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Source: Shell Oil Company Turn off your cell phone
while refueling Static electricity hazards |
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Source:
Virginia Cooperative Extension General Chain saws can be great labor saving tools. But if not operated properly and with respect, they can quickly cause severe injury and death. At least two people died from injuries related to chain saws during the first week of cleanup after Hurricane Hugo. This leaflet cannot address every potential hazard you may encounter while using a chain saw. If you are not familiar with techniques of sawing, saw operation, or maintenance, read your owner's manual, consult a more detailed publication, or ask a dealer for more information. Do You Need to Use a Chain Saw? If you have only small branches (four inches or less), use a hand saw or axe. Chain saws are not suited for cutting such small branches. Owner's Manual Read the owner's manual before operating a chain saw for the first time. Note the safety practices. Note how to check and adjust the chain tension. It's important for safe operation. Personal Protective Equipment One of the best safeguards against injury is wearing the proper protective equipment. This includes:
Transporting the Saw Put the chain guard on the saw when not in use. Always carry the saw at your side with the cutting bar and chain to the rear and to the outside. Never carry a chain saw in the passenger area of a vehicle. Fueling a Chain Saw Use the fuel mix recommended by the manufacturer. Never fuel a hot chain saw; let it cool first. Always fuel in a clear area away from debris. If your fuel can has no spout, use a funnel. Wipe the saw clean of any spilled fuel after fueling. Never smoke while fueling. Starting the Chain Saw There is only one safe way to start a chain saw:
Preparing to Cut Clear away anything that has a chance of interfering with the operation. Remove debris that could cause you to slip or lose your balance or accidentally contact the chain. Keep both hands firmly on the saw when cutting. Avoiding Kickback Kickback occurs when the saw rotates back, or "kicks back" at the operator, due to the nose of the saw contacting an object or obstruction. To prevent kickback:
Fatigue Many injuries occur because the operator got tired or withstood long periods of saw vibration. Take frequent breaks. Felling, Limbing, and Bucking Cutting down large trees is not simple and should be left to experienced operators who have felled trees before. Limbing requires proper position and consideration of kickback potential, the springing back of branches, and the chance the log will roll. Bucking (cutting a log into lengths) requires knowing how to block the log to prevent binding, kickback, and rolling. If you are not familiar with these operations, get more information from your owner's manual, a saw dealer, a book or video, or from an experienced operator. |
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Fire Hazard from Filling Portable Gas Cans in Pickup Trucks and Cars |
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Source: DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-111 In recent incidents reported to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), fires spontaneously ignited when workers or others attempted to fill portable gasoline containers (gas cans) in the backs of pickup trucks equipped with plastic bed liners or in cars with carpeted surfaces. Serious skin burns and other injuries resulted. Similar incidents in the last few years have resulted in warning bulletins from several private and government organizations. These fires result from the buildup of static electricity. The insulating effect of the bed liner or carpet prevents the static charge generated by gasoline flowing into the container or other sources from grounding. The discharge of this buildup to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle may cause a spark and ignite the gasoline. Both ungrounded metal (most hazardous) and plastic gas containers have been involved in these incidents. TIPS: |
See this webpage for more details: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hid2.html |
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Source:
West Virginia University Extension Service
Each year many serious accidents occur while mowing the lawn. These accidents result in costly medical expenses or property damage. You should be familiar with your lawn mower in order to obtain the best results, have a neat appearing lawn, and prevent accidents. Here are suggestions to aid you in safely carrying out this necessary task:
Refueling and Starting the Lawn Mower
Mowing Precautions
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Source:
PURDUE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE Fred Whitford, Coordinator,
Purdue Pesticide Programs Think Before Using Pesticides Pesticides should
be your last defense against pests!
Better to be safe
than sorry!
Don’t let a
child become a poisoning statistic!
Reading and
Understanding the Pesticide Label Questions
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's National Home and Garden Pesticide Use
Survey provides meaningful insights into how consumers deal with pest
problems, how they manage pesticide products, and to what extent safety
precautions are followed when using, storing, and disposing of pesticides in
and around the home. The summary of this survey clearly points out a
critical need for each of us to increase our safety awareness for
purchasing, applying, storing, and disposing of pesticide products.
Pesticides and the Home, Lawn, and Garden, is designed to help the homeowner
become more knowledgeable about using pesticides effectively and with
greater safety to the applicator, family members, pets, wildlife, and the
environment. Consider a broader
definition of "pesticide." A pesticide is any
product that makes a claim to kill or repel pests. Pests include plants or
animals that carry disease, damage our landscapes and gardens, or become a
nuisance and detract from the quality of life. Some examples of pests
include insects, rodents, slugs, birds, rabbits, weeds or brush, mildew,
molds, bacteria, and viruses. Did you know that
pesticides not only include typical insect and weed sprays but also bleach,
toilet bowl cleaners, disinfectants, humidifier tablets, insect repellents,
indoor air foggers, flea collars and shampoos, and many cleaning products
normally used in the home? To determine whether or not a product is a
pesticide, look for the EPA registration number (e.g., EPA Reg. No.
3120-280) on the container; the number automatically identifies the product
as a pesticide. The first set of numbers (3120) identifies the specific
registrant (manufacturer), while the second set of numbers (280) identifies
the specific product; this information might become crucial in the case of a
problem with the product. The EPA registration number assigned to a product
signifies to the user that all federal requirements for testing have been
met and that all of the instructions, directions, and precautions associated
with the pesticide collectively comprise the pesticide label and become
legal requirements with which the user must fully comply. Pesticide products
generally are recognized by their advertised brand names, such as Ortho Rose
and Floral Dust“, Fertilome Sevin“, D-Con Kills Rats“, and Hi Yield
Diazinon“. You should know that every pesticide label must list the total
amount of active ingredient (the actual compound that kills or repels the
target pest) in the product. The ingredient statement is clearly marked and
easily identifiable on the front of the pesticide label. Labels provide most of the information necessary to answer questions on pesticide application, safety, storage, and disposal. Becoming familiar with the types of information on a typical pesticide label will help improve your understanding of the product. Once you understand how a pesticide label is organized, it takes only a few minutes to read all of the information found on most pesticide products. When you have doubts about the interpretation of information contained on the label, contact your local county Extension educator or professionals who can assist you in pest identification; suggest appropriate control tactics; and make recommendations about products, rates, and application methods. Most labels can be divided into three types of information: product, safety, and use. Definitions: Active ingredient.
The chemical component of a pesticide formulation that is toxic to the pest. Brand name.
The name by which a pesticide is marketed. Environmental
toxicity statement. Precautions for protecting the environment. EPA establishment
number. Identifies the manufacturing location. EPA registration
number. Number that is assigned to a particular registrant’s product. Inert ingredients.
Carriers which are not toxic to the target pest. Practical
treatment. How to respond to a human exposure emergency. Protective
clothing. The minimum safety equipment that must be worn. Re-entry
statement. Precautions about re-entering treated areas. Route of entry.
Site where pesticides might enter the human body: mouth, skin, eyes, lungs. Signal words. Indicate
acute toxicity to humans: Danger means highly toxic; warning means
moderately toxic; caution means slightly toxic. Specific action.
Look for the words do not or avoid. Use inconsistent
with the label. It is a violation of federal law to use any pesticide
product in a manner inconsistent with its label. Use includes everything
from purchase to the disposal of the container. The label is the
law! Pesticide Safety
Is Your Responsibility Questions
Pesticide data
submitted by manufacturers undergoes intensive review by EPA similar to the
Federal Food and Drug Administration review of human medicines. EPA
registration numbers are assigned to labels only after each product's active
ingredient has been put “under the microscope” and only after scientific
tests have been reviewed. The pesticide label is extremely important because
this is where we, the users, find specific instructions for using the
product safely. Pesticides are developed by manufacturers, registered with
the EPA, and marketed and sold to the public with the assumption that users
will comply with label directions. A point that can never be overemphasized:
Reading, understanding, and strictly adhering to label instructions will
allow for effective pest control without negative health or environmental
consequences. Follow safety
precautions when handling pesticides. Most pesticides that
homeowners use contain very specific instructions for reducing exposure
(e.g., avoid contact with eyes or skin); and most labels state the types of
clothing that must be worn during the handling, mixing, and application
processes. Protective equipment requirements differ from product to product;
for instance, whether the product comes ready-to-use or as a concentrate
that requires mixing influences the protective clothing requirement
assigned. The potential health hazards and the precautions necessary to
prevent health injuries differ dramatically between those two types of
products. Ready-to-use sprays
and baits are accurately mixed and packaged by the manufacturer to ensure
the proper diluted concentration. As such, these diluted products pose very
little, if any, risk to the user, provided the products are used according
to label directions. Some products are
packaged so that the user handles and mixes a concentrated form of the
pesticide. Improper mixing, storage, and disposal of a concentrated
pesticide constitutes misuse which can pose serious risks to people, pets,
or wildlife. A long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, and chemical resistant
gloves are minimal requirements for reducing exposure to pesticide
concentrates or sprays. By covering hands, forearms, and legs, the dermal
exposure potential can be reduced by 95 percent. Additionally, it is a good
idea to always wear safety glasses when handling pesticides because of the
corrosive nature of many of these materials. With your next pesticide
purchase, remember to ask the salesperson for chemical resistant gloves and
glasses if required by the label. Only by reading the label will you know
whether additional protective clothing is needed to adequately safeguard
yourself against exposure. The procedures are
simple, and the effects of taking safety precautions pay big dividends in
protecting you and your home environment. Any pesticide can pose serious
risks to people, pets, or wildlife if not used properly, in a manner
consistent with its label. Know how to handle
pesticide-contaminated clothing. Always assume that
clothing worn while working with pesticides has been contaminated. It should
be laundered separately after each use: Never launder pesticide-contaminated
clothing with the family wash. The longer pesticide-contaminated clothing
remains unwashed, the more difficult it is to remove the pesticide. It is
best to presoak contaminated clothing in hot water containing a heavy-duty
detergent. Start the wash cycle after the presoak water has been drained.
Clean the washing machine immediately after the wash cycle by running a
complete cycle of new water and detergent through it. Line drying is
preferable to machine drying, as it eliminates the potential for dryer
contamination. Prevent accidental
poisoning by practicing common sense. All pesticide labels
must have KEEP PESTICIDES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN marked clearly on the
container. Yet nearly half of all households with children under five years
of age have at least one pesticide in an unlocked cabinet within their
reach. The kitchen, bathroom, and basement are more likely to house
unsecured pesticides than any other areas. Children who had easy access to
these materials became part of an unfortunate statistic reported by the
Indiana Poison Center. Take the time to properly safeguard your home. Never transfer any
pesticide to soft drink bottles, milk cartons, or other pesticide
containers. The pesticide label printed on or attached to the original
container is the only sure source to identify a pesticide product quickly
during a medical emergency. The time you take in keeping pesticides properly
secured in original containers—with labels attached—might save someone
from needless suffering. The best method to
avoid accidental exposure is to strictly follow all precautionary statements
on the pesticide label. The pesticide label always contains first aid
information for use if an accidental pesticide exposure occurs; if you
encounter such a situation, quickly follow those guidelines. List emergency
phone numbers on page 12 for use if more help is needed, and have the
pesticide label in front of you for locating answers to questions you may be
asked about the product. KEEP PESTICIDES
OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Understanding
Pesticide Disposal Questions
The amount of time
committed to pest control in and around the home often governs the kinds and
amounts of pesticides homeowners should purchase. Buying more than is needed
often results in storage and disposal problems associated with leftover
pesticides. For instance, yard enthusiasts get much satisfaction from the
aesthetic beauty of a well-maintained landscape around their property. These
individuals will devote considerable time looking for early signs of pests
in their lawns, vegetable gardens, shrubs, and flowers. Such enthusiasts
seldom accumulate unused pesticides because of their experience in knowing
which pests to expect in a typical year, which products have worked in the
past, and how much of a given product they will need. Those who are less
experienced often allow surplus pesticides to accumulate around the home.
Pesticides often are relegated to storage shelves because they are difficult
to mix and apply, because they are not suitable for the task at hand, or
because too much product was purchased. When pesticide use is a necessity,
purchase ready-to-use products or concentrates that can be used up within a
short period of time. Reduce pesticide
disposal through smart buying. Most homeowners
purchase pesticides with the intent of using them within a reasonable time
period. However, surveys have shown that 25 percent of all home-stored
pesticides remain on the shelf or under the kitchen sink, unused, for over a
year. This ultimately can cause problems. Exposure of products to hot and
cold temperatures is a problem associated with leftover pesticides. Most
labels stipulate that the product be protected from freezing
temperatures—a goal seldom achieved if products are stored in the garage.
When pesticide products are exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations,
their effectiveness is greatly reduced. Do not store concentrated or
ready-to-use pesticides for prolonged periods. Dispose of
pesticides in an environmentally friendly manner. Unfortunately, some
households dispose of leftover pesticide products by dumping them in the
household trash or pouring them into the sink, toilet, street, gutter, or
sewer, or onto the ground. Such disposal "sites" are unacceptable.
Household pesticide product labels generally will indicate that partially
filled containers may be wrapped in several layers of newspaper and
discarded in the outdoor trash. But for many people this disposal option is
neither acceptable nor environmentally sound. Unused pesticides are best
disposed of by using the products on the sites indicated on the label.
Additionally, discard empty containers in the household trash so that they
are not reused.One should consider the potential disposal of a pesticide
prior to purchasing it. Do your part in protecting yourself, your family
members, and the environment. Be a responsible pesticide user. Choosing a
Professional Lawn Care or Pest Control Service Many people, because
they lack either the confidence or the time to read and execute label
directions properly, choose a commercial business to manage their lawns,
shrubs, and home pests. Remember, you are hiring a service because of its
professional knowledge relative to controlling pests—which may involve
some applications of pesticides. Selecting the best and most professional
pest control service requires more than asking about price. Implement the
following suggestions before you select a pest control company.
Additional
Pesticide Information for the Home Provided below is a
list of reference materials and telephone numbers that will assist you in
answering questions that may arise during the purchase, use, storage, and
disposal of pesticides in and around the home. Always remember that the safe
use of pesticides is dependent upon reading the pesticide label,
understanding the information, and precisely following all directions. Telephone Numbers
Purdue University
Cooperative Extension Service Publications and Videotape Publication listings
and the video listed below are available at the county offices of the Purdue
University Cooperative Extension Service and at the Media Distribution
Center; call toll free, (888) 398-4636.
Emergency Phone
Numbers Copy and Post
Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the following Extension educators for their contributions and review of this manuscript: J. Lynn Addison (Hendricks Co.), Roy Ballard (Floyd Co.), Rick Chase (Johnson Co.), Mike Ferree (Henry Co.), Dick Hayworth (retired, Allen Co.), Carl Hylton (Rush Co.), and Victor Virgil (Kosciusko Co.). Dave Huth and Tracy Walder from Bennett's Greenhouse and Larry Colthrap from the SOLARIS Group provided valuable suggestions for improving earlier drafts of the manuscript. The mention of proprietary products does not constitute an endorsement by Purdue University. Reviewed 4/01 |
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Source: Chimney Safety Institute of America To aid in the
prevention of chimney fires and carbon monoxide intrusion and to
help keep woodburning fireplaces and wood stoves functioning
properly, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) offers the
following safety tips for new and returning wood burners: |
Hospital
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Landscape
Landscaping
Lawns
Shrubs
Trees
Hardscape |
