Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder - California State Compensation

Making California Workplaces Safer
Safety News
N e w s
A b o u t
O c c u p a t i o n a l
Issue One 2012
In This Issue
Feature Articles
Post–Traumatic
Stress Disorder
DOL Withdraws
Proposed Rule on
Youth Farm Workers
Did You Know?
The Trouble with
Trendy Diets
From Our Expert
Preventing Contact
Dermatitis
Safety Meeting
Topic
Safe Harvesting
Reporting
Work–Related
Injuries
S a f e t y
a n d
H e a l t h
i n
AGRICULTURE
Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder
I
magine you are a warehouse worker
returning to work after witnessing a worker
being run over by a forklift just a few days prior.
Or that you are a farm worker who witnessed a
close coworker being crushed when his tractor
overturned.
Whenever an accident occurs on the job,
there is the potential for a serious injury – not
just physically, but also mentally. Witnessing
a coworker experience a serious workplace
injury such as a fall, burn, or fatality can
cause the effects of traumatic stress. Typically
symptoms associated with traumatic stress
involve irritability, difficulty in concentrating or
constantly feeling on edge.
“According to the American
Psychiatric Association, about
8 percent of the general
population suffers from PTSD
in their lifetime.”
These symptoms may be a normal response
for someone who has witnessed a traumatic
event. However, if they continue beyond 30
days, they may become a condition known as
Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Workers
afflicted from this disorder may experience
difficulty readjusting to their personal and
work lives. They may even lose their jobs as a
result, or have trouble adjusting to new jobs.
Most people are not aware that Post–Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) can happen to anyone.
According to the American Psychiatric
Association, about eight percent of the general
population suffers from PTSD in their lifetime.
Women are twice as likely to be victims as men.
Workers who suffer from PTSD may relive the
traumatic event in the form of flashbacks or
intrusive recollections. The trigger could be
a sight, sound, smell, voice, or even a sudden
movement.
Feelings of numbness
and isolation may be
displayed by people
who suffer from
PTSD. They may avoid
seeking the help they
need to be able to
continue their everyday
activities. Employers
and employees alike
must understand the
necessity of offering
support to someone who is suffering from
PTSD. Early intervention is important.
Having a plan in place should a traumatic
event occur can help mitigate or even prevent
PTSD. Employers should partner with an
organization that provides crisis intervention
services. These organizations can dispatch
trained professionals to help employers restore
health and productivity to their workforce
after a traumatic event. Supervisors should
review company policies and know how to
deal with employees who have had a traumatic
experience on the job.
Special considerations can be made by an
employer if an employee is having a hard time
working. If a farm worker is having difficulties
working around livestock after witnessing a
colleague sustain an injury involving livestock,
they could be shifted to work in planting and
harvesting operations, after being properly
trained of course.
Employers should also contact organizations
that provide crisis intervention services.
These organizations can provide qualified
professionals to assist employers in restoring
wellbeing and productivity to the workforce.
For more information on PTSD, including a list
of trauma support groups, refer to:
http://www.nsc.org/safetyhealth/
Pages/1211Easingtheburden.aspx
Safety News
State Compensation Insurance Fund
Issue One
2012
DOL Withdraws Proposed Rule on Youth Farm Workers
Washington – Following intense criticism
from the agricultural community and antiregulation advocates, the Department
of Labor withdrew a proposed rule
that would have placed certain labor
restrictions on children working on farms.
The proposal would have revised child
labor regulations to prohibit minors
younger than 16 from operating most
power-driven equipment or being
involved in the storing, marketing
and transporting of farm-product raw
materials.
When the proposal was issued last
September, labor officials said the rule –
which would not have applied to children
working on their parents’ farms – was
warranted given the high rate of young
worker deaths in the agriculture industry.
In an April 26 statement, Secretary of
Labor Hilda L. Solis said her department
was withdrawing the rule out of concerns
for how it might affect small family-owned
farms, which often employ youths who are
not immediate family members.
The American Farm Bureau Federation
called DOL’s withdrawal the “right decision,”
stating the rule would have prevented
many young adults from working in the
agriculture industry. Sen. Jerry Moran
(R-KS), who late last year began calling
for DOL to withdraw the rule, similarly
applauded the department’s decision.
“If this proposal had gone into effect, not
only would the shrinking rural workforce
have been further reduced and our nation’s
youth deprived of valuable career training
opportunities, but a way of life would have
begun to disappear,” Moran said.
Instead, Solis said, DOL and the
Department of Agriculture will work with
rural stakeholders to develop an education
program aimed at promoting safe work
practices among youths in agriculture.
An average of 113 people younger than
20 die from farm-related injuries each
year, according to the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Youth workers 15-17 years old have more
than 4 times the risk of dying on the job in
the agricultural industry than the average
15- to 17-year-old worker, DOL said in
the proposed rule, citing Bureau of Labor
Statistics figures.
Reprinted from Safety+Health magazine,
Vol. 185, No. 6. ©2012 National Safety
Council.
Did You Know?
The Trouble with Trendy Diets
E
very day it seems a new diet fad
becomes the rage.
These trendy diets often place an emphasis
on certain food types and as a result limit
your nutritional intake. Not to mention they
have a tendency to fail over the long term.
The key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle
is balance—from the foods you eat, to the
beverages you consume and your amount
of daily physical activity.
For health conscious eating, consider
including a variety of nutritional foods that
include:
• Fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Low fat or fat free milk products
• Lean meats such as poultry and fish
• Beans, eggs and nuts
• Foods low in saturated fats, trans-fats,
cholesterol, salt, and added sugars
The amount of physical activity needed
varies from person to person. Here are some
general guidelines:
To maintain weight: Work your way up to
150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic
activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity
aerobic activity, or an equivalent mix of the
two each week.
To lose weight: A high amount of physical
activity is necessary unless you adjust your
diet and reduce the amount of calories
you’re eating and drinking. The total
number of calories burned varies depending
on your age, gender, height, weight, and
level of physical activity. For estimated
calorie needs, refer to table 2–3 from the
2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
dga2010/DietaryGuidelines2010.pdf
Keeping fit involves healthy eating coupled
with regular physical activity.
For more information, refer to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/index.html
Safety News
State Compensation Insurance Fund
Issue One
2012
From Our Expert
Preventing Contact Dermatitis
C
ontact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin, and a
common occupational disease that affects workers across
a wide range of occupations and industries. Cases of contact
dermatitis can vary from mild to severe and result in lost time or
even disability. Symptoms may include:
• Itching
• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Blistering
Identifying a problem is the first step towards prevention.
Employers should conduct a job hazard analysis and review
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to determine where skin
contact with potentially irritating and sensitizing agents may
occur. Once a hazard is identified, control measures need to be
implemented.
Eliminating contact with skin damaging agents is the most
effective way to prevent contact dermatitis. Whenever possible,
use less hazardous substances, make changes to a process or
procedure to eliminate or minimize contact, and implement
engineering controls, such as ventilation.
• Dry,flakingandcrackingskin
Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is the result of contact with
substances irritating to the skin. Particularly irritating substances
may have an immediate effect. Other substances may have an
effect only after repeated or prolonged exposures. ICD can result
from exposure to chemicals, weak cleaning agents, detergents, and
even water.
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) occurs when a sensitized
individual has dermal contact with a skin allergen. A worker may
not be allergic to the substance initially, but over time, repeated
exposures can cause sensitization. Once sensitized, even a small
exposure can cause a reaction.
Contact dermatitis can result from immersing hands in chemicals,
splashes to the skin, touching contaminated surfaces or rags, and
skin contact with mists or dusts. Contact with certain plants, food
substances, and woods can cause dermatitis.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be necessary. PPE may
include gloves and other protective clothing, safety glasses or
goggles, and face shields. Be sure to select the proper PPE. Gloves,
for example, must be resistant to the substance(s) of concern and
not introduce a hazard themselves. Some chemicals used in glove
manufacturing can cause ACD, and latex glove use can result in
latex allergy. Gloves are available that reduce these risks.
As part of an employer’s Hazard Communication Program,
employees must be trained in the dermal hazards of the
substances they work with and steps the employer has
implemented to protect workers. Employees must also be trained
in the proper use and care of PPE.
Employees experiencing symptoms of occupational dermatitis
should inform their employer and seek the advice of a medical
professional. For a list of some occupations at risk and substances
that can cause ICD and ACD, visit http://www.ccohs.ca/
oshanswers/diseases/.
Beth Mohr, Ph.D., CIH is a Certified Industrial Hygienist at State Fund.
Safety News
State Compensation Insurance Fund
Safety Meeting Topic
Safe Harvesting
H
arvest time means more workers and
equipment working under a more
constrained schedule, so the potential for
accidents and injuries increases. Employers
and workers can optimize safety during this
period by inspecting the worksite, training
employees, and maintaining equipment
before the harvest work begins.
Conduct worksite inspections of
maintenance sheds and fields. Hazards
should be corrected or communicated to
workers. Inspections also help to identify
worker training and Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) needs that should be
completed before harvest begins.
Training before harvest prepares workers to
safely operate and maintain the equipment
they use. Workers should be instructed
on the specific hazards associated with
their harvest machinery. Caught and
crush (entanglement) injuries should be
emphasized so workers take precautions to
avoid them.
Workers must receive training on the use
and maintenance of the necessary PPE for
harvesting:
• Work boots
• Gloves
• Coveralls
• Hard hats
• Eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Respiratory protection
To prepare workers for field safety, they
need training on first aid, sun protection,
heat/cold stress, and the bugs and animals
they may encounter. Ergonomic safety
and procedures should be emphasized
to eliminate strains and sprains. Workers
should get as much sleep as possible and
avoid alcohol and stimulants that could
impair judgment and reaction times.
“Training before harvest
prepares workers to safely
operate and maintain the
equipment they use.”
Harvesting equipment should NOT be used
unless it is in proper working condition
and should be lockedout/blockedout
during maintenance or repair. Never clean,
maintain, adjust, or clear jams on equipment
that is operating or powered. Secure hair
and clothing to avoid entanglement.
Workers should stay clear of discharge
spouts, fans, conveyors, and other moving
equipment parts to avoid projectile injuries. Instruct workers not to walk or stand
between harvesting machines because the
operator often has a limited line of sight.
Harvest work often occurs in the dark before
dawn and after sunset. Additional lighting
may be required to allow for the safe
movement of workers and machinery.
Preparing equipment prior to harvest
ensures that it is in good shape for the heavy
workload. It should be inspected for proper
guarding, and all worn parts should be
repaired or replaced. Keeping extra parts on
hand during harvest allows quick equipment
repairs so employees are less likely to “make
do” with broken machinery.
Issue One 2012
Topic Review
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Date _______________________________
Location ___________________________
Attended by
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Safety Recommendations
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Reporting Work–Related Injuries
State Fund’s Customer Service Center 888-STATEFUND (888-782-8338) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for policyholders to report injuries as soon as they occur.
Agents will do the necessary paperwork to get the claim started and refer the injured worker to the designated physician or provider.
Within eight hours of any serious illness or injury (requiring hospitalization over 24 hours, other than for medical observation or where there is permanent employee
disfiguration) or death occurring in the workplace or in connection with employment, employers must report the incident to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Safety News
State Compensation Insurance Fund
Temas de Seguridad
Cosecha Segura
L
a temporada de cosecha significa más
trabajadores y equipos trabajando
con un horario más restringido, así que la
probabilidad de accidentes y lesiones también
aumenta. Los empleadores y los trabajadores
pueden optimizar la seguridad durante este
período mediante la inspección del sitio de
trabajo, la capacitación de los empleados y
el mantenimiento del equipo antes de que
comience el trabajo de la cosecha.
capacitación sobre primeros auxilios, protección
solar, prevención del estrés debido al frío/calor
y precauciones contra los insectos y animales
que ellos puedan encontrar. Debe destacarse la
seguridad y los procedimientos ergonómicos
a fin de eliminar los esguinces y las torceduras.
Los trabajadores deben dormir tanto como sea
posible y evitar el alcohol y los estimulantes que
puedan afectarles el buen juicio y los tiempos de
reacción.
Lleve a cabo inspecciones del sitio de trabajo
en los cobertizos de mantenimiento y en los
campos. Se debe corregir o comunicar a los
trabajadores cualquier condición de riesgo.
Además, las inspecciones ayudan a identificar las
necesidades de capacitación de los trabajadores
y de Equipo de Protección Personal (PPE) que se
deben satisfacer antes del inicio de la cosecha.
NO se debe utilizar equipos de recolección
de cosechas a menos que estén en buenas
condiciones de funcionamiento y se recomienda
cerrar con candado y bloquear dichos equipos
durante el mantenimiento o reparación.
Nunca limpie, dé mantenimiento, ajuste
ni despeje atascamientos en equipos que
estén funcionando o energizados. Sujétese
el cabello y la ropa para evitar que se enrede.
Los trabajadores deben permanecer alejados
de tubos de descarga, ventiladores, cintas
transportadoras y otras piezas de equipo en
movimiento para evitar lesiones por proyectiles.
Instruya a los trabajadores a no caminar
ni permanecer de pie entre las máquinas
recolectoras de cosechas ya que el operador a
menudo tiene una línea de visibilidad limitada.
El trabajo de recolección de cosechas ocurre a
menudo antes de la salida del sol y después de la
puesta del sol. Quizá sea necesaria la iluminación
adicional para permitir el movimiento seguro de
los trabajadores y la maquinaria.
La capacitación previa a la cosecha prepara a los
trabajadores para operar y dar mantenimiento
de manera segura a los equipos que ellos
utilizarán. Los trabajadores deben recibir
instrucción sobre los riesgos específicos
relacionados con su maquinaria para recolección
de cosechas. Se debe destacar el riesgo de
lesiones por atoramiento y aplastamiento (que
atrapado) para que los trabajadores tomen
precauciones y las eviten.
Los trabajadores deben recibir capacitación
sobre el uso y mantenimiento del equipo PPE
para la cosecha:
• Botas de trabajo
• Guantes
• Overoles
• Cascos de seguridad
• Protección ocular
• Protección auditiva
• Protección respiratoria
Para preparar a los trabajadores para la
seguridad en el campo ellos necesitan
La preparación de los equipos antes de la
cosecha asegura que estos estén en buen estado
de funcionamiento para el gran volumen de
trabajo. Se recomienda inspeccionarlos para
verificar que tengan las protecciones adecuadas
y se debe reparar o reemplazar todas las partes
gastadas. Mantener a la mano repuestos
adicionales durante la cosecha permite realizar
reparaciones rápidas de los equipos para que
los empleados tengan menos probabilidades de
“ingeniárselas” con maquinaria descompuesta.
Issue One 2012
Revisión Del Tema
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Recomendaciones de seguridad
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This Agriculture Safety News is produced by the Corporate Communications Department of State Fund to assist clients in their loss control efforts. Information or recommendations contained in this
publication were obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the date of publication. Information is only advisory and does not presume to be exhaustive or inclusive of all workplace hazards or
situations. Permission to reprint articles subject to approval by State Compensation Insurance Fund.
Published by State Compensation Insurance Fund’s Corporate Communications Department. © State Compensation Insurance Fund 2012