Incident Reporting

The health and safety of our employees is a top priority. It is everyone’s responsibility to help prevent injuries and report all incidents immediately so that the same thing does not happen again.

When an incident does occur, you must report it to your supervisor immediately and no later than the end of the work day. An employee statement form must be filled out so that the details of the incident can be investigated. It is important to learn what actions must be taken to prevent the accident from happening again. Your supervisor has all the necessary forms for conducting an investigation. This process is not to place blame on the employee or supervisor. It is to find the “root” cause of the incident.

No matter how small the incident may seem, it should be reported to your supervisor. Your supervisor will decide what to do next.

Let’s discuss a few scenarios:
1. While setting up a ladder, a slight pain is felt in your shoulder. You work the rest of the day however it doesn’t hurt too bad. Should you report this or wait until tomorrow to see if it still hurts?
2. You cut your finger on a utility knife and there is some blood that requires a band aid. Should you report this?
3. You trip and hit your elbow on the ground but do not feel any pain. Should you report this?

The following items should always be immediately reported to your supervisor:
1. An injury to any employee or contractor, even if the injury does not require medical attention.
2. An injury to a member of the public occurring on a work site possibly resulting from our activity or involving property, equipment, or resource
3. Illness resulting from suspected chemical exposure
4. Chronic or re-occurring conditions such as back pain or cumulative trauma disorders
5. Fire or explosion
6. Any vehicle accidents occurring on site, while traveling to or from client locations, or with any company-owned or leased vehicle
7. Property damage resulting from any activity
8. Structural collapse or potential structural hazards
9. Unexpected release or imminent release of a hazardous material
10. Unexpected chemical exposures to workers or the public
11. A safety related complaint from the public regarding our activities
12. Any other significant occurrence that could impact safety - WHEN IN DOUBT, REPORT IT!

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Safe Lifting

Do you realize you may be risking serious injury. It's true if you don't lift correctly. Improper lifting causes back injuries that can take months and even years to heal. Many times these injuries are permanent and disabling. A little know-how can help you to lift safely.

When you are preparing to lift, check the load. If it looks too heavy, don't be afraid to ask for help. If the object has rough or sharp edges wear suitable work gloves. They'll give you a good grip and protect your hands. Also wear proper footwear. There is always a chance of dropping something on your toes, or losing your footing.

Know that you can lift the load. Is it too heavy or too awkward? If so, get some help. Check your path and make sure it is clear. Check to see if you have enough room, that there are no obstructions in the way and that there is nothing overhead. Be aware of uneven surfaces.

When you make the lift, squat down and get a good grip on the object. As you rise, lift with your legs, keeping the load as close to your body as possible. Remember that your legs are much stronger than your arms. If you have to place the load to your left or to your right, don't twist your body. Move your feet instead. When you have to lower the load, simply reverse the procedure.

Remember these points when you lift.
• When lifting, get a firm footing, feet apart, one slightly behind the other for good balance.
• Stand close to the load.
• Always remember to lift with your legs and not your back.
• Carry the load close to your body.
• Never try to carry a load that is too heavy. Ask for help or get a machine such as a forklift to do the heavy lift.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Heat Related Illnesses and Injuries

When your body is unable to cool itself through sweating, serious heat illnesses may occur. The most severe heat-induced illnesses are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If actions are not taken to treat heat exhaustion, the illness could progress to heat stroke and you could possibly die.
Heat exhaustion
- headaches
- dizziness/lightheadedness
- weakness
- mood changes (irritable, or confused or can’t think straight)
- feeling sick to your stomach
- vomiting/throwing up
- decreased and dark colored urine
- fainting/passing out; pale clammy skin

Heat stroke—A medical emergency
- Dry pale skin (no sweating)
- hot red skin (looks like a sunburn)
- mood changes (irritable, confused or not making any sense)
- seizures/fits
- collapse/passed out (will not respond)

Things you can do to prevent difficulties from heat related illnesses and injuries:
- Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-induced illnesses and what you can do to help yourself or a fellow employee.
- Use the buddy system (work in pairs) when working in hot conditions.
- Drink plenty of cool water (one small cup every 15-20 minutes).
- Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable (like cotton) clothing.
- Avoid eating large meals before working in hot environments.
- Avoid caffeine and alcoholic beverages (these beverages make your body lose water and increase the risk for heat illnesses).
- Slowly build up tolerance to the heat and your work activity (usually takes about two weeks).
- Do your heaviest work in the coolest part of the day.
- Take frequent short breaks in cool shaded areas. This allows your body to cool down.

You are at increased risk when you:
- Take certain medications. Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacy and ask if any medicines you are taking affect you while working in hot environments.
- Have had a heat-induced illness in the past.
- Wear some personal protective equipment such as respirators or protective suits.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Insect Bites

Overview
Most of the time, insect stings are harmless. If the person is allergic, an insect sting can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition.

What to Look For
- Presence of a stinger.
- Pain.
- Swelling.
- Signals of an allergic reaction.

What to Do
- Remove any visible stinger. Scrape it away from the skin with a clean fingernail or a plastic card, such as a credit card, or use tweezers.
- In the case of a bee sting, if you use tweezers, grasp the stinger, not the venom sac.
- Wash the site with soap and water.
- Cover the site and keep it clean.
- Apply a cold pack to the area to reduce pain and swelling.
- Call 9-1-1 if the person has any trouble breathing or for any other signals of anaphylaxis).

This information is provided by Assurance Agency

10 Fireworks Safety Tips

It wouldn't feel like the 4th of July without a good fireworks show. But if you're not going to a professional show and instead are planning on firing them off from your own backyard, know this: they are incredibly dangerous. In 2016 alone, there were at least four deaths and 11,100 injuries from fireworks-related incidents, with over 30 percent of injuries involving children, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Because fireworks hold such a high risk for serious burns, fires, and eye injuries, many organizations, such as the National Safety Council and the National Fire Protection Association, recommend people avoid consumer fireworks entirely and enjoy public displays put on by professionals. But if you insist on lighting them yourself, commit these safety tips to memory so you can prevent yourself, family members, and friends from getting hurt.

🎇 Never let children handle fireworks, even just sparklers. Sparklers burn hot enough to melt some metals—imagine what they could do to a kid's hands. Keep a close eye on children at any events where people are lighting fireworks.

🎇 Don't buy fireworks packaged in brown paper. These are usually meant to be handled by trained professionals.

🎇 Never re-light a "dud" firework. Wait at least 20 minutes before handling it, then soak it in a bucket of water. Keep buckets of water or a hose nearby at all times.

🎇 Avoid alcohol while handling fireworks. It's just an accident waiting to happen, so save the booze for afterward.

🎇 Fully read the caution labels and instructions for every firework you buy. It should go without saying, but here's a friendly reminder.

🎇 Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks. Bottle rockets are notorious for shooting into people's eyes, so keep them covered whenever possible.

🎇 Light fireworks in an open, clear area away from cars and buildings. Try to minimize contact with things that could catch fire.

🎇 Keep pets inside. You may want your pup to join in on the fun, but most animals become extremely frightened by the loud noises and burning smells of fireworks and are likely to run away if they're not kept safely inside.

🎇 Stay far away from M-class fireworks, like M-80s or M-100s. These illegal explosives are extremely unpredictable and dangerous, and you should report them to the fire or police department or call the toll-free hotline 1-888-283-2662 if you see them.

🎇 When you're done, douse all firework devices with water. You don't want a trash fire on your hands.

If you experience a large burn or any injury to the eyes from fireworks, seek medical attention immediately, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Don't apply ointment, take pain meds, or attempt to remove any objects from the eye before going to the hospital, and try not to rub or rinse your eyes either.

This information was provided by: prevention.com