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OSHA Safety and Health Regulations for the Construction Industry - 27 Nov 2015 17:44

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[[html]]OSHA safety and health regulations have, since 1970, the ultimate goal of making the workplace safer for all construction workers, and should be vital knowledge for those who work in the construction industry.<br><br>While there are more OSHA regulations existing than what the average construction worker, manager, or owner could ever memorize, a few do manage to stand out not only because of their importance and relevance to everyday tasks, but also for their impact on the workers health and wellness. These few are listed below, however, do keep in mind that there are quite a number of other regulations that are equally as important to ensure employee safety while at the workplace.<br><br>Fall Protection (OSHA 1926.0501)<br><br>The most common citation issued to the construction industry as a whole, fall protection fines have amounted to over $20 million in 2014 alone from over 7,000 citations - an alarming amount considering that OSHA-related fines for the same year from the entire construction industry amounted to $61 million. Falls also account for almost 37% of the total deaths in construction in the same year, which clearly indicates that there is a dire need for construction workers and business owners to absolutely abide by this regulation.<br><br>Training Requirements (OSHA 1926.0503)<br><br>Employees in the construction industry must be trained on the proper use of the entire range of machines and equipment that they may encounter on the job. They must use correct and proper safety equipment, be fully aware of ladder safety, and follow the general job site safety guidelines at the workplace as imposed by OSHA. Also, construction industry workers must understand and satisfactorily execute appropriate measures when dealing with or managing dangerous or hazardous materials. Training courses, such as the Hazwoper training, are designed to help employees both old and new to understand these important safety requirements. <br><br>Ladder Safety (OSHA 1926.1053)<br><br>About 7% or over $4 million of the total penalties issued by OSHA to construction companies in 2014 was attributed to ladder safety. This regulation is of great importance for the construction industry as not following it would result not only to heavy fines, but also to falls, and possibly electrocution risks. It comes as no surprise that ladders are considered to be one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment commonly used in job sites today.<br><br><img src="http://www.bdmfg.com/about_us/_images/safety.jpg" width="361" /><br><br>Asbestos Safety (OSHA 1926.1101)<br><br>Violations for asbestos safety is relatively much lower than fall protection or ladder safety concerns. However, understanding it is very important in order to avoid putting workers lives in danger in the long run by placing them at risk for exposure to asbestos. A number of reliable organizations offer training courses on asbestos safety, which provide employees with the skills and knowledge on how to deal with asbestos-related concerns at the job site.<br><br>Workplace safety is the responsibility of the business owner, and so is making sure that employees are trained sufficiently to be able to work effectively and productively while avoiding construction accidents. By following the safety rules and regulations for the construction industry as set by OSHA, accidents and devastating financial losses in the form of fines can be avoided.<br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Federal probe: Safety problems at DuPont plant where 4 died - 27 Nov 2015 13:32

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[[html]]By JUAN A. LOZANOAssociated Press<br><br>HOUSTON (AP) A federal investigation into a poisonous gas leak that killed four workers at a Houston-area chemical plant in November found weaknesses and failures in the facility's safety planning and procedures, officials said Wednesday.<br><br>The findings were announced in an interim report released by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board regarding the accident at a DuPont plant in La Porte, Texas. The report says neither workers nor the public are protected against chemical exposure by equipment or safety procedures at the facility.<br><br>"DuPont … has long been regarded as a safety leader in the chemical industry. But our investigation has uncovered lapses, weaknesses or failures in the company's safety, planning and procedures, safety management systems that could have and should have prevented the accident and this loss of life," Vanessa Sutherland, the board's chairwoman, said at a news conference.<br><br>The unit where the workers died did not having adequate ventilation or air monitoring to ensure employee safety, and procedures weren't followed that would have restricted worker access into areas where ventilation fans weren't working, according to the report.<br><br>A review by DuPont of systems at the plant that control overpressure in equipment is in year four of a five-year assessment, but is only 35 percent complete, according to the board.<br><br>"DuPont has not made this program a sufficiently high priority, has limited internal resources and has fallen far behind schedule," the board said in the report.<br><br>James O'Connor, the La Porte plant manager, said in a statement Wednesday that the company is addressing the board's recommendations and cooperating with investigators. The plant is closed, "and will remain so until DuPont has executed a comprehensive and integrated plan to safely resume operations," he said.<br><br>In its statement, DuPont said it "respectfully disagrees with aspects of the report."<br><br>The workers died after being exposed to methyl mercaptan, a raw material used to manufacture an insecticide. Workers did not realize they were releasing the deadly gas that had built up in piping and a storage tank as they drained waste gas from other piping at the unit.<br><br>The piping the workers opened that released the poisonous gas was intended to release nitrogen vapor. DuPont had already investigated that system as part of its five-year review and considered it in compliance with industry standards, the board said. It was not standard procedure for workers to wear breathing protection when draining this piping, but if they had, they would probably still be alive, said Dan Tillema, the safety board's lead investigator.<br><br>The safety board previously said inspectors found the plant had a faulty ventilation system but that even if ventilation fans had been working, the building's design may not have protected workers from the gas being released.<br><br>The interim report also said detectors at the plant that warn of methyl mercaptan releases "provided essentially no value to DuPont personnel or to the public" and employees had become so accustomed to the odor of methyl mercaptan that they didn't recognize it presented a hazard.<br><br>John Morawetz, director of a worker health and safety education center with the International Chemical Workers Union Council, which represents about 150 workers at the plant, said various things could have been done to prevent the deaths.<br><br>"Right now (DuPont is) moving forward and doing the right thing," Morawetz said, adding he hopes the board's final recommendations include how workers are trained to know what hazards they can face.<br><br>Earlier this year, the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration criticized safety procedures at the plant and said the deaths were preventable. OSHA has fined DuPont $372,000 for various safety violations and placed the company on its severe violator enforcement program.<br><br>The Chemical Safety Board made five safety recommendations in its interim report, including conducting engineering evaluations of the pressure relief and air ventilation systems in the unit where the workers died and ensuring participation by workers in implementing the recommendations.<br><br>The board investigates industrial and chemical accidents, but it has no regulatory authority and can only make recommendations on accident prevention.<br><br><br><br>This story has been corrected to show that John Morawetz is director of a worker health and safety education center with the International Chemical Workers Union Council.<br><br>___<br><br>Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juanlozano70<br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

What is the definition of wellness programs? - 25 Nov 2015 00:40

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[[html]]Wellness programs are popping up all over the world in an attempt to help people live a more fulfilling life. For examples, some companies offer wellness programs to help individuals' better deal with the stresses of everyday life. Working hectic schedules, raising a family and or keeping an eating routine that promotes exceptional health are a few reasons why wellness programs are sought after.Wellness ProgramsWellness programs can offer advice on how to cope better with everyday life. They often consist of promoting an active and healthier life. Wellness programs are designed to improve the lives of individuals whether it is for spiritual, health, physical purposes.<br><br>Employee ProgramsMajor corporations offer wellness programs to allow their employees a place to get educated on various topics. In this environment, wellness programs may promote healthy lifestyles which prevent and deal with diseases. In addition, their programs offer assistance how to work with difficult people in the work area.<br><br>Fitness Wellness ProgramsFitness wellness programs, not only takes place in the gym, they can take place in Yoga and Pilates studios, while obtaining treatment from a Physical Therapist, etc. The goal is to educate one on the importance of moving their body to burn fat or maintain a normal BMI (Body Mass Index).<br><br>Spiritual/Healing ProgramsSpiritual wellness programs focus on ethics and how one can use such things as prayer, reiki, qi/ki and meditation to achieve a better way of living.<br><br>Eating ProgramsEating wellness programs are focused on the proper intake of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in ones diet. These programs are concerned with balancing ones diet to have body and mind work at its optimal levels.<br><br>Source:Spiritual Wellness<br><br>Employee Wellness Programs<br><br><a href='http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1866802'>http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1866802</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Employers tell workers: Lose weight! - 24 Nov 2015 22:39

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[[html]]Companies are going beyond just handing out pedometers and offering Weight Watchers. Now more are measuring waist sizes, recording body fat levels and penalizing those who carry around too many extra pounds. <br><br>Wellness programs have been around for years, but they are evolving. Companies are doing more biometric screenings, where they measure metrics such as waist circumferences, cholesterol, glucose (sugar levels) and blood pressure, using independent third-party vendors to protect confidential employee data. <br><br>The latest trend is to offer rewards — and penalties — for workers who are at risk to take action. <br><br>"The hardest [metric] to move the dial on is weight," said LuAnn Heinen, vice president at the National Business Group on Health, which found that increasing employees' physical activity and managing their weight are large employers' top health priorities for 2015. "They are shifting to more outcome- and goal-based incentives." <br><br>Employers want trimmer workers: Weight is the main concern for many employers since so many Americans are too heavy. Nearly 7 in 10 adults are overweight, and more than one-third are obese, according to federal health statistics. <br><br>Share your story: Are your health care deductibles going up? <br><br>Obesity is also a risk factor for many expensive illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease. And unlike high cholesterol and blood pressure, it's easy to see. <br><br>"Employers know…it's not hidden. You don't have to screen employees. You just have to look at them," said Soeren Mattke, senior scientist at Rand, which looked at employee wellness programs last year. <br><br>Related: 5 ways you pay more for health insurance <br><br>The number of firms using biometric measures is still relatively small, but more are adopting them, Heinen said. This is particularly true among larger employers. <br><br><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/141016175255-employee-wellness-programs-bike-1024x576.png" width="1024" height="576" alt="employee wellness programs bike" border="0" />A JetBlue employee pedals a bike to power a blender that's making a healthy smoothie.<br><br>JetBlue aims high: JetBlue Airways (JBLU) has revamped its wellness program in recent years, adding one-on-one coaching by benefits specialists or registered nurses in 2013 and testing a biometric measuring program this year. <br><br>Employees can earn up to $400 in rewards in their health savings account for partaking in certain activities, such as purchasing or owning home exercise equipment, working in a physically demanding job and participating in a healthy cooking class. <br><br>Signing up for coaching nets employees $50, but they earn another $200 for finishing it. Workers in the test program can earn up to $500 if they submit weekly weight, blood pressure and waist measurements and if their health improves based on their final biometric reading. <br><br>The programs are pretty popular with employees. Some 74% participate in the rewards program and 46% in the coaching initiative, said Kristen Brown, benefits director at the airline. And 76% of the people in the biometric program completed the six-month trial, which also involved counseling. Participants in this trial group were able to lower their risk factors, she said. <br><br>Related: How iPhone apps could impact your insurance <br><br>While JetBlue is using the carrot approach, others are employing more of the stick. <br><br>Penalizing workers who don't participate: Lafarge U.S. offers a voluntary health screening and coaching program. Those who participated this year got rewarded, but those who didn't were limited in their choice of company-sponsored health insurance plans. <br><br>Employees at the construction materials supplier can get free individual coaching with Cleveland Clinic specialists. They email their coach what they've eaten and how many steps they've taken, among other things, several times a week. <br><br>Everyone who undergoes the screening got a $75 gift card. But those who had at least three risk factors and didn't partake in coaching could not sign up for the company's gold-level insurance plan, which has no deductible and lower out-of-pocket costs. Workers who didn't get evaluated at all could only choose a bronze plan that comes with a $2,750 deductible. <br><br>"Our expectation is that Lafarge and employees and dependents are both accountable for health," said Philia Swam, director of health, wellness and group benefits. <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.simpsonyork.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/health-safety1.jpg" width="352" /><br><br>(Federal anti-discrimination regulations require that companies allow employees to qualify for rewards or avoid penalties under an alternative standard. For instance, those with certain medical conditions can get a doctor's note that allows them to get the incentives despite having risk factors or not meeting certain goals.) <br><br>Related: What does your employer know about your health? <br><br>Does it work? Just how effective of wellness programs are — both in shedding pounds or in saving money for companies — remains in debate. Only 10% of employees participated in weight management and 21% in fitness programs, according to the Rand study. And only 2% of employers reported actual savings estimates. <br><br>At Lafarge, some 97% get screened, but only 19% participate in the health care coaching program, Swam said. But the company is seeing results, she said. The number of employee hospitalizations has declined, while the number of preventative health care visits and tests, such as mammograms and colorectal cancer screenings, is up. <br><br>JetBlue, meanwhile, is trying to focus on workers who have risk factors but are not yet sick, Brown said. <br><br>CNNMoney (New York) October 17, 2014: 9:10 AM ET <br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

How Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini is bringing health and healing to the workplace - 24 Nov 2015 22:07

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[[html]]Before Mark Bertolini became CEO of Aetna, he almost died on a family ski trip. While recovering, he looked for alternative ways to manage the pain, reports "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King. Bertolini found healing in yoga and meditation, and it helped change the way he viewed recovery. <br><br>"Recovery is a state of mind. It's not just a physical practice, and that if you get your mind in the right place, you can do almost anything you can managing pain," Bertolini said Thursday on "CBS This Morning." "My pain is still very intense every day, it never stops, it's 24/7, but I don't take any drugs or medication for it. I just deal with it in a different way, being present in the moment, understanding that this pain is part of my journey and just deal with it," Bertolini said. <br><br>It inspired him to bring that new mindset to one of the nation's largest health insurance companies with 46 million customers, re-creating it in the workplace to improve the health of his 50,000 employees.<br><br>An essential component to his plan is an all-inclusive wellness center that includes doctors, exam rooms and massage therapy. Workers can even get lab work done and prescriptions filled.<br><br>There's a cafeteria run by chefs who create healthy food options, from a super-stocked vegetarian salad bar to a nutritious meals-to-go program. But the distinctive component of his health program is the fitness center, where employees are encouraged to exercise any time of day.<br><br>It's all a part of his belief that "employee engagement is everything in the service economy."<br><br>"If we're going to invest in our people to get them engaged every day, we have to reduce their stress levels, we have to pay them fairly, we have to allow them to live their lives fully so that when they're taking care of other people, they don't have all that other baggage with them," Bertolini said. <br><br>Bertolini also converted a substantial number of employees to the two practices he credits with his recovery: virtual classes in mindfulness and yoga.<br><br>"When we go back to our desks, we can bring more poise and more calmness and more focus to the people we're working with, and eventually that translates into a more compassionate workplace," Aetna employee Cheryl Jones said. <br><br>Employees report a 28 percent decrease in stress levels, a 20 percent improvement in sleep quality and 19 percent reduction in pain. Reportedly all of that zen is translating to a happier and more productive workplace, but of course, it comes at a cost. <br><br>"So we had $2,500 a year more expense per employee that was at the highest level of stress when we started this program. It's down to about $2,000 for people at the highest level of stress," Bertolini said. "We've saved people's marriages; they've lost weight. We had people come back and say, 'You know what? You saved my life.' And it cost us $197,000 to do the first program. If that saved one life, I think that's like a huge return on investment." <br><br>For stockholders who might question how this might affect the company's bottom line, Bertolini said he's focused on the sustainability of the business over time. <br><br>"If you look at our stock price change over time as a company, it's up 270 plus percent over the last five years. It's largely been the price earnings multiple, and that's people's belief as to whether or not customers will continue to buy our stuff," Bertolini said. <br><br>As a leader for a company that brings in $58 billion a year in revenue through its health insurance services and pension business, Bertolini advocates for insurance payment reform. Attempts at price control, including legislation around the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) "doc fix," or how the government pays doctors treating Medicare patients, aren't going to work, he said. <br><br>"We have to reward people for the right outcome and that outcome is better health. So instead of trying to eliminate disease or pay every time somebody touches a patient, let's pay them for preserving the health or improving the health of a population," he said. <br><br>It's not only through preventative medicine, but also by addressing the sick people who are "wandering in the system aimlessly, spending lots of money." <br><br>"The top 5 percent of Medicare consume 42 percent of the Medicare budget. The top 5 percent of people. $9,000 a month because they're not managed. So how do we help them go through the system and how do we reward the system for making them healthier?"<br><br>2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. <br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Chemical mixing sparks massive Texas plant fire - 24 Nov 2015 21:25

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[[html]]Updated 5:45 p.m. ET<br><br>WAXAHACHIE, Texas - A fire sparked as workers mixed chemicals at a plant south of Dallas shot massive plumes of black smoke and bright orange flames into the sky Monday, forcing schoolchildren and residents to evacuate or take cover indoors to avoid possible exposure to dangerous gases.<br><br>Flames engulfed a large complex at a Magnablend, Inc., facility in Waxahachie. The fast-moving blaze overwhelmed a sprinkler system and consumed a fire truck, but no injuries were reported from the fire or resulting smoke.<br><br>Waxahachie Fire Chief David Hudgins said it wasn't immediately clear what chemicals were involved in sparking the fire, but crews expected to quell the flames by late afternoon and allow about 1,000 evacuated residents to return to their homes in the city 30 miles south of Dallas.<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KdfsDRAf46o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KdfsDRAf46o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>"It's the building that's burning, and there's chemicals inside, multiple kinds of chemicals," Waxahachie Fire Department spokeswoman Amy Hollywood. "Saying which kind would be speculative."<br><br>According to the company website, Magnablend houses ammonia and other chemicals for industries ranging from oil fields to industrial cleaning, at the facility located just off of Highway 287 near Interstate-35E. <br><br>The fire started just before 11 a.m., reports CBS Station KTVT.<br><br>Magnablend Environmental Health and Safety Manager Donald Golden said the fire spread very rapidly. "Fire departments were on the scene pretty quickly, but it [the blaze] just seemed to take off and accelerate pretty quickly," he told KTVT.<br><br>Nicolas Brescia of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said air quality readings in the city of about 25,000 did not require further action but that officials would continue monitoring to ensure hazardous materials did not spread outside the plant.<br><br>Magnablend spokesman Donald Golden told WFAA-TV that 25 to 30 employees who were inside the plant's 100,000-square-foot warehouse evacuated safely when the fire broke out before 11 a.m. Golden said the company manufactures about 200 products, including some that are hazardous when ignited.<br><br><img src="http://cbsnews2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2011/10/03/932fbb3b-a643-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/thumbnail/270x150/d0f861555b9fec3493605089d696d333/Dallas_chemical_fire.jpg" alt="" height="150" width="270"/><br><br>KTVT <br><br>Although fire departments from multiple cities have been called in to combat the blaze, so far the fames and fumes are so intense that fire crews have decided to let the fire burn itself out. <br><br>"All firefighters have been pulled back because of the severity of the situation," Hollywood said.<br><br>Authorities had ordered residents closest to the plant to evacuate, while others were advised to stay inside with doors and windows shut.<br><br>Jessenia Colin, an assistant general manager at a nearby Hampton Inn and Suites, said hotel staff members turned off air vents so smoke and chemicals didn't enter the rooms. As they waited for news and watched the smoke billow, staff covered their mouths to protect against the heavy chemical smell that hung in the air.<br><br>"It smells like a whole bunch of chemicals, like wrappers burning," Colin said. "It's making everyone's heads hurt."<br><br>Stephanie Otto said she was preparing her new restaurant for a Tuesday opening about a quarter-mile from the plant when she heard sirens and walked outside to see a "huge plume." She said she could hear what sounded like gun shots for about 15 minutes, and there was a strong smell of ammonia.<br><br>"It was huge," Otto said. "It looked like an atomic bomb went off."<br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/health-and-safety-comes-first.png" width="381" /><br><br>Ellis County emergency management officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for an apartment complex, an elementary school and a junior college. Sheriff's officials urged residents not to drive toward the area of the fire. Parts of Highway 287 have been shut down.<br><br>Magnablend, Inc., manufactures, blends and packages chemicals. Much of its business revolves around energy production, including chemicals used to stimulate oil and gas wells and hydraulic fracturing. The company was launched in Waxahachie in 1979 and now employs about 250 people, with operations in Pennsylvania, Wyoming and North Dakota as well as Texas.<br><br>Texas Commission on Environmental Quality spokeswoman Lisa Wheeler said Magnablend has been in compliance with its state permits. A search of public documents revealed no significant violations for the company.<br><br>2011 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. <br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

O.S.H.A. Videos and Video Clips - 24 Nov 2015 21:18

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[[html]]Death on the Job the Smurfit-Stone Paper company says safety first. But state prosecutors say the ….. aren't wearing their lender to their safety belts. I think the last administration ….. death of its worker in the dryer that OSHA inspectors showed up. They then find ….. million dollars after finding some 42 safety violations. The company continues to <br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://simplehealthandsafety.co.uk/images/pitch/pitch3.jpg" width="379" /><br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xPJFxciCLVg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xPJFxciCLVg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.taggart.net.nz/2011TaggartSafetyPolicy.jpg" width="369" /><br><br><a href='http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/us/o.s.h.a.htm?mediatype=Video'>http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/us/o.s.h.a.htm?mediatype=Video</a><br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w_NLGI34pS0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w_NLGI34pS0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Quiz - Health and Safety Legislation 2015 - 24 Nov 2015 20:43

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[[html]]<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-43438" src="http://www.shponline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/legislation-quiz-cover123-e1445963848247.jpg" alt="legislation quiz cover123" width="698" height="422"/><br><br>2015 has been a busy year for health and safety legislative changes. Among them, the CDM Regulations overhaul in April and changes to the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 2015, which came into effect on 1 June 2015.<br><br>These regulations may affect you and your business and you may need to implement changes, update your workforce and revise relevant documentation and so it is prudent to be on top of the changes and what they mean.<br><br>In addition, guidelines for sentencing health and safety, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences have been published by the Sentencing Council. The consultation period ended earlier this year, thefinal version was published this week and the guidelines will come into force in early 2016. The review of guidelines was taking place in part due to concerns that some sentences imposed for these offences have been too low, particularly in relation to large organisations convicted of the most serious health and safety and food safety offences [Sentencing Council].<br><br>This quiz is based on Barbours recent Legislation Update for October 2015 and Beyond, on information available in the Barbour resources under CDM and Construction Site Safety and on the Barbour service, using the search term COMAH, and on the Sentencing Councils consultation document.<br><br>By answering the questions below, practitioners can award themselves CPD credits. One, two or three credits can be awarded, depending on what has been learnt exactly how many you award yourself is up to you, once you have reflected and taken part in the quiz<br><br>Please note: There may be more than one correct answer to a question, and further reading may be required to correctly answer the questions<br><br>.<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-43502" src="http://www.shponline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/start-here-red.png" alt="start-here-red" width="344" height="138"/><br><br><a href='http://www.shponline.co.uk/quiz-health-and-safety-legislation-2015/'>http://www.shponline.co.uk/quiz-health-and-safety-legislation-2015/</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Wellness defined: what a workplace-wellness program might include. - 24 Nov 2015 20:17

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[[html]]It doesn't take much convincing for businesses to appreciatethe benefits of wellness in the workplace. It's more a question ofdeciding which employee wellness programs will most benefit a particularworkforce. The needs of a tool-and-die maker are different than those ofa telephone customer-service center. Is the workforce predominatelyyoung or old? Single or married? Involved with heavy lifting? Or undertremendous stress?<br><br>An increasing array of customized and innovative employee-wellness&#13;programs are offered by health-care providers, consultants,&#13;health-insurance plans and fitness centers. Often, these entities&#13;overlap in programs, services and expertise.&#13;&#13;<br><br>Following are explanations of some of the more common elements that&#13;a workplace-wellness program might incorporate:&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Wellness feasibility studyConsultants can help companies&#13;determine the need for an in-house fitness center or a comprehensive&#13;wellness program by conducting a feasibility study. Information may be&#13;gathered by computerized interest surveys, interviews, focus groups and&#13;on-site inspections. A program manager from the consulting firm may also&#13;be assigned to implement a comprehensive health-risk reduction program.&#13;A review of disability, worker's compensation and medical claims&#13;helps formulate a winning strategy. Monitoring employee exposure to&#13;occupational hazards is important, too.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Comprehensive personal wellness profileProviders administer a&#13;variety of tests and provide a confidential report to employees.&#13;&#13;<br><br>Using a combination of tools, they give employees a comprehensivepicture of their personal wellness. Employers, meanwhile, may receive ananalysis detailing common areas of concern revealed by such testing.<br><br>* Health screenings These are a component of the wellness profile&#13;that is a part of many workplace-wellness programs. Screenings may cover&#13;blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, blood typing, body fat&#13;analysis, health-risk analysis, peak flow, oxygen saturation,&#13;pulmonary-function testing, hearing testing, vision testing and EKGs.&#13;Lipid screenings assess total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol,&#13;LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, information that can help predict the&#13;risk for cardiovascular disease. Glucose screenings measure fasting&#13;blood sugar, a key value related to diabetes. Blood-pressure monitoring&#13;also can help manage cardiovascular disease risk.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Education and training-Learning is a major component of wellness.&#13;Programs frequently include education geared toward improving&#13;dietary" habits, increasing exercise and other factors for&#13;improving health and preventing illnesses. This may take the form of&#13;"Lunch and Learn" seminars on health and wellness topics. It&#13;also may include wellness handouts, a wellness library, videos,&#13;newsletters and an intranet site. In addition to health topics, a&#13;seminar on personal financial planning also may be beneficial because&#13;many wellness experts believe that an employee who is happy at home will&#13;be happy at work. Other issues sometimes ad dressed include education&#13;planning and elder care.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Targeted educationThis refers to health-related education for&#13;employees linked to specific wellness topics for which they are&#13;particularly at risk.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Corporate health fairsThese events often combine health&#13;screenings with educational opportunities and access to printed&#13;information on leading a healthy lifestyle.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Nutritional counselingThis can serve a number of&#13;wellness-related purposes, including weight loss and illness prevention.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Stress management This only begins with teaching employees how to&#13;relax. A wellness program also can address organizational factors within&#13;the corporate culture that cause workers stress. As providers point out,&#13;failing to tackle this larger problem would allow the program to fail in&#13;the long run. Similarly, employee health is strongly linked to employees&#13;feeling that they have control over workflow and that they will be&#13;rewarded according to their contributions to the company. People who&#13;feel they are being treated fairly at work are said to be less likely to&#13;develop cardiovascular problems, have less back pain and fewer workplace&#13;injuries.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Employee-assistance programOpen to workers and their families,these are among the wellness benefits many employers offer. By bothassessing problems and referring clients to the appropriate assistance,EAPs help employees overcome personal problems that can affecting bothhealth and job performanceissues including family/marital problems,finances, legal difficulties or alcohol/drug use.<br><br>* Disease managementThis service helps workers improve their&#13;health through lifestyle changes, drag education and optimal use of&#13;medical services. It may involve registered nurses and pharmacists who&#13;assess the employee's health risk and provide information. Such&#13;conditions as asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, even&#13;pregnancy, may benefit from this approach.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Diabetes-care programThis can allow an employee to contact a&#13;health professional to answer questions about nutrition and medications,&#13;and can help the employee carry out a plan of care. Such support can be&#13;augmented by an annual diabetes workbook and "reminder"&#13;calendar stickers for health screenings.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Smoking-cessation classes-Many wellness programs include on-site&#13;sessions to help employees successfully kick the smoking habit. Wellness&#13;programs often include incentives to encourage employees to quit&#13;smoking.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Nurse-on-callMembers of some health plans can contact a&#13;registered nurse 24 hours a day through a toll free number. There are&#13;also special telephone lines for members to access a variety of&#13;audiotapes on specific health issues.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Health clubsHealth and fitness clubs often partner with&#13;companies on wellness. Programs may include employee presentations on a&#13;number of health topics, such as fitness, fitness walking,&#13;nutrition/weight management and stress management. Becoming a corporate&#13;wellness member at one of these clubs also has perks, such as a discount&#13;rate on membership fees and free individualized training and group&#13;exercise programming. Group fitness training can be targeted to a&#13;specific team that works together during the day, in light of the fact&#13;that team training outside work can promote teamwork at work. Some clubs&#13;provide personal training services at the place of business.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* On-site fitness facilities-Health clubs, consultants and vendors&#13;have the expertise and staff to design, equip and even staff a corporate&#13;facility for employee exercise. Some health clubs offer a preventive&#13;maintenance contract to avoid out-of-order equipment.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Weight-management programsThis can include a combination of&#13;aerobics and other exercise-related programs as well as a focus on&#13;improved nutrition.&#13;&#13;<br><br>A wellness program may include incentives to encourage overweight&#13;employees to lose weight.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Personal trainersA wellness program with a fitness component&#13;may employ a certified fitness professional to work individually with&#13;employees. Programs may include cardiorespiratory conditioning, strength&#13;training or a combination of" both. A personal trainer can design a&#13;program to meet an employee's specific goals, and can provide both&#13;one-on-one or small group education and instruction.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Healthy-mom programThis can include classes encompass early&#13;pregnancy, childbirth preparation, breastfeeding, pediatric CPR and&#13;sibling issues. Some plans cover a phone call or a home visit by a nurse&#13;after delivery to ensure that mother and baby are doing well.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Back-safety classesAimed at preventing the all-too-common back&#13;injury, these may be an important part of the wellness program at such&#13;workplaces as distribution centers, retail stores, construction sites&#13;and manufacturing operations.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Support groups A wellness program may bring together employees in&#13;similar situations to help one another through pregnancy, cancer&#13;treatment, elder-care issues and other situations.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Complementary medicine-Wellness programs may make use of&#13;alternative medicinesuch as acupressure and namropathic medicineand&#13;may offer members a list of discounted providers. Typically, the&#13;provider is paid directly by the patient, usually at the time of&#13;service. Services are meant to supplement but not replace the medical&#13;advice and care of one's primary-care physician. Select&#13;health-related vitamins and natural supplements may be obtained at a&#13;discount off the retail price.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Ergonomic analysisA component of occupational health, this can&#13;include having experts observe employees at work to pinpoint jobsite&#13;improvements that can prevent injury.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Fitness-for-duty evaluations Another component of occupational&#13;medicine, this can include a variety of tests and screenings geared&#13;toward ensuring that an employee can handle the physical requirements of&#13;a job without being injured. It also may include drag and alcohol&#13;testing.&#13;&#13;<br><br>* Total risk management—Also related to occupational medicine,&#13;this may include conducting safety and compliance assessments,&#13;developing customized safety programs, performing safety training and&#13;surveying workplaces for industrial-hygiene issues.&#13;&#13;<br><br><a href='http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Wellness+defined:+what+a+workplace-wellness+program+might+include.-a0119442072'>http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Wellness+defined:+what+a+workplace-wellness+program+might+include.-a0119442072</a>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Using Borax Safely - 24 Nov 2015 19:06

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[[html]]<img alt="Borax Crystal" data-caption="Borax Crystal" data-credit="Ra'ike" data-credit-link="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Borax_-_Boron,_Californien,_USA.jpg" src="https://static.suite.io/article_images/orig/1231216_com_794pxborax.jpg" title="Borax Crystal"/>Most people associate borax cleaner with mule teams and mining operations in Death Valley, California, where the mineral has formed white crystals over time through concentration of run-off from surrounding hills. Borax is also mined from deep in the earth in Turkey and Tibet. It was a mainstay of laundry rooms in the 1950s, prized for it's buffering and bleaching action when combined with water. Borax kills fungus and mold. Boraxo, a Dial Corporation product, is an abrasive hand cleaner.<br><br>Borax is Versatile but has Valid Consumer Concerns<br><br>Borax is slightly alkaline, so it lends itself well to natural skin cleansers and toners. Combined with soap, it makes an effective exfoliator to remove dead skin cells and bacteria and oil that hide under them and cause acne. Mixed with beeswax, borax is an emulsifier in many creams and lotions.The FDA currently lists borax as generally considered safe, but one of the agency's committees recommended restricting the use of borax in consumer products.<br><br>Differences Between Borax and Boric Acid<br><br>Borax is known as sodium tetraborate decahydrate. Boric acids scientific name is boron trihydroxide. Although boric acid and borax both contain boron, they are different molecular compounds. Both compounds are toxic if ingested.<br><br>Boric acid is marketed for its insecticidal properties. It kills roaches, ants and fleas. Although boric acid naturally occurs in soil and is needed as a trace mineral by plants, excessive use of the mineral kills them, making this product a good herbicide. Boric acid solution was once a popular eyewash, but is not recommended for any medical use now. According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, "Chronic poisoning occurs in those who are repeatedly exposed to boric acid. For example, in the past, boric acid was used to disinfect and treat wounds. Patients who received such treatments over and over again got sick, and some died." One safe use of boric acid is as a homeopathic remedy, for acne and anti-fungal preparations, including vaginal suppositories for yeast infection treatment. Homeopathic remedies are so dilute they do not contain active pharmacological molecules of boric acid.<br><br>Sodium borate is an ingredient in the HPV vaccine Gardisil, which is marketed to young women as a preventative against one type of cervical cancer caused by the human papillomavirus. Sodium borate is also marketed as rat poison, although in much higher doses. Gardisil manufacturer Merck says the amount of sodium borate used to preserve the vaccine is safe.<br><br>Washington Times reporter Gregory Lopes, however, noted that some possible vaccine reactions that have prompted authorities in Spain to stop distributing the shots are eerily similar to symptoms of sodium borate poisoning: headaches, blurred vision, possible seizures and paralysis. Most of the reactions were mild and temporary but two young women were hospitalized after taking the vaccine.<br><br>Dangers of Exposure<br><br>The following information is listed under Hazard Identification of the Material Safety Data Sheet for 20 Mule Team Borax:<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.healthandsafetyhub.co.uk/common/css/images/amk.jpg" width="354" /><br><br>Ingestion: May be harmful if swallowed. Products containing Borax are not intended for ingestion. Borax has a low acute toxicity. Small amounts (e.g., a teaspoon) swallowed accidentally are not likely to cause effects; swallowing amounts larger than that may cause gastrointestinal symptoms.<br><br>Reproductive/developmental: Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child. Animal ingestion studies in several species, at high doses, indicate that borates cause reproductive and developmental effects. A human study of occupational exposure to borate dust showed no adverse effect on reproduction. Target organs: No target organ has been identified in humans. High dose, animal ingestion studies indicate the testes are the target organs in male animals. Signs and symptoms of exposure: Symptoms of accidental over-exposure to Borax might include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, with delayed effects of skin redness and peeling. These symptoms have been associated with the accidental overexposure to the chemically related substance boric acid.<br><br>Boric Acid is a Neurotoxin<br><br>Birth defects that can be caused by boric acid include brain and skeletal abnormalities and infertility of male offspring. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, animal studies have shown that boric acid has an affinity for male testicles: "It appears that males are most sensitive to boric acid/boric salts. A major target… is the testes." Poisoning produces inflammation and atrophy of tubules and lowers sperm count.<br><br>Repeated low dose exposure to boric salts used as a food preservative in imported noodles, steamed rice, caviar and meatballs, has been implicated in cases of liver cancer over five to ten years. Boric salts have been banned as a preservative for food in the United States and many other countries, but they are still used illegally.<br><br>Take Precautions<br><br>Follow label directions when using boric acid as an herbicide or insecticide. Do not use any form of borax near food or water and keep it out of the reach of children and pets. Thorough rinsing from skin and laundry is important, and borax should not be used around eyes or mucus membranes. Pregnant women should limit exposure.<br><br>References:<br><br>U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health<br><br>Vaccine Center Issues Warning, Gregory Lopes, Washington Times, Feb 3, 2007<br><br>Report of Food Quality Protection Act, Tolerance Reassessment Eligibility Decision for Boric Acid/Boric Salts, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (7508P)<br><br><a href='http://www.suite101.com/content/the-hazards-of-using-borax-a161104'>http://www.suite101.com/content/the-hazards-of-using-borax-a161104</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

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