One of the Biggest Recognized Hazards and Twelve Things to Make Your Workplace More Safe

As safety professionals we look at all sorts of hazards and then do our best to either eliminate, control, or protect employees from those hazards.  Well, over the years, fire has been one of the biggest recognized hazards due to its frequency and the damage it can quickly cause.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2015 there were 1,345,500 fires responded to in the United States. These fires caused 3,280 civilian deaths, 15,700 civilian injuries, and $14.3 billion in property damage.

According to the NFPA in 2015

• A fire department responded to a fire every 23 seconds.
• One structure fire was reported every 63 seconds.
• One home structure fire was reported every 86 seconds.
• One civilian fire injury was reported every 33.5 minutes.
• One civilian fire death occurred every 2 hours and 40 minutes.
• One outside and other fire was reported every 49 seconds.
• One highway vehicle fire was reported every 3 minutes 1 seconds.

Gives you the idea that fire safety is important and needs to be addressed in the workplace for employee safety.  In fact WAC 296-800-300 requires employers have fire extinguishers in the workplace and train employees in their use.

Twelve things to help make your workplace more fire safe:

1. Identify fire hazards around your workplace.  Gasoline and other flammable chemicals are common, but what about the clutter of paper or cardboard?
2. Practice good housekeeping, pick up clutter and don’t block fire exits.Designate smoking areas and ensure a place to extinguish smoking materials.
3. Train in fire safety and fire extinguisher use.
4. Report electrical hazards. Many fires start in faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical equipment.
5. Maintain machinery and equipment.  Preventative maintenance can go a long way in preventing fires.
6. Keep fire sprinkler systems and smoke detectors in operating condition and remember to always keep sprinkler head free and clear of materials.
7. Use and store chemicals safely.
8. Control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste.
9. Prevent ignition sources in atmospheres that could be explosive.
10. Have a fire evacuation plan and ensure all employees know where to go when they evacuate.  
11. Post diagrams for exit locations and assembly areas.
12. Employees should have a list of emergency contact phone numbers that is written down.

Of course employee roles and responsibilities need to be assigned and trained before the emergency.  You need a written plan to form the basis and you need training to make it work.  There was once a great philosopher by the name of “Snoopy”  (yes the dog from Peanuts) that told his friend Woodstock that “ten minutes before the party is not the time to learn how to dance.”  In other words, you have to plan and train before it happens.

Fire and emergency planning can be difficult, but we can help, so give us a call today.

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training Evergreen Safety Council

Workers and Fatigue

In dealing with safety you learn that there are hazards out there that are recognized, but there is no actual rule that covers the hazard.  This is true about sleep and the workplace.  There is no OSHA rule that covers fatigue, etc. that comes from lack of sleep to working unusual shifts.

According to OSHA, extended or unusual work shifts may be more stressful physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Non-traditional shifts and extended work hours may disrupt the body’s regular schedule, leading to increased fatigue, stress, and lack of concentration. These effects lead to an increased risk of operator error, injuries and/or accidents.

Fatigue is a message to the body to rest. If rest is not possible, fatigue can increase until it becomes distressing and eventually debilitating. The symptoms of fatigue, both mental and physical, vary and depend on the person and his or her degree of overexertion.

Some examples include:

• Weariness,
• Sleepiness,
• Irritability,
• Reduced alertness, lack of concentration and memory,
• Lack of motivation,
• Increased susceptibility to illness,
• Depression,
• Headache,
• Giddiness, and/or
• Loss of appetite and digestive problems.

OSHA recommends that when there is a choice, managers should limit the use of extended shifts and increase the number of days employees work. Working shifts longer than 8 hours will generally result in reduced productivity and alertness. Additional break periods and meals should be provided when shifts are extended past normal work periods. Tasks that require heavy physical labor or intense concentration should be performed at the beginning of the shift if possible. This is an important consideration for pre-emergency planning.

In addition managers and supervisors should learn to recognize signs and symptoms of the potential health effects associated with extended and unusual work shifts. Workers who are being asked to work extended or irregular shifts should be diligently monitored for the signs and symptoms of fatigue. Any employee showing such signs should be evaluated and possibly directed to leave the active area and seek rest.

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training Evergreen Safety Council

Continental Mills, Inc. Cooks Up a Winning Safety Trend

Evergreen Safety Council is proud to recognize Continental Mills, Inc. as the 2015 recipient of the John D. Spellman Safety Award. 

Continental Mills, a manufacturer of premium dry-mix baked goods led by their Krusteaz® brand pancake, muffin, and cookie mixes, as well as their Ghirardelli® brownie mix, operates four manufacturing and distribution centers with corporate offices in Tukwila, WA.

Continental Mills, Inc. was chosen for the award because over the past eight years they achieved an 87% reduction in injury incident rates.  Though they started with an incident rate that was already well below the national average, further decreases since 2014 have moved them to a “Best in Class” ranking in their industry. The award was presented to Continental Mills on
June 24th, 2016.

Continental Mills employed a company-wide strategy led by Bob Toohey, CSP, Senior Manager of EHS, to improve their safety systems including:

• a goal of 100% employee involvement with program ownership by operations leaders,
• use of internal safety systems audits for continuing improvement, and
• establishing a “Risk Predictions” model and campaign for employee use on multiple levels in planning safe daily work.

John Heily, CEO & Chairman of the Board at Continental Mills stated “We are very proud of the recognition we have received from the Evergreen Safety Council for promoting a culture of safety in the workplace.  This recognition truly belongs to the 800 Continental Mills employees that make a safe workplace environment a reality.  We will continue to invest, collaborate, train, and listen to our workforce, and strive to achieve our preferred future which is having an accident free environment.

The annual John D. Spellman Safety Award was created in 2006 to recognize ESC members that have demonstrated outstanding safety achievements or have shown they are actively pursuing and reinforcing a positive safety culture in their workplace.  The award also recognizes Governor John D.
Spellman. King County’s first elected County Executive and Washington’s 18th Governor, Governor Spellman has also been a member of ESC’s Board of Directors for more than 35 years and has served as Chairman of the Board since 1998.

Family-owned Continental Mills, Inc. began operating in 1932 and produces more than 500 products under several breakfast, baking, and snack brands. Continental Mills headquarters is located in Tukwila, WA and employs 800 people between the Corporate office and four manufacturing facilities in Washington, Kentucky, Illinois and Kansas.  CM products are sold through retail, foodservice, and club store channels throughout the United States.

Contributed by Tom Odegaard, President/Executive Director Evergreen Safety Council

Safety Violations Can & Will Get You Fined

A Washington State roofing company  has been repeatedly cited for several safety violations, and most notably for fall protection violations by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). 

Recently fined $427,000 for exposing workers to fall hazards without adequate fall protection, the company was also cited for failing to effectively train workers in how to use fall protection systems or equipment.  This is considered a “serious” violation, with a penalty of $7,000 alone.  A serious violation exists in a workplace if there is a substantial probability that worker death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition.

“Falls from heights are completely preventable, and yet they’re a leading cause of worker fatalities and hospitalizations in our state,” said Anne Soiza, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health.  “We’re hopeful that this will lead to proper fall protection practices for all of their workers, all the time, going forward.”

Save lives and your bottom line.

Are you concerned that your company may not be up-to-date on state regulations and required training?

We can help.  Evergreen Safety Council experts can provide customized safety training at your site or ours.

Our consultants can also help with:

• Developing written safety programs,
• Safety audits and inspections,
• Assist with OSHA/L&I citation abatement, or
• Serve as safety advisors for projects

For more information, please contact Stephanie at (800) 521-0778 or Stephanie@esc.org.

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training and Consulting Evergreen Safety Council

Preparing for the Big One

A region-wide exercise to test the emergency response to a major disaster in the Cascadia Subduction Zone

Science points to a large magnitude earthquake happening along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the 800-mile fault line that runs from California to the Island of British Columbia, on average once every 200 to 500 years. That means we may be about due.

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake along this fault, and the resulting tsunami, is the most complex disaster scenario that emergency management and public safety officials in the Pacific Northwest could face. Cascadia Rising was an emergency simulation exercise that happened this past June 7th -10th to address such a disaster.

Federal officials estimated more than 20,000 people were involved in the four day disaster drill, representing various federal agencies, the U.S. military, and state and local emergency response managers from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, Native American Tribes and emergency management
officials in British Columbia.

Simulating the massive earthquake and tsunami was a way of testing plans and procedures and is an invaluable way to tell what worked and what didn’t. Some of the major lessons learned? How important information sharing and good communication are, as well as the need to address key resources like fuel and food.

Did you know?

  
September is National Preparedness Month. Sponsored by FEMA, it encourages Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. Take part and get more resources at www.ready.gov/get-involved  and community.fema.gov.