SAFETY DESK: Winter Is Coming
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The fall weather is here, and winter is not far behind. The cooler temperatures mean we need to take a minute or two longer to ensure our safety and the safety of others around us. Below are a few bullet points to consider for improving your safety and ensuring a safe return home.
Allow for extra following distance due to slick roads.
Leave for work a little earlier due to road conditions.
Have an extra set of warm clothes in every car.
Keep access and walkways clean and clear.
Warm up (stretches) prior to any physical work.
Make sure all windows in your vehicle are clean and clear.
These are just a few safety tips that can be used at work and home during colder weather. The safety of you and your family is always first.
Plan to work safely and go home to your family.
ALLEN MYERS
Lyman-Richey Corporation Safety Director
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Colder weather increases the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning as people turn on their heating systems and mistakenly warm their cars in garages. The National Safety Council recommends you install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home near the bedrooms. Check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. The CDC offers these tips:
Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas or coal-burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year
Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors
Never use a generator inside your home, basement or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent; fatal levels of carbon monoxide can be produced in just minutes
Have your chimney checked and cleaned every year, and make sure your fireplace damper is open before lighting a fire and well after the fire is extinguished
Make sure your gas appliances are vented properly
Never use a gas oven for heating your home
Never let a car idle in the garage
Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
SOURCE: National Security Council