Tag: Weekly Safety Message 37

  • Why We All Should Care

    Why We All Should Care

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    Why We All Should Care Safety Talk

    Achieving a safe workplace takes effort from every single person who is employed there. Safety cannot be achieved through the effort of one or two people, even if it is the CEO who is putting forth the most effort in working towards having safe workplaces. Because of this fact, we all should care about the health and safety of everyone at work.

    Three Reasons Why We All Should Care About Safety

    1. Health- No one wants to be hurt on the job and no one wants to see a coworker get hurt either. The main objective for safety in the workplace is to keep the people who work there healthy. When even just one person does not care about safety, it not only puts them at risk, but it also creates risk for injury for anyone working around that individual.
    2. Livelihoods- We all work to provide for ourselves and our families. Injuries, even just small ones, can impede our ability to earn an income. Everyone depends on the wages they make at work to ensure their families have the basic necessities of life. Taking shortcuts in safety or forgoing it completely can lead to injuries that put people out of work.
    3. Business Continuity- In this day in age the market is global, not just regional anymore. Over the last few decades, many workplaces have felt the tightening grip of international manufacturers and the growth of the internet, allowing for products to be made and shipped anywhere in the world. Because of these pressures, businesses have to limit unnecessary expenses to continue on. Businesses that promote safe workplaces and have employees who embrace working safely help limit costs associated with incidents and injuries. Also, many clients and consumers want to buy products from companies that have safe workplaces and are not injuring their employees. When each individual employee cares about safety, it helps to ensure that the company will face fewer of these unnecessary costs associated with injuries.

    take safety homeSummary

    There are many other reasons not mentioned why we all should care about safety at work. We all have personal reasons for why we should want to work safely, but there should also be a focus on the reasons outside of only what will affect ourselves. We depend on each other not only to remain healthy while at work but also to help the company we work for continue to stay in business and provide the jobs that allow us to have an income.

     

     

    Why We All Should Care – Safety Talk Ideas

  • Advisory Committee Appointment

    Congratulations to J. Michael Bowman, UD’s Associate director of Economic Innovation and Partnerships. Bowman has been appointed by President Biden to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. (UDAILY)

  • Attitude and Safety

    Attitude and Safety – Fostering Positive Attitude at Work

    How does attitude affect your work and safety on the job?  What is your attitude today? We all have days where our overall attitude could improve, but how is yours towards your coworkers, boss, or safety on a day-to-day basis? If you are generally a negative person, what effects would a more positive attitude have on your personal life and on your professional life?

    Positive Attitude and Health

    There are many reasons to strive to have a positive attitude. Outside of the obvious reasons, such as improving your mood and being more enjoyable to be around, researchers have been studying how it can benefit our health. The Mayo Clinic mentions possible benefits such as:Positive attitude at work

    • Increased life span
    • Lower rates of depression
    • Lower levels of distress
    • Greater resistance to the common cold
    • Better psychological and physical well-being
    • Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
    • Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

    Attitude and Safety on the Job

    A negative attitude can lead to carelessness, complacency, taking shortcuts, or even serving as a distraction from a work task. A bad attitude towards safety specifically will eventually result in unsafe behaviors. Unsafe behaviors lead to incidents occurring on the job that result in injury or property damage. Is your overall attitude as it relates to safety negative? If so, why is that?

    How to Improve Your Attitude and Become a More Positive Person

    1. Recognize it. The first step to improve it is to recognize if it is leaning towards the negative side. Ask yourself how your attitude is today and why it is in that state. If it is negative, then you need to try to improve it to be a safer, more efficient worker.

    2. What is the source of the issue(s)? After you recognize the state of your attitude, you need to find the source of your issues that are giving you negative feelings. What is bothering you? Is it a coworker? A family situation? Whatever it may be, take note of the negative sources.

    3. Address the issues. Take the time to address what is having a negative effect on your attitude. For example, if it is an issue with a coworker or boss, have a conversation with them. Most issues can be resolved with a constructive conversation. If the issue cannot be resolved with a conversation with a team member, go to another level of management to resolve it.

    4. Remain aware of your attitude. It is important to do a daily self-check. A good way to do this is to monitor your thoughts or conversations with others. If you are having more negative conversations than positive ones, then it is a good indicator that you need to improve your attitude. It is easy for your attitude to begin to tip towards the negative side as stressors pile back on in your life. There are always going to be issues in your life, but it is important to not let them have a negative effect on you for an extended period of time.

    Discussion points:

    • Do you think a positive attitude at work has a large effect on safety?
    • Think of a person you did not enjoy working with. How did it affect your job performance?

    Attitude and Safety: Fostering Positive Attitude at Work – Safety Talk Ideas

  • Crucial Conversations

    NY City Council Yusef Salaam visits UD. Salaam’s story emphasized the need for systemic change in the criminal legal system. Salaam inspired dialogue among attendees about wrongful convictions and to envision a better future. (UDAILY)

  • Emergency Exits

    Emergency Exits Safety Talk

    Emergency exits serve to provide a clear route away from danger. Prevalent in public buildings and other urban settings, emergency exits are vital in the workplace as well. No matter the environment, companies must provide designated escape paths should a life-threatening event occur. Unfortunately, emergency exits are not identified and communicated to individuals all too often, resulting in incidents and injuries. Additionally, emergency exits that are not maintained and can provide additional danger when they are needed.

    This safety talk identifies the methods that can communicate the whereabouts of emergency exits to individuals and visitors. Additionally, the best practices listed below can educate individuals on ensuring they remain accessible.

    Communicating the Availability of Emergency Exits

    • Facilities should orientate newly hired employees and all visitors to the location of emergency exits.
    • Employees visiting customer facilities should request an orientation if it is not offered to learn the locations of emergency exits.
    • Emergency exit maps should be published and visible to all in the workplace.

    Best Practices to Maintain Emergency Exits

    • Signage indicating emergency exits should always be visible and not blocked with objects identifying their locations. emergency exit safety talk
    • Employees should refrain from storing or stacking materials anywhere in emergency exits.
    • Extension cords and other tools should not be placed in emergency exits as they can cause injuries from tripping and stumbling.
    • Any marking or painting of emergency exits should be kept clean and newly coated to ensure visibility.
    • Emergency exits should be inspected regularly to ensure safe use.

    Summary

    Emergency exits serve a vital purpose in ensuring safety. Correctly identifying and educating all individuals on their whereabouts can lead people to safety in the event of an emergency. Properly maintaining these exits can ensure they remain as effectively designed. Take time today to understand where your nearest emergency exits are and ensure that the path to them is clear.

    Discussion points:      

    1. Where is the nearest emergency exits in your work area?
    2. Is it acceptable to store objects near an emergency exit if it is just for a short period of time?

    Emergency Exits – Safety Talk Ideas

  • Full Staff

  • Celebrating Delaware Women

    UD collaborates with the Delaware Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy to host the Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition in Alfred Lerner Hall. The exhibit features 169 portraits by Delaware artist Theresa Walton. (UDAILY)

  • Half Staff

    Delaware flags are at half-staff to honor lifelong public servant, Korean War veteran and former Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Voshell.

  • Eye Injuries and Prevention

    Eye Injuries and Prevention

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    Eye Injuries and Prevention Safety Talk

    Our eyes are one of our greatest assets. They give us the ability to see the world around us. If we do not protect our eyes from injuries while at work, we could easily lose that ability. There are an estimated 2,000 eye injuries every single day on the job, according to the CDC. These incidents cost employers over $300 million dollars per year. It is important to eliminate or engineer out the hazards that could pose hazards to our eyes at work. Many hazards to our eyes on a worksite cannot be fully eliminated, so proper eye protection is also critical.

    Common Hazards that Cause Eye Injuries on the Job

    • Flying dust
    • Flying debris
    • Chemicals
    • Blunt trauma to the eye
    • Burns due to UV exposure, such as welder’s flash

    Best Practices to Avoid Injuries to the Eyes

    • Identify all of the potential eye hazards in your work area and for your specific work tasks. Ensure there are proper safeguards in place to prevent an eye injury. If there is a safeguard missing, stop the work task and correct the problem.
    • Eliminate or lessen the chance of getting something into your eye by avoiding being in the line of fire. One quick example is standing upwind of debris or dust blowing around the work area.
    • Always wear approved safety glasses, face shield, or goggles when needed. The type of PPE needed will depend on the work task. Three out of every five victims of eye injuries on the job were not wearing any eye protection.
    • If there are welding activities going on, wear proper eye protection and ensure there is a protective barrier in place to protect other employees in the area from UV exposure.
    • If you get something in your eye, do not rub or scratch it. Rubbing the eye can cause scratching of the cornea resulting in injury. Find an eyewash station or saline bottle to rinse out the object.
    • If you get a chemical in your eyes, remove your contacts if there is any in and begin to rinse your eyes out.

    Discussion points:

    -What are some hazards we have onsite that can injure our eyes?

    -How can protect ourselves from those hazards?

    -What job tasks require us to wear a face shield onsite? What about goggles?

  • Women’s History Month

    UD will celebrate Women’s History Month with various events and a Lecture on the Morris sisters who influenced Early American Science. Events are aimed to honor women’s achievements and raise awareness for equality. (UDAILY)