Safety Tidbits

Safety Tidbits–Click here for the Pdf copy of this week’s Safety Tidbits

This week we share information about Work-related Fatality – LOCKOUT/TAGOUT -New Bedford, MA – The death of a 35-year-old man who died in a clam-shucking machine on Thursday is under investigation by OSHA, according to its website. Victor Gerena died working the night shift at Sea Watch International Seafood Company. Police said he was flushing out the machine when he became entangled in a rotary turbine engine. It took the Fire Department about an hour to free Gerena after dismantling the machine. Always follow approved LO/TO procedures and verify the equipment/machine is de-energized before working on it.  The Safe Work Permit is a good start but don’t forget to review the JSA and the Equipment Specific Lockout Procedure – Effective Communication is our friend!

Items you should keep in your Glove box

•Critical medical information. Write down any medical conditions, medications and allergies for each family member in case you’re involved in an accident and can’t communicate these important facts yourself.

•Emergency contact numbers. Write them down, and while you’re at it, add them to your cell phone and put them in your wallet, too.

•Pen and paper. If you’re in an accident and need to exchange information, you’ll have something to write with – and on.

•Proof of insurance. It’s the law almost everywhere in the United States. But don’t store the car’s title (keep that at home) or registration (keep that in your wallet) in your glove compartment.

•A flashlight (extra batteries are also a good idea)

One more story to share:

Big John Doesn’t Pay!

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops – a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well.

At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, “Big John doesn’t pay!” and sat down at the back.

Did I mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn’t argue with Big John, but he wasn’t happy about it. The next day the same thing happened – Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the next.

This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff.

By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what’s more, he felt really good about himself. So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, “Big John doesn’t pay!”

The driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, “And why not?”

With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, “Big John has a bus pass.”

Management Lesson: Be sure there is a problem, before working on how to solve it! It is easy to make mountains out of molehills, if we fail to gather the facts!!

Safety Wayne

We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count. –Neal A. Maxwell