2021

June 2021 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for June 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. 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)
  2. [Safety Talk] Thunderstorms & Lightening. Here’s some safety tips from Ready.gov on what to do during thunderstorms & lightening! (3:25)
  3. [Safety Talk] Tornado Safety Tips. Here’s some safety tips from Ready.gov on how to prepare for and survive a tornado! (4:34)
  4. NSC: June is National Safety Month.
  5. Nail Gun Injuries: June 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  6. Ohio BWC Distance Learning in June 2021
  7. [Safety Culture] The Importance of Management Commitment. Ami Gignac & Katie Woodhall, Managing Partners at Sparrow Tale, chat with us about the importance of management commitment in regards to shifting safety culture! This is an excerpt from e175, click here to listen to the full interview. (5:57)
  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. FY22 Renewal Notice: 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! Renew today to LEVEL UP IN SAFETY!
  2. Celebrating FY21! Check out what we accomplished together as a safety council!

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS:

  • Shine a Light on Domestic Violence. Domestic violence happens everywhere and victims come in all ages & genders! Donya Buchanan & Amy Kelly of Safer Futures joined us to chat about domestic violence and give us a snapshot of how often it happens in the Portage County area. Click here to watch the video. (17:25)
  • Get Outside with Portage Parks in 2021! Andrea Metzler and Jennifer White of the Portage Park District met up with Mike & Nic on Zoom to chat about the health benefits of spending time outdoors. Join us as they take us on a tour through their website, highlighting some of the most popular parks and trails in Portage County, Ohio! (56:12)
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Nail Gun Injuries: June 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What can I do to reduce the potential for nail gun injuries in the workplace?

Answer: According to OSHA “Nail gun injuries are common – one study found that 2 out of 5 residential carpenter apprentices experienced a nail gun injury over a four-year period”. The most common injuries are puncture wounds to the hands and fingers but there can be more serious injuries and deaths that could occur using nail guns.  The following basic steps can help reduce the potential for these injuries:

  1. Consider restricting inexperienced employees to full-sequential trigger nail guns when starting out. Full-sequential firing is considered the safest option, also called single-shot firing; full-sequential is ideal for applications such as framing and carpentry, where precision is more important than fastening speed.  Full-sequential firing is slower than bump firing.  Best Practice: color-code the nail guns so that the type of trigger can be readily identified by workers and supervisors.
  2. The safety on the nail gun relies on two basic controls:  a finger trigger and a contact safety tip located on the nose of the gun.
  3. Require proper PPE for your employees such as, safety shoes high Impact eye protection, safety glasses or goggles marked ANSI Z87.1 and hearing protection
  4. Employers should ensure that their policies and practices encourage reporting of nail gun injuries. Reporting ensures that employees get medical attention and it also helps contractors to identify unrecognized job site risks that could lead to additional injuries if not addressed.
  5. Both new and experienced workers can benefit from safety training to learn about the causes of nail gun injuries and specific steps to reduce them. Be sure that training is provided in a manner that employees can understand.

Additional nail gun safety tips:

  • Follow all manufacturer’s safe operating instructions when using a nail gun, handling & storage.
  • Ensure proper training on nail guns is conducted.
  • Ensure the tool meets all applicable OSHA guarding standards.
  • They can generate noise up to 120 dBA, hearing protection is required.
  • Keep your fingers away from the trigger when not driving nails. Do not press the trigger unless you are intending to fire.
  • Do not point the nail gun at anyone, even if it is disconnected from the air supply or supposedly empty.
  • Keep hands clear of the discharge area while firing and make sure the nail gun is pointed away from your body.
  • Place the muzzle of the nail gun firmly against the work piece when firing.
  • Inspect the power source, the nails, the trigger, and safety contact before use.
  • Always conduct prior inspections of the nail gun.  Make sure the nose guard is in working order and check the air pressure before hooking it up.
  • Do not carry the nail gun by the hose or the cord or with a finger on the trigger.
  • Disconnect the tool from the air supply before clearing blockages, adjusting, handing the nail gun to another worker or leaving it unattended.

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

Ohio BWC: Distance Learning in June 2021

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Click here to view the flyer.

BWC is hosting a number of occupational safety and health webinars and virtual classes in June including:

              Weekly Webinars –presented live with BWC discount program & continuing education credits

  • OSHA Knocks on the Door (June 8)
  • Trenching Safety Stand Down (June 15)
  • A PERRP-spective on the Fire Chief’s Role in Compliance (June 21)
  • The fight beyond the fire: Battling carcinogens before, during and after the fireground (June 23)

Virtual classes –

  • Ergonomic Risk Factors: Understanding and  Identifying (June 1)
  • Electrical Safety in the Workplace through Insight and Implementation of NFPA 70E (June 2-3)
  • Emergency Preparedness Planning Half-day Workshop (June 8)
  • Thermal Stress (June 9)
  • Safety Series Workshop Module 4: Walking Working Surfaces and Emergency Action Plan Basics (June 17)
  • Effective Safety Teams Half-day Workshop (June 22)
  • Job Safety Analysis (June 24)
  • Safety for the Non-Safety Professional (June 29-30)

Online E-Courses

  • Bloodborne Pathogens, Developing a Safety Culture, OSHA Recordkeeping 101 and others

Additional information on all June distance learning, including registration, is found in the attached flyer.

For more information or assistance when registering, contact the staff member listed or dshcc@bwc.state.oh.us.

May 2021 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for May 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. Recharge Your Workers’ Compensation Program (Live). This is a live recording of our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, February 25, 2021. The topic was Recharge Your Workers’ Compensation Program  and it was presented by Debbie O’Connell &  Wendy Sergent, Regional Managers, 1-888-OhioComp. This presentation contains information on Ohio BWC incentive programs.  Video
  2. [Safety Talk] Floods. Here’s some safety tips from Ready.gov on how to prepare for and what to do during a flood! (5:11)
  3. [Safety Blast] Hydroplaning. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO gives us a few tips on how to prevent hydroplaning! (2:05) 
  4. JSA & JHA Basics (Live). This is a live recording of the 4th of 4 Safety Crash Course – Part 1 presentations at our monthly workplace safety luncheon on February 13, 2020. The topic was JSA & JHA Basics and it was presented by Debbie O’Connell, Regional Account Manager, 1-888-OhioComp. Click here to view the power point. (11:41)
  5. Fall Protection Interview. Nic Coia interviews Eric White, Construction Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, for an in-depth conversation on fall protection! (15:09)
  6. May 19, 2021 – Free Hearing Screening. Provided by UH Portage Medical Center
  7. Certified Respirators: May Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  8. Ohio BWC Distance Learning in May 2021
  9. 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 Update: The Ohio BWC has decided to extend the virtual Ohio Safety Council program for another year. This means there will be no rebate for FY22. In addition, the CY2021 semi-annual reports and CEO attendance will no longer be required.
  2. FY22 Renewal Notice: 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! Renew today to LEVEL UP IN SAFETY!
  3. May 27, 2021 – Reducing the Risk of Accidents Through Effective Fleet Safety Controls, presented by Timothy Brewster, Director, Loss Prevention & Recovery Unit, National Interstate Insurance Company.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH RESOURCES:

  1. How Stress Affects the Body. Video] Dr. Aubree Brachna of Peak Family Chiropractic in Akron, OH, joined us to talk about how stress affects the body! (54:08)
  2. When to Know You Need Help. [Video] Jennifer Parmenter, Clinical Counseling Supervisor at Family & Community Services, joined us to talk about how stress is affecting us since the pandemic. She also gives us advice on when to know we need help beyond self-care and our personal support systems. (45:37)
  3. How to Talk to Employees About Stress. [Video] Stress at work during COVID-19 is at an all-time high! Nearly half of our members said stress likely causes them to occasionally work unsafely and well over half (59%) said their companies rarely or never talk about it to employees. Luci Payne and Barb Furst of IMPACT Solutions joined us to discuss how we can talk to employees about stress. (46:10)
  4. Dealing with Stress at Work Since COVID-19. [Video] Clinical Consultant, Kelly Bako Younkins, joined us to talk about dealing with stress at work since COVID-19. (58:41)
  5. How Stressed are Your Employees? [Video] To get an idea of how stressed local employees have been since COVID-19, the Portage County Safety Council surveyed its members in late October 2020. In this video, we discuss the eye-opening but not surprising results. (19:40) Power Point.

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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Certified Respirators: May 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: How do you know if your respirators, including those intended for use in healthcare settings, are certified by the CDC/NIOSH?

Answer: NIOSH-approved respirators have an approval label on or within the packaging of the respirator (i.e. on the box itself and/or within the users’ instructions). Additionally, an abbreviated approval is on the filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) itself. You can verify the approval number on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL) or the NIOSH Trusted-Source page to determine if the respirator has been approved by NIOSH. NIOSH-approved FFRs will always have one the following designations: N95, N99, N100, R95, R99, R100, P95, P99, P100.

Signs that a respirator may be counterfeit:

  • No markings at all on the filtering facepiece respirator
  • No approval (TC) number on filtering facepiece respirator or headband
  • No NIOSH markings
  • NIOSH spelled incorrectly
  • Presence of decorative fabric or other decorative add-ons (e.g., sequins)
  • Claims for the of approval for children (NIOSH does not approve any type of respiratory protection for children)
  • Filtering facepiece respirator has ear loops instead of headbands

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

April 2021 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for April 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. How Stress Affects Anxiety & Rest: Joshua Hill, Therapist at Preferred Care Counseling, joined us to chat about how stress affects anxiety, rest, health, performance and more! 
  2. Rig It Right or It Will Be Wrong (Live): 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. Click here for an abridged audio version on our podcast.
  3. May 3, 2021 – National Safety Stand-Down Event
  4. May 19, 2021 – Free Hearing Screening. Provided by UH Portage Medical Center.
  5. Fall Protection Equipment: April Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  6. Ohio BWC Distance Learning in May 2021
  7. [Health Talk] Heart Disease Prevention (Live): This is a live recording of a public service announcement presented by UH Portage Medical Center at our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, February 11, 2021, on Zoom.
  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. 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. May 13, 2021 – Safety Considerations for Robots in Manufacturing, presented by Mark Eitzman, Safety and Project Manager, Integrated Mill Systems.  Sponsored by 1-888-OhioComp.

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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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.

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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