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80 percent of
all traffic accidents are caused by
driver inattention. — — Sue Lewis
Alvin Black, Montgomery County Judge, talks with Lynn Hart, Saline County safety coordinator after the 2012 AAC Safety Conference in May.
S
Safety is ke
By Scott Perkins County Lines Editor
afety is as safety does. About 80 county officials and employees who attended the 2012 Association of Arkansas Counties Safety Conference in May at the AAC experienced a broad base of safety education to take back with them to their respective counties. “We enjoyed a good turnout and the presentations were all very informative and even entertaining,” said Barry Burkett, AAC loss control specialist. “Some of the material was designed to grab your attention and make you think about safety. Any time we can bring safety into the top of the conversation, then that is a good thing.” Participants heard from four different presenters who talked on subjects ranging from distracted driving to hazard recognition and communication. “I thought the subjects discussed were timely and provided an umbrella of good safety information for our attendees,” said Debbie Norman, AAC Risk Management Services manager. “Workers and employees benefit when we take the time to recognize what being safe is all about.” Sue Lewis, a representative from Thompson Defensive Driving, shared an attention-grabbing multi-media presentation where numerous vehicle accidents were shown or reenacted. The silence in the room was proof of the video’s impact on the audience. Lewis said 80 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by driver inattention, which means most accidents could be avoided. Leading distractions while driving include cell phone use, passengers, eating and drinking and even personal grooming. Lewis made sure everyone was aware of Paul’s Law, which made it illegal in the state of Arkansas for drivers to text and drive. Paul’s Law was named after Paul Davidson, a Craighead County businessman, who was killed when a texting driver struck his vehicle on State Highway 1 in 2008. Hilary, Paul’s daughter, drafted the law. 48
It is also illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use a cell phone for anything while driving in the state. Terry Bryant with Environmental Associates, Inc. focused his message on hazard recognition in the workplace. He satirically said we’re all “‘Dennis the Menace’ It is in our nature.” The audience chuckled as he explained how humans have a tendency for hazard-friendly behavior. “Hazards are around us,” he said as he flipped through several photos on the screen. “The trick is catch them before they turn into accidents.” He showed images of poor electrical connections, frenzied forklifts, chemical and water spills and people hanging on ladders in precarious positions. “When you say, ‘If this doesn’t work, we’ll try something else,’ that’s when you need to stop and think about what the results could be if whatever you are doing doesn’t work,” Bryant said. “What you need to do when you see these situations in your workplace is to think about what you can do about it. Don’t leave something that could be a hazard.” Bryant said tunnel vision on the task at hand and being in a hurry are two of the main states of mind that allow distractions to become hazardous. Andy Kelloms, Dassault Falcon Jet safety director, transitioned the message to more of a detailed presentation on hazard recognition and the global harmonization of HAZMAT communications. Kelloms distributed an Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) fact sheet titled “Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule” which can be accessed at www.osha.gov. He also referenced the AAC Safety Manual, which was also distributed to the conference-goers. COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2012
