The World of Hand-Held Grinders

In the world of the steel fabrication shop, hand-held grinders are used every day.  Although they are fairly innocuous looking tools, they are actually quite hazardous if handled improperly.  And, injuries from these tools can range from minor cuts to amputations, or even worse.

Hand-held grinders are used to grind, or smooth and shape steel to a nice finish before painting.   They are used much like the disk sander that you might use when doing woodwork.  Hand-held grinders in the steel fabrication shop are meant to take several different types of blades, but to keep it simple, let's reduce that to two categories:  1.  a "hard" inflexible disk; and 2. a flexible disk (like a sanding disk or buffing "blade).

            7" Grinder with "hard" disk properly guarded

When using the "hard" disk, a guard is required on the grinder.  The guard is designed to keep pieces of a broken disk from hitting the grinder operator.  Although the guard may protect a workers's fingers, it's primary purpose is to keep broken blade pieces from causing harm.  

With the "flexible" disk, or "sanding" disk, a guard is not required.  The guard might protect the operator's hand from contacting the disk, but remember, the primary purpose of the guard is to protect the worker from flying pieces of a broken disk.

  

       4.5" grinder with flexible disk and no guard

         4.5" grinder with flexible disk and guard

Are broken "hard" disks common?  Well, not in my experience, but it does happen and there have been deaths as a result of pieces striking workers.  The good news is that with the proper precautions, we can reduce the likelihood of injuries when using hand-held grinders.

1. Always inspect disks for imperfections, cracks, and other damage.  Performing a "ring" test may help identify cracks that you may not be able to see.
2. Always follow the appropriate lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures when changing disks.  In this case, LOTO means unplugging the tool before you change disks or guards.  And, be sure that you keep your hands clear of the trigger plugging it back in.
3. Wear gloves when operating this tool.  The disks operate at high speed and can "kick" back at you.  Gloves can prevent many minor injuries to your hands.
4. Never use the grinder above chest height. 
5. Always wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  In this case, at least use safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and a face shield.  Our shop reduced eye injuries in our shop by 65% after we required the wearing of face shields in addition to safety glasses.  Although all previous eye injuries were minor, it is evident that face shields work!

Because these tools are potentially hazardous, we conduct training on the use of grinders beginning at safety orientation.  Then, throughout the year, we also conduct tool box safety talks on grinder safety.

Recently, we conducted a tool box safety talk about grinders emphasizing the use of guard and we always end with a reminder of the LOTO procedures.  Imagine my surprise when, about 20 minutes after the training session, I was called the the first aid room to find an employee with a grinder injury.  He had just completed a blade change (a "hard" disk) and had followed the proper LOTO rules.  But, when picking up the grinder to begin work, the glove web between thumb and forefinger contacted the grinder's trigger.  The spinning disk pulled his gloved left forefinger into the blade pinching it between the blade and the guard.  He had an ugly gash on his left forefinger, but luckily, required only a few stitches - no permanent injury.

So, even when you think you are following all of the safety rules, PPE, LOTO, etc., you must always remain diligent when using a grinder.  And always keep you mind focused only on what you are doing.

Expert?

Have you ever noticed that "if you're from out of town, you're an expert," but in your own workplace you don't know anything?

A few days ago I told a worker that he was using the wrong PPE and then told him what he should be using.  Well, that started a rant about how "OSHA doesn't say that I have to.  I looked it up."  I carefully explained that the standard was a performance standard. You know, that's where the relevent OSHA standard tells you what to achieve but not exactly how to achieve the goal?  Then I explained why the PPE that he was using did not meet the criteria.

Ironically, I had trained this employee in the proper procedures, but for some reason, after several years of conducting the operation with the appropriate PPE, he had decided that he would not do it that way anymore.   Then the inevitable "show me where OSHA says I gotta."  I then carefully explained "performance standard," and why his choice of PPE was inappropriate.  Again, ranting and raving that I need to speak with his immediate superior, etc.  Obviously, the employee received a disciplinary note in his personnel file and an admonition that continuing to use the wrong PPE would result in more severe discipline.

So, as you might imagine, I visited his immediate superior to explain the situation, how I handled it, and told him what I had explained to his subordinate.  I was met with, "I looked it up in the OSHA standard and it doesn't say that."  Again, a carefully crafted explanation of "performance standard," OSHA interpretations, and "best practices" ensued.  Then, as you might expect, the "I need it in writing from someone that says I gotta."

Yes, I know that I should be the last word on the issue, but that does not often work in the real world.  Nevermind that I was hired because of 30+ years of safety experience, a degree in Occupational Safety and Industrial Hygiene, past safety teaching experience at a community college, and the OSHA 500 course authorizing me to teach OSHA 10 and 30 hour courses.  So, I pulled out an article that I had written a few years ago, added a pseudonym at the bottom of the article.  The article explained the situation in exactly the terms that I had verbally given both he and his subordinate (obviously, because I had written the article), but now the name of the author wasn't my name.  He read the article and said, "that's better, now I understand.  You need to communicate more like this guy."  Really?

I have had no compliance problems with this issue since.  I know, I could have gone up the line to the supervisor's superior, but I'm not sure that the consequences would have been worth the effort.  The immediate problem was solved and it looks like I may have a strategy for solving future problems.

But, the guy that wrote the article was from outside the company, so he knew better!  Imagine that!

Thanks to the people at The Mesothelioma Center (at www.asbestos.com) for this post.

Beware of Dangerous Asbestos during Construction

Asbestos once was considered a miracle mineral for its unique ability to resist heat and strengthen almost anything. It was used extensively throughout the construction industry and lauded for its versatility and affordability.

Unfortunately, it is also toxic when its microscopic fibers are unknowingly inhaled or ingested, leading to a variety of long term respiratory health issues, including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.

Although its use has been significantly reduced in recent decades, it remains a serious threat to anyone involved in the renovation, remodeling or demolition of a structure built before the mid-1980s.

Beware of the danger. No level of friable asbestos exposure is considered safe. If you believe you’ve been exposed to asbestos it’s important to see a doctor and discuss possible treatment centers.

Workers should take the proper precautions when working on an older residence or commercial building. Asbestos likely will be in the flooring, ceilings, walls, plumbing and electric fixtures.

Many common building materials contain asbestos. When these products begin to deteriorate or if someone drills, sands or disturbs them, the fibers often enter the air.

Although the immediate danger may seem minimal, the asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lining around the lungs. Over time, they will cause inflammation and scarring, which can lead to serious problems.

Protective gear should be worn, helping avoid any inhalation. A firefighter, for example, will wear a special breathing apparatus when entering an older building where the toxic fibers are in the air.

Construction workers should take similar precautions. In newer construction, roofing shingles often still contain asbestos, which is designed to resist heat.

Any clothes worn when working on a remodeling project should be left at the worksite or properly cleaned before coming home to avoid subjecting others to the unwanted exposure.

The use of asbestos may have dropped dramatically, but the dangers have not.

New OSHA Recordkeeping Rule

Okay, so it's been awhile since my last post!  Anyway, here's some news of which you need to be aware.

Remember that OSHA rule that said you must call OSHA to report any fatalities within 8 hours?  Or to report hospitalization of 3 or more employees?  Well, that rule is about to change!

The new rule, effective on 1 January 2015, like the old rule, requires the reporting of any fatalities within 8 hours.  However, under the new rule, you will also have to report any work-related in-patient hospitalizations, amputations or losses of an eye within 24 hours.  I don't really think that this is a bad thing, because we are all trying to avoid those occurrences anyway.   But, I might have missed the rule change had I skipped the September meeting of my ASSE Chapter.


Want more info on the new rule change?  Click Here!
Want more information on how to join the American Society of Safety Engineers?  Click Here!

OSHA Rescinds Old Residential Fall Protection Directive

As a long-time safety director in the construction industry I say "IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!"

OSHA finally announced the withdrawel of a 1995 directive that allowed residential builders to ignore many fall protection requirements. According to OSHA, the 1995 directive was meant to be "temporary" until feasible fall protection solutions could be found. Well, there have been feasible solutions long before now so, IT'S ABOUT TIME!

OSHA's action rescinds the Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for Residential Construction, Standard 03-00-001. Prior to the issuance of this new directive, Standard 03-00-001 allowed employers engaged in certain residential construction activities to use specified alternative methods of fall protection rather than conventional fall protection required by the residential construction fall protection standard. With the issuance of this new directive, all residential employers must comply with 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13). Where residential builders fine that traditional fall protection is not feasible in residential environments, 29 CFR 501(b)(13) still allows for alternate means of providing protection. In my opinion, it will be very rare that conventional fall protection cannot be used. About 1996, the Saf-T-Strap made creating safe anchor points very easy.

Construction and roofing companies have up to six months to comply with the new directive. OSHA has developed training and compliance assistance materials for small employers adn will host a webinar for parties interested in learning more about complying with the standard. To view the new directive, visit http://www.osha.gov/doc/residential_fall_protection.html.

It is also my opinion that compliance, in most cases, is very easy and inexpensive, and it should not take six months to comply.

FMCSA Issues Proposed Rule on Hours-of-Service Requirements for Commercial Truck Drivers

The US Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in December issued a regulatory proposal that would revice hours-of-service (HOS) requirements for commercial truck drivers.

"A fatigued driver has no place behind the wheel of a large commercial truck," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We are committed to an hours-of-service rule that will help create an environment where commercial truck drivers are rested, alert and focused on safety while on the job."

The publication of this proposed rule coincides with the timeframe established in a court settlement agreement that requires FMCSA to publish a final HOS rule by 26 July 2011.

This new HOS proposal would retain the "34-hour restart" provision allowing drivers to restart the clock on their weekly 60 or 70 hours by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty. However, the restart period would have to include two consecutive off-duty periods from midnight to 6:00 am. Drivers would be allowed to use this restart only once during a seven-day period.

Additionally, the proposal would require commercial truck drivers to complete all driving within a 14-hour workday, and to complete all on-duty work-related activities within 13 hours to allow for at least a one hour break. It also leaves open for comment whether drivers should be limited to 10 or 11 hours of daily driving time, although FMCSA currently favors a 10-hour limit.

"In January, we began this rulemaking process by hosting five public listening sessions with stakeholders across the country," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "This proposed rule provides another opportunity for the public to weigh in on a safety issue that impacts everyone on our roadways."

Driving hours are regulated by federal HOS rules, which are designed to prevent commercial vehicle-related crashes and fatalities by prescribing on-duty and rest periods for drivers.

Commercial truck drivers who violate this proposed rule would face civil penalties of up to @2,750 for each offense. Trucking companies that allow their drivers to violate the proposal's driving limits would face penalties of up to $11,000 for each offense.

Other key provisions include the option of extending a driver's daily shift to 16 hours twice a week to accommodate for issues such as loading and unloading at terminals or ports, and allowing drivers to count some time spent pared in their trucks toward off-duty hours.

A copy of the rulemaking proposal is available on FMCSA's website at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/HOS. The rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on 29 December 2010 and the public has 60 days to comment. Information on how to submit comments and evidentiary material is available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/HOS.

Construction & Safety Acronyms

The newly revised 2010 edition of "Construction & Safety Acronyms" is now available for purchase. For details, visit www.lulu.com/product/paperback/construction-safety-acronyms/13052749

OSHA's Semiannual Regulatory Agenda is Available

OSHA's regulatory plan contains a statement of the Department's regulatory priorities and regulatory actions. It can be viewed at www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=21872

Among other things, OSHA will be continuing its review of the Bloodborne Pathogen standard. It will also be looking at exposure to Crystalline Silica, Confined Spaces in Construction, Electric Power Transmission and Distribution; Cranes and Derricks, and Methylene Chloride.

Click the hot-link above to get the details and time schedules for various actions.

OSHA Appoints New Head of the Construction Directorate

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, has appointed Jim Maddux as the new director of the agency's Directorate of Construction, effective 20 December 2010. Maddux most recently served in OSHA's Directorate of Standards adn Guidance as teh Director of the Office of Physical Hazards adn Acting Director of the Office of Engineering Safety. Maddux has held several leadership positions at OSHA, including Director of the Office of Maritime and Acting Deputy Director for the Directorate of Standards and Guidance.

He began his career with OSHA in 1990 as a statistician in the Office of Statistics, and joined the Directorate of Standards and Guidance in 1998. Maddux has been a project director, author and contributor to numerous OSHA standards and guidance projects, including the payment for personal protective equipment standard, injury and illness recordkeeping regulations, ergonomics guidelines, and several maritime standards and guidance products. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Maryland, University College, an associate's degree in computer information systems from Laramie County Community College, and an associate's degree in chemistry from Northern Wyoming Community College.

"Jim has been a valuable member of the OSHA team for over 20 years," said Michaels. "I congratulate him on his new position, and I am confident that he will be an effective leader in construction safety working to accomplish the agency's mission of protecting America's workers."

I will withold judgement on his appointment until I see how he performs, but I don't see any field experience listed in his credentials. Although field experience may not be necessary, it certainly gives an individual a different perspective.

Fatal Fall From Scaffold

Trying to convince workers on construction sites that scaffold platforms must be "fully planked," and to get them to understand just what that means, can be difficult. Often, they cannot understand why it is so important.

Well, you can tell them about the guy in Canada who fell 20 feet to his death because he stepped through an opening in the scaffolding on which he was working.

Canada's "Journal of Commerce" reported yesterday that a 60 year old worker was found dead after the accident - there were no witnesses to the accident.

Read the whole story at www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id41936/

Robert Bosch Tool Corp Recalls Bosch Hammer Drills Due to Electrical Shock

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is ilegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Bosch Hammer Drills

Units: About 20,000 units

Importer: Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, of Mt. Prospect, Illinois

Hazard: The models have a grounding system and trigger switch that could cause ground wire abrasion and/or ground connector failure posing a shock hazard. In addition, the switch trigger could become stuck in the "on" position posing an injury hazard to the user.

Incidents: None

Description: Bosch 1/2 inch 2-speed Hammer Drill with model number HD19-2, HD19-2D, HD19-2L adn 1/2 inch 2-speed Hamer Drills with model number HD21-2 are included in this recall. "BOSCH" is printed in red lettering on the side of the drills.

Sold at: Home improvement, hardware and major retailers nationwide and various distributors from September 2009 through August 2010 for between $140 and $220.

Manufactured in: Switzerland

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the hammer drill and return hammer drill to Robert Bosch Tool Corporation for repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Bosch toll-free at (866) 244-2110 between 7 am and 7 pm CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at http://www.boschtools.com/

COSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell them about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Ryobi Recalls Cordless Drills Due to Fire Hazard

Ryobi Recalls Cordless Drills Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Ryobi Model HP 1802M Cordless Power Drills

Units: About 455,000

Importer: Ryobi Technologies Inc., of Anderson, S.C.

Hazard: The switch on the cordless drill can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Ryobi has received 47 reports of the drills overheating, smoking, melting or catching fire, including 12 reports of property damage to homes or vehicles. Two of the incidents involved minor burns from touching an overheated switch.

Description: The Ryobi Model HP 1802M cordless drill is powered by an 18 volt rechargeable NiCad battery. The drills are blue and black in color with "Ryobi" appearing in red and white on the left side. The model number can be found on a white label on the right side of the drill.

Sold at: Home Depot from January 2001 to July 2003 for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled drill, remove the rechargeable battery and contact Ryobi to receive a free replacement drill.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ryobi Customer Service at (800) 597-9624 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.ryobitools.com

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CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)

Are you a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers? If you are a safety professional and not a member, you are doing yourself a disservice!

I just moved back to upstate New York after a 14 year absence. And, last evening, I attended a meeting of the Central New York Chapter of ASSE. I've been an ASSE member for 25 years and as I moved around I joined chapters in Orlando, Fort Myers, and Dallas - all were very rewarding experiences. But, the CNY Chapter is where I started and it was great to renew old friendships.

It's interesting that all of the Safety Professionals with whom I commiserated over the years have become great friends. I remained in contact with many from Central New York over the past 14 years, and many from Central Florida, and will continue to keep in touch with my friends in Southwest Florida and Dallas. These people enrich my life both personally and professionally and we all continue to rely on each other for support in our careers.

I cannot imagine my safety career without my fellow ASSE members and if you are a safety professional who has not yet found ASSE - find your local chapter and join today! Click here for joinder information.

After my 14 year hiatus from the CNY ASSE Chapter, it felt like I hadn't even been away! So, the "moral of the story" is - if you join, attend your local chapter meetings! The networking is one of the most valuable things offered.

NOTW for 8-31-10

This week's NOTW photo was courtesy of your safety friends in the US Navy. If you have followed NOTW for some time, you may remember several references to "Bucket Man." Well the Naval Safety Guys refer to this guy as "Gutter Perch," and suggest that the Gutter Perch should become extinct.

You might also notice the inadequate scaffold - where's the guardrail (and the lack of any other type of fall protection). Or the lack of a hard hat - remember that hard hats are required on all scaffolds. And, who knows what other hazards we might find if we could see the whole picture. I'm betting that these guys climbed the crossbraces rather than using a ladder too.

Have a safe week.

Free Crane Standard Webinar

The new OSHA crane standard for cranes being used in construction takes effect on 8 November 2010. The OTI at UTA is offering a free webinar to help you understand the new law. It's on 21 September 2010 from 9 am to 11 am (presumably in the Central Time Zone). I don’t know how detailed this will be, but it is free. Click the link below to sign-up:
https://www.uta.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp1?~~oshawebcrane

NOTW

Well, I'm looking for a safety position again so I've some free time to revise the blog. A good place to restart is to visit the NOTW postings that have been so popular over the past several years.

Here's one from April of this year. Once I get my routine down, I'll post some new ones and you are all encouraged to send some "nitwit" photos for the blog.

Unfortunately, this situation is all too common on construction sites. “Hot-Punch” is a term to describe the process by which recently installed circuits are tested before the electric meters have been installed. In this case, our electrician found the nearest power source (see inset) which was the temporary electrical panel outside, opened the junction box cover and installed a temporary wire leaving the junction box open and available for accidental contact by passers-by. He then proceeded to connect his newly energized cord to an open panel inside the building. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Admittedly, the likelihood of a passer-by contacting the energized wiring at the junction box may be slight, but the open, energized panel presents a significant hazard. The really sad thing is that this operation can be accomplished safely by utilizing one of the many knock-outs on the panel while leaving the cover in place. But, that might take a couple of extra minutes.

By now you know that lack of adequate training contributes to many hazards on construction sites. This, however, is not one of those situations. Assuming that the electrician is licensed (which he should be), he was tested on his knowledge of the National Electric Code and should know better.

Training-Training-Training

I have been pontificating for years about the critical need for training of workers. In my opinion, the lack of adequate training is the single biggest cause of jobsite injuries and fatalities. Well, if you didn't "get it" before, you had better start paying attention because OSHA has finally caught up.

Last week, during a speech to the National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis addressed worker training. She stressed the need for training in a form that can be understood by our Hispanic workforce - nothing new there. But she also stated that, effective on Workers Memorial Day (April 28th), "OSHA will also assure that its Compliance Officers check and verify not only that the training has been provided, but that it was provided in a format that the workers being trained can understand."

WARNING: you subcontractors that think that you are not responsible for the training of those "independent contractors" to which you "subcontract" the work (you know - piece workers), you had better rethink that idea. It is up to you to assure that every one of the workers in your workforce has adequate safety training. You might even want to review you subcontracts - you may find language in there that says you will assure that the workers for whom you are responsible, will be adequately trained in jobsite safety.

Don't know what training is required, Click here for assistance.

Construction Worker Injured in Building Collapse

New York City must be a pretty dangerous place to work if you are in the construction business. The New York Times reported on the 29th that a worker was critically injured in the collapse of a Brooklyn building being renovated.

The cause? Nobody knows for sure yet.

Cranes Again?

Well, it looks like we just don't know how to operate cranes safely in New York City. Do you remember all that flap about tower cranes a couple of years ago? If you had cranes on your construction sites back then, you probably re-visited your crane safety policies and procedures. I know that I did. We were okay, but it certainly put the spotlight on how often I checked crane records. And I also found out that the State of Florida didn't require crane operators to be licensed. I also found out that the same was true in many parts of the country. But, that's another story.

To get back to the point, a couple of days ago in NYC, another crane collapsed into a building (read about it in the New York times of 3/27 and again on 3/28. Officials don't know what happened yet, but they believe that a contributing cause was that the crane operator did not lower the boom far enough before he left the site at the end of the workday. And, although they are not sure that there isn't another contributing cause, NYC officials suspended the crane operator's license.

Conclusions? Read the articles and you decide. But if I had a crane on my site, I'd be re-visiting my crane policies again.

Little Things Make a Difference

Believe it or not, my entire life does not revolve around occupational safety - probably only about 95% of my life revolves around occupational safety. I do think of other things, and this post is simply the musings of a guy who wonders about why we do things and what a simple change can make.

Over the past few months, the construction market has taken a nose dive. Yes, it's mostly the result of the huge financial problems that we are all experiencing, but some of it has to do with the natural winter slowdown. I expect to have more projects to visit soon, but in the meantime, I'm keeping busy at work by helping out with records management. Currently, our relatively small company spends about $1200/month to store construction project records just in case... . It seems to be a large amount of money, but if a problem occurs or if there is even the perception that the general contractor was "at fault" when a problem occurs (like a leaky roof, mold, etc.), the record storage could prove to be a very tiny "drop in the bucket."

So the boss said, let's see if we can "get rid of some of that paper" and reduce the number of storage units that we rent. I suggested that we scan as many of the files as possible and discard the paper (believe it or not, there are a lot of records that must be kept for 3 years, 5 years, 7 years, or even permanently). So to facilitate this records management program, I helped out with moving the approximately 20 cardboard file storage boxes per project (not including the "blueprints") to the office for evaluation and scanning.

Okay, so this is getting to be a long story. But, keep reading, there is a point to be made.

Those boxes are heavy, and after lifting each box multiple times, I started to wonder at the weight of paper that we keep. As I prepared a box of records for scanning (making sure that there weren't a lot of duplicates (there weren't), taking out staples, paper clips, etc. I began to wonder at the weight of the seemingly inconsequential materials in each box. One box contained 267 paperclips - that's a lot of paper clips - and at least that number of staples. Normally, if you were to discard the box of papers, the paperclips, etc. would be discarded too. But, I recovered the paperclips and "recycled" them. I wonder how much we spend each year on paperclips that are simply discarded.

This reminded my of something that I read on a box of Celestial Seasonings Herb Tea. On one flap of the box of tea they posed the question, "Ever wonder why no string and tag?" The answer (although I suspect it has a lot to do with cost) was "Our unique pillow-style tea bag is the result of our commitment to doing what's best for the environment. Because these natural fiber tea bags don't need strings, tags, staples or individual wrappers, we're able to save more than 3.5 million pounds of waste from entering landfills every year!" That's a huge amount of waste just from one company. I wonder how much we could save by limiting the use of staples, and recovering paper clips before discarding a file. To say nothing about saving paper by not printing, or saving storage space by saving records in electronic format.

And by the way, all of the paper that gets scanned goes to a local shredding company. They shred for free because they have a market for shredded paper - yep, it gets reused! But wouldn't it be better if it never had to be used in the first place? I try not to keep paper records. I communicate, whenever possible, only via e-mail. And to keep from storing paper for future reference, when someone sends me paperwork that I find necessary to keep, I scan it and toss the paper.

If we do things right, it will also prevent injuries at work too. Lifting all that paper certainly exposed me to potential soft tissue injury.