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IN THIS ISSUE:
· Fewer Injuries Benefit Economy
· Lifestyle Changes Could Equal Big Bucks
· Scott's Corner
· OSHA Issues Small Biz Resource
· Avian Flu Training Now Available
· No Fall Zone
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October 16, 2006
Volume 4, Number 20 |
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FEWER INJURIES BENEFIT ECONOMY
Study shows economic results of lower injury rate
Between 1993 and 2002 the occupational injury rate fell by 38 percent. What does that mean in economic terms? According to a new study, the drop in injuries translated into 550,000 additional jobs in 2002 and an increase in the gross domestic product of $25.5 billion. The rise in GDP alone accounted for nine percent of the annual average GDP increase between 1993 and 2002.
Researchers at Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation, Calverton, Md., used an input-output model of the U.S. economy to determine the impact of occupational injuries on national economic output, gross domestic product, national income and employment.
Studies have established that fewer injuries mean lower labor and fringe benefit costs for employers, and the assumption has been that those savings filter down into the economy. This is the first study to attempt to measure that economic impact using an input-output model. |
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The study appeared in the September issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. |
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LIFESTYLE CHANGES COULD EQUAL BIG BUCKS
Michigan law to allow financial incentives for wellness programs
Under a new law in Michigan, health insurers and HMOs will be able to financially reward small businesses when they participate in wellness programs.
The law allows healthcare providers to reduce premiums, copayments, coinsurance or deductibles when workers pursue healthier lifestyles such as smoking cessation, weight loss and exercise programs.
Governor Jennifer Granholm signed Bill 848 into law this month; it takes effect next year. |
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SCOTT'S CORNER
A message from E. Scott Geller, Ph.D.
A Critical Role
Feelings play a critical role in attempts to manage safety. Proven techniques to improve the human aspects of safety cannot have optimal impact unless those of us implementing the procedures genuinely care. I call this "actively caring." For this to happen, we need to view each other as people rather than objects that fulfill a self-serving need.
A key concept here is empathy. Whether the topic is empathetic listening, empathetic leadership, or empathic performance appraisals and corrective actions, the focus is on the other person's feelings, needs or perceptions. Starting with this viewpoint makes every other management strategy more effective. |
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Click here or call
1-888-201-1150 to learn more about the next evolution in safety... People-Based Safety™.
Click here to visit the People-Based Safety™ blog!
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OSHA ISSUES SMALL BIZ RESOURCE
Guide explains Cr(VI) requirements
OSHA recently issued a guide to help small businesses comply with the agency's new hexavalent chromium requirements for general industry, construction and shipyards.
The guide describes the steps that employers must take to protect employees from hazards associated with exposure to Cr(VI). It is divided into sections that address the major provisions of the standards, and follows the same organization as the corresponding paragraph of the standards. However, the guide provides more detail than the standards to help employers better understand the requirements.
Some of the major topics included in the guide: Permissible Exposure Limits, exposure determination, regulated areas, methods of compliance, respiratory protection, protective work clothing and equipment, hygiene areas and practices, and housekeeping. |
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Click here to download the compliance guide. |
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AVIAN FLU TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE
The Avian Flu lacks one trait that could turn it into a pandemic—the ability to spread from human to human. But the lethal virus could become contagious at any time, so organizations must be prepared to protect their employees from exposure and their facilities from contamination. Employees must also be aware of methods to protect their families. Coastal's newest release, Avian Flu: What You Need To Know, informs viewers about the virus and offers important tips on how to avoid transmission.
Avian Flu: What You Need To Know answers the following questions:
- How serious is the risk?
- How is the virus transmitted?
- What are the symptoms of infection?
- How do I avoid exposure?
- How do I protect my family?
Understanding this virus is essential to its prevention! Call 1-888-574-8531 to have a FREE 7-day preview of Avian Flu: What You Need To Know shipped directly to your facility. Includes 10 employee handbooks. |
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Click here to preview Avian Flu: What You Need To Know online. |
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NO FALL ZONE
Keep workers safe around storage tanks
Falls are a top occupational hazard in many jobs, and working around above-ground storage tanks is no exception. When workers can't do the job at ground level, have workers follow these good climbing practices, published in a new fact sheet from OSHA.
- Always have two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot on ladder.
- Do not lean the mid-line of the body (belt buckle) past the vertical side of a ladder or over the top of a railing.
- Grip ladder rungs with fingers on top.
- Use a bucket or tool bag to raise tools instead of carrying.
- Use required fall protection equipment to perform work from fixed ladders.
- Wear shoes with full heels and non-slip soles.
- Inspect ladder rungs, rails and feet before use.
- Position ladders properly and tie-off.
- Don't use homemade ladders.
- Stay at ground level if medication or physical condition affects your climbing balance.
- Use caged ladders to improve climbing safety.
- Do not use railings as designated tie-off locations.
- Follow established regulations for situations at heights ranging from 4-6 feet to 20-30 feet.
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Click here to download the fact sheet, "Fall Prevention for Aboveground Storage Tanks." |
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