Download What is Your UV: IQ?

Summer 2014 • Number 70
What is Your UV: IQ?
Many of us spend the better part of the year looking
forward to the summer months. The sunny weather inspires
vacation plans, outdoor activities, summer festivals and trips
to the pool or beach. With so many activities packed in, it’s
easy to overlook things. One of the most important things to
remember when planning to be outside in the summer is how
to protect yourself from ultraviolet (UV) rays.
July is UV Safety Month. As we enjoy the beautiful
summertime weather, we need to keep in mind several issues
about the effects of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. We need
sunshine. It helps with our body’s production of Vitamin D and has been tied to issues of depression
in some people who don’t get enough. However,
overexposure to the sun can lead to a variety of
health risks. You may be surprised about some of
the specific dangers of sun exposure and how
you can protect yourself.
There are two main types of UV
light, UVA and UVB. UVB is what
gives you your sunburn and is
responsible for some types of
skin cancers. UVA rays are the
ones that can make the
skin leathery and
wrinkly in appearance and these also
can contribute to certain skin cancers. (An easy way to
remember: “A” is for aging and “B” is for burning). Both
types are harmful to you in different ways.
UV light can be harmful to the skin as many of us know
who have been badly sunburned. However, it can also be
very bad for our eyes. Eye structures such as the cornea,
retina, and lens are damaged from UV radiation, so protecting your eyes is vital.
posure. Studies show that exposure to bright sunlight may
increase the risk of developing cataracts and age-related
macular degeneration, both leading causes of vision loss
among older adults. UV exposure, wind, and dust can also
cause apterygial, benign growths on the eye’s surface. The
more exposure to bright light, the greater the chance of developing these eye conditions.
In addition to the damage caused by a lifetime of exposure to bright sun, you need to protect your eyes from acute
damage caused by outings on very bright days. Excessive
exposure to ultraviolet light reflected off sand,
snow, water, or pavement can damage the cornea,
the eye’s surface. Such exposure can even occur
if the sky is overcast and cloudy.
“Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime
during the year, not just in the
summertime,” said Richard
Bensinger, MD, a comprehensive ophthalmologist in Seattle,
Wash. “Although July is designated as UV Safety Month, you
should protect your eyes from damage all year long.”
Generally, UV light is at
the greatest level at midday
(10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), but
you need to protect your eyes whenever you’re outside for a prolonged period, even when it’s
gray and overcast. Your eyes can be harmed by UV light
sources other than the sun, such as welding lamps or tanning
lights. So remember to wear eye protection when using these
sources of invisible, high-energy UV rays.
The most important thing you can do to protect your
eyes is wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet rays.
• Do not be deceived by color or cost. The ability to block
UV light is not dependent on the darkness of the lens or
UV & Your Eyes
the price tag.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds
• Make sure your sunglasses block 99 percent or 100 perAmericans of the importance of protecting their eyes from
cent of UV-A rays and UV-B rays.
the sun’s harmful rays by wearing sunglasses and wide• Ideally, your sunglasses should wrap all the way around
brimmed hats. One of the greatest threats to your eyes is
to your temples, so the sun’s rays cannot enter from the
invisible UV light. Long-term exposure to invisible ultraside.
violet radiation can damage our eyes and lead to vision loss.
• In addition to your sunglasses, wear a broad-rimmed hat
Everyone is at risk, especially children.
to protect your eyes.
Like your skin, your eyes never recover from UV ex(Continued on Page 3)
Summer 2014
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Page 1
Three Point Technique
700 SW Jackson • Suite 200
Topeka, Kansas 66603
Toll Free 1-877-357-1069
www.kworcc.com
CLAIMS REPORTING
For assistance with on-the-job
injuries, contact IMA at 1-800-3338913. Questions on claims should be
directed to Marla Dipman. All correspondence, bills or other documentation for your claims can be mailed
to Marla’s attention at:PO Box 2992,
Wichita, Kansas 67226.
TRUSTEES
Jim Wise, President
Miami County Commissioner
201 S Pearl Street
Paola, Kansas 66071
(913) 294-3976
Dr. Steve Garten, Vice-President
Barber County Commissioner
120 E Washington
Medicine Lodge, Kansas 67104
(620) 886-3961
Bonnie Swartz, Secretary
Gray County Clerk
PO Box 487
Cimarron, Kansas 67835
(620) 855-3618
Michelle Garrett, Controller
Morris County Clerk
501 W Main
Council Grove, Kansas 66846
(620) 767-5518
Linda Buttron
Jefferson County Clerk
300 Jefferson, PO Box 321
Oskaloosa, Kansas 66066
(785) 863-2272
Gary Caspers
Cloud County Commissioner
811 Washington
Concordia, KS 66901
(785) 243-8135
Stan McEvoy
Decatur County Commissioner
PO Box 28
Oberlin, Kansas 67749
(785) 475-8101
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Slips trips and falls account for 20 percent of work injuries. This totals 13 million injuries per year. Climbing into and out of mobile equipment presents a common
exposure to slips and falls. Inclement weather, greasy or broken steps, grab handles
and the rush of the work day make this a serious exposure.
The three-point technique is a simple and effective way to minimize the risk
of falling. Use this technique if you are entering the cab of a forklift, climbing onto
the bed of a truck or climbing into/onto any other piece of equipment. When you are
climbing, at least three limbs should always be in contact with the equipment. This
could be two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand. Of course, to use this
technique the climber must be facing the equipment. You cannot have three points of
contact if you are jumping off or sliding out of the seat.
Before you enter the equipment, place any objects on the seat: log books,
production schedules, bar-code scanners, etc. Do the same when you exit. Leave the
objects on the seat until you are off the equipment. In addition, make sure you look
before you exit.
Other points to remember, include:
• Wear footwear appropriate to the job;
• Keep the steps and grab rails clean;
• Make sure the lights are working so you can see where you are climbing;
• Do not use the steering wheel or control handles as handholds.
Most slip and fall injuries are minor. However, 15,000 people die each year
as a result of these incidents. Old habits are hard to break, but properly climbing onto
and off of mobile equipment may prevent you from becoming a slip and fall statistic.
Housekeeping for Safety
Falls often result from tripping over loose articles such
as tools left in aisleways and work areas. Wet spots or
other debris on the floor, and trash and other articles
left in stairways also take their toll.
Have trash receptacles placed in several strategic areas, so there is no excuse for waste paper, pop bottles,
or other materials being thrown on the floor.
Keep your tools and equipment off the floor and stored
in the proper places. This not only reduces tripping
hazards, but protects the equipment.
When storing materials or equipment on the
job, take time to make the piles neat. It’s unsafe to
stack them too high and, if possible, it’s best to keep
them away from other equipment or articles that are
used often.
Keep a lookout for danger signals
loose flooring, articles out of place, or other unsafe
conditions. These things should be corrected immediately.
When each of us keeps our work area in order,
we all enjoy a safer place to work.
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Summer 2014
(Continued from Page 1)
• Do not be fooled by a cloudy day. The sun’s rays can
pass through the haze and thin clouds.
• Even if you wear contacts with UV protection, remember
your sunglasses.
• Sunglasses should be worn whenever outside. It is especially important to wear sunglasses in the early afternoon
and in higher altitudes, where UV light is more intense.
UV & Your Skin
At one time or another we’ve all had a bad sunburn and we
know how bad it can hurt. In addition, prolonged, unprotected
exposure can damage your skin and cause premature lines,
freckles, sun spots, and skin cancer.
UV rays react with a chemical called
melanin that’s found in most people’s
skin. Melanin is the first defense
against the sun because it
absorbs dangerous UV rays
before they do serious
skin damage. Melanin is
found in different concentrations and colors,
resulting in different skin
colors. The lighter a
person’s natural skin
color, the less melanin
it has to absorb UV and
protect itself.
The skin is the
body’s largest organ.
It protects against heat,
sunlight, injury, and infection. Yet, some of us don’t
consider the necessity of
protecting our skin. It’s just
smart to take good care of your skin
The need to protect your skin from
the sun has become very clear over
the years, supported by several studies
linking overexposure to the sun with skin
cancer. The
harmful ultraviolet rays from both the sun and indoor tanning
“sunlamps” can cause many other complications besides skin
cancer - such as eye problems, a weakened immune system,
age spots, wrinkles, and leathery skin.
There are simple, everyday steps you can take to safeguard
your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation from the
sun.
Wear proper clothing Wearing clothing that will protect
your skin from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is very important. Protective clothing are long-sleeved shirts and pants are
good examples. Also, remember to protect your head and eyes
with a hat and UV-resistant sunglasses. You can fall victim to
sun damage on a cloudy day as well as in the winter, so dress
Summer 2014
accordingly all year round.
Avoid the burn Sunburns significantly increase one’s lifetime risk of developing skin cancer. It is especially important
that children be kept from sunburns as well.
Go for the shade Stay out of the sun, if possible, between
the peak burning hours, which, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health
Organization (WHO), are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You can
head for the shade, or make your own shade with protective
clothing - including a broad-brimmed hat, for example.
Use extra caution when near reflective surfaces, like
water, snow, and sand. All of these and even the windows of a
building can reflect the damaging rays of the sun. That can increase your chance of sunburn, even if you’re in what you
consider a shady spot.
Use extra caution when at higher
altitudes You can experience more UV
exposure at higher altitudes, because
there is less atmosphere to absorb
UV radiation.
The best way to protect
your skin from UV light is by
wearing a sunscreen when you
are outside. Here are some
sunscreen facts and tips:
• Using sunscreen can
reduce your chances of
burning but it is not going to
allow you to spend unlimited
time outdoors without risk of
skin damage.
• Sunscreen must absorb into
the skin to be effective. Apply it
about 30 minutes prior to going
into the sun so as to let the sunscreen
absorb into the skin.
•
It is widely recommended that people
use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection
factor) of 15-30. An SPF of 30 can block up to
97% of the harmful UV rays. Going higher than
30 on SPF hasn’t shown to make a positive difference.
• Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 60-90 minutes,
sooner if you’re in the water. (This is true even if you use
“waterproof” sunscreen, as it is not truly waterproof, just
water resistant.).
• Not all sunscreens protect you from UVA and UVB light.
Check the label and use one that is protects the skin from
both.
• You can get a sunburn through your clothes! For example,
a white t-shirt gives only the same protection as a sunscreen with an SPF of 5. And it’s even less effective if it is
wet.
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700 SW Jackson • Suite 200
Topeka, Kansas 66603
3rd Quarter Gov U Classes
Back Injuries
Equipment Safety
Global SDS & Hazard Communication
Handling Difficult Customers
Keeping Your Cool
Preventing Accidents in the Workplace
Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
Supervisor Skills 101
Transition from Peer to Supervisor
Work Zone Safety for Local Governments
Workplace Ergonomics
2014
Board Meeting Dates
Selected Summer Video Library
Safety in the Office - SP7
Lifting & Carrying - G7
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - G30
Heat Stress - G35
Ticks, They Can Bug You - G41
Workplace Violence - G48
Page 4
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April 24th
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May 15th
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July 17th
August 21st
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October 16th
November 13th — Annual Meeting
December 18th
Summer 2014