Northern Safety Co., Inc. Safety and Industrial Supplies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently allowed the marketing of the first device to be developed that can aid in the detection of life-threatening bleeding in the skull.

The machine, called the Infrascanner Model 1000, can be used by healthcare providers to identify the severity of head trauma when an immediate brain imaging study is needed.

"While patients with suspected brain injuries routinely receive a CT scan, this portable device offers emergency room physicians a non-invasive mechanism to aid in assessing whether an immediate CT scan is needed," said Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation at FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

According to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), head injuries caused by contact with objects and equipment lead to 15,000 occupational injuries in 2010.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide workers with personal protective equipment, which includes ensuring the use of safety products, such as hard hats, that can help protect workers from traumatic brain injuries.

Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OROSHA's) December newsletter discusses ways supervisors can better promote safety in the workplace.

The newsletter begins by discussing some of America's most tragic workplace accidents, including the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that occurred 100 years ago. The accident, which led to the death of 146 workers, was said to have been made worse by locked exit doors. Agency Administrator Michael Wood stated the event displayed "employers taking unacceptable risks with the lives of their workers in order to prevent pilferage."

The agency stated that safety can be greatly improved with better supervisor-employer relationships. OROSHA's requirements state that all employers are responsible for the safe performance of the work under their supervision, the safe conduct of the crew, and the safety of all workers.

Poor supervision can lead to confusion about safe practices and responsibilities, and put workers at risk for injury, the newsletter stated. It is up to a supervisor to explain safety requirements and how they relate to the job at hand to prevent injuries.

Supervisor responsibility includes training employees on safety requirements that apply to their jobs, including hazards, safety rules, and the proper use of required safety products.

MedPro Safety survey finds that 68 percent of healthcare workers believe needlestick injuries are still a major threat in the workplace.

The survey took responses from 262 healthcare professionals at the APIC 2011 Annual Educational Conference in June 2011, which found that 68 percent stated they believe that syringe needlestick injuries have not been eliminated despite requirements established over a decade ago by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Another 43 percent stated they do not believe the safety measures developed by the agencies to prevent needlesticks are activated after use and before disposal at their institutions. An additional 43 percent indicated they were not happy or ambivalent with the syringes used by their institutions.

The findings suggested a high degree of concern in the medical field about the present risk of needlestick injuries and the measures that are in place to control them.

According to the CDC, about 385,000 sharps injuries occur to hospital employees every year. Workers can reduce the risk of such injuries by following OSHA's requirements, which include safer needle devices and proper handling and disposal. Safety products, like puncture-resistant work gloves, are also beneficial for employees handling sharps disposal.

On December 16, 2011, Safety Daily Advisor highlighted the importance of hard hat safety in initial training of employees, as well as in refresher training courses.

Employees should be trained to select a hard hat that is appropriate for the task at hand and protects against existing hazards. Hard hats are rated by type and class, which workers should understand when making a selection.

Type I helmets provide top impact protection, while Type II hard hats provide protection against top and side impacts. Class E are tested to withstand 20,000 volts. Class G is tested to 2,200 volts, while Class C does not provide any protection from electricity.

Employers are also encouraged to explain that workers must inspect hard hats for damage and wear before and after every use, adjust the headband to an appropriately fitting position, and clean the helmet occasionally. Also include training on when a hard hat needs to be replaced, including if it has been involved in an impact, is cracked, broken, or punctured, or if the suspension's headband is worn or stretched out.

The National Transportation Safety Board NTSB has made an unprecedented move in recommending that the use of all personal electronic devices (PEDs) be banned while behind the wheel.

The action came during a December 13, 2011 board meeting regarding a multi-vehicle highway accident in a construction zone, which injured a total of 38 people and killed two others. The accident was determined to be caused by texting while driving.

The recommendation calls for all 50 states and the District of Columbia to ban all non-emergency use of PEDs, and also urges the use of high-visibility enforcement and a series of targeted communication campaigns to inform drivers of such a ban.

"In the last two decades, there has been exponential growth in the use of cell-phone and personal electronic devices," the NTSB noted in a statement, adding that a recent Virginia Tech study found a safety-critical event was 163 times more likely to occur if a driver is texting, emailing or on the internet.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 968 fatal occupational highway incidents in 2010, comprising 21 percent of all occupational fatalities. To help lower the risk of injury or death, highway workers should wear and use safety equipment, such as high-visibility safety vests and traffic safety cones, when working near oncoming cars. 

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.   

On December 14, 2011, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will hold an executive session to take up nominations and S. 1855, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization of 2011.

The bill is a reauthorization that built on the 2006 law that sought to increase public health preparedness in the event of a pandemic or similar health emergencies.

Senator Richard Burr first sponsored the bill on November 10, 2011.

"The American people expect us to do all that we can to prevent an attack and, if one should occur, be fully prepared to respond, including having safe and effective medical countermeasures readily available," Burr said on the bill's introduction. "This legislation redoubles our efforts to protect the American people by strengthening our existing programs and making targeted improvements in areas in which we know we must do better."

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has drafted guidance on preparing workplaces for an influenza pandemic, which recommends that employers encourage their workers to engage in proper hygiene such as, proper hand washing and cough etiquette.

Hand Sanitizers, tissues, and proper work practices may help prevent an outbreak, but once the disease has been identified, gloves, face masks and other safety products can be effective in controlling the spread of certain viruses.  

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) held its Tornado and Severe Weather Workshop and Symposium December 13-15, 2011, in Norman, Oklahoma, titled "Weather Ready Nation Reducing Impacts from Nature's Most Violent Storms."

The event sought to initiate a discussion among the user, service, and science communities to develop actions to improve America's preparedness and resilience in the event of severe weather and to protect lives and property.

At the workshop, participants worked to improve user-driven, impact-based forecasts by discussing how to integrate best practices from warning and risk communication. The event led the group to identify advancements in longer-term outlooks and how they relate to preparedness, and also outlined pilot projects within communities that involve NOAA and other government agencies.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Tornado Response/Recovery guidelines state several hazards are associated with severe weather cleanup. Slips and falls, falling debris, electrical hazards, and burns are all hazards faced by recovery workers, however use of safety products, including hard hats, work gloves and boots, can help reduce the risk of injuries.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has worked through it's National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) partnership program to develop and release the National Services Agenda which includes safety and health goals for auto repair services to strive toward.

The automotive repair and maintenance industry has more than 1.3 million workers nationwide, which include automobile dealerships, general repair, and specialty shops. While these workplaces may not have safety professionals on staff, injury and illness risks can be reduced by adopting effective hazard controls and safe work practices.

Employers can also lead a work group to discuss major issues about hazards in the industry, develop a system to better track occupational injuries and illnesses, and provide input to NORA to further develop more safety goals for the industry.

NORA's Services Sector Council created strategic goals within the auto repair industry, and plans to track accomplishments through 2016. NORA stated that to achieve these goals partnerships are necessary to encourage the creation of comprehensive occupational safety and health programs, analyze potential exposures to hazardous materials, and to develop effective training programs to help employees recognize and control hazardous material in auto repair shops.

​As a part of these automotive repair health and safety goals, the National Services Agenda has listed important issues, including cuts, lacerations, bruises, and exposure to chemicals, exhaust, and asbestos. Businesses can reduce risks of injuries with the appropriate safety products, including work gloves, respiratory protection, and safety glasses.

On December 5, researchers from NASA and Ohio State University briefed the American Geophysical Union on why the devastating March 11, 2011 tsunami in Japan was so powerful.

According to the experts, the natural disaster was a "long-hypothesized 'merging tsunami'" that formed as two wave fronts came together. The findings were based on satellite images that recorded two separate waves on the day of the disaster - an event research scientist Y. Tony Song of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory says was "one in 10 million."

"Researchers have suspected for decades that such 'merging tsunamis' might have been responsible for the 1960 Chilean tsunami that killed about 200 people in Japan and Hawaii, but nobody had definitively observed a merging tsunami until now. It was like looking for a ghost," he stated.

In addition to devastating losses, the tsunami has left Japan with a lengthy and dangerous cleanup effort that is still ongoing, with workers facing hazards from debris piles and an affected nuclear power plant.

In the event a tsunami comes to the United States, many government agencies including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have developed emergency preparedness and response guidelines to prepare for such a disaster and the related cleanup. These guidelines include requirements for cleanup workers to wear proper safety products, including work gloves, protective clothing, and respiratory protection.  

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently issued its Safety Advisory 2011-03 to remind railroad bridge workers, contractors or subcontractors to a railroad of the dangers of crossing unsecured sections of walkways and platform gratings.

The advisory contains a number of recommendations for employers and urges that fall protection be used to decrease the number of accidents.

"The regulations require railroads and railroad contractors to provide, and employees to use, fall protection and personal protective equipment, including head, foot, eye, and face equipment," the report stated.

FRA regulations require that a personal fall arrest safety device or safety net be used when bridge workers perform duties 12 feet or higher above the ground or water. Appropriate systems can consist of an anchorage, connectors, body harness, lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or a combination of these components.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the FRA found that although some exceptions apply to these regulations, none of the recently reported accidents were found to be exempt from fall protection standards.

On December 5, 2011, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force released its final long-term plan for restoring the Gulf Coast ecosystem in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The strategy was delivered by the Task Force on December 2 to President Barack Obama, who initially ordered the Task Force to be created. The group is comprised of representatives from the five states surrounding the Gulf, as well as 11 federal agencies.

In drafting the plan, the Task Force asked for input from states, tribes, federal agencies, local governments, and thousands of affected citizens and organizations.

"This Task Force brought together people from across the Gulf Coast in unparalleled ways to talk about how we tackle both the immediate environmental devastation, as well as the long-term deterioration that has for decades threatened the health, the environment and the economy of the people who call this place home," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

Since the disaster, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued between 20 and 40 safety professionals to the Gulf to help protect cleanup workers. The agency states the employers must provide workers with all required safety products, including work gloves, boots, and coveralls, and all workers must be trained on the hazards of the job prior to taking part in the cleanup effort.  

On November 20, 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed three new cases of a novel strain of influenza in Iowa, bringing the total number of cases of the strain to 10 since July.

The virus, known as swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2), has shown to be resistant to some forms of vaccines, and has appeared in Pennsylvania, Maine, Indiana, and now Iowa.

No data has been found to show that the transmission of this strain will occur differently than a seasonal influenza virus. The CDC has advised that control principles and actions taken for seasonal influenza infections are also fitting for the control of A(H3N2)v.

Current CDC research indicates that seasonal vaccines may provide limited protection against infection with A(H3N2)v viruses among adults, but they provide no protection for children. The CDC does recommend the use of vaccines and states, "They remain the best tool for the prevention of seasonal influenza transmission in health care settings, which is currently the greatest risk from influenza during this influenza season."

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers can protect themselves from the seasonal flu by utilizing hand sanitizers in the workplace, as well as disinfectant and towelettes. Coughs and sneezes should always be covered with a tissue or directed into the upper sleeve. 

Werner Ladder Co. recently celebrated its role as the Official Ladder of the NCAA Basketball Championships by presenting the University of Connecticut men's basketball team with the two ladders used to cut down the nets after the team won the National Championship in 2010.

"Werner Ladder is proud to be able to celebrate the achievements of Coach Jim Calhoun and the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team," Chris Filardi, vice president of marketing for Werner, said in a press release.

Werner developed the two stepladders exclusively for the NCAA, and they are uniquely sized at 9 feet, providing easy access to the net.

Other ladders produced by Werner include twin step, platform, extension, tripod, and utility.

Werner is also the official ladder, and corporate partner, of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)

Ladders from Werner can help companies comply with rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which specify that employers must provide stairways and ladders where there is a break in elevation of more than 19 inches. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Picture It!: Safe Workplaces for Everyone photo contest was held in celebration of the agency's 40th anniversary, and was open to anyone with a passion for photography. The photo contest challenged photographers to capture strong workplace safety practices being put to use, and OSHA has now announced the winners of the competition.

Aaron Sussel of Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded first place in the contest for his depiction of workers on the site of last year's Gulf Oil Spill, who were wearing broad-rimmed hats, gloves, and other personal protective equipment.

The second place photo was entered by Roberto Carlos Vergara of Charlotte, NC and shows a group of workers high above the clouds secured by fall protection, and the third place winning photo illustrates a manufacturing worker utilizing work gloves, safety glasses, and a face shield, and was entered by Roberto Rodriguez of Mesquite, TX. The variety of entries submitted included many instances of workers using assorted safety products.

"I am thrilled by the way these photographers have so creatively captured the challenges of workplace safety and health," said Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "Each winning photograph tells its own powerful story of the contribution of workers to our great country's success, and America, and of the vital importance of protecting their health and safety."

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a revised version of its tire servicing documents to include current hazards in the industry and ensure workers perform large vehicle tire maintenance safely.

The revisions address the Materials Handling and Storage standard established by OSHA that is in place to protect workers who perform single- and multi-piece rim wheel work. Revised materials include updates to the "Multi-piece Rim Matching Chart," including an updated list of current and obsolete components. The "Demounting and Mounting Procedures for Truck/Bus Tires" chart has also been updated to a series of two charts that cover tube-type and tubeless tires.

"These updated materials will provide readily accessible information on how to prevent worker injuries and deaths from tire-servicing incidents," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. "The new format and easy access will simplify compliance with the standard by helping employers provide their workers with vital servicing information."

Hazards in the tire servicing industry often occur while employees attempt to repair or service mismatched tires and rims, and have led to severe head and arm injuries. OSHA standards require that a barrier consisting of a fence, wall, or other structure be placed between a single piece rim wheel and an employee during tire inflation, to contain the rim wheel components in the event of the sudden release of the contained air of the single piece rim wheel. OSHA also requires protective safety products, such as safety glasses, protective footwear, and ear protection be used when servicing tires to help avoid injuries.