SAFETY ALERTS

Office chairs can be hazardous to your health	A worker suffered head injuries and was off work for more than six weeks when his chair collapsed. This is just one of the more than 1100 chair- and footstool-related worker injuries that occurred in B.C. between 1989 and 1993. What caused these accidents Random sampling of the 1100 injured workers' accidents revealed that approximately: 290 workers missed the chair while sitting down 190 workers slipped off chairs; generally while moving the chair 150 chairs collapsed 150 workers slipped off footstools 140 workers slipped off chairs they were standing on 180 had miscellaneous causes How to prevent similar accidents Be careful about sitting in and rising from chairs; hold on to a chair arm to ensure that the chair does not move Be careful of floor unevenness, loose carpets, and so on that may cause rolling resistance while gliding the chair across the floor Watch out for slippery footstools Never stand on chairs Choose chairs that have a wide base and five wheels to resist overturning Ensure chair bolts are locked in place Ensure chair bolts and nuts have washers under them Repair chairs that have loose connections or deformations in the chair base
Welders -- Protect your ears!	Several cases of permanent ear damage to welders have been reported to the WCB. In most instances, the culprit is particles of slag. Ear protection is often overlooked by welders. How to prevent similar accidents Cover your ears when welding. If you wear a cotton welder's cap, concentrate on fit rather than style. The cap should be capable of covering your ears. For added protection, some welders turn their cap brim to the side of their head that is most prone to the shower of sparks.
Helicopter Logging	Good two-way communication vital A landing chaser was injured when the helicopter pilot prematurely lifted a choked log from the landing before the "clear" signal was given. The chaser had his hand between the log and the choker cable when the helicopter lifted up. The chaser was lifted in the air, still attached to the log. He suffered severe injuries when he and the log fell back into the landing. Good two-way radio communication between the pilot and ground crew is vital in any helicopter logging operation. In addition, an effective system of visual communication signals (hand signals) must be known by the pilot and ground crew in case the radio system fails. How to prevent similar accidents Employers must provide written instructions on safe communication procedures that air and ground crews must use to coordinate activities Ground workers must be in the clear before a load lift is started Pilots must never start a load lift until they receive a "clear" signal
It's time to replace your hard hat when . . . Source: Occupational Hazards	Tears or cuts appear in the nylon straps or webbing of the internal suspension The shiny surface the shell had when it was new has turned chalky- or dull-looking Cracks appear in the shell or the internal suspension Rings with a common centre appear on the shell The shell becomes brittle. Test for brittleness by slightly flexing the brim of the helmet Deep gouges are cut into the shell Sitting or standing on your hard hat can weaken the outer shell. Manufacturers suggest inspecting hats before and after use. There is no set service life for hard hats, but some manufacturers recommend replacing them after no more than five years.