Northern Safety Co., Inc. Safety and Industrial Supplies

Winter weather is largely to blame for the increased threat of highway and road accidents during the colder months. Workers can be injured during trips to and from a worksite or while carrying out other tasks, so employers should stress the importance of being vigilant on the road. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates that each year, there are an average of 583,400 crashes and 181,300 injuries due to snow, sleet, hail, and slush on the road. Consider the following tips for educating staff members about these conditions.

The three Ps
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advocates that employers teach their workers to follow the rule of the three Ps when driving in the winter. They are:

• Prepare: prepare for the trip before it begins
• Protect: be sure that normal safety requirements are met
• Prevent: avoid actions that increase the chances of an accident

Prepare
While the condition and functionality of vehicles need to be guaranteed no matter the time of year, there are certain features that are particularly important in the winter.

Windshield wipers are crucial for clearing falling snow and melted ice out of a driver's field of vision. Wipers need to be checked much more frequently in the winter, as they are key to preventing accidents. Damaged or worn wipers need to be replaced immediately, or a vehicle shouldn't be driven.

All windows need to be clear of ice and snow before a trip begins, so an ice scraper should be present in all vehicles during the winter. A scraper should come with a brush to make it easier to remove loose snow. Wiper fluid is an important backup supply in case ice begins to build on a windshield while driving.

Tire treads need to be in good condition to drive on icy or snow-covered roads. Tires with treads that are worn down or bald should be replaced as soon as possible.

Some supplies should be kept in cars, trucks, and vans for the duration of the winter. They include an extra supply of antifreeze, a flashlight, jumper cables, a snow shovel, a first aid kit, and blankets.

Protect
Safety protocols should always be followed by drivers, but extra vigilance is necessary to drive during the winter. This means that seat belts should always be worn and any additional requirements for trucks, backhoes, and cargo transportation vehicles should be strictly observed.

Drivers who are inexperienced with winter road conditions should practice steering on ice and snow, preferably in the company of an experienced driver. Employers can facilitate this in a parking lot or empty area where it is safe to improve a worker's ability to stop on short notice and use anti-lock brakes.

Employers can help to make the identification of broken-down or disabled vehicles easier. Bright, reflective tape can be placed on antennae as well as the bumpers and hoods of company cars and trucks. This will help prevent them from being hit by other drivers when pulled to the side of the road. In these situations, workers should also activate their hazard flashers and activate the interior dome lights for maximum visibility in snowstorms or when sleet is falling. Flares, warning triangles, booster cables, and other emergency roadside safety equipment should be carried in company vehicles for quick use in the event of an emergency.

Prevent
Driving in the winter means that the distance between vehicles on the road should be increased to reduce the risk of skidding and brakes locking up. Additionally, all cars and trucks should be driven much more slowly than they normally would be in ideal conditions, no matter the speed limit that's posted.

It's easy for workers to become tired or fatigued in the wintertime. Shoveling snow and walking on icy surfaces adds to this exhaustion, which can be made even worse by the stress of careful winter driving. Workers should avoid getting behind the wheel of a vehicle if they are overtired or exhausted.

Precautions and preparation
If you're an employer whose workers are required to drive in the winter, purchase extra safety supplies in case a vehicle breaks down or is in an accident. Safety vests can help identify employees as they assess these situations, while safety glasses and warm work gloves can help when making repairs or while waiting for help. In addition, avoid sending staff members out to drive without first making sure that they have warm clothes in case their vehicle breaks down on the way.

Educate workers and outfit them with the best personal protective equipment to be certain that they're safe while on the road this winter.  

Reduce potential threats and risks to your workers when they're driving in winter conditions. As an employer, make yourself aware of worker driving abilities and limitations, and prepare workers and their vehicles with the right equipment in the event of a roadside emergency. Sleet, blizzards, heavy snow, black ice, and ice storms are all hazards of winter driving – remember the three Ps: Prepare, Protect, and Prevent.

On September 28, 2011, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Ray LaHood announced he has released $5 million in emergency funds for New York roads and bridges. These funds are to be immediately available to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to help repair roads and bridges that were damaged after Hurricane Irene.

"Hurricane Irene left New York residents with an enormous cleanup job and limited mobility because of damaged roads and bridges," said Secretary LaHood. "This emergency relief funding will help the state cover the costs to make repairs and restore the routes critical to communities hurt by the storm."

The flooding in New York began on August 26, and caused substantial damage to roads and bridges. NYSDOT has agreed to use the quick release funds to continue emergency repair projects in 31 counties across the state.

The estimated overall damage to highways under federal jurisdiction will likely exceed $100 million.

Before repairs start on bridges and roadways, contractors are encouraged to use safety resources and information available from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which provides guidelines for cleanup after torrential rains, flooding, and storm surges.

While working on roads and bridges, it is important to use safety products required for the worksite such as hard hats, fall protection, and hi-vis protective clothing to ensure workers' safety. 

Floods can occur both indoors and outdoors and pose a number of health risks. Overworked sanitation systems can reduce an area's water purification capabilities, mold and mildew can increase exponentially, dangerous chemicals are easily spread when flood waters rise, and wild animals often become displaced by flooding. Many workers end up in close contact with rising water, so employers should be sure to teach their workers about the basics of working in and around flood water.

OSHA cautions that the most significant health risks posed by flooding have to do with bacterial infections and diseases that thrive in murky standing water. In particular, e. coli and salmonella are commonly found in flooded areas. Workers should monitor themselves and others for symptoms of these diseases, which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and fever. Employees suffering from an infection should seek medical attention and warn employers and coworkers.

Mosquitoes are found in swamps, marshes, and other areas full of standing water. These insects are attracted to flooded areas and will infest these areas in large numbers. Mosquitoes can spread encephalitis and West Nile virus, so workers in flooded areas should wear bug repellent and keep their arms and legs covered at all times.

Above all, workers who spend time in flood regions, or have to help to repair flooded areas, should wash their hands often. This should be done with clean water and soap. If water systems are not functional, bottled water is acceptable. Water that has been boiled for 10 minutes will also work, as will chemically disinfected water. This can be done by adding five drops of household bleach for every gallon of water and letting it stand for 30 minutes afterwards. Never drink this water or use it to brush teeth or clean eating utensils.

Animals that usually live in the wilderness, such as raccoons, possums, or badgers may be driven out of their burrows by heavy rain and flooding. Be careful exploring basements, garages, warehouses, and other structures that have been hit by heavy flooding. They may have become temporary homes for these animals, which could be hurt, sick, or may simply become frightened and attack.

Employers should always provide proper safety products that will protect workers in flooded areas from chemical spills and infections. This includes work boots, rubber gloves, disposable respirators, and other personal protective equipment.

The tornado response and recovery efforts currently taking place in Texas are echoing the devastating storms that leveled the town of Joplin, Missouri, in May, 2011 - where the efforts to rebuild are still underway.

In February, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced the 2012 Governor's Joplin Habitat Challenge in order to attract more volunteers and donations to help the recovery effort. The challenge is to construct 35 new homes in Joplin with the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity before the end of 2012. Though only a fraction of the 7,700 homes that were damaged or destroyed, the plan marks a commitment to rebuilding the city.

The program is supported by a $3.6 million federal Community Development Block Grant, as well as all the state's professional sports teams, the University of Missouri Tigers, and the Kansas Speedway, which has partnered with NASCAR Unites. The project will divide the 35 planned homes into 7 neighborhoods, with each neighborhood sponsored by one of the seven Missouri athletic organizations. Members and other staff from each of the teams will volunteer their time on several occasions throughout the project to help achieve the goal.

At the 2012 Joplin High School graduation, President Obama and Governor Nixon are slated to speak on the progress of the recovery.

Provide workers and volunteers with protection from recovery operation hazards, such as falling debris and sharp objects, by supplying appropriate safety products, including work gloves, safety glasses, and hard hats.

The first case of a human being infected with an influenza A H3N2 variant (H3N2v) virus in 2012 has been reported, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified as a strain very similar to the H3N2v that infected 12 people in the U.S. in 2011.

The virus, which was found in a child in the state of Utah, contains genes from human, swine, and avian flu viruses, as well as the M gene from the H1N1 virus that spread in 2009. The CDC is currently performing animal and public health investigations to isolate the origin of the Utah infection, and if other human cases have appeared since.

The virus received its "variant" designation because it's known to circulate in swine, but not in people. However, once it was identified in a human, it was called a "variant influenza virus." Including the Utah case, the number of human infections around the country with H3N2v viruses has grown to 21 since July 2011.

To keep influenza viruses and other communicable diseases from spreading in the workplace, provide tissues, hand sanitizers, and disinfectant wipes for employees.