How about taking a little inventory of your home and see if you have all of these protective tools?  I have found that I need to go buy some of them, as well!

Smoke detectors are one of those amazing inventions that, because of mass production, cost almost nothing. And while they cost very little, (around $7), smoke d­etectors save thousands of lives each year. In fact,it is recommended that every home have one smoke detector per floor.  All smoke detectors consist of two basic parts: a sensor to sense the smoke and a very loud electronic horn to wake people up. Smoke detectors can run off of a 9-volt battery or 120-volt house current.  Test your detectors regularly.

Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed outside all bedrooms.  CO is oderless and colorless, and can be fatal unless detected.  Place a detector outside all bedrooms.  Carbon monoxide poisoning impairs breathing, and can cause permanent brain damage or death, especially after prolonged exposure to this gas.  Learn what to do to help someone who has been exposed to it, by first getting them outside into fresh air, and calling for medical help immediately.

­A fire­ extinguisher is an absolute necessity in any home or office. While there’s a good chance that the extinguisher will sit on the wall for years, collecting dust, it could end up saving your property and even your life.  Most fire extinguishers asre combination Class ABC types.  Class A puts out fires of ordinary combustibles.  Class B is used on fires involving flammable liquids such as oil.  Class C is used on electrical fires.  Fire extinguishers are designed to remove at least one of these elements so that a fire will die out:

• Extreme heat
• Oxygen (or similar gas)
• Fuel

One of the newer circuit breaker devices is the ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI.  These sophisticated breakers are designed to protect people from electrical shock, rather than prevent damage to a building’s wiring. The GFCI constantly monitors the current in a circuit’s neutral wire and hot wire. When everything is working correctly, the current in both wires should be exactly the same. As soon as the hot wire connects directly to ground (if somebody accidentally touches the hot wire, for example), the current level surges in the hot wire, but not in the neutral wire. The GFCI breaks the circuit as soon as this happens, preventing electrocution. Since it doesn’t have to wait for current to climb to unsafe levels, the GFCI reacts much more quickly than a conventional breaker.  These should be used especially in the laundry room, bathroom, and kitchen.

Last, but not least, every home should have First-aid/Emergency Kits that are stocked with the following basic first aid supplies, medicines, and home health supplies:

Bandages and dressings:

• Adhesive bandages (Band-Aid or similar brand); assorted sizes
• Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape
• Elastic (ACE) bandage for wrapping wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow injuries
• Triangular bandage for wrapping injuries and making an arm sling
• Aluminum finger splints
• Eye shield, pads, and bandages

Home health equipment:

• Thermometer
• Syringe, medicine cup, or medicine spoon for giving specific doses of medicine
• Disposable, instant ice bags
• Tweezers, to remove ticks and small splinters
• Sterile cotton balls
• Sterile cotton-tipped swabs
• Blue “baby bulb” or “turkey baster” suction device
• Save-A-Tooth storage device in case a tooth is broken or knocked out; contains a travel case and salt solution
• First-aid manual

Medicine for cuts and injuries:

• Antiseptic solution, such as hydrogen peroxide or wipes
• Antibiotic ointment, such as bacitracin, polysporin, or mupirocin
• Sterile eyewash, such as contact lens saline solution
• Calamine lotion for stings or poison ivy
• Hydrocortisone cream, ointment, or lotion for itching
• Benadryl, if you know you are allergic to stings, etc.

By planning ahead, you can create a well-stocked home first aid kit. Keep all of your supplies in one location so you know exactly where they are when you need them.  Think about ensuring your family’s safety by having these important safety tools in your home.

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Many citizens of the U.S. survived a very hot, dry summer, and tried all the safety tips offered to them to prevent them from being overcome from the heat.  Now, just as quickly, we turn around to face a cold winter.  Funny, how the climate changes each year, isn’t it?  The world keeps turning and we keep trying to adjust to Mother Nature. 

Regardless of the season, every family should have a disaster plan in place.  Here are some basic steps to follow:

• Know what your community’s warning signals are.
• Family should decide on two places to meet: a place outside your home for an emergency such as a fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home. 
• Select an out-of-area friend as your family check-in contact for everyone to call if the family is separated.
• Post emergency phone numbers by the phones.  Have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in your home.  Have a first aid kit handy and have your family learn basic safety and first aid measures. 
• Be sure that everyone knows how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency medical services phone number.  

Next,  have home emergency supplies on hand.  There could be a winter storm or power outage that could prevent you from leaving home. 

•          Flashlights and extra batteries.
•          NOAA weather radio.
•          Non-perishable foods that do not require refrigeration.
•          Bottled water.
•          One-week supply of essential medications.
•          Extra blankets and sleeping bags.
•          Emergency heating equipment, used properly. 

If you haven’t already done so, now’s the time to winterize your home! 

• Have your heating system checked by a professional annually.  If you heat with wood, clean your fireplace or stove.  Have your chimney flue checked for buildup of creosote and then cleaned to lessen the risk of fire.
• Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out.
• If you failed to replace batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when the time changed, do it now.
• Be sure your home is properly insulated.  If not, insulate walls and attic.  This will help conserve energy and reduce your homes’ power demand for heat.
• Inspect and flush your water heater.
• Clean gutters of leaves and other debris in order to not hamper drainage.
• Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers.
• Cover the papers with plastic to keep out moisture.
• Leave faucets dripping slightly to avoid freezing.
• Know how to shut off water valves.
• If the house isn’t very warm inside, leave cabinet doors open where pipes are.
• Set the heat no lower than 55 degrees. 

Last but not least, a word about generators, which can provide you with piece of mind and convenience when you have a temporary loss of electricity.  Before installing a generator, disconnect from your utility electrical service, and if possible, have a qualified electrician install it.  NEVER run a generator indoors!  Carbon monoxide gas from the exhaust of the generator can spread throughout closed spaces.  Overloading a generator can damage it, and the appliances connected to it.  Never let children around generators. 

We have many more tips for winter safety.  Stay tuned and we’ll bring more later…..Till then, stay warm and safe!

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We recently received this informative article from Roxanne Porter (www. nannyjobs.org).  With the holidays coming up, it’s wise to brush up on these suggestions, as some of you will have little visitors, and your house may not be properly “child-proofed.”  For those parents of little ones, these suggestions are to be followed every day, as there is nothing more important than the safety of our children. 

When a child reaches the toddler stage, there are a whole range of precautions that need to be taken into account in order to assure safe play times and places. Here are 10 commandments to bear in mind for keeping toddlers safe while playing.

1. Secure all Straps and Handles. Toddlers love to reach and grab, so any heavy or dangerous items with straps or handles should be secured out of their reach. Purses, backpacks, pots & pans, or anything that may be grabbed and used to pull an object down on top of a toddler needs to be accounted for.
2. Keep Unused Rooms Locked. Any room that is not expected to be played in, or that has not been “toddler-proofed” should be locked in order to keep toddlers from wandering in. Just closing doors is not likely to be effective, as toddlers are notoriously curious and prone to exploration.
3. Employ Baby Gates and Toddler-Latches. Open stairways or passageways into unsecure areas without doors should be blocked with baby gates. Cabinets and drawers that contain potentially dangerous items need to be secured with the types of latches that are meant to keep toddlers from pulling them open.
4. Secure Electrical Outlets and Cords. Any room that a toddler may play in should have all electrical outlets covered, and all electrical cords secured in such a way that they can’t be chewed on or unplugged. Also, be aware that electrical cords can be used to pull a lamp or other appliance off of a table. It’s a good idea to get down on the floor and inspect the entire room from toddler level, in order to assure that all electrical sources are inaccessible.
5. Cover or Remove Sharp Corners. All furniture or decorative items in a toddler’s play room should be examined for sharp corners and edges that may be fallen against or that may be at a level to injure a toddler’s head. Look underneath tables, plant stands, etc., for metal brackets or screws that may project and be hazardous to a child that crawls or walks under them.
6. Remove Hinged Toy Box Lids. Toy boxes should be open, or with covers that may be removed and set aside. Hinged lids pose a danger in two ways; the possibility of slamming shut on tender fingers or the head of a child looking in the box, and the chance that a child might crawl inside and be trapped when the lid falls shut.
7. Secure all Bathrooms. Bathrooms are full of things that can be dangerous to toddlers. Toilets and bathtubs are potential drowning hazards for curious children, cleaning utensils are likely to have chemical or bacteria residues, and cleaning products are usually toxic.
8. Beware of Choking/Poison/Burn/Laceration Hazards. Any room that is meant for child’s play needs to be closely inspected for anything that a child might put in his or her mouth and present a danger of choking or poisoning. Fireplaces and stoves should be blocked off from toddlers, and anything that may present a danger of puncture or laceration wounds should be removed. Outside play areas should be inspected just as thoroughly.
9. Inspect/Secure Sandboxes Before Play. Sandboxes should be covered when not in use, but should also be inspected before a child is allowed access for play. Small animals such as cats may find them handy for waste elimination duties, or, depending on where you live, potentially dangerous creepy-crawlies could find them a comfortable place for hiding.
10. EYES ON! Although all of the first 9 listed here are important, this is the most important commandment of all when it comes to safe toddler play. Keep eyes on the child, and ears tuned in the small moments when you might lose sight of a child. They move fast, and disasters can happen as quickly as the time it takes to send a brief text message to a friend.

Keep these 10 commandments in mind, and you will reduce the chances for a toddler in your care to be injured. An eleventh commandment would be to always keep a phone handy for a 911 call, as even the most meticulous attention to the commandments above is not going to assure 100% safety for toddlers.

I would like to add two more suggestions: be sure your parked car doors are locked.  Toddlers love to try to get inside the car and play.  Be sure to lock the doors when you park your car and remind your visitors to, as well.  Getting out of a hot car may be more difficult than getting into one.  Also, keep a first aid kit handy; you never know when you might need it!

Thank you, Roxanne, for these reminders.  You can read more excellent information on child safety at http://www.nannyjobs.org/blog.

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There’s one in every family…..someone who has everything, and is impossible to shop for!  Most of us receive gift items that get recycled, (be careful to remember who gave it to you!), or stuck in a drawer somewhere.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that you show how much you really care by giving emergency preparedness items as gifts.  It would be a unique idea to give a friend or someone you love a gift that might possibly save his/her life.  You may see what we have to offer, and order by going to Texas America Safety Company, http://www.tasco-safety.com/.

Our grandson recently got a truck for his 16th birthday.  I am willing to bet that he doesn’t have a highway safety kit, flashlight, blanket or other emergency equipment that would come in handy in case he became stranded.  These types of emergency kits could be fun to put together for Mom and Dad’s cars, as well. 

If you know someone who wears hardhats at work, we’ve got just the deal for you!  What better way to show your pride in America than by wearing a Patriotic hardhat?  There are other cool hardhats that represent NFL, NBL, NCAA, NHL, NASCAR, and MLB teams.  Shucks, we even have cowboy hardhats that are approved for most types of use.   

T.a.s.c.o  also has many choices of gloves (industrial and medical); some of the leather ones would be great for winter driving.  Mechanix gloves are great for those who need a good, sturdy glove.  There are pink Mechanix gloves, too, for ladies’ smaller hands.   If you know someone who walks early in the morning or late in the evening, what better gift than a high-visibility vest to wear over a jacket, or some high-visibility decals to draw attention to them?  A wide variety of safety glasses are available, too.  They look just as good as those you’d pay several times over for.  If you have a friend who wears safety glasses, check out the styles; you’ll be giving a great gift that offers protection. 

Have a skier on your list?  In addition to warm gloves, we have great selections of protective goggles.  Know someone who works in an industrial setting that requires earmuffs?  Try our Bilsom AM/FM Radio Earmuffs.  You can find them in the earmuffs section.  They are lightweight and durable for industrial work, and do not sound louder than 82 dB.  For those of you who have a welder on your list, T.a.s.c.o has a stock of the coolest welding helmets that can stand the heat! 

We invite you to see for yourself the many items that we offer that will be useful gifts.  Not only will you have the convenience of shopping at home, but for an added Christmas bonus, we’d like to offer you a 10% discount on your purchase!  (Just mention 10% Blog in the Special Instructions space, or remind the customer service person that you order from.)  We also have the capability to customize many items in-house.

We hope the upcoming days bring a wonderful holiday season to you and your loved ones.  Please stay safe, as traffic will be busier than usual.  Best Wishes for safety and happiness during this holiday time from all of us at Texas America Safety Company.  Our toll-free number in the U.S. is 800-646-5346.

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Today, we are continuing to get our battle-stations, excuse me, store management and employees ready for the pre-Black Friday and big Black Friday sales.  Please pay heed to these OSHA guidelines:

Pre-Event Setup: 

• Barricades or rope lines should be set up well in advance of customers arriving at the store.
• Ensure that barricades are set up so that the line does not start right at the entrance to the store.  This allows for orderly crowd management entry, and makes it possible to divide crowds into small groups for the purpose of controlling the entrance.
• Barricade lines should have an adequate number of breaks and turns at intervals to reduce the risk of customers pushing from the rear and maybe crushing others.
• Have designated workers to explain approach and entrance procedures to the arriving public, and direct them to lines or entrances.
• Outside personnel should have radios, cell phones or other ways to communicate with personnel inside the store, as well as emergency responders.
• Numbered wristbands or tickets might help earlier arriving customers with first access to sale items.
• Consider using Internet lottery for “hot” items.
• Provide public amenities including toilets, washbasins, water and shelter, if appropriate.
• Distribute pamphlets with store information and updated sales items within the store to customers waiting outside.
• Remind waiting crowds of the entrance process your business has chosen. 

During the Sales Event: 

• Be sure all employees and crowd control personnel are aware that the doors are about to open.
• Have uniformed guards, police, or other personnel at the entrances.
• Use a P.A. system or bullhorns to manage the entering crowd and communicate information or problems.
• Position security or crowd managers to the sides of entering (or exiting) public, not in the center of their path.
• These entry management measures should be used at all entrances.
• Do not allow additional customers to enter the store once it has reached maximum occupancy, until the level drops.
• Be sure there is a safe entrance for those with disabilities. 

Emergency Situations: 

• Do not restrict egress, and do not block or lock exit doors.
• Know in advance who to call for emergency medical response.
• Keep first-aid kits and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) available, and have personnel trained in using AEDs and CPR onsite.
• Instruct employees, in the event of an emergency to follow instructions from authorized first responders, regardless of company rules. 

We hope retailers will be totally prepared for the onslaught of shoppers who hope to grab some bargains.  Any employees should not be at risk for injury any time they are working.  There are many dangerous occupations in this world, and I am beginning to wonder if this wouldn’t rank right up there with some of the toughest during this holiday season!  Shop friendly, and treat the sales people as kindly as you expect them to treat you.

Source: OSHA

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In most of the United States, Daylight Saving Time begins on the 2^nd Sunday in March and reverts to Standard Time the first Sunday in November.  So, mark November 6th on your calendar to change your clocks!  Every year, it’s  “Spring Forward” and “Fall Backward.”   The official hour to change your clock is 2 a.m. Sunday, November 6^th.  Most of us go ahead and change it before we go to bed.   We will “get back” the hour we lost in the spring, but sometimes, adjustments to the change of one hour can make a big difference in disrupting our habits.  Some parents may want to make a few modifications for their youngsters a day or two before Sunday.  Putting them to bed a little later for a couple of nights might help ease them into the new time.    

Let’s Not Forget About Safety

To ensure that we don’t “fall backward” on safety, this marks an excellent time to do a home safety evaluation.  The National Fire Protection Association recommends that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms be checked once a year.  Their figures show that around ninety per cent of homes in the United States have smoke alarms; however one-third of those are estimated to have dead or missing batteries.  They also recommend that smoke alarms be replaced after 10 years.  Some newer types of alarms have remote controls, making it easier than ever to check them.  Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be:

•        Installed on every level of the home, and in sleeping areas
•        Tested once a month
•        Equipped with new batteries annually 

Also, keep a fire extinguisher handy, and have a fire escape plan for every member of the family.  While you are doing your home safety evaluation, also ensure that your door locks function properly, and keep your home locked.  It’s also a good idea to be sure you have a fully stocked first aid kit. 

Studies have shown an increase in accidents happen at both the beginning and ending of Daylight Saving Time.  During the beginning of the fall change, there has been an increase in pedestrian accidents and traffic accidents.  Drivers may be sleepy, while getting used to that difference in one hour; it’s harder sometimes to fall asleep an hour earlier than we are used to.  We all must be more safety-minded when we know that there are students walking or riding to school, and walking to their school bus stop.  Then, it will become dark earlier, so that’s another time that drivers should be extremely careful when returning home from work or shopping. 

An interesting fact:  The Navajo Nation participates in the DST policy, even in Arizona, (which is not in that time zone) due to its large size and location in three states.  So, if you live in the Central Time Zone location, be sure you change your clocks, and check your monitors, and start getting ready for colder weather.  It seems these time changes come along more often than ever!

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September is National Preparedness Month and this year’s theme is “A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.”  Sunday, September 11, was a very sad day, a reminder of the tragedy caused by terrorists who cold-heartedly took the lives of thousands of hard-working people.  It certainly was an event we will always remember with compassion.  This year’s theme of National Preparedness Month not only asks us to remember, but be prepared. 

Editor’s Note: I found this article, written by John Mintz, published in the Washington Post, July 29, 2004, regarding Family Emergency Preparedness.  As you continue, bear in mind the date this was written, and see if you don’t agree that public apathy toward being prepared continues today?

Are you prepared?

If you’re not prepared, which one of the following categories – defined by the American Red Cross – fits you?

• Head scratcher – Doesn’t know where to find preparedness advice
• Head in the sand – Believes preparation is unimportant
• Head in the clouds – Mistakenly believes they are ready
• Headset crowd – Too busy and can’t find time to prepare
• Heady unawareness – People who “simply haven’t thought about preparedness”

Planning for your basic needs

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, www.dhs.gov  or www.ready.gov  lists six general categories of readiness for disaster. Begin your planning with:

• Water and food
• First aid kit
• Portable kit
• Supply checklists
• Special needs items
• Safe Indoor Air

To get preparedness information locally, pick up planning guides at local fire stations or American Red Cross.

The percentage of Americans who have created an emergency plan for a terrorist attack has dropped in the last year, along with the proportion of Americans who believe terrorists may strike near their home or workplace, according to two new studies released July 20, 2004.

Civil preparedness experts said these and other numbers are going in precisely the wrong direction, with U.S. authorities warning that al-Qaeda is determined to strike the United States this fall (2004) . The information was released at a conference at George Washington University.

“We need to narrow the universe of the unprepared, of those we need to worry about in a catastrophic situation, and it is not going to be easy,” Red Cross President Marsha Evans said in a speech outlining her group’s survey on emergency preparedness. “Every one of those unprepared Americans is a potential barrier to the effectiveness of our response to any disaster.”

The Red Cross survey, conducted last month by Wirthlin Worldwide, found that the percentage of Americans who have created a family emergency plan on where to meet after a terror strike has dropped from 40 percent in August 2003 to 32 percent today (2004).

The percentage of people who expressed concern that terrorists might strike near their home or workplace has declined more dramatically, from 71 percent immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to about half today, according to a separate poll also released July 20 by the non-profit Council for Excellence in Government.

Preparedness specialists believe that the number of people readying themselves for the aftermath of a terrorist attack has dropped as time has passed since the Sept. 11 strike without another attack on the United States.

U.S. officials and counter-terrorism specialists say encouraging Americans to stockpile supplies for an attack, prepare themselves emotionally and take action to ready their families is vital to both self-protection and bouncing back from any strike that does occur.The Red Cross poll also found that the percentage of people who had assembled home emergency kits remained stable between 2003 and this year (2004), at 42 percent. But only one in 10 families have taken all three steps considered crucial for preparation: creating emergency kits and family plans for reuniting after a disaster, as well as getting training in first aid, the Red Cross study said.

Some public-relations experts said stepped-up marketing efforts for such citizen involvement could ingrain terror preparedness into the popular consciousness just as the ad campaigns to buckle seatbelts in the 1980s had children reminding their parents to secure their safety restraints. Those ads are credited with increasing seatbelt use from 10 percent in 1981 to 79 percent in 2003.

 A recent poll (2004), found that about 90% of Americans doubt that they would leave their homes during a terrorist attack, even if asked by government officials to do so.

Do you think these figures are the same, better, or worse today?  Where do you stand?

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Regardless of your plans for this last long week-end holiday, which marks the end of summer, beginning of school and football season, make plans to take extra precautions to have a safe three-day weekend.  Yesterday, we issued some great tips from the American Trucking Association for travelers.  Who should know better than the ones who are on our Nation’s highways more than anyone else? 

Labor Day began in 1882 in New York City.  In 1884, the first Monday in September was selected to celebrate “a workingmen’s holiday.”  I’ve got news for history:  there’s a lot of working women who need to be honored alongside them!  Canada observes the same day to honor its workers; many other countries have a Labor Day celebration at different times of the year.  

One thing that will be different about the traditional Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy telethon: Jerry Lewis, age 85, will not be hosting this annual money-raising project this year.  He has hosted the telethon that is held during the Labor Day Weekend for the past 45 years, and it is dear to his heart.   We need to continue this worthwhile cause in helping those who suffer from this debilitating disease and be grateful for what Jerry Lewis has done for the telethon. 

You’ll probably hear your fair share of political speeches, or attend your local annual fair or picnic that volunteers work hard to make successful.  Some folks will go to the lake for that last outing, or participate  in other water sports, such as fishing, boating,  swimming, or hike their favorite lookout spot.   Whatever you decide to do, please keep safety in mind: water safety, camping safety, food safety, and take along that first aid kit,  just in case. 

Last, but not least, a friendly reminder from our nation’s law enforcement agencies.  Texas is participating in a nationwide impaired driving crackdown coordinated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), that combines high-visibility law enforcement with a public information and education campaign.  Between August 19^th (you may have already noticed more of them,) and September 5^th, thousands of law enforcement officers will be working overtime to stop and arrest impaired drivers on Texas roads and highways.  TxDOT is reminding Texans: if you’re caught drinking and driving, you are going to jail.  And, as we said, this is a nationwide crackdown.  

Do not get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking. (This applies to driving boats, as well.)  Designate a driver, call a cab, catch a bus, or get someone you trust to pick you up, or spend the night where you are.  A DWI arrest and conviction in Texas can cost up to $17,000 or more: fees include car towing, impoundment, bail, attorney fees, court costs, hearing and fees to regain and retain driver’s license, DWI fine, probation costs, fees for extended proof of insurance, plus insurance rate hikes.   The 2011 theme for Labor Day is: DRINK. DRIVE. GO TO JAIL.

Now that you are properly warned,  get out there and have a great Labor Day!  (We know that not everyone needs that warning.)  You have worked hard and deserve a day of rest and relaxation.  Just please stay safe – whatever you choose to do.

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Most persons who have tattoos are proud of their them.  So proud, they have them all over their arms and other body parts.  There’s a lot to consider before trying it out, if you haven’t done so already.  As the Food and Drug Administration says, “Think Before You Ink.”  When trying to think of the pro’s and con’s, it is hard to come up with a balanced list.  Actually, there’s really not much to say about the positive side, except that some people feel that it expresses their personalities.  However, there are many concerns on the con side, so here goes: 

• Infection.  When you go into a tattoo artist’s shop, ask to see the autoclave (a medical pressure cooker primarily used for sterilizing medical instruments.) This autoclave must maintain a temperature of at least 246 degrees for 30 minutes to fully sterilize the equipment.
• Spread of disease. The artist should wear some type of medical latex gloves that fit properly.  A pinhole could run the risk of cross-contamination.  Ask the artist if he/she has had their Hepatitis B vaccination.  You might be a little suspicious if he doesn’t remember, as the vaccination involves receiving 3 shots over a 4-month time frame.  You may want to consider getting the vaccination yourself,  just to be on the safe side.
• Allergies.  Allergies to various ink pigments in both permanent and temporary tattoos have been reported, and can cause problems.
• Granulomas.  Small knots or bumps that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.
• Scarring.  Unwanted scar tissue may form when getting or removing a tattoo.
• MRI complications.  People may have swelling or burning in the tattoo when they have an MRI.  This happens rarely and doesn’t last long.  Do not fail to have an MRI if needed. Just inform the technician so they can take appropriate precautions. 

Other concerns:

• The FDA has not approved any tattoo pigments for injection into the skin. This applies to tattoos such as glow-in-the dark.
• The use of henna in temporary tattoos has not been approved by the FDA; henna is approved only for use as a hair dye.
• An increased variety of pigments and diluents are being used in more than 50 different pigments and shades.  These are approved for cosmetic use only, not injected into the skin.  Many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all.  Some are industrial-grade colors that are suitable for printers’ ink, and automobile paint.
• Professional disposal of needles is also an indication of whether you want to get a tattoo in the salon.  They should be placed in a sharps container that you can see.  Also the needles used should be new.
• Tattoos are permanent.  If you decide you need to have one removed, find a doctor that is experienced in tattoo removal.  The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery can help you find the right physician. 

The FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research in Arkansas is investigating the chemical composition of the inks and how they break down (metabolize) in the body; the short-term and long-term safety of pigments used in tattoo inks; and how the body responds to the interaction of light with the inks.  Whether the migration of tattoo ink has health consequences or not is still unknown.  NCTR is doing further research to answer many questions about the safety of tattoo inks. 

Do your own research while considering a tattoo; don’t do it on a whim.  It’s going to be with you the rest of your life.  Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the safety of the instruments and experience of the person placing a permanent message on your body for display.

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While working with a flood cleanup crew in Minot, North Dakota, a quality assessment representative for the town was watching a private business owner and contractor assemble a group of workers to enter a grain storage bin.  Noting that there was no safety equipment present, and knowing the hazards involved,  the representative from Minot called an OSHA inspector in the area, who quickly arrived on the scene.  There was no retrieval gear for the workers, the atmosphere had not been tested, and no training in grain bin entry had been given to the workers.  Due to this intervention, a potential tragedy was prevented. 

Unfortunately, a terrible accident in Colorado in 2009, did not have the same results.  A 17-year-old worker lost his life in a grain bin.  The company pled guilty to violating OSHA regulations that resulted in the death of this young man.  There was a lack of safety and rescue equipment on site; however,  three teenagers entered the bins without the benefit of personal protective equipment, such as a body harness and lanyard.  The only instructions given to the crew were to watch out for one another and be careful.  Cody, the victim, was allowed to enter the bin despite knowing that the bucket elevator was not locked out and grain was flowing from the bin.  While inside the bin, he was engulfed by the flowing grain and sucked under, where his chest was crushed and he died of asphyxiation.  Despite the efforts of Cody’s co-workers, they were unable to locate and rescue him.  

The facts of the investigation revealed  that it was common practice for this company to hire high school-age teenagers from the local area.  These teens were assigned various hazardous tasks, which included bin entry, “Walking the Grain”, working in and around unguarded mechanical equipment, unsafe electrical devices, confined spaces, and exposure to explosive grain dust.  Employees regularly entered the bins to “walk down grain”, the practice of walking around the edge of a bin to dislodge clumps of grain while it was flowing from the bin, without the appropriate safety harness with lanyard.  A center-grain-unloading auger draws grain from the top center and the grain forms a cone as the bin is emptied. 

There are many deadly hazards of engulfment and suffocation while working inside grain storage bins.  Grain bins are used to store bulk raw agricultural commodities such as wheat, corn, and oats.  If workers stand on moving or flowing grain, it can be like “quicksand” and pull them under.  If they stand on or below “bridged” grain, it can collapse and bury workers.  Also, if they try to loosen grain, it can cave in on them.  OSHA’s Hazard Alert warns how workers can become engulfed in these bins, and lists precautions that employers must take to protect workers.  These include:

• Disconnecting equipment that presents a danger;
• Prohibiting workers from walking on the grain to make it flow;
• Providing workers with personal protective and rescue equipment;
• Requiring an observer outside the bin who is trained on how to perform rescue operations. 

In the case of the teenager who lost his life, the company paid $500,000 to his family, as well as fines to OSHA.  OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels stated, “This is a terrible tragedy that should never have happened.  Money won’t bring back this young man’s life, but we can make every effort to ensure that these tragedies don’t happen again.”  The company involved is required to implement safety provisions that include providing safety training and refresher training to its employees, and develop a procedure that includes harnesses and lanyards or similar safety equipment in anticipation of bin entry at any of its grain elevators.  If they violate any of these terms of probabion, they could be potentially liable for up to another $500,000 fine.

Parents: don’t hesitate to find out what kind of job your teenager is going to be asked to do.  It’s not worth taking a chance.  Companies should never gamble with their employees’ lives, especially when they put them in hazardous situations that are entirely preventable. 

Source: OSHA

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