This program provides a broad over view of hazards Solid Waste workers face in the course of their everyday jobs. Contains critical information for new employees but also effective for experienced workers.

A large portion of total accidents in the Solid Waste industry occur while backing. However, backing accidents are 100 percent Preventable. This program will give your drivers effective tools and teach them techniques that will help them avoid backing accidents.

Focuses on operating safety, maintenance of electric batteries, safe driving techniques and basic safety requirements. Allowing operators to drive these vehicles without proper training increases a company’s liability in the event anyone is injured as a result.

Open holes and openings have been to blame for countless injuries and deaths on the job. The only thing that is worse than an uncovered, unguarded, or unprotected floor or wall hole or opening, is one that is “guarded” or “covered” with an inadequate cover. When we see a cover over an opening we almost always assume it’s safe. Safe for us to walk over, drive equipment over, stand or sit on. A shoddy cover and a false sense of security is a deadly combination.

In this image, it’s obvious the cover is in questionable condition, but I bet if you waited long enough, you’d see someone standing on it.

Here’s what you need to know about holes, openings, and covers:

1. As soon as a hole or opening is created it must be protected with a cover, or workers must be protected by fall protection (when applicable). There’s no grace period – brevity of exposure to a hazard is not an excuse or a defense for failing to protect against it.
2. If you make a hole, guard it. Even before that – barricade the area to keep people out prior to making the hole, exposing a hole or opening (i.e. manhole).
3. If the hole must remain open, then it must be guarded with permanent barricades around the perimeter.
4. If the hole can’t be or isn’t guarded, it must be covered. The cover must be capable of supporting certain load limits. Check with applicable safety rules for specifics in your area.
5. Don’t use paper, cardboard, or plastic to cover holes. It’s been done before. It does not end well.
6. NEVER sit or stand on skylights. They are not designed to support you. Don’t leave skylight openings unprotected during install either. They must be properly barricaded, guarded, or otherwise protected.
7. If you see an uncovered or unprotected opening or hole, immediately barricade it or post someone to warn others and notify your supervisor to correct the hazard.

https://i.redd.it/odrakfgczbh11.jpg

What’s at Stake?

A helicopter transfer may be needed due to the remoteness of the patient when they need medical attention, or the severity of their need requires rapid transfer to hospital care. Sometimes they need to move to a different hospital for treatment.  Whatever the specifics of the case, these medical needs are urgent and often life threatening. The fastest and safest way to get them to the care they need is by helicopter. But it’s not without risks.

What’s the Danger?

Working around a heliport presents risks to the helicopter crew, clinical staff on the ground, and the patient. The helicopter rotor blades present the most obvious risk but, in many cases, they are high off the ground. However, the draft from them can knock a person off their feet, cause debris to fly about or suck items such as loose clothing or equipment into their path.

There are many blind spots for the pilot and helicopters can be quite unstable and unpredictable in adverse weather, especially windy conditions. This puts ground staff at risk of collision with the helicopter.  Noise generated can be distracting, affects the ability to hear each other clearly and repeated exposure can cause permanent hearing impairment.

How to Protect Yourself

5 easy ways to keep yourself safe while working on a heliport

1. Be seen

• Make eye contact with the pilot and get an acknowledgement that she or he has seen you.
• Approach the helicopter from the side or front, never the back, even if the engine is off.

2. Be aware

• Know the rotor blades span and do not walk, work, or stand under or near them.
• Watch the helicopter’s approach and keep well back.
• Note wind conditions and allow more space for landing and takeoff, if possible.
• Check for loose clothing, equipment or debris around the heliport that may fly up and hit someone.

3. Clear communication

• Follow all instructions from the pilot – he (or she) is in charge of the helicopter and heliport.
• Use hand signals.
• Speak clearly to others, standing next to them, as far away from the helicopter as possible.
• Write commands and questions.
• Wear earplugs, earmuffs, or other hearing protection.
• Secure or remove any loose clothing, including patient bedding.

4. Keep safe around fuel

• Fuel fumes can cause nausea, headache, or breathing difficulties.
• During refueling – do not smoke or use equipment capable of causing sparks.

5. Safe patient moving and handling

• Use patient handling equipment e.g.
  • Wheeled trolleys, transfer boards.
• Use safe patient handling techniques e.g.
  • Avoid twisting, do not lift the patient or heavy equipment.

Final Word

For health professionals working on a heliport it is a high-pressure situation as the patient is generally very ill. However, it is very important that staff all remain alert to real and potential hazards to themselves and others on the heliport.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

Consider the following story…

A scientist was conducting an experiment using a portable fluorescent lighting rack.  The lighting rack was plugged into an electric timer, which was plugged into the wall.

However, since the timer only accepted a two-prong plug, an adapter was used to allow the three-prong plug of the lighting rack to be used with the two-prong outlet of the timer.

When the scientist went to adjust the timer a lab worker noticed the doctor was grasping the lighting rack and became rigid.  The scientist was pushed away from the lighting rack, and CPR was performed, but she was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

What likely happened is the lighting rack was drawing more current than approved for the fixture and the ballast overheated. This melted the insulation around the wire causing an energized wire to touch the ballast’s metal cover, energizing the entire fixture.  When the scientist grasped the fixture, some part of her probably brushed against the nearby metal sink.  This completed a circuit to ground through the scientist, electrocuting her.

What’s the Danger?

An electrical hazard can be defined as a serious workplace hazard that exposes workers to the following:

Burns     Electrocution    Shock     Arc Flash/Arc Blast     Fire     Explosions

Therefore, you can remember to BE SAFE by recognizing, avoiding and protecting against all of these electrical hazards.

In the laboratory, workers may be exposed to electrical hazards in one of the following ways:

1. Faulty Equipment, Instrumentation, and Wiring
2. Damaged Receptacles and Connectors
3. Unsafe Work Practices

How to Protect Yourself

The typical laboratory contains a wide variety of electrically-powered equipment including stirrers, shakers, pumps, hot plates, vent hoods, ovens, etc. To avoid potential dangers from equipment:

1. Always follow manufacturer’s recommendations for operating equipment.
2. Inspect wiring and equipment before each use.
3. Only equipment with three prongs (grounding) should be used.
4. Only use extension cords temporarily. In all other cases, request installation of a new electrical outlet.
5. Ensure that GFCI outlets are installed and used when water/chemicals are present within 6 feet.
6. Replace all frayed or damaged electrical cords immediately.
7. Remove equipment from service if in poor condition and replace or have it repaired by a qualified repair person.

Use safe work practices:

1. Always report hazards to supervisors and safety officers.
2. Regularly test GFCI outlets and ensure all safety features on equipment are intact and in working order.
3. No more than two high current draw devices should be plugged into the same outlet to prevent an overloaded circuit.
4. Carefully place power cords so they don’t come in contact with water or chemicals. Contact with water is a shock hazard. Corrosives and solvents can degrade the cord insulation.
5. Do not lift a piece of electrical equipment by the cord or pull the cord to disconnect from the outlet to prevent damage.
6. Know the location operation of shut-off switches and circuit breakers.
7. If you see a person being shocked, DO NOT TOUCH THEM! The electricity can go through you, too. If possible, turn off the power, or use an item made of non-conductive material (e.g., wooden broom handle) to pry him or her away from the contact. Call 911 immediately.

Final Word

Recognizing electrical hazards and then taking appropriate measures to prevent and protect lab workers will help to avoid electrocution and electricity related injuries.

What’s at Stake?

Since it was recognized in the late 1970s, allergies to latex have become a major health concern.

Latex is used in a variety of applications and products, which leads to an increasing number of people in the workplace being affected.

Healthcare workers exposed to latex gloves or other latex medical products are especially at risk. It is estimated that 8-12% of healthcare workers are latex sensitive.

What’s the Danger?

A latex allergy can cause skin rashes; contact dermatitis; nasal, eye, or sinus irritation; hives; shortness of breath; coughing; wheezing; or unexplained shock. None of which are good during the workday.

Latex can be found in many places such as:

• Gloves
• Urinary catheters
• Oxygen masks; and
• Pressure Relieving Cushions

How to Protect Yourself

3 easy ways to keep yourself safe

1. Tell people

• It is essential that you let your employer and co-workers know you are allergic to latex.
• Your employer has a legal obligation to provide alternative products.
• Wear a medic alert bracelet if you experience a severe reaction.

2. Avoid contact

• Know which products in your environment have or may have latex in them.
• Read packaging for unknown products.
• Do not wear gloves unnecessarily or for longer than you need to.
• If you do use latex products:
  • Avoid applying oily hand cream – the chemical reaction with the latex increases the risk/severity of the reaction.
  • Wash hands with warm soapy water as soon as possible after removing them.
  • Do not shake gloves before or after applying. Latex dust is often the cause of the allergy.

3. Know the symptoms

• Symptoms generally begin within minutes after exposure to latex containing products.
  • Hives, itching, stuffy or runny nose.
  • Asthma symptoms of wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.
  • Itching, redness and swelling of skin that touched the item containing latex.
  • Eczema and blisters on the back of the hands.
  • Anaphylaxis – rare but it does happen.
• When you know the symptoms, you can seek medical advice, but don’t ignore them – they can quickly escalate to a severe reaction.
• Be sure to take any medications as prescribed to help you manage the allergy.
• Carry an EpiPen if directed and prescribed by your doctor.

Final Word

Latex is a commonly used product in many aspects of life. Its high level of use has led to a significant increase in the number of people displaying signs of an allergy to it. Many healthcare settings now use only non-latex gloves, but other products may contain latex, so avoiding it can be challenging.

What’s at Stake? 

Consider the following incident…

A postdoc was badly scalded by water while removing items from the top autoclave of a tower-style autoclave. To autoclave her own materials, the doctor began to remove a load that belonged to another laboratory while standing on a low step-stool. The load in the autoclave consisted of a Nalgene tub that contained liter bottles of media with water around them. The water in the tub was near boiling temperature, and as the doctor attempted to remove it, the contents spilled down her torso and thighs.

What’s the Danger?

Autoclaves and sterilizers pose many threats to workers.  The most common issues are burns from steam, water or other detergent/ chemicals used in some types of autoclaves, and/or burns from the equipment being sterilized.

Additionally, cuts can be common hazards, as many instruments to be sterilized are made of glass and/or metal, and unless handled carefully with appropriate PPE, can be a risk to workers.

In addition to burns and cuts, autoclaves/sterilizers can explode if not maintained or used properly.  In these instances, workers are at risk of being impaled by shrapnel from the equipment, severe burning, and exposure to pathological materials from instrumentation that was not properly sterilized.

How to Protect Yourself

1. PPE:  Your employer must assess and identify potential worksite hazards to which you may be exposed while you are doing your job. Employers must also ensure that workers use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
   • Workers should use appropriate hand protection when hands are exposed to hazards such as cuts, lacerations or thermal burns.
   • Using oven mitts for handling hot items, and steel mesh gloves for handling or sorting sharp instruments are examples of appropriate PPE.
   • Additionally, lab coats, smocks, and/or aprons should be used to prevent scalding of the body.
2. Training:  It is always good practice to have appropriate training when working with autoclaves/sterilizers, even if workers have been experienced with sterilization techniques before.
   • Different models of sterilizers pose different risks.  For example, the tower style autoclave as seen in the story above, is more dangerous than a standard autoclave.
     • Removing a load from the top autoclave requires standing on a step-stool or platform ladder and stepping down to place the load on a cart.
     • For a short-statured person, a standard step-stool is not high enough to allow them to remove a load without reaching over their head.
   • Autoclaves and sterilizers pose electrical hazards.  Workers should be trained on these hazards, as well as the location and use of control valves, electrical panels/shut-offs.
   • In most labs and medical facilities, the autoclaves and sterilizers are used by multiple groups.
     • Training must be done to ensure that issues such as overcrowding in the rooms, unfamiliarity with equipment/loads, and unfamiliarity with first aid measures, do not pose threats for all workers who will be using the autoclaves and sterilizers.
3. Good work practices: To ensure the safety for all workers the following standards should be practiced.
   • Ensure that the autoclave/sterilizer door is closed and locked before beginning the cycle.
   • Do not remove items from an autoclave/sterilizer until they have cooled.  Wait 10 minutes from the time the door is cracked open to allow time for sufficient cooling.
   • Remove glassware one by one before removing tubs from the autoclave.
   • Avoid handling the sharp ends of instruments; use forceps or other tools in addition to steel mesh gloves to remove sharp instruments from baskets and autoclaves.

Final Word

Although very common and relatively easy to use equipment, autoclaves and sterilizers can pose threats to lab workers if potential hazards such as cuts and burns are not recognized.

What’s at Stake?

All human body fluids, including sweat, saliva, vomit, and blood, can potentially be infected with bacteria or viruses. Some of these potentially infectious materials die almost immediately once outside of the body, but others can survive for several minutes, hours, or days in the air or on surfaces. Healthcare workers can never know until laboratory tests are returned which patients pose a threat.

What’s the Danger?

Even if a patient is known to be infectious, people often underestimate the length of time bodily fluids can be infectious once they leave the body or the risk from airborne infections, carried through sneeze and cough droplets or saliva.

This means that staff often do not take appropriate standard or universal precautions, such as wearing a face mask because they think it is unnecessary, frightening for the patients, or too time consuming to put in place.

There is also a risk of assuming a patient is not carrying an infectious disease, particularly in the case of bloodborne infections, where staff often make assumptions about the likelihood of a patient having a condition such as HIV/AIDS.

How to Protect Yourself

Three Precaution Approaches

1. Universal Precautions assumes only blood and certain other types of body fluids are infectious. These precautions should be used if there is any risk, real or potential, of coming into direct contact with bodily fluids.
2. The CDC recommends Standard Precautions for the care of all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. Standard Precautions assumes all body fluids are infectious.
3. Transmission-Based Precautions are used in addition to standard/universal precautions, if the patient is known or suspected to be infectious. TBP focus on the precautions specifically needed based on the risk – airborne, droplet, or contact exposure.
   • Airborne Precautions used for infections spread in small particles in the air such as chicken pox.
   • Droplet Precautions used for infections spread in large droplets by coughing, talking, or sneezing such as influenza.
   • Contact Precautions used for infections spread by skin to skin contact or contact with other surfaces such as herpes simplex virus.

Keep yourself and patients safe by following these guidelines:

1. Treat all bodily fluid to be infectious unless confirmed otherwise

• Avoid direct contact with bodily fluids if possible.
• Don and doff PPE correctly:
  • Use the proper sequence of steps to remove face shields, masks, gowns, and gloves.
• Use the right PPE when handling patient clothing, bedding, or clinical waste.
• Encourage patients, and others, to use cough and sneeze hygiene.
  • Cough or sneeze into crook of arm, or into a tissue.
  • Don’t forget to dispose of tissues immediately and wash your hands or use hand rub after you cough or sneeze.
• Of course, be sure to follow these rules yourself.

2. Be clean

• Perform hand hygiene at the 5 moments of hand hygiene:
  • before touching a patient;
  • before clean/aseptic procedures;
  • after body fluid exposure/risk;
  • after touching a patient;
  • after touching patient surroundings.
• Change work clothes and launder as per policy.
• Follow policy and procedures when handling and laundering patient clothing and bedding.
• Clean patient bed areas and clinical areas as per schedule; and
• Clean patient care equipment as per schedule and manufacturer’s instructions.

3. Do not touch

• Avoid touching patient bedding, clothing, and other surfaces with your bare hands wherever possible.
• Never touch any body fluids without the protection of gloves and other PPE.

Final Word

Healthcare workers are exposed to infectious material through many different sources, such as direct patient care, working with body fluids in the laboratory or working in the laundry with soiled bedding.  This is why standard and universal precautions are used. They are relevant whoever you are, wherever you work.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

A burn means more than the burning sensation associated with this injury. Burns cause skin damage because the skin cells die. Burns can happen at work and outside of work. In fact, burns are one of the most common household injuries, especially among children.

Most people can recover from burns without serious health consequences, depending on the cause and degree of injury. More serious burns require immediate emergency medical care to prevent complications and death.

Burns take many weeks to heal. Large burns often require skin grafts and multiple operations to reduce disfigurement and loss of function in the affected area.

What’s the Danger?

• There are 3 degrees of burn and the burn is classified by the skin damage rather than the cause.
• First-degree burns: red, non-blistered skin
• Second-degree burns: blisters and some thickening of the skin
• Third-degree burns: widespread thickness with a white, leathery appearance

Even a seemingly harmless scald can cause all three levels of burn.

How to Protect Yourself

First aid for burns

1. Keep yourself safe

• Call 911 1^st in an emergency.
• Assess the scene and proceed with care only if it’s safe to do so.
• Put on proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

2. General burn care

• FOR ALL BURNS – CALL 911 IF:
  • The burn penetrates all layers of the skin.
  • The burn covers a large area(s) of the body.
  • The skin is leathery or charred looking, with white, brown, or black patches.
  • The hands, feet, face, or genitals are burned.
  • The person is an infant or a senior.
• Burned areas swell rapidly. Remove jewelry, belts and other restrictive items, especially from around burned areas and the neck, quickly and carefully, before the area swells.
• Don’t break blisters.
• Don’t apply butters or ointments – these may cause infections.
• A Tetanus shot may be needed; booster shots are recommended every 10 years.

3. 1st-degree burns

• A first-degree burn is the least serious type, involving only the outer layer of skin. It may cause:
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Pain
• Hold burned skin under cool (not cold) running water or immerse in cool water until pain subsides. Use compresses if running water isn’t available.
• Cover with sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers for pain.

4. 2nd-degree burns

• A second-degree burn affects the top 2 layers of skin and may cause:
  • Red, white or splotchy skin
  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Blisters
• Immerse in cool water for 10 or 15 minutes. Use damp compresses if running water isn’t available.
• Don’t apply ice and don’t immerse large severe burns in cold water.
  • Doing so could cause a serious loss of body heat (hypothermia) or a drop in blood pressure and decreased blood flow (shock).
• Call 911 or emergency medical help.
• Protect the burned person from further harm, if you can do so safely.
  • Move the person away from smoldering materials, smoke, and heat.
  • DO NOT remove burned clothing stuck to the skin.
• Cover the burn(s) loosely with sterile, non-stick bandage and secure in place with gauze or tape.
• Elevate the burned area – raise the wound above heart level, if possible.

5. 3rd-degree burns

• A third-degree burn involves all layers of the skin and underlying fat. Muscle and even bone may be affected.
• Call for emergency medical help immediately.
• Burned areas may be charred black or white.
• The person may experience:
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Toxic effects of smoke inhalation.
• Unless the person has a head, neck, or leg injury, or it would cause discomfort:
  • Lay the person flat.
  • Elevate feet about 12 inches.
  • Elevate burn area above heart level, if possible.
  • Cover the person with coat or blanket.
• Keep the victim calm and treat for any other injuries and shock until medical help arrives.

Final Word

Burns are very common but the severity of them varies widely. A burn causes the skin to blister. It is generally best if the skin be left intact because it protects the raw skin underneath. Burns can be painful, disfiguring, and the damage can take several weeks to be fully repaired.

With hectic schedules, the electric glowing light of our phones and tablets, the stress and anxiety of life, and a host of other factors contribute to many of us being sleep-deprived. Searching for that next cup of coffee, energy drink, or other ways to stay awake. We likely don’t spend as much time thinking about prepping for a blissful night’s sleep as we do searching for the next caffeine fix. Here are some tips to help you sleep better.

	1. Get on a Schedule – Go to bed and get up at the same time every day – even on weekends. If you’re not seeing the back of your eyelids after 20 minutes get up and do something relaxing.
	2. Think Before You Eat & Drink – stay away from nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol several hours before bedtime.
	3. Create a Cocoon – a dark, cool room is best for sleeping. Put your phone or tablet down at least a few hours before bedtime. Take a few minutes to relax and unwind.
	4. Nap Time – not much beats a good nap, but long naps during the day can wreak havoc on your sleep at night and your sleep schedule. On the nightshift? You may need a late day nap to make up your sleep debt.
	5. Don’t Worry – easier said than done sometimes, but the effort is worth it. Take time to bed to write down or resolve any nagging worries before you hit the sack.
	6. Move it – regular exercise can be a great way to sleep better. Just be sure not to do it too close to bedtime.

We are all vulnerable to disasters–whether they’re the work of Mother Nature in the form of
earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, tornado or flood or deliberate acts of mankind in the form of arson,
bombing or other act of terrorism. Surviving such disasters often hinges on being prepared.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

                  This is why emergency preparedness and contingency plans are mandatory.

                              Training is an integral part of preparation. Here’s a plan.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Workplace Disasters
Every workplace is at risk for a life safety emergency. Life safety emergency is any unplanned event
that could cause death or significant injury to employees, clients or visitors; or that can shut down
business, disrupt operations or cause physical and environmental damage. Some examples of life
safety emergencies include:

Disaster Plan Objectives
The key objectives and components of a successful disaster plan include:
• Continuation of a healthy and safe work environment
• Minimal interruption to business and service operations
• Resumption of critical operations within a specified time frame
• Minimal financial loss
• Assurance to all stakeholders that the company is functional and operational

Phase 1: Pre-Planning
There are three main areas of concern when developing a disaster plan: response, recovery and
restoration. But before you even begin drafting the plan, there are two things you need to do first

1. Form a Team
Your first step is to form an Emergency Planning Team (EPT) to develop disaster planning policies and
procedures. Include the following personnel or their designated representatives in your EPT:
• Senior officer of the company
• Senior officer of the facility management unit
• Senior officer of the human resources unit
• Local community government official
• Communications officer
• Specialty consultants(e.g., hazardous waste disposal)
This team should meet periodically to review processes, participate in the health & safety committee
and conduct periodic table top exercises to ensure everyone understands their role in a disaster
situation.

2. Look at Your Mission Statement
As you know, employers are obligated to provide safety and prevent harm to its employees in the
workplace from recognized hazards.Natural disasters and terrorism are arguably recognized hazards.
Ideally, a company should have a mission statement that outlines the company’s role and intent to
provide safety to its employees and facility occupants from all recognized hazards. This mission
statement will serve as your focus while preparing the disaster plan.

Phase 2: Response Planning
This part of your plan outlines immediate actions in responding to an emergency. It is important to
remember that when preparing the plan, you should assume a total communications failure. Your
plan must address how communication will be achieved in that event.

Health and life safety, of course, should be your most important concern and you need to consider:
Removal from the affected area may be critical and should be implemented quickly and safely. Ensure
that building occupants are familiarized themselves with posted evacuation floor plans and know how
to safely exit the premises and proceed to the established assembly/shelter area.

Throughout your facility, post signage for designated Shelter Areas. This signage should indicate where
workers and visitors are to go for shelter in the event of severe weather or other emergency, as
determined by your chief or senior emergency coordinator.

Caring for victims. Serious injuries or fatalities are another aspect you must address. Your plan should
outline how to set up a makeshift triage area and how to triage victims according to the severity of
their injuries. (Triage means to sort by priority.) For example: First aid must be applied to those who
have broken bones, a vulsions or missing extremities. Efforts should be made to sustain life until
appropriate medical personnel arrive.Victims who die because of their injuries must be covered until
medical personnel arrive.

The response part of your plan should include a list of all employees who are certified in CPR and first
aid. This list should be posted in employee populated areas, such as break rooms, and include the
telephone extensions of the certified employees.

Access to supplies. Place disaster kits at various locations within your facility (at least one per floor)in
an area that does not require key access. It’s important to include the location of the kits on your
evacuation floor plan.

The response part of your plan must be written and practiced. Train employees to be responsive in
emergency situations. Frequent drills for fire,tornadoes,earthquakes and bomb threats will help in still
the process. Next week, we’ll look at the second key area of concern in emergency planning:
recovery.

Phase 3: Recovery
The next phase of emergency response is recovery. After the impact of the disaster or emergency
has subsided, the EPT should convene to plan for recovery and minimize downtime.

The EPT should consider the anticipated recovery timelines and assign these to areas needing
recovery and restoration. For example, Plan A= immediate recovery – no down time; Plan B= up to
four (4) hours to recover, and so on.

When developing your plan, also include a company policy for using an off-site storage area and make
sure that all department heads conform. This will ensure that your company can remain in
operation in the event of fire or another catastrophe. Having an off-site location to store pertinent
media will facilitate recovery.

Debrief Workers
Once you’ve determined that there’s no longer a risk to health and safety, schedule a debriefing
with staff members of the affected location. The goal of this meeting is to relieve panic, emotional
disequilibrium and stress, as well as institute further recovery and restoration measures.

Expect workers to display or express sadness, anger, anxiety and depression at the meeting. These
are normal reactions to a disaster. When talking with affected workers, it’s important to: • Maintain patience and listen to what they have to say;
• Keep in mind that other people may have different priorities from yours;
• Realize that it generally takes time to restore things, physically and emotionally; and
• Ensure workers that you will learn from the disaster and institute measures to prevent
recurrences.
Results of the debriefing should be shared by the EPT with company executives and the company’s
Health and Safety Committee.

Phase 4: Resumption
It is also important for the EPT to evaluate the response and recovery efforts made and begin to
generate processes for prevention and/or better preparedness for future emergency situations.Once
you’ve reacted to the disaster,the goal becomes to restore and resume business activity as soon as
possible. To help accomplish this, your plan should address these four questions:

•In the case of partial or total loss of the facility, where can you set up temporary space? Is there an alternate company site that can be utilized?
• How will you restore telephone service?
• How will you replace or repair furniture and equipment? Copyright 2018 | SafetyNow | www.SafetyNow.com
• How will you continue mail services?

Restoration Guidelines
The plan should include guidelines to help the Emergency Planning Team ensure that:
• Back-up systems are put in place in a timely fashion when needed;
• Systems are inspected, damage is assessed, and determinations are made regarding what is required to put those systems back into service;
• Appropriate agencies are notified (e.g., insurance, OSHA and other regulators, etc.);
• Steps to prevent furtherloss due to vandalism,theft and exposure to dangerous elements and accidents are taken; and
• Hazardous materials are removed from grounds in accordance with procedures.

Resource Management Annex
One of the most important pieces of your Contingency/Disaster Preparedness Plan is the Resource
Management Annex, a link to many services you may need to aid in your restorative efforts. The
Resource Management Annex should consist of vendors for various services, including:

 The Annex should list vendor contact information and your account numbers. It’s also a good idea to
let vendors know that they’re listed in your Resource Management Annex to help expedite your
service call when needed.

Conclusion
The objectives of a Contingency/Disaster Preparedness Plan are to protect the health and safety of
personnel, protect property and equipment, and minimize risk and liability. With proper planning and
documentation and with thorough training of employees, you will be better equipped to achieve
these objectives.

Introduction

When a serious incident happens in the workplace, everyone will be busy dealing with the emergency. Helping injured victims, assessing if the danger has abated, trying to piece together what happened. So, it’s critical to be prepared to investigate an incident before one occurs.

All incidents – regardless of size or impact – need to be investigated, including near misses. The time spent, and the detail involved will vary depending on how complex the incident is.  Learn more in our Focus On: How to Conduct Meaningful Incident Investigations.

Written Plan

An incident investigation program should include a clearly stated, easy‐to‐follow written plan to include guidelines for:

• How and when management is to be notified of the incident.
• Notifying safety regulators according to incident reporting requirements. For example:
  • All work‐related fatalities within 8 hours.
  • All work‐related inpatient hospitalizations, all amputations, and all losses of an eye within 24 hours.
  • Who is authorized to notify outside agencies (i.e., fire, police, etc.).
  • Who will conduct investigations and what training they should have received.
  • Timetables for completing the investigation and developing/implementing recommendations.
  • Who will receive investigation recommendations.
  • Who will be responsible for implementing corrective actions.

Investigative Team

The most effective investigations are conducted by a team in which managers and employees work together. Each bringing in a different perspective, understanding and knowledge. Working together will also encourage all parties to “own” the conclusions and recommendations and to jointly ensure corrective actions are executed in a timely manner.

Where the incident involves a multi‐employer worksite, the investigation should be shared with each employer at the site. Where the incident involves a temporary worker provided by a staffing agency, both the staffing agency and the host employer should conduct an incident investigation. It is a fundamental principal that temporary workers are entitled to the same protections under safety regulations as all other covered workers.

So, if a temporary worker is injured and the host employer knows about it, the staffing agency should be informed promptly. Likewise, if a staffing agency learns of an injury, it should inform the host employer promptly so future injuries might be prevented, and the case is recorded appropriately. Both the host employer and staffing agency should track and where possible, investigate the cause of workplace injuries.

Investigations are designed to focus on identifying root causes, not establishing fault. Identifying and correcting root causes should always be the key objective. Implementing an incident investigation program, training investigative teams, and conducting a meaningful Incident Investigation will help you reduce incident and injury rates, the time spent, the costs incurred, and other losses associated with incidents.

A 50-year-old male cleaner died when he fell approximately 35 feet through a temporary roof opening and was impaled on a piece of equipment on the factory floor below. He had been cleaning an exhaust fan with a pressure washer on the factory roof. He and two co-workers had removed the fan from its casing creating a temporary roof opening and set the fan beside the roof opening for cleaning.

Facing the fan with his back to the opening, the cleaner apparently stepped backwards and fell through the opening.

He fell onto a 1200-ton die-casting machine on the factory floor.  Onsite personnel working nearby heard the cleaner fall onto the machine. They summoned help and factory-employed emergency response personnel responded to the scene, assessed the situation and called for an ambulance. Local emergency medical personnel and police arrived at the scene and contacted the coroner. The coroner arrived and declared the victim dead at the scene.

Lessons to Learn and Live By

This type of incident is completely avoidable if safety precautions are in place.

1. Openings in roofs, floors, and walls must be barricaded, protected with a guardrail system, or covered with marked covers to prevent someone from unintentionally falling through them.

a. The employer stated that the factory initially did not want the holes covered up when the fans were removed because it would keep air from flowing out of the factory.

b. After this incident occurred, the company constructed covers of 2 x 4s and plywood nailed together to be placed over the temporary holes in the roof while the fans were removed.

c. Additionally, a moveable four-wall, five-foot-high barricade could have been constructed for the roof openings. This would have allowed the factory air to exhaust through the roof openings while the fans were being cleaned.

2. Fall protection equipment must be worn when workers are performing work at heights. Properly used and anchored fall protection would likely have saved this man’s life.

a. Besides barricades around the roof openings, the laborers could have worn appropriate harness devices tethered to roof anchors.

b. The roof of the building was flat and there are at least two types of roof anchors designed for use on flat roofs.

3. Train employees on and enforce the use of, safe work practices related to walking and working surfaces.

a. Training should include how to properly erect, maintain, disassemble, and inspect fall equipment and systems such as guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, warning line systems, safety monitoring systems, controlled access zones and other protection systems/devices to be used.

b. Train workers and supervisors on hazard identification, the process for reporting hazards, and what each group can do to avoid or fix hazards.

4. Create an environment where it is expected and accepted that workers speak up about dangerous work or unsafe conditions.

5. Hold supervisors accountable for following and enforcing safety procedures in every situation. There are no do-overs when it comes to death. Shortcuts and excuses are not an option.

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=face_falls_reports

What’s at Stake?

A laboratory was seriously damaged when the rotor of an ultracentrifuge failed while in use. Flying metal fragments damaged walls, the ceiling and other equipment. The shock wave blew out the laboratory’s windows and shook down shelves.

Fortunately, the room was not occupied at the time and there were no personal injuries. The cause of the accident is believed to be the use of a model of rotor that was not approved for use in the specific model of centrifuge.

Here are some visuals to show the aftermath of the incident:

What’s the Danger?

Centrifuges, which operate at high speed, have great potential for injuring users if not operated properly.

• Unbalanced centrifuge rotors can result in injury or death.
• Sample container breakage can release aerosols that are harmful if inhaled.
• Rotors on high-speed centrifuge and ultracentrifuge units are subject to powerful mechanical stress that can result in rotor failure.
• In addition, improper loading and balancing of rotors can cause the rotors to break loose while spinning.
  • Everyone using this type of equipment needs to know the proper operating procedures for the specific unit being operated, including how to select, load, balance and clean the rotor.
  • These procedures are explained in the unit’s operating manual.

How to Protect Yourself

Most centrifuge accidents result from user error. To avoid injury, workers should follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions for each make and model of centrifuge that they use.

Follow these steps for the safe operation of centrifuges:

1. Ensure centrifuge bowls and tubes are dry and the spindle is clean.
2. Use matched sets of tubes, buckets and other equipment.
3. Always use safety centrifuge cups to contain potential spills and prevent aerosols.
4. Inspect tubes or containers for cracks or flaws before using them.
5. Avoid overfilling tubes or other containers (e.g., in fixed angle rotors, centrifugal force may drive the solution up the side of the tube or container wall).
6. Ensure the rotor is properly seated on the drive shaft.
7. Make sure tubes or containers are properly balanced in the rotor.
8. Only check O-rings on the rotor if you are properly trained.
9. Close the centrifuge lid during operation.
10. Do not exceed the rotor’s maximum run speed.
11. Make sure the centrifuge is operating normally before leaving the area.
12. Let the rotor come to a complete stop before opening the lid.
13. When centrifuging infectious materials, wait 10 minutes after the rotor comes to a complete stop before opening the lid.
14. If a spill occurs, use appropriate decontamination and cleanup procedures for the spilled materials. Report all accidents to your supervisor immediately.

Final Word

There are a few important guidelines for operating a centrifuge. Following them can prevent damage to the centrifuge and possible serious injury to you and others.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

Glutaraldehyde is a toxic chemical that is used in certain circumstances to disinfect and clean medical, surgical and dental equipment. It is used when equipment can’t be sterilized with heat, or if something can’t fit in a sterilizing unit.

Glutaraldehyde is common in hospital settings and is also used in histology and pathology laboratories to fixate tissues and as a hardening agent in the development of x-rays.

What’s the Danger?

Glutaraldehyde is toxic – in both liquid and vapor form and exposure to either form can irritate the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract, causing coughing and wheezing, nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, and other symptoms. Skin exposure can also cause a chemical burn.

Over time some people can develop a sensitivity to it and can develop occupational asthma, atopic dermatitis, and skin rashes.

How to Protect Yourself

Six easy ways to keep yourself safe working with glutaraldehyde

1. Know if glutaraldehyde is in your workplace, which procedures use it, and the common brand names for glutaraldehyde including Cidex®; Sonacide®; Sporicidin®; Hospex®; Omnicide®
2. Know when the risk for exposure is greatest, including:

• When pouring it into, or out of, a cleaning container system such as a soaking basin for manual disinfecting operations; or the reservoir in automated processors.
• When opening the cleaning system to add or remove instruments.
• Agitating it.
• When handling soaked instruments or rinsing the instruments after soaking.
• Flushing out instrument parts with a syringe or drying instruments with compressed air.
• Disposing of “spent” glutaraldehyde solutions; and
• Performing maintenance on equipment that includes reservoirs of glutaraldehyde containing solution.

3. Avoid contact with liquid or vapor

• Wear PPE
  • splash proof goggles or face masks;
  • gloves made of Butyl Rubber, Nitrile, and Viton® – not latex or surgical gloves;
  • elbow length gloves or protective sleeves; a suitable respirator).
• Always wash your hands after working with glutaraldehyde;
• Work in a well-ventilated area.
• Don’t agitate or splash glutaraldehyde around.
• Clean up any spills immediately and correctly; and
• Use a vacuum or wet mop to clean up pure glutaraldehyde.
• Lastly, don’t eat, drink, or smoke near glutaraldehyde.

4. Work under the hood

• Work with glutaraldehyde directly under the hood canopy.
• Keep equipment you’re are using at least 6 inches under the hood canopy.

5. Monitor your exposure

• Report any signs of exposure/sensitivity to glutaraldehyde, including:
  • breathing issues, wheezing, coughing, tight chest;
  • dizziness;
  • nosebleeds; or
  • rashes/hives/eczema.

6. Know what to do in the event of exposure

• Change affected clothing immediately. Wash area with soap and warm water.
• Irrigate eyes with copious amounts of cool water for at least 15 minutes.
• Go outside for fresh air and rest if you’re having breathing difficulties or dizziness; and
• Rinse your mouth and drink lots of water if glutaraldehyde is swallowed.

In all cases of exposure get medical attention if needed.

Final Word

Glutaraldehyde is widely used in hospital and laboratory settings, but it is a dangerous chemical. Any processes needing to involve the use of glutaraldehyde should be carried out with care to reduce the risk of spillage or vapor release. Employees must be vigilant to the signs of sensitivity or acute reaction and report it.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

An electrical burn occurs when skin meets an electrical voltage. It does not always leave a significant burn to the skin, but the electricity can cause significant internal damage to nerves, muscles and internal organs.

What’s the Danger?

High voltage electricity creates a lot of heat and takes the most direct route it can find between its point of contact and where it can leave the body.  This means it causes significant burns to any muscle, nerves or internal organs it passes through.

If high voltage electricity arcs the heat generated in the arc can be 7000 degrees Fahrenheit, so burns are severe and often fatal.

Low voltage electrical burns are often superficial blisters over a wide area as the electricity disperses.  However, if there is only a small contact burn site, there is a risk the current has become quite compact. This increases the heat generated and causes more damage. A small burn site doesn’t necessarily the burn is minor.

How to Protect Yourself

First aid for electrical burns

1. Keep yourself safe

• Call 911 to report the injury and get the utility company to turn off the power, if applicable.
• Don’t touch the injured person if he or she is still in contact with the electrical current.
• Don’t get near energized wires. Stay at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) away — farther if wires are jumping and sparking.
• Don’t move a person with an electrical injury unless the person is in immediate danger.

2. General burn care

• FOR ALL BURNS – CALL 911 IF:
  • The burn penetrates all layers of the skin.
  • The burn covers a large area(s) of the body.
  • The skin is leathery or charred looking, with white, brown, or black patches.
  • The hands, feet, face, or genitals are burned; or
  • The person is an infant or a senior.
• Burned areas swell rapidly so remove jewelry, belts and other restrictive items, especially from around burned areas and the neck, quickly and carefully, before the area swells.
• Don’t break blisters.
• Don’t apply butters or ointments – these may cause infections.
• A Tetanus shot may be needed; booster shots are recommended every 10 years.

3. First-degree burns

• A first-degree burn is the least serious type, involving only the outer layer of skin. It may cause:
  • Redness;
  • Swelling; or
• Hold the burned skin under cool (not cold) running water or immerse in cool water until the pain subsides. Use pads or cloth soaked in cool water if running water isn’t available.
• Cover the area with a sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth; and
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers for pain.

4. 2nd-degree burns

• A second-degree burn affects the top 2 layers of skin and may cause:
  • Red, white or splotchy skin;
  • Swelling;
  • Pain; and
  • Blisters
• Immerse in cool water for 10 or 15 minutes. Use damp cloths if running water isn’t available.
• Don’t apply ice and don’t immerse large severe burns in cold water.
  • Doing so could cause a serious loss of body heat (hypothermia) or a drop in blood pressure and decreased blood flow (shock).
• Call 911 or emergency medical help.
• Protect the burned person from further harm, if you can do so safely.
  • Move the victim away from smoldering materials, smoke, and heat; and
  • DO NOT remove burned clothing stuck to the skin.
• Cover the burn(s) loosely with sterile, non-stick bandage and secure in place with gauze or tape.
• Elevate the burned area – raise the wound above heart level, if possible.

5. 3rd-degree burns

• A third-degree burn involves all layers of the skin and underlying fat. Muscle and even bone may be affected.
• Call for emergency medical help immediately.
• Burned areas may be charred black or white.
• The person may experience:
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning; and the
  • Toxic effects of smoke inhalation.
• Unless the person has a head, neck, or leg injury, or it would cause discomfort:
  • Lay the person flat.
  • Elevate their feet about 12 inches; and
  • Elevate the burn area above the heart level, if possible; and
  • Cover the person with coat or blanket.
• Keep the victim calm and treat for any other injuries and shock until medical help arrives.

Final Word

Electrical burns may have very little effect on the skin, unlike burns from a heat source, however, they are very serious. The electrical current can also cause a burn deep under the skin, where the damage cannot be seen. Anyone who suffers an electrical burn should be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

Poisoning, accidental or intentional, causes significant harm or death to many US and Canadian people. Poisoning takes many forms as harmful chemicals can be breathed in, swallowed, touched or injected.

What’s the Danger?

Many chemicals that cause poisoning are safe at lower or prescribed levels. They only become dangerous if the exposure to them is inappropriate, such as drug overdose.

Gases such as carbon monoxide are particularly dangerous as their presence is undetectable to humans as it has no color or smell.

Children, especially, are prone to poisoning from household products and alcohol poisoning.

Many accidental overdoses happen because people take daily maximum doses of Acetaminophen (you may know it as Panadol or Tylenol) as well as a cold remedy. Many of these cold remedies also contain Acetaminophen, so people do not realize they are double dosing on Acetaminophen, which causes serious side effects and even death.

How to Protect Yourself

First aid for poisoning:

1. Stay safe

• Call 911, 1^st in an emergency.
• Assess the scene.
• Proceed with care only if it’s safe to do so.
• Wear PPE if suspect or know gas or chemicals have been released.

2. Know the signs of poisoning

• Burns or redness around the mouth and lips.
• Breath that smells like chemicals, such as gasoline or paint thinner.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Confusion or other altered mental status.
  • Poisoning symptoms are often like other emergency events.
  • Check for:
    • empty pill bottles or packages;
    • scattered pills;
    • burns, stains and odors on the person or nearby objects.
      • With a child, consider the possibility that he or she may have applied medicated patches or swallowed a button battery.

3. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately if the person is:

• Drowsy or unconscious.
• Having difficulty breathing or has stopped breathing.
• Uncontrollably restless or agitated.
• Having seizures.
• Known to have taken medications, or any other substance, intentionally or accidentally overdosed (in these situations the poisoning typically involves larger amounts, often along with alcohol).

4. You absolutely must also:

• Call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 in the United States or Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017 in Canada, or your local Poison Centre, even if:
  • The person is stable and has no symptoms.
  • You have called 911 – it will save the EMS team having to do it when they arrive.

5. Don’t make it worse

• DO NOT give the person anything to eat unless directed to do so by Poison Control or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel.
• DO NOT try and make the person vomit.

6. Swallowed poison?

• If the person is:
  • conscious
  • not having convulsions
  • able to swallow
• AND the product swallowed is:
  • burning
  • irritating
  • or caustic
• THEN give a small amount of water or milk to drink immediately.
• Call the poison center for your country.

7. In the eye?

• Rinse the eye immediately.
  • Every second matters.
  • A delay could result in loss of sight.
• Remove contact lenses.
• Use lots of room temperature water and irrigate for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Adults and older children may find it easiest to hop in the shower.
• Wrap young children in a towel and let water from the faucet in the kitchen sink run over the eye – or slowly pour water from a pitcher.
  • Let the water hit the bridge of the nose and gently run into the eyes rather than pouring the water directly into the eye.
  • Important: Irrigate for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
• Encourage blinking.
• If someone else is available get them to call 911 while you start irrigating the eye.
  • If no one else is nearby, focus on irrigation for 15 minutes, then call 911 and Poison Control.

8. On the skin?

• Protect yourself – do not touch the contaminated area without gloves.
• If you do touch the chemical, rinse immediately.
• Remove contaminated clothing first. Help the victim if necessary.
• Rinse their skin immediately using lots of room temperature running water.
• For large spills, adults and older children may find it easiest to hop in the shower.
• Use mild soap to remove material that sticks to the skin.
• Important: Rinse for at least 15 minutes.
  • Call 911 as soon as possible-but focus on rinsing the skin.
  • Call Poison Control ASAP.

9. In the air?

• Take care not to inhale the gas yourself.
• Move the person to an area where they can get lots of fresh air.
• Call 911 and Poison Control.

10. Reduce the risk

• Keep chemicals and medicines locked up and out of sight.
• Be careful when handling substances, chemicals and cleaners that could be harmful. Only use them in well-ventilated areas and wear protective clothing, such as gloves and a face mask.
• Use common sense with medications.
  • Keep medications in the containers they came in.
  • Make sure they are kept out of children’s reach.
  • Read the product information carefully. Use only as directed.
  • Be aware of the possible side effects and any possible interactions with other medications you are taking.
  • Never use another person’s prescribed medications or medications that have expired.

Final Word

Poisoning takes many forms, so there are a wide range of symptoms and ways to treat. If you are not sure what has happened or what to do, the first thing to do is call 911. You can then contact poison control.