LIFELINE

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F O C U S O N S A F E T Y SAFE HERBICIDE HANDLING continued from page 9 1 0 The storage area must be able to be securely locked when left unattended. Product should never be left in an unsecured area where others can gain access. Failure to secure and account for herbicide containers, whether full or empty, can result in serious legal problems. Temporary container labels are available from our Ashland facility to properly identify the product in temporary containers. Worker Exposure and First Aid The herbicide Specimen Label should always be considered the primary guide for proper handling of herbicide in regard to personal protective equipment (PPE) and exposure guidelines. However, some very basic principles should always be followed whenever workers are handling herbicides. While Nelson Tree applicators usually handle herbicides in a diluted form, there will still, always be, some minimum PPE requirements. For most herbicide, these requirements include all of Nelson’s standard PPE (hard hat, work boots, long pants and safety glasses), plus a long sleeved shirt. Depending on the type of herbicide, gloves may be required. The Specimen Label and MSDS provide the proper first aid requirements in the event of exposure. There are four types of acute exposure situations: dermal (through the skin), oral (swallowing), inhalation and through the eyes. Environmental Concerns Successful treatment of unwanted trees or brush has the potential to introduce negative consequences. If herbicides are used inappropriately, results such as off target spray damage to surrounding vegetation and trees, or contamination of groundwater could occur. Drift onto nearby plants can be a problem when using handheld equipment. Small quantities of spray, which may not be readily visible, can injure off target plants. Herbicides should not be sprayed when the wind is blowing toward crops or when ornamental plants are nearby. When treating trees and brush, a low pressure, coarse spray should be used and all sides of the target plant should be sprayed. Drift often occurs when trying to spray an entire plant from one side only. Other concerns involve run off, leaching and volatization. Most common is run off damage caused by The Specimen Label and MSDS provide the proper first aid requirements in the event of exposure. a hard rain just after application. Most herbicide products utilized by our company have been formulated to prevent these situations. But again, using proper application techniques is the key in preventing negative outcomes. Herbicides are an effective and relatively safe tool when used appropriately. The potential safety risks to applicators are extremely minimal. However, it is the applicator’s responsibility to make sure they are completely aware of all handling requirements that will keep them, their co-workers, and the general public safe.
F O C U S O N S A F E T Y Nelson’s Unsung Heroes by Bill Carney, Corporate Compliance Specialist During the October Safety Stand Down, tremendous effort was put into identifying individuals who have the most direct influence over whether or not injuries occur. It was determined that the backbone of the company and those with the most influence over less experienced employees is the CREWLEADER. Crewleaders are the unsung heroes of our company. They are the ones in the field entrusted to shoulder the responsibility of the day-to-day safety of everyone they come into contact with, as well as their own personal safety. When you stop to think about it, that is an awesome responsibility to bear. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a number of crewleaders who take their responsibilities very seriously. Every day they put personal differences aside and focus on the tasks at hand. The way they see it, their number one priority is to keep everyone safe and make sure that everyone goes home at the end of the day. To accomplish this goal, these individuals begin each and every day with a thorough and detailed job briefing. For them, the job briefing is more than paperwork; it is the most important tool they will use during the day. Professional crewleaders focus on everyone in their circle of influence and the important issues that they’ll face that day. This is the type of individual we all deserve to work with; someone who conducts their self in a professional manner and gives the best they have to give everyday. They accept responsibility for the safety of their crewmembers and respect the process of doing everything it takes to do the job right. While it is the crewleader’s duty to prepare crews to safely accomplish the job at hand, crewmembers are also responsible for addressing safety issues and concerns. For example, crewmembers need to identify when circumstances have changed from what was originally discussed during the job briefing. Sometimes it turns out that what was discussed while on the ground doesn’t apply when we’re actually in the tree (vines are in the way, wind, lean or condition of the tree were not as expected). In these situations, crewmembers must inform the crewleader so that the job can be re-evaluated and a new job briefing conducted. The professional crewleader will always listen to his crewmembers’ concerns and understands that this give-and-take communication is crucial to preventing critical situations, which could result in someone being seriously injured! Our Safety Director, Jim Craner, writes, “When our people learn and follow the most basic of safety rules, they will, without question, reduce their risk of injury and create an environment that promotes health and wellbeing. This in turn promotes the professionalism that each and every employee deserves.” The last line of this quote states that professionalism is something we all “deserve.” Employees who adhere to the rules, create a safe and professional atmosphere for others, those who do not follow the rules, let everyone down. Fortunately, we all have the opportunity to do better tomorrow. We can all be heroes. It may sound corny, but in our business, it could save a life. To all the Nelson Tree crewleaders who uphold our company vision: thank you! You truly are the unsung heroes of this company and the ones who understand that “Safety and professionalism … it’s the basics,” is a reminder to us all that the foundation of our success is built upon fundamental policies and procedures. If you would like to see a crewleader or any other employee recognized, please let me know. I would love to see it in print! 1 1
Page 1 and 2: LIFELINE W i n t e r 0 8 N E W S A
Page 3 and 4: F RO M T H E P R E S I D E N T LOU
Page 5 and 6: F O C U S O N S A F E T Y Regardles
Page 7 and 8: F O C U S O N S A F E T Y Avoid Ele
Page 9: F O C U S O N S A F E T Y The MSDS
Page 13 and 14: F O C U S O N S A F E T Y Cell Phon
Page 15 and 16: REGION 460 SAFETY COMMITTEE In just
Page 17 and 18: N E W S F RO M T H E F I E L D Nati
Page 19 and 20: Take our Readership Survey and win!
Page 21 and 22: S PA N S O F S E R V I C E Nelson w
Page 23 and 24: S PA N S O F S E R V I C E Tom Ryan
Page 25 and 26: S PA N S O F S E R V I C E John Gib
Page 27 and 28: OUR GENERAL FOREMEN GF Wisdom Learn
Page 29 and 30: OUR GENERAL FOREMEN GF of the Month
Page 31 and 32: S A F E T Y P RO G R A M S The Rewa
Page 33 and 34: S A F E T Y P RO G R A M S Voluntar
Page 35 and 36: N E L S O N W E A R NelsonWear O R

LIFELINE

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