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Safety and Health Information for Wisconsin Employers & Organizations |
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 Summer is a time for fun and festivities: ballgames, barbecues, parades and of course fireworks.
Even if fireworks are legal in your area, they are not safe in the hands of amateurs. The National Safety Council advises everyone to safely enjoy fireworks at public events conducted by professionals, and not use fireworks at home.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission 2021 Annual Fireworks Report (cpsc.gov) there were an estimated 11,500 injuries related to fireworks that required emergency room related medical treatment. Between 2020 and 2021 there was a 26% decrease in emergency treatment for injuries related to fireworks. This may be attributed to people returning to reopened public firework displays post-covid. In a special study done by the CPSC in 2021 they concluded that of 8,500 firework-related injuries sustained, young adults ages 20-24 and children ages 5-9 had the highest rates of firework-related emergency care. While most of these incidents were due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade or other illegal fireworks an estimated 1,500 emergency department-treated injuries were associated with firecrackers.
Even sparklers can pose a risk, especially to children; in the same CPSC study, sparklers caused 1,100 children to seek emergency treatment. Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt some metals and can quickly ignite clothing. Children have also received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 13% of firework injury emergency room visits. Consider using safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers, colored streamers or red, white and blue silly string for Children's enjoyment.
Before considering using fireworks, check local laws and fire bans. The National Safety Council also offers the following safety tips for enjoying fireworks:
- Stay at least 20 feet away from the fireworks.
- Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks.
- Soak spent fireworks in water for at least 30 minutes before disposing of them.
- Never point or throw fireworks at other people.
- Be aware of your surroundings and avoid setting off fireworks near dry vegetation or other potential fire hazards.
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As summer progresses, outdoor activities increase. Whether you are working or spending free time with the family outdoors be sure to protect yourself from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Unprotected exposure to UV rays can cause damage to the skin and eyes. It is important to protect your skin from UV damage throughout the year.
The sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and can reflect off water, snow, sand, and cement. Sun Safety | Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends you protect yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen, and wearing hats, sunglasses, protective clothing, and by seeking shade.
Additional UV Safety resources can be accessed at:
As we move into the heart of summer, and prime vacation time, heat safety is even more important.
Although Heat Safety was highlighted in last month's E-Newsletter, its getting hotter and temperatures are not relenting as we move into the peak summer months. OSHA reminds employers and workers not to ignore the dangers of working in hot weather, indoors and out. OSHA continues their Heat Awareness National Emphasis Program (NEP) to protect millions of workers from heat illness and injuries; NEP - Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards (osha.gov)
Education about heat safety can mean the difference between ending the workday safely or suffering serious injuries. Here are some useful heat awareness resources:
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Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled for July 9-15, 2023
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA), Operation Safe Driver Week is a safe-driving awareness and outreach initiative aimed at improving the driving behaviors of passenger vehicle drivers and commercial motor vehicle drivers through educational and traffic enforcement strategies, as well as interactions with law enforcement.
Throughout Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel will be on the lookout for commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in risky driving behaviors. Identified unsafe drivers will be pulled over and issued a citation or warning.
By making contact with drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel aim to make our roadways safer by targeting high-risk driving behaviors such as: speeding, distracted driving, and seatbelt wearing.
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July is also Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. Don’t let your summer vacation plans be spoiled by being a victim of crime. In 2022, more than 1 million vehicles were stolen in the United States, which is approximately a motor vehicle stolen every 32 seconds.
Summer is the worst season for vehicle theft. To help drivers keep their vehicles safe, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Theft Prevention Campaign provides useful fact, videos, and tips.
Use common-sense when parking and exiting your vehicle:
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Take your vehicle's key; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
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Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
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Park in well-lit areas if possible.
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Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.
August's edition will focus on OSHA's annual 'Safe + Sound Campaign' For those wishing to get a head start on the Safe + Sound campaign can find details on OSHA's website. August will also feature pedestrian safety, including National Safety Council's related "Stop on Red" and "Back to School" campaigns to draw awareness and prevent the running of red lights.
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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 online.
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