Highlighter-Spring-2015

Spring Forward with Safety Ashley Farrow, CHST, LEED AP BD+C – Safety Manager | Jim Davis - Corporate Health and Safety Director Emerging seasons are a time of recognized change, and this fact is not lost on this spring. New growth is emerging, pollen is in the air, and signs of emerging life are all around us. Change is also one of the most common factors associated with injuries and accidents. Our ability to recognize changing site conditions and take the appropriate immediate actions to eliminate and/or control the associated hazards can often mean the difference between a successful project or a visit to the hospital. (and from OSHA)! The hazards associated with changing conditions also impact our safety at home. Below are some excellent suggestions to consider in an effort to keep your family safe: A. Prepare Your Home for Spring. Spring is a perfect time to clean out your home. Follow these steps to keep you and your family safe when cleaning this season: • Keep your back straight and lift with your legs when moving furniture for spring cleaning. • Follow cleaning product safety instructions and labels. Inhaling or ingesting bleach is NOT fun. • Clean up spills immediately and use caution while walking on wet and slippery surfaces. • Be sure to wear a mask while cleaning dusty areas of your home. Have you ever heard of histoplasmosis or hanta virus? Additional home safety tips can be found at http://www.household - management-101.com/spring-cleaning-safety.html B. Time to Check the Smoke Alarms. When you change your clocks, check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Batteries in smoke detectors should be replaced yearly. C. Window Safety. With warmer temperatures arriving, it’s important to practice window safety - especially in homes with young children: • Keep windows closed and locked when children are around • When opening windows for ventilation, open windows that children cannot reach • Don’t rely on insect screens to prevent a fall • Keep furniture away from windows • Determine your family’s emergency escape plan and practice it regularly • Make sure nothing is blocking or preventing a window from being opened in the case of an emergency Additional window safety tips can be found at http://www.nsc . org/learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/about-national-window- safety-week.aspx Much like spring, Pond is experiencing significant organizational growth and meaningful change, which includes the way we think about safety and how it will be integrated throughout the organization. As we grow and evolve as a firm, one of the most important responsibilities that each of us have is to remain vigilant in protecting ourselves and those we work with from injury, both at work and at home. n Becoming Your Customer’s First Choice Pond’s Marketing Director, Erik Grandowski, CPSM, is a contributor in February 2015’s issue of MARKETER , the journal of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). In his feature article, Erik shares four ways to become your client’s “First Choice.” He explains that clients are not looking just for an off-the-shelf solution but rather a vested partner that will help them achieve their mission. To read the article in its entirety please visit http://www.pondco. com/2015/03/4-ways-to-become- your-clients-first-choice/. n