Safety Information

Safety information from miscellaneous sources.

Fall Protection Equipment: April 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question:  When do I take my fall protection equipment out of service?

Answer: Fall protection and fall rescue equipment shall be taken out of service when:

  • Involved in a fall or impacted
    • An inspection reveals that it may no longer serve the required function,
    • The equipment shows signs of damage or wear
    • The required inspection interval has been exceeded, or
    • The equipment is past the manufacturers service life

All fall protection and fall rescue equipment that has been inspected and determined to be damaged and no longer adequate for service shall be tagged “DO NOT USE” or destroyed to prevent use.

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

Rig it Right (Live)

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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-uincx-100ae27

Episode 203: This is a live recording of our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, February 11, 2021. The topic was Rig it Right or it Will be Wrong and it was presented by Al Abel, Lifting Specialist, Mazzella Lifting Technologies. Click here for a copy of the slideshow used or the handout mentioned. For more information about the PCSC, visit PortageCountySafetyCouncil.com today! Sponsored by UH Portage Medical Center.

March 2021 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for March 2021!

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. Trench Safety Interview. Nic Coia interviews Eric White, Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, for an in-depth conversation on trench safety! (11:54)
  2. Trenching and Excavation Safety: PDF from OSHA.
  3. Excavations in Construction/Soil Classification: Video from OSHA.
  4. [Safety Talk] Trench Safety. Eric White, Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, gives us a crash course on trench safety! (3:18)
  5. Combating Fatigue in the Workplace (Live): This is a live recording of our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, January 14, 2021. The topic was Combating Fatigue in the Workplace and it was presented by Dr. Bruce Hensley, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. (36:06)
  6. Office set up – Practical solutions to computer set up at home: Video from the Ohio BWC.
  7. Sanitizer Storage: March Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  8. Stay engaged and promote safety with remote/home-based workers: Free handout/power point from our meeting on 3/25/21, courtesy of Ving!
  9. Sanitizer Storage: March 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  10. 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. FY22 Info Coming Soon! We’re expecting an announcement from the Ohio BWC in early May. We’ll send a mass email out once we have the official information. Please stay tuned!
  2. April 8, 2021 – Human Trafficking 101, presented by Mary Kate Waggoner, Education & Outreach Committee Co-Chair at The Summit County Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, and Megan Vermillion, Volunteer Coordinator at the Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center. Sponsored by UH Portage Medical Center.

COVID-19 RESOURCES:

  1. OSHA’s COVID-19 F.A.Q.’s
  2. Ohio Dept of Health COVID-19 Dashboard
  3. Portage County Health District’s COVID-19 Page
  4. CDC COVID-19 Page
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Sanitizer Storage: March 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: I have a lot of alcohol-based hand sanitizer on hand, due to the pandemic. Is there anything special about storage or placement of dispensers that I should know?

Answer: Yes, alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is greater than 20% alcohol falls under a Class 1B flammable liquid according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Here are some requirements to consider:

  • Individual dispensers located in a hallway must be 0.5 gallons or less (no gallon jugs).
  • Dispensers must be installed at least 1 inch away from electrical receptacles and light switches and must be separated from another dispenser by at least 4 feet horizontally.
  • Dispensers must not be installed above carpeted floors, unless the area is sprinklered.
  • Automatic dispensers (touch free) are required to be tested each time they are refilled, can only activate when the object is within 4 inches of the dispenser and will only dispense the amount required as determined by the United States FDA.
  • The Ohio Fire Code requires the storage of more than 10 gallons in a flammable liquid cabinet or flammable liquid storage room. The NFPA 30 code dictates storage considerations starting at 5 gallons. No storage is permitted in basements.

If you have specific questions about safe storage and handling, consult the Safety Data Sheet for the product or call your local Authority Having Jurisdiction for fire code enforcement. 

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

February 2021 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for February 2021!

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. Building Trust to Improve Retention. Dawn Yoder, CEO at Anderson Management, shares how she flipped one company’s retention rate from 25% to 75% in just one year! Dawn is also a Global Priority Solutions consultant, check out their podcast, Living Like a Leader, available on your favorite podcast apps. (12:34)
  2. [Inspiring Safety] Creating Space for Employees to Grow. Safety specialist Katie Woodhall, Organizational Development & Leadership Advisor at Sparrow Tale, joined us to chat about how she inspires safety by creating space for employees to grow! (22:41)
  3. How to Build a Culture of Success & Legacy (Live). This is a live recording of our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2020. The topic was The Power of Words: How to Build a Culture of Success & Legacy, and it was presented by Coach James Lovejoy, Streetsboro High School Assistant Football Coach & 2019 Streetsboro Citizen of the Year. (34:24)
  4. Avoiding Burnout During COVID-19 & Beyond. Dr. Kristen Dickerson, Statewide Health, Wellness, & Special Program Manager at the Ohio Center for Occupational Safety & Health (Ohio BWC), joined us to talk about how to avoid emotional burnout caused by social pressure during the pandemic and more!  (32:28)
  5. How to Prevent Cold Stress. What is cold stress & how can we prevent it? This episode is a great snapshot from OSHA’s Cold Stress Guide! (6:12) Ideal for a toolbox talk!
  6. How to Avoid Slips, Trips & Falls in Winter Weather Conditions. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant Specialist for the Ohio BWC, called in to share some tips on how to avoid slips, trips & falls in winter conditions! (7:20) Ideal for a toolbox talk!
  7. BBP Trainer Qualifications: February Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  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. Celebrating 200 Episodes!!! Mike & Nic celebrate 200 episodes and over 50 hours of original workplace safety & wellness content! Join them as they discuss this, the top 10 downloaded episodes and more! (21:21)
  2. FY21 Sponsorships are sold out!
  3. FY21 Membership Renewal: It’s not too late to #LevelUp in safety! Join today!

COVID-19 RESOURCES:

  1. OSHA’s COVID-19 F.A.Q.’s
  2. Ohio Dept of Health COVID-19 Dashboard
  3. Portage County Health District’s COVID-19 Page
  4. CDC COVID-19 Page
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BBP Trainers: February 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: Does 1910.1030(g)(2)(viii) require that the person conducting bloodborne pathogens training be a health care professional?

Answer: No. The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, does not specify a particular job classification for qualified trainers. 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(viii) does however require that the trainer be: knowledgeable in the subject matter covered by the elements contained in the training program. . . In OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens compliance directive (OSHA Instruction CPL 02-02-069), we state: [p]ossible trainers include a variety of healthcare professionals such as infection control practitioners, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, occupational health professionals, physician’s assistants, and emergency medical technicians. Non-healthcare professionals, such as but not limited to, industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, or professional trainers, may conduct the training provided they are knowledgeable in the subject matter covered by the elements contained in the training program as it relates to the workplace. One way, but not the only way, knowledge can be demonstrated is the fact that the person received specialized training.

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.