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| Sun Glare and the Daily Commute |
Most of us are familiar with the advice to check the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when we turn the clocks back. Here’s another safety habit to adopt at this time of year: wash your windshields.
The switch from daylight-saving time back to standard time means that many of us are now commuting to and from work when the sun is low on the horizon. This position of the sun creates sun glare, which makes it hard to see pedestrians and oncoming traffic; it’s the suspected cause of many car accidents at this time of year.
Here are a few ways you can reduce the hazards:
- Keep your windshield clean, both inside and out, and fill the washer fluid reservoir.
- Don’t use high-gloss cleansers on your dashboard, as it can reflect sun glare upward.
- When driving, wear polarized sunglasses, which can deflect and diffuse concentrated light waves.
- Vary your commute time by 10 minutes to avoid that moment when the sun is directly in your eyes.
- Vary your route. See if you can find another way to work that is tree-lined or has tall buildings that block the sun.
- Leave extra room between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you to ensure you have enough time to react.
- Note the sun’s position before driving around a corner or cresting a hill.
- Be extra careful at traffic signals. When the sun’s near an object, that object becomes more difficult to see. And if you can see your green light clearly, perhaps the other drivers can’t see their red light.
- Whether driving or walking, note where your shadow is. If your shadow’s in front of you, it means that oncoming traffic probably can’t see you.
Glare-induced blindness is also a problem in winter months, when the sun is reflected off snow and ice on the ground. Help your workers prepare for the winter commute with these 12 Tips for Safer Winter Driving. (Subscription to SafetySmart Online is required to access this page.)
Want to Try SafetySmart Online? Request a Free Demo |
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| Heavy duty equipment is powerful enough to cut through concrete, but we’re pretty sure not in the manner shown here! Someone forgot to check the height of the machine versus the height of this overpass. It looks like a very expensive mistake. (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) |
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| FAA Issues Lithium Battery Cargo Alert |
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an alert to aircraft operators regarding potential risks associated with flying lithium batteries as air cargo.
The FAA says testing it has conducted shows that lithium batteries have the potential to overheat and create fires on board aircraft. While the investigation into the cause of a United Parcel Service (UPS) Sept. 3, 2010, jet crash in the United Arab Emirates has not been concluded, the FAA notes that the plane’s cargo included a large quantity of lithium batteries.
“Lithium batteries are currently classified as Class 9 materials under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) (49 CFR 180 185). Nonetheless, most lithium batteries and devices are currently classified as excepted from the Class 9 provisions of the HMR,” says the FAA. “Because of this exception, they do not require a Notice to the Pilot in Command (NOTOC) to alert the crew of their presence on board an aircraft.”
The administration notes that lithium metal batteries are highly flammable and capable of ignition if a battery short-circuits, is overcharged, is heated to extreme temperatures, is mishandled or is otherwise defective. Likewise, lithium-ion batteries are also flammable and capable of self-ignition in the types of conditions described for lithium metal batteries. |
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| Upcoming Events: |
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| Webinar - Nov 23, 12:00 EST (9 a.m. PST) |
| Stopping Incidents Before They Happen: How to Create a “Near Miss” Reporting Culture |
| A Proven 4-Step Plan to Implement Successful Near-Miss Reporting Culture in Your Organization |
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