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Choosing the correct fire extinguisher classification

PEE4395 — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 16:59:58 +0000

Choosing the correct fire extinguisher classification PEE4395 Thu, 06/06/2019 - 12:59

Fire extinguishers are classified by the type of fire that they will extinguish. There are five different fire extinguishers classifications. If the proper fire extinguisher class is not used there is a risk that the fire will not be suppressed. All fire extinguishers have classification labels to identify the type of fire they can be used upon. Everyone should learn about the different classifications so that only the appropriate type will be selected in an actual fire emergency.

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admin — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 06:34:46 +0000

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Keeping Your Workers Safe During Severe Weather

LAC6530 — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:13:22 +0000

Keeping Your Workers Safe During Severe Weather LAC6530 Fri, 06/15/2018 - 15:13

When severe weather hits, the safety of your employees becomes top priority. To do this, you must teach everyone what to do before (preparedness) and after
(response) a catastrophic event happens.

Not only could this help in controlling injuries to workers, this could also reduce the amount of damage to your business. While this may sound like an extremely hard task, both The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have resources available to help you. Take a look at some of the recommendations below that these two groups offer for severe weather.

Preparedness – Before Severe Weather Hits Have an evacuation plan in place before weather hits
to avoid confusion. According to the CDC, a thorough evacuation plan should include:

■ The conditions that will activate the plan

■ A chain of command

■ The needed emergency functions and who will perform them

■ The specific evacuation procedures, including routes and exits

■ The accounting procedures for personnel, customers and visitors

■ Equipment for personnel

This plan must be reviewed with workers so that its execution can take place with little to no confusion. If you need additional planning resources to make your plan, additional resources for severe weather prep from OSHA and the CDC can be found here:

■ OSHA’s Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool

■ The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Evacuation Plan Guide

Response – After Severe Weather Has Passed

Your workers may be involved in the response and recovery operations. But they need to know what areas of cleanup fall within their realm and which need to be left to professionals.

For instance, it may be ok to go remove some light debris, but they shouldn’t try to repair a busted gas line or clean up spilled chemicals. Only workers who are properly trained, equipped and experienced in some operations, such as utility restoration, cleaning up spills of hazardous materials, demolition and search and rescue should be conducting such work.

Again, OSHA and the CDC have some general guidelines that show you what your employees can and can’t touch:

■ OSHA’s Cleanup and Recovery resources

■ OSHA’s Hazard Specific Worker Safety

If any of your workers ever want to get trained on how to provide skilled support services like the ones listed above, check out OSHA’s Disaster Site Worker Outreach Training Program.

Always Be Ready

The best way to prepare for something is to plan, train and practice. Make sure that your employees know what their roles include both before and after severe weather. If still feel like you need help with making a plan for your workers contact the State Auto Risk Engineering Department at AskRiskEngineering@StateAuto.

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State Auto Insurance makes no representations or guarantee as to the correctness or sufficiency of any information contained herein, nor guarantees results based upon use of this information. State Auto does not warrant that reliance upon this document will prevent accident and losses or satisfy federal, state and local codes, ordinances and regulations. The reader assumes entire risk as to use of this information.

Tips for Driving Before & After a Storm

LAC6530 — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 18:29:33 +0000

Tips for Driving Before & After a Storm LAC6530 Fri, 06/15/2018 - 14:29

More than half of flood-related drowning are due to people driving into floodwaters, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). You should avoid flooded roads during and after the storm. Just six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. If you encounter flood waters on a roadway remember Turn around Don’t Drown.

Rain and wet roads cause more car accidents and injuries than other weather conditions. A study based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that most weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement (73%) and when it rains (46%).

The following precautions may help you to evacuate before & after the storm:

■ Plan an evacuation route – since flooding in the area can quickly make roads impassable; determine the best route away from danger during a flood event.

■ Check federal, state and local websites for current road and weather conditions. State Transportation Websites & National Weather Service.

■ Pack an auto emergency kit. Include at a minimum: clean drinking water, several days’ supply of non-perishable food, a first aid kit, well charged cellphone and charging source, flashlight with spare batteries, personal hygiene supplies, battery powered radio.

■ Notify family members or friends of your intended route and expected time of arrival.

■ Don’t drive through fast-moving water; you and your vehicle could easily be swept away.

■ Don’t drive through water unless if you know it’s not too deep.

■ Once you determine it’s not too deep remember to:

□ Drive slowly and steadily to avoid creating a wake or wave.

□ Driving fast through standing water can damage the engine.

□ If the steering does become unresponsive ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.

□ Allow oncoming traffic to pass first.

□ Test your brakes as soon as you can after leaving the water.

Tips to consider once on the road:

Do not use cruise control in the rain. Using cruise control in the rain or even in snow or on ice is dangerous because if your vehicle hydroplanes, it can make it worse by trying to keep your vehicle going at a constant speed.

■ Adjust your speed to the conditions.

■ Double the distance you leave between your car and the car in front of you, as stopping distances are increased by wet roads.

■ Watch out for standing water, avoid it if you can.

■ If steering becomes unresponsive due to the rain, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually.

■ If you experience hydroplaning, hold the steering wheel lightly and lift off the throttle until the tires regain their grip.

■ Turn on your headlights when visibility is reduced and when using windshield wipers.

■ Use of fog lights is helpful, but you must switch them off when visibility improves.

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^{State Auto makes no representations or guarantee as to the correctness or sufficiency of any information contained herein, nor guarantees results based upon use of this information. State Auto does not warrant that reliance upon this document will prevent accident and losses, or satisfy federal, state or local codes, ordinances and regulations. The reader assumes entire risk as to use of this information.}