History of Electricity

600BC: A mathematician in Greece named Thales (one of the 7 sages of Greece) is thought to be the first person to discover what we know as static electricity by rubbing amber with animal fur.

Late 1500s: An English scientist, William Gilbert (one of Queen Elizabeth’s physicians) found out that amber was not the only conductor. He added many more substances to the list and coined the term electricity.

Early 1700s: Stephen Gray discovered conductivity and that even water could be electrified. Charles Du Fray, in Paris, performed experiments based on Gray’s work and came to the conclusion that everything and everybody contained electricity (leaving out lightning, ironically).

1752: Ben Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment. In the process, he proved that pointed rods conduct electricity better than balls do and that lightning is a form of electricity. Franklin then invented lightning rods and sold them throughout colonial America.

1870s: Thomas Edison built a DC (direct current) electric generator in America and later provided all of New York’s electricity.

1879: FIRST FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO ELECTRIC SHOCK.

1800s: Nikola Tesla invented the AC (alternating current) system for electrical transmission. This is what is used today over DC due to its many advantages; the biggest is that you can generate much more power from AC than DC. He also invented motors that run on AC and designed the world’s first Hydroelectric Plant.

The short answer to “What is electricity?” as OSHA states it, is the flow of electrons though a conductor. Since atoms make up any and everything, and electrons are particles that make up an atom, electrons are therefore everywhere. Because of this, electricity is everywhere. We are going to discuss how this affects us and how it is paramount to take a few extra steps in our daily lives and remember a few tips to keep ourselves safe with regards to electricity and electrical apparatuses.

Electricity is conducted through some materials better than others. Returning for a moment to the definition given earlier about electricity being the flow of electrons through a conductor, we know that conductors are materials that loosely hold electrons. Great examples of these are most metals: copper, aluminum, or steel. Other things hold electrons very tightly, these are called insulators. Insulators include: rubber, cloth, plastic, glass, or dry air. 

Electricity has a few important properties:

• It must have a complete path (or circuit) to continuously flow.
• Without two points of contact on the body for current to enter and exit, respectively, there is no hazard of shock. In fact, this why birds and squirrels can sit on power lines; there's only one point of contact!
• It will all paths back to the source, but it will follow paths proportionally according to the conductivity of each path.
• When impedance (resistance to electrical currents) increases even slightly, the electrical current seeks other paths to ground, such as through a person in contact with an energized surface.

In short, there are only 3 things needed to achieve this.

1. Understanding how electricity works.
2. Recognizing potential electrical hazards.
3. Learning about safety devices that prevent shock.

Welcome to part two of our new 6-part web series on office safety. In this blog article, we will be covering a once overlooked topic that has now been brought more to light, “Mental Health in the Workplace.”

The workplace is most definitely a double-edged sword. It can be a great contributor to one’s mental well-being, giving them an opportunity to feel productive, but also contribute to mental health problems and illnesses including depression and anxiety. Most adults spend as much time (if not more, an average of almost 9 hours) at their workplace as their own homes. This makes it an important topic to discuss and vital to general office safety. In fact, just over 26% (almost 58 million) of Americans ages 18 and older (the demographic that make up the American workforce) are affected by ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) alone.

Workplace mental health is a factor that actually impacts both productivity, employee retention, and well, the bottom line really. It is a crucial factor in maintaining a successful business that is often likely to be overlooked. Mental health and substance abuse disorders are costing American businesses an estimated $80 to $100 billion annually. You can calculate the cost of depression and alcoholism in your workplace by utilizing some free Web-based calculators (for example: www.alcoholcostcalculator.org).

A recent study was made by Harvard University Medical School of the financial impact of 25 chronic physical and mental issues for employers. Here are the top five:

1. Depression (single most expensive ailment for employers)
2. Obesity
3. Arthritis
4. Back and neck pain
5. Anxiety (an extraordinarily common occurrence in the stressful modern workplace)

History

Since the beginning of mankind, humans have adapted a sense of using the right tool for the job. In ancient times, it was tying rocks or bones to sticks for use as a hammer or sharpened to make hunting easier. Essentially, they established that using crude items could be used to make life easier. Ergonomics is just that, an applied science (not just a buzzword for marketers!) of work. That is, it’s intended to maximize productivity of workers by reducing/eliminating fatigue or discomfort. The literal definition of ergonomics, as Dictionary.com states, is “the study of the relationship between workers and their environment.” Also known as “biotechnology,” and first coined by Wojciech Jastrzebowski in 1857.

However, these early adoptions were merely used to optimize tasks. Ergonomics has since evolved into learning how to include worker safety and health by addressing muscle force, cardiovascular activity, maximum weight, etc. This is seen by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the 19^th century in which he used his “Scientific Method” (AKA ergonomics) to assist coal workers in tripling their productivity by designing shovels that were lighter and smaller. Also in the 1900s Frank and Lillian Gilbreth further expanded Taylor’s methods by coming up with the “Time and Motion Studies.” This was meant to reduce the amount of unnecessary motions required to perform a task. With this approach, they reduced the number of motions bricklayers used (from 18 to 4.5) and allowed them to increase productivity from 120 bricks per hour to 350.

“Formal” ergonomics is generally credited to the development of more complicated machinery in WWI and WWII. As aircrafts, tanks and other complex machines were being developed; human errors were piling up, resulting in catastrophes. Non-combat casualties were an outcome of bad engineering and design. This begged the necessity of better results through better designing, and the most “modern” form of ergonomics (how we know it today) is now becoming the norm.

Engineers and psychologists are working together in collaboration to improve our daily lives through better design. A multi-disciplinary approach has been taken to include anthropologists, industrial engineers, cognitive scientists and physiologists in order to understand the human operators and to design systems and machines to fit said user.

Today, most of us know ergonomics in a workplace context. As the average worker in America works for about 8 hours a day, the need for ergonomic office furniture and practices is of the upmost importance. The idea is to be sure that as technology and design make our homes safer and more comfortable, and in the case of the workplace, to increase productivity, increase comfort and prevent injuries and fatigue.

Hazards Associated with Ergonomics

Back injuries - Common back injuries include sprains, herniated disks and fractured vertebrae. Lower back pain is often the result of incorrect lifting methods/habits and poor posture.

• Tips include:

• Properly train employees on appropriate lifting techniques

• Utilize material handling equipment (carts, dollies, hand trucks)

• Encourage stretching for employees to reduce muscle strain

Carpal tunnel syndrome - A nervous system disorder causing parethesia (limbs falling sleep), pain and numbness. Carpal tunnel can be caused by environmental factors such as heavy manual work or work with vibrating tools. There is even a small amount of clinical data to suggest that lighter, repetitive tasks can cause it. This includes activities when frequent/constant wrist flexion is needed or when there is pressure against the underside of the wrist.

As you may remember, we previously covered the topic of “office safety” in an earlier blog, broken up into a 4-part web series. This was a great success in that it helped many to discover another side of an office setting in which hazards were uncovered and myths debunked. Still, it was meant to be a general coverage of the office setting and now we aim to uncover some more in-depth safety info, tips and practices involving office workers and those who work in an office area.

In our new 6-part weekly web series, we will spend time expanding on several subjects including workplace mental health, ergonomics, emergency plans, fire/electrical hazards, “common sense”/housekeeping practices, and the most common workplace injuries: slips, trips and falls.

So mark your calendars for this Monday, June 10^th when part one, “Ergonomics: Office Biotechnology and Improving Your Quality of Work” will come out exclusively on the Safety Training Services’ Safety Blog!

Remember that the safest workplaces are ones where every employee knows and practices appropriate office safety!

Here we are already in June, and summer is around the corner. June and July are peak months for grilling fires. But before you dust off that spatula and run to the store for some steaks and A1, let’s take a moment to discuss grilling safety and some tips to keep you from ending up like this poor guy.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends grillers are mindful of safety. Grills, in general, pose an obvious risk for fires and burns. Gas grills pose a slightly higher threat than charcoal grills in that gas grills contribute to a higher number of home fires than charcoal ones.

Running the Numbers

According to an analysis done by the NFPA, in 2006-2010, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 8,600 home fires involving grills, hibachis, or barbecues per year, including an average of 3,600 structure fires and 5,000 outside fires. These 8,600 fires caused an annual average of 10 civilian deaths, 140 reported civilian injuries, and $75 million in direct property damage. Once again, July was the peak month for grill fires, but these incidents occur throughout the year.

Flammable or combustible gas or liquid was the item first ignited in almost half of home outdoor grill fires. In almost half (46%) of the home outdoor fires in which grills were involved, 53% of the outside gas grills, and 26% of gas grill structure fires, the fire started when a flammable or combustible gas or liquid caught fire. 

Gas vs. Solid-Fueled (Information from NFPA “Grill Fact Sheet”)

• 83% of grills (5 out of every 6) involved in home fires were fueled by gas while 14% used charcoal or other solid fuel.
• Gas grills were involved in an average of 7,100 home fires per year, including 2,800 structure fires and 4,300 outdoor fires annually.
• Leak or break was the leading factor contributing to gas grill fires.
• Charcoal or solid-fueled grills were involved in 1,200 home fires, including 600 structure fires and 500 outside fires.
• The leading cause of these structure fires was something that could burn being too close to the grill.

More than one-quarter (28%) of the home structure fires involving grills started on a courtyard, terrace, or patio:

• 28% started on an exterior balcony or open porch.
• 6% began in the kitchen.
• 5% started on an exterior wall surface.

Emergency Room Visits Due to Grills

Before the Season Starts

7 Quick Tips for Grill Safety