Nye County

Workplace

Safety & Health

Inside this issue

Links to Safety Topics ... 2

Complacency ................. 3

Nye County Safety Committee ......... 4

Cold Stress .................... 5

2018 Injury Reporting .. 6

Contact Information…...7

What is safety? According to the dictionary:

Safety noun:

1. The condition of being safe from un-

dergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss.

2. A device designed to prevent inadvertent or hazardous

operation.

Safety verb:

3. To protect against failure, breakage or accident.

————————————————

“Nye County is an Equal Opportunity Employer”

2019 Volume 2, Issue 1

Some places use a 5 S program as

a system to get organized. In the next newsletter we will ex-

plore this further:

1. Sorting (Get rid of unnecessary items)

2. Set in order (Organize work area)

3. Sweeping (Maintain a clean work

area)

4. Standardizing( Consistent procedures)

5. Sustain (Keep the focus on the 5 s’s)

PROTECT YOUR

HANDS! You

need

them

to pick

up your paycheck.

While on a ladder,

never step back

to admire your

work

Safety is a full-

time job; don’t

make it a part

time practice

Safety isn’t a hob-

by, it’s a living.

For those who will

need you tomor-

row, please work

safely today!!

Here are links to some websites that might be of help when choosing topics for your Staff Meeting, Safety Meetings or Tailgate/Toolbox talks.

https://www.osha.gov/harwoodgrants/grantmaterials/bytopic/ Power Points & Tests for a variety of safety topics. (Occupational Safety & Health Administration -OSHA). https://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/publication.AthruZ?pType=AthruZ Publications and Quick Cards. (OSHA) https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ Workplace Safety & Health Topics. (Center for Disease Control & Prevention—CDC)

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pubs/

workplace_date_desc_nopubnumbers.html

Publications, FACT Sheets, other Workplace solutions. (National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health -NIOSH )

https://arlweb.msha.gov/epd/efsms/toolbox/

Tool Box Talks. (Mine Safety & Health Administration -MSHA)

https://www.who.int/health-topics/

Health topics. (World Health Organization -WHO).

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education

Fire related information. (National Fire Protection Agency -

NFPA)

https://msdsmanagement.msdsonline.com/company/bca4a390-4cc8-

4280-9ccc-e8601318bb04

Your departments Safety Data Sheets (E-binder), Nye County’s

Hazardous Communications plan and Exposure Control plan.

(MSDSOnline.)

http://www.nyecounty.net/422/Employee-Resources

Workers’ Compensation information such as Accident and Inju-

ry Reporting Procedures, Accident Investigation

Form, C-1, & Contracted Providers.

(Nye County Website.)

http://safetytoolboxtopics.com/Toolbox-Talks/

Publications and Toolbox topics. (National Safety

Council-NSC)

Thank you for taking the extra step every day to ensure the safe-

ty of yourself and your co-worker!!

Tina Landsberry,

Workplace Safety & Training Officer (WPSTO)

tlandsberry@co.nye.nv.us

2

Links to safety topics. http://safetytoolboxtopics.com/General/funny-

safety-quotes.html

“If you don’t think it will hap-pen to you, find the person who had it happen to them”

COMPLACENCY

3

http://safetytoolboxtopics.com/Behavioral-Safety/complacency.html

Webster’s Dictionary defines complacency as self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies “Complacency is perhaps one of the biggest problems we face in com-pleting our day to day tasks. We are “used” to things being a certain way each time and unless the obvious comes right out and hits us . . . we can be oblivious to it all. This state of mind can affect many things such as productivity, quality and safety. Here is an example: Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt ti-hng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. You probably didn’t have much trouble reading that paragraph. It proba-bly took you back at first, but then you were able to zip right through the text and understand the content. This is an example of how complacency works with our mind. We get used to words starting with certain letters and being a certain length and we skip right over it “thinking” we know what the word is. In reading paragraphs it’s not a big deal . . . however when it comes to safety, complacency can be a literal “killer” on the job. Each moment we are working with hazardous energy, whether it be a large production machine, forklift, automobile, power tools, electricity or even walk-ing from one end of the facility to the other, we must keep focused on the task at hand. There is much danger in going into “autopilot” when working on the job. All too often we don’t realize how complacent we are until we have a near miss or close call. Those events tend to jump start our hearts and focus our attention . . . at least for a little while, on the task at hand. One technique found to be effective in battling complacency in your own actions is to watch the actions of other while they work. This has a dual-fold effect in that it raises your awareness as you examine the actions of a coworker as they are working and it may raise your coworker’s aware-ness if you share with them some of the observations you made that would allow them to do their job in a safer manner. It can be a win-win. Try this technique today as you are working and feel yourself going into the complacent state of auto-pilot. You'll find it truly can work well . . . for everyone.”

“We have ALWAYS

done it this way and

nothing has hap-

pened yet”

The Ordinance that governs the Safety Committee was recent-

ly revised to better accommodate and serve employees and

Safety Committee. Each one of the members brings a variety

of knowledge/expertise to the table when we discuss work-

place safety Issues. More than that they bring their passion for

safety.

We, the Committee Members and myself, are committed to

serving as a resource to all employees including the manage-

ment and are available to assist by answering questions, pro-

vide guidance, work on solutions on safety issues and in gen-

eral work to maintain the overall safety of Nye County Employ-

ees.

4 4

Nye County Safety Committee

SAFETY IS

SERVED...COME

AND GET IT!!

SAFETY IS FREE,

USE IT

GENEROUSLY!!!

REACH FOR

SAFETY, TAKE IT,

USE IT!!!

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM COLD STRESS

Workers who are exposed to extreme cold or work in cold environments may be at risk of cold stress. Extremely cold or wet weather is a dangerous situation that can cause occupational illness and injuries such as hypother-mia, frostbite, trench foot, and chilblains.

Hypothermia

A condition in which the body uses up its stored energy and can no longer produce heat. Often occurs after pro-longed exposure to cold temperature. Early symptoms

• Shivering

• Fatigue

• Loss of coordination

• Confusion and disorientation

First Aid

• Request immediate medical assistance.

• Move the victim into a warm room or shelter.

• Remove wet clothing.

• Warm the center of their body first—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket; or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, or towels.

• If conscious, warm beverages may help increase the body temperature. Do not give alcohol.

• Once temperature has increased keep them dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.

• If no pulse, begin CPR.

Frostbite An injury to the body that is caused by freez-ing, which most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes.

Symptoms

• Reduced blood flow to hands and feet

• Numbness

• Aching

• Tingling or stinging

• Bluish or pale, waxy skin

Winter Weather Related Injuries & the Prevention thereof.

5You are You are your own best friend AND worst enemy….TAKE CARE of yourself!!!!

5

Late symptoms

• No shivering

• Blue skin

• Dilated pupils

• Slowed pulse and breathing

• Loss of consciousness

First Aid

• Get into a warm room as soon as possible.

• Unless necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes.

• Immerse the affected area in warm (not hot) water, or warm the affected area using body heat. Do not use a heating pad, fireplace, or radiator for warming.

• Do not massage the frostbitten area; doing so may cause more damage.

Explanation of Categories Used:

CRUSH/STRAIN: Stretching, Pulling, Tearing of employee’s ligaments and muscles/ Force or Pressure is put on

a body part. (injuries of the back will be listed as lifting/twisting)

EXPOSURE/POSSIBLE EXPOSURE: Introduction of blood or other potentially infected materials into employ-

ee’s body.

HEARING LOSS: Self Explanatory

IMPACT: Something heavy hitting the employee/employee hitting something forcefully, such as vehicle acci-

dent. (Injuries by falling off something will be listed as slip/trip/fall)

INHALATION: Inhalation of possible toxic fumes, chemicals, particles, irritant

LIFTING/TWISTING: Over stressing back muscles

MENTAL/STRESS: Self Explanatory

SCRATCH/CUT/BITE: By tools, machinery, animal or human

SLIP/TRIP/FALL : Self Explanatory

WALK/RUN/STEP: Stepping wrong /rolling ankles/knee injury

DEHYDRATION/HEAT STRESS: Self Explanatory

RASH/BURN/SKIN IRRITATION: Self Explanatory

REPETITIVE MOTION: Self Explanatory

Unofficial Report

www.OSHA.gov

(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

www.CDC.gov

(Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

www.MSHA.gov

(Mine Safety and Health Administration)

http://4safenv.state.nv.us/

(Safety Consultation And Training Section or SCATS)

www.poolpact.com

(Resource & Risk Management )

Nye County Safety CONTACT INFORMATION

To reach HR & Workplace Safety &Training

Officer in ONE e-mail, for safety training

requests or safety concerns:

SAFETY@co.nye.nv.us

Workplace Safety & Training Officer

Tina Landsberry

tlandsberry@co.nye.nv.us

775-751-6328 & 775-764-1303 (cell)

Human Resources:

Elona Goldner 775-751-6302

egoldner@co.nye.nv.us

Ryanne Gott 775-751-6301

rgott@co.nye.nv.us

Danelle Shamrell, Director

775-482-7242

dshamrell@co.nye.nv.us

Links to useful safety& health related websites:

Nye County Safety Committee Danielle McKee 775-751-6394 Cori Freidhof 775-482-8148 Diana Garcia 775-482– 7244

Workplace Safety & Training resources.

http://www.nyecounty.net/1022/Workplace-Safety-Training