According to the National Safety Council, one out of four vehicle accidents can be blamed on poor backing techniques. Backing accidents cause 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries per year. The use of safe vehicle backing tips by employers and employees can help prevent accidents while on the job. 80% of all accidents occur when backing a vehicle up.

·         Get to know a vehicle’s blind spots. In a medium-sized truck, blind spots can extend up to 16 feet in front and 160 feet behind a vehicle. Drivers need to remember that mirrors can never give the whole picture while backing.

·         Think in advance. Drivers should not put themselves into unnecessary backing situations.

·         Park defensively. Drivers must choose easy-exit parking spaces that don’t crowd neighboring vehicles and park their vehicle in the center of the parking space.

·         Do a walk-around. Walking around a vehicle gives a driver firsthand view of the backing area and any limitations. They can check for children, soft or muddy areas, potholes, tire hazards, and other dangers.

·         Know the clearances. When performing a walk-around, drivers can check for obstructions, low-hanging trees and wires, and any other potential clearance-related problems.

·         Every backing situation is new and different. Sometimes a driver visits the same location several times a day and should be watchful each visit for changes and any new obstacles.

·         Use a spotter. A driver should use another person to help them when backing. The driver and spotter should use hand signals instead of verbal ones and make sure they understand each other’s signals. Don’t have the spotter walking backwards while giving instructions.

·         When driver’s spot for themselves, they need to return to the vehicle and start backing within a few seconds after finishing the walk-around. This will allow very little time for people and/or obstacles to change behind the vehicle. Backing without a spotter should only take place after a driver has as much information about the area as possible. A back up alarm can help warn away pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles who may try to enter the area the vehicle is backing into.

Long-Term Solutions to Safe Backing

·          No amount of forward-driving experience can help a driver with backing a truck or other vehicles. All drivers need to practice, practice, and practice in safe surroundings until they become familiar with the way the vehicle backs up compared to the direction the steering wheel is turned.

·         Whenever possible, have a Driveway Ambassador, Valet or Shuttle driver assist you when you are backing up. 

WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS SAFETY?

Sometimes it is good to reflect on the fact that we control our own destiny and that we create the situations in which we find ourselves.  For July, we are not going to specifically bring up ways to be safer at work but to just remind you that YOU can help yourself and keep yourself and your coworkers safe. 

How can you do this?  ATTITUDE.  How you decide to act and deal with life every day.  Below is a great quote from Charles Swindoll.  Enjoy

ATTITUDES

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our Attitudes.

As we gear up for the summer months we want to remind all Minuteman Parking Company Employees about Heat Stress and what you can do to prevent it from happening. Over 4,000 Americans die each year do to heat related illness. Many of the heat related deaths last year where due to working in the heat or certain diseases that can disrupt your body’s temperature control mechanism.

Hear are the 3 varieties of Heat related problems and what you can do to prevent them.

1.)    Heat Cramps

            When you start getting heat cramps you should get out of the hot environment and         

            stop using your large muscles. You should also drink a lot of water to replenish         

            your electrolytes.

2.)    Heat Exhaustion

For heat exhaustion you should get out of the heat immediately and take off any excess clothing. You should lie down with your feet up and drink a liter of water slowly. You should also use a fan to help cool your body down. If after 30 minutes you are still feeling the effects of Heat Exhaustion you should seek medical attention.

3.)    Heatstroke

              If you are experiencing heatstroke you are having a medical emergency. You  

              will need to call 9-1-1. You need to lower your body temperature if you are            

              having heatstroke. You will want to put ice packs on your neck, armpits and      

             groin. You also want to be covered with a wet sheet or towel and go into a room          

             that is air-conditioned.

What can you do to prevent Heat Stress? Here are five simple steps that will help reduce your chances of having any Heat related illnesses while at work.

1.)    Pre-Hydrate: You should drink 16 ounces of fluid before you start work and drink 8 ounces every 20 minutes during strenuous activities.

2.)    Drink Flavored Water

3.)    Acclimate to the heat slowly: If you are not used to working in the heat it will take 5 to 7 days for your body to get used to the high temperature. You need to acclimate your body to the heat by adding more time outside each day.

4.)    Don’t Wear a Hat: Wearing a hat restricts heat loss through your head.

5.)    Wear loose, thin synthetic fabrics

So as your work day starts to heat up, stay cool and you will be safe.

Over the past couple of weeks, Earthquakes have been all over the news. But do you know what to do in case of an Earthquake?  Below are some simple guidelines for you to follow in case of an earthquake whether you are at work, home or in a vehicle.

If you are Indoors:

q     DROP to the ground; take COVER and HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

q     What ever you are covering yourself needs to be a sturdy Table or piece of       Furniture.

q     If there is not anything to COVER yourself with you still want to DROP, COVER your head and HOLD ON. The best thing to do if there is nothing to get under is to crouch in an inside corner of the building.

q     Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity and you know that it is strongly supported, load bearing door.

q     If you are at home and in bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow. Unless there is something that can fall on you, then you need to move to the nearest safe place.

q     Stay inside until the shaking stops and if it is safe to go outside.

q     Be aware that electricity may go out and if your location has fire sprinklers they may turn on.

You should stay away from:

q     Windows

q     Mirrors

q     Outside Doors and Walls

q     Anything that can fall off the walls

q     Light Fixtures

If you are Outdoors:

q     Stay Outside

q     Move away from buildings, streetlights, trees and utility wires.

q     Move to an open area and DROP to the Ground and Hold ON.

If you are in a Moving Vehicle:

q     Stop as quickly and as safety permits and stay in the vehicle.

q     Do not stop near buildings, trees, overpasses, utility wires and streetlights.

q     Once the shaking as stop use Extreme Caution as you begin to drive again. 

q     Do not pull into a Minuteman Parking Company Parking Garage during or after an Earthquake.

q     Wait until you hear from your Manager to enter any Minuteman Parking Company Garages.

q     When you are driving home after an Earthquake avoid overpasses, ramps and freeways that may have been damaged during the earthquake.

q     Listen to you local radio station for road closures

What do I do if I get TRAPPED?

q     Do not light a match or lighter

q     Do not move about and stir up dust in the area that you are trapped in.

q     Cover you mouth with a shirt, piece of cloth, or mask.

q     If you are trapped with someone keep the talking to a minimum as you do not want to inhale the dangerous amounts of dust that will be in the air.

q     If there are exposed pipes or a wall, TAP on the wall or pipe to alert Rescuers of your location.

q     Shout only as a last resort.

Minuteman Parking Company wants all of their employees to be safe during and after an earthquake. So be aware that Aftershocks will continue after the initial earthquake. Sometimes the Aftershocks can be stronger than the initial earthquake.

Stay calm and be conscious of your surroundings.

April 2010 Safety Topic: Preventing Back Aches and Pains while at Work

In our line of business back aches and pains can make it very difficult to concentrate while at work. Our jobs can put significant demands on our backs throughout the day.  Can you avoid back pain and injuries at work? The answer is “YES” if you understand what causes these injuries and how to prevent them.

If you ask a doctor what causes back pain they are never 100% sure. They will ask what you do throughout your day and family history and generally will tell you that a combination of the things you do throughout your day and your history may be a cause of your back aches and pains. Not all of these factors are preventable. 

What factors are preventable?

The factors that we can control are the weight of objects we are lifting. We are in control of our own fitness routines and flexibility. If we change our lifestyle and incorporate some stretching and exercise we will strengthen our back and help reduce work related injuries.

While at work you will need to look at what you do and you will need to see if you need to modify your work performance to help reduce these risks.

 There are 4 factors that can increase your risk of back aches and injuries.

            Force- Are you over-exerting yourself?

            Repetition- How many times during your day do you do the same thing over and over?                                 Repetition can lead to fatigue in your muscles which can lead to injuries.

            Posture- This refers to how are standing, sitting or performing a task.

            Stress- Your stress level at work or home can lead to muscle tension and                                     tightness which can result in back aches and pains.

A combination of one or more these four risks can result in serious back injuries.

To help reduce Back Aches and Pains you should first be fit. You can do specific strengthening and stretching exercises that target you back muscles. By doing this you will strengthen your cores muscles and make your back stronger. Strong and flexible muscles will help keep your back in shape. 

Secondly, you want to pay attention to your posture. If you have poor posture you will put stress on your back. So pay attention to how you are standing and sitting while at work and at home.

Finally, you want to make sure that you are lifting properly. You want to make sure that you are following the lifting procedures that are outlined in our Job Safety Agreement.  Always remember to let your legs do the work and keep all items close to your body.

By adjusting what you do at work and adopting healthy habits you can reduce back aches and pains and you will feel better over all.

Before you lift an object remember to plan your moves and listen to your body.  If your body tells you that an object is too heavy, do not lift it, ask for help.

Be Safe and Be Healthy!!!!

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!!

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.

As we go into the New Year Minuteman Parking Company would like to remind our employees what their responsibilities are to insure that we are all safe while at work. As the year progresses Minuteman Parking Company will be rolling out some new Accident Prevention Programs. These programs will define responsibilities for Management, Driveway Ambassadors, Drivers and Attendants.  Management has a responsibility for the safety and health of all employees and to provide a safe work environment.

Everyone is expected to be responsible!

We all must get to work on time, work safely throughout the day, help our fellow teammates and guests and address any concerns to our Manager, Human Resources or the Training and Safety Manager.

We all are responsible to:

·        Listen and learn

·        Be an active participant in learning a new skill or safety issue.

·        Ask for assistance if the training or instruction is not clear or your do not feel comfortable in performing the task assigned to you correctly and safely.

·        Report ALL unsafe acts and nears misses immediately to a Manager.  

·        Address all problems with Management ASAP.

·        Give your Management Team solutions to issues

·        Continue to address issues with your Management Team and Human Resources if issues are unresolved.

·        Be an active member in the safety of the workplace.

·        Participate in Safety Discussions at your location.

·        WORK SAFE

Minuteman Parking Company would like you to take an active part in making your location safe for you, your fellow teammates and our guests.

Keep open communication with your Team Members. Lack of communication is one of the biggest roadblocks to a safe work environment. Do not let this happen at your location. Be responsible and we will all stay safe.

As we approach the holidays I thought it would be nice to revisit the December 2007 Safety Topic that Gary Barnett came up with.   As the holidays get underway many factors come into play that leads people to abuse both drugs and alcohol.  Below is what Gary posted in 2007 about this topic.

Drug use and alcohol consumption are normally considered personal issues. They only become an employer’s concern when they affect safety and worker performance. Drug and alcohol abuse cost employers through absenteeism.   Abusers hurt themselves and their families if they lose their job as a result of their actions.  If they are fired or cannot function on the job, the company loses the services of an experienced worker.  Those under the influence of drugs or alcohol cause friction in the work group, lower morale and work efficiency, use poor judgment that result in bad decisions, and give the company a poor public image.

Certain times of the year individuals should be especially aware of their alcohol and drug consumption; In the winter months when the days are dark and dreary some people experience a sense of depression or seasonal affected disorder (SAD). They may turn to drugs or alcohol in the mistaken belief it will relieve the symptoms of the disorder.

The holiday season, with increased social gatherings and added financial stress, leads some people to use alcohol or drugs to help them cope.  When workers are tired, hung over and still trying to recover, they may not give all their attention to the safety aspects of their job. Their judgment and safety performance becomes impaired and the likelihood of an accident or injury to themselves or coworkers increases.

Sometimes a personal or health problem persists. In most cases, the problem gets resolved. But if it is not resolved some people turn to alcohol or drugs. Even some prescription drugs can interfere with job performance. The individual cannot think clearly or becomes distracted. This can lead to accidents. Irresponsible consumption of drugs or alcohol not only jeopardizes the safety and health of the worker and coworkers but can impact the employer’s business and affect the future of all families involved.

Be Safe, Be Smart and think of others..