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EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
We all experience personal problems, but many people don't
know where to go for help to solve them. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
was established to give employees the necessary resources to cope with life's
difficulties. You are the more important asset to our business and for
that reason we want to help you solve your problems both on and off the job so that you are happier, more focused and consequently more productive.
EAP counselors are prepared to help you deal with a multitude of problems.
Whether you visit us for emotional, relationship, alcohol, drug, financial or
job concerns, we are here to help you solve them. All EAP services are
free to you, and in most cases your immediate family members. If you need
additional resources, we will help you find affordable care through your health
plan or community.
EAP services are confidential within the limits of the law and in most cases,
information will only be released with your written premission. Your
counselor will review confidentiality issues with you during your first visit.
Remember the EAP is ready to help and all you have to do is call 1-800.222.0364 or visit our
website at http://www.foh4you.com/. It's
free and confidential.
Provided by Federal Occupational Health a component of the
U.S. Public Health Service Department of Health and Human Services
WINTER
SAFETY INFORMATION
Winters in the north can be especially
bad with snow storms sneaking in before anyone is ready. That's
why it's smart to be prepared well ahead of time. So, whether you're
at home, work or in your car, please consider the following information
when winter weather threatens.
Be
Prepared When Traveling And Check Road Conditions Before You Go:
Montana
|
North
Dakota |
South Dakota
| Minnesota
| Canada
| National Road Map
*
Click here
to see photos of road conditions that you should watch out for.
Carry A Winter Storm Survival Kit:
IF YOU ARE STRANDED IN YOUR VEHICLE, A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT COULD
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU SURVIVE!
Blankets/sleeping bags;
flashlight with extra batteries; first-aid kit; knife;
high-calorie, non-perishable food; extra clothing to keep dry; a
large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels
for sanitary purposes; a smaller can and water-proof matches to
melt snow for drinking water; sack of sand (or cat litter);
shovel; windshield scraper and brush; tool kit; tow rope;
booster cables; water container; compass and road maps.
Be Prepared At Home With These
Supplies:
Plan your travel and check the latest
weather reports to avoid the storm!
Fully check and winterize your
vehicle before the winter season begins.
Keep your gas tank near full to avoid
ice in the tank and fuel lines.
Try not to travel alone.
Let someone know your timetable and
primary and alternate routes.
Flashlight and extra batteries.
Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio
and portable radio to receive emergency information. These may be
your only links to the outside.
Extra food and water. High energy
food, such as dried fruit or candy, and food requiring no cooking or
refrigeration is best.
First-aid supplies, extra medicine and/or baby items.
Heating fuel. Fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a
severe winter storm.
Emergency heating source, such as a fireplace, wood stove, space
heater, etc. Learn to use these items properly to prevent a fire. Have
proper ventilation.
Fire extinguisher and smoke detector. Test units regularly to ensure
they are working properly.
TORNADO AND STORM TIPS
One of the most important
things you can do to prevent being injured in a tornado or severe
weather is to be ALERT to severe weather. On our location we have
weather alert radios to keep us aware of any type of bad weather. Most
deaths and injuries happen to people who are unaware and uninformed.
Those who ignore the weather because of indifference or overconfidence
may not perceive the danger. Stay aware, and you will stay alive!!
If a "Tornado Watch" is issued for
your area, it means that a tornado is "possible".
If a "Tornado Warning" is issued ,
it means that a tornado has actually been spotted,
or is strongly indicated on radar, and it is time to go to a safe
shelter immediately.
SOME THINGS THAT MAY HAPPEN DURING A TORNADO:
Sickly greenish or greenish black color to the sky.
If there is a watch or warning posted, then the fall of hail should be
considered as a
real danger sign. Hail can be common in some areas, however, and usually
has
no tornado activity along with it.
A strange quiet occurs shortly after the thunderstorm.
Clouds moving by fast, especially in a rotating pattern or centering
toward one
area of the sky.
A sound a little like a waterfall or rushing air at first, but turning
into a roar as it
comes closer. The sound of a tornado has been described as the same
sound of
both railroad trains and jets.
Debris dropping from the sky.
An obvious "funnel-shaped" cloud that is rotating, or debris such as
branches or
leaves being pulled upwards, even if no funnel cloud is visible.
TORNADO TIPS
Avoid wide open spaces. Get to shelter quickly. If a tornado threatens
to touch
down, go to either a basement or a small interior room in your house or
apartment.
In small, windowless, first floor, interior room like a closet or
bathroom. The
bathtub or toilet are anchored directly into the ground, and sometimes
are the only
thing left in place after a tornado. Getting into the bathtub with a
couch cushion
over you gives you protection on all sides, as well as an extra anchor
to the
foundation. Plumbing pipes may or may not help hold the walls together,
but all
extra framing that it takes to put a bathroom together may make a big
difference. If
closets are packed with stuff, a hall may be the best shelter. Put as
many walls as
you can between yourself and the tornado. If you find your self in a
pinch, put a
metal trash can over as mush of you as you can. It will keep some flying
debris
from injuring you. This may make a difference between life and death.
Tornadoes may strike without warning. Listen for weather reports and
tornado
sirens. This will let employees go early to reach home before the storm
hits.
If caught outdoors or in automobile shelter right away. If unable to
find a shelter lie
flat on the ground, in a ditch or low-lying area may be the only thing
available. It is
better to lie flat on the ground than to stay in an automobile which
could easily be
picked up by the funnel cloud. An underpass may seem like a safe place,
but may
not be. While videos show people surviving under an underpass, those
tornadoes
have been weak. No one knows how survivable an underpass is in a storm
or
violent tornado. The debris flying under the underpass could be very deadly...head
for a ditch! A culvert in a ditch may be a good choice if there is no
rain, but if there
is rain a flash flood may be possible and may be more dangerous and
likely than
the tornado.
ELECTRICAL STORM TIPS
Both lightning and tornadoes are most likely to strike in open areas.
Avoid places
like meadows, open fields and golf courses when weather is unsafe.
Stay away from tall trees, metal poles, rails, fences, and clotheslines.
Water attracts lightning. Stay far away from lakes and pools (or any
body of water)
when a storm arrives.
If caught outdoors in an electrical storm, take shelter in your car or
in a low area
surrounded by small, thick trees or bushes. The safest places are inside
a
protected building, in a tunnel or cave or in vehicle.
If struck by lightning, quickly drop to your knees, drop whatever you
are holding,
bend forward, and rest your forearms across your thighs. Don’t touch the
ground
with anything other than your legs just below the knees.
FIRE SAFETY AND EXTINGUISHER USAGE
Pull...Aim...Squeeze...Sweep!
(PASS!)
1. Pull the pin.
2. Aim low, pointing the
extinguisher nozzle (or its horn or hose) at the base of the fire.
3. Squeeze the handle to release
the extinguishing agent.
4. Sweep from side to side at the
base of the fire until it appears to be out. Then, watch the fire
area closely in case the fire breaks out again.
SUMMER
SAFETY INFORMATION
*
For current and up-to-date "Sun Information" visit the American Cancer
Society website at:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/PED_7.asp?sitearea=PED
The Sun and Skin Damage
Adopting a healthy life-style has become a priority for people of all
ages. A well
balanced diet, stress reduction, and regular exercise are used to
achieve this goal.
Spending time outdoors, in the fresh air and sunshine, is something that
many people
enjoy, but it is also a risk. Sun exposure has long reaching
consequences that affect both
appearances and health. Excessive sun exposure can be fatal.
Skin Cancers
The most common cancer in the U.S. is skin cancer, affecting
approximately 600,000
people per year. There are three types of skin cancer: squamous, basal
cell and
malignant melanoma. The rates of each of these types of skin cancer are
increasing, and
vast majority of cases occurs in fair-skinned individuals.
Myths and Misconceptions
The first myth is that tanning beds are safe. They are not. It doesn’t
matter whether you
get radiation from the sun or a man-made source it still does damage.
Another favorite
misconception is, "I’m so young and my skin looks good, so why worry?"
The fact is
that is usually takes years for the damage from solar irradiation to
become evident.
There is constant media pressure showing "healthy tans" and the result
is a poor
message, especially to children and adolescents. The more frequent the
sun exposure at
an early age, the higher the risk of skin damage such as premature
aging, wrinkling, and
even cancer. There is no such thing as a healthy tan. Protect yourself
from the sun and
myths.
Prevention
The best way to prevent sun damaged skin and skin cancer is to limit or
modify your
exposure. Limit unnecessary exposure. Avoid exposure during peak UV
loads
(approximately Noon – 4 p.m.) Clothing provides an effective barrier to
sunlight; hats,
sun-visors and sunglasses can help protect some areas of your face. Use
sunscreen.
Apply to the areas of your body that are most likely to get burned or
are at risk for skin
cancer.
Apply liberally and frequently. (Note: Don’t forget the top of the ears
and the temples).
More About Sunscreen
Awareness of the damaging effects of the sun have increased so has the
availability of
sunscreens. A good product will provide protection against both UV-A and
UV-B light.
Many are now available that are "waterproof" or "sweatproof" and these
are the ones
you should use if you are swimming, exercising, or working outdoors. The
sun
protection factor (SPF) reflects how many times better the sun
protection is over
unprotected skin. The higher the SPF numbers the better. For example, a
SPF factor of
15 means that in 15 hours of sun exposure the skin "sees" the same
amount of sun as in
one hour without protection. But don’t let this fool you; all sunscreens
must be reapplied
during continued exposure – even the "waterproof" ones.
A few examples of waterproof sunscreens providing UV-A and UV-B
protection are
Aloe Gator, Banana Boat Sport, Bullfrog, and Coppertone Sport.
Early Detection: The ABC's
Physician examinations and frequent screening self-examinations are the
best insurance
for early detection of skin cancer. The greater the risk factors for an
individual, the more
frequently these exams should be done.
The self-examination should be done with the aid of bright lights and
two mirrors (a
hand held and a full length). Undress completely. Look systematically
from head to toe
and make sure that you do not miss any areas. Do it the same way every
time.
To help you look at difficult areas this examination can be done with
the aid of spouse
or friend. Basal cell carcinomas may appear as a rough patch of skin
with a central ulcer
and may intermittently bleed.
Take a close look at all moles because this is where melanoma begins.
The following,
known as the ABC’s, are warning signs of potentially cancerous moles...
Asymmetry: Common moles are usually symmetric. Draw an imaginary
line through the center of the mole. If one side is noticeably different
from
the other, the mole is asymmetric and may be a problem.
Border: An irregular border that seems to
be notched or indistinct is a
warning sign.
Color: Common moles are usually one color.
Multiple hues or colors are a warning sign.
Diameter: A diameter greater that 6
millimeters is a warning sign.
Take notes on your findings and see your doctor. Dermatologists are
generally the most
skilled physicians in evaluating for skin cancer. |
