safety tips

Heat Illness and Prevention

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heat illness prevention

Spring has finally arrived and with it comes hotter temperatures, especially as we move forward into Summer. According to OSHA, “Most outdoor fatalities, 50% to 70%, occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments because the body needs to build a tolerance to the heat gradually over time.” Millions of workers are exposed to heat while on the job, so let’s take the time to review ways to prevent heat-related injuries.

Build Up Your Tolerance 

Workers who have not spent time recently in warm or hot environments and/or being physically active will need time to build tolerance (acclimatize or, less frequently used, acclimate) to the heat. During their first few days in warm or hot environments, employers should encourage workers to:

  • Consume adequate fluids (water and sports drinks)
  • Work shorter shifts,
  • Take frequent breaks, and
  • Quickly identify any heat illness symptoms.

Know the Types of Heat Illnesses

Knowing the symptoms of the different types of heat illnesses can help you better identify when you or someone you’re working with is overheating.

  • Heat Stroke
    • Confusion and slurred speech
    • Unconsciousness
    • Seizures
    • Heavy sweating or hot, dry skin
    • Very high body temperature and rapid heart rate
  • Heat Exhaustion
    • Fatigue and irritability
    • Thirst
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Dizziness or lightheadedness
    • Heavy sweating, elevated body temperature, or fast heart rate
  • Heat Cramps
    • Muscle spasms or pain (usually in legs or arms)
  • Heat Syncope
    • Fainting or dizziness
  • Heat Rash
    • Clusters of red bumps on the skin (often appears on the neck, upper chest, and skin folds)
  • Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
    • Muscle pain
    • Dark urine or reduced urine output
    • Weakness 

First Aid

OSHA’s Medical Services and First Aid standard and the Medical Service and First Aid in Construction require the ready availability of first aid personnel and equipment. First aid for heat-related illness involves the following principles:

  • Take the affected worker into the shade or air conditioning 
  • Cool the worker immediately with active cooling techniques such as:
    • Immerse the worker in cold water or an ice bath. This is the best method to cool workers rapidly in an emergency.
    • Remove outer layers of clothing, especially heavy protective clothing.
    • Place ice or cold wet towels on the head, neck, trunk, armpits, and groin.
    • Use fans to circulate air around the worker.
  • Never leave a worker with heat-related illness alone in case the illness rapidly becomes worse.
  • When in doubt, call 911!

Heat-related illnesses can have a substantial cost to workers and employers. Employers should have a plan in place for heat-related incidents and employees should actively keep that plan in place. Heat illness can contribute to decreased performance, lost productivity due to illness and hospitalization, and possibly death.

Be proactive in your safety measures and remind employees of seasonal safety tips. At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, high-quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Electrical Safety

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Electrical Safety

Working with electricity can be dangerous. Engineers, linemen, electricians, and others who work with electricity directly, and workers who work with electricity indirectly may be exposed to serious electrical hazards. Here are some facts from OSHA that you need to know to work safely with electricity.

Power Lines

Overhead and buried power lines are especially hazardous because they carry dangerously high voltage. Fatal electrocution is the main risk, but burns and falls are also hazards.

  • Look for overhead power lines and buried power line indicators.
  • Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines and assume they are energized.
  • De-energize and ground lines when working near them.
  • Use non-conductive wood or fiberglass ladders when working near power lines.

Generators 

Generators are commonly used as a replacement source of electricity when electrical power is lost. Most generators are gasoline or diesel-powered with internal combustion engines which turn an alternator to produce electricity. One of the hazards from gasoline or diesel-powered engines is carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced during the operation of gasoline-powered generators. When inhaled, the gas reduces your ability to transport oxygen. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea, and fatigue that can lead to unconsciousness and ultimately prove fatal. The following information is a list of best practices to identify hazards when operating around power lines and electrical equipment. 

  • DO NOT operate a generator indoors. Generators should be placed outdoors in a location where the exhaust gases cannot enter a home or building. Good ventilation is key to operating a generator safely. 
  • Be sure the main circuit breaker is OFF and locked out prior to starting any generator. This will prevent inadvertent energization of power lines from backfeed electrical energy from generators and help protect utility line workers from electrocution. 
  • Turn off generators and let them cool prior to refueling.

Electrical Incidents

If the power supply to the electrical equipment is not grounded or the path has been broken, fault current may travel through a worker’s body, causing electrical burns or death. Visually inspect electrical equipment before use. Take any defective equipment out of service.

  • Ground all power supply systems, electrical circuits, and electrical equipment.
  • Frequently inspect electrical systems to ensure that the path to ground is continuous.
  • Do not remove ground prongs from cord- and plug-connected equipment or extension cords.
  • Use double-insulated tools and ground all exposed metal parts of equipment.
  • Avoid standing in wet areas when using portable electric power tools.

Be proactive in your safety measures and remind employees of seasonal safety tips. At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Workplace Safety Resolutions for the New Year

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Workplace Safety Resolutions

Each new year brings about new resolutions that range from the achievable to the downright absurd. Most resolutions tend to center around personal well-being, such as promising to spend more time at the gym to get fit and setting goals to achieve professionally. However, very few take the time to ponder on how to improve health and safety while in the workplace. If you find yourself belonging to the majority who don’t make resolutions concerning workplace safety, then why not make this year the time to start making them?

After all, health and safety should always come first. Create resolutions to act on improving health and safety in the workplace. They not only ensure personal safety but also make the environment safe and ideal for others as well.

Here are some resolutions that focus on workplace safety for the New Year.

1. Review Company Policies on Health and Safety.

Take some time to look through the company policies, and review health and safety rules and regulations. Check if there are ample facilities that can prevent any hazardous substances and materials from sticking to skin and hair. Know your rights as an employee, and find out if the company that you’re working for has provided sufficient information on keeping safe in the workplace.

2. Inspect Personal Safety Equipment and Gear.

Is the safety vest still properly fitted, or have the boots lost their non-skid ability? Do the safety glasses still allow clear vision, or does the helmet need replacement? Don’t skimp on this resolution, and ensure that all your safety equipment and gear are in tip-top shape before starting work on the New Year. Otherwise, it’s out with the old, and in with the new.

3. Acknowledge Distractions – and Throw Them Away.

Distractions take away the concentration that should be poured into the task at hand. One seemingly small slip may have serious repercussions in the form of health risks, or worse, loss of life. Keep these distractions at bay when working, and focus on the job that needs to be done.

4. Know Who to Call in an Emergency.

For any workplace safety-related concerns, knowing who to call or approach is as vital as knowing how to avoid hazardous situations. Emergency situations call for immediate action, so it’s best to find out beforehand who to turn to for those times when safety is compromised at work.

Even though you’re most likely have regular safety check-ups, there’s never any harm in taking extra precautions. The New Year can bring new regulations and changes so make sure you are keeping up with current OSHA policies and rules.

Be proactive in your safety measures and remind employees of seasonal safety tips. At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Holiday Safety Concerns in the Workplace

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holiday safety

This holiday season is a much-needed distraction from the curveballs of 2020. Decorating the house, hosting family members, purchasing gifts, and working out the logistics of how you will be celebrating this year can cause any employee’s mind to wander during work hours. From a safety perspective, it’s worth considering how these issues affect workers on the floor, on-site, on the road, or at home.

Holiday Fatigue

Fatigue can hit hard during the holiday season. Extra tasks like decorating the house, staying up late to binge all your favorite Christmas movies, fitting in your holiday shopping before/after a shift, etc. can all contribute to fatigue, which can become an issue whether you’re engaging in high-risk work or not.

As a result of this extra fatigue, injuries, and major safety oversites can occur. So, although fatigue is a complex issue that lacks a single easy solution, it might be a good idea to consider longer breaks or alter work schedules to help compensate for seasonal fatigue.

Ladder Safety

Ladder use increases at home and at work during the holiday season. It’s important to provide a refresher on ladder safety. For example, people should ensure the ladder’s stability before use, keep three points of contact at all times, and never place a ladder on a surface other than the ground. It’s also worth mentioning that decorating is much easier and safer to do if the task is not left to one person. That’s because they might be more inclined to rush or ignore the need for three points of contact in order to carry bulky decorations up the ladder.

Electrical Safety

With decorating comes new electrical challenges around the office or at home. Electrical fires and burns are always a concern during this time of the year. Electrical incidents are usually due to the misuse of older decorations with faulty fuses. Ensure that your decorations are still in good shape and that they aren’t overloading your sockets. Employees should also be reminded of the importance of unplugging decorations before leaving the office or going to sleep in their homes. 

Slips, Trips, and Falls

We spend the majority of the year without holiday decorations so it can be easy to forget they’re there. Don’t let your decorations become a tripping hazard and make sure they are properly and securely hung. 

Depending on the weather, ice can be a big slipping hazard. Always be aware of your surroundings when you step outside. Snow, ice, and rain are the main culprits, especially because they’re coupled with shorter, darker days that make it easier for people to miss or misjudge a step when walking outdoors.

We all want our holiday season to be accident-free. Be proactive in your safety measures and remind employees of seasonal safety tips. At ResponsAble, we believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Creating a Positive Safety Culture

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positive safety culture

A strong safety culture promotes more than just safety. It cultivates worker confidence and retention, benefits organizational behavior, and can even increase productivity. According to OSHA, developing a strong safety culture has the single greatest impact on accident reduction of any process. So, how do you create and maintain your safety culture for your organization? Here are some tips: 

1. Evaluate Your Current System  

If you already have a safety program in place, but you’re seeing more accidents and near misses, then you need to incorporate a new process. Identify where the specific problems are and make necessary changes. 

2. Define Safety Standards

This step involves finding a way to measure specific indicators, such as safety incidents, safety training sessions, or safety inspections. Measuring your progress and placing a clear expectation will motivate your employees. 

3. Set Rule Compliance

Ensure that your employees know the rules and how to properly follow them. Set your employees and your organization up for success and make sure they have the skills and resources needed to remain compliant with safety rules. Consistency across departments is also critical in creating and maintaining your safety culture

4. Drive Results, Not Completion 

Completing a training session is not the same as actually seeing positive safety-related results. While you need to train employees on the company safety culture and process, don’t make your goal just completion. Make sure your employees complete the training AND put their learned skills into practice. After all, practice makes perfect.

5. Strategize Based on Your Site and Employees

Always create your safety strategy to fit your worksite and your employees. Trying to change your site and personnel to fit a previously created safety culture will end up in frustration. Use your employee’s strengths and production capacity to form a process. You can even get employee input on a new safety process. This will make them feel more involved and valued, which leads to a positive culture. Tap into exemplary employees to help maintain your safety standards. Other employees are more likely to support a plan if they see others joining in.

6. Clarify Leadership Expectations

Leaders set the tone and company culture. If your leaders aren’t expected to embrace the safety culture, then no one else will. Leadership also needs to be consistent with its focus and its message. Consistent messages and rule reinforcement builds trust in the culture and in relationships. It shows that your workplace is serious about safety.

7. Be Patient

Changes won’t happen overnight. It might take some time to fully implement your safety process and to start seeing real results. Keep encouraging your employees to practice good safety habits and it will eventually become a consistent behavior. Good habits and good behaviors create sustainability and a positive culture. 

Knowing you need to build a new safety culture is always a great start. Find the approach and process that works best for you and encourage employee involvement. Make sure leadership is consistent and encouraging to employees. Positive reinforcement is key when promoting your company’s safety culture. Safety will become second nature if employees are involved in safety and create an environment in which employees really understand the value of safety.

We believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to cultivate a positive safety culture. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Hurricane Preparedness and Response

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hurricane preparedness

It’s no surprise that the 2020 hurricane season has proven to be extraordinarily active. Hurricanes Laura and Sally left widespread damage and loss in their path for families and businesses of all kinds. In light of these natural disasters, here are resources to help employers review steps they can and should take to combat the potential damages of hurricanes, as well as other natural and manmade disasters that can impact business operations any time of the year.

Preparedness

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Standards that are part of regulations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), all workplaces with more than 10 employees are required to develop a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to identify and coordinate necessary employer and employee actions during an emergency. On OSHA’s hurricane preparedness page, there is an outline describing how to properly plan for hurricanes. This page on OSHA’s website states that it is important to have an EAP to ensure that workers can get to safety in case a hurricane may affect the area. A thorough evacuation plan, OSHA states, should include:

  • Conditions that will activate the plan
  • Chain of command
  • Emergency functions and who will perform them
  • Specific evacuation procedures, including routes and exits
  • Procedures for accounting for personnel, customers and visitors
  • Equipment for personnel (OSHA.gov)

Recovery and Response

While it’s important to have you EAP ready to go, it is just as important to practice it so you are sure your employees are prepared to handle severe weather situations, as well as other pertinent emergencies.

OSHA also provides a hurricane response and recovery page that showcases their Hurricane eMatrix. The eMatrix outlines the most commonly performed duties during hurricane response and recovery work, and the post-disaster hazards that employees could face. OSHA has developed specific standards to address many of these kinds of hazards.

For example, if your crew is needed for disaster cleanup, then the employers must make sure to have the proper equipment and personal protective equipment. Cleanup responsibilities usually involve fixing power lines, repair roofs, tree trimming, or general debris pickup. Only those with the proper training, equipment and experience should conduct cleanup activities.

Communication is Key

Communication is necessary to do any job, but it is needed even more during an emergency situation. It is highly recommended that employers find a way to communicate with employees during all stages of an emergency situation. Employers must be able to tell all employees whether to evacuate, how to get information about the emergency, what areas of the building to avoid, how and when it is safe to return to the work area, and when it is acceptable to contact family members and loved ones.
If your company has experienced damage from the recent disaster, ResponsAble is here to help. We have experienced industrial labor and safety professionals to help get your site back on track. Call us at 225-753-1909. https://responsablestaffing.com/contact-us/