Safety Tips

July 2006                                                                 

Reduce Your Load of Stress*

When your work almost makes you dizzy with stress,

try these ways to get calm and refocused:

  • Listen to music.  In one study, two groups were working on a presentation.  Those who worked in silence had increases in blood pressure and heart rates.  Those who worked with a calm musical background had steady readings and less stress.
  • Take a  positive thought break.  Think about a vacation or someone you care about for a few minutes.  Repeating a positive saying or prayer may also be helpful.
  • Laugh at something.  Laughter is not only one of the most effective stress busters, it also helps your immune system.
  • Take a walk.  Taking a five- or ten-minute walk can have a very calming effect, say psychologists at Stanford University School of Medicine.
  • Practice deep breathing.  For several minutes, take slow, deep breaths.  This will help you stretch your shoulders and loosen the right muscles.  Take three or four belly breaths every hour when working on a stressful project.

 

    Safety: One Step at a Time*

      When using a ladder, remember these safety tips:

  • Use a ladder of proper length to reach the working height you need.
  • Inspect the ladder before you use it. Don't use it if it's damaged, broken, or bent.
  • Make sure the ladder won't hit electrical wires, tree limbs, or any other obstructions.
  • Place the ladder on firm, even ground.
  • Face the ladder and stay in the center of the rails while climbing.
  • Hold onto the side rails.
  • Don't overreach.  Move the ladder to a new position when needed.
  • Never overload a ladder; only one person should use it at a time.
  • Avoid using a ladder if you're prone to fainting spells or using medications that make you dizzy or drowsy.

Guard Your Sight*

About 100,000 workers each year are disabled because of vision loss due to eye injuries.  The workplace can pose significant hazards including eye injury, vision loss, disability, and blindness.  Each working day in the U.S., more than 2,000 employees sustain job-related eye injuries.

Damage to the eyes is usually caused when something unexpected happens.  It could be a  sudden splash of caustic chemical or an airborne sliver of metal.  May of those injured say they didn't think they needed to wear eye protection or were wearing inappropriate eyewear.

Construction, automotive repair, and manufacturing work are especially hazardous to eyes.  In fact, doctors at the American Academy of Ophthalmology say proper eye protection is a matter of vital importance in these occupations.  Studies show that those who suffer eye injuries in these occupations often fail to wear safety glasses or glasses that are appropriate for the job.  Others choose glasses that they think are safety approved but aren't.

At least 90 percent of all job-related eye injuries can be prevented.  Wear safety eyewear whenever there's a chance that machines or activities present a hazard of flying objects, chemicals, harmful radiation, or a combination of these or other hazards.

As more people use computers, eye fatigue and difficulty focusing have become common problems.  In themselves, computer screens don't damage vision.  To reduce eye fatigue, computer users should take frequent breaks and rearrange their workstations for easier access to their computers.  Wearing proper glasses or contact lenses can often relieve eye fatigue.

Sometimes heating and air conditioning systems can make eyes feel dry and scratchy.  It could make you think something is in your eye.  Over-the-counter eye drops usually relieve symptoms.  If the problem continues, see your eye care professional for an evaluation.

For more information on eye safety, visit the National Eye Institute at www.nei.nih.gov.

*All information reprinted with permission from "Total Wellness...Becoming a Total Person "