Weekly Safety Briefing May 2016

Transcription

1 SafetyFirst: Influencing Safe Habits Thinking Safety The experts say at least 80% of industrial accidents are caused by unsafe acts on the part of an employee and not by unsafe conditions. It is up to you to be aware of your work environment and follow safe work practices. By avoiding unsafe acts, which include: Being in a hurry, taking chances, being preoccupied, having a negative attitude, and failing to look for hidden hazards. Remember to stay alert and practice common sense. You can then do a quality job without being in a hurry and having a positive attitude, which triggers you to be a happier and safer person. Do you take the time to review the proper safe work practices? Emphasis on Tool Safety (Week 4) Hand Tool Safety Hand Tools can cause many types of injuries, to avoid them, remember to follow these safety procedures: Use the right tool for the job. Don't use your wrench as a hammer. Don't use a screwdriver as a chisel, etc. Go back to the tool area and get the right tool in the right size for the job. Don't use broken or damaged tools, dull cutting tools, or screwdrivers with worn tips. Cut in a direction away from your body. Make sure your grip and footing are secure when using large tools. Carry tools securely in a tool belt or box. Don't carry tools up ladders. Use a hoist or rope. Keep close track of tools when working at heights. A falling tool can kill a co-worker. Pass a tool to another person by the handle; never toss it to them. Use the right personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job. Follow company instructions for selecting and using safety eyewear, steel toed shoes, gloves, hard hats, etc. Never carry sharp or pointed tools such as a screwdriver in your pocket. Select ergonomic tools for your work task when movements are repetitive and forceful. Be on the lookout for signs of repetitive stress. Early detection might prevent a serious injury. Always keep your tools in top condition. A dull blade or blunt point can lead to injury. Store tools properly when you stop work. Controlling Stress Dealing with life s problems A key to dealing with the big and little everyday stressors is coping with stress in a positive way. 1. Acceptance- Many of us worry about things we have no control over. For example, a family illness, great deal of change at work, or finding out that your basketball team lost. One way to manage stress is to accept when things are beyond your control. It may be helpful to think positive thoughts such as, "Someday I'll laugh about this," or "It's a learning experience." 2. Attitude- Try to focus on the positive side of situations. Ask yourself, "What good can come out of this?" "What can I learn from this situation?" and "How can I handle this better when it comes up again?" Solutions come easier when you focus on the positive and your stress level will be reduced. 3. Perspective- We often worry about things that never happen. Keep things in perspective by asking yourself, "How important is this situation? Can I do anything about it? In five years, will I even remember it happened?" Think about the situations in your life that cause you stress. Are they important or unimportant? Are they controllable

2 or uncontrollable? If they are controllable events, you can take action to change the situation; if they are uncontrollable, you can use your skills in acceptance, attitude and perspective to reduce the stress. SafetyFirst: Housekeeping General housekeeping rules to remember are: Clean up after yourself. Pick up your trash and debris and dispose of it properly, or place it where it will not pose a hazard to others. Institute a routine cleaning schedule. Keep your work area clean throughout the day. This will minimize the amount of time needed to clean a "larger mess" at the end of the day. Dispose of combustibles and flammables properly. If improperly discarded, they will increase the potential for a fire. Remove protruding nails and other sharp objects or hammer them flat to prevent someone from stepping on them or snagging themselves. Stack materials and supplies orderly and secure them so they won t fall over. Do you value your health and safety, your work reputation, as well as your future employment? If you do, practice these general housekeeping rules. SafetyFirst: Influencing Safe Habits What does safety mean to you? Take a minute, and think what does safety mean to you? Is it a set of rules and regulations or could it be a habit or perception you have? Ask yourself, Do you feel safe, both at work, while driving on the road, etc. Rules, regulations and procedures provide structure for what the perception of safety is. Normally when a procedure or rule is added, it comes after an incident has already occurred. It continues to add more complexity to your safety system. Safety is created in everything we do, especially as we create habits around it, such as driving. The more we learn and share with one another, the more we also care about one another. This is important in both our workplace and lives, and then we become safer. Today is a new work week, what are you going to do to be safer and make safety a healthy habit by creating a dynamic safety culture?

3 Spring is Here!!! Being prepared for Thunderstorm/Tornado Season (National Weather Services Alert) It s important to know and review with your teams the various National Weather Service alerts and what they mean. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch Conditions are favorable for a severe thunderstorm in the area(s) covered under the watch. A Warning means that a severe thunderstorm has been spotted in the area either visually or via Doppler Radar. This could mean high winds, lightening and heavy rain. A Tornado Watch Conditions are favorable for a tornado in the area(s) covered under the Tornado Watch. You do not need to take shelter, but you should keep an eye on the conditions and stay near a radio, television or weather radio. A Tornado Warning A tornado has been spotted in the area covered either visually by someone on the ground or via Doppler Radar and this means to take shelter immediately. At your work, identify where your take shelters are located. At home, a basement or storm shelter is the best place to go. If you re not sure, go to the FEMA website at for detailed information on where the safest place is to go. Travel Safety Awareness Being aware of your surroundings is so critical whether you re traveling by car, airplane, train or boat. Staying focused and ensuring your safety no matter how you travel will help you relax and make the best decisions with a clear mind. With all of the recent incidents regarding travel we hear about every day, it s so critical for us to be aware and know how it could impact us. Remember Stay Focused as heavy traffic is fast approaching. SafetyFirst: Holiday Safety Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner letting us know that summer is here. All of us do many different things around this holiday weekend including picnics/cookouts, swimming, motor sports, boating, working around house. No matter what you have planned, make safety a part of your weekend to make it an enjoyable weekend. Be careful and aware of the following, such as: lighter fluid, climbing a ladder and wear a life vest if you re on a boat. Take the time to ensure you have everything you need, planning is the key. If you re traveling, stay focused and be extra careful while driving. Have Fun and Stay Safe this holiday weekend! Inspections Safety inspections may seem routine and boring, and you may even ask yourself why you have to do them. But inspections are the best way to catch problems before they turn into near misses or injuries. Whether it is an inspection of a forklift, hoist, or tools take inspections seriously and perform them as required or more often if you think it is necessary. You could save yourself or your coworker an injury. Be a hero and catch problems early!

4 SafetyFirst: Influencing Safe Habits A New Work Week How do you prepare yourself for your work week? Are there any tips that you can share with others as to how you get your mind in the game and prepare yourself after a weekend? For the US folks who are coming back after a long holiday weekend, take 5 minutes to stretch and take three deep breaths to clear your head. Prepare yourself for the job or task your about to begin do you have the right tooling, did you review the hazards or check your work area before beginning your job? The Heat is Here: Here are some tips from the National Safety Council which can apply whether you re at work or at home: Wear light clothing and wear a hat outdoors. Take your breaks in cool places. Avoid hot foods and drinks that contain caffeine. Caffeine causes the body to release water and dehydrate. Even if you are not a water drinker it is very important to stay hydrated. You might try sports drinks if sodium is not a concern for you or powdered flavor-enhancers for water that are available at grocery stores. Avoid dehydration by drinking 8 oz. of liquids every 20 minutes. If you wait until you re thirsty before drinking anything, you re already dehydrated. Work at a steady pace - don t overexert yourself. Work at a pace that is appropriate for you personally, which will likely be slower as the temperature rises. SafetyFirst: Housekeeping and 5S Keeping your work area neat and organized can not only prevent injuries, but save you time as well. Visual displays help you find what you need quickly and notice right away when something is missing. First, look at your area and take a few minutes by throwing out things you don t need. Pallet jack safety tips: Improper use of pallet jacks can lead to injury including strains and falls. Here are some tips on how to use them safely. Center the forks evenly under the load and make sure the load is stable. Park the pallet truck out of traffic areas in a safe, level place. Ensure that the forks do not stick out into an aisle where someone might trip. Operate at a controllable speed, since hand pallet trucks do not have brakes. If a jack becomes stuck during transportation try to identify the obstruction and remove it. Do not try to muscle it because this

5 can directly cause a person to lose their balance/traction/grip and can cause back and shoulder sprains. Jerking increases the amount of hazardous energy and increases risk of injury. Try to work the jack from side to side to free it up. SafetyFirst: Influencing Safe Habits A New Work Week After a long holiday weekend, take 5 minutes to stretch and take three deep breaths to clear your head. Prepare yourself for the job or task your about to begin do you have the right tooling, did you review the hazards or check your work area before beginning your job? The Heat is Here: Here are some tips from the National Safety Council which can apply whether you re at work or at home: Wear light clothing and wear a hat outdoors. Take your breaks in cool places. Avoid hot foods and drinks that contain caffeine. Caffeine causes the body to release water and dehydrate. Even if you are not a water drinker it is very important to stay hydrated. You might try sports drinks if sodium is not a concern for you or powdered flavor-enhancers for water that are available at grocery stores. Avoid dehydration by drinking 8 oz. of liquids every 20 minutes. If you wait until you re thirsty before drinking anything, you re already dehydrated. Work at a steady pace - don t overexert yourself. Work at a pace that is appropriate for you personally, which will likely be slower as the temperature rises. SafetyFirst: Housekeeping and 5S Keeping your work area neat and organized can not only prevent injuries, but save you time as well. Visual displays help you find what you need quickly and notice right away when something is missing. First, look at your area and take a few minutes by throwing out things you don t need.