Proforma Safety Blog

The Ladder Exchange Initiative Is a Good Idea

Posted by proforma on August 31, 2009  |  No Comments

As far as safety-related programs are concerned, The Ladder Exchange Initiative has to be one of the most creative.

The Ladder Exchange Initiative invites workers to exchange a ladder that is bent, broken or battered for a new one at designated outlets that offer discounts on the replacements. The Initiative kicks off on September 1, 2009, and runs through year’s end.

The UK Health and Safety Executive site also offers good advice and photos of what to inspect for. Click here for details.

Lifeboat Drill Goes Awry; One Crew Member Killed

Posted by proforma on August 31, 2009  |  No Comments

A fatality occured recently on a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) during a planned lifeboat drill.

The MODU was conducting routine testing of its lifeboats and equipment as required by regulation and launched its starboard lifeboat with a crew of seven. During recover of the lifeboat at the end of the drill, the aft hook opened, the boat swung onto its forward hook, which then failed, plunging the lifeboat and its occupants 65 feet into the sea. One crew member died and the remaining six sustained injuries.

Among the causes, it was determined that critical components of the system had deteriorated with age and use and the On-Load release system was not fully understood. For details, read the IADC report.

Significant Number of Baby Boomers are Binge Drinking

Posted by proforma on August 17, 2009  |  No Comments

This study is not only thought provoking for its obvious implications for performance and safety on the job, but also for general health as well.

A study by Duke University reports a significant percentage of adults in the Baby Boomer generation are binge drinking — which is imbibing five or more drinks at a time.

Researchers at Duke University collaborated with the National Survey on Drug Use and Health to prepare the study, which reported 22% of men and 9% of women ages 50 to 64 engaged in binge drinking within the past month of the survey. Their research was based on a survey of 11,000 men and women that took place in 2005 and 2006, as reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

The American Geriatric Society guidelines for older people define two or more drinks a day as heavy or “at-risk” drinking. The Duke University study also found that 19% of the men and 13% of the women were consistently drinking at this level.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Dan Blazer, concludes these older binge drinkers cannot “metabolize alcohol as quickly, they may be on medications, or they may have some health problems that alcohol may contribute to.” He added that these individuals may increase their risk for stroke, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, neurological damage and poor diabetes control.

Proforma Safety Has Eyes that “See” Around Every Blind Spot

Posted by proforma on August 3, 2009  |  No Comments

Looking for the latest and best technology to ensure transport safety? In this interview, Mike Arnold, President of Safety Vision technologies they use to ensure safe transport. Safety Vision has also published a post on its blog, a slideshow and still shots of the equipment installed on the Proforma escort vehicle.

Keep Your Mind On Your Job

Posted by proforma on August 3, 2009  |  No Comments

A sobering fact: four out of five accidents are the fault of the person involved in the incident, many of these due to distraction on the job. International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) has published safety guidelines on the distractions that workers face on the job and how to avoid them.

You can click through to the IAGC website, or read their guidelines here:

Mental distractions: Dropping your ‘mental’ guard can pull your focus away from safe work procedures. You can be distracted when you are busy working and a friend comes by to talk while you are trying to work. Do not become a statistic because you took your eyes off the machine or the work “just for a minute.”
Inattention: Inattention may be the result from workplace arguments, confusing instructions, concern about working hours, wages, bills, etc. Inattention worsens with fatigue and boredom. Keep your mind on your work. The prime interest in solving hazards created by inattention lies in methods of difference; warnings, alarms, fail-safe switch circuits, guards, etc.
Machinery: Set up your work station in a clear unobstructed location with good lighting, proper electrical circuits, and away from busy foot traffic that would cause distractions. When a machine does not start the way it was designed, inform your supervisor.
Hearing: Playing loud music and using headphones can be a hazardous distraction. Workers need to hear when important instructions or warnings are told. A co-worker may save your life.
Long hair: When your hair is loose and flowing, it can blow around and get in your face or eyes and obstruct your view. Avoid fixing your hair while working with machinery or operating a vehicle. Tie your hair back and keep it under a hat.
Shortcuts: Every day we make decisions we hope will make the job faster and more efficient. Do time savers ever risk your safety, or that of your co-workers? Short cuts that reduce your safety on the job are not shortcuts, but an increased chance for injury.
Overconfidence: Confidence is a good thing. Overconfidence can be too much of a good thing. Do not start a task with incomplete instructions. Ask for explanations about work procedures and safety precautions.
Poor housekeeping: Poor housekeeping creates hazards of all types. A well-maintained area sets a standard for others to follow. Good housekeeping involves both pride and safety.
Ignoring safety procedures: Purposely failing to observe safety procedures can endanger you and your co-workers. Being hasty in starting a task or not thinking through the process can put you in harms way. Plan your work and then work your plan.

Process Safety Principles Are a Good Reminder of What’s Important

Posted by proforma on August 3, 2009  |  No Comments

The need for better process safety management is widely recognized after major incidents that resulted in worker fatalities. So it’s good news that Britain’s industrial leaders, regulators and unions published the first set of agreed-upon principles for ‘process safety leadership’.

The representatives agreed on eight principles that included requirement of board-level involvement and competence, as well as involvement of the workforce in safety management. Full details are available at PSLG Principles of Process Safety Leadership.

OSHA Issues Hazard Communication Guidance for Combustible Dusts

Posted by proforma on August 3, 2009  |  No Comments

OSHA has published  Hazard Communication Guidance for Combustible Dusts  intended to provide guidance on the identification of combustible hazards in the workplace and appropriate communication for workers on their presence.

In particular, the document is intended for chemical manufacturers and importers to help them recognize where and when an explosion is possible, protective measures they can take, and requirements for material safety data sheets and labels.

The document is based on the work of The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), which identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that caused the death of 119 workers and injured 718. This excerpt from the document describes the findings:

“In many of the incidents, workers and managers were unaware of the potential for dust explosions, or failed to recognize the serious nature of dust explosion hazards. The CSB reviewed Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of 140 known substances that produce combustible dusts and found poor or inadequate transmittal of information regarding potential dust hazards; 41% of the MSDSs reviewed by the CSB did not warn users about potential explosion hazards. Of the remaining 59% of MSDSs sampled, most of the information was either not stated in a place or manner clearly recognized by workers, or was not specific to hazards related to combustible dusts.”