Page 45 - PCCA Journal 2nd Quarter 2012

Basic HTML Version

PCCA Journal|2
nd
Quarter 2012
45
O
SHA has kicked off a national outreach initiative
to educate workers and their employers about the
hazards of working outdoors in hot weather. The
outreach effort builds on last year’s summer campaign to
raise awareness about the dangers of too much sun and heat.
“For outdoor workers, ‘water, rest, and shade’ are three
words that can make the difference between life and death,”
U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said. “If employers take
reasonable precautions and look out for their workers, we
can beat the heat.”
Every year, thousands of workers across the country suffer
from serious heat-related illnesses. If not quickly addressed,
heat exhaustion can become heat stroke, which has killed
an average of more than 30 workers annually since 2003.
Labor-intensive activities in hot weather can raise body
temperatures beyond the level that normally can be cooled by
sweating. Heat illness initially may manifest as heat rash or
Safety News
should know a policy that prohibits handheld and hands-
free cell phone use by all employees while driving is not
only a best safety practice but also contributes to the bot-
tom line.” 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimate
on-the-job crashes cost employers more than $24,500 per
property damage crash. The cost rises to $150,000 per
injury and to as much as $3.6 million per fatality.
NSC also released updates to its Cell Phone Policy Kit and
cognitive distraction white paper, “Understanding the Dis-
tracted Brain: Why driving while using hands-free devices
is risky behavior,” at www.nsc.org. All materials are free
and help employers understand the dangers of cell phone
distracted driving, the need for cell phone policies, and
what a comprehensive cell phone policy should include.
1.800.533.2077
Underground Cable Pulling
from Condux
Tackle the toughest
underground pulling
applications with the
APS75 Underground
Cable Puller from
Condux. The APS75
provides up to 7,500 lbs. of continuous pulling
power. The unit is completely self-contained
and transports easily from jobsite to jobsite.
Each puller is backed with years of
underground cable pulling experience and a
commitment to quality customer service.
For your next project, choose advanced
underground pulling systems from Condux!
OSHA Launches Summer Campaign to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses
Safety News continued on page 46