Sources:

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/devices.html

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/machineguarding/guards.html

The guy working on under this mower doesn’t appear to have any trust issues. He seems to trust that the:

• Slings will hold the mower.
• Driver of the Bobcat won’t accidently use the wrong controls and either send the mower crashing down or run him over.
• Hydraulics won’t fail.
• Wind and weather will cooperate and not send the mower swinging into the side of his head.

You probably already know that you should never put yourself under a suspended load. Never. It’s not safe. There are simply too many things that could go wrong. And when working on equipment, even a relatively “small” piece like this mower, the use of proper and safe means to lift and secure it is essential in preventing struck-by and caught-between injuries.

A 27-year-old male employee was fatally injured when he was crushed between the railing of a scissor lift and a mezzanine outer support beam while installing insulation on duct work. On the day of the incident, the victim was working alone installing insulation around duct work using a Dyna-Mite Work Platform scissor lift.

The duct work could only be accessed through a small opening approximately eighteen inches high by thirty-one inches wide under the mezzanine deck between the vertical beams, an electrical junction box, and piping. In efforts to reach the area, the victim positioned himself leaning backwards out of the scissor lift with his back resting across the lift upper guard rails.

At some point while installing the insulation the victim became pinned between the scissor lift upper guard rail and the bottom of the mezzanine outer support beam. During the investigation, it was determined that the control console on the scissor lift was missing the guard that prevents the inadvertent activation of the lowering and rising of the work platform.

The control console was found hanging on the opposite side of the lift from the victim’s work position. The most likely scenario is that the victim contacted the unguarded control console with his foot while trying to position himself leaning backwards out of the lift.

Had the guard been in place on the control panel and the victim not been working alone, it is likely this incident would have had a much different outcome. However, during the inspection it also was found the lower controls on the lift were not functioning, so it’s possible that even if someone else was present they may not have been able to move the lift and free the victim in time.

This incident also highlights the importance of preventative maintenance and removing damaged or defective equipment from service until they are repaired or replaced.

Use this chart as a reference to help you identify common struck-by/caught-between hazards and ways to protect your workers against them and in some cases, eliminate the hazard altogether. Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list, so feel free to edit it based on your specific events and hazards.  You can also use the information as a starting point in creating your own struck-by/caught-between safety checklists.

Event	Hazard	Solution
Struck-by vehicles/Caught-between vehicle and object	Back-over	Back-up cameras Back-up alarms Back-over prevention SOPs
	Runover and back-over during night work	Hardhats with active illumination Hardhat mounted mirrors High-visibility clothing Portable lights
	Passenger vehicles in work zones	Concrete/water filled barriers Mobile longitudinal barriers Intrusion alarms Traffic signs and warnings Gradual tapering of lane closures Police enforcement Automated flagging devices
Struck-by flying objects	Projectiles from power tools Pushing, pulling, prying objects loose Debris from grinding, sanding, or striking materials	Only trained workers use nail guns and other power tools Sequential triggers – nail guns Tool inspection procedures/enforcement PPE!
Struck-by falling objects	Objects falling from elevated work Materials being lifted and moved overhead Materials being moved via forklifts, trucks, etc. Stacked and stored materials	Tethers for hand tools Hardhats Designated pedestrian walkways Toe-boards, screen, nets, and guardrails on scaffolds Enforce policies on working with and around suspended loads – i.e. maintain a safe distance, never stand or walk under suspended load Train on proper transport and storage of materials Put up signs and barricades to keep people OUT!
Struck-by swinging or slipping objects	Swinging materials Slipping loads	Enforce policies on working with and around suspended loads – i.e. maintain a safe distance, never stand or walk under suspended load Train on safe load securement
Struck-by/Caught-between equipment	Heavy equipment or machinery in use – i.e. swinging crane booms, excavator buckets, dump-truck beds Rolling, moving vehicles or equipment – i.e. equipment not properly blocked, emergency brake not set, release of hydraulic energy on raised implements	Keep machines safe distance away from excavation work Remove workers from excavation when machines are being used; when materials being brought into/out of excavation Require use of high-visibility clothing Enforce pre-use inspections Train operators and workers on foot of hazards and safe work practices
Crushed-by/Caught-between materials	Trench collapse Engulfment by grain, sand, other moveable materials	Ensure shoring, shielding, of trench and excavation work Prohibit “walking the grain’ Have tools available to dislodge grain or other material

In a recent report from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), struck-by incidents are on the rise.

WHO

• More than 800 U.S. construction workers died in struck-by incidents from 2011 to 2015, which is a rate higher than any other industry.

• Highway, street and bridge workers accounted for 264 of the 804 construction fatalities during the period.
• Construction workers 65 and older experienced the highest rate of struck-by fatalities.
• Highway maintenance workers, power line installers, and excavating or loading machine operators experienced the most struck-by fatalities.

WHAT

• Of those 804 deaths, 52% involved flying or falling objects and equipment, with the remainder caused by being hit by a vehicle.
• 114 worker deaths were the result of being struck by a passenger vehicle, and 112 workers died after being struck by a truck.
• More than half (51%) of fatalities involving being struck by an object or equipment were caused by falling objects or equipment.

WHERE

• 57% of the struck-by vehicle fatalities occurred in work zones.

This image shows a lumber sorting conveyor with no guards in place to protect workers from the moving chains
and gears or rotating shafts of the conveyor system. As a result, a worker lost his life when he reached between
the two moving chains to clear out a piece of lumber that had fallen – also seen in this image. His coat caught
between the chain and the gear and he was pulled into the conveyor and his body was wedged between the drive
system and the framework of the conveyor.

Rotating parts, moving belts, points of operation, and other similar machine hazards must be guarded to protect
workers from injury, amputation, and death. In addition, lockout/tagout procedures must be in place and enforced
during times of repair, maintenance, and removal of materials. Finally, jam-clearing tools and procedures must also
be used and followed so workers aren’t reaching into a machine, its point of operation, or over any rotating,
spinning, or moving parts.

Machines are the Tyrannosaurus Rex of work hazards. They mangle flesh, crush bones, sever fingers, amputate limbs and end lives. And there are so many ways for your workers to suffer a machine-related injury. Some examples include:

• Being hit by the part of the machine that presses, punches, cuts, shapes, etc.
• Getting trapped between moving parts.
• Limbs, hair, clothes or jewelry entangled in a chain, belt, shaft, gear, blade, etc.
• Being burned or electrocuted after accidental startup.
• Being hit by material thrown from the machine.

Here’s a look at what machine guards are all about and the key role supervisors play in implementing and enforcing a company’s machine guarding program.

Step 1: Help Assess Risk

Work with your safety director to do a hazard assessment of each machine in the workplace.

• Do the hazard assessment:
  • When the machine is first installed.
  • At least monthly or more often if the manufacturer recommends it.
  • After injuries, near misses and other incidents.
  • After the machine malfunctions or is moved.
• Cover the four areas where machine injuries are most likely to occur:
  • The point of operation, or machine part where the cutting, shaping, boring, forming or other operation is done on the material.
  • Moving parts, including flywheels, pulleys, belts, couplings, chains, gears, conveyors, feed mechanisms, etc.
  • In-running nip points, or spaces between rotating and/or slowly-moving parts.
  • Primary power source, including engines, turbines and other equipment used to power the machine.

Step 2: Help Select Guards

The principle means of preventing machine injuries is the use of guarding devices. Your challenge is to decide which guards to use to control risks you identify in your hazard assessment.

There are four basic types of machine guarding methods you can use alone or in combination, including:

1. Physical barriers that block workers’ access to the danger area, which may include:
   a. Fixed guards – which are a permanent part of the machine, such as gates.
   b. Adjustable guards – they can be flexed in size depending on the materials being worked on.
   c. Interlocked guards – automatically stop the machine when a tripping mechanism is activated until the guard is back in place.
   d. Self-adjusting guards – here the size of the opening in the barrier adjusts to accommodate the stock/material.
2. Automatic stopping devices – such as presence sensing devices and pullback devices.
3. Automatic or robotic feeding and ejection so that materials don’t have to be manually fed into and taken out of the machine.
4. Location/Distance guarding – placing machines away from work areas and/or in locations that are impossible or difficult for workers to get to.

Don’t forget, you’ll likely need to supplement these engineering solutions with safe work practices and policies and PPE.

Step 3: Inspect Guards

Once machine guards are in place, they must be properly and regularly inspected. Inspection details and schedules will depend on the specific machines and guards used. But there are also general things to check, including verifying that guards are:

• Effective in keeping the worker’s body, hair and clothing from contacting moving parts.
• Firmly secured so that workers can’t easily remove them.
• Free of jagged edges, shear points, unfinished surfaces and other hazards.
• Allowing workers to do their job quickly and comfortably—if they don’t, workers may try to remove them.

Finally, make sure your inspection covers:

• Guards used at the point of operation.
• Guards at the power source.
• Each continuous line of shafting.
• Pulleys, ropes, belts, chains and chain drivers, sprockets and gears.

Step 4: Provide Training
At a minimum, workers need to walk away with an understanding of:

• The hazards posed by the machines at your workplace.
• How machine injuries can happen.
• The guards in place to control the hazards.
• The reason to never, ever remove or tamper with machine guards.
• The kind of clothing to wear—and not wear—to avoid machine injury.
• The PPE to use when working near machines.
• Any other steps they must take to protect themselves.

Workers who operate machinery also need technical safety training for each machine they use. This training must be delivered by somebody who is qualified to operate and understands the hazards associated with the machine. So, while being a supervisor qualifies you to provide general safety training, it may not be adequate for providing technical training.

Your role as a supervisor is to identify and correct unsafe work practices and help to create and enforce safe work practices so your workers can avoid struck-by and caught-between injuries and incidents.

Let’s start by defining our terms.

• A struck‐by incident is when the impact alone creates an injury. For example, a worker is hit and injured by a tool or equipment.
  • Struck-by incidents are often related to improper material handling and unsafe practices around heavy equipment, tools, and machinery.
  • Struck-by injuries can result in blindness, concussions, permanent brain damage, and other serious injuries.
• A caught‐in or ‐between incident is when an injury is a result of the crushing force between two objects.
  • This includes getting caught or crushed in operating equipment, between a moving and stationary object, or between two or more moving objects.
  • Caught-in injuries result in serious and often fatal crushing injuries and hundreds of amputations each year.

These incidents can happen in every type of job but are most common, and most deadly, in construction and road work, oil and gas work, any work involving material handling, machines, and heavy equipment.

The prevention of struck-by and caught-between related hazards and injuries is a primary focus of OHS/OSHA inspectors. Here’s how you can help your organization protect workers and keep them safe on the job.

Hazard ID

Start by determining what struck-by/caught-between (SBCB) hazards are present at your work site.  You’ll be looking for the following types of hazards:

1. Flying objects
2. Falling objects
3. Swinging/moving objects
4. Rolling objects

Struck-by hazards originate from many sources. The most common include:

• Accidental hits by cranes, heavy equipment and loader trucks.
• Poorly stacked heavy materials that may fall, slip and slide – this can also be a caught-between hazard.
• Poor housekeeping, such as a tools or equipment left on edges or shelves.
• Missing guards or screens on tools and equipment that grind, abrade, or polish.
• Unusual work such as demolition of buildings, tree trimming, pruning and felling etc.

Caught-between hazard sources include:

• Crane booms that aren’t supported during dismantling.
• Improper construction and use of scaffolds – i.e. unstable footing, overload of materials.
• Concrete walls being constructed.
• Demolition work.
• Unsafe maintenance and repair work on equipment – i.e. working between the frame and bed of a dump truck.

Safe Work Practices

The safe work practices you create and enforce will be dependent on the types of hazards you identify in the assessment. The following are universal safe work practices. Some are specifically related to your role as a supervisor and others are employee-centric.  Follow safety instructions and standard operating procedures recommended by the manufacturer.

• Only trained personnel should operate equipment and machines.
• Provide and enforce the use of required PPE.
• Protect employees from being injured by falling objects by using appropriate toe boards, identifying and barricading the areas below work zones, and requiring PPE such as hard hats to be used.
• Mark all hazardous areas and instruct employees to obey warning signs.
• Enforce good housekeeping practices.
• Setup and enforce machine and equipment maintenance protocol and schedules.
• Provide protection during trench and excavation work.

Once these safe work practices have been established it is your job to train your workers on these and site- and equipment-specific practices. Here are a few examples.

• Train workers on safe lifting procedures.
  • No lifting equipment or loads beyond an equipment’s designed capacity.
  • All lifting equipment must be tested and inspected before use.
• Train workers to:
  • Stay away from moving equipment.
  • Wear clothing that does not catch in machinery.
  • Keep clear of lifted loads.
  • Secure tools and equipment with lanyards to the workers to prevent them from falling.
  • Maintain eye contact with equipment operators.
  • Lower or block bulldozer and scraper blades, end-loader buckets, dump-truck beds when not in use.
  • Disengage equipment controls (i.e. don’t leave equipment in drive or reverse) and set the parking brake, wheel chocks, and use LOTO when required.
  • Avoid distraction (no smartphones, tablets) and maintain awareness and recognize that as work progresses the hazards may change.

Inspections

Lastly, you need to perform regular inspections to keep workers safe. Regular inspections have the following benefits:

• Allows you to observe if safe work practices are being followed.
• Helps you identify hazards you missed in your initial assessment or any new hazards that have developed.
• Gives you a chance to get employee feedback and ideas on safety issues and safety fixes.
• Let’s you correct unsafe conditions and unsafe acts as they are occurring.
• Identify workers who need additional training.

Take Back the Lunch Break: Improve workplace engagement and satisfaction

According to Gallup, only one in three employees are engaged at work. Because engagement impacts productivity, happiness and job satisfaction, it’s time employees and employers across North America stepped up to the plate – the lunch plate that is.

North American workers value their lunch breaks and feel more engaged and productive when they make the time to take a lunch break every day. At a time when companies are trying to find every little way to maximize the efficiency and productivity of their employees, the workplace norm around lunch breaks needs to be shifted from something that you are only able to do when you have the time, to something that you would be remiss to skip. This change begins at the managerial or even institutional level by actively encouraging lunch breaks rather than assuming employees will work them into their own schedules.

1. North American workers who take a lunch break every day score higher on a wide range of engagement metrics, including job satisfaction, likelihood to continue working at the same company, and likelihood to recommend their employer to others.
2. North American workers value their lunch breaks – both employees and their bosses.
3. The majority of North American workers take lunch breaks regularly but would like to take them more frequently and for longer amounts of time – a trend that is even more pronounced among Americans than Canadians.
4. Despite valuing their lunch breaks and having a desire to take them more frequently/often, taking adequate lunch breaks is still not a top priority for North American workers.
5. Bosses in North America claim that they encourage their employees to take a lunch break every day, but their employees are less likely to agree.
6. Despite claiming that lunch breaks are important and encouraged among their employees, some bosses look down upon employees who take regular lunch breaks when evaluating their job performance.
7. Personal workload is a much greater influence on whether or not employees take a lunch break than external pressures like their boss or company policy.
8. Encouraging lunch breaks at the institutional level (i.e. common eating areas, mandatory lunch breaks, etc.) alleviates some of the employee-boss tension surrounding taking lunch breaks.

You can read more here.

Chances are you, or someone you know, has been touched by mental illness. For some, a mental illness is a temporary state caused by a specific stressful, traumatic or sad event, such as the death of a parent, job loss, or even a seemingly happy event, like a birthday or sending a child off to college. For others, mental illness is something they deal with throughout their life.

In the last few years there have been several celebrity suicides and other famous or influential people who have come forward to speak about their struggles with mental illness. Of course, their struggles are no different or worthier of paying attention to than anyone else’s, but this has opened the door for many to feel more comfortable talking about their own mental health experiences, seeking help, and reaching out to help others.

The information that follows has been gathered from several different sources with the hope that it helps you better understand mental health issues, identify behaviors in your employees that could signal they are dealing with a mental illness, and ways to reach out and help them.

What You Need to Know

Mental health includes a person’s emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Research shows that many mental illnesses are caused by a combination of the following three factors:

1. Biological – genetics, infections, brain injury
2. Psychological – emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, neglect
3. Environmental – loss of a loved one, divorce, low self-esteem, anxiety, social expectations

Contrary to popular belief, springtime is the time of the year when people are most likely to commit suicide – and not the holidays. Researchers aren’t sure exactly why suicide spikes in the spring. “It’s still rather a mystery,” says Christine Moutier, MD, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Seasons with less sunlight are more challenging for people with mood disorders, particularly seasonal affective disorder, but the statistics on suicide rates stand opposite of that fact.

Know the Signs

There are often clues that someone is experiencing mental health problems. Here are 6 of them.

1. Work performance has declined without a clear reason. A once very driven employee suddenly fails to hit his or her goals, frequently calls in sick, or shows up late.
2. Their mind seems to be on other things or they are distant and not fully engaged in what’s going on around them. This could mean missing deadlines or not contributing as much as they used to in meetings.
3. They seem very anxious and can’t seem to relax or focus on their work.
4. They’re negative or apathetic about work or life in general.
5. They get mad or lash out for no apparent reason.
6. They are taking risks or being careless when it comes to their safety. You might even suspect they have a drug or alcohol problem.

What You Can Do

If you are concerned about an employee’s well-being, talk to them in a private place and express your concern and offer help in the form of referring them to your organization’s Employee Assistance Program or temporary leave options offered. Talk to them about their workload and schedule – maybe a change in their schedule would help them get through a rough time, or maybe they need some time to attend therapy sessions or doctor appointments.

If you aren’t sure what to do or you aren’t comfortable talking to them, talk to your human resource person and ask them to reach out to the employee.

You can also mental health information with your employees in general such as these seven ways to help maintain positive mental health:

1. Get professional help if you need it
2. Connect with others
3. Stay positive
4. Get physically active
5. Help others
6. Get enough sleep
7. Practice and develop coping skills

Realize though that it can be hard to do these things when you are depressed, have anxiety, or other mental health issues, but even incorporating a few of these tips can make a difference.

Help is available in many different forms, from different people, and in different places. If a worker is dealing with mental illness, be supportive and don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who you think is struggling – you can make a difference.

A department of public works employee was killed when his sweatshirt became entangled around an unguarded Powered Take Off (PTO) shaft on a salt truck. The DPW mechanical crew repaired the bed chain on the vehicle prior to the incident but returned the truck to service without installing the guard that covered the shaft. It appeared that when the victim walked to the rear of the truck to check the salt spreader, his orange safety sweatshirt was caught by the rotating shaft stub. The victim was found entangled by a co-worker and transported to a hospital by EMS where he was pronounced dead.

This image shows a pair of coveralls stuffed with straw and demonstrates the power of a rotating PTO shaft and what can happen when loose clothing, the hood on a sweatshirt or coat, or anything else gets up in that rotation. Operating at full speed, the rotating PTO and driveline could wrap 7 FEET of the hood string around the shaft in 1 SECOND!

It’s a shocking way to see that the DPW worker didn’t have a chance against the force and speed of the PTO.

Remind workers of ways to prevent these types of injuries and deaths:

1. Service equipment following manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Only use equipment when manufacturer’s guards or an adequate replacement guard is in place and operational.
3. Inspect all safety guards before operating equipment.
4. Never remove machine guards while equipment is energized or can potentially become energized.
5. Never alter machine guards without manufacturer’s approval.
6. De-energize and lock-out equipment’s energy before removing guard to service equipment and always replace guards after servicing equipment.
7. Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry and keep hair tight.

Beat the Heat!

TOP 5 SUMMER HAZARDS

When summertime rolls around, it’s easy to forget that even the clearest weather and sunshine can create hazards when working outdoors. If you find yourself working alone outside, you’ll need to take extra precautions as any potential problems are made worse when you’re away from help. In this list we’ll be looking at some of the most common risks of working outdoors in the summer, and some of the ways that you can help protect yourself.

1. SUN AND HEAT

Risks from sun and heat include sun stroke, dehydration, and sun burns. To avoid burning, apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before exposure, and reapply throughout the day to maintain your protection. When heat poses a danger to you, make sure that you stay hydrated, and take breaks in the shade whenever possible.

2. POOR AIR QUALITY

During the summer, air quality can be decreased by environmental factors like allergens, dust, and debris. It’s especially important to consider air quality if you already suffer from a respiratory condition such as asthma. To avoid poor air quality in the summer, try to plan any trips outdoors for the coolest, driest times of the day, typically the morning or evening.

3. EXTREME WEATHER

Just like the winter, summer has its own extreme weather conditions, including lightning strikes and tornadoes. If you’re outdoors and you hear thunder, take shelter indoors or inside a car if possible. Lightning is more likely to strike tall objects, so when a structure isn’t available it’s recommended to take shelter in low, dry areas. To avoid lightning storms, keep an eye on the clouds and always check weather forecasts before you leave.

4. INSECT BITES

For some people, severe allergic reactions can occur from insect bites, so having an EpiPen available when working outdoors is a good idea. To help you avoid mosquito and insect bites that can cause skin irritation and possibly disease, bring mosquito and insect repellents. Some repellents can cause their own irritations, so make sure to always follow the label directions before applying.

5. IRRITATING PLANTS

If you might encounter poison ivy and other irritating plants like poison oak, the best preventative measure is to learn to identify these plants and avoid them. If avoiding areas with these plants isn’t possible, closed-toe shoes, long sleeves, pants, and gloves can all protect your skin from these plant’s oils. If your clothing does come into contact with these plants, wash the clothing thoroughly to avoid second-hand reactions.

Conclusion

Working outdoors at any time presents new challenges and hazards, so take the time to consider the environment around you this summer. Working alone increases the danger from any environmental risk factor, so be sure that if you’re working alone this summer, you’re following good safety practices.

Written by Zachary O’Dell – SafetyLine

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

Increasingly, utilities are installing much of their services underground. Underground utilities are not as prone to weather interrupting service. There is less risk of damage to the lines from machinery or other business operations such as farming. Underground services also improve the general appearance of the communities served by the utilities.

What’s the Danger?

Working underground, utility workers risk exposure to dangerous excavations and risky excavation practices and working in vaults or manholes that are considered confined spaces.

Atmospheric conditions that may occur underground include engulfment, exposure to toxic gases, the presence of explosive or flammable gases, and low oxygen levels.

Utility workers entering and exiting the manhole or vault are also at risk of injury from passing machinery, people and vehicles, if there is insufficient protection around the manhole.

How to Protect Yourself

7 easy ways to keep yourself safe:

1. Be prepared

• Attend workplace briefings. The minimum is before starting work on the site, the ideal is daily. The briefing should cover:
  • Hazards associated with the job.
  • Lockout/tagout to control hazardous energy sources.
  • Special precautions and work procedures.
  • Personal protective equipment requirements.
• Be trained on manhole and vault evacuation and rescue and emergency procedures.
  • Remember – DO NOT enter a confined space or excavation unless you are trained to do so. This includes entry for rescue.
• Only use tools and equipment suitable for excavation and confined space work.

2. Protect the zone

• Separate and protect the manhole and vault entry work area.
• Work closely with traffic management teams, if available.
• Ensure clear signage for pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
• Check that signage allows time for traffic to adjust, and that directional arrow boards, cones, barrels and barricades are correctly placed.
• Plan construction activities at times of the day when traffic may be reduced, if possible.

3. Testing, testing, testing

• Before you go into the manhole or vault, check that atmospheric testing has been done by a qualified person.
• Atmospheric testing must be done near the surface of the opening, midway into the enclosure and near the bottom of the enclosure.
• Make sure there is continuous monitoring in place while you are working underground.
• Documentation of testing should be available on the entry permit.

4. Get out if conditions change

• If the confined space attendant says, “Get out!!” …get out and stay out until you are told it is safe.
• Know how to get out. Check the location of a portable ladder or permanent rungs in the wall.
• If a retrieval device is available:
  • Wear your safety harness connected to the retrieval device.
  • Check someone is available who can use the retrieval device correctly.

5. Just breathe

• Fresh air ventilation should be available to ensure that the proper level of oxygen is present to support life and prevent heat exhaustion and worker fatigue.
• Use of a respirator is required in low oxygen and immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmospheres.

6. Be aware of fire hazards

• If the space contains energized cable an arc flash in the space may occur.
• Burning insulation creates toxic fumes; so, does burning many other materials.

7. You are in

• When you enter the manhole or vault, look around to check for:
  • structural changes due to weather or heavy traffic vibration;
  • low suspended pipe, cable trays and equipment;
  • any pressurized or energized equipment; and
  • water due to rain, sewage seepage, etc.

Final Word

More and more utility work is being carried out through manholes and in underground vaults. This has many benefits for maintaining the utility service but does carry some, often unique, risks to utility workers.

What’s at Stake?

Struck-by incidents contributed to almost 1,000 construction worker fatalities in the last 5 years according to a new report from the Center for Construction Research and Training. The report states 52% of the fatalities involved workers struck by an object or equipment; the remaining deaths involved workers struck by vehicles. Other findings in the report show:

• 57% of the struck-by vehicle fatalities occurred in work zones.
• 114 deaths were the result of being struck by a passenger vehicle, and 112 workers died after being struck by a truck.
• Highway, street and bridge workers accounted for approximately 1/3rd of those fatalities.
• Highway maintenance workers, power line installers, and excavating or loading machine operators experienced the most struck-by fatalities.

What’s the Danger?

Struck-by injuries are produced by a forceful hit between the injured person and an object or piece of equipment. Causes of struck-by events can be broken down to four main categories:

Rolling Objects: Hazards for rolling objects happen when an object is rolling, moving, or sliding on the same level as the worker.

• The most common rolling hazard incidents are when a worker is struck or run over by a moving vehicle
• Rolling object hazards also include when the worker is struck by a sliding object or equipment on the same level

Falling Objects: Falling object hazards exist when the source of injury is from being struck by an object falling from an elevation to a lower level.

• The injured person is crushed, pinned, or caught under a falling object or equipment (a single brick falling and striking a worker).
• This does not include instances when workers are caught under collapsing material or structures (a wall of bricks falling on a worker).

Flying Objects: Flying object hazard exists when something has been thrown, hurled, or is being propelled.

• It can include injuries or fatalities from a piece of material separating from a tool/ machine, striking a worker
• Using compressed air to power tools or to clean surfaces can also cause flying object hazards.
• Last, hazards exist if an object is ejected from pneumatic or powder-actuated tools. Powderactuated tools are more hazardous due to the force behind the fasteners, which are designed to go through wood, concrete and steel… they could definitely go through a worker!

Swinging Objects: When materials are mechanically lifted, they have the potential to strike workers.

• Windy conditions are especially hazardous because the load will swing more.
• Depending on where the worker is and the force behind the load, the worker may fall to another level and sustain even greater injuries.
• In addition to swinging, loads can slip from their riggings and strike workers.

How to Protect Yourself

When operating heavy equipment:

• Stay away from heavy equipment when it’s operating; be aware of the swing radius of cranes and backhoes. Be alert to the location of all heavy equipment whether in use or not.
• Stay clear of lifted loads and never work under a suspended load; beware of unbalanced loads.
• Workers should confirm and receive acknowledgement from the heavy equipment operator that they are visible; operators should make sure all workers are in the clear before using dumping or lifting devices.
• Haulage vehicles loaded by cranes, power shovels, etc., must have a cab shield or canopy that protects the driver from falling materials.
• Never exceed a vehicle’s rated load or lift capacity.

When operating motor vehicles:

• Wear seat belts when provided.
• Before each shift, check that all parts and accessories are in safe operating condition.
• Only drive a vehicle in reverse gear with an obstructed rear view when there is an audible reverse alarm, or another worker signals that it is safe.
• When parking, set the parking brake and chock the wheels if they are on an incline.
• Use traffic signs, barricades or flaggers when construction takes place near public roadways.
• Wear warning clothing; if working overnight, clothing must be reflective.

Operating general construction tools/equipment:

• When working with machines and power tools be sure to have appropriate PPE and training, and before operation inspect equipment to ensure all guards are in place and in working order.
• When performing overhead work, secure all tools and materials, use appropriate guards, barricade the area and post signs, and be sure materials are stored farther than 6-feet from hoist ways/floor openings, and more than 10-feet from an exterior wall.
• When pushing or pulling objects that may become airborne, stack and secure materials to prevent sliding, falling or collapse, keep work areas clear and secure material against wind gusts.

Final Word

Whether struck-by hazards are caused by falling, rolling, flying or swinging objects, being aware, prepared and cautious will help to avoid injuries.

What’s at Stake?

Caught-in and caught-between hazards account for:

• Approximately 100 deaths each year
• 5% of all construction fatalities
• More than 2 amputations EVERY work day
• Over 550 amputations each year
• Thousands of disabling injuries

Don’t let yourself become one of these statistics!

What’s the Danger?

Caught-in/caught-between incidents happen when a worker is crushed between objects.

• Examples could include cave-ins during trenching, clothing being pulled into machinery, or being crushed and trapped by shifting objects.
• Some of the working conditions that contribute to caught in – or – between hazards include, machinery that has unguarded moving parts or that is not locked out during maintenance, unprotected excavations and trenches, and working between moving materials and immovable structures, vehicles, or equipment.

Machinery Hazards: Almost all sites use machinery that has moving or rotating parts, and that machinery usually requires maintenance or repair at some point during construction.

• When machines or power tools are not properly guarded during construction, workers can get their clothing or parts of their body caught in the machines.
• If machines are not de-energized (locked-out) during maintenance or repair, they may cycle or otherwise start up and catch a worker’s body part or clothing, causing injury or death.

Buried-In/Buried-By Cave-ins: of unprotected trenches and excavations are the main hazard for being buried.

• Cave-ins crush or suffocate workers.
• Trenches may contain hazardous factors; workers can drown in water, sewage, or chemicals in the trenches.
• If working around underground utilities, workers may also face burns, electrocution or explosions from steam, hot water, gas, or electricity.
• Additional concerns for buried-in hazards are working underneath large scaffolds and/ or walls that may collapse.

Getting Pinned: These types of hazards can result in multiple broken bones, asphyxiation, or death. Workers can be pinned between:

• Equipment and a solid object, such as a wall or another piece of equipment.
• Materials being stacked or stored and a solid object, such as a wall or another piece of equipment. ƒ
• Shoring and construction materials in a trench.

How to Protect Yourself

Based on the 3 major factors for caught-in or caught-between hazards, there are some general precautions to avoid risks:

Guarded machinery: Only use machinery that is properly guarded; never remove a safety guard when a tool is being used.

• For example, belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, fly wheels, chains, or other moving parts of equipment must be guarded if such parts are exposed to workers.
• Also, be sure to avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry that can be caught in moving parts.

Supported machinery: Make sure equipment is deenergized and cannot be started accidentally

• First, disconnect tools when not in use, before servicing, and when changing accessories such as blades, bits, and cutters.
• Turn off vehicles before you do maintenance or repair work. If possible, lock out the power source to the equipment.
• Lower or block the blades of bulldozers, scrapers, and similar equipment before you make repairs or when the equipment is not in use

Avoid pinning: Protect yourself from being pinned between equipment, materials, or other objects by being aware of the equipment around you and staying a safe distance from it.

• Never place yourself between moving materials and an immovable structure, vehicle, or stacked materials.
• Make sure that all loads carried by equipment are stable and secured.
• Stay out of the swing radius of cranes and other equipment.

Excavation protection: Never work in an unprotected trench that is 5 feet deep or more.

• Enter or exit a trench or excavation only by using a ladder, stairway or properly designed ramp that is placed within the protected area of the trench.
• Protection could include prevention methods like sloping, benching, or shoring.
  • Sloping is cutting back the sides of the trench to a safe angle, so it won’t collapse.
  • Benching uses a series of steps that approximate the safe sloping angle.
  • Shoring are wooden structures or mechanical or hydraulic systems that support the sides of an excavation.
• The use of a trench box or shield will act as protection for workers if a cave-in does happen

Training: Your employer must train you to perform your job and use the provided equipment safely. It is the employer’s responsibility to instruct each employee in:

• the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions.
• the regulations applicable to their work environment.
• ways to control or eliminate any hazards.

Final Word

Using and maintaining machinery appropriately, taking the time to safeguard equipment, and ensuring proper prevention during trenching and general construction can greatly reduce the hazards and risks associated with caught-in/caught-between events.

What’s at Stake?

If a respirator is required for a job you’re doing it means there is a risk of inhaling contaminants such as harmful dust or gas. Often the contaminant is difficult or impossible to see. For this reason, it is essential that any respirator is fitted and used correctly to ensure you are fully protected.

What’s the Danger?

Some airborne contaminants can cause nerve damage, burns to the skin, or irritation to the eyes, or respiratory system. Other contaminants are so toxic that inhaling them, or having them be absorbed through the skin, can lead to immediate death.

In other cases, inhaling contaminants over a prolonged period causes no immediate symptoms but eventually results in a chronic breathing illness such as asthma or a disease such as cancer.

A respirator must be appropriate for the work being done and the hazards of the environment. It must work and fit correctly. Using the wrong type of respirator or one that doesn’t fit, means there’s the chance you could breathe in these harmful airborne contaminants

How to Protect Yourself

1. Be prepared  Know the risks in your work environment.

•  Use the safety data sheet (SDS) for extra guidance on a respiratory hazard.
•  Before entering a space that requires the use of a respirator, check:
  • What the respiratory hazards are and what safety controls are in place.
  • The respirator you are using is suitable for the hazard

2. Breathe safe air

• There are two major categories of respirators. Supplied-air respirators and air purifying respirators.
• Supplied-air respirators SARs, include airline respirators, self-contained breathing apparatus or SCBA and emergency escape respirators.
• Protective suits that totally encapsulate the wearer’s body and incorporate a life-support system are used are also included in this category.

3. Keep the bits out

• Air-purifying respirators (APRs) include:
  • particulate respirators, such as dust fume, and mist respirators or masks.
  • chemical cartridge respirators which combine chemical cartridges and a dust filter;
  • gas masks; and y powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)

4. Have the correct barrier

• Filters are made of material that traps particles, so you do not breathe them in.
  • Check and change them frequently to make sure they don’t get clogged up with particulates.
• Cartridges contain a material that absorbs gases and vapors.
  • Check and change them frequently as they become full or saturated with the contaminant.
• Check the barrier is suitable for oily environments.
  • N series means it is not resistant to oil and should only be used if no oil particles are present.
  • R series are resistant to oil and can be used in an oily environment but only for a limited time, such as one shift.
  • P series, or oil-proof may be used in any atmosphere but carry out filter checks and changes per manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Make it fit

• Ensure there is a good seal between the skin and the respirator mask. Avoid:
  • beards, long sideburns, or even a two-day stubble;
  • wearing eyeglasses.
• In some cases, facial scars or an acne problem can prevent a proper seal.
• Have the right type for the hazard
  • A mouth-bit respirator fits in the mouth and comes with a nose clip to hold nostrils closed and is used for escape purposes only.
  • A quarter-mask covers the nose and mouth; whereas a
  • Half-face mask covers the face from the nose to below the chin.
  • A full facepiece covers the face from above the eyes to below the chin and protects the eyes from exposure to irritating chemicals.
• Do a fit test
  • In a negative fit test, the facepiece should collapse or “squish in” slightly on your face.
  • In a positive fit test, the respirator should expand or “puff out” slightly

Final Word

Breathing in airborne contaminants can cause breathing problems and lung problems in both the long and short term. The more often a worker is exposed to these contaminants, the greater the risk of them developing a long-term illness. Respirators are very effective at removing the risk of exposure, but you must have the right kind and use it correctly.

From a moral and legal standpoint, it is simply unacceptable to ignore the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace. As a supervisor, you and your employees all have responsibilities you must know, understand, and follow.

What You Should Know

Supervisor Responsibilities

• Know and comply with company policies and procedures on harassment.
• Report any complaint you receive or incident you witness, immediately.
• Demonstrate a willingness to hear and objectively discuss complaints and assist employees in reporting their complaint. This includes;

o Responding to any complaint as soon as possible.

o Clarifying to the employee that confidentiality will be maintained as much as possible, but can’t be guaranteed, in order to investigate a claim fully and properly.

• Don’t object if an employee prefers to or does bypass the standard chain of command.
• During a complaint investigation:

o Make employees available for interviews.

o Be available for interviews.

o Provide as much information as possible

• Don’t engage in or condone retaliation by following these guidelines:

o Treat any employee who complained the same as every other employee.

*ex. Don’t make an example of them or single them out – in either a good or bad way

o Take disciplinary action against any employee who retaliates against an employee who made a complaint. Act quickly but fairly.

o Ensure your own conduct is fair in both fact and in appearance.

o Never discourage any employee from asserting their legal rights.

Employee Responsibilities

• Be knowledgeable – know and understand company policies and applicable laws.
• Be watchful.

o Pay attention to co-workers so you can avoid inadvertent offences.

o Be on the lookout for subtle forms of harassment and report any instances to your supervisor or HR.

o Document instances of harassing behavior, retaliation, reporting, and follow-up

What You Should Do

Know and follow the laws designed to prevent sexual harassment and protect workers. In Canada, federal law is found in the Canada Labour Code (CLC). If you allege that you have, or are experiencing sexual harassment at work, and the company that you work for in Canada falls under federal jurisdiction, that sexual harassment is covered under Division XV.1 of Part III of the Canada Labour Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. L-2). Although all provincial and territorial jurisdictions have passed legislation regarding sexual harassment and sex discrimination, they are covered under human rights legislation and not under the individual labour codes or acts. In the United States, there are several federal laws that prohibit sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination. Many states also have additional laws governing and prohibiting sexual harassment. The law protects you from retaliation (punishment) for complaining about harassment and you have a right to report harassment, participate in a harassment investigation or lawsuit, or oppose harassment, without being retaliated against for doing so. You also have an option of filing a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to complain about the harassment. There are specific time limits for filing a charge, so contact EEOC promptly.

Having a clear understanding of your responsibilities and the responsibilities of others, will inform and empower you when it comes to sexual harassment.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), job stress is defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress can lead to poor health and even injury.

Several studies on job stress show that workers are indeed feeling the pressure. Here are two examples:

• One-fourth of employees view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives. Northwestern National Life
• Problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than are any other life stressor-more so than even financial problems or family problems. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co.

Work-related stress is not a new thing, but the damaging effects it can have on workers, safety, productivity, and profitability are getting more attention.

Unfortunately, not all CEOs have gotten the message. As a safety director, you must persuade your CEO that stress really is a problem to take seriously. The best way to do that is to relate the problem to dollars.

Here’s how to educate your CEO on the dangers of workplace stress and gain their support for programs to combat it.

The Business Case for Preventing Workplace Stress

The case is a simple one. Workplace stress hurts profits because it increases absences and decreases productivity. Want some good hard data that you can use to make this point?

• A recent article from Business Insider states:
  • An estimated 1 million workers are absent every day due to stress.
  • Employees coming to work but not performing up to their full capabilities costs companies $150 billion in lost productivity each year.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds workers who must take time off work because of stress, anxiety, or a related disorder will be off the job for about 20 days.
• The American Institute of Stress cites increased levels of job stress to be associated with increased rates of heart attack, hypertension and other disorders.

Demonstrate the Hidden Costs of Stress

These statistics should help you capture the CEO’s attention. But you’ll probably need to drill deeper to make your case. To persuade your CEO to invest company resources, you must clearly explain exactly how workplace stress hurts the business. This is tricky because stress isn’t a line item cost listed on the typical profit and loss statement. It’s a bundle of hidden costs. There are five elements in this bundle that you should point to:

1. Higher Injury & Illness Rates

The more stress workers experience at work, the more likely they are to engage in unsafe behavior. The result is more incidents involving personal injury and/or damage to equipment and machinery.

The link between stress and incidents isn’t just a matter of common sense; it’s well documented. If you want a good study to cite, see F. Gordon & D. Risley (1999) “The costs to Britain of workplace accidents and work-related ill health in 1995/96, Second Edition,” HSE Books, London; and P. Dorman (2000), The Economics of Safety, Health and Well-being at Work: An Overview, International Labour Organization, Geneva.

2. Increased Absenteeism

Studies confirm that workers under stress are more apt to call in absent—either because they’re genuinely ill or they’re feigning illness to avoid having to go to work.

3. Higher Turnover

Stress at work also causes people to leave the company. In addition to losing good people, companies incur high administrative costs in seeking replacements. And, replacement costs tend to rise to the extent that the company gains a reputation for being a stressful place to work.

4. Premature Retirement

Stress causes older and more senior workers to retire before they’re ready. Result: High replacement costs and in many cases lump sum and pension payments.

5. Reduced Productivity

Workplace stress harms workers’ productivity and performance. The effect of stress on productivity is hard to measure; but it is real.

Conclusion

There’s nothing mystical about workplace stress. It can be managed. For example, Employee Assistance Programs have proven very effective at reducing stress on the job. But these solutions cost money. And time. The only way to secure the necessary resources is to persuade your CEO that workplace stress poses a serious threat to your workers and your company’s bottom line.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is reminding employers that the deadline for electronically submitting their 2017 Form 300A data to OSHA is July 1, 2018.

Electronic submissions are required of establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in specific industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses.

For more information, and a link to the Injury Tracking Application, visit the Injury Tracking Application Electronic Submission of Injury and Illness Records to OSHA.

Death from an opioid overdose happens when too much of the drug overwhelms the brain and interrupts the body’s natural drive to breathe.

Signs and Symptoms of an Opioid Overdose

During an overdose, breathing can be dangerously slowed or stopped, causing brain damage or death. It’s important to recognize the signs and act fast. Signs include:

• Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
• Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Choking or gurgling sounds
• Limp body
• Pale, blue, or cold skin

What to Do If You Think Someone Is Overdosing

It may be hard to tell if a person is high or experiencing an overdose. If you aren’t sure, it’s best to treat it like an overdose— you could save a life.

1. Call 911 immediately.
2. Administer naloxone, if available.
3. Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
4. Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
5. Stay with him or her until emergency workers arrive.

Risk Factors

Prescription opioids (like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine) and illicit opioids (like heroin and illegally made fentanyl) are powerful drugs that have a risk of a potentially fatal overdose. Anyone who uses opioids can experience an overdose, but certain factors may increase risk including but not limited to:

• Combining opioids with alcohol or certain other drugs
• Taking high daily dosages of prescription opioids
• Taking more opioids than prescribed
• Taking illicit or illegal opioids, like heroin or illicitly-manufactured fentanyl, that could contain unknown or harmful substances
• Certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, or reduced kidney or liver function
• Being 65 or older

An anti-harassment policy is a key component of a complete harassment prevention effort.

Check the box below if your anti-harassment policy contains the following elements:

An unequivocal statement that harassment based on any protected characteristic will not be tolerated

An easy-to-understand description of prohibited conduct, including examples

A description of a reporting system – available to employees who experience harassment as well as those who observe harassment – that provides multiple avenues to report, in a manner easily accessible to employees

A statement that the reporting system will provide a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation

A statement that the identity of an individual who submits a report, a witness who provides information regarding a report, and the target of the complaint, will be kept confidential to the extent possible consistent with a thorough and impartial investigation

A statement that any information gathered as part of an investigation will be kept confidential to the extent possible consistent with a thorough and impartial investigation

An assurance that the employer will take immediate and proportionate corrective action if it determines that harassment has occurred

An assurance that an individual who submits a report (either of harassment experienced or observed) or a witness who provides information regarding a report will be protected from retaliation from co-workers and supervisors

A statement that any employee who retaliates against any individual who submits a report or provides information regarding a report will be disciplined appropriately Is written in clear, simple words, in all languages commonly used by members of the workforce

Reminder: This checklist is meant to be a tool for thinking about and taking steps to prevent harassment in the workplace and responding to harassment when it occurs. It is not meant to convey legal advice or to set forth legal requirements relating to harassment. Checking all the boxes does not necessarily mean an employer is in legal compliance; conversely, the failure to check any particular box does not mean an employer is not in compliance.

Opioid painkillers are medications for treating pain that can be very addicting. Most people who are prescribed these medications do not develop a problem. Some, however, can become addicted even when these drugs are taken for a legitimate pain problem. Consider these startling statistics:

• Prescription painkiller abuse costs employers over $40 billion annually because employees are less productive while at work or are not at work at all.
• Employees who abuse drugs are two to five times more likely to take unexcused absences, be late for work, quit or be fired within one year of employment, be involved in workplace incidents, and file workers’ compensation claims.
• A recent report showed people covered by employer health insurance received $2.6 billion worth of treatment for opioid addiction and overdoses in 2016, up from $273 million in 2004.

Many people who have become addicted to opioids did not feel high when they took them, but did feel they:

• Had more energy.
• Were more confident.
• Were smarter.
• Were more relaxed.
• Were less depressed.

The effects of opioid medications can create serious risks at work. Your employees need to be clear on your workplace’s policy regarding potential impairment from opioid prescription medications.

Opioids can negatively affect a person’s ability to drive or operate heavy equipment. These drugs can also alter a person’s judgment, create tremors, reduce muscle strength, impair coordination and cause confusion. Employers can and should:

• Educate employees and managers about the health and productivity issues related to prescription drug abuse.
• Educate employees and managers on the warning signs of abuse include:
  • thinking about taking more medication than is being currently prescribed;
  • continuing to use opioids even when pain is no longer present; or
  • trying to access more painkiller medication from another source beside one’s physician.
• Incorporate information about substance abuse in workplace wellness programs or strategies.
• Offer health benefits that provide coverage for substance abuse disorders.
• Consider expanding your current drug-testing policy to include prescription drugs.
• Publicize drug-free workplace policies and incorporate guidelines regarding prescription drugs.
  • Research has shown that for types of pain related to common workplace injuries, including soft-tissue injuries and musculoskeletal problems, opioids are no more effective than non-opioid alternatives such as Tylenol, Advil or generic ibuprofen.
  • Although opioids are widely prescribed for back injuries and chronic back pain, they should not be the first line of treatment.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs offer a more affordable and safer alternative to opioids.
• Provide employee assistance programs (EAPs), wellness and work-life programs that include information and services related to substance abuse prevention, treatment and return-to-work issues.
• Provide training to managers so they can recognize and respond to substance abuse issues and address problems in uniform, cost-effective and business-sensitive ways.

(The source of information in this column was the National Safety Council’s report entitled The Proactive Role Employers Can Take: Opioids in the Workplace.)

Studies show that workplace harassment (sexual harassment, bullying, and other forms of harassment) can have emotional and physical effects on a victim and can cause depression, anxiety, and in some cases lead to self-harm and even suicide.

Carolyn Malkin recounts the story of her father Wally Theodore, a printer displaced by technology, who went on to become an armed guard of what she called a “money truck.” Her dad also was a union rep and that’s where the trouble started.

Wally began experiencing harassment after he couldn’t prevent the termination of a union member caught stealing. The harassment didn’t stay confined to working hours – he would receive harassing phone calls in the evenings and was chided at other locations as well. In May of 1982, Wally shot himself in the head with his company-issued pistol. He could no longer take the harassment. His daughter Carolyn was just 13 at the time.

Harassment at work isn’t something most victims can leave at work. The effects of harassment reach far beyond 9 to 5 and have the potential to devastate lives and families long after the harassment stops.

Thankfully, this article doesn’t end with a death, but it certainly carries an important lesson and personal story of
opioid addiction.

Anonymous former opioid user in upstate New York

“I never woke up one day and decided that I wanted to become a drug addict.

I was in college and working full-time when I stepped on an earring in my apartment. The earring pierced my left
heel, and days later an abscess formed. With fevers above 102.5 F for several days, I went to the ER for treatment.

I got IV antibiotics and hydrocodone. The infection cleared, and the pain ceased. I took the extra hydrocodone
anyways. It made me feel happy and dulled the stress of work and school. I started buying OxyContin from
someone with a prescription.

Once the makers of OxyContin revealed the abuse-proof formula, the doctor started to prescribe morphine (much
cheaper). So, I bought morphine. First, I thought it was okay as long as I only used on my days off. I graduated
college, so things weren’t too bad…right? Pretty soon I told myself I was okay as long as I only used after work.
Then it was okay as long as I only used on my break.

My addiction progressed to using all day every day. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t support my habit anymore and lived
with a constant struggle of trying to find more. Then, I found out I was pregnant. He saved my life.

I finally got help. I have a 6-month-old son, a loving fiancé, a supportive family. I have 14 months in recovery. I am
not a junkie. I am someone’s daughter, mother, sister, and friend. For me, it started with a snap decision to take a
pill just for fun. That decision nearly destroyed me.
Source: Fontline.org