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June 2020 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for June 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!

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. Leading Through Changes at Work. Change is never easy but it is inevitable, especially in times of crisis! As non-essential businesses start to reopen, workers will be returning to some big changes. Join Mike & Nic as they discuss how to plan, lead, communicate & navigate through change. (24:18)
  3. [Safety Crash Course] HazCom & GHS Basics (Live). This is a live recording of the 2nd of 3 Safety Crash Course – Part 2 presentations at our monthly workplace safety luncheon on March 5, 2020. The topic was HazCom & GHS Basics and it was presented by Matt Mohler, Facilities Director, Delta Systems, Inc. Click here to view the power point. (18:45)
  4. [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)
  5. June’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  6. Powered Industrial Trucks Training Requirements: June’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  7. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, Stitcher & You Tube! local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. Get Outside campaign posters (11×17) & flyers (8.5×11) by Portage Parks have been downloaded well over 450 times! Follow links to download and print your own!
  2. Event Cancellations: All PCSC events have been cancelled through June 2020.
  3. FY21 Update: We’re still waiting on the state for more info on FY21 before making any decisions. Thank you for your patience!

WORKPLACE WELLNESS:

  1. Why Employers Should Promote Spending Time Outdoors. Research shows spending more time outdoors not only improves health but also focus, creativity & productivity! Should employers implement a #GetOutside campaign for their employees? We think so! Join Mike & Nic as they discuss this and more! For free employer related Get Outside articles, resources & campaign ideas, check out our For Employers campaign page. (15:25)
  2. Why You Should Spend More Time Outdoors. Andrea Metzler & Jennifer White of the Portage Park District, joined us to chat about the health benefits of spending time outdoors at least 120 minutes a week! This is an excerpt from e156, click here to listen to the full episode. (5:46)
  3. Park Rx. Andrea Metzler & Jennifer White share about the Portage Park District’s Park Rx program! Also, check out their new Remote Education Programs that were launched as a result of COVID-19. This is an excerpt from e156, click here to listen to the full episode. (4:11)

GET OUTSIDE CAMPAIGN:

Powered Industrial Trucks Training Requirements: June’s Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What training is required when an operator is to operate different types of powered industrial trucks?

Answer: OSHA’s Powered Industrial Trucks Standard 1910.178(l)(i) states that “The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).” 1910.178(l)(3) requires that operators receive training in the topics which are applicable to the safe operation of the truck in the employer’s workplace.

Therefore, an operator must be trained and evaluated in the safe operation for the type of truck that the operator will be assigned to operate in the employer’s workplace. For example, if an operator is assigned to operate a sit-down counterbalanced rider truck, then the operator must be trained and evaluated in the safe operation for that type of truck. If an operator is assigned to operate an operator-up counterbalanced front/side loader truck, or a rough terrain forklift, then the operator must be trained and evaluated in the safe operation for those types of trucks.

A sit-down counterbalanced rider truck, an operator-up counterbalanced front/side loader truck, and a rough terrain forklift are different types of trucks. Operators who have successfully completed training and evaluation as specified in 1910.178(l) (in a specific type of truck) would not need additional training when they are assigned to operate the same type of truck made by a different manufacturer. However, operators would need additional training if the applicable truck-related and workplace-related topics listed in 1910.178(l)(3) are different for that truck.

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

May 2020 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for May 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!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. [Safety Crash Course] Bloodborne Pathogens (Live). This is a live recording of the 1st of 3 Safety Crash Course – Part 2 presentations at our monthly workplace safety luncheon on March 5, 2020. The topic was Bloodborne Pathogens Basics and it was presented by Brenda Allen, Certified Trainer, Swift First Aid. (14:56)
  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] Floods. Here’s some safety tips from Ready.gov on how to prepare for and what to do during a flood! (5:11)
  4. [Safety Talk] Power Outages. Here’s some safety tips from Ready.gov on how to prepare for and what to do during a power outage! (4:33)
  5. May’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  6. First Aid Response Times: May’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  7. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, Stitcher & You Tube! local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. FY20 Refund Notice: Deadline to respond is June 1, 2020. Any unclaimed refunds will be adsorbed back into the PCSC to support future programming. Follow link for more info.
  2. Get Outside campaign posters (11×17) & flyers (8.5×11) by Portage Parks have been downloaded well over 300 times! Follow links to download and print your own!
  3. COVID-19 Program Updates: The latest program updates from the PCSC as a result of COVID-19. More info coming soon!
  4. Event Cancellations: All PCSC events have been cancelled through June 2020.

WORKPLACE WELLNESS:

  1. Overcoming Loneliness During COVID-19. According to the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, “loneliness and social isolation can be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day!” As the COVID-19 crisis continues, we asked Jennifer Parmenter, Clinical Counseling Supervisor at Family & Community Services, Inc., in Kent, OH, to call in to give us some tips on how to overcome loneliness & avoid its deadly consequences! (56:32)
  2. How to Take Care of Your Mental Health During COVID-19. Jennifer Parmenter, Clinical Counseling Supervisor at Family & Community Services, Inc., in Kent, OH, called in to give us some tips on how to take care of ourselves and our mental health during the COVID-19 crisis! (28:37)
  3. Staying Active at Home During the Lockdown. Leslee Keegan of I’m Power Fitness Center in Ravenna, OH, called in to give us tips on how to stay active at home during the COVID-19 lockdown! Check out her Facebook page for more info today! (12:31)
  4. How Stress Affects Workplace Safety. Is stress really a safety concern? In this episode, Mike & Nic chat about stress before & during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it significantly impacts your workforce, even in regards to safety! (22:52)

GET OUTSIDE CAMPAIGN:

 

 

Refund Notice – FY20 Prepaid Lunches

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This message is for PCSC members who purchased FY20 Annual Prepaid Lunch Packages.
 
PCSC Members:
Due to the cancellation of our April, May & June luncheons, members who purchased FY20 Annual Prepaid Lunch Packages qualify for a refund of $45 per package purchased. To see the amount your company qualifies for, click here.
REFUND OPTIONS
Due to suggestions offered by a few of our members, the PCSC is offering 3 refund options:
  1. Refund (by check via USPS mail; please allow up to 60 days)
  2. Donate back to the Portage County Safety Council (to help support future safety programming)
  3. Donate to local food programs (to help those in need through programs such as Mobile Meals, Center of Hope, Kent Social Services, etc)
*Due to the uncertainty of how social distancing orders will affect our luncheons in FY21, we are not offering credits at this time. Thanks for understanding!
 
Please complete this online FY20 Refund Request Form to choose one the refund options above ASAP. If for any reason the link doesn’t work for you, please email us.
 
Deadline is Monday, June 1, 2020. Any refund amount not claimed by 6/1/20 will be donated back to the Portage County Safety Council in order to continue to support local safety programming. Exceptions may be made for members who were temporarily out of business due to the pandemic.
Thank you all for your continued support of your companies, employees, safety, the Portage County Safety Council and our communities at large! I hope all of you are well and your families are staying safe through all of this!

April 2020 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for April 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!

COVID-19 Related:

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. How Stress Affects Workplace Safety. Is stress really a safety concern? In this episode, Mike & Nic chat about stress before & during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it significantly impacts your workforce, even in regards to safety! (22:52)
  2. [Safety Talk] Tornado Safety Tips. Here’s some safety tips from Ready.gov on how to prepare for and survive a tornado! (4:34)
  3. [Safety Crash Course] 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)
  4. [Safety Crash Course] Forklift Safety Basics (Live). This is a live recording of the 3rd of 4 Safety Crash Course – Part 1 presentations at our monthly workplace safety luncheon on February 13, 2020. The topic was Forklift Safety Basics and it was presented by Robert Campbell, Safety Coordinator, Viking Forge Corporation. Click here to view the power point. (8:58
  5. [Safety Crash Course] PPE Basics (Live). This is a live recording of the 2nd of 4 Safety Crash Course – Part 1 presentations at our monthly workplace safety luncheon on February 13, 2020. The topic was PPE Basics and it was presented by Twilla Watson, Human Resources Manager, Hess Print Solutions. Click here to view the power point. (5:50) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  6. [Safety Crash Course] Lockout Tagout Basics (Live). This is a live recording of the first of four Safety Crash Course – Part 1 presentations at our monthly workplace safety luncheon on February 13, 2020. The topic was Lockout Tagout Basics and it was presented by Renee Onesti, Director of Engineering & Maintenance, Kent Elastomer Products, Inc. Click here to view the power point. (8:38)
  7. April’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  8. Respirator Fit-Testing Guidelines: April’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  9. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, Stitcher & You Tube! local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. COVID-19 Program Updates: The latest program updates from the PCSC as a result of COVID-19. More info coming soon!
  2. Event Cancellations: All PCSC events have been cancelled through June 2020.
  3. Get Outside Campaign:This campaign is aimed at improving worker health & wellness by highlighting local parks & trails while promoting the benefits of spending time outdoors! This page contains links to free campaign tools and related resources to help you, your company and/or community to promote & improve health & wellness. Click here to listen to the official campaign launch!

WORKPLACE WELLNESS:

  1. How to Take Care of Your Mental Health During COVID-19. Jennifer Parmenter, Clinical Counseling Supervisor at Family & Community Services, Inc., in Kent, OH, called in to give us some tips on how to take care of ourselves and our mental health during the COVID-19 crisis! (28:37)
  2. Staying Active at Home During the Lockdown. Leslee Keegan of I’m Power Fitness Center in Ravenna, OH, called in to give us tips on how to stay active at home during the COVID-19 lockdown! Check out her Facebook page for more info today! (12:31)
  3. How Stress Affects Workplace Safety. Is stress really a safety concern? In this episode, Mike & Nic chat about stress before & during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it significantly impacts your workforce, even in regards to safety! (22:52)
  4. [Get Outside] 2020 Campaign Launch!Are there advantages of spending more time outdoors? Should employers implement a #GetOutside campaign to their employees? Join Mike & Nic as they answer these two questions and chat about the Portage County Safety Council’s new Get Outside Campaign with Portage Parks! Follow the campaign link to download a free campaign poster or flyer today! (16:36)

 

 

Trenching Hazards: March’s Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: I am hearing a lot about trench & excavation hazards recently.  Besides cave-ins, is there any other hazards I should be aware of?

Answer: Many construction workers are injured and killed in trench and excavation collapses each year.  Although collapsing is the major hazard with trenches and excavations, there are others that you should be aware of, as well.

  1. Trenches and excavations can be deficient of oxygen or could contain hazardous concentrations of gases like carbon monoxide. Stay out of the trench or excavation and report to your supervisor if either hazard is a possibility.
  2. Watch out for buried electrical cables that could cause injuries or electrocutions. Excavators are supposed to call local utilities before they dig, but its safest to assume that they haven’t.  If you see a cable, assume it is hot.  Get out immediately without coming into contact with it and report to your supervisor.
  3. Watch for water lines and avoid breaking them. Broken lines will cause trenches and excavations to cave in quickly.  If you see water inside a trench or excavation, get out immediately and contact your supervisor.
  4. Watch for buried gas lines and other buried hazards. They could cause injuries.  For example, a broken natural gas line could be ignited by a welding spark, torch, cigarette or other source.
  5. Be aware of falling and moving objects while working, especially when an equipment operator is lowering pipe, shoring materials or other objects into the trench or excavation. Keep well away from the process.
  6. Remember that changing weather conditions may affect the stability of the soil in a trench or excavation. When changes in weather occur, such as rain, snow, ice storms, heavy winds or extended periods of hot, dry, weather.  Stay out of the trench until it is inspected by someone with the knowledge and experience to know whether entering could be hazardous.
  7. Always maintain an accessible means of exiting the trench or excavation such as a ladder or ramp. There should be an accessible exit within 25 feet of every worker inside the trench or excavation.

Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

February 2020 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for February 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!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Embracing the Long View for Safety. Do you abandon your new safety strategy too soon? In this episode, Mike & Nic chat about the diffusion of innovation model and what it means for safety! (11:30) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  2. Tench Safety Grant (TSG) Program:BWC’s Trench Safety Grant Program provides 4-to-1 matching funds, up to $12,000, to Ohio private and public employers covered by the State Insurance Fund who wish to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with trenching and excavation. The grant funds can assist employers in purchasing safety equipment, such as trench boxes and hydraulic shoring.
  3. Trench Safety Ohio.com! A new website from the Ohio BWC that provides links to trenching safety information and tips, training, and publications.
  4. Practical Application of Electrical Safety (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on December 12, 2019. The topic was Practical Application of Electrical Safety and it was presented by Karl Cunningham, Global Electrical Safety, Maintenance and Project Specialist, ES Squared, Inc. (34:26) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  5. February’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  6. OSHA’s Policy on Online Training: February’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  7. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, Stitcher & You Tube! local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. NOTICE: March Meeting Date Change! Due to OSC 2020, our regularly scheduled March meeting will now be on March 5th, 2020. Please advise all staff planning to attend.
  2. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, March 5, 2020, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Safety Crash Course – Part 2 and it will be presented by various speakers. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, March 2.
  3. 2020 Expo! The 4th biannual Portage County Workplace Health & Safety Expo will be on Friday, June 19, 2020, 8am-3pm, at Maplewood Career Center. More details coming this spring!
  4. Expo Vendor Tables Starting at $50!!! Deadline is March 31, 2020. Follow link for more details.
  5. New PCSC You Tube Channel! One podcast will now be automatically converted to video and uploaded to our new You Tube channel every week! 
  6. Website Update! Our website can now be found at PortageCountySafetyCouncil.com! The old WordPress URL stills works but now we are ad free and you can save a few seconds with the new domain address. In addition, we’ve also added several new pages under the About Us tab, to make it easier to explore & navigate all the good things the PCSC is currently involved in! Check it out!

EXTERNAL TRAINING CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

*Click here for ETC guidelines.

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.
  • Rebate Fact Sheet: Have a question regarding rebate requirements? Check out this fact sheet from the Ohio BWC.

January is Workplace Wellness Month

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PCSC Members:

We’re teaming up with SCSC to promote workplace wellness throughout the month of January!

At our monthly meeting on Thursday, January 9, 2020, we’ll be officially launching our new Healthy Workers are Safer Workers Campaign which provides employers with free campaign tools and workplace wellness resources aimed at helping them improve worker health!

We’ll be giving away 100 free campaign posters to those in attendance! Click here to download a free electronic copy today!

In addition to the campaign launch, we’ll be publishing a new workplace wellness podcast every Monday throughout to month! Once released, these episodes will be available through all of our podcast channels on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher!

To learn more, click here to listen to the January is Workplace Wellness Month podcast announcement today!

 

Jan 9, 2020 – Reboot Your Health

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Greetings Safety Council Members!

Our next meeting is Thursday, January 9, 2020, 11:30am-1:00pm, at the Ravenna Elks Club which is located at 776 N Freedom St in Ravenna. Sponsored By US Safety Gear

January is Workplace Wellness Month!!!

Our topic for this month is…

Reboot Your Health, presented by Dr. Aubree Jones, D.C., Peak Health & Wellness.

Dr. Aubree Jones is a native of Chautauqua County, New York. She graduated from Falconer Central school in 2008 and continued her studies at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, OH earning her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2012. Dr. Aubree then went on to earn her Doctorate in Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College in 2016.                                                                                             

Please RSVP online no later than 12pm on Monday, January 6. Cash, credit cards and checks are accepted at the door. Please make your check payable to: “Portage County Safety Council.” Please note: $5 fee will be charge for walk-ins including members who do not RSVP by deadline, no shows will be invoiced. Invoicing at the door is no longer available.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW