Loading ...November, 2009
A Hidden Benefit of Thanksgiving Gatherings
Did you know that Thanksgiving gatherings can reduce stress. No, really. According to Harvard Health, socially connecting with others can help relieve harmful levels of stress. And caring behaviors – such as nurturing loved ones – may even activate hormones that counter stress. So do your health a favor and use your time this holiday [...]
Teach Workers the Ups and Downs of Ladder Safety
November is a fall month in more ways than one. According to some studies, it seems that November is the peak season for emergency department visits for falls from a ladder.
Of course, ladder safety and ladder incidents – whether they happen at work or at home – are a major concern throughout the year. So [...]
Pump Tires According to Vehicle’s Owner’s Manual
I enjoy reading these on occasion since you signed me up for the SafetyXChange list a year or two ago. This morning I noticed a safety tip in the first article that was not quite up to par:
Tip 2: Pump Up the Tires
It’s a common misconception that keeping less air in [...]
Implementing ANSI’s Newly Revised Confined Spaces Standard
ANSI has just released a new standard on confined spaces that may change your confined space policies and procedures.
To help you comply with the changes, we’re pleased to offer an audio conference presented by SafetyXChange Member, Craig Schroll, CSP. Not only is Craig the primary designer and trainer for FIRECON, [...]
5 Thanksgiving Safety Lessons for Holiday Hosts
It’s your turn to host Thanksgiving dinner. Your house is filled with family and friends, many of whom are “helping” you in your suddenly cramped kitchen. There are dishes everywhere, open drawers and cupboards, steam rising from boiling pots, and where did you put that carving knife? For those who work in food preparation, this [...]
Let’s Talk Turkey
Question: True or False: A sleep-inducing amino acid in turkey is the reason many people feel drowsy after Thanksgiving dinner.
Answer: False
While it’s true that turkey does contain the amino acid tryptophan, a natural sedative, it’s unlikely that the average Thanksgiving meal contains enough tryptophan to induce sleep. According to experts, you’d need to sit down [...]
Don’t Let Your Students Be Sponges
Hi Catherine!
It was very nice to see your and Barbara’s articles on training – thanks! I want to suggest that a different phrase than "soak up" be used to describe the learning process. To me (and I assume others), the phrase "soak up" suggests the learner is like a sponge. In fact many [...]
How to Create Effective Training Sessions, Part 2 of 2
The first step in creating safety training sessions is to assess the existing gaps in your training program. In Part 1 last week, we looked at how to conduct a gap analysis. Let’s turn now to how to use the findings of your gap analysis to craft training sessions that deliver your safety message effectively.
Customize [...]
Fatigue v. Blood Alcohol Content
Being awake for 17 hours impairs performance to the same level as having a 0.05 blood alcohol content.
Being awake for 20 hours impairs performance to the same level as having a 0.1 blood alcohol content.
Source: Fatigue – Prevention in the Workplace
Showing How Worker Fatigue Hurts the Bottom Line
With the economy in a downturn, companies may be tempted to try to cut costs by using fewer workers to do the same amount of work. But this strategy is likely to cost companies more in the long run. As safety coordinator, you need to be aware of the dangers of workplace fatigue and warn [...]
