The Great Multitasking Lie

• ​Many people think they are good multitaskers, but that is actually a myth, especially when it comes to cell phone use while driving. This infographic from the National Safety Council will show you why.
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• Multitasking is a myth

  
  
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Why cell phone distracted driving is severely under-reported

• Why cell phone distracted driving is severely under-reported

  
  

  ​We know cell phone-related car crash deaths are a problem. We just don't know how big the problem is. NSC partnered with Nationwide Insurance to produce a white paper and an infographic, which show how the number of crashes may be greater than we think.

• There is no simple way to know whether a cell phone was involved in a crash
• Drivers in crashes aren't admitting to cell phone use of may even be killed
• It is difficult to obtain cell phone records
• Witnesses' memories and statements can be inaccurate

• Key Causes of Under-Reporting

Hands-free is not risk-free

• Hands-free devices: A false sense of security

  
  

  ​Think using a hands-free device while driving makes you safer? Think again. You may be surprised at how this NSC infographic shows the cell phone conversation is distracting. In order to stay safe, you need your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your mind on driving.

• Hands-free is not risk-free

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

• Employers can play a leading role in ending to distracted driving by putting cell phone policies in place. This infographic from the National Safety Council will show you how.
  
  

• Reduce the risk of the #1 cause of workplace death

  
  

  ​Did you know the leading cause of workplace death is car crashes? NSC estimates aquarter of crashes involve cell phones. Learn more about this workplace danger in this infographic and how employers can take the lead by putting cell phone policies in place.

Driving Down Distraction

Back Safety at Work

Chronic back pain affects eight out of ten people, and practicing back safety at work prevents issues from becoming worse. Planning ahead, getting help, and working "smart" prevent back injuries from occurring on the job. Workers' Compensation and health insurance claims add expenses to the company budget.

Practicing Back Safety at Work

Plan Ahead

Your body is most vulnerable when you have not moved for extended periods of time, such as when you get to your work site. Plan ahead for your workday by sleeping for eight hours and waking up refreshed. Take frequent breaks throughout the day, moving around the office to prevent fatigue. Your body is vulnerable when your system is malnourished, which includes lack of sleep. Practice a healthy lifestyle by eating healthful foods regularly; drinking lots of water, and getting one hour of moderate exercise per day.

Consider stretching and exercising before you go to work to reduce the strain on your back muscles. Minimize the amount of time you are on the floor carrying items, have the items delivered to your workspace or utilize a handcart or dolly, even for seemingly lightweight items. While the weight of the object is a factor, bending over excessively can cause back problems.

Consider adjusting your office so that everything is waist level, including your desk and computer. These are the items you use most, reducing the amount of time your back extends in either direction. Practice good posture and ensure your chair adjusts properly when using computer equipment or sitting in a meeting. Ergonomic equipment is desirable, but few employers are able to spend the extra money. Consider buying your own back-friendly chair at work if you sit for hours at a time. Prevent work-related back injuries by ensuring your working conditions are free of debris and slippery spots. Slips and fall injuries cause most back pain problems in America.

se Assistive Equipment

Chances are your workplace has assistive equipment available for you to use, such as forklifts, handcarts, dollies, hoists, furniture pads, shoulder straps, and wheelbarrows. Use the equipment you have to reduce the strain on your back and hip muscles. If you do not have assistive equipment available and you perform the job often, ask your employer to buy the equipment for your office. Ask a colleague, coworker, or someone from the warehouse to help you move heavy office appliances or equipment. Get help move the materials if they weigh over 50 pounds.

Work Intelligently

When you are, lifting or moving objects, keep them as close to your body as possible, creating a low center of gravity. Do not twist your extremities when you lift or put down materials, turn your entire body at once. Improve back safety at work by lifting materials smoothly and using your legs rather than back muscles for strength. Rough jerking motions irritate your upper and lower disks, causing soreness the next day. If you need support when lifting, lean on a sturdy object and do not bend over. If the item is too heavy, kneel down and support the object on your knee before you lift it. Ask someone to help you if the item is too heavy.

Get Help

There is a difference between being lazy and working smart. Everyone is afraid of appearing weak in front of their employers, but practicing proper back prevention techniques is an intelligent move. If you miss work for one or two days, your employer may incur additional costs, such as hiring a temp worker or paying sick leave. If you have existed back conditions, abide by the restrictions posted by your doctor. An employer cannot legally require you to perform labor you are incapable of doing. By law, they must adjust your regimen or reassign your duties until you receive clearance.

If you encounter back problems on the job seek immediate medical attention and follow your company's policy on work-related injuries. When joining an employer, file a form with the company's Workers' Compensation Liaison requesting to see your private physician in case of work injuries. If you must see a "company approved" medical practitioner, seek a second opinion if the ruling is on the company's behalf.

22 Keys to Safe Forklift Operation

OSHA, most forklift accidents can be attributed to lack of safe operating procedures, lack of safety rule enforcement, and insufficient or inadequate training.

Many employees are injured when forklifts are inadvertently driven off loading docks or fall between docks and an unsecured trailer. Other workers are hurt when they are struck by a forklift, or when they fall while standing on elevated pallets and tines (something that they shouldn't be doing).

Most incidents also involve property damage, including damage to overhead sprinklers, racking, pipes, walls, and machinery.

You can prevent the accidents, injuries, and damage if you make sure forklift operators comply with these 22 keys to safe forklift operation.

1. Never drive trucks up to anyone standing in front of a bench or other fixed object. 
2. Don't let anyone stand or pass under the elevated portion of any truck, whether loaded or empty. 
3. Do not permit unauthorized personnel to ride on forklifts. A safe place to ride must be provided where riding of trucks is authorized. 
4. Never place arms or legs between the uprights of the mast or outside the running lines of the truck. 
5. When left unattended, lower the truck's forks, place controls in neutral, shut off power, and set the brakes. Block the wheels if the truck is parked on an incline. 
6. Maintain a safe distance from the edge of ramps or platforms while on any elevated dock, platform, or freight car. 
7. Make sure there is a sufficient amount of headroom under overhead installations, lights, pipes, or sprinkler systems. 
8. Use an overhead guard to protect against falling objects. 
9. Observe all traffic regulations. 
10. Yield to all emergency vehicles. 
11. Cross railroad tracks diagonally whenever possible.
12. Drivers must slow down and sound horn at cross-aisles where vision is obstructed. 
13. Ascend or descend grades slowly. 
14. When ascending or descending grades in excess of 10 percent, drive trucks with the load upgrade. 
15. Do not permit any stunt driving or horseplay. 
16. Require drivers to slow down for wet and slippery floors. 
17. Make sure dockboards and bridgeplates have been properly secured before they are driven over. 
18. Approach elevators slowly, and then enter them squarely after the elevator car is properly leveled. Once on the elevator, neutralize the controls, shut off the power, and set the brakes. 
19. With motorized hand trucks, enter elevators or other confined areas with the load-end forward. 
20. Only handle stable loads, and never exceed the loaded capacity of the truck. 
21. Take all defective or unsafe forklifts out of service. 
22. Never fill fuel tanks while the engine is running.

Seat Belts

Seat belts are another key to safe forklift operation. A significant number of forklift-related injuries and fatalities every year involve tipovers in which operators were not properly secured to their seat.

Although OSHA doesn't specifically require the use or installation of seat belts on forklifts, if a forklift is equipped with operator restraint devices, including seat belts, you must require operators to use them. Also note that 29 CFR 1910.178(q)(6) prohibits removing seat belts from powered industrial trucks.

Furthermore, OSHA says that if you have been notified by a forklift manufacturer, consensus standard, or industry association of forklift tipover hazards and made aware of an operator restraint system retrofit program, then the agency could cite you under Section 5(a)(1) if you haven't taken advantage of the program.

If you have forklifts that are not currently equipped with operator restraint systems, strongly consider contacting the manufacturer for advice on obtaining and installing such devices to prevent operator injuries in the event of a tipover.

10 Heavy Equipment Safety Tips

If you work around any kind of heavy equipment, you need to have a healthy respect for it. Most, if not all, equipment used in construction, mining, forestry, farming and other industries is big and powerful – and for those reasons, inherently dangerous. And although most of us are well aware of the hazards involved, every year around the world there are still thousands of heavy equipment-related incidents that result in property damage or injuries and, unfortunately in some cases, fatalities.

There’s never usually one simple blanket reason or one type of person we can attribute heavy equipment-related incidents to - they can happen to seasoned operators as well as newly trained ones. Obviously every machine and every situation comes with its own set of hazards, but there are some general safety rules you can follow to help you end every work day safely.

1. Make sure you’ve been properly and sufficiently trained on the equipment you’re using by qualified, experienced people.


2. Be aware, stay alert and know your equipment’s blind spots – whether you’re the operator or just working around it.


3. Communicate with people working around you – either via two-way radios or a spotter who’s been trained on standard hand signals. Never assume people know what you’re going to be doing.


4. Always wear high-visibility clothing and steel-toed boots.


5. Always wear your seat belt. It seems obvious, but it’s easily forgotten. In case of a rollover this can be a life saver.


6. Don't climb on or get off equipment while it's moving.


7. Never exceed the load that a machine is rated to carry.


8. Climb on and off equipment properly. Falls are still the number one cause of injury, so never jump off equipment and always use three-point contact (both feet and one hand or one foot and both hands on the holds at all times) when climbing on or off equipment.


9. Always do a walk around and inspect the equipment before you start using it. Check tires, tracks, components and other mechanisms for cracks, damage or anything caught in them.


10. Always load and unload equipment on level ground to reduce the risk of rollovers, and keep the area clear.