Do you buckle your seat belt before driving the car? Well, this is where eighty per cent of the accidents turn fatal. If you don’t protect yourself, you cause harm to yourself and ultimately to other passengers in the car. You should know that possessing excellent driving skills is not important. What is more important is whether you wear a seat belt or not. It is a basic driving requirement that even the best car drivers in the families don’t follow. Your family’s protection should always be your major concern while driving in local areas or highways. Thus, here are crucial factors elaborated to help you understand the impact of seat belts while driving.

Makes a Small Accident Bigger:

Sometimes, due to careless driving, the small accidents turn into life-taking ones. When you are taking your family for a lunch treat or outskirts, you are the person responsible for any mishaps or accidents. As a driver, you should confirm that your children, wife and parents have buckled their seat belts properly. You have to know that it is your responsibility to take care of the environment as a citizen. Taking responsibility will always serve you better rather than ignoring your rights as a responsible family member.

Becomes a Habit:

You must have seen a lot of people who drive cars around you. For instance, you can take your own friends and family members as an example. You must have noticed them not buckling up the seat belts before driving the car. As explained earlier, this is a common cause for accidents. However, when people don’t prefer wearing seat belts across them, it becomes an impeccable habit. Indeed, the same habit can lead to fatal accidents of the family members and friends. Therefore, now you are the one who should decide how protectively you want to drive your car.

Money or Life Protection:

It is not always about money. In cases like accidents, it is always about life. So, it doesn’t matter whether how much money you have spent to purchase your car. When accidents happen, it all comes down to how much you got injured or the number of lives caused due to one mistake. However, one of the main reasons of fatal accidents is improper car functions. That is why, you need to keep your car in a good condition always. But, this doesn’t mean that you should not wear the seat belt while driving. Wearing a seat belt is as important as driving a well functioned car.

Asides to that, if you don’t have your car registered, then you should dial the dvla phone number for car registration enquiries. Because, sometimes driving an unregistered car leads you to face unusual consequences and not wearing the seat belt can lead to fatal accidents. Thus, in both the cases you are breaking the law. So, if you have a new car then register and drive your car safely by wearing the seat belt. Take care of your own and your family because ultimately it is your life that is more important than money.

Our thanks to Annie Bonneville, from Manchester, U.K. for this insightful article.  Please also turn your cell phone off until you arrive safely at your destination.  pb

It is very crucial to consider various factors before you choose  identity  theft protection services. Identity theft can affect your credit history and your social image. Goons have been known to exploit your personal information for achieving lucrative returns. A number of companies claim to provide Id theft protection services, however, it is very essential to compare id theft protection services before you subscribe to one of them. 

Our company has been providing id theft protection to individuals and corporate industries. They have industry experts, who specialize in security of all forms, to protect you and your personal credentials. Here are a few words from industry experts on how to compare id theft protection services before choosing them. 

1.         Check for the security features

Many companies provide standard security services, which safeguard the personal information of the individual. They provide information about their level of security and the means by which they safeguard information. However, a very few companies like Keepmyid.org provide some additional features, which are useful along with the core ones. These extra features include fraud alerts and account monitoring along with freezing the accounts when a fraud occurs. 

2.         See whether the company provides recovery assistance

Most of the companies claim to offer services to mitigate the mishap. However, a very few company offer recovery support in case of loss of information or at times when the id theft occurs. Keepmyid.org has been known to have concrete protocols and practices that will assist you in recovering the lost information. The company will assist you in blocking your credit cards, alerting the credit bureau and other financial institutions for Identity theft Prevention.  It will also help in identifying those disputed transactions and will help in notifying the creditors with the same.
 

3.         Check if 24×7 support is available

Before you compare id theft protection services, ensure that the company provides round the clock support. Mishaps can occur at any moment of time, and the protecting company should come to your rescue immediately, by placing a phone call. Also, the support staff should be empathetic and handle the situation in a calm way.

Sent to us by Jonas Patrick.  We just can’t be too careful in keeping our personal information private!

To some, it might not seem like the most hazardous job in the world, but being a window cleaner does involve a lot of risk. Merely cleaning ground-floor windows is fairly risk-free, however in most cases, workers within this profession have to scale entire buildings to make sure that every window pane looks spotless.

Back in the day, window cleaners very rarely had to clean any building more than three storeys high. However, as skyscrapers, tower blocks and modern glass-fronted offices became more widespread, so did the number of difficult jobs for window cleaners. In extreme cases, some jobs involved scaling heights of over 500 feet, which can be especially challenging if it is your first day on the job.

Material world
Today, height isn’t the only challenge that window cleaners face. Many modern high-rise buildings are covered almost entirely in glass. This means that they have to clean a larger surface, which requires greater mobility.
At the same time, glass-fronted buildings are also more difficult to hold on to, meaning that the safety of cleaners when working on such structures is even more questionable.
The Empire State Building is a prime example of a glass-fronted skyscraper which can be a nightmare to get cleaned. That, coupled with its impressive height, makes it one of the most dangerous buildings on earth that a window cleaner could possibly work on. A lack of friction on the surface means that cleaners have no choice but to use a harness.

Strings attached
In order to scale large buildings, window cleaners tend to use:

•          (For buildings that are no taller than four storeys); A really long ladder
•          A harness for really tall buildings that don’t have straight, flat surfaces
•          A large suspended scaffold for some skyscrapers that’s erected at the top of the building and moved up and down when needed by someone at ground level

All three are, with supervision, safe to use when everything has been checked. Unfortunately, there’s still an inherent risk in this form of work, with the danger of plummeting hundreds of feet to the ground, should the harness or scaffold used be unstable or insecure. Freak accidents within this field are not always reported on, however there was the story of a cleaner falling 47 stories, and although he was critically injured, he miraculously survived – though he will need extensive surgeries and physical rehabilitation for the foreseeable future.
Sadly, the same cannot be said of his brother, who succumbed to the injuries sustained on the same assignment.
A study conducted by the Department of Labor gathered that on average, a window cleaner accidentally falls to their death every 10 seconds in the United States. Thankfully, for many window cleaners, deaths are becoming rarer due to their high level of skill involved and the vast technological improvements made in the safety of window cleaning equipment. There are even tests and advancements being done to develop window cleaning robots in the new home of the high-risers, the UAE. However, this may negatively affect the future of the workforce- so, it’s ultimately a question of choice of a lesser evil, which is an entirely new topic.

About the author:
This article was contributed by Local Traders; a company that helps to connect home and business owners with the best local trades-people who perform home maintenance services, such as cleaners, plumbers or electricians local to your neighborhood/area.
 
 

As residents recover from the damage caused by the recent storms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges recovery workers, employers and the public to exercise caution during cleanup efforts. OSHA will be providing on-site compliance assistance to workers and the public about the hazards they may encounter, as well as the steps they should take to stay safe. Hazards involved in cleanup work may include exposure to contaminated water or food; heat exhaustion; downed electrical wires; carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical shock from portable generators, and dangers while tree-trimming or working at heights. 

According to the NOAA Satellite and Information Systems, here are the classifications of wind speeds: 

•        EF-1 =   86-110 mph
•        EF-2 =  111-135 mph
•        EF-3 =  136-165 mph
•        EF-4 =  166-200 mph
•        EF-5 =  over 200 mph 

It is hard to imagine how anything remains standing in winds that strong. According to experts, there’s no wind on earth stronger than winds inside a tornado.  It’s amazing that more people escaped injury; they had advance notice that allowed them to be better prepared, due to correct weather warnings.  This serves as a reminder to all of us to do the following: 

1.       Know the hazards of dangerous weather.
2.       Pay attention to forecasts.
3.       Have a plan to stay safe.  Think about what you will do in case of a natural disaster and be prepared. 

The storms that produced several tornadoes Sunday in Oklahoma and Kansas prompted an unusually blunt warning from the central region of the National Weather Service, which covers 14 states: 

“You could be killed if not underground or in a tornado shelter,” it said. “Complete destruction of neighborhoods, businesses and vehicles will occur. Flying debris will be deadly to people and animals.”   

Pat Slattery, National Weather Service spokesman for the U.S. Central region, said the advisory was part of a new warning system being tested after a violent tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011, killing 158 people and injuring hundreds. 

Slattery said the new advisory was reserved for severe tornadoes with the potential to form into “supercell” storms, which produce powerful winds and flash flooding. Supercells are considered to be the most dangerous of four categories of storms because of the extreme weather they generate. 

A recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assessment of the Joplin storm found that “when people heard the first tornado warning, they did not immediately seek shelter. They looked for a secondary source to confirm the tornado,” Slattery said. “That got some people killed.” 

For those emergency response workers and volunteers, be sure that you are wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, for the hazards involved.  Have a good supply of fresh drinking water, hand sanitizer, and first aid supplies in case of cuts or scratches.  May Mother Nature slow down a little bit on introducing us to spring tornadoes.  We would prefer that they stay away completely.  It is doubtful that this will happen, so be prepared, and pay attention to warnings from your weather system.  They know what they are talking about!

Please note: I prepared this article yesterday, probably during the same time that the horrible tornado was rumbling toward Moore, Oklahoma.  Search and rescue workers and volunteers were scrambling to try to locate school children, as the tornado devastated two elementary schools.  Work continued through the night. The County Medical Examiner has released the number of dead, and then revised it, so through the day, we will have more accurate figures.  My article was  intended to help us pay attention to weather warnings.  Our county was in a tornado warning for several hours last night, but we escaped any damage in our small town. I don’t know about the other part of the county.

This is a very frightening season for those who live in areas prone to develop tornadoes.  Please pray for the parents, grandparents, children and all citizens of Moore, Oklahoma, many who have lost loved ones, and their possessions.  pb

Department of Labor; Reuters News Service

During the summer months, workers who are exposed to extreme heat should recognize symptoms of heat stress, and how it can be prevented.  The month of May is more than half-gone, and things are heating up already.  May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection Month, and May 25^th is Heat Safety Awareness Day.  So we hope you will take heed: 

Things that can lead to heat stress are: inadequate water intake, physical exertion, direct sun, high temperature or humidity, and some medicines.  Workers should stay hydrated and maintain a safe core body temperature, which should never exceed 100°F.  Ingesting fluids on a regular basis also puts less strain on the cardiovascular system. 

Signs of heat disorders are:

• Heat Exhaustion – This is the result of a combination of dehydration and excessive heat.  Headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, giddiness, and thirst are symptoms.  Workers with heat exhaustion should be given fluids, and encouraged to rest.  Workers can stay hydrated by keeping containers of fluids handy at all times.
• Heat Cramps – Caused by an electrolyte imbalance caused by sweating and lack of water replenishment.  Workers in hot environments should drink water every 15 to 20 minutes and drink carbohydrate-electrolyte replacement liquids (e.g., sports drinks).
• Heat Stroke – This is the most serious heat related disorder.  Confusion, irrational behavior, loss of consciousness, lack of sweating (usually), an abnormally high temperature are primary signs of heat stroke, resulting in a medical emergency.  The worker should be doused with cool water and given fluids.  Drinks that contain alcohol, caffeine or large amounts of sugar can cause workers to lose body fluid, and very cold drinks can cause stomach cramps.  Cool fluids are easier to drink and more easily absorbed into the body.
• Heat Rashes – Most common problem where skin is persistently wetted by sweat.  Creams or ointments should not be used as they keep the skin warm and moist, and may worsen the condition.  Powders may be applied. 

A reminder to workers: be sure to drink fluids before becoming thirsty; if you wait, your body is already dehydrated.  Wear a wide brimmed hat if your work doesn’t require a hardhat, use sunscreen, and wear safety glasses that have the proper UV protection.  Be sure to protect your body with a sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rate.  Protect your children from sunburn, because many times skin cancer shows up at a later age, waiting all that time from childhood to adulthood to become a serious problem.  Children’s eyes should also be protected from the UV rays of the sun; it is important that they wear sunglasses , just as their parents do.

Source: OSHA, CDC

Over the years, The Office has given us plenty of chaotic, but of course, laugh-out-loud hilarious  safety situations, among other hysterical moments .  We can laugh at these situations on TV, but in our real lives and workplaces, we should do everything possible to prevent these things from happening. If you’ve seen the show, you know you shouldn’t take your safety cues from Michael or Dwight, because they aren’t always the most competent coworkers.

Relive these safety episodes and more of your favorite moments from The Office with reruns on http://www.cable.tv/)  channel TBS or on Netflix. As The Office comes to a close this month at the end of its 9th season, let’s take a look back at some memorable workplace safety moments from the show  and learn the proper ways these situations should be handled should similar things happen when you’re at work.

General Workplace Safety

We know that TV shows don’t always show us the correct way to do things in real life. The Office is a great example of how not to run your office, especially when it comes to workplace safety. In the episode titled “Safety Training” from season 3, the workers in the office get a lesson on being safe in their warehouse. Michael makes jokes throughout warehouse worker Darryl’s whole presentation instead of being attentive.
 
In episode, “Boys and Girls,” also from season three, Michael drives the forklift, even though he doesn’t have a license to operate it, and knocks over entire shelves in the warehouse. This clip is a prime example of what not to do if you’re not qualified.

Tips for general safety in the workplace: At your job, you likely have regular safety meetings. If you don’t have meetings and guidelines to follow, take matters into your own hands and learn how you can start implementing better workplace safety to keep yourself and your coworkers free from harm. Always pay attention during safety session because workplace safety is not something to take lightly.

Fire Safety

In the hilariously ridiculous cold open clip  for “Stress Relief” in season 5, Dwight actually sets a fire and locks everyone inside the office on purpose to stress the importance of fire safety at work. The motive behind Dwight’s fire, to make everyone pay attention to safety lessons, is pure, but obviously setting a fire on purpose is something we should never do. The fire situation ends up with Oscar falling through the ceiling, Angela throwing her cat into the ceiling, Dwight setting off firecrackers and with Stanley having a real heart attack;  funny for TV, but not something you want to happen where you work.

In another episode about fires at work, the season 3 episode, “The Fire,” viewers learn more ways that these situations should not be handled. You know the saying, “The captain goes down with the ship,” meaning that the captain or leader should make sure everyone else is okay before being the last one out in a dangerous situation. In The Office, this is not the case. A small fire is started in the break room, and the workers begin to calmly exit but branch manager Michael pushes everyone else aside so he can run down the stairs first.

Tips to prevent fire situations at work: This situation could have clearly been avoided by Dwight not setting the fire. Instead, have a simple fire safety class and run a practice drill every few months with no real fire, Dwight! In case of a fire at your office, be sure to act quickly and calmly and exit the building according to your planned fire procedures.

Since the very beginning of The Office in 2005, viewers have been treated to countless memorable moments and scenes we’ll never forget. Even after the finale, the beloved show and workers of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch will live on in our hearts. Just remember not to take any safety tips from The Office!

Bio: Eddie D. Shackleford is a writer who loves to write and research about parenting, children, safety and more. You can follow Eddie on Twitter at @Eddie20Ford.

There are few things more terrifying to a parent than the thought that their child is involved with drugs. It is important to talk with kids to help prevent drug use or abuse from becoming an issue in your family. Follow these tips to help protect your family from drug use and other dangers.

TALK WITH THEM

If there is one key that is more important than any other in preventing drug use in kids, it is talking to them about the dangers of drug use in an honest way. It is important to be as open and honest as possible about drugs. Do not make up things or use scare tactics to try and prevent kids’ drug use. There are enough negative aspects to drug use without having to resort to making things up. Kids are excellent detectors of falsehoods. If they catch parents lying about drugs, then that makes them more likely to experiment with them. Be open and honest with kids at all times, and this will encourage them to talk with you whenever drugs start to become an issue in their lives. 

BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL
It is really true that actions speak louder than words. Kids are very apt to imitate the behavior they see in their parents. If you drink, then always drink in moderation. Kids are more likely to abuse alcohol if their parents do. Never drink and drive, and always use prescription drugs in the proper method in which they are prescribed. Practicing safe alcohol and prescription drug use makes you a great role model for your kids, and it helps to reduce the chances that they will abuse drugs or alcohol.
Be Involved with Your Kids
Kids who have parents who are active in their lives are much more likely to refrain from drug use. A great way to do this is to have regular family dinners without the interruption of a television. Talking to kids over the dinner table is one of the keys to raising great kids. Also, try to get involved in your children’s activities as well. Volunteer to help out with their activities. Become a coach or an assistant. Help them to practice at home. Help them with their homework. Take them out to do something fun. Anything that gets you more involved in your kids’ lives will help to protect them from drug use and the many other dangers that they face on a daily basis. Parents can make a big difference in their children’s chances of getting involved with drugs. For more information check out http://www.addictiontreatmentrehab.com/treatment-programs/ecstasy-treatment-centers/.

Sent to us by Casey Haslem. Here’s his bio:

I’m Casey. I’m a 25 year old writer. My hobbies are reading, painting and pretending I know how to write a book (I don’t).
I love meeting people and making new friends. Writing opens up a whole world of new ideas and possibilities for me. I wouldn’t change a thing.

We’re glad you found us, Casey. Thanks for the great information. Pat

From time to time, I like to stroll (actually drive) over to headquarters in Brownwood, Texas, to check out the latest safety gear, so I can mention it in case you haven’t spotted it on our http://www.tasco-safety.com/ website!

For the many workers who must wear safety vests all day long, there is an abundance of hi-visibility ones with logos already on them, such as “Think Safety”,  (which happens to be on sale right now).  Check out the new black vests – many law enforcement officers prefer to wear black, and these can have any logos or names imprinted right in our own facility!

There are “cool” hot pink vests for the girls, and even white, with hot pink stripes.  The white appear to be a cool choice.  For girls with an attitude, we offer a black vest with hot pink stripes!

For more info, this comes straight from our website:

We carry inexpensive vests such as the plain soft mesh version, surveyor’s safety vests, ANSI Traffic Safety Vests, and also company imprinted safety vests. We are offering from SM to 5X sizing, both solid materials and mesh materials; as well as, many different reflective stripe combinations. We also carry the standard Orange and Lime colors in most designs, and we recently introduced special color identification vests including Pink, Royal Blue, ANSI Red, Black, Green, White and more. Whether on the jobsite, in a traffic area, or on a busy roadside we have the perfect safety vest for you.

For those who work in extremely hot weather, we carry a body cooling vest that will help you keep your cool.  Golfers, yard workers, and others who are out in the heat would probably love them, too! 

While you are browsing, don’t forget to take a look at our similar high visibility safety product pages. This section offers high visibility clothing from head to toe.  If you purchase an item, please remember to mention that you read about it on the blog so you can receive a 5% discount!  Thanks for reading my little commercial.  We want you to be safe, seen, and cool this summer.