Celebrating Safety

Today safety is a way of life. People are taking personal responsibility for their own safety and making plans to keep their families, communities and workplaces safe.

It’s part of a new “culture of preparedness” notes National Safety Council President Alan C. McMillan. With that in mind, the National Safety Council has designated June as National Safety Month. During the four weeks of June, the Council will provide tips, articles, and information to help businesses, organizations and individuals promote safety. Each week will be dedicated to a different aspect of safety — driving safety, home/community safety, preparedness and workplace safety.

EMC Insurance Companies is proud to celebrate safety with this edition of Loss Control Insights and encourages you to promote safety all year long. To assist you in your efforts, we are pleased to offer some basic safety tips.

Driving Safety: Cell Phones And Driving
Driver distractions caused by cell phones becomes increasingly important as cell phone use becomes more prevalent. Remember, cell phones should not be used while the car is in motion. If it is unavoidable, please take these precautions:

• Increase your following distance an additional three seconds.
• Make it clear to the other party that you are using a cell phone and may need to interrupt the call to respond to traffic.
• Move to the slower travel lanes and be conscious of the need to check mirrors to assess your driving situation.

Home/Community Safety: Preventing Slips And Falls
In 2000, falls in the home and community caused or led to 16,400 deaths. All age groups are vulnerable, but older adults are most at risk. Take the following actions to prevent slips and falls in homes.

• Move telephone and electrical cords out of walkways.
• Clean up spilled grease, water and other liquids immediately.
• Use non-skid throw rugs on hard surfaced floors like linoleum, tile, hardwood, etc.
• Install handrails in stairways. Have grab bars in bathrooms.
• Use a sturdy step stool with hand rails when climbing or reaching high places.

Preparedness: Emergency Response Planning
A well-developed emergency response plan helps provide a safe environment for employees during an emergency and limits the loss of property. Your plan should spell out a course of action that notifies and directs personnel in acting immediately and correctly in all types of emergencies.

Be sure to avoid these common errors when developing and implementing your plan by establishing the following:

• Upper management support.
• Employee buy-in.
• Training and practice.
• Designated leader.
• Keep the plan up to date.
• Method of communication to alert employees.
• Procedures for shutting down critical equipment.

Workplace Safety: Repetitive Motion Injuries
In 2001, nearly four million workers suffered a disabling injury on the job. The Bureau of Labor reports that 53 percent of those injuries involve cumulative trauma to the wrist. Be a “safety leader” and work to reduce the incidence and severity of cumulative trauma by taking the following steps:

• Make sure employees are using tools, machines or equipment in a way that won’t cause strain over time.
• Don't try to force your work patterns to fit the job.

Make Every Month Safety Month
Although the National Safety Council has designated June as National Safety Month, safety should be a top priority for your organization all year long. Be prepared, be safe, and be a leader - every day.