Safety News
Making California Workplaces Safer
N e w s
A b o u t
O c c u p a t i o n a l
S a f e t y
a n d
H e a l t h
i n
Steer Clear Of Drugs And Alcohol
or hung-over the next
day at work, which can
impair their judgment
and affect safe driving
resulting in an injury or
accident while driving.
Due to long hours of
driving on the road,
some drivers can experience excessive stress
or fatigue.
D
rugs and alcohol use are usually considered personal issues. They become an
employer’s concern when they start to
affect safety and driver performance, and can
cost employers through absenteeism, sick pay,
accidents, and injuries. Workers who abuse
drugs or alcohol hurt themselves and their
families if they are injured or lose their job as a
result of their actions. For example, if a driver
is terminated because he/she cannot function
behind the wheel of a vehicle, the company
loses the services of an experienced driver.
Prescription drugs can interfere with driving
performance. The driver’s judgment can be
impaired leading to distraction, which can
cause an accident. Workers who over consume
drugs or alcohol the day before may feel sick
Drivers must handle
stress and fatigue in a healthy way. Using
amphetamines to counter the fatigue could
become habit forming. Amphetamines can
cause hallucinations, which can have deadly
consequences behind the wheel. Alcohol and
amphetamines don’t improve attention and
driving performance. They will slow down your
reactions, blur vision, and impair judgment.
Also, contrary to popular belief, coffee or a
cold shower does not sober you up faster.
Use common sense, both on and off the road.
Don’t drive if you have been drinking or taking
drugs. You not only jeopardize the health and
safety of yourself as a driver, but also innocent
drivers who share the road with you. Not to
mention that you may hurt your employer’s
business and affect the future of your family. q
Trades & Services
Speaking Of
Housekeeping…
If you are curious about a business’s
approach toward safety, take a look at its
housekeeping habits. How a workplace
looks makes an impression on staff and
customers. A visitor’s first impression
of a business is significant as that image
affects the amount of business it does.
Good housekeeping projects order, and
pride; going hand-in-hand with good
public relations.
Housekeeping is everyone’s responsibility, an employer can spend money to
improve the safety of the work environment, but it’s only a safe workplace if its
workers practice good housekeeping.
Promoting safety, health, production, and
morale are vital to any good safety plan.
Keeping work aisles clean will help to
prevent tripping hazards. Paying attention to “wet floor signs” and promptly
cleaning up spills prevents slipping
injuries. Keeping storage areas clean
reduces the chance of disease, fire and
slips, trips, and falls. Accumulated debris
can cause fire and also slows movement
of personnel and equipment during fires.
Continued on next page
ISSUE FOUR, 2010
Feature Articles
Steer Clear Of Drugs And Alcohol
Speaking Of Housekeeping…
From Our Expert –
Keeping Telecommuters Safe
Safety Topic – Emergency Planning
Return Of Whooping Cough
In Each Issue
Employer Education Series
Reporting Injuries
S a f e t y
N e w s S t a t e
C o m p e n s a t i o n
I n s u r a n c e
F u n d I s s u e
F o u r ,
2 0 1 0
F R O M O U R E X P ER T
Keep Telecommuters Safe
A
s more businesses look for creative
ways to control expenses in today’s
tough economic climate, more
are adopting flexible workplace alternatives. Telecommuting can be a win-win for
both employers and employees, as it allows
the reduction of costly office space, and for
employees, it eliminates the morning commute and associated personal expenses. But,
with all good things, there are collateral risks
that need to be taken into account. Regardless of where employees work, the risk of
developing musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs) still exists, and is the responsibility
of the employer to help minimize.
Once the decision has been made to allow
employees the flexibility to work from their
homes, employers need to ensure that the
same safe practices and environment that has
become the norm at office locations is also
being practiced at telecommuting locations.
Some important questions to ask:
Where is the employee working?
Is there a proper desk available?
The best home workstation is one that is
dedicated to be just that, a workstation.
Coffee tables, kitchen counters and dining
room tables are tempting, but not suitable
for working.
What type of computer will be used?
Is it a laptop, a desktop? While laptops are
the computer of choice due to their versatility,
a desktop is always the better choice. If that is
not an option, laptop users should be provided
a mouse, an external keyboard, and if possible
an external monitor.
How about the chair? Does it adjust?
A properly fitting office chair is essential for all
computer workstations. It should be adjustable, and most important, that the employee is
trained how to use it.
For telephone use, is a hands-free
device available?Telephone use is a given
when employees deal with clients, vendors,
and employees at other locations. A handsfree device should be made available to help
to minimize the risk of MSDs. This applies to
both mobile and fixed telephones.
factors are real. Working in isolated locations
increases the risk of stress and fatigue due to
sedentary environments, and reduced human
interaction. Efforts should be made to bring
in employees periodically for safety meetings,
team building activities, and involvement
in wellness programs that promote fitness.
Remember, the goal of telecommuting is to
reduce expenses. q
Louis Vicario is a Certified Associate
Ergonomist based in Southern California.
While these are fairly obvious risks and solutions, psychosocial and other physical risk
Speaking Of Housekeeping…continued from page 1
Additional housekeeping practices include
keeping equipment and tools clean and
well maintained, keeping hoses and cables
bundled when not in use. Broken glass
should be cleaned up promptly with a
broom and dustpan and never with bare
hands. Watch out for open cabinet drawers,
electric wiring, protruding and sharp nails.
Correct the unsafe conditions if possible,
and if it’s not safe to do so, notify the person
responsible for maintenance.
Putting things in their proper place doesn’t
waste time – it saves time! When the
workplace is clean, and free of clutter,
work can be done safely. Workers feel
and think better, they also work more
efficiently and increase the quantity and
quality of their work. q
S a f e t y
N e w s
S t a t e
C o m p e n s a t i o n
I n s u r a n c e
F u n d
Safety Topic / Temas de Seguridad
Emergency Planning
W
e are all familiar with the public service announcements advising us to be prepared for
emergencies. Take small steps to increase your
disaster preparedness.
First, know your risks at home and at work. What industry
do you work in? Are there chemical, fire, or other physical
hazards? Where do you live and work and what are the
earthquake, flood, wildfire, risks? Knowing your risks
helps you identify necessary supplies, equipment, and
procedures.
Make your workplace and home safe. Bolt down furniture
and equipment. Secure items hung on walls and stored
on shelves. Store hazardous chemicals in properly segregated containers.Prevent fires by maintaining
good housekeeping.
Get emergency training. Know the procedures for evacuations, spill cleanup, earthquakes, and fire suppression. Be
familiar with the alarm systems at work and home (silent,
audible, strobes, speakers, etc.). Know where the nearest
Primero, sepa sus riesgos en el hogar y en el trabajo.
¿En qué industria trabaja? ¿Hay peligros químicos, de
incendio u otros peligros físicos? ¿Cuáles son los riesgos
de incendio, inundación, y fuego arrasador donde vive y
trabaja? Saber los riesgos a los que está expuesto le ayuda
a identificar los suministros, equipos y procedimientos
necesarios.
Aumente la seguridad en su lugar de trabajo y su hogar.
Atornille al suelo muebles y equipos. Asegure objetos
colgados en las paredes y guardados en estantes. Guarde
las sustancias químicas peligrosas en recipientes debidamente separados. Evite incendios manteniendo el buen
orden y la limpieza.
Reciba capacitación para casos de emergencias. Sepa los
procedimientos para evacuaciones, limpiezas de derrames, terremotos y extinción de incendios. Familiarícese
con los sistemas de alarma en el trabajo y en el hogar
(silentes, audibles, estroboscópicos, por altavoces, etc.).
Sepa dónde están las salidas más cercanas y úselas.
F o u r ,
2 0 1 0
Topic Review/
Revisión del Tema
Instructor _________________________
Date / Fecha_______________________
exits are and use them. Know where you should assemble
outside the building to check in.
Make a home emergency plan and discuss with your
family. Everyone should know how to communicate and
where to meet in a disaster. Make special disaster plans
for pets and family members with special needs along with
schools and daycare facilities.
Build your disaster kit at home, work, and in the car.
Begin with water and food. Add a first aid kit. Consider
a radio or phone with phone lists. Add tools such as a
flashlight, scissors, and knife. Add necessary medications, eyeglasses, comfortable shoes, warm clothes, and
blankets.
Be trained in CPR and First Aid so that you can help others
if they are hurt. Know how to use a fire extinguisher safely.
Practice and drill emergency procedures so that you will
be calm, capable, and prepared when disaster strikes.
For more tips, see the California Office of Emergency
Services website at www.oes.ca.gov. q
Planificación para emergencias
Todos estamos familiarizados con los anuncios de servicio
público recomendándonos que estemos preparados para
emergencias. Adopte medidas sencillas para aumentar su
preparación para desastres.
I s s u e
Sepa cuál es el lugar de reunión fuera del edificio.
Elabore un plan para emergencias para su hogar y hable
de ello con su familia. Todos deben saber cómo comunicarse y dónde reunirse en caso de un desastre. Haga
planes especiales en caso de desastre para las mascotas
y los miembros de la familia con necesidades especiales
conjuntamente con escuelas y guarderías infantiles.
Prepare su kit para desastres en el hogar, en el trabajo y
en el vehículo. Comience con agua y alimentos. Agregue
un botiquín de primeros auxilios. Considere un radio o
teléfono con listas de teléfonos. Agregue herramientas
como linterna, tijeras y cuchillo. Agregue las medicinas
necesarias, lentes, zapatos cómodos, ropas de abrigo y
mantas.
Reciba entrenamiento en resucitación cardiopulmonar
(CPR) y en primeros auxilios de forma que pueda ayudar
a los demás si resultan lesionados. Sepa cómo usar de
forma segura un extintor de incendios. Practique y haga
simulacros de procedimientos para emergencias de
forma que esté calmado, competente y preparado cuando
ocurra un desastre.
Para más consejos, visite el sitio web de la Oficina de Servicios de Emergencia de California en www.oes.ca.gov. q
Location / Ubicación_________________
Attended by / Asistente(s)
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Safety Recommendations /
Recomendaciones de seguridad
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Safety News
News About Occupational Safety and Health in
ISSUE FOUR
2010
Trades & Services
Prsrt Std
US Postage Paid
Permit 803
Zip Code 92887
Loss Control Services
P.O. BOX 420807
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94142-0807
Please forward to the person responsible for your safety program
Return Of
Whooping Cough
Pertussis is a respiratory illness commonly known
as whooping cough. This very contagious disease
is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella
pertussis, and can be deadly to infants. The
disease is found only in humans and is spread
from person to person. People with pertussis
spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while
in close contact with others, who then breathe
in the pertussis bacteria. The first two weeks of
whooping cough are the most infectious period
of contagion.
The disease usually starts with cold-like symptoms
and perhaps a mild cough or fever. Pertussis is
confirmed with a laboratory test from a nose swab
taken at the health care provider’s office, and
early treatment with antibiotics is very important.
PREVENTION: Vaccination is the prevention.
Vaccine protection for pertussis fades with time,
so adults need a booster shot. Contact your
treating physician about a pertussis vaccination
or booster. q
Remember To Recycle
This Newsletter
Employer Education Series
State Fund continues to promote community educational outreach by increasing the quantity and frequency of employer seminars. These seminars are produced and sponsored by State Fund and are open to State Fund policyholders.
The seminar topics cover all aspects of worker’s compensation and are offered statewide.
As part of State Fund’s Employer Education Series, the local State Fund Loss Control departments offer safety seminars
dedicated to loss prevention. They feature safety training targeted to specific industries and safety topics of interest to
California employers. Various programs in the series are developed in conjunction with State Fund insured GroupPrograms and external affiliates and partners. Some of these partners are occupational safety and health providers such as
Cal/OSHA Consultation Service, the Department of Health Services, and the University of California.
The goal of State Fund’s Employer Education Series is to present valuable information from recognized safety and
health experts to enable employers to reduce the frequency and severity of workplace injuries, facilitate regulatory
compliance, and increase business profits.
The program venues provide the opportunity for attendees to have their workplace safety questions immediately and
personally answered by industry experts. The typically half-day seminars are usually held at regional State Fund offices.
To learn what programs are scheduled in your area, visit www.scif.com and click on Seminars. q
Reporting Work-Related Injuries
State Fund’s Claims Reporting Center (1-888-222-3211) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for policyholders
to report injuries as soon as they occur. Agents will do the necessary paperwork to get the claim started and refer the
injured to the designated physician or provider.
Within 8 hours of any serious illness or injury (requiring hospitalization over 24 hours, other than for medical observation or where there is permanent employee disfiguration) or death occurring in the workplace or in connection with
employment, employers must report the incident to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health. q
This Trades & Services Safety News is produced by the Safety and Health Services Department of State Fund to assist clients in their loss control efforts. Information or
recommendations contained in this publication were obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the date of publication. Information is only advisory and does not
presume to be exhaustive or inclusive of all workplace hazards or situations. Permission to reprint articles subject to approval by State Compensation Insurance Fund.
Published by State Compensation Insurance Fund’s Safety and Health Services Department. Editor: Sunil Sharma; Managing Editor: Gennenia Gordon
© State Compensation Insurance Fund 2010
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