NIOSH Head Says Global Safety Is Biggest 21st Century Challenge

Themes from World Congress on Safety and Health ...

"The heads of the three U.S. government agencies responsible for occupational safety and health addressed the theme of "Leadership in Safety and Health" during the plenary session yesterday (Sept. 20) at the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Orlando, Fla.

John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), asserted that developing a global workplace safety and health system, in the absence of a world government, is the biggest challenge facing the profession.

Earlier in his presentation, Howard explored the differences between managers and leaders. According to Howard, leaders tend to be imaginative and inspire others to see problems in new ways, while managers are more oriented to details and solving problems."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

Chao: Safety Must Remain a Core Value in Changing Workplace

Government recognition of safety is a good thing ...

"As the U.S. work force braces for a "generational shift" brought about by the impending retirement of millions of baby boomers across the country, EHS stakeholders must work to build a "culture of safety within the organization that says safety is No. 1," U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao told attendees of the National Safety Council's (NSC) 93rd annual Congress and Expo, which is being held in Orlando, Fla., this week.

"[O]ur country's challenge is to preserve the gains made over the past 50 years by intensifying our health and safety programs for the incoming new generation of workers," Chao said today.

When baby boomers retire, they take with them all the safety and health knowledge accumulated from a lifetime of work experience, Chao explained. At the same time, the younger workers who replace them bring "relatively less health and safety experience" to the workplace."   continued ...   (Via Occupational Hazards)

NSC.

Construction news from Contract Journal UK: Watch your step, warns HSE

A good suggestion for any workplace ...

"The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has launched its Watch Your Step campaign to highlight the impact slips and trips have on the industry.

Almost 3,000 serious injuries occur each year as a result of slips and trips and in more than 90% of those cases the injured person is off work for at least a week.

The HSE said there are three main causes of workplace falls, which can be easily minimised:

Slips on wet and dry substances; minimised by cleaning or reporting of the spillages immmediately.

Trips over obstacles, such as cables, products and fittings; minimised by tidying up as you go and keep walkways clear.

Human factors, including failure to report and manage risks; follow the motto: 'Don't just see it, sort it.' ...(U.S.A. = fix it)"   continued ...   (Via Construction)

Slip and Fall.

NTSB recommends cellphone ban for teen drivers

Finally coming to terms with a real safety hazard ...

"So once again, Big Government is trying to step all over our right to endanger ourselves and others while barreling down the highway. First they forced us to wear uncomfortable seat belts, then our horns turned into tiny steering wheel buttons due to airbag requirements, and now they have the nerve to encroach upon our First Amendment right of free speech with laws limiting in-car cellphone usage. The National Transportation Safety Board, not content with killing our joyriding buzz with their many safety recommendations, has now suggested that federal legislators impose a ban on teenagers (well, all novice drivers really) chatting on their phones while driving. This new anti-teenage legislation is part of NTSB’s “Most Wanted Safety Recommendations to States” list, which might as well be called the “Suggested Ways of Making Your Commute Even More Boring and Tedious” list. If this law does in fact go into effect there may be that familiar sense of I-told-you-so when accident rates actually go up, as teenagers segue into the much more dangerous activity of texting at 70 MPH."   continued ...   (Via Engadget)

Doing two cognitive things at once.

Simple Cell-Phones Released

A good phone for visually impaired, older adults, and kids ...

"KDDI and Okinawa Cellular are pleased to announce two new au CDMA 1X 3G "Simple Cell-phones", expanding the line-up of au handsets that offer simplicity and convenience for older customers and other people who find cell-phones difficult to use.

The Simple Cell-Phone A101K from Kyocera Corporation is a voice-only handset that can be used with ease by older customers to make and receive calls, while the Simple Cell-Phone A5517T from Toshiba Corporation, which has a large screen and keys, enables e-mail and EZweb to be used with ease, as well as Safe Navi capability."   continued ...   (Via 3G)

Simple Phone