Prescription Drug Abuse in the Workplace

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drugs are the second most abused drug category following marijuana. People who misuse prescription drugs often have the belief that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs because they are prescribed by a doctor. Prescription drug abuse is often referred to as the nation’s fastest growing drug problem. Over the past decade, prescriptions for painkillers rose from 75.5 million to 209.50 million.

Prescription drug abuse among employees can cause expensive problems for their business or industry. It is estimated that drug abuse cost employers $81 billion annually. Drug abuse causes lost productivity, absenteeism, injuries, fatalities, theft, low employee morale, increase in insurance costs, legal liabilities and worker compensation fees. Statistics demonstrate that prescription drug abuse presents a recognized occupational hazard that is likely to cause death or serious physical harm.  Substance abusers are more than three times more likely to be involved in workplace accidents and five times more likely to hurt themselves on the job.

More than 75% of all drug users in the US are employed.  Over 16% of these employees use illicit drugs or are heavy alcohol users.  Certain industries have higher rates of substance abuse.  Mining and construction top the list with approximately 28% of employees engaged in illicit drugs or heavy alcohol use, while workers in professional services and the government have the lowest rates: just above 9%. An estimated 5% of substance abusers engage in illicit drug and alcohol use before reporting to work and nearly 10% do so during work hours.  Every industry, from blue collar to board room executives, is affected by drugs in the workplace. Employees who are not in typical “safety-sensitive positions," can still have tremendous negative impact on their company when drug use is an issue. These employees may have jobs in which they make decisions affecting other workers, have access to financial records, maintain confidential information or are privy to company ideas and product plans.  In order to ensure the safety, security and success of your company and its employees, workplaces must be alcohol and drug-free.

Training programs in the workplace for management and employees are beneficial in keeping the workplace safe. Traditional drug testing may not uncover the issue alone, proper training can help employees identify the signs and symptoms of drug abuse.  SafetySkills offers online safety training courses to help address the issue of drugs in the workplace. The Drug Free Workplace course demonstrates the importance of eliminating drugs in the workplace and what employees can do to help. This course is intended to assist the employer when meeting the various State and Federal Laws that cover Drugs in the Workplace. The Substance Abuse Training for Oil and Gas Supervisors online training course will train supervisors on the DOT’s requirements for supervisor training under its drug-free workplace program mandates for safety-sensitive industries. In addition to illegal and prescription drug abuse, the course also covers the physiological effects of alcohol and how they are produced, and general physiological and behavioral characteristics of alcoholism

To learn more about SafetySkills and additional course offerings, please visit us at SafetySkills.com/

Fall Back Into Fire Safety

As daylight saving ends, it is also a good time to change your smoke alarm batteries. Alarms should have their batteries changed regularly and tested once a month. All too often, a battery is removed and not replaced, putting a home’s occupants at risk. There’s no way to predict when a fire will occur, so even one night without an operational smoke alarm can be dangerous. According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

The Tennessee Daily Herald recommends these smoke alarm safe practices:

◆ Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home, including the basement. For best protection, smoke alarms should be installed inside and outside sleeping rooms. Make sure everyone can hear the alarm and knows what it sounds like;

◆ For the best protection, equip your home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual-sensor alarms;

◆ Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are available and are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps on these units, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away;

◆ Test alarms once a month using the test button. Replace the entire alarm if it’s more than 10 years old or doesn’t work properly when tested;

◆ Devise a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room and a common meeting place. Share and practice the plan with all who live in the home, including children;

◆ When a smoke alarm sounds, get out of the home immediately and go to your pre-planned meeting place to call 911.

The CDC finds that cooking and smoking are the main causes of fire related deaths and residential fires. The New York City fire department states that 75% of their worst case fires occurred in homes without a smoke alarm. Although the number of fatalities and injuries caused by residential fires has declined gradually over the past several decades, many residential fire-related deaths remain preventable and continue to pose a significant public health problem.

 

This month, SafetySkills is offering the Fire Safety online safety training course for free. While this course is designed for offices and workplace training, it contains useful information that can be applied to home situations. The 20 minute course will help the viewer to understand the importance of knowing and understanding an evacuation plan and what to do in case of a fire in the workplace. The course also touches on portable fire extinguisher techniques and tips. Please visit our free course of the month page for more information on this month’s free course and to get started by signing up for a SafetySkills Direct account.

OSHA Random Inspection Study Proves Increase in Safety

A new study shows that random safety inspections improve the workplace instead of leading to layoffs and large expenses. The common argument with random inspections has been that the high cost of compliance leads to layoffs and bankruptcy.  According to Science, a top scientific journal, most safety regulators don't inspect companies at random and instead typically focus on those that have accidents or where workers have filed complaints. Afterward, injury rates tend to revert back to whatever they were before the incident occurred, even without an OSHA inspection. Based on these facts, researchers could infer that the inspection played a bigger role in the reduction of injuries than it actually did.

On the other hand, if OSHA finds incomplete records of on-the job accidents and injuries, better record keeping will be enforced and this could bring up more accidents and injuries to be reported.  To provide an unbiased report on whether random inspections are positive or negative, economists David Levine of the University of California, Berkeley, and Matthew Johnson of Boston University studied workplaces that have been inspected between 1996 and 2006. They examined workers compensation claims 4 years before and 4 years after an inspection as well as companies that weren’t inspected in the same time frame.

Based on the study, results show that there was a decline of 9% in injuries reported after the inspection in comparison with companies of the same time frame that were not inspected. The cost of the injuries reported fell by 26%. Investigators also used reports provided by financial data provider Standard & Poor to determine that the random inspections have no effect on employment, total earnings, sales and company longevity.

OSHA estimated that in 2012, they will inspect 41,000 workplaces. The random selection of the company is done in the following order of priority – Imminent danger situations, fatalities and catastrophes, complaints, referrals, follow-ups and planned or programmed investigations.  Be proactive in preparing for random audits with up-to date and accurate reports and hazard communication plans. 

SafetySkills offers online safety training courses to help the employer and employees commit to a safety compliant workplace. The OSHA Reporting and Record Keeping course will provide general awareness level training of  OSHA's general requirements for injury and illness reporting and record keeping, identification of OSHA's definitions relating to its reporting and record keeping regulations, OSHA's required reporting forms, the types of incidents OSHA requires to be reported and, finally, OSHA's record keeping requirements. The Hazard Communication course will cover the hazards of potential chemical exposure, types of hazards, Material Safety Data Sheets, chemical detection methods, how chemical hazards are controlled, and how the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) will affect the HAZCOM standard.

For more information on SafetySkills and the online safety training courses offered, please visit SafetySkills.com

OSHA Proposes New Limits on Silica Exposure

In August 2013, OSHA announced a proposed rule that would lower the worker exposure to crystalline silica. This deadly dust often occurs in common workplace operations such as construction work involving cutting, sawing, drilling and crushing of concrete, brick, rock and stone. Silica can also be found in glass manufacturing and sand blasting. Worker can inhale the dust from particles in the air. Repeat exposure can cause fatal lung diseases including silicosis and lung cancer.

Prior to the new proposed rule, the guidelines of the exposure limit dated to the 1960s. Since then, numerous studies have shown an increase of lung cancer among silica-exposed workers. A 2012 federal study demonstrated that a growing number of workers in the energy industry were increasingly at risk of being exposed to silica dust due the recent domestic oil and gas boom brought on by hydraulic fracturing.  This study also found that hydraulic fracturing workers were exposed to 10 times the current permissible level of silica. The new proposed rule would limit the exposure to crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter in the workplace. OSHA is estimating that if adopted as a standard, its proposed rule would save nearly 700 lives and prevent 1,600 new cases of silicosis annually.

Until a final silica standard is issued, there are several OSHA standards that employers are required to comply with that can help protect workers exposed to silica dust.  For example:

• General Safety and Health Provisions Standard (1926.20) addresses the employee’s general right to a safe workplace.
• Gases, Vapors, Fumes, Dusts and Mists Standard (1926.55(a)) lists the airborne levels of substances that would make a workplace hazardous.
• The Ventilation Standard (1926.57) must be consulted for specific requirements about removing silica dust from a worker’s breathing zone.
•  For worker training requirements about silica hazards, the Hazard Communication Standard (1926.59) applies, which is identical to 1910.1200.
• If respirators are required on-the-job, then employers must comply with the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (1926.103), which is identical to 1910.134.

SafetySkills online safety training courses can assist you and your company with the proper awareness level safety training. The silica awareness course addresses standard 1926.55 and will demonstrate to the learner the health effects associated with crystalline silica exposure, and measures that can be taken to eliminate or minimize crystalline silica exposure on the job. The hazard communication course assists the employer in meeting OSHA standard 1910.1200 and complies with the December 2015 GHS final implementation. The respiratory protection course covers the general requirements for respiratory protection which is outlined in 29 CFR 1910.132 and some of the training requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134. 

GHS Deadlines and Training Requirements

The December 1^st 2013 deadline for training employees on the revised Hazcom standard is fast approaching. The purpose of the training is to bring companies and employees up to speed with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The basic goal of GHS is to ensure the safe use and transportation of chemicals across the globe. This standard will provide a framework of regulations for countries without existing systems, provide added chemical hazard protection for workers and the public, as well as provide an increase of efficiency and cost reduction from compliance with hazard communication regulations.

The two most important changes to the revised standard require the use of new labeling elements and a standard format for Safety Data Sheets (SDS), formerly, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). To help roll out these changes, OSHA constructed a phasing in of the specific requirements over the next several years (December 1, 2013 to June 1^st, 2016). The first deadline states that employers must train employees on the new GHS label elements and safety data sheet (SDS) format by Dec 1 2013.  OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule Fact Sheet states provides a guideline on what changes need to be address and by when:

 

There are only two months left to train your employees on the new labeling and SDS format. SafetySkills offers GHS online safety training and other courses updated to meet the GHS guidelines. Each course can be completed in a little as 25 minutes. The user can take the course on a time that works for them and at a pace that is suited for them. Courses are usually $29.95 each for individual training, but may be higher or lower depending on title and industry. Reduced rates can apply for organizations.

The course titles include:

Globally Harmonized Systems

Hazard Communication

Hazard Communication for the Oil and Gas Industry

Chemical Safety

Hazmat Marking and Labeling

Safety Data Sheets

These titles are also available in DVD format for $107.99 each. Each DVD comes with an instructor key, printable quizzes and certificates of completion. To place your DVD order, please call us at 888-844-3549. Online courses can be purchased on our website at SafetySkills.com.

Home Injury Prevention and Safety Tips

Most people consider their homes as a place of comfort, security and safety. Unfortunately the fact is that each year, more than 18,000 Americans die from accidental injuries that take place in their home. The most common household injury related deaths are unintentional poisonings, unintentional falls, and unintentional fire or burn.

Researchers have identified the major causes of most fires: cooking, heating equipment, and smoking. They have also identified the groups at highest risk of injuries from fires: very young children, older adults, people with disabilities, and people who live in poverty. Additionally, research has shown that residential smoke alarms, when functional, can prevent 50% to 80% of deaths by providing early warning of fires, which often occur at night when people are sleeping.

According to the Center for Disease Control, there are approximately 2 million poison exposures in the United States every year - 57 percent among children under the age of six. Tragically, approximately 30 children die every year due to accidental poisonings. The most common exposures for children are ingestion of household products, such as cleaning substances, medications, cosmetics, personal care products, foreign bodies and plants. The majority of these accidental poisonings - a whopping 90 percent - occur in the home.

Approximately 30% of older adults and 40% of those over age 80 report having fallen in the past year. Falls account for 29% of injury deaths among adults ages 65 and older and result in 300,000 hip fractures annually at a cost of more than $10 billion. Of the nearly 3 million emergency doctor visits each year for falls among children and adolescents, more than 40% occur among infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Annual direct medical costs for falls among young children are estimated at $958 million.

It is a common misconception that injuries are “accidents” that can’t be prevented. However there are steps that can be made to prevent injuries from occurring in your home. Supervision is generally considered one of the strongest yet least understood protective factors against many types of home and community injuries. The key to preventing injuries is making simple changes to your lifestyle - recognizing where most hazards are and how injuries can occur when participating in different activities. Some key home safety tips include:

·         Non slip mats in tub or shower
·         Remove clutter from stairs and walkways
·         Install safety gates in homes with babies and toddlers
·         Use Plexiglass guards on lofts, landings and balconies
·         Have night lights in bathrooms and halls
·         Install window guards
·         Purchase products with child safety lids when available
·         Store chemicals safety and out of the reach of children
·         Post the poison control telephone number
·         Have working smoke alarms and change the batteries once a year
·         Have a fire extinguisher
·         Perform monthly fire drills with your family
·         Be vigilant of small toys and objects that can cause tripping or choking hazards.

Education is also a key in preventing home accidents and injuries. Protect yourself and your family with our online safety training courses such as Fire Safety and Slips, Trips and Falls. These courses can be applied to both home and work situations. SafetySkills also offers an Off the Job Safety training series with courses that start as low as $4.95 each. Titles in this series include Household Chemical Safety, Halloween Safety Tips and Lawn Mower Safety.

For more information on SafetySkills and other course offerings, please visit us at http://safetyskills.com

Hearing Protection in the Workplace

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that four million workers go to work each day in damaging noise. Ten million people in the U.S. have a noise-related hearing loss. Twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise each year. Occupational hearing loss is the most common work related illness in the United States. Approximately 22 million U.S. workers exposed to hazardous noise levels at work, and an additional 9 million exposed to ototoxic chemicals. An estimated $242 million is spent annually on worker’s compensation for hearing loss disability.

NIOSH recommends removing hazardous noise from the workplace whenever possible and using hearing protectors in those situations where dangerous noise exposures have not yet been controlled or eliminated. Over the past few decades, much has been learned about the implementation of hearing loss prevention programs. The CDC recommends that the eight components of a successful hearing loss prevention program include: 1) noise exposure monitoring, 2) engineering and administrative controls, 3) audiometric evaluation, 4) use of hearing protection devices, 5) education and motivation 6) record keeping, 7) program evaluation, and 8) program audit.

In addition to your company’s specific workplace hearing prevention plan, SafetySkills offers a Hearing Conservation online safety training course. This course is designed to fulfill annual hearing conservation and protection training requirements created by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA. This course will help you to understand the effects of noise; the purpose, advantages, and disadvantages of various types of hearing protection; selection, fitting, and how to care for protectors; and the purpose of audiometric testing. When the course has been completed, you should be able to identify the definitions of ‘noise’ and ‘noise levels,’ and recognize the causes of hearing loss and the measures created by OSHA to prevent it. You should also be able to recognize the common personal hearing protection devices and their advantages and disadvantages, and recognize the basic requirements of audiometric testing and their purposes. This course is also available in Spanish.

The Hearing Conservation online course can be part of a company-wide training initiative or taken by individuals who are looking for some additional training outside of their workplace. After successful completion of the course, you will be able to print out a certificate of completion.

For more information about SafetySkills and other safety training topics, please visit us at https://safetyskills.com.

Personal Protective Equipment - PPE Care and Maintenance

Protective clothing has numerous standards depending on the wearer’s industry. While personal protective equipment, or PPE’s, purpose is to protect the wearer from chemical, physical and biological hazards, it is important to know that no single combination of protective equipment and clothing is capable of protecting you against all hazards. OSHA states that protective clothing should be used in conjunction with other protective methods. For example, engineering or administrative controls to limit chemical contact with personnel should always be considered as an alternative measure for preventing chemical exposure. The use of protective clothing can itself create significant wearer hazards, such as heat stress, physical and psychological stress, in addition to impaired vision, mobility, and communication. In general, the greater the level of chemical protective clothing, the greater the associated risks. For any given situation, equipment and clothing should be selected that provide an adequate level of protection.

PPE can ultimately save the wearer’s life is used properly. It is important to maintain proper care and upkeep of your company’s PPE for continuous wear and protection.

Some tips and considerations are:

• Cleaning and care instructions are provided with each piece of PPE and should be carefully followed. For example, modern fog resistant eye protection will be scratched and quickly rendered useless if cleaned by wiping with paper towels.
•  As an employer, you are obligated by regulatory standards to ensure that PPE is maintained in clean and sanitary condition.
• Modifications should not be made to PPE without the procedure being approved by the manufacturer.
•  Each employee should be required to perform a visual “quick check” on PPE before each use. This is especially true for chemical protective clothing, hardhats, fall protection, respirators and visibility garments.
• Some PPE, such as respirators, fall protection, and hardhats should be inspected by someone other than the user at least once per year.
• All PPE should be stored properly. Eye protection, respirators, and hearing protection require clean dust tight containers. These could be zip lock bags, pouches or cabinets. Goggles, face shields etc. should never be left hanging unprotected and dirty.
•  A company sponsored laundry program should be considered if the employees work in toxic materials that leave PPE heavily contaminated at the end of the day.
•  It is important to institute a well communicated company policy on when to replace and when to repair a piece of PPE.

For workplace training on the hazards present, the selection, maintenance, and use of PPE, please view these online safety training courses – Personal Protective Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment for Oil and Gas Personnel and Flame Resistant Clothing for the Oil and Gas Industry.

If you would like more information on SafetySkills and the course library of over 300 OSHA compliant course topics, please visit us at SafetySkills.com.

Earthquake Safety

Earthquake hazard is the unavoidable risk that an earthquake will disrupt daily activities or cause loss of property or life. The image below from the US Geological Survey, illustrate the areas within the United States with the highest to lowest earthquake hazard. An earthquake happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another. The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane. Most damage associated with earthquakes is caused by waves generated during the earthquake.

California is the area of the United States that has the most earthquakes. However, the strongest earthquakes recorded in the continental US were not in the West; they were centered in eastern Missouri near the border with Kentucky and Tennessee. In the winter of 1811-1812, a series of three earthquakes of magnitudes 8.4 to 8.7 and maximum intensities of XI occurred near New Madrid, Missouri. Although the risk for an earthquake may be low or high, dependent on your area, it is still important to be prepared.

What can you expect to happen in your house if an earthquake occurs?

Shaking can make light fixtures fall, refrigerators and other large items move across the floor, and bookcases and television sets topple over. Look around your house for things that could fall or move.

Ask yourself if your kitchen cabinet doors could fly open and allow dishes to shatter on the floor.

Is your TV and other electronics fastened down and are shelves fastened to wall? Do you have hanging plants or light fixtures that might fall? Is there a heavy picture or mirror on the wall over your bed?

How can you prepare yourself for an earthquake?

· Identify the things in your house or work place that are unsecured. Items such as televisions, computers, bookcases, cabinet doors and furniture and be secured to help prevent injuries

· As with any emergency, make sure you have a plan in place. Make sure your emergency plan includes evacuation and reunion plans, emergency contacts and emergency supplies

· Make a disaster kit. Disaster kits should include nonperishable food, water, flashlights, portable radios, batteries, a first aid kit and cash

· Determine the structural integrity of your home. You may need to consider consulting a contractor to help identify problems such as inadequate foundations, unbraced walls, unreinforced masonry and vulnerable pipes.

· Learn what to do in an earthquake. “Drop, Cover and Hold On” can help save lives and reduce injury or death. During an earthquake, drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table and hold onto it firmly.



For more emergency safety tips and online safety training courses, you may be interested in the SafetySkills Basic First Aid course, Emergency Action Plans for Office Employees course, Emergency Response course and the Severe Weather and Outdoor Work course.

                                         

For more information about SafetySkills and online safety training courses and plans available, please visit http://safetyskills.com.

Laser Danger and Safe Practices

Last year, a JetBlue pilot suffered a minor eye injury when a green laser shone through the plane’s windshield according to the FAA. There have been about 1,500 laser/aircraft incidents reported to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration between January 1 and June 12 2013. This compares with about 1,384 incidents during the same time span in 2012, 1,326 in 2011, 908 in 2010, and 546 in 2009. In addition to causing temporary vision impairment which, for obvious reasons, is especially dangerous to a person operating an aircraft, lasers can cause permanent damage to sight, including blind spots in their field of vision. Pointing a laser at an aircraft became a federal crime in 2011, with violators subject to an $11,000 fine. According to FAA statistics analyzed by LaserPointerSafety.com

Not only are laser beam dangerous for aircraft pilots, but can also be damaging to people who work with lasers on a daily basis. Because of the strength of a laser beam, technicians are required to operate under certain guidelines when they do their work and they must adhere to certain standards set by the American National Standard Institute.

A laser light beam is very different from normal light because of its monochromatic, coherent and directional properties. Because of these three properties, laser light can be more hazardous than ordinary light and can deposit a significant amount of energy within a small area. Laser beam damage can affect the eyes and/or skin and the damage can be thermal, acoustic or photochemical.

There are different classes of laser hazards:

• Class 1 – Safe if not dissembled
• Class 1M – Safe for all conditions except when passed through magnifying optics such as microscopes and telescopes
• Class 2 – Eye hazard if you stare directly into the beam
• Class 2M – Safe if not viewed through optical instruments
• Class 3R – Considered safe with restricted beam viewing
• Class 3b – Eye hazard if direct or reflected beam is viewed
• Class 4 – Eye hazard if direct, reflected or diffusely – reflected beam is viewed; possible skin and fire hazard, in addition to potentially devastating and permanent eye damage

According to a study done by the Rockwell Laser Industries, the top 14 reported causes of laser related injuries are:

1. Unanticipated eye exposure during alignment.
2. Misaligned optics and upwardly directed beams.
3. Available laser eye protection was not used.
4. Equipment malfunction.
5. Improper method of handling high voltage.
6. Intentional exposure of unprotected persons.
7. Operators unfamiliar with laser equipment.
8. No protection provided for associated hazards.
9. Improper restoration of equipment following servicing.
10. Incorrect eyewear selection and/or eyewear failure.
11. Accidental eye/skin exposure during normal use.
12. Inhalation of laser-generated fume or viewing of secondary radiation (UV, blue light).
13. Laser ignition of fires.
14. Photochemical eye or skin exposure.

The Laser Institute of America states that there are a variety of laser safety standards including Federal and state regulations, and non-regulatory standards. The most important and most often quoted is the American National Standards Institute's Z136 series of laser safety standards. These standards are the foundation of laser safety programs in industry, medicine, research, and government. The ANSI Z136 series of laser safety standards are referenced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and many U.S. states as the basis of evaluating laser-related occupational safety issues.

 

SafetySkills® provides an awareness level online safety training course on Laser Safety. This course is a general overview of laser safety practices and teaches how to determine and reduce the hazards associated with them. There are no specific training requirements from OSHA. Upon completion of the learning event, the Learner will know how to identify the principals of laser functions and operations. The Learner will also be able to identify the different types of lasers, the hazards of working with or around them, and the controls used to eliminate or minimize those hazards. To learn more about this course and to begin your training today, please click  here.

To view the SafetySkills course catalog of over 300 OSHA compliant course titles, please visit http://safetyskills.com.

Emergency Preparedness Week

The National Safety Council (NSC), announced that this week, June 16 - 22, is Emergency Preparedness Week as part of their National Safety Month. This week focuses on encouraging safe behaviors to prevent injuries and deaths in an emergency. Emergencies can include fires, natural disasters and terrorist hazards.

The NSC recommends that families have a plan in case of an emergency and practice it at least twice a year. A survival kit is also an important factor in any emergency plan. Emergency preparedness kit should include:

• One gallon of water per person, per day for three days
• Three days worth of non perishable food and a can opener
• Battery powered radio
• First aid kit
• Tool kit
• Moist towelettes and garbage bags for sanitation
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Cell phone and portable charger

To be better prepared for emergencies, find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may go door-to-door. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) send free informational text messages to WEA-enabled cell phones within range of an imminent and dangerous local situation, severe weather event, or AMBER emergency. You do not need to register to receive WEA notifications. You will automatically receive alerts if you have WEA-capable phone and your wireless carrier participates in the program. To find out if your mobile device is capable of receiving WEA alerts, contact your mobile device carrier or visit CTIA The Wireless Association.

Another good way to be prepared is to think about where you and your family frequent and check with the locations about their site-specific emergency plans. If none are in place, consider volunteering to assist in developing one. If you think ahead of a crisis, you will be better prepared to reunited with your family.

If you are an employer, make sure that your workplace has a building evacuation plan and make sure this plan is practiced regularly. If there isn't a plan in place, visit ready.gov/business for more information on how to develop one. The SafetySkills online safety training course, Emergency Action Plans for Office Employees can provide employees with the knowledge and skills needed to understand emergency action plans and some protective actions that can be taken in different types of emergencies. Other helpful courses for workplace safety include, Fire Safety, Emergency Response, Basic First Aid and Severe Weather and Outdoor Work.

For more information about all of the SafetySkills online safety training courses, please visit us at SafetySkills.com.

It's Peak Season for Trampoline Troubles

Trampolines have become the must-have summer accessory to many yards of families with children. But using trampolines, even when protected by a net to stop people from falling off, can still be risky. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents do not purchase trampolines and do not allow their children to jump on trampolines at someone else's home. Safety features such as padding or enclosed netting are insufficient to reduce the risk of injury. Many children still suffer injuries even under the supervision of a parent or adult.

According to a report by Time Magazine, the majority of trampoline injuries, 75% occur when more than one person is jumping on the trampoline at a time. Usually the youngest and smallest jumpers are at the highest risk for getting hurt; fractures and dislocations account for 48% of injuries in kids under 5. Overall, fractures and sprains make up the bulk of the harms in any age group, while falls from the apparatus, which can be catastrophic, cause 27% to 39% of all injuries. The statement notes that failed attempts at somersaults and flips frequently cause cervical spine injuries, resulting in permanent and devastating consequences.

Not only is a trampoline a dangerous form of child recreation, it is also a nightmare for insurance coverage. An important issue for homeowners to determine is whether their homeowner’s insurance covers them in the event that a person is injured while using a trampoline on their property. Because of the potential injuries and long term conditions that can be caused while using a trampoline, homeowners may be liable for any injuries that may occur. Although 40% of all trampoline injuries are to the leg and foot areas, some injuries such as paralysis have occurred and the resulting lifelong condition has caused the medical cost for treatment of these injuries and the log term care assistance to go far above the policy limits set by most homeowners insurance companies.

If you have a home with a trampoline and choose to allow your children to use it, there are some options to make trampoline usage safer. A trampoline safety alert from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, recommends several steps to reduce the risk of serious injuries. First, only one person at a time should jump on the trampoline. Do not allow jumpers to attempt somersaults. Always keep the trampoline springs covered with padding, and do not place the trampoline too close to trees or other structures. Only allow children 6 and older to jump on a full-sized trampoline, and supervise all children on trampolines. Place an enclosure around the trampoline to prevent falls to the ground, and do not place a ladder near the trampoline because small children can potentially climb the ladder and jump unassisted. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents and guardians to make sure their children's schools do not have trampolines and to inspect home trampolines regularly for tears, rust and detached springs or pads.

For other home and off the job safety tips and online courses, please visit the SafetySkills Off The Job Safety Series.

OSHA Forklift Certification Requirements

Will online forklift training certify me to drive a forklift?
Will online forklift training help me get a job as a forklift driver?
Can I certify my employees to drive forklifts using SafetySkills® online forklift safety courses?

We get questions like these at SafetySkills all the time. We want to help our customers get the answers they need - but we believe in being upfront and honest because we don't want to mislead anyone!

The truth is: don't believe the “Certification” hype!

If you are interested in being a “certified” forklift operator then read the next few words VERY carefully.

You cannot be certified to drive a forklift by ANY online vendor.

Let me put it another way, just so we’re clear: online providers that promote forklift “certification” are just saying that to get a sale, and it is an outright lie! That said, even though you can't get "certified" to drive a forklift online you CAN receive a majority of your forklift (or other powered industrial truck) training online.

As a rule, OSHA is not in the business of certifying, accrediting or even approving trainers or training programs, whether they’re delivered in a classroom or online. The lone exception to this rule is OSHA’s 10- and 30-hour outreach programs. On the other hand, OSHA IS in the business of compliance. In taking this stance, OSHA moves the burden of “certification” to the employer. Employers are completely responsible for the training, evaluation, and yes “certification” of their employees. To put it plainly and in OSHA terms: when it comes to employee training, “the employer shall so certify”. As with all OSHA training, when it comes to forklift training the employee must be trained to the OSHA standard (1910.178).

Now here is where this standard differs from the majority of OSHA training requirements:

The employer shall ensure that “Training consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.” 1910.178(l)(2)(ii) The standard goes on to state, “the evaluation shall be conducted by persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence.” 1910.178(l)(2)(iii)

Now, unless an online training provider can send a competent person to your worksite to evaluate your performance as an operator, they cannot meet this standard to the letter.

There’s the problem, so now what’s the solution?

There are many solutions, but in this instance let’s try “cheap and effective” using a blended training approach. As stated before, the majority of your forklift training can be delivered online in a few hours, leaving only the driving evaluation. Due to OSHA’s very broad definition of who qualifies as an evaluator (any person in the workplace who has knowledge, training and experience), there is no reason forklift operators should be untrained. If you didn’t catch it I will repeat it, there are no special or additional training requirements for the evaluator.

So get online today and take our SafetySkills forklift courses. You can take all of the courses or just the ones you need. Titles in the course series are: Forklift Operator Training - Fundamentals, Forklift Operator Training - Safe Maintenance, Forklift Operator Training - Safe Operations and Forklift Operator Training - Safe Traveling and Loading. You can complete the courses at your convenience and then print your certificates. Taking these certificates to a potential employer with the information above will dramatically improve your chances to land that job and make it so that your employer (or future employer) only has to do to an in-person evaluation of your forklift driving skills to certify you!

Tattoo Health and Safety Regulations and Bloodborne Pathogen Training

As the weather starts getting warmer and winter chill has thawed, the tattoo itch starts into high gear. Most people start thinking about getting ink when they begin to bare more skin in the summer months. Be sure that your shop is ready for the influx of traffic and most importantly, make sure your artists are up to code with the OSHA regulations for initial and annual bloodborne pathogen training.

The OSHA annual training requirements for bloodborne pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) states that all employees with occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials, receive initial and annual training on the hazards and the protective measures to be taken to minimize the risk of occupational exposure. An explanation of the use and limitations of methods that will prevent or reduce exposure, including appropriate engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment, should be included in the training. While OSHA is a federal agency that requires national standards, tattoo certification and licensing is regulated by state, county and city health departments. Be sure you check with your local health department to find out the what the additional requirements are in your area.

So what is the fastest and easiest way to get your artist update to date with their training? Try online safety training with the SafetySkills Bloodborne Pathogen course. The training requirements that are fulfilled by this course include: an explanation of the modes of transmission of BBP, information on the Hepatitis B vaccine and its effectiveness, an explanation of the use and limitations of methods that will prevent or reduce exposure, an explanation of the basis of selecting PPE, information on the appropriate actions to take in case of a potential exposure, and an explanation of signs and label/color coding. The course is only 30 minutes long and the user can print out a certificate as soon as the course is completed.

To further your shop's tattoo health and safety training, SafetySkills also offers a 10 minute Tattoo Safety online safety training course. This course is designed to teach tattoo artists the basics behind keeping a clean and safe work area to prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens. The course does not replace Bloodborne pathogen training but can be used in conjunction with it. The course offers no certification but is meant to give beginners an overview of the recommended hygienic practices in a tattoo shop. Depending on your area of operation, you may also be required to obtain yearly training certification for CPR and first aid in addition to bloodborne pathogens. Safety Skills also offers courses in those subjects if you need them.

Ready to check out our Bloodborne Pathogens course? Click here to watch a course demo or set up an account to being training for yourself or assign the training to others.

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.

Don't Let Daylight Savings Time Leave You in the Dark

For many people, the effects of Daylight Savings is still lasting many days after the hour was long gone on Sunday. Who knew the loss of one hour of sleep could still be effecting us days later? According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average number of sleep an adult should have is 7 - 9 hours. If you are like me, you are lucky if you average about 6 hours per night, so that one hour loss on Sunday can really take a toll on your body. One study shows that many people will sleep an average of 40 minutes less the night after the change occurs. The Huffington Post reports that on the Monday after the time switch, there is an increase in car crashes, an increase in the number of alcohol related accidents, heart attacks and injuries in the workplace. Not only is that one hour less of sleep dangerous but it also makes workers generally less productive on Monday and more likely to waste time perusing the Internet.

The National Sleep Foundation states that there is no "magic number" on the exact amount of sleep a person should have but it does depend on the amount of activity a person is engaged in throughout the day. Although the number can vary for each individual, one thing sleep research certainly has shown is that sleeping too little can not only inhibit your productivity and ability to remember and consolidate information, but lack of sleep can also lead to serious health consequences and jeopardize your safety and the safety of individuals around you. On the other hand, research also shows that getting too much sleep, in excess of nine hours or more is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This research also found that variables such as low socioeconomic status and depression were significantly associated with long sleep.

So what can you do to make sure you get the proper amount of sleep for your lifestyle? First step could be to see how you respond to different amounts of sleep. Pay careful attention to your mood, energy and health after a poor night's sleep as compared to a good one. Experts also recommend to establish a routine sleeping and waking schedule even on the weekend. Other suggestions include creating a sleep conducive environment that is dark, quiet and comfortable, finish eating at least 2 - 3 hours before bedtime, exercise regularly and avoid caffeine and alcohol products close to bedtime.  

If you are a shift worker, particularly a pipeline control room, you can also make yourself aware of the impact of sleep deprivation and ways to identify fatigue management strategies by taking the SafetySkills® Fatigue Management for Control Room Employees online safety training course. For more information on this course and all of our online safety training products, please visit SafetySkills.com/