• A safety plate resting on top of two hopper control levers on a street sweeper in Minnesota can be used to access the top of a suction hose. But it would be dangerous to do so. So the City posts a bright "NO STEP" sign on the plate. A worker ignores the warning. He's standing on the plate. His left foot slips off and touches a control lever. The hopper moves downward. The worker is crushed between a suction hose and the side of the hopper.
• A young woman is cleaning a fiberglass rolling machine at a plant in South Carolina. Her hair becomes caught in glue on a cardboard roll. She is dragged into the spinning machine and dies from blunt force trauma.
• A wildlife refuge worker in New Hampshire stops her vehicle on an icy road to open a gate on an access road. Although the vehicle is not in gear, it starts sliding on the icy road and crushes her against the gate.

What do these three worker fatalities have in common?

The Danger of Pinchpoints

Answer: All three of these are actual fatalities. And they all involve pinchpoint hazards. However, the pinchpoint hazard in each incident is not of the sort that people generally associate with the term "pinchpoint."

A pinchpoint is a space of such size and location that it creates a risk that a part of the body will become caught either between moving machinery parts or between moving and fixed objects. The best way to manage the risks of pinchpoints is to eliminate them, e.g., through the use of guards. But if that's not practicable, you need to make workers aware of pinchpoint hazards and the dangers they create.

The Many Facets of Pinchpoint Hazards

The task of building awareness about pinchpoint hazards starts with divesting workers of certain misconceptions. First and foremost, many workers tend to think of a pinchpoint hazard in terms of unguarded equipment dragging a worker's arm or body into madly whirling machinery. But as the above examples demonstrate, unguarded machinery is only part of the picture.

Here are some of the other pinchpoint scenarios you'll want to warn your workers to watch out for:

• Boxing yourself into an area from which there's no escape. If a load of heavy material shifts suddenly in your direction or a vehicle starts backing toward you, you will be in its path.
• Installing the wrong type of guard in the wrong position. Even a temporary "fix" for a missing guard may create a new pinchpoint hazard.
• Using a foot to brace a heavy object. That works until the object shifts, traps the leg and breaks it.
• Trying to clear blockages or retrieve objects that have fallen into operating equipment, or attempting to make adjustments to machines in motion. These have led to countless pinchpoint injuries and fatalities. If you run into a problem with machinery or equipment, don't try to fix it yourself. Talk to your supervisor.

Conclusion

I hope you will use this article to acquaint your workers with the dangers posed by pinchpoints. I suggest that you start your safety meeting by referring to the three fatalities described above. In addition to making an important point about the hidden dangers of pinchpoint, bringing up these grisly incidents can be an effective method to capture your workers' attention and let them know that pinchpoints exist in all kinds of settings.

SEASONAL SAFETY

Jump For Joy, Safely

By Dave Duncan

Although summer is more than seven weeks away, today marks the start of Summer Safety Week in Canada. The Canada Safety Council, which sponsors the week, has chosen backyard trampolining as its focus for May 1-7, 2007.

With growing concern over inactivity and excessive weight in children, the council says it is encouraging to see the enthusiasm that many children have for burning off calories and energy on trampolines. But is it safe?

The short answer is yes, as long as a few precautions are followed:

"Parents need to make sure the equipment is safe and establish a few basic rules. Share with your kids the mindset that getting hurt is no fun, so it's important to be safe," says Canada Safety Council president Jack Smith.

Before letting kids loose on their own or neighbors' trampolines, parents need to ensure that the equipment is safe and meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) requirements.

A trampoline should be given a quick inspection before every use. Check to see that the shock absorbing pads cover the springs, hooks and frame and that the springs and leg braces are secure. If there is any visible damage to the bed or frame, do not let anyone use the trampoline.

Here are some other important trampoline safety tips:

• Never set up a trampoline near a structure, tree or other play area.
• Don't let children younger than six use a trampoline and keep ladders away so that smaller children cannot climb onto them.
• Permit only one child at a time to use a trampoline.
• Do not allow flips or somersaults.
• Don't allow children to jump onto or from trampolines.
• Always provide adult supervision.

Each year across North America more than 80,000 children ages 14 and younger require hospital treatment for injuries they incur on trampolines. But children aren't the only ones at risk. Adults would be wise to remember that point before trying to show off their trampolining prowess to their kids.

MEMBER REPLY
Re Aftermath of Floods

I worked in the restoration business for 15 years and was a Master Cleaner/ Master Restoration Technician through the IICRC. I would like to add a few things to your article, the first and most important is that if you are entering grey (river or street runoff) or black water (sewage) it is essential you have received your hepatitis A and B shots as the risk of contracting this serious disease is high. I know of several people who worked in the industry that lost their lives from failure to protect themselves. Other than cleaning up with clean (tap) water I would strongly urge that a professional is called in; the health risks associated with improper cleaning far outweigh the costs. In addition the specialized cleaning equipment such as axial fans and dehumidifiers that are required, as well as antimicrobial treatments should be left to experienced, accredited professionals.

Thanks
Dean Lailey

SOUTH PAW SAFETY
Question for SafetyXChange Members

I recently heard that there can be a higher rate of incidents with left handers using tools designed and built for right handers. As a left hander, I am interested in learning more about this. I have tried to do some research on this but can not find anything on the net. Can you help out whether there is such as risk and if so where I could find out the information?

Name withheld

Editor's Note: We've heard this, too, but have not been able to find any authoritative information on it. Is this true or not? If you know, please send a note to catherinej@bongarde.com.

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