program.
ARMS ABOVE THE HEAD Working with arms above the head could create several health issues, including muscle spasms, shoulder strains and shoulder inflammation, just to name a few. Positioning conveyors or other frequent tasks that take employees out of their power zone, the area between the mid-thigh and mid-chest height. This is where an individual can lift the most with the least amount of effort; elbows are at 90 degrees and close to the body. Corrective actions include engineering solutions to lower tasks or equipment that will accommodate working in the power zone.
TWISTING BACK With the back allowing a maximum 35 degrees of rotation, muscle strains, disc herniations or bone spurs could be a complication from extreme twisting motions. It’s important to educate workers about repetitive or extreme twisting motions when handling materials. Corrective actions include redesigning an area to best accommodate the task or instructing employees to “dance” with the material to avoid twisting. This requires workers to handle the material in such a way that they are turning their whole body instead of their upper torso. For example, when placing an item on an adjacent shelf, one should move their feet and turn their entire body in one fluid motion.
FORWARD BENDING The seemingly simplest of tasks can have the most devastating consequences, such as bending down to pick something up. Distribution of weight causes a tremendous amount of pressure and stress on the lumbar spine and back musculature. Corrective actions may include lowering workstations, utilizing equipment (e.g., lift-assist devices and carts) or changing/ redesigning tools if repeated forward bending is required to perform a task.
NON-NEUTRAL WRISTS Here’s a test: Grab something with a straight, neutral wrist and pick it up. Now perform the same task with a bent wrist. Notice the difference? Performing tasks that require workers to bend their wrists not only decreases grip strength but could lead to issues such as carpel tunnel syndrome. However, redesigning a workstation is not always needed. Corrective actions may include education and additional training for workers. If it does come down to redesign, make sure that neutral wrists are accounted for. Grip strength is everything in manufacturing. Flexed or extended wrists will either shorten or lengthen the wrist tendons. Once this occurs, grip strength will be hindered. The key is to keep wrists straight, or like the position one assumes when shaking hands.
FREQUENT KNEELING AND SQUATTING Occasional kneeling and squatting throughout the day are normal occurrences. However, when kneeling and squatting become frequent, it can cause problems. As our bodies age, fluids that help lubricate our joints begin to dry up. A combination of frequent squatting to perform tasks and the natural process of aging could lead to osteoarthritis developing in the knees. What’s more, frequent kneeling on hard surfaces could result in bursitis, a massive amount of swelling on the knee. Corrective actions may include identifying job tasks that pose a risk to frequent kneeling and squatting, redesigning an area to raise it up (if possible) to prevent or counteract these movements, and fitting employees with knee pads if they need to perform a kneeling task.
PROBLEM SOLVING Oftentimes, a safety/ergonomic issue arises, but companies are too late to address the concern. We live in a reactive world with little emphasis on being proactive, though, to be fair, forecasting is difficult. We cannot tell the future, and many companies do not want to spend the money to implement a control with unforeseeable risks. As safety professionals and company leaders, we know that it is in everyone’s best interest to identify these issues. This point is front and center with ergonomics concerns. They are generally considered low priority items yet are some of the most expensive injuries encountered in the workplace. A proactive approach is core to accomplishing your ergonomic goals. Here are some tips to bring this all together.
SURVEYS Start with a simple survey. Ask workers a series of questions related to improvement of controls. Specifically, ask what they see as a benefit to improve a task, process or piece of equipment. Company-wide surveys are an essential part of applying ergonomic controls. Keep it anonymous for honest feedback. Focus on questions centered around their difficulties of certain tasks performed and discomfort experienced while at work. Use this information to perform a factory audit. ...continued on next page 7
FACTORY AUDIT Once the data is collected, investigate employee concerns. Also, it’s important to review past data, including OSHA Log of Injuries or Illnesses, or OSHA Form 300. Taking a proactive approach from the administered survey, observe employee body positioning and mechanics. Ask yourself if engineering controls are required or additional education is needed. Utilize online ergonomic forms from OSHA to conduct a general assessment, or an evaluation of the area identifying ergonomic and safety concerns.
EDUCATION AND COLLABORATION From the factory audit, what have you discovered? Does the equipment need to be redesigned? Are employee body mechanics an issue? A quick overview of stretching or implementing a pre-work stretching session could be helpful for workers. If an engineering concern is present, collaborate with the engineering and maintenance departments about what can be done to correct this issue. Involve employees in the design and decision-making process, especially if engineering controls are needed.
COST JUSTIFICATION When exploring possible solutions, it’s important to consider the potential costs. Utilization of the OSHA safety pays estimator is a beneficial tool when comparing an ergonomic injury in relation to the expense of the control. The tool is geared toward manufacturing and offers a feature that incorporates the sales of that product to make up for the cost of injury.
CONSIDER THE HUMAN FACTOR There’s no question about it. Everyone’s body is unique in many ways: height, weight, age, gender, health profile, etc. When looking to apply engineering controls to your setup, involve employees as much as possible. After all, they are the ones doing the work. Though often overlooked, employee involvement is center to successful implementation of controls.
CASE STUDIES After implementation of controls, follow-up with workers. Ask them about what has changed and if those recommendations/controls are working. Before and after pictures are always helpful visuals to show progress. Present your findings to company leadership, and be sure to celebrate the success with the ergonomic control.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT While not the most exciting of topics, implementing an ergonomic solution to a manufacturing floor can be a thrill. Take that momentum to the next level, and express your excitement to the rest of the employee base by presenting your findings and the overall success. Remember, ergonomics is an ongoing effort and does not stop even after a solution has been implemented. Continue observing tasks that employees perform and conduct employee interviews frequently.
CONCLUSION The whole process of identifying and implementing an ergonomic control can be a wild ride. However, with the right plan in place, successful implementation of ergonomic controls will reduce injuries, improve morale and keep safety your number one priority. Scott Mullett, M.A., AT, CEFE, is a board certified and state licensed athletic trainer and an employee at Ergonomic Consultants Incorporated. He has been an occupational athletic trainer for over 6 years, performing injury prevention and ergonomic services for several manufacturing companies in Ohio and Indiana. Previously, he practiced for 6 years practiced as an athletic trainer within the secondary school setting.
Random Acts of Safety 12.13.2021 | EHS Today by Dave Blanchard Every time you engage with an employee, you’re not just transforming the workplace—you’re changing the world. We’ve finally reached that time of the year when, even if just for a little while, we’re able to turn our attention away from things like vaccine mandates, legal challenges, supply chain disruptions, and the latest exhibitions of political chicanery to focus on more ethereal concepts like gratitude, generosity and compassion. It’s been an exhausting year, maybe even more of a grueling slog than 2020, because the hope we had a year ago that a COVID-19 vaccine could be quickly developed has somehow morphed into a contentious argument on the merits of that very vaccine. But thankfully, whoever came up with the idea of holidays shrewdly devised it so that we’d have a whole bunch of them at the end of every year. And better still, the winter holidays are a time when all three components of the EHS trilogy—environment, health and safety—are manifest in the way people feel about their homes, their families and their communities. The year-end celebrations offer an opportunity for each of us to acknowledge how much we all depend on each other, and to say thank you. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but at our recent Safety Leadership Conference (SLC) 2021 in Cleveland, a common theme of compassion and empathy ran through many of the presentations. Rick Fulwiler, for instance, spoke about the three attributes of transformational safety leadership: listening, caring and engaging. Earlier in his career, Fulwiler served as worldwide director of health and safety at consumer products giant Procter & Gamble, and more recently he’s served as an instructor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a consultant with his own firm, Transformational Leadership Associates. So there’s not much, if anything, about the safety profession he doesn’t already know. And yet, when prompted for advice on how EHS managers can develop the kind of leadership that can truly make a difference in the workplace, Fulwiler’s answer was short and simple: “Lead with your head and your heart.” Similarly, Rod Courtney has had a long career in safety, primarily at utility and construction companies, including Ampirical (which was named one of this year’s America’s Safest Companies). His keynote presentation offered some insights into how exactly a safety professional can make a difference. Courtney referred to what he calls “a just safety culture, one ...continued on next page 9
that maintains channels for communication that truly make it safe for people to raise issues regarding safety, quality of life, dignity, and respect on the site and throughout the company.” Stop all the naming, blaming, shaming and retraining, he advises—none of that works. The hallmark of a just safety culture is accountability—people are accountable to each other and to themselves. When you know your boss and your co-workers have your back, and you have their backs, the workplace takes on an entirely different characteristic—it becomes a place where people care about each other. Read more: America’s Safest Companies of 2021: Ampirical Let’s face it: These past two years have been very hard on everybody. We’ve lost friends and loved ones to a virus that refuses to go away, and the pandemic has not only impacted the physical health of millions of people, but it’s taken an even greater toll on the mental health of who knows how many more. In EHS Today’s “2021 Mental Health in the Workplace Report,” we found that safety professionals are being challenged like never before by incidents of substance abuse, workplace violence and major depressive episodes among their workers. While 54% of those surveyed said their companies have a plan to address their workers’ mental health as they return to the workplace, 31% have no plan in place, and 15% don’t know if their companies have any such plan. We’re in danger of losing an entire generation of young people who are growing up under the cloud of the pandemic, and as The Great Resignation continues to play out, many people are leaving their jobs because they just don’t see a future for themselves in their current situations. Another expert in leadership—Lt. General Russel Honoré, USA (Ret.), former Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina—offered this call to action in another SLC keynote: “Save your best leadership for when you get home from work. Your greatest legacy is not what you’ll do for your industry, but in the kind of kids you’ll raise.” Read more: 3 Ways to be a Better Leader, According to Lt. General Russel Honoré, USA (Ret.) There are plenty of things to be outraged about these days, but there are also plenty of things to be grateful for as well, including the EHS profession. It’s not easy to champion safety in an era so polarized by political dissension that it can feel like protecting workers from disinformation is harder than protecting them from slips, trips and falls. But every time that you listen to, care for and engage with an employee, you are making a difference. It might seem like just a random act of kindness to you, but those moments can leave a positive impact on people that can truly change hearts. Happy holidays!
Bulb Breakage Blues: Are You Properly Cleaning Up Broken Lamps? 12.06.2021 | Safety Management Suite Universal waste lamps, including fluorescent bulbs and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), can release mercury vapor into the air when they are broken. Even “green-end cap bulbs” should be approached with caution in the event of breakage, even though they contain lower amounts of mercury. Remember, any waste lamps should be treated as hazardous unless proven otherwise. Once a lamp breaks, it is no longer considered a universal waste and must be cleaned up safely and disposed of separately as a hazardous waste in accordance with federal and state regulations. In the event of breakage, take the following steps: 1. Have personnel leave the room and steer clear of the breakage. 2. Shut down the central forced air HVAC system to the area, allow fresh air into the room, and air out the area for 5 to 10 minutes. When proceeding with cleanup, it is best to wear respiratory protection. 3. Use stiff paper or cardboard to collect large glass fragments and powder, then use sticky tape to collect any remaining small debris. 4. Wipe the area with damp paper towels or disposable wipes and place all debris and cleanup materials in a sealable plastic bag or a glass jar with a metal lid. 5. Vacuuming may spread mercury powder or vapor, so do not vacuum up a broken bulb unless glass fragments remain after all other cleanup steps have been taken. If you must vacuum, remove the bag or remove the debris from the canister and seal in a plastic bag. 6. Dispose of all cleanup materials and debris in an outdoor container or other hazardous waste area, and ensure you follow all the requirements for your hazardous waste generator category during disposal. 7. Continue to air out the room and keep the HVAC system shut off for several hours after cleanup, and wash hands with soap and water after handling bulb debris and cleanup materials.
11