Safety Update Q4 2023 This is a quarterly snapshot of what’s going on in the safety world at Ozinga. Thank you for your help and dedication to getting this far; we still have a long road ahead of us, but we’re getting there!
Coming Up
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Never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights, and never overload electrical outlets.
Winter Planning If you have not done so already, please meet with your teams about planning for winter conditions. Each location should have a winter plan to discuss who is responsible for the following: • Areas that need treatment, whether snow plowing, plowing or shoveling • Where the salt is located and who will be applying • Make sure to wear cleats when temperatures are close to freezing, and walk like a penguin. If you need cleats, ask your supervisor.
Safety Summit We will once again be hosting a Safety Summit for the necessary parties. We have a great lineup planned to discuss our last year's performance as well as what to expect this year. This will be January 17th at the Tinley Park Convention Center.
Annual Training Winter is always a good time to get our annual safety training performed. The Safety team will be meeting with the applicable parties to review our required annual safety topics.
Blitz The 4th Quarter Blitz Competition has been focusing on measuring five key categories and scoring our regions/business units against each other. The winning region receives a prize of their choice. Congratulations to Wisconsin for winning October and Indiana West for winning November. We have one more month to win a prize. Please ask your safety manager how you can be involved.
Healthy Lifestyle Tip Please be safe during this holiday season. This is your annual reminder to please be safe while installing your Christmas lights. On average, there are about 160 Christmas decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, with over 40% of the incidents involving falls. In the 2022 holiday season (Nov. 1, 2021 Jan.31, 2022), about 14,800 people were treated in hospital emergency departments due to holiday decorating-related injuries. •
Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water and look for the “Fire Resistant” label when buying an artificial tree.
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Never leave candles unattended. Place burning candles in sight, away from flammable items, and blow or snuff them out before leaving the room. Use flameless candles whenever possible.
Statistics found there were 11 deaths, and an estimated 145,500 emergency department-treated (ED) injuries in 2022 associated with toys for children 12 years and younger. The majority of the 11 deaths reported were attributed to choking or asphyxiation associated with small parts, balls, or balloons. Among the emergency room treated injuries, non-motorized scooters accounted for the largest share of injuries across all age groups – 35,400. Non-motorized scooters accounted for one in every 5 toy-related injuries to children aged 14 and younger. Please make sure everyone is wearing helmets and the proper protective gear
Updates Torch Trainings We have been offering additional torch training to improve our knowledge with safely handling, storage and use of oxygen/ acetylene torches. If you or your team is using oxygen/acetylene torches, please reach out to Safety to schedule a training on the subject.
Apprenticeship Program We recently launched the first class of Apprenticeship Program students. Each region has volunteered to begin with five candidates with hopes to get every new hire driver through this one-year program starting in 2024. A special thanks to Ritchie Dembinsky and Bill Cheeks, combined with our driver mentors, who developed this program. A second special thanks to all the driver mentors, trainers, and coaches who will be leading this program to help keep our new coworkers safe in their first year.
Why Behavior Based Observations? Over these last couple of months, we have asked our managers to perform what we call Behavior Based Observations (BBO). These observations can be summed up as a simple conversation in the field about safety, whether safe or unsafe observations. These types of programs are based around the idea of getting our managers to talk about the good behaviors we are doing and compliment them, as well as correcting behaviors that we think could hurt people. We know many of you are already doing this on a daily basis so keep it up! I hope you all know the impact these types of conversations can have on our fellow coworkers.
Send any topics you want to see on the next update to safety@ozinga.com
Safety Update Q4 2023 (continued) Notable Incidents What Happened: A Plant Maintenance worker had used his cutting torch around 8 a.m. The worker finished using his torch, then returned the torch to the compartment on his service truck without fully closing the acetylene gas valve on the torch handle. He returned to his truck hours later to perform grinding on a broken allen key. The worker did not realize that the acetylene had been leaking and there was a build up of flammable gas in his truck's service body. The worker began grinding, which created sparks, which in turn ignited the built-up acetylene gas. This caused the service body of the truck to explode, injuring the coworker.
Why It Happened: The worker didn't verify that the valves on his torch handle were completely closed before returning the torch to the cabinet on his truck. Also, industry best practices prohibit the storage of torches connected to supply tanks inside of an enclosed service body compartment. It is also a violation of DOT regulations to transport any pressurized gas cylinders while they have regulators attached and do not have proper cylinder caps attached.
What Did We Learn and How Can We Prevent It From Happening Again: •
NEVER pass cutting torch hoses through a hole in a service body to facilitate storage in the box while they are still connected to a tank.
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NEVER transport cylinders in any position or location with the regulators still atttached. DOT regulations prohibit transport of cylinders without their appropriate safety caps installed.
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ALWAYS verify that the valves on the torch handle are closed completely during short-term breaks in use.
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ALWAYS store oxygen and acetylene separately when not being used. ALWAYS disconnect valves and cap cylinders when done with work or at the end of the day.
Upcoming Training Below is a list of training that will be offered in the first quarter of 2024. Dates are being scheduled now and will be released soon. To sign up for a class, please visit the safety page in Ozzie or talk to your supervisor.
January: Ozinga Safety Course – Chicago, IL (Chinatown) Ozinga Safety Course – Miami, FL Heartsaver CPR / AED / First Aid – Mokena, IL
February: Ozinga Safety Course – Elgin, IL Ozinga Safety Course – Miami, FL Heartsaver CPR / AED / First Aid – Miami, FL
March: Ozinga Safety Course – Franklin, WI Heartsaver CPR / AED / First Aid – South Bend, IN MEWP (Manlift) Training – Mokena, IL Forklift Training – Mokena, IL * contact Steve Lindely for any training requests.
Send any topics you want to see on the next update to safety@ozinga.com