With spring still at least three weeks away, you can expect to get more mileage from those portable heaters. Just be careful. Electric or fuel-powered heaters create hazards such as electrical shock, carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and explosions. In 2001, two out of three reported home heating fires and associated deaths in the United States involved portable and fixed space heaters.

Share this list with your workers as they turn to portable heaters to keep them warm in this last push toward spring:

DO's:

• Read the manufacturer's instructions before operating a portable heater.

• Maintain portable heaters and inspect them regularly for defects, such as poor connections or wire damage.

• Provide proper ventilation as recommended by the manufacturer. Fuel heaters require ventilation to prevent the build-up of flammable gases and vapors. The accumulation of poisonous carbon monoxide is a concern when burning fossil fuels.

• Use only the correct fuel in a portable heater. Substituting another fuel could result in an explosion.

• Ensure that electric heaters don't overload circuits; this can cause a fire.

• Shut off a heater before leaving the area. Only specifically designed heaters should be left unattended.

DON'T's:

• Don't place a heater where it can ignite combustible or flammable materials. Paper, wood debris, cardboard and even a curtain or frayed carpet can ignite if a heater is too close.

• Don't use portable heaters where there is a possible explosive atmosphere.

• Don't allow a heater to become a tripping hazard. Place heaters, fuel tanks and cords out of traffic areas.

• Don't use a portable electric heater near moisture or water because of the risk of electrical shock.

Conclusion

Portable heaters can greatly increase your workers' comfort while working in a chilly environment. But teach them how use them safely to avoid a tragedy.

POP QUIZ
Repetitive Strain Injuries
By Catherine Jones

International RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) Awareness Day is held on the last day of February every year (the only calendar day that does not necessarily repeat annually). Here's a pop quiz to test your RSI awareness:

1. According to Statistics Canada, how many people aged 20 or older reported having had an RSI at some point within 12 months prior to completing the survey:

• 125,000
• 2.3 million
• 1.2 million

2. Men and women are almost equally likely to report having an RSI.
True or False

3. Since 1996/1997, the percentage of women sustaining RSIs grew faster than men.
True or False

4. Place these body areas in order of most to least reports of RSIs

• Back
• Neck or shoulder
• Elbow or lower arm
• Lower extremity or unspecified body part
• Wrist or hand

5. Workers experiencing some work stress were generally more likely to report an RSI than those with no work stress.
True or False

Answers:
1. b
2. True
3. True
4. Neck or shoulder 25%
Wrist or hand 23%
Back 19%
Lower extremity or unspecified 17%
Elbow or lower arm 16%
5. True

It's also interesting - but not surprising - to note that over half of the RSIs reported were sustained while working, with those working in management to be the least likely to report an RSI.

Source: Statistics Canada The Daily Report, August 12, 2003

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