Professional Drivers at Risk for Skin Cancer

In a recent article by Risk and Insurance Online, they tackled the issue of professional drivers being at risk for skin cancer based on the amount of sun they get while driving.  They cite a recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, in which researchers from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine found that drivers were at an increased risk of facial skin cancers, predominantly on the left side of the body. This really should come as no shock given the amount of sun one can get or feel just driving from home to the grocery store.

There are over 1 million cases of skin cancer reported each year. Last year 12,000 deaths were caused by melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.  Drivers already have to be aware of back problems and the potential for accidents and therefore should be just as concerned about skin cancer and its signs. According the American Cancer Society here are some signs to look for and have checked out should they appear:

• Changes in a mole- These include changes such as its size, shape, or color. The ACS has a system they call the ABCD System to monitor changes in moles.

o   Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.

o   Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.

o   Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or there may be patches of pink, red, white, or blue.

o   Diameter: The spot is larger than about ¼ inch (the size of a pencil eraser), but melanomas can be smaller than this.

•   A sore that does not heal

• Spread of color from the border of a spot to the skin around it
• Redness or a new swelling beyond the border
• Itchiness, tenderness, or pain
• Change in the surface of a mole -- scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or a new bump or nodule

There are easy steps that can be taken to prevent this from happening. They are:

• Wear sunscreen and lip balm- Anything with an SPF of 30 or more will give you adequate protection. Make sure to re-apply every few hours to ensure its effectiveness. Keep a bottle in the glove box ready to go.

• Wear a hat- Trucker caps, baseball caps, and boonie caps are good for more than fashion or supporting your favorite team! They help to protect your forehead, eyes, ears, neck and nose from those harmful UV rays.

• Wear long sleeved shirts- Long sleeved shirts will keep the sun off of your arm while it rests on the window. Collared polo type shirts are also a good idea as they will protect your neck. 

It isn’t hard to protect yourself from the dangers of UV rays. Most people just don’t think about the dangers the sun presents even while in a vehicle. How do you and your drivers help keep yourselves healthy and skin cancer free? Do you provide sunscreen? Hats? Bandanas? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Injuries More Likely With Younger Work Force

In the moving and storage industry it is very typical to hire younger employees to help do a lot of the heavier lifting and moving as their age allows for more of the physical strain that comes with the job. While the youth might be physically stronger and able to do these things it’s important to make sure they are doing it properly and safely. In an article citing a recent report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, it was stated that young employees -- defined as those aged 15-24 years old -- are two times more likely to suffer a nonfatal injury than their older coworkers. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, The highest nonfatal injury rates were experienced by workers aged 18 and 19 years, at 6.3 and 5.9 injuries per 100 full-time employees, respectively.

In addition to this, according to a previous study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, about one-third of the teens surveyed said they had not received any safety training on the job. Among the teens, a large percentage claimed that, despite the child labor laws in place, they were using heavy machinery designated for use by certified adults only. The Fair Labor Standards Act generally prohibits the employment of a minor in work declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor (for example, work involving excavation, driving, and the operation of many types of power-driven equipment).

There are things you can do to prevent workplace injuries for everyone, not just younger employees. Here is a list of some of the things you can do:

• Train your employees to properly use equipment- This may sound pretty obvious but make sure your employee feels they have been trained adequately.
• Make sure your employees know the safety regulations put out by OSHA- You can find them here.
• Have employees wear back braces if lifting heavy objects- again this seems pretty obvious but can be very helpful.
• If employee is injured do not allow them to continue working until they are healed- This simply will help to not make the condition worse.

How does your business prevent workplace injuries? Is your employee base made up of this age group and if so how do you ensure they are working safely?

OSHA Increasing Penalties for Severe Violators

Officials at the AFL-CIO recently released their annual report called Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect. Citing an estimated 9-14 million workplace injuries in 2008, as well as recent tragedies in mining, refineries, and plants, the report lays much of the blame on shortcomings of the OSHA and the Bush administration. Since regulation of such matters directly affects most of our audience, I want to give you all a quick heads-up on what OSHA and lawmakers are currently doing to address these serious concerns.

As reported by Risk & Insurance magazine, OSHA is now increasing penalties for severe violators. Effective mid-June (as in now), OSHA will be focusing on employers with “indifference to their responsibilities under the law”. In addition, legislation is currently being considered by the House of Representatives that would greatly increase the penalties for violations capable of causing death or serious harm.

No matter what kinds of regulations the government places on safety in the workplace, it is ultimately the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe working environment, and proper training. Employees should also be held accountable to a certain degree, for ignoring regulations and knowingly using unsafe practices. Does your company actively enforce safety regulations? How do you handle non-compliance with the regulations by your employees? Leave your answers and see others’ in the comments below