APRIL SAFETY TOPICS

APRIL SAFETY TOPICS
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF RISK MANAGEMENT
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Spring Fever – Safety Awareness
Warming Weather – Hydration
Night Work & Sleep Management
Defensive Driving Reminders
Basic Ergonomic Tips
THE TIME FOR HEIGHTENED
SAFETY AWARENESS IS NOW
Springtime safety factors include:
 Change of Season adjustment
 Distractions are more prevalent
 Longer days are generally more fatiguing
 We are adjusting our Sleep/Wake cycle and Circadian Rhythms
 Recreational & Home Projects take up time & energy
 Road Work – more and larger jobs open up
 For these and a host of other reasons, we need to FOCUS on safe work
& defensive driving.
WARM WEATHER SAFETY REMINDERS
 Stay hydrated year ‘round. This helps prevent colds, lessens fatigue, helps with
allergies.
 Our body will begin the process of thinning the blood to adjust to warmer
weather. Hydration helps this process.
 Water , not Red Bull!
 Balance your diet- avoid grease, junk food, fast food.
 Watch out for the Post Lunch Dip which will make you sleepy in the afternoon.
 Junk food might taste good but is harder to digest and has low nutritional value.
 Dress for success: engineered fabrics and garments can help with comfort on
long days.
NIGHT WORK & FATIGUE
MANAGEMENT
 It is hard to get restful REM sleep during the day. Best to find a room with no
light infiltration. ‘Black out’ curtains can help.
 Try to find a quiet place to sleep. Avoid interruptions. Turn phones off. White
noise generators may help in some cases.
 Be aware that prolonged sleep deprivation can create nightmares and micro-
bursts of sleep during waking hours.
 Balance your diet and eat healthy. Stay hydrated. Night work is great for weight
loss.
 Try to stay on a fixed sleep/ wake schedule. We generally need 6 to 8 hours of
sleep. Don’t try to cheat, it catches up.
DEFENSIVE DRIVING REMINDERS
 #1 Defensive Rule = Use your Daytime Running Lights
 LOOK well ahead. Give wide berth to heavy trucks.
 Remember your 5 Keys to Defensive Driving.
 INTERSECTIONS = High crash frequency. Back off, stay back from the ‘Stop Line’.
 Caution when sitting in a line of vehicles. Stay back.
 Caution when BACKING!
 Get out and LOOK
 Use a spotter
 Back slowly
 NO distractions while driving !
BASIC ERGONOMIC TIPS
 Ergonomics is a lot more than proper lifting and back injury prevention.
 It addresses the efficiency of body mechanics in all activities– sit, stand, walk,
climb, drive, lift, push, etc.
 The 3 principal ergo. elements- Force; Repetition; Posture
 Posture is the most important. Good posture allows high force and repetition
 Adjust seating posture while driving- knees higher then hips. Adjust seat and tilt
wheel.
 Stand straight. Lift properly. Avoid prolonged static postures. Move around. Do
warm up exercises before work.
 Plan your heavy lifts. Get help on big stuff. Wear grip gloves.
 We’re human, not robots. Don’t over do it.
SEASONAL SUMMARY
 More states are inexplicably removing helmet laws for motorcycle riding.
Fatality statistics are predictably heading north.
 If you ride a bicycle, chances are there is a helmet law in effect to protect you.
Wear it properly.
 The Spring season is arguably the most perilous for random occurrences and
hard to explain accidents. Aside from staying in your driveway, the only antidote
we can suggest is to re-read the preceding pages and stay alert and focused.