1. Think Abel – Think Safety
Spring 2010
Welcome Spring with Ladder Safety
Well we begin our Spring Season with you have read here and use this informa- 4. Never set up a ladder in front of a door
what other then rain, rain, rain! tion to make the job easier and most unless the door is locked or a guard is
However it is a far cry from the brutal win- importantly, Safer. posted.
ter most of us experienced this year, and So let us all not just Spring into action LADDER CLIMBING AND STANDING
we can all gladly put that season behind us. without first fully understanding safety in 1. Keep the steps and rungs of ladders free
The coming of the warmer weather invites the proper use of ladders. of grease, oil, and other slippery materi-
us all to the great outdoors and with that als. Also clean such debris off your
Use the proper size ladder for the job.
comes the tasks of cleaning up, or shall we shoes before climbing a ladder.
When using straight or extension ladders,
say our annual spring cleaning. During the 2. Always face a ladder when climbing up
stand 3 feet down from the top, which
first few weeks of the warmer spring air or down. Keep 3 point contact (2 hands
gives an effective working height of 2 feet
we are all teased with warm sunshine and and a foot or 2 feet and a hand) on the
above the top of the ladder.
longer days that give us the urge to do ladder while climbing.
more outside. LADDER INSPECTION 3. Never carry heavy or bulky loads up a
In this issue we will focus on some of the 1. Always check a ladder before using it: ladder.
safety issues that “Spring” up on us while a. Inspect wood ladders for cracks and 4. Climb and stand on a ladder with your
working on projects both in the home and splits in the wood. Never paint a feet in the center of the steps or rungs.
at work. One of the topics we want to wood ladder the paint may hide 5. Do not overreach from a ladder, or lean
stress is safe ladder usage. cracks and other defects. too far to one side.
Many of us use ladders at work and at b. Check all ladders to see that steps or 6. Never slide down a ladder.
home without ever knowing the important rungs are tight and secure. PROPER USE OF LADDERS
factors regarding the safe and proper use of c. Be sure that all hardware and fittings
are properly and securely attached. 1. Never use metal ladders around exposed
ladders. In this issue you will find informa- electrical wiring. Metal ladders should
tion regarding how to properly inspect d. Test movable parts to see that they
operate without binding or without be marked with tags or stickers reading
your ladders, how to properly position a "CAUTION-Do Not Use Around
ladder, and overall safety while working on too much free play.
e. Inspect metal and fiberglass ladders Electrical Equipment" or similar word-
a ladder. Many of us will grab a ladder, ing.
stick it up against the tree, house, or wall for bends and breaks.
2. Never use a damaged ladder. Tag it 2. Do not try to move a ladder while you
and climb it without ever thinking of the are on it by rocking, jogging or pushing
hazards we may have created. These are "Defective" and report it to the site
director so that it may be removed from it away from a supporting wall.
some questions you should be asking: 3. Do not leave tools or materials on top of
• Are the rungs of the ladder safe? the job.
ladders. They can fall on you or some-
• Does it extend 2-3 feet past your LADDER SETUP one else.
roofline or work area? 1. Place ladder feet firmly and evenly on 4. Allow only one person at a time on a
• And my overall favorite, is the foot of the ground or floor. Make sure the lad- ladder unless the ladder is specifically
the ladder on secure ground; will one der is sitting straight and secure before designed for two people.
side sink down in the grass? climbing it.
As you can see, extreme caution must be 2. Do not allow ladders to lean sideways. RIDDLE:
used and common sense prevails in most Level them before using.
of these cases. Hopefully the next time 3. Never set up or use a ladder in a high The more you take the
you have a need for a ladder, whether it wind, especially a lightweight metal or more you leave behind.
be a small step ladder or a 24 foot exten- fiberglass type. Wait until the air is calm
sion ladder, you will think about what enough to ensure safety. What am I?

2. Safety Meeting Ideas Workers Won’t Ignore Budget-Friendly
You do not need to snap your fingers in front of employee’s eyes to get them to pay Cleaning Ideas
attention to safety training. Instead try these ideas.
Stock up on the store brand – Don't think
1. Short talks from other employees – Ask three of your most experienced employ- for a second that the store brand is any less
ees to prepare short talks about accidents or near-misses they have had before and qualified to clean than a name brand. The
how they could have avoided them. Since they know the risks, it really gets the store's brand of sponges, mops, bleach, and
safety message across to the workers. cleaners should be fine. But keep an eye on
2. Staged accidents – Gather your employees around a machine or piece of equip- the ingredients. If the store brand is lacking
ment and play the “What If” game or better yet, stage an accident and see how your a crucial component, you may want to
workers react. Please remember to praise the employees who do the right things stick with a name brand.
along with educating the ones who don’t. Reuse, reuse, reuse – Forget tossing old
towels and t-shirts, cut them into smaller
Backyard Haven or Hazard? pieces to use as dust and cleaning rags.
Backyards aren’t just for baseball and burgers any more. For many Americans, the back- By doing this, you will save the landfill
yard has become a haven to unwind, have fun or entertain in style. Help keep your back- from more trash and yourself the cost of
yard hazard-free with these everyday guidelines. paper towels.
Pools. Each year, more than 600 Americans drown in swimming pools and another Follow directions – You may be tempted
43,000 are injured. to pour a little extra laundry detergent in a
load or spray the shower cleaner a few
The Home Safety Council (homesafetycouncil.org) suggests:
more times, but if you keep your urges in
• Never swim alone. Regardless of your experience and skill level, you should
check, cleaners will last a lot longer. So
always swim with a buddy. Children should always be supervised.
check the directions and only use the
• Homeowners should install pool fencing that is at least 5 feet high and equipped amount specified. You may be surprised
with self-locking and self-closing gates that prevent children from accessing the when you see how much you save.
pool area without an adult.
Line dry – Machine dryers can be very
• In case of emergency, be prepared. Have a lightweight pole measuring at least 10 to
expensive to use or run, so you may want
12 feet long, a ring buoy with line, life vests, a cordless telephone and emergency
to skip the dryer all together. Clothes take
phone numbers within easy reach. less wear and tear and hold their shape
Grills. Don’t burn the steaks — or your deck. Careless grilling habits lead to thousands for longer.
of fires each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Muster some elbow grease – Stains and
To ensure your cookout doesn’t go up in flames: that sticky goop at the bottom of the fridge
• Never leave a grill unattended. have nothing on muscle. Although it's easy
• Keep your grill away from the side of your home and other flammable objects. to reach for the cleaner, sometimes it just
• Regularly check hoses on gas grills for leaks and breaks. takes a little extra scrubbing. So before
breaking out anything toxic, try your hand
Lawnmowers. To increase the chances that the only thing your lawnmower cuts is the
at a little soap, water, and a lot of elbow
lawn, the Home Safety Council suggests:
grease.
• Don’t wear clothes that could get caught in a mower’s blade.
• Before you mow, check your lawn for broken sticks, stones and toys — or anything Hold out for a full load – Wait until
else that could shoot out from under the mower. A mower can throw an object at the dishwasher or laundry basket is
stuffed before running a load. It may try
200 mph, causing serious injury.
your patience-when you want to wear
• After the mowing is done, remember to put all of your lawn and garden tools in a
that dirty pair of jeans-but it saves some
safe place.
serious dough.
Swing sets. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents take the follow- Maintain – Try to stay on top of cleaning
ing steps to keep their children safe and happy: duties – a good cleaning about once a
• Look for screws and bolts that are broken, rusted or not capped. week – a little extra time spent now pre-
• Swing seats should be made of something soft, not wood or metal. vents you from spending money on tough
• Home playground equipment should be properly put together on a level surface, be cleaners later.
anchored to the ground and have an energy absorbent material such as sand, rubber Riddle Answer: Footsteps
or wood chips underneath.
2 Corporate Drive, Cranbury, New Jersey, 08512-3604
t: 609-860-0400 f: 609-860-0440 safety@ThinkAbel.com www.ThinkAbel.com