DCP Archived Safety Articles

Mail Handling Safety

October, 2001

Thanks to Citicorp

Heat Stress

September, 2001

OSHA

Electrical Safety Notes

August, 2001

OSHA 

Back Safety

July, 2001

OSHA

Motor Vehicle Safety

June, 2001

From NIOSH Alerts

Cellular Phone Use

June, 2001

DCP Policy Manual

Hand Tool Use

March, 2001

U.S. Department of Labor- Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Eye Protection

November, 2000

OSHA

Asbestos Overview

August, 2000

OSHA

Guidelines for Safe Ladder Use

June, 2000

OSHA

Convenient Safety Related Links

www.osha.gov 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html

www.nsc.org 

www.safetyonline.net 

www.dol.gov

Driving In Fog

• If your car is equipped with fog lamps, turn them on.
• Slow down gradually before you enter a patch of fog.
• Be sure that you can stop within the distance that you can see.
• Turn on your wipers and defroster to remove moisture from the windshield.
• Use your low-beam head-lamps whether it is day or night. (High beams reflect off the fog and can impede visibility.) 
• Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
• Watch out for slow-moving and parked vehicles.
• Do not change lanes or pass other vehicles unless absolutely necessary.
• If you must pull off the road, signal first, then slowly and carefully pull off as far as possible.
• After pulling off the road, turn on your hazard flashers.

Most new cars feature ABS as standard equipment. ABS helps improve control and stability during sudden stops, while maintaining steering control - but only if you know the proper technique.
Other Car Troubles: Do You Smell Trouble?

Have you ever been driving along and suddenly notice a strange smell in your car? If so here are some common smells and possible causes:
Burning plastic: Short circuit in the electrical system
Burning oil: Low engine oil-level. transmission overheating because of low transmission level, leaking oil on hot engine parts
Burning rubber: Hot tire because of locked brake shoe, rubber hose contacting hot engine
Exhaust odor: Puncture in exhaust pipe, faulty exhaust system components
Gasoline odor: Defective evaporation control canister; leaking or disconnected vapor or fuel valves, connections or filters

Though trenching and excavation procedures are performed thousands of times a day across the United States, more than 3,000 people were killed in trenching accidents in 1989 alone.

Because they work near and around trenching operations, contractors in many fields should understand the dynamics and laws applicable to trenching occupations.

SOIL MECHANICS- In trenching and excavation practices, "soil" is defined as any material removed from the ground to form a hole, trench or cavity for the purpose of working below the earth's surface. This material is most often weathered rock and humus known as clays, silts and loams, but also can be gravel, sand and rock.

TRENCH FAILURE- When a trench is excavated, a stable relationship between soil components no longer exists. The horizontal pressure on the soil blocks along the trench wall is no longer in equilibrium, and a block may not be able to support its weight and the weight of any blocks above. At the point where the soil can no longer withstand the pressure, the wall will shear and break away from its stable position.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS- When performing trenching and excavation operations there are general precautions that should be considered before starting any work.

Tips for Driving Responsibly while Using Your Cell Phone 
(From Hello Direct and DCP Staff)

Whether or not legislation is enacted in your area, if you use a cell phone in the car you should behave as responsibly as possible. And by following a few simple suggestions, you can keep roads a lot safer—for pedestrians, for fellow drivers, and for yourself.
Use A Headset
Headsets keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. They also prevent the loss of peripheral vision caused when you hold a phone to your ear. While remaining unobtrusive, they can significantly improve the sound quality of your conversation. Headsets can also help you keep your hands free on the job when you need two hands for keyboard entry or other work. (See the article below if you do not have a headset.)
Make Your Cellular Services More Accessible
Program your phone to automatically retrieve your voice mail. Use the speed or voice dial feature so you don’t have to dial manually thus distracting you from the road. If you don’t know how to program your phone, check the phones manual or contact your supervisor.
Turn up the volume
Turn up the volume on your cell phone so you can hear initial rings. When you miss them, you're more likely to be distracted as you rush to catch callers before they roll into voice mail. Also, when you're on a call, turn up the volume so you don't have to concentrate so intensely on hearing the caller's voice.
Avoid dialing while driving
If you're in the car with others, let someone else place (or answer) a call while you concentrate on the road. If you need to talk, let your passenger hand you the phone once the call has been dialed (or answered).
Take important calls only
There aren't many conversations that can't wait until you've arrived at your destination or that can't be postponed until you pull over. Tell clients you'll call back because they deserve your full attention.
If You Don’t Have A Headset—Contact Your DCP Supervisor

Cellular Phones and New Laws
Miami, Sep 26 , 2001.- Miami-Dade County has banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, but will not enforce the ban until late next year.County commissioners voted 6-5 Tuesday to approve the ordinance, which does not become effective until October 2002.
Drivers will still be able to use cell phones while driving but only if they employ "hands-free" systems, such as headsets. Otherwise, they will face fines of $250.The ordinance makes Miami-Dade the second major U.S. city to prohibit the use of cell phones while driving.
New York City's recently approved ban on the use of cell phones while driving takes effect Nov. 1, 2001.The ban came in response to concerns that speaking on a cell phone can distract drivers and lead to more accidents.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara Carey-Shuler, who sponsored the measure, recalled accidents in which drivers admitted having crashed their cars because they were using cell phones. The cell phone industry, however, insists there is no evidence that talking on a cell phone causes accidents.
Around 115 million mobile phones are in use in the United States, according to industry reports.

DCP Safety Article for September, 2001

Many workers spend some part of their working day in hot environments such as foundries, laundries, & construction sites. These workers may face hot conditions which pose special hazards to safety & health.

HEAT STRESS CAUSES BODY REACTIONS

Heat stroke, the most serious health problem for workers in hot environments, is caused by the failure of the body’s internal mechanism to regulate its core temperature. Sweating stops & the body can no longer rid itself of excess heat. Signs include (1) mental confusion, delirium, loss of consciousness, convulsions or coma; (2) a body temperature of 106 degrees F or higher; & (3) hot dry skin which may be red, mottled, or bluish. Victims of heat stroke will die unless treated promptly. The victim must be removed to a cool area & his or her clothing soaked with cool water. He or she should be fanned vigorously to increase cooling. Prompt first aid can prevent permanent injury to the brain & other vital organs.

Heat exhaustion results from loss of fluid through sweating when a worker has failed to drink enough fluids or take in enough salt or both. A worker with heat exhaustion still sweats but experiences extreme weakness or fatigue, giddiness, nausea, or headache. The skin is clammy & moist, the complexion pale or flushed, & the body temperature normal or slightly higher. The victim should rest in a cool place & drink an electrolyte solution (a drink used by athletes to quickly restore potassium, calcium, & magnesium salts).

PREVENTING HEAT STRESS

DCP Safety Article for August, 2001

Electrical Safety Principals - When planning & performing work on electrical systems & equipment, keep these principles in mind:

• Plan every job

• Think about what could go wrong

• Use the right tools for the job

• Use procedures, drawings & other documents as tools to do the job

• Isolate the equipment from energy sources

• Test every circuit & every conductor, every time before you touch

• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last line of defense in case something goes wrong

• Be sure you are properly trained & qualified for the job

Working On or Near Energized Equipment

• Treat de-energized electrical equipment & conductors as energized until lockout/ tagout, test & ground (where appropriate) procedures are implemented.

• Work electrical equipment & conductors de-energized unless your employer can demonstrate that de-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is unfeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations.

• Check & double check the safety regulations when a ladder or parts of any vehicle or mechanical equipment structure will be elevated near energized power lines. Call your local electric utility for assistance.

Cord Powered Equipment & Tools, Cords, & Temporary Wiring

• Protect flexible cords & cables from physical damage.

• Keep slack in flexible cords to prevent tension on electrical terminals.

• Check cords for cut, broken or cracked insulation.

• Make sure the insulating qualities of a splice are equal to or greater than the original cord.

• Extension cords are for temporary use. Install permanent wiring when use is not temporary.

Equipment & Tool Grounding

• Verify that all three wire tools & equipment are grounded.

• Water, electrical equipment, & power cords do not mix! Use GFCI protection in wet or damp environments.

• Ground exposed parts of fixed equipment that could become energized.

Other Considerations

• Verify location of all buried or embedded electrical circuits before digging or cutting.

• Determine the reason that a fuse operated or circuit breaker tripped before replacing or resetting.

• Know where your overload devices are (i.e. circuit breakers & fuses) so they can be easily & quickly reached in case of emergency.

Preventive Electrical Maintenance
An important way to reduce electrical shock accidents is to institute & follow established procedures for preventive maintenance. Inspect work area for electrical hazards daily, such as:

• Flickering lights

• Warm switches or receptacles

• Burning odors

• Loose connections

• Frayed, cracked, or broken wires

• Never ignore electrical problems.

• Choose proper cords & connectors for the job.

• All testing equipment should be properly calibrated.

• Make sure the extension cord thickness is at least as big as the electrical cord for the tool.

• Sticking switches on electrical saws should be replaced at once. After the switch is released, always maintain control of the saw until the blade has stopped.

• Never operate an electric saw while wearing loose clothing such as an unbuttoned jacket or long, floppy sleeves.

• Turn off equipment when finished with job.

• Disconnect energy sources.

• Tag out the disconnected power.

• Release stored energy to make sure no power is getting to the equipment.

• Always clean up spills on the floors.

• Keep work areas clean & dry. Cluttered work areas & benches invite accidents & injuries.

• Good housekeeping & a well-planned layout of temporary wiring will reduce the dangers of fire & shock hazard.

DCP Safety Article for July, 2001

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), back injuries account for one of every five injuries and illnesses in the workplace. Eighty percent of these injuries occur to the lower back and are associated with manual materials handling tasks. BLS further states that re-aggravation of a previous injury almost always results from a new incident which involves the employee (i.e. slip, twist, trip, extended reach). Lifting-related injuries include sprains, strains, neural related, neuromuscular related injuries and/or bone related injuries. These injuries can affect any part of the body, the majority occur to the lower pack.

1. Poor posture
2. Poor physical condition
3. Improper body mechanics
4. Incorrect lifting
5. Jobs that require high energy

Be Willing to Change your Posture Habits
Our bodies are designed to move, bend and flex – and our posture changes to fit the task. Static posture leads to discomfort and lower productivity. Be aware of your posture while working.

Wrist Posture – Keep wrists straight, not bent or twisted.

Sitting Posture 

• Keep your head balanced naturally over your shoulders (not protruding in front of your body).
• Keep your shoulders relaxed not hunched.
• Keep your forearms and thighs parallel to the floor.
• Sit back in your chair for support (not on the front edge.)
• Adjust the back of your chair for support.
• Settle your feet on the floor or footrest.

• Keep your spinal column aligned in its natural curves.
• Prop one foot up on a stool to reduce stress in your lower back.
• Stretch often! Shift Positions

A few simple stretches before beginning to perform the task will warm up your muscles and increase your ease of movements. Stretch again to cool down and decrease potential stiffness after completing the task. Stretch periodically through the day.

When you lift… DO… DO NOT…

Do plant your feet firmly – get a stable base. Don't lift from the floor.

Bend at your knees – not your waist. Don't twist and lift.

Tighten your abdominal muscles to support your spine. Don't lift with one hand (unbalanced)

Get a good grip – use both bands. Don't lift loads across obstacles.

Keep the load close to your body. Don't lift while reaching or stretching

Use your leg muscles as you lift. Don't lift from an uncomfortable posture.

Keep your back upright, keep it in its natural posture Don’t fight to recover a dropped object.

Breathe – If you must hold your breath it’s too heavy. Don’t hold your breath while lifting – get help.

Motor Vehicle Safety

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 2,000 deaths a year result from occupational motor vehicle incidents, more than 30% of the total annual number of fatalities from occupational injuries. These deaths include driver and passenger deaths in highway crashes, farm equipment accidents, and industrial vehicle incidents as well as pedestrian fatalities.

NIOSH ALERT ( National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) – Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths from Traffic-Related Motor Vehicle Crashes. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-142

• Use seat belts at all times. Let other workers ride with you only when the vehicle has a seat belt for each person.
• Always drive within the speed limit.
• Do not drive if you are fatigued.

• Wear high-visibility clothing.
• Use traffic barriers and control efforts when working on or near public roads.

• Always buckle up.
• Don’t talk on the phone if that distracts you from driving safely.
• Evaluate the demands of traffic and weather conditions before making or taking a call.
• Tell the caller that you are driving and may have to suspend the conversation.
• Allow voicemail to handle your calls and return them at your convenience.
• Pull off the roadway if it is safe and legal to do so.
• Ask a passenger to make or take the call.
• Position your phone within easy reach.
• Memorize your keypad.
• Use a hands-free device if available.
• Use memory dial and automatic redial features.
• Don’t dial numbers while you are moving.
• Suspend conversation during hazardous driving conditions.
• Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations while driving.
• Do not use data functions such as text messaging or web browsing while driving.

Hand tools are tools that are powered manually. Hand tools include anything from axes to wrenches. The greatest hazards posed by hand tools result from misuse and improper maintenance.

Some examples include the following:

• If a chisel is used as a screwdriver, the tip of the chisel may break and fly off, hitting the user or other employees.
• If a wooden handle on a tool, such as a hammer or an axe is loose, splintered, or cracked, the head of the tool may fly off and strike the user or other employees.
• If the jaws of a wrench are sprung, the wrench might slip.
• If impact tools, such as chisels, wedges, or drift pins have mushroomed heads, the heads might shatter on impact, sending sharp fragments flying toward the user or other employees.

Employees, when using saw blades, knives, or other tools, should direct the tools away from aisle areas and away from other employees working in close proximity. Knives and scissors must be sharp; dull tools can cause more hazards than sharp ones. Cracked saw blades must be removed from service.

Wrenches must not be used when jaws are sprung to the point that slippage occurs. Impact tools such as drift pins, wedges and chisels, must be kept free of mushroomed heads. The wooden handles of tools must not be splintered.

Iron or steel hand tools may produce sparks that can be an ignition source around flammable substances. Where this hazard exists, park-resistant tools made of non-ferrous materials should be used where flammable gases, highly volatile liquids, and other explosive substances are stored or used.

This fact sheet is part of Hand and Power Tools, U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA 3080 1998 (Revised)

• Always wear effective eye protection. OSHA standards require that employers provide workers with suitable eye protection. To be effective, the eyewear must be of the appropriate type for the hazard encountered and properly fitted. For example, the BLS (Bureau Labor Statistics) survey showed that 94% of the injured to workers wearing eye protection resulted from objects or chemicals going around or under the protector. Eye 
• Protective devices should allow for air to circulate between the eye and the lens.
  Maintenance. Eye protection devices must be properly maintained. Scratched and dirty devices reduce vision, cause glare and may contribute to accidents.

• Your nearest OSHA area office. Don’t know where the nearest federal or state office is? Call an OSHA Regional Office at the U.S. Department of Labor in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco or Seattle.
• The National Society to Prevent Blindness. This voluntary health organization is dedicated to preserving sight and has developed excellent information and training materials for preventing eye injuries at work. (800) 331-2020 or www.preventblindness.org

• BLS reported that more than 50% of workers injured while wearing eye protection thought the eyewear had minimized their injuries. But nearly half the workers also felt that another type of protection could have better prevented or reduced the injuries they suffered

It is estimated that 90% of eye injuries can be prevented through the use of proper protective eyewear.

Fact Sheet No. OSHA 93-03

Asbestos Overview
What is it?  Where is it found?  What are its health effects?  What are the problems? What are the solutions? Other information sources.?

WHAT IS IT?

• Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals that can only be identified under a microscope. There are several types of these flexible, fire-resistant fibers.
• In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and provide heat insulation and fire resistance. In most products, asbestos is combined with a binding material so that it is not readily released into the air.
• However, if asbestos should become airborne and is inhaled, it can remain in the lungs for a long period of time, producing the risk for severe health problems that do not appear until many years later.

WHERE IS IT FOUND?

More that 3,000 products in use today contain asbestos. Most of these are materials used in heat and acoustic insulation, fire proofing, and roofing and flooring. Some of the more common products that may contain asbestos include:

• Pipe and duct insulation.
• Building insulation.
• Wall and ceiling panels.
• Carpet underlays.
• Roofing materials.
• Artificial fireplaces and materials.
• Patching and spackling compounds.
• Brake pads and linings.
• Pot holders and ironing board pads.
• Hair dryers.
• Floor tiles.
• Electrical wires.
• Textured paints.
• Cements.
• Toasters and other household appliances.
• Furnaces and other furnace door gaskets.

Products containing asbestos are often not labeled as such. Contact the manufacturer to find out if asbestos is present. Or call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (800-638-2772) for information about whether a product contains asbestos.

• Asbestos fibers can have serious effects on your health if inhaled. There is no known safe exposure to asbestos. The greater the exposure, the greater the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
• The amount of time between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of disease can be as much as 30 years. It is known that smokers exposed to asbestos have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer than just from smoking alone.
• Asbestos can cause asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs that leads to breathing problems and heart failure. Workers who manufacture or use asbestos products and have high exposures to asbestos are often affected with asbestosis.
• Inhalation of asbestos can also cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen lining. It may be linked to cancer of the stomach, intestines, and rectum, as well.

• Asbestos is rarely used alone, and it is generally safe when combined with other materials with strong bonding agents. As long as the material remains bonded so that fibers are not released, it poses no health risk. But occasionally asbestos fibers become loose and airborne, most often when contained in soft, easily crumbled materials.
• Even in such well-bonded materials as floor tiles and painted surfaces, asbestos can become loose and airborne when these materials are cut, scraped, filed, sanded, or removed. Remodeling and demolition often cause the release of asbestos fibers.
• To discover whether you have an asbestos problem, you must first determine whether the material in question is releasing asbestos fibers. The best way to have this done is to have a state health agency or a reliable testing company take a sample for you and have it analyzed.

• You may have asbestos-containing substances in your home or office, especially those built before 1978. If the material is in good condition, LEAVE IT ALONE! To be certain, however, you may want to have the materials inspected, and, if necessary, repaired or removed.
• Repair usually involves either sealing or covering asbestos material. Sealing (or encapsulation) involves coating materials so that asbestos is sealed in. This process is only effective for undamaged asbestos-containing substances.
• If materials are soft or crumbly or otherwise damaged, sealing is not appropriate. Covering involves placing something over or around the material that contains asbestos to prevent release of fibers.
• Asbestos removal is an expensive and hazardous process and should be a last resort. Situations where removal may be required include remodeling, major structural changes, and if the asbestos material is damaged and can not be otherwise repaired.
• Removal is complex, and should be done only by a contractor with special training. Improper removal may increase the health risks to those exposed!
• If you think that you may have been exposed to any amount of loose asbestos in any degree, no matter how long ago, see your doctor. Don't smoke! It increases your chances of being affected by asbestos.

http://www.lungusa.org/air/envasbestos.html

Guidelines for Safe Ladder Use

• When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least 3 feet (.9m) above the upper landing surface. When such an extension is not possible, the ladder must be secured, and a grasping device such as a grab rail must be provided to assist workers in mounting and dismounting the ladder. A ladder extension must not deflect under a load that would cause the ladder to slip off its supports.
• Ladders must be maintained free of oil, grease, and other slipping hazards.
• Ladders must not be loaded beyond the maximum intended load for which they were built nor beyond their manufacturer’s rated capacity.
• Ladders must be used only for the purpose for which they were designed.
• Non-self –supporting ladders must be used at an angle where the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-quarter of the working length of the ladder. Wood job-made ladders with spliced side rails must be used at an angle where the horizontal distance is one-eighth the working length of the ladder.
• Fixed ladders must be used at a pitch no greater than 90 degrees from the horizontal, measured from the back side of the ladder.
• Ladders must be used only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent accidental movement.
• Ladders must not be used on slippery surfaces unless secured or provided with slip-resistant feet to prevent accidental movement. Slip-resistant feet must not be used as a substitute for the care in placing, lashing, or holding a ladder upon slippery surfaces.
• Ladders placed in areas such as passageways, doorways, or driveways, or where they can be displaced by workplace activities or traffic must be secured to prevent accidental movement or a barricade must be used to keep traffic or activities away from the ladder.
• The area around the top and bottom of the ladders must be kept clear.
• The top of a non-self-supporting ladder must be placed with two rails supported equally unless it is equipped with a single support attachment.
• Ladders must not be moved, shifted, or extended while in use.
• Ladders must have nonconductive side rails if they are used where the worker or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment.
• The top or top step of a stepladder must not be used as a step.