SafetySkills® and Earth Day 2013

The focus of the 2013 Earth Day is Climate Change. Climate change affects all of us whether we realize it or not. It can affect the rising prices on our grocery bills, the people who lost their homes due to a super storm, farmers who can't make ends meet because of prolonged draughts, and the wildfires that ravage the West Coast. For many Americans, climate change can be seen as a far off problem for future generations to deal with. Some of us have been lucky so far to be untouched by its incoming consequences. If no changes are made, the climate change will effect ecosystems, daily lives and natural resources that we all depend on.

Earth Day was originated in 1970 when Americans were living in a world where cities were buried under smog and rivers caught fire because of pollution. Earth Day was established to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Since then the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was organized and the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act was created. In 1990, Earth Day went global and 141 countries joined in the celebration. By 2000, with the help of internet access, Earth Day now reaches 184 countries.

According to epa.gov, Scientists believe that many of the climate changes can be linked to increases in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, caused largely by people burning fossil fuels to generate electricity, heat and cool buildings, and power vehicles  During the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day on Monday April 22 2013, make a pledge to take action. Action can be as small as making an effort to live more sustainably, recycling your electronic devices, turning off appliances and lights when you leave the room, or adjusting your thermostat. At work, you can change a desk lamp bulb or unplug a power charger, start a recycling initiate or opt for video conferencing to save on fuel and reduce pollution from travelling. If everyone commits to making these small changes, the impact can produce large waves of overall effectiveness.

SafetySkills® can help you reach your conservation goals at work or at home with our Eco Sustainability Series. This series features 20 minutes long courses that cover topics such as Carbon Footprint Reduction, Energy Efficiency at Home as well as workplace specific topics including Hazardous Waste Awareness, Universal Waste Management and Used Oil Management. Check out SafetySkills.com for more information on our offerings.

Construction's Fatal Four

In the construction industry, OSHA states that there are 4 main causes of worker deaths per year. These "fatal four" are comprised of falls, struck by object and caught-in / between and electrocution. OSHA estimates that eliminating the Fatal Four would save 410 workers lives in America per year. Currently OSHA found that 85% of all citations are related to these four construction hazards.

According to OSHA, falls from heights are the leading cause of fatalities in construction, while falls on the same level are one of the leading causes of injuries. The SafetySkills Fall Protection course fulfills some of the requirements of a training program as outlined in 29 CFR 1926.503. The fulfilled requirements include: nature of fall hazards in the work area, the use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, and safety net systems. This can be used to supplement company specific training and provide employees with a general knowledge of fall protection systems and fall hazards that exist in the workplace.

Caught in or between fatalities caused 3% of the deaths in construction for 2011. Struck by Fatalities make up 10% of the total deaths in construction. These hazards are often created when working around heavy equipment. Some common examples of Caught-in and caught-between injuries include: trench or excavation collapse, hand or foot caught in rotating equipment like augurs, rollers or wheels, unguarded moving parts in machinery, turned over vehicles, accidents during equipment or machinery maintenance, and accidents involving rigging used to lift or pull heavy materials. Upon completion of the SafetySkills Struck By/Caught Between online safety training course, the Learner will have displayed the ability to recognize common stuck by/caught between hazards associated with work in the construction industry and their recommended safe work practices. This course provides an overview of 29 CFR 1926.20.

OSHA states that about 5 workers are electrocuted every week and electrocution courses 12% of worker deaths each year. It takes very little electricity to cause harm. The primary causes of electrocution are contact with overhead power lines, contact with live circuits in panels, poorly maintain cords and tools and lightning strikes. The SafetySkills Electrical Safety online safety training course covers topics related to basic electric safety as outlined in 1926.403, 1926.404, 1926.416, and 1926.417. This course focuses on the construction industry and is not intended for qualified workers, who according to OSHA’s definition is a person knowledgeable in the construction and operation of the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment involved.