What’s this got to do with Workplace Safety and the potential impact to business? Plenty! For starters, one out of every twenty hospital patients gets an infection. That’s two million Americans. A majority of those Americans are in the workforce and have work related injuries that prompt them to eventually go to hospitals. The article goes on to state that common cuts and scraps from Slips, Trips and Falls can quickly turn into serious health issues if they get infected and since everybody gets cuts and scraps from time to time we all need to pay attention.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the single most important way to reduce hospital infection is for doctors and other health care workers to clean their hands in between treating patients. Research indicates that doctors clean their hands before treating a patient only 48% of the time, and this rate is significantly worse at some hospitals.

Stop the presses! This just in, cleaning your hands before treating a patient helps hospitals prevent the transmission of disease, now there’s a simple safety tip we can all use and implement today.

If you think hospitals have a poor record, how do you think individual business rank when it comes to applying basic first aid and avoiding blood borne pathogen transmission between injured workers and the co-workers who rush to their aid during an injury? Unfortunately businesses also get low grades on this topic. It’s unfortunate because putting a simple program together is one of the easiest and least expensive investment a company can implement that will produce great returns.

What’s the cost of not being proactive? Hospital infections add $28 billion to $30 billion to the nation’s health costs each year. For example, a serious bloodstream infection increases a hospital stay by eleven extra days and adds, on average, $57,000 to a patient’s hospital bill. Who pays? Business and Individual do, regardless of who you are. Insurers pay. Employers pay more for both workers’ health coverage and workers compensation rates. Taxes go up to foot the bill for Medicare, Medicaid, and other government programs.

So how can you help yourself? First, help your employees recognize how to avoid Slips, Trips, and Falls in the workplace to help minimize cuts and scraps. When cuts and scraps occur, quickly treat them to avoid infection. Do what many hospitals are doing and adopt policies and procedures for how to handle basic first aid related injuries. One of Salt Lake City’s largest hospitals, Latter Day Saints, which already had an infection rate below the national average, reduced its rate by half between 1985 and 1995, largely by increasing how thoroughly doctors and nurses complied with pre-surgical best practices.

What’s the risk in not implementing a good basic first aid and blood borne pathogen prevention program at work? Well, even though infection-control strategies are a hassle for hospitals if hospitals don’t clean up their act, they could become the next big target for plaintiff lawyers. Betsy McCaughey the founder of the nonprofit Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths says ominously: “I get e-mails frequently now from trial lawyers planning these lawsuits.” So far, she hasn’t helped them but if plaintiff lawyer’s start sniffing around hospitals for failures to implement best practices you can bet their next target down the liability chain will be deep pocket employers who don’t have solid procedures in place to prevent infections from spreading between employees.

• Basic Forklift Safety Training (available in English and Spanish)
• Forklift Safety Training for Supervisors
• Forklift Refueling (available in English and Spanish)

Hand out these simple safety tips to all your employees who work near forklifts.

• Do not allow employees to operate a forklift unless they have been trained and licensed.
• Use seatbelts if they are available.
• Report to your supervisor any damage or problems that occur to a forklift during each shift.
• Do not jump from an overturning, sit-down type forklift. Stay with the truck, holding on firmly and leaning in the opposite direction of the overturn.
• Exit from a stand-up type forklift with rear-entry access by stepping backward if a lateral tipover occurs.
• Use extreme caution on grades or ramps.
• On grades, tilt the load back and raise it only as far as needed to clear the road surface.
• Do not raise or lower the forks while the forklift is moving.
• Do not handle loads that are heavier than the weight capacity of the forklift
• Operate the forklift at a speed that will permit it to be stopped safely.
• Slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles and other locations where vision is obstructed.
• Look toward the travel path and keep a clear view of it.
• Do not allow passengers to ride on forklift trucks unless a seat is provided.
• When dismounting from a forklift, set the parking brake, lower the forks or lifting carriage, and neutralize the controls.
• Do not drive up to anyone standing in front of a bench or other fixed object.
• Do not use a forklift to elevate workers who are standing on the forks.
• Elevate a worker on a platform only when the vehicle is directly below the work area.
• Whenever a truck is used to elevate personnel, secure the elevating platform to the lifting carriage or forks of the forklift.
• Use a restraining means such as rails, chains, or a body belt with a lanyard or deceleration device for the worker(s) on the platform.
• Do not drive to another location with the work platform elevated.

Other requirements related to Forklift training and operations:

Training
OSHA has promulgated the Final Rule for Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training
[29 CFR 1910.178(l)], which became effective March 1, 1999. The standard requires operator training and licensing as well as periodic evaluations of operator performance. The standard also addresses specific training requirements for truck operation, loading, seat belts, overhead protective structures, alarms, and maintenance of industrial trucks. Refresher training is required if the operator is observed operating the truck in an unsafe manner, is involved in an accident or near miss, or is assigned a different type of truck.

Forklift Maintenance
OSHA requires that industrial trucks be examined before being placed in service. They shall not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle. Such examination shall be made at least daily. When industrial trucks are used around the clock, they shall be examined after each shift. When defects are found, they shall be immediately reported and corrected [29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7)].
Establish a vehicle inspection and maintenance program.
Retrofit old sit-down type forklifts with an operator restraint system if possible.

Here’s a good safety tip on how to get real results:
One of the best ways to help your employees with using their Personal Protective Equipment is to create a work environment that encourages employees to be vigilant of each others work habits. Try creating a simple incentive program that rewards those who properly wear Personal Protective Equipment over a fixed period of time. There arefour steps needed to implement this plan.

Step 1: Provide uniform training on Personal Protective Equipment for each individual within a Workgroup. Start with our basic course on PPE Training and then add a little customization to your specific work environment.

Step 2: Create a small incentive program for both line employees and supervisors to work towards. A free lunch or a coupon at a local store can go a long way tomotivating employees to take the extra time to comply with your guidelines.

Step 3: Create a points system that enables supervisors andline employees to measure their performance in a given period of time. This can be done on a weekly or monthly basis. Note* To enforce a positive attitude at your worksite, grant points to those employees who comply with the standards as opposed to debiting points to those that fail tocomply. Make it easy for your employees to track points, post a daily record keeping sign in a common work area as opposed to putting it in someone’s desk drawer.

Step 4: Create an event to reward top performers. At the end of each period make a point to announce who won what to all the employees in the group. Overtime your incentive program will run itself with each member of the team actively working to achieve better results, helping you comply with the law and lowering injuries at work.

That’s it, now go about making it a safer day and remember: Inspect, Train, Correct!

Extension cords are one of the most commonly used pieces of equipment at work and at home. From a safety standpoint, they are also one of the most dangerous. Extension cords contribute to serious injuries including: electrical shock, tripping accidents, and electrical fires.

The safest way to use extension cords is to avoid using them. If you must use one, do so only as a temporary solution and make sure to inspect it to insure it is in good working condition.

When you must use an extension cord, be sure to follow these basic safety training tips for the workplace and your home.

• Temporary use only! Safety cords are only for temporary power situations. They are not for permanent power. If permanent power is required, have it installed by a professional electrician.
• Never connect more than one appliance to a cord. Multiple connections can easily overload the wiring of the cord.
• Your extension cord must be of adequate size to carry the electrical load. Your cord must be the same wire gauge or heavier than the power cord it is attached to. If this is not the case, your cord will break down from overheating. This will lead to a short circuit and fire.
• As a rule of thumb, extension cords in use should NOT be warm or hot to the touch. This indicates either undersized wiring for the load or a poor connection.
• Use only U.L. approved cords.
• Inspect before using. If it is worn, frayed or broker throw it away and buy a new one.
• Never used a spliced or patched extension cord.
• Never nail or staple cords to walls or ceilings because it can damage the wire insulation and result in a short circuit.

To help you learn how to avoid injuries with electrical cords, we’ve grouped together the following workplace safety training products:

1. Basic Electrical Safety* $29.95
2. Basic First Aid* $29.95
3. Housekeeping* $29.95
4. Keeping Your Hands Safe* $29.95
5. Slips, Trips, and Falls* $29.95
6. Supervisor Slips, Trips and Falls $29.95

Some of the other major causes of office injuries have been:

· Sharp pointed pencils, staples and other pins that cause cuts or puncture wounds. These injuries are often not serious, but sometimes become very serious when infection sets in. (Basic First Aid)

· Rotating duplicators, elevator doors, file cabinets, and even desk drawers cause a lot of “pinch point” injuries every year so watch where you put your fingers. (Keeping your Hands Safe at Work)

· Unsecured file cabinets and other heavy objects fall over striking employees. Always be alert to hazards above your head and never open more than one drawer at a time in a file cabinet.

· Be especially careful of pencils, water, pens, pager clips and other objects on the floor that can cause slipping hazards. Take a moment to pick the object up so that no one else will fall or trip.

· Some kinds of paper have sharp edges and can cause very small, but often painful cuts. Don’t run your fingers along the edge of paper.

· Watch out for electrical shock hazards. Electrical appliances, the typewriter, pencil sharpeners, fans, etc. should be electrically grounded or double insulated to prevent shock. If switches, the plug, cord or wall receptacles are damaged or badly worn, they must be repaired or replaced.

· Horseplay still causes many injuries in the office including strains and sprains.

To help your employees learn how to avoid Office injuries, we’ve grouped together the following workplace safety training products* (psp):
1. Basic Office Hazards* $29.95
2. Basic Back Safety* $29.95
3. Supervisor Back Safety $29.95
4. Basic Electrical Safety* $29.95
5. Basic First Aid* $29.95
6. Ergonomics in the Workplace* $29.95
7. Housekeeping* $29.95
8. Keeping Your Hands Safe* $29.95
9. Slips, Trips, and Falls* $29.95
10. Supervisor Slips, Trips and Falls $29.95
11. Workstation Ergonomics* $29.95

Office Workplace Safety Bundle: $329.45

*Available in English or Spanish