Manual materials handling is the main source of injury in the American work force. Four out of five of these injuries affect the lower back. Back injuries are one of the leading causes of disability for people in their working years and afflict over 600,000 workers each year.

Injuries can result from improper manual lifting, carrying loads that are too large or too heavy, being struck by materials or being caught in pinch points, incorrectly cutting securing devices, and moving sharp, caustic, or otherwise dangerous materials without protection.

When moving materials, lift with your legs, keep your back straight and do not twist. Attach handles to loads to reduce the chances of smashing fingers. If you’re lifting a load that is too large or too heavy, break the load into parts, if possible. If the load can’t be broken into parts, get help with heavy or bulky items.

It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that your workplace is free of recognizable hazards and that you are provided training that allows you to recognize, avoid, and even correct hazards. Your employer should provide you with safe lifting training that allows you to avoid unnecessary physical strain and to recognize, prevent, and correct lifting hazards.

In addition, your employer must provide you with safety equipment that is appropriate to the hazards you face when moving materials. These include gloves and other hand and forearm protection for sharp or caustic materials.

For more on moving materials safely by hand, go to OSHA's website and search "safe lifting."

Safety Tip of the Month Materials handling, Safe lifting, Carrying heavy loads, Back injuries, Moving objects by hand

Spring is here and many are getting ready to clean inside their homes. Yet spring cleaning is not without its risks, especially when it comes to home cleaning products, which may contain harsh or toxic chemicals.

To remain safe while cleaning your home, you should obey the following guidelines:

When working with any hazardous chemicals, in the home or outside it, you should wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). This means when you use home cleaning products you should wear the appropriate clothing, gloves, and, when necessary, eye protection.

Always read the labels and instructions on cleaning products before using them, and make sure to keep them in their original containers with their original labels. Furthermore, never mix cleaning products together, since certain combinations of chemicals can create harmful gases.

When you are done using them, store household cleaners in closed containers out of the reach of children and pets.

Finally, consider using non-toxic cleaners as an alternative. For example, vinegar and water is an effective window cleaner, toothpaste works well for polishing silver, lemon juice is a natural bleach, and baking soda works well on tiles and sinks. Consumer Reports has a good list of less toxic cleaners to consider. You can go to their website and search "spring cleaning."

Safety Tip of the Month Spring cleaning, Cleaning products, Household cleaners, Non-toxic cleaners

As you know, your employer is responsible for ensuring you have a safe and healthful work environment. This is no different during the winter. But what about outside the workplace? What about your route to and from work?

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), 70% of injuries during winter storms occur due to vehicle accidents, and 25% result from being caught out in the storm.

You can't always avoid accidents caused by other drivers, but you can be prepared for travel in winter weather or storms (if they are not severe enough to shut down the roads).

The most obvious step you can take is to check the NWS site, the Weather Channel, the local weather service, or a smart phone application to determine what kind of weather to expect. Other steps include conducting a winter inspection of your vehicle and preparing and carrying an emergency kit in the vehicle – for those of you who work from an employer vehicle, these are musts and should be overseen by your employer.

Items you should check on your vehicle include the breaks; cooling, electrical, and exhaust systems; tires; oil; engine, and your visibility elements such as lights, wipers, and defrosters. Ensuring these are in good condition can prevent accidents.

It's also a good idea to have at least half a tank of gas in the car at all times in case you find yourself stuck in traffic – you don't want to run out of fuel in winter weather.

An emergency kit will come in handy if you are in an accident or become trapped in your vehicle. Such a kit should include blankets or sleeping bags, a cell phone or two-way radio, windshield scraper and snow brush, a flashlight, extra winter clothes, a shovel, tow chain, and traction aids (sand or cat litter), emergency flares, jumper cables, water, snacks, and roadmaps (in case the weather prevents satellite reception).

For more information, see the National Safety Council's handout Winter, Your Car and You.

Safety Tip of the Month Winter safety NOAA, Weather, Winter weather, National safety Council, National Weather Service

It is probable that your holiday shopping list includes at least one or more toys, usually for a grandchild, son or daughter, or, niece or nephew. But how do we know that the toys we buy this season are safe?

Consumers can rest assured that increased federal regulations have made toys safer over the past several years. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there have been a decline in toy recalls since 2008, dropping from 172 recalls in fiscal year 2008 down to 34 recalls in fiscal year 2011.

Despite this, there are still some safety steps that consumers should take when shopping this holiday season.

The first is to be careful with balloons. Children can choke or suffocate on deflated or broken balloons. Therefore, keep deflated balloons away from children younger than eight years old, and discard any broken balloons at once.

Be smart with scooters, bikes, and other riding toys. Properly fitted helmets and other safety gear should be worn at all times.

And finally, magnets can be dangerous or even deadly to children, so avoid toys with small magnets for those under the age of six.

There are some further safety tips to keep in mind after the toys have been opened. Immediately discard all wrappings and packagings from the toy, keep toys designed for older children away from their younger siblings, and, finally, supervise the use of batteries and chargers.

Consumers should consult the US Consumer Product Safety Commission for more product safety information.

Safety Tip of the Month toy safety, CPSC, US Consumer Product Safety Commission

There are two schools of thought when people replace the batteries in their smoke detectors and emergency flashlights. One camp replaces batteries when the time changes in March and November. Another camp does it at the beginning and middle of each year.

For those who fall under the second camp, it’s time to change those batteries!

Safety Tip of the Month