WEEK 1
Hard Hat 101
Hard hats are commonly used in many types of workplaces to protect employees from head trauma caused by falling objects, striking their head against an object, or electrical hazards. The hard hat is a piece of personal protective equipment designed to individually protect an employee when all other methods of protection cannot. Often, its use has been required on many work sites since all hazards cannot be eliminated.
There are two types of hard hats — Type I and Type 2. Type I helmets reduce the force of impact resulting from a blow only to the top of the head. Type II helmets reduce the force of impact resulting from a blow which may be received off center or to the top of the head.
The outer portion of the hat is the shell, which often has a peak that extends forward or a brim, which extends outward around the entire lower shell. The second component is the harness, which attaches to the shell to maintain the hard hat on the wearer’s head. When a force strikes a properly fitted hard hat, the force is distributed throughout the entire hard hat. It prevents the force from concentrating at one point.
Inspect a hard hat when it is new and first put into use, prior to each day’s use and after an incident where the integrity has been challenged. When inspecting a new hard hat, ensure that it is the proper hat for the job or the exposure to be expected and make sure all parts are included with the hard hat. Also, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to assemble or attach the parts and adjust the headband for proper fit; snug, but not tight.
When inspecting a hard hat prior to each day’s use, look for gouges; cracks; deterioration; chalking or discoloration; flaking; suspension properly attached to the shell; all straps in good condition; and cleanliness; suspension and the shell. When a hard hat is damaged, replace the damaged part or replace the entire hard hat. When inspecting also know that a hard hat is only good for five years per VSC’s practice’s. The date can be found on the brim or on the inner part of the hard hat.
WEEK 2
Eye Injuries – Part 1
Every day an estimated 1,000 eye injuries occur in American workplaces. No matter where we work, flying particles, dusts, splashes or flying objects are apt to expose us to potential eye injury. Fortunately, we can protect against these hazards by using the appropriate protective eyewear for our jobs.
A survey by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of about 1,000 minor eye injuries reveals how and why many on-the-job accidents occur:
- Not wearing eye protection. BLS reports that nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident.
- Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. About 40 of the injured workers were wearing some form of eye protection when the accident occurred. These workers were most likely to be wearing eyeglasses with no side shields, though injuries among employees wearing full-cup or flat-fold side shields occurred, as well.
- When cutting, grinding, drilling, and other activities outside of you walking on a jobsite two forms of eye protection must be used. Face shields should be on all company vehicles, if not let your manager know to get one.
What Causes Eye Injuries?
- Flying particles. BLS found that almost 70% of the accidents studied resulted from flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye. Injured workers estimated that nearly three-fifths of the objects were smaller than a pin head. Most of the particles were said to be traveling faster than a hand-thrown object when the accident occurred.
- Contact with chemicals caused one-fifth of the injuries.
- Other accidents were caused by objects swinging from a fixed or attached position, like tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools which were pulled into the eye while the worker was using them.
That is how eye injuries occur. Tomorrow we’ll look at prevention.
WEEK 3
Eye Injuries – Part 2
Every day an estimated 1,000 eye injuries occur in American workplaces. Yesterday we learned that most occur from fast moving flying particles.
The BLS reported that more than 50% of workers injured while wearing eye protection thought the eyewear had minimized their injuries. But nearly half the workers also felt that another type of protection could have better prevented or reduced the injuries they suffered. It is estimated that 90% of eye injuries can be prevented through the use of proper protective eyewear. There are several types of eye protection and it’s important you wear the right protection for the task.
Safety Glasses
We wear safety glasses anytime we’re in the production area. Safety glasses with side shields are a good form of eye protection for general use to prevent flying debris and or objects from coming into contact with your eyes.
Safety Goggles
When we’re using compressed air or handling harmful chemicals we need to wear safety goggles. Goggles offer superior protection from small flying debris and particles as well as chemical splashes.
Face Shields
When grinding, drilling, cutting, changing propane or changing batteries we need to wear a face shield along with our safety glasses or goggles. This gives additional protection to our face during these types of tasks.
Welding Helmets
When welding you have the risk of harmful rays impacting your eyes from a short distance. That is why we have special tinted welding helmets. It not only protects your face from flying objects, but your eyes from the rays.
WEEK 4
Eye Protection Off The Job-Part 3
We all realize how important eye protection and the wearing of safety glasses is here at work. However, this topic is as important for home as it is here at work.
Lawn Care
Whether you are mowing the lawn, using the weed wacker or using a chainsaw or pruning sheers to cut back branches on a tree you should wear your eye protection. Each year thousands of people go to the emergency room with eye injuries while taking care of their lawn.
Sports
Every year thousands of people, many of which are children, damage or lose their vision from sports-related eye injuries. However, the good news is that 90 percent of these eye injuries are preventable if appropriate protective eyewear is worn. Encourage your children or grandchildren to wear eye protection while playing tennis, baseball, softball or basketball. Unlike what we have here at work, many stores such as Dicks Sporting Goods sell very stylish safety glasses. Buying a set of these for your children may encourage their use even more.
Other Activities
Paintball, hunting, target shooting, setting off fireworks, wood working and many other leisure activities also have a history of causing eye injuries without the proper eye protection. Ensure you and your families are protected during these activities.
Vision is a terrible thing to lose and prevention is pretty easy with just wearing safety glasses
“SAFETY IS PRIORITY NUMBER 1!”