(note: you may recognize some of the content from Katie Warrener’s email from last year. She did such a good job.)

Evacuation Drill Time!

During the week of Oct. 3-7, we will be conducting our annual Valley Library building evacuation drill. Are you ready?

Everyone who works in the building needs to know the nearest:

• two emergency exits (wherever you may be in the building)
• fire alarm pull switch
• fire extinguisher
• Look for red signage that guides the way
• Consult the detailed safety maps on the library wiki

Seize the moment! Review the location of these building features in your work environment (and be ready for a pop quiz from the fire marshal!)

Everyone’s Favorite Activity: An Evacuation Drill

(gif animation)

Always remember that in an emergency situation to remain calm.

(gif animation link)

Assembly Areas

You’ve proceeded to the nearest emergency exit in an orderly fashion and emerged into the open. Now what?

Each department/unit in the library has been designated an assembly area to assemble in and account for each other. Now is the perfect opportunity to make sure you know where to find your department/unit outside. You’ll find the map of assembly areas linked in several places on the library wiki and attached to this message for good measure!

Circulation door monitors will help guide everyone to the north quad and away from the building

(gif animation link)

When to Evacuate

Where does a building evacuation fit into different emergency scenarios?

• the fire alarm
• an earthquake
• an active shooter
• a bomb threat or suspicious object
• a power outage

Use the Library Safety Essentials to refresh your knowledge of building evacuation protocol. Ask a member of the building safety committee if you have questions.

Quiz Time

Reply with your responses to enter the daily and grand prize raffle!

1. During a building evacuation it is ok to use an elevator if they are working?
2. Where should you go after leaving the building?
3. When is it ok to re-enter the building after an evacuation?

(Subject: Safety Week Challenge: Building Evacuations)

Sometime Monday, September 14, The Valley Library is running an evacuation drill. Are you ready?

Be Ready

Everyone who works in the building needs to know the nearest:

• two emergency exits
• fire alarm pull switch
• fire extinguisher
• Look for red signage that guides the way
• Consult the detailed safety maps on the library wiki

Seize the moment! Review the location of these building features in your work environment (and be ready for a pop quiz from the fire marshal!)

Kittens demonstrate safe egress and assembly in a designated area

Assembly Areas

You’ve proceeded to the nearest emergency exit in an orderly fashion and emerged into the open. Now what?

New this year: designated assembly areas for all departments. Monday is the perfect opportunity to practice assembling with your department outside the building. Now is the perfect opportunity to make sure you know where to find your department outside. You’ll find the map of assembly areas linked in several places on the library wiki and attached to this message for good measure.

Cat demonstrates multiple safety faux *paws*

When to Evacuate

Where does a building evacuation fit into different emergency scenarios?

• the fire alarm
• an earthquake
• an active shooter
• a bomb threat or suspicious object
• a power outage

Use the Library Safety Essentials to refresh your knowledge of building evacuation protocol. Ask a member of the building safety committee if you have questions.

Now that you’re all brushed up on your building evacuation know-how ahead of Monday’s drill, you are cordially invited to The Ultimate Get-Out-of-the-Building Challenge!!! (1) Find your way out of the library maze and (2) label your department’s assembly area on the map, and you’ve earned your first Safety Week raffle entry. Just drop off your response at Katie W.'s desk.

Thank you,

The Valley Library Safety Committee

(Bryan, Dan, Don, Ed, Elizabeth, Katie, Victoria) 

(Subject) Safety Week Tips: Building Evacuations

The Valley Library is having an evacuation drill sometime this week. Are you ready?

When to Evacuate

A building evacuation may be part of your response to different kinds of emergencies. Take a few minutes to review the Library Safety Essentials and the OSU Emergency Poster for evacuation procedures in the event of:

• the fire alarm
• an earthquake
• an active shooter
• a bomb threat or suspicious object

Federal Art Project, 1936 or 1937

Be Ready

Everyone who works in the building needs to know where to find the nearest:

• emergency exit
• fire alarm pull switch
• fire extinguisher

So step up your emergency preparedness (and study up for a pop quiz from the fire marshal!) Take a few minutes to go locate these building features in your work environment.

• Look for red signage that guides the way
• Consult the detailed safety maps on the library wiki
• Take the emergency exit scavenger hunt challenge!

And please remember:

• do not use elevators during an evacuation
• do not use the loading dock as an emergency exit during the current Waldo Place street closure – a good alternative is the emergency exit just beyond the loading dock, in the southwest corner of the Learning Commons

Emergency Exit Scavenger Hunt

Tuesday to Thursday, the building’s emergency exits have a unique identity, each inspired by a literary conflagration (or other calamity) and characters who had to evacuate a danger zone. Your task is to identify the two emergency exits nearest your work station and some other places you frequent. Which literary emergencies will you encounter there? Look for the little laminated placards, and see the attachment (PDF) for more details!

Kudos to Kelly Holcomb and David Moynihan in the Circulation office for braving the letter tiles scramble attached to yesterday’s message. Both of them earned an item from the prize box and a chance to win the grand prize, a free 3D print. Here’s hoping the scavenger hunt challenge will be less opaque and more appealing! If you have any questions, give me a ring – Katie Warrener, 7-4772.

Thank you,

The Valley Library Safety Committee

Fire is Everyone's Fight. 

Keep yourself and fellow Beavers safe by being familiar with the Library Safety Essentials and Evacuation Assembly Areas (Attached pdf). Here's a few tips:

Fire

1. Activate the fire alarm

2. Call 911 (cell phones will work)

3. Evacuate - Notify occupants as you leave

Don't use elevators

Close doors to contain fire as you leave

Feel closed doors - don't open hot doors

Only attempt to extinguish a fire if preventing evacuation

Fire Alarms

Fire alarms are located near each exit and at the west and east ends of the avenue on each floor (safety maps). Only use if you discover a fire in the building, call 911, and leave the building. Report any problems to emergency personnel. Do not block access to fire alarms.

Fire Doors

The fire doors between each floor and the stairwells will automatically close when the fire alarms are activated. They are meant to keep fire from spreading and keep smoke out of the stairwell evacuation routes. If they are closed you can still exit to the stairwell by pushing on the hand bar. Circulation staff will re-open after a fire alarm event.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are located near exits throughout the building and are indicated by a wall sign above the extinguisher (safety maps). They are to be used only to egress the building if fire is blocking your path or small trash can size fires. An online fire extinguisher training video is available at The ABC's of Portable Fire Extinguishers. More information can be found at Fire Extinguisher Policy.

Do not block access to fire extinguishers.

Quiz Time

Reply with your responses to enter the daily and grand prize raffle!

1. How many Emergency Exits are available on each floor of the Valley Library?
2. What classification of Fire Extinguishers is the Valley Library equipped with?
3. What should you do if you catch on fire?

 Safety Week at work can help you prepare for emergencies beyond the office.

 Medical emergencies

Memorize the basic steps for responding to a medical emergency, no matter where you are:

1. Call 9-1-1
2. Keep the victim still, comfortable, and safe
3. Provide first aid if trained
4. Send someone to meet the ambulance
   (Animate this cat)
   
   
   Is your cat prepared to recognize a medical emergency?

Then ponder the details:

Are you prepared to recognize the signs of a medical emergency?

How would you call 9-1-1?

What is involved in keeping someone safe on the scene?

The Medical Emergencies Information on the library wiki compiles answers.

And are you ready to provide first aid or CPR?

You can get certified right here in the library during Safety Week or at Dixon Recreation any other time of year.

(Animate this fox)

Learn CPR now and be ready to dive in

Fire safety

Memorize the basic steps for responding to a fire, no matter where you are:

1. Pull the fire alarm in a public building
2. Call 9-1-1 and provide as much information as you can
3. Contain the fire by using an extinguisher or by closing doors as you escape
4. Evacuate, notifying others as you go
5. Once outside, move away from the building

Then ponder the details around your home:

Have you checked your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers lately?

Do you have an evacuation plan for your household, including your pets?

Are there any fire hazards that need addressing?

The Ready.gov and American Red Cross websites provide guidance.

(Animate these cats)

Planning for emergencies can help you rest easier

We have a new challenge for you today: Don created a story adventure to get you thinking about emergency preparedness at home… in the event of, say, an outbreak of zombies or, you know, an incoming asteroid. Go forth and choose your own adventure! To earn a raffle ticket, respond by emailing a screenshot or text grab of your story conclusion to katie.warrener@oregonstate.edu (or print it and drop it off at the Circulation Desk). Provided you make a decent effort at emergency preparedness in your story, the raffle ticket is yours.

And we’ll continue accepting your responses to any of the puzzle challenges until the end of the week, so keep ‘em coming!

Thank you,

The Valley Library Safety Committee

(Bryan, Dan, Don, Ed, Elizabeth, Katie, Victoria)

Someone has collapsed and you are the nearest witness. Are you prepared?

Health emergencies can occur at any given moment. Whether it’s a heart attack, an accidental fall or even an unexpected baby delivery (see this story involving our own Zac Laugheed), you can prepare yourself by knowing a few basic steps that can give you the confidence to make quick decisions when every second counts! 

The basic procedures if you are witness to a health emergency are as follows:

1)    Call 9-1-1

2)    Keep the victim still, comfortable and safe

3)    Provide first aid, if trained (You can be trained right here on campus!)

4)    Send someone to meet an ambulance

You can view the response guidelines for Injury and Illness outlined by OSU Emergency Management HERE

Be proactive!

You don’t have to be specifically trained in First Aid response or CPR to make a positive difference in the victim’s outcome. However, training can help you become more confident in not only applying these basic guidelines in initiating the Emergence Response System (ERS), but also being able to play a critical role in applying critical emergency care in sustaining a victim’s life (and possibly ensuring their future quality of life) until emergency responders are on the scene.

The Valley Safety Committee arranged in-house First Aid and CPR/AED Training each year in September. The session for this year has completed, but you can sign up for individual training (with your supervisor’s permission) at the Dixon Recreation Center at any time of the year. For more information on safety courses, visit the Dixon Recreation Center website. The Safety Committee maintains a list of current Valley occupants who are First Aid and CPR/AED certified. It is always a good idea to be aware of who can perform First Aid and CPR/AED duties around your work space.

Wait, what is an AED?

An AED is an Automated External Defibrillator – a device used to diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias by sending an electrical shock in an effort to re-set the rhythm of a heart. Every workplace and public location SHOULD have one or multiple. As you know now, you can be trained in the use of this potentially life-saving device. Signs (like the image above) are posted at or near the location of an AED device. Even if you are not trained in the use of an AED, it is VERY IMPORTANT to know the locations of this device in and around the workplace, as quick retrieval of an AED device saves precious seconds in an emergency situation.

How do I know what an emergency looks like?

This is not a silly question – a lot of people are unsure of themselves when it comes to responding to a medical emergency. Medline Plus provides a handy list of warning signs as well as more tips on what to do to prepare yourself in case of an emergency.

What do you know now?

Reply directly to this e-mail with your answers to be entered in the daily and grand prize raffle!

1. How many AED units reside in the Valley Library building?
2. Where is the First Aid kit nearest to your office/desk/where you do most of your work?
3. Google challenge: What is the first thing you must be aware of when witnessing a health emergency, even before any interaction with the victim

Safety at work can help you prepare for emergencies beyond the office.

Medical emergencies

Memorize the basic steps for responding to a medical emergency, no matter where you are:

1. Call 9-1-1
2. Keep the victim still, comfortable, and safe
3. Provide first aid if trained
4. Send someone to meet the ambulance

(Animate this cat)

Is your cat prepared to recognize a medical emergency?

Then ponder the details:

Are you prepared to recognize the signs of a medical emergency?

How would you call 9-1-1?

What is involved in keeping someone safe on the scene?

The Medical Emergencies Information on the library wiki compiles answers.

 And are you ready to provide first aid or CPR?

You can get certified right here in the library during Safety Week or at Dixon Recreation any other time of year.

(Animate this cat)

Don’t be afraid to give it a try.

Fire safety

Memorize the basic steps for responding to a fire, no matter where you are:

1. Pull the fire alarm in a public building
2. Call 9-1-1 and provide as much information as you can
3. Contain the fire by using an extinguisher or by closing doors as you escape
4. Evacuate, notifying others as you go
5. Once outside, move away from the building

Then ponder the details around your home:

Have you checked your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers lately?

Do you have an evacuation plan for your household, including your pets?

Are there any fire hazards that need addressing?

The Ready.gov and American Red Cross websites provide guidance.

(Animate these cats)

Don’t try and hurt yourself by lifting too much!

We have a new challenge for you today: FEMA has a nice disaster preparedness site with information for all ages!  Try out their disaster preparedness game and submit the final kit checklist to Bryan at circulation for your chance to win today!  Other materials can also be found on the FEMA site with recommendations on how to build a disaster response kit.

And we’ll continue accepting your responses to any of the puzzle challenges until the end of the week, so keep ‘em coming!

Thanks to Katie Warrener for the content of this e-mail.

medical-emergencies-letter-tiles.pdf

Welcome to 2014 Safety Week in The Valley Library

You are invited to dedicate a few moments each day to refreshing your safety knowledge. We’ll break down the essentials for you in a daily message. Practice your skills with a puzzle, and prepare for a building-wide evacuation drill with the scavenger hunt challenge!

 In the Event of a Medical Emergency

Memorize these basic steps for responding to a medical emergency:

1. Call 9-1-1
2. Keep the victim still, comfortable, and safe
3. Provide first aid if trained
4. Send someone to meet the ambulance

Then think over the details:

Are you prepared to recognize the signs of a medical emergency?

How would you call 9-1-1?

 What is involved in keeping someone safe on the scene?

The Medical Emergencies Information on the library wiki compiles the answers.

 First Aid and CPR Training

 And are you ready to provide first aid or CPR?

 You can get certified in first aid and CPR/AED by signing up for in-house training during Safety Week (happening tomorrow and Wednesday). If you miss out on this week’s classes, individual training is available at Dixon Recreation throughout the year.

The first puzzle of the week is attached, in the form of a scrambled phrase. Get busy reviewing the Medical Emergencies Information and then rearrange the letter tiles to reveal the hidden message. Send your answer to katie.warrener@oregonstate.edu or drop it off at the Circulation desk.  All correct entries are eligible for prizes!

Thank you,

The Valley Library Safety Committee

safety-medical-emergencies-cryptogram.pdf

Today we wrap up Safety Week by reviewing how to respond to a medical emergency. Visit the Library Safety Essentials wiki page anytime to refresh your knowledge of emergency response procedures.

Responding to a Medical Emergency

The basics

1. Call 9-1-1
2. Keep victim still, comfortable, and safe
3. Provide first aid if trained
4. Send someone to meet ambulance

The basics PLUS

1. Remain calm and call 9-1-1. Use a cell phone, office phone, black campus phone in the avenue, or red emergency phone in the stairwell. Give the operator your name, location, and phone number, and provide as much information as you can about the victim and the injury or illness.
2. Do not move the victim, unless it is dangerous for the person to stay there. Keep the victim as calm and comfortable as possible.
3. Provide first aid, or start CPR when necessary, if you have been trained in the proper techniques. (See below for more information about training.)
4. Stay with the victim until medical assistance arrives. Send someone to meet the ambulance and guide the emergency responders to the scene.

So, how do you recognize a medical emergency in the first place? MedlinePlus offers a summary of warning signs. 

Red Cross workers with regimental dogs in World War I

National Library of Scotland on Flickr

Training in First Aid and CPR/AED

Excellent turnout for the in-house first aid and CPR/AED training this week! If you were not able to attend and are still interested, you can take advantage of the classes offered throughout the year at Dixon Recreation Center. You’ll find training instructions and links on the Safety wiki. Simply approach your supervisor for permission, find a session to attend, and register directly with Recreation Services. After class, share a copy of your certification record with the Safety Committee to join the list of certified staff.

Congratulations to Kristin Swetland of the Teaching and Engagement Department for being the first (who hadn’t previously won) to finish the word search yesterday. Today you are challenged to crack the cryptogram (attached)! And you are invited to submit answers to any of the puzzles by 5 PM today to enter the raffle.

Thanks to everyone for participating in Safety Week at The Valley Library

The Valley Library Safety Committee

Earthquakes

 Not to shake you up, but all of us should be prepared for what to do in the case of an earthquake.

As always, take a look at Library Safety Essentials for basic tips about what to do in the case of an emergency.

For earthquakes, the library safety essentials page reminds us the basic steps are.

1)    Drop, cover and hold until shaking stops.

2)    Evacuate.

In more detail:

1. Drop down to your hands and knees. This position protects you from falling but allows you to move if needed.
2. Cover your head and neck. Also preferably shelter your entire body by getting under a sturdy desk or table. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall or next to furniture that won’t fall on you.
3. Hold on to your shelter (and/or your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if needed.
4. Only evacuate once the shaking of the earthquake has stopped.

 See OSU Emergency Management and Oregon Healthy Authority’s earthquake preparedness page for more details about how to drop, cover, and hold on and details about evacuation.

 How can you prepare?

1)    Review Library Safety Essentials

2)    Consider your surroundings during your work day and where the best place would be to take cover/shelter. Prepare for other scenarios such as being outside or driving while the earthquake happens.

3)    Review the OHA’s earthquake preparedness page:

http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareForEarthquake.aspx

 and if you’re going to visit the coast, OHA’s tsunami preparedness page:

 http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareforTsunami.aspx

Quiz Time

Reply with your responses to enter the daily and grand prize raffle!

1. Along with dropping, covering, and holding on - what should you attempt to avoid being near during an earthquake?
2. If the lights go out and the sprinkler system goes on in the building while an earthquake is still in progress, should I evacuate?
3. What should you consider after you evacuate a building post-earthquake?

Yesterday’s winner to be announced by Bryan. J

(Subject: Safety Week Challenge: Earthquakes)

ICYMI, a dramatic New Yorker article about the Cascadia subduction zone sent proverbial shock waves across the region this summer: How on earth should we prepare for the Really Big One?

Know Your Home

We face particular kinds of natural disasters in the Willamette Valley. Take some time to remind yourself of the potential hazards and get ready to respond, at work and at home.

What’s happening right now? Online resources help you track current hazards in Corvallis and around the state.

Goat quake! 

Prepare for the Really Big One

Living in the Cascadia subduction zone means we are at risk of earthquakes, and along the coast, tsunamis. Are you prepared?

When an earthquake strikes:

1. DROP to the ground
2. Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table
3. HOLD ON to your shelter until the shaking stops

Before an earthquake strikes:

• Review the Oregon.gov Earthquake Preparedness 101 (and before heading to the coast, Tsunami Preparedness 101)
• Make an emergency plan – free workbooks are available inside the main entrance or at the Circulation desk
• Participate in the Great Shakeout earthquake drill next month! Thursday, October 15, at 10:15 AM, the library will take a minute to simulate an earthquake over the PA and give you the opportunity to practice your response.

Thank you all for participating in Monday’s building evacuation drill! And thanks for the responses to Monday’s puzzle challenge – keep ‘em coming! Today’s challenge is a safety message that got all scrambled in an earthquake (PDF). Solve the puzzle and earn yourself a Safety Week raffle entry. Just scan and email your response to katie.warrener@oregonstate.edu or drop it off at the Circulation Desk.

Thank you,

The Valley Library Safety Committee

(Bryan, Dan, Don, Ed, Elizabeth, Katie, Victoria)

(Subject) Safety Week Tips: Natural Disasters

natural-disasters-word-search.pdf

Preparing for Natural Disasters

We risk facing certain types of natural disasters in the Willamette Valley. Take a few minutes to understand the potential hazards and prepare.

What’s happening now? Online resources help you track current hazards in Corvallis and statewide.

Earthquakes and Tsunamis

Living in the Cascadia Subduction Zone means we are at risk of earthquakes, and along the coast, tsunamis. Are you prepared for the big one?

During an earthquake:

1. DROP to the ground
2. Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table
3. HOLD ON to your shelter until the shaking stops

Before an earthquake:

• Review Oregon.gov Earthquake Preparedness 101 (and before a day at the beach, Tsunami Preparedness 101)
• Make an emergency plan – free workbooks available inside the main entrance or at the Circulation desk

Winter Storms and Floods

Anyone who has lived through a recent Corvallis Snowpocalypse is well aware of the potential for severe inclement weather. Take a few minutes, here in the heat of summer, to prepare for the next round of stormy weather.

• Bookmark OSU Alerts - alert.oregonstate.edu on your computers and phones. Log in and check your contact information!
• Review Oregon.gov Winter Storms Preparedness 101

Corvallis has a history of floods too. Check out Oregon.gov Flooding Preparedness 101 to learn what to do before, during, and after.

Puzzle Challenge

Emergency Exit Scavenger Hunt entries are rolling in – hooray! (You are still welcome to do the scavenger hunt through tomorrow morning.) Everybody who completes a Safety Week puzzle challenge gets to pick an item from the prize box and enter the drawing for a free 3D print. Today we add a word search (PDF) to the mix (solution).

safety-earthquakes-wordsearch.pdf

Earthquake Preparedness in the Pacific Northwest

Why should we prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis in Oregon? The Cascadia Subduction Zone, for one thing. Plus, you could be anywhere when one happens. Oregon Emergency Management offers a brief history of earthquake activity in our region, and you can learn even more from the Robert S. Yeats book, Living with Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest, published by our very own OSU Press (find it in the library with call number QE535.2.U6 Y42).

Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety

Fortunately we have lots of information at our fingertips to help us prepare. The Seven Steps lay out a clear path to earthquake safety.

Before

1 - Secure your space

2 - Create an emergency plan

3 - Prepare disaster kits

4 - Identify and fix building weaknesses

During

5 - Drop, cover, and hold on!

After

6 - Check for injuries and damage, and evacuate if necessary

7 - Follow your emergency plan

Congratulations to Kerri Kunda of Circulation Services and Dorothy Loftin of Ecampus, who unscrambled Tuesday’s puzzle at the same time. And kudos to David Moynihan of Circulation and Collection Maintenance for being the first to crack those obscure clues in Wednesday’s crossword. Keep the answers coming, puzzlers, to earn more entries in the Friday raffle!

Try your hand at today’s challenge, the attached word search. For a bonus challenge, test your earthquake preparedness by playing Beat the Quake or taking the Quake Quiz

The Valley Library Safety Committee

(Subject) Safety Week Tip & Puzzle: Earthquake Preparedness

Be Prepared

A recent OSU study found increased probability of a major earthquake hitting the Oregon coast in the next 50 years. During Safety Week, get prepared for this kind of natural disaster by following the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety:

1. Identify potential hazards in your spaces and begin to address them
2. Create an emergency communication plan
3. Build an emergency kit
4. Identify potential weaknesses in your building and begin to fix them
5. During the earthquake—DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON
   
   
6. After the earthquake, check for injuries and damage
7. When it is safe to do so, follow your emergency plan

Resources

A wealth of resources is available to help you prepare:

• The Great Oregon ShakeOut

• Ready.gov Earthquakes
• MedlinePlus Earthquakes
• OSU Press book Living with Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest (QE535.2.U6 Y43 2004)

Puzzle Challenge

Tuesday’s Safety Week challenge is a crossword puzzle (PDF) related to earthquake preparedness. Be the first to reply with a complete and correct crossword, and win your choice of door prize. Ready, steady, go

Safety Week is an opportunity consider ways to create a safer, healthier work environment.

Prevent Accidents and Injuries

In the Valley Library, we can prevent accidents by minimizing hazards:

• Close cabinet drawers right away
• Keep floors and stairs clear of cords and clutter
• Report obstructions (such as bicycles), spills, or other building problems to a public service desk
  
  (Animate this ladder)
  Climb carefully to reach books and things

And we can prevent injuries by moving with care:

• Climbing – use stools or ladders carefully (not chairs or boxes)
• Lifting – face forward, bend at the knees, and lift with the legs (not the back)
• Carting – distribute weight evenly without overloading, and move one cart at a time

Take advantage of these resources, on campus and in the library, to develop healthy work practices:

• Attend Safety in Motion classes – our very own Bryan Feyerherm and Elizabeth Thomas are certified trainers
• Do an ergonomic assessment of your work station
  
  (Animate this paperweight)
  Perhaps it’s time to reassess the ergonomics of your work space?
  (From Frank Capra’s You Can’t Take It with You)
  
  Healthy U

Your wellness and work-life balance are important parts of the equation:

• OSU’s anti-bullying policy encourages you to report behavior that is severe, pervasive, or persistent
• OSU promotes several programs, such as Healthy Team Healthy U, that support your health and wellness
  
  (Animate this office)
  You too can achieve the zen of health and safety at work

Today’s challenge is to go “down under” and troubleshoot hazards in a Virtual Office to create a safe work environment. This safety game is brought to you by the Government of South Australia SafeWork SA, via Elizabeth. J

To earn a raffle ticket, (1) report your favorite hazard in the game and (2) tell us a way that you can improve your health and safety in your own office. Report the hazard and office solution to katie.warrener@oregonstate.edu (or write it up and drop it off at the Circulation Desk).

And we’ll continue accepting your responses to any of the puzzle challenges until the end of the week, so keep ‘em coming!

Thank you,

The Valley Library Safety Committee

(Bryan, Dan, Don, Ed, Elizabeth, Katie, Victoria)

occupational-health-safety-scramble.pdf

Safety in the Construction Zone

The OSU campus is experiencing one of the most intense periods of construction in its history, and building is booming off campus too. Ubiquitous construction zones intensify the everyday importance of avoiding environmental hazards that may cause tripping or other accidents. Capital Planning and Development offers several resources to help us negotiate campus construction:

• Review their construction zone map and safety tips
• Track closures and other impacts on campus facilities
• Get the scoop on project profiles and timelines
  
  
  You can be safe around construction,
  whether or not you join the cult of the Crane
  
  Health and Safety in the Office

Meanwhile, back in the Valley Library, we can prevent accidents by minimizing hazards in our work environment:

• Close cabinet drawers right away when finished
• Keep floors and stairs clear of cords and clutter
• Report obstructions (such as bicycles), spills, or other building problems to a service desk

And we can work with care to preserve our health and safety on the job:

• Climbing – use stools or ladders carefully (not chairs or boxes)
• Lifting – face forward, bend at the knees, and lift with the legs (not the back)
• Carting – distribute weight evenly without overloading, and carefully move one cart at a time
• Sitting and typing and staring at glowing screens – do an ergonomic assessment of your work station

WPA poster by Nathan Sherman, 1936

(Library of Congress on Flickr)

Thank you for participating in today’s building evacuation drill. You are welcome to keep the puzzle answers coming! Everybody who completes a Safety Week puzzle gets to pick an item from the prize box and enter the drawing for a free 3D print. Attached is the latest puzzle, a double scramble related to occupational health and safety (hint: look for phrases in this message and among the construction zone safety tips).

The Valley Library Safety Committee

(Subject) Safety Week Tip & Puzzle: Environmental Health and Safety 

Did you know OSU Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) offers training and checklists for employees? Supervisors are offered a self-paced e-learning module (fix link), and a variety of workplace health and safety tutorials are available for anybody to download. Below you'll find highlights relevant to our workplace, and today's puzzle challenge too!

Prevent Accidents

Avoid tripping hazards

• Close cabinet drawers as soon as you are done
• Keep walkways clear of cords and clutter

Climb carefully

• Do not use chairs or boxes as a makeshift ladder
• Use ladders and step stools properly

(step stool image)

Practice safe lifting

• Bend at the knees, not the back
• Lift with your legs and avoid twisting your body
• Face forward and hold the load close so you can see over it

Take care when transporting heavy materials

• Use a cart or a dolly
• Distribute the weight evenly, and do not overload it
• Move one vehicle at a time, pushing book carts from the end, not the side
• Navigate elevators, corners, and narrow passages with caution

Practice Ergonomics

Optimize your workspace and work habits

• Review the EHS guide to Comfortable Computing (PDF)
• Evaluate your Keyboard and Mouse Use
  
• Conduct a self-audit using a guide from OSU or Oregon OSHA (both PDF)

(chaplin image)

Take regular breaks from sitting or standing

• Try some office stretches (For even more ideas, check out the Mayo Clinic's short video series.)

Puzzle Challenge

Thanks for your enthusiastic responses to Monday's puzzle. Enjoy Tuesday's challenge, a word scramble (PDF), and take care as you move through the day, at work and at play (fix link).

transportation-safety-crossword.pdf

Welcome back from the holiday weekend! We wrap up Safety Week today with some transportation tips for all year round.

Campus by Night

The Valley Library is a 24-hour operation during the academic year. If you are on campus late at night or after dark, be aware of these safety resources for getting around:

• Saferide Shuttle Service – 541-737-5000
• Department of Public Safety Personal Escort –  541-737-3010
• Blue Light Emergency Phones throughout campus
• Yellow Box Security Phones at resident hall entrances

On the Campus by Night page, Public Safety provides a custom campus map with lighted walking routes, as well as personal safety tips.

 Missouri WPA poster, 1943

(Library of Congress on Flickr)

Be Bright

Whether you drive a car or ride a bike, you can do plenty of things to get around more safely.

• Free your mind – Drive and ride without distractions.
• Stay sharp – Stay awake and sober, paying careful attention to the road.
• Space out – Keep a safe distance from the vehicles ahead.
• See red – Red lights, that is.
• Be bright – Be seen by turning on your lights and using reflective gear on your bike.

Are you ready for the coming winter? ODOT has compiled transportation tips for winter driving (and cycling too), and Ready.gov has suggestions for a motor vehicle safety check and emergency kit.

Perhaps you’re in vacation mode? Public Safety has some travel tips for your consideration.

Benny thanks you for participating in Safety Week and invites you to mark the Library Safety area of the wiki as a Favorite in order to refresh your safety knowledge and emergency preparedness throughout the year.

Attached is the last puzzle, a crossword. Submit your answer (and any other Safety Week puzzle answers) by noon Wednesday for an item from the prize box and a chance to win a free 3D print. Puzzlers, stay tuned for information on claiming your prizes!

Thank you,

The Valley Library Safety Committee

safety-transportation-crossword.pdf

Transportation is the focus of today’s safety message.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

OSU bike commuters have so far logged more than double the miles of our UO rivals in this year’s Bike Commute Challenge, huzzah! Bicycling is an inexpensive, healthy, and fun way to get around. You can take precautions to avoid accidents and keep your ride safe.

• Follow the Rules of the Road. The national DOT includes a nice summary in their bicycling guide for kids.
• Gear up for a safe ride: a helmet for protecting your head, bright and reflective clothing for visibility, lights and reflectors for nighttime. The City of Corvallis offers a rundown of recommended equipment, along with an explanation of state bicycle laws.
• Take road conditions into consideration. Traffic congestion, weather, and road hazards can intensify riding risks. Read more in the OSU Department of Public Safety guide.

(From OSU SPARC on Flickr Commons)

Just Can’t Wait to Get On the Road Again

You can be a good citizen of the road and reduce the risk of vehicle accidents.

• Make sure your vehicle is safe and in working order. The OSU Department of Public Safety offers a handy checklist.
• It’s the law to wear seat belts and use car seats for children.
• Practice defensive driving: stay focused and alert. Master the Secrets of Super Driving.
• Share the road, and be aware of motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

MedlinePlus is a great place to browse for more information on motor vehicle safety.

(From OSU SPARC on Flickr Commons)

So, whether you ride or drive or walk (or jog or… swim?) please take a minute to review these tips for safe trips. And sharpen your pencil for a crossword puzzle - attached! (I have no idea if the clues will make sense, so in parentheses I indicated the number of words.)

The Valley Library Safety Committee

Campus by Night

Our library is a 24-hour operation during the academic year. If you are on campus late at night or after dark, be aware of these safety resources for getting around:

• SafeRide shuttle – 541-737-5000
• DPS and OSP Personal Safety Escort –  541-737-3010
• Night Owl late-night bus
• Blue Light Emergency Phones throughout campus
• Yellow Box Security Phones at resident hall entrances

On the Campus by Night page, Public Safety provides a custom campus map with lighted walking routes, as well as personal safety tips.

(Go, Catbus, go!)

Be Alert(ed)

Have you checked your registration for the OSU emergency alert system lately? Perhaps you will be surprised, like some of us here at Safety Week headquarters, to find your contact information incomplete or out of date. Quick, to the portal!

Safety on Wheels

Whether you drive a car or ride a bike, you can do plenty to get around more safely.

• Free your mind – Drive and ride without distractions.
• Stay sharp – Stay awake and sober, paying careful attention to the road.
• Space out – Keep a safe distance from the vehicles ahead.
• See red – Red lights, that is.
• Be bright – Be seen by turning on your lights and using reflective gear on your bike.

(Animate this car)

Today Ed’s team has raised the bar. You have a choice of three—three!—interactive games.

For game #1, all of you folks using Windows-based computing systems (sorry Apple people!) have the opportunity to play Bike Safety!, a scrolling video game available as a downloadable attachment:

1. Double-click the attachment “BikeSafetyGame_rev2.zip” and specify where you would like to save the file. Downloading it to your desktop may be easiest.
2. Locate the downloaded file. Unzip or extract the file by right-clicking and selecting “Extract Files” or “Unzip files”. Extract it to your desktop.
3. Double-click “BikeSafetyGame_rev2.exe” to launch the Bike Safety! game. (If asked to install an add-on feature like DirectPlay, choose “Skip This Installation.”)
4. Dodge cars and collect helmets to boost your Safety Prowess!
5. To earn a raffle ticket, respond with a screenshot of your Bike Safety! score and please also assure us you understand which side of the street to ride on in the real world.

The other two games are crossword puzzles designed to get you thinking about Crime Prevention and Transportation Safety:

Crime Prevention! Answer Key Passcode: Crime

 Transportation Safety! Answer Key Passcode: flattire

Send your Crime Prevention! / Transportation Safety! crossword results to katie.warrener@oregonstate.edu (or drop a printed copy at the Circulation desk).

Due to the epic nature of today’s challenge, we’ll continue to accept any and all responses (via email or in person at the Circulation desk) until Monday at high noon, when the raffle drawing will be held.

Thank you,

The Valley Library Safety Committee

(Bryan, Dan, Don, Ed, Elizabeth, Katie, Victoria)