How distraction manifests itself in the workplace can impact the safety of not only the affected worker but also coworkers. Smartphones, the internet, social media and email are among the 10 biggest workplace distractors. Distractions can pose serious risks to the safety and well-being of employees, and it is crucial to address them effectively.

Fatal distractions in the workplace refer to any activity or object that diverts an employee’s attention away from their tasks and responsibilities, potentially leading to accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. These distractions can come in various forms, such as excessive noise, frequent interruptions, personal electronic devices, or inadequate ergonomic setups.

To eliminate or manage fatal distractions, it is essential to create a culture of awareness and accountability. This starts with comprehensive training programs that educate employees about the potential dangers of distractions and the importance of staying focused on the job. By promoting a safe and distraction-free work environment, the likelihood of accidents and injuries can be reduced.

Implementing effective policies and procedures is a critical step in managing fatal distractions. This can include establishing clear guidelines for the use of personal electronic devices, managing noise levels in the workplace and creating designated quiet areas for focused work. Additionally, providing employees with ergonomic equipment and workstations can help minimize physical distractions to promote productivity.

Regular communication and feedback with employees are key to identifying and addressing potential distractions. Encouraging open dialogue allows employees to express their concerns and suggest improvements. It is important to encourage employees to report any distractions they observe and provide the necessary support to address these issues promptly.

A commitment to eliminating and managing fatal distractions in the workplace emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and focused work environment. By implementing comprehensive training programs, establishing effective policies, and fostering open communication, distractions can be minimized to ensure the well-being of employees.

Watch for next month’s Blog published in the second week of September

Sincerely,

Carola Mittag

Consultant and Editor for Mentor Safety Consultants Inc.

The post FATAL DISTRACTION appeared first on Mentor Safety Consultants - A Safety Co Partner.

It is not that I need anything; as a matter of fact I should be getting rid of things at this point in my life. However, there is a compulsion to search for that. one. item. that perhaps, I just cannot do without. And I have found some totally frivolous items that are beautifying my home now and were once prized by their original owners. By the same token, I am posting things on Marketplace that are no longer needed, loved or wanted. Having taken over my parents’ house a few years back, I had to give away and sell many items that were not relevant to my lifestyle and design choices.

The process for purchasing an item from Marketplace is to send an offer, or deposit, or full payment to hold the item for the buyer to pick up at an arranged time. The pick-up could be from the seller’s home or at an agreed upon public place. The process for selling an item is to list it on Marketplace, describe the item and post the asking price. When posting an item the seller is asked whether their item will be available for viewing and pick-up at their location or at a pre-arranged location.

This got me to thinking about safety risks. There is the risk to the vendor who lists something for a potential buyer to come and view. In a well-known case in 2013, Tim Bosma listed a pickup truck for sale. An assumed potential buyer came to take it for a test drive with Mr. Bosma. A Hamilton Spectator headline Tim Bosma goes out for a test rive never to return home tells of the tragic outcome that Mr. Bosma was killed by the assumed buyer.

Until now I have had people come to my home when I’ve had something to sell and let them in if it was a larger item they were interested in. I live alone. I have put my safety at risk.

The key here is the word “alone” or “lone”. Lone workers may be at increased risk of confrontations or even violence, particularly if they are on shift during late night hours. Lone workers must be able to get assistance if they are injured or there is an emergency. What can be done to help a lone worker stay safe? Here are some things to help ensure the safety of a lone worker:

• Assess the hazards of your workplace.
• Avoid having a lone worker whenever possible, especially for jobs with a recognized risk.
• Provide appropriate training and education to lone workers and those tasked to respond when there is concern.
• Schedule higher risk jobs to be carried out during regular working hours or when another worker is available to help in an emergency.
• Establish a check-in procedure. Make sure that regular contact is kept with all workers.
• Establish ways to account for people (visually or verbally) while they are working.

For more information on working alone visit the CCOHS information page. CLICK HERE

While it isn’t always hazardous to work alone, it can be when other circumstances are present. Whether a situation is a high or low risk will depend on the location, type of work, interaction with the public, or the consequences of an emergency, incident, injury, etc. The wide variety of possible circumstances makes it important to assess each situation individually.

I’ve come to realize that almost all events in my life must be viewed with an eye to safety; whether, as a marketplace fanatic or as an employee at risk when working alone.

Watch for next month’s Blog published in the first week of May.

Sincerely,

Carola Mittag

Consultant and Editor for Mentor Safety Consultants Inc.

The post MARKETPLACE FANATIC appeared first on Mentor Safety Consultants - A Safety Co Partner.

–Carola Mittag
I’m not a builder; however, every year before Christmas, I singlehandedly build an entire village. It’s not your traditional build as the homes are prefab, the streetscape is haphazard, and all this done under heavy snow and unlit conditions until the electrician in me adds the lighting. This project takes approximately two days.  

It is my beautiful Christmas Village which I curse from the moment I dust off the boxes containing all the houses, figurines and wires for the individual lights that light up the houses. It is a chore, and this year I vowed that it would be the last time because of all the work.

Then I thought of my parents who purchased these houses over time and what joy they had in setting them up. My parents are both gone but this little village brings back wonderful memories of both, them and Christmases past so, no I will not get rid of the village. Setting it up will always be a labour of love.

But this year I made a change to the village. Because of its approximate thirty-year age the houses were still individually lit by small, incandescent bulbs with a wire running to each house and needing to be plugged in to a power bar. Because there are eleven houses, I needed two power bars end-to-end to plug into the wall outlet. This already made me uncomfortable. As I was clipping one of the lights into the Faversham Lamps and Oils House, (a little irony here I think), the little bulb exploded in my hand, leaving lots of tiny glass shards in my palm and an exposed filament (a wire filament heated until it glows) laying on the artificial, very flammable snow.

Things I did wrong:

• I didn’t check the bulbs to see if they were working before I clipped them into their respective houses.
• I was trying to skip a step to save time by not checking the bulbs first.
• I should never have used two power bars end-to-end. How many times are we warned not to overload sockets with multiple extenders?
• I was working with live wires. I should have left all the wires unplugged until the bulbs were clipped into their respective houses.

Building my small village could have had dire consequences. I learned that even my build should have had a work and safety plan in place. Lesson learned! The footnote to this story is that I purchased a string of low wattage LED lights which I “ran through the village right to the traffic stop”, (words from Frosty the Snowman). The village looks beautiful with its modern lighting, and I feel much safer knowing that I have minimized the risk of fire in my home.

Of course there is a moral to my story. My miniature Dickens’ Village could have caused a major, disastrous event in the actual village that I live in. Construction is a dangerous business in real life. It’s no wonder that without proper planning, the right tools, personal protective equipment, training and knowledge, tragic consequences can result.

It is Christmastime. I wish you dear readers a wonderful holiday and a time of reflection and joy with family and friends. I’ll leave you with this message from Dr. Seuss:

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?

Watch for next month’s Blog published in the first week of January.

Sincerely,

Carola Mittag

Consultant and Editor for Mentor Safety Consultants Inc.

The post CHRISTMAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION appeared first on Mentor Safety Consultants - A Safety Co Partner.

To satisfy my curiosity I did a little, very superficial online research as to why men grow beards. “As modern men reassess, and reconstruct their own sense of masculinity, they still can’t help but wonder: do women like beards? The beard has remained a constant sign of rugged, manly pride. Not just that, but it’s also become a key fashion accessory: big hipster bushes; designer stubble; outdoorsy-type hunter-gatherer growth; ridiculous Guinness Book of World Record-level moustaches; and intelligent professor-like beards. According to science, they can be a symbol of alpha male dominance, social status, and a means of sending sexy (or if you’re beard’s a mess, un-sexy) signals to prospective suitors.” FASHIONBEANS

More and more people are required to wear respirators to protect them at work. The critical question becomes is proper protection provided by a respirator when a worker sports a beard? The bottom line is that facial hair between the skin and face seal of the respirator will interfere with the seal of the respirator. Facial hair represents an unacceptable risk of breaking the mask’s face seal. Really, the worker needs to be clean-shaven. 

Workers have become creative when trying to integrate having a beard and wearing a protective respirator; anywhere, from putting Vaseline on the sealing surface of the respirator or the beard to using athletic bands and clips to confine the hair.

Employers and workers must adhere to the CSA Z94.4 which states that tight-fitting respirators are not permitted to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with the valve function. Below is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) poster which helps workers determine which facial hairstyles are acceptable to use with filtering facepiece respirators.

While I might find beards attractive, I understand that sporting a beard does require men to be more attentive to their grooming habits as well as the impact their facial hair can have in the workplace.

MENTOR SAFETY experts will help you ensure that your respirators are correct for the job, your workers are fitted properly for utmost protection, and that your legislative requirements are being met.

Call us @ 519-870-6930 to book your Respiratory PPE Fit Test (Qualitative)

Or fill out this form to schedule:
https://forms.office.com/r/qfgR7UeaEt

Watch for next month’s Blog published in the first week of August.

Sincerely,

Carola Mittag

Consultant and Editor for Mentor Safety Consultants Inc.

The post BEARDS appeared first on Mentor Safety Consultants - A Safety Co Partner.