Medicine Cabinet Safety

The other day when visiting my father in law in the hospital, I saw a sign about cleaning out your medicine cabinet.  Sounds pretty simple, but as I explored the topic I learned more. 

Here are a few quick tips I learned about medicine cabinet safety.  Some of them are common sense but I learned a long time ago that common sense isn't always that common.

• Storing medicine in bathrooms is not the best place as the bathroom gets hot, damp and humid which breaks down the medication.
   
• Check the expiration dates of all medication.  Even those recently purchased over the counter.
   
• Check the expiration dates on your vitamins and herbal products as well.
   
• Dispose of old medication by taking it to your local Pharmacy or saving it until a Household hazardous product recycling day.
   
• Discard any unused prescribed antibiotics and pain killers that you didn't finish off.
   
• Always store medicines FAR out of the reach of children and pets.
   
• Use only one pharmacy for all your prescriptions
   
• Never take medication prescribed for another person.
   
• Never take medication in the dark.  Turn on the lights to ensure that you are taking the correct medication at the correct time.
   
• Don't mix different pills into one container.  Even for a short vacation time period.

Picture of the Week

 Click here to watch a short video on Medicine Cabinet Safety

Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

From the Courts

Hotel Fined $70,000 After Worker Injured

Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel and Conference Centre, of Etobicoke, was fined $70,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.  On May 1, 2010, a maintenance worker was changing a fuse in a 600-volt electric panel. When the worker attempted to pull out the fuse with metal pliers, there was an explosion. The worker suffered first, second and third degree burns.Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel and Conference Centre pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the worker did not use a tool capable of conducting electricity near the electric panel. 

Click here for more cases

Picture of the Week

Click here to watch a video from the OperationSafety Facebook Collection

 Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

Electrical Cords and Extension Cords

Extension cords are commonly used throughout the home as a handy, temporary way to get electrical power to wherever you want.

Unfortunately, if these cords are not used properly they can cause serious injuries even deaths.

Common injuries include:

Picture of the Week

Wonder if this guy ever thought what would happen if he slipped?

• Eighty percent of clothes dryer fires in structures occur in residential buildings.

• Annually, 12,700 clothes dryer fires occur in residential buildings resulting in 15 deaths and 300 injuries.

• "Failure to clean" is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.

• New home construction trends place clothes dryers and washing machines in more hazardous locations away from outside walls such as bedrooms, second-floor hallways, bathrooms, and kitchens.

  Click here for a copy of the entire report

  Here are some tips to follow regarding safe operation of your clothes dryer.

  • Always make sure the lint filter is in place & make sure to clean it out after each use. Failure to clean out lint traps is the main cause of dryer fires

  • Make sure the dryer is plugged into an outlet that is suitable for its needs.

  • Make sure the dryer is properly vented and that dryer vent flaps are not freezing shut or sticking (especially in winter).

  • Remove lint build up inside the vent by vacuuming occasionally.

  • Pull out the dryer occasionally to vacuum away any lint behind or underneath the dryer.

  • Learn how to remove the front panel of a dryer and vacuum inside to remove built up lint.  (Unplug the dryer before remove the front panel)

  • Do not leave the house unattended when the dryer is on.

  • Do not leave flammable items near the dryer (clothes, rags, cleaning supplies, etc.).

  • A dryer is an electrical (or sometimes gas) appliance, make sure it’s serviced by a professional only.

  • It’s recommended your dryer use UL- listed rigid aluminum or steel duct or spiral-wound aluminum flex hose, NOT white vinyl hose

  • Have a functional smoke detector placed in the laundry room (somewhere near the dryer).

  • Never put mops or rags that have been used with a wax, flammable solvents or oils in the dryer.

  • Never put any items lined with natural or synthetic material, such as rubber-soled running shoes, in the dryer. Foam pillows or clothing with foam padding should also be left out to air dry.

  • If your clothes are taking longer than normal to dry, check for blocked pipes or lint build up. If the unit is clean, the heater coil on the unit may be malfunctioning.

  • Replace ripped filters or cracked exhaust vents.

  • Liquid fabric softener boosts the burning speed of all-cotton clothing including fleece, terry cloth and velour. Use dryer sheets for these clothes instead.

  • Make sure the dryer is plugged into an outlet with sufficient power.

  From the Courts   (via Ontario Newsroom)

  Hardrock Forming Co. was found guilty and fined $50,000 on August 26, 2011, after being convicted of a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

  On November 4, 2008, a Hardrock employee was working on a project.  The project involved a system of wooden moulds for concrete called formwork. The worker stepped on the formwork and fell through, suffering a wrist injury.

  A Ministry of Labour inspector attended the project and found that the support and bracing for the formwork had been removed, but appropriate signs warning workers of the hazard had not been placed.

  After a trial, Hardrock Forming Co.  was fined for failing, as an employer, to ensure that signs were posted in prominent locations and in sufficient numbers to warn workers of a hazard on a project.

  Picture of the Week

  For the record, this is NOT an approved smoke Detector

 Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

Back Pack Safety

Back to school is fast approaching,  as you start purchasing the items you for your will need for your children, please consider these important tips regarding selecting the proper Back Pack.

 Problems Back Packs can cause

Participation in sports or exercise, poor posture while sitting, and long periods of inactivity are not the only causes of back pain and discomfort in children.  Some kids have backaches because of the back packs that they are lugging around.  Most of the time their is an entire locker's worth of books, school supplies, and many personal items crammed into these back packs.   Back Packs weighting more than 15% of the child's body weight should be considered dangerous.

Other safety issues related to these large back packs include:

• Trip hazards caused by the bags sitting on the floor.

• Large bags falling onto children from tables, counters, etc.

• Increased risk of falling on stairs, uneven surfaces, etc.

• When wearing a backpack, children often aren't aware of how much space the packs take up behind them causing them to:

  • Hit others when turning or backing up

  • Have difficulties entering and exiting school buses, or other tight locations

Four Steps to Safe Back Pack Use:

Choose Right!

It is recommended that parents look for the following when choosing the right back pack:

• a light weight pack that doesn't add a lot of weight to your child's load  (light weight materials such as canvas is better than the heavier leather)

• two wide, padded shoulder straps; the thinner the strap the more likelihood that it will dig into the shoulders

• a padded back, which provides increased comfort and protection from objects in the bag from poking or jabbing the child.

• a waist belt, which will allow the weight of the bag to be properly distributed

• multiple compartments, so that when packed properly the weight of the back can be distributed evenly.

• Reflective strips or trim to increase visibility when carrying the backpack in the evening

Pack It Right!

• First and foremost, do everything reasonable to lighten the load.

• Encourage kids to use their locker or desk frequently throughout the day instead of carrying the entire day's worth of books in the backpack.

• Make sure kids don't tote unnecessary items — laptops, cell phones, and video games can add extra pounds to a pack.

• Load heaviest items closet to the child's back.

• Arrange contents so that they won't shift or move around.

• Encourage kids to bring home only the books needed for homework or studying each night.

• Ask about homework planning. A heavier pack on Fridays might mean that a child is procrastinating on homework until the weekend, making for an unnecessarily heavy backpack.

• Use all of the backpack's compartments.

Lift it Right!

• Face the pack

• Bend at the knees

• Use both hands and check the weight of the pack

• Lift with the legs

• Apply one shoulder strap and then the other

Wear it Right!

• Both shoulder straps should ALWAYS be used

• Adjust the straps so that the pack fits snugly to the back

• Wear the straps snug but not too tight

• The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back.  It should never rest more than four inches below the child waistline

• Use the waist straps to secure the pack to the back.

Further information:

Informative websites that I found while researching this topic:

http://www.toronto4kids.com/content/view/420/

http://www.albertachiro.com/flashsite/backpack_safety

From the Courts  (from Ontario Newsroom)

Toronto, ON - Electro-Pack Inc., a Toronto manufacturer of packaging, was fined $50,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

On December 5, 2009, a worker was using a machine that forms plastic using heat and a press. The worker noticed a jam in the machine and reached in to remove it. The machine cycled while the worker's hand was still inside. The worker's hand was seriously injured.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the machine was inadequately guarded.

Electro-Pack Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the machine was equipped with a guard or other device to prevent access to the moving part.

  Picture of the Week

How many of you would work under this vehicle?

Hopefully ....None!

Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

 Tornado Safety

Growing up in St. Louis and Fort Lauderdale, we were taught as kids what to do in case of a Tornado.  We had more Tornado drills than Fire Drills in our school.  I have seen the damage and destruction that these horrible storms cause.  Unfortunately, I have personally witnessed three funnel clouds.  Thank God they all remained in the sky and never touched ground.

As a Safety Professional, I continue to strongly encourage Employers, Family and Friends to understand and RESPECT the power and furry of a Tornado.  

The best defence is always a good offence..

• Plan ahead,
• Educate your family and friends
• what to look for,
• how to react
• what to so if one should happen to strike do,
• Have the necessary emergency supplies available.

Know the signs of a tornado:

Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things that people describe when they tell about a tornado experience

• Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base.
• A Sickly greenish or greenish black color to the sky
• A strange quiet that occurs within or shortly after the thunderstorm
• Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base
• Clouds moving by very fast, especially in a rotating pattern or converging toward one area of the sky.
• A sound a little like a waterfall or rushing air at first, but turning into a roar as it comes closer. The sound of a tornado has been likened to that of both railroad trains and jets.
• Debris:

• Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can't be seen.
• Day or night: Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder.
• At Night: Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning up in the clouds). These mean power lines are being snapped by very strong wind, maybe a tornado.
   
   

 What To Do...

If you see a tornado and it is not moving to the right or to the left relative to trees or power poles in the distance, it may be moving towards you!

In a house with a basement:

•  Avoid windows.
• Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag.
• Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.

In a house with no basement, or an apartment: 

• Avoid windows.
• Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows.
• Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.
• A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection.
• Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.

 In an school, workplace, office building:

• Follow the emergency procedure or plan if one exists.  If you are a visitor, follow the direction of the employees in charge of the workplace.
• If a plan doesn't exist:
  • Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible.
  • Then, crouch down and cover your head.
  • Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly.
  • Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.

 In a car or truck:

• Vehicles are extremely dangerous in a tornado.
• If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light:
  • You may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado.
• If the tornado is very close or the traffic is heavy:
  • Park the car as quickly and safely as possible.
  • Get out and seek shelter in a sturdy building.
• If in the open country,
  • run to low ground away from any cars (which may roll over on you).
  • Lie flat and face-down, protecting the back of your head with your arms.
  • Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.

In the open outdoors:

• If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building.
• If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Look for culverts and ditches with out water in them.
• Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado.

 In a shopping mall or large store:

• Do not panic. Follow the direction given to you by the personnel in charge of the location.
• Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows.

AFTER THE TORNADO...

• Keep your family together and wait for help to arrive.
• Provide First Aid to those who are injured.
• Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them.
• Watch your step to hazardous or sharp object in the debris..
• Stay out of any heavily damaged buildings; they could collapse at any time.
• Do not use matches or lighters, in case of leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby.
• Remain calm and alert, and listen for information and instructions from emergency crews.

For more information on Tornados, please click here

From the Courts (from Ontario Newsroom)

Algoma Tubes Inc., a Yukon metal pipe manufacturer, was fined $55,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

 On December 17, 2008, at the company's Sault St. Marie facility, a worker opened a door, slipped on a wet surface and fell to the ground. The worker suffered a fracture to the arm.

Algoma Tubes Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the floor was kept free of hazards.

In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime

Picture of the Week

I would hurry up and paddle!

 Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

Summertime Heat Safety

In the summer the combination of high heat and high humidity can be very dangerous.  Everyone should follow these basic heat safety tips in order to avoid heat exposure and possible death. Try especially hard to make sure that at risk individuals follow theses tips religiously

People at risk:

• The elderly
• People with chronic illnesses (such as diabetes, heart and respiratory conditions) or people unable to move or change position by themselves 
• Infants and preschool children 
• People who exercise vigorously or are involved in strenuous outdoor work for prolonged periods 
• People taking certain medications, for example, for mental health conditions 
• Homeless or marginally housed persons 

Prevention Tips:

•  Drink lots of water and natural fruit juices even if you don’t feel very thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee and cola.
•  During the hottest hours of the day, stay inside. If possible stay inside an air-conditioned building. The hottest hours of the day are typically from mid morning to mid afternoon 
•  If you must go outside, stay in the shade as much as possible and plan to go out early in the morning or evening when it is cooler and smog levels may not be as high as in the afternoon. Wear a hat.
•  Go to air conditioned or cool places such as shopping malls, libraries, community centres or a friend’s place. 
•  People who live in homes with no air conditioning should keep blinds closed from morning until the late afternoon to block extra direct heat from sunlight. Also, stay on the lowest level of your home. 
•  Wear loose fitting, light clothing.
•  Dress lightly and when sleeping use lightweight breathable covers.  
•  Keep lights off or turned down low.  
•  Take a cool bath or shower periodically or cool down with cool, wet towels.  
•  Avoid heavy meals and using your oven.  
• Avoid intense or moderately intense physical activity.  
• Never leave a child in a parked car or asleep in direct sunlight.  
• Use a fan. Don’t place the fan directly in front of a window because it may push hot air in. Try placing the fan so that it blows in the room and out the window instead.  
• Fans alone may not provide enough cooling when the temperature is high.  
• Consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding the side effects of your medications.  
• Move your exercise routine to early morning or later in the evening – even swimming.  
• Never ever leave anyone in the car while you run to do a quick errand. Not a pet, not a child, not anyone. It’s never safe. Cars can become overheated quickly and when overheated become like ovens. People can succumb to heat exposure and death very quickly in a hot car.  
• Help your elderly pal to get to know the neighbors – isolated elderly adults are at a much higher risk of heat related health problems and death.  
• Provide on-going education to all elderly individuals. Go over topics such as heat exposure related symptoms and where to call for help.  

 Signs & Symptoms

Heat exhaustion is a warning that the body is getting too hot. With heat stroke, body organs start to overheat. They will stop working if they get hot enough. If it is not treated, heat stroke can result in death.

  For a Heat Stroke

 These signs and symptoms can occur suddenly with little warning:

• Very high temperature (104ºF or higher).  
• Hot, dry, red skin. No sweating.  
• Deep breathing and fast pulse. Then shallow breathing and weak pulse.  
• Confusion. Hallucinations.  
• Convulsions.  
• Loss of consciousness.

     

For Heat Exhaustion

• Normal, low, or only slightly elevated body temperature.
• Cool, clammy, pale skin. Sweating.
• Dry mouth. Thirsty
• Fatigue. Weakness. Feeling dizzy.
• Headache.
• Nausea. Vomiting can occur.
• Muscle cramps.
• Weak or rapid pulse.

Friends and relatives can help someone with heat illness by doing the following:
• Call for help
• Get the person out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned location.
• Lay the person down and elevate the legs and feet slightly
• Remove extra clothing from the person
• Cool the person by spraying or sponging him or her with cool water and fanning.
• Give the person sips of cool water not ice cold water
  

In the Courts (excerpt from Ontario Newsroom)

A Brampton company that recycles metal, was fined $150,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was killed.

On June 9, 2009, at the company's Brampton scrap yard, a machine made for shredding metal was shut down for maintenance. The shredder had a dome lid that could be opened for access to its interior. The dome lid was opened using a hydraulic system and secured in place with a pin. After maintenance work on the shredder, one worker removed the pin while a second worker activated the hydraulic controls so that the lid could close. The first worker went away and some time later the second worker was found trapped in the shredder, between the dome lid and base.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that during the shredder's maintenance, there were no guards or devices in place to prevent access to the shredder's pinch point. Additionally, the company did not have a procedure to ensure that the shredder was clear of equipment and workers before its lid was closed.

The Company  pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the shredder was equipped with a guard or other device to prevent access to its pinch point.

Picture of the Week

Admit it !  You've done this before

Last week, I experienced technical issues with posting the Picture of the Week.  Received several emails asking what happened to the Picture.  So for those fans of the picture of the week.... Here is what was going to be posted last week.

One of the most important parts of safe lifting is to pre plan your lift, ensuring the the pathway you take is safe.  

Wonder how much pre-planning this team did?

Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

Bicycle Safety

 1. Protect Your Head. Wear a Helmet.

• Never ride a bicycle without wearing a properly fitted helmet. Helmets are proven to be 85-88 percent effective in preventing traumatic brain injury, the primary cause of death and disabling injuries resulting from cycling crashes.
  
• Once you have the right helmet, you need to wear it the right way so it will protect you. It should be worn level and cover your forehead. Don't tip it back so your forehead is showing.
  
• The straps should always be fastened. If the straps are flying, it's likely to fall off your head when you need it most. Make sure the straps are adjusted so they're snug enough that you can't pull or twist the helmet around on your head.
  
• Take care of your bike helmet and don't throw it around. That could damage the helmet and it won't protect you as well when you really need it
                 

2.  Ensure Proper Size and Function of Bicycle.

• Use a bicycle that fits you.
  
• Stand over the top of your bicycle–there should be 1-2 inches of clearance between you and the tube (bar) and 5 inches of clearance if riding a mountain bike.

3. Ensure that the Bike is in proper working and safe condition.

• Check all parts of the bicycle to make sure they are secure and working well.
  
• Handlebars should be firmly in place and turn easily.
  
• Wheels must be straight and secure. Quick release wheels must be secured.
  
• Brakes need adjusting by an experienced technician if: you cannot stop quickly; you apply the hand brake levers and they touch the handlebars.
  
• Check your tires to make sure they have enough air and the right amount of tire pressure.
  

  4. Ride Wisely. Learn and Follow the Rules of the Road.

• Bicyclists are considered vehicles on the road and must follow traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles.
  
• Always ride with traffic and obey traffic lights, signs, speed limits, and lane markings.
  
• Signal in advance of a turn; use correct hand signals so others can anticipate your actions.
  
• Yield to pedestrians and other vehicles, as appropriate.
  
• Check for traffic by looking left-right-left before entering a street.
  
• Control your speed by using your brakes. If your bicycle has hand brakes, apply the rear brakes slightly before the front brakes.
  
• Never carry another person on your bicycle.
                 

5. Be Predictable. Act Like a Driver of a Vehicle.

• Older children and adults are safest riding on the road where the behaviours and responsibilities should be the same as all vehicle operators.
  
• Always ride with the flow of traffic, on the right side of the road, and as far to the right of the road as is practicable and safe. Motorists do not expect to see traffic coming in the opposite direction or on the sidewalk.
  
• Ride straight and do not swerve in a lane or in and out of traffic.
  

6. Be Visible. See and Be Seen at All Times.
           

• Always assume you are not seen by others. Cyclists must take responsibility for being visible to motorists, pedestrians, and other cyclists.
  
• To enhance your visibility at night and in low visibility conditions (dawn, dusk, and inclement weather): Wear neon and fluorescent colors.
  
• Wear special clothing made from reflective materials, for example, retro-reflective vests, jackets, wristbands, and patches for your back, legs and arms, and helmet.
  
• Install bicycle reflectors on both the front and back of your bicycle.
  
• If a carrier is added, make sure the rear reflector is visible. A flashing red light on the rear of the bicycle, backpack, or helmet will increase your visibility to others.
  
• Always use hand signals when turning or stopping
  
• Look out for cars at cross street, driveways, and parking places.  Be careful when checking traffic and don't swerve when looking over your shoulder less likely to run into you. 
                 

7. Dress Right

• You'll also want to make sure that nothing will get caught in your bike chain, such as loose pant legs, backpack straps, or shoelaces.
  
• Wear the right shoes when you bike. Sandals, flip-flops, shoes with heels, and cleats won't help you grip the pedals. And never go riding barefoot!
  
• Riding gloves may help you grip the handlebars — and make you look like a professional!
  
• But avoid wearing headphones because the music can distract you from noises around you, such as a car blowing its horn so you can get out of the way.
                 

From the Courts (excerpt from Ontario Newsroom)

Newmarket, ON - Zimmcor (1993) Inc., a Concord, Ont., company that assembles curtain walls, was fined $50,000 on May 16, 2011, after a worker was seriously injured and for violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
           
On January 23, 2009, workers were trying to move a cart holding 22-foot-long aluminum extrusions, which was wedged between other carts. A worker was positioned between the cart that they were trying to move and another cart. As the worker pushed on the load while others pulled, the cart tipped over. The load fell and fractured the worker's leg. A co-worker tried to remove adjacent bundles of extrusions with a forklift to access the tipped cart, but inadvertently touched the cart and further extrusions fell on the injured worker's leg.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found the extrusions were not properly balanced or secured on the cart.

An inspector revisited the workplace on January 26, 2009, and observed that shields on a double-bladed chop saw were tied with metal holdbacks. This rendered the shields ineffective as a means of protecting workers from the hazards posed by the saw's moving blades.

Zimmcor Inc. pleaded guilty, as an employer, to failing to ensure that the load being transported, placed or stored would not tip, collapse or fall, and to ensure that the load could be removed or withdrawn without endangering the worker. The employer also pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable precaution of ensuring that the shields on a double-bladed chop saw were not rendered ineffective by metal holdbacks.

Zimmcor Inc. was fined $45,000 for the first count and $5,000 for the second. The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Malik Asad. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Picture of the Week

Watching TV can be hazardous to your health!

Safetydude's Safety Tip of the week

 Ontario Emergency Public Warning System

Not sure how many of you are aware of a very important and useful warning system that is available to the residents of Ontario. I get very useful e-mail alerts from this system regarding pending severe weather such as tornados, high winds, etc.

You can subscribe to receive Red Alerts and/or Emergency Information Advisories through email, RSS feeds, SMS text messaging and Twitter. To learn more about the Warning System and to subscribe to the new services, please visit www.ontario.ca/emo.

 Barbeque Safety

   Barbeque season is finally here!  It is important to inspect our grills to ensure we all have a safe and enjoyable barbeque season.

 Getting Started

ü  When purchasing a barbeque, always ensure that it has a certification stamp, CSA, ITS or ULC

ü  Inspect propane cylinders and have them re-certified every 10 years

ü  Inspect burners, replace any rusty or damaged burners

ü  Clean tubes under the burners as debris may have accumulated when not in use during the winter months

ü  Always make sure that the barbeque is in a safe place, where kids and pets won't touch or bump into it

ü  If you use a barbeque lighter, make sure you don't leave it lying around where the kids can access it. It won't take long for them to figure out how to use it

ü  When you're finished barbequing, always make sure that you not only shut off the barbeque, but shut off the propane tank as well

ü  Always store propane tanks outside, in a well-ventilated area

 Checking for leaks

ü  Barbeques should be inspected one a year (preferably at the start of the season)

ü  Spray soapy water on the connections, and supply lines. If you see bubbles, turn off the tank, and try re-connecting. If it still bubbles, then gas is still leaking. Shut off the tank and get the leaky part replaced

 When Barbequing

ü  Make sure that the barbeque is at least 5 feet (1.5 meters), or better yet 10 feet (3 meters) from the house, or any other material that could catch fire

ü  Only open your propane tank a quarter to one-half turn. That's all the gas your barbeque needs to operate, and if you have a problem, then it's much easier to shut off

ü  Unless you're keen on joining the space program, always open the barbeque lid before you light it. If it doesn't fire up the first time you try it, then shut it down, and try it again in about 5 minutes

ü  From the time you light the barbeque, till you're finished cooking, stay with your fire. Accidents can happen when you leave a barbeque unattended

 Tips for Charcoal Grilling

ü Never use gasoline to get the coals going. Instead, use charcoal lighting fluid

ü Let the lighter fluid soak into the coals for a minute or so before lighting it. That gives the explosive vapors a chance to dissipate

ü If the coals start to die out on you, don't spray lighter fluid on the hot coals. You could end up with explosive results

ü Always extinguish the coals when you're finished barbequing

For more information click here

From the Courts  (Ontario Newsroom)

A St. Catharines manufacturer of custom cabinetry, was fined $50,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.   One of the Company's  Supervisors was fined $4,000 in relation to the same incident.

On November 13, 2009, at the company's facility in St. Catharines, a worker was using a table saw to cut a wooden part for a cabinet. The Supervisor was helping the worker. Towards the end of the cut, the worker noticed a fragment of wood coming loose and reached to grab it. The worker's hand came in contact with the saw blade and three of the worker's fingers were amputated.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the table saw was equipped with a guard to prevent access to its moving blade, but the guard was not in use.

The Company pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to ensure that the table saw was guarded to prevent access to its moving blade. The Supervisor pleaded guilty to failing, as a supervisor, to ensure the same.

In addition to the fines, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Picture of the Week

 Hopefully these kids are wearing Pampers Extra Dry diapers

Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

Spring Gardening

Spring yard and garden work could mean trouble if you don't take the proper precautions. 

Injuries often occur because of improper use, improper safety apparel, failure to heed safety instructions and owners' manuals, inadequate maintenance of tools, and mechanical problems.

Often, the victims of these accidents are children who are unaware of any danger and are playing in the area where power equipment is being used.

When using any garden tool, CPSC has these safety tips:

·  Dress appropriately for the work environment ny wearing: 

             o Long pants and long-sleeved shirts to provide some
                protection from thrown objects; 

             o Close-fitting clothes and don't wear anything that could get
                caught in moving parts, e.g., loose jewellery; 

             o Sturdy shoes with slip-resistant rubber soles; 

             o Eye protection (even a small piece of grass in the eye can
                cause a painful eye abrasion); 
 
             o Heavy gloves when changing, sharpening, or cleaning blades; 

             o Hearing protection when using motor-driven equipment.

· Walk around the area in which you will be working before starting lawn and garden work, and remove any objects that could damage equipment or cause injury or property damage. Objects such as sticks and stones, metal, glass, and wire can break bones and cause other severe injuries when thrown from lawnmowers and other equipment.

· Keep children indoors away from power equipment. Children move quickly and are attracted to mowing and other power equipment activity.

· Be sure that safety devices on the equipment are in place and functioning properly before starting work.

· Unplug electric tools and disconnect spark plug wires on gasoline-powered tools before making adjustments or clearing jams near moving parts.

· Be sure power tools are turned off and made inoperable if they must be left unattended. This will prevent use by children.

· Handle gas carefully. Remember never to fill gasoline tanks while equipment is operating or when equipment is still hot. Wipe up spills. Store gas in an approved container away from the house. Finally, never smoke or use any type of flame around gasoline.

· Never let young children operate power lawn and garden equipment. Teenagers should only be allowed to operate outdoor power equipment if they possess adequate strength and maturity to do so safely. They also should be supervised by a responsible adult.

· Never work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions.

· Be sure that extension cords are in good condition and are the proper size for the electrical current capacity of the tool.

· The best protection against electric shock is to use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). GFCIs come in four varieties, including a type that can be used as part of an extension cord and a type that can be wired into your home's electrical system. 
 
 

From the Courts  ( from Ontario News)

An automotive dealership, was fined $18,000 on November 24, 2010, for violating the isocyanate regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. A supervisor at the dealership, was fined $3,000 for the same violations.

A Ministry of Labour investigation revealed that spray paints used at the dealership contained isocyanates, a hazardous chemical and a designated substance under the Act. A worker using the spray paints had not been trained on how to prevent exposure to isocyanates and was not using adequate personal protective equipment. The worker's isocyanate exposure was not monitored and the worker was not receiving medical surveillance.

The Dealership  pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to ensure that:

• All practical and reasonable engineering controls, work practices and hygiene practices were adopted and implemented to limit a worker's exposure to isocyanates
• A worker who handles isocyanates was provided with appropriate personal protective equipment.

The Supervisor pleaded guilty to failing, as a supervisor, to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.

In addition to the fines, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Picture of the Week

Round One goes to Mr. Bull !

Check out the Bullfighters mouth.

Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

Home Lock Out Procedure

Do you follow any sort of Lock Out Procedure at home?  Now honestly, how many of you have no idea in the world what I am talking about?

So let me continue my questioning by asking:

Do you unplug the toaster before sticking a fork (or knife) into to get the stuck piece of bread out? 

When fixing a leaky faucet do you turn the water off underneath the sink (at the main shutoff)?

When working on a light fixture do you turn the switch off and tape it off (do you turn off the power source at the fuse panel)?

Before sticking your hands underneath the lawnmower to unplug it, do you disconnect and remove the spark plug?

Hopefully you answered yes to all of the above.  If not I suggest you reconsider your actions the next time, and follow at least an informal Lock Out procedure.

In the workplace, a Lock Out Procedure is designed to prevent the worker from the energy sources and hazards of the equipment they are going to be servicing, cleaning or maintaining.  Energy sources being electrical, hydraulics,  pressured systems (both gases and liquids), mechanical.  Lock out procedures requires the worker to ensure that no one can accidentally re-energize the power source while they are working on the piece of equipment.  That is where the the lock comes in.

Safety is a Life event not just a work event.  We need to follow the same sort of safety practises at home that we do at work.

At home, you perform many similar tasks putting you at risk of injury (remember the questions above).  Consider this scenario, your significant other is installing a new ceiling fan, you walk into the room and accidentally without thinking turn the switch on the wall on.  What happens next is based solely on the luck of the draw and timing. 

Yes doing a Lock Out takes time.  But isn't your life worth the effort?

The best place to control the power sources in your home is at the main entry point of that power source into the house (Fuse panel, water shut off, etc).

From the Courts  

(From The Ministry of Labour Newsroom)

This is what happens when a Lock Out procedure isn't followed or maintained in a workplace

A well known company that specializes in producing meat products was fined $100,000 yesterday for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

At the company's factory in Brampton, a worker was preparing equipment that puts sauce on meat products. As the worker was attaching a return hose to a pump, the worker's finger was caught in the pump and its tip was severed. The pump had been running while the worker was doing this preparation work.

The company  pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the worker adjusted the equipment only when motion that could endanger a worker was stopped.

Picture of the Week

This person got their hand stuck in a paper shredder that was still plugged in.  A simple Lock Out would have prevented these injuries.

Safetydude's Safety Tip of the Week

Talk to your Teenagers about Workplace Safety

• Know about the hazards that they will be exposed to and how to protect themselves
• Refuse unsafe work
• Report hazards and safety concerns without the fear of reprisals

• Follow the safety rules of the workplace
• ALWAYS use the personal protective equipment that they are provided
• Use only the equipment that they are trained and authorized to operate
• Use all the safety devices such as guards that the equipment has

• Have received WHMIS training
• Are comfortable reporting a hazard
• Know they safety procedures for the hazards that they are exposed to 
• Is a safety concern that they want to discuss with you

From the Courts

Recently a well-known and established construction company was fined $225,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after an explosion that killed a homeowner.

During the summer and fall of 2008, the Gas Company started providing natural gas service to a residential neighbourhood.   The Gas contracted the construction company to install the natural gas lines. One of the homes being serviced had a private propane service on the property. This included a storage tank and buried supply lines.

When the construction company arrived at the home to begin installation of the natural gas line. The propane line had not been marked and was still in service that morning. The natural gas line was installed using an underground plough. During the process, the blade of the plough severed the unmarked propane line. Propane leaked through the soil and foundation of the house into the basement. 

The next day, one of the homeowners entered the basement and lit a candle. The propane that had accumulated in the basement ignited, which caused an explosion and a fire. The homeowner was blown out of the house and suffered third-degree burns leading to death.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the construction company supervisor was aware of the propane service, but assumed the propane line would not be in the path of the natural gas line. The homeowners had not been present to supervise the location and excavation of the existing service lines.

The construction company plead guilty to failing to ensure the owner of the propane service was requested to locate and mark the service prior to the excavation.

Picture of the Week

Look  at the picture above, and you can see where this driver broke through the guardrail, on the right side of the culvert, where people are standing on the road pointing.

 The pick-up was travelling about 75 mph, from right to left, when it crashed through the guardrail.

It flipped end-over-end, bounced off and across the culvert outlet, and landed right-side-up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which the driver was travelling.

The 22-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger were unhurt, except for minor cuts and bruises.

Now, look at the second picture below . . . 

SafetyDude Safety Tip of the Week

Always read your prescription label

Learn from my mistake......Always double check and read the label of your prescriptions.

The following is a true and embarrassing story that just recently happened to me.  After all, I am the one that continually preaches to "read the label of the chemicals before usin them."

What concerns me is that when I tell this story to others I am told of cases of people getting the wrong persons medication, the wrong medication all together, etc.

For about the last year, I have been taking medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  The medication appears to be working as the Doctor has kept me on the same pills and dosage for the entire period of time.  Two pills in the morning, one at bedtime.

I last saw the Doctor in January, and again got the same script for medication.  Went to the local large discount retail Pharmacy to get the prescriptions filled.

Over the past few months, I have been experiencing extreme fatigue, muscle aches and pains, falling asleep with little effort, and general malasie.   I put in off to the winter time blues.  Those of you whom know me, know how much I just adore the Canadian winter.  After all snow is a four letter word in my vocabulary.

Two weeks ago, I noticed that one of the bottles of pills was becoming close to being empty.  How could this be?  Did they not give me all the pills?  I've only been taking the same two pills in the morning and one in the evening.

When I read the bottle label to see how many pills I got, and if I could get a refill, I noticed that the label states...."Take half a pill daily".

After consulting my Doctor and investigating the matter with the local Pharmacy, I learned that I should have been taking 12.5mg of the drug.  The prescription was for 12.5 mg.   But the Pharmacy didn't have the dosage so they replaced it with the 25mg dosage pill.  They claimed they told me, but I clearly was not told of the change.

There are serious side effects associated with this medication inclusive of all the signs and symptoms that I have been experiencing.  And much worse.

After correcting the dosage that I had been taking, everything has returned to normal. I consider myself lucky as my research leads me to belive that overdosing on this particular medication can be very serious. 

So learn from my mistake..........Always double check and read the label of your prescriptions.

From the Courts

A Large retail grocer, was fined $350,000 last week for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused a young worker's death.

In August of 2009, at the one of this company's stores in Mississauga, a young worker was helping the assistant store manager clear materials from the top of a cooler beside the meat department. The meat department was covered by a drop ceiling made up of acoustic tiles. The drop ceiling was accessible from the top of the cooler but it was not meant to be weight-bearing.

While removing materials from the top of the cooler, the assistant store manager indicated that a box needed to be removed from on top of the drop ceiling. The young worker stepped onto the drop ceiling to remove the box and fell through. The young worker suffered a fatal head injury.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that there was no guardrail separating the drop ceiling from the area above the cooler.

The Company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that a guardrail was in place to prevent workers from accessing the drop ceiling.

 Picture of the Week 

 OOPs!  I forgot to do my Pre-Use Inspection.

SafetyDude's Safety Tip of the Week

Hotel Safety  

To protect yourself:

Keep the door to your room locked at all times. If you are inside the room, turn the deadbolt and fasten the security chain.

When you leave your hotel room, pull the door completely closed behind you- even on quick trips to the ice machine.  Make sure the latch has engaged. Take a moment before you leave to try the door and make sure it is closed and locked.   

Do not open your door to strangers. Use the security viewport to see who is outside your door. Do not trust someone claiming to be a hotel employee if you are not expecting one.

If you are unsure, call the front desk to check. Leave the security chain engaged while opening the door for further protection.

Check all windows and doors in your room every time you enter it and leave it to make sure they are closed and locked.

When entering or leaving the hotel after dark, use the main entrance.

If you travel often, consider buying a portable alarm system to hang on the doorknob for added protection. These movement-sensitive devices can awaken you if a door lock should happen to fail. To protect your valuables:

Use the safe provided in the room to store keys, wallets, extra cash and credit cards, jewelry, and other small valuable items you are leaving in the room. If no safe is supplied, check with the front desk. They may have locked storage available for your use. 

Don't leave cash, travelers checks and expensive electronics and jewellery lying around the room.

Leave larger expensive or breakable objects at home, if at all possible. If you must bring them, store them in the closet and out of the way of the cleaning crew.

Fire Safety:

Before a fire

When making a hotel reservation or checking into a hotel, ask about the fire safety features of the facility and choose a facility that's protected by both smoke alarms and is fully fire sprinklered.

When checking in, ask what the fire alarm system sound is for the facility.

Become familiar with the fire escape plan posted in your room.

Locate the two nearest stairs and count the number of doors between your room and the stairwell. In a fire, the hall may be dark and it may be difficult to see the exit stairway. Counting the number of doors may help you find the stairs.

Look for exit signs wherever you are in the facility.

Check to make sure the exits are not locked or blocked. Notify the hotel manager if exits are not accessible.

Keep your room key by your nightstand so that you can easily reach it in an emergency.

Travel with a flashlight and fresh batteries in case the power goes out.

Report any unusual behaviour or fire hazards to hotel management.

During a fire

If the fire alarm sounds, leave the building immediately. Take your room key with you, in case the exits are blocked by fire or smoke, you can return to your room.

Test doors before you open them. If there is fire on the other side, it will feel warm around the cracks. If the door is warm, use your second way out or stay in your room and begin procedures for "If You Are Trapped." If the door is cool, open it cautiously and check to make sure your escape path is clear of fire and smoke.

Always use the stairs, not an elevator, during a fire.

If you must escape through smoke, crawl low under the smoke on your hands and knees to your exit.

If you are trapped

If you can't escape and there's not fire in your room, stay put.

Call the fire department and let them know your exact location.

Shut off fans and air conditioners because they can draw smoke into the room.

Stuff towels or sheets in the cracks around all doors and vents between you and the fire.

If you can, open the window at the top and bottom, but be prepared to shut it if smoke comes into the room. Do not break the window so that you are able to shut it if needed.

Stay at the window and signal the firefighters by waving a light-colored cloth or a flashlight. 

From The Courts
(new section)

For just the second time in Canada an Employer has been convicted of criminal negligence stemming from a workplace incident leading to the death of a worker.

The owner of a Quebec landscape company, was operating a backhoe on June 12, 2006 when it rolled down a slope pinning his employee against a wall. The worker suffered fatal injuries. 

The front brakes and the emergency brake on the backhoe were found to be completely non-functional. It was also determined that the backhoe, bought in 1976, had not undergone any regular maintenance.

As a result, the court found there was a breach of the  “legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to a person”  imposed on an employer by section 217.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

The Owner will serve a conditional sentence of imprisonment of two years less a day

Safetydude's Safety Tip of the week

Compact Fluorescent Lights

If you are like me you have converted your house from incandescent bulbs to the new energy efficient Compact Fluorescent lights (CFL's).    But beware, these lights may be harmful to you.  

In particular, if they are broken or damaged they need to be handle with extreme caution.  There is actually a small amount of mercury contained within the bulb.  

Under normal conditions they should be considered safe.  However, I should point out that consumers have reported "sensitivity to CFL's.  These bulbs emit both ultraviolet radiation (UV) and electric and magnetic fields (EMF's).  Some people, such as those with Lupus or another auto-immune disease and certain skin conditions are extremely sensitive to these emissions and need to take extra precautions when exposed to CFL's.  

Health Canada offers the following directions for handling broken or damaged CFL bulbs:
(extracted from Health Canada website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/cfl-afc-eng.php )

I would like to add the suggestion that you wear a dust mask during this entire process.

• Leave the room
  • Remove people and pets from the room and keep them out of the room during the clean-up process.
  • Avoid stepping on any broken glass.
• Ventilation
  • Ventilate the room for at least 15 minutes prior to starting clean-up by opening windows and doors to the outdoors. This will ensure that mercury vapour levels are reduced before you start cleaning.
• Clean-up Directions for Hard and Carpeted Surfaces
  • Do not use a vacuum to clean up the initial breakage, as it will spread the mercury vapour and dust throughout the area and may contaminate the vacuum.
  • Wear disposable gloves, if available, to avoid direct contact with mercury and to prevent cuts.
  • Scoop or sweep up the broken pieces and debris with two pieces of stiff paper or cardboard.  Do not use a broom.
  • Use sticky tape, such as duct tape or masking tape, to pick up any remaining fine glass or powder.
  • Wipe the area with a damp paper towel, cloth or disposable wet wipe to remove any residual particles.
  • Place the broken glass and clean-up materials in a glass container with a tight fitting lid to further minimize the release of mercury vapour.
• Carpeting - Steps to Take After the Initial Clean-up
  • If the rug is removable, take it outside, shake and air it out for as long as is practical.
    • The first time you vacuum on installed carpet after the clean-up, shut the door to the room or close off the area as much as possible and ventilate the room in which the lamp was broken by opening the windows and doors to the outside. When the vacuuming is done, remove the bag, wipe the vacuum with a damp paper towel, cloth or disposable wet wipe, and then place the vacuum bag and paper towel in a sealed plastic bag outside.  In the case of a canister vacuum, wipe the canister out with a wet paper towel and dispose of the towel as outlined above. Continue to ventilate the room for 15 minutes once the vacuuming is completed.
• Disposal
  • Immediately place waste material outside of the building in a protected area away from children.
  • Dispose of the waste at a household hazardous waste location as soon as possible.  Check with local, provincial, or territorial authorities about the requirements for recycling and for the location of household hazardous waste depots or pick-up.
  • Do not dispose of the waste in your household trash.
  • For further information on disposal, please contact Environment Canada.
• Washing 
  • Wash your hands after storing and disposing of waste

Picture of the Week

For those of you who are interested,

this is NOT an acceptable fall arrest harness.

SafetyDude's Safety Tip of the Week

Cruise Ship Safety Tips

Over the Christmas Holiday season, the Safetydudette and I had the opportunity of going on a 15 day Cruise on the Holland America Eurodam. 

We were VERY impressed with the Safety Excellence demonstrated by the Officers and Crew of this ship.  From "people safety" to "food safety" to "the safety of the environment" they continually impressed us with their level of commitment and knowledge.

We took advantage of the Kitchen tour, where we questioned the Crew Members as if we were auditing the workplace.  Not only did they know all the right answers, but more importantly they were proud to offer explanations as to exactly why they take the steps that they do.  They had no idea that we were Food Safety or Health & Safety Professionals.  If only all organizations would care so much about their customers.

While on the Ship:
1.  Read all of the emergency instructions and procedures provided.  Check the back of the cabin door and for printed material provided within the cabin.

2.  Know (and practise walk) at least two routes from your cabin to your assigned emergency assembly station.  You will be scheduled to have a passenger safety briefing before departure,  be in your cabin when the drill begins and use the stairways and passages as directed by the Ship's Crew Members to get to your assigned emergency assembly station.

3.  If you are not required to actually put on your lift vest as part of the passenger safety briefing,  when you get to your cabin practise putting your life vest on before ship departure.  This is a good time to adjust the straps to your body.

4.  When the ship is underway, use the handrails along the hall ways and stairs.  Particulary when the seas are rough.

5.  Outisde decks and stairs should be treated as if they are slippery when they are wet.  Expect that winds (possibly strong at times) and the motion of the ship will make keeping your footing difficult.  

6.  Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds.  Particularly after using the restrooms and before eating, drinkingg or smoking.  Use the hand sanitizers if provided.

7.  Contact the Medical Team if you experience any vomiting or diarrhea.

8.  Be extremely careful with any smoking materials.   Smoke only in authorized areas.  Ensure that smoking materials are extinquished before leaving your stateroom.

9.  Treat the Ship as you would a Hotel, know where your Fire Exits are from your cabin, main eating areas, pool areas, etc. in addition what to do in case of Fire.  Know the difference between the Fire Alarm and the General Emergency Alarm.

10. If you don't use a bath mat in your tub/shower at home, here is a good time to use one.  A slight motion of the Ship may be all all you need to lose your balance.

While on Shore:
1.  Be food safety wise while on shore.  Check out the visible sanitary conditions of the restuarant before ordering.  If in doubt, better not!   If there are animals and birds within the eating area, do you really think that the cooking area is treated any differently.

2.  Limit the amount of jewelry that you wear while on shore.  Don't advertise yourself to thieves as a profitable target.

3.  Don't travel alone while on shore.  The bigger the group the better.

4.  Use the cruise line appointed shore excursion providers.  Most cruise lines will wait for you if the excursion runs past the all aboard time if you use their provider.

5.  Be careful when handling cash.  Don't show large bills, or big wads of cash to anyone.  Seperate money into numerous "stashes".   Have tip money readily available and separate from the large bills.

6.  If confronted by a robber, remember that valuables and jewelry can be replaced.

7.  When you return to the ship, wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds.  Use hand sanitizer if available.

Picture of the Week

For my Ice Fishing friends....Be careful where you park you vehicles.

SafetyDude's Safety Tip of the Week

Snow Blower Safety 
 

1.A snow blower is not a play toy, and should be treated with the utmost care and respect.

2.Always do a thorough check of your machine at the start of the winter, before the first snow.

3.The operator must have the proper physical capabilities and maturity to safely operate the snow blower.

4.Inspect the area for any obstructions (Newspapers, sleds, toys, curbs, etc.)

5.Always keep by-standers at a safe distance from the work area.

6.Do not allow children to run back and forth through the path of the ejecting snow.

7.Never leave a snow blower running and unattended.

8.Protect yourself from carbon-monoxide poisoning by starting and running gasoline-powered snow blowers outside, rather than in your garage or shed.

9.Don't wear loose pants, jackets, or scarves, which can get tangled in a snow blower's moving parts.

10.Wear proper footwear that eliminates or reduces the operators chance of slipping and falling.

11.Avoid where possible using a snow blower on any areas where there is a steep slope.

12.Dislodging Snow or ice from the auger or chute:

a.Stop the engine and use a long stick to unclog wet snow and debris from the machine. Do not use your hands to unclog a snow thrower.

b.Always keep hands and feet away from all moving parts.

13.Never leave the machine running in an enclosed area.

14.Add fuel to the tank outdoors before starting the machine.

15.Always keep the gasoline can capped, and store gasoline out of the house and away from ignition sources.

16.Dont add gasoline to a running or hot engine.

17.If you have an electric-powered snow thrower,

a.Be aware of where the power cord is at all times.
 
b.Inspect the cord to ensure that it is not frayed or damaged and replace if necessary.

c.Only use an outdoor extension cord and an outlet with ground-fault-circuit-interrupting protection. 

Picture of the Week
 
 I'm not a hunter or woodsmen,  but even I know that this is not the smartest or safest things to do with a bear cub.

SafetyDude's Safety Tip of the Week

Carbon Monoxide Test

In my career as a volunteer firefighter, I know of at least four deaths directly related to carbon monoxide.  

Please test your knowledge to ensure you and your families are protected from this “Silent Killer”.  Answer either Ture or False for each one.

1.  Carbon monoxide is normally harmless but can be dangerous at high levels.

2.  Carbon monoxide has a distinctive odour you can smell.    

3.  Carbon monoxide problems are caused by old heating systems.   

4.  Fuel-burning equipment like furnaces and fireplaces should be inspected every two to three years to make sure it's safe. 

5.  It's OK to use a gas barbecue or run a car in a garage as long as the garage door is open.   

6.  There are no physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.      

7.  You should only call 911 if your carbon monoxide alarm keeps going off after you've opened the windows and doors.        

8.  Certain levels of carbon monoxide can kill but survivors can expect a complete recovery.   

9.  The best way to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning is to have a CO alarm in your home.  

10. All carbon monoxide alarms sold in Canada are certified to Canadian safety standards.    

THE ANSWERS:
Are you at risk from carbon monoxide? Yes, you are if you thought any of the statements were true; they were all false.

1. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which is dangerous at any level. It's created when fuels like wood, oil and gas burn. Normally, the small amounts caused by our heating equipment are vented to the outside and do not build up inside.

2. Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless and tasteless which is why it's often called the "silent killer".

3. Carbon monoxide builds when the air circulating through our homes and heating systems doesn't get vented properly.Venting problems such as birds building nests in chimneys can happen in homes of any age.

4. Heating systems (furnaces, fireplaces, wood burning stoves, and chimneys) should be checked every year before the heating season by a certified heating technician.

5. There is always the risk that carbon monoxide will leak into the house even if the garage door is open.

6. Carbon monoxide poisoning has symptoms that are similar to the flu: nausea, headache, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness. The key difference is that there is no fever with CO poisoning. The symptoms tend to disappear when the person gets fresh air. These are all warning signs.

7. If anyone feels ill - get everyone, including your pets, out of the house regardless if the alarm is sounding or not. Call 911 or your local fire department for help. Once the source of the CO is found - stay out of your home until repairs are complete. If no one is ill, ventilate the building by opening all windows and doors. Reset the alarm. If it continues to sound, call a certified heating technician to check for carbon monoxide.

8. Many victims of carbon monoxide poisoning recover with treatment. However, in very severe cases, CO poisoning can cause permanent brain damage.

9. The first line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning is prevention through annual inspections of your home heating equipment including vents and chimneys. Alarms are a good second line of defence and every home should have them.

10.Not all carbon monoxide alarms sold in Canada are certified to Canadian safety standards. To make sure you're buying one that is, look for the CSA or ULC symbols.  

Picture of the Week

Oh My gosh!  Really?

Sure am glad they enlightened me that I can't walk thru a closed door.

SafetyDude's Safety Tip of the Week

Christmas Tree Safety 

The Holiday season is fast approaching.  Unfortunately, during this time of year I remember the agony of responding as a volunteer firefighter to devasting house fires caused by the improper handling of live Christmas trees. 

If your family is accoustomed to live trees, please review the following safety tip.   Next week's tip will be on artificial trees and Christams tree decorations.

Live trees

1) Make sure your real tree is fresh.   Use the following three freshness tests:

• Branch Test - Draw the end of the branch (15 cm or 6 inches) through the cup of your hand. The needles should slide through your hand without coming off.
   
• Stump Test - Bang the stump end sharply on the ground. A freshly cut tree should not lose its green needles. Remember that conifers shed some of their needles almost constantly and some of these older yellow needles may still be lodged against the inner branches.
  
• Needle Test - Fold a needle back until the tip touches the stem making a circle. The needle should not break but should bounce back into shape unless it is frozen.

2) Make a fresh cut on the trunk of the tree before you place it in your tree stand. The cut will help the tree absorb water. About two centimetres from the bottom should do.

3)  Leave the tree outside — out of the wind and sun — until it's ready to decorate. Be sure to stand the tree in a bucket of water while it's waiting to be brought into the house.

4) Make sure the tree is watered every day. The tree can absorb four or five litres of water on the first day. Make sure the water tank is always full

5) Do not let the water level dip below the cut line. If you do, the cut will seal and the tree will stop absorbing water.

6) Secure the tree to keep it from tipping. Many of the newer "wide base" stands offer much more stability than older stands.

7) Don't whittle the base if the tree stand doesn't fit; that makes it harder for the tree to absorb water. Get a larger stand. Trim the lower branches if they prevent you from getting the trunk firmly planted in the base; cut limbs flush with the trunk, as you would if you were pruning a plant.

8) Keep tree away at least five feet away from floor heaters, fireplaces and other heat sources.  Do not block any windows or doors.

9) Remove the tree when needles begin to fall off in large quantities.

10) NEVER burn your tree in a fireplace. Most municipalities recycle Christmas trees, turning them into mulch.

Christmas Tree Fire Proofing

The following "Christmas Tree Fire Proofing Technique" has been kicking around for quite some time.   I use to send it out on an annual basis to the employees of the Companies that I worked for. Feedback was positive regarding the appearance and endurance of the tree.  To my knowledge, no one (thankfully) ever tested the fire rating of their tree.  The technique is still widely published on the internet.

You need :

2 cups of Karo syrup
2 ounces of liquid chlorine bleach
2 pinches of Epsom salt
1/2 teaspoon of Borax
1 teaspoon of chelated iron
Hot water
 

You can purchase the Karo syrup, Borax and liquid chlorine bleach from your supermarket. The Epsom salt can be purchased from the drug store and the chelated iron (pronounced key-lated) can be purchased from a garden shop or plant store.

Mix your fireproofing ingredients listed above. Fill a two-gallon bucketwith hot water to within one inch of the top and add the ingredients. Stir thoroughly, dissolving ingredients. Put to side.

With a saw, take your recently-purchased Christmas tree and make a fresh cut at the base on the tree trunk. Cut an inch off the base of the tree. Try to make a level cut.

Immediately stand the trunk of the tree in the solution and leave for 24 hours.

Keep the remaining solution. Place your tree in a tree stand that contains a well where liquids can be poured.

When the tree is in its final resting place, use a plastic cup to pour solution from the bucket into the tree well. Fill the well.

Every day without exception, the well of the tree stand must be "topped up" with the solution from the two-gallon bucket.

Follow these simple directions and your tree should be fireproofed. It may save your home and family from those fire tragedies we hear about around the holidays.

If you're curious, after Christmas when you remove your tree, snap off a branch and try to set it on fire, outdoors.

How does the solution work?

In a nutshell, the Karo syrup provides the sugar necessary to allow the base of the tree to take up water. Up to 1.5 gallons of water can be taken up by the tree over a two-week period. Boron in the Borax allows the tree to move the water and sugar out to every branch and needle in your tree. Magnesium compounds in the Epsom salt and iron from the chelated iron provide essential components for the production of chlorophyll which will keep the tree green. The bleach prevents mold from forming in your solution.

Some of the other beneficial side effects of this procedure are that the needles will not drop and you will notice an increase in natural pine fragrance.

Picture of the week

Instead of a picture of the week, I encourage each of you to go to "YOUTUBE' and investigate the various film clips regarding Christmas tree fires.  In particular the following three:

From the National Institute of Standards and Technology  (USA Dept. of Commerce)       

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwBiZtfjioU

From The National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNjO3wZDVlA

From BRE Global

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLHhG65fLeY

SafetyDude's Safety Tip of the Week

Prepare your Home for Winter

Please follow these simple safety tips to prepare your home for our upcoming Canadian winter, and the severe conditions that frequently present themselves.

1) Have your heating system inspected by a certified licensed professional.

2) If you have a fireplace have it inspected and cleaned.

3) If you are in a rural setting and use propane or oil, ensure that you always have at least half a tank of fuel.

4) Ensure that all combustibles are at least five feet away from any sources of heat (don't forget the drapes and electric baseboard heaters)

5) Coordinate a back up source of heating the house (fireplace in case of furnace breakdown, etc).  Consider purchasing a generator.

6) If you didn't do so when the clocks changed, replace all the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors with fresh NEW batteries at this time.

7) Ensure that all adults, teenagers, babysitters know where and how to turn off the gas, water and hydro supply to the house.

8) Trim trees that are are close to the house.  Particularly look for trees and branches that may fall across the power lines leading to the house.

9) Purchase a stock pile of ice-melt, sand, windshield washer fluid, snow shovels, etc. 

10) Always keep your cell phone charged.  Purchase a vehicle charger kit.

11) Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, family and neighbours that may require emergency assistance if the power goes off.

12) Prepare your winter emergency kit that includes:

 •battery radio
 •Flashlights with backup batteries
 •extra blankets
 •canned foods that can be eaten without cooking
 •non-electric can opener
 •Bottled water
 •Pet food
 •One weeks supply of all medications

Picture of the Week

Not a chance of finding me on a expedition here.

We have safety standards regarding shoring of ditches and trenches.  Why not these snow banks.

Prepare your vehicle for Winter driving

For those of you who know me well; you know just how much I love snow.  In my book it is a four letter word that isn't allowed to be used in my household.

For those of you who love the "stuff", I would be happy to request that my share gets dumped into your driveway instead of mine.

Unfortunately, though this great land of ours has four seasons.  One of which provides us with the white stuff.  Thus, representing a hazard to all of us when driving.

Before the #$%@ hits the road, let's all get our vehicles prepared.  Here are a few ideas:

1) Take your car to a mechanic and check out the following:

• battery
• antifreeze level
• thermostat
• heater
• brakes
• defroster

2) Install good winter tires.

• Make sure the tires have adequate tread.
• If the treads are worn, replace them.
• Better yet, exchange them for a set of snow tires such as Bridgestone Blizzaks, which have treads that provide better traction and are equipped to handle extreme winter driving conditions
  

3) Purchase winter wiper blades to cut through snow and ice instead of using regular ones throughout the year


4) Check the spray nozzles of your windshield-washer system.

• Sometimes, they get blocked by wax or debris. Use a needle or pin to clear blocked nozzles
• Watch out for freezing windshield wiper fluid. Make sure to purchase windshield wiper fluid that’s rated for cold temperatures
  

5) Visually inspect your vehicle’s lights.

• You’ll want to check all of your lights, including headlights, running lights, turn signals, brake lights, reverse lights and, perhaps most importantly in the winter, your emergency flashers.
  

6) Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.

7) Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.

8) Plan long trips carefully.

• Listen to the radio or check the internet for the latest road conditions.
• Always travel during daylight and, if possible, take at least one other person.
• Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate routes.
  

9) Maintain your Cell Phone

• Have your cell phone with you.
• Keep your cell phone contacts up to date
• Make sure you have emergency numbers in your cell phone.
• Keep your cell phone charged.
• Keep a cell phone charger in the car. Test the charger regularly.
  

10) If you must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation.

11) Dress warmly. Wear layers of loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing.

12) Prepare a Winter Car Kit by keeping these items in your car:

• Flashlights with extra batteries.
• First aid kit with pocket knife.
• Necessary medications.
• Several blankets.
• Sleeping bags.
• Oversized Full Length Down Parka.
• Extra newspapers for insulation.
• Plastic bags (for sanitation).
• Matches.
• Extra set of mittens, socks, and a wool cap.
• Rain gear and extra clothes.
• Small sack of sand for generating traction under wheels.
• Small shovel.
• Small tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver).
• Booster cables.
• Set of tire chains or traction mats.
• Cards, games, and puzzles.
• Brightly coloured cloth to use as a flag.
• Canned fruit and nuts.
• Non-electric can opener.
• Bottled water.

Picture of the Week

This is what happens when you fall asleep at the wheel.

Luckly, no one was seriously injured.

SafetyDude's Safety Tip of the Week

As an ex-veteran volunteer Firefighter, I have seen the destruction to a family caused by a fire in their home.  All too many times, the person that died in the fire went back into the house to try to get someone they thought was still inside the home. Not knowing that the person was already safely outside.

Are you prepared for a home fire emergency?

•Have you tested your smoke detectors within the last month?

•Are your smoke detectors less than ten years old?

•Do you have a smoke detector on every floor?

•Is there a smoke detector in every bedroom?

•Does your family have an established evacuation plan in case of a fire?

•Is the home evacuation plan tested on a regular basis?

•Is home evacuation plan communicated to family and friends when they stay overnight?

•Does the home evacuation plan designate a "family safe meeting place"?

•Do you have fire extinguishers located on each floor?   Are these fire extinguishers inspected monthly?

If you can't answer YES to each of the above questions, you need to take action TONIGHT!

Children are taught the importance of fire evacuation and safe meeting places at school.  They know the concept.  Ensure that they understand by having regular test drills.

Ensure that your plan has a secondary exit if the main exitway is involved in the fire.  Consider that you are in each room of the house, your normal route out is blocked by fire.  How do you get out safely?

Consider purchasing emergency ladders for second floor bedrooms that do not have a safe exit.

Put the plan onto paper so that it can be reviewed on a regular basis, and communicated to visitors staying overnight.

Test your smoke detectors monthly.  Put it on your Outlook calendar.

Don't just rely on the test button.  Standing on a safe step ladder (not a chair), light either a candle or match and blow it out.  Allow the smoke to set off the detector.

When you vacuum the floors, quickly pass the vacuum hose over the smoke detector.

Change the batteries in your smoke detectors in the spring and fall when the time changes.

Picture of the Week   (Warning it may be considered graphic)

I am commonly asked why or how I became so interested in Health and Safety.  The picture below is of a friend and coworker of mine who was working as a meat cutter in the store that I was the Produce Manager of.  While cutting, his knife slipped and penetrated his stomach (no meat cutting apron was being worn).  In pain, he collapsed to the floor causing the knife to hit the table he was standing at. This resulted in the knife being brought upwards into his chest cavity.

This picture was taken many years after the incident.   At the time of the incident he received over 800 stitches.  I understand that he has gone through more than 10 surgeries since the date of the accident.   On the day of the accident, an off duty emergency room nurse saved his life by using her hand to stop the bleeding of the artery that he had severed.