This month we are going to review Slips, Trips and Falls. Over the last couple of months the majority of our Worker Compensation Claims have been due to a slip, trip or a fall. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, slips, trips and falls make up the majority of general industry accidents. 25% of all reported claims for the fiscal year are due to slips, trips and falls and over 17% of all disabling work injuries are a results of a fall while at work.  

The definition of a Slip: When there is too little friction or traction between or feet and the walking or working surface, and you loose your balance.

The definition of a Trip: When your foot hits and object and your upper body continues moving forward or backwards, throwing you off balance. A Trip can also be when you are stepping down unexpectedly to a lower surface and loose your step. Like when you step off a curb.

The definition of a Fall: Occurs when you are too far off your center of balance. This generally happens when you have a misstep going down a stairwell or when you get out a vehicle too quickly.

The most common injuries that happen due to a Slip, Trip or a Fall are:

o       Sprains and Strains

o       Bruises and Contusions

o       Fractures

o       Abrasions and Lacerations

Commonly affected Body Parts in Slip, Trip or Fall injury:

o       Knee, Ankle and Foot

o       Wrist and Elbow

o       Back

o       Shoulder

o       Hip

o       Head

So how can you protect yourself form a Slip, Trip or a Fall?

o       Make sure you are paying attention where you are walking or running.

o       Make sure that the driveways are always free of clutter.

o       Make sure you are following the proper lifting and carrying methods outlined in your Job Safety Agreement.

o       Report any hazards to your Manager or Driveway Ambassador

o       Make sure that you are using a lighted pathway

o       Make sure that you are using the Safe Path of Travel that was outlined to you in your Safety Checklist.

o       Be aware of your surroundings.

o       Have the proper Footwear for running and walking fast

            Take your time, watch your step and stay safe!!

Minuteman Parking Fan Page on Facebook

We are pleased to announce that Minuteman Parking Company is now on Facebook and Twitter!

In addition to our blog posts, our Facebook and Twitter will provide the latest and greatest news from Minuteman, as well as up-to-date information in the world of valet parking. Our Facebook page allows visitors to view picture albums that are dedicated to what we know best: hotels, hospitals and special events.

Facebook was founded by a small group of Harvard students and it is one of the fastest growing internet sites for both social and business contacts. The site currently has over 350 million active users worldwide and is the second most-visited site in the world, falling behind Google.

Twitter is another social networking site that allows its users to send and read messages known as tweets. The site was founded in 2006 and allows followers to keep up with what is happening right now.

Even if you are not currently using Facebook or Twitter, you can still visit our pages and see our updates. And if you are already part of the latest social phenomenon, we would love for you to become a fan and follow us!

You can access our accounts using the following links:

Minuteman Parking Facebook Fan Page

Minuteman Parking on Twitter

Last month we discussed what your responsibilities are as employee with Minuteman Parking Company to stay safe while working. More than 65,000 work related injuries each year are due to unsafe work practices or short cuts that people take while performing there job. Many employees believe that if they can do the job faster they are doing the job better; sometimes fast is not safe and we want to be safe at all times.

Minuteman Parking Company has policies and procedures in place to help keep you safe while you are at work. Still many of our employees do not always follow our safe work practices.

Two things can add to an employee getting injured at work. The first thing is an unsafe act or practice. The second thing is an unsafe condition. Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 accidents are the results of unsafe acts, or things we do when we know better. Why do employees deliberately expose themselves to injuries? Most employees have one of the two following thoughts running through their heads when they do their jobs unsafely.

·        It won’t happen to me.

·        We all take short cuts while we are working.

It won’t happen to me.

Most of us probably have had this thought run through our head at one time or another while working. This thought is a form of rationalization of the risk of getting injured while working. We think that we have done this job over and over and nothing has ever happened to me; therefore nothing bad will happen to me.  You know the right way to do it, you realize that it is hazardous to do your job this way, but you really believe that “it won’t happen to me.”

We all take short cuts.

Some employees are very meticulous about following safe work practices. Because we do our jobs day in and day out we become comfortable; our jobs become routine.  When your job becomes routine you have a higher chance of using an unsafe method of doing your job like jumping over a fence or skipping a couple of steps in the stairwell.  The time you save is not worth the potential injury to yourself. 

One out of ten unsafe acts lead to a workplace injury.  We all know better, we know the safe way of doing our jobs from the training we all have received.  Don’t be a statistic.  Be Safe and Happy.