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Safety and Interesting Things
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Real Life Stories
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Falls
Falls
are one of the most common causes of injuries at the worksite and at home.
They can cause minor injuries, such as a twisted ankle. They can also cause
serious injuries such as a fracture, a severe head injury, or a back or
neck injury that involves spinal cord damage. Falls can result from simple
things such as tripping on a curb. They can also result from more dramatic
situations such as tumbling down a flight of stairs or sliding off a roof.
You don’t have to fall from a height to be injured. Slipping on level ground
can cause serious injury when you land.
In North America, falls account for 5 deaths each year
for every 100,000 people. The National Safety Council reports that in
the U.S. alone, over 8,500 deaths occur every year from falls in or around
the home. And for every fatality, many are injured. Seniors are more likely
to be injured in falls than any other age group.
Help prevent falls by practicing good housekeeping and
by taking care on stairs, in the bathtub, on ladders, and on ice and snow.
Good Housekeeping
Good housekeeping can greatly reduce the chance of falls. If you notice
things that someone might trip over, pick them up immediately. Wipe up
spills; a slippery floor is a dangerous floor. Flatten out any carpet
with a fold in it; this is enough to trip someone up. Keep the hallways
and main pathways of your house clear. This is also important in case
of a fire. Even in the yard, make sure you practice good housekeeping
habits. Pick up children’s toys and your tools. Someone can twist or break
an ankle just by stepping on an uneven part of the lawn.
Stairs
As a paramedic I have often been called out to attend to someone who’s
fallen on the stairs and been seriously hurt. Often the cause of a serious
fall on the stairs is misjudging the end of the stair.
A few things
to keep in mind about stair safety:
- Keep stairs in
good repair.
- Make sure the stairway
is well lit. Replace burned out light bulbs quickly.
- Handrails can prevent
a fall by helping you keep your balance. Make sure the handrail is secured
properly. Check to see if it will hold an adult’s weight. If not, try
using longer screws to secure it. Handrails aren’t for show; keep a
hand on the rail when using the stairs.
- Avoid leaving objects
on the stairs. Toys, books and other things should be kept off the stairs.
- Stairs aren’t a
play area. Establish a “no-running-on-the-stairs” rule in your home.
- Avoid using area
carpets at the top of stairs. If the carpet slides, it can result in
a tumble down the stairs.
- Thick padding or
carpet on stairs will reduce the usable width of the tread.
- Keep all carpets
and plastic runners, etc., secure at all times. If a tack that was securing
the runner comes out, the runner can slide and cause a fall.
*****************
One man I attended to fell down three stairs in front of his house on
his way to work. The stairs were unsafe, and the man tripped and fell
when he stepped on a rotten board and broke through it. The fall broke
his neck and damaged his spinal cord. He was paralyzed. His wife said
he had meant to fix those stairs for the past month.
*****************
Bathtubs
Fiberglass and porcelain shower floors and bathtubs become even more slippery
when wet. This is why so many people injure themselves when in the tub.
When showering
or bathing, remember:
- Use caution when
stepping into or out of the tub. Use a high quality tub mat to reduce
the chance of slipping.
- When a person slips,
often there is nothing to grab on to. Installing grab bars, like handrails,
can help save someone from a serious fall. Make sure the grab bars are
securely mounted into the wall studs and not just into drywall or tiles.
- Have a bath mat
ready to step on when getting out of the tub or shower. Water makes
a floor slippery.
- When you stand
up getting out of a hot bath, you may become dizzy. Stand up slowly.
Ladders
Ladders are useful tools. We use them for painting, cleaning gutters (eaves
troughs), washing windows, and putting the angel on top of the Christmas
tree. But without the proper safety precautions, using them can be dangerous.
When purchasing a ladder, make sure you’re buying one that is appropriate
for the job. Don’t use a 4-foot ladder for a job requiring a 6-foot ladder.
Make sure the ladder is strong enough to support your weight. When using
extension ladders try to have someone hold the ladder steady while you’re
on it. In winter, there might be slippery surfaces; make sure the base
of the ladder is in a safe position so it won’t slide when you’re on it.
Avoid setting the ladder up on ice.
General
tips
- Use a ladder that
is suitable for the job. Don’t try to make due with a ladder that is
the wrong height.
- Face the ladder when climbing up or coming down.
- Take your time
when climbing a ladder. Climb one step at a time.
- Don’t stand on
the top two rungs. This will make you unstable.
- Avoid overreaching
to do the work. Get down and move the ladder over. This will make your
work easier and safer.
- Don’t overload
the ladder beyond its maximum intended load.
- When you go up
or down a ladder always maintain three points of contact with the ladder,
i.e., two feet and one hand.
- Don’t shift or
try to “walk” the ladder when you’re on it. This is tempting if you
just have to move a very short distance. Don’t do it.
- If you’re uncomfortable
with heights or inexperienced with ladders, get someone who is experienced
to do the work for you.
- Don’t use ladders
near power lines.
- If possible, have
someone stand at the foot of the ladder and hold it to keep it stable
as you climb.
*****************
A man was cleaning leaves from his roof gutter. He leaned over the side
of the ladder to reach the last two feet of gutter. He lost his balance
and fell, landing on his back on a picket fence. The damage to his spinal
cord caused paralysis from approximately four inches below his mid-chest
to his toes.
*****************
Using
a step ladder
- Make sure the ladder
is in good shape; it shouldn’t wobble. Check all nuts and bolts for
tightness. Make sure there are no cracks in the steps or in the beams
of a wooden ladder. In metal ladders, check for kinks or bends.
- Put the ladder
on a firm, flat surface. The ladder could tip over if placed on soft
ground. If you must use it on soft ground, place its feet on a piece
of ¾-inch plywood that is at least 10 inches wider and deeper than the
base of the ladder. This support will act like a snowshoe or ski to
distribute the ladder’s weight.
- Open the step ladder
as far as it will go and make sure the spreader arms are locked in place.
Using
an extension ladder
- Make sure the ladder
is in good condition. It should have no cracks, large chips, kinks or
bends.
- The ladder should have non-slip feet.
- Use the ladder
on firm, even ground. If the ground is uneven or soft, place the feet
of the ladder on a piece of ¾ -inch plywood that is large enough to
support both feet.
- Secure the top
of the ladder (tying if firmly to something stable) to help prevent
the top of the ladder from moving.
- The correct angle
for an extension ladder is 75 degrees. Here’s how to estimate this angle:
Stand with your toes against the feet of the ladder. Keep your back
straight and hold your arms straight out in front of you at shoulder
level. Your fingers should reach the ladder. Here’s another way to determine
the correct angle: make sure that for every four feet up the ladder
is one foot out from the building. In industry, this is called the 4
to 1 ratio.
*****************
Two fire fighters were on a ladder when they opened up the nozzle of the
fire hose. The force from the water pouring from the hose pushed the men
back, tipping the ladder over. One fire fighter broke his arm as a result.
(The ladder may not have been at the proper angle.)
*****************
Roofs
It’s difficult to work on a roof. If you own a house, you might go up
on the roof several times a year. You might need to clean the eaves troughs
(rain gutters), fix the chimney, adjust the antenna, put up Christmas
lights or replace shingles. You might also need to check the roof for
leaks before winter. Roof work can be dangerous if you ignore proper safety
precautions. If you fall you can be injured or killed. When you work on
a roof, how can you protect yourself from falling? There is no easy answer.
Safety precautions and the right equipment can help.
Remember
these safety tips if you plan to work on a roof:
- If you’re not comfortable
working on the roof, hire someone. It will be worth the peace of mind.
- Use safe ladder
techniques. See Ladders.
- Use scaffolding
or a man-lift if you need them.
- Stay away from
power lines!
- Wait for a calm,
dry day. Stay off the roof if it’s wet or icy. Avoid climbing on steep
roofs.
- Don’t carry tools
and supplies up the ladder with you. Use a rope to pull them up after
you. You’ll need both hands for climbing the ladder.
- Place your tools
where they won’t fall off the roof and injure someone. Keep bystanders
away.
- Wear rubber-soled
shoes when working on a roof.
- Use extreme caution
when installing your Christmas lights or shoveling snow off the roof.
This information was taken from the book, “I Won’t be
in to Work Today - Preventing Injuries at Home, Work and Play” by Martin
Lesperance. To order this book or to find out more information, go to
www.safete.com and click on books and products. Sign up for his free safety
newsletter at www.safete.com. Martin is a fire fighter/paramedic whose
humorous talks stress that safety should be a twenty-four hour concern.
Copyright 1997 Safety Health Publishing Inc.
Martin Lesperance
is a fire fighter/paramedic and is the author of the best selling book
"I Won’t be in to Work Today – Preventing Injuries at Home, Work
and Play" . Martin delivers keynote presentations dealing with
injury prevention. His talks are funny, but still have a strong underlying
message. Visit his website at www.safete.com
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TO CONTACT MARTIN:
Martin Lesperance
Ph: (403) 225 - 2011
or 1-888-278-8964
Fax:(403)225-3215
martin@safete.com
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