The Safety Blog - I am Wright.com

We use extension cords almost every day both at work and at home. These are very useful devices, but they can present a fire or shock hazard when either worn out or used improperly.

Types of extension cords

Extension cords come in either two or three-wire types. Two-wire extension cords should only be used to operate one or two small appliances. Three-wire cords are used for outdoor appliances and electric power tools. The third wire on this cord is a ground and this type of cord should never be plugged into any ungrounded electrical outlet. Only grounded extension cords are to be used with power tools unless the tool is double insulated.

Construction sites require extension cords that are specified by the National Electric Code for hard usage or extra hard usage. Approved cords may be identified by the word “outdoor” or the letters “WA” on the jacket.

Care and inspection of extension cords

Extension cords must be treated with care and checked regularly for damage or deterioration. The cord itself should never be pulled to disconnect it from an electrical source; remove it by the plug. They should not be placed under rugs or furniture and should never be strung through doorways, windows, walls, ceilings, or floors. Damaged cords present a potential fire or shock hazard and should be destroyed and replaced immediately.

An extension cord should never be used as a substitute for permanent wiring. They should not be fastened to a building or structure, even though staples are sold for this purpose at many hardware stores. Avoid plugging two cords together to make a longer one. It’s best to use one cord in a continuous length from the receptacle to the appliance or tool. Extension cords that are either connected together or are too long will reduce operating voltage and operating efficiency of tools or appliances and may cause motor damage.

Extension cords are convenient devices we often take for granted in our everyday activities, but which need proper care and attention. Use good housekeeping practices at home and at work, to keep extension cords from being a tripping hazards or becoming damaged. Inspect them regularly for wear and replace defective units.

You can find more information here:

http://www.ul.com/consumers/cords.html

http://engineering.tamu.edu/safety/new/templates/flex_elec.htm

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/16.html

http://www.bmillerengineering.com/extensio.htm

Technorati Tags: Extension Cord, OSHA, Safety

Tags: Electrical, OSHA, Safety by David Wright - IamSafetyGeek
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A 24-year-old worker from Casella Waste Systems was released from the hospital yesterday after he was injured Wednesday when a barrel exploded.

David Lucas Provencher was flown by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for treatment of burns and a head injury.

Provencher, whose address was not available, had been in fair condition Wednesday night, but was allowed to go home yesterday, according to a hospital spokesman.

The barrel that exploded contained discarded oil and other fluids from vehicles, firefighters said.

Firefighters responded to the waste management company about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, when a flash explosion injured Provencher while cutting open the 55-gallon barrel with an acetylene torch.

Salem’s fire inspector, Jeff Emanuelson, said yesterday that Provencher was instructed by his supervisor to slice open the barrel. The company, at 53 Pelham Road, was aware of what was stored in the barrel, he said.

“From what we understand, it was used to store waste oil and waste fluids from their mechanical division,” Emanuelson said. “That’s where they would put waste oil and antifreeze from their fleet of vehicles.”

Emanuelson said he could not discuss the matter further because the incident is being investigated by police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An OSHA spokesman could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The article can be found here: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1720315/

An employee of Casella Waste Systems suffered a serious head injury yesterday when a barrel he was welding exploded, according to police.

Lucas Provencher, 25, is hospitalized in fair condition at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, according to Casella spokesman Joe Fusco.

The accident happened yesterday at 1:46 p.m at the facility at 53 Pelham Road.

Provencher was using an acetylene torch in the yard to cut open a 55 gallon barrel. According to a police statement, the torch heated up gases trapped inside the barrel, causing a flash explosion. The bottom of the barrel was blown off and struck Provencher in the head.

He was first taken by ambulance to Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass. and then air lifted to Boston.

Investigators have not determined what was inside the barrel, police said. Fusco said safety personnel from the company are also trying to find that out. OSHA is also investigating.

Fusco said Casella employs welders for maintenance equipment. He said Provencher was doing his job when the accident happened.

This article can be found here: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Salem+worker+injured+in+explosion&articleId=cbf45a97-cfec-4396-848a-1ef7fb5ace1b

SALEM — A 24-year-old Casella Waste Systems worker is recovering at a Boston hospital after suffering injuries in an industrial accident at the Pelham Road firm yesterday.

David Lucas Provencher was in the yard cutting open a 55-gallon barrel with an acetylene torch when gases trapped inside ignited, causing a flash explosion shortly after 1:30 p.m., police said.

The bottom of the barrel was blown off, striking him in the head, police said.

Provencher, who also suffered burns, was taken to Caritas Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass., and then flown by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, according to Salem Fire Marshal Jeff Emanuelson. He was in fair condition last night, a hospital spokesman said.

The barrel’s contents have not been determined, police said. A representative for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded to Casella to investigate. No one at OSHA was available for comment yesterday.

Casella Vice President Joe Fusco said Provencher, whose address was not available, was conscious and able to talk within hours of the accident.

Salem police Sgt. Anthony Olivera said that when he contacted the hospital, he was told Provencher was expected to be fine.

Casella, at 53 Pelham Road, offers waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services to residential and business customers.

This article can be found here: http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_178014834.html?keyword=secondarystory

Tags: OSHA, Safety, Welding, news by David Wright - IamSafetyGeek
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Drinking plenty of milk and basking in the sun may make a man less likely to have a heart attack.

New research published in the June 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine links low levels of vitamin D — the “sunshine vitamin” — with a higher risk of heart attack in men.

You can get vitamin D by drinking milk and eating foods fortified with the vitamin. But the body also makes vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Studies have shown spikes in heart disease-related deaths at higher latitudes and during the winter months - areas and times of less daylight — and decreases in such deaths at lower latitudes and during the summer.

For the current study, Edward Giovannucci, MD, ScD, of Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, and colleagues reviewed medical records and blood samples of 454 men aged 40 to 75 who had heart attacks and survived or who had died of heart disease. They compared the information with similar data from 900 living men who did not have a history of heart disease, also noting the men’s diet and lifestyle factors.

The researchers learned that men who had vitamin D levels of 15 ng/mL or less in their blood samples — an indication of vitamin D deficiency — had an increased risk for heart attack compared to those whose vitamin D level was considered sufficient (30 ng/mL). The twofold increased risk remained significant even when adjusting for other factors known to contribute to heart disease, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease.

Men with intermediate levels of vitamin D also were more likely to have a heart attack than those with adequate vitamin D levels.

“Vitamin D deficiency has been related to an increasing number of conditions and to total [death]. These results further support an important role for vitamin D in [heart attack] risk,” the researchers say in a news release. “The present findings add further support that the current dietary requirements of vitamin D need to be increased to have an effect on [vitamin D] levels substantially large enough for potential health benefits.”

The typical American diet often does not provide enough vitamin D since few foods naturally contain the vitamin. Eating plenty of vitamin-D-fortified foods, such as milk, cereals, and certain brands of orange juice, and getting lots of sunshine are key to maintaining adequate vitamin D levels.

Some people may need to take vitamin D supplements, especially those over 50. Older adults have a higher risk for vitamin D deficiency because aging itself makes it harder for the body to make vitamin D and convert it to a useable form.

You can find the above article here: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080609/low-vitamin-d-ups-heart-risk-men

Technorati Tags: Health, Safety, Vitamin D

Tags: Health, Safety, news by David Wright - IamSafetyGeek
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Safe Lifting Practices

• Size, Weight, and Center of Gravity of the Load: The center of gravity of an object is that point at which the entire weight may be considered as concentrated. In order to make a level lift, the crane hook must be directly above this point.
• Number of Legs and Angle with the Horizontal: The smaller the angle between the sling leg and the horizontal, the greater the stress on the sling leg and the smaller (lighter) the load the sling can safely support. Larger (heavier) loads can be safely moved if the weight of the load is distributed among more sling legs.
• Rated Capacity of the Sling: The rated capacity of a sling varies depending upon the type of sling, the size of the sling, and the type of hitch. Operators must know the capacity of the sling. Charts or tables that contain this information generally are available from sling manufacturers.
• History of Care and Usage: The mishandling and misuse of slings are the leading causes of accidents involving their use. The majority of injuries and accidents, however, can be avoided by becoming familiar with the essentials of proper sling care and usage.
• There are a number of good lifting techniques that are common to all slings:
• Make sure that the load is not lagged, clamped, or bolted to the floor.
• Guard against shock loading by taking up the slack in the sling slowly. Apply power cautiously so as to prevent jerking at the beginning of the lift, and accelerate or decelerate slowly.
• Check the tension on the sling. Raise the load a few inches, stop, and check for proper balance and that all items are clear of the path of travel. Never allow anyone to ride on the hood or load.
• Keep all personnel clear while the load is being raised, moved, or lowered. Crane or hoist operators should watch the load at all times when it is in motion.

Finally, obey the following “nevers:”

• Never allow more than one person to control a lift or give signals to a crane or hoist operator except to warn of a hazardous situation.
• Never raise the load more than necessary, or leave the load suspended in the air.
• Never work under a suspended load or allow anyone else to.
• Once the lift has been completed, clean the sling, check it for damage, and store it in a clean, dry airy place.
• Remember, damaged slings cannot lift as much as new or well cared for older slings. Safe and proper use and storage of slings will increase their service life.

Technorati Tags: Chains, OSHA, Safety, Slings

Tags: Chain, OSHA, Slings by David Wright - IamSafetyGeek
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I know - there are a million jokes just waiting to be said just from the title…However,

Smoking in midlife results in poor memory and makes it harder to think and learn, according to research published in the June 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

What’s more, developing cognitive problems in your 30s, 40s, and 50s may speed the onset of dementia. Smoking damages blood vessels, including those in the brain. Scientists recently concluded that smoking is a risk factor for dementia.

However, the link between smoking and cognitive problems has been hard to determine because few study patients return for follow-up visits or they die of smoking-related diseases before the research is completed.

For the current study, Severine Sabia, MSc, of the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale in Villejuif, France, and colleagues analyzed data from London-based civil servants aged 35 to 55 first enrolled in the Whitehall II study between 1985 and 1988. The study participants answered questions about their smoking habits and completed memory, reasoning, vocabulary, and verbal fluency tests on two separate occasions in 1997-1999 and then five years later.

The first round of cognitive testing showed that smokers were more likely to have the lowest scores than those who never lit up. “Smoking in middle age is associated with memory deficit and decline in reasoning abilities,” the study authors say in a news release.

Ex-smokers tested better than current smokers on vocabulary and verbal fluency tests and were less likely to have cognitive deficits in memory.

Those who kicked the habit before the study started or during the 17 years of follow-up also reported drinking less alcohol and eating more fruits and vegetables.

However, those who smoked when the study started were less likely to take the cognitive tests and more likely to die after the 17 years of follow-up.

“Our results … suggest that the association between smoking and cognition, even in late midlife, could be underestimated because of higher risk of death and non-participation in cognitive tests among smokers,” the authors say.

The above article can be found: http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20080609/midlife-smoking-causes-memory-problems

Technorati Tags: Health, Memory Loss, Safety, Smoking

Tags: Health by David Wright - IamSafetyGeek
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