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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 www.kworcc.com 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 Page 2 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. www.kworcc.com 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. www.kworcc.com Page 3 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No 688 Topeka, KS N G ew G 136 Ad G 137 Th dit G 138 Be e D ion 13 D tt i s 9 C u er str to ha mp Bac ibu the in Tr k, tor Vi sa uc B T de w k et ru o Sa Sa ter ck Li br fe fe H ty ty e ar alt y! h 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 www.kworcc.com X January 16th X February 20th X March 20th X April 24th X May 15th X June 19th X July 17th August 21st September 16th October 16th November 13th — Annual Meeting December 18th Summer 2014