SMART  News

Coming Soon: Spanish-language resources on the L&I Website

Next month, L&I will launch an extensive Spanish-language web site that will be an important resource for Hispanic business owners and Hispanic workers.  The site can help Spanish-speaking employers understand their workplace responsibilities and provide information to Spanish speaking workers.  

Topics covered include: Wage and hour laws and rules Contractor registration L&I’s safety and health consultation services Accident prevention programs Workers’ compensation rights and responsibilities Crime Victims Compensation Program.  The design will include an option for alternating between English and Spanish content.  The Spanish-language web pages are part of a broader effort by L&I to serve Washington’s increasingly diverse population.  

To learn more about L&I’s Spanish outreach efforts or to request a workplace-safety consultation in English and Spanish, please contact Veronica Bronkema at mailto:brve235@lni.wa.gov (e-mail) or 360-902-5288 (phone).

Construction Crane Safety Stakeholder Meetings

The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will hold stakeholder meetings October 29^th through November 5^th to gather feedback on the Construction Crane Certification and Operator Qualifications and Experience drafts.  

DOSH held several stakeholder meetings this past summer to gather information from the industry to develop these new draft rules.  They want to hear from people in the industry, so if you would like to provide input, plan to attend a meeting in your area. 

The meetings are as follows:
-October 29^th: Yakima at the Red Lion Hotel
-October 30^th: Spokane at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park
-November 1^st: Vancouver at the Red Lion at the Quay
-November 2^nd: Seattle at the Doubletree Hotel
-November 5^th: Tumwater at the Comfort Inn

There will be two sessions at each location running from 9am-11:30am and 12:30pm-3pm.  The afternoon session will be a repeat of the morning session. 

The exact locations and times as well as a draft timeline, a link to HB 2171 and contact information are listed at: http://www.lni.wa.gov/safety/topics/atoz/cranes/default.asp. 

If you have questions or would like to submit comments on the draft rule, please contact Cindy Ireland at mooc235@lni.wa.gov or (360) 902-5522. 

November 14^th Safety Summit: Home Safety for the Holidays

Each year, thousands of homes are lost due to fires.  Hear first-hand from the Seattle Fire Department how you can prevent this tragedy from happening to your family and those you love.  Learn the safest way to use power strips, how to properly wire and the best way to safely decorate with wreaths, trees and lights.  Families are welcome!!

This month’s meeting will be facilitated by Rick Gleason from the University of Washington and Bill Mace, Education Coordinator with Seattle Fire Department will be presenting. 

As always, the meeting will be held at the Aerospace Machinists Lodge, 9125 15^th Place South, Seattle, WA 98108 from 9am-12pm.  Please join us at the Steering Committee meeting held prior to the Summit at 6:30am at the Emerald Greens Restaurant in Tukwila.

The Flu Vaccine is Available

Having a flu virus run rampant through a workforce can seriously impact production and the lives of your workers. The flu season is from November to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March, but the vaccine is usually offered between September and mid-November (and may be given at other times of the year).

Getting the shot before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or protection from, the virus. Although you can get a flu shot well into flu season, it's best to try to get it earlier rather than later. However, even when there are only 2 or 3 months left in the flu season, it's still a good idea to get protection if the vaccine is available in your area. A non-shot option, the nasal mist vaccine, is now available, but because it contains weakened live flu viruses it is not for people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions. The nasal mist vaccine is only for healthy, non-pregnant people between the ages of 2 and 49 years.

How the Flu Vaccine Works
Flu vaccines are available as a shot or nasal mist. Given as an injection, the flu shot contains killed flu viruses that will not cause the flu, but will prepare the body to fight off infection by the live flu virus. Getting a shot of the killed virus means a person is protected against that particular type of live flu virus if he or she comes into contact with it. The nasal mist vaccine contains weakened live flu viruses. Because it contains live viruses, the mist is not for people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions.

Even if you received the vaccine last year, that won't protect you from getting the flu this year because the protection wears off and flu viruses constantly change. That's why the vaccine is updated each year to include the most current strains of the virus. The flu vaccine reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80% during the season. Because the vaccine prevents infection with only a few of the viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms, it isn't a guarantee against getting sick. But even if someone who's gotten the shot gets the flu, symptoms usually will be fewer and milder.

Side Effects
A common myth about the flu shot is that it can actually cause the flu. But the flu shot used in the United States is made from killed influenza viruses, which means that it's impossible to catch the flu by receiving it. However, because the nasal spray flu vaccine is made from live viruses, it may cause mild flu-like symptoms, including runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever.

Where Can My Workers Get Flu Shots?
Flu shots are available at:

• many health care settings, including doctors' offices and public, employee, and university health clinics

• some pharmacies

• some supermarkets

• some community groups

Many healthcare providers such as U.S. Healthworks are available to visit jobsites and offices providing workers with easy access to the vaccine.

Safe Driving Resources

Safe driving practices are essential as winter approaches and the weather turns gray and rainy here in the Northwest. Decreased visibility and bad road conditions can lead to an increase in road hazards and car accidents. We urge you to look over the power point below, as it offers tips to help you recognize many of the actions and behaviors that increase your risk for car accidents.  This presentation also gives great Risk Avoidance Tips to decrease the possibility of being in a car accident.
Click here for the presentation.

If you are interested in further information on safe driving or if you would like to share in the learning process with others, another great resource to look at is L&I’s Safety Video Catalog.  It offers informational videos on many important topics, including safe driving, that you can either check out or watch online.  Safe Driving: A State of Mind can be found by clicking here.

SMART also offers a Defensive Driving class if you are interested in receiving instruction from an expert.  The next class is on December 13^th, 2007 from 12pm-4pm.  For more information on this class or to register, click here.  

By preparing yourself and your employees with information on safe driving practices, you can save lives.

Personal Safety Tips

Winter is approaching and the days are getting shorter. If you do arrive at work before others or leave late, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Ideally, the parking closest to your entrance is well lit and not encroached upon by foliage and structures that rob you of a wide “visual horizon”.

Be sure to lock the exterior door as you enter the building and the door to your office as an added precaution if you so choose. Call a designated person and let them know that you have in fact arrived safely. If you have no designated “call out” person, it would not be relevant if no one heard from you?

If you get a ride to work, ask the driver to wait outside until you confirm you are in safely. A male companion may want to walk you to the door.

If you feel uncomfortable for any reason call the police ask them to send a car by your office. Always honor your instincts!

If you did park further out and will be closing late, move your vehicle closer to your buildings before it gets dark. If you know you will not be able to see 100 feet around your vehicle after dark, find a better parking space.

Criminals focus in on the unaware as well as the highly predictable. Remember to occasionally vary arrival and departure times, as well as your routes to and from work.

Walk with purposeful stride and spend as little time as possible in or around the vehicle. Scan your surroundings and project an alert and “heads up” image. A small LED flashlight is helpful for a quick glance around, under and in your vehicle. Leave your hands as free as possible from packages and bags. This gives you the best chance of defending yourself making you a less desirable target.

Lock your doors and leave immediately.

Be aware. Be strategic. Be safe.

Larry Kaminer
f.e.m.m.e Safety, Inc
http://www.femmesafety.com/

Larry Kaminer also teaches Personal Safety classes through the SMART Education Center.  If you would like to register or learn more, please click here!

Staph Infections

In the past few weeks, staph infections, especially the serious MRSA strand, have been making headlines across the nation.  A 17-year-old student in Virginia died from the ‘superbug’ this past month due to the infection running rampant in schools and doctors have concluded that MRSA is now killing more Americans than AIDS.  If you would like further information on MRSA and how you can prevent it, please visit the Public Health website at: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/mrsa.pdf. 

Challenges of Our Aging Workforce

The aging workforce will become a greater issue for all and especially for construction contractors.  Meeting the challenges of our aging workforce, the University of Washington is developing a workshop to provide participants with an understanding about the challenges and opportunities of our aging workforce and to develop action plans for their workplaces.

Your help is needed to brainstorm ideas in making this course construction specific.  Anyone interested in attending or providing input should contact Michael Silverstein, Clinical Professor with the University of Washington, at masilver@u.washington.edu.

Aging will affect all of us.  Here's your chance to make a difference in developing our future workforce.