And depending on your perspective, or geography, one of the joys of the Christmas season is the onset of winter and the nip in the air that it brings. The cold against our skin makes us want to snuggle with loved ones and drink a hot beverage in a tacky ceramic mug adorned with snowmen, while the oven warms the house and the smell of cookies flows into every room. However, that winter nip also brings with it a few added dangers that we need to be aware of so that we can keep enjoying the season while staying safe and healthy.

What to Look Out For

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the most common winter injury is falling. Depending on where you live, snow and ice create very slippery conditions which make it difficult for both walking and driving, and it is suggested that you wear proper shoes for the weather. Rubber soled shoes with lots of grip work best, especially if these shoes also provide adequate ankle support. Avoid wearing shoes with flat, hard surfaces which are prone to slippage, like heels or dress shoes. Keep a short stride, avoid taking long steps, and don’t be in a rush. Give yourself plenty of extra time to get where you need to go.

And even if you don’t live in an area that get’s much snow or ice, there are still some winter dangers to look out for. Exposure to cold weather brings along with it susceptibility to hypothermia and frostbite. Both of these cold-weather dangers can sneak up on you if you are not planning ahead for them.

The CDC says that Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures. And when exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it’s produced. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous because a person may not know that it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it. And while it is assumed hypothermia only happens in extreme cold conditions, it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40 degrees) if a person becomes chilled from rain or sweat.

Frostbite is another cold-weather danger that can take you by surprise. While hypothermia is a condition involving your core temperature, frostbite involves the freezing of skin tissue due to lower circulation in your extremities like your fingers, toes, nose, and ears. As your body tries to conserve heat at its core, it pulls blood from your extremities, leaving them vulnerable to the freezing cold.

Both of these winter dangers can be mitigated by planning ahead. And whether you are taking your family for a play day outside, or your job requires you to spend long times exposed to cold temperatures, here are a few steps to keep warm and safe in cold weather.

How to Protect Yourself From Cold Weather

Wear several layers of loose clothing for better insulation; take layers off if you begin to sweat and put them back on when you cool down. Inner layers should be wool to wick away moisture; synthetic fabrics can work for this purpose as well, but should be avoided in some work environments involving flammable materials, as synthetic fabrics are not fire resistant and will in fact cause serious burn injury by melting into the skin. Along with multiple inner layers, outer layers of clothing should be chosen that are wind and water-resistant to help keep out the elements.

Protect the ears, face, and hands by wearing hats, gloves, and face coverings. Be sure to wear appropriate versions of these accessories in accordance to your environment. Wearing gloves or hats that are too thin, or don’t cover all the areas of the hands or head, will do little good in colder conditions. And it can be overlooked that wearing articles of clothing, or accessories, that are too thick or too heavy, can cause you to sweat, or even make you want to remove those items, exposing you to the cold environment and thus making themselves ineffective.

And don’t forget that keeping your feet dry is one of the most important things you can do to not only stay comfortable in cold weather, but to also stay safe and healthy. Multiple layers of socks can help insulate your feet from the cold, but if they get wet they will only act to trap that moisture around your feet. Be sure to choose shoes or boots that are water-resistant, or even consider wrapping a layer of water resistant material around your socks, like a plastic bag, to add a barrier of protection from any wetness that may penetrate your footwear. Dry feet will keep you happy and healthy.

Enjoy the Season

Colder winter weather is part of what makes Christmas a wonderful and whimsical season to enjoy. Whether there are mounds of beautiful snow on your doorstep, or the glistening of cold morning dew on your palm trees, the Christmas chill can put a smile on your face and bring out the child inside. Just be sure that during your winter frolicking you are prepared for the potential dangers that it can also bring. We hope that these few, simple safety tips can help you, your family, and your worksite stay safe and healthy during the winter chill, and that you continue to find enjoyment in this time wherever you are, and whomever you are with.

Merry Christmas, from Pro Safety & Rescue.

Sources:

CDC Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/index.html

CDC NIOSH PDF for Preventing Cold-related Illness, Injury, and Death among Workers

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2019-113/default.html

CDC PDF for Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/pdf/extreme-cold-guide.pdf

Contact us to see how we can help keep you and your teams equipped for the cold weather.

The post ‘Tis the Season to Stay Safe appeared first on Pro Safety and Rescue.

Have a Site Safety Plan

First things first, you need to examine your venue to see if there are any potential hazards. Are there cords that present a tripping hazard strewn about? Is there anything blocking the emergency exits? Is all of the equipment in good repair? Having a safety professional do an inspection of your venue before the event is a great way to bolster event safety. In addition to this, it is important to have a recognized chain of command and safety protocol for staff in case of emergencies. This can save a great deal of time if an emergency occurs. You should also consider things such as where security is going to be stationed, where the medical area will be, and how long will it take for an ambulance or the fire department to arrive, should their assistance be required. These are all things to consider before the event ever takes place.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Being prepared for any and every emergency can be a challenging task because the possibilities of bad things that could happen at a large event are almost endless. Although it is a big job, It is extremely important to spend some time on this and to consider and plan for any foreseeable threats. Terrorist attacks such as active shooters and bombings are, unfortunately, a thing that every large event should take into consideration. In addition to these more sinister human threats, there are things like natural disasters as well as injuries and life-threatening situations to take into account. It’s important to have a plan in place in case a serious medical emergency arises. While we cannot plan for everything, we can still do our best to be ready for anything.

Attendee Screening

Another important part of event safety is attendee screening. Screening guests before they ever enter the venue is a proactive and extremely effective security measure. This becomes even more vital if the event is free, since many free events allow anyone and everyone to walk in off the street without any sort of pre-screening process. An integral part of attendee screening is having bag checks and metal detectors. Checking bags is a way to prevent unwanted objects and substances such as non-metallic weapons, alcohol, and drugs. Metal detectors, whether they are walk-through or hand-held, are a staple in event safety because they give security the ability to catch concealed metallic weapons such as handguns and knives that could pose serious risk to event attendees.

Trained Security

Having well-trained security staff is essential for event safety. Security personnel should be equipped with radios and provided with a site map so that they are aware of the locations of all restrooms, exits, and concession stands, as well as where medical services are located. In addition to this, if there are multiple activities taking place on the premises, they should have a schedule of when and where each activity is taking place. Keeping an open line of communication with security is important. Security personnel should be in contact with, and answer to, a member of your team who you have designated to be the security manager. This clear understanding of who is in charge will eliminate confusion and help things to run much more smoothly.

Emergency Medical Personnel

No matter how well you plan an event, medical emergencies can always occur. Whether it is a person suffering from heat exhaustion at an outdoor event on a hot day, a person falling and breaking their leg, or an attendee going into cardiac arrest, having on-site emergency medical services is crucial. A team of certified emergency medical technicians can provide immediate medical care as well as basic life support before the ambulance or fire department arrive. Having EMS on-site to administer immediate CPR or AED can mean the difference between life and death in certain cases, where seconds count. Keep in mind that different regions may have slightly different protocols regarding on-site EMS for large events. Be sure to comply with regulations for your city, county, and state for on-site EMS.

Approachable On-Site EMS

Another aspect to having an effective medical team is ensuring that the team is friendly and approachable. It’s important to remember that uniformed personnel can be intimidating. Attendees should feel comfortable approaching first responders with their concerns and emergencies.

Need Help With Your Event Safety?

Event safety is an involved process and can feel a bit daunting at times. With so many potential things that could go wrong, it is important to enlist the help of professionals. We are here to guide and assist you through the process. Safety is our specialty. Pro Safety & Rescue inc. offers a variety of safety solutions including On-Site Emergency Medical Services, safety program development, safety inspections to assess your venue or existing safety plan, and much more. Contact us now to see how we can best serve you to ensure that your next large event has the utmost in safety and On-site EMS.

The post Event Safety Tips appeared first on Pro Safety and Rescue.

The Fatal Four

Aside from highway collisions, these “Fatal Four” are responsible for almost 60% of all deaths in the construction industry. Greater awareness on the jobsite as well as better safety practices could prevent hundreds of deaths every year.

Falls

Construction work is often performed in high locations with a considerable drop. A fall from scaffolding, a ladder, or a rooftop can often mean death. Falls make up 33.5% of construction deaths. It is important for employers to have a good fall-prevention program in place for each unique jobsite.

Struck by an Object

The next leading cause of construction worker death is being struck by an object at 11.1%. This includes falling objects or building materials as well as suspended loads from cranes coming loose. In addition, being struck by heavy machinery in motion falls into this category. Because of these hazards, it is imperative that employees observe strict safety guidelines.

Electrocutions

Electrocutions are responsible for 8.5% of construction worker deaths. Contact with power lines and other energized sources such as exposed wires or defective equipment can cause the human body to act as a conductor. Because of this, it is vital that workers stay alert when working around potential electrical hazards.

Caught in/Between

Caught in/between deaths account for 5.5% of construction fatalities and include workers being caught in or crushed by heavy equipment or objects. It also encompasses employees killed in collapsing structures. Employees should take care when in the vicinity of or operating heavy machinery. In addition to this, having employees observing proper demolition safety etiquette is crucial.

Things to Consider and Prevention

Now that we have discussed the most common safety hazards, let’s talk about how to prevent them. It’s important to keep in mind that no two jobsites will be the same. Because of this, supervisors and employees alike should be well trained to adhere to the program. After all, if you have a safety program, but nobody follows it, it won’t do much good. Beyond having well trained employees, having a fresh set of eyes is always a good thing. Having regular worksite inspections and audits by a qualified safety professional is a great way to bolster construction site safety.

Safety for the Public

Keep in mind that construction workers aren’t the only people who could be in danger due to unsafe practices in a construction site. Many construction sites are in or around public areas. Because of this, it’s important to keep the safety of the general public in mind too. One example that we all experience often is road construction zones. If workers did not follow proper safety protocol such as putting up cones and signs as well as directing traffic, both the workers and motorists would be in a great deal of danger.

Getting Started

Getting started with a safety program may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. There are a few simple steps that you can begin doing today to make construction safety a part of your company culture. If you adopt and adhere to these principles, they are sure to take your a long way.

Make Safety Your Top Priority

Let your workers know that their safety is your top priority. Be diligent to keep your work zones incident free. It is good business practice and your employees and clients will appreciate it.

Set an Example

Make sure you always adhere to proper safety practices. The “do as I say, not as I do” approach is never a good way to inspire employees’ adherence to safety rules.

Employee Training

Safety training for employees is essential to establish a safe workplace. People cannot do what they have not learned to do. Having a workforce of employees who are trained and knowledgeable in proper safety practices is one of the best things you can do to protect everyone on the jobsite.

Encourage Reporting

Make sure employees are able report potential hazards or unsafe practices without fear of any sort of retaliation. Allowing for anonymous reporting is a good way to do this.

Regular Inspections

Perform inspections of jobsites or hire a safety professional to perform regular inspections or audits. These inspections should not be a source of stress, dread, or a time for people to get in trouble. Rather use them as educational moments to help people learn and grow in their safety knowledge. This is a great way to continually reinforce and cement safe work practices for every employee on the jobsite.

Plan for Emergencies

Come up with plans for any foreseeable emergencies so that everyone knows what to do. A little preparation goes a long way. One example where this type of preparation can save lives is when dealing with confined spaces.

Always Strive to Improve

Regularly reassess and, when applicable, update your safety protocol. It is good to have a qualified safety professional review your plan to ensure that there is nothing you have missed.

The Bottom Line

Having good construction safety practices benefits everyone. For the business owner, it means less worker’s compensation claims and other loss associated with workplace injuries as well as a reputation as a professional company that cares for its employees and the community. For employees it means having a safer workplace and an employer that demonstrates regard for their wellbeing. For the public, it means that they are protected from construction hazards by proper signage and site boundaries.

We Can Help

Pro Safety & Rescue is here to help you establish a quality safety program that fits your needs. We offer a wide variety of construction safety solutions including on-site safety professionals, inspections and audits, safety training, behavior based safety, as well as writing and managing contractor safety programs. Contact us now to learn more.

Further Reading

Due to the high-risk nature of construction work, OSHA has a lot of useful information on this topic. Below are a couple of useful resources that pertain to construction safety. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3886.pdf https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/construction/focus_four/

The post Why Construction Safety is Important appeared first on Pro Safety and Rescue.

What is a novel coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that infect both humans and animals. Some cause illnesses in people such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), and even the common cold. A novel coronavirus simply means that this particular strain of coronavirus is novel or “new”, as far as we know. It is the first time scientists have seen this coronavirus in humans.

Where did this coronavirus originate?

This novel coronavirus, (2019-nCoV), first popped up in Wuhan city in the Hubei Province of China in December 2019. Since then it has spread throughout the world. China as well as many other countries are doing everything they can to stop the spread of this virus.It is unconfirmed just where the virus came from, but scientists believe it was first transmitted to a human from an animal. 

What are the symptoms?

The main observed symptoms are:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

There have been reports of a range of severity to symptoms, with some people having rather mild cases and others getting very ill and even dying.

Who is susceptible to getting sick?

Everyone has potential to catch 2019-nCoV, though elderly people and those with preexisting conditions such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes appear to be at a higher risk for getting severely sick.

How do I protect myself?

There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself and others from the spread of the virus:

Wash your hands

 Wash hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. Do this any time you have been in public or touched an object that is frequently touched by others like a door handle.

Cover your nose and mouth 

Make sure you cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue then dispose of the tissue in the trash. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer afterwards.

Social distancing

Don’t get into close contact with people who are sick. The CDC recommends keeping a distance of 6 feet between yourself and anyone that has symptoms.

If you’re sick, stay home

If you have any symptoms such as cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, stay home. It’s important to focus on getting better. With the coronavirus scare, your co-workers will appreciate you not going to work and getting them sick. In addition, if you have these symptoms, It’s a good idea to seek medical assistance as quickly as possible. It may not be the coronavirus, but better safe than sorry. 

Don’t touch eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

This is important as a general rule to keep from getting sick. It’s important to be even more careful with the added threat of the coronavirus.

Don’t eat raw or undercooked animal products 

Avoid raw or undercooked animal products such as meat and milk. Wash your hands after handling any such animal products.

Practice good hygiene when visiting markets with animal products or live animals 

Avoid touching sick or stray animals. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before eating or touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Should I wear a facemask?

The CDC has said that facemasks should be used for people who are contagious and people who are working with them such as medical staff. The CDC does not recommend that the general public who are well wear facemasks. If you are an EMS worker providing assistance to anyone who has coronavirus symptoms, make sure to wear the proper PPE as well as notify your supervisor.

If someone has the coronavirus, how long until symptoms appear?

According to WHO, the incubation period of 2019-nCoV is anywhere from 1 to 14 days, with median estimates of 5-6 days.

Are infected people with no symptoms contagious?

At this time it is believed that people who don’t show symptoms still could be contagious, However, based on the available data, it appears that people with symptoms are doing most of the spreading of the disease.

Can my pets get sick with and spread the coronavirus?

According to WHO, there is no there is no evidence that pets and companion animals such as dogs and cats can be infected with the new coronavirus. That being said, its always a good idea to wash your hands after touching animals to remove common bacteria such as salmonella.

Is there a cure?

As of yet there is no cure for 2019-nCoV. That being said, people who are infected with the virus can receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention early. This will allow for medical staff to give you the best supportive care available to help your body fight the illness.

Stay informed, stay safe

Pro Safety & Rescue wants everyone to stay healthy and safe. Find us on social media for more safety tips and ideas. For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

The post Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): How to Stay Safe appeared first on Pro Safety and Rescue.

What is a confined space?

A confined space is an area with limited or restricted means of entry or exit. In addition to this, it must be large enough for a person to enter and perform work, but not intended for continuous occupancy. Some examples of confined spaces include tanks, underground vaults, diked areas, silos, and manholes. Often times, employees working in confined spaces face a higher risk of serious injury or death from any combination of hazardous atmospheric conditions, engulfment and entrapment. Because of this, performing work in certain types of confined spaces without proper training is illegal.

Permit-required confined spaces

According to OSHA, a permit-required confined space is a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:

• Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
• Contains a material with the potential to engulf someone who enters the space
• Has an internal configuration that might cause an entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a 3 floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section
• Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazards.

Non-permit confined spaces

These are areas that, although considered confined spaces, do not contain the hazards mentioned above. Because of this, they do not require permits for employees to enter, however workplaces with these types of confined spaces must still have a good safety plan in place. It’s important for workers who enter these places to consistently exercise caution.

Your responsibility as an employer

As an employer, you are responsible for your employees’ safety. If any of your employees work in a permit-required confined space, you must have a written safety program for the space. Some of the requirements of this written program include:

• Identifying and evaluating hazards before allowing employees to enter
• Putting up signs and preventing unauthorized entry
• Testing atmospheric conditions of the space and monitoring it during entry
• Provide employees with the necessary personal protective equipment as well as any other equipment needed for safe entry and exit.
• Have at least one attendant posted outside the space while people are inside
• Have a well-defined plan for professional rescue and EMS in case of emergency.

Find a more exhaustive list here: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3138.pdf

Who needs confined space training?

Anyone who is going to be working in a permit-required confined space must have the proper safety training. Furthermore, employers must evaluate employees after this training. This helps ensure that employees have a good understanding of what they learned and are able to perform their duties safely. Be aware that if any of the following changes occur, more training is necessary.

• Employee’s duties change
• A change occurs in the permit space, including any new hazard
• The employee’s performance on the job diminishes in any way

Authorized entrant

Any person who is required to go into a permit-required confined space must be an authorized entrant. It is of vital importance that all of these people:

• Know potential hazards in the space
• Recognize symptoms of any harmful exposure
• Wear appropriate PPE
• Stay in contact with attendants who are monitoring them

Attendant

The duty of the attendant is remain outside of the permit space and monitor those inside. For this reason, it is a position of the utmost importance. The attendant must be trained, trustworthy and professional in order to properly protect the lives of those inside. The attendant’s duties include: Being aware of all workers in the space and staying in communication with them Performing non-entry rescues if appropriate with the company rescue procedures Knowing all potential hazards in the space and how they can affect those inside Order evacuation of the space when conditions inside or outside make being inside unsafe Notify rescue and other emergency services when necessary Keep unauthorized people out

Entry supervisor

Entry supervisors have a very important job. They are the ones that make sure everyone follows the rules around confined spaces. They are responsible for:

• Knowing all potential hazards in the space and how they can affect those inside
• Making sure an emergency plan is in place before anyone enters
• Making sure that all appropriate entry conditions such as proper equipment, permits, tests, and procedures are met by everyone in and around the space.
• Restrict access when operations in the space are completed or if there is a change in conditions.
• Making sure rescue and emergency services are available and able to be reached.
• Have systems in place to remove unauthorized people from the space
• Make sure all workers in and around the space are adhering to the appropriate safety procedures.

Rescue service personnel

It is important to have a trained rescue team in case of emergency. This rescue team must be able to respond quickly. Depending on the conditions of the confined space, rescue personnel must either be on-site or on standby and able to respond within minutes. All rescue service people must be trained in CPR and first aid. In addition to this, they must have all necessary PPE and rescue equipment. They must be versed in authorized entrant training as well as rescue procedure for the specific space. They also must perform yearly practice for rescue procedures in the space.

Need help with confined space training or a rescue team?

Let us help you. Our team of safety and rescue professionals can guide you through every step of creating and maintaining a safe work environment. We can design a safety program for your workplace. as well as provide confined space training and rescue services. Our rescue team is available for round the clock assistance. Contact us or learn more about confined space rescue.

Additional resources

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/confinedspaces/hazards_solutions.html

To contact OSHA

To report an emergency, file a complaint, or seek OSHA advice, assistance, or products, call (800) 321-OSHA

The post A Crash Course on Confined Spaces and Confined Space Training appeared first on Pro Safety and Rescue.