With most schools having started in September and the thought of academia in tow, fall has always felt like the unofficial start of a new year. 

In celebration of a new school year, and embracing academic beginnings, I've always felt this was the ideal time to embrace and review all written safety plans.  Yes, you know the ones like your Injury and Illness Prevention Plan and your Working at Heights Plan. Pull those three ring binders off your credenza, blow off the dust and give them a good read. Do those individuals with responsibilities in the plan still hold their current role or have they moved on? Are phone numbers correct and radio channels accurate? But the big question is, when was the last time your staff and regular longshore employees trained on plan contents? Take this time to make necessary updates and corrections. Plan a "Lunch and Learn" to review content and provide refresher training. 

Speaking of Working at Heights, in May of 2016, Professional Safety published an excellent article about Fall Rescue Plans. I've provided a link below as well as comments. Celebrating new academic beginnings, I'm very excited to share with you a sneak-peek of our new eLearning course, Heat Illness Prevention for Managers. It will be available for purchase and use within your workplace soon.

In closing, a huge thank you to everyone who responded the first edition of the WCRS Safety Journal and completed the online survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. 

Keep it safe folks.
   
Sneak Preview
Heat Illness Prevention Training for Managers

At WCRS, we don't just believe in training; we believe in lifelong learning. We also recognize that time is precious. There are several safety topics which can be efficiently delivered through eLearning, one of those being Heat Illness Prevention. Knowing the daily challenges faced by the  Front-line  Manager, this  eLearning  theme was developed for mobile compatibility with maximum learning retention. Heat Illness Prevention for Managers will soon be available for purchase to be used within your work site. Check your speaker volume and enjoy the preview.

Preview - Heat Illness Prevention Training for Managers - California



Working at Heights

The topic of working at heights and fall rescue plans always have been a frequent conversation within waterfront safety. During the 2014 PCMSC contract negotiations, it was agreed that container terminals equipped with STS gantry cranes shall have a personnel cage that can be used to assist in the removal of an injured person from a vessel. This can be one option available to rescue someone who needs retrieval on a vessel. It was also agreed, container and break-bulk terminals shall have a procedure to assist  emergency responder's in the removal of an injured person from a vessel. 

In the event, a worker needs rescuing from a ship, and the personnel cage cannot access that person, ensure your plan has contingency actions for these types of situations. "Fall Rescue Plans and Dropped Object Prevention" published in Professional Safety May 2016 highlights critical components of a program. It also explains many factors that can affect the onset of suspension trauma and address the hierarchy of a rescue plan. 

Does your current rescue plan need refreshing? As a resource, Capital Safety offers a free downloadable rescue plan template. Click here to access it.

To read "Fall Rescue Plans and Dropped Object Prevention" in its entirety, click here. This article is worth ten minutes of your time. 


National Safety Council Congress and Expo
The National Safety Council Congress and Expo will be in Anaheim from October 15th through the 21st. I will be exploring the Safety Exhibit on Tuesday, October 18th with my good friend and fellow educator, Cindy Tait, President of Center for Healthcare Education. I will be publishing a special edition of the WCRS Safety Journal highlighting products which would be beneficial to the maritime and stevedoring industry. If you happen to be visiting the show as well, drop me a line. I would love to say hi and talk safety.
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