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4 Reasons for Accident Prevention on Your Jobsite

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accident prevention

Safety is what we do. We work to match companies to safety professionals after getting to know the unique needs of our clients.

In our experience it’s been proven that employing high quality safety professionals is the best accident prevention. Besides the tragic outcome of an injury, illness, or even death, accidents have a huge impact on your business. It is in your best interest to make sure that the people working for you are well-trained and experienced so that an accident doesn’t happen on your watch.

Why? Here’s four reasons. 

  1. Protect life and health. The most obvious reason is that preventing destruction of life and health is our primary concern as safety specialists. This is a moral obligation for the health and well-being of our employees. In fact, we believe that failing to take precautions to predict accidents and occupational injuries or illnesses makes management morally responsible for those accidents. If a potential problem or threat exists, and no action steps are taken to prevent an accident, the outcome will fall on you.
  2. Prevent downtime. The second reason for preventing accidents is because accidents and occupational illnesses limit efficiency and productivity because of downtime. This is an indirect cost from an accident, but a very costly one. Replacement labor can cost your company time and resources, along with possible sick pay, repairing damaged equipment, or even OSHA fines.
  3. Protect your reputation. The third reason for preventing accidents is because accidents and occupational illnesses can produce far-reaching social harm to your reputation. Word gets around when accidents happen and it always paints a negative picture of a company in the public eye. We’ve always said that your clients will only think as much of you as they think of your safety personnel. Sending unprepared employees to a job will hurt your reputation because you will be sending them the wrong message about your company. With the right safety staff, you can send a message that says “We take safety and the lives our employees seriously! We do our best in everything.”
  4. Prevent OSHA violations. The fourth reason for preventing accidents is because state and federal legislation mandates management responsibility to provide a safe workplace, so his is a legal requirement. OSHA violations could cost you thousands of dollars a day. Even the most unintentional violation can cause serious harm to your company.

We believe having well-trained, high quality, experienced safety professionals on a job site is the best way to go for accident prevention. The lives of your employees, your reputation, and your bottom line are all at stake, but they will be in good hands with ResponsAble safety professionals on site. Give us a call at 225-753-1909 to talk with us about your upcoming projects.

Our Promise to You: Safety Staffing on Demand

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Safety Staffing on Demand

ResponsAble Safety Staffing delivers a promise to our clients- we provide experienced employees on demand. What exactly does this mean for you and how do we operate to deliver this promise? In this blog, we lay out our promise to you and reveal our secret weapon that allows us to keep up our end of the deal.

Our Promise to You

  • Reliable, worry-free, and affordable staffing
  • The ability to ramp up jobs quickly, only when you need it
  • A ready pool of trained and reliable safety personnel
  • Higher quality people and a work force with more experience

Unlike other staffing agencies, we are 100% focused on Safety Staffing. This means our staff are better screened, better trained, and more experienced. For you, this means fewer hassles, a truly professional image, and most importantly, a safer job site. We are ready and able to supply safety positions on demand. Because we only staff safety personnel, our people are reliable, capable, and dependable.

We work to match people to companies and we are your safety connection. We’ve been doing this long enough to understand that every company culture, open position, and project has unique needs. For this reason, we are able to truly customize our approach.

ResponsAble is ready and able to supply safety positions on demand for

  • Temporary ramp up for quick turnarounds
  • Safety professionals for expansion projects
  • Interim safety positions

Our Secret Weapon

We have a secret weapon that allows us to supply trained personnel to you on demand: it’s our continuously growing database. We don’t wait for the next job to come up to start hiring. Instead, we recruit around the clock, all year long to ensure that our database of quality employees is growing- so that you can grow. This ongoing stream of talent allows us to supply experienced employees on demand.

As one of the few agencies in the country that specializes in industrial safety staffing, we can provide a level of thoroughness, personal attention, and training that no regular staffing agency, or safety consultancy can provide. For you, this means you look better to your clients, you have fewer on site hassles, and your team is safer so they can go home to their families at the end of the day. Contact us at 225-753-1909 to ramp up your next job more quickly and with less hassle.

 

Confined Space Attendants and Dangerous Atmospheres

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confinedspace copyDangerous atmospheres have seriously injured, or even in some cases, killed workers in confined spaces. It is so critical, as a Confined Space Attendant, to be aware of the hazards that are lurking there for you AND how to identify their presence when entering a confined space.

Identifying Dangerous Types of Atmospheres

Although there are numerous types of atmosphere that could potentially harm you, the most commonly occurring are:

Flammable and Explosive Atmospheres

The sources of these types of atmospheres generally come fr
om sources such as natural gas leaking from gas lines or some type of natural source, methane from decaying matter in the space such as sewer, propane gas from leaking cylinders or equipment, gasoline vapor from tanks, spills or equipment, or even vapor from solvents used in cleaning, painting or refinishing.

Toxic Atmospheres

Some of the same sources for the flammable and explosive atmospheres are also highly toxic as well. Those same solvent vapors and decaying sewer can produce gases that are not only an explosive hazard, but also highly toxic. Hydrogen sulfide from raw petroleum or even carbon monoxide from engine exhaust in a confined space can produce lethal toxic atmospheres.

Oxygen-deficient Atmospheres

Humans require between 19.5 and 23.5% oxygen in our breathing air in order to sustain normal functions. If oxygen falls below that level, it can cause serious loss of judgement, coordination or even loss of consciousness. In a confined space, oxygen can be displaced by other gases or used up by rusting metal, combustion or bacterial digesting sewage.

Oxygen-enriched Atmospheres

Although a more rare condition in confined spaces, too much oxygen can cause oxygen toxicity, which can cause serious interference with the central nervous system. This type of atmosphere most often occurs with leaking oxygen hoses or cylinders.

 

Check For Atmospheric Hazards Before Entering Any Confined Space

Never enter a confined space without first checking the atmosphere. And checking it with the proper equipment.

 

Use Properly Calibrated Gas Detection Equipment

Most of these dangerous atmospheres are indetectible by human smell or taste alone, so it is crucial that you use the proper equipment properly calibrated to the confined space and its dangers.

Make sure the equipment is able to detect what you suspect. Some detectors have sensors that check for oxygen content, explosive gases or vapours, and a range of toxic gases. Some have only one or two sensors and may not detect certain types of hazards. You may need a selection of detectors—one detector can’t test for everything.

Check All Levels of the Space

All gases are different. Some are lighter than air and will settle at the top of a space. Some are heavier and will settle at the bottom of a space. When it comes to checking gas contamanents, it is crucial to test all levels of the space. Danger may be lurking where you didn’t bother to test.

Continue to Test and Re-test

Don’t assume that the area will remain safe the entire time you are in it. And, if you leave a space for a break or lunch, don’t assume the area is safe when you return. Dangerous atmospheres can develop at any time. Gases can develop and lines can begin leaking at any time. Make sure you are constantly testing and re-testing the area.

 

As a confined space worker, NEVER try to rescue a worker overcome in a confined space unless you are trained and equipped for it. Many workers have put themselves and their co-workers in even more danger by trying to help. Always get emergency help when anyone is overcome in a dangerous atmosphere.

For more information on this or any other safety topic, contact ResponsAble Safety Staffing. And if you are a confined space attendant looking for great employment opportunities, make sure you are in our database by filling out an application by clicking here.

 

 

 

Our Intimate Relationship With Electricity

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Electricity. Ever since Benjamin Franklin flew his kite, humans have established a very intimate relationship with it.

The world runs on it. Industry runs on it. And as part of the workforce in an industry run on electricity, it is so important to know how important safety is around electricity!

Electricity will flow through anything that will conduct it. And, one of the best conductive substances is water…which happens to represent over 70% of the human body. But, it’s the other 30% of our body that causes the trouble with electricity. When the electricity runs into these obstructions, it causes the electricity to turn into heat, which then results in burns.

Electricity can also mimic or override the signals given off by our nerves as well, causing muscle contractions, making it harder to let go of whatever is delivering the current to your body. And this can happen even with low currents. As OSHA is quick to point out, low voltage does not equal low hazard.

 

How much electricity can you take?

Well, there is no answer to that question. How your body reacts to an electric shock is highly influenced by three independent factors.

  1. The rate the current flows through your body
    If you are perspiring, standing in water, or have any presence of moisture, electricity has a better conductive substance overall. Conversely, if you are standing on a non-conductive surface, such as a rubber mat, you may not even feel the shock.
  2. The length of time the current is flowing through the body.
    The longer the electrical contact, the greater the flow and the greater the shock to the body.
  3. The path of the electrical flow.
    Electricity will always want to find the shortest way to the ground. So, if it enters your right hand, it will most likely travel through your heart on its way down to your right leg to exit the body. The most dangerous path is through any vital organs.

If the right precautions are not taken, electricity can be a killer.

 

Your actions can protect your safety.

OSHA provides some great tips on their website to prevent burns, shocks and electrocution.

  • Assume that all overhead wires are energized at lethal voltages. Never assume that a wire is safe to touch even if it is down or appears to be insulated.
  • Never touch a fallen overhead power line. Call the electric utility company to report fallen electrical lines.
  • Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from overhead wires during cleanup and other activities. If working at heights or handling long objects, survey the area before starting work for the presence of overhead wires.
  • If an overhead wire falls across your vehicle while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not leave your vehicle. Warn people not to touch the vehicle or the wire. Call or ask someone to call the local electric utility company and emergency services.
  • Never operate electrical equipment while you are standing in water.
  • Never repair electrical cords or equipment unless qualified and authorized.
  • Have a qualified electrician inspect electrical equipment that has gotten wet before energizing it.
  • If working in damp locations, inspect electric cords and equipment to ensure that they are in good condition and free of defects, and use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

 

Always use caution when working near electricity. Even it it is low volatage!

 

 

Ergonomics: Reduce Workplace Risk

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Ergonomics. It’s a term you hear a lot about lately. There are entire industries dedicated to creating products and spaces that are ergonomically correct, but what is it exactly.

I decided to look it up. Ergonomics is the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment. Clear, right? If you are a scientist!

In layman’s terms, ergonomics is filling a job to a person, rather than the other way around. So, applying the science and engineering principles of the work environment to fit the needs of the employees, rather than force the employees to adapt to the workplace.

From a safety perspective, why do we do this?

  1. It facilitates fewer injuries and cumulative trauma disorders
  2. It improves productivity of the workers
  3. Provides for better performance and quality

Ergonomics is not an overnight process. It is a continuous improvement process that minimizes or eliminates the workplace risk factors, such as repetitive motion, awkward posture positions, and undue pressure on soft tissues. All of these can lead to life long issues with the body.

How Do You Reduce Workplace Risk Factors?

  1. Planning
  2. Changing
  3. Training

Planning: Know what you will need when you will need it. If you know a job will require bending and reaching, plan ahead and have materials delivered closer to where they will be used. Ensure floors and walkways are clean and dry, and store materials at waist height.

Changing: If you know something is not working, change it. Reduce repetition or duration whenever possible. Make sure to change up the routine. Understand what is adjustable at the job site. If it was set for another worker, don’t leave it, but make sure it is correct for your needs.

Training: By knowing and practicing the right way to do tasks that minimize stress on the body, the chance of injury drastically reduces. Make sure your training is up to date on the proper techniques for working that conforms to your natural bodily impulses.

What ergonomic changes could be made in your workplace to minimize your risk?

Successful Attitudes Toward Safety

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attitude
 

As humans, we instinctively seek to avoid pain and death. When we get too close to a fire and start to intensely feel the heat, we back up. It is instinct. We don’t have to tell ourselves, “wow, this is hot. Let’s move away!” We just do.

Yet, even with this instinct, when it comes to safety in the workplace, we consistently behave in a manner that is a threat to our well-being!

There are a couple of key reasons this occurs. The first is a lack of knowledge as to what safe practices are in given situations, but second, and possibly the most importance reason we may act in a risky manner is attitude.

What Is Your Attitude Towards Safety?

Are you all for it? Or are you one that complains about it? The difference in the two, is purely attitude. Your attitude affects almost everything that you do, and most importantly when it comes to your safety, how you behave.

Safety rules and procedures exist. That is true of every job. They generally cost companies extra money upfront in training and equipment costs, and potentially could cost them much, much more in the end if the rules and procedures aren’t followed. Employers are all in. They don’t have a choice.

  • Fight The System
    But, you have a choice of what your attitude is going to be. You can spend your days fighting the system, fighting your bosses and increasing your chances of getting seriously injured.
  • Enforce the Safety Rules
    Or you can accept that safety rules and procedures are written to protect you from harm. They are not here to make your work life more uncomfortable or inconvenient.

Look Out For One Another

If someone tells you that you are not working in a safe manner, do not become angry or defensive. They are just looking out for your well-being. Be thankful your errors were pointed out before someone got hurt. Someone cared enough to get you back on track.

Make sure to peak to others like you would like them to speak to you. Make sure you do not approach in an attacking way. And their behavior will reflect that attitude.

Have you ever noticed that people who are successful in life are just all around happier…have a great attitude? That’s how it is with safety. You will be much for successful at it, and eventually, it will become like stepping away from the fire…instinct.

Remember, attitude affects behavior. If you have a positive attitude, odds are you will exhibit safe behavior. A negative attitude toward safety will only cause conflict, stress and, ultimately, an accident.