Think of the one place where you feel safe, a place you consider your refuge. For most people that safe haven is home. For example, in a recent National Safety Council survey, 93 percent of respondents said they felt at least as safe if not safer at home than they do at work. Unfortunately, this sense of security is a false one. The reality is that workers are much more likely to be killed or injured off-the-job. Why? Here are my theories and what we can do to eliminate the risk of off-the-job injuries.

The Statistics

In 2004, 5,764 workers in the United States died on the job; 3.7 million suffered injuries that left them temporarily or permanently disabled. Millions of others received less serious injuries.

Now consider that in the same year, about 44,100 workers died and 6.8 million suffered disabling injuries in off-the-job accidents. This equates to nearly eight times the work-related death rate and almost twice the on-the-job rate. (These figures are only for workers on and off the job, not the entire population.)

Why the Disparity between On- and Off-the-Job Injuries?

How do we explain this wide disparity between safety on and off the job? Part of the answer is the fact that most workers spend only between a quarter to a third of their time on the job. Statistically, the greater number of hours spent away from work increases the likelihood of off-the-job injuries. Of course, a good portion of the time spent away from work is - or should be - spent sleeping. This should reduce some of the risk of injury - although people do get injured while sleeping.

I believe, though, that the main reason for the imbalance between on- and off-the-job injury rates lies in divergent environments and the types of activities in which the workers engage. Let's contrast the two environments starting with the workplace.

The Workplace Environment

The workplace is a controlled environment where safety is mandated and systematically provided for:

• Generally, the workplace environment is quite structured. By this I mean it is designed to keep workers in specific locations while they are performing particular tasks.
• Workers have been trained to perform these tasks, are familiar with them and have some degree of supervision.
• The workplace is regulated and must be maintained in compliance with applicable building codes, sanitation codes and workplace safety standards.
• Workers are provided with protective equipment according to the hazards they may face.

The Home Environment

In contrast to the work environment, there is little to no safety restrictions and system in the at-home/off-the-job environment. Workers who are off-duty are free to go just about anywhere and do just about anything they want, including activities for which they have little training or familiarity. This includes dangerous activities such as using a chain saw or other powered yard care equipment, moving heavy appliances and furniture and using ladders. This is a recipe for danger.

Unless our job entails a lot of driving, we drive much more off the job than on. This creates yet another series of risk exposures. These include accidents, aggressive driving and road rage and loading heavy or bulky things into your vehicle.

Minimizing the Risks

So how do we reduce the potential for off-the-job injury and death? The simplest, but most often overlooked solution, is to ensure that we remember and use the same safety practices and attitudes that we apply on-duty when we're off-the-job. Too often, when we punch out we leave our safe attitudes and respect for risks at the workplace door. Safety isn't a workplace behavior; it's a life behavior. It's something we must learn to take with us wherever we go. Here are some tips for you and your workers to keep in mind when you're off-duty:

• Keep the owner's manuals and instructions for all power tools and equipment in one location such as a file drawer or binder.
• Before you use a piece of equipment, review the instructions and safety precautions, especially if you haven't used the equipment in some time.
• Review and observe the safety labels on ladders.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye and hearing protection and sturdy footwear and clothing.
• Get help lifting heavy items and practice good body mechanics.
• Practice defensive driving and courtesy at all times. Don't react to aggressive drivers, and don't engage in aggressive driving yourself. Wear your safety belt at all times and insist that all passengers do the same.
• Above all, be sure you are physically capable of performing a particular task and be sure to stretch and warm up before doing anything strenuous.

Conclusion

Wear your safety practices like a cape or a second skin. Take it with you everywhere and don't leave it behind when you leave work. By using good basic safety practices at all times and everywhere, we can help to reduce needless off-the-job injuries and the huge monetary and human costs that accompany them.

WELLNESS

Drinking tomato juice: It won't kill you

A Hearty Quiz

By Catherine Jones

25%

Question: What does this number represent?

Answer: The percentage of healthcare costs incurred by working adults attributable to preventable risks, such as poor diet and lack of exercise.

February is National Heart Month and, as cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, the American Heart Association is urging employers to be an active partner in the heart health of their workers by creating a corporate wellness environment. Their studies show that worksites with physical activity programs experience:

• 20-55% reduction in healthcare costs
• 6-32% reduction in short-term sick leave
• 2-52% increase in productivity

The Association is offering three programs to help employers set-up a wellness program.

Exercise is just part of the package, though. Another important way to lower the risks of heart disease is to eat:

• less fat
• less sodium
• fewer calories
• more fiber.

Think you've got this covered? You may want to check the labels, because calorie content may surprise you.

Test your calorie knowledge with this little quiz from the American Heart Association. From each pair listed, see if you can choose the serving with the fewer calories:

1. (a) 1 cup grapefruit juice
(b) 1 cup tomato juice

2. (a) 1 ounce feta cheese
(b) 1 ounce Cheddar cheese

3. (a) 10 chocolate-covered peanuts (1.4 ounces total)
(b) 2 mini peanut butter cups (0.28 ounce each)

4. (a) 2 ounces deli turkey breast on small whole-wheat pita with 2 teaspoons mayo, lettuce & tomato
(b) 2 ounces American cheese on 2 slices 7-grain bread with 2 teaspoons mustard, lettuce & tomato

5. (a) 10 small jelly beans
(b) 10 small gumdrops

Answers:
1 (b) – grapefruit juice has 100 calories; tomato juice has 42
2 (a) – feta cheese has 75 calories; cheddar cheese has 114
3 (b) – chocolate-covered peanuts have 208 calories; mini peanut butter cups have 80
4 (a) – turkey on pita has 198 calories; cheese on bread has 336
5 (a) – jelly beans have 40 calories; gumdrops have 135

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