So there I am last night going through the channels and I come across this show on the History Chanel about illusions. This particular show was focusing in a lot on the art of illusion and cloaking. As I am now consumed by this show just waiting for some marvelous revelation to take place something did catch my interest.

They began to discuss how the Ninja used the own human eye against there victims. When looking ahead the eye sees about 60 degrees of vision. Our peripheral vision allows us to stretch it to about 100 degrees. Here is the kicker, when the human eye focuses in on any one object, our field of vision can decrease down to 6 degrees. This is how the Ninja could sneak up on you and "appear outta nowhere" to attack. 

I found this to be a very interesting bit of knowledge. So why is a safety guy writing about this. What happens when you are in your car? Part of driving involves doing this very task, focusing! Trying to read that street sign ahead, following the car in front, stair This could leave blind spots where pedestrians, motorcycles and even vehicles could sneak up on you.

Just some food for thought while you are traveling around this summer.

I want to share this story with you courtesy of Amanda Allain with ADP. I think it is fitting coming into the winter months where we might see similar situations ourselves.

"My story happened when we were on vacation. We were traveling on the Mass Pike in torrential rain when we saw a car that spun off the road and was on its side. Many people were helping them stay dry with umbrellas; you could tell this accident did not just happen. About 10 miles up the road where there is a shortcut for the police to cut from one side of the pike to the other, we saw 2 police cars with lights blaring come in and fly past us...Then a few minutes later we saw them on the other side going back...I believe they were trying to respond to the car accident but could not find where they were. This just goes to show how important it is to know exactly where you are and give as much info as possible to save valuable time! "

This is a great example of how important is to know where you are at all times. If you do not know where you are, Emergency Medical Services probably will not know either. Currently in the State of Massachusetts, we do not track your cell signal to locate your position. Therefore, when you call 911 for assistance and they ask where you are, keep these things in mind;

What is the last mile marker you passed?

Are you traveling East,West, North or South on the road?

What exit or over-pass?

What is the name of the street signs around you?

What are the major landmarks around you?

Whether you are traveling this Holiday Season to visit family, friends or even just to work, know where you are going, where you came from and describe what is around you. 

With all the changes in the Regulatory Compliance World, it is quite easy to feel smothered by the burden of keeping up with it all. One of the changes is the promulgation of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). In 1992, the United Nations (UN) issued an international mandate to implement a harmonized system for classifications and labeling of chemicals on a global level - this gave rise to the GHS. In 2003, the first edition of the GHS was approved and published by the UN and a second revision was published in 2007.

Japan, Korea, and New Zealand have already adopted GHS and are transitioning to the new classification and labeling methods now. The European Union (EU) adopted the proposed act that aligns the EU system with GHS in June of 2007. Once finalized, companies will be given 3 years to transition to the new system for pure substances, and another 5 years for mixtures.

In preparation for this domestically, OSHA has reviewed their current Hazard Communications Standard (HAZCOM) and as planning to adopt the New GHS Standard into it. The tentative time for the final rule will most likely come in 2009.

One of the major changes United States companies can anticipate has to do with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).  The MSDSs will under go an extensive change once the GHS is adopted.  There will also be modifications on labels, signal words, pictograms and hazard statements all designed to enhance communication for all that handle chemicals.

Finally, training must be modified - educating employees on the label and MSDS changes due to the updated product classifications, pictograms, signal words, and hazard and precautionary statements will represent the greatest training challenge. Delivering a consistent and timely training message to your employees that can be easily tracked will be critically important to the success of your GHS rollout.

This is a story from Wayne Burgess, a self-employed Electrician.

"A maintenance man was working on a 480 volt roof top air conditioning unit at an industrial complex. The maintenance man decided that this job was more than he could handle. So, he called the company that I worked for and requested a technician. We sent an electrician with over 15 years of experience to the job site. The electrician after reaching the roof, realized he had left his tester in the truck.  Rather than go back to the truck to get the tester, he yelled to the maintenance man to ask if the breaker for the unit had been shut off. He replied "yea it's off, you're all set." The electrician put his hand behind the electrical attachment point to check connections, the 480 volts from the unit that was still on burnt his hand severely. He was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery to try to repair his hand. The Electrical Company had a very strict safety policy in place, the electrician not only was injured that day, but he also lost his job!

 Remember this story the next time you don't want to take 20 minutes to walk down and get your tester.

Here is a classic example of why people need to use Lockout/ Tagout. This situation could have been avoided a few different ways. First, test it for power...wait, it was downstairs.  Second, check the breaker yourself. Then you would know for sure that the correct breaker had been turned off. Third, use the OSHA Lockout/ Tagout procedures. Create a safer working environment.

Thanks to Wayne for sharing this story with us. I think everyone can apply these same practices to many different situations. Remember, it's your life. Safety Matters. Take the time. It could save your life. 

Our next story comes from Kevin Cantwell from Expert laser Services.

"Several years ago I had a crew clearing some brush and small trees. The guy on the chain saw was not a tree expert, but he was experienced in using a chainsaw and cutting down trees. As he was cutting the tree, another guy pushed on the tree with a backhoe to make sure it fell away from a building. Just as the tree was cut through the pressure made the trunk swing around. A limb hit the tree cutter in the side of his head, causing a severe concussion and months of lost time. He was not wearing a hard hat at the time, although I am not sure if that would have helped. The standard rule of using the right tool for the job might have applied. A backhoe is not the proper method to guide a tree as it is being cut. A tree company might have cost some more money at the time, but nothing compared to what happened to my workers compensation premium!!!"

I think this is important for any homeowner or business owner. It might not be you that has an emergency, but this is a perfect example of how others can effect us. We hire companies to come into our homes to do work everyday, it doesn't take much. Sometimes these workers have deadlines to meet and as a result might rush....this can make a very big difference!

Thanks to Kevin for sharing!

This next story comes to us from Paul Ceccarelli. How he dealt with his First Aid situation.

"It was a nice fall day in October of 2004 when I decided to tackle my next homeowner project. It was time to replace the windows in the front of my house. Now, this is a project that seemed relatively easy to me, since I had been doing carpentry work on and off for over 25 years.

So, out come the old windows, then time to get ready to put in the new ones, but wait...the new windows are a little bit smaller. No problem, I'll just cut a few 2 x 4's and back in business.

So I have a 2 x 4 on the saw ready to cut,then a second later my arm is in the chop-saw getting cut! It only took a second and now I had an arm that was cut clear to the bone. Since I have been through First Aid Training, I did not panic and put direct pressure with a towel immediately. I called for my wife to grab more towels and to stay calm. I had no use of my hand at this point, but we managed to control the bleeding.

I was rushed to the hospital where I received over 35 stitches. After months of rehab I now have 98% use of my hand."

Thanks to Paul for sharing this story with us. I want to add a personal note to this story. If you don't know, Paul is my father. When I received the phone call I was on Cape Cod working. I had to drive 110 miles home to install windows so they could come home from the hospital to a weather tight house. I kept all my appendages!

So recently I have asked some associates, friends and fellow net workers to offer stories of their personal experiences dealing with or wittnesing a First Aid Emergency.

So this first story comes to you from Joe Holm:

"Last November, I was coaching my son's elementary school basketball team, and one of the players was cut pretty badly over the eye. As we were scrimmaging, one of the players who had not played before, and confused football for basketball in the rules dept, fell on top of one of the players, driving his face into the hardwood floor. The player who had his face  planted, happened to be wearing Rec spec's ( thankfully, not his glasses ) and they were driven into his eyebrow. After he sat up, there was a little blood dripping down his face, but not too bad. I removed his rec spec's and the flood began! He had a slice right across his eyebrow!! And oh by the way, it was my son... I panicked for a quick second, then reached for my "medical kit"... which consisted of one icepack, and some gauze... I went through the gauze in about 30 seconds, and had paper towels and the icepack on it to keep the swelling down and try to stop the bleeding. I was the only adult in the gym, so I had to get someone back to the gym to finish the practice so I could take my son to the hospital. He thankfully required no stitches, just glue, which he proudly showed off the next day at school with his black eye. I think the experience was more upsetting for me than it was for him. "

First off, thanks to Joe for sharing this story. Sounds like Joe did a great job handling this situation, especially because it was his own kid. Parents often time have that initial "freak-out" reaction which does not help the situation. I am happy to hear your son is ok and thank you for sharing.

Heat stroke kills over 4,000 people annually, and thousands more suffer heat-related illnesses and injuries every year. Heat illness occurs when the body retains more heat than it loses. Core temperature rises as a result. Workers are at greater risk of heat illness when they are dehydrated, not used to working in a hot environment, in poor health, older, or have had heat illness before.

Heat related illness usually have a starting point of dehydration and if ignored or accelerated can lead to heat exhaustion and eventually heat stroke. If you keep your body hydrated, you can generally keep yourself safe all summer long.

If you are someone who works in the elements or just enjoys the outdoors than DRINK FLUIDS!

Let me ask you this question, Have you ever been or are you thirsty right now?

If the answer to this questions is YES than you are or have been dehydrated. At the point that you are thirsty it is to late, it is going to be much harder to re-hydrate yourself. Preventative maitnence is the best way to go.

You have to put oil in the motor of your vehicle to keep it running smoothly and keep the internal parts lubed up. Water does the same thing for your body, you need to keep it lube up and running smooth by puttting fluids in it.

You can learn more about heat illnesses and other summer issues when you take a First Aid class. Learn how to take care of yourself and your family.

Happy Summer Everyone!

I was at a networking meeting yesterday morning where I listened to Russ Swallow from Benifitslab talk about disability insurance. Safety Trainersis fortunate to be surrounded by experts in their field of business. So, you might be thinking what does CPR and First Aid have to do with disability insurance.

At first, you might not see how disability insurance and CPR go together.  However, Why do you buy disability insurance? Why do you take a first aid and CPR class? The reason that people get disability insurance is for the "worst case" scenario in their life. CPR and first aid training will also prepare your for a "worst case" scenario.

Russ caught my attention yesterday morning and you can read more on his blog. If you are in the planning mode of what unsuspecting things that life might throw your way, why not take a first aid or CPR course too?

 Whether it is insurance or first aid training, you never know what curve ball might come your way. Be prepared. 

In a training that I did last night, I presented the class participants with I.C.E stickers and the handout that Safety Trainers has to go along with them.

One individual said to me "I heard about that before but I didn't believe it was real"

 Since that was not the first time something like that has been said to me it really got me thinking......

I need to let people know about this program.

The I.C.E. sticker is a way to show lay and professional rescuers that you have listed the In Case of Emergency contact in your mobile device.

 In the event that something happens to YOU how can we identify who you are and if there is medical information that we should know about to better help YOU.

If you ever got an email about this or read it in a magazine, medical professionals( EMT's, Paramedics, Police and Fire Fighters) are trained to take a look at your phone for this sticker to identify an established emergency communications protocol. This started in the UK and has now traveled into the US.

Do you travel overseas for business?

This is spreading as a world-wide campaign!

If you have any questions or would like more information, please  contact us.