Now that you’ve taken the safety quiz to text your knowledge, how many did you get correct?

1) Grocery and retail stores, and barber and beauty shops
The correct answer is C) Slips, trips and falls.
There are more than 540,000 injuries from slips, trips and falls every year in grocery stores across America, though injuries from heavy lifting and cuts are also significant. To prevent slips, trips and falls, make a point of cleaning up spills right when they happen. Keep your workspace from getting cluttered with trash and debris. And use slip mats in the deli, meat and seafood depart- ments and any other areas with wet surfaces.

2) Hospitals, nursing homes and medical facili- ties
The correct answer is A) Sprains, strains and tears.
These account for 73 percent of health care industry workplace injuries, usually as a conse- quence of having to lift patients or products. The key to avoiding problems is to ensure you always use proper lift procedures. If a patient has fallen or passes out and is too heavy for you to handle based on your own strength, use the buddy sys- tem and get help from a co-worker. In some cases, a lifting machine may be necessary to move immobile patients. Do not hesitate to use this if needed to prevent harm to you or the patient.

3) Police departments
The correct answer is B) Car accidents.
While police officers do face the risk of violence in the line of duty, many spend most of their time in the car, and often have to rush to the scene of a crime or give chase to a fleeing sus- pect. This is when officers face the greatest risk to life and limb. That’s why it’s critical that all police officers receive proper training under all kinds of road conditions. It’s hard enough to con- trol a car in a high-speed chase, but it’s far worse if the pavement is wet or icy. Perpetrators are betting on the odds that you’ll crash before you catch them. It’s also essential to always buckle up, and to make sure all lights are on and flash- ing when pulled over by the side of the road.

4) Meat and poultry processing plants and factories
The correct answer is D) Back disorders.
Since plant and factory work usually involves hard physical labor, back disorders are a com- mon problem, though repetitive motion inju- ries such as carpal tunnel syndrome are aslo an issue. To prevent them, workers should be prop- erly trained in lifting procedures. Repetitive twisting can also account for back strains and muscle pulls. If you are working on the job and your back becomes stiff, your body is telling you that you’re at risk of a muscle pull or tear, or worse, a herniated disk. If this happens a lot, your employer should conduct an ergonomic study to see how these kinds of strains can be eliminated.

5) The fishing industry.
The correct answer is B) Boat disasters, but A) Falls overboard is a close second.
That’s why it’s essential that fishing boats are properly maintained and kept sea-worthy at all times. The smallest repairs must be attended to, because they can turn into big, life-threatening problems on the open waters. All workers must wear life preservers and other personal pro- tective equipment, including harnesses when necessary. Fishermen should also take extra pre- cautions when walking on deck at night — one never knows when an errant wave might come crashing over the boat’s side.

6) Lumber mills
The correct answer is C) Struck by, caught in, under or between, cut.
Huge, heavy objects and massive machines all present threats in lumber mills. To avoid being struck, cut by, or caught in or under large objects, make sure that where you work is free from swinging cables and hoists. Use proper lock out and tag out procedures when unclogging machines. Make sure all machines are properly guarded and maintained. Don’t take unneces- sary risks and follow proper safety procedures.

If you feel workplace is unsafe in any way, please contact your shop steward or Local 400 representative immediately!