Tag: Weekly Safety Message 32

  • Doing Work Tasks Wrong the First Time

    There is unnecessary exposure to hazards for workers across the country every single day. The list of possible unsafe actions and unsafe conditions employees deal with in their work can be limitless. One scenario that often results in unnecessary exposure to hazards is doing work wrong the first time. Even if a work task is being completed safely, but is being done incorrectly the first time around, whoever has to go back and redo the work will inherently be put at risk for injury just by the mere fact that additional work has to be performed.

    Reasons Why Work Tasks are Done Incorrectly

    There are many reasons why work is not done correctly the first time or even the second time around. Some reasons to consider:

    • Insufficient knowledge
    • Lack of training
    • Laziness
    • Complacency
    • Improper instructions
    • Change of plans
    • Wrong materials or tools

    Avoid Mistakes in Your Work

    It is important to stop work anytime you have questions about the task you are about to complete or in the process of completing when unsure. Doing work incorrectly will result in a loss of production as well as put individuals at unnecessary risk to redo the work. It may not seem like a big deal for small tasks, but even a simple wrong decision can lead to injury.

    redoing work tasks safety talk

    A quick example: You are grabbing an order of five gallons of paint for a customer, but you are not sure what brand it is, so you decide to chance it and pick one. After bringing the bucket up to the front of the store, the cashier tells you it is not that brand. You rush back to the warehouse, leaving the other paint bucket in the front. When she does this, she injures her back and misses a few days of work.

    Summary

    While the example provided here is a simple one, you can see how issues arise when work tasks are done incorrectly, even in a safe manner, the first time around. In construction or manufacturing that involves hazardous processes, the consequences and likelihood of injury greatly increase when work has to be redone. Realize the impact your decisions have, not only on yourself, but your coworkers as well.

    Doing Work Tasks Wrong the First Time

  • Report All Injuries

    Importance of Reporting All Injuries Safety Talk

    We are all trained to report any near misses, injuries, or incidents to a supervisor or safety representative. Oftentimes, however, many of these incidents, especially first-aid type injuries, are not reported. Injuries are not reported because of many different reasons, but it is important to understand why all of them need to be.

    Reasons Why Incidents Go Unreported

    There are many reasons why incidents such as property damage, near misses, spills, and injuries go unreported. A major reason is often the individual’s pride. Most people do not want to admit their mistakes to others, especially at work. They may also fear the outcome of sharing what occurred with a supervisor.

    This fear may come from being afraid of being disciplined, what others think, or the repercussions of the incident. Another reason a person may not want to report an incident is because of the paperwork or energy involved in doing so. There are many other reasons why an individual may not want to share what happened to them, but this should never be the case.

    Why it is Important to Report Injuries

    There are many reasons why you should report any type of injury, no matter the severity. The most important reason is to make sure the situation or hazard is made safe for not only yourself, but the others at the worksite. Another reason is to share your experience or the lessons learned from the incident with others to prevent it from occurring in the future.

    With injuries, even just minor ones, it is important to get them looked at by a supervisor or safety representative. While many injuries, such as a small cut or an insect sting, may not seem like a big deal, they can turn into one.

    A quick example: You are bit by some type of insect on a Friday afternoon at work, but decide not to tell anyone for various reasons. You leave work and are home for a few hours when you notice that the bite area is beginning to swell up. Along with the swelling, you notice that you have hives and are having trouble breathing. You realize it is a serious allergic reaction and needs medical attention. You tell the doctor you were bit or stung at work, and the treatment he gives you ends up being considered “medical attention.”

    Because it happened at work and you needed medical attention beyond first aid, it is now an OSHA recordable injury. In this situation, there are a few problems since the injury was not reported to someone at work immediately.

    1. There is no record or witness to it happening at work, which could raise concern by the employer whether or not the injury occurred at work. This may end up in a drawn-out dispute since there have been many people in the past who have faked or had injuries off the job, but stated it occurred at work in an attempt for it to be paid through worker’s compensation.

    2. If the injury was reported immediately, someone may have been able to recognize that it may develop into an allergic reaction. There could have been options for first aid instead of medical treatment to treat the issue before it worsened, which would have saved you a trip to the hospital and the company an OSHA recordable.

    Summary

    All injuries need to be reported, no matter how small. Not only does it protect you, but it also protects the company as a whole by possibly preventing a first aid injury from progressing into an OSHA recordable. You never know when something that seems minor in nature will develop into something more serious. There are also always lessons that can be learned, even from just minor injuries, to prevent others from occurring in the future.

    Report All Injuries

  • UDPD’s Top Dog

    Patti, a 17-month-old yellow lab, is UD Police’s first facility dog, providing mental health support, aiding victims, and building community trust through daily campus engagement and critical incident response. (UDAILY)

     

  • Insect Sting Allergies

    Insect Sting Allergies Safety Talk

    There are many allergens that can cause an allergic reaction. One of the most common allergens and hardest to avoid are insect stings. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, it has been estimated that potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to insect venom occur in 0.4 percent to 0.8 percent of children and 3 percent of adults. Even after experiencing a normal reaction to insect stings, it is possible to experience a more serious allergic reaction at any time during your lifetime.

    It is important to avoid insect stings whenever possible, as well as how to respond when someone is suffering from a severe allergic reaction.

    Insect Stings in the United States

    According to AAACI.org, there are five insects that cause the majority of allergic reactions in the United States. These insects are honeybees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets, and fire ants. According to NIOSH, thousands of people are stung by insects each year, and as many as 90–100 people in the United States die as a result of allergic reactions. This number may be underreported as deaths may be mistakenly diagnosed as heart attacks or sunstrokes or may be attributed to other causes.  Insect stings can result in any of the following symptoms:

    • Pain
    • Redness
    • Swelling (in the area of sting and sometimes beyond)
    • Flushing
    • Hives
    • Itching
    • Anaphylaxis

    Anaphylaxis

    Anaphylaxis is the most serious reaction to allergens there is. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening whole-body allergic reaction that can impair your breathing, cause a dramatic drop in your blood pressure, and affect your heart rate. Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical treatment, including an injection of epinephrine and a trip to a hospital emergency room. If it isn’t treated properly, anaphylaxis can be fatal.

    Best Practices in Avoiding Insect Sting Allergic Reactions

    • Avoid stinging insects whenever possible.
    • If you know you have severe reactions to insect stings, do not complete work tasks that put you at great risk of being stung.
    • Inspect work areas prior to completing any work to ensure there are no insect nests that could be disturbed.
    • Wear long sleeves and long pants in case of an insect attack.
    • Have an EPI pen on hand in case of a sting, and ensure your coworkers know where it is. If you suspect someone is suffering some type of serious allergic reaction immediately call 911, even if an EPI pen has been used.

    Discussion points:

    -Does anyone have an allergy to insect stings?

    -Has anyone experienced someone suffering from a severe allergic reaction?

    Insect Sting Allergies

     

  • Sharper Ship

    The University of Delaware’s research vessel Hugh R. Sharp received major upgrades as it nears 20 years of service, enhancing its capabilities for marine research, education, and student experiences at sea. (UDAILY)

     

  • Pinch Points and Hand Injuries

    Pinch Points and Hand Injuries Safety Talk

    We use our hands for virtually all work tasks that we do. Because of how often we use our hands, they are put in the line of fire where they can be injured. Hand injuries are the second leading type of injury on the job in the United States. A major type of injury to the hands and fingers on the job result from crushed-by incidents. Pinch points are a hazard that lead to crushed-by injuries.

    Defining Pinch Points

    A pinch point is defined as any point where it is possible for a body part to be caught between moving and stationary portions of equipment. Pinch points are found in many places throughout the workplace. Tasks such as equipment maintenance, lifting materials, assembly line work, and hooking up trailers are just a few common tasks where pinch points are a common hazard.

    Safeguards to Avoid Pinch Points

    • Eliminate the hazard by ensuring proper guarding is in place.
    • Pay attention to where your hands are around any moving parts or any objects that have the potential to move.
    • Do not place your hands where you cannot see them.
    • Wear the proper gloves for whatever work task you are completing to reduce the amount of damage to your hands if they do end up in the line of fire.
    • When working on equipment or machinery ensure they are properly locked out and tagged out to prevent unexpected start-up.
    • Properly block any equipment or parts where stored energy could be released.
    • When working with others, make sure to communicate to let each other know if you are out of the line of fire before moving objects or starting up the equipment.

    Summary

    Often times it is not the obvious pinch points that injure a person, such as a conveyor belt or a piece of moving machinery. Many times tasks as simple as shutting a truck door will end up in a pinch point injury due to a person not paying attention to where their hands are. It is important not to get complacent and monitor where your hands are when you complete any task.

    Discussion point:

    -What are some pinch point hazards onsite?

  • Half Staff

    The Delaware Flag is at Half-Staff until Monday, July 28th, 2025, in Honor of the passing of World War II veteran 1st Lt. Raymond Firmani of Elsmere. Ray Firmani a True Delawarean who served his community and his country with honor.

  • UD Officially Enters Conference USA

    As of July 1, 2025, the University of Delaware officially joins Conference USA, marking a new era in athletics. UD’s move boosts national visibility, academic excellence, and expanded competitions across multiple conferences. (UDAILY)

     

  • Heat Stress

    Heat Stress Safety Talk

    Heat stress can be a killer on the job site and at home. According to the CDC, an average of 702 heat-related deaths occur in the United States annually. Additionally, there are 67,512 emergency department visits due to heat annually, on average. Outside of the direct consequences such as heat stroke, heat stress can cause incidents on the job due to loss of focus or excessive fatigue.

    Heat-Related Illnesses
    (Source: www.WebMD.com)

    Heat Cramps: Are painful, brief muscle cramps. Muscles may spasm or jerk involuntarily. Heat cramps can occur during exercise or work in a hot environment, or begin a few hours later.

    Heat Exhaustion: There are two types of heat exhaustion. 1. Water depletion- Signs include excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and loss of consciousness. 2. Salt depletion- Signs include nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness.

    Heat Stroke– Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. Heat stroke can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures — usually in combination with dehydration — which leads to failure of the body’s temperature control system.

    Medical Response

    heat stress safetyIf anyone is displaying symptoms of a heat-related illness, it is important to get them the proper medical attention they need before the problem turns into heat stroke. For people displaying symptoms of heat exhaustion, have them stop work and get to a shaded area. The affected person needs to consume water or electrolyte-replacing sports drinks. The person should not return to work the rest of the day.

    For anyone who is displaying symptoms of a heat stroke, immediate medical attention is needed. Delaying calling 911 could result in irreversible injuries or death. Symptoms of heat stroke include fainting, throbbing headache, dizziness, lack of sweating, vomiting, or behavioral changes such as confusion. The person should be cooled down immediately in a shaded area or indoors. DO NOT put ice-cold water on the victim, as this can cause shock. Use cool water to lower the body temperature of the victim. Remove any unnecessary clothing and fan the victim until medics arrive.

    Safe Work Practices to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses

    • Allow for acclimatization to a hot environment before any strenuous work begins. It takes roughly two weeks for an individual to acclimate to a hot environment.
    • Drink plenty of water during strenuous activities, especially in hot environments. An average person sweats between roughly 27 oz. to 47 oz. per hour during intense labor. To put that amount into perspective, an average water bottle holds 16.9oz.
    • Take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors where there is AC.

    Summary

    Take heat stress seriously. Know the signs and symptoms of heat stress. Have a plan to get the proper medical attention for any individual displaying symptoms of heat stress. When dealing with heat stroke especially, it may mean the difference between life and death.

    Heat Stress

  • Construction Underway at Morris Library

    The University of Delaware’s Morris Library has begun renovating its Special Collections space to improve access, preservation, and visibility of rare materials, with updated research and exhibition areas on the 2nd floor. (UDAILY)