Environmental Health and Safety

What's It All About?

 
June is National Safety Month, and this year's theme is "Safety: It takes all of us."  This theme highlights the importance of making safety a team effort.  It truly does take all of us to make Park University a safe, best place to work and learn.
 
Explore the topics below to learn more about how you can help prevent common safety issues both at work and at home. 

Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse

According to the National Safety Council:
 
"Prescription drug overdoses are one of the fastest growing causes of injury deaths.  According to CDC, more than 22,000 people die annually from overdoses of prescription medicines. Prescription pain relievers contribute to more deaths than all illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine.

Most fatal drug overdoses result from pain relief medications also known as opioid analgesics. Opioids include: oxycodone, methadone, hydrocodone, fentanyl and buprenorphine. Mixing prescription pain medication with alcohol and/or over-the-counter pain medications increases the risk of a fatal overdose.

  • Among people 35 to 54 years old, unintentional drug overdoses cause more deaths than motor vehicle crashes.
  • More than 70 percent of people who abused prescription pain relievers report getting them from friends or relatives.
  • In 2010, more than 400,000 emergency room visits were made related to prescription pain relievers.
  • Nonmedical use of prescription painkillers costs health insurers up to $72.5 billion annually in direct health care costs."
Check out the following fact sheets and videos to educate yourself more on this rising risk.  Use the Personal Medical Record to help you track what prescription medications you have and what they're for.  Don't forget to take the quiz and scan it over to Michelle Budd at mbudd@park.edu for your chance to win an awesome prize!
 
Leading Safety Into the Future: Preventing Drug Overdoses (Video)
Preventing Prescription Drug Overdose Quiz                                                 

Preventing Slips/Trips/Falls

The National Safety Council reports that falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death in homes and communities, and OSHA reports that falls are the leading cause of death in construction environments.  In 2009, falls resulted in more than 25,000 fatalities.  In fact, slips, trips, and falls are one of the most commonly reported workplace injuries, making up almost 25% of all worker's comp claims.  17% of all disabling occupational injuries are caused by falls which result from slips or trips.
 
Common locations for slips, trips, and falls include doorways, ramps, cluttered hallways and office areas, areas with heavy traffic, uneven surfaces, areas prone to wetness or spills, ladders, and stairs.
 
 How can you  protect yourself from a slip, trip, or fall injury? Here are a few easy steps you can take:
  • Make sure all cords (power, electrical, phone, etc) are out of traffic areas
  • Remove small throw rugs or use non-skid mats to keep them from slipping
  • Remove tripping hazards (paper, boxes, toys, clothes, shoes) from stairs and walkways
  • If you notice tripping hazards on stairs or walkways while at work, report it to Environmental Health and Safety 
  • At home, periodically check the condition of walkways and steps, and repair damages immediately
  • At work, report any hazardous walkway or stair conditions to Environmental Health and Safety
  • Never stand on a chair, table or other surface on wheels
  • Never use a chair, table, or anything other than a stepladder or ladder to reach things above shoulder level
  • Clean up or report all spills immediately to Facilities
Here are some other resources to boost your knowledge and awareness of this too-common issue:
 

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

For most of us, multitasking is an everyday reality.  There are phone calls to make, emails to answer, and texts which need answering - and we often do these things while performing other tasks.  How many times have you answered your cell, checked your email, or even sent a text while walking or driving?
 
While we view these things as necessary, they distract us from our primary activities.  How many times are videos of people walking off a sidewalk or tripping over something while talking on the phone or texting uploaded to YouTube or featured on "Funniest Home Videos" programs?  When we become distracted, we lose focus on our surroundings and injuries from slips, trips, falls, and coming into contact with objects are more likely to occur.
 
Here are some tips to help raise your awareness:
 
Survey your work area before you do anything:
  1. Ensure that you have enough space to do your work
  2. Identify any lockout/tagout needs for any work on energy sources
  3. Check the condition of the flooring and lighting
  4. In mechanical spaces and crawlspaces, look for low overhead hazards, sharp edges or surfaces, standing water, non-insulated pipes, exposed wiring, and unguarded equipment
Walk the route you will be following when transporting materials:
  1. Look for uneven surfaces, trip hazards, objects you will need to maneuver around, foot traffic, or any other obstacle
  2. Pay attention before entering elevators: the floor of the elevator may not be even with the floor of the corridor
  3. Check the stairways:  condition of stairs and landings, uneven stair heights, and obstacles
Do not create new hazards:
  1. Don't run extension or power cords through high traffic areas
  2. Do not block emergency egress or exits
  3. Clean up when you are done:  remove all your tools, clean up debris, replace machine guards and electrical covers, etc.
  4. Consider the building occupants when scheduling your work: you may need to schedule work when there are fewer people in the building/area
  5. Put up barriers and signage to alert building occupants to avoid hazards and stay clear of the immediate work area
  6. Report hazards to Facilities and/or Environmental Health and Safety 
Also be aware that "familiarity breeds contempt."  In other words, we tend to overlook hazards in familiar work and home settings. Don't fall into the mindset of "But it's always been that way!"
 
Here are some other resources designed to help bring awareness to the importance of being aware:
 
 

Putting an End to Distracted Driving

Everybody knows that texting or sending emails while driving is a recipe for tragedy.  What many may not realize is that talking on the phone and checking emails can be just as distracting, even when a person is using a hands-free device.
 
Use the following resources to explore this topic more fully, including some common myths and misconceptions:
 

Summer Safety

Summer!  It brings to mind trips to the lake, grilling in the backyard, mowing the lawn, and getting out to enjoy the outdoors.  As wonderful as all these things are, summer is also a time for increased risks associated with heat, sun, and water.  
 
Whether you are working outside as part of your job duties, taking care of your outdoor home environment, or just enjoying the weather, it is important to know how to protect yourself and others from the dangers associated with these activities.  The following resources can help you stay safe in the sun: