Brought to you by the Ohio BWC Library…
portage
February 2018 Newsletter
Welcome to the 3rd 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!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
Our podcasts are now on iTunes, Podbean, and Google Play! That means you have access to a great training resource right on your phone. Our shorter, straight to the point Safety Talks from local experts would be ideal for tool box talks, meeting ice breakers, or as a supplemental training tool.
SAFETY RESOURCES:
- Podcast Safety Talks: Flu Prevention in One Minute (1:42), 2018 Flu Update (7:19), Flu Prevention (7:50), and more! Visit our new podcast site on Podbean!
- February’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
- BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings, including the most recent one from 2/8/18.
PCSC NEWS:
- 2018 EXPO!!! The 3rd biannual Portage County Workplace Health & Safety Expo will be on Friday, June 22, 2018, 8am-3pm, at Maplewood Career Center! More info coming soon. Vendor tables start at $50 and sponsorships start at $200.
- Second Half Semi-Annual Reports were due on January 15, 2018. If your company has not yet successfully completed them, please do so immediately to remain rebate eligible! Follow the link to complete online or to download forms.
- 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,
- Next Monthly Meeting: Thursday, March 1, 2018. Follow the link to RSVP. Please Note: this date is not our regular 2nd Thursday meeting date. Its 1 week earlier due to the Ohio Safety Congress event in Columbus.
- March 27-28, 2018 – Fall Protection Competent Person Training. SOLD OUT!
2018 Flu Update
Due to the recent news regarding the flu across the country, we teamed up with the Portage County Combined Health District to provide you with a local update and some training tools that you can use and share with your staff to help prevent the flu at your facility.
Here is a press release from the Portage County Combined Health District regarding the flu. Click here to view the press release.
Related Podcasts that could be used as flu prevention training tools:
-
- Episode 13 – Safety Talk: Flu Prevention. In this Safety Talk, Susan Forgacs, Public Health Nurse from the Portage County Combined Health District gives us some timely tips on flu prevention. (7:50) This episode would make a great meeting ice breaker or tool box talk!
- Episode 14 – 2018 Flu Update Interview. In this interview, Susan Forgacs, Public Health Nurse from the Portage County Combined Health District answers questions regarding local flu stats and vaccination information. (7:19)
Thanks and remember to stay safe!
Sincerely,
January 2018 Newsletter
Welcome to the 2nd 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!
SAFETY RESOURCES:
- Podcast Safety Talks: Rig it Right: Interview with Al Abel (24:16), Winter Driving Safety (7:18) & Winter Vehicle Prep (3:15) with AAA, and more!
- January’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library.
- BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings, including the most recent one from 1/11/18.
- Facial Hair & Respirators: January Safety & Hygiene Corner. Provided by BWC staff.
-
Active Shooter Planning: 9 Things You Must Include in Your Emergency Action Plan. A blog by Tim Dimoff of SACS Consulting.
PCSC NEWS:
- Second Half Semi-Annual Reports were due on January 15, 2018. If your company has not yet successfully completed them, please do so immediately to remain rebate eligible! Follow the link to complete online or to download forms.
- 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,
- Next Monthly Meeting: Thursday, February 8, 2018. Follow the link to RSVP.
- ***March Meeting will be on March 1st***
- March 27-28, 2018 – Fall Protection Competent Person Training. Prepaid registration through the PCSC is closed but seats may still be available through the ASSE.
What is Podcasting?
As many of you know, we recently have launched the Portage County Safety Council Podcast. We realize that some of our members may not be familiar with podcasting so we thought it would be fun to write a quick blog to link those members to some great podcasting info.
Don’t worry! If you already know what a podcast is, we included some pretty cool stats that you may enjoy (see graphic below).
- What is a podcast? “A digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer.” – Dictionary.com
- Where did the term come from? “The word originated as a portmanteau of ‘iPod’ (a brand of media player) and ‘broadcast’.” – Wikipedia
- How many people listen to podcasts? “112 million Americans have listened to a podcast” and “42 million Americans listen to podcasts weekly, five times more than go to the movies.” – Source
- Do people actually listen to entire episodes? “86% listen to all or most of each episode”. – PodcastInsights.com
Courtesy of Podcast Insights.com.
Dec. 6, 2017 – Safety for the Non-Safety Professional
This training event is hosted by the North Canton Service Office of the Ohio BWC. It is not a PCSC event but does qualify for 1 external training credit.
Walking-Working Surfaces: November 2017 Safety & Hygiene Corner
Question:
Do I need to inspect the walking -working surfaces in my facility?
Answer:
Yes, according to OSHA’s revised walking-working surfaces rule. OSHA’s definition of a walking-working surface is any horizontal or vertical surface on or through which an employee walks, works, or gains access to a work area or workplace location. The employer must inspect the surfaces, regularly and as necessary, to ensure they are maintained in a safe condition. If a hazardous condition is recognized, the condition is to be corrected or repaired before an employee uses the surface again. If the correction or repair cannot be made immediately, the hazard must be guarded to prevent employees from using the surface. Hazardous conditions may include sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice. For more information on the revised rule, see Subpart D of 29 CFR 1910.
Brought to you by Ohio BWC safety consultants.
Fall Protection Competent Person Training – March 27-28, 2018
Date: Tuesday, March 27, and Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Time: 8:00am-5:00pm
Location: Maplewood Career Center, 7075 St Rt 88, Ravenna, OH 44266
Price: $245 for up-to-date PCSC members (seating is limited to 10 people total)
Registration Deadline: December 31, 2017 (payment required at registration and based on first come/first served)
Click here for the registration form.
October 12, 2017 – Fire Safety For Your Business
Greetings Safety Council Members!
Our next meeting is Thursday, October 12, 2017, 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.
Fire Safety for Your Business, presented by Capt. Lynn of the Kent Fire Department.
This training is ideal for safety managers and all staff!
Please RSVP no later than 12pm on Monday, October 9, 2017.
Please make your check payable to: “Portage County Safety Council.” If you would like to pay by credit card prior to the event, please email us for an invoice. Cost for lunch is still just $15/person for members and $20 for non-members.
OSHA Violence Requirements: October 2017 Safety & Hygiene Corner
Question:
What does OSHA require regarding violence in the workplace and active shooter programs and training?
Answer:
OSHA does not have a specific standard on violence in the workplace or active shooter/ active aggressor situations. However, under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970, employers are required to provide their employees with a place of employment that “is free from recognizable hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to employees.” An employer that has experienced acts of workplace violence, or becomes aware of threats, intimidation, or other indicators showing that the potential for violence in the workplace exists, would be on notice of the risk of workplace violence and should implement a workplace violence prevention program combined with engineering controls, administrative controls, and training.
There are many options to start on this journey. The BWC has a half day violence in the workplace class and your BWC consultant or local law enforcement can help you create a policy. Training can be done in-house, online or with your local law enforcement. There are many companies that focus on security and violence in the workplace if you are interested in seeking other outside help. Two well known training programs dealing with active shooters are: The Department of Homeland Security’s: Run, Hide, Fight and the ALiCE method offered by the ALiCE training institute.
Brought to you by Ohio BWC safety consultants.
Portage County Safety Council 
You must be logged in to post a comment.