TSS News – August 2021

SAFETY NEWS

August 2021

From the CEO

I am often asked how I wear the hats that I do in my business.

As TSS, Inc. has grown over the years, many new products and services have been added to our offerings. Twenty-one years ago, drug screening was the only service we provided. Then, we added CPR/First Aid training. After that, came background screens and phlebotomy, and so on. With each new offering, I've had to quickly learn, understand and master the ins and outs of what we are selling to our clients and why.

Every year, I assess what employers and companies are telling me they need to meet their industry standards or help keep their employees safe. I investigate how I can support my fellow business owners in those areas and then train my staff to provide the information and services to fulfill these needs. As a safety company, it takes many hats to keep all that going and I am proud that the team at TSS is diligent in learning new things right along with me.

In the spring, three TSS team members and I attended the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association conference in St. Louis, Mo.

While there, we participated in as many training sessions as possible, to gain more education and insight into the ever-changing world of screening for drugs and alcohol. Not only are the laws changing constantly, but so is the technology. We met with multiple vendors to see and test new products and learn more about what’s coming up in the near future – so that we can continue to help the businesses we work with have access to the most current resources.

TSS is proud to offer a wide array of services that improve workplace safety. In the end, it all comes down to many years of just listening to what folks need and how they need to have it delivered. For their part, we urge our clients to periodically assess these needs.

First, take a solid look at your overall business and the policies you have in place. Drug and alcohol laws have changed so much in several states that your policy may not be appropriate anymore. Even if nothing has changed, review the policy for accuracy and then review it with your employees. All employees should be educated on the expectations of the workplace. Obviously, the first education should happen during the onboarding process. And then annually after that. Employers still have the right to expect drug-free employees (in most states) and your policies should reflect that. If you notice your policies are outdated or aren’t as robust as you want them to be, TSS is here to help you get them back on track.

Second, review your safety education program. It is critical to ensuring that all your employees go home safely. It does not, and frankly, should not cost a ton of money. Studies show that small investments in safety provide large savings in reduced accidents, time loss, retraining and other costs. We all need to protect our assets, both people and equipment. Safety programs are the very beginning of that. We can help you with a safety audit that will provide you with the most cost-effective safety solutions. Last month we introduced you to our basic Workplace Safety Checklist . Reviewing this document can help you prioritize your safety needs and determine where you should get some help.

TSS has connections across the nation who help us bring a wide array of programs to our clients. We may not have what you need immediately, but I assure you we’ll do everything in our power to find it for you. I don’t want to be just your service provider. I want to be your partner in realizing your dreams in your business. Working together, we provide a solid foundation for your company to be successful and your employees SAFE AND SOUND along the way.

Best regards,

Renee Schofield

Workplace Safety in Extreme Heat

Are your employees working in the heat? Are they safe?

With record temperatures in much of the country this summer, many employers have seen an increase in heat-related illnesses and, in some cases, deaths. This can happen to both indoor and outdoor workers.

Between 1992 and 2017, heat stress injuries killed 815 U.S. workers and seriously injured more than 70,000, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Overall, more than 65,000 people visit the emergency room for heat-related stress each year and about 600 die from heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Workers experience heat exhaustion, which can cause nausea, dizziness, and fainting and in extreme cases, the heat can lead to a life-threatening spike in body temperature. But a recent study shows that higher temperatures are also linked to more workplace injuries overall, including falls from scaffolding, wounds from machinery, and collisions with industrial vehicles. Heat fatigue interferes with alertness, slows down a worker’s reactions, and even decreases worker productivity, according to the research.

By law, under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s “general clause,” employers are required to keep workplaces “free from recognized hazards.” In other words, you are responsible for employees’ wellbeing when they are working in potentially dangerous conditions.

So what do employers need to do to protect both their workers and their bottom line?

School Bus Safety Tips

As the start of the new school year approaches, there are many reasons parents and children are feeling anxious. New teachers, new peers, new classrooms, and on top of that, for some students, it will be the first time back in the classroom in more than 18 months.

One area you should not feel too concerned about is the school bus. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, being on the school bus is 70 times safer than driving to school in a car.

School busses are designed to keep children safe and bus driver training and requirements are well-regulated.

That having been said, protecting school bus occupants from accident or injury is everyone's responsibility. Other drivers, passengers and parents all have to do their part.

Here are some basic school bus safety tips that we should all keep in mind.

SAFE + SOUND WEEK is August 9-15! While the nation focuses on this particular week for safety events, the year-round campaign is designed to help businesses grow their safety programs. Good safety programs keep a business sound, thus the SAFE + SOUND theme.

Every state in the nation has participants in SAFE + SOUND WEEK. Safety companies, individual businesses, and safety suppliers hold events and trainings to mark the week. Being proactive in safety promotion will pay big dividends in reducing expenses related to injury, time loss or equipment damage. Providing solid safety programs that are realistic helps your workforce remain at work, injury-free. Those employees are your most valuable asset as a business owner. Taking good care of them should be the number one priority.

You don’t have a safety plan? Feeling like it is overwhelming?

It doesn’t have to be. Small steps toward building your Health and Safety Plan can be made quickly and with little cost. There are multiple resources available at OSHA.gov, National Safety Council, and of course, right here at TSS, Inc. Whether you are just starting or need to revisit your current plan, ask our Certified Occupational Safety Specialist, Renee Schofield, about some simple steps to take your safety program to the next level. You can also register for Safe and Sound Week here. This will allow your company to get resources and be recognized nationally for your participation. Put your company on the map by hosting an event in honor of your employees and their safety.

Need help getting started? Call Renee at 907.247.1431 for assistance.

TSS TRAINING

Webinar, online, blended

Through webinars and

interactive online training courses, TSS offers a wide range of options that can help you reach your professional development or safety learning goals.

These include DOT mandated and OSHA-recommended safety trainings as well as courses about home safety or those geared to keeping you secure behind the wheel.

If you don't see a course you need on our website, our team of safety specialists are more than happy to customize a training, or series of trainings, for you. Just let us know how we can help.