Author: pcscmgr

November 2022 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for November 2022!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Creating Space for Employees to Share Their Insight: Laurin Mooney, Founder & Innovator of Speaking IN, joined us to talk about how to create space for employees to share their wealth of insight and why leaders should embrace it. Available on most podcast apps.
  2. Simplifying Tasks to Improve Worker Safety: Article by Incident Prevention.
  3. Preventing Slips, Trips & Falls: A short video by Ally Safety. (3:42)
  4. Are Workplace Risks Hiding in Plain Sight? Article by Safeopedia.
  5. Injection molding machines: Avoid the hazards: Article by Safety + Health Magazine.
  6. GFCI Importance: November 2022 Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  7. Ohio BWC Virtual Training: Through December 2022.
  8. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Podbean, Stitcher, & TuneIn/Alexa! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. Next In-Person Meeting: December 8, 2022 – Staying Safe Around Automation, presented by Mark Eitzman, Safety and Project Manager, Integrated Mill Systems.,11:30am-1:00pm, at The Ravenna Elks, located at 776 N. Freedom St in Ravenna, OH. Lunch is $20 for members, $25 for non-member
  2. OSHA 10 Training Report: 34 member employees completed the OSHA 10 General Industry Training on October 26-27, 2022, at Viking Forge in Streetsboro. Congratulations to all the participants who completed the program!
  3. Only 4 FY23 Sponsorships Still Available! Sponsorship of a Portage County Safety Council meeting is a cost-effective way to get your business noticed! Only 4 are still available through June 2023. Follow the link for more info.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

GFCI Importance: November 2022 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What is the importance of ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and where should they be located in my workplace?

Answer:

Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) are important because they are used to protect people from electrical shock hazards caused by malfunctioning electrical appliances. For example, if a person is using a defective electrical appliance and also touching a wet surface or very conductive surface, the person could become part of the grounding pathway for the fault current. The GFCI would detect this current imbalance and disconnect electricity within 20-30 milliseconds before the dangerous electrical current could pass through the person’s body which could cause serious electrical shock or death.

Depending on the workplace and work being done, GFCIs could be required/needed in several areas. According to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.304(b)(3)(i): All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in bathrooms or on rooftops shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

Other areas where GFCI protection should be located in your workplace include: kitchens, outdoor areas, within 6 feet of water sources (sinks, showers, etc.), laundry areas, locker rooms, garages, service bays and any other areas exposed to moisture. Vending machines require GCFI protection regardless of being hard wired, plug and cord connected, voltage current or frequency rating. Additionally, temporary wiring installations (including extension cords) used by personnel doing construction-like activities require GFCI’s protection.

Per equipment instructions these devices should be tested monthly. You can document with logs or procedures, that GFCIs are tested monthly and promptly replace those found defective.

If you need assistance with determining where GFCI protection is needed in your facility, contact your assigned BWC safety consultant.

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

October 2022 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for October 2022!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

NE OHIO SAFETY EXPO PREVIEWS:

  • 2022 NE Ohio Safety Expo Overview. David Costantino, co-founder of the annual NE Ohio Safety Expo, joined us to talk about the event which will take place on Thursday, October 2022, at the Eastwood Event Centre in Niles, OH. (9:04)
  • How to Reduce Complacency & Inspire Safety Excellence. Cari Gray, Industrial Safety Consultant at the Ohio BWC, joined us to talk about her 2022 NE Ohio Safety Expo presentation titled, How to Reduce Complacency & Inspire Safety Excellence. (9:58)
  • Are Transitional Work Programs Really Worth the Effort? Shanna Dunbar, President at Workplace Health Inc., joined us to talk about her 2022 NE Ohio Safety Expo presentation titled, Are Transitional Work Programs Really Worth the Effort? (10:03)
  • Confined Space Identification and Hazards. Jennifer Wasilk, owner of Sandstone EHS Services, LLC  joined us to talk about her 2022 NE Ohio Safety Expo presentation titled, Confined Space Identification and Hazards. (9:56)
  • Lockout Tagout. Brian Zachetti, Industrial Safety Consultant Specialist at the Ohio BWC, joined us to talk about his 2022 NE Ohio Safety Expo presentation on Lockout/Tagout. (13:31)
  • NEO Safety Expo – October 20th: This training qualifies as an external training credit. A certificate of completion must be submitted to the PCSC manager before the end of FY23 in order to receive credit.

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. OSHA Electric Power Standards – Simplified: Article by Incident Prevention.
  2. How to Use a Fire Extinguisher Using the P-A-S-S Method: A short video by Ally Safety. (2:37)
  3. How to Stay Safe from Welding Fumes and Gases: Article by Safeopedia.
  4. Survey finds lack of training on preventing struck-by incidents in construction: Article by Safety + Health Magazine.
  5. Fire Considerations Since COVID: October 2022 Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  6. Ohio BWC Virtual Training: Through December 2022.
  7. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Podbean, Stitcher, & TuneIn/Alexa! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. Next In-Person Meeting: November 10, 2022 – Effective Communication: How to Leverage Stories to Improve Your Safety Messaging, presented by Kevin Mowers, Owner, Extended Management, Inc, a franchise of Crestcom International.,11:30am-1:00pm, at The Ravenna Elks, located at 776 N. Freedom St in Ravenna, OH. Lunch is $20 for members, $25 for non-member
  2. OSHA 10 Training: We’ll be hosting another OSHA 10 General Industry Training on October 26-27, 2022, 8am-4pm, at Viking Forge in Streetsboro. For more information or to register, please see the attached flyer.
  3. Only 4 FY23 Sponsorships Still Available! Sponsorship of a Portage County Safety Council meeting is a cost-effective way to get your business noticed! Only 4 are still available through June 2023. Follow the link for more info.

September 2022 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for September 2022!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. [NE Ohio Safety Expo Preview] Workers’ Compensation 101 – Basics from a MCO prospective. [Audio] Cheryl Altizer, Account Executive at Promedica Medical Management, joined us to talk about her 2022 NE Ohio Safety Expo presentation titled, Workers’ Compensation 101 – Basics from a MCO prospective. (11:13)
  2. The Biological Basis of Complacency: Article by Incident Prevention.
  3. Confined Space Hazards Toolbox Talk: A short video by Ally Safety. (4:02)
  4. What It Really Means to Empower Workers: Article by Safeopedia.
  5. 5 tips to reduce repetitive stress injuries: Article by Safety + Health Magazine.
  6. Hand Tool Ergonomics: September 2022 Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  7. Ohio BWC Virtual Training: Through December 2022.
  8. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Podbean, Stitcher, & TuneIn/Alexa! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. October 6, 2022 – Are You Ready to Lead Safety Differently? We’re excited to be hosting a live online training session that was previously featured during the 2022 Ohio Safety Congress at the Greater Columbus Convention Center earlier this year! This free webinar will be on Thursday, October 6, 2022, 11am-12pm, on Zoom Webinar. Follow the link to register today!
  2. NEO Safety Expo – October 20th: This training qualifies as an external training credit. A certificate of completion must be submitted to the PCSC manager before the end of FY23 in order to receive credit.
  3. Only 4 FY23 Sponsorships Still Available! Sponsorship of a Portage County Safety Council meeting is a cost-effective way to get your business noticed! Only 4 are still available through June 2023. Follow the link for more info.
  4. Next In-Person Meeting: October 13, 2022 – Common Fire Code Violations, presented by Lt. Vince Yost of the Kent Fire Dept,11:30am-1:00pm, at The Ravenna Elks, located at 776 N. Freedom St in Ravenna, OH. Lunch is $20 for members, $25 for non-members & walk-ins.

Hand Tool Ergonomics: September 2022 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What are the major ergonomic design considerations for hand tools?

Weight of the tool – Ideally, a worker should be able to comfortably operate a tool without experiencing fatigue or discomfort. The tool’s center of gravity should be aligned with the center of the gripping hand. In other words, tools should feel “easy” to hold in the position it will be used. Use a counterbalance to support a tool that is above recommended weight limits or awkward to use.

Handles – With the exception of tools for precision work, the handles and grips of hand tools should be designed for a power grip.

Handle shape – Select tools that allow you to keep the wrist straight or in a neutral position when using it.

Handle diameter – Handle diameter recommendations vary. In general, cylindrical handles at 1.5 inches offer a better power grip, with a range from 1.25 to 2 inches. For precision grips, a diameter of 0.45 inches is recommended, with a range of 0.3 to 0.6 inches.

Handle length – A handle that is too short can cause unnecessary compression in the middle of the palm. It should extend across the entire breadth of the palm. Handles around 5 inches are generally recommended. Keep in mind that the use of gloves requires longer tool handles.

Separation between handles – Tools such as pliers or tongs are equipped with two handles. The recommended distance separating the handles is between 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Tools with larger or smaller spans will reduce one’s maximum grip strength.

Materials and texture of handles – To ensure a good grip on a handle, sufficient friction must exist between the hand and the handle. Hand tools should be made of non-slip, non-conductive and compressible materials.

Always conduct a risk assessment before making any change. If you would like additional resources or to request ergonomic assistance, please contact your local BWC Ergonomist or request their services on-line at Request a consultation | Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (ohio.gov).

Brought to you by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

January 2022 Newsletter

/ pcscmgr

Welcome to our monthly newsletter for January 2022!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Need to Know OSHA Recordkeeping Tips and Deadlines: Article by Safex.
  2. Oh, the weather outside is frightful – winter weather slips and falls: Article by Ohio BWC.
  3. Sharing the road with snowplows: Article by Family Safety & Health Magazine.
  4. Protect against the cold: Tips for employers and workers: Article by Safety + Health Magazine.
  5. How To Remove Snow From A Roof: Video by Ace Hardware.
  6. Ergo for Mechanics: January 2022 Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  7. Ohio BWC Distance Learning: January-March 2022.
  8. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Podbean, Stitcher, & TuneIn/Alexa! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. Ohio Safety Congress 2022: OSC22 will be online again this year and will take place March 9-10, 2022. Follow the link for more info.
  2. OSC22 Preview Podcast Series: We’re excited to announce that a handful of speakers will be joining us on our podcast to preview their OSC22 presentations! A new episode will be released every Monday starting January 24th until the week of the event. Simply search for the “Portage County Safety Council” on your favorite podcast app to listen any time.
  3. Workplace Wellness Month: January 2022 is our official workplace wellness month! We’ll be releasing a related podcast every week in January to help you promote health & wellness to your employees.
  4. Join today to level up in safety! 16 live virtual meetings with on-demand access, free access to 2 semi-annual statewide safety summits and more will be included in this year’s membership! IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN!!!

January is Workplace Wellness Month

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January will be our official Workplace Wellness Month!  As a part of our on-going Healthy Workers are Safer Workers Campaign, our aim is to help you promote health & wellness to your employees by providing relevant information and campaign resources.

Here’s what we’ll be offering:

  • Workplace Wellness Podcasts: We’ll be emailing out a new workplace wellness related podcast every Wednesday in January! These episodes will include interviews from local trainers such as Leslee Keagan of I’m Power Fitness Center and Chase Leonelli of Sequoia Wellness at NEOMED.
  • Live Training: The Ohio Dept of Health will be presenting at our January 13 virtual meeting on “The Impact of Prediabetes on Your Workforce.”
  • Free Campaign Resources: This page contains links to free campaign tools (such as a poster & graphics) and relevant workplace wellness resources to help your company promote & improve worker health. 
  • Engaging Your Workforce in Wellness: Engaging Your Workforce in Wellness is a 24-page toolkit promoting the benefits of employee health & wellness programs and providing employers with evidence-based strategies. 

We hope that you’ll find these free resources valuable and that you’ll help promote health & wellness with us throughout the month of January!