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Fall 2012
D E V SA rican e m A s p l PPE he survive soldier
TRAPP E D Confined spaces a work re no jok e
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Fall
MYsafety
2012
Volume 1, No. 3
MySafetyMagazine.com
A publication for workers by workers
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30 A Note from Eric
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Dedicated to Francis L. Ferguson, 1935-2012
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Cover story
Some Assembly Required The same things that saved the life of Marine Corporal Mark O’Brien in battle – personal protective equipment and good training – can save yours. Here’s his story.
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12 Confined Space Know what you’re getting into when you enter small spaces with limited openings, poor ventilation and dangers you just can’t see from the outside.
I’ll be home soo n
14 Backed Over Bobby Dawes was frustrated, in a hurry and driving when he learned the most valuable lesson of his life.
18 Death by Text This sad story illustrates the horrors that result from driving and texting.
In Every Issue
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Motivational speaker Candace Carnahan shares her story to keep other workers safe.
22 The Real Cost of Lockout-Tagout Compliance
24 Suit Up A worker takes stock of the things that kept him safe after an accident at a manufacturing plant.
Publisher ..............................Eric Giguere ............giguere@localnet.com Managing Editor ..................Tina Manzer ................tmanzer@fwpi.com Assistant Editor ....................Alyssa LaFaro ................alyssa@fwpi.com Senior Graphic Artist............Jennifer Srmack............jsrmack@fwpi.com Graphic Artist........................Lindsey Williamson ......lindsey@fwpi.com Advertising Sales ................Kelly Bailey ..............kelly@mysafety.com Director of Advertising ........Tim Braden ..................tbraden@fwpi.com Production Manager ............Mark Stash ....................mstash@fwpi.com
Injured Worker Profile
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11 Worker Profile Being a lineman ranks among the top 10 most dangerous jobs, but safety features for them continue to improve.
Punched Out – Your Safety Off the Clock
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Trick-or-Treating The Rewards of Working Safely Dancing with My Daughter
My Safety magazine is published quarterly for Safety Awareness Solutions by Fahy-Williams Publishing. Advertisements are accepted. Contact Kelly Bailey, 800-344-0559, fax 315-789-4263, PO Box 1080, Geneva, NY 14456. Copyright © 2012 Safety Awareness Solutions, PO Box 43, Geneva, NY 14456, 315-651-6154, Eric Giguere, President; Emily Wiesner, Vice President.
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Lost
Limb Saved Life by Candace Carnahan
ummer jobs are a rite of passage for high school and university students. We usually worry about finding work, take what we can get and wait out the few months until we head back to school. My summer job changed my whole life in just one moment. After my first year at university, I began a summer job at the local paper mill. Before I went to work, I spent a week in a classroom watching videos, reading pamphlets and discussing safety issues. Then I entered the work area for “on the job� training. This routine continued every summer for the three years I worked at the mill. My job was to pick up any slabs of paper that fell on the floor, keeping the overall work area clean. It was a day like any other when I took an often-used shortcut that would result in a much longer journey of another kind. I was working on the winder floor when I crossed over a conveyor belt system that ran throughout the mill. It was a shortcut used regularly by other employees, students and even supervisors. No one thought twice about it; if it had been dangerous, it would have been pointed out. Or so I thought. As I crossed over the belt, I put my foot down at exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. My left foot caught within the area where the belt system collided. I fell to the ground, landing on the belt. The conveyor was moving, and pulling my foot in.
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y screams echoed above the mill noise. M The automatic emergency stop was disabled. A co-worker rushed over and stopped the belt; however, my foot was still caught, crushed between a point where two conveyors came together. That man saved my life. Had he not heard my screams, that belt would have continued to run, and you would be reading a story about me, written by someone else, with a very different ending. A maintenance crew arrived to
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disassemble the system and free my leg. For 25 minutes I remained on the ground while co-workers offered me support. Finally, I was freed and rushed away in an ambulance, still conscious and still in excruciating pain. I awoke the next morning in the hospital, my left foot invisible beneath a mound of bandages. The seriousness of the situation set in when they transported me to a larger hospital about an hour away, where I waited in my room for a doctor to come and look at me. When he arrived, the doctor want-
“I was so grateful to be alive. I decided to focus on what I had left, not on what I had lost.” ed to know if I could feel pressure on my foot. I closed my eyes, wincing in pain, pretending I could feel where he was touching me. He let me go on, finally asking me to open my eyes. It was then I realized his hands hadn’t been anywhere near my injured leg. The truth was out: the lower part of my left leg was injured beyond repair. Amputation was the only option. hile the news of losing my limb W was devastating, I was so grateful to be alive. I decided to focus on what I had left, not on what I had lost. I wouldn’t waste my time and energy wondering “Why me?” and wishing
for a different outcome, or worrying about things I couldn’t control. I had to focus on the things I had the power to change instead of dwelling on the things I couldn’t. The first week after the operation was extremely difficult. I experienced a lot of phantom pain and was still adjusting to life without my leg. I remained in the hospital for a few weeks with my family and friends by my side. After my release, the pain became more tolerable, eventually shifting to more of a sensation, and I began to get out and take on regular activities. Two months after the injury, I got my first prosthetic leg and began physiotherapy. Soon, I was walking on my own, ready to start another phase of my life. Each day is a gift to be treasured. Almost losing my life made me realize that there is no better time than today to do the things you want to do. Tomorrow doesn’t come for everyone. Nine months after the injury I traveled to Mexico to take a monthlong anthropology course. Then I backpacked through Europe before returning to Fredericton, New Brunswick to complete my degree in psychology. I never think of what my life could have been like if I didn’t lose my foot. Most everything that has happened since that day has led to a positive experience or adventure. I think it goes without saying that living with a disability of any kind can prove to be challenging at times. However, through my personal experiences, and those of others who have suffered a similar loss, I’ve come to believe that being “disabled” is more of a state of mind than one of physical being. ▲ ▲
Today, Candace runs Candace Carnahan Motivational Speaking Inc., traveling across the country and abroad, sharing her story. If you’d like more information, visit www.candacecarnahan.com or e-mail candace@candacecarnahan.com.
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Walk Line the
The dangers of working as a lineman
by Nick Bruno he term “lineman” was originally used in the early 1800s in reference to the person who strung telegraph lines from pole to pole. The introduction of the telephone and the infancy of the electric industry later in the century kept the profession in plenty of work. As networks of cables extended overhead and across the nation, there was continued demand for workers in the field. By the start of the 20th century, more and more electrical lines were being strung, proving to be much more dangerous than telephone wires. In fact, linemen of the time were considered to have one of the most dangerous professions possible, with almost one of every three workers dying on the job.
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Early dangers led to unionization, laying the foundation for improved training, apprenticeship programs and safety standards. As the U.S. continued to modernize, there was a shift from new grid construction to maintenance and repair of existing systems. The trend continues today with a mix of new construction, but also a need to tend to existing infrastructure. Linemen are versatile by necessity. Though we often see them in boom trucks, keep in mind it’s not always possible to move equipment to the site, and access is sometimes at a premium. Part electrician, rigger and contortionist, a lineman needs to get necessary tools and materials to the repair area, secure them to prevent falling object dangers, and work in whatever positions the repair or installation dictates. Employment growth is predicted to remain at average levels of about 13 percent for the next decade. Unlike manufacturing sectors, there’s no chance the service can be outsourced to other countries. A relatively secure field, with average salaries two to three times the national median income, makes the position attractive to many. The combination of height, heavy equipment and electricity, however, make the trade one that’s not without risk. Linemen have seen vast safety improvements in the last hundred years, even in the last few decades. In the late 70s and early 80s, on-the-job fatalities were still at a nationwide rate of one per week. Today, the rate hovers near 30 deaths per year, still enough to rank in the top 10 dangerous jobs as recently as 2008. High voltages offer increasingly dangerous complications when compared to standard household electrical systems. Workers need to understand electrical theory, including proper grounding of a system and the dangers of induction. The need to work on “live” lines to preserve service requires the use of various types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), but training is also vital to ensure worker safety. Apprenticeship programs typically take four years to complete,
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When: June 27, 2012 Where: Eunice, New Mexico One worker died, another injured after suffering electrical burns when the boom truck they were inside touched a power line.
OSHA FATALITY INVESTIGATION
As with many fields, the ratio of risk versus reward must be carefully considered for anyone who wishes to become a lineman. Though a higher pay rate is an initial draw for many, it should be understood that the compensation reflects the hard work required, as well as the dangers of the job. Willingness to follow proper safety guidelines may reduce the likelihood of injury, but will never eliminate it. After all, linemen work in the elements and at dizzying heights with voltage that can easily kill. The unprepared need not apply. ▲ ▲
beginning with simple tasks that progressively become more advanced as an apprentice’s skill set improves. Upon becoming a Journeyman Lineman, a worker should possess the knowledge to be both effective and safe. Though power lines pose significant risk, taking appropriate precautions leaves only the most unexpected incidents to chance. In contrast, professions that require large amounts of time on the road, such as truck drivers, frequently rank within the top 10 most dangerous occupations as well. The difference is, even though some fatalities are likely due to worker error, a large portion of injuries are left to the mercy of other drivers – an environment those in the truck cannot control. Linemen who are competent and aware of their surroundings can have long careers that are personally and financially rewarding.
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Required by Mark O’Brien
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From top to bottom: recovering in the hospital; the blood-stained seat of his Humvee; Mark and fellow soldiers with guns and equipment.
BOOM. It felt like I had been hit in the head with a baseball bat. When I opened my eyes, I was on my back in my Humvee, staring at the ceiling. My chest was on fire – and I had two fragmentation grenades strapped to my chest. I tried to put out the fire with my right arm, but it was shattered. I remember looking at the bones sticking out and thinking, “Huh, my arm is broken … I gotta go get that fixed.” So I patted out the fire with my left arm. My left hand didn’t sustain any burns due to my fire-retardant gloves. MYsafety Fall 2012
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From left to right: Mark with his wife and sons; today, Mark travels around the country, telling audiences he’s still alive because of the PPE he was wearing in Iraq; he still enjoys golf.
Once the fire was out, I looked down at where my knee should have been. My lower leg was hanging on by a tendon. My femur had snapped off, and the end was razor sharp. My femoral artery was spurting blood up onto the Humvee window. I decided right there – I was dead. Our Navy Corpsman, “Doc,” heard my screams, and ran around to my side of the Humvee, exposing himself to heavy machine gun and rocket fire before pulling me to safety. Once we were behind the vehicle, he applied tourniquets to my leg, while my Gunnery Sergeant applied one to my right arm. I kept yelling at them. “Let me die. I don’t want to live like this.” minutes or so after I was shot, another Humvee pulled Tfieldenuphospital. to extract me from the battle zone and bring me to the I was thrown in the back so Doc could try to stop the blood from pouring out of my leg. My gear and uniform was removed in preparation for surgery. But the bleeding wouldn’t stop. I kept telling Doc to let me die. I begged
Mark’s prosthetics do not prohibit him from doing the things he loves.
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him for morphine. I knew if I took it, the pain would stop, and I would die because I had lost so much blood. Finally, Doc took off the tourniquet. This was it – he was going to let me die. He picked up what was left of my tattered leg, and shoved his hand inside the wound, up to his wrist. The pain was unbearable. After about 10 of the most agonizing seconds of my life, out came his hand wrapped around my femoral artery. He clamped it off and reapplied the tourniquet. A short time later, we arrived at the field hospital where they stabilized me and flew me to Baghdad. Upon arriving in Baghdad, I was quickly rushed into surgery. I looked down at my mutilated right arm resting on my chest. I looked up at the surgeon and told him not to take my arm. Four days later, I awoke from a medically induced coma. I turned my head to the right and saw a bloody stump. The arm was gone. My heart sank. I looked up to see my parents. I was so grateful to see them. I was so grateful to be alive. I have a lot to be thankful for. I had been shot with an armor piercing rocket, and I made it out alive. I’m thankful for the Navy Corpsman that was with me because he knew what to do in that particular situation. I’m also thankful for all the gear I was wearing because it saved my life. Besides losing my arm and leg, I had taken shrapnel to the head, but my Kevlar helmet was there to stop it. My shatterproof glasses stopped shrapnel from hitting my eyes. I was lit on fire, and I was able to pat the fire out without hurting my hand. When I woke up four days later, I only had one hand, but it was uninjured. I had worn a flak jacket with two SAPI – Small Arms Protective Insert – plates, which are ceramic, in the front and back. When my plates were taken out, my front plate was cracked in three different places from either being shot, or taking shrapnel to the chest. Each piece of gear I wore played a pivotal role in saving my life.
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fter being given a “second chance,” A I want to make the most out of my life. I tell everyone I’m on overtime. I punched my time card on the streets of Ramadi, Iraq on November 8, 2004. Everything after that is overtime. Since then, I got married, and my wife and I have two boys. I am very blessed to be here and want to give back. I have started to do so by presenting my story to various companies, emphasizing the fact that I’m here today because I wore my PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). I also stress the fact that training is essential in any job. I tell the men and women that I know that some of the training can be repetitive and boring, but it serves a purpose. People often use the saying: “Training kicks in when rounds fly down range.” Being involved in nearly 100 firefights in my Marine Corps career, I can say that the saying is true. I tell them I did not suffer from a workplace accident, but rather a workplace injury, because there was someone behind that rocket launcher, aiming it at me. In a short time, my speaking career has taken off. I’ve been traveling around the country doing something I love. My presentation has been well received, and it’s been very fulfilling to know that I’m making a difference. Men and women come up to me after my after hearing my story, and they understand that the things that saved my life are the same things that can save theirs. I do this because I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I have. It has been a long road from that day in Iraq to ▲ where I am now. ▲ Mark O’Brien is a Marine corporal and Purple Heart recipient. Today, he uses his experiences and life lessons to motivate people to do the right thing at work, home or wherever they may be. If you’d like more information about him and his motivational speaking, visit www.divalsafety.com.
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Confined Space Do you know what you’re getting yourself into? by Nick Bruno
created to hold a product, protect a ll too often, injuries that occur piece of machinery or allow transportawhile working in confined spaces “That manhole becomes a are completely preventable. Sure, tion of a substance. It’s inevitable, casket. It doesn't get more though. At some point, something will there are the occasional accidents that no amount of preparation could anticirequire maintenance, repair or inspecintense than that. Don't let tion, pate, but more often than not a little in which some lucky individual planning and patience goes a long way. gets to enter an area specifically entering a confined space Working in a manhole all week? Each designed without the human body in time you climb down the ladder you mind. It may or may not be a physically put you in one permanently.” small space, like inside a storage tank, should be testing the air for oxygen content, flammable vapors and other but the common theme is always an – Eric Giguere environment that isn’t worker-friendly. toxic hazards. The “get right to it, it Each year, approximately 1.6 miltested fine yesterday” attitude has no lion employees enter a confined space, and the vast majority place here. In fact, it’s similar to that guy you know who’s will come back out with all their fingers and toes. Along the always yelling “Watch this!” while lighting a firecracker, or trying to jump his kid’s swing set on a four-wheeler. Most of way, though, there will be, on average, over 10,000 accidents and 53 deaths. The same three criteria that set confined spaces the time, his stupidity won’t catch up with him, but eventually he’ll pull a stunt that results in him eating his wings and apart from their less-dangerous counterparts are the leading causes of injury and death. Limited openings for entry and beer in milkshake form for a few months. Keep climbing exit are problems if you’ve accidently lit yourself, or the space down the manhole with no regard for safety and one day you’re in, on fire, but less obvious is the effect they have on you may not come out. A confined space, by definition, has limited openings for scenarios where you need rescue. Slip and hurt your back, cut yourself badly or get hit by falling debris, and it’s likely the entry and exit, unfavorable natural ventilation and was not rescue team will need to squeeze through that same small designed for continued occupancy. Generally speaking, it’s
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opening you did, but they need to do it workspace is the best fail-safe should with equipment to save your life. the worst happen, but only if properly If ventilation is a problem, they trained. It goes without saying that you might need to get your unconscious want the coworker watching your safebody out in a hurry. Sticking your head ty from the outside to be responsible, in a tank or hole and breathing deep but there are more subtleties to that isn’t the most scientific way of deterposition than pulling up a lawn chair mining if the air quality is acceptable. and waiting. An attendant should have Many of the gasses that will kill you no other active responsibilities than have no odor, and even if you were to maintaining visual or spoken contact have a super human sniffer of some with those in the confined space. In sort, you can’t determine how much addition, he/she should be aware of oxygen is in the air. If a whom to contact in the “The ‘get right space contains less than event of an emergency, 19.5 percent oxygen, then and should be wellto it, it tested trained in the use of all you really shouldn’t be going in without ventilarescue equipment. Despite fine yesterday’ best intentions, the attention. If it contains less than 6 percent, you’ll be dant should not enter the attitude has no confined space until help dead in minutes. Add this to that mix: materials burn arrives. Whatever has place here.” easier in an oxygen enviincapacitated the first ronment of greater than 21 worker will likely do so to percent. So you have a 1.5 percent the rescuer as well. In fact, unplanned window to shoot for, which is why rescues where individuals rush in on using equipment designed for the task instinct account for over 50 percent of is important. Proper use is critical, too, all confined space fatalities. as those gasses trying to kill you are Like any other jobsite, there are sometimes heavier than air, sometimes risks specific to confined spaces that lighter. Make sure to take air quality can be reduced, but not completely readings at the top, middle and bottom eliminated. Safety begins long before of the confined space you’ll be workentry into the work area with proper ing in. training, equipment and attitude. The It’s not just gasses you need to key to working in a confined space watch out for. What is in – or was in – safely is this: never make assumptions the space you’re working in? Was about your environment. Take a few there a toxic product that may be minutes to check the area thoroughly absorbed into the walls? Any airborne – each and every time. Any shortcuts, particles that you may breathe in? no matter how many times you’ve Remember: it’s not just chemicals used them before, might prove fatal. with hard-to-pronounce names you If you’re the type of worker who don’t want to inhale. Go in somewhere insists “it won’t happen to me,” then like a grain silo, and you’ll want to you may want to borrow some of your keep dust out of your lungs, too. buddy’s firecrackers. Just be sure to Even when precautions are taken, yell “Watch this!” when climbing into there is still the need to plan for the your manhole. The four-wheeler probunforeseen. An attendant outside of the ably won’t fit. ▲ ▲
OSHA FATALITY INVESTIGATION When: July 9, 2012 Where: Kalona, Iowa Worker cleaning out a grain bin was found unresponsive on ground near bin. ▲ ▲
Safety Survival: A U.S. Marine’s Perspective DVD shows how Marine corporal and Purple Heart recipient Mark O’Brien uses his life experiences and lessons to motivate people to do the right thing wherever they may be. His three key weapons for the war on safety are: training, personal protective equipment and support systems. DiVal Safety Equipment, Inc. 800-343-1354 www.divalsafety.com
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Backed Over
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by Bobby G. Dawes and Lisa Smith
y daughter’s hand. The one I held when she was just learning to walk. The one that reached up to me when she said “Hold me, Daddy.” The one I dreamed of holding as I walked her down the aisle one day. That’s what I saw. That spring day started like so many others. It was April 2002 – turkey season in Kentucky. I had looked forward to that time of year and that day. If you’re a hunter, you know what I mean. I had worked all week with Saturday in the back of my mind, knowing I’d get to go hunting. I was totally focused on it. When I finally got to that field, it was full of turkeys, just as I had hoped. Having anticipated that day so much, I was furious to realize that I had left my decoys at home. In that moment, I let my frustration and complacency take over. My wife, two daughters and I have lived on a dead-end street for many years. The driveway stretches down the right side of our house and curves around back to a walk-out basement. I’ve always backed down the driveway; it’s just easier backing into our driveway than backing out of it. I had done it a million times and never even thought about it anymore. As much as I was looking forward to turkey hunting that
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day, my oldest daughter was looking forward to something, too – the prom. In preparation for the big dance, she decided to soak up some sun. She carefully laid out a blanket on the driveway behind our home and, in the warm spring sunshine, drifted off to sleep. Rushing home, all I could think about was getting those decoys and getting back to that field full of turkeys. I sped down our street, and when I reached our driveway, I slammed the truck in reverse and backed down it, focused only on one thing: getting those decoys. As I opened the door of the truck, that’s when I saw it: my daughter’s hand.
Bobby with his daughter Alyssa 10 years after the accident.
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OSHA FATALITY INVESTIGATION When: July 9, 2012 Where: Panama City Beach, Florida Worker collecting trash was run over by a trash truck.
She never even heard me coming. As I realized what had happened – that I had actually run over my own teenage daughter – I dropped to the ground, fearing the worst. Instead, I heard my daughter’s voice weakly say, “Daddy, I’m okay.” But she wasn’t okay and I knew it. There was a black mark from the truck tire on her beautiful face, and a perfect tire tread mark stretched the length of her body. I screamed for my wife, whose composure took over in that frightening moment. As she called 911, I carefully wrapped my daughter in the blanket on which she had been sleeping. All the way to the hospital I kept asking myself, “Did I just take the most important thing in my life away?” Miraculously, my daughter suffered no severe injuries. She was badly bruised and felt pretty banged up for several weeks. The emotional scars for both of us took longer to heal.
I learned a lot from that day – that rushing, frustration and complacency took over and almost cost me everything. Today, when I back down my driveway, I turn the radio off and open the windows in my truck to be sure I am paying attention. I beg you to do the same, even if you’ve backed up a million times. You don’t know what might be behind you. It might be a post or a mailbox, but it might be something – or someone – else. Recently, I held my daughter’s hand again. This time, on her wedding day. And as I looked down at her fingers inter▲ twined in my own, I was so thankful for what I didn’t lose. ▲ Bobby G. Dawes is a construction specialist at Columbia Gas in Lexington, Kentucky. Lisa Smith is the company’s communications manager.
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New Video Fifteen people die every day in North America because of cell phone use while driving. Jacy Good survived a devastating crash – but it took the lives of both her parents. A crash caused by someone’s decision. A decision to use a cell phone while driving. This true story will help you change the culture of cell phone use while driving and save lives!
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Jacy’s Story Jacy Good’s college graduation day was supposed to be one of the greatest days of her life. But her dreams were shattered just hours after she received her diploma. A young man talking on his cell phone caused an accident that took the lives of both her parents, and left her with a 10 percent chance of surviving. After a miraculous recovery, and months devoted to relearning how to walk, talk and live as an independent adult, Jacy has devoted her life to raising awareness about the dangers of cell phone use behind the wheel.
Jacy Good – Live Presentation - Powerful – Dramatic - Effective Bring Jacy to your organization. Jacy has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NPR’s “Car Talk” and at the United Nations. She has also been featured in dozens of magazines, television news stories and press conferences. Thousands of people have pledged to change their driving behavior after hearing her message. She continues to speak at schools, businesses and conferences throughout North America.
Bring Jacy to your organization and change the destructive cell phone culture.
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Jacy’s Story will touch every fiber in your body. It will help you understand what a major hazard cell phone use while driving has become. Jacy has spoken several times at our projects and the results have always been overwhelmingly positive. -Mark Zachary, Corporate O&MBG Safety Director, CH2MHill
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Death by Text by Nina Todd
I’ll be home so on
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Above: Nina’s boys – Alex and Maliki Right: Nina’s car after the accident
y name is Nina Todd. When I was 20 years old, I gave birth to a son my doctors thought I would never be able to have. When I was in high school, doctors discovered tumors on my brain. These tumors caused me to have seizures. I was put on medication, which was supposed to decrease my chances of ever being able to conceive a child. However, I proved the doctors wrong when I gave birth to my son in September of 2005. I named him Maliki. He was the cutest baby anyone had ever seen and looked just like me – big brown eyes and dimples everyone loved. From the beginning, I knew he would be a ladies’ man. Three months after giving birth to Maliki I found I was pregnant yet again. My doctors were completely amazed. Twelve months and nine days later I gave birth to my second son, Alexander, in September of 2006. He was just as cute as Maliki, but Alex looked a lot like his dad. Alex was the quieter, curious one, always up to something. As I began this journey of motherhood with two young babies, I often made promises to them. I would tell them I would protect them, love them and teach them things. I remember teaching my boys to love and appreciate music. I gave them unexplainable amounts of love. Every night before bed or before leaving we would always say, “Love you. Back to moon back to the dirt.” Some days were harder than others, but my boys never doubted my love for them. I was a single mother of two young boys, and oftentimes, I struggled to keep my head above water.
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I soon found myself living back at my parents’ home in Shenandoah, Iowa. I was doing anything I could to make ends meet. I would find a job, and work as much as I could, often struggling to stay afloat. Then, I met a man, and fell in love. He treated my boys well, and for once I thought my boys would have a father figure to look up to. We moved to a farmhouse outside of Cumberland, Iowa. n September of 2010, my boys turned 4 and 5. IBoth Maliki started pre-K, and Alex started preschool. my boys loved to learn, and preferred to spend their time at school, rather than at home. However, when the holidays came around, the two wanted nothing more than to spend time with our family. That November we spent Thanksgiving at my Uncle Curtis’ house. The boys played with their cousins and had a good time. Everything was going the way it should. My boys were happy, smart and loved – the way any young child should be at that age. A few days after Thanksgiving, the boys and I went to the baby shower of my stepsister, Kristin, in Shenandoah. We had an amazing day, and the boys really didn’t want to leave. But they had their Christmas program for school that following day, and we needed to get home to put up our Christmas tree. Being the mom I am, we spent some time at MYsafety Fall 2012
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Grandma and Grandpa’s house before we headed home. The boys helped my mom decorate her tree, something they have always done. My mom walked us to my car, and we said our goodbyes. “Love you. Back to moon back to the dirt.” With my boys properly strapped in their seats, we started our hour drive home. As I pulled away from my parents’ house, I heard from the back seat: “Mom, put your seat belt on.” I chuckled and ignored him at first, but my persistent 5year-old wouldn’t let up: “Mom, PUT YOUR SEAT BELT ON! Mom, put your seat belt on … Mom … Mom.” Finally, I give in and said, “There, Maliki. My seat belt is on.” Maliki smiled at me in my rearview mirror, and then fell asleep. Alex started telling me how he wanted to watch SpongeBob when we got home instead of putting up the tree. “SpongeBob Mom.” Those were the last words I ever heard from Alex. The next thing I knew, there were headlights on my side of the road, and in an instant, I was surrounded by complete blackness. I tried to move but couldn’t. My car
A personal memorial for the boys is placed at the location of the accident.
engine sat on my legs, pinning me under it. I reached for my boys. I could see Alex but not Maliki. I started to scream. “Someone help! Someone help my babies! My babies! Help!” A lady came to my passenger window, and checked my boys for a pulse. Nothing. “Honey, I’m sorry,” she said. “They are gone.” Numbness, heartache and anger set in. My boys couldn’t be gone. This couldn’t be happening to me. Not me. Not my boys. Why would God do such a thing to a mother? Take her only two children away, children she was never supposed to have in the first place? Why? As I sat there pinned under the engine of my car, emergency personnel came to me in attempts to save my life. As they used the Jaws of Life to pry the car apart, I watched them place white sheets over my boys in the back seat. Nothing will ever erase that image from my mind. Nothing. I was airlifted from the scene to the Omaha, Nebraska, Medical Center. I suffered from a shattered heel, broken femur, fractured vertebrae in my neck, seven broken ribs and a severe cut on my knee where the engine had cut into my leg. The one injury that will never be medically cured, however, is that of my empty, broken heart, and knowing, had my son Maliki not been persistent, I, too, would probably be dead. he reasons for the wreck started to surface almost immediTwitness ately. The woman who came over to my car stated in her report that she and her husband were heading south on Highway 48 when a car driven by a young woman attempted to pass them at the crest of a hill. Who would pass at the top of a hill? The witness also stated that the young woman in the other car had been following them rather closely and appeared to be speeding. Why was she in such a hurry? The young woman in the car that hit us head-on was traveling 74 mph in a 55 mph zone. She was passing the other car in a no-pass zone at the top of a hill. Why? Why was she in a hurry? Was she intoxicated? Was she late for something? The simple answers to those questions were in the palm of her hand. This witness’s report stated that the young woman in the other car had her cell phone in her hand. Upon learning this information, state troopers conducted an investigation, and found that she had sent a text at 5:40 p.m. At 5:41 p.m., the first 911 call was made. She was texting, speeding and passing in a no-pass zone on a hill. The young woman who hit us head-on was only 18 years
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YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT
old at the time of the wreck. She had just recently graduated from high school. She had her whole life ahead of her. And I’m sure she was just like any other typical high school graduate – had the carefree, I-can’t-be-touched attitude. Nevertheless, on November 28, 2010, she made the ignorant choice to text and drive, along with other ignorant choices. Charges were filed, and she faced two counts of vehicular homicide. Almost one year later, on November 7, 2011, she was charged with vehicular homicide, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. As I listened to the judge describe her sentence, the heartache and anger I felt remained. Her ignorant choices ultimately took both my sons’ lives and almost took mine as well. I struggle every day, not only with the physical pain, but with the emotional pain I have. Every day I see mothers with their children. Every day I wonder what Maliki and Alex would be like. Yet I know I will never get to see my pride and joy play football, march in the band, go on dates, go to prom, graduate. I won’t see them do anything. All that is left are the memories that were made. Every day I struggle to walk because of the pain in my leg. I can’t sit or stand for very long. I am an inch and half shorter on one side, so I’m forced to walk with a limp. But I refuse to let my boys be forgotten. Recently, I started talking to area schools along with a group of people from Shenandoah who also have been affected by distracted drivers. Talking to young people helps in little ways. As we tell our stories, we see tears in the audience, and at the end of our talks, we have people tell us their stories, too. While I know we are getting through to some of them, I really wish we could get through to all of them. Sadly, the reality is most won’t stop being distracted while driving because they think it won’t happen to them. I am proof that, yes, it can happen to you. You may not be the distracted driver, but you may pay the ultimate price because of one. ▲ ▲
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The Real Cost of
Lockout-Tagout Compliance n today’s climate, it’s common to see safety budgets focus on the most critical items first, parking other important programs on the curb to look at later. When it comes to lockout-tagout (LOTO) – a safety procedure to guarantee dangerous machines can’t be turned on during maintenance – the true costs of non-compliance might not be fully understood until it’s too late. Twenty-twenty hindsight isn’t necessarily the most costeffective way of gaining experience and education with LOTO, nor is it the easiest to bear when accidents occur that would have otherwise been prevented with a robust LOTO program. As authorized employees are given more responsibility, it’s imperative that a strong LOTO program is there to protect them. First, it’s important to know the basics. What does it take to comply? LOTO is the number one most cited regulation in manufacturing, and it has been on the top 10 list for all industries for over 15 years now. Why is it then that more companies don’t understand the basics to ensure they don’t get dinged with an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citation? There are five components to a fully compliant program.
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1. Corporate Policy 2. Machine Specific Lockout-Tagout Procedures 3. Authorized and Affected Employee Training 4. Annual Auditing of each procedure and the Authorized Employees 5. Locks, Tags and Equipment to ensure each energy source can be locked out The most commonly cited missing component is “lack of machine specific procedures,” so let’s address that first. Which machines require a LOTO procedure? Here’s a hint: just about all of them. LOTO (29 CFR 1910.147) requires that each machine passes eight very specific sets of criteria in order to not require a machine specific procedure. The eight criteria are best summarized by describing a piece of machinery that meets them.
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• A piece of machinery that meets all eight criteria must have only one source of energy with no residual energy whatsoever. Anything that can continue to move after it’s been shut off counts as a secondary source of energy – like a grinding wheel or spindle. • The piece of equipment must be able to be serviced without creating greater hazards for other employees.
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For instance, if you have a simple piece of equipment that monitors fresh air to ensure people are safe, that might require a procedure due to the lack of monitoring if it’s taken offline. • The piece of equipment must have no accident history related to LOTO. • The one source of energy must be readily available to lock out. Any long plugs entangled with other equipment, remote electrical panels or shared disconnect means it fails to meet this criteria. fter looking over these criteria, it becomes quickly obvious that most pieces of equipment – even seemingly simple pieces – need a procedure. Commonly overlooked equipment that needs a procedure are dock locks, dock doors, maintenance room equipment, air-handling equipment and other facility equipment, such as hot water heaters. Once you have identified all of the equipment that needs a procedure, and write out all the procedures, the next most commonly cited part of LOTO is “lack of auditing the program.” In other words, OSHA says that even though your company may have invested the time/resources necessary to implement a perfect program, you are still wide open for citations unless you prove that you’ve properly maintained it by auditing every procedure at least every 12 months. After the procedures are created and the program is audited, it’s imperative that the correct training is given to every employee on proper usage of the program and what tools they have available. A good training should have a hands-on section to prove comprehension and real-world application. So why is it important to get your company compliant today? Well, the cost of non-compliance is very high, especially if you knew about it and did nothing. Without the key components to ensure your company is compliant, here’s the exposure that could exist.
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These chemical storage buildings, designed to store flammables, combustibles, solvents, paints, corrosives, pesticides, caustics and more, can even be used to house equipment. They are constructed from heavy gauge steel, and include accessories like ramps, spill-containment shelving, lighting, air conditioners, heaters, fire suppression systems, eye wash stations, showers and more. Buildings meet all EPA, OSHA and other regulations. U.S. Chemical Storage LLC 828-355-6133 www.uschemicalstorage.com
• Missing procedures x $7,000 each procedure (if you knew about it and did nothing – $70,000 each) • Missing auditing x $7,000 each audit (if you knew about it and did nothing – $70,000 each) • Missing training x $7,000 each trainee (if you knew about it and did nothing – $70,000 each) As you can see, even a small facility with just a few dozen pieces of equipment can quickly be exposed to over $1 million in fines. What’s more is the cost to the employees. Employees who have accidents with LOTO rarely come out with bumps and bruises, but instead amputations and death. The machines are often far more powerful than the employees know, and if they are inadvertently restarted, there’s little time to get out of the way before the employee becomes another statistic. That statistic is startling – on average, 5,000 deaths and 8,000 amputations occur annually in the U.S. workplace from preventable accidents. Don’t be another statistic. If you’re an authorized employee servicing equipment, make sure you fully understand the energy sources you work around and that they are locked out if you place your body in harm’s way. For the additional three minutes it takes to lock a piece of equipment out, you could be preventing an amputation or death from occurring to a coworker – or you. ▲ ▲
ESC’s new lockout-tagout application lets you streamline your lockout-tagout system and take advantage of the efficiencies only available with this process. Access your procedures anywhere in the world, and audit them by scanning a QR code. ESC Services 866-773-7541 www.escservices.com
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Suit Up Personal protective equipment helps one worker survive a manufacturing plant disaster by Joel Johnson The Surflex Bump Cap offers maximum protection without sacrificing comfort or style. Fully compliant to the EN812 standard, the removable ergonomic protective shell composed of ABS polyvac uses stabilizers, antishock foam cushioning, ventilation points and an anti-sweat band. This adjustable hat features retroreflective tape on the bill, side panels and rear strap for 360 degree night visibility. Bon-Mar Textiles 800-363-2993 www.bon-bar.com
Train your employees on a wide range of safety and human resource topics with the new, easy-to-use online system Aurora e-Stream. Our powerful Learning Management System (LMS) tracks employee’s progress as they meet your company’s training requirements. Access reports through any web browser, and download/ import into your own record keeping system if desired. Aurora Pictures 800-346-9487 www.aurorapictures.com
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ang! As I turned around, a demonic black cloud was headed in my direction. I was terrified, and I thought just one thing: get the hell out of this room! I’d been told before that a cloud of dust particles is very explosive, so I wanted to get out of that room as fast as I could. Even though the room is rated to be free of any sort of ignition source (even down to the static from our shoes) I didn’t want to risk it. If that cloud went up in flames, the whole building would have collapsed – with me inside. I bolted outside and caught my breath, in hopes that everyone else was on their way out, too. Luckily, this incident didn’t result in any injuries or explosions, but it was a reality check to all of us that work in our plant. We work in an unsafe environment, but have a lot of ways to protect ourselves. If I didn’t
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have a respirator on that day my lungs would have filled with the gritty dust from that black cloud. And if I didn’t have on my EE rated shoes that prevent my feet from creating any static, that ominous fog could’ve easily turned into a fireball. These two pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) helped save my life – without them, that day could’ve ended up a lot worse than it did. If I were to give one piece of safety advice to anyone, whether they work in a plant that manufactures something or on a construction site or even in a lab, I would tell them to be aware. A story often told to the new arrivals at our plant is about a guy named Rob and the waste water trench he’d been working in. He and his fellow coworker, John, were in charge of placing a pump into a 6-
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OSHA FATALITY INVESTIGATION When: June 6, 2012 Where: Norton Shores, Mississippi Worker at a Styrofoam packaging plant was crushed by a press machine.
foot deep trench to remove the liquid waste at its bottom. Rob opened the protective grating to the trench, stepping over it to fetch the pump three feet away. With the pump in his hands, he turned around and took two steps forward – directly into the sludge-filled trench. On the way down, he not only scraped up his leg, but was immersed head to toe in 6-monthold waste. Watching this 6-foot-8-inch, 350-pound giant clamber his way out of the trench and land belly-up on the floor must have been a sight. He later received a tetanus shot and a much needed shower. If he had been paying attention to his footing, however, he probably never would have ended up at the bottom of that trench. So I stress the point to be aware. Explosions and “mysteriously” open trenches aren’t the only hazards I face at the plant. We work with concentrated sodium hydroxide and nitric acid on a daily basis, and I’ll tell you what – I never handle that stuff without a face
shield and rubber gloves. I also make sure to properly vent the totes containing these liquids before I open them so I don’t breathe in the noxious fumes. Another issue I deal with every day is noise. Although it seems cliché, the boxes that hold our earplugs say, “Wear your earplugs – it’s sound advice.” They couldn’t be more right. The last thing anyone wants to do in a plant is end up deaf because they were careless and decided not to wear their earplugs. I’m no expert, but I have learned a lot about being safe after working in this plant for the last year. There are a lot of ways to get hurt on the job where I work, but there are also tons of ways to protect myself. So wear your PPE and protect yourself, and not just because management says you have to. And above all else – don’t end up like Rob. Don’t let a lack of concentration cause you to make a stupid mistake. Be aware. ▲ ▲
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10 Trick-or-Treating Rules to Remember
Safe by Alyssa LaFaro hey’re heeeeeere. The ghosts. The superheroes. The lifesize hotdogs. Although trick-or-treating is full of candy and fun, it can be just as scary as a hazardous workplace – for kids at least. Don’t fear – there’s no need to go all Kathy Bates on them and lock them in the house. Just make sure your little goblins take the necessary precautions before heading out into the neighborhood. Here are a few helpful tips to pass along so they can have an enjoyable and safe Halloween (and so you can sleep like the dead).
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Dress safely Batman. Freddie Krueger. A kitten. All of these awesome costumes require masks. Remind your kids to be careful when wearing masks, as they block their vision. The Centers for Disease
Be very cautious of strangers.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Carry a flashlight.
9. 10.
Don’t trick-or-treat alone. Have at least two friends with you.
Walk – do not run. Never go inside a stranger’s house. Visit only houses where the lights are on. Avoid lit jack-o-lanterns. Return home by the curfew set by your parents. Eat your candy after you get home. Use sidewalks and crosswalks.
✁
Scared
1. 2.
Cut out and post in your home
Control (CDC) recommends children “wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.” Helpful tip: replace masks with face paint. It’s also important to make sure costume props are short, soft and bendable. “Even fake knives, swords, guns and other costume accessories can hurt people,” warn the New York State Police and the National Crime Prevention Council. “Make sure they are made from cardboard or other flexible material.” Also consider fastening reflective tape to the backs of masks, on costumes and across candy bags to ensure your tiny tricksters are visible to drivers.
Encourage groups “Children should always go trick-or-treating accompanied by a responsible adult,” explains halloween-safety.com. If your kids are old enough, persuade them to stay in groups and in areas populated with people – they should avoid shortcuts and dimlylit areas. Stress they keep their cell phones on then at all times in case of an emergency.
Check candy Let’s face it: if it’s in their trick-ortreat bag, your kids are going to inhale it. When they return home from trick-or-treating – before they dive headfirst into the sugar rush – have them dump all of their candy onto the kitchen table. Throw out anything that’s unwrapped or damaged. Also, remove any homemade treats. “Eat only factory-wrapped ▲ treats,” advises the CDC. ▲
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Safety
Crossword Across 3. Candace says not to take often-used ____ at work 7. 8,000 of these occur annually in the U.S. workplace 9. Personal protective equipment 10. A manhole 11. Don't ____ and drive 12. Confined spaces need at least 19.5 percent of this Down 1. It's your ____. Protect it! 2. OSHA safety procedure 4. Soldier who lost his right arm and leg 5. Inspect your kids’ ____ after trick-or-treating 6. Strings telegraph lines 8. ____ rescues account for over 50 percent of confined space accidents For the answers, go to the “Notes” section on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MySafetyMagazine).
Real Safety Stories That Will Change Your Life Torn Apart – Kina Repp At a fish cannery in Alaska, Kina volunteered to clean a large conveyer belt. What followed dramatically altered her life – she found herself caught in the moving conveyer belt, losing her arm as a result. Her message addresses the importance of understanding safety procedures and maintaining a great attitude. It can help keep you and the people around you safe. Never underestimate the power you have to change someone’s life.
12.5 and Still Alive – Gary Norland One Friday at work, Gary’s right earlobe touched a high-voltage (12,500 volts) line. His heart stopped. As he fell back from the shock, his head hit the power line, emitting fire and electricity throughout his body. Electrical burns covered almost 40 percent of his body. Fifty surgeries later, he’s here to tell you his story. His mission is to change attitudes about safety and taking shortcuts in hopes to save others the pain of his mistake.
SAFETY AWARENESS SOLUTIONS with Eric Giguere
To find out how you can bring these captivating speakers and their unique messages to your company, visit
www.safetyawarenesssolutions.com MYsafety Fall 2012
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The Rewards of
Always Working Safely
Little puympankdinsL:eigha Tori, Kenned
Curt, Harry an successful fam d Phil after a ily hunting trip .
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Women got game – Erika and her buck
question e h T . r a e b y d d bu Scott and hise get it home? is: how did h
stion
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Dancing with my
Daughter by Jeremy Vossen, Field Safety Specialist at DTE Energy his past Saturday I was honored to take my daughter to her Daddy Daughter Dance at school. She went through weeks of preparation with my wife and my mother -in-law, going to the mall doing “what girls do.” I took another approach: I ran around that morning trying to find a shirt and tie that would match her dress. My daughter took all day – doing her hair, painting her fingernails and washing off the makeup she put on (I made her wash it off because she is only 11!). As we were leaving for the dance, my wife stopped us and took several pictures. In the process of her taking pictures I thought to myself, “I want one of these for my locker at work.” You see, I have several pictures of my family in my locker already. I have one of my daughter acting like a model; one of my overexcited son when he got a dirt bike for a present; one of the two of them, my son working on his dirt bike while my daughter “supervises;” and several of my beautiful wife and pictures of her new hair style that she had sent to me. All of these pictures are special to me, and they make me smile every day when I look at them. But most importantly, every morning while I’m putting on my work clothes, I look at them and remember why I’m going to “work safe today.” When I was at the Daddy Daughter Dance, it reminded me of a school dance back when I was in sixth grade. All of the dads (boys) were on one side of the gym talking, while the daughters (girls) danced on the other side. The only time that the daughters would acknowledge the dads was when a slow song played. While I danced one of those slow dances with my daughter, I couldn’t help but think that one day we are going to dance again at her wedding. That is why I want to put those pictures up in my locker. I want to be reminded every day that I need to be around to have that dance at her wedding; I want to see my boy’s football games; I want to see all of my wife’s new hair styles; and most importantly, I want to prevent my daughter from wearing makeup as long as possible (just kidding). I’m hoping that everyone has a picture of someone special in their locker or on their desk. I am encouraging everyone to look at those pictures every day before work and say, “that’s why I’m going to work safe today.” ▲ ▲
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Jeremy, his wife Becky and their two kids – Carlee and Scott – on their wedding day.
Send us YOUR off-the-clock photos. E-mail us at alyssa@mysafetymagazine.com Include your image along with a caption. Subject: MYSafety The Good Life MYsafety Fall 2012
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Dedicated to
Francis L. Ferguson 1935-2012 can’t believe this is already our third issue! It seems like just a few months ago that I came up with the idea. Man, it has really taken off. With your help, we’ve grown from a 16page newsletter to a 32-page glossy magazine with a distribution of 5,000. I have to thank all my readers and everyone who has taken the time to send pictures and share their amazing stories. This issue continues to bring you stories about real-life accidents that happened to hardworking people like you and me, who, for a quick second lost focus or became complacent about everyday tasks at work or at home. Our “Injured Worker Profile,” is about Candace Carnahan. She lost her leg because of an accident at work, and her story shows the terrible realities of taking shortcuts on the job. The effects of the accident on Candace and her family are exactly the reason why My Safety exists. Not all stories here are terrible; we are happy to bring you Mark O’Brien’s tale. He amazingly survived a military attack thanks to his safety equipment and training. Today, Mark travels the country sharing his “Some Assembly Required” presentation with workers. He has a great family and participates in his favorite hobbies, like archery. Speaking of archery, I love hunting and being out in the field, as many of you may know. But this season will be a tough one for me because I lost my Grandpa – my hunting partner and best friend – this past winter. I am dedicating this issue to his memory; here’s a picture of us on a trip we took a few years ago. Creating memories like this one is the reason we all must work, and play, safe. I encourage all you hunters to please, be safe out in the field. Always wear your safety harness and blaze orange so that you can continue to enjoy the outdoors and create memories like the ones I have of my grandpa. Whether you’re on the job or out in the field, safety is your priority. We all want to go home every night. Most of all: It’s your ass, so protect it!
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Eric Giguere Founder, My Safety magazine giguere@localnet.com
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Got a safety story you think would help others? Send it my way – to giguere@localnet.com – and I’ll include it in an upcoming issue of My Safety.
Eric and his Grandpa.
Visit us at the NSC Congress and Expo, booth #261
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Relax,
you’ll be compliant shortly.
With lockout-tagout violations increasing at an alarming rate* now is the time to check out ESC to ensure your company isn’t another OSHA statistic. Business owners and safety managers have enough to worry about – with ESC you can take lockout-tagout compliancy off your plate and start relaxing a little more today.
ESC is the world’s largest specialized provider of lockout-tagout services with a proven track record of saving companies millions. With ESC you can feel confident that your workplace is protected at the same level as our 500+ clients worldwide.
Visit www.escservices.com/esc for a complimentary lockouttagout program assessment** and ensure you’re fully compliant before you’re surprised with an unexpected OSHA visit.
*Lockout-tagout fines increased over 65% from 2010-2011 – source www.osha.gov **ESC will evaluate your existing lockout-tagout program for compliancy to help uncover any gaps. Visit www.escservices.com/esc for more information.
escservices.com
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. N O I T C A r o f e Mad . N O I T C A R T Built for NEW! PIG Grippy Mat The #1 brand of absorbents delivers the only mat that stays put no matter what.™
provides TRACTION
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Don’t miss New Pig at the 2012 NSC Expo! Just follow your snout to to Booth #1037.
1-800-HOT-HOGS (468-4647) © New Pig 2012. PIG and PIG logo are trademarks in the U.S. and other countries. 267885
newpig.com/grippy