The ANSI Standard – Operation and Maintenance

OSHA regulations set out where eyewash stations should be and when they are required; they do not provide operating requirements. However, some state-level health and safety regulations specifically incorporate the ANSI standard and so make the provisions of the standard a regulatory requirement.

Operation

The ANSI standard for emergency eyewash stations include:

The eyewash equipment should be located in an area that requires no more than 10 seconds-while walking-to reach the station and on the same level (floor) as the area where the hazardous chemicals are handled. (Note: For particularly harsh acids or caustics, it is prudent to locate the station even closer to the area where these chemicals are used. Also, if you have multiple areas in your facility where corrosive substances are handled, you will need to ensure that the travel distance is less than 10 seconds from each area. If not, you will need to utilize multiple stations.)

The eyewash nozzles need to be positioned between 33 and 45 inches from the floor and 6 inches from the wall or nearest obstruction. (Eyewashes are used while someone is bent over, hence, the ANSI height and head space requirement. One of the best ways to be sure that you are providing sufficient space for someone to use an eyewash is to do a “dry test run” by actually over it and putting your eyes near the nozzles. Also, make sure that there is sufficient room to the sides and the front of the eyewash to ensure that use of the eyewash is not impeded.)

Portable (sometimes called “self-contained” or “gravity feed”) eyewashes should deliver a minimum flow of 0.4 gallons per minute (gpm) and hard-piped eyewashes should provide 3 gpm, both for a continuous period of at least 15 minutes. (Remember that the pressure of the water coming out of the eyewash nozzle needs to be correct-not too high, which may injure someone’s eyes, and not too low, which may cause the nozzles to simply dribble water out rather than provide a stream that will flush someone’s eyes.).

Eyewashes need to activate immediately (within 1 second or less), have a stay-open valve to allow for hands-free operation, and flush both eyes simultaneously.

Eyewash flushing nozzles should be protected (i.e., capped or covered) from airborne contaminants. (Airborne contaminants include dust and bacteria. When someone’s eyes have been injured, the last thing you want to do is douse them with dirt and bacteria!)

Water to the eyewash should be potable (i.e., drinkable) and water temperature should be moderate (60-80oF).

Adequate floor drainage or water collection must be provided for hard-piped emergency eyewash stations to prevent floor slip/fall hazard during testing or emergency use.

The eyewash is to be located in an area that is well-lit and identified with a sign.

Maintenance and Training

Plumbed eyewash stations should be activated weekly to ensure that they work properly. Weekly activation not only verifies that the unit works properly but also prevents the buildup of rust, sediment, and other contaminants in the water in the piping to the eyewash. Gravity-feed units do not have to be activated weekly-but do need to be maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Eyewash stations should be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition (Generally, this can be done simply by wiping the eyewash with a clean, damp cloth. Cleaning the eyewash with polishes, detergents, or other cleaners can leave a residue that can end up in a user’s eyes.).

Access to the eyewash should be maintained clear from obstruction.

All eyewash equipment should be inspected annually to make sure it meets ANSI requirements.

All employees who might be exposed to a chemical splash should be trained in the location and use of the equipment. (When an eye injury occurs as the result of a chemical splash, time is of the essence-the longer the chemical remains on the eye, the greater the damage done to the eye-knowing where the eyewash is and how to properly use it in an emergency can mean the difference between a minor eye injury and blindness.)

Author’s Note: This article also published here.

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Rathi Niyogi is the CEO of CriticalTool, a national distributor of eye wash stations and other eye wash products. If you thought this article was helpful, additional information on chemical resistant gloves can be found at different types of eye wash stations can be found here http://www.criticaltool.com/types-of-eye-wash-stations.html

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Losing Weight – The Addiction of Comfort Food

Its very name is appealing – comfort food. What could be more wonderful than a food that helps us feel better? Almost everyone can name something that they eat when they’re just feeling sour or sad. Chinese take-out, chocolate cake, raspberry ice cream, banana pancakes and many others make the list.

Of course, we know that food can’t be the solution to our problems, especially the problem of trying to lose weight and keep it off. So why do we find ourselves trapped in the eat/feel better/feel worse/eat some more cycle?

The Basics

The fact of the matter is that all food makes us feel good. Our bodies are still stuck in the prehistoric period where food was scarce, so we naturally desire to binge until we feel full. Our bodies encourage this by making feeling full a pleasant feeling, and being hungry as unpleasant as possible.

Human psychology takes this a bit further, because we’ve added our emotions into the mix. In addition to our bodies’ natural tendencies to want to eat and feel satisfied, we have mental needs as well. Notice that our workday is very closely married to our eating schedule: We have all the stresses of work lasting all day long, and what do we do when we get breaks? We have lunch, or when we go home we have dinner. Thus the two main periods of the day when we feel relaxed, we eat. This creates a mental association in our head that eating feels good when we feel bad.

The Cycle

It’s easy to see how this can lead to cyclic behavior. We get into a habit, day in and day out, of eating when we’re just getting ready to relax. Once we’ve associated the two for more than thirty days or so, we do it automatically.

Then, something particularly bad happens, and we just feel awful, so we reach for a food that we know makes us feel particularly fine. This is why so many comfort foods are decadent treats; we want to make ourselves happier than usual and we want to feel like we’re “treating” ourselves because we’ve earned it after a hard day.

Then, a few hours later, we feel guilty about the cake we binged on, and this makes us nervous and upset, and since we’re programming ourselves to feel hungry when we’re upset… well, we all know what comes next.

The Interrupt

The first part of breaking a bad habit is to stop the repetition of it as a reflex. Remember to use the STOP method as a verbal way of getting control of yourself. Say “stop” aloud. Take a break from the thing stressing you out. Own your outcome: Remind yourself what you’re trying to achieve. Praise yourself for what you’ve accomplished so far.

Using index cards, write down suggestions for your break that have nothing to do with food. Perhaps a quick round of solitaire on the computer, or a brief read of a favorite chapter of a book will help. Alternatively you could put on some quiet music if it’s convenient to do so.

The Substitution

Part two of healthy habit building is the substitution of good habits for bad ones. We’ve already interrupted the reflexive snacking that we reach for, now it’s time to put something definitively in its place.

Write down some of your favorite substitutions on the same index cards that you used for break ideas. Remember how we discussed water as part of a way of controlling appetite? It can have the same benefit here. If you feel reflexively hungry for comfort food, have a nice tall glass of water in slow, steady sips over five minutes. This will give you the feeling of being full without the calories.

Consider tying each substitution you make to a certain emotion. We feel upset in specific ways, so we should have specific solutions rather than general ones. If getting shouted at unexpectedly makes you antsy, consider taking a quick walk to burn some of the energy. If something comes up that makes you feel sad, pick an activity you know makes you cheerful.

If we simply rely on general solutions, they won’t feel as meaningful or helpful. Specific ones that we use in exact circumstances have the power to create more of a connection, and thus become more of a habit.

This is a necessary step because it’s hard to use the method of “same time every day” to build this habit, as we don’t always know when we’re going to want comfort food. But the fact that familiarity builds repetition can be used to our advantage with a little creative thinking.

Get Support

Remember that we haven’t gone into this effort alone. We have support groups we can talk to. If comfort eating is becoming a challenge to your efforts to lose weight, tell your support buddy about it. Ask them for help in coming up with the creative substitutions that will keep you from overeating. Ask them if they mind being a comfort-friend in addition to a support partner, and if they can come with you on impromptu excursions to relax instead of comfort eating.

Author’s Note: Article published here.

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Larry Tobin is the co-creator of http://www.HabitChanger.com/, offering effective and empowering solutions for stopping stress. Try our 42-day program that will help you learn proactive habits to beat stress and keep you moving forward in the right direction.

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Choosing Rainwear

Rainwear does more than simply keep out rain or snow, it protects from wind, cold, and chemical splashes. Your choice of rainwear depends on the expected weather, the expected temperatures, your planned activities, and your budget. Rainwear materials and designs greatly affect the performance you can expect. There are three major types of rainwear:

Water-Resistant / Breathable

Waterproof / Breathable

Waterproof / Nonbreathable

Water-Resistant / Breathable

Water-resistant/breathable rainwear repels wind and light precipitation while providing excellent breathability to keep you cool when your body heats up. It relies on durable water repellent (DWR) finishes applied by the manufacturer. It tends to be lighter, less bulky, and less expensive than other rainwear. It is generally not adequately weatherproof to protect you in harsh conditions or during extended periods of rain. It is appropriate for mild weather, light precipitation, and high activity levels. It is not appropriate as industrial safety equipment where protection from extreme weather or chemicals is needed.

Waterproof / Breathable

Waterproof/breathable rainwear provides an excellent choice for a wide range of weather conditions and activities. The combination of breathability and moisture protection through DWR finishes means that you can use a single piece of gear in both warm and cold conditions. The exact performance that you realize from waterproof/breathable rainwear depends on the fabrics used, Gore-Tex being a well-known example, and your activity level. Because water vapor (i.e., sweat) is able to escape through the fabric, the rainwear provides the best combination of repelling the elements while allowing you to stay comfortable as you work. Waterproof/breathable garments are generally not appropriate safety equipment for industrial applications.

Waterproof / Nonbreathable

Waterproof/nonbreathable rainwear provides impermeable protection from the elements, wind, and chemical splashes; the greatest range of applications from lightweight disposable protection to durable protection designed for adverse conditions. Unlike DWR-dependent rainwear, nonbreathable rainwear is most commonly protected using PVC coatings that provide protection against chemical spills, durability, and, in some cases, flame retardant properties. Others are protected using neoprene to provide chemical resistance not found in PVC and improved comfort. Waterproof/nonbreathable rainwear offers cost-effective, durable protection suitable to most industrial applications.

Features to Consider

Hoods: Hoods provide protection for the head and neck. Permanently attached hoods offer the best protection against leaks. Hoods that can be rolled up or folded away when not in use are less bulky. Elastic cords with toggles that allow adjustment of the hood around your face offer better comfort and visibility. Some hoods may also have stiffened visors or brims that can be shaped to fit. Detachable hoods also offer great protection against the elements and provide the benefit that they can be completely removed when not needed.

Pockets: Pockets allow essential gear to be carried and easy to reach, including special pockets for identification or badges. Pockets can also increase the weight of the shell. Pockets should be easily accessible, easy to open and close, and well protected against leaks.

Vents: Vents enhance the garment’s ability to breath no matter what type of fabric is used in its construction. Larger vents provide improved airflow but increase the risk of leaks. Common vents include underarm, side, and back vents. Cape ventilated backs provide improved breathability and comfort.

Split Back / Inner Leg Snaps: Split backs and / or inner leg snaps enable longer coats to be used similar to chaps, retaining protection while providing increased mobility where needed.

Closures: Closures around the neck, ankles, and front of raingear present a potential for leaking. Zippers should be covered by storm flaps, fabric strips that protect against leaks. Other alternatives include Velcro closures that create a watertight seal around openings, inner sleeves with elastic closures, and take up snaps.

Reflective Stripes: Reflective jackets and tape stripes improve visibility and safety in low-light or dangerous conditions.

Rainwear Care

Rainwear that is dependent on a DWR finish applied by the fabric manufacturer should always be maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Over time, the DWR finish will begin to wear and the shell will begin “wetting out” in the rain. This means that some of the rain is soaking into the material, rather than beading up and rolling off. Wetting out causes the shell to become heavier and reduces breathability. When wetting out is observed, the DWR should be renewed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Rainwear made from materials such as neoprene can often be repaired when leaking occurs. Always follow manufacturer’s recommendations for repair of small tears and seams.

Also published here.

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Rathi Niyogi is the CEO of CriticalTool, a national distributor of safety vests and other reflective apparel. If you thought this article was helpful, information on the basics of Reflective Clothing including Rainwear and ANSI standards can be found here http://www.criticaltool.com/high-visibility-reflective-clothing-the-basics.html

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Understanding the Roles of Respite Caregivers for Seniors

Caregivers for seniors are typically paid providers but they may also be volunteers from a government or nonprofit organization. Where care is being provided in the home there is often a mix of formal and informal care provided.

And the trend is towards using more formal care since, unlike the past, more informal respite caregivers are employed. They choose to remain employed but must juggle limited time between caregiving and maintaining a household and a job. These added responsibilities often make it necessary to hire non-medical home care aides to provide supervision and help when the primary caregiver cannot be present.

Or as adult day services become more common, caregivers may pay for this form of formal caregiving to get rest or to allow for maintaining some employment. When care is no longer possible in the home, then formal caregivers come into play on a full-time basis.

This may be in the form of a congregate living arrangement, assisted living, home nursing agency, a continuing care retirement community or a nursing home. It is at this point that long term care can have a significant impact on the finances of the care recipient and a healthy spouse living at home.

Care facilities are quite expensive and the cost for maintaining a spouse in such a living arrangement may rob a healthy spouse at home of an adequate standard of living. It’s quite possible the healthy spouse may end up with food stamps and subsidized housing where, before the need for a care facility, this may not have been the case.

Or it is more often the case that the couple recognizes this dilemma of splitting living arrangements in two locations and an attempt will be made to keep the spouse needing care at home as long as possible.

This may help with the finances but often results in destroying the physical and emotional health of the caregiver by creating a situation where the caregiver has difficulty coping with the responsibilities and physical demands. Another reality of providing informal care services in the home is the increasing need for physical and emotional support that often goes unrecognized until too late.

As care needs increase, both in the number of hours required and in the number or intensity of activities requiring help, there is a greater need for the services of formal caregivers.

Unfortunately, many informal caregivers become so focused on their task they don’t realize they are getting in over their heads and they have reached the point where some or complete formal caregiving is necessary. Or the informal caregiver may recognize the need for paid, professional help but does not know where to get the money to pay for it.

Other members of the family should be aware of this burden and be prepared to step in and help their loved one who is providing care recognize the possibility of becoming overloaded.

It is also the job of a care manager or a financial adviser or an attorney to recognize this need with the client caregiver and provide the necessary counsel to protect the caregiver from overload. The advisor can also likely find a source for paying for formal care that the caregiver may not be aware of.

An overloaded caregiver is likely to develop depression and/or physical ailments and could end up needing long term care as well. The consequences of not being able to cope with the burden of caregiving might even result in an early death for the caregiver.

Editor’s Note: This article published here.

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Bob Fischer serves as a resource for respite caregivers and gives insights into ethical home nursing agency services. Learn more at: http://www.communitycarehhs.com/

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