R Safety Talks Publication 129 March 1999 Transmittal Letter A. Explanation. Publication 129, Safety Talks, is updated with the inclusion of new statistical information and some new safety talks. Safety talks are an important part of your safety program. This publication presents a wide variety of discussion topics, quizzes, and advice — from the Office of Safety and Risk Management, various field offices, the National Safety Council, and other sources — that supervisors can use as basic guidelines for presenting safety talks. B. Availability 1. Hard Copy. Copies of Publication 129 may be ordered from the material distribution centers using Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition, or individual safety talks may be reproduced locally. 2. Online Copy. Publication 129 can be accessed on the Postal Service IntraNet from the Policies and Procedures page at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim and from the Human Resources page at http://blue.usps.gov/hrisp. C. Comments. Send recommended changes or ideas for new safety talks to: SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT US POSTAL SERVICE 475 L’ENFANT PLAZA SW RM 9801 WASHINGTON DC 20260-4240 Yvonne D. Maguire Vice President Human Resources 1 Safety Talks Contents Contents 1 Overview. 1-1 Introduction . 1-3 How to Give Safety Talks. 1-4 What a Supervisor Can Do to Prevent Accidents. 1-7 2 Health and Weather-Related Safety. 2-1 Substance Abuse . 2-3 How Does Substance Abuse Affect You?. 2-5 Alcoholism — Problem Drinkers. 2-7 Alcoholism . 2-9 Sun Can Be Fun, But Dangerous to Some. 2-11 Sunstroke — It Can Be Serious!. 2-13 Sunburn . 2-15 Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion. 2-17 Keeping the Body’s Temperature in Balance. 2-19 Frostbite . 2-21 Stress — How to Cope With It. 2-23 3 Preventing Dog Bites. 3-1 Are You an Unwary Visitor?. 3-3 Dog Attacks and Dog Bites — What to Do. 3-5 Putting the Bite on Dog Problems. 3-7 What You Should Know About Dogs. 3-9 Does Your Dog Bite?. 3-11 Some Tips on How to Handle the Dog Days of Summer. 3-13 4 Electrical Safety. 4-1 Water and Electricity Don’t Mix. 4-3 Electricity — Friend or Foe?. 4-7 Grounds for Caution. 4-9 Caution During Electrical Repairs. 4-11 Publication 129, March 1999 iii 3 Contents Safety Talks 5 Slips, Trips, and Falls. 5-1 Falls Are No Laughing Matter. 5-3 Slips, Trips, and Falls. 5-5 Slips Are Dangerous. 5-7 Office Haste . 5-9 Stairway Safety . 5-11 Use Handrails . 5-13 Work Shoes . 5-15 Winter Walking . 5-17 6 Fire Prevention. 6-1 Fire Facts . 6-3 Fire Safety . 6-5 Caution — Gasoline. 6-9 Smoke Detectors and Home Fire Action Plans. 6-11 When Using Heat Stoves, Don’t Put Safety on the Back Burner. 6-13 7 Housekeeping and Office Safety. 7-1 Check Your Housekeeping Knowledge. 7-3 How’s Your Eye-Q?. 7-5 Keep It Clean For Safety’s Sake. 7-7 We Are All Maintenance Employees. 7-9 Keep Offices Accident Free. 7-11 Unsafe Offices . 7-13 8 Lifting and Handling. 8-1 Do You Use Safe Lifting Techniques?. 8-3 Do’s and Don’ts of Lifting. 8-5 The Acheless Back. 8-7 Team Lifting . 8-9 Manual Handling of Materials. 8-11 9 Personal Protective Equipment. 9-1 Defense Defense . 9-3 Do You Take Your Eyes for Granted?. 9-5 Safe Eyes . 9-7 Hand Protection . 9-9 iv Publication 129, March 1999 4 Safety Talks Contents 10 Machinery, Tools, and Ladders. 10-1 What You Don’t Know About Machinery Can Hurt You. ..