Northern Safety Co., Inc. Safety and Industrial Supplies

To keep holiday drunk driving accidents to a minimum this year, Safety Daily Advisor has reminded workers that December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.

December may be a good time to give workers a brief reminder of the dangers of driving after drinking at holiday parties and other events. According to the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse, the "skills and coordination needed for driving are compromised long before the obvious signs of intoxication are visible," marking the importance of discussing the appropriate amount of drinks.

Discussing alcohol use in general may be beneficial for employees, and can help with informed decision making. Debunking common myths about "sobering up," including the idea that a strong cup of coffee will sober up a motorist to an acceptable blood-alcohol level for driving can also be a good discussion point.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,228 people were killed in drunk driving accidents in 2010. Drunk driving also endangers highway workers and commercial truck drivers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that transportation incidents accounted for about two-fifths of all workplace deaths in 2010.

To lower the risk of injury, flaggers and other workers in the right-of-way must always wear high visibility vests and other safety products required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). All vehicles should be equipped with safety equipment and first aid kits in the event of an accident and, as a driver, stay alert, concentrate, and drive defensively. Being aware of other drivers and their actions, and responding appropriately can get you safely home for the holidays.   

As the temperature drops, the number of colds and cases of the flu begin to rise. This isn't because low temperatures weaken people's immune systems. It's mostly because people are inside for longer periods of time and working in close quarters with one another.

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) states that 62 million cases of the common cold occur each year, and according to its most recent survey, 22 million days of work are lost annually. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that estimated annual direct costs of influenza are $4.6 billion. In addition, up to 111 million workdays are lost and an estimated $7 billion per year in sick days and lost productivity are lost because of the flu. Employers can help keep their employees safe from colds and the flu by instituting effective programs, educating workers, and supplying the right tools to keep them healthy and productive.

Vaccination
Receiving a flu vaccine doesn't guarantee that a person won't catch the flu or miss days from work, but it is a helpful precaution. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two strategies when it comes to encouraging vaccinations. Employers can either host an event or encourage employees to attend one nearby. Hosting a vaccination clinic can help an employer ensure that the largest number of workers have access to the vaccine. If your company is not hosting an onsite clinic, keep workers informed about where they can get flu vaccinations outside of the workplace. Partnering with an offsite health provider, pharmacy, or clinic is a good way to promote vaccinations in the community.

Stopping the spread
Flu vaccinations only protect against the most common strains of the virus, and colds can't usually be prevented, even with good hygiene and a strong immune system. Encouraging workers to stay home when they are sick is an easy way to help prevent employees from spreading illnesses.

The CDC recommends that workers stay home for at least 24 hours after their fevers have broken. Persistent respiratory issues such as coughing, sneezing, and runny noses should prevent workers from returning because they will likely spread the virus.

Good hygiene
Colds and the flu are transmitted by viruses, so it isn't difficult to help prevent spreading with a little bit of vigilance. Hand hygiene is key - encourage employees to wash their hands frequently and ensure that they know how to wash them properly. Using soap and water, washing for at least 20 seconds, and thoroughly rinsing and drying when finished is recommended. Post signs that tell workers, visitors, and clients the steps for proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

Alcohol-based cleansers are effective when hand washing isn't convenient. Supply moist wipes and hand sanitizers that contain alcohol to help prevent the spread of illness.

Coughing and sneezing are the most common ways that colds and the flu are transmitted. Promote cough and sneeze etiquette and provide tissues for all of your workers. It is also important to properly dispose of used tissues. Designate a no-touch wastebasket that's only cleaned by employees with gloves who immediately wash up after emptying it.

Precautions
No employee wants to get sick, so there is always a strong incentive for workers to prevent the spread of colds and the flu. A lot of the preventative work needed to do this is in their hands. To help your employees stay healthy and productive this winter:

• Educate employees about vaccinations and flu symptoms
• Provide soap, water, and tissues
• Provide disinfectant and towelettes so workers can clean their tools and workstations
• Implement a flexible sick leave policy and include alternate resources, a pay policy, procedures for reporting flu symptoms, and returning to work

Injuries like sprains or bruises can usually be treated with cold. Cold compresses are ideal for different types of injuries and workers should know when to use a cold compress if a co-worker has been hurt. Instant cold packs are best for including in a first aid kit for use around a worksite when dealing with minor injuries.They don't require refrigeration and can be used right away.

A recent injury such as an ankle sprain, twisted wrist or ankle, impact injury, bruise, insect bite, or minor bump on the head is usually best treated with an instant cold pack. Cold compresses help reduce pain and swelling in these injuries, help limit further damage by constricting the blood flow in the area, and they make the injury feel better. They are also helpful in cases of heat stress and heat exhaustion when placed in armpits or used as a cold compress to the head, neck, or face.

When using a cold pack, it is important to avoid making an injury worse. Ice packs should be used for 20 minutes at a time - 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. Remove the cold pack if your skin or your injury gets uncomfortable, and reapply when you feel comfortable again.

Shallow cuts, scrapes, and abrasions may be minor in the realm of workplace injuries, but they should be tended to immediately. A well-stocked first aid kit is important to have on hand so that workers can treat their wounds in a timely manner. They also help ensure that minor injuries do not become infected. Employers should be sure to make first aid kits available at any workplace.

Most minor injuries only require an adhesive bandage, such as a Band-Aid®, or a small amount of gauze and tape. Bandages come in many varieties, and the appropriate should be used depending on the nature of the wound and the environment where a staff member works. There are waterproof adhesive bandages, ones made from flexible woven fabric, sheer strips, and heavyweight bandages for maximum strength that will not tear.

Larger wounds that can't be treated with a bandage and need more absorbency require an emergency pressure dressing. This type of first aid product is made from high-absorbency fabric or gauze. It should be applied with a great deal of pressure and wrapped tightly with a bandage roll.

In addition to emergency pressure dressings, some cuts and lacerations can be treated with alternative supplies. Steri-Strips™ and butterfly bandages are very small pieces of medical tape that can be used to bring the edges of a wound together to keep it closed and help reduce bleeding.

Severe wounds require medical attention. A doctor or medial professional should be called if:

• The edges of the wound are jagged
• The wound is on the face
• The edges of the wound gape open
• There is dirt in the wound that won't wash or rinse out
• The wound is draining pus
• The wound is tender and inflamed
• The area around the wound has gone numb
• Red streaks are forming near the wound
• Bleeding is profuse and won't stop in 20 minutes

For wounds that can be treated on-site, keeping first aid supplies in one central location, or multiple locations in larger facilities, is the basis for an effective and useful first aid program. Workers should be trained to know where these items are kept so that if an injury occurs, they will be able to quickly find and properly use bandages, Band-Aids®, emergency pressure dressings, Steri-Strips™, butterfly bandages, and other items. This knowledge, as well as the proper protocol for severe wounds, is essential to maintaining a sound and safe workplace.

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a term that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), describes situations when workers experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be caused by time spent in a building, but no specific cause or illness can be found. Indicators of SBS can include symptoms that range from fatigue to eye, nose, and throat irritation. The cause of the symptoms is not known and relief generally occurs soon after leaving the building.

There are many causes of SBS, such as poor air circulation and ventilation, but the main cause of SBS is the quality of air inside a building, which can cause occupational asthma.

Occupational asthma comprises 15 percent of all cases of asthma that occur in adults, making it the most common work-related lung disease in the world. It is caused by substances known as asthmagens, and 200 have been identified so far.

In order to prevent occupational asthma, workplace assessments must be taken to identify asthmagens in a potential work site. Other measures include employers, employees, and workplace health and safety officials deciding on appropriate strategies to minimize or eliminate exposure, such as installing better ventilation systems.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an estimated 11 million workers in a wide range of industries and jobs are exposed to at least one of the agents associated with occupational asthma.

It's also important for employers to control irritating dust and particulates in the air from products, a manufacturing process, or sweeping. Safety products that may be required include dust masks or respirators, and disposable coveralls. A well equipped first aid room, including a first aid kit and other first aid supplies, should be available to workers in the event of illness or an asthma attack. 

Poison ivy is one of the most common allergies in the United States - it is believed that only 15 percent of people are immune to it. Workers who spend a lot of time outside need to know how to protect themselves against it. The United States Forest Service reports that about 10 percent of its lost time is due to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.

Poison ivy is most common throughout North America and especially east of the Rocky Mountains. It has a characteristic three-leaf pattern of growth and can appear as a shrub or a vine. Workers should look for the leaves of three, hairy vines growing on trees and white berries.

Poison oak is most common west of the Rockies and looks quite a bit like poison ivy. The difference is that the leaves of this plant are ridged or lobed and are similar in appearance to oak leaves. Poison sumac has thin, narrow leaves in sets of seven to 13 but is far less common than poison ivy or oak.

The best way for workers to protect themselves against these plants is by being vigilant. Outdoor itch relief and prevention products can also help. Supervisors and other workers should show new staff members how to spot the dangerous plants. If contact is made, most commercial-grade soap will remove the urushiol that causes the characteristic rash and blisters. It is important to use cold water to remove the oil, as hot water can open your pores and let the oils in faster.

There are some creams and oils that can act as a barrier, capable of preventing the oil from affecting the skin if they're applied before a worker touches the plant. Cleansers are also available that can help remove the toxic oil before the rash develops if used soon enough after touching these plants.

When contact is made with poison ivy, oak, or sumac, the affected areas should be washed and any clothes that might carry the oil need to be cleaned thoroughly as well. The oil can linger for years on objects that have not been properly washed, so it is important to be thorough with any materials that came into contact with the plants.

Once the affected skin has been cleaned of the plants oils, the rash or blisters are not a contagious condition. Even if a worker has the characteristic reaction due to touching the plants, the only way to spread that reaction from person to person is if there are still plant oils on skin or clothing.

Many jobs require people to perform tasks over and over again, five days a week, year after year. Hammering, typing, and lifting are all examples of things that can result in repetitive stress injury.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. This applies to workstations, grips on power tools, boxes, and other devices that people often use for work. Some of the most important safety products, including back supports and work gloves, are ergonomically designed, and jobs that require repetitive motions should always use the most comfortable equipment.

Workers performing monotonous tasks should take frequent, short breaks. Consistent hammering, swinging, throwing, or lifting will eventually result in repetitive stress injury. Frequent breaks give muscles, bones, and tendons a chance to rest and will make repetitive stress injuries less likely.

Depending on the type of activity, many repetitive motions can be reduced with training on proper tool use, redesigned work stations, and adding hand cut-outs to boxes. Even when using tools with ergonomic grips or extended triggers, vibration-dampening gloves will help reduce repetitive stress injuries.