MEMIC Safety Experts

The 4 th of July is time for families, friends, and good food.  However, stats predict that many of us will be finishing our holiday celebrations in the bathroom or worse yet, in the ER.  That same hot summer weather that makes for a great BBQ also provides the right environment for bacteria multiplication. On today's episode Natalie Campaneria, Safety Management Consultant at MEMIC discusses food...

Sometimes life gets in the way, and now matter how well you planned, designed, or trained, you will be faced with moments where, at least on the surface, it's not possible to put into play picture-perfect ergonomics. On today's episode I have Clayton Cartwright, PT, and Safety Management Consultant with MEMIC here to discuss challenging ergonomic situations, how to identify what's missing, and str...

On today's episode I have Clayton Cartwright, PT, and Safety Management Consultant with MEMIC here to discuss why good movement matters and how using body mechanics, like proper alignment and good balance when moving can help reduce stress, fatigue, and increase health.

Face it, most of us like to sit or relax.  However, in our current American society, we end up doing it way too much.  From driving to channel surfing, to working in an office, most of us can use more movement in our lives. That movement is one key element to a healthy life and a safe workplace. On today's episode I have Clayton Cartwright, PT, and Safety Management Consultant with MEMIC here to d...

Are you a business leader or a supervisor struggling to find the key to your company's success over the long term?  Well, have you checked in with your team?  How connected to your purpose are they?  According to Gallup's State of the American Workplace Report, 51% of the U.S. workforce is not engaged. These employees can make the difference between success and failure. On this episode of the MEMI...

The diesel fuel purchased and used for most on and off-road applications has changed substantially over the years. The removal of sulfur and other substances in the refinement process has made it more ecologically friendly and allow it burns cleaner when combined with modern diesel engines.  But these changes have also introduced hazards and exposures that may not be on your radar. On this episode...

Quality of life and injury prevention are other ways to express health and safety.  They are inherently connected by physical fitness and intentional preparation.  On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Dr. Phillip Finemore, Physical Therapist and owner of WorkFitME about how physical preparation can help prevent injury and increase your quality of life both in and outsi...

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in many ways over the last two years. From our homes to our workplaces, and everywhere in between, we have all faced challenges that require us to live, work, and think just a little bit differently. In this two-part episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Jason Beam, Director of EHS and Risk Management of CCB, INC in Westbrook Maine,...

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in many ways over the last two years. From our homes to our workplaces, and everywhere in between, we have all faced challenges that require us to live, work, and think just a little bit differently. In this two-part episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Jason Beam, Director of EHS and Risk Management of CCB, INC in Westbrook Maine,...

Tire Servicing Safety is often overlooked unless it's your full-time job.  Hazards from lifting and repositioning a heavy tire in an awkward position or being struck by a falling or exploding tire are all common exposures for workers serving tires in the shop or in the field. In the conclusion of this two-part Tire Safety episode with Andy Wood, MEMIC's Forest Products Programs Manager, we dive de...

Tire Servicing Safety is often overlooked unless it's your full-time job. Hazards from lifting and repositioning a heavy tire in an awkward position or being struck by a falling or exploding tire are all common exposures for workers serving tires in the shop or in the field. In part-one of this two-part episode, I speak with Andy Wood, MEMIC's Forest Products Programs Manager about the hazards of...

A company's brand is its identity, and it is one of the most valued parts of your business. When brand is done right, it influences what happens inside a company as well how people on the outside perceive it.  The brand becomes something that you are, not just something that you do.  It is something that can influence behavior. On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Nanc...

According to the National Safety Council, forklifts were the source of 79 work related fatalities and 8,140 non-fatal injuries involving days away from work in 2019 alone.  Looking back at the data the National Safety Council has, the number of non-fatal forklift related workplace injuries continues to increase every year since 2015.  The top 3 causes of these injuries are Fire and explosion, Stuc...

The word resolution implies a steadfast intent to succeed or change something.  While this may be true for the New Year, the word is better used to describe the movement or change between things.  On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I discuss how a resolution should be a living thing, especially when it comes to safety. Peter Koch: [00:00:04] Welcome to the MEMIC Safety Experts po...

Respirators are one of many controls to consider when addressing atmospheric hazards. Choosing the wrong respirator can have deadly consequences. The results could be immediately fatal or lead to a long-term debilitating disease or condition.  On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Steve Badger, CSP and Safety Management Consultant with MEMIC shares information about respiratory prot...

Called by many different names: Man lifts, boom lifts, cherry picker, scissor lift, or bucket truck, mobile elevated work platforms are everywhere.  They are replacing the traditional ways people work have worked at height.  On this episode of the Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Joe Gagne, Division Safety Trainer at United Rentals to discuss the changes to the Mobile Elevated Work Platform st...

Staying safe around the holidays is important and the hazards around the Thanksgiving holiday can pose different challenges. Distracted driving, food poisoning, and burns are the three most frequent causes of injuries during the Thanksgiving holiday period.  Find out more about these and what one company did with it's Thanksgiving leftovers on this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast. Reso...

According to the National Safety Council, following highway crashes, falls to a lower level is the third leading fatal workplace event and the fifth leading event resulting in cases with days away from work. In many cases fall protection is relatively simple.  Put up some sort of engineering control that prevents the workers from access the unprotected edge – like guardrails.  Other times, the wor...

According to the US Small business Administration, 99 percent of firms in the US are small business and according to JP Morgan Chase, the vast majority, nearly 88%, have fewer than 20 employees.     At MEMIC, we partner with small business who understand that the health and safety of their employees leads to a more productive and profitable workplace. On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Po...

According to BLS data, workplace fatalities from falls to a lower level were up from 615 on 2018 to 711 in 2019.  Fall hazard exposures exist in almost every industry and finding the right fall protection solution for you' your situation is not always easy.  There are many factors that should go into choosing the best fall prevention method, especially when it comes to fall protection on roofs. On...

When it comes to workplace safety, Maslow's hierarchy of needs can shed light on why you can't gain real traction in developing your safety culture.  From physiological needs to self-Actualization and accountability, this episode will look at how miss alignment of business objectives and employee needs can be the cause of on-going crisis management that will prevent us from moving our safety cultu...

In 2005 Patrick Nelson, while serving in the US Army paratroops, had an experience that changed his life and his perspective on being a leader.  Leadership, good or bad, is made up of moments.  On this podcast, Patrick helps us see the impact of those moments and how leaders can engage safety through story telling.   Peter Koch: [00:00:04] Hello, listeners, and welcome to the MEMIC Safety Experts...

Back in 1892, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year the Labor Day holiday.  Do you know the history and the struggle of the American worker that pre-dates this historic day?  On this podcast, Randy Klatt, Director or Region 2 Loss Control here at MEMIC helps me explore what it was like to be a worker in the late eighteen and early nineteen hundre...

In June 2021, the FDA revoked its Emergency Use Authorization for Filtering Facepiece Respirators.  Learn what an EUA is and how it affects the use of non-NIOSH approved N-95 respirator in healthcare.     Peter Koch: [00:00:04] Hello, listeners, and welcome to the MEMIC Safety Experts podcast, I'm your host, Peter Koch, and the topic today is revoked EUAs. Often I need to hear or read something a...

In a February 2021 article from Harvard Health Publishing , research links some surprising health problems to slouching, including incontinence and constipation.  On this episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, Al Brown, MEMIC's Director of Ergonomics takes a look at slouching, how it affects your health and some strategies for prevention.   Peter Koch: [00:00:04] Welcome to the MEMIC Safety...