This page displays the last three Q&A’s we have published in our SAFETY enewsletter.
FEBRUARY 2013
Q. How Do You Know When a Volunteer Has Completed an Online Training Course?
A: Once a volunteer passes the quiz that follows the training course presentation, he or she is instructed to submit their name and the name of the affiliate they are volunteering for, which is logged into our system. The following Friday, we process all completion certificates for courses passed the previous week. Certrificates showing the volunteer course taker’s name, course name and completion date are generated and emailed to the affiliate.
While this process continues to work well, we encourage the volunteer taking the course to print the screen showing they passed the Quiz and bring it with them on their volunteer day.
OCTOBER 2012
Q. Why is using my cell phone while driving so dangerous? I do it all the time.
A. Yes, most of use our cell phones while we are driving – it’s become a habit we think little about.
Most often when we talk on our cell phones while driving we don’t think we are in a critical situation – we are driving on an open roadway, blending in with the flow of traffic. However, we should not let our lucky habit become confused with real facts.
Despite our claims that we are safe drivers, even while on the phone, a critical situation can arise out of nowhere: someone stopping quickly in front of you, someone suddenly swerving into your lane, getting caught in bumper to bumper traffic, even your ability to read and obey road signs can be compromised while distracted by a phone conversation.
Texting while driving is even more dangerous, as our eyes are off the road. The National Safety Council reports more than 100,000 crashes occur every year due to drivers who were texting. It’s not a matter of “if” an accident will happen, it’s a matter of “when”. It’s simply not worth the risk!
AUGUST 2012
Q. Does HFHI have job site “No Trespassing” signs available for affiliates, or is there a source you can recommend?
A. HFHI does not have signs available for purchase. I recommend using Google to search for “safety signs” or “safety industrial signs” and you’ll get lots of results. Another option is to check with your local law enforcement to see what they may have.
Once you post a sign on your work site you may need to register it with the local law enforcement to activate authority for arrest. In some areas if signs are not registered, an offender caught in the act will only get a verbal or writting “no trespassing” citation, if it is their first offense. But if a sign is properly registered, a perpetrator can be arrested.
Keep in mind, posted signs need to be purchased, rather than homemade, in order to be of durable quality. Additionally, safety signs typically have a “do not exceed” distance between signs to meet legal regulations.