Employee Safety

Back Injuries: Understanding and Prevention

The most frequent type of injury in the U.S. is back strain. Over 80% of adults will suffer back pain during their lives. According to a Duke University study, back injuries cost nearly $90 billion annually. With this in mind, it may surprise you that back injuries and associated pain can often be controlled with simple solutions like correct posture and basic exercises. Even people who have injured their back in the past can adopt certain strengthening exercises to avoid recurring injuries.

Structure of the Back To prevent back injuries one must understand how the back and spine are structured. The back is composed of a carefully balanced mechanism of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves that balance and bear the weight of your body, plus the loads you lift and carry. The spinal column consists of 24 vertebrae and 23 discs that act as cushions and shock absorbers. The spinal column protects the sensitive spinal cord and is sheathed by ligament and muscle tissue. The spine has three natural curves: the cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back) and lumbar (lower back). Each spinal segment has a nerve network emerging from the spinal cord through a channel in the vertebrae that monitors or controls a particular function of the body. When this system gets out of balance, or wears out, back pain occurs.

Causes of Back Pain: Back pain and discomfort have many sources. Some of the more common causes are:

  •  Excess weight and poor muscle tone
  •  Herniated or .slipped. discs
  •  Muscle strains and spasms
  •  Osteoarthritis . slow cartilage deterioration due to excessive use, injury or aging
  •  Osteoporosis . a calcium deficiency in the bones
  •  Sciatica . pressure on a nerve root in the lower back
  •  Stress

Home Care Measures for Minor Back Pain: 

  • Apply cold, then heat – use cold treatment first, then a warm treatment for about 20 minutes 
  • Over-the-counter medications . such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs 
  • Get plenty of rest and do not exert yourself. – practice correct posture.
  • To rest the back, recline, do not sit, which will usually aggravate the problem! In most cases, minor back pain eventually heals itself with time and proper care.

For Chronic Pain, See a Physician: Persistent back pain can signal serious medical problems. A physician should be seen if back pain is the result of a fall or traumatic accident. Other signs of serious back injury include numbness in the legs or other unusual health problems. A doctor may recommend treatment with a specialist and prescribe treatment including: back education seminars, massage and heat/cold applications, prescription medications, physical therapy and exercise, or back surgery as a last resort. Be sure to get a second medical opinion if considering surgery.

Preventing Back Pain: Regular exercise is probably the best way to reduce the likelihood of back pain. Such activity can increase aerobic capacity, improve overall fitness and help control weight. Stretching and toning of the back and stomach muscles can help reduce the wear and tear on the spine. Strength training can make arms, legs and lower body stronger. Walking should be emphasized, as most doctors consider it the most acceptable form of both preventive and therapeutic exercise for the back. Always consult a physician before starting an exercise program.

Prevent Injury Both on and Off the Job:

Back care training should emphasize the need to develop good habits 24-hours a day and should include the following;

  •  Avoiding falls
  •  Wearing proper footwear
  •  Maintaining the natural curve of the back
  •  Proper lifting techniques
  •  Taking breaks and resting if back pain occurs
  •  Taking time to be careful

What Supervisors can do to Prevent Employee Back Injury:

Discuss back care during employee orientation, conduct effective on-going safety training, match the right employee to the job, observe and correct improper lifting habits, use material handling aids whenever possible, study and correct any ergonomic problems, and promote wellness.

 

Workstation Ergonomics

The modern office presents a variety of unique injury exposures. These new risks call for a new way of viewing workplace safety in these environments. At the heart of this new viewpoint is the study and practice of ergonomics. Due to the increasing rate of injuries from computer use, many companies are purchasing ergonomically designed workstations. A few dollars spent on a welldesigned workstation not only improves comfort, but also increases productivity. A study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, found there was an increase in work performance at well-designed workstations.

While newly purchased workstations may be a sound investment, many existing workstations can be made ergonomically sound by adjusting what is already there. It is also important to keep workstations clean and clutter free. When setting up a workstation keep the following in mind.

  •  Chairs: should have adjustments for height, seat depth, tilt, a sliding back, adjustable armrests and lumbar support.  Adjust chairs so that employees can comfortably rest both feet on the floor with knees at 90°, with a 2-3 inch gap between the edge of the seat and back of the knees while their lower back is fully supported.
  •  Desk Height: can be easily adjusted by the adjustment screws or using risers. If the desk cannot be raised or lowered, a slide-out/articulating keyboard tray may be needed. The goal is to allow employees to rest their forearms on the flat surface of the desk. Properly adjusting the chair and desk should eliminate many of the most common ergonomic problems.
  •  Keyboards: wrist rests should be used to keep the wrists in a neutral position. Close or raise the legs on the bottom of the keyboard as needed to maintain straight wrists. Center the spacebar in front of you — not the keyboard. The top of the keyboard should be just below elbow height. A great deal of money is spent on ergonomic keyboards that simply do not work. Evaluate the employee .s workstation before purchasing a new keyboard.
  •  Monitor/Screens: should be placed directly in front of you with the top of the screen about 10 to 20 degrees below your horizontal line of sight. Tilt monitor up about 10 to 20 degrees.
  •  Mouse: should be at the same level and height as your keyboard, slightly below elbow height in order to prevent awkward postures, contact stress or forceful hand exertions. Avoid bending the wrist. Use a wrist/ palm rest to promote neutral wrist posture.
  •  Document Holder: may reduce or eliminate risk factors such as awkward head and neck postures, fatigue, headaches and eye strain. They should be placed at or about the same height and distance as the monitor or directly beneath the monitor.
  •  Eye Fatigue: remember the 20/20/20 rule (every 20 minutes focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds). Blink at regular intervals to moisten eyes. Alternate duties with other non-computer tasks to provide rest for your eyes.
  •  Breaks: help prevent workrelated injuries without decreasing productivity. Take a 2 minute break every 30-45 minutes. Stand up, stretch, make copies, file, etc. The goal is to not stop working, but to change your position.
  •  Telephone: keep it close to avoid reaching. Avoid cradling the phone between neck and shoulder. As a rule, use a headset if phone use is greater than an hour per day.
  •  Glare: position the face of the display screen at right angles to windows and light sources. Use blinds or drapes to eliminate bright light. Clean the monitor frequently

 

Robbery Prevention

The following comes from an article from FirstComp Insurance.  A full copy of the article can be found here.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has labeled the rise in workplace violence a significant public health issue, and they predict the increase will continue. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Census  of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2008, assaults and violent acts claimed 794 lives in 2008 and represented 16% of the total 5,071 workplace fatalities in the United States. Homicides represented the majority of these violent acts, claiming 517 lives in 2008, or 10% of fatalities.

The following tips can help reduce the possibility of retail store armed robbery and protect the safety of employees and customers: 

  • Keep windows clear of displays or signs and make sure your business is well-lighted inside and out.
  • Check the layout of your store, eliminating any blind spots that may hide a criminal or robbery in progress. 
  • Have marked money in your till and record the serial numbers on a cash identification sheet and place in a safe place.
  •  Provide information about your security systems to employees only on a “need-to-know” basis.
  •  Make sure that all video security is working properly if you are still using video tape make sure that the tapes are new.
  •  Instruct your employees to report any suspicious activity or person immediately and write down any useful information (clothing, age, vehicle description, license plate number) for future reference.
  •  Keep small amounts of cash in the register to reduce losses. Use a drop safe into which large bills and excess cash are dropped by employees and cannot be retrieved by them. Post signs alerting would-be robbers of this procedure.
  •  Make bank deposits often and during business hours. Don.t establish a pattern; take different routes at different times during the day.
  • What to do if you are robbed  Try to remain calm.
  •  Robbers are usually very nervous and could be easily provoked
  •  Obey the robbers commands do exactly as you are told. DO NOT RESIST!
  •  Tell the robber if you are going to move or if you expecting someone that is coming to your business.
  •  Activate your alarm ONLY if you can do so secretly.
  •  Try to be the best witness you can be, take a good look at the robber so you can describe him or her later.
  •  Don’t be a hero. It’s better to lose your money than your life.
  •  Give the robber time to leave.
  •  Note his or her direction of travel when he or she leaves.
  •  Try to get a description of his vehicle ONLY if you can do so without exposing yourself to harm.
  • After the robber leaves  Act as a team, divide tasks between all employees on duty.
  •  Call the police immediately, even if you have already activated the alarm. Don.t hang up the phone.
  •  Close the store and lock all entrances if possible. Hang a premade closed sign.
  •  Do not discuss the details of the robbery with witnesses or fellow employees.
  •  Ask any witnesses to stay until police arrive. If they can’t, get their names, phone numbers and addresses.
  •  Do not touch anything that the robber may have touched. Block off areas where the robber was, if necessary.
  •  Try to recall as much as you can about the robber’s appearance, speech and mannerisms. Make notes.
  •  Step outside the store when the police arrive so that they’ll know the robber is gone and you are safe.
  •  Let the police answer inquiries from the news media.
  •  Do not discuss the amount of money taken with anyone other than police.

 

Cuts & Lacerations

The following information comes from FirstComp Insurance.  A full copy of the article can be found here.

Annually, millions of people suffer preventable workplace injuries. Cuts and lacerations often rank as the second or third largest source of these injuries. Roughly 30 percent of all workplace injuries involve cuts or lacerations, and not surprisingly 70 percent of those injuries are to the hands or fingers. Thankfully, these incidents have been decreasing in recent years.

Common injuries include:

  •  Scratches, abrasions, or minor cuts requiring first aid 
  •  Needle sticks, or puncture wounds
  •  Deep lacerations requiring medical attention such as sutures 
  •  Lacerations involving nerve and/or tendon damage
  •  Amputations

Causes

  • Cuts are often due to external physical forces, accidental injury and actions such as:
  •  Employees in a hurry, taking short cuts or not following safety guidelines
  •  Improper training and lack of established safety procedures
  •  Failure to wear cut-resistant gloves or wearing improper gloves for the job
  •  Contact with sharp items such as nails, screws, steel/metal, glass, staples, splinters, paper, etc.
  •  Hand tools with blades e.g., knives, box cutters, screwdrivers, chisels
  •  Powered machinery with missing or improperly adjusted guarding of cutting blades, pinch points, chain and sprockets, conveyor belts, etc.
  •  Improper tool for the job or tool used improperly e.g., using scissors or kitchen cutlery as a utility knife, using a screwdriver as a pry bar
  •  Tools in poor condition e.g., slippery, cracked or broken handle, dull blade
  •  Poor housekeeping (e.g., clutter, debris), and poor lighting

Control Measures

One of the most common sources of cuts and lacerations is the use of knives and other cutting tools. The key to preventing these and other types of injuries is keeping body parts away from these hazards, and establishing work procedures to identify and control the exposure. Control measures to consider include:

  •  Developing effective procedures and training employees to follow them
  •  Wear proper personal protective equipment e.g. eyewear, gloves, sleeves, long pants, etc.
  •  Maintaining proper machine guarding at all times
  •  Use the proper tool for the job and inspect tools prior to use
  •  Safely use the tool as intended and keep the tool under control at all times
  •  Always use a sharp blade since a dull blade requires greater force which increases potential hazards
  •  Pull the blade toward you when cutting on a horizontal surface
  •  Practice good housekeeping and keep work areas clear
  •  When cutting thick material, use several passes of the blade and apply increasing downward pressure with each pass
  •  Don.t leave exposed blades unattended; use self-retracting cutting blades
  •  Maintain proper storage or use a separate drawer for sharp cutting tools

Treatment

Minor cuts and scrapes usually don’t require a trip to the emergency room. Yet proper care is essential to avoid infection or other complications. These guidelines can help you care for simple wounds:

1. Clean the wound – rinse the wound with cool clear water. Wash around the cut with soap; avoid getting soap into the wound as this can irritate the wound. Use tweezers cleaned with rubbing alcohol to remove any dirt and debris remaining in the wound.

2. Stop the bleeding – minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own. If they don’t, apply gentle direct pressure with a clean cloth or bandage.  Hold the pressure continuously for 20 to 30 minutes and if possible elevate the wound. A wound that is more than 1/4- inch deep or is gaping or jagged edged and has fat or muscle protruding usually requires stitches.

3. Apply an antibiotic – after you clean the wound, apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment to help keep the surface moist. The ointment can discourage infection and help your body’s natural healing process.

4. Cover the wound – bandages can help keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out. Change the dressing at least daily or whenever it becomes wet or dirty. After the wound has healed enough to make infection unlikely, exposure to the air will promote wound healing.

5. Watch for signs of infection – see a medical professional if the wound isn’t healing or you notice any redness, increasing pain, drainage, warmth or swelling.

6. Get a tetanus shot – doctors recommend a tetanus shot every 10 years. If your wound is deep or dirty and your last shot was more than five years ago, your doctor may recommend a tetanus shot booster. Get the booster as soon as possible after the injury. With thorough analysis, planning, awareness and proper treatment you can develop a cut prevention plan to help eliminate these types of injuries from your workplace.

Bloodborne Pathogens

The following information comes from FirstComp Insurance.  A full copy can be found here.

By definition, a pathogen is any agent that can cause disease — Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) are microorganisms in blood or other bodily fluids that can cause illness and disease in people through contact with contaminated blood and body fluids. The standard on which all Bloodborne Pathogen programs are based is OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030 .Bloodborne Pathogens..

Means of Transmission

BBP.s are transmitted when contaminated blood or body fluids enter the body of another person. This can occur through a number of pathways, such as:

  •  An accidental puncture by a sharp object (needles, scalpels, broken glass, razor blades) contaminated with a pathogen  Open cuts or skin abrasions that come in contact with contaminated blood or body fluids
  •  Sexual contact
  •  Indirect transmission (touching blood, including dried blood then touching the eyes, mouth, nose or an open cut)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 occupational needle stick injuries occur each year, many of which are unreported. Of these, roughly 385,000 needle stick and other sharps-related injuries are sustained by healthcare personnel in hospital settings. Among the 35 million healthcare workers worldwide, about 3 million receive percutaneous (through the skin) exposure to BBP annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). About 2 million of these incidents Involve hepatitis B (HBV); 900,000 involve hepatitis C (HCV); and 170,000 involve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Symptoms of a bloodborne infection sometimes are not  apparent for weeks or months following exposure.

Minimizing Exposure

The BBP standard is composed of; a written plan (entitled the Exposure Control Plan), training requirements and recordkeeping guidelines. Employers must minimize the exposure of employees to BBP whenever the potential for that exposure exists. OSHA has taken the position that there are no .riskfree . populations, and enforcement of OSHA.s .general duty clause. implies that employers must be knowledgeable of and comply with the BBP standard. Risk can be minimized through improved engineering design and with work practices (administrative controls) through the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and by addressing housekeeping issues.

Do:

Use appropriate PPE when working with blood or infectious materials 

  • Check for damage 
  • Remove PPE carefully to avoid self-contamination 
  • Dispose of contaminated PPE correctly
  •  Ensure you are trained in the use of PPE and document it

Use good personal hygiene

  •  Wash exposed skin immediately with soap and water
  •  Wash thoroughly after removing PPE
  •  Flush exposed eyes, nose or mouth quickly and thoroughly with water
  •  Cover open cuts

Use good work practices

  •  Minimize splashing of infectious materials
  •  Clean up spills immediately
  •  Clean and decontaminate all equipment and surfaces in contact with blood or other infectious material
  •  Dispose of sharps in a puncture-proof, labeled container

Know the proper response for accidental exposures

  •  Know the BBP standard so you can respond without fear
  •  Report on-the-job exposures promptly and seek immediate medical attention

Don’t:

  •  Have unprotected sex, use illicit drugs or share needles
  •  Worry about getting one of these diseases through casual contact
  •  Eat or drink or keep food and drinks in areas where infectious materials are used
  •  Break, bend or recap contaminated needles
  •  Clean up broken glass by hand, use a broom and dustpan

Scaffolding Safety and Fall Protection

The following information comes from FirstComp Insurance.  A full copy of the article can be found here.

Scaffolding hazards continue to rank high on the list of the most frequently cited standards in the construction industry. Numerous injuries and fatalities occur each year due to improper scaffolding safety. Besides problems with planks and guardrails, the main causes of injuries and deaths on scaffolds are; poor planning for assembling and dismantling, collapse due to missing tie-ins or bracing, loads that are too heavy, slippery conditions, and being too close to electrical hazards including overhead lines. Also, falling objects often hurt people below scaffolds. The standard that regulates the design, erection, dismantling and use of scaffolds is Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction standard 29 CFR 1926.451.

Scaffolding Basics All metal frame scaffolds share common components. Platforms, base supports, side brackets, and support trusses. Scaffolds and their components must be  capable of supporting without failure at least four times the maximum intended load, and be properly secured or braced to permanent structures. Employers are required to train each employee who works on a scaffold on the hazards and the procedures to control the hazards. A competent person must be involved in the inspection, erection and dismantling of all scaffolding, and scaffolds greater than 125 feet in height must be designed by a registered professional engineer.

Fall Protection Fall protection is required on all scaffolds where the working height is more than 10 feet above a lower level. Each worker more than 10 feet above a lower level must be protected from falls by guardrails or a fall arrest system. Top rails shall be about 42” in height. Mid-rails must be installed approximately halfway between the top rail and the platform surface. When “X” bracing or cross bracing is used as a mid-rail the intersection of the “X” must fall between 20 and 30 inches above the work platform. To protect workers from falling objects such as tools and debris toe boards should be installed in addition to the wearing of hard hats. Scaffold footings must be level and capable of supporting the loaded scaffold. All metal frame scaffolds must have a means of access. This access can be gained from attached or portable ladders, stairways, or the adjacent structure.

Fall Protection

In the U.S. construction industry falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. Each year, on average, between 150 and 200 workers are killed and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls at construction sites. The safety standard for fall protection in the construction industry is Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926.500. This standard sets a uniform threshold height of 6 feet which means that construction employers must protect their employees from fall hazards and falling objects whenever an affected employee is 6 feet or more above a lower level. Protection also must be provided for construction workers who are exposed to the hazard of falling into dangerous equipment. Typically fall protection is provided through the use of;

· Guardrail systems—A barrier with a top rail located 42 inches above the floor and a midrail.Screens and mesh may be used to replace the mid-rail as long as they extend from the top rail to the working level

· Safety net systems—Netting that is installed as close as practicable under the walking working surface on which employees are working and never more than 30 feet below such levels

· Personal fall arrest systems— A system that includes anchorage, connectors and a harness and may also include a deceleration device and lifelines used to arrest (safely stop) a person who is already falling from a working level

· Positioning device systems— A body harness system rigged to allow an employee to be supported on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall, and work with both hands free while leaning backwards. The worker should not be able to freefall further than 2 feet

· Warning line systems—A barrier erected on a roof to warn unsecured employees that they are approaching an unprotected roof side or edge · Covers—Are fastened over holes in working surfaces to prevent falls

· Safety monitoring by a competent person—This allows a trained person to monitor others as they work on elevated surfaces and warn them of any fall hazards.

 

Safety Meetings

The following information comes from FirstComp Insurance.  The full article can be found here.

Mention safety meetings, and you’ll likely get one of two responses; fear if you’re leading the meeting, or apathy and disdain if you have to attend. If safety meetings are so painful, why do we have them? To find the answer to this you must ask yourself, are you holding safety meetings because you have to or because it’s a health and safety program requirement?

It’s true the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a standard that requires employers to instruct employees to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions in their work environment. That being said, you should be holding safety meetings because you want to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the safe and efficient running of your organization. Basically, you want to share and receive information. You want to know if there are problems in the workplace as well as what is working well. In short, you want regular two-way communication between management and staff. Furthermore, research shows that effective, open, regular communication about safety and health issues is a critical component in preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

To conduct an effective safety meeting it is important to follow established guidelines and procedures. s also important to establish and follow a meeting agenda. A safety meeting should cover the benefits associated with complying with safety policies and procedures as well as consequences or penalties for non-compliance.

The following guidelines can help destroy fear and apathy, and make every safety meeting effective:

  • Safety meetings should be held at regular intervals during the year. Since safety is a state of mind regular reminders can make workers more conscious of hazards.
  • Meetings should be held at a time which is convenient for all attendees.
  • To get maximum cooperation try a single topic approach that involves as many people as possible, and confine your talk, suggestions and questions to that single topic. Avoid  loading your meeting with generalities, i.e., “be careful with tools” or “watch your housekeeping”. Once you deliver your points, make sure everyone understands any new rules or procedures.
  • Ideally, each lesson should be conducted in an area that is most applicable to the topic at hand. Select a location near the topic being discussed where people can be comfortable and are free of distractions.
  • If you are talking about portable equipment such as ladders or hand-tools, have them with you as props so you may refer to them during the discussion. Don’t let anything, i.e., phone calls interrupt the meeting.
  • Inform attendees in the beginning that you are limiting the meeting to a certain time frame, i.e. 30 minutes. If discussions get lengthy continue it at the next meeting otherwise it will become boring which could turn everyone off. Read the lesson or present it in your own words; or you may state the subject of the discussion and ask questions to develop the discussion.
  • After your presentation, encourage feedback among attendees.
  • Review recent on-the-job accidents or injuries including near misses. Then solicit suggestions about how they could have been prevented or the violation corrected. Do not criticize anyone or anything in front of the group.
  • Keep a record of the meeting and review open items at the next meeting. Prioritize any items that need to be corrected, and create a timetable for corrective

Slips, Trips and Falls

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the majority of general industry accidents are slips, trips and falls. Slips, trips and falls can cause a variety of injuries, ranging from strains and sprains to concussions, back injuries, broken bones and even death. According to the Census of Fatal Occupation Injuries, slips, trips and falls account for  approximately 11% of all workplace accidental deaths, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Of the 635 workplace fatal falls in 2010, over one-third involved falls from ladders (20%) and roofs (18%).

A slip occurs when there is too little traction or friction between the shoe and walking surface. A trip occurs when a person’s foot unexpectedly makes contact with an object or drops to a lower level, causing the person to be thrown off-balance. A fall occurs when a person loses balance and falls to the ground or a lower surface. There are a variety of factors that can make it difficult to maintain footing, causing slips, trips and falls.

Wet or Slippery Walking Surfaces – Can involve spills – such as water, grease or oil or inherently slippery surfaces like polished marble or ceramic tiles. Management can reduce the frequency of slips and falls by using antiskid adhesive tape in hightraffic areas, ensuring that spills are reported and cleaned up immediately and using proper matting. Employees can protect themselves by displaying wet floor signs when appropriate, wearing proper footwear, and altering their stride to take shorter, slower steps.

Environmental Conditions Can include snow and ice, fog, dew, bright sunlight or darkness. Accidents can be avoided by wearing boots with non-skid soles, avoiding clothing that blocks vision, wearing effective sunglasses, limit carrying items that reduce one’s balance and carrying a light source to illuminate your path when needed. Insufficient or Inadequate

Lighting – Can make it difficult to see obstacles and notice changes in walking surfaces. Move slowly where light is dim, pay increased attention to your path of travel, and allow your eyes to adjust when moving from light to dark areas and vice

Changes in Elevation—a change in walking surface of ¼” or greater is sufficient to cause a trip. Curbs, sidewalk cracks, bumps, potholes, ramps and single steps or slight changes in walking surface are examples of these hazards. Also climbing and descending stairways and poor housekeeping issues can contribute to slips, trips and falls. Employers can reduce these accidents in a number of ways; highlighting or repairing damaged walking surfaces, utilizing handrails at all times, keeping stairways clear of any obstacles, checking for loose or damaged stair treads, and avoid stringing cords or wires across any hallway or walkway.