WHILE a majority of U.S. adults think about home safety often, very few actually take action to make their home safer from the five leading causes of home injury — falls, poisonings, fires and burns, choking/suffocation and drowning.

The findings are a result of a new survey conducted as part of the Home Safety Council’s Hands on Home Safety campaign. The survey polled U.S. adults to reveal the public’s level of awareness around the most common home dangers and determine the safety actions they have taken to protect themselves and their families.

While the majority of U.S. adults (82 percent) indicated that they are very knowledgeable or somewhat knowledgeable about what they can do to make their homes safer, only one-third (36 percent) were able to name a safety action they have already taken. The survey also found that more than a quarter (26 percent) of U.S. adults said they are not worried that an injury may occur in their own home.

“These findings speak directly to the need for additional education to increase the public’s level of awareness around the leading causes of home injury and the actions they can take to protect against injury risks,” said Angela Mickalide, director of education and outreach for the Home Safety Council. “Each year in our nation home-related injuries result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits, many of which are almost entirely avoidable with proper education and a few simple home modifications.”

Falls Prevention:

Key Findings: When asked to identify which type of injury they are most worried might happen in the home, only about one-fifth (19 percent) of survey respondents were concerned about falls — the leading cause of home injury death.

Home Safety Tips:

• Have grab bars in the tub and shower.
• Have bright lights over stairs and steps and on landings.
• Have handrails on both sides of the stairs and steps.
• Use a ladder for climbing instead of a stool or furniture.
• Use baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, if babies or toddlers live in or visit your home.

Poisoning Prevention:

Key Findings: Poisonings are the second-leading cause of home injury, yet less than one-fifth of U.S. adults (18 percent) have put safety locks on their cabinets or posted the Poison Control Hotline on or near all phones. Just more than one-third (39 percent) of survey respondents indicated that they have installed carbon-monoxide detectors near sleeping areas in their homes.

Home Safety Tips:

• Lock poisons, cleaners, medications and all dangerous items in a place where children can’t reach them.
• Keep all cleaners in their original containers. Do not mix them together.
• Use medications carefully. Follow the directions. Use child resistant lids.
• Install carbon-monoxide detectors near sleeping areas.
• Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 if someone takes poison. This number will connect you to emergency help in your area.

Home Fire Safety:

Key Findings: Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury death and account for 3,400 fatalities each year. The new survey found that while almost all U.S. adults (93 percent) have a smoke alarm in their home, only one-quarter (26 percent) have a fire escape plan in place.

Home Fire Safety Tips:

• Have working smoke alarms and hold fire drills. If you build a new home, install fire sprinklers.
• Stay by the stove when cooking, especially when you are frying food.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• If you smoke, smoke outside. Use deep ashtrays and put water in them before you empty them. Lock matches and lighters in a place where children can’t reach them. \
•  Only light candles when an adult is in the room. Blow the candle out if you leave the room or go to sleep.

Choking & Suffocation Prevention:

Key Findings: Home Safety Council research shows that choking/suffocation is the second leading cause of home injury death for children under the age of 14 and the fourth leading cause overall. When asked about safety behaviors followed in the home, the new survey revealed that only 39 percent of respondents require children to be seated while eating, putting them at risk for choking.

Home Safety Tips:

• Things that can fit through a toilet paper tube can cause a young child to choke.
• Keep coins, latex balloons and hard round foods, such as peanuts and hard candy, out of children’s reach.
• Place children to bed on their backs. Don’t put pillows, comforters or toys in cribs.
• Clip the loops in window cords and place them up high where children can’t get them.
• Read the labels on all toys, especially if they have small parts. Be sure that your child is old enough to play with them.
• Tell children to sit down when they eat and to take small bites

Water Safety:

Key Findings: Drowning presents a sudden and silent danger, yet according to the new survey, less than half (49 percent) of U.S. adults actively supervise children when they are in or near water.

Water Safety Tips:

• Stay within an arm’s length of children in and around water. This includes bathtubs, toilets, pools and spas — even buckets of water.
• Put a high fence all the way around your pool or spa. Always keep the gate closed and locked.
• Empty large buckets and wading pools after using them. Keep them upside down when not in use.
• Make sure your children always swim with a grownup. No child or adult should swim alone.
• Keep your hot water at or below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns.

For more information on ways to avoid injuries and protect loved ones in and around your home, visit http://www.homesafetycouncil.org.

Working with different companies, I am often asked about Hazmat plans.  How do I know if I need a plan, is a common question.  My answer is almost always the same, IF YOU HAVE MSDS SHEETS, YOU HAVE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON-SITE, and you need a plan according to OSHA 29CFR part 120.   So what do you need to do?  Here is a starting point:

• Develop a statement of purpose.
• What does the scope of your plan include?
• Identifying whom within the organization has authority for the plan.
• Contact local professionals (fire department hazmat commander) to help develop plan.
• List all known hazards in the facilities covered by the plan, and their location(s) in your facility.
• Describe appropriate emergency procedures, including a worker alert/evacuation system.
• What is needed to outfit first responder?
• How any incident is to be reported.
• Necessary training for first responders, and all employees.
• How and when to practice evaluation plan.
• Revise your plan as new hazardous materials enter your facility.

If your local hazmat team response time could be delayed, your employees should have HazWoper training (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response).  Your first responders should have a minimum of 24-hours HazWoper training.  All employees should be trained on your emergency response plan. 

Be aware that many common materials are now classified as hazardous materials.  This link provided may give you some common hazardous materials you are not aware of.

Tips: Extension Cord Safety

AN extension cord can be a handy, temporary way to place electrical equipment wherever you’d like it. But if used improperly, extension cords can cause fire and injury, or even death.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that each year, about 4,000 injuries associated with electric extension cords are treated in hospital emergency rooms. About half of the injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions or sprains from people tripping over extension cords. Thirteen percent of the injuries involve children under five years of age; electrical burns to the mouth accounted for half the injuries to young children. CPSC also estimates that about 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring about 270 others. The most frequent causes of such fires are short circuits, overloading, damage and/or misuse of extension cords.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) offers these tips to reduce the likelihood of electrocution or fire from improper extension cord use:

Use extension cords only when necessary and only on a temporary basis.
In locations where furniture or beds may be pushed against an extension cord where the cord joins the plug, use a special “angle extension cord” specifically designed for use in these instances.
When using outdoor tools and appliances, use only extension cords labeled for outdoor use.
Use polarized extension cords with polarized appliances.
Insert plugs fully so that no part of the prongs are exposed when the extension cord is in use.
To download ESFI’s free booklet, “Use Extension Cords Safely,” go to http://www.esfi.org/esfi-library.html.

More than 10,000 workplaces spotted as risky by OSHA
(May 28, 2007)– A 2006 survey on 80,000 worksites turned up with the figures being presented by OSHA. These about 14,000 workplaces were found out to have more than 5.3 injuries or illnesses that caused in days away from work, constrained activity at work, or job transfer (DART) for every 100 workers who are full-time or regular.

This figure is indeed very high since in 2005, the national average was only 2.4 DART instances every 100 workers. The OSHA have corresponded with the employers of these worksites cited as high in
injury and illness risks by issuing notification letters.

Aside from the letter of notification, the employers were also given copies of their workplace’s illness and injury data. There is also a list of the most frequently violated OSHA standards in their industry.

The OSHA also informed the employers that they are available to assist them in turning the numbers around. Furthermore, the office offered some pointers and instructions on how to protect their employees.

They gave a suggestion that the employer make use of free safety and health consultation services of the OSHA, which was given through the states by the state workers’ compensation agencies, insurance carriers, and outside safety and health consultants.

OSHA elucidated that their issuing of notification letters to the identified worksites’ employers was a kind of pep talk. They said that it is a sensible and positive step towards making the employers’ perform the necessary measures to change the situation.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. further stipulated that their objective in notifying the employers is to encourage them make an effort in reducing the rates of illness and injury. It is for the employers to realize that improving the health and safety environment of their business workplaces is also a step to greater productivity.

OSHA’s identification process aims to increase awareness that many incidents of injuries and illnesses occur at these workplaces. With this, comes the challenge of persuading employers to use several means at their disposal to alleviate the hazards and eventually stamp out occupational illnesses and injuries.

A new online tool on hazardous chemical accidents has been released by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration. The new Web site, CAMEO Chemicals, http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/, is the latest component of NOAA’s popular CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations) software suite and the first to be available for use online.

Over the past two decades, the CAMEO suite has brought first responders from an era in which they gleaned emergency response information from maps and reference books spread out on the hoods of their trucks to a time when up-to-date, comprehensive information on chemical plumes, toxicity risks and susceptibility of chemical mixtures to burn or explode can be displayed with a few strokes on a computer keyboard.

“CAMEO is the most widely used chemical response software in the world,” said Capt. Ken Barton, acting director of NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration. “With CAMEO Chemicals, we’ve responded to user requests to improve access and ease of use of this vital information. While the Web site is newly operational, it has already been placed in service with a major chemical release on the Mississippi River and a dangerous train derailment in New York.”

CAMEO Chemicals is an online, easy-to-use version of the most popular components of CAMEO, the chemical database and the reactivity prediction tool. Key features include:
Extensive Chemical Database: CAMEO Chemicals uses the same chemical database as CAMEO, which contains response recommendations for more than 6,000 chemicals. The database also contains more than 100,000 chemical synonyms and identification numbers, which aid emergency responders in identifying unknown substances during an incident.
Critical Response Information: The revised search engine and new ranking order for search results makes finding chemicals easier. Data sheets on each chemical provide physical properties, health hazards, information about air and water hazards, and recommendations for firefighting, first aid, and spill response.
Chemical Reactivity: This tool predicts what hazards could arise if chemicals were to mix.

CAMEO Chemicals was developed by NOAA in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Web site is maintained by NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration, a program of the National Ocean Service.

WITH the 2007 hurricane season less than a month away, AT&T is offering important communications preparedness tips for consumers and small business owners alike.
“Because of its historic presence in the Southeast, AT&T has probably dealt with more hurricanes than any other communications company in North America,” said David Scobey, president of AT&T Southeast. “While no one can predict the impact of Mother Nature, we can all take precautions and have a plan and functioning communications equipment in place when hurricanes or any other types of disasters strike.”
Consumer Tips

• Have a family communications plan in place. Designate someone out of the area as a central contact and make certain all family members know who to contact if they become separated.
• Prepare for the worst-case scenario. During natural disasters, such as hurricanes or flooding, wireline services can be interrupted for extended periods of time because of damage caused by high winds or flooding. Wireless phones may serve as alternative means of communication.
• Be sure you have a “Hurricane Phone.” Be sure that you have at least one corded telephone that is not dependent on electricity in case of an electrical power outage. Cordless telephones usually have receivers that are electrically charged, and, thus, will not work if there is a power outage. Consider keeping a basic hard-wired phone and a wireless phone on hand for emergencies to enable communication with safety officials and loved ones, even when the power is out.
• Be radio-ready. Make sure that you have a working, battery-operated radio. The radio can keep you up to date on the latest weather reports, public safety issues and evacuation notices.
• Program all of your emergency contact numbers into your cell phone. Numbers should include the police department, fire station and hospital, as well as your family members.
• Keep your wireless phone batteries charged at all times. Have an alternate plan to recharge your battery in case of power outages (i.e. charging via your car charger, extra cell phone batteries, use of a disposable cell phone battery).
• Keep your wireless phone dry. The biggest threat to your device during a hurricane is water, so keep your equipment safe from the elements.
• Forward your home number to your wireless number in the event of an evacuation.

(more…)

The heat of summer may be right around the corner, but consumers and small businesses can stay cool and protect the environment by following five recommendations from EPA.

“This summer, you don’t have to let sweltering temperatures and sky-high energy bills get under your skin,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “By taking a few simple energy-efficient steps, Americans can beat the heat while keeping more money in their pockets.”

The average family spends $1,900 a year on energy bills, nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. With a few steps like seasonal maintenance of energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment, consumers can save on their energy bills and help reduce the risks of global warming.

EPA recommends the following five steps to help consumers and small businesses count down to a cooler planet and a more energy-efficient home:

1. Find and seal air leaks that cause drafts and make your cooling system work overtime. Sealing and insulating your home can prevent the loss of cooled air and help save up to 10 percent on your energy bills each year.
2. Look for the Energy Star when purchasing cooling products for your home. Products such as room air-conditioners and programmable thermostats that have earned the Energy Star operate more efficiently, which saves money and help protect the environment.
3. Schedule annual, pre-season maintenance checkups with a licensed contractor to ensure that your cooling system is operating efficiently and safely. Be sure to clean or change your system’s air filter regularly (generally once a month).
4. Install a programmable thermostat and use your ceiling fans wisely. Turn your thermostat up several degrees when you are away (and your home doesn’t need to be kept as cool). And use your ceiling fans only when you are in the room to save even more.
5. Visit EPA’s interactive Web-based tool, Energy Star @ home (http://www.energystar.gov/home), to learn more ways to make your home energy-efficient. Homeowners can see where they’re doing well, find areas for improvement and learn how they can use energy more efficiently to save money and enjoy year-round comfort in their home. Homeowners also will be able to share their home improvement stories or read and learn about others who have saved through energy-efficient upgrades.

Many of these same tips for consumers are also useful for small businesses. In fact, with energy saving improvements throughout their facilities, small businesses can save up to 25 percent or higher on their energy bills.

Answers to Forklift Quiz (http://www.thecrcenter.com/archives/2007/05/29/forklift-quiz/ )
1. A
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. A
6. D
7. C
8. C
9. B
10. D