November
Carcinogens found in the workplace
With Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November, carcinogens are a safety topic that should be frequently discussed. Unfortunately, around 1,806,600 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the US each year.
Occupational cancer is all-too common and jobs such as firefighting, mining, or as a night shift worker can leave your colleagues more vulnerable. To prevent this, your co-workers should learn to identify sources of carcinogens in their workplace as well as safe exposure levels. And familiarizing your team with the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) for exposure to each material is a clever idea.
The ten most common workplace carcinogens are:
- Asbestos
- Benzene
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Crystalline silica
- Formaldehyde
- Ionizing radiation
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week
One thing that impacts workers regardless of their position or workplace is fatigue. Drowsy Driving Prevention Week is from November 1–8, 2020. This is a prevalent, significant issue for every industry. The National Sleep Foundation determined that half of U.S. drivers admit to regularly driving while feeling drowsy. Although being drowsy does not sound all that serious, it is the same as driving impaired—but without the same social stigma that impaired driving has.
According to the NSC, being awake for more than 20 hours is the same as being drunk. Even if driving is not a function of a person’s job, they will still often drive to and from work. The NSC research also concluded that you are three times more likely to be in a car crash when you are fatigued. Educating employees on drowsy driving prevention will ensure they arrive safely at work and return home the same way. Fatigue impairs both mental and physical performance by reducing alertness, attentiveness, reaction time, and coordination.
December
Prevent Blindness America
First Aid for Eye Emergencies
Knowing what to do for an eye emergency can save valuable time and prevent vision loss. Here are some instructions for basic eye injury first aid.
- Wear eye protection for all hazardous activities and sports at school, home, and on the job that could lead to an eye injury.
- DO stock a first aid kit with a rigid eye shield and commercial eyewash (make sure it is not expired) before engaging in activities where an eye injury could occur.
- DO NOT assume that any eye injury is harmless. When in doubt, see an eye doctor promptly.
Chemical Burns
In all cases of eye contact with chemicals
- Immediately flush the eye with water or any other drinkable liquid. Hold the eye under a faucet, shower, or pour water into the eye using a clean container. Keep the eye open as wide as possible during flushing. Continue flushing for at least 15 minutes.
- If a contact lens is in the eye, begin flushing over the lens immediately. Flushing may dislodge the lens.
- DO NOT bandage the eye.
- Seek emergency medical care promptly after flushing.
Specks in the Eye
DO NOT rub the eye.
- Try to let tears wash the speck out, or use a commercial eyewash.
- Try lifting the upper eyelid outward. Look down over the lower lid.
- DO NOT use tweezers or other items to try and remove the speck.
- If the speck does not wash out, see an eye doctor immediately.
Blows to the Eye
- Apply cold compress without pressure.
- Seek emergency medical care in cases of pain, blurry vision, one eye sticking out more than the other, blood inside the eye, or discoloration (black eye), which could mean internal eye damage.
Cuts and Punctures of Eye and Eyelid
- DO NOT wash out the eye with water or any other liquid.
- DO NOT try to remove an object that is stuck in the eye.
- Cover the eye with a rigid shield or the bottom half of a paper cup without pressure. Secure the shield or cup to the brow above the eye and the cheekbone below the eye without putting pressure on the eye.
- Seek emergency medical care immediately.
December
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a national high-visibility enforcement campaign that focuses on the consequences of drunk driving and is supported by increased law enforcement.
Key Dates:
- December 11, 2024 – January 1, 2025: National Enforcement
January
National Radon Action Month
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms naturally when uranium, thorium, or radium, which are radioactive metals, break down in rocks, soil, and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily by breathing radon in the air, which comes through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes. Because radon comes naturally from the earth, people are always exposed to it.
You cannot see, smell, or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year. In fact, the EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General urge all Americans to protect their health by evaluating their homes, schools, and other buildings for radon.
Exposure to radon is a preventable health risk, and testing radon levels in your home can help prevent unnecessary exposure. If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix the problem to protect yourself and your family.
February
American Heart Month
It is February – American Heart Month – a time when the nation spotlights heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans.
President Lyndon B. Johnson, among the millions of people in the country who had had heart attacks, issued the first proclamation in 1964. Since then, U.S. presidents have annually declared February American Heart Month.
Throughout the month, the American Heart Association’s “Heart to Heart: Why Losing One Woman Is Too Many” campaign will raise awareness about how 1 in 3 women are diagnosed with heart disease annually.
The first Friday of American Heart Month, Feb. 5, is also National Wear Red Day as part of the AHA’s Go Red for Women initiative. Coast to coast, landmarks, news anchors and neighborhoods go red to raise awareness and support for the fight against heart disease.
Note: Schedule those CPR and First Aid training.
Burn Awareness Week
This awareness is observed every year during the first full week in February and takes place from February 2 to 8 this year. It is a time for organizations to mobilize safety educators to sensitize people to the subjects of burns and fire. It also raises awareness of burn prevention methods in various communities.
March
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
According to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15,730 eye injuries were caused by days away from work in 2020. Proper eye protection minimizes the risk of significant eye injury. Prevent Blindness recommends that the type of eye protection that should be used depends on the hazards in the workplace. For example, someone working in an area that has particles, flying objects, or dust should wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields). If working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers, or fiber optics), special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets designed for that task should be worn.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to ensure the safety of all employees in the work environment. Eye and face protection must be provided whenever necessary to protect against chemical, environmental, radiological, or mechanical irritants and hazards. OSHA also requires that employers provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to their workers and ensure its proper use. Additionally, employers are required to train each worker to use PPE.
National Ladder Safety Month
Ladder falls are one of the leading events in the workplace that produce serious injuries every year. NIOSH has developed an app for ladder use and inspection. Open the link: Ladder Safety App | Falls in the Workplace | CDC
April
Zone Awareness Week
Keeping our construction workers safe in highway construction zones is a top priority. The following link will give your organization information on how to participate and bring this hazard awareness information to the public.
NATIONAL WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK – Home (nwzaw.org)
Workers’ Memorial Day
Every year, OSHA remembers workers who were killed on the job. Get your organization involved in remembering these people. Here is the link: Workers Memorial | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
May
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Workplace Falls
Falls are the leading workplace killer in construction. OSHA sponsors the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Workplace Falls every year in May. Here is the link for more information: National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
Planning these safety awareness events encourages workers and managers to discuss and communicate good conversations and promotes a strong culture of safety.
Click HERE to visit Part 1 of How Does Your Safety Calendar Look?