Guess What Safety Stuff Subscriber?

. . . it's that time again.Time for your weekly dose of safety and health fun.

Wow! You would not believe how many cool safety and health song parodies I've received.

Come on, give it a try.

I'll pick three winners. (You don't need to record a song--though that would be cool--lyrics are fine.) Each winner will get over $100 worth of unusual prizes like a singing stress turtle, an Albert Einstein Action Figure, a new safety and health product I'm launching in March and a bunch of other cool stuff. Of course I'll include the winning lyrics in Safety Stuff.

Who knows, this could be the start of your songwriting career. Send your lyrics to me at richard@richardhawkinc.com. Only rules--use your imagination! I'll announce the winners in the last March issue of Safety Stuff.

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On a different topic: I know the safety and health meeting/promotion idea in this issue is similar to one I published a few years back and that more than one of you dear subscribers has sent me a "bathroom news" idea. But I thought that the idea in this issue has a few witty twists that are worth passing on. Check it out.

Way to go Kathleen (Kitt) Ferraz from PharmaForm, LLC! You are this week's safety and 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 or click on the picture of the product on the left.

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.

Okay, let's move on to Kitt's idea:

THE TOILET JOURNAL
Loo News You Can Use

Hi Richard,

I really enjoy reading your newsletter every week to gain new ideas for driving safety home.

Here at our location we have a lot of highly educated people doing a tremendous amount of Research, Development and Formulation for the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Our main form of communication for everything often falls to email as everyone has their own computer attached to the company network. However, I was concerned that sometimes emails were being deleted without being read thoroughly.

Our Safety Committee hit upon a great idea that has given us a captive audience for important safety information. Every 2 weeks, we publish the "Toilet Journal, Loo News You Can Use" and place it on the doors of all the stalls of both men and women restrooms.

Committee Members are responsible for providing Tips and Tidbits. These and other pertinent information such as air monitoring results, new PPE requirements and SOP revisions are all included in the Journal. The inaugural issue was January 16 and it included a request for employees to submit. Since then, my suggestion box has been flooded with ideas and comments.

It's working for us and has added a little humor to a sometimes dry topic. The TJ finishes with a "Drip Tip" after which it states the Last Drop.

People now look forward to the next issue and it keeps safety fresh in everyone's mind.

A guy buys all kinds of scuba diving equipment, $2,000 worth. He goes 150 feet down in the water, sees all the strange fish and scenery, and says to himself. "This is really worth $2,000. I'm really enjoying it."

He goes down another fifty feet, sees more beautiful fish and scenery, and all of a sudden coming toward him is a fellow in just plain swimming trunks. The first guy takes out his underwater pad and pencil and writes a note to the fellow in trunks saying, "I just spent $2,000 on all this diving equipment, and here you are way down here in just a pair of trunks. What's the idea?"

He hands the pad and pencil to the man, who writes back, "You idiot, I'm drowning!"

Hello Richard,

The Vegas thing where you were part of the safety speaker showcase was really good for me on many levels and you changed my life in many ways!

You hit home, in a fun way. I hope to be able to take some of what I got from you and teach my associates with the wisdom you imparted on us all in that two-day experience.

You showed me I could take charge and make a safety meeting fun and, I will try to spread the word (and your name)!

Ray Mopier
Verizon

If you'd like the same kind 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

EXIT ACCESS IS THAT PART OF A MEANS OF EGRESS THAT LEADS TO AN ENTRANCE TO AN EXIT

--Government Fire-Prevention Pamphlet for Homes for the Elderly

Like any other article I publish in Safety Stuff, you are welcome to copy this and give it to your employees.

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Teaching your children about safety at an early age is the best way to reduce their chances of getting hurt, both while they're growing up and when they become adults. I work with dozens of industries every year and one common problem I see is that new employees don't know much about working safely. Sometimes they've never worn safety glasses or hard hats until they start their first "adult job!"

I have two grown children, a boy Dana and a girl Amber. If I had to raise them again, this time I would make sure to spend more time explaining and showing them what it takes to work safely.

Just like playing in a sport (or any other skill) the earlier a person start practicing it the better they tend to be when they get older. That's why you should spend the time, even if your child is only a few years old, teaching your boy or girl about safety and training them to do their chores or other tasks safely.

I've also noticed (and research backs up my observation) that women come into the work force with much less safety training than men. I know in my case my son mowed the lawn, helped me with other traditionally "male" tasks while my daughter did mostly "female" chores like washing the dishes or helping her mother clean the house. Not that there isn't a need for safety training for domestic chores, but the risk is less. So, if you have a daughter(s) be sure to also teach her how to safely do the more physical tasks that have been traditionally done by boys.

Here are a few of the safety-related topics young children should know about:

• Why you need Personal Protective Equipment when using tools and machinery and how to wear them.
• How to lift properly.
• Stretching exercises and why they are helpful.
• Once they are old enough to do so: How to handle chemicals and why they can cause harm.
• How to escape your home in case of an emergency (and other buildings like hotels if you go on vacation).
• How to look for hazards before doing a chore.
• Basic first aid (simple things at first like holding your hand over a cut until mommy or daddy help you, but then more advanced first aid skills as the child grows).
• Everything about the dangers of fire, water, electricity, sharp edges and any other hazard that may come into their young world.

One final note: setting a good example is the first step to helping your child live a safe life. If you wear safety glasses when using moving tools like a weed- whacker or drill, your child will want to do that too.

I wish you grand success with your efforts to raise your children to become happy, healthy and safety- conscious adults.