Environmental Health and Safety Update

The weather is hot and it’s only getting hotter. There are so many fun things and events that people associate with hot weather -  the sun, the beach, swimming, cook outs and the Fourth of July. Children and the inner child of many adults look forward to Fourth of July because it is one of the only times they are allowed to light things on fire and set up explosive fireworks while the whole family watches. As fun and exciting as it is when you gather the family around to enjoy the display, you also must keep in mind that it can get dangerous. Each year fireworks cause thousands of major and minor injuries mostly to young people. With the proper firework safety training, this year’s Fourth of July can ensure that everyone can have a blast (no pun intended) the safe way!

SafetySkills™ would like to ensure that you and your family have a safe and happy Fourth of July by offering a completely free 15 minute course on the hazards and safe use of fireworks. The course is available at http://safetyskills.com/fireworks-safety-training. To learn more information about SafetySkills™ and other free courses, please visit us at http://safetyskills.com/free-online-safety-training.

It’s that time of year when you have to add lawn mowing onto the never ending list of yard work that needs to be done. Before you bring out the lawn mower and listen to that loud purring that is synonymous with summer, here are a few things to think about to make sure this chore doesn’t mow you down, literally. Did you know that each year more than 70,000 people end up in the emergency room because of a lawn mower accident? Now you may be thinking that you know how it’s done, after all you’ve been mowing the lawn since you were 12. But consider yourself lucky because more than 7,000 injuries are children under the age of 15. (Source: www.ehstoday.com)

Sure, millions of people mow the lawn every day and walk away with only a tan or in some cases, sunburn and a serious need for a shower. But we at SafetySkills™ know that it is important to prepare for the unexpected. So before you pull out that lawn mower or teach your child the necessary evils of maintaining a lawn in the summer, make sure you take a few minutes to go over the basic safety precautions of lawn maintenance. This is a free course and when you have completed the course you can now consider yourself the Grand Master of All Things Lawn Safety Related on your block (if you don’t, we will). All this can be yours even before you finish your nice, cold glass of lemonade. You can view our course at http://safetyskills.com/off-the-job-safety-series/lawn-mower-safety. For more information on other off the job safety courses or workplace safety, visit us at safetyskills.com

Come see Scott and Jill at this year’s ASSE Show in Chicago on Monday June 13. We would love to hear from you on ways that we can improve and suite your needs better. Visit the show’s website for more information on ASSE. http://www.asse.org/education/pdc11/

On May 25 2011, OSHA had issued a news release concerning the US Department of Labor’s fines of over $1.2 million to AMD Industries of Cicero, IL. According to the news release, AMD Industries violated OSHA regulations after 5 unprotected and untrained workers were allegedly required to conduct asbestos removal which had exposed the workers to cancer causing material. This is not the first time that AMD had a run in with OSHA laws. In December 2010 the company was issued 19 willful and 8 serious health citations. At that time, AMD was conducting an in house asbestos removal project using untrained workers. AMD had failed to provide protective respirators or even warn the workers of the risk to their health. (Source: www.osha.gov)

The general public may be exposed to asbestos in small doses daily in the air. Most people who develop asbestos related diseases were exposed to asbestos at their workplace. The greater the exposure to large quantities of asbestos, the greater the risk of developing a related illness. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. To keep employees safe, employers must know the forms and toxicity level of asbestos. SafetySkills™ provides an Asbestos Hazard Awareness course available at http://safetyskills.com/occupational-health-and-safety-series/asbestos-hazard-awareness This course provides information on the basics of identifying asbestos hazards and how to eliminate the hazards in the workplace. For more information on this courses and other safety training courses, please visit us at safetyskills.com