Welcome Safety Stuff Subscriber,

. . . to another shot of safety & health fun and who knows what else.

I'm home this week preparing to launch The Best Of Safety Stuff Vol. 2 and working on a couple talks.

Next week, I'm off to Houston to speak to the folks at ExxonMobil and then I head up to Craig, CO to spend time with the employees at Tri-State Generation and Transmission.

Take a bow, Leah Peters from Lodi CA. You are this week's safety & health meeting/promotion idea winner!

Safety & health meeting/promotion idea winners get 25 Safety & Health Puzzles on CD which they can copy and give out to their employees. They also get a copy of Spice It Up! 52 Easy Ways to Turn Your Safety Meetings From Bland to Grand! If you'd like to purchase these helpful products just go to: www.makesafetyfun.com

If I publish your idea on how to use a prop to make a point, or some way to get your audience involved in a safety & health meeting, or an innovative way to promote safety & health on and off the job, you'll win the puzzles and booklet.

Send your ideas to me at richard@richardhawkinc.com or click on the link at the bottom of this message.

Now, for Leah's idea:

HEAT STRIP PICKING

Our August safety meeting was about Heat Stress. We work in a very hot climate during the summer. It can get up to 112 degrees F sometimes and in the plant temperatures can reach 120 or higher. There is no air conditioning in the plant, so we feel that it is important that the employees recognize the signs of heat stress disorders.

First, I gave a handout to the employees with the different signs of heat stress and how to give first aid to someone who may be showing signs of heat stress. Next, I walked around with a cup. In the cup were slips of paper with different scenarios that could happen in the plant relating to heat stress.

Those with the slips of paper were victims. Those who watched were first responders. The victims were to act out their scenarios without talking. The first responders had to say what heat stress disorder the victim had and how they would administer first aid to the person.

Everyone had a great time acting these out, even after a long hot day at work. To this day, the employees talk about the fun they had and ask me of more fun ways to deal with other safety topics.

TIDBITS

Welsh coal miners once believed that washing coal dust from their backs weakened their spines.

Day of the week most Americans call in sick: Friday (18%). The day fewest do: Tuesday (11%).

First fire station to install a sliding fire pole: New York's Engine Co. No. 21, in 1878.

NEW WORD: Parlous (PAHR-lous)
MEANING: Dangerous
INSTEAD OF . . . "This won't hurt a bit!"
SOUND SMARTER: "I assure you there is nothing parlous about the intracranial demulsification procedure."

NEW WORD: Circumspect (SUR-kuhm-spekt)
MEANING: Cautious
INSTEAD OF . . . "Uh, Fred, you might not want to look down that tube."
SOUND SMARTER: "Frederick, a more circumspect approach to that fireworks cannon you just lit might be advisable."

NEW WORD: Temerity (the-MEHR-eh-tee)
MEANING: Foolhardiness; reckless courage
INSTEAD OF . . . "I don't know if that was brave or just stupid, what you just did. Did it really eat your cell phone?"
SOUND SMARTER: "It takes extreme temerity to jump into the grizzly bear enclosure, Jethro. Shall I call an ambulance?"

LIKE TO BRING THIS SEMINAR INTO OUR PLANT

Here is some feedback from attendees at my public seminar in Atlantic City:

The seminar definitely met my expectations and was filled with great ideas.

Melissa Fent
Safety Technician
Crown

One of the best seminars I've ever attended from any perspective!

Art Strupp
Shift Supervisor
Quadrant E.P.P

It was fun and everyone was involved. I would like to bring this seminar into our plant for managers and supervisors.

Julie Dominguez
Supervisor
Butterball, LLC

If you'd like to get the same type of results at your next convention or employee day (or are looking for ways to improve your safety & health culture) contact Michele Lucia (972-899-3411 michele@richardhawkinc.com) or click on the link at the end of this email message.

If you'd like to see a video of yours truly go to my safety website www.makesafetyfun.com.

"ACT YOUR AGE"
(being sensible about sports/playing injuries)

. . . Not your shoe size." This familiar chide applies to adults as well as children. A nine-year-old child will stay out in the snow playing for hours with "frozen toes" and will swear through chattering teeth that he's not cold.

An adult may be sensible enough to come in when he's freezing, yet foolish enough to ignore a sore shoulder and continue "playing" until he ends up in the hospital with a dislocated shoulder.

If you experience pain or other limitations during any physical activity, act your age. Listen to your body--stop and rest.

When can you resume playing after an injury? According to the book Sports Health by William Southmayd, M.D. and Marshall Hoffman here are some guidelines you can follow:

• If the injured part hurts at rest, you should not exercise it.
  
  
• As soon as the injured part does not hurt at rest, you may start exercising it minimally. That means slowly. If the pain starts, stop exercising. Your body is telling you that something is wrong. Listen to your body signals.
  
• As soon as you can exercise without pain, increase the intensity and the duration of your exercise program. The same goes for any sport you play. Expect a little aching. But remember that the moment that sharp pain starts, stop.