Winter 2007-2008       

 

 

NEWSLETTER

 

 Keep On Trucking . . .Safely

 

Commercial Trucking is vital to California’s economy and, because those highway and freeway miles can be dangerous, the truck driver is the most important link in trucking safety.

 

A truck driver’s most important safety equipment is a well-maintained and inspected vehicle.  Before getting into the truck, conduct pre-and post-trip inspections to check for wear and tear.  Make sure that all brakes and the steering system work properly.  Inspect the tires for excessive wear and proper inflation and check the headlights, brake lights and signaling devices.  Examine the frame and suspension systems to ensure that they are structurally sound with no cracked or broken frame members.  Check the mirrors, windshield, and windows for cracks and damage.

 

Inspect the trailer and load for safety before you agree to haul it.  Make sure that trailer couplings and fifth wheel assemblies are securely attached.  Check the load factor; loads should be balanced and securely fastened.  Tankers should be at least ¾ full to avoid sloshing and the danger of rollover.

 

It’s also important to make sure that the truck is equipped with safety gear such as a fire extinguisher and road warning signals.  The truck and trailer should have proper decals and reflective markings.  Underride

Prevention bumpers should be in place.  Dash sensors and warning devices should work properly.  Before you take the wheel, make sure you’re healthy, fit, and rested.  Driver fatigue and inattention to the road can increase the probability of an accident.  To maintain your most alert state when driving, avoid alcohol, drugs, and medications that cause drowsiness.  Keep your eyes and mind on the road.  Follow posted speed limits and local road regulations.  Wear your seatbelt and drive defensively.  Be aware of your truck’s “no zones” (blindspots) and check carefully before making slow, deliberate maneuvers.

 

On the road, keep a safe speed and maintain adequate braking distances from other vehicles.  Avoid aggressive drivers and do not use aggressive moves like high speed, tailgating, and frequent or abrupt lane changes.  Always slow down in construction and road work zones and as you pass stalled or stopped vehicles.

 

Maintain your truck inspection records, hours of service logs, and repair and maintenance logs.  Periodically, read trucking safety materials and attend training to practice safety maneuvers and  “keep on trucking” safely.

 

Workplace Violence

 

Workplace safety and health hazards affecting California employees have traditionally been viewed as arising from unsafe work practices, hazardous industrial conditions, or exposures to harmful chemical, biologic or physical agents, not from violent acts committed by other human beings. Recently though, employees as well as supervisors and managers, have become all too frequent victims of assaults or other violent acts in the workplace which entail a substantial risk of physical or emotional harm.  Many of these assaults result in fatal injury, but an even greater number result in nonfatal injury or in the threat of injury, which can lead to medical treatment, missed work, lost wages, and decreased productivity.

 

A single explanation for the increase in workplace violence is not readily available.  So, what can be done to prevent workplace violence?  Any preventive measure must be based on a thorough under-standing of the risk factors associated with the various types of workplace violence.  And, even though our understanding of the factors that lead to workplace violence is not perfect, sufficient information is available which, if utilized effectively, can reduce the risk of workplace violence.  How-ever, strong management commitment, and the day-to-day involvement of managers, supervisors, employees and labor unions, is required to reduce the risk of workplace violence.

 

 

 

Many workplaces are at risk for workplace violence, but certain workplaces are recognized to be at significantly greater risk than others.  Therefore, every employer should perform an initial assessment to identify workplace security factors that have been shown to contribute to the risk of violence in the workplace.

 

The cornerstone of an effective workplace security plan is appropriate training of all employees, supervisors and managers.  Employers with employees at risk for workplace violence must educate them about the risk factors associated with the various types of workplace violence and provide appropriate training in crime awareness, assault and rape prevention and defusing hostile situations.  Also, employers must instruct their employees about what steps to take during an emergency incident.

 

Employers who need assistance with their workplace security program can download the Cal/OSHA Model IIPP for Workplace Security at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/iipsecurity.html.

 

 

 

 

Punctures And Cuts

 

Punctures and cuts are common on-the-job injuries.  The best way to deal with cuts and punctures is to avoid getting them in the first place.

 

Follow safe work practices and know how to use your tools properly.  Inspect, maintain and replace your tools, when necessary.  Always use the correct tool for the job.  Ensure that blades on cutting tools are sharpened; dull cutting surfaces can cause accidents.  When working with sharp tools, always know where both of your hands are at all times.  Practice good housekeeping with your sharp cutting tools by sheathing and storing them properly.  Place tools far back on workbenches and shelves, not against the edge where someone walking by might get stuck.

 

Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to your job tasks such as gloves, safety glasses, work boots, gauntlets, and chaps.  If you have to pick up broken glass or metal shards, use a broom and a dustpan or pieces of cardboard.  Never pick up broken glass with your bare hands.  Dispose of sharp objects properly in rigid sided containers that will not get punctured and split.  Label these containers with the word ”Sharp” to warn coworkers of the hazard.  Never reach into a garbage can with your hands or try to “tamp” it down with your hands or booted feet, in case someone has improperly disposed of a sharp object or even a syringe.  To properly dispose of syringes, pick them up with tongs and place them into hard plastic medical “sharps” waste containers.

 

If you receive a puncture or cut on the job, notify you supervisor immediately.  Get medical attention, if you suspect infection.  If your wound was caused by stepping on a nail or other sharp object in contact with the soil, you may be exposed to the bacteria that causes tetanus.  Consider getting regular boosters for tetanus every five to ten years.  If your wound was caused by a needlestick, seek medical testing and treatment due to a potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.  Consider a Hepatitis B vaccination, if you are exposed to potential needlesticks.

 

Back Belts – Do They Protect Workers?

Back injuries account for a large number of injuries and illnesses in the workplace and cost the economy thousands of dollars. In response to the increasing human and economic costs of back injuries, companies have tried using many devices to lessen the chance of back injury, either in conjunction with or in place of sound ergonomic programs. One such device is the “back belt.”

Back belts, also called back supports or abdominal belts, resemble corsets and have been used by some companies in the belief that they prevent worker injury during lifting activities. However, those who rely on back belts to prevent injury should be aware of the lack of scientific evidence supporting their use.

The decision to wear a back belt is a choice and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) believes that workers and employers should have the best available information to make that choice. So NIOSH conducted an extensive study and concluded that there was “insufficient scientific evidence” that wearing back belts protects workers from the risk of job-related back injury.

In their study, NIOSH found that the back injury rate among workers who wore back belts every day was “statistically insignificant” from those who didn’t use them regularly. Even employees in the most strenuous types of jobs showed no real difference in either back pain complaints or injury claims when using back belts. A history of back injury was the strongest risk factor for predicting either a back injury claim or reported back pain among employees, regardless of back belt use.

 

 

 

NIOSH does not consider back belts to be personal protective equipment and does not recommend the use of back belts to prevent worker injury. They conclude that back belts do not lessen the hazards to workers who lift, push, pull, twist or bend repeatedly. The most effective way to minimize the likelihood of back injury is to develop and implement a comprehensive ergonomics program. The program should include:

ergonomic assessment of jobs and workstations to make sure that work activity can be done without exceeding the physical capability and capacity of the worker, on-going, comprehensive training for all workers on lifting mechanics and techniques, a surveillance program to identify potential work-related musculoskeletal problems and, a medical management program.

On the basis of available evidence, how effective back belts are in reducing back injuries remains unproven. Although, some companies have reported workplace injury reduction from using back belts many of those companies also implemented training and ergonomic awareness programs. So, in fact, the reported injury reduction may be related to these or other factors.

There is also little scientific evidence that back belts remind workers to avoid awkward postures and heavy loads. For just as there is speculation that back belts may help, there is also concern that they may have potentially harmful effects associated with a false sense of security. Some research shows that workers believe they can lift more when wearing a back belt. If workers falsely believe they are protected by the belt, they may risk greater injury by lifting more weight that they would have without a belt.

Companies should not rely on back belts as a “cure all” for back injury, but should take preventative measures that reduce the risks of lifting tasks. The decision to use back belts should be a voluntary decision and not be a mandatory job requirement. NIOSH believes that the most effective way to prevent back injury is to implement an ergonomics program that focuses on redesigning the work environment and work tasks to reduce the hazards of lifting.

"Information or recommendations contained in these articles were obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the date of publication. Information is only advisory and does not presume to be exhaustive or inclusive of all workplace hazards or situations."

The above evaluations and/or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not be relied upon for legal compliance purposes. They are based solely on the information provided to us and relate only to those conditions specifically discussed. We do not make any warranty, expressed or implied, that your workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations or standards.

Required Employer Responsibilities

California law requires that:

“Every employer…shall post and keep posted in a conspicuous location frequented by employees and where (it) may be easily read by employees during the hours of the workday, a notice which shall state the name of (the) current compensation insurance carrier…”

The notice must also contain information regarding employee rights and responsibilities and must”…be posted in both English and Spanish where there are Spanish-speaking employees.”

Additionally, the law requires employers to provide a form on which employees may indicate the name of their personal physician or personal chiropractor.  The form must be provided to new hires either at the time the employee is hired or by the end of the first pay period.

If you would like free copies, in English or Spanish, of the required posting notice, the brochure explaining an employee’s workers’ compensation rights or the physician predesignation form, call State Fund’s toll-free customer service number at 1-877-405-4545.

 

 

 

 

 

Reporting Work-Related Injuries

State Fund’s Claims Reporting Center (1-888-222-3211) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for policyholders to report injuries as soon as they occur.  Agents will do the necessary paperwork to get the claim started and refer the injured to the designated physician or provider.

Within 8 hours of any serious illness or injury (requiring hospitalization over 24 hours, other than for medical observation or where there is permanent employee disfiguration) or death occurring in the workplace or in connection with employment, employers must report the incident to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

* Some or all articles were reprinted by permission from State Compensation Insurance Fund.