No Brainer - $75 chainsaw chaps versus $200 to $3000 for stitches

While on vacation in Maine, I went to the lumberjack show in Trenton with my wife and kids. At this point, you are probably asking what does a lumberjack show have to do with ergonomics and safety. Well, a lot. As Timber Tina directed the lumberjacks through the show, she explained the equipment that the lumberjacks use for competition as well as what actual everyday lumberjacks and tree guys use to do their job. A lot of interesting information about all sorts of cool equipment was presented with the requisite "oohs and ahhs" from the guys in the crowd.

But in all of the this, the thing that really stuck with me was as the lumberjacks were getting ready to do the hot chainsaw event, they put on a pair of orange chaps before starting their saws. The chaps were simple and quickly went on (a buckle at the waist and one behind each knee). I was amazed because in all of my years of landscaping, we routinely used the chainsaws in shorts and boots - and in all of the times that we have been out with public works, I've never seen any of the public works guys put on a pair of chaps before starting up the chainsaws. It's such a quick task that can prevent a lot of issues and they don't cost much. When I came back from vacation and was speaking with my co-workers, I saw on google that the chaps run between $75 and $150 dollars. Pretty inexpensive, especially when they can be used for more than one employee. And even cheaper when you compare it to the cost of the visit to the ER to stitch up a laceration, which can run between $200 and $3,000 not counting the cost of antibiotics and tetanus shots. It prevents things like what happened in the following photo to a friend of mine.

About 30 seconds worth of time to put on $75 chainsaw chaps could have prevented this injury.

Beer safety

Surprisingly, beer and safety have a lot in common.

A friend of mine, Chris LaPierre who is a brewmaster at Iron Hill Brewery, shared this post from Solemn Oath Brewer's blog that talks about both safety and the dangers inherent in brewing beer. It's both humorous (sometimes, going for the funny is the best way to make sure people pay attention) and serious at the same time. As in most manufacturing industries, there are many dangers present due to the chemicals and compounds used as well as the dangers associated with powered equipment and equipment that contains compounds under pressure.

I think that the following paragraph from the blog applies to not just to breweries but to all industries.

"While breweries are businesses that have to turn a profit, there’s absolutely no justification for the loss of life or limb to save a few bucks, grow faster, make your job easier, or even to make better beer. Making great beer will keep the customers coming back, keep the lights on, and pay the employees, but a single accident could cost all of that–and much more. Because the costs are so high, it is a brewery’s first obligation to protect its employees, contractors, and customers from physical harm. Large breweries have had fully staffed and compliant safety programs in place for years, while small start-ups often don’t have the time or resources to spare to make their operations as safe as they could be."

The size of your company or how long you have been in business is not an excuse to skip basic safety operations and making sure that you do the things necessary to make sure that you stay safe.

If you have a manufacturing area or an area that handles hazardous materials, do all of your employees understand the following:

• What hazardous materials may be located within your building
• Where are these materials located
• Equipment that may be hazardous if operated outside of recommended operating values
• Location of shutoff switches for gas, electric, etc.
• Emergency exit plans from all locations in your building
• Do the office staff understand safe walking areas in manufacturing or shipping areas in your facility

The other point that I like at the end of the blog is something that all job seekers should keep in mind if interviewing for positions at manufacturing facilities - ask what safety precautions are in place. If you don't get a solid answer, you might want to rethink working there.

Just a quick note, when you click the link to Solemn Oath's blog, you will be asked to click yes to being 21 in order to read the blog. It is only used to allow you to access the page.