Note:  We received several comments of thanks from our readers for providing these Winter Driving Tips in the CLMI Newsletter this past month.  I hope that you will find them useful.                                                                                       

We’ve all seen Winter Safe Driving tips over the years.  This condensed list is from the Minnesota Safety Council and provides excellent guidance.  I hope you think so too and share them with your family, friends, employees or others you care about.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

How should you prepare yourself for winter driving?

• Plan your driving in advance.
• Avoid driving when fatigued.
• Contact your provincial “Road Reports” to get updates regarding road conditions in the region to which you are going.
• Check weather conditions for your travel route (and time) before you begin driving.
• Plan your arrival time at a destination by taking into account any delays due to slower traffic, reduced visibility, roadblocks, abandoned automobiles, collisions, etc.
• Inform someone of your route and planned arrival time.
• Choose warm and comfortable clothing. If you need to remove outdoor clothing later while driving, STOP the vehicle in a safe spot.
• Warm up your vehicle BEFORE driving off. It reduces moisture condensing on the inside of the windows.
• NEVER warm up your vehicle in a closed garage.
• Remove snow and ice from your vehicle. It helps to see and, equally important, to be seen.
• Wear sunglasses on bright sunny days.
• Bring a cell phone if you have one but do not leave it in the car as the battery will freeze.

How should you drive in winter weather?

• Buckle up before you start driving. Keep your seat belt buckled at all times.
• SLOW DOWN! - posted speed limits are for ideal travel conditions. Driving at reduced speeds is the best precautionary measure against any misfortune while driving on slippery roads. “Black ice” is invisible.
• Be aware of the road conditions. Black ice will make a road look like shiny new asphalt. Pavement should look grey-white in winter.
• Do not use cruise control. Winter driving requires you to be in full control at all times.
• Reduce your speed while approaching intersections covered with ice or snow.
• Allow for extra travelling time or even consider delaying a trip if the weather is inclement.
• Drive with low-beam headlights on. Not only are they brighter than daytime running lights but turning them on also activates the tail lights. This makes your vehicle more visible.
• Lengthen your following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you. Stopping distance on an icy road can be up to 10 times that of stopping on a dry one. For example, from around 175 ft at the speed of 50 mph, to over 1,750 ft on an icy road surface.  (Even if it’s half that there’s a huge difference!)
• Stay in the right-hand lane except when passing and use turn signals when changing lanes.
• Steer with smooth and precise movements. Changing lanes too quickly and jerky steering while braking or accelerating can cause skidding.
• Be aware and slow down when you see a sign warning that you are approaching a bridge. Steel and concrete bridges are likely to be icy even when there is no ice on the asphalt surface, (because bridges over open air cool down faster than roads which tend to be insulated somewhat by solid ground.)
• Consider getting off the road before getting stranded if the weather is worsening.
• Be patient and pass other cars only when it is safe to do so.

Did we miss anything?  Please comment with your tips and thoughts for improving driver safety during these winter months.  Thanks!

Ergonomic Tips for Mobile Workers

In a previous post I shared my story of working at home and not following good ergonomic principles.  The result was a stiff neck and sore back.  This made me think about all the office ergonomics training I’ve had and have given.  This is the second post on the subject of Ergonomics for Road Warriors,  providing ergonomics tips for when working with specific pieces or types of equipment.   I hope you find the information useful.

Mobile Equipment

The very design of hand-held devices with small screens and keyboards,
and the design of laptops with the screen fixed to the keyboard can make
working in a neutral posture difficult.
Knowing the optimal positions of screens and keyboards, and know the
best choices for chairs and work surface can help you adapt and modify your
work habits.

 Laptops

Laptops offer many ergonomic challenges. Their small size and connected
screens and keyboards mean that you have to compromise posture for either good
viewing height or proper hand height. While there is no single best position,
there are things you can do to minimize stress and strain:

• Position the screen for comfortable viewing when you are primarily reading material on the screen.
• Place the laptop in a way that gives you the best arm and wrist position when you are mostly typing.
• Stand at a counter to work for a while if you are doing a combination of typing and reading.
• When using the computer in your lap, put a pillow on your lap first and then a hard surface like a tray or book on the pillow; now put the laptop on the hard surface to protect it from overheating and to give yourself a more stable surface.
• Try using a laptop stand and a document holder for the best head position.
• Use an external mouse instead of the device’s touchpad.
• When you are at your office desk, consider using an external keyboard, mouse and monitor.
• Change positions frequently and take regular breaks.
• When carrying your laptop use a wheeled case, messenger-style bag that goes across your upper body or be sure to frequently switch hands with a briefcase style bag.

Hand-held Devices

Frequent users of hand-held devices like cell phones and smart phones
are especially prone to repetitive stress injury of the thumbs, hands and
wrists. To avoid these chronic conditions follow these guidelines:

• Only use them for quick work: short emails, texts and limited researching; use a full-size keyboard and monitor when working for prolonged periods.
• Hold smart phones and cell phones with two hands in loose neutral grip; avoid the one-handed hold using the same thumb to scroll or type.
• Alternate using thumbs and index fingers when texting and typing.
• Hold the device up so you are only looking slightly down at the screen.
• Use a headset when making calls and avoid cradling the phone between your neck and shoulder.

Tablet Devices

These increasingly popular devices have their own unique challenges because they are heavier and larger than other hand-held devices. As such, we tend to pinch grip them using one hand, so we can access the device with the other hand. This causes strain to the hand, wrist and shoulder.  Instead:

• Place the device on a stand, counter or chair back to use it while you are standing.
• If you can’t do this, rest the tablet on your open hand and forearm.
• Avoid placing it flat on a work surface and looking down on it to minimize neck strain when sitting and working.
• If you don’t have a stand, place the device on a pillow or cushion or even prop it up on your knee. Your goal is to have the screen at a height where you are only looking slightly down on it.

Screens

Our eyes lead our body into its working position. Wherever we look and
focus, we tend to position our bodies to follow and maintain that focus. To
reduce neck stress and eyestrain:

• Place your laptop on the work surface so you can look slightly down on the screen.
• For smart phones and other hand-held devices such as tablets, try to hold the device up close to eye level, again so you are looking slightly down.
• Keep windows to the left or right of the screen; not directly in front of or behind it to minimize glare.

Eyestrain

Up to ninety percent of people who work with computers experience
eyestrain. To minimize this bothersome situation:

• Have regular eye exams and tell your doctor about your computer and hand-held device use.
• Get fitted with the right types of lenses that may include bifocals, trifocals and anti-glare coatings.
• Blink frequently.  Your eyecare professional may recommend eye drops or artificial tears for dry eyes.
• Keep your head in its proper position of looking slightly down at the screen.
• Adjust screen contrast and brightness settings and increase zoom controls.

In Summary

As I said at the end of Part One, following these simple tips can make a world of difference.  Your comfort is important, so taking a few minutes to consider your work area and how you can configure it for better ergonomics will keep you from the strains and stress that plagues Road Warriors.  Be Safe!

“I never thought it would happen to me.”

How many incidents have we investigated and had someone who was involved say this or something like it?

No one sees it coming until BAM, they’re in the middle of a situation.  Sometimes it’s nothing and no bad consequences result; a Near Miss/Near Hit.  Other times the holes in James Reason’s swiss cheese model of human error align and something serious results.

The topic and related situation I’m going to discuss today isn’t that serious.  Given what I was doing….. I should have known it would happen to me!

Working at Home and On The Road

Many people like me either work at home or on the road in airports, hotels and coffee shops.  Some could call us “Road Warriors” based on all the miles we drive or fly.  Every day can present a different work environment.

As a safety professional, I’ve not only attended many sessions on ergonomics at symposia or conferences, but have taught them.  Together with Rick Johnson and others who have consulted here at CLMI, I’ve also written and produced a couple of dozen training and “how to” ergonomics courses.  That’s why I should know better.

Ergonomics has some basic elements that we all know:  force, repetition, posture, distance, vibration, temperature, etc.  My problem and that of many Road Warriors is how I sit and do my work:  posture…bad posture!

When I work at home I am either sitting at the dining room table or on the couch in the living room with my laptop on the coffee table.  First off, neither of these work surfaces are adjustable in any way, nor is my seating.  At least when I sit at the table I can pull the chair all the way in and limit my reach.  But when I work at the couch all bets are off.  My lighting is pretty good, so I don’t think there are vision issues.  But if I am working with any reference materials I’m forever reaching and shuffling to find what I need.  You get the picture, and it’s not pretty.

My Sore Neck and Back

This past week I was working on a lengthy proposal that took a couple of days to complete.  I don’t know about you, but I’m very intense when writing and drafting proposals, articles and creating coursework.  This intensity creates tension, and the tension results in me not moving as much as I should.   After 2 full days of sitting, intensely writing away and not moving very much, I was in trouble.  I realized that my neck was getting stiff and when I stood up my back ached!  Thank goodness I knew about reversing exercises that can release tension, so I did my neck and back stretches.  Fortunately I was okay the next day.

This episode helped me realize just how bad I’ve set up my work area at home.  CLMI recently released an office ergonomics program for mobile workers, so I decided to take a few minutes and watch the DVD online.  In watching it I was reminded how simple good ergonomics can be, if only you take a few minutes to think, make adjustments and move a bit.

From the CLMI Office Ergonomics – Mobile Workers program here are some tips to help all of you - Road Warriors:

What Impacts Ergonomics

There are three key areas to look at when deciding how to properly use
mobile office equipment:

1. Posture – keeping our bodies in a neutral
   position which provides us with the most strength and the least amount of
   stress and strain on muscles and joints.
2. Environment – creating work spaces that
   allow us to keep our bodies in as neutral a position as possible.
3. Equipment Use – finding ways to
   interactive with the equipment that allows us to keep our bodies in as
   neutral position as possible.

Neutral Posture

A neutral body posture maintains the natural curves of our spine. When
we are in neutral, the head and back are aligned with the ears over the
shoulders, the line of sight is ahead or slightly down and the shoulders are
relaxed over the hips.

• Think: Ears over shoulders — Shoulders over hips.

Out of Office Environment

Working at home, in airports, coffee shops, conference centers and
hotel rooms often causes us to sit in chairs that don’t fit us and to work at
surfaces that are either too high or too low. Even slightly modifying seating
and work surfaces can have a positive impact on keeping our bodies as neutral
as possible.

Chairs -  No matter where we “office” we frequently work sitting down. To
minimize back and shoulder pain, leg pressure and neck strain, choose a chair
that is the right height, depth and one that offers lumbar support. Your chair
is the right:

• Height
  when you can sit back in the chair with your thighs parallel to the floor
  and your feet comfortably on the floor – sit on a pillow if a chair is too
  low; use a book as a foot rest if a chair is too high.
• Depth
  when you can place two to three fingers between the back of your knees and
  the seat – place a rolled towel or pillow behind your back if a chair is
  too deep.
• Lumbar
  support, when you can sit back comfortably with your back having the
  natural S-curve – use a pillow or rolled towel for extra support.
• Arm
  rests can also cause strain. If you find yourself leaning on the arm
  rests, lower them or move to a chair without arm rests.

Work Surfaces – Ideally the desk top or work surface should allow you to have a
straight alignment of your forearm, wrist and hand at your elbow height. Your
arms should hang naturally at your side.

When you can’t adjust the surface, try placing your work, laptop or
tablet on books, magazines or pillows to raise the height. If the surface is
too high, consider standing to do your work. In either case, remember to change
up your position frequently and to take regular breaks.

 Move Around and Stretch

Our bodies are meant to move. Even when you create a good environment
and use devices appropriately it is still important to:

• Try to move every 30 minutes – change your body positions; stand up even when talking on the phone; and, stretch.
• Rest your eyes – look up from the screen and scan around the room;  look off into the distance and let your eyes blurr.
• Take regular breaks – get up and get a drink of water; short 2-3 minute breaks are all you need to release tension.
• Make frequent adjustments – move your chair closer to the table; concentrate on your posture and sit up straight.
• Listen to your body – don’t ignore discomfort and pain.

Summing It Up

When working at home or on the road it’s easy to forget about our posture and how we are working.  That’s why keeping these simple ergonomics Tips for Road Warriors in mind will help you get your work done, without the strain and stress that I encountered.  I hope this helps.  Look for another blog post soon where I provide more ergonomics tips on how to use specific pieces of mobile equipment stress free.  Until then…..