Month: September 2014

Firearms Safety | 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling

instructor_showing_safetyFirearms Safety — 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling

1. Always Keep The Muzzle Pointed In A Safe Direction

2. Firearms Should Be Unloaded When Not Actually In Use

3. Don’t Rely On Your Gun’s “Safety”

4. Be Sure Of Your Target And What’s Beyond It

5. Use Correct Ammunition

6. If Your Gun Fails To Fire When The Trigger Is Pulled, Handle With Care!

7. Always Wear Eye And Ear Protection When Shooting

8. Be Sure The Barrel Is Clear Of Obstructions Before Shooting

9. Don’t Alter Or Modify Your Gun, And Have Guns Serviced Regularly

10. Learn The Mechanical And Handling Characteristics Of The Firearm You Are Using

via Firearms Safety | 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling.

Fall Protection

Fall_ProWhy is fall protection important?

Falls are among the most common causes of serious work related injuries and deaths. Employers must set up the work place to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls.

What can be done to reduce falls?

Employers must set up the work place to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls. OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations. In addition, OSHA requires that fall protection be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.

To prevent employees from being injured from falls, employers must:

  • Guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk (using a railing and toe-board or a floor hole cover).
  • Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated open sided platform, floor or runway.
  • Regardless of height, if a worker can fall into or onto dangerous machines or equipment (such as a vat or acid or a conveyor belt) employers must provide guardrails and toe-boards to prevent workers from falling and getting injured.
  • Other means of fall protection that may be required on certain jobs include safety and harness and line, safety nets, stair railings and hand rails.

OSHA requires employers to:

  • Provide working conditions that are free of known dangers.
  • Keep floors in work areas in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.
  • Select and provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers.
  • Train workers about job hazards in a language that they can understand.

via Safety and Health Topics | Fall Protection.

Preventing Heart Disease – At Any Age

man-with-heartYou’re never too young— or too old — to take care of your heart.

Preventing heart disease (and all cardiovascular diseases) means making smart choices now that will pay off the rest of your life.

Lack of exercise, a poor diet and other bad habits can take their toll over the years. Anyone at any age can benefit from simple steps to keep their heart healthy during each decade of life. Here’s how:

No matter what your age, everyone can benefit from a healthy diet and adequate physical activity.

  • Choose a healthy eating plan.  The food you eat can decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke.  Choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars and sweeteners.  As part of a healthy diet, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, fish (preferably oily fish — at least twice per week), nuts, legumes and seeds.  Also try eating some meals without meat.  Select fat-free and low-fat dairy products and lean meats and poultry (skinless).  Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.
  • Be physically active.  You can slowly work up to at least 2½ hours (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (like brisk walking) every week or an hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (such as jogging or running) or a combination of both every week. Additionally, on two or more days a week you need muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest shoulders and arms).

via Preventing Heart Disease – At Any Age.

Carbon Monoxide

CO-decalCarbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and toxic gas, which is predominately produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials. Incomplete combustion occurs when insufficient oxygen is used in the fuel (hydrocarbon) burning process. Consequently, more carbon monoxide, in preference to carbon dioxide, is emitted. Some examples of this are the following: vehicle exhausts, fuel burning furnaces, coal burning power plants, small gasoline engines, portable gasoline-powered generators, power washers, fire places, charcoal grills, marine engines, forklifts, propane-powered heaters, gas water heaters, and kerosene heaters.

Exposure to carbon monoxide impedes the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to body tissues and vital organs. When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it combines with hemoglobin (an iron-protein component of red blood cells), producing carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which greatly diminishes hemoglobin’s oxygen-carrying capacity. Hemoglobin’s binding affinity for carbon monoxide is 300 times greater than its affinity for oxygen. As a result, small amounts of carbon monoxide can dramatically reduce hemoglobin’s ability to transport oxygen. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure are headache, nausea, rapid breathing, weakness, exhaustion, dizziness, and confusion. Hypoxia (severe oxygen deficiency) due to acute carbon monoxide poisoning may result in reversible neurological effects, or it may result in long-term (and possibly delayed) irreversible neurological (brain damage) or cardiological (heart damage) effects.

Carbon monoxide exposure can be dangerous during pregnancy for both the mother and the developing fetus. Please contact CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) if you have any questions regarding carbon monoxide exposure during pregnancy.

via CDC – Carbon Monoxide – NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic.

A Secret to Healthy Aging

628x471With its emphasis on fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest ways in the world to eat. Plus, it’s delicious, so you’ll want to stick with it.

The Mediterranean diet has been linked to better heart health and greater longevity. Experts recommend:

  • Ban butter. Switch to unsaturated olive oil for cooking, and use olive oil for salad dressings. Vegetable oils such as canola and grape seed are also healthy.
  • Switch to fish. Twice a week, substitute a serving of salmon, herring, or albacore tuna for red meat.
  • Load up on veggies. Leave more room on your plate for vegetables like broccoli, kale, carrots, and tomatoes. Grill or steam them, or serve them raw, instead of frying.

via The Secret to Healthy Aging.

Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs

PreventionThe single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent the flu.

1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

4. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

via Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs | Seasonal Influenza (Flu) | CDC.

Trenching and Excavation Hazards

walters-bodyCave-ins are perhaps the most feared trenching hazard. But other potentially fatal hazards exist, including asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen in a confined space, inhalation of toxic fumes, drowning, etc. Electrocution or explosions can occur when workers contact underground utilities.

OSHA requires that workers in trenches and excavations be protected, and that safety and health programs address the variety of hazards they face. The following hazards cause the most trenching and excavation injuries:

  • No Protective System
  • Failure to Inspect Trench and Protective Systems
  • Unsafe Spoil-Pile Placement
  • Unsafe Access/Egress

via OSHA Construction eTool: Trenching and Excavation.

Healthy Eating Tip: Set yourself up for success

P_healthyEating1To set yourself up for success, think about planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps rather than one big drastic change. If you approach the changes gradually and with commitment, you will have a healthy diet sooner than you think.

  • Simplify. Instead of being overly concerned with counting calories or measuring portion sizes, think of your diet in terms of color, variety, and freshness. This way it should be easier to make healthy choices. Focus on finding foods you love and easy recipes that incorporate a few fresh ingredients. Gradually, your diet will become healthier and more delicious.
  • Start slow and make changes to your eating habits over time. Trying to make your diet healthy overnight isn’t realistic or smart. Changing everything at once usually leads to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan. Make small steps, like adding a salad (full of different color vegetables) to your diet once a day or switching from butter to olive oil when cooking. As your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices to your diet.
  • Every change you make to improve your diet matters. You don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy to have a healthy diet. The long term goal is to feel good, have more energy, and reduce the risk of cancer and disease. Don’t let your missteps derail you—every healthy food choice you make counts.

via Healthy Eating: Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Diet & Sticking to It.

Behavioral Safety – Who Is Responsible for Safety?

Safety-Starts-With-MeSafety is everyones responsibility!

As an employee, you should:

  • Learn to work safely and take all rules seriously.
  • Recognize hazards and avoid them.
  • Report all accidents, injuries and illness to your supervisor immediately.
  • Inspect tools before use to avoid injury.
  • Wear all assigned personal protective equipment.

On the other hand, it is managements responsibility to:

  • Provide a safe and healthy workplace.
  • Provide personal protective equipment.
  • Train employees in safe procedures and in how to identify hazards.

Everyone must be aware of potential hazards on the job:

  • Poor housekeeping results in slips, trips and falls.
  • Electricity can cause shocks, burns or fire if not handled properly.
  • Poor material handling may cause back problems or other injuries.
  • Tools and equipment can cause injuries if guards or protective devices are disengaged.

Always use the protections that are provided on the job:

  • Guards on machines and tools keep body parts from contacting moving equipment.
  • Insulation on electrical equipment prevents burns, shock and fire.
  • Lockout/tagout assures equipment is de-energized before it is repaired.
  • Personal protective equipment shields your body from hazards you may face on the job.

In case of emergency:

  • Understand alarms and evacuation routes.
  • Know how to notify emergency response personnel.
  • Implement a procedure for leaving the scene safely so emergency personnel can do their job.
  • Wipe up spills promptly and correctly.

Safety benefits everyone. With fewer injuries, a business can be more productive and profitable. By incorporating safety rules, employees avoid injury as well as illness from exposure to hazardous substances.

via Behavioral Safety – Who Is Responsible for Safety? | Safety Toolbox Talks Meeting Topics.