The news you don't want to miss

Your October News and Updates

A Network to Educate, Empower and Prevent

Our Mission: To promote well being and injury prevention by offering informational and educational opportunities to both the private and public sectors within the community.

In cooperation with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC)

Visit our website

This Month's Program

Virtual Safety Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at noon

Steve Waltman

Fire Safety Educator

Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal

Fire!!!!! Oh, Wait, Not Another Drill....

The first, and most important reason for a fire drill is the experience it gives. It’s vital that everyone in the building knows and understands the evacuation plan, so in the event of a real emergency, they know which staircase to take, where the fire exits are located, where the assembly point is and most importantly – that there is no need to panic.

Your staff should undergo sufficient fire awareness training to prepare them for an emergency and ensure they have all the information they need to respond appropriately to a fire drill or real situation.

This presentation will cover:

What to do in the event of a fire
Why fire drills are important
How to plan, practice and review fire drills
Fire tips and resources available to stay safe at work and at home

Steve Waltman is a fire safety educator with the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal. He has been with the State Fire Marshal’s Office for 20 years. Prior to that he was a Fire Fighter EMT. He is qualified in critical incident stress debriefing.

Steve received his fire certifications from National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and The Ohio Fire Academy Reynoldsburg, Ohio. He holds the following certifications: EMT, Firefighter 1 & 2, Haz-Mat Technician, CISD, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Instructor, Grandpa.

Sponsor

PROTECTING LIFE &

PROPERTY SINCE 1946

Cari's Safety Corner

Q: Since we have employees working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, do I need to be concerned about their computer workstation set-up?

A: Yes, it is important to include home-based employees into your office ergonomic program. Employees can experience discomfort from improper computer workstation set-up both in the workplace and at home. If employees are experiencing discomfort such as neck, back, shoulder, or wrist pain during the workday, adjustments need to be made before it becomes chronic and develops into a Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD). According to 2020 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, tasks that cause workplace MSDs are in the top 10 causes of disabling workplace injuries costing U.S. businesses $20 billion dollars. To help prevent MSD injuries for the home-based office employee, BWC published a YouTube video to improve employee’s comfort utilizing common household items. Click on the following link to view, BWC home office set-up.

If you would like additional resources or to request a virtual office ergonomic assessment, please contact your local BWC Ergonomist or request their service on-line at BWC Safety and Health Consulting Request. Essentially, their consultations are free to use since your BWC premiums include their services.

Cari Gray is an Industrial Safety Consultant Specialist with the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC)

Wellness

Go Take a Hike!

Still trying to beat cabin fever? There are a lot of health benefits to being outdoors, and in particular, in the current environment where a lot of people are under a lot of stress.

There's also still plenty of time to participate in SCSC's fun and easy Fall Wellness Challenge - Go Take A Hike! Our challenge parallels Summit Metro Parks' Fall Hiking Spree.

Get the details of the Fall Hiking Spree and the Go Take a Hike! Challenge and hit the trails today!

The 5 W’s of the 2020 Flu Season: Who, What, When, Where & Why

From Total Wellness

As the cooler weather starts to come around, so does the 2020 flu season.

Add the COVID-19 pandemic on top of it, and this flu season could be a challenging one for workplaces and healthcare facilities alike.

This year, health officials are urging individuals to get their flu shots not only to stay healthy, but to also minimize the burden on healthcare systems.

Flu season starts in October and Peaks in December through February. Since it can last through May, It's important to know what to expect, who may be the most impacted, and why the flu shot can keep communities safer this flu season. Here's the Who, What, When, Where and Why to Know.

Who Needs a Flu Shot?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends anyone six months and older get a flu shot evey season.

What's the Difference Between the Flu and COVID-19?

While symptoms may be similar - like a sore throat and cough - the biggest difference many notice includes change in or loss of taste or smell when it comes to COVID-19 symptoms.

When Do I Need a Flu Shot?

September and October are the best times to get vaccinated. As long as the flu viruses are circulating, receiving a vaccine at any point in the season can help prevent the flu.

Where Can I Get a Flu Shot?

You can get a flu shot from a variety of healthcare facilities including physicians' offices, pharmacies, workplace programs and walk-in flu shot clinics.

Why Do I Need One Again This Year?

As the strains of the virus changes year to year, scientists adapt the vaccine to closely match the current viruses circulating. Plus, immunity wears off over time.

Hot Topics

Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!™

October is Fire Prevention Month! The goal of Fire Prevention Month (and week October 4^th – 10^th ) is to raise fire safety awareness, and help ensure your home and family has a plan and is ready for the unexpected. This year's theme is Serve Up Fire Safety In the Kitchen!™ Learn more

Ohio Department of Health’s COVID-19 website

The Ohio Department of health has developed a COVID-19 website that includes updates, prevention tips, resources for health-care workers, and much more all in one location.

BWC Services Catalog

BWC's Division of Safety & Hygiene Safety Services Catalog lists the safety services and programs available to employers. These services and programs are available at no additional cost since they're available to you as part of your workers' compensation premium.

In addition to describing the safety services and programs available, the catalog contains detailed descriptions of all safety-related course offerings, and also lists and describes safety-related DVDs and streaming videos.

BWC Class Information:

BWC’s Division of Safety and Hygiene (DSH) has canceled all in-person classes through March 31, 2021.

Please consider virtual or online course options available

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions(BWC)

Updated 9/22/20

‌

NEW! - BWC Virtual Classes

BWC FY 21 Online Courses and Webinars

BWC October Webinars

BWC Learning Center

BWC Library Safety Newsletters

BWC Blog

Sponsor a Virtual Safety Council Meeting

Summit County Safety Council is offering virtual sponsorships for the FY 21 Program Year through June, 2021. This is a great way to highlight your company's safety/employment related services. The average attendance at these virtual meetings is 60-100.

A $50.00 sponsorship includes your corporate logo in our newsletter (as above), 5 minutes of business related virtual commercial time and an opportunity to give away promotional items.

Interested in sponsoring a meeting? Have questions or need more information? Call Sally Cox at 330-806-1676 or email summitcountysafetycouncil@gmail.com .