october

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.

October 2021 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for October 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. Overcoming Stress at Work & Beyond! Clinical Consultant Kelly Bako Younkins,  joined us to talk stress at work and beyond! Click here to view the video recording.
  2. [Safety Blast] Halloween Traffic Safety Tips: [Audio] Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO, called in to share a few tips on how to stay safe in Halloween Traffic! (3:34)
  3. [Safety Talk] Tornado Safety Tips: [Audio] Here’s some safety tips from Ready.gov on how to prepare for and survive a tornado! (4:34)
  4. Tornado Fact Sheet: From Ready.gov.
  5. Fleet Safety Q & A: [Audio] Timothy Brewster, Director of the Loss Prevention & Recovery Unit at National Interstate Insurance Company, answers questions after his presentation on Reducing the Risk of Accidents Through Effective Fleet Safety Controls. (6:07)
  6. Getting Prepared for OSHA’s New Heat-Related Initiatives. Compliance update provided by Safex.
  7. Machines Safety Videos & Slides: Resources from our 5-wk training facilitated by Integrated Mill Systems.
  8. Cart Safety: October 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  9. Ohio BWC Distance Learning: October 2021.
  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. Help us hit 10,000!!! Our workplace safety podcast is just shy of 10,000 downloads. Please help us hit it by listening to one of our most recent episodes today! Follow the link above to listen or search for “Portage County Safety Council” on your favorite podcast app such as Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, etc. Don’t forget to subscribe!
  2. PCSC YouTube Channel: Did you know the PCSC has a YouTube channel? We often upload some of our virtual meetings and most of our bonus video content and make it accessible to the public.
  3. 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 TOO JOIN!!!

COMMUNITY NEWS & RESOURCES:

  • 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.
  • Mental Health Awareness: 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, but less than two thirds get treatment. Mental Health should be a priority for everyone. Take a free and anonymous screening.

Cart Safety: Oct 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question:  Our facility moves materials on carts, and I heard that the cart’s casters can affect how easy the carts are to move.  Is that true? 

Answer:  Yes!  The wrong type of casters on a cart will make it more difficult to move.  If you have carts that are difficult to move or are purchasing new carts, work with a knowledgeable vendor to assist you with selecting the correct caster and wheel combination for your specific cart, task and workplace conditions.  The following are some key points that you should be providing to your vendor:

  • The weight of the cart, load weight, and load type to determine number of casters required and wheel options. 
  • The types of surfaces the cart will traverse to optimize the wheel’s rollability and reliability.  Include concerns with potential noise (i.e. hospital) or floor debris when selecting the wheel type for your floor surfaces. 
  • The purpose of the cart, cart type, and height restrictions will need to be factored in when determining the cart’s wheel size. The size of wheel is a major factor in rollability of a cart.  Typically, a larger wheel will reduce the forces to move a cart. 
  • Review the path of travel, capacity, and space constraints to determine the requirement and location of swivel casters. 
  • Provide information for any environmental elements, such as extreme heat or wet environments, to ensure compatibility with the caster and wheel materials and bearings.   

Don’t forget about preventative maintenance!  Implement a preventative maintenance schedule per the manufacture’s specifications to keep those push/pull forces from increasing.

If you are concerned with the forces required to move your carts or you aren’t for sure if it is an injury risk, please contact your local BWC Ergonomist or request their service on-line at Ohio BWC – Request consulting services.  Ergonomist can determine if the push/pull forces pose a risk of a workplace injury and provide solutions to lower the risk.  Please remember that BWC’s safety consultation services are included in your BWC premiums.  

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

Oct 6, 2021 – Ohio Safety Council MEGA Meeting!

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Join us for the first of two free webinars hosted by BWC in coordination with Ohio Safety Council sponsors!

Click here to view the official flyer that contains the access link.

Wednesday, October 6, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET
Leading from Your Heart!™

You want to achieve zero-incident culture for safety—who doesn’t? But what does it really take to
get to that point? For starters, it takes great leadership, coaching, and engagement. This inspiring
keynote, which parallels servant leadership principles, is infused with humor, and will reveal
seven contemporary and empirically based principles that will move your people from superficial
compliance to deeper and more durable forms of personal commitment to safety. You’ll leave this talk
with actionable ways to:
• Impact attitudes and actions in deeper and broader ways for three especially important types of
changes in attitudes and actions
• Turn your followers into safety leaders and champions
Develop a culture where safety is viewed as vital to the health of your organization by also experiencing
positive changes in productivity, quality, and morale.

Presented by David J. Sarkus, MS, CSP

David J. Sarkus, MS, CSP is Chief Servant Leader and Founder of David
Sarkus International Inc., a leading health and safety management
consulting and training firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. David is a
motivational safety speaker who delivers keynotes, training, and consulting
in a broad variety of industries. His experience, education, and leadership
qualities have allowed him and his firm to successfully apply strategies and
tactics within a large variation of mainstream work-processes for over 30
years. His customized safety interventions have produced improvements
in key performance indicators from 35% to more than 85% over the previous year. He’s proven that
results like this are not only possible, but scalable and sustainable.


Sarkus holds Master of Science degrees in both safety management and
organizational psychology. He is a recognized leader in the practice of safety
management and has written cover stories for major industry magazines
including Professional Safety and Industrial Safety & Hygiene News. He
has been recognized by ISHN as one of the “Top 50 Leaders” in the field. He
has written five books and over 100 evidence-based articles.


Sarkus works with some of the biggest and best run organizations in
the world and can help you move toward— and embrace— sustainable
excellence in safety.

At the scheduled date and time, click here to join this live event. You do not need
to pre-register.

October 2020 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for October 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. [Inspiring Safety] Morale is a Leading Indicator. Jarrod Tomassi, Safety Director at Mortenson, joined us to chat about inspiring safety and what he calls “the human interface!” In this interview he gives us a key piece. He said, “Morale is the #1 key performance indicator… in a safety culture.” We couldn’t agree more! (22:04) #2 on top 10 most downloaded PCSC podcasts!
  2. [Inspiring Safety] Celebrate Success and Leverage Autonomy & Innovation. In this episode of Inspiring Safety, we’re joined by safety pro, Drew Garverick! We met Drew at OSC19 in Columbus where he participated on a featured panel discussing safety trends. He is currently an EHS/DOT Representative at PepsiCo and serves as the Vice Chair of the Education & Training Committee for the OSC & Expo. (13:30) #6 on top 10 most downloaded PCSC podcasts!
  3. [Safety Break] I Am Because We Are! “You are only as good as the people and the community around you!” Check out this short but highly motivational safety talk by George Nelson, CSP, (4:22)
  4. Work from Home Ergonomics: October’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  5. 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. October 22, 2020 – Make an Impact on Safety with an EAP, presented by Luci Payne, Director of Client Services, and Barb Furst, Account Manager, IMPACT Solutions. Sponsored by Metis Construction Services, Inc.
  3. FY21 Membership Renewal: It’s not too late to #LevelUp in safety! Join today!

WFH Ergonomics: October Safety & Hygiene Corner

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QUESTION: Since we have employees working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, do I need to be concerned about their computer workstation set-up?

ANSWER: Yes, it is important to include home-based employees into your office ergonomic program.   Employees can experience discomfort from improper computer workstation set-up both in the workplace and at home.   If employees are experiencing discomfort such as neck, back, shoulder, or wrist pain during the workday, adjustments need to be made before it becomes chronic and develops into a Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD).   According to 2020 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, tasks that cause workplace MSDs are in the top 10 causes of disabling workplace injuries costing U.S. businesses $20 billion dollars.  To help prevent MSD injuries for the home-based office employee, BWC published a YouTube video to improve employee’s comfort utilizing common household items.   Click on the following link to view, BWC home office set-up. 

If you would like additional resources or to request a virtual office ergonomic assessment, please contact your local BWC Ergonomist or request their service on-line at BWC Safety and Health Consulting Request.  Essentially, their consultations are free to use since your BWC premiums include their services.

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

October 2019 Newsletter

/ portagecsc

Welcome to our monthly newsletter for October 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!

ATTN: SCHOOLS!

  • Check out Anti-Virus Youth Education!  Anti-Virus Youth Education has positively impacted over 75 school districts and over 20,000 students! Based out of Ohio, they have completed leadership & character development workshops in 6 states, have been designated as a Best Practice by the Ohio Department of Education and their curriculum can be found in 16 nations! Director, Tanya Miller called in to chat about this exciting program making a difference around the world! Please share this episode with colleagues and friends who work in education today!

WHY I STAY SAFE CAMPAIGN RESOURCES:

  • Free Employer Toolkit: The Why I Stay Safe Employer Toolkit reviews the results of our survey, highlights key takeaways, lists easy ways to implement the campaign at your workplace and provides free campaign graphics to help get you started!
  • Free Campaign Poster & Flyer: Feel free to download, print and display at your workplace! The poster is 11×17 and the flyer is 8.5×11, both are in PDF.
  • Free Campaign Graphics & Pictures: Feel free to share in your company emails, newsletters and social media pages! All are in JPEG format.
  • Take the Employer Pledge! If your company will be participating in the #WhyIStaySafe Campaign, please sign-up in the Employer Pledge! This helps us to measure the impact of the campaign. We won’t share contact info with anyone.
  • Why I Stay Safe Campaign Launch (Live). This is a live recording of our Why I Stay Safe Campaign launch at our monthly workplace safety luncheon on October 10, 2019. PCSC Manager, Mike Thompson, shares the insight from a recent survey that led to the development & launch of the campaign as well as the free resources that are available online aimed at helping employers integrate the campaign into their current safety program.

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Selling Safety to CEO’s, Managers and Front Line Employees. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, called in to chat with us about how to sell safety to CEO’s, middle managers and front-line employees! (36:15)
  2. Someone’s at the Door – They’re from OSHA! (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on September 12, 2019. The topic was Someone’s at the Door – They’re from OSHA! and it was presented by Pat McCon, Sr. Risk Engineering Consultant, Zurich North America. (43:25)
  3. Why I Stay Safe Podcast. What’s your employees’ primary motivation for working safe? It may not be what you think it is! Join Nic & Mike as they chat about the results of a recent survey that led to the launch of the Portage County Safety Council’s new Why I Stay Safe Campaign! (19:00)
  4. Breaking Out of the Safety Box. What is “the safety box” and how can you break out of it to improve your company’s safety performance? Join Nic & Mike as they answer these questions and chat about how to overcome common industry blinders that may be hindering your company’s safety score! (20:55)
  5. October’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  6. Temporary Workers: October’s Safety & Hygiene Corner
  7. How Avoiding Back Pain Can Be As Basic As Muscle Memory. Article by Ving!
  8. 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:

  • OSHA 10hr Training is Almost SOLD OUT! More than half the seats are already filled. Hurry and register today before its too late!
  • NEXT MEETING: Thursday, November 14, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Healthy Backs & Bodies and it will be presented by Tanya Snowden, PT, CEAS, AOEAS, Program Creator and Master Instructor, HEALTHY BACKS & BODIES™. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, November 11th.
  • 2020 Sponsorships Available! 2020 monthly luncheon sponsorships are now available! Each month is still only $125 and you get 20% off when sponsor more than one month. Contact us before they’re gone!
  • FY20 Participation Spreadsheet in now available! Rebate eligible members can now review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum FY20 rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis. 

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.

Temporary Workers: October 2019 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What are the employer responsibilities to protect temporary workers?

Answer: There is a joint responsibility of the host employers and the staffing agency.

While the extent of responsibility under the law of staffing agencies and host employers is dependent on the specific facts of each case, staffing agencies and host employers are jointly responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for temporary workers – including, for example, ensuring that OSHA’s training, hazard communication, and recordkeeping requirements are fulfilled.

OSHA could hold both the host and temporary employers responsible for the volatile condition(s) – and that can include lack of adequate training regarding workplace hazards. Temporary staffing agencies and host employers share control over the worker, and are therefore jointly responsible for temporary workers’ safety and health.

OSHA has concerns that some employers may use temporary workers to avoid meeting all their compliance obligations under the OSH Act. Therefore, it is essential that both employers comply with all relevant OSHA requirements.

A key concept is that each employer should consider the hazards it is in a position to prevent and correct, and in a position to comply with OSHA standards. For example: staffing agencies might provide general safety and health training, and host employers provide specific training tailored to the particular workplace equipment/hazards.

  • The key is communication
  • Staffing agencies must ensure that they are sending workers to a safe workplace. They also must verify that the host has fulfilled its responsibilities for a safe workplace.
  • Ignorance of hazards is not an excuse.
  • And, just as important: Host employers must treat temporary workers like any other workers in terms of training and safety and health protections.

OSHA has updated their page on responsibilities and temp workers

https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/communication.html

https://www.osha.gov/temp_workers/

*Brought to you by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.