North Dakota receives $2 million in transportation safety grants

Washington – More than $2 million in federal grants will be allocated to improve commercial truck and bus safety in North Dakota, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Aug. 30.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation was awarded $349,131 to implement a statewide electronic commercial driver's license testing system. Additionally, the North Dakota Highway Patrol was awarded more than $1.9 million to conduct compliance reviews, safety audits and inspections throughout the state, including at ports of entry and remote border locations.

"These grants will help our North Dakota law enforcement partners save lives and ensure commercial carriers and drivers are operating in full compliance with federal safety regulations," Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said.

OSHA UPDATE

OSHA revises General Industry guidelines to improve worker training program
New documents released by OSHA and effective April 1, 2011, include Program Requirements and separate Industry Procedures for Construction, General Industry, Maritime, and Disaster Site Worker.

Another change affecting OSHA courses involves a $5 increase in fees. As a result of the Outreach Training Institute implementing a new policy for processing card requests, the NDSC will be increasing the rate for OSHA courses effective October 1, 2011. Click here to read the full article.

Key Safety Tips for Flood Recovery

This summer, communities all across North Dakota were faced with some of the worst flooding seen in decades. Volunteers and community members worked hard to protect homes, neighborhoods and their cities. Now, as the waters recede, families and communities begin to tackle the cleanup phase.

The North Dakota Safety Council offers the following safety tips to help keep you healthy and injury free during your recovery efforts:

Precautions When Returning Home:

· Electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks should be shut off. Try to return home during the daytime so you don't have to use lights.

·         If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all windows and leave the house immediately. Notify the gas company or police and do not turn on the lights or do anything that could cause a spark.

·         Be aware that flood water may contain sewage. Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles during cleanup.

·         Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.

·         Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected.

Preventing Heat-Related Illness:

· Wear a wide-brimmed hat to keep your head and face cool. Hat should protect the neck, face and ears.

· Wear a long-sleeved shirt at all times. It should be light colored and loose fitting except when working around machinery.

· Carry a source of water with you. Take drinks frequently - every 15 minutes.

· Take frequent breaks in the shade or in a cool environment.

· Someone suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke should be moved to a cool environment, offered sips of water, if conscious, and provided with attention from emergency medical personnel.

Preventing Back Pain:

· Size up the load before you lift.

· Bend the knees – this is the single most important aspect of lifting properly.

· Place your feet close to the object and center yourself over the load.

· Get a good hand hold.

· Lift straight up, smoothly, and let your legs do the work, not your back.

· Do not twist or turn your body once you have made the lift.

· Make sure you have a clear path (beforehand) to carry the load.

· Always push, not pull, the load when it’s on a cart or dolly.

Click here for more safety information from the Center for Disease Control and National Safety Council:

· Overexertion

· Lifting & Carrying Safely Tip Sheet

· Signs, Symptoms & Treatment of Heat Stroke/Heat Exhaustion

· Preventing Slips, Trips & Falls

· Flood Water after a Disaster or Emergency

· Flood Recovery Safety Tips

· Ladder Safety

· After a Flood: Returning to Your Home

Safe Kids ND Working to
Eliminate "Forgotten Child" Deaths

Safe Kids North Dakota, North Dakota Safety Council, the General Motors Foundation and its partners are launching an education and awareness program to help reduce the number of child deaths in vehicles caused by heat stroke. 49 children died from heat stroke while unattended in vehicles in 2010 - the worst year on record. Regrettably, the first heartbreak of 2011 occurred March 8th when a mother unintentionally left her child in the car and went to work. This very unfortunate event is avoidable and there are ways to prevent this from happening.

The "Never Leave Your Child Alone in a Car" program will educate parents and caregivers on prevention strategies to address the dangers to children in vehicles. Safe Kids ND and the NDSC offer these safety tips to help prevent these horrible tragedies:

Take Immediate Action. The body temperature of a child rises 3 - 5 times faster than adults, and as a result, is much more vulnerable to heat stroke.

Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble.

Lock Cars and Trucks. Thirty percent of the recorded heat stroke deaths in the U.S. occur because a child was playing in an unattended vehicle. Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child goes missing.

Create Reminders. Many child heat stroke deaths occur because parents and caregivers become distracted and exit their vehicle without their child. To help prevent these tragedies parents can:

Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag or something that is needed at your next stop on the floor in front of a child in a backseat. This will help you see your child when you open the rear door and reach for your belongings.
Set the alarm on your cell phone/smartphone as a reminder to you to drop your child off at day care.
Set your computer calendar program to ask, "Did you drop off at daycare today?"
Establish a plan with your daycare that if your child fails to arrive within an agreed upon time that you will be called within a few minutes.
Be especially mindful of your child if you change your routine for daycare.

To download a safety tip flyer to share with family, friends and co-workers, click here. For more information on preventing child heat stroke deaths, please visit www.ggweather.com/heat and www.safekids.org/nlyca.

To request free safety tip flyers, call Serena Schmit at 701-873-2224 or SerenaS@ndsc.org.

2011 Safety Month Materials Still Available

Even though Safety Month 2011 has passed, the importance of safety still remains! NDSC has all the tools you need to make an impact at your business. Whether you want to revitalize your safety program, start up a new safety program or encourage your employees to take safety home, there's never a better time to start than now.

Download the NDSC's Weekly Tools by clicking the headings below. Use the materials in your safety meetings, roll them out to your staff, and bring the tips home to your families.

PREVENTING OVEREXERTION
TEEN DRIVING SAFETY
PREVENTING SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS
Now would be a great time to take a First Aid class and equip your company with an AED. Click here for more details.
ON THE ROAD, OFF THE PHONE

MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS
As Members of the NDSC, you have access to even more exciting resources to help you take safety to a new level at your company! View your exclusive downloads in the NDSC Members-Only Area! Log on now to learn more!

State Farm Insurance Gives NDSC
$10,000 Teen Driver Safety Grant

Check Presentation National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) is the third week of October and is meant to bring attention to the number one killer of American teens - car crashes. During this week, all Americans are encouraged to focus on changing risky teen driving behaviors and help save lives. The North Dakota Safety Council (NDSC) and State Farm Insurance work toward this life saving goal every day. State Farm Insurance awarded NDSC a teen driver training Good Neighbor Citizenship grant in the amount of $10,000 for the organizations' 'Alive at 25' program.

The theme of this year's NTDSW is reducing distractions. Distractions, including friends as passengers, are the number one reason new drivers crash. Because motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for teens, State Farm and NDSC are focused on proactively working toward reducing the number of teen fatalities in North Dakota.

The NDSC and State Farm Insurance encourage you to get involved during NTDSW to help reduce the chance of a teen fatality occurring in your community. State Farm's training grant will assist the NDSC in offering 'Alive at 25' courses statewide to inexperienced drivers ages 14-24. 'Alive at 25' teaches young adults why they are at risk, how to recognize road and driver hazards, what behaviors can lead to crashes and even death, and how to take control of their vehicle by making choices and accepting consequences. It is taught exclusively by law enforcement and trained professionals and is proven effective in reducing teen fatalities.

"We have a lot of work to do to bring the awareness level up to where it should be," says Duane Richter, North Dakota Agency Field Executive. "This is another reason why we are so proud to partner with the 'Alive at 25' program and NDSC so that together we can bring attention to the issue of teen driver safety and distracted driving."

To register for an 'Alive at 25' course in your area call the NDSC at 800-932-8890 or 701-223-6372. Click here for upcoming course dates. For more ideas on how you can participate in NTDSW, log on to www.teendriverssource.org, www.betterteendriving.com or www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.

NDSC'S Beulah Office Offers Mine Foreman Certification

The North Dakota Safety Council offers Mine Foreman Certification testing at both their Beulah and Bismarck offices. The Beulah location allows for a quicker, more convenient way for people in central and western North Dakota to complete their testing. Students may take their test, have it graded and receive their certificate all the same day.

To be a supervisor on a coal mine site, and to do an on-shift inspection, individuals must take the Mine Foreman Certification exam and pass with an 80% to be certified. To take the exam, individuals should contact the North Dakota Safety Council to set up a date and time. The exam is offered at no charge. For those who feel they need Mine Foreman Certification training prior to taking the exam, there is a course offered by the North Dakota Safety Council. Click here to find the next class in your area.

With the current status of the oil industry in the western part of the state and the large presence of power plants and coal mines in this area, the Beulah office provides an additional, convenient location for those who need training services. The new office is located at 213 Highway 49 South and is open from 8:00 am-5:00 pm MTD.

To inquire about the Mine Foreman Certification training or test, contact the NDSC at 701-223-6372 (Bismarck) or 701-873-2224 (Beulah) or by email at ndsc@ndsc.org. You can also log on to www.ndsc.org to view our online training calendar to find training dates and locations in your area.

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