Safely Back to SchoolDraft 8 2 11

"Holy (blank). Holy (blank).

This is terrifying."

• Declan Sullivan tweeted his last words while winds raged and blew the aerial lift, a tower where Sullivan was filming a Notre Dame game

• 51-mile-per-hour winds caused the aerial lift to sway in the wind

• There had ample warning of the dangerously windy conditions: a wind alert had been in effect for two days

• The aerial lift toppled, and Sullivan fell 50 feet to the ground

• Declan, age 20, was slated to go off to study in China next semester.

Brilliant Yale student pulled into lathe

• In a New York Times article, Michele Dufault was described as a student “used to extreme physical environments”

• She worked on underwater robotics and on a team of undergraduate students for NASA

• But one night, while operating a lathe, her hair became caught in the machine

• She was dragged into the machine and died of asphyxiation

World-renowned bird tracker struck by freight train

• Even the most carefree occupations become life-threatening when in risky environment.

• 67-year-old Arlo Raim would travel the country with his three dogs in his 1991 station wagon to track birds; many prestigious European universities courted him, but he said he would never subject his dogs to a move from the University of Illinois.

• Raim was monitoring the effects of increased train traffic on cardinals when a Canadian National Railway freight train struck and killed him.

These students were cut down in their prime. Sadly, the deaths of these bright students were all preventable. Students and workers in schools, especially universities and colleges, are subjected to different environments with potential dangers. Only through preventative, cautious measures can students, faculty and other workers safely achieve higher learning and understanding of the world.

Accidents and Fatalities• OSHA investigated 551 accidents in SIC 82, which is a

category that covers educational institutions from 1/1/2000 to 8/1/2011.

• 132 accidents alone have occurred since Jan. 1, 2009.• OSHA conducted 140 fatality investigations from 2000-2010. • But this previous number is actually much higher

– OSHA does not hold jurisdiction over certain public employees, such as in Alabama, Missouri, Wisconsin and Nebraska.

– Students killed on campus would not be investigated by OSHA unless there is an employer-employee relationship. Construction workers having accidents would not be included because they are SIC 15-17, a different classification of worker accidents.

• Falls and trips, equipment malfunction/misuse and factors from weather are the three most common causes.

Injury Prevention Basics• With the following

resources and tools at hand, worker and student accidents and fatalities can be significantly avoided

• 2100 VPP Companies• 1600 SHARPs• 1910.119• ANSI Z9.10• States AR, CA, LA, HI,

MN, MT NV, NH, NY, OR, WA

•Management leadership

•Employee Participation

•Hazard Prevention and Control

•Education and Training

•Program Evaluation and Improvement

•Communication and coordination on multiemployer sites

Some basic OSHA rules to remember

• Each employee in the recognition and avoidance or unsafe conditions, standards, to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure. - 1926.21(b)(2)

• Employees instructed in the hazards, precautions, PPE, emergency equipment. - 1926.21(b)(6)

• Use safety and health programs by OSHA. - 1926.21(b)(1)

• Procedures for escape, accounting, medical, alarms, and training. - 1926.35

• Following these rules might cost a bit in the short run, but in the long run, you’ll prevent costly lawsuits, OSHA fines, and most importantly, accidents and deaths.

• Consider the OSHAS 18001, which is an international management system created by different nations for the benefit of worker safety. The system helps employers identify and control its health and safety risks, reduce the accidents, aid compliance and improve overall performance.

PPE – Not another acronym!

• Don’t worry, we’ll fill you in on this one

• PPE – personal protective equipment

• It’s a fancy term to describe all the equipment, clothing and other protective devices that workers used to protect themselves

• Judging by the industry in which you work, you’ll have different PPE. But know what PPE you need by visiting the PPE homepage.

Some examples of PPE:

Construction worker plummets 100 feet to his death

Working from heights

• 26-year-old Zachary John Wilson was doing masonry work on Kansas State’s Bill Snyder Family Stadium.• One of the planks on which he was standing gave way, and he fell 100 feet from the scaffolding to the ground below.• He died, and an OSHA investigation is ongoing.• Had he the proper scaffolding equipment to help repair the stadium, he could have lived to see the finished project.

General rules when working from heights

• If working on a cherry picker, aerial lift, or platform suspended in the air, proper guardrails should be in place - 1926.502(b)

• Body belts and hoists should be used to ensure workers safety from heights; however, do not use these implements to hoist other objects and materials.

• Covers, or the surfaces on which workers stand at high heights, should be able to hold twice the amount of the worker, machinery, and other tools on that surface - 1926.502(i)(2)

Prevalence of scaffolding deaths in education

• According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 72% of all scaffolding accidents occur because of planks/support giving way or objects falling and striking workers below.

• OSHA regulation mandates that all scaffolding must be constructed to hold four times its maximum intended load - 1910.28(a)(4)

• Also, OSHA regulation 1910.28(a)(18) requires that employers not subject their workers to scaffolding work during storms or high winds

• Training is essential; only assign students or workers to aerial lifts or scaffolding after they’ve received the proper training

• Heights can be very dangerous, whether you’re a worker on doing masonry work, a videographer filming the game or a spectator watching from the last row in the stadium

Extreme heat and weather

• Working in extreme weather– Students and workers walk from administrative

building to classroom, across the quad and back to the dorm. But when storms pelt these pedestrians, getting to that 8 o’clock on time becomes not only more miserable, but dangerous.

Heat factors in the death of a Dallas coach

• The National Weather Service said temperatures in the Dallas area topped 100 degrees on the Monday assistant coach Wade McLain was to start high school football practice for the year.

• The sweltering heat, as well as a preexisting heart condition, caused McLain to pass out.

• He was rushed to the hospital, but could not be revived. He was 55.

"It's just not right that something like that happened to such good people. There's so many rotten people walking around in this world and it's sad to lose the good ones," said neighbor Judy McBroom.

Ways to beat the heat• If you’re an agriculture professor or a football coach, sometimes there’s no

choice but to work in the heat. Here’s some ways to keep your work environment safe.

• Train workers for hot temperatures• Provide plenty of water and breaks for workers to drink the water. Workers

should drink 6 ounces, or a medium sized class of water every 15 minutes. And how does a worker tell if he’s hydrated? His or her urine should be clear or lightly colored. If it’s not, drink up.

•Understand symptoms of heat-related illnesses•Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that cover the entire body•Let your body acclimate to the heat over a five-day period. On the first day, begin with 50% of the workload. Gradually increase the workload to 100% on the fifth day.•Monitor weather reports

The Dept. of Labor makes monitoring weather easier with its latest app

• We live in a fast-paced world, and not every busy employer and employee has the time to listen to Tom Skilling’s entire weathercast. But the Dept. of Labor has made it easier for employers and employees to track heat with a new app.

• The app allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index and displays a risk level to outdoor workers. You can get reminders about the protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness.

• To download the app, visit the following link: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html

Prepare for snow and ice removal

• When a snowstorm blankets campus in a dangerous coat of ice and snow, every worker, student and visitor is subject to slippery conditions.

• The number one cause of death among educational services sector is trips and falls. Many of these reported cases include icy walkways and unsalted sidewalks. Simple steps can be taken at the workplace and on the way home to avoid nasty falls.

Also, someone has to clear the snow• While many of us stay indoors during the blizzard, others work because of

the storm. Someone has to clear and salt the sidewalks and roads for pedestrians, workers and other community members.

• The following occupations have to work in snowy, dangerous conditions: utility workers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, federal, state and local government personnel, military personnel, highway personnel, and sanitation workers.

• 70 percent of all injuries during these winter storms are vehicle accidents, while another 25 percent occur because people are trapped outside.

Basic tips to prevent the cold chill you to the bone

Driving tips for workers who operate vehicles

• Brakes: Brakes should provide even and balanced braking. Also check that brake fluid is at the proper level.

• Cooling System: Ensure a proper mixture of 50/50 antifreeze and water in the cooling system at the proper level.

• Electrical System: Check that battery is fully charged and that connections are clean. Check that the alternator belt is in good condition with proper tension.

• Engine: Inspect all engine systems.

• Exhaust System: Check exhaust for leaks and that all clamps and hangers are snug.

• Tires: Check for proper tread depth and no signs of damage or uneven wear. Check for proper tire inflation.

• Oil: Check that oil is at proper level.

• Visibility Systems: Inspect all exterior lights, defrosters (windshield and rear window), and wipers. Install winter windshield wipers.

Quick tips to stay safe

1. Wear insulated boots with rubber treads

2. Walk with shorter steps and at a slower steps to give you enough reaction time to slippery conditions

3. Beware of vehicles that are spinning out of control

4. Wear sunglasses - the white snow reflects the sunlight and can blur or blind vision, cause headaches

5. Wrap up warmly to prevent frostbite and hypothermia

6. Have an emergency kit available in your vehicle in case it breaks down or you become stranded in the snow

Hazardous equipment and chemicals in labs, workshops

and other areas

Working with chemicals• Those who wish to pursue the sciences will work in labs with an

array of substances and chemicals to better understand the world around us.

• But some of these chemicals, when used carelessly or improperly, can be deadly immediately or long-term.

• Wear proper lab coats and eye protection to prevent chemicals from entering through the skin and eyes.

• To ensure your laboratory is safe for faculty and students, conduct a process hazard analysis so that you know the potential dangers.

• Make sure the lab has adequate enclosures and ventilation. Without routine checks on these preventative measures, long- and short-term exposure will cause detrimental and even fatal health problems - 1910.134(a)(1)

• For more rules and regulations on lab safety, check out Part 1910.119 of the U.S. Federal Code.

Some basics on working with machinery

• In the case of Michele Dufault’s death, OSHA “told Yale the lathe lacked required safeguards and that the school's policies and practices for its operation were unsafe.”

• Guarding protects workers from “hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks,” and these guards are an obligation of the employer to the worker - 1910.212(a)(1)

• Not only should sufficient guarding be provided for large machines, like the lathe at Yale, but also for other portable power tools.

• Anchor fixed machinery properly so that it does not move during usage, which can be extremely dangerous for the operators and those around the operator- 1910.212(b)

Sitting: a subtle killer• Many jobs and positions at schools

involve sitting at a desk for hours on end.

• Of the 531 accidents and fatalities that occur in education services, some of them take place at the thought-to-be safe office cubicle.

• Heart disease is the main cause of death in this administrative work spaces.

• Although the exact causes in some worker heart attacks and subsequent deaths are unknown, a career at a desk can cause very adverse health effects.

• Something as simple as office ergonomics can prolong your workers’ lives.

How to sit or stand at the desk• There are several simple ways to improve employee health

and at the same time productivity.• Too much sitting can be bad for circulation, and too much

typing with bad posture can wreak havoc on the back and cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

• On other hand, too much standing has its adverse effects as well. For more information on jobs that require hours of standing, visit this helpful OSHA link.

Positions to sit and stand at your desk

• Hands, wrists, and forearms are straight, in-line and roughly parallel to the floor.

• Head is level, or bent slightly forward, forward facing, and balanced. Generally it is in-line with the torso.

• Shoulders are relaxed and upper arms hang normally at the side of the body.

• Elbows stay in close to the body and are bent between 90 and 120 degrees.• Feet are fully supported by the floor or a footrest may be used if the desk

height is not adjustable.• Back is fully supported with appropriate lumbar support when sitting vertical

or leaning back slightly.• Thighs and hips are supported by a well-padded seat and generally parallel

to the floor.• Knees are about the same height as the hips with the feet slightly forward.

Consider these posture tips to prevent chronic pain and disease

Thank you page…