safety

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.

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.

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.

Sanitizer Storage: March 2021 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: I have a lot of alcohol-based hand sanitizer on hand, due to the pandemic. Is there anything special about storage or placement of dispensers that I should know?

Answer: Yes, alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is greater than 20% alcohol falls under a Class 1B flammable liquid according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Here are some requirements to consider:

  • Individual dispensers located in a hallway must be 0.5 gallons or less (no gallon jugs).
  • Dispensers must be installed at least 1 inch away from electrical receptacles and light switches and must be separated from another dispenser by at least 4 feet horizontally.
  • Dispensers must not be installed above carpeted floors, unless the area is sprinklered.
  • Automatic dispensers (touch free) are required to be tested each time they are refilled, can only activate when the object is within 4 inches of the dispenser and will only dispense the amount required as determined by the United States FDA.
  • The Ohio Fire Code requires the storage of more than 10 gallons in a flammable liquid cabinet or flammable liquid storage room. The NFPA 30 code dictates storage considerations starting at 5 gallons. No storage is permitted in basements.

If you have specific questions about safe storage and handling, consult the Safety Data Sheet for the product or call your local Authority Having Jurisdiction for fire code enforcement. 

*Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

February 2021 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for February 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. Building Trust to Improve Retention. Dawn Yoder, CEO at Anderson Management, shares how she flipped one company’s retention rate from 25% to 75% in just one year! Dawn is also a Global Priority Solutions consultant, check out their podcast, Living Like a Leader, available on your favorite podcast apps. (12:34)
  2. [Inspiring Safety] Creating Space for Employees to Grow. Safety specialist Katie Woodhall, Organizational Development & Leadership Advisor at Sparrow Tale, joined us to chat about how she inspires safety by creating space for employees to grow! (22:41)
  3. How to Build a Culture of Success & Legacy (Live). This is a live recording of our Virtual Safety Council meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2020. The topic was The Power of Words: How to Build a Culture of Success & Legacy, and it was presented by Coach James Lovejoy, Streetsboro High School Assistant Football Coach & 2019 Streetsboro Citizen of the Year. (34:24)
  4. Avoiding Burnout During COVID-19 & Beyond. Dr. Kristen Dickerson, Statewide Health, Wellness, & Special Program Manager at the Ohio Center for Occupational Safety & Health (Ohio BWC), joined us to talk about how to avoid emotional burnout caused by social pressure during the pandemic and more!  (32:28)
  5. How to Prevent Cold Stress. What is cold stress & how can we prevent it? This episode is a great snapshot from OSHA’s Cold Stress Guide! (6:12) Ideal for a toolbox talk!
  6. How to Avoid Slips, Trips & Falls in Winter Weather Conditions. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant Specialist for the Ohio BWC, called in to share some tips on how to avoid slips, trips & falls in winter conditions! (7:20) Ideal for a toolbox talk!
  7. BBP Trainer Qualifications: February Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  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. Celebrating 200 Episodes!!! Mike & Nic celebrate 200 episodes and over 50 hours of original workplace safety & wellness content! Join them as they discuss this, the top 10 downloaded episodes and more! (21:21)
  2. FY21 Sponsorships are sold out!
  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
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Celebrating 2020!

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2020 was a tough year for all of us but we’re happy we made the turn and had another effective year!

The list below is a simple snapshot of what we’ve done together through all the hard times. Thank you for your continued support and participation in the Portage County Safety Council. We look forward to an even better, healthier & safer 2021 with you all!

Overview:

  1. Launched Virtual Safety Program (9 Virtual Meetings in 2020)
  2. 16 On-Demand Video Recordings (7 bonus videos)
  3. Launched the first ever Safety Mastermind Group
  4. 66% more visitors to website than 2019
  5. Launched a new YouTube channel in Feb.

Campaigns:

  1. Healthy Workers are Safer Workers
  2. Get Outside! 14 related podcasts released, posters downloaded 687 times!
  3. Overcoming Stress (on-going)

Podcasts:

  • 67 episodes published, nearly 21 hours of content created (37% increase from 2019)
  • Downloads increased 21% from 2019
  • Downloaded in 46 states (44% OH, ME 8%, CA 8%, MI 7%, VA 6%) and in 52 nations (84% USA)
  • Became available in 2020 on Pandora, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music & Alexa

December 2020 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for December 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. Dealing with Others During the Holidays. Dawn Yoder of Global Priority Solutions & Tanya Miller of Anti-Virus Youth Education, joined us on Zoom and gave us some tips on how to handle people different than us during the holidays! Check out their podcast, Living Like a Leader, available on your favorite podcast apps. Please note: this is an excerpt from e193. (12:09)
  2. [Safety Talk] How to Prevent Cold Stress. What is cold stress & how can we prevent it? This episode is a great snapshot from OSHA’s Cold Stress Guide! (6:11)
  3. How to Engage Gen Z at Home & Work. Tanya Miller of Anti-Virus Youth Education and Dawn Yoder of Global Priority Solutions, joined us on Zoom to talk about how to engage with Gen Z workers & family members. As a CEO, Dawn flipped a company’s annual retention rate from 25% to 75% in one year by engaging employees better! She describes her experience starting at around 20:00. (56:54) Video
  4. [Safety Blast] Dressing Properly in Cold Weather. Here are some tips from OSHA’s Cold Stress Guide on how to dress properly in extreme cold weather! (1:58)
  5. [Safety Blast] Christmas Driving Safety Tips. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO gives us some tips on how to stay safe driving for Christmas! (4:15)
  6. [Safety Blast] Driving Safe on New years. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO, reminds us to drive safe when celebrating New Years! (3:59)
  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. Our podcasts are now available on Pandora!!!
  2. Only 6 Sponsorships are still available in 2021! Follow link for more info.
  3. Overcoming Stress Resources: Audio & video resources to help you and your staff to overcome stress.
  4. 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
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