Pain in the Neck

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

After a long day of work many people begin to feel aches and pains. One of the most common aches that employees struggle with is neck pain. Neck pain can be felt anywhere from your skull down to you shoulders. If not addressed neck pain can become very severe, and they may even limit an employee’s ability to do their job.

Too much stress on the neck has a few unpleasant side effects. The most common being a sore neck where there is a small and uncomfortable pain that causes stiffness. Over a long period of time the stiffness may increase and leave the neck almost motionless. Another side effect of neck injuries is a headache. Headaches are caused by the input of nerve endings in the scalp and neck. This is why it is not uncommon to have both a headache and a sore neck at the same time.

Neck pain is commonly caused by added stress to an employee’s neck that is repeated and prolonged through out the day. There are many activities that can cause stress to an employee’s neck. If an employee is working on a computer at a desk it is very common that they have neck pain do to the fact that they tend to lean their head forward to read the text on the computer. A long day of work staring at a screen puts a lot of stress on your neck causing an uncomfortable soreness. So this may be a good time to lean back in your chair and do some simple next stretches. 

The best way to prevent this soreness is to make sure you keep good posture while at your desk. Sit straight up in your chair, move your computer screen so it is at eye level and is in front of you, rest your arms on an adjustable armrest, and make sure your feet are flat on the floor. If you follow these tips you will have a good posture and that will help prevent neck pain. Another tip is to avoid holding a phone between your shoulder and your ear. If possible, try using a headset or speakerphone. If you are in a meeting try to find a seat that is front and center. This will prevent you from leaning forward in your seat throughout the meeting.

There can be many other causes of neck soreness that are not office related. Poor lifting technique can be damaging to an employees body, especially if it is repeated frequently.  If you are lifting a heavy objects make sure to follow correct lifting technique.  When lifting something heavy make sure that it is close to your body. This will protect your spine from any injury. Also make sure to bend your knees, and let the strong muscles of the legs do all the work.

If you are still having slight pain in your neck even after following these tips it may be that your muscles aren't loose enough.  It may be helpful to take a break and walk around the room. Take some time to stretch your muscles and really loosen them up before going back to work.

Thank you for your time and attention. Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Lucas Wertish

Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company

Mobile Security

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We live in a world where the use of technology is growing almost exponentially. Kids are getting smart phones younger and younger, and almost every college student has their own personal laptop or computer. Phone and internet safety is often overlooked as a safety issue. 

Something that most people don’t realize is that malware and viruses exist even on our smartphones. To quote Simon Hill, a freelance technology writer, “No OS is completely safe, and protection is a requirement across mobile platforms. No matter where you find a critical mass of people, there will always be some bad guys looking for ways to exploit them.” Some malware is hidden inside of downloadable applications, such as free games or free programs. Always make sure that the applications you’re downloading are highly rated by a large group of people, to help protect you from accidently downloading potential malware. One of the best choices you can make to help protect yourself is to download security for your mobile device. It’s a highly recommended choice and I’ll share some of the best security apps for different devices below.

Android devices have been targeted lately for a new wave of malware and viruses, it’s highly recommended to have some sort of software protecting you if you use an android device. Three of the most highly rated mobile security apps for android devices are:

• AVG Antivirus (Free)
• Lookout Security & Antivirus (Free)
• 360 Mobile Security (Free) 

Although Apple does provide high security to it’s iOS run devices, there’s still a risk of malware and viruses on these devices. If you want to cover your bases, three of the most highly rated mobile security apps for iPhone/iPad’s are: 

• McAfee Global Threat Intelligence Mobile (Free)
• VirusBarrier
• Lookout (Free)

Most of these recommended security apps for both iPhone’s and Android devices are free of charge and can help protect you from dangerous malware, spyware, and viruses. People are doing an increasing amount of personal work on their phones, such as business transactions, online banking, etc. There is no reason to leave yourself at risk by not installing a security system on your phone. 

Thank you for your time and attention.  Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Christopher Feigal

Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company

Hands On

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

When on the job an employee’s most useful tools are the hands. Employees are working with their hands all day, whether they’re carrying something, pushing something, or pulling something. Whatever it is that they are doing will require their hands. That is why hand injuries are so common, and so serious. Employees use their hands all day and one injury can leave them incapable of doing their job.

Employees that are not correctly using their hands are much more likely to injured. According to an article by Workplace Safety North statistics show that 25% of all workplace injuries happen to our hands and fingers. This shows how important it is to ensure all employees are using safety precautions when it comes to working with their hands.  

An employee’s hands and wrists are very vulnerable. They are made up of a very sophisticated system of tiny bones, muscles and ligaments.  The slightest scratch or cut can make it difficult and uncomfortable for an employee to work and a serious injury can take an employee out of the work force for months. The most common hand injury is either a cut or puncture wound. These injuries make up 50% of all hand injuries.

The best tips to prevent hand injuries while working are to:

• Avoid shortcuts
• Anticipate hazards
• Follow safety rules and procedures
• Analyze each task before starting
• Where a suitable pair of gloves for the job
• Keep your workplace clean 

If you follow all of these tips you will be able to keep you hands safe from injury.

Thank you for your time and attention. Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Lucas Wertish

Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company

Don't be Slipping

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Injuries in the workplace are unfortunate, but they do happen. The second most common type of workplace injury is a falling or a tripping injury and they happen more frequently then you’d think. The biggest cause for a falling injuries are wet or slippery floors. Floors in the workplace can get wet very easily from things spilling or it can just be part of the daily work environment, depending on where you work.

Things you can do to avoid slippery floors are to be aware where floors could or are frequently slippery. Examples of places that are frequently slippery are places where things are washed, like a dish room or a car wash. Places like this have water and soap on the floor often and create a slippery surface. If you’re aware of this you can be more careful. Another thing you can do to avoid slipping is to buy slip proof shoes. These shoes are often recommended for employees that are working in restaurants and places where you move around a lot. One way to avoid slipping on wet surfaces is to indicate that it’s wet and potentially slippery. Most employers have to have wet floor signs by law, but if you don’t use them they can’t help. If you notice that a place is wet and mark it with a wet floor sign it could save someone from slipping. The easiest way to avoid slippery surfaces is to clean up the spill. Doing that could avoid the whole problem from the start.

The second half of falling would be to trip. Tripping can occur when obstacles are in the way of frequent walking. It is very important to make sure that areas where people walk are clear of any obstacles or debris. A very dangerous injury can occur when people are carrying objects that can obscure their view and they trip over something and fall. The object they were carrying could land on them and hurt them even more. To avoid this you can make sure you have a clear path to walk before the object is picked up. You could also have someone help you make sure the path is clear before you start walking.

Slipping and tripping injuries are very common in the workplace and it is important you take precautions to keep you and your coworkers safe.

Thank you for your time and attention. Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Dale Bromenshenkel
Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company

Starting on the Right Foot

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One of the most common injuries in the work place is a foot injury. It is very common for an employee to be injured by dropping a heavy object on their foot. 80% of foot injuries occur when an item weighing 30+ pounds is dropped on an employee's foot. Lighter objects can also cause injuries and they may be more severe in hazardous work areas. 

There are more than 60,000 employees that will injure their feet and have to miss work. Loss of work hurts the employee both physically and financially. The employer will also suffer by losing productivity in the workplace, and a possible worker’s compensation claims. It is cheaper and easier for both of employers and employees to provide the right protection upfront.

Luckily for both of them it is a pretty simple fix. An employee should find a pair of work boots that are suitable for their situation. In the average workplace there are usually three key components that an employee wants in their work boot. The employee wants a snug fit to prevent strains and twists that may cause other foot related injuries. Another component an employee wants to look for are non-slip soles that will help them keep their balance. This will also prevent strains or twists. It will also prevent an employee from falling and possibly dropping a heavy object. Finally an employee should look for a work boot that has strong toe protection to prevent injury from falling object. You can find this by looking for a work boot that has a steel or composite toe. If you find a work boot that has all of these components you will be able to safely protect your toes and feet while in the workplace.

Thank you for your time and attention. Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Lucas Wertish

Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company

Electricity!

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

It’s something that is all around us but is often taken for granted. It has the ability to power our houses, cars, computers, phones, and many other devices we come in contact with on a daily basis. However, we often forget how dangerous electricity can be. According to e-Hazard’s high voltage training course, almost 8000 electrical contact accidents occur in the U.S. each year, and one worker dies each day from electrical contact. 

In the workplace it’s important to practice and implement strict safety rules when it comes to electricity. 

• Make sure inspections are done frequently and properly. 
• Properly label all switches and fuses to prevent confusion when trying to turn off the power to a machine about to undergo maintenance.
• Never overload circuits or outlets and never use extension cords as long-term wiring solutions. 
• Check quality of cords in high traffic areas to make sure no damage or exposed wiring has occurred. 
• Properly train your employees for detailed electrical safety if they work with high voltage equipment. 

Electricity isn’t just a safety issue in the workplace; it’s also a safety issue in homes across the country.  U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 47,820 reported home structure fires involving electrical failure or malfunction in 2007-2011. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, more than 30,000 non-fatal, shock accidents occur each year, and oftentimes it occurs when a kid tampers with a wall-outlet. 

Some safety tips for household electrical safety include: 

• If you have kids, always tamper-proof your electrical outlets. 
• Don’t use old and worn down extension cords or electrical equipment; the cost of eliminating potential dangers is much less than the potential loss of life or valuables.   
• Never overload outlets. If you need more plug-ins, consider paying the extra money to add separate outlets in your house. 
• Don’t ever try to fix your electrical issues unless you are qualified; hire a professional if needed. 
• Never leave potential fire-hazards, such as portable heaters, hair dryers, kitchen appliances, unattended. 

Paying the extra money on electrical training for your employees and spending the extra money on outlet covers or new wiring for your home use is well worth it. Never leave anything to chance; contact a certified electrician today. 

Thank you for your time and attention.  Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Christopher Feigal

Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company

Secondhand Smoke

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Smoking is very harmful to anyone who does it, but what many people don’t notice is that the smoke exhaled by smokers is harmful to those who breathe it in from the air. This is called secondhand smoke.  

Studies over the last 15 years by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have shown that that secondhand smoke is grouped with asbestos, benzene, and radon as Group A carcinogens. Research has shown that secondhand smoke can lead to cancer. 

With secondhand smoke being so harmful, regulations have been put in place. These regulations have been able to ban tobacco use in most every office and business across the country. Though upsetting many smokers, these actions had to take place in order to prevent non-smokers from inhaling harmful air.

To help avoid inhaling secondhand smoke, the Mayo Clinic has compiled a helpful list of 5 ways to prevent inhaling:

1. Don't allow smoking in your home. If your guests smoke, ask them to do it outside. If your partner smokes, encourage him or her to quit. 
2. Patronize restaurants and other businesses that enforce no-smoking policies. 
3. Don't allow smoking in your vehicle.
4. Choose smoke-free care facilities for children and aging loved ones. 
5. If you must share space with someone who's smoking, sit as far away from the smoke as possible.

Thank you for your time and attention. Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Phil Kwitek

Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company