Happy New Year!
Happy new year! It’s time to dig in and make plans for what 2022 will look like in your business.
I know that so many have made New Year’s Resolutions by now. And I also know that 95% of those resolutions will be forgotten by Valentine’s Day. Been there, done that.
When it comes to workplace safety, it matters a great deal that we, as employers, focus on annual training for our team. When we draw up a plan for an entire year, we can stop worrying about which training topic to cover at each safety meeting. We can organize the handouts, videos and agendas far in advance to allow for a thoughtful and meaningful session. After all, if you are training to just “check the box” then you aren’t really getting a bang for your buck, nor is your crew truly prepared for an emergency in your facility.
At the end of the day, we want people to go home to their families, safe and sound. The first step in ensuring that is providing adequate education with solid reinforcement from management. From the top down, safety is everyone’s business.
As a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS), I can assist your supervisors in getting the right training to the right people, at the right time. Knowing what rules apply and when matters. Having site safety walk-throughs can expose dangerous working conditions or even highlight positive things that your team is already doing.
Making your workplace safe is not hard. You simply have to use what you know and the tools you have. And, your focus must last longer than a few weeks.
I hope that 2022 brings health, wellness and prosperity to you and your team. I believe this will be a great year for business growth and success.
Renee Schofield
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Did you know December, January and February are peak months for house fires? More home cooking and heating as well as holiday decorations, winter storms and the use of candles – all increase the risk of fire during the cold months.
Each year, about 900 people die in winter home fires in the United States and more than two billion dollars are lost in personal property.
While cooking is the leading cause of home fires, our heightened need for heat and energy during this time of year and the misuse of equipment like space heaters and portable generators contribute to the vast majority of injuries and deaths in home fires (and carbon monoxide poisonings.)
Safety Strategies
Being thoughtful about how you use your stoves, heaters and electricity can go a long way to reducing the risk of a fire.
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Drug testing may not be required under Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, but the many, many businesses that must follow federal testing regulations, have come to realize the significant value that a drug-free workplace policy has added to their safety program.
When companies successfully implement and manage a drug-testing program, they can relatively quickly see the impact – increased productivity, fewer accidents, less absenteeism and lower costs as a result of having a safer work environment and a more consistent and reliable workforce.
How can you reap the benefits?
- Develop a robust drug testing policy or review the one you have. A well-articulated and updated policy is critical to achieving your goal of keeping impaired workers out of the workplace. Many organizations have a policy, but no one has updated it in years (or even decades). Yet, so much is always changing in terms of the types of drugs that can be tested for, how testing is conducted and local and state laws pertaining to certain substances like marijuana. Your policy should be updated and reviewed by your company attorney annually, then reviewed and discussed with your employees.
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Check your CPR/First Aid Cards
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Spring will be here before you know it and many people working in outdoor, recreational and educational industries will be renewing their CPR and First Aid certification for their jobs. If your card expires in the next three months, now is the time to take the course either online or in person, at one of our TSS locations. Sign up for our blended learning program here.
If you’ve never taken a CPR/First Aid class, this is your opportunity to learn a life-saving skill in a supportive environment. Our experienced trainers are committed to making sure you are ready to act in an emergency.
CPR helps keep the blood circulating and delivers oxygen to the body until specialist treatment is available. There is usually enough oxygen still in the blood to keep the brain and other organs functioning for a few minutes after an incident, but it is not circulating unless someone does CPR. And that someone may need to be you. Get your training!
Why learn CPR/First Aid?
Here are five great reasons:
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FMCSA ClearingAnnual Queries Explained
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All employers of drivers who require a Commercial Driver’s License for their job, must conduct an annual electronic records check, or query, in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for each CDL driver they employ. This is called the Annual Query and is tracked on a rolling 12-month basis.
Instead of a Full Query, the Annual Query requires a Limited Query. A Limited Query allows the employer to check if there is any information about resolved or unresolved drug and alcohol testing violations for their driver in the Clearinghouse. The employer must obtain general consent from the employee to view the record. No details are provided. If the employer discovers a record for their driver, they must perform a Full Query, which provides further information about the violation and Return to Duty process. Employers are always mandated to run a Full Query before hiring a CDL driver.
Query Process
- Log in to the Clearinghouse and purchase a Query Plan. A Query Plan enables employers, and their C/TPAs, to conduct queries of driver Clearinghouse records. Select a Query Plan large enough to cover the number of CDL drivers you currently employ. You can purchase additional Query Plans, as needed. Query Plans are non-refundable and cannot be purchased by the C/TPA.
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Tips for Safe Winter Driving
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This week, drivers stuck on I-95 in Virginia experienced the worst-case scenario for winter driving. Inclement weather conditions with snow and ice caused slippery roads and low visibility resulting in numerous accidents involving cars and trucks that brought traffic to a standstill and shut down a stretch of one of America’s busiest highways. The conditions left many stranded in their cars for more than 24 hours with little food, water or heat.
As safety professionals, this event caused us at TSS to immediately consider how motorists can avoid the worst of winter.
Whether it’s snow, sleet or ice, winter weather can cause extremely dangerous road conditions. In 2019, there were 440 fatal crashes, and an estimated 33,000 injury crashes that occurred during inclement weather events.
While we can’t control the weather, we can prepare our vehicles and ourselves.
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TSS TRAINING
Webinar, online, blended
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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.
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All Webinars are
10 a.m. AKT
1 p.m. CST
You, the DER
Tuesday, January 11
Cost: FREE
Do you receive the drug & alcohol screening results for your company? Do you maintain the records of screening results?This webinar is designed to educate the Designated Employee Representative (DER) on what their responsibilities are regarding the drug screening program within their company. We'll cover drug screening, random selection, document retention and more.
Signs & Symptoms for Supervisors
Tuesday, January 18
Cost: $129
Forty percent of workplace fatalities involve employee substance abuse. Do YOU know the signs & symptoms?
It is essential for employers to understand the prevalence, trends and costs related to substance use among employees and how to respond. This training meets the requirements for DOT mandated training on drugs and alcohol and is appropriate for all supervisors, DERs and employees who need training.
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View our featured online courses on TSS's revamped website homepage. Make sure to keep checking back for new content!
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Blended Learning First Aid & CPR
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COST: $85
2-Year Certification
During COVID-19 , TSS will not be offering standard CPR & First Aid courses. Instead, consider taking our Blended Learning course.
- Take the classroom portion of the course online.
- Then, schedule a hands-on evaluation at your convenience.
Same skills. Same certification. In the safest way.
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Schedule Your Drug
Screen at
(877) 225-1431
or
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