Safety Awareness While Driving

Let’s face it, accidents happen, but many can be prevented if we are safety aware when behind the wheel of a vehicle. The cost of an accident can be “mind-blowing.” There’s the cost of vehicle repairs, injuries possibly deaths, costs of property repairs, and probable increases to your insurance premium. Safe driving and training drivers to be safe can go a long way to keeping you and your coworkers safe and your premiums in check. Here are 7 common vehicular accidents and tips on how to avoid them:

Rear-End Collisions - These are common auto insurance claims. Whether you are the driver who hits a vehicle in front of you or the driver who gets hit from behind, these accidents can often be avoided. Consider these tips:

Keep your distance. Drive far enough behind the car in front of you so you can safely stop; especially in inclement weather, give yourself plenty of reaction time.

Drive strategically. Avoid situations that could force you to suddenly use your brakes. Keep your head on a swivel looking for potential hazards.

Don’t be distracted. Keep your eyes on the road and watch your mirrors. Know what’s going on all around you. Avoid eating, drinking, grooming, or rocking out to your favorite tune on the radio. Do not text or even talk on the phone while driving. If the phone conversation is really that important, pull safely off the road.

Don’t drive while drowsy or under the influence. You are more likely to make driving errors when you are sleepy or impaired by alcohol or drugs (including over the counter cold/flu meds). Have someone else drive who is sober and alert.

Parked Car Damage - Parked cars being hit by other vehicles are another common claim. Whether you are leaving your car in a parking lot or on the curb, take steps to avoid having your parked car damaged by:

Going the distance. Don’t look for the closest spot in the busiest part of the parking lot. Instead select a space away from the crowd and heavy traffic. Park out where no one else is parking.

Maximize the space. Always park in the center of the spot. Reposition if your car is too close to one of the parking lines. Avoid taking two spaces.

Back into your parking space or pull through so your first movement when leaving is forward. Backing out of parking spaces is hard and dangerous. Vision is greatly limited when backing. On the other hand, when pulling forward to exit a space you can easily see any hazards in front of or to the side of you.

Use street-smarts when on-the-curb parking. Try not to park near busy intersections, tight turnarounds, hills, or driveways. Others may not see your vehicle and sideswipe it.

Single-Vehicle Accidents - running off the road, hitting road barriers, debris, animals, or trees. Pay attention to your surroundings, don’t drive too fast. These can help you avoid a single-vehicle accident:

Drive right for the weather. Even if you’re the only vehicle on the road during rainy, icy, snowy days, drive at speeds that allow you to maintain control. Know how to avoid hydroplaning on flooded roads. Don’t drive into flooded roadways. Take time to refresh your winter driving knowledge and skills before inclement weather season begins.

Always pay attention. Don’t talk on the phone or text while driving especially in inclement weather. Turn off the radio and don’t eat or drink. Stay completely focused on your driving and don’t get complacent when the weather makes driving hazardous. Be cautious of wildlife especially early in the morning or in the evening.

Don’t drive too fast. Speeding has been a factor in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities for the past two decades. Even if you’re on an isolated roadway, keep to the speed limit.

Windshield Damage - Chips and cracks in vehicle windshields are a common auto claim that most drivers don’t realize they can help prevent. Most windshield damage happens when rocks are thrown up in the air by other vehicles. Avoid this damage by maintaining a safe distance from other cars and trucks. Stay back from snowplows and dump trucks. Stop well back of a railroad crossing barrier when stopped for trains.

Crashes at Intersections - Intersections are another place where accidents frequently happen. Distracted drivers may miss traffic signals or attempt to speed through a yellow light, or they don’t notice vehicles pausing before making turns. Practice defensive driving to avoid accidents. Allow a few seconds after the light turns green before entering an intersection. Watch out for drivers speeding through a yellow light. When you are approaching an intersection with a yellow light, stop. Be cautious rather than take a chance.

Parked vehicle theft - No matter where you park your car, there is always a chance of a break-in.

Never leave valuables in your car. Having them in view is an invitation for crooks. Take expensive things with you or store them in your trunk or glove compartment.

Never park in a dark location. Find spaces in well-lit areas. Plan ahead if you are going to leave your car parked after sunset.

Don’t leave your vehicle running or the keys in the ignition if you’re just going to “pop into a store for just a moment.” Always turn off the vehicle, take the keys, and lock the doors. Don’t make it easy for the bad guys.

Backing Collisions - Whether backing out of your driveway or out of a parking space, backing collisions are the most common type of vehicular accident. The best thing you can do to avoid backing accidents is to avoid having to back up in the first place. When possible park in a way you don’t have to back up into traffic, such as pulling through or backing into a parking space. Use your mirrors, keeping your head on swivel checking all mirrors and blind spots while backing. Back up slowly. If you have a backup camera use that too, but don’t totally rely on the camera - use those mirrors.

Some other suggestions to prevent backing accidents:

Walk around your vehicle before you even get in to identify hazards that you could back into like buildings, signs, trashcans, other cars, or people.

Back out using the shortest, most direct route possible.

Reverse in a straight line, turning only when clear of parked cars or other obstructions.

Back up slowly, while constantly looking for traffic behind you.

Use your mirrors and brake until you are completely out of the parking space and moving forward into traffic.

Never do anything distracting while backing, like talking on the phone, searching for something, or dialing the radio.

OMAG has a partnership with OSU-OKC’s Precision Driving School. They provide both in-class instruction and a hands-on driving course for your employees who frequently drive as part of their jobs. OMAG pays for your employees to attend these courses. There are courses for Law Enforcement, EMT, Fire, and Public Works. If you would like more information about how to sign up for the Precision Driving program, contact OMAG Risk Management Services at (800) 234-9461.

Hierarchy of Safety Controls

The hierarchy of control involves the following steps: Elimination – removes the cause of danger completely. Substitution – controls the hazard by replacing it with a less risky way to achieve the same outcome. Engineering Controls protect workers by removing hazardous conditions or by placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard. Administrative Controls are fairly simple: warning alarms, for example, are just that – alarms that let you know when something isn’t right. The last control is PPE, Personal Protective Equipment, which really is exactly what the name implies: protection you use personally.

Elimination, the top of the hierarchy, is the complete elimination of a hazard, the most effective way to protect workers. For example, bad housekeeping. The best practice would be to eliminate the hazard by picking up or moving what’s in the walking path to prevent a slip, trip or fall. Establish travel paths or walkways through work areas. The concept of elimination isn’t as simple as it sounds. If elimination fixed every hazard, everyone would be doing it. However, if elimination is on the table and is available to an employer, they should use elimination for taking care of the hazard. If elimination doesn’t work, you move on down to the substitution.

Substitution identifies a hazardous situation and uses a different product or piece of equipment that is not hazardous. An example would be, instead of sandblasting, use a non-silica containing abrasive material. The downfalls of substitution are the quality and cost, such as replacing lead-based paint with titanium white. The product must not produce unintended consequences, such as airborne dust, due to inhalation and accumulation of particles in the lungs that can lead to occupational lung disease. Basically, if you can substitute a smaller product with a larger product, that has a larger particle, then that should be your aim.

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Engineering controls are designed to get as close to eliminating the hazard as possible, without eliminating it completely. This is done by designing something in the facility or a piece of equipment to reduce the hazard or employee’s exposure to the hazard. The design must be used properly and be certified by ANSI. A glove box for handling hazardous material and chemicals is an example of isolation and engineering control. The box allows the employee to do the work while not being exposed to the material/chemical due to the material being in the box. Engineering controls don’t work out for everyone, they must be used perfectly if used. Engineering controls are the best option when the hazard cannot be eliminated.

Administrative controls (written policies & procedures) are at the point where you identify the hazard and recognize the hazard as one that can be tolerated or lived with as long as there are boundaries and precautions in place, so levels of exposure are not exceeded. Administrative controls can be used in conjunction with engineering controls or PPE such as planning the day job in the evening time in the summer due to heat stress and dehydration of workers.

Finally, PPE. Of all of the controls in the Hierarchy of Controls, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the one most people are familiar with.  Why?  Well, PPE is quick, easy, often less expensive than other options, and readily available. You should know that PIOSH and OSHA consider PPE a “last resort.” So while a personal fall arrest system is considered PPE, a guardrail is not. While a respirator is considered PPE, ventilation is not. PPE includes material that must be worn on a job site such as earplugs, gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, steel toe boots, or reflective vests. PPE is not a game of guesswork. You must know what PPE is sufficient and insufficient such as earplugs rated for noise reduction. There must be a noise survey done to determine what kind of earplugs will reduce the noise to acceptable levels. PPE must be taken care of and used properly. A full-body harness could save your life, but also could cause serious internal bodily harm if it’s not worn properly.

In a nutshell, take your time and observe the areas around you. If you see a hazard go through the steps of the hierarchy of control to see which level will best suit the hazard to prevent the worker from getting injured. Safety is common sense and we can learn to manage hazards better by using the hierarchy of controls.

Know the Facts About Hardhats

Recently I received a call from a municipal safety coordinator about whether to change their policy and procedures to allow workers to wear bump caps rather than hard hats. Upon researching the issue, I recommended the municipality keep their current policy and procedures regarding hard hats for several reasons. They are safer, less hassle for supervisors and safety personnel to manage, they are cheaper, and they can be just as comfortable for the wearer if you purchase high quality equipment. If your municipality is having a debate about this issue and you would like a recommendation from OMAG’s Risk Management Services, just give us a call.

Here are the basic facts about hardhat safety. In just about any given year more than one thousand workers are killed in the US from head injuries sustained on the job. Workers complain that hardhats are hot and uncomfortable to wear. They state they “have never been hit by anything while doing their job, therefore wearing a hard hat is dumb.” They complain that wearing a hardhat makes them look silly so they don’t wear it. Regardless, employers must ensure their workers wear head protection if they are at risk of being struck by falling objects, bumping their heads on fixed objects, or encountering electrical hazards.

OSHA states that hardhats must: resist penetration by objects, absorb shock from a blow to the head by an object, be slow to burn, and be water-resistant. All hardhats must have a label inside the shell listing the manufacturer, ANSI designation, and class of the hat.

Hardhats must feature a hard outer shell and a lining that absorbs shock and incorporates a headband. Straps should suspend from the shell about 1 inch to 1 ¼ inches away from the worker’s head. Hard hats must meet ANSI standard requirements. Workers must wear the proper type for their job task. The classes for OSHA approved hardhats are as follows:

Class G – General Helmet - provide protection against impact and object penetration. Their voltage protection is limited to 2,200 volts.

Class E – Electrical Helmet - delivers the most protection against electrical hazards (up to 20,000 volts). They protect against impact and penetration hazards form falling objects or objects flying through the air.

Class C – Conductive Helmet - for lightweight impact protection and offers more comfort, however OSHA points out that these offer no protection against electrical hazards.

The “bump cap” is intended for workers in areas that have low head clearance. OSHA states they are not designed to protect against falling/flying objects and have no electrical hazard protection. Bump caps are not ANSI approved. Since most public works jobs require protection from potential falling/flying objects and some require electrical hazard protection, it would not be a best risk management practice to allow workers to wear bump caps.

Finally, OSHA offers some tips for caring for hardhats:

• Clean and inspect hardhats daily. Replace hardhats with cracks, perforations, or other deformities immediately.

• Know that some paints, paint thinners, and some cleaning agents can weaken a hardhat’s shell as well as reduce its electrical resistance.

• Do not apply labels or drill holes into the hardhat – doing so can damage its protective capabilities.

• Keep your hardhat out of direct sunlight when not in use. Sunlight and extreme heat can damage a hardhat and make it ineffective protection against object impact.

The bottom line is employers and supervisors must be sure to have written policies and procedures as to when hardhats are required for a job. You must manage workers and make sure they are following proper procedures and wearing hardhats. Finally, you should purchase the approved type of hardhat for the job, making sure it is approved by ANSI and is quality equipment.

Maximizing Jetter Hose Life

How long will a typical sewer line jetter hose last? That is about as easy to answer as trying to estimate when a jetter’s pump will break down.

A hose is a consumable; it’s not going to last forever. There is no hard-fast rule for how long a hose will last. Hoses are subjected to a harsh environment. Operators often don’t know what they are getting into, and can destroy a hose the first time they put it into a pipe.  On the other hand, there are some simple and relatively inexpensive things you can do to prolong the life of your hose. First and foremost – shield your hose from sharp edges on things like manhole covers, corrugated pipe or broken pipes using a protective sleeve, generally known in the industry as a tiger tail.

Every time you use a hose without a tiger tail, you run the risk of tearing the outer jacket of the hose. Once you get a nick in the outer jacket it reduces the hose’s effectiveness. Tiger tails come in various diameters and lengths. Each one includes a tie-off rope that workers attach to a fixed object near a friction point, like the edge of a broken pipe in the opening of a manhole trough. The tiger tail stays in one place while the jetter hose moves through it, unimpeded by sharp edges. Another useful tool is a manhole roller guide, which also protects the hose from sharp edges as it passes through the manhole opening. Some companies make manhole rollers for use both at street level and down inside the manhole where the hose enters the pipe at the trough.

Regularly cleaning hoses helps extend their life, so operators should wipe down a hose as it is being pulled back to the hose reel. Hoses can come into contact with damaging chemicals and waste gases. You don’t want residue from waste eating away at the hose. Having a clean hose also minimizes odors when storing in a closed space. Also, it is difficult to detect nicks and cuts on a hose that is grimy and dirty.

Another suggestion is for operators to use a leader hose, typically a 10-15 foot long rubber hose that attaches to the front end of the jetting hose at one end and the jetter nozzle at the other end. This hose is also called a sacrificial hose because it takes the brunt of the load as it goes through the pipe. Because it is rubber, a lead hose is more flexible than the thermoplastic-coated jetter hose, so it can make its way through bends in pipes easier. The leader hose is cheaper to replace than the jetter hose and you can afford to have 2-3 extras on hand in case you damage one in the field. Just grab a spare from the shop, unscrew the old one and screw on the new one and you’re up and running again. The leader hose also boosts jobsite safety. When operators see one emerge from the line they know the end of the hose will follow shortly, alerting them to power down the pump.

Finally, another way to increase the life of your hose is to regularly inspect every inch of the hose for nicks and cuts. It is suggested that you perform an inspection at the start or end of a job, or even both. Some supervisors have their crew take the hose completely off the hose reel every week laying it out in the parking lot for a thorough inspection. If a worker finds a defect, they tag it out and the hose gets repaired or replaced. This is very time consuming but may well be the most valuable half-hour that the operators spend each week. There is a lot at stake when a hose goes. The braid on a jetter hose is like a suspension bridge; when the strands starts to break away, eventually the bridge is going to fail.

It is understandable that operators may not want to take the time to inspect their equipment and especially the hose. This inspection can help prevent costly damage and terrible accidents though. Also note that hose repairs can not be done with a hose clamp and duct tape. There is no way that’s going to hold back water at 3,000 psi. Take the time to inspect and be safe.

OMAG has a grant for Sewer Maintenance Equipment. To learn more about this grant go to www.omag.org, click on “free services” then “grants and scholarships” and look for Sewer Maintenance Equipment Grant.

July 2021 Risk and Safety Newsletter

May 2021 Risk and Safety Newsletter

How Municipal Water Recreation Facilities Can Avoid Injuries and Liability

Water recreation facilities offer visitors the exciting action-packed experience of riding gravity-defying slides, swimming in wave pools, and running around silly fountains squirting and dumping water on visitors. Unfortunately, it’s not all fun and games – sometimes visitors get hurt.

Of course, those who participate in any form of recreation that involves physical activity risk being injured. When people are injured at a water recreation facility (pool, splash pad, waterpark, municipal lake, etc.), they often file a liability claim or attempt to sue the facility on the grounds that the activity or premises was not reasonably safe. The law does not impose absolute liability on the operator of a water recreation facility or any recreational facility whenever a customer is injured. However, the operator IS required to take reasonable measures (emphasis on “reasonable”) to make an activity safe. The law does recognize that people who swim, jump, and climb risk sprains, broken bones, heart attacks, and even death, and that some of the risks cannot be eliminated by reasonable measures.

So, what are the reasonable steps an operator of a water recreation facility can take to avoid or reduce the risk of customer injury? What are the practices that will appear careless or unreasonable in a courtroom? What actions will demonstrate to a jury that the operator cares about injury to its customers, has taken reasonable steps to avoid or minimize the risk of injury, and should not be blamed when a customer is injured? The following “best practices” can help water recreation operators avoid liability:

1. Training, training, training. Nothing looks worse to a jury than a young, inexperienced, seasonally employed lifeguard or operator who has little to no training in preparing customers for a potentially hazardous activity, or recognizing problems, or taking action when problems arise. Even worse is someone who learned their job from watching another casually trained, inexperienced employee. All workers should be trained at the beginning of their employment in the safe operating procedures for all activities that can cause injury. They should specifically be trained regarding activities that could be deemed hazardous that they are assigned to supervise. They need to be trained on what to do if an injury occurs and how to get quick medical assistance. It might be a good idea to hire an outside company certified in the safe operation of water recreation facilities. It could avoid the argument the operator is not qualified (by credentials, training, or experience) to train its staff in safety procedures.

2. Check and double check. It looks good when a supervisor, manager, or loss prevention person periodically monitors operations, both to ensure that staff are doing what they have been trained to do and are appropriately positioned at their post, and are not doing what they should not be doing, like using their phone or visiting with people when they are supposed to be observing the environment. While there is no hard and fast rule on how often a supervisor should do a walk-around, unscheduled visit several times a day/week, depending on the facility, is preferable. Periodic monitoring also reinforces training and informs management what messages are not getting through to staff and customers concerning safety.

3. Keep detailed records. Witnesses often forget or have different recollections of how an accident happened, who said or did what, and other details. Having a supervisor or manager identify, interview, and record the names and experiences of eyewitnesses is critical to recreating the incident at a review or court case later. The same holds true with respect to the injured person: Where possible, it is important to get their account of what happened in case the story changes later.

4. Incident reports are always evidence in a lawsuit. The objective of the report is not to have the person who creates it “play detective” and form opinions about who is at fault or how the incident could have been avoided, the goal is to record the identity and factual reports of eyewitnesses and any information provided by the injured person to the extent they are well enough to provide it. The incident report should be completed by a manager, supervisor, or loss control personnel, not an entry-level employee.

5. Documenting the scene with photographs, taken as soon as possible after the incident are critical. Photographs serve as additional evidence. If the condition that is believed to have caused the accident could change (i.e. the water level could return to normal or a piece of equipment could be replaced), it should be photographed soon after the incident. Digital photos cost nothing, so take a lot of them. Surveillance video of an incident should also be preserved.

6. Routine facility equipment inspections and work orders should be kept on file. If the injured person claims they were hurt because something malfunctioned, the operation or attraction (diving board, slide, etc.) should be checked as soon as possible after the incident by a qualified repair person. If the injured person or an employee reports something broke and caused the incident, that part, broken or not, must be taken out of service immediately and preserved for later inspection. Often, a maintenance person will throw away a broken part that may later be used in a litigated claim against the municipality. If a defendant disposes of evidence without realizing it may be needed in a court case, the plaintiff’s lawyer can suggest to the jury the defendant was trying to hide the truth.

7. Use liability waivers. Although not enforceable in some states and enforceable in limited circumstances in others, liability waivers can be a useful tool, but they must be worded as clearly and concisely as possible. Many people do not know what a “release” or “waiver” is or have only a basic understanding of what they mean. Courts will determine whether the average person would have been able to understand that by signing the waiver they have given up the right to sue. If the average employee does not understand the language of the waiver, chances are the customer will not understand it either. Thus, a judge is likely to dismiss the waiver protection on those grounds. Use plain language and simple concepts in your waiver agreements. 

Accidents happen, and with them come liability claims and possible lawsuits. Most courts are fair to operators, and while they may feel sympathy for an injured person, they are less likely to decide a case against a recreational facility if they believe the facility took reasonable steps to avoid or reduce the risk of injury. Most people recognize that risk is a part of life. To that end, every water recreation facility must take reasonable steps to avoid customer injury and liability through staff training, monitoring, inspecting, and documentation. If you have any questions about this article, contact Kip Prichard, OMAG Risk Management Specialist kprichard@omag.org or (800) 234-9461.

7 Signs of Fatigue and How it Affects the Workplace

Fatigue doesn’t just cause workers to feel more tired, it also increases the risk of accidents and injuries, reduces productivity, and causes absenteeism. Research has shown that spending 17 hours awake is equivalent to having a blood alcohol level of 0.05, and 24 hours awake is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.10. You’d never let an employee operate heavy machinery with that much alcohol in their system, yet fatigued workers routinely engage in difficult or hazard-heavy work.

In the context of safety and health, fatigue refers to mental or physical exhaustion that reduces a person’s capacity to perform work safely and effectively. The causes, however, aren’t always work related. Some of the most common reasons for fatigue include:

• Prolonged or intense mental or physical activity

• Sleep loss or disrupted sleep

• Travel

• Organizational change

• Irregular work scheduling or excessively long shifts

• Strenuous activity

• Long commutes to and from work

• Working in extremely hot or cold environments

How to tell if a worker is fatigued

Fatigued workers can put themselves and others at risk of injury. It is important for managers and supervisors to know the signs of fatigue and watch out for these symptoms in their employees.

1. Tired, Weariness, or Sleepiness – Drooping heads, incessant yawning, and eyelids that seem to be closing are the most obvious indicators that a worker is fatigued and needs time to recover before costly errors or accidents happen.

2. Irritability – Workers can be irritable for many reasons, including problems at home, financial stress, conflict with coworkers, etc. Another reason may be the lack of rest. It is a good idea to watch for patterns of irritability or a newly developed “bad attitude,” especially when combined with other signs on the list above.

3. Reduced Alertness, Concentration, or Memory – Watch for workers who appear to have trouble focusing or who can’t recall seemingly simple things, like what they just said or did. Having difficulty solving problems can also be an indicator of fatigue.

4. Lack of Motivation – Employees who appear to suddenly lack motivation to do their job, and do it well, may seem lazy but this is generally a sign of broader issues, including fatigue.

5. Increased Mistakes or Lapses in Judgment – If a worker who is otherwise proven to be competent and good at their job starts making frequent errors or poor choices, it might be a sign of sleep deprivation or fatigue.

6. Headaches – Headaches are a sign of fatigue, but they can also be a sign of dehydration. Before deciding it is fatigue, make sure all workers are adequately hydrated on the job, even when it is not hot outside.

7. Increased Susceptibility to Illness – Workers who are suddenly taking more time off due to illness may be experiencing fatigue. Insufficient sleep wears the body down and affects a person’s ability to fight colds, flu, and other illnesses. With an increase in fatigue, it’s not uncommon to see a rise in absenteeism.

Proactively Addressing Worker Fatigue

Employees certainly play a role in preventing fatigue and some of the causes go beyond the workplace, but there are a number of things employers can do to reduce fatigue at work. An effective approach to fatigue risk management should involve some or all of the following:

• Shift scheduling: consistent schedules, frequent breaks, two consecutive days off each week, and no more than four night shifts in a row

• Balancing workloads and staffing

• Developing a reporting system for fatigue related incidents

• Workplace design: cool atmosphere, low humidity, natural light, minimal noise/vibrations

• Employee training on fatigue and managing sleep disorders

• Supervisor and management training on monitoring and identifying fatigue in workers

• Offering an insurance plan that covers sleep disorders or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) so workers can get information and counselling to assist them in ways to recover from fatigue issues. All municipalities with OMAG insurance plans are eligible to use New Directions Employee Assistance Program at no charge to the employee or municipality. Contact Monica Coleman at (800) 234-9461 for more information.

By identifying fatigue and taking a proactive approach to deal with it before it becomes an issue, you can ensure a safe, healthy, and productive work environment for your entire workforce.

Disposable Wipes: Only Flush Poo, Pee & Paper (Toilet)

Although they are out of sight and out of mind except when they spring a leak or back up, water and sewer systems are more vital to civilized society than any other aspect of infrastructure. Deteriorating roads and bridges may stifle our economy and turn transportation headaches into nightmares, but if the water and sewer systems fail, then life as we know it will too. Without an ample supply of water, people don’t drink, toilets don’t get flushed, businesses don’t operate, and fires go unchecked. When sewage systems fail, municipalities can’t function, and epidemics break out.

Nationwide, it is estimated about 900 billion gallons of raw sewage flows into our waterways without being treated due to sewer line leaks and backups. It is not just a problem in the old cities on the East coast. It has been estimated that Oklahoma has a need for $82 billion in water and sewer infrastructure rehabilitation over the next 50 years. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) stated, “I remember when they used to consider us out in the newer states like Oklahoma as not having the infrastructure problems of the older states, but that’s not true anymore.” Many of the sewer systems of our Oklahoma cities and towns are 100+ years old.

With the toilet paper shortage of 2020, many people have turned to purchasing and using “flushable wipes”.  Flushable wipes, though advertised as safe for sewer and septic systems, are not. They are not designed to be biodegradable; please, don’t use these!

Items like flushable wipes, tampons, sanitary napkins, dental floss, diapers, cotton swabs, and bandages are not designed to be flushed down the toilet.  These items get caught up in fats, greases, oils, and debris in the sewer system and cause clogs. This can cause a backup in your personal sewer line or in the municipality’s sewer lines. The material can even make it all the way to the sewer treatment plant and destroy thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment.

What CAN be safely flushed into your town’s sewer lines? Only three things: Poo, Pee, and Toilet Paper. Protect your property, the property of your neighbors, and your municipality’s property. Only flush the 3 P’s (poo, pee, and paper).  If you use flushable wipes or other products not biodegradable put them in plastic bags and place them in your trash.

Say Goodbye to Computer Vision Syndrome

Prior to March of last year, I was aware that I spent way too much time staring at my computer screen(s). Since working remotely from home for most of 2020 and ALL of 2021 so far, I found myself experiencing tired, burning, itchy eyes at the end of most workdays. I finally broke down and made an appointment with my eye doctor. After visiting with my doctor and her staff, I came away with a better understanding of what I was experiencing and why.

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) may be spreading faster than any virus. Fortunately, proper eye care and simple adjustments are all that most adults need to reduce eye strain. Studies show that up to 90% of computer users experience at least one symptom of CVS. You’re at risk if you average 3 or more hours online each day. That probably describes most of the population, especially when they’re spending more time at home. The main symptoms include blurry or double vision, dryness, itching, redness, and sensitivity to light. CVS can also cause headaches and muscle soreness.

Preventing Computer Vision Syndrome

One study found that 71% of students sat too close to their monitors and 66% had their monitors set too high. Look at your environment and technology habits.

These tips can help prevent CVS:

1. Position your screen. Most experts recommend sitting about 24 inches away from your monitor and having the center of your screen about 4 to 5 inches below eye level. Adequate distance and looking down helps to prevent your eyes from drying out and working too hard.

2. Increase font size. Do you have trouble reading from that far away? Enlarge the type rather than squinting or stretching your neck.

3. Reduce glare. Online images are blurrier than print materials. Focusing will be easier when your screen is brighter than your surroundings. If necessary, pull the shades and switch to lower watt bulbs.

4. Shift your gaze. You may have heard of the 20-20-20 rule. Rest your eyes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

5. Take breaks. Go offline for at least 15 minutes after working for two hours straight. Exercise, eat a healthy snack or chat with someone face to face.

6. Blink more. Research shows that we blink slightly less online, and that adds up over time. Remind yourself to blink frequently to rehydrate your eyes. Using a humidifier and avoiding fans on your face will help too.

7. Quit smoking. Eye strain is one more reason to give up tobacco. Make a concrete plan and set a date to quit.

8. Limit screen time. Healthy habits will make your time online more pleasant, but only if you observe sensible boundaries. Block out technology free zones each day, like mealtimes and 2 hours before bed.

Treating Computer Vision Syndrome

Left untreated, even minor eye issues can interfere with your productivity and wellbeing. See your eye doctor at least once a year.

These strategies will help you deal constructively with CVS:

1. Update your prescription. Are you tilting your head or leaning toward your screen? You may need new glasses.

2. Use special lenses. Maybe you need a different set of glasses for working online. Progressive lenses can help if you often switch between printed material and your screen. Special coatings can increase contrast and cut down on glare.

3. Apply drops. If your eyes are extra dry, let your doctor know. They may recommend over the counter moisturizing drops or give you a prescription.

4. Train your brain. Brain and eye coordination is another issue that can lead to CVS. An ophthalmologist can perform special tests to make a diagnosis. If necessary, they’ll prescribe visual therapy and give you exercises you can do at home.

5. Keep a log. Tracking your symptoms is a proven way to increase the quality of care you receive. Make a list of concerns and questions you want to discuss with your doctor.

After my latest doctor appointment, I put some of my new knowledge to work. I adjusted my monitors to the suggested distance, and I have a pair of prescriptions glasses that I use only when I’m working in front of my computer.

Computer vision syndrome can make you uncomfortable and interfere with your daily activities. Find relief by establishing healthy computer habits and talking with your eye doctor. It also helps to set sensible limits on the time you spend online.