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| Don’t Fall for Rooftop Hazards |
At this time of year, the buildup of heavy snow on the roof is a common concern at both the workplace and at home. And it’s a concern best left to the professionals to handle.
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) warns workers not to attempt clearing snow from rooftops unless they are trained professionals with the proper equipment. It’s good advice for homeowners, too.
A study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine indicated that patients were more likely to fall from a roof while shoveling snow on days with more than 12 inches (30 cm) of snow accumulation.
The bottom line: Never step on a sloped roof in wintertime, or even a flat, icy roof, without fall prevention systems, such as covers, screens, railings or guardrails. If you must work on a roof, wear your fall protection (a full-body harness, lanyard, connectors and appropriate anchorage points), wear slip-resistant footwear and never sit on, lean against or step on a skylight lens or any covering placed over a hole in a roof.
Although most people feel safer at home than they do at work, this sense of security is a false one. The reality is that workers are much more likely to be killed or injured off the job. So it’s important for employers to address safety issues that workers face at home. Include seasonal safety in your off-the-job safety program, such as winter driving, holiday safety and use of portable heaters.
Need access to additional resources on this topic? Try SafetySmart today and get immediate access to safety talks, presentations and more. Sign up for a free 14-day trial now. |
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| Off the Job Safety – Fast with SafetySmart! |
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Do you need to prevent your employees from getting hurt off the job? Start quickly with reliable safety training tools and resources available in SafetySmart! With SafetySmart you will get immediate access to hundreds of talks, presentations and checklists designed to help you keep your employees safe and your company compliant.
Prevent violations while saving time and money - join thousands of safety professionals who rely on SafetySmart, sign up now for your 14-day no cost trial! |
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| This ladder labyrinth reminds one of the balancing aspect of a teeter-totter ride, except that the potential fall to the ground is much more than a couple of feet for both the worker sitting on the boards halfway up the church tower and his buddy working above him. (WorkSafeVictoria, Australia). |
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| SUPERVISORS: Ensure Supervisors Properly Handle Work Refusals |
Refusing dangerous work is one of a worker’s most fundamental safety rights. When a worker exercises this right, it triggers an investigation and response process that’s often spelled out in the OHS laws.
And your supervisors are usually a key player in this process. We’ll explain what the OHS laws say about supervisors and work refusals and how to ensure your supervisors fulfill their refusal duties.
Read the article on OHS Insider.com.
(Note: subscription is required; to get instant access, simply sign up for a No-Obligation Trial.)
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| NIOSH Raises Red Flag on Erionite Exposure |
The National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH) says erionite, a naturally occurring silicate mineral, could be placing North American workers at risk for serious health problems similar to those caused by asbestos exposure.
Disturbance of erionite can generate airborne fibers whose physical properties are similar to asbestos, putting people at risk for developing malignant mesothelioma—a cancer of the lining of the lung and chest cavity or lining of the abdomen.
“Until recently, erionite was not generally considered to be a potential hazard in North America, in part because relatively little risk for exposure was seen,” according to the NIOSH Science Blog. “However, evidence has slowly accumulated linking exposure to erionite with serious adverse health effects in North America, and suggesting that some workers may have a greater potential for exposure than previously thought.”
A road construction worker in Utah was the first worker diagnosed with erionite-related lung disease in 1981. NIOSH says that since the 1980s, gravel pits have been excavated in areas containing erionite deposits and when the gravel is placed on roads there is a potential for airborne erionite fiber exposure.
There are no regulatory or consensus standards or occupational exposure limits for airborne erionite fibers, although the National Toxicology Program has designed erionite as a known human carcinogen.
NIOSH says risk-reduction recommendations to limit erionite exposures of workers who engage in activities that disturb erionite-containing gravel or soil include educating them about the potential health hazards and control methods for reducing the potential for exposure, including wet methods to reduce airborne dust generation and providing workers with appropriate PPE.
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Related story: Affectionate Hugs Led to Cancer
(Note: Subscription is required. To get instant access, simply sign up for a No-Cost Trial of Safe Supervisor.) |
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