10 Reasons to “Rock the Pale” and Stay SPF Safe this Summer

Confessions of a SAFE-AHOLIC! By: Stephanie Zizzo, ASHM

I was reading a news release by the EPA this past week called “Don't Fry Day is Friday/ EPA Sun Safety Tips”. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created a SunWise program to help protect those from harmful UV rays. While I was reading it, I started to get a little worried. I thought to myself... I know I have had bad burns as a kid, I used the tanner a lot as a teen, and if I could get away with it, I would use as much oil as a could. SPF on a lotion bottle always meant to me, “Put this on and you'll be ghostly white”. Learning that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers was quite alarming. As a safety professional, I believe that this information shouldn't just be used for a day at the beach, but as a guide for workers who spend their days on the job outdoors. 


Over the past couple years I have become more aware of UV dangers. When I was younger being pale skinned was never attractive. I always envied the people that could get their skin golden brown, but today there are a number of reasons why staying pasty white is a healthier and safer life choice. I wanted to take the time to share some of this valuable information.


10 Things to Keep in Mind While Outdoors
1. Use Sunscreen with SPF level 30+. Sun Protection Factor number refers to the UV radiation needed to cause sunburn with sunscreen on. Reapply every 2 hours especially after swimming or sweating.
2. Check Your UV Index. When preparing for outdoor activities or an outdoor workday check the UV Index. This will help you determine the best/worst times to be outside and the proper SPF to use that day.
3. Find Shade. During the hours of 10:00AM to 4:00PM try to stay out of direct sunlight, this is when the sun is the strongest.
4. Slip on a Shirt. Use light breathable materials to guard you from the sun this summer, clothing allows your body to sweat and cool you down, whereas direct exposure causing your sweat to evaporate too quickly leaving you more dehydrated.
5. Wear your Sun Spectacles. Use sunglasses or safety glasses with 99%-100% UV absorption to protect your eyes and surrounding area.
6. Don't be Fooled by Clouds. UV rays are still strong even on cloudy days, be sure to protect yourself as if it's a bright and sunny day.
7. Check Your Self. Give yourself monthly skin checks. Search for any abnormal moles or freckles. Contact your dermatologist if you see anything new or suspicious. The survival rate of Melanoma is 98% if detected early.
8. Pale is Pretty. Sun ages your skin, its as simple as that. Avoid wrinkles and dark sunspots. Protect it to keep your skin looking younger longer.
9. Ban the Bed. Stay out of the tanner! Indoor ultraviolet tanner are 74% more likely to develop melanoma that those who have never tanned indoors.
10. Stay Educated! Keep up your awareness. Read about Skin Cancer and inform yourself and your loved ones. Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined cases of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer.
Remember, ROCK THE PALE, it's natural, it's safe, and it's healthy
-Steph

ASSE Thrives in Windy City

Read even more about the ASSE conference, From OH&S Magazine >>

www.safetyontheweb.com

Confessions of a Safe-aholic: 100 Years of ASSE And Still Going Strong! 2011 Safety Expo Experience!

CONFESSIONS of a SAFE-AHOLIC.
By Stehphanie Zizzo, ASHM

The familiar glow of bright blue carpet, the sound of Starbucks orders being shouted from the mountain tops, the hundreds of free give-a-ways, and the thousands of geeky name tags being worn all in the name of safety! The ASSE Safety Conference 2011 marked the 100^th anniversary for ASSE, and boy was it a celebration! Located at the bigger and better McCormick Place Conference Center in the wonderful windy city of Chicago, Illinois.

 

 

Summit Training Source, Inc. attended the conference again this year earning their 25 PLUS years as an exhibitor and who did they bring along this time... ME!

 

Located in a very social spot, right by the silent auction and ASSE Foundation, our booth recieved a lot of attention! One of the great aspects that sets this trade show apart from other safety trade shows is how safety professionals don't come this is conference because they have to... people here have the want and the drive to earn their CEU's and really connect to other safety professionals.  Attendees didn't just stumble into Summit's booth, they had it in their itinerary to come and learn more about safety training and updating their programs. It is an important show for creating the ambiance of the safety culture!

 

 

The Women In Safety Engineering (WISE) practice specialty celebrated 100 Women in Safety in honor of the ASSE 100 Years.  Summit is a proud supporter of WISE.  For more info, visit www.asse.org/wise.

Business and sales aside, this is THEE place to network. People from all over the United States and the world come to ASSE.  You have the laid-back people from Texas, the interesting individuals from Ireland, the scholarly from England, the fun from Hawaii, the cool from Florida, and the intriguing from Nigeria plus many more! All of these individuals have one thing in common... keeping people safe. Although I did experience some questionable conversation from the girls in the short jean shorts selling fall protection, almost every connection I made at this years ASSE conference is well worth a follow up!

 

As a safety professional the ASSE Safety Conference is the trade show of all trade shows when it comes to taking your career seriously. Besides attending for the free highlighter shaped like a syringe or the hundreds of different letter openers, I would highly recommend being present at next years ASSE Safety Expo in the irresistible, mile high city of, Denver, Colorado!

Grand Valley State University OSH degree students visit the Summit booth.  From R to L, Stephanie Zizzo - Summit, Dominick Rizzo - GVSU, Sara Wesche - Summit, David Cox - GVSU, Emma Daniels (seated) - Summit, Greg Adams - Summit, Courtney Draveling (seated) - GVSU, Bryan Hornik - Summit.

 

 

And don't forget a round of applause to the ASSE Foundation for doing such an amazing job this year!  They raised thousands of dollars for scholorships and research grants that help further our industry.  For more information, visit www.asse.org/foundation/

 

 

See you in Denver!

Steph

www.safetyontheweb.com

Get Ready! DOT Road Inspection BLITZ Start June 7th!

Department of Transportation Road Inspections will be taking place this June 7^th to 9^th of 2011. While reading the article “Nationwide DOT Roadside Inspection Sweep June 7-9” on AGWeb.com I found that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), is a group of federal, state, and local transportation enforcement agencies.

Truck drivers better get ready! Put down the cell phones, stop the texting, and make sure your work hours are logged and compliant because these are the top things they will be looking at.

They plan on putting out 10,000 inspectors at about 1,500 sites all over the country. The object is to conduct approximately 75,000 roadside inspections to get unsafe drivers and vehicles off the road.

The RoadCheck Program includes:

ñ  75,000 inspections nationwide

ñ  Removing unsafe truck drivers

ñ  Removing unsafe motor vehicles

ñ  Educate drivers on vehicle maintenance

ñ  Make drivers aware of the inspection process

ñ  Help gather general motor carrier compliance data

With the advanced notice everyone has had this week shouldn't be very much different from any other right? I guess we will find out as the week progresses.

If you do end up getting stopped be ready to complete a Level 1 inspection!

For more information on a Level 1 Inspections check out this article. 

Check out Summit's website for DOT specfic training programs such as CSA, Hazardous Material Transportation, Pre & Post Trip Inspections, Driver Wellness and more!

Be safe.

-Stephanie

Be Fit While You Sit? Using an Exercise Ball as Your Chair.

You may have heard the idea of replacing your office chair with an exercise ball to reap a number of health benefits, as well as potentially being the talk of the water cooler.  You can find information that both supports the benefits  or calls the idea an outright crock of @#$% .

Inspired by an article, Summit’s EH&S Specialist, Stephanie Zizzo, decided to try using an exercise ball, which was soon referred to as the ‘office orb’, for a week to see what all of the fuss is about.    

Day #1

As a safety professional, ergonomics is something that I pay extra attention to while working in an office setting. It is important that while sitting in any chair to get the correct lumbar support and have to right posture to avoid long term back pain. After sitting for long periods, even in a comfortable chair, I begin to shift, toss and turn.  Sometimes I will stand-up or take a walk around the building to loosen my muscles, but this isn’t always feasible to do with the tight schedule of a work day.

I recently read an article from my Alma Madders newspaper, “Movement Science Professor Starts Fitness Orb Wave,” which discussed the idea of sitting on a fitness ball to stay fit, production and ergonomically correct while working at a desk.  So, why not give it a try, right? I call my solution... the “Office Orb”.

First I did some research on what fitness or exercise balls were available on the market.  There are many to choose from and you can find them at almost any retail outlet that sells exercise equipment and multiple online retailers as well.  Next, I looked at what size I needed.  This is very important. There are different sizes depending on your height and weight.

I found my fitness ball at Target for $20.99.  It is a blue, 75cm, stability ball made by Reebok, with a fitness DVD and pump included!   I made sure I inflated it enough so that I would sit high enough at my desk. It is necessary to make sure that you don't fix one ergonomic problem and in turn cause others.

My orb is inflated, sits high enough, and is in full working order. I can already feel some of the tension in my lower back fading away.

Day #2

Today is my first full day using the orb. I can tell that I felt more awake (maybe it’s the extra coffee I had this morning) and more productive. I didn't have that sluggish feeling that you get at work in the first couple hours. I noticed that there were so many different ways to sit on my ball, each targeting different muscles in my core.  Bonus points if I end up with 6-pack abs after this.  Toward the end of my day I did a good stretch and a slight back bend to relieve any sore muscles... (note: this is only recommended if you think you are capable).

Day #3

I am excited to come to work and keep testing out my new office seat!  I really believe that the orb is helping my posture. I found myself to be very slouchy when sitting at any desk, not just an office desk. Because I was uncomfortable it wasn't easy to keep the correct posture. The orb has allowed me to sit correctly and it is not difficult. I also am noticing that I am not craving snacks as much. I tend to get hungry when I am still. I could probably eat at my desk all day if I was sitting stagnant. When I typing on the computer, while making slight movements to making sure that I stay on the orb, I found it less likely for the thought of “where are my pretzels” to come to mind.  Yes!

Day #4

Is it possible that this office orb is making me happier?  Maybe its placebo effect, but its 50 degrees and rainy out and I’m super positive. I feel less slow and more productive. It has helped motivate me to have a healthier lifestyle. Because I took the initiative to get the ball and become more active, I decided why stop there? I am now eating a healthier lunch, trying not to go out to eat, and making sure I get in 30 minutes of exercise when I get home from work.  

I love my office orb, and I need a more endearing name for it.  I’m sort of feeling like Tom Hanks in Castaway with Wilson.

Day #5

Still going great, however, keep the office orb away from co-workers who try stupid human tricks on the orb.  If this catches on here, I will have to implement best practices and usage practices to make sure this stays safe and healthy.

Day #6

I found myself switching back and forth between my office chair and my ball. I noticed that the ball is also a great remedy if you are restless in your chair. Some people may not want to replace their chair with the ball because the chair provides a stable seat. Whenever I am restless I can switch to the ball and it wakes me up and gets me moving.

Day #7

Since I have been using the orb I keep seeing more improvements in my posture, it is easier to sit up straight and stay sitting upright. The day has been going a little quicker too because I have less focus on my body and seating arrangement and more focus on my tasks at hand.

Conclusion

As a safety professional office safety should be important to a company. Ergonomics is a part of office safety and can help the productiveness and wellness of the employees. The orb has helped me to remember what good ergonomics means and how something as simple as a fitness ball can change the atmosphere of a work station.

For any employees working in an office setting I would highly recommend this idea as something to try.  I would recommend mixing it up between a regular chair and the office orb.  Also, gradually increase use of the office orb over time so you can get used to it.  The office orb can provide employees a fresh way to get work done and also give them a grip on good ergonomics. It may not be a solution for everyone, but I will continue to implement the office orb on days when I’m spending a lot of time at my desk.


Zentmeyer, Anya. "Movement science professor starts fitness orb wave". Grand Valley Lanthorn. 18 November 2010.

A Roundup of Articles that Point to Economic Improvement....

According to recent news, the economy may be on an upswing. Here is a round-up of recent articles that lead us to believe that the economy is improving, or businesses are learning how to adapt to the changes in the new ecomoy, such as running on less to improve profit margins.  We are seeing an increase in hiring in the greater Grand Rapids, MI area.  This is always a good sign that things are getting better.  Demand is increasing and more people are buying. 

What do you think the economy is going to do in the next 3 - 6 months and into 2010?  How badly does the Japan catastrophe affect us?  A General Motors Co. news conference at a transmission plant in Toledo, Ohio, on Tuesday wasn’t just about announcing a $204 million investment that will save 250 jobs.  GM Chairman Dan Akerson said in addition to the investment in the Toledo plant, the automaker in the coming months will invest $2 billion for upgrades at 17 factories that will create or preserve 4,000 U.S. jobs. (source)

Or...

Optimism is growing among the CFOs who believe the U.S. will see growth over the next six months. A survey of Midwestern U.S. CFOs and senior comptrollers conducted by Grant Thornton LLP, shows that 43% have a rosy outlook compared to 33% from a survey taken six months ago. (source) 

Although this article does point out the rice in prices and infation may be the reason for profits soaring.

And....

When things were going well, it was said that the United States enjoyed a Goldilocks Economy. Growth was fast enough to produce jobs and higher incomes but not so fast as to generate inflation. In the same vein, it might be said that today we have an Oscar-the-Grouch Economy. Good news is discounted. Pessimism is trendy. Growth is considered too feeble to help real people. But there is some genuine good news -- and it deserves attention. (source)


Let us know what you think....are things improving?  Are you hiring?  Are you treading lightly with spending or going bananas while you have the cash?

Summer Specific Training to Prevent Seasonal Accidents

As June ends and summer is around the corner so is the heat. Understanding how a change in season can affect your safety is key. Heat stress is a common hazard during the summer months. It is important to know your limit and the limit of those around you. Heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion and even worse, the very serious and lethal, heat stroke. It is always nice to be able to work outside during the summer and enjoy the weather but, it is essential to know how to manage in hot temperatures.

You should become adjusted to the heat. As much as one might like to jump into our new projects with two feet forward, working outside rigorously without letting your body temperature become familiar with the heat can cause heat stress. Keep cool drinking water available for yourself, your families, or for your employees; this will help keep everyone hydrated. It is important to understand that sweating is ok. When your body sweats it is cooling itself off. To allow this process to happen stay fully clothed in light breathable materials. This will help keep the sweat from evaporating too quickly without allowing it the chance to cool the body down.

Off the job injuries can come during a variety of inopportune times such as, celebrating the 4^th of July. Fireworks and barbeques are good family pastimes, that if done correctly can turn into great family memories. It is critical to recognize the dangers of these activities. Before you fire up the grill make sure you have read the manual and learned the proper technique to light it. This will prevent against an unwanted fire or gas leak. The 4^th of July is not complete with the beautiful and extremely dangerous fireworks. Fireworks can reach up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit which is a high enough temperature to melt a piece of gold. Firework users should always have a bucket of water near to put the used fireworks into after they are finished to ensure they are completely put out. They also should never be carried in your pocket because the friction could mistakenly set them off. When the fun is over clean up should be done only by adults.

When the sun is shining enjoying the outdoors is common amongst everyone. Whether you’re biking, hiking, boating, or climbing first aid should be kept close by. A proper first aid kit can help prevent infection and further injury if someone is hurt. 

As the sun shines, sunscreen should become a daily routine. Sunscreen can help prevent against bad burns, blistering, and different types of skin cancer. A sunscreen with at least SPF 15 to 30 should be used daily while enjoying the outdoors.

As July ends and August approaches you decide it’s finally time to repair the roof and get the ladder from the garage. Ladder safety is a growing concern in residential areas and is a hotspot for injury. There are over 90,000 Americans injured every year because of improper ladder use. A couple things to keep in mind while using a ladder are; always use three points of contact, two feet and one hand. Also, it doesn’t matter if you left the nail gun slightly too far to the right, don’t reach. Move the ladder to the exact location and then gather your tools.

Safety is a 24/7 job. It’s not an 8 to 5 shift or something you can just leave at work. It requires commitment and time. It means going the extra step to help avoid incidents and help keep those around you safe.  Enjoy summer and enjoy the heat and remember to use safe work practices!