Don't Let This Be You!

The following accident could have been avoided with proper safety training on personal protective equipment and forklift safety....DON'T LET THIS BE YOU!

ACCIDENT SUMMARY No. 73

Accident Type:	Struck by/Caught between
Weather Conditions:	Clear/warm
Type of Operation:	Stacking Structural Steel
Size of Work Crew:	6
Competent Person on Site:	No
Safety and Health Program in Effect:	No
Was the Worksite Inspected Regularly by the Employer:	No
Training and Education Provided:	No
Employee Job Title:	Laborer
Age & Sex:	28-Male
Experience at this Type of Work:	4 Years
Time on Project:	5 Weeks

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

Two laborers and a fork lift driver were staking 40-foot-long I-beams in preparation for for structural steel erection. One laborer was placing a 2 X 4 inch wooden spacer on the last I-beam on the stack. The fork lift driver drove up to the stack with another I-beam that was not secured or blocked on the fork lift tines. The I-beam fell from the tines, pining the laborer between the fallen I beam and the stack of beams.

INSPECTION RESULTS

As a result of its investigation, OSHA issued citations for two serious violations of OSHA standards.

ACCIDENT PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS

The employer must:

1. Instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and regulations applicable to the work environment to control or eliminate any hazards. In accordance with Title 29 Code of the Federal Regulations (CFR) 1926.21(b)(2).
2. Ensure that proper personal equipment (employee did not wear a seat belt while operating the fork lift) is worn in all operations where there is exposure to hazardous conditions, in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.28(a)
3. Ensure that powered industrial trucks have loads that are stable and secure and that persons are not allowed too close to the elevated portions, in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.602(c)(1)(vi).
4. Ensure that the employer initiates and maintains a safety and health program, in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2)

NOTE: The case here described was selected as being representative of fatalities caused by improper work practices. No special emphasis or priority is implied nor is the case necessarily a recent occurrence. The legal aspects of the incident have been resolved, and the case is now closed.

Workers Comp and Drug Use

A worker uses questionable judgment while using heavy equipment. He’s seriously injured, and a test shows he used illegal drugs. The employee applies for workers’ comp. Does he get benefits?

Here’s what happened:

Michael Wiehe was an employee of Kissick Construction Co. in Kansas. The company had been hired as part of a highway-widening project.

Wiehe was operating a roller which leveled and compacted dirt before asphalt was laid on top. He attempted to break apart a large pile of dirt when the roller tipped over. Wiehe was thrown from the machine. The roller had a seat belt, but Wiehe wasn’t wearing it.

He suffered numerous injuries, including severe ones to his pelvis.

A drug test was performed on Wiehe at the hospital. He had a level of marijuana which was more than four times the amount needed to establish a conclusive presumption of impairment under Kansas law.

Wiehe admitted that he had used both methamphetamine and marijuana the day before he was injured. However, he said he was clearheaded on the day of the incident.

The Workers’ Compensation Board awarded benefits to Wiehe. It said the impairment exception didn’t apply in this case because there wasn’t enough evidence to show that Wiehe had behaved erratically or unusually before the incident. His employer appealed.

To show that Wiehe was impaired, a company foreman testified that he’d noticed Wiehe acting “a little goofy” before the incident, bobbing and weaving his head.

An experienced operating engineer also testified that Wiehe’s attempt to flatten a mound of dirt that was too large showed an extreme lack of judgment.

A toxicologist told the court that a person who is impaired by marijuana would function normally until something unexpected is placed in his or her path. The toxicologist said Wiehe might have carried out his job just fine that day if the large lump of dirt hadn’t been there.

The appeals court overturned the decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board. Wiehe would not get workers’ comp benefits. It said the company had proven that his impairment caused him to operate the roller in a manner that demonstrated extremely poor judgment.

Wiehe v. Kissick Construction Co., Court of Appeals of Kansas, No. 102,669, 5/6/10

Reposted from Safety News Alert

$115,000 OSHA Fine Against Pierce Industries

Reposted from the OSHA website.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed $114,750 in additional fines against Pierce Industries, a Rochester, N.Y., machine shop, chiefly for failing to correct hazards cited during a previous OSHA inspection. The company was fined $30,000 in December 2009 for a variety of hazards, including failing to test its piping system to ensure it was gas-tight under pressure and to adequately train its workers in the safe operation of forklifts.

The company agreed to correct these conditions, but OSHA's follow-up inspection found this had not been done. A recurring hazard of improperly used electrical outlet boxes also was identified. As a result of these conditions, OSHA has issued the company two failure-to-abate citations with $105,750 in proposed fines for the uncorrected hazards, and one repeat citation with a $3,000 fine for the recurring electrical hazard. OSHA issues failure-to-abate citations and additional penalties when an employer fails to correct previously cited hazards. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously was cited for the same or similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last three years.

"An uncorrected hazard is an ongoing threat to the safety and health of workers. Employers need to understand that ignoring or putting off corrective action can be costly in financial as well as human terms," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "In cases like this, OSHA will check to verify that cited hazards have been corrected and, if not, employers will be subject to additional and potentially much larger fines."

Pierce Industries also has been issued two serious citations with $6,000 in fines for two new hazards, incomplete procedures and employee training to ensure that machines' power sources were properly locked out of service before maintenance. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

"One means of eliminating recurring hazards such as these is for employers to establish a safety and health program in which workers and management jointly work to identify and eliminate hazardous conditions on a continual basis," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

Original article found here.

Tightening Up the Belt on Safety; Safety Wins

From Las Vegas Sun; August 19, 2010

Construction workers had been dying at a rate of one every six weeks in the $32 billion building boom on the Las Vegas Strip. But deaths stopped last year after the Las Vegas Sun exposed serious safety flaws on the sites and detailed how lax oversight by safety regulators failed to prevent accidents.

The stories forced state and federal investigations and became the subject of hearings in the U.S. House and Senate. Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid and others sent a letter to President Bush demanding safety reforms in the Labor Department.

As the Sun pursued the story, the newspaper reported on cozy relationships existing between safety regulators and builders. Angered by the revelations and continuing death toll, workers walked off the job at MGM Mirage's CityCenter, shutting down the largest private commercial development in U.S. history until the contractors agreed to safety improvements.

Twelve workers had died in 18 months. But after the improvements, the deaths stopped. No workers have died since June 2008.

Safety Training found here.

Las Vegas Sun

10 Most Common Workplace Injuries

10 Most Common Workplace Injuries (2008 Workplace Safety Index)

1. Overexertion –Caused by rigorous activities at work such as pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and throwing.

2. Fall on Same Level Surfaces – Wet/Slippery Floors, Lack of Good Housekeeping, Snow on Sidewalks Outside

3. Fall to Lower Level – Falling from an elevated surface such as roofs, ladders, walls, and stairways.

4. Bodily Reaction - These are injuries caused by slipping and tripping without falling.

5. Struck By Object – This type of injury happens when objects fall or dropped by someone from a height. An example is a falling hammer in a construction site that may hit another person below it. This can be a very serious type of workplace injury.

6. Struck Against Object – This type of workplace injury refers to running into concrete objects such as walls, doors, tables, cabinets, chairs, glass windows, etc.

7. Highway Incidents – Transportation used for business purposes such as trucks and cars may be involved in an automobile accident just like any regular traveler.

8. Caught In/Compressed By – This type of injury usually occurs in a factory where large and dangerous machinery is used. Sometimes little or no precaution in its usage and may endanger the safety of its operators. Exposure to extreme temperature is also an example of this workplace injury.

9. Repetitive Motion – This type of workplace injury is less obvious but definitely harmful in the long run. Repetitive motions such as typing and using the computer 24/7 can strain muscles and tendons causing back pain, vision problems, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

10. Assaults and Violent Acts – This may not be a frequent occurrence but is nonetheless causing injuries among employees who engage in physical attack against each other.

Ways To Prevent Workplace Injuries and Accidents

1. Plan Ahead

-Plan location of equipment and furniture

-Warning signs for dangerous equipment

-Engineering control systems (can minimize awkward positions, strenuous handling and repetitive motion problems)

-Manuals for proper usage of work tools, updated regularly and enforced to employees

-Fitness and exercise programs to avoid overexertion

-Employees should be extra careful in daily activities

-Keep employees properly trained with safety training, including refresher courses

Quality, comprehensive safety training found here!

China - In Dire Need of Safety Training

"BEIJING - A massive explosion ripped through a fireworks factory in northeast China killing at least 13 workers, damaging nearby buildings and causing secondary blasts.

Up to 50 people were working at the fireworks factory in the city of Yichun in Heilongjiang province when it was rocked by the explosion according to a statement posted on the local government's website.

A total of 148 people were injured by the blast, which could be felt up to 2 miles away and smashed windows in the local government offices and other buildings.

Safety is lax at Chinese fireworks plants, and accidents are common. Dozens of people also die each year from unsafe handling of fireworks while celebrating weddings and traditional holidays.

In a separate industrial accident, an elevator plunged on a construction site, killing 11 workers riding in it.

Investigators were looking into the cause of the elevator accident in the city of Meihekou in the northeastern province of Jilin. The elevator dropped as many as 12 stories, according to a statement from the local government.

Although deadly accidents persist, China has placed an increasing emphasis on improving industrial safety.

Fatalities in the country's notoriously dangerous coal mines decreased to 2,631 last year, compared with a peak of 6,995 deaths in 2002, according to official figures.

That works out to 7.2 deaths a day in 2009, down from 19.1 a day in 2002."

$16.6 Million in Fines After Fatal Blast at a Connecticut Plant

"Federal safety officials on Thursday issued $16.6 million in proposed fines in connection with a huge explosion at a power plant that killed six workers in Middletown, Conn., determining that construction companies had blatantly disregarded industry procedures designed to safeguard workers.

The Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown, Conn., after an explosion on Feb. 7 that killed six. Federal officials proposed fines on Thursday.

The fines, the third largest ever issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a single episode, stem from accusations of 371 violations, including 225 considered “willful,” found after the Feb. 7 blast, which occurred as flammable natural gas was being shot through a supply pipe to purge it of debris. Fifty people were injured in the explosion.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said the companies had “blatantly disregarded” accepted industry procedures, their own safety guidelines and “common sense.” Ms. Solis added that the deaths and injuries could have been prevented.

“These fines and penalties reflect the gravity and severity of the deadly conditions created by the companies managing the work at the site,” Ms. Solis said during a conference call with reporters. “No operation and no deadline is worth cutting corners and costing a single human life.”

Local and state law enforcement agencies are still determining whether to bring criminal charges in the case. Civil lawsuits have also been filed on behalf of injured and deceased workers.

David Michaels, the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, said companies stood to collect “very significant financial incentives” if they met deadlines at the construction site for Kleen Energy Systems. Dr. Michaels said OSHA believed that the general contractor, O&G Industries, stood to collect a $19 million bonus if it could get the plant running by May 31.

“What I can’t say is what role those played in the incident occurring,” he said. “But there is no question that they were there.”

The dangers of using flammable gas to clear pipes have been well established. Less than a year before the Middletown explosion, a similar blast at the ConAgra Foods Slim Jim plant in Garner, N.C., killed four workers. A 1999 explosion at a power plant in Dearborn, Mich., killed six.

In Middletown, natural gas was vented into an area that was partly enclosed by buildings, where dangerous concentrations built up and met one of several possible igniting sources, including welding torches being used nearby, safety investigators found.

The construction companies were cited for failing to vent the gas so it would disperse, failing to remove nonessential workers, allowing welders to keep working during the procedure and failing to train workers.

In June, the United States Chemical Safety Board urged OSHA to prohibit the release of natural gas during purging operations. Rafael Moure-Eraso, chairman of the safety board, said he believed that OSHA had sufficient authority to issue a six-month emergency ban. “There is no safe way to blow hundreds of thousands of cubic feet of flammable natural gas to a workplace,” Dr. Moure-Eraso said. “It shouldn’t be done, and the practice needs to be banned as soon as possible.”

Dr. Michaels said OSHA saw the use of flammable gas to clear pipes as inherently dangerous and requiring immediate attention because there were plans for 125 similar power plants across the country.

OSHA has issued a warning letter to other operators of gas-fired power plants urging them not to make the mistakes made in Middletown and to consider using alternatives to flammable gas. But the agency stopped short of issuing an emergency ban on the practice, and is reviewing whether a ban could sustain a legal challenge.

“We would love to be able to ban this, but we can’t,” Dr. Michaels said.

The companies have 15 days to contest the fines, and Dr. Michaels said companies typically did challenge the findings when the fines were so large. OSHA calls the penalties “proposed” and considers the violations accusations until the challenges are addressed.

The largest fine, $8.3 million, was issued to O&G Industries, stemming from 139 violations, including 119 considered willful. O&G said it intended to contest the findings. In a statement, the company said that workers had logged 1.7 million hours of labor before the explosion with only one workplace accident.

“This is an impressive safety record by any standard and demonstrates the rigor of O&G’s safety programs,” the statement said.

Keystone Construction and Maintenance Inc., which was in charge of the piping and oversaw the gas blow, was fined $5.7 million. Keystone issued a statement saying it “strongly disagrees” with the citations and intended to “confer with OSHA and, if need be, contest the citations.”

Bluewater Energy Services, which was to handle the startup operation, was fined $896,000. Fourteen subcontractors were fined a total of $686,000.

Dr. Michaels said the only larger fines in OSHA history were both issued to the oil giant BP, including an $87 million penalty issued last year for failing to correct safety problems after a 2005 explosion that killed 15 workers at its refinery in Texas City, Tex."

Photo by Bettina Hansen/The Hartford Courant, via Associated Press

Written by Russ Buettner, Published August 5, 2010

Reposted from New York Times

Safety Wins...Trane Trains

Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley announced that the Tennessee Trane U.S.A., Inc. facilities in Knoxville and Chattanooga were chosen to receive the Commissioner's Award of Excellence for Workplace Safety. The award was given Wednesday at the 33rd Annual Tennessee Safety and Health Congress held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Murfreesboro.

"The Tennessee Trane U.S.A. facilities located in Knoxville and Chattanooga have demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace," said Commissioner Neeley, who presented the Commissioner's Award of Excellence to the company today. "The evaluation criteria for this award are challenging, and this company has worked extremely hard to meet and exceed the standards the award requires."

The Commissioner's Award honors Tennessee employers and their employees who together have achieved a required number of hours worked without experiencing a lost workday case and have maintained total injury and illness incidence rates below the national average. The number of hours required is based on the size of the company.

The Tennessee Trane U.S.A., Inc. facilities located in Knoxville and Chattanooga have a total of 71 employees that repair, maintain and install H.V.A.C. units. The facility has qualified for the Commissioner's Award by working more than 438,000 hours without a lost-time injury. The site's injury-free record dates back to January 2007.

The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Safety Awards Program is designed to stimulate interest in accident prevention and to promote safety. The program recognizes manufacturing and construction firms throughout the state that achieve and maintain a safe and healthful workplace.

Original article found here.

Unsafe "Safety"

What NOT to do...

Several reasons why safety training is a very good idea.

How many men does it take to weld a ship? 4.


Move the bomb! Let's hope this doesn't explode upon impact.


Just a little bit longer...no sudden movements...

What happens when the paper "mask" catches on fire?


There is obviously a demand for a stove in the kitchen...


Unless that plastic is impenetrable, he's just kind of suffocating himself...


They obviously missed the day of the forklift training...


One false move and BBBBZZZZTTTT!, you're fried.

For all your safety training needs....online safety training and safety training DVDs.

How To Prevent Workplace Accidents

Unsafe acts cause four times as many accidents and injuries as unsafe conditions.













Behaviors that can cause accidents:

1. Over Confidence
-Never think that "it could never happen to me"
-This attitude can lead to improper procedures/methods used while working

2. Ignoring Safety Procedures
-Not observing safety procedures can endanger all workers
-Safety procedures are in place for a reason, to protect everyone. Don't be selfish.

3. Shortcuts
-Trying to be "more efficient" can lead to unsafe conditions and increased chances for injuries
-Think about if the shortcut will compromise safety; if it will, don't do it


4. Incomplete/Unclear Instructions
-Sometimes a worker will be shy or intimidated about asking for better instructions
-Don't "wing it"; know how to do things correctly
-New Employee Training is a must. Not everyone knows how to do his/her job correctly


5. Poor Housekeeping
-Creates all types of hazards and opportunities for accidents
-Keep work areas well-maintained; encourage a safe environment

6. Mental Distractions
-Doing a task safely requires mental attention; even casual conversations can be distracting
-Leave your baggage and problems at the door, you can pick it up on your way out of work

7. Pre-Planning
-Think through the process you will use to complete a task
-Don't just hastily start on a job without planning it

"Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan."

Deadly Accidents

Imperial Sugar
Savannah, Georgia
February 2008













-Fined $9 million by OSHA following an explosion at a plant near Savannah, Ga.
-13 people killed, 40 others injured
-OSHA investigated working and safety conditions at other plants, found numerous violations
-Company was aware of problems, but took no action to correct them
-Third largest settlement in OSHA history

“I am outraged that this company would show a complete disregard for its employees’ safety by knowingly placing them in an extremely dangerous work environment.”

-Assistant Secretary of Labor Edwin G. Foulke Jr.

McWane
Tyler, Texas
1995-2003











-Between 1995 and 2003, more than 400 safety violations at foundry in Tyler, Texas
-At a plant employing 5,000, more than 4,600 injuries
-Company faced criminal charges, fines and several managers were sent to prison
-Cleaned up its act: in 2008 received trade group award for millions of man-hours with no injuries



W.R. Grace (HQ in Maryland)
Libby, Montana
1963-2008







-Repeat safety violations
-Hundreds of miners, their families and other residents poisoned by asbestos-containing ore at a mine
-Declared bankruptcy in 2001 from asbestos-related lawsuits
-Executives indicted for putting workers at risk; later acquitted
-$1.8 billion settlement with victims (April 2008)
-EPA fined $250 million for investigating and cleaning the Libby site



Murray Energy-Genwal
Crandall Canyon mine, Utah
August 2007













-Largest coal mining fine ever; $1.6 million
-Collapse at the Crandall Canyon mine in Utah
-Six miners killed, three rescuers killed while trying to remove the bodies
-"Demonstrated reckless disregard for safety"; failure to report early signs of danger



KMGP Services
Walnut Creek, California
November 2004


















-Violated state labor codes
-Punctured a gas pipeline while building a water pipeline; failed to mark a bend in the pipeline
-Five workers killed, four workers injured
-Fines of $640,000
-Criminal charges of $10 million, plus $5 million to end civil prosecution
-Settlements with victims' families of at least $69 million



Cintas
Tulsa, Oklahoma
2007











-OSHA's largest fine in the service sector; $2.76 million
-Employee killed while trying to clear a conveyor belt
-OSHA ruled that company should have used safety barriers to prevent employees from being pulled into machinery



Tyson Foods
Texarkana, Arkansas
October 2003











-Long record of workplace issues (race bias to employing undocumented immigants)
-Dept. of Justice fined company maximum criminal fine of $500,000 for willfully violating worker-safety regulations
-OSHA fined $436,000 for safety violations
-Tyson aware that hydrolyzers emitted hydrogen sulfide gas, but didn't fix the problem
-Employee died from toxic fumes in October 2003 after trying to fix a leak on a hydrolyzer



Merced Farm Labor
San Joaquin County, California
May 2007













-Refused 17-year-old pregnant, undocumented worker to have water or shade while working a 9-hour shift in 100+ degree weather
-She collapsed, wasn't taken to a hospital for more than an hour and a half and died of heat stroke
-History of heat-illness violations
-Fined $263,000, largest ever for a farming operation in California
-Revoked Merced Farm Labor's license and shut down the operation



Massey Energy
Raleigh County, West Virginia
April 5, 2010













-History of failing to observe safety and health rules
-EPA fined Massey $20 million in 2008 for polluting waterways around facilities
-$4.2 in criminal fines and civil penalties for "willful violation of mandatory safety standards"
-Led to deaths of two miners
-Upper Big Branch mine: site of multiple safety violations; 3,000 since 2007
-Fines cover improper ventilation of methane and dust and allowing the accumulation of combustible materials, which could have led to April 2010 explosion
-April 5, 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion killed Gary Quarles, one of the two miners in that explosion (children of Quarles pictured above)


Prevent safety violations and worker deaths...
train your workers properly!

Train with quality online safety training from
Wumbus Corporation, found here.

Steps to Prevent and Reduce Workplace Accidents

1. Safety Program
Train employees on safety on an ongoing basis including new employee orientation, emergency preparedness along with safety training pertaining to their specific job requirements.

2. Display OSHA Posters
Place the posters where they are easily seen and can be referenced by your employees.

3. Record Accidents
Record all workplace fatalities and report any serious accidents (5 or more employees hospitalized) to a Federal/State OSHA Office within 48 hours of the fatality or serious accident

4. Notify Employees of Emergency Procedures
This information should be in employee manuals and company handbooks. All emergency phone numbers should be displayed prominently.

5. Proper Orientation of New Employees
This is the first step in preventing accidents and maintaining a safe workplace. Let the new employee know that safety is the main focus at your workplace.

6. Hazard Recognition / Reporting of Injury
Remind them that any injury must be reported without penalty and treated immediately, along with any unsafe conditions and potential hazards.

7. Management's Commitment
Stress your management's commitment to accident and injury prevention. Constantly remind supervisors to maintain safe and productive work operations.

8. Employee Participation
Employee's commitment and participation is needed to prevent accidents. Make it known that employees should not undertake a task without the proper training. Encourage employee suggestions to reduce potential safety violations.

9. Accident / Injury Prevention
Maintain a clean and healthful working environment. Reduce worker stress, exposure to hazardous substances, vision/hearing impairment, repetitive motion injuries and ergonomic injuries with proper protective equipment (PPE).

10. Safety Policy
Develop a safety policy including statements on safety, lists of prohibited conduct, consequences of committing prohibited acts along with how to report accidents, seek medical attention, etc.

11. Field Inspections
Conduct field inspections to monitor safety compliance.


A few OSHA Rights and Requirements

Employer Requirements
1. To maintain complete and accurate records concerning injuries and illnesses occurring on the job or as a result of conditions at the plant site
2. To consciously prepare and display an annual summary of workplace injuries and illnesses from February 1 to March 1

Worker Rights
Workers are allowed:
1. To refuse to perform work in a hazardous environment (toxic substances, fumes or radioactive materials)
2. To strike to protest unsafe conditions
3. To initiate an OSHA inspection of dangerous working conditions by filing a safety complaint
4. To participate in OSHA inspections, pre-hearing conference and review inspection hearings
5. To petition that employers provide adequate emergency exits, environmental control devices (ventilation, noise elimination devices, radiation detection tags, signs and personal protective equipment) and the ready availability of medical personnel
6. To request time off with pay to seek medical treatment during working hours
7. To request eating facilities in areas which have not been exposed to toxic substances
8. To request investigations when they are punished for asserting their rights

Workplace Accident Plan ( Just In Case )

Planning ahead can help you identify the risks and hazards involved in your specific workplace and prepare for or avoid them altogether. Nobody intentionally has a workplace accident, but they can happen.
Having a specific plan in place helps employees to avoid accidents or to handle them calmly and efficiently if they do occur.

1. Have a Safety Committee
-Regularly monitor employees
-Recommend safety training for employees
-Identify potential risks, hazards or unsafe conditions in the workplace
-Have employees report unsafe conditions to safety committee

2. Have Emergency Medical Supplies On Hand
-Basic First Aid
-Advanced emergency supplies (depending on your workplace hazards)
-All employees should be trained how to use the emergency equipment and supplies
-CPR Training for some or all employees
-Employees should be aware of emergency contact in case of emergency or accident

3. Respond Quickly
-If the emergency warrants it, call 9-1-1
-If not an immediate emergency, employee injured should seek medical attention ASAP
-Do not move the injured victim until medical help arrives
-For electrical burns, DO NOT apply ice, ointment or adhesive bandage
-For chemical burns, remove any clothing/jewelry that came into contact with chemical and wash away the chemical
-For fire, smother the fire and remove any burned clothes; cover burns with clean, dry cloth
-Answer any questions about what happened when medical help arrives

4. Collect the Facts
-Document any information about the scene to determine the cause of the accident
-Interview all witnesses immediately
-Take note of any evidence at the scene
-Keep people away from any potential dangerous equipment

5. Get Legal Advice
-Consult an attorney who specializes in workplace injury and illnesses
-They can make sure your rights are protected

Check out these First Aid, Accident Investigation and Emergency Preparedness Safety Videos offered by Wumbus Corporation.

Accidents and Illnesses in the Workplace

Common Workplace Injuries

Sprains and strains
Sprains and strains make up 41% of workplace injuries in recent studies. Most of these sprains or strains involved overexertion or falls. Causes of sprains and strains are most commonly due to improper lifting techniques.


Common Workplace Illnesses

1. Cancers
Due to exposure to hazardous substances
2. Musculoskeletal Diseases (MSD)
"An injury or disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, or spinal disks" (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
3. Respiratory Diseases
Due to exposure to pathogens
4. Hearing Loss
Due to misuse or non-use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
5. Asbestos-related Disease (lung cancer / asbestosis)
Due to inhalation of asbestos


How Accidents Happen

1. Floors / Walkway Surfaces
-Clear of objects / obstacles
-Spills cleaned up promptly
-Proper tread on footwear
-Make sure you can see where you are going

2. Improper Storage of Supplies / Merchandise
-Cleaning materials, toner and toxic chemicals properly stored
-Toxic materials stored away from non-toxic materials (to limit exposure)

3. Workplace Burns
-Fully trained how to use electrical equipment
-Clearly displayed warnings to prevent electrical burns
-Wear protective clothing / goggles when handling toxic chemicals (PPE)

4. Car and Truck Accidents
-Leading cause of work-related death
-Avoid multi-tasking / distracted driving
-Be rested and stretch regularly during long trips

5. Ergonomics
-Take stretch breaks to avoid straining
-Staring at a computer screen can affect vision; have regular vision checkups

6. Good Housekeeping
-Keep work areas clean and free of clutter to avoid potential hazards
-Clutter can cause slips, trips and falls as well as other injuries such as cuts, bruises or worse