november

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.

November 2021 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for November 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. [Safety Talk] How to Prevent Cold Stress. [Audio] What is cold stress & how can we prevent it? This episode is a great snapshot from OSHA’s Cold Stress Guide! (6:12)
  2. Cold Stress can be Prevented: OSHA’s cold stress guide for employers.
  3. Reducing Overexertion Injuries: Article by Ohio BWC.
  4. Fall Protection remains atop OSHA’s ‘Top 10’ list of most frequently cited violations. Article by Safety + Health Magazine.
  5. [Safety Blast] Driving Safe for Thanksgiving. [Audio] Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO, called in to share a few tips on how to drive safe this Thanksgiving! (2:58)
  6. [Workplace Wellness] Prediabetes Prevention. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “more than 84% of those with prediabetes don’t even know they have it since prediabetes often has no symptoms.” In this episode, we’re joined by Nicole Smith, Diabetes Program Consultant, & Liz Curry, Diabetes Coordinator at the Ohio Department of Health, to talk about prediabetes and why employers should be concerned about it. (23:56)
  7. Mower Rollover Danger: November 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  8. Ohio BWC Distance Learning: November 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. Workplace Wellness Month: January 2022 will be 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.
  2. 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!!!

COMMUNITY NEWS & RESOURCES:

  • [Community Spotlight] Main Street Mile in Ravenna. Chelsea Gregor of Main Street Ravenna joined us to talk about the new Main Street Mile project in Ravenna, OH. We discuss how she came up with the idea, future use and how other communities can do something similar.
  • Center of Hope: The weather is changing and Thanksgiving is so close! We are in need of help filling our over 500 boxes for our Thanksgiving Distribution. If you are out and about on Saturday the Center of Hope will be open for drop offs 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. We are in desperate need of the following: boxed mashed potatoes, caned sweet potatoes, corn, Jiffy corn bread mix and macaroni and cheese.
  • Kent Social Services: Hard to believe it’s already that time of year folks! If you personally, or if your organization is looking to donate food items for the holiday; these are the items that we will be collecting for both Thanksgiving & Christmas. With both centers combined, we are expecting to fill over 800 food boxes for our friends in need.

November 2020 Newsletter

/ portagecsc

Welcome to our monthly newsletter for November 2020!

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!

UH Portage rectangle banner

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Ladder Safety for Work and the Holidays. This is a live recording of our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, November 12, 2020. The topic was Ladder Safety for Work and the Holidays, and it was presented by Dave Dennison, End User Safety Specialist, Werner Ladders (Flaherty Sales) (54:27) Listen/Download via Google Drive. Current members can access the full length video recording here.
  2. [Video] How Stressed are Your Employees? 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.
  3. [Video] When to Know You Need Help. 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)
  4. [Video] Dealing with Stress at Work Since COVID-19. [Public] Clinical Consultant, Kelly Bako Younkins, joined us to talk about dealing with stress at work since COVID-19. (58:40)
  5. [Video] How to Talk to Employees About Stress. 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. Power Point. (46:10)
  6. [Safety Blast] Driving Safe for Thanksgiving. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO, called in to share a few tips on how to drive safe this Thanksgiving! (2:58)
  7. [Safety Break] That Won’t Happen to Me. In this episode, George Nelson, CSP encourages us to discover and lead people through “bulletproof attitudes.” (4:54)
  8. [Safety Blast] Winter Walking-Working Surfaces Standard. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant Specialist for the Ohio BWC, gives us a snapshot of OSHA’s walking-working surfaces standards in regards to inclement winter weather often experienced in Northeast Ohio and beyond! (2:19)
  9. Documenting Training: November’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  10. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Podbean, Stitcher, & TuneIn/Alexa! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. Only 6 Sponsorships are still available in 2021! Follow link for more info.
  2. Overcoming Stress Resources: Audio & video resources to help you and your staff to overcome stress.
  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
  5. [Video] Portage County COVID-19 Update.This is a live recording of our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, October 8, 2020. The topic was Portage County COVID-19 Update, and it was presented by Becky Lehman, Director of Health Education and Promotion, Portage County Health District. Power Point. Podcast.
  6. A Closer Look: 4 Keys to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 at Home or Work. Dr. Kristen Dickerson, Statewide Health, Wellness, & Special Program Manager at the Ohio Center for Occupational Safety & Health (Ohio BWC), joined us for a post-presentation interview to take a closer look at COVID-19 and answer some of the tougher questions. (29:54
  7. [Video] COVID-19: Unmasking A Novel Pathogen. This is a live recording of our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2020. The topic was COVID-19: Unmasking A Novel Pathogen and it was presented by Kristen Dickerson, PhD, Statewide Health, Wellness, & Special Program Manager, OCOSH-Ohio BWC. Power Point. Podcast.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

Documenting Training: November Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: We have made changes to our training programs, what things should be considered for the documentation and proof of training?

Answer: Whether the training is virtual or in person, the need for documentation is the same.  We have heard “if it’s not documented it wasn’t done, so document, document, document…

Here is a list of things you can include in your documentation:

  • Topic – such as Hazcom, LOTO, Emergency Preparedness
  • Agenda – what did you cover – keep details so you don’t forget
  • Format-online, webinar, in-person, hybrid
  • Date(s)
  • Name of trainer and/or company
  • Assessments– These are great to gauge understanding of a topic.  You can create simple few questions prior to the training and feel free to review as part of the training.
  • Post survey on training effectiveness

Additionally, make sure there is a chance for employees to easily pose questions and give feedback.

Times are challenging but this is a good time to think outside the box and try some hybrid trainings or virtual options. Draw from your staff and keep contact during these times. You just may find some things that can improve your training programs for the future.  Always feel free to contact your BWC safety staff for additional information.

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

November 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for November 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. [Safety Blast] Winter Driving Safety Tips. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO gives us 9 tips on how to stay safe driving in the winter! (1:49)
  2. Behavior-Based Safety 101 (Live). This is a live recording of the “BBS 101…It’s Not BS!” breakout session at the NE Ohio Safety Expo on Oct. 11, 2019. The topic was presented by Sarah Ghezzi, CSP, Industrial Safety Consultant, for Ohio BWC! (45:34)
  3. Improving Safety By Understanding People (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on November 14, 2019. The topic was Improving Safety By Understanding People and it was presented by Mike Thompson, PCSC Manager. Click here to view the power point used in the presentation. (36:53)
  4. Ohio Fire Codes in the Workplace (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on August 8, 2019. The topic was Ohio Fire Codes in the Workplace and it was presented by Lt. Jeff Coffee of the Kent Fire Dept. (44:46)
  5. Winter Safety Podcast Library. Contains 14 podcasts dedicated to winter safety! These episodes would make great toolbox talks or meeting icebreakers.
  6. OSHA’s Cold Stress Guide.
  7. November’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  8. Holiday Safety Tips: November’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  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, December 12, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Practical Application of Electrical Safety,  and it will be presented by Karl Cunningham, Global Electrical Safety, Maintenance and Project Specialist, ES Squared, Inc.. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, December 9th.
  • 2020 sponsorships are SOLD OUT!
  • 28 PCSC members completed the OSHA 10 Hour General Industry training at Hess Print Solutions in Kent, OH, on Nov. 7-8, 2019, earning their OSHA 10 card! Good job and congratulations everyone!

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • 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.

WORKPLACE WELLNESS:

  • [Health Talk] Diabetes 101. November is Diabetes Awareness Month! Mindy Gusz, Community Outreach Coordinator at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center, gives us a crash course on diabetes and how to overcome it! (5:08)
  • January 2020 will be Workplace Wellness month at the PCSC! More info and resources coming soon!

 

OSHA 10 Information

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Here are links to power points and handouts that’ll be used in our OSHA 10 Hour General Industry Training on November 7-8, 2019, at Hess Print Solutions in Kent, OH.

Simply click on each link to view or download the file.

Additional handouts for Section 6:

Holiday Safety Tips: November 2019 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What are some safety concerns that I should be aware of during the holidays at home and at work?

Answer: There are many factors to consider keep you safe during the holidays.  These can apply to work and home.  Below are a few to get you started:

  1. Inspect electrical cords and decorations for damage before use.
  2. Check electric decorations for a certification label. Decorations without a label have not been tested for safety and could be hazardous.
  3. Do not overload electrical outlets. Overloading outlets with high wattage appliances are a major cause of holiday fires.
  4. Protect cords from damage. Cords should never be pinched by furniture, doors, windows or attached by nails or staples.
  5. Follow the package directions on the number of lights sets that can be plugged into one socket.
  6. Turn off, unplug, and extinguish all decorations when leaving the house unattended or going to sleep.
  7. If using a natural Christmas tree, water it frequently to keep it fresh and safe. If using an artificial tree, check that it is labeled “fire resistant”
  8. Keep decorations at least three feet away from heat sources – especially those will an open flame, like fireplaces and candles.
  9. Ensure all smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are in good working condition.
  10. Prepare your car for winter and keep an emergency preparedness kit with you.

You can even go a step further and as part of a holiday gift, provide smoke detectors, first aid kits, fire extinguishers or emergency car kits as a token of appreciation.

 

*Brought to you by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

November 2018 Newsletter

/ portagecsc

Welcome to the 12th edition of our new monthly newsletter!

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. Episode 56 – Safety Blast: Winter Walking-Working Surfaces Standard. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant Specialist for the Ohio BWC, gives us a snapshot of OSHA’s walking-working surfaces standards in regards to inclement winter weather often experienced in Northeast Ohio and beyond! (2:19)
  2. Episode 57 – Ladder Safety. Dave Dennison, Safety Specialist at Flaherty Sales (Werner Co), joins us after his presentation at the Northeast Ohio Safety Expo to discuss ladder safety! (13:42)
  3. November’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  4. Fire Extinguisher Inspections: Nov 2018 Safety & Hygiene Corner. Provided by Ohio BWC Safety Consultants.
  5. 5 Benefits Of Having A Safety Culture During An Emergency. Article provided by Ving!
  6. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone!

WINTER DRIVING SAFETY:

  1. Episode 11 – How to Stay Safe Driving in the Winter. In this interview, Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO joins us to discuss how to stay safe driving in winter weather. (13:11)
  2. Episode 10 – Safety Talk: Winter Driving Safety. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO shares how to stay safe on the road in the winter. (7:18) This episode would make a great tool box talk!
  3. Episode 9 – How to Prepare Your Vehicle for the Winter. Vince Stropko and Lori Cook of AAA East Central NEO join us on this Safety Chat to discuss how to prepare your vehicle(s) for the winter. (11:02)
  4. Episode 8 – Safety Talk: Winter Vehicle Prep. Vince Stropko, Approved Auto Repair Rep for AAA East Central NEO, provides tips on how to prep your vehicle for that frigid Northeast Ohio winter! (3:15) This episode would make a great tool box talk!

 

PCSC NEWS:

  1. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, December 13, 2018, 11:30am-1:00pm. Our topic is The True Cost of Safety and it will be presented by Rich McElhaney, VP Safety & Risk Management, Allied Insurance Brokers/Ascinsure. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, December 10th.
  2. SARA, LEPC & Company Compliance (Live): Audio from last month’s monthly meeting is now available!
  3. Certifications: 25 PCSC members completed their Mental Health First Aid certification last month! Good work & congratulations!

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: Updates won’t begin until the first of the year.