Did you know that vehicle crashes cause more than 32,000 fatalities every year? Too many of those are in Middlesex Country, NJ alone. And did you know that we could reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads by changing our behavior behind the wheel? The National Safety Council defines defensive driving as driving to save lives, times, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.
When you drive defensively, you anticipate dangerous situations; make safe driving decisions; create a safe and stress-free space in and around your vehicle; drive without reducing others’ safety; practice common sense and courtesy; and recognize the risks and conditions that make driving hazardous.
Here are a few defensive driving reminders:
- Don’t drive unless you are rested and alert.
- Never drink and drive.
- Never operate a vehicle if you are under the influence of any drug.
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Plan ahead for unexpected delays and allow yourself extra time.
- Concentrate on driving. Don’t let yourself become distracted by using your phone, texting, eating, or drinking.
- Keep your eyes on the road.
- Stay calm. Driving can be stressful, so remind yourself to relax.
- Take the high road. Don’t make hand or facial gestures at other driver. Ignore rude gestures directed towards you.
- Steer clear of angry drivers and give them plenty of room. Don’t challenge them.
- Don’t tailgate.
- Drive at the posted speed. Speed is a factor in nearly one third of all fatal crashes.
- Adjust your speed when road conditions or weather conditions change.
- Use your turn signal when changing lanes.
- Pull over for police and emergency vehicles.
- Always be on the lookout for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles.
SAFETY REMINDER: Sometimes, you are just going to be late. It’s better to be late than be involved in an accident.
Think about how amazing your hands are. These strong and unique tools allow you to grasp, pinch, twist, lift hold, and manipulate objects of all shapes and sizes. Your hands are strong, but they are made of skin, tiny bones, muscles, blood vessels, ligaments, tendons, and nerves, so they are also vulnerable. Hands can be crushed, pinched, cut, and burned. Fortunately, most of these injuries can be avoided if you work carefully.
The likelihood of suffering a hand injury increases when you work too quickly or take shortcuts. Don’t rush – work at a smooth, safe pace. Don’t take shortcuts. Use the right tool for the job and make sure you know how to use it safely. Never remove any guards that are intended to protect your hands from moving parts. Never attempt to adjust or repair any power tools or machinery without first making sure the power is off and the machine is locked out.
Think about what you are doing, and watch where you put your hands and fingers to avoid getting them smashed or crushed. Keep your hands away from running gears and sprockets. Be on the lookout for pinch points that could crush a finger. If you are lifting or carrying a load with another person, be sure to communicate with one another. Watch your knuckles when carrying loads through doorways.
Use caution when handling sharp objects such as saw blades, razor knives, HVAC ducts, metal studs, etc. All these objects can cause hand injuries. When you reach into a toolbox, do it carefully since you can’t always see what’s piled up in there – an unprotected drill bit could cause a cut or a puncture wound. Check for sharp edges, nails, staples, etc., before you pick up any object.
Over time, highly repetitive tasks can cause cumulative trauma injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. If you repeat the same motions with your hands for long periods of time or with great force, you are at risk. Work with your supervisor to find ways to reduce the repetitions or the force, or make time for breaks to reduce the likelihood of injury.
Wear gloves that are appropriate for the task at hand. If you’re doing hot work or if you handle hot objects, wear gloves that will protect your hand from heat. If you work with hazardous chemicals, wear chemical-resistant gloves to avoid a chemical burn. Cut-resistant gloves will protect your hands from cuts and lacerations. Some gloves will reduce your grip, so be careful. In general, you should not wear gloves around machines with rotating parts or parts that could catch the glove and pull in your hand. Additionally, don’t wear rings or other jewelry that could get caught in a machine.
Understand the hazards to your hands and work cautiously. Protect your hands today so they’ll be able to do amazing things for many years to come.
Safety reminder – train yourself to resist the typical reaction to catch a tool when it falls. If you try to catch a falling knife, you are very likely to get a painful, maybe serious, cut.
It’s almost time to get back outside for spring cleanup. You don’t just need a ladder; you need a ladder that is in good condition and is appropriate for the task you’re doing. You also have to use the ladder safely and correctly. When used properly, a ladder provides a safe way to access a higher location such as a roof, ceiling, a light fixture, or the top shelf of a cabinet or storage rack. Using ladders improperly leads to serious injuries, falls, and in some cases, even death. Let’s review some best practices when it comes to ladder safety and fall prevention.
Ladder Selection:
- Choose the right ladder for the job. For instance, use a fiberglass ladder when working near power lines since metal ladders conduct electricity.
- Be sure your straight ladder is long enough to extend 36 inches above the top support.
Ladder Inspection:
- Before you climb, always check the ladder for defects such as loose, split, cracked, or missing rungs. Checks rails for warping, cracks, and chips
- Make sure spreader locks on stepladders and rung locks on extension ladders work correctly.
Ladder Setup:
- Keep ladders away from power lines.
- Always extend the A-frame legs of a stepladder. Don’t try to use it as a straight ladder.
- Don’t rest ladders on gutters, glass, or other weak support services. Set up ladders on a solid footing against a solid support.
- Don’t set ladders in areas such as doorways or walkways unless they are protected from barriers.
- Tie off ladders so they can’t shift or slide.
Ladder Use:
- Always face a ladder when using it. Don’t lean; keep your body between the rails. Don’t reach; instead climb down and move the ladder.
- Don’t stand on the top two (2) rungs of a stepladder or the top four rungs of a straight ladder.
- If the rungs are dirty, icy, or slippery, take the ladder out of service and don’t use it until the rungs have been cleaned and are safe.
- Always maintain three points of contact (one hand and two feet, or two hands and one foot).
- Never use a ladder horizontally as a platform, as a scaffold, or to support scaffold planks.
- Don’t climb a ladder if you are using alcohol, drugs, or even some over-the-counter medications.
- Never move a ladder while someone is on it.
YOUR WEIGHT +TOOLS+MATERIALS = THE TOTAL WEIGHT ON THE LADDER. NEVER EXCEED THE WEIGHT LIMIT FOR YOUR LADDER.
Our own Medical Paralegal Corine Mogenis writes a regular piece for the South Brunswick Patch. This week’s was titled “Ebola, Enterovirus and Errors…Oh My!” This is an excerpt:
Medical errors, such as that which “may” or “may not” have taken the life of Joan Rivers, are a hot topic in the news regularly. Why? Because an error now happened to a famous person. However, I can assure you, this, and many similar incidents happen every day across the country. It has been reported that Melissa Rivers is filing a wrongful death lawsuit, because she simply wants answers. She wants to understand what happened and for whatever reason, she feels she has not been given the explanation. This occurs all too frequently. The code of silence goes into full effect when something does not go as planned in the medical community. Instead of giving you, or your family, an explanation of what went wrong and why, many run away – never to be seen from or heard from again. Often others get defensive and argue or avoid the questions all together. This is simply unacceptable, but all too common. People should not have to hire lawyers to try to have their medical condition or surgery explained to them, yet they do. Let me tell you, it’s much more frequent than you know!
In this season of fear and fright in haunted houses and scary mazes, just remember that the healthcare arena is very much the same. You should use the same caution when dealing with medical professionals and medical facilities of any kind. Don’t fall into a blind sense of safety. Be smart, know that something unexpected could pop up at any time around any corner. Try to be prepared and ready.
According to OSHA, thousands of people are blinded each year by preventable work-related eye injuries. Proper eye and face protection would have prevented those injuries. Eye injuries can be caused by exposure to hazards, heat, chemicals, dust, and optical radiation. Take the time to identify the hazards and protect your eyes.
The right eyewear will protect you from common hazards:
Impact hazards include flying objects such as chips, sparks, particles, sand, and dirt. Tasks that create impact hazards include chipping, grinding, machining, masonry work, woodworking, sawing, drilling and chiseling.
Heat is a hazard when you are near processes that create high temperatures. Examples include open flames, industrial furnaces, and welding.
Chemical hazards can include splashes, fumes, vapors, and mists. These hazards can exist when you handle acids or other chemicals, when you apply spray finishes or coatings, and even when you’re cleaning parts.
Harmful dust can be created during buffing, woodworking, and sanding operations.
Optical radiation is a hazard when you’re welding, torch-cutting, brazing, soldering, and working with high-powered lasers.
Although the horn-rimmed designs of long ago still work, eye protection has come a long way. Today, safety glasses can be comfortable and even look good while they protect your eyes. The latest standard is ANSI Z 87.1-2010. When you look for new eye protection, make sure that it meets that standard. It will have a label with that number on it.
There are many different options for eye protection: safety glasses with side shields provide protection from front and side impacts; goggles protect your eyes from top, side, and bottom impacts; splash goggles protect you from chemical splashes because they don’t let liquids in; welding goggles filter out ultraviolet radiation; and face shields protect your whole face from dust, sprays, heat, splashes, and flying particles. Wear goggles or safety glasses under the face shield.
Wash glasses, goggles, and face shields when they get dirty. Use a solution of water and a very mild soap. Dry them with a clean, soft, cotton cloth. Don’t use harsh chemicals or cleaners that have any abrasives.
Eye injuries can happen on the job or at home, so remember to protect your eyes all the time: when you’re mowing the lawn, changing the oil in your car, or spreading fertilizer; even when you’re playing sports. Take care of your eyes. They are easy to injure, hard to fix, and impossible to replace.
Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in kids. Protect your kids and teach them to avoid eye injuries
1. Past Medical Bills
Medicare has a lien in the amount of any bills paid on your behalf for injuries sustained in this incident. Medicare liens must be paid from the settlement proceeds. We will be able to reduce this amount by what is called procurement costs. Procurement costs are the amount of attorneys fees plus costs. If the fee and costs combined total 38%, the lien is reduced by 38%.
2. What is MSA?
A Medicare Set Aside Agreement is simply an account into which funds are deposited to pay your future medical bills.
3. Why is a MSA Necessary?
A MSA is necessary under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. The theory is that it is not fair to settle your lawsuit and get money to pay your future medicals, put that money in your pocket, and then send the bill for those future medicals to Medicare. One solution is to have a professional calculate the expected cost of your future medical care and deposit that sum into an account.
4. How does a MSA work?
You could administer the MSA yourself, but that is never a good idea. The other way is to employ a professional custodian. The custodian will then issue a medical card for you. You will present that card to any medical providers who provide services related to your injury. The custodian will then pay whatever Medicare would have paid towards those services. If Medicare would not have covered the service at all, the MSA will not make a payment. If Medicare would have paid 80%, the MSA will pay 80%.
5. Custodian
We will recommend a competent company with expertise in this are. They will issue the Medical care and take care of all of the reporting to the government and the payment of the Medical bills.
6. What does it cost?
There is usually a one time setup fee and an annual fee of 20% of the total allocation amount divided by the reduced life expectancy on a rated age, not to exceed a specified annual amount. There is a minimum annual fee per year.
7. Can I reduce the deposit into the account?
The answer is yes. A Medicare Set Aside calls for annual payments. It makes little sense to deposit funds now for money that is not needed for another 20 years. By buying a structured settlement, you can pay less money to the insurance company. They will then invest the money and pay the MSA custodian in 20 years. This usually results in a significant tax savings.
8. What happens if the MSA runs out of money?
An important concern is who will be responsible for payment of your medical bills if the MSA runs out of money. The answer is that Medicare would pay. If the MSA was funded with a lump sum and all of the money was used, Medicare simply steps in and pays the bills. In the case of a structured settlement, the structure will only make one payment per year. If the payment is made in January and the MSA runs out of money in June, Medicare pays until the next structure payment is received the following January.
9. What happens to the money in the account on death?
The structured settlement is designed only to pay during your lifetime. That money will expire on your death. If there is any money left in the account then that money passes under the terms of your Will.
10. Estate planning documents
Speaking of Wills, you should prepare a Will, Living Will and Power of Attorney. If you die without these documents, your loved ones may not be provided for as you would intent. Your Estate may become complicated to administer and disputes can be created.
Construction work sometimes takes place in confined spaces that aren’t always easy to enter, exit, or work in comfortably. They can include ventilation and exhaust ducts, sewers,tunnels, tanks, storage bins, manholes, pits, and silos. By definition, confined spaces are not actually designed for regular and continuous occupancy. They are usually designed to store a product, enclose materials or processes, or transport products or substances. Sometimes we need to enter these spaces to inspect them, perform maintenance,clean, or complete other tasks. Confined space hazards can include engulfment, suffocation, chemical exposure, electric shock, musculoskeletal injuries, and hazardous atmospheres. Other, simple hazards like heat stress and slips, trips, and falls are also common.
Working in confined spaces can be dangerous. The first consideration is analyzing the space. A confined space is a one that:
1. Is large enough and configured so that an employee can enter and do his or her work; and
2. Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit; and
3. Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
A Permit-Required confined space is a confined space that has any of the following characteristics:
1. It contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;
2. It contains a material that has the potential for engulfing a person who enters;
3. It has an internal configuration that could trap or asphyxiate a person, like a space with converging walls or a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or
4. It contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Some of the most dangerous confined spaces have toxic, oxygen-deficient, or combustible atmospheres. These hazards can exist for a variety of reasons. Bad air circulation can allow combustible or toxic materials to accumulate. There may not be enough oxygen Inside the space to support life. The air may contain so much oxygen that a fire or explosion could occur if any ignition source is present.
Anytime you work in a confined space, follow the rules in the company’s confined space entry procedure. Don’t ever enter a confined space unless you have been trained to do so. Every confined space is different and each one requires careful evaluation to determine the hazards and the necessary controls and precautions. Constant air monitoring is critical and should be performed before and during entry. Remember, you can’t always see or smell toxic gases, and you can’t sense an atmosphere that is oxygen-deficient. Be aware of the risks.
SAFETY REMINDER
In case of emergency. follow the rescue plan to the letter. Would-be rescuers frequently die in confined spaces.
You need electricity to do your job, but if you misuse it, it will cause you pain and, In some cases, kill you. Electrical safety isn’t just for electricians. It is everyone’s responsibility. Keep the following electrical safety tips in mind to protect yourself from electrical hazards like shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. Remember these electrical safety tips:
1. If you need an extension cord to power a tool on the jobsite, use only a three-wire cord that is rated for hard or extra-hard usage.
2. Inspect all power cords and extension cords for cuts, exposed conductors, and damaged plugs.
3. Always check power tools to make sure they are double-insulated or have a properly connected third-wire grounding conductor.
4. Take defective electric tools out of service immediately.
5. Never remove the grounding post or prong from a three-prong plug to make it fit into a two-wire extension cord or socket.
6. Always use grounded electric outlets and don’t overload them.
7. Never work on live circuits, and don’t make repairs on electrical equipment, wiring, etc. Leave that type of work to qualified electricians.
8. If a task requires lockout/tagout, disconnect the power, lock the disconnect in the “off” position, and test the system. Follow company lockout/tagout procedures to the letter.
9. When you need to verify that a circuit is dead, follow company test procedures and make sure that the test equipment is properly grounded.
10. Never test a circuit by touching the wires to ground or by licking your fingers and touching the wires.
11. Avoid working with electricity when you, your tools, your clothes, or the surroundings are wet, because you could become a conductor and get electrocuted.
12. If you must work in damp conditions, plug your electric tools into portable GFCls. A GFCI can save your life by turning off the power when it detects current leakage as small as 5 milliamps.
13. Take off all metal jewelry and watches. Gold, silver, and other metals are excellent conductors.
14. When you work near overhead power lines, always keep yourself and your equipment a minimum of 10 feet from the power lines.
15. Use a non-conductive ladder made of fiberglass or wood around live wires and power lines.
16. Never use makeshift wiring.
17. Know basic first aid and CPR In case someone on your crew is electrocuted.
SAFETY REMINDER
It takes a shockingly small amount of electric current to kill you. Always be careful around electricity,
Whether you are a welder, or you just work close to where welding occurs, be aware of welding hazards and how to protect yourself. Welding creates health and physical hazards. Health hazards from welding operations include exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the presence of dangerous or toxic fumes. Some of the physical hazards are burns, eye damage, electric shock, cuts, and crushed toes and fingers. These hazards can be controlled with safe work practices and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Before you begin welding, protect yourself with the necessary PPE. Wear a welding hood to protect your face and eyes. Make sure that the filter lens in the hood is right for the type of welding and the current. Burns are a big problem. Wear protective welding gloves. They’re heat resistant and long enough to protect your forearms from burns. You might need a leather apron or chaps to protect your legs. Make sure your pant legs cover the tops of your boots (even when you’re sitting down). Don’t roll up your sleeves or pants.
Keep gas cylinders in an upright position and secure them to prevent them from falling over. Never lift a gas cylinder by the valve protection cap. Remove regulators and replace protection caps when cylinders are not in use. Inspect cylinders; valves, couplings, regulators, and hoses regularly; thoroughly clean off all oil and grease. Keep cylinders away from heat sources. Never use oxygen to blow dust and debris off your clothes. Always close the valve when you’re not using a cylinder, even if It’s empty.
Take fire prevention seriously. Inspect the work area before you begin any welding work. Sparks can travel as far as 35 feet from the welding area. Look for flammable and combustible materials. Keep hoses and cylinders away from flames and heat so your work doesn’t go up in flames. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
Remember these welding safety tips:
1. Keep arc-welding leads away from high-traffic areas so they don’t create tripping hazards.
2. Prevent carbon monoxide problems: locate welding machines so that engine exhaust gets vented safely to the outside of the building.
3. Put up flash screens to prevent eye injuries to other workers In the area.
4. Never leave a welding rod unattended in a stinger.
5. Welders flip up their hoods after a weld so they can see to clean the weld, but that leaves their eyes exposed to flying pieces of slag or debris. Wear safety glasses or goggles under your hood.
6. Don’t look at a welding arc If you aren’t wearing the right kind of eye protection. Looking at the arc without proper eye protection can cause flash burns on your eyes.
SAFETY REMINDER
We talked about welding, but most of the same hazards exist if you’re cutting or brazing. Always work safely.
During these cold months, we need portable heaters around the jobsite and at home. But using such heaters can be risky. Space heaters can cause burns and fires, and can create carbon monoxide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fires and explosions accounted for 3% of all workplace fatalities in 2012. Sawdust, solvents, rags, paints, building materials, etc. can make the jobsite a tinderbox. All of these fuels need to be kept away from portable heaters.
Follow these portable heater safety guidelines to avoid the fires and injuries that portable heaters can cause:
1. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation and operating Instructions.
2. Inspect portable gas and electric heaters on a regular basis and clean them often to make sure they are in safe working condition.
3. Never use a defective heater.
4. Put the heater on a stable, level surface away from foot traffic.
5. Enforce a 3-foot exclusion zone around heaters.
6. Keep all combustibles like wood, plastics, cardboard, sawdust, paper, and clothes away from the heater.
7. Don’t use extension cords to power portable heaters. Using extension cords increases the likelihood of fire due to overloading and inductive heating.
8. Never leave a portable heater unattended If it’s running. Shut It down before you leave.
9. Avoid getting shocked or electrocuted: keep portable electric heaters away from water and damp locations.
10. Use portable gas heaters with adequate ventilation. They can produce dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide if not vented properly.
11. Never use flammable liquids around portable heaters. Vapors or a spill could cause a flash fire.
12. Never run a heater’s cord under a rug, mat, or carpet.
13. Never use gasoline as a fuel source.
14. Always refuel portable heaters outside and clean up spills Immediately.
15. When you buy a heater, choose one with a tip-over safety switch that automatically shuts the heater off If it gets tipped over.
16. On a cold day, when you go Into the warm-up area, remember to keep clear of the heater. It’s human nature to get nice and close to the heater to warm your legs and back. But If you stand too close, your clothing can catch on fire. Always be aware of your surroundings so you don’t go up In flames.
SAFETY REMINDER
Only qualified personnel should fix a broken heater. A jury-rigged heater Is a fire waiting to happen.