​10 Summer Safety Tips
August 2021
 
Summer fun is truly something special, but summer safety should always be a priority for you, your friends and your family. When preparing for your favorite summer activities, don't forget to follow these summer safety tips to make sure everyone has a great time without any of dangers the warm months can bring.
1. Understand SPF and Use Sun Protection
Know your SPF numbers and what sort of SPF protection to buy for your family. Extra-high SPF numbers aren't nearly so important as careful, effective application on all exposed skin. Today's spray-based sunscreen is usually more child and teenage friendly, since it's a lot easier to apply than oily lotions. UPF or ultraviolet protection factor is used to rate summer clothing for protection, another valuable specification to keep in mind when headed up to the mountain or out on the water.
2. Protect Against Mosquitos and Other Threats
Mosquitos carry some of summer's worst diseases (Lyme, Zika, etc.), but they are also very difficult to avoid without proper care. If you are going to be spending time near open water, especially standing water, protect yourself from mosquitos by covering arms and legs, and using effective repellents like deet. Protect against wasps, hornets, and other bugs by avoiding their nests. While bright colors are a good idea in the forest, in other environments try to stay away from bright or floral patterns, which are an attractor for these stinging insects.
3. Remember Helmets and Kneepads
From skating on the street to – well, nearly any other type of summer sport, protection is important. Equip your kids with their helmets for extra protection, but don't stop there. Kneepads protect from scraps and hot metal surfaces, and you should encourage their use for any wheeled or motor-related activity.
 
4. Practice Proper Safety Near Water
A vast number of unfortunate summer deaths are caused by drowning. If you or your family are enjoying pool activities or water sports, always go in pairs and make sure that kids are under constant adult supervision, as well as equipped with the proper flotation devices. As fun as alcohol may be while out on the water, it's also a really bad idea. Adult water-related deaths are frequently caused by drinking on watercraft or before swimming. If your summer fun involves a few beers, then enjoy your water activities first: Drink when you are done and back on land.
5. When it Heats Up, Plan Hydration Carefully
Dehydration is no fun at best and deadly at worst. If you are heading into hot temperatures, make clear plans for water: Bring along your own water storage and make sure you have a couple liters for every person, even if you are just headed out for an afternoon. If it is particularly hot, make sure you frequently stop in the shade and take a drink of water to keep from sweating out too much.
6. When Exploring, Coordinate Times, Directions, and Group-Ups
Exploring festivals, new towns, hiking paths, and even other countries are very popular summer activities. They should also involve proper planning. Make sure everyone has an exploring buddy and a way to keep in contact. Have everyone's phone number for contact, and arrange for specific times and places to meet up once exploring is finished.
7. Be More Careful in the Car
Summer is a more dangerous time to be on the road: The combination of drivers new to the area, drivers who may be acting more careless, and more bikers can lead to disaster. So remember to check your car, practice good maintenance, follow local traffic laws, and stay safe on the road.
 
8. Use Licensing and Safety Courses
From dirt-biking and off-roading to jet-skiing and flying drones, a lot of today's summer activities involve advanced equipment. Don't let you or your family jump into this equipment without the proper training! Make sure everyone takes the right classes, obtains any important licenses, and follows the right codes for their summer fun. It takes a little bit of preparation, but it vastly increases safety and avoids any hefty fines you may occur if no one knows the rules.
9. Stay Away from Activities That Are Simply Too Dangerous
This is particularly important as a parent, because while summer is about fun and even testing boundaries, parents still need to draw lines when activities become too dangerous. It is too dangerous to let kids go unsupervised or without the proper equipment, no matter how much they may want to do something. Certain things, like trampolines, have proven too dangerous to use, especially without the right trampoline insurance (the fact specific insurance exists should be a warning sign). Just because something is popular or trending doesn't mean it should be allowed or encouraged.
10. Protect Food and Wash Your Hands
Keep food sealed and covered until it is ready to eat, and try to keep it out of the sun if possible. When grilling, make sure meats are properly refrigerated before use and thoroughly cooked. When dealing with any kind of food, wash your hands first to prevent contamination. These summer home safety tips are simple, but easy to overlook during summer activities.
 
​INDIVIDUAL QUALITY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
In this age of rapid change and need for efficiency, we also see an increased emphasis on quality assurance standards such as ISO (International Standardization Organization) certifications. However, the biggest factor we must consider in this age of more with less, is how we, as individuals, impact the quality process. Our honor and integrity as human beings needs to be confirmed in our work and everything we do. So, you may ask, how does this apply to safety?
Our personal behavior can determine someone else's fate as well as our own. Failure to do things correctly can jeopardize the health and safety of those around us, as well as our own well being. We must beware of letting mediocrity infiltrate our methods. If our methods do not indicate our best effort, they are not good enough. What we do, how we work, and the standards we set for ourselves, make the difference between success and failure. If we accept mediocrity, we accept failure as a way of life.
Consider the example of an employee at a ship building facility who, at the end of a busy day, left a hammer in the hull of the ship. Fourteen years later, the boat sprung a leak in the middle of the ocean because the hammer wore a hole in the ship's hull over time. The boat sank and lives were lost.
What about the oil that was spilled on the shop floor and wasn't cleaned up right away? A fellow employee, a close friend of yours, comes by moments or hours later, doesn't see the spill, slips and falls. Now he has severe back problems that affect his future, his family, and their quality of life for generations to come. By the way, the expense of that injury also put this small business out of operation, affecting the lives of all the workers and the business owner.
Each time we don't do our best, we accept mediocrity as a way of life. To help set standards of excellence in everything we do we must pay attention to detail. If we don't know the right way to do something, we must ask someone who does. If asked for help, we should take the time to demonstrate how to correctly and thoroughly complete a task. We must make an individual contribution, on a daily basis, to the quality process.
When we set higher individual standards for ourselves and give our best to everything we do, it can make a difference. This helps to protect the finest quality of life this world has to offer.
Why Injuries and Accidents May Occur
July  2019
Why Accidents Occur Every accident is caused by a breakdown in one of four areas:
  • the worker
  • the tools used
  • the materials used
  • the methods used
 
Often there is a breakdown in at least two areas; one being the worker and the other coming from one of the three other areas. The accident’s cause usually results from an unsafe act or an unsafe condition. Today we will review some types of unsafe acts, the results from, and unsafe conditions. Guide for Discussion Types of Unsafe Acts:
  • Operating a tool or some equipment without authority
  • Working at an unsafe speed
  • Using unsafe or defective equipment or using equipment in an unsafe manner
  • Disconnecting safety devices
  • Unsafe unloading, placing or mixing materials
  • Assuming an unsafe position or posture. Working on moving equipment
  • Horseplay or distractions; taking shortcuts
  • Failure to wear and use personal protective equipment
 
Unsafe Acts Result From:
  • An improper attitude
  • Lack of knowledge or skills
  • Reduced mental or physical capacities
 
Unsafe Conditions:
  • Improper guarding
  • Defective equipment or materials
  • Unsafe working procedures
  • Improper housekeeping
  • Poor lighting or ventilation
  • Improper personal attire (Poor dress)
  • No or improper evaluation of site conditions
Accident or Incident Checklist
______1. A supervisor, the safety coordinator or a commission needs to be called to go to the accident scene if the accident is severe enough to need immediate medical care or especially if an ambulance is called.
______2. The first priority is to attend to the injured. Determine if the injured needs medical attention.
______3. The area should be secured and pictures should be taken of the whole scene and also the ground or floor surface.  A picture of the injured with any PPE on and their footwear. Do not take a picture of the injury if it can be avoided.
______4. The witnesses should all be interviewed immediately and separately.  Get a statement from each of them.
______5. A First Report will need to be filed but if the injured is not available it can be turned in without the signature initially.  The injured can sign it later.  Montana Law requires an employer to complete the form within six days of notice of an on-the-job injury.  The Trust has thirty days to accept or deny the claim.
______6. The Accident/Incident Report should be filled out and given to the Safety Coordinator with the photos and an investigation initiated.
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​Protecting Workers from Heat Stress
Heat Illness
Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The most serious heat illness is heat stroke. Other heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided.
There are precautions that can be taken any time temperatures are high and the job involves physical work.
Risk Factors for Heat Illness
High temperature and humidity, direct sun exposure, no breeze or wind
Heavy physical labor
No recent exposure to hot workplaces
Low liquid intake
Waterproof clothing
Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
Headache, dizziness, or fainting
Weakness and wet skin Irritability or confusion
Thirst, nausea, or vomiting
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
May be confused, unable to think clearly, pass out, collapse, or have seizures (fits)
May stop sweating
To Prevent Heat Illness:
Establish a complete heat illness prevention program.
Provide training about the hazards leading to heat stress and how to prevent them.
Provide a lot of cool water to workers close to the work area. At least one pint of water per hour is needed.
 
For more information:
Occupational
Safety and Health
Administration
www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA (6742)
OSHA 3154-06R 2017
​Jump Starting a Battery
As the cold weather starts to come upon us, many cars batteries will start to fail. When a motor vehicle battery fails, a jump start often is the best short term way to get the motor going.
Because it is important that jump starting be done properly, the National Safety Council recommends the following procedure:
  • Position another vehicle with a healthy battery and your car so they do not touch each other. Be sure both batteries are of the same voltage.
  • Read the owners' manuals for BOTH vehicles for any special directions.
  • Turn off the ignitions of both vehicles and set the parking brakes. Place automatic transmissions in "Park" and standard transmissions in neutral.
  • Wear safety glasses and gloves while using cables.
  • Unless given different directions in the owner's manual, use the booster cables in this order:
1. Clamp/connect one end of the positive (+) booster cable to the positive (+) post of the dead battery. Positive is typically color coded RED.
2. Connect the other end of the same cable to the same marked post (+) of the booster battery.
3. Connect the second, negative (-) booster cable to the other post of the booster battery. Negative is typically color coded BLACK.
4. Make the final negative (-) booster cable connection on the engine block of the stalled vehicle away from the battery.
 
  • Start the booster vehicle and let it run for a few minutes. Then, start the disabled vehicle.
  • Remove the cables in the reverse order of connection, being very careful not to let the booster cable clamps touch each other or come in contact with car parts. Also, avoid the fans of the engines. Electric fans may run without the engine being on.
Remember, there is a reason your battery failed in the first place. If obvious reasons such as leaving your lights on aren't responsible, you had better get your autos electrical system including the battery checked out.