Workplace and Home Safety

Whether you’re in the office or at home, there are simple precautions you can take to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you. With the new building we’ve made special steps to provide a safe a healthy work environment.

Workplace Safety

• Fire

o Our new building is equipped with an alarm system that will sound in the event of a fire. In addition, there are three fire extinguishers located throughout the building (at the front entrance of the ITF offices, in the hallway near the bathrooms, and in the executive suite open area on the wall).

o If there is a major fire, the most important thing to do is for you to leave the building. Small fires can be extinguished only by those who know how to operate a fire extinguisher. If in the event that we should have to evacuate, we all need to meet in one place to make sure that everyone got out of the building safely. The complex directory next to building D is a convenient and safe place to congregate.

•Accidents, injuries, and illnesses

o Trips and Slips: The best way to avoid these types of accidents is to keep your work area tidy – this includes the work room. By making sure boxes, machines, cords, and wires are put away and not strewn about, you can avoid injury not just to yourself but others as well. We now have a much larger area of VCT than we did in the old office, which means a larger area for a slick surface – if you spill something or drop a piece of ice make sure to clean it up so that someone doesn’t slip on your spill.

o After Hours Safety: If you’re working after normal hours at the office, make sure to turn on lights and only disarm the zones of the building you’ll be working in. When parking at night, try to use the most well lit spots possible. If you notice any lights out, please let Cassie know as soon as possible, especially if they’re outside.

o First Aid: The first aid kit is kept in the cabinet to the left of the refrigerator. It’s stocked with antibacterial ointment, band-aids, tweezers, etc. If you happen to need something that is not in there, please let me know.

•Safety Officer:

At larger institutions and government agencies that are required to follow OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations, they are required to keep records of accidents, injuries and illnesses. Typically they have one person designated as the “Safety Officer” or “Risk Management”. We thought it would be a good idea if we designated someone to serve the same purpose, even though we are not required to do so. I will be our so called “Safety Officer”.

If you do get injured or are in an accident or have an illness that is work related, please report it to me. I’ll be keeping a log very similar to the one OSHA requires.

I’ll also be developing contingency plans (i.e. inclement weather, pandemic, etc), organizing possible CPR/First Aid training, ensuring that IT Freedom remains a safe and healthy place to work.

•Suggestions? Questions? If you have any suggestions for the office or questions, as always, please feel free to ask me.

While we do everything we can to keep you safe while at work, but it’s up to you to make steps to make your home a safe place as well. Regardless of whether you live by yourself, with a significant other, or have a family at home, it’s important to have a plan of action.

According to the Home Safety Council June is Home Safety Month. On their website they have great tools for developing safety checklists for the home, discussing safety with children, and videos on countless topics.

Home Safety

•Fire Escape Plan:

Make sure everyone in the household is on the same page. What escape route will you use? Where is your safe meeting place once you’re out? Who’s in charge of the pets?

• Smoke Alarm Maintenance Checklist: (from the Austin Fire Dept. website)

- Test your smoke alarm at least once a month by pressing the test button.

- Replace weak or worn-out batteries at once.

- Never borrow smoke alarm batteries for other uses.

- Keep extra batteries on hand.

- Change batteries at least once a year.

- Dust and vacuum smoke alarms at least once a year.

- Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

- Make sure smoke alarms are working when you return home after an extended absence.

• Emergency numbers:

It’s a good idea to make a list of emergency contacts and put it in a prominent place in your house (the refrigerator works well for this). You can include doctors’ numbers, family members, friends, etc. Often times in emergency situations we don’t think as clearly as normal and it’s prudent to keep a physical list so you don’t have to rely on your memory or cell phone.

• First Aid Kit:

You may want to think about keeping a first aid kit not only at home, but in your car as well. The Red Cross has a store where you can purchase ready made kits, but it can also serve as a guide to build your own kit at home. You can also find first aid kits at most drug stores and large retail stores.

I’ll be reiterating my points made in this email in another fund presentation some time this month. I promise, it will be much shorter!

Stay safe!