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CCAP Academy for Excellence Workshops 

The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) and the CCAP Academy for Excellence in County Government is pleased to announce two workshops being held September 25 - 26 at the CCAP Office in Harrisburg and open to all county elected officials and staff.

On Thursday, September 25, join us for the "Legal Issues" session with speakers Matthew Connell and Brian Leinhauser of The MacMain Law Group, LLC. Topics of discussion include: the litigation process; legal issues facing children and youth agencies; municipal liability including civil rights and jails; and, collective bargaining units and arbitration awards. This course is scheduled from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. with lunch included. Participants in the CCAP Academy for Excellence in County Government core and Advanced Certification programs will earn credit for the Legal Issues core course upon their full participation at the event.

Friday, September 26, features the "Risk Management" session with speaker John Sallade, CRM, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs. Topics of discussion include: accident reporting; claims; governmental immunity; safety, bonding and risk management; workers' compensation; unemployment compensation; and controlling employee lawsuits. The course will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Lunch is not included. Participants in the CCAP Academy for Excellence in County Government core and Advanced Certification programs will earn credit for the Risk Management core course upon their full participation at the event.

The workshops are open to all county officials and staff. Associate members and other CCAP vendors are also invited to attend. Registered Academy and Academy Advanced Certification participants may attend at no cost. The costs for non-Academy participants (CCAP members) vary. Other fees may apply for Academy graduates, associate members and other vendors. There is a multi-day discount available. The workshop fee includes refreshment breaks, lunch on Thursday only and session materials on each day. 

Seating is limited - please review the workshop details and registration materials or contact Mandi Glantz, Director of Member and Vendor Relations, by phone (717) 526-1010 x 3339 or email mglantz@pacounties.org. 

The Bureau of Workers' Compensation Health & Safety Division will be offering FREE safety webinars in August. To register for any of the webinars just click on the link below and it will take you directly to the event homepage and a registration form. Space is limited, so if you are interested I suggest you do not delay in registering. 

• Ergonomics, Tuesday, August 5 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.  

• Fire Extinguisher Use, Wednesday, August 6 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
   
  
• The Aging Workforce, Thursday, August 7 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
  
  
• Dealing with Angry People, Wednesday, August 13 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
  
  
• Drug & Alcohol Awareness - Supervisor, Thursday, August 14 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
  
  
• Emergency Response Planning, Tuesday, August 19 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
  
  
• Fall Protection, Thursday, August 21 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
  
  
• Drug & Alcohol Awareness - Employee, Tuesday, August 26 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
  
  
• Ticks & Lyme Disease, Wednesday, August 27 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
  
  
• Safety for Supervisors, Wednesday, August 27 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
  
  
• Near Miss, Thursday, August 28 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
  
  
• Housekeeping Safety, Thursday, August 28 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

*Webinar end time may be earlier or later due to course material as well as viewer participation.

Defensive Driving Course

The Bureau of Workers' Compensation Health & Safety Division is also offering for FREE the National Safety Council's 4 hour Defensive Driving Course on Wednesday, August 7, from 1 - 5 p.m. at the PA State Fire Academy located at 1150 Riverside Drive in Lewistown. The four hour Defensive Driving Course is a fast paced, National Safety Council certified instructor led, interactive four-hour driver improvement program that also makes an ideal refresher course.

It is fairly obvious that safety and health hazards can exist on worksites filled with heavy machinery and equipment, where employees often are required to engage in strenuous manual labor. A job where most of the work tasks are completed while sitting in a chair in a climate-controlled office building would seem less fraught with danger. However, a surprising number of hazards can be present in an office setting.

Many office injuries can be prevented if employees or supervisors recognize the risks and implement simple workplace modifications to help mitigate them. Here are 25 steps office staff can take to reduce the risk of injury.

Falls

Slips, trips and falls are the most common type of office injury. Several hazards contribute to these injuries, although most can be significantly reduced, often by raising awareness among employees. 

• Stay clutter-free. Boxes, files and various items piled in walkways can create a tripping hazard. Be certain that all materials are safely stored in their proper location to prevent buildup of clutter in walkways. Further, stretching cords across walkways or under rugs creates a tripping hazard, so all cords should be properly secured and covered. 
   
• Step on up. Standing on chairs - particularly rolling office chairs - is a significant fall hazard. Employees who need to reach something at an elevated height should use a stepladder. Stepladders must be fully opened and employees should never climb higher than the step indicated as the highest safe standing level. 
   
• Maintain a clear line of vision. Employees can collide when making turns in the hallways and around blind corners or cubicle walls. Install convex mirrors at intersections to help reduce collisions. If employees can see who is coming around the corner, collisions are less likely to occur. 

• Get a grip. Carpeting and other skid resistant surfaces can serve to reduce falls. Marble or tile can become very slippery, particularly when wet. Place floor mats at entranceways where employees and visitors are likely to be coming in with shoes wet from rain or snow. 

Struck/Caught By
Another major type of injury in the office setting comes from employees being struck by or caught by an object.

• Shut the drawer. File cabinets with too many fully extended drawers could tip over if they are not secured. Additionally, open drawers on desks and file cabinets pose a tripping hazard so be sure to always completely close drawers when not in use. 
   
• Safe stacking. Large stacks of materials and heavy equipment can cause major injuries if they are knocked over. It is recommended to store heavy objects close to the floor, and the load capacity of shelves or storage units should never be exceeded.

Ergonomics Injuries
The most prevalent injuries in an office setting are related to ergonomics. Because office employees spend the bulk of their day seated at a desk and working on a computer, they are prone to strains and other injuries related to posture and repetitive movement.

• Provide adjustable equipment. One size does not fit all in an office workstation. Adjustability is the key. Chairs, work surfaces, monitor stands, etc., should all be adjustable in order to accommodate the widest range of employees. 
   
• Train employees on how to use equipment. Providing adjustable furniture and equipment is only the first step in creating an ergonomically sound workstation. Employees must be trained on both the ideal setup and how to operate adjustable equipment accordingly. 
   
• Keep your feet on the floor. Unless an employee's feet are on the floor, a chair will not be able to reduce pain and discomfort. It is recommended to use adjustable keyboard trays or rolling tables adjusted to the proper height to eliminate this problem. Although footrests are a second-best option, their small surface may impede some of the employee's movement. 
   
• Provide document holders. Frequently typing from hard copy can lead to neck strain if an employee is forced to repeatedly look down to the desk and back to the computer screen. Provide document holders to reduce this strain. Keeping reference materials close to the monitor reduces the need for your eyes to change focus as you look from the document to the monitor. 
   
• Correct mouse placement. It is recommended that the mouse always be placed beside the keyboard.

Vision Problems
Looking at a computer monitor cannot damage your eyes, however spending a large portion of your workday at the computer can cause eyestrain. A few work area adjustments can help alleviate some of these issues. 

• Dim the lights and use task lamps. Florescent lights often are too bright for optimal vision. Light that is at about half-normal office levels is preferred. This can be achieved by removing some bulbs from overhead fixtures. If more light is needed for a particular task it is recommended providing individual task lamps.
   
• Correctly position monitors. Employees should place their computer monitors slightly below eye level and 20-26 inches from their eyes. Screens that can tilt or swivel are especially beneficial. 
   
• Minimize screen glare. To minimize eye strain, avoid positioning monitors opposite open windows, or be sure to always close shades or blinds. A glare reduction filter also can be used.
   
• Increase font size on computer. Small font sizes on the computer can strain both your vision and your neck, as employees tend to pull the head forward to view smaller print. A simple adjustment to the font size on the computer screen can eliminate the need for this. 
   
• Take a break. Giving your eyes a rest and allowing them to focus on things at varying distances can help reduce strain and fatigue. Employees need to take a 10 minute break for every hour spent on the computer. These breaks can include working on tasks that require their eyes to focus on objects at a further range.

Fire Safety
Routine inspections around the office can help reduce the likelihood of a devastating fire.

• Maintain cords in good repair. Damaged and ungrounded electrical cords pose a serious fire hazard. Cords should be inspected regularly for wear and taken out of service if they are frayed or have exposed wire. Further, cords should never be used if the third prong has been damaged or removed. Make sure cords are not overloading outlets. The most common causes of fires started by extension cords are improper use and overloading. Extension cords should be only used temporarily to connect one device at a time.
   
• Inspect space heaters. If employees are allowed to use space heaters, verify the devices are approved for commercial use and have a switch that automatically shuts off the heater if the heater is tipped over. Make sure space heaters are not powered through an extension cord or placed near combustible materials such as paper.
   
• Never block fire sprinklers. Furniture and tall stacks of materials can block the range of fire sprinklers reducing their effectiveness in the event of an emergency. Objects should never be placed higher than 18 inches below sprinkler heads to allow a full range of coverage. 
   
• Do not block escape routes or prop open fire doors. Items never should be stored along an emergency exit route. These paths should remain free of clutter. Fire doors should not be held open by unapproved means (such as with a garbage can or chair), as this creates a significant fire hazard.

Administrative Controls
In addition to employee training and improved equipment, certain administrative controls can aid hazard recognition and the elimination of potentially dangerous situations. 

• Conduct Walk Through. Periodically walking around the office can help with hazard recognition. 
   
• Monitor signs of musculoskeletal disorders. Recognizing the symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders can alert employees of the need to make an ergonomics alteration to their workstation. 
   
• Talk to employees about their concerns. Simply asking employees how they are feeling can go a long way toward recognizing hazards. Employers need to take advantage of the cases where employees are experiencing symptoms like discomfort and fatigue early on, when quick, inexpensive interventions can usually solve the problem.
   
• Establish employee reporting systems. Establishing an employee reporting system can be the best way for organizations to get a handle on potential hazards before they cause injury. Consider creating an anonymous reporting process that encourages employees to come forward with their concerns.

For assistance or more information regarding Recognizing Hidden Dangers-Steps to a Safer Office, contact the CCAP's Loss Control department at (800) 895-9039; or email us at:

Maureen McMahon, CPS, ARM, Loss Control Specialist
Andrew Smith, Loss Control Specialist

Dennis Cutler, CHSM, Loss Control Specialist

Gary Nicholson, CHSP, Loss Control Services Manager

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