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April 2022 • Safety & Health Information for Wisconsin Employers & Organizations |
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National Stand-up for Grain Safety Week runs from April 4-8, 2022. Every year hundreds of farm and agriculture industry-related employees are injured or die from preventable hazards while working in grain storage and handling activities. Safety doesn’t need to be big to be effective. Commit to safety this year by making small changes in the workplace or how tasks are performed to make a positive safety impact.
Grain entrapment incidents decreased slightly in 2020 as reported by Purdue University's Agriculture Safety & Health Program. Of 35 grain entrapments, 20 died. The numbers were down a few (~8%) from 2019, but 2020's incidents still exceed the industry's five-year average. Illinois led the nation in 2020 grain entrapments (fatal and not) with 10 (most recent BLS statistics available).
Agriculture and ag cooperative employers, ag extension educators and agents, and ag industry rural safety and health professionals are encouraged to actively participate in the OSHA and Grain Industry Alliance's annual National Stand-up for Grain Safety Week, being held the first full week of April this year - April 4 to April 8, 2022. OSHA and Grain Industry Alliance members will conduct free daily grain handling safety webinars and provide a summary of the planned webinar topics details, along with free supporting educational resource materials, on their Stand-up for Grain Safety Week website. You also can register with OSHA to receive the free daily webinar links of interest.
April 4 to April 8, 2022
- April 4: Grain Safety Week Kickoff
- April 5: Electrical Safety
- April 6: Stress & Weather Related Hazards
- April 7: Personnel Protective Equip (PPE)
- April 8: STFs – Crush, Struck By Hazards
The Grain Industry Alliance is a coordinated effort to raise awareness and provide grain handling safety resources and training. The Alliance is comprised of the following organizations:
- OSHA
- National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA)
- Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS)
- Grain Handling Safety Council (GHSC)
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Wisconsin's annual statewide Tornado–Severe Thunderstorms & Lighting Emergency Alert System (EAS) live code test, triggered by the National Weather Service, is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, April 7. The EAS live code "test" is designed to trigger National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather alert radios and the Wisconsin broadcast television and radio network's severe weather alert stations.
At 1:45pm and 6:45pm on Thursday, April 7, anyone near a NOAA – EAS device set up to receive those alerts should see or hear a message advising them of the drill. Many communities also participate by sounding their community's outdoor warning sirens during the EAS drill times.
During the severe weather alert drill, everyone in the state is encouraged to discuss and practice their plans on what to do during a tornado warning. For many people, this includes going to their designated tornado shelter, whether they are at school, work, or home. Additional details can be accessed through your local emergency response agencies or the National Weather Service website. Wisconsin Emergency Management also has information about Severe Weather Awareness Week.
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Road and construction traffic pose an obvious and well-recognized hazard to highway/road construction work zone workers. Nationally, 2019 saw 762 work zone crashes, resulting in 842 fatalities. Wisconsin saw 19 crashes and 21 fatalities. More statistics are available from the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.
April is also National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). This year's observance is planned for the week of April 11-15, 2022. The NWZAW is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. The key message is for drivers to slow down, practice defensive driving, and use extra caution in work zones.
Additional work zone safety information and resources can be accessed at the American Traffic Safety Services Association and National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.
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Distracted driving is a major cause of work zone and all traffic accidents/fatalities. The National Safety Council estimates over 46,000 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2021, a 9% increase over 2020 and up 18% compared to 2019. Our roadways continue to pose some of the biggest risks we face each day, whether we are driving, riding, or simply walking across the street. Wisconsin saw 601 motor vehicle fatalities in 2021, a 1% increase over 2020 and a 10% increase since 2019.
Motor vehicle safety is one of the most important aspects of roadway safety as millions of workers use motor vehicles to commute to, or as part of their daily jobs. In 2019, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of work-related deaths in the U.S. at 40%, according to federal data. This 40% Motor Vehicle Occupational Fatalities figure has remained consistent since the late 1980s, signifying we all still have work to do on safe driving.
Additional safe driving information and resources are available at the following organizations:
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April 28 serves to recognize Workers Memorial Day to honor the victims of workplace injury and illness deaths, and to keep the promise of safe jobs for all workers. Watch for your local OSHA area office, labor organizations, and various safety organizations for promotions recognizing this ongoing annual Workers Memorial Day observance.
April 28, 2021, marked the 50-year anniversary of the signing of the Federal OSHA Act into law on April 28, 1971.
As a look ahead, the first week in May is traditionally the OSHA Fall Prevention Campaign, with this year's campaign to be observed May 2-6, 2022. Information about National Stand Down activities is available on the OSHA website.
Other observances in May include National Electric Safety (NEC) month and Police/EMS/Trauma weeks. Additionally, May is safe boating/water safety month with the onset of summer recreational water activities picking up. More information to follow!
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Dave Leix is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Safety & Risk Manager for the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) – Worker's Compensation Division. Dave brings over 40 years of professional safety and health (EHS) consulting and managerial experience to a wide variety of customers and clients. Read more about Dave on the DWD website.
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