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August 2014 Visit: ComplianceSigns.com | Connection blog

Top Safety News This Month

Get ready for National Preparedness Month in September

Free tool kit for Drive Safely Work Week in October

Review these 5 confined space myths - Do you believe?

Quick sleep tips for truck drivers

How to keep language barriers from becoming safety barriers

Top OSHA fines reach $2.6 million in July

Hello again, friends It's back-to-school time, and while education is on everyone's mind, it's a good time to think about workplace safety education, too. This month's Connection includes many education-focused resources, including information on disaster preparation, safe driving, confined spaces, safety training and more. Take a look and you'll find some good supplies to take back to school.

Have a safe month - Paul Sandefer, President

September is National Preparedness Month Could your business or organization come back from a natural disaster like the recent California earthquake, wildfires or tornados? You may be insured, but without a detailed disaster plan you're taking a big chance. How big? Up to 40% of businesses affected by a disaster never reopen. September is National Preparedness Month, and FEMA has prepared a website with resources to help your business survive a disaster. Read more on preparation resources here. Browse Severe Weather safety signs here.

5 Confined Space Myths: How Many Do You Believe?

OSHA identifies more than 20 industry sectors with a variety of types of confined spaces. With so many industries and space configurations, it's no wonder workers are sometimes unsure of confined space rules. An article in the August issue of OH&S Magazine attempts to set the record straight. Take a look at these confined space myths and see which ones you or your workers might believe. Read more on these myths. Browse Confined Space safety signs here.

Free Took Kit for Drive Safely Work Week in October Drive Safely Work Week™ (DSWW) is an annual workplace safety campaign to remind employees about safe driving practices. This year's theme, "Driving Your Safety Culture Home," is designed to help organizations integrate elements of safe driving into their corporate safety culture. A free tool kit is available with ready-made materials and low-cost ideas to start, expand and sustain a road safety program. Learn more here. Browse Vehicle Safety Signs at ComplianceSigns.com.

NIOSH Offers Quick Sleep Tips for Truck Drivers The NHTSA has estimated that some 100,000 reported drowsy-driving crashes every year result in more than 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in losses. Commercial drivers are at increased risk for drowsy driving because of their long hours and overnight schedules. NIOSH and the CDC have published a brochure to help truck drivers get the sleep they need and understand the benefits of adequate sleep. It includes tips and key facts about sleep - and what happens when you don't get enough. Read more and check related resources here. Browse Truck Safety signs and labels.

New Report Helps You Assess Posture to Prevent MSDs NIOSH has released a new report that can help occupational safety and health practitioners conduct improved posture assessments in the workplace - which can help prevent and control occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Observation-Based Posture Assessment: Review of Current Practice and Recommendations for Improvement describes a research-based approach for assessing torso and arm posture; discusses enhancements including digital video, computer software, training, and the use of visual cues; and more.

Find out more at the Connection blog. Browse Safe Lifting and Back Belt safety signs.

Workplace Safety News and Notes Here's a collection of recent safety news and resources from around

the web:

OSHA SVEP Grows 23 Percent From Last Year to 423 sites in July

Download the Top 10 Presentations from the 2014 NFPA Conference & Expo

Ladder / Fall Prevention Webinar set for September 4

10 Most Dangerous Jobs Photo Gallery at EHS Today

NFPA Seeks Comments on Proposed New Hazmat Standards

Get details and links at the Connection blog. Browse safety signs and labels.

Top OSHA Fines Reach $2.6 Million in July OSHA issued 12 significant fines in July - up from 9 in June - with a proposed total of $2.59 million. Common violations included: lockout / tagout, fall protection and fire hazards. The 3 top fines:

$816,500 for false abatement documentation and continued machine hazards at an Ohio manufacturer

$305,100 for 16 serious, repeat, failure-to-abate violations at a Texas barge builder

$228,690 for repeat and willful fall protection violations at a Florida construction company

See the full list here. Browse safety signs and labels here.

SAFETY TIP: Confined Spaces

Many workplaces include spaces that are considered "confined" because they restrict activities of employees who must enter, work in or exit from them. These spaces, such as tanks, manholes, silos or pipelines, often present increased injury risks. Here are some confined space safety tips from OSHA:

Do not enter permit-required confined spaces without being trained and without having a permit to enter.

Review, understand and follow employer's procedures before entering permit-required confined spaces and know how and when to exit.

Before entry, identify any physical hazards.

Before and during entry, test and monitor for oxygen content, flammability, toxicity or explosive hazards as necessary.

Use employer's fall protection, rescue, air-monitoring, ventilation, lighting and communication equipment according to entry procedures.

Maintain contact at all times with a trained attendant either visually, via phone, or by two-way radio. This monitoring system enables the attendant and entry supervisor to order you to evacuate and to alert appropriately trained rescue personnel to rescue entrants when needed.

Make sure that only you remove your assigned lock.

Make sure all workers are clear of danger points before re-energizing the system.

Download a Confined Space Safety Tips sheet at our Slideshare page, or Browse Confined Space safety signs here.

Customer Comments

Here's what some of our customers are saying about ComplianceSigns.com this month:

Great selection and easy to navigate to what I wanted! - Tim J. Found what I needed and ordered easily. Thanks! - Deb B. Website easy to use. Very happy with the quality of the product. - Debbie R. Customer service rep was knowledgeable and courteous, website comprehensive and

informative. Would not hesitate to use ComplianceSigns again! - David F.

Read more ComplianceSigns.com customer reviews.

SMG SAFETY ADVISOR: Language Barriers and Safety Barriers A big part of managing safety involves communicating rules and hazards to workers, but how effective can that be when there’s a language barrier - or multiple languages - on the same worksite? The safety experts atSafety Management Group in Indianapolis offer some good advice in a recent blog post that outlines simple steps you can take to improve understanding for everyone on your worksite. And remember, even some English-speaking workers may not be able to read safety materials. Read more here, or browse bilingual safety signs at ComplianceSigns.com.

Top Safety Articles Last Month These were the most popular articles in last month's Connection:

Top OSHA Fines in June Safety Tip: Proper PPE Fit For Women Heat Index Safety Sign at ComplianceSigns.com Which States are Safest to Work In? Effective Discipline for Your Safety Program

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