2019

July 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for July 2019!

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. How to Coach Difficult People to Improve Safety. Ali Mitchel, Health Educator at The Portage County Combined Health District, stayed over with us after her presentation to chat about how to coach difficult people to improve safety! (20:46)
  2. Safety Blast: Heat Stress Warning Signs, Prevention, & Remedies. Joe Barney, Compliance & Training Officer from The Great Lakes Construction Co. shares his insight on heat stress warning signs, prevention, and remedies! (2:22)
  3. Safety Blast: Be Tick Smart.Natalie Menke, Vector Control Seasonal Worker at the Portage County Health District, gives us some quick tips on how to “Be Tick Smart” this summer! For more information on tick safety, please visit the PCHD Vector page or Ohio.gov/ticks.
  4. Heat Stress: Warning Signs & Prevention. Joe Barney, Compliance & Training Officer from The Great Lakes Construction Co. stayed over with us to recap his presentation on how to prevent heat related illnesses & injuries at work! (7:23)

  5. If You’re Trapped In A Car On Fire Or Sinking In Water, The Right Escape Tool Is Critical. Article by Forbes.

  6. Here’s how to escape your car if it floods during a hurricane, AAA says. Article by USA Today.

  7. Staying Safe in Wet Driving Conditions. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO shares how to stay safe in wet driving conditions. (5:03)
  8. Hydroplaning. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO gives us a few tips on how to prevent hydroplaning! (2:05) 
  9. 4 Ways to Fight Mosquito Bites. Theodore Russell, BSPH, Vector Control Seasonal Worker at the Portage County Health District, gives us 4 ways to “fight the bite!” (1:48)
  10. July’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  11. Summer Safety Contest by Ving!
  12. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • NEXT MEETING: Thursday, August 8, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Fire Safety and it will be presented by the Kent Fire Dept.  RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, August 5th.
  • Celebrating 100 Episodes and More! Nic & Mike celebrate 100 episodes and two big wins for the Portage County Safety Council! Join them as they discuss this and more! (9:32)
  • New Summer Safety Page! We just launched a new podcast archive page linking to topics related to summer safety! Check it out today!

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings.
  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

June 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for June 2019!

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. Staying Safe in Wet Driving Conditions. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO shares how to stay safe in wet driving conditions. (5:03)
  2. Hydroplaning. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO gives us a few tips on how to prevent hydroplaning! (2:05) 
  3. Driving Safe in Fog. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central gives us a few tips on how to drive safe in the fog! (2:17)
  4. 4 Ways to Fight Mosquito Bites. Theodore Russell, BSPH, Vector Control Seasonal Worker at the Portage County Health District, gives us 4 ways to “fight the bite!” (1:48)
  5. Tick Bite First Aid: June 2019 Safety & Hygiene Corner provided by Ohio BWC safety consultants.
  6. Emergency Preparedness Plans. Marianne Kitakis, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Portage County Combined Health District, stayed over after her expo presentation to recap 4 steps to developing an emergency preparedness plan. Click here to view her power point. (5:24)
  7. June’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  8. Multigenerational Training Activities to Engage Everyone in Safety. Article provided by Ving!
  9. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • NEXT MEETING: Thursday, July 11, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be How To Successfully Use Baby Boomers & Generation X To Train Millennials On “Your Company’s Way” Of Getting The Job Done Right And Safe, presented by Tony DeAscentis (the CEO) & Gabe King (the millennial) of Ving!  RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, July 8th.
  • External Training Credit Deadline is Wednesday, June 26, 2019! Anyone seeking to use an external training credit to meet the 10 minimum attendance credits must submit the certificate of completion no late than 12PM on 6/26/19 in order to qualify for credit.
  • FY20 starts July 1, 2019! Members enrolling for the first time must submit Enrollment Form by July 31, 2019, in order to qualify for FY20 rebate program. Current members must renew their annual dues and prepaid annual lunch packages prior to this meeting.
  • New Summer Safety Page! We just launched a new podcast archive page linking to topics related to summer safety! Check it out today!

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings.
  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.

Tick Bite First Aid: June 2019 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What is the first aid for a tick bite?

Answer:   Most tick bites are painless and cause only minor signs and symptoms, such as redness, swelling or a sore on the skin. But some ticks transmit bacteria that cause illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In general, to transmit Lyme disease a tick needs to be attached for at least 36 hours. Other infections can be transferred in a few hours or even a few minutes says the Mayo Clinic.

First Aid:

  • Remove the tick promptly and carefully.Use fine-tipped forceps or tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible. Gently pull out the tick using a slow and steady upward motion. Avoid twisting or squeezing the tick. Don’t handle the tick with bare hands. Experts don’t recommend using petroleum jelly, fingernail polish or a hot match to remove a tick.
  • If possible, seal the tick in a container.Put the container in a freezer. Your doctor may want to see the tick if you develop new symptoms.
  • Wash your hands and the bite site.Use warm water and soap, rubbing alcohol, or an iodine scrub.

When to seek emergency care: Call 911 or your local emergency number if you develop:

  • A severe headache
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Paralysis
  • Heart palpitations

When to contact your doctor

  • If you can’t completely remove the tick.
  • The rash gets bigger.
  • You develop flu-like signs and symptoms. You think the bite site is infected.  You think you were bitten by a deer tick.

 

Brought to you by Ohio BWC safety consultants.

June 13, 2019 – Drones-Commercial uses, Regulations and Best Practices

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Greetings Safety Council Members!

Our next meeting is Thursday, June 13, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm, at the Ravenna Elks Club which is located at 776 N Freedom St in Ravenna.  The official meeting notice is attached. PLEASE NOTE: This will be our last monthly meeting of FY19 and last chance to earn an Attendance and/or CEO Credit!

Our topic for this month is…

Drones-Commercial uses, Regulations and Best Practices, presented by Josh Grappy, UAS Program Coordinator, Ohio BWC.

DESCRIPTION: This presentation discusses the various industries currently using drones for increased efficiency and safety.  Also discussed are the current FAA regulations required to operate commercially and the best practices involved to ensure safe operation.  Additional topics include how BWC is using drones and the types of assistance they can provide to Ohio employers interested in creating their own drone program.

SPEAKER: Josh oversees the Unmanned Aircraft Systems program for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. The UAS program uses drones to document catastrophic workplace accidents investigated by the Safety Violations Investigation Unit. Additionally, the program provides information to Ohio employers on how to implement UAS within their own businesses in a safe and responsible way. Josh also works as a Digital Forensic Analyst within the Special Investigations Department and is a 17 year BWC employee.

This training is ideal for safety managers!

Come enjoy a delicious meal catered by “Guido’s”. Cost for lunch is still just $15/person for members and $20 for non-members. ($5 fee will be charge for walk-ins including members who do not RSVP by deadline). Please note: no shows will be invoiced.

Please RSVP no later than 12pm on Monday, June 10, 2019.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW

Please make your check payable to: “Portage County Safety Council.” Cost for lunch is still just $15/person for members and $20 for non-members (there’s a $5 fee for walk-ins including members who do not RSVP by deadline).

This Meeting is Sponsored By

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May 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for May 2019!

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. Confined Space Rescue Plan. Is 911 your only confined space rescue plan? If so, this episode is a must for you! Pat McCon joins Nic to talk about the importance of having a confined spaces rescue plan! Pat advises companies not to assume your local fire dept can help in the case of a confined space emergency. For more insight, listen today! (9:11)
  2. Drugs in the Workplace. Dr. Amanda Burke, Prevention Specialist at Townhall II, stayed over with us after her presentation to chat about drugs in the workplace! (15:27)
  3. Interview with Dr. Don Maple. We caught up with Dr. Don Maple of Corporate Health Testing at the Portage County Workplace Health & Safety Expo to chat about safety issues he commonly sees at facilities across the state! (4:38)
  4. May’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  5. How Drone Safety Technology Can Improve Safety. Article provided by Ving!
  6. Health Talk: The Power of Mindful Eating. In this month’s Health Talk, Mindy Gusz, Community Outreach Coordinator at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center, shares about the power of mindful eating! (3:35)
  7. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • NEXT MEETING: Thursday, June 13, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Drones-Commercial uses, Regulations and Best Practices, presented by Josh Grappy, UAS Program Coordinator, Ohio BWC. . RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, June 10th.
  • The PCSC won Honorable Mention – 2018 Safety Council of the Year! Out of 82 Ohio Safety Councils, the PCSC was ranked 7th!
  • FY19 Ends on June 30, 2019! All membership dues and prepaid lunch options should be renewed prior to July’s luncheon.
  • External Training Credit Deadline is Monday, June 24, 2019! Anyone seeking to use an external training credit to meet the 10 minimum attendance credits must submit the certificate of completion no late than 6/24/19 in order to qualify for credit.
  • FY20 starts July 1, 2019! Members enrolling for the first time must submit Enrollment Form by July 31, 2019, in order to qualify for FY20 rebate program.

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings.
  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis. Please Note: new monthly updates for FY19 are currently available!

May 2019 Stand-Down Training Events by the Ohio BWC

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Please Note: these are not PCSC sponsored events but they do qualify for 1 external training credit for PCSC members.

Click here to view in a Word doc.

Learn fall protection and prevention! Attend a BWC stand-down event

In 2017, there were 971 construction fatalities nationwide; 366 of them resulted from falls from elevation.

Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) again lists fall protection in construction as its most frequently cited standard.

To raise awareness and reduce injuries and fatalities, OSHA promotes its annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls. The stand-down encourages employers across the nation to hold events in conjunction with the multi-day event, May 6-10 this year. As always, the stand-down encourages employers to pause during their workday for topic discussions, safety demonstrations, and trainings in hazard recognition and fall prevention.

We have scheduled four FREE training events open to the public during the week of the stand-down. We’ve listed information for each below.

 

Garfield Heights event

  • When: 8 a.m. to Noon May 7
  • Where: BWC’s Garfield Heights Service Office – 4800 E. 131st, Garfield Heights, OH 44131
  • Event details: Presentations by experts from T. Allen Incorporated, The Albert M. Higley Co., Werner Ladder, Honeywell and the Cleveland OSHA Area Office
  • Register: Visit the BWC Learning Center and enter Stand-Down Event in the search field then enroll for the Garfield Heights event.

 

Mansfield event

  • When: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 7
  • Where: MHS Industrial Supply – 70 Sawyer Parkway, Mansfield, OH 44903
  • Event details: Presentation by experts from FallTech; co-hosted by MHS Industrial Supply
  • Register: Visit the BWC Learning Center and enter Stand-Down Event in the search field then enroll for the Mansfield event.

 

Pickerington event

  • When: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 10
  • Where: BWC’s Ohio Center for Occupational Safety and Health – 13430 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147
  • Event details: Presentations by experts from Guardian Fall Protection with Pure Safety, LBJ Inc. and the Columbus OSHA Area Office
  • Register: Visit the BWC Learning Center and enter Stand-Down Event in the search field then enroll for the Pickerington event.

 

Youngstown event

  • When: 7:30 – 9 a.m. May 7
  • Where: Boak & Sons, Incorporated – 75 Victoria Road, Austintown, OH 44515
  • Event details: Presentation by experts from 3M and a drop demonstration truck; co-hosted by Boak & Sons, Incorporated
  • Register: Email David Costantino or call 330-301-5825; email David Loughner or call 216-538-9720

We may add more events in the coming weeks. Also, don’t forget the BWC Library offers an extensive collection of audiovisual materials related to fall hazards and fall prevention. Additionally, we offer year-round classes throughout Ohio to address fall protection requirements.

It’s not too late for your company or organization to plan a stand-down event. We’re here if you need help planning your activity. Just call 1-800-644-6292 for assistance.