June 23, 2023
This month, we have good reason to celebrate safety. Continuum Services has prioritized safety, hiring a team from Huntington Insurance to help create safety programs for all our divisions, as well as REDICO and American House properties. For Continuum, the results have been impressive, with a 36% decrease in our incident rate in 2022.
Ryan Daniel, Huntington Insurance Loss Control Consultant, and Account Manager, Ben Osborne, along with our 12-person safety committee and executive team and division leaders, initiated over 20 safety programs. These programs raise the standards of our motor fleet policy, electrical, fall protection, fire prevention, hot work programs, ladder program, lifting and rigging, personal protective equipment and more. An important aspect of the safety initiative is risk assessment and compliance. This involves regular ride-arounds and site visits to identify safety hazards and risks at the properties we serve.
While safety is a key issue at the corporate level, home safety comes to the forefront with nicer weather and an increase in home projects. Continuum’s COO, Ted Spicer, encourages practical safety in all aspects of the business and at home.
Here are some valuable home safety tips:
Stay hydrated – On warm days, you may get dehydrated without noticing it, especially if you are engrossed in a project or exercise. Take frequent water breaks and continue drinking, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Wear quality safety glasses – About half of the 2.5 million eye injuries that occur in the United States each year happen while working on DIY home projects.
Be smart about ladders – Use caution and keep in mind these tips:
• Lock A-frame ladders in the open position
• Situate ladders on stable, level surfaces
• Never step on the top two rungs of a ladder
• Lean ladders against vertical surfaces with a one-foot spread at the base for every four feet of height
• Never use aluminum ladders near utility poles or around electrical wires
• Never place a ladder in front of an unlocked door that swings toward it
When climbing a ladder, utilize Three Points-of-Contact. During ascent, descent and working, the climber must face the ladder and have two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, in contact with the ladder steps, rungs and/or side rails…at all times!
Wear a dust mask or respirator – Check reference documentation for tools and materials to ensure you’re using the correct protection over nose/mouth.
Be careful around gas and electricity – If you do not know the basic safety points of working with gas or electricity, hire a professional.
Dress with safety in mind – Tie your hair back, wear smart work shoes, and check for jewelry, long sleeves, and dangling clothing.
Avoid chainsaw kickback – If you have an old chainsaw, get a replacement chain for it. If you’re in the market for a new chainsaw, look for one with added safety features.
Here is a list of projects that are best left to the pros:
• Plumbing work
• Electrical work
• HVAC systems
• Roofing repairs
• Window replacements
“The future of the safety movement is not so much dependent upon the invention of safety devices, as on the improvement of methods of educating people to the ideal of caution and safety.”
– Walter Dill Scott
Sources:
“Top 10 DIY Safety Tips,” Howstuffworks.com
“Playing it Safe,” Huntington Insurance
