dadchin asked:


We had a small roof fire after the roofer fixed a leak. He used a torch to melt the membrain roofing. Once the fire trucks arrived (4 trucks 10-20 firemen) it took 15-18 minutes for them to get water on the fire. I was using my hose to control and knock out all visible flames. But I was stopped by the police and had to watch the fire reignite and cause more damage.

Evelyn

Dee asked:


I just bought a new house in Texas, and unfortunately it came with fire ants in the yard. What is the best way to get rid of these - preferably without chemicals as I do have pets.

Stephanie

Scott Newton asked:


Safety signs are largely associated with legal requirements rather than providing any practical purpose. In fact, some signs become so well known that we often ignore the true message underneath, so why is there still such a pressure for employers to ensure they have adequate signage throughout the workplace? Actually, safety signs play a real practical role in preventing injury and ensuring staff are aware of the dangers and hazards awaiting them at given points in the workplace. Without them, many employees would lack essential direction in times of crisis, and employers might find themselves in significant legal difficulties if any accidents were to arise as a result.

Safety signs are often seen as part of the bureaucratic process rather than a practically important safety tool. But this isn’t necessarily the case. Safety signs can provide an initial warning to staff as to dangers. Imagine the scenario of a construction site. A new employee on his first day is unaware of the various dangers of a construction environment, yet finds no signage to guide him through his employment. This is simply a minefield of danger, and without safety signs in place, that employee would be very lucky to remain safe throughout the course of his first day. In environments where danger lurks around every corner, having adequate and clear safety signs can help advise staff of the pending dangers and ultimately instil caution when it is required most.

Safety signs are also of great importance in workplaces which come into close contact with the general public. Where workman are employed in a road excavation, or in a scaffolding project, it is crucial to ensure that no harm is caused to the general public during the efforts. One way to help best ensure this is by employing clear safety signs to warn the public to exercise caution as they go. This helps keep the employer out of trouble as well as acting as a safeguard for the public, allowing a smoother interaction between dangerous employment environments and the ordinary thoroughfare.

Safety signs might not seem the most interesting topic of conversation, but they really are essential in the fight against danger and risk in the workplace. By ensuring your workplace is sufficiently well signed, you can help protect the staff and visitors to the site, particularly members of the public, against the imminent dangers that could otherwise go unnoticed, leading to less industrial accidents and helping to reduce the risk to employees and ordinary people.

Not only through living up to legal requirements, the positioning of safety signs in the workplace can be of critical importance in ensuring a healthy and safe workforce for increased productivity without the misfortune and hassle of staff injury and legal proceedings. As an employee, safety signs are the first port of call in response to any injury, be it to staff or the general public, and they can also help create a safer environment for both groups where danger meets everyday life, such as city-centre construction sites and excavations.



Willie

Robert Elliott asked:


As indicated in previous articles, the field of workers’ compensation risk management is not only many faceted and complex but also presents various challenges.

Communicating safety issues effectively to a diverse workforce represents one of these challenges. As a risk management consultant for many years, I’ve gathered solid information and experience on the best way to communicate safety and workers’ compensation messages to a large and diverse workforce, including organizations with thousands of employees with diverse backgrounds and many different job descriptions.

We can call this the Five/Four Method: 5 Safety Communication Techniques and 4 Safety Message Formats. Before beginning, identify your target audience and the safety message you want to give.

However, the most important thing an employer must do before implementing any safety communication program is meet with employees and supervisors to discover their ideas on what needs to be communicated and how best to do it.

Five Safety Communication Techniques

First: Identify the specific message you want to communicate.

Example: Is the message about getting employees to work more safely around certain equipment?

Or is it to provide information on steps to take if they are injured?

Second: Identify the skill set and grade level of your audience.

Example: A message to the vice president level on how to improve commitment to the safety program would be presented differently than instructions to first-line employees on how to report an accident.

A general rule of thumb for thinking about language levels is to keep in mind the Wall Street Journal is written at a first-year college level, while the Reader’s Digest is written at a sixth grade reading level.

Third: Consider the job functions and how best to get your message across.

Example: Some employees might spend most of their work day in an office or one specific area of a plant. Others may spend it working in different areas of the plant or facility. Still others may spend their day driving from location to location. It’s a good idea to tailor your safety message to the types of safety issues more likely to effect those employees and areas of work. 

Fourth: Identify the languages your employees speak. Don’t assume they will be just English and/or Spanish. There can be many other languages. In many areas of the country there are large contingents of Russian speaking workers just to mention one. In addition, there are differences within languages, such as Cuban Spanish and Puerto Rican Spanish. 

It would not be too far off the mark to suggest management survey their workers’ languages and provide all safety messages as appropriate. This is especially true if non-English speaking workers are employed in high-risk safety areas.

Fifth: Consider the work environment. If you have congenial workforce, don’t use a heavy-handed communication style. Save it for a workforce where there may be a lot of discontent and resentment.

Four Safety Message Formats

Now it’s time to look at a number of ways to present your safety message.

1. Wallet Cards: A heavy-duty wallet card is one of the most effective tools to give your employees to convey your safety message. Each card is printed with important safety information and/or accident reporting information.

A wallet card for accidents would provide information on where to seek treatment in the workplace, where to report the accident, where to file a workers’ compensation claim (usually with the workers’ compensation coordinator), the importance of returning to work as quickly as possible, etc. The card also has contact information for the workers’ compensation office and other parties involved in the process. (E.g.: TPA, insurance rep, etc.).

Information is printed in English on one side and Spanish on the other (or another prevailing language from your workforce). Supervisors receive different cards outlining their role in responding to accidents.

2.  Safety Sheets: A laminated one-page safety sheet is another good option. Post in each work area using a permanent non-removable method. Use bright-colored paper to draw all employees’ attention to it, but allowing the supervisor to distinguish this post from other posted documents. Direct the employees’ attention by saying: “Please read the safety information on the orange sheet.”

3. Pictograms in one-page safety sheets are very useful in communicating with people who have lower level language skills or who speak different languages. An example might be pictograms on proper lifting techniques.

Each month a different safety sheet on a different safety topic is posted: on lifting correctly; on fall protection; slips and falls, etc. Also, give each employee an individual copy for permanent reference.

4. Safety Packets: For employees who drive all day, prepare safety packets of information to be stored in a glove compartment. The packet also contains a disposable camera for use at the site to record an accident, along with an accident reporting form.

For more information and tools, see WC Cost Reduction Tips. There are several free forms and tools on the site.

Note:  Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.

Robert Elliott, senior vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality. Contact him at: Robert_Elliott@reduceyourworkerscomp.com or 860-553-6604.

©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc., All rights reserved under International Copyright Law



Tyrone

Tom R asked:


My friend accidentally started a fire at the restaurant where she works (through negligence), and the fire did a fair bit of damage (they think the place will have to be closed for at least two months).
No one knows it was her yet, but she’s pretty sure she’ll be found out soon.

What are the owners likely to do when they discover she started the fire (other than ending her employment)? Can they sue her?

Please help. Thanks.

Francisco

charlotte q asked:


I am going to check with the local fire department. I want a thermal-gel I can hook up to a hose. I know that the fires will continue to come here!

Jo

Ralph Winn asked:


As warmer months move in to push out the chill of winter, we begin to eye our beautiful backyard pools again. But pool safety should be considered year-round, because if you have a pool in your backyard, it is a 24-7 responsibility. Here are some pool safety rules to follow:

Pool Safety Rule #1: Always watch children when they are by or in the pool.

Pool Safety Rule #2: If throwing a pool party, make sure at least one adult is designated to keep a close eye on children at all times.

Pool Safety Rule #3: Teach children to float or swim as soon as possible. Experience, however, is by no means a replacement for supervision.

Pool Safety Rule #4: Make sure the pool is surrounded on all sides by a fence higher than 5 feet tall.

Pool Safety Rule #5: Make sure the fence as self-closing and has self-latching gates.

Pool Safety Rule #6: Make sure the latches are out of reach of young children.

Pool Safety Rule #7: Do not keep tables or chairs near the fence, this would allow children to climb over it and gain access to the pool.

Pool Safety Rule #8: Keep pool toys out of and away from the pool when you are not using them, as they might attract unsupervised children to the pool.

Pool Safety Rule #9: Remove any pool covering completely before allowing anyone to swim.

Pool Safety Rule #10: Do not use floatation devices as a substitute for supervision.

Pool Safety Rule #11: Learn CPR.

Pool Safety Rule #12: Never leave children unattended by the pool. If the phone or doorbell rings or you have to go inside for any reason, get the children out of the pool.

Pool Safety Rule #13: Keep rescue tools, like a long, light pole and a floatation ring, near the pool. You don’t want them to be misplaced so let children know that these tools are not toys. Teach everyone in the family how to use the tools.

Pool Safety Rule #14: Use plasticware by the pool instead of glassware.

Pool Safety Rule #15: Provide “touch supervision” around infants and toddlers. Remain within arms length of them at all times, so they are easily grabbed in an emergency.

Pool Safety Rule #16: Don’t swim alone or allow others to swim alone.

Pool Safety Rule #17: Keep CD players, radios, and other electrical devices safely away from the water. Talk to your pool dealer about a ground fault interrupter for added protection in the event of a power surge.

Pool Safety Rule #18: Get out of the pool if you hear thunder. Move indoors for the duration of the thunderstorm.

Pool Safety Rule #19: Allow swimmers to dive only off the very end of the diving board, not off the sides of the pool. They should always enter feet-first from the side of the pool.

Pool Safety Rule #20: Do not get a false sense of security because you follow all these rules. You should always supervise any swimmers in your pool closely and constantly.



Yvonne

Johan Nickson asked:


Introduction

If you are in an industry such as construction or petrochemical plants where there are numerous hazards that can befall your feet it is even more crucial that you choose work boots with reinforced safety toes or steel toes. In an unfortunate accident, safety boots can be priceless, so don’t focus on cost alone. I think that an injured foot is more uncomfortable than a steel toe boot.

Safety boots and safety shoes come in a wide range of styles with different sole units to suit diverse working environments. Safety boots have often focused on the obvious feature, the toe protection. Super safety boots contain a metal plate under the center of the sole, providing extra protection for the foot (if for example you stood hard on an upturned nail, nothing would happen).

Most safety shoes have symbols on the outside, to indicate the protection the shoe offers. For Example no Triangle indicates that there is no toe cap.

Steel Toe Cap

Steel-toe boots (or sometimes safety toe or just safety boots) are durable boots or shoes which have a protective reinforcement in the toe usually combined with a sole plate, which protect the foot from falling objects and punctures from below. Safety footwear now comes in many styles, not just as boots but also as shoes, trainers and clogs.

Most safety boots have a steel toecap which provides 200 joules of toe protection, and also provide full waterproof protection, as well as a variety of sole units to suit a variety of uses. This means the steel toe-cap will withstand the impact of 20kg in weight falling on to the toes from a height of 10m.

The most often required safety feature for boots was heretofore a steel toe, however, today other materials work as well, if not better when you consider the entire scope of protection, weight and comfort. A composite toe is one of the most popular alternatives to the traditional steel toe. An aluminum alloy is another option that is lightweight and just as strong as steel, offering the protection without weight or bulk.

Protection

The most often required safety feature for boots was heretofore a steel toe, however, today other materials work as well, if not better when you consider the entire scope of protection, weight and comfort. A variety of materials are used to achieve the same level of protection required by OSHA, and the thickness of the material can make a boot toe slightly larger, but you won’t be wearing them at a dance or fashion show, so that shouldn’t be as important as the overall benefit.

Leather

Durable, waterproof leather uppers and awesome cushioning. With the use of quality full grain breathable leathers Rossi Boots are able to provide features such as reducing the risk of injury from knife drops and with the correct care improved resistance to water, oils, and fats providing long-term comfort and protection over the life of the boot.

Summary

As I stated Earlier: I think that an injured foot is more uncomfortable than a steel toe boot. Wear safety boots its just not work the risk.



Brittany

spongeboblover611 asked:


It looks like sugar in its solid form, and when you get it in contact with a living organism in it’s liquid form, after you heat it up, it burns, or catches on fire. Like if you put a popsicle stick in a glass vial of its liquid form, it would catch on fire.

Lillian

Vikram Kumar asked:


It is imperative that when you have a business, you must develop a healthy and safe environment for your employees and clients. Otherwise, there would be negative consequences for your company. An unhealthy and unsafe working environment puts the company at risk to failure. It is then important to have make measures, rules, and policies that will uphold safety and health of the employees and clients. One way to do this is to talk to a health and safety consultant. 

 

The health and safety consultant is tasked to ***** and provide solution to the hazards seen in the working environment. The health and safety consultancy is not just about evaluation or assessment. It is about finding ways to get rid of the risk of hazards. Once this is available, the company can be assured that it is operating within legal means. Plus, it makes the employees and clients happy and satisfied. If this is met, companies will also be happy in the long run. This means more loyal employees, loyal customers, and generally no worries about contribution to sickness or hazards. These will lead to a successful business.

 

Employing health and safety measures are not only beneficial to a particular business sector. There are many businesses that will truly benefit from health and safety consultancy. Some of the businesses that must find health and safety consultant are:

 



Building and Construction/Factories sector. Almost all businesses related to this sector are faced with safety and health risks. This sector is not just about the construction site where there is risk of falling debris. Or for construction workers, it is not just about the chemicals that they are exposed of. In this sector, everything related to the construction is involved such as suppliers of construction materials, company of engineers and architects and contractors itself. These businesses needs considerable amount of health and safety tips. Instead of focusing on determining how to make everything safe, they can leave the task to the health and safety consultancy. 

Office and corporate set-ups. You may think that sitting down and doing clerical work has no health risk. You are wrong. There are health risks if there is no proper ergonomics. Office and corporate has a subtle risk compared to building and construction sector. However, employees in this sector can be stressed and can easily get sick if health and safety will not be discussed. Even the wrong placement of computer can expose the worker to health risks.

Restaurants, Hotels, and Catering. Again there are subtle risks in this sector. If health and safety risk for you is about falling debris and big machines, then perhaps you will be surprised to find that this sector has risks. Health and safety consultant surely can see the risks involved in this sector. Where will you put the garbage? How about the kitchen, how can it be safe and clean? How can the customers feel safe and be exposed to fewer hazards? These are only that will be tackled in the health and safety consultancy.

Care Home and Facilities. Here, it is important that not only does the employees feel safe and secure, most importantly the clients as well. This is supposed to be a haven for the clients so it is important that it meets what is expected of the facilities and homes. When you meet health and safety consultant about these, they would detect what in these facilities are safe and healthy and what are not.



 

If you are a business owner, and your business falls with any of these sectors, you sure need health and safety consultancy.



Debra