E-Newsletter

Savings / Safety Tips for June 2019 from All Safety Products, Inc.

Seeing trouble: Our ability to recognize dangers seems to evolve

Consider new parents.  When they bring their infant home, they also suddenly become aware of those many things they must do to keep their child safe.   When the child starts to crawl -- a whole new vision of danger becomes clear.   That's the way it was with smartphones.  They seemed to be the answer to getting help fast or finding information when desperately needed. And they are that.

But who thought walking while texting would be such a problem? Yet it is. That's because everyone's ability to recognize hazards seems to evolve depending, in part, on new circumstances and, often sadly, on lessons learned.

Overconfidence is a problem with hazard recognition, according to AmericanIntegrated.com. People who have done their jobs for years without a safety incident, tend to think it will always be that way. Problem is, they get older and their fitness changes.

Tools change. Procedures change. It's like saying, at age 20, "I have slipped on the ice and it's no big deal." If you think the same way at 60+, you are in for a big surprise.    At every level, overconfidence tends to blind workers to evolving hazards.

Safe work requires procedures, and procedures evolve. Young workers are in just as much danger (or more) as veterans, if they think nothing will happen to them because it never has.  Sadly, experience usually changes that attitude, but the lesson can be costly.

In one case, reviewed by safetyquarry.com, an experienced team of maintenance workers was retrieving cable from a building that was to be demolished. They properly cordoned off the building, but failed to assess the structural integrity of the building.

When the team passed over a walkway, a section collapsed and an employee fell 30 feet, breaking his leg. Luck, and a pile of dust, saved him from more severe injuries. None of the team members will probably make that mistake again, but the lesson was far too dear. The fact is every job is different.

You can recognize hazards by:

- Reviewing safety procedures.
- Assessing the unique challenges of the current task.
- Pre-planning work.
- Getting complete instructions on the job before you do it.
- Staying focused. Avoid mental distractions of issues at home. Don't let the camaraderie of the crew distract you from the work at hand.
- Cleaning up and keeping the workplace tidy. That will at least help to prevent  trips, falls, and visual obstructions.

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Health Alert/Tip: Kratom sounds Great But Be Aware of FDA Concerns!

Health Notes: Kratom use causes concern; effects on heart seen. The FDA has listed the over-the-counter herbal drug kratom as a "drug of chemical concern."  The drug has been linked to 91 fatal overdoses in the U.S. from July 2016 to December 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control.   However, kratom overdoses account for less than 1 percent of fatal overdoses.

The CDC analysis comes as kratom poisonings rose 50-fold from 13 in 2011 to 682 in 2017.  About 3 million to 5 million people use kratom, which, at small doses, acts as a mild stimulant but side effects include agitation, irritability, and fast heart beat (tachycardia).

At moderate to high doses, it can produce opiod-like effects, including some pain relief. However, serious clinical effects include seizures, respiratory depression, slow heart beat (bradycardia), renal failure, and cardiac arrest.  The FDA has not shown the drug to be dangerously addictive.  According to the American Kratom Association, the drug has not been shown to be a risk to public safety.

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Delicious Recipe: Cool Summer Combo for Hot Days

Hanging out by the pool on hot summer days calls for some cool summer recipes. Here's just the ticket:     Spicy Perspective has a great recipe for strawberry smoothies that are easy to make poolside with just a few fresh ingredients and an electric blender. Love from the Oven, meanwhile, provides a summer pasta salad recipe that can be made the night before and served quickly so that you won't miss any time sunbathing or swimming!     

Here's how to make one version of these summer delights.

Simple Strawberry Smoothies

Ingredients:
3 cups frozen strawberries
1.5 cups milk, any fat content
1/3 cup strawberry jam

Instructions:
1. Place the frozen strawberries, jam, and milk into the blender.
2. Secure the lid.
3. Puree until smooth.

That's it! Garnish with fresh fruit if desired!

Summer Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
2 cups pasta such as rotini, fusilli, penne or farfalle, uncooked
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
6 oz. chopped cooked chicken or turkey breast (approximately two small chicken breasts)
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes or 1 large tomato cut into chunks
1 cup chopped or grated carrots
1/2 cup prepared Italian dressing mix - or try sweet Italian from bottle or jar
4 oz. Kraft cheddar cheese cubes
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1/4 cup kraft shredded Italian five cheese blend

Optional: A few fresh herbs such as basil for garnish  

Instructions:
1. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli to the cooking water for the last 2 min. of the pasta cooking time; drain and rinse with cold water.
2. Toss chicken, tomatoes, carrots, dressing, cheddar cheese and olives in large  bowl. Add pasta mixture; mix lightly.
3. Sprinkle with shredded Italian cheese.  If not serving immediately, store in refrigerator. The pasta cools and flavors blend overnight, if you make ahead.

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About All Safety Products
We are all about trying to save you money when we are able to.  It is our shipping policy to only charge you the actual shipping costs.  Sometimes there is a shipping error on our website.  We do review all orders for accuracy and pleasantly surprise our customers when we notify them of an adjustment in their favor. We make money  on products, not shipping!

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All Safety Products, www.allsafetyproducts.com, P.O. Box 6353, Lakewood, CA 90714