Wash Your Hands - Hand Washing We assume everyone knows how to wash their hands, but many workers don't realize how important hand washing and skin care can be in the prevention of disease.  Proper skin care and hand protection help keep workers productive and on the job. The best defense against the spread of illness or skin ailments is to prevent them where possible by washing them often, using barrier creams and wearing gloves designed to protect skin from contact with a variety of harmful agents and irritants.  If gloves are worn, clean or replace them frequently to make sure they...

Occupational Vibration Exposure Many workers do not think that their exposure to vibration could be a health hazard.  Vibration exposure is more than just a nuisance.  Constant exposure to vibration has been known to cause serious health problems such as back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and vascular disorders.  Vibration related injury is especially prevalent in occupations that require outdoor work, such as forestry, farming, transportation, shipping, and construction.  There are two classifications for vibration exposure:  whole-body vibration and hand and arm vibration.  These two types of vibration have different sources, affect different areas of the body, and produce different symptoms. Whole-body vibration...

Unlawful Harassment The Company is committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and therefore strictly prohibits all unlawful harassment.  Any employee found to be responsible for harassment in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.  The Company will not tolerate reprisals against individuals filing complaints in good faith under this policy. II.            DEFINITION OF DISCRIMINATORY HARASSMENT Prohibited discriminatory harassment is verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of that person’s race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability,...

Driving Vehicles & Moving Equipment Safely Many workplace injuries and deaths involve driving vehicles and moving equipment, but sometimes this equipment is essential to the work operation. All vehicle and equipment operators should be trained, competent, and safety-minded to avoid costly accidents and injuries. Before operation, drivers should carefully read the operator's manual and observe the operating, maintenance, and safety instructions. Operators should be prepared for a safe day at the wheel, by getting enough rest and taking occasional breaks, especially on hot days, to reduce fatigue. Vehicle operation should be limited or avoided when drivers are ill or taking medications that...

Preventing Strains & Sprains Lifting, pushing, and overreaching are common causes of strains and sprains. Any job that requires you to sit or stand bent in an awkward position for long periods of time can cause excess stress and strain on muscles. Most strains and sprains affect the back, arms, and shoulders. However, there are some very simple things you can do to prevent or minimize body strains and sprains. Many strains and sprains occur because of poor material handling. Workers lift things that weigh too much or they lift incorrectly. Lift correctly by bending your knees, not your back. Carry loads...

Keep Up With Ladder Safety Ladder safety begins with selecting the right ladder for the job and includes inspection, setup, proper climbing or standing, proper use, care, and storage. This combination of safe equipment and its safe use can eliminate most ladder accidents. Always check a ladder before using it. Inspect wood ladders for cracks or splits. Inspect metal and fiberglass ladders for bends and breaks. Never use a damaged ladder. Tag it "Defective" and report it to your supervisor. When setting up a ladder, make sure its straight and sitting firmly on the ground or floor. If one foot sits lower, build...

Practice Good Housekeeping Good housekeeping is one of the surest ways to identify a safe workplace. You can tell how workers feel about safety just by looking at their housekeeping practices. Good housekeeping isn't the result of cleaning up once a week or even once a day. It's the result of keeping cleaned-up all the time. It's an essential factor in a good safety program, promoting safety, health, production, and morale. Whose responsibility is housekeeping? It's everyone's. Clean work areas and aisles help eliminate tripping hazards. Respecting "wet floor" signs and immediately cleaning up spills prevents slipping injuries. Keeping storage areas uncluttered...

Workplace Distractions Some workplace distractions and interruptions are unavoidable but others – if not properly controlled or regulated -- could lead to injuries, lost productivity, and a decrease in worker morale. Work interruptions are a distraction that can result in work errors or accidents. Before addressing or responding to another person, workers should shut down or disengage any work tool, equipment, or processes. Job training should include instructions not to interrupt others during a critical job phase or process. Instruction manuals and procedural guidebooks should be kept on site to answer frequently asked questions and thereby eliminate the need to interrupt or distract other...

AirBag Safety Vehicle air bags (including front, side and head curtains) rapidly inflate to cushion and protect drivers and passengers in traffic accidents. Air bags have deployed 3.8 million times since first used in the 1980’s and have saved 5,000 lives. Installed in 56 million vehicles, the air bag is a supplemental vehicle safety device; the first line of defense is the seatbelt. The risk of death in an accident is reduced by 65% with seat belts alone; seat belt use in combination with an air bag reduces risk by an additional 15%. Air bag benefits are proven, but most of us...

Drywalling Safety Drywalling Safety - Drywallers put the finishing touches on our home and office interiors by installing and finishing sheetrock walls. Physical stamina is required to lift, cut, and maneuver heavy sheets of drywall and fix them in place. Finishing and sanding seams is also an ergonomic and physical challenge. Consider that this demanding work is often done on a construction site and at heights, and it is clear that drywallers need to think safety on the job. Lifting and maneuvering tools and heavy, awkward sheets of drywall pose an ergonomic risk for drywallers. Maintaining good physical condition and using proper...