Safety Academics

C U T A s Q u ar t e r l y N e ws l e t t e r
October 2012 Volume 1, Issue 1

Accident Prevention: Slips, Trips and Falls

Inside this issue:
OSHA Regulations Online Training Laboratory Safety
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from campus sidewalks, parking lots and the surrounding streets, people will invariable encounter some slippery surfaces when walking outdoors in the winter. Many cold weather injuries are the result of falls on ice-covered streets and sidewalks. Walking on snow or ice is especially treacherous. Getting around on campus in icy conditions calls for planning, caution, and a little common sense. Insufficient or Inadequate Lighting Insufficient light can make it difficult to see obstacles and notice changes in the walking surface and is associated with an increase in accidents. Move slowly where light is dim and pay increased attention to your path of travel. Moving too fast increases the likelihood you will misjudge a step or encounter a hazard before you have a chance to notice it. Moving from light to dark areas, or vice versa, can cause temporary vision problems that might be just enough to cause a person to slip on an oil spill or trip over a misplaced object. Changes in Elevation Changes in elevation are a major source of trip accidents. Even a change in walking surface of - or greater will be sufficient to cause a trip. Curbs, cracks in the sidewalk, ramps and single steps are all examples of these hazards. Climbing or Descending Stairways. Nearly half of all falls occur on stairs. Keeping stairs in good repair is essential to preventing accidents. Make sure that stairways have secure handrails and guardrails, even surfaces, even tread heights and are free of deteriorating coverings such as frayed carpet. Housekeeping Issues in Working and Walking Areas Proper housekeeping in work and walking areas can contribute to safety and the prevention of falls. Not only is it important to maintain a safe working environment and walking surface, these areas must also be kept free of obstacles that can cause slips and trips. Obstacles could include clutter, obstructions across hallways and material stacked or dumped in passageways, etc.

Coming Soon:
Webinar on prevention techniques and best practices for reducing slip, trip and fall accidents. Watch for date and sign-up procedures in November.

A two year review of CURMA/CUTA injury claims reveals that slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of accidents in our member institutions.
These accidents have resulted in head injuries, back injuries, broken bones, cuts and lacerations, or sprained muscles. With the approaching winter weather season, this is a good time to review our procedures for maintaining our facilities and reminding staff and students of conditions that can lead to these types of accidents. In November, OCCU-TEC will be offering a Webinar on slip, trip and fall prevention techniques. All recipients of this newsletter will be invited to participate.

Dont forget we are here to help you with your safety and health programs. Please feel free to contact Rick or Skuli with your questions: Rick Leines, rleines@occutec.com Skuli Gudmundsson, sgudmundsson@occutec.com Or call 816-231-5580

In the meantime, here is a quick overview of some of the common factors contributing to slips, trips and falls: Wet or Slippery Surfaces Wet or slippery surfaces are a major cause of slips. Highly polished floors such as marble, terrazzo, or ceramic tile can be extremely slippery even when dry and definitely increases the potential for a slip when moisture (spills, rain, snow and mud) is present. Food preparation areas and residential dorm bathrooms and kitchens are also a high risk for slippery surfaces. Environmental Conditions No matter how well the snow and ice are removed

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Safety Academics

OSHA Regulations
Do OSHA regulations apply to us? YES! standard does not exist, OSHA will use the general duty clause for the issuance of citations and fines.

Online Training
OCCU-TEC will continue to provide e-training courses through OCCU-TECs online Learning Management System (LMS) called:

OSHA regulations cover many activities at Universities and Colleges. Under the OSH Act, OSHA was established within the Department of Labor and was authorized to regulate health and safety conditions for all employers with few exceptions. General Duty Clause Where OSHA has not promulgated specific standards to address a given situation, employers are responsible for following the intent of the OSH Acts general duty clause. The general duty clause states that each employer shall furnish a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to [its] employees. In those cases where a specific

OSH Act of 1970 Section 5 Duties: Shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees; Shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act. Shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.

Each employer -

IntRAtrain online safety training is available 24/7.

The online safety training courses focus on employee health and safety performance by teaching employees actions, behaviors, and practices to reduce accidents and injuries. IntRAtrain is designed to improve employee behavior and practices directly related to the safe operations of facilities and equipment. IntRAtrain online safety training is available 24/7. Please contact your supervisor to obtain access to the courses.

Each employee -

Laboratory Safety
Every year we receive several calls regarding chemicals in school laboratories. Typically questions deal with the handling and disposal of unlabeled or expired chemicals. Some of these chemicals have become old, unstable and potentially dangerous. Therefore, we will arrange for assistance from professional disposal companies to pack and properly dispose of the chemicals. Since exposure to hazardous chemicals in a laboratory is a strong possibility and the potential for overexposure or injury exists, it is essential that your laboratory safety process be well organized and executed. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a standard which covers laboratory safety. This standard is known as, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, 29 CFR 1910.1450. The keys to compliance with this OSHA Lab Safety standard are: 1. Development and implementation of a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP). 2. Development and maintenance of a Chemical Inventory List. Maintain Material Safety Data Sheets/ Safety Data Sheet for each chemical in the laboratory. Written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the laboratory. Written Training Program for laboratory employees. Medical Consultation. Labeling. For more details of each of these compliance areas, go to www.occutec.com/aboutus/technical-resources to access the full article on Lab Safety.

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