Safety Flashcards
Hazard
A situation that poses a level of threat to life, health property, or environment.
Want to identify hazards before they create an unsafe situation.
Safety rights
Every worker has the right to
Know about what hazards there are in the workplace, and what precautions must be taken to avoid injuries from those hazards.
Participate in health and safety activities in the workplace without fear of discriminatory actions, such as discipline.
Refuse work, that one reasonably believes to be dangerous to oneself or to others.
Reporting a hazard
Report to manager on duty immediately
Potential hazards
Lifting, falls and parking lots
Lifting
Stand next to box, shoulder Length away, bend with knees, pick box up and straighten legs to stand up, pivot with feet to turn, don’t twist.
Falls
Ice/snow, drain covers, dump bins and stock carts, electrical cords, empty pallets.
- ensure wet floors have a caution sign
Parking lots
- Always park in highly visible and well-lit area, use main building exit, keep valuables out of sight, roll windows up and lock doors as soon as get in, have a plan ahead of time.
- always try to walk with a co-worker and give them a ride back. Have a co-worker watch you from a window and wave to them.
- Wave even if no one is watching to give the illusion that someone is watching you.
- Stay on well-lit streets. Stay away from hiding spots such as bushes and parked cars. Cross the road if necessary.
- Always be alert to your surroundings.
Walk with confidence. - Keep your head up and look around.
- Look directly at people but do not stare at them.
- Trust your instincts when you feel something is not right.
Do not:
• Dig in your purse or bag.
• Wear headphones or be distracted by a cell phone.
• Carry heavy briefcases or bags that may get in the way.
• Carry any type of weapon.
Be prepared when you leave your store, or when you leave the car for work.
Have ready
• Your keys to unlock the vehicle.
• Your keys or card key to unlock building doors.
• A whistle or other personal alarm.
As you approach your car, look around for people who may be present. If you are suspicious, walk away. Go to a safe place and call for help.
Potential hazards
Ladders
Ladders
- Plastic step ladders are used for jobs where pet counsellors need just a few steps of additional height to complete a task.
They are generally used in places such as the fish room for access to top tanks or in the floor pen area for greater reach when cleaning pens.
Portable ladders are used for jobs where pet counsellors need additional height up to a maximum of 4 feet.
They are generally used in the cat and dog food aisles or kit wall, and may be used for dusting higher gondola shelves.
Never stand on the top 2 steps of a portable ladder. For additional reach, use the rolling ladder.
Rolling ladders are used for jobs where pet counsellors need a great deal of additional height and support to complete a task
They are generally used for stocking and retrieving items from the tops of pronto racking.
Ensure that all of the ladder parts are in good condition before use. If there is damage or missing parts, fix it, flag it for repair, or dispose of it to prevent any incidents from occurring.
For step ladders and portable ladders:
•Ensure that all four legs are in good repair with non-slip treads in place.
•Ensure that the ladder’s lock system is in place and working.
For rolling ladders:
• Test the locking system and stability of the ladder before use.
Never attempt to move any ladder while in use. Climb down and readjust the ladder until it is properly placed.
Always maintain at least three points of contact with the ladder.
• 2 feet and 1 hand are touching the ladder OR
• 2 hands and 1 foot are touching the ladder
Potential hazards
Robbery
During
- Call 911 if you are able to do so safely.
- Be as accommodating as possible, try to treat it as a normal transaction.
•Do NOT resist the robber, do NOT argue, do NOT fight.
• Take no action to jeopardize the safety of the staff or guests in the building.
• Remain calm. Do not yell or scream.
• Do not make any sudden movements.
• If the robber displays a weapon or claims to have one, assume that they will use it! - Be a good observer; try to remember the robber’s face, clothing and any distinguishing characteristics.
After
- Lock the doors to the store and call 911 (if you haven’t already).
- All witnesses should give a description of the suspect, weapon, method of escape, direction of travel and any other details if applicable. DO NOT compare notes or change what you have written.
- All witnesses should remain at the store until the police arrive.
- Block off areas touched by the robber.
Potential hazards
Fire and Pallet jack
Fire
- Sound fire alarm at pull station.
- Call 911.
- Instruct occupants of procedures to evacuate.
- Evacuate all occupants.
- Confine, control, and if possible, extinguish the fire.
- Do a final sweep of the area, looking for remaining people.
- Meet evacuees at designated muster point.
Pallet jack
- 7000 lbs but 5500 lbs capacity
- release lever, push it up = lowest position, 3 settings, slide it under and all the way throughout making sure wheels aren’t on the pallet, pull lever down, then pump handle up and down, do this until pallet is clearly off the ground (1 inch), to move it put lever in neutral or middle position.
When moving pulling it increases risk of getting hit when having to stop suddenly and injuring lower back, that’s why safer to push and you have better control.
Potential hazards
Zoonotic Diseases
Zoonotic diseases
Diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Prevent the spread by washing hands, especially before eating, drinking, or smoking.
Potential hazards
Zoonotic Diseases
Rabies
Rabies is shed in the saliva of an infected dog.
Domesticated dogs are rarely exposed as this virus has been virtually eliminated due to mandatory vaccination policies.
Humans too are rarely exposed unless they regularly come into contact with feral dogs.
The rabies virus deteriorates the brain and is always fatal in dogs.
The disease is fatal in humans if it is not treated before symptoms appear.
Symptoms in Dogs:
• Aggressive or bizarre behaviour
• Frothing at the mouth
• Neurological symptoms such as stumbling or paralysis
Symptoms in Humans:
• Headache
• Muscle spasms or pain
• Itching or twitching sensations at the infection site.
Potential hazards
Zoonotic Diseases
Ringworm
Ringworm is an external fungus, which causes hair loss in circular patches.
The skin will be scaly and if not treated, and wil spread to the entire body.
Children are more susceptible than adults, as they typically don’t practice good hand sanitization.
Contracting this fungus can be prevented with good hand washing skills.
Symptoms in Dogs & Humans:
• Raised patches (often circular and scaly) that may blister and ooze
• Hair loss that is typically evidenced in and around the affected area
Potential hazards
Zoonotic Diseases
Psittacosis
This disease is passed from bird-to-bird and bird-to-people via inhaled contaminated fecal dust or contaminated fecal matter that is ingested.
Sometimes birds transmit the bacteria orally to other birds when they preen another bird’s feathers.
Most commonly it is transmitted through dried fecal matter and inhaled by the person cleaning the floor pen in which the birds are housed.
If it is suspected that the birds in our care have psittacosis, we wear a protective dust mask to prevent the spread of infection.
Hand washing is also an effective means of prevention.
Symptoms in Birds:
• Looks very depressed
• Is not grooming or preening,
• Has yellow or lime-green urates
Potential hazards
Zoonotic Diseases
Toxoplasmosis
The disease is spread through contact with infected feces. Infected cats typically only shed the organism for a short period of time after infection.
Toxoplasmosis is dangerous to pregnant women. It can infect unborn fetuses and cause miscarriages, premature delivery and damage to the fetus.
Immunosuppressed individuals cannot fight off infections effectively, and are also at risk.
Diligent hand washing and wearing gloves are great preventative measures.
Symptoms in Cats & Humans:
• Minimal or no symptoms at all in a healthy individual or cat
• If seen, symptoms are generally flu-like in nature
Potential hazards
Zoonotic Diseases
Salmonella
Contact with frozen feeder rodents, reptiles, and some small animals can be a source of human Salmonella infections.
Remember to always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling animals, their food or anything in the area that they may have come in contact with.
To ensure the safety of guests, offer a frozen feeder item Safe Handling
Reminder to each guest who purchases a frozen feeder
item.
Symptoms in Humans:
• Diarrhea (that can be bloody)
• Fever
• Stomach cramps
Potential hazards
Animal Bites
You will need:
Soap and water
Towel
Antiseptic solution
Antibiotic ointment
Bandage
Elevation
Reapply the antibiotic ointment twice a day until the wound heels.
Proper animal handling of some animals
Rat
Never pick up by their tail. Hold securely under chest while supporting hindquarters with other hand
Hamster
When picking up the hamster should be fully awake before attempting to pick-up. Grasp the hamster in both hands
Mouse
Scoop with one hand and gently grasp the base of the mouse’s tail with other hand
Gerbil
When handling scoop with one hand and gently grasp base of tail using thumb and index finger.
Guinea Pig
Need to quickly scoop up, and support the chest & rump areas.
Bunny
Hold gently but firmly under front legs with one hand and support hindquarters with the other.
Ferret
Support bottom and don’t leave
‘hanging’, placing one hand under chest and one lifting bottom
