Tag: Emergency

ISN Speaks

Spring Storms

April 4th, 2012 · ISN Team - Tags: , , , , ,

After a cold winter, we all look forward to the coming of spring. However, with the pleasures of spring also comes the severity of dangerous weather. Spring is the most common time of year for severe thunderstorms and tornados to occur.

Severe thunderstorms are thunderstorms that reach a predetermined level of severity, depending on the storm’s inclination to inflict lightning, wind or hail damage. A storm is considered severe if winds reach more than 58 mph, hail is one inch or larger in diameter or if funnel clouds and/or tornadoes are reported.

One of Mother Nature’s most violent storms, tornado winds can reach up to 300 mph and leave paths of destruction in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Tornadoes generally appear near the edge of a thunderstorm and may be preceded by clear, sunlit skies.

Tornado Facts:

  • The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but can move in any direction
  • A  tornado travels at an average speed of 30mph, but can increase to 70mph
  • Peak tornado season is in late spring through early summer
  • Tornados are most likely to occur between 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm
  • At any given moment, there are more than 1,800 thunderstorms occurring worldwide
  • The odds of becoming a lightning victim in any one year are one in 700,000. The odds of being struck in your lifetime are one in 3,000.

Severe Weather – Helpful Tips:

1. Build an emergency kit, including:

  • water/food
  • first aid kit
  • flashlight
  • extra batteries
  • radio
  • medication
  • cell phone
  • blankets

2. Make an emergency plan and establish a meeting place

3. Listen to the local radio or newscast for weather updates

4. Know your communities warning sirens

5. Be alert to changing weather conditions and look for approaching storms

6. Look for danger signs:

  • Dark, greenish sky
  • Large hail
  • A large, dark, low-lying cloud
  • Loud roar, similar to a freight train

7. If you see approaching storms or any of these danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately

8. Do not use electrical equipment during a lightning storm

Resources:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/hazstats.shtml
http://www.ready.gov/tornadoes
http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=91435d795323b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderstorm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0623_040623_lightningfacts.html
http://www.severe-weather-fan.com/thunderstorm-facts.html

ISN News

2011 ISN Annual Users Conference: Speaker Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.

November 3rd, 2011 · ISN Team - Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to ISN’s 2011 Annual Users Conference.  One of our speakers, Ed Foulke, highlights many important safety topics in his presentation, entitled“13 Ways to Improve Your Safety Program While Increasing Your Productivity and Profitability”. 

Mr. Foulke discusses the importance of prioritizing safety and health in your company.  He says that it is not only the right thing to do, but allows employees to go home each night safely, is legally required, and essential for a company to be profitable and competitive in today’s marketplace.  He goes on to share the penalties paid by companies who violate acceptable health and safety protocols. 

Mr. Foulke shares 13 ways that companies can improve their safety programs while still increasing productivity and profitability:

  1.  Determine Your Vulnerability Under OSHA’s New Priorities
  2. Audit Your Company’s OSHA Recordkeeping
  3. Audit Your Workplace for Routine Violations
  4. Review Abatement of All Past OSHA Citations
  5. Prepare for OSHA’s Revised Approach to Ergonomics Enforcement
  6. Use Job Safety Analysis to Focus Workplace Safety and Health Strategy
  7. Make Safety the #1 Goal from the Floor to the “C” Suite
  8. Utilize Safety as a Profit Center
  9. Develop Emergency Action Plans to Deal with the Inevitable
  10. Protect Company’s Wellness Plan from Potential Liability
  11. Understand Implications of OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy
  12. Avoid Membership in OSHA’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program
  13. Solve Other Problems by Solving Safety Problems

By keeping employee safety and health as your company’s priority, you ensure your safety programs are continuously improving, resulting in more time to focus on productivity and the growth of your company.