IN THIS ISSUE

ED. 9 / 4TH QUARTER 2017

WINTER WEATHER SAFETY:SHOVEL SMART!

MILWAUKEE COUNTY

TOTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTERBROUGHT TO YOU BY RISK MANAGEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WELLNESS

Shoveling can be a very dangerous task whether at home or at work. Every year there are over 11,000 injuries resulting in 100 deaths from the act of shoveling. Most of these injuries are from overexertion or slipping on the ice, followed by bumps, bruises, broken bones, and cuts to the hands or lower back.

Take it slow! Do not work to the point of exhaustion.

» Be sure to stretch out and warm up before taking on the task.

» If you run out of breath, take a break. If you feel tightness in your chest or pain, stop immediately and seek medical attention.

» If you have a history of heart trouble, do not shovel without a doctor’s permission.

Lift with your legs bent, not your back.

» Keep your back straight. By bending and “sitting” into the movement, you’ll keep your spine upright and less stressed.

» Your shoulders, torso and thighs can do the work for you.

» Shoveling (like lifting weights) can raise your heart rate and blood pressure dramatically; so pace yourself.

» Individuals over the age of 40, or those who are relatively inactive, should be especially careful.

» Avoid shoveling after eating. Do not smoke while shoveling.

Dress warmly.

» Remember that extremities, such as the nose, ears, hands and feet, need extra attention during the cold winters.

» Wear a turtleneck sweater, cap, scarf, face protection, mittens, wool socks, and waterproof boots.

» Dress in enough layers

» Change wet clothes immediately if you will continue to be outside.

Work smart

» Don’t pick up too much at once.

» Use a light shovel (e.g. aluminum).

» Teflon coated shovels prevent snow build up. If your shovel is not coated with Teflon apply paraffin wax to it.

» Use a small shovel, or fill only one-fourth or one-half of a large one.

» Stand up straight and ensure that your head and neck are in alignment.

» Place your dominant hand at the top of the shovel.

» Place your other hand on the long handle that leads to the shovel.

» Walk toward the snow until your shovel is full. When moving the snow, turn with your entire body moving your feet, rather than twisting at the waist.

» DO NOT throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side, instead walk with the full shovel and snow directly in front of you.

WINTER TIPS TO AVOID SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS

WINTER WEATHER WELLNESS:HEART ATTACK AWARENESS

OSHA COMPLIANCE TRAINING DEADLINE

APPROACHING

WINTER WEATHER SAFETY

SHOVEL SMART!

SHOVEL SMART!QUIZ

3RD QUARTER QUIZ WINNERS

WIN A PRIZE!

WINTER WEATHER SAFETY: SHOVEL SMART,CONTINUED

» Use a shovel that is appropriate for your size. If a shovel is too short, it will cause you to bend over.

» Ensure that your shovel blade is not bent.

» An ergonomic shovel (shovel with a bent handle) should be used for pushing light snow, such as clearing a path, but should not be used to lift or move snow.

» Start shoveling as soon as possible, newly fallen snow is lighter than snow that has been falling for a while.

» If possible, push the snow rather than lift it.

Sidewalk and Stair Snow Removal

» Keep up with the storm, OSHA and NFPA standards state that outside means of egress and walking surfaces must free of any impedances or slipping hazards caused by ice and snow.

» Use ice-melt and an ice chipper to remove any slipping hazards

» When removing snow around a door, ensure that the door is allowed to open 100%

Now that the winter season is upon us; the cold, snow, and ice, can create dangerous walking conditions. Falls due to ice and snow are one of the most common accidents causing injuries. Use caution along with the following steps to prevent falls:

» Walk at a slower pace. Plan for extra time so you are not rushed. Most slips and falls occur due to inattention or being in a hurry.

» Always use a handrail when climbing up and down stairs, getting in and out of vehicles, going in or out of buildings, or on ramps.

» Wear footwear with traction.

» Be Seen! Wear visible clothing especially at night or during heavy snowfall or blizzard conditions.

» Wait for vehicles to stop completely or wait for them to pass before crossing the road. *Approaching vehicles may not be able to stop immediately or may not see you.

» Watch for and avoid slippery areas. Just because an area has been salted does not mean that it is not slippery. It takes time for salt to work and in lower temperatures some salt may be ineffective.

» Remove snow from footwear before entering buildings and be aware of wet areas from melted snow.

» If you do fall, relax and try to fall as limply as possible. Try to avoid using your arms to stop your fall, most broken bones occur this way.

Cold weather activities lead to rise in heart attacks over the winter season. It causes the arteries to constrict which raises blood pressure and pulse rate putting an additional strain on one’s heart. It is also proven that in colder weather the body goes through hormonal changes which also makes the blood more prone to clotting. As your arteries constrict due to cold air, blockages increase. When performing intense cardio exercise during the winter, such as shoveling, dress warmly and keep your body temperature high to prevent inflammation and constriction of the arteries.

WHAT DOES A HEART ATTACK FEEL LIKE?The pain of a heart attack differs from person to person. Many people describe it as a heavy pressure or squeezing sensation in the center of the chest. Others report a stabbing feeling. At times the pain may spread to the left arm, jaw or back. The intensity of the pain does not always indicate the degree of heart damage that may be occurring. Some people don't have any symptoms during a heart attack.

A characteristic of chest pain associated with a heart attack is that it is often unrelenting. Once it begins, there is usually nothing that you can do at home to stop the pain. Pain does not improve with rest, position changes, over-the-counter medications or even nitroglycerin. Often, people who are having a heart attack describe other symptoms associated with the chest pain. These may include:

Some people, especially women, people with diabetes and the elderly, do not have typical heart attack symptoms. While these people often have chest pain, it may be mild.

» Sweating » Dizziness » Shortness of breath

» Palpitations » Paleness » Nausea and vomiting

WINTER TIPSTO AVOID SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS

MILWAUKEE COUNTY: TOTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTER

ED. 9 | 4TH QUARTER 2017

WINTER WEATHER WELLNESS

HEART ATTACK AWARENESS

WELLNESS

1. T F Keep your back straight while shoveling.

2. T F Throwing snow over your shoulder/side is best.

3. T F Ergonomic shovels should only be used to push snow, not lift snow.

4. T F OSHA regulations require you to “do your best” to remove as much snow/ice as possible from stairs/egress.

5. T F The cold has biological effects on our bodies causing heart attacks in winter months.

SHOVEL SMART!: QUIZ

Please complete and detach this quiz to enter to win a prize. Winners are chosen at random from all submissions. Send responses to Courthouse - Risk Management (Rm. 302) or scan and send to totalhealth@milwaukeecountywi.gov.

Circle the Correct Answer

NAME:

DPT:DATE:

CLOCK #:

CRYSTAL GREENMedical ExaminerPrize: Domes Coupons

JULIE HERNANDEZFacilitiesPrize: Domes Coupons

LYNN WAGNERCBOPrize: Regulations Golf Coupons

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST EDITION’S QUIZ DRAWING WINNERS!

MILWAUKEE COUNTY: TOTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTER

ED. 9 | 4TH QUARTER 2017

OSHA COMPLIANCE TRAINING DEADLINE APPROACHING

The deadline for completing your OSHA compliance safety curriculum is quickly approaching. Most of the required training can be completed by simply reading a handout or viewing an on-line training video. Remember to sign and acknowledge all hand outs and on-line video sessions viewed prior to closing. Attending in person training sessions

needs to be approved by your supervisor.

If you have any questions or problems check with your LMS administrator. Please see the link below

for a list of LMS Administrators.

http://county.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cntyHR/training/LMSSupportResources.

pdf

What is the LMS?The Milwaukee County Learning Management System (LMS) is the cloud-based central repository for the announcement, registration, delivery, tracking and reporting of learning and development

of Milwaukee County.

GoalThe Find It - Fix It safety and property incentive program is in place to promote a safe and healthy work environment, reduce injury and illness, improve our infrastructure, and commend individuals for upholding high safety standards. The goal is to enhance our organizational culture by rewarding individuals for finding and fixing safety hazards and property issues that could negatively affect Milwaukee County staff, property, and the general public.

Program ObjectiveThe program objective is to encourage employees to find and fix safety hazards and property issues as they see them, rather than walk by and think that “someone else” will fix them.

Procedures1. For every safety hazard or property issue that an employee finds and either

personally fixes or fixes with management, the employee and manager become eligible to submit one entry for a quarterly drawing.

2. On a quarterly basis, Risk Management will draw several names at random from the submitted entries. The chosen entry will win a prize (to be determined). Entries will remain in the program for the calendar year so the more items you find and fix, the more chances of winning.

3. As we eliminate the hazards and property issues, our workplace will become safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

FIND IT - FIX IT SUBMISSION CARDS

Walking/Working Surfaces observed with poor housekeeping or trip hazards in the hallway, aisles, or shop.

The Fix: Area cleaned, trip hazard removed, and addressed with supervisor.

Handheld Tools: Tools observed in poor condition

The Fix: Tools reported and replaced.

Electrical Safety: loose/exposed wires, missing knockouts, no broken components, panels labeled and accessible, defective lighting

The Fix: Issue reported, addressed with supervisor and repaired

Machinery Safety: Machine not properly secured to floor, guard missing, or not in place.

The Fix: Equipment properly secured to floor, cleaned, and machine guard properly installed.

Sample Hazards/Issues with Fix

NAME:

DEPARTMENT:DATE:

CLOCK #:

PROPERTY ISSUE:SAFETY HAZARD:

DESCRIPTION:

THE FIX:

SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE: DATE:

NAME:

DEPARTMENT:DATE:

CLOCK #:

PROPERTY ISSUE:SAFETY HAZARD:

DESCRIPTION:

THE FIX:

SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE: DATE:

NAME:

DEPARTMENT:DATE:

CLOCK #:

PROPERTY ISSUE:SAFETY HAZARD:

DESCRIPTION:

THE FIX:

SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE: DATE:

NAME:

DEPARTMENT:DATE:

CLOCK #:

PROPERTY ISSUE:SAFETY HAZARD:

DESCRIPTION:

THE FIX:

SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE: DATE:

1. Initiate the fix. It does not count if the fix was already in progress.2. See safety hazard or property issue to completion. Only when the fix is complete may you

enter.3. Routine preventative maintenance and/or normal work duties are excluded from this

program.4. A supervisor’s signature is required prior to submission.5. One entry per safety hazard or property issue, however, you may fix as many safety hazard or

property issues as you like.6. Entries are accepted through the calendar year and should be sent to:

CourthouseRisk Management - RM. 302

or scanned and emailed to finditfixit@milwaukeecountywi.gov

7. The winners will be contacted in the order they are selected and will have first choice of the selected prizes.

RULESIN ORDER TO BE A QUALIFIED ENTRY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST:

1. Initiate the fix. It does not count if the fix was already in progress.2. See safety hazard or property issue to completion. Only when the fix is complete may you

enter.3. Routine preventative maintenance and/or normal work duties are excluded from this

program.4. A supervisor’s signature is required prior to submission.5. One entry per safety hazard or property issue, however, you may fix as many safety hazard or

property issues as you like.6. Entries are accepted through the calendar year and should be sent to:

CourthouseRisk Management - RM. 302

or scanned and emailed to finditfixit@milwaukeecountywi.gov

7. The winners will be contacted in the order they are selected and will have first choice of the selected prizes.

RULESIN ORDER TO BE A QUALIFIED ENTRY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST:

1. Initiate the fix. It does not count if the fix was already in progress.2. See safety hazard or property issue to completion. Only when the fix is complete may you

enter.3. Routine preventative maintenance and/or normal work duties are excluded from this

program.4. A supervisor’s signature is required prior to submission.5. One entry per safety hazard or property issue, however, you may fix as many safety hazard or

property issues as you like.6. Entries are accepted through the calendar year and should be sent to:

CourthouseRisk Management - RM. 302

or scanned and emailed to finditfixit@milwaukeecountywi.gov

7. The winners will be contacted in the order they are selected and will have first choice of the selected prizes.

RULESIN ORDER TO BE A QUALIFIED ENTRY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST:

1. Initiate the fix. It does not count if the fix was already in progress.2. See safety hazard or property issue to completion. Only when the fix is complete may you

enter.3. Routine preventative maintenance and/or normal work duties are excluded from this

program.4. A supervisor’s signature is required prior to submission.5. One entry per safety hazard or property issue, however, you may fix as many safety hazard or

property issues as you like.6. Entries are accepted through the calendar year and should be sent to:

CourthouseRisk Management - RM. 302

or scanned and emailed to finditfixit@milwaukeecountywi.gov

7. The winners will be contacted in the order they are selected and will have first choice of the selected prizes.

RULESIN ORDER TO BE A QUALIFIED ENTRY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST:

The Find It - Fix It Program is a new safety and property incentive program that is currently available to all Milwaukee County employees. The program details can be found below. Additionally, a recorded presentation and entry cards can be found on the Milwaukee County Risk Management web page (http://county.milwaukee.gov/Risk/FindItFixIt). Disclaimer: Your personal welfare comes first! If you cannot safely and easily resolve the issue on your own, please DO NOT attempt to do so. When in doubt, always take the cautious approach and bring the issue to management’s attention.