Thunderstorm Safety

A thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces hail at least 1 inch in diameter or has wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause flash flooding, and high winds can damage homes and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages.

Know the Difference

Severe Thunderstorm Watch - Severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property.

Every year people are killed or seriously injured by severe thunderstorms despite advance warning. While some did not hear the warning, others heard the warning and did not pay attention to it. The information in this section, combined with timely watches and warnings about severe weather, may help save lives.

Be Prepared for Thunderstorms and Severe Weather

• Learn about your local community’s emergency warning system for severe thunderstorms
• Discuss thunderstorm safety and lightning safety with all members of your household
• Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during a thunderstorm This should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail
• Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a severe thunderstorm
• Make trees and shrubbery more wind resistant by keeping them trimmed and removing damaged branches
• Protect your animals by ensuring that any outside buildings that house them are protected in the same way as your home
• Consult your local fire department if you are considering installing lightning rods
• Get trained in first aid and learn how to respond to emergencies
• Put together an emergency preparedness kit:

̶    Water—one gallon per person, per day

 ̶   Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare

̶    Flashlight
̶    Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
 ̶   Extra batteries
̶    First aid kit
̶    Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
 ̶   Multi-purpose tool
 ̶   Sanitation & personal hygiene items
̶    Copies of personal documents
̶    Cell phone with chargers
̶    Family & emergency contact information
 ̶   Extra cash
Responding appropriately during a thunderstorm


• Listen to local news or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.
• Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning are not in the area where rain is occurring.
• If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter in a substantial building or in a vehicle with the windows closed. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds.
• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. If thunder roars, go indoors! The National Weather Service recommends staying inside for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap.
• Avoid electrical equipment and telephones. Use battery-powered TVs and radios instead.
• Shutter windows and close outside doors securely. Keep away from windows.
• Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing.
• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.
• If you are outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe.


Take the appropriate steps to stay safe

Top Tips to a Safe Memorial Day Weekend

The unofficial “kickoff” to summer is almost here. While we hope everyone has fun this coming Memorial Day weekend, the nation’s emergency physicians want everyone to stay safe and out of the ER. 

“Fun in the sun, by the pool, on a boat or at a barbecue can quickly send you to the emergency department if you don’t plan ahead or use common safety sense,” said Dr. David Seaberg with the American College of Emergency Physicians. “You can have fun while at the same time take reasonable precautions to help keep you safe and most importantly, keep you alive.” 

The American College of Emergency Physicians offers top five tips for you and your family for the holiday weekend. 

Tip 1: Food Safety — Refrigerate all perishable food within 2 hours, 1 hour if the temperature outside is above 90 degrees. To guard against cross-contamination of bacteria, keep uncooked meats away from other foods. 
To avoid food poisoning, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture recommends cooking fresh poultry to 165 degrees, hamburgers to 160 degrees and beef to at least 145 degrees 

Tip 2: Grill Safety — Emergency physicians see firsthand the dangers associated with an outdoor grill. Consumers should thoroughly clean a grill of any grease or dust. Check the tubes leading into the burner for any blockages from insects or food grease that can cause an uncontrolled fire. Replace any connectors which can lead to a gas leak and keep lighted cigarettes, matches or open flames away from a any grill. Do not use a grill in a garage, breezeway, carport or porch or near any surface that can catch fire. Also, always follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with the grill. 

Tip 3: Water Safety — To prevent drowning, avoid alcohol when swimming or boating. Wear a lifejacket whenever you are on a boat. Make sure young children are supervised at all times when near the beach, on a boat, or by a pool or hot tub. Don't swim alone or in bad weather. Learn to swim and teach your children to swim. We also recommend that you learn CPR in case of an emergency. 

Tip 4: Sun Safety — Protect against sunburn and heat stroke. Wear sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 or higher and apply it generously throughout the day. Wear a hat outdoors and a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes. Drink plenty of water, especially when in the sun or if you are sweating heavily. If you feel faint or nauseous, get into a cool place immediately. 

Tip 5: Travel Safety - Do not drink and drive or travel with anyone who has been drinking. Take along a traveler's first aid kit (pdf) aid kit to help you be prepared for common emergencies. )Wear your seatbelt at all times. Make sure your vehicle has been properly serviced and is in good working shape before a long road trip. Familiarize yourself with your surroundings if you are in an unfamiliar place and know where the nearest emergency room is. Also, avoid talking or texting on a cell phone while driving.

Plan, Provide and Train: 3 Simple Steps for Preventing Deadly Falls

Falls from heights are the leading cause of death in construction, and they cause many injuries and deaths in other industries as well.

OSHA says that falls from heights can be prevented and employee lives can be saved if you take three simple steps:

• Plan
• Provide
• Train

Plan

Plan ahead to get the job done safely. When your employees are working from heights, such as on ladders, scaffolds, and roofs, you must plan projects to ensure that the job is done safely. Begin by deciding how the job will be done, what tasks will be involved, and what safety equipment may be needed to complete each task. A little prior planning on your part makes every job safer for employees.

Provide

Provide the right equipment. Workers who are 6 feet or more above lower levels are at risk for serious injury or death if they should fall. To protect these workers, employers must provide personal fall protection and the right equipment for the job, including the right kinds of ladders, scaffolds, and safety gear.

Also remember that different ladders and scaffolds are appropriate for different jobs. Always provide workers with the kind they need to get the job done safely.

If workers use personal fall arrest systems, provide a harness for each worker who needs to tie off to the anchor. Make sure the equipment fits, and have a qualified supervisor regularly inspect all fall protection equipment to ensure it's still in good condition and safe to use (even though workers should inspect their equipment before each use).

Train

Train everyone to use the equipment safely. Falls can be prevented when workers understand proper set-up and safe use of equipment. But to develop that understanding they need training on the specific equipment they will use to complete the job and the hazards they may face. Workers should also be trained in the in the care and safe use ladders, scaffolds, fall protection systems, and other equipment they'll be using on the job.

Training Points

Here are some specific training points suggested by OSHA to prevent falls in different hazard situations.

To prevent falls from ladders:

• Choose the right ladder for the job.
• Maintain three points of contact.
• Secure the ladder.
• Always face the ladder.
• Don't stand on top or on the top step of a stepladder.
• Don't overreach.
• Don't place the ladder on an unlevel footing.

To prevent falls from scaffolds:

• Use fully planked scaffolds.
• Ensure proper access to scaffold.
• Plumb and level.
• Complete ALL guardrails.
• Ensure stable footing.
• Inspect before use (by competent person).
• Don't stand on guardrails.
• Don't use a ladder on top of a scaffold.
• Don't climb on the cross-braces.

To prevent falls from roofs:

• Wear a harness and always stay connected.
• Make sure your harness fits.
• Use guardrails or lifelines.
• Inspect all fall protection equipment before use.
• Guard or cover all holes, openings, and skylights.
• Don't disconnect from lifeline.
• Don't work around unprotected openings or skylights.
• Don't use defective equipment.

National Fall Prevention Stand-Down

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 350 of the 937 construction fatalities recorded in 2015 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Fall Prevention Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.

---

What is a Safety Stand-Down?

A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on "Fall Hazards" and reinforcing the importance of "Fall Prevention". It's an opportunity for employers to have a conversation with employees about hazards, protective methods, and the company's safety policies and goals. It can also be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about fall hazards they see.

Who Can Participate?

Anyone who wants to prevent falls in the workplace can participate in the Stand-Down. In past years, participants included commercial construction companies of all sizes, residential construction contractors, sub- and independent contractors, highway construction companies, general industry employers, the U.S. Military, other government participants, unions, employer's trade associations, institutes, employee interest organizations, and safety equipment manufacturers.

Partners

OSHA is partnering with key groups to assist with this effort, including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA), OSHA approved State Plans, State consultation programs, the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the National Safety Council, the National Construction Safety Executives (NCSE), the U.S. Air Force, and the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers.

How to Conduct a Safety Stand-Down 

Companies can conduct a Safety Stand-Down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans, or discussing job specific hazards. Managers are encouraged to plan a stand-down that works best for their workplace anytime during the May 8-12, 2017. 

National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is May 8-12

In preparation for National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction next week, here are 5 facts you should know about preventable falls.