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Most business owners dread the visit from the WorkSafeBC occupational safety or hygiene officer. WorkSafeBC officers aren’t there to make an owner’s life msierable. They are there to ensure that your workers make it home safely and to ensure that employers know how to make this happen.
In BC there are over 250 prevention officers who conduct over 40,000 BC workplace inspections per year. According to Donna Freeman, Editor-in-Chief of WorkSafe magazine these officers do more than ensuring that employers are meeting the Workers Compensation Act. “A lot of time is spent building relationships – partnerships that are centered on communication and collaboration…officers help raise awareness for ways an employer can make and maintain a hazard-fee workplace.”
As an employer don’t be hesitant to actively seek input and information from WorkSafeBC officers. Don’t just react to a report. Arm yourself with knowledge about best practices that prevent injury and save lives. WorkSafeBC officers can be a valauble resource.
“Working in cooperation with safety and hygiene officers not only keeps workers safe, it also helps employers boost their bottom line.” says Donna.
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We are proud to welcome the Ripple FX Emergency Eye & Skin Rinse bottle to our line. Rethink what you eye-wash can do.
Maintenance Free for one year Ripple FX Emergency Eye & Skin Rinse now offers additional savings and safety. Available in a 1 L prepackaged portable eyewash bottle. There is no need to replace contents weekly or monthly as it is safe to store for 12 months. No time consuming washing, refilling, or record keeping. This package is sealed and bagged, protected from dust and debris, ensuring it’s ready when needed. Most standard eyewash bottles, once filled, have a lifespan of 4 weeks and the liquid is no longer sterile once it’s added to the bottle.
Portable Mobile employees have the safety of an eye wash station
Safe Containing only Vapor Distilled Water – it is safe for all ages and people wearing contact lenses
Eco Friendly manufactured from 100% recyclable materials means zero waste to landfills and water ways
Comfortable Very soft and flexible eye-cup designed to form-fit to individual contours which ensures effective rinsing
Compliant Each bottle meets ANSI Z358.1 2004 standard and each bottle has an expiry date on them, effectively eliminates eye-station maintenance records
Easy to upgrade Eye and Skin Rinse fits in most wall mounted bottle stations. Wall mount holders will be available in Jan 2012
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1)Read earthquake preparedness info on your municipality’s website.
2) Store heavy books on bottom shelves so they won’t fall on you.
3) Keep a spare supply of critical medications with you, in case you can’t get home or go to a pharmacy.
4) Make sure you have shoes you can wear to evacuate the building. Keep a pair of boots handy if you wear pumps or dress shoes because you will have to walk on glass and sharp debris.
5) Keep cash with you in case ATMs stop working.
6) If you are a parent, make sure you have a plan for your kids and who will pick them up.
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At 10:20 a.m. on October 20, thousands of British Columbians will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in The Great British Columbia ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill in BC history! Everyone is encouraged to participate in the drill wherever you are at 10:20 a.m. on 10/20!
British Columbia is located in a seismically active region where a few thousand earthquakes occur each year in and adjacent to the province. The threat of a major earthquake in the province is real and all British Columbians must know how to be prepared.
The ShakeOut is our chance to practice how to protect ourselves, and for everyone to become prepared. The goal is to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.
Once you register, participation can be as simple as three easy steps:
1. Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds).Practice now so that you will immediately protect yourself during an earthquake!
2. While still under the table, or wherever you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on you or others? What would be damaged? What would life be like after?
3. Finally, you can practice what you will do after the shaking stops.
Everyone can participate!.
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Plan an Escape
- Gather all family members and housemates. Sketch a floor plan of all rooms with doors, windows, and hallways. Include each floor of the home.
- Draw the escape plan with arrows showing two ways, if possible, to get out of each room. Sleeping areas are most important, since most fires happen at night. Plan to use stairs only.
- Plan where everyone will meet after leaving the building.
- Assign someone to call the fire department after leaving the burning building. Many locations use 9-1-1 for the emergency number. When you travel, take a moment to find out the local emergency number and keep it on hand.
Practice the Escape
These are guidelines for escaping from a fire:
- If there is smoke, crawl low to escape. As smoke rises, breathable air is often close to the floor.
- Make sure children can open windows, go down a ladder, or lower themselves to the ground. Practice with them. Always lower children to the ground first before you go out.
- Get out quickly and never return to a burning building.
- If you can’t get out, stay in the rooms and stuff door cracks and vents with towels, rags, or clothing. If there is a phone, call the fire department, even if rescuers are already outside, and tell the dispatcher your exact location.
Fire Precautions
It is best to try to prevent burns and fires in the first place with these guidelines:
- Install smoke detectors on every floor of your home and maintain them. Many homes have smoke detectors that do not work because of old or missing batteries. A handy way to remember the batteries is to change them twice a year when you reset your clocks for daylight savings time.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it.
- Turn pots on the store so that their handles do not stick out.
- Lift the far edge of lids on hot pans first to prevent burns from steam.
- Keep flammables and matches out of the reach of children.
- Always take special care when smoking.
- Don’t leave children alone while you cook.
- Keep all electrical cords clear of counter edges where toddlers may pull on them and cause appliances to fall.
- Double check before leaving the kitchen to make sure that burners are turned off.
- Keep curtains and clothing away from fireplaces and stoves.
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There may be circumstances which you and your family feel endangered and you need to leave your home, school or workplace. Learn about the hazards that may strike your community, the risks you face from these hazards, and your community’s plan for warning and evacuation.
When community evacuations become necessary, local officials provide information to the public through the media. In some circumstances, other warning methods, such as sirens or telephone calls, may also be used.
The amount of time you have to leave will depend on the hazard. If the event is a weather condition, that can be monitored, you may have a day or two to get ready. However, many disasters do not allow time for people to get ready and gather basic necessities, which is why planning ahead is essential.
Evacuations are more common than people realize.
Always:
- Keep a full tank of gas in your car
- Make transportation arrangements if you don’t own a car
- Listen to the radio and follow evacuation instructions
- Leave early
- Follow evacuation routes
- Do not take shortcuts; they may be blocked
- Do not drive into flooded areas
- Stay away from downed power lines
If time permits:
- Gather your disaster supplies kit
- Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provides protection
- Secure your home
