Infamous Accidents Infamous Accidents

Prior accidents and what have we learnedPrior accidents and what have we learned

Michelle Brackin, Assistant Executive DirectorMichelle Brackin, Assistant Executive Director

Why?Why?

The tuition paid in terms of pain and The tuition paid in terms of pain and suffering by ASC employees should not suffering by ASC employees should not be wasted.be wasted.

Institutional memory is lost over time; Institutional memory is lost over time; Let’s not forgetLet’s not forget

Untethered items in Untethered items in vehicle vehicle

Accident 2008Accident 2008 Transfer box not tethered Transfer box not tethered Broke window in vehicleBroke window in vehicle

Accident 2000Accident 2000 Two employees in janitorial van with a floor buffer in Two employees in janitorial van with a floor buffer in

the backthe back Driver stopped short to avoid something in the roadDriver stopped short to avoid something in the road Buffer flew forward and hit the employee in the headBuffer flew forward and hit the employee in the head

What we learned What we learned

All items must be tethered or secured to All items must be tethered or secured to prevent movement prevent movement

Protect human and equipmentProtect human and equipment Periodically check for tethers in the Periodically check for tethers in the

vehicle; replace if necessaryvehicle; replace if necessary

Insect bitesInsect bites

Accident 2001Accident 2001 Employee stung by beesEmployee stung by bees

Accident 2001 ( next day)Accident 2001 ( next day) Employee stung by beeEmployee stung by bee Transported in personal vehicle Transported in personal vehicle Began to have a severe reactionBegan to have a severe reaction

What we learned What we learned

If you see something of someone is If you see something of someone is injured take steps to prevent the next injured take steps to prevent the next person becoming injuredperson becoming injured

Dough PressDough Press

Accident in 2008Accident in 2008 Dough press did not hold it position and Dough press did not hold it position and

slammed downslammed down Emergency room visit Emergency room visit

Accident in 2001Accident in 2001 Dough press did not hold it position and Dough press did not hold it position and

slammed downslammed down Two surgeries for a Student EmployeeTwo surgeries for a Student Employee

What we learnedWhat we learned

Both times the handle would no longer stay in the Both times the handle would no longer stay in the upright position, unless pushed all the way to the upright position, unless pushed all the way to the top of the arc.top of the arc.

Happened over time not noticeableHappened over time not noticeable Too much pushing down on the handleToo much pushing down on the handle Needs routine preventative maintenance to fix the Needs routine preventative maintenance to fix the

stationary habit.stationary habit. In 2009, replaced all pizza dough presses with In 2009, replaced all pizza dough presses with

automatic onesautomatic ones

Delivery Truck at Park Delivery Truck at Park Center Center

Accident in 2007Accident in 2007 Truck delivering to the entrance at Park Center with Truck delivering to the entrance at Park Center with

a rampa ramp Truck rolled down the ramp into parked carsTruck rolled down the ramp into parked cars

Accident in 2001Accident in 2001 Truck delivering to the entrance at Park Center with Truck delivering to the entrance at Park Center with

a rampa ramp Truck rolled down the ramp into parked carsTruck rolled down the ramp into parked cars

What we learnedWhat we learned

Chock tiresChock tires Preventative Maintenance on the truckPreventative Maintenance on the truck

Chemicals Chemicals

Accident 2001Accident 2001 Chemicals left in the janitorial floor machine Chemicals left in the janitorial floor machine

at the end of the spring semesterat the end of the spring semester Next time it was used more chemicals we Next time it was used more chemicals we

addedadded It began to smoke and boil It began to smoke and boil Put it on the elevatorPut it on the elevator

What we learned What we learned

Clean out chemicals from buckets and Clean out chemicals from buckets and machines at the end of each shiftmachines at the end of each shift

If you have an unknown chemical If you have an unknown chemical reaction, especially one that boils and reaction, especially one that boils and smokes, pull the fire alarm and leave the smokes, pull the fire alarm and leave the buildingbuilding

Beware of open chemicals in a confined Beware of open chemicals in a confined spacespace

Carts across uneven Carts across uneven surfacessurfaces

Accident 2006Accident 2006 Employee pulled a cart across a matEmployee pulled a cart across a mat Resistance caused the employee to fall Resistance caused the employee to fall Fracture – 5 1/2 months of lost time Fracture – 5 1/2 months of lost time

Accident 2007Accident 2007 Employee pulling a cart across a floor grateEmployee pulling a cart across a floor grate Wheel became stuckWheel became stuck Cart fell over onto employee’s headCart fell over onto employee’s head

What we learnedWhat we learned

Limit uneven floors as a pathway for Limit uneven floors as a pathway for cartscarts

Limit top heavy transfer boxesLimit top heavy transfer boxes

Foreign Object in food Foreign Object in food

Accident 2006Accident 2006 Screw found in foodScrew found in food Broken toothBroken tooth

Incident 2003Incident 2003 Customer found a condom in veggie dipCustomer found a condom in veggie dip Customer very upsetCustomer very upset UPD calledUPD called

What we learnedWhat we learned

Adulterated food is a felonyAdulterated food is a felony Be extremely compassionate with Be extremely compassionate with

customer’s feelingscustomer’s feelings Document and preserve food and itemDocument and preserve food and item

Jumping from Vehicles Jumping from Vehicles

Accident in 2002Accident in 2002 Employee jumped from the back of the Employee jumped from the back of the

Catering van and fell onto hands and knees Catering van and fell onto hands and knees requiring surgery and permanent partial use. requiring surgery and permanent partial use.

Accident in 1997 Accident in 1997 Employee jumped from the back of the large Employee jumped from the back of the large

delivery truck into a pile of leaves which was delivery truck into a pile of leaves which was hiding a hole – fractured anklehiding a hole – fractured ankle

What we learnedWhat we learned

Hang onto the vehicle as you exitHang onto the vehicle as you exit Place one foot on the ground or vehicle Place one foot on the ground or vehicle

all times to maintain stabilityall times to maintain stability No rider in the back of any vehicles No rider in the back of any vehicles

without seats and seat beltswithout seats and seat belts No riders in the back of the pick up truckNo riders in the back of the pick up truck

Fryer Grease BurnsFryer Grease Burns

Accident 2004Accident 2004 Employee burned forearm; second degree, scarring Employee burned forearm; second degree, scarring

while cleaning a fryer with a towel, dragged in oilwhile cleaning a fryer with a towel, dragged in oil

Accident 2003Accident 2003 Employee burned when cleaning fryer Employee burned when cleaning fryer Employee burned when cleaning fryerEmployee burned when cleaning fryer

Accident 1997 Accident 1997 Employee burned upper body with over loaded fryer Employee burned upper body with over loaded fryer

basket; item fell and splashedbasket; item fell and splashed

What we learned What we learned

All employees must wear long, heat- All employees must wear long, heat- resistant gloves when cleaning the fryerresistant gloves when cleaning the fryer

Do not overload the basketDo not overload the basket Do not use bar mops to clean a fryer or Do not use bar mops to clean a fryer or

as a hot pad as a hot pad

CO2 missileCO2 missile

Accident 1998?Accident 1998? CO2 tank fell over at PoolsideCO2 tank fell over at Poolside Nozzle broke off and shot through wallNozzle broke off and shot through wall

What we learned What we learned

All compress gas tanks ( CO2, propane, All compress gas tanks ( CO2, propane, and helium) must be tethered in the and helium) must be tethered in the upper portion of the tank to prevent it upper portion of the tank to prevent it from falling overfrom falling over

This includes when it is transported on a This includes when it is transported on a cartcart

Cut with a knifeCut with a knife

December 12, 2003December 12, 2003 Three employees were cut by the same Three employees were cut by the same

knife knife All required stitchesAll required stitches

Cut with a knifeCut with a knife

Investigate immediately to prevent future Investigate immediately to prevent future injuryinjury

Notify employees that knives have been Notify employees that knives have been sharpened or changedsharpened or changed

Slip inside coolerSlip inside cooler

Accident 2004 Accident 2004 Employee slipped inside cooler Employee slipped inside cooler FractureFracture

Accident 2008Accident 2008 Employee slipped inside coolerEmployee slipped inside cooler FractureFracture

Slip inside cooler Slip inside cooler

Non-slip shoesNon-slip shoes Use non-water based chemicals to clean Use non-water based chemicals to clean

freezersfreezers

Pizza Delivery Pizza Delivery

Accident 2000Accident 2000 Carrying multiple pizzas and tub of 10 Carrying multiple pizzas and tub of 10

bottled beveragesbottled beverages Back strain; lost timeBack strain; lost time

Accident 2001Accident 2001 Carrying pizza and could not see uneven Carrying pizza and could not see uneven

sidewalksidewalk Sprained ankle; lost timeSprained ankle; lost time

Pizza DeliveryPizza Delivery

Limit load to a safe limitLimit load to a safe limit Students believe they are invincible; use Students believe they are invincible; use

your good judgmentyour good judgment

Allergic reactionAllergic reaction

Accident 2002Accident 2002 Student making sandwichStudent making sandwich Broke out in hivesBroke out in hives Allergic to nutsAllergic to nuts

Accident 2003Accident 2003 Employee cleaning Dunkin smoothie machineEmployee cleaning Dunkin smoothie machine Broke out in hivesBroke out in hives Allergic to mangosAllergic to mangos

AllergiesAllergies

Be aware that even touching the allergen Be aware that even touching the allergen can cause a reactioncan cause a reaction

Call medical personnel immediately if the Call medical personnel immediately if the person begins to have any breathing person begins to have any breathing distressdistress

Violence Violence

Incident 2007 Incident 2007 Customer making threatening gesturesCustomer making threatening gestures Fingers shaped like gunFingers shaped like gun “ “ I will kill them all”I will kill them all”

Incident 2004 Incident 2004 Customer brought gun into Raquette PizzaCustomer brought gun into Raquette Pizza Turned out to be a toyTurned out to be a toy

Accident 2002Accident 2002 Employee in anger punched dumpsterEmployee in anger punched dumpster 22 days out of work for fractured hand22 days out of work for fractured hand

What we learnedWhat we learned

Evaluate where violence may occurEvaluate where violence may occur If you see something, say somethingIf you see something, say something Let someone else judge consequencesLet someone else judge consequences Call UPDCall UPD

Trip over boxes Trip over boxes

Accident 2005 Accident 2005 Employee placed box to unpack for stocking; Employee placed box to unpack for stocking;

began stocking, forgot box was there, fell began stocking, forgot box was there, fell over it; surgery and missed 45 day workover it; surgery and missed 45 day work

Janitor Falls Janitor Falls

Accident 2003Accident 2003 Janitor fell bruised elbow; missed 3 daysJanitor fell bruised elbow; missed 3 days Janitor fell back strain, missed 2 daysJanitor fell back strain, missed 2 days

Accident 2002Accident 2002 Employee fell on wet floor fractured wristEmployee fell on wet floor fractured wrist Slip fell on wet floor; missed 4 daysSlip fell on wet floor; missed 4 days

Accident 1998Accident 1998 Janitor falls on wet floor; back painJanitor falls on wet floor; back pain

Janitor FallsJanitor Falls

Special non-slip footwearSpecial non-slip footwear Have floors cleaned after everyone has Have floors cleaned after everyone has

left to avoid walking across wet floorsleft to avoid walking across wet floors

Suspious Injury Suspious Injury

Accident 2005Accident 2005 Employee came to manager said they cut Employee came to manager said they cut

finger yesterday; finger looked red, infected finger yesterday; finger looked red, infected and not recentand not recent

Accident 2007Accident 2007 Employee asked for help putting on a ace Employee asked for help putting on a ace

bandage for sore wrist on Tuesday, due to bandage for sore wrist on Tuesday, due to domestic dispute. On Thursday, claim she domestic dispute. On Thursday, claim she injured her wrist at work.injured her wrist at work.

What we learned What we learned

InvestigateInvestigate Ask when Ask when Timeliness of the reporting Timeliness of the reporting Document suspious statements – Document suspious statements –

statements, pictures, equipment statements, pictures, equipment examinationsexaminations

Other ASC FatalityOther ASC Fatality

Long-term warehouse employeeLong-term warehouse employee Attempting to put a pallet on a truck with Attempting to put a pallet on a truck with

a ride-on forklifta ride-on forklift Frustrated and backed-up too fastFrustrated and backed-up too fast Fell off the dockFell off the dock Crushed by the forkliftCrushed by the forklift

What we can learnWhat we can learn

No one, but those certified to use our No one, but those certified to use our walkie forklift, may do sowalkie forklift, may do so

No ASC employee may use the state’s No ASC employee may use the state’s forklift forklift

Personal Illness Personal Illness

Employee claimed excessive heat at Employee claimed excessive heat at work had been working in the garden all work had been working in the garden all dayday

Medical diagnosis was not a medical Medical diagnosis was not a medical cause cause

What we learnedWhat we learned

We are responsible for hydration – make sure We are responsible for hydration – make sure they drinkthey drink

We are not responsible for blood sugar levels- We are not responsible for blood sugar levels- not responsible that they eatnot responsible that they eat

We are not responsible for medical bills for We are not responsible for medical bills for personal medical issues that do not arise out of personal medical issues that do not arise out of work duties – heart attack, fainting, dizziness, work duties – heart attack, fainting, dizziness, seizures, etc.seizures, etc.

Document them Document them

Tuition Paid -Lessons LearnedTuition Paid -Lessons Learned

May these stories help to remind us of May these stories help to remind us of the lessons learned the hard way, the lessons learned the hard way, through the pain and suffering of through the pain and suffering of employees and customers.employees and customers.

May we do our best to learn from them May we do our best to learn from them and prevent them in the futureand prevent them in the future