heather's blog

Take this quick test of knowledge:

What type of injury causes almost HALF of all injuries in which workers need to take time off work in Ontario?

OK, so what did you think?...

Motor accidents (including forklifts, ATVs, pickup trucks, etc.)?

Burns from occupational fire hazards?

Electricity-related accidents?

Falls from heights - like in construction?

Wrong, on all accounts...

The single greatest number of work-related injuries that require time off are, in fact, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? Yeaaaah, National Safety Council !

That organization is recommending that top U.S. legislators pass a nationwide law to ban the use of any and ALL cell phones and accessories while driving.

As the popular blog, Wired, wrote in covering this news:

A little boy died last week after he was struck in the head by flying metal debris at a Monster Truck show in Tacoma, WA... a senseless, horrible tragedy. And close behind, for me, in the Horror Department was the immediate response of the public authorities in that area to the accident.

The Seattle Times writes: "It was not clear... whether any public agency will conduct its own investigation. Police spokesman Fulghum said he doesn't expect a full police probe because it was "more an industrial-type accident."

The case is being made in Wisconsin right now to ban smoking in the workplace... Hold up - what year is this? That has not happened yet??

Seems that state is looking southwards to Colorado where the number of heart attacks dropped significantly in the 18 months since smoking in workplaces was banned: from 399 heart attack hospitalizations to 237.

Fortunately it looks like new state legislators in Wisconsin are going to set this right, by passing a new smoking prohibition law this winter.

Take a quick poll and see where you "stand" next to others when it comes to footwear in the shop... a cute blog, Tom's Workshop, offers this poll, and so far, 45% of poll takers indicate they wear sneakers or athletic shoes in the workshop. Problem? What do you think?

Tom writes: "we often overlook one very important part of shop safety - what we’re wearing on our feet.  There are lots of hazards that could affect us down there - from dropped objects to stepping on sharp items.  And then there’s the slipping hazards, splashed chemicals and other concerns."