|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Are Your Workers Ready for a Hurricane? |
The 2010 hurricane season is proving to be as active as predicted by the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). If you haven’t yet talked to your workers about hurricane or severe storm safety, take the time to do so now, because the worst occurs when there is a lack of education.
In order to effectively protect themselves, your workers must know how to Prepare, Respond and Return.
Prepare: Because hurricanes and tornadoes don’t give a lot of warning, preparation is crucial. Before any storm watches arise, be sure to:
- Designate an interior, windowless room as a “safe room” to wait out the storm.
- Work with your family to establish an evacuation plan and make an emergency supply kit. Make sure everyone knows emergency phone numbers, and where to meet if separated.
- Trim weak branches from all trees, and use landscaping materials that cannot be picked up by strong winds.
- Assess your home insurance. If you live in a flood zone, ensure that you are properly covered in case of a hurricane.
- Prepare a pet plan. Special measures may need to be taken to protect your furry or winged friends.
- Learn your company’s hurricane response plans, including evacuation routes and any responsibilities you may have in case of an emergency.
Respond: When a hurricane or tornado watch is issued and the winds begin to pick up:
- Board up windows, secure outdoor objects and check your emergency supplies.
- Obey officials. If you’re told to evacuate, do so immediately. And don’t return home until you are given the all-clear. Also, tune into emergency broadcasts and heed all warnings given.
- If evacuating, remember to take necessary prescriptions and money with you.
- Expect slow travel. Traffic will be congested, and some roads may be unfit for driving due to debris or flooding.
- If at work, take shelter in a small room on a low floor.
Return: Returning to your home and workplace after a hurricane is very hazardous. When restoring order:
- Never return to a building unless you have been given permission to do so.
- Stay clear of downed power lines and trees, only removing them if you are properly trained.
- Be wary of spills or hazardous material leakages. These can happen both in the workplace and at home.
- Watch for structural damage to entryways, floors or ceilings.
- Block entry to dangerous confined spaces created by structural damage or toxic spills.
This is also a good time to address the safe handling of portable generators. In areas hit by Hurricane Katrina, the misuse of portable generators was responsible for several deaths. SafetySmart Online has a number of tools to help, including eLearning, posters, puzzles, images, articles for your company newsletters and safety talks, such as this one on portable generators and carbon monoxide poisoning. (Subscription to SafetySmart Online is required to access this page.)
Want to Try SafetySmart Online? Request a Free Demo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety Completely Online with Eastern Kentucky University |
|
| This online degree program will equip you with the skills to handle personal and environmental risks within the workplace and teach you how to investigate, manage and prevent hazards and threats. Through EKU’s online program, you will have the flexibility to maintain your current lifestyle and career responsibilities while earning your bachelor’s degree. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| How would you like to be working several feet off the ground when one of the wheels on the lift supporting you was also in the air? In this type of situation, three out of four definitely ain’t good enough. Many workers are killed or badly injured every year as a result of using aerial platforms on uneven or unstable ground. (Worksafe Victoria Australia) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Protecting the Company from Liability for Safety Violations Caused by Workers’ Infractions |
Disobeying the orders of a supervisor, a mine worker chose to dump scrap on a stope not designated for dumping instead of on the nearest “scrap stope.” He fell into an open hole and was killed. The mine was charged with several safety violations.
But the court ruled that it had exercised due diligence. For example, the worker had gotten extensive safety training, including training on the dangers of dumping scrap on non-scrap stopes, and had always been attentive to safety in the past.
The hole the worker fell into was properly guarded with a fence and warning sign. In addition, because the worker had specifically asked a supervisor for the location of a scrap stope, the supervisor neither knew or could reasonably have known that he would ignore safety rules and opt to dump on a non-scrap stope instead [R. v. Xstrata Canada Corp.].
THE PROBLEM
The OHS laws require companies to implement safe work rules and policies to protect their workers. But what happens if the company puts adequate safety rules in place and a worker still gets hurt or killed because he (or a co-worker) didn’t obey these rules? Is the company liable for safety violations based on a worker’s disobedience? Unfortunately, there’s nothing in the OHS laws that directly answers this question. So it has fallen to the courts to do so. The Xstrata case illustrates how courts make such determinations.
Read the four “reasonable steps” to prove due diligence and avoid liability for OHS violations stemming from worker misconduct and the rest of the article at OHSInsider.com. Subscription is required – Sign up for a no-obligation Trial to OHS Insider and you will be entered into a drawing for a FREE NHL jersey of your choice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Oil Spill Health Study Announced |
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says it will soon begin a multi-year study examining the potential health effects experienced by workers involved in the cleanup of the Gulf oil spill.
The NIH says it will spend $10 million and an additional $10 million has been pledged by BP. The NIH will have full autonomy on how the BP money is spent, with input from external scientific experts in environmental health.
“It was clear to us that we need to begin immediately studying the health of the workers most directly involved in responding to this crisis,” says NIH Director Francis Collins.
The study will focus on workers’ exposure to oil and dispersant products and potential health consequences, including respiratory, neurobehavioral, carcinogenic and immunological conditions. It will also look into mental health concerns and oil spill related stressors such as job loss, family disruption and financial uncertainties.
“What we learn from this study may help us prepare for future incidents that put clean-up workers at risk,” says Dale Sandler, chief of the Epidemiology Branch at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and lead researcher on the study.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Upcoming Events: |
|
 |
|
| October 4th & 5th, 2010 |
| OHS Compliance Summit 2010 |
| Get the compliance help you need for 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Join the online community of safety professionals |
|
|
|
 |
| Choose from over 1000+ posters on over 50 safety topics |
|
|
|
 |
| Take advantage of sophisticated and easy-to-use training resources. |
|
|
|
 |
| Leading source of safety compliance information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
