Breathe Easy: Mold and Asbestos

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

How much do you know about the building you work in?  Have class in? Or even live in?  Many buildings are older or not taken care of very well and can pose serious health risks for those that spend time in them.   Older buildings are sometimes known to have asbestos in them and any building can have mold growing in it.

What is asbestos?  Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and was commonly used as a building material from the 1940’s to 1980’s.  Asbestos was chosen because of its very good insulating properties, fire resistance and durability.  In the 1980’s however it was found out that asbestos poses serious health risks.  Asbestos has very small microfibers that it gives off and breathing them in can be very detrimental to one’s health.  These fibers have been proven to cause a buildup of scar-like tissue in the lungs of those who breathe it.  This scar-like tissue is called asbestosis and it can result in loss of lung function that often progresses to a disability and death.  This isn't the only problem asbestos poses.  Asbestos has been known to cause lung cancer and other diseases such as mesothelioma.  

Asbestos isn't the only thing that can be in your walls that can harm you.  Mold has been known to also cause serious health risks.  Mold can start growing in a building because of the tiny spores that the mold releases into the air.  These spores can travel anywhere the air does including indoors.  If the spores land on an area where they can grow they will.  Common areas are basements and walls, but it can grow anywhere.  The spores that the mold gives off are the root cause of the health risks that the mold has associated with it.  Once the spores are inhaled they can cause issues such as lung irritants, coughing, asthma attacks, and even permanent lung damage.  The mold spores are also known to cause other issues like itchy eyes, sneezing, and allergic reactions. 

Both mold and asbestos can be in the building you are reading this in right now.  It’s a little scary to think about, but being informed on what can be done will help.  Asbestos can be present in older buildings and you can contact the owner of the building or get an asbestos test.  Mold can be seen by the naked eye it is commonly in walls of damp areas.  For mold you can also contact the building owner and see if mold is growing in your buildings.  In really damp areas you can commonly smell the musty odor of mold.  

Getting rid of asbestos and mold is not an easy task.  In most cases it is necessary to hire a professional for the removal of both asbestos and mold. Contractors are recommended because they are trained to remove the hazardous materials without releasing more fibers or spores into the air.  

Asbestos and mold are both very dangerous. Take precautions and get them removed so you can breathe safely and stay healthy.    

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

Beat the Heat

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

With summer just around the corner, the weather is finally warming up and it’s important that we prepare for the heat that is coming. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are all heat related emergencies that most people are uneducated about. During a heat wave, it’s important to know and understand the symptoms of heat related illnesses and what you should do should you see these symptoms in yourself or someone around you. 

The least threatening heat condition is called heat cramps. According to the Red Cross, heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms that usually occur in the legs or abdomen caused by exposure to high heat and humidity and loss of fluids and electrolytes. This is often an early sign that your body is struggling with the heat.  You should take immediate action to replenish your fluids and find a cooler place such as a shaded area until your body can fully recover. 

A more severe condition is known as heat exhaustion, this often occurs during strenuous activities and/or physical labor in high heat and humidity.  According to OSHA, signs of heat exhaustion are dizziness, headache, sweaty skin, fast heartbeat, nausea, general weakness, and cramps. If you see or feel any of these symptoms, immediately move the person with symptoms, whether it is yourself or someone else, to a cooler place, remove any tight clothing and apply wet towels to the skin. Make sure the person drinks small amounts of cool water and closely monitor their condition. If their condition worsens, contact medical personal immediately. 

The most severe heat related illness is heat stroke, also known as sunstroke. According to Red Cross, this is a life-threatening condition in which a person’s temperature control system stops working and the body is unable to cool itself. Signs of heat stroke include hot, red skin, changes in consciousness, vomiting, and high body temperature. Quickly move the person to a cooler place, using rapid cooling methods by applying ice wrapped in cloth to their body. Also, immediately call 9-1-1, as heat stroke is a life threatening condition. 

The dangers of overheating are often overlooked. During a heat wave you should do your best to stay is cool, shaded areas. However, if you have to work outdoors make sure to drink plenty of fluids, wear light loose fitting clothing, and take frequent breaks from the heat. 

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 

Are You a Cell Phone Addict?

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

It’s a fairly obvious fact that Americans in today’s world love their cell phones. In fact, recent statistics from the website www.pewinternet.org show that over 91% of all adults have a cell phone, and of this 91%, 55% own smart phones in particular. It is definitely not uncommon in today’s world for people to consider themselves addicted to their mobile devices. Though these complex devices have managed to benefit our world in many ways, what many people don’t consider is the health risk of over-using their phones. 

There are a broad range of side-effects to over-using your cell phone. According to the website www.bostonglobe.com, some of these proven side-effects include sore hands and fore-arms from texting, sore and dry eyes, headaches, sore neck, and dizziness to name a few common ones. There are even side-effects such as “Nomophobia” which is the fear of having to go without your cell phone and “Phantom cell phone vibration syndrome” which is when you believe you feel a vibration from your phone when it really hasn't vibrated. 

So how does one avoid these symptoms? The website www.webMD.com advises these three techniques to help control your usage:

• Be conscious of the situations and emotions that make you want to check your phone. Is it boredom? Loneliness? Anxiety? Maybe something else would soothe you.
• Be strong when your phone beeps or rings. You don't always have to answer it. In fact, you can avoid temptation by turning off the alert signals.
• Be disciplined about not using your device in certain situations (such as when you're with children, driving, or in a meeting) or at certain hours ( for instance, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.). "You'll be surprised and pleased to rediscover the pleasures of being in control of your attention," Carr says.

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

Staying Healthy at a Desk Job

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

Many Americans have jobs where they sit at a desk all day and there is nothing wrong with this, but these people are susceptible to certain health risks.  These jobs can facilitate in a sedentary life style and ergonomic health issues. 

If employees work in an environment that is mostly desk-bound it is important that the office is ergonomically designed with the employees in mind.  Without proper design workers could experience back issues after sitting improperly in chairs or have chairs that can hurt their backs over time.  When sitting in chairs for a prolonged period it is important to sit up straight, have your feet flat on the floor and hands out in a comfortable position.  It is also important for employers to provide chairs that appropriate for the job.  The chairs should be adjustable so they can be fit to the correct height for each employee.  The chairs should have lower back support to prevent lower back strain.  It is also important for desks to be ergonomically designed.  Not only should the chairs be adjustable, but the desks too.  Desks should be set at the correct height for each individual worker.  They also make desks that can be adjusted instantly and can even be raised high enough for a person to stand and work.  Switching between standing and sitting can help prevent skeletal and muscle issues.  

Workers that sit at a desk have a higher chance at living an inactive lifestyle.  This lifestyle can lead to anxiety, cardiovascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, depression, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, and kidney stones. People should have 150 minutes of exercise every week. Although it can be difficult to find time it is important to stay find ways to stay active throughout the day. Every so often workers should stand up, stretch, and walk around a bit.  People are supposed to walk about an average of 10,000 steps a day.  For me personally 10,000 steps is equivalent to 4.5 miles.  Taking this many steps will keep you active throughout the day.  Most people have smart phones now and there are plenty of free apps that will track your step count.  My personal favorite is Pedometer++.  I encourage you to download one and see how many steps you take a day.   

There are some other issues facing workers that work in office settings.  One is eye strain.  Focusing on a computer can be very strenuous of the eyes, so it is important to take a break from the computer every once in a while.  If your job requires you to be on the phone a lot you should have a Bluetooth headset rather than using a phone.  When using a phone you have to either hold it up with one hand or kink your neck to hold it.  Kinking your neck several times a day could become strenuous on your neck.  The height of computer screens could also be an issue that could cause strain on your neck.  If the screens are placed too high or too low you may find yourself kinking your neck up or down.  The top of the computer screen should be eye level when the worker is sitting straight up.

Millions of people work at a desk every day and it is important to keep health and safety in mind.  Maintain good posture when working and take a break every once in a while to stretch your legs and give your eyes a break.

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

Don't Let Allergies Ruin Your Spring

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

With the cold weather that has been sweeping the nation, it might be hard to believe that spring and warmer days are just around the corner. However, for many people such as myself, spring comes with the challenge of seasonal allergies. According to WebMD, “About 40 million people in the U.S. have some time of ‘indoor/outdoor’ allergy.” Seasonal allergies in the spring can be a major hassle for those who have to work in outdoor career fields such as farming, landscaping, roofing, and many others. Allergies treated improperly can lead to safety issues on the job site, for the allergic person and for their co-workers. 

Although there is no foolproof ‘cure’ for seasonal allergies, there are definitely options to make them less miserable. Things such as pollen, mold, dust, or chemical toxins and their byproducts can trigger allergies.  Some helpful tips for reducing your allergy symptoms include, but are not limited to: 

• Discover your most effective allergy medicine. There are a few different over the counter options for seasonal allergies, and each medicine will perform differently. Experiment until you find the best option to reduce your symptoms.

• Start taking your medication before spring arrives. According to WebMD, the time to start taking your medicine is late February, not late March. The time-frame is different depending on the climate you live in, however, once things start thawing, it will help you to start your medication before the pollen starts to peak. 

• Change the air filter(s) in your company’s air system to reduce indoor allergies. This helps avoid having the air conditioning suck in pollen from outdoors and spread it throughout your business, because the filters aren't working well. 

• If you work outside, consider wearing a face mask, especially if the pollen count is high that day, or if the company is doing work inside that is producing chemical gasses.  Be aware that if you need to filter out chemical toxins, you will need a different face mask from the ones that filter out dust and pollen.  You can check the pollen count online, or on an allergy based phone apps. When wearing a face mask, it might seem uncomfortable at first, however, it will help reduce the amount of pollen and reduce the effect of the inflammatory response caused by allergies. 

If allergies have made you miserable in the past, use these methods to reduce the effects. If the symptoms are still unbearable, see an allergist for alternative solutions. No one wants to dread going to work on a beautiful day; be prepared to reduce your allergies this spring.

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 

Keeping it Cool - How to Handle Workplace Stress

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

Workplace stress is a very real thing that happens to many people. Having to meet quotas, balancing family life with work, and the ever-so-constant concern of money and how it's spent are all major issues that the typical worker has to deal with. Think you might be stressed? Here is a list of some of the common symptoms of workplace stress: 

Emotional symptoms

• Negative or depressive feeling
• Disappointment with yourself
• Increased emotional reactions – more tearful or sensitive or aggressive
• Loneliness
• Loss of motivation, commitment and confidence
• Mood swings

Mental Symptoms

• Confusion, indecision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Poor memory

Changes from your normal behavior

• Changes in eating habits
• Increased smoking, drinking or drug taking ‘to cope’
• Mood swings affecting your behavior
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Twitchy, nervous behavior
• Changes in attendance such as arriving later or taking more time off
• Increase in errors and accidents

So how do you deal with workplace stress? All it requires is a little bit of patience and some self-confidence. Tackle each assignment you are given as a challenge and tell yourself that you WILL get each task done. Make sure to take frequent breaks from work when you feel it is needed. If you feel crammed in your cubicle then make a goal to get up out of your chair every hour and go on a little walk. You can even take your walk outside and get some fresh air. One of the most common causes for stress is a lack of fresh air and exercise. By going on a leisure walk outside you are killing two birds with one stone!

Another really helpful thing to do in order to defeat stress is to consider your diet. Have you been consuming unhealthy amounts of sugary foods? All of that sugar causes the human body to feel bogged down after a while. Though the initial rush of caffeine might make you feel good, the crash afterwards is often very rough. Start eating healthy snacks instead such as fruits, vegetables, and granola bars. 

And lastly, learn to perfect your time management skills. A major reason why most people feel stressed at work suddenly is because they just realize that a project or assignment is near deadline and most of the work has been procrastinated. Make the investment of buying a personal planner. With a planner handy, you will be able to jot down all of your tasks in an organized manner and will have something to use as a reminder so you won't procrastinate on things. Mark off time in your schedule for fun stuff too! After all, part of staying stress free is to balance work with play! 

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

Spring Flooding

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

It’s getting to the time of the year where we forget about the cold winter behind us and look ahead to the warm weather that spring brings with it.  Walking home for lunch I hear the sound of water flowing down the sides of the streets and into the drain.  That sound lets me know that the snow is melting and spring is on its way.  The snow melting is nice but when it melts it can bring disaster.  In some areas, especially those areas around rivers, the snow melting can lead to flooding conditions.  Floods can also be caused by excess rain, or a dam or levee breaking. Floods can ruin lives, create millions of dollars in damages, ruin whole houses, destroy cars, and even be deadly.  

What can be done to stop these terrible rising waters from harming you, your family, and your property?  The biggest thing is to know if you are in a high risk location.  If your house is located below sea level, like New Orleans for example, you are in danger of flooding.  Being below sea level is not the only high risk area though.  If you live in a town next to a river or if your house is close to a river you could be in a high risk location when spring comes along and the water level of the river rises.  You can be away from bodies of water like rivers and oceans and still be at risk though.  If your house is at the bottom of a hill or in the bottom of a bowl like formation, during a heavy rain fall you could still be in danger of flooding.  

If you are in a higher risk area it is important to be prepared in case a flood was to occur. Things you can do are to sand bag.  Many towns that are close to rivers that have been known to flood have volunteers filling and placing sandbags to form a wall to prevent the water from flowing into the town.  If you live in a town like this it is important to do your part and help your community.

Things you can do to help yourself are to have an evacuation plan, have an emergency kit, and always try to have your essential electronics charged.  Your evacuation plan should include having bags already packed, pets ready to go, and in a safe location.  A flood emergency kit should include flash lights, radio, tarps, batteries, drinking water, first aid equipment, emergency blankets, plastic bags, and flares.  For your electronics, such as a cell phone, it is important to have them charged and in plastic bags so the water doesn't damage them.      

   

Once the waters are coming in it is important to follow safety protocol.  Staying informed is very important; the radio in your emergency kit can help with that.  Get to higher ground.  It may seem obvious but if your house is flooding you have to leave and seek higher ground.  It’s not worth endangering yourself or someone else staying in your house or going back for valuables.

Floods can be very dangerous, but if you are prepared you’ll be able to beat the flood and stay safe.

Dale Bromenshenkel

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