ASSE Big Sky Chapter Newsletter December 2012 In This Issue President’s Corner ASSE/Big Sky Activities Welcome new members OSHA Alliance Safety Sense Red Cross First Aid App Stand up for your kidneys Eye Protection Survey Distracted Driving Safety on the job poster contest Newsletter Distribution You can receive your newsletter via e-mail by contacting Marilyn Cameron at: mcameron@mtech.edu Big Sky Chapter Board Members beginning July 1 Tina Smollack – President tsmollack@q.com Jamey Wheeler –Past President jamwheeler@mt.gov Mike Wacker – President-Elect mike.wacker@plumcreek.com Marissa Morgan – Treasurer mamorgan@mt.gov Dawn Schwartz – Secretary Dawn.schwartz@libertynorthwest.com Jon Croston – Prof. Development Coord. Jonathan.j.croston@altria.com Marilyn Cameron – Communications Coord. mcameron@mtech.edu Roger Jensen – Delegate RJensen@mtech.edu President’s Corner – Tina Smollack Big Sky Chapter Newsletter ASSE/Big Sky Chapter Activities & Info Welcome New Members A big welcome to our newest members since October. Student members: Help a colleague, friend, or associate succeed professionally when you open their eyes to the world of benefits and services the American Society of Safety Engineers provides. Refer a friend, have them put your name on the application as their sponsor; they can take $25.00 off the application fee. You can send them a “ready-made” email right now. OSHA Alliance 360 Training 360 Training Courses are available through the Big Sky Chapter Website at http://www.bigsky.asse.org. There are industrial safety courses as well as Human Resources Courses. The online courses are very inexpensive and a great way to get training for you or your employees at the convenience of a computer. Click for a demo of any course. ealth_Letter/2012/October/prevent-painfromcomputeruse), which offers tips for preventing pain when using a tablet or computer. Holding a tablet computer too low, say on the lap, forces the neck to bend forward too much, straining and possibly even injuring muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments or spinal discs. Simply placing a tablet on a table propped at an angle in a tablet case can reduce neck strain and potential pain, according to research conducted by Jack Dennerlein, adjunct professor of ergonomics and safety at the Harvard School of Public Health, and his colleagues. The number one tip for reducing pain, researchers say, is taking a break. “Change your position every 15 minutes,” says Dennerlein. Other tips include: When using an iPad or tablet: • Use a case that positions the device at a comfortable viewing angle. • Routinely shift hands and weight; stand up if seated, or sit down if standing. When using a laptop or desktop computer, follow the same tips for a tablet, plus: • Use an external keyboard. • Keep shoulders relaxed and elbows close to the body. • Keep hands, wrists, forearms and thighs parallel to the floor. Check out video on continuous chest compression CPR The University of Arizona’s Sarver Heart Center has a video that demonstrates Continuous Chest Compression CPR. It suggests the following immediate steps: Have someone to call for emergency assistance. Immediately start chest compressions at a rate of 100 beats per minute (roughly equivalent to a disco song such as the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive). Safety Sense Reduce Pain Using an iPad From ASSE EHS Works Blog: http://americansocietyofsafetyengineers.blogspot.com / Spending hours using an iPad or other tablet can cause neck and shoulder problems, according to experts at the Harvard School of Public Health. A simple shift in viewing angle can change everything, according to a recent report from Harvard Health Letter (http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_ H Don’t check for a pulse or breathing, and don’t provide breaths to the victim. The vacuum created by releasing the hands from the victim’s chest after each compression will create a vacuum that draws air into the lungs. The Sarver Heart Center says this technique doubles a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. The video is available here: http://ahsc.arizona.edu/node/730 It’s time for the “Safety on the Job” poster contest It’s that time again! ASSE’s annual kids’ ‘Safety 2 American Society of Safety Engineers Big Sky Chapter Newsletter on the Job’ poster contest kicked off September 19th. Children around the world between the ages of five and 14 are encouraged to submit their artwork. Members are urged to help teach kids in their communities about the importance of workplace safety and the occupational safety, health and environmental profession by encouraging them to illustrate workplace safety and submit an entry for consideration. The ‘Safety on the Job’ poster contest is part of ASSE’s commemoration of North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, which takes place every year during the first week of May. NAOSH Week 2013 will take place on May 5th11th, 2013. For additional information on ASSE’s ‘Safety on the Job’ poster contest visit http://www.asse.org/newsroom/naosh/postercontest.php Safety Awakenings FREE workplace safety website. The mission of Safety Awakenings has always been to help all of our visitors prevent work related injuries and illnesses, regardless of which country they live in. At long last, our non-English speaking visitors will be able to read our pages in their own native language. We invite you to tell your friends about our new “multi-lingual” capability. http://www.safetyawakenings.com/were-nowavailable-in-60languages/?goback=%2Egde_101603_member_1939 54075 Check out the safety apps link, too. http://www.safetyawakenings.com/apps/ The Big Sky Chapter is once again sponsoring our own contest as well. Check http://bigsky.asse.org soon for the rules and prizes. It will be published in the next few days. 6 Steps to Nail Gun Safety The Nail Gun Safety Tips can be applied to any workplace where nail guns are used. This particular article is geared toward pallet companies, but the tips are great for anywhere. It's hard to find a pallet plant without nail guns. But it can be easy to take them for granted and create unsafe working conditions in the process. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has developed a nail gun safety guide that is available in both English and Spanish versions. Although designed for the commercial construction industry, the guide has many important lessons for pallet companies, too. MORE The Most Dangerous Year for New Drivers The year our teens get their driver's license are among the most exciting -- and dangerous -- years of their life. Drive it Home is a resource all parents can refer to, and contribute to, to share proven and effective ways to help our teen drivers through this most dangerous year... and beyond. Some great information if you have teen drivers. http://www.driveithome.org/NewDriverRisks/Pages/Intro duction.aspx 3 American Society of Safety Engineers