Safety is a timeless necessity in every workplace. But this time of the year calls for more serious safety precautions as employees have to brave the harsh elements that come with winter. With the dropping temperature sweeping across the nation, employees are more at risk of meeting accidents through cold-related illnesses and injuries.

Photo by Kevin Rosseel

One effective way to safeguard workers from the fatal cold is using engineering controls. Another is letting them wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) for their heads. This is important since most of the body’s heat escapes through the head. While it’s easy to don garments under helmets or hard hats to get additional insulation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) have some standards on how you should go about this adjustment.

Read on to learn more about the safety guidelines concerning these two winter safety lifelines for workers.

Engineering Controls for Winter

We’ve said before that installation and adjustments of engineering controls should come before recommending certain PPE for employees. Likewise, during these colder months, employers must see to it that work sites are equipped with adequate engineering controls for better insulation. Here are basic guidelines in choosing or installing them:

• Use an on-site heat source. Examples are radiant heaters, air jets and contact warm plates.

• Make sure a heated shelter is available for employees who work for long periods outdoors. They should be allowed to take frequent breaks in this shelter to avoid prolonged exposure outdoors, especially in inclement weather.

• Provide adequate shields for work sites exposed to windy or drafty conditions.

• Make sure thermal insulating materials are available for equipment handles. They should be used once temperatures drop below 30°F (-1°C).

Winter Head Protection

You know the deal with scarf and caps. While being fashionable when mixed and matched with clothing, they become indispensable tools when used as protection during winter.

Photo by Michael Connors

Yet when these winter garments are used as “winter liners” in the workplace, they spell a different story. While it’s all too easy to just slip them under your hard hat or helmet, there are certain guidelines you must stick to. Here they are:

• Employers or safety coordinators must see to it that employees don only winter liners that are specifically designed with the helmet or hard hat they have to wear.

• Caps, scarf, cloth and other garments as winter liners must be made of plastic, fabric or other suitable material for the job.

• When making use of colored materials, make sure they are fast-dyed. You may also use an outer surface that is water-resistant.

• Winter liners coupled with Class B helmets must NOT have metal parts.

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Yesterday we discussed the importance of keeping work areas clear of snow and ice. By following proper procedures in getting rid of unwanted ice and snow, you avoid the heightened risk of slipping or falling on the job.

Unfortunately, the cold weather brings with it more risks that are invisible to the naked eye. Actually, they’re really invisible. With the dropping temperature across the nation, workers are under threat of suffering from cold stress. Those who belong to the construction, agriculture, maritime and commercial fishing industries are the most exposed to the fatal hazards of cold weather.

Cold stress can be a fatal threat to every worker. Once exposed to cold or freezing temperature at long periods of time, they run the risk of losing serious amount of body heat. If not treated immediately, this could lead to brain damage or even death.

Here are safety tips to prevent cold stress or cold-induced illnesses or injuries:

1. Train employees for the cold and changing weather.

Training sure is a timeless necessity in the workplace. In these colder days, workers must be trained not only about cold-induced illnesses and injuries, but also in determining environmental or work site conditions that may cause cold stress. They should be especially trained in recognizing the signs and symptoms of cold stress or cold-induced injuries like hypothermia and frostbite.

Here are signs and symptoms of hypothermia:

• Cool skin
• Slower, irregular breathing
• Slower heartbeat
• Weak pulse
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Severe shaking
• Rigid muscles
• Drowsiness
• Exhaustion
• Slurred speech
• Memory lapses

The following are signs and symptoms of frostbite:

• Paleness of the skin
• Sensation of coldness or pain
• Pain disappears after a while with the freezing of the tissues.
• Tissues become increasingly whiter and harder.

2. Use a buddy system.

Sure, you may want to be left to yourself while working. But believe me, this is not the time to enjoy solitude while accomplishing your tasks outdoors. You don’t want to be working one minute and thawing your fingers the next.

So get a partner and work on monitoring each other for some signs of cold stress. Don’t be stubborn because most of the time, it’s just difficult to determine danger signs when you only have yourself to rely on.

3. Adjust your work schedule to the cold or changing weather.

Don’t punish yourself too much. Just because working outside feels like stepping into walk-in freezer doesn’t mean you have to bask all day in the frigid winds.

Schedule work during the warmest part of the day. Break a task into shifts so you can take frequent, short breaks in warm dry shelters.

4. Layer clothing.

At this time of the year, the saying “less is more” surely does not hold true. Well, maybe partly true since wearing less clothes means getting exposed to more cold-stress-related threats.

Remember that it’s better to go for several thin layers of clothing instead of wearing just a couple of thick layers. For clothes next to the skin, choose those with synthetic fabrics to avoid absorption of sweat. An ideal choice is polypropylene. For your outer layer, choose fabrics made of waterproof and wind-resistant material.

5. Wear complete PPE (personal protective equipment).

You know you need it. Wear warm gloves, hats and hoods. In extreme conditions, don a warm woolen hood that covers your neck, head and ears. If you get hot while working, just open your jacket. Don’t remove your hat and gloves. The key is in wearing clothing that can be adjusted to changing conditions.

Avoid wearing tight-fitting footwear as this restricts blood flow. Your shoes or boots should allow you to wear either one thick or two thin pairs of socks.

6. Eat and drink hot or warm foods and liquids.

You might have to say goodbye to hot coffee and choco for a while. Drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages is not recommended while working in cold weather. Instead, go for warm, sweet beverages like sports drinks and sugar water. Keep in mind that you are also at risk of dehydration under cold weather so make it a habit to drink up.

Good news, though. You can feast on hot pasta dishes, soups and other foods rich in calories. Remember, though, that if you’re sick or under medication, you are more at risk of cold stress. This is especially true if you have hypertension, diabetes or a cardiovascular disease.

7. Wear eye protection.

Ice or snow + excessive ultraviolet rays = eye injury. Yes, this is one proven equation. Before working outside, check first if you may be exposed to glare or, worse, blowing ice crystals. If conditions point to the affirmative, then go wear the right kind of eye protection.

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‘Tis the season to be cautious. While these days are merrier with colorful decors lining the streets and Christmas tunes wafting in the air, conditions on the job are dangerous now more than any time of the year. This is true for places where Christmas brings with it the torturing cold of winter.

Photo by Stephanie

But winter not only gifts us poor earthlings with a frigid weather. With all the snow and ice from the heavens, winter also blesses us with wet and slippery grounds. That is why employees working outdoors are at a big risk of slipping and falling on the job.

Ice and Snow Accumulation

But like any unsafe condition on the job, snow and ice accumulation can be eliminated following some basic safety guidelines. Here they are:

• Wear shoes or boots with non-slip or non-skid soles.

• Monitor weather conditions by always being in the know about weather updates.

• Don’t allow snow or ice to accumulate in work areas. Clear them off immediately, especially if they run off on scaffolds and roofs.

• Always clear entrance steps to buildings of ice and snow.

• Use anti-slip materials like sand or salt to make walkways and parking lots less slippery.

• Store shovels and gloves in areas known to all personnel.

Photo by Gracey

• Always wear a hard hat when going outdoors. This should protect you from falling objects, as well as impacts caused by slips on slippery surfaces.

• Inspect overhead areas to make sure that snow and ice do not accumulate on them.

• Before using ladders, ensure that they are completely free of ice, snow and other materials that may cause slips or falls.

• To keep ladders and scaffold well-maintained and protected from snow and ice, cover them before the end of the shift.

• Before using equipment and tools used for ice, inspect them well first. Make sure they are not covered with ice or they have the potential to hurt you or others when dropped.

• Wear proper fall protection when clearing slippery materials of high places. For double protection, consider installing safety rails on such areas.

Photo by Kenn W. Kiser

• Follow proper procedures in safe lifting and shoveling.

• Make sure areas that may have unseen ice or snow are well-lighted and equipped with directional markings.

Cold Stress

As if snow- and ice-related injuries are not enough, certain health conditions may hit workers because of severe cold. That is, they are at risk of developing hypothermia or frostbite because of the dropping temperature. These conditions are generally known as cold stress. Tomorrow, we’ll talk more about cold stress and some safety guidelines you must follow to avoid exposure.

For now, be safe outdoors by wearing proper PPE and getting rid of all snow and ice where they’re not welcome!

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Concrete is among the most common materials used in most types of construction. However, working with concrete mixtures, chemicals and equipment can be very dangerous for workers. By following the guidelines below, you adhere to OSHA’s regulations in maintaining a safe workplace for everyone.

Do…

• Wear a respirator or dust mask when cutting, batching, drilling, chipping or grinding concrete.

• Wear full-body protective clothing when working with wet concrete and other cement mixtures. This consists of fully buttoned long sleeves, full-length pants, tight-fitting safety goggles and waterproof gloves.

• Make sure the signalman and pump operator are trained in using correct hand signals. They should also maintain visual contact while communicating.

• Use steps, guardrails, or grab bars when climbing on a truck.

• See to it that shoring and tilt ups are secure for at least twice the weight of the material.

• Support the load of a defective jack/lifting unit by blocking it.

• Paint the ends of forming pins and stakes to prevent trips and falls.

• Use proper fall protection when working more than six feet above a lower level. (personal fall-arrest, positioning-device and/or safety-net systems)

Photo by Kevin Rosseel

Don’t…

• Walk backward when directing or guiding a truck
• Ride or hang on concrete buckets during movement.
• Extend beyond the wheels on either side of the buggy.
• Work under concrete buckets while they’re being lowered, elevated or swung.
• Swing or hang on the pump hose.

Whatever job workers are tasked with, they must ALWAYS use proper personal protective equipment (PPE). They must also be trained in operating concrete equipment and responding to emergencies.

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Constructions are often the site of fatalities caused by falls, scaffolds, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, and electrical hazards. But what many workers don’t know is that respiratory protection came in 4^th among the Top 10 Most Cited Violations of OSHA. It spawned a total of 3,062 violations in 2007 alone.

Effects of respiratory hazards are not that easy to deal with . They are so complicated that they can manifest from a few seconds to several years after exposure to the hazards. The effects range from irritation of the nose, throat and lungs to contamination of the bloodstream to irreversible damage to the brain. The worst thing it could lead to is death and this either comes as a sudden effect of exposure (within seconds or minutes) to airborne hazards or as a complication of a compromised respiratory system (months or years after exposure). All these because of dusts, fumes, gases and/or vapors present in your work site.

This is where respirators come in. With the use of this personal protective equipment (PPE), you can guard your lungs against the entry of harmful substances. But it’s not that easy to select a respirator ideal for your worksite. Also, contrary to popular belief, using respirators is not the first step towards respiratory protection.

Respiratory Protection Program

Employers must first seek to implement engineering control measures in work areas exposed to respiratory hazards. This is, of course, with the help of a competent person. These measures involve the confinement or enclosure of the work area, general and local ventilation and exhausting. During the implementation of these measures, workers must be required to use respiratory/breathing protection.

Here are the basic elements of a Respiratory Protection Program:

• Program administrator
• Site-specific procedures for respirator selection
• Employee training and information distribution
• Medical evaluation
• Fit testing
• Filter, cartridge, and canister identification
• Use, maintenance, cleaning, and repair
• Recordkeeping
• Program evaluation

Selection of Respirators

Before selecting a respirator type, you must perform first an evaluation of each of your worksites. This way, you can determine the type of respirator ideal for the airborne hazards in each site. Ensure that each respirator type you choose is certified by the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute).

The following are acronyms for designated respirator references recognized by ANSI and NIOSH:

• IDLH atmospheres Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health

• SAR Supplied Air Respirator

• SCBA Self Contained Breathing Apparatus

• HEPA High Efficiency Particulate Air filter

Maintenance of Respirators

Protecting your lungs against airborne hazards in the workplace does not stop with donning a respirator. Part of a worker’s responsibility is regularly maintaining their respirator.

A defected or damaged respirator is almost as good as wearing no respirator at all. That’s why you must always inspect your respirator for defects or damage before and after each shift.

Regularly clean your respirator. This is particularly necessary if it is passed from one person to another.

Remember to store respirators in dry, sealed containers. Make sure also that such containers are free from dust, excessive moisture and extreme temperatures. Plastic containers make for good containers for respirators.

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This is how it feels to be at your own body’s mercy. No matter how much you fight the feeling it just keeps on coming back. As if that’s not enough, every single day on the job, this is the scenario. You’re tasked with lifting the same load alone: your very own eyelids.

Of course your job is on the line. Once your supervisor sees you dozing off at work, it might mean another of a series of memos.

Of course your life is on the line, too. With literally one blink of your eyes, you could lose an arm to a conveyor or a leg to a forklift.

Sleep might be tough to beat but it shouldn’t cause you your job or life. If you’re really serious with avoiding that trip to dreamland at work, read on and learn some neat tricks.

1. Boosting it Up with Breakfast

Yes it has long become a cliché but we dare say it again: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. By sticking to healthy food during breakfast, you can expect a more alert mind and body throughout the entire day.

Bonus tip: Take note that what you need is not just energy, but energy that lasts for a long time. For this reason you must eat a meal that’s a combination of carbohydrates and protein. You see, while carbohydrates build up energy, protein gives you endurance.

2. Lighter Lunches

No it’s not the position of the sun in the afternoon. Neither is it the absence of the moon. Yes afternoons may bring with them that lulling warmth but that heavy meal you wolfed down at lunchtime is all to blame for your drowsiness.

Now it makes perfect sense why skipping breakfast is a capital sin. Not only do you miss stocking up on energy-boosting food at the beginning of the day, you also tend to make up by eating a lot in the afternoon. Beware because not only is this a perfect recipe for that lulling sensation after lunch, you also get a big bonus: more extra calories that could likely become body fats.

Bonus tip: Get out those carrot sticks and fruit shakes. The best way to keep lunch light is to snack on veggies and fruits throughout the day.

3. H2O to the Rescue

Apparently when they say water is life, they also mean wakefulness. Well, in the workplace, dozing off could be the end of your career or your life so it does make sense, right? So flush that drowsy feeling with a good dose of fluids.

Bonus tip: If you find it tedious to drink several glasses of water in a day, try squeezing lemon, orange or any fresh fruit on your drinking water. That extra zest from the fruit should give your throat that thirsty sensation, making you drink more throughout the day.

4. Making Melodies

Take it from Maria. If the hills are alive with the sound of music, surely, you’ll be more alive and, well, awake with a radio by your side or earphones on your head. But before you get too excited about creating your own playlist, check first with your HR department or safety coordinator if you’re allowed to listen to music while working.

Bonus tip: If listening to music is not taboo at your workplace, you should prefer upbeat music or songs over mellow ones for obvious reasons.

5. Air in your Head

Going outside might help you fight the urge to sleep. Don’t just plant yourself in your workstation all day. Get out and have some dose of fresh air. This should stimulate better blood circulation, making you feel more awake and even healthier.

Bonus Tip: While you’re at it, go for a walk outside. By stimulating some of your muscles, you send more nutrients to different parts of your body.

6. That Minty Feeling

If fresh air couldn’t combat your sleepiness, you might actually need fresher breath. Yes, you read that right. By treating yourself to gum, mints, or hard candy, you can ward off sleep. The same thing could happen if you gargle with mouthwash.

Bonus tip: Avoid sugary candies. Remember that you’re after mint and not sugar.

7. Skipping Sugar

Be wary of snacks inside vending machines. Most of them have high sugar content. While you think a sugar rush can keep you awake, its effect usually lasts for only a half hour. So instead chomp on snacks with both complex carbohydrates and protein.

Bonus tip: Some great examples of a fine snack are whole wheat bread with low-fat cheese and whole grain cereals with yogurt.

8. Shooting Yourself with Caffeine

If mint in your mouth or some nutritious snack in your stomach just doesn’t do the trick, then maybe caffeine will. So go for a shot of espresso or a glass of chilled mocha. Whether it’s hot or cold, a generous serving of coffee should be able to keep you from catching a wink on the job.

Bonus tip: Go easy on the caffeine, though. You don’t want to get all hyperactive. Neither do you want to be dependent on caffeine to stay awake everyday on the job.

9. Better Beauty Rest

If you think you can get away with having two hours of sleep, think again. While a lot of the tricks above might work well with you, the most effective trick is still the most practical and basic: get enough sleep every night.

Bonus tip: A good night’s sleep that lasts for seven to 10 hours is recommended for adults to stay alert during the day.

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Of all the mechanisms any vehicle is equipped with, the ones for braking and stopping are the most important. Any defects on them can cause operators to accidentally strike pedestrians, drop loads or hit other equipment. These and other serious accidents can cause anything from a lost leg to sudden death.

But keeping brakes in good condition are not enough to safeguard you against hazards on the road. Whether you’re driving a forklift, a golf cart or another kind of vehicle, you must pay attention to other controls and parts of your vehicle to ensure safety in braking. You must also be equipped with proper know-how in adjusting to different environmental conditions, particularly unexpected ones.

Stopping Distance Factors

Time, on one hand, is always an essential factor in driving. Timing, on the other hand, determines whether or not you meet an accident when unexpected factors happen while you’re driving. By “unexpected factors” I mean pedestrians crossing without warning in front of your vehicle; or a vehicle ahead of you suddenly coming to a halt.

Photo by Ben Turner

While a two-second following distance is a rule of thumb for MOST driving situations, your actual stopping distance depends on the following:

• Driver perception time

Length of time it takes a driver to see or recognize a dangerous situation

• Driver reaction time

Length of time from perception of danger to start braking (average time is 0.75 seconds)

• Type and condition of the brakes

(drum brakes, disc brakes, anti-locking braking system, etc.)

• Type and condition of road surface

(Soil, asphalt, concrete; wet, oily, sloping)

• Type and condition of tires

• Vehicle design and condition of shock absorbers

• Speed of the vehicle

The greater the speed of any vehicle, the longer the stopping distance required.

• Vehicle weight when loaded or towing

Remember that the heavier the vehicle, the more braking power required to stop it.

Following Distance and Stopping Distance

Here are situations where you’re required to have/keep a longer following distance:

• You’re driving on a slippery road.

In this case, you must double your following distance to at least four seconds. This way, you have an allowance of a few feet to adjust your speed or stop. When stopping on slippery roads, pump the brakes until you are able to come to a full stop.

If your vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes, never engage the brakes too forcefully or they may lock up. If your brakes lock up, your stopping distance would increase and you may end up losing control of your vehicle.

• The driver behind you wishes to pass.

The best way to deal with this situation is to reduce your speed so the driver behind you can pass quicker.

• Your vehicle is towing or carrying a load.

As mentioned before, the heavier the load of a vehicle, the greater the braking power to stop it. This simply means that you’ll have longer stopping distance when towing or carrying loads.

If the load you are towing is equipped with an independent brake system, make sure the trailer brakes are in good condition and are well adjusted. Ensure, too, that your vehicle has proper connecting hardware to operate the trailer brakes.

• Your vehicle is following a large vehicle.

Since your vision of the road ahead is blocked by the large vehicle in front of you, you need to have extra following distance. This allows you to see around the vehicle and view any dangers ahead on the road. If the vehicle ahead of you is a fire truck or any emergency vehicle, you must keep a following distance of at least 500 feet.

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Imagine living in the age of holos where you have the option to work from home every single day of your life. Of course you can travel and go on a vacation anytime because you’d always be virtually “on the field” or present wherever it is that you have to work. Just think about the possibilities. You never have to stand next to hustling traffic while working as a flagger. Neither do you have to drag yourself to work 5 or more days a week when you have to organize your office files or attend meetings and even seminars.

Every time you’re needed at work, you’ll just be present to co-workers as this hologram that can walk with them through corridors or seat with them and chat over lunch. You could even operate forklifts, work with hot asphalt or mix chemicals while sitting on your dining chair because, yes, everything seems like this virtual reality game you have to play to accomplish your tasks on the job.

Photo by Darren Hester

Unless you’re a vampire, you won’t have the chance to see the world with such techie workplace conditions in your lifetime. It’s not that bad, though. If your work can be done anywhere with only a laptop and an Internet connection, then sulk no more. You’ll be doing yourself and your company a favor by working from home.

Telecommuting is found to be beneficial to companies that allow their employees to commute either full-time or part-time. This is a finding discovered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Through a survey conducted by the association, they found that companies who offer their employees the option to telecommute have improved employee health, greater productivity and reduced costs. If that’s not a win-win situation, I don’t know what is.

More than two-thirds of survey respondents shared that the option to commute part-time or full-time caused higher productivity in their organizations. This is said to be the result of spending less time getting to and from work.

“With ‘anywhere’ connectivity, faster broadband options, and high-quality video and online conferencing choices, the opportunity for virtual offices is greater today and more affordable for businesses of all sizes and shapes,” said CompTIA president and CEO Todd Thibodeaux.

About one-fourth of the respondents said their organizations experienced better employee health with workers having reduced stress levels, which are attributed to traditional commuting.

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In a perfect world, employees don’t have to worry about breaking their shoulder bone, falling off scaffolds, or catching a grave lung disease. They’d be provided with excellent training not only once but regularly.

Besides being comfortable and self-cleaning, their PPE could be worn in a matter of seconds and would have built-in chemical radar and radiation detector. When a vehicle is about to hit an employee or fire threatens to gobble them up or suck the life out of their lungs, this bubble would suddenly blow up from their PPE and safely enclose them. Being resistant to impacts, fire, chemicals, toxic gases and all negative vibes in the world, the bubble is an ultimate lifesaver that equates to having an immortal life on the job.

Okay I went a bit overboard there. You get the idea. Every employee wishes for a job where they’re provided with training and PPE that ultimately shield them against all hazards in their workplace.

Distractions and Hazards

Then again, any premium training and state-of-the-art PPE would be useless if a worker couldn’t manage to exorcise one of the most threatening factors on the job: distractions. That’s right, statistics shows that distractions are a major culprit in many workplace injuries and fatalities.

Here are 5 kinds of distractions that may put your life on the line:

1.  Mental Distractions and Inattention

Have you ever replayed in your mind unpleasant scenes at home while operating equipment on the job? Perhaps something big happens to you this weekend and you’re anticipating its wonders while literally climbing on a ladder. Maybe one or two times you’re mixing chemicals and you decide to have a little chat with a co-worker. No harm in that right? Think again.

Photo by Scott Liddell

Mental distractions often lead to inattention. You could miss noticing that pedestrian racing close to your forklift just because you’re too engrossed over that argument you had with your wife. Whether you’re worrying, daydreaming, or chatting, mental distractions can be likened to hazards or defects in machines that you need to secure with “guards”. Will yourself to tag these mental distractions with a NO ENTRY sign, close the “door” and focus on the work at hand.

If that’s all too hard to do, then you may consider taking a break and getting some fresh air to blow those distracting thoughts away or finishing that nice chat with a co-worker. If the work is urgent, then you could tell yourself to forget about personal matters first and deal with them later by coming up to a co-worker (possibly your supervisor) and sharing with them your difficulty in getting rid of that thing (or person) that tortures you to the very core of your being.

2.  Poor Housekeeping

Apparently if godliness is next to cleanliness, safety is next to the latter as well. Just imagine how distracted you’d be if your workstation is cluttered with all your personal stuff, unsorted files, bolts, screws, wires, food wrappers and other junk. Visual clutter can easily translate itself to mental clutter. It would be easy to miss that obstruction in the conveyor operations when dust and all these crumpled papers mess up with your focus.

Photo by Hillary

So befriend that broom and sweep all those visual distractions before they do something nasty. Throwing those junk and sorting your files are big steps to trashing all the horrible hazards that could befall you. Remember, too, that poor housekeeping says a lot about your attitude towards safety, quality, and production.

3.  Machinery

Those big, fat monsters you call your techie friends can be distracting and destructive, too. Don’t be fooled. Think twice before permanently choosing a place for your workstation. Make sure it is at a safe distance from machines, heavy equipment, electrical circuits, busy foot traffic, and obstructions or slip/trip hazards.

Photo by RoganJosh

4.  Hearing

Sure, listening to music is fine. It keeps you entertained, boosts your mood. But even Elvis Costello’s melodramatic voice or Sisqo’s hippest lyrics can cause you an arm.

Before donning those headphones, ask your supervisor if this is acceptable or safe. If not, then for the love of your life, you’d have to say goodbye to that music playlist you worked so hard to compile.

Photo by markemark

Now wearing earmuffs or earplugs is a completely different story. When noise levels in your workplace are too tough for your eardrums to handle (accurate measures must be done to determine this), then you should talk to your supervisor. The same thing should be done when you think noise keeps your attention off your tasks. If installing appropriate engineering controls is not feasible, you should do well with a good pair of earmuffs or headphones.

5.  Long/Unkempt Hair

Imagine a tabloid running this headline, “Man Gets Paralyzed Because of His Long Hair”. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? But you won’t think so after realizing that too many accidents have actually happened in the past just because somebody was fixing their hair while operating equipment, carrying a load, driving a vehicle, etc.