Life Is All About Choices!

SCI Safety Tip: Identify and Eliminate Causes of Slips, Trips, and Falls Source: http://www.blr.com Date: June 11, 2013

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A spill, a slip, a hospital trip

James Lehrke-SCI

Slips, trips, and falls are the third largest cause of workplace injuries, contributing to more than 100 million lost workdays and costing nearly $36 billion annually. The Montana State Fund has identified five contributing factors for slips, trips, and falls:

• Surface design. Slip resistance can have an important impact on preventing slips and falls. Slip resistance is measured by it static coefficient of friction (COF). OSHA recommends that walking surfaces have a COF of 0.5 for activities like walking on ramps, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects.

• Surface conditions. Conditions vary depending on the

environment and surface maintenance. Wet walkways present a serious risk, as do loose or torn carpeting, broken tiles, or curled edges on mats.

• Surface and level changes. About 60 to 70 percent of

slip, trip, and fall injuries occur on level walking surfaces. Walkers must adjust their gait every time a surface changes—for example, from tile to carpet or from one type of carpet to another. The goal is to minimize these transitions.

• Obstructions. Examples of hazardous obstructions

include extension cords, furniture, scrap materials, and pallets. Good housekeeping and organizational strategies can eliminate obstruction-related falls.

• Human factors. Age, physical impairments, gait,

fatigue, inattention, and the general way people interact all play a role in slips, trips, and falls.

Good Housekeeping a Must Your slips, trips, and falls prevention playbook should include a variety of approaches, but it must include meticulous housekeeping. For example, employees and maintenance personnel should be required to:

• Clean up all spills immediately. • Plainly mark spills and wet areas before they are

cleaned up or dry up. • Sweep or mop debris from floors.

Life Is All About Choices!

SCI OSHA News: OSHA launches forklift emphasis program Source: www.blr.com Date: June 12, 2013 Every year, more than 100 people lose their lives in forklift accidents, and thousands more are injured. OSHA has launched a new emphasis program in Idaho in the wake of a high number of forklift-related incidents. The agency is conducting random inspections this month at sawmills, food-processing and distribution facilities, warehouses, and garden/home supply retailers. While the emphasis program is in Idaho, employers in other states must remain vigilant as well. Forklift overturns are the leading cause of fatalities involving forklifts, representing about 25% of all forklift-related deaths, according to OSHA. Common forklift problems include:

• Not providing appropriate operator training or certification of training; • Failure to conduct regular inspections before operation; • Defective equipment that is not taken out of service; • Elevating workers in an unsafe manner; and

• Failure to provide or ensure use of seat belts.

Raising awareness and insisting on safeguards can help ensure that your workplace does not experience a forklift fatality. Here are a few reminders to help your workers stay safe and keep OSHA out:

• Remove obstacles from walkways and keep them free of clutter. • Secure mats, rugs, and carpets that do not lie flat. • Close all file cabinets and storage drawers consistently. • Cover cables that are place over walkways. • Keep working and walking areas well lighted.

Maintenance policies and practices, proper flooring, appropriate footwear, and awareness training for employees are other important pieces in preventing slips, trips, and falls.

HEALTHY BITES

Quick Tips for Healthy Living

Angina Angina is chest pain or discomfort you get when your heart muscle does not get enough blood. It may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. It may feel like indigestion. You may also feel pain in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back.

Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common heart disease. CAD happens when a sticky substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, reducing blood flow.

There are three types of angina: stable, unstable and variant. Unstable angina is the most dangerous. It does not follow a pattern and can happen without physical exertion. It does not go away with rest or medicine. It is a sign that you could have a heart attack soon.

Not all chest pain or discomfort is angina. If you have chest pain, you should see your health care provider.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

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Life Is All About Choices!

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Saturday, Sept. 14th

11:00am – 7:00pm Lakeshore Lanes

2519 South Business Drive Sheboygan, WI 53081 In Loving Memory of:

Jessica

Kristin Nick

Checks can be made payable to: All proceeds will be donated back to the

community in scholarships The Lehrke Family Benefit 1911 Kaat Lane Sheboygan, WI 53081

“Saving Green by Going Green” Tip of the Week June 17th Did you know that you can save money by installing faucet aerators on each faucet? These inexpensive appliances (usually less than $3) conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high. For more help saving green by going green email Laura@safetyconnections.com

Lehrke Family Benefit/Raffle/Brat Fry

• Inspect forklifts before each shift. • Never load a truck beyond its rated capacity. • Drivers should always wear seat belts. • Drivers should slow down and sound the horn when they reach an intersection or other location where

vision is obstructed. With young summer employees now in place at many workplaces, you also need to remember that forklift drivers must, in most cases, be 18 or over.

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In Loving Memory of Jessica Lehrke