Crane Operation Safety

By Norm Nyhuis, Training / Consultant, Evergreen Safety Council
Even though it is a typically rainy, January day, one coping technique for surviving winter in western Washington is to think ahead to those warmer and drier days to come. When spring finally arrives, many of us will be thinking about yard work. And those of us who use heavy powered equipment may be tempted to creatively adapt that equipment to facilitate the job at hand.

Since certification of crane operators is now a requirement for cranes used in construction, this photo illustrates several safety issues.

First – I’d give the guy an “A” for creativity – sort of following in the footsteps of the TV character, Tim “the tool man” Taylor. However, I’d run out of space before I covered all the potential dangers in this scene depicted. Here’s a few:

• The web-sling rigging appears to be attached low on the mower: what is the center of gravity for this load, and could it overturn?
• The ASME standard requires that personnel only be elevated in approved personnel baskets, equipped with appropriate fall protection, and only if no other means is available or practical to access the specific location.
• At minimum, the manufacturer’s requirement that the equipment – both the boom truck and the mower – be used only for the purposes for which it was designed, is being violated.

Picture Source: Navy Safety Center

Pedestrian Safety

By Sandy Paquette, Roadway Programs Safety Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council
In 2007, 4,654 pedestrians were killed and 70,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States. On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 113 minutes and injured in a traffic crash every 8 minutes

In the past the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) concentrated most of its safety resources on improving the roadway-driver environment more than pedestrian and bicyclist environment. Reducing pedestrian fatalities and injuries now is one of the FHWA Safety Office’s top priorities.

The FHWA’s new approach is not only provide roadway engineers and agencies with the tools and resources they need to improve the roadway safety environment for foot and bike traffic but also include education and an outreach program. This is a three-pronged strategy: (1) educate the public about safer behavior, (2) get drivers into the habit of watching for and yielding, (3) ensuring that engineers and planners accommodate for non-motorized traffic when they design roadways and other transportation facilities.

These goals will take time to accomplish, until then we must take safety precautions for ourselves, families and friends. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center website has many resources to assist in safe walking and bilking practices to educate ourselves.

Make yourself visible to drivers:

• Wear retro-reflective materials and bright/light colored clothing and if using an umbrella use a brightly colored one.
• Carry a flash light when walking during hours of darkness
• Use caution when wearing headphones and talking on cell phones while walking, especially when crossing the street
• Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before stepping into the street so drivers can see you.

Avoid dangerous behaviors:

• Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
• Stay sober; walking impaired increases your chance of being struck.
• Don’t assume vehicles will stop; make eye contact with drivers and wait until they show signs of slowing or stopping.

Washington’s Seat Belt Use Rate Remains Near the Top High Use Rate Contributes Strongly to a Declining Death Rate

The results of the latest observational seat belt use survey in Washington were released January 5th and show that Washington continues to have one of the highest rates of seat belt use in the United States. This year’s use rate of 96.4% is a slight dip from the 2008 use rate.

Year / Rate
2005 / 95.2%
2006 / 96.3%
2007 / 96.4%
2008 / 96.5%
2009 / 96.4%

"Increases in seat belt use have contributed strongly to drops in traffic deaths in Washington," said Lowell Porter, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. "There was a 31% drop in vehicle occupant deaths from 1986 to 2008 while vehicle miles traveled increased 34% over this same time period."

In 1986, when Washington first adopted the seat belt law, seat belt use was at 36% and there were 528 vehicle occupant deaths, compared to 362 deaths in 2008.

"We’re optimistic the number will continue on this downward trend," Porter continued. "Washington has set a goal of zero traffic deaths by 2030."

Each year a nationwide observational seat belt survey is conducted. The 2009 survey in Washington comprised 87,946 vehicle driver and passenger observations. It was conducted statewide on a variety or road types following research protocols established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Studies conducted in Washington show that medical costs from crashes amount to more than $276 million each year in Washington. An unbelted vehicle occupant’s medical costs average $11,000 more per collision than those of a belted vehicle occupant’s.

"Our high seat belt use rate is a reflection of the hard work of our law enforcement community," said Tom Robbins, Chief of Police in Wenatchee and Co-Chair of the Washington Association of Sheriff’s and Police Chief’s Traffic Committee. "Officers are willing to write seat belt tickets because they respond to collisions and see first hand that seat belts save lives and reduce injuries."

The report shows that seat belt use is highest for people in passenger vehicles (96.8%) and SUV’s (97.3%), with vans rating third (95.5%) and pickups at (94.5%).

"Prior to the adoption of the Click It or Ticket Project in 2002, seat belt use among pickup truck drivers was a full 10 percentage points lower than other vehicle types so we’ve made great progress in getting people to buckle up in their trucks," Porter said.

An analysis by road type shows seat belt use is highest on state highways and interstate freeways and lowest on city streets and county roads. To view Target Zero, Washington’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, click here.

For additional information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov

Media Release Contacts:
Jonna VanDyk, WTSC Occupant Protection Program Manager, 360.586.3870
MJ Haught, WTSC Communications Manager 360.725.9885

Health Resolutions for the New Year

Hopefully, the few days of your new year has gone beautifully! If you are like most people, you may have even made a few “resolutions”. Studies show that 40-45% of Americans make resolutions every year, and at least one of those usually involves a promise to eat healthier and exercise more. Even though health related resolutions are made with the best of intentions, they often fail because people try to do too much too soon. (Certainly, if you attend the gym regularly, you notice the new crop of attendees every year that tends to dwindle after the first month or two.) People make promises to themselves that they are just not mentally prepared for or physically able to keep.

While failure to keep these health related promises is disappointing, it also has the potential to be very dangerous or in rare cases, deadly. For those with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or for anyone embarking on a new fitness program after being sedentary, it is imperative that before you begin any diet or exercise program you visit your physician to get medical advice and physical clearance.

No one disputes the advantages of physical fitness. The trick is to start slow and make attainable goals. In general, to achieve maximum benefits, you should gradually work up to an aerobic session lasting 20 to 30 minutes, at least three to four times a week, but even just walking for 20 minutes a day has been shown to strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system, improve your circulation and help your body use oxygen more efficiently.

Other benefits of regular exercise include:

• Lower blood pressure
• Increase energy levels and endurance
• Improve muscle tone and strength, balance and flexibility
• Strengthen bones
• Reduce body fat and maintain a healthy weight
• Help reduce stress, tension, anxiety and depression

In talking to your physician, here are some questions you might consider asking to make your new fitness program safe and effective:

• How much exercise can I do each day?
• How often can I exercise each week?
• What type of exercise can I do?
• What type of activities should I avoid?
• Should I take my medication(s) at certain times around my exercise schedule?
• Do I need to take my pulse while exercising?
• What modifications should I make to my diet?

If you are planning to turn your health around this year by starting a diet and exercise program, please begin safely by visiting your physician to discuss the proper course of action for you! Stay healthy and safe in 2010!

OSHA Going Green

By Eric Tofte, Director of Training, Evergreen Safety Council
On December 16, Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) delivered remarks to The NIOSH Going Green Workshop entitled Making Green Jobs Safe: Integrating Occupational Safety & Health into Green and Sustainability.

This workshop was to focus on safety issues for upcoming “green” jobs. The remarks, which can be found here discussed the push to newer green jobs and not to compromise safety. Within these remarks, Dr. Michaels identified five green reform principles. These 5 principles are:

Green Reform Principle number 1 to move “forward on green jobs is to ensure that workers are more engaged in the work process and in the development of green jobs. It's clear that we must move toward a permanent system where employers and workers come together, on a basis of mutual respect, to assess and abate hazards.”

Green Reform Principle number 2 is the big picture is chemical safety. “For example, the European Community's REACH program will provide industry and American workers with more and better information about the chemicals they are exposed to. More important, REACH is also, finally, challenging the old paradigm where chemicals are considered innocent until proven guilty - and all too often proven guilty by the sick and dead bodies of American workers.”

Green Reform Principle number 3 is that “OSHA will be fully involved in the movement toward Prevention through Design. Prevention through Design is about fundamental change that integrates safety efficiently and thoroughly.”

Green Reform Principle number 4 “Where, and when possible, OSHA must move ahead on rulemaking for urgently needed standards - and to create good standards, we'll need the input of scientists and engineers, academics, students and workers. We'll also need allies in the progressive business community who will say "yes" to sensible changes and participate in the rulemaking process with constructive comments and insight.”

Lastly, Green Reform Principle number 5. “Enhancing workers' voice in the workplace. To get us up to date and move into a safer, healthier future, it's also clear that workers must have a stronger voice in workplace safety than they have now. Giving that voice impact and value means that workers must have much better information about their rights, the hazards they face and controls for those hazards.”

Just a bit of information to make you realize that even in this economic down turn and the search for newer jobs, OSHA and DOSH will be there and we cannot begin to short cut safety.