By Neil Monkman

Last week's Boy Scout Jamboree tragedy is a somber reminder that not all fatal accidents happen at work. Many of us practice safe work procedures on the job but forget those practices at home. This is somewhat understandable. At work, supervisors and safety managers are constantly watching us. But when we get home, we become the boss and we get complacent. And we all know that complacency leads to trouble.

Home Injuries & their Causes

The statistics on home injuries may surprise you. According to the National Safety Council, there were 33,200 fatalities and 8,000,000 disabling injuries in the home in 2001. The four leading causes were:

• Poisoning
• Falls
• Fires (burns)
• Suffocation caused by ingesting an object

Poisoning killed 11,500 people in 2001, with falls a close second at 9,000. If those numbers don't wake you up then consider this: A fatal injury in the home occurs every 16 minutes and a disabling injury occurs every four seconds.

What Can We Do?

Well, the answer is quite simple: All we have to do is think in the same safe manner at home as we do at work. Take a moment to consider the task you're about to perform and how you can perform it safer. Here's my "Safe Plan of Action" for working around the house:

• Plan ahead. Make sure you have the proper PPE for the task -- gloves, safety glasses, long pants or long-sleeve shirts, steel-toed shoes with steel shanks, etc. The easiest way to do this is to visualizeyourself doing the job and try to identify any potential hazards.
• Check your tools and equipment. Using the wrong tool can be dangerous. I regularly inspect all my power/hand tools and ladders to make sure they're not damaged and are suitable for the job. I look for signs of obvious wear and tear that could cause failure during use. Remember that falls are near the top of the list of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities.
• Lift right. Just like at work, poor lifting techniques are a common cause of injury at home. While lifting or bending, don't strain your body. If you can't lift something easily, use a hand truck (or other lifting device) to move it.
• Practice ladder safety. Avoid overreaching while working on ladders or raised platforms. It's much safer to move the ladder and stay as vertical as possible.
• Guard against heat stress. During the summer months, if you're going to be working outdoors or indoors in spaces that aren't air-conditioned or well ventilated, remember to drink plenty of water to avoid heat exhaustion. Take regular breaks when needed.
• Watch for overhead power lines. The electrocution of the four Boy Scout Leaders in Virginia last week illustrates how dangerous overhead power lines are. Get a helper to assist in carrying long items such as metal pipe, extension ladders or other conductive materials.
• Ask the right question. I've saved the most important step for last. Ask yourself: "Is this safe?" I can't stress this enough. This quick question could save your life.

Conclusion

I would like to relay a story: On a jobsite years ago there was one individual who resented me for correcting his unsafe work practices all the time. He even resorted to calling me names as I walked by.

One lunch hour I took my brown bag into the field and spotted him sitting with co-workers. I asked if I could join his group. It was obvious that he didn't want me to, but gestured with his hand that I could sit down if I wanted. I then asked him, "When you go home at night and walk though the door, what happens?"

After some hesitation, he replied, "My dogs usually run to me and my daughter and wife give me a kiss. Then we sit down for supper."

This was exactly the response I was hoping for. I told him, "It doesn't matter to me that you hate me or call me names. Every day that you can go through that door and be greeted by your family and pets is one more day that I have done my job well."

We were friends for the rest of the work project and still keep in touch today.

Think, work and act safe!

READER REPLY

Cell Phone Safety Works Both Ways

After reading Mark Hansen's article on cell phone use while driving, I thought of the other side of the coin: those of us sitting at our desks either make or take phone calls to or from others who are driving. Everyone needs to get involved in the solution. When talking with a salesperson or someone who typically does business out of the office, first ask if they are driving. Then ask them to call you later when they have reached their destination. When we talk on the phone with someone who is "talking and driving" we are enablers. Something to think about.

Kathy Steck
Safety Manager

In August, the Eyes Have It

Fattening and a potential eye sore.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has designated August as Eye Injury Prevention Month. According to its annual study, American doctors treated nearly 1,000 eye injuries in a week, with 88% of those injuries being accidental and nearly 70% of those injured not wearing protective eyewear. The study also showed:

• 52% of the eye patients were between 18 and 45 years old
• 42% of the injuries happened in the home
• 47% occurred between noon and 6pm

According to the doctors' anonymous reports, some of the most unusual instruments of injury included:

• A cookie
• A green peach
• A pomegranate
• A rooster beak
• A moose (the patient had been injured in a car crash involving a moose).

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