Silver Lining Safety - Safety Bytes

An emerging technology that’s gaining traction as a viable tool for safety training is virtual reality. Learn more by listening to this brief podcast. 

Employers in all industries are dealing with a significant problem: a shortage of employees. This was initially triggered by the pandemic, which caused many to lose their jobs as many employers were forced to reduce or temporarily shutter their operations or close altogether. Learn more about how to keep safety a priority during this time.

We can address ergonomic issues by having a good understanding of the concepts of neutral posture and what it looks like. Learn more by listening to this short podcast. 

A willful violation as a violation in which the employer either knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement, in other words, purposeful disregard, or acted with plain indifference to employee safety. Learn more by listening to this short podcast.

Safety complacency, while very dangerous, is avoidable. Listen to this short podcast to learn more.

Black ice is especially dangerous because it often goes undetected until it’s too late. Learn more by listening to this brief podcast.

Learn about some things to consider if you’re building or modifying a defensive driving program for your company.

There are steps employers and drivers can take to prepare for unexpected and dangerous travel conditions.

Whatever the reasons are, providing your employees with a smoking cessation program will have many benefits for them, as well as your company.

While most people understand the physical risks associated with construction work, not many realize there’s also a very real mental health risk associated with construction work.

Cybersafety involves utilizing safe practices to protect yourself and your business from online attacks of cybercriminals. Learn more by listening to this short podcast. 

The compact design with an attached screen and keyboard results in a big disconnect from what we know about optimal ergonomics. Learn more about proper ergonomics when using a laptop. 

There’s no way around it; slips, trips, and falls are a part of everyday life. In many cases these falls only result in minor scrapes and bruises, and possibly a bruised ego. But unfortunately, falls can often lead to much more serious injuries and even death.

If you work in an office, you may have experienced a sudden pain in your neck, shoulders, or back. Prolonged or repeated unhealthy body mechanics can lead to pain and injuries known as musculoskeletal disorders. 

Loading docks pose several risks to warehouse workers and truck drivers. Slips, trips, and falls are some of the most common injuries experienced on loading docks.

Eyewash stations are an essential aspect of emergency safety equipment. They’re intended to mitigate eye injuries when control methods like personal protective equipment fail to prevent exposure to a physical or chemical irritant or biological agent.

Let’s learn more about ladder safety by reviewing an example of an actual West Bend Mutual Insurance claim.

For decades, “lift with your legs, not your back,” has been a common mantra for safe lifting. While this may be good advice in specific situations, it doesn’t consider the many variables that determine how lifting actually affects the human body.

If your company employs drivers, it’s important to ensure you have a comprehensive and effective driver safety program.

Stairs and stepladders pose huge hazards when it comes to slips and falls. Fortunately, there are things you and your employees can do to minimize the risks associated with stairs and stepladders.

Learn more about the importance of an emergency action plan that’ll help protect your employees, jobsites, vehicles, and equipment and will minimize the impact on your bottom line.

A common approach to improve workplace safety is a safety incentive program that rewards employees for certain outcomes. Learn more by listening to this short podcast. 

Adverse behaviors by residents in caregiving environments such as senior care, traditional nursing homes, and group homes are often a regular occurrence. We discuss several key ways to ensure a successful debrief.

It’s our 100th podcast!  In celebration of 100 podcasts, find out what it takes to give 100% for safety.

This podcast addresses manual distractions as we continue our series on behaviors, controls, practices, and laws to reduce distracted driving.

This podcast addresses visual distractions as we continue our series on behaviors, controls, practices, and laws to reduce distracted driving.

This podcast addresses cognitive distractions as we continue our series on behaviors, controls, practices, and laws to reduce distracted driving.

West Bend understands the significance of distracted driving. We’ve created a series of podcasts to address behaviors, controls, practices and laws to reduce distracted driving. This series is dedicated to ensuring we all play a part in the fight to save lives by ending distracted driving.

Unfortunately, there are thousands of crashes in work zones every construction season. Drivers and passengers – not workers – make up the vast majority of those either hurt or killed. It's in every driver's best interest to stay focused and patient – especially in work zones. This podcast provides information and practices to help you safely operate your vehicle in work zones. 

When we hear the word ergonomics, we usually think of a fixed workstation either in the office or manufacturing facility. Rarely would we think about a moving workstation.  More of us are relying on travel between physical locations. What should you think about before you turn the key in the ignition? Join us to learn about taking ergonomics on the road.

“Lift with your legs” is a common theme when talking about lifting. The problem is we’re not designed to lift other people. Using the proper equipment and eliminating the manual lifts keeps residents, patients, and caregivers safe. Listen to the challenges healthcare workers face and solutions to help keep them injury-free. 

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, lack of effective teamwork and communication between health-care professionals leads to increased medical errors, decreased outcomes in patient care, and decreased staff and resident safety.

According to the CDC, slips, trips, and falls are the third most common type of non-fatal work-related injury in the United States. Injuries from slips, trips, and falls often lead to time off the job for workers. As employers look for ways to reduce injuries and missed time, those turning to slip-resistant shoes quickly see the benefits.

Inclement weather, which is defined by elements like rain, sleet, snow, fog, blowing sand or debris, and slick pavement, cause millions of motor vehicle crashes annually. This podcast provides you with information and practices to operating your vehicle safely in inclement weather.

Our bodies are designed to move. That’s why you may have heard that when it comes to health risks, sitting is the new smoking. In this podcast, learn how short, frequent microbreaks give our bodies the opportunity to reset, renew, and get ready for the next task without any impact on productivity.

As healthcare professionals, we sometimes find ourselves in a situation where a resident is upset and angry. This creates an adverse event. In most circumstances, these events can be avoided by identifying the triggers and responding in the correct manner.

When determining resident transfer status, staff are often able to determine when a patient needs a total body mechanical lift. When choosing a gait belt versus a sit to stand lift transfers, the waters can get muddy.

Controlling exposures of occupational hazards is the fundamental method of protecting workers. The hierarchy of controls is a means of determining the most practical and effective control solutions.  In this podcast, we share possible ergonomic controls and their effectiveness on that hierarchy.

When setting up a workstation, how high or low should the work be positioned? How far away from the body should workers have to frequently reach? What parameters can we use to easily assess if our workstation designs will keep workers productive and safe?  The purpose of this podcast is to introduce the safe work zones concept and explain how it can help answer these questions.

Ergonomic-related injuries account for up to 75% of all workers’ compensation costs nationwide. As an employer, there are tools you can use to determine what’s safe and what’s NOT safe for your workers.

As technology continues to advance, we find ourselves spending more time in front of computer screens. How can we minimize computer monitor complications and keep our eyes from feeling fatigue? This podcast gives you some practical rules to follow.

OSHA recently released updated data on the top OSHA violations by industry. This podcast will briefly review the top citations for common industries and the routine violations for which OSHA issues citations.

Do you or your staff assist residents, patients, clients, or students with the use of gait belts? Using the physics of transfer when conducting a gait belt transfer may be the difference between safety and injury, not only for the person you’re transferring, but also for staff members. Listen to find out more about the physics of a transfer.

There have recently been fatal injuries to employees in the vehicular traffic areas near loading docks. Listen to learn some of the steps you can take to prevent serious injuries in the area outside of your loading docks and loading zones.

No matter where you work, there are benefits to keeping the objects you often use within optimal reach. Paying attention to ergonomics in your daily activities pays off by increasing productivity and preventing injuries.

How do you assess the best face mask for yourself or your employees? Respirators have specific regulations that apply to them; however, the face masks most of us are using for COVID-19 protection have no such regulatory requirements. A new consensus standard hopes to change that. Listen to learn more.

OSHA announced adjustments to civil penalty amounts. This podcast reviews the new amounts that can be issued for various types of OSHA citations.

Accommodating light duty for injured employees has significant benefits. Learn how light duty can provide you with considerable savings.

Many organizations rely on volunteers to further their missions. When one of these volunteers is injured while volunteering, is it covered under workers’ compensation? Listen to this podcast to find out.

A recent fatality reinforced my belief that safety often results from tragedy. I’ll discuss this and how we can learn more quickly from the losses others have experienced.