SAFETY FIRST
YMCA OF THE FOX CITIES
QUARTERLY EMPLOYEE SAFETY NEWSLETTER JUNE 2017

Dear YMCA of the Fox Cities Staff Members,

Thank you for the focus and attention that you continue to give to ensure your personal safety and the safety of all who you come in contact with at the Y.
 
Our Quarterly Safety Newsletters are intended to help keep the topics of safety and risk management 'front and center' for our 1,800 staff team members. I am well aware that Workplace Safety cannot exist on best practice guidelines and policies alone. A safe workplace environment is based on how well we adhere to - and communicate about - safety standards. The foundation of any successful workplace safety effort is one that encourages employees to identify unsafe behaviors and opportunities for improvement while also making well-informed safety decisions during daily routine tasks.
 
Let me kickoff our Summer 'Safety First' Newsletter with a Top 10 Safety Tips Every Employee Should Know article from an Arbill.com's Safety Blog:
  1. Be Aware Of Your Surroundings. This step requires knowing the particular hazards of your job at the Y. Once you've learned these risks, you are able to keep clear of potential hazardous areas and potential hazardous situations.
  2. Keep Correct Posture To Protect Your Back. If you work at a desk, keep your shoulders in line with your hips to avoid back problems. If you're picking things up, use correct form so your back doesn't get hurt. Avoid stooping and twisting. If possible, always use ergonomic designed furniture and safety equipment.
  3. Take Regular Breaks. So many work-related injuries and illnesses occur because a worker is tired, burned out and not alert to their surroundings. Taking regular breaks helps you stay fresh on the job. One trick to staying alert is to schedule the most difficult tasks when your concentration is best, like first thing in the morning.
  4. Use Tools And Machines Properly. Take the proper precautions when using tools, and never take shortcuts.
  5. Keep Emergency Exits Easily Accessible. In case of emergency, you'll need quick, easy access to the exits.
  6. Report Unsafe Conditions To Your Supervisor. Your supervisor needs to be informed about any workplace safety hazards or risks. They are legally obligated to ensure their employees have a safe working environment and will take care of the unsafe conditions and make them safe for you and your coworkers.
  7. Use Mechanical Aids Whenever Possible. Instead of attempting to carry or lift something that is really heavy, take the extra minute to use a dolly, cart or other aid. Too many injury risks are involved with trying to lift something that weighs too much.
  8. Stay Sober. Around three percent of workplace fatalities occur due to alcohol and drugs. When a worker's ability to exercise judgment, coordination, motor control, concentration or alertness is compromised, this leads to any number of risks for workplace injury or fatality.
  9. Reduce Workplace Stress. Stress can lead to depression and concentration problems. Common causes of workplace stress include long hours, heavy workload, job insecurity and conflicts with other coworkers or managers. Take your concerns about workplace stress to your supervisor to see how they might help you address them.
  10. Take the time to utilize our YMCA facilities to keep yourself in top physical condition.
Sincerely,

Bill Breider
 
President / CEO

CHILD SAFETY

Brian Rammer, Associate Executive Director, Neenah-Menasha YMCA 

Tom Wendt, Associate Executive Director, Appleton YMCA
twendt@ymcafoxcities.org

Summer is a great time for all of us as Y staff to review the importance child safety has to the success of our organization. Soon hundreds of youth across our Association will be participating in our summer day camps, overnight camps, school sites and programs along with all the other youth programming that the Y offers throughout the year including swim lessons, sports, arts and humanities, child care and growth and development.  Keeping our children safe in our programs and facilities is vital!
 
Offenders look to Y's and other youth serving organizations. Why?
Offenders need three things: Access, Privacy and Control. It is our responsibility to limit these and be aware of "weak spots" within our programs and facilities. Strong supervision and commitment to our policies and procedures are critical in not only protecting our children, but also ourselves from false allegations. 
 
Important reminders for all of us:
  • Remember the "Rule of 3" or more. Always have at least one staff and two children or two staff and one child when needing to use restroom.
  • Staff should never be alone with a child unless in common area or can be viewed by others. Strive to have at least two staff/adults present.
  • Follow our Y policies about what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior and physical contact. Hold ourselves and our co-workers accountable to Y policies. 
  • Supervision is key! Keep your eyes and ears open for potential signs of abuse or safety concerns. Educate children on expectations related to peer-to-peer abuse/bullying and how to report this to staff.
  • As Mandated Reporters, all Y staff are required to report suspected abuse or neglect allegations of children in their programs. Be sure to document all details and talk to your supervisor or Executive Director to assist you in this report procedure.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Dani Englebert, District Executive Director, Appleton YMCA
denglebert@ymcafoxcities.org

YMCA OF THE FOX CITIES
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/LIGHTNING SAFETY PLAN
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH - A severe thunderstorm watch is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) when one of the following is likely to develop:
  • Damaging winds of 58 miles per hour or more.
  • Hail 3/4 inch in diameter or greater.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING - A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a severe thunderstorm has been visually sighted or is indicated by weather radar.  

MONITORING - Each branch will determine the staff responsible for monitoring weather and they may use phones, TV, or computer to follow radar or National Weather Service announcements. 

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Action Plan for Outdoor Activities and Programs for a NWS Severe Thunderstorm WATCH:
  • Monitor weather radar and notify staff of the watch.
  • Review actions needed to respond to a warning.
  • Modify activities in anticipation of weather changes.
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Action Plan for Outdoor Activities and Programs for a NWS Severe Thunderstorm WARNING
  • Play should be immediately suspended.
  • Participants should quickly and orderly clear the field.
  • Ancillary equipment (i.e., racquets, golf clubs, hockey sticks, etc.) should be collected so it does not become a lightning rod, if storm is imminent leave equipment and take cover. 
  • Do not stand in an open space.
  • Stay away from basketball goals, volleyball standards, trees, towers, fences, telephone, lifeguard stands or power poles or lines.
  • Stay clear of metallic objects (i.e., bicycles, camping equipment, playground equipment, fishing rods, golf clubs, etc.).
  • Stay away from pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water.
  • Everyone should go into a (preferably lightning-protected) structure.
  • If no structure is available, get people into an automobile, bus, etc.
  • If no structure or vehicle is available, get to an open space and stay close to the ground (i.e., squat or sit on the ground); this is not a good option in case of hail.
Outdoor activities and programs can resume:
  • 30 minutes after the last lightening/thunder is seen/heard or warning has expired.
  • Weather Bug can be used to monitor local lightning activity. 
*****************************************************
Action Plan for Indoor Pools and Wet Areas for a Severe Thunderstorm WATCH:
  • Monitor weather radar and notify staff of the watch
  • Review actions needed to respond for a change to Severe Thunderstorm Warning
*****************************************************
Action Plan for Indoor Pools/Wet Areas for a NWS Severe Thunderstorm WARNING:
  • Facilities include: indoor swimming/splash pad, shower rooms, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms or indoor program areas with significant window exposure.
  • Swimming activity should immediately be suspended.
  • The pool and pool deck should be quickly and orderly vacated and secured.
  • Ungrounded sources of water (i.e.., pools, shower rooms, steam rooms, whirlpool, spas, etc.) or sources whose grounding status is undetermined should be vacated and avoided.
  • Areas with large expanses of glass (i.e., windows, skylights, roof panels, etc.) should be vacated and avoided.
Indoor Pools/Wet Areas can reopen when:
  • Radar has indicated that warning for your area has passed or expired.
  • Visually, the sky looks clear and the storm appears to have passed your immediate area.
Please check with your YMCA branch to determine proper Chain of Command for all closing decisions.
  
EMPLOYEE SAFETY
Sara Tilkens, Human Resource Director, YMCA of the Fox Cities
stilkens@ymcafoxcities.org

PRIDE IN A CLEAN AND SAFE WORK SPACE
 
I think it is safe to say most of us prefer a tidy and clean work space, but often that falls low on the priority list. We strive to take a "see it, own it" approach here at the Y, which I have seen in action; people picking up paper towel on the bathroom floor, wiping down tables, etc.
As many of our locations go through "spruce up's", it is a good time to remind everyone that a clean work area equals a safe work area. This is a great time of year to tidy up the space where you work, tackle that pile in the corner and you might just rediscover something you forgot about.  

Here's a few tidbits to think about:
  • Tidy work areas can reduce stress
  • Sanitizing surfaces like your desk reduces germs
  • Clean and therefore safe work-spaces reflect positively on our association
  • Keep the "See It, Own It" at the forefront
Get with your teams to hold each other accountable to ensure work spaces are clean and safe. At the end of the day, take a walk through your area and ensure there aren't empty boxes or random items on the floor creating tripping hazards, clean up dirty dishes, and wipe down surfaces. Create a rotation to clean out staff refrigerators, to ensure equipment and storage rooms are organized, etc. 

Here's to a clean, safe, and healthy summer!
 
ACCIDENT/INCIDENT REPORTING
Sharon Pickering, Chief Financial Officer, YMCA of the Fox Cities

The safety and well-being of our staff and members is a priority for all of us, unfortunately, sometimes accidents/incidents occur and we need to ensure that we have a well-documented process to collect facts around the accident/incident. One major component of our corporate insurance is a general liability policy that covers bodily injury, personal injury and property damage. Depending on the number and severity of claims received in a year, our insurance costs can escalate quickly. Every time one of our manageable expenses increases, the funds we have available to do our most important mission work can be impacted.
 
One of the most important steps in our risk management plan is to quickly and accurately document any accident/incident that occurs during YMCA activities. The staff member who discovers, witnesses or is informed of an accident/incident is responsible for completing the Accident/Incident Report Form. By reporting an accident/incident quickly, we can determine if there are safety measures that we need to update or correct in order to improve the safety of our staff and members.
 
We have developed a Standard Operating Procedure for Reporting of Accidents/Incidents and the Accident/Incident Report Form has been redesigned to make it easier for our staff members to use. Preferably the form is completed electronically using the fillable form. Otherwise, neat and legible handwriting is acceptable.  Often times, these forms are forwarded to our insurance carrier to evaluate so the ability to read the information is critical.   You can access the form by clicking HERE  or obtain a form from your supervisor.   In addition, the Standard Operating Procedures for completing an Accident/Incident report form can be found by clicking HERE.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
  YMCA of the Fox Cities| 920.739.6135 | ymcafoxcities.org 
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