Safety Information

HOME SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Check that your home is properly insu-
lated (walls and attic), that you have ade-
quate storm windows, and that windows
and doors are caulked.
Have your heating systems profession-
ally checked and serviced. It’s important
that they are clean, working properly and
ventilate to the outside.
Make sure you are equipped with carbon
monoxide detectors and are familiar
with the symptoms of carbon monoxide
(CO) poisoning.
Remove tree branches that could be-
come heavy with ice or snow and fall on
your home.
If possible, shut o outside water valves.
To protect exposed pipes, allow a small
trickle of water run from connected
faucets.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet
doors to allow air to circulate around
pipes.
Keep your thermostat set to the same
temperature day and night and leave
it set to no lower than 55°F while away
from home for an extended time. The
extra cost of heating your home is mi-
nuscule in comparison to the expensive
cost of damages from frozen or burst
pipes.
If your home has a replace, use a glass
or metal screen to prevent sparks or
even rollings logs from making their way
to ammable carpet or furniture.
When using a space heater, follow the
three-foot rule- keep any surrounding
items at least three feet away from your
heater.
Before going to bed, make sure any
space heaters are turned o and re
embers are fully extinguished.
04
cially for those individuals who do not engage in
regular cardiovascular activity. According to the
Cleveland Clinic, approximately 11,000 people
seek shoveling-related hospital treatment each
year for injuries (93%) or cardiac issues (7%).
Here are some tips from the National Safety
Council for safe snow shoveling:
• Individuals over the age of 40 and/or those
who are relatively inactive, should be espe-
cially careful.
• If you have a history of heart trouble, do not
shovel without a doctor’s permission.
• Avoid shoveling after eating or while smok-
ing.
• Take it slow! Shoveling (like lifting weights)
can raise your heart rate and blood pres-
sure dramatically; so pace yourself. Stretch
out and warm up to prepare your body
before taking on the task.
• Shovel only fresh snow. Freshly fallen, pow-
dery snow is easier to shovel than the wet,
packed-down old snow.
• Push the snow as you shovel. It’s easier on
your back than lifting the snow out of the
way.
• Don’t pick up too much at once. Use a small
shovel, or ll only one-fourth or one- half of
a large one.
• Use proper technique. Lift with your
legs bent, not your back. Keep your back
straight. By bending and “sitting” into the
movement, you’ll keep your spine upright
and less stressed. The strongest muscles in
your body (your shoulders, torso and thighs)
can do the work for you.
• Do not work to the point of exhaustion. If
you run out of breath, take a break. If you
feel tightness in your chest, stop!
WINTER SAFETY CHECKLISTS
The included checklist will help you prepare for
the winter months. It is important to consider
the measures you need to exercise proper safe-
ty in both your home and commercial or indus-
trial workplace. During 2014, the United States