Preventing Common Injuries:

Common injuries and their causes: Fingers and hands are injured more than any other part of the body. Many times these injuries occur due to lack of an understanding of the hazards that exist or lack of Personal Protective Equipment.

Personal protective equipment (PPE): PPE is designed to guard against any risk present in the workplace. This can be things like molten metal, falling debris, electric shock, etc. Injuries occur when employees choose not to wear designated Personal Protective Equipment or use the wrong type of equipment.

Important pointers on how to avoid common injuries:

• In most cases, gloves have to be used to prevent hand injuries.
• For each job, complete a written Hazard Assessment to ensure that the proper kind of protection is always available for the various exposures.
• Before handling, inspect materials for slivers, jagged edges, burrs, and rough or slippery surfaces.
• Get a firm grip on the object.
• Clear a path of travel and a set point.
• In the case of repetitive motion tasks, be aware that gloves or other PPE can restrict movement which results in greater stress. This must be accounted for.
• Keep fingers away from pinch points when setting down materials.
• Care should always be taken when wearing gloves while working with or around rotating machinery.
• When handling lumber, pipes, or other long objects, keep hands away from the ends to prevent them from being pinched or from sharp edges.
• Wipe off greasy, wet, slippery, or dirty objects before trying to handle them.
• Keep hands free of oil and grease.
• If injuries do occur have them treated immediately. Cuts or scratches can become infected unless properly cared for.
• Report accidents immediately; following procedures for initial response and containment of the incident.

(Source:  InterWest Insurance Services)

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Solvents

A solvent is a compound that dissolves another material in a solution. The most common solvent in everyday life is water and is referred to as the “universal solvent”. In most workplaces however, the most common solvents people think of and use are organic materials such as paint thinners, degreasers, alcohols and petroleum distillates. Solvents usually have a low boiling point and many are flammable, and evaporate easily. Solvents are usually clear liquids and many have a characteristic odor. Common uses for organic solvents are in degreasing operations, industrial cleaners, dry cleaning operations, paint thinners, nail polish removers, glue solvents, spot removers, detergents, and in cosmetics. Typical chemical ingredients in organic solvents are acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, xylene, alcohol, turpentine, and naphtha.

Solvent vapor can irritate breathing passageways, such as the nose, throat or lungs. Some solvents may also displace oxygen. Long-term health effects may cause liver, kidney, lungs, eye, and nervous system effects. Prolonged skin contact with solvents can cause skin drying and cracking, as well as irritation to the eyes.

These training shorts can increase safe work habits, productivity, and morale. The shorts cover a wide variety of work-related subjects to assist your organization in preventing injuries.

Describes the ways solvents can enter the body and what a worker can do to prevent injury and illness.
Solvents - English

Solvents - Spanish

Describes the ways solvents can enter the body and what a worker can do to prevent injury and illness.
Solvents - Spanish

Source: InterWest Insurance Services, Inc.

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Fire Prevention

In 2009, fires in nonresidential structures cost 105 civilian lives, caused 1,690 civilian injuries and led to $3.0 billion in direct damages. As fire season approaches, here are some suggestions for protecting your business from fire.

Fires need tinder, or easily combustible materials, and oxygen to start. If a spark, electrical short, excess heat or other ignition source contacts tinder where oxygen is present, a fire will likely start. Whether it spreads depends on the amount of oxygen and fuel available.

Preventing fires therefore requires ensuring that combustible materials do not come into contact with ignition sources. And to contain or slow the spread of fires, you need to minimize their contact with additional fuel sources and oxygen.

A fire can start inside or outside your structures. To begin a fire prevention program, check the perimeter of the building for the following:

o Flammable debris, such as paper, rags, wood, trash. If you must store these items near your structures, store them in solid containers, the more airtight the better.
o Flammable liquids. Make sure any flammable liquids stored outside your structures, including propane and other fuel tanks, are well-labeled and securely closed. In certain areas, you might need to store these in a fenced, locked area.
o Landscaping - well-maintained landscaping can help prevent the spread of fires. Mature shrubbery is somewhat fire-resistant. Weeds, on the other hand, grow and burn quickly. If your property has overgrown areas, consider planting (and maintaining) these areas, or clearing them and replacing planted areas with hardscaping. Fires can start inside a building as well. Potential fire starters you can find in your building include:
o “Ordinary” combustibles, such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber, building materials. Storing these materials in appropriate containers can minimize their potential to become fuel in a fire. Packing them tightly so air cannot circulate will also help retard the spread of flames.
o Flammable liquids, such as fuel oil, gasoline, cooking oils, solvents. Again,containers can prevent problems.
o Electrical equipment, such as wiring, fuse boxes, motors. Minimize your fire risk by having only qualified contractors install or repair wiring. Keep motorized equipment well-maintained and clear of any combustible debris. Use only extension cords appropriately rated for the appliance or fixture attached. To contain a fire once it begins requires the proper equipment. Every business, no matter how small, needs at least one fire extinguisher per floor. One fire extinguisher will not work on all types of fires. For best results, match the type of extinguisher to the type of combustibles in the area:  

Class “A” - Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, cloth, rubber, etc.)  

Class “B” - Flammable liquids (fuel oil, gasoline, cooking grease, solvents, etc.)

Class “C” - Energized electrical equipment (wiring, fuse box, electric motors, etc.)

Class “D” - Combustible metals (magnesium, sodium, zirconium, etc.)    

Train employees on fire safety. The following tips can minimize injury and property damage:  

1 Appoint someone to check smoke detectors and fire extinguishers regularly, at least twice a year. Sprinkler systems also need periodic professional inspections; check with your installer for information.

2 Learn how to use a fire extinguisher properly. Pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle and spray from side to side at the base of the fire. For safety, the operator should stand between the fire and the exit to allow a quick escape if the fire does not go out.

3 If anyone’s clothing or hair catches fire, train them to immediately stop, drop and roll. Running will only feed the fire, causing it to burn more intensely and spread.

4 If trapped inside, prevent smoke from spreading by closing doors, blocking any gaps underneath with towels or cloth-preferably wet, if water is available, and covering mouths and noses with cloth.

5 If a small fire threatens to spread or the room becomes smoky, evacuate immediately and call 911. An untrained person should never try to fight a large fire.

6 Ensure your property is protected with adequate insurance limits. For more information on protecting your property from fire, please call InterWest Insurance Services.

Source: InterWest Insurance Services, Inc.

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An Ergonomic Primer on Office Lighting

Light is something we generally take for granted. For most of us, the majority of our waking hours are during the day and daylight has a significant effect on how we see. Daylight also has a large impact on how much and what type of supplementary lighting we need.

A little more than a century ago, we were an agrarian society. The majority of us worked outdoors in the daytime, so lighting wasn’t a problem. At night, those who couldn’t afford artificial lighting, (at one time even candles were expensive), probably just went to bed. With the industrial revolution came a mass exodus to the apparent comfort and security of the city and the promise of easy money in its factories. But with this rose a new concern: the need for adequate illumination in the form of artificial lighting. The invention of the fluorescent light was still decades away, and gas lamps and even incandescent lights were both inefficient and expensive. Lighting’s connection with safety was most likely critical at this stage, as quite often lives depended on it. As time went on, and with the advent of fluorescent lighting and in particular its high efficiency and economy, conditions in factories and other industrial settings improved a great deal.

In the last couple of decades society again appears to have shifted occupational direction slightly. This time, away from factory/manufacturing jobs and into office and service industry positions. One other critical factor has been added – the widespread, almost requisite use of computers or visual display terminals (VDTs). This has changed the work surface in an office from a horizontal one to that of both a horizontal and vertical one. New lighting factors have come into play for the first time: VDT glare, veiling reflections, and cut-off angles from overhead lights. As we are all aware, the commonplace usage of computers has brought with it a host of new problems; things like carpal tunnel syndrome, neck strain, back strain, headaches, eye fatigue and lost productivity. Office ergonomics is now one of the hottest topics in the field of Safety and Health. And lighting is considered by many ergonomists to be one of the top three office ergonomics concerns. (click here for full article)

Source: State Compensation Insurance Fund

WORK PLACE FIRES

The best way is to prepare to respond to an emergency before it happens. Few people can think clearly and logically in a crisis, so it is important to do so in advance, when you have time to be thorough.

Brainstorm the worst‐case scenarios. Ask yourself what you would do if the worst happened. What if a fire broke out in your kitchen or boiler room?

There are FOUR types of Fires

Class A ‐ Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics.  Solid combustible materials that are not metals.

Class B ‐ Flammable liquids: gasoline, oil, grease, acetone. Any non‐metal in a liquid state, on fire.

Class C ‐ Electrical fires: energized electrical equipment. As long as it's "plugged in" it would be considered a class C fire.

Class D ‐ Combustible metals

Emergency Response Preparation—Be Prepared for a fire
Nobody expects an emergency, fire or disaster. Yet the simple truth is that emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, and anywhere.
An emergency action plan covers designated actions employers and employees must take to ensure employee safety from fire and other emergency response.

BEFORE THE FIRE
• Locate the fire alarm boxes and fire extinguishers in your workplace
• Know who to call to sound an alarm and begin evacuation
• Review your company’s Emergency Action Plan—the procedures in place for evacuation
• Determine the escape routes available
• Find out about any hazardous materials in your work site
• Determine who may need help evacuating

IF THE FIRE IS SMALL & YOU CHOOSE TO USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
• Never fight a fire alone, first call for help
• Keep your exit pathway clear

• Know the emergency and evacuation procedures, and the location of emergency equipment on your jobsite; clear thinking and immediate action in an emergency can save lives.
  
  
• Attend all of the safety training that your employer offers. Training helps you identify job hazards and take the appropriate precautions.
  
  
• Never operate equipment unless you have been properly trained.
  
  
• Read and understand the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and know the hazards and safe work practices for all of the chemicals that you work with. If you have a question about equipment, a chemical, or a process, ask your supervisor--taking a chance at work can mean taking a chance with your life.
  
  
• You are responsible for the safety of your own actions while on the job.
  
  
• Conduct yourself professionally, keeping in mind your own safety and the safety of others at all times.
  
  
• Serve as a good role model to coworkers for safe work practices and behavior.
  
  
• Maintain your personal work area and common areas in a clean and orderly manner; good housekeeping means a safer workplace.
  
  
• Always wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for your job tasks.
  
  
• Talk with your supervisor about safety. If you have a suggestion to make a process or equipment safer, speak up! No one knows your job and tools better than you.
  
  
• Immediately warn coworkers and notify your supervisor of any malfunctioning equipment, hazardous conditions, and unsafe behavior in the workplace--someone's life may depend on it.
  
  
• Report all accidents and near misses to your supervisor because investigating these incidents can lead to a safer environment; promptly report to your employer if you have a job-related injury or illness and seek appropriate treatment.