Highlighter Fall 2015

Spring 2016 | 5 P unxsutawney Phil, the legendary forecaster, did not see his shadow this year, signaling that the winter weather has begun to fade, and Spring is “just around the corner!” Springtime is one of the most exciting times of the year, bringing a variety of long awaited gifts of sunny and warm days, peach tree blooms, the boom of gobbling wild turkeys, the pungent odor of wisteria, and new life all around. Spring is also an excellent time to “clean house” both at work and at home, which we all recognize as one of the fundamental elements of preventing injuries and accidents. According to the home Safety Council, home accidents result in 10 million emergency room visits each year in the U.S. Many of these injuries occur in garages and near doorways to your home and are associated with slips, trips, and falls. Traditionally, spring cleaning has more to do with vacuums, brooms, mops, moving furniture, and operating lawn equipment, than thinking about safety. Consider the following health and safety suggestions before you attack your spring cleaning to-do list! 1 Rejuvenate your office and home areas by organizing all those forms and documents. Throw away the junk that only a hoarder would keep. 2 Inspect fire extinguishers and make any necessary changes. 3 Add a splash of fresh paint to those drab walls and replace the filters in the ventilation system. 4 Change the batteries in your smoke & carbon monoxide detector(s). Smoke detectors should be tested monthly and the batteries changed at least yearly. Place at least one on each floor of the office, home and in each bedroom. 5 Protect your children and pets; be careful not to leave dangerous materials/ chemicals within reach. Safely discard any liquids that are unneeded or expired. Proper disposal is usually best accomplished with a community-based program. 6 Spring cleaning usually entails some amount of heavy lifting. Be careful not to overexert yourself, take time to rest, and men, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling to move a heavy object! 7 Change the oil and air filter in the lawnmower and garden tiller. While you may exemplify the classic nerd while operating them, wearing the proper personal protective equipment to include eye and hearing protection may prevent you from experiencing an injury. 8 Make sure all entrances and exits to your workplace and home are clear, including the garage or basement areas. Place a first-aid kit and flashlight in the garage, basement, and your vehicles. 9 Check appliances such as the dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, washers, and dryers. Danger signs include hose crimping, cracking or damage to electrical wires, supply/discharge hoses leaks, and clogged vents. If you have a sump pump, test it before the spring downpours and melting snows do the testing for you. 10 Animal, rodent, and insect activity will be vibrant and at their peak during the spring season. If you are allergic to them, make sure you have direct access to your exposure prevention tools 2 as well as your epinephrine pen. With the price of gas at an all-time low, many drivers will take to the open highway this year to enjoy Spring Break, and all the fun that can be packed in one week. Take a few minutes to plan your travel and make sure your vehicle is properly prepared for the journey. Increased exposure to direct sunlight increases the potential for skin and eye injury as well as other heat related hazards such as dehydration. The beach and other water borne destinations will be filled with boaters and bathers, so understand the associated hazards and prevent them from occurring. While the severity of the winter weather is decreasing, spring weather can bring severe weather also, to include snow and ice (remember the spring storm of ’93), flooding, and tornados. Take the time to review your emergency action plans for work and home, and revise them to reflect the required actions to take in the event an emergency occurs. Springtime is a welcoming time that serves to refresh our spirit and rejuvenate life all around us. It is also a time of significant change for all of us, that we must honor and respect, or experience the consequences not being prepared for Mother Nature’s Spring Cleaning events. While the springtime air provides us with an opportunity to play hard, please be smart about how you do it, and be careful to protect yourself and those you surround yourself with. Our Pond family is counting on it. „ Jim Davis, Corporate Health & Safety Director Resources: 1 Estinguishers - www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ evacuation/portable.html 2 Pests - www.pestworld.org/ find-a-pest-control-professional/pest-prevention-tips 3 Traffic Safety - www.nhtsa.gov 4 Boating Safety - www.uscgboating.org TOP HEALTH & SAFETY TIPS Before you attack your spring cleaning to-do list According to the home Safety Council, home accidents result in 10 million emergency room visits each year in the U.S.