Vol 6., No. 10, October 2005

 Contents

 

THOUGHTS & QUOTES

A bit of safety trivia: What are Botts’ Dots?

Botts’ Dots are the raised pavement markers that serve to mark highway lanes. They were invented in the 1950s by Elbert Botts, a chemist who worked for the California Department of Transportation. They wanted to develop something that would improve visability of lane markings at night and in the rain. Repainting was too costly and paint did not provide the required visibility when covered with water. An adhesive for gluing them was developed in the early 1960s. The first Botts’ Dots were installed on I-80 near Fairfield, California. Not only do the dots improve being able to distinguish between lanes, they also serve to recapture a driver’s attention if they stray out of the lane and drive over them since they make a ka-thump! ka-thump! sound. This is another good example of an invention for providing driver’s with better information (i.e., lane distinctions).

Speaking of keeping in touch with ‘better information,’ be alert for post-hurricane scams and schemes. See the article in this issue about checking out the facts before purchasing a vehicle. Stay informed of the latest scams by checking out the Web site of the Florida Department of Financial Services at: <www.fldfs.com/>. Other states have an equivalent department that provides consumers with that type of information.

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Turkey Fryers

With Thanksgiving coming up, many people may be planning to cook a turkey by using a turkey fryer. Turkey fryers need to be used under strict supervision and with extreme caution. They pose the dangers of fire, tipping over and spilling hot oil (which could seriously burn any person or pet nearby), as well as causing burns by coming into contact with their hot metal surface. Safety measures for using turkey fryers are available at the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) site at: <www.ul.com/consumers/turkeys.html>. Included is a video segment showing the hazards, including how quickly a fire can start. A segment at the end of the video includes soundbites in Spanish.

There are no standards for turkey fryers, and UL has not approved any models. Note that various components may be UL approved, which may be misleading in that it makes people think the entire unit is UL approved. See Consumer Reports at: <www.ConsumerReports.org>, and in the search block, type ‘turkey fryers’.

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Sun Safety Activity Guide

This Sun Safety Activity Guide by the National Safety Council is available to download. It is designed to be used in elementary schools, but it certainly can be adapted for other audiences. The Sun Safety Activity Guide is a health- and science-related educational guide to help elementary school students and their families learn about the risks of overexposure to the sun and what they can do to protect themselves. The Sun Safety Activity Guide is designed to help teachers educate children early about protecting themselves from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The 53-page guide can be found at: <www.nsc.org/public/ehc/sunsafe/sun_1-53.pdf>.

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Spanish Language Comic Book for Pesticide Safety Education

The Migrant Clinicians Network and Farm Safety 4 Just Kids have teamed up to produce a Spanish-language educational comic book targeting migrant and seasonal farm worker families to educate parents about children’s risks to pesticide exposure and ways to minimize these risks. You can order FREE printed copies, but shipping and handling charges apply. Or you may download the PDF version and print it yourself. Ordering information is at: <www.fs4jk.org/services.html>.

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Protecting Outdoor Workers from West Nile Virus Exposure

NIOSH has published a booklet, "Recommendations for Protecting Outdoor Workers from West Nile Virus Exposure." The complete booklet can be found at: <www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-155/>.

Outdoor workers may be at risk whenever mosquitoes are biting. About 80% of human infections of WNV cause no symptoms, while about 20% cause flu-like symptoms. Less than 1% of people affected become seriously ill. People at higher risk for illnesses are the most susceptible.

Recommendations include:

  • Use insect repellant when working outdoors
  • Use protective clothing
  • Avoid handling dead animals when possible.

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ATVs Not Safe for Kids

After reviewing extensive data Safe Kids Worldwide recommends that no children under age 16 be allowed to ride an ATV under any circumstances. Efforts have been made to make ATVs safer for kids, but it just cannot be done. For the complete article see: <www.usa.safekids.org/tier3_cd.cfm?folder_id=183&content_item_id=18711>.

The Farm Safety Program at Penn State has developed a remote-controlled ATV, which they use with a dummy to show how quickly an ATV can overturn or throw off the operator. Video clips depicting a side overturn and what happens when the driver has limited visibility are at: <server.age.psu.edu/ASH/ATVRoll.html>.

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Stolen Horse International

The mission of Stolen Horse International is to provide a theft awareness program for horse industry people. Horse theft is on the increase. Family riding horses are a frequent target. Included on their site is a place for posting information about lost or found horses from the recent hurricanes. Find it at: <www.netposse.com>.

Examples of how a horse can be stolen include the obvious of someone cutting the fence or just leading the horse away. A horse can be stolen in a less obvious way when it is boarded far away. Then you may get a call that the horse has died and the body has already been disposed. Another scheme is for a stranger to offer a high price at a horse show or fair. The time it takes for the check to bounce gives the thieves plenty of time to get away.

The following tips can help prevent your horse from being stolen or help law enforcement to identify them at sale points:

  • Use permanent identification -- common methods include freeze branding, lip tattoos, or microchips.
  • Keep current photos -- take pictures of both sides and head and tail end with no saddle, blanket, or rider. Take close-ups of unique markings or brands.
  • Maintain a proof-of-ownership file - including registration, bill of sale, brand descriptions, a photo of you with your animal, and any other significant documentation.
  • Make it harder for someone to get to your horse - build barns and corrals away from the road; use sturdy fences and keep perimeter gates locked.
  • Make it harder to steal pastured horses. Don't leave halters hanging nearby; don't feed the horses close to the gates or to the road as this makes them easily accessible by someone who offers them food. Check your horses at varying times, and don't make it obvious when you are gone for a period of time.
  • Prevent theft of trailers and tack by keeping them locked up if possible. Keep VIN or serial numbers on file.

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First Aid Kits & First on the Scene for Farms

Having supplies readily available in the event that an injury occurs can mean the difference between a minor problem or a complex injury. Information is provided in the following fact sheets about putting together first aid kits for the farm and also procedures for people that may be the first to find an injured coworker or family member. First aid kits should be placed in all tractors and other equipment that is being used as well as in shop areas. These kits can be easily assembled and several made at a time. Also be sure to keep them updated.

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Pressure Washers

With the increase in use of pressure washers for after storm clean-up, there are safety factors to keep in mind. There have already been reports of CO exposures to persons using gas-powered pressure washers. The following fact sheets provide useful information for using either electric or gas-powered pressure washers.

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Beware of Purchasing Flood Damaged Autos

The Florida Department of Financial Services has issued a warning that car buyers should be on the look-out for flood-damaged vehicles. For complete details and a link to a free ‘car check’ service, visit their Web site at: <www.fldfs.com/>. The press release is available at: <www.fldfs.com/PressOffice/ViewMediaRelease.asp?ID=2132>.

Even if a flooded car has been thoroughly cleaned and appears to be in good condition, the damage will soon show up. As the saying goes, "Buyer Beware." Water will mess up the computer systems and electronics. It can also damage the transmission as well as the engine. If the car smells moldy or musty, it may have been in flood waters. Another sign to look for is silt in the trunk or under seats -– fine silt is difficult to clean.

The following quick points are from carbuyingtips.com (www.carbuyingtips.com/carfax.htm).

  • Look for water lines on the engine. Imagine a car sitting in a few feet of water, where would the water lines be? On the radiator, the engine, the wheel wells, inside the car, but they may have cleaned the engine. Examine it on a lift.
  • A VIN decoder should tell you if equipment is missing on the car.
  • New carpeting or upholstery. No one re-carpets their car for no reason. Lift the carpet and look for a mess underneath. They don't always do a good job cleaning.
  • Look for mold, or a damp musty smell.
  • Check for rust by the door hinges, and look in the trunk under the mats.
  • Check the spare tire and crow bar, make sure they are not rusted.
  • Use a mirror to check under the seat. If the metal has been contact with moisture, the metal rusts quickly.
  • Check the air intake filter. Suprisingly, Some sellers don't even bother to replace the soaked air filter, so you'll see debris like grass, twigs, and papers on the filter or inside the air intake opening.
  • The CAR FAX Vehicle History Report will show if any insurance companies had to total the car or brand it as "Flooded".

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SAFETY NEWS & NOTES is an e-mail newsletter prepared by Carol J. Lehtola, Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist and team leader for the Prevention and Preparedness: Agricultural Safety & Disaster Management program. Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, UF/IFAS. If you have safety- or disaster-related questions or ideas that you would like to share with other agents, please contact Dr. Lehtola. If you know someone interested in receiving this newsletter, we will gladly add them to the e-mail list. Past issues of Safety News & Notes are archived on the Florida AgSafe Web site.

Florida AgSafe Web site: http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu

The Disaster Handbook: http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu

National Agricultural Safety Database: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd

Extension Disaster Education Network: http://eden.lsu.edu/

Florida State Agricultural Response Team (SART): http://www.flsart.org