News

As an added value to our members, the Oklahoma Safety Council (OSC) has negotiated a great deal on your behalf. OSHA Training Institute (OTI) courses are now available to our members at a reduced rate compared to any other OTI courses in the state. Take advantage of the convenience of not having to travel out of state as courses are now available in Oklahoma City & Tulsa. Visit our website at www.oksafety.org for a listing of upcoming courses or contact Rocky Waller at 405-848-8626.

The Oklahoma Safety Council (OSC) has announced our new Certified Safety & Health Official (CSHO) program. Participants be able to take your entire CSHO program locally in Oklahoma City. The OSC will accept current CSHO credits you've completed at any other OTI in the region and credits will be applied towards the OSC CSHO program. Courses are now scheduled on the OSC website. For more information about the CSHO program, contact Rocky Waller at 405-848-8626 or by email at rwaller@oksafety.org

Does your company have a great safety and health program that you would be proud to showcase? There is no better venue to acknowledge these groups or individuals than the Oklahoma Safety Council’s 2010 Safety and Health Conference. We are currently accepting nominations for Safety & Health Awards. Please call the OSC at 405-848-8626 or contact Kellie Warrior by email at kelliw@oksafety.org for details. Award nomination forms can be downloaded from the OSC website at www.oksafety.org. All applications must be submitted by the deadline of April 2, 2010.

Company Award
The Oklahoma Safety Council is looking for the best
safety and health programs in Oklahoma! If you have a
great safety and/or health program or know of one, please
complete or have them complete an application for the 2010
safety and health awards. The OSC will recognize 3 winners
for the company award for small, medium and large
employers. (Yes, you can nominate your own program!)

Most Improved Award
The Oklahoma Safety Council is looking for the most
improved safety and health programs in Oklahoma! If your
company has shown great improvement within the last two
years in your safety and/or health program or if you know of
a company that has, please complete or have them complete
an application for the 2010 safety and health awards.
(Yes, you can nominate your own program!) Even if your
company’s data doesn’t reflect a great program compared
to your industry peers, you may have shown great improvement
over the last two years.

Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Award
The Oklahoma Safety Council is looking for the best
safety and health programs from Voluntary Protection Program
(VPP) sites in Oklahoma! If you have achieved this
endeavor or know of someone who has, please complete
an application for the 2010 safety awards. (Yes, you can nominate yourself!).

Washington, DC – The National Safety Council announced today that it estimates at least 28% of all traffic crashes – or at least 1.6 million crashes each year – are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting. NSC estimates that 1.4 million crashes each year are caused by drivers using cell phones and a minimum of 200,000 additional crashes each year are caused by drivers who are texting. The announcement came on the one-year anniversary of NSC’s call for a ban on all cell phone use and texting while driving.

“We now know that at least 1.6 million crashes are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting," said Janet Froetscher, president & CEO of the National Safety Council. "We know that cell phone use is a very risky distraction and texting is even higher risk. We now know that cell phone use causes many more crashes than texting. The main reason is that millions more drivers use cell phones than text," she said. "That is why we need to address both texting and cell phone use on our roads."

"This new estimate provides critical data for legislators, business leaders and individuals to evaluate the threat and need for legislation, business policies and personal actions to prevent cell phone use and texting while driving," Froetscher said. "There was great progress made in 2009, particularly regarding a broad recognition that texting is dangerous. We now need the same broad consensus that recognizes cell phone use while driving causes even more crashes.”

Froetscher said public support for laws banning cell phone use while driving is gaining momentum.

"Public opinion research conducted in 2009 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Nationwide Insurance show public support for total bans on cell phones at 43 and 57 percent respectively," Froetscher said. "With public support now around 50 percent, we will continue to educate people about the risks of cell phone use while driving and the value of effectively-enforced laws in changing behavior and reducing crashes.”

In constructing its estimates, NSC used widely-accepted statistical methods and analysis based on data of driver cell phone use from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and from peer-reviewed research that quantifies the risk of using a cell phone and texting while driving. NSC's statistical model and estimates were peer-reviewed by academic researchers in traffic safety and biostatistics.

The estimate of 25% of all crashes -- or 1.4 million crashes -- caused by cell phone use was derived from NHTSA data showing 11% of drivers at any one time are using cell phones and from peer-reviewed research reporting cell phone use increases crash risk by four times. The estimate of an additional minimum 3% of crashes -- or 200,000 crashes -- caused by texting was derived by NHTSA data showing 1% of drivers at any one time are manipulating their device in ways that include texting and from research reporting texting increases crash risk by 8 times. Using the highest risk for texting reported by research of 23 times results in a maximum of 1 million crashes due to texting; still less than the 1.4 million crashes caused by other cell phone use.

For more information visit the NSC at www.nsc.org

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

Poisonings are easier to prevent than to treat. Every day, the Oklahoma Poison Control Center receives calls from distraught parents, grandparents, caregivers and babysitters who didn't think a poisoning could happen to their loved one. Unfortunately, children are at a greater risk for a poisoning exposure because of their natural curiosity to explore the world. Toddlers tend to touch everything and once they pick something up - it goes straight to their mouth. It can take less than a second for a child to drink or eat a poison that could be life threatening. Children's bodies are physically less able to tolerate toxic chemicals.

It only takes a minute to educate yourself about how to prevent a poison in your home. For more information visit the Oklahoma Poison Control website at www.oklahomapoison.org

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued commonsense fact sheets that employers and workers can use to promote safety during the current H1N1 influenza outbreak.

The fact sheets inform employers and workers about ways to reduce the risk of exposure to the 2009 H1N1 virus at work. Separate fact sheets for health care workers, who carry out tasks and activities that require close contact with 2009 H1N1 patients, contain additional precautions.

"Protecting our nation's workers is OSHA's top priority," said Jordan Barab, the agency's acting assistant secretary. "These fact sheets are tools we have developed to help ensure America's workers stay healthy and our businesses remain viable. OSHA's new fact sheets will help all employers identify appropriate actions to protect their workers."

OSHA's "Workplace Safety and H1N1" Web site provides easy to understand information appropriate for all workplaces and more extensive guidance for those involved in higher risk health care activities. The fact sheets are advisory in nature and informational in content.

As new information about the 2009 H1N1 virus becomes available, these workplace fact sheets will be updated. Employers and workers should review OSHA's www.osha.gov/h1n1 site often to ensure they have the most up-to-date information when making decisions about their operations and planning.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA's role is to promote safe and healthful working conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education. For more information about the agency, visit www.osha.gov.

OSHA Compliance Assistance Quick Start is a tool to introduce employers and employees, especially those at new or small businesses, to the compliance assistance resources on OSHA’s website. Quick Start currently includes modules for:

- General Industry
- Construction
- Health Care
- Hispanic Outreach

By following the step-by-step guides, you can generate an initial set of compliance assistance materials tailored to your workplace. For more information visit the OSHA webiste below.

http://osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/quickstarts/index.html

The H1N1 influenza virus not only has an impact on families at home, but also on businesses across the nation. U.S. health officials estimate H1N1 has infected an estimated 22 million Americans and caused at least 3,900 deaths in 2009. While the number of H1N1 cases is declining, it is expected to peak again. Employers should prepare now for another wave to ensure business operations run as usual.

To address H1N1, NSC encourages businesses of all sizes to promote healthy behavior by offering hand sanitizer and tissues to employees and customers. Encouraging fewer in-person meetings, offering tips on flu prevention and modifying sick leave policies to encourage employees with flu symptoms to stay home also are steps businesses can take to protect employees. While these efforts can reduce the spread of H1N1 in the workplace, additional steps can ensure businesses remain productive during a pandemic:

•Ask employees to document daily procedures.
•Train employees to cover for co-workers.
•Have an alternative plan to distribute products and services.
•Ask suppliers what steps they have taken to ensure they can continue delivering during a pandemic.

“Many companies recognize the importance of protecting the health of their workers by preventing the spread of H1N1,” said Jim Johnson, NSC Senior Director, Workplace Initiatives. “In addition to maintaining a safe and healthy workforce, these businesses understand it also contributes to the health of their business by avoiding levels of absence that adversely impact operations.”

For more H1N1 flu resources for employers, visit NSC’s Website.

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

Every year more than 40,000 people are killed and more than 3 million people are injured in motor vehicle crashes. Crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for all people between the ages of 3 and 33.

There are simple steps that can be taken to reduce your likelihood of getting into a motor vehicle crash.

•Drive defensively
•Never talk or text on a cell phone while driving
•Follow posted speed limits

Contact the Oklahoma Safety Council at 405-848-8626 for a listing of driver improvement courses for adults and teens.

It doesn't take any training to recognize that the world's economy has taken a significant downturn. It does take effective and proven professional development training to guide impacted organizations back to the summit.

Oklahoma Safety Council is proud to partner with Oklahoma City University to bring the Disney Keys to Excellence program, presented by the world renowned Disney Institute, to the Oklahoma City area on October 20, 2009.

A one-day local workshop, the Disney Keys to Excellence program is a rare and affordable opportunity to learn best business practices from Disney insiders, and discover ways to easily and immediately adapt and apply those best practices to pick up the pace in these slow economic times.

Organizations from across the nation and around the world have learned proven philosophies, adapted critical lessons, and implemented effective processes to reap the rewards of improvements in leadership, management, service, and brand loyalty.

We invite your team to join thousands of professionals and discover the Disney business secrets to . . .

Strengthening loyalty and retaining valuable customers
Expanding their brand and generating greater profits
Building team involvement and ownership
Creating a service culture and motivating employees
Maintaining a competitive edge in a sluggish economy

TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER GO TO: www.KeysOklahomaCity.com

Seasonal flu in the workplace can halt operations in any size company. Worker absences, decreases in productivity and increased healthcare expenditures all impact the bottom line. This year, the pandemic H1N1 flu strain may circulate with traditional seasonal flu viruses—potentially doubling the impact of the flu season on employers.

The best way to prevent the flu in your workplace is to provide employees with the annual seasonal influenza vaccination. Employees, especially those with underlying health conditions, also should plan to receive the pandemic H1N1 vaccination (to be distributed later this fall).

The vaccine can prevent the flu or reduce severity and duration in a person with flu symptoms. Additionally, the flu vaccine reduces the risk of employees developing serious complications. All employees should be educated about the importance of receiving a seasonal flu vaccine, especially older workers and those with pre-existing, chronic conditions.

If your company has not previously held a seasonal flu vaccine clinic for employees, this is the year to do so. NSC’s Prescription for the Flu guide outlines how to plan a worksite flu vaccine clinic. Employers should begin planning now during the summer months, as public health officials encourage people to be vaccinated as soon as the seasonal flu vaccine is available in their community.

When planning your clinic, also consider offering the pneumococcal vaccine to employees. Pneumonia is a frequent and serious complication of both seasonal flu and the H1N1 strain of the flu. The pneumococcal vaccine can be offered at the same time as the seasonal flu vaccine.

For more information, read NSC’s tip sheets on how to protect families, employees and businesses from the flu.

YouTube Site Surpasses 21,000 Hits!! Since its posting on YouTube just two months ago, the NSC’s “Death by Cell Phone” video has surpassed 21,000 hits. Please post the NSC YouTube link on any Facebook or social networking page you have. Right now the video has extra support from our “Death by Cell Phone” billboard advertisements, visible in 67 markets thanks to Nationwide Insurance Co. and Lamar Advertising. This campaign supports the NSC’s commitment to transportation safety.

For more information visit the National Safety Council website at http://www.nsc.org/news/death_by_cellphone.aspx

The Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 12 released a compendium of detailed data that analyzes its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for the period 1992-2006.

The document shows a high of 6,632 worker deaths in 1994 and a low of 5,534 in 2002. In another analysis, the report charts the rising number of Hispanic worker deaths, from 533 in 1994 to 990 in 2006. Other categories analyzed include selected fatal transportation events, multiple-fatality incidents, employment and fatalities by worker gender, and fatal occupational injuries by major occupation group.

As part of an ongoing national effort to identify workplace combustible dust hazards, OSHA said June 18 that its compliance officers identified 3,662 violations during 813 inspections in a wide range of industries during the past 16 months.

The enforcement visits are part of a National Emphasis Program intended to reduce worker exposure to combustible dust hazards. The program was created in response to a number of high-profile incidents.

OSHA said it made more than 100 visits to targeted facilities in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi and issued 667 citations.

ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE

Each year the Oklahoma Safety Council hosts the largest Safety & Health Conference in the state. The 2009 Safety & Health Conference will be held at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond on June 3-5, 2009. On behalf of the Oklahoma Safety Council (OSC) we encourage you to join us at the 2009 Safety & Health Conference, “Safety: Get in the Game.” Our program provides you with a path to maintain focus on your interests as well as great networking opportunities with vendors and people in your own field. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you can take back to your work and enhance productivity. So come join us – see and hear what’s new – network with the vendors – and meet new contacts.

If you would like further information about this great event, download the 2009 Safety & Health Conference program for complete details. Don’t forget, early bird registration deadline is March 31, 2009.

On average, eight people die from home structure fires every day, according to a new report from the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. In addition, home structure fires are responsible for 13,600 injuries and $7.4 billion in property damage, the report found. Other findings:

Children younger than 5 and adults older than 65 are at the greatest risk of home fire-related death.
Almost two-thirds of fatal home fires occurred in homes with no working smoke alarm.
Approximately one-third of home fires and home fire deaths occurred in winter months.
Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home fires. Approximately 41 percent began in the kitchen or cooking area.
Smoking was the leading cause of home structure fire deaths, followed by heating equipment.

In an 80-17 vote, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed Hilda L. Solis as secretary of labor.

The nomination was stalled for several weeks after questions surfaced regarding Solis' husband's tax liens and her role as a board member and treasurer of a nonprofit, pro-labor union organization.

Labor unions hailed the confirmation shortly after the vote. Among them was the Washington-based Service Employees International Union, which said in a press release that Solis understands challenges confronting workers in the global economy.