Hay fever can make those who are sensitive to pollen miserable, interfering with work and play. Fortunately, modern medicine has developed drugs which give temporary relief from hay fever’s common symptoms. As users of antihistamines and decongestants know, however, there are side affects to these over-the-counter drugs. The side affect most often experienced is drowsiness. In addition to feeling drowsy, other side affects of being sedated are reduced coordination, slowed reaction time and impaired judgment. These may be even less recognizable than drowsiness, but any of this can happen when a person is not fully alert. The use of allergy medication can also affect one’s ability to focus on the work to be done by causing dizziness, nervousness, nausea or headaches.

A Gallup survey of allergy sufferers was conducted several years ago. This survey found that the package warnings against driving or operating heavy machinery while taking the medicine are largely ignored. If you think about it, this shouldn’t be surprising, since people take the medication so that they can continue with their normal activities, and they attempt to do so.

Finally, if you have any questions about allergy medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Some products may be less troublesome than others. Products are available that have a non-drowsy formula, such as Alavert. Spring allergies can be very uncomfortable, but an accident or injury could bring an even greater problem into your life.

Classes of Fires and Fire Extinguishers

Class A — Involves ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber or plastics. The common extinguishing media is water or dry chemical.

Class B — Flammable liquids, grease or gases are covered under this category. Common extinguishing media are foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical.

Class C — Live electrical fires are class C fires. CO2 or dry chemical extinguishers should be used. However, the actual burning product may be class A items.

Class D — Burning materials include combustible metals such as magnesium and sodium. Special extinguishing agents, approved by recognized testing laboratories, are needed when working with these metals.

Responding to Fires

Sound the fire alarm and call the local fire department immediately if a fire breaks out, Follow your company’s procedures on responding to fires. But attempt to fight the fire only if, (1) you know the type of combustible material burning, (2) you have been trained to use the fire extinguisher correctly, and (3) if the fire is still in the incipient (beginning) stage. If the fire gets too large or out of control, evacuate immediately.

Remember PASS When Using a Fire Extinguisher

P – Pull the locking pin before using the fire extinguisher.

A – Aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire. Not at the flames or smoke.

S – Squeeze the lever of the fire extinguisher to operate and discharge.

S – Sweep the fire extinguisher back and forth at the base of the fire to extinguish.

Note that most extinguishers will only allow about 10-seconds of extinguishing media.

Prevention is the key when it comes to firefighting. Good housekeeping, proper storage procedures and safe work practices will go a long way toward reducing the likelihood that a fire will destroy valuable property or injure either you or a fellow employee.

So, how hot does a piece of machinery need to get before it’s guarded?  Well, roughly, skin will burn at 122°F, so above that and you need to provide protection. 

So, how hot is your machine running? One simple solution for determining temperature would be an infrared thermometer. An IR thermometer will measure the surface temperature from a safe distance. Also, an IR thermometer will give you insight as to how hot normal running conditions are, alerting you to a high running temperature.

Once you’ve identified how hot the machine is running you will know how much of a problem you may have.  Your job as an employer is to engineer out the hot surface hazard, if possible.  If it’s not possible you need to provide personal protective equipment and guard the area from potential employee contact. You should also make sure that there are clear markings identifying the hot surface.

The guards can be anything from a custom built guard fabricated in-house to a physical barrier. Conney offers basic signs, as well as hot indicator labels that identify the hazard when it reaches a hazardous temperature.  Talk with the Conney safety support team for more information.

For years, the hearing conservation mantra was; “The best hearing protection is the one that is worn.” This attached article wants to elaborate off this statement to imply the word “properly” to the end of that mantra. There is more to hearing protection than simply handing out earplugs and expecting compliance. There are many factors in the work environment which must be considered before selecting proper protection. 

This is a very interesting article to review on this topic.

• Provide workers with plenty of electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade or Sqwincher. While water is a good fluid replacement, it cannot replace lost electrolytes and carbohydrates.

• Provide workers with cool and breathable personal protective equipment.

• Try a variety of engineering controls such as: improving ventilation with fans, setting up cooling stations and placing heat shields on equipment.

• Train workers to recognize and treat the early signs of heat stress and make it clear that it’s OK to take a break if they are experiencing any symptoms.

• Allow breaks to be taken in cooler areas and try to schedule the most strenuous work for the cooler parts of the day.

• Allow workers to get acclimated to working in hot conditions by working shorter shifts to start out.

Conney Safety offers a variety of Heat Stress Products to help keep workers productive and healthy in high heat environments.

The American Society of Safety Engineers, ASSE, has put together a page of Hurricane Season Preparedness Tips that cover everything from crisis preparation to tips on mold cleanup.  The page can be seen on the ASSE website.  Additionally, more info can be found on the National Hurricane Center website.  The NHC has satellite info on current hurricanes as well as historical hurricane information and hurricane preparedness tips.

A world of darkness awaits this man if a nail strikes his remaining good eye. He has yet to appreciate the need for eye protection. You, yourself, may find it difficult to get accustomed to wearing eye protection, but would getting accustomed to wearing a glass eye be any easier?

Eye protection has been used in the construction industry since 1910. And, undoubtedly, many workers have escaped serious eye injury because of it. You may personally know some fortunate individuals who saved their sight this way.

Depending on your job, you may need safety glasses, goggles or a faceshield. All it takes on your part is a little effort to select the appropriate type and to wear it.

Basically, there are four types of particles that cause eye injuries on the job: 

1. Unidentified Flying Objects: These microscopic objects consist of dust and particles floating around in the air, generated by wind, equipment, or cleaning operations. When working in dusty conditions, wear eye protection. Even a small speck in the eye can lead to trouble.  
2. Particles Resulting from Chipping, Grinding, Sawing, Brushing, Hammering or Using Power Tools: These particles move at an amazing speed and strike with the force of a bullet. Wear eye protection any time over-head operations are performed. It may be advisable on some jobs to wear safety goggles under a full face shield.  
3. Invisible Hazards: You can’t see the injurious light rays generated by welding operations or laser beams. And their effects often are not felt until hours later. Wear the eye protection required when using such equipment. And if you happen to be working nearby, don’t look in the direction of welding arcs or where a laser beam is being used.  
4. Liquids: Hot liquids, such as tar or asphalt, solvents ,paint, and solutions for cleaning masonry or metal, can cause serious eye injury if splashed in your face. The use of proper eye protection, possibly a full face shield, is essential when transferring liquids between containers and when using caustic or acid cleaners.

Eye injuries happen in a split second. So put on your eye protection as soon as you get to your job.

The article is all about safety-related behavior and I was extremely impressed at how this author took a specific situation involving his child and was able to relate it to safety behavior in the workplace. I think you will find this article quite compelling. What this father did in the article doesn’t sound any different than what I would have done, however, that does not mean it was the right thing to do.  What do you think?

Click here for the article, courtesy of ISHN.

“Parents continue to make strides when it comes to safeguarding their families around the pool,” said Michele Hlavsa with the Healthy Swimming program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Swimming pool safety is a must for every family.”

Here are some simple poolside health and safety tips:

• Protective Barriers — Learn what types of enclosures, such as self-latching fences or gates, should be used to keep kids from entering your pool while unattended.
• Keep Poolside Areas Clutter-Free — To prevent accidents such as slipping and falling into or around pools, make it a point to pack up pool toys and supplies that are not in use.
• Check for Healthy, Safe Water Levels — Swimming pools can be unhealthy if pool water is contaminated. The CDC recommends testing your pool’s water with pool test strips at least three times a week for active sanitizer (chlorine, bromine, other), pH, total alkalinity and other water conditions if the pool is not being used. If use of the pool increases, test more often.
• Set Pool Parameters — Establish guidelines for kids and visitors. Talk to kids about swimming only when an adult is present and never going to the bathroom while in a pool. Test water levels for cleanliness before each use and make sure all pool patrons understand the dangers of running, jumping and diving into and around pools.

These simple swimming pool safety tips can help your family enjoy the pool, knowing it’s safe and healthy.

This article is provided courtesy of the North American Precis Syndicate.

• Identification (chemical and physical)
• Hazardous Ingredients
• Physical and Chemical Characteristics
• Emergency Procedures
• First Aid or Medical Procedures
• Manufacturer’s Name, Address and Phone Number
• Health Hazards
• Physical Hazards (fire and explosion data)
• Reactivity Data
• Personal Protection Data
• Spill and Leak Procedures
• Waste Disposal Methods

State and Federal laws require that each employer keep these MSDS available at the work site for any hazardous chemical that you work with. Check with your supervisor for the location of the MSDS file on your job. Be sure to read the MSDS prior to working with any unfamiliar chemical to inform yourself of any hazards, and then follow all the manufacturer’s recommendations.

A Hazardous Material is any substance which is potentially toxic, incompatible with other substances, corrosive, explosive, flammable or combustible, or poses unusual physical hazards under normal use conditions or emergencies. Look at the label on chemical containers. If you see words like flammable, danger, combustible, hazardous, poison, caution or warning, then you know a MSDS is required.

The MSDS will help you work safely with chemicals, but only if you read it.