The holiday season is quickly approaching. Time to trim the tree, have dinner with friends and family and shop for just the right gift. There is no better gift this holiday season than a safe and healthy gathering of family and friends. Remember – safety should never take a holiday! Children Versions of Christmas Carols It's not just the hard hat, the gear and the glove That bring you home safe to the family you love. The guard on the grinder, the chain on the hose The safety-load binder, the foul weather clothes The latch on the lad hood, the outrigger block Emergency brakes and the standard wheel chock Deck the Halls with Buddy Holly. We three kings of porridge and tar. On the first day of Christmas my tulip gave to me. Later on we'll perspire, as we dream by the fire. He's makin’ a list, chicken and rice. The safety valve feature on high pressure tanks The cave-in protection on vertical banks The well-installed belt guard, the safety toe shoes The fire extinguisher, ready to use The safety belt that holds you inside of your car The road signs of safety, wherever you are. These things are mere tools, like a carpenter's plane They won't produce safety, or minimize pain. Your health and your safety depend upon you On whether you think about things that you do. So think before acting; make thinking a rule Make use of your brain…your best safety tool. Noel, Noel, Barney's the king of Israel. With the jelly toast proclaim. During this busy holiday season we look forward to spending time socializing with friends, family and colleagues. Always remember that hosting a holiday gathering brings with it responsibility. Here are some tips for safe hosting: Olive, the other reindeer. Sleep in heavenly peas. You'll go down in Listerine. Oh, what fun it is to ride with one horse, soap and hay. Good tidings we bring to you and your kid. We wish you a very joyous and safe holiday season. Offer a wide selection of non-alcoholic drinks Serve food - it absorbs alcohol, especially if it's sugary, and may cut down on the drinking Don't serve salty foods - it makes people thirsty Ensure your guests have a designated driver or safe drive home Let’s all strive to begin the new year with a renewed enthusiasm for not only our own personal safety and health but for the safety and health of all those in our workplace. This information brought to you by Safety Services Newfoundland Labrador (formerly the Newfoundland and Labrador Safety Council). If you would like more information, please contact us at (709) 754-0210. A time for shovels, snowblowers and slipping, winter often gets greeted with frowns and frustration. But winter is also a beautiful season filled with ice skating, sledding and warm hot chocolate. This time of year we need to be alert of the hazards unique to winter but also take time to enjoy the beauty that this season brings. Make this winter a safe one. Heat Safety Jack had a little cold, But wouldn’t stay at home, And everywhere that Jack went, The cold was sure to roam. It wandered into Lauren’s eyes And filled them full of tears; It jumped from there to Chris’s nose, And thence to Jacob’s ears; Stay Alert, Slow Down, You’re in Control — three key elements to safe winter driving. Drive according to current road and weather conditions. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Expect the unexpected. Stay Warm. Drive Defensively. Getting there safely, it’s Snow Problem! ❄ Listen to the radio or check for road conditions (the provincial government website – www.gov.nl.ca - has links to live highway cameras to let you know the road conditions in areas throughout the entire province). Always travel during daylight and, if possible, take at least one other person. ❄ Dress warmly. Wear layers of loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing. ❄ Ensure you have the proper equipment in a winter car kit. Be prepared! Myth: Every possible risk needs a safety sign It painted Emily’s throat bright red, And swelled poor Grace’s head; Ava had a fever, And a cough put Tom to bed. The reality The moral of this little tale Is very quickly said – Jack could have saved a lot of pain With just one day in bed! Safety signs are useful when there’s a significant risk which can't be avoided or controlled in any other way. But that doesn't mean you should add a sign for every possible risk, however trivial. Using too many signs just guarantees no one will read any of them. Where there are serious risks in your workplace, don’t just rely on signs - take practical steps to deal with them. If you do need a sign, make sure it has the right symbol and is clearly visible. Source: HSE – Health & Safety Executive This information brought to you by Safety Services Newfoundland Labrador (formerly the Newfoundland and Labrador Safety Council). If you would like more information, please contact us at (709) 754-0210.