Itasca, IL - The modern business climate is presenting new and emerging challenges that are significantly impacting safety and health programs and those who implement them.

The National Safety Council's 94th Annual Congress & Expo, "The Business of Safety: Brave, Bold, Brilliant," addressed corporate safety and health vulnerabilities and provided the tools safety and health professionals need to meet and exceed evolving professional demands. The Congress & Expo was held at the San Diego Convention Center, Nov. 3-10.

According to NSC President and CEO Alan C. McMillan, workplace safety is no longer just about reducing injuries and accidents. In an era of escalating health care costs, shifting workplace demographics and the ever present risk of catastrophe or industrial accident, companies are recognizing the importance of a corporate culture of safety.

"Corporate safety and health programs are critical to saving lives and saving businesses," McMillan said. "The response from those of us in the business of safety must be brave, bold, brilliant."

Reprinted from National Safety Council (NSC) Website, www.nsc.org

More spent on trauma than any other health condition
National Safety Council symposium to focus on promoting employee safety outside of work

Itasca, IL - Contrary to popular belief, today's workers are safer on the job than they are at home or in their communities. According to the National Safety Council, recent gains in lowering workplace death rates - down 17 percent since 1992 - have been undone by the rate of fatalities occurring off the job, up 14 percent in that same period. And while corporate America has made dramatic gains in workplace safety, businesses are losing money on accidents unrelated to the workplace.

"The business costs of off-the-job accidents is staggering when you take into account lost wages and productivity, medical and disability payments, and training for new employees," said Alan C. McMillan, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. According to 2004 National Safety Council statistics being presented at the nation's first Off the Job Safety Symposium in Orlando later this month, twice as many workers - or 6.8 million - were seriously injured while off the job than were injured while working. And of the 49,000 injury-related deaths in 2004 involving workers, roughly 90 percent occurred while employees were off the job.

In 2004, the cost of employee injuries - both on and off the job - was more than $330 billion. Nearly 60% -- or $200 billion - was for injuries to employees who were off the job. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more is spent by private health insurance on medical care associated with trauma and poisoning for people of working age than for any other health condition including cancer, heart conditions, mental disorders or upper respiratory conditions and asthma.

In addition, off-the-job injuries accounted for employers losing 165 million days of production time, compared with 80 million lost work days as a result of workplace injuries.

Increasingly, businesses are recognizing the value of keeping their employees safe at all times both on and off the job. In a recent National Safety Council survey of 1,300 companies of varying sizes, the impact of off-the-job safety training has begun to be felt at businesses that have implemented programs. Of those who have implemented off-the-job programs, 58 percent reported reductions in injuries occurring outside of work.

In addition, research presented at the 17th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work last fall found that for every dollar businesses spend on safety, they realize a $3 to $6 savings. Gary Kopps, manager of Occupational Safety Worldwide for John Deere and Co., noted that corporate-sponsored safety initiatives are a win-win for both businesses and their employees. "Employees value that you take time to remind them about safety, and they pay you back many times over through loyalty, increased productivity and quality, and reduced absenteeism," said Kopps.

Reprinted from National Safety Council (NSC) Website, www.nsc.org

You might not think of teaching as a dirty job, but according to Dr. Charles Gerba, aka Dr. Germ, it's No. 1.

Germs in the Workplace, a study by the University of Arizona microbiologist, rated a number of occupations, from most bacteria laden to least. The results were: (1) teacher, (2) accountant, (3) banker, (4) radio DJ, (5) doctor, (6) television producer, (7) consultant, (8) publicist, and (9) lawyer.

The good news is that the amount of bacteria present on office surfaces overall has declined from initial findings in 2002.

Reprinted from the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) Website, www.issa.com

It is common knowledge that bleach and fabric softener should not be used when laundering microfiber products, because they can damage the towels' ability to work effectively. What is less understood is the lint-free nature of microfiber. All the lint created when laundering cotton towels and cloths can be a fire hazard as it accumulates in the lint trap and vents. On the other hand, microfibers are lint free-unless you wash them with cotton items, in which case the lint becomes embedded in the microfibers and is very difficult to remove. Laundering your microfiber and cotton items separately will not only ensure lint-free towels, but also a cleaner laundry facility, traps, and vents.

Reprinted from the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) Website, www.issa.com

Bob Merkt is the owner of Merkt Educational Group and Associates (MEGA). He also is an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-approved instructor specializing in hard floor care

Employees' hands in the workplace are vulnerable to cuts, burns, bruises, electrical shock, and chemical exposure. These hazards should be controlled through a simple hierarchy of health and safety controls. The most effective control is to remove the hazard altogether. If this is not possible, the hazard should be controlled through an engineering approach or through administrative means. If these controls do not eliminate the potential hazard, personal protective equipment such as gloves should be worn. The protective gloves should be suited for the operation and able to withstand the specific hazards of the task.

One type of glove will not provide full protection against all hand-safety hazards and may not be suit¬able for all workplace situations. For example, certain chemicals may require specialized gloves. Gloves used to protect a maintenance employee's hands from cleaning solutions may differ drastically from a glove used to protect a laboratory employee from an acid used in the lab. It is important to select the correct glove for each application.

Selection of gloves should be based on the tasks to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified. The selected gloves must be able to endure all chemical exposures and physical stresses found in the task. The following is a listing of types and applications of gloves in the workplace:

Rubber, plastic or synthetic rubber gloves should be used for tasks involving oils, greases, solvents and other chemicals. This type of glove can be applied to cleaning tasks.

Leather gloves resist sparks, moderate heat, and cuts and abrasions. This type of glove can be applied to welding activities.

Cotton and fabric gloves protect against dirt, chafing and abrasions. These gloves may not be strong enough to endure rough, sharp, or heavy materials.

Coated fabric gloves provide protection for moderate concentrated chemicals. This type of glove can be used in laboratory tasks provided they offer protection for the specific chemical hazard.

Aluminized gloves provide reflective and insulating protection. These gloves can be used in welding, furnace, and foundry work.

Kevlar gloves provide protection against heat and cold. They are cut- and abrasion-resistant. These gloves can be used in a wide variety of applications in industry.

Chemical/liquid-resistant gloves prevent chemicals from being absorbed into employees' skin. Warnings on chemical containers and information found on material safety data sheets help determine the type of glove that should be worn for the particular chemical. For example:

• Butyl rubber gloves protect from nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and peroxide.
• Natural latex/rubber gloves protect from water solutions or acids, alkalis, salts and ketones.
• Neoprene gloves protect from hydraulic fluids, gasoline, alcohols, and organic acids.
• Nitrile rubber gloves protect chlorinated solvents.

When purchasing gloves for employees:

• The work activity should be studied to determine the degree of dexterity, duration, frequency, and the degree of exposure to the hazard.
• Purchase a variety of glove sizes to ensure proper fit.
• Gloves should be replaced periodically, depending on the frequency of use and permeability to the substances handled.

Reprinted from National Safety Council (NSC) Website, www.nsc.org

While safety should be the top priority of every company, realistically this isn't always the case. Safety programs meet resistance for several reasons, including the belief that they're too expensive or ineffective. However, a good safety program is not only effective for reducing injury, illness, and death - it can save you money. Statistics prove that successful safety programs save companies money through lower workers' compensation costs, insurance premium rates, and indirect costs due to injury reduction. The National Safety Council estimates that a non-lost time injury will cost a company approximately $7,000, a disabling injury will cost approximately $38,000, and a workplace fatality can cost around $1,110,000. Despite the substantial amount of money your company could save, the best safety programs are motivated by employee safety. How can you design a safety program that will create excitement?

• Get support from senior management. Koppers Industries, a former winner of NSC's Green Cross for Safety Excellence Achievement Award, disseminates its safety communications directly from the CEO, who meets monthly with an executive level safety council. If management doesn't stand behind your safety efforts, it's much more difficult to ensure employee participation.
• Generate open communication and involvement from all employees. Effective communication flows in two directions, from management to employees and from employees back to management. Employees at all levels should be encouraged to voice concerns and offer suggestions. Addressing their suggestions in a timely manner helps to demonstrate that your company takes safety seriously. Also, involve your employees in pro-active safety activities such as safety inspections, job safety analyses and job safety observations on a regular basis.
• Form a volunteer safety committee. Forced participation on a safety committee may not be effective, depending on the climate and culture of your organization. Instead, it may be helpful to position involvement with the committee as an opportunity to broaden employees' skill sets. Not only will committee members gain technical skills in safety, but they can also gain professional skills like meeting management and problem solving that will make them more competitive in the long run.
• Implement a recognition program. Take the time to recognize employees who are promoting safety within your organization. You don't have to create an elaborate incentive prize system; sometimes a simple thanks can go a long way. Be creative. The people at Air Systems Components have created a "Caught in the Act" program where employees who are working safely get their picture taken, which is then posted in the plant. People enjoy and respond to positive recognition in all forms.
• Communicate often. Create a safety newsletter or bulletin board for your company. Let employees and management know the strides that your safety committee is making. Take advantage of National Safety Month as a time to provide extra awareness and training for your employees.

Reprinted from National Safety Council (NSC) Website, www.nsc.org