Safety

Fire Suppression, Part II

By Donald Burr

PLC Safety & Training Coordinator safety@maineloggers.com

Last quarter we talked about the four firefighting tools that every piece of equipment should have on board. This quarter we are going to discuss how each tool works. To put out the fire you need to break the chemical reaction by taking out one of the three legs of the fire triangle. A fire needs three items to burn: Oxygen (air). Heat (sometimes not as hot as you think). Fuel (debris, oil, diesel fuel, & plastics). The two legs that are easiest to remove are oxygen & heat. It is tough to remove fuel once the fire has started because our equipment is full of fuels. When you are using a firefighting agent, you need to keep in mind that you need to meet the fire load of what is burning. Look at it this way, you build a small campfire, and just after you get it burning well, you decide to put it out. You have two options; a gallon jug of water with a wide mouth opening, and a gallon of water in a hand pump sprayer like you might use to clean with. Both have the same amount of water, but the speed of delivering the water is entirely different. The water jug can be dumped in seconds, and the hand sprayer could take twenty times longer. Now, in my scenario, it seems simple, you are going to pick the jug of water. You can draw a graph that shows the amount of extinguishing agent you need to put the fire out in all fires. Knowing that the first two minutes of the fire, the load could be a hundredth of what the fire load is five minutes later. Trust me. If you do not meet this level, you will never put the fire out until it naturally runs out of fuel. I have been on the scene of too many fires where we could not get enough water on the fire to put it out, and we were chasing it until it ran out of fuel. This is what the fire suppression systems installed in our machines are designed to do. Meet the fire load early and with force! Our little shock & awe. After the system has done what it can, you can finish the job with the dry chemical and loaded stream. Let’s go into what to do if you have a fire in your

machine. As you know, as an operator, things can go wrong quickly. If you think you have a fire, do the following as

Safety

quickly as possible, safely and efficiently. The first thing I would like to say is do not panic. I get it. This is easier said than done. I am a 29-year veteran of a small-town fire department, and when I see fire, I still get that adrenaline rush even though I have seen hundreds of fires. Try to get the machine in the best position to get out and into the area you think the fire is in. Shut the engine off. Get on your company communication system and tell everyone where you are and that you have a fire. If the installed fire suppression system has not gone off, set it off manually. Early activation is critical. Grab the ABC and the loaded stream extinguisher and get out of the cab as soon as you can turn off the master switch. Many fires are electrical first and will not go out until you cut the power.

Now here is where it is hard to say what to do next. It would be best if you waited until the installed system had a chance to work before you opened any compartment doors. After the installed system has finished, wait an additional minute or two to let the suppression agent work. The system works best when it is confined behind doors and covers. Then open the compartment doors and look for the base of the fire. This is super important. The area where the fire had started will be the hottest location that will be the first place the fire will rekindle. If you see flames use the dry chemical ABC extinguisher and apply it on the base of the fire, not on the flames. The base of the fire is where it is burning the flames & smoke are just the result of the fire. If you see no fire, find the base of the fire and apply the loaded stream to cool this area off to prevent a rekindle. Pull off doors and guards anywhere you can in case the fire is hiding behind them. Once you think the fire is out, stand by for a couple of hours, if possible, to see if there is a rekindle. I stood by a delimber fire for five hours one early spring Friday night to make sure it was cold and out. Let’s be careful anytime you have a fire, no matter how small. Think safe, work safe, be safe!

Safety

Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls in the Logging Industry (part 1 of 2)

By Brie Weisman, OTR/L with Maine LogAbility

Improvements in logging technology are making the industry safer and more efficient. One surprising consequence of the shift from muscle to machine is the increased risk of slips, trips, and falls (STFs) in certain situations. Increasingly, mechanized harvesting techniques mean that many workers spend much of their day in temperature controlled cabs, manipulating joysticks to harvest wood they need never touch. These technical advances have lessened the level of fitness required to be a logger. Obesity, old age, and compromised mobility are no longer insurmountable barriers to work in the field. In fact, many loggers can no longer count on the rigors of the workday to help them maintain basic levels of fitness. This is significant. While mechanization lessens the amount of loggers risking falling on a steep slope with chainsaw in hand, reduced athleticism increases risk of STFs on any terrain, and increases the likelihood that those falls will result in injuries. Old age, extra weight, and general reduced fitness are all factors that dramatically increase risk of STFs and resultant injuries. If you doubt that STFs are serious enough to merit addressing, consider: An astonishing 30% of lost time logging incidents are due to STFs, with 3% resulting in deaths. Balance that against the fact that they are among the easiest, cheapest safety concerns to address. Before we talk about prevention, let’s get some definitions on the table. Slip: Loss of balance due to loss of friction between your seat, grip, or foothold. Even without an associated fall, a slip can result in an injury from a violent wrench to your muscles from the effort to stay upright, or from flailing arms or feet striking something sharp or hard. Trip: Loss of balance from an unexpected disruption of motion due to contact, most often by foot, with an object, or by an unexpected drop in surface. Injuries occur in manners similar to slips. Fall: Loss of balance resulting in an uncontrolled drop to the ground or collision with an object, such as tripping and striking a tree. While most STFs end with little more than a grunt and embarrassment, even short falls while standing or walking can end in injury. The majority are minor sprains, strains, or bruising, but a not insignificant number of STFs end in injuries requiring treatment, with a few ending tragically in permanent disabilities or death. Common sense dictates taking reasonable

precautions to eliminate these hazards.

1. Maintain fitness. Fit people suffer fewer STFs and fewer injuries from the STFs they inevitably have. 2. Stretch. Staying limber increases balance and agility, lessens injuries, improves recovery time. 3. Maintain good posture. Good posture = good balance. We’re often stiff after long sessions seated in a machine or vehicle, so take a moment to stretch and unkink when finally getting out. Think military: chest out, shoulders back, head up. 4. Wear proper eyewear. Glare and bright sunlight cause fatigue and accidents beyond STFs. Sunglasses are essential safety gear. 5, Wear proper footwear for you, the task, and the weather. Footwear = tires for people. 6. Be aware that medications may inhibit coordination, balance, or focus. Ask your doctor if alternate medications may have weaker side effects, or if taking medication on a different schedule might work better for you. 7. Look out. Scan for trip hazards, slick surfaces, uneven ground. (look ahead briefly rather than constantly looking down at the ground immediately before you-trust your visual memory.) 8. Take care whenever carrying or moving heavy or cumbersome objects. Hold objects close to reduce strain and improve balance.

9. Stay focused. Pause work during phone use or other distractions. 10. Learn to fall safely. (This is easily learned and surprisingly effective at preventing injury.)

STFs will always be part of logging. But we can eliminate much of the lost time, injuries, and still worse tragedies caused by STFs by maintaining a safe work environment and expecting responsible preparation and best practices from our workforce. In the next issue we’ll discuss how to fall correctly, and the best exercises and stretches for strengthening the core to reduce the number of STFs and the severity of injuries caused when they do occur.

For More Information, visit Maine LogAbility, part of the Maine AgrAbility program: https://extension.umaine.edu/ agrability/

Safety

Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss Control Consultant, Acadia Insurance Quarterly Safety Meeting: Heat Related Illnesses

A couple of years ago we printed an article about the signs and symptoms of heat related illness. With the weather stations calling for unprecedented heat this summer and record highs already ripping across the Midwest, we felt that it was important to bring this article back. Please take the time to review this information with employees so they can quickly recognize when the symptoms of these preventable, but potentially deadly, medical conditions are starting to show. Your body’s primary mode of cooling is through sweat. When sweat evaporates from the surface of your skin, it pulls heat along with it making it an extremely effective method of cooling. As long as you are adequately hydrated and heat dissipation can keep up with your body’s heat production, your core temperature should remain normal. When the heat dissipation is not able to keep up with heat production, you could become a victim of a heat related illness. It is critical to quickly recognize and treat these symptoms to prevent serious injury or death.

Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms: Heat exhaustion is caused by dehydration from sweating and generally results in a core body temperature that is either normal or slightly elevated. The patient will typically be awake and display a normal mental status. The patient will often complain about nausea, headache, and weakness and will continue to sweat. Taking a medical history can be helpful here and will often identify inadequate food and fluid intake as well as a decreased urine output. Treatment: Early recognition of the symptoms and treating them quickly is important because heat exhaustion can escalate rapidly to heat stroke. The principle of treatment is simple: stop the fluid loss, replace the lost fluids and move the patient to a cooler area. Generally, oral replacement of fluids will be adequate but try to avoid the temptation to give too much water because that can backfire and cause further problems. Electrolyte drinks such as a sports drink, or food, can help replenish salt that was depleted during sweating and is vital to rehydration. Do not give the patient salt tablets as they can cause stomach irritation and vomiting. If the patient is vomiting, an IV may be necessary but you may also be able to rehydrate by giving fluids frequently, in small amounts. It may take up to 12 hours to rehydrate a patient back to normal. If symptoms persist, evacuation to medical help may be necessary.

Heat Stroke

Symptoms: Heat stroke is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical treatment. Essentially, your body has lost its ability to cool itself and the core temperature has become dangerously elevated, causing damage to the nervous system and other vital organs. This may or may not be preceded by heat exhaustion. You will usually notice an altered mental status that is persistent. Urine output has likely decreased and will be brown or red in color. Often times, but not always, the patient will stop sweating completely. The patient’s condition will be getting worse and, if not treated, will often lead to death. Treatment: While fluid replacement is critical, your top priority must be lowering the core temperature. Cease all physical exertion and remove the patient from the hot environment. Medical help and aggressive cooling are required. Immersion in cool water is ideal but if not possible, other forms of rapid cooling may be effective. Removal of unnecessary clothing can also be helpful in reducing the body’s core temperature. Watch for improved mental status as an indicator that the core temperature is beginning to improve to more normal levels. Once the core temperature is being effectively treated, it is critical to begin replacing fluids as outlined earlier.

Prevention

Hydration: While working outside in the heat, it is easy for fluid loss through sweat to go unnoticed until it is too late. Therefore, it is critical to maintain adequate hydration throughout the summer months. The CDC recommends 1 cup of water for every 15-20 minutes if you are working outside less than 2 hours. If sweating longer, a sports drink with electrolytes should be added. It is also critical to avoid drinks with high caffeine, alcohol, or sugar because these can further dehydrate you. Rest Breaks: Acclimatization will be different for every employee, and therefore, rest breaks should be taken as the individual begins to feel heat discomfort. As temperature, humidity, and sunshine increase, frequency of breaks in cool, shaded areas should be increased. Acclimatization: As you spend more time in the heat, your body will gradually adapt to the stress. Because of this, it is important to increase the exposure over 7 to 14 days, allowing employees to fully acclimatize. The CDC recommends allowing workers who have not spent a lot of time in the heat spend no more than 20% of the usual duration of work in the heat on day one with no more than a 20% increase each additional day.

Conclusion

Although the amount of climate-controlled areas that employees work in continues to increase, most employees will have to spend some time on the ground walking, inspecting equipment, and performing maintenance to equipment. During the summer, this time on the ground can be dangerous due to heat exposure. It is important that employees are aware of the signs for heat related illness and the first-aid measures to take in order to properly treat someone showing these signs. Armed with this information and a heavy dose of prevention, employees can be more productive and safe while working as we continue to return to full capacity production.

Acadia Insurance is pleased to share this material with its customers. Please note, however, that nothing in this document should be construed as medical or legal advice or the provision of professional consulting services. This material is for general informational purposes only, and while reasonable care has been utilized in compiling this information, no warranty or representation is made as to accuracy or completeness.

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*This sign-in sheet is intended to be used with the quarterly Safety Training Topic on page 35. Refer to the cutline on page 35 when removing it from the magazine.

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PLC Spring Logger and Fleet Safety Training final session getting underway May 25 at PLC Member TNT Road Company in Fort Kent. The training series set new records in 2022, with 688 attending the Logger Trainings and 270 attending Fleet and CPR. Thank you to all who attended and to those who hosted and sponsored the trainings. See you again in 2023!