The First Facility Management Blog

Slips, trips and falls in the workplace continue to be the cause of many injuries and illnesses. With winter weather creating more possibilities for slippery surfaces, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) offers tips on how to prevent slips, trips, and falls at work.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2007, floors, walkways, and ground surfaces were the source of 20% of all days away from work cases, an increase of 7% from 2006. In addition, in 2008, the number of fatal falls on the same level—to a floor, walkway, or an object—increased from the year before to a total of 84 deaths.

Also, according to the 2009 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index (available for download here), in the U.S., disabling workplace injuries from same-level falls had a direct cost of $6.2 billion in workers compensation in 2007, ranking second to overexertion as a leading cause of disabling injury. The index also noted that from 1998 – 2007, falls on the same level increased by 36.7%.

The following are some basic suggested tips from ASSE aimed at helping prevent slips, trips, and falls at work:

• Remove slip, trip, and fall hazards from the work area, especially in high trafficked places. Even though workers may be moving at a reasonable pace and keeping their eyes on where they are going, predictable surfaces with good traction help prevent slips, trips, and falls.
• Establish a no running policy. Though in some industries staff may need to work at a quick pace, such as the retail, hospitality, and restaurant industry, making sure that workers do not run can prevent injuries and illnesses due to slips and falls.
• Make sure workers wear proper footwear with good traction that is kept in good repair. Take a look at the soles of shoes regularly to check for excessive wear. Slip resistant footwear should be considered where necessary, such as footwear with spiked or studded soles that can improve traction on ice.
• Cleaning procedures for floors are essential to good slip resistance. Make sure that all walking surfaces are kept free of spills, water, oil, and any other substances that may affect the traction of the surface.
• Report any spills and provide adequate signage regarding hazards such as spills, uneven surfaces, debris, icy sidewalks, smooth concrete, and other hazards. Also ensure that your company has a process that documents incidents and reports slip and fall hazards.
• Make sure that staff is trained on how to properly clean/remove slip, trip and fall hazards. Also ensure that staff and management are trained in slip, trip and fall prevention. Workers should resume work only after a hazard has been removed or resolved.
• Make sure all areas have adequate lighting to illuminate any potential hazards.
• To prevent surface water accumulation in areas that can lead to slips, trips and falls, ensure that there are adequate drainage systems and pumps in place.
• Be aware of the floor types in your company to help determine the degree of hazards for slips, trips and falls.

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) President C. Christopher Patton, CSP, noted in a letter sent recently to Assistant Secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) David Michaels that ASSE supports the goal of the Hazard Communication proposed rule, a rule that seeks to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are evaluated and communicated to employers and employees. ASSE notes that modifying OSHA’s existing Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is a step forward in harmonizing chemical hazard communications worldwide and will help U.S. employers compete in the international marketplace as well as increasing work safety.

“Modifying OSHA’s existing HCS to incorporate major portions of the United Nations’ (UN) Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) is necessary to help this nation’s workers deal with the increasingly difficult challenge of understanding the hazards and precautions needed to handle and use chemicals safely in the world marketplace,” Patton wrote. “At the same time, harmonizing hazard communications with GHS will help U.S. employers compete in that marketplace by lessening the burden of conforming with different regulations and by ensuring their products will meet hazard communication requirements in other nations.”

Patton applauded OSHA for its leadership in undertaking the HCS rulemaking and urges every possible step be taken to achieve a final rule as soon as practical.

“However, ASSE is disappointed to see that control banding has been largely ignored in the development of the revised standard,” Patton said.

In June 2005, ASSE published Control Banding and the Future of the HazCom Standard, a position paper that urged OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to consider the use of Control Banding (CB) models in a revised HCS. From the ASSE review of the leading international resources on CB—the HSE/COSHH-Essentials process as well as the International Labor Organization’s Tool Kit—ASSE believes OSHA should update the HCS to incorporate elements of CB.

CB is a technique used to guide the assessment and management of workplace risks. It is a generic technique that determines a control measure (for example dilution ventilation, engineering controls, containment, etc.) based on a range or “band” of hazards (such as skin/eye irritant, very toxic, carcinogenic, etc) and exposures (small, medium, large exposure), according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It is an approach that is based on two pillars; the fact that there are a limited number of control approaches, and that many problems have been met and solved before. CB uses the solutions that experts have developed previously to control occupational chemical exposures, and suggesting them to other tasks with similar exposure situations. It is an approach that focuses resources on exposure controls and describes how strictly a risk needs to be managed.

“When this nation is so close to harmonization with GHS, it would be unfortunately short sighted not to take the extra step of incorporating control banding since many of the necessary tools to do so are already included in this rulemaking,” Patton said. “To do so would advance harmonization a significant step further and avoid the need for future rulemaking, which ASSE firmly believes will be necessary as control banding becomes more widely accepted in the international marketplace.”

In his letter, Patton outlined ASSE’s more specific comments concerning issues and questions asked in the rulemaking. Those comments include need and support for the standard; its economic impact and economic feasibility; implementation resources; reducing the impact on small businesses; opposing the exclusion of three physical and health hazard classes and overall hazard classification; label layout; safety data sheets; references—ASSE suggests OSHA reference in the standard a variety of scientific and authoritative references for end users; earlier effective dates; outreach needs; and proposed alternative implementation approaches.

In conclusion, Patton noted, “Harmonizing this nation’s hazard communications with the international marketplace is both a safety and health issue for this nation’s workers and a competitive issue for its employers. Daily, our members experience the reality that we live in a world of commerce that is becoming more and more interconnected. They need the tools to help both the employees and employers with whom they work. To that end, all employers should be required to adopt a revised HCS.”

Thousands of occupational safety, health, and environmental members of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) are joining with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Alliance Program partners, businesses, and organizations to promote workplace safety during this week’s May 3-9 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week and Occupational Safety and Health Professional (OSHP) Day, May 6.

The 98-year-old ASSE and its professional members are committed to protecting people, property, and the environment. They work to make sure that the millions of workers who go to work every day return home safely—injury and illness free—to their families and friends. However, 5,488 people died from on-the-job injuries in the U.S. in 2007 while millions more suffered from workplace injuries and illnesses.

“That number should be zero. We work every day to make sure workplaces are safe and secure for everyone,” ASSE President Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHM, said. “NAOSH Week is a tool we use to reach a greater audience on why work safety is so important. We will also salute the hundreds of children who entered our 7th annual ‘safety-on-the-job’ poster contest aimed at illustrating safety on the job who will be in D.C. for the kick-off events. Their work captures in drawings what we do and see every day on the job. In essence, they are our legacy.”

Many ASSE members and businesses are donating services and providing programs to support NAOSH Week in the U.S., Canada, and Kuwait. For example, Lamar Outdoor Advertising donated 10 billboards now up in the towns of ASSE “safety-on-the-job” poster contest winners in Portage, WI; Greenwich, NY; San Antonio, TX; Evansville, IN; Pendleton, OR; Warm Springs, VA; Gasport, NY; Madison, AL; Winchester, VA and Valrico, FL.

ASSE, OSHA, the American and Canadian Red Cross, and StayWell are providing a free “Protecting Workers on the Job” Web Expo on Wednesday, May 6, OSHP Day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT. The live event offers workplace emergency preparedness and safety information from experts, a virtual trade show, key issue discussions, and more. ASSE Senior Vice President-Elect/Region I Vice President Terrie S. Norris, CSP, ARM, CSPI, of CA, will present a program aimed at helping companies develop and implement effective safety processes that increase workplace safety and contribute positively to the bottom line.

As of Monday, May 4, national NAOSH kick-off events have been held at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., and at the U.S. Capitol Building in the Mansfield Room. In addition, some of the events planned across the country include:

• Ford Motor Company will hold a safety conference in Michigan with participants from their U.S. Operations in attendance. Safety brochures and materials will be distributed at 80 of their plants/facilities countrywide and in Canada.
• The ASSE Valley Coastal Chapter will educate Brownie Troops on the history of work safety and present several types of personal protective equipment (PPE) used to keep workers safe on the job — from hard hats to boots, ear plugs to safety goggles.
• Florida Disney’s safety director sponsored hundreds of poster contest entries and is distributing safety materials to employees.
• The West Florida ASSE Chapter will hold a ‘Building Solid EH&S Skills’ professional development conference May 7 at the University of South Florida - College of Public Health, Tampa, FL.
• The ASSE Hawaii Chapter, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), and the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) are sponsoring a one-day safety workshop at the Hale Ikena Fort Shafter.
• Reid Gardner Station, a coal-fired electric generation facility located in Moapa, NV, will promote NAOSH Week throughout its operations.
• The ASSE Oklahoma City Chapter has secured two billboards to promote NAOSH Week and work safety along with garnering support from the state of Oklahoma and the cities of Enid, Claremore and Oklahoma City which provided proclamations recognizing NAOSH Week and safety professionals.
• The annual safety awards luncheon for more than 500 will be held in Austin, TX, by the ASSE Chapter.
• Oregon ASSE members will hold a construction safety symposium for more than 500 people.
• The 14th annual Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Conference will be held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, VA, with ASSE and the VA Department of Labor and Industry to help educate employers and employees in developing safe and healthy work environments and to provide affordable safety and health training opportunities to employers, employees and safety and health professionals.
• Turner Construction Company is donating several services and holding programs countrywide.
• The Architect of the U.S. Capitol (AOC) in Washington, D.C., will provide daily communications to all personnel with a brief safety discussion topic and include a copy of one of ‘safety-on-the-job’ posters.
• Wisconsin employees of Liberty Mutual are having safety meetings with their customers and in their communities in an effort to increase awareness of work safety.
• The ASSE Kuwait Chapter sponsored more than a hundred poster contest participants for the ‘safety-on-the-job’ poster contest as a part of NAOSH Week. Mo Ishan Iqbal, 13, Kuwait, won second place in the 13-14 age group for his poster titled ‘Safety Blooms/Withers’ and repeat winner Immanuel Adriana Rakshana, 11, Shuaiba, Kuwait won third place in the 11-12 age group for her poster titled ‘Climb the ladder of safety for a joyous homecoming every day.’

The following companies are promoting NAOSH worldwide: AGC Associated General Contractors; American Industrial Hygiene Association; B&H Maintenance & Construction; BSCAI Association Headquarters Building Service Contractors Association International; BRACE; Forging Industry Association; Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair; Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Industrial Truck Association; JetBlue Airways; Lamar Advertising Company; National Chicken Council; The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); NORESCO; Sprint Nextel Corporation, Sprint Environmental, Health & Safety; Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association; Working Partners U. S. Department of Labor, and many more.

“Workplace safety processes must be in place at all times,” American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) President Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHMM, of Fairborn, OH, said last month (December 2008). “They are even more critical during business downturns.” Brown is referring to recent reports of some companies cutting safety processes hoping to reduce costs.

“If companies believe they will save money by reducing or ignoring safety for their workers, customers, and communities they do business in, they are mistaken,” Brown said. “The ongoing positive results are in and have been for companies that have a strong safety culture and continually invest in and implement effective safety processes. Not only does their bottom line benefit positively, but their company reputation stays intact, employees stay safe and healthy reducing health care, workers comp, training, and turnover cost—not to mention keeping customers, the communities they do business in, vendors, and employees happy. Safety is good business.”

President-Elect of the ASSE South Carolina Chapter Laura Comstock said, “Some safety related purchases and testing can be deferred, but other purchases, such as those for employee personal protective equipment (PPE) like hardhats, safety glasses, and respirators, are critical to operations.”

It is especially important for companies to show support for their employee safety during challenging economic times, she notes. “Employee morale may be low and employees may be carrying additional workloads, such as working additional hours or doing unfamiliar tasks due to cutbacks,” she notes. Comstock added, “In order to remain viable long-term, a company must maintain a solid safety process even through difficult times. The most successful companies in the long term also have the strongest safety performance.”

“We realize these are tough times, but during economic down-turns, employers seeking to cut expenses may target variable operating costs such as travel, training and safety,” Brown said. “Money cut from safety processes now could have an enormous cost later; this can be from injury and health care costs, fines, lost production time, employee morale, or worst of all, employee injury or even death. There are better and smarter ways to protect the bottom line.”

Employees can also take measures to help companies save money such as by: following safe working procedures and practices to prevent injuries, related downtime and expenses such as costly fines; by properly using, cleaning, and caring for protective equipment such as hardhats and respirators; reusing gloves whenever possible for as long as possible; and by keeping track of safety glasses and reusable hearing protection.

Investing in safety pays and contributes positively to a company’s bottom line. Businesses spend about $170 billion a year on costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses and pay almost $1 billion every week to injured employees and their medical providers. In addition, a recent investment firm study in Australia showed valuation links between workplace safety and health factors and investment performance. It found that companies who did not adequately manage workplace safety issues underperformed those that did.

Comstock also reminds employers, “When considering training reductions, some safety related training is driven by regulation, is time sensitive and cannot be delayed. Safety training related savings can be generated by streamlining and implementing simple solutions including using online or electronic safety training services, rather than face-to-face classroom safety training.”

“We need to work together during these difficult times, but reducing or ignoring workplace safety should not be a strategic or budget option,” Brown said. “The costs—both tangible and intangible—are far too high and hard to recoup.”

During Tuesday’s (12/9/08) American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Web cast, former Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) John Henshaw and former Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Dr. John Howard discusses the future of the OSHA. Other topics included the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) of 1970, the standards’ setting process, and the economic impact on workplace safety.

“With this economic downturn, I believe we must do more to reach out to small and medium size businesses to show them the value of developing and implementing workplace safety programs,” Henshaw said. “We need to sell it to them. Right now, most large and smart companies already know the huge benefits and cost savings of developing and implementing occupational safety, health, and environmental programs into the workplace, but we, including OSHA, really need to reach out and show them the benefits of investing in safety—the value it brings and the increased efficiency.”

As for the future of OSHA and the OSH Act, Henshaw noted that due to the economy, he doesn’t see any major changes ahead for OSHA with the new administration.

“I do not believe, even though I feel it is necessary, that we will see any changes to OSHA due to the economy in the near future,” Henshaw said. “However, I do believe changes need to be made in the area of standards development and generating more participation by businesses—we all need to work together.”

“The workplace has changed over the years,” Howard added. “Unlike the 1970s and the years before and after, people aren’t with the same company for decades any longer; many work as consultants and contractors. So as the work relationship changes, so too does the nature of the work. Maybe the OSH Act should be revisited and updated to reflect these changes.

“We need to be creative,” Howard continued. “For instance, the new head of OSHA should meet with the head of Commerce in the next administration and say ‘you need to incorporate an overall workplace safety, health, and environmental program for the proposed new infrastructure programs the President has called for,’ this includes all the new highway and bridge construction projects. Start there and show them how. Also, look at many state OSHA programs, like the one in California, where they often take a hybrid approach when addressing workplace hazards.”

Henshaw said OSHA has been doing an excellent job. The federal OSHA has 2200 employees. “OSHA is not ineffective; it could be more effective if there were fewer boundaries prohibiting OSHA from setting up standards—such as court decisions and more,” Henshaw said. “OSHA can’t write a standard for every risk.”

When asked about the possibility of an ergonomic standard returning—such as in the Clinton Administration—Henshaw and Howard both agreed that it was unlikely.

“We need to do more to educate employers and workers on ergonomics,” Howard, former head of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, CAL/OSHA, said. “Coming from California, the only state with an ergonomic program, I believe something needs to be done. One third of all workplace injuries are due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). OSHA could do more in the area of education – provide employers with tools they can use to enable them to afford to address the risks to reduce this injury.”

Both agreed that Congress can help play a role in outlining the priorities for OSHA, an agency charged with helping keep America’s workers safe—injury and illness free—with very limited resources.

Many of the students reflecting on the future of the safety profession during the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Future Safety Leaders Conference held recently in Louisville, KY, are optimistic about the future of the occupational safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) profession and see opportunities in construction, manufacturing, and the “green” movement despite the troubled economy. In addition, many note their school programs’ growth in popularity.

“I still see an increase in opportunities for safety professionals and the need for more SH&E professionals in the renewable energy and bio-fuel industries in the next 10 years,” said Jonathon Ludrick, a senior studying occupational safety and health at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and member of the ASSE Southeastern Oklahoma State University Student Chapter. “I also think ergonomics is one area that is becoming more popular to study, as well as workers compensation issues and legal liability. Companies can save money by taking precautions before incidents happen, but most importantly lives can be saved.”

“I think there are increasing opportunities in every area of safety,” said Kendra Potsubay, a safety and environmental management senior at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and ASSE Slippery Rock University Student Chapter member. “Overall, I think the profession is growing and the current economy will probably not cause a big change in the SH&E profession because workplace safety is a key component in many companies. Some companies may see a decline in safety personnel but not too much; after all, there are still workplace safety standards that are in place and need to be followed.”

ASSE Slippery Rock University Student Chapter Vice President Natasha Banks also sees an increase in students pursuing the occupational SH&E profession. A current senior studying health, safety, and environmental management, Banks noted, “I see our major and department growing at Slippery Rock University. We have five professors in the program and I can definitely see the need for more. I remember when the program had around 30 students, now it is more like 85 – 100. The program is running out of space.

“At my university one of the top career choices and areas of study is in construction,” added Banks. “One trend I am seeing is more women choosing the construction safety field. I do not know the exact numbers but I am definitely seeing more women entering the field at my university. I’ve even seen this change since I was a sophomore.”

Banks is currently seeing opportunities within the SH&E profession. She will be interning with ALCOA, an aluminum company in Pittsburgh, in the summer of 2009.

Some students are concerned with how the current economy will affect their job placement opportunities after school. Holleigh Humble, an ASSE student member and a graduate student in occupational safety at the University of North Carolina said, “It is intimidating out there right now in terms of job competition. The economy is not doing well, and there is more job competition from safety professionals with a lot more experience than those of us who are just finishing school. Because of the poor economy, people with more experience and education are going to go further and receive more job offers than new graduates.”

Jennifer Olson, an SH&E graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and ASSE University of Minnesota Student Chapter president notes that with the current economy “the demand for SH&E professionals in the workplace can go either way. Though I think companies are embracing safety and people are demanding more safety in the workplace, therefore there is a greater need for more SH&E professionals.”

SH&E student attendees also commented on areas of safety they are studying, which include ergonomics, construction, manufacturing, industrial hygiene, and maritime standards and regulations. To inform students of current trends in the SH&E profession, the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) Executive Director Roger L. Brauer, Ph.D., CSP, PE, noted during his breakout session titled “Achieving Success in a Safety Career,” that the quality of safety in the construction industry is improving and the safety profession in this field is also growing. He also provided students with data from the BCSP January 2008 survey of Certified Safety Professionals (CSP), which showed that most CSPs were employed in manufacturing followed by insurance/finance.

Other areas students at the conference said they are studying included arena safety, fleet safety, and building with a green design. Olson added, “The green movement is affecting all industries. Currently, I am working on a research project on LEED certification, because I am interested in the environmental aspect of safety. With LEED certification, we know the costs and what it will take to build a brand new environmental or green friendly building but I am interested in finding out what it takes and how much it costs to change or update an already existing building into an environmental/green friendly building.”

Along with hope for the future, students see the value of the occupational SH&E profession. Olson concluded, “I decided to study SH&E because I like change and in the field of safety things are always changing. I am also passionate about the environment, I like to resolve conflict and I care about people, this is why I decided to become a SH&E professional.”

Members of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) are concerned about the spread of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureaus (MRSA) infections in the workplace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 126,000 hospitalizations are related to MRSA each year; and 70% of hospital acquired infections are due to antibiotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA, with MRSA infections being one of the strongest and fastest growing.

According to ASSE professional member Aruna Vadgama, RN, MPA, CSP, CPHQ, CPE, COHN-S, SRN, CHRM, MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that is of concern to hospital staff because it is strongly resistant to methicillin and to other modern antibiotics, but it can be treated with several other available antibiotics. Staph lives on human skin and/or in the nasal area and can cause a wide range of illnesses from minor skin infections to life-threatening diseases. Infection can be spread through contact with pus from an infected wound, skin-to-skin contact, as well as from contact with other objects –as staph can exist on surfaces for up to six hours. In hospitals, people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to staph infections.

“Good hygiene, particularly regular and thorough hand washing, offers the best protection (against infection),” Vadgama wrote in a recent article entitled, “MRSA Infection Control: Best Practices.” “The key to treating any disease and/or illness is early detection, early diagnosis, proper treatment, and follow up.”

MRSA is not always easy to detect. A person may be colonized by MRSA, meaning he or she is infected and carries the disease but shows no symptoms. Vadgama notes that nasal swabs are a good way to detect MRSA infection in people who do not show symptoms, as staph infections are commonly found in the nasal area.

Currently there are no federal regulations or standards in place for preventing staph and MRSA infection in the workplace. However, Vadgama noted that there are recent “incentive-based” models for infection control being put in place. For example, the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) recently published its Condition of Participation Standards and Pay for Performance Standards, effective in 2008. The Pay for Performance standards ensure that healthcare organizations or providers do not get reimbursed for the care, treatment and services related to a situation where a patient acquired an infection and or had an adverse outcome due to medical error.

“The new requirement has raised awareness at the healthcare leadership level to develop systems to manage adverse outcomes and to control infection,” wrote Vadgama. “Initiatives implemented include screening high-risk patients for MRSA admission. High risk patients may be patients transferred from nursing homes or long-term care environments, the homeless, patients with compromised immune systems, cancer patients, dialysis patients and others with chronic illnesses. Before admitting these patients, precautionary isolation placement has been used in certain cases.”

In addition, there are some new state-based initiatives taking place to reduce infection rates. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed two bills into law that require California hospitals to strengthen their efforts at preventing staph outbreaks and to reveal to the public their rates of infection. The first bill requires hospitals to improve their infection control rules and report infection rates to California officials. The second bill increases the public health department’s surveillance efforts on hospitals and requires hospital doctors and other medical professionals to be trained in preventing the spread of infections. Similar state regulations are being considered in several other states.

The Joint Commission, an independent and not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 15,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the U.S., is also involved in initiatives to reduce infections in hospitals. Reducing infection rates by hand washing was adopted as a Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) Standard. The CDC also provides information about both hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) through its National MRSA Educational Initiative. For more information on the CDC MRSA prevention initiative or to learn more about MRSA visit this link.

“Good hand hygiene and overall hygiene are the keys to preventing MRSA and other staph infection,” Vadgama said. Vadgama adds that some best practices to prevent staph infections in hospitals include:
Ask medical history/screening questions;
Wash hands before any task;
Wash equipment;
Cover pus and use gloves to treat infection;
And, encourage staff members who are ill to stay home.

“MRSA can survive on surfaces, equipment and fabrics, including privacy curtains or garments worn by care providers,” said Vadgama. “To prevent the spread of staph or MRSA in the workplace, which includes healthcare environments and general industry, employers should ensure the availability of adequate facilities and supplies that encourage workers to practice good hygiene; that routine housekeeping in the workplace is followed; and that contaminated equipment and surfaces are cleaned with detergent-based cleaners or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered disinfectants. A solution of 70% alcohol is very effective in decontaminating and disinfecting MRSA on surfaces. While using the community gym or if you have a gym at your workplace, each individual should disinfect equipment prior to using it to prevent acquiring infectious diseases including staph and MRSA.”

Each year, many students lose their lives or are injured in preventable fires. Now that students have moved into college residence halls, off-campus housing, or fraternity/sorority houses for the school year, the American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) Fire Protection Practice Specialty (PS) is urging them them to be aware of life-saving fire prevention knowledge. ASSE has prepared (and is distributing) free fire safety tip sheets and a flier with information on how students can stay safe (see the “on/off campus fire safety tips” portion of the ASSE site).

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 3,300 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities, and barracks in 2002-2005. These fires caused an annual average of seven civilian deaths, 46 civilian fire injuries, and $25 million in property damage. In addition, fires in dormitories or dormitory-related buildings have increased by 3% from 1980 to 2005.

“Every year, we hear of repeated tragedies involving college students injured and killed in fires. One of the largest losses of life in recent history occurred in 2007 claiming the lives of seven University of South Carolina college students in a single tragic event,” said ASSE Fire Protection PS Administrator Frank Baker, CSP, CFPS. “Although the incident occurred away from campus, it involved students nonetheless and points out the need to be aware of the risk of fire and how devastating the results can be in any situation where many persons occupy a single structure.”

Though a number of student-related fire tragedies occur both on and off-campus, the majority of campus fires occur off-campus. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), out of the 129 campus-related fire fatalities that occurred from January 2000 to the present, 108 occurred off-campus.

On May 21, 2008, a Tompkins Cortland Community College student was killed in an off-campus fire near Ithaca, NY. On August 2007, a Bradley University student died in an off-campus house fire; the building was not equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system. In 2006, an off-campus fire that started in a plastic container used for discarding smoking materials took the life of one Cornell University student and injured another; in 2005, an off-campus arson related fire killed one University of Maryland student and critically injured another; in 2004, a Greek-Fraternity house fire with an unknown cause killed three Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity members at the University of Mississippi; and in 2003, five Ohio State University students were killed from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning caused by an arson related off-campus fire.

“Students and parents should plan and ask questions about fire safety when moving into on or off-campus housing,” said Maureen Kotlas, CSP, CPEA, member of the ASSE Fire Protection Practice Specialty Advisory Committee and director of environmental safety at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. “Students should always follow safe practices and realize the role of alcohol in fire fatalities. Behavior as well as planning and asking questions, are all factors in preventing on and off-campus fires.”

The USFA notes that there is a strong link between fire deaths and alcohol stating that in more than 50% of adult fire fatalities, the victims were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fires. The USFA also states that in cases where fire fatalities occurred on campus, alcohol was a factor. Drinking alcohol impairs judgment and can hinder efforts to evacuate during a fire.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Fire Deaths and Injuries Fact Sheet, most victims of fires die from smoke or toxic gases, not from burns. And, according to the USFA, smoke inha­lation alone accounts for 39% of residential building fire injuries. Smoke inhalation occurs when one breathes in the products of combustion during a fire.

With that said, each residence hall should be equipped with properly operating doors with self-closers that are not propped open; clearly marked exits; corridors that are kept clear and are not blocked; heating and ventilation systems that are routinely inspected and repaired for any deficiencies; and properly operating fire alarm and extinguishing systems, and equipped where required.

On August 14, President Bush signed the Higher Education Opportunity Act into law (Public Law No: 110-315), which includes language requiring colleges that maintain on-campus student housing facilities to provide information on campus fire safety practices and standards to the U.S. Department of Education. The data reported should include: the number of fires and the cause of each fire; the number of injuries and deaths related to a fire; the value of property damage caused by a fire; a description of on-campus student housing fire safety systems; the number of regular mandatory supervised fire drills; policies or rules on portable electrical appliances, smoking, and open flames, procedures for evacuation, and policies regarding fire safety education and training programs provided to students, faculty, and staff; and plans for future improvements in fire safety, if necessary.

Baker added, “The ASSE Fire Protection Practice Specialty strongly supports all efforts being made by local enforcement officials and school housing bureaus to improve the awareness of students and parents in the area of fire safety. To that end, ASSE has assembled information to assist all students and parents to ensure their living situation is as safe as possible. These tips are intended to remind both students and parents to identify potentially dangerous conditions that could cause fires, result in students not being alerted to a dangerous situation or prevent them from safely evacuating in the event of an emergency. Fire prevention and preparation for on/off campus fires and all emergencies are keys to life safety.”

On and off-campus fires can be prevented by implementation of sound fire safety activities such as not overloading extension cords, power strips or outlets; cooking safely; avoiding open flames, and; correctly discarding smoking materials. Injuries and fatalities can be avoided by developing a fire escape plan; having and knowing how to work fire extinguishers, escape ladders and fire alarms and detectors; as well as knowing where exists are located. ASSE is providing free fire safety tips on statistics, prevention tips, fire escape planning, fire safety equipment for off-campus and Greek housing, information on recent incidents, a parents guide to fire safety: what you need to know when your child leaves home for college, a list of key resources, and an on/off campus fire safety flyer.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) noted today (9/12/08) that Hurricane Ike is now expected to impact Texas and Louisiana, with the storm bringing rain and wind to additional states as it moves inland. Homeland Security officials are urging people to listen to their local authorities, and if told to evacuate, to do it immediately. For residents not in evacuation zones who are sheltering in place, ensure they have supplies to sustain them and their family for at least three days. Should people have to go outside, be careful of downed power lines and do not attempt to drive through flooded roads.

Hurricanes often produce high winds, tornadoes, large amounts of rain and power outages that can affect citizens for days after the initial storm has passed.  Therefore, it is important for residents to have at least a three-day supply of water for each individual in the family, including pets, along with non-perishable food, a first aid kit, battery-powered radio, extra batteries and a flashlight.  
 
If asked to evacuate, it is recommended that people have a “to go” bag ready and include: maps/evacuation routes; important documents such as proof residence, pictures of your family including pets, insurance policies, and tax records; comfortable clothing and blankets; and unique family needs such as prescription medications, pet supplies, infant supplies or any other unique need your family may have.

In light of the impending strength of Hurricane Ike, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)  urges everyone in the affected areas to take steps now to protect their businesses, schools,  homes, and their community and to heed the warnings of federal and state officials. ASSE is offering the following information at its Web site:

Hurricane Season Preparation Tips
Business Resumption Safety Tips
Clean-Up Tips for Flood-Related Mold
Workplace Emergency and Crisis Preparation Checklist
Hazmat Emergency Safety Information
Emergency Preparation Plans
Key Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources
Hazmat Emergency Response Resources
Homeland Security Department’s Emergency Preparedness Quiz

In addition to ASSE’s and OSHA’s  Web sites, residents in affected areas are advised to go to the Homeland Security’s Web site for an emergency supply checklist, an emergency plan, and link to local information. Individuals can also call 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO for more emergency preparedness information.

Word of advice to those in the path of Ike: do it now before power, Internet, and phone service is no longer available.

To help employers reduce and ultimately eliminate slips, trips and falls that continue to occur in workplaces, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), recently announced the availability of a compendium including slip, trip, and fall prevention standards and a technical report from their catalogs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), floors, walkways and ground surfaces were the source of injury and illness for 18% of all days away from work cases in 2006. Also, in 2006, 770 workers died due to falls, a 5% increase since 2005. Slip, trip, and loss of balance injuries without falls accounted for 35,440 non-fatal injuries and falls on the same level accounted for 151,750 non-fatal injuries in 2006.

The compendium includes: “Safety Requirements for Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces and Their Access,” (ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-2007); “Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces,” (ANSI/ASSE A1264.2-2006); “Technical Report for Using Variable Angle Tribometers (VAT) for Measurement of the Slip Resistance of Walkway Surfaces,” (ANSI/ASSE TR-A1264.3-2007); “Safety Requirements for Temporary Roof and Floor Holes, Wall Openings, Stairways and Other Unprotected Edges in Construction and Demolition Operations,” (ANSI/ASSE A10.18-2007); “Standard Practices for Safe Walking Surfaces,” (ASTM F1637-07); “Standard Guide for Composing Walkway Surface Evaluation and Incident Report Forms for Slips, Stumbles, Trips and Falls,” (ASTM F1694-96, R2004); “Standard Guide for Ranking Footwear Bottom Materials on Contaminated Walkway Surfaces According to Slip Resistance Test Results,” (ASTM F1240-01); “Standard Guide for Selection of Certain Walkway Surfaces When Considering Footwear Traction,” (ASTM F802-83, R2003); as well as ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-1955 (R2002), ANSI/ASSE A1264.2-2001 and ANSI A10.18-1996 standards as historic documents.

ASSE and ASTM note that the standards included in the compendium are effective as standalone documents, their intent is to provide employers with a comprehensive package addressing the issue of slips, trips and falls in the workplace.

For more information on the compendium visit this link.