Always take a few minutes to review the task at hand before starting any work. Consider how to complete the task safely by using the right Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), tools, and equipment for the job. Take the time to make a Safe Plan of Action (SPA) for every task. STOP is a good formula to follow for all your work, home, and recreational activities. Continue Reading →

On Friday August 31, Ohio joined the majority of other states to ban texting while driving. Distracted driving is considered to be any activity that diverts the driver’s attention away from their primary task of driving. All distractions endanger the driver, passengers, other drivers, and bystander safety. Continue Reading →

What happens when you experience a minor cut or injury? Do you clean and treat the wound immediately, or go on with your task and worry about it later? Do you have a first aid kit nearby and do you know where one is kept? All good questions that we don’t ask until after a minor cut or injury occurs. Continue Reading →

The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) have a joint web site at www.ready.gov/severe-weather with information that will help save lives by educating the public on what to do before, during, and after severe weather strikes. Last year (2011) there were more than 1,000 fatalities and 8,000 injuries caused by severe weather. While we can’t control when or where severe weather will hit, we can prepare and arm ourselves with the knowledge of what to do before, during, and after a severe weather event. Continue Reading →

Safety starts with an attitude that you will do every task in a way that will eliminate hazards and the potential for injury. Thousands of workplace injuries occur every year, and even more injuries happen on the commute to and from work, and home. The potential for injury is always there, no matter how simple, complex, or often you have done that task. Continue Reading →

The opposition! Slips, Trips, and Falls (ST&Fs) account for 20% of all work related injuries each year. Many of these injuries occur when a worker climbs in or out of heavy equipment, trucks, or trailers. Falls from portable ladders and slips on stairways are also included in these accident numbers. Inclement weather, poor housekeeping, defective equipment, rushing to get the job done, and lack of hand supports all increase the chances for injury. Most of these incidents result in injuries to shoulders, arms, backs and ankles. Continue Reading →