FORT RILEY, Kan. - June is National Safety Month, and this year's theme is "Celebrating Safe Communities." While both the national workplace injury and illness rate and the driving collision rate have decreased a bit, the off-duty accidental injury rate has increased dramatically.
According to the National Safety Council, "nine out of 10 accidental fatalities and two-thirds of disabling injuries to workers occur off the job." This month is a great time to invest in safety programs that will help reduce incidents all year long.
Workplace Safety
Aca,!Ac Accident prevention - Employees are responsible for reading Occupational Safety and Health Administration posters, following employee safety and health rules, using personal protective equipment, knowing Material Safety Data Sheets for products used in the workplace, following all safety policies established for a work site, reporting hazardous situations to a supervisor for correction, and to the Garrison Safety Office if not corrected by the employer.
Aca,!Ac Fall prevention - Falls are a leading cause of workplace and home injuries. Most falls can be prevented by taking relatively easy steps, like ensuring good lighting and sturdy surfaces, wiping up spills and using proper footwear.
Aca,!Ac Overexertion - Overexertion occurs when weight - whether lifted, carried, pushed or pulled - exceeds the limits of the human body and its joint system. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries or illnesses. More than one million workers suffer back injuries each year. To prevent back strain and other overexertion injuries, lift with your knees, not your back. Reduce large loads into smaller ones, or when possible use mechanical assistance.
* Personal protective equipment - If you wear a hard hat, make sure it fits properly. Keep protective glasses or goggles clean. It's a good idea to have a spare handy. Wear ear plugs or muffs if you work in a noisy environment. Use the right gloves for the job. Never use a respirator that doesn't fit securely, never been fitted to you, damaged, clogged or one on which you can smell contaminants. Wear the right footwear.
Driving
Aca,!Ac Teen driving - According to the National Safety Council, traffic crashes are the No. 1 cause of teen fatalities - an estimated 38 percent of all teen deaths occur from crashes. Inexperience, speeding, cell phone use or texting, and alcohol are some of the leading factors that can heighten young drivers' risks. Crash rates for teen drivers with teen passengers increase significantly with each additional passenger. Limit who rides with your teen.
Aca,!Ac Distracted driving - When driving, your first responsibility is the safety of those in your vehicle and others on the road. Cell phone use while driving and other forms of distracted driving account for 80 percent of all crashes. If you need to use your cell phone while driving, pull over to a safe location and put the car in park. Hands-free cell phone devices are not safer. Avoid driving while fatigued.
Emergency Preparedness
Aca,!Ac Workplace - Follow all safety procedures completely, all the time. Identify the emergency exits routes and assembly locations. Never ignore an alarm, even if you know it's a drill. Know who to notify in your organization in the event of an emergency. If possible, keep personal items, such as your wallet or keys, in your pocket. Never go back to your desk or locker to retrieve them in an emergency.
* Home - designate a safe place to take shelter in the home during a weather event. Keep flashlights and extra batteries on each floor of the home. Post emergency numbers near the phone. Keep all cell phones charged and working. Create an emergency kit. Make sure everyone in the Family knows two ways out of the home. Install and check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Have a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it. Have a written inventory with photos of all valuable items, and keep an extra copy outside the home.
Home and Community
Aca,!Ac Falls - Most think of falls as a problem for the elderly, but in fact falls are second to poisoning for accidental deaths in the home and community. People of all ages are vulnerable to falls. Keep rooms well lit. Keep doorways and steps in good repair. Install grab bars in bathtubs and showers. Make sure your home is free of clutter, piles and other obstacles.
Aca,!Ac Poisoning - Lock up all household products and medications out of children's reach and sight. Never mix medications with alcohol, take more than the prescribed amount or borrow prescription medication from someone else. In case of accidental poisoning, read the label and follow directions. Do not induce vomiting.
For more information visit the National Safety Council Web site at www.nsc.org.
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