Getting employees to report near misses is a challenge. Employees often question the value of reporting what they’ve seen. Indeed, many fear that coming forward with a report will cause trouble and lead to punishment.

However, there’s an effective technique to overcome reluctance: Analogize near misses at work to incidents at home. Since many workers are parents—and all of them were once children—this casts the subject in a light to which they can readily relate. Here’s one way to use the technique.

Near Misses Happen at Work and Home

A Near Miss is an undesired event that, under slightly different circumstances, could have resulted in harm to people or damage to property, materials or the environment. Proper reporting of Near Misses is essential and the investigation that follows is for the purpose of training, educating and preventing future incidents or injury.

Near Miss is a term used by occupational health and safety professionals. But incidents also take place outside the workplace. Parents frequently handle Near Miss situations at home. Here’s a tale of a domestic near miss to illustrate how this works.

The Near Miss Occurs

You tell your 16-year-old son (let’s call him Junior) to wash the dishes. Junior drops a carving knife while loading the dishwasher. The knife falls violently to the ground and lands blade-down on the kitchen floor, just missing the foot of Junior’s little sister, Suzie, by a few centimeters.

That is a Near Miss. As a parent, you will want to know what happened so you can take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again. But will Junior or Suzie tell you about the incident?

Junior and Suzie Must Decide Whether to Report It

It depends. Through life experience and social conditioning, children are encouraged not to report situations that cast a “supposedly” negative light on themselves or anyone else. And, in many families, there’s an unwritten code among siblings to keep misbehavior a secret and not “tattle tale to mom and dad.”

The motivation for such behavior is to protect oneself and one’s siblings from punishment. But there are ways to defuse this. One way is to persuade your children to always tell the truth and promise they won’t be punished for doing so.

The Happy Ending

Let’s say Junior does in fact come forward and tell you what happened. Like a good parent should, you investigate the incident and assess the risk of a recurrence. As a result, you discover that Junior:

• Always rushes to load the dishwasher (1st mistake); and
• Grabs knives by the blade instead of the handle (2nd mistake).

But now that you know what’s going on, you are in a position to educate Junior on the dangers of always being in a rush and the proper handling of knives. The problem is resolved and dishwasher loading becomes safer at your home.

The Unhappy Ending

Junior and Suzie don’t report the incident. So you have no reason to suspect that Junior is rushing to load the dishwasher and handling knives by the blade. And since no injuries have occurred, the improper behavior is reinforced. So it’s repeated.

Two weeks later, Junior asks permission to go out with his buddies on Friday night. Your response: “Okay, but only after you load that dishwater.” Junior accepts the deal but is in an even bigger hurry than usual to complete his chore. He distractedly grabs a steak knife by the blade and slices open his hand.

This accident could have been avoided. But it wasn’t because you didn’t know about Junior’s dangerous loading techniques until after an injury occurred. The Near Miss, in other words, represented an opportunity to fix the problem before it led to an injury. Unfortunately, that opportunity was lost since the Near Miss wasn’t reported.

Conclusion

This is simple stuff. But it’s surprising how placing the importance of Near Miss reporting in the context of the home situation drives home the message to employees. The technique has a secondary benefit: In addition to encourages the reporting of Near Misses, it also enables parents to consciously build on the practice at home and thus eliminate dangers that threaten their families. So give it a try.

Like most supervisors, you probably get frustrated when things go wrong, especially if you feel that your safety concerns are not being addressed by your company. But, as a supervisor, you’re a leader and a custodian of your workers’ safety. Workers take their cue from you. If you give off vibes of frustration, your workers will, too. So it’s important to learn to keep your frustration and temporary disillusionment to yourself. Here’s why.

Unequal Treatment Infects the Workplace

Consider the example of workers Tom, Dick and Harry who have received very stern punishments for committing the same safety violation. For the sake of argument, let’s say they exposed themselves to a fall greater that 6 feet without fall protection. Their penalty: dismissal.

Now here come supervisors Bob, Rick and Larry. They each commit what looks and feels like a similar violation: climbing a ladder that’s red-tagged. However, the powers-that-be do not interpret the transgression to be as serious. Accordingly, their punishment is less severe: a three-day suspension.

Pretty soon, word gets around. Your crew starts whispering amongst themselves about how Bob, Rick and Larry got special consideration because of their status. The rules, it seems, don’t apply to everyone. Morale drops dramatically. You may even notice an attitude change among some of your co-workers who are responsible for safety. The chances of being accident-free decrease.

What You Must Not Do

Has this ever happened to you? This situation can be very tough to deal with. The absolute worst thing you can do under these circumstances is to take sides against the company and vent outrage and what you perceive as the hypocrisy of the system. This is true even if you feel that an injustice was done.

It is in moments like these that you must demonstrate your passion for safety, confidence in your efforts and faith in the system. It’s not simply your own sanity at stake. Leadership demands that you send the appropriate message to your workers. Never forget for a second that workers are looking to you for answers and an example to follow.

What You Must Do

That’s not to say that you can’t feel disappointment or even outrage with the system. But there’s a time and a place to express these feelings. Hopefully your company is structured in a way that enables you to handle the issue without repercussion.

Sound advice would be to meet with your workers and tell them simply that bad things sometimes happen to good people. Life is not always fair or as fair as you would like it to be. Most importantly, emphasize that the number one concern is, has been and always will be the safety of the worker. It is not about punishment; it is about making sure everyone goes home alive and well every single day.

Conclusion

There are easier and less stressful jobs than being a safety trainer and supervisor. But this is the field you’ve chosen. You therefore have a duty—to yourself and to those you protect—to find a way to make it work. And to do that, you must be prepared to handle controversy and perceived unfairness. That involves learning how to control your emotions in the interest of the greater good even in the face of circumstances that cause you to question the system you’re serving.

The Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout) Standard is a frequent source of OSHA and OHS citations. Some employers get tripped up on the inspection provisions of the standard. It’s not enough just to have energy control procedures. You need to periodically inspect those procedures—and certify this to OSHA (or your state or provincial OHS authority).

What the OSHA Standard Requires

The OSHA lockout/tagout standard requires you to establish energy control procedures to ensure that dangerous equipment remains shut off and doesn’t unexpectedly energize, start up or release stored energy during servicing. This involves setting up a program and following procedures to affix lockout devices such as combination locks and tagout devices such as warning tags, to prevent injuries to workers servicing the equipment and others nearby.  The standard also requires employers to inspect their energy control procedures at least once a year to ensure that workers are following them.

LOTO in Canada & OSHA-Equivalent States

Unlike in the U.S., there’s no single lockout/tagout standard that applies equally across Canada. But each province, territory and the federal jurisdiction require locking out and controlling energy sources of machinery during servicing.

However, not all of the OHS laws specifically mention inspection of energy control procedures the way the U.S. OSHA standard does. Still, the duty to monitor the effectiveness of safety measures is at least implicitly required by Canadian OHS laws. And if you need to do the inspection, you need to document the inspection. So Hal’s advice will work for you too.

The specific procedures to use set out in this article are mandated by the U.S. OSHA standard. If you’re Canadian or come from a state that has its own OSHA requirements, you need to follow the LOTO procedures set out in your state or province’s laws.

How to Conduct the Inspection

The first step is to designate an inspector. This should be somebody who services equipment at your facility; but the inspector can’t inspect energy control procedures that he actually uses. So inspectors shouldn’t inspect the equipment they service.

The inspector is supposed to review the energy control procedures to ensure they comply with OSHA standards and that all workers who are supposed to follow the procedures have copies of them. The inspector should also meet with the workers as part of the inspection.

Lockout Inspection

If the inspection covers energy control procedures involving lockout, the inspector must meet with each worker who uses the procedure inspected and ask them to explain their responsibilities under the procedures. If workers aren’t clear about certain aspects of the procedure, the inspector should explain the correct procedure and make a note indicating that additional training may be needed.

Tagout Inspection

While inspecting tagout procedures, the inspector must do a review not just with each worker who uses the procedure but also workers who work in the immediate area or who use the particular equipment or machine. The inspector must meet with each worker and verify that the worker understands:

• His or her responsibilities under the procedures;
• The limited protection provided by tagout; and
• That he or she is not to remove a tagout device that’s been placed on equipment or attempt to bypass or otherwise override it.

Documentation & Certification

Documenting the steps you take to comply with an OSHA or OHS standard is just as important as taking those steps in the first place. As lawyers like to say, if it isn’t documented, it never happened.

This principle is especially true in the realm of the lockout/tagout. I’ve seen cases where employers who did perform required inspections got cited because they couldn’t prove it. Let me explain how to document your periodic energy control procedure inspections in case an OSHA inspector shows up. There’s also a Model Form below that you can use for this purpose.

What the LOTO Standard Requires

The LOTO standard requires you to set out procedures to control energy to shut down equipment and inspect those procedures at least once a year. The standard also requires you to certify that you’ve done an inspection and describe what the inspection covered.

How to Certify the Inspection

The Model Form below is an example of how to properly certify an inspection. Although there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all form, there are standard kinds of information that all forms should include. Make sure that whatever certification you use lists the following items:

1. Inspection Date

The LOTO standard specifically requires listing the date the inspection was performed. One year from that date is your deadline for conducting your next inspection.

2. Location of Equipment

List the area or department of the facility in which the equipment or machinery covered by the inspected lockout/tagout procedures is located. Make sure you do a separate inspection and complete a separate certification form for each area of the workplace you inspect, even if the area contains the same machinery or equipment as an area you’ve already inspected. Keep in mind that the point of the inspection is to ensure that workers in each areaunderstand the LOTO procedures.

3. Description of Equipment

Describe and provide specific identifying information of the equipment or machinery covered by the inspection, such as a model or serial number.

4. Description of Procedures

Use a check box to indicate what kind of procedures were inspected—lockout or tagout.

5. Workers Spoken To

List the name of each worker the inspector spoke to and the department in which they work. This is critical information to document because it enables you to show that you went over the procedures with all the workers the LOTO standard requires you to talk to.

6. Inspector’s Name

OSHA requires you to list the name of the inspector. It’s also a good idea to include the person’s extension and other contact information so you can easily follow-up with the inspector.

Canada: CSA Z460

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has published a lockout standard. CSA Z460 Control of Hazardous Energy—Lockout & Other Methods sets out requirements for controlling hazardous energy associated with potentially dangerous machines, equipment and processes. Clause 7.6 of CSA Z460 requires management review to ensure that the hazardous energy control process is functioning properly. This is essentially the same thing required by the OSHA LOTO standard—although the review procedures to be used aren’t identical.

The Upshot: The recommendations and Model Form can be adapted for CSA Z460. And, while CSA standards aren’t legally required (unless the OHS law specifically says they are), they’re relevant to compliance because they represent a consensus standard regarding safety.

MODEL FORM

Documentation of Periodic Energy Control Procedure Inspection

Here’s a Model Form you can use to document that you’ve conducted periodic inspections of energy control procedures as required by the OSHA lockout/tagout standard. Speak to your lawyer about adapting it for your own use.

ENERGY CONTROL PROCEDURES:
OSHA SELF-INSPECTION CERTIFICATION

• Date of Inspection: ____________________________________________________
• Area or Department___________________________________________________
• Equipment Covered By Procedure(s) Inspected:

Name of Equipment: __________________________________________________

Serial/ID Number: ____________________________________________________

• Type of Procedure Inspected:
  Lockout
  Tagout

5. Employees Spoken To:
   Name & Dept: _______________________________________________________________

Further Training Req’d: _____________________         Yes        No
_________________________________________              Yes        No
_________________________________________              Yes        No
_________________________________________              Yes        No
_________________________________________              Yes        No
_________________________________________              Yes        No
_________________________________________              Yes        No
_________________________________________              Yes        No

6. Inspector’s Name, Ext.: _________________________________________________

The OSHA standard states: “It shall be the responsibility of the employer to provide and insure the usage of “point of operation guards” or properly applied and adjusted point of operation devices on every operation performed on a mechanical power press.”

The OSHA standard states:

“It shall be the responsibility of the employer to provide and insure the usage of “point of operation guards” or properly applied and adjusted point of operation devices on every operation performed on a mechanical power press.” [29 CFR 1910.217 (c)(1)(i)].

Guards are mandatory and it’s the employer’s responsibility to provide them and ensure their usage. This is equally true in Canada.

Selecting the Right Guard

There are two types of mechanical power presses:

1. Full-revolution; and
2. Part-revolution

(Hydraulic presses are covered under different OSHA guidelines.)

The Full-Revolution Press

When cycled (tripped), a full-revolution (full-rev) press cannot be disengaged until the crankshaft makes a complete rotation and the press slide returns to the top. There is no stopping the cycle once tripped; so light curtains or E-Stops are useless. The press stops by mechanical means through the use of a pin (called a “dog”) on the flywheel shaft. Thus, when the press is tripped, the pin is pulled from a keyhole allowing the press flywheel to rotate 360 degrees until the pin drops back into the keyhole after one revolution, which mechanically stops the press.

The only types of guarding acceptable for full-revolution presses are:

• Full-barrier guarding (barrier guards surrounding the press point of operation (POO) area);
• Physical restraints; and
• Pullback devices, whereby the operator’s hands are mechanically pulled back away from the POO when the press is cycled.

It is the employer’s responsibility to furnish and ensure the use of point of operation guards of mechanical power presses. The OSHA standard covers two types of presses: full-revolution presses and part-revolution presses. (Hydraulic presses are covered under a different standard.) Last week, we looked at the guarding required for full-revolution presses.

Guarding of Part-Revolution Presses
Unlike a full-revolution (full-rev) press which cannot be stopped once it’s tripped, a part-revolution (part-rev) press can stop at any point during the cycle. Motion is stopped through the use of friction brakes. When the control buttons are simultaneously depressed, the press cycles and runs according to:

• What is programmed into the selector switch (off, continuous, inch and single-stroke modes); and
• What the control box is programmed for (it has internal cams that are set to control items such as lubrication, light curtains, other mechanical devices, etc.).

Guarding part-rev presses can be an engineer’s nightmare because of the complexity of some presses’ tasks. Nevertheless, the press has to be guarded and guards must be foolproof to operators and other workers.

The Brake Monitor

When hands are in dies to place and remove parts, a brake monitor must be installed to monitor the stop-time of the press. The monitor has a manual alarm setting that’s determined by maintenance (or die setup workers), so if the stopping of the press reaches a maximum stop time, it stops the press so the fault can be evaluated. This time is based upon the physical distance from the control buttons to the point of operation whereby a person can reach a distance of 36 inches in one second.

Distance Guarding

Distance may be used as a means of safeguarding workers. Safety distance timetables are set out in 29 CFR 1910.217 (c) (3) (vii) [c], which set out distances that must be exceeded based upon the press stop time.

If POO devices (light curtains) are used, that same distance must be used from the light curtain to the POO. In addition, one cannot reach over, under, around, or through a POO guard (light curtain) to access a pinch-point area, with permissible guard openings with sizes based upon distance from the guard to the POO.

Also keep in mind the risk that a worker might stand between a light curtain and the press while the press is operating. This is a violation of the standard and leaves the worker without protection from the POO.

Other Guarding Options

Other types of guards/devices include:

• A and B type gates;
•  Adjustable and fixed barrier guards;
• Interlocks for barrier guards;
• Pull-out devices (pull-back); and
•  Restraints.

There are many aspects to the safe operation of a mechanical power press and it all depends on the application of that press for the particular job. There are air and spring counter-balances, air filtering, hand-feeding tools, die set-up, guard fastening, scrap handling, control reliability, anti-repeated feature, brake monitoring, inspection requirements, plus others, again, depending on the application of the press.

Conclusion

The bottom line: If an operator can get at a point of operation with his fingers or hands without removing guards, then the point of operation is not properly guarded. If assistance is needed, contact the manufacturer or your local OSHA on-site consultation for assistance. Remember, it is impossible to have an accident without the presence of a hazard!

Not all fatal accidents happen at work. Many of us practice safe work procedures on the job but forget those practices at home. This is somewhat understandable. At work, supervisors and safety managers are constantly watching us.

But when we get home, we become the boss and we get complacent. And we all know that complacency leads to trouble.

Home Injuries & their Causes

The statistics on home injuries may surprise you. According to the National Safety Council, there were 33,200 fatalities and 8,000,000 disabling injuries in the home in 2001. The four leading causes were:

• Poisoning
• Falls
• Fires (burns)
• Suffocation caused by ingesting an object

Poisoning killed 11,500 people in 2001, with falls a close second at 9,000. If those numbers don’t wake you up then consider this: A fatal injury in the home occurs every 16 minutes and a disabling injury occurs every four seconds.

What Can We Do?

Well, the answer is quite simple: All we have to do is think in the same safe manner at home as we do at work. Take a moment to consider the task you’re about to perform and how you can perform it safer. Here’s a “Safe Plan of Action” to provide your workers for working around the house safely:

• Plan ahead. Make sure you have the proper PPE for the task—gloves, safety glasses, long pants or long-sleeve shirts, steel-toed shoes with steel shanks, etc. The easiest way to do this is to visualize yourself doing the job and try to identify any potential hazards.
• Check your tools and equipment. Using the wrong tool can be dangerous. I regularly inspect all my power/hand tools and ladders to make sure they’re not damaged and are suitable for the job. I look for signs of obvious wear and tear that could cause failure during use. Remember that falls are near the top of the list as the cause of injuries and/or fatalities.
• Lift right. Just like at work, poor lifting techniques are a common cause of injury at home. While lifting or bending, don’t strain your body. If you can’t lift something easily, use a hand truck (or other lifting device) to move it.
• Practice ladder safety. Avoid overreaching while working on ladders or raised platforms. It’s much safer to move the ladder and stay as vertical as possible.
• Guard against heat stress. During the summer months, if you’re going to be working outdoors or indoors in spaces that aren’t air-conditioned or well ventilated, remember to drink plenty of water to avoid heat exhaustion. Take regular breaks when needed.
• Watch for overhead power lines. Remember how dangerous overhead power lines are. Get a helper to assist in carrying long items such as metal pipe, extension ladders or other conductive materials.
• Ask the right question. I’ve saved the most important step for last. Ask yourself: “Is this safe?” I can’t stress this enough. This quick question could save your life.

Conclusion

Here’s a story you might want to relay to your workers: On a jobsite years ago, there was one individual who resented his supervisor for correcting his unsafe work practices all the time. He even resorted to calling the supervisor names as he walked by.

One lunch hour, the supervisor took his brown bag into the field and spotted the worker sitting with co-workers. He asked if he could join his group. It was obvious that he didn’t want the supervisor there, but gestured with his hand that he could sit down if he wanted. The supervisor then asked him, “When you go home at night and walk though the door, what happens?”

After some hesitation, he replied, “My dogs usually run to me and my daughter and wife give me a kiss. Then we sit down for supper.”

This was exactly the response he was hoping for. The supervisor told him, “It doesn’t matter to me that you hate me or call me names. Every day that you can go through that door and be greeted by your family and pets is one more day that I have done my job well.”

The two were friends for the rest of the work project and still keep in touch today.

In January 2007, a panel led by James A. Baker, III issued a report on one of the most serious U.S. workplace disasters in the past two decades: the 2005 Texas City BP refinery explosion that killed 15 workers and injured 180. The 374 page report includes some very important lessons for occupational health and safety professionals, including but not limited to those in the oil industry.

The Baker Report

The Baker Panel investigated the “safety culture” at BP’s five North American refineries. The final report includes a scathing indictment against the giant oil company for putting production targets, operational goals and budgets ahead of workplace safety.

The report also includes 10 recommendations that, although addressed to BP, apply to just about any other workplace. If you want to read the full report, click here. If you want a summary of the recommendations, keep reading.

1. Process Safety Leadership

The Board of Directors of BP p.l.c, BP’s executive management (including its Group Chief Executive), and other members of BP’s corporate management must provide effective leadership on and establish appropriate goals for process safety. Those individuals must demonstrate their commitment to process safety by articulating a clear message on the importance of process safety and matching that message both with the policies they adopt and the actions they take.

2. Integrated and Comprehensive Safety Management System

BP should establish and implement an integrated and comprehensive process safety management system that systematically and continuously identifies, reduces and manages process safety risks at its U.S. refineries.

3. Process Safety Knowledge and Expertise 

BP should develop and implement a system to ensure that its executive management, its refining line management above the refinery level and all U.S. refining personnel, including managers, supervisors, workers and contractors, possess an appropriate level of process safety knowledge and expertise.

4. Process Safety Culture

BP should involve the relevant stakeholders to develop a positive, trusting and open process safety culture within each U.S. refinery.

5. Clearly Defined Expectations and Accountability for Process Safety 

BP should clearly define expectations and strengthen accountability for process safety performance at all levels in executive management and in the refining managerial and supervisory reporting line.

6. Support for Line management 

BP should provide more effective and better coordinated process safety support for the U.S. refining line organization.

7. Leading and Lagging Performance Indicators 

BP should develop, implement, maintain and periodically update an integrated set of leading and lagging performance indicators for more effectively monitoring the process
safety performance of the U.S. refineries by BP’s refining line management, executive management (including the Group Chief Executive) and Board of Directors. In addition, BP should work with the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board and with industry, labor organizations, other governmental agencies and other organizations to develop a consensus set of leading and lagging indicators for process safety performance for use in the refining and chemical processing industries.

8. Process Safety Auditing 

BP should establish and implement an effective system to audit process safety performance at its U.S. refineries.

9. Board Monitoring

BP’s Board should monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Panel (including the related commentary) and the ongoing process safety performance of BP’s U.S. refineries. The Board should, for a period of at least five calendar years, engage an independent monitor to report annually to the Board on BP’s progress in implementing the Panel’s recommendations (including the related commentary). The Board should also report publicly on the progress of such implementation and on BP’s ongoing process safety performance.

10. Industry Leader

BP should use the lessons learned from the Texas City tragedy and from the Panel’s report to transform the company into a recognized industry leader in process safety management. The Panel believes that these recommendations, together with the related commentary in Section VII, can help bring about sustainable improvements in process safety performance at all BP U.S. refineries.

Conclusion

Hopefully, other companies will heed the solid advice of the Baker Panel. Share them with your senior management team. You can present the report in a work shop or use it as a case study in your next safety leadership course.

And ask yourself the following questions: Do you have opportunities to improve based on the Baker recommendations? Or are you another BP waiting to happen?

The BP Texas City Refinery Explosion

BP’s Texas City Refinery, the third largest oil refinery in the U.S., is spread over 1,200 acres and has 1,600 permanent workers.

On March 23, 2005, a cloud of hydrocarbon vapors ignited a fire in the Isomerization Unit (ISOM) that triggered an explosion killing 15 people and injuring 170 more. BP accepted responsibility for the explosion and admitted that it made mistakes that contributed to the tragedy:

• The explosion and fire occurred because established procedures weren’t followed during the restart of the raffinate splitter tower that allowed the fluid level in the tower to be 20 times higher than it should have been just before the explosion occurred.
• There was a failure to evacuate workers from temporary office trailers near the F-20 blow down stack before the start up of the raffinate tower and a failure to warn them of danger, both of which increased the number of killed and injured.
• The use of a pressure relief system routed to a flare or closed relief system would have reduced the severity of the incident.

The OSHA Response

After the blast, OSHA inspected the Texas City facility and cited BP for more than 300 violations, including:

• 167 citations for non-intrinsically safe electrical equipment;
• 76 instances of failure to correct deficiencies in equipment that are outside acceptable limits for the pressure relief header subysystem, liquid knockout subsystem and other subsystems and equipment;
• Failure to compile written process safety system for each of the four systems in the ISOM unit;
• 18 instances of failure to properly evaluate the safety and health impact of a catastrophic blast for temporary trailers near the ISOM unit; and
• 31 instances of failure to evaluate the reliability of alarms and the integrity of process systems to determine criticality or Safe Integrity Level.

On September 22, 2005, OSHA announced that British Petroleum Products North America has agreed to pay more than $21 million to settle the violations—the largest fine OSHA has ever assessed, practically doubling the old record of $11 million against a Louisiana fertilizer company.

BP also paid $1.2 billion to settle the lawsuit filed by a woman named Eva Rowe whose parents were killed in the explosion. “This is not about the money,” Rowe is quoted as saying after the suit was settled. “I want the world to know what BP did.”

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health). NIOSH has information on just about every topic you need in an industrial setting and eye safety is included.

Here are some of the many online resources on eye safety.

1. NIOSH Eye Safety

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health). NIOSH has information on just about every topic you need in an industrial setting and eye safety is included.

“Each day about 2,000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one-third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments and more than 100 of these injuries result in one or more days of lost work.”

So begins the information on NIOSH’s website. From this site you have links to various eye statistics, as well as some Health Hazard Evaluations of some recent reports related to eye safety.

2. NIOSH Contact Lens Use

When the subject of eye safety in an industrial setting comes up, contact lens use is an often-asked question. NIOSH has a link from its eye safety home page to Current Intelligence Bulletin 59 – Contact Lens Use in a Chemical Environment. You can download the report by going to this website.

3. ANSI via International Safety Equipment Association

Safety eye wear has to meet tough ANSI requirements and their document, ANSI Z87.1-2003, Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices provides manufacturers with the specifications to do just that. ANSI standards are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced. You need to purchase your copy. The International Safety Equipment Association is one of the organizations that sell this publication. You can order it from them by printing their order form and faxing them an order. The order form can be downloaded here.

4. Lab Safety Supply

Lab Safety Supply’s EZ Facts provides helpful information. Fact Sheet 125, What to Look for When Choosing Protective Eyewear, is one such bulletin. You can read it online, here.

5. Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology

The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology has information on its website about eye safety around the home, for home activities, for sports and for hobbies. For example, many of us use steel-toed shoes when we’re mowing the lawn. How many also use safety glasses? Get more information at their website.

6. Prevent Blindness America

Prevent Blindness America is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization with the sole mission of preventing blindness and preserving sight. Their website is full of easy-to-navigate links that provide information on eye safety, eye problems, and children’s eye problems. There is an eye test that you can print and useto test your eyes at home.

7. Prevent Blindness America, Connecticut Chapter

Getting children into the habit of using eye safety will reap big rewards for them as they grown up. The Connecticut Chapter, along with Prevent Blindness America, developed an interactive website for children’s eye safety. You can find it here.

Conclusion

You can also find some helpful information on the websites of the various safety eye wear providers.

It’s quite natural to think of your home as the safest place you can be. After all, that is where you escape the cares of the world and the pressures of work. However, many serious accidents happen at home. Painful injuries, permanent disability and even death can be the result of home accidents. Falls and fires are particular dangers at home.

Fortunately, there is much you can do to improve the safety in your home.

Start by following this home safety checklist:

  Is lighting adequate in all traffic areas, including sidewalks, entrance areas, basements and stairways?
  Are traffic areas free of clutter?
  Are stairways clear, with no items stored on them, even temporarily?
  Are there sturdy railings on all stairways, even in the basement and outdoors?
  Are stairs, steps and floors in good condition and free of tripping hazards such as torn carpet and loose tiles?
  Is there a non-slip surface on the floor of the shower and bathtub?
  Is your home protected by these safety devices: Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters on electrical outlets in the bathroom and basement?
  Is all wiring in good condition? Is wiring adequate for the electrical appliances used in the house, including computer equipment?
  Are extension cords used only temporarily? Are they kept out of traffic areas?
  Are chimneys for wood burning stoves and fireplaces cleaned yearly?
  Are any flammable liquids such as gasoline and paint thinner stored in approved covered containers, in well ventilated areas? Are they kept far away from sources of ignition, such as cigarettes and pilot lights?
  Are drawers and cabinet doors closed immediately after use to prevent tripping accidents and head injuries?
  Are the handles of pots and pans always turned toward the center of the stove, not the edge of the stove where they can be reached by children or accidentally contacted by someone passing by?
  Are knives stored safely in a knife holder or other device so someone will not accidentally touch the blade?
  Are glass doors marked at eye level to prevent someone from accidentally walking into them?
  Is the house safe for children, even if they only visit occasionally? Are all medicines and cleaning materials stored well out of reach of children? Are stairways barricaded so youngsters cannot fall down them? Are electrical outlets covered by child-proof plugs?
  Are emergency numbers posted at each telephone? Is the house address and telephone number posted there as well?
  Do you hold regular family fire drills? Does each member of the family know how to escape from his or her bedroom and where to meet outside?

If you find hazards while you are inspecting your home, correct them now. If they require expert help, such as rewiring by an electrician, arrange to have the work done. Then make a regular safety review part of your family’s routine!

Summer Safety Checklist

HEAT STRESS PREVENTION
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water rehydrates your body better than other fluids such as pop or juice. Water at room temperature is absorbed into your system faster.
Plan ahead. Try to plan the most physically demanding tasks for the coolest time of the day.
Wear light, natural fiber clothing that will allow heat to escape.
If you are working outdoors, wear a hat.
Acclimatize yourself by gradually exposing yourself to the heat.
Get out of the heat during breaks.

DRIVE SAFELY
Before leaving on summer vacation, ensure your vehicle is in top running condition.
Be prepared for “the other guy” who may not be driving safely.
Keep your headlights on at all times, regardless of weather conditions.
Wear a seatbelt at all times and request that your passengers do the same.
As the driver, keep your concentration on the road; do not allow yourself to become distracted by the scenery, passengers, etc.
Avoid eating or drinking while driving; both hands are required on the wheel at all times.
Do not allow yourself to become too frustrated or upset by traffic jams or careless drivers.

WATER SAFETY
Swim only where there are lifeguards and never in isolated areas.
Do not swim beyond designated points.
Insist that children take frequent rest breaks.
To avoid cramps, wait a sufficient amount of time after eating before going into the water.
Always check out the conditions before diving into a body of water.

BOATING SAFETY
Ensure your trailer is in good condition.
Do not overload your trailer. Ensure the tongue capacity is not exceeded.
If you store articles on your boat, make sure that they are properly secured.
Drinking and driving don’t mix, and neither do drinking and boating.
Tell someone where you will be and what time you plan to return.
Provide a Coast Guard-approved flotation device for each passenger.

Working with machinery and equipment is always hazardous. But workers are especially at risk when they try to troubleshoot machinery that isn’t working properly. And troubleshooting is a common task in many workplaces. So given its inherent hazards, it’s important that you have a troubleshooting policy to ensure that workers can safely address machinery issues.

Machinery and Equipment Troubleshooting Policy Checklist

Weed Eater Pre-Start Checklist

Belts

  Secured?

  Not cracked or separated?

Blade

  Secure and balanced?

  Sharpened?

  Free of excessive wear?

  String/blade attached properly?

  String/blade shield in place and secured?

Fluid Leaks

  No sign of fluid leaks?

Accumulated Grass or Grease

  Mower, deck and chute free of debris?

Guards

  All guards in place?

  No sign of damaged guards?

Attachments

  Mounted and secured properly?

OSHA cited a company after an inspection found employees installing a water line in an unprotected trench more than five feet deep. OSHA says the cave-in hazard was made worse by the piling of excavated material at the trench edge. It could have undermined the trench’s walls and fallen onto workers. There was also no ladder or other safe means of exiting the trench and no head protection was used by employees in the trench. The same company was cited in March 2007 for similar hazards at another worksite. Four repeat citations carrying $22,200 in proposed fines were issued, along with three serious citations alleging that water was allowed to accumulate at the bottom of a trench, failure to have a competent person inspect a trench for hazards, and use of a damaged sling. Proposed penalties for the serious violations total $12,000.

[Bortolotti Construction Inc., Marston Mills, MA. Release Number 07-1805-BOS/BOS 2007-358, Nov. 26, 2007]

After receiving a complaint alleging electrical and machine guarding hazards, OSHA initiated an investigation on Sept. 27, 2006. As a result, two willful violations and 10 serious violations were cited. Willful violations were issued for alleged failure to properly guard machinery. Serious violations being alleged include failure to establish procedures to ensure the control of hazardous energy from machines, failure to train employees in the safe operation of powered industrial trucks, and electrical hazards. Total penalties of $111,500 have been proposed.

[Phoenix Trim Works Inc., Williamsport, PA. Release Number 07-445-PHI (OSHA 07-035), March 27, 2007]

OSHA inspected a Gadsden, AL jobsite as part of a regional emphasis program focused on reducing falls in the construction industry. Fast-J Steel Erectors was cited for serious violations alleging failure to conduct frequent and regular inspections of the jobsite and failure to ensure that employees wore protective headgear. Repeat violations for which the company was cited include a lack of fall protection on the structure, a lack of fall protection while using aerial lifts and allowing employees to climb onto and over railings while engaged in steel erection activities. Magna Steel Erectors was cited for four alleged serious violations, including the use of unsafe electrical equipment, a lack of fall protection on aerial lifts, improper installation of a fall protection system and failure to secure the building’s framework before placing construction loads on the steel. Fast-J is facing $105,750 in proposed fines, while Magna is facing $18,000 in proposed fines.

[Fast-J Steel Erectors and Magna Steel Erectors, Houston, TX. Release Number 07-725-ATL (119), June 6, 2007]

OSHA conducted an inspection at a west Milwaukee plant in September 2006 after receiving information alleging indoor air quality concerns and personal protective equipment hazards. The company was issued one serious and four repeat citations alleging a lack of guarding on chain and sprocket equipment, a lack of guarding on mechanical presses and load rams, failure to follow lockout/tagout procedures and a lack of mechanical power press inspections. Three serious health violations were also cited. They allege a lack of PPE during exposure to cutting fluids, a lack of proper labeling on hazardous chemicals and blocked space around electrical panels. The company also received one other-than-serious citation alleging that aisles were not properly marked. The company has been inspected by OSHA 24 times and has received 71 safety and health citations.

[Rexnord Industries LLC, Milwaukee, WI. Release Number 07-459-CHI, March 29, 2007]

LIFETIME ODDS OF DYING IN A TSUNAMI:

1 in 500,000

100: The lifetime odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash are 1 in 100.

246: The odds of suffering a fatal fall at some point in your life are 1 in 246.

325: You have 1 in 325 chances of dying from a gunshot wound at some point (in the United States).

1,116: Your lifetime odds of dying in a fire are 1 in 1,116.

5,000: Your lifetime odds of being electrocuted are 1 in 5,000.

8,942: Many people fear being in or on water, but your lifetime odds of drowning are a slim 1 in 8,942.

(Source: All statistics from The Odds of Dying, www.livescience.com)

Lifetime odds of dying from contact with hornets, wasps or bees

1 in 56,789 (Source: Odds of Dying (2003), National Safety Council)

4: Between four and five million people are bitten by dogs every year in the US.

(Source: www.dogbitelaw.com)

5: Five Canadians died as a result of bear attacks in 2005, with three of those fatalities involving black bears and two involving brown bears. (Source: Southeastern Outdoors)

8: About 8,000 venomous snake attacks occur each year in the US, with about 15 people dying as a result. (Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

15: Between 15 and 20 people die each year across the US as a result of dog bites. (Source: www.dogbitelaw.com)

33: According to the US Postal Service, 3,300 letter carriers were bitten by dogs on the job in 2005.

36: Thirty-six cougar attacks were documented across North America between 1991 and 1999. Seven people died in those attacks. (Source: Calgary Herald)”

LIFETIME ODDS OF BEING MURDERED IN THE US: 1 in 133 (Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics)

2: In Canada there were more than two million violent incidents committed against people ages 15 and older in 2004.

14: In 2004, Canadians ages 15-24 represented 14 percent of the population, yet accounted for 32 percent of those accused of committing property crimes and 42 percent of those accused of committing violent crimes.

18: A violent crime occurs somewhere in the US every 18 seconds.

24: A murder is committed every 24 minutes in the US.

26: In 2005 African Americans were 26 percent more likely than white Americans to be victims of violent crimes.

62: Arrests were made in 62 percent of US murder cases in 2004.

Odds of a woman experiencing domestic violence at some point between ages 18 and 64

1 in 4 (source: Domestic Violence Council reporting on a 1997 US survey)

• 37 Thirty-seven percent of women who have experienced domestic violence reported that it had an impact on their work performance, hampering job promotions, attendance, their ability to show up on time and ability to keep their jobs.
• 40 Forty percent of business leaders surveyed said they were personally aware of employees and other individuals affected by domestic violence.
• 47 Workplace productivity has suffered as a result of domestic violence, according to 47 percent of executives polled.
• 74 Seventy-four percent of domestic violence victims have suffered abuse, harassment or violence from their partners on at least one occasion while at work.
• 78 Seventy-eight percent of human resources professionals polled by Personnel Journal stated that domestic violence is a workplace issue.
• 94 Domestic violence was ranked as a significant security problem for 94 percent of corporate security officers surveyed.

ODDS OF A NURSE SUFFERING A NEEDLESTICK INJURY AT SOME POINT DURING HIS OR HER CAREER

Almost one in two (Source: Statistics Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and Health Canada)

1: One in three of 19,000 Canadian nurses polled said problems with their physical health had made it challenging to handle their workloads. Back pain was the most common complaint.

9: Nearly nine percent of Canadian nurses of both sexes reported suffering depression

20: Seventeen percent of Canadian nurses interviewed reported that psychological strain from their jobs had caused them to take no fewer than 20 sick days within a year.

29: Twenty-nine percent of nurses polled said they had been targets of physical abuse by patients within the past year.

40: More than 40 percent reported being emotionally abused by patients.

45: Forty-five percent of female nurses and 51 percent of male nurses reported feeling unsupported by their co-workers. However, 90 percent said their working relationships with doctors were good.

One-year odds of a car occupant dying in a crash

1 in 17,625. (Source: National Safety Council: What Are The Odds of Dying?)

4: The average number of civilian workers who die in road crashes throughout the US every day. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

8: One Canadian woman dies in a motor vehicle collision every eight hours. For Canadian men, it’s one every four hours. (Statistics Canada)

22: The percentage of work-related deaths caused by roadway crashes between 1992 and 2001. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

28: The percentage of semi-trucks involved in fatal incidents. (NIOSH)

49: The percentage of fatal motor vehicle crashes involving collisions between vehicles. (NIOSH)

61:? The cost in billions of dollars in lost wages and benefits for crash victims in 2000. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Odds of winning the lottery: 1 in 135,145,920 (multi-state mega-millions jackpot)

Odds of being bullied at work: Better than 1 in 3 (37 percent) according to a Zogby International 2007 American research study.

7: Seven out of 10 employees who are bullied either leave their jobs or are fired.

8: Workplace bullying costs the average Fortune 500 company an estimated $8 million in lost productivity in a single year.

16: The average Fortune 500 firm pays more than $16 million per year in replacement costs for managers and employees who leave their jobs because of bullying.

25: Workplace bullying has increased by 25 percent across Canadian workplaces in the past three years alone.

62: Even if they are made aware of bullying incidents, organizations do virtually nothing to help the victim 62 percent of the time.

72: Seventy-two percent of bullies are bosses.

Odds of winning a multi-state, mega-millions lottery jackpot

1 in 135,145,920

Odds of a worker killed on the job being Hispanic: 1 in 8 (Source: American Society of Safety Engineers)

5: ?For every 100,000 Hispanic workers, there are 5 occupational fatalities.

34:? Construction incidents account for 34 percent of Hispanic worker fatalities.

40:? Of all occupational fatalities in Texas, 40 percent involve Hispanic workers.

67:? Of all Hispanic worker fatalities, 67 percent involve foreign-born workers.

77: ?Between 1995 and 2002, 77 Hispanic youths died on farms throughout the US.

95:? 95 percent of Hispanics killed on the job are men.

Lifetime odds of dying in a fall from a ladder or scaffolding: 1 in 9,616 (National Safety Council Odds of Dying)

1:? The United States experienced more ladder-related fatalities, 355 in 2004, than any other nation. That makes it the number one country in the world for ladder deaths.

10:? Most ladder deaths involve falls of 10 feet or less.

39:? Canada recorded 39 deaths from falls on or from ladders in 2004, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

50: Fifty percent of occupational fall fatalities in the US occur in the construction industry.

70:? Falls account for 70 percent of fatalities involving scaffolds.

164:? The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that there are approximately 164,000 ladder-related injuries across the country each year.

LIFETIME ODDS OF DEVELOPING MALIGNANT MELANOMA, THE MOST DANGEROUS FORM OF SKIN CANCER

1 in 75 (Source: California Department of Health)

1: One wide-brimmed hat will help protect the head, face, ears and neck against sun exposure and also reduce the likelihood of developing life-threatening heat illness.

11: This year nearly 11,000 Americans will die from skin cancer.

15: Choose a sunscreen product that provides a sun protection factor of at least 15 or preferably higher.

30: People who work or play outdoors should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before stepping into the sun.

44: Forty-four hundred new cases of malignant melanoma will be diagnosed across Canada this year.

100: Wear sunglasses that provide 100 percent protection against UVA and UVB sun rays.