Operator inexperience, inattention, recklessness and speeding are the four leading causes of tragic watercraft crashes. The leading cause of death is drowning. Crash statistics indicate boaters who wear life jackets and take boater safety courses are most likely to stay safe on the water. Follow these basic safety tips to safely enjoy boating for work or pleasure.

Leave Alcohol Onshore

• Never use drugs or alcohol before or during boat operation.
• Alcohol’s effects are greatly exaggerated by exposure to sun, glare, wind, noise and vibration.
• Watch a Boating Under the Influence video.

Use and Maintain the Right Safety Equipment

Have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person onboard and one approved throwable device for any boat 16 feet and longer. The DNR recommends that everyone wear their lifejackets while on the water.

• Have a fire extinguisher.
• Have operable boat lights – Always test boat lights before the boat leaves the dock and carry extra batteries.
• Take emergency supplies – Keep on board in a floating pouch: cell phone, maps, flares and first aid kit.
• Learn about some key equipment to keep you safe in this boating safety equipment video.

Don’t Overload Your Boat

• Adhere to boat capacity specifications.
• Overloading a boat with freight, gear or passengers will make the boat unstable and increase the risk of capsizing or swamping.
• See why it’s important not to overload your boat in this Safe Boating – Overloading video.

Get the Coast Guard Boating Safety App

The Coast Guard has developed a boat safety mobile app that provides essential services and information most commonly requested by boaters. The app include: state boating information; a safety equipment checklist; free boating safety check requests; navigation rules; float plans; and calling features to report pollution or suspicious activity. When location services are enabled, users can receive the latest weather reports from the closest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather buoys as well as report the location of a hazard on the water. The app also features an Emergency Assistance button which, with locations services enabled, will call the closest Coast Guard command center.

Before Getting Underway

• Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
• Open all hatches and run the blower after you refuel and before getting underway. Sniff for fumes before starting the engine and if you smell fumes, do not start the engine.
• Check the boat landing for any local, state or federal regulations that apply.

Follow Navigation Rules and Obey Warning Signs at Docks, Marinas and on the Water

Never allow passengers to ride on gunwales or seatbacks or outside of protective railings, including the front of a pontoon boat. A sudden turn, stop or start could cause a fall overboard.
After leaving the boat launch, maintain slow-no-wake speed for a safe and legal distance from the launch.
Follow boat traffic rules, including boating / marine signs with rules, hazard warnings and navigation instructions.
Watch a Safe Boating – Navigation Right of Way video.

More Resources:

• Read more boat safety tips from the Wisconsin DNR.
• Download an OSHA Person-in-water procedures card. (pdf)
• Visit the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety site.
• Browse water safety signs and labels.

The post Boat Safety Tips for Work or Play appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

But for all this growth to take place, adults must ensure playgrounds are safe and will not end up harming any children that are spending their time there. It is crucial that playgrounds are managed correctly and maintained properly to ensure safe use. Here are four key elements that can help make your playground a safe environment for kids of any age.

Soft-Surface Flooring

One of the most common playground accidents is tripping or falling over, resulting in grazed knees, elbows or hands. While there’s no way to stop children from falling over (it’s part of learning and growing up!), it is important to minimize the damage done to them when they do fall. Introducing a soft surface in to playgrounds is a realistic idea that offers real advantages. In many areas, concrete or asphalt has traditionally been used for playground flooring. These surfaces have little or no shock absorbing traits, making it all the more painful when children – or adults – fall on it. It also means the injuries sustained from a fall would more than likely break the skin, leaving it at risk of infection. Rather than using surfaces with no shock absorbing traits, safer alternatives would offer people a softer fall.

Sun Structures and Canopies

Another consideration to improve the safety and usability of playgrounds is to introduce canopies that offer protection from rain, snow and sun. This allows playground use no matter the weather. Another bonus to using canopies is that they create a place for children to rest and get out of the sun, helping reduce the risk of sunburn, dehydration and heat stroke. UV rays are dangerous to young skin, so shade canopies can offer peace-of-mind to teachers and parents concerned about too much heat and sun exposure. Canopies can be customized to each playground and come in a range of materials including plastic, metal and tensile fabric. Companies such as Clovis Canopies in the U.K. specialize in canopies and tensile fabric structures that can help improve nearly any playground.

Routine Maintenance

Even the safest playground can become dangerous if it is neglected over time. Wood can splinter and weaken, bolts can become loose or exposed, and metal bits can rust or break. Routine inspections will help ensure a playground is still safe, and any issues can be fixed as they arise.

Property Rules Enforced No Alcohol Drugs Smoking Sign

At the end of the day, the best way to avoid prosecution or other repercussions is to think. Before leaving the house, maybe consider not having your keg party at the local playground.

Playground Safety Signs

The final safety improvement for playgrounds is to post and enforce rules for safe playground use. Playground safety signs are an effective way to communicate with others so that your policies are followed even when you aren’t present. Common property rules include no alcohol, drugs, weapons or no smoking in playground areas. In some cases, playground owners may choose to create custom signs to address specific rules regarding dogs, park hours or correct use of equipment.

Liability signs are common in the U.S., and emergency contact signs are also a good idea. Beyond the playground itself, property owners often post watch for children signs or other notices to make drivers aware children are playing in the area.

With some simple precautions, playgrounds in schools, neighborhoods and public parks can be safe places to play, learn and grow.

Playground Safety Resources:

• Check out sun structures at Clovis canopies.
• Browse playground safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.
• Visit the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) website.

The post Safety on the Playground – 4 Key Elements appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

A recent study published by the CDC shows the most frequent swimming pool chemical injury diagnosis is poisoning, and inhalation of vapors is the most frequent cause. No deaths were documented. but injuries resulting from exposure to swimming pool chemicals caused an estimated 4,535 U.S. emergency department visits annually during 2008-2017.

Patients typically were injured when handling pool chemicals without using personal protective equipment such as goggles (especially while opening containers), when pool chemicals were added to the water just before the patient entered the water (frequently in residential and hotel settings), and when pool chemicals were not secured away from children.

Before you use swimming pool or spa chemicals:

• Get trained in pool chemical safety (e.g., during an operator training course)
• Ask for help if you are not trained for specific tasks
• Read entire product label or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before using

Using swimming pool chemicals safely:

• Keep young children away when handling chemicals
• Dress for safety by wearing appropriate safety equipment (e.g., safety goggles, gloves, and respirator)
• Read chemical product labels before each use – Handle in a well-ventilated area – Open one product container at a time and close it before opening another
• Minimize dust, fumes, and splashes – Measure carefully
• Never mix different pool chemicals with each other or any other substance. Mixing chlorine products with acid could create toxic gasses
• Only predissolve pool chemicals when directed by product label – If product label directs predissolving, add pool chemical to water; never add water to pool chemical because a violent (potentially explosive) reaction can occur

These resources can help prevent chemical injuries and keep your pool area safe:

• Read more on the study.
• Review CDC recommendations on pool chemical safety.
• Visit the CDC Healthy Swimming site.
• Visit the Healthy Pools website for a variety of resources.
• Review a similar, earlier study from the CDC.
• Browse pool safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.

The post Pool Chemicals Send Thousands to the ER Each Year – Use These Tips to Stay Safe appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

Why Spa Covers

Spa covers act like a shield against the environment, as well as unforeseen calamities. Covering your spa is necessary for winterization. It also keeps the dust and other microbes in the atmosphere from entering the spa. But the most important function of spa covers is child safety. As per an online report, some 400 children aged 15 die per year because of pool or spa accidents and 4,000 plus kids suffer serious injuries because of submersion.

Child Safety Around a Spa

Additional care for kids is required when there is a spa in the vicinity. You need to be careful that the kids do not play around the area where the spa has been installed. Undoubtedly, you don’t let your kids spend any time in the hot tub or spa alone. However, when you are not around, you must see to it that they do not take advantage of your absence and creep into the spa. The risk of kids sneaking into a spa and getting injured can be reduced by making use of spa covers.

Child safety is one of the most important reasons for spa covers and spa cover lifters with enhanced properties. There are a number of steps that should be implemented for proper child safety, including:

– Ensuring that there is a fence around the spa
– The spa makes use of doors and alarms
– That everyone knows how to swim
– The temperature of the water in the spa is appropriate
– At least one of the family members has received CPR and first aid training

These steps can reduce the risk of mishaps and help ensure no one drowns. Most covers are also thick enough to protect your spa from winter snow. This is how a spa cover protects both kids and spas from damage.

Resources:

• Browse pool/spa safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.
• Browse spa covers and lifts at Master Spa.

Contributed by Meggie Haneckow for Master Spa.

Children Under The Age Pool Spa Safety Sign

400 15-year-old children die each year in spa-related accidents. Taking proper care of a spa and utilizing the proper spa cover can help to prevent such incidents.

The post Spa Safety Rules for Kids appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

ATVs have a high center of gravity and a relatively narrow wheelbase, which can make them challenging to operate safely. Here are some tips from NIOSH on precautions employers and employees can take to prevent injury and use ATVs safely in the workplace:

Employers:

• Provide hands-on training by a qualified ATV instructor
• Provide an ATV-approved helmet and eye-protection
• Encourage employees to wear relevant PPE and protective clothing, such as gloves, long shirts and pants, and work boots
• Identify and mark hazards such as excavations, trenches and guy wires so they can be seen and avoided
• Establish and enforce operating policies that follow manufacturers’ terrain guidelines, hauling and towing capacities and passenger restrictions
• Follow manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations
• Post trail safety signs to identify sharp turns, narrow trails and other hazards along commonly used ATV routes

Employees / Riders:

• Always wear a DOT-approved helmet and eye protection. Studies show that ATV riders who do not wear a helmet are more likely to receive significant injuries to the face, neck and head, including traumatic brain injury.
• Participate in hands-on training on safe ATV handling and operation
• Wear protective clothing appropriate to your work: long shirt, pants, gloves, boots, etc.
• Conduct a pre-ride inspection of tires, brakes, headlights, etc.
• Understand how trailers, implements and attachments can affect stability and handling
• Ensure cargo is balanced, secured and loaded only on approved racks
• Never exceed manufacturer’s hauling, towing or weight limits
• Follow posted hazard warnings, and watch for hazards such as excavations, guy wires, ruts and rocks
• Drive at safe speeds for weather and terrain conditions
• Avoid quick turns while operating an ATV on a hill

ATV Safety Resources:

Safe Manitoba has produced a 40-page booklet on ATV safety for agricultural workers. It provides in-depth information on ATVs, including selecting an appropriate model, special features, protective gear, inspections, and an extensive section on operation. It’s a great guide for anyone using or thinking about using ATVs in the workplace.

• Download an ATV Safety Fact Sheet from NIOSH here (pdf).
• Download the ATV Safety for Agricultural Workers booklet here (pdf).
• Browse Trail Safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.

ATV Symbol Sign

All Terrain Vehicles are used in all sorts of fields, but are still potentially dangerous if not handled properly. Following the proper safety guidelines can help to keep everyone in any work site safe.

The post SAFETY TIP: All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety On the Job appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

The International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), published by the ICC, establishes minimum safety requirements for public and residential pools, spas and hot tubs. ISPSC was developed with input from a wide range of industry experts, including the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), and was finalized through the Code Council’s governmental consensus process.

The ISPSC combines relevant provisions of ICC Codes and APSP standards to create a consolidated document for pool and spa safety. Adoption of the ISPEC will allow code enforcement officials, health officials, designers and builders to more effectively ensure pools and spas are built safely.

The new standard:

• Meets or exceeds Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act compliance.
• Refers to and integrates APSP ANSI standards.
• Contains barrier, decking, lighting, circulation system, pump, accessibility, diving, sanitizing equipment, filter, and suction fitting
• provisions coordinating with the IBC and IRC.
• Covers all types of aquatic vessels including residential and public pools, portable and in-ground spas, water parks, exercise spas and hot tubs.
• Requires portable spas be certified to latest industry standards, eliminating the need to inspect inaccessible interior components.
• Specifically addresses aquatic recreation facilities.
• Includes the first energy standard for residential portable electric spas and for residential in-ground swimming pools and spas.

Learn more with these links:

• Read the ICC announcement
• Preview or purchase the new standard
• Browse Pool and Spa Safety signs

The post New Pool and Spa Safety Code Available from ICC appeared first on SafeWork Insider.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says shoveling snow is like lifting weights in freezing temperatures on uneven, slippery ground while wearing heavy clothing. Here’s the scoop on snow shoveling safety from our experienced neighbors to the north:

Safe Snow Shoveling

• Warm up first. Walk for a few minutes or flex and stretch.
• Allow enough time. People get hurt when they try to shovel in a hurry.
• Wear several layers of warm, lightweight clothing that lets you move comfortably.
• Spread salt, sand or kitty litter to create better traction if the ground is icy or slippery.
• Keep moving and work at a steady pace. Shovel only small, manageable amounts (1-2 inches) at a time.
• Protect your back by lifting properly and safely
• Walk to dump snow rather than throwing it. DO NOT twist at the waist or throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side.
• Recognize danger signs. Stop shoveling and call 911 if you feel discomfort or heaviness in the chest, arms or neck, or other signs of overexertion.

Pick the Right Snow Shovel

What about that shovel? Is it a snow shovel? Any other kind of shovel will make the job much harder. The important features of a shovel include:

• Weight: should be light weight but sturdy – about 1.5 kg (a little over 3 lbs).
• Length: the handle reach the user’s chest to reduce the amount of forward bending.
• Shaft type: shafts with a bend (versus a straight style) may be easier on your lower back when used correctly.
• Handle type: typically have a “D” shaped handle. Be sure the handle type does not force the wrist into awkward positions.
• Blade size/shape: choose the style that best matches the exact task. For example, a large push-style shovel will move large amounts of snow, but may result in lifting too much weight. A smaller blade shovel (25 to 35 cm or about 10-14 in) should be used for lifting and throwing snow. The smaller blade will decrease the weight that is lifted and decrease the risk of injury.

Learn more about snow shoveling safety at CCOHS.

The post Safety Tip: Shoveling Snow appeared first on SafeWork Insider.