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Archive for July, 2009

Yet Another Study About the Dangers of Texting and Driving

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Yet another study has been released on the dangers of texting and driving.

Find it here

I just wrote about this topic a few weeks ago, so I don’t feel the need to go in depth, you can see my original texting and driving blog here

This study just shows further proof of the dangers of impaired driving.  Texting, according to the study raises the risk of getting into an accident or near miss 23 fold!!!

Looking at this from an occupational view point, companies need to examine their policies for employee cell phone use.  By instituting a policy banning employee cell phone use while driving, companies have the opportunity to lower their on the job accidents and near misses. Companies will quickly cut down on unnecessary workers compensation claims.  Pre-screening employees is not the only way to reduce accidents anymore.  Cell phone use while driving has become an epidemic and is costing employers in the long run.  If a phone call or text message is vital to an organization, employees can always pull over to the side of the road for 2 minutes.  Taking that 2 minutes away from driving, could save a life, or prevent a near accident.

I am tired of  people having the mentality that “it’s not going to happen to me.”  It’s not a matter of if it’s going to happen, it’s when it’s going to happen!

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Posted in Impaired Driving, Interesting Facts | No Comments »

Recent Surge in Drunk Driving in Alberta

Monday, July 27th, 2009

The incidents of drunk driving in Alberta has skyrocketed in 2009.  Earlier this week 3 people died in a traffic accident outside of Leduc on Highway 2A and the next day another 5 people, including 3 children, died in from a separate incident south of Calgary on Highway 810.  Alcohol is believed to be a factor in both incidents.  The fatalities occurred on the same day RCMP warned about an increase in drinking and driving. Leduc RCMP report that 103 drivers were charged with impaired driving in the first half of 2009. These initial numbers already match the total number of impaired driving charges for all of 2008.

In a one year period, drunk driving charges are up 50% in Leduc County!  What is going on?  Groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) work endlessly to prevent such incidents, there is finally a social stigma attached to drunk driving, penalties are in place for those who are caught, and the dangers of consuming alcohol and driving are widely known.  For years, the trend of drinking and driving has been going down and now it seems as if there has been resurgence.  Some argue that it’s the young kids out on the road who are being reckless, but according to Cst. Jodi Heidinger, “the age of those being charged ranges from 19 to 80 years old. . .. . . (with) more males than females being charged.”

The problem is not confined to the younger generation.  We can’t use the excuse that “they’re young, stupid and inexperienced.”  Charges are being laid across the board.  In fact, it seems as if drunk drivers are becoming even more reckless and arrogant than they have been in the past.  Most impaired drivers used to be caught in the evening or late at night, but Leduc police have noticed more and more impaired drivers out in the morning or early in the afternoon.  Cst. Heidinger commented on this saying, “”That’s been frustrating and concerning to us, responsible drinking is a responsibility at any time of the day, not just the evening.”

I couldn’t agree more.  Drinking and driving, at any time of the day, and at any age in completely unacceptable.  This week alone, 8 innocent people have died in Alberta.  What more can we do?  The message is out there, it’s just not getting through.  In the past, during times of economic recession, alcohol consumption seemed to increase, as did instances of drunk driving.  History seems to be repeating itself.  While this may give an explanation for the current phenomenon, it is not an excuse for such unacceptable behaviour.

Maybe people need a better motivation to stay sober if they are going to drive.  Currently penalties for drinking and driving are:

For a first offence: a minimum fine of $1,000.00, plus the victim fine surcharge; a minimum one-year driving prohibition. In some provinces (for example in Alberta), that period may be reduced to three months if you install an alcohol ignition interlock device.

For a second offence: a minimum jail sentence of 30 days; a minimum three-year driving prohibition.

For a third offence and subsequent offences: a minimum jail sentence of 120 days; a driving prohibition of at least three years; in some provinces, a lifetime suspension.

A $1000 fine and a 3month driving suspension does not seem adequate for a first offense.  It would not change your life very much.  $1000 out of your pocket, and having to get rides from friends for 3 months, is hardly teaching people a lesson.  Perhaps jail time even for a first time offense would be enough to scare people.

Looking at this same issue from the occupational side: imagine the liability a company has for an employee who drives while impaired and causes a collision, or even a death.  I think it’s time for companies to start taking alcohol testing a lot more seriously.

Alcohol testing for any employee who operates a company vehicle or any form of heavy equipment, should be tested for alcohol.  I would love to see companies implement alcohol ignition interlock devices on all company vehicles as well.  And finally, companies need to remove intoxicated employees from their safety sensitive positions immediately.  Contact SureHire if you would like to sign up for our online reasonable suspicion training course, so that you know how to recognize the signs of impairment on the workplace.

Drunk driving has become a serious concern, but the most that we can do as individuals, is to do our part.  Don’t drink and drive.  Call a Taxi.  Be Responsible.  Save a Life.

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Posted in Alcohol Testing, Interesting Facts, Newsworthy | 2 Comments »

Canadian Health Inspectors Contract H1N1, Due to Improperly Fit Masks

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

On April 28, the two Canadian Health Inspectors visited an Alberta farm that eventually culled 500 hogs infected with the H1N1 virus.  According to a provincial report, the inspectors had the wrong protective equipment and had not been trained in proper decontamination procedures.  The report also noted that the full-face masks the inspectors used had been borrowed from a fire department and didn’t fit properly.    Additionally, the inspectors stated that ” they lifted the masks inside the barn to allow the sweat to drip down.”  Both inspectors became infected with the H1N1 virus the very next day.

A CTV news story from July 12 reports that “About one third of the North American population may become infected with the H1N1 virus this fall, according to a Canadian microbiologist. The disease has already infected thousands across Canada and is linked to at least 41 deaths.  “What we think will happen in the fall in North America is a more complete wave, in which 30-40 per cent of people become infected over a 12-16 week period,” said Allison McGeer, microbiologist and infectious disease expert at Mount Sinai Hospital.”

I hate to be a fear monger, but at the same time I hate to be ill prepared, when I could have taken adequate precautions.

Try and stay away from people who are affected, and make sure you frequently wash your hands.  That is what is constantly preached on the radio.  But the fact of the matter is that if 1/3 of the population is anticipated to become infected, it’s going to be very difficult to stay away from those who are affected.  I’ve written a blog about this before, but I think that the point needs to be re-iterated in light of the Canadian inspectors who are now infected with H1N1.  Grabbing any available mask is not going to do anything to prevent the spread of H1N1.

I am saddened that these inspectors contracted H1N1, because they were careless and did not take proper precautions.  If this flu is going to continue to spread as predicted, it is important that the general public realize that wearing a mask can prevent it from spreading.   But it has to be the proper type of mask and it has to be fit properly.  Before you purchase a mask to wear during this pandemic, get a proper mask fitting for an N95.  The test administrator will teach you how to wear the mask properly and ensure that it fits properly.  SureHire recommends getting a quantitative mask fit test done for any N95 mask.  Quantitative mask fitting is far superior to traditional qualitative testing methods.  Find out about the differences here:
Quantitative Mask Fitting
Qualitative Mask Fitting
It is important that you are fitted for and purchase an N95 mask, not a basic surgical mask.  There should be the term N95 somewhere on the packaging.  The company that does your mask fitting should give you a card stating exactly what type of mask you have been fitted for (brand and model number).  That is the mask that you need to purchase.   Keep in mind that different brand sizes fit differently, so be sure to buy the exact mask you have been fitted for.  A surgical mask will NOT prevent the spread of H1N1.

If you have any questions regarding N95 masks and preventing the spread of H1N1, or if you would like to book in a mask fit test, please contact SureHire’s office at 1-866-944-4473.

Now is the time to prepare, before this flu begins to grow exponentially.  My hope is that the predictions do not come true, but initial indications do not look promising.

For more information on the North American predictions for the spread of H1N1 view this CTV article:
Will H1N1 infections rise in Canada this fall?

Update:

Several of the world’s leading drug makers announced that the virus they are growing to make H1N1 vaccine doesn’t yield enough of the antigen needed to protect people.  The problem now is that back-up facilities for vaccine production do not exist.  The much anticipated flu vaccine may not even be effective.  It seems as if properly fitted masks are more important than ever.

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Posted in Drug Testing, H1N1, Mask Fit Testing, Newsworthy | 4 Comments »

Occupational Deaths Are Often Preventable

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

An Edmonton, Alberta  Firefighter Captain Alexander Fred Harris recently passed away due to esophageal cancer on June 20, 2009.  Due to the nature of Captain Harris’ death, the Edmonton Firefighter’s Union has declared Harris’ death a “line of duty death.”  In 2004 the Alberta government drafted legislation to provide compensation for firefighters if any of the following eight cancers develop: colorectal, kidney, bladder, ureter, brain, lung, leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  While the government currently recognizes the risks associated with the above mentioned cancers, esophageal cancer is not included in the compensation program.

Properly handled, cleaned, and maintained personal protective equipment, including masks, can reduce any employee’s risk of developing on-the-job health problems.  A mask that is fitted using quantitative mask fitting procedures and worn properly, guarantees no particles in the air enter the mask, including the carcinogens firefighters are surrounded by in burning buildings.  Debris in the air for other occupations can be just as carcinogenic for welders, boilermakers, and rig workers.

After reading the article in the Edmonton Sun regarding the nature of Captain Harris’ death, I can’t help but wonder how many other fatal illnesses or deaths are caused by preventable measures in various industries requiring personal protective equipment.  Not only are breathing apparatuses important, but hard hats, steel toe boots, gloves, coveralls, and hearing protection are needed to prevent injury and/or chronic ailments.  These preventative measures seem small in the large picture, but low dose exposures to carcinogens with an improperly fitted mask add up over the years.  When work related exposures can be correlated to medical illnesses, such as cancer, it becomes extremely important for health and safety managers to ensure the lowest level of job related carcinogens are exposed to workers.  As an employee in a safety sensitive job, make it your top priority to protect yourself against work related carcinogens, wear your properly fitted personal protective equipment and live a long and happy life injury and illness free!

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Posted in Mask Fit Testing, Newsworthy | 1 Comment »

Impaired Driving Does Not Just Mean Drugs or Alcohol

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Have you ever thought to just send one quick text message, check your email or make a phone call knowing the dangers it could cause while driving? You might not be surprised to know that studies have shown that motorists who are text messaging while driving are said to be as impaired as drunk drivers.

The studies have shown that while text messaging, a driver’s reaction time slowed by 35% with a 91% decrease in their steering ability. This is compared to studies of drunk driving, which showed a reaction time decreased by 12%.

While attempting to stop at a red light going 35 mph, the first text subject traveled 6 extra feet when reading a text, 4 extra feet when writing a text, and 1 extra foot when impaired. The second subject traveled 45 extra feet when reading a text, 41 extra feet when writing it, and 7 extra feet when impaired. The results were similar when the test subjects were going 70 mph.

“This research shows just how dangerous it is to drive and text,” said Dr. Nick Reed, senior human factors researcher at U.K.-based Transport Research Laboratory, a private firm that conducted the study for the Royal Automobile Club Foundation.

Reports that texting was to blame when a commuter train slammed head-on into a freight train in Los Angles, killing 25 people fueled the need to do these studies. Officials believed the engineer on the commuter train was texting at the time.

Ontario Provincial Police also agree that texting is among the worst distractions on the road. It’s good to increase the community awareness with these studies showing that this can be a problem.

By reading the comments made on similar articles it seems that most people are not surprised by these results and believe that this was a useless study considering that most people already know this information.  I find this information disturbing, because although, most people realize the dangers of drunk driving, many still continue this dangerous practice.  Knowing that something is dangerous is not enough to prevent everyone from participating.  However, my hope is that the more often that the message of dangerous driving gets out to the public, the more people will make a conscious decision to improve their safety as well as the safety of others on the road.

How do you drive this kind of fact through the skull of your average teenager? A very interesting program has come in to place for young kids to experience the dangers before getting behind the wheel. Video games were used to teach the impact that texting has on reaction time.

As part of a nationwide contest put on by the National Organization for Youth Safety, Colorado’s Vail Christian High School has introduced the “distracted and drowsy driving project.”  The initiative was aimed to show kids how dangerous Texting and driving is by having the students read and send texts while playing Mario Kart Wii.

Try this experiment at home: Try to text while racing on Mario Kart Wii.  I can assure you that one of the two activities will suffer greatly.

The perception is that texting is not nearly as dangerous as drunk driving, but the study I have mentioned shows that focused texting can be even more dangerous than drunk driving.  Remember this next time you are in your car and the phone beeps.

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Posted in Impaired Driving, Newsworthy | 6 Comments »