Safety Net | June 2023

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I know that I’ve become very comfortable over the years driving. With so many people partaking in different forms of distracted driving, drunk driving , and other forms of dangerous driving behavior, I think we all need a wake-up call every now and then.

REVISITING THE DANGERS OF DRIVING

While fatal driving statistics have continued to improve over the decades , driving our cars remains the single most dangerous activity we perform during the day. Since most people have been in a motor vehicle nearly every day of their life, driving or even riding as a passenger becomes incredibly routine to us. It’s almost silly that so many people are scared to fly, even though driving remains the number one cause of death in most age groups.

CHANCES OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN INJURY ACCIDENT

Get ready, because this is some scary stuff. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) , two out of three motorists will be involved in an injury accident during their life!

Whether you are the one who becomes injured or not is another story, but that’s some eye-opening stuff. Two out of three? Geeze!

To add insult to injury (pun sort of intended), as a motorist you can expect to be involved in an accident once every 10 years. Even if you’re the best driver in the world, you can’t control other people’s driving. So once every decade or so, expect to be involved in a traffic crash.

How long has it been for you?

Oh, and I almost forgot… There is a 1 in 20 chance that the crash you have will involve a serious injury. Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

TOP 10 DRIVING STATISTICS EVERY DRIVER SHOULD KNOW

While there is an endless amount of driving stats and facts, here are 10 stats that every driver should know.

1. SPEEDING CAUSES MOST ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Did you know that driving too fast is linked to the majority of all traffic accidents? About one-third of all traffic fatalities are caused, in part, due to driving too fast. Speeding doesn’t just mean exceeding the speed limit. You can be speeding and driving too fast without ever going near the speed limit.

Drivers need to adjust based on different conditions such as snow and ice . Bad weather conditions are the main

reason for reducing speed, but other conditions such as wet leaves on the road, an increase in pedestrians, blind curves, and other factors can require that you slow down well below the posted speed limit.

Always determine a safe speed based on ever-changing driving conditions, not based on how fast you are legally allowed to drive.

2. MANY LICENSED DRIVERS WOULD FAIL THE WRITTEN DRIVING TEST TODAY

Some studies show that up to 40% of licensed drivers would fail the written driving exam if they were given it today.

The fact is, we forget many of the core rules and regulations when it comes to driving. This is one reason adult drivers are often encouraged to take defensive driving courses . Many insurance companies provide discounts for people who go through a traffic school from time to time. Most states also have programs where people can dismiss traffic tickets or reduce points on their driving record by taking a refresher course.

3. CAR ACCIDENTS CAUSE MILLIONS OF PERMANENT INJURIES EVERY YEAR

The more you learn about these driving statistics, the more frightening it gets. This is one of the more scary stats.

Did you know that approximately 2-million people in the United States suffer permanent injuries every year?

We often hear about traffic deaths when talking about driving statistics, but seldom do we see the disturbing stats on how many people are injured.

If you do the math, over 5,000 people EVERY DAY sustain a permanent injury that they will never fully recover from due to an auto accident.

4. NEW DRIVERS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS DRIVERS

Teen drivers are responsible for the highest rate of traffic accidents. The first year after a teen obtains a driver’s license is the most dangerous. That’s why many states have adopted a graduated driver’s license program, where teens are gradually given more and more freedoms as they gain experience.

But does this mean we should raise the driving age?

Probably not. The first year of driving is going to be dangerous no matter what age we start off with.

5. AGGRESSIVE DRIVING IS A REAL THREAT

Road rage and aggressive driving is a very real threat in the United States. Some statistics state that over 60% of all traffic accident deaths are caused by aggressive driving. Male drivers between the ages of 19-39 are most at risk. Aggressive driving incidents can usually be avoided by staying away from those drivers. All too often, road rage matches ensue and escalate to levels that weren’t intended in the first place.

6. PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS ARE ON THE RISE

Over the last 10 years, traffic fatalities involving pedestrians went up nearly 30%. Quieter vehicles and increased districted driving has played a role in these increasing numbers. We are also sharing the road more often with bicyclists, joggers, and people crossing busy intersections. While pedestrians have a 90% chance of surviving a crash at about 20mph, they only have a 50% chance at speeds higher than that. And let’s face it, most pedestrians struck by even a slow-moving vehicle will sustain long-term and possibly lifelong injuries.

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7. DRIVING IN POOR WEATHER IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS

If you can avoid driving in bad weather, always stay home or prolong your driving until the weather conditions improve.

Traffic accidents caused by poor weather kills more people annually that any other weather related death (flash floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.).

It can take 10 times longer (or more) to stop a vehicle in snow or ice, and yet every year we see videos of major pile-ups because people were driving too fast and following too close. Learn more about driving in bad weather here .

8. BACKING UP CAN BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN DRIVING FORWARD

Here’s a pretty crazy driving statistic… Each year about 250 people die due to a vehicle backing over them. Of that, over 30% are children under 5 years old.

With backup cams and blind spot warnings in newer cars, we can sometimes get complacent about backing up. I mean really, how many miles do you drive going backwards?

With that said, driving in reverse, when calculated on a per-milage basis, is far more dangerous than driving forwards. Always check your mirrors , be aware of your surroundings, and take your time when backing up.

9. DRIVING IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING WE DO ON A NEAR DAILY BASIS – OR EVER!

Since driving is such a common thing in our society, we often forget just how dangerous it is. But driving is likely the most dangerous thing you ever do, and most of us are in a car nearly every day!

Each day, another 3,000 lives are lost due to motor vehicle accidents. That comes out to more than 1,000,000 traffic accident deaths every single year.

You would think since cars are getting safer that this state would be improving, but it’s not. Traffic accident deaths since 2007 have been gradually increasing.

10. PLACES CRASHES ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR

The vast majority of traffic accidents happen within 20 miles of someone’s home. That might be a more obvious statistic since that’s where the majority of their driving takes place, but let’s take a closer look at where traffic crashes are most likely to occur.

While the majority of the U.S. population live in urban areas, about half of all accidents occur in rural areas where only 20% of the population lives. This includes motorcycle fatalities which are higher in rural areas even though more traffic exists in urban areas.

Work zones are also a particularly dangerous area to drive with one work zone fatality for every 4 billion miles driving. That might seem like a big number, but when you calculate the sheer number of vehicles on the road, the number is pretty bad.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Well, the news isn’t all bad. Driving statistics from last year show that driving has never been safer. Every year, our roadways improve, our vehicles are better designed, and many people are beginning to drive less as well. But there are still some basic things you should consider doing to keep up with the latest safe driving techniques .

Prevent Heat Illness at Work

Prevent Heat Illness at Work

Ou tdoor and indoor heat exposure can be dangerous.

Ou tdoor and indoor heat exposure can be dangerous.

Ways to Protect Yourself and Others

Ways to Protect Yourself and Others

Ease into Work . Nearly 3 out of 4 fatalities from heat illness happen during the first week of work . 100%

Ease into Work . Nearly 3 out of 4 fatalities from heat illness happen during the first week of work . 100%

New and returning workers need to build tolerance to heat (acclimatize) and take frequent breaks

New and returning workers need to build tolerance to heat (acclimatize) and take frequent breaks

Follow the 20% Rule. On the first day, work no more than 20% of the shift ’s duration at full intensity in the heat

Follow the 20% Rule. On the first day, work no more than 20% of the shift ’s duration at full intensity in the heat

Increase the duration of time at full intensity by no more than 20% a day until workers are used to working in the heat

Increase the duration of time at full intensity by no more than 20% a day until workers are used to working in the heat

Drink Cool Water

Drink Cool Water

Drink cool water even if you are not thirsty — at least 1 cup every 20 minute s.

Drink cool water even if you are not thirsty — at least 1 cup every 20 minute s.

Take Rest Breaks

Take Rest Breaks

Take enough time to recover from heat given the temperature, humidity, and conditions.

Take enough time to recover from heat given the temperature, humidity, and conditions.

Find Shade or a Cool Area

Find Shade or a Cool Area

Take breaks in a designated shady or cool location.

Take breaks in a designated shady or cool location.

Dress for the Heat

Dress for the Heat

Wear a hat and light- colored, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing if possible

Wear a hat and light- colored, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing if possible

Watch Out for Each Other

Watch Out for Each Other

Monitor yourself and others for signs of heat illness.

Monitor yourself and others for signs of heat illness.

If Wearing a Face Covering

If Wearing a Face Covering

Change your face covering if it gets wet or soiled. Verbally check on others frequentl y.

Change your face covering if it gets wet or soiled. Verbally check on others frequentl y.

First Aid for Heat Illness

FIRST AID FOR HEAT ILLNESS

First Aid for Heat Illness

The following are signs of a medical emergency!

The following are signs of a medical emergency!

1 CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

2

RIGHT AWAY WITH WATER OR ICE

3 STAY WITH THE WORKER UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

3 STAY WITH THE WORKER UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

Watch for any other signs of heat illness and act quickly. When in doubt, call 911.

Watch for any other signs of heat illness and act quickly. When in doubt, call 911.

If a worker experiences:

If a worker experiences:

Headache or nausea

Headache or nausea

Weakness or dizziness

Weakness or dizziness

Heavy sweating or hot, dry skin

Heavy sweating or hot, dry skin

Elevated body temperature

Elevated body temperature

Thirst

Thirst

Decreased urine output

Decreased urine output

Take these actions:

Take these actions:

Give water to drink

Give water to drink

Remove unnecessar y clothing

Remove unnecessar y clothing

Move to a cooler area

Move to a cooler area

Cool with water, ice, or a fan

Cool with water, ice, or a fan

Do not leave alone

Do not leave alone

Seek medical care if needed

Seek medical care if needed

For more information: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) TTY 1-877-889-5627 osha.gov/heat

For more information: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) TT Y 1-87 7-889-562 7 www.osha.gov/heat

Federal law entitles you to a safe workplace. You have the right to speak up about hazards without fear of retaliation. See osha.gov/workers for information about how to file a confidential complaint with OSHA and ask for an inspection.

The Kajima Safety Summit Was Held May 10 in Atlanta at The Kajima USA Office Complex.

All of the safety managers and directors from each of the Kajima sister company’s meet every year with Aon and Liberty Mutual to discuss key safety issues in all companies. This year we had speakers to discuss:

Construction Safety and Partnering with Liberty Risk Control - Liberty Mutual: Molly Digiandmenico

Emerging Risks on Construction - Liberty Mutual: Derek Spain

Cyber Security in Construction - Aon: John Ansbach

Drones in Construction - Aon: Robert Habel

Environmental Risk in Construction - Aon: Ian Pilling

Energy Wheel - The Austin Company: Charlie Engel

Toyota Safety Philosophy - KBDG: Mike Roush

The Austin Company Joined The University of Colorado, Boulder

The Austin Company joined the University of Colorado Boulder “Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA)” back in January 2023. This group is made-up of about twenty five (25) different companies from construction, power line distrubtion, commuical landscaping, underground utilities, etc.. This was our second quarter meeting. During our first quarter meeting, every company had to submit five (5) different types project that they were working on. Our home work was to conduct a “High Energy Control Assessment (HECA)” of the five project and identify the hazards that could go wrong or “S_ _t That will Kill You (STKY)”.

During the day we had breakout section to review other company work and identify the STKY and if we identified any missed hazards. It was amazing what other people identify as a work haxard that is not associated with that type of work.

We are look forward to our 3rd quarter meeting with the CSRA team in August.

A Look at Workplace Violence – Warning Signs and Prevention Strategies

04.23.2023 | Safety + Health

Acts of workplace violence occur often – and across industries.

In 2020, 392 workplace homicides and more than 37,000 nonfatal injuries stemming from intentional harm from another person were recorded, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The leading worker groups in the homicide category: sales, followed by transportation and material moving. Nonfatal assaults, meanwhile, were most common in the service industry, ahead of health care and education.

“The old methodology of, ‘Oh, it could never happen here’ – that has to go out of the window,” said Mike Britt, coowner of Virginia-based Sentinel Security Group. “Because it can.”

Britt – who has nearly a quarter century of anti-terrorism and physical security experience and has held various military positions – learned of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX, in May 2022 while delivering workplace violence prevention training about an hour’s drive away from the scene.

To Britt, the tragedy reinforces the prevalence of a widespread problem facing employers.

KEY POINTS

• One expert says workplace violence is “never out of the blue.” People who commit violent acts or show hostility may have experienced the end of a relationship or the loss of a job, or hold a work-related grievance, for example.

• Experts emphasize the importance of providing de-escalation training to managers and supervisors, especially those in smaller organizations or shift work industries.

• Although OSHA doesn’t have an established standard regarding workplace violence, the agency offers resources related to risk factors, workplace violence prevention programs and training.

WARNING SIGNS OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Speaking during a seminar at the 2022 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in San Diego, Lev Pobirsky, senior director of safety and security at Pepsi and chair of the National Safety Council’s community safety division, said workplace violence is “never out of the blue.”

People who commit workplace violence often have experienced a “crisis point” in the weeks or months before the event, such as the end of a relationship or loss of a job. Grievances related to overtime and perceived unfair labor practices or unequal treatment also may serve as a motive, noted Britt, who was a presenter at the 2021 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando.

Pobirsky and Britt say the following behaviors can be warning signs of violence:

• Increased drug or alcohol use

• Financial difficulties

• Excessive unexpected absences

• Unexplained outbursts of hostile behavior

• Quickly becoming agitated or upset with management, co-workers or supervisors

• Leaving work unexpectedly

• Intense anger

• Verbalizing negative actions, such as making “If I could …” statements

• Suicidal threats

• Property destruction

“Generally, things to look out for is when a good employee becomes not a great employee,” Pobirsky said. “Or if they’re already bad, now they’re really, really bad. Kind of on their way out. More argumentative, often more late, performance decreases. Just sort of a shift in attitude, in performance and output.”

‘SAY SOMETHING’

The biggest takeaway of Britt’s workplace violence prevention training courses: the importance of speaking up. “Say something. Talk to human resources,” Britt said. “If a co-worker starts acting different … to a point where you feel threatened or something is not quite right, talk to human resources. They have training. They know what to do legally. If not, they’ll get a hold of their legal team and understand a path to move forward.”

In extreme cases of threats or violence, workers and supervisors should contact law enforcement.

Still, experts stress the importance of providing deescalation training to managers and supervisors – especially those in smaller organizations or shift work industries – in the event HR personnel are away from the office during an incident of hostility or violence.

Britt conceived a potential scenario.

“‘OK, well, we’ll handle this when HR gets in,’ or ‘We’ll handle this when the boss comes in tomorrow’ or ‘We’ll handle it later. Let’s just get back to work.’

“What did you just do? You just perpetuated that cycle one more day, one more shift, versus giving these first-line leaders some quality training or at least some training to handle a situation like that.”

Strategies for de-escalation include:

• Maintain neutral eye contact.

• Avoid crossing arms, pointing fingers and other body language that may be perceived as hostile.

• Use positive language.

• Speak calmly, asking the question from the perspective of the person who made the threat.

• Ask the hostile person to sit and write down what’s upsetting them.

Although each situation and person is different, Britt said, paying attention to body language is a uniform strategy that can be helpful.

“If they’re tense and then you say something and they relax their shoulders, that means, OK, they’re calming down. If they’re cross-armed, staring at you directly, that means they’re tense; they’re not really in attack mode, but they’re very aggressive. So there’s a lot of different things that you can read from somebody.”

Goose Chasers, Digital Fur-endships and Limiting Air Pollution: What We’re Reading This Week

04.21.2023 | EHS Today by

In honor of Earth Day, I’m thinking about ways I can lessen my environmental impact.

That means eating the food I have in my fridge before it spoils, buying bread from the local bakery, donating things I no longer need and look for ways to reuse or repurpose what I already have.

I’m not a perfect environmentalist. I eat meat. I drive a car. I sometimes forget my reusable totes. But the things I am already doing (e.g., recycling, composting, visiting my local library, buying secondhand) do help. The world needs us all to try rather than focus on being perfect.

This weekend, I plan to recycle my old electronics and cords. I plan to spend next Saturday morning picking up trash at my local park. I hope you’re able to find some small ways to give back and enjoy Mother Nature. Maybe you’ll go for a stroll to see the trees and flowers blooming. And if you see any trash, pick it up some trash so the sight is even prettier for the next person.

I’ve found some environmentally minded news that I think will make you smile and hopefully make you think. After all, you never know where your next great idea is going to come from! I’d love to hear if it was sustainable.

Until next time, take care and be safe!

GOOSE CHASERS

While I love our neighbors up north, I’m not a huge fan of Canadian geese. They squawk, they pay no mind to moving vehicles and they leave a mess.

I’m not alone in my dislike for the waterfowl, but thankfully, I don’t have a pond on my property and have to deal with them regularly. But for those who do, figuring out what to do can cause headaches.

Enter the business Geese Chasers. It caught my attention because of its first employee: Boomer, the border collie. Boomer’s human, Robert Young, was asked for his services after Boomer had finished chasing geese from a golf course.

These working dogs are a humane and dog-gone effective way to rid a space of geese. That’s critical because the number of geese has increased by 1,500% in North America over the last 40 years. Young found that if a dog chases geese four times, they stay away four weeks.

And he found that his Border collie, bred to be a working dog, loved the thrill of the chase.

“We had a lake behind our house, and Boomer was chasing everything with a feather out of it, ducks, cormorants, anything that moved,” Young told The New York Times . “When he finally chased the last duck out, he’d come out almost passed out and he’d be ready to do it all over again.”

I never cease to be amazed by what dogs can do. Now I must add chasing geese to that list. And if your business has a pest problem or other unwelcomed guests, I encourage you to look for natural solutions, such as a Border collie who will run like the wind while getting rid of geese. I guarantee seeing that collie will make you smile!

Read the article and see plenty pictures of good dogs here

whether pet parrots would want to connect with other birds over video calls. The results, as you might imagine, are adorable.

A cohort of 18 parrots were taught to ring a bell when they wanted to call a friend. Then, their owners would show a device with pictures of other parrots. Once the birds figured it out, they made many requests to talk.

Scientists noted the birds were engaged and mirrored each other’s behaviors, including grooming together and singing together. The birds even developed besties, who they would prefer to call more than others.

Owners said the birds were calmer and more confident because of their social interactions. Scientists say there need to be boundaries to make sure parrots have the choice to make these calls and have a positive experience (that is, don’t show signs of distress or discomfort). But, technology might be a way to entertain and stimulate these very smart creatures who need lots of enrichment. View some short clips of the birds here

LIMITING AIR POLLUTION

Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed rules requiring chemical plants measure certain hazardous compounds that cross beyond their property lines. If those emissions are too high, the plants would need to reduce them.

The proposed rule would also cover short-term emission spikes when chemical plants start up, shut down or malfunction.

The EPA said the proposed rule would reduce cancer risk and other exposure for those living close to those plants. The agency also said the data would be made public, so that companies would be forced to address problems that result in increased emissions. This proposed rule would give residents more power, because they previously had not been able to sue and reduce the threat when harmful emissions were detected.

“For generations, our most vulnerable communities have unjustly borne the burden of breathing unsafe, polluted air,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan on a trip in Louisiana.

DIGITAL FUR-ENDSHIPS

Animals are social creatures. It’s easy to observe this in the wild, at the zoo or even with dogs at the dog park. It can be more difficult to observe with our indoor pets, unless you have multiples, e.g., fur siblings.

But what if we could use technology to help our pets be more social? It is an intriguing idea. Scientists wondered

The proposed rule would also focus on manufacturers of ethylene oxide , slashing emissions by about two-thirds nationwide and chloroprene by three-quarters from 2020 levels.

Top 10 Preventable Workplace Injuries

05.02.2023 | Weeklysafety.com

When it comes to managing risk in the workplace, knowledge is power. The annual Workplace Safety Index ranks the top 10 causes of disabling work-related injuries and we tell you how you can ensure you aren’t part of these statistics.

According to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, serious, nonfatal workplace injuries amounted to nearly $60 billion in direct U.S. workers compensation costs. This translates into more than a billion dollars a week spent by businesses on these injuries.

The top 10 causes of workplace injuries account for more than 50 billion dollars or about 85% of the total cost.

“Each year, we rank the top 10 causes of the most serious, nonfatal workplace injuries by their direct costs to help companies better protect employees and the bottomline,” states Liberty Mutual who provides the annual Workplace Safety Index, that often doesn’t change much from year to year.

“Workplace injuries impact both employees and employers. Injured employees face potential physical, emotional and financial harm. Employers face the direct costs of workplace injuries – medical care related to the accident and some portion of an injured employee’s pay – and the indirect costs, including hiring temporary employees, lost productivity, and quality disruptions.”

The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index helps employers, risk managers, and safety practitioners make workplaces safer by identifying critical risk areas so that businesses can better allocate safety resources.

TOP 10 DISABLING WORKPLACE INJURIES

OVEREXERTION INVOLVING OUTSIDE SOURCES Injuries from lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying or throwing objects accounts for 22% of the national burden when it comes to workplace injuries. TAKE ACTION: Train employees on the proper way to perform the physical tasks required on the job. Utilize equipment, instead of manual labor, when available.

Ensure employees are provided breaks and rest when needed to prevent overexertion.

FALLS ON SAME LEVEL Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries indoors and outdoors. Employees are at risk for sprains, strains, lacerations or worse especially if they fall into surrounding debris that could cause further injury. TAKE ACTION: Ensure non-slip mats and rugs are in use, make good housekeeping a priority in the workplace, repair or clearly mark uneven walking surfaces, and train employees on proper clean-up requirements.

STRUCK BY OBJECT OR EQUIPMENT When work is done at heights, large equipment is in use, or materials are stored vertically there can be a great risk for employees to be struck by falling objects or moving equipment. TAKE ACTION: All overhead materials should be stored in a secure manner. Caution signs should be used and proper PPE, like hard hats , should be in used when needed.

FALLS TO LOWER LEVEL Falls from heights can be from ladders, through floor holes or sky lights , from scaffolding, on stairways, from roofs or from large equipment. TAKE ACTION: Ensure all employees that work at heights have proper fall protection provided and they are trained on the use of the fall protection equipment including PFAS , guard rails,or other engineered devices.

OTHER EXERTIONS OR BODILY REACTIONS These injuries are typically non-impact but occur when a body reacts or responds to something unexpected or has an injury due to a vigorous or strenuous effort. These injuries don’t fit into one of the other common categories. TAKE ACTION: Workplace risk assessments can help evaluate common hazards that employees may be exposed to and assist management with prevention and training opportunities.

ROADWAY INCIDENTS INVOLVING MOTORIZED LAND VEHICLE

Employees who drive for business purposes may have more opportunity to be injured in auto crashes and are also susceptible to distracted and drowsy driving TAKE ACTION: Define safe driving policies with an emphasis on distracted, drowsy, and defensive driving. Provide employees with safedriver training.

SLIP OR TRIP WITHOUT FALL Reaction injuries occur when an employee slips or trips but doesn’t fall down. The stress of the reaction to correct the body to upright can cause muscle strain, twisted ankles, or other trauma. TAKE ACTION: Place no-slip rugs near entrances/exits, make sure any uneven areas are labeled clearly (or repaired), keep all work spaces tidy, and potential slippery areas around the building outside should be cleared.

CAUGHT IN/COMPRESSED BY EQUIPMENT OR OBJECTS

Caught-in injuries are one of the top 4 serious incidents that occur in construction and machine entanglement caughtin injuries occur most often in factory settings. TAKE ACTION: Provide protective barriers and train employees on how to recognize caught-in hazards

STRUCK AGAINST OBJECT OR EQUIPMENT When employees unintentionally walk into equipment, walls, debris or furniture in the workplace it is common to have head, knee, neck and foot bruising, sprains and injuries. TAKE ACTION: Ensure good housekeeping is a priority in the workplace, walkways are designated and potential hazards are clearly marked.

NON-ROADWAY INCIDENTS INVOLVING MOTORIZED LAND VEHICLES Defensive driving skills and awareness are still important when operating any vehicle in an off-road environment which might be in a field, a factory, a parking lot, a job site, or a work zone. TAKE ACTION: Reinforce safe driving habits, including back over prevention , for all drivers and equipment operators through annual refresher training, monthly safety meetings, and weekly toolbox talks.

“The goal of the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is to inform the national agenda on workplace safety by highlighting the direct costs of the most serious workplace accidents,” notes Dr. Ian Noy, former Director of the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety. “[This] study helps companies focus improvement efforts and resources on the most important areas.”

To learn more about how Liberty Mutual collects data to compile this very important list, visit their website at libertymutualgroup.com .

Nail Gun Safety

04.23.2023 | Safety + Health

Before you pick up that nail gun, do you know how to use it safely?

Here are a few common causes of injury that CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training says are related to improper use of nail guns: unintended firing, holding down the contact trigger when the gun isn’t firm against the work surface, ricocheting or airborne nails, nails going through the work surface, and bypassing safety features.

ALL OF THESE CAN BE AVOIDED.

According to CPWR, here’s how:

• Keep the nail gun pointed away from your body and other workers, especially when the air supply is connected.

• Disconnect the compressed air if you leave a nail gun unattended, move to a new location with it, hand it off to a coworker or are performing maintenance.

• Don’t reach up and attempt to use the nail gun in a spot you cannot fully see. If you can’t reach the work, use a hammer instead.

• Wear personal protective equipment: safety glasses marked with Z87+, hearing protection and steel-toed footwear.

• Make sure you’re trained on the safe use and handling of a nail gun.

Total Human Health Now Part Of Construction Association’s Best Practices

05.05.2023 | Safety + Health

Washington — A whole-person approach is a key component of an effective worker safety program, Associated Builders and Contractors says in its latest guide on safety best practices in the construction industry.

ABC, a national trade association representing the nonunion construction industry, defines “total human health” in its 2023 Safety Performance Report. The report is based on 2022 data from companies that take part in ABC’s STEP Safety Management System. ABC collects each organization’s OSHA Form 300A data and “self-assessment of leading indicator practices” from its STEP application.

In a March 28 press release, ABC says total human health incorporates:

• A whole-person approach to engage a person’s body, mind, heart and soul.

• Psychological safety that’s respectful and inclusive of a diverse workforce.

• Acknowledgement of the risk of distraction and impairment, and responding with appropriate care.

The report details the “foundations of world-class safety,” based on more than 850 million work hours by STEP participants in construction, civil engineering and specialty trades, among other segments:

New-hire safety orientation: Companies that conduct an in-depth indoctrination of new employees into the safety

culture, systems and processes based on a documented orientation process experience incident rates that are 48%52% lower than those that limit their orientations to basic health and safety compliance topics.

Substance abuse prevention programs: Robust substance abuse prevention programs/policies with provisions for drug and alcohol testing, where permitted, lead to a 59% reduction in total recordable incident rates and a 62% reduction in days away, restricted or transferred rates.

Toolbox talks: Companies that conduct daily toolbox talks reduce TRIR by 78% and DART rates by 76% compared with those that do so on a monthly basis.

Top management engagement: Employer involvement at the highest level of company management produces a 55% reduction in DART rates and a 54% reduction in TRIR.

“Top-performing ABC STEP members actively build health and safety into their culture, creating industry-leading, holistic safety programs to protect their workers and deliver for their clients,” Greg Sizemore, vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development at ABC, said in the release. “STEP measures performance on key components, strengthens and expands best practices, and builds safety culture. Our people are our greatest asset, and ABC will continue to advance world-class safety for our people through valuable resources like the ‘Safety Performance Report.’”

Safety Professionals Rely on Tech to Meet Growing Demands

05.03.2023 | EHS Today

The idea of achieving total workplace safety is in the process of transitioning from a worthy goal to strenuously aim for, to becoming a standard that all organizations will be expected to meet. This trend also is putting pressure on safety professionals to maximize the value of safety technology, a trend highlighted in EHS Today’s 2023 Guide to Safety Technology report.

In a recent survey of 485 safety professionals, those polled revealed in detail how they are evaluating and applying the most up-to-date safety tech while obtaining the maximum value from what it can produce. A common approach is to thoughtfully research and carefully apply new technology. Topics range from simple personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety glasses to highly sophisticated computer programs designed to manage every aspect of safety.

The report points out that today’s investment in safety equipment must lead to measurable improvements or be supported by evidence that it really can produce results when it comes to creating and maintaining a safe workplace.

As the old saying goes, these professionals intend to find themselves “on the leading edge, not the bleeding edge” of the high-tech revolution. To achieve this goal, their investments must lead to measurable improvements in safety in order to reach the ultimate goal of eliminating incidents of all kinds.

That goal is not just some futuristic prediction. For years now, government policymakers already have fully embraced the zero-based approach when it comes to highway safety. Having originated in Sweden in the 1990s, this approach was initiated in the United Sates in the form of the Road to Zero Coalition, which was organized by the National Safety Council (NSC) with the stated goal of eliminating motor vehicle fatalities and injuries no later than 2050.

The Biden Department of Transportation bought into this ambitious concept, as have many state, municipal and even small suburban and county governments who are designing “complete roads” that include bike lanes and traffic-calming designs with the aim of significantly reducing vehicle speeds and reckless maneuvering.

It expanded to become the announced philosophy of Jennifer Homendy, appointed by President Biden to be chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). She confidently proclaimed just as her agency’s investigation of the East Palestine, Ohio, fiery train derailment had gotten underway that “I can tell you this much: This was 100% preventable. We call things accidents. There is no accident. Every single event that we investigate is preventable.”

Under the Biden administration, other federal agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA), and others have initiated new and stricter compliance efforts and increased penalties that require the close attention of employers.

It is only a matter of time before these efforts expand into other areas of safety enforcement and management. The stakes have never been higher and they are climbing.

“For safety professionals who are responsible for making purchasing decisions regarding safety equipment and technology, the need to embrace solutions to make a real difference has never been greater,” the report states. “Today’s investment in safety equipment must lead to measurable improvements or be supported by evidence that it really can work to maintain a safe workplace environment.”

NEED FOR C-SUITE SUPPORT

The upshot is that safety professionals must educate themselves thoroughly about the full range of products and services they need to deploy in support of achieving this goal. They also must be sufficiently knowledgeable to be equally expert at selling these products to C-suite executives as they are at choosing and implementing them in their operations.

“It looks like technology vendors need to do more work to educate their customers and prospects, and safety management professionals have a lot of work to do to educate their upper management,” the report concludes. Of course, computers have long been deployed to help manage safety management in regard to training, supervision and exception reporting, but what the professionals who were surveyed are looking for is optimization of these systems to support continuous improvement. In fact, 79% of respondents said they are using or plan to use tech for training purposes.

When it comes to managing the safety process, 52% said they currently use or are planning to use specialized

software to track, manage, analyze and report data about their facilities’ safety performance. On the other hand, 20% said they are not planning to do that, and 29% said they still don’t know whether they will or won’t.

One revelation that came out of the survey was just how difficult it has been to sell safety improvements to top-level management in the wake of the economic turmoil created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting budget constraints that followed the pandemic have limited any positive effect on budgets.

Among the survey respondents, 15% reported that they had experienced an increase in spending on safety in their organizations amounting to more than 5% more than their previous budget. Another 13% of respondents said that their budget boost was in the 3-5% range and 20% saw only a 1-5% bump. Unfortunately, 48% said they saw no change in their budgets at all, and about 5% experienced budget reductions of between 1-5%.

As a result, it is hardly surprising that 51% of the respondents hold that budgetary restrictions are the biggest barriers to the adoption of safety technology at their organizations. In addition, 55% of them said they have no dedicated tech budget for EHS activities, a rather startling statistic. Another 32% said their safety tech budget was less than $500,000, and 7% said their budget was in the $500,000-$999,999 range. Only 6% had safety tech budgets of more than $1 million a year.

Another 36% cited lack of understanding of the technology’s capabilities as their organization’s biggest barrier to adoption, and 33% said they were not staffed to implement and use the technology they wanted to acquire. About 30% cited the lack of ROI data or a business case to be made, while others (26%) blamed restrictions on their operations to the lack of adequate senior management support.

Train Workers To Inspect, Use, And Store Portable Ladders

04.10.2023 | JJ Keller

Before employees use portable ladders, employers must train them on properly inspecting, safely using, and appropriately storing those ladders.

Employees must inspect each ladder before the first use on each shift, and they need to recognize defects that would require removing the ladder from service. Employees may need to perform additional inspections if a ladder could have been damaged. For example, if a ladder falls off a roof or vehicle or gets struck by a vehicle, it must be inspected again.

Employers determine the scope of each inspection. Typically, pre-use inspections would include verifying that the footing is firm and stable, engaging spreader or locking devices to see if they work, and looking for any missing or damaged components.

Inspections after a tip-over might include looking for dents or bends in side rails and rungs, checking hardware connections, examining rivets for shearing, and checking the ladder footing.

Employees need training to properly inspect a ladder and identify any problems. OSHA doesn’t require documenting

ladder inspections, but providing a checklist could ensure a thorough inspection and help demonstrate to OSHA that you require inspections.

USING LADDERS

Employees must use portable ladders properly. Although OSHA’s list in 1910.23 is not all-inclusive, it provides things like:

• Using ladders only for the designed purpose;

• Facing the ladder when climbing or descending;

• Grasping the ladder with at least one hand; and

• Using ladders only on stable and level surfaces unless secured or stabilized.

A letter of interpretation from 2019 clarified OSHA’s position that grasping the horizontal rungs is preferable, but OSHA recognized that circumstances may require employees to hold the side rails.

The regulation also recognizes that employees may need to use ladders on slippery surfaces, or may need to use them near doorways. In these cases, a ladder may need to be secured or guarded to protect the worker.

PROPER STORAGE

Portable ladders should be stored in a location that will not cause damage. Exposure to sunlight, water, heat, or chemicals could damage the ladder or make the surfaces slippery. Preventing damage helps ensure that ladders remain safe to use.

Manufacturers may recommend against hanging a ladder by the side rails because the rails are not designed to sustain stress in that direction. Also, the storage area should be away from vehicle or equipment traffic to minimize the risk of damage.

OSHA does not specifically prohibit simply leaning ladders against a wall, but securing them with ropes or straps is a best practice. A ladder that falls could get damaged, strike

an employee, or create a hazard like blocking an aisle. In addition, the ladder manufacturer may recommend securing ladders in storage, and insurance companies may also require this.

CONCLUSION

Ladders appear simple and many employees use them at home, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 100 deaths each year result from employees using portable ladders, and more than 22,000 employees suffer injuries that require at least one day away from work. To help your workers protect themselves, train them to thoroughly inspect, safely use, and properly store portable ladders.

Work Safely With Lithium Batteries

04.23.2023 | Safety + Health

Many devices, including personal gas monitors, are powered by lithium batteries, some of which (lithium-ion batteries) are rechargeable.

According to OSHA, lithium batteries are “a safe, high energy density power source for devices in the workplace.” Still, they can cause injury “if they have design defects, are made of low-quality materials, are assembled incorrectly, are used or recharged improperly, or are damaged.” A malfunctioning or improperly used lithium battery-powered device can cause a fire or an explosion.

Follow these tips from OSHA to ensure your workers stay safe:

• Make sure lithium batteries, chargers and associated equipment are tested in accordance with an appropriate test standard and, where applicable, certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for storage, use, charging and maintenance.

• Confirm that replacement batteries and chargers are designed and approved for use with the device.

• Remove lithium-powered devices and batteries from the charger once they’re fully charged.

• Store the batteries and devices in a cool, dry place.

• Inspect batteries and devices for signs of damage before use. If you find damage, remove the item from service; place it in a fire-resistant container; and dispose of it in accordance with local, state and federal regulations. Or, contact a local battery recycling center for disposal instructions.

• Ensure workers who use or handle lithium-powered devices are trained on using these products.