February 2015

Understand Safety Metrics Safety metrics can help discover problems before they negatively impact your employees - and your bottom line.By selecting the right things to measure, your organization can prevent expensive mistakes in the workplace by fixing any problems before they can impact your business. But what, exactly, are the right metrics for your organization? Is it the traditional recordable...

A standard home will experience a power outage during a major storm or power line mishap. During this time of year we are at a high risk for power outages caused by ice and snowstorms. The initially concern here is the cold temperatures, but these power outages can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. Beyond the risk...

We've discussed Fall Safety for Seniors, What about in the workplace? Construction? Falls remain the leading cause of construction industry deaths, killing hundreds of workers and injuring thousands more each year. In 2014, tens of thousands of employers and more than one million workers nationwide joined the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's weeklong Safety Stand-Down, the largest occupational safety event...

Join Us for a Community Preparedness TweetChat As Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors, we would like to invite you to tweet your way to Preparedness! Title: What is America’s PrepareAthon! and How to Participate Date: Thursday, February 26, 2015 Time: 2-3 PM Eastern Time Twitter Hashtag: #PrepareAthon Research has shown knowing what to do when a disaster strikes is critical, especially when seconds matter...

Spring Sports are coming (already!) hard to believe when much of the country is experiencing sub-zero temperatures, but it's true! Are you ready for rough-n-tumble fun outdoors? Think about safety on the sports field or track... don't let the bugs bite, and stay hydrated (if you're a spectator, remember the poncho for spring showers!) Read more: Head and Neck Injuries...

For workers who must earn their living outdoors, winter weather presents unique challenges. Employers should know the dangers and act accordingly. Frigid cold weather makes all exertion more physically taxing: common jobs like shoveling snow can cause exhaustion, dehydration, back injuries or heart attacks. Regular rest breaks, drinking fluids and proper bending and lifting methods can greatly reduce the associated...

One out of three persons aged 65 and older falls annually and 20% to 30% of falls result in injury. Every year, one in three people aged 65 or older experiences a fall, which is the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. Seniors Staying Alone: A Few Tips to Make Things Easier Winter Dangers for Seniors...

On Thursday, February 26 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, emergency managers will host a special TweetChat titled “What is America’s PrepareAthon! and How to Participate.” Join the chat to learn more about this national, grassroots campaign for action to increase community preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific group discussions, drills, and exercises. During the conversation, you can also connect with preparedness...

While it’s often best to bring your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible, VetStreet recommends these simple tips to help your pet before you can make it to the vet clinic. Poisoning Many people assume that inducing vomiting is the best solution if your pet has eaten something poisonous. VetStreet recommends never inducing vomiting unless you’ve been told...

Winter storms, snow, windchill, frost, ice and extreme cold are a coast-to-coast threat to the United States and its territories. Even Hawaii gets snow on its Big Island and frost is a major threat to crops in Southern states. Major cities as far south as Atlanta and Dallas have been paralyzed by snow and ice. Extreme cold is a relative...