Shop Safety

Make sure that tools are kept sharp. We instinctively compensate for dull tools and apply extra -- sometimes excessive -- force to get these tools to do their job. This often leads to cuts and severe injuries. Let the tool do the work –- not your force.

Get rid of old tools. When a dull blade or drill bit has been replaced, why do we keep the old ones around? We may know not to use them, but what about someone else? Find someone who knows someone who does art sculpture. If you do insist on keeping them around, at least label them 'do not use.'

The following links relate to tools typically used in the shop:

• Hand and Power Tools -- PowerPoint presentation including overheads and a trainer’s guide
• Portable circular saws --Tailgate training fact sheet (English and Spanish)
• Hand-held tools --Tailgate training fact sheet (English and Spanish)
• Shop Safety (University of Tennessee)
• Tips and reminders for using welders
• Safety & Health fact sheets from The American Welding Society

For safety tips for many common hand tools and a comprehensive safety manual for shop safety, see the Safety Practices Manual by Idaho State University.

Lock-out/Tag-out (LOTO)

Lock-out/Tag-out (LOTO) is a procedure to insure that equipment being worked on is not started up by someone else or by automatic start-up. This procedure helps prevent mechanical and electrical injuries.

Equipment should be locked out while being repaired. Incidents which occur when machinery is being repaired and is not locked out often result in serious injuries like amputations, fractures, and even death. Locking out and tagging power at its source is important while repairing or adjusting machinery because it ensures that power does not reach the machinery.

• Lock-out and Tag-out tailgate training fact sheet (English and Spanish)
• Information and OSHA requirements for use of LOTO can be found on their page for “Control of Hazardous Energy”

Yard & Garden Safety

As spring returns, the gardening bug bites many of us. The Minnesota Safety Council states that the majority of gardening activities involve tools and may tax muscles and body parts. The resulting discomfort and pain can overshadow the satisfaction of gardening. The Council has created a Web page with useful tips and suggestions for a safer and less ‘achy’ gardening experience.

Additional safety information relevant to gardening is provided by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. Included is an Outdoor Power Equipment Safety Tips brochure as well as tip sheets on:

• Riding Mowers are not Children’s Play Things
• Don’t Race Lawnmowers
• 8 Basic Rules for Outdoor Power Equipment Safety
• Rules for Mowing on a Hill
• OPEI Sponsored Safety Standards
• Safety Tips by Product

More safety tips related to axes, hatchets, and chain saws, which could possibly be used in your gardening, can be found in the Safety Practices Manual by Idaho State University.

Farmstead Security Audit Form

A Farmstead Security Audit Form has been developed by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. It was developed for the purpose of evaluating the level of security on farms, ranches, and farmsteads. The form enables owners and residents to determine areas that could be more secure in order to prevent vandalism, theft, and terrorist-related activities. While the emphasis is on security, safety of the farm family, workers and visitors is also a primary concern.

Successful Farming magazine has published an article (1st in a series) about what a farmer found when using the audit.

For additional recommendations, view our Florida AgSafe agrochemical security modules that are posted on the Disaster Handbook Web site . Click on "Other Disaster Products."

Safety and Health Management Systems E-tool for Businesses

The best Safety and Health Programs involve every level of an organization, instilling a safety culture that reduces injuries for workers and improves the bottom line for managers. When Safety and Health are part of the organization and a way of life, everyone wins.

There are four crucial questions you should be asking:

1. Why do I need a Safety and Health Program?"
2. What is a Safety and Health Program and where does it fit into my management system?
3. How does our program measure up?
4. What practices are best for assuring lasting success?

OSHA has produced a series of modules that give detailed answers to each of these questions.

Poison Prevention Week is March 19–25

Public Law 87-319 authorizes the President to designate the third week each March as National Poison Prevention Week. This act of Congress was signed into law on September 16, 1961 by President Kennedy, after which the Poison Prevention Week Council was organized to coordinate this annual event. Congress intended this event as a means for local communities to raise awareness of the dangers of unintentional poisonings and to take such preventive measures as the dangers warrant.

• Useful tips and reminders from the National Safety Council
• More information about Poison Control Week (March 19–25)
• Poison Prevention Publications (English and Spanish) from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC)

Ready Kids Program for Emergency Preparedness

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Advertising Council Recently launched Ready Kids, a family-friendly tool to help parents and teachers educate children, ages 8-12, about emergencies and how they can help their families better prepare. The Ready Kids program launched at Andrew Jackson Language Academy in Chicago with a roundtable discussion led by DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and an interactive presentation for families by local first responders.

Ready Kids is the newest addition to the successful Ready campaign, a national public service advertising campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

Secretary Chertoff said, "We hope the Ready Kids Website and in-school materials will help facilitate discussions about this important subject and encourage all families to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan and be informed about the different emergencies that can happen."

• Ready Kids fact sheet
• Ready Kids Website

Mulch and Termite... Urban Myth?

A warning about that mulch from Louisiana may carry Formosan Termites is circulating on the Internet. This warning is listed as false on the Urban Myths Web site.

Like many Internet rumors, the basic idea behind it seems plausible: That thousands of trees destroyed by the 2005 hurricane have been converted to mulch and may appear at a home improvement center near you.

It's compellingly simple, but not quite accurate.

True, the Formosan termite is very destructive and has gained a foothold in New Orleans and surrounding parishes. This has been the case for several years. However, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture has taken steps to quarantine wood products from the affected areas. Bascially, no wood products can move into or out of the affected area without fumigation for termites.

According to Snopes.com, entomologists doubted if termites could survive the processing, packaging, and transportation conditions involved in making and distributing mulch.

Build Your Own Jeopardy Game On-line

A classroom version of the Jeopardy game is a great tool for review and as a means of instruction. PowerPoint versions that you can easily customize are available on the Web. A version of this software is available on the the Holton Middle School Web site (scroll to the bottom of the page). It includes the theme music and Double Jeopardy. After customizing it to your training needs you can save your version and copy it accordingly.

Farm Safety Videos on Clearance

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (FS4JK) is offering several videos at clearance prices of $3.50 - $7.00. Visit the Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Web site, and click on "Buy Your Items Here" and then "Videos."

These videos would be useful if you are doing any day camps or other types of safety training. Included are videos for kids, youth and adult audiences.

The Safety Net video ($3.50) has a clip in it that I use with adult audiences. There is a young man who explains the tractor overturn he was in and he says, “...it happens so fast there is no time to react.” That is followed by the demo of the dummy being wrapped around the PTO, and then it shows the PTO ‘wrap’ in slo-mo.