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This issue of the
Safety Network
is sponsored by:
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Leading Indicators For Safety
There are many OSHA standards requiring site-specific
safety programs. Many of these programs mandate training for affected
employees and many require ongoing inspections. Take the time now to
ensure your company is doing all it should to help you employees
perform work in a safe environment.
An important step is to develop metrics to help measure
and track improvements. The most common safety metrics used today are
incident rates in three categories: recordable incidents, lost time
incidents, and lost time/restricted incidents. Unfortunately, incident
rates are trailing indicators and don't help an organization identify
issues before it is too late. Driving your safety program by watching
your incident rates is like trying to steer your car by looking in the
rearview mirror.
Leading indicators help an organization to be more
predictive in their safety performance and allow enough time to make
changes. Leading indicators are activity-based metrics that measure the
presence of safety rather the absence of it. Activity-based metrics
include items such as the number of audits performed, the number of
employees trained, and the number of unsafe conditions corrected each
month. When putting together safety metrics, focus on the frontline and
develop measurements that enhance safety.
Focusing on the frontline in 2011 sends a strong safety
message. It's good sense that lays the foundation for a great year!
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OSHA Passes New Crane Standard
For Construction
The significant number of fatalities associated with the
use of cranes and derricks in construction and the considerable
technological advances in equipment since the publication of the old
rule, issued in 1971, prompted OSHA to issue an update which replaces a
decades old standard.
This new standard will comprehensively address key hazards
related to cranes and derricks on construction worksites, including the
four main causes of worker death and injury: electrocution, crushed by
parts of the equipment, struck-by the equipment/load, and falls.
The rule becomes effective 90 days after August 9, 2010,
the date the final rule was published in the Federal Register. Certain
provisions have delayed effective dates ranging from 1 to 4 years.
Click here for the final rule and a copy of
the regulatory text.
Significant
requirements in this new rule include: a pre-erection inspection of
tower crane parts; use of synthetic slings in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions during assembly/disassembly work;
assessment of ground conditions; qualification or certification of
crane operators; and procedures for working in the vicinity of power
lines.
This final
standard is expected to prevent 22 fatalities and 175 non-fatal
injuries each year.
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The Resources Are Endless
As a normal part of doing business with Gibson, you get
free and easy access to a customized web portal!
Create OSHA Logs
Intuitive service enables you to upload past company logs,
view past loss reports, and use automated features to create accurate
documents for OSHA compliance.
Upload important documents for easy access
Document housing for policy data, risk management reports
and company specific loss prevention programs.
Access to numerous loss prevention resources
Unlimited access to industry specific risk management
tools fully customizable to your company's needs.
Partnership is valuable
Gibson partners with Zywave to provide you with tailored
resources to meet your company's needs.
Contact your client manager to get started!
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End Of Daylight Savings Time May
Increase Road Risks
November 7, 2010 marks the end of daylight savings time
and the beginning of a period when the risk increases for traffic
accidents.
Night will begin to fall an hour earlier making the commute home dark.
The change of waking time coupled with earlier nightfall can throw off
our internal clock. It can take as long as two weeks for our bodies to
adjust. Even making small adjustments in sleep schedules can have a
negative impact on our daily routine. When you are tired, your risk of
having an accident increases.
Those individuals who have trouble adjusting can mean more
drowsy drivers on the road. That's because not getting enough sleep
negatively affects your reflexes, judgment, concentration, alertness,
and mood.
It is important to note that the shift from daylight
saving to standard time could put your employees at greater risk of
traffic accidents on their Monday commute. Make sure your employees are
aware of defensive driving techniques before hitting the road. Extra
care is needed especially when driving home as exhaustion and stress
combined with decreased visibility can cause mishaps.
Stress employee safety, be extra careful out on the roads,
don't drive if you're feeling drowsy, and pay extra attention to your
surroundings.
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Zero Exposure
Cold temperatures are
especially dangerous for workers because exposure can lead to permanent
injury or death. Cold weather injuries can come from low temperatures,
brisk winds, and wet clothing.
Temperatures between 30
and 10 degrees Fahrenheit can freeze exposed flesh within one hour.
Anything colder than 10 degrees, with a fair amount of wind, presents
immediate danger as exposed flesh can freeze within one minute.
Be aware and watch for
signs of the following:
Hypothermia
Signs of hypothermia
include shivering, numbness, difficulty speaking, blue or puffy skin,
poor muscle coordination, inability to walk, confusion and incoherent
or irrational behavior.
Frostbite
This condition is most
likely to affect the fingers, hands, toes, feet, ears and nose. The
skin will turn pale, waxy, hard and numb. In the event of frostbite,
remove all wet, tight clothing and place the affected areas in a warm
water bath to slowly warm the tissue. However, if there is a chance the
affected area may get cold again, do not attempt to warm the skin or
the worker will have severe tissue damage.
These conditions are
extreme, but they are a very real threat to workers in the winter. The
key is prevention. In addition to training employees on cold weather
precautions, always provide proper clothing, allow short warm-up
breaks, provide warm, sweet, decaffeinated beverages and never allow
employees to work alone when the temperature drops.
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Winter Fire
Risks
Holidays can
bring greater-than-usual risks of fire in homes. The National Fire
Protection Association reports that, over the course of a calendar
year, the 10 worst days for fires in homes fall between December 24 and
January 6.
Fortunately,
these risks can be reduced with safe practices that address the
"four Cs" of winter fires: chimneys, candles, Christmas trees
and children.
Chimneys
Buildup or
blockage within a chimney can catch fire. Chimney fires are
unpredictable: they can be noisy and fierce, or can smolder undetected.
Candles
Home-candle fires
happen on Christmas Day more often than any other day, according to the
National Fire Protection Association. Next worst: New Year's Day and
Christmas Eve. How do they start? Half of home-candle fires begin
because an item is left near a lit candle. Four of 10 home candle fires
start in bedrooms, with bedding, furniture, and curtains igniting.
Christmas Trees
The National Fire
Protection Association notes that 300 home fires start each year with
Christmas trees. It's not just live trees; artificial trees also burn.
Three major reasons Christmas-tree fires start: electric malfunctions,
heat too close to the tree, and children playing with matches, candles,
or fireplaces.
Children
Perhaps the most
unpredictable risks for winter fire are those young people who are,
naturally, exploring and experiencing the wonders of the winter world
for the first time. Remember that lights and flames are fascinating to
children.
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